Canta Per Me

Canta Per Me

Episode Nine: The Black Jungle of Death

Disclaimer: I don't own Noir or Gundam Wing. They belong to some rich and creative people in Japan. I wish I was them…

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I've been swamped because of summer school this week, and there's another fic that I've been dying to finish. The last episode was to give you a view of everyday life for our team. You've probably been wondering about what the Boys have been up to, and now you'll see if they're going to be able to catch up with Noir. In the animated series, Noir has been around for centuries, and I've decided to do the same here. The secrets of Noir in my stories are probably going to be totally different from the anime. Episode 14 came out for Noir, and I've seen it. There are spoilers from both series in this fic, so beware. I also enjoy going to into the history of the world…it's one of my stronger subjects.

* * * * * *

"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.

London, England

The Preventers were meeting in the offices in London. Everyone was gathered for this meeting as ordered by Lady Une only the top agents were involved. Heero, Duo, Trowa, Quatre, and Wufei sat around the table. Heero was the only one who didn't express the slightest bit of surprise when Zechs and Noin walked with Sally. They sat down at the large conference table that the former Gundam pilots were already sitting at.

"You're alive!" shouted Duo at the top of his lungs when he saw Zechs as if he had seen a ghost.

"Be quiet Maxwell. It's fairly obvious that he is," said Wufei with some annoyance.

"Um…does Relena know about this?" asked Quatre awkwardly.

"I assume not," said Trowa.

"Alright, alright, Zechs is alive let's proceed with this meeting. There has been several cases this past year, even more so that the Preventers have been working on that were…let's say compromised by an outside source," said Lady Une as she took a seat at the head of the table.

"You mean what happened in St. Tropes," offered Quatre. Heero smirked slightly when he said it.

"Yes. That's not all other operatives from all over the world have reported some strange things happening in the criminal underworld. A few weeks ago, according to inside sources, the Sicilian Mafia took a hit. Three of its top members were killed by a professional assassin. One of the three was the head of the Mafia itself. The job done was clean and there is no evidence to speak of. In St. Tropes, the building was left virtually untouched except for the destruction of all the surveillance equipment. However, not all of the hits match up just right," said Lady Une.

"They are all done by the same person or rather persons," said Heero quietly.

"How do you know?" asked Duo.

"Because I do," answered Heero.

"Knowing Heero, Duo, he's probably been investigating the St. Tropes case even after I ordered him to stop," said Lady Une.

"Do we have any suspects?" asked Quatre because he was recalling the case outside Jerusalem. Everything there was clean.

"No. There's no word about who the assassin or assassins are. Either that or people are afraid to talk," said Lady Une with a sigh.

"What do you want us to do about it?" asked Zechs suddenly.

"We have to catch the assassins. They are very skilled in their work and manage to hit all of the people we're supposed to arrest before we have a chance to. Also, some of our cases are suspiciously like that…like the one in the Middle East, just outside of Jerusalem," said Lady Une.

"How we are supposed to stop them if we don't even have any clues?" asked Sally.

"We wait…eventually they're bound to make a mistake," said Heero.

"How many people are going to die before we can stop these assassins?" asked Noin.

Everyone suddenly stopped talking because there was no way of answering that. The assassins were highly skilled, and the only way to stop them was to wait, but that involved letting people get killed. All they could do was follow the bodies and hope that somewhere, somehow there would be clues to follow. They had no idea that the truth was closer than they thought possible.

* * *

Calcutta, India

The streets were crowded with people wearing all kinds of clothes: modern and old. Relena and Meia tried to go with the crowd and hoped to get to their hotel in one of the largest cites in world. They passed cars and people on bicycles. The atmosphere was lively and energetic. They finally arrived at their hotel which of course was one of the best in all of India, and the reservations were under the name Lena Marquise.

"The target is supposed to be in Calcutta for only one night, so we have to move quickly," said Relena.

"It's so beautiful here," said Meia as she looked around the room that they were in. The hotel used to be one of the large houses that the occupying British Forces used many decades ago when they occupied the country. The beds were big and wide with canopies to keep the insects out at night. The furniture made out of fine mahogany wood, beautiful carpets on the floors, and tapestries that hung on the walls. It was a testimony to the cultures that India represented. Their target was Iman Robertson, a woman who was head of a criminal syndicate in India. The syndicate rivaled the Yukaza, the Japanese underworld.

The contract ordered Noir to take her out and to shut down operations. Relena had made the arrangements to stop Iman Robertson, and Noir would strike later that evening.

