Irene and Ryujin walked around aimlessly, laughing like they used to. A moment that had been missed since Irene had sent both her and Lucas abroad for their own safety. She couldn't lose them, not when she had lost everyone else. She sighed, playing with Ryujin's hair. She had always been protective over her little sister. She was the apple of her eye, especially when she had lost her blood sister. Ryujin filled that same void that had been ignited within her heart. And now watching as she grew up into a beautiful young woman Irene couldn't help but feel proud. She had overcome so much since the last time irene had seen them, and she had done majority of that alone, because Irene wouldn't jeopardise their security. She smiled lovingly at the enthusiasm she displayed being with her again. And for once her thoughts diverged from their cyclical nature. For once she was happy in the company of her own. No threats looming on her head, no worries about the work that required her attention because right now all that mattered was her family. She sighed slightly. "Ai? What's wrong?" Irene leaned forward, eyes casting out. "Nothing Ryujin. I was just thinking. It's nice for us to be like this. I've done you and Lucas wrong by sending you both away, when all you probably wanted was a family, an older sister to guide you as you navigate the world. I've failed you in that and I'm sorry." "No Ai. You haven't. Everything you do you do for us. For mum and dad. To get us the justice we deserve. Me and Lucas have always been proud of you, and you guide us through that . You've shaped us into the people we are by being our role model. We don't hate you Ai, nor do we hold anything against you." Irene smiled. "My little sister has grown up." She caressed her face lovingly still leaning forward. "Of course. Who's sister am I?" Irene smiled slightly. "How's the law degree coming along? Have you thought about what you want to do after?" Ryujin looked at her hesitantly. "I want to be a criminal lawyer." Irene stilled for a second, her eyes turning to search her sisters. She could see from the depths of her mind that she was adamant to do it, and that dedication was something that Irene knew she couldn't overturn. She smiled at her. "Okay, well when you and Lucas come home I can get you something with a few criminal lawyers. You remember lay?" She nodded. "He works around that field. We can find something for you to do. I can give you my books on criminal law too." Ryujin jumped into her arms hugging her tightly. "Thank you sis." Irene smiled at her as she took her back in her arms. "Joy wants to throw you a welcome back party. Are you up for it? Because if not I'll tell her to leave it." "No it will be fun." Irene smiled at her sister, ruffling her hair slightly, unaware of the looming threat that had descended upon her family.

Her hair was arranged in voluminous curls, her lips coated in a dark maroon colour standing out against her black gown, she looked stunning, and as she descended down the steps she was relieved not to see her resident batman here. A night for her to finally just enjoy with the people who meant the world to her. She leaned against the banister of the venue joy had organised, looking down at the scene, her most trusted friends and family were enjoying alongside her employees who had been working tirelessly and endlessly to contribute their share in their fight towards justice. A game that she had started, she had her pawns ready to use and defend herself, her knights shined brightly looking up at her with a slight raise of their glasses, her bishops; the ones who gave their advice cast their gaze towards the kingless queen with small smiles, and Irene for once didn't struggle to return it. The admiration and pride that they all directed to her was heartwarming, and it was this belief that they had in her being,
that made everything easier to comply with. She was Kingless Queen and whilst some doubted her authority and game others bowed down to a woman who moulded the two roles to create a supreme power within their society. She had spent years channelling herself into a pious, self assured being so that justice could flow from her hands, so that the crimes that had been committed against her and others like her could be reversed and justice could be served. Irene sighed momentarily, she had started a battle. A war between the government and herself, and she knew deep down that their response to her was looming, she looked towards Wendy who was staring at her intently trying to fathom their leaders feelings. Irene passed her a small smile. A smile that hurt her to pick up, yet in order to reassure her friend she managed to just that. But the feeling remained nagging at her conscious, something was not right, and the nauseating feeling she was experiencing was proof of that. She knew her friends would term it under stress, and for a moment she would believe the same. She was working in mass amounts with hardly any breaks in between and she wouldn't rest until her goals had been achieved. The past few weeks she had been working relentlessly on the cases next to be exposed and as she delved deeper she came to the dawning realisation that the cases were more connected then she had originally thought. And so she began with the help of Lay and Kai in digging up the necessary dirt she needed in order to expose the case to public eye. Everything that she had been conspiring for the past two weeks definitely stressed her out, but the uncertain feelings that resonated through her body is what she was struggling to identify. It wasn't the stress, and she knew that much. She walked down towards her friends and family, the tension visible only to a few. Yet it was still there, and anything that is visible can be seen if you look close enough. Lay held out a hand helping her down the remainder of the steps, eyes searching hers silently. "What's wrong Rene?" She smiled at him softly. "I have a bad feeling about tonight." She spoke in a low voice only audible for him, his hand ghosted time her waist as they moved forward, Lay shielding her from the crowd. "Glad to know I'm not the only one." He spoke, she looked up at him seeing the same feelings reflected in his eyes, they moved towards their friends eyes somewhat solemn. "Don't worry yourself about it Rene, we are all here and we can handle it together." She smiled, squeezing his hand whilst giving him a small nod as they continued to converse with the remainder of the squad. Laughing and joking and unburdened. Yet Irene could feel herself become detached from the scene, glancing around the room, call it instinct but she knew something was about to happen, and the presence of him not being here tonight proved that something was cooking up. She brought Ryujin into her arms holding her tightly. "I love you little sis." "I love you too Ai. Always and forever." Irene smiled "Always and forever." She whispered back.

Jackson stood alongside his team, a black cap laying low on his head and black face mask hiding his striking features, he could see her in the distance, she looked stunning as usual, her black floor length gown clinging to her form and exposing her luscious thigh to his sites, her hair was styled perfectly to the side in curls and her lips were coated in dark maroon. An angel dressed like a sinner. He watched as he held a woman he was unfamiliar with but from the smirk on Mr Kang's face he knew that he knew who this young woman was. She looked happier since the last time he had seen her but looking closer he could see something in her eyes, and he knew it was her instinct, he watched as a man placed a hand on her waist and whispered lowly to her. The man being Lay Zhang. An old friend from not only his childhood but from the army as well. His eyes brows knitted in confusion as he watched the two. Lay had always been a man of righteousness, it was something that he had always admired about him, his zeal for justice, and his protective nature to all. He and Lay had always been close through their families and their shared experience of war yet the tingling sensation of jealousy spread through his body like poison. He looked towards his team who stood prepping themselves for the mission at hand along side a personal squad that Mr Kang had ordered for. Jackson snuck a final look in her direction, struggling to swallow the bile in his throat.

Within the next second with a resounding bang everyone's eyes turned, Irene's in a moment of shock before she launched herself into action. She always carried weapons wherever she went and god was she glad she did, she handed one over to lay and Kai respectively before  marching ahead into battle. Tied up with one she worked quickly, she heard her girls rally up besides them ensuring that her little sister was safely tucked behind them and for that she was grateful. She cast her eyes up, shooting mercilessly at the ones she could see approaching. Her hands went to their masks and just like she had suspected the symbol was there. She tensed looking towards Wendy who checked the one she was currently in combat with. With a silent shake of her head, Irene had quickly concluded that this was a divided operation, and just as she moved to advance towards who she suspected was leading the operation, she was encased in a strangers arms. Irene looked back jabbing her elbow into his chest, before stretching her leg out to whack him in the face, he moved to disarm her and was successful in doing exactly that. Irene looked at him, fire radiating from her eyes as she attacked, her punches and lunges lethal as she moved swiftly and effectively. She punched him across the face, but found her opponent not once striking her back, she moved closer exposing his neck where the symbol should have lay and found his skin unmarked. Jackson momentarily froze, what was she checking for. He watched as she looked towards Wendy shaking her head before using hand gestures to convey something. And that's when he realised that her tactics weren't too far off from his own. He never openly called out in battle in fear that the enemy would hear and use that against them. He watched as Wendy's eyes widened before the two simultaneously turned back to their respective opponents and just when the fight began to escalate further a loud bang was heard resonating through the venue.

