A Final Notice. (art of the heart)

[∴♪WolfurChickϗ]

He heard her before he saw her. A breath, a scuffing sound... He turned his eyes in her direction before turning his head, something he was used to doing as a spy. When he was one hundred percent sure it was her, he turned around to face her, and a tiny smile spread across his features. His mind snapped a shot of her graceful amble. He would have to remember this moment, and paint it later on.

He held his hand up in a short gesture of welcoming. Glancing around, he made sure there were no unwanted visitors watching. All joggers had long since headed off to work or home, and so they were practically alone. Of course, this had nothing to do with his work, but he still didn't want any onlookers. If he could help it, he wanted to keep this secret, from the villagers, from his boss, from everyone. If there was any way that his boss would find out about this meeting, he wanted to get rid of it. He knew that he would be in massive trouble if anyone important found out.

And ofcourse, he just wanted to paint her, there was nothing more to it. Her mysteriousness, her dark kind of beauty. It was all for the name of art. Kyle had watched her from afar, many times before, not thinking much of it, but only curious as to what her true intentions were. Now he was going to see her up close. He was going to talk to her. He hoped it wouldn't ruin his chance to paint her, but whatever happens, would happen. What ever she planned on telling him, he would listen to.

But ofcourse, he would not tell her about himself, not too much any way. He would say that his name was Kyle, and that he was an artist. He would say that his family was killed in a tragic cable car accident, before the safety was added to all the cable cars, but he would say that was when his artistry became great.

He would keep his true identity secret. He could never tell her that his real name was Nayk, or that he was a spy, for how understanding would you be if you knew a "terrorist" was watching you? He would keep the fact that he could turn into a spider-taur secret (for who would want to know that?). He wouldn't say a thing about truly living in Kagirinai Arashi, the most feared and hated of all the cities in the region. He couldn't mention that he was living a completly secret life.

After all, he didn't look that bad. He didn't look like a spy. He didn't look like some guy who would, out of cold blood, kill a man who gets in his way. He didn't look like somebody who could some day cause the complete downfall of an entire hidden city. He looked like a painter. A simple, kind hearted, curious painter. And he would keep that identity. He couldn't give a damn if he lied to a poor, innocent person. What would they know? He was just a simple painter.

He looked down at his latest painting, and noticed he had forgotten one last thing. Quickly, he pulled the brush from his ear and dipped it into the black paint. He placed the brush to the canvas paper and signed his name in the bottom right hand corner, and with that, he wiped off the brush and stuck it back onto his ear, clicking the lid back on the paint and throwing it into his jacket. He blew lightly onto the painting until he knew it was dry, then he looked back up at the girl. The element.

"I didn't expect you to come." He admitted.

[ᴍoᴎnster]

Shizu never rested her silver gaze on the painter while her feet gently scuffed from time to time in each small step she took. Each one leading her closer to the painter, and to disobeying her clans rules. Something she had never done before. As he spoke though, Shizu’s head tilted up from the ground. Her hair falling down to frame her pale face once more and drop just to hover above her eyes. The assassin didn’t say anything at first, just let her head drop again for a few more steps before the scuffing sound stopped and so did Shizu.

She brought her head up again to look at him. Now maybe a few meters from him, not trustworthy enough to go any closer. “Nether did I.” She confessed under her breath. All honesty to God, Shizu wasn’t the most social person. She lived with in her large clan, to be friend others would mean she would not be going by the rules of her clan. She would never break the rules. She would call this an exception.

Gently Shizu shifted her arms over her stomach, crossing them and letting them hang with one hand clasping the other rather bony elbow. “I am the one who said I’d meat you… if I didn’t that would be sort of rude… you know?” She pointed out to the painter, although she never looked him dead in the eye.
Instead she let her silver gaze fall to the painting in his arms. Realizing it was the painting he had been working on when being ratted out. The spark of curiosity hit her again with wondering if it would be as amazing as the one she had hidden away in her room.

Shizu wanted to hear from his lips that he wanted to paint her more. That would of brought one of Shizu’s hardly occasional smiles to her face. Even though she knew he would have to make a promise not to show them first. If her brother found a gold mine of paintings reflecting his sister she would be doomed. And Shizu knew this now. She would never, ever, let Yoichi take head of the clan.

(fail post /sadface)

[∴♪WolfurChickϗ]

Kyle tried to hide his smile, tried to mask it instead with a look of curiosity. All of his life, he trained to be good at hiding his true emotions, and he was good at it. He glanced down at the painting, at the girl, surrounded in a brightly colored crowd of blank faces, time seeming to slow down in the painting, almost coming to a dead stop, except for the girl, who you almost could think she would move. Even the twinkles in her eyes seemed to glitter at the crowd.

Looking back up at the real thing, he felt happy with his painting. Most people realize that the artist romanticizes the people in their paintings, and it was usually true. They could make any one beautiful, full of life... that was the thing with art. Looking at Kyle's painting, you could tell it was a perfect example of this. However, Kyle didn't feel like he was painting anything but the truth. He was painting what some people call "soul art", art which originates not from what people see with their eyes, but with their hearts and souls.

Never before had he thought he could do anything from the heart. He always acted with his brain. His brain would tell him when to move, what to say, how to do things. It was how he was taught. For a spy, using your heart was dangerous. Emotions, were dangerous. Everything had to be pure intellect, and so Kyle was new at this whole heart felt crap, and yet, it came so easy to him. He wasn't sure if it was because he was in character, if it was just Kyle who felt all this. And at the same time, he was wondering if this was who he truly was. If it was, he wasn't so sure he liked it. He wasn't used to being anything but a spy.

