Fake Fan Fiction ❯ Shattered Illusions ❯ Vendetta Unfulfilled ( Chapter 2 )

FAKE

Shattered Illusions

by Lady Dragonphire

Summary: When Ryo, a vengeful assassin, is sent to kill Dee, the sovereign of a kingdom, can they discover love amongst the driving forces that rule their hearts?

Disclaimer:  FAKE and its characters are the property of Sanami Matoh.

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Chapter 2. Vendetta Unfulfilled

Rose noticed the fire in Ryo's dark eyes ignite and blaze with an unrelenting fury as Ryo crumpled the parchment between his clenched fist and stared straight ahead, his eyes now blank and expressionless, devoid of all emotion. This was the opportunity that he had been waiting for. He could not let it pass him by, not when he had worked his whole life in preparation for this moment. But he was still scarred from his last encounter with his previous target. Did he have what it takes to kill this man? Could he go through with this mission, despite his emotional involvement? Yes, he had to. He owed it to his parents to repay the one who had robbed them of life so unfairly. He would avenge their deaths. Vengeance would be his, and it would be sweet.

Ryo's eyes narrowed dangerously as he slung the bow over his shoulder. "Where do I find him?" he asked in a determined voice, cold and unfeeling.

"He lives in a castle a day's walk to the West," Rose said. "A map is included on the parchment. It should not be hard to find, but it will be well-guarded. Dee is cunning. When he came to power and overthrew the previous king with a small army of only his most devoted followers, he knew what he was doing. He is well-educated in military tactics and is known to kill without hesitation. He is also very charismatic and persuasive. He will try to cloud your judgment. Don't let him fool you. Remember, each betrayal begins with trust," Rose advised.

Undeterred by Rose's statements that showed how formidable a foe Dee was, Ryo only looked up at Rose with steadfast determination. "When do I leave?" he asked, entering his tent and beginning to pack his supplies and weaponry that he would need. He changed into traveling clothes and put his food and water rations into a sack. He then reached under his bed and removed his assassin's apparel - a skintight black material that blended into the dark night and covered every inch of his body. The outfit tightly hugged against the contours of his frame and allowed unrestricted freedom of movement. Lastly he put a black mask into the bag. When he was in this guise, only the whites of his obsidian eyes belied his presence to an unsuspecting target. However, his eyes were never seen by any that he killed, due to his power of stealth and calculation. He was a messenger of death and he brought it on swift wings to any who defied the unwritten laws of the land. Ryo the noble assassin killed with honor, and only accepted missions in which justice would be done.

Now as he emerged from his tent, ready to depart, Rose held out a dagger with an intricately designed handle, distinctive in nature and possessing a deadly beauty. "When you return, I want this stained with his blood," Rose commanded, sliding the dagger into its sheath and brushing his hand against Ryo's as he closed Ryo's fingers over the weapon.

"I will do as you command," Ryo promised his superior as he shouldered his bag and proceeded to head westwards, disappearing into the thick foliage on the far side of camp.

As Rose watched him go, he saw Diana at the well and walked over to her, scooping her up in his arms and causing her to gasp. "Berkley - put me down!" Diana exclaimed. "I can walk! I don't want any of the other warriors thinking any less of me. I can be just as deadly as any man in this army," she said, struggling fiercely.

"I know you can," Rose purred as he pushed aside the tent flap with one hand and entered, placing Diana down on the bed and covering her body with his own. "That's why you're my most trusted advisor. I think I owe you an apology from before," he said tenderly as he ran his fingers gently through her long blonde hair. "You must forgive me if I've been negligent of my duties to you lately. I had to make certain that Ryo was ready both physically and mentally for this assignment. After weeks of preparation, I could not afford to suffer because of another's flaws."

"Oh Berkley, I understand," Diana said softly as he rolled off of her, laying back next to her on the bed and wrapping one arm around her slim waist, pulling her close. Rose softened his features as Diana turned her head to look deep into his eyes. She would always forgive him for anything when he looked at her like that. He only had to lace his words with a subtle hint of desire and the usually headstrong woman warrior was reduced to putty in his hands. "Although, do you really think that Ryo is ready for such a dangerous mission? You've been trying to eliminate Dee from power ever since his rise to the throne, and he has been trying to locate and squelch this army as well. Why back away and change your tactics now when the army is stronger than ever? Surely we'd have a better chance to beat him in a direct confrontation," Diana assessed, confused.

"Because now I have an ultimate weapon that cannot fail. I have trained Ryo well, conditioning his mind so that he will obey my every whim. I have used him to eliminate every threat that would get in the way of my ruling this land. I have big plans for him. He's going to help me conquer an empire, although he doesn't know it yet. He would never dare refuse me. That's why I have kept him around here for so long. The deadly beauty does serve his purpose besides only being nice to look at. Although it was no easy task convincing Ryo to administer "justice" to those who loathed me. I simply had to alter the descriptions of the men to suit his twisted sense of morality. He's too nice for his own good, and I have been using that to my advantage," Rose sneered proudly.