Time stood still, as they all turned.

Irene looked Ryujin who had tears in her eyes, Jackson felt her grip loosen, watching as her eyes widened as Ryujin placed a hand to where her heart lay, and covering her fingers was blood. Irene shook her head in disbelief, her eyes lining with tears as she looked at her little sister frozen in her spot. Jackson's eyes cast down to watch her, her resolve crumbling, yet despite that her sheer will power was holding her up. He cast his gaze in the direction that bullet had travelled and just as he had suspected Mr Kang was holding onto the gun. Everyone watched as Ryujin fell and it was that, that broke Irene out from her stance, her legs picking up to catch her sister before crashing to the floor with her. Irene applied pressure to the wound looking up to Wendy who had already called an ambulance before returning her gaze to her sister who was now coughing up blood. She applied pressure, her tears making her gaze hazy as her little sister squeezed her hand. "Ai..." she heard, Irene shook her head. "Shhh save your breath okay, the ambulance is on its way." "Mum and dad are  calling me home..." Irene begun to protest. "Shut up you're not going anywhere." She watched Ryujin smile at her, "I don't have time..." Irene's eyes momentarily closed, trying to gather her strength as Kai, Lay and Wendy began trying to stop the blood that Irene's hands were now covered in. "Shhh, you will be fine." "Ai...please..." Irene shook her head stubbornly, biting her lip as she looked into her sisters eyes. "I'm so proud to call you my older sister...everything you've done, everything you do, I wanted to be exactly like you-" Irene looked at her, softening her hair down. "You're already better..." she spoke tenderly. "...no I'm not...I could never be half the woman you are Ai...you're amazing, and I'm blessed that god gave you as my sister....so so blessed." She struggled grasping for breath, Irene's head turning to the side for a split second, the tears now falling. "I love you Ai, so much...please don't slip with me going...I know you...I know how you get...but I'm finally going back to mum and dad, I finally get to spend time with them..." Irene shook her head, "you're not going anywhere little one...don't leave me..." "I have to Ai, my time is done, I've served my purpose..." Irene shook her head "Please stop..." she begged, watching as her little sister struggled to grasp onto her final breaths. "You have always been made for more Ai, that is your strength, do what you set out to do, get justice, and use this as your momentum....don't let me hold you back...destroy and rebuild Ai...wield justice and let it prevail, and do it for me please...." Irene wiped at her sisters tears. "Promise me Ai...promise me you won't give up." "...I won't." Irene spoke watching her sister become paler by the second, Kai and Lay alongside Wendy struggling against their own emotions. "...I love you Ai..." she heard in hoarse whisper that sounded nothing like her sister. And just as the words left Irene's mouth. "I love you too." Her little sisters hand slumped to the side, her body giving way, as she continued to bleed out all over Irene. "RYUJIN!" Irene screamed through her cries, all of their friends simultaneously breaking down as their leader broke trying to awaken her little sister desperately. Her shouts painfully mixing as they ripped from her throat. Jackson looked to the other side, not being able to listen to her break, and just as he turned he saw the smirk that Mr Kang wore thinking he had defeated the mafia queen. Jackson momentarily turned back to watch Irene.

Foolish Mr Kang was for believing this would lead to her destruction and defeat because he knew she would rise from the ashes and rain down hell on the city of Seoul. He turned away, leaving the scene altogether, his heart withering at the sound of her tormenting cries, cries that he was ultimately responsible for. And just as he left the scene, he did not witness Irene stand from her ruins to tackle the enemy that still stood before her.

TBC

Authors note:
Hey guys hope you enjoy this update. So I just started back at school and things are getting pretty hectic already, so updates as I have said will be delayed, I'll probably follow the same structure I did before lock down which were updates on Friday Saturday and Sunday. So yeah. Thanks. Stay safe x