Submerged in the hot spring water, Ruth Dawn's mind cleared significantly.
This must be Japan, she concluded as she opened her eyes on Ito Machi's plane.
Recalling the events before she passed out, Ruth was still in William Cole's mansion in Capital City. A group of ninjas had invaded the property. Black Tortoise and others tried to resist, but were eventually subdued, and she had been captured.
It seemed clear to her now that she had been kidnapped.
Why would the Japanese kidnap her? To threaten William Cole?
If their intent was merely to threaten William, then why had they let her bathe and change her clothes? And why had they brought her all the way to Japan? It would have been enough to hide her somewhere William wouldn't find her. There was no need for such an elaborate scheme.
Ruth found it all very perplexing. As time flew, she spent over an hour soaking in the hot spring.
The Japanese woman sitting by the spring finally broke the silence: "Mrs. Dawn, it's about time."