Author's Note: Sorry for the delay. High school is so tiring. Hope you're happy with this chapter. To answer some questions:
1) This fic uses Japanese, okay? I only use Chinese names.
2) Tomoyo is not dead. She left the pond a long time ago, that's all.
Elven Sword: Don't worry--the story's only started. Once I'm finished, I'm sure your questions about the plot will be answered. Glad you found that mistake, by the way. I didn't think anybody would find that.
IMPORTANT NOTE: READ THE END OF THE THIRD CHAPTER IN CASE YOU ARE CONFUSED WITH THIS CHAPTER.
Disclaimer: I so do not own Card Captor Sakura. Belongs to CLAMP and CLAMP only.
The Magic Paintbrush
By: Wings of Jade
Chapter 4: Atlantis
"Hey, are you okay?" asked Sakura worriedly, realizing Syaoran's state.
"I'm fine," he snapped, though breathing quite hard. "Can't you...can't you protect yourself?"
"Gomen," said Sakura quietly, "I didn't realize I would be in this much trouble. Want to stay at my place for a bit?"
"I'm...fine," he panted. "Fine." Then he blacked out.
With a HUGE effort, Sakura turned him over onto his stomach. She grasped her paintbrush tightly, just thinking, thinking about how dangerous it was, and it had gotten Syaoran into trouble. Then, she painted a cart with a rope onto his back, since she didn't have paper. When the cart came out of the back of Syaoran's robes as a real cart, Sakura heaved Syaoran onto it, and tied the cart to her horse. His robes were unmarked.
Well, aside from the blood stains he had had before.
When Syaoran woke up, a cold towel was on his forehead, and his vision was swimming dangerously in front of him. It was as if a porcupine had replaced his brain. He tried to sit up, and then the porcupine started going crazy, stabbing and jabbing at his head, making it hurt even worse. He groaned. He hadn't experienced this much pain since the first time he tried to fight against his sensei.
"Where the heck am I?"
"Oh, you're awake." Sakura took the cold towel off his head and soaked it in a basin of cold water. "How do you feel?"
"Porcupine."
"Nani(what)?!"
"It's not right," muttered Syaoran, "The healing spell said that I wouldn't be this tired; why am I now? And why is there a porcupine in my head?"
"Porcupine?" Sakura was confused.
"Sakura-san," Syaoran said without looking at her. "Can you leave me alone for a couple of hours? I need to practice that healing spell."
"But--the porcupine!"
"I'll survive."
Sakura opened her mouth, but then she thought better and exited the guest room, still a bit worried. Syaoran watched her go, and with a great effort, sat up. He reached into his robes and took out the Book of Spells, opening it to the page where the Heal Wounds spell was. He perused it once, then read it more carefully twice, to make sure. Then he arranged himself into lotus position, and cleared his mind, closing his eyes.
Heal, he thought, Heal Wounds. Essence of Yue, no longer be sealed; Spirit of Yang, let me be healed...let me be healed...he shifted his focus to the parts that hurt--his head. His chest, from the Shape Shifter's claws. Spirit of Yang...let me be healed. He summoned the last of his strength, tensed his muscles...
Suddenly, he was bathed in a light, healthy-looking blue glow. His breathing became more steady, his lungs feeling less crumpled up. His chest wounds, which had come back after he had used his Water Dragon Spirit spell, were suddenly gone. His head no longer had the porcupine. He could think a lot more clearly again. He felt his back straighten naturally. So, this was the effect of Heal Wounds!
The blue glow faded. Syaoran opened his eyes and got up from the bed. He felt fresh, renewed, just like when he had been set free by the girl called Sakura, although that time was a bit more exhilarating than this time. He took his sword.
Just then, Sakura opened the door a crack to check on him. She had not heard anything come from the room, and was curious to see what Syaoran was doing. She was surprised when she saw him looking completely fine, health restored, and no wounds at all.
"Porcupine gone?" she asked.
"Long time," he replied seriously. "Thanks for taking me here. Was it tiring?"
"Nope," answered Sakura, smiling at him. Her smile is so bright, he observed, and her eyes are always sparkling when she does. How can one person be so happy? "You were barely any trouble at all."
"Okay then," he said.
Then, Sakura opened the door fully open and drew out a green robe from behind her back--exactly the same as the one he was wearing, but with no rips or anything. Syaoran raised his eyebrow. "I think you need something better than ripped robes, but I wasn't sure what you'd like, so I just prepared one the same as your present one."
"Where the heck did you get a robe exactly the same as mine?" he demanded. "I had mine custom-made!"
"Oh, I didn't know where to get it," replied Sakura, "I just painted it."
Yumi glided through a crowd around the marketplace effortlessly, her long lavender gown flowing slightly, though there was no breeze. Over her gown was a translucent white robe, untied. Her skin was moon white, and in one of her hands was a strange magical item; it looked sort of like a crystal ball, yet was more like a ball of running water, molten glass, and it sparkled even without light. Her beautiful lavender eyes scanned the crowd carefully, and her perfect lips were moving soundlessly, muttering to herself.
