Jose stood in front of the door leading to Henrietta and Rico's room. This wasn't going to be easy. In fact, quite the opposite. Henrietta's been attached since.. Well, since always. He chuckled nervously to himself. It's now or never.

As he was about to knock on the door, Jean walked up. "Oh Jose! You're here to talk to your cyborg too?"

"...Yeah."

Jean knocked on the door. They heard a little voice reply, "Coming"

No doubt it was one of the two girls in the room. They were probably getting ready for some field training. It was Rico who opened the door. She was a little thing, about 11 years old. Short blond hair, blue eyes. A little girl version of Jean. She was wearing a blue-gray sweater and black pants.

"Oh! Jean!" she said, surprised at his sudden visit.

"Rico" he acknowledged.

"Is Jose here as well?" another voice asked.

Rico opened the door a little wider to reveal a little girl who looked about 10. She had short brown hair that just barely passed her ears. Her bangs were kept out of her face by a black headband. Jose smiled; she was wearing the outfit Priscilla had bought her last week. A cream colored sweater and a black checkered skirt that came right down to her knees. She was writing in the diary he bought for her. When she noticed him, she quickly closed the diary and smiled. "Jose! Hi!"

"Hello Henrietta."

"What are you doing here?" Rico asked, directing her question to Jean.

"It's about your next mission," he stated bluntly, "Follow me."

She looked confused at first, but she quickly shook it away and followed after Jean. Henrietta didn't look too concerned. But I'm sure she would've reacted differently, if only she'd known.

Jose led Henrietta to the roof. She looked around wondering what she was doing there. "Henrietta.." Jose started.

"Yes?"

"It's about your next mission.."

"..."

A silence settled around them.

"What about it?" asked Henrietta, longing to break the silence.

Jose hesitated. "You're..well.."

Henrietta looked up at him.

"You're going to Japan." he blurted as he turned around to see her reaction.

She looked calm. More calm then he thought she'd be.

"..."

"Henrietta?"

"That's so exciting!" she squealed, her eyes sparkling. He looked at her in amazement. She's not taking it the way I expected.

"Japan.." she whispered to herself, breathless. She started babbling excitedly and Jose smiled. She was going to be alrig-

"So when are we leaving?"

...so that's why. She doesn't understand...

"Well, you see-"

"Oh, it really doesn't matter when we're leaving. Is this for real? Japan? I can't wait!" she rambled excitedly.

"Henrietta, I'm not-"

"I'm so excited!"

"I won't be going with you!"

The whole world seemed to screech to a halt and Henrietta froze. Her excited babble came to a sudden stop, her smiling face dropped immediately. Her bangs fell in front of her eyes and she shook her head, laughing in an unbelieving sort of way.

"You're joking.."

"Henrietta.."

"It's a joke, right? I mean, not coming?" she repeated, her voice cracking as she tried to laugh it off as if it were a joke. Looks like I'll have to be firm...

Henrietta snapped her head up and he could see tears forming in her eyes, "What do you mean, you're not going with me?"

"Exactly that."

It felt like her heart was being torn in two. "B-but..! Jose! I can't go without you!" She looked into his eyes with a look of defiance mixed with pain. She couldn't refuse his order...but she had to try. "No..I-" she clenched her fists together and shook her head. "I won't! How would I know what to do? How-?"

"HENRIETTTA!"

She flinched. He had never shouted at her before. She gave up. She hung her head defeated, tears streaming down her face. Jose's face was distorted with pain. It hurts for me too, Henrietta. He reached out to hug her, comfort her, but she pushed him away. "Henrietta.."

She stiffened. Then she ran.

To the door, down the stairs and outside. She ran as fast as she could, as fast as her mechanical limbs could carry her. She didn't know where she was going. And to be perfectly honest, she didn't care. She just needed to get away. She needed to go somewhere where she could cry.

Okay, new version of the first chapter! :D

I was literally cringing as I re-read this. Seriously. This is so old _ But since I've rekindled my passion for writing I figured, "why not give this another shot?" xD

DON'T EXPECT REGULAR UPDATES. But I WILL update. So thanks to everyone who actually followed this story and left reviews lol You guys are great o/