* * *

London, England

Heero and Duo were working on the files of the different cases over a five year period to see if there was any correlation of the assassinations that had taken place. They had deduced that the hits only started a few months ago, and the locations were worldwide. The killings were done mostly with guns, and sometimes other devices. Heero noted that the assassins were very precise in their techniques, but he could tell that there were two distinct techniques. One of the techniques was refined and elegant, but at times inconsistent. The other style was direct and efficient, but it lacked something. The other assassin was like a machine doing the killings. Heero thought back to his training. Care was taken in both assassins' trainings, but there was a certain amount of love in the first assassin's training. The other assassin was trained to be a tool and nothing more. Just like Heero. 'You can learn a lot about a person from the techniques they use,' thought Heero as he analyzed the evidence in front of him.

"What do you make out of all of this, Heero?" asked Duo quietly.

"I don't know," answered Heero.

"I know what it means…someone out there's giving you a run for your money, Heero. Who would have guessed that someone can outsmart ya?" said Duo with a sly grin.

Heero gave Duo a death glare, which only succeed in making the American laugh hysterically.

* * *

Calcutta, India

Relena and Meia had to go to a nightclub in Calcutta because that was when Iman Robertson could be found. The nightclub was full of people, so Relena and Meia had to come up with a plan to find Iman Robertson. The nightclub was packed with partygoers, gamblers, and dancers. Relena could see all sorts of illegal activity going on from prostitution to drug dealing. The world was at peace, but that was only the big picture. There were survivors of the war who were trying to make their way in a world that had changed a lot. Relena shook her head and tried to ignore the things around her. She had to focus because she had to fill a contract. Relena stopped caring about the big picture a long time ago.

They traveled up the circular metal staircase to go to the upper room to intercept Robertson. They took out two of the guards and traveled together instead of separating the way they normally did because there was no room to do that. Relena had to kick the door in twice before it gave way. Suddenly, daggers nearly came, but missed their heads. Relena felt one of the daggers cut her arm as it barely missed her. She winced slightly in pain as she lifted her unharmed left arm to take out the attacker. She could see Iman Robertson, an elderly lady whose face was timeless looking at them.

"Welcome to Calcutta. I've been expecting you," said Iman Robertson in an upper class British accent. She was Indian, but raised in the United Kingdom.

Another figure came out of the shadows, and she was holding several daggers in her right hand. She was dressed in a black cloak and wore boots on her feet. Meia and Relena kept their guns up to cover both Iman and the girl. The girl looked a little older than Meia, possibly sixteen, eighteen at the most. Relena could feel some kind of heat come over her body, but she kept herself steady.

"Noir. I never expected it to be Relena Darlian. This is interesting," said Iman. Relena and Meia gave no answer. The girl with the daggers put them away, but Noir didn't lower their guns. "Come now. Ladies don't do this sort of thing, but then again time is running out for one of you," she said coldly as the girl threw a smoke bomb. Meia prepared to fire her gun, and she would have if Relena hadn't passed out on the floor.

* * *

Paris, France

"Zechs, I've been thinking about the assassins, and there seems to be a pattern. No one mentioned it during the meeting, but could there be a mole at the Preventers Office?" said Noin thinking out loud.

"Hmm," said Zechs who was reading a folder and listening to her at the same time.

"What are you reading?" asked Noin.

"The file that Lady Une's contact wrote about the job in Sicily. That's what doesn't prove your theory, Noin. This job happened without the Preventers knowing about it. There was no warrant for any arrests," said Zechs as he looked at the file and the pictures that went with it. There were pictures of Dona Cora Salvano and the assassin team known as the Archangels.

"You mean there was a team of assassins better than the Archangels?" said Noin as she read over his shoulder.

"These assassins could easily rival the Gundam pilots," remarked Zechs in a whisper.

"That means that the assassins could rival you as well," commented Noin quietly as she gently rubbed his shoulder. He looked up at her.

"Do you know where Relena is?" asked Zechs suddenly.

"I don't know. She's out on business again, I suppose," answered Noin. Zechs was now frowning at the situation and the whereabouts of his younger sister.

* * *

Calcutta, Indian

Relena was shaking from delirium as Meia pressed a cold compress on her forehead with hopes of bring down the fever. There was no need to call a doctor because Meia knew what it was. She tended to Relena through the night until she was conscious enough to speak.

"What's wrong with me?" whispered Relena.

"You've been poisoned," answered Meia. Relena looked down at the bandage that was wrapped around the cut on her arm. The cut that was caused by the girl's daggers just a few hours before. Relena didn't have the strength to lift her arm to see the cut.

"Do you know what kind it is?" asked Relena. She wasn't the kind of assassin who took out people by poison. Assassins who did that usually don't stay long enough to see the effects, and Relena was taught to face her targets face to face. That was how Noir typically operated.

"It's some sort of cobra venom extract. Except it's been modified. Cobra venom usually kills much quicker than this or it might be your endurance. Either way, Iman Robertson or that girl made it so that it also cause your fever," said Meia as she dabbed Relena's forehead to get rid of the sweat.

