Assassin by Rei Minomiko
A/N: I just got back from my OJT in Cebu, which is why I haven't been able to update. Please be considerate. I only have one more year to go in college, and as much as I love Syaoran and Sakura, I can't possibly put my entire life on hold just to write stories about them. Gomen nasai, but I do have a life outside CCS fandom.
CHAPTER TEN: Secrets
Eriol slowly made his way back to his car, his thoughts still in a complicated jumble. His meeting with Yamazaki had left him with more questions than answers, and the documents that his comrade-in-arms had managed to procure were still not enough proof to peg the one institution he wanted to put behind bars forever. All that Yamazaki's documents gave him was another suspect to think about and identify.
The documents contained the detailed investigation that was performed by the government regarding the crash. According to them, the plane's engines have somehow been tampered with immediately before it was to take off. Who had done such a thing was beyond the government, but it had been reported that the scientists had received several death threats a few days prior to the crash. Again, the suspect's identity remains, up to now, unknown.
Eriol sighed as he fumbled for his keys. Such a complicated case! And with so little clues to help his investigation! Briefly, he wondered what his life would have been like if he had turned down the case. He would have never met Sakura, and Fujitaka would have been pushing up daisies by now.
His grayish-blue eyes suddenly widened. 'Sakura!'
In his absorption with the case, he had completely forgotten that he was supposed to pick up Xiaran and Colin at the hotel. Taking out his mobile phone, which he had purposefully turned off to ensure a disturbance-free meeting with Yamazaki, he pressed the 'On' button. Seeing that he had a voice message, Eriol quickly pressed a number and held the phone to his ear.
It was from Sakura, all right.
"Eriol? Why is your phone turned off? Anyway, as soon as you get this, come down immediately to Takaginawa Children's Hospital at Tokaido Street. There's been an accident with Xiaran, and I was so scared! Kei-chan and Tou-chan are on their way, but I—"Sakura's recorded voice faltered for a moment, before bravely plunging through, "—I need you here. Please. Come right away."
A short beep signaled the end of the message. Eriol did not even pause to think. He jumped into his car and drove off.
00000
Yue calmly gazed out at the ocean's expanse in front of him, his thoughts centered on the one man he had ever considered as a friend and his actions that same night. Syaoran may never fully realize it, but Yue has always had the younger man's good intentions at heart. He was the one who found Syaoran as a little boy, sleeping behind a dilapidated dumpster, stoically bearing the hardship on his own. He was the one who cared for the boy, dressed him, and took him back with him to the Capo when it became clear to Yue who the boy was, and how much danger he was in.
A stray strand of his long hair lifted in the breeze, and he impatiently pushed it away, still lost in his own disturbing thoughts. Why Syaoran had to return to the Federation when he came of age was beyond him, but he could not help but think that whatever the young man's reason was, it wasn't merely because he owe the Federation his pledge of allegiance. No, it was definitely something deeper than that. Something personal. Something desperately bordering on revenge...
He kept his eyes fixed on a certain point out at the ocean, mindful of the two other cars that had just recently pulled to park a few ways beside his own vehicle. He was certain that Syaoran had no idea that he knew about the massacre—Yue had done a little digging just a few days after he had rescued Syaoran from the streets—but there were times that he barely had the strength to keep himself from revealing what he truly knew. Yes, he knew who killed the Li clan. How could he not, for the very same person had his family killed when he was barely five?
Yue stared with rapt fascination at the glimmering shadow of the moon on the indigo waters, once again engaged in the permanent battle of wills that he had always sworn not to think about since Syaoran left the Capo. Should he tell the lad who killed his family, or not?
And, just as it had always been, Yue was at a complete loss.
00000
Sakura hurled herself into Eriol's arms with unerring accuracy as soon as the man walked through the door of the little hospital room. "I'm so glad you're here, Eriol." She whispered hoarsely, burying her face into his chest as she felt him tighten his grip around her. "I was so scared."
She could feel the rapid pounding of Eriol's heard on her cheek. "Is Xiaran okay?"
She nodded. "Yes. Just worn out." Slipping out of his grip, Sakura took his hand and tugged him towards the couch. "I don't know what could've happened to him if Li-san hadn't been around to rescue him."
"Li-san?" Eriol echoed.
She snuggled closer to his side. "Yes. He's a guest at the hotel. Xiaran was lucky that the man was near the pool when he fell in. If he hadn't—"Her voice trailed off.
Eriol gently drew her closer to him. "Don't beat yourself over the head about this. It wasn't your fault." He lightly admonished her.
"Oh?" There was a bite of gentle sarcasm in her voice as she pulled a little away from him.
He shook his head at her. "I know you too well, Sakura. So stop it. Accidents happen." He kissed her brow reassuringly. "There was nothing you could have done to prevent it."
