Chapter 7
In the previous chapter, Noir was told by Medusa to buy clothes for Free but before she went to buy them, she met Justin who stalked her to the tailor and eavesdropped. After hearing most of their conversation and misunderstanding the situation thinking that Noir already loved another man, Justin ran home where he was confronted by Gopher who offered him a chance to join Noah to regain his purpose in life. Also as much as I hate having to do this at the start of every chapter: I don't own Soul Eater even though I wish I did; sadly Ōkubo Atsushi got there before I could ;w; I still recycle parts of his story so it doesn't deviate too much, but I'll change parts of it as I see fit. Anyhow enjoy this new chapter (I hope xD)!
~Picking up from the last chapter where Gopher took Justin to see Noah~
Justin's POV
So this is Noah… I stood and waited for the man to notice our presence and stop poring over his book. Just when I thought he'd never look up, he closed his book with a snap and turned around making my jaw drop. Belts. Belts everywhere. There were about five trapped across his chest and another 2 strapped to each leg. Kind of a strange fashion choice but I guess I'm in no position to be talking about fashion sense… But belts of all things… just what kind of kink is he?! I raised my eyes to meet his gaze and judging from his amused smirk I must have spoken out loud, though strangely he didn't seem offended.
"Justin Law" I nodded my head in acknowledgement when he addressed me "Well… Let's not beat about the bush and get straight down to what I had Gopher bring you here to discuss then shall we?" For the second time I nodded numbly as my heart clenched a bit remembering the circumstances that brought me here.
Smiling slightly now that he knew he had my undivided attention, he continued "Well I've been watching you for a while now… From before you became a death scythe and even before you became a DWMA student…" Getting up and walking to stand in front of me, he put a hand on my shoulder and leaned down slightly so he was eye-to-eye with me. "Yes… I've been watching you for quite a long time… ever since that child Noir moved into your household."
Meeting his gaze sharply I yelled at him "Why were you watching us?! Are you intending to harm Noir?!" A guillotine blade sprouted out of my arm and I made to cut him down – only for him to sigh and snap his fingers. Snake-like ropes wound around my body binding me tightly. Wriggling around on the floor to glare at him, I opened my mouth to keep yelling but the boy Gopher kicked me in the gut. Winded, I kept spluttering as he glared down at me yelling "HOW DARE YOU ATTACK NOAH-SAMA?!" continuously assaulting me punctuating every word with a blow. As he held me up by my hair, I moaned weakly but managed to throw them both a glare "I will… kill… you both…" Frowning slightly, Noah snapped his fingers and a thicker tendril wound around my mouth gagging me.
"Now now… there's no need to react like that… although… I'm not surprised seeing as in all 13 years of knowing you, she never did once tell you…" I gave him a glare of hatred as my eyes asked what my mouth couldn't. Tell me what?! Smirking, he opened his book again and two chairs came out of it. So he's a sorcerer…
Sitting down, he motioned for Gopher to let go of my hair "Gopher, let him sit"
Still glaring at me, he shoved me into the chair "Yes Noah-sama…"
Turning to face me, he rested his head on his knuckles still smirking "Well… I wonder… Exactly how much do you know about Noir…? How much has she told you? How much has she hidden from you?" He's a liar! Noir has never hidden anything from me! I gave him a glare of hatred struggling against my bonds. Damn Sorcerer trying to turn me against Noir…!
Still watching me struggle in vain, his lips curled in amusement. Grasping my chin firmly with his fingers to make me look at him, he snapped his fingers to remove my gag. "For example… I wonder if you could tell me, who is Noir…?"
A trick question? "My younger cousin" I spat back trying to free my bound wrists and give him a well-deserved punch.
Lips curling again, he elaborated "Alright then… let me rephrase; who are your relatives, how is she related to you?"
"…She's Uncle Damien's daughter… by why does that matter to you?!" these ropes are tight…!
"Right… So who is her mother?"
"…" I thought hard trying to call a name to mind but none came …What is wrong with me today? My memory's not that good…
"Can't remember?" his lips curled in triumph "Oh rather… I should say you don't know because no one ever told you in the first place"
"Liar! I'm just tired today!" I struggled fiercely trying to make him get his hands off me "And if you don't let me go, DWMA will come looking for me!" I bluffed trying to get away from him.
