Disclaimer: I do not own Guilty Gear or its characters.
A/N: Character thoughts will be in italics
Needing to Live
Chapter 6
Assassin's Mark
Ky awoke early the next morning. Years of training had gotten him accustomed to waking up before the sun rose. How he had gotten to sleep, he didn't know but he certainly didn't feel all that rested. It only made it worst that his mind had almost instantly drifted back to the night before. He had become a soldier and officer at age 15 and he had never regretted having to leave and fight. Until now.
Maybe it was because all the times before when he was called to duty, he had left behind nameless faces. He did care for each and every person he met but he never got too close to them. Always keeping them at arms length. Never allowing anyone into the interworkings of the mind of Ky Kiske. That way he never felt like he was leaving something important behind…or someone important. Never become attached.
So why had he become so close to this woman. Not wanting to disturb the stillness of the house, Ky stayed lying on the couch accompanied by his swirling thoughts.
Jam Kuradoberi, what have you done to me? I've never questioned orders before so why am I not wanting to return to HQ? This really does suck feeling like this. How did you get so close? In the little corner of a restaurant you came into my world. Or did I come into yours? What kept pulling me in? Maybe it was her smile. In a world where people are more apt to cry than laugh she has always kept smiling. Was her it her infectious smile or her striking eyes? Beautiful auburn spheres that told everything about her, and seemed to pierce through everything piece of armor directly to my heart. The same eyes that I have seen happiness, mischief, sadness, anger, and…love? Does she love me? Do I love her? Is that why I feel this way? I remember Master Undersen once said "Never pass up a chance at happiness." Is this what he was talking about? Argh, too many questions and not enough answers. Figuring out battle strategies is so much easier than figuring out feelings and emotions.
The sound of a door opening shook Ky from his thoughts. The soft padding of feet could be heard coming down the hallway towards the living room where he laid. Jam was finally awake and he was not sure what he was going to say to her. The footsteps stopped in the doorway to the living room and began to approach at a slower pace. She didn't know whether or not Ky was awake and she didn't want to wake him if he was still asleep.
Slowly chocolate eyes peered over the back of the couch only to meet cerulean eyes staring straight back. A moment of silence passed between them as they gazed into one another's eyes as if searching for something. Ky came back to his senses first and broke the silence.
"Good morning." Ky said smiling as he tried to push his earlier thoughts to the back of his mind.
"Good morning." Jam said smiling meekly at him. Ky was better at covering up how he really felt. Jam had been sitting up thinking just as Ky had but it was more evident that she was troubled. "I didn't know that you were awake already."
"I'm a bit of an early riser, though I really haven't been up long this morning." That was a little stretch of the truth but he didn't really know how long he had been up.
"Oh, umm…did you sleep well?"
"As best as I could under circumstances." Ky felt it was always best to get straight to the heart of an issue. Shifting on the couch, Ky sat up so he could talk directly to her.
"How soon do you have to leave?" Jam asked shifting her gaze from him to nothing in particular.
"I have to leave as soon as possible. I think that the first ship arrives around noon today. I'll probably be out of leave in less than a half hour after it arrives." Ky averted his gaze from Jam to the floor. He almost felt guilty having to say that to her even though he couldn't do anything about it.
"Okay." Was the only respond she gave to his answer.
"Jam, you do understand that these are direct orders from the commander so I have to go."
"Yeah, it's just that…"
"And it's not like this is the last time I'll we'll ever see each other. HQ said that it is some sort of emergency but it probably won't take that long to get things sorted out. The biggest threat right now is the Assassin's Guild and I'm working on that case right now so I should be able to get back pretty soon."
Jam sighed as she finally looked back at Ky. She was nowhere near cheered up but his words had managed to make her a little happier. A little bit of her usual spark had returned to her eyes as she leaned over the back of the couch and wrapped her arms around Ky's neck in an embrace.
As Jam rested her head on Ky's shoulder, he unconsciously inhaled the scent of her hair. Her hair has the sweet scent of lavender. Just like her room. I really like…no I love this smell. Is it the scent I love?
"Hey Ky…"
"Yes."
"Promise me one thing okay. Promise me that when you leave, you will come back. I'll have to tell you something."
"Tell me something?"
"Yeah."
"Why can't you just tell me now?"
"Because it has to wait. Now since you're not leaving till midday," Jam said quickly changing the subject, "I'll cook something for you before you leave."
"You really don't have to trouble yourself I…" Ky began before being cut off by the tightening of the arms around his neck. After a moment Jam loosened her hold.
"What were you saying Ky?" Jam asked as sweetly as if she had not done anything. Ky glanced to the side and saw that the sparkling mischief had returned to her auburn eyes.
"Oh, I was saying how I look forward to another one of your meals." Ky smiled whole heartedly as he finished.
There's that smile that I love. Whenever he smiled like that, Jam liked to pretend that his smiled was saved only for her. This may not have been far from the truth if she saw how he was with his fellow officers.
"Before I can cook though," Jam began as she removed her arms from around Ky and straightened up, "I have to do a little shopping to get some of the things I'm going to need."
"Shopping?" Ky half questioned as he turned to look at her.
"Yeah shopping. Do you want to come with me?"
There were certain aspects of normal life that Ky really enjoyed; unfortunately, shopping was not one of them. "No thank you. I didn't get a chance to practice any yesterday so I think I'll do that while you are gone."
