Episode 16: Dahlia’s Demise

The night was colder than usual, the wind biting through the fabric of my jacket. The city skyline loomed in the distance, its blinking lights seeming so distant and irrelevant. Right now, the only thing that mattered was getting through this next mission.

Chou was at my side, her usual energetic self barely dimmed by the gravity of what we were about to face. Her lighthearted jokes had been quieted, replaced by the same seriousness I wore like a second skin.

"Are you ready for this?" I asked, my voice lower than usual.

She gave me a sideways glance. "Of course I am. We're a great team, right?"

I smiled, though it didn't quite reach my eyes. We had been a great team, but something was different now. The stakes felt higher, the risks more dangerous. Maybe it was the constant presence of Kaede Hayami in our lives, always lurking just beyond our reach, pushing us into a corner.

I didn't like feeling trapped.

The mission was simple on paper: infiltrate a private party being held by Dahlia's underground network. Dahlia was a well-known criminal figure, though she'd managed to keep her public persona squeaky clean. She had connections everywhere, and those connections had led to more than one dangerous incident. Our target was a shipment of illegal weapons being exchanged at the party.

Chou and I were to blend in, gather intel, and secure the evidence. It seemed easy enough, but nothing ever was.

We arrived at the venue, a posh rooftop bar with an impressive view of the city. The lights shimmered, casting a soft glow across the gathering crowd. High heels clicked against marble floors, and laughter filled the air.

"Classy," Chou muttered as she adjusted her dress. She wore a dark red gown that clung to her frame, the fabric flowing down to her ankles. The color reminded me of the dahlia flower itself—beautiful, bold, but dangerous if you weren't careful.

I couldn't help but notice how stunning she looked, but I pushed the thought aside. Now was not the time.

We entered the party, our faces masked by the glamour and laughter of the crowd. Chou spotted the bar and dragged me toward it. "Drink first, mission later, yeah?"

"Chou..." I sighed, but she had already grabbed two glasses of champagne.

"Lighten up," she said with a wink, handing me one. "You're always so serious. One drink won't hurt."

I took it, though I didn't really want it. The bubbles tickled my throat, but I forced myself to keep my face neutral. "Focus," I reminded her.

She stuck her tongue out playfully before scanning the crowd. "I'll keep an eye on things. You do the serious work."

I rolled my eyes. "You're such a pain."

She beamed. "I know, right?"

We split up. I moved through the crowd, my eyes trained on the figures around me. The high society types mingled, oblivious to the underlying danger. Dahlia's men were scattered throughout, each one wearing an air of practiced indifference. The only thing they carried with them was a sense of unease that radiated from every interaction.

I caught sight of Dahlia herself for the first time. Her presence was magnetic, her dark curls framing a face that seemed to glow with charm and cold calculation. She was surrounded by her usual entourage, each of them playing their part in keeping up the illusion of normalcy.

I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of admiration for her. She was a criminal, sure, but she had a kind of power that demanded respect.

I focused back on my mission, staying close to Dahlia's circle without drawing attention to myself. The security was tight, but I had trained for moments like this.

The atmosphere shifted when Dahlia took the stage. The crowd went silent as she raised a glass, the spotlight catching her silhouette.

"Thank you, everyone, for joining me tonight," she said, her voice smooth as silk. "We have much to celebrate, but most importantly, we have a future to shape."

I stiffened, feeling the weight of her words. There was more to this than just the weapons deal.

Chou's voice broke through my thoughts, crackling in my earpiece. "Hana, I've found it. The shipment's here. It's going down in the basement. You need to get in there now."

I didn't hesitate.

I slipped into the shadows, moving toward the stairwell. My heart thudded in my chest, but I focused on the task at hand. I had no time for second thoughts.

When I reached the basement, the scene was even more guarded than I expected. Dahlia's men were stationed at every corner, eyes sharp and alert. But I was quicker—quicker than them, at least.

I ducked behind a stack of crates, taking in the layout. The shipment was guarded by only two men, standing beside a large metal door. I could see through the crack in the door; inside, boxes of high-tech weapons were stacked neatly, a pristine display of their dark dealings.

I pulled out my phone, signaling Chou. "I've found it. Get ready."

But before I could do anything else, I felt a hand on my shoulder.

I spun around, but it was too late. One of Dahlia's men had caught me, his grip like iron.

"Thought you could slip past us, huh?" he sneered.

I didn't have time to argue. I reacted instinctively, elbowing him in the ribs and pushing him back. But as soon as he staggered, another figure appeared—Dahlia herself, her eyes narrowed with disdain.

"Well, well, well. I didn't expect company," she said, her voice smooth and dangerous. "I don't take kindly to people snooping around my business, darling."

Before I could respond, I felt the cold press of a gun against my back.

"Step away from her," Chou's voice rang out from behind us.

Dahlia's smirk deepened. "Ah, the little sidekick arrives. How quaint."

Chou didn't hesitate. She lunged, a blur of motion, and the next few seconds felt like an eternity.

The fight was brutal. Dahlia's men were quick and skilled, but we were faster. With every punch, every movement, the tension between us heightened. We fought with a fury that I had only ever felt when something precious was threatened.

Finally, it was over. Dahlia's men were down, and the weapons shipment was secured. But Dahlia herself...

She vanished into the shadows.

Chou breathed heavily beside me, a grin spreading across her face. "That was amazing!"

I was too focused on what had just happened to respond immediately. Dahlia had escaped, but we had what we needed.

"Hana, are you okay?" Chou asked, her voice softer now.

I nodded, though my heart was still racing. "Yeah, I'm fine. We did what we came here to do."

Chou looked at me, her gaze softening. "Good. You're my favorite person, you know that?"

I raised an eyebrow, surprised by the sudden shift in tone. "Is that so?"

She grinned. "Yep. Best partner in crime."

I felt my heart skip a beat. She wasn't just saying that.

And for the first time, I realized just how much I cared.