Sunlight spilled over the sanctuary like it had no idea what had happened here days ago. Laughter drifted from the yard, someone splashed water near the dock, and for a few rare hours the world felt… normal. But not everyone was enjoying it. Michelle sat in the com room together with Liza. On the screen, Deputy Lang watched with a professional stillness that didn’t quite hide her tension.

  “I’ve uploaded everything I could obtain,” Lang said. “Kingston’s recent medical records, and his public schedule. Anything further would leave a trail. Use it carefully.”

  “This helps a lot,” Michelle replied, already scrolling. “Most of these are all public appearances, but some of them really stand out as possible spots for assasination. And in two days he will have a staged PR appearance at a children’s hospital. A perfect place for Liza to blend in. Right?”

  Michelle turns around and sees Liza with an evil smile from ear to ear like possessed by the devil himself.

  “He has a documented heart condition and high blood pressure. I can create something that elevates it and leaves almost no trail. Age, stress, pressure. Lights out without suspicion.”

  Lang’s expression tightened. “You want to do this in a hospital?”

  “He had his hand in trafficking children and illegal experiments,” Liza replied calmly. “Fitting and ironic at the same time. Just get me in as a patient and watch the evening news.”

  Liza showcases her “needle collection” and her claw.

  Lang didn't say a word, but the silence carried unease. The kind that second-guesses her decision to hire the Fangs.

  ***

  Michelle knocks on Liza's door. “Liza, are you ready? You are leaving soon!”

  Liza opens the door totally hyped. “Great timing! I just finished my magic potion!”

  Michelle squinted. “What exactly does it do?”

  Liza presents two small vials with transparent liquid. “It's adrenalin based - that will elevate his blood pressure, I added a little something that will make his own body produce even more adrenaline and a bit of snake poison that will cause heart arrhythmia. It absorbs fast and leaves no traces. The props are prepared,” she shows her claw. “I will just try to get an audience and as soon as I have any direct contact, I′ll prick him.”

  Michelle hesitated. “Won′t it be risky if he collapses right in front of you?”

  “He won’t,” Liza said. “It will take about half an hour for this to kick in. This is not lethal on its own. A strong healthy person like you would walk it off in a few hours. But for an old geezer with a sick heart this is the finish line.”

  Michelle nodded once. “Good luck and be careful.”

  Liza gives her a thumbs up and leaves.

  ***

  The girls have gathered around the TV to watch the evening news.

  “Today we start with tragic news. The senatorial candidate Richard Kingston, has passed away. After visiting a children′s hospital earlier this day, he suffered a massive heart attack. Medical staff were quickly on sight, but there was nothing they could do. From the informations we've received, Kingston already had a preexisting hearth condition, the stress of the elections probably- “

  Trella muted the TV. “I think Lang will be pleased.”

  “Good job, girls,” a familiar voice said behind them.

  All the girls immediately jumped out of their seats and almost out of their skins. They had no idea Yael was already at the sanctuary and standing right behind them.

  “Where— how—” Mei-Ling started.

  “Stop sneaking like a cat!” Aya snapped.

  “Happy to see you too!,” Yael laughed. “And how are my little twins doing?”

  Marina and Marisa ran to Yael and gave her a big hug.

  Tomorrow we′ll be going back to Brazil,” Yael said gently, then turned to the Fangs. “Thank you for taking such good care of them.”

  “We did what we could,” Trella said. “We’re glad you came. Their memories are gone, but other than that they are fine. We sure will miss them, but it will be for the best, if they return home.”

  “Will it be scary? Will I get to train?” Marina asked softly.

  Yael grinned. “You’ll train. You’ll run until you hate it, and then you’ll learn to love it. But I’ll teach you to keep yourself safe.”

  But Michelle felt the ache in her chest. The thought of handing them off to someone else, even Yael, felt like surrender and mercy tangled together. “Yael, we appreciate this, but…”

  “I know, don′t worry,” Yael replied gently. “They will learn how to control their power and use it for good. I won′t turn them into weapons. You have my word.”

  There was a small silence where everyone measured the promise. Aya, who had been watching the whole exchange with an unreadable expression, finally stepped forward and placed a rough hand on the twins’ shoulders. “You better teach them to handle themselves. If anyone tries to hurt them, I’ll come down on them like a storm.”

  Michelle exhaled. “They’ll be okay. We made the right choice.”

  “Oh, by the way,” Yael added suddenly. “Talia! I need you for a second!”

  “Yo, whats up?”

  “I need one of your speedboats.”

  “You want to borrow a speedboat? For what?”

  “I want to take it. We need a ride home.”

  “And how did you get here?” Talia asked, surprised.

