Memoirs of a Melancholy Assassin: The Life of Sephiria Arks
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Chapter Three
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I was on the rooftop of the dorm buildings, a place that I found rather peaceful, my arms folded on the cold, metal railing. I gazed into the morning sky, for it was the break of dawn, and the day's blue was splashed with brilliant streaks of gold, pink, purple, and red. Smiling, I reveled in the beauty of the moment.
The wind blew my hair out of my face, revealing the spot on my forehead where the honorary I tattoo would be. I closed my eyes and imagined the intricate design of the border for the Roman numeral, another slow smile tugging at my lips.
So absorbed in this daydream was I that I didn't notice the presence behind me. Arms folded around my waist as I was pulled to a warm body. My eyes snapped open. For a moment all functions ceased, but I forced my mind to clear.
Without looking back, I knew who it was. "James," I whispered, my eyes closing and my arms cradling his. I smirked as I heard him hiss a "darn". "When'd you get back? And how'd you get back so quickly? It hasn't been a day yet."
"Actually, it's only been eighteen hours, forty-four minutes, and…" he paused, consulting his watch. "Thirty-four seconds. But hey? Who's counting?" he chuckled, nuzzling my ear.
"You are," I said bluntly.
James frowned. "You're not supposed to say that. And anyway," he said, the casual grin returning to his handsome face, "it was a simple job. In and out; not that hard."
"If it wasn't hard, then an eraser should have done it."
He kissed my cheek. "Maybe I just wanted to see you as soon as I could."
"Or maybe you're just paranoid that someone will steal me while you're gone."
"Hey, I didn't think of that. Yeah; that, too."
I laughed. His hand traveled awkwardly across my body, making me feel slightly anxious. Then, remembering his request to the Elders, I turned around and punched him in the stomach. He doubled over instantly, groaning. "What was that for?" he choked.
"For asking the Elders to keep my promotion from me. And for being a pervert. Either one is a perfectly valid reason," I replied cheekily.
"You know," he moaned, on the floor now, "you're a lot more violent than you seem."
"Don't judge a book by its cover."
He chuckled darkly, grinning sheepishly at me. "That's a rule everyone should follow. Even a rose has its thorns, I guess." I sat down next to him.
I looked up as snow began to fall. "Look at that," I whispered. "The first snow. Isn't it late by a month?"
"I think it's more beautiful than the snow in December," James replied softly as I lay my head on his muscled shoulder. I glanced up at him and kissed him gently.
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Three hours later, at ten A.M., James and I were in my room, accompanied by Belze and Jenos. Jenos put his hands on his hips and looked sternly at his brother.
"Y'know, James, kissing in the snow is not the smartest thing to do, especially at six in the morning," he scolded his older brother, making James look away in shame.
"Same for you, Sephiria," Belze said sternly. "The next Number I shouldn't act like that."
"We're sorry," we muttered softly.
Jenos glared at us a little longer, but then turned away. "Ugh. Now that you two are running sick, do we have to watch you?" he complained.
I coughed, not because I was sick, but to get their attention. "Um… You don't have to stay, Jenos, Belze," I said innocently. "My body has undergone surgery to be twice as immune to sickness and twice as able to heal as the average person's. My temperature should be normal now."
Belze put a warm hand against my forehead. He leaned back. "Well, I'll be," he grinned. "She's right; her fever's gone."
I smirked at James, who only glared at me. "Lucky ass," he mouthed. I put on an innocent look for the fun of it.
"Hey, idiot brother," Jenos said, returning our attention to him. "We'll be back at 3:50 to pick up Sephi-nee to go get her tattoo. You can, uh, stay here and get better… I guess," he said, waving dismissively as he followed Belze out the door.
"Your brother's going to grow up a freak," I commented, five minutes after he left.
"There's no helping it," James said, shrugging. "We're a family of freaks, Jenos, you, and I."
I threw a pillow square into his face. "Go to sleep," I groaned, throwing the blanket over my head to deflect the return.
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When I woke up, Jenos was shaking me as hard as he could. I could feel James's body in my bed (which, for some odd reason, didn't alarm me as it should). I blinked.
"Jenos. I'm awake. Stop that; you're giving me a headache." I checked the clock as he replied.
"Wake up my idiot brother; we're going to be la—"
"It's 3:55?!" I practically screeched in his ear.
He flinched away, clutching his ear. "Oh. I guess it is," he said, looking up at the clock. Then he snapped his fingers. "Shoot. Your tattoo."
We all moved at the same time into the car that Belze owned, a small, compact car that could only fit three people at best. Somehow we all squeezed in, Belze and I in the front, and James and Jenos, cramped in the back seat meant for one, said at the same time, "Belze, step on it!"
