The Memoires of Cordelia Chan

I woke early and slipped out of bed. Marcus stirred and then returned to sleep the sleep of the exhausted. I checked the clock. It was a little after 4 am. Sato had arranged a car to pick me up at 5 at my apartment. I'd make it with a little time to spare. I retrieved my dress, and shoes and proceeded into the hall. I let myself out and headed for the stairwell as calling the lift would have woken either Marcus or Langdon, his man-servant.

The stairwell was completely quiet and I reached the basement without incident. Pulling my dress over my head I slipped my feet into my shoes and exited into the garage. A few minutes later and I was exiting into the alley. Whilst I could have used the main entrance this would have caused an unecessary complication. Walking to the end of the block I entered the parking garage where I had stashed my bike two days previously. As I pulled on the jacket and slid my head into my helmet I recalled a similar incident some 6 years previously where I had pulled a similar stunt, only this time I had prepared in advance. There would be no tearful goodbyes and no drawn out awkward silences. As far as my friends were concearned I wouldn't be leaving for another 3 days.

As I drew up to the apartment there were 2 cars parked outside. As I parked the bike, Jenna would collect it in a couple of days and store it at the lot until I returned, the doors of the vehicles opened and half a dozen people got out. I recognized two of the figures, Ms xxxx, and my step Father Gulong.

"So your still intent on doing this thing then Li Feng"

"Yes I'm taking advantage of a once in a lifetime opportunity to study at Nagoya University, to gain a different perspective on my chosen field and broarden my world horizons."

"That is not what I meant and you know it."

I walked toward the entrance forcing them to follow me. It was too public here for them to do anything, although I doubted they would. They still weren't 100% sure exactly how much information on their operation I had, nor any idea where I'd stashed it. At this moment we were still in the early stages of an uneasy truce.

"I've told you, this is my life and I'll lead it the way I choose, not be forced into a role of your choosing. Nothing will happen if you leave me and my friends alone."

"Li Feng!", he grabbed my shoulder. Instinctively I turned and delivered a kidney punch. As he collapsed, xxxx started to pull a gun from under her skirt.

"No!", he wheezed and coughted, "Let her be. You know the order, she is not to be touched."

"You're too soft. There are just the two of us, no one will ever know, she attacked us and was injured in the process. Injured is not dead, although she'll wish she was." She levelled the gun at me. Both of us knew that I couldn't reach her before she fired. Time seemed to slow as her finger moved, inching the trigger back, raising the hammer, then flying forward and striking the pin.

There was a loud explosion and she dropped the what was left of the gun, screaming as she did so. At that moment the door of the ground floor flat opened and Cole appeared in one of his flamboyanet robes. They were always bright and caudy and depicted dragons of various ilks in various reposes. "Argh sorry... am I interupting something? Are you alright Cordie? Oh my, wait there miss I'll just get a towel, um, and an ambulance I think."

He didn't wait for me to answer, just ducked back inside, leaving his door open, but his appearance had done the trick and the mood had broken.

"Alright Li Feng if you're determined to do this thing then so be it, but we cannot protect you, and there must be no comeback if anything goes wrong."

"I can take care of myself. Now I've got to get going, the Limo will be here any minute."

"Perhaps you can. Do one thing for me then. Come home for Christmas and spend it with you mother."

"I'll think on it."

I'd barely finished changing into something more appropriate for travelling when the door went. "It's open, the trunk in the hall needs to go I'll be down in a minute"

"Miss Chan it's Huo-Jin, you're not going anywhere are you? We've a report of a suspected shooting in this building."

I hopped into the hall pulling on my left boot as I did so. "Sorry Huo-Jin, I haven't a clue what you're on about but I've a flight to checkin for in about 40 minutes. As soon as my transport arrives I'm leaving."

"Be that as it may I need a statement.. so when will you be back?"

"Next July.. give or take a few days"

"In which case I'm afraid you're not going anywhere, and if you attempt to leave I'll arrest you"

A new figure, this one distinctly oriental in a black suit had appeared behind ...."Miss Chan are you alright? Your car is down stairs. Do you need assistance with your luggage?"

"Yes, everything is fine. The trunk there is to go. Tell Sato I'll be down in a minute.".

I looked pointedly at Huo-Jin who opened his mouth as if to say soomething then shut it rapidly.

"Very good Miss Chan, traffic reports are not good so I would ask you to not delay to long if you wish to make your flight."

Huo-Jin stood aside as the driver extracated the trunk and made his way down stairs.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing Cordelia?"

"Is that a professional or personal question?"

"It's off the record if that's what you mean"

"Yes, I'm accepting the hospitality of a friend for the duration of my stay in Japan."

"At what cost?"

"I don't know wat you mean Huo-Jin."

"Stop playing games Li Feng this is serious."

"Stop fisihing then. My business is my business. If you don't want to know the answers don't ask the questions. Now are we done I've a plane to catch."

"Yes I suppose so. Where can we reach you if we need to?"

"You can reach me through the Collage faculty, they have details of where I'm staying."

I shouldered my ruck sack, picked up my weapons bag, and purse, and exited the apartment closing the door beind me. As I reached the foyer, Cole was waiting for me. "Goodbye Cordelia, it's been nice knowing you these past few months. Maybe one day our paths will cross again. Till then have a wonderful and fruitful time in Japan. I'm sure you'll benefit from it greatly."

As he hugged me I felt a strange sense of Deja Vu. He held open the door and smiled "Have an inspirational journey"

I thought it a strange thing to say, but as the driver was obviously anxious to be away, I simply thanked him in return and wished him the best in whatever he did.