*A/N: Hey, it's me. Before you read another chapter of this story I would like to thank you for reading my first Assassins's Creed fanfic. I honestly didn't think I would get two followers on the first two chapters and two reviews. Also, I am not the type of person to ask for reviews and followers, but I always appreciate them. And to be honest, this is the first fanfic that I made that became as close as well-written as I possibly can and the longest chapter I have ever made. So, instead of me taking up most of your story reading time, I am going straight to the point.
Akia Calene: thank you for reviewing and following. I am really happy that a little story like this was able to get you to like Soul Eater again. I really liked the anime and noticed that there was only one crossover fanfic with these two tango sand decided to make one too.
firefly282: thank you for following. I hope that you enjoy the chapters that will be posted.
Sydney: thank you for reviewing. I am really glad that you actually noticed what I was going for with the brother and sister relationship. I got a little tired that people would pair themselves with characters and decided to make a brother and sister relationship.
Anyway, I am done with the ranting, so enjoy this chapter.*
*Riley's POV*
"There's Lorenzo and his wife." Ezio said as we walked through the crowd. Lorenzo had cheek length wavy brown hair and wore fancy/expensive clothes that were decorated in baby blues, white, light gold, and a dark gray. His wife had straight short hair that went up to her jaw and wore an equally expensive/fancy green dress with a light pink headband. Lorenzo took his wife's hand as they walked between the crowd and the building, smiling. Another man and woman walked towards the couple. The man looked slightly like Lorenzo with longer hair and wore this century modern blue clothes. The woman wore a pink dress and pink headband over her lighter shade of brown hair. "That's Guliano, Lorenzo's brother. But where's Francesco?"
Francesco pushed he way through the crowd with one of the men from the meeting. He pointed over to the family as if to tell the man who was the target. "There he is. Time to strike." Ezio said. The man next to Francesco charged at Guliano with a knife and grazed his neck. I was about to help him, but Ezio grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back.
"Not yet." He said. I glared at him, but couldn't do anything to help Guliano. Guliano was able to dodge some of the attack, but was killed. Lorenzo called out for his brother, but was busy dodging his attacker's blade.
I ran at the attacker, turning my forearms to blades. I headbutted his side pushing him away while Ezio went for Francesco. The attacker looked shocked at first but ran at me. I stood in front of Lorenzo and blocked the man's attack. "What are you doing, girl? Run!" He said as he took out a sword. I shook my head as guards ran toward us, attacking us. I blocked and occasionally kicked. Ezio ran over to us, helping me defend Lorenzo. I blocked more guards and pushed them towards Ezio so he could kill them. There were too many for me to knock out. The bodies of the dead guards littered the floor.
"You two saved my life." Lorenzo said.
"It is nothing. But the man who did this to you has to pay." Ezio said.
"Not now... I need help first... To my home... Pleople I can trust there... Can you...?" He said in between breathes as he gripped his neck.
"Yes, but stay close." Ezio said as he led us to Lorenzo's home.
"I am losing a lot of blood." Lorenzo said slight panic in his voice. He seemed to turn a little pale.
"Hang on, I am moving as fast as I can." Ezio said as he ran a little faster. I ran behind them making sure that no one would attack as we avoided the fights on the streets.
"Francesco de' Pazzi! I'll kill him! I'll wipe his entire family from the city! They'll be ERASED!" Lorenzo shout with so much hate in his voice.
"Conserve your energy, or I'll be delivering a corpse. We're almost there now..." Ezio tried to calm the man. We finally arrived only to be ambushed by five guards. I stood in front of Lorenzo and attacked any guard who came closer and push them to Ezio, who shoved his knife into their abdomen. Lorenzo's guards came and surrounded him allowing me to relax slightly. Ezio walked over to the door and knock. "Lorenzo has been wounded! Open the door!"
"What is the password?" The guard said. 'You have got to be fucking kidding me!' I thought.
"Poliziano! Open the maledetta portal!" Lorenzo said.
"By the Thrice Greatest! Come in. Quickly! The city is at war! Hurry!" The guard urged us inside. I relaxed as we set him down. I took off my forgotten backpack and searched for an emergency first aid kit. I took out the box and crouched in front of him.
"What are you doing?" Ezio asked.
"Treating his wounds." I said as I removed Lorenzo's hand to see the wound. The cut wasn't too deep, but the blood was still pouring out. I took off my hoodie and applied pressure. Ezio began to walk away.
