Author Notes: Well, I am sorry for the wait everyone. RL-issues, though I will never use my RL-issues as an excuse for waiting. As always, I encourage critizism, good bad... and the ugly. As well, my Japanese isn't hardly as good as I wish it was after years of intense anime watching and hanging out with the japense exchange students. So, I encourage translation corrections. I hardly want to slaughter such a great language.
ON WITH THE SHOW!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Her form spiraled through the air in a series of mid-air rolls as she came parallel with the ground. With a deft tuck she brought her body into a back flip; planting her feet into the ground, and jumping just in time to miss the sliding kick aimed to knock her back off of her feet. She flew right over her advisory and hit the ground, tumbling over her shoulder and reversing her roll as she came back up on her feet facing the man, both prime for the fight.
His body shoot forward with incredible speed as he launched a series of strikes at his female opponent, striking only air as she dodged t hem. The last blow aimed for her chest, but barely missed it's target as she launched into a back handspring bringing her right foot up like the crack of a whip; caught the man's chin, and launched him up in the air with a shattered jaw.
She was back up on her feet (since when was she off of them?) instantly as his form fell in slow motion to her enhanced eyes. She stood up straight, her hands came up and gestured as if she was holding a wand as he right leg slid backwards with her body as she called out, "Aer Amnis!" Her fist came in hard and quick as it slammed into the man's mid-section mid-air, and blasted him forward as lances of air seemed to puncture his body propelling him even further. Unfortunately for the flying man, the walls of the building had different ideas on just how far he could go as he crashed fatally into them.
The woman's smile was visible out of the small opening in her mask, a confident smile as she stood up straight. Her clothing was made for battle, enhanced for her unique abilities and talents. She wore a deep forest green vest overtop of a black long-sleeve shirt. The sleeves of the shirt bunched up, as on her right forearm was her wand holster, and strapped to her left forearm several throwing knives. Her black pants only aided in her concealment of more deadly weapons, her belt holding several potion vials ready for consumption, as well as a few pouches for quick retrieval of items. Her only facial features being exposed were her full black lips, and a pair of deep hazel eyes. A tuft of black hair escaped from the eye portion of her mask, a ponytail of jet black hair behind her head.
Unfortunately, the woman wasn't allowed a victory break of any kind as five kunai flew through the air, aimed for her on all exposed sides. She fell back into a crouch and ripped a kunai off of her left forearm, and brought it up as with quick slashes she knocked four of them away. She then caught the last one, spinning on her heel, she flung the captured dagger into a dark corner and then quickly followed it up with her own. There was a deafening clang, and then a suction noise as a male voice cried out. Out of the shadow an outline formed as a man fell forward slammed into the ground, the kunai stabbing into his chest. He had managed to deflect the first one, but didn't see the second one that quickly followed.
The woman took off instantly; her form flickered and reappeared on a balcony above the room. She ran up the stairway, her body had taken on a speed of its own as she ran straight at an iron-barred door. The door exploded, toothpicks and slivers of metal burst into the air as her form reappeared on the other side. She stopped, and stood to her full height as the fragments rained around her.
Once inside, she noticed three men in business suits, and another three like the ones she faced downstairs She watched as one man, behind a large desk, dug his hands into a safe in the wall, filling a bag with his precious items. One of the guards dove at her, flew over her head, landed in a perfect handstand, and delivered a kick to the back of her head. She stumbled forward as the other appeared in front of her a deep crouch. Her eyes widened as she watched his hands move to form seals. "Doton! Se Shuushuku!" He said, as his hands came up and grabbed her shoulders. The ground below her feet exploded up, as the stone snaked around her body.
She let out a cry of pain as the stone constricted tighter. The man grinned as he backed away from her, his partner moving over to his side as they watched the stone squeeze the life from her. Her arms could barley move, but she quickly found a niche of flexibility as she clenched her hands into fists and squeezed as hard as she could. The man smirked, "Don't bother, pet. That stone won't be broken by you." He and his friend laughed, unaware of the small cracks she had formed. Then it came, a single shattered crack down the front of her prison.
