Beta'd by Alice J.

Chapter 30 - Night-Blooming Cereus (Part 2 - Miracle)

"Stop laughing, it's not even that funny," I said in exasperation as I tried to place the dressing all nice and neat over the burnt skin. Yet the white wolf who sprawled over my bed was still grinning uncontrollably.

"My apologies, it's just that the fact you are 'Rabbit' and that you contracted us, the wolves, sounds really …" Before she could even finish the sentence, she bursted out in another set of laughter.

I groaned rather loudly, one because of the annoying laughter from the wolf; two because every time I tried to adjust the dressing, it sent ripples of pain down my stomach. How I wished that Zebra was here right now. Any one of his simple healing jutsus would be better than my moronic action of dumping antiseptic on the wound.

Droplets of water fell rhythmically onto the wooden floor from my wet hair. They rested over my shoulders, curling slightly because of how rough I dried it with a towel, trying to get the blood out. The people on this ship were nice enough to give us each a room and a passage home, and that included a large bucket of water to clean my wounds and wash off the blood that painted over more than half of my body.

Sure, they had been scared out of their mind when we first jumped on board a large wolf in toll, all drenched in blood. However, after we had shown them our identities from Konohagakure and explained our situation, they were more than willing to allow us to stay on board.

"I wasn't the one who chose it. Also, if the word you are looking for is 'ironic', then that's probably the right word for every phase of my life." I said in a monotone voice as Fuyuki let out another howl, full of mirth.

"Well, shall I call you 'little rabbit' now? It's rather cute, don't you think?" She teased, wagging her fluffy tail excitedly. No, I did not think it was cute, so I sent her a baleful glare to confirm my point.

When I realised that the roll of dressing tape ran out before I could actually finish taping the wound, I cursed and turned around to find another roll of tape amongst the disorganised trinkets scattered all over the small bed.

"Why are you still here? My chakra is mostly gone, so how are you still here?" As I fished out the roll of tape under some stitching threads, I asked the wolf who was currently admiring the ocean. I didn't mean to sound unappreciative, I was simply curious.

"Ah, you see, I can last for a bit with my own chakra. But your chakra is building up, so you don't mind if I syphon a bit away, do you?" I could feel black lines forming on my forehead as she sprouted each word without an ounce of guilt. The only reason why I was not lashing out again was because she had helpfully cut the tapes into pieces with her sharp claw, saving me the trouble of doing it myself.

"Let's go over the clause again―" For the third time, she repeated the same phrase. This time, I was already starting to recite the words before she could finish the sentence.

"I need to summon you at least once a week for the pure purpose of educating the youngsters of the outside worlds. There are also additional training sessions with either you or that armoured wolf twice per week. My maximum summoning limit right now is one creature at a time …" Absentmindedly, I recited the agreements as I finally secured the dressings. It was a really rushed effort and I had no doubt I would get scolded by Zebra for the low-quality job.

As Fuyuki nodded in satisfaction, I looked around for my shirt that got flung somewhere in the room for the sake of convenience. Helpfully, the wolf picked up the black fabric with her claw and threw it at me. Although it was only after I had put it on, I realised that there was a tear down the side, obviously from the wolf's claw. I gave my summon an accusing look, but all I got in return was more of her wagging tail.

"The Land of Snow had changed so much over the years. The snow, they are not white anymore. Instead, they are grey and dirtied. What happened?" Fuyuki asked in a sad tone as she stared out of the window. The Land of Snow was long gone from the horizon, but I knew for sure that she was eyeing the direction of her homeland.

"Kazahana Dōto, he started the industrial revolution," I answered, and she frowned slightly at the mention of the Snow Daimyo.

"Kazahana, you say?" She paused a bit like she was pondering something. "Our clan used to have many generations of contractors of that name hundreds of years ago. But one day, they stopped, and our clan had never seen another human again until you came." Suddenly, I thought back to the sad state of the summoning scroll back when I had found it in the castle, old, forgotten, and full of dust. I didn't want to tell her that, so I just swept the things on the bed aside and flopped down ungracefully, hoping to actually catch some sleep.

"There's no need to rush, but please, tell me more about your village. I know nothing about you, and it would be important for my clan to get familiarised with you if we were to work well together." Even without opening my eyes, I could feel her head looming over mine, urging me to answer. Umm…what happened to 'there is no need to rush'? Very unwillingly, I opened my eyes and the curious glint in her eyes hinted that I wouldn't be able to sleep anytime soon.

"Konohagakure no Sato is in the fire country, so it's quite warm most of the time. It rarely snows, even in the winter." The first sentence came out quite easy, but the problem was the second one. For a split second, I had no idea how to continue. Nevertheless, I thought of something to say under the wolf's exciting eyes.

"We have a Hokage, he's nice. People are usually nice in Konoha, I think. Oh, I have a little brother, you should meet him. He will either hate you or love you, there's really no in between. I'll tell you some more later, maybe when I can actually think straight." There, that was as far as my trust go when I was sleep deprived. The good news was, she was accepting of my vague answers. The bad news, she just moved on to the next question.

"Why would you give up your life for his?" I stayed still for a very long time, staring at the ceiling, and it was not because I didn't know the answer. On the contrary, for once, there was an answer as clear as day.

I am afraid that he will die a meaningless, purposeless death.

"Mmm, I don't remember doing that," I muttered innocently, and the wolf just whacked my head with her tail, causing me to frown in annoyance.