Shaking all the emotional thoughts from his head, he looked back up at the girl. She was no longer an element to him, but a person. And his previous thoughts of not wanting to know anything about her changed. Now he wanted to know as much about her as possible; paint her with her personality shining on the page. However, he knew she would never just let him follow her. Even if he wasn't a spy, he wouldnt like that. Quite honestly, it would creep him out. He wanted to make sure that she was ok with it. Ofcourse, even if she wasn't, he would follow her in secret, and keep on painting her. It might be harder, but he was a spy, and following people was something he was most definately good at.

"I suppose so." He said in a calm, collective voice, referring to her comment about rudeness. He could almost see the curiosity in her eyes, but he was sadened that she would not look at him directly. It almost made his feel small... unimportant, but ofcourse, he ignored his feelings. Slowly, he turned the painting around so that she could get a look at it.

"I'm sorry... I've... been following you, painting you. At first, it was because I thought you were the model resident of Nain Taiyou, perfect for my paintings... but... now I think you are so unique. This is only the second... I'm sorry, the first was stolen from me..." He looked down in a moment of grief. Even though his boss told him to forget about it, it wasn't that easy. He had painted it from the heart. It had been his masterpiece.

Kyle looked back up at the girl. "I hope you don't think it weird of me... but I am an artist, and I paint art." He blinked, pausing for a moment, and accidentally letting his heart talk for him. "And you, you are art. I've painted many pictures, but none even matter to me anymore."

He realized that he was letting his emotions get teh better of him, and he took in a deep breath, straightening back up, fearing that at any moment, his boss would radio in and give him a job, and that just couldn't happen. At least he still had a few hours before he had to check in with the boss about the city's progress.

((sorry, not a great post >< ))

[ᴍoᴎnster]

When the painter turned his next master piece around to face her, Shizu’s black pupils widened a little from under the strands of her lime green hair. There where the colors again, all bright and blurred, in a rush. The crowd with their faceless appearances. It all seemed to slope you into the middle of the painting. The focus point. Shizu being the focus. Her dark close, light lime green hair, silver eyes. Everything detailed as it would be in her mirror’s reflection. The assassin felt she almost was looking into a mirror.
It was impossible not to reach out and gently grab the corners of his art book. Taking the smallest step closer to look at it better. As if Shizu was as blind as a bat and needed to press her face into a piece of paper to read it. She was so caught up with looking at her painted reflection, Shizu hardly understood a word the artist of it said.

But when he spoke about the first being stolen, she looked from the painting to the painter. Hiding her guilt behind her awe struck expression. It was hard not to tell his painter where his master piece was, hiding under her bed. Seeing his moment of grief made her want to return it. But it would put her family in danger of being discovered. If it wasn’t such an issue she would of dragged him along to go fetch it.

Shizu’s eyes fell back to the painting when he looked back up at her. Although he had already caught her emotions, drawn that look in her silver eyes so perfectly, Shizu still didn’t want to give away so much of her identity.
As he spoke, ‘you are art.’ hit Shizu. Her pale cheeks found a new color, pink. Shizu had never been flattered before. Of course, her face had grown red before. Red in embarrassment, red in anger. Both normally brought on by Yoichi. But never flattery and never the color pink. Shizu was art and unique. And those words from the artist made her blush.

“I…I uh. No, you’re not weird.” She spoke up to stop the quiet. And kept her gaze on the painting. Not wanting to show her shame of blushing. “You are an artist. And…A really good one.” Shizu added. Staring back into her painted reflection told her this. Then she let go of the corners of his sketch book. Reaching up to rub at the blush on her cheeks before looking back up at the artist. “Really, its beautiful.” She found herself adding.
Shizu didn’t look at him for long. Glancing for a second in the direction she had come from, then back to the artist. The assassin wanted nothing more than to let him paint her again. Make another painted reflection of her that she could gawk over. But she frowned gently. Knowing what would happen if Yoichi discovered and told their family. “But… if my family found out I don’t think they’d like them as much as me.” She confessed. It was time to twist the truth and make some white lies. “We’re a rather… private and traditional family. If one of their only daughters was a model I don’t think they’d approve.” She explained, gently crossing her arms along her stomach, hands holding onto her slightly bony elbows as she spoke. In her head praying he was believing her white lies.

[∴♪WolfurChickϗ]

Kyle frowned. For once, he forgot all about his missions and his job. He took the pad in his hands, and carefully, oh so carefully, he ripped the single painting from his pad of canvas paper, leaving nothing but a clean painting. He held it out to her. "Then take it. Hide it away. I don't care. If I can't show it off, I'd rather not be able to look at it at all." He shifted his stance and frowned.

"I know the feeling, having to keep things secret." He realized what he had said, and he knew he had to cover himself up. "I mean, I'm a painter in Nain Taiyou! My family was ashamed of me. They would have killed me, if they hadn't passed before me." He lied, though it felt no different than the millions of other lies he was forced to say every day.

"So keep it, please. Do with it as you wish. I have nothing to gain by holding on to it." And all though he was a great lyer, this time, he was definately telling the truth. Here he was, a spy, finally able to show off his skill, and now someone was asking him to keep it secret, just like all his other secrets. He knew it would kill him not to show the painting off, and if the element... the girl... didn't want it to be displayed, then he simply didn't want it. However, that didn't keep him from painting other pictures. "But I hope you know... I can't just stop painting you. I promise I wont show anyone... but I will continue to paint you." He felt bad for admitting it, but it was true, though he was sure none would be like the first.