It was all she needed as her form blinked out and reappeared behind the two men, a kunai held up to each of their throats, "I'm not your average, woman." And with a slice, both men fell to the floor gasping their throats as their blood leaked out. Weak gasps for help as they could no longer breathe… their bodies jumped around in spasms of pain as death slowly took them over. She turned away from the scene and looked at the three men in suits, two of them stood paralyzed in corners, the other with his back still to her as he rooted through the safe, "Gentlemen. I am afraid I have been sent to kill you. Do you have any last requests?"
The man at the safe stopped and seemed to freeze before he turned around, a pistol in hand as he shouted out, "Die!" With that, there was a thunder as he pulled the trigger and released the bullet at the woman. He was too slow. Her hand came up instantly, kunai at the ready and deflected the bullet back at the man; the slug planted between his eyes. Her kunai glowed yellow runes for a moment before they became invisible again. It was magically reinforced.
The woman smiled as she brought up another kunai and walked towards the scared men, "I am afraid, your lives end here."
------------------------------------------------------
With a soft pop, the female assassin appeared in a well furnished room. She let out a breathe as she stood up from her kneeling position and set down a bag on the ground, the same bag that the gun wielding businessman had been filling at the safe. Once again the woman found not even after a successful mission was she spared surprise as a soft clapping echoed through the room. She jumped slightly and looked towards a chair in front of the fireplace where the sound originated from.
In the seat sat a quiet looking older man, short white hair brimming from his head and forming a goatee as he set his hands folded in his lap. He wore white robes, trimmed in red. "It is good to see you returning from your mission. I trust you retained that which you set out to acquire?"
The woman nodded as she walked over to the man, placed the bag in front of him, and kneeled, "I acquired all the documents in his safe, as well as some jewels and things. I detected a few powerful magical objects as well in the room and took the liberty of picking them up after checking for tracking charms." Her tone was stringent, a strict decorum of deep respect.
He smiled, "Please, take a seat. I have a new mission for you."
She moved to stand and took a step back into the chair. She sat as she looked at him, "Now?" She was met with a nod, and she let out a sigh, "What is my mission?"
"You are going to teach another." The woman blinked, "Another? But… Master. I thought I made it clear when I said I would teach no other but my daughter?"
The man's face softened, "I know, I know. However, I am hoping you will take special consideration to this boy. He has lost his entire family, as well… he as come into position of something he will never be able to understand without our aid. I am hoping you we can come to an understanding, Jacqueline."
The woman frowned, "You mean the boy isn't even a member of our blood heritage?"
He shook his head, "He is… he just never knew. His noble heritage has been kept from him… he has been taught nothing of us, nor even knows of our existence. His life, from the intelligence I have had gathered in last week, is riddled in dark despair and treacherous lies. He has recently faced a great death… a death he feels responsible for. Because of this… he has unlocked something within himself. It is now our duty, to pick up the duties we, as a family, are seriously under minded."
Jacqueline nodded slightly as she crossed her arms, "What is his name?"
------------------------------------------------------
Harry's room looked much different when he blinked out of his forced stupor, his eyes slowly grazed along the now brightly lit room he sat in. What had happened while he was away? His hands clenched into the sheets below him… satin? He looked over his shoulder at his bed which was now easily three times as big as it was before. "What is going on?" His words held his ignorance of the situation as he heard a soft laughter behind him.
Looking over he saw Hermione there, her wand at hand and laughing, "You should have seen your face." His eyes narrowed as he blinked… she was in a doorway, but the door to his room was at the foot of his bed. He turned his head down and saw nothing but a blank black wall. He jumped up and spun around taking in the room. It was lavished in dark colors, heavy blacks and blues… a heavy depressive mood filled the place that had been crafted for a brooding man.
He turned back to Hermione, "What did you do?"
She blinked slightly, "I… expanded the room. Built some walls, and made some other rooms. I thought you might want your own place while I am here. We still have two months together after all." He tightened up when she said that, his entire body going rigid as he slid back down onto his seat on the side of the bed. It felt different… it felt, comfortable.
Hermione watched him a moment before walking into the room fully and moving over to him. He felt her weight compress the mattress next to him as she sat. A soft sigh escaped his lips as he felt her arms encircle him, as he felt the soft touch of companionship slide over him. "I was too weak… I was so weak." His words were barely choked out before he felt his head being pulled into the crook of her neck, his arms encircling her waist as he held her tight to him.
