NOIR
Chapter One
Sword
By Steve Edward
The recent past from Deception … Sunday, October 28th 1100 hours, Pan Pacific Hotel
Accepting the box, Randy lifted the cover off and peered at the contents, "Well it is not a swan, but around it there are swans." Lifting the delicate creation, Randy set it upon the table. Superintendent Savage seemed to nod at the sight, "A dragon, Mr. Baldwin surrounded by swans and the larger one is an interesting choice of color. Alfred looking closely replied, "The same color as the Hercules and the Gulfstream paint scheme."
Kelly Summers smiling, "It seems, Yoko did remember you, but how did she know about the plane?" Kirika spoke, "I learned from her that her grandfather is a practicing Shinto Priest. I never told her about the Hercules or anything else." Randy replied, "And I never got to meet either Yoko or her brother Yuri. I was still in Darwin when you and Mireille made the pickup. This is certainly strange for all of us. How the heck did she know all of this?"
Removing the rolled rice paper from within Randy read the content in silence then carefully tied the ribbon back around the roll and placed all back with the box. None present at that moment would ever find out Yoko Yoshiro had written. Randy looked up at the gathering, "Ok. We are done here. Let's get ready to head home."
Excerpts from Aftermath of Deception…
The ongoing situation in Asia resulted in the establishment of a Baldwin Foundation Office in Tokyo, Japan in June of the following year, taking pressure off the European and US branches to concentrate on other regions. A young Japanese girl named Yoko Yoshiro would become a summer intern at the Baldwin Foundation Branch Office in Tokyo.
Noir returning to France, would take up other assignments. Both Mireille Bouquet and Kirika Yumura would treasure the paper swans that each had received from the young girl. They still reside in a curio cabinet along side a framed photograph of the Baldwin Family within their apartment in Paris, France.
NOIR
Chapter One
Sword
By Steve Edward
Author's forward…
As anime fans we take the characters created by others to new experiences, both in life and into the spiritual. Mireille Bouquet and Kirika Yumura the two female assassins created by Ryoe Tsukimura which weaved an intricate tale of these two young women who had to undergo extreme life and death trials in the course of their story to finally resolve that each would together become Noir.
We saw a good bit of Mireille's own background, and how Kirika was involved within Mireille's, but we saw very little else of Kirika's. Kirika is still the mystery woman. In the time line that I have created, and with my own mix of characters thrown in, we have seen some of the serious sides to both Mireille and Kirika and the lighter side as well.
The authors of fiction stories sometimes try to keep their characters at their relative ages, but within my story arcs, Mireille Bouquet and Kirika are much older than when they first appeared in the original Noir Anime. Each as suffered their share of injuries and setbacks and as we all grow older we realize that we still long to know or do certain things. For the purpose of this story line, Mireille is age 29 and Kirika is age 28. The story you are about to read looks at the relationships that begin to develop and for three of the Baldwin's this Noir adventure becomes life altering.
NOIR
Chapter One
Sword
By Steve Edward
Thursday, June 10th 1500 hours, Apartment of Noir, Pairs, France
Kirika Yumura had remained in the kneeling position for the past three days, her eyes half closed she had continued gaze at the massive instrument of death that lay before her. Mireille Bouquet had having found Kirika in the same position that she was currently in on Monday afternoon had repeatedly asked her why it had held such an interest to her. Kirika had remained unmoving.
Frustrated at the lack of response, Mireille tried yet again, "Kirika. Please tell me what is wrong. Damn it Kirika!" Mireille rearing to the side struck Kirika with the back of her hand. Kirika neither reacted, nor flinched. Mireille stunned, prepared to strike again, but as she did so Kirika reacted and with force that even surprised Mireille.
When Mireille came to, she was on the opposite side of Kirika and upside down literally, her legs were on the edge of the pool table. Getting upright, but painfully so, Mireille backed away slowly and finding a chair pulled herself to the seat. As she did so, Kirika who had remained silent for nearly four days finally spoke, "I need to go to Japan."
