Notes: All right! Time to get my butt back in gear and finish TAAE
once and for all! Here is Ending Number Two, as promised.
Disclaimer: Don't own anything. Consider yourselves lucky. I make no money, don' sue please. Thankee kindly, everyone.
Warnings: mild language towards the end. Oh, yeah, almost forgot. DEATH of a major character, comin' through! If you don't like that, stick with the first ending.
Ending Two
Being part of a secret-agent-type-family did have its benefits. Makoto had access to a wide variety of files that normally she would have been killed for just because she *knew* they existed. She was included in a large ring of hackers and other Internet spy rings, and was never treated with disrespect since Schuldich had given her a code to use about a week ago. Why this was, she had yet to figure out, but she certainly wasn't complaining; that code was often a key to a huge data-base of hidden knowledge which she intended to make full use of.
This was one of those times.
Makoto had used the code, and her few personal contacts that were unknown to her 'family', to find out exactly *where* they were, as well as to have a disguise and fake identification set up for her so she could gain entry to the party. Takatori had as many enemies as he had allies, she'd learned well enough, and most of his allies were pissed at him for some reason or other. It wasn't very hard for her to track down precisely what information she wanted, nor was it hard to find people willing to help her, so long as she promised to make the evening news. While she wasn't sure about making the evening news with her party-crashing, Makoto was sure that they'd all learn about it one way or another, and set out.
"Tokyo Tower, right entrance, and do step on it," she told the private driver that she had hired. "Takatori-ojii will be so upset if I'm any later than I am now. He does get worried about me after dark."
The driver nodded his complete understanding, knowing full well that there would be a large tip for him in exchange for speed and a shut mouth. The disguise that Makoto had procured from a friend's dress shop was waiting for her in the back, along with contact lenses and a makeup kit. The partition between her and the driver was closed and all the windows were tinted and rolled up against the night air. Makoto changed when they stopped at a red light.
"Now for makeup," she muttered. They were ten minutes away from the Tokyo Tower. She quickly applied basic makeup, hoping she wouldn't mess it up too badly. Despite living with her secret-agent-family there had been no need to train her for anything because she was never allowed out with them. Besides, you try putting on makeup in a moving car, in the dark, and see how easy *you* find it.
"We're nearly there, ma'am," said the driver. "Two more blocks, is all."
"Good," said Makoto, trying to place her contacts in her eyes without poking them out.
She sighed in relief when both were in. Wrapping the sheer black shawl around her arms and praying feverishly that she wouldn't trip on her heels, Makoto settled back into the leather seats and waited for the car to stop. When it did, Makoto waited until the door was opened for her. As she reached up to take his outstretched hand, she allowed a small locker key to drop into his palm. There was a number on it and the name of the building where he could go to pick up his prize. He bowed to her and drove off, leaving a stunning Irish-looking girl to daintily walk up to the bouncers in front of the right entrance. They looked almost surprised to see her, and Makoto nearly laughed. She handed her invitation to the younger and shorter of the two; a friendly looking blonde with blue eyes and short hair.
"Watashi wa Maboroshi Mare desu," she had, demurely, using the Osaka accent it had taken her three months to perfect.
"Motto 'tenshi' nite iru desu," replied the taller of the two, bowing exaggeratedly to her. He raised himself and smiled charmingly; Makoto resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
"Aa, Maboroshi-san. Sanka suru, kudasai; ni-juu kai desu," said the younger. He smiled cheerfully as he handed back her invitation.
"Arigatou gozaimasu," Makoto said and bowed slightly to them. She walked to the elevator, flashing her invitation at the security guard by the elevator, and was admitted to the lift. She continued smiling at the bouncers who watched her from their positions until the doors closed.
Parties had never really been a big part of Makoto's life before she had met her new family. They hadn't been too much of a big part of her life after, either, but Nagi had insisted once that they take her, claiming that she shouldn't be forced to watch as they had *all* the fun. Brad hadn't been happy, but eventually he had conceded and allowed them to take her, as long as she learned proper manners and etiquette beforehand. Just to spite him, Makoto had worked her hardest, had mastered everything Brad required from her, and was allowed to go.