"Where are you going?" I asked not removing my hand.
"I am going after Frnacesco." He said.
"Wait!" Lorenzo said. "I am in your debt. Tell me. Why did you help me?"
"You are not the only one who lost a brother to the Pazzi. My name is Ezio Auditore."
"You're Giovanni's son... Your father was a good man. He understood honor, loyalty."
"The Pazzi thugs are storming the Palazzo della Signoria! We can't hold them off much longer-" said a guard, who burst into the room.
"No! If they get inside, they'll murder all our supporters and put their own devils in power!" Poliziano interupted.
"Then my survival would mean nothing. I have to..." He began to get up but I forced him to sit down.
"Oh no you don't. You are still wounded and can barely stand up. You are staying here." I said.
"Francesco de' Pazzi... Help save our city, Auditore... Kill him." He let Ezio and the other guards go.
"Are you not going with him?" He asked.
"No. Right now I have to treat your wounds." I said slightly removing my hoodie to examine the wound. The bleeding stopped. I looked into my bag and found a bottle of water. I opened the bottle and pour a little on the wound. I apologized as he hissed in pain. I dapped the wound on the clean side of the hoodie as I took out disinfectants and put it on the wound. I took out bandages and placed/wrapped it around the wound.
"There we go! Relax for a bit." I said standing up and placing everything back into my backpack.
"Where did you learn to treat wounds?" He asked.
"Someone I know taught me." Nygus, our schools's nurse, taught me whenever she has free time which was almost all the time. Whenever she is not on missions's that Lord Death assigns her to go to and when I don't have work, I help her treat some of the students at school and she taught me how to treat wounds and some of the history of how they started and what to do and what to not do.
The guards from before entered the room and asked Lorenzo how he was feeling.
"He is fine. He just needs to rest for a while." I said.
"Thank you so much." He hesitated, trying to figure out my name.
"Riley." I said. He nodded. The guards helped Lorenzo up and escorted him to his room as carefully as possible. Before they left, he asked one of the guards to escort me home. I couldn't remember where Leonardo lives so I accepted the offer. I told the guard that I was staying with Leonardo and he led me there.
It was almost night time when we got there. I thanked him and walked inside the house. The painter turned around and smiled.
"Riley, how are you?" He asked as he hugged me.
"I'm great. A little tired, but okay." I said with a yawn. My stomach started to rumble and I lightly blushed in embarrassment. Leo chuckled and told me to sit as he began to cook. I have been so busy today that I hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. Leo came back with two bowls of pasta. While we ate I answered some of his questions which were "How old are you?" and "Where are you from?" I was a bit surprised that Ezio didn't tell him that I was a weapon and that I am from the future.
When we were done eating, he showed me to the guest room and said goodnight. I placed my backpack on the ground and laid down, not changing into my pj's (mainly because I forgot to pack them). I pulled the blanket over my shoulders and went to sleep.
Ezio and I walked over to Lorenzo, who was standing by a bench, overlooking the ocean. He looked a lot better than the last time I saw him.
"When I was six years old I fell into the Arno," he began as I sat him down on a bench and changed his bandage. "I soon found myself drifting down and into the darkness, certain my life was at an end. Instead I woke to the sound of my mother weeping. At her side stood a stranger, soaking and smiling at me. My mother explained that he had saved me. And so began a long and prosperous relationship between two families: yours and mine. I'm sorry I could not save your father and brothers."
"You have nothing to apologize for. I believe Jacopo de' Pazzi played a part in their deaths. The attack on you as well. I need to find him." Ezio said.
"The coward fled before we could arrest him!" Lorenzo said.
"Have you any lead?"
"No. They've hidden themselves well."
"They?"
"Jacopo was not the only conspirator to escape."
"If they work with Jacopo, they were surely involved in the plot against my family as well. Give me their names."
"Antonio Maffei, Archbishop Francesco Salviati, Stefano da Bagnone and Bernando Baroncelli."
"Good. I will go and see my uncle. He has men stationed in the countryside."
"Wait... Before you go." Lorenzo reached into his pocket and pulled out a scroll.
"A codex page!" Ezio exclaimed as he took the scroll.
"I took it from the files of Francesco de' Pazzi, seeing as he clearly no longer needs it. I've always had an interest in things of antiquity. As did your father."