"And what do you plan on practicing with?" Jam questioned skeptically
"My Thunderseal…" Ky stopped as he realized that he did not have the famous blade with him. Ky let out a nervous laugh as he continued talking. "I guess I'll have to go back to headquarters to get my sword. But don't worry its not like I'm sneaking off or anything."
"That's good because if you did, whatever threat you are leaving for now would be nothing compared to what I would have waiting for you." Jam smiled sweetly at Ky as she finished which made a chill run up his back. To smile while threatening him was a little unnerving for the knight. "I have to go get ready now." With that the bubbly chef left the room.
Ky heard water in the shower running as he sat on couch thinking. I should probably leave out now so I can get my sword and a uniform. I could use a shower right now as well. To leave while she's in the shower would be rude. I'll just wait and leave at the same time she does. The shower just cut off. Won't have to wait long.
Moments later Jam exited her room and headed for the door to leave. "I'm leaving Ky." She said back into the house as she opened the door.
"Wait just a second I'm heading out as well." Ky rounded the corner and left out right behind Jam. After Jam locked the door, she and Ky began walking away together.
They walked quietly for a while until Jam broke the silence. "It shouldn't take that long."
"…"
"You know, for me to shop."
"Oh, yes."
"So you don't take forever either. Okay?"
"Sure I'll probably beat you back."
"Do you want the key so you can get back in?"
"No, I'll just head around back and practice there until you get back."
Just as he finished, the couple came an intersection where they would have to split up.
"This is where we go our separate ways." Ky said
Jam looked at him a little sad that they had to part ways. "I guess I'll see you in a little while."
"Sure. See you in a little while." With that said, Ky turned and started to head off to retrieve his sword and uniform.
"Ky!"
At the sound of his name, Ky whirled around to see Jam approaching him with an expression he couldn't read. "What's wrong Jam?"
He got his answer in the form of her arms going around his neck as her lips met his. His arms encircled her waist as his eyes closed and he responded to her kiss. Neither one was sure how long they stayed like that but when they finally did break apart their lungs begged for air. Ky smiled lovingly at Jam as he continued to hold her in his arms.
Ky started to open his mouth to speak but Jam bought a finger to his lips to silence him. A slight blush crept into her cheeks as she began to speak. "I'm not really sure why I just did that. Something in me just said "do it" and I had to. But we really can go now. Hurry up and go before I don't let you leave." Jam pushed off Ky's chest as she finished and backed up before turning around and heading on her way.
Jam Kuradoberi, you never cease to amaze me. Ky watched her retreating form for a few moments before turning and heading to headquarters.
XXXXXX
Ky sat behind his desk at HQ with a towel on his head as he glanced through the various reports and messages that had been left for him. Once arriving, he had taken a shower hence the towel hanging on his still wet hair. He had been so caught up in everything that he had forgotten about filling out the papers for transfer of authority at the police post. He also had to assign new personnel to the Assassin's Guild investigation since he was not sure how long this new emergency would take. There was always someone needing to see him about see him about some form of work or another. Great to be back in the craziness that was his usual everyday life.
Ky leaned back in his chair and sighed as he finished filling out the papers to assign new officers to his investigation. That was the last of things he had to fill out. But in between filling out paperwork and dealing with the unexpected walk-in, he had been at HQ for over an hour. Glancing up at a clock he saw that it was after ten o'clock. Jam's probably already back by now and wondering where I am. I got to hurry up and get out of here.
Rising from his desk Ky pulled the coat for his uniform off of the back of his chair before pulling it on. Then he reached and grabbed the Thunderseal from where it hung on the wall. As he exited his office, Ky gave all the papers he had filled out to his secretary.
"Lisa," Ky began as he looked at his secretary, "I'm heading out but I will be back in time for transport." Ky turned to walk down the hall but his secretary stopped him.
"Captain Kiske."
"Yes Lisa"
"You still have a towel on your head."
"Oh yes. Thank you." Quickly Ky took the towel from his head as he looked for a place to put it.
"Sir, I'll take care of that for you." Lisa said as she held out her hand.
"Thank you again." Ky handed her the towel as he turned to leave again. Just as he turned, another officer stopped in front of him.
"Captain Kiske, you have a private message that came through on one of the security lines. I sent the message to the computer in your office."
"Thanks." Ky said. Ky turned and when back into his office a little irritated that he was stopped yet again. Ky walked over to his computer so he could see what the message was about. What could be so important that it would have to be sent on one of the encoded security channels? Seems to be just an audio message. Ky sat back in his chair as the message started to play and a mysterious voice began to speak.
"Hello Kiske. This is Venom, the current leader of the Assassin's Guild you have been trying so hard to bring down. You are a very hard man to get in contact with. It took some of my best men quite a while to hack this secure channel. But enough with the small talk. We need to talk business. You have been trying to bring the guild down for quite awhile now and it has come to my attention that we can not exist in the same world anymore. Meet me at the abandoned blacktech factory on the south end of town in one hour. I know you will come to Ky because as you are listening to this message, my men are kidnapping the young woman you seem to have taken a liking to. I have not had the pleasure of meeting her yet, but I'm sure we will be well acquainted by the time you arrive. And I don't think I have to tell you to come alone. Don't be late."
Ky's fist slammed into his desk cracking it as the message ended. The usually calm and collected knight had been angered and the angry warrior was a force to be reckoned with. Even the Thunderseal at his side resonated with lightning sensing Ky's anger. Without a word to anyone Ky hurriedly left headquarters headed to where the person he cared most about was being held.
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A/N: Terrible update delay and I apologize. No excuses. I just hope ya'll like this chapter. The action picks up in the next part. R&R..