Friday, June 11th, 1030 hours, Tokyo International Airport, Tokyo, Japan
Randy Baldwin, his wife Gina and the rest of the Baldwin clan had only been in Japan for less than ten days. With high school out, Randy who had been busy making plans to establish another office had chosen Tokyo. It had been a long process, which began in January and culminated on June 1st.
Real Estate when put in perspective in Japan, was one of the most expensive when compared to the United States or even Europe. The decision to purchase a residence to be of sufficient size to house and shelter his family had been a tough nut to swallow. Though neither he nor his family would intend to live full time in Tokyo, the residence with a guest house on its grounds would still come into use for visitors to the Foundation Offices, if they needed a place to stay.
Exposure to different cultures was proving beneficial to the Baldwin step-children; Corey at age 16 and Ashley at age 17 had quickly met others of their own ages and had been enjoying their stay. The grown adopted twins, both 17 years old Irena and Nina who were multi-lingual had been using the opportunity to brush up on their Japanese, much to their step-mothers amusement. His wife ceased being amused on day six with Olivia and Harmony just about to turn one year of age, uttered their first words in Japanese. Harmony and Olivia exposure to Spanish as well as French had been an amusement at first as well, but Gina who could speak French and Latin but very little Spanish; the little twins had begun in a benign sort of way to test their mothers' limits in languages. Now that they were able to "speak" various languages, it was putting Gina to the test to understand what youngsters were trying to say. Was that English, French, Spanish, or even Latin itself or were they "talking" in Japanese, or making baby talk?
The midnight phone call jarring both Randy and Gina awake was from Kelly Summers in Paris, France. At first, Randy assumed that the call was about some event that had taken place in Europe, but Kelly in the clear use of Noir over an open line got his quick attention. Noir was coming to Japan, but it was not an assignment. Mireille Bouquet had turned to the very few friends she and Kirika had come to know. She had explained the behavior of Kirika at some length with Kelly Summers who had informed Mireille that he, Randy was in Tokyo. Mireille then formally asked for assistance. Kelly calling ahead to alert him to their pending arrival, had left Randy in a restless sleep for the remainder of the night.
The chime followed by the voice announcement of the arrival of Noir's flight brought Randy Baldwin back to the present. The baggage began entering the carousal and Randy who had come alone to the airport stood back out of the way waiting for Mireille Bouquet and Kirika Yumura to appear.
The flight from France to Japan had been strained for both, except for the brief words spoken by Kirika in their apartment, Mireille and Kirika not spoken to each other since that point.
Kirika's insistence that the object that had drawn her attention since its arrival be taken with them had necessitated the purchase of a transport case. No airline would have dared to allow such an item onboard a passenger aircraft as a carry-on. Mireille had been fortunate to locate a well built and lockable case for the flight. Kirika refusing to allow Mireille to even approach the item had packed it within the case herself, followed by placing three massive padlocks on the black aluminum exterior.
Randy Baldwin leaning against the wall viewed both Kirika Yumura and Mireille Bouquet as they entered the luggage claim area. Forewarned of Kirika's behavior and given a description of the case, Randy Baldwin had already retrieved the case itself. He had eyed the padlocks musing silently, "She has the keys. It is a sword from the description provided by Mireille. Just what has caused Kirika to become anti-social? I am not looking forward to this visit."
Kirika approached the carousal, her eyes flicking about searching, "Where is it? It should be here. I saw it go into the plane." The voice to her side familiar yet reserved spoke, "Looking for this young lady?" Kirika turned and confronted Randy, "How dare you take that. Return it now!"
Randy paused with the luggage cart, Mireille moving to Kirika side placed her hand in comfort on her shoulder only to have Kirika flinch away in anger, "Do not touch me! Monsieur Baldwin! Give me the case now!" Randy refused to back down; the raising of Kirika's voice was beginning to draw unwanted attention.
Randy Baldwin left the cart and approached Kirika, who was visibly shaking in anger he continued till he was toe to toe, "Ms. Yumura, what ever the hell has gotten into you I would advise you get it under control immediately. Your precious item is safe and intact. Don't piss me off young lady! Is that freaking clear enough for you?" Mireille Bouquet stared at the exchange. When Randy had finished speaking, he had bent Kirika over the carousal and both of his hands were forcefully gripping her shoulders, their foreheads touching.
