Tea in the Moonlight
The eleventh episode of Noir opens with Kirika and Mireille remembering the past mission of when they were given the task of assassinating corrupt policemen and judge. It was the first time they met face to face with Chloe, one who calls herself "True Noir." Facing the two who just took out an entire building of policemen, Chloe walked nonchalantly between two raised guns after introducing herself. When Mireille turned with her gun against her, Chloe already had a knife against Mireille's throat. Looking at Kirika, Chloe asked if she wanted to test who was faster as she pointed her gun steadily against her. After a moment of silence, Chloe lowers her knife and turns away saying that she IS the true Noir.
Back to the present, they are snapped out of there reverie by a phone call that asked for Noir by name. Even when told that he got the wrong number, the man talked over Mireille saying he have sent them something, that it is best that they take a look at it.
[Title Screen]
As Mireille comes home from shopping, she notices a large vanilla envelop waiting for her in the mailbox. Bringing it upstairs to look over it with Kirika, they finds two copies of the exact manuscript they found long ago. After some examination, they come a conclusion that the copies are made at different times but from the same book. Soon after, the phone rings again and the same man who sent them the stuff wants to meet them at the Rambel Monument in Brannua.
As they walked down a path beside a high steel fence, Kirika and Mireille discusses what they know so far about the Soldats. That the Soldats knows pretty much everything about them, and they and Chloe must have some sort of connection. Soon, Kirika notices a man stands among tree on the other side of the fence. Kirika calls out to Mireille who sighed softly and turns to face the man who approaches the fence as well to talk.
Within moments, the man introduces himself as someone pledged to Soldats and that the extermination order for the two are still valid. But that he isn't on their side when Mireille asked. The man works solely under the order of Soldats and that they are so big, it is impossible to tell friends from foe within the order. After a soft sigh from Mireille, the man begins to walk down th path on the other side of the fence and talks of a book. The copies they received are from this book and in it how everything begin is described. The man then says he'd tell them about the book 3 days from now and walks away from the fence. Giving chase after getting over the fence, they soon lost the man and faces one another.
The scene changes to overlook a grape field as Chloe reads a short letter from Altena in her mind. The letter says, "My lovely Chloe, it is only natural that winds blow in the same direction. Try to remember, the grape yards, waving beautifully. If the winds oppose each other, an unnecessary whirlwind would be created. We must take care so the precious grapes won't fall to the ground." After reading the letter, Chloe walks over to her wardrobe closet and among frilly clothing lies her green cloak.
In a building somewhere in the city, the man who talked with Noir sits facing an ashtray with a piece of still burning paper. Soon, he notices that Chloe stands in the doorway and asks why she is there when he didn't recall summoning her. Soon he starts to tell that his actions have been ordered by the high priests and that contacting Kirika and Mireille is also part of it. He then said "Light and Water for our dealings..." and that the policy should apply to Kirika and Mireille. He then continues and asks what Altena is thinking and soon realizes by Chloe's response that it is not going as he thought it would. That they'd continue with the "Grand Route." Deciding that he'd make a report of it, Chloe cuts him short by saying there is no need for it. When asked why, Chloe says that it has already concluded. Upon seeing the piece of burned paper, Chloe says that she'd send someone to meet them three days and for him not to worry about the promise. The man accepts his fate within the order of Soldats.
[Commercial]
In the forest and building of Rambel Monument, Kirika and Mireille are hunted by numerous men in black. In one of the sequence, some men finds a coin imbedded within a tree only to find Kirika appearing as if a ghost behind them and killing all three without hesitation. In another, a clinging sound distracts a group of four men and with another flash of lightning and thunder, Mireille appears from the shadow and fades to black. The hunters soon became the hunted as one man falls after another by shots from unknown places.
As Mireille puts a pot of water to be boiled, Kirika prepares saucer and teacups. As they sit down to discuss what had happened, Kirika thought that the man they met would not do such a thing. Because he warned them, Mireille believes that within the order of Soldats, there are internal conflicts.
