TRUST ME by Ʋis -> aeris_t@edsamail.com.ph (and this is final!!!) Well, guys, my sister's been nagging me on and on about this fic, so I'm gonna finish this once and for all. Here it is! Finally! ********************************************************************** TEN ********************************************************************** Peter Bray sat back in his chair at his own room in the building rented by the agency. It was a stinking place, run-down, near to rusting and all, but it served his purposes. And once more, it has brought him luck. Was it just his imagination, or are the stars blessing him? Once again, another twist of fate came his way. Seiya Kou had just employed his enemy to be his man. But even though such a thing happened, he still was careful about his moves. After all, anything can happen. Tori Tsukino, his target, was only one day away from experiencing Death. She was going to kill herself from grief right before the first light hits LA tomorrow. It was going to be one clean sweep. Yet, in spite of himself, Bray feels sorry for this bitch, and he doesn't know why. With less than ten seconds of thought about it, he shrugged the matter off and proceeded to Moonlight Theater. If that Idol Singer finds out he's just been sitting around, twisting him around his stubby finger, he's gonna have some hard explaining to do... Peter Bray snapped back to reality and gathered his ideas. In a few minutes, he was on his way home to prepare for his final job. "After this," he muttered under his breath, "I definitely have to retire. Work's beginning to catch up on my age, or is it the other way around?" Seiya was getting restless. He's been told that Peter Bray was the best guy around -- the men in the agency but somehow it doesn't feel right. There was something really wrong about that man -- other than his irritating I-know-something-you-don't-and-don't-even-think-of- trying-to-find-out look -- that makes Seiya's hair creep. What can he do? Well, since the guys at the agency had been bragging on and on about Bray's excellence, we might as well start with that. In a flicker of the light, Seiya was headed for the agency. "I never thought snooping was THIS exhausting," Seiya exclaimed as he searched through an assortment of papers stacked in Bray's office. He was lucky enough to find out that Bray has gone home and won't be back until the next day. It was most unusual, though, 'coz it was the middle of the afternoon! A dozen "what if"s coming into his head was relieved when he was told that it was Bray's schedule and that he sticks to it. "He ne'er -- yep, I tol' ye, not e'en once -- he ne'er broke tha' ritua'!" Right then, he acted as if he was dismayed when actually, a glimmer can be seen inside. The man in the reception desk looked convinced, though. Then, for the very first time in his whole damned life, Seiya broke into someone's window. And more than that -- he broke into a SPY's window to snoop about him. Ridiculous, isn't it? Bray's office was really neat -- probably the reason they pay the maid -- except for the desk. It was probable that most of the jobs that the agency come across were quite private, a reason for this situation. But then, this is more than ridiculous, this is absurd! Paper was really piled on top of the table in absolute disarray. Most of the stuff he found on top of Bray's desk were pure garbage and stuff that are most unimportant. Once in a while one would even come across a candy wrapper and a receipt for a pizza delivery. The sun was setting, yet Seiya was still in the yet fruitless search to satisfy his suspicions about the man he just hired. "This is stupid," Seiya said suddenly. "What exactly am I looking for? Some stupid little black book?" Right there and then, something fell into his hands. Well, what do you know, it actually was little, black, and a book -- plus, it contains telephone numbers! "What a coincidence," he said, smirking. Out of impulse, he started searching. At first, it seemed to be a fruitless search, but then his eyes caught something. It read: Judy Russell - Has lung cancer, and might just die earlier than expected. Heidi Russell/Tiff Watson 555-2415 Watson? Suddenly his finger was trembling, and he was sweating profusely. He quickly turned to the page marked by the flag labeled "S, T". What he saw made him stop thinking all over, and a creepy feeling was beginning to crawl up his spine. On the bottom of that page was scrawled: Teresa Tsukino - Emotional little thing, a little suicidal Seiya gasped. "I gotta get out of here!" Under his breath: that #*%$^&@ bastard! In his apartment in downtown LA, Peter Bray gathered up all the things he needed for the project which was going to be finished this very night. In the bag, he put about five sleeping pills, two identical plastic cups, a radio device and a peculiar outfit. The things he had necessary were not many, but they were sufficient to his uses. With a smile playing on his lips, Bray went out and headed for the hotel Teresa Tsukino was resting in. Seiya did not even bother to fix the desk as he found it. "I doubt any one would even notice the difference." As soon as he realized what was on that stupid jerk's mind, he scrambled out the window and headed for Tori's apartment. He was in his car, on his way, with his cellphone in his hand. He dialed Tori's number. A busy tone answered his call. "Shit!" On the other end of the line, Teresa was ordering pizza. "Yeah," she was saying. "What about drinks?" the guy on the other end asked. "Don't you want them? How about some Pepsi?" "Why not?" Teresa shrugged. "One cup would be just fine." "So that's it. One personal pan pizza and a cup of Pepsi is all?" "Yep." "Okay. Ciao, baby!" Teresa laughed, and then hung up. She sighed. The guy at the pizza delivery was a real darling, funny and all. But she has no real romantic interest him. He's just an amusing kid, that's all. Her thoughts were about to drift into considering dating that guy when the phone rang again. "Hello?" A breathless voice came on the line. "Tori, you gotta get out of there right now. Man, somebody's trying to kill you. He was behind it all, Tori. You gotta get out!" "What do you mean? Who are you?" "It's me, Sei--" The doorbell rang, and Teresa was more interested in the pizza than this freak caller. "Look here. Whoever you are, I don't care about this killing stuff, and I don't have time for it either. I've just gone through a lot, so please cut it out!" "Believe