Broken Memories twirled and danced as Gaela silently watched the dark abyss swirling in her mind, sitting with her legs bent and her strong arms around them. Gaela looked down at the ground, her pale and lifeless face staring back at her from the mirror-like floor. Her mind recalled past events and memories and she felt her lips tugging upwards.
"Hello Yuki, it's been a while."
Unfazed, Gaela stood up and stared face to face with a woman who looked similar to herself. The woman was tall, elegant and she was faint in colour, as if she was under the moonlight. "Mother," Gaela acknowledged, "hello. It has been quite some time since I last thought of you or recall distant memories." "And that's why I'm here," Hisame Itenokami smiled, "I am here to tell you to continue living."
Suddenly the darkness was no more. Vivid memories of the past immediately flooded and all that was around Gaela and her mother was colourful lucid sceneries from her past.
A blonde boy suddenly materialised out of nowhere with an impassive expression and corpses littered around him. He was cold, ruthless and efficient. He was a monster. But the cold expression softened as he reached out for Gaela with a small but meaningful smile. Cherry blossoms danced around them as the sound of rain resonated with Gaela's soul. The faceless corpses around them disappeared and Gaela suddenly found the Yoake in her hands. Without much thought, Gaela handed Brian the Yoake. "I'll leave this to you Brian. I'm more of an artillery person," Gaela said. Brian silently took the katana from Gaela's hands. Tens of thousands of memories with Brian from childhood into adulthood flashed before Gaela's very eyes before the duo paused. Brian stood there, frozen with the Yoake firmly in his grip.
A blue haired girl with a low ponytail hacking diligently with a switchblade appeared out of nowhere. The blue haired girl suddenly looked at Gaela with such hatred in her eyes as if wishing to hold Gaela at knifepoint. As if like magic, the spiteful expression on her face disappeared. The girl's low ponytail tied itself into a side ponytail and she gave Gaela a wink. The switchblade in her hand was gone. It was replaced with a box cutter. The girl twirled it around aimlessly with a carefree smile, skipping about. Gaela recalled the times she spent with Rin. Most of them were amusing and enjoyable memories because Rin can never be seen sad. Even if the whole world falls into ruins, Rin would still give Gaela a big optimistic smile with fire and passion in her eyes, that's for certain.
A noblewoman sat quietly in the background with a book in hand, reading peacefully. She finally stood up just as Rin stopped moving as if she was frozen in time. The noblewoman's emerald gaze behind her glasses was cold and intimidating. She seemed so haughty as if she was a queen and Gaela couldn't help but to feel inferior next to her. The redhead then rolled her eyes and fixed her plain glasses, blushing bashfully before looking away. All of a sudden she seemed very doting and caring but was too embarrassed to show it. Adrienne Le Blank was no doubt an extremely valuable asset in the Rí an Ghealach if not the most treasured. Gaela remembered all the times Adrienne looked out for Gaela and her acquaintances as well as all the beautiful plans and strategies the girl had proposed. Gaela gave Adrienne a grateful nod. The redhead in return scowled and looked away.
A pink haired girl with a bewitching gaze was resting on the ground with one leg bent and other straight, arm resting on the bent leg, smoking a cigar in one hand and a bottle of gin in another. The girl flickered the cinders of her cigarette off carelessly. She suddenly stood up and bounded towards Gaela, offering her a white mint with a deceptively charming smile. The pink haired girl was an appealing and ruthless monster who kills people. She can get hold of information with her charms easily. The girl threw the mint canister in her hands away before pulling Gaela away excitedly across shops, malls and boutiques. Memories with Folisha... They were pleasant. Folisha would bring Gaela outside to have fun. She was just a girl living her life as a kid as well as a teenager; loud, lovable and enjoying her days like she's going to die young. Folisha was living the life she missed out on.