She called upon her new talents now as she made small talk with some of the more decent-looking guests. The rest of her family was surrounding Takatori as he spoke to some fawning admirer and her husband, and a few influential-looking men. They looked bored as anything and it took all her will power not to laugh outright. Calling attention to herself was the last thing she needed to do. She also spent a good amount of time making sure her thoughts were completely closed off from prying minds -- namely Schuldich's. Then she allowed herself to watch.
For the first few hours, Makoto was completely unsure as to why she was not allowed to come on 'missions'. If all they did was stand around and look bored, which seemed to be all they were going to do; then why was it so 'dangerous' for her? What kind of 'jeopardy' could she put them in? Sometimes eavesdropping was the easiest way to find out anything, especially when Brad was having a yelling fit of frustration. But watching her foster family produced no answers and Makoto was getting bored.
"Konbanwa, ojousan. Kirei na yoru, eh?"
K'so!!!, Makoto swore mentally. In her musing, she had not seen Schuldich break away from the bodyguards and come towards her. She refrained from kicking herself, and turned a full watt smile on her older brother.
"Hai, kirei desu yo," she agreed, looking out of one of the big windows. It wasn't a lie; the night air was crisp and clear, and it wasn't too cold or too hot. Even the normal traffic noises seemed to be quieter this night.
"And what brings a pretty lady like you to this party tonight?"
"Family business." Well, that was true enough. She *was* here to find out what her family did without her, after all. Realizing that Schuldich might try to probe her mind, Makoto filled it with inane thoughts of things to do and things she'd done, and whatever song lyric that happened to catch her attention. Only an ESPer would know how to keep their mind completely locked off, and that would immediately put him on edge. As it was, however, her older brother seemed completely relaxed; as relaxed as a bodyguard could be, at any rate.
"Schuldich," said a tenor voice, cutting into whatever Schuldich had been about to say. "This is no time to be chitchatting. We have a job to do, and we will do it properly. Mister Takatori is getting anxious to know why you left him."
The German telepath rolled his eyes slightly, but nodded. He wasn't so stupid as to disobey a direct order from his bosses. He turned back to Makoto and smiled as charmingly as possible. "I'm afraid I must take my leave now, ojousan. But never fear, I shall return."
Makoto giggled demurely behind her hand, "I look forward to it, oujisan."
Brad and Schuldich left, and she quickly moved in the opposite direction, making sure she could still watch them before collapsing against a wall and sighing silently in relief. Something made her look up, some hidden warning perhaps, and she was greeted with what was quite possibly the most beautiful sight of her life. Nagi apparently had been told to stand by the balcony windows because that was his new location. He stood silently, leaning casually against the wall with his eyes closed, bathed in what little moonlight could find its way through the large windows. His hair glistened and the light made his features softer, more gentle and young and almost peaceful. Makoto allowed herself to memorize the boy she had grown more and more fond of. "Fond" was quickly becoming a word she couldn't use any more, what she felt was more than that, but she couldn't figure out what exactly it was. She almost started walking towards him when a fat man stood on a platform and held up his hands for silence stopped her.
"Attention, ladies and gentlemen," the fat pig said, smiling oily at his audience. "I would like to thank all of you for coming tonight and kindly ask that you now give your utmost attention to the guest of the evening, Reiji Takatori."
Makoto groaned inwardly and rolled her eyes. Great. Just what she wanted; to hear one fat pig introduce another, then to listen while the second fat pig talked all evening just to hear his own voice. "Oh yeah, the perfect evening all right . . . ruined!"
"My friends," Takatori began, "I am truly glad to see you all here tonight. It gives me great happiness to know that I have reached out and touched you all with my campaigns . . . "
Suddenly Takatori's voice gave way to screams of fear from rich politicians and their wives as the lights and all other power shut off, leaving only the moon and stars to light the large ballroom they were in. Makoto immediately pressed her back against the wall behind her, knowing at least that no one could stab her in the back, and drew out the small throwing daggers she'd kept hidden in her long Jedi-robe-like sleeves. All around her the guests were screaming like idiots and trying to jam themselves into the two elevator cars in hopes that they would be safe there. A few of the more athletic ones began running frantically down the stairs, trying to escape any danger.
