Title:Trusting an Assassin.Part 4 Author:Tapestry Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com Standard Disclaimer Apply *denotes thought Sigh....seems I'm hooked on the story and will not finish the others until this one is complete...or unless my mind spouts another fanfic growth. *Hee hee..* I apologize...I know the surname should be front as I am Asian myself. "Serenity,you came."said Endymion smiling. Natsumi and Beryl glared at the beautiful newcomer....Serenity.... "My friend and I are thankful you invited us,Endymion.So,if you'll excuse me,I have to search for my missing friend."smiled Serenity nodding her head. "Yes,tata.."said Beryl in the sweetest voice she could muster. Endymion wanted to shrug both of the women off and go after Serenity who was already disappearing in the crowd. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Malachite and the other bodyguards stood at one end of the room. "There they are."pointed out Malachite. "Which one??"asked Minako searching the crowd. "The blonde and the raven-haired beauty."offered Jadeite. Makoto was the first to spot the two infamous Serenity Tsukino and Rei Hino,which Malachite had spoken so much about. "Oh my...she's beautiful..."gasped Makoto,staring at Serenity who moved confidently and surely around the room. Nephlite and the others nodded in agreement."She and her companion ARE lovely." "Come on,we'll introduce."said Malachite. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Good evening Serenity,Rei."greeted a voice. Serenity and Rei turned and saw Malachite,Jadeite and four others who were probably the rest of Endymion's guard. "Good evening,Malachite,Jadeite."replied both in unison. "Please,allow us to introduce to the both of you,some of Endymion's closest friends.This is Minako Aino my fianceé,Makoto Kino,Nephlite Arashi and Zoiscite Ikarino."introduced Malachite. "Pleased to meet all of you."said Rei and Serenity. "Likewise."replied the group. "I see you've met my other friends,"came a deep voice. "And I see you've been able to pry yourself away from the grip of those two women."laughed Serenity teasingly. Rei gave a smirk. Minako gave a giggle. "Tsk tsk...such manners you have,Miss Tsukino."reprimanded Endymion. "Endy??"came a soft voice. "Ah....Serenity,Rei,I want you to meet my sister,Ami Chiba." "Pleasure."smiled Serenity. "Nice to meet you."replied Rei. Ami smiled at the two women friendly. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Later... Serenity and Rei stood at a corner of the room whilst the guards stood at another. "Well???What do you think???"asked Malachite. "They are a strange pair....but very polite."commented Minako. "I agree with Minako,"said Makoto. "True...but do you think they could be assassins,Zoiscite??"asked Nephlite curiously. "I don't know....I cannot make a speculation as we know very little about them." "All the more reason to suspect them."said Malachite. "You worry too much for your own good sometimes."drawled Jadeite. "Oh look,Endymion is going over to them!!"exclaimed Minako excitedly, causing the group to look over to the direction of the two women. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Serenity,may I have this dance???"asked Endymion giving a boyish grin. Serenity smiled."I accept,"she merely answered allowing Endymion to lead her towards the ballroom. The pair danced slowly across the dance floor,as Serenity moved gracefully due to her training as a ninja assassin. "So...tell me....what exactly do you DO for Kage.Corp??"asked Endymion. Serenity gave a sardonic smile."Do you truly believe,I would tell you that,Endymion Chiba..??If you do...then I'm afraid you shall be disappointed as I am not one to sell secrets."said Serenity bitterly. "I thought so,but I meant what are you working as in the corporation." explained Endymion. "I work as the CEO's assistant."she replied simply. "Must be stressful."he murmered. Serenity gave a laugh,startling him."Why...not at all!!"smiled Serenity. "It's quite pleasant actually."admitted Serenity. Endyion gave a chuckle,as they continued to dance slowly. After that night....Serenity managed to do what she had set out to do.... enter Endymion Chiba's life.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Month later.... Malachite was still wary of Serenity and Rei.But time had lowered the defenses against them.....he was beginning to trust them even....almost. Serenity and Rei were now frequent visitors to Chiba Manor...even staying there during the long weekends. Soon, Serenity would have to complete the task she had volunteered to do....kill Endymion Chiba.Serenity and Rei were currently staying at Chiba Manor since Ami was very fond of them. Night at the Chiba Manor. Serenity sighed....her room overlooked a huge beautiful garden,Rei was in the next room....she and Jadeite had grown fond of each other...not much of a surprise.Strangely,her mind wandered to certain memories which had been buried for quite some time....*Wonder how Esmeraude is doing...