Composing himself, Randy stepped back pulling Kirika upright. Turning to Mireille, Randy spoke "Let's get the rest of your luggage before Airport Security shows up to find out what was going on. My residence will be a more suitable venue for further discussions." Then a stern look to Kirika, who was tightly clutching the case, Randy elicited a stern warning just for her, "Kirika. Be warned that I will not tolerate anything that could be construed as a threat towards my family, you do so in any sense of the word I will never let you leave Japan alive."
Friday, June 11th 1300 hours, Baldwin Family Residence, Tokyo, Japan
The Nissan Armada SUV had at least provided some separation from Kirika as Randy drove from the airport with Mireille helping to provide a buffer zone of sorts. Sitting in the further most rear seat, still clutching the case Kirika had ridden in complete silence.
Entering the residential compound, Randy drove to the main residence and stopped briefly then continued towards the guest house, which had separate bedrooms. Considering the circumstances, it was for the best. How he was going to explain this problem to the rest of the family would have to wait for the time being.
Helping with the luggage he had departed, and returned to the main house. Bringing back lunch to Mireille and Kirika he sat with Mireille as she ate. Kirika barely touched hers.
Kirika was going through the motions, she felt neither empty nor full yet she needed sustenance. Randy Baldwin sitting away from her had continued to watch her actions closely.
Kirika looked up after taking a sip of the tomato soup, "I must apologize to both of you. My actions were uncalled for." Randy shifted slightly, his shoulder harness found a better spot but Kirika noted his hand was never far from the butt of the Colt, "Kirika, it has been what nearly eight years? Eight years this coming October since you, Mireille and I first met. The circumstances were less than ideal. I and Gina still laugh at the memory of my meeting with Noir. Then there was that little to do in Georgia. That little tussle we had, in the front yard of my farmhouse, while Mireille was bedridden; your bond of friendship so strong that you were willing to sacrifice everything to get Mireille out."
Kirika replied, "We fought yet again later. It had been a mistake on my part and you lashed out, and I returned the favor." Randy remembered the bruising he had taken over that, the cracked ribs as a result had been a reminder for weeks afterward.
Mireille spoke, "You each were testing each other. Your own individual trials, your sparring developed individual bonds." The voice behind them all added, "And a deeper friendship that transcends normalcy, a friendship forged in battle will stand the test of time." Gina Baldwin entered the porch of the guest house and stood before Mireille and Kirika, "Randy? Why are they not in the main house? We certainly have the room."
Kirika Yumura rose then bowed, "Mrs. Baldwin. This is suitable accommodations. Please allow us to stay here." Gina turning to her husband cocked an eyebrow and placed her fists on her hips, "Just what in heavens is going on husband?" Randy sighed, "Pull up a seat, Gina. Since I have finally got Kirika to talking more than a one or two word sentence, you will want to hear it as well." Gina Baldwin noting the shoulder holster, looked at her husband again, "Is wearing that gun necessary?" as Kirika's own reply shocked Gina, "Yes it is Madam Baldwin. Should it become necessary, Monsieur Baldwin will kill me."
Mireille began herself, "Gina, the first meeting between myself and Kirika was not normal in anyway it too was forged in battle, here in Tokyo nine years ago. I received a rather cryptic e-mail from Kirika asking me to help her find her past and the message also contained an audio file, that of which contained the musical notes from a pocket watch that once belonged to my father. When I arrived at the designated meeting point nine years earlier not far from where we sit now, I found an Asian girl dressed in a Japanese High School Uniform standing outside a building under construction. It was Kirika, and she had my late fathers pocket watch in her possession."
Gina Baldwin spoke, "What battle?" Kirika's reply, "The beginning of our trial to become Noir," as Mireille continued, "Yes. The first of many that would take place, under Sister Altena's direct orders. Kirika adeptly demonstrated to me at that time she was no ordinary High School teenager. So I accepted the fact she wanted to find her past, but with the promise that if we did she would die." Gina tapped her foot, "But you never carried the promise out. Why?"