"Perhaps, it was nothing more than a girl who is trying to prove that she is not an unwanted burden. Running around creating havocs, only tolerable because of an order one can't refuse." I wondered how long it took me to formulate that sentence. I tried so hard make it sounds as ambiguous as possible, but then I realised, there was no way that what I had said didn't just expressed my sad reality of life in a crude and harsh manner.

"What a stupid girl, so desperate that she would die for something as useless as approval." Fuyuki chimed beside me, but it was void of any mockery and pity like she was just stating a fact. It's so true, a bit too late for me to realise this now, but it was definitely a habit that got carried over from before I was even born. "But nevertheless, it's very human." That phrase, she said it with an unusually caring tone, so different from her mischievous nature.

I used to think that the only thing that stood between me and my sleep was the wolf. So when the wolf was finally satisfied with the interrogation, I thought I could finally enjoy my rest. That was until I heard a string of knocking on the door. It was at that moment that I realised, I was never going to get any peace.

"Come in," I said in a bland voice, not even bothered to sit up straight because I knew exactly who it was. The door creaked open as my captain stepped me. Without even looking at him, I could just hear from his footstep how bored he was.

"I talked to the captain of this ship. We will arrive at the northeastern harbour of the Fire Country tomorrow afternoon, and after that, we will have to run back to Konoha. I have already borrowed a messenger hawk from the ship captain, so the Hokage-sama should know of the events in the Land of Snow before we arrive," He explained in a few succinct sentences. From the light rustling sound of a page turning, I knew exactly what he was reading. How the old book wasn't destroyed in the crossfire would forever be a mystery to me.

"Why is the wolf here?" He asked offhandedly. Oh, hell if I know.

"She said she wants to experience a boat cruise, so she very kindly invited herself to stay." Fuyuki just grinned at me sarcastic explanation, but even she couldn't deny that it wasn't true.

"Here, some painkillers I found." Following his voice, I sat up and glanced at the little bottle of pills in his hand with curiosity. Internally, I was having a huge debate. Let's just say that over the years, I found sedative medicines very unpleasant. In fact, they were as bad as alcohol when it came to staying conscious. Something was wrong with this body in terms of alcohol and drug resistance. Genetics, when in doubt, just blame it on genetics.

"What, you want something stronger? Well, there is always the option of sake. One cup should knock you dead for a few hours." There was a light teasing in his tone as he shook the bottle to catch my attention. The sound of the pills was really annoying and really tempting at the same time.

"I am young, there's still time for me to build a resistance," I argued stubbornly. It was quite a disadvantage in my line of work since I wouldn't be able to take any espionage missions involving underground bars. Kakashi made sure of that.

"The day that you can actually hold any liquor is the day that I stop reading." Which is never. Yeah, I got the drift.

"What's so attractive with stories, anyway? They are unrealistic and fictitious, and they bear very little semblance to the reality, so why?" I couldn't help but asked, seeing that he always had the book with him. Although, I wasn't nearly as interested in the content of his book as his habit of bringing it everywhere; really, it was the phenomenon of someone so realistic and practical as him indulging in romance novels that really confused me.

"That's just it. They are stories, so technically, anything can happen. Miracles are not so rare anymore, and the endings, they can always be changed." It was a very lighthearted answer, like the one you would give to children while explaining to them the importance of hope. "Besides, the contents … they leave a lot to be imagined." And here ruined the innocence.

"I'll take the painkillers, thank you." Quickly, I jumped out of the bed and walked towards him. When I snatch the bottle from his hand, I asked: "How many?"

"Two tablets at most, don't take more than that." I gave him a light hum to show that I had heard him. Then, I pulled open the door and walked out, in hopes of finding a cup of water. The hall was swaying slightly, following the calm waves of the ocean. As I walked away from the man and the wolf, I wondered about what he had said about stories.

Miracles, what a nice thought. It was in times like these that I wished I had chosen to change the ending of that story. Because unlike the massacre, I knew now for sure, that I had had the power to change at least that one event.

(づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ fuwa~fuwa~desu~~~

Time: one month before the base of an international drug ring in Brazil exploded due to unknown reasons

"What is your name?" The interviewer asked me. His flawless black suit contrasted against my white blouse. Black was supposed to represent order and sophistication, and white, purity and innocence.

"Sophia, Sir. Sophia Crowford." I answered just like what was written on the information provided for me. Sophia Crowford, nineteen, born in Southampton, looking for a job in this household as a maid in hopes of providing for her blind mother.

"Miss Crowford, your reference letter and resume look quite good. It says that you only have one family member, Elizabeth Crowford. Is that right?" The man asked again, eyes glancing over my stature, trying to catch any hints of uneasiness.

"Yes, Sir. She is my mother and she is currently living in Southampton." I replied obediently. There was indeed an Elizabeth Crowford in Southampton, but her daughter, Sophia, was killed three days ago in a hit-and-run incident. She died without any identification on her, so OLYMPUS packaged her identity and gave it to me.

"Very well, Miss Crowford. You are hired for now. A maid will come and take you to your room and they will tell you what to do. Welcome to the Howard Manor and I expect you to work hard." The man stood up and signalled me to the door. Timidly, I stood up as well and gave him a bow before walking out of the interview room.

William Howard, 49, started the business in illegal firearms trade twenty years ago. From then, he had started to gain a mass amount of wealth from selling weapons both inside and outside the country. After all, there never seemed to be a lack of violence and insurgency around the world. OLYMPUS wanted his secrets, his clientele and his sources, and they planned to negotiate for those. However, OLYMPUS didn't want to pay up and live up to their end of the bargain. That was where I came in.

