Set Me Free
Disc: Don't own OLS or any characters therein.
Authoress' Rant: Second chapter! I wonder if I'll be able to finish it. We'll see. Anyway, I've taken Suzu's affection down a peg or two, based on her decision to return once again to her life as a cold-hearted, uncaring assassin. Thanks for the reviews, minna-san, and I hope you'll like this chapter just as well (if not better!).
Falling For You
The TV seems to get louder and louder as each second passes. I really don't like it all that much, but I don't want to interrupt Jim by telling him I'm leaving.
Quietly, I creep out of the room, hoping that Jim won't notice, and I can sneak out of the house for some peace and quiet. Well, Jim doesn't notice, but Gene does. In fact, I run into him, drop my bukuto, trip over it, and fall right into the arms of the redheaded outlaw.
"I guess this means you're falling for me, huh?" Gene asks.
"What?" I push him away, the word coming out more harshly than I intended. Brushing myself off, I pick up my bukuto and walk past him without meeting his amused gaze.
The next day, I wander aimlessly around the room, deep in thought. That comment Gene made yesterday is still bothering me. Why does it bother me this much? If I don't love him, then why . . . no. I'm not falling for him, so it shouldn't be bothering me, right?
AUGH! This is so irritating! Why, why, why, why, WHY, Kami-sama, WHY doesn't this make sense?!
"I guess this means you're falling for me, huh?"
His voice echoes in my head, and I let out a furious scream.
"Hey, what's wrong, Suzuka?"
I spin around to see Jim standing in the doorway, looking puzzled. That's when I make up my mind. Love him or not, Gene is an outlaw, and I am an assassin, and that's how it will stay. I am an assassin. No more happy-Suzu. No more hugging, smiling, crying, laughing, and God forbid I ever love again. "Nothing. Why would anything be wrong?" My voice gives away no emotion whatsoever, and I silently congratulate myself.
Jim takes a step back, probably shocked by my voice. "Well, you just . . . screamed."
"So? I can scream if I want. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to be alone."
Jim takes another slow step back, then turns and runs. I startle myself by giving a harsh laugh. On a whim, I snatch up my bukuto. Money is to be earned today. I will definitely kill.
Some time later, the man shuffles nervously through a stack of papers, while I sit in a nearby chair, bukuto in hand, looking incredibly bored.
"Um . . . I'm not, uh, sure if we should do this . . . is this, like, breaking the law? I mean, I want him out of my way, but . . . kill him? Will I get charged with murder?"
I mutter a vague insult. "Just make up your mind, Mr. Kasumi."
"Um . . . okay, yeah. I'll give you, ah . . ."
"Harsh words, na?"
Something inside me snaps as my mind replays Gene's comment for about the millionth time. My head jerks up. "A simple job like this is merely a warm-up. Twenty thousand wong."
"Okay . . ." the man agrees reluctantly.
Shortly following, a sigh escapes my lips as I look at the receptionist from underneath a cloak. "Jennifer Mills."
"Alright, he'll see you in a few moments. Have a seat."
This was going to be just like my job with Fred, only without the redheaded sharpshooter in my way. I lean against the wall, staring at the floor. My hold tightens on the wooden sword in my right hand.
"Remember when we first met?"
"Like I could forget."
This little clip of a conversation plays over and over in my head.
"Shut up!" I yell at the carpet. People immediately begin to watch me more closely. Dammit. Not good.
" . . . it's not . . . nothing." Gene's voice again. " . . . when I kill, it's not . . . nothing."
"Miss Mills? Mr. Ikato will see you now."
I look at the receptionist. "Thank you." I need to get this over with. The longer I put it off, the harder it'll be, especially with Gene's words haunting me.
I walk into the office.
"Okay, Miss . . . Mills. You wanted to see me about -"
"Don't waste my time, Ikato. I've come to kill you." I let the cloak drop to the floor.
"Twilight Suzuka?" the man gasps.
"Precisely. You have five minutes to say your goodbyes. I'd advise you spend it wisely." I keep my tone neutral. I won't fail this time.
"B-b-but . . ." Ikato falters.
"But you never killed me. And you remember the deal . . ."
"Shut up . . ." I manage through gritted teeth.
"I . . ." Ikato tries again.
"You have two minutes remaining." I have gained enough control to inform him of his approaching doom.
Ikato hangs his head in defeat.
" . . . Whaddaya say we play fair?"
" . . .My favorite beautiful class-A assassin?"
"This smells real nice. That's a beautiful woman for you."
"SHUT UP!" I scream.
Ikato looks at me. My response is, "You have less than a minute, Ikato. The sun will soon sink below the horizon."
