Chapter two : Begin

Mireille never knew since when Kirika became a part of her life. She had been living alone for such a long time, compared to which Kirika's presence for a couple of months was nothing.
Perhaps the most annoying fact was Chloe turning up in her house. HER house, demanding after Kirika. It looked like a transaction, only that the transaction gut could very well talk and decide. Shortly said, it was alive. Mireille felt like missing a precious thing. Then after a nice coffee she decided that she was being odd for thinking like that. A nice sleep and a bunch of jobs would do.

Unfortunately three days later Mireille got the hint that somehow she wouldn't be let off hook that easily. This impression came from a certain person, who entered her residence easily, but this time took a chance to stay there a bit longer to face Mireille herself.
The moment Mireille saw Altena standing by the billiard table, she recognized her as Chloe's boss right away.

"Mireille Bouquet," the woman spoke with such a gentle voice.
Mireille couldn't help but feeling impressed by her at the first sight.
"Altena, I suppose," Mireille answered without revealing anything inside her heart.

The woman smiled gently to her. Mireille felt like a stranger in her own house. The woman standing in front of her surely had a very strong host aura that Mireille even felt so uncomfortably standing face to face with her.
But it was her house here!

"No offense, but what are you doing here?" Mireille finally managed to come to the voice.
"If you are looking for Chloe, or even Kirika, both of them already left about three days ago. I suppose you missed them barely."

Altena sighed.
"Chloe..." she whispered to the floor.

"What is it? Did she mess up?" asked Mireille boldly, finally getting the courage to express herself through words.
Altena didn't answer immediately. She took her time to observe Mireille like an experiment object.
"It is behind my expectations, yes. But Chloe is Chloe. She is childish and unwise, but she knew what to do."
"Well then, bye bye. I wish you a nice trip back home, and I hope you find your Chloe. And Kirika too." Mireille winked at her playfully.
But Altena didn't move. She didn't show any clue of going away at all.
Mireille gulped.
"Oh. I guess I was wrong. There is definitely something you still want to do here."

The cold sea breeze whipped through Kirika's face. She faced the sunset in silence with Chloe beside her. The girl, oppositely, backed the sunset and faced the other passengers who also travelled on the same ship.

"We are going to..." began Kirika, turning at Chloe in expectation.
"Corsica," Chloe answered shortly. "The place full of memories," she added meaningfully.
"Memories? Whose memories?" asked Kirika.
"Ours. Our memories."
Kirika nodded and looked back at the sunset. Chloe smiled at Kirika gently from behind her high collar. It felt good to have Kirika on her side like this. It was as if they were going on a trip together. Chloe could feel happiness flow from her heart in all means.
But it wouldn't end without consequences. Altena... Altena wouldn't stay quiet would she... Kirika didn't know anything but this journey together would face so much difficulties. Chloe felt so uncomfortable with Altena not on her side anymore. No. She was the one running away from Altena. For Kirika's sake.

It was the path she chose. No way back. At all.

"I am supposed to go with you?"
Altena replied Mireille's shocked expression with another calming smile.
"Mireille Bouquet, because of Chloe's sudden action, I have to rearrange the plan. You will come and stay with me in the Manor and Chloe is going to go with her."
"Her? Kirika?"
"Yes."
"No, I disagree. I don't want to have anything involved with this Noir matter ever again. I am glad I am not too late to get out of this stuff. See, so leave me alone."
Altena didn't look impressed. Mireille was tempted by the thought of throwing the woman out of her house even if she knew she wouldn't do it anyway.

"I assume Chloe told you nothing about yourself, after all."
Mireille stared at Altena, wide-eyed.
"She wanted to, in exchange for Kirika and her life as well. But I didn't intend to buy the information I wanted to have," Mireille glared at Altena, for the first time aware that Altena was part of Soldats.
"You want to work for the information." Altena concluded.
Mireille had suddenly a bad feeling about what they had been talking about. It was, as if Altena was leading her into something. Something... absolutely uncomfortable.
"Now what would you say about my suggestion just now?"
Mireille gulped for the second time that day.

"Don't force yourself. I will give you time to consider it all. I don't want to force you to do anything."
Altena's smile didn't make Mireille feel better. Mireille felt like she was cornered. In her own apartment.
"Three days. In three days, please come to this place and tell me what you have decided for."
Mireille took a piece of folded paper from Altena's hand. The woman smiled gently at her for the last time before she disappeared behind the door, leaving Mireille dumbstruck.

"Noir... I have been waiting for you."

"Please..! Help me, until I find my true identity."

Mireille sighed.
"What the hell," she muttered slowly.

There is something that tells me that Kirika and I are not simply connected by coincidence, that she coincidentally sends me an email about this pilgrimage thingy. It is... too plain a thought.

There is still something behind this mystery. Kirika's and my past are.. connected to each other. I never knew Kirika before, and Kirika lost her memory. Could it be that Kirika knew me? She knew about my past?

That explained many things. But how come this woman, Altena is so sure that I will joine her for my past's sake? I am not Kirika. I am not the one who lost my memory. But why?
Is there something so important that I absolutely have to know? Something that just doesn't appear in my mind at this second...

Mireille slapped her hand against her forehead. She really didn't know what she would do now.
Should she simply give up this offer, no matter how important the information waiting for her was? Or should she went after Altena just to gain the piece of information?

Mireille hit the table impatiently.

I don't need to know anything. I can live without it. I...

She walked to the small table where the plant stood. Beside the plant lied the pocket watch, as usual. With a soft click the watch opened up and a soft melody tuned up.
Familiar scenes flashed up in her mind.
Herself holding the teddy bear.
Bodies on the floor, red blood under them.
Her mother's hand lied lifelessly on the floor.
A pocket watch scattered on the floor, opened.

With a quick hand movement she shut the pocket watch, stopping the melody.

Yes. There is definitely something I need to know, even if it will cost me life. It has something to do with the murder of my family in Corsica. Kirika came bearing this watch with her after all. She had something to do with the time as my family was murdered. Coldbloodedly.

Mireille shivered upon letting the word sway through her mind.

"I have to find it out."
She said full of determination.