Kirika spoke looking at Mireille, "Because friendships transcend time and forged in battle neither of us wanted to end our lives at that point." Then Randy spoke, "And six months later or so after the final trial at 'The Manor', Noir and I met in the last place neither of us should have been in the first place, and I end up backpacking Kirika out under heavy fire, treating her wounds and with the help of man who is now in command of the United States Sixth Fleet, get our asses airlifted out of hostile territory while he risked a nearly irreplaceable 80,000 ton carrier and 6,000 men and women."
Gina Baldwin knew her husbands former government background and now knew more of Noir's. Addressing Kirika directly, Gina spoke "Kirika? What triggered your behavior now?" Kirika cast her eyes downward, "The sword." Mireille replied, "Kirika received notice of a package at the post office so she had gone to retrieve it. I too had business to attend to so I was away from the apartment till late Monday evening. I found her in a near trance on the floor. I should have done something sooner, then Thursday, yesterday I physically assaulted her, but Kirika neither reacted nor tried to block my first assault. Only on the second did she act and I found myself unconscious for a period of time."
Randy Baldwin cocked an eyebrow, "Kirika knocked you out cold?" Mireille nodded in the affirmative, "Yes, she did. I believe I was unconscious for an hour or more before I recovered. It was then she finally spoke that she needed to come to Japan."
Gina Baldwin replied, "I now understand why you prefer to stay in the guest house Kirika, but you can not isolate yourself forever from your friends and those that you love. Can we at least see the sword?" Randy jerked forward, "Bad idea. If for some reason the sword is a memory trigger, the last thing I need Gina is for Kirika to have that thing in her hands or be even near it. I think I want to try another track instead. An experiment if you will. That is if Kirika is willing."
Kirika Yumura looked at each of those that she considered her friends, "I will do as Randy demands." Randy smiled, "Ok. First off, where are the keys for the case and the padlocks?"
Memory triggers could be many things, words, even certain combinations of lights, specific sounds or even visual photographic displays. Randy reviewed those possibilities as he removed the padlocks then unlocked the case itself. Had their conversations with Kirika been sufficient to "slow" the trigger? Or in some fashion bring her back from the altered state? Or merely put the hidden trigger in abeyance? And the other question, why did she have to come to Japan? Was this some sort of sick trick that had been planned by the late Sister Altena even years after her death? If there had been a way to reach Sister Altena, Randy Baldwin decided there would be no tongue lashing for her at all. It would be a beat down.
The physical description of the sword provided by Mireille did not do the instrument justice. The sheath containing the sword, hand crafted from bamboo and covered with a rubber like substance that had been molded carefully by hand to an inner metal sheath. The inner metal was not aluminum by any sense of the word, and without having the metal tested; Randy surmised it could very likely pass for high grade surgical steel.
Friday, June 11th 1430 hours, Baldwin Family Residence, Tokyo, Japan
Kirika had been prepared for the experiment. With reservations from both Gina and Mireille but not from Kirika, Randy directed that Kirika be placed in restraints and handcuffed. That resulted her being moved to a steel framed chair, which she was now sitting.
The children would be returning home at 3 PM or 1500 hours which left little time to do what they wanted, but if he was correct then Kirika would be free to move about. If the experiment failed, Randy Baldwin was facing an option that neither he nor Mireille wanted to take. If came to that option, Mireille would fulfill her original promise.
Exiting the guest house Randy approached the blind folded Kirika and stopped directly behind her, "Ok. Kirika I am here with the sword, it is still within the sheath, do you sense anything?" Kirika replied "No. I do not. I feel normal." Gina standing to the side of Kirika looked at her husband questionably, "Ok, husband. She is normal or what ever passes for normal in her perspective."
Randy removed the sword from the sheath for the first time and laying the sheath on a nearby table he stared awestruck at the instrument he was holding, "My God. This thing is incredible!" Gina quipped, "Men. Give them something sharp and shiny and they go gaga over it!" Mireille stepped forward, "May I?"
