Title:Trusting an Assassin.Part 12 Author:Tapestry Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com Standard Disclaimer Apply *denotes thought 20/1/01 DUM DUM DUM-DUM!!!Sorry...couldn't resist!!This as you know is the final chapter of Trusting an Assassin.To the SMRFF family,whose craze antics are our norm,putting up with this wacky fic of mine,will this be TAFFy or WAFFy??This one's for you Meredith-chan!! (You guys at SMRFF know the reason!!*grin*Congrats so much!!) Serenity saw the blade coming straight at her.Barely managing to dodge the blow as the blade whizzed past. Wisps of golden silver hair fell to the floor. Unsheathing her sword,Serenity held it tightly in her grasp.Her knuckles turning white.Sweat trickled down her cheek.Though her face didn't show it,Serenity Tsukino had been caught off guard and scared. "You can't win you know...I thought we settled it at the cavern??"asked Dimando tauntingly. "It doesn't matter.I'd rather die than return to the Katana.I'm sick of all the violence.Sick of all the blood...the stench." "Then why not stand still and let me finish it quickly??Why defend yourself,Usa???"asked Dimando silkily. "Instinct.And Stop calling me that!!" Thunder clapped and wind rustled the trees outside. "Face it Usa.You were born to run wild beneath the midnight sky and twinkling stars.That's why you became a Katana in the first place.All that adventure.You loved it."tauted Dimando. "Shut up!!" Swords clashed and lightning cracked.Rain began to fall.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Saffir,you have to do something!!"exclaimed Pattsu angrily."Your brother wants her dead!!" "I know,but I cannot do anything about it,butterfly.I cannot do anything where it concerns Sere-chan.He loved her.."said Saffir bitterly. "He will not listen to me." "The least you could do was try??"pleaded Coan. Saffir sighed."I suppose you are right..Serenity-chan deserves to be free..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Endymion stopped outside the Ginga Mansion,his friends and bodyguards right behind him. His gaze scanned the wet raining neighbourhood.Tossing rope up,Endymion easily scaled the wall and down onto Ginga property.He raced towards the dark masion. "Endymion!!"shouted his bodyguards running after him. Rei was following along with the bodyguards.She prayed to some merciful heaven,Serenity would be alright. ~FLASHBACK~ Rei watched as Endymion shot up from his chair and stared at Rei.His eyes wide. "Wh-what did you say??" "Serenity is going kill Seijuurou Ginga."repeated Rei.Half-expecting Endymion Chiba to tell her to go to hell. But he said nothing as he pushed past them and strode quickly and swiftly outside towards the garage. "Endymion??"called Jadeite. But the only reply they got was Endymion Chiba driving his car out of the garage leaving them behind. His bodyguards and she had piled into two cars and gone after man.The man who was speeding on a wet road towards the Ginga mansion. ~END FLASHBACK~ *Serenity...I hope you're alright.* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Endymion had made his way into the dark mansion.There was hardly any light or anybody for that matter. Sounds of swords and voices could be heard coming from a hall.Racing into the hall,Endymion searched for the source of the sounds. *Where are you Serenity...God,where are you??*wondered Endymion as he searched the huge empty mansion. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity stared at the man in front of her.Brother.Friend.Enemy. He was giving no mercy.She wouldn't have expected anything less.Dimando Kageno was a man of ruthless principles and being the leader of the Katana clan,he had embraced their teachings and salvation...mind,heart,body and soul. "You've lost,Usa."said Dimando with deadly finality. "Not while I live and breathe."retorted Serenity. The sword came down again almost catching her arm. "Tell me,Serenity...how much do you love Endymion??Does he give you the taste of adventure you love??"sneered Dimando. Serenity's breath caught in her throat. ~FLASHBACK~ "You hesitated...why are you so scared Sere??"asked Endymion."Even if you don't love me...I LOVE you...I NEED you..."whispered Endymion as he buried his face into her hair. ~END FLASHBACK~ His words and heady kisses always did give her the forbidden excitement and joy her system longed for. "Yes..." "How wonderful for you."mocked Dimando. "Love does that to you,I guess.But you wouldn't know..because you don't really know what it is to love."whspered Serenity. "SILENCE!!I will not let a traitorous ninja with no honour speak to me of what I feel and don't feel."spat Dimando as sweat trickled down his brow as they continued their dance of swords,thrusting and parrying. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saffir,Pattsu,Coan,Karaberasu and Bruche reached the mansion and got out of the car.Eyeing the rope on the wall,they expertly scaled it without a thought. "Who do you suppose put the rope there??"asked Karaberasu as they neared the mansion. "I have no idea.But maybe we are in time to stop them."sighed Saffir. They entered the mansion through the doors. "I can't believe this!!The doors are left wide open!!I doubt Diman-chan could have been so reckless!!"exclaimed Saffir breathless. "Looks like somebody rushed in here in a hurry."said Bruche as she used a gloved hand to push the door close. "Those cars outside...??You don't think there are other people here, do you??"asked Coan her hand at her back ready to unsheath the sword from it's scabbard. "Perhaps.Be on the alert everyone.Unsheath your swords.In case."ordered Saffir as he pulled his own sword out. The Ayakashi sisters followed suit. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Did you hear that??"breathed Rei. "Hear what??"asked Minako. "The main door!!" "What about it??"asked Malachite. Rei was ready to scream out at them in frustration.Endymion had entered the mansion and had run off to only God knew where.She was stuck with his bodyguards. "Have you seven ever been trained properly before??"snapped Rei."Or did you just take a one course lesson??" Makoto stared at Rei coldly her emerald eyes flashing with anger. "We have.But maybe our training doesn't come up to a Katana's standard now does it???We sure haven't been trained to MURDER anyone in cold blood which YOU have no doubt done so,hundreds of times."retorted Makoto. "Thousands.Well,then has your sensei ever thought you to keep your ears open and be alert all the time???Didn't any of you hear the main door close shut???"snapped Rei. "It was probably the wind."pointed out Zoiscite. "Maybe,but I like to be sure.I have a feeling we have unexpected company coming."said Rei as she unsheathed her sword. "Are you so trusting of your instinct??"asked Nephlite. "Mister...in MY line of work,you wouldn't BELIEVE how MUCH we trust our instincts."said Rei rolling her eyes. They shrugged and unsheathed their own swords. Makoto stared at her.Rei could feel her emerald gaze. "What??" "Have you really killed thousands of times before??"asked Makoto. "I was joking."smiled Rei. "It wasn't funny.I actually thought you killed thousands of people before." Jadeite smothered a laugh. Rei and Makoto glared at him. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Endymion walked faster towards the sounds of the swords.The voices getting lounder.It was Serenity!! Stopping outside the door where the sounds were coming from,Endymion took a deep breath and crashed the door open. He saw Serenity circling with....Dimando Kageno of Kage.Corp!!! "Serenity..."breathed Endymion. Dimando heard him and threw a glace backwards. "So nice of you to join the party,Chiba."sneered Dimando. Serenity stared at Endymion in shock.How did he find her??What was he doing here??? Suddenly,Dimando's blade came down,slashing at her sword arm.Serenity gave a cry of pain and her sword dropped to the ground. Endymion gave a shout of outrage. Dimando kicked the blade away before Serenity could reach for it with her good hand. His hand locked around her waist,his blade coming to rest at her neck. The cool blade rested against her warm skin.She felt her blood on the blade trickle down her neck. Endymion's midnight eyes were black with hatred. "You've lost more than I thought,Usa...I'm ashamed.What would sensei say about your little lapse of attention???"taunted Dimando. "Go to hell."hissed