Unexpected Reunion

[Shawn]

Shawn always on the walk performing his task all across the DDE. That is why, he is one of Ace of the 7 DW who able to finish many task in a short time. After finishing his deed recently somewhere in Ianne, he now arrived Aquair Lake which he choose to be his resting spot. He always knows how to take care of himself in not trying to push himself too much during doing his task. After all, assassination isn't an easy job. Aside from that, he is awaiting for his daily order from Victor via his phone. Most of the 7 DW member will take a task directly from Victor, but not Shawn, just a simple text are enough.

Finding a spot around the lake, he slowly walks while viewing the peaceful and beautiful scenery of the lake. Nothing runs in his mind except in remembering his old mission which he had abandoned long before. To kill Alessa. He remind of this place is similar, since Alessa was at the lake in her hometown before. Among all of his task, only this one he failed to complete. It is because, he had a feeling for her. Unable to accept his feeling, he abandon that task and refuse to talk about it with Victor. Thou he is well aware that Victor knew his issues and he can't do much about it. With the news that Alessa has reached DDE can only make him wonder if fate does let them meet again, what would he do? What would she do? Did she even remember him? He shrugs, doubting it.

As he walks around the lake, his movement suddenly stop. Shawn froze on his spot when he spot someone. Someone that he never even thought could appear right in front of him. 'I-it can't be, A-Alessa!'

[Tag : Alessa]

[Alessa]

It's been a while since Alessa visited Aquair Lake since the time she met Mitsuko for the first time. She can't help it but to feel longing in visiting the lake as the lake remind her so much of her home town. The scenery and the soil, and she too planned to plant some of the moonlight flower of hers around the lake since the flower suits to be part of the lake. She will be very happy if the lake got prettier when the flower blooms during full moon.

As she walks around the lake to find a good spot to plant the flower, she realized that there is someone is here. A man, with black coat, already noticed her before she knew it. Alessa was about to be on defensive, but the person who stood in front of her has a familiar face that she once knew not so long ago in her hometown. Unconsciously, she spoke "K-Kuro-san?". A nickname gave to Shawn by Neil in the past, as Shawn din't even give them a name when Neil ask while Alessa was attending Shawn as a waitress in her family Inn. She never expected, that a customer who vanish in one night suddenly appeared before her, in DDE.

[Shawn]

Shawn was shocked to even meet Alessa out of the sudden. Whats more to it, Alessa remembered him from their previous meeting. At the first thought, Shawn would likely to disappear from the scene like how he did many time before when he doesn't wanted to be bothered when resting. In Shawn's mind, he really can't take the risk to even start a conversation with Alessa as she probably might know that he is part of the 7 DW sooner or later since Victor did mentioned about it to her when he fought with Lilith before. Despite that, Shawn can't help it but to stare at Alessa who are still in curious and innocent look.

"You've grown prettier..." Shawn somehow said it before he was able to restrain it. He can only stutters and look away as it was stupid of him to even start a convo, let alone giving a direct compliment to Alessa. It's not part of the plan, but despite how Shawn wanted to stay away from Alessa... the moment he face Alessa, he really don't want to leave her.

"Pardon, I... unconsciously said that," he rubs his cheek with his pointy finger. Shawn don't want to lose this opportunity. To be able to talk with Alessa, again. Like the good old time. Alessa and Neil, was the only person whom he consider as a friend in the past, thou as for Alessa, his feeling for her somehow are more than that. Hating the fact that he shouldn't take the chance as he is an assassin that once tries to kill her, he stubbornly put aside all the worries and precaution. It's only him and her now, alone.

[Alessa]

Right now, Alessa can only exchange stare with Shawn as he dint quiet respond when she call out his nickname. But, the moment when Shawn suddenly mentioned that she has grown prettier... "E-eeh?" Alessa face turns all red with embarrassment to hear such compliment out of the sudden. It's true that its been years since she talked with Shawn, but to received such compliment from him really was out of Alessa's thought. When Shawn suddenly apologize for giving a sudden compliment, Alessa gave sweet smile to him and said "Thank you, Kuro-san,".

Alessa never thought that Shawn still remember her even after years they never met. Either so, Alessa felt very happy because she is reunited with an old friend whom she thought she won't be able to meet again. 'If only Neil was here, he should be happy too...' Alessa gave a slight sad face when she think about it but decided to not feel down as she don't want to worried Shawn right after they just met after so long. "How have you been all along, Kuro-san? I hope you are doing well, did you manage to heal your disease somehow?" Alessa ask cheerfully. Not knowing that the 'disease' was actually a curse given to Shawn long time before, Alessa can't help but to worried about it sine the last time when Shawn was struck by the pain before, it frightened her. She can see how painful when the 'disease' struck Shawn, and she hope that he was fully heal from it.

