Walking into the penthouse lounge, I spotted Jade instantly. She wasn't wearing a dress today, but an outfit somewhat as laid back as mine.
While I was wearing a t-shirt that said ,'If only you had a clue' Jade was wearing a blue tank top. I was wearing cutoff shorts that hit mid-thigh, she was wearing a pink skirt. Me: boots. Jade: sandals.
"Hey Jade." I greet her without hesitating.
She turns toward me and I gasp. Jade had a black eye!
"Please don't just stand there and look at me funny." Jade says. It felt colder than usual. What had happened for her to loose her bright cheerful demeanor that she was apparently famous for? I felt a sudden fierce protectiveness towards the woman who had become my friend so quickly.
I take a seat quietly and ask her what happened.
She looks up at me, and I could feel a certain sadness from her.
"I was attacked." she says to me.
My left hand curls into a fist, my only thoughts about revenge.
"And that's why you will be Jade at her marriage meetings." Soryu says.
Jade's eyes widen, well as she could with a black eye, and she exclaims, "Scarlet! I could never ask you to do that!"
"Don't worry Jade. I can protect myself against a lot of attacks." I tell her, keeping the conversation between us.
Instead of replying, Jade gives me a hug.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Later that day...
I was wearing Jade's favorite dress, as I was sitting on the most uncomfortable chair ever, listening to one of Jade's 'suitors' drone on and on about something I was so bored with, I didn't even bother paying attention.
"Miss Jade?"
I snap back to attention when the ugly man begins to talk to me.
"Yes?"
Although I had no tolerance for him, I still had to play the part.
"Would you like to go somewhere by ourselves?"
I got what he was suggesting and I turn toward Soryu my expression clearly showing my disgust, because Soryu takes my hand and drags me out of there. With the man following, much to my disdain.
"Jade! Please! We were meant to be!" he yells grabbing my hand tightly in his grip.
"Uh-uh. No way dude. Now let go." the last part I say with enough malicious all but dripping from my words.
The man, who I knew was a loan shark boss, gulps audibly and releases my hand.
After I leave, Soryu goes to get the car, since none of his men were here, I feel a presence. I reach up to yank my hood over my face, when it struck me...I was still in Jade's dress! My trench coat carried all my weapons, and believe me, with this dress it would be impossible to carry anything but my gun and knife. Which were each strapped around my left leg.
I turn to look behind me, all the while wishing for my coat, and my eyes narrow at who I see.
"I thought it was you." I tell the loan shark boss. He had followed us outside with a gun in hand.
"Come quietly or I'll shoot."
I reach down underneath my-Jade's-dress and pull off my weapon holder. If he wanted to play dirty, oh yeah, I'll give him bloody...I mean dirty.
Sliding my knife out of it's sheathed, I hear him laugh as I toss my gun to the side.
"Didn't anyone ever tell not to bring a knife to a gun fight?" he chides.
I smile faintly at his stupidity. Yeah that old saying...
I put the dagger behind my back, waiting for the right moment to throw it.
He smiles and begins to pull the trigger, but before he can pull it all the way back, my knife is jammed into the muzzle. The loan shark looks at me then at his gun. Me, gun. When he looks back at me, I am standing in front of him with a very unamused look.
"Who are you?" he asks frightened as a little boy.
I sneer. "I'm your worst nightmare." before I can close in on him, I feel a sharp pain in my abdomen.
"You bastard!" I say, pulling the bloody knife from my side from where one of his men threw it.
I hear some call out for me, before I lose consciousness all together.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"She's going to fine. Just a nick of her artery and I've sewn her up, and given her some pain medicine."
"Thank you, doctor."
"Your welcome, Soryu."
I hear a door close before I fall back into a deep dreamless sleep.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
A few hours later...
"Ah!" I scream as I try getting up off the couch where I had been sleeping.
"What happened?" Soryu says rushing into the room.
"Nothing, just tried to get up."
"Tsk." he swiftly moves toward me and checks my wound.
His face was so close... it was then I realize how handsome he in fact was.
I allowed myself to think this before I shut off that part of my mind that found him attractive. Stupid hormones.
"Geez." I say out loud not realizing that I did.
"What?" Soryu asks looking confused.
"Oh... nothing...thinking about how this happened." I lie smoothly. Well it wasn't a complete lie. I was indeed pondering over ways to kill the man who had wounded me.
...I used to be so kind too. Alas, me being exposed to the brutal world of assassins and killing has darkened my heart, my mind... and my soul.
I close my eyes. Whenever I thought about this, I tell myself it is for the best. What better way to protect your family than becoming someone people fear?
Don't answer that.