CCS Episode 06 - Sakura and the Illusion of her Mother

OPENING THEME MUSIC: "Catch You, Catch Me"

TITLE SCREEN

*** Story ***

The girl with glasses is walking through the park at sunset.

GIRL WITH GLASSES, narrating: That day I was really late, so I decided to take a shortcut through the forest behind the school.

A crow flies out of a nearby tree, frightening her. A glowing orb floats toward her.

GIRL WITH GLASSES: A firefly?

It flies into the woods, and she follows. It stops at a ledge with a broken railing. Suddenly, it changes into a ghost.

*** Reality ***

SAKURA: Hoeee!

The other girls cover their ears. They're in cheerleading practice.

CHIHARU: Sa.... Sakura-chan!

SAKURA, embarrassed: Gomen nasai.

CHIHARU: Is that story true, Naoko-chan?

NAOKO: Yeah.

Note: Finally! A name for the girl with glasses!

CHIHARU: Is it possible that you saw something and imagined the rest?

NAOKO: Hmmm....

SAKURA: Let's stop talking about that. I can't handle scary stories.

CHIHARU: Hey, hey! Why don't we try and find out if it really happened?

NAOKO: How?

CHIHARU: Practice is over early today, so let's all go check it out with Rika-chan.

SAKURA: Um! Um! Um! Um!

CHIHARU: Nani?

SAKURA: You know, there's a sort of cliff deep in the forest. It's dangerous.

CHIHARU: We'll be all right as long as we don't get close.

SAKURA: Bu.... But what if a ghost really appears?

CHIHARU: We'd be fine if we got away quickly.

SAKURA: Still....

CHIHARU: Anyway, it's all right.

A whistle blows.

NAOKO: Ah, break is over. Let's go.

Sakura follows them, hiding her face in her pompoms.

SAKURA: Why do they like scary things so much? Why do they want to go even though something scary could happen?

She walks past Tomoyo.

TOMOYO: Oh, Sakura-chan, is something wrong?

SAKURA: Tomoyo-chan....

She sobs and clings to Tomoyo.

SAKURA: Tomoyo-chan, come with me!

TOMOYO: Hai, hai.

*** Forest ***

The five of them are walking through the woods.

SAKURA: Like I said before, why don't we stop?

TOMOYO: It's all right, it's still light out.

RIKA: Yeah, yeah, there's nothing to worry about.

CHIHARU: Hey, okaa-san's birthday is coming up. What do you think would make a good present?

SAKURA, quietly: Oh!

RIKA: Your mother likes making sweets, so how about a kawaii cake dish?

CHIHARU: A cake dish? Hey, Sakura-chan, what do you think?

They all look at Sakura and realize. Chiharu covers her mouth, embarrassed.

SAKURA: Hoe? Oh, don't worry about it! [thinking] That's right. Next Sunday is also okaa-san's....

They walk along a path, when Naoko stops and turns into the woods.

NAOKO: This way.

Sakura is clinging to Tomoyo. She shrieks when a bird calls.

TOMOYO: It's a crow.

SAKURA: Yeah.

They near the ledge where Naoko saw the ghost.

NAOKO: It was right here, but....

They all look around.

CHIHARU: Nothing's appearing. I wonder if it has to be nighttime.

SAKURA: Hoeee....

She shudders and sees the orb approaching.

SAKURA: Hoeee!!!!

It glows and Sakura sees the silhouette of a woman.

The girls all run away, screaming. Sakura pulls Tomoyo, who just looks confused. They stop.

SAKURA: A long-haired woman...!

CHIHARU: Pointed ears...!

NAOKO: A one-eyed whirling thing...!

RIKA: Pink, torn lips and fangs...!

TOMOYO: A giant nikkuman.

SAKURA: Hoe?

The others stare at Tomoyo.

TOMOYO: I saw a giant nikkuman.

*** Bathroom ***

Sakura is taking a bath. Kero is playing with a toy sailboat.

SAKURA: It was really scary.

KERO: You're afraid of ghosts, Sakura?

SAKURA: Yeah, I'm scared.

KERO: Even though you're all right fighting Clow cards?

SAKURA: I can't deal with something if I don't know what it really is. As for Clow cards, I know what they are.

KERO: I'm not sure I understand that logic. Anyway, they all saw something different, right? I wonder if there's such a card....

FUJITAKA, in hallway: It's almost dinnertime.

