Canta Per Me
Episode Twenty-One: The Shadows of Society
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing and Noir. "The Second Coming" is by W.B. Yeats. I own the story. If you would like to use it, please ask my permission, I'll most likely let you. Remember, ClareBear makes no money…
Author's Note: Today is a grime day for the United States. Today is the day the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were attacked by what I would call a Kamikaze mission and a surprise attack. This story deals a lot with how far people are willing to go for their beliefs. I can't help, but feel sad today. As I write this I'm also listening to the news from CNN behind me. I know that Fanfiction.net is down, but I decided to start this part anyway. As of today, September 11, 2001, I was ahead of schedule by three parts for Canta Per Me. I started the next story for Gundam Wing instead of working on this for a little bit, I decided to do the comedy. I don't feel like writing a comedy today, so I'm going to be even more ahead on this. Some the quotes are from Noir which will be italicized.
* * * * * *
"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.
Paris, France
Relena looked at the wounds on her hand and on her arm. The graze on her arm was only two days old and could be easily reopened without much trouble. She thought about all the injuries that she had incurred during her work On her abdomen was an old scar from a gunshot wound. It wasn't any ordinary scar; it was a reminder of why she did the work that she did. Her mother was buried two days ago in England. The pain she felt was now like background noise. Something that was so intense and omnipresent that it blended into the background.
Meia and Relena were now certain that they were targets for the Society of Night. Relena swore that she would kill Kurai, and she was never one to make empty threats. No, it a promise that she had ever intention of keeping. Things were too quiet for them. No jobs or contracts came, and they were also being watched by the Preventers.
"I don't understand any of this, Lena. Why?" whispered Meia as she looked at Relena for answers.
"The human world has always been like this. Even if the era changes the human world will never change," said Relena quietly.
"But why?" asked Meia.
"It's human nature, Meia. The Society is trying to manipulate human nature with hopes to better humankind," said Relena.
"She said that she was Noir. Then what does that make me, Lena?" asked Meia. Relena understood her question. If she wasn't Noir, then what was she?
Relena looked at her steadily and gently leaned forwarded to stroke her soft cheek, "You are Meia Krane. That is all you need to know," she said in a solemn whisper.
* * *
The Preventers were meeting again. They still didn't understand the strange events that took place shortly after the interment of Mrs. Darlian. Dorothy regained the feeling back into her arm, and she and Lady Une told Sally about what happened. Now, Sally was backing them up. They shared a suspicion of Relena. None of them wanted to say anything out loud without proof. The problem about catching Noir was the lack of evidence. Without evidence nothing could be done, in other words, they would have to catch Relena or whomever Noir was in the act.
"Noir is responsible for the assassination of my uncle. I think it's a possibility that Noir is also responsible for the assassination of Mrs. Darlian," said Zechs quietly.
"Do you think that Relena is in any danger?" asked Duo out loud.
"I don't think so," muttered Dorothy as she looked down at her hand.
"I agree," said Trowa quietly.
"What?" asked Zechs as he narrowed his eyes at them.
"They're saying that if someone wanted to kill Relena, they would have had more than enough time to do so. No, Mrs. Darlian was the target," said Heero.
"I can't imagine how much pain Relena is in right now," said Quatre quietly.
"Just think, she's lost all four of her parents through murders and assassinations," said Wufei. Zechs looked at him as soon as he finished his sentence. The pain that Relena was in was unfathomable.
Noin looked at Zechs. Relena was his sister, but she wasn't acting like that at all. Relena really didn't need him at all. "We shouldn't underestimate her strength," she said.
"Yes," agreed Lady Une.
* * *
Unknown Location
A group of men and women are sitting in a darken room that is only lit by a fire in the fireplace. They all are dressed in robes and wear rings with the seal of two maidens. They were the upper elite of the Society of Night. Some of the most powerful people in the world were in the room. A meeting was called after the disaster two days ago after the assassination of Patricia Darlian.
"This is horrendous," said one of them as he sipped his wine.
"Not only one, but the other one as well," said a female voice.
"The child?" asked another.
"Yes, of course," answered one.