"Who's the liar now? I know for a fact that no one will look for you because no one's expecting you anywhere… Meanwhile would you like me to tell you who Noir's mother is…?" His wine-colored eyes bored into me. Without waiting for an answer he continued "Noir Daminé Law, daughter of Damien Law and the Snake witch Medusa Gorgon currently disguised as the school nurse in DWMA"
My spit hit his cheek before he knew what was happening and I head-butted him making him stumble back into the floor. "NOAH-SAMA!" Gopher grabbed me from behind and gave me a relentless beating that I couldn't retaliate against whilst my hands were bound behind my back. Still, I barely felt his blows as I focused on hating Noah with every fiber of my being. How dare that heretic make up such stories about Noir…! And there's no way Medusa-sensei is actually a witch!
Wiping his cheek free of my spit emotionlessly, Noah watched with a satisfied look on his face as Gopher beat me up. It must have been about 20 minutes before he stepped in, grabbing Gopher's fist to make him stop. "That will do Gopher… I believe he's learnt his lesson and he's of no use to me dead."
"…. Yes Noah-sama" Gopher said dropping his fist and letting me go. Turning his attention to me, Noah crouched in front of my bruised and battered body.
"You may not believe me now, but wait until the eve of DWMA's anniversary, if I know Medusa well enough, then she will make her move then and revive the kishin beneath DWMA…" I widened my eyes in shock, this must be reported to Shinigami-sama right away…! "…And when you finally realize that Noir is not who she claims to be… Well… The offer of joining me still stands…"
I glared at him coughing up a little bit of blood "Even if Noir's mother is a witch, you've got no proof that she's helping her! And even if she was evil, why would I ever join you?!"
"DON'T TALK TO NOAH-SAMA LIKE THAT!"
"Gopher! Don't be too rough with him; he's of no use to me if he's too injured" Noah's eyes bored into Gopher making him back up a step. Turning to me, he gave a sadistic grin "Don't deny it, I know you love her… Such a messed up "Nii-chan" aren't you? But I guess she prefers wilder men…" I gritted my teeth at the memory trying to block out his words but it was no use "Well what could be wilder than the kishin, the god of madness?" Getting my attention, I stared at him to see what he had to say.
Leaning back slightly, he adjusted his cap "I'm a collector of sorts… and I have a lot of things I want to collect… I want to draw the kishin into my book; madness would belong to me if I did. But cute little Noir-chan is also on my list of things to collect~ the daughter of a witch and a weapon that recently turned into a death scythe… and why not admit it, she's quite pretty to look at…"
I gritted my teeth resisting the ever-increasing urge to spit at him again "Your point being?"
He fixed his eyes on me giving me an intense stare snapping his fingers so my bonds fell away "My point being, that if you fail to grab her attention by devoting yourself to kishin, that I will capture and collect her… and I'll let you borrow her whenever you want…" This is wrong… I shouldn't betray Lord Death… and I shouldn't force my love onto Noir… then why…? Why am I reaching for his outstretched hand…?
Grasping hands with him and giving it a firm shake I knew it was too late to turn back. I'm sorry Lord Death… I'm sorry Noir… I'm sorry everyone at DWMA… I love Noir so much… So much that I will betray and turn my back on everyone and kneel down before the throne of Ashura…
~Back with Noir~
Noir's POV
Double-checking to make sure I had ticked off everything on my "to-do" list, I took a shower changing into my pajamas and sat down on my bed. I guess no time like the present while I've still got free time… Shaula… Shaula! Are you there…?
Hello again dear, I'm glad that we can have our talk at long last…
I don't get it... there are a lot of things I want to ask but… I don't know where to begin…
It's fine, I can do most of the talking
I nodded before I realized that I wasn't altogether sure if she could see me. Yes
Sigh… Well… It's a long story… but I guess I should start explaining the most important things first… Well, you may not know this but normally after a Death scythe consumes a witch's soul, that's it; they can't hear the voices of their respective witches like you can. The reason why we are able to communicate is a small miracle in itself; the first requirement being that you had to be part witch and the second being that we had to be closely related by blood. Because you are part witch, all my knowledge including all my magic has been added to yours bolstering your magic pool. Secondly, because we are closely related by blood, rather than having consumed my soul, you are more or less in a constant passive soul resonance with me so we can hear each other's voices and I can see out of your eyes.
