Where is she? Mireille whined silently, I've been looking for her for over an hour! This house is huge. God, why did she have to go wander off like that? And now I really need to talk to her. I am so lost; I don't know this house at all. She's probably lost, too. Oh, great, here again. Mireille leaned against the wall of the foyer, having found that she had once again gone in a large circle. What was that now, the fourth time she had found herself here since beginning her search? Well, if Kirika is having the same luck in navigation I am then she'll come here eventually. I'll just wait. As soon as she began making herself as comfortable as possible in an old wooden armchair footsteps could be heard coming down a corridor nearby. Mireille sat up straight and called for her partner, "Kirika, is that you?" "No," Chloe's quiet voice informed her and Mireille wondered if the mocking tone was actually to be found in the girl's voice or if it were merely her mind . . . her jealousy, "I don't know where she is. Isn't she with you?" There it was. That was definitely meant to cut Mireille. Mireille bit back her words and clenched her fists, this stupid little girl's comments won't get to me now, and I have more important things to do right now. I have to talk to Kirika. Where is she going now? Mireille listened to the younger assassin's footsteps retreat down the corridor a ways before calling, "What is it?" "Pardon me?" Chloe inquired, stopping. "What is it? What do you mean to her? Why does she look at you like she's never looked at me? Why does she feel so much better when you're around? WHAT IS IT!?" Mireille's voice cracked, tears streaming down her face, "Why is it you?!" After a long pause Chloe began to leave Mireille again, calling back before she was too far away, "Kirika and I are . . . most special." Kirika had been silent as she and Althena had walked back to her room where Althena had parted to go off to another part of the manor, most likely to find Chloe. Now Kirika sat silently on the large bed, the moonlight casting a cold light across Kirika's face. I, I belong here. This is where I was raised, where I should be. This is my . . . home. I don't understand. This place, it feels different from anywhere else, like there is something that causes me to recognize it as my home, but it doesn't feel like my home. I still feel so out of place . . . There's still something missing. Instinct caused Kirika to move like lightning, drawing her gun and pointing it directly into the face of the intruder. She had been sleeping and it was just now, as the light breathing raised her from her slumber, that she realized that Chloe had come in and fallen asleep on the fainting couch near the large bed. The sun was rising, but Chloe was sleeping soundly, wrapped in her cloak, her large boots on the floor. Kirika blinked, trying to adjust her eyes to the bit of light flowing in through the window. I didn't even hear her come in. I didn't even realize I had fallen asleep. Have I been crying? She rubbed around her eyes, which felt dry and tight, as though they had recently been wet. She slowly stood up, stretching fully while trying not to wake the sleeping girl on the couch. As she turned for the door she realized she hadn't succeeded. "You were crying in your sleep," came the soft, and concerned, voice from behind her, "I've never seen someone cry when they were asleep before. Are you alright?" Kirika didn't turn to face the girl. She was supposed to be "closer than any two humans could be" with this girl, but she couldn't even face her old friend. She didn't remember, and she knew that, had she been in Chloe's position, she would be incredibly hurt to not be remembered. She nodded, "I'm fine." "I'm sorry," Chloe said slowly. In the silence that followed Kirika turned a questioning glance toward the girl who had begun putting her shoes on, "I only came in here to check on you, and I must have fallen asleep." Chloe rose and pushed past Kirika, stepping into a hall and disappearing down a corridor. Then why weren't you wearing your shoes, Kirika thought dryly, following the girl a few moments later. Mireille was sitting at the large table laden with several different breakfast foods. Althena was there as well and both sat in perfect silence, Egh, I couldn't find Kirika at all last night. I hope she gets here soon. Sitting with this woman is so uncomfortable. How can she just sit there like that? Just . . . smiling. She's senile. And where's Chloe? What did she mean 'most special?' Was that supposed to be some sort of an insult? The double doors to the dining area opened slightly allowing Kirika entrance. The young girl closed the doors behind her and nodded to Mireille and Althena, "Good morning," before taking her seat. "Good morning," they both responded. "Chloe will not be joining us this morning," Althena explained her protég's absence, "She has left to deliver an important message for me and will be arriving home tomorrow evening." Good, Mireille