It was not that William Howard wasn't careful in his selection of staff members. I was aware that they had done a very thorough background check on me and this was already my third interview. It was just that OLYMPUS was too good. For William Howard, who had never dealt with OLYMPUS in the twenty years of his illegal career, he had no idea what he was up against.

Of course, my identity was not flawless. Eventually, people would find out that my supposed existence didn't match the records, but it wouldn't matter. Because before that could happen, those who knew that 'Sophia Crowford' had ever set foot in here would disappear, along with the existence of 'Sophia Crowford' as a whole.

...

Helena was William Howard's wife, but she was not the mistress in charge of the manor.

She was Howard's first love, his wife at the age of eighteen before he had become rich from dealing with illegal weapons. Then, their love died, for reasons unbeknownst to me. Howard did not divorce Helena. Instead, he bought her a manor, placed her in the corner and brought in his new mistress. That had all happened nineteen years ago, and from then on, Helena had only been the Lady Howard in name while the mistress, Isabel, had everything Lady Howard could offer, except for a legitimate title.

I had started to learn about Helena's past when the head maid first announced to me that I was to serve Helena. The other servant girls started to give me looks of pity, but they would try to hide it when I looked at them. They were horrible at it.

It was not like I never learned about the state of the Howard household and its internal affairs. However, they were only words on files that I was supposed to remember in order to carry out my job flawlessly. When I heard about my post, the only thing I thought about was how being in an isolated position would affect my mission. Howard obviously did not trust me, since serving Helena was probably the farthest job from his office that I could get.

"Sophia, where is my peridot green paint?" It became painfully obvious that Helena was not suited for the rich lifestyle to which Howard had abandoned her, and I could see that on my first day to work.

"Here, Ma'am." I handed her that bottle of green paint, "Would you like me to wash those brushes?"

"Ah, yes, thank you." She handed me the stack of brushes with a smile. She shouldn't have to say thank you. The mistress commanded her servants like they were animals, demanding this, demanding that. But Helena, she thanked me. She was not suited for this lifestyle because she was too nice for this place full of lies and deceit.

Quietly, I took the brushes and started to wash them in a methodical manner. Helena's life was very monotonal, she didn't have any visitors - not even her so-called husband, and she rarely had servants. Other than the servants who brought her food from the kitchen, I was her only maid. All the others quit because of how bleak this job's future was. Her only hobby seemed to be painting, so she spent her days in her room, painting away her time.

Her paintings … they were interesting. Sometimes, she would paint pictures of the countryside. Lush greens and bright yellows, mixed with a blue that made even the ocean look pale in comparison. Sometimes, she would paint animals, random ones that stopped in her garden - the only property that seemed to be hers in this enormous manor. Pigeons, butterflies, squirrels, dropping by in the well-kept garden, oblivious towards the woman that observed them from afar.

However, the most abundant type of painting she drew was a flower. A specific type of flower that I didn't recognise. It wasn't any of the flowers that bloomed in her garden. No, those flowers were colourful, but the flower she painted was as white as snow. There she was painting again, the same type of white flower, the pure white a bright contrast even against the blank canvas. I handed her back the brushes as she traced a dark green stem under the white-petaled flower. The flower was beautiful. Whether it was because of her drawing techniques or that it was just this beautiful, I had no idea. Out of curiosity, I glanced around the room, seeing countless canvases filled with the same type of white-petaled flower. They were so similar in terms of colour and shape, yet every one of her paintings depicted something different.

"Lady Helena, are you going to respond to Lady Isabel's invite?" Hesitantly, I asked. I didn't want to disturb her, not that it was my problem, but she looked happy here, doing what she liked. However, the other woman, Isabel, didn't feel the same. Earlier today, she had sent a maid to deliver a message, saying that she wanted to chat with Helena. Seeing the girl's expression of pity, I gathered that this was not the first time Isabel felt the need to annoy the true lady of the house.

Her paintbrush paused for a bit, then she slowly put the brush down and turned towards me. I thought she would perhaps be angered by my insensitivity. After all, I was just here to get the job done.

"I suppose it's that time again, isn't it?" She whispered, "Be a dear and put away the paint for me, please. Oh, don't dump them out, just cover them with a dampened napkin. I finally got the perfect shade of green and I'd hate for it to dry just because that woman needs an audience for her temper tantrum." She joked as she went into her living room to change. I quietly started to clean up her station like she told me to, covering that unique shade of green with a dampened napkin. Just as I had finished, Helena walked out of the room in a plain white dress, her hair brushed and tied up in a soft bun. Soon, I led her out of the door, into the hall towards the main quarter of the manor, out of this isolated corner with so much shadow that blotted out the light of the sun.

...

"Here she is doing it again." "Who?" "Lady Isabel. Who else? She is embarrassing Lady Helena again." "Poor woman, having a husband like that, let alone living in the same house as the mistress…" "Shh. Do you want to get fired?" "You're right, if Lady Isabel hears one word of this, we are all out…"

The kitchen, always the place for gossip. With the loud sound of pans and steamers, every conversation could easily get lost in the fray. I was just here to get the tea, or at least, that was what I was supposed to do. As I carefully took out the set of delicate china from the cupboard, someone bumped into me lightly. I turned around a little too quickly, eyeing the kitchen staff in front of me.

"Your tea, miss." She said to me with a smile, holding out a tray carrying the teapot and the sugar. Her right finger tapped lightly, making short and long taps in between. Her seemingly confusing movements were very subtle, but it was enough for me to spell out the word 'OLYMPUS'.

"Thank you very much, I was just waiting for them." I returned the smile and accepted the tray, observing silently as she walked away without another word. I turned around, using my body to hide the contents of the tray from the eyes of others. Immediately, my finger went for the sugar bowl, carefully lifting the china and fishing out a small note. In small writing, there was a date, two locations and a sentence: wait for further orders.