I see… So what does this mean? Am I weaker than an average Death scythe? Or…?
I heard her chuckle. Hahahaha~ I can assure you I am stronger than nearly all witches and our shared bloodline makes our bond even stronger than that of an average Death scythe and their witch soul. I can assist you with general witch magic, but I have my own unique brand of scorpion-themed magic too… If you need me to, I can do a lot of things, not just magic; I'm a master chemist you know? But it's inconvenient for us to talk like this when we're alone… Only problem is: do you trust me?
I flinched involuntarily as she asked me that. Do I…? I guess I do… I mean you did help me out when I needed you back at witch prison to save Free… So yes, I do.
Hahahaha~ that's the spirit dear, well then, don't be alarmed.
"!" a red black soul with a tail shaped like a scorpion stinger resonated within my chest and enlarged engulfing me within it. Stay calm… Shaula said not to panic… It was with this in my mind that I fought all of my natural instincts and let myself be pulled into the darkness of the soul. Feeling myself fall through what seemed like a bottomless hole, I landed with a sickening crunch on a plush armchair upholstered with red leather. Despite what just happened, I couldn't help admiring the detail in the framework which was crafted out of exotic red wood clearly imported from China. "It's beautiful… what a work of art…" I murmured ungloving my hand so I could feel the ornate etchings underneath my fingers.
"Isn't it?" That voice! I spun around to see a girl who resembled me greatly sitting in an armchair identical to the one I landed on in every way except for the fact that it was black. Forgetting my manners, I eyed her from head to toe with a complete disregard for discretion. While her braided hair was reddish black, her eyes were partially red partially purple in an interlocking scorpion stingers pattern and I inherited slightly sharper though currently younger facial features from Medusa, all this time, I thought I took after Medusa but… if I dyed my hair and wore contacts, I have no doubt that we could have passed for twins.
Standing up and walking closer to me –I noticed in amusement even our heights were identical– she straightened out her seifuku school uniform and smiled at me "Won't you give your aunt a hug?" As we embraced I couldn't help thinking wryly that we looked more like sisters or best friends rather than aunt and niece.
"Good to meet you at last; pity it couldn't have been while you were still alive" I gave a sheepish grin as I let go of her squeezing her hands. "Well even if that were the case, I doubt your mother would have let me meet you, it's better this way if you don't let her know that I'm in your soul; which is, might I add, the most fancy and lavish place I've ever seen thanks to your broad imagination and expensive tastes." she looked around my soul in amusement and I followed her gaze.
Antiques and artifacts from all four corners of the globe… Antiques and artifacts literally everywhere and… Is that a door I see over there? Smiling amusedly at my delighted expression, she led me over to the door. "Come. Most people only have one room or one remote location in their soul but your soul happens to house the most luxurious castle I've ever stayed in." Leading me past winding corridors and candle-lit hallways with suits of armor along the walls, we finally arrived at a large old English style room with silk hangings.
Sitting down in one of the extremely comfortable looking armchairs while gesturing for me to do the same, she pressed her fingertips together as her eyes twinkled "So I believe we were only halfway through our conversation before, I pulled you into here; I was talking about abilities you gain from hosting my soul wasn't I?" waiting for me to nod, she continued "Yes well… I can use all sorts of scorpion themed magic as I mentioned before such as conjuring projectile stingers as a long ranged attack, I can fight bare-handed using all sorts of fighting styles and I'm also an expert chemist and craftsman; Utilizing chemistry, I can even create a poison that controls someone and I can help you do all of this as long as we activate Soul resonance… although if you are interested… During nights like these I can teach you" Her lips curled into a gentle smile as she eyed me.
"I don't get it… You're helping me but you don't get anything in return… Is there some sort of catch?" I asked cautiously. Not that I didn't trust her because if she wanted to harm me she had so many opportunities to have already done so.
