Title:Trusting an Assassin.Part 7 Author:Tapestry Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com Rating:PG Standard Disclaimer Apply *denotes thought Recap: 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.* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity shut her eyes hard,not wanting to see the gruesome sight she would make of the man she loved. Slowly....positioning the blade where it would take his head off cleanly, Serenity took a deep breath and swung downwards. *I'm sorry Endy...I'm sorry...forgive me.* However,her blade was stopped by another.... Opening her eyes,she saw Malachite,a grim look on his face. "Assassin...you dare come and try to kill Lord Endymion."spat Malachite. His ice blue eyes watching her. "Malachite...wha-"came Endymion's groggy voice. Endymion's eyes focused on the black clad figure.Realizing it was an assassin,Endymion rolled off the bed on Malachite side. Serenity's eyes narrowed,tears still falling.*No!!*shouted her mind. Swiftly,she pulled her katana away,sending it down at Malachite's arm which was easily parried. "What the hell is going-assassin!!"shouted Nephlite holding a sword himself. (AN:Obviously,if you heard a strange noise....you'd take a weapon,right???) His shout was heard throughout the whole floor. This brought the rest of the guards running. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sweat beaded on her brow.The rest of the 6 guards were coming.And Endymion was capable of fending for himself as well.That made it 7 opponents.The odds did not look good for Serenity. A clash of blades and a shove,Serenity was at the doorway where she had planned for her to land. Malachite's eyes narrowed with anger.She'd tricked him!!!She knew he would throw her towards the doors. Serenity gave the thick oak wood doors a hard boot,slaming them shut. Getting up to lock the doors firmly.This at least bought her some time. Facing Malachite,Nephlite and Endymion,Serenity held her katana defensively in front of her face. "Locking the doors won't stop the others,assassin."spat Malachite. "Perhaps it won't...but it buys me some time."said Serenity calmly.Her voice a bit muffled through her mask. After a moment of silence....a clash of swords ensued. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Minako,Makoto,Zoiscite,Jadeite and Ami stood outside the door. Ami was crying.Scared for her brother. Makoto shook with anger. The shouts and sword clashes got louder. "Dammit,I'm not going to stand here like an idiot any longer."spat Minako. "The alarm system's have been cut.So we'll crash in through the window." said Minako. Zoiscite nodded."That would be the most expedient way...but Ami.." "I'll stay here with Ami."volunteered Jadeite.Minako nodded. Quickly,the three hurried off,leaving Ami and Jadeite standing outside the bedroom door of Endymion Chiba to only wonder and imagine what could be happening within. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity parried one blade only to be kicked in the back by Malachite. Endymion and Nephlite atacked continuously at Serenity. *Gods forgive me...if I die now.I have no regrets*thought Serenity as a tear trickled from her eye. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Minako,Makoto and Zoiscite were above them.They were on the topmost floor of the manor. "Go..."said Minako. Throwing down ropes that were securely tied,the three began to climb down towards the huge picture window that led to Endymion's room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Somewhere else... Rei furiously tried to get out of bed. "Rei!!You need your rest!!!"shouted Bruche. "Where's Sere???You said Dimando wanted to see her!!!"shouted Rei. "Rei!!Lie down!"exclaimed Coan. "No!!Dammit!!Something's up,isn't it????!!"shouted Rei glaring at the two with her violet eyes. Bruche and Coan looked at each other and nodded sadly. "W-Wh-What's happened???"asked Rei fearfully. "Serenity's got to kill Endymion Chiba....tonight."whispered Coan. Rei's eyes widened..."No.."was the only word her mouth could form. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity avoided a blade by a back-flip,however caught off guard by Malachite,resulting in a blow to her back. Serenity coughed out blood.She lay on the carpet vulnerable,her hand was shaking.She had lost so much strength.It was kind of fitting...she was to die.At least,she needn't kill her beloved and this was the penalty for failure on such an important mission. Nephlite took this opportunity to try and kill her. As much as she wanted to die.....the rules and instinct always won out. ~FLASHBACK~ "Remember Serenity....you serve the Sword now.You must follow our time worn motto 'Kill or be killed'.Anything less than that is a failure...to yourself,your opponent and the clan." ~END FLASHBACK~ Jumping out of the way,Nephlite's katana sword dove into the floor,getting stuck there. Serenity noticed this and used it to her favor.Her katana was now inches from Nephlite's neck. "Alright...both of you,drop your swords."said Serenity. "Don't do it!!"shouted Nephlite. Endymion and Malachite frowned...their hands clenched and unclenched. "How do we know you won't kill him??We need some assurance."said Endymion steely. "I gave you my word...and an assassin's word is bond."replied Serenity. Endymion stared at the woman dressed in black.Why did she seem so familiar??It was strange....*I feel as if I should know this woman.*thought Endymion to himself.Strangely..he felt as if he could trust the woman, dropping his sword on the floor with a audible clatter.It was then followed by Malachite's own. "Now...Lord Endymion.....you..have to die."choked out Serenity as a tear fell from her eye. Endymion was surprised.The assassin almost sounded...remorseful...sad. Her voice was kind of familiar. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rei stared at Coan and Bruche."No...." "Rei-" "No!!Serenity can't kill Endymion Chiba.She loves him!!"exclaimed Rei. Coan and Bruche gasped. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Endymion took a few tentative steps towards Serenity,when suddenly,his picture window boke with a loud crash as three bodies flew in. Minako kicked Serenity,causing her to fall towards Endymion...who caught her instinctively. Serenity's eyes widened as she droppped her sword to hold on to Endymion to keep from collapsing. Endymion was shocked...he stared into crystal aqua eyes...just like Serenity's!!*Those eyes...* Serenity knew she couldn't allow herself to be caught.One thing was for sure..now that there were 6 opponents in the room...she didn't stand a chance.Struggling to get free...she didn't notice that Endymion was staring at her strangely. "You've got no escape now assassin."spat Makoto. "I beg to differ."replied Serenity.Elbowing Endymion in the stomach,while apologizing softly,she picked up her katana and pulled out another from behind her back. Endymion thought he'd heard her apologize....but it couldn't be.An assassin???Apologizing??? Serenity bit her lip.The swords clashed,but the bedroom wasn't big enough to maneuver.There was only one route out....the window. Kicking Makoto off her feet,Minako and Zoiscite who were standing in front of her,lunged,while at the same time,Malachite took the opportunity to charge her.Endymion merely stood there with an unreadable expression on his face,partially due to the fact it was dark. Serenity smiled behind her mask.*They took the bait,hook,line and sinker.* thought Serenity with glee. Jumping into the air,with a front flip,Serenity propelled herself over the two stunned guards in front of her.Landing in front of the window, Serenity gave a little wave and disappeared out the window... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Malachite gave a curse and looked out the broken window.The figure was gone.Poof..just like that,vanished. Minako walked to the doors and unlocked it,letting Ami and Jadeite in. Ami rushed in. "Endy!!Are you alright??"asked Ami running towards her brother. Endymion wasn't registering anything.He could only stare out the window into the moonlight,where the assassin had vanished. "That was a close one."said Nephlite. Zoiscite nodded."This assassin was better.She cut off the alarm system but left the electricity intact.She was smart.She knew if she cut off the electricity,we'd know something was up." Minako nodded. Malachite could only agree."Zoiscite's right.This time,this assassin was much better in combat and could have killed Endymion if I had not been here. Plus,if we had been normal bodyguards,we wouldn't have stood a chance against that ninja trained assassin."growled Malachite. "Endy,are you alright??"asked Jadeite. Six pairs of eyes watched Endymion Chiba curiously. "Do you think he's in shock??"asked Makoto. "Could be,considering that ninja was about to chop his head off."said Zoiscite. "There's something familiar about her..."whispered Endymion with a faraway look in his eye. "WHAT!!!???"came three voices. Malachite,Zoiscite,Minako and Ami merely looked on at Endymion as he looked out the window,staring into the sky. "I don't know...it's just that..I feel as if I know her...known her for a very long time..."whispered Endymion staring up at the moon and the stars that winked back at him with a secret.