I read over the note, memorising every number and word as I read it. The date was five days from now, which I assumed was the date for the negotiation. That meant, whether the negotiation succeeded or not, my job would end on that day. OLYMPUS didn't like those who said 'no'. They also didn't like to pay for anything they could get with assassination. The two locations pointed me towards hidden weapons that other agents - for example, that kitchen maid - had set up.

Silently, I packed the set of china onto the tray and hid the note in my palm. As I walked out of the kitchen, carrying the tea tray, I passed by a furnace used for combusting the trash. Taking advantage of the rest of the staff being busy gossiping or preparing the food over the sound of kitchenwares, I flicked the piece of paper into the furnace and watched it burn until there were only black ashes left.

"You…wench! How can you…how dare you call me that, when you are as infertile as an old hag!" It was quite amusing, watching Isabel get pissed off by Helena, who really didn't give a damn. It was a given rule in this house, that no matter how hard Isabel tries to get rid of Helena, Howard just refuses to do anything about her. He left her alone, but that was all there was to it. Perhaps that was why Isabel was always so angry at Helena, for holding the only thing she wanted right now: the legitimate title as Howard's wife.

Faced with Isabel's insult, Helena simply sipped her tea and smiled. How could she smile so genuinely with me, when she has to put up that fake face with Isabel? Isabel was younger than Helena and definitely more extravagant. Unlike Helena, who doesn't have any children - who couldn't have any children - Isabel has a son. An illegitimate son, but the only heir of Howard, nonetheless.

"Well, Isabel, I think it's getting late. If there is nothing else you want to chat about, I suppose I should get going." Without asking for permission, she stood up and walked out of the door. When she was a hallway away from Isabel's living room, she almost startled me with a string of laughter.

"I have always wanted to try that. Now that I have, how refreshing it is!" She laughed again as she walked back into her corner of the manor, where there was rarely any light that could shine through the thick walls and windows.

...

The trouble started to come the next day, and it was as random as it could get.

You see, the heir of this family, Jonathan Howard, was the typical rich son with questionable morals. I had been warned by other servants when I had been first employed. 'Keep your head down, don't catch his attention. If he tries to make advances on you and you say no, you will get fired and your reputation will get ruined. Forever." It made me wonder why anyone would try to get employed here. Right, the money. Despite everything, William Howard did pay his staff good money.

Luck didn't really agree with me when I only ever wanted to have a smooth mission. It was only my third day here, and trouble by the name of Jonathan Howard was already following me like a plague.

"Young Master Jonathan." I curtsied, bowing my head as the man in question blocked my way. Jonathan, the nineteen-year-old son of Isabel, inherited his mother's nasty mean streak.

"Say, I haven't seen you before, are you new?" He tried to start a casual conversation, but the greed and lust in his eyes were so evident that it was hard not to notice. Of course, I am new here, and I would prefer if I never saw you, I thought silently, keeping a neutral look on my face.

"Yes, young master. If you don't mind, I must get going now, Lady Helena is waiting for me." I said as politely as I could. I had to think carefully now, one wrong step, my mission would be ruined, and I would be dead.

"Actually, I do mind. That bitch isn't worth even a single cent, you will have no future with her. But of course, if you make me happy, I could transfer you to my mother's side." His hands, those disgusting, slimy hands, slithered to my back, wounding themselves around my waist. Now, who would want to serve Isabel, whose temper was boosted by an ego the size of the Roman Empire? Instinctively, I took a step back. However, he grabbed my hand at the last moment, refusing to let go.

His strength was like a child compared to what I was used to. With one twist, his shoulder would be dislocated, and with another twist, his neck would go limp. However, I couldn't do that, I couldn't do anything that could jeopardise my mission. So if he wanted my body, then I couldn't say no. Because I owned nothing, I had already given them all to OLYMPUS. This was the predicament I was in. I, as the property of OLYMPUS, had no choice.

"Jonathan, please let go of my maid, I believe she did say that I was looking for her." Helena's voice was like a saving grace. Jonathan temporarily let go of my hand and turned to look at the blonde woman. I scrammed, walking to Helena without a second thought.

"Mother." He said it with so much sarcasm that it was like a blade. Mocking a woman who couldn't have a child, who couldn't be a mother. Now that was just cruel.

"Come, Sophia, let's go to the garden." Helena ignored him and walked away. Obediently, I followed her. I was supposed to act like a scared little duckling, so I did. She went straight to that flowerless plant like usual, tending to it with the utmost care. Like she was expecting something to happen, some miracle to appear.

"You must be wondering why I always care so much for this plant when it seems to pale in comparison to all the other spectacles in the garden." Suddenly, she spoke to me, her voice so light that I thought it would get carried over by the wind.

"That's because you have never seen it bloom. It's called the night-blooming cereus. Although I suppose some call it the 'queen of the night', but I think 'night-blooming cereus' sounds better. It doesn't have the vanity a queen would hold. It is said to only bloom once in a long time, so long that some only bloom once. However, the flower is so white when it bloom that I once thought the glow to be from its petals, not the moon." She sounded like she was reminiscing like she was immersed in her own little world. I didn't interrupt, so she continued.

"You know, on the night when William and I got married, this flower bloomed. There was a legend, that if you make a wish when it blooms, the wish would come true. I was so happy and content at that moment, I didn't pay any attention to it. Now, I draw it so many times, trying to recreate the beauty I had once seen that one single time, yet, I still can't seem to draw it right. That's why I wanted to make it bloom again so that I could see the flower one more time - the beauty I had missed." I didn't know what to think of it. I couldn't understand what she was feeling. Longing? Regret? Sorrow? Anger? That was what people should feel in these situations, right? But somehow, none of these felt right.

