Almost six.

Tanya didn't need to look at her watch. She could tell it by a look at the sun.

The place was full of young mothers with their school children and workers going back home, or taking a walk. But they did not interest Tanya. Her whole mind was focused on HIM. It has been already two hours that she had been sitting there and watching HIM, and still, she couldn't believe her eyes. HE was running behind every young and beautiful woman, inviting them to a hotel. Some women seemed to know HIM: they seemed to wait for HIM, then they would both talk and take a coffee before the woman left.

Ryo Saeba.

What a strange world!

One of the hidden aims of her presence in Japan was to inquire about him and he came to her by himself. She never thought she could find him so easily.

It had always been difficult to collect informations about him, even for the reputed Secret Services she was working for. She only knew that he used to work as a mercenary in South America, then as a gun for hire first in the States, then in Japan. He was renown as one of the best sharpshooter of the world.

He only works for money...

Tanya was digusted by this conclusion. She always hated this kind of people. But those cold-hearted persons were the only ones who could enjoy life without any remorse.

Of course, she had killed too. But only for duty... or was it out of revenge?...

Tanya forced herself not to think further. It wasn't the right time for.

And she didn't want to see the waste of her life.

But she couldn't help thinking of their meeting at the harbour. Tanya had been waiting for a long time in the dark. She knew Saeko and her friends would come. She managed to know it. After all, she also belonged to this underworld and she knew almost all the means to get informations. And belonging to the German Secrets Services helped a lot. She had seen the olive green Volvo stop near the port entrance and the guy who came out was the one who tried to catch her the night before, just after the blast. That guy was Ryo Saeba. Her instinct had told her not to remain in his surroundings. His predatory instinct might have pinpointed her. She slowly moved to a safer place, next to the depository and waited. Then she saw the other two, Saeko and her 'former' partner. Then, the three of them moved towards the building. The port was silent.

At first, she wanted to find out what they were going to do. But then she couldn't resist appearing in front of Saeko. She didn't know why she did that. She still couldn't understand her behavior. She always showed prudence. But that time...?

'YAHOOOO! Nice laaaadyyyyy! Are you dreaming???' Tanya gave a jump. Saeba was at her side, looking at her wih greedy eyes.

Tanya recovered herself quickly from her surprise.

'You must be deeply in love with me: you've been looking at me during nearly two hours!'

How does he know that I was spying on him?

'Well! Come! Let's take a room and share our love!' Ryo took her hand and started running to a nearby hotel.

'Wait!
- Aah? You don't want mokkori with me?' Ryyo's voice sounded a bit upset.
'I've got a better idea: why don't we go to your house?' Her voice was soft and... without knowing how, she found herself in his arms as he was running as a mad.

'Dear Tohei, I?m pleased to see you!
- General! It's been a long time since we last met.'The two men were standing in the middle of the room, shaking hands. 'Yes, but my dear Tohei, friendship is not limited by distance.
- First, let me thank you for your help too iincrease my business.
- That's all right, friend! The chinese waay is not the best one! You know I can offer more than them.'Both men sat in front of each other. A guard came in holding glasses and a bottle of Whisky.
'Tohei, I brought this especially for you. I know how much you love Whisky.
- Oh! You've been to Scotland? It's been aa long time since the last time I went to Europe. You know my business is mostly located in South Asia.
- Our partnership will help you sell your prroducts all over the world. I have many clients in Europe and in America, especially in South America. But never forget that a partnership is always two ways.
- I gave you a proof of my good will. Don''t you remember the blast? I didn't hesitate to 'cut' my relationship with my former Chinese partners! About our relationship: you bring clients and I provide you with my products at the best cost!
- Let's shake hands, then! Never forget, II only work with the best guys!'

The flat was really very big, full of parcels and boxes as if the tenant had just moved in. Tanya entered in what seemed to be a living room: there was a sofa near a window and a TV set on a big box. Another parcel near the sofa was used as a table: there were dirty dishes and glasses and an ashtray full of ashes and cigarettes. There was dust everywhere in the flat. 'Sorry, sorry! I didn't have time to clean this flat.
- Never mind! What about a coffee before.... starting?' Ryo had still his maniac face. However, he nodded and left her.

She visited all the other rooms. Some were empty, others were full of boxes. She wondered what was in these parcels. Surely not guns. He was a professional who knew where to hide those dangerous stuffs.

