Meirin was not present in the servants' dining hall the next morning. She drank to and beyond her limit. By early afternoon she still hadn't gotten up, so Bardroy kindly asked Merianna to go check up on her. She knocked on the door and announced her intentions before opening the door.

"Oh heavens!" She exclaimed in fright.

Meirin was slumped back, half of her was on the floor and the other still partly on the bed. She was still in her outing clothes and her glasses hung dramatically across her head.

"Meirin! Meirin! You've drunk too much…!" She fretted.

She took off Meirin's glasses and placed them onto the nightstand before lifting her limp but breathing body onto the bed. Slightly panicking, she waved her hand over Meirin's face, fanning air to her. She had absolutely no medical knowledge despite the fact that Meirin was still warm to the touch and thus, alive. She took her her friend and called out her name., but there was only a muttering reply. Merianna marched out of the room and into the kitchen to look for any help. Tanaka sat on a pillow there and Merianna kneeled in front of him.

"Tanaka, sir! Meirin is sick and I don't know what to do!"

Tanaka replied with a "Hohohoh".

"That's it! Maybe some tea will make her feel better!"

She rushed to the stove, stocking wood in it and lighting it up. She fetched water for the kettle and waited for it to boil. She heard shuffling coming from Meirin's room and waited until Meirin emerged, groggy and groaning.

"Meirin! How are you feeling?"

She put a hand on her head and slinked into the dining chair. "Just a hangover." She muttered in reply.

She started eating the breakfast Bardroy had cooked and thanked Merianna as she set a cup of tea.

"Shall I help you with your chores? You should rest for today."

Meirin shook her head. "Maybe just…well I shouldn't but…I would appreciate your help. We can do them together."

Merianna left Meirin to finish her breakfast and set onto the main part of the building. She decided to take care of the uppermost floors, leaving the more accessible ones to Meirin. She took the dustpan, broom and a couple of rags from the cabinet and headed upstairs. She opened up the first room: a guest room. She went inside and check everything, but it was all cleaned. Not a speck of dust. Frustrated, she went to the next room, but it was also clean. The bathrooms didn't need any wiping or cleaning at all. Finally, she gave up and returned downstairs. As she put the items back into the cleaning closet, she heard something barking madly. It was Pluto and he was barking at something behind the stairs.

"Pluto!" She called.

He was scratching the wood before she could see what was wrong. A small ball of brown and white fur disappeared inside the cabinet under the stairs. Pluto tried to squeeze between her and the cabinet, but she pushed him aside and went inside. Furious barking erupted, making Merianna jump.

"Stikes!" She cried, recognizing the lovable pup.

He was backing up and growling menacingly at Pluto. He suddenly ran between her legs and out to Pluto. Merianna called the dog, afraid that they would hurt each other. The cabinet was so small she had difficulty backing out. Once she did, she found Pluto and Stikes playing together and she sighed, defeated.

"Is that your dog, Merianna?!" Meirin cried, suddenly appearing.

Merianna shook her head. "I know him from the streets…" Another white lie. "I checked the floors upstairs, they didn't need anymore cleaning." She reported.

Meirin nodded. "Can you help me with laundry? We have to hang it outside in the sun."

She produced a large basket of white fabric and led her outside. There were lines in the backyard to hang the bed sheets from, and they got straight to work. Merianna asked her how her hang-over was, and receive an optimistic reply.

Stikes the dog roamed around the mansion. Everything smelt so different from the streets he came from, not that the scents were all pleasant. They were strong-smelling, and some thing had no scent at all. The work of humans always puzzled him. Some things they wanted to smell so strong it would knock him out and some they washed so much the smell was completely drowned out. He sniffed the floor to find his own scent. He trailed it for the way back out, walking out an opening in the house and seeing the cloudy sky above hims again. He wasn't sure what his human friends wanted, but the piece of meat they threw over the fence had the girl's scent on it. The familiar girl from back then. Now he just wanted to go back home. He followed the scent of the city and his paws until he reached the bushes. He had squeezed under them when the humans threw the meat over. The smell of meat still lingered, even if the meat itself did not.

The humans on the other side called his name and praised him eagerly as he squeezed back out. The largest looked him over, as if checking whether or not he was bitten. He rolled over and let the boys rub his belly.

"So what does this mean? That he came back alive." One said.

"It means…that she's still there."

