Title:Trusting an Assassin.Part 9 Author:Tapestry Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com Standard Disclaimer Apply *denotes thought WARNING!!!SLIGHT VIOLENCE CONTAINED!!!IF YOU DETEST VIOLENCE,STOP READING NOW!!!(You can tell from the title this is quite a gory fic) :p katana = sword shoten = knife sensei = teacher Recap: "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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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.... Now...on to the story..... Malachite's eyes widened as his eyes fell upon the four black figures, holding swords. "What the hell-" Malachite's eyes widened as a blade swung down towards him.Instinctively dodging the blade that headed towards him,the sharp katana drove down into the carpeted hallway,with a soft 'crack'. He had to warn the others and get to Endymion before he was subdued by the assassins. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Serenity??Are you all right??"asked Rei. "No,.....you can't."croaked Serenity. "Sere,we're sorry.But you know-"began Bruche. "No!!!!!"screamed Serenity.Jumping off the bed and onto her feet,some of her sore mucles protested at the sudden movement.She'd been in a coma for nearly a week.Most of the injuries weren't so serious already. "Sere,stop!!"shouted Rei. Serenity ran from the cave,towards the weapons cavern. Her body ached and was protesting.Her muscles felt as if they were on fire.Tears stung her eyes.But all the pain in the world couldn't lessen the pain in her thrumming heart. Biting her lip,first things first.She had to get a weapon,then find out WHO had hired the clan in order to stop the assassinations. Hopefully,Endymion and the others would be able to hold out until she finished what she set out to do.... Reaching the weapons area,a ninja was guarding the entrance. *Hmm...a newbie.Shouldn't be so difficult.*though Serenity to herself as she hid in the shadows of the dark cavern passageways. Picking up a tiny pebble,Serenity threw it.The pebble made a 'clack' sound,giving Serenity the diversion she needed to subdue the guard. As the guard turned to the sound,Serenity hurried towards the guard and delivered a swift blow to the back of the neck.Effectively knocking the young ninja out. Serenity stared at the young man on the floor.Years of ninja training which had been drilled into her,made her cold.Yes...she loved Endymion however the young assassin on the floor was a different matter.She felt no remorse.But she did feel sorry she was going to have to do,the ONE thing she had vowed,never to do....betray the clan. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Endymion sat still on his bed.The pressure was still there...suffocating him...drowning him... Something was terribly wrong. Unsheathing the blade he held,Endymion's eyes snapped open.He'd heard someone shout. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Malachite gave a shout. Two assassin's lunged,trying to silence him.Malachite kicked one of them in the stomach....hard. He knew he couldn't turn his back...otherwise,he would be done for. The second assassin pinned him to the ground with a shoten at his neck. The sharp blade dug into his throat.The eyes of the assassin gleamed a dark doe brown. Malachite saw one of the other assassins help the one he'd just kicked,up. He wondered if he was going to die here??His ice blue eyes met the assassin's brown ones.Cold sweat trickled down his forehead. Luckily for Malachite,his saviour was a short knife,digging into his attacker's shoulder. The assassin fell back.Her shoulder bleeding. The other 5 guards had heard his shout.Minako's face was grim,and she was holding a few blades.It was clear,she had been the one to throw the blade. Both sides watched each other in eerie silence.Both willing the other side to make a move. The brown-eyed assassin grasped the blade tightly and tugged at it. Sending more blood from her wound. "You should have died when you had the chance."she said eyeing Malachite. "Now all of you are going to serve your master in hell."spat the brown-eyed assassin threatheningly. Makoto growled."What makes you think you all are going to win??" "K,don't...we came here for Lord Endymion.Not them."said the assassin who Malachite had kicked. "The hell with Endymion!!His guards will have to be eliminated too."spat the woman. (AN:You don't expect them to say their names aloud in front of the enemy do you???But I'm sure you can guess who the assassins are.) "Over our dead bodies!!"shouted Jadeite,as the guards began to move to block the entrance to Endymion's room. "So be it then."growled a distinct male voice."But hear this guards.You are outnumbered." "What???"asked Nephlite confused. "Look around you."came his voice again. Minako turned and saw 5 more assassins behind them,who had probably gotten in from downstairs.