A lone soldier stood in the distance, watching all of the scenes unfold slowly. Gaela turned her head to him as she let go of Folisha who suddenly froze. The lone soldier's face was devoid of emotion and his eyes were focused and cold, gaze not leaving Gaela at all. He wore ragged clothes with an AK-47 in his hands, ready to perform his duties and kill anyone in his way of achieving freedom for his country. Gaela approached him. Fire, explosions and screams surrounded them as Gaela tread on, unfazed with the sight of utter discord. The Kashmiri soldier collapsed onto the floor, looking up at Gaela with his dark eyes, clearly scarred. Gaela found a rifle in her hands, pointing at his head. Gaela hesitated. She discarded the gun in her hand and pulled the boy up from the ground. The inferno around the Korean-Japanese Asian and the Kashmiri died out as a full moon gazed down upon them. Gaela shared a lot of pleasant conversations with Threatening. Gaela enjoys Threatening's company. The Kashmiri boy in front of Gaela gave her a timid but appreciative smile as if he can read her thoughts.
Gaela found the members of the infamous Rí an Ghealach standing in a line and they all gave Gaela a firm nod, putting their faith in her. They trust Gaela and believes in her. One by one, the valuable assets Gaela acknowledged as friends in the Rí an Ghealach faded away. A few snippets of Gaela's fabricated school life danced around her in filmstrips and more and more followed suit.
Akamai, Alfred, Gary, Sherry, David, Lait and... Maria. And even everyone else: the students, Quintessentials, teachers and the school in general. Gaela enjoyed her fabricated school life. It was as if crime almost don't exist. Gaela didn't have to worry who was going to die or who was going to commit crime.
"Itenokami Yuki. Seuno Dal. Yue Xuemei. Gaela Itenokami. Everyone is waiting for you. A mere short-blade and a head injury isn't going to stop you. You and your friends still need to form the paradise you all have been waiting for. Come on, wake up."
Hisame Itenokami watching silently in the background stood out and gave her daughter one last smile and nod of reassurance before she turned her back and strode away without regrets and hesitation, fading away into the abyss. This time it didn't hurt to see Gaela's mother vanishing. Instead Gaela smiled and waved. "Goodbye mother, thank you. I will join you another day." Hisame Itenokami is dead and no matter how much one wishes for her to still be alive, she is dead and is resting in the Skies above.
Gaela opened her eyes.
***
In the infirmary, Brian sat on the stool beside Gaela's bed. He held Gaela's cold hands into his own, refusing to let go any time soon. Gaela was still the same: cold and dead still. "....And that's how I found your missing brother," Brian finished, "Ma171 is now inactive. I know you love the robot very much and I'm sorry. It must be done; it was inevitable. Don't worry, Koori is safe I believe. Adrienne and Lydie wouldn't talk to me after what happened but I understand. As for Rin, Folisha and Threatening... I don't know anymore. The Rí an Ghealach isn't the same without you. We are not going to rule the night and have the moonlight shine down on us anytime soon." Brian fell silent before sighing, "you're not listening are you?" No reply.
"Gaela, when are you going to wake up?" Brian asked quietly as he shut his eyes. "Please come back to me. Please wake up soon. I already lost Valerie, I don't want to lose you too. I miss you. I know I am a monster but am I a sister killer too? Why can't I look after my family and protect them?"
Brian suddenly found the upper half of his body slumping onto Gaela's bed, still holding Gaela's hand into his own. Brian realised just how exhausted he was from his countless missions and expeditions. He realised how hard life was on him. All of Brian's limbs ached and groaned in complaint whenever he moved a muscle. Brian felt weak and vulnerable and very tired. This was the first time in a while he felt this way. And he didn't like it.
"I'm tired."
Those two words left Brian's mouth without him realising. It was the first time he said those words. Some weights on his shoulders were lifted but Brian was still exhausted. "Gaela... Please come back to me," Brian muttered, "I miss you." He lost consciousness, still holding Gaela's hand into his own.
***
The first thing Gaela was greeted with when she opened her eyes was a plain white ceiling. Her body was numb and her mind was foggy, as if she was in a deep sleep for a while. Her vision blurred. When her senses finally came to her, Gaela felt something warm in her cold hand. Gaela slowly peered over and saw a hand in hers. The hand was firm, strong and warm, unlike her own. Gaela slowly sat up.
