Bullet For My Valentine

Guns N' Roses

Zhao Yunlan

It was a brief moment of relief. A sort of an oasis. I know what my overseer would say. That it's too dangerous. Like damn, I even revealed my real name but somehow I didn't want to lie. Not to him. And it felt relieving. After a year and a half, I almost forgot what my name is and how my own mother used to call me. Sure, I was certainly asking to be found out. But at this point, maybe it didn't matter anymore. I knew the organisation was on my tail. The information leak last time was too big, the hunt for the mole had become as wild as could be. Seeing people being tortured and executed almost everyday had prepared me for what might come and I carried my gun on me all the time.

The one thing that I loathed with my whole being, however, became the one thing their trust in me apparently depended on. And so far the enraged triad has not turned their pointing fingers at me.

I arrived in Kyoto 2 days ago. I was sent here from triad's branch office in Tokyo to prepare the stage in terms of security when the big boss comes. The moment when my actual mission fullfills its purpose was nearing. My messenger had already briefed me on the main plan but the details like my escape route... were still in the making. Not very reassuring.

I entered my hotel room and quickly took off my jacket and T-shirt, turning on the A/C while hurrying to get a cold shower before the stuffy room becomes more inhabbitable.

As always the first thing that hit my eye in the bathroom mirror was the vast tattoo covering my whole back and most of my arms. There was a red dragon fighting a white tiger on my back - not exactly my choice. I got this tattoo to prove I was "Kunlun". A man we shot dead in mainland China, a man who was supposed to join the Tokyo branch, a man whose life became mine.

It was a given to use this great opportunity. But lately, with the prospect of all this ending soon, I was often battling the thought that if I make it out alive from all this, I will not be allowed to forget it. Everytime I would look at myself,  I would have remembered what I'd done here. What I had to do here... maybe a smaller tattoo could be removed or painted over but this...

Closing my eyes, I tried to wash away my self-loathing with cold water from the shower. Better think of something pleasant.

Professor Shen Wei. That was a pleasant find. The first time I'd noticed him was 2 days ago, when I arrived in Kyoto by Shinkansen. I was waiting for my ride and saw him standing with that ridiculous light green umbrella that totally didn't match his dark blue suit. Overall, he seemed overdressed for being a simple guide. Though here in Japan, that kind of thing is pretty normal. But even at this heat, he kept the proper bussiness-like look, talking to the tourists gently, giving them basic advice on how to ride a bus here and what kind of ticket to buy. He looked so serious, explaining such a mundane thing, I almost laughed out loud.

The next day, early in the morning, I was awoken by a call to hear the news that they found the mole who sold out the info about last drug shipment and that it's all good because he's already swimming with the fish in Tokyo Bay. Yes, it was the guy who told me about it, except he was drunk and didn't remember anything when he woke up the next day. I didn't pity him, I was just glad, it wasn't me who became fish food. And with him dead, the only connection to my person was gone. Lucky me...

With various thoughts running through my head I went out and on a whim joined the eye-pleasing attraction that was the young and serious Professor. True, I wasn't really interested in the touring, not with the situation I was in, but I immersed myself in the smooth velvety voice and patient and commited commentary.

A very pleasant surprised came when the Professor obviously noticed me and offered me his funny umbrella. Such a sweet gesture towards someone like me. How could I not fall for that?

His annoyed face was the one thing that saved me. Obviously sulking when I didn't pay while leaving... so adorable. I wanted to see more. The lunch invitation next day came out of my mouth without thinking and surprisingly, Professor accepted, obviously determined to ruin me by ordering the priciest meals in the restaurant. So very cute. This harmless form of anger was a very pleasing change to what I was used to witnessing or even practising myself.

* * *

"Are you OUT of your mind, Zhao Yunlan?!" Chu Shuzhi, my connection to Organised Crime division was not pleased. The huge bear-like man glared at me like he wanted to smack me to the ground. "You just casually throw around your name? You want to kill both of us apparently. Look, this is enough to take you off the case. You're not supposed to "make friends" while undercover!"

We were meeting on the "Philosopher's route". A quiet walk overseeing the calm residences of evening Kyoto.

"You can shout it out even louder..." I commented, taking out a new lollipop. I was down to only caramel ones and the flavour was starting to become annoying.

"Forget it, Zhao Yunlan. NEVER. MEET. THAT. MAN. AGAIN. Look, I know you..." Yep, here comes the patronising. "...but you know the triad doesn't have to kill you for being a snitch, they can simply kill you for getting involved with a man, you copy? Remember who you are."

"Yeah, yeah..." I nodded to everything but I actually knew I will mostly likely not heed to the surely great advice. Even though, I used to be grateful to these little meetings. I definitely wouldn't deem this unfriendly person that seemed to loathe my every action as my best friend but he was the only person who knew me here, my only connection to home. And his "remember who you are"... He always used this phrase or "remember who you're supposed to be". Always complaining. Never satisfied.

When leaving the meeting place, I checked my cell phone. Yup, tomorrow marks the end of my sweet time. Since the "snitch" has been dealt with, others will arrive and I will have to get back to my mafia role. Yay...

* * *

Woohoo! Update!

So I read your comments and I think I will switch in between Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei.

Let's see what I have in store for these two next... X3 ❤