I was thrown back into my seat as the car lurched forward. I sat there, silent as Jenos and James continued to babble incoherently about how I would be punished if I were late. Smiling sidelong to Belze, I looked out the window as I kept to myself a vital piece of information: it didn't matter if I was late, for it was a private thing that the Elders didn't organize. The highest Number, normally I, but in this case, II, or Belze, was in charge of this event, as they were with the bestowing of the new Number's weapon.
So the two (rather idiotic) brothers continued to worry with hushed voices.
When we got out of the car (or rather, Belze and I stepped out while the idiotic Hazard brothers tumbled out), the brothers shot towards the entrance, glared back at us, and motioned anxiously for us to hurry up.
Belze and I exchanged sly grins before jogging up to them.
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"OW! GODDAMNIT; THAT'S MY HEAD!"
No amount of combat could null the pain that shot through my forehead as I received my tattoo. I now understood why the Elders put the Numbers in charge of this: the screaming that the members made would have given them fatal heart attacks long ago.
For this momentous, painful event, I was strapped to the bed and my head was held in place by a couple of pillow-like tongs that were clamped together. My sword was far away; it was being analyzed with videos of my fighting techniques by scientists to create the perfect saber for me. I was thrashing about, but James stayed with me, calmer than I'd ever seen him (A/N: Poor, brave soul… I'd be frightened stiff.). He gripped my hand tightly, a silent message telling me to calm down.
The man straightened. "All right, Number I, you're finished."
The straps and pillow-y tongs were removed and I sat up, rubbing my forehead, which stung.
James kissed my tattoo and handed me a mirror. "You look beautiful."
"I don't look that different, you loser," I said, tilting the mirror back and forth to get a better view.
I smiled happily to myself. Tomorrow night, I would finally be a Chronos Number.
Could this get any better?
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The next morning my peaceful sleep was interrupted by a broken door.
That is, of course, literally meaning my door was broken.
"Sephiria, what a beautiful day!" James cried as he broke through my door and landed on my bed, knocking the breath out of me.
"James! It's too early for this!" I yelled, kicking him off and throwing the blanket higher over my head, which still stung from the tattoo.
"But, Sephiria!" he called, pulling a rose out of nowhere and whirling around in a pirouette. "It's such a beautiful day!"
"It won't be anymore unless you get out," I replied darkly from my bed.
"Goodness! It looks like someone got up on the wrong side of the bed today!"
"Whose fault do you think that is?"
He didn't reply, but instead pulled back my blanket and carried me out bridal-style without letting me change. "Come, come, Sephiria! Let us enjoy the wonders of this world!"
"If we're going to enjoy the world, how does letting me change first sound?!"
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After I finished gagging and binding my future subordinate, I changed into my uniform. As I stepped out, the idiot shook his head, tsking. "Oh, no, Sephiria; you can't wear that where we're going today!" he exclaimed. "Go change into something more… casual."
"What for?" I asked from inside my room. "Are we going somewhere?"
I heard a chuckle. "You could say that."
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"AAAAAAAAAAAH!"
The wind rushed through my hair as the coaster accelerated, picking up speed for the big loop. "OH MY GOD!!"
For a few moments, James and I were suspended in midair, arms and hair dangling down like those ghetto spider plants that were popular back in the '80's. Then the passengers were jolted back as the coaster jerked into life again.
After getting off the deadly robotic snake, I burst into laughter upon seeing James' hair. It was out of its cool, slick fashion and instead looked like someone tried to make an afro out of it. For a lack of better words, it was poofy.
Flustered, he ran to the water fountain nearby and began splashing water onto his hair. I leaned against the column, my expression smug. "You do know that's only a temporary solution, right?"
He glared at me, his cheeks still red from embarrassment. "At least it's better than having an afro."
We walked, still laughing, to the front of the line at the Ferris Wheel, a particular favorite of mine. Just before we walked on, a black cat shot out of nowhere and cut in the small space between. It turned back, a harsh glare in its piercing, twin gazes of amber. I shuddered, feeling the brunt of the bad omen. James placed a warm hand on my shoulder, bathing me in a gaze of reassurance.
For a while, we sat in silence across from each other, watching the scenery of the theme park unfold. I wanted him to break the silence, for I could not. Then, as I hoped, he spoke.
"I'll definitely be there tonight."
I looked up, startled not only by his voice, but the fact that he would say it out loud. I had already known that he would be there, but I didn't expect him to tell me…
I smiled my innocent, not-going-to-tell-you-anything smile that had become a favorite expression of mine in the last couple of days. "You'd better."
