Noir: The Second Chapter

By: Rukaii

2.

Unfamiliar Surroundings

The ship had arrived at the San Francisco Port, in the evening. It was at dawn when they arrived in Los Angeles. The look was that it had rained over night. The dew droplets on the grass and trees gave a calm and serene feel to Mireille. She and Kirika had been on the run from the Soldats ever since Altena's death, they had little time to gaze at the sceneries that surrounded them. They finally had some time to take in the surroundings and breath a hearty sigh of relief. Georg had said that having the opportunity to gain peace of mind is golden and should be taken as serious as an assignment or simply the necessities of living. Mireille liked Georg's outlook, because it was one of a very positive light – something not seen too often in their field of professional killing. The sun had just started to rise when Georg's car pulled into the drive of a moderate-sized flat. It was quite isolated considered it was in the Downtown district of Los Angeles.

"Georg, I thought you said we would be living in Downtown?" Mireille questioned.

"You are, though this is fairly near the outskirts of Downtown Los Angeles, I thought I'd spare you the hustle and bustle of the city life so you could get some peace of mind," Georg replied.

"I think it's a nice house," Kirika chimed in, as she got out of the car, "I like how the trees are positioned around the south-eastern side. Is that where the bedroom is located?"

"Very astute, as always, Kirika. That is indeed the corner where the bedroom is located."

"Mireille, let's go check out the house, okay?" Kirika asked.

"Sure, let's," Mireille replied.

Mireille and Kirika followed Georg up to the doorway of the flat. Georg turned and handed Mireille a set of keys, "These are two sets of keys, two front door and two back door. By all means, after you ladies," he said as he stepped aside to allow them to open the door to their new living quarters.

"Why thank you, Georg," Mireille smiled, taking her set of keys and handing Kirika the second set. She put the front door key into the lock, turned, and unlocked the front door.

"New locks?" She asked.

"Nothing gets past you girls," Georg replied with a grin, "I wanted to make sure that any past residents don't get any funny ideas of trying something like sneaking in to catch a sneak peak of heaven."

"Why? We'd just shoot them," Mireille replied wryly.

Sweat drops form near Georg's brow, "Yeah...that's why I changed the locks... for protection to the people outside..."

"You wouldn't happen to have a third set of keys would you?" Mireille asked.

"..." Georg sighed and handed Mireille the third set he had in his pocket.

"Mr. Cross, you're sneaky," Kirika replied with a soft smile.

"...Well anyway, I have something I have to attend to. You girls enjoy and relax. You've earned that with all the crap you've been through this past Month."

"Alright... I think we'll do just that – oh, and thank you, Georg. For everything," Mireille smiled.

"Come on, Mir...you're going to make me blush... Don't mention it," Georg said as he got back inside his car, "I'll be in touch, just take it easy for now." Georg closed the car door and drove off towards the busy Downtown Los Angeles.

That afternoon, Mireille decided to take a walk into Downtown Los Angeles. Kirika decided to stay back at the flat and take a nap. She walked through the busy downtown area, with a rather unpleasant look on her face. The smell of the city was already getting on her nerves, and she was wishing she was back in familiar Paris, France. The dense layer of smog that enveloped the city was painfully obvious on this typical day and it wasn't appealing in the very least to Mireille's senses. So, Mireille decided to head back towards the flat... at least that was her plan before she was approached by a man. He wore a white lab coat and silver-gray dress pants. His belt was white with a silver buckle and his shoes were shiny, white wing-tips. He had short gray hair and it was slicked back. The grin he had on his face immediately rose the suspicions of Mireille, placing her hand inside her purse, she gripped the handle of her Walther P99 handgun.

"Why good afternoon, Miss, I do hope I'm not disturbing you."

"Isn't it a little late for that?" Mireille replied cautiously, her hand still readied on her P99.

"My, my, why so impolite? I merely wish to ask what you think of our great city here, in Los Angeles?"

"...It's alright... I can't say it's the best city I've ever been to... but it's not the worst either," she replied, her guard still up.

"I see," the man kept that grin masked on his face, his emotions never stirred for even that of an instant, "well...if it's not the worst, they why do you have your hand on your gun?"

"For starters, I would say it's because when one comes over to a foreign country... they tend to be a little wary of it's people... especially one like yourself. Are you trying to look suspicious or is that just your nature?"

The older man chuckled at Mireille's observation and question, he replied, "I guess I owe you an apology for not greeting you properly... My name is... You can call me Dr. Smythe," he maintained his fixed grin.

