Title:Trusting an Assassin.Part 8 Author:Tapestry Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com Rating:PG Standard Disclaimer Apply *denotes thought @@@@denotes change in flashback "Sere???"choked Endymion. Beryl gave a laugh."Yes...tell him,why don't you,Serenity."smiled Beryl evilly. "Endy??"came Malachite's voice.He'd heard Beryl's accusation and could only wonder if the secret Serenity Tsukino kept was that she was an assassin. Endymion could only stare at the blonde in fron of him who was silent. He wished she would same something in her defence....anything!! The rest of the guards came out. "What's going on here??"asked Minako. In hushed tones,Malachite explained Beryl had accused Serenity of being an assassin. "O,Serenity,look at the state you're in.Hahahaha."laughed Beryl. "Sere??"prompted Endymion. Serenity looked away. "I'm sorry Endymion."whispered Serenity. Beryl smirked. Endymion stared at her in shock. The 6 guards gasped. Regaining their logical thoughts,the 6 charged at Serenity with blades that were hung at their waist. (AN:They're guards!!So they should have weapons right??) Serenity looked up in surprise and did a front flip,bounding clear above them. Hurriedly,Serenity ran towards the east side of the grounds as the gates were shut.She wouldn't have time to open them if she tried to get out that way. A bolt of lightning tore through the sky and then...rain began to pour. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity stayed at the east wall that was overgrown with ivy.Wind whipped her wet hair around her face.Of course,Malachite and the others had an advantage as they knew the grounds better than her and she was suffering from severe internal injury. Serenity glanced around.The only way to escape the guards was to climb up. Griting her teeth,Serenity tugged at the ivy to make sure they were secure. She then began to climb up. Endymion stood in the rain in shock.Beryl was standing beside him with an umbrella,her face a smirk. Serenity griped the vines tightly.Almost to the top...people don't look up.Who wants a face full of rain?? Reaching the top of the tower,Serenity gave a violent cough.More blood coming out from her mouth.She gave a curse. She sat down for a moment.Gathering her thoughts.Rain beat down on her, drenching her.It was bad enough since yesterday she'd taken two blows to the back,causing severe internal injury...now she had to escape from the manor. Entering the manor,Serenity found many katana displays hung on the wall. Taking one off the wall,Serenity went back the way she came.She was NOT going to run like a scared pup.She was NOT a coward. Climbing onto the slippery roof,Serenity proceeded to search for the guards,from an eagle's eye view. The gate was located on the north side. Jumping down onto the north tower,Serenity saw Endymion below...and beside him,was Beryl Tsurayaba,holding an umbrella to shield them from the rain. Her heart throbbed painfully.Maybe she should just end it here.... Just then,she saw the guards stop in front of Endymion and Beryl.They were shouting something.Barely audible. Before she could do anything else,she heard Nephrite's shout. "LOOK!!THERE SHE IS!!!" The 6 proceeded to run into the manor. Endymion stared up at her.The rain making visibility difficult.He felt betrayed...he felt gullible....she must have been using him all along. Using her pretty face to get close to him. She was watching him as he looked back up at her. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I'm sorry for causing you so much pain Endy..."choked Serenity as she drew the blade towards her throat,ready to pull it across,cutting her throat. "You do that...and it'll cause him much more pain."came a soft voice. Serenity turned slowly and saw Ami Chiba.... "What would YOU know about pain and suffering???I caused your brother pain and suffering.And my death will end it...his and MINE...."sobbed Serenity. "No...it'll only worsen his pain.He'll blame himself for your death." "I'm an assassin...he won't miss me."whispered Serenity. Serenity closed her eyes.But then,she felt a warm hand on her arm. "Is that all your life is to you???An assassin's way??"asked Ami. "My brother is a private person.Do you not know how your life has so intimately touched his??If you value your life and my brother's sanity.You won't do this."said Ami. "I tried to kill your brother,Ami...why are so kind??"asked Serenity. "Because...you are my friend.And I know you love him..."whispered Ami. "Maybe I do..maybe I don't.But what I want is not relevant.Not important." choked Serenity. Ami gave a sigh. "What is it with you ninja's????Always talking about honor.Just tell me once,what has honor ever brought you??"asked Ami exasperated. Serenity smiled slightly."But I still am going to