SAKURA: Hai! [to Kero] Well, I just hope you become your original self again and become my bodyguard soon.

KERO: In order for that to happen, you'll need to capture the cards of fire and earth. My true form looks so cool!

SAKURA: Cool?

She imagines an enormous Kero.

*** Kitchen ***

Sakura runs up to the kitchen table. Fujitaka is setting it.

SAKURA: Wahhh-hah! Looks good.

FUJITAKA: Sakura-san, you like noodles, don't you?

SAKURA: Yeah.

She pulls out her chair to sit down, but stops when she notices her mother's picture on the table. She picks it up.

SAKURA: I really like this picture. It's of okaa-san when she was sixteen years old.

FUJITAKA: Mmmm.

SAKURA, thinking: Okaa-san, Nadesiko-san, had been modeling since she was in junior high. We still have all the pictures, including magazine ones and ones otou-san took. [aloud] Okaa-san looks beautiful.

FUJITAKA: Yeah. She was the most beautiful, most gentle, and most wonderful person in the world.

Sakura giggles.

SAKURA, thinking: I don't remember her very well because I was only three when she passed away. But otou-san has told me lots of stories about okaa-san, so I love her a lot.

FUJITAKA: Hey, if you don't eat now, it'll get cold.

SAKURA: Hai. You, too, otou-san. If you don't hurry, you'll miss the bullet train.

FUJITAKA: Yeah, yeah.

*** Later ***

Sakura does the dishes while Kero watches.

KERO: So your father and brother are out?

SAKURA: Onii-chan had to work, and otou-san has a business trip.

KERO: Ohhh....

SAKURA: Otou-san made some pudding before he left.

She winks at Kero.

SAKURA: Let's eat them, including onii-chan's!

KERO: Wai! Pudding, pudding!

The phone rings.

KERO: I'll get it.

He flies the phone to Sakura.

SAKURA: Hai, this is Kinomoto. Tomoyo-chan, what's up? They went back to the forest?!

TOMOYO'S VOICE: Yeah. I got a phone call from Chiharu-chan. This time they went with the whole club. They said it happened again. The ghost.

SAKURA: Hoeee!!!!

*** Forest ***

Sakura, Tomoyo, and Kero are standing in the woods. Sakura is crying.

KERO: What the...? A card captor isn't supposed to be scared stiff like this.

SAKURA: But...!

TOMOYO: Are you sure you'll be all right?

SAKURA: I'm not all right, but someone was injured, right?

TOMOYO: Yeah. Chiharu-chan went there with her four other friends. When they saw the ghost, they panicked and tripped.

SAKURA: If it's a Clow card, I have to capture it.

KERO: That's expected of a card captor! Protecting the peace of a neighborhood....

SAKURA: But what if it's really a ghost?!

KERO: There's no use talking. We'll have to check.

TOMOYO: Well, then, shall we go?

The orb appears.

SAKURA: That's...!

It flies into the woods.

KERO: Sakura!

SAKURA: Yeah! Fly!

She follows the orb. It stops at the ledge. The woman appears again, but this time she is more clearly illuminated. Sakura gasps. It's Nadesiko.

SAKURA: O.... Okaa-san? Is it really.... Okaa-san?

Sakura is crying happily.

SAKURA: Okaa-san!

Tomoyo and Kero approach.

KERO: What's that? What's wrong, Sakura?!

He flies toward her, but is repelled by an unseen barrier.

TOMOYO: Kero-chan!

Sakura doesn't even notice them.

SAKURA: Okaa-san!

Sakura walks toward the apparition.

TOMOYO: Sakura-chan! There's a cliff over there!

Sakura continues. She steps right off the ledge and falls.

TOMOYO: Sakura-chan!!!!

A transparent hand grabs the unconscious Sakura's hand and slows her fall. Yukito, walking below, hears Tomoyo shrieking and sees Sakura falling slowly down.

TOMOYO: Sakura-chan! Sakura-chan!

YUKITO: Sakura-chan!

He runs to catch her. Tomoyo reaches the ledge and sees Sakura in Yukito's arms.

TOMOYO, happily: Sakura-chan!

YUKITO: Sakura-chan's all right.

EYECATCH - Tomoyo

*** Yukito's House ***

Sakura opens her eyes and sits up. She is in a strange bed.

SAKURA: Hoe?

Yukito enters carrying a tray.

