Author's Notes: It isn't completely finished... Milliah Korsokov, Anya Korsokov, Dmitri Hitachi, Yae Hitachi, Tom Hitachi and Colette Monique are the characters that I own. All others are property of Tow Ubakata

This is where things are going to get interesting, although I cannot promise a happy ending…For now…

Chapter Ten: Igniting Flames

Milliah was moving quickly, faster than she had when she fought Durand.

So she was holding back. He thought.

She may have moved rapidly, but Voronsoff did as well. He blocked every strike she made at him.

"You should know better than to duel your first master, the one who taught you almost everything you know about the sword."

"I learned more from Tom than I ever did you!"

Her strikes became even more aggressive. She was definitely not holding back now.

The clanking of the metal came about three times a second.

Eventually one of them would become exhausted. They both might have extreme stamina, but how long until one of them ran out of energy.

Milliah was sweating. She wasn't going to be able to keep this up for much longer.

She moved away, breathing heavily. "Why did you do those things to my mother? She always greeted you home with a smile. She always had meals you liked on the table, even if she hated it or we couldn't afford the ingredients or she was allergic to something in it. She loved you with all her heart and you killed her like she was a piece of trash!"

He could take no more. He had to intervene.

He ran to her. "Milliah!" He drew his sword.

"Oh, my little Milliy, so you have a lover now."

"I am so much more than that to her."

Milliah gave Voronsoff and evil grin. "I'm sure that Empress Elizaveta would love to know that you're the one who killed her son's wife and are trying to kill her only grandchild. I may not be her closest relative like her nephew, Peter, or the heir to the throne, but I am of Royal blood."

Voronsoff froze.

"That's right, stepfather. I am of Royal blood. If you hurt me in any way, Elizaveta will never allow you back in Russia without your head on a platter. And since I am a Royal, I can get a single letter to her faster than you can apologize. But I will tell her anyway. You killed and abused my mother. I will be the one who takes your very life."

Voronsoff ran away. As Milliah was going to run after him, Durand grabbed her.

"If you kill him now to avenge your mother, we will not get the information we need! We have to let him go…"

D'eon, Telliagory, and Robin appeared from the other side of the street.

"We lost him…"

They walked back to the apartment in silence.

"How could you let him get away? We were so close to capturing him, Durand!"

He was ignoring Robin's inquiries. Right now he was focused on Milliah.

She was usually the one who ignored the emotions about the mission and make a logical, unbiased decision. But now she was broken.

Durand wanted to do something. He had to, before he lost her. He cared so deeply for her, and all he wanted to do was steal away her pain. He wanted to see her as happy as she was on their first date. He wanted to hear her making fun of him and giggling. He wanted to feel her soft skin against his, and hear her voice saying his name. He wanted to feel her lips kiss his, once more.

"Milliah, I'm sorry. I know how much it means for you to kill Voronsoff, but that wouldn't bring you happiness. I know that deep down you don't really want to kill him, you just want him gone. You want him out of sight and out of mind. You cannot deny this, Milliah. I know you want to avenge you mother's death and bring justice to her abuse, but that would not bring you happiness. Please, Milliah, there is nothing we can do right now. Sometimes you just have to sit back and wait for things to work out. Do this for me, please. Milliah, I-"

"Do not say you love me, please."

He gasped. How we wished he could make her happy. But seeing as he could do nothing, he got up and walked out on the balcony.

"Damn it!" he screamed in the night air. "WHY CAN I DO NOTHING FOR HER?"

He stared out at the stars, as if waiting for an answer. Seeing as, once more, his efforts were useless, he went back inside.

Something wasn't right.

"Milliah, do you smell that?"

She stood up. "Smoke." There was no trace of life in her eyes. "But where's it coming fro-"

As she spoke, a figure appeared from behind the curtains.

So he was there all along.