"Really it's nothing… at first I wanted to see what kind of person Medusa's daughter was and I thought that you would be like her; in which case I would take great delight in tearing your soul up from inside out" her sadistic smile softened as she went on getting up to pace around me "But I watched from inside you as you helped that frog girl and I knew that the only thing you inherited from Medusa besides your magic was your looks" Stopping in front of me she tilted my chin so she could examine my face more closely "Also… Because I can only see through your eyes and you almost never look into mirrors, I only realize now how much of myself I see in you" letting me go she sat back down "I live while you live and you offer me many opportunities to continue my research living inside your soul; and unlike Medusa or Arachne, you don't seem particularly bad so I make it my duty as your aunt to watch over you and mentor you"
Wow… "…Chemistry and craftsmanship…" I mumbled almost inaudibly
"Hmmm?" she tilted her head which was resting on her hand slightly with a small smile.
"You said you'd teach me when I have spare time like this right? Chemistry and Craftsmanship, I want to learn a bit of each so I can make things too" I said meeting her eyes with a blush. I'd really like to make my own personalized accessories and clothes too and I don't want to always have to rely on Shaula for poisons…
"Aww~ Of course, you only had to ask" her armchair slid back as she stood up to leave the room "Come. Your first lesson starts now"
~Time skip of about 4 hours~
Noir's POV
I grunted with frustration as I tried to finish crafting the ring.
"You can do it, you're very close" Shaula encouraged sitting across from me
"How can you be sure? Look how many times I failed already!" I wailed pointing at the large pile of rejects beside me.
"Shhhh! Focus now, this is the most important step!" She leaned over the workbench and took my hands "See? You set it. Just. Like. That" and the gem slotted onto the ring with a satisfying click. I held up the finished ring in awe. Turning to Shaula I grinned "It's done!"
"Yes it's done" Shaula gave an amused smile at my victory dance "And anyhow, it's getting late, you should go back to the outside world and rest; It may not feel like it but it's 10 o'clock"
"10 O'CLOCK-! I guess I really need to go! Bye Shaula!" Giving her a hug, I closed my eyes and thought of the outside world feeling myself being pulled away.
"Goodbye Noir, come back to visit your aunt anytime" she waved with a slightly sad smile as my vision blurred.
Landing on my bed with a grunt, I ran my fingers through my hair sweeping my disheveled bangs back but stopped when I felt something sharp. Bringing my hand to eye level, I saw the ring I crafted just then on my thumb. Taking it off and setting it on my bedside table I sank back into my bed closing my eyes. Good night Shaula… I thought
Good night Noir… and that was the last thing I heard before sleep overtook me.
~Time skip to the next day~
Noir's POV
Stopping in front of Hiro's locker, I looked around checking to make sure the coast was clear before I placed the pile things he left behind in with my gift and note sitting neatly on top. I hope he doesn't get angry and just throw it away… Brushing the thought away, I headed to class.
Professor Stein looked up in surprise when he saw I was the first student to arrive. "Kuro…? What brought on the change in attitude?" he asked disbelievingly.
Grinning back cheekily I took my seat "Not much… I just thought I should get serious with my studies to pass that Ultra Paper Exam; although there's really no point seeing as I'm already a death scythe I guess…"
Still numb with shock, Professor Stein nodded and shakily went back to writing the practice exam material on the board as the students filed in. "Is this seat taken…?" I looked up in surprise to see Hiro pointing at the seat next to me with an evident blush on his face; I noted with happiness and relief that he was wearing the choker that I'd bought him.
Shifting to one side to give him room, I shook my head "Normally Harvar sits there but he isn't here yet so it's his fault he arrived late; and besides, the worst that he'll do is probably glare at you silently before moving on"
Blushing slightly as sat down, he fidgeted for a while without speaking. Just when I thought he wasn't going to say a thing, he proved me wrong "Kuro-chan… I got your letter… and your present too…" He tugged at the choker around his neck blushing slightly "And… well… I just want to say… I'm willing to wait; I'll wait for you even if 10 years past, even if a 100 years past I'll still be waiting… You're the only one for me…" His forest green eyes stared intensely into my own sea-green ones and I couldn't help feeling charmed by his sincerity.
"I see… thanks for understanding Hiro, I still need time to make a decision; please bear with me okay?" I gave him a platonic peck on the cheek before turning back to face the front of the class. Even here I could feel the heat radiating off of him in waves.
Well done Noir… I think you handled it well…
Thanks Shaula, I try
"Alright looks like everyone's here… time to start class!"
Oh… I've never attended class before… mind if I stick around Noir?
