Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Cardcaptor Sakura, a creation of CLAMP.

PROLOGUE: Shattered

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Yelan had made a discreet exit from the reception, and now knelt upon a mat in her room, meditating, breathing rarely, slowly, deeply. The fat candle before her was the only light source. Next to it, a bowl of incense softly smoked, wisps curling, climbing in the silence.

Between her and the incense was a larger bowl filled with still water. Yelan waved her hand, beckoning the smoky scents to her; then with her pale fingers, she stirred them across the water's surface.

She would need all the meditation, all the power she could get, in preparation for tonight.

With her eyes closed, she didn't see a long, miniscule rope of water slither soundlessly under the door, across the floor, into the bowl.

She abruptly heard a voice she once feared she'd never hear again.

"Yelan."

The lady fought back tears, hit by recollections of being soothed to sleep by a voice that, whether muttering or crying out, held the whisper of running streams.

"…About time, old friend."

"You look old."

She smiled at such bluntness. "That's generally what happens to us humans. Will not your mistress notice you've gone?"

"Her happiness consumes her, as it should. The reception is a disorienting place, and my brethren are celebrating with her. Sweet is going crazy with the dessert table; Flowery is threatening to drown all in sakura petals; and Dash is bouncing off the walls."

"She's radiant," Yelan agreed, "and finally family." A tender look stole across her face. "Wed to my baby…"

"I doubt he was ever a 'baby,' just as my mistress wasn't one for long," The watery whisper in the voice changed to a haughty burble. "No child challenges a Child of Clow, only—"

"A warrior of worth."

"You remember."

"Yes. Speaking of the Children of Clow…Keroberos and Yue…"

The voice let loose a brief tea-kettle hiss. "Remember nothing. Their last memory of Hong Kong is Clow's flight from the mansion."

"Still nothing has jogged his memory," Yelan murmured worriedly. "I was right then: force will have to be used."

"We haven't tried force because their minds could be damaged."

"Not if it's me forcing," Yelan said quietly. She sighed, taking in and solidifying what magic she could. Beyond a period of resting, there wasn't much she could do at this point. "Not if they see me, and the rest of us, first, they'll start to remember. Not many things can refuse the Jade Emperor."

Her eyes, which had been staring into the cloudy bowl, slide back into focus.

"They deserve to be whole, Nereida."

She leaned forward on her knees and puffed out the candle.

"It's an awful feeling, not being whole."

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Hong Kong

Main Li Estate, Hong Kong Island

March 24, 2004

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Keroberos, Keeper of the Clow, Lion of the Cards, Guardian of the Cardcaptor, Vessel of the Western Magic, Guardian Beast, Child of the Sun…

…was blubbering like a baby.

"GYYAAAAHHHH-HA-HA-HA-HAAAAAAA!!!"

"Kero-chan? Kero-chan!"

At the sound of his mistress's voice, Kero's tiny black eyes uncontrollably welled-up yet again. "Sniff, sniff, sniff….D-don't cry….bad day to c-c-c-c-rrrryyy!!"

Sakura burst through the door to the guest bedroom, Syaoran right behind her. They were shocked at the sight of the small winged mini-lion sitting on the desktop of the vanity, nearly buried under a mountain of tissues that spilled onto the floor. His little golden head swiveled to look at the pair—and he let out another wail.

"WAAAAAAAAAHHHHH-HA-HAAAA!!!"

"Oh, Kero-chan…" Sakura padded over to him. Her small hands batted away the crumpled tissues so she could scoop up her old friend and hold him to her chest. "You came here to cry? We were wondering where you were."

"Yeah," Syaoran agreed, "we still have half the sweets left at the dessert table. We noticed your absence!" When Kero kept whimpering, his grin faded. "Aw, c'mon plush toy. I didn't know you're one to cry at weddings."

Kero glanced at the vanity mirror—his Sakura, dressed in a ch'ang-p'ao, a one piece garment going down to her ankles, with long billowing sleeves, patterns of blossoms, suns, moons, and wings dancing across the silk. Tomoyo and Meilin had spent forever fitting her for the white, yellow, and red dress. Her bright green eyes gleamed, a cherry blossom barrette with a pink tassel clipped in her golden brown hair along with the other Chinese head ornaments, a barrette bought on their first (very memorable) trip to Hong Kong. She was now a beautiful woman of eighteen, but her face remained as sweet as ever.

Syaoran came forward in his emerald green pants and traditional jacket and wrapped a lithe arm around her waist—he had to admit, the brat had grown into a strong, intelligent, kind young man, more open to people than the kid he was at age ten. All in all, the groom was worthy of the bride.

I'll say Clow Reed was an octopus before I admit that, though, Kero thought with a stubbornness induced by tears.

"I thought I'd be saying this to her father, but I'm not taking Sakura away from you, Kero-chan," Syaoran said soothingly. "You do remember you're going to live with us, right?"

