Author's Note: Listen to Mai-Hime's "Pink Dance" for this chapter. watch?v=NuXSt-y3VS4&list=PLCC0B59FA556AA1E5&index=21Chapter 21

The Three Saplings

"You kind of asked for it," said Kirika as they trekked the woods.

"Yeah, but, I'm the professional—I can decide to kill or not to kill," growled Mireille. "We have the accuracy and control to shoot a target wherever we want on their bodies. Or not to shoot, just rattle them. But those girls can't do that yet. They've improved, but—dammit, Riki actually thought shooting me would prove them Noir. It does nothing but kill me."

Kirika dared not laugh, just smiled to herself.

After forcing the Three Saplings to take cover in the Etxarren, Noir had retreated into the woods. Mireille planned for them to wind their way around the giant lake. Cover in the woods bought them time, but only for so long. So many things could go wrong. The unpredictable, lumpy terrain could lead to tripping or a branch in the eye. Their noisy crunchy footsteps would make them just as detectable as their opponents' footsteps to them. It was a double-edged sword.

"Think they can do it?" asked Kirika, looking around them warily.

"With the Third Sapling's help, most likely."

"Sakuya's right. You grudge against Thirds. It's kind of unfair to her."

"Well, I'd sympathize if we knew everything about her. But we don't," said Mireille rather flatly.

There was a snap. They swung their weapons toward the source. When it was quiet, they continued walking.

"Maybe Riki's right," said Kirika. "We have to go to Laguardia. We'll get our answers there—one of them, maybe about Sakuya."

"First, I'd rather focus on saving Noir the embarrassment of being shot down by fourteen-year-olds," said Mireille dryly.

"Sixteen."

"Sixteen? I thought freshmen were like, fourteen or fifteen?"

"They definitely don't act fourteen. Riki was adopted, remember? She's had to been held back a year or two before starting school. I think that's why she has a hard time knowing things others would know. As for Audriane, she's smart."

"Right." Mireille sighed. "Well, anyway, this world doesn't care how old they are. They are the Three Saplings . . . if Sakuya is the Third."

"I wonder what that means. What happened in the Trials for the Soldats to pick up Sakuya instead? Who was supposed to be the Third Sapling?"

Mireille shrugged. "We'll figure it out, we always do. Nothing lasts forever—the Soldats will crumble. Kings eventually fall."

Kirika was silent, until she asked, "Do you think we'll live long enough to grow old?"

Mireille slowed down so Kirika was side-by-side with her. She smiled at her questioningly. "Which would you prefer? Die young and heroically, or become a bored ol' curmudgeon?"

"I've had my youthful thrills," said Kirika. "I would like the retirement."

"We're in the Cantabrians, I think that counts as retirement . . ."

"For the wrong reasons, though."

This was Kirika's soft guilt-trip, not productive conversation—so Mireille switched back to their main objective. She looked back down toward the lake, a glint of blue through the trees.

"I'm kinda glad we didn't teach them tracking," she joked. "Well . . . maybe after this, we should."

"I never saw you as the tracking type."

"You kinda figure it out along the way." Mireille scanned the area, sighing. "Well. They have plenty of options on how to beat us. We've taught them how to shoot, now let's see them apply it to their environment."

…..

"I found it," said Riki, who returned to the dining table with a map. "It's the same one from when we first hiked up here."

Sakuya's eyes lit up. "Good thinkin'." She and Audriane helped Riki spread the map flat out on the table.

"There," said Riki, pointing at a familiar oval shape on the map. "Here we are. The lake. Those two will be sorry for leaving us with the Etxarren. We've got cover from all sides if we stay in here."

Audriane made a face. "That your plan? Hide here? We should advance—surprise them, before they make a move on us. There three of us."

"Maybe you should . . . count me out," said Sakuya.

Riki glared at her. "Seriously? You're the one who challenged them! We stepped in to support you!"

"Well, you kinda stole my battle from me," said Sakuya, raising an eyebrow. "Besides, like Mireille said, this is your training. I helped you with combat, now you need to do this on your own."

"You're a Sapling, too," said Riki. "If it weren't for your super-dooper 'superiors', you would've been here with us, training with us."