…Go ahead… I don't think Professor Stein will notice if you crash our class anyway I thought with a sweatdrop.
~ Time skip to the end of class~
Noir's POV
Gathering up my notes, I heard someone clear their throat next to me. Turning around, I saw Hiro tugging at the choker I bought him again.
"Well… I guess… See you later Noir" he stammered out before crashing his lips to the side of my face and stumbling out of the classroom leaving me staring after him. What just happened…?
Well that was interesting…
…The class or what just happened?
What just happened; the class was interesting too I suppose… I already know all of the material but it's interesting to hear it from the human's point of view~
What?! But this is the first class you've been to and even I still don't get all of it…?
Being a witch who's been around for hundreds of years has its advantages you know…
… Lucky you…
~Time skip to arriving home at Noir's Manor~
Noir's POV
"Ah~ I'm tired~" I unlocked the door letting myself in, but halfway through taking my boots off, the door closed with an audible bang "!" I turned around in alarm but a hand slapped over my mouth silencing me.
"Shhh~ It's just me" Oh… Medusa… "So have you gotten Free's clothes?" Seeing my nod, she let go of me and walked to the door beckoning me "Come… Let's go back to the hideout…"
Groaning slightly at the fact that she didn't stop me before I started taking my boots off, I redid the straps grabbing the parcel of clothes and followed her out of the house.
I'm sorry… I was going to warn you but I wasn't fast enough
Don't worry about it… I'm used to it… Thanks for trying though Shaula
~Time skip to hide out~
Noir's POV
"Here" I tossed the parcel of clothes to Free without looking accidentally hitting him square in the face "Whoops… sorry about that…" I scratched my cheek sheepishly turning back to Eru-chan to avoid the awkwardness "Hey Eru-chan, I got you something too…" I slid the frog-themed ring I crafted onto her finger. So that's why you put a tadpole on it…
Hey I'm generous, deal with it
Oh no... No problem at all; in fact I think it was nice of you
Hahahaha~ I try
Lifting her hand up to eye level to examine it, Eru-chan looked at it admiringly "Geko… Thanks Noir-chan! It looks like Otama Jackson! Where'd you get it?"
Grinning at her awestruck expression, I puffed out my chest proudly "Nawww~ you can't buy it just anywhere, I made it"
"EHHH?! Witching?! That's amazing!"
"It really is…" a deep voice behind me startled me making me jump. Free looked at the ring over my shoulder examining the detail and craftsmanship. He scratched his head laughing sheepishly "Oh sorry about that, I didn't mean to scare you"
"Nah… It's okay…" I put a hand over my chest to calm my racing heart. For someone so big, he's pretty good at moving around silently… Finally looking him over, I noticed that he'd put on a black shirt but kept the stripy prisoner clothes wearing the pants and tying the shirt around his waist; he even kept the weight ball around his foot.
"Hey… If you want I can get the weight ball off" I transformed my fingers into spikes "Just stay still and I'll smash the lock"
"No! It's fine, doesn't wearing it make me look manly?" He grinned wolfishly crossing his arms over his –admittedly broad and muscular– chest.
"Well… I guess If you're sure…" I released my transformation letting my hand fall limply to my side "Well… I guess I'll be off, you only wanted me to deliver the clothes right Medusa?" Without waiting for an answer, I turned my back and made to go home but Medusa's voice stopped me.
"Well… I was actually hoping that you'd let Free and Eruka stay at your home so we'll be able to make our plans more easily…" That wasn't a request… That's an order… Which means… I can tell from her expression… Looks like I'll be betraying DWMA soon… Sorry Shinigami-sama… Sorry Justin… Maka… Soul… Hiro… Everyone…!
"… Yes…" I fought to keep my face neutral under Medusa's scrutinizing gaze. Satisfied, she waved for Free and Eru-chan to follow me, getting up to follow me herself.
~Time skip to arriving home at Noir's Manor~
Noir's POV
"No way?! You live here?!" Eru-chan's jaw dropped staring at my manor with wide eyes "This place is huge!"
"Huge?! It's more than huge! It's ginormous!" Free yelled out stretching his arms out "I didn't know you were loaded!"
"Hahahaha~ I never got to meet him, but apparently my dad named me as his sole heir in his will so this got passed down to me as well" I smiled looking up at my manor "Rather than standing and staring, do you wanna come inside?"