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As I prepared my uniform outside the ceremony hall, I was as happy as a clam. I couldn't wait to step into the hall and receive my saber and title. Patiently, I waited for the cue for me to enter. In the meantime, I reflected on James's behavior after the Ferris ride…
After we got off, he seemed distant… as if he were paying attention elsewhere. Several times, he looked as if he was going to disappear… Does he know something that I don't? And why did he tell me that he would be here tonight…?
"Please welcome our guest of honor tonight, the new Chronos Number! Introducing Number I: the new captain, Sephiria Arks!"
That was my cue. I took a deep breath, then spread the door with an aura of royalty, greeted by waves of applause. I graced the isle with my long, purposeful strides. My eyes couldn't focus on the goal; they kept wandering to attempt to find James. Finally, after being unable to see him in the crowd, I stopped about two feet from Belze.
Wilzark's booming voice filled the now-quiet hall. "On this day, we have gathered to see the coronation of a new captain for our Chronos Numbers. Let this day be remembered as a momentous occasion, where a new age of Chronos begins!" Cheers once again echoed within the walls. Still, no sign of James.
Belze knelt on one knee and held up a long, thin box. He opened the cover and inside lay a glistening black Orihalcon blade decorated with jewels and the number I on a polished, finished core of Orihalcon. Its sheath lay next to it, pale in comparison.
"Take this Christ Saber, Sephiria, and become one of the noble warriors fighting for the sake of Chronos!"
The instant Wilzark finished his sentence, the glass in the room completely shattered. Shards flew everywhere as the audience gasped. From one of the empty holes flew a body. That figure was pushed so far it landed in front of me. I looked down and my eyes widened in horror.
"James?" My voice quavered, barely more than a whisper.
His body was covered in fresh wounds, as if he had been sliced all over his body. The suit that he wore was torn all over, as well, and was stained red. His features signaled nothing but pain.
As I collapsed onto my knees, he managed a grin and whispered, "I told you I was going to be here, no matter what." He drew a deep breath. "Sephiria… Fight for what you believe in most. Fight for Chronos, and provide stability to the world that is failing in all aspects.
"Take your saber and fight for what you believe in!" His hand brushed my cheek before falling to the floor.
My eyes widened in horror and I could not move or speak for several moments. Then I stood and snatched the saber out of the box, not registering the incredible flexibility in this sword. "I will fight for Chronos' sake!" I cried, tears beginning to overflow. "And we will become a pillar of stability to this unstable world!"
I launched off to find James' attacker while the entire hall erupted with cheers. It was minute, but I could still see the twitches of the branches that indicated someone had stepped there. I followed this trail until I had an idea of where he or she was going. I accelerated, my grip on Christ tightening as I geared to attack from the side, using the tree's trunk as the "ceiling" for my ryuukenjutsu. I held my arm straight and plunged my sword into where their side should have been. Instead, they leapt up and took out a gun. I blocked the bullets expertly, and I could now see that the attacker was, in fact, a girl.
"Why did you kill James?" I asked harshly.
A small chuckle. "He left me for a loser. He dumped me for you." She paused, her annoying, high-pitched voice grating my ears. "Maybe I should kill you, too!" she cackled, firing her gun.
Without saying a word, I dodged her bullets using my perfected Petal Dance, then closed in and stabbed her chest. I yanked out my sword and looked down at her coldly, my tears dry from the rush of wind. "Next time, think twice about facing against Chronos."
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Sorry for such a long wait, everyone... I was halfway across teh world from where I live. xD Family trip; can't get out of it...
Anyway, here it is... the reason why I created James :D Character development, my friends; don't hate. Now you know one reason why she fights for Chronos so valiantly ;D
Aside from this, does anyone watch the Olympics? Tennis, in particular? Or do you watch tennis regularly anyway? If you do, then you can read this rant. If not, I suggest you skip to the next paragraph. OH MY GOD. I CAN'T BELIEVE FEDERER. Up until a few days ago, he'd only lost 1 set to Blake. ONE SET. And now, during this slump, he lost TWO STRAIGHT SETS, 4-6, 7-6. I can't believe him ;-; Federer is... Was... Invincible TT BUT HE STILL LIVES IN DOUBLES!! WATCH HIM!! HE BEAT THE BRYAN BROTHERS WITH A FELLOW SWISS!! EAT THAT, AMERICAN TENNIS TEAM!! D: (Wait... I am American... and I play tennis... oo;; Confliction.)
No matter where you live, you should watch the USA men's basketball team and USA's beach volleyball duo, Misty May-Teanor and Kerry Walsh. They haven't lost a match in almost a year :D These two teams are idolistic. -nods-
All righty, I'll try to get the next chapter up as soon as possible while at the same time editing it to my preference... Oh yes. This one wasn't edited because I was in a rush to get it published for you guys.
Sora Pwns x3