Brian Speller was laying down with the upper half of his body on Gaela's bed. Brian seemed to have the original intention of avoiding laying on Gaela's legs but failed. The blonde man was sleeping peacefully like a baby, eyes closed and lips slightly apart. Taking a closer look, Gaela just realised how exhausted Brian looked. His pale skin looked almost grey and there were evident dark circles under Brian's eyes. His suit was stained with blood and mud and his hands were bruised. "Hey, are you alright?" Gaela found herself asking .
Brian opened one eye sleepily before closing it again. Brian snapped his eyes open and sprang up, knocking over the stool he was sitting on. Brian's dark blue eyes stared into Gaela's dark brown eyes. The duo stared at each other. Time seemed to have ceased as the two gazed into each other's eyes, observing every detail of one and the other. "Hey," Gaela said with her head slightly tilted, "anything wrong?"
Brian suddenly threw himself around Gaela, wrapping the girl in his arms protectively yet gently as if afraid Gaela will break in his touch. The blonde who was usually so composed and calm began shaking violently. Brian cupped Gaela's cheeks with his tired hands and stared into her eyes. A single tear trickled down from Brian's dark blue eyes as the boy continued to shake. Gaela finally wrapped her arms around Brian, cracking a small smile. "I'm here now Brian," Gaela reassured, "don't worry." Brian shook his head, curled his lips and more tears began gushing out of his blue eyes.
Gaela watched as more and more tears gushed out of Brian's eyes like waterfalls. Years of suppressed tears flowed out of Brian's eyes just like that as he stared at his beloved, alive and well right in front of him. For the first time in a long time, Brian's impassive expression was replaced with something else. Joy, lovesick, euphoria... The lips that were usually set in a straight line were apart and it wanted to say something. But his tears would choke him if he try utter out a word. The tears itself said it all.
"Yes Brian, I'm back," Gaela said, "I miss you and I love you too." "I'm sorry Gaela... I'm so sorry." Brian whispered, voice cracking. He took a deep shaky breath. "How long can I hug you for?" "As long as you want," Gaela replied, tightening her embrace.
The two siblings stayed like that for a while; cherishing each other's warm embrace as if afraid they will get separated again. Both were afraid to let go of the other in case the other lost their presence again.
***
Gaela made sure she looked presentable. She brushed strands of hair out of view and fixed collar to her white cheongsam. Gaela finally knocked on the door to a room in the agency secluded from the rest. After a few seconds, Gaela opened the door. "Hello father, hello opettaja." Gaela greeted.
A tall elegant Asian man with his hair in a low ponytail gave Gaela a nod and a Finnish man squealed in delight. "Welcome back Xuemei, how are you faring?" Mr. Yue asked gently. "GAELA. YOU'RE BACK. MISTRESS HISAME, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DIVINE HEALING POWERS!" Veikko screamed as he clapped his hands together in glee, "praying to Mistress Hisame is the right thing to do! Praying to Itenokami is the right thing to do!!! THANK YOU MY GODDES—" "I'm doing well," Gaela interrupted, "thank you father. And I need to thank you for your kind wishes opettaja."
Mr. Yue cracked a small smile as he extended an arm, "come and give your old man a hug. I thought I lost you." Gaela gratefully did as she was told and hugged her foster father. Mr. Yue wasn't one to show affection but when he does, Gaela always treasured the moment. "Hisame! Come and give me a hug too!" Veikko chimed as he opened his arms wide, shaking violently. "It's Gaela opettaja. Of course." Gaela did as she was told and cherished the embrace of her erratic mentor.
Gaela treasured the time she get to spend with her foster father and mentor. The two men couldn't agree more, cherishing Gaela who was living and breathing right in front of them after God knows how long. For a moment, Gaela forgot she was an assassin trained to commit crime and kill people. She wanted to stay with her foster father and live life as a normal person, away from the fundamentals of 'Kill or Be Killed'. The warm ember continued to flicker in Gaela's heart, slowly but surely burning away the cold ice deep within her heart.
***
Ritchie pondered a bit more, ignoring Rien and Yinyu's arguments on some random trivial topic in their shared hotel room. His visit to the mental asylum with Akamai and Lydie was a strange one. For a moment, the shouting of the two younger boys faded away as Ritchie recalled the events that followed after the heart wrenching motorbike ride with Akamai and Lydie......
The asylum didn't look pleasant. Ritchie stared at the old gloomy looking building in suspicion. It really was'nt so different from a giant block of cement. "We're here to interrogate with Maria," Akamai said gravely, "why she knifed Gaela Itenokami. Also I am the one who will tell her she is dismissed as a Quintessential." "As a former Quintessential myself, I think conceit and status plays a big role," Lydie said aimlessly, "what do you think Ritchie? You're quite a prideful person."
"Definitely," Ritchie replied, "Maria is a very proud individual. She is also the most mentally unstable person I know. I'm not surprised she knifed someone. I'm surprised she didn't kill someone." "Let's go in and question the girl," Akamai said, "maybe we'll get our answers."
The Quintessential Bachelor and the former Quintessential Scientist and Student President made it into the building. The asylum was plain, musty and most definitely needed refurbishment. It made Ritchie wish for one of his formal classmates to come and give this place a makeover. "Hello, we are here to see Miss Maria Reginheraht." Akamai said to the secretary by the counter. The man swiped and clicked with his computer mouse a few times. "She's in room 267," the secretary replied.
After thanking the man for his service, Ritchie, Akamai and Lydie treaded around the maze-like building looking for the room. Ritchie was about to give up until he saw two people who he knew walking out of a room with content expressions. Well, Ritchie doesn't know them well but he knew their faces and who they are.
"Hello Justus and Sabrina!" Akamai shouted across the hallway, "what's a solicitor and an actress doing in an asylum?" The two students flinched before turning their heads to greet Ritchie, Lydie and Akamai. The trio quickly made it over to the two Quintessentials. "Hiya prez!" Justus exclaimed happily, "and hello Mister Sun and Miss Wang." "We're dropping by to see how Maria is faring," Sabrina said politely with a pleasant smile, "she's dismissed as a Quintessential after all. I cannot imagine how upset she'd be from the news. Maria is so ambitious and proud...."
Akamai peered at the room door number. "Room 267! Finally! Thanks guys," Akamai grinned, "we've been looking for this room for ages!" "Oh really? I see," Sabrina said with a surprised look, "I guess it's written in the Stars for us to encounter each other like this. To have Justus and I to guide you to the broken soul that is of Maria... It is an honour Miss Student President."
"Sabrina, we should leave. I don't want Erwin to fret over me since there's a court case today within an hour," the blonde haired solicitor said as he rolled his eyes, "Erwin fuss over Billie and I too much." The solicitor's light brown eyes flickered. "...And I wish Erwin would fuss over Gary more. Gary really needs all the love and support he can get."
The room atmosphere suddenly dropped. Ritchie didn't know much about the albino detective but he's all over the news whenever he solves a complicated crime. Gary Akise Cóir always tries his best to make his foster parents proud. He was shunned in his old home after all. In Ritchie's eyes, Gary was a good person.
"Welp, a boy can only dream! I can't tell Erwin how to behave and act around Gary."
Justus' attitude suddenly changed as he let out a lighthearted laugh. Sabrina cracked a small smile and the gloomy atmosphere immediately disappeared. "We should go now, bye guys!" Justus said as himself and Sabrina walked away. "Adieu, may Fate bless us. We shall meet again some time soon." Sabrina said politely.
"Justus, Sabrina. You two are remarkable manipulators being given you two are the Quintessential Solicitor and Actress. You two didn't break Maria too much did you?" Akamai asked suddenly yet casually, taking off of her eyepatch to give her dark navy hair a quick fix. The white eyepatch in her hands was spotless. Ritchie is always impressed with how an unruly savage like Akamai takes care of her easily stained snow white eyepatch so carefully.
The two Quintessentials stopped in their tracks. Ritchie gave Akamai a skeptical look. "Say, you two didn't manipulate and break Maria too much for us to question did you? Can you tell me what are Bing Dal's intentions? What is going on?" Akamai asked again.
