Title:Trusting an Assassin.Part 3 Author:Tapestry Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com Rating:PG Standard Disclaimer Apply *denotes thought Rubasu = Rubeus Yuuichirou = Chad Thank yous to the people on smrff mailing list and MillenniumFanfics list. You guys are the best.Also,thanks to those who mailed me.... Alright!!Why hasn't anybody sent nominations to Tapestry8@xoommail.com??? *frowns* We start voting for those people on April Fool's day you know!! (:p) "So what did you think of Serenity??"asked Endymion as the three returned to the hotel suite. "I think she's someone not to be trusted."said Malachite. "Jadeite??"prompted Endymion. "I don't know...but I think she and her friend are mysterious.Miss Hino was very secretive about what she works as."said Jadeite. Endymion sighed....he had to agree....Serenity was an odd woman.... Beautiful,mysterious.....yet....sad...she hid something...a secret....and usually....secrets were dangerous...he now wondered if it had been a good idea to ask her to lunch.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity sighed walking into the room she and Rei shared. "Rei....what do you think of the bodyguards,do you think they suspect?" asked Serenity. "I cannot say,but the Jadeite was very inquistive.I think he might suspect.He asked so many questions."said Rei exasperated. Serenity grinned devilishly. "True...but he's cute isn't he....??"teased Serenity. Rei flushed a reddish hue. "Excuse me?????" Serenity snorted.Picking up a shoten blade,Serenity flung it over her shoulder,hitting the dart board she'd brought with her from Tokyo with deadly accuracy. Rei sighed."Serenity....I could say the same for you,the target is a handsome one isn't he???"smiled Rei,picking up a shuriken. "Yes....such looks wasted as we have to kill him."added Serenity nonchalantly.But in truth...her pulse was racing at the thought of killing the man. Rei lifted an eyebrow,looking at Serenity from the corner of her eye, while touching the sharp tip of the shuriken. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tokyo... The Ayakashi sisters had thrown Esmeraude into one of the cavern dungeons. "You will not,try and sabotage Serenity's mission,Esmeraude."spat Coan. "I could have killed the target!!"screamed Esmeraude. "The hell you could.You nearly got yourself killed,if we hadn't come along."retaliated Bruche her ice blue eyes glinting. Karaberasu smirked. "Why don't we just kill her??"she questioned. "Without Lord Dimando's permission???That would be mutiny....and the price...is death....you remember what Rubasu did??"asked Pattsu calmly. Saffir sighed. "How could anyone forget???Rubasu killed Setsuna Meiou without Dimando's consent."said Saffir. "Yes...and what happened???"prompted Pattsu. "Dimando had him killed and his body was burned."replied Coan nonchalantly. "But still...I don't understand how two people who were so close when they were young,become like this."said Bruche shaking her head as the group walked away. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kyoto.. Serenity got out of bed....she couldn't sleep....it was so warm...so stuffy and restrained.... Stepping out onto a balcony,Serenity felt the cold wind rush onto her face.Stepping back in slightly... Serenity stepped back into her bedroom to dress. Coming back out onto the balcony,she was dressed in black from head to toe.Her golden hair in a braid,Serenity covered the lower part of her face with a mask and lept for the top of the hotel.... On the roof...Serenity felt the welcomed surge of adrenaline...she loved the feeling.The feeling of freedom.... Quickly moving with ease,her refined gymnastic abilities allowed her to jump over each rooftop with ease. This was how she escaped....why she became an assassin...the wind in her face...the rush of adrenaline...all the things she loved with a passion. She was part of the night and shadows....she should have been part of the light....instead of the cold shadows that now draw her.....she is a woman......but once..... Once....she was a child.....once she was innocent...until the murder of her family.... then,that innocence was stolen.... Reaching the main city...Serenity's aqua eyes took in the lights that still lit the city.Peering down the edge of the building....she perched like a gargoyle.... The cold wind always did clear her mind of the fog,called confusion.... no...she was no longer confused....her main focus was to assassinate the CEO of Terra.Corp....no....no more confusion there....she knew what she had to do..