"It is meaningful to me as well."
"Then consider it a gift! Che il Signore ci protegga." He said before we left him.
"What happened to your family?" I asked after a while of walking in silence.
"They were killed for a crime they did not commit." He said.
"I'm sorry."
"My sister and mother are still alive. They are back home with my uncle."
"Is that where we are going now?"
"Yes, but first we must see Leonardo."
"Ezio! Riley! Thank God you're all right! This madness with the Medici and the Pazzi... Is this why you pursued Francesco?" Leonardo asked as he walked toward us, looking worried. Ezio had his hood down showing his long brown hair.
"... Not exactly." He answered.
"Well, whatever your reasons, the city's safe again - thanks to you! Now tell me: how may I be of service." Leo said clasping his hands together. Ezio took out the codex page and gave it to him.
"Ah! You have found another page!" He said, excited as his eyes sparkled. He grabbed the page and laid it on his desk to examine it. "Aha! It's a similar cipher to the last one. This won't take long..." He said before mumbling to himself as he decoded the page.
"It is another blade design... For delivering poison!" He concluded.
"Can you build it?"
"Yes! It won't take long. I just need to find a way to hollow out the blade without sacrificing the-"
"It's alright, Leonardo. Just do what you need to do." Ezio said as he took off his hidden blade. Leo took the blade and began working.
Once he was done, he gave back the blade and explained what he did and where to go if he needed more poison. We thanked him and said our goodbyes before we left to go see Ezio's uncle.
"This is your house?" I said (more like close to yelling) as I looked at the huge villa. In front of the villa was a training area surrounded by a cemented fence which was currently being used by two grown men. The other was supervising them. The grey house wasn't least 25 feet tall and covered with vines. The windows were boarded shut by wooden planks.
"It is not much, but it's home." He said.
"Are you serious? This is huge! Bigger than my apartment!" I exclaimed. "Anyway, I have been meaning to ask you. Why haven't you told Leonardo about me being a weapon?"
"It is your secret and not mine to tell."
Ezio led me into the house. The whole house inside seemed to be made out of marble and was a lot roomier than you would see in movies that had mansions in them. Everything seemed to be polished and cleaned daily making that marble shine. We walked to the right and entered a room that was styled differently than the enterance. On the table was a model of the village and across was a man standing next to it studying the model. In the far back was a desk and the person that sat on the chair signing what seemed to be documents was a women. She looked to be in her teen years. She wore an elegant light pink dress with light yellow designs and pale white sleeves. I assumed she had long hair but couldn't tell since it was covered. She was beautiful I couldn't help but blush a little. That was until she started talking.
"Ezio, where have you been? Since you were gone uncle Mario has been making me work! I had to sign these documents and keep track of the finances and renovation of the village!" She cried.
He sighed but greeted her. "Hello, Claudia. Do you know where uncle is?"
"He is in his office." Before he left, he walked over to the man (who I found out was the architect) and started renovating parts of the village while Claudia recorded onto the document. He then led me to the other room that was attached to the previous office.
As we entered, a man in his late 30's/early 40's stood in front of the desk as studies that wall covered in pieces of papers in front of him. The man had slicked back long brown hair. He looked over to us and smiled. He approached us and hugged Ezio.
"Ezio! How have you been?" The man asked.
"I have been fine, uncle." He replied.
"Who is the bambina?" The man asked as he turn towards me.
"This is Riley. She is a friend of mine and needs a place to stay."
"Well, she is more than welcome to stay. I am Mario, Ezio's uncle." He introduced himself.
"Nice to meet you." I said sticking my hand out to shake his.
"Anyway, what do you need?" He turned his attention to Ezio.
"I've been sent from Firenze by Il Magnifico to attend to some unfinished business. I'm looking for Jacopo de' Pazzi."
"Who isn't? We've been at it for days."
"Then perhaps what I carry will help us both: a list of his co-conspirators. One of them will talk before he dies."
"Excellent! These men are sure to lack Jacopo's resources, which means they will be easier to find. I will put my scouts to it at once."
"I appreciate the help, uncle. I've got something else to tell you as well: more Codex pages."
"Ah! Let's see what we can learn." Mario too the pages and examined them. "What is this...? What prophet...?" He questioned.
"What is it, uncle?" Ezio asked.