me, Tori. He's gonna kill you, and right this day! Tori!" The doorbell rang again. "Look, I gotta go. Bye." Ane she hung up. She opened the door and was surprised to see a new delivery boy. Actually, he doesn't even LOOK like a boy. He looks like a 40-year old guy, with a gloomy aura about him. "Here's yer pizza," he said in a ragged voice, "And here's yer drink." "Thanks." And then the man went out without even asking for the payment. "Weird," Teresa said, shaking her head. Seiya could not believe it. If Tori would not believe it, then he would have to show her. But time was running out, for both of them. He needs to go to Tori's place... and fast. But there was one other thing he has to consider... How does he get out of this traffic? Peter Bray smiled as he left Teresa Tsukino's flat. Behind his back, he carried the plastic bag he prepared before he left his apartment. Walking down the busy street, he eyed a garbage can; as he passes by it, he dumps the bag. As he leaves, his smile grows wider. "Mission - accomplished." The first place that Peter Bray went to was Tiff's secretly occupied office. It was the place where he was given the assignment of Teresa Tsukino, and it will also be the place they will comply with their agreement. It will also be the place to celebrate. At the very moment he entered the room, Tiff thrust a glass in his hand. "To our victory." "Yes, to our victory." Bray eyed Tiff warily as they drained their glasses. Tiff sighed in appreciation of the drink. She looked at Bray. "Some more?" "No thanks," Bray said, and seated himself. "Very well." She proceeded to help herself to another glass. "Um, about the payment..." "Ah, yes. A check in the name of Dark Sun, Ltd. will arrive at your doorstep tomorrow." Bray nodded. Still, he eyed her. He feels something different. There was not that sheer pleasure he usually has after an assignment. Instead, there was something, some anxiety, a feeling nagging at him. Tiff noticed this difference. "Are you alright?" Bray did not respond. "Bray? Are you alright?" Tiff repeated. "Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm fine." "As you say." They sat in silence for only a few seconds when a knock was heard through the door. "It must be the room service," Tiff said. "Wait awhile..." She opened the door to two policemen. "LAPD," one said, throwing their badges in her face. "Heidi Russell a.k.a. Tiff Watson, you are under arrest for the crime of attempted murder of Teresa Tsukino and Serena Tsukino a.k.a. Bunny Thompson..." Tiff could not believe what she was hearing. "What do you mean 'attempted murder'? Get your hands off me!" "You have the right to remain silent..." Bray could neither speak nor move, he could only watch in astonishments, thinking, I did not kill Teresa Tsukino? I did not kill her? She is alive? Unbelievable... His thoughts were interrupted by the cold feel of metal over his wrists, accompanied by a loud click. "That goes for you too, buddy." It was three months later. Only three months have passed, yet it seemed like eternity. So much has happened, so much is done. All were back to normal again... Or were they? It depends upon one's definition of normal... The trial was over and, of course, the guilty party were sentenced guilty. Of course, the news swept across the country but by now, the press has found another prey. Teresa has recovered from her near-death experience, and has resumed directing. She and Cloud have settled their differences, and were going out again. Actually, Cloud has already asked her to marry him, but they decided to take some time to make things right again before taking another step. Serena has also resumed her career, but not her relationship with Darien. She has, however, refused to let Seiya take the wrong idea about the rejection. She made it clear that she would not be having relationships with anyone as of then. Her primary commitment would be to her career, she said, and to her family. And that, of course, includes her never-ending soap, Trust Me. "I'm sorry," she began delivering her lines, "but I can't. This - This charade has gone on for too long. And, there's something I have to tell you." She paused and took a deep breath for effect. "I - I don't love you. I thought I did, but I didn't. And when HE came along my way..." Her partner, Gary, shook his head. "No. This can't be. This is NOT it. Tell me it's not true. Tell me, tell me that you still love me, and - and that - that everything will be back to normal. Tell me, please..." "I - I don't know what to say..." Just then, out of nowhere, popped Darien. "Tell me you still love me, and that you care..." Serena was shocked. "What - What are you doing here?" Gary was mad. "Yeah, what the hell is he doing here?" Darien ignored him, and took a step further. The director's reaction was a bit different... "Keep rolling, keep rolling... Man, this is juicy stuff!" Okay, so it's a whole lot different. Darien took another step, and he was right in front of Serena, who was trembling, still unable to speak. He took one hand, squeezed it, then kneeled down before her. "It's not over yet, Serena. Our problems were different. They were just confusion, misunderstandings... They were nothing. Just things to keep us from being together. In the end, all that matters is love. And, I love you Serena. More than anything in the world, it is you who I care about. Without you in my life, it's empty, like life itself abandoned me. Come back, Serena. Give me your life, your love, your friendship, your care, your understanding, your trust... Give me you. Trust me again, and I promise that I won't break it. Trust me again, I'd give you something all this fancy world can't give you - my love. I love you, Serena." He kissed the hand he held, then took the other one and kissed it too. The he stood up and gathered her in his arms. Serena buried her head in his chest. Tears began to flow from her eyes. She whispered in a voice barely audible, "I love you, too." "Cut. Man, I've got great stuff. I'm gonna get rich!" In the midst of it all, four women and two cats appeared. "We made it! Yes, yes, yes!" "Hey, we're in Hollywood!" "Yeah, we finally came here." "Where's Serena?" "Um, guys? We're just a little bit too late..." END Hey, I finished it. I mean, I FINISHED IT! Yeah, I finally finished this stupid thing! Great! I'm great! Hey, people send me comments, flames, anything at all. I've got another address. It's aeris_t@edsamail.com.ph and it's FINAL! Yeah!