Canta Per Me

Canta Per Me

Episode Six: The Archangels

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or Noir. Boy, I wish I did because I'd be rich. I'm just a poor bio major.

Author's Note: How'd everyone like the cliff hanger from the last part? I thought it was a good place to stop. There is a lot of mystery that has been surrounding this entire series that most people probably haven't been thinking about. This story is going to get more and more complex as we move forward. Things will get more and more difficult for Lena and Meia. They are the two halves of Noir. I've also done some editing on the other parts. If you will noticed I took a different translation from another fansub of the opening that I prefer much better. You'll understand why. All things will be revealed in time.

* * * * *

"NOIR.

The word designates the name of destiny from a distant time.

The two Virgo reign over death.

May the Black hands over the green field…

Please protect the newly born peace."

- opening from the anime, Noir.

Fifteen Years Ago

Relena stood there paralyzed as she looked at Cora, who had drawn out a wide dagger in a pearl in lay sheath. Little Relena instinctively stepped back away from Cora. There was look of total and utter fear in her eyes. She couldn't speak because she was afraid to. Cora looked at her with a slight smile.

"You're shaking, Relena," said Cora as she stepped back away from Relena. Relena's violet eyes were wide, and she was shaking. A cold breeze came from the sea and touched them both. "I'll make you braver. You're braver than you think, Relena…"

Relena was still looking out the window as Meia studied her features. 'She's afraid of the Intocabile,' thought Meia. Relena was visibly trembling as if she were cold.

"She's the cruel princess. She was born into the mafia," said Relena , giving further information to Meia. "And she knows who did the job: Noir. But, I don't think she knows who we are as individuals. Our client didn't know, so he couldn't have told her," added Relena with a good amount of certainty.

"Then she's after us," stated Meia.

"And she's not going to give up," said Relena as she looked Meia straight in the eye.

* * *

Cora Salvano made the sign of the cross after she dipped her fingertips in the holy water. She left the church after that and got into a limo. 'Noir. The oldest known name for an assassin the history of Europe. Perhaps, the world even. Only they would have the courage to defy the Salvano Family,' thought Cora as she looked out the window as the world went by at a high speed. For seven years, she was exiled in Sicily away from Family business because she had done the deed of killing her own father. There was a strict code in the Sicilian Mafia. There was loyalty to your individual family and to betray a member of one's own family resulted in death. However, Cora was a special case, her father had betray the Mafia, which was the greater cause. As the Intocabile, she had to do the job of executing her father. Cora betrayed her father by killing him, but she had done it for the greater will of the Mafia, so she was exiled instead.

The Archangels were the top group of exterminators in the entire Sicilian Mafia, and they were at her total disposal. Cora Salvano was now in power, but she felt lonely at the top. Cora couldn't help but admire Noir for his ability to take out his targets. Only a few people could assume the name of Noir, not only did they have to be the best assassins, but they also had to follow a moral code. There wasn't a Noir for each generation because there wasn't always someone good enough to be Noir. Cora looked forward to seeing the dead body of Noir.

* * *

Paris, France

The plane had landed in France after a long trip in deep space. Finally, he could get some rest. He was supposed to meet someone at the airport. It was good to be back on Earth after being away from the planet and main colonies for the past five years. The first order of business was to report to Lady Une. He was now assigned to the Preventers Offices in Paris, France because he had requested it. He knew that most of the other Preventers reported to other bases. Heero and Duo were stationed at the offices in London, while Wufei was stationed in Beijing. Trowa was at the L3 base, and Quatre was at L4. These were only the official posting because they could go wherever they wanted. He thought that it was a good idea that the former Gundam pilots were spread out, and he was happy that Heero wasn't stationed in Paris. He knew that Heero liked to stick closer to the offices in London.

* * *

New York City, New York, U.S.A.

Relena and Meia had to take out anyone who knew that Noir did the contract to take out Don Arago and Don Antonio. They couldn't afford to have a loose end like that. Only a few people knew about Noir, and most of the people never know who Noir was because they would die with that knowledge. They came to the compound outside New York City to take out Cora Salvano. Relena found out in the afternoon that security wasn't as high as most places. According to the surveillance footage she had managed to see by hacking into system, there were only four men. A tall man with dark blonde hair; a man with olive skin without any hair on his head; a small boned man with black hair and a goatee; and a man with longish brown hair. Relena didn't like the thought of there only being four men.

"That means they're like us. They've been called in to take us out," said Relena.

"We should split up. You should be the one to find the Intocabile," suggested Meia.

"I'll do it because she's more dangerous than those four. She'll probably keep two of them close by, and the other two to guard the perimeter. They'll probably be working in shifts, rotating so that everyone gets to be inside for at least on part of the evening," analyzed Relena.

"I take the two who are outside," volunteered Meia.