Makoto rolled her quickly adjusting eyes, but then suddenly had to readjust as the power came back on. Those in the elevator cars frantically pressed the button to go down and soon no one except Schwartz, Makoto (hidden from sight), and their hidden assailants were in the room. Somewhere along the way, Takatori had been shuffled to safety. She watched her family tense, forming a square so there was no way for them to be killed from behind. She herself tensed as well, and made sure to stay silent and firmly against the wall.
"Weiß!" Brad hissed. The others nodded. Schuldich swore. Makoto waited.
"Kyaaaaaaaa!"
A flash of dark clothing! but that was all Makoto could see. Whoever had shouted was too fast for her to get a clear view of, or at least had been too fast for her unprepared vision. She watched her family duck and dodge out of the way, and saw a very shiny, pointy, sword flash in the light.
"K'so!"
"Oi, Schwartz. Didn't think we'd forget about you, did you?" asked a teasing voice, another tenor, but deeper. Makoto frowned, knowing she recognized it from somewhere. The owner of the voice stepped out into the light and her eyes widened to near impossible lengths.
"The bouncer," she hissed softly. "It's him. Shit, shit, shit, shit. I've really got to get out of this dress."
No opportunity was presented to her, for suddenly two more bodies flitted out of the shadows and she watched in something akin to complete horror as they all began fighting. It wasn't the fighting itself that horrified her, however, and vaguely she wondered if she should be horrified by *that*. But no . . . Makoto found herself truly afraid that she would lose the only people she could really call her family now. That she would lose her parents twice, but this time with two older brothers and a . . . friend . . . lover, (could that be what she thought of Nagi as)? And to Makoto, that was unacceptable.
Not being able to afford to bother with the dress, and to hell with the money she spent on it, Makoto cut a good deal of it off with one of her daggers so that it came only to her thighs and she could move freely in it. The black shawl had long since been discarded, and she got a distinct feeling that the material would wind up being used as bandages. She stepped out of her heeled shoes and crept silently to a new vantage-point. From there she debated what to do. She didn't have enough experience to go out and simply fight these new men, who she assumed were trying to assassinate Takatori, and she didn't know if her Senshi powers counted anymore. Since her last rebirth, she hadn't been able to feel them flowing through her like she used to.
"I'm useless!" she cried mentally. "I should just go and call the cops or something! But then, what if they don't get here in time? What do I do then? I can't call an ambulance, I don't know if anyone's going to get hurt. Besides, Brad would have me killed for sure if I did that. SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT! Fuck, shit, fuck, shit, shit, fuck, fuck! [1]"
Her mental ramblings were taking on a near-hysteric sound, and because of that her shields were slowly dropping. Makoto knew she had to get herself under control, but she couldn't seem to pull herself together. Suddenly Schuldich looked up in her direction, and she knew she had been found out. Her shields really weren't strong enough. She really was a danger to them, a useless burden on their shoulders while they tried to keep alive night after night, mission after mission.
The sounds of battle wafted to her ears and the thoughts of the six men and two boys leaked through her mental barriers. She could Hear the boy's silent prayers that no one would be seriously injured and Hear redhead's grim determination to make all of the Schwartz's lives come to an end for the death of his parents. She could Hear the older blonde's thoughts of Asuka and Hear the young brunette entertain thoughts of 'what if' situations, usually consisting of one of them dying. Tears welled up in Makoto's eyes. She had to *do* something. And then it happened.
"Nagi!" she cried, unable to stop herself, and sprinted in front of the boy she was so fond of.
In front of the boy she loved. Nearly all action in the room stopped and not a sound could be heard except for the sickening thud as a sword came into contact with a body. Her body. The tears flowed freely down her cheeks, but the pain went unacknowledged and she smiled at Nagi with what little strength she had left in her. Blood coursed down her dress from her torso, where the redhead's sword went cleanly through her.
"Ma . . . Mako-chan!" Nagi cried in despair.
Schuldich ran over immediately to see if they were all right. The men known as Weiß stepped back, wide-eyed, each wondering how Aya could have been so careless as to hurt an innocent. But they were paid no mind by anyone from Schwartz. Aya slid the blade from her body as carefully as possible and stumbled back, stunned, ashamed and crying. Makoto fell into Nagi's arms, and he lowered them to the floor.
