YAY! NEW Chappie! I just had to get the right amv for it, that's all. New ideas, galore! Ok, on wit da show! Oh, and Rika is actually Riku, I got mixed up, might change it later if I feel like it, since the comp it's on no longer has access to the net. Get over that soon, hopefully.

Disclaimer: Don't own DNAngel or Noir. I do own the plot!

Forbidden Knowledge

Chapter 2

Test Run

"Class, all of your lessons will be put on hold while the school tests a new software for a renowned company." The teacher caught the attention of everyone. "This company is headed by a French businessman, so this is a great honor." Hikaru's eyes slanted when she said French.

"Corsica Electronics Facility." She said aloud before the teacher could pass out the flyers.

"Well, Hikaru has kept up with world events."

"I have a guest that is from Corsica; she told me about them." Hikaru covered. 'This is NOT good.'

"The company has come out with a software that holds all types of games, and will randomly choose one for you at this point, since it's new. You will carry out your objective in 3-D virtual software." She paused at Hikaru's desk. "It seems the CEO knows you. He requested that you try it out last, Hikaru. He asked for these two, as well." She put the paper down and continued down the row. The gang couldn't see what she was doing since she sat in the back, but it looked like she was sending a text message to a friend.

"Did someone mention a game?" Mereille slid the class door open. She was wearing her red shirt and black skirt, and Kirika was wearing her usual outfit as well. Kirika was staring into the distance. Hikaru introduced the two with a sweatdrop.

"Everyone to the gym." Everyone got up and left. Hikaru was flanked by Kirika and Mereille, and Mereille was chatting away like nothing was wrong.

"Hikaru, you think it's a trap, don't you?" Kirika asked in a low voice. Hikaru nodded.

"He'll probably simulate one of your past fights. It might be Le Grand Retour all over again. I wouldn't put it past him." Hikaru's eyebrows covered her eyes. "Of course, there will be a few tweaks."

"Hey, you guys, do you smell a setup?" Dark asked the gang. Krad nodded.

"Those two are here, and they came a little too quickly. Something's definitely up." Krad looked towards Hikaru.

"It's just a game, though, isn't it? What harm could a game . . .?" Daisuke's question was left hanging when they reached the gym and the first game was chosen. The person in the chair gasped as they fell to their death. With a frown, they gave up the seat to the next person. No one seemed able to reach their objective from the first class. They all had the same area, too. The second class had a little luck; someone almost reached the first level objective before being shot by a hiding enemy. Finally, it was their turn. Dark and Krad were in a magic level, and had to kill each other. It was a stalemate, but they were smiling. Riku and Risa had to play human pinball, and were aching when they gave up the chair. Everyone had a go, and while Claire was playing a game similar to lazer tag, Hikaru surprised Krad by appearing next to him from nowhere.

"Keep an eye on the technicians. All three of us are diving in. Keep them away from us, especially if they're holding needles." She melted back over to Mereille and Kirika, leaving Krad and the gang staring after her. Krad told them what she said, and they nodded to each other. It was now Hikaru's turn.

"Ah, Ms. Bouquet. I wasn't expecting to see you, after that tragic incident a few years ago." Mereille shrugged off the comment as the computer chose the next round.

"Noir. How . . . fitting." Hikaru remarked, getting set up.

"Choose your partner." The computer announced. There were a lot of pick me's, but Hikaru had long ago decided.

"Three candidates for Noir. Myself, Bouquet, Mereille, and Yumura, Kirika."

"Three way established. Now preparing for dive. Waiting for the candidates to be presented." Mereilla and Kirika were set up, and Krad and Dark kept an eye on the three. There was a heart monitor this round, and everyone was curious as to why. A few whispered what rumors they had heard of Noir. The screens displayed Mereille's room.

"Well, if this isn't familiar, I don't know what is." Mereille walked to the pool table and checked something on the computer. Kirika walked around, and Hikaru walked to a plant.

"I'm sure this isn't. Blacker than black, huh? Taken quite literally."

"Didn't I tell you, Kirika, that the leaves would turn black?" Mereille glanced at the plant and then returned to the computer. Hikaru saw a letter under the pot, and turned to Kirika, an eyebrow raised. She just nodded, but that was enough for Hikaru. She put the pot back.

"Hey, Mereille." Hikaru searched for something that she obviously didn't have. Krad saw her right arm, strapped down, twitch. "I need a gun. I didn't come loaded with a 9 mil." Kirika searched, and found she didn't have one either.

"That's because they're right here." She pulled them out from under the pool table and casually tossed one to both girls. Hikaru immediately sat down and started taking it apart, bit by bit. She pulled out a cleaning cloth out of nowhere and cleaned everything she could get her hands into. You could hear a pin drop in the gym. Kirika was looking over Mereille's shoulder, gun in her jacket pocket. Dark wondered if there really was a gun in her pocket. The two at the computer let out a gasp.

"What is it?" She scanned the letter. "Oh, my." She looked like she was ready to swear. Only Mereille and Kirika knew what she started saying, because she started going on in French. The classes laughed at Mereille's expression.

"How very colorful of you. Yes, we have to go and find Altena." As soon as Mereille said it, the game surged them forward. "Or the computer can zoom us forward to her. Hikaru? Kirika?" She looked around her. They were separated during the surge. "And make us find each other." She set off, gun at the ready.

-Kirika-

"Chloe!" Kirika gasped.

"You're a traitor. You choose the Corsica girl over Altena and me. You will pay." Kirika dodged just in time to avoid one of Chloe's knives.

