Title:Trusting an Assassin.Part 6 Author:Tapestry Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com Standard Disclaimer Apply *denotes thought Serenity sat down on her bed.It was too late...she and Endymion had fallen in love.This shouldn't have happened.This was just supposed to have been a simple assassination. Serenity wept silently. ~FLASHBACK~ Their lips met...silencing all conversation between them.Serenity forgot everything as only the kiss the two people shared,mattered.... *Endymion...I love you*whispered her heart.*NO!!*shouted her mind. Breaking her serene moment,memories and instructions flew through her head, causing her to pull away. ~END FLASHBACK~ Hitting the bed hard,Serenity sat up."Dammit...this wan't suppose to happen!!!This shouldn't have happened!!"shouted Serenity to nobody as she threw her pillow across the room. A sound of glass breaking made her look up. Lying on the floor was a photo of Rubasu,Saffir,Pattsu,Esmeraude,Bruche, Karaberasu,Coan,Rei,herself and also her tutor,Henecha in Kanagawa.A picture which had been taken during happier days.Before life became so complex. *I may love Endymion...but can I bring myself to betray the clan??*asked her mind. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rei was sitting in her own room.She'd witnessed the little kiss.However, as though she'd been burned,Serenity had hastily pulled away and dragged Rei out of the party. Leaving the issue of Natsumi and Hotaru for awhile,Rei sighed....the whole assignment had increased in complexity by a thousandfold.No...two thousand. Serenity had fallen in love...killing the man was out of the question. How could she???One she'd grown to care for. *What to do now???What to do now??* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Endymion sat in his study,a strange expression on his face.*What had happened???*wondered Endymion.His mind was in a muddle.Thousands of question's flew through his head at breakneck speed. Walking out onto his study's balcony window that overlooked the city..... just like it had been only a week ago,she had stayed over for the long weekend...the city as it was when he took her picture. Why did she run??Had he been too persistent??What had happened???Why?? What??How??But it always came back down to the basic one....Why??? "Why Serenity??Why did you run??I love you...why??"he whispered out into the night,but it would never reach the ears of the one the question had been meant for. The cool night air brushed his midnight bangs as his hair tickled his cheek. "Endymion..."came a voice. "Go away,Malachite."muttered Endymion. "No...I will NOT go away."replied the guard stubbornly.Stepping out onto the balcony,Malachite stared out into the city as the sky was dark like black velvet and the stars sparkled like diamonds against the black void. "I take it,you've fallen for her,Endymion..."murmured Malachite. Endymion closed his eyes and clenched his fist.Nodding slowly. "I warned you to be careful...Serenity Tsukino is as mysterious as the moon."Malachite said.Then,chuckling to himself..."Ironic...her name truly suits her being.A serene soul yet mysterious and fleeting at the same time." Endymion smiled slightly.However the smile didn't reach his eyes... *Fleeting spirit...* ~FLASHBACK~ "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. ~END FLASHBACK~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity was lying on her bed,hugging a stuffed bunny.(AN:An assassin with a stuffed toy??Now that's interesting!!)Tear stains streaked down her cheeks. A soft knock was heard on the door... "Serenity???"whispered a voice. The bedroom door creaked open.Rei surveyed the room.A broken picture of their youngerselves with friends at Kanagawa lay broken on the floor, Serenity's katana blade was dug in the floor by the bedside,the door to the balcony was open,the thin translucent curtains,fluttering wildly in the wind and Serenity,on the bed curled up hugging a stuffed bunny,sobbing on the bed. Rei sat down on the bed and stroked Serenity's silken hair. "Sere...everything's going to be fine."whispered Rei. A muffled sob came up to greet her words.Serenity sat up,rubbing at her eyes harshly.Walking to the bathroom,Rei heard splash of running water. Serenity then returned into the room,looking calm and cool.Though her red eyes and marks were a clear giveaway to the young assassin's pain. Serenity headed onto the balcony,letting the wind stroke her golden silver tresses slowly. Rei followed her friend out onto the balcony.The wind playing with her raven violet hair as