Canta Per Me

Canta Per Me

Episode Three: Lily of the Valley

Disclaimer: I don't own Noir or Gundam Wing.  They belong to their respective owners.  I own Meia Krane and this story.

Author's Note: Thanks to the positive reviews for this fic that I've chosen to continue.  I realize something: this is first crossover of Noir and Gundam Wing in existence.  Unfortunately, with its recent licensing by ADV Films, I won't be able to watch the rest of the series anytime soon.  I've only seen ten out of the twenty-six total episodes of Noir, but I've seen all of Gundam Wing.  Twice.  My roommate and I agree, if you like Gundam Wing, then you will like Noir.  Heck, if you like this fic, you'll like Noir.  Be sure to check it out when it gets into stores.  It's okay that I didn't get to see all of Noir because that means there's more stuff for me to make up.  Now we all like it when ClareBear makes up things.  If I were you, I would consider this a preview to the series.  ^_-  By the way, I hope this is as unsettling as possible and leaves you with an eerie feeling when you read it.  It's not suppose to scare you because that's not what noir style does…it's suppose to make you think.

*          *          *          *          *          *

NOIR

The derivation of the word is the name of fate that will follow the death.

Two women who are the harbingers of death.

The hand of darkness is the green field.

Please protect peace."

- the opening of the anime, Noir

Paris, France

            Two men drove away from a funeral for an associate who was killed in the line of duty working for the French Secret Police.  The two men were talking in the car.  "Do you know who killed him?" asked one.

            "I don't know, but I don't like the looks of this.  It had to be a professional assassin," said the other.

            "There is something wrong in the air, but assassins are a dime a dozen, my friend," commented the first man. 

            "Stop here.  My house is just up the block," the other and the first man pulled over. 

            "I will see you later, my friend," said the first man when he dropped off the other man.

            "Not if I see you first," said the other man.  He walked up to his house at a small neighbor in Paris just outside the busy streets that the tourists trampled through.  He walked up to his house that was enclosed by a clay fence that had ivy growing out of it. 

            "Papa!  You're back!" cried his five year old son.

            "Hello," said the man as he picked up his son.  A woman came to the door carrying a small baby in her arms, and she placed a kiss on her husband's cheek.  They all went into the house and shut the door. 

BOOM!

            Without warning the little house that was enclosed in the ivy covered, clay fence exploded killing the man and his entire family.

*          *          *

London, England

            The party for Hilde and Duo was small and private because they had just invited their closest friends.  Relena had come from Paris for the party, and Meia came with her, but chose to stay at the hotel.  They would return to Paris as soon as the party was over.  Relena only attend some events because she didn't want to appear anymore unusual than possible.  When she had received a call from Duo asking her to come, she knew that she would have to come.  Relena was the last one to arrive at the party, which was being held at one of Quatre's little house in London rather than where Duo and Hilde had previously planned it. 

            "Hello Relena.  It's been a while since I've seen you," greeted Hilde with a smile as she give Relena a hug.

            "I've been so busy, Hilde.  I couldn't get away from business," said Relena as she accepted Hilde's embrace.

            Heero was watching everyone as usually.  He didn't say that he was a touch concerned about Relena's absence from her apartment a few days ago when he was working on the Perkins case.  That was another thing that was still bothering him, the Perkins case, but he was ordered by Lady Une not to investigate the case any further.  "Where were you?" asked Heero quietly when Relena finally got around to talking to her.

            "I was in the French Rivera," answered Relena without flinching.  In her business, she had learned how to become an excellent liar.

            "I was wondering why you had a tan," observed Heero. 

            "Say, Relena, I've been looking for a good business analyst.  I've asked around about you, but I haven't heard anything," said Quatre when he caught up with Relena and Heero.

            "I'm not surprise.  I tend to work for smaller and private businesses, not for companies as large as yours, Quatre," said Relena with a smile. 

            "Oh, I suppose I wouldn't be able to convince you to work for me?" asked Quatre playfully.

            "No, I'm pretty much book up for the year or so.  There's always work waiting for me at home," said Relena as she shook her head.

            "I see.  I didn't think I could.  I suppose I could keep an eye out for more jobs for you, but if you're that booked up, then I probably shouldn't," said Quatre playfully.