*Dammit....why does this have to be so difficult??* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Endymion opened his room door and saw 9 black clad figures in the dark hallway and his guards barricading his door. "Get in here!!"he exclaimed pulling the 6 guards in,and shutting the big doors quickly with a slam,into the faces of the assassins. "God,what the hell do you think the 6 of you are doing,standing in front of the door like that,facing off those 9 assassins????"exclaimed Endymion angrily. "It's our job,Endy....remember????"asked Zoiscite. "Well,the door isn't going to hold them for long.I just hope Ami locks HER door."said Endymion. "And that somebody phone's the police."whispered Minako. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity entered the cave.Lighting a candle,Serenity eyed all the different types of swords and knives displayed. Her eyes settled on a katana that had a strange moon sigil design.Picking up the sword,Serenity stared at the blade.It was HER blade.The one she had used to kill her first victim.The blade had cut cleanly. The blade was clear and sparkling made from crystal.Curiously,it was light and easy to hold. Taking the blade and the scab off the wall,Serenity disappeard from the cave,to Lord Dimando's own private place in Kage Corps. Rei,Bruche and Coan found the unconscious young assassin on the ground. Coan bent down to check for a pulse.It was there. "He's just out cold.He'll be fine but with a headache in a few hours.We've got to find Serenity."exclaimed Coan. "Rei,why don't you head over to the Chiba Manor and check if she's gone there.And warn Saffir and the others too."ordered Bruche. Rei nodded and set off... *Oh Sere...where are you??* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saffir's eyes narrowed. "That door isn't going to keep you safe!!!"shouted Karaberasu angrily. Pattsu restrained her sister,careful to avoid her wounded shoulder. Esmeraude was silent...much unlike her."What do we do now??"she asked. "We-"began Saffir. A soft sound like somebody opening a window was heard...the assassins stiffened slightly. "Saffir??"came a voice. "Rei??"exclaimed Pattsu softly. Rei stepped into the moonlight.She wore black and a mask around her face. However her wet hair spilled around her shoulders like dark rich velvet. She was dripping wet from the rain and her breathing uneven. "Saffir....h-have,you seen....Serenity???*gasped Rei. "No.What has happened??????"demanded Saffir. "Serenity's gone.Bruche said to warn you.We thought she would come here." gasped Rei. "Saffir,what do we do??"asked Pattsu. Silence... "Matta,you and the others stay here and try to get the door open.If you can't,stay here.In case they should come out.Rei,Pattsu,Esmeraude,Karaberasu and I will find another way into the room."ordered Saffir calmly. The five ninja's nodded. "Hai,Saffir-sensei."came a chorus of voice. "Let's go.And Karaberasu,by rights,I should be making you stay here instead of letting you follow us.Make sure your outburst doesn't happen again."said Saffir in a low voice. "Hai...I'm sorry senior."replied Karaberasu,her head bent. (AN:They may be friends but this is business and she has to respect ol' Saffir in front of the other juniors.) "Let's go.Time is pressing."said Esmeraude. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cold sweat trickled down Endymion's brow.It had been a good 15 minutes since he and his guards had barricaded themselves into his large bedroom which evidently had no phone because he was grouchy person in the morning and liked his rest. (AN:Heehehheheh...I'm sure some of you can picture ol'Endy in his boxers and a t-shirt,stubble on his chin and grumpy and early in the morning..) "Any sound from outside??"asked Jadeite. "This is stupid!!We're cower-*ouch*."came Malachite's voice as he touched his throat.It was not badly injured,but it hurt when he spoke. Minako rolled her eyes. "This is what you get for trying to be the hero,Mal.Get your hand away." scolded Minako as she carefully tended to it. Endymion smiled slightly. *Malachite's lucky to have someone with him through this...Nephlite too. Whereas...me??No..don't even think about it,Endymion.Don't think about it.* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saffir had led Esmeraude,Rei,Pattsu,and Karaberasu outside to the picture window that led to Endymion's room. "Alright,let's move in."mumbled Saffir. The three women nodded....Rei merely lagged behind. Endymion though he saw a shadow at his window.There was...five of them. The window broke with a loud crash as four assassins crashed into the window.Just like a week and a half be fore. The 6 guards jumped in front of Endymion. "How touching."smirked Karaberasu mockingly. "If you want to kill Endymion,you're gonna have to get through us, assassins."spat Jadeite. "Suit yourself.We only came for your master.But I don't mind spilling a little more of YOUR blood,for revenge."hissed Esmeraude. "You were that green-haired assassin!!"exclaimed Nephlite. "No matter,you're still going to have defeat us before you can kill him!" exclaimed Zoiscite,his greenish blue eyes hard. Silence... Moments later...shouts and the clashes of swords could be heard in the air... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity walked out of the elevator and onto the top level of Kage Corp, where Dimando had a private chamber.She was dressed in black,so it was easier to blend in the darkness. (AN:Whaaaat???You think I'm gonna let her go romping around in a thin gown she was wearing when she was in a coma???Get real!!) The whole level was pitch dark....*This must be my lucky day.*mused Serenity sarcastically. Forcing the door to the chambers open,Serenity looked around.The room was decorated in dark colours.Black and purple with streaks of white. Serenity sniffed at room. *Very morbid.Yuck...* Her footsteps were muffled as she walked towards the safe in the corner of the dark and creepy looking room. Crouching down,Serenity sat to work on cracking the safe.Nothing challeging.They'd tought the basics of stealing,breaking into safes and other such skills at Kanagawa. Serenity smirked.This was a piece of cake.*Nothing too difficult.Just a twist here and an alakazam,and I'm in.*smiled Serenity.She was thankful she hadn't forgotten all this. The safe door opened with a 'ding'.Pushing the safe door,Serenity rummaged through the safe.It was filled with valuebles and documents. 15 minutes later.... *Dammit.There's nothing here.*cursed Serenity mentally. Turning to his desk,she noticed for the first time,his computer was still running... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pattsu had managed to unlock the doors that held the other assassins outside in the hallway. The other 5 joined the sword fight. Endymion was fighting with Saffir. One of the assassins charged at Jadeite who was fighting with Karaberasu. Jadeite noticed this and parried Karaberasu's sword whilst kicking the charging assassin. Saffir was thrown back at a wall. Endymion surveyed his room.It had become a flurry of shining swords. Suddenly, a sword cut at his upper arm.Endymion bit his lip from yelling. Glancing at his attacker,it was a younger assassin. "Hahahaha!!!Sensei!!I've cut him!!"shouted the assassin with glee. Endymion smirked holding his arm loosely. "You seem quite young...let me give you a lesson in being a ninja." growled Endymion. "What??"came the assassin's confused voice. "Lesson one,don't put your victim down for the count."said Endymion kicking his feet out from under him. "Lesson two,never underestimate an opponent."mumbled Endymion as he pointed his sword at the young assassin's throat. The young assassin was shaking now. "Lesson number three...NEVER...EVER,make me mad."growled Endymion. That was when the assassin fainted. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity tapped furiously at the keyboard.Going through Dimando's files. Finally,she came across Endymion's file.It had all his personal statistics and current family listed. Serenity's eyes grew wide at the information displayed. *Damn him...I should have killed the man when I had the chance!!