Capitolo 5 :: 5

Pubblicato: 03-06-05 - Ultimo aggiornamento: 05-04-06

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»Bye, baby. « Mick hung up.  

»’Bye, baby’? « Ryo laughed behind him.  

Mick cursed between his teeth. Great. He was starting to lose his touch. He didn’t even hear him enter the room.  

»Who’s ‘baby’? « Ryo’s eyes twinkled. It wasn’t with laughter, though.  

Mick narrowed his eyes. Envy? Was it possible his best friend was envious of him? »My girlfriend. «  

Ryo threw his head back and laughed. »God, what happened to you? «  

Mick’s heart squeezed. Ryo’s laugh was bitter. »What is that supposed to mean? «  

»You got gelded, man. «  

»Hey! «  

Ryo smacked him on the back. »It’s true. Never trust a woman with your heart, especially not in our business. «  

Like you did? »Why not?«  

»Because everyone who holds a grudge against you will use her. « Ryo looked out the window. »She becomes your weakness…«  

»I know…« Mick sighed. Hell, did he know.  

Ryo turned around, looking at his friend. He nodded slowly. »I see. They’re using her as collateral, right. «  

Mick blinked.  

»To make sure you kill me. «  

Mick sighed again. Telling Ryo the real reason for his visit seemed like a good idea at the time. »Yeah. «  

»What are you waiting for, then? «  

»Excuse me. «  

»Grab your gun and do it. «  

Mick’s eyes widened. »Are you so anxious to die? «  

»If it means saving a life, yes. «  

Is that really all there is to it? »She believes in me.«  

Ryo dropped on the floor. »Haven’t told her, huh? «  

Mick shook his head. »She thinks I’m a security expert. That we both are. «  

»Both? «  

»I told her about you. «  

Ryo’s face darkened. »What about me? «  

»Everything. « Mick shrugged.  

»WHAT?!!! «  

»She cried. «  

Ryo rolled his eyes. »Peachy. «  

Mick dropped to the floor beside him, shoulders slumped. »I want to change, Ryo. Retire from this business. Start a new life with her. You know, white picket fence, fat children… the works. «  

»All you have to do is get rid of me, man. «  

»Yeah, « Mick toyed with his laces. »That’s the whole point. «  

»I don’t see a problem, Mick. «  

Mick grew silent.  

»Okay, tell me about her? «  

»Why? «  

Ryo winked at him. »Because I’m curious as to what kind of woman could make you renounce the cabarets. «  

»I’ll tell you if you tell me about Kaori. «  

A tic appeared in Ryo’s locked jaw.  

»Did you love her? «  

»I don’t know what love is. « The words were barely a whisper.  

Mick turned to him. »Did she love you back? «  

Silence.  

Mick waited patiently.  

»I think she did. «  

»Then why did you let her go? «  

Ryo stared at the floorboards. »Because she deserved better. She didn’t belong into my world. She was an angel. Pure, innocent, beautiful…«  

»You did love her, « Mick murmured.  

»Yes… And by wanting to protect her, I broke her heart… She should hate me. «  

»I’m sure she doesn’t. « Mick sighed. »Have you tried to contact her? «  

»I don’t know where she is. « Ryo sighed, shaking his head. Forget about her! Think of something else. Anything else! »Tell me about your girl. «  

Mick lay back on the floor, an arm curled behind his head. »Her name’s Cory. Cory McGuire. «  

»The illustrator? «  

Mick lifted an eyebrow.  

Ryo shrugged. »I barely escaped a stampede outside of a bookstore the other day. She’s pretty popular, I’d say. «  

»Yeah. « Mick sighed. »She’s a mystery, though. «  

»Huh? «  

»Cory McGuire is not her real name. «  

»Pen name, « Ryo shrugged. »What’s the mystery? «  

»I don’t know her real name. I know nothing about her. «  

Ryo turned to him with a puzzled expression. »You’ve checked her up, right. «  

»No one knows her. «  

»Mick…«  

»She’s not an assassin, man. She’s too innocent. Her parents died when she was little, her brother was her only family until he died eight years ago. «  

»I guess she told you that. «  

»She did… and before you go all suspicious, there’s no way she could’ve faked it. « Mick scratched his chest. »I think she’s hiding from someone. «  

»Yeah, her husband probably. «  

»Make that Yakuza. «  

Ryo blinked.  

»She was born in Japan. «  

»She’s a killer, man. «  

Mick sighed. What was it with his friend’s distrust towards women? »She could have killed me any time she wanted. We’ve been together for more than two months. «  

Ryo shrugged. »She’s waiting to get you to bed. It’s easier that way. «  

»Been there, done that. « Mick smiled dreamily. »She was a virgin. «  

»Whoa, there. Way too much info on that one! «  

»You asked, « Mick said innocently.  