He didn't cry, he couldn't cry anymore. All his tears had bled a way and he had nothing more left to give to his sorrow but his health and sanity. Hermione rubbed his back softly, not saying anything as she felt his body shake, being content to hold him and comfort him. She never saw the shadow in the corner of the room flicker, but he did. Even with his eyes slammed shut, and dry sobs wracking him… he heard the soft sound of the footsteps hitting the ground. The gentle vibration that waved out across the room, it shook his head and caused him to silence into her.
Hermione gently stroked his back, "You'll get stronger, Harry. You'll get stronger, more powerful, and you'll protect me. You won't let them hurt me, will you?"
He sniffled slightly as he looked up at her with his bloodshot eyes, "Never." She saw it… she saw his eyes go transparent almost as if a second layer to his eye was washed away, leaving those bright emerald orbs staring at her. Yet she saw it, the second ring… the two tomes circling along the ring around his iris.
The flurry of motions that erupted then, Hermione could never accurately say for sure what had happened. Her eyes being to slow to keep up with the motions, unable to comprehend the complex hand movements and gesture's utilized.
Out of the corner the assault was started. Like a dark specter, the attacker launched itself right at the girl's back with a solid punch; only to watch the raven headed boy throw her aside, and raise his left hand to sweep the punch aside. His movements were slow though… he never saw the attackers use of its propelled momentum to swing her body around and deliver a smashing kick into his ribcage. His body flew across the room, and slammed into the wall his bed was propped against.
Harry let out a cry as he felt several bones break. He didn't let that stop him as he landed on his bed. Rolling along the mattress he landed on his feet in front of the stealthy advisory, "What do you want?"
Jacqueline smiled and launched herself at him again with a flurry of blows. Each one was met with a quick jab from his fists to try and soak up all the strength she put out. Her attacks were superior though; her gloves laced in solid titanium threads, and each punch packing enough power to level a small brick wall. She was amazed his fists were taking the crushing blows, but she knew why… his hands were already broken; he couldn't feel a thing.
With an upward bash; she knocked both of his arms high, his eyes widening as he watched her form blink out from in front of him, and reappear in a deep knee-bending crouching in front of him. Her hands moved in hand signs he didn't know as she called out, "Katon! Maruchi no Sentou!" She brought her fist back against her hip, and Harry was helpless as he watched the fist come in for his exposed gut. Just before hitting though, the woman's fist split apart into four surrounding fists. He held no doubt that each fist was real as he flew backwards, and slammed into the wall; then blasting through it into the next room.
She shook her head, "No talent at all." That wasn't entirely true, but she knew a bit about the kid, she hoped he would have risen more to the challenge. Jacqueline turned to Hermione who sat with her back implanted in the corner, her wand at hand. She laughed, "Put it down girl, you wouldn't even get the syllables out." With that she started stalking towards Hermione, a wicked gleam crossing her eyes as she reached to her left arm and whipped out a deadly kunai.
Unfortunately for Jacqueline, she never took another step before the wall next to her exploded; sending plaster and wood plank shrapnel at her. This forced her to jump back to avoid large bits of debris. As she blocked the bothersome bits with her arms, she watched Harry's form run right at her, she couldn't help but scoff at the blunt move, "Stupid kid." That was however until his form flickered and reappeared standing below her, his wand jutting up at her and ramming into her stomach as he screamed out, "Argentum Telum!"
Her eyes almost bugged out of her skull as silver sparkles formed at the tip of his wand, a solid silver spear slicing through her gut and out of her back. She screamed in pain as the spears butt formed a huge plate and forced her to be carried along with its path, stabbing her into a wall.
Harry huffed with breathe as he suddenly felt pain lance through his hands, forcing him to drop his wand. His eyes turned up to the woman and stared at her as she hung limply on the wall. Her gaze was stuck to him with a sheer look of amazement. His eyes burned with anger as he hobbled closer to her, their gaze never breaking.
After what seemed hours, his lips finally cracked open, "Who are you?"
Jacqueline smirked as and flicked her wrist, her wand appearing and aimed at the spear, "Finite Incantantum." The spear dissolved into sparkles and she fell to her feet, a poised look aimed at Harry, "My name is Jacqueline… your new teacher."