The Queen.

The phenomenon was uncanny to her eyes of how delicate and graceful Jimin looked in comparison to her big-framed trainer, who was clearly taller and with more mass, yet Jimin's aura was more dominating and dangerous.

"Do you often zone out like this?" asked a man who she recognized as a trainer she had once trained with. "If so, then you must change that habit of yours. You can't give a weakness to your enemy. Do you even know how lethal those boys are?"

"Go easy on her, Denji. She is just nervous," Namjoon defended.

"I'm not nervous." She was quick to clarify. "I just have a few questions."

"What do you want to know?" Jimin narrowed his eyes, interest glinting in them.

"What am I supposed to do with my targets?" she questioned, briefly meeting his eyes before resuming to stare at his feet.

"What are you willing to do to them?" he counter-questioned.

She thought of the people who were in pain because of their attack at her training center. "Whatever that is fair."

"Fair?" A soft huff of air left his lips with a laugh. "What else do you wish to know?"

"Do I have a choice?" she gritted her teeth. She wanted to know how far on the edge of the cliff she was standing.

"Of course you do." He fixed the watch on his wrist. She wondered if he was getting annoyed by her. "You can choose to be a coward and back off or choose to put all your training to work and protect the people you care about."

And is that what you do? She thought but couldn't ask.

A curiosity sparked in her mind, what if she raised her eyes to meet his for more than a moment? Could she read him the way she was able to read other people? However tempting, she decided against testing that.

Curiosity could kill, a reminder.

"Are we all settled, Laira?" Namjoon questioned.

"I have a condition." She knew she was in no position for that. "I want to know the truth. At every step, before going after anyone, I want to know the reason."

Trainer Denji seemed to have found her condition ridiculous, or the fact that she has a condition to begin with, as he openly stared at her with his sharp eyes.

"As you wish," were the last words Jimin spoke before he left. The sound of his boots clacking loudly in the quiet room.

"See you, be here at 6 AM," Namjoon instructed before going along with trainer Denji, leaving her alone with her target's details.

*

Laira found herself more mysterious than the world. She would sometimes look at the girls on the streets, dressed to impress, with long hair, and heels that would barely come in handy in need of running, but she would admire them. The way they carried themselves around was more feminine than she had ever managed to be.

They were graceful, elegant, and beautiful.

It wasn't just about the looks, but one look at them, and you could tell they had their lives sorted out. They knew what they aspire to become, what they want to achieve, and how they want to live.

Whereas, it changed for Laira every passing day. Although she was pretty calm about life and its way of making you feel lost, she still wondered what it would be like to live like them, to be sure about something for once.

She couldn't say no to her trainer's proposal of this mission, she couldn't run away from this place when she was young, and now she couldn't hate the person who stole her childhood from her.

How can I be so weak?

She arrived earlier at the headquarters than instructed, taking her time to stroll around the place. She had been here before, but she wasn't allowed to roam inside the private sectors.

She took another look at the profiles she'd been given of her targets, noticing the first one had the same hair as hers, black with red-tinted highlights. Jeon Jungkook. She repeated the name in her head.

"Ben!" She stood alert upon hearing Namjoon''s voice. "Good morning, Laira. Have you seen Ben coming this way?"

She bowed her head. "Good morning. No, I haven't. I'll help you look for him."

"God, this kid will give me a migraine. I told him not to run around but he never listens," Namjoon complained, pushing back his hair in stress.

"I'll search in the other sector," Laira offered, giving a comforting pat on Namjoon's shoulder.

"No need." She froze upon hearing the voice and quickly bowed in acknowledgment of his presence. "Kids get bored, Namjoon. You can't blame him for having some fun. Right, Ben?"

The little boy who was lifted in Jimin's arms gave a mischievous chuckle.

Namjoon groaned. "Don't encourage him, Jimin."

"But Dad you didn't let me bring Mr. Tooth with me, so I chose to play with Uncle Jimin instead." The kid accused with tears slightly brimming his eyes.

Namjoon sighed with a look of guilt and adoration on his face for the little guy.

Jimin pecked the boy's cheek and said, "Of course, love. We can play all you want, but before that, I have some work to do. How about you wait for me in the car?"

"Can I play games?"

Jimin nodded with a soft smile and watched the kid run to the elevator.

"How are you planning to go about this?' Jimin asked. Laira was once again caught off guard by the sudden question thrown her way. "The two of them together are quite unbeatable."