"Athena is out of control. She has too much power," said a male voice. He was the head of the Society of Night. This man had come to power after the peace was established after the fall of the White Fang. However, this man played with the world's people for quite some time.
"She is the Kind Mother. Only she has true control over Noir. The two maidens have shown themselves," said another voice.
"Do you think that Athena will command their power?" asked the first female voice.
"It is unknown. All of Athena's motives are unknown. However, I doubt it. The two maidens are at odds with each other," said the leader of the Society.
"Yes, but she had to be punished for her disobedience," said the first voice.
"That was why I filtered orders down to the Quinze. I knew that if she was ordered, she wouldn't be able to honor the contract. Athena must have known as well, but yet, she still ordered the other to exact punishment. A rift is between Noir. They will not be able to function properly," said the leader.
The leader of the Society of Night couldn't directly contract Noir himself; it would be against the rules of the Society. The philosophy of the Society was that balance was needed for true peace to be achieved and to be permanent. Equality and balance meant that the Society either helped or hindered groups. This also applied to the leader of the Society. He didn't have the power to directly contract Noir, but the way around that was to order someone else to do. Noir was the sword of the Society. The sword that could cut him down if necessary. The ones directly below the leader said nothing about him tipping the balance of power. He would soon be dealt with, but only if Noir could resolved its problems.
* * *
Paris, France
Dorothy, Sally, and Lady Une walked together outside. They were talking about the latest things that were happening. The recent events caused them to wonder what was exactly going on with Relena.
"I can't imagine her doing the things that Noir does," said Sally.
"Neither could I, but after what she did to my arm and what happened after Mrs. Darlian's funeral. It's a possibility. Just think about it. Relena's been doing a lot of things that have been too coincidental. She was in Spain when the Preventers were supposed to trap Noir, but you guys got trapped instead. She was the one who knew about Noir coming after Zechs. I could have easily ignored those things, but after what happened to Mrs. Darlian, I just don't think I can," said Dorothy quietly.
"She was sad by Mrs. Darlian's death. She's taking it badly," said Sally.
"That's what I don't understand. If she's Noir why would she assassinate both her mother and uncle? It does not make any sense," said Lady Une quietly.
"That's something I don't understand. Yes, it was suspicious that Relena and Meia came back after the attack. Relena looked shaken, but she wouldn't allow me to treat her hand again," said Sally.
"She is hiding something," said Dorothy. The three ladies continued walking. Another Preventer agent named Steven Deacon was watching and listening to the conversation. He was a first year agent, but he was still older than the Gundam pilots. He was also looking for a way to push his position up in the world. 'So, Relena Darlian is Noir. Or so they suspect. This is wonderful news,' he thought as he hatched a plan. Perhaps, Relena Darlian could him advance his career.
* * *
Relena was looking out the window and was surprised to see that there were no Preventers outside. Now it was quiet. Meia sat on the floor reading a book of poems by an Irish poet named W.B. Yeats, she began to read out loud:
"The Second Coming
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?"
Relena looked at Meia when she finished reading out loud. A beep came from the laptop on the pool table that broke the silence after Meia read the poem. Relena walked over to it. There was a message from someone.
"I know who you are Noir, Relena Darlian," said the message. Relena looked at Meia with surprised eyes. The e-mail address was from the Preventers Office, but it wasn't anyone they knew. "It's someone named Steven Deacon. He's a first level Preventer," said Relena as she found out the information that she needed. She looked at Meia.
"I don't think that it means that the others who are really after us know anything about this," said Relena thoughtfully. On top of that, it wasn't the address that Noir was normally reached at. The e-mailed that Deacon used was one that Relena proved for the Preventers database, and the one that she almost never used.
"He doesn't know what he's talking about," said Meia quietly.
"I'll meet him today. Come along," said Relena. Meia picked up her gun and bullets while Relena didn't bring any weapons on her. They went their separate ways for the meeting with Deacon. On the last minute, Meia picked up Relena's gun and smiled at her. She thought that Relena would need it later.