* ~FLASHBACKS~ A woman,Setsuna Meiou had entered the lives of the two assassins.... Serenity and Esmeraude... "Here..try some green tea,Serenity."coaxed Setsuna smiling. "Setsuna....it sounds terrible."groaned Serenity. @@@@ "Serenity....becareful around Setsuna...we don't know who she really is." cautioned Serenity. "Esmeraude,Setsuna is a friend."protested Serenity. ~END FLASHBACKS~ Shaking her head,Serenity walked out of the room and to the highest tower of Chiba Manor.... Serenity stood on the tower,watching the blinking city lights of Tokyo... a sight she'd seen many a time during her many previous rompings on the city rooftops over the years. A soft sound makes her head turn...then a flash. Endymion,don't you DARE take another picture of me."scolded Serenity, turning to the Lord of the house... Endymion was standing there....holding a camera with a michevious smile on his face. "And why is that,little rabbit??Why are you so elusive??" "I just don't like having my picture taken."said Serenity staring out into the bright city lights.... "You're such a fleeting spirit,Serenity."said Endymion with a sigh. "That may be true Endymion....and I won't allow anybody to catch me..." whispered Serenity walking back into the manor. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Early morning...(3.00am) Serenity slipped out into the darkness,up..up..up to the rooftop.Jumping from the roof to a tall tree....like a shadow....sleek and elusive... Serenity reached the city....it's lights still on in a bustling downtown part of Tokyo....other parts were dark as night...not even a peep. This was her world...the world she knew as an assassin...the only world... She remembers everything....when Tatsuo Kageno....the man who took her in, sent her off to the Kanagawa prefecture in Japan....to train as a ninja.... She remembers what her tutor,Henecha had once told her..... ~FLASHBACK~ "Your life,Serenity Tsukino,is to now serve the Sword...devoted to it... a commitment of an assassin's crusade.When you are given an assignment, you must honor and follow a time worn motto of our kin,'Kill or be killed.' Anything less than that...is a failure,to you,to your opponent...and to us.....Remember it well..." ~END FLASHBACK~ "I can only wonder,Henecha..that when you told me that...did you ever have to kill a person you came to respect???"whispered Serenity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rei sat up....picking up her locket by the side of the bed,she stared at the gold locket that winked to her in the moonlight....it had belonged to Hotaru.... "Litte firefly....I miss you."whispered Rei,a tear trickling down her cheek.... "Natsumi Ginga..."spat Rei softly full of hatred that had been rekindled when she saw Natsumi....at the party...1 month ago... Her fist curled and her eyes burned......Natsumi Ginga had to pay.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Somewhere else in Tokyo... Esmeraude had been released from the cavern....passing by the part of the cave that held unwanted memories...Esmeraude stopped....staring at the cave that was lit with a single candle....glass sparkled on the cavern floor where she had thrown the picture that was now back in the original position. Stepping towards the ledge,Esmeraude eyed the photos that sat displayed. The broken picture of her and Serenity....smiling...it had been taken during their time at Kanagawa... Another was of Rubasu,Serenity,Saffir,Rei...Setsuna and herself...and then another was of Serenity and Setsuna....Esmeraude frowned and a crease in her brow appeared.....*Setsuna Meiou was a liar....Why Serenity???Why did you have to trust her???????* In a fit,Esmeraude smashed the photo of Setsuna and Serenity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity slipped back into the manor about an hour later...quietly,she changed and slipped down the stairs...Endymion had apparently NOT set the alarm of the house on. Or maybe......when she reached the living room...she saw a dim light coming from the kitchen...it was Endymion...and he was drinking....green tea. Apparently..he heard her and looked towards her direction... "Serenity..."he breathed. "Oh...I didn't know you were down here...."whispered Serenity. Endymion grinned."Couldn't sleep." Serenity nodded."Obviously..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Endymion watched as the woman who had so suddenly appeared in his life and burrowed her way into his heart,sat down. "Tea??"he asked. Serenity shook her head."No thank you.." "You don't like green tea???"asked Endymion. "Oh no...it's not that...it's just that it serves as a painful reminder." explained Serenity sadly. "Such as???"prodded Endymion. "A deceased friend."whispered Serenity. Endymion watched as her eyes shown with unshed tears......he wanted to hold her and tell her to cry....tell her that she shouldn't bottle the emotions up....most of all...he wanted to kiss away her tears... "Tell me..."said Endymion simply. "There's nothing to tell...."choked Serenity. "What was her name??" "Setsuna Meiou..." "Forgive me little rabbit...I've hurt you..."said Endymion. Serenity shook her head."Oh no....it's just so....hard...so painful sometimes...I think I should just get back to bed."sighed Serenity getting up. Endymion nodded."You should...it'll be dawn soon."said Endymion."And I'm sure Ami has a long day planned for you and Rei for this long weekend." warned Endymion. Serenity gave a small smile and climbed the long staircase....disappearing into the darkness... Endymion watched as Serenity Tsukino disappeared up the staircase....she was beautiful...and he'd fallen under her spell....which could prove a fatal mistake..