"Huh? Oh . . ." Chloe half-leapt out of her bed, startled from her oh-so-wonderful dream by a knocking on her door, Damn, and it was just getting good, she smiled to herself, hoping she didn't look to flushed as she cracked the door open, seeing the focus of her dream causing her blush to deepen, "Kirika. I-uh-what is it?" "Can I come in?" She asked humbly, "I hope I didn't interrupt anything . . ." Eh, I must be so red . . . not to mention I think I'm sweating, Chloe grimaced, shaking her head, "No, nothing, I was just sleeping. Please, uh, come in," she stepped aside, allowing the other girl entrance before closing the oaken door behind her "Was there something wrong?" Kirika remained silent, scanning Chloe's room slowly. This seemed very familiar to her. The contents were simple enough; a large four-poster bed, an armoire, a fainting couch . . . "When will you be back?" Chloe inquired, sitting on the couch as she watched her friend donning her traveling clothes. Her head held in her hands she watched Kirika's every move as the assassin gracefully prepared for another task. "Soon," Kirika replied plainly as she grabbed a long green cloak from the armoire and draped it around her shoulders. Checking her gun she smiled at the younger girl, "As soon as I can." "Kirika?" Chloe inquired, a bit of worry showing in her voice, "Is everything alright?" "I-uh, yes," Kirika nodded, What was that? Some sort of . . . memory? No matter . . ., "Chloe, I . . . I wanted to apologize." "For what?" Chloe sat on her bed, staring inquisitively at the elder assassin. "Because, I don't remember. I know I know you, but I don't know how. I know we were friends, but I don't know how we met, what we did together, why we stopped being friends. I . . . don't remember anything," Kirika sighed, sitting down next to Chloe. Chloe sat silently for several minutes, and then grinned slightly, "I would like to tell you. I would like you to know about us . . . but an answer is something you must find for yourself. That's what Althena always told us. If someone were to tell you something it's not memory, it's just a fact you were told. You will regain your memory one day, and then you will understand that it's not something I can just tell you." Kirika held her face in her hands, "But . . . what if I never get my memory back?" "You will, Kirika," Chloe said resolutely, somehow lending her faith to Kirika and lifting the older girl's spirits, "And until then," Chloe smiled happily, "We will be friends again." "Yes, we will." Kirika smiled. "Kirika, there you are!" Mireille gave a sigh of relief, jogging up to Kirika as she shut the door of Chloe's room, "What were you doing in there?" Mireille inquired, suspicion and jealousy rearing its ugly head. "Talking," she responded quietly, starting down the corridor towards the front door. "About what?" Mireille pressed, following her partner. "About my memory." "Or lack thereof," Mireille chuckled to herself, then continued, "Listen. This Althena lady has got to have something to do with the Soldats. She practically came right out and told me. Apparently there's a group in the Soldats trying to kill Noir but others are trying to stop them. Anyways, Althena has to have something to do with it. This place is dangerous, but it's going to lead us to some answers, I think." Mireille paused, waiting for a reply, but as the Japanese girl continued walking silently she continued, "But, anyways, just be on your toes, I don't trust these women." "I do," the girl responded calmly. "What?" "I said I trust them," Kirika smiled a bit, "I . . . I used to know them, before I lost my memory. I'm not sure how, but I know that they're not going to hurt me. I think I'll go lie down now. Excuse me, Mireille," with that the girl retreated into her room, ending the conversation, leaving a perplexed and slightly angry Corsican standing in her wake. What? She's had connections with these people all along and she didn't even tell me? Mireille thought frantically, She's been keeping this from me the whole time? No, that can't be it. There's got to be something else. I'm her best friend, dammit! Of course she'd tell me first. They must have done something to her. Mind control? Ha! This house must be driving me insane. Wonder how long I can stay here until I'm as crazy as Althena. I bet this place is getting to Kirika, too. Maybe if we get away for a while this will all clear up. After all, it can't be too dangerous to leave if that freak sends Chloe out on ‘missions.' I'll just see if she has any jobs for Kirika and I to do. Excellent. "A job?" Althena repeated curiously as the group sat around an uncomfortably quiet dinner table. "Yes," Mireille answered, "Kirika and I have been sitting around this house the past few days and I think it'd be good if we went out. I was hoping you'd have a task or something that needed doing so that we could leave for a while." "You know you are welcome to leave at any time but if you'd like to do something for me I do have a few things that might be suitable," Althena replied kindly. "May I go as well, Althena?" Chloe requested happily. "Yes, can Chloe go as well?" Kirika asked serenely, drawing an elated look from Chloe and a not quite so elated look from Mireille. "Kirika, I don't think that would be such a good—" "I think that would be best," Althena replied, cutting Mireille off, "Chloe knows what is to be expected on these missions." "Fine," Mireille grumbled, "As long as we can go soon."
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