"Look at me, I am ranting." She gave me a smile, "Oh, let's go back, I just thought of something." Just like that, she stood up and dragged me back to her corner by my wrists. Did she sound excited? Why? Hadn't she just talked about her sad past?

She let go of my arm after we went back to her chamber. Immediately, she grabbed the painting she was working on after I got here, another picture for the flower she had been talking about. Carefully, she picked up one of the brushes and dipped it in white paint. Then she wrote something down on the black and dark green background. It wasn't until she held it in front of me that I could actually see what she wrote: To Sophia.

"I want to give this to you as a gift, of course, I have to finish it first." She said with mirth in her eyes as she let out an awkward laughter as if she were embarrassed by her rash decision. "I have very little power here, I am sure you know that. However, I do have enough power to keep you from being fired as long as I'm here. So I will do everything to protect you from Jonathan if you will let me."

Had she just offered to protect me? A stranger who had only been with her for three days? I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Yet at the same time, my instincts told me that she spoke the truth. She didn't have anything to gain by lying, and her voice was so earnest that even the best operative in OLYMPUS couldn't fake that. That moment, I really wanted to do something for her.

I smiled the brightest smile that I could find, somewhere in my deep, dark hole that had already become bottomless. "Thank you, Lady Helena, I will graciously accept it. Although I would like to keep it here even if you plan to give it to me, seeing as I don't plan to go anywhere." After more than a decade in the black ops, I should have known this. Lie as though you are eating candy, but never make emotional promises. It wouldn't do anyone any good. However, at that moment, I had simply forgotten that I was on a mission, that I have people to kill in four days.

With a smile, Helena put the painting back on the rack, "You know, when I think back to my wedding night when I saw the night blooming cereus bloom, I really did want to make a wish. Not that William would love me forever, no. I would have wished for a child, a daughter. I suppose she would be around your age, and I would hope that she would have the same beautiful eyes as you, Sophia."

I wasn't Sophia, I had never been. However, at that moment, I wished I were.

...

The fated day came so fast, regardless of how hard I had wished for it to be delayed. Howard had a party that night. He was celebrating, for what, I suppose I had an idea. Helena, of course, was not invited. However, I was assigned to help at the party because of how busy the other staff were. That night, I received my order.

"The negotiation is done, now the organisation wants him dead." 'Heracles' said emotionlessly. He came as the servant of one of the guests, someone affiliated with OLYMPUS, no doubt. He lifted the luggage containing who knows what as I led the way towards the storage room. Everyone was busy fixing the party hall, so it was just the two of us.

"Time and targets?" I went straight to the point.

"After the guests have left. As for the target, everyone in Howard's household. Howard, his two women, and his son. I will burn the main living quarters down afterwards, make sure someone from the servant quarter sees you going into that section and that's going to be your death certificate." He answered. I suppose that would be a good plan. All the actual family members lived in the main section, including Helena. The servants have their own lodging a few hundred metres away. If OLYMPUS could manage to make it look like the fire was accidental - wouldn't be too hard with the alcohol and weapon storage in the same picture - then all the servants would bear witness to it, but be unable to get there in time.

Silently, I helped him unload the luggage. Everyone in Howard's household. Despite the isolation Helena had experienced, she was still tied to him. OLYMPUS didn't like loose ends, anyone that had even the most remote familial relation to these targets with huge influences was usually taken care of as well, to prevent the possibility of the power being transferred to another. But still, she hadn't done anything wrong. She was like an innocent rabbit getting stuck in the crossfire.

"Any priorities?" I asked, still keeping my voice detached in an attempt to hide the impure motive I had. OLYMPUS usually had a priority listed out when dealing with multiple targets, the first priority was the must-kill, but the last? Depending on the situation, they may not need to die.

"What, you want me to cut you some slack?" It was a dangerous joke that ran in the organisation. 'Hercules' probably didn't mean anything, but it made my heart beat faster at the close revelation.

"Helena Howard lives in the opposite corner of the others. If William Howard is the first priority, then it would be hard to get to Helena if anything happens," I analysed calmly, trying to explain my way out of any suspicion. The man didn't show any sign of distrust at me, but rather, more of a worry for the situation at hand.

"If what you said is true, then make Helena the first priority. She is abandoned, therefore, her death wouldn't be easily discovered like the rest." After that, he walked away while carrying two huge suitcases.

My knuckles went white from clutching onto the luggage in front of me. It was a horrifying realisation, that I had basically sentenced Helena's sure death.

The party ended at twelve. The guests left and Howard was drunk. Around one, everyone retreated back to their rooms, except for a few poor souls who had to clean up the mess made in the party hall.

I moved through the dark halls like a snake. The weapons weren't hard to find, and after removing a few fake wooden boards, I found what I was looking for. Two handguns with the silencer, a few magazines, and an army knife. It wasn't much, but it was enough. I tucked the weapons into my belt in smooth motions, just like how I had always done it. Howard's room was in the left hall, with two bulky bodyguards at the door. I sneaked up to the room and hid in the shadows. It would be quick. It had to be quick.

The first bodyguard went down the moment I twisted his neck. The only sound that could be heard was the light crack, and then, there were none. The second one didn't even get a chance to yell before I slit his throat, destroying his larynx in the process. I grabbed onto his shirt as the body fell to make sure that the sound of someone dropping wouldn't be heard. Then I placed his body by the wall with the other dead guard and open the door to Howard's room.