Handing the sword over to Mireille who began to examine it closely, she walked to the front of Kirika and then swiftly swung the sword to a dead stop, the tip a hairsbreadth away from her forehead, "Kirika? I have it at your head, do not move. Do you sense anything?" Kirika smiling and understanding the implication replied, "No I do not, Mireille." Gina holding her breath let it out slowly, "Ok enough the both of you. It is not metaphysical. End this now please before someone gets hurt!"
Putting the sword back within the sheath, Mireille returned and with Randy Baldwin removed the blindfold and the restraints, freeing Kirika. Mireille spoke, "There are inscriptions on the sword, on both sides of the blade small but readable to the naked eye those have got to be the trigger or triggers." Randy had to agree, "Yes without a doubt. As long as it remains in the sheath, there is no danger. I believe that when Kirika opened the package originally in your apartment in Paris, she was drawn to the inscriptions as any of us would be curious to see them. In some fashion it triggered a memory or certain response that one while functioning in a normal world would never encounter the specific triggers; which means we have to take up where you left off nine years ago. Kirika, Mireille, the Baldwin Foundation is at your service."
At Gina's insistence, they moved to the house from the guest quarters. Gina put her foot down on another matter as well, "No guns period. We have children about. Lock them in the vault along with that sword. Do not even consider removing the weapons without my specific approval and Kirika I do sport a mean left hook so no funny stuff otherwise I will deck you myself. Is that understood young lady?" Randy not wanting to tempt fate agreed as did Kirika and Mireille. Only two people had the combination to the electronic and combination dial vault, Randy and his wife Gina.
The nanny, a young Japanese woman named Riku left at 1600 hours, her job for the day done. Fortunately Harmony and Olivia's room was on the opposite side from the guest house so the nanny had not been treated to the bizarre spectacle that had played out nearly two hours earlier.
Friday, June 11th 1730 hours, Baldwin Family Residence, Tokyo, Japan
The older twins Nina and Irena had arrived home first followed by Corey and Ashley. They had each greeted their "Aunts" enthusiastically and with surprise at their presence. The gathering at the dinner table was reserved with the children to play catch up, with a surprise for Noir as heard from Irena, "Did father tell you about the young Japanese girl he hired to work at the office?"
Mireille setting the more sensible eating utensil as in a fork down replied "He did not get that far yet." Nina replied, "Her name is Yoko. Yoko Yoshiro. She is the girl along with her brother Yuri that you helped in Singapore last year." Kirika replied, "The girl who made the origami swans? He hired her?" Irena replied, "Yes. That girl. Father keeps his with him. He brought it to Japan with him." Gina interrupted, "Girls? That is enough. It is his business on what he carries with him and why, there is no need to discuss it further."
Mireille and Kirika had been recipients of Yoko's handiwork as well, so had several others present that fateful day in October. Though Randy's had been seemingly delayed by a misdirected delivery, it still had arrived. An origami swan that meant for a soon to be ex-hostage had lain on the dashboard of Randy's Hummer. In a wild exchange of gunfire no one was hit, except the Hummer which armored in the first place merely shrugged off the rounds and thereby shielded the ex-hostages but the negotiator who had played a deadly and dangerous game, Alfred Stolzberg remembered clearly that the shooter had aimed directly at him but missed. Why and how was left open to conjecture. Mireille had looked at the Hummer while flying back to France from Singapore in the Foundations C-130J Hercules. Even she came to the conclusion that something more than a bad aim was to blame or the cause.
Then the matter of the final battle between Kirika and the late Blackwell, in wind driven rain and heavy seas, she bested Blackwell strictly hand to hand before the craft they were on slammed into an ocean going cargo ship. The shear luck of finding her on the ocean moments before the cargo ship nearly ran her over. Luck? Or divination? All that mattered at the moment was getting Kirika back. Randy had held Mireille over the side of the Singapore Police Cigarette Boat to make a desperate snatch from the sea.
