You know what? I might finish this story today. Then again I might not. If I   don't finish it today or tomorrow, then you'll all have to wait for two   weeks, because I won't have a computer. But I just might make you wait, then I might not. I don't know. I haven't decided. Anyway, right now, I'm going to  write this chapter, and I'll decide from there.

The Blossoming of a Rose Part 6
By: Lady Pyro

Une rested her head in her hands, as she leaned on the railing of a bridge. Her reflection stared back at her with hate and loathing, accusing her of  committing some horrible crime.

"Which I have committed by not protecting Treize," mumbled the downcast   woman.

Treize had been taken to the hospital, and the bullet- which had ripped its way through his arm, into his chest, and pierced his left lung- had been removed from its dangerous lodging. Although he had quickly recovered, Une still felt extremely guilty for her blunder.

"I've failed at everything I have ever attempted. I should just end it, before I harm Mister Treize further." She climbed on top of the railing and stepped off, plunging into the chilly water. Her hand was the last thing to descend under the water; and, before it could be completely covered, it was grabbed by a strong hand and pulled up.

Une's hand broke the surface; her arm still being dragged up. She looked towards her rescuer and saw that it was Treize who was now helping her up on to the bridge and draping his coat over her shoulders.

"Une, that was a particularly foolosh thing to do. Why were you trying to drown yourself?"

A breeze blew over the two, and Une shivered, pulling the coat closer around herself. She watched several dead leaves swirl by into the water and silently started away from the lake, the only sound that of the leaves crunching under her feet.

Treize followed her also in silence, but soon Une exclaimed, "Why can't I complete anything? I'm terrible at everything! I can't kill people, and I can't save those same people!"

Trezie took a firm hold on her shoulders and captured her gaze with his. "Lady, I survived. You did not fail me."

Une wrenched herself out of his grasp. "Yes, I did! I should have watched that assassin closer! I shouldn't have made that mistake!"

"One mistake does not damn a person! Don't blame yourself!" he snapped.

Une raised her eyes to Treize's again. She had never heard him raise his voice over a commanding tone, and now he was practically yelling at her; her astonishment almost drowned out her guilt.

"Lady," Treize continued in a softer voice, "somebody was going ot be shot that night. It was going to be either me or Dermail. I was expecting it. There's no need to kill yourself over something you didn't manage to complete. Besides, it would be a shame to die on such a beautiful day." He motioned to the trees, alive with color, and the cloudless, blue sky. He took
hold of her shoulders again. "Forgive yourself. Become your strong self again."

Une nodded. She could be strong, but to do that, the old man who had controlled and meddled with her life would have to die.

Now you should know who her former employer was! I just gave you such an obvious clue! If you don't know it now, I'll just have to tell you! And I don't want to do that. At least not yet. Tell me what you think!

Lady Pyro, who has just eaten several donut holes, some cream savers, and a Crunch bar