* Closing the door quietly behind me, I grabbed a pillow off the foot of my bed and climbed into the chair that faced the large picture window. It was a clear night and I was sure the stars shined brightly, but I couldn't see them through the tears. +Takahiro Yanahi DPI had betrayed me. I hated myself for crying, I hated myself even more for allowing Taka into my heart and under my skin. I had no idea where to go from here. I couldn't trust Taka, I didn't have a vehicle. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to follow through with this mission anymore. I leaned my head back on the chair and closed my eyes allowing the quiet to lull me to sleep.
* Closing the door quietly behind me, I grabbed a pillow off the foot of my bed and climbed into the chair that faced the large picture window. It was a clear night and I was sure the stars shined brightly, but I couldn't see them through the tears. +Takahiro Yanahi DPI had betrayed me. I hated myself for crying, I hated myself even more for allowing Taka into my heart and under my skin. I had no idea where to go from here. I couldn't trust Taka, I didn't have a vehicle. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to follow through with this mission anymore. I leaned my head back on the chair and closed my eyes allowing the quiet to lull me to sleep.
A light knock on the door brought me out of my slumber. * Come in. * My voice was hoarse from the tears. Kaiyo opened the door and approached me with a handful of papers. She held them out to me. Looking a her questioningly, I reached out and took them. * You need to read these. * She said quietly. I could tell she was upset and had been crying, but still trying to be strong. Kaiyo walked over to my bed and sat down. I took the letter off the top of the neatly stacked papers and began to read.
Shin'ainaru kyūyū,
Kimiko wa kotoshi kōkō o sotsugyō shinakereba narimasen. Watashi wa kanojo o ani to saikai sa seru tame ni kanojo o Amerika ni tsurete ikitai to omotte imasu. Watashi wa sore ga anata to kaiyo o kurushimete kanojo o sara seru koto o shitte iru. Shikashi, watashi wa anata kara kanojo o tsurete ikou to shite iru wakede wanai koto o rikai shite kudasai. Chōdo kanojo o Osamu ni renraku sa sete kudasai. Watashi wa toshi o totte imasu. Watashi wa henka ga okoru no o kanjiru koto ga dekimasu. Osamu to Kimiko wa, karera ga kyōdaidearu koto o shiru hitsuyō ga arimasu. Oso sugiru mae ni.
匠
(Dear old friend,
Kimiko should graduate from high school this year. I would like to bring her to the United States to reunite her with her brother. I know it will pain you and Kaiyo to let her go. But please understand that I am not trying to take her from you, just put her back into contact with Osamu.
I am getting old. I can feel a change coming. Osamu and Kimiko, need to know that they are siblings. Before it is too late.
Takumi)
I read a side note that was written in my mother's hand writing. This was the last letter received by this Takumi. The name was familiar to me. I knew it wasn't the first time I'd heard it. I read through a couple more letters, wiping away the tears I looked at my sister. I could see in her eyes how worried she was. What this meant. * Kaiyo, this changes nothing when it come to you and me. You are my sister, blood or not, I'd never walk away from you. * She nodded and began to cry tears of relief. I untangled myself from my pillow and chair, taking the letters I snuggled up beside her on my bed. Together we read through some more of the letters. *
* The flood of relief that swept through me was palpable. Even learning what we have, I wouldn't want to live without her. I nudged her. * Are you doing okay with all of this? Did you have any idea? * She thought for a moment before she answered me. * "When mama died, her last words to me were, “I am not your real mother, child. But I loved you as though I was. Remember the fight, trust no one.” * Kaiyo gasped, her hand going to her neck. * "I had no idea what that meant or if what she said was credible, she was....bleeding out right in front of me. But it was that night, that I started having the dreams. It was about a little girl, who watched her family be attacked and killed right in front of her. They didn't kill me, because of my birthmark." * She raised her arm, showing my the birthmark I had seen many times. She shrugged. * "I didn't know who to talk to, who to trust, but I knew for sure, I couldn't ask Senichi about it. So when Senichi sent me on this mission, I didn't hesitate to go." * I breathed a big sigh, getting up the courage to ask her this next question. * Kimiko, what kind of mission are you and Taka on? * I saw fear flash in her eyes. She hesitated to answer and I waited patiently. *
ReplyDelete* I searched my sisters eyes, could she handle the truth. Would she hate me once I told her? How much danger would I be putting her in if she knew the truth? Finally I decided that she deserved the truth. * You may hate me, once you know the truth. * Kaiyo shook her head no. * "I could never hate you Kimiko." * I nodded. * I've been sent out here, to kill the man that Senichi believes killed our mother. I'm an assassin, Kaiyo. I never wanted to do this as a profession. But I'm fast, I'm good with the sword and Senichi didn't give me much choice. * Kaiyo was shaking her head no. * "You don't have an evil bone in your body Kim. How could Senichi cause you to...." * She stopped talking and her eyes went wide. My sister was smart and I knew she had figured it out on her own. * "He threatened to harm or kill mother and I if you didn't obey." * It wasn't a question. * "So the guard he always had with me, wasn't really for my protection, it was so he could have me killed if you didn't obey him." * I knew I didn't have to answer that question either. * Look, I'm not proud of the things I've done. But I'd do anything to keep you safe. * We hugged for a minute and then looked back down at the papers. I saw the birth certificate for the first time and read it. My true last name was Takumi. Warning bells went off in my mind. I jumped out of bed and ran into Taka's room. It was a mess. Apparently he didn't like that Kaiyo had foiled his perfect plan. I walked over to the desk and picked up the file that should have our targets information in it. Kaiyo come flying into the room. * "What is it Kim?" * I opened the file and looked at the name of the target. If read Julian Takumi, also known as Osamu. *
ReplyDelete* Kim turned towards me slowly. * "The doctor, that stitched your hand, the doctor that I was sent to kill. He is my brother." * I thought about the letters I had read, it was all beginning to make sense now. * Kim, Senichi knows that your brother, the doctor could go back to Japan at any time and take his rightful place as alpha. Senichi sent you here to take out your own brother to assure he wouldn't come back and take over the pack. Hell Senichi, probably killed mom himself, only after getting the information on Osamu. * Kim raced passed me again. She grabbed her laptop, turning it on and getting on the internet. Again I chased her back to her room. Kim, what are you doing? * She started typing on her computer. * "I don't have anything to drive and I have to make sure Taka doesn't go after Dr. Takumi." * Kim jumped onto a dealership website in the town closest to McGregor. Found a number and called the dealership asking to be connected to a salesman. After 20 minutes, she had bought a small SUV with 4 wheel drive and the salesman himself said he could have it here first thing in the morning for the generous extra amount she was willing to pay. * My eyes went wide, that was a big chunk of money and she tossed it at them like it was nothing. * How can you afford to do that? * Kim looked up from her computer screen. * "Senichi pays me quite well, to take people out." * I went a little green in the face. * "Tomorrow morning bright and early, we're taking you to get your stitches out."
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