Himari was very swift in her journey to Roselia's base. Thankfully she did not see any organization demons around. Looks like they still had a bit of time before they came here. That gave them a small chance to get ready. They needed all the time they could get to prepare for the inevitable demons coming around.

"Himari? What brings you here?" She encountered Rei and Lisa patrolling their territory.

"I have urgent news for you all." Himari replied.

"Come on, then. Everyone should be at the base still." Lisa said.

They quickly made their way to the house. Everyone else was still there. They gathered to hear what exactly Himari had to tell them. Everyone was a bit on edge. After everything that had been going down, they had a right to be.

"So, as you probably know, the rest of Pastel*Palettes has betrayed the organization. However, the news is a lie. Maya and Eve are with us. Unfortunately they did say the other two were shot. We don't know if those two do live." Himari started off with that.

Hina burst into tears. She was relieved to know at least two of them were still alive. But Eve and Maya were the only ones accounted for. Chisato and Aya were probably dead. That hurt a lot.

"Shh... let it out." Sayo pulled her into a tight hug, "I'm sorry, Hina..."

"We have belief they aren't dead, but we can't confirm it, unfortunately. But, since Eve and Maya are escapees, they will be hunted. And, you guys are who they'll search for. They know about your connection, so they'll be hunting you down." Himari continued.

"Very well. We will be ready." Yukina stated.

"Hina, they would like you to come visit them." Himari said, "They are too weak to go out, so you would have to come to them."

"I'm coming with her." Sayo stated.

"Of course. That's fine." Himari didn't argue with that.

"Can we go now?" Hina asked, "I need to see them again."

"If that's all you have to say, then let's go." Sayo said.

"Alright. We can go."

They didn't speak during the trip back. It felt a little awkward. Himari wasn't even sure what she would say to them. This really wasn't the time to try and make small talk.

Thankfully it wasn't a long walk back. Himari brought them to the room where the two runaways were at. Hina started crying again as she fell to her knees in front of them and pulled them into a hug.

"Hina-" Eve gasped, "Too tight."

Hina loosened her grip a bit, but didn't let either of them go. Maya returned the hug. Eve did too once she saw Maya do it. At least the three of them were together again. If only the other two were with them...

Hina doubted they were alive. Why would they be? They had done one of the worst things you could do. Death was the only punishment for those who tried to escape. She was a very rare case.

"How are you doing, Hina?" Maya questioned.

"I'm okay..."

"It's okay, Hina. We're all suffering knowing Chisato and Aya may be dead." Eve whispered.

"Are you staying?" Himari asked Sayo.

"For now. Just until we figure out what we'll be doing about those two." Sayo replied.

"Alright. Should we let them have time alone?"

"I guess."

"Come with me. We can discuss what we should do about the threats."

"Alright."

Sayo and Himari left the room. The three girls didn't notice or care.

"Eve?" Hina looked at her, "Um... I um... don't know what to... say..."

She wanted to tell her she loved her too, but it was awkward now. Was this really the right time to do this?

"Aya told you about my feelings... I know." Eve looked away, "I'm sorry... I was always told feelings got in the way so I... I never told you..."

"I... I love you too." Hina stated.

Eve looked at her in shock. Did she hear that right? Hina actually loved her back? This was a dream come true.

"Hina..." Eve felt tears forming in her eyes.

"Um... I don't know of this is the right time to confess... but I needed you to know." Hina offered with a shakey smile.

"I'm happy. I love you so much." Eve tightened her grip on Hina.

"Hey! You're making me a third-wheel here!" Maya stated.

"Oops. Sorry, Maya." Both of them backed off a bit.

"Anyway... Aya and Chisato are... dead?" Hina asked.

"We don't know." Maya replied, "They were both shot. And we suspect the bullets were laced with poison."

"You don't think the report is true?"

"Hina, they said all of us were dead. Why would we believe it?" Eve asked.

"I just... don't know why they'd still have them alive..." Hina mumbled.

"Simple. To get us back." Maya stated, "They know we'll do anything to save them. And we will. But we'll be prepared for their traps when we do."

"So... you think they are alive and... will be used as blackmail?"

"Yep."

...

The three of them stayed close, seeking comfort in each other. Even though they had confessed, neither of them were very happy. The atmosphere was still dull knowing their friends were in very big danger.

"I... kinda hoped they did just kill them. Instead of making them suffer." Hina admitted.