Their own craft battered by the pursuit, and one engine dying as they made the only pass they could, Mireille nearly blinded by the salt spray and rain had reached forth and felt two human writs then yanking back pulled Kirika to safety while the battered engines struggled to move the sluggish boat out of the path of the freighter. All three exhausted from their respective exertions had sat next to each other on the ride back. The next day, during which Randy Baldwin had mapped out who was behind the piracy scheme it was that point everything that had taken place seemed surreal after everyone who had been given the paper origami creations had revealed it. Mireille and Kirika's origami swans were in a curio cabinet in their apartment now in Paris. Mireille wondered if she should have brought them.
Kirika Yumura hearing the odd practice of her friend replied openly, "I have brought ours as well." Mireille in near shock replied, "You did what Kirika?" Kirika smiled, "Our pair is here as well."
Mireille staring back, "Since when? I saw them in the curio cabinet before we left. When did you get them?" Randy watching the exchange as Gina was interrupted, "Mireille. Let it be. Maybe it is helping some how, if you know what I mean?"
The gathered Baldwin children, happy at having their "Aunts" present looked at one another wondering what was or had been bugging the adults. None wanted to bring forth that question for the time being as Aunt Mireille appeared ready to do something with Aunt Kirika and none wanted that happening at the dinner table with their mother or father present.
Randy spoke to the twins, Irena and Nina, "After finishing with the dishes would you two come to my study. There is something I want you two to help with." Gina turned to her husband, "Is that really necessary?" as Randy rose from the table he replied, "Yes it is."
Friday, June 11th 1815 hours, Baldwin Family Residence, Tokyo, Japan
Gina joined the gathering in the study. Noticeably absent, Kirika. Randy removed the sword from the vault and lay it upon a table that he had moved to the study to conduct the examination.
Though he had the ability to read, write and speak Japanese he was rusty in his own words to trust himself to be able to translate the inscriptions.
Having gotten over the initial "new toy" feeling over the sword, Randy with Gina standing next to him viewed the instrument with curiosity, "It is not of modern day manufacture. Unlike the knock-offs that are sold to tourists, this sword's craftsmanship exceeds anything mass produced today."
Neither twin reacted to what they read of the inscriptions, at least those they could translate. The remaining Baldwin children, Corey and Ashley had come to the study curious as to what was going on. Gina herself told them what had transpired, "That is why Aunt Mireille and Aunt Kirika are here."
Corey replied "Then if Aunt Kirika, reads the inscriptions again her problems start anew?" Mireille replied, "We believe that would be the case Corey." Irena and Nina having finished what each had been able to translate set the notepad next to the sword itself which Randy, Gina and Mireille then read.
Mireille spoke, "Elements? As in earth, water and fire?" as Irena replied, "Yes, However neither me nor Nina understand what is between those symbols representing the basic elements." Gina spoke, "Do you know what language it may be then?" Nina replied, "It is not Chinese, but I believe it may be an earlier form of Japanese long dead and no longer used." Corey viewed the sword briefly, then walked to the computer desktop and initiated an Internet Search. "Father, you should see this."
Randy walked to the screen and viewed what Corey had found, "The resemblance is remarkable." Mireille turned to view the screen, "What is so remarkable?" Randy straightening up replied, "The sword on the table appears to be similar to the one on the screen. The sword on the monitor is from the Japanese Koto era."
Randy returned to the table, and then gripping the hilt raised it in front of him, "This is no decorative show off. The balance is uncanny and its lightweight leads me to believe that it was utilized for combat, and considering its length and breadth, it is most definitely a reach out and touch someone weapon that when it connected, who ever it connected with would not be long in this world."
Returning the sword to its sheath, then locking it back in the vault Randy returned to where Mireille was standing, "Mireille? By chance did you save the packaging like the mailing address from where the sword was sent? Maybe we can track down the sender and ask them directly why they sent it and what the remaining inscriptions mean."
Mireille replied, "Yes I was able to keep all of that. It was mailed from Tokyo." Gina replied, "From Tokyo itself? And by regular mail, that is certainly putting a lot of faith in the mail."