THE NAMELESS BLACKMAIL
WRITTEN BY ----- VIOLENT HAYES
RATING ---- PG13 (situations, violence, and language)
GENRES --- Action & Adv./ Romance/ Suspense
------------------------------------------------------------------
AUTHOR'S COMMENT --------------------------
Here I am! I'm glad to know people are still reading this fiction, I thought it had been long forgotten! Now let the fun begin and the riddles to start.
Gee, now that was a short comment...
Onward!
------------------------------------------------------------------
CHAPTER 6 --- The CLOW shop ---
The CLOW Shop.
Reveal your inner magic.
Hiroshi read the big and darkened letters on the wooden sign. Out of all of the existing stores, this one had to be it. The essence of eccentricity scintillated out of the old-fashioned shop. He carefully overlooked the address, just to make sure; although it was clear he hadn't made a mistake. The familiar stars and moons engraved to the sign helped him prove it.
-------------------------------------------------------------
"Wake up, dream girl. We've got a whole day ahead of us.'"
Sakura lazily opened one eye to find Syaoran staring at her. Need more sleep ...Choosing to ignore him, she shut it again and rolled under the blanket, searching for a cozy spot and creating a small cocoon. She knew she wasn't going to find any comfort in the busted mattress, but still, it was worth a try. The night spent in the motel had been cold, complicating her sleeping process. She had been victim of the case of "light sleep".
Syaoran however, was not going to show any kind of mercy, being subdued to sleeping on the floor with Eriol and a single blanket. They both had been also under the rules of Sakura. But now, the little princess was not going to get her wish granted; Sakura had just ran out of luck, and Eriol wasn't around to stick up for her. He walked over to her side and shoved her shoulders for a while. At the failed attempt his annoyance grew stronger. He then compellingly lifted the covers up, a stunt that would surely work, (after all the heater had broken down).
Sakura sensed the warmth leaving her body and curled herself up. She still wasn't going to give up. However Syaoran, just as stubborn, climbed the bed and neared her side. What is that idiot planning to do? Sakura thought, as she felt the mattress sink to his weight behind. She felt the soundless breaths on her neck, prickling her skin. There was a moment where nothing happened, and all of sudden a tingling sensation rushed throughout her body obliging her to burst out in laughter.
She opened her eyes and a vision came back to her:
Countless of feathers were lying on the ground, all having been part of pillows. It had started as a fight, (one of the few from the beginning of their relationship), continued on with a pillow fight, and ended up in a tickle war. Sakura's tummy hurt from all the laughing, and Syaoran was almost breathless from all the tickling. They both had stopped, and now looked profoundly into each other's eyes.
"I'm sorry I ever got mad at you. I guess I was being jealous." He admitted after a while, he knew he had only tried to protect her.
"I never thought you'd turn out to be the jealous type. I was only talking to a friend in school..."
"I know, but with you it's different. With your beauty and your personality, who wouldn't want to be your boyfriend?"
"Am I interrupting?" Eriol stepped in.
Feeling caught in the moment, Syaoran stood up and Sakura rolled to the other side of the bed.
"Just waking her up."
"More like pestering me." The comment only earned Sakura a glare.
Having Eriol around lightened up Sakura's trip. Now she had someone she could talk to, and someone who wasn't dead serious or silent during the whole day. He was basically everything Syaoran was not. It was also a relief he hadn't been caught with Syaoran, allowing them to purchase the stuff they needed.
"Here my lady, I'm sure you'll need this." He predictably smiled and stretched his hand with a bag to Sakura.
Sakura took it and crawled back in bed. She took out a wig and gasped in surprise. Next came a set of clothing, appearing to be her size, followed by some shoes. She was going to "dress up" after all. But whose identity was she going to take? How was she going to be named? At the bottom of the bag she found her answer.
Sakura read the fake id card, "Aiko."
"That's a beautiful name, isn't it?" Eriol said as he gave Syaoran another bag. "Took a long while to find you another one."
"What does it mean?" Sakura asked amused. He could have picked out any other name.
"Ah, something you'll have to figure out yourself." He teased.