* * *
Deacon assembled a team of regular police officers for his plan to trap Relena. He was so confidant in his plans. He also didn't want to inform the other Preventers even if Lady Une knew about it already, she wasn't making any moves to stop Relena. However, he had other plans. His plan was to blackmail Relena to keep his silence. He would be able to make money on the deal and with her recommendation he could advance in rank.
Little did he know that his own trap was going to back fire on him. He chose the Eiffel Tower after dark to meet Relena. She came up to him from behind. Deacon smiled upon her approach.
"You e-mailed me," said Relena.
"Yes, I knew that you would come, Miss Darlian. Or would you prefer Noir?" asked Deacon with a sly grin. The expression on her face didn't change.
"I wouldn't be throwing around such accusations if I were," said Relena calmly.
"There's a lot of evidence against you, Miss Darlian. Believe me. I'm the one whose gathered it," bluffed Deacon.
"Is that so?" asked Relena coyly. Deacon didn't let her phase him.
"I have a proposition for you. I'll keep your secret. If you pay me a significant amount of money and recommend me for a promotion," said Deacon.
"What secret?" asked Relena.
"You being Noir," answered Deacon.
"What if I'm not and you're making a big mistake?" challenged Relena.
Deacon was about to answer her when the gunshots started firing.
* * *
Meia shot three of the Paris Police officers with her gun. She took out five more and change the clip. She flipped back and hit two more of them. They followed her into the shadows. Something was shining in the light, so the police went to go check it out. It was a coin wedged into a tree. Three police officers looked at it and wondered what was happening. Suddenly all three were shot dead.
One man kept shooting at Meia, missing as she step forward and simply shot him. All the police officers were dead.
* * *
"Sounds like you're wrong," said Relena when the gunshots started. Deacon was absolutely shock as he looked around in panic. Was he really wrong? If he was wrong, then he just accused one of the most powerful women in the world. A woman who can destroy everything that he had worked for. "I'll be going now," she said with a slight smile.
Deacon felt his heart stop at that moment. She had the power to destroy him and his sheer will to survive over took any logic in his mind at that moment. 'I can't let her leave her!' he thought. He took out a military dagger and lunged at her. Relena caught his arm with her right hand, but the wound in her hand didn't break open. She twist his arm. "I can't let you leave! I couldn't be wrong!" he shouted desperately at the top of his lungs. Relena's expression didn't change as he winced in pain. She knew that he knew nothing about what was really going on and she was willing to let him live before. Relena swiftly turned the dagger that was still in his hand and plowed into his gut, twisting it.
"Noir is a two person team," she said in a calm whisper.
Deacon's eyes widened with acknowledgement, "I knew it…" he gasped on his dying breath. She let his body go and left the Eiffel Tower meeting Meia at the fountain in the park where Meia gave Relena her gun. Relena and Meia walked through the dark streets of Paris, but they weren't anywhere near home. They decided to stop to get a meal at a little restaurant.
* * *
Meanwhile, the Preventers were wondering where Relena was. They didn't know that she had left her apartment. There came a call from the Paris police about a dozen police officers and a Preventer agent were found dead near the Eiffel Tower. The Preventers rush to work because any Preventer agent murdered was a danger to all the agents.
"Who's dead?" asked Trowa.
"Steven Deacon," answered Duo.
"I know Deacon. He was a weakling," stated Wufei.
"Well, he was stabbed to death with a single wound to the stomach," said Sally as she stripped off her medical gloves.
"Was it suicide?" asked Heero.
Sally shook her head, "No. It wasn't suppaku. Someone grabbed his arm and stabbed in the stomach using his own hand and dagger. I know because the dagger was twisted into his stomach in a almost 360 degrees. The bones in his wrist snapped and were broken," she said.
"I know that Deacon wouldn't kill himself. He's not brave enough to, nor is he that desperate if someone came at him wanting information," said Quatre. Heero worked on his computer and found out something. He was looking for the last person he had contact with. Yes, Deacon had called the Paris police asking for a few officers, but he also e-mailed Relena.
"He sent Relena a message to meet him at the Eiffel Tower," said Heero.
"Relena?" asked Zechs out loud.
"Yes, he told her to meet him after sundown," said Heero.
"Fine. Go and check it out," ordered Lady Une as she looked at Dorothy and Sally.