"Meirin, yesterday…were all the things you said…true?" Merianna asked, pinning a sheet to the line.

"…Yes…" She replied.

Meirin's past had been so surprising to her. She was curious about her friend and wanted to understand her better.

"Why did you go with Sebastian then?"

"I…couldn't do it…I had…to shoot a politician…but he had a family…I couldn't take that away…"

"Do you regret it?"

"Sometimes…Sometimes the people I had to kill were horrible criminals. But not always…"

Merianna saw the cold, steely gaze in her friend's eyes, and knew behind them were a kind and friendly soul. She wished she could take away her pain. She stopped with her work and took hold of Meirin's hand.

"I think it's a good thing you decided to stop then. It had to be at one point or another."

"I'm glad…you came to this house…"

Merianna looked at her quizzically.

"There weren't any others I could talk to. They're nice people but…they're still boys."

"Boys will be boys." She sighed.

"What about you, Merianna?"

"There isn't much to say about myself…I…" She stopped herself.

Was she ready to tell her everything?

"Perhaps another time." Meirin said understandingly.

"I was a thief." She blurted out.

Merianna felt a heat rush through her face. She didn't know what she was doing anymore.

"But please don't think of me as bad…I would never steal from here."

Now it was Meirin's turn to take Merianna's hands.

"Merianna is just Merianna. No matter what happened in the past and what happens in the future." She comforted. "I…wasn't part of any rogue dealings…but if we really have to use our skills for battle, I'd think we'd make a good team. I'd have to take my glasses off first."

"Glasses?"

"I'm very far-sighted, and they were a gift from Young Master when I first came here. When I put them on, it feels like I am another person. I'm not Meirin the Sniper, just Meirin the Maid of Phantomhive estate."

"Meirin…where are they?"

She slapped a hand on her face and realized they weren't on her face anymore. She panicked, looking around the grass for them.

"I think…you left them in your room…when you were hung-over…" Merianna mumbled.

Without a word, Meirin ran back into the house to fetch them.

When Meirin came back out, she was in an even more hurried state than before, although the glasses were on her face. She grabbed Merianna's arm with such force it surprised her.

"Merianna, have you seen a golden chain?"

She thought upon the question, but could only answer no. Merianna let go of her arm and turned around, marching back into the house.

"W-Wait! A golden chain? Have you lost it?" Merianna asked, catching up to her friend.

"Yes…it must have been yesterday…I was sure I had it…but maybe…" She pondered.

She suddenly stopped.

"The thieves…The Rouge-Gorges then…raided the house…"

Meirin's legs buckled under her and she sat limp on the ground. Merianna followed, wondering what was happening. Who were the robins that invaded the house? She took the glasses from her friend's face, noticing something behind them.

"Was that golden chain important to you?" She asked softly, taking out a handkerchief and handing it to Meirin.

She could only nod in reply. She held the handkerchief up and dried her eyes.

"I have to find it…I have to find it!"

She grabbed onto Merianna's arms. "It's the last thing I have to remember him by…!"

"Meirin…"

She suddenly got up unsteadily. "I have to…get it back from those…Rouge-Gorges…"

Merianna followed Meirin through the forest, careful to crouch down and cover herself with the fur coat she brought along. Sometimes Meirin would climb a tree and survey the area, and Merianna would have to wait until she dropped down to move. She didn't know where her friend was going, but judging by the two rifles slung on her back and the pistols she had, she was going to need help. Merianna just didn't want to hinder Meirin.

Eventually, they came upon a house in the forest, smoke rising from the chimney. Meirin climbed a tree, but only halfway up. Merianna meanwhile, sat with the covers over her. It was almost night time and the forest grew dark. For moral support, she felt the pack of tarot cards in her bodice, wishing for luck and mumbling words of comfort. She couldn't see Meirin in the trees anymore, but wasn't risking moving in case Meirin couldn't notice Merianna either.

She stared at the house, how did Meirin know this was a thief's hideout? To her, it looked like a normal cottage. She saw a dark figure with a large rifle ran across the house. It was Meirin hidden in the darkness. Merianna came to a decision: she would help Meirin find the chain. If this house simply wasn't the hideout, she would apologize and disappear off before the police came.

She kept watching the house for any movement. The smoke and light emitted from inside were signs that it was being used, but no one stirred. Merianna started feeling tired. For moral support, she brought out the pack of tarot cards and felt The Moon. Even though it was dark, the cards were so dear and familiar to her she could feel whichever card it was. She took a deep breath in and a deep breath out. The air around her started to get cooler, but inside her mind, she was forming a plan.

Yes, once he comes out, she will have to…

If he chooses not to, I can always go the roundabout way to attract his attention…

…Their choices are all clear to me now.

No matter how many there were and whatever decisions they would take, the path was clearly marked for her now.

Merianna crept closer to the house, making sure to stay away from the windows. She was at the side of the house and listened closely for the voices. She focused.

Two voices…and another one…Three…

She circled around the house in a crouching position, taking note of the one window in the front next to the door, the back door and parts where the light from inside would be seen. She felt around the side of the house for something to grab onto. Something to get onto the roof from. Her boot nudged against something solid and she bent down to check the height. It was a crate, about half her height. Silently, she climbed onto it. There was still no way of getting up on the roof, unless she suddenly had a growth spurt or had a mushroom that would make her larger if she ate it.

Caught. She recognized you.

"Meri…what are you doing?" a voice hissed behind her.

Sharp hazel eyes glared at her, demanding an answer.

"Tr-Trying to get…on the roof…" she answered bluntly. "Can you help me…?"

"You're going to get yourself killed…!"

Merianna smiled. "I have a plan. Help me help you."

She moved over to allow Meirin space on the crate and helped her up. Meirin cupped her hands to allow Merianna to step on them and hoisted her up. Merianna could almost reach the top and announced that she was going to step on her shoulders. When she levered herself up she was finally able to grab onto the roof and clambered on. Silently, she motioned for Meirin to get away.

Your weight caused two to hear sounds on the roof, but they ignored it.

Merianna, on her palms and knees, edged towards the chimney.

Stop, Meirin has yet to get into the tree.

She obeyed her intuition and stayed still, but took off the fur cloak she brought.

Go.

She laid the cloak over the top of the chimney and tried to hold it tight over the opening. Although most of the smoke was trapped inside, the few that escape sent Merianna into a coughing fit, which she tried to muffle.

She understands now. She is preparing her rifle. She has decided to kill everyone there because she is consumed by rage.

Her intuition must have been wrong.

The people inside are noticing the smoke. One suggests putting out the flame and is going to pour water over it.

Merianna smiled. She knew that pouring water on the fire would make more smoke. Leaving the fire would create more smoke too. Either way, they would have to open the windows and or doors to air it out.

They're going to leave the house by the front door.

She left the fur cloak on the chimney and slowly made her way to the back of the house. When she heard the front door click, she hung over the edge of the roof. Feeling with her toes for something to have as a foothold. Luckily, the threshold was the size of half of her foot and she lowered herself on the side of the wall. The people on the other side evacuated the building in wheezes and coughs just as she dropped back into the ground.

Breathe in. Load. Breathe out. Shoot.

Merianna didn't have a gun on her, where is her intuition getting these ideas? She pushed the thought away and drew the wire from her boot, intent on picking open the back door. She adjusted the loop accordingly to the size of the keyhole and fidgeted with it.

A loud crack sounded from the other side of the house, followed by screaming and more gunshots. It must have been Meirin shooting from her rifles. She felt a sense of guilt and regret for flushing the people out, but she opened the door to the inside. The house was still in smoke, but most of it had been aired out through the front door and windows. She saw Meirin stepping from the front door, two rifles slung on her back as she was wiping her glasses.

She put them back on and nodded to Merianna. "Don't worry. They aren't dead, just incapacitated."

Merianna breathed a sigh of relief, scanning the surroundings of the small house. At the table where the thieves were sitting were various golden artefacts, a goblet, a candleholder, various coins and a golden chain. She picked it up and examined it. It was plain gold woven between each link.

"Meirin…is it this?"

Merianna put it in Meirin's palms, and she put on her glasses to look at it more closely. She didn't reply, but her smile was enough of an answer.

"Thank you, Merianna. I really…Thank you…"

Outside, the three bandits were unconscious, leg bleeding from their bullet wounds. Meirin assured that they would not die. Merianna questioned their method of returning home, as they came by endless walking.

We can't walk home…if we take the horses from the houses…

"Do you know how to ride a horse?" Meirin asked.

She brought out a brown horse, holding the reins in one hand and the reins of a white one, also saddled and reined. Merianna shook her head, staring wide-eyed at the animal. Meirin easily got onto the horse and grabbed the reins like an expert.

"Step on the stirrup and get onto the saddle." She advised. "Use the cantle to help yourself up."

Merianna stepped up to the white one. She could hardly see where the saddle was, even if she did understand what Meirin told her to do. She grabbed the back of the horse and tried to get on, like jumping over a fence. Unfortunately, the horse was too large and she fell back with a grunt.

Meirin sighed, got off her horse and helped Merianna up. She gave a quick lesson on horseback riding, to hold the reins tightly and to feel the movement of the horse. For extra support, she tied a rope from her saddle to Merianna's and set off on a trot down a small part in the forest. Just like the carriage, Merianna was surprised at the sudden jolt.

"It's okay. I didn't know how to ride a horse at first either." Meirin said. "An officer taught me how to."

"Officer? But didn't you say you were a sharpshooter before?" Merianna mused.

Meirin looked back at Merianna with a small smile. "His name was Allen Chandler. He was…part of the force."

I had to…with my own hand…

Merianna shook her head from the intrusive thoughts. The strange voices had been pestering her all day. It had come into use knowing what decisions the thieves would take, but now it was being intrusive.

After they reached the mansion, they let the (stolen) horses mingle with the others in the stable and quietly crept back to the inside of the house, hoping they wouldn't awaken anyone else. Once they arrived at the servants' quarters, they bade each other good night.

Merianna pulled the pack of tarot cards and put it on the nightstand, brushing a finger on The Moon and put on her nightgown.

"It's fine. She works more like a machine than a human! Who knew women could shoot better than men, right?"

"Well, if you put it that way, we'll leave this job for you, number two."

Meirin nodded and accepted the briefing documents, leaving the room. Outside in the hall, she scanned it over and ripped them into pieces, leaving the shredded pieces for the custodians to clean up.

"It doesn't matter the person's name, locations or age. It's always the same cycle of killing human after human." She muttered.

She collected the sniper rifle the weapon-guard assigned to her, angrily shoving back the scope he left on. With the case on, no would recognize the rifle. She stepped back into the evening light. The location was near the park, and it was quite a distance away.

"Miss Meirin?" a voice behind her called.

A young man strode up beside her on a chestnut-brown horse. His face seemed to have lit up when Meirin turned around.

"Mr…Chandler…I…WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"

"Allen, please just call me Allen." He said, dismounting the horse. "Are you going somewhere? Let me accompany you. Is that violin heavy? I'll carry it for you."

"Mr…Allen…I can manage myself perfectly well!" She protested.

"Tch, you aren't like a lady at all." He said, but added. "I like that about you…H-Hey! Why are you walking so fast?!"

"I'm just going to the park! Leave me alone! You're in the wa-"

Allen grabbed her wrist tightly before she could escape. He knew she wasn't angry with him. If she really wanted to, she could have ripped her wrist away, but she stayed passive.

"I…I know who you are."

She turned to stare at him. The serious look on his face that she hardly saw ripped into her heart.

"You aren't just going for a walk in the park…that isn't a violin case and…you don't want to go alone. I'm a police officer after all, soon to be detective."

Meirin's heart was pounding. Now that she was caught, what would he do? She didn't want to risk losing him. Knowing now that she was a criminal, would he have to arrest her? To kill her?

"I…I…I'm not…different…" was all she could manage to say.

He bent down and lightly kissed her cheek. "I'm not either."

She held a hand to touch her burning cheek.

"I'll let you go now, but don't forget I promised you a horseback trip next week!"

Merianna stood up and looked at the window. It was still dark but everything seemed light. She opened the door and walked through the servants' quarters, the hallways and the study to the garden. The was basked in the soft light of the moon and she walked towards the patio.

"Merianna? Is that you?"

Meirin caught the snowy-white hair of her friend, who stood there, facing here. She was still in her nightgown, and her bare feet were getting wet from the dew. She was having a drink outside, needing to ease her mind. She didn't think anyone else was awake. But not even the extra person here was-her eyes were closed.

"Are you…Are you sleepwalking?" Meirin whispered, as she stood up from the chair.

She walked over to get a closer look at her friend. Her eyes were definitely closed no sign of expression on her face. She wondered if she should wake her friend up. She saw something glimmer: tears.

"Merianna…you're crying…and you aren't even awake…" Meirin said, amazed.