"Do we?! Hell yeah, I'm coming right on in!" Free dashed inside the second I opened the door. Eru-chan tried to follow but Medusa grabbed her by the shoulder and stopped her.
"Not yet Eruka, there's still something I need you to do, come with me"
"Eh?! Geko! That's unfair!"
Going in, I called over my shoulder "Don't worry Eru-chan, you can come back at any time you want" grinning slightly I added in a low voice so that only she could hear "And besides, one snake per errand right? Now's a good chance to start getting rid of those snakes"
"Geko… I suppose you're right… Then I'll see you later Noir-chan" she called out as Medusa dragged her away.
"Poor Eru-chan…" I murmured staring after her with a slight sweatdrop "Medusa can be cruel sometimes…"
"Yeah… That she can be…"
Turning around I snapped at Free "Why do you keep appearing out of nowhere behind me? Is your goal in life to scare me to death?!"
Chuckling slightly, he held up his large hands in the universal sign of surrender "Whoa there little spitfire, I didn't mean to scare you… and besides… looks like we're alone huh?" He leaned against a wall eying me curiously.
"Yeah… Medusa left us alone but she dragged off poor Eru-chan" I chuckled slightly experiencing what the Germans called schadenfreude "I just wish she would stop all this; controlling my life all the time and making me spy for her…"
Coming away from the wall curiosity not leaving his face, Free stopped in front of me crouching down so I was at eye level with him (Damn he was tall!) "Why do you call her "Medusa"? She's your mother isn't she?"
I sighed going up to my room hearing Free's persistent footsteps following behind me "Do you dislike her that much? Sure I had fights with my mother too but I've never gone so far as to call her by her first name."
Opening the door and flopping down on my bed, I turned to face him "Trust me, if you had a mother as messed up as Medusa then you'd do a lot more than just call her by her first name.." I buried my face into my pillow squeezing my eyes shut trying to get the numerous traumatic images of my childhood training by Medusa to become a perfect soldier out of my head.
I felt the bed dip under Free's weight as he sat down beside me resting his hand on my shoulder "Do you wanna talk about it? It might be better for you to get it off of your chest… and besides, my mother always told me not to let a pretty girl cry around me"
Flipping over, I glared halfheartedly at his stupidly grinning face "Free… I'm not crying… You're an immortal, I don't know how old you actually are, but if you've been in prison for 200 years, you're practically a grandpa… So aren't you too old to be trying those lines on me?"
His stupid grin stretched further "My mother also said that age is only a number and you're only as old as you feel"
"Well your mother was lying then…Because if that was true Free… then no one would ever die of old age…"
"Hahahaha~ that's true, but you know… you'll stop aging soon too"
"… What do you mean by that…?" I sat up abruptly eying him warily demanding an answer but he gave me a sad smile not answering "Tell me!"
"…Haven't you ever wondered what it means to be what you are…?" What's he trying to pull…?
"What do you mean; being what I am?"
"…Even though it hasn't really manifested yet, you are still part witch... One day when your body reaches its peak condition you'll stop aging"
"….!" He's right… I've never thought about what being part witch would do for my age, I've always only thought about it as boosting my strength not my longevity…
"Do you understand?" I do… One day I'll stop aging and I'll watch my human friends die off one by one alone except in the company of witches who'll never accept me…
"H-hey! It's alright! I didn't mean to make you cry! I'm sorry!" Free panicked waving his arms around. …? "Cry"…? I brought up a hand to feel my wet cheeks Oh… I didn't even notice… I tried to wipe my eyes but the tears kept welling up and falling past my eyelashes into the quilt of my bed.
"Hey… Ugh… Well…" I felt a pair of strong arms pulling me into a muscular chest and a stubbly chin resting itself on my head. Choking out a laugh, I joked "No trying to hit on me; Medusa will have your head for attempting to screw her best soldier you know?"
He chuckled slightly letting me go as we sat side by side on my bed "I don't get why you don't just run from Medusa… or has she put snakes in you too?"
I shook my head sadly playing with a strap on my garters "If I leave then she'll do all sorts of nasty things to my little sister Chrona to make her replace me… and I don't really want her –or anyone really– to have to go through what I did…" Images flooded into my mind as I closed my eyes and lay back on the bed.