"And just what exactly are you a doctor of?" Mireille questioned, still on full alert.

"Please...there's no need to be so hostile," he replied, holding his hands above him, "I swear I'll do no such act as to harm a beauty such as yourself."

"...Alright," Mireille, still cautious of this 'Dr. Smythe', however, removed her hand from her purse, "Now why don't you get to the part about telling me exactly what it is you're a doctor of."

"But of course, I'll get to that...Miss...?"

"Bouquet"

"Ah what a lovely name, Miss Bouquet, may I inquire as to what your first name is?"

"You haven't told me yours."

"Ah, still not trusting of me, eh? Well, it can't be helped – why don't we leave the streets and talk in a more 'appropriate' setting, shall we?" Dr. Smythe proposed.

"Alright, but we stick to this main road, understood?"

"Of course, there is a cafe here right up the street. It's much more suitable for holding a conversation than out here, on the street."

Mireille wanted to keep from straying from this main road because she still wasn't completely familiar with the roads here yet...and it would be quite embarrassing to get caught in a sticky situation in seemingly unfamiliar surroundings. Sticking to the main road, as promised, Dr. Smythe and Mireille entered Ric's Cafe. Ric's Cafe was a small cafe owned and run by Ricardo Perez. He was pretty well known in this part of town by the people who frequented here. When Mireille and Dr. Smythe entered, they were greeted by the Latino-American owner of this cafe, Ricardo Perez.

"Why, welcome to Ric's Cafe. If there's anything I can do to make your day better, just ask! Are you two together?"

"Yes, we are, however, I'd like to ask that you temporarily close the cafe until we are done with our 'business'," Dr. Smythe replied smug.

"E-excuse me, but sir, I can't do that – it's bad for business..." Ric replied. Then, Dr. Smythe leaned over and whispered something to Ric that Mireille couldn't discern with her ears. But whatever it was, has caused poor Ric to become absolutely pale in the face. Dripping with a cold sweat, Ric politely asks the only other customer inside to leave due to 'reasons' and turns the open/closed sign to closed. Then, he heads to the back into his small office.

"There, now we can talk openly without worry, Miss Bouquet," Dr. Smythe replied with his usual smug grin that was seemingly plastered onto his face.

"Just who exactly are you – not any ordinary man could just force a man to close his cafe shop temporarily at peak lunch time no less – unless they were some kind of big shot," Mireille smirks, "I'm guessing you aren't just a normal doctor either, are you Dr. Smythe?"

"Heh. Heh. You're quite astute, my dear. Actually, my name is not 'Smythe', it's Scythe. And I work for Inferno. I'm sure you've heard about me, during the trip over from Europe – from Georg. Haven't you...Mireille Bouquet."

"So, you knew who I was the moment I walked into the city? I should have prepared for this...after all, Georg did say that Los Angeles was one of the main Inferno locations... So, Scythe, what is it you want to talk to me about?"

"I want to know more about your partner, Kirika Yuumura. Her resemblance to my Phantom is striking...almost to the point one could assume they are twins. Tell me, do you know anything about Kirika's past, Mireille?"

"...Not much...and besides, even if I did, why would I tell you? Georg said that we wouldn't have to deal with Inferno for a little while... why are you coming out of your way to contact me? For mere information?"

"My dear... You misunderstand me, I'm not asking you to tell me anything about Kirika... I'm telling you to..."

"Tch..." Mireille notices that her back is to the glass of the cafe window...and there are 3... no 4 snipers positioned on buildings facing Ric's Cafe. "It seems, I fell into your little trap...Scythe."

"Heh. To be honest, I was quite surprised when you agreed to sit by the window... but nevertheless you did. So, Mireille, what will it be? Will you tell me what you know about Kirika Yuumura's past or will you continue to be obstinate and die here? I would rather not kill you, I think you could be a great asset to Inferno...even if your skills are far inferior to that of Kirika's."

"Ouch," Mireille replied with a smirk, "Very well, I'll tell what I know about Kirika... but I do apologize if it's vague."

"...Go on."

"You see... she's very keen when her partner is in trouble."

"What?" Scythe asked just as he heard a click behind his right ear. Kirika was standing directly behind Scythe, her Beretta's muzzle nestled underneath Scythe's right earlobe.

"Well now, Scythe," Mireille replied leaning forward, "If you have them shoot me, then Kirika will kill you... all your interest in us would be for nothing if you were to...die here," Mireille's eyes were cold like ice, yet she maintained a smirk on her face – a magnificent poker face.