            "I doubt you would be in need of my services anyway," said Relena with a slight smirk.

            "What are you some sort of corporate raider?" asked Heero wryly.  He really wasn't joking because he didn't really know what Relena's job as business analyst entailed. 

            "If I have to be," was Relena's finally answer to all the questions about her work. 

            The party went on and so did the congratulations for Duo and Hilde.  Not only did they announce the impeding birth of their child, but Duo proposed to Hilde in front of everyone, and she accepted.  Relena stayed for as long as she had to, but she slipped out during the cheering for Duo and Hilde.  There was too much work to do, and she had to return to Paris to do something that she did every month.  Meia was asleep when Relena returned to the hotel, and she sighed.  Relena thought about how Meia looked like a small child when she slept, but she was far from innocent.

*          *          *

Paris, France

            It was raining again, but it didn't stop Relena from going to where she had to go.  She made it a point to go every month, and she never failed to do so.  In her arms, she carried a bouquet of fresh white roses and an umbrella in her other hand.  She sighed and walked pass the entrance to her final destination.  Relena placed the flowers on the grave and closed her eyes.  The only person other than herself who visited the grave was Lucrezia Noin, and even she buried herself in her work rather than come to visit.  Relena pressed her fingers against the cold, wet marble that marked her older brother's grave.  He had died during his fight with Heero Yuy during the whole White Fang fiasco.  Relena came to visit often because she felt badly for not being loyal to her older brother when he was alive, and in his death, she had become the thing he didn't want her to be.  Relena had a good amount of guilt because of the path that she had chosen, but she stood by her choice nonetheless.  Relena stood up to leave, but she had ran into a woman.  Relena stumbled back in surprise, and she studied the woman who she had ran into.  She was taller than Relena by a few inches.  Her hair was long, black, and silky; her left eye was shaded by her hair.  She was carrying a bouquet of lilies of the valley. 

            "Hello, are you here for someone also?" she asked with a fine, upper class French accent.

            "Yes," answered Relena.  The woman looked at her and then behind her towards her brother's grave. 

            "You're Relena Peacecraft.  I would never expect to see someone like you here, especially on a day such as this," said the woman.

            "It's a graveyard.  Anybody who comes here cares for the one they love," said Relena softly.

            "I understand.  I'm sorry if it sounds heartless.  I just lost my husband last week," said the woman as she walked pass Relena and placed the lilies on her husband's grave.  The grave wasn't very far away from Millardo's grave.

            "I'm sorry about your husband," said Relena solemnly.

            "You know what it feels like to lose someone.  Please walk with  me.  I have already put my husband's favorite flowers on his grave.  He loved lilies of the valley," said the woman.  Relena walked along side the mysterious woman.  Her name was Lucia Marcella, and she was the wife of a businessman who was murdered.  His body was found at the city dumped just eight days ago.  Relena listened to the woman as she talked about her husband.  They talked for an hour before a limo came to pick her up.  "Thank you for listening to me," said the woman as she smiled and took off.  Relena walked back to the flat with the umbrella tucked under her arm because the rain had stopped while Relena was talking to Lucia Marcella.  Meia was sitting on the window sit looking outside at the people below on the street.

            "Hello Lena," said Meia as she looked at her and then back at the street.

            "Hi Meia.  I'll get to work," said Relena as she busied herself with her laptop.  There was a new contract waiting for them.  She was surprise to find out that the new contract was out for a man by the name of Derek Smith, but not by the target, rather by the contractor.  The contractor was Mrs. Mikeal Marcella, Lucia.  There was a picture of the way they had found Mr. Marcella's body.  Relena let out a sigh, and she understood what she had to do.  The first thing she did was look up Mr. Smith's location.  She found out that he had bought a large château just outside of Paris.  The chateau was rather old, but massive.  Relena looked at the layout on her computer screen and planned their entrance to get inside and take out the target.  The old chateau was being converted to a hotel complete with a casino that was already completed.  Meia was sitting next to Relena watching her work, and she processed the information that Relena was looking at. 

            "We'll attack by taking the back way and the side entrance.  You'll go to the top of the building from behind.  I'll take the top.  The casino is the last place where we converge," said Relena. 