YUKITO: Are you awake?

SAKURA: Yukito-san, where am I?

YUKITO: My house.

SAKURA: Yours?

She notices that she is wearing different clothes.

SAKURA: Hoe? These clothes...?

YUKITO: The ones you were wearing are in the laundry. Obaa-chan changed your clothes.

He hands her a drink.

SAKURA, thinking: Oh, yeah. Onii-chan told me that Yukito-san lives with his grandmother and grandfather. It's just those three. [aloud] Ummm.... Arigatou gozaimashita!

YUKITO: Sakura-chan, you fell off a ledge. Do you remember?

She shakes her head.

YUKITO: Oh, really? It was surprising. I was just walking down the street, and Sakura-chan fell from the sky.

SAKURA: So you're the one...! Where's Tomoyo-chan?

YUKITO: The women with the sunglasses came to pick her up.

He remembers Tomoyo's bodyguards.

YUKITO: She was really worried about you, but I told her that I'd call Touya. She said, "I'll leave it to you."

SAKURA: Onii-chan?!

She imagines an irritated Touya.

YUKITO: I'll tell him, so don't worry. He won't be mad at you.

SAKURA: Oh. Kero-chan!

YUKITO: Orange nuigurumi? Tomoyo-chan said, "I'll take it for today."

Sakura sighs, relieved. She finishes her drink.

YUKITO: Now more rest.

She closes her eyes, and he tucks her in. He pats her head, and she opens her eyes.

SAKURA: Yukito-san....

YUKITO: Eh?

SAKURA: I saw okaa-san at the ledge. I wonder if it was her ghost. A long time ago, onii-chan told me that ghosts only appear for a reason. I wonder what okaa-san was doing there....

YUKITO: But I wonder, if it was really your mother, would she put you in danger?

SAKURA: Okaa-san....

She falls asleep.

*** Street ***

Touya and Yukito are walking. Touya has Sakura on his back.

TOUYA: Sorry about that, Yuki.

YUKITO: Nah. Sakura-chan told me that she saw her mother in the forest behind the elementary school. Have you ever seen your late mother, Touya?

TOUYA: I have, but not in the forest behind the elementary school.

He remembers himself and Sakura at a younger age.

TOUYA: It's my fault that she's afraid of ghosts and monsters and stuff like that.

YUKITO: Eh?

TOUYA: When she was really little, I used to tell her, "Hey, there's an invisible woman over there," and, "There's a white-haired old man, floating," and stuff like that.

YUKITO: So that's why she is so nervous.

TOUYA: I guess she believed me even though she couldn't see them, because she would cry like a baby.

YUKITO: Do you still see you mother often?

TOUYA: Iee. When I entered middle school, she didn't appear anymore.

He looks at Sakura.

TOUYA: I think she misses okaa-san.

YUKITO: I don't think so. It can't be helped that she would want to meet her mother if she could. Don't be mad at Sakura-chan. She has a lot to deal with.

TOUYA: Hmph.

YUKITO, laughing: Still, you obviously love her a lot, so you should quit teasing her.

TOUYA: I'm the only one who can mess with her.

YUKITO: Do you know what a "sister complex" is?

TOUYA: Shut up.

*** Sakura's Bedroom ***

Someone knocks on Sakura's bedroom door. Sakura is reading in bed.

SAKURA: Hai!

Tomoyo enters.

TOMOYO: Sakura-chan!

SAKURA: Tomoyo-chan!

TOMOYO: Are you feeling all right? You didn't come to school today.

SAKURA: Yeah, I'm totally fine. Onii-chan suggested I skip school.

Tomoyo opens the basket she is carrying. Kero comes out, carrying a flower.

SAKURA: Kero-chan!

Kero flies over to her and puts the flower in her lap.

KERO: I'm sorry I couldn't do anything to help you.

SAKURA: Nah! Arigatou.

She smells the flower.

SAKURA: Smells nice.

TOMOYO: I still can't figure out what that light was.

Sakura looks at a photo of her mother.

SAKURA: Okaa-san was in that forest.

TOMOYO: But everyone saw something different. You're the only one who saw a woman, Sakura-chan.

KERO: You shouldn't go back. I don't know if it was a Clow card or a real ghost, but it has enough power to repel me. Even though I appointed you to collect the cards, I don't want to get you hurt or make you sad.

