Black:

The place looked like a maze, very spacious yet felt very narrow, she hated it, although she spends most of her time in this lab she could never feel safe here, it's like something snatching her throat. She's experiencing a terrible migraine but she couldn't leave the lab before she finishes her work, her endless painful work. Shiho placed her hands on her temple begging it to stop. Took a deep breath and continued with what she's doing 'you can do it' she smiled ironically 'as even I had a choice'.

Time passed slowly and her attention span is getting worse, she looked at the clock, it was 1:00 AM "Oh my" she groaned as her eyes began to betray her "looks like we have another sleepless night" murmured hesitantly.

"Pity you Sherry" a deep voice behind her shattered the continual silence, her heart almost stopped as she wasn't expecting any visitors at that hour of time.

She turned her back to find Moroboshi Dai, or what they call him these days Rye.

"Sherry?" she replied with an emotionless tone," told you, you can call me Shiho when they're not around"

"Oh pardon me Shiho-san," he answered while his steps echoed through the empty lab

"seeing you working while wearing the lab coat makes me want to pay respect to you"

She looked at him with the corner of her eyes sharply.

"Why are you here anyway?" she asked him while fixing her eyes on the computer.

"well I just wanted to see you" replied fast

"Oh cut the chase Dai-Kun, I'm not stupid it's 1:00 AM in the morning" she turned to him again "there's more than wanting to have a chat with me you know"

"Hey" his voice suddenly became serious "your sister is worried about you" he sighed "you haven't seen her in weeks" he stepped closer to her "I know that she is not aware of the workload you have but can you just reassure a little bit?" He looked into her eyes, she looks tired it's more like she's in pain.

"You're probably right" she sighed powerlessly. "I'm really concerned about her"

"Don't worry my sister is paranoid, there's nothing to worry about I'm fine"

He looked at her with disbelief "you should rest Shiho, you look half dead"

She smiled at him "well, not until I finish my work"

"You'll be fully dead by then" he smirked "seriously get some sleep"

"Look who's talking about sleep" she snapped sarcastically "Dai-Kun I appreciate your concerns but I have a lot of work today so if you excuse me" shifting her sight from him.

"I'll stay here until you're finished then" he sat on one of the empty chairs while getting the pack of cigarettes out of his pockets. He wasn't waiting for her to agree after all.

She looked at him annoyed "Akemi is behind that, isn't she?"

"doesn't matter" he always wanted to gain sherry's trust, after all, she's his winning card. The idea of using this woman disgusted him but priorities are key on his mission.

she didn't protest, just pretended that he's not around and preceded with her work 'this man is an enigma'.

Half an hour passed, without anyone caring to say a word. She was working on her research silently while he was just sitting there, observing her and lighting a cigarette after another, this woman never showed any kind of emotions 'ice queen', what was he expecting from a person grew up in darkness and despair. What if she grew up in normal circumstances? Would be she different? Probably.

"Enjoying the view, aren't we?" she hissed while looking into the microscope "you don't have to babysit me" fixing her posture "I can take care of myself"

"I'm aware of that"

"then leave"

"did I bug you?"

"yes you did"

" I haven't spoken a single word in the last half hour"

She stood up walked toward him "the smell of your cigarettes stink"

"sorry about that" answered unapologetically

'that's it' she thought she would never allow him to tease her like that, she stepped closer to him lowered her face to meet his, glared at him endlessly "what do you want?" her tone turned to be lethal, just like her.

she didn't trust him. He knew that.

a subtle smile grew on his lips "I told you before" the gap between their faces has shrunk as he fixed his position "I came in to check on you, your sister is worried about you" as he noticed how close they were, he leaned to the chair again "and so am I"

She cracked a sarcastic laugh "do you realize Rye" as she took off her lab coat "my sister may be kind and dumb" as she collected her belongings around the lab "but I'm nothing like her" she looked at him sharply "I could be venomous".

"Oh don't show that kind of face" as they exchanged some deadly glares from each other.

"if you ever hurt my sister" she spoke clearly "I will poison your life"

She walked through the door, "remember that" as she slapped the door violently.

{~~~~~~}

New York City was the place she grew up in, and now she's visiting this place again like a stranger. It never felt like home, no place on earth did. She took a taxi from JFK airport to the hotel, gazed on the streets, the faces and the sky everything gave her chills, nothing changed, it may be one of the brightest cities of the world, but those lights remind her about the miserable childhood she lived down here.

Sherry came back for a mission, although field duties aren't her piece of cake, her presence is crucial with this one. A part of the research she's running is done here, and she is supposed to meet the scientist for some information exchange. It was easy, but the thing is that the location of the lab is super secretive even to her.

And in order to not drag any attention to these activities, she entered the land alone while Gin arrived a couple of days earlier to make sure nothing goes wrong. She didn't like the idea of Gin accompanying her but did she have any choice? She arrived at the hotel, carried her carry on, walked down the lobby, and tried not to look at anyone's face. The long flight made her head turn, checked in for her supposed room.

As she walked down the hall, she felt heavy, hated this life but there was no way out, her life is like a huge prison. She opened the room's door wanting to get all these thoughts out of her mind, it was as dark as it gets. She sighed powerlessly.