She resumed her eyes on his feet and replied, "I'll start with the younger one, Jeon. He's 26, and works at a gallery in Tokyo. He is quite famous on social media and has a lot of friends. I just need to meet him once to figure out his weakness."

Jimin hummed. "Is that how you deal with people?" She could feel him running his gaze from head to toe. "Using their weakness against them? You must be able to read people well."

She nodded her head. "Yes."  Every human has a special ability, one they are born with, and after doing enough training they can use it.

"Impressive," he said. She noticed, from the corner of her eyes, that he would not take his eyes off of her as he spoke as if he was challenging her to look up. "It's set then, JK will be your first target. Get to know him as much as you need to. According to my team, they both are at their training center in Kyoto. Go there and become one of them. "

"Do I kill them after that?" She couldn't help but let it slip past her lips.

Amusement laced his voice as he said, "Certain pieces play certain parts for the complete strategy."

Just like that, she set off on the mission to do the unknown.

*

Kyoto, Japan

Chess was a game she knew how to play but had never been fond of. She'd rather swing her blades in the air than sit still making a strategy, her personal preference. Every battle is the same, whether it's chess or sword fighting, using your brain is the main component.

'Certain pieces play certain parts for the complete strategy,' he had said. If the goal of chess is to defeat the opponent's king then at what cost is he going to do it?

Every player is different, some are too reckless that they don't worry about the scores as long as they can win the game at last, and some are so calculated, putting a price on each and every piece. She wasn't concerned about her safety but curious about his plan.

What did he intend to do with the people who were connected to Jung Hoseok? Was he willing to sacrifice them and me to win this game?

Sacrificing the queen isn't the wisest move, yet desperate times call for desperate measures, but is there anything that can get him so desperate?

She dragged her feet through the tall grass reaching up to her ankles. It was not so often that she got to visit a place so far away and safe from the city's bustling crowd and modern constructions. Grasshoppers chirped harmonizing the soft tune she was humming under her breath.

Under the clear sky, wind danced through her hair serving as her companions on this lonely journey. This was her first time being in Kyoto. She was mesmerized by the serenity the green fields and sparkling rivers had to offer.

After walking for another 15 minutes, crossing the fruit and fish market, she reached the large minka (Japanese traditional house) in the middle of the forest, with a symbol of the sun hanging on the entrance. The Taiyo clan's training center.

She knocked on the small wooden gate that was of her waist level. Her eyes landed on the boy inside, with long hair, sitting under a tree while reading a book. It took her a minute to recognize him.

It was V. He was sitting alone in the fields and the training center seemed unusually quiet.

She stared at him, quietly noticing how his focus tended to shift from the book to the grass he was plucking out from the ground. He did not seem to be reading for pleasure but for distraction. She stood there waiting after knocking at the gate, the cherry blossoms were showering on her and her surroundings.

He looked up from the book, eyes squinted, drinking her slowly with precision. "We don't open for foreigners," he spoke.

Although her mom was Japanese, she looked more like her British father. It was easy for one to tell she was not from here. "I wish to speak with Master Fuji." Namjoon had instructed her to play the role of an enthusiastic city girl who wanted to receive training to become an assassin.

He remained unbothered, scratching behind his ear. His form leaned against the apple tree with long legs on top of the other.

"Can you just open the gate, please?" She tried again with a couple of more knocks.

He sighed, throwing the book aside with a 'thump' on the grass. "I hate noisy kids."

Laira scoffed, watching him hustle his way to the gate. Chewing on his cheek, he stopped a few feet away from the gate, again running his gaze on her.

Is he really an assassin?

"Master Fuji isn't present at the moment. Do you mind coming some other day or not coming at all?" His pointer finger twirled his luscious hair as he looked here and there in boredom.

Laira cleared her throat for his undivided attention before clasping her hands behind her back. "I'm Laira Takai, an 18-year-old, from London. I'm here to take training sessions with Master Fuji." Namjoon had guided her to use her real identity he said that Jimin had cleared her records years ago.

He lazily scratched his ear before shaking his head with a 'no.' "Told you. He is not here."

"Seriously Tae? Let the poor girl in," called a voice, coming from behind him. "Please excuse him, he is not used to strangers."

JK. She recognized him instantly. His red highlights matching hers were etched in her brain from last night.

"I'm here for training," she repeated, accepting his polite bow. He opened the gate, fortunately. Otherwise, she was planning to just jump in, given how low its height was. Unlike V, he appeared lively. Emitting a bubbly burst of energy as he fumbled with the gate sporting a beaming smile on his face.