»Whatever. « Ryo ran a hand through his dark hair. »Got a picture? Maybe I can dig something up on her. «  

»Yeah, hold on. « Mick lifted his lower body, pulling his wallet from his back pocket… »That’s strange. «  

»What is? She grew a mustache all of a sudden? «  

»Ha-ha. « Mick went through his wallet again. »Her picture’s missing. I always have it… It’s gone. «  

Ryo guffawed. »Oh, this is just priceless! You lost your girlfriend’s photo! «  

»I didn’t lose it, « Mick growled. Where could it be?  

A week later  

»Ok, « Cory laughed. »See you tomorrow. «  

»Tomorrow, « Mick breathed in the receiver. »God, I can’t wait to see you. I miss you so much, baby. «  

»I miss you, too. But your torment will soon be over. «  

Mick sighed. His torment was about to begin. »Cory…«  

»Yes? «  

»I love you. No matter what happens, remember that. «  

»You sound like in those old movies, « she laughed again. But then his tone must have registered. »Mick? What’s wrong? What happened? «  

»Nothing. «  

»Don’t lie to me. I know there’s something wrong. Tell me. «  

»It’s nothing, really. I’m just tired, that’s all. Bye, baby. «  

»Bye…«  

The airport was bustling with people as usual.  

His best friend, despite his apparent discomfort around planes, came to see him off. Umibozu’s hand rested on Ryo’s shoulder, preventing him to bolt.  

»I still don’t know what got into you, Mick. « Ryo frowned at him. »You know you put her in danger and still you didn’t kill me as you planned to do. Why? «  

Mick looked him straight in the eye. »I told you I want to change. «  

»That won’t help if they get their hands on you, Angel. « Umibozu’s face was dark.  

»I will protect her… With my life if necessary. «  

»Hah! « The giant crossed his arms over his chest. »Women make you weak. You could have just killed this idiot and made me happy, too, in the process. «  

»Hey! « Ryo glared at him. »No need to offend, here. «  

»I was just stating the truth, « Umibozu muttered innocently.  

»Mick…«  

He lifted a hand. »Don’t start, man. This mission of mine was doomed from the start. I knew I could never do it, besides; I would have to seduce all the women in love with you… I realized there are too many of those around, and then I would have to find your precious Kaori – imagine the amount of time that would take – and that would mean cheating on Cory. «  

Ryo lifted an eyebrow.  

»There’s no chance of that happening, « Mick ended. »Ever! «  

His flight was being announced.  

»I better go… One last thing, though. « Looking at his friend, he moved slowly passed him. »My client is… your father. «  

Ryo’s eyes widened.  

Umibozu’s face remained impassive.  

You didn’t accept for the money or to protect your Cory. They made you. You can’t oppose such a large organization. It would be like betraying them… It would mean death…  

Ryo ran out on the view deck. »MICK!!! Come back here. You IDIOT! Why didn’t you tell me sooner?! What do you think you can do alone?! «  

You’re going straight into their hands. There’s no safe place for you anymore.  

»MIIIICK!!! «  

»Death to traitors. « The venomous hiss was almost completely swallowed by the engines’ rumble.  

Mick’s head snapped up.  

A shot rang out and the man collapsed, a remote detonator grasped in his hands.  

»This is a Union rule, « the man gasped, a neat hole between his eyes.  

»Angel dust…« Mick watched in slow motion as the assassin’s finger slowly pressed the button.  

Forgive me, Cory…  

A boat sped on the open sea.  

The man on board stared at the smoke streaking over the sky. He started clapping slowly.  

»Magnificent. What marvelous fireworks. A fabulous spectacle, indeed… When will we reach Japan?«  

»In the late afternoon, sir…«  

Cat’s Eye  

A china cup crushed in his hand, Ryo watched the TV numbly.  

»Jumbo Jet crashes into the sea. There are no survivors…«  

»Mick,« Umibozu murmured. »Now you really are… an angel.«  

Washington D.C., USA  

»Cory?« Bridget poked her head out of the kitchen. Seeing her friend’s ashen expression, she ran to her. »Cory?! God, what’s the matter?«  

Cory stared blankly at the TV. It wasn’t possible. Mick couldn’t be dead. She couldn’t have lost him. Not when she finally decided to let herself love someone again.  

»No…« she whimpered, dropping to her knees. »Nooooooooo!!!« 

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