strands reached up to tickle her cheeks. "Why are our lives so complex...so difficult,Rei???"asked Serenity suddenly as her crystal blue eyes took in the city's lights and the sounds that came from below their apartment and travelled up to their ears. "It just is,Serenity...we cannot change nor ignore it.We chose our lives. We agreed to walk this path."sighed Rei. Silence... "You love him...don't you???"asked Rei quietly. "I do...but you know the assignment...and you realize what that means... for me..."sighed Serenity. "You serve the Sword and he is the target.The one you must kill.The one who can kill you too.But your lifepaths do not have to be paved in blood, Serenity."said Rei. "But I have no choice..."choked Serenity. "You can leave the clan,become a renegade...or kill yourself.There would be harmony and art in that."said Rei. (AN:Don't think Rei is cruel.Ninja assassin's usually prefer death to other things.) "But no honor,Rei...where would I be if I left the clan??My life growing up was based on dignity and honor.No..."choked Serenity,as she stared off towards the direction of a certain man... "Dammit girl,think of what YOU want for a change!!"exclaimed Rei angrily. Serenity stared at Rei.Her crystal eyes full of unshed tears."I-I..can't Rei,help me gods,I cannot...the clan always comes first....always the clan...then and ONLY then......me."whispered Serenity burrying her head into her hands,walking back into the apartment. Rei stood on the balcony,her raven hair flying wildly in the wind.Her violet eyes watching her friend's retreating back. *One kiss....one kiss,had stolen her heart from her.*thought Rei sadly. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Later.... A figure stood on top of a roof...a figure of strength and prowess. Rei was masked,leaving her violet eyes only to be seen.They flashed with fire and hatred for only one person....Natsumi Ginga. In quick movements,she was gone from the roof,silently scampering across the rooftops towards a mansion.The Ginga ancestral family estate. The estate had been built by the Ginga ancestors themselves,from scratch by hand.Brick by brick. Rei watched the dark mansion with hateful eyes.Perching like a gargoyle on another nearby building.Jumping into a tree in the compounds,Rei landed on the grounds with a soft thud. Slowly circling the grounds,Rei made her way to the garage.If the tip from her source was accurate.There was a secret passage even the Ginga's didn't know about,for the building was as ancient as her great-grandfather. *Bingo..*smiled Rei. Silently,she entered the old mansion.Her footsteps muffled by the carpeting on the floor.Stealthly and sleekly,Rei crept up the old steps. This house was old and ancient.The Ginga's had never placed a security sistem inside the house.Only the outside. Unsheathing her blade,Rei made her way to the bedroom of Natsumi Ginga. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity sat up.Breathing heavily.Swinging her legs off the bed,Serenity exited her room.A short blade was dug in the dartboard on the wall,with a note attached to it. Puling the note off,Serenity scanned it quickly. Dear Serenity, Forgive me my friend.I hope you can solve the problems you are facing as I have problems and old scores to settle.You may perhaps never see me again after tonight.This is something I have to do...for Hotaru. And for me...Take care. Love, Rei. "Oh Rei..."whispered Serenity."Of all the stupid things to do..." Quickly,Serenity dressed in black ninja garb,she set off into the night to stop her friend or at least help her out of the situation.At least this took her mind off the matter of Endymion and herself. *As much as she loved Hotaru,she has to let go of her hatred.But the memory should always remain.Hotaru would never have wanted Rei to do this.* thought Serenity to herself. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rei entered the bedroom.Her katana blade glinting in the moonlight. Her eyes shone with hate....with fury and fire.Hate,directed at the woman who slept in the bedroom she was in. Raising the silver blade high in the air,her body poised to send the blade down,chopping Natsumi Ginga's head from her body. Unfortunately...Rei never gets that chance to kill Natsumi Ginga as her intended victim awakens from her slumber. A scream pierced the air. Rei's eyes went wide...but then narrowed with anger,sending the sharp blade diving down onto the bed.The blade cuts at the mattress smoothly, sending feathers and fluff flying. Natsumi's eyes widen at the oncoming blade and she quickly rolls off the bed,not before her shoulder gets nipped by Rei's katana.Blood spatters over the white linen sheets. Natsumi cradles her wounded arm,her reddish eyes narrowing.Reaching at the wall behind her,Natsumi finds her blade display that she hung in her room. Rei's eyes burn with fury.Holding her katana closely,she knew the scream would have awakened her quarry's brother.She had to kill Natsumi Ginga. Now...if not now...she would never get a second chance. Both stare at each other,willing for the other to make a move.... In the end,Rei lunges with an offensive. Natsumi parries with her own blade,kicking Rei in the gut,sending pain all over her body. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sweat beaded on Serenity's brow.Her eyebrows knitted closely together. Reaching the Ginga mansion,Serenity lands on the mansion's compounds. Scanning the mansion for any entries,Serenity slowly unsheaths her katana. *Come on Rei...how the hell did you get in??* A scream sounded from the mansion... *Rei!!Oh god..* Rei bites back the shout,pulling out a few shurikens.Throwing them with deadly accuracy,the star-shaped blades headed for Natsumi Ginga. Natsumi managed to block a few,however one found it's way to her arm, cutting deep.A scream tore from her throat. Rei staggered up slowly. "Witch.."she murmured under her breath,watching the red-haired woman who was doing her best to pull the shuriken out. Raising the katana to throw,Rei's violet eyes glinted with hatred.... A loud clashing of blades,startled Rei.Turning to look,another masked figure...*Serenity!!* was in a battle of the strength between Seijuurou Ginga.Their blades locked,both pushing at each other,trying to force the other down. (AN:Don't ask how she got in.She's a ninja!!!They have their ways!!) Serenity bit her lip under the cloth thaat masked her face,sweat trickling down her brow.*God the man was strong..* Seijuurou gave a frown,pushing his blade harder. Serenity held her ground by pushing back with all her might,giving a soft grunt.Her arms were burning with pain.*This is foolish..*she thought to herself. Rei and Natsumi had returned to their own bloody battle. *I have to get Rei out of here...before she spills any of HER blood.I think it's time....to improvise.*she thought to herself. Letting Seijuurou push her blade down did the trick.Ducking down to his feet,she kicked them out from under him,causing him to fall. Serenity proceeded to grab the oriental rug he sat on and roll the man up like a taco. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity turned just in time to see Natsumi strike Rei with a short knife at the stomach...the blade went in deep.Little blood came out as the blade had not been extracted from her stomach. Serenity's aqua eyes went wide. Ramming Natsumi to the wall before she even had a chance to pull the blade out. "Bloody heartless witch,"spat Serenity as she stared at Natsumi. Natsumi looked up at Serenity with an amused expression. "I'm cold and heartless...??You're the one to call the kettle black assassin...before you say anything,you should take a good look in the mirror."laughed Natsumi insanely. The words struck...like an ice cold shard into her soul.Burning anger overtook her,giving Natsumi a good hard kick in the gut. "Shut up!!!"screamed Serenity.Tears stung her eyes...she SHOULD have looked into a mirror...a mirror to see what she had become... Picking up Rei's injured form,Serenity headed out the way she came, disappearing into the night... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Setting Rei onto the soft yielding bed,Serenity frowned...she had lost so much blood during the journey back.....it was difficult to be sure if she would survive... "Rei....how could you do something so stupid?????" No answer....only a gaze that was pleading to let her die... Shaking her head,Serenity slowly bit her lip,taking hold of the blade's handle and tugging at it sharply.the blood came out cleanly.Blood spattering on her clothes and face. Rei gave a cry of pain. Serenity walked into the toilet,dropping the blade into the sink,the blade stained with blood... Quickly retrieving some warm water,bandages and antiseptic.Serenity headed back to the bedroom. Rei lay on the bed panting....her hand gripping her abdomen. Divesting her friend of the bloodied top part of her outfit,Serenity cleaned the wound with water and antiseptic. Serenity caught her friend's piercing gaze.... "I'm NOT going to let you die,Rei...by hell I'm making sure of that." spat Serenity forcefully. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Later,while Rei slept with a bandage over the wound.Serenity stared out into the sky in the earlt morning hours...it was 4.00am and soon...the sun would rise. Serenity gave a tired sigh... ~FLASHBACK~ "Bloody heartless witch,"spat Serenity as she stared at Natsumi. Natsumi looked up at Serenity with an amused expression. "I'm cold and heartless...??You're the one to call the kettle black assassin...before you say anything,you should take a good look in the mirror."laughed Natsumi insanely. ~END FLASHBACK~ Walking towards the phone that lay on the table,Serenity picked it up, dialing a number.Brushing away a few strands of her flaxen blonde hair, Serenity waited for the other side to answer... "Hello??"came a voice. "Coan???I need your help....." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next day... Serenity went to the Chiba Manor that afternoon... "Serenity!!"exclaimed Ami. "Hello Ami.How are you??"smiled Serenity somewhat sadly. "I'm fine!!Are you looking for Endy??"enquired Ami. Serenity nodded."Yes...is he here?" "Yes!!He's in the study,I believe."answered Ami."Come in.I'll show you." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Endymion sat at his desk furiously trying to get some work done.Without much success....his mind always seemed to wander back to a certain blue-eyed blonde.One who had ran away from him.... He sighed..... Then,a knock on his door sounded. "Come in."he mumbled grumpily.It was probably one of his guard.Most probably Malachite again. Looking up at the sound of the closing door,Endymion was surprised to see...Serenity Tsukino standing by the door. "S-Serenity??"asked Endymion unsure. "Hello Endy.I came to apologize."whispered Serenity looking at the ground. "For??"prompted Endymion. "For running...I'm sorry...it's just...I said it already...I'm no good for you.We can't be together."choked Serenity. Endymion stared at the pale blonde girl who was shaking.Pain stabbed at his heart.She looked so sad....so vulnerable...if not phsically... spiritually..mentally. Walking towards her,Endymion touched her cheek. "Tell me,Serenity??"pleaded Endymion. "I-I-I can't." "Do you love me Sere??"asked Endymion suddenly,as he tilted her chin upwards. Serenity's blue eyes widened at the question.Her big blue eyes full of unshed tears. "I...no.."lied Serenity. "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 burried his face into her hair. Serenity made no move to push him away.*I need you too,Endy..*thought Serenity to herself.Her traitorous arms reached up to envelope him in a hug. "Endy....I just cannot...I-" "Sere...please..do you love me???"persisted Endymion.His midnight eyes pleading. Serenity melted with that soulful blue gaze. "I...yes.I do Endy.I do."whispered Serenity.*And God help us both,I do love you.*whispered her mind. Endymion smiled slightly.Leaning down,he kissed her softly. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ That night... *Henecha,I can only wonder if YOU were ever placed in a situation where your assignment required the death....of the person you loved???* Serenity stared out into the city's bustling roads below.Though it was already clear into the early morning,Tokyo was as lively as ever at night as it was during the day.She was dressed in black from head to toe in ninja garb. With a bound,she was off into the night,leaping the tall building heights with ease in the bat of an eye. ~FLASHBACK~ "Rei will survive,though it'll take a few months to recover.That puncture was really deep.Luckily it missed her vital organs.She's sleeping now." said Bruche. "She lost a lot of blood though.We had to find some donors."said Coan. "Oh,and Sere??Lord Dimando wants to see you."said Bruche. ~END FLASHBACK~ *Rei...why??Why did you try and assassinate Natsumi Ginga????* Leaping blindly in the night as tears stung her eyes.She hated to cry... but she couldn't help it.She couldn't stop it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity entered the room soundlessly.Cutting of house's alarm system was easy.Now came the difficult part..... Unsheathing her katana,the silver blade gleamed menacingly in the silvery moonlight. Serenity looked down at her victim sadly.Raising the blade high above her head.A tear ran down her cheek,disappearing once it touched the material of her mask. *Endy...forgive me.* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To be continued... Hahahahahahahahahah(evil laugh) *ducks shoes and papers* Awww...I ended this fic here.Watch for part 7.Is Endymion Chiba going to become..*gasp* headless????