"Isabel, what is it?" Oh, he was definitely drunk. I didn't know what OLYMPUS had promised him that made him so happy, but he sure as hell wouldn't be alive to receive it. Before he could utter another word in his inebriated state, I fired the gun at his head. In the fraction of a second, a hole appeared on his forehead. At this distance, I never missed. I would never miss.

As Howard's body dropped to the ground, I left. I had no time to waste, if I wanted to get to the other side of the house, where Helena was, I needed to move fast. Isabel was the next one since her room was the closest. After that, it was Jonathan. Both of them died in their sleep, drunk and unaware, much too lenient of a death for both of them.

I knew I would find her in the garden. Whether it was intuition or something else, I knew that she would be there, simply because the moon was so bright tonight.

"No need to hide, my child. I warned William about this day the moment I knew he was dealing with illegal firearms. Now, why couldn't he have listened to me? We would be average, but at least we would still be living a calm and peaceful life." For the first time in this short week, I heard the sadness in her voice. She had always kept her voice composed, whether she was talking to me or other people.

"It's fine, Sophia, I have very little to live. You see, William has hurt a lot of people, and no matter if you are here for revenge or not, if my death would make your life easier, then so be it." But I was not here for any reason as noble as revenge for justice. And she, she was just collateral damage.

"I am not Sophia." I didn't know why I said that, but it sounded almost like a desperate plea. Please, stop reminding me of my attachments. She looked at me for a second, before breaking into another smile again. Why the hell was she smiling? I was going to kill her, so why?

"My apologies then. However, if you do see Sophia - a beautiful girl, considerate as well - please tell her that I am sorry, I couldn't finish her gift. You see, I wanted to her to see the beauty I had once seen. But look at this night-blooming cereus, the bulb is growing, and after a few days, the flower will bloom again. If you could tell her to come and see it after a few days, I'm sure she would see the full bloom that could grant any wish." She was talking to me, I was sure of it. Suddenly, she stood up with her back against the tree. Slowly, I raised my hand with the gun and pointed it at her head. It was true, the white bud was already visible at the end of the dark green stem. Then I pulled the trigger.

There was the sound of a gunshot. Despite the silencer, the sound still echoed in my eardrums. When I looked up again, I saw a hole - still smoking - in the tree where Helena was standing in front of. She seemed surprised that somehow she didn't die when she was fully prepared to. I was too.

"Artemis, finish up quickly." Suddenly, Heracles' harsh voice sounded behind me. His hand was wrapped around a gun, so subtle, yet his hands were so tense.

As I watched him stood nervously in front of me, the horrifying thought just came out of nowhere: I could kill him, without ever compromising my identity. 'Heracles' had set up the whole manor, waiting for that accidental explosion. And OLYMPUS, it taught me everything I needed to know about how to set up a false death.

If I dared to move in any suspicious way, he would shoot my right shoulder immediately. But I had two guns, which meant that I could kill him right after that. After that, I could very well spin the lies: It wasn't me who was the traitor, it was him.

It was him who had suggested to me to place Helena as the first priority because he was affiliated with William Howard. He thought he could ambush me before I could kill the weapon dealer since Helena lived in such an isolated place. After all, that conversation was recorded by the micro-bombs in the suitcase brought in by 'Heracles'. There was always someone listening on those devices, in case they are discovered and needed to be triggered manually.

Right, with the lies … He shot me while I was trying to kill my last target - having abandoned his suggestion and had decided to kill the weapon dealer first. It caused me to miss the shot, right into the tree. Therefore, I had no choice but to shoot him. It was unfortunate, that the guards were alerted by the struggle and I had to run with Heracles' body before exposing our identities.

This way, Helena wouldn't have to die. She could get out before I inform the headquarter of the 'mishap' and burn the manor down in flames.

But … then what. Treason against the organisation, I couldn't even fathom the consequences of that choice. 'Heracles' was staring at me with an increasing impatience, and all my lies unravelled in front of him. It was the fear, telling me that no matter what I did, I could never run away. So the only way for me to live was to take another's life.

When he urged me again, I pulled the trigger instinctively, hardly even realising what I was doing. Before I knew it, the bullet had gone through her head and her body dropped elegantly.

That bullet, it shattered my fake life as Sophia Crowford and all my thoughts of betrayal.

I walked out of the manor and Heracles stayed behind to finish his part of the job. After a minute or so, the main section of the manor, where all the killings had been done, went up in flames. Those bright flames blazed through the garden, incinerating Helena's body as well as the night-blooming cereus that was due to bloom again. Yet, it never could.

OLYMPUS used fear to devoid of us of attachments, but even then, they understood the flaw in their system. Now, I realised that I had survived that far only because the fear had managed to oppress the need for attachment. And at the slightest instance of an imbalance, their mercy with me was done.

I was a desperate child. Looking for affection and approval at every turn. I was lying when I said that being promoted to 'Artemis' didn't cause any reaction. It was a small sense of pride. A guilty pride that caused me to clutch tight onto that position as if it was my only stamp of approval. But I was also a selfish girl. Craving for attachment, yet never having the courage to hold on to it.

I was lying to myself until this day, but they had seen through it the moment it started.

But now, I knew that I always had a choice. Finally, I was satisfied.

(づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ fuwa~fuwa~desu~~~

"Is this your first time being a teacher?" Kakashi was startled by the sudden question. When he turned his attention from the girl who had just walked down the hall to the nonchalant wolf who seemed really out of place, the wolf clarified again.

