Chapter 6: Breathe Beneath the Sea

I dedicate this chapter to Sei-chan 1999. I do not own Tsubasa or its characters. I am so sorry for the delayed chapter. If anybody reviews I will try to keep this story going.

In a shadowed chamber glowing with a pale green light, Subaru laid shivering beneath a heavy blanket, his eye lids fluttering frantically. A low moan issued from his throat and cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He wanted to wake up, but the nightmare…no the memory of one of his greatest fears would not release him until he relived it to the very end…

Kamui and Subaru stared down at the dim lit reservoir. Peering at the water's surface Subaru felt a massive surge of energy. "I can feel a great power coming from down there…" Subaru's voice sounded far away as he leaned over the edge for a closer look, drawn inexplicably to it. Suddenly the water exploded upwards towards them, yanking Subaru off the ledge and into its swirling center.

"Subaru! Subaruuu!" Kamui yelled. Water rushed in at him at all sides with a bone crushing force. A gold light flared around his paralyzed form, shielding him from the flood, but ensnaring him in a prison that he could never escape from. Kamui reached down to try and drag his brother out of the reservoir's circling depths.

"Don't come any closer!" Subaru cried out "You'll get dragged in too!"

Trapped under the crushing darkness of the water within his makeshift cocoon, Subaru saw Kamui rake his nails frantically against it, his face twisted with terror and desperation. Suddenly, the water crashed on to his brother's head slamming it forward into his prison with a sickening crack. A crimson cloud of blood streaming from Kamui's forehead drifted past Subaru's horrified face. Helplessly, Subaru watched his brother's last breath bubble from his lips before sinking down into the darkness, the light of life vanishing from his eyes forever…

KAMUI!

Subaru bolted upright in his bed, his eyes flashing gold with sheer terror. He was still trapped under water! Instinctively his claws raked upward at the glass ceiling of his prison, his breathing coming out fast and shallow. His blanket twined and tangled his thrashing legs adding to his feeling of entrapment. A shadow detached itself from the wall it had been leaning on, moving swiftly towards the frightened vampire, but Subaru did not see it. His vision was clouded with the lifeless face of his brother and the thousands of gallons of water closing in around him.

"Please! Let me out!" he gasped. "No! Kamui! I have to save him!"

Firm and scarred hands locked onto his and Subaru screamed. Tears streamed down his face as he fought against his unseen assailant, terrified that he was losing his ability to move once more.

"Subaru…" A calm and familiar voice breathed in his ear. Subaru froze. One hand release his left before slipping gently into his black hair on the back of his head in a comforting gesture. Slowly his face was drawn away from the view of the water above him and into a black cloth covered chest.

"You must breathe...my dear Subaru," the voice said calmly. "Otherwise you will die."

My brother is dead. What more is there left for me to live for…

"Your brother lives." Subaru inhaled sharply. "Remember the bond you share with him…and with me."

Trembling fingers touched the golden winged pendant that he wore, frightened of what he would find…a surge of his brother's life force pulsed powerfully beneath his fingertips. Relief flooded Subaru. His brother was still alive. He relaxed into the embrace for a few moments, breathing slowly in rhythm with the steady heart beat that rested against his ear. His blood sang at the warm contact and he inhaled comforting scent of Sakura…

Wait…who is holding me? And how did they know I was worried about my brother?

Subaru's body stiffened as reality and memory crashed onto him in an instant. Only one person could cause his blood to react this way. He glanced up and saw his second worst fear come to life. One lively and one lifeless gray set of eyes gazed fondly down at him accompanied by a familiar smirk.

"It is nice to see you awake, Subaru."

"Seishiro!" he yelped, his face flushed with mortification and fear. He tried to push himself out of his arms and ended up falling out his bed with a thud. Green shadows drifted past his vision as he stared at the ceiling in shock. A colorful school of fish swept in a glittering formation before his very eyes. Scrambling up to his feet Subaru backed away from the hunter until his back hit a wall. Seishiro remained sitting calmly on the bed, gazing at him with faint amusement.

"Where is my brother?" he asked shakily.

Seishiro answered. "Your brother is currently occupied in another world with mine at the moment. Rest assured he is in good hands."

"Fuuma-san? Why is he with him? What have you done?"

"All will be answered in time. Unless you wish to run away of course," Seishiro purred. Subaru's normally gentle features were hard with anger and grim resignation.

"You know very well why I can't. Without my brother I can no longer cross dimensions."

"But I still can," Seishiro smirked. "If you wish to someday be reunited with your brother, you will have to accompany me on my travels." Subaru paled as Seishiro continued on. "In the meantime why don't you relax and try to enjoy yourself in your new surroundings?" Subaru flicked his gaze at the ceiling once more.

"Where are we?" he asked.

A wide grin brimming with anticipation swept across Seishiro's face, startling Subaru. He had never seen Seishiro look so giddy. He stood up, walked towards Subaru's huddled form, and held out his hand for him to take.

"Let me show you," he said. Subaru hesitated, wanting to follow, but still wary towards the hunter that captured him.

I should play along and follow his lead at least until I have a chance to escape.

Had he been honest with himself, Subaru would have admitted to feeling the tiniest bit of happiness and excitement of finally having the chance to be with the man who he had once cared for and sorely missed. However, Kamui came first and foremost in his eyes regardless of what he truly wanted. Subaru ruthlessly buried that truth in the darkest corner of his mind and slowly gripped Seishiro's hand. Seishiro's grin broadened as he guided Subaru through a small set of pale green rooms with glass water ceilings till they reached the threshold. A thin curtain of white silk woven with pale gold and sapphire drops covered the doorway. Green golden light glowed through the thin fabric. He glance back at Subaru who was trying, but failing to hide his curiosity. A deep chuckle escaped from Seishiro as his captive blushed faintly at being caught trying to peer past him. He drew back the curtain and revealed the world he had spirited Subaru away to. Subaru's jaw dropped and his green eyes widened with wonder. Moving his arm in a dramatic flourish towards the incredible view of a civilization which only existed in legends, Seishiro proudly presented their destination.

"Welcome to Atlantis."