I'll turn the tide
Pull down the moon
Run rivers dry
Battle fate for you
Let's burn the pages
We'll start anew
Right through the ages, to prove
Fate don't know you like I do

-Desi Valentine-Fate don't know you-

-One year and a half ago-

When I regained consciousness I felt so powerless that I couldn't open my eyes. For a moment I thought I was dead if it wasn't for the beeping sound and my heavy breathing that indicated that I'm alive. I gathered my strength to open my eyes again, all I spotted was a blurred image of an ugly green ceiling before me. I shut them, trying to remember what had happened. The memory flashed through my mind vividly.

Gin… that bastard shot me. How predictable of him to do.

I knew he'd do it. Gin had always been too cautious to just let someone free from the organization. But when you're hopeless, you'd try to hold on to any glimmer of hope, no matter how small it is. And the offer of setting me and my sister free seemed too tempting for me to just let it slip.

When I went to face him, I was expecting him to try to kill me. Yet I was strangely calm and accepting of the idea whether it was to escape with my sister or to die. I wanted the former but didn't mind nor feared the latter. I was at a point where I believed death would be a better fate compared to living under their microscope.

However, I got stuck with a third choice that I didn't know I had. Gin did shoot me but I survived. Gin, the one famous among members for always going for the head, shot me in the stomach.

From the smell of the strong disinfectant, I could tell that I was rescued and that I am in a hospital. As I came to this realization, I started freaking out. I started wondering if it would've been better if I'd simply died? How will I continue living? And how was I even rescued in the first place? Did the little kid with glasses call for help? Will the organization find out about him and try to hurt him?

I must've been under the effect of some drug that started to drain off because with every passing moment, my head increasingly hurt and my thoughts sharpened until they got interrupted by the door cracking open. I opened my eyes. My lids felt lighter this time. I was able to distinguish everything clearly, including the blonde man that entered and stood next to my bed.

"Miyano Kun, I'm glad you woke up. We were about to fly you to Korea."

"Korea?" I asked weakly.

"We couldn't wait for you to wake up. Having you here is a risk to the hospital. They were just waiting for me to come confirm your identity."

"We? Who are you?" I asked.

There's no way that the organization would save me, so what did he mean by 'we'? I knew Bourbon for a long time, but we haven't talked in years despite how often we stumped into each other ever since he became Dai Kun's partner. Because unlike Dai who seemed different from them (he did blend well but my intuition told me he was different), it was scary how much Bourbon blended with their ways. And I trust my intuition so much, it was something the Miyanos share.

"I'm with the police. We're infiltrating the organization and now we're trying to help you." The agent spoke calmly.

I blinked at him, taking the time to absorb what was said. "How long have I been here?"

"Six days." I gaped as he continued in a hurry "I'm going to be leaving now but the guys will take care of you. They'll give you the money you need and a place to live in as well as a job. You'll be receiving a new identity-"

"Wait, what?" I interrupted, feeling the headache worsens.

Bourbon retrieved his fast speech with a stern look. "You've been declared dead five days ago, the organization bought it so you need to leave. Having you around will only be a burden on your personnel safety as well as your sister's"

"Where is my sister? I can't leave without her."

"Your sister is still part of them, you're going to have to leave alone. Don't ever think about contacting her, you'll only get her killed if you do."

The headache kept worsening as if his words were an axe through my skull. I wanted to scream but all I managed was a whispered why?

"They'll explain to you everything once you get to Korea."

"No! I don't wanna go. Not without Shiho." My right hand reached for the IV tube to remove it but Bourbon held my wrist.

"Don't be stupid, Akemi Kun." He said softly. "You'll only put your sister in danger if you stay. And it won't be long till they really kill you. Gin always go for the head you know, you got lucky this time, next time you won't."

"No!" I shook my head, my face on the verge of crying.

"She wouldn't come along anyway. It seems like your sister is enjoying her time in the organization." He approached me as he continued with almost a whisper. "So let it be, and do the right thing...I'm sure your parents too would want you to leave."

I continued to shake my head, my lips were trembling and thick drops of sweat ran down my forehead. His body hovered over mine to the IV drip making the drops fall at the fastest speed.