"It's late, we should be going," Justus suddenly said with a wink, "I need to go to court within an hour after all." "I need go to the London Studio. There's a show waiting for me to make an appearance in," Sabrina said with a tight lipped smile. "I see. Good luck you two. Don't forget; if you have any troubles or problems, come to me. You are my dear students, I will help you. However..." Akamai opened her injured left eye.
The grotesque pink-red eye with a knife slit as well as a bullet hole started bleeding within seconds it was opened. Bright red blood slid down Akamai's face as her functional crimson eye darkened, sending chills down Ritchie's spine. Akamai was a hundred percent serious.
"It's bold of Bing Dal to stir up this chaos. The Quintessentials are in danger more than before because of what Maria did and what happened in the Assembly of Virtue. I will do everything in my power to protect my students. As the Quintessential Bachelor, I know we need to obey orders of higher ups but... I am giving an order just for you two; improvise. Find faults and loopholes in orders that will result in harm to my students. Avoid harming my students. Is that okay?"
"Don't worry prez, it's fine. We have our dear principal of St. Peter's to handle things if it gets too ugly," Justus said in a lighthearted manner, "you should know death is inevitable. Unless you, Akamai Shi; our trustworthy leader, do something about it. We will take your orders to heart but Sabrina and I must carry out our duties if we are given any. Let me tell you something important prez; Time is precious. Bing Dal have very elaborate plans. However he needs time to think things through. You should do something quickly if you want to save us all, Miss Student President." A moment of silence hovered between the five people before Sabrina and Justus walked off.
"F*ck. F*cken sh*t. They're b*tches but they're my b*tches." Akamai hissed, "Justus is right, I need to do something quickly. Tch." "What was that about?" Lydie asked, "Akamai are you alright?" "Justice..." Akamai growled, "I can't say too much because I don't know the full story but Justice is behind the incident with Gaela and Maria. I don't know what Dal's intentions are for him asking them to meddle with Maria but I need to prepare myself. I won't let my students get injured or die. For now, let's talk to Maria. Quickly."
Ritchie didn't have to say anything. He opened the door and Akamai immediately dashed in, her left eye still bleeding. Akamai fumbled and put on her eyepatch. The white eyepatch on her eye was stained with blood. "Maria?" Akamai asked hesitantly. A German-Irish girl with long brown hair in a plain bed perked up her head. Her brown eyes were unravelling into madness as if someone toyed with her mind. "I did it... for Justice. Yes I did," Maria breathed, "Gaela is a villain. Justice needs to be served." "Hey Maria?" Akamai asked again. The investigator snapped out of her trance.
"Hello prez prez!" Maria greeted with a big smile and a wave, her strong British accent lingering in the air, "it's nice of you to visit me! And hi Ritchie and hello Miss Former Quintessential Scientist Lydie Wang! What brings you guys here?"
(19/07/2020) A/N:
Hello there, I don't want to type out a whole essay so I'll keep it simple.
I don't feel well for the past few weeks because some stuff happened and my brain made it worse than it was. Also my parents don't approve of me writing so that sucks. My physical and mental health took a toll as a result. I did a lot of thinking, reflecting and pondering. I talked with my god sister (Sakura is the personification of her) and I come to the conclusion to stop writing.
However Sakura insisted I shouldn't stop writing ("u aint giving up ur hobbies. ur simply taking a break! u can always pick them back up when ur okay again.") and I guess she made a point. So I decided that once I feel okay again, I'm going to finish writing 'An Assassin's Faith' and leave it at that.
I'm sad since I won't be able to work on 'Vying of the Clans' because I'm really really really proud of it. I really enjoyed drafting it out and creating the World of Text but it's for the best. I don't think it's likely for me to finish writing it if I ever publish it. Maybe I'll pick it up again if I feel good enough to.
I really enjoy writing for the past few years and I had a lot of fun doing so! I improved a lot as well so thank you for sticking with me :D I hope you can all be patient and wait for more chapters from A.F when I'm feeling better (I have a few chapters ready to publish but I don't think they're good enough. They're all more than 4,000 words long so Oof. I need to edit it soon and hopefully not make the word count higher). Thank you!