The Last Straw

Chapter Two: Getting My First Assignment

Sunlight crept in through a window, lighting up the dark shadowy room in which a young auburn hair girl lied, asleep in her bed. She actually looked innocent and peaceful asleep. In a way that you could never guess that she was a ruthless assassin. The light shone in Sakura's closed eyes, making them twitch and groggily open.

Sakura awoke from the hotel bed that she had stayed in overnight. She yawned and stretched before going into the bathroom to get ready. During this time Kero slowly stirred, all of a sudden his eye-lids (Jessi- Doz he even hav eny?) flew open as he recalled what had happened last night. First he was shocked but his memories of the last few months crept back there when he recollected the events that had occurred. Sakura had changed, she was no longer the innocent, kind and lovable Sakura, she had turned into a malicious and heartless person who sought for the hurting of others.

Sakura came out wearing a denim mini, a regular top and a floral hat. It made her look modest and elegant. Her hair was left out to flow to about her mid back and she also had shades in her hands.

When she saw Kero, she smiled at him charmingly before asking, "Pancakes, or pudding?"

"Sakura, I want both!" Kero answered dreamily, "Pudding, Pancakes, Pudding, Pancakes" He sang clapping his furry paws together, it felt like the old times, when Sakura was capturing clow cards and turning them into Sakura cards.

"Great, I'll order them from the reception!" Sakura smiled happily as she paced towards the phone in the hotel room.

"Err, Sakura, where are we and how'd we get here?" Kero wondered not knowing how they ended up here because he was asleep in Sakura's bag most of last night, well he fell asleep when Sakura was on the roads looking for a place to stay.

"We're in Jimicon Royale Hotel, and we got here by me. I mugged this rich guy in the streets, pretty dumb of him to go alone, he had $2500 on him and on his credit card, I took $33,000." Sakura answered like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Kero sighed, just when it began to feel like the old days, before Sakura was all bad, she just had to go and spoil it, "I shoulda known" he mumbled sadly. He would serve his mistress no matter what but he knew this wasn't the real her, it was just because she was hurting so much. Kero could only wish he could do something to help her but after his previous attempts, he decided not to interfere.

"Kero, I know what you're thinking, just let go. It's never going to happen, I'm not gonna be that cheery and friendly girl I used to be. The old me is gone . For good, just please understand" Sakura stated firmly knowing exactly what was going through Kero's head.

Kero nodded hesitantly, he knew there was no point of even going there. He hovered to the other side of the room while Sakura's voice was engaged in a polite conversation with, most likely, the receptionist.

"Yep" . "Yes please, with Orange Juice" . "No, it's just me" . *giggles* "Yeah, I do have quite an appetite don't I" . "Thank you, bye" Rang Sakura's voice. She was sitting on the edge of the queen bed laughing softly. Sakura hung up the phone and slowly got up from the bad approaching Kero.

"Do you have to pick up the breakfast?" Kero asked turning around to face Sakura respectfully.

"Have you like totally forgotten that we happen to be in a five-star hotel? Duh they're gonna bring to US!" Sakura replied tossing her long, wavy auburn hair back without ruining her hair and hat.

"I should have known" Kero mumbled hovering toward his mini-bed that happened to be absolutely luxurious. It should be considering the outrageous price of $2000, and it was only a tiny bed!

"You should have known a lot of things" Sakura grumbled under her breath while walking towards the coats cupboard. In this hotel room, there was a walk-in wardrobe and a cupboard for all the coats near the entrance.

"I might seem like a stuffed toy, BUT I HEARD THAT!" Kero growled loudly, as he fluttered to Sakura's face and giving her a very angry look. Sakura shook her head softly while giggling and took her hat off. She tucked her hair neatly behind her ears and began doing her nails.

Kero was outraged that she would ignore him and yelled, "SAKURA! I'm your guardian beast, how dare you ignore me!?" With his paws on his hips, like an angry parent.

Sakura grinned while rubbing her chin in fake confusion, "Hmmm," she pondered, "Easily" she finally playfully answered getting back to her nails.

"Why you-" Kero began about to lecture her but unfortunately was cut short by several respectful knocks on the door.