Audriane sighed. "Maybe she's right, Riki. Let's do it, just you and me. This our chance to prove ourselves. Us!"

Riki put a hand on her hip, giving Sakuya a skeptical look. "How many men have you killed in your training?"

"I didn't keep count."

Audriane didn't like the sound of that. She turned to Riki. "She already has experience. We don't. Using her would be cheating."

"Rules don't apply to a life-and-death situation," said Riki, almost pleadingly. "She's gonna help us. It's all about beating the enemy, not how you do it. They die, or you die. Please, Sakuya. Help us."

Sakuya folded her arms, her choice unquestionable. "No. I worked my ass off to get where I am. You will too."

"Oh please, don't treat this like some school exam," snapped Riki. "Don't tell me you take pride in what you've gone through to become as good as you are."

"I do take pride in my efforts," said Sakuya, tilting her head at Riki as if she couldn't believe the way she was talking to her. "And what do you know about me? You don't know what I went through."

Riki fell silent, glancing at the faint silver scars on Sakuya's arms. "Fine," she murmured. "You're right—this is our chance to prove ourselves."

"I said that," growled Audriane.

In all that gradual anger, Sakuya felt a prick of guilt. "Don't make that face. I feel horrible."

Audriane tapped the table impatiently. "It's decided! Riki and I only. Us two against those two."

Riki and Sakuya held each other's gaze, while Riki asked, "So . . . are you going to leave?"

Sakuya shrugged. "I dunno. Maybe I want to see how you do."

For some reason, this irked Audriane. She had patiently—barely—allowed Sakuya to show them some tricks. So far, the Third hadn't shown any intentions on harming them. She'd been polite and observant; she smiled and joked with Riki, attempting with their trainers. She was even now telling Riki to work hard, to fight, even though it meant that Riki only listened to her. How ridiculous was that! For a friend to ignore her friend over a crush? It was like high school all over again!

Yeah. If only . . .

Audriane glanced at Sakuy, who looked back, confused.

No. She didn't want Sakuya there, like some condescending Soldat spectator.

In fact, there was something oddly familiar in the way she watched them.

"Ok," said Riki, focused. "We know our surroundings pretty well, right? So we've got our lake, our Etxarren, the woods . . ."

"The stables," added Audriane. "The giant boulder behind us, the garden, the rocks all over the place. . . the monastery."

"Too far out. It'd be exhausting, you know that," said Riki. "Let's end it swiftly. Simple tricks they won't see coming. Let's draw them back here to Etxarren."

"And what trap you propose?" asked Audriane.

"Just go out there, take initiative," interrupted Sakuya. "End it."

"Shush, you're not here," said Riki, eyes still glued to the map.

Audriane wanted to mouth her agreement, but didn't say anything. She kept her eyes on the map. She didn't want to feel anger or maybe what could have been jealousy toward the Third Sapling after all the help she has provided. After all, it wasn't Sakuya's fault she was placed into all of this. It was none of their fault . . .

"Look," said Riki, "all I'm saying is that we've got to keep an eye out in all these areas. By digesting this map, we see how they look at things, predict what they might do—think ahead."

Audriane nodded in agreement. "That's a start. But what's our trap?"

"Shouldn't you be worrying about where Mireille and Kirika are now?" said Sakuya. "Look out the window, see if they're not nearby?"

A surge of fire rushed through Audriane's veins. Maybe she just didn't like being so . . . inexperienced, so weak and clueless compared to Sakuya. But she knew Sakuya was right, and peeked out the kitchen window.

"I'm sorry," snapped Riki, looking up at Sakuya, "was that you saying you wanted to help us after all? If it wasn't, then why are you still talking? You're giving mixed signals here."

You're telling me, thought Audriane. She eyed the tension between Riki and Sakuya. Sometimes it looked like Riki would do whatever Sakuya would say, other times Riki would be Riki, ignoring the help she needed at the most dire time.

Right there and now, Audriane wondered if that was their best bet: Sakuya taking lead. Or at least, instructing them. Would Riki listen? Would they be able to win this with Sakuya's guidance? Would this sacrifice the chances of Riki trusting and listening to Audriane, her own partner? Was this even a healthy idea on Riki's behalf?

