A special fanfic dedicated to a very very special someone, whom I cherish..

thank you for staying beside me whatever happens,
thank you for crying and laughing with me,
thank you for teaching me the meaning of living...
may our friendship lasts forever and never fades away.

We are both Kirika's fans... ))

It is also dedicated to someone others. Someone, who, although I don't mention the name, has helped me much in my problems. Someone, who is able to force me to stand up whenever these knees want to lay down.

Two-chapter fic, because I can't preview the one chapter form, lool

Saga of Kirika Yuumura


Soft wind blows through the vineyard as Altena bends forward to pick up another bunch of grapes hanging down from the grape bushes. It is a nice „cooling-down" for her, since she has been outside for about three hours doing this job. It is a beautiful day today, although the sun nearly roasts her skin.

A smile hushes over her meek face as she recalls that one of her saplings will be back today. According to the latest information, she has made her task really well. Altena is glad to hear it. Chloe too. Finally, Kirika comes back and she can't wait to see her.

Just a few seconds later she hears a childish voice calling her name. She doesn't need to turn around to see who owns the voice. She recognizes it directly. And there she comes, running through the yard, her face beaming with joy, Chloe. Altena smiles widely and she kneels down to embrace the little girl.

Chloe tells Altena excitedly about Kirika's coming. She can't conceal her excitement as she tells Altena that she has just seen Kirika walking from far away. She has always had good sight. That's Chloe. That's her Chloe. Always so happy and excited.

Kirika walks slowly through a path between the grape rows, her hands hidden in the pockets. She has no hastiness to meet or talk to Altena. Behind her walks a man in black suits. He is the one who guards Kirika in her every mission.

Chloe turns around as Kirika finally arrives at the spot. She runs toward her and leaps at her. Kirika is really not prepared to receive such an attack from Chloe. Both of them fall to the ground. Altena hugs them heartily and then she takes both of the girls inside the Manor.

Kirika watches the sun set from a balcony. She likes the beautiful colour of the sky at dawn. The colour switches nearly unnotably from the graceful orange colour to golden lines, which mostly surround the sun.

"Kirika..."

Kirika turns around. Altena stands behind her, smiling.
"Let's have a dinner." she says.
Kirika nods and follows her inside.
The dinner consists of some breads, plates of soups and grapes as dessert. The three of them sit around a round table and eat in silence. Even Chloe doesn't talk a word. Kirika eats her dinner slowly. She feels tired. She would really like to go to bed now, but she forces herself to swallow the food. It doesn't taste. Strange.

Chloe falls asleep right away as her head touches her pillow. Kirika closes her eyes and tries to sleep, but she can't. Strange. She is tired and she wants to sleep, but she can't.

Altena kneels beside her bed and strokes her hair out of her face. Her smile is somehow.... becalming, but Kirika doesn't respond her smile.

„Have a nice sleep, Kirika. You will have much to do tomorrow."
Kirika nods. She closes her eyes, and tries to sleep. Again, she can't. But when she really wants to sleep, she shall keep her eyes shut. Sometime she would fall asleep.

But then she hears a soft voice singing a lovely song. She opens her eyes, eager to know who is singing.

It's Altena.

Kirika's eyes grow bigger. She thought, Altena has left.
Altena's soft hands stroke Kirika's hair again. She gives her a sign to close her eyes.
Her voice comes through her head. It is a very beautiful song... sung by a beautiful voice... Kirika closes her eyes. She can still hear the song clearly. It is so.. peaceful, she wants to keep this moment forever. She wants to sleep while hearing this song forever... Then she falls asleep.

Altena smiles to her sleeping sapling and pulls the blanket over Kirika.
„Good night."

Altena orders, that Chloe and Kirika have a training everyday, the aim of which is to train their skills. The only difference between the girls is, that Kirika has begun with the training long before Chloe does -- that's why Kirika is more experienced than Chloe.

Chloe is going to begin today, together with Kirika. She can't wait to begin with the training. Kirika doesn't give any objection, but she doesn't show any excitement, too.

They begin their training with guns. A man, appearing to be their trainer, instructs them to do some shooting exercises. Kirika shoots all targets down without any miss, whereas Chloe shoots only one target down in her fifth effort. Their trainer admires Kirika's precision and praises her. To Chloe, he says that she needs more training.

Chloe can't understand why she can't shoot precisely. She doesn't even like to hold a gun.

The trainer allows her to leave the training field for some time. As Chloe leaves, she hears Kirika's bullets hit the next targets.

She sighs. She can not compare with Kirika. She has never thought before that hitting the targets will be so difficult. How can Kirika do it easily and moreover, without any miss? And she has always thought that the missions, on which Kirika works, are so easy!!

„Chloe?"

Chloe looks up. Altena is there, in front of her. She looks surprised to find Chloe capering around.

„Altena!!!"

She runs toward her.

Chloe tells Altena that she is not able to use guns properly. She is upset because Kirika is evidently better than she is. No, she corrects it. Kirika is not only better. She is really good and Chloe is really awful.

Altena strokes Chloe's hair. The little girl is sitting on her lap.
„It is not such a big problem..... You just need to find the right weapons," she assures her.
„And then, someday, you will fight side by side with Kirika."

