Sakura Card Arc: 60-70

Timeline: December

Characters Emphasized: Meiling, Syaoran

Key plot points and revelations:

• Tomoyo asks when Syaoran will finish telling Sakura that he likes her, and Syaoran replies that he can't do that until he's told Meiling that he found someone else. He explains he called her the night before and told her he had something important to say, which he would do over winter break.
• Meiling, in her eagerness, comes to Japan instead. Her giddy delight shows no sign of dread; instead she seems convinced Syaoran is going to tell her that he is in love with her.
• When the fiberglass penguins attack Meiling and Sakura, she protects them both by punching them with her bare fists.
• Afterwards Syaoran hurriedly asks Meiling and Sakura if they are alright, addressing both by their names. Meiling flinches, shocked that he used Sakura's first name. This is when she figures out that Syaoran has fallen in love with her, and looks slightly ill with the realization.
• Syaoran and Sakura speculate that someone is manipulating events to make sure there aren't ever witnesses when something attacks Sakura.
• Tomoyo, seeing Meiling's distress, squeezes her hands and invites her to call on Tomoyo if something bad happens. Meiling is surprised, but understands what Tomoyo is talking about.
• Syaoran admits to Meiling that he's found someone else, and she tells him she knows it's Sakura. Brightly, she announces the engagement is over and leaves the apartment. When Syaoran offers to go with her, she refuses, her voice coming close to cracking.
• Meiling weeps on Tomoyo's lap for the rest of the night. She is heartbroken and miserable, but admits that she can't hate Sakura because she knows it's not her fault.
• Syaoran sees her off at the airport, and she asks if he's told her yet. When he answers no, she bravely replies that if he has to choose Sakura and not her, he better do a good job of it and not mess things up.
• Meiling sends letters to all of them, thanking and apologizing to Tomoyo, advising Sakura that she better keep her eyes open, and a hope to Syaoran that he will be able to confess soon.

Timeline: late December

Characters Emphasized: Sakura, The Mirror

Key plot points and revelations:

• Toya 'almost' catches Sakura in the act of sneaking out again, and Kero mentions to Sakura that he might know. Sakura refuses to listen.
• Sakura asks Syaoran what the Chinese characters Meiling wrote into her letter mean, and he explains that it means 'dear friend'.
• Sakura promises to Syaoran a Christmas present, and again he tries to tell her how he feels. Yamazaki interrupts.
• Yukito's condition worsens, to the point where he's sleeping in class all day.
• The theme of the episode is giving thanks and appreciation for those we love. Eriol nudges her in the direction of showing appreciation to her Cards by playing a hymn, and telling her that hymns are to show gratitude to the rocks and plants and earth around us. Eventually Sakura figures it out, and asks Eriol to teach her how to play the hymn so she can record it for the Cards. She can't do both hands, however, so Eriol plays the left hand side. The hymn is therefore half played by the Cards' new master and half played by the old, which is very symbolic.
• The Cards, through their spokesman Mirror, also thank Sakura for her hard work to save them and promise their neverending loyalty.
• Toya takes Mirror Christmas shopping and gives her a present of ribbons, to express gratitude for helping his sister and making sure she is safe.

Timeline: January

Characters Emphasized: Sakura

Key plot points and revelations:

• Toya actually compliments Sakura on her kinomo, apparently very sincere though he tries to cover it up. When she discovers Syaoran sent her a New Years Card, his 'sister complex' rears up. Sakura explains that he's a good guy and special to her now, and Toya mutters that that is precisely why he dislikes him.
• Fujitaka thanks Sonomi for convincing her grandfather to come and talk to him, which flusters and embarrasses her. She had, but she meant to keep it a secret. Whether this is a sign of romantic interest in Fujitaka is not really clear.
• Eriol is working at the shrine, explaining he's helping out. Sakura realizes that Kaho is gone, but it doesn't occur to her to wonder how a foreign exchange student wound up in such a role. He gives her a fortune of his own make.
• Toya finds Yukito in his home, passed out in the hallway, and can barely revive him. For the first time Toya actually sees Yukito begin to fade away, turning translucent.
• Sakura and Tomoyo visit Syaoran's home, for the first time since Meiling's arrival in episode #19. She calls him Syaoran in front of Wei, who notices, thus adding another person to the circle that have guessed Syaoran's feelings toward Sakura.
• Sakura changes Dream in her dream, which allows her the first and only foreshadowing dream of the season's climax. She sees the shrine and the sky covered in black, and gets a brief glimpse of Eriol and his friends.