            "Yes," said Meia.

*          *          *

Somewhere in Outer Space

            He was busy getting ready to come back to Earth.  Not that he had any reason to return, but he felt he had to. He was worried about what Lady Une had said about Relena going to the graveyard often.  He knew that there had to be something wrong with her…he made it a point to know her very well.  He would come back to Earth and protect her the same way he did before she even knew him.  He would protect her from the shadows like he always did.  Being from away from Earth made it difficult for him to watch over Relena and insure her safety.  He thought that he could trust the Gundam pilots and the rest of the Preventers to make sure that she was safe, especially Heero Yuy.  When she quit being the Vice Minister, he knew that they didn't do a good job.  He only trusted himself to make sure that she was safe.  He could do that without disrupting her life. 

*          *          *

Outside Paris

            Meia was wearing a blue jean jacket, a tank top, a pair of jeans, and white running shoes.  Relena wore a black mock turtle neck tank top with wide sleeves, a short leather skirt, and a pair of black ankle boots.  On top of that she wore a wine colored velvet jacket.  Relena parked her little black convertible sports car up the road a little far away from the chateau.  Meia nodded and so did Relena with that Meia took off running behind the large house.  Relena went to the front of the chateau didn't have lookouts, so Relena was able to get into the building easily.

            Meanwhile, Meia was working her way up the building from the back.  She jumped up the balconies by jumping on the fence first in the back.  The first henchman she encounter didn't have time to turn around before she shot him.  She took out four men on the way to the casino.  Relena was busy herself as she shot the men in the control room and took out the cameras.  She had shot and killed half a dozen men and women in the control room.  She didn't waste any time.  Meia met her in the hallway. 

            Derek Smith was watching all the action on the screen when the picture went out he looked at his companion.  She merely smiled and said, "So, this is Noir."

            "It would appear so.  Activate the other cameras," Smith ordered one of his other men.  The cameras activated in the hall that Relena and Meia were in, it typed in the target contract that Relena had received earlier, but the contract had changed from Derek Smith to something else.  Noir. 

            "This is a trap…we've been set up," gasped Relena as she shot the screen that played out the contract that was now on their heads.  Meia nodded and shot at a group of men who showed up to stop them.  Relena also returned fire until all the men were dead, and without saying a word, they took off for the casino even in the darkness, it had to be the safest place for them.  The casino was quiet and since it was just built there wasn't any thing special about it.  Relena walked up behind the cocktail bar, while Meia took a seat on one of the stools.  

            "What would you prefer a drink or some popcorn?" asked Relena because it was going to take some time.  They had to figure out why the contract had changed to them.  The only person who had the power to change the contract once it was accepted was the original contractor.  In this case, the original contractor was Lucia Marcella. 

            After a little silence, Meia answered: "Popcorn."

*          *          *

            Heero and Trowa were working on the case of the man whose house was blown up in Paris.  Heero wanted to check up on Relena, but found that she wasn't there.  "Is she ever there?" asked Trowa quietly.

            "No. She's never there when I come by to see her," said Heero without any expression on his face.

            "Maybe, you should tell her that you're coming.  Relena's got a life these days, Heero," said Trowa.

            "Not just that, Trowa.  She's been avoiding people for a while.  No one really knows about her work as a business analyst.  I've looked up the information myself after Quatre mentioned it at the party.  There's something going on with her," said Heero without a trace of emotion on his voice or manner.  He was just reporting information as if Relena was a job and nothing more, but Trowa knew better.

            "Like she said at the party, she works for small and private businesses.  There wouldn't be much information about Relena's work," said Trowa.  He wanted to stop Heero from invading her privacy, and he already knew that Heero probably did to some extent.  Trowa was sure of it.  It was best to stop him before Relena found out about it.