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Endymion sat up in bed.He couldn't sleep....he stared at the window, where the moon light peeked through.He often considered running out into the night....he used to do it....once.... Before he grew up....when he was a boy....he would always jump out of bed and up to the roof tops of Chiba Manor....staring at the moon.... *How long more??.....I know someone is out there...waiting...* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rei yawned sitting up.Looking at the bed beside her's,it was empty... *Dammit girl...where have you run off to now???*wondered Rei swinging off the bed. Walking out into the living room of the suite,Rei noticed the thin pink translucent curtains were fluttering wildly in the wind. "Serenity.....you always did like running out into the night."sighed Rei. Reaching the curtains,Rei was about to pull the glass door shut,when a body landed on the balcony with a soft thud. "Serenity??" "Rei???I'm sorry...did I wake you??"asked Serenity peering through the curtains. Rei sighed."No...but I was wondering where you went." Serenity grinned. "My mind was confused and I felt so restrained and hot.So...I went out." smiled Serenity. Shutting the glass doors,Serenity headed back into the bedroom,divesting herself of the black garment,and getting into bed. "Serenity...you'll never change."whispered Rei. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Endymion...what are you doing up??"asked Malachite. "Hello,Mal......just doing some thinking.."sighed Endymion."So.... nervous of the upcoming wedding with Minako??"asked Endymion curiously. Malachite sighed. "I guess...but the Katana Assassins issue is a good diversion from the wedding jitters."laughed Malachite. "I'll bet.So...truthfully....why do you say Serenity Tsukino is a woman not to be trusted???"asked Endymion. "Truthfully,Endymion???I don't know.....my insticts tell me she's no good....yet when I look at her...all I see is a young woman who's been hurt and keeping a secret...it's the secret I don't like."said Malachite. "I suppose...she and her friend ARE awfully secretive aren't they??" Malachite sighed."True....but I suspect,you like her....probably even falling in love..." "Perhaps...perhaps not..."agreed Endymion and disagreed at the same time. "Can you do it,Endymion???"asked Malachite. "Do??" "If she is a danger to you...or your sister..if she is a Katana Assassin....can you kill her???Slay her???"asked Malachite. Endymion stared at his friend.Kill Serenity???An assassin???By the name of Serenity???That would be ironic. "Yes..."whispered Endymion. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For the next two days,Endymion met up with Serenity a lot....but other times...he was busy negotiating business. Endymion growled in frustration.He slammed his glass of wine of the table angrily.The day had not gone well... "Hello,Endymion."greeted a soft voice. Looking up,he saw Serenity. All frustration and anger drained away,merely by looking at the angel. "Hello Serenity...you look like my angel of mercy today."commented Endymion teasingly. Serenity smiled.*More like the angel of death,*she thought to herself. "You look stressed.Business trip not going well??"asked Serenity enquiringly. Endymion sighed and nodded. *Pathetic..* "Why don't you join me???"asked Endymion. Serenity smiled."If you don't mind." "Oh,not at all." "Thank you...so...want to talk about it??"asked Serenity. "I thought you had a flight to catch??"asked Endymion confused. Raising an eyebrow,Serenity gave a small laugh."Indeed...but it's not due until tonight."laughed Serenity sipping some green tea. "I see.." "Well..it's certainly fancy running into you."smiled Serenity. "Kyoto is a very big city."commented Endymion sipping his coffee."So you must stay nearby." "Indeed I do...I'm staying at Yoshiro Hotel." "That's not very far from where I'm staying."smiled Endymion. Serenity stared at her watch. "I'm afraid I have to meet Rei."apologized Serenity. "You're leaving??" "Yes...it's been pleasant running into you."smiled Serenity getting up. "Wait..where do you live in Tokyo???I'm having a party when I return." said Endymion without thinking. "Oh..I live near Juuban."said Serenity. "Would you come to my party??"asked Endymion. "Oh,Endymion...I..