I gaze out the window for a moment, then jump into the air and bring my bukuto down on the pleading businessman as calmly as possible, considering Gene's voice is echoing in my head, choking and breaking as he speaks quietly about Hilda's death.
In one swift movement, Ikato's life leaves his body, and just as quickly, I leave the room, slipping easily past the guards who rush in at Ikato's death-cry.
That evening, in my bedroom, I stare at the blood on my bukuto and think aloud, "And Twilight Suzuka strikes again."
"Who was it?"
I don't bother turning to see who it is. Gene. "Some businessman named Ikato."
"I thought you couldn't kill?" This seems more of a question than a statement.
"I lied," I answer dismissively. Perching on the edge of the bed, I begin removing the crimson stains from the wooden blade.
Gene takes a step into the room to look at me closely. "Are you okay?"
"Do you care?" I articulate calmly. Since I came home, I've calmed down a lot. Gene sits down on the bed next to me. "What happened to the other Suzu? The one who smiled and laughed, and had fun? Where'd she go?"
I look at Gene for a long moment before answering. "She's gone. The old Suzuka is back now, and that's how it will stay."
"Why?" Gene questions.
So there's no chance that I might fall in love with you. "I can't make a living crying at Hallmark commercials, Gene."
Gene searches my eyes for the answer that he wants to hear. He won't find it there. Without another word, I stand up and leave.
Days later, I step inside, shaking the rain out of my hair and off my clothes. Jim greets me quietly, probably the first words he's spoken to me since I snapped at him the other day. I simply walk past him, into my bedroom, to clean the blade of the wooden sword for the third time in three days.
"One point three million wong in three days," I say to myself. "Better than I did before I ever came here." Before I ever met Gene. I'm priding myself on this when a knock sounds on the door. "Nani?"
"Suzu?"
Annoyed, I walk to the door and open it, glaring at Gene. "I would greatly appreciate it if you would not call me Suzu."
"Whatever. Look, Jim and I were thinking of taking off somewhere. You comin'?"
I glare at him for a long time. "I'd prefer to stay here. And if I did go somewhere tonight, it would assuredly not be with you." The door quickly closes, and I kick back on my bed, listening as the front door opens and shuts. Before I open the window, I listen carefully to make sure that they're gone.
The cool air washes over me, and I sigh in relief, turning on the radio. Alanis. Head Over Feet. What a bad song to hear right now.
You are the bearer of unconditional things,
You held your breath . . . and the door for me.
Thanks for your patience.
I turn it off. The phone rings downstairs, and I completely ignore it. Until I hear the voicemail message.
"Suzuka. Hmmm. I know you're there right now, so why don't you save my brother and I a lot of trouble, and just pick up?"
"Ron MacDougall?!" I simply fly downstairs and snap up the vidphone, glaring at the familiar face on the screen. "What the hell do you want?"
"Simple. You see, Suzu, my brother and I need your help."
I sneer at him. "Do I look like a psychiatrist? And don't call me Suzu."
"I'm serious. We want Starwind dead. Now." Ron looks somber.
"And if I refuse?" My mind is racing for an excuse.
"You'll miss out on ten million. Plus, your secret will be out."
"Ten million?" This is appealing. But . . . "What secret?"
Ron smiles manipulatively. "I think you know. Or must I tell you?"
"Yes, MacDougall, please tell me this secret that you plan on using to manipulate me into doing your dirty work."
"Well, the ruthless assassin Twilight Suzuka . . . is not so ruthless, when it comes to a certain pesky redheaded outlaw."
My heart is pounding. "I don't know what the hell you're talking about."
"I think you do."
I allow an agitated silence to pass, then ask, "Why do you want him dead?"
"He's taking too much bounty." Ron scowls. "Doesn't leave Harry and I enough room."
"I'll get back to you, MacDougall."
"No, you'll tell me now, or we'll hire someone who isn't in love with Starwind."
"Fine," I snap in angry surrender. "It'll be done by sundown tomorrow."
"Good. See that it is. Any later, and the ten million stays in our hands." Ron disappears.
Slowly, I hang up the phone and walk upstairs, going and staring out the window. What have I gotten myself into? I can't kill Gene. I said it myself . . .
"Remember when we first met?"
"Like I could forget."
"I was going to kill Fred . . ."
"But you never killed me. And you remember the deal, I'm sure."
"Uh-huh. And I can't kill you."
"Why not? If it was necessary . . ."
"No. I couldn't do it."
"I couldn't do it," I whisper aloud. This is going to be sheer hell. What was I thinking, making a deal with a MacDougall? They probably had found out (somehow) about my . . . devotion . . . to Gene, and decided to have some fun by getting me to kill him. How do you get yourself out of this one, Suzuka?