Of course not, Sakuya was the Third. They were to be Noir together.

"Riki," said Audriane. "Do you trust me?"

Riki looked up from the map. "After everything we went through? Of course."

Shocked, Audriane beamed. "Really?"

"Yeah?"

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"But you trust me more than the Third Sapling?"

"Yes, the fellow human being standing next to you has a name," said Sakuya flatly.

Riki snorted but gave Audriane her full attention. "Look, Audriane . . . that seems like an unfair question. You're putting me on the spot here. Let's just focus on teamwork—."

"Which is about trust," interrupted Audriane. "And communication. And listening. Me over her, Riki. We not know her, but I know you, and you know me. We're partners."

"For some reason," growled Sakuya, "coming from you, it's insulting—in ways, worse than from Mireille."

Riki looked frantically from Sakuya to Audriane. "I trust you, Audriane," she said firmly. "That's all that matters."

Audriane nodded, taking a deep breath. "You right. Thank you."

…

It had been fifteen minutes since their meeting in the Etxarren. Their best guess was that by then, Mireille and Kirika would split up, probably wound around the lake to gain distance. They weren't sure, so Riki, being more aggressive and impatient, volunteered to track them down while Audriane and Sakuya stayed behind.

"They wouldn't actually shoot and kill Riki, right?" asked Audriane, as she and Sakuya flipped the dining table over.

"I don't know them like you do," said Sakuya. "My mentor teaches a little differently. She's tough like yours, but most certainly different."

Audriane was about to ask the mentor's name, but remembered Sakuya wouldn't answer anything like that. So she focused on grabbing the tablecloth from the pantry and spreading it over the legs of the lopsided dining table. They draped all windows with towels, wash clothes, placemats. Then, nailed the doorways with sheets stripped from the beds.

"They're your trainers," said Sakuya, as she hung their silverware by strings to their windows. "I doubt they'd shoot you in vital areas—just places where they can cripple you."

Audriane had been near unconsciousness when Kirika grazed Riki's neck with a bullet, back at the school. It wasn't the most pleasant, last image to see before blacking out—but a good reminder of who they were up against.

"So, why all the furniture?" grunted Sakuya. The beds screeched as they pushed them around across the freshmen's bedroom floor. "Seems . . . overboard. And paranoid."

They propped the beds onto their sides, ripping the mattress sheets off to swath around the legs of the bed. Repeated the process in Mireille and Kirika's bedroom.

All the while, Sakuya gave Audriane a look. She wanted to say something—she couldn't believe how rude the French was being—but let it go. Now they just had to focus, do their part, while Riki was out there doing hers.

"Same thing with every piece of furniture," said Audriane. "Bed tables, drawers, wardrobes, chairs . . ."

"Everything looks like it's been passed through the generations," murmured Sakuya. "I fear their bullets will shoot right through." She frowned, almost with disapproval. "Not a lot to go with, in this house."

"It's enough," said Audriane. "Now, as for you . . ."

Sakuya blinked. "I thought I—."

"You won't raise a finger. But you will do your part."

…

Mireille and Kirika were on the opposite side of the lake. Etxarren was far across, barely visible among all that rock, grass, and trees.

Their guns were still drawn, but they hadn't sensed anyone skulking out there. So they carved around the lake along the pebbled beach. Mireille thought it was a good chance to scout what they hadn't really explored. This side was more of a landslide than of grass and rock, curving up on both sides to jagged mountains. It almost looked squashed and flattened out, sinking, as if a giant stomped his foot there. A protruding hump of a peak was to the left, crowned with more rocky walls. Just what they needed—an open invitation to outsiders, to invaders, to enemies.

"We should secure this side somehow," said Mireille apprehensively.

"How? We have no means," said Kirika. "We can't just scout here on a daily basis, even if two were sent out here. It's just too risky, in case there was an ambush waiting."

"But someone's gotta do it. We can't just let enemies pour in. Even though it's a landslide, it's easier to climb down than anywhere else."

"We'll just have to keep an eye on it from afar, that's all."

"Speaking of which . . . I'm kinda disappointed," murmured Mirelle. "They haven't chased after us—."

"Mireille."