Timeline: January

Characters Emphasized: Rika

Key plot points and revelations:

• Rika has been unable to swim all this time, but Sakura has been teaching her and they practice her kicks.
• Syaoran challenges Eriol to a swimming race, which Syaoran loses. Eriol offers another piece of advice that Syaoran should be so hasty, but calm when protecting those dear to him.
• When Nakuru is busy glomping Toya, he notices the way she and Eriol look at each other.
• Though Rika nearly drowns in Eriol's attack, he admits to Nakuru that he would have stopped before harming the girl. He also questions her afterwards to make sure there was no permanent damage.

Timeline: February

Characters Emphasized: Sakura, Eriol

Key plot points and revelations:

• Eriol is a very smooth and professional skier, as well as Tomoyo. Sakura and Syaoran have never done it before, however, so they both have to learn. Syaoran is especially bad at it, and Eriol has to save him from colliding with a tree. He advises Syaoran that he'll get better at skiing and 'other things' soon eough.
• Rika avoids her own classmates to help Terada fold fliers.
• At Naoko's insistence, Eriol tells a scary story by the fire. Syaoran is the one who notices Sakura's fear and breaks it up, looking out for her.
• Later Sakura thanks him for stopping the story, and laughs when he tries to deny it. She finds it amusing that Syaoran is really so kind and doesn't like people to know it.
• Sakura asks about his homesewn bear, and he admits that it is not for Yukito. He tells her there is someone else, but when she asks who she doesn't give him a chance to answer before announcing it's none of her business.
• When Sakura passes out trying to stop an avalanche, Eriol is not disapproving but kind and sympathetic. He finished the job and takes her to the bottom of the slope, where he privately admits that his one big fear is pushing Sakura beyond her limits.

Timeline: February

Characters Emphasized: Toya, Yukito

Key plot points and revelations:

• For the first time Sakura sees Yukito fading away, though she doesn't believe her own eyes.
• Eriol tells Spinel that he specifically wants both Toya and Yukito at his house, presumably because he wants to oversee the upcoming transfer.
• When Sakura compliments Eriol's home, he tells her three people from a foreign country lived there before, just as he does now. This refers to Clow, Kero, and Yue.
• When Sakura sits in Eriol's giant red chair, she feels Clow and gets the sensation of sitting in a very big space. Eriol explains he's been using it for a long time.
• Yuki faints and almost falls to his death, and Toya comes to the realization that he has to do something. Eriol leads him to a private room. When Nakuru interrupts again, Toya actually pushes her out of the room.
• Spinel predicts that Eriol will be happy about this, not troubled because Sakura's group will have more power. This is because Eriol still loves Yue as Clow did.
• Toya finally tells Yukito he's not human, and Yukito transforms into Yue. Toya offers his magic to save Yue, but insists that Yue take care of Sakura from now since he won't be able to sense when she's in trouble. When Yue says he'd give up his own life to save Sakura, Toya becomes angry and says he wants Yue to protect himself (and Yukito) too.
• Toya gives up his own magic and faints. Yue discovers Sakura had been listening, and she is now distraught at what her brother had to do. She promises her sleeping brother that she will look after him.
• Sakura tells Kero that Yukito's close brush with death has triggered her willpower. She will tell Yukito she loves him.