"I don't mean by training soldiers until they are at some standard bar. I mean teaching someone your life long's experience, raising them as someone who will not only reach a bar but also surpass you." The Wolf's crystal eyes stared into him like the calm surface of a lake too deep to be known, and for a second, Kakashi started an internal debate.

He had never admitted being Maiko's teacher. Mentor, instructor … he skidded around the line. 'Teacher' was a word that held too much significance; the amount of significance that he wasn't ready to give. However, with that Uchiha girl whom he regarded as an anomaly, Kakashi realised that slowly, she had demanded those significances without him ever knowing it.

There was a time when she had shamelessly demanded ninjutsu every other week. While Kakashi never had more enthusiasm other than those born out of guilt and curiosity, he showed her the ones she had wanted.

That was the drill. Maiko had a question, Kakashi would perform the jutsu and Maiko would copy the jutsu and go practice it alone. At that time, she was the one who had demanded the attention, taking the initiative. For that, Kakashi was both amused and annoyed.

But that had changed ever since she joined Anbu. While she was still keen to learn everything she could, Kakashi had found that her approach became much more subtle, like she was afraid of angering him. There were even times that Kakashi had to forcefully teach her something she hadn't thought of learning (for example, foreign relations).

There was always things to learn, he realised that; she realised that. Kakashi supposed that this was what the wolves meant by 'teaching', but Kakashi felt like their relationship, at best, was 'undefined'.

Nevertheless, he nodded. It felt wrong to say otherwise, not when Maiko had put in all those efforts. In terms of passing on knowledge, he couldn't think of a better candidate than Uchiha Maiko.

"Do you plan on teaching anyone else?" The wolf asked again, and Kakashi wondered if she had a point to this conversation. Kakashi knew for a fact that he still needed to teach a genin team because it was his Jōnin duty (which he had managed to avoid for a decade by being in Anbu). However, if he had a choice, then he would like to say, please, no.

"Well, if you do, then you should know that your teaching method is problematic but still salvageable if you learn from your current experience." She really doesn't mince her words, doesn't she? Suddenly, Kakashi had an epiphany as to why Maiko was so annoyed. "However, if you don't, then know that you are very close to ruining her, that girl. It would be better if you had just left her with my clan."

Ouch, that hurt. Kakashi narrowed his eyes at the wolf, wondering who the hell gave her the gut to say something like that. Kakashi felt like one of those moments where his jurisdiction was being stepped on by some newly promoted Jōnin. He didn't take those very well.

He was never the best teacher or even … actually, he was probably one of the worst kind - the not committed type. Oops, maybe the wolf had a point. His teaching style - which was basically the same as a study scroll with a video clip, no explanation given, all was left to interpretation - only worked with Maiko, who was equally a genius in her own right. She only needed to see a jutsu once to copy the basics; only need to see a strategy in use two times to realise its variations, strengths and flaws. He was trying to teach, and she was learning everything he could offer and beyond, so what more could one ask?

"How would you know? You've only seen her for a day and you have never known her before." Okay, maybe Kakashi was getting a bit defensive. Despite the harsh words from the wolf, Kakashi could tell no malice, it was simply full of worry.

"Young man, I have been passing down my clan's skills for generations. I may not know her whole history, but I hear her deepest words." The wolf snorted proudly, "Tell me when was the last time you had given her a praise; a sure sign that she did something to be proud of?"

Well, there was that one time … To Kakashi's surprise, he couldn't think of any example. Most of his comments were followed by some sort of sarcasm to keep Maiko focused on her flaws. He wanted to make sure that there would be no over-bloated arrogance, because he had been that kid once, and it cost him an eye and a teammate.

But she doesn't need it from me, for the starter, she had a shishou before … But Shinbara probably didn't know what to comment anymore seeing that he was very out of touch. Well, what about her Yamanaka friend … But their field of expertise was so far away that it wouldn't sound like a sincere acknowledgement. How about all the other Team Ro members … Um, it's very likely that they only see her as a kouhai. The Hokage? She only gets to talk to him when she was debriefing for a really fucked up mission.

It was at that point that Kakashi wondered, where the hell did she get her approvals from before? And he couldn't believe how long it took him to find the answer.

Oh crap. Itachi and Shisui. It was her greatest joy to be able to spar with them.

'It was nothing more than a girl who is trying to prove that she is not an unwanted burden. Running around creating havocs, only tolerable because of an order one can't refuse.'

The words that he had accidentally (or intentionally) heard outside of a closed door had finally made sense. Every body language, every sarcasm, every eye expression, someone as perceptive as her had definitely picked it up. There was never any kind of validation. If she had been lost before, then he just made it worse.

"She is young, lonely, and very malleable. You have the power to change her actions with a simple word. If you are not careful, she will miss the ultimate goal. Unless you want to raise a copy, then it's not your approval she should be seeking, it's to surpass your ability and then passing down hers. Your criticism is to help her improve, and your approval is to help her realise that she has something higher to reach," The wolf explained calmly. For some reason, she didn't sound as dissonant as before.

"What do you suggest I do then?" Kakashi asked.

"We are in a delicate situation, aren't we? It's not her skill that I'm worried about, it's the fact that she wasn't confident in her decisions. You are lucky that she's resilient, thus some small adjustments will do. But of course, it's not just your part, it's hers as well. Teaching, It's a two-way bridge," she said with a grin. Kakashi couldn't help but think of his old sensei - a role model in every way, even in the art of teaching. He hoped that his sensei was proud knowing that he was trying to improve as a teacher - something he had previously given up on because of his own arrogance. That, and the fact that Minato-sensei was probably laughing his head off at the scene of him being scolded by a wolf summon.

