My heels clicked briskly against the polished granite; already I could hear the commotion from outside the CIA office. I was late.again. Still chewing on my breakfast I emerged into the outsized office. I could sense there was a changed atmosphere. A new murder probably. But somehow, this was different. Glancing around, I spotted Eriol consulting another agent. Acknowledging my presence, he edged his way through the crowd making a beeline towards me with his arm wedged up holding a file.

"Eriol, am I missing something here?" He was silent just for a moment, then taking a deep breath he spilled the words.

"A murder was found last night and." His tone faltered to charged stillness.

"And? I'm a big girl, I can handle the shock." If anything I could handle shock. Yeah, definitely. "Eriol, what?"

"Chiharu. She's dead."

"What date is it? I thought April Fool's Day was last week." Eriol dropped his gaze just a little, but it was enough the send my pulse racing. "This is a joke right?"

He glanced up, a fleeting wisp of sympathy in his eyes. "No Sakura, this is real. Chiharu was found dead in her home last night."

For a moment, I couldn't think, couldn't comprehend. I closed my eyes, tried to settle my composure. Sometimes it doesn't work. Like when you realise you'll never see your friend smile, or cry, or anything at all. Reminisced images sliced through my memory, Chiharu tripping over her heels, Chiharu laughing over a magazine, Chiharu crying for her lost dog. Chiharu lying on a bloodied bed, lifeless and still as death. I grasped the edge of a table to maintain my balance, breathing rapidly as hot tears trickled down my cheek.

"Why? Eriol why? Please, tell me this isn't happening." I whispered frantically.

Yet life couldn't be that grand. It couldn't grant all our wishes. I know that for a fact, because it never granted mine. Chiharu had died the day before she was discovered. An autopsy had revealed that cause of death was a bullet through the heart. The culprit had left no mercy, his intentions clear. And I have yet to make mine. The bastard will be hunted down, his fate no less than Chiharu's.

I swung open the doors into the office, this day I wasn't late. A few people stopped and watched me. I suppose that yesterday I did create a scene.

The question not directed I asked "If something has come up tell me, otherwise I'll be in my office." No one needed to ask what something was about and nobody replied. I walked into my office and closed the door. Sliding into the chair, I dropped my head onto my palms. I felt so hopeless. The murder so faultless there were no leads. Contemplating my thoughts, I heard the ring of a phone until it subsided to tranquillity. In the next moment a soft rap sounded at my door.

"Yes, come in."

"Sakura? A call waiting for you."

"Okay, thanks."

Wearily, I picked up the receiver. "Hello, who's speaking?"

"Sakura Kinomoto I assume?" A husky male voice resonated to my ears. "Yes. And you would be.?"

"I have information regarding the death of Agent Chiharu Mihara. It will not be said through phone. I will meet with you tonight." The revelation stilled me, the remembrance of Chiharu's death forcing down. Realising I was on the phone, I regained consciousness.

"My question? Who. Are. You?" I exaggerated each pronunciation noticeably.

"Tonight. Essence Brook at 10."

"You mean no harm?" I made it a question.

"Trust me." The melodic rhythm signalling the end of a call echoed.