~Flashback to when Noir was 3 years old (weeks before she left to live with Justin)~
Noir's POV
"Now Noir… you've been killing animals since you were a baby, but I realize you've never actually killed human before…" Medusa watched in delight as my sea green eyes stared dully at the frantically chirping sparrow in my hands which I had caught earlier before snapping its neck expressionlessly. Kill… Kill… Kill… How different can it be to kill a cockroach or a human…? They both just die in an instant…
"Now… come here and drink this" she gestured to a vial in her hand before handing it to me with a snake-like smile on her face "Don't worry it's not poison – it's just a potion I concocted that detects heart rate and will make your eyes turn gold if your blood quickens; It will boost your strength whenever your eyes go gold and also…" her serpentine eyes glinted callously "I'll need to be able to tell when you are lying to me… you of all people have no right to betray me or conceal anything from me, understand?"
Staring expressionlessly back at her, I popped the stopper from the vial "Yes mother…" I tipped the contents down my throat swallowing everything.
"Good… I cultivated every cell in your body and created you so you owe everything from your intelligence to your beauty to me… make sure you repay me properly… Is that clear?" her gaze bored into me harshly.
Bowing my head I replied for the second time "Yes mother…"
"Good~ because I have your next target right here…"
Taking the paper from her outstretched hand, my eyes narrowed slightly. I knew this target and I also knew that he was innocent. Mr. Robert Cooper; a rather young well-renowned well-liked philanthropist in his later 20s who loved children having three of his own and often donated to charity and gave out sweets to random children on the streets; I should know, I was one of them.
But, keeping my face neutral and fighting to keep my heart rate even at the thought of killing one of the only –if not the only – person who was ever nice to me, all I said was "I know the place, I'll be done and home in time for dinner"
~Short time skip from there~
Noir's POV
"Are you sure dear?"
"Yes yes I'm sure honey, after all, there are so many more things to be done and so many impoverished children who will suffer the longer I put off my work!" Mr. Cooper smiled brightly at his wife as he took his dinner up to his office.
"Well... I can't argue with that, do your best darling!" I watched perched outside the window as they exchanged kisses and, waiting until they parted, I discreetly followed behind Mr. Cooper masking my footsteps as he entered his office and I slipped in after him just before the door closed behind us quickly hiding under one of his antique tables as he sat down at his plush leather armchair.
"Well~ let's get to work!" he pumped the air with his fist and a determined expression came over his face "This is for the sake of those children!" with a battle cry, he launched into his paper work shoveling his dinner –English cuisine with lamb stew as far as I could tell– into his mouth getting more on his expensive tailored Old English style clothes than into his stomach as I watched sweatdropping from my hiding spot. This should be an easy kill… But then why…? Why are my hands shaking with hesitation so much…? A celebratory cheer brought me out of my thoughts
"Whoa! I got through like a bajillion piles of work today! Who's gonna have an extra serving of dessert today~? Me! WOOHOO!" he pranced around the room like an idiot his disheveled brown locks bouncing up and down with him until he accidentally knocked over the table I was hiding under. Stopping mid-dance in shock, we stared at each other for a while in stunned silence.
"…"
"…!" This is bad…! I need to finish him off before he calls security…!
"Whoa! Well aren't you the cute one!" Scooping me up into his arms, he continued to prance around the room even more idiotically than last time because this time he was swinging me around in his arms "A cute kid just appeared out of nowhere into my room~! Wait oh yeah! Where did you come from?" he asked lifting me to eye level. He only askes that now?!
"Tch!" I kicked him in the gut making him drop comically to the floor twitching. Squirming out of his grasp, I held my dagger to his throat "I'm here to kill you so stop being so happy!"
"…" his soft hazel eyes looked between my blade which was pressed against his throat and my face "…Someone sent you here, you're not here of your own free will and you aren't the one that wants me dead either"
With a shaking hand, I pressed my dagger harder against his throat so it drew blood "SHUT UP! I'm going to kill you!"
