It was became a short matter of moving their luggage into their rooms. Gray was set up in a guest bedroom. The headquarters was big enough to have soace for an extra bedroom or two.
It didn't take long for Zack and Ivy to corner her when they had the opportunity. (Gray had gone out to explore the building.)
"So what's the deal?" Ivy began.
"Yeah, boss. What's the plan? Where we going next?" Zack said, energetic as can be.
"There is no plan." Carmen said, opening the door to her closet. "VILE's gone. There's nothing else for us to do."
"No plan?" Ivy said and gestured to the open suitcase lying on the bed. "Then what are you packing for."
"Yeah, well, I was going to tell you at dinner but," she took a moment and sighed. "I'm going to take a break."
"A break?"
She nodded, "Yeah. I need some time to think."
"Wait," came Zack. "What's the Aussie got to do with it?"
"Yeah," chimes in Ivy. "Is Gray involved?"
If Carmen knew she was going to get interrogated, she would've disappeared in the dead of night instead. She immediately felt bad for the thought. Three answers to the question jumped to the tip of her tongue, all true: 'yes', 'no' and 'kind of'. She picked one at random and thrust it out to them to accept. "Kind of."
They seemed to accept it before they got silent. "But we just got you back." Said Zack after a moment.
Carmen wrapped her arms around them and hugged them. "I know."
"I just need time. I'll be back." Carmen promised.
They were silent for a moment.
"By the way, where's Shadowsan?" Zack asked.
Carmen chuckled as she drew back. She noticed thatboth of the sibling seemed a bit misty-eyed (not that Carmen wasn't) but Ivy was trying very hard tohide it. "He's gone to spend some time with his brother."
"Shadowsan is back in Japan?"
"Yeah."
"But I never got to finish my ninja training!" Zack cried while Carmen and Ivy chuckled.
Just realized I forgot to post this chapter, lol.