CR: Whew! So much to do, so little time. I'll try my best for this chapter, and do help me vote on the pairings in You've Changed, Echizen. I haven't decided on them actually, I am such an indecisive person. Beats me how I can lead a class when I am so indecisive (Yes, I was this year's class monitor). Perhaps I can decide when it comes to class affairs but not this. Oh well. I only have half an hour left, argh!
The two assassins looked at each other, trying to decide whether to take their knife back or run for their lives. Suddenly, Ryoma felt a tug on his sleeve and stumbled. "Come on, let's go! Do you want him to find out your secret?" Shizuka hissed. She ran, dragging Ryoma along. "But the knife…" he protested, but Shizuka cut him off. "Never mind the knife now. We can take it back from him later." They ran away the training grounds, just seconds before Tezuka stepped into the scene. Tezuka examined the knife. It was serrated near the handle. He wondered who could have thrown the knife at him. He then examined the training ground. He found a bloodstained cloth on the ground, and picked it up. It was blue and white and made from the same material as the Seigaku regulars' jersey. He examined the cloth and froze. The letter "s" was sewn into the sleeve. That was definitely a Seigaku regular's sleeve. But what happened? He looked at the knife. Does this have to do with the jersey sleeve? He took the two clues and went home, deciding to question the regulars on Monday.
When that day arrived, Ryoma went to tennis practice as usual, only to find the others gathered in a small circle. He went closer and found the seniors gathered around Tezuka. He was holding out a bloodstained sleeve. Ryoma recognized it as his. "So, do any of you got yourself into a fight or something?" said Tezuka. The other regulars frowned. "No. I was home the whole day after practice." said Momoshiro. "I certainly did not get into any fight." The others nodded. "What else did you find, Tezuka?" said Fuji. Tezuka looked at the others, and, two Ryoma's horror, took out Shizuka's knife. "This." He said, brandishing the knife. "What's wrong, Echizen? You look pale." said Momo, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?" Ryoma nodded, keeping his eyes on the knife. Fuji noticed him staring and said, "Yes, Echizen? Do you know something about it?" Ryoma gulped. 'Shizuka, help me!' he thought. He cleared his throat and said, "No. I was home playing with Karupin." Fuji cocked his head to one side, and said, "Hmm…you don't sound very convincing. Are you sure you-" but he was cut off when someone called, "Ryoma!" It was Shizuka. His partner, has once again, came to his rescue. She looked concerned as she came closer. "Hey, Ryoma, you look pale. Something wrong?"
"He was like that when he came." said Eiji.
"I see. What are you guys talking about, all huddled like that?"
"Well, we were talking about how Tezuka found a knife and a bloodstained sleeve on Saturday." said Fuji, pointing to the objects in Tezuka's hand. Shizuka widened her eyes at the sight of the knife. "Ooh, weapons!" she said, snatching the knife out of Tezuka's hands. She threw the knife in the air and caught it. "It seems to like me a lot. Ok, I'm keeping this knife." She announced, pocketing the knife. "Hey! You can't just do that! That's stealing!" said Oishi. "Oishi's right. Now, hand that knife back." said Tezuka. Shizuka stuck out her tongue. "Don't wanna." She dragged Ryoma out of earshot of the regulars. "You better act normal. If they continue to notice something fishy, I might not be able to cover up for you forever." With that, she left.
"What was that all about?" said Momo, waking up to Ryoma's side, along with the regulars
Ryoma shook his head. "Nothing. Let's just practice. Anyway, whoever owns the knife will have to go after Shizuka if they want the knife back." The others nodded, seeing some logic in that.
After practice, Shizuka came to pick Ryoma up and they went home as usual. While they were in the room, their laptops beeped. Both of them went to open it. It was a message about their next mission. The printer printed out the message, indicating it was a fax. Their next mission is crucial- they must eliminate the rest of the Political Devils, their ultimate rival. 5 years ago, they had a death battle against them, and now their group was down to three survivors. Ryoma grabbed the paper and read it. He widened his eyes. "What's wrong, Ryoma?" he showed her the paper. Her mouth dropped open. The paper had blood drops on it. "So does it mean…"
"…that we are the last two members? Yes. Because they killed our leader already, judging by the blood drops on the paper. This will be her last mission." Shizuka nodded. "Then, let's give our all for this last mission. After that, we can lead normal lives together." Ryoma smiled. "Together."
The next day, it was a school holiday, so Ryoma and Shizuka need not go to school. Shizuka couldn't find Ryoma anywhere, and deduced he must be training in the forest. Well, since he's at the forest, she might as well go collect some herbs there. While she was there, a bird landed on her shoulder. She smiled at it, before it flew towards an unconscious body holding a knife. She giggled when she realized who it was. 'Typical Ryoma…to train until he's exhausted.' She thought. She stood up and went towards Ryoma. The birds flew off as she approached. She reached out a hand, looking like she's going to strangle him, but then her hand went to his shoulder, shook it, and said, "You're going to catch a cold if you sleep out here." Ryoma woke up and said, "Shizuka! How did you find me?" Shizuka laughed. "We always train here and collect herbs, remember?" Ryoma blushed when he realized he forgot. "Why are you training so much, Ryoma?" said Shizuka, as they were collecting herbs. 'Well, I want to get stronger and of course, get revenge for my parents. They were killed when I was young, by the same rivals."
"So, are you doing this for yourself or for others?"
"Huh?" Shizuka make an amused sound.
"Hey, what's so funny?" said Ryoma.
"Do you have someone precious to you?" said Shizuka.
Ryoma frowned. "What are you playing at?"
Shizuka went into a flashback when she first met the leader of the assassin group she is in….
A four year old girl watched as people broke in her house and killed all her siblings. Her mother immediately pushed her in a trunk. From the trunk, she watched each of the members rape her mother one by one, and the others watched and laughed. The leader finally took a sword and silted her throat, leaving her mother dead. She was angry, but she couldn't do anything. Orphaned, Shizuka became a child who was wanted by no one and was forced to take to the cold streets and rummage through trash bins for scraps of food. Eventually she was found by Alyssa, the leader of another assassin group. She became the only one to treat Shizuka with consideration, giving her food to survive. Alyssa then trained her in the ways of the assassin, as well as every fighting technique that she knew.
'Nothing but a place where I was once happy.' thought Shizuka. She looked up at Ryoma. "You see, when someone has a person they want to protect…then, that's when they become truly strong."
Ryoma thought of his friends, his family, and the boy he was in love with…..
"Yeah, I got that, thank you Shizuka."
Shizuka smiled, and stood up. "You will be strong….very strong…I'll see you later." With that, she left.
That night, two assassins, wearing their battle gear and equipped with weapons, stood outside a certain abandoned mansion. "Ready, Ryoma? For our last mission?"
Ryoma smirked and nodded. "Anytime." They then proceeded to their location.
CR: Sorry for the short chapter, by the time half hour was up, it's already 2 in the morning. I know I am rushing but I got a time limit so what can I do?