*thought Serenity to herself. She was about to click continue,when a filename caught her eye. "Setsuna.."whispered Serenity. Clicking the file with the mouse,Serenity scanned the file.Apparently, Dimando had his own backdoor key to the police department's computer.The rightcorner logo proved the information had been stolen.Her eyes ran down the information... Name:Meiou Setsuna AKA:None Age:20 Birthdate:29 October 1973 Occupation:Police Officer Rank:Lieutenant Last Mission:Infiltrate the Katana Assassins Clan. Outcome:Aborted Current Mission: NA Outcome: NA Status:Deceased(KOD)*Killed on duty* Cause of death:Assassinated Serenity stared at the screen...she could only focus on the words... Occupation:Police Officer. *Esmeraude was right...Setsuna was a police officer...oh god.She lied to me.Setsuna lied!!She only wanted to arrest the whole lot of us.*.Serenity sobbed silently. A sound made her sit up,someone was coming.Serenity looked around the room in panic.There was no place to hide!!!Looking out the office window... Serenity stared down to the blinking lights and faint sounds from the city below.She was...*gulp* 60 storeys up. "What the hell-"came a voice. *Dimando!!Just jump,Sere!!*screamed Serenity's mind.Without thinking, Serenity jumped,just giving Dimando a glimpse of only a black clad figure. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pattsu faced Endymion. "You're a bully Endymion.Why don't you pick on somebody your own size?" spat Pattsu. Endymion faced the assassin.His eyes narrowed to a hard blue.Endymion was aware his guards were already injured.In fact...there was nobody there, without an injury. Both lashed out with their blades. Endymion's blade cut at her leg,sending blood on his blade.The once clean shiny blades now smeared a slight red. The blood bath continued.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity was now in free fall...she'd always wanted to be daring and unpredictable...but she certainly never expected it to be like this!! *If I time it right,I land on that building*thought Serenity to herself. Unfortunately,she missed...making it,only by her fingertips. Climbing onto the roof,Serenity's legs wobbled slightly. *Uggh..what a coward.My legs feel like jelly.Dammit....reflexes are way off...still too weak.*cursed Serenity.Rain beat down on her back. Staring at a dark gloomy mansion,far far away...her determination returned.Rain trickled down her face. *But I have to try.* Getting up,Serenity willed her legs to stabilize themselves.*That stunt was a high risk.But then..in my line of work,what ISN'T a risk??*wondered Serenity to herself. Taking a minute to recover,she was off again.Towards the dark Chiba Manor. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reaching the manor in a half-hour,Serenity witnessed as a black clad figure fell out of the huge window which she recognised as Endymion's room window. "Oh god..."gasped Serenity. Hopping down into the grounds,Serenity raced towards the black figure. It was one of the younger,newer assassins.Pulling down the mask,Serenity frowned,staring at the young assassin who was unconscious. "Miyo."whispered Serenity sadly.(AN:That's the assassin's name) Checking her pulse,Serenity sighed.It was steady.*Well...she's not going to die,that's for sure.Now to deal with other business...*thought Serenity to herself as she pulled out her blade. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saffir,Karaberasu,Pattsu,Esmeraude and the other three younger assassins each fought one on one. Minako gave a scream as Karaberasu's blade connected with her arm.A long gash showing.Karaberasu took the opportunity to knock the blonde unconscious on the floor. Malachite had heard her scream,and in a moment of disconcentration, Pattsu had him on the floor as well. The three younger assassins were subdued by Jadeite,Nephlite and Makoto. Zoiscite was battling against Esmeraude,and evidently...losing. Jadeite had gone to help Minako.A swift chop to the back sent Karaberasu in a heap on the floor. Makoto and Nephlite encircled Pattsu. Jadeite finally noticed the dark haired woman standing by the window, a mask over her features.But the raven hair and violet eyes were impossible to be mistaken. "Rei??"croaked Jadeite. Rei's eyes widened.