DISCLAIMER: You know how this works by now, right?

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I set down my pen on top of the blank paper, rubbing my eyes.

How hard is it to write down everything I have been doing since I last wrote a journal entry? Very hard actually.

Swiveling my chair around I glare at the calendar that is next to my door. It was barely hanging on by a nail and I still wonder why I haven't changed the month.

And, oh geez, that picture of a very hot guy reminded me of Soryu. I jump slightly when the door flies open banging against the same wall I was just looking at.

Queen Everly saunters in. I say it that way for a reason. She struts. Literally.

"Scarlet?" Everly was concerned when she sees me peering now at the door.

"Why'd I do this? Why'd I do any of this?" I say bitterly.

Everly gives me a sidelong glance as she picks up my journal and pen, and settling into my lazy chair on the other side of my small room.

Crossing her legs she rests the small leather book on her lap.

"Start talking and I'll write it down." she tells me and a smile faintly graces my face.

"Two months ago I was In a crash that destroyed my car-"

She stops me right there, "Your mustang... is gone?"

"Not the point. Crash developed injuries. Such as three broken ribs and a fractured ankle, minor cuts."

All while I'm saying this Queen Everly is scribbling it down, no doubt better than my own handwriting. Before I can continue, she asks, "Scarlet, what are you keeping from me?"

I swallow hard, my throat suddenly dry as a desert. "As my Queen?"

She sets down the pen, and gives me a hard look, one that practically screamed, spill it.

"As your friend."

I take a deep breath, and tell her everything. All the way back to wen I was sold, my time with Soryu, and when my mentor called me.

When I finish, I could see tears beginning to form in her eyes.

"Oh Scarlet, why didn't you come to one of us? We could have helped!"

I stand up and give Everly a hug. When I pull back I say, "It wasn't anyone's burden to bear, but mine."

I shut the door when I leave.

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"Scarlet's cooking tonight, guys!" Savanna cheers as she bounces around the kitchen. Tiger and Dominic were relaxing on the bar stools, playing a game of chess and were engaged In a conversation with each other. I, was making dinner for all the assassins, while an apprentice was making food for the others.

I hear snippets of their words, and I decide to join in.

"What are you talking about?" I ask the two, who were glaring at each other.

Dominic smiles, "How her insults give me whiplash."

I return the grin, and turn back to my cooking.

"You might want to move your knight from the corner forward by three spaces."

Tiger grimaces when I look over my shoulder, "How'd you know that?"

I spin around and place my hand on my hip, "What do you think I did for fun as an apprentice?"

Tiger groans and bangs her head on the bar counter. Similar to what I did with Soryu...

"I might not win at chess, but I sure as hell can beat anyone's ass at checkers."

Dominic laughs, "Forwards backwards, and sideways?"

I throw this over my shoulder as I begin to dish up dinner, with a grin firmly in place, "No shit Sherlock."

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A/N: Haha, I love that ending.