Disclaimer: I don't own Noir. Please don't send Noir after me. And sending lawyers after me would be even worse. If the owners of Noir would like to erase this work then contact the author or FanFiction.net to have it removed.
Warning to readers: This is a prequel that contains major spoilers. Watch the anime first! The author's notes will be located in the final chapter.
Noir: A Perfect Blade
Chapter 2: Forming Destiny
While there are places that have been forgotten by time, people are different. They grow, mature, and wither away. And so the years passed. The high priestess of the Soldats withered away, leaving Altena to carry out Le Grand Retour. There were now only three candidates for Noir. And the day would come when that number would drop to two.
Altena had taken care of Chloe in the years since her baptism. They lived in the Manor. It was another place forgotten by time. Nestled in the mountains between France and Spain, it was also the traditional location for Noir's ascent. Chloe thrived in the clean air under the shining sun. Altena told the girl about the origins of Noir. But the little one was too young to really understand. For now they simply tended to the vineyard. Her innocence warmed Altena's heart, but she knew that this child would have to darken her hands some day.
And so the black thread of fate was woven when another Sapling arrived at the Manor. It was the one from the east. She seemed to share in Chloe's innocence. The two children played together.
Altena looked away from the children and addressed her other guest. "Welcome Mrs. Yumura. I am glad that you accepted my request. I hope she lives up to what you say of her."
The woman bowed and said, "She is indeed a prodigy. The spirit of Noir is strong in her." She hesitated a moment before continuing. "I don't mean to be rude, but I do not understand why you asked me to bring her here. Shouldn't the Saplings be raised separately?"
"I would like to see how much the spirit of Noir burns in her. And..." Altena smiled. The visitor waited. After a few moments passed, Altena turned her gaze at the girls. Finally, she spoke. "I would like Chloe to see as well."
Mrs. Yumura smiled. "Does this have anything to do with the Daughter of Corsica? I heard her parents were being stubborn."
"Yes. I've already made arrangements with her uncle." Altena was still watching the girls play. The smile on her face hid the dark meaning behind her words.
"Feyder, wasn't it? So you want the girls to watch him resolve the situation." Mrs. Yumura exhaled in relief. "I suppose that would be very educational."
"I'm afraid you misunderstand. Once the deed is done, Feyder will care for the Sapling as I care for Chloe. But it is Kirika who shall perform the ritual of sacrifice." Altena turned her gaze back upon her guest. "You did say that the spirit of Noir is strong within her, did you not?"
Mrs. Yumura's mouth hung open. Shocked beyond words she simply uttered,"Hai."
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Altena and the young girl named Kirika stood before an altar within the Manor. "The other Sapling is in danger. Through their love for their daughter, Laurent Bouquet and his wife, Lady Odette, threaten her existence as a candidate for Noir. Kirika Yumura, born under the mark of Cain and blessed by the high priestess of the Soldats, you are one who is destined to become Noir. I bestow upon you this weapon of hatred. Use it well in the assigned task. For if love can kill, surely hatred can save."
Altena hands Kirika a gun. It seems large for her, but the girl carries it well. There is a look of anticipation on her face. She puts the gun away and bows before Altena. The priestess then turns to the other child. "My darling Chloe, you shall accompany her to bear witness. When it is done come back to me and tell me all that you saw."
"Yes ma'am." Chloe bowed as well.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Mrs. Yumura took the two children to Corsica. Although she was reluctant to do so, she dared not reveal her true feelings to Altena. During their journey both children were silent. Kirika was silent by nature. But Chloe seemed uneasy. It was her first time away from the Manor since she and Altena moved there years ago. By the time they arrived in Corsica, Mrs. Yumura couldn't bear to be with them any longer. "It seems so cruel." They gave her a questioning look. "Never mind. We've arrived at our destination. Kirika, you know what to do. Chloe, follow her. I'll be here when you're done."
The two children sneaked into the Bouquet estate undetected. After a few minutes of searching, they found Laurent and Lady Odette sitting with their son in an open-air patio.
The man picked a silver pocket watch up from the table when Kirika walked in. The three residents froze. Kirika pointed the gun at Laurent and fired. Before he hit the ground the boy also began his descent into death. The watch held by the man popped open as it hit the floor. A haunting melody filled the room. Chloe witnessed it all from outside and smiled in elation. She whispered under her breath, "So this is what it means to be a true Noir!"
The only remaining target was Lady Odette. Kirika pointed the gun at her and prepared to fire. But before she could pull the trigger Lady Odette spoke her last words. "Please take care of Mireille. I know that you and she will be exposed to the harshest of trials in the future. I beg you to lend your great strength to her aid. For while it's true that love sometimes does kill people, there is something else that you must never forget. That hatred can never save them. Never." Lady Odette then closed her eyes forever.
Mrs. Yumura brought the two Saplings to the airport. The Yumuras went back to the east while Chloe returned to the mountains. As she walked along the path leading to the Manor, she spotted Altena by the door. "Altena!" Chloe ran faster. When she finally reached the door the girl embraced the priestess.
Altena smiled in surprise. "Chloe! Welcome home, my precious."
"I am home." Chloe gripped Altena tighter.
"I see that you are well. Come inside and tell me what you saw." The story took hours. Finally Altena tucked Chloe in for bed. "Rest well young one."
Chloe told Altena most of what she saw. However there was one thing which she kept to herself. Lady Odette's last words. For the first time in her life, Chloe understood the stories Altena told her about Noir. Lady Odette's last words disturbed her. There was one thing that Chloe was certain of. Kirika was truly destined to pass the trials and become Noir. "I want to be at her side. I will become a true Noir!"