"Well, at least I got a better name than Yamato." The comment made Syaoran stop what he was doing.
"What's wrong with Yamato?"
"To tell you the truth, it reminds me of an old fat man..."
Syaoran tried to restrain himself. "Like I care what you think."
"Well, you listened, doesn't that mean something?"
Syaoran stood perplexed if only for a second. Sakura saw it in his eyes, just before he had focused them back. She had somehow reminded him an image from his past. He gave no counteract, no words formed on his lips. He simply walked to the bathroom and closed the door.
"Don't mind him. He's prone to such behavior."
Sakura simply nodded, a little perplexed herself for the sudden change of character.
"Well, there's no time to loose. You've got to try on your new look."
An hour passed by and the dilemma was forgotten. Syaoran and Eriol waited for Sakura to finish dressing, Syaoran as usual, pressuring her for speed. At last, she came out, sparkling with her strong essence. Her hair was now replaced to reddish curls, adding even more color to her emerald eyes. Her outfit consisted of a t-shirt under a white sweater, a mini brown skirt, beige tights, and boots. It was a casual look that certainly wouldn't stand out in the crowd.
"Well, this certainly is a new look for me." She said, as she took glances in the mirror at her new red bangs.
"A nice change, might I add." Eriol stated. He elbowed his partner.
"Yeah, whatever."
Before Sakura could have a chance to reply, her eyes caught Syaoran's possession. What was that thing his right hand held?
-------------------------------------------------------------
Curtains of beads merrily chimed through Hiroshi's arrival. As curious as the shop seemed from the outside, he was surprised to find it unearthly on the inside. Candles appeared to be floating from the high ceiling like golden chandeliers, all blithely lit, adding a warm-hearted flavor. Peppermint smells were scattered in every corner, behind the beauty of ancient statues.
Driven by curiosity, he started inspecting each and every stand. There were heavy books based on astrology, philosophy, history, magic... Tables held intricate pieces of art such as lamps, glass sculptures, and jewelry. People often stared in marvel and awe at the images and words written on the structures. The store gave the impression of always having customers, always hooking up inquisitive minds and unusual personalities.
"Look, the Clow Cards! I've heard some bring luck to the person who owns them and others foretell the future!"
Hiroshi perked his ears and turned around. To the farthest wall were a couple of young girls picking up cards with pictures on them. They joked as they read the marked labels, and after finishing, he got a closer look. Normal cards were displayed, all following the same stellar design, each marked under a certain name and drawing. He had no clue as to what he was searching for or what he was going to find. It had just been a random thought he had formulated in his sleep; making him rise early in the morning, prepare a cup of coffee, and rush over to find the directory book. He was pretty sure he would at least find something, a word, a hint to the mystery he was trying to solve. He wanted to trace Sakura down, and his persistence led him to the copy of a book with the information he wanted to know.
-------------------------------------------------------------
"A Clow Card?"
"Never heard of it?" Syaoran amusedly asked.
Sakura shook her head. "And I have a feeling I would have never found out with you around..."
Eriol took Syaoran's card and handed it to Sakura. "Each Clow Card has a special design and a magic essence within it."
Magic. The imaginary word was mentioned, and Sakura was not sure whether to believe him or not. As a controversial theme, it tweaked the minds of scientists who dared for proof of its reality. Syaoran had already warned him about their adventure, but had he kept in mind the part about the Clow Cards?
Eriol noticed her furrowed eyebrows, and added, "Oh, but don't worry. It isn't true."
Sakura was interrupted in mid-thought, "Huh?"
"There is no such thing as magic." Syaoran reassured.
Sakura now felt embarrassed, like a little lost child with two strange adults. Her head fell down and she decided to get a good look at the card. It was the picture of a lovely young lady with a peculiar curled-up hairdo. Her eyes were pleasantly closed as she held an enormous rose in front of her. The Flower, Sakura thought, as she read what was written on the middle.
"Why don't you flip it?" Eriol suggested.
An inscription was written on the back. To those who wield it, beauty and grace shall be gifted, to some eyes named superficiality. Inked writings appeared all over the rest of the card, none of which made sense, just groupings of meaningless letters. How curious. Who wrote on the back?