"Hm?" She turned, following Kirika's glance toward one of the gray boulders. It was tapered and lopsided to one side, but bulgy and tumorous on the other. Besides the one behind Etxarren, it was huge; almost as big as a hut. But when Kirika led Mireille around the boulder, they realized it was a hut. The boulder served as the roof, on top of a low yet stable foundation of assembled rocks. A flimsy wooden door fitted perfectly into all that natural disorder.

From behind—with the surrounding, wild lumps of earth—it was an ordinary boulder among others. But walk around it, and you were greeted by a path of rocks that led to the door.

"How . . . could we have missed this?" gasped Mireille.

"More importantly . . . who's been living in it?" whispered Kirika.

Mireille turned to face Kirika—just as a bullet missed her. There was a cluchunkg in the stone hut behind her. By the time she reacted, Kirika was already shooting in response. Always five steps ahead, that one . . .

With the sudden smoke of gunfire, they were forced behind the stone hut. They fired back, then ducked again to reload. When they peeked around the corner, they saw Riki standing there on the beach.

Her shots didn't reach them, though. She was still far away, a dot in the distance, which explained why she missed. Noir observed where her shots burst around them. Definitely improving. But when they looked up, she was veering around the water toward them to close the distance, to make her shots count.

Mireille gave a sweeping glance at the area. She didn't see Audriane or Sakuya. Either they were back at the Etxarren, or close by. Not being able to see them anywhere was all the more reason to be on edge.

They couldn't hide behind the boulder forever like sitting ducks. That's not how Noir ever worked. The battle had to continue.

Without a word, Mireille ran. Kirika followed, shooting over her shoulders at Riki. It was their only option, knowing Riki hadn't much practice with moving targets. And with the way the lake curved, Riki would have to hit them while running, at a constantly moving angle, while bending around the bank. Recalling that her endurance wasn't all that striking, they figured she'd get winded.

"Count your bullets, they go faster than you think, kid," panted Mireille. She whirled around and shot back.

Riki threw herself to the ground, misleading them into thinking they actually killed her, which ignited them with adrenaline and panic. However, the student had landed on her back, shooting at them between her legs raised defensively in front of her. It was something they remembered Sakuya teaching Riki when fighting a knife-wielder.

In a fit of pride and vexation, Mireille fired back. She saw puffs of dirt around Riki, who scrambled to her feet and continued to run after them. Which was actually surprising.

There were no rocks in their presence. No cover. Just beach. Noir kept running, hoping the sand would slow Riki down, teach her a lesson about considering her environment.

That very thought backfired on Noir: Riki chased them across an awkward scarp; they were all practically wall-running along it. Leaning at an angle against the hillside, tripping or sliding, Noir tried to put distance between them and Riki. She persisted, however—this stubborn, insane dog behind them, groping along the rocky slope, tripping but clambering on all fours to pick up speed. Relentless. Almost terrifying. The most effort she ever showed ever since this all started.

Riki was gaining on Mireille just ahead of her. When she was close enough, she'd shoot. Where, she wondered? Leg? Arm? Did Noir want them to actually kill them?

The blonde jumped off the rocky slope back onto a thin strip of beach that met with an edge of grass. Riki followed; just as she landed behind Mireille, the assassin stopped abruptly, turning her gun on Riki, who nearly crashed into her. Bewildered, Riki froze. Behind her, Kirika—crouched against the rocks she had jumped over—stood up and revealed herself. She leveled her gun as well.

"When you're chasing someone, know where they are at all times," lectured Mireille. "You fell for a very simple trap."

"So did you."

Mireille whirled around at the sound of another voice. It was Sakuya, a dagger in each hand. There was another sound, of a familiar click. This time Mirelle looked over her shoulder to see that Riki aimed her gun. Everyone was now at gunpoint.

"I told you to stay out of this!" roared Riki, glaring at Sakuya over Mirelle's shoulders.

"I couldn't agree more," said Mireille, who fired and advanced toward Sakuya without hesitation.

"If you even hurt her—!" roared Riki, but Kirika shot her gun out of her hands.

