"Kinomoto-san," A kind womanly voice called her from behind.
"Yes, Mizuki-sensei!" Sakura cheerfully replied, pausing from her duty of sweeping the entrance of leaves for a moment.
"Kinomoto-san, I told you that you could leave a half-hour ago," The young teacher reminded her warmly. "Don't you cook dinner for your family?"
"Not tonight," Sakura replied. "It's Oniichan's turn tonight and my only chore for the day is to clean the table, so I wanted to stay and finish this."
Kaho smiled but still took the broom from Sakura. She looked very cute today and, even though Tomoyo had not been around, had taken up the offer to wear a shrine maiden outfit. Not just outside, but inside Kaho knew what a kind, thoughtful and sweet girl Sakura was. She didn't even have to help her with her sweeping the entrance, but once she noticed the massive pile of leaves strewn about, she insisted on helping. That was Sakura though.
"The sun's almost down," Kaho sighed, returning the broom to its proper place. "I think it would be best if I walked you home."
"It's okay," Sakura started up, not wanting to put her teacher out. "I've been out at night plenty of-" She became silent, blushing at the thought that she had almost given away her many nighttime adventures with Li, Tomoyo, and Kero searching for the Clow Cards.
"I'm sure you could handle it on your own, but I'd have to take responsibility if anything happened to you," Kaho told her, looking upon her gently in that same protective way that made Sakura feel all floaty inside. "Would you please make an exception for me just this once?"
Staring into those warm eyes full of kindness, Sakura began to feel funny inside yet again, blushing and smiling impishly. "Mizuki-sensei's so kind and cool!" She thought to herself. "Hanyaaan!"
Kaho smiled on the young girl and offered her hand out to her. "Shall we go inside and get changed then?"
"Y-Yes," Sakura stuttered, taking her teacher's slender hand as she led her inside.
The temperature was as cool indoors as it was outdoors and Sakura was nervous to start changing. She hated the idea of standing naked in the cold air. Kaho, of course, noticed that and smiled at Sakura.
"What's the matter?" Kaho said, already beginning to undress.
"It's cold..." Sakura muttered, to which Kaho laughed gently.
"Colder than when you got here, that's for sure," she replied. "Tell you what. You like races, Kinomoto-san. Let's see who can get dressed faster."
"Okay!" Sakura said, liking the idea.
"Ready, set," Kaho announced. "Go!"
Both girls hurried began to strip off their shrine maiden outfits and grab at whatever pieces of regular clothing they could. The girls twisted over and under one another for their shirts and skirts, ending with Sakura putting on her school's white beret. "First!" she announced happily, turning to her teacher who had already finished "Hoeeee?!"
Kaho laughed again, "No, I lost," Kaho told her, holding up a thin gold necklace chain. "I still have to put this on. Would you help me? I can never get the clasp myself."
"S-Sure..." Sakura blushed again, unable to turn down her teacher's request. It wasn't just her natural kindness though. Sakura wanted to help out Kaho in as many ways as she could. She couldn't help herself. It was like she was drawn to her, kind of like how she felt about...
Kaho felt a tad nervous when Sakura didn't say or do anything for a few second.
"Kinomoto-san, is something wrong?"
Sakura just realized she felt the same way about her beloved Yukito as she did about her teacher. But that couldn't be, because loved Yukito more than anyone. He was the only one who made me feel all lovey-dovey inside, but then Kaho came, and now she felt that way about her too. But she couldn't love two people could she?
"Kinomoto-san?" Kaho called her name again, placing the necklace down and turning around to Sakura for a moment, squatted down to meet her eye level. She could tell the girl had realized something important to her. Kaho had no intention to pry, but she couldn't just let her problems go unnoticed. As her teacher and one who watched over her Cardcaptor duties, it was her responsibility to help her in any way possible. "Is something troubling you?"
Sakura shook her head and smiled again to cover up any suspicion. "I was just thinking you reminded me of someone."
"I see," Kaho replied happily. "Is it someone good?"
"Very good," Sakura smiled, though her eyes were downcast in sadness. "Very... very good."
"Kinomoto-san?" Kaho called her again, sure now that something was troubling Sakura deeply. She put her hands on the girl's shoulders and pulled her closer to her. "Please, if something is making you upset, tell me. I won't tell a single soul."
Sakura could hear her heart beat. Her head became light as she looked so deep into her teacher's eyes, she could feel herself getting lost in them, feeling as though if she didn't look away, she would forever stay lost. "Mizuki-sensei..." Sakura thought, her body trembling where she stood. "I love Mizuki-sensei."
"NO!" Sakura pushed her away and ran out of the shrine, hiding her tears. In that single moment, looking into Kaho's eyes, she had betrayed Yukito and her own heart. She had replaced the dearest person in her life with her teacher, and to say she felt ashamed was an understatement.
"I'm sorry, Yukito," she thought to herself as she wiped away her tears, the moon rising above her. "I'm so sorry!"
Kaho stood from the doorway, watching as Sakura's figure disappear under the shrine gate and head for home. She knew it was only a matter of time. As a young girl, confusing her affinity for magic and feelings of love was to be expected. Still, to tell Sakura such a thing could cause her to doubt her love for other people for the rest of her life.
Kaho sighed and closed the door. The days ahead would be challenging for Sakura than any Clow Card she had faced yet, and Kaho knew that Sakura's powers could not help her this time.