Chapter 4: A Familiar One

Wow….can't believe people actually like my story here. Makes me feel almost special, heh.

Like I said in the very beginning of my story, I haven't watched a lot of Noir. All I know about Chloe is how she dresses, her weapons, the fact she's enigmatic, and that she like Kirika (or something like that). A little bit more about Chloe would be appreciated greatly. Not that I'm putting pressure on you guys or anything.

Thank you all for reviewing.

As Mireille and Kirika unpacked, they brooded over the same thoughts, although they didn't know it. What had Kyoko meant by she'd someone over?

Taking the time between now and dinner, they both decided to look over their room. Being as large as it was, that took a bit of time. The room was half the living room's size, but the living room itself had as much square footage as the usual suburban home and yard together.

Besides the bed, there was a plasma TV, several couches and chairs, and two different chests for storing their clothes. As Kirika was putting her belongings in a chest, she came across a package with a note.

To: Kyoko Makashiro

From: Shoukyoku Mugendai

Good luck figuring this one out, young one. If you do, I expect to see you and your little friends soon. Take your time. After all, when I kill you all, you'll have all the time in the world to suffer.

There it was again! That strange name! Kirika took it that "Shoukyoku Mugendai" was their target, but how powerful could he be if the Makashiros hadn't made a move yet against him?

Recalling her days in Japan, she knew that Shoukyoku Mugendai meant 'negative infinity' in Japanese, but could his name be any indicator of what he was? And the package….Kirika was not a nosy person by nature, but this small wrapped package intrigued her. She carefully opened it, lifting the flap on it slowly, as to not leave fingerprints.

"What are you doing, Kirika?" Mireille had appeared from behind her, holding a stack of her shirts that she was going to put in her clothes chest.

"…" The Yuumura showed the envelope and the package to her partner. Unexpectedly, Mireille's lips curled up in a devious grin. "They threw us into this strange mess, and they're going to pay." Mireille crouched down with Kirika, as she opened the package.

Instead of finding anything personal, Noir found….two guns. A Walther P99, and a Beretta M1934 Handgun. Perfect replicas of Mireille's and Kirika's own handguns. And, with them, another note. Or rather, poem:

You of who the shadows speak;

You of who the icy mountains reek;

You of who knives fatal are thrown;

You of who now holds the thrown.

Together, you are mighty,

Together, you will get far,

But you'll all fall eventually

Without the aid of Noir.

Seek them out

The owners of these guns!

For they have killed far and wide

They are the Chosen Ones.

And when you have, and when you will

Stumble upon them a bright day

Remember these words I speak:

Just act; don't say.

And soon one will come

Green cloak flapping.

With lilac hair, and cold eyes

She'll meet the masked one and what'll happen?

Then come and challenge me!

I've been long without a fight.

But know that you all will lose,

And die on that black night.

"What was all about?" Mireille, even though she had asked the question, knew what was all about. It was almost like a prophecy. And now Mireille knew why the Makashiros needed Noir. For some reason, it would give them an advantage.

But what was creeping Mireille slightly was the way the poem foretold that the day that Kyoko would meet Kirika and herself. How she would have to protect herself from Kirika quickly.

Dong dong dong!

"I think that was the dinner bell." Kirika whispered.

Downstairs, WAY downstairs, in the basement:

"Suru, Suru, where are you?" Kyoko had been walking for ten minutes around the near empty basement, looking for Suru. Why does he have to live in the BASEMENT, fer heaven's sake?

A rustling came from her left. Whirling around, all that met her eyes was….nothing. Getting quickly annoyed, she called out in frustration. "Suru, appear dangit! I've got something I want you to do, you baka!"

A dark-haired head poked out of the ground. Suru's head. He wore a mask, with strange triangles for eyeholes. What was interesting was that even if you looked through the eyeholes, no eyes looked back at you. The mask had a painted demented mouth, with a fang protruding from the top lip, going over the bottom lip.

Heaving the rest of himself out of the ground (shockingly, there was no hole), he brandished his weapons in my face: twin claw gloves, each one having three huge and thick claws coming out of the leather of the glove. The claws were pointed. Being a bit of a traditionalist, Suru wore an ancient Japanese haori. And no skirt; Japanese pants as well. All of it a spectrum of brown. One would think he was a mole with fur sometimes.

"So, my young sister, what are you doing here in my abode?"

"Why do you always call everyone sister or brother?"

"Why DON'T I always call everyone sister or brother?"

"Forget you. Anyway, our guests are staying on the first floor suite Seaview. Remember where that is? I want you to go there with all due speed, and show them upstairs to the dining room."

"Why can't YOU do it, my sister?"

"I thought you would recognize one of them." Kyoko replied.

"Intriguing….I am on my way." He vanished into thin air with a blurring speed.

Kirika looked over to Mireille, where she was sitting beside on the bed, rapping her fingers rapidly on the bedpost. The dinner bell had rung ten minutes ago. Every time I look at you….my heart beats faster, my breathing slips. Do you feel the same way? I don't know. All I can do is wonder….but I'm not complaining. Your face, looking at it just makes me so happy, and full of…..

Mireille had noticed Kirika staring quietly at her. Staring back, the expression in her partner's eyes capturing her attention. Was that…in Kirika's eyes? Unconsciously, she found herself leaning forward toward Kirika, her breathing hitching.

"Am I interrupting something, m'ladies? I can come back later." Suru was now on the bed, behind them, watching their faces inch together.

"Y-you?" Kirika spat. A look of astonishment flashed across Mireille's features. Kirika was not one to start sputtering at someone.

Suru faced her, standing up on the double bed. "Ah, yes, the young Yuumura. So, you do remember me?"

"Everyone thought I was just strange because I kept looking over to my right side for the entire first day. But that was only because they couldn't see you. You were right besides me, whether I was walking to class or writing a paper. You kept telling me answers, helping me. Why?"

Suru didn't answer for a while. Then he replied. "Family sticks together, no matter what, my sister."

"What?"

"Come now, Mireille, Kirika. Supper is half over but if we hurry you can still grab some."

As he led them through the maze-like mansion, up to the Dining Hall on the fifth floor, Kirika thought over what Suru had said. (Wow, I make people do that a lot….) What had he meant by "Family sticks together?" Unless….

Sorry for the cliché almost-kissing-but-gets-interrupted gag. Couldn't think of anything else. Sad, ain't it.

Like I said in the beginning of this chapter, I don't know much about Chloe. Any info would be greatly appreciated.