"I understand that feeling. I think we all wished that when we ran." Eve replied, "But, I think they'd want to stay alive so they could be with us again."

"Yeah. I know if I survived the shots, I'd definitely fight to live." Maya agreed.

Hina didn't reply. Both of them knew why. It was no secret that Hina had truly been ready to die when she had been taken as prisoner. Hearing how everyone else would have tried to live on was hard.

"Hina, it's okay. You know... if you had been killed, I may not have had the will to run. I don't want to imagine life without you." Eve said, trying to help her out a bit.

Hina looked at Eve, "I'm that important to you?"

Eve nodded, "Yes. I'd do anything to be by your side. If that was impossible, I don't know that I'd want to live any longer."

"Hey. Hate to interrupt you guys, but I need to speak to Hina." Sayo entered the room.

"What's up, onee-chan?" Hina asked.

"I would like to return back to Roselia. You are free to remain here. But, would you mind if I left?" Sayo asked.

"I... I guess..." Hina mumbled.

"If you want me to stay, I will. Himari said it's okay that I remain with you."

"I don't want to take you away from them..."

"Hina," Sayo got level with her, "You are more important to me than them. I want what's best for you."

"How much more important is she?" Maya asked in curiosity.

Sayo looked at her, "Enough that I'd betray them if it meant keeping Hina safe."

"Oh wow. That's a lot." Maya commented.

"That is the power of family." Eve replied.

"Indeed. I can guarantee Tomoe would also do the same if Ako was in danger."

"It must be nice... having your siblings with you..."

"Maya?" Eve asked in worry, "Are you... oh... right..."

"Huh?" Sayo asked.

"Maya um... had siblings, but they were murdered in front of her when she was little." Hina explained quietly, making sure Maya couldn't hear her.

"Oh..." Sayo frowned, "Maya, I am sorry if discussion of family made you uncomfortable. I will try to avoid that from now on."

"Really? No one else cares..."

"Maya, you know those stupid demons wanted to make you upset. Sayo is nice. She won't want that." Eve said.

"I just can't believe it after how long it's been..."

"The organization has really traumatized you all, hasn't it?" Sayo asked.

Eve nodded, "You could say that."

"The stuff you witness there never goes away." Maya added, "Even now that I can't see, the sounds stay embedded in my mind."

"Seeing how bad Rinko got from it... I can assume that it how everyone is."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Eve asked.

"Right... you were not aware. Rinko worked for the organization herself, but was kicked out for being weak." Sayo said.

"Really? I would have never guessed that."

"Not many people would."

"So... you'll stay here then, onee-chan?" Hina returned them to the original topic.

Sayo nodded, "If that is what you need, then yes."

"I'd like if you would stay here."

"Then I will."

DIVIDER--

A few days had passed. Things had slowly gotten better. The organization was nearby now, obviously searching for the girls. Roselia was doing well to keep them off track from finding them at all. That could cause a lot of problems if they were found.

However, something important came from this. Tomoe was the one to deliver the news to them all.

"Aya and Chisato are alive. They will be killed in two weeks if you guys don't willingly turn yourselves in."

"T-they're alive?!"

That was good news to everyone. But it would be tough to break them out. They would need to work fast. Unfortunately that was tough to do. They had to make sure everything was foolproof or else all could be lost during this mission.

They couldn't just surrender and break out then. They knew that was a stupid idea. They probably wouldn't even make it back. The organization very well may have ordered they be killed the moment they are captured.

"Alright. This mission has to be small. We can't take many demons. We need to be fast."

"I think only us three should go. We got them into this mess one way or another. We have to get them out of it too."

"And plus, we know the base the best. We can be quick. We can hide in places others might miss."

No one was on board with that idea. Considering all three of them were recovering from their injuries, that sounded like a death wish. But, the three girls were very adamant that this was something they had to do alone. No one could talk them out of it.

Even offers of having some extras come just to the outside of the base were shot down. No one was coming with them any distance if the way. Sayo was the one who disliked that the most.

She had just gotten Hina back. She didn't want to risk losing her again. Especially when she wouldn't get to see her again. If they died there, no one would ever see their bodies. They wouldn't get any honorable burial. They'd be tossed out like trash.

And yet, nothing could deter them from going alone. They had made up their minds. This was something they had to do. And so that was what they were going to do.

They didn't have any time to lose, they immediately set out as soon as they could. They journey would be long, seeing as none of them had wings to fly with. But they refused even transportation there.

It was truly just them.