[Accessing memory...]

Memory Block 2:

Sequence 24: Sense of Values of Wine (Part 2)

[Commencing memory in progress...]

Kanon walked down the lonely streets of Rome as he carried Fiora on his back. Again, people pretty much glared at Kanon, but he didn't pay them no mind this time around: He was already lost in his mind to see the outside world. He brushed past many people, as if he didn't see them, much to the anger of several citizens. But before they even have a chance to get mad, Kanon just simply walked further along the road, not leaving any time for confrontation.

The streets of Rome looked beautiful under the shine of the moonlight: What other city could boast such a elegant demeanor in the buildings, the wide open fields that seemed to stretch towards the horizon, and such a calm atmosphere despite the numerous people that thrive within? It was almost a paradise, so close to Heaven, had it not been put under Borgia rule. Kanon, born in a small town far away from here, always wanted to move to a bigger city, and after he became a top rank recruit for the Assassins, got the transfer to Rome. Sure, his mission hasn't been completed, but with a mission this big, there was no way to finish it within the year, or even the decade.

What was his mission, the same mission that brought him here, the same mission that he took so long to complete (though the numerous distractions did bring him off trail)? Kanon knew it well, but rather than trying to figure out how to complete it, he wondered more about why he was picked for the mission: He never understood why he was chosen. For a mission this big, he shouldn't have been picked as he was just a regular apprentice (despite his numerous accomplishments)... Why not choose a seasoned veteran, or for a mission on this scale, a team full of them? How is Kanon, who alone had been sent to do this, get the mission done?

Fiora's slight snoring distracted Kanon from his train of thought, which allowed him a breath of relief. Kanon wasn't known for being the sharpest tool in the shed, nor is he "leadership" material. He didn't become a leader: He just made friends who acknowledged his rank. As for his abilities, while he was a strong, albeit unorthodox, swordsman, along with an excellent aim with crossbows and guns, he never questioned what his mission was or the best way to accomplish it: He simply winged it, with fate guiding the course of action. If he was meant to complete the mission, then fate will see to it that he would.

Fate... Kanon still had to wonder about him and Fiora. She was here, he was here, nothing stopped them... So why did they hesitate? Why not take full advantage of their coincidence? Hell, she was already drunk, tipsy to the point where if Kanon didn't hold her up, that she'd slip out from behind him. And he's already taking her to the warm comforts of his home...

Sooner than he thought, he stood outside his house; He was so lost in his thoughts that time must've passed him by. He opened the locked door, walked up the flight of stairs that led to his room, and lied Fiora down on his bed. Her face glowed from under the direct exposure from the moonlight, making her look more radiant than ever before. She was calm in her drunken slumber, almost to the point where she looked... cute. Her face was slightly red from the lure of alcohol, and the drool that seeped out from the corner of her mouth was so cute that even Kanon blushed.

Kanon had turned to leave the room, in order to crash on the poor, pathetic excuse of the couch that was placed in what could be scarcely called a "living room," when Fiora awoke. She didn't look tired like one would do if they had been sleeping for a few minutes just to wake right back up... Was she faking her slumber as well? Serious déjà vu Kanon felt as he wanted to just leave the room. But Fiora called out to him...

"Kanon?" Kanon turned around to acknowledge her, and for a split second, he could swear that Crystal sat in his bed.

[Error: Slight synchronization destability error. Correcting... Fixed. Updating... Complete. Stabilizing now...]

He closed his eyes and shook his head slightly, not realizing the strange "glitch" that corrupted the situation. When his eyes opened wide, he no longer saw Crystal, but Fiora, as she stared back with longing eyes. Kanon blinked rapidly, trying to readjust to what was going on... Was Fiora holding a bottle of wine in her hands?

Fiora uncorked the new bottle of wine that Kanon had bought for her. Kanon checked his person for the missing bottle of wine... When did she take it? He still had the doggie bag of food that he took home, which he placed on the dresser, and went over to Fiora as she, once again, drank the contents straight out of the bottle, not caring about making sure she drank the proper amount. Kanon had to try to reprimand her.