-Hikaru-

She had slowed her heartbeat and was breathing silently. In effect, she was like a shadow, since she was deposited into the shadows of some ruins. She held still, gun at the ready, as she heard someone walking her way, and waited as the footsteps stopped behind her hiding place. The footsteps continued, and faded away. She took the opportunity to run silently, stealthily, in the opposite direction, towards a cottage in the distance. She maintained a calm, meditative state the entire way, eyes glazed over.

-Mereille-

"Tch." She had gotten herself surrounded by a bunch of nuns carrying guns.

"You are not welcome." One of them said.

"So I noticed." She kept it short and simple. Then, shots rang out, and a nun fell each time a shot was heard. Mereille took advantage of this and shot a few as well, until none were left standing. Hikaru came out from behind some rubble, looking none too pleased. After looking at all of the dead women, she looked towards a pool where two figures were fighting.

"Let's go get Kirika." Hikaru said. They ran silently towards Kirika and Chloe. Hikaru went to the right, Mereille to the left.

"I wanted to be like you, and you betray me. The Corsica girl is not fit to be Noir. You were raised by Altena, and yet you turn against her. Why? Why have you done all of this!" Chloe was relentless, but Kirika didn't bother to attack. She just kept dodging. And she kept her mouth shut.

"Kirika!" She didn't have time to turn around, because Hikaru shot, and the bullet grazed Kirika's cheek, but caught Chloe square between the eyes. She collapsed, leaving three assassins. "There's still three of us." Mereille stood next to Kirika, wondering what Hikaru meant.

"It's a game. The Rules don't matter here." Mereille said.

"Yes, they do. Noir is an ancient fate, meant for two maidens. These girls, who govern death, protect the innocence of the newly born with their black hands. These two alone carry the sins of the world, purifying it, leaving them the only ones tainted by the original sins."

"You sound like Altena." Mereille was frowning. Hikaru drew her gun and aimed at Mereille.

"I'm sorry, Mereille. There can only be two."

"There can only be one Hikaru, though!" Another Hikaru shot her gone at the hand of the one aiming at Mereille. She charged, not waiting for the bullet to sink in, and hit the side of her head with the butt of her gun. The girl faded. "No one impersonates me. Not even a bunch of ones and zeros. Are you two all right?" She turned. Hikaru's moniter had been split for a time, and now the class saw what had happened. The game had made a copy of Hikaru, but now that the copy was dead, the screen wasn't split anymore. Krad thought something was wrong with Hikaru's heartbeat. It was steady, but it wasn't regular.

"What did our health teacher say about an irregular heartbeat?" Krad asked the others silently. They just shrugged. It kept nagging him.

" . . . since it's just a game, we can forego the two maiden rule. I never liked playing by the rules if I didn't have to. So, Mereille, how did you get yourself surrounded?" They chatted all the way to the little house. When they stopped at the door, Hikaru gave it a mere glance before pushing it open, and then hopping out of sight when it was apparent it could finish opening itself.

"We are Noir. Make way if you fear the heart of darkness!" Mereille called out.

"Hey, didn't Hikaru say something about the heart of darkness at the restaurant? Something about . . ."

"Not only that, that guy, wasn't he the one sitting behind us?" Riku interrupted Risa. "Look at his hand, there's a tattoo there." While they were discussing things, they missed all of the action. By the time they looked up, the three young women were in an underground chamber, and a woman's hair was being blown upward. There was an orange glow behind her.

"Lava. Any of us falls, and we're ejected. But, if we get Altena to fall, our objective will be fulfilled." Hikaru whispered. Altena was explaining her version of Le Grand Retour, and how she planned to use Noir to cleanse the land of their fellow Soldats. Everyone, except the girls, and, apparently, the CEO of the company, was lost, having no clue what the Soldats were.

"Sitting through this once was enough, but this is too much." Mereille barely moved her lips, but the other two heard her.

"Enough with the crap. You're giving me a headache with all of your talking!" Hikaru charged, but Altena whipped out a golden gun and shot her in the stomach. The silver bullet passed right through Hikaru's body, and the two girls had two move aside to avoid the bullet, which embedded itself in the wall. Hikaru fell to her knees, obviously in pain, and clutched the wound. And then Hikaru's screen did some pretty weird stuff. Voices, broken and clattering together, were taking over the game. Mereille and Kirika were ejected, but the computer couldn't eject Hikaru. Her heart monitor had a red light flashing, and the voices were getting louder. Then they abruptly cut out, and Hikaru was ejected. She ripped off all the wires and stormed out of the gym, clucthing her stomach. Claire, Riku, Risa, Mereille, and Kirika followed her to the girl's bathroom. The technicians cleaned up the mess and, much to everyone's dismay, they were sent back to class.

"Oh my god, Hikaru, what are you doing!" Claire was the first one in, and found Hikaru with a syringe. She paused.

"It's a suppressant. Until I have the time to go to the hospital, this will keep my heart from failing." She jabbed it into her skin in the nook of her elbow and injected the liquid. It was clear. "My doctor told me to do this if I noticed I my heart wasn't steady and was beating irregularly. I hate needles, but it's the only way to stop the attack before it starts. Nothing else works." The girls were all in the bathroom now.

"Ok, cough it up. What's with the meds?" Mereille had her hands on her hips.

"For the past year I've been suffering minor heart attacks, and I've been slipping in and out of comas for six years now. This is to prevent a massive heart attack. Basically, my body is failing me." Though she looked calm and acted like it was nothing, they were really worried. "Another attack and I'm pretty much dead, there's so much damage."

Insert dramatic music here

And now I end this chapter, which has taken forever. Review please! The more reviews, the quicker the update!