"At least I know . . . I've still got my speed . . . to count on," she grinned. "Maybe I . . . shouldn't have stayed . . . up for so long." Her vision dimmed, but her eyes remained fully focused on Nagi's face as she lifted a hand to his cheek. "You have soft skin. . . . I never really . . . noticed. I like it."
"Mako-chan . . . Mako-chan no baka!!!" Nagi shouted, crying for the first time in so long, he couldn't even remember the last time he had. He was rewarded with a smile from his new family member.
"Hai. Kore wa . . . watashi o," Makoto said weakly. "Ne, ne . . . Nagi-kun. Ai shite'ru yo. Kanashi kunai iru, ne?"
Nagi shook his head frantically. He couldn't say anything, but he and Makoto had always agreed that words were overrated. He wouldn't cheapen that opinion now by spouting off a long list of romantic thoughts for her, but he would let her feel his love for her. And she did. The smile she gave him was her most true and dazzling. Schuldich had opened up the mental channels between them all and promised her mentally that she would not leave this world alone.
"S'not . . . the first time . . . you know," Makoto chided. She paused to cough up blood, but smiled through it all. "Maybe . . . they won't want me . . . maybe . . . I'll come back . . . to bother you . . . some more."
"We would be most eternally grateful if you did, Mako-chan. Rest now. You're tired, you've been up for a long time waiting around for us."
"Mmm," Makoto agreed, nuzzling into Nagi's chest. "Tired." She nodded in the direction of the stunned Weiß, almost as an afterthought, and to be honest, it probably was. ". . . Tell them . . . I'm not mad . . . at him. He just wants . . . his family."
Brad nodded sagely, barely hiding his own grief behind his usual mask of a cold, business-like poker face. Farfello clenched his knife tightly in his hands, so that his skin was whiter than normal by the knuckles. He couldn't speak. After all, what did you say to a girl you hardly knew who thought of you as a role model? He laughed bitterly.
"We'll miss you." Farfello knew he, Nagi, and Schuldich would, even if he couldn't speak for Brad.
"S'ppose so. . . . Miss you, too. . . . Loved ya lots. . . . Even Bradley. Tired now. Real tired. . . . See ya in mornin' . . . " Makoto sighed, a last, heavy, shuddering, ragged breath, and as she exhaled her face became a picture of perfect and complete peace and happiness.
Nagi held onto her body, disbelieving, his face screwed in a mask of sheer horror and shock. Finally some mental words from Schuldich brought him back to his senses, and he kissed her cooling lips gently. Then he pulled back and gasped as her body became transparent and began fading. Slowly, very slowly, until all that was left of her were a few sakura blossoms in his hands. They were fragrant and sweet, and they brought a smile to Nagi's lips as he held them to his nose to smell them.
Makoto was gone, yes. But maybe, just maybe . . . not forever.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
[1] based on something I think or say quite a lot when things are going badly =^-^=
So, there you have it; Assassin and ESPer comes to an end. I cannot believe I just killed Mako-chan. *Sighs dramatically* you all must be so sad and disappointed. *Big grin* yes, I can see you now, wondering what you're going to do. Well, you can review and then go read something else! =^-^= Hope you've enjoyed the tale of Makoto and Nagi (and the other guys, too). Ja mata ne!
Japanese lesson for today:
"Watashi wa Maboroshi Mare" = "I am Mare Maboroshi" (this is important because 'maboroshi mare' literally means 'rare phantom')
"Motto 'tenshi' nite iru desu" = "More likely 'angel'" (Youji *is* the ladies man =^_^=)
"Aa, Maboroshi-san. Sanka suru, kudasai; ni-juu kai desu" = "Ah, Ms. Maboroshi. Enter, please; twentieth floor" (Omi would be the kind of person to make sure she knew where she was going, ne?)
"Konbanwa, ojousan. Kirei na yoru, eh?" = "Good evening, princess. Pretty night, isn't it?"
"Hai. Kore wa . . . watashi o. Ne, ne . . . Nagi-kun. Ai shite'ru yo. Kanashi kunai iru, ne?" = "Yeah. That's . . . me. Hey . . . Nagi-kun. I love you. Don't be sad, all right?"