*How did he know???* Jadeite started towards her."Rei...wh-what..you're one of them." "I'm sorry."whispered Rei unsheathing her sword. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Esmeraude shoved Zoiscite towards the wall,hitting his head hard on the wall.Blood trickled down his head. Esmeraude turned to helped Pattsu,who at least was STILL conscious. Pattsu's short blade drove into Makoto's side.Makoto glared at her with burning emerald eyes.Sweat trickling down her forehead,as blood trickled out of her mouth. A swift kick to the gut as a final defiant move before blacking out was given.Nephlite finished the job by sending his blade down on Pattsu's back....a long slash.Pattsu gave a muffled cry,falling in a heap beside Karaberasu. Esmeraude faced Nephlite....both giving each other cold looks. Saffir had heard Pattsu's voice but concentrated full hand on Endymion. He couldn't turn away for even a fraction of a second. Saffir grunted slightly as Endymion had a slightly bigger build than him. He pushed his sword back against Endymion's own. Endymion's head was bleading and a few bruises could be seen swelling. Saffir's eyes narrowed even further,kicking Endymion's footing.Endymion fell onto his wooden board floor with a hard 'thud' Saffir took this opportunity.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity lept up to the window.Her legs still wobbling slightly.The sight she saw,shocked her.Endymion on the floor and Saffir with his blade held high. Serenity gave a scream. "NO!!!!" Saffir looked up,only to be met by a solid body,knocking the wind out of him. Shaking his head,Saffir looked up. "Serenity."came Saffir's voice. "I can't allow you to do this,S-kun."whispered Serenity sadly. Endymion stared in shock.The person who had saved him was...Serenity!! One of the Sword Assassins as well. "Sere..."whispered Endymion. Saffir glared at Serenity.She stood in front of Endymion who was on the floor.The wind and rain,pouring in through the broken window as Serenity's wet blonde hair shined lightly whenever lightning flashed. "Serenity."exclaimed Rei.Jadeite stared at the blonde woman who stood silhouetted in the lightning's light with a silvery crystal blade in her hand.She looked like an angel of death... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saffir stared at the woman he considered a sister with hard sapphire eyes. "Get out of the way,Sere." "I'm sorry Saf-chan.But I cannot allow you to kill Lord Endymion."wept Serenity remorsefully. "Truly little rabbit,even if--it means...YOU must die in his stead??"asked Saffir getting up and clutching his blade. "If it comes to that...I'm sorry."whispered Serenity,as she held the blade in a defensive posture. Esmeraude knew she had to finish her fight with the guard quickly if she was to save both of them from killing each other. Jadeite and Rei had halted their fight to watch the duel between Serenity and Saffir. Esmeraude delivered a quick punch to Nephlite's chin,and a swift kick to his gut to knock him out.He'd be sore when he woke up,but it was better than killing him and wasting time. Esmeraude watched in horror as her old friend fought Saffir.Of course... Saffir had an edge as Serenity,from what she could tell,was still weak. Her coordination and reflexes were way off!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Endymion could only stare at the battling duo in shock. Serenity felt her muscles screaming.However she had still managed to cut Saffir,and he had matched her stroke for stroke. "Serenity...don't....make....me...do...this.I love you like a little sister.Don't make me kill you."pleaded Saffir. "I love you like a brother too,but I won't let you kill him.I won't let you kill Endymion!!"exclaimed Serenity.She was already tiring from the strain. "Serenity...forgive me."whispered Saffir,as a tear slid down from his eye. A quick maneuver and his blade connected with Serenity's back.Cutting it. Serenity bit her lip as the pain tore at her.She felt as if she were falling apart.The last thing she heard before falling...was a choir of angels...