Diana's eyes widened in shock and her mouth opened slightly. "You're putting the fate of the entire army into the hands of the one man in this camp who actually has a conscience? You saw how he failed his last mission because his mind was clouded by reason and doubt. How can you be sure that he'll be able to go through with it when the time comes?"

"Shhh," Berkley said, placing a finger over her soft lips and instantly quieting her. "He would not dare fail me now. Ryo has no reason to doubt the truth of my statements, no matter what conclusions he draws from the encounters with the men that he kills. I will take what I want, one way or the other. I always have. Why do the dirty work when you can have others do it for you?" he observed, seeing nothing wrong with using his Machiavellian tactics to manipulate others.

Diana nodded in understanding as she smiled at Rose. He had not come to be a man of power by following the straight and narrow path, rather he had embraced whatever means necessary to bring about the desired results. Although his men feared him, they were ruthless and would not dare to cause an uprising against him. Men were drawn by the promise of power and fortune if they served him. Diana admired his confidence and was inexplicably drawn to him as well. Seductively batting her long eyelashes, she slipped her armor down over her delicate shoulders and lay back on the bed closer to Rose. "Now where were we?" she asked innocently.

"Oh yes," Rose said lustily as he too divested himself of his battle garments and leaned over her form. "I was about to claim my reward."

After they had made love, Berkley merely going through the motions but Diana surrendering her whole heart and soul to him in that passionate instant, both lay against the pillows, fully satiated. Diana fell asleep in Rose's strong arms, her breathing rhythmic and soft. Berkley looked down at her. She really was beautiful, her delicate features illuminated by the glow of a single candle by their bedside. Too bad he only felt lust for her, he reflected as he blew out the candle and laid down next to her, closing his eyes. He smiled in satisfaction. With the placating of Diana behind him, his backup plan was falling into place. It would be easy to continue this lie of seduction with the distraction of Ryo gone for a few days. Soon he would have everything he always dreamed of within his grasp, but would that be enough to satisfy the power-hungry warlord?

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Dee ran his hands through his silky raven tresses and sighed deeply, sitting down on a chair in his counsel room and pondering the latest developments in the fight against his enemies. The rebel army had evaded him yet again. In fact, the leader of the army - Rose, his arch nemesis - had ruthlessly killed the man who had volunteered to infiltrate the camp as a spy and had sent back his remains as proof of what he did to traitors. Dee had vehemently argued against his going, but Ted had insisted that he could make some progress with this enigmatic cold-hearted leader and perhaps find his weakness. Unwillingly, Dee had finally agreed, and now he felt responsible for this man's death which had been seemingly in vain.

"Are you okay, my Lord?" a concerned warrior asked, walking into the royal chambers and addressing his superior, noticing that Dee was alone. He was Dee's friend and most trusted advisor as well as being one of the army's top commanding officers.

"No, Drake, I don't know what to do anymore. I feel like it's my fault that Ted was murdered by that sadistic bastard Rose. I've tried everything, but every time we seem to get a fix on his location, there are no remaining survivors to report back and he intercepts all means of communication, replacing the notes from my men on the messenger falcons with messages of cruel taunting and further threats. We have to do something before more of my men get hurt," he said determinedly, pounding his fist onto the table in front of him and causing it to rattle, almost knocking the papers and inkwell on it to the floor in his fury. "He's always one step ahead of me. It's so frustrating," Dee sighed wearily.

"As much as you want to, you can't blame yourself," Drake said reassuringly. "If it hadn't been Ted, it would have been someone else sooner or later. Any man here is willing to die for you. You have to know that. It would be an honor for anyone to give up his life for yours," he said steadfastly.

All of the warriors in Dee's army were fiercely loyal and showed absolute devotion to their raven-haired leader, and for good reason, too. The previous ruler had instated heavy taxes on the people, stealing their food to the point where they were starving and treating them unfairly in the court system so that rightful justice was never served. Most people were trapped in an eternal night, never being able to see the light of day in knowing freedom. They were enslaved by the ruler in that they neither had the money nor the strength to journey into lands unknown to fend for themselves. The protection against invaders from the huge army was the only comfort that the king provided. However, the powerful army had dispute to contend with from within the city walls. The leader of a rebel group, Dee Laytner, was the perfect catalyst to overthrow the cruel king. He hated seeing the weak exploited, and with his charismatic personality and outstanding warrior abilities, he was able to overthrow the king and take back the land that rightfully belonged to his people. He ruled fairly, and was loved and honored by all. Many sought refuge from oppression in this harsh land, and he was happy to open the gates of his kingdom to everyone seeking a better life. His vast realm flourished in diversity and had an abundance of food, relying on science and technology from distant lands to satisfy the needs of the growing number of his subjects. His army had expanded substantially as well, teeming with strong men that were willing to die to protect their treasured way of life. The men who had originally been a part of his small band had risen in the ranks and now valiantly helped Dee maintain his utopian empire.

"Thanks, Drake. It's good to know that we feel the same about one another. I'd be willing to die for any one of my men, just so that their families would be able to live on knowing freedom from oppression," Dee said resolutely, his flashing emerald eyes showing a protective fire resonating behind them despite the trials of the day.