Everyone moved out. They knew that Relena would be on foot since she really didn't use her car to get around the city, so some of them were on cars, and others were on foot. They continued to search for Relena.
* * *
Relena and Meia were on a bridge that was over the small pond near the park closer to their flat. They were both quite, but they heard footsteps approaching them. They both turned around to see all five of the Gundam Pilots coming to them.
"Nice night for a stroll, uh Relena?" asked Duo with his usual friendly grin.
"Yes, Paris is beautiful at night. We just want to get a little atmosphere," said Relena calmly. She had taken off her knit sweater and tied it around her slim waist, but she was wearing a little long sleeve blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up and black leather pants. Her gun was tucked into the sweater pocket, but couldn't be seen because the pockets were large and it was dark. Meia had her hand on her own gun when the conversation started. Heero noticed that Meia's hand was in her pocket, but he also had his hand in his leather jacket pocket ready to draw at any moment.
"Where were you tonight?" asked Heero.
"We went out for dinner," answered Relena.
"Are you working?" asked Quatre.
"No. There hasn't been work lately, and I haven't been up to it. Don't worry about it," replied Relena with a dismissive shrug.
"One of the Preventer agents was killed tonight," Trowa informed her.
"Oh, I still haven't heard of that," said Relena without any surprised on her voice.
"He had an e-mail on his computer under his Preventer addressed to you. It was in the sent folder," said Wufei. Relena felt her blood go cold at that moment. 'Of course, Deacon would be an idiot and not delete the message under his sent folder,' she thought as she maintain her calm surface.
"Do you know what he wanted to meet you for?" asked Heero.
"No. I didn't check my e-mail today. I probably should," said Relena as she looked at Meia.
"Did you check her e-mail?" asked Duo to Meia.
"No," answered Meia. The two of them looked absolute calm and unemotional.
Heero quickly pulled his gun out and pointed straight at Relena's face, only to find that she had done the same. He stared down the cold barrel of her .35 caliber automatic. Her eyes were as cold and fearless as his was. Neither was going to back down. Everyone gasped because of Relena's speed. "Behind you," whispered Relena. Heero felt the barrel of another gun at the base of his neck. Without turning his head, he knew that Meia was behind him. At this point, everyone else pulled out their guns. Heero stood between the two guns of the most legendary assassins in Europe. Noir.
At this time, Zechs, Noin, Sally, and Dorothy came to the bridge after Zechs parked the car messy to find guns drawn out. He stopped cold when he saw the way Relena had her gun out and the lack of expression on her face. "Relena?" he whispered. He looked to see that Sally, Dorothy, and even Noin take out their guns. "Noin, what are you doing?" asked Zechs.
"I'm sorry," said Noin as she took the safety off her gun.
"Well, it seems we have a problem. Which one of us should go first? You, Relena? Or me? How about you, Meia? Or should all of us together at the count of three?" asked Heero. Relena's expression didn't change, but she clicked back on the safety and lowered her gun to her side. Meia did the same immediately.
"I have no quarrel with any of you," said Relena as she turned and walked off, but Heero grabbed her left upper arm and shook her slightly.
"You're not going anywhere," he said in a low dangerous tone. Relena didn't look at him as she wretched her arm free from him and torn her other wound open. They walked off into the darkness. Duo and Trowa started to follow but they had simply vanished. Now, Duo knew that it was Meia he saw the day that Zechs was supposed to be assassinated.
Heero looked down on his hand because he felt moisture on it. It was red blood from Relena's arm. Zechs saw the blood and knew that it had to be Relena's. "What did you do to my sister?" demanded Zechs.
"I shot her before," he said in a surprised whisper.
"What?" asked Zechs as he narrowed his ice blue eyes.
Heero turned to the others and found that everyone had the same look on their faces. Quatre nodded slightly while Duo took a deep breath as if he was actually afraid to speak. Trowa looked Noin who clutched her jaw. Sally and Dorothy had solemn looks on their faces because they didn't want their theory to be right. Finally, Wufei said the one thing that everyone was thinking out loud:
"She's Noir."
Next Episode, Episode Twenty-two: Darkness in the Snow…