After all, his true love was stolen from him. He would have gladly kept that secret. Then a startled expression came to his face. "Oh! But the first painting! It was of you! It was stolen from me. What if it gets out?" He put his hand on his head, for once in his life, afraid that he might have ruined somebody's life. "I am so sorry! If I had known... I wouldn't have been so clumsy..."

[ᴍoᴎnster]

Shizu’s hands gripped at her elbows a little as she watched him rip the page from the art pad. Afraid it would tare and the master piece ruined. But with the painters gentle ease saved it. Shizu now frowned gently as he held it out to her. Slowly reaching out and taking it from his hands. Eyes falling to gaze across the painting once more, still with a frown. She already possessed one of his painting. Now he was giving her another. She felt guilt for taking the painters passion.

But when he spoke about painting her again, her frown slowly vanished. That was a dream come true in itself. Not that he wanted to paint her. But the fact he couldn’t stop. That made her cheeks become a little pinker. She killed many lives, saved many innocents. She could be called a villain, a hero. But never had she thought of being a work of art.
Shizu watched panic spill across his face when remembering the first painting. It seemed to bring a half smile to her faint pink lips. Not before of the worry and how he put his hands on his orange haired head. But because she knew where the first painting was. And his worry was all for nothing.

She waved her hands in front of her. Signaling for him to calm down. Making sure to keep after the art work in her hands. “It is alright. Really!... one painting isn’t going to hurt. I can work my way around one painting if it ever gets out.” Shizu reassured him. “Promise.”

Shizu then looked down at the painting again, her eyes falling from the focus point to the name at the bottom of the page. Kyle. That was the painter’s name. Shizu returned her gaze to him. Kyle. Holding the painting back out to her. “I want you to keep this one.” She began. Looking down at it once more. “You can give me another painting next time.”
Shizu knew she had to be careful. Next time probably meant there would be a next time after that and another next time after that. If Yoichi caught on she would have hell to bare. But if she was as invisible as an assassin and sly as a ninja she would be able to have as many paintings as she could hide under her bed.

[∴♪WolfurChickϗ]

Kyle took back the painting, looking down at it sadly. His eyes travelled to the signature. Kyle. It had become a habit, a required one. He was forced to sign the name of a fake human being on his beloved paintings. Nobody would ever know who actually painted them, and though he was used to it, it still kind of stung.

Finally, he looked up at her with a smile. "Does this mean you will let me paint you again?" his instincts wanted to pull out his brush and start right then, while she was in perfect light, just infront of the crumbling homes. He became excited, like somebody who thought that they had a chance at winning the lottery. Ofcourse, he was going to paint her anyway, whether she liked it or not. He was very good at staying hidden, and at finding people. She would be easy to spot in a crowd.

"What about now?" He suddenly got an idea. "Would you let me paint you now?" He asked, finally pulling out his brush, his instincts getting the better of him. He would understand if she refused, if she was too busy. There were more important things than getting a painting done of yourself. Still, he wanted to paint her so badly. It was as if he was just realizing his life long dream. It was weird, he had never acted like this. He was always so into his work. Being a spy.

He lived a spy. He woke up in the morning a spy. He brushed his teeth a spy, checking all points in his mirror for someone watching him. He ate breakfast a spy, always storing information in his head about everyone who ate around him. He even went to bed a spy, always sleeping with one eye open, always ready for the unexpected.

But now, now he was so vulnerable, and he didn't care. For once, it felt good not to be so paranoid, not to be hunting people down, not to be ruining a city. A smile returned to his lips at his new realization. And though he knew that he would never give up his work, for it would be too dangerous, he enjoyed just being himself. Just once, even if it was only for a few minutes. He felt almost free, even with an piece of metal glued to the inside of his ear and a concealed "pocket knife" in his pocket, even though he knew who he was and what he did, and it made him smile.

[ᴍoᴎnster]

Shizu let go of the painting as he took it and watched how his face seemed to explode into smiles. It made that half smile form on her lips again. She could see in the few seconds he was excited she had allowed him to paint her. Personally, Shizu was excited too. Excited to be painted in master pieces by Kyle, to have someone outside the family to talk too(even if it was all little white lies).

When he asked to paint Shizu right there she felt her smile twitch even more. But she knew her family thought she was returning the book to a library. Using short cuts and her speed, she would have been on her way back by then. They would question if she was gone so long. They would send someone out to find her. Or worse. Yoichi. But she wanted to be painted. As he desired to paint her, she desired to be painted.
“Alright, but quickly. I don’t want my family to start wondering where I went.” She said with raising a index finger up.

The assassin was afraid to know what would happen if Yoichi was sent out to find her. He would tell the family, and Shizu would be a traitor. Yoichi would rip apart every fragile work of art he could get his hands on. The assassin tried not to think of what would become of the painter. It sent a small shiver down her spine. She would protect him if that ever happened. He was an innocent after all.

Instead, the assassin watched Kyle. Smiling and fumbling with the paint brush in hand. Shizu now only realized she had formed a smile on her lips. It wasn’t as big as Kyle’s. But it was big enough to call a small smile. Gently she brought a set of finger tips through her hair, wondering if it would look good enough for this painting. Or that in closer inspection you could point out the hidden poison needle holder wrapped around her upper thigh from the creases in her rag doll dress.

