Grain of Wheat

Rated: PG-13

Disclaimer: I don't own Gunslinger Girl. If I did, it would've been running much longer.

Summary: "If a fallen wheat grain survives, it stays the same. But if it dies, a lot grows from it… nothing will happen without someone's sacrifice."

Prologue: Casser- to break

A young girl sat, curled up in a corner as a short man was screaming at her about something she didn't understand. He was hitting a paper and yelling as the girl could only make out some of the words.

"Stupide…brat, I can't believ-…rades! … kill…-ou little mo-," the man ranted as the girl sat quietly.

"What do you have to say for yourself?" He asked her after several long minutes of yelling. Her dark brown eyes were emotionless as she looked the man in the eye, before standing up and moving a strand of equally brown, almost black hair from her round, toffee-colored face.

"I…don't understand, sir," she said, her voice flat and betraying her American accent. The little man laughed almost sadistically.

"'I don't understand, sir, I DON'T UNDERSTAND SIR!" The man screamed in her face, the girl winced at the volume as her ears rung. He walked to a table, picking up a metal pipe,

"I'll do you a favor and MAKE you understand," he said with a grin as he raised the pipe.

(One week later)

"The search for 12 year-old Charlotte Baptiste has finally ended. She was found severely beaten near the Via Triboniano by a man walking his dog, yesterday evening. Doctors say it appeared that she had been tortured; however, there is no word on her condi-"The statement was cut short as the TV was turned off. The man, Vincent Dart, shook his head in disgust.

"People these days," he muttered to himself as he put his blue suit jacket on, preparing to leave. He was going to a job interview that morning and wanted to look as professional as possible. Who would've thought that a former security guard would be able to land a government job?

'Well an interview for a government job,' he mentally corrected himself as he took one last look into the mirror before leaving his apartment, 'can't count the chickens before they hatch.'

After a quick drive downtown, and a difficult time finding parking, Vincent had finally arrived at the L'ospedale di Santo Francis di Assisi (Hospital of St. Francis of Assisi) for his interview. He looked at the slip of paper that had the information for the interview:

Go to the L'ospedale di Santo Francis di Assisi; room 308 at 9:45 am (Vincent checked his watch, 9:20 am)

Bring a copy of your resume and at least four references (He glanced at his resume, and grinned at the five he had listed)

Be on time (Vincent checked his watch again, 9:21 am)

'Well that appears to be everything,' he thought as he went inside. He did, however, think it odd that he had an interview for a government job in a hospital, but mentally shrugged as he assumed that he would find out soon enough.

'Maybe I'll be working as a government spy,' Vincent thought as he pressed the number three button on the elevator. When the doors closed, he ran a comb through his blonde hair and winked an amethyst eye.

"I'm Dart. Vince Dart," he said with a grin, making his hands look like a gun. When the doors opened he walked down the hall to room 308 humming the "James Bond" theme song. The blonde opened the door and found Mr. Lorenzo leaning against a mirror, who looked at his watch and said,

"You're early, Mr…"

"Dart," provided Vincent reaching out a hand, "Vincent Dart."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Dart. I hear that you are interested in joining our agency," said the director, shaking the blonde's hand.

"Yes, I am. I was referred by my friend, Jean Croce, who I believe works for the agency as well. I did list him as a reference as well as a few others," stated Vincent as he handed Lorenzo his resume. He read through the papers carefully, occasionally nodding and raising an eyebrow. The blonde looked around the room and tried not to fidget nervously.

"Well this is a very impressive resume, Mr. Dart. Tell me, do you like bambini (children)?"

"Yes, very much, sir. In fact, the school which I had volunteered to teach English was one for children with learning disabilities; as stated on my resume," answered Vincent. Lorenzo smiled,

"Then you'll be perfect for this job." He flicked a switch on the wall which lit up the mirror, revealing a room. Vincent's eyes widened at what he saw.

The room was stark white and empty of everything except a nightstand that had a vase with a white flower in it, and a young girl that was laying on life support. The girl's forehead was wrapped in thick bandages, and her round toffee-colored face was covered in bruises, her left arm was in a cast, but her right arm…wasn't there. Vincent had to look away, not able to stand the sight. Lorenzo sighed.

"Her name was Charlotte Baptiste; she went to St. Luci's boarding school. I'm assuming you heard about her on the news?"

"Yeah, but what does my job have to do with her?"

"The agency that you will work for, should you choose to accept the job, is the Social Welfare Agency. They will take the girl and turn her into a cyborg, and it will be your responsibility to train her to become an assassin. However, it is your choice whether or not to take this girl as your operative; you can choose another child or not take the job at all. But be warned, if you choose not to take the job, we can not have you…talking to other people about the agency. So, do you accept?" The director asked.

"What will happen to the girl if I don't choose her?" Vincent asked.

"She will remain here for about two years and if no one takes her by that time, we let her go." Vincent shuddered at the thought. He looked at the girl for a moment and said,

"Okay, I'll take her. Is there anything else I need to know about her?"

"Here's her file," said Lorenzo handing him a folder. "Oh and by the way. She isn't fluent in Italian, so you'll be in charge of teaching her."

"Not a problem," said Vince, "but it says in her file she's half deaf. Do I have to try to teach her sign language too?"

"No, the conditioning process will take care of that," Lorenzo explained," we will replace most her body with mechanical parts and will fix any hearing or eyesight problems. Now all she needs is a name."

"A name?" asked Vincent," she already has one."

"The conditioning will also erase her memory. So you will have to give her a new name."

"Camille. That'll suit her just fine," said Vincent looking at the girl through the window.

To be continued,