  Yael throws her a set of special keys. “This is how. It′s from a small plane. I took it from that guy from Manaus. He won′t need it anymore. I left it in the hangar in Playa.”

  Stolen novel; please report.

  “Yes!” Aya cheered. “No more swimming!”

  Everybody laughed.

  ***

  The sun is rising, staining the water gold. The air hums with quiet life. Gulls circling, waves whispering against the hulls. The speedboat rocks gently, already loaded with a few bags. Yael checks the engine while the twins stand beside her, their hair ruffling in the breeze. They look more relaxed than they have in weeks. A little nervous, but also ready.

  Michelle walks up with Talia and Aya at her side. The others linger near the veranda, watching from a respectful distance, as if afraid that stepping closer might make the moment heavier.

  “So… you’re really going?” Michelle said, smiling softly.

  Marina nodded. “Yeah. Feels weird to leave so soon.”

  “But,” Marisa added, after a pause, “it feels right.”

  Yael placed a steady hand on each of their shoulders. “They’ve learned enough here. The rest they’ll learn with me.”

  Michelle hesitated. The words caught somewhere between her chest and her throat.

  “I just—”

  “Don’t worry,” Yael said gently, meeting her eyes. “I want to raise them as guardians. The place needs protectors. And I’m not getting any younger. They’ll be where they belong.”

  Michelle nods, visibly relieved. She steps closer and pulls both twins into a hug — warm and protective. “You two remember… This will always be your second home.”

  “We know,” Marina said.

  “And we’ll visit,” Marisa promised.

  They board the speedboat. The engine hums to life. Aya waves energetically, shouting: “Bring snacks next time!”

  Everyone laughs again. The boat pulls away slowly, white foam curling behind it. The girls wave until they’re small figures against the horizon. Two silhouettes standing beside their mentor, heading toward a new chapter. Michelle watches in silence until they’re gone, then turns to Talia. “They’ll be fine.”

  Talia nodded. “They will. And so will we.”

  The sea glowed under the rising sun — calm, luminous, deceptive. A pause before the next storm.

  ***

  A few days later, the sanctuary felt quieter.

  Michelle stood before a display filled with files and images, her expression tight.

  “I did some digging on Tojo Sayako Technologies. And I don′t like what I found. We′ve hit a wall here. Look at this… Tojo has eight research and development facilities all around Japan plus a whole university campus. And those are only the facilities we know of. All of them high tech. Compared to this SimCor looks like a kindergarten.

  Aya crossed her arms. “So how do we get in?”

  “That’s the problem,” Michelle replied. “We can’t. Not unnoticed. And we wouldn’t even know where to start.”

  “Not to mention the linguistic barrier,” Trella added.

  “The what?” Aya asked.

  “They don’t speak English, Aya,” Michelle said flatly. “You wouldn’t even be able to read the sign on the gate. Aiko’s the only one who understands the language.”

  Trella raised an eyebrow. “But since you gathered us here, that means you have a plan.”

  “Not yet,” Michelle admitted. “Working on it.”

  She tapped the screen, bringing up a photo. “This is Toshiro Yamada. Our main target. He bought the formula from Chan. About nine months ago, he went from nobody to one of the lead researchers in the medical division. And he became pretty arrogant.”

  Maya frowned. “I suppose it has something to do with the serum.”

  “I think so,” Michelle said. “I don’t know what he’s working on, but with that kind of attitude, it can’t be anything good.”

  Aya cracked her knuckles. “So we grab him and beat the information out of him?”

  “No,” Michelle said immediately. “That wouldn′t do us any good. There are things brute force can′t solve. On this one we need to use official channels.”

  Mei-Ling sighed. “And now you’re going to tell us we need to work with that old leprechaun on this one.”

  “Yes,” Michelle said. “I′ve already talked to her about it and she has a way to give us something to work with.” She shows another photo. “This is professor Subaru Kanzaki. He is the head of the medical division. Lang was able to arrange a meeting with him. This is where we start. Pack your bags, we′re going to Japan.”

  ***

  The plane gently touched down at Tokyo Narita Airport, smooth enough to feel unreal. A moment later, the doors opened—and the new world revealed itself. Sound first. Then motion. Announcements echoed in rapid Japanese, footsteps clattered across polished floors, rolling luggage hummed like insects in migration. The air itself seemed sharper, more alert.

  Aya froze halfway down the jet bridge.

  “Okay,” she muttered, squinting. “What did that lady just say?”

  “She said you’re blocking the exit,” Aiko replied without missing a beat.

  “Oh— sorry, lady!”

  Trella pinched the bridge of her nose. “Cultural lesson number one: listen before you yell.”