She was really surprised by the size of the flat. To live in such a big place in Tokyo, the most expensive city in the world, was a proof that the owner was very rich. After all, wasn't he a reputed gun for hire? The most famous and the most expensive one?

The flat was really dirty. Only a man could live in such conditions. A woman would have tried to make the place lively.

So he's still a bachelor...

This fact wasn't quite surprising. Who could afford loving when working in the underworld? However, she got very interested by this statement.

'Ha, ha! You've found the room! Are you that impatient?' Ryo was standing at the door, holding cups of coffee. 'I'm cooooming!? Ryo jumped at her, taking off his clothes, but Tanya was quicker and he fell naked on his bed...

'I'm sorry, Mister Saeba! I've changed my mind. Maybe another time.'

Ryo watched her leaving the room. She had visited the whole flat, examining everything. She was the one he caught that night, after the blast. He was sure now. He recognized the perfume. He was wondering what kind of woman she was. He only knew that she would come back and that time... MOKKORI!

Saeko was enjoying her coffee. She had a hard day, as usual. But that time, Kalisz was not there to always breathe down her neck. Her instinct was telling the plicewoman that the german woman was with Ryo. She was wondering how was the meeting going.

She couldn't work on the blast affair as it was scheduled. She had many other stuff to deal with.

Her thoughts went back to the warehouse. She couldn't understand how the owner came to know about the discovering. Had someone being spying them? She was sure no one else was there except the four of them, otherwise they would have felt the presence. Especially Ryo who had a flair for that.

Tanya Kalisz was the only person among the group she didn't trust. She couldn't explain why. In fact, from the very first sight, she had a weird feeling about her. She still couldn't describe that feeling. She knew that her first impression was always the best, but with Tanya it wasn't that easy as she couldn't scope her personnality. That woman was cold: her look, her behavior, the way she talked to the others either to her partners or chiefs... But her instinct was telling her not to come to a conclusion based on these facts. She was curious about the inner side of that woman...

On the other hand, Kalisz was the only one to know about the warehouse?s discovering, apart Makimura, Ryo and herself. She could have told Tohei to move the furniture... But there was no evidence for that. Just logic. The only way to dicover the thruth was to investigate on her...

That reminded her the investigations on Makimura about the bribes' affair... That was a hard period. For both of them. The hardest thing for her was that Makimura refused her help. She could have asked her father to interfere, but before she could do anything, he resigned. Leaving her alone. She knew he wanted to protect her.

Nothing was true in this affair. Just rumours... And noone could stand against rumours. And his career was ruined...

Concerning Tanya, she had no tangible proof. She didn't want to ruin her partner's career if her instinct was never proved correct.

She had to enquire on her, but... discreetly.

It was night. Makimura looked at the sky but he couldn't see the stars hidden by the city lights. It had been very long since the last time he spent the whole evening with Kaori. He loved being with her. She was always telling funny and interesting things. She had that magic power to make him forget his problems.

He hurried home. He wanted to dine with her.

He had spent the whole day enquiring about the underworld and he had gathered interesting news. He had gone to Ryo's and he had seen Tanya leaving his partner"s flat. They just greeted each other. Makimura wasn"t surprised to see her as she was logically expected to pay Ryo a visit.

When he entered the living room, he had found Ryo watching her from his window. The sweeper was disappointed... and was promising himself that the next time would be the right one... Makimura didn't need any explaination to understand the whole affair.

Makimura had told Ryo about what he learnt about the underwold: a deal between Tohei and a new partner. Unfortunately, he couldn't get more details about the partner but the deal was a usual one on drugs, prostitution, weapons...

He hadn't told Ryo about the new female client, as he wanted to get more informations before refering to his partner. He didn't want Ryo to bother the poor woman if the case was an easy one...

He had refused his friend's go-round-the-nightclubs proposal and left to spend some time with his sister.

He was feeling a bit guilty when thinking about Saeko. He had phoned her but couldn't reach her. His feelings were divided between Saeko and Kaori. Kaori was still a teenager. She needed him the most and it was his role to spend most of his time by her side, as there was no other person.

He opened the door. Pleasant cooking noises and smells came from the kitchen. He watched her from the kitchen door. She was singing softly, busling around the room. He had always loved watching her. Life was so easy besides her. Her innoncence, her optimism and her kindness always made him forget his dangerous work. He was wondering how such an angel could live in this harsh world. He knew how much lucky he was having her at his side.

May 7th, 2001