Rami's leg had healed in the month's journey from Argentina to France. Jurie still bore scars and stitches but she was able to run around and jump and had even taken to fighting practice with Rami on the deck every morning.

Right now it was evening as Rami prayed at the bow of the ship. The ship crew were very shocked at first. But since he prayed five times a day they soon got used to it and even asked questions about it, whose answers Rami gave with deep meaningful  ecstasy. He seemed livelier than ever. After he finished praying he stood at the bow his green eyes surveyed the calm waters of the English Channel, the soft orange glow of the sun reflected off the blue waters. The sky was filled with a rosy orange light, the clouds were mauve with ribbons of pink lining them.

He gave a content sigh. A large mass emerged in front of him and he soon realised it was land.

The captain of the ship, Captain Moreau cried out "Land aho!"

Rami watched fascinated as the burly shipping crew steered and anchored the ship. He looked at how everything worked. The phrase "it was like clockwork" came to him, for indeed each and every member of the crew were like cogs. Integral and working perfectly in sync like the cogs in a clock.

Jurie bustled up onto deck and a huge grin plastered across her face as she rushed to where Rami was standing and saw land. She seemed to be in a state of feverish excitement as she stood on tip toe leaning towards the sea.

"Any further you'll fall out angel." Said Rami teasingly.

"But angels have wings so even if I do fall out at least I can fly." She retorted playfully.

Rami chuckled softly to himself.

Quite soon they reached the harbour and Takashi, Malek, Kenji and Babbar had come out. Takashi and Malek didn't even acknowledge each other, it was as if one was invisible to the other which Rami thought was the worst insult imaginable. But other than that Rami concluded that in this generation the message of hate probably hadn't come through.

"So we are nearing France?" Asked Babbar.

"Where else would we be heading to?" Retorted Rami. "Russia?"

"I was merely asking." Grumbled Babbar feeling indignant.

Malek put an arm around Rami's neck and pulled him so that Rami's head was down so that Malek could look at it.

"I dare say." Remarked Malek casually. "Your hair has grown back, your mother would be glad that it's lot shorter now. You looked very much like a girl with those long black curly locks."

Meanwhile Rami's face had gone a violent shade of purple. He wheezed vehemently and struggled out of Malek's iron grasp, coughs racking his lungs as he finally managed get out.

"Where you trying to kill me?" He asked once he got his breath back, danger prominent in his very words. "It wouldn't be the first time either."

"My dear little Rami, you need to know the struggles of this world. You are such a pampered little brat, sometimes you need a close brush with death to put you back into place." Said Malek amusement lacing his tone.

"Like I haven't had those already." Then he turned sharply to see Jurie and Kenji holding in their laughter to no avail. He gave them a livid look which only made them laugh harder. But he also noticed that Takashi was stone silent. Something must have happened between him and Malek. Again.

Right then, Captain Moreau, a middle aged man who still held his good looks and swash buckling gait despite the silver in his hair and the wrinkles around his eyes, bounded up to them.

"I fear it is time to say goodbye. I daresay you have been one of my best passengers. It has been an honour."

"It was an honour to be on such a fine ship as the Verity." Replied Jurie politely.

"Indeed she is a fine ship. Been around world she has."

He kissed Jurie's hand and gave each of the men a warm hug before he ordered for the plank to be lowered. Saying his final goodbye to the Captain, Rami turned to Jurie and proffered her his hand.

"May I?" He asked.

Jurie smiled and gave her hand to him and together they walked down the plank.

Rami was entranced by her. Her dainty gait and the proud hold of her well sculpted neck and shoulders enchanted him. Her smile and honey amber eyes were full of liveliness and it seemed to captivate his eyes and held them in place. He knew he was falling down this abyss known as love, a dark abyss full danger and delight. But alas these violent delights have violent ends. He would crash, a mangled and bloodied mess beyond repair. But he couldn't care less. He was enjoying the fall.