[Shawn]

Shawn could see Alessa's face goes all red when he gave that compliment. Of course, she would react like that. When he did try to figure out if his pardon aren't enough, he was mesmerized when Alessa simply gave him her warm smile with a thank you. 'She's really getting prettier...' Shawn thought.

He could see that Alessa had a slight changes of expression when she was thinking of something. Knowing the fact about her, he figures that she was thinking bout Neil. When Alessa asked him about his disease, he can only shake his head as a sign that it din't heal. Despite the curse actually were made for him to suffer, he is grateful to it since it is the reason why he got be-friend with Neil and Alessa.

In the past, Neil really got pretty close to Shawn as he keep on sticking with Shawn despite being ignored a lot by him. The reason how they end up being a friend is because of the 'curse' that has been inflicted by Shawn. Shawn refuse to tell them the details in the past, so they assume it as a disease inflicted by Shawn. Neil helped him during the curse struck him down with all of his will until he bring him to the inn and tries his best to ease him. No one really ever tries to help him out like that, despite with the curse he had on his eyes, Neil are still too stubborn to stay away from him. So does Alessa, whom was not even effected by it.

Staring Alessa's eye who coincidentally have the same color as his, he wonders if she really aren't effected by his eyes. At the same time, he can see in her eyes that she is worried about something. Curious about it, he ask. "Does something matter?" He ask while carefully observing eyes, who is somehow watching a band on his left arm. He is worried now, since that band is the sign of his organization. The 7 Deadly Weapon. "Is there something wrong with this band?" Shawn ask. He had to confirmed it. If Alessa know that he is an assassin, he had no choice but to cast her away. He don't really want her to be involve with his work, which will endanger her life.

[Alessa]

Alessa feel sad when Shawn declare that his disease was still not healed. "D-does it still hurting you? I... really can't imagine how you got through it all this time..."Alessa look down with her one hand covering her mouth. She is worried about Shawn's condition, burden with such disease.

When she lift her head back up to face Shawn as she was about to say something, Shawn eyes was staring at her which makes her flustered and gets nervous out of the sudden. More to that, Shawn really doesn't talk a lot, which he always does in the past. To avoid the awkwardness, Alessa tries to make a topic while trying to not look directly on his eyes until she suddenly noticed a band on Shawn's uniform. Her face goes pale when she saw it, it is no doubt, it is the symbol of the 7 DW. Alessa had encounter them in the past and was really fear and angry at the same time after what they did to Lilith.

When Shawn suddenly asked her if there is something wrong she quickly shakes her head and looks down. "I-its nothing. I-I just, thought of something unpleasant just now," she tries to smile at him. She tries to not accept the fact that Shawn is not an assassin. With her heart at doubt, Shawn suddenly ask if she was worried about that band on his right shoulder. Unable to give her answer right, she can only reply with another question. "K-Kuro-san, w-what job did you exactly do,"she stutters when asking that question. She really wanted to know and confirm that Shawn is not part of 7 DW. If she does, she might had to fight him, which she never really want to. It's torn her apart just to think of that.

[Shawn]

Shawn can only smile watching the always worrying girl. He think that the curse scared her a lot, seeing that it almost like watching a person with a heart attack, but more into pain. 'She is cute when she is in worry' he thought.

Shawn noticed that his stare makes Alessa anxious. He knew it wasn't the effect of his eye, since it work differently, Shawn mostly Answer yes and no to Alessa's questions when she tries to make lots of topic, since he really can't say much about himself to her.

Right now, Shawn worries has come true. Alessa was worrying about the band since she refuse to tell him whats wrong after watching that band. Before he was able to speak, Alessa suddenly ask him, what is his job. 'So, this is it...' Shawn taught. He guess its time to tell her the truth, he shouldn't get close to Alessa no more, since it will endanger her more.

Closing his eye as he was gaining his strength to reply, he had made his decision, to make her fear him. "I'm an Assassin," Shawn said that in cold tone. "I believe, you already know, which organization I belong," Shawn eye's goes in his serious mood. Taking one of his guns out, he point it on Alessa, trying to make it real that he is serious about it. "Victor had informed me about you, it is a shame that we have to part now,"he close his eye for a second before opening it as he tries to maintain his act. "I'm sorry, the order is to kill you..." he took a shot. The shot din't hit as he purposely does it, despite how it miss, it clearly just about to hit her shoulder. "I owe you in the past, so... I will let you go, we should not meet again. The next time we meet, you'll be my target," he said that in serious tone with his sharp glare at Alessa. He do what he has to do. He hopes that Alessa will run away from him. And take note that 7 DW has make it official to hunt her down. It's for the best. It hurts him to scare her like that, but he had no choice.