[∴♪WolfurChickϗ]

Kyle made the painting as quick as he could without messing it up, which was, suprizingly fast. He left out much of the background, and instead focused souly on her. He did a close up, his brush creating a symphony of colors and lights, all singing across the paper, their flawless moves causing the brush to cry more and more beauty. Before he could lose it, he painted her smile. It was so constrasting to the rest of her features, and that was what made it beautiful. Her pale green hair flowed effortlessly from her scalp, and her eyes sparkled in the dim light.

Sweat began to form on his brow. Never before had he been so focused on a painting before. It was as if he was in the middle of a heist, hanging upside down, waiting to climb down a rope and snatch up an important document from the president of murders himself. There was so much pressure to get this done. He didn't care what reason this girl had for needing to be quick. To Kyle, an order was an order, and this was no different.

Finally, he finished the painting. It was slightly sketchy, but that only made it more beautiful. It gave the painting both a fantasy, and a realistic look. Almost like a dream. He made one more stroke with his brush, underlining the smile in her lips, then he wiped off the brush on his hand and shoved it behind his ear. Kyle blew lightly on the painting, a whiff of paint steaming from the canvas paper as he did.

At last, he took a break, pulling the pad away from his face. He looked at it, and smiled. He looked back at the girl, his grin never failing. "Now that is a look that would stun even the most evil, vile of creatures." Ofcourse, he was talking about her smile. It was an innocent smile. Not too much, but just right. A sweet, soft smile. One that you would look at, and not help but smile back.

Infact, just as he was looking at it, he couldn't stop smiling. He slowly flipped it over, reveiling it to the girl in happiness. He had finally found something that he truly enjoyed, something that made him happy. The reactions he got from people when he painted them... it was a feeling he couldnt contain, and so he showed it in his smiles. "Ofcourse, I'll keep it secret." He informed her. "But I can't say that it doesn't hurt to do so. Maybe... maybe some day you wont be so afraid of your family. It would be a shame to let these paintings go to waste, when the key element is so real."

[ᴍoᴎnster]

Shizu kept still, as if she where in a painting herself. She didn’t sway or wobble. She was frozen in place so Kyle wouldn’t make a mistake in his painting. The orange haired artist was concentrating hard, Shizu could see that clearly. He was working fast so she would not fall into trouble. Once again the assassin found herself grateful and rather flattered.

When he showed signed that he had finished, Shizu’s body relaxed from its statue like stage. Shifting her arms across her stomach again, scuffing the ballet shoe againsted the cracked old road of this dead end street. Her silver eyes following the cracks towards Kyle and looking up at his voice. Seeing his grin as he looked at the painting told her it was another master piece. Shizu looked down again, the head in her pale cheeks rose again and made them turn light pink at his words.
In the nineteen years she had lived she had only gained these sort of compliments from family members on rare occasions. Never had it happen all in moments. She was art, unique, the element painters wanted to paint, and with a smile so stunning if would stun a monster. Just thinking about it made her face get hotter. Her hands coming to her face and rubbing at them to stop. She wanted to look at his painting without the warm color on her cheeks. It threw her off.

Shizu looked up when Kyle spoke again. Again, the painting was like looking into a mirror. The soft smile that twitched on the painting returned to her own lips. This time just a little bit wider.
But she pulled her eyes away from it to look at him while he spoke. Holding back a frown at his words. Her family would always be the same. As it had been for generations and generations. An Assassin was what she loved. And an assassin was what she was. And an assassin never gave away their identity or was to be noticed.
“Maybe…” She finally replied with a gentle sigh and smile. “At least, I hope so. I don’t want to let them go to waste either. You’re too good of an artist.”

[∴♪WolfurChickϗ]

Kyle smiled at her words. He often recieved compliments, but it was always good to get one. Especially when your boss was constantly nagging you, as if he was TRYING to make you feel like dirt. He closed the cover on the pad, to keep the paintings secret, the other painting loosly hanging on between the other sheets. He laughed slightly, a little embarrased by all his excitement. "See, I can't stop smiling?"

A silent akward moment told him to hurry up. He looked away and rubbed the back of his neck. Finally, getting his composure together again, he looked back up at her. "I'll let you go. Wouldn't want your family worrying." He told her, a little disapointed that he ever had to let her go. "But don't worry, You'll see me." He glanced over at different streets he could see from there. "Around." He smiled. "When I am inspired, I don't let that just go."

He took a step back, not wanting to make himself get too close to the girl. After all, she was just the element. No... more than the element... the purpose. The inspiration... perhaps a companion. But nothing more. Not only did he know absolutly nothing about the girl, but he was a spy, and a spy was taught from birth to never grow any sort of relationship. Things never turned out happy when you were a spy. The only reason you lived, if you were a spy, was to help your country. Or city. Spies were weapons, and hardly ever referred to as humans.

Kyle knew this, but it was hard to understand. Still, he knew his orders. He knew his job. But one thing was sparking his curiousity, and it would kill him to not know the answer. "But first, before you go..." He felt a little embarrassed, though he didnt let it show. It killed him to have to ask. He never asked, he always found out. He had never been this close. Had never had a real conversation with anyone since he was a child. He took a deep sigh, getting over all that he had learned. "Could I know your name?" He nearly pleaded.

[ᴍoᴎnster]

Shizu’s smile never left when he spoke, and laughed. She felt the painters happy personality rubbed off on people around him, not just on his art. He made his views happy from his art. And he made Shizu smile for the first time in a while through her serious life. Though she would have to stop and go home and return to her normal pout to hide her secrets from her family and keep it even more secret than her other secret.