"Yeah, yeah, save your lines for Touya," Kero said. His voice sounded strange and warbly, trying to seem grouchy, but coming out more on the weepy side instead. "I'm surprised he didn't try a last minute assassination before the ceremony."

Syaoran grinned ruefully. "Since we're now technically relatives, we decided on a truce. He'll give me peace until kids come along, after which he'll promptly begin on turning them against me."

"Is it just because it's such an important event for us that you're sobbing?" Sakura suggested.

"Yeah…and everyone we know is here, plus tons of folks who practice the old magic…y'know, I even met up with some Guardians from the old days?"

Sakura looked surprised. "Clow-san wasn't the only who made Guardians for his magical instruments?"

"Far from it, love," Syaoran said, voice muffled because he was currently kissing her hair. "Magefolk couldn't monitor their magicks twenty-four/seven, so it was a necessity. Most magicians employed Fae or house-spirits, though; Guardians the size and intelligence of Yue and Keroberos were almost unheard of."

"There were a few who came pretty close though," Kero corrected. "It's amazing how I haven't seen them for so many decades, but they're not that changed at all. Michiko's still a looker; Anansi still weaves outrageous stories (you'd swear she and that Yamazaki friend of yours are related); Gilgamesh is still quite the dignified king; and Maximus still eats like a pig. I swear, you've never seen anyone pack away food like this guy does, what a glutton!"

Sakura placed a finger on Syaoran's mouth. "Not a word, sweetheart."

"I guess seeing all those faces from both my recent and distant pasts was completely overwhelming," Kero concluded. He sniffed some more, reveling a bit longer in the close presence of two people he cared for. They'd finally found happiness in each other. "Huh…guess we should go back down to the reception. People are gonna be wondering where you two lovebirds went," he said with a suggestive chuckle.

"I hope they know it's way too soon for children, that's all I care about," Syaoran said as Sakura laughed. Arm still around his bride, the trio ambled out the door.

"Wait!" Kero levitated out of his mistress's arms and faced the couple. "I wanna be the first to say your name. Can I?"

"Hmm? Oh!" Sakura beamed. "Of course."

Kero took a deep breath. "Sakura Li." His small golden face smiled. "There. Now it's official."

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Finally, at close to midnight, quiet came to the Li mansion. The bridal couple had a flight leaving about noon the next morning for their honeymoon destination, and would return to Japan in time to see the blooming of Sakura's namesake cherry blossoms in April.

A few guests, childhood friends from Tomoeda, had been invited to stay overnight, and were chatting in one of the living rooms. Sitting on the couch was Naoko Yanagisawa, talking excitedly about her first major book deal, pausing only to push up her glasses. Rika Sasaki, now Rika Terada, laughed at Naoko's enthusiasm. Her arm was linked with her husband's, Yoshiyuki Terada, who was very pleased that a former student of his had a bright future. Chiharu Mihara had a guarded look on her face; she was listening to her mischievous fiancée Takashi Yamazaki talking to Sakura's older brother Touya Kinomoto, ready to reel him in soundly if he started spouting off tall tales. Yukito Tsukishiro was having a friendly debate with the Tomoeda kids' other former teacher, Kaho Mizuki, on the topic of Japanese versus English desserts, and Eriol Hiiragizawa was entertaining Tomoyo Daidouji with a few witty jokes. Nakuru Akizuki was acting entirely too cheerful as usual, but was keeping her rather large canvas bag strangely close.

"Hello, everyone!" Meilin Li came in, her slinky fire-red dress bringing out the sparkle in her ruby eyes. "Sorry to interrupt the fun, but it's time for some of you to come to the meeting that Auntie called."

As good nights were said, Touya, Yukito, Kaho, Eriol, Tomoyo, and Nakuru rose and departed with Meilin. They wound up, ironically, in the very same room where Mrs. Li first received Sakura and Tomoyo on that long-ago visit to Hong Kong.

"No one minds if I let my hair down, so to speak?" Within seconds, Nakuru's long brown hair morphed to a deep rose shade with twin hair buns, black butterfly wings and gloves appeared, and her green dress turned into a black and pink number. Nakuru flung her bag into the air. It spiraled dizzily before landing on a red divan. "Coast is clear, Suppi-chan!" She giggled at the miniature butterfly-winged black kitten who swayed drunkenly from the bag's opening.

"I dare you to attempt sleep tonight, you pork bun-headed prat."

"Watch it with the "pork bun" references," Meilin said with a huff, reaching up to pat her own buns. She took a seat next to Tomoyo, tossing a long strand of ink-black hair over her shoulder. She glanced at the tall clock near the fire. "The lovebirds should be here—"

"Are here," Sakura piped up. She and her new husband came and took—ironically—a loveseat close to the fireplace. Sakura had changed into a simpler, comfortable gown and had disposed of the rather heavy head ornaments. "Does anyone here know why Yelan-sama asked us to meet here?"

"Not a clue," Meilin said. "Something about spinning yarns by the fire and an experiment."