"Shut up Kero, make sure you don't utter a word!" Sakura murmured as she grabbed her floral hat and put it on. She left her shades on the bed and straightened out her dress before wandered toward the door leaving a fuming Kero mumbling curses under his breath. Sakura caught this and jerked her head around to give him a 'shut-up' expression. It obviously worked because Kero shut his mouth and held his breath.

Sakura could only smile and shake her head, Kero could be the most ferocious monster that walked the Earth in one second, and in the next, he was as quiet as a mouse. He had to be the oddest creature in the world.

Sakura reached for the door knob and opened the door politely assuming it was breakfast, she was partly right. It was Lorenzo holding her breakfast in a shiny silver tray with an annoying grin on his face.

Sakura stared at him for a few seconds before saying, "Funny seeing you in a place like this." Sakura slanted her head slightly waiting for a response.

"Well, I went through some issues to get here to give you some news, and I'd prefer it if I were appreciated" He replied lightly handing Sakura the silver tray, "By the way, all this for you?"

"Do you see anyone else around?" Sakura asked sarcastically waving her arm across her empty room, "So what's the verdict?" She continued when Lorenzo seemed content with her answer. She gestured her hand allowing him to enter her room and sit on the sofa.

Sakura placed the silver tray on the coffee table with a golden stand and a glass surface. She and Lorenzo were seated on two different sofas and were facing each other. Sakura didn't even touch her breakfast tray but put her hands on her knees while she sat on the edge of the sofa.

Lorenzo raised his brows, "Aren't you going to start your breakfast?" He asked shifting back a bit to get more comfortable.

"I prefer eating alone, does that bother you?" Sakura snapped irritated as she rolled her eyes, tucking her hair behind her ears again and putting her hands back on her knees. Her forest-green eyes gazed into Lorenzo's icy light-blue eyes, she had him mesmerized for a few seconds but he managed to snap out of it.

"Okay, so the 'verdict' as you call it. Well, I realize we were supposed to meet again tonight, but I need you take your first assignment," Lorenzo spoke handing Sakura a folder with files and pictures, "This man, Junkai Morremokei, is our wanted, get the job done a.s.a.p."

"I'll need a gun and I'll see you tonight after I kill this guy" Sakura appointed as she scanned through the files and folders. She stopped at a photo of the man and stared at it thoughtfully.

"Excuse me, do you honestly believe that you'll track him down by tonight? Keep dreaming, this guy is impossible to pinpoint, his next stop is impossible to predict, we have had men keep a trace on him, his every stop is completely random." Lorenzo laughed not believing that she believed he would fid this man by tonight. He knew that she was good at what she did but she was too sure of herself if she honestly thought she could pinpoint this man in less than 20 hours.

"That's what I'm counting on," smirked Sakura as she read through the files, "Ten kills; Jurenty, Kashaya, Anderiel, Izual, Clayvoyanti, Shaksmeer, Jevilye, Kristie, Myakor and Jewelz. All female sorcerers?" Lorenzo simply nodded as Sakura continued. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but they are all part of a circle that kills certain people, potential risks to the Druids" Sakura stared at her boss intently waiting for a response and he looked shocked, she had figured out the pattern in a matter of minutes while others had taken months. Why wasn't it thought of, they worked for the Druids. Lorenzo nodded wide-eyed making Sakura resume to what she was saying, "They don't just work for the Druids, those particular women are part of a ring called 'Juveniles.' There are only eleven which means his last target is Florence, the last Juvenile sorceress and also the strongest. Junkai is as good as gone!" Sakura rambled on.

"Ho-how'd you figure that out so quickly, we had trackers on him, and how'd you know about the 'juveniles', did you say it was, I've never heard of them in my life!" Lorenzo questioned.

"Let's just say I know my soon to be kills! I've got a good idea of everyone from around here so it's all cool." Sakura stated sluggishly in a shrug.

Lorenzo was overwhelmed like he'd never been before, he was a high class hirer and always looked unimpressed, he was the type of man that would never be impressed, it was like unnatural to him. He would grunt with a shrug BUT she was totally unlike the other assassins he had hired. His jaw dropped open freely as he just stared at her not able to hide his how impressed he was.

"You're definitely not like the other assassins I've ever dealt with, straight to the point and no side flirting or distractions. It's not a bad mix!" Lorenzo joked

"Har Har, so very funny, now are we done? Send the gun to me before an hour." Sakura barked suddenly with sarcasm very evident in her voice.