[Alessa]

Alessa is getting more worried when Clark only remain silent when she ask him about his job. She really hope that he denies it. She is not prepared to face him if he is part of the 7 DW. Before she was able to tell Shawn to forget about her question, Shawn replied. Her fear just came true. Her face turn pale and her body feels like a force is pushing her backward.

"N-No, i-its... not true," her voice stutters and low, as she really can't believe it. Truth hurts her more when Shawn even told her that he is part of 7 DW. Her fear deepens when Shawn suddenly took out a gun and point at her. She startled and quickly grab her necklace in order to defend herself. 'T-this not real, K-Kuro i-is trying to-' as she tries to process the current situation right now, Shawn suddenly pulled the trigger when he mentioned about the order to kill l her. Alessa froze. The shot din't hit her, but passing right above her left shoulder. Her body starts to shiver. Taking the fact that Shawn is serious about it. Tears start to develop as she tries too look at Shawn's eyes if he was really serious about killing her.

For a brief moment, Alessa can see sadness in Shawn's eye when he said that he'll let her go. What's more to that, Alessa somehow can see how Shawn tries to hide the fact, that it is hurting him to say that they shouldn't meet again. She suddenly remembered what Neil once told her about Shawn. "Kuro is that type of person that will always push you away from him, despite wanting a company. Really, that hopeless guy," - Neil. What Neil said is true, she can see it as Shawn threatened her that he would kill her if ever they meet again. Tears drop from her eyes. It pains her to see how Shawn tries his best to push her away. So this is what Neil meant to her, that Shawn is actually is a cold person in disguised.

"Why..." she tries to let out her voice. "W-why-" she stutters her word. It's hard for her to say it with her conditions right now. Summoning all her strength, she finally able to say it. "Then why, I see sadness in your eye when wanting me to go away?". Alessa do not want to part with Shawn. She treasure their friendship in the past, and will not let it ends just like this.

[Shawn]

After firing that shot, Shawn can see the fear in Alessa's eye. She was confused and hurt by the truth until she can't believe what he said. When Shawn notice the tears in Alessa's eye, he almost stutters but controls it, not wanting for Alessa to notice that he din't mean to do all of this. Also taking the note that Alessa's hand is on her necklace, which mean that she is ready to fight. According to Victor's note, the necklace transform into a Katana with Lightning element.

As Shawn prepared himself for a fight with Alessa, he noticed that Alessa's eye are directly looking at his. 'D-Dammit Alessa, if you keep on with that kind of look, It'll be harder for me' he thought. It hurts him to see her like that specially when her tears starting to drop. Shawn clench his idling fist just to maintain his act. 'Please, don't cry in front of me...'he can only said it in his heart.

Suddenly, Alessa tries to speak. It seems that its troubling her to speak, and Shawn can only pity her. 'Why? If only I can tell the reason why...' he thought. To his surprised, Alessa suddenly told him that she knows what he is trying to do. Widening his eyes as he was in shocked, he never expected that Alessa could read his thought despite how good he tries to hide it. Almost breaking his act, he tries to threatened her one more time until suddenly, the curse of agony struck him again. The sudden pain, crushing his heart to such degree that it alter all of his body movements. Accidentally, he pulled another trigger. The shot hits Alessa, causing her to fall on her knees. With the excruciating pain and shock on what happened, he yelled. "Alessa!!!".

Despite wanting to check on Alessa's condition, the pain was too much even for Shawn. His fall on the ground while holding where his heart is. He should be unconscious by now due to the pain, but his will stop him from fainting, in order to help Alessa. 'What have I done!? I don't want this! Alessa! Oh god, please, not her. Not her!" With all his might, he tries to fight with the pain in order to not faint. He hope that the curse faded soon, so he can quickly save Alessa. He doesn't know if the shot hit her would be fatal. He never felt that desperate in his life.

[Alessa]

Alessa want Shawn to be honest with himself more. When her word somehow does an effect to Shawn, she knew that he was actually acting in order to scare her away. Suddenly, she hear Shawn suddenly shriek in pain. Without a moment to react, another gun shot was fired. She can feel something hit her left shoulder. The force stumbles her till she falls to her knees.