Timeline: February

Characters Emphasized: Sakura, Syaoran, Yukito

Key plot points and revelations:

• Yukito now knows the truth of his existence, and says his entire life has been a lie. Toya reminds him that everything after they met was true, and he doesn't care about anything as long as Yukito stays close.
• Toya is obviously weakened, leaning against doorframes and taking naps in the classroom. When Sakura approached him, he didn't notice her at all.
• When Nakuru notices Toya is not with the group, she comments that he's been sleepy 'ever since'. Sakura and Yukito both stiffen, but she gives them no time to question her.
• Sakura confesses her love to Yukito, who gently explains she really loves him like a family member. He tells her that there is someone else out there that she really loves truly, and that if that person ever makes her unhappy he'll defend her.
• She realizes he doesn't love her, and guesses that he loves her brother. Yukito admits that he does.
• When Sakura feels Clow's presence, she actually manages to follow it and find Eriol. It's a good marker of how her strength has grown over the season. He puts her to sleep and erases her memory.
• Yue is impressed that Syaoran was able to slash through Maze to find Sakura, and recognizes his feelings for her.
• Sakura chooses Syaoran to spill her emotions to, rather than Tomoyo, and tells him that Yukito had rejected her. She cries about how much it hurts. He gives her a handkerchief and comforts her, and they hug.

Timeline: February

Characters Emphasized: Sakura, Syaoran

Key plot points and revelations:

• Toya is still in bed a lot, suffering from the loss of magic.
• Sakura decides that she is over Yukito, and it's all thanks to Syaoran. She sets about to thank him, going to a lot of trouble to knit a scarf for him because he dislikes the cold.
• Syaoran is hurt that she's obviously keeping something from him, a sign that he expects her to treat him like a close confidante and friend now.
• He remarks that she's no longer tired after changing Cards, a sign of her increased strength.
• When Tomoyo intercedes to save Sakura from Syaoran's questioning, Sakura promises Tomoyo she'll always try to help her out whenever she needs it.
• Sakura extends friendship to Yukito, and the relationship is stable once again. But now Syaoran hesitates to tell Sakura how he feels because he doesn't want to put Sakura through a guilt trip rejecting him.
• When Yukito asks Toya why he doesn't like Syaoran, Toya answers he's going to take away something he cherishes. That something is Sakura.
• Toya and Yukito discuss his sacrifice again, and Toya orders Yukito to stop talking about it because he would have done the same. When he touches Yukito's face, Yukito brushes the spot tenderly.
• Sakura sees Clow's symbol and a figure in the surface of a pond when she tries to tell fortunes.
• When Sakura transforms the Glow Card, she does it in the same place she originally caught it, by the trees in the Shrine. That day was the first time she tried to confess her feelings to Yukito, so it provides good symmetry to this episode in which she recovers from telling him.

Timeline: early March

Characters Emphasized: Sakura, Clow Reed

Key plot points and revelations:

• Spinel catches Eriol in the act of writing a letter, which is apparently very significant. It signals that Eriol has come to a decision, meaning they don't have far until the end of the mission. Most likely he is writing Kaho to tell her that it's time to come to Japan.
• For the first time we see Eriol 'remember' part of his life as Clow Reed.
• For the first time Kero proposes that Sakura could become even more powerful than Clow, which Yue negates.
• Kero says 'there's a different reason' Yue misses Clow, hinting at love.
• Sakura accidentally guesses that Clow might somehow still be alive.
• Though everyone is worried when Sakura tries to go to the past, it's Syaoran that she takes care to reassure and performs a pinky pledge with him.
• Sakura meets Clow for the second time, in the past. Though she does not interact with Kero and Yue, it seems she probably could have, if she had revealed herself. She only speaks to Clow, who already knows who she is. He has either had visions of her already, or this is the point where he first learns who will become the Master of the Cards and thus Sakura seals in her own destiny in a time travel paradox.
• Somehow he is able to manipulate the time around them to take her through 4 seasons in rapid succession. The motif is a strong complement to the subject of their conversation about human lifespans and following in others' footsteps. Sakura is able to witness Clow's plans as he designates Yue the Judge and Kero the Selector, in the interest of looking after his Cards.
• Sakura recognizes that his house and chair match Eriol's.
• When Sakura points this out to Kero, he realizes he can't remember where they lived when Clow died. Syaoran guesses that his and Yue's memory were erased.
• Eriol confronts them and announces that he is the reincarnation of Clow Reed.