Lorenzo gawked in disbelief taking in what she had just said. Most female assassins would flirt with him, it wasn't like he wasn't unattractive, because he was. In fact he was most commonly labeled VERY hot. He wasn't used to not getting attention from his workers.

Lorenzo stood to his feet and gave a quick bow before exiting he room and closing it behind him. Sakura stood to her feet, shuffled to the door and quickly latched the lock before turning around to find Kero hovering right above the tray of food. Somehow she just wasn't surprised.

Kero was drooling at the smell of food right in front of him but stared dreamily.

"Just eat it already before it gets too cold" Sakura smiled. Kero didn't even stop to think about it as he began eating everything on the tray ferociously fast.

As Kero was eating Sakura took the orange juice on the tray and began sipping it when the door rang again. Kero's head popped up as if to ask 'should-I-go-hide-now?' Sakura shook her head in a negative.

"Uh uh, I'll keep them at the door this time, Kero. You deserved this breakfast." She whispered as she took herself to the door.

Sakura opened the door slightly allowing her heap to peep through the small gap to see who was there. It was a nurse holding a silver tray with a package on top, a package that was wrapped very interestingly.

"Can I help you?" Sakura asked warmly but without moving an inch, her hair managed to creep down her face.

The maid nodded nervously, it was obvious that she was a new maid, "Um. Y- yes m-miss. Th-this is f-for you" she stuttered holding the tray out. Sakura narrowed her eyes at the maid making even more nervous than she was before.

Sakura enjoyed making this maid nervous but knew she had her fun. Using the hand that was supporting the door frame, Sakura took the tray and the package and brought it inside.

"Thanks!" Sakura thanked before slamming the door shut. She breathed leaning back to the door. She brought the hand with the package closer to her face and rattled it.

"Aww, how sweet. My gun and now to bring this sad son of a bitch down!" Sakura squealed.

"Uh Sakura?" came Kero's distorted-in-food voice.

"I'll be back in a few Kero honey" Sakura sang as she changed into a tight totally back outfit. She ripped open the package and inspected the guns. She smiled in satisfaction at her tranquilizer and two mini machine guns. The last one was a standard gun that came with a silencer.

Sakura loaded the guns on her tight outfit and opened a window looking down at a sheer 13 floor drop. Kero stopped chewing his almost finished breakfast and gulped, "Sakura please don't tell me-" Kero began uncertainly but before he could finish Sakura had jumped out the window.

"-that you're gonna jump out," Kero finished, "AAGH!" Kero flew right to the window and looked down to see Sakura fall freely with a serious but calm look on her face.

Kero could have just regurgitated everything he just ate at that point but saw Sakura take something out. It was some sort of gun and when she pulled the trigger a hooked leather black rope shot out and hooked on one of the window sills. Sakura was now safe and hanging on the side.

Kero let out a sigh of relief before coming back to his senses. He was planning to shout at her for pulling off a stunt like that but she shot him a dirty look that shut him up before he even uttered a word.

Using the rope that had hooked itself onto a window, Sakura slowly and steadily lowered herself to the very bottom. 'Now that that's over, it's about time for me to kick ass!' she thought gleefully.

Sakura looked up raising her hands to cover her eyes from the sun. She scanned the area before she spotted her window and Kero still hovering at the sill. She smiled at him even thought he probably couldn't see it.

"Oh Kero?" Sakura shouted still shielding her eyes from the sun and squinting. She waved with her free hand just in case she didn't get Kero's attention. Ero held his hands to his sides as if to ask 'What?' so Sakura knew she had his attention.

"On the arm of the couch there's a leather-black bag. Pick it up and throw it over will you? Oh, and it is a bit heavy so I'm using power on you!" Sakura ordered placing her waving hand on her hip.

Kero was about to ask how he'd carry bag over to the window but Sakura had just explained that she would use the 'power card' on him so he hovered to the couch and of course spotted the bag Sakura had spoken about. He grabbed it and hauled it to the window before chucking it over and dropping it.

As it fell freely and gravity was taking its course making the bag fall quicker and heavier but Sakura still managed to expertly catch the bag and swing it over her shoulders.

"Thanks Kero!" Sakura called out before running into the shadows of the alley walls.

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A/N: