I've been meaning to write a Noir Fan fiction for the longest time, but I wasn't able to think up an interesting story line for myself until now. Despite my clumsiness, I hope it stays true to Noir's own unique style, and if it doesn't, say so.
Repetitious LiesAn auburn night partially hiding the bodies that traveled beneath it. Harsh breathes mixing with the humid air. Then rain, pounding and drowning all that it touches. But it wasn't cool and curing like it was meant to do… No, it was sharp and unmerciful like the splinters they were, breaking apart all that it came in contact with. Mireille could only wait patiently as the bullets passed by. Stopping momentarily as it came nearer and firing again to hit the faceless enemies behind her…
"Mireiyu…"
A milk drop sky, silent and serene as the calm open sea. But the smell of death lay low to the moistened earth, and there, Kirika stood with tears falling to merge with the blood.
"We chose to live remember? For that… There are some things we can't choose to do…"
'I know…but…'
Yearning was evident within the girl's eyes, but Mireille knew it was better not to dwell on it. In order for one to survive, emotions must be detached so as to carry out certain unavoidable situations. This was one of those times she needed to be strong, even if she didn't want to. But without knowing it, her blue eyes softened.
"Let's go before more of them find us. We need a rest."
"…Alright…"
~*~
'Not now...' Mireille thought to herself as she looked out of the hotel window. Again she closed her eyes, succumbing to Kirika's soft breathing that was sending her to sleep. Annoyed, she turned to look at her. 'At least one of us gets a break…'
Kirika shifted in response. After crying a little she had finally been able to fall into a deep slumber. Mireille is still amazed how she can, despite all the trouble they are forced to go through. As a last resort, after changing into some warmer clothes, Mireille cautiously walks through the moonlight so as not to bump into anything. Behind her the lock clicks, which sends echoes throughout the hotel corridor. Kirika shifts once again but nothing more.
In the distance, a grumble breaks the quiet night, growing louder as the metal body approaches. The bright headlights reveal a shadow but as it passes it disappears, enveloped by the night. In a daze, Mireille walks along the cobblestones, wrapping her black coat around her. Its thickness covers her gender, but it can only help for a certain time. The hunters are always awarded for their patience.
She stops instantly, a breath had escaped that was not her own. Playing naïve she continues to walk, holding her Walther tighter than usual. Straining her ears she turns the corner, but still no sound, no other movement.
'Come now, let's not play games.' Sidestepping, she waits within the darkness, her breath becoming more relaxed. She was ready, and soon the small huff could be heard distinctively, followed closely by leaded steps. But it stopped no closer then five meters away. Confused, she listened, and it answered.
"I am a messenger. I am unarmed." It was firm and unwavering, but neither was she.
"Soldats has nothing more to offer me." From a distance she heard a pebble grind rhythmically. He may be unarmed, but he had back up.
"Not necessarily for you, but if you care for her then…"
'Kirika!' The name shot within her head. Worry surfaced, but she remembered. Kirika was far stronger than these people were… but then again, she was crying… would she be ready? A pain, she should have never left… "What do you want?"
"Please, let's be civil… Let me see your face." Mireille assumed he was the obsessive type, just like…
"Talk already!" Instinctively she pointed her gun at the moving figure in the distance, and it stopped at her will.
"The child, a truth lies for her, do you want to know?"
"What truth!? You destroyed it all!" Mireille can forever picture those times when Kirika lay wounded at the fact that she was nothing. Unidentifiable. But now, after finally accepting her name… To tease them like this…
"Altena wasn't the only one watching over you." He paused. "Her name may be forgotten. But the people that knew her, offered her, weren't like yours, nor like Chloe's either."
"That's vaguely interesting…" She laughed, appearing unaffected.
His voice rose, "Do you not believe me?"
"Why should I?" It was then that Mireille stepped into the light. Her eyes sharpened at him, freezing him in fear and admiration. The gun now pointed forward. "You seem to have no proof."
"I will gladly give it to you, but I will be the only one. Kill me, and kill her truth." He smiled a scar-slashed smile, its ego almost making her pull the trigger.
"Name your price."
"Complete obedience to Soldats. The leaders are getting quite weary trying to kill you. It's surprising how our numbers are falling distastefully."
She laughed, "Has the world become a coward?"
He angered at the insult, "Not everyone has the knowledge to kill! At least… not yet."
"Yes, yes…" She yawned. "But it still doesn't feel like a fair deal."
"If you join us, we will stop hunting you. Are you not tired now, of being on the run?" Mireille cannot deny the effects of this chase. Always moving and never able to spend one night in peace, she knew she could survive, but in the long run it wouldn't be any good. Not for her and especially Kirika… She, didn't deserve this.
"Either way it will only lead to more deaths…"
Turning around, his scar stretched even more, "I will come back to you in a week, but others will visit. Refresh yourselves and relax because in that time the hunting will stop. Think wisely young child, and here…"
From his pocket he exposed an envelope and let it fall to catch the wind. Before it landed, the man fell back into the shadows, including the lurking bodies in the distance. She was about to follow but something inside her, a gut feeling persuaded her not too... Bending down, she picked up the envelope and tore it open. An old photo lay, fringed and ripped at the edges. Pulling it out it exposed a family, innocent and young like any other. The father, strong jawed and smiling foolishly at the camera held close to his wife, pale but holding a spirit all her own. Looking within her eyes Mireille couldn't help but feel the power that Kirika herself had emitted many times before. Moving on, she examined the child in front of them. A girl, five she assumed, sat smiling on her father's lap. Mirelle would have guessed it was Kirika, but looking closer the hair was notably caramel brown just like the mother's. Confused, Mireille dismissed the thoughts at hand and just let the images of the picture sink into her mind. She walked along and whispered quietly to the night.
`What truth can you possibly offer…?'
~*~
"Unn…" Kirika moaned as she awoke to harsh nudges. Slightly puffy eyed she looked up at Mireille's stern face. She smelt heavily of rain. "What's wrong?"
"I…" Mireille turned away, unable to put thoughts and words together. She sighed, her body and mind were too tired now to do the simple task. Later then, she decided. "I bought some breakfast. I hope you don't mind."
Kirika smiled genuinely. 'Not at all.'
The aromas were working together quite nicely within the small hotel room. Kirika sat, steeling a sip of orange juice as she waited for Mireille. She knew Mireille wouldn't mind if she started without her, but she didn't want it like that. She liked having someone to enjoy a meal with, even if talking was reduced because of chewing. But it was fun nonetheless. The sun shone brightly through the curtains and upon knowing that, she didn't want to think about anything. All she wanted was to enjoy this meal with Mireille for all that it's worth.
"Ahh, the water's so cold." Mireille emerged from the washroom, the tips of her hair wet from washing her face. She looked at the table, "Aren't you hungry?"
"Very." Kirika confirmed.
"Go ahead then, you don't need my permission." She laughed lightly as she moved to flop herself on the bed. She stretched her arms before finally covering herself with the duvet.
"…okay…" A small loneliness crowded around Kirika. She wasn't hungry anymore.
No movement or sound passed for a few minutes.
"Kirika?"
"Un?"
"Bring the food over here." Kirika smiled.
"So did you sleep well?" Mireille asked as she swallowed her bite of food.
"Un!" Kirika nodded happily as she drank. In her other hand a sandwich waited patiently for its fate.
"That's good." Mireille leaned back against the headboard as she threw her paper wrapper into the garbage.
"Didn't you?"
Thoughts of last night resurfaced. "Not really."
"I didn't hear you leave…"
"Well I didn't want to wake you up," Mireille smiled at her. "You were sleeping so peacefully."
"But I would've liked to go with you…" Kirika held back for a moment, the sun burning into her skin. She shifted closer to Mireille, shielded by her shade. "You might've been…"
"Don't worry about me, I'm Noir too." They smiled together, glad that there was someone who actually cared, and to care for…
Mireille stretched again and pulled the duvet closer. Then a question arose before she could suppress it. "Kirika, if we could stop running from them, would you?
"If Soldats is the world, then we're going to have to." Kirika saddened as reality set in. "But even if we have their favor, we'll still be killed or have to kill…"
"Yeah." The dilemma had returned.
"I'd do anything to reach that little light out there… That truth."
Mireille shifted to her coat, pulling out the envelope. Taking the photo out, "They contacted me last night."
Kirika received the photo and she looked at it intently.
"They said they were going to leave us alone for a week, so that we can think…"
"About what?"
"Their offer of joining them." Mireille paused a little to form the words right. "If we do, they'll tell us more about your.. family.."
Mireille could feel Kirika's shock at the information.
"I didn't want to tell you… I mean, you finally accepted yourself as Kirika Yuumura…" The sun was burning her now. "Besides those people could be anyone, all they're giving us is false hope."
"Maybe." Kirika looked closely at a broken edge, there was an orange hue forming the numbers eighty-seven… 'Could it be real?'