"No...no...no...not here..." She was looking for two people, whose images Yang had practically burned into her eyesight. He would reward her greatly if she was able to find them. After flicking from one person to the other, Yumi came to a decision:
She would go find Sakura Kinomoto and Syaoran Li at Sakura's house.
Sakura brought him a bowl of delicious soup and a meal. Syaoran ate without a word, and only ate about half a bowl of rice with vegetables and meat. He wasn't really that hungry after the spell, which had restored a hell of a lot of his energy.
"What is your last name?" he asked when he finished.
"Kinomoto."
"Sakura Kinomoto. Kinomoto Sakura. Okay." Syaoran reached into his robes and took out a couple of coins. Sakura's eyes widened. "Will you let me live here, Kinomoto-san?"
"Sure, but..."
"I know, I know, I have my own home but why live here? Because I need to protect you." Sakura went pink.
"I don't need you to save me, thanks."
Syaoran rolled his eyes. Why are people so stubborn and so stupid sometimes?
"Fine, not you, the stupid paintbrush."
"The paintbrush?"
Syaoran rolled his eyes again. Sakura was kind, and she was beautiful, but she seemed like she didn't know anything. "Have you ever been attacked by monsters like a Shape Shifter before? No, I guess not. Obviously, they are after your paintbrush. Why else would they try to kill you? That paintbrush is not ordinary, I'm sure you've guessed that by now. I bet they're working for some almighty evil baka so he or she can take over the kingdoms or whatever. So, I have to make sure they don't get it."
Sakura still shook her head. "I don't think you understand. I don't need you to protect me from the paintbrush. I'll do fine on my own. I can save myself."
"I doubt it's enough," growled Syaoran. "I'm staying here and that's final."
Yumi walked out of the marketplace, trying to blend in. When she was sure that nobody was looking, she leapt off the ground and flew (yes, FLEW) north, and in a couple of moments she touched down in front of a small, cozy-looking house. She pressed herself beside the door.
"I doubt it's enough," said a male's voice, irritated, "I'm staying here and that's final."
"I still don't think you understand. I'm not a little girl, okay? I can save myself. I don't need you." A female voice.
"You think I like this? No, I don't. Will you please stop protesting? I'm not trying to help you. I'm trying to help everybody."
"Oh, so you think I'm not? You sound as if you know everything. Well, you don't, and I suggest you leave before you pointlessly hurt yourself again."
"That's not your responsibility."
"It is if it's for the paintbrush, which is mine. And this is also my house?"
Yumi sucked in her breath excitedly. So, the paintbrush was there!
"Then I'll stay somewhere else. I'm obviously unwelcome here." The male sounded disgusted. Then, Yumi heard the knob turn, and the female walking after the male.
"Hey--" That's when Yumi jumped out and flung the strange crystal ball at them.
Syaoran opened the door, rage pounding through his head. Sakura chased after him, saying, "Hey--" but Syaoran wasn't that easy to cool down.
Then, suddenly, he did.
All his anger, worries--anything that made him unhappy--evaporated like water. Sakura stopped talking behind him, and she looked as if in a daze.
Well, they did have a reason to be in a daze. Their surroundings suddenly turned into that of an island, with sand beneath their feet and water washing gently onto it. There was a magnificent castle behind them, and mermaids were swimming around, laughing as they frolicked in the water. Children ran around the land, playing tag and falling down. The sky was a clear, ocean blue, the sun shining brightly above.
Just about the most beautiful woman Syaoran had ever seen moved smoothly towards him, wearing a strapless white dress, her golden hair flowing behind her. She smiled warmly at the two of them. "Welcome," she whispered.
He became suspicious. Where the heck are we? he thought. What happened to that ugly brown grass and that annoying robin on the tree? Where are we? Sakura seemed to be thinking along the same things.
"Where are we?" she asked, her voice slightly dreamy.
"Atlantis," the woman whispered. "Paradise. You have no worries, duties, or troubles here. You are in Atlantis."
Atlantis...the word lingered around his tongue. Atlantis. No worries, duties, or troubles here. Atlantis...? Syaoran frowned.
"Atlantis? But Atlantis doesn't exist!" The woman's smile lingered.
"That's what people think. But Atlantis exists, and everything bad will come to an end. Come," she addressed Syaoran, "let me show you around." She beckoned to Sakura. "Come." Syaoran followed, his angers and worries returning.
The woman introduced herself as Yumi, one of Atlantis's many guides. She liked to put her arm around Sakura's waist a lot, but Sakura would always move away. Syaoran watched the paintbrush, never taking his eyes off of it.
"Atlantis has been hidden for a long time. Only the people who are worthy of Atlantis find it. I think you two are in luck; you have finally found Atlantis, which means that you two are probably good people. Do you know why so many people are unable to find Atlantis? Because they are greedy. They want the goods, the riches, the peace and quiet it offers, but only the people who are unfortunate or are unselfish get to find it. It has been at least ten years since anybody has come down here."
Yumi smiled at both of them. "I think you two have been through a lot of adventures. Why don't you two stay for a massage?" She clapped her hands. Some girls appeared, giggling. Syaoran had had enough--massage? Come ON!