"Just another damn mystery! This text here roughly translates to: 'Only the prophet may open it...' There is a reference to two 'pieces of Eden.' But these pages offer no answers, nipote. At least not on their own. You must find more."
"We'll have to save it for another day, uncle. I have another mission to attended to."
"As you wish, nephew. Now, if you wish to defeat these bastardi, I will need to teach you a few things. Follow me on the practice field." Mario said before leading us out of the office, to the trading area. The two entered the arena and began training. It has been awhile since I have trained.
"Can I train, too?" I asked, leaning over the cemented wall.
"It is too dangerous, bambina." Mario said as he continued training Ezio.
"I can handle it." I said. Mario glanced at his nephew who nodded slightly and sighed. I entered the arena and got into a fighting stance. Mario placed the training sword to its place and balled him hands into fists. He charged at me, throwing the first punch, but I ducked under his arm and punched his face.
"I thought weapons are not allowed to harm humans!" Ezio commented.
"We are not allowed to kill humans. I never said we couldn't punch or kick them." I said while dodging another attack.
"Why do you talk about yourself as if you are not human? And who is we?" Mario asked as he dodged my attack. As he was about to counter, I transformed my arm into the handle of my weapon form as his fist collided with the metal bar. Mario froze and didn't hide the shock on his face. I would have laughed, but instead settled for a smile.
"You guys are funny. I never get those reactions from home." 'At least not until I found out that I took the weapon trait' I thought as my returned.
"What are you?" He asked.
"I'm a weapon."
"What do you mean by weapon trait?" Ezio asked.
"Oh, I forgot to mention that a weapon is a hereditary trait. If one person in the family has it, it is passed down to generation; same for meisters." I said in a matter-of-fact tone. Both of my parents are weapons which explains why I took the weapon trait. Although, my great grandmother was a meister so my older brother was chosen for the meister trait. We are seven years apart so he went to the academy before I did and couldn't be my meister. Also, even though we are siblings, our wavelengths are not compatible.
"What is a weapon doing here?" Mario asked.
"I was sent here by Lord Death to investigate a portal that mysteriously appeared." I said.
"Lord Death?"
"He is the headmaster or master of our school." 'Speaking of Lord Death, I report about what has happened.' I thought.
"La Volpe has mentioned you speaking to Lord Death. What was your conversation about?" Ezio asked with a small suspicion.
"I had to report to him about where the portal lead me to. Now that you have mentioned it, I have to go report to him." I said waking out of the arena.
"Wait! I would like to meet this 'Lord Death'."
"I would like to as well."
I sighed but walked back into the house with the two behind me. As we walked inside I asked for a mirror. Mario led us to where it was. The mirror was at least four feet tall and three feet wide; a perfect size to use to communicate with Lord Death. I breathed onto the mirror and chanted. "42-42-564 whenever you want to, knock on death's door." Soon the image of Lord Death appeared into the mirror.
"Hiya, Riley, how is the mission going? Oh, I see you have found your temporary meister. Good job!" He said in his usual cheery voice.
"The mission is going great, Lord Death. Also, what do you mean by meister? I haven't found one yet." I said. I looked back at the two to find them dumbfounded. Their eyes couldn't get any wider and the mouths barely grazing the floor. I shrugged and turned my attention back to Lord Death.
"Are you sure, Riley? Both are our wavelengths are compatible enough to become meister and weapon." He said.
"Who is my meister?"
"The young man behind you."
"What? We just met! How could he be my meister?"
"Was he able to wield your weapon form easily?"
"Yes."
"Do you transformed into a weapon when he touched you?"
"...Yes."
"He is your meister, Riley. You know your duty as a weapon." I sighed and nodded.
"Wait! What are the duties of a weapon?" Ezio asked.
"Oh, to collect 99 kishin souls and 1 witch soul."
"I know that, but I have a feeling there is another."
"As do I, nephew."
"A weapon with a meister becomes responsible for the meister's well-being." Lord Death said leaving out the 'sacrifice if necessary' part (which I am greatful for).
"But she is just a little girl." Mario said.
"She is very mature for her age." Lord Death said. The image then began glitching. "Well, I must cancel the connection. Feel free to call whenever you want to, Riley!"
"Goodbye, Lord Death. See you later."
"Wait-" before Ezio could finish, the connection was lost as our reflection appeared in the mirror.
"Okay! Who wants to continue training?" I said breaking the silence.