Oh, and *please* people, I'm *begging* you, review the Shin/Makoto story, also known as Trust and Truth.
Disclaimer: Don't own anything. Consider yourselves lucky. I make no money, don' sue please. Thankee kindly, everyone.
Warnings: mild language towards the end. Oh, yeah, almost forgot. DEATH of a major character, comin' through! If you don't like that, stick with the first ending.
Ending Two
Being part of a secret-agent-type-family did have its benefits. Makoto had access to a wide variety of files that normally she would have been killed for just because she *knew* they existed. She was included in a large ring of hackers and other Internet spy rings, and was never treated with disrespect since Schuldich had given her a code to use about a week ago. Why this was, she had yet to figure out, but she certainly wasn't complaining; that code was often a key to a huge data-base of hidden knowledge which she intended to make full use of.
This was one of those times.
Makoto had used the code, and her few personal contacts that were unknown to her 'family', to find out exactly *where* they were, as well as to have a disguise and fake identification set up for her so she could gain entry to the party. Takatori had as many enemies as he had allies, she'd learned well enough, and most of his allies were pissed at him for some reason or other. It wasn't very hard for her to track down precisely what information she wanted, nor was it hard to find people willing to help her, so long as she promised to make the evening news. While she wasn't sure about making the evening news with her party-crashing, Makoto was sure that they'd all learn about it one way or another, and set out.
"Tokyo Tower, right entrance, and do step on it," she told the private driver that she had hired. "Takatori-ojii will be so upset if I'm any later than I am now. He does get worried about me after dark."
The driver nodded his complete understanding, knowing full well that there would be a large tip for him in exchange for speed and a shut mouth. The disguise that Makoto had procured from a friend's dress shop was waiting for her in the back, along with contact lenses and a makeup kit. The partition between her and the driver was closed and all the windows were tinted and rolled up against the night air. Makoto changed when they stopped at a red light.
"Now for makeup," she muttered. They were ten minutes away from the Tokyo Tower. She quickly applied basic makeup, hoping she wouldn't mess it up too badly. Despite living with her secret-agent-family there had been no need to train her for anything because she was never allowed out with them. Besides, you try putting on makeup in a moving car, in the dark, and see how easy *you* find it.
"We're nearly there, ma'am," said the driver. "Two more blocks, is all."
"Good," said Makoto, trying to place her contacts in her eyes without poking them out.
She sighed in relief when both were in. Wrapping the sheer black shawl around her arms and praying feverishly that she wouldn't trip on her heels, Makoto settled back into the leather seats and waited for the car to stop. When it did, Makoto waited until the door was opened for her. As she reached up to take his outstretched hand, she allowed a small locker key to drop into his palm. There was a number on it and the name of the building where he could go to pick up his prize. He bowed to her and drove off, leaving a stunning Irish-looking girl to daintily walk up to the bouncers in front of the right entrance. They looked almost surprised to see her, and Makoto nearly laughed. She handed her invitation to the younger and shorter of the two; a friendly looking blonde with blue eyes and short hair.
"Watashi wa Maboroshi Mare desu," she had, demurely, using the Osaka accent it had taken her three months to perfect.
"Motto 'tenshi' nite iru desu," replied the taller of the two, bowing exaggeratedly to her. He raised himself and smiled charmingly; Makoto resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
"Aa, Maboroshi-san. Sanka suru, kudasai; ni-juu kai desu," said the younger. He smiled cheerfully as he handed back her invitation.
"Arigatou gozaimasu," Makoto said and bowed slightly to them. She walked to the elevator, flashing her invitation at the security guard by the elevator, and was admitted to the lift. She continued smiling at the bouncers who watched her from their positions until the doors closed.
Parties had never really been a big part of Makoto's life before she had met her new family. They hadn't been too much of a big part of her life after, either, but Nagi had insisted once that they take her, claiming that she shouldn't be forced to watch as they had *all* the fun. Brad hadn't been happy, but eventually he had conceded and allowed them to take her, as long as she learned proper manners and etiquette beforehand. Just to spite him, Makoto had worked her hardest, had mastered everything Brad required from her, and was allowed to go.