"Interesting, isn't it?" Eriol said. "This just proves you how sane our costumer is."
"I don't get it, what does it mean?"
It was Syaoran's turn to answer. "Where we are going to go next."
"Care to give me a hint?"
"A flower shop."
-------------------------------------------------------------
Sakura looked at the surroundings of the small village, all rooftops covered in fluffy snow and red-bricked chimneys puffing out smoke. There were quite a few decent stores and motels, all seemingly reduced to only two stories high. The whole village was hidden inside the forest with only a single road leading out into the highway. People walked by, children laughed and played; the little streets were not alone, a perfect way to blend in.
"How did you know it was a flower shop?" Sakura, full of curiosity, asked.
"We don't. We're really just guessing." Eriol answered as he lifted his glasses with the tip of his finger.
"Guessing?"
Syaoran nodded. "So no one else finds out."
Their search began with Sakura still confused, who tried to make sense out of what the two where planning. The first step in their plan was asking people out. Syaoran surprisingly stepped out of it, leaving Eriol to do the job.
He politely asked to the first woman he met on the way. "Excuse me madam, do you know where we could buy flowers?"
"You kidding me? At this time of year there isn't plenty stock. However, I'd recommend you go over to Hana's. Though I've got to tell you, they're not cheap."
After following the given directions, they arrived to a single floored house entirely made out of wood. There was no hint of a sign, no flowers in display on the windows. Uncertainty hit them hard, and not knowing what to do next, the three stood silent for an instant, taking in the building that stood right in front of them.
"You sure this is the place?" Syaoran maintained his stare.
"I suppose so."
"What do we do know?" Sakura asked.
"We go and check it out."
There was no doorbell or welcome sign near the entrance, and involuntarily Sakura got to knock on the door. A few minutes passed and nothing happened. Clueless as to what to do next, they simply stayed perplexed. Had they made the wrong guess? Had the lady lied? Sakura put her hand on the cold knob and twisted it slowly to see if by any chance there could be a way of getting in. To her surprise, it wasn't locked.
Slowly creaking through its way, they all stood before an old-fashioned cozy home: with tender fire in the chimney and a fragrant smell of ginger cookies.
"Who is it?" A voice called out from inside.
Eriol and Syaoran shoved Sakura in. "Um... excuse me, are you by any chance Hana?"
"Why yes, dear child. Have you come for a bouquet of roses?"
An old lady appeared from what seemed to be the kitchen. She guided herself by a cane. "What brings you three here?"
After paying a great deal of attention, she soon realized a sparkle had vanished in the woman's aged eyes. They were a clear pale of blue, inanimate, and cold. Sakura felt pangs from a guilty conscience deep within. What were they going to do next?
Seeing Sakura wasn't going to talk, it was Eriol's turn to take over. "We would like to buy you some flowers. You see we have a sick friend in need of some cheering up."
"Oh my, of course I'll help you. I hope it isn't too serious; nowadays adolescents barely take care of themselves... Well, do come in and make yourselves at home. All I require is a helping hand, since due to this blindness I have limited freedom."
Sakura smiled and tagged along Syaoran to the living room, while Eriol assisted Hana. She saw the ancient clocks that were hung on the wall, the pottery and figures on the wooden furniture, and the pictures inside their golden frames. She soon recognized, on one of those frames, those blue eyes, once belonging to a beautiful raven-haired woman. Her expression was warm and cheery, but her eyes were distant and faded; a contradiction to what she possibly felt.
"Search for a gift." Syaoran suddenly spoke, his eyes rummaging the room.
"What kind?"
"Any."
The job they had been handed out was turning to be more stranger by the minute. They were prying into the house of an old lady, and lying their way into buying flowers with a purpose unknown, at least to Sakura. Was it possible the writings on the back of the card also gave instructions? What she'd read were nothing close to words, only a frolic of letters. So who could possibly fix instructions into a single card?
By gift she expected to find a box wrapped in decorative paper with a red bow on top, but nothing similar appeared on the room. Besides, how was she supposed to know whether she had found the right object? She took a glance at the busy Syaoran, and then thought of the card. She remembered the mention of words such as beauty, grace, gifted, and superficiality. Could it be the card had been somehow fitted into a reality?