"Teaching is a hard skill to master, isn't it?" The she-wolf chimed in a challenging tone as the sound of footsteps approaching reached his ears. I couldn't agree more. Kakashi thought despite the fact that he still wasn't quite sure 'teacher-student' fitted their 'undefined' relationship. Their interaction was just so out of place, 'friends', 'senpai-kouhai', 'Captain-subordinate' … It was like a melting pot of everything, but he supposed that neither of them would protest.

(づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ fuwa~fuwa~desu~~~

Five, four, three … I counted bitterly the moment the pain disappeared. I knew it. When the pain faded, the drowsiness would start quickly. When the countdown reached zero, I stood in front of my room and stared upwards. The ceiling turned for a second before it returned to normal. Damn it, I knew it would happen. A dizzy Maiko was never a happy Maiko.

Nevertheless, I pushed open the door, startling the man and the wolf who seemed like they were in a conversation. I stared at Fuyuki with suspicion, then I moved my gaze to Kakashi. But the moment I entered, they had stopped talking.

"Two pills exactly, you can count the rest." I pushed the bottle back into Kakashi's grip. He twirled the medicine bottle for a few seconds before it disappeared from my sight. The room was so quiet when I came in like my mere presence was making everything awkward. For some reason, I felt like I was being framed for something I didn't do.

"Okay? Anyone care to tell me what happened?" I asked. No one answered me.

"If you don't want to tell me what happened, then can one of you leave? Or even better, both." I asked, but it seemed like none of them actually wanted to leave. I want to sleep, and having a curious wolf in the room with a demanding captain doesn't exactly create a peaceful atmosphere.

"You are probably right, though. Stories can be changed, but it's not the miracles that changed them. It's the people," I said to Kakashi suddenly, partially because I need to get the epiphany out of my system; partially because I felt the need to say something positive to lighten up the mood. Nothing was more positive than the acknowledgement of hope.

"Not a miracle? The fact that you are positive for once is a miracle itself." When Kakashi commented offhandedly like usually, Fuyuki shot him a criticising glare. I heard him mumbling something like 'force of habit'. Weird. Something definitely happened while I wasn't here because that look was usually reserved for me only. Maybe the painkillers had dulled my judgment as well as physical pain, or maybe it was because that the wolf seemed to be on my side of the argument, I felt brave enough to say something back.

"Well, sorry if I don't reach your standards. What would you have me be, then, if not this emotionally troubled mess that you often sent to psychotherapy?" I asked with a bit of mockery. It certainly caught him by surprise, because for once, he looked speechless at my question.

"See, I don't understand your people. How long has it been since my clan was massacred? Two years, maybe a little longer. Yet all of you seem very adamant about making me 'normal' again. So what if I am a bit emotionally troubled? It's not therapy sessions I need; it's called 'time', in case you are unfamiliar with that concept." Perhaps the drug really dulled my critical judgement, but it felt really good to let everything out. I had thought of many possible responses that my captain had in store with me, but the one thing I hadn't been expecting was a nod.

"I agree," He said with utmost seriousness, much to my surprise. "But time is a luxury for you. Do you have any idea how many pairs of eyes are watching you, judging you? Time is not something I can give you even if I want to. Pick something else." It was like a dare that he had proposed. But you know, I was feeling brave.

"Faith, I choose faith." Those were the most confident words I had said all day. "Those people who wanted to watch the show, screw them. And your ridiculously high standards that fluctuate depending on your mood, I will reach all of them so that you will have to make up new ones. Have a little faith, it won't kill you." So what if I seek approvals, it was not something to be ashamed of if I was willing to work for it.

When the room went silent again, I realised that I had probably just made the awkwardness increased tenfold. For the longest time, Kakashi didn't answer me, and it made me wonder if I had asked for too much. After all, faith was a precious thing in our line of work.

Without a care, I laid back on the soft bed. Kakashi was different after I had returned - not exactly gloomy, but it was like he was contemplating something and would like to be left alone. Not even a second later, I heard the door creaking open.

"Sure, I'll give you a year to reach captaincy." I'm sorry, what? "By the way, just for the record, if I didn't have any sort of commitment, not even the Hokage could force me to be tolerate of an 'unwanted burden'," It took me a whole five seconds to process those assertive words, and when I was done, the door had already been closed.

Well, since he leaves everything to interpretation, I'll just take that as a yes. Unknowingly, I started laughing. It was the drugs, just blame it on the drugs. The lighthearted chuckles lasted for a few seconds until another sense of drowsiness washed over me. Approval, it's like pure dopamine.

However, when I rolled onto my side to make myself more comfortable, I remembered that there was one more smuggler that I had to deal with.

"What did you say to him?" I asked her lightly. "You just displeased my captain, it's a rare feat, but it's going to make my life harder, not yours."

"Trust me, he is not displeased. We just exchanged some teaching tips, that's all." I couldn't tell if she was joking or not, but for the sake of my sanity, I stopped asking.

"Are all humans interesting like the two of you?" Before I fell asleep, I had vaguely heard Fuyuki asking in amusement.

"Not always. We are just special." I replied, but as soon as I saw the confused expression Fuyuki gave me, I added, "We've got lots of crappy problems, but we are dealing with them. That's what makes us so interesting."

A/N: So this concludes Arc 2. Next, we will start on Arc 3 - Answer. Preview: Danzō ... and you know the gist, and this will cover the last of the pre-canon before the canon begin. Thanks everyone for reading, since we are almost at the half year anniversary, and I am proud for lasting this long.