She called upon her new talents now as she made small talk with some of the more decent-looking guests. The rest of her family was surrounding Takatori as he spoke to some fawning admirer and her husband, and a few influential-looking men. They looked bored as anything and it took all her will power not to laugh outright. Calling attention to herself was the last thing she needed to do. She also spent a good amount of time making sure her thoughts were completely closed off from prying minds -- namely Schuldich's. Then she allowed herself to watch.
For the first few hours, Makoto was completely unsure as to why she was not allowed to come on 'missions'. If all they did was stand around and look bored, which seemed to be all they were going to do; then why was it so 'dangerous' for her? What kind of 'jeopardy' could she put them in? Sometimes eavesdropping was the easiest way to find out anything, especially when Brad was having a yelling fit of frustration. But watching her foster family produced no answers and Makoto was getting bored.
"Konbanwa, ojousan. Kirei na yoru, eh?"
K'so!!!, Makoto swore mentally. In her musing, she had not seen Schuldich break away from the bodyguards and come towards her. She refrained from kicking herself, and turned a full watt smile on her older brother.
"Hai, kirei desu yo," she agreed, looking out of one of the big windows. It wasn't a lie; the night air was crisp and clear, and it wasn't too cold or too hot. Even the normal traffic noises seemed to be quieter this night.
"And what brings a pretty lady like you to this party tonight?"
"Family business." Well, that was true enough. She *was* here to find out what her family did without her, after all. Realizing that Schuldich might try to probe her mind, Makoto filled it with inane thoughts of things to do and things she'd done, and whatever song lyric that happened to catch her attention. Only an ESPer would know how to keep their mind completely locked off, and that would immediately put him on edge. As it was, however, her older brother seemed completely relaxed; as relaxed as a bodyguard could be, at any rate.
"Schuldich," said a tenor voice, cutting into whatever Schuldich had been about to say. "This is no time to be chitchatting. We have a job to do, and we will do it properly. Mister Takatori is getting anxious to know why you left him."
The German telepath rolled his eyes slightly, but nodded. He wasn't so stupid as to disobey a direct order from his bosses. He turned back to Makoto and smiled as charmingly as possible. "I'm afraid I must take my leave now, ojousan. But never fear, I shall return."
Makoto giggled demurely behind her hand, "I look forward to it, oujisan."
Brad and Schuldich left, and she quickly moved in the opposite direction, making sure she could still watch them before collapsing against a wall and sighing silently in relief. Something made her look up, some hidden warning perhaps, and she was greeted with what was quite possibly the most beautiful sight of her life. Nagi apparently had been told to stand by the balcony windows because that was his new location. He stood silently, leaning casually against the wall with his eyes closed, bathed in what little moonlight could find its way through the large windows. His hair glistened and the light made his features softer, more gentle and young and almost peaceful. Makoto allowed herself to memorize the boy she had grown more and more fond of. "Fond" was quickly becoming a word she couldn't use any more, what she felt was more than that, but she couldn't figure out what exactly it was. She almost started walking towards him when a fat man stood on a platform and held up his hands for silence stopped her.
"Attention, ladies and gentlemen," the fat pig said, smiling oily at his audience. "I would like to thank all of you for coming tonight and kindly ask that you now give your utmost attention to the guest of the evening, Reiji Takatori."
Makoto groaned inwardly and rolled her eyes. Great. Just what she wanted; to hear one fat pig introduce another, then to listen while the second fat pig talked all evening just to hear his own voice. "Oh yeah, the perfect evening all right . . . ruined!"
"My friends," Takatori began, "I am truly glad to see you all here tonight. It gives me great happiness to know that I have reached out and touched you all with my campaigns . . . "
Suddenly Takatori's voice gave way to screams of fear from rich politicians and their wives as the lights and all other power shut off, leaving only the moon and stars to light the large ballroom they were in. Makoto immediately pressed her back against the wall behind her, knowing at least that no one could stab her in the back, and drew out the small throwing daggers she'd kept hidden in her long Jedi-robe-like sleeves. All around her the guests were screaming like idiots and trying to jam themselves into the two elevator cars in hopes that they would be safe there. A few of the more athletic ones began running frantically down the stairs, trying to escape any danger.
