6

I watch the clock hand swing and I grow impatient. It's nine-thirty and the annoyance is felt. I've been cooking my sister's breakfast for six hours already and she's still hibernating in her room. Nine o'clock is very late, she won't be able to do anything with her day if it continues.

Unless she no longer sleeps and remains cloistered in her room not having the courage to face me?

I do not think so. Yuna is a person who, when she is hungry, can't stop eating. She is a real foodie.

My fingers snap frantically against the table and my thoughts wander. If this time, she did not forgive me for my behavior?

My sister only knows a small part of my chaotic life. I have undergone, known, felt, seen, suffered, supported, tolerated, disputed many, many things. I'm ashamed of it. I have neither the desire nor the faith to talk about it. I also don't want her to worry about me any more than she already does.

I jump when I hear his room open. I straighten up and look at her. She walks without much enthusiasm and pulls her suitcase out of the room. She is already dressed but her facial features are drawn. Hardly has she woken up that she intends to leave me? Did she really want to tiptoe away?

I clear my throat and she turns around. She seems surprised. She doesn't dare look me in the eye, I'm not afraid to.

"Were you planning to leave already?" I throw.

"E...Ella?" I...

"Look, I'm sorry about yesterday," I finally said. I didn't mean to scare you.

She stops and looks me up and down. She passes her hand over her face and that's how I see her red eyes. She must have cried all night, my fault.

- Yet you did.

I lower my head and stroke my fingers nervously.

- I made you a breakfast, with everything you like. There's hot chocolate, specialty cookies from Ben's Cookies, eggs, bacon, and black bread.

She frowns, wary of this gesture of attention but steps closer. She ends up sitting down in front of the dish, still very skeptical.

- What are you playing Ella?

- I want to be forgiven, I answer tit for tat.

She observes the dish carefully and her face softens when she sees the writing: I'm sorry.

She picks up her fork delicately and points it towards her plate.

Suddenly she raises her face to me and slowly pushes her plate away. I open my eyes wide, intrigued by his reaction.

- No Ella, no I can not. You're sorry for the moment and I know very well that when we discuss the subject of my marriage or the past you will take it out on me.

— No, let's see Yuna, you're my sister.

She laughs bitterly and I feel my control over the situation slipping away. She gets up from her chair cautiously and sighs.

— This attention means a lot to me. But you're not ready. I shouldn't have rushed things on my way back.

- What do you mean?

I frown.

- I would wait, I would wait until you need me to come back.

“Yuna, I need you.

She walks over to me and hugs me. I'd bet her eyes are watery and she's making a superhuman effort not to snap. I inhale its sweet coconut scent and I feel like my heart is swelling, not yet...

- No Ella. I'll come back I promise you, but the day you finally turn the page or have the courage to explain to me what's bothering you so much, you'll call me and I'll come back.

“That's ridiculous,” I say.

She kisses me on the cheek, I remain marble from the outside, but I have the big urge to empty myself of all my tears. His decision is made, my opinion will not change anything.

“You know where to find me. When you finally have the kindness to tell me what's on your mind, I'll be there.

I don't have the courage to watch her walk away. I stare at this breakfast that is supposed to cheer him up. Fuck it. I find myself alone again because of my bullshit. I put my arm on the table and throw everything on it. It makes a terrible noise mixed with my cry.

I grab my cell phone and compose a message for Tyler.

I want you at London Airport on Monday at seven. You start your first mission.

***

Monday morning.

7:02. It's been two minutes now that I'm impatient in front of the front door of the airport, it's time. Two minutes is almost a lifetime for some newborns dying at birth. I stamp my foot frantically and wiggle my jacket around. I hope Tyler won't let me down on this one.

7:11 a.m. I see him running at an astonishing speed. He jostles everyone on the way, he runs in a bent way, his backpack seems far too big for our trip.

He arrives in front of me out of breath, his legs shaking.

— Sorry boss, the metro was late...

I cut it off with one hand and turn around coldly. I walk at full speed in the hall of the establishment, he follows me like the little puppy he usually is. Finally... he tries to follow me, my rhythm tires him, he looks for various positions for his bag, each clumsier than the other. Just because I'm not in the mood this weekend and haven't slept a single hour doesn't mean I'm tired of it. I killed my body with caffeine.

- Tell me, what do you intend to do with such a beautiful bag? Going on safari? An adventurous reality TV show?