*          *          *

            Derek Smith, his men, and the woman with him moved along the corridor to the casino because they knew that was where Noir was.  They were well armed with pistols and machine guns.  The woman was armed with a pistol, and she was wearing a skin tight black suit.  When they reached the casino, the majority of the group pressed themselves against the wall outside the door.  Smith had cut power, so that Noir wouldn't be able to use the lights; he and his party were armed with night vision goggles.  Two of the men kicked the door opened only to find that there was no one in the casino…or so it seemed.  One of the men gestured for the rest of them to go forward.  Crack.  Suddenly the man the was shot.  The men moved forward more with their night vision goggles they still couldn't see where the shots were coming from.  Crack.  Crack.  Two men were taken out.  Finally, Smith saw one of the Noir tumble behind the slot machines.  "Over there," he said gesturing, but before he could say anymore someone took him.  One of the men managed to find the person who was moving behind the slot machines, but she took him out before he had a chance to pull the trigger on his machine gun. 

            Relena ran out from behind a large wheel with numbers and colors on it.  She shot four men before ducking back behind the opposite row of slot machines.  Little did she know above her was the woman coming down at her from a cable suspended on the ceiling.  Her gun was aimed directly behind Relena's head.  Relena turned just in time to see the gun pointed at her…

            Meia took out three more men with her pistol, and decided to reload the gun.  She saw the woman hovering over Relena's head ready to take her out.  "Lena!" she called out to get Relena's attention.  BANG! 

*          *          *

            "Lady Une told us to report back at headquarters.  There's some news from Sally and Wufei about what happened," said Trowa as he closed his portable video phone/PDA.

            "All right," said Heero with they returned to London without any delay.  Lady Une had summoned all the Gundam Pilots, Noin, and Sally Po for the meeting. 

            "I have some news about the explosion.  The man who was killed along with the rest of the his family was an agent for the French Secret Police.  He was taken out by a profession group of assassins.  There have already been five agents who have been taken out.  The group of assassins is lead by a businessman named Derek Smith.  As of yet, there has been no further information," reported Lady Une.  Everyone remained quiet to think about what was happening. 

*          *          *

            The casino was a mess of broken glass, empty bullet shells, and dead bodies.  Relena was more surprise at who she just found.  "You…" she whispered.  Lucia Marcella laid out on the floor in a puddle of her own blood; Relena had shot her before Lucia could shot her. 

            "You are Noir," whispered Lucia Marcella as she coughed up some blood. 

            Relena came to her side.  Lucia Marcella was part of the group who wanted to take out Noir.

            "Why?" asked Relena.

            "We were ordered to…and no, you won't get the original contract from me.  You know how the game is played, Ms. Marquise, because you've proven to be the best," said Lucia as a trickle of blood escape from her lips and slide down the side of her mouth.

            "I understand," said Relena with a slight smile because she admired Lucia's professionalism. 

            "Yesterday at the graveyard…that was just a coincidence," said Lucia softly. 

            "What about your husband?" asked Relena.

            "I loved him.  I loved him until the day I had to kill him.  I love him even now," whispered Lucia was she closed her eyes slightly.

            "Tell me your real name…you know mine," said Relena.

            "No…I won't.  You do understand.  There's no point anyway.  Goodbye, Noir," said Lucia as she looked at Relena and then past her to Meia, and she finally died. 

*          *          *

            "More reports are pouring in as we have said before there has been a mass murder in the château of Derek Smith, which was under renovation to become a hotel.  Among the dead is the wife Mikeal Marcella, Lucia Marcella.  According to the Preventers Office, the group was known as professional assassins who are responsible for the murders of six members of the French Secret Police and the murder of Mikeal Marcella who was a former member.  These seven men are responsible for war crimes committed six years ago before the White Fang incident.  More details are unavailable at this time.  The Preventers will be reporting more as the news happens…" said the reporter on the television as Meia turned it off. 

            "Lucia Marcella…victim of the war crimes that her husband, Mikeal Marcella, committed.  She loved him nonetheless until she had to do her duty.  She loved him even in her duty.  His death was totally painless," said Relena in a whisper as she shut down her computer.  She thought about Lucia Marcella, the Lily of the Valley.  'They are very beautiful flowers.  Lily of the Valley.  Mikeal Marcella must have loved those flowers so much because he loved his wife.  Beautiful and deadly,' thought Relena as she looked at the bouquet of fresh Lilies of the Valley.  They were beautiful flowers, but for all their beauty and wonderful scent…they were still poisonous.  

Next Episode, Episode Four: Arabian Knights