"I'm sure you'll make the right choice." He said.

Within a minute, my eyelids got heavy and I stopped feeling the pain.

Door opens

"She's still unconscious? Damn it, I thought I heard her voice"

"She was awake just now. She said she'd go." Bourbon lied.

"But we need written consent."

"She'll sign the papers once in Korea. It's a risk to keep her here especially that she wants to go."

"She's been here for only two days. Let us wait for another-"

"Begin the process."

"But-"

"Now."

"Yes sir." Was the last thing I heard before falling to unconsciousness.

When I woke up in a Korean hospital, I cleared my thoughts and came to the conclusion that Bourbon –despite being a manipulative ass- was right! I continued to live there with a new name and identity cutting ties with everyone I knew in Japan. It wasn't until ten months later that the PSB called me stating that the organization was down, that I'm no longer under any threats, and that I'm free to go back home.

"Smooch smooch, Akemi babe!" With her voice deepened to resemble that of a man, came the comment from a smirking Anna, the roommate with whom I've been sharing this apartment for six months. Ever since the organization ended, I felt freer to open up to people, and she was one of the few I could confide in.

"Stop that! Nothing happened." I interrupted.

"So you're telling me you had dinner with Mr. Smith, and nothing happened?"

"Anna he's my boss. It was for work."

"So what? I've seen the man, he's head over heels for you."

"No, he's not."

"Oh trust me," she nodded. "I can know it when someone has a crush."

"Then you should know that about me."

"Please!" She muttered, exasperated. "Don't tell me you're ditching a man like Mr. Smith just to wait for the FBI agent who may never come."

"Technically, I'm not ditching Mr. Smith, he doesn't like me to begin with. And Dai Kun… You know I moved here just to find him."

"Look, sweety, you do realize that you have nothing to lead you to him. No phone number, no address. It's been over three years since you last met! He probably got married and have a buncha kids now." Anna said as she turned to the microwave to take out the hot cocoa.

"Dai Kun with kids?" I chuckled. " I can't imagine that."

"It's been six months already since you moved to New York and there's no sign. How long are you planning to wait?" Anna looked serious unlike her usual self, and her eyes betrayed a hint of sadness.

"Well, I know that he works here. Maybe one day we will cross paths and-"

"No maybes! You have a wild imagination." She sat down on the kitchen stool next to me and handed me a cup. "Just say yes to Mr. Smith! You two are made for each other."

"Anna, he didn't ask me out. He doesn't even think of me that way."

"Yes, he does."

"No, he doesn't."

She examined me for a while in silence blinking once, twice… "Smooch smooch, Oh Mr. Smith, I love you so much…"

I rolled my eyes. Ugh, that girl, always driving me mad and causing me all kinds of trouble. I love her too much to move out.

We watched a movie together then I headed to my room where I thought about what she said. As much as I hated to admit it, Anna had a point. It's been three years, six months, and a couple of days since I last met Dai Kun, and I was ready to give up anything to see him. But all I knew about him was that he's an FBI agent in New York City. Apparently, he changed his phone number and he doesn't have any social media accounts.

When I moved here six months ago, I knew that my chances were small, but I still hoped that one day we will meet. I missed him so much to the point that it physically ached. I missed the touch of his skin, the sound of his voice and even his scent, that scent that always felt refreshing. I don't even know what it was but it smelled good and distinct from everybody else and I always associated it with him.

Luckily, I had my imagination to help. I imagined tens of scenarios for our first meeting. My favorite being me walking to him when he's alone pretending that I'm a ghost. He doesn't believe in ghosts and he's always so stoic but that's guaranteed to creep the hell out of every normal person and he's no exception. Or maybe he is. I mean what kind of person doesn't have a social media account? Not a normal one as far as I could tell.

Despite all my excitement to meet him, there was always a little thought that I tried to lock in the back of my mind, but it kept coming back to me every day and causing me to wonder; Did he truly love me as much as I loved him? Or was it all part of an act to achieve his goals?

His love felt so real to me. I am 90% sure it was true but could never achieve a hundred unless I hear him say it.

I turned my body to the other side of the bed and soon fell asleep, not knowing that tomorrow will be the day we meet.

Thank you for reading! I hope you liked it.