Serenity. Serenity watched as Endymion bent to pick up her blade.His eyes never leaving hers. God she loved that man.... "Let her go."came Endymion's calm dead voice. Dimando merely laughed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rei heard the movement of feet that normally would have gone unnoticed by normal people.But not Rei...she'd been trained to pick up even the slightest noise.Her skills honed to perfection by her sensei.A perfectly oiled killing machine. "Someone's coming."whispered Rei. "We know."answered Malachite as he motioned the group into a dark corridor waiting for the people to come into view. When they did,Malachite and the others jumped out attacking the people who retaliated in return. Rei squinted in the darkness.Those moves were familiar..but how was that- Suddenly with a jolt of recognition,Rei stared in shock.Those were Katana moves!!The people Jadeite and the rest were fighting were Katana Assassins!! "Stop!!"exclaimed Rei. "Rei-chan??"came a voice. This again was a shock.It was Bruche!!That meant it was the Ayakashi sisters and Saffir. "Bru-chan??Is that YOU??"questioned Rei as she tried to see through the darkness. "Yes.But...who are you with??" "They are Endymion Chiba's bodyguards." "Oh I see." "Rei,what are you and them doing in the Ginga mansion???"questioned another voice. "Saf-chan?" "One and the same." "Endymion.We came after Endymion.He came to stop Sere."answered Rei. "I told him,Sere was coming here to kill Seijuurou Ginga.But,what are you doing here???"asked Rei confused.Her entire being was filling with the sense of foreboding. "Dammit,I can't believe it!!He can read her so well!!!"cursed Saffir. "What are you talking about??"demanded Malachite. Saffir gave a laugh."The Katana clan's shidosha.He knew Serin was coming here.He knew her so well."said Saffir bitterly. "Dimando-kun is here???"questioned Rei in shock. "Yes...and he means to kill her." "Oh Kami-sama."breathed Rei. "Head for the study.Thats probably where they are."said Karaberasu. With that,Rei and the rest of them were running down the corridor. *Oh God...let Serenity be safe.*prayed Rei. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Tell me Endymion...how much do you love this woman??A Little??A lot?? More than your life??Your immortal soul???"asked Dimando tauntingly. "I'm going kill you if you harm even one hair on her head."growled Endymion. "Please...I'm scared."spat Dimando sarcastically. Serenity felt the blade bite into her flesh.Felt the burning pain in her skin.She winced.Endymion saw it. "Release her at once!!" "I am not one of your employees whom you can just order around,Chiba. I am the leader of the Katana Assassins and the CEO of Kage.Corp." Endymion took a step closer. Dimando's violet eyes flashed of hatred. Serenity took advantage of his lack of attention on her and her foot stomped on Dimando's.He let out a cry of outrage,the blade falling from her neck. Her arm drove backwards into Dimando's stomach and her leg struck out catching him in the knee.Serenity then proceeded to catch his arm and toss him over her shoulder.He landed closer to Endymion. He got up slowly. "Very ingenious Usa...I underestimated you."spat Dimando. Serenity shrugged."I get that a lot because I am a woman." Endymion stepped closer to Serenity. "Are you alright,love??"whispered Endymion as his hand tilted her chin to examine the flesh that Dimando's blade had pierced and nodded with satisfation. "Endy..."breathed Serenity before she flung her arms around his waist hugging him. "I missed you too,butterfly."Endymion muttered against her hair as his free hand clasped her waist. Dimando's eyes gleamed with hatred and charged at them. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saffir spotted an opened door with light and pointed to it. "There!!"he exclaimed. The sight that greeted them was Endymion and Dimando fighting and Serenity behind Endymion. "Sere!!"shouted Rei. "Rei..." Endymion's bodyguards swarmed around the two men who were fighting. "Step away!!This is MY fight."growled Endymion. Reluctantly,his guards took a step back,their blades still poised,ready to dispose of the man fighting their charge. "Diman-chan.Stop this!!"shouted Saffir. "Step away with you."spat Dimando. "Don't spill anymore blood,brother.Enough.Serenity deserves her freedom." "Go away!!"ordered Dimando giving his brother a vicious shove. Dimando fought with savage brutality and soon,Endymion's sword was knocked away. His blade poised to deliver the killing blow,his eyes sparkling with madness. "You lose,Endymion Chiba."sneered Dimando his eyes hard and cold. Serenity gave a shout."NO!!!" Endymion's bodyguards tensed and were about to jump and stop Dimando. Suddenly,Endymion saw a katana blade embed itself in Dimando Kageno's belly. Dimando stared down in shock and turned to face his assailant. It was Saffir. "Why...-??" "No more,brother...no more.I'm sorry."whispered Saffir.His eyes beginning to water with sadness. Dimando fell to the floor.Lifeless. Serenity stared at Saffir in shock.He'd just killed his own brother!! Saffir fell to his knees beside his brother and tears poured down his face."I'm sorry,brother.I'm sorry,I'm sorry,I'm sorry."choked Saffir. Pattsu leaned down to comfort him.Hugging him. Serenity bent beside him. "Saf-chan,why??He was your brother.Endy is nobody to you."whispered Serenity trying to understand why Saffir Kageno had just murdered his brother. "Because...enough is enough.You deserve your freedom,little sister."said Saffir looking up. "You didn't have to,you know." "It was inevitable anyway."sighed Saffir. Standing up,Saffir looked at Serenity."Be happy,little sister."smiled Saffir.Turning to Rei,"I suppose you are leaving us too,Rei-chan??" Rei nodded."Yes." "I bid you a good life,Rei.You deserve it." "Saf-chan...." "Bruche,how is Miss Ginga??"asked Saffir taking charge again. "Out colder than an ice cube.She's got a terrible lump.I don't think she'll be waking anytime soon.Few hours maybe."sighed Bruche. "You should go."said Saffir turning back to face them."We'll take care of things here." "Where could I go,Saf-chan??I am an assassin."sighed Serenity. "I told you.We'll take care of it.You don't really believe the clan has survived for so long without someway of destroying police records do you??"teased Saffir. "I love you,Saf-chan."choked Serenity as she hugged him. "And I you,little sister.Farewell." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tokyo International Airport. Dawn. "Serenity??" Serenity turned to see the love of her life walk up to her. "How did you find me??"asked Serenity. "Rei." "I should have guessed."she sighed. "Where are you going??"asked Endymion. "I'm leaving Tokyo."stated Serenity. "Why??You're finally free of the Katana,my butterfly.Why are you leaving me???"snapped Endymion angrily as he caught her arms. "My love...too much has happened here to me.I need to go.I cannot bear all the memories."whispered Serenity,her eyes beginning to water. "Butterfly,do you really want to leave all this??Me??"asked Endymion in a strangled whisper. "I have to.I need to shake this all behind me." "Don't."choked Endymion as he pulled her to him."Don't leave me." "Endy...I can't.Everything is too painful.Too fresh.I need time!!" Endymion pulled away.Looking down at the woman he loved more than life itself.He loved her so much.He had to let her go. "I understand.I love you butterfly.I'll love you till the day I die." "Thank you,Endy.I love you too."sobbed Serenity as she hugged him, pressing her face into his chest.She felt his hand at her head.Holding her. "Goodbye??"asked Endymion. "Never." With that,she slid out of his embrace and was gone. "Becareful,Serenity...I love you."whispered Endymion as he turned and walked away,disappearing into the crowd. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ ~Epilogue~ 3 years later. "CONGRATULATIONS!!"shouted the group as the bride and the bridegroom laughed comind out of the church. "So,what are you going to do now??"asked Malachite whose hand was resting on his wife's waist possesively. "Just don't let him push you around."said Minako whose belly was swollen. Rei laughed and rested her head on her husband's shoulder. "Who would have thought???An assassin and a bodyguard!!"laughed Nephlite. "Ex-assassin."muttered Jadeite dryly. "I wish..