"It means that she wants to make this as long and painful as possible," said Relena in a shaky voice.

"What?" asked Meia in a whisper.

"My death," said Relena as she coughed slightly. She closed her eyes. Meia looked at her with expressionless eyes, and she decided to do something about this instead of letting Relena die. She went to Relena's laptop and began to do some research about the poison that was coursing through Relena's veins would most likely kill her before the day was out. Meia tried her best and found out that there was an antidote for cobra venom that was developed, but it only worked within the first five minutes of being bitten by the snake. And besides, the poison seemed to be a mixture of different kinds because it was causing different effects in Relena's body. The hotel phone rang, and Meia picked it up, "Noir."

"You have the wrong number," said Meia automatically.

"I don't think so," said the voice on the line. It was Iman Robertson.

"Iman Robertson," said Meia without any emotion in her tone.

"You have twenty-four hours…actually twenty hours to come here for the antidote for the poison that your partner had been poisoned with," said Iman Robertson in a cool voice.

"What do you want?" asked Meia in a whisper.

"Come to the Jungles just north of Calcutta. Take the train for an hour. Come to the Black Jungles alone. You have twenty hours and thirty-seven minutes," said Iman Robertson. After the line was dead. Meia hung up the phone and looked at Relena who was sleeping soundly. She had to decided on her own whether or not to go to the Jungles at all. Relena would probably tell her not to, but Meia had to think on her own for this one. She was perfectly capable of doing that. Meia put on a pair of army green pants and some black boots. She put on a tan tank top with a light white sweatshirt. Relena was stirring in her sleep. Meia didn't want to leave her alone in her condition, but if she didn't then she would die for sure. Meia took her gun and Relena's. She wiped the sweat off Relena's brow and left the hotel.

Meia got on the train and looked out the window as the bullet train sped by the scenery around her. She knew well enough that she was walking into a trap.

* * *

Relena was trapped somewhere in a fever induced dream.

She was small again walking through the corridors of the palace there was the sound of gunfire inside and outside the palace. She clutched her teddy bear as she walked down the corridor. She could hear the mingled sounds of her parents. They were shouted. Papa sounded mad, and Mama sounded afraid. She didn't like it when Papa was mad or when Mama was afraid. Maybe, she could do something. Relena followed the sounds of her parents' voices until she came to the room. She stood in the doorway with wide eyes as she watched her parents get killed in front of her. Her mother ran into the table when she saw Relena standing in the doorway, and she was telling her to run. Something fell off the table, and it was playing music. Relena's father ran to her mother when the shots were being fired at her. King Peacecraft covered his wife as the bullets came flying. He was killed at the same time the bullets went through his body , they hit Queen Katerina. Relena stood there frozen in fear. She looked at the group of men who held their guns at her. They were going to kill her…

"Mama…mama," whispered Relena softly as she tossed and turned.

Millardo and Relena were on a little boat leaving the capital city of the Sank Kingdom. Her brother had come to get her before they could shot her. They had a horrendous night. Six year old Millardo had to carry his two year old sister most of the way out of the palace. They were met by someone who took them on a boat that was hidden in the port of the seaside capital city. The man was carrying Relena in his arms, while holding Millardo's hand. They were at the port side of the little boat watching the city burn as they left. Millardo and Relena were no where near tears. They were in shock. They meet the Darlians later on, and the man said that the children had to be separated to stay alive. Millardo would be brought to some people in Germany, the Khushrenadas. They were one of the upper noble families of Europe who offered shelter to both the prince and the princess, but the man who got them out ordered that Relena go with the Darlians. The two year old who was barely learning how to really talked panicked and started to scream and grab on to her older brother. The man attempted to grab her away despite Mr. Darlian telling him not to. Millardo pulled himself and his sister away from the adults, holding on to his baby sister with all his might. She whimpered. Millardo was the only one who was going to be able to convince her to go with the Darlians. " Forget about me, Relena. It's better that you forget everything. You'll be happier. At least one of us will be," he said softly. Relena shook her head furiously and buried her into his torso as she tightened her grip. He tried to unhook her arms, but her grip was too tight or he didn't want to let her go. Mr. Darlian walked up to the children and placed his hand on Relena's back. She flinched slightly, and Millardo moved forward, so that Mr. Darlian could touch her. Mr. Darlian rubbed her back gently until she was relaxed enough to loosen her grip on her brother. Millado gently unhooked her arms, and Mr. Darlian got a hold of her. Relena moved forward and give her brother a kiss on the cheek, and Millardo actually smiled and returned at kiss on her cheek. Relena watched as her brother and the man boarded an unmarked car and take off into the distance. "Bye, bye…Milly…" said Relena as she waved a chubby hand, and he waved back. Mrs. Darlian handed a bottle of milk to Relena who took it. She fell asleep after she had her bottle, and by the time she woke up they were in the Darlians' house in London.