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next morning... Beryl had dropped by,unannounced... "Endymion,darling..."purred Beryl in a seductive tone.Her hands reaching up to clasp his shoulders.... Serenity,Rei,Ami and his bodyguards watched with a amusement.Ami wrinkled her nose in distaste....she had never liked Beryl...or Natsumi. Endymion pulled away... "What are you doing here Beryl???"asked Endymion harshly. Beryl frowned."Why,Endymion...you wound me...I just came by to see you, darling."said Beryl. Rei whispered something into Serenity's ear,causing her to giggle slightly. Beryl frowned at the two...the women from the party.....*Who are they???* Serenity and Rei had been the ones to kill Beryl's father,Hiro Tsurayaba. But when Serenity and Rei had met with Beryl,their faces were always masked...only their eyes left to be seen.... Catching the gaze Beryl was giving them,Serenity made a hasty retreat in fear that Beryl might recognize them..... "Thank you for your hospitality,Endymion....but we have to leave."smiled Serenity politely. "Leave???Oh..." "Yes...thank you."smiled Rei,catching Serenity's posture. Beryl gave a saucy smile.... Serenity smirked,leaving Chiba Manor with Rei...both quickly left for the Katana's hideout. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rei looked at Serenity questioningly. "Alright....why'd you suddenly tell them we had to leave????"asked Rei. "Can't a girl have secrets of her own,Rei???"asked Serenity innocently. Rei rolled her eyes."Oh no,Serenity Tsukino...you're not fooling ME with your innocent looks."said Rei. A laugh echoed behind them. "Karaberasu!!"they exclaimed in unison. "Rei's right you know....everybody in the clan knows you're no helpless innocent,Serenity."chided Karaberasu. Serenity sighed. "How sad..."came a voice. Serenity's eyes hardened....only one person had a voice filled with that much hatred....Esmeraude.... "Hello,Esmeraude."greeted Serenity cooly. "Hello Serenity.."replied Esmeraude,her voice full of malice. "Green tea anyone???"she mocked. Serenity's heart fell....*what was the day????* Searching her mind for the date,her face fell...it was the 20th of July...the exact date,Setsuna Meiou was killed by Rubasu Yoshida.The day she lost a person she considered her friend. Serenity gritted her teeth,swallowing back tears that threathened to fall from her crystal blue eyes..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Two days later.... Serenity and Rei recieved an invitation to a birthday party at Chiba Manor.... To:Miss Tsukino and Miss Hino, You are cordially invited to Endymion Chiba's 26th birthday... Time:6.00pm Venue:Chiba Manor Date:3rd August 2000 RSVP Sincerely, Ami Chiba. Serenity smiled....Ami was inviting them to her brother's birthday party. How sweet....Serenity herself had recently turned 24 years-old.... "So,do you want to go,Serenity???"asked Rei. Serenity smile."I'm assuming you want to go and see Jadeite??"teased Serenity. Rei looked at her friend with a shocked expression."Moi????Me???No.. of course not!!Whatever gave you that idea???I mean..why should I want to go and see Jadeite of all people?????"babbled Rei. Serenity gave a chuckle."You're babbling."stated Serenity. Rei gave a huff of annoyance. "YOU just keep your mind on the plan." reprimanded Rei. Serenity rolled her eyes..."I should be the one saying that..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3rd August.... Serenity and Rei entered the mansion and were greeted by Ami. "Sere!!Rei!!So glad you two could come!!"smiled Ami happily.Serenity nodded."So...where's birthdaay boy???"asked Serenity curiously scanning the people for him.... "He's not down yet."informed Ami. "Oh...I see..."smiled Serenity. Rei smiled."I think I'll go get a drink or something..."said Rei walking towards the buffet table. Serenity nodded. A hand landed on her shoulder,startling her....refraining from instinctively throwing whoever it was over her shoulder,Serenity turned to face the person. "Mr.Kageno!!What are you doing here????"exclaimed Serenity surprised. Dimando and Saffir merely nodded."Mr Chiba invited us."said Dimando nonchalantly. Serenity then remembered Kage.Corp was currently doing business with Terra.Corp....this was ironic. "Where is Rei??"asked Saffir curiously as Dimando walked off... "She's at the buffet table."said Serenity. "I saw how your shoulders tensed awhile ago,Sere..."said Saffir. Serenity stared at him innocently. Saffir smirked."You can't fool me...we trained together remember???"smiled Saffir. Serenity frowned,shushing him. Saffir laughed and nodded,walking away to find his brother...leaving Serenity to stand by the staircase,by herself... Somebody tapped on her shoulder....turning... "Endymion!!"exclaimed Serenity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rei picked up a glass of champagne,sipping it...walking back towards Serenity,Rei accidently bumped into someone.... "Oh pardon me!!"exclaimed Rei not looking at who she bumped. "You stupid clumsy oaf!"spat the person. Rei got angry,"Listen lady,I apolo-"she said looking up....and she came face to face....with Natsumi Ginga. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To be continued... Watch for Part 5...Little by little,Serenity's past is unraveling to show the ugly ugly truth.....Rei and Natsumi!!Sparks fly!!So only the big quesion remains....will Serenity kill Endymion???(OOoh...that WOULD be peachy now wouldn't it???)Hey YOU!!!Yes you!!!Hurry up and go to: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Lights/5079 My Shrine to Usagi & Mamoru....AND a fanfic library and poetry!!!If you don't you're going to have to deal with the Ayakashi sisters!!