Makoto rolled her quickly adjusting eyes, but then suddenly had to readjust as the power came back on. Those in the elevator cars frantically pressed the button to go down and soon no one except Schwartz, Makoto (hidden from sight), and their hidden assailants were in the room. Somewhere along the way, Takatori had been shuffled to safety. She watched her family tense, forming a square so there was no way for them to be killed from behind. She herself tensed as well, and made sure to stay silent and firmly against the wall.
"Weiß!" Brad hissed. The others nodded. Schuldich swore. Makoto waited.
"Kyaaaaaaaa!"
A flash of dark clothing! but that was all Makoto could see. Whoever had shouted was too fast for her to get a clear view of, or at least had been too fast for her unprepared vision. She watched her family duck and dodge out of the way, and saw a very shiny, pointy, sword flash in the light.
"K'so!"
"Oi, Schwartz. Didn't think we'd forget about you, did you?" asked a teasing voice, another tenor, but deeper. Makoto frowned, knowing she recognized it from somewhere. The owner of the voice stepped out into the light and her eyes widened to near impossible lengths.
"The bouncer," she hissed softly. "It's him. Shit, shit, shit, shit. I've really got to get out of this dress."
No opportunity was presented to her, for suddenly two more bodies flitted out of the shadows and she watched in something akin to complete horror as they all began fighting. It wasn't the fighting itself that horrified her, however, and vaguely she wondered if she should be horrified by *that*. But no . . . Makoto found herself truly afraid that she would lose the only people she could really call her family now. That she would lose her parents twice, but this time with two older brothers and a . . . friend . . . lover, (could that be what she thought of Nagi as)? And to Makoto, that was unacceptable.
Not being able to afford to bother with the dress, and to hell with the money she spent on it, Makoto cut a good deal of it off with one of her daggers so that it came only to her thighs and she could move freely in it. The black shawl had long since been discarded, and she got a distinct feeling that the material would wind up being used as bandages. She stepped out of her heeled shoes and crept silently to a new vantage-point. From there she debated what to do. She didn't have enough experience to go out and simply fight these new men, who she assumed were trying to assassinate Takatori, and she didn't know if her Senshi powers counted anymore. Since her last rebirth, she hadn't been able to feel them flowing through her like she used to.
"I'm useless!" she cried mentally. "I should just go and call the cops or something! But then, what if they don't get here in time? What do I do then? I can't call an ambulance, I don't know if anyone's going to get hurt. Besides, Brad would have me killed for sure if I did that. SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT! Fuck, shit, fuck, shit, shit, fuck, fuck! [1]"
Her mental ramblings were taking on a near-hysteric sound, and because of that her shields were slowly dropping. Makoto knew she had to get herself under control, but she couldn't seem to pull herself together. Suddenly Schuldich looked up in her direction, and she knew she had been found out. Her shields really weren't strong enough. She really was a danger to them, a useless burden on their shoulders while they tried to keep alive night after night, mission after mission.
The sounds of battle wafted to her ears and the thoughts of the six men and two boys leaked through her mental barriers. She could Hear the boy's silent prayers that no one would be seriously injured and Hear redhead's grim determination to make all of the Schwartz's lives come to an end for the death of his parents. She could Hear the older blonde's thoughts of Asuka and Hear the young brunette entertain thoughts of 'what if' situations, usually consisting of one of them dying. Tears welled up in Makoto's eyes. She had to *do* something. And then it happened.
"Nagi!" she cried, unable to stop herself, and sprinted in front of the boy she was so fond of.
In front of the boy she loved. Nearly all action in the room stopped and not a sound could be heard except for the sickening thud as a sword came into contact with a body. Her body. The tears flowed freely down her cheeks, but the pain went unacknowledged and she smiled at Nagi with what little strength she had left in her. Blood coursed down her dress from her torso, where the redhead's sword went cleanly through her.
"Ma . . . Mako-chan!" Nagi cried in despair.
Schuldich ran over immediately to see if they were all right. The men known as Weiß stepped back, wide-eyed, each wondering how Aya could have been so careless as to hurt an innocent. But they were paid no mind by anyone from Schwartz. Aya slid the blade from her body as carefully as possible and stumbled back, stunned, ashamed and crying. Makoto fell into Nagi's arms, and he lowered them to the floor.