*To be continued*
Warning to readers: This is a prequel that contains major spoilers. Watch the anime first! The author's notes will be located in the final chapter.
Noir: A Perfect Blade
Chapter 2: Forming Destiny
While there are places that have been forgotten by time, people are different. They grow, mature, and wither away. And so the years passed. The high priestess of the Soldats withered away, leaving Altena to carry out Le Grand Retour. There were now only three candidates for Noir. And the day would come when that number would drop to two.
Altena had taken care of Chloe in the years since her baptism. They lived in the Manor. It was another place forgotten by time. Nestled in the mountains between France and Spain, it was also the traditional location for Noir's ascent. Chloe thrived in the clean air under the shining sun. Altena told the girl about the origins of Noir. But the little one was too young to really understand. For now they simply tended to the vineyard. Her innocence warmed Altena's heart, but she knew that this child would have to darken her hands some day.
And so the black thread of fate was woven when another Sapling arrived at the Manor. It was the one from the east. She seemed to share in Chloe's innocence. The two children played together.
Altena looked away from the children and addressed her other guest. "Welcome Mrs. Yumura. I am glad that you accepted my request. I hope she lives up to what you say of her."
The woman bowed and said, "She is indeed a prodigy. The spirit of Noir is strong in her." She hesitated a moment before continuing. "I don't mean to be rude, but I do not understand why you asked me to bring her here. Shouldn't the Saplings be raised separately?"
"I would like to see how much the spirit of Noir burns in her. And..." Altena smiled. The visitor waited. After a few moments passed, Altena turned her gaze at the girls. Finally, she spoke. "I would like Chloe to see as well."
Mrs. Yumura smiled. "Does this have anything to do with the Daughter of Corsica? I heard her parents were being stubborn."
"Yes. I've already made arrangements with her uncle." Altena was still watching the girls play. The smile on her face hid the dark meaning behind her words.
"Feyder, wasn't it? So you want the girls to watch him resolve the situation." Mrs. Yumura exhaled in relief. "I suppose that would be very educational."
"I'm afraid you misunderstand. Once the deed is done, Feyder will care for the Sapling as I care for Chloe. But it is Kirika who shall perform the ritual of sacrifice." Altena turned her gaze back upon her guest. "You did say that the spirit of Noir is strong within her, did you not?"
Mrs. Yumura's mouth hung open. Shocked beyond words she simply uttered,"Hai."
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Altena and the young girl named Kirika stood before an altar within the Manor. "The other Sapling is in danger. Through their love for their daughter, Laurent Bouquet and his wife, Lady Odette, threaten her existence as a candidate for Noir. Kirika Yumura, born under the mark of Cain and blessed by the high priestess of the Soldats, you are one who is destined to become Noir. I bestow upon you this weapon of hatred. Use it well in the assigned task. For if love can kill, surely hatred can save."
Altena hands Kirika a gun. It seems large for her, but the girl carries it well. There is a look of anticipation on her face. She puts the gun away and bows before Altena. The priestess then turns to the other child. "My darling Chloe, you shall accompany her to bear witness. When it is done come back to me and tell me all that you saw."
"Yes ma'am." Chloe bowed as well.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Mrs. Yumura took the two children to Corsica. Although she was reluctant to do so, she dared not reveal her true feelings to Altena. During their journey both children were silent. Kirika was silent by nature. But Chloe seemed uneasy. It was her first time away from the Manor since she and Altena moved there years ago. By the time they arrived in Corsica, Mrs. Yumura couldn't bear to be with them any longer. "It seems so cruel." They gave her a questioning look. "Never mind. We've arrived at our destination. Kirika, you know what to do. Chloe, follow her. I'll be here when you're done."
The two children sneaked into the Bouquet estate undetected. After a few minutes of searching, they found Laurent and Lady Odette sitting with their son in an open-air patio.
The man picked a silver pocket watch up from the table when Kirika walked in. The three residents froze. Kirika pointed the gun at Laurent and fired. Before he hit the ground the boy also began his descent into death. The watch held by the man popped open as it hit the floor. A haunting melody filled the room. Chloe witnessed it all from outside and smiled in elation. She whispered under her breath, "So this is what it means to be a true Noir!"
The only remaining target was Lady Odette. Kirika pointed the gun at her and prepared to fire. But before she could pull the trigger Lady Odette spoke her last words. "Please take care of Mireille. I know that you and she will be exposed to the harshest of trials in the future. I beg you to lend your great strength to her aid. For while it's true that love sometimes does kill people, there is something else that you must never forget. That hatred can never save them. Never." Lady Odette then closed her eyes forever.
Mrs. Yumura brought the two Saplings to the airport. The Yumuras went back to the east while Chloe returned to the mountains. As she walked along the path leading to the Manor, she spotted Altena by the door. "Altena!" Chloe ran faster. When she finally reached the door the girl embraced the priestess.
Altena smiled in surprise. "Chloe! Welcome home, my precious."
"I am home." Chloe gripped Altena tighter.
"I see that you are well. Come inside and tell me what you saw." The story took hours. Finally Altena tucked Chloe in for bed. "Rest well young one."
Chloe told Altena most of what she saw. However there was one thing which she kept to herself. Lady Odette's last words. For the first time in her life, Chloe understood the stories Altena told her about Noir. Lady Odette's last words disturbed her. There was one thing that Chloe was certain of. Kirika was truly destined to pass the trials and become Noir. "I want to be at her side. I will become a true Noir!"
*To be continued*