He was so entranced that he didn't notice his surroundings until the oh so familiar voice of his grandmother called out.

"Hmar! (Donkey!) What are you doing with the Capulet girl?! I didn't raise you to be like this!"

"Baka! (Idiot!)" Shouted another elderly woman's voice. "You insult the family name! Standing around with a Montague!"

The two elderly voices started an argument, by now he knew it was Saiya and Ajlal. But Rami couldn't discern what they were saying. All he felt was Jurie's hand leave him, then he saw look on his parents (especially the livid one of his mother's) and the faces of their rivals.

~~~~~

Jerking her hand out of Rami's, Jurie spun around and faced her grandmother. 

"Obaa-sama!" (Grandmother) She called out. 

Saiya's expression remained furious, her mouth curled into a nasty snarl, but it was the slight twinkle of her eyes that gave away her interest and amusement of Jurie's situation. Jurie turned to face her mother, whom, dressed in the traditional patterned kimono, with her hair writhed into a tight bun, looked both stunning and stern. Her face was turned away from Jurie, in shame. Her father. Well. He looked murderous. She took in the shadows that his hair cast over his face, the slitted angry eyes, the clenched jaw and the shaking fists. She gulped. 

There was no saving her now. 

Setting back her shoulders, Jurie walked forward. "Otou-sama. Okaa-sama." (Father. Mother.) She addressed her parents, bowing at exactly 90 degrees before straightening back up. 

SNAP! Jurie's face flew to the side from the force of her father's slap. Her left cheek burned, her eyes teared up and a tight lump formed in her throat. She swallowed, pushing it down, along with the strong feeling to cup her stinging cheek. 

From the side of her eye, she saw Takashi's eyes widen before he closed them, and shook his head, holding his fists at his side. Kenji's grip on his sword tightened and turned his face away. 

Humiliation. 

That's how her father liked to punish her. Humiliate her in front of the whole clan, to enforce the rules and ways he wanted her to follow. 

Her mother and grandmother watched  as her father continued with his punishment. 

A punch to her upper abdominals.

To her torso. Just where it has just healed. She hid a wince. 

A punch to her lower abdominals.

And lastly another, but to her right cheek. 

"YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO THE CLAN JURIE!!" He roared. Purposely speaking in English so that all the other clans present would be aware of exactly what was going on. 

Jurie's face burned. Not because of the slaps. But because of the shame that she felt, pulsing around and around her whole body. 

"YOU STUPID B****!!! I SHOULD KICK YOU OUT!! YOU UNGRATEFUL DIRTY WENCH!!!!" 

Jurie bowed low to the ground.  "Taihen mōshiwakegozaimasen Otou-sama so shite minna no Kyapureto kuran." (I am deeply sorry Father, and everyone of the Capulet Clan.) Jurie choked out. 

"YOU SULLIED S****!!!" Her father yelled. "GET THE F*** OUT OF MY SIGHT!!" He kicked her down to the ground and swept away, a monsoon of fury. 

The young Shadow Princess, lay on the ground, weak and defenceless. 

How shameful. 

She felt degraded, shamed, unclean, defeated and was a traitor to her clan. She would be unwanted. And a failure of an heiress. An unworthy member of the Capulet Clan. If she was lucky she wouldn't be discarded from the clan, but would have to return the favour by working her way all the way up again. 

She was tired. Just so tired. She neither had the time nor the effort to dwell on the things that had been said and the things that had been done. Picking herself up she gingerly tested her injuries and began walking in the same direction as the rest of her clan. She would prove herself. Just like she did again and again. And would keep proving until she became the respected and admired person she would become. The woman who would be worthy of the title of the heiress of the Capulet Assassin Clan. 

~~~~~

OH SHIZ! Who's hating Mr. Capulet, because I certainly am. (Thank you Thea for making the audience imagine 101 ways to kill Mr. Capulet.).

But do tell us what you think. George Clooney as Captain Moreau. XD