Chapter three : Memories

"It is here."

Kirika stepped forward and looked around the deserted hall. Chloe had brought her to an old, big house, which once might have been all beautiful and great in its glorious days. And yet Kirika couldn't recall ever being in this place. In such a far place like Corsica.

"See, you are exactly here."
Chloe pointed at one spot on the floor.
"I am standing there, behind the pillar, watching you."

Kirika looked at the referred pillar. Behind Chloe's expectations, Kirika showed no particular reaction to the place. She didn't remember at all. Chloe couldn't help but feeling depressed. There were only two places which might return Kirika's memories back. The first one was this place. Corsica. The second was….

Kirika felt sorry for Chloe. It was obvious that Chloe tried her best to get Kirika's memories back, but it just didn't work.

"I am so sorry.." she whispered.
If I do anything wrong please forgive me… because I don't want you to be so sad…

Chloe forced a bitter smile as she put her arms around Kirika's neck.
Everything will be allright, as long as she is with me….

"What exactly happen here?" asked Kirika, as they sat on the floor watching the ruins.
"Here is… where we once…" began Chloe, feeling more and more unsure with every step deeper to the heart of the ruins.

Chloe my dear….

"Uh…"

The plants must get enough water and sunshine to grow.
But if the plants get too much of them, their growth will be hampered instead.

Chloe gritted her teeth. True, she couldn't reveal Kirika everything. Kirika might not be ready for those informations yet. The consequences would be catastrophal. She couldn't bear the risks.

"Chloe..?"

Little by little……. perhaps the girl would understand someday. Chloe let Kirika go and walked some steps apart from her. She didn't want to show her disappointment to the girl at this moment. This was too much to bear, even for a Kirika Yuumura.

Chloe turned back to Kirika. She outstreched her hand, inviting the girl to take her hand. At this point Chloe could tell that she was happy, since Kirika took her hand without much hesitating. Chloe felt that deep inside Kirika started to feel some affection toward her. And that alone was enough for Chloe to throw everything away.

The two girls walked out of the ruins hand in hand. They didn't talk much along the way. Both were pretty occupied with their own minds anyway. Not a long time passed before both realized how hungry they were. They came to know that none of them was good planner.

Chloe told Kirika that she was going to fetch something to eat.

"May I stay around here for another while?" asked the black-haired girl anxiously.
Chloe nodded and went away to go look for some foods.

Chloe wondered if Kirika did recall anything concerning Corsica. She couldn't have forgotten the place so easily, could she? Chloe didn't know. She never really knew what was going on in Kirika's head right now. And this unknowing drove her crazy.

She nearly felt hatred toward Mireille Bouquet filling her heart, for ever being closer to Kirika than she was.

But it was already over wth them anyway, Chloe reminded herself. Kirika was hers. Now, and forever.

Happily she ran back to the place where she left Kirika earlier, with some bread in a paper bag.

Only to find the girl lying on the ground, next to the stones surrounding the fountain. Fresh blood was to be seen on one stone. The same blood was flowing from the side of Kirika's head right now.

Chloe could see her very clearly despite all the people surrounding her right now. The bread fell from her arms. A puppy broke free from Kirika's protecting arms and started to lick on her cheek worriedly. The girl showed no reaction at all….

Somewhere in a deserted place on her way toward the Manor, Mireille Bouquet sensed something terrible. It wasn't anything like the burning sun up there, which threatened to dry her up. It wasn't the long way to the Manor as well. She didn't feel uncomfortable in that way. It was more like missing something so suddenly and unexpectedly. But what..?

Mireille stared at the unending path ahead. She really didn't know where this heavy feeling came from. She still intended to carry on though… if that's the only way visible right now…

Mireilla put on her sunglasses and jumped into the car. She just couldn't shake off the awful feeling that loomed over her since five minutes ago… what had happened?

At the Manor another person dropped a cup of tea onto the floor. The red tea was spilt all over the floor, nearly resembled blood. For some seconds Altena couldn't get her eyes off the tea. A premonition built itself in her mind, telling her that something had happened.

Chloe ran toward Kirika. She ignored the protests of the people who she pushed to the side. Something had happened to Kirika. Something had happened to Kirika while she was away! How could she be this dumb? How could she ever left the girl alone? Wasn't she her biggest treasure? How could she do this to Kirika?

As she lifted Kirika's head, her blood ran down her hand. For the first time in her life, Chloe felt how her blood froze on the sight of blood….