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Somewhere nearby... Only a few blocks from the manor...Serenity Tsukino sat on top of a roof. Her hair flying in the night,the black cloth that was winded up on her head in her hand. She watched the manor...where the man she loved lived...since he lived, she had to die.... "I'm sorry Endy,...I truly am..."whispered Serenity. She ached all over,especially her back where she'd been kicked twice. Suddenly,Serenity covered her mouth and choked....looking down at her hand, she felt the warm sticky red fluid on her hand....her eyes widening...she realized she was suffering from internal injuries. Maybe this was fate....??She didn't need to go back to the apartment to commit suicide now...she could just stay out here in the cold and freeze to death. *Why me???Why did I have to fall in love??*she asked looking up at the moon.The twinkling stars with their secret and the black black sky that looked like a void.Serenity stared up at them...hoping for an answer. But as usual...the sky was as silent as the stars.... Tears fell from her eyes,flying away into the night. At that moment...thunder rumbled and rain began to fall. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pattsu,Karaberasu and Coan jumped over rooftops,heading towards the Chiba Manor.It was raining. "Oh Sere.."whispered Coan. "Look!!There she is!!"exclaimed Karaberasu,pointing to a figure slumped in the darkness,on top of a roof. As they reached closer and closer,they heard sounds of sobbing,then an unfamiliar sound of choking. "Serenity??"called out Pattsu. The figure suddenly turned.Then got up quickly,however....failing as it was slippery,Serenity fell from the rooftop. Serenity gasped...she'd tried to escape the Ayakashi sisters.However,she was starting to feel the aftermath of the fight.Her legs had given out, causing her to fall from the roof. She'd managed to catch on the roof with her hand...barely.She'd made it by her fingertips.The house was pretty tall.She was three stories up.The worse thing was....it was raining and the roof was now slippery.Desperately, she tried to pull herself up. But she slipped.... "I have you,Serenity!!!"shouted Pattsu catching her friend by the hand. "Serenity..we were-" "I failed..."said Serenity flatly. "What??"asked Coan unsure by what she meant. "I said,I FAILED the assassination."spat Serenity. "Serin....we know you love him...Rei told us.It's alright."whispered Karaberasu hugging Serenity. (AN:Serin's a nickname like Sere) Serenity bit her lip as salty tears ran down her cheeks.Her hair was matted to her forehead. "NO!!It's NOT alright!!Don't you get it??I let the clan down.I..I-hate this!!!I don't want to choose between my life and the clans!!I hate-" Serenity began before she was cut off by her own hand as she coughed up more blood. "Sere!!"exclaimed Coan,her eyes widening. "I-I'm alright..."whispered Serenity before her eyes rolled heavenwards and she collapsed into Pattsu's arms. Coan checked her pulse...it was racing and her face was slightly pale. "I think she's got some internal injuries.It would explain why she's coughing up blood and all."pointed out Coan. "Nevermind that,let's just get back to the caverns.You and Bruche can treat her there."said Pattsu grimly. They all nodded and headed off. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Somewhere else... Beryl Tsurayaba was up in bed,trying to figure out the identities of the two young women,especially the blonde. "I KNOW I've seen you before...."said Beryl to herself,frowning hard. Picking up a picture of her dead father. "Well daddy dear,how do you like hell???"laughed Beryl. Suddenly...something clicked...her father's hired assassins.The ones the Katana's clan leader had sent.One had beautiful violet eyes,whereas another one had clear aqua eyes. "Of course!!!"exclaimed Beryl with triumphant glee. "The assassins..."laughed Beryl."Well well...Serenity Tsukino,Rei Hino. You two are the assassins of my father.What a surprise."she laughed to herself. "Won't Endymion get a kick out of this."laughed Bery evilly. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next morning.... Endymion sat out on the balcony of his study...the cool wind on his face and the birds cheerful chirps could be heard in the air. Looking at a picture of Serenity in his hand,Endymion sighed.He missed her... "Serenity..."he whispered. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "How's Serenity??"asked Rei. "She's fine.But she caught quite a cold last night sitting in the rain. And,she sustained some internal injuries.That's why she was coughing up blood."said Bruche rubbing her head. "When's she going to get well??"asked Saffir. "Depends.She's asleep right now."said Coan,dark rings showing beneath her eyes. "Wrong.She's awake."came a voice. "Esmeraude!!"exclaimed Karaberasu. "She's awake.She says she wants to see Bruche and Coan."said Esmeraude. Rei frowned and stared at Esmeraude. Esmeraude caught Rei's glare and piercing stare.Esmeraude shot her back a look that said,'I still care about her too you know.' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Sere??Esme said you wanted to see us??"asked Bruche. Serenity nodded."I want to go back to my apartment."croaked Serenity weakly. "What????You and Rei are injured!!"exclaimed Pattsu. "We'll be careful.I'm not some invalid you know."said Serenity firmly. "On the contrary,you actually ARE."pointed out Coan. "I don't care what,I don't want to stay here."spat Serenity,getting off the bed stubbornly. Bruche and Coan sighed."Alright.But becareful."said Bruche. Serenity smiled weakly,and with Rei's help,both left the caverns. "You're going to just let them walk away????"asked Esmeraude baffled. Karaberasu looked at Esmeraude and nodded."Yes...Serin just needs to be alone right now,Esme...YOU'VE felt the pain of love before.You should know." pointed out Karaberasu. Esmeraude sighed.*Serenity...you've fallen in love.Why didn't you heed your own advice you gave me...5 years ago???* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity sighed as she sat down on the couch in her apartment. "It's good to be back."whispered Serenity.Rei was asleep. Pressing the rewind button on the recording machine,Serenity listened to the messages that her answering machine had picked up. One was from Endymion....he wanted to meet her. Serenity groaned.How could she go and meet him???After she'd tried to kill him??And she was still suffering from the internal injuries.Once in awhile,she would cough up some blood.Bruche and Coan had warned her not to exert herself. No....but she couldn't run away either.Even if she did,she owed Endymion an explanation. Picking up her trench coat,Serenity walked out the door. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rei awoke,finding nobody about except herself. *Oh no....Serin...where have you gotten off to now,girl??* Somewhere else... Serenity had just reached Chiba Manor.She looked at the dark shadowy house.It was hard to believe,only days ago she had tried to assassinate Endymion Chiba at the very same house. Tears fell from her eyes,flying away in the wind as black storm clouds rolled in and Tokyo became dark though it was only 3.30pm in the evening. Slowly...Serenity pushed the gates open which swung with a loud creek. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Beryl smiled evilly as she sat in the dark confines of her limo.She was on her way to Chiba Manor. Peering out at the dark glass,she saw a small blonde figure making it's way across the driveway towards the doors. "Well well well...Serenity Tsukino.Such perfect timing."smiled Beryl evilly. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Endymion smiled as his eyes locked onto Serenity. "Sere..."he whispered. "Hello Endy...I got your message."said Serenity bluntly as she tried to stop tears from falling. "I missed you."said Endymion. Serenity stifled a sob.But the sound was heard by Endymion.Instinctively, he held her hand caressing it. Serenity gave a little mewl of fright,snatching her hand back as if she'd been burned. "Sere...what's wrong??"asked Endymion. "N-Nothing.I'm just...edgy."whispered Serenity. Endymion stared at her strangely.The same aqua blue eyes filled with sadness....just like the assassin's.Could it be?? Endymion enveloped Serenity in a hug,rubbing her back. Serenity winced,pulling away.The sudden action caused her to cough violently. "Serenity are you alright??"asked Endymion worried. "Why did you call me here???"asked Serenity.She could feel the sticky traces of blood on her hand. "Who are you?"asked Endymion simply. "What???!!"asked Serenity baffled. "Who are you??You've got the same blue eyes as the assassin who tried to assassinate me."pointed out Endymion hardly. "I-I.." "I can answer THAT Endymion darling.Serenity Tsukino..has the same blue eyes as your assassin,because she is the Katana Assassin."laughed a voice. Serenity turned and saw Beryl. "Beryl Tsurayaba.."grounded out Serenity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To be continued.... Watch out for part 8.Only a few more chapters and this story is finished. Well...Endymion's found out Serenity's the assassin.Now what????? Haahahahahaahahah.Email me please.