The assassin watched as he stepped back. Knowing soon this dead end street would once again be lifeless. Even if it was only minus a painter and assassin. Gently scuffing one of her ballet pumps across the ground. About to offer Kyle another one of her soft and small smiles and gently spin herself around and with her back to him, run for home. But she was halted when he spoke. He asked for her name.
A name. He wanted Shizu’s name. He was practically begging for her to tell him. It made Shizu shift. Should she lie about her name? It would keep her family safe. But she was already had so many secrets to keep from Kyle. She knew if she kept too many the bag she stored them in would rip and they would all end up coming out into the open.

All Shizu did was smile again. “Its Shizu.” She replied. Leaving her last name blank. She would not lie about it. Or tell him. She’d just leave it blank and up to him. Shizu had to at least give some mystery to herself.
“I’ll see you around… Kyle.” Shizu said his name, just to get use to it. Offering him a small smile, and a gentle wave of her hand before she spun around on her heels and began to move one foot in front of the other the way she always did in small steps that took her far.

[∴♪WolfurChickϗ]

Kyle watched her turn and leave down the darkened street. She didn't have time to see his smile fade away into a frown. "Kyle..." He repeated almost unaudibly to himself. For how long would he have to lie to people? The only one that called him his real name was his boss... He felt bad. Not because he lied to somebody, but because he felt that after all his work, he had earned the right to get some kind of credit. Instead, he had to put a fake name on all of HIS paintings, and he couldn't even tell... Shizu.... his real name.

But maybe...in the future... some day, things would change. Maybe someday he would be free of his job. Maybe some day he could tell everybody that his name was really Nayk. But... that day would probably be his last, considering that most people don't take too kindly to people who have been spying on your city and silently killing your officials... hm...

Kyle let out a long sigh. Then he heard the slight sound of faint buzzing. Quickly, he had to find a place to hide. Swiftly and silently, without first making sure to check for watchers, he retrieted into an abandoned house, one he had chosen as one of his temporary homes while he stayed in the village.

He slipped into the house and silently closed the doors. Even though he knew how dangerous the house could be, he knew that the tree it was latched onto had strong roots, and he could tell that the house was relatively sound, for now. He reached up and switched a tiny reciever on his hearing mechanism.

"Sir." He reported in. An angry voice bellowed back at him. "Do you have ANY idea how much money you could have cost us?! We almost sent out reinforcements. A WAR could have broken out!" Kyle rolled his eyes, knowing that they would rather just kill Kyle off than spend too much money or man power. He glanced at the small glowing contraption on his wrist with numbers and gadgets. A simple watch. No wonder the boss had been angry with him. He was four minutes late for checking in, something he was to do three times a day, so that the boss knew he was safe and still doing his mission. Luckily, the boss had called him to double check before he called anybody out to...erm...assist.

"My deepest apologies. Time slipped away from me. I was on the track of a suspect." He lied. "I was just beginning to find out what he was doing..." With this, the boss seemed interested. "Well? What did you find?!" Nayk thought of something quickly. "Nothing sir, my curiosity was wrong. Just a store manager. Turns out he was having some family issues, so he hadn't come to work often." The story pleased the boss, though his voice was angry again.

"Don't you dare miss another check in Nayk! The entire city of Kagirinai Arashi is counting on you. Don't screw things up." Nayk sighed and nodded, though no one was there to see him. "Yes sir." He replied, and the signal died. Nayk set down his paints and papers next to the door, rubbing his sore temples.

THIS was why he couldnt mix life with work.

--------------------------------

You could have heard that annoying scuffing a mile away. Her total disreguard for shoes burned in the back of his mind and he turned the corner and spotted her. This would be the second day in the row he would have to talk to her, but something was going on, and hell would freeze over before he would ever let Shizu ruin the whole clan.

This time, he bounded up infront of her as he left the family home. "Where have you been?" He asked her with spite. The elders had told him that she left to return a book, but he knew something was up. Shizu never forgot to return anything. That would make you forgetful, and the last time he saw a forgetful assassin, he was laying in a puddle of blood with a sheet thrown over his cold, lifeless body. No, he knew Shizu wasn't that stupid. She was up to something.

"And don't ever start about that book nonsense. Even the elders were getting worried. It never takes you this long, for anything. Grandmother had the humour to say that you were upset with her when she told you that you had finally found a routine and had set out to break it." He rolled his eyes at his grandmother's "humour". "But you and I both know something is up with you, so why don't you tell me?"

[ᴍoᴎnster]

Shizu’s breath came out in an irritated sigh. If she had known she would return home to this she would of told Kyle to take all the time he needed. Then his would of made that picture even more of a master piece. The assassin’s heart wavered with that idea of something even more breath taking. She used this thought to block out Yoichi’s first words when he appeared in front of her. Crossing her arms over her chest as she tilted her head up slightly to look at her brother.

Opening her mouth to speak excuses was cut off by Yoichi again. Who clearly already knew her excuse and didn’t believe it. He was smart enough to not believe it. But I couldn’t let him know that.
Hearing about their Grandmother’s humor made a smile flash upon Shizu’s face. This wasn’t one of her soft smiles. It was more one where she would bare her teeth. As if where the Cheshire cat. Their Grandmother was a wise old lady. And her tongue and humor where still sharp. Normally what she said was true, Shizu would never question her.