She felt Merianna's arms suddenly wrap around her in a hug. Meirin was surprised at first, how much could one person do while asleep?

"Risado sirscunus…dris-vit…"

Meirin suddenly felt sleepy, a sudden wave of peace washed over her. She saw something burst from behind her friend, but she was pulled into her unconscious state by a wave of white.

"osha te-erhu touza…"

Tell me everything…

"Gah, this man's been a thorn in our sides ever since. We can't trust him at all being close to our organization. We've seen him prowling around the building like a stray cat expecting to be fed. Number two, you can take care of it, right?"

"I…I…"

"Number two!" The boss roared. "You let the last target get away yesterday, don't think you'll get off lightly now! I won't accept excuses like 'They have family' or 'I have cold feet anymore! If you're not going to do the job right, we'll finish you off!"

"If you can't do it, then I will."

"Shut your trap, number four…"

"What's gotten into you? Don't tell me your heart is wavering or some shit like that. Wake up, number two. This is what we're paid to do, and this is the only thing you'll ever be useful for, so don't get cocky just because you've got that far-sightedness working in your favour."

"I said I'll do it! Just tell me the goddamn name and I'll put a bullet right between his eyes!"

"That's what we like to hear…well then; number two, your next target is Chandler. Allen Chandler."

They met at the park, as they said. Meirin was sitting on the bench, staring at the lake shimmering in the evening light. Allen was late again, no doubt probably helping an old lady cross the busy road or some other good deed out of his way.

"What's wrong Meirin? You always loved coming to this park together…Is it because I bought your that gold necklace? I told you, it wasn't too much work!"

"Allen…Do you love me…as in…we'll get married one day?"

"…That's not something to question. Of course I do."

She clenched her fists on the skirt she was wearing today, just for him. Being the unlady-like type she was, she wasn't sure what his reaction to her sudden appearance would be.

"You're here to kill me, aren't you?"

He always had a way to surprise her.

"There's that one guy across the lake, in the branches of that tree aiming just in case you couldn't bring yourself to do it…and that dress…that dress looks lovely on you. It's just that…"

He brought his hands up to Meirin's eyes and wiped away the tears.

"These things make everything look blurry, don't they?"

"I'm not going to do it." Meirin decided. "I no longer want to be a machine running through the cycles of killing human after human. I've…taken away so many lives and yet…for the first time I've had something taken away from me."

She buried her head in his coat, muffling a 'my heart'. She decided to tell him how she felt, the feelings she felt as a normal human being, not a killing machine.

"Allen…Inside, I really lo-"

A crack fired and Allen suddenly shifted. She felt something sting against her face. Allen Chandler fell limp against the side of the bench, a bullet wound drawing blood from his chest. Obviously whoever shot, intended to kill both of them at the same time.

"Allen!"

Meirin lifted his head up. There was still the tiniest bit of life in them, although the wound was dangerously close to his heart, it was not a fatal hit. She held his hands and was trembling, calling out his name with a voice quivering under the strain of tears.

"Mei…Meirin…Are you there…? Your hands…are shaking so much…I guess you aren't…made to be a killer sniper after all…"

"Don't say things like that! Allen…! I'm…sorry…If only I thought about it more…If only I didn't have my pride of being a senseless machine and feel…feel like you can…"

He pressed something into Meirin's hands, a small box wrapped in ruby wrapping, a small pink bow adorning it.

"Meirin…you do feel…you feel what I do…I can see it...in your eyes."

Meirin felt like she slept on a bed of soft down feathers, that as she reviewed her memories it flowed out like a river and that some holy being from above was granting her a safe paradise to release all her buried thoughts and feelings. It was like she was in a dream-state.

"I'm…still not a perfect sniper…If I had never met him; my hands wouldn't shake so much on the trigger…I wonder why…? Why did he have such a gentle look on his face? It was like…he forgot he was…looking at the one that killed him…I wish…I had those gentle eyes…"

The next morning, Finnian found Meirin and Merianna sleeping on the lawn, completely cold from the morning dew. He shook them both awake and asked them what happened last night.

"Nothing," Meirin answered. "Just a walk to the park."

Merianna honestly wondered how she got there, and why her eyes were sore. She tapped Meirin on the shoulder and asked how they were found on the lawn. She only remembered going to sleep after their delinquent adventure.

"Meri, you have an amazing ability to comfort people and cry…even when you're asleep." She replied good-heartedly.