die." "No you're NOT.If you're thinking about Zoiscite and the others,I'm not going to let you die.I'm going to help you escape."said Ami firmly. "No...I won't let you do that."whispered Serenity. "Try and stop me."said Ami defiantly. (AN:Who would have thought ol'Ami would be so fierce??) "Even if my death will cause an impact on your brother's life,how do you know I won't try and finish my task of killing him by baiting your brother with you??"asked Serenity. "I trust you..."whispered Ami simply. "I-I...thank you,Ami."smiled Serenity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Malachite and the rest reached the north tower but stopped when they saw Serenity holding Ami with a blade at her neck. "Serenity,you've fooled us long enough.Release Ami!!"growled Malachite. "Not on your life,Malachite.You'll have to kill me to get her."spat Serenity. "So be it then." Serenity kept a tight hold on Ami by the waist as she fought the 6 guards in the cramped hallway. Thrusting her blade towards Makoto,which Makoto dodged easily,giving Serenity the opportunity to lightly graze Jadeite on the arm. Serenity had it difficult,she was pushing herself,and Coan and Bruche had advised her not to strain herself. The fight lasted half-an-hour and Serenity herself had a gash on the right thigh and on her left shoulder. Though she'd managed to get out.She was beginning to cough blood again. "Escape out the back gate!!!"exclaimed Ami. Serenity gave a small nod. When she reached the gate,Serenity collapsed on the ground coughing violently. "Serenity!!!"exclaimed Ami. "I can't go any further..."whispered Serenity sadly. "No..I'm not going to let you get caught."said Ami forcefully. Draping one arm around her neck and keeping one hand on her waist to support her,Ami got Serenity out of the manor grounds. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I have to take you to a doctor!!"exclaimed Ami. "No...no doctor."whispered Serenity as blood trickled out of her mouth. "Serenity!!"came a voice. "Rei??"replied Serenity weakly. Rei rushed towards Serenity.Glaring at Ami."What happened to her??" "They found out."said Ami. "What do you mean,'found out'???"asked Rei angrily. "They found out she's an assassin.I'm sure you're on too...are you not??" asked Ami calmly. "Sere!!Are you alright???"asked Rei holding her friend who was barely conscious."What happened??"asked Rei,ignoring Ami's question. Rei gave a gasp,as she noticed the wounds."Don't tell me,she had a fight." said Rei pointing to the slash on her thigh and shoulder where blood had seeped into the cloth of her slacks. Ami nodded. "Oh Serin.How could you be so stupid???They told you not to exert yourself!!!"exclaimed Rei. "I couldn't help it.It was either that or die..."whispered Serenity. "As if your condition right now is any better."scolded Rei. "What's wrong???"asked Ami. "She's suffer-" "Nothing!!!"protested Serenity aloud,before she fainted,going limp on Rei's body. "Sere!!What's wrong with her???"asked Ami. "She's suffered from internal injury,when she tried to assassinate your brother.She's been coughing up blood.She's not suppose to fight!!"explained Rei. "Oh god...Serenity,she fought my brother's guards for at least half-an-hour and she spent another half running and climbing the wall's vines."exclaimed Ami. Rei let out a sigh."Sere...you're stubborn as a mule....wait,why are YOU here?????"asked Rei suddenly. "I helped her escape."said Ami calmly. "Why???"asked Rei suspiciously. "I didn't want her to die." Rei's features softened.But then hardened again."Thank you..Ami..but I have to get her back to the clan if she has any hope of recovering fully." said Rei. "Please..let me help."pleaded Ami. Rei shook her head."I'm sorry.Go back Ami...you'll catch a cold like this."said Rei walking away with Serenity,draped around her. Ami watched as they walked away into the night her midnight bangs hung at her eyes.She shivered from the cold wetness of the rain...but shivered even more at the thought of what would happen if Serenity Tsukino died tonight... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When they reached a deserted area,Rei took out a cellular phone and called for help. Moments later,Saffir and a few others from the clan came. Rei followed them back to the caverns. Coan and Bruche were waiting to recieve their patient. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ami trudged back to the manor,soaked.She was worried,wet,muddy and tired. Reaching the gate,she was escorted back into the manor by several guards. Thanking them,Ami was greeted by Endymion's personal ninja guards. "Ami!!"exclaimed Zoiscite.Saying no more,Zoiscite called for help. Quickly,they led her to her room,then left to inform her brother she was back. "Where IS Endy anyway???"asked Ami softly. "He's in his study.He's angry.I think it was something Beryl said."sighed Minako as she left the room. Ami watched as Minako left.Then got up from her bed and stared out of the window,where the wind and rain howled.Claps of thunder were frequently heard and lightning bolts could be seen,zigzagged across the dark murky sky. "Ami...."said a voice. Ami turned."Endy..." "I'm glad you're unharmed."whispered Endymion crossing the room to stand beside his sister. "Endy...do you...you,..hate Serenity??"asked Ami slowly. "I'm disgusted with her for being such a phony.I'm disgusted with myself or being so gullible as to even think she loved me.Oh...she played me for a fool,she did.Played me like a perfect fool.And I fell right into her trap. 'Come into my parlor,said th spider to the fly.'but no...try as much as I want to,I cannot hate her."sighed Endymion. Ami looked down at the floor. "Endy...please...can I ask you one more question??"whispered Ami. Endymion stared at his sister and nodded. "Wha-What would you do,if you found out Serenity had died??"asked Ami shakily. Endymion stared at his sister...silence. "Is she dying??"croaked Endymion. "I-I..I don't know...she WAS going to kill herself when she was up on the north tower.But..she IS seriously injured."admitted Ami. Silence. Endymion turned away and left his sister's room. Ami stared after her brother...*Just what I was afraid off....your sanity* thought Ami sadly. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity coughed out more blood.She had begun to show signs of a frostbite when they got her back to the cavern.Losing blood and strength and also standing in the rain for so long caused her bad condition to worsen. The gash on the thigh wasn't so bad. "She's getting a temperature."informed Coan to one of the other people in the clan. "Try and bring her temperature down.This is difficult.She's burning up and also freezing at the same time."sighed Bruche. ~Hours later~ Coan and Bruche sat in a rest area of the caverns. "How's she??"asked Rei. "She's sleeping.And THIS time,we're keeping her HERE,so that we can watch her injuries.She could have died in the rain."yawned Coan. Karaberasu sighed."She's stubborn.That's just the way she is." "Well,one thing's for sure,my brother is sure to send other assassins after Endymion.It seems our client has stressed that he wants him dead soon."said Saffir. "God...Serenity.."whispered Rei. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Endymion entered his dark room.Deciding not to switch on the lights, Endymion fell on his bed.Staring up at the ceiling,he wondered.... ~FLASHBACK~ "I can answer THAT Endymion darling.Serenity Tsukino..has the same blue eyes as your assassin,because she is the Katana Assassin."laughed Beryl. @@@@ "I'm sorry Endymion."whispered Serenity. @@@@ "Wha-What would you do,if you found out Serenity had died??"asked Ami shakily. @@@@ Endymion paced around in his study.Beryl sitting on his couch sipping some cognac. "Well,look on the bright side Endymion,you found out that blonde canary, Serenity was an assassin.Good riddance to her."smirked Beryl satisfied. @@@@ "Is she dying??"croaked Endymion. "I-I..I don't know...she WAS going to kill herself when she was up on the north tower.But..she IS seriously injured."admitted Ami. ~END FLASHBACK~ Endymion closed his eyes and wept...tears trickled slowly down his cheek. *Serenity....* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Days later.... Serenity opened her eyes.She felt sore all over.Sitting up,she felt as if she had been trampled over by a heard of wildeebeast. "Serin,you're awake."exclaimed a voice. "Rei??How long have I been sleeping??"croaked Serenity.Her mouth felt dry and she was sure she looked worst than she felt. "A few days.How do you feel??"asked Rei. "Like my whole body had been hosting a trampoline convention."groaned Serenity. Her right thigh felt sore and her neck felt like it'd been used for a pin cushion. Rei chuckled."I guess you're fine."laughed Rei.But then,Rei's expression turned serious. "Alright.What in the world do you think you were doing,going to the Chiba Manor????Did you want to die THAT bad?????"spat Rei angrily. "I just felt,I owed him an explanation,Rei."whispered Serenity. Rei sighed. "Where is everybody anyway???"asked Serenity looking around.She didn't see any of her friends...and a few other ninja assassins were missing too. Rei bit her lip. Bruche and Coan entered the cavern."They're gone."said Bruche simply. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Endymion sighed.It had been days since Serenity had disappeared.He could only wonder if she'd survived or not.For all he knew,she could be dead already.He missed her. *No..no..no..she's an assassin.What are you thinking Chiba???