"How was your trip sherry?" that voice, it couldn't be anyone but him, turned on the lights. "you like darkness don't you Gin" looking at the man who was sitting on the chair.

He ignored her comment and stood up "well you sure like to tease me"

"I wouldn't say so" Shiho replied, He walked closer to her and placed his arms around her, she hated his touch "Gin" whispered softly "I'm tired"

"I miss you Sherry"

"But Gin" He didn't want to listen, he never does.

She hated that she is with some kind of a murderer, shivered in fear. He kissed her not allowing her to speak, carrying her to the bedroom.

{~~~~~~~}

It's been a while since he visited his apartment, he can't even remember the last time he had a good night's sleep. He missed the view, NYC's skyline made him feel, alive. Took a sip from the Bourbon glass, it's going to be over soon, he thought.

They're now in his territory. And they'll fall in his trap. While he knew Gin is a hell of a mastermind but coming to NYC like that wasn't that, smart. It's the perfect opportunity for the FBI to capture Gin, Gin and that scientist.

His phone rang, held it to see that text message he was eager to read "we've located the lab" He cracked a smile.

Good Jodie. He replied.

{~~~~~~~}

The night was young, as she walked down the rooftop she saw people who are actually having a good time, talking, dancing and flirting.

She has never been in a real situation where she felt happy, she looked around her as she smiled bitterly she's a criminal and does is killing people is all she does, although she never pulled the trigger on someone, the drug she is working on is as bad as shooting people.

She was wearing black, a short black dress with a low neckline and a completely backless back, she felt the pistol wrapped around her left thigh and of course, her emerald pendant necklace, the only piece remained from her mother.

"entered the rooftop" whispered into the device that is inside her ear. While she walked toward the bar and sat down "in position" to Gin who is on the other side.

From across the place, a blond woman with glasses sat down, observed the situation carefully "Sherry has entered the bar" scanned the place one more time "but Gin is nowhere to be seen" hissed into her earpiece.

"keep an eye on the scientist" replied Akai.

"got it"

"I have bugged the necklace she's wearing back in japan, we can also listen to her conversations"

"you sure know a lot about her to predict her moves" Jodie teased the man who didn't care to answer her though.

An hour passed and sherry did nothing but drinking, isn't anyone coming to see her? Or isn't she supposed to go to the lab? Jodie started to get bored when she saw a man getting closer to sherry, " stand by" whispered "this is the man who's going to take her to the lab" After a while, Sherry and that man got out of the rooftop "they have left".

{~~~~~~}

When they arrived at the lab's location, it was in the middle of Manhattan, how daring she thought, If you want to hide something, just hide it under their noses. She entered the lab with the man, he started showing her the latest results for the research they're working on, as she looked at the computer she felt an odd movement, she felt like she is being watched, she tried to ignore that thought, could it be a trap? She is probably being too paranoid.

Gin him made sure that everything is going according to plan, he wouldn't put her in danger, would he? She preceded with what she was doing. After a moment she felt a gun is held into her head "FBI don't move" her heart nearly stopped, she placed her hands on the air without protesting "get up" a man commanded to stand up, She looked around her, there were around ten people and all of them were pointing their guns toward her head. She could knock off one or two but could never outpower all of them 'where the hell is Gin' she thought.

"you," the same man said "you will cooperate with us if you want to keep your head"

she smiled at him "How dangerous"

"shut up" Well yeah he's probably right

"we know who you are Sherry, so cut the chase" he was deadly serious.

"where is your partner?" She remained silent, he pressed the gun harder "where is Gin?"

"I don't know" she truly didn't because if she did, she wouldn't be in such a mess.

She knew she might die terribly one day but she never had imagined dying in a situation like that. Scanned the room to find a way to escape, there was the door which is heavily guarded from the inside and the outside, a balcony which didn't lead to anywhere unless she could hop into another floor's balcony, that was risky.

The problem now is the agents around her, how is she going to run from them? The whole building is certainly full of FBI agents.

The man next to her held a talkie radio "we captured Sherry, mister Akai"

"copy that" although the voice was jammed from the talkie radio,

it sounded familiar.

{~~~~~~}

Shuichi lied down in front of is his rifle, at one of one Manhattan's sky Scrapers, watched the situation carefully, admired Sherry while captured, he felt despair invading his chest seeing her like that. But she's a criminal right? She deserves that.

She looked different tonight, that dress is so, So short, he drove is attention to the pistol that is wrapped under, Oh man focus Will you? She's a criminal, she's Gin's puppet.

As he scanned the room, he noticed something flashing,

oh lord..

it's a bomb

"shuu, we found Gin on the 45th midtown," Jodie said through the earpiece.

"Coming"

{~~~~~}

"So you're not going to talk, aren't you" he pressed the gun toward her temple again.

She remained quiet "aren't you afraid of death?"

She smiled " I have nothing to lose I'm afraid"

"well yeah" he laughed sarcastically "people like you have no souls" he turned around her in circles "your just a lifeless piece of a shit placed in murderer's body" Although she maintained her poker face those words, chocked her.

"Mike" yelled the same familiar voice from the radio "get out of the lab immediately"

"whoa! Why?" as he held the device nervously.

"I said get out" As the other agents left the room, the man attempted to hold sherry to get out of the room it was too late, as they reached the door everything shattered around them.

The bomb wasn't that big to knock off the building but it surely wiped everything inside the lab.

Shiho felt the pain of the trauma in her bones as she removed the earpiece and crushed it "Gin you bastard" she yelled hysterically, is that what he meant when he said that everything is going according to the plan? He'd rather killing her to not risking any information leakage. everything surrounding her became ashes, saw a hole she could escape from it, she managed to stand up in her feet ready to run away, she noticed the man that held her hostage thrown on the ground, she went back to him.

"hey hey" she yelled at him "are you conscious" slapped him a few times, he was still alive.

He opened his eyes briefly "you" hissed as he couldn't speak.

"hey listen please I can get you out of here if you just if stand up I will help you out" she tried to move him but he was too heavy. "please you will die"

he looked at her with his half-opened eyes "why would you care?"

"because I'm just like you" she sobbed "I'm trapped in darkness and I want to get out" she tried to make him get up but he couldn't "I'm lost"

He smiled at her, she knew he will die in no more than a couple of minutes "you leave before it's" he moaned in pain "too late" he lied motionless.

"Gin you bastard" she whispered again. stood up, walked to that gap that it's now blocked by rubble. She held the gun and shot a few times hoping that at least she could break the blockage or even drag attention to her to rescue her.

And then she smelled something burning, chemicals burning "oh great" the place was getting warmer. The horror took over her body. She tried to move the rocks around, everything was heavier than what would she handle. her head started to be a burden, started coughing.

Rested her body on the destroyed wall, if she doesn't get out immediately she will lose her consciousness and then. She will die because of smoke inhalation.

Stood up again, kicked the hell out of the wall, but nothing moved. "few minutes" whispered her lungs will burn in few minutes. There wasn't enough oxygen for her to breathe, her coughing became harder, she rested her body on the wall, but that time she couldn't move, her blurred sight became pitch black "Pity" she whispered.

All of a sudden, she heard some noise but her body was too short of oxygen she couldn't even open her eyes.

Then felt something holding her, not something but someone, strong hands carried her body, Shiho tried to open her eyes but she saw nothing, her condition was far from okay. But for the first time in her life, she felt safe.

{~~~~~~}

Shuichi rushed to the explosion's location, he heard everything through the bugged necklace, the explosion, the screams, mike dying, and Shiho suffocating.

The corridor was blocked, "oh fuck" Shuichi yelled. He started to move the remains of the walls with his hands.

"shuu" he heard a voice behind him " let me help you," Jodie said in a hurry.

They opened a gap that he could pass from it. He found Shiho unconscious "Shiho" he held her in his arms "you're safe" he carried her outside of the building, she started coughing loudly, he laid her on the concrete flooring "Shiho" touched her face "it's fine"

"shuu" Jodie interrupted "hurry up before she wakes up" He looked at one last time before he cut off the necklace from her neck and leave.

"stay" Shiho whispered, he looked at her startled "please", he stood her motionless not sure what to do, if he stays his cover will be blown.

Jodie rested her hand on his arm, preventing him to do that mistake, everything they worked on, they sacrificed will be useless if she sees his face.

They walked away leaving her behind.

Unconscious.

{~~~~~}

"what the hell did you do shuu?" Jodie yelled while focusing on the road

The man on the passenger seat ignored her completely instead he lit a cigarette.

"you would have died" pressing her hands firmly on the wheels "not to mention we lost Gin"

"Jodie," he said nonchalantly.

"everything you did tonight is stupid"

"why did you follow me then?"

"because you could've died you idiot" she screamed in his face " Akai Shuichi what if they discover you, they will kill you"

"stop Jodie" Shuichi snapped "she was going to die" he yelled back to her.

"the hell with her she killed many many people"

The green color of his eyes pierced her but he gained back his temper "this woman is my girlfriend's sister, I wouldn't let her die"

"oh so you're saying you did all that so you're fake girlfriend won't cry?"

Shuichi remained silent Jodie started again " the whole thing was never about your girlfriend" while her voice began to mount up as she speaked "it's about the scientist herself" she sighed " you have a soft spot for Sherry, you never loved Akemi you asshole"

"Jodie" a deep voice interrupted her from the backseat "that is enough" James ordered her.

A very long moment has passed without anyone caring to say a word when James broke the endless cycle "look Akai, it's none of my business but I hope you focus more in the future" he suddenly fell silent "we can't gamble on anything"

"don't worry James I know what I'm doing"

He didn't.

{~~~~~~}

Shiho opened her eyes, panting hysterically, her breath was as short as hell. She freaked out when she saw the sky "what happened" looked around her, she was in a dark alleyway beside that bloody building 'how did I end up here' she thought, suddenly she remembered everything, that someone has held her, and rescued her.

She placed her hand on her neck, that necklace was nowhere to be found. She was really lightheaded, she couldn't think about anything but that person.