But the smile faded when Yoichi spoke again. Its what made her frown. He knew. He didn’t know really. But in a way he did. He would continue to grow suspicious. And he would find out. But Shizu would put up a fight before Yoichi would to anything to ruin her chances at leading the clan. And being painted. “I am surprised you are so angry with me.” She pointed out with a frown. “Normally you would be happy I was so late. ‘Poor Shizu is getting to slow to be a Tanaka Assassin’ right?” Shizu questioned her brother with the tilt of her head. Quickly she brushed past him towards the front doors of the house. “I did take a book back to the library. For your information. But I walked there and back. So it took longer than expected.” She lied, plucking her excuses out of the air and hoping they would stick Yoichi’s mouth shut and stop him from questioning.
“Would you like to know anything else, Yoichi? How about what I ate for lunch, hmm?” She asked as she pushed the doors to their house open. Pressing her back againsted one for her brother to enter through.

He mite of been her enemy, a threat, a monster with a heart of ice. But still he was her brother, and Shizu wanted to show him she was more of a gentleman than her brother could ever be.

[∴♪WolfurChickϗ]

Yoichi glared at Shizu, coming to a halt just in front of her, blocking anyone from coming in or out of the door way. "Unlike you, apparently, I care more for the clan than I do our little disagreement. One of these days, you are going to wind up exposing the whole clan, and who is going to have to clean up the mess? Me." He sneered at her, baring his teeth like a rabid dog. "Wise up all you can Shizu. If I weren't so busy with my assassinations, I'd be all over you like a shark to blood. I'll figure out just what is going on in that little marble you call a brain."

He leaned in slightly and whispered, making sure none of the other family members could hear him. "And I think it has something to do with that stupid painting of you stashed under your bed." He grinned. "And don't act all suprised. There isn't a thing that goes on in this house that I don't know about. " He continued his rambling speech. "I'd watch out, if I were you, little sister. Nobody can be trusted."

He turned, stepping up all the way, keeping his good shoes out of harms way of the door, then he started to walk away, without a thanks in his heart. In his mind, he did have everything under control. All though, he still didn't know what his sister was up to exactly, and he was still hoping he could get a bigger room soon. It only seemed fair. He had been pulling extra jobs, talking to his family a bit more. It killed him to do it, but he needed to start taking charge.

How else would the family notice him? How else could they make him clan leader?

[ᴍoᴎnster]

Shizu glared daggers back at her brother. And at the mention of her preashous painting, her teeth began to grind together. He was on the right track and Shizu just wanted to clench her fist and swing it at Yoichi’s jaw to silence him and break those teeth that made him grin and show him she was a force not to be reconed with. But she continued to keep her mouth shut. Glaring the whole way through her brothers speech.

It was after he had pulled away and began to walk of that Shizu moved. Slamming the door behind her in irritation of Yoichi’s words. It also signaled to their large family that the golden child was home. This gave Shizu the freedom to escape to her room without having to tell the Tanaka Elders she was home. With her agility and great ease she bounded through their old vintage house. Slipping though her door before locking it and into her large bedroom. For a moment feeling sorry for her older brother as she sat on the corner of her bed, slowly making the feather filled blankets sink under her light weight.

Maybe he would be nicer if she asked the elders for a larger room for him. He would probably rip her painting up if she did that. Yoichi wanted to do everything himself. But maybe she would later. Maybe.
Shizu sighed gently to herself before she leaned forward. Reaching under the bed for the painting only she, Kyle, Yoichi, and his thirty two viewers knew about. When if was in her view the assassin smiled softly again, though only for a few moments before her brothers words made her frown.
Maybe next time she saw him more of his happy personality would rub of onto Shizu again and she would smile just that little bit more.

* * * *

This time, Shizu had planned her lies and excuses well. After class and after meeting Kyle for the brief moments to quietly arrange a place to meet. She bounded home. Not walking. Bounded. Taking a few short cuts to keep her routine at the right time. Catching up with the time she had lost while talking to the painter.
Shizu’s lies where told straight to the clan’s elders. Her same emotionless face like always. Apologizing for her long absence that day she learnt the emotions of curiosity, flattery and that even a devoted assassin like herself could go againsted the code.

She had told them she would be late again today. Shizu wanted to train in the city. Learn Nain Taiyou’s terrain even more. She wanted to spend more time out in the city than in the training ring behind their house in the vintage gardens who needed to be watered.
They agreed, smiling on Shizu’s determination to train and become a better assassin.

But what she was really doing, would of made them frown and shun her.

Shizu moved though the back ally ways. Climbing over walls, scaling small abandoned buildings and all at the same time making sure a spot of dirt didn’t touch her vintage outfit.
In the back of her head Shizu worried if Kyle wouldn’t be able to find the spot she had chosen. Even if he had agreed to it. Nain Taiyou was a labyrinth at times. If you didn’t know everything, you could get lost. Finally she slid to a halt. In her ballet pumps her feet gently ached. She should have worn her sandals again. But she would never mix and match cloths with her assassins uniform.

This street she had picked was a lot like dead end street. All the houses where incapable to hold life. But in the background, only another few deserted blocks away where the taller, more technologically advanced buildings of the city of Nain Taiyou. Large apartment buildings and offices. Lights flickering like fireflies. That’s why Shizu had picked it. She thought the orange haired painter would enjoy it. Knowing if she was a painter she would hate to paint with the same background the whole time.
With a small glance around the small street Shizu realized she was the first to be there this time. She sighed gently. Moving across to a small half broken brick fence that sat in front of one of the buildings and used it as a perch to sit on.