Luckily, the shot only hit and leave a minor scratch on her shoulder. After recovering from the shot, Alessa is startled with Shawn condition."K-Kuro-san!" she call Shawn out. 'It's the disease! Oh my, Kuro-san!' Ignoring her injuries, she rushes to Shawn and tries to help him somehow. She is panicking. She doesn't know what to do. Calming herself down, she quickly took her handkerchief from her bag and rush to the lake and soak it before returning back to Shawn to apply it on Shawn's head. Holding Shawn's hand out of her worrying instinct. She can only tries to calm him down by gently telling him that it's gonna be alright, just like how Mitsuko always does to her. She hopes that this will work to him, as she can't see him like this. Tears started to flow from her eyes as it pains her too much to see Shawn to suffer like. Praying hard so that the pain would stop.

[Shawn]

'Thank god!' Shawn thought in himself. He never felt that relief in his life when knowing that the shot did not hit Alessa seriously as she walks towards him. Despite he is still worries about Alessa's conditions, the pain was too excruciating for him to even think properly. Alessa is now staying besides him with panic written all over her faces. He can see how she rush towards the lake before coming to him before applying the soak handkerchief on his forehead which surprise him that Alessa still wanting to help him despite the threat he gives.

Shawn actually feels calmer with Alessa by his side and it adds up when Alessa even hold his hand. To receive such care from Alessa whom is crying with worries, the pain subside slowly before disappearing. Finally, he able to breath normally and tries to fix his posture and sits down in order to rest himself from the sudden pain he just received. Still with his hand hold by Alessa, he look at her before finally can say something from his heart with a grateful smile. "Thank you very much, Alessa,"

[Alessa]

Alessa was glad to see when Shawn finally recovers from his pain. Still with tears flowing from her eyes as she sobs, feeling relief that Shawn is alright. It fears her every time when she sees Shawn struct by the pain when the curse struck him. It also hurts her too, as it is her nature to feel pain whenever she see someone in pain. "T-t-thank god, y-you're alright," she stutters her words as she tries to control her tears. "I-I didn't know w-what to do, I-I'm sorry," she apologies as she cries, feeling helpless since she din't know how to help Shawn overcome the curse. She only knew it as a kind of disease. She understand Shawn's pain as she too, have a disease of her own, which she kept in secrets from anyone. She was afraid, that Shawn might dies from that sickness, and that will be one one of her nightmare if so does happens.

[Shawn]

Shawn can only look at the weeping Alessa with a gentle stare. It must has been tough for her to see him like that. He remembers clearly the time when the first time Alessa sees him in that situation, its like giving her a nightmare. With silent, he listen to Alessa's weeping voice as she was glad and sorry for not able to do anything to help him. To him, for her to even stays by his side even after all of that threat is enough for him. He is thankful to Alessa from his heart.

'I'm in love with you... but I wonder if it is right for me to tell you now,' he thought deeply. He is an assassin that tries to kill her in the past. Now, his organization even put a mark on Alessa and also her little sister Lilith. It makes him feel that he is not worthy to confess to her. Now, he can only thinks to find a way to calming the crying Alessa. And he knew how... by teasing.

"Say Alessa, you finally able to get use with holding a man's hand?" Shawn speak as he grin teasingly while showing his hand that are still being hold tightly by Alessa. All this time, he is being cold towards her, because he is keeping his identity as an Assassin. Now that his covers are out, he no longer have the needs to hide his true personality to her.

[Alessa]

Things goes awkwardly quiet apart from the sound of her weeping voices. Alessa tries to calm herself down, but she fails to do so. From what she known of Shawn, he is the quiet type and rarely talk. She tries to get a hold of herself so she could say something to him to break this awkward silence. Suddenly, Shawn speaks, not just that, but teasing her with her shyness as he slowly lift his hand that are still hold tightly by Alessa herself to show it to her.

Realizing that she actually is holding his hand, she quickly release Shawn's hand as she blush very hard. "N-No y-you got it wrong!" embarassed, she who is sitting with her knees, can only put both of her hand on her laps as she clench it while not looking directly at Shawn's eyes. She always have problem with her shyness, specially towards men and Shawn knows it. She din't know why he suddenly tease her like that. Little do she know, she actually getting calmer when he tease her.

[Shawn]

Knowing that Alessa finally stops crying which even she din't realize it, he continues in teasing her. "Really, you are holding my hand so tightly, I thought you already get over your shyness for a moment," he smirk. "You should be careful, you are pretty. Any man could instantly fall for you if they got their hand been hold by you," he laugh in teasing manner. He know that Alessa can be pretty cute whenever she is being teased. The panic and flustered looks she gives is the reason why it is worth to tease her such.