Syaoran was instantly uneasy at the word 'experiment.' "D'you mind if we leave about eleven hours early to meet our flight, Sakura?"

"Oh, Syaoran—"

"Yo, Kid!" Kero floated through the dark hallway into the room's firelight, tail twitching in agitation while he fixed Syaoran with an indignant glare. "Don't tell me the kitchen doesn't have any more pudding on stock! That should be a punishable offense. I can't even find dry pudding mix!"

Tomoyo giggled. "Kero-chan, you polished off the last of the leftovers just an hour ago, and you're still hungry?"

"It's been a long day," Kero justified. "I'm lion enough to admit that I had a few crying jags that drained me, so I need another sugar fix. Anyone got even one of them Splenda packets, even? Sugar cube? Gum?"

"Perhaps I can distract you."

All conversation stilled. In the doorway on the opposite end of the room stood Syaoran's powerful, magical mother—Yelan Li. As when Tomoyo and Sakura first saw her, she wore a gold head ornament in her long ebony hair, and a cord around her waist from which hung a series of large rings. Now she had on a red tunic and gold floor-length skirt that only emphasized the dignity in her tall frame, in her moonlike face, in the dark amber eyes she shared with her only son.

Kero wisely quit yapping about pudding.

Next to Yelan was a slightly taller man of the same age, and behind them were another man and two women, and Wei Li, an elderly cousin who had once served as Syaoran's butler, guardian, and martial arts instructor in Japan. Syaoran's four older sisters, normally rambunctious to say the least, were now oddly subdued, quietly moving from behind their elders to quietly take seats.

Yelan glided forward until she was nearly touching the hovering mini-lion.

"Do you know who I am, Little Cat?"

Kero nodded respectfully. "Yelan Li-sama."

Everyone was surprised when Yelan's face, expressionless as the serene moon, abruptly broke into a small smile, and she let out a laugh. "Sama? I thought I'd never hear my name connected to any kind of honorable title if the speaker was proud Keroberos of the Sun." She sobered. "You truly don't remember me?"

"The first time I met you was when Sakura was still in elementary school. She won a trip to Hong Kong and ended up fighting the spirit of Madoushi the fortune-teller. Even then, it wasn't really a meeting," Kero amended. "I just kinda hid in Sakura's backpack and hoped you wouldn't sense me."

The man who had stood beside Yelan stepped forward. "I don't suppose you'll know who I am, then?"

"Father, what's going on?"

The man held up a hand to silence Syaoran. "Kero…do you know me at all?" A silent plea hung in his voice.

Kero scrutinized him, scrunching up his yellow snout. Huh, messy brown hair and a steady gaze… "Hey, I guess you're the kid's papa, right? A pleasure to finally meet you, sir…wait—"

Dark blue eyes.

Clow's eyes.

"Yuki!"

A sharp aura of light was emanating from Yukito, alarming Touya. "It's Yue—he senses some new force in the room, he wants to come out now—" His eyes fluttered closed, his chin falling to his chest as he fell into immediate slumber.

Touya nudged people out of the way as Yukito was raised unconscious out of his seat, glowing white wings sprouting from his back to cocoon him. The wings opened, revealing a tall man with long moon-pale hair and robes of white and blue—Yue.

His pale blue eyes' pupils sharpened to cat-like slits in shock at the sight of Syaoran's parents and their retinue. Images, sensations, smells, voices—bits and pieces from a forgotten segment in his life clicked, snapped, shot into place.

"Yelan…Xiaodan…"

Kero's eyes bounced back and forth between the two parties. "Uh…I think I'm losin' something here…"

A pale flash—

"No one should have to live with shattered memories. You taught me that, Little Cat."

The lion found himself staring at Yelan's eyes and a pale fan held like a blade.

"Jade Emperor beseeches thee, Four Gods. Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Lightning, Wind—"

"Heeeyyy, wait a second, lady!" A blur of feathers, a flash of gold fur and immense wings, and Kero was in his true leonine form, the powerful Guardian Beast. "No spellcasting on someone else's Guardian! Sakura! Sakura!"

The Cardmistress whipped out the Shield Card, but Syaoran and Yue blocked her. "Mother always has a reason behind her actions!" Syaoran tried to reassure.

The clock's long hand hovered next to the twelve.

"Jade Emperor beseeches thee, Four Gods. God of Fire and Earth, I ask you: Mend the memories of your supplicant, this Child of the Sun, through this compass, God of Fire." A flick of the wrist and the fan was flat before her. "Now!"

Cleansing fire possessed his brain—flames licking at dusty shreds of memory, welding together long-forgotten hours from another life. Nurturing earth weighed down in his chest, reaching past bone and muscle until tendrils of soil curled around his heart and caused a resurrection. Suddenly, dead seeds of emotion bloomed for these strangers who, once upon a time, had not been strangers.

The clock struck midnight—that quicksilver moment between day and night, yesterday and tomorrow.

The fire ceased, the earth fled.

Kero collapsed, his excavated memories playing over in his head…