"I don't doubt it… How cruel… You're still so young…" he brought his gloved hand up to cup my face smiling a sad but gentle close-eyed smile, his gravity defying bed hair making him seem even more innocent "I'm sorry you had this kind of life… but I have one request… Even if I screamed for help you'd be able to kill me in an instant so it's no good… so… could you at least… let me finish the rest of my paperwork and write a farewell letter to my wife and my children…? I'm your only target aren't I, so please spare them…"
Nodding, I held him at knife-point as he finished his work and letters. I watched as he also drew up a will leaving enough money and assets to his wife and children so that they could live in security and comfort for the rest of their lives while signing the rest over to a charity for children and my heart clenched painfully in guilt and sorrow when I read the heartfelt words of farewell in the letter he intended to leave for his family.
Sealing them, he pushed them to the front of his desk and turned around to me holding my gaze with his own kind and understanding one "I wish I could have had more time to help children and to spend time with my family… before you kill me, won't you let me help you too?" Making sure I was listening, he cupped my cheek stroking it "You are undoubtedly talented and will kill a lot of people… promise me that you will use those same talents to save just as many people… Promise?"
"…I promise… I swear on my life that I will uphold it… I'm sorry Mr. Cooper…" tears gathered in my eyes as I slit his throat killing him instantly and sparing him a painful death. His hand fell limply from my face and he looked at me understandingly, dying with a smile on his face. I'm sorry…
"…Daddy…?"
"!" I could hear sleepy footsteps making their way to this room. I don't have much time…!
Quickly, I reached up and closed his eyes. Besides the fact that there was a deep gash in his throat, he looked so peaceful that he could have been sleeping…
Looking back one last time as I climbed up to the windowsill, I gave him a few last words of farewell "Goodbye Mr. Cooper… I'll never forget you or our promise… You're my hero and model for life, I promise to become more like you…" hearing the door slowly creak open, I jumped out the open window edging around the ledge and shimmying down a pipe to reach the ground.
"…Daddy…?"
"Daddy!"
"DADDY!"
"DEAR!"
My heart shattered as I ran from the manor, the cries of his wife and three children still echoing within my mind haunting me. I'm sorry…!
~Short time skip~
Noir's POV
"My my… Well done Noir, I'm impressed that you managed to get away after killing him… impressed that you could kill him at all…" Medusa's eyes gazed at me in delight "Tonight we'll have pasta; your favorite."
"Thanks mother" I tried an innocent close-eyed smile like the one Mr. Cooper had given me. I'll never forget you… I'll always remember you…
~Flashback end~
Noir's POV
Even now I do all sorts of thing to honor and remember the man who gave me so much in so little time when I gave him nothing in return. After I inherited this manor I modelled it after his and adopted his personality quirks… I also took up his taste for English cuisine and antiques. He sure was one extraordinary guy…
I smiled sadly as I remembered the training I endured as well as the kind of cold-hearted person I had been before that fateful night with Mr. Cooper.
"Whoa… that's a pretty rough childhood…" Free looked at me with concern and pity in his eyes. …I didn't even realize that I'd been talking out loud… how embarrassing…
"Nah… Don't worry about it… I'm used to it; if anything, you have it way worse than me. Who spends 200 years in jail? I think I'd go insane!" I grinned laughing at his pout.
"That wasn't my fault! If they had served food with a spoon I would have gotten out of there!"
Laughing as we bantered back and forth getting to know each other, I wondered when Medusa and Eru-chan would get back.
Be safe Eru-chan… I hope Medusa doesn't make you do anything suicidal…
~End of Chapter 7 (I hope there's enough plot development to keep you guys happy there…)~
Author's Note
Author-chan: I'M NOW READY TO TAKE ON ALL THE HATE FROM JUSTIN FANGIRLS WHO DON'T LIKE THAT HE JOINED THE DARK SIDE!
Noah *walks in with a glare*: What did I say about saying the "dark side"?!
Author-chan: Fine! The "Evil side" it is!
Noah *Pinches the bridge of his nose*: That's not much better… Speaking of which why did you make me practically grope Justin on so many occasions? Now all my fangirls will think I'm homosexual…
Author-chan: "Fangirls"…? Don't you mean "Fanboys"…?
*Distant voice calling*: NOAH-SAMAAAA!
Noah *eyes widening*: Oh shit… *is glomped by Gopher*
Author-chan *leaving Noah to the mercy of his minion*: Please review if you liked it or if there were parts that you didn't like/think could be improved! :D
