The ceiling of huge white room was the first thing Kaori saw when she was pulled from drug induced sleep. Bright light reflected against sick pure white interior. Together with the whole room's deafening silence, it frightened her. Taking few deep breathes, she closed her eyes, wishing somehow, she might wake up from a bad dream, but her denial was not strong enough to fool that she was truly lying on the bed of this creepy white room.
"Ryo..., " whispered Kaori, her mind in somewhat foggy mixture of nightmare and cold reality.
Hearing the sound of opening door, Kaori sat up on the bed, dragging still unsteady body. In front of her eyes, a tall white woman with long blond hair and sky blue eyes with polite smile. Her eyes' color was different, but the newcomer's eyes remained her partner, Ryo. The odd mixture of pain, anguish, fleeting color of hope.
"Where am I? Who are you?" Digging up old English lesson from high school, Kaori asked, feeling chill and hugging herself in thin hospital gown.
"Ms. Makimura. Welcome to Section One, the most covert anti-terrorist organization on this planet. I am Nikita, your trainer." In husky clam voice, the tall blond beauty answered.
By using the audio translation computer on her wrist, Nikita slowly, like approaching a frighten kitten, quietly explained the purpose of Section and reason why Kaori was here, not in the Japanese prison accused in murder. "As far as the world is concerned, you are killed during your prison transportation in deadly auto accident. These are your funeral pictures. We saw a potential in you and decided to give you second chance, an another life. Here, you will be trained and learned to become our operative for next two years. If you pass the training, you will work for us."
"What?! What do you mean I am dead?" Agitation and confusion swept Kaori over.
"Work for us or to be canceled. That's your choice." answered Nikita in the composed manner.
"To be canceled?" Still struggling to capture the situation, Kaori asked.
"Kill you." Kaori flinched.
Kaori's mind was numb not from the coldness of room, but overwhelming information given to her. She remained motionless, speechless. Nikita dropped several photos on Kaori's laps and left the room, leaving new trainee to sort out the harshness of reality she must face. The sound of closing door echoed loudly, shuttering the illusion of peace of the room in pieces.
Everybody thinks I am dead. Tear ran down Kaori's cheek and fell on the picture in her hand. It was the side shot of picture of a man kneeling in front of her gravestone. His head was bowed in despair, his face half hidden by black hair. "Ryo...you think I am dead, too?"