There was that fear in the back of her head that Yoichi had followed her. That he was going to expose her. And she would be exiled from the clan. Frowning at the idea that there may even be death. But she shook that off. The elders would never do that to her. She was their golden child. Heir to the throne as they say it. But Yoichi would be chosen over her if they knew she sat here waiting for the painter to paint her into another master piece that would be burned if discovered.
That idea made Shizu frown even more than the thought of exile.

[∴♪WolfurChickϗ]

He snuck through Nain Taiyou this time, avoiding the eyes of the many interested people. As he passed the town square, he noticed that there were still some people standing by where he would paint, still dazed from their messed up schedule. A few had made it a habbit to stop and chat with others, just changing their schedules slightly. Others still had just decided to head off to work without seeing the painter. It was all about work and schedules. It made Nain Taiyou almost seem dull at times.

He had no trouble at all finding the place Shizu asked him to meet at, after all, he knew every nook and cranny of Nain Taiyou. He snuck in, then spotted her, and a smile immediately shot onto his face. "Shizu." He whispered, then approached her. "Sorry, I just... wanted to make sure nobody was coming to watch me paint." he told her, then glanced around. It was perfect. The background would be lovely, but still, the background was not what he was looking forward to painting.

He walked over infront of her and pulled out his paints. This time, he brought his whole pallet, and all of his brushes. "You're not in any sort of hurry today, right?" He asked with a large smile. It was odd, but he was so excited to paint her. He pulled out canvas. It was just a little larger than a piece of paper, so that he could carry it in his hands, rather than bringing his easel along.

It didn't take him long to get everything out, and when he did, he automatically went to painting. He was still amazingly fast at his art, his speed increasing with each new painting, but this one he wanted to put a little more effort into, so he took just a little more time on it, being extra careful with his brush strokes.

He made the background rather dull where the abandoned houses were, and further back in the painting, he painted the bright city lights. The background could be described as nothing but amazing, but it was his true element that was astonishing. He worked on painting in Shizu, being careful not to miss a single step.

In the middle of him painting, he looked up at Shizu, and his gaze just sort of stuck. He focused on her features, and for a split moment, he actually thought that she was rather.... beautiful. He blinked, and when he realized that he was staring, he quickly looked down and begun painting again. It had been just a thought, just a simple little thought. Something that he knew he needed to get over, and just like that, he continued painting, the only thought on his mind was to get the lighting just right.

------------a few weeks later-----------


His collection of Shizu paintings had begun to get harder to handle, but they always brought a smile to his face, and this time was no different. Over the past few weeks, he had gotten to know her personality much better, and he actually enjoyed spending time with her. Ofcourse, he hadnt let this get in the way too much with his job, and he had actually aquired some very important information, but for the time being, he was enjoying just being... himself. Who ever he was.

Kyle grinned wider, almost laughing as he painted her again. The two had bonded fairly well over the short amount of time, like great friends who had known each other for years. "Shizu, I'm not taking a photograph. For the last time, you can move a little bit." He chuckled, shaking his head at her pose. He hardly had to look at the canvas anymore to paint her, his hand seemed guided by itself.

He grabbed a drink from his water bottle he had been smart to bring, then went right on painting. "You're going to love this one. It is even better than the last, but dont even try to ask me how!" He laughed. Ever since he had begun painting her, it was hard for him not to smile. However, it covered up his alias very well, as no one ever suspected him of anything. It made him an even greater spy.

Atlast, he made the final details. He had gotten so much better at his paintings, and in such a short amount of time. Although, it probably came from painting her so much. He had gone from painting her twice a week, to almost twice a day. He couldnt help it. Not only did he love painting her, but he loved being around her. The people in the square didnt even wait up for him anymore, but when someone asked him what he was doing, he would just tell them that he was working on a huge suprise project. It seemed as if the whole village was happier.

Kyle smiled, signed his name, and flipped it over to show Shizu. "Tada. One... more masterpiece." He grinned, proud of his work. "What do you think?"

[ᴍoᴎnster]

Each week that passed for Shizu was a day closer to her secret being found out. She would smile just out of the blue, and it confused her little cousins. Her grandmother told her it had almost given her old heart an attack. She questioned Shizu what had changed in her routine. Shizu just waved at hand at her and said the fresh air she got from training in the heart of Nain Taiyou was doing her good.
And still Yoichi was always breathing down her neck. Although he was always busy with assassinations. She could just feel his eyes on her wherever she went. Even if he wasn’t there. One wrong move and she was dead. Each few days she would wait for him to be on a mission before storing another painting under her bed. Then another. Then another. Her own collection of paintings was becoming large. Soon the floor under her bed would collapse with the amount of paintings.

But Shizu felt the paintings weren’t the only thing to come out of their secret meetings. It was Kyle’s friendship, the time he spent with her. Never had she had a real friendship out side of the family. She had to live in the shadows of playgrounds so kids wouldn’t ask her to play. Or even see her.
To be in these quiet allies, where they could talk and laugh, was magic for the assassin.

She only scrunched her face up at Kyle at his remark. Refusing to move an inch incase it ruined his painting. But as she saw the signs he was making the finishing touches she relaxed. Swinging one leg out in front of her and pulling away from the wall she had been leaning on. Gently grabbing a lock of her out of place hair and frowning at it. Hoping Kyle hadn’t painted it like that. They where always so perfect. A strand out of place on the painting would drive her crazy. She toyed with the stand between her thumb and index finger as she slowly walked over to Kyle. “I hope you didn’t draw my hair all messed up.” She murmured to herself with a frown as she put it back to its place.
When her hands fell the long sleeves of her flowing cream top fell over to hide her hands. It was almost like a short dress, stopping blow her upper thighs where her black tights began to be visible. Not longer did she bring her poison needles in their little satchel. She trusted Kyle enough.
And it was one of the most foolish things an assassin could do.