Noticing Dee's weary stance, Drake bowed respectfully and turned to exit the room, saying, "You'd better get some rest. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow, organizing a reconnaissance mission to hunt for any remaining survivors in the village to the North that was attacked earlier today. I'll let you know if any updates arrive by messenger or if any new developments transpire before nightfall."

"Thanks Drake," Dee called out to the man's retreating form. "I'll be in my bedchamber if you need me." He turned around and walked down the hall to the last room, nodding briefly to the guards stationed at either one of the ornate double doors as they opened them to let him pass through, closing them resolutely behind him. As Dee removed his armor, he walked outside to the balcony and put his hand on the stone parapet, looking out over his kingdom as the setting sun kissed the world goodbye, dipping lower over the horizon until it would eventually vanish from sight. He shaded his eyes as he glanced up into it, the flickering light casting a shadow that danced behind him. The fading sunlight glinted off of his ebony black tresses, while a soft breeze gently lifted them from his handsome face. His deep emerald eyes held a brash confidence, while also belying a kindness remnant of his compassionate nature that was hidden by his tough exterior in battle. His bronzed skin hinted of his long days of training under the harsh sun, while his strong arms and taut muscular body were evidence of the warrior's fierce courage and unmatched physical ability when in the heat of battle. Standing there gave him a renewed sense of hope in the power that righteousness would triumph over wickedness. He had defied fate in giving renewed hope to a desperate people. He could do it again to root out all of the evil that threatened the innocent. Dee wanted to live the destiny he chose, even knowing this way of life was not without its risks and downfalls. However, nothing overcame the power of good, and he was determined to see the conflict with Rose through to the end. He had to triumph. The lives of too many people depended on him.

Walking back inside, Dee changed into a black silk robe and slipped under the silk sheets of the huge canopy bed, pulling back the curtains surrounding it to let the refreshing cool breeze waft in through the windows and reveling in the one luxury that he kept in the ornate palace. All of the riches, jewels, and tapestries that had previously adorned the walls and rooms of the castle had been traded for food to give to the starving subjects when he had first come to power. Now the huge palace looked vacant, despite the few small comforts that his advisors had insisted he keep. After all, he was a king now, his days of being an ordinary citizen disappearing once he had decided to take a stand. However, for all he had, he wished that he had someone special to share his happiness and sorrows with, to make him feel complete. For how strong Dee appeared to be on the outside, he was lonely inside. The fearless warrior in battle who defended the lives of hundreds of people wanted someone to protect and watch over him at night. Only then would he be completely fulfilled.

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Ryo was determined to reach the enemy grounds before nightfall, although the patrolling soldiers of Dee's army along the city borders had made this impossible if he was to avoid detection. He silently emerged from the forest and looked around. Luckily for him, it was a full moon tonight, and he would not need to carry a torch that would betray his presence. As dusk approached, Ryo moved stealthily along the wall of the castle, pressing against it and blending into the guise of night if a guard would pass by on patrol.

Dee's bedchamber was located in the farthest tower of the west wing of the castle, according to the map that Rose had provided. Ryo took out a grappling hook from his bag and swung it around, gaining momentum before he released it on the upswing and let go. Wincing as a soft metallic clang seemed to resonate throughout the quiet night, he tugged at the rope to see that it had indeed caught on one of the stone parapets that adorned the balcony. Glancing around in relief that he had not been noticed, Ryo silently ascended the wall, pulling himself up and swinging his leg over the side before deftly dropping onto the stone balcony and crouching down to be concealed by the shadows. He gathered the rope up swiftly as he subtly glanced over the side of the castle and saw the guards patrolling the grounds.

Ryo took a deep breath. He had made it this far. All during the long trek, he had planned for this decisive moment. This was what he had been waiting for his entire life - retribution. He had to go through with it and put all of his emotions aside. This man had been the cause of all of the fear and loneliness that Ryo had experienced his entire life since he had lost his parents. He felt so helpless, alone, and unloved. The only reason he had gone on living thus far was so that he could avenge the deaths of his parents. However, once this mission was accomplished he would have nothing more to live for. He had no desire to return to Rose and be a part of the ambitious man's rise to power anymore. Ryo would settle the lifelong vendetta that had become his curse and then he would accept the welcome embrace of death, tumbling into the world of the unknown at the heels of the demon that he had punished.

Ryo blended into the shadows as he crept along the balcony, removing the dagger that Rose had given him from its sheath and grasping it in his shaking hand. He silently walked over to the bed and observed the sleeping form of the raven-haired man illuminated by the pale moonlight. The sight of Dee lying there took his breath away. The man was undeniably handsome and looked so peaceful and serene wrapped within the silk sheets. Ryo steeled his jaw. This was the man who had killed so many and who would threaten to take away the way of life of so many more innocent people. He had killed Ryo's parents in cold blood. He must pay for his crimes. Justice would be administered by Ryo's hand. There could be no other way. Raising the dagger above his head, the word `murderer' flashed through Ryo's mind as he drove it unrelentingly towards Dee's heart.

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