"If I hadn't stationed them near the pool, Xiaran wouldn't ha—"
He knocked her lightly on the side of her head. "I just asked you to stop it, didn't I?"
She idly traced the pattern on Eriol's jacket with one finger, fully intent on mustering a good get back for Eriol's light scolding. Finding none, she slumped her shoulders in defeat and just settled for a soft "Right." Laying her head on his shoulder, she barely stifled a wide yawn before groaning, "I'm exhausted."
A pair of warm, strong arms immediately enveloped her in a comfortable hug. "Then rest." Eriol softly whispered in her ear. "I'll wait up for your family."
00000
Syaoran was sitting stiffly on his bed, completely surrounded by stacks of documents, when his mobile phone rang. Quickly flipping the top up, he secured the contraption between his ear and shoulder and muttered, "Li."
"Report."
The assassin scowled at the indifference in the voice. It didn't take a genius to figure out who was at the other end. "Nothing yet. I'm still doing surveillance."
His response obviously didn't please his caller. "Losing your touch?" The Commander sneered.
He didn't answer outrightly. 'No. Just my mind.' A voice inside his head whispered.
Syaoran knew very well that it was indeed highly unusual for him to adhere strictly to the set parameters. His technique was usually to get in, kill, and get out as soon as possible.
The Commander was obviously thinking along the same lines as his subject. "This isn't like you." There was a hint of worry in his tone as he let his statement roll. "Complications?"
Syaoran's mind drifted towards his earlier and uncalled for encounters with Kinomoto's daughter. He scowled again. "You could say that."
The Commander sighed. "Very well. I'll see to it that the order to assassinate comes as soon as possible. For now, be alert. I have been informed that there's a mole in the case." The sound of shuffling papers could be heard from the other end. "Seems that someone is suspicious, and has planted an undercover agent to track you down. No known identity yet, but, just the same, be careful."
To any other hit man, the prospect of being tailed was enough of a reason to regroup, but Syaoran wasn't worried. Whoever was tailing him would be in for the kill. Literally. "Understood." Was his simple reply. "Anything else?"
It was obvious that the Commander's next words were delivered not out of concern for him but fear for himself.
"If anything happens to you..."
He didn't let the other man finish his statement. He knew what he was going to say, anyway. "Nothing will." Was his empty assurance to his caller.
"Good."
There was a soft click, and the line went dead. Syaoran returned to his position on his bed and mulled over the papers scattered all around him. Frowning, he shoved them all away and laid back on the bed, the gears in his head in full throttle. Something about the Commander's call felt different, but he couldn't seem to place a finger on it. After all, the Commander always checks up on his progress and warns him about any threats. SO what was so strange about this call?
Sighing soundlessly, he shifted on his bed to glance at the digital clock on his desktop bureau. 1:26 AM. This was going to be another long night.
00000
At three am, Eriol found himself half-dragging, half-carrying an almost comatose Sakura up to her bedroom back at the Kinomoto house. Kei-chan and Fujitaka-san arrived almost at the same time at around two in the morning, and after a tearful exchange of stories and assurances the head of the house all but tossed his daughter and her boyfriend out of the room, ordering them to rest. It was obvious that Sakura wanted to protest over her father's stern command, but the jaw-breaking yawn she let out as soon as she opened her mouth forced her to a reluctant submission. She fell asleep immediately as Eriol was pulling out of the hospital parking, which gave the young man some time to ponder on the few loose thoughts that he had been struggling with for the past few hours. Who killed Francois Certrude? What was the man's relevance to the entire case? And is Yamazaki being tailed as well?
All these questions spun around the agent's mind in unending circles as he and his precious burden lumbered up the staircase, but Eriol knew that he was indeed far from actually answering any of them at the moment. He definitely had to do a little more digging before actually coming up with any logical assumptions that would support his case. His gaze drifted to the slumbering woman in his arms, and he sighed. To do some probing would require him to fly back to England and consult the database back at the agency itself. But going back, even for only a few days, might trigger an attack from the assassin tailing Fujitaka, provided that the man was already aware of Eriol's involvement in the case. Sure, he could just easily call someone and request for the data himself, or even log online to search for the necessary information he needed, but Eriol had always made it a habit to do his own tasks himself within his country of origin. You would never know until the end if there was a mole in your own organization. Also, working within the agency means a lesser chance of being traced, or hacked in on. Besides, being back in England would probably give him the break he needed away from Sakura, the space that he desperately needs in order for him to once again focus his mind on the case and get over the feelings he has been harboring for the woman.
Reaching Sakura's door, Eriol pushed it open with his foot and proceeded to carry Sakura inside. She woke with a start as Eriol turned on the lights.
"Hoe?" She murmured, trying unsuccessfully to blink the sleep out of her eyes as she surveyed the interior of her room with groggy interest. "Home already?" She wondered aloud.
Eriol slowly guided her to sit on the bed. "Yes." He replied simply, reaching forward to brush a few strands of hair from her cheek. Just as he was about to withdraw his hand away, Sakura grabbed it and gently tugged on it.
At the questioning look in Eriol's eyes, she smiled and patted the space on the bed next to her with her other hand. "Sit."
As soon as Eriol had settled in, Sakura reached forward and wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his coat. "Can you stay?" She softly asked. Her arms tightened reflexively around the man's waist when she felt him shift slightly. "I-I don't want to be alone tonight, especially after all that has happened..." Her voice trailed off, and she shivered a little. Eriol immediately wrapped an arm around her.
"I thought we were over this, Sakura." He began.
She didn't seem to hear him speak. "I feel so bad." She interrupted him in a monotone. "I-If I hadn't directed him to the Blue Ale, he would still be alive now."
Eriol sucked in a breath at the woman's words. 'She's talking about Certrude.' Remembering his encounter with the receptionist at the Renaissance the other morning, he faked innocence. "Who would, sweetheart?" He softly asked her, tilting his head downward to get a better view of Sakura's face. "Who would still be alive?"
"Certrude-sama." She replied plaintively. "He was killed at the Blue Ale yesterday morning, and if I hadn't told him where that is, he wouldn't have gone there right away. He wouldn't have been—"Her voice wavered. "—He wouldn't have been shot."
Eriol felt her shivering form edge even closer to him, desperate to withdraw warmth from his own body. He methodically began running his hand up and down her back in a reassuring manner as his mind frantically raced to come up with an asseveration for her. His mind came up blank.
"Please stay. At least until I fall back to sleep." Her voice held a desperate hint of plea as she raised her tear-filled green eyes to meet his. "Onegai ne, koishii(1)." She whispered.
Eriol could feel his resolve shattering into a thousand little pieces as he slowly felt himself drowning into those emerald pools. He knew he shouldn't give in, but... "Okay." He whispered back. Slowly, ever so slowly, he sank unto her bed, pulling her along until he was laying on his back with Sakura half-sprawled on top of him, her head conveniently tucked underneath his chin. "Get some sleep."
Sakura scooted, then raised her head to plant a chaste kiss on his lips. "Thanks. I will."(2)
Soon, the room was filled with Sakura's even breathing. In the predawn hours, with sleep still trying to elude him, Eriol started planning his trip to England.
00000
He couldn't sleep.
He had been trying to force himself to grasp the eluding strands of REM for hours, but they simply kept dodging him. It was not that he cannot function well without rest—he had performed countless missions without any sleep at all, with excellent results—but his sleep schedule has been off lately. Besides, not being able to sleep meant that he would not have to dream, which was a huge plus for the young assassin since his dreams have always been a source of great stress for him. Even after years of forcing himself to forget, the memories were still there.
However, the nightmares weren't the only reason why Syaoran has been vainly trying to force his body to settle down for the past five hours. Being awake also meant that he had more time to dwell on the events that had occurred to him during the span of the day. And since a large portion of his day was spent rescuing Kinomoto Sakura, her image was the only constant in his thoughts.
It was driving him mad.
Forcing his mind to dwell on thoughts that do not involve the emerald-eyed enchantress (he pummeled his pillow at the thought—already the woman was driving him to think outside his usual train of contemplation), his mind traveled back to the conversation he had earlier with the Commander. What was it that was so strange about that call?
He pondered on the thought some more as he felt his eyes slowly drifting shut. Something clicked at the back of his mind, and his eyes snapped open. That was it.
'Seems that someone is suspicious, and has planted an undercover agent to track you down...'
That was it!
The Commander warned him about the existence of a mole, an undercover agent who was after his tail. The words the old man used were not according to protocol. The Federation has a system of codes that their operatives use daily in their missions and communications. The general code for a possible entity tailing an assassin was unspeakable. The Commander did not use the code, and it was obvious that he knew the true identity of Syaoran's shadow, although he did not tell him so. An undercover agent was after him.
'Why did he lie?'
It was a small slip, he knew, and too sparse of an evidence to prove that there was an ongoing conspiracy regarding his assignment. But Syaoran did not become a veteran in his profession for letting details as small as this slip.
Determination coursed through every vein in the young assassin's body. He found himself strapped down in front of his laptop and booting the machine on, his entire expression blank. He was going to get to the bottom of this.
00000
"Has our little wolf accepted the mission yet, Yue?"
Yue scrunched up his eyebrows as he pondered on his next move, his light gray eyes completely focused on the chessboard in front of him. Settling on a pawn, he moved it forward one square, all the while overtly conscious of the frank gaze the Capo was aiming at his downcast head. "Only a few moves more and I've got you entirely covered, Boss." He told his companion laughingly, hoping to move the topic away from the Federation assassin.
The Capo did not take on the joke, and Yue could feel the disappointment in his gaze. He sighed. It was no use, and he wondered why he even tried. No matter what he did he could never distract the man sitting in front of him away from his query.
Not if he had his mind set on getting the answer, anyway.
"I persuaded him to accept the message, Capo. But you know Syaoran. He does things his own way, in his own time."
He watched as a slender hand pushed a white horse forward to take his pawn, his eyes staring transfixed at the long, shiny scar the Capo sported on it. "And I suppose you told him the importance of taking that mission?" The older man asked him as he leaned back to wait for Yue's next move.
The silver-haired young man blew another long breath and withdrew his hand from the board. Frankly, he really was not in the mood to be grilled. Not today, when he had too much worry on his plate. "No, I didn't." He admitted softly.
The room in which they were in seemed to darken considerably. "What?" Was the Capo's carefully uttered reply.
Slowly, he raised his eyes from the chessboard to meet the hard, calculating ones that belong to the imposing man sitting in front of him. "No, I didn't." He stated again, louder this time.
One of the Capo's eyebrows shot up. "And why is that?" He asked softly.
Yue ran a hand down his face with another soft sigh. This issue has been an old argument between the two of them ever since Syaoran went back to the other side, and, frankly, he was getting tired of repeating himself over and over again. "I don't think he's ready to receive such a blow of information from us, no matter how good our intentions are. Especially since he seems to be too damn loyal to the Federation."
"He needs to know who killed his family and why they did it, Yue. You know that as well as I do."
"I know. But even if he finds out, there's really nothing he can do about it. The General's influence is too strong, his arm of power too long. Even if our revelation snaps the last string of loyalty Syaoran has to the Federation, he won't win. He just can't, no matter how strong he is." He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration and stood up from his chair, all hopes in winning the game forgotten as he started a tense pace around the living room.
"He has us to back him up." The other man reminded him softly.
Yue shook his head. "Our strength is not enough. Besides, he barely tolerates my presence. I don't think he would believe me even if I am telling the truth." He stopped directly in front of the Capo, who appeared to be completely deep in thought. "It's his fight too, I am aware of that. But I don't think it's right for us to include him in our vendetta against the General. At least, not at the moment."
Yue's companion stared hard back at him, obviously considering all the things that the long-haired man had said. Finally, he sighed in resignation and leaned back against his chair, crossing his arms over his chest as he did so. "If you think that's what's best, then I guess we can keep the secret for now. However," The Capo threw him a threatening glare, dark eyes flashing with grim drive, "You do have to find a way to stop him from finishing off the professor. I don't want his hands stained with innocent blood once more."
Despite the great amount of stress he was feeling, the corners of Yue's mouth lifted up in a sad parody of a smile. 'There would be no need for me to persuade him not to go through with the assassination, you can count on that.' He thought quietly to himself as he sat back down in front of the board. 'Rae Meilin...when will you ever learn, Syaoran? You can't entrust your heart to just anybody. Not in our profession..." (3) Intently, he ran a trained eye over his black pieces, smiled, and pushed his Queen forward three squares.
"Checkmate."
00000
"Any news from Syaoran, Commander?"
"None so far. According to him, his surveillance is still ongoing."
A pause. "Should we be worried?"
"I don't think so, General. He doesn't seem to be searching for information about the case yet."
"Good. I have already asked a special operative to take care of hiding our tracks. However, it's better to have his mind focused elsewhere."
"General?"
"Yes?"
"Why did you give the mission to Syaoran, knowing the circumstances that may arise when he finds out about us?"
A bark of laughter. "Because he doesn't fail." Another pause. "And I had to distract him from his search for his family's murderer. He was a mere slip away from finding out who did it."
The Commander licked his lips nervously. "General?"
"Yes?" There was a touch of impatience in the General's voice from the other end.
"If Syaoran finds out, you know we don't stand a chance against him."
The reply was clipped. "I know. Which is why he will never do."
TBC
==Oooohhh! The plot thickens! What's going to happen next? I guess you guys will have to be on your toes to find out! wink
Footnotes:
1. Actually, I haven't got any idea what 'koishii' actually means. It's just that every other CCS author used this word as the endearment our cute couples use to call each other. I figured it was something sweet and definitely corny.
2. Come to think of it, Eriol and Sakura do make a good-looking couple as well.. (smiles)
3. I know, I know. I'm confusing you. But the plot is only just beginning to build up. Believe me, I am nowhere near the heart of the story yet.