Too Close To Tell You

An: Still not mine!

Chapter 14 – Oh no not them again…

It had been a grueling couple of days and the entire party had trouble sleeping most of all the samurai. He groaned at the motion beneath him, remembering why he'd rather not get on a boat. The constant rocking and turning beneath him making him feel sicker than ever.

'Kurando are you all right?' Anastasia asked looking at him strangely. 'What's the matter?'

Maya giggled a little. 'Our samurai has sea sickness.'

'A trait passed in his family I believe. I can remember that Yuri also got quite sea sick, though he whined like a baby…' Keith observed looking out the window at the setting sun.

'Urrp… ohhh.' Kurando groaned again rolling on to his side. 'I hate the sea…'

The entire group giggled at him and his pitiful whimpering.

'Oh you poor thing.' Anastasia whispered dipping a small cloth in cold water and patting his forehead with it. It was relieving if only a little. 'Don't worry I'll take care of you.'

He smiled weakly at her and closed his eyes, drifting off to a restless sleep.

'I promise.' She whispered in his ear only audible to him.

She leaned over the hand railing and watched the green water swirl and splash on the bow below. Her bright blue eyes staring into it, as if trying to find some truth to it. Trying to see the soul of the deep and mysterious ocean. 'I can't believe it.' Erené started. 'Why would he let her out?'

'The same reason that we sealed her. She's changed Erené, she's more powerful now.' Cassie started. 'I think we should tell them, all of them.'

'We can't!' The assassin blurted out. 'They can't know, they'd be in even more danger!'

Cassie spun around angrily. 'They are on the hit list! All of them! We can't lie to them, I can't lie to Keith…' Her eyes dropped to the ground.

Her sister paused. 'What did you see?'

Cassie's eyes began to well with tears and she shook her head. 'Nothing.'

'Don't lie to me!' Erené grabbed her sister by the shoulders and shook her. 'Don't you dare lie to me! You say you can't lie to a stranger, but you will lie to your sister!'

'No!' Cassie started. 'I... Anastasia!' She started. 'I see a… terrible fate for her… and Kurando. And for us.'

There was no answer as her sister released her grip on her sister. 'We die?'

Cassie refused to answer it, instead she turned back to the water and let only one tear fall. Erené stormed away annoyed that Cassie would keep such a thing from her. When she was far enough away she whispered. 'No not you Erené, not you…'

When the ship docked at Copenhagen Kurando was the first one off. The look of relief passed over his face as his feet touched solid ground. Anastasia was the next off and she stared at the small fishing town. The assassin and her sister managed to gain a lot of attention, largely because of Cassie's scantly clad figure stood out quite well. Keith and Halley argued over something as Arubna trotted away happily and missing a step tripping down the gangplank and landing on her back looking up at the sky for a moment. She stood up promptly and shook before following the group as they tracked out towards the town.

They arrived in the shopping district when a familiar voice yelled out. 'Pierre! Oh Pierre! Looky who I found!' Kurando's eyes widened as another voice yelled out.

'Oh is it that hunk of a harmonixer Yuri?' Pierre cried out. 'If it's not Gerad, then I am far too busy.'

'No, please, oh please don't let it be them…' Kurando started. 'It can't be them…'

'Ooh Anastasia you're looking as lovely as ever dear princess. And fabulous if I may say so myself!' Gerad said stepping forward and bowing to the petite princess. She leapt back letting her hand slap the pervert hard across the face. The somewhat flirty male fell to the ground with a thump.

'How dare you!' She screeched. 'I don't even know you!'

Gerad looked hurt. 'Really, but Princess don't you remember in Russia, two years ago?' Tears welled in his eyes. 'I helped Alexei learn to walk cutely!'

'A-alexei?' She stuttered remembering the little boy from her dream that night in Zurich. Her brow creased in frustration, trying to grasp this mans face, but there was nothing.

'I'm sorry.' Kurando said offering his hand to the fallen man. 'She's lost her memory…'

Pierre raced out. 'Ooh I heard Kurando's voice and lo and behold I find him too! Tee hee, hey Gerad what happened?' The tailor started noticing the red mark on the side of his face.

'The delicate little princess took a swing at him. If I ever get caught in a bar brawl I want her on my side!' Halley said grinning. 'As long as I'm not on the receiving end of her fist.'

Anastasia stepped behind her samurai and held his hand squeezing it tightly. 'I'm sorry…'

'It's not your fault.' Kurando whispered. 'You can't remember them.'

Pierre grinned. 'My now we seemed to get off on the wrong foot didn't we? I am Pierre and my brother Gerad, we are at your service princess.' He bowed to her, making sure he was out of reach and did not cop the same punishment as Gerad.

'Please stop doing that…' Kurando said. 'We are kinda trying to get through inconspicuously, do you know where we could get a boat to London?' He touched his stomach at the memory of the day long journey that had just completed and the terrible sickness he had.

'We sure do!' Gerad said rubbing the red spot left on his cheek. 'And we'll tell you if you tell us where Yuri is!'

The pair of grown men giggled to themselves. 'A fair deal.'

Kurando sighed. 'Fine, but you wont like the answer…'

'Why?' Pierre asked.

'He's dead.' The samurai said calmly. 'He never made it out of the field of Takamagahara…'

Both the strange brothers began to cry. 'Yuuuuurrriiii!' They wailed. 'Oh why couldn't you have spent more money at our store..?'

Halley shook his head, 'Geez where did you meet these freaks?'

Gerad sniffled a little. 'You can get a boat to London from Goteborg… it's about thirty miles from here! We're going there too, do you want to hitch a ride?'

'Yeah sure.' Kurando finished, 'When are you leaving?'

'Tonight, makes travel easier when you can avoid those pesky germans…' Pierre answered.