Timeline: early March

Characters Emphasized: Sakura, Syaoran, Eriol, Cerberus, Yue

Key plot points and revelations:

• Spinel and Nakuru reveal themselves, and transform into Spinel Sun and Ruby Moon. Sakura and the others recognize her old chant. They recognize Eriol's staff is Clow's staff.
• When Kero and Spinel fight, a motion on Eriol's part causes Spinel to get stronger. Just as they don't seem to be able to transform on their own, they also depend on Eriol for power.
• Though Spinel and Ruby are apparently stronger, Kero and Yue are able to get past them when they are afraid for Sakura's life. Their depth of love for her, and trust, is proven when they offer to go into her staff.
• The Cards also come out of their own accord, obviously loyal to their new master.
• Sakura changes six Cards without breaking a sweat, affirming the progress of her strength over the season.
• With Kero and Yue's help, Sakura begins to change Light and Dark. But she can't do it alone and Syaoran supports her with his own magic, the two of them working together to push the transformation.
• Eriol is clearly relieved at Sakura's victory. He informs her that it's over, and all the Cards belong to her now.
• The Cards celebrate this fact by circling her head and we see a very significant moment of triumph and love for Sakura, as she is both proud that she was able to master them and loves them all individually very much. It is probably this moment that galvanizes Syaoran to admit his feelings.
• Syaoran tells Sakura he loves her.

Timeline: early March

Characters Emphasized: Sakura, Syaoran, Eriol

Key plot points and revelations:

• Sakura is markedly shocked and jarred by Syaoran's revelation, not mixing with her classmates as usual. When Syaoran arrives in class, she cannot even look at him.
• Terada announces Eriol has left class to return to England. When Sakura goes to confront him at his house, Syaoran goes to protect her and Tomoyo walks backward into the unknown so she can film Sakura doing it.
• Over tea, Eriol explains in a straightforward and pleasant manner why he attacked Sakura. The Cards would die if she couldn't change them, and to do that he needed to create the incidents. He and his friends point out that secrecy was vital to pushing Sakura, as if to use her adrenaline.
• He admits he didn't plan for everything, glancing from Syaoran to Sakura. Later on he tells Yue privately that he thought Sakura and Yukito would fall in love, but Syaoran and Toya surprised him.
• Eriol introduces Kaho, and she admits that she met him while in England, before returning to Japan. He is the one who gave her the moon bell.
• Yue is still adamant that he loves Clow, but Eriol firmly declares that he is not Clow.
• Syaoran receives an order to come home from his mother. Without telling Sakura this, he speaks to her in the park. He tells her he was glad he could meet her, because when he first came to Japan all he cared about was his own power and ambition. He learned from Sakura how to care about other people than himself, and how to love. It's a good summary of how the series was a coming-of-age story not just for Sakura but for him as well. While she was getting stronger magically, he'd started the series strong but become much more mature emotionally.
• Toya and Yukito in the kitchen talk about the end of the mysteries, and both use Clow Reed's name. It's not clear how they heard it, but they have learned at least some of the explanations behind all the magic.
• When Sakura learns of Syaoran's departure, her grief and heartache is so strong that she's moved to create her first brand new original Card. We do not see what it is right away, but the sight of it compels Sakura to run to the airport and find him before he can go. Evidently it showed her how she felt about Syaoran in return.
• When they meet in the airport, neither is able to say what they feel. Instead, Sakura recognizes the teddy bear Syaoran had made and asks for it, living out the legend that a maker and receiver of a bear will fall in love. It is a different way of admitting her feelings.
• Their hands brush at the exchange of the bear, and we immediately move into a montage of Sakura and Syaoran's relationship. We see their early fights and then their teamwork, watching the progression into trust and respect and love, all of which culminates in the exchange of the bear.
• After Syaoran has left, Sakura whispers that they'll meet again. For the first time we see what the Card is, with the heart and wings. It's an obvious symbol of love.