But Chloe doesn't believe it. She is just too awful, so Altena wants to comfort her. Altena can see doubt in Chloe's eyes.
„Come with me, my child... I'll show you something."

Chloe looks happier than ever. Altena has showed her something really special.. She can't help smiling when she remembers what Altena has said to her. That's why she smiles all the time during the dinner. And she can't stop grinning at Kirika too. The latter feels somehow uncomfortable.

„I guess, you don't have an accuracy needed for long-distance fight."
Chloe blinks to her trainer hopefully.

„The most important thing in every fight is to defeat the enemies without having any injures. That's why long-distance fight would be appropriate. But since you don't have enough accuracy, I suggest that you do short- distance fight, then."

Chloe's eyes grow bigger.

„Does that mean that I can fight without accuracy?!!" she screams for joy.
The trainer laughs.

„Well, a bit accuracy is certainly important, but you can fight, yes."

Chloe hugs Kirika and jumps around.

They begin their training for short-distance fight, but Kirika still has to practice for the long-distance fight. After some exercises, Kirika and Chloe fight a duel with each other using swords.

To the trainer's amazement, Chloe has such a great speed. She reacts quickly to her opponent's movement, and she can protects herself while attacking, too!! The trainer smiles. It is not too early for Chloe, just like he has thought before. She just hasn't found the right thing. Now she has found her place in a battle.

Kirika is not bad in short-distance fight. She is used to move sufficiently and is relative calm in having such a fight. She has better chance to defeat her enemies with guns, anyway. She tends to defend herself as Chloe attacks her. It would make a long fight before she sees any chance to attack and defeat her enemy. She acts in contrast to Chloe, who bustles around her, searching for Kirika's weak points.

Altena watches their fight. She looks contented. Then she throws a side glance at an opened letter on the table.

She closes her eyes and sighs.

"Their reaction is not unpredictable," she says to Kirika's bodyguard – the man in black suits.
He nods and gets out of the room. Altena looks outside the window again. Chloe yells and jumps around Kirika. Kirika fights with this boring expression on her face.

Altena touches her chin softly and thinks hard. Is it a wise thing to do? Or is she about to do the biggest mistake she ever made?

She watches the girls' fight to the end, but her mind doesn't stay there.
Altena has to make a decision. An important decision, an easy, but dangerous decision.

Is she ready to take the risk?

Yes, she is.

Altena puts the girls to bed as usual. This time both girls are awake. They don't sleep so quickly today. Altena uses the time to tell them something.

"Both of you are going to take a trip outside, tomorrow."

Chloe sits upright on her bed.
"Me too, Altena? Me too?" she yells nearly. Altena smiles.
"Yes, Chloe, you too. It is another mission for you, Kirika, and you will come with her, Chloe."

Chloe is just about to yell in excitement as Altena puts her point finger in front of her mouth.
"Ssshhh, it's night." She whispers softly.

Chloe shuts her opened mouth and tries to stop giggling.

"This mission is different from the other ones. Both of you are going to meet someone there, by chance. One day the three of you shall meet again. At that time we will come to the end of the long expectations."

Altena and Kirika exchange some looks for several moments. Then Altena smiles at Kirika and turns to Chloe. Chloe smiles widely to Altena.
She kisses both girls.

"Good night."

Then she stands up and goes outside.

Kirika and Chloe shall leave early in the morning. They are about to say goodbye to Altena as Altena calls for them.

"Kirika, come here dear, I have something for you."

Kirika steps closer to Altena. Altena is holding a gun in her hand.

"Till now, you have been using others' gun. You have no own gun. This," she hands the gun over to her, "Is a present for you. Your own gun, from now till forever. The mission today is something special, and you are going to execute your targets with this gun for the first time."

Kirika takes the gun from Altena's hand. Her first gun. She shall use it today, for the first time.
Altena smiles as she glances at her.

"Have a nice trip."

Altena watches their departure from a nearby window. She is sure that she doesn't make any false decision. Everything will be allright.

Afterwards, she goes to a small chapel in the Manor and prays for their coming back safely. She spends nearly two hours praying.

The girls come back late at night the next day. Altena has been worried all the time. Her worries turn out to be reality, as she sees Kirika in the arms of the man in black suits. She is unconscious. Chloe walks beside the man, looking worrily at Kirika.

Altena comes hurriedly from inside the Manor and takes a deep look at Kirika.
"What happens?" she demands.

"We have done the task," Chloe says sadly.
"I was standing behind the pillars as Kirika shot the people down. Only one woman was left.. she said something to her, I couldn't hear her. Then Kirika killed her too. I was running toward her, but then she fell down. I didn't know why... "

Altena looks at the man as if she needed a confirmation from him. He nods.
"Is she going to be allright, Altena?" Chloe asks.
She looks up at Altena, hoping to hear good news from her. Altena smiles.
"Of course, Chloe," she says. "Kirika is just tired from the mission."

Chloe beams. Assured that Kirika's okay, she begins to tell Altena the complete story of their mission. She tells her about Kirika, how good her killing skills are, how cool she looks, how great her ability is, and so on. She can hardly conceal her admiration to Kirika.

Altena doesn't need more informations about their mission. Chloe hasn't let any points out of her story.