SAKURA, touched: Kero-chan.... [happily] You sound just too cool, Kero-chan!

She gives him a noogie.

KERO: I'm always cool!

SAKURA: But I'm still going.

TOMOYO: Sakura-chan!

KERO: Sakura!

SAKURA: If it's a card, I have to do something. If it's okaa-san....

She goes over to the window.

SAKURA: Onii-chan told me a long time ago that okaa-san wasn't here anymore. He said that since I had grown up, she was relieved and went to a really beautiful place up in the sky. I have to find out why okaa-san is here, and if she needs my help.

*** Forest ***

They are back at the ledge.

TOMOYO: Be careful, Sakura-chan.

KERO: Don't fall off the cliff again.

SAKURA: Yeah.

KERO: Keep on your toes.

TOMOYO: I wonder if it will conveniently appear again.

KERO: It will! My intuition is never wrong.

Through her camcorder, Tomoyo sees the orb.

TOMOYO: It's over there!

KERO: Sakura!

SAKURA: Yeah.

The orb becomes Nadesiko.

SAKURA: Okaa-san.

TOMOYO: Sakura-chan's mother?

KERO: She looks just like her picture! But why do we all see the same thing this time?

SAKURA: Okaa-san.

She walks toward the apparition.

SAKURA: Are you really okaa-san? Why are you here? Are you lonely, okaa-san? Do you want me to stay with you?

The illusion starts to move away.

SAKURA: Wait! Don't go, okaa-san!

She steps toward the ledge.

KERO: Stop! Don't go that way!

He tries to stop her, but is deflected again and blown into a tree.

TOMOYO: Kero-chan!

KERO: Sakura is....

SAKURA: Okaa-san! Wait, okaa-san! Please, don't go!

She is almost at the ledge.

SAKURA: Okaa-san! Okaa-san! Okaa-san!

She steps off the ledge.

KERO: Sakura!

Sakura is falling.

SAKURA: O.... Okaa-san.... Why, okaa-san? Why?

She remembers Yukito.

YUKITO, in past: But I wonder, if she was really your mother, would she put you in danger?

Sakura opens her eyes as she falls.

SAKURA: This is wrong! Okaa-san wouldn't do this to me! She wouldn't do this!

She throws a card in the air.

SAKURA: Fly!

She flies back up to the ledge.

KERO: Sakura!

TOMOYO: Sakura-chan!

SAKURA: You're not okaa-san. Who are you?

The image of Nadesiko glitches for a moment, revealing a pattern.

KERO: I recognize that pattern! It's a Clow card, all right!

Sakura raises her wand.

SAKURA: Return to thy true form! Clow card!

The card is sealed.

TOMOYO: You did it, Sakura-chan!

KERO: It's Illusion. That's why what everyone saw was different.

TOMOYO: What do you mean?

KERO: Illusion is a card that shows you what you want to see. That's why what each person saw varied.

TOMOYO: Now that you mention it, when I first came here, I was hungry and I was thinking that I wanted to eat a nikkuman or something.

KERO: The ghosts the others saw are what they imagined would be scary if they appeared. The reason we saw Sakura's mother just now was that we were all sure her mother would appear and we had just seen her picture.

TOMOYO: Kero-chan, why were you repelled?

KERO: Because Sakura's feelings were so strong when she met her mother.

Sakura is looking at the card and crying happily.

SAKURA: I'm glad okaa-san isn't all by herself here. I'd have been glad to meet her, but.... But.... I'm happier that she's in heaven.

KERO: Sakura, you worked so hard, I bet your mother is proud. Although she may have been a bit worried this time.

*** Kinomoto House ***

It's morning.

SAKURA: Hoeee!!!! I'm going to be late!

She runs into the kitchen, panting. Touya is reading the paper.

TOUYA: Why are you in uniform on a Sunday?

Sakura wolfs down some food and a glass of milk.

SAKURA: I have club! Gochisou sama.

She nearly leaves, but stops and puts a small gift in front of her mother's picture.

SAKURA: Happy birthday, okaa-san. I love you.

Touya smiles and looks at Sakura. He is surprised to see Nadesiko looking over her shoulder.

SAKURA: Well, then, itte kimasu!

NADESIKO: This time I was a little bit worried, so I came. But she's all right now.

Her wedding ring glints and she disappears. Touya smiles and goes back to reading the paper.

CLOSING THEME MUSIC: "Groovy"