Riki cried out in pain at the sting in her fingers, and bent over. When she looked up, Kirika was already slide-tackling her in the dirt, crashing into her shins, sweeping her off her feet. Just as she'd practiced, Riki caught herself in a perfect roll, back on her feet. Again, Kirika was already in her face. She didn't shoot. Just kept kicking and swiping at her, no punches, no intentions on actually hitting her. It was a dodging lesson, how to take on an enemy obviously stronger and better than you. All Riki could do was step backwards and duck, or jump, or block with fists in front of her face. Each blow was bruising, or landed a scratch across her cheeks, a wind-blowing gut in the stomach, a crack or bending of the knees. Each very painful, nothing like the playful sparring with Sakuya. She'd been tough, but never did she try to hurt Riki . . .

When Kirika threw another punch, Riki did a kip—rolled backwards and sprang back to her feet. But Kirika followed up with a knee into her diaphragm, then a punch. Hot with adrenaline, Riki slid to the side, stepped around her, and spun, almost off Kirika's back. Then, gathering all the energy into her legs, she mustered the biggest jump and kicked sideways into the back of Kirika's head with both feet. It sent the older Japanese staggering forward, with a kitten-like whimper that almost made Riki regret it. However, Kirika used her stumbling momentum by running toward a rock and side-stepping off it, catapulting into Riki.

Meanwhile, Sakuya's graceful dodging had forced Mireille to resort to combat. She couldn't afford wasting any more bullets in a close-range battle going nowhere, so she chased after Sakuya. However, the Third only teased her, bouncing swiftly between angular rocks as if merely stepping on them. She vaulted smoothly over rocks, from one side to the other, confusing Mireille. With flips and twists, leaping and rolling along her back, onto her feet. Taking advantage of the clustered terrain and her agility. Such prowess—almost everything Mireille dreamed of for Riki and Audriane . . .

The Corsican refused to let this blind her with rage. She ducked behind a boulder, pulling out her gun. She would have none of this mockery. None of this tiring, endless cat-and-mouse.

There were only so many rocks Sakuya could rely on—she couldn't hide behind each of them or hop-scotch forever. Mireille shot up and whipped her gun out, resting it on the head of the boulder.

But Sakuya was running away. Back toward the Etxarren.

Mireille couldn't contain herself as she gasped, "Bitch!"

Riki had been watching too. How could she just help me, then leave me!

Suddenly Kirika pinned Riki against a boulder. Riki immediately detached from her, and rolled out of the way across the boulder, during which she smacked Kirika in the nose. She ran for her fallen gun, charging blindly through a throw of sand and pebbles from Mireille's gunfire—and dove.

She rolled. Grabbed her gun. And did a one-handed handstand. Hand flat against the ground, the other hand firing her gun. The bullet grazed Mireille on the side of her leg, just below her hip. She buckled to her knees and attempted to fire back, but the torn muscles were like a wolf biting into her flesh. One of her shots barely missed Riki, who dropped into a smooth, soundless roll from her handstand and continued to run back to Etxarren.

"Makes you regret the handstands now, doesn't it?" said Kirika, inspecting the red gash in Mireille's jeans. "Can you walk?"

Her friend leaned a hand against the rock, dragging her leg while hopping on the other. She winced, unable to apply too much pressure.

"Just like we taught them, right?" hissed Mireille, face knotted in discomfort.

"Embrace it, Mireille—that they're getting better, that they'll be the next Noir."

The blonde cocked her gun, smirking. "Geez, Kirika, the battle's not over yet."

Their advance toward Etxarren was slow and vigilant, especially with Mireille unable to cover ground that fast. She limped the whole way, roaring in agony or frustration, it was hard to tell. Despite their delayed approach—not seeing or knowing where the Three Saplings went and if they were actually in the Etxarren—they were grateful it won them time to recover, and for Mireille to catch her breath.

With the Etxarren in sight but still so far, they stopped and listened. No gunfire or angsty teenager rants. Just the mountain song of birds and wind.

When they looked to the windows for any sign of movement, they raised their eyebrows.

Kirika craned her neck. "Is . . . that our bathroom towel?"

Mireille growled in annoyance. "Split up," she ordered.

"But your leg—."

"I think we've been through worse," chuckled Mireille. "I'll slink around from the back, you advance and keep them distracted. We'll close in on them from both sides."

