Chapter Four

Mariko went back to Marcus' room and saw him struggling to crawl back into his bed. She rushed in to help him, but Marcus refused her help. "No need. You already left me alone. Why come back?" Marcus said in a mocking tone.

"I'm sorry, okay?!" Mariko rolled her eyes and helped Marcus.

"I was just stunned. I did not leave you on purpose." She muttered. Marcus got settled on his bed and Mariko put the wheelchair aside.

"Yeah… Yeah… You did not." Marcus mocked, which made Mariko turn her head as she glares at him. She sighed exasperatedly.

"Fine… It's up to you if you don't believe me. I will leave now but I will be back tomorrow. Make sure you are already awake by eight in the morning and we'll start your therapy again." She excused herself and got out of the room.

Marcus felt like he will have a headache after what had happened. 'I felt exhausted after what happened this early in the morning… I feel like it was a long day already.' He let himself lied down on his bed and went back to his sleep. 

***

At the base

Itsuki got startled after seeing Mariko, who was sitting on his swivel chair with her feet resting on his table. "What the heck?! Put your feet off my table, you brat." Itsuki shooed her feet off, which made the young lady hiss. Itsuki put the files he was holding onto his desk and sat in front of his table.

"What are you doing here?" He asked as he glanced at her sideways.

"I'm bored." She stated.

"Bored?" Itsuki looked at her in disbelief. "What about the VVIP? Where is he? His life is in danger and yet you're here. What if someone attacks him?" Mariko rolled her eyes annoyingly.

"Come on… he's just in his room 24/7. He never got out. How come he'll be in danger? Besides, there are plenty of guards there, and I planted a camera in his room, so I could see him anytime." She shrugged.

"Besides, that wimpy kid is a pain in the ass. I might break his bones if I lose my patience." She muttered, which had him frown.

"Why? What happened?" He asked curiously.

"Nothing. He's just hard to manage. I think this will be my first failure assignment. I want to back out at this very moment." Itsuki chuckled at her remarks.

"Come on… Don't be so hard on him. He's still grieving. He just can't accept that his mother is already gone. But that kid is a good boy." Mariko snorted.

"Good boy, my ass." Itsuki couldn't help but laugh. It was the first time he saw Mariko complaining about her assignment. Usually, Mariko never complains whenever there's an assignment for her. Even if it's a very dangerous one.

He looked at the folder he just brought earlier. "Fine. Here… Take this assignment first, to cool yourself down." He pushed the folder to her, which made Mariko grin.

Mariko opened the folder and frowned. Project X. Mariko saw a picture of a 4-year-old kid wearing an overall pink jumpsuit with long white sleeves underneath while holding a white bunny plush toy. She's like a living doll, with her hair tied up into two buns. Her chubby cheeks were pinkish, and her skin was as white as snow. She was smiling, which made her eyes twinkle. But in her profile, there was nothing written, only her name and her age.

"What the hell is this? Why are you giving me this blank information and only a picture of a kid? Don't tell me, I'm gonna babysit her as well?" She looked at Itsuki in disbelief. "Am I going to change my job description now?" she asked in a mocking tone, which had him chuckle.

"No. It's not that." Itsuki kept chuckling like he just heard a ridiculous joke.

"Let's get serious." Itsuki had a stoic look on his face. "You just have to look at her from afar. Since you have the VVIP client, you'll be focusing on that matter. It's just that, this kid… her mother receives threats from her enemies from the business industry and they were aiming at her daughter. You don't have to know the parent's name since this kid's profile is highly confidential," he explained.

"Let me guess… Her parents are from high society. It's either  a government official with a higher rank or a secret billionaire."

"Don't guess… Cause I won't give you a hint." Itsuki shrugged. "Actually, this is my assignment, but since you're getting bored, I will share it with you." Mariko sneered at him.

"Still… it's kind of boring. I want something that can give me an adrenaline rush. I want to break bones… And I miss the smell of the blood and the smoke of gunpowder." Itsuki shook his head at her remarks.

"Anyway, the hospital called. They want to talk to you regarding your sister's condition." Itsuki reminded her.

"It should be good news this time." She said.

"Also, Mr. Reed wanted to meet you personally. He has something to tell you. It's about his son." He instructed.

Mariko stood up. "Guess I'll be busy on this day," she said on a high note while raising a picture of a kid before she got out of his office without saying goodbye to him. Well, there's nothing new… She's been like that. Just come and go.

***

Mariko went to the hospital to pay a visit to her sister. "Miss Saito, it's good to see you here." The doctor greeted her as soon as she arrived.

The doctor just went out of her sister's room, doing her rounds. "It's been a while." She smiled. "Itsuki mentioned that you want me to talk. Are there any improvements in my sister's condition? It's almost a year, doc. I hoping for good news." The doctor's smile turned serious.

"I asked Mr. Watanabe to call you because of your sister. She ain't getting better and we are now hoping for a miracle. But clinically‌, I will be honest with you, Ms. Saito. Your sister now is living on our ventilator. Her condition has worsened, and there are no signs of improvement. We also checked her vitals, and though her blood is stable, she's as good as a withered vegetable." The doctor informed her, which made her gasp.

"So, what do you want to say, doc?" she asked. Her voice turned chilly as her eyes turned dark. She clenched her fist while waiting for the doctor's response.

"We just want to ask your decision as her family and her guardian, if you want to continue the ventilator or will end her life and let her rest in peace?"