"At least I know . . . I've still got my speed . . . to count on," she grinned. "Maybe I . . . shouldn't have stayed . . . up for so long." Her vision dimmed, but her eyes remained fully focused on Nagi's face as she lifted a hand to his cheek. "You have soft skin. . . . I never really . . . noticed. I like it."
"Mako-chan . . . Mako-chan no baka!!!" Nagi shouted, crying for the first time in so long, he couldn't even remember the last time he had. He was rewarded with a smile from his new family member.
"Hai. Kore wa . . . watashi o," Makoto said weakly. "Ne, ne . . . Nagi-kun. Ai shite'ru yo. Kanashi kunai iru, ne?"
Nagi shook his head frantically. He couldn't say anything, but he and Makoto had always agreed that words were overrated. He wouldn't cheapen that opinion now by spouting off a long list of romantic thoughts for her, but he would let her feel his love for her. And she did. The smile she gave him was her most true and dazzling. Schuldich had opened up the mental channels between them all and promised her mentally that she would not leave this world alone.
"S'not . . . the first time . . . you know," Makoto chided. She paused to cough up blood, but smiled through it all. "Maybe . . . they won't want me . . . maybe . . . I'll come back . . . to bother you . . . some more."
"We would be most eternally grateful if you did, Mako-chan. Rest now. You're tired, you've been up for a long time waiting around for us."
"Mmm," Makoto agreed, nuzzling into Nagi's chest. "Tired." She nodded in the direction of the stunned Weiß, almost as an afterthought, and to be honest, it probably was. ". . . Tell them . . . I'm not mad . . . at him. He just wants . . . his family."
Brad nodded sagely, barely hiding his own grief behind his usual mask of a cold, business-like poker face. Farfello clenched his knife tightly in his hands, so that his skin was whiter than normal by the knuckles. He couldn't speak. After all, what did you say to a girl you hardly knew who thought of you as a role model? He laughed bitterly.
"We'll miss you." Farfello knew he, Nagi, and Schuldich would, even if he couldn't speak for Brad.
"S'ppose so. . . . Miss you, too. . . . Loved ya lots. . . . Even Bradley. Tired now. Real tired. . . . See ya in mornin' . . . " Makoto sighed, a last, heavy, shuddering, ragged breath, and as she exhaled her face became a picture of perfect and complete peace and happiness.
Nagi held onto her body, disbelieving, his face screwed in a mask of sheer horror and shock. Finally some mental words from Schuldich brought him back to his senses, and he kissed her cooling lips gently. Then he pulled back and gasped as her body became transparent and began fading. Slowly, very slowly, until all that was left of her were a few sakura blossoms in his hands. They were fragrant and sweet, and they brought a smile to Nagi's lips as he held them to his nose to smell them.
Makoto was gone, yes. But maybe, just maybe . . . not forever.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
[1] based on something I think or say quite a lot when things are going badly =^-^=
So, there you have it; Assassin and ESPer comes to an end. I cannot believe I just killed Mako-chan. *Sighs dramatically* you all must be so sad and disappointed. *Big grin* yes, I can see you now, wondering what you're going to do. Well, you can review and then go read something else! =^-^= Hope you've enjoyed the tale of Makoto and Nagi (and the other guys, too). Ja mata ne!
Japanese lesson for today:
"Watashi wa Maboroshi Mare" = "I am Mare Maboroshi" (this is important because 'maboroshi mare' literally means 'rare phantom')
"Motto 'tenshi' nite iru desu" = "More likely 'angel'" (Youji *is* the ladies man =^_^=)
"Aa, Maboroshi-san. Sanka suru, kudasai; ni-juu kai desu" = "Ah, Ms. Maboroshi. Enter, please; twentieth floor" (Omi would be the kind of person to make sure she knew where she was going, ne?)
"Konbanwa, ojousan. Kirei na yoru, eh?" = "Good evening, princess. Pretty night, isn't it?"
"Hai. Kore wa . . . watashi o. Ne, ne . . . Nagi-kun. Ai shite'ru yo. Kanashi kunai iru, ne?" = "Yeah. That's . . . me. Hey . . . Nagi-kun. I love you. Don't be sad, all right?"
Oh, and *please* people, I'm *begging* you, review the Shin/Makoto story, also known as Trust and Truth.