"You know it could be a trap."

"Definitely. But I'm done with waiting it out. We didn't teach them to cower in the shadows, we taught them to fight."

Kirika shook her head as if to correct Mireille. "That's Noir in the shadows for ya."

…

As Kirika drew closer to Etxarren, the absence of gunfire reassured her to lower her gun. She stared at the front door. It was slightly ajar. How eerie and unlike the children. But she sucked in a great amount of air and walked in, slowly creaking the door apart to slip through. Gun parallel to her face, she tiptoed inside, and was confounded by the mess that greeted her.

Although big-looking from the outside, their home had the smaller-than-average living room. That gigantic dining table that took up the center of it had been tipped over, the surface facing Kirika. The two woven, wiry chairs in the corner to the left of the entrance were sandwiched together, also tilted and draped. The tall wooden cabinet had been dragged from its corner, as if to make space for anyone hiding behind it. The love seat remained on its feet, but it blocked the doorway to the small kitchen. Nowhere to be seen, the chest that had been in front of the love seat. And the fireplace, just barely lit.

And at every doorframe, a blanket or sheet hung. So she couldn't see into the room behind them, but they could still see her approaching. It didn't make much sense, but she reckoned whatever eased the first-timers' nerves.

Kirika was glad Mireille wasn't here; her partner tended to be more forward and noisy in her stealth. With all these boogie-traps, blockades, and sound alarms, Kirika couldn't afford to give them the slightest hint that she was alone, that Mireille was coming in from somewhere else.

The silence didn't enable Kirika to relax, only question. She knew better, that any slight sound would give away her exact location in these confined quarters. Wherever the Saplings were hiding, they'd know exactly where she was.

She scanned the windows. They were covered with just as she thought, all their towels or washcloths. Whatever kept Noir from peering inside Etxarren but allowed the Saplings to watch their moves.

And the hanging silverware tapping against the windows. Sound alarms, in case Noir tried to sneak through the windows.

So . . . paranoid, she thought. Nothing but obstacles getting in the way, even for the Saplings. She assumed that was the point, though—a maze of guesses and traps and alarms. How frantic and stressful and aggravating it must have been to put this all together.

Kirika pasted herself against the wall of the living room, peeking into the kitchen. Just one room at a time. She saw their small kitchen pots and pans hanging on the windows inside. But no sign of anyone here . . .

She remembered the blueprint of the house: a living room, a connecting kitchen to the stairs, and a small bathroom between the two bedrooms. So, all that was really left was upstairs.

…

Mireille remained glued to the outside wall, crouching under the first-floor windows. She was frustrated not being able to look into the house thanks to the fabric blocking her view, so she had tried to open them. When she had heard things crash to the floor, she bolted for the other side of Etxarren. Over there, she was cautious of the board sticking out from the exterior wall. She noted the girls had the nerve to use some of her clothes for cover over the bedside tables positioned on the board, and made a mental note of that.

She aimed her gun up at the erected board as she passed underneath it and made way to the back of the boulder. She started climbing its arching spine, with the help of useful crevices and shapely rocks for handholds and grip. Once at the top, she army-crawled the rough surface to get a bird's eye view on the matter.

And standing there on the smooth, pale roof was Sakuya.

Mireille stood up and aimed her gun. She called out to her: "Enough toying with us. Either you're with us, or you're not."

Sakuya turned around, without the slightest shock. "Sorry," she said, smiling weakly, "I've been ordered to not engage."

"I don't like hearing about your superiors but never getting to learn anything about them. Start talking."

"I mean, the other two ordered me," said Sakuya. "Speaking of which, aren't you in the middle of testing them? My main concern right now would be them, not me."

"Kirika has the reins. Now that you and I have some privacy, we can finally get to know each other."

"If you want to chat, come join me. We can sit here on the roof while they work it out."

Mireille kept her gun on Sakuya while she slowly felt her way around. The sheer from the top of the boulder to the roof was risky. Closer to the edge of the boulder, she found easier footing and climbed down, then jumped off to ensure Sakuya didn't use that as a chance to move.

As she inched forward, Mireille asked, "So. Tell me some things. First, do you know anything about a stone hut across the lake?"