"Then, I'll go inside by the underground grotto," said Relena. They were looking at a map of the structure of the compound, so that they knew where to go. Relena had the harder task of finding Cora Salvano when she got inside. Meia had the wide open field to work with and the forest to use to her advantage. Relena had tight and dark corridors to go through. They had to make sure to take everyone out. There was no room for failure in anything they did.

* * *

Cora decided to indulge herself in a warm, long soak in a bathtub. She wanted nothing more but the work of the day to melt away. She was in an old fashion bathtub that didn't have any pipes riding through it that had to be filled by buckets of water. Uriel and Rafael were the ones who filled it for her. They waited outside her bedroom for her protection, while Michelangelo and Gabriel were outside guarding the perimeter. Relena and Meia separated. Relena had to go find the underground grotto by going towards the water source that they had detected. Meia made her way through the semi-thick foliage to take out the lookouts.

Meia came through the woods slowly and hid behind the bushes when she saw Michelangelo walk by with his machine gun ready to fire at any moment. She waited until she could see the other lookout, Gabriel come by, so that she knew who to take out first.

Meanwhile, Relena made her way through the underground grotto, and she had to decide which was to go without any directions. She didn't even know where Cora Salvano was, so she had to rely on her on instincts to find her. There was the sound of footsteps coming down the clay stairs to look around. Relena knew it had to be one of the four men, so she fired a shot. There was some silence, and then shots were returned. 'Damn! He's probably an assassin also,' thought Relena. She pressed her body against the wall, while her boot-clad feet stood in less than a foot of water. She pressed the top of the barrel of her gun to her forehead feeling the cold metal and waited.

Meia was in the foliage waiting for the two Archangels to strike. She spotted a tall man with dark blonde hair and shot at him, but he moved and returned fire. She did a back flip and took off running away from the compound with hopes that the two men would pursue her. She was right because they took off after. Finally between two giant oak trees, they surrounded her on either side. Both of them glared at her as they raised their guns to shoot her.

Relena heard the sound of her pursuer's footsteps as he walked through the water, so she knew where he was based on the sound. He was getting closer to her, so Relena had to return fire soon. She fired two shots, and she knew that her clip was empty. Relena learned how to count the bullets she fired, so that she would never be vulnerable. She moved as quickly as she could wading through the water as she tried to find a way out of the grotto without taking the clay stairs. Relena couldn't move through the water without him hearing her, but she had to take that risk.

Meia looked at the two men, left to right, who had their guns pointed and ready to fire. She moved with a quick back flip and landed behind Michelangelo. She did a roundhouse kick and knocked him down. Meia fired to hit Gabriel, but he moved quickly because of his size.

Relena managed to reach one of the exits of the grotto with Uriel hot on her trail. She had to find Cora Salvano. Her boots were wet and left a trail for Uriel to follow, so she moved away from where Cora was. He fired his gun, and Relena hid her self at a corner, but still returned fire. She returned fire, but he was armed with a machine gun. 'If only I could get a clear shot, then I could take him out,' thought Relena. She had to think of something fast otherwise, this was all for nothing. Relena had to fight back…

Meia fired her gun at Michelanglo only grazing him, but she had decided to change the plan. It was more important to get inside, so that Relena and she could take out the four men together. So, she took off for the main house of the compound, and of course, the two men followed.

Relena decided to throw down her empty clip as she wiped it clean of her fingerprints first. She threw it down in the floor, so that it would sound like she had thrown down her gun. The machine gun ceased firing, and Relena's boots were dry enough, so she took off for the direction of where Cora Salvano was. Relena moved as quiely as possible through the dark maze of corridors, carefully watching her back.

Meia was now inside the compound, but the two men were still after her, and now she saw a third man. Meia had no idea were Relena was. She reloaded her clip when she took cover behind a pillar. She could hear the machine guns fire against the pillar.

Cora Salvano was now out her bath and was sitting on a stool next to the tub. She could hear the sound of gunfire outside her chambers. There was still steam coming off the water from her bath because the compound was rather cold. She smiled as she waited…

Relena finally came to Cora Salvano's chambers and opened the door. It wasn't locked because there were two ways to get in and out of her chambers, and the guard for that door was now busy with Meia. Relena heard the gun shots and knew that Meia was inside. She smiled to herself because it was like Meia knew how to read her mind and adjust to anything. Meia bought the time that Relena needed. Relena walked quietly through Cora's chambers and finally came to where Cora's bath was. There was steam, but Relena could see Cora through it, so she raised her gun to acquire her target. Relena could hear the pounding at the door; it must have been the other guard trying to get inside to protect Cora. When he managed to kick the door open, Relena could see Cora turn her attention to him.

"Are you alright, Dona Sal—" shouted Rafael, but he was silenced by a bullet that entered his forehead.

"That's was a mistake, Rafael. You should have known better," said Cora as she turned her attention to Relena who was obscured by the steam. "Noir."