He offered a handshake which she just stared at before resorting to reply with another bow. He gave an embarrassed smile and clasped his hands together. "So you are eighteen and want to receive training from Master Fuji?"

"Yes." she confirmed, walking inside the yard and looking around. "Why is nobody here?"

Taehyung rolled his eyes. "That is none of your-"

Jungkook held his arm out, holding Taehyung back. "We don't accept trainees anymore," he explained. "The center's closed."

Interesting. Master Namjoon didn't know about this.

"Why?"

Jungkook cleared his throat. "Unfortunately, Master Fuji isn't here and even if he were, like I said, we are not accepting trainees anymore, so we can't help you. You will have to go back home, kid."

"I'm not a kid, and I didn't come here just to return like this." She entered the minka, sliding open the glass door, and peeking her head inside the rooms. The interior was partitioned with shoji screens (movable screens with wooden frames). "I will wait here until he comes back. You two can return to what you were doing."

Taehyung raised his brow. "Quite daring, aren't you? You don't know who we are."

"I know you are not master Fuji. That's enough." She sat down on the floor, her feet tucked underneath. "I'm not leaving until he gets here." She picked up a book that was lying on the tea table.

"Miss, you can't just enter-"

"I will give you a chance.' Jungkook interjected, holding Taehyung back. "Give us a reason why you deserve to be trained here."

"I'm special," that is all she said with her head held up high, putting the book back in its place.

Taehyung snorted. "Perhaps, we should let her stay. She is funny."

Jungkook bit his lip, humming. "Show me." He picked up a wooden sword, tossing it to her.

"You will fight her?" Taehyung asked. The fact that he was judging Jungkook was clear on his face.

"No, you will." Jungkook tossed the other wooden sword to Taehyung, to which the other guy just gave him an 'Are you serious' look. "C'mon, Tae. it will be fun!" Jungkook sat on the chair nearby in anticipation.

"First, she cannot win against me. Second, we are in no position to decide whether she can stay or not. Master Hoseok made it clear that we are not accepting anyone anymore," Taehyung said, fixing Jungkook a glare.

"Are you scared of losing against me?" Laira questioned, eyes enlarged in innocence. For which she won a snort from Jungkook.

Taehyung turned to her, biting his inner cheek. "You better speak carefully around me or you will regret it. I'm one of the most dangerous assassins you have encountered in your life."

"Show me." She challenged, repeating Jungkook's words. "Give me a reason why I should believe in that." She squatted slightly in the attack position. He shook his head in annoyance. However, took his place, holding his sword against hers.

She stopped for a moment, noticing his perfect form. When she swung in the left direction, he dodged with ease, his long hair flying in the air.

His fast footwork was pure art. It was unfortunate that she had to keep up the facade of being a beginner or somewhat experienced at this, or else she would've pushed him as far as she could to better inspect his skills.

She crouched when he spun his sword above her head, gaining a chance to attack his left elbow, but to keep up her act, she struck her sword around his right hand. A clear mistake that earned a sound of disapproval from Jungkook.

Her goal wasn't to win, but to prove to them how passionate she was, so regardless of the blunder she carried on.

This was an attack on Jungkook's soft heart for passion. Right from the beginning of meeting him, she could read that side of him crystal clear. To impress him, she didn't have to be a perfectionist, but a person who is hellbent on not giving up.

The fact that he even considered giving her a chance or letting her inside the center, gave it all up, his thirst for adventure and fun. He seemed like the definition of a 'free spirit' who, above anything else, wanted to enjoy things regardless of rights and wrongs.

The sound of their boots filled the room. Taehyung advanced on her, making her take several steps back, her braid snaking her arm. He was barely trying, it was evident. Although it was insulting, she tried matching that low level of energy.

Her sword holding up against his. He struck two hits, to which she counter-attacked regaining the center, making him back up a little.

"Yeah! Just like that," Jungkook cheered, gaining another judgemental look from Taehyung.

Laira took a step back, raising her sword to meet his in a forceful blow. He was stronger, hence he pushed her back against the wall.

She was panting, trying to hold on to the pressure of his sword on hers. She folded her elbow, making it harder on herself. "That was another mistake," Taehung whispered.

She grunted trying to push back his sword. He smiled and eased up, doing her a favor and giving her another chance. She was quick to regain her form and she tried attacking once again, but this time he swiftly hit the hilt of her sword making it fall out of her hand.

"Enough," he said. "You tried, but it was not fair that you had to fight against me."

"But she tried," Jungkook emphasized. "She has potential and most importantly she is passionate!"

Bingo. She smiled to herself at her first victory.