— Ha Ha Ha! he laughs bitterly. So you are capable of humor. No, I have my basic products.

- Ah, such as your day and night creams, your depilatory wax? Are you sure that your vocation is not to be a beauty youtuber?

I turn around briefly and see him mimicking my voice while rolling his eyes. He does not retort.

-Where are we going ? He finally asks.

— In Japan, I hope you like sushi.

- In Japan? he chokes.

I open a room, two people dressed in black hand us gray bins. I hand them my mini-bag which they search carefully, Tyler does the same. They control us. Obviously my colleague's takes longer: his bag is big and he waddles when the man searches him, he finds that his hands are too close to his body.

Everything then goes very quickly, they direct us to the airstrip and we get on a small plane: my private jet. We settle in without wasting a minute, we are already late.

I sit at the front of the Jet and put down my bag. I haven't slept that night, too preoccupied with my sister and the memories clumping in my head.

The flight is over a period of eighteen hours, so I should take my troubles patiently, I'm not thrilled.

But just as I'm just beginning to doze off, my partner sits down next to me. I thought I had told him that he would have to stay in the back and that a distance of ten meters between us was mandatory on this plane.

"Are you asleep already?"

I try to ignore him but when I turn my head I realize he's still staring at me like a puzzled kid. I end up sighing.

"What else do you want from me?"

"Well, I thought for my first mission you would give me orders... let me know what to do."

I huff and pull out a file from my briefcase. I'm careful that no more personnel are in the passenger part of the plane and expose a file to Tyler's eyes.

- His name is Akitsuna Toyotomi, I start.

I point to his printed photo.

"And why him?" he asks intrigued.

"Am I asking you questions?" I asked sternly. We will land in Nigata. From there, we take a helicopter that will take us to Sado Island. Akitsuna will be waiting for us at the feet of this helicopter.

"He knows you?" he asked surprised.

I bump my head and moan. This man is debilitated beyond me, thinking a little wouldn't kill him.

- No, at least, he only thinks that we come to sell him a package of underwear, he prefers to get it from us.

"Why do we have to move?" With all the systems on the internet he could find another way... Well... There's better than asking us to move.

I hit my head again, we really don't come from the same world.

“It's not just the Tyler package, it's me.

- YOU ?

- I would be his model to try these underwear. He pays extra for that, not all customers are entitled to it. We work in luxury I tell you, not in poverty.

He straightens up and frowns. He crosses his arms and seems to think for a moment.

"So you're both a killer and an escort girl?"

I want to control myself, but I can't. Immediately my hand slaps her cheek. Never has anyone told me something so sordid, I feel belittled. I'm not a whore, I just use my charm, I play a part, I make them weak, then I put them down that's all.

"So I said. You can imagine, this kind of rich man never travels alone. He'll drive us home, when he picks me up and I'll perform my little act, I'll need your killer skills to perform it remotely.

Tyler looks at me for a moment, he seems doubtful.

"My killing skills?" Are you kidding there? You are sure? You're putting a lot of responsibility on my back...

I huff and point at him sternly. My eyes burn his as my gaze is violent. I grab his shirt and pull him closer.

"Are you on our team or not?" You better excel at shooting otherwise I promise you I'll kill you, I don't want to go any further than using my charm. If these guys touch me, I'll kill you, is that clear?

I release him while pushing him back into his seat. He is still in shock at my brutal gesture and I welcome it. I had to put pressure on him, otherwise he would never believe it.

He gets up immediately and goes backwards cursing. I stretch a broad smile and lower my eyes towards the porthole.

***

It must be about two hours since I last heard from Tyler. Although his absence doesn't bother me, I have to check that he didn't jump out of the plane.

I get up from my seat and look around the empty seats, there is no one. I drop my smartphone and start walking.

Curses then buzz in my ears, the words getting louder and louder.

— No, you won't give in, this woman is a bitch, you can't help it... You have a goal and it's not her who will keep you away from it.

It's Tyler's voice, I approach the bathroom and realize that he hasn't closed the door. He speaks alone.

I particularly appreciate the toilets of this jet as they are spacious, classy but above all clean. I can't take a low-coast airline anymore, the toilets are a real nightmare full of STDs.

"She's just putting pressure on you, the pressure of your whole life like always... You know how to shoot, well, not as well as her, but you can." You have no choice.... Damn no! I'm really going to commit suicide here! Ella is going to kill me! My God!