"Help me…don't leave me," gasped Relena as she shook. There was about nineteen hours left.

* * *

Meia was now in the what was called the Black Jungle of Death. It was one of the untouched small parts of the rainforest in the world. There were insects in the air, exotic flowers, and trees that seem to touch the sky. Meia had no time to admire the scenery. She had to follow her instincts and find Iman Robertson, and at the same time stay alive. She came to a wooden bridge that was suspended by rope; it looked very old. She stopped at the bridge, and Iman Robertson emerged from the jungle and shouted from across the bridge, "Welcome to the Black Jungle. My assistant wanted you to come here because she wants to match wits with one of the Noir. Only one of you!" Meia said nothing in response because it was sick game that Iman Robertson was playing. She walked across the bridge slowly and carefully as she kept her eyes on Iman Robertson. Iman had no weapons on her that Meia could see. Before Meia got across the bridge, Iman was gone. She was now in the Jungles, and Meia didn't know her way around there. They had the advantage. Meia drew out her gun. She shot Iman in the back as she tried to run away without any difficulties. She ran as quickly as possible to find the antidote if it was on her, but Meia didn't find anything on her that was any use. The antidote had to be on her assistant.

She could hear the slight rustling of leaves, and she tried to take aim but all the trees looked the same. It was disorienting. Meia jumped for the vines hanging from the trees to get the tops of the trees, so that she could do kill the assistant sniper style. When she got to the top of the trees, she saw the other assassin up there as well. They stared at each other for a moment. The other assassin put away her daggers and took out a gun. Meia took out Relena's gun. They both grabbed on to a vine and jumped down from the trees at the same time as they fired at the same time.

* * *

Relena was now somewhere else. She was six years old, and she was walking by a lake in the Northern part of France. It was actually a pond, but Relena was so small that it looked like a lake. The man who had helped her brother and her survived that last night at the Sank Kingdom visited often and always at the summer house by the pond. Relena forgot about her older brother, and the man was happy that she did because he was worried if she ever would. Pagan was nearby; he had survived the destruction of the Sank Kingdom as well, and was hired by the Darlians to watch over Relena as well. Both men reported to Millardo about his younger sister's progress. He was now ten years old and best friends with Khushrenadas' only son, Treize.

There was a small arched bridge that went from bank to bank of the small pond. The man smiled and greeted her often. He watched as she made rings of flowers just like she had learned in Italy. He doted on her and spent all his time in the summer house with her. He was the man who would change her more than anyone.

Relena's breathing was getting more and more sallow as she tossed and turned. The dreams were nothing more but memories of a past she wished to forget. She couldn't because of what she was now. Noir.

* * *

Meia touched down on the jungle floor as the other girl came down at the same time. Their guns were still smoking, and they stared at each other. "You win, Noir," said the girl simply as she tossed something to Meia. Meia caught it with her left hand because Relena's gun was in her right, and she opened her hand to find a small vial with a clear liquid in it. After the girl had tossed the vial to Meia, she fell down to the ground face first. There was a growing blood stain that was expanding on the back of her white blouse around her lower back. Meia managed to shot her in the stomach.

Meia left the Jungle quietly and went across the bridge. There was still about sixteen hours left for Relena, but that didn't mean that Meia was about to procrastinate. She had to get back to Relena before it was too late. Meia took the train back and was quiet the entire time like she was before. She had no idea why she went through so much trouble for Relena. Maybe, it was because of what Relena did for her in the Middle East. Meia recalled the contract that they had made when they first met. She need to keep Relena alive, so that she could find out who she before she dies.

She finally got back to the hotel, and the poison had been in Relena's body for almost ten hours. Meia ran up the hotel stairs to get to their room. Relena was shaking, and Meia gentle forced her mouth open. She got Relena to drink and swallow some of the antidote. It didn't take much of the poison to nearly kill her, and its effects were almost immediate. Meia hoped that the antidote would work the same way. She also hoped that Iman Robertson wasn't lying. It took another hour before Relena woke up. She woke up to find Meia in front of her laptop sleeping while sitting up at the same time. Relena smiled at Meia and looked at the laptop screen. Meia had closed the contract on Iman Robertson for Relena. There was half full vial of antidote next to the laptop and their guns. Relena picked up the vial and smiled as she put it back down. She picked the blanket off Meia's bed and covered her.

There was more information on the screen. Iman Robertson was died as well as her daughter, Ana, who was also her assistant. Relena shook her head. The criminal world was an intricate world of people who considered themselves familes and real blood related families.

Next Episode; Episode Ten: The Spanish Sunset