"No, that's fine. Both of us need to leave now."
"Nonsense," said Yumi airily. "You both need to stay."
"No," repeated Sakura now. In order to have a massage, they'd have to change clothes. Her paintbrush was right under her clothes.
Yumi's eyes flashed. "Nobody escapes Paradise."
"Well, I do," said Syaoran coolly. "Bye." He turned to leave.
He felt a claw grab his arm. He yanked it out of reach. One of the pretty girls had snatched him. She was smiling, but it didn't seem genuine. "Stay," she said sweetly. "Onegai(please)?"
"Gomen nasai, miss," replied Syaoran. "Come on, Sakura Kinomoto, let's go."
The girl suddenly lashed out with her hand, which had previously been a claw--WHAT? Girls's hands don't turn into claws! Alarm bells went off in his head. In that fraction of a second, Syaoran drew out his sword--stabbing the girl right in the heart.
Cries were heard, shouting, "No!" and "You monster!" and "How dare you kill someone on paradise!" Syaoran ignored them. He forced his blade deeper.
But miraculously, the girl did not die. Instead, her skin merely--okay, maybe not merely--rotted and disappeared, her eyeballs and lips peeled away, and she was suddenly a skeleton with a white robe and dark hair. She gave a rotten smile. Two teeth fell out. Syaoran stumbled back in horror; okay, so people couldn't help it if they were ugly, but could what about rotting skeletons?
"You're not human!" he burst out.
One by one, every single human on the so-called Atlantis smiled, and their flesh, eyeballs, and lips peeled away, revealing skeletons. Yumi, the beautiful woman, suddenly looked ten times scarier with sharp, black teeth and empty dark sockets. She seemed like the leader. The sky suddenly darkened, and their surroundings changed to something resembling a dark, bare, dead forest. Sakura's eyes widened; tricked!
"Of course we're not human," she said, laughing evilly. "We are False Beauty. We are the Dead. To make ourselves more presentable, we take on the form of humans."
"I had a feeling something like this would happen," Syaoran spat. "There is no such thing as Paradise, is there?"
Yumi's empty eye sockets glittered, as if there were really eyes in there. "You seem smart, little boy. So, you should know what we are after."
"The paintbrush, am I right?"
"Correct. Hand it over, and no one gets hurt. Including you."
"Back off, don't ask about the paintbrush, and no one needs to go back to their grave."
Yumi laughed harshly. "We are already dead, boy. Do you think you can kill the dead?"
Syaoran did not answer. Instead, he leapt into the air, his sword above his head, and he brought it down onto the whole group of bones, yelling, "HIYA!" He slashed expertly, then braced himself as millions of bones flew in every direction. Wasting no time, he sent a one-armed karate chop at the nearest skeleton, and a upper kick at another. "Run!" he yelled at Sakura. She did have to be told twice.
Syaoran was battling Yumi now. He sliced her skullish head off quickly, but the mouth still spoke and the body parts still moved. "You bastard!" the head yelled. "I'll get you for that!"
"No you won't!" he shouted, and pointed his sword at her headless body. "Second Sun(1)!"
At the same time, the skull shouted, "Dark Whip(2)!" from somewhere.
A brilliant burst of light blasted out of the tip of Syaoran sword, illuminating the whole, dead, grounds. At the same time, a tendril of pure darkness lashed from Yumi's bony hands towards Syaoran. The two spells crashed into each other, creating a HUGE explosion; Syaoran was blasted back, and Yumi's body was blasted into (bony) bits.
Syaoran was unconscious again, because of two reasons; one, the blast, because two powerful spells would cause terrible trouble, and two, the spell itself--Second Sun was a complex spell just like Water Dragon Spirit, and used up much of the caster's energy.
A lone skeleton staggered onto two feet. He was the only survivor. Sakura had been knocked off her feet, and her paintbrush skittered across the ground. "Iie!" she cried desperately. "I--I can't move!"
The skeleton spotted it and dived for it eagerly. "Hah!" he shouted triumphantly. "Now Yang will reward me greatly!"
Yet the second he touched it, he felt his bones vibrating, his skull spinning, his whole body shaking--what was going on?
But he didn't have time to think, because in that fraction of a second--
BOOM!
He was gone.
You want to know why the paintbrush went boom, right? Well, refer to Sakura and Syaoran's argument about the protection thing, and maybe you'll get a hint.
Wow, this was LONG.
(1): Second Sun: The sun is about the brightest thing in the sky, right? Second Sun is a spell that creates a blast of light imitating the brilliance of the sun, to blind your enemy.
(2): Black Whip: a famous attack of the Dead, which involves them constructing a whip fashioned of pure evil darkness, and using it against their enemies.
I suppose you're wondering about Yumi, and why her names means beauty? Basically, I just wanted to show that Yumi was only false beauty, that inside she was a monster. I know, I know, this probably isn't up to your standards, but chances are, I'll probably rewrite it later, so no worries. I'm in a rush right now, and have no time to double check, and besides, THIS IS ONLY A FANFIC.
