Gold. Skills. A plush home for a while. Thoughts circled my mind at an unbelievable pace. I wondered just how much an assassin made. I would have enough gold to by myself a nice manor in the country somewhere. I could leave the life of a thief and assassin behind. No more stealing to get by, I wouldn't have to kill people as an assassin.

Killing people. That thought stuck in my mind prominently as I followed closely behind my new "teacher" through the countryside. I had never done it before. I think I could if my life or loved one was in danger. But because I was told to do so? I wasn't so sure.

"Ezio," My voice was quiet and it cracked. I didn't want to show weakness to the assassin, but I still had a soft side, even though many of my unfortunate victims thought otherwise.

"Yes Miss Rosabella?" He sounded serious for once. He sensed the conflict in my voice.

There was a long silence as we continued walking on the dusty road leading out of the city. The wind blew my hair into my face and caused me to shiver. Thinking about my new lifestyle was getting me concerned. Thievery was all I knew. I don't know how well I would do as an assassin.

"The people you kill in your line of work-"

"Bad people," Ezio interjected. Probably knowing where my thoughts were going. "The people I kill have it coming. They are the lowest of the low, yet they are the highest, if that makes sense to you?"

I didn't say anything. I just kept walking, hugging my arms to my torso.

"The people I kill they are people of high power. People of Italy's guard, generals mostly. Other times I kill nobles. Corrupt nobles making life more difficult for all the people of Italy. I do not kill without reason like some of the others. I am not a contract assassin, and I will not train you to be one either. I do not kill someone just because a "client" approaches me with a bag of gold and a letter. That is not who I am. The people in my family, I will introduce you to all of them when we arrive, they do recon with officials in the city. They are the ones who give me targets to kill, and they always have good reasons. I trust my family with my life, the family I have left at least..." His usually cheery and mischievous voice faded out. He had explained his way of life to me so eagerly, hoping I would would find the same eagerness in the assassin way of life like he has, but his last remark was different. It was pained and forced. He had lost family. Just like me.

Finding new energy in myself I chose to ignore his comment on his family. I wanted to know more about what I was to be doing. I was a lady of plans after all and a little part of me was saddened by knowing he understood the same grief she had felt all these years.

"Who would you have me kill?" I forced my voice to sound as eager as his was just a second ago. I was genuinely curious and I wanted to distract him from the thoughts he was probably having.

"For you? I think I'll start you out on petty bounties. You have skill, that's for sure, but it is not in the way of combat as I have learned," He chuckled and I could see a wide smile spread across his face as he laughed to himself.

He was back to being himself again, the same playful man who had caught me on the street just a day ago. I decided it was best to humor him and play along with his little games.

"You cheat," I taunted him.

"What was that?" He deadpanned and froze in place.

"You heard me," I twirled my way in front of him and continued to half walk, half skip down the road. "You. Cheat." I called behind me, amused by his reaction to my taunting.

I heard him start to sprint behind me and I felt the gust of air as he found his pace next to me. I heard the smile in his voice before I saw it.

"And I'm going to teach you how to cheat like I do!" He had picked up on my little game and was going to play along. That or, he had a very good sense of humor. I was still absolutely clueless when it came to all things Ezio.

"Aha! You admit to cheating," I was pleased with myself for tricking him into admitting it. I continued to bounce down the road, forcing him to speed walk to keep up with me.

"As an assassin you'll learn to call it 'resourcefulness'. It'll keep you alive, and as the saying goes, "Alls fair in love and war". You'll learn that everything is acceptable when you're fighting for your life... and for the chance to be with a pretty woman." He was beaming at that last part.

"Everything is about women with you. Pig." I say one thing but I can't help to feel amused by his hound dog behavior. Perhaps it was because I enjoyed that I felt it was directed at me. But too bad for him I have no interest in him in that way and it is fun to tease him.

I could tell he was thinking very carefully about what to say next. It amused me even further.

"Well, women are very important," That's not what I thought he was going to say. "There are a lot of things that men cannot do that women can, and I respect that. You may think I am only after women for their company, but I have many female comrades that I call upon occasionally to perform tasks that I cannot do myself and I am very fortunate for their help."

Maybe he wasn't the man I thought he was after all.

"And, they ARE very desirable as companions of a different nature," He dropped his voice lower and more husky to make sure I understood his meaning.

"Like I said, 'Pig'."

He chuckled. This was just how he was. A handsome man with plenty of experience with woman. Even though he was an experienced assassin, there was no changing the fact that he is a player.

"There is no shame in being lonely Rosabella. None at all. It is human nature to want the company of another human. I am surprised you got along so well on your own," There was genuine curiosity in his voice. Of course someone like him couldn't understand how it was easy for someone like me to isolate themselves.

"I do what comes naturally to me, and forming relationships isn't one of them," My words came out sharper than I meant, but I still didn't want to talk much on my relationships. I knew it would probably lead to talk of boyfriends or my parents.

Ezio sighed next to me. "You are one confusing woman Rosabella, but none of that really matters. You have talent and are willing to let me train you to become a great assassin leader and I owe you a great deal of thanks."

I nodded in acknowledgment. I was getting tired. I wasn't acting myself. I just wanted to get to this villa and sleep for a few days.

"I can see the stables. It wont be a long ride to the villa. Let us hurry! Your new life begins shortly!" His voice was filled with that damn enthusiasm that meant no good.

He grabbed my arm and willed me to go faster to the stables, all the while he rambled on about getting his mother to sew me up an assassin robe of my choosing, talk of lending me the daggers he used while he was an apprentice, and something about a crazy uncle.

I groaned as I tried to make it hard for him to pull me along to the stables. It didn't phase him. He continued to pull me along with ease and talked more about assassin training.

It was going to be a long ride.

Here you go my lovely readers~

~Kat