"...Heheh... You make a good point. I suppose putting you in this situation wasn't a very good business move for Inferno... I just want you to know that I'm acting alone – Inferno has no idea that I am here. I'll call off the snipers...and I'll leave. But don't think that I'm done talking with you, Mireille... We'll meet again..."
Mireille motions for Kirika to lower her gun, at the same time, Mireille stands up and walks past Scythe, "Don't you even try to contact me or Kirika until the time comes that we are to officially meet with Inferno... if you do – We'll kill you." After a cold and stern warning to Scythe, Mireille and Kirika left Ric's Cafe. Mireille switched the closed sign to open on her way out and winked at Ricardo Perez, when she made eye contact, who was hiding inside his small office under his desk. When they emerged back out on the main street, they noticed a car parked on near the curb side – it was Georg's 1994 Lincoln Continental and he was leaning against it. He had his hands in his pockets of his black leather trench coat. He was wearing black sunglasses and had a smug look on his face when Mireille and Kirika approached him, "I leave you alone for a few hours, Mir, and you already managed to get yourself into trouble..." Georg replied, shaking his head, "It's a good thing I told Kirika to check up on you when I went back to the flat to check up on you."

"...Yeah, I'm sorry, Georg. I guess I just wanted to check out the surroundings... I guess I'm not really myself today," Mireille replied.

"H-hey, don't act like that... you're making me feel bad. Don't worry, the only reason he was able to get the drop on you like that was because he's with Inferno. I forgot to warn you about him when I told you about him – don't trust a single thing that bastard says... I don't trust a thing that comes out of his mouth..."

"That's quite rude, Georg Cross," Scythe replied as he walked out of Ric's Cafe, "That's not how one should refer to their superiors... You should think about that...when addressing me in the future, eh?"

Scythe walked proudly down the street as Georg and Mireille directed scowling stares in his direction. Scythe then boards a brilliant looking black limousine, leaving the area immediately after he had gotten inside. Kirika, noticing the looks on Mireille's and Georg's faces, opens the rear passenger door to the Lincoln Continental and gets inside – seemingly leaving them be. She puts on a small smile and lays down in the back seat and resumes the nap she was taking when Georg has arrived at the flat just prior to coming here. After the limousine was out of sight, Mireille looked around, "Where's Kirika?" she asked. And Georg glanced inside the car and chuckled, "It looks like sleeping beauty went back to sleep – are you sure she's really a better killer than you are?"

"I'm positive... I'm good. But Kirika's... the exception to the rule of assassins..."

"Sounds a lot like the Phantom to me..."

After Mireille and Georg entered the car and they had began the drive back to the flat, Mireille said, "You know... Scythe said that he was your superior... does that mean—"

"...Yes, I am a member of Inferno, Mir. But I swear to you that I have no intentions on forcing you to join our organization like that twisted maniac, Scythe... I'm not like that..."

"...I see, I'm sorry for doubting you, Georg," Mireille smiled, "You've always helped me out in the past...even after I killed one of your best friends..."

"You referring to your Uncle? Claude? Don't worry about it... besides, he was going to kill your partner, right? You didn't have a choice in the matter – please don't bring up things like that..."

"...Sorry," Mireille replied quietly... the ride was quiet for a little while longer, when Mireille spoke up again, this time she talked about Scythe, "He said that Kirika and Phantom look alike... almost as if they were twins... Did you... know anything about that?"

"...Can't say that I do. Just because I've seen Phantom in action doesn't mean I've ever seen her up close and personal. Scythe does a good job of concealing her... she is so loyal to him – I'm surprised Inferno allows him to have direct control over her. Needless to say, I can't answer your question as to if or if not Kirika and Phantom look alike... as I've never seen Phantom up close."

"I see..." Mireille replied quietly, she was thinking deeply about what Scythe had said to her and more importantly, "Who was the Phantom of Inferno?" Mireille kept her thoughts to herself as the car drove down the busy Los Angeles main streets...

Next Chapter: Chapter 3: Inferno Inquisition

Preview: NOIR's meeting with Inferno turns out to be more like an interrogation or an inquisition... Questions abound as NOIR has no choice but to agree to partake in the questioning... or will they?

Author's Comment: I know I'm kind of meshing Kirika Yuumura's personality with Margarette Burton's character from Madlax... but since their characters have a lot of similarities, I don't think it'll be a big problem in the end. Thanks for reading, chapter 3 should be along within a weeks time or so.

--Rukaii