When he flipped the painting to face Shizu it flipped her pout into a smile. Reaching out and touching the corners of the painting with her eyes staring at another reflection of her self. “I love it.” She replied with looking back up at him. She’d grown so use to his copper eyes and orange hair and how he dressed so brightly in warm colors compared to her dark vintage fashion. Shizu knew the painters expression like the back of her hand. He had become apart of her routine. “I don’t know how you can do it. Each time they seem to be more amazing.” She explained.
Another think Kyle had rubbed off onto her was the ability to talk. Shizu almost spoke to the painter as much as the painter spoke to her. Shizu could hardly be called shy around him anymore.

[∴♪WolfurChickϗ]

Kyle smiled sweetly and glanced down at his painting. "Well, its not hard... seeing as how each time my model seems to get more amazing." He looked back up at her. He had warmed up to her so quickly, and rather than getting bored with his model, he gained more and more interest in painting her. Each day, he looked forward to meeting with her, talking with her, painting her. Sometimes, he took forever to finish a painting, just so that he could spend more time with her.

They had grown a friendship. Kyle knew that with his job, to be friends with someone, or to be more than friends, that was all considered the worst possible thing you could do. But somehow, he had forgotten this. In all the exitement, he had forgotten the most important rule to being a spy. Well, the two most important rules. One: Not to make friendships, and Two: not to let the enemy get to know you.

But he didn't care. These things no longer bothered him. He felt safe around her, and the more he developed a friendship, the more he felt like less and less eyes were on him. He could walk in the front door of almost any establishment, and people trusted him. It made him wonder why spies were told not to make any friendships at all.

He reached his with his hand and ruffled up his orange hair. His gaze locked on Shizu, just like it had weeks ago. The same thought flooded his head, the thought that she was more than a model. To him, she was beautiful. More beauty resided in her than the city could ever give to him, and that was why he had to paint her so much. Even with all her dark clothing and her predictable schedule, she was like a light in a dark and scary tunnel.

He found himself not able to look away. He had NEVER felt this way before. He had never thought of any one as beautiful, or even a little good looking. He never cared for anyone. He only had done his job. He protected people because he was told to. He had saved lives because he was told to. Never because he cared for them.

But with Shizu, something was different. He did care for her. He felt something for her that he couldn't even explain, and it was eating away at him. He had to let it out. It was one secret he couldn't keep anymore, and so he decided it was time to tell somebody. He needed to tell her something. Maybe not everything, because he still didn't understand alot. But he needed to tell her SOMETHING.

"Shizu, do you know why I paint you?"

[ᴍoᴎnster]

Shizu’s pale cheeks turned pink again. Though she didn’t bother to hide it. After the few weeks she had grown use to Kyle’s flattering words making her blush. He would just smile at the simple fact he could get her to blush.  Bushing with Kyle’s words had become apart of her routine. Like so much else about the painter.  After their first meeting Kyle had become apart of her routine.
Every day after school she would quickly meat him. Tell him of the next complicated hiding spot they would meet at. Each time Shizu would be there first and found Kyle had no trouble finding it. Or that Kyle had beaten her to it. They would talk. They would laugh. There would be the moments where Shizu’s cheeks turned pink and her heart  would race a little faster from Kyle’s flattery. Each time casing her to remember all the compliments before that one and send her into a blushing frenzy. Every time he would finish a painting. He’d smile at it and sign his name at the bottom of the page. And every time Shizu couldn’t stop herself from smiling and telling him how much she loved it.

Sometimes it hurt to lie when she was late to their meetings. When she had been caught up in an assassination and time has beaten her. The guilt she felt for having his first painting of her grew stronger with their friendship and she hated not being able to be truly honest with him. Something so big to her routine should of known the other big part of her routine. 
But she was never going to tell him. It would ruin everything she had. Kyle would never trust her. Neither would her family. She would be alone. And in a world with out Kyle and his painting was one she greatly disliked. It would be like a smudge on a window that never whipped away or a painting that always sat crookedly. She would never be able to live with it.

Kyle’s words snapped her from thoughts, where her pink cheeks had dimmed a little and she reached up to brush one of them. Listening to his question quietly before looking down at the painting.  “Do I know why you paint me?” She repeated his question. A small frown falling on her face to show she was thinking. Once more she looked down at her ballet pumps. Dragging one across the ground aimlessly. 

“You paint me, Kyle, because I am unique, a model resident of Nain Taiyou,  because I am art.” Shizu listed a few of the things Kyle had called her. Watching her white ballet pump drag across the ground as she gently tapped her index finger againsted one of her now pale cheeks. She then looked up to the orange haired painter. Sometimes when she’d look into his copper eyes it was had to look away. Even though she had no conscious recollection of the feeling of attraction. Even if it was big. Or just the slightest.
Her mother and farther had trained her not to feel that. Because feeling for another normally got in the way. If she wanted to be the head of the clan. Nothing like boys should go across her head. Even at that time it was a protective farther sort of act. Unlike her brother, a real Casanova or sorts. She hadn’t even been kissed by anyone outside the family. Or noted anyone the slightest bit attractive. 
But still Shizu found she sometimes had to tare her gaze away from his and it would form a pink blush of embarrassment over her face from staring. “Why? What have I missed?”