-" "At the Chiba Manor,6.00pm.Saturday." Endymion stared up at her with puppy dog eyes. Serenity stifled a giggle.He looked so funny."Stop staring like that,and I'll consider."giggled Serenity. "Consider????" Serenity sighed and shook her head."Alright...I'll come....can Rei come too???"she asked. "Of course."replied Endymion smiling. "Good Day....I really have to go.I'm late!!Rei's going to kill me!!" exclaimed Serenity picking up her purse. Endymion let out a chuckle. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rei tapped her foot impatiently...looking at the face of her watch. "Oh Rei!!I'm so sorry!!"exclaimed Serenity. "Nevermind...well???How did it go??" Serenity grinned evilly.."Perfect....everything's going according to plan....and soon...Endymion Chiba will be dead..."smiled Serenity.But why did she feel a wave of remorse over that???? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "You did what???"asked Malachite. "Calm down will you??So??I invited her without thinking."said Endymion. Jadeite munched an apple. "Endymion!!!She could be an assassin!!"argued Malachite. "We don't know that for sure." "But she could be!!" 'CRUNCH!!' Both Malachite and Endymion turned to Jadeite who sat on the couch eating an apple and flicking through the television channels. Jadeite stared back at them. "WHAAAT????" Malachite gave an exasperated exclaimation and stalked out of the room. Endymion gave a chuckle. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tokyo... Serenity and Rei stepped out of the airport. "Serenity!!Rei!!"called a voice. Turning towards the voice,Serenity saw Bruche and Karaberasu,waving at them. "Hello,Bruche...Karaberasu."greeted Rei and Serenity. "Well???How did it go??"asked Karaberasu flatly. "The plan is working perfectly."replied Serenity. "Good...Lord Dimando is at the cavern,awaiting your report."said Bruche. "Oh...and...we put Esmeraude in one of the cavern dungeons." Rei smirked. Serenity looked up. "Whatever for????" "She wanted to sabotage the operation.What happened to the two of you?? You two used to be close."said Karaberasu. Serenity's eyes clouded. "Not anymore....and what happened between us??Is nothing you need to know."bit Serenity. "Sere,what's wrong??" "Nothing.Let's just go,okay????"snapped Serenity. The four left in silence. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reaching the cavern,Serenity presented her report to Dimando and wandered aimlessly around the caverns. Stepping into a small cave,Serenity noticed the broken picture and shards of glass on the ground.... Picking up the photo,Serenity stared at it..... The picture was of Esmeraude and herself...when they were younger....she was about 13 years old.Esmeraude was a little older...17 to be precise. They had been close.But no longer.... Setting the frame back on the ledge,Serenity walked out,heading towards the cavern dungeons..... *Esmeraude....* Esmeraude sat in a dark corner of the cave she was imprisoned in.She hated Serenity...she hated everybody.... "Hello Esmeraude."came Serenity's voice. How could she not recognize the voice???The voice she had grown up with?? "Well....well well....Serenity..."hissed Esmeraude venomously. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Two days later... Endymion,Jadeite and Malachite stepped out of the airport....they were back 2 days early. "Your sister is going to be surprised,Endy.."commented Jadeite. "Yes...who would have thought Mr Aboshi would have agreed so quickly." said Endymion. Malachite was silent.. Flagging down a cab,the three got into the car and headed for Chiba Manor. ~Chiba Manor~ "Ami,will you stop pacing???"asked Minako. "I can't help it.I'm worried about Endymion."sighed Ami. Minako and Ami were in Endymion's rose garden talking.Makoto and Nephlite were in the gymnasium training and Zoiscite was somewhere in the library. "I thought you'd be worried about the party,your brother is throwing." laughed Minako. "Oh,I'm worried about that too!!But Mrs Kori always takes care of that." said Ami refering to the housekeeper. "I-"began Ami. "Mr Chiba is back!!"called Mrs Kori loudly. "Endy??But he's not due until 2 days from now!!"exclaimed Ami surprised. Minako hurriedly got up."Doesn't matter,Ami." Ami rolled her eyes."YOU just want to see Malachite."teased Ami. "I do not!!"huffed Minako indignantly. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Welcome home Endy!!"smiled Ami,giving her brother a hug. "Hello Ami.How have you been??"asked Endymion. "Worried."smiled Minako. Ami shot a glare at her friend. "Hello Mal."smiled Minako. "Minako."acknowledged Malachite with a smile. "How was the trip to Kyoto??"came a voice. "Zoiscite!!Fine...everything went fine.So...any news in Tokyo??"asked Endymion curiously. "Nothing much.However Natsumi Ginga called." Endymion gave a groan. His friends chuckled."My friend,you sound pathetic."laughed Nephlite, smacking him on the shoulder. "Very funny.I need to get back to the office.I'll see you tonight,little sister."smiled Endymion planting a small kiss on her cheek. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As soon as Endymion left,Malachite turned to Zoiscite. "Zoiscite,I want you to dig up somethings on somebody."said Malachite. Zoiscite raised an eyebrow."Who??" "A woman...we met at Kyoto."replied Malachite. "Woman??"asked Makoto puzzled. "Yes...a woman...Serenity Tsukino,she lives here,in Tokyo."answered Malachite. "What was that name again???"asked Zoiscite. "Serenity Tsukino...oh..and also...if you have time,find out all you can about a friend of hers,Rei Hino."said Malachite. "Alright.My guess is...you don't want Endymion to know??"asked Zoiscite. "Correct." "Why do you want to find out about her anyway??"asked Nephlite. "Something about the woman that didn't hit right." Makoto frowned."You think she could be an assassin??"questioned Makoto. "Perhaps.But I don't know."frowned Malachite. "The both of them WERE very secretive about what they do in Tokyo.Their answers were very vague."added Jadeite. Malachite gave a chuckle."Yes..but I think you'd know more about Miss Hino than Miss Tsukino."laughed Malachite. Minako giggled lightly."Why Jadeite,you have your eye on someone?"teased Minako. Jadeite groaned. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity walked along the Tokyo streets....dark glasses over her eyes. The talk with Esmeraude had not gone well.....shaking her head...she didn't want to think of it now...it was not the time.She had to focus on her assassination target,Endymion Chiba. Looking up,she saw a green tea shop....*Setsuna...* Clenching her fists,Serenity walked past the shop. Serenity walked on...absentmindedly... Endymion reached Terra.Corp...getting out of his car,a woman brushed past him,turning,he saw Serenity who was walking away....she hadn't even noticed him.... "Serenity!!"called Endymion. Serenity continued to walk...when suddenly a hand grabbed her shoulder. Instinctively,Serenity grabbed the hand and was about to throw whoever it was,over her shoulder. "Whoa!!Whoa!!Stop!!"exclaimed Endymion. Turning around,Serenity sighed and coloured a little. "Sorry.."she whispered sheepishly. "I called you three times."laughed Endymion. "What are you doing here???I thought you'd still be in Kyoto."said Serenity staring at him quizzically. "Well...it seems,business went smoother than planned."smiled Endymion. "I see..." "So...where did you learn get your reflexes to act so quick like that??" asked Endymion curiously. "Huh???Oh...er...no where...a girl's got to learn some self-defense doesn't she??"asked Serenity. "True...true.."agreed Endymion. "Serenity!!"called a voice. Endymion stared behind her shoulder...it was a man...with black hair and blue eyes.... Serenity turned. "Saffir!!I didn't see you when I got back from Kyoto!!"called Serenity. Walking up to the two,Saffir smiled slightly. "Well..I HAVE been busy."acknowledged Saffir. Serenity gave a pout."Well...that's comforting to know...you don't have time to see a friend."laughed Serenity. Endymion kept a straight face and tried not to frown at the man.It was obvious they were close friends. Saffir noticing the man beside Serenity straightened. Serenity noticing his sudden posture,remembered Endymion was beside her. "Saffir,this is Endymion Chiba,we met at Kyoto." Saffir raised an eyebrow."CEO of Terra.Corp??' Endymion nodded. "Endymion,this is a friend of mine,Saffir Kageno."smiled Serenity. "Pleased to meet you."said Saffir,extending a hand. Endymion shook it. "Kageno....Kageno...isn't that Kage.Corp??"asked Endymion. Saffir nodded."My brother is running the corporation." "I see...well..I shall not bother the both of you...I have to go.I'll see you at the party,6.00pm this Saturday,Serenity."smiled Endymion nodding. Serenity nodded."Good day,Endymion." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saffir and Serenity stood on the sidewalk...watching Endymion walk off to the Terra building. "So...that's the target??" "Affirmative."acknowledged Serenity. "Well...good luck,Serenity..for Endymion Chiba,does not look like an easy prey....he could easily become the predator."observed Saffir. Serenity smirked,rolling her eyes. "Such keen observation,Saffir...I thank you for the advice."replied Serenity sarcastically. Saffir began to walk."Don't say I didn't warn you,Serenity."called Saffir. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity smirked.Saffir was a good person...he watched out for her like a brother.Pattsu was lucky to have someone like him...that was for sure. Remembering the party,Serenity quickly headed towards the mall.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Day of the party.... "Zoiscite...what have you found out about the two women??"asked Malachite as the 6 bodyguards sat in the study room. "Well...very little popped up on the two.For instance,Serenity Tsukino is an orphan.Parents were killed when she was eight.She got adopted by Kage Corporations CEO, Tatsuo Kageno.The man was known for adopting orphans. His grandson,Dimando Kageno runs the Corporation now. "That's so sad.....she was so young when her parents died."whispered Minako. "Was her parents murderer ever found??"asked Nephlite. "No....seems the murderer got away."said Zoiscite. "What about Rei Hino??"questioned Malachite. "Rei Hino works at Kage.Corporations too...no current relatives.Her grandfather is dead.Died when she was 19.Her grandfather owned a temple. Rei gave the temple to her grandfather's helper...Yuuichirou Kumada." Makoto frowned."Nothing peculiar about them....but very little info.So why are you so worried???"asked Makoto. "I...well..I just don't feel good around them.Why don't you see for yourselves tonight at the party??"suggested Malachite. "They're coming here??"asked Nephlite. "That's right...Endy invited them without thinking."sighed Malachite. Nephlite and Minako smiled."This should be interesting." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Somewhere else... "So..Rei....are you ready???"asked Serenity. Rei shrugged."Are YOU??" Serenity rolled her eyes."I wouldn't be standing here then," Rei eyed her friend up and down. Serenity's silvery blonde hair was swept up with pink sakura flowers in her hair.She wore a pale pink spaghetti strap dress,with white satin opera gloves.Diamond teardrop earrings graced her ears and there was a minimum amount of make up on her face.Pale pink lipstick and a little rogue. White satin heels and her aqua blue eyes finished off the rest. "My..my...you look positively.....angelic."laughed Rei. True...Serenity's looks had people fooled of her as an angel...but she could never be an angel now could she??? "Well...you don't look so bad yourself."smiled Serenity. Rei wore a red dress that split at both sides up to the knee.Allowing her to move,as the dress was tight,showing off her curves. Ruby star earrings graced her earlobes.White sating opera gloves covered her hands.A ruby pendent on her neck.Red satin heels finished off her outfit. "Come on...we have a party to get to."grinned Serenity evilly. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ At the party..... "Endymion!!"called two voices. Endymion winced. Turning he saw Beryl and Natsumi heading towards him.Natsumi was dragging her brother Seijuurou along,while he frowned. Beryl was staring daggers at Natsumi. "Hello darling!!How was Kyoto????"purred Beryl. "Oh...Endy!!!Why didn't you call???I missed you."pouted Natsumi. "Hello Beryl,Natsumi,Seijuurou.Kyoto was fine."smiled Endymion politely. Natsumi clasped her hand around his arm and smiled at him.Beryl frowned. Seijuurou didn't smile.His eyes locking onto Endymion's own. Endymion knew Seijuurou didn't like him. "Good evening Endymion."came a voice behind him. Endymion spun round to see who Beryl and Natsumi were glaring at.It was Serenity..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To be continued.... What's in Serenity's deep dark past??What does Esmeraude have to do with it? Who is the 'client' wanting Endymion dead??So many questions huh??? I'll give a hint on Sere's past.It's got something to do with the deceased Setsuna Meiou!!Stay tune and watch for Part 4.In the mean time...mail me. Shrine Library:http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Lights/5079/archive.html I need Usa-Mamo stories in the ARCHIVE!!!!!