Doubting the sanity of the "customer", Sakura suddenly found a connection. With an idea on her mind, she started searching for a mirror. There was no trace on the wall, the desk, or the rest of the furniture. Obviously, a blind woman had no need for mirrors, but there could be a possibility. She heard voices coming from the kitchen, and came up with a plan.
"Excuse me, Hana. Do you have a mirror I could borrow?"
"This is no time for vanity." Syaoran stated.
"Who said I was going to use it?" Sakura replied back.
"No, dear child. I'm afraid I've got no use for them."
Damn. Sakura cursed under her breath, her hopes of solving the riddle had been wrong. Syaoran, with puzzlement in his eyes, watched Sakura for a long period of time trying to figure out whether it had just been a casual request. What is that girl up to?
"But I've always treasure the one my son gave to me..." She stopped her handiwork, and sighed. "I wish I could see my son again... Those were beautiful days, when one could see color, and watch the sunrise change to sunset every single day. Oh my, I feel a story coming, care to hear it?"
Syaoran flinched by the time he heard the word son. He motioned for Sakura to join the old lady.
"Sure. I'd love to hear it." Sakura encouraged her as she sat next to Eriol.
"There's no need to sit down, child. It really isn't that long, or a fairytale at all. It's the story of a conceited woman and her useless need for mirrors in every single room. She dreamed of everlasting beauty and her job was beautifying homes with flower arrangements, the perfect job for a "perfect" woman. Her life was ruined by a car accident she had provoked on her own. She lost her husband and her ability to see. Depression rose in her veins, and every single mirror was taken away." She paused, and Sakura had the chance to speak.
"But how could your son give you a mirror?"
Hana's smiled. "That day the whole house was covered with gloom, but he was the one who made her realize how wrong she had been all those years. She was terrified of not seeing herself anymore, yet he made her see how beauty glows inside each heart. She was selfish back then, and he opened her true eyes for the very first time. He gave me the mirror so I could overcome its control. Anyway, you'll probably find it inside a drawer, only I can't remember which."
Being finished, Hana resumed her work while Sakura joined Syaoran to continue their search.
"Pretty clever," he whispered. Sakura had the sudden urge to smile. "For an amateur, of course."
Now she had the urge to slap him in the back, but she instead decided to focus on the drawers. When she reached the third, she found out what she was looking for: the silver plated mirror. Having trouble recognizing her own reflection, she put it on the desk, and noticed that only a photo remained in the drawer.
"By now you should have reached a portrait of my son, if I'm not mistaken..."
Sakura stared at the handsome man portrayed in his 20's. His brown hair was cut short, and his eyes had inherited the familiar pale blue. His expression was happy and sincere, unlike the photo she had seen of his mother.
"Isn't he sweet?" Hana asked after a while.
"Yes." Sakura agreed, "What's his name?"
"Korvin Nishimoto."
A trigger had been pulled; it was all Syaoran needed to know. The search for their target had begun.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Hiroshi got back to his office and read The Clow Book. Eccentricities were written in each page, unraveling secret legends and myths only a storyteller would tell, and relations among the stars and planets were compared to daily life situations. The book was divided in parts, and the last contained a record of each and every Clow Card.
He bit his bottom lip as an absurd idea came to his mind, and immediately took out the piece of paper, searching for any matches. Alas, after a few minutes, a resemblance was found. Less than half of the card had been ripped, but nonetheless, it pieced together the image found on it: a sword in chains. An obvious "THE SWORD" was written in the middle, on the back a small inscription: To those who wield it, be warned, for under a spell you'll be an expertise, a growth of skills traded for restricted freedom.
Out of the sense he tried to give, none of it seemed to work. He had just hit a dead end.
-------------------------------------------------------------
AUTHOR'S COMMENT --------------------------
A promise is a promise, and I kept it, didn't I? I hope you enjoyed this chapter!There is really not much to say, so I'm just encouraging you to read one of the stories in either community: Card Captor Sakura: The Best Collection or Substance. I'll see you with a new chapter in the next week!