*scolded his mind. Endymion burried his face into his hands and wept.The whole thing was taking a toll on his mind.He usually lay restless at night.Unable to sleep. He hardly focused on his work anymore.Dark rings were beginning to show under his eyes. He'd tried so hard to hate Serenity Tsukino.But he couldn't...she'd stolen his heart like a shadow thief into the night.And that was what she was...a mere shadow in his now dark life. Beryl and Natsumi had tried to comfort him.Much to his disgust.How he'd ever put up with the two women was beyond him.All they had done was mock and say how bad Serenity was,and he didn't like that.He missed Serenity. Rei Hino had paid a visit to him nights ago.She hadn't divulged anything on Serenity's condition. ~FLASHBACK~ "Hello Endymion." "Rei Hino...have you come to finish the job Serenity started??"spat Endymion. Rei smirked."I should....but I won't.If you think Serenity's only an assassin,then you don't know her at all...then you cannot claim to love her."said Rei as she perched on the corner of his 13th-century antique desk. "I DID love her,I DO love her...but she didn't return the feeling.She lied to get close to me.Used my feelings.To me,she was love...and hope... she held my whole heart in her hand and threw it away,Rei.So YOU CANNOT blame me for trying to be realistic!!"shouted Endymion angrily. "You may think she's a stranger now.An assassin.But she's still the same Serenity Tsukino,Endymion.All I ask of you is to trust her.She's my friend and I just want her to be happy.Don't you???"whispered Rei as she slipped out the window. ~END FLASHBACK~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just outside the grounds of Chiba Manor.A group of 9 people,stood on a nearby tree.The wind was howling.It was going to rain again.And this time... it was going to be one hell of a storm. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Gone??"asked Serenity."What's the time???" "It's 11.45pm."answered Coan. "Whe-Where has everybody gone???"asked Serenity. "Sere,why don't you just lie down and rest.You're not fully healthy yet. You've just woken up from a 5 day coma.You're weak."protested Bruche. "NO!!I WON'T lie down and rest.You tell what's going on!!"shouted Serenity angrily. "Do you REALLY want to know,Serin??Do you???"asked Coan. "Yes."replied Serenity firmly. "Pattsu,Karaberasu,Saffir,Esmeraude and 5 other assassins have been sent to kill Lord Endymion Chiba.They're at Chiba Manor now."said Coan. Serenity stared at them in shock. "I'm sorry Serenity.."whispered Rei sadly. Silence... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The 4 assassins landed on the roof with a soft thud.Esmeraude stared up at the cloudy dark sky.No stars at all.... "The wind is picking up.Looks like tonight's storm is going to be bad." commented Esmeraude. Saffir nodded."Lets just hope Matta and the others are keeping to time table."said Saffir as his dark black bangs tickled his face. "Come on...let's go.Once we see the signal from the others,it means the alarm system had been compromised.Head for the north tower.Lord Endymion's window faces the north."said Saffir as he gave the orders. Pattsu,Karaberasu and Esmeraude nodded.Moving across the roof like huge cats,they made sure their footsteps made little noise on the roof. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Endymion sat up.He felt as if he was being suffocated in stifling pressure.He was in cold sweat.It felt terrible. *What the hell???* Pulling his katana from under the mattress,Endymion held on to it tightly. He wondered if his friends and guardians felt the stifling pressure. His nerves were edgy at the slightest sound due to the pressure. *Calm yourself Endymion...meditate...* Slowly...he closed his eyes and calmed himself,meditating. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "That's the signal.We'll enter the manor through one of the hallway windows."said Saffir. Pattsu nodded.Unsheathing her katana,she pushed it at the crevice of the window and tried to budge it open. Moments later...they managed to enter the manor.Hopefully,the other five ninjas had been lucky enough and able to get into the house from downstairs,as they had planned. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Malachite frowned and paced around in his room.Something was wrong... terribly wrong.Taking his katana,he opened his door and exited into the hallway,coming face to face with four black clad ninja assassins.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To be continued... Watch for Part 9...what's going to happen.Can Endymion and his 6 guards hold off the 9 ninja assassins come to end Endymion's life.How is Serenity going to take this news???We'll see what happens kay????Alright..EMAIL ME!!!!! Right this instant or you're gonna get it.*frowns*