*Beautiful* Endymion's eyes widened.He wanted to shout,but no sound came out. "SERE!!!!"screamed Rei. Jadeite restrained her.Rei struggled,finally elbowing the blonde man. "Saf-kun!!!Stop!!!!"screamed Rei as tears fell from her eyes. But Saffir ignored his friend's shout.Staring down at Serenity's pale face who was unconscious. "I'm sorry Sere...I'm sorry." Lifting the blade to plunge into her near lifeless body,a blade found it's way to his shoulder,making him drop the katana with a 'clank' That was when Endymion rammed into him. Esmeraude shouted."Saf!!" Endymion held onto Serenity."Serenity!!"he called slightly. Her back was bleeding profusely.Picking her up,Endymion jumped out of the window and into the rain. Esmeraude surveyed the room.She should help the others...but Endymion... Serenity...What to do??? Rei was still there...standing like she had seen a ghost.Jadeite sat in a corner,clutching his stomach. Walking towards Rei,Esmeraude shook her slightly. "Rei!!" No answer. "Rei!!"called again,shaking her hard.Esmeraude's green eyes narrowed. Bringing her hand back,Esmeraude slapped Rei. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Endymion ran over rooftops...something he hadn't done in a long time. A bundle in his arms.He had to get to the hospital,but his injuries were shouting for him to stop. Staring down at the pale face,Endymion gritted his teeth.He had to get her to a hospital. "Endy??" "Sere,shh...it's going to be alright."coaxed Endymion. "Endy,I have to tell you..." "Shhh..rest,my love." "No...I know who hire the clan..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rei's violet eyes locked with Esmeraude's green ones as she snapped back to reality. "Rei!!Listen to me.You have to get some people here and get the others back to the clan.If you don't,the police!!"exclaimed Esmeraude. "I'm going after Serenity."said Eseraude."Do you understand???" Silence.. "Dammit Rei,you have to do this!!P-chan,K,Saf-kun..they're your friends!!" shouted Esmeraude. This got a response out of Rei."I-I understand Esmer."replied Rei with a nod. Esmeraude headed towards the window.Turning back to Rei,Esmeraude felt she needed to give Rei some reassurance. "Rei....-"began Esmeraude. Rei looked up towards Esmeraude. "-I promise I'll get Serenity back..." Rei smiled slightly and nodded. With that,Esmeraude was gone. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Endymion landed on a roof near the hospital building.His feet wobbled and gave way. He fell on the roof's floor. "Dammit...just a little further!!!Why????!!!Sere's life is at stake!!" sobbed Endymion to nobody."This is unfair.." Serenity was pale and cold.However there was faint breathing and pulse. Faint but strong.... Willing himself to get up,Endymion stood on wobbly legs. "I probably should kill you and take Serenity....but I won't."came a voice behind him. Turning,Endymion saw a black clad figure with startling bright green eyes. Endymion was silent. "You can't take her to a hospital."said Esmeraude. "She's dying!!!I'm not going to let her die!!!"shouted Endymion angrily. "You take her to the hospital,she'll be dead anyway.The police won't let her out of their sights."spat Esmeraude."The clan is the only one who can save her now..." Endymion knew she was right...but what to do???Give up the woman he love in exchange to make sure she lived??? Endymion sighed...that was the only way... "Alright."whispered Endymion as he handed Serenity's fragile body to the woman in black. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Esmeraude turned to go,but stopped by Endymion... "Wait.You could just kill me.Why not??"asked Endymion. Esmeraude turned her head."Who says I wasn't going to kill you???Just not today,Lord Endymion.For Serenity...I'm letting you go.But the next time we come face to face,don't think I will allow you to go again."said Esmeraude threatheningly. Jumping away,Esmeraude was gone....leaving Endymion to stare after her with his lost love,who he might never know,lived or not. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To be continued... Hahaha!!!Hold your breath people.The mystery client is going to be revealed! Watch for Part 10.(MOST probably the conclusion of the story).Will Sere live or die???(Hmmmm....that's a toughie.I'm not sure myself.) Thanks to those people who commented on the story. :)))This is the longest part in the story so far.Not sure if Part 10,will be longer!!Till then, see you!!!