Sakuya's face fell. Then, it lit up. "Oh yeah—yeah. Well, sort of. I mean, living-in-the-hut part." Her posture relaxed as she shifted weight into one foot. "Sometimes after helping with training, I'd sleep in that hut if I was too tired to go home."

"Why didn't you tell us about it?" snapped Mireille.

"I didn't think it was a big deal—plus, I've only used it occasionally. It's not actually mine or anything."

"What do you mean by that? Have you been sharing with the enemy?"

"Ewe, no. What I mean is, it's been there for a while, too. Like the Etxarren. I'm just guessing it's a Basque thing—or some shepard thing, or something." Sakuya shrugged. "I don't know."

Mireille didn't believe her, but she didn't want to forget her next question. "When you say 'home', where is that exactly?" She stepped a little closer.

"Actually, you'll get to see it soon." Sakuya smiled, but almost reluctantly, as if she wasn't sure if she was allowed to.

Mireille narrowed her eyes. "You see, I hate that. Your smile. Your nonchalance. The previous Third smiled like that, but at least it was genuinely eerie. I knew right away not to trust her. But you . . . you're such a sweet girl, I can't tell whether to trust you or not."

Sakuya sighed in defeat. "Well, I don't blame you. You have every right not to trust anyone but your own. You protect your own, and I respect you for that." She paused, and a grin slowly creased her lips. "Wait, did you actually know the previous Third—?"

There was crumbling and chaffing. Mireille looked around. Sakuya's whole aura switched gears as she beamed victoriously, and ducked. From behind her, something dark lurched out of the chimney. Its battle cry was almost demon-like, that Mireille stumbled backwards, discombobulated. She gasped out to the searing pain in her leg and collapsed to the ground.

"When's the last time you had a gun pressed against your chest?" scoffed Riki.

…..

Kirika lifted the blanket hanging in the doorway, and peeked through the kitchen to the staircase. No one. She took her time walking to the bottom of the stairs, and looked up. There, at the top, was the missing chest from in front of the love seat.

She eyed it suspiciously. She hesitated to step onto the creaking staircase. Like it was a murderer awaiting her arrival. Any second, someone behind the chest could send it crashing down at her. Or fire at her at the same time, however they see fit. What an intriguing tactic: attack and defend at the same time. Without wasting ammo.

She couldn't afford her last round of bullets, either. So she started running up the stairs, hoping a single shot right through the chest would be enough, but wouldn't hit anything vital.

However, she reached the top. Nothing had moved, no one had fired at her, she didn't get knocked down. Her adrenaline spiked as she crouched, aiming at the bathroom, then the two bedrooms across from each other. She crept toward the opened bathroom and parted the shower curtains of the bathtub. Again, no one. She then made her way to the girls' bedrooms. She saw the fortification of beds and drawers, but no one shot at her. In the master bedroom where she and Mireille slept, no one was in or behind their wardrobe, or their queen-sized bed, or their closet.

Kirika heard voices on the roof. She rushed down the stairs, now knowing no one was in the house, yet anticipated the Saplings at the entrance or by the windows . . .

All that fortification—just to psyche them, have them charge in with guns blazing, just to get the two of them inside with nowhere to run! Right where they wanted them!

Except Mireille wasn't with her. She had to warn her not come inside no matter how tight her situation got outside . . .

Voices again, this time hallow. Kirika stopped by the fireplace. They were coming from the rooftop, audible through the chimney. With her foot, Kirika stomped out the dying fire to listen and see if it was the Saplings. She leaned into the throat of the chimney. She recognized Mireille's voice, then Sakuya's. And Riki's!

Kirika couldn't help but worry. This "test" thrown unto them had been impulsive, thanks to Riki. She and Mireille had never discussed what to do when faced with the Saplings. Did Mireille expect her to shoot at the Saplings, or that Mireille's capture would mean both their surrenders? Or did Kirika have to be cornered, too, for this mock battle to end?

But as Kirika turned to rush to the exit, she heard scratching, followed by a thud. She turned around in time to see a body roll out of the fireplace—then, a gun set on her.

"Game over, Kirika," said Audriane. "We're going to Laguardia."