  Michelle stepped forward, calm but already bracing. “Welcome to Japan, girls. Let’s not cause an international incident on arrival.”

  Maya lingered by the window, eyes fixed on the skyline. “Look at that skyline… precise, clean… no chaos,” she said quietly.

  “Give us ten minutes,” Liza said dryly. “We’ll fix that.”

  Aya’s attention snapped to a vending machine glowing softly against the wall. She stared.

  “They sell everything from machines! Even… socks?”

  “You could survive here without talking to another human,” Liza observed.

  “Heaven for introverts,” Trella said. “Horror for Aya.”

  “Hey!”

  ***

  The Tokyo Metro carriage gleamed like it had never known dirt. White lights, polished metal, seats perfectly aligned. The moment the Black Fangs stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted. At first, curiosity and polite glances. The usual tourist scan. Then Aya walked in with her long white mohawk, mirrored shades, half-open bomber jacket, and that trademark scowl like she’s two seconds away from a bar fight. She casually popped gum and leaned on the door, arms crossed, radiating pure “don’t mess with me” energy. The passengers' collective thought spread instantly: Oh, foreign delinquents.

  Then came Amelie. Goth-loli dress black as midnight, silver cross choker, parasol folded like a weapon, psychotic grin permanently etched on her doll-like face. A little girl nearby tugged her mother’s sleeve and whispered something. The mother, wide-eyed, only nodded. By now, the entire car had gone dead silent. Even the train itself seemed to slow down a notch out of respect.

  Trella sighed. “Here we go again…”

  “We look like a traveling circus,” Maya whispered.

  “A very dangerous one,” Aiko added, fighting a smile.

  Behind them, the rest of the team filled the aisle — Michelle serious and composed, Liza smirking like a cat about to cause trouble, Mei-Ling calm but with that quiet predator vibe, Anya and Katya casually chatting in Russian, Samira recording something on her phone, Talia balancing three bags of snacks and Milena blinking in sleepy confusion. A nervous businessman glanced up at them, caught Aya’s glare and instantly pretended to read the newspaper — upside down.

  Aya leaned toward Michelle. “What’s with everyone? Never seen tourists before?”

  “Maybe they sense fear,” Amelie giggled.

  “No,” Trella said flatly. “They see fear. Right there on your face, Amelie.”

  The group burst into quiet laughter, which only made things worse. A wave of tension rolled through the carriage like someone had released thirteen wolves among sheep.

  “Alright, girls, keep it low-key. We don’t need another viral video,” Michelle said, deadpan.

  “Too late,” Aya muttered. “That guy’s already filming.”

  She stares directly at a teenager trying to sneak a photo — he yelps and drops his phone.

  Liza grins ear to ear. “I like Japan already.”

  The train slowed to its next stop. Half the passengers got off — none got on.

  Maya watched the empty seats. “I think we just got a private carriage.”

  “Privilege of being infamous without anyone knowing why,” Trella replied.

  As the doors closed again, Amelie tilted her head toward her reflection in the window, that eerie smile lingering. The train rumbled into the tunnels, leaving behind a car full of silence, laughter, and one unspoken thought shared by every local who saw them: Please let them not be staying long.

  Later, in a restaurant—

  Maya stared at the tableware. “So… these are chopsticks?”

  “Yes,” Aiko said patiently.

  “How do you stab anything with these?”

  “You don’t stab,” Trella replied. “You lift.”

  Aya tries to twirl noodles like spaghetti and fails catastrophically. “Okay, who invented this torture device?!”

  “My ancestors,” Mei-Ling said, deadpan.

  “…sorry.”

  Liza, with wicked amusement, manages perfect precision. “You just have to be patient.”

  “You’re way too calm about this,” Maya said. “You scare me.”

  “That’s because she’s plotting something,” Trella said.

  “Always,” Liza replied, smiling darkly.

  Tokyo at night felt like another planet. Neon lights reflect in puddles after a light rain. The city is alive.

  “It’s beautiful,” Milena murmured. “Feels like a dream.”

  “Enjoy it while we can,” Michelle said. “Tomorrow, we start the hard part.”

  Aya stretched. “Come on, commander. Live a little. Let’s get souvenirs!”

  “We’re not tourists,” Trella replied.

  “We could be,” Aya said. “Just for five minutes.”

  They paused at a crosswalk beneath massive screens. Anime mascots flickering beside stock tickers, colors and numbers dancing together.

  “Whole different world,” Maya said softly.

  Aiko nodded. “You’ll get used to it. Maybe.”

  They crossed. Foreign ground beneath their feet, and something unexpected and dangerous awaiting them.