"Come on Fiora," Kanon worried, "That's enough for today."

Fiora whined a little, downright pouting. "Why?"

"Because you drank enough already."

"But I just opened it..." she tried to reason, "We could share this... There's enough for both of us, and it would mean that I wouldn't drink much more..."

Sounds crazy, but makes sense: If Kanon were to share this bottle of wine with her, then she would drink less... I mean, it's not as if Kanon could stop her from bloody well drinking the entire bottle, so why not? He sighed, gave in, and asked for the bottle with his body language. He grabbed the bottle and took a mouthful of wine down the gullet... Odd that the first time Kanon would drink that he'd take it this far, but what did he know? He was still awfully young, way younger than Fiora...

They both sat on the bed, taking turns drinking the wine straight from the bottle (because who carries wine glasses in the bedroom?). They kept alternating to the point where it had became a mindless routine: Grab the bottle, crush a bit, little bit, roll it up, and take a hit. However, it was when they were mindless that Kanon had accidentally spilled some wine on Fiora's clothes while passing the bottle.

"Whoa!" Kanon exclaimed as he flinched back, "I'm so sorry about that! Here, lemme find you something to wear." He tried to get up from the bed, but her voice held him back.

"That's okay," she whispered in his ear, "I don't need any clothes." Kanon didn't turn around, but he definitely heard Fiora taking off her clothes, which sent chills down his spine. He tried to leave the room, but her arms wrapped around his body. "See? All better now..."

Kanon's head was slightly spinning... What was going on? The wine must've started to take its toll on Kanon, masking his emotions over, making his head so confused that if it wasn't for gravity, he couldn't tell up from down. But Fiora could, because as soon as she left go, she plopped onto the bed, covering herself underneath the covers.

"W-well," Kanon stammered, trying to get a grip on himself, "I'm going to crash on the couch. I'll be back." He once again tried to leave, this time actually touching the door handle, but once again, she stopped him.

"Kanon?"

"Yeah?" he replied, not turning around, "You... You need something?"

A moment of silence filled the room. Kanon's eyes kept staring straight at the door, as if he was waiting for an elevator (that didn't exist back then but you get the metaphor) while Fiora tried to find the right words to say what she wanted.

"Rape me."

Kanon's eyes widened, shifting back and forth from left to right. His heart was pounding against his chest so hard that it felt like it could just burst right out. What did she just say? More importantly, was she serious?

"What!"

"I was just joking..." Fiora muttered. "A joke, it was a joke." Figures, Kanon thought that Fiora had drunk way more than she should have, so she was kinda loopy. She probably didn't even realize the things she said, let alone mean them. I mean, with enough drinks, you could make anyone say anything without forcing a gun to their head... But the next thing that came out of Kanon's mouth, although must've been due to the wine, came out of his mouth willingly.

"Well, what if... I didn't take it as one?"

Today made Kanon realize something... He was lucky to have a woman like Fiora. She was as beautiful as a goddess, and considering their age gap, most woman would find that taboo, or people in general for that matter considering how many dirty looks he got when he was with her, but not Fiora... She loved him for who he is. And how could Kanon pass that up? Kanon may not know what he wanted in life, so who's to say that she isn't what he wanted? And better yet, she wants him... She smiled back and laid out her arms, beckoning him to the bed.

And he acknowledged: He went over there, heart pounding and knees shaking, to the woman he loves, and got into the bed with her. They kissed each other passionately, warming up her bare skin with his body. Her lips caressed his as he ran his fingers though her body. She may have been older, but her skin was as smooth as silk, offering no resistance to stop his fingers dead in its tracks. She couldn't feel her skin, as Kanon still donned his Assassin attire, but she was satisfied enough to be in bed with Kanon, and hugged him tightly as they went under the covers, as the empty bottle of wine lied underneath the wooden posts of the bed, gleaming beneath the moonlight.