ILARIA (book 3)

45. ASAHI

"You'll be undercover in Japan." My chief says to me, pointing at a Japanese informer that's been working for Interpol for a while. "This is Hansuke, we call him Han. He will be helping you get into the organisation."

I nod my head. "And what is my role?"

He puts a picture on the screen, a pretty Asian girl was there, a snapshot picture of her. "This is Ema Ito. She has just recently been introduced to the world after being hidden for 21 years. She is the boss's daughter."

"Ema is the easiest to get through into the Yakuza." Han says. "She is very sweet, but very gullible and easily manipulated so I spend a lot of time with her to find out stuff. You will too."

"It's your aim to build a relationship with Ema, she trusts easily and you seem to have a certain... charm about you." Chief says. "All the information you can get."

"You do realise that I look exactly like my father and he doesn't necessarily have the best reputation in Japan?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Yes, which is why we're going to do something about..." He points to all around me, which I felt quite offensive. "That."

"Makeover. Need to get rid of the long hair, piercings and give you some contacts, as well as give you some tattoos-"

"You are not giving me any tattoos."

"Temporary ones. Just ones that show you have previously been in gangs."

"And my job is jsut to find as much as information as possible?" I ask.

"Yes, if you can, focus more on extortion, murder and robbery." Han says. "Which, they do a lot of. Another undercover agent focuses on drugs."

Identities are hidden, safeguarding thing.

"Right." I nod my head. "And it's just the Yakuza?"

"For now. We might have to focus in on some Italian gangs soon but just focus on Yakuza."

"Okay." I sign that contract.

"Next is the name and details of the person you wish to keep in contact with."

My mother.

"Athena Arieta, my mom." I say quickly.

Mom will jsut tell dad everything, and dad will help me if needs be.

I write all her details down, then hand over all of my possessions that are unique to me.

I had to shower, they shaved my hair all off, leaving me with a buzz cut, took out all of my piercings which made my face feel naked. They added a couple of those temporary tattoos to my cheeks and forehead, then added more around my body.

By the end, I looked like a completely different person.

My father walks in, stifling his laughter. "God, a whole different person, that."

"Haha, funny."

"You ready to go?" He asks.

"Flights in an hour." I look at Han.

Han looks at my father, then back at me. "I have never seen a father and son look so alike." He says, clearly weirded out, then leaves.

"Dangerous job." Dad puts his hand on the back of my neck. "I believe in you though, you've spent enough time with gangsters to know what they're like so use your knowledge." He hugs me. "You listed your mother as the emergency contact but chief owes me a favour so I'll be informed after every one of your reports."

"I'll see you soon."

He looks at me for a second. "Do you want me to tell Ilaria?"

"You should know the rules." I look down. "Plus, I have a feeling she might try interfere or do my work for me. I need to give her space too."

He nods his head. "Okay, go say goodbye to your mom and sister."

I do exactly that, mom cries a little bit too much, Akahana just tells me to be safe and then I leave.

After a couple of layovers, and an insane amount of time spent cramped up on a plane.

I arrive in Japan with Han.

And my alias name.

Katashi Kanemoto.

Han and I go our separate ways, I do a bit of research before heading to my first job.

Introducing myself to Ema.

She was doing her grocery shopping, I notice two guys following her closely behind, notice the similar haircuts and suits.

Yakuza members.

I grab a random item off the shelf, looking down at it as I walk directly into her, making her entire basket fall on the floor.

"Oh, sorry." I say in Japanese, bowing repeatedly then crouching to pick everything up.

I see her stop the men from walking over and nod her head. "Yes. Yes. Accidents." She helps me, looking at me with wide, doe eyes and a soft smile.

"I wasn't paying attention." I stand up.

"Neither was I." She takes a step back. "You're very tall."

I laugh, licking my tongue over my lips. "I'm Katashi."

"Ema." She bows her head. "I haven't seen you around here before."

"I just moved here from Shimoshima."

She looked intrigued then.

"New to Tokyo? Do you need a tour guide?" She flirts.

I smile. "It would be nice."

She takes a pen and a recipt out of her bag, scribbling down a number and handing it to me. "You give me a call when you're free."

"I will do." I nod my head again before walking away.

Han was right, a couple of soft looks and smiles and she's with me.

I get back to the house I was given, open the wardrobe and push the door open, then walk into what they call my 'detective room.'

It's hidden so I can do all of my work and investigation here.

I type her number into my phone, then turn the receipt around and look at what she bought.

Rope, tape and hammers.

I pin it to the wall, and write my report.

Only eight months of this to go.

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well then

word count: 983