thought, relieved, now she won't get in the way of my talking to Kirika. This is my chance. The breakfast was short and as they finished and rose from the table Mireille began to ask Kirika to walk with her but was quickly cut off by Kirika, "Do you need any help with these dishes," the girl asked Althena politely, shyly. Althena smiled and shook her head slightly, "No, thank you, I have a small group of servants who handle the cooking and dishes." Mireille breathed a sigh of relief, "So, Kirika, could we talk?" she motioned toward the door, indicating she wanted privacy. "Uh . . . oh, yes," Kirika responded, walking out of the room in front of Mireille. They walked along a wide corridor flooded with morning light in silence, merely walking side by side for nearly an hour. Oh god, how do I say it? Mireille demanded of herself as she walked, how do I tell someone how much they mean to me, when they mean this much? I've never done something like this before. But I have to say something . . . but what? I can't just walk along in silence like this, but what do I say to her? Do I just say it? What else would I say? "Mireille?" Kirika's inquiring voice brought Mireille out of her questioning thoughts. The girl was looking up at the older assassin, her face showing no emotion, waiting, "Did you want to talk about something?" "Oh, yeah . . ." Mireille said slowly, nervously. She stopped walking and Kirika followed suit, "I, um, I'm sorry if I was harsh. Last night I mean. I guess I just wasn't thinking straight," I guess a lot of things aren't straight about me these days, Mireille smirked, "It's just, since we've met that Chloe girl you've changed a lot and it . . . it bothers me." "Bothers you?" Kirika repeated, showing no emotion in her voice. "I, well, you see, I've never felt like this before. This is hard for me," Mireille forced out of herself, "I, I feel strongly for you Kirika," Mireille blushed. Finally it was out in the open. She stood a moment, lacking the courage to look at her partner, to see the girl's face and what was shown there. She took a deep breath and turned to see her partner looking away from her, Oh God, what must she think of me now, "Kirika?" "I think you're a very good friend, too, Mireille," Kirika smiled slightly, sincerely at Mireille. Mireille blanched, what? That's not what I meant! Ugh, I should have known you wouldn't have understood. Ugh, you infuriate me, Kirika! What am I supposed to say now?! Mireille thought angrily. She sighed, Why me? I guess I should have seen it coming. Kirika doesn't seem very knowledgeable in the subject of emotion . . . or human interaction in general. Mireille let out a slight chuckle and smiled, "Come on, I want to explore this house," she beckoned to her partner, deciding to explain a thing or two to her young friend later. Chloe was glad this mission was only to deliver a message, glad that it was so short. She smiled to herself, and when I go home . . . she will be waiting for me. Just like I waited for her, she will be there. Her friend will be there, too, Chloe's expression became bland once again, and she's there right now, with her. They're together. The young assassin's fist tightened, crumpling the letter she had come to this dark, deserted courtyard in a Berlin slum to deliver, She does not deserve to call herself my partner's partner. She does not deserve to call herself Noir. Her work is shoddy and substandard at best. She cannot do her job the way Kirika can, with such grace and—here we go. A sleek black car rolled up to the curb nearby and two men stepped out. One lit up a cigarette and turned to the other, "Nice night, isn't it?" "Yes, it is, but this cold night air has got my joints aching," the other responded, signaling that he was indeed Chloe's contact. She stepped from the shadows and both men attempted to hide their shock as she emerged so nearby when they had not known where she was, "From the Soldats," Chloe said softly, handing the letter to the man. He took the letter and opened it up, scanning it quickly. Satisfied that it was indeed the letter his boss had been expecting the man bowed slightly and retreated back into the car; handing the letter to the remaining man who read it carefully. After a moment he glanced at Chloe, "Your mistress seems to think my sect has some sort of a vendetta against Noir," he accused, "You can tell her that I have no intention of harming her pets," He chuckled a bit and lit the letter on fire with his cigarette, watching it burn in the black night, "After all, if I really wanted to kill any of you . . ." Chloe heard a small click of a gun being cocked from inside the car and held the knife in her left hand a bit tighter, "I could have done so this evening, could I not have?" Chloe merely stared . . . glared. She did not have time for a fight, she wished to return to her home. To her. The man scoffed and climbed into the car which promptly drove away.
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