Relena raised her gun to fire, but she could see Cora's penetrating eyes. Her breathing quickened as fear over took her being. 'She's too strong…' thought Relena as she began to panic. Relena's right hand, which held the gun, began to tremble. She put her left hand also on the gun to steady it. Her body was now trembling slightly. Suddenly, the sound of the gun shots came closer to them, and the remaining Archangels were at the door. Meia could see Relena through the steam with the look of fear that was so blatant on her face.

"Stop this," ordered Cora suddenly. She was satisfied with the results, and when she turned to look at where Noir was standing, she was gone.

* * *

Paris, France

"Is it good to be back here?" asked Noin as she drove him to see Lady Une, so that he could be debriefed.

"Yes. Tell me, how is she?" he asked.

"I don't know. Relena's not the same person she was five years ago. She just couldn't take the pressure of being in the spotlight so much. You probably already know that she's a business analyst now. She's been working as a business analyst for the past three years now. Not that she really has to work, she's got an inheritance from Mrs. Darlian and the added things from the Sank Kingdom, but she doesn't seem to care either way," said Noin.

"No, I want to know if she's happy," he said.

"I don't know about that. Relena hasn't talked to me in about a year. I'm sorry. I probably should have kept a better eye on her, but with Preventer business…you know how it is. Besides, Relena doesn't appreciated anyone butting into her life these days. She doesn't even have regular protection. She leaves alone in Paris, not far from the flat that I arranged for you, but I would rethink things if I were you," said Noin cautiously. She knew that was always touchy about things where Relena was concerned.

"I know that she prefers to be left alone, and that she's not even associating with the Gundam pilots these days," he said expressionlessly.

"Especially a certain Gundam pilot that you don't like," said Noin with a smile.

"I have no idea who you're taking about," he remarked with a slight smile.

Noin couldn't help but laugh because it was great to have him back.

* * *

New York City, New York, U.S.A.

Relena and Meia were back at the hotel, and Relena hadn't said a word since they had to get out of the Salvano Compound. Meia could feel how scared she was, and she understood how Relena was unable to take the shot when she had the chance to. Relena was sitting on her bed in fetal position with her knees tucked up to her chest. Her breathing was now steady.

"We have to go to Sicily and finish this thing there," said Relena as she finally looked up at Meia.

"I'll take her out if you want me to," offered Meia.

"No…I have to do it. Definitely, otherwise, I can't continue this," said Relena with renewed resolution.

"I'll pack," said Meia as she started to pack the things they would need in Sicily.

'I have to defeat her. She can't be that unstoppable. I'll take her down…' thought Relena.

* * *

Paris, France

Heero was wondering when Relena was going to call him back. Actually, Relena never called anyone back, and her excuse was that she was too busy and forgot. One was luckily if he or she could catch her. A ring from his portable disrupted his thoughts, and he answered, "Heero Yuy. What is it?"

"Heero, I need you to come to the Paris offices," said Lady Une ignoring the rude way that Heero answered her call because it was his standard greeting. Before, he wouldn't even say his name first, so he was improving.

"I'll be there," he said and Lady Une closed the connection. Heero went to catch a taxi to go to the offices. When he got there, he found out at the front where Lady Une was. He came to the official and stopped at the doorway when he saw who was waiting in the office with Lady Une.

"So, you're alive. I'm not surprised," said Heero with a smirk on his face.

"And now I'm back on Earth," said the tall figure in front of Heero.

"I'm not sure whether she'll be happy to see you or not. That is if you can get a hold of her," said Heero.

"Now, you two stop that," said Lady Une gently. The two men glared at each other, and Lady Une sighed. This was bound to happen because they both had attachments to Relena.

* * *

New York City, New York, U.S.A.

Cora made the arrangements for the fallen Archangel known as Rafael who was killed in the line of duty protecting her. She felt badly for what happened, but she was happy to see Noir in action. There was something refreshing about seeing Noir in person. 'Who would have guessed that Noir is a two person team? And to top it off Noir is female. Who was that person who stood in front of me with the gun? Why didn't she take her shot? This is most intriguing. How perfectly exciting,' thought Cora. The remaining Archangels were saddened by the death of one of their own.

"Don't worry my angels," said Cora. The three men looked at her. "You will have another chance in Sicily."

* * *

"I just realized something. Do you think she saw you?" asked Meia as they prepared for lift off. The plane wasn't going to land in Italy, instead it was going to land in Greece.

"I told already…I'm not sure if she did. It didn't look like she did," said Relena with a sigh. She didn't like the thought of that uncertainty looming over her head. She didn't know what was going to happen next. Relena never liked the idea of not being able to control things. She eventually fell asleep on the way to Greece due to a combination of stress and a lack of sleep. She was dreaming of that day at the cliff in Sicily so many years ago…

Little Relena trembled with fear. Cora told her that she would make her braver, but that frightened Relena even more so. Cora's hair hung over her right eye like silk with the breeze catching it and playing with it gently. Relena didn't know what to do all she could see was the Cora's face and the dagger in her hands. Cora charged forward…

Next Episode, Episode Seven: Kiss of Death