I sketch a smile. I frighten him, and more than I imagine. I realize then that he is bare-chested, I let my gaze wander through the crack in the door, unconsciously.

He wets his face and his hair to calm down.

— What an idea to embark on such an organization. I should have used my brain for once.

The water is flowing and I can't help but continue to let my gaze wander down her body. His muscles are tense, his face tense. He is quite atypical, he is quite a funny and relaxed person in a very sexy and straight body. It's his character that belittles that cold sexy image, he's kind of arrogant, fun and entertaining sweet bread. His personality really intrigues me.

He washes his hair to the side with water and stares at the mirror in front of him. His gray eyes appear and I force myself to look away. What I'm doing is horribly wrong, I imagine an ideal in him.

I swear and he hears me. He jumps when he sees me and is already shaking.

- What are you doing there Ella? Are you watching me?

- No, I was just checking that you were not committing suicide, I'm reassured. Am I scaring you? I ask.

He stares at me slowly, then his pupils finally cross mine.

— No, but there are nicer bosses, he blurts out.

He gets out of the toilet and goes to his seat without giving me a single look. Too bad, it's his choice. I smile and rub my hands, everything works perfectly.

***

I've been sitting on a plane for twenty-two hours, since our conversation at the airport Tyler hasn't re-tried to re-engage her, probably too busy recovering his ego.

Since we entered the helicopter he hasn't stopped pressing his cheek to the window to contemplate the landscape of the distant shores, he hasn't understood that he didn't come here for tourism.

The helicopter has just touched down on the long-awaited island. It's gray and it's raining today, that surprises me, it's rather rare in this month of August in Nigata, I've always had good weather.

I look at Tyler sternly and open the door. A slap of wind comes to our face, the plane's propellers are still turning. I yell at Tyler to come join me. I pick up my briefcase.

- Are you ready ?

He nods his head without really looking at me then jumps, I do the same and we quickly move away from this source of wind and noise.

Tyler looks around and seems to be looking for the man we're looking for.

"Damn, these Japanese all look the same, how do you know them?"

“Believe me, when Akitsuna gets here, you'll notice. He must be late but...

I stop to search my briefcase. For a few minutes I've been looking for Akitsuna's file with difficulty, I can't find it. Faced with my silence Tyler resumes.

- A concern boss?

- I forgot something in the helicopter, wait for me I'll be back.

He nods, having no choice and I start running towards the chopper. I climb quickly and finally breathe, the outside temperature was freezing my limbs.

—Ī nda yo? (Is that ok?) the captain asks me.

He speaks Japanese, a language that I master very well. I nod and close the helicopter door.

—Kōkai sezu? (no regrets?) he continues.

“Kōkai sezu,” I said.

The man nods. The device lifts slowly. I see Tyler turning around in the distance. At first he doesn't understand. But once he sees me and my winning smile, reason seems to enlighten him. He understands that I made fun of him from the start. He starts running at full speed towards the helicopter, more determined than ever. I see no fear in his eyes. He rushes to tear his legs, he knows he's risking his life here, now, but I know it's too late, everything is calculated in my head.

The machine rises little by little. Tyler manages to hang on to it when he has risen nearly two meters. He fights with all his might to hang on to the skid of the aircraft.

- You are a bitch, he swears between these feelings.

I open the door and give him my biggest smile.

"How could you believe for a moment that I would trust you so much?" I would never put my life in your hands.

- What the hell did I do to you! he yells.

I feel him struggling to stay on the skates. I laugh and slide my feet on the skates carefully.

"You nothing, but the men, everything." You weren't able to get me to hold back my sister, your idea was crap.

- You are completely crazy and obsessed! You should go get treatment.

I give him a sadistic smile and congratulate myself on my calm.

'I've already been told that. Want to prove that you are worthy of our organization? So do it.

I crush his right hand so that he lets go, I hear him scream. He let go of the bar with one hand. He only holds back the other, I put my foot on it.

“Ella, please don’t do this, don’t…

“You want me to tell you Tyler. You're not ready, if you've come to this, it's because you weren't focused, because you weren't attentive to the details. You want to join our organization but you're not even intellectually ready. Do you really want to get there? Do you want to prove yourself worthy of us? It's not by disembarking like this that you will find our confidence.

He begs me to take off my foot, but I don't, I crush him and ruthlessly. He finally lets go and falls. There must have been three meters of height, he will do well.

“Survive here and come back to us, or die and we'll close the Tyler Leicester case forever.