-"began Rei the glow in her eyes diminishing slightly. They all knew Rei Hino Hikaru was thinking of her bestfriend,Serenity Tsukino who had left Tokyo 3 years earlier. "Where did Endymion go??"asked Ami looking around. "He offered his congratulations and disappeared."said Makoto. "He's changed so much since Serenity."sighed Zoiscite. "I agree.But he loves her all the same."sighed Malachite. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Endymion stared out at the bushes of roses which were flowering red blossoms. He sighed and stared down at the water under the bridge he was standing on.He missed her.He should have been angry at her.But how could he ever stay angry with his little butterfly?? Laughter the sound of tinkling bells reached his ears.He didn't recognize it,and yet..did.He looked around for the source of laughter and saw a blonde woman tossing something in the air. Time seemed to stop for a moment. Slowly,he made his way towards her.He heard her voice.It sounded like Serenity.It was so painful but he needed to see this woman. He heard her words. "Oh,aren't you the cutest little thing??"laughed the woman. Suddenly the woman turned and his breath caught.The woman froze,her blue eyes going wide. "Serenity..."breathed Endymion. "Endymion." She was holding a puppy in her arms. Time seemed to slow down as they stared at each other. The puppy gave a little yap startling them both out of their reverie. Breaking the uneasy silence,Endymion moved closer to her and patted the puppy on it's head who turn,gave his hand a friendly lick. "He's cute.What's his name??"asked Endymion focusing his gaze on the puppy. Serenity gave a little giggle. Endymion looked up raising an eyebrow. "Meet Endy."smiled Serenity as she held out the puppy. Endymion stared at the puppy fiercely who merely gave a little yap and licked his hand once more. Endymion reached out and plucked the puppy out of Serenity's arms. The puppy wagged it's tail as Endymion held it up and examined it. He frowned slightly. "You named this ragamuffin of a dog after me??????"asked Endymion indignantly with a slight huff. That sent Serenity into peals of laughter. Endymion grinned and set the puppy down,who tore around a tree playfully. "I missed you,butterfly."whispered Endymion. "Endy.." Serenity jumped into his arms her arms locking around his waist. "I missed you so much,Endy!!But when I came back to Tokyo,I just couldn't bear to see you.I couldn't bear to barge back suddenly into your life. Especially after I left it and caused you so much trouble." "Butterfly,didn't I tell you??I love you and it doesn't matter to me if you barge back in my life and turn it upside down or cause me trouble as long as you're here to stay,darling."choked Endymion as he buried his face in her hair. "I am,Endy.I am here to stay." Endymion leaned down and kissed her.He'd missed her so much.Finally when the need for air became too great,they broke apart.Their breathing ragged. "I missed you so much." "I did too." "Tell me,love.Have you changed??" Serenity laughed."If you mean I still go around trying to murder people in the dead of night,no.But I DO still practice my skills as well as have the dreadful habit of running up and down the rooftops at night." Endymion stared down at her. A flush creeped up her face."I tried to curb the habit.Really!!But I guess,I need to run free too much,sometimes.It's the adrenaline rush." "Don't fret,darling.I do it too,sometimes."smiled Endymion wickedly. "I love you,Endy." "I love you too,butterfly." Endymion led her towards the church. "Why are we going there??"asked Serenity as she noticed Endymion's direction. "It's Rei's wedding day,love."smiled Endymion."And we're getting married there,right NOW."said Endymion wickedly. "What??Endy-" "I don't want to wait another hour without knowing you're mine.I've waited 3 years already." "But Endy!!Look at me!I'm not in a gown or-" "I think it's perfect.Love me,butterfly...please."pleaded Endymion. "I do,Endy...with all my heart and soul." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ The End. 21/1/01 YES!!!I'm done!!This story is FINALLY finished. My apologies to Meredith-chan.I know how much you like Dimando-kun. :p Email me please???Tell me what you thought of the ending.