Someone then knocks on the door and Mireille looks up in surprise. Upon answering the door and looking out, Mireille gasps in surprise at finding Chloe standing in the doorway. As Chloe walks into the apartment, Mireille stands still in shock. Chloe surveys the room and hums in approval at the apartment. Looking around and picking up a magazine, Chloe flips the pages. Meanwhile, Kirika gazes down at the pool table at a scissor lying there that could be a potential weapon for Chloe to use, since she stands right in front of it.
Putting down the magazine and continuing her walk around the apartment, Mireille reaches down under the pool table where a gun lies hidden. Placing her fingers upon the leaf of the plant, Chloe strokes it gently between her fingers and Kirika sees the edge of the leaf as potential weapon as well. As if Chloe have eyes in the back of her head, she calls out to Mireille to just pull it out. Surprised once more, Chloe continues with that this is their home after all and should just go ahead. Recovering, Mireille pulls out the gun and aims it at Chloe standing in the corner of the room next to the plant.
As if on cue, the water begins to boil and Kirika looks over in the direction of the kitchen. Going in to turn off the heater, she then looks over at the teacups and seeing only two laid out. Walking back out to the tension filled room, Kirika asks "How about some tea?" At which, Mireille gawks at Kirika as Chloe answered, "Yes please." Kirika then tells Chloe that they only have the orange peco flavor and if that is alright, to which, Chloe says, "Yes, thank you."
Mireille yells out to Kirika to wait and asks Chloe what she is thinking! Chloe is staring out the window up at the moon and comments on how beautiful it is and asks Mireille to turn the light off. The bewildered Mireille could not believe her ears and asks what she is talking about. Kirika is also now looking out the window as well and says that the moon really is very beautiful.
So under the moonlight, the three assassins sits together and drinks tea with cookies.
As the two enjoys their tea, Mireille couldn't help but stare at Chloe with suspicion. The view looks over the cookies with two small forks beside them as Chloe puts down her teacup close to the forks. Chloe comments that the tea tastes wonderful and Kirika thanks her and says that she is pretty good at making tea. She continues with that she learned how from a book at which Chloe narrows her eyes at. Becoming impatient, Mireille asks Chloe what her business here is. When no immediate reply is given, Mireille rhetorically asks if she came to her home just to drink tea. Chloe answers with she just wanted to come by. Mireille couldn't believe her and asks for her to cut it out.
Continuing on, Mireille asks what she meant by Chloe being the "True Noir." Chloe replies that means she is different from them two. When asked what that meant, Chloe continues with that it's all written in the book. Mireille asks if it is the book the copies are from, Chloe didn't answer the question but says that she watched the battle at Rambel Monument and knew they were going to win. Mireille then asks if she arranged the attack, and after a moment of pause and exchanging looks, Mireille reaches for her gun. Chloe cryptically answers with "Answers should be sought on your own," and that Altena always said that.
Mireille then asks who Altena is but Chloe already answered with "answers should be sought on your own." After another moment of pause, Mireille squirms around and yells out that this is like "The Mad Tea Party!" Kirika just looked at Mireille questioningly and asks "Mad?" To which Chloe answers that it is from "Alice in Wonderland." Seemingly more relaxed, Mireille rests her chin on her hand and decides that Chloe is more educated than Kirika at least.
Looking back up at the moon, Chloe declares that the moon is really beautiful as it reflects off her eyes. Kirika asks if she'd like another cup and Chloes says sure. Mireille adds that she'd like another as well.
As they come to a stop during their walk down an empty street, Chloe turns around facing the Kirika and Mireille to thank them for the delicious tea. All of the sudden, Chloe reaches down toward Kirika's hand and grabs a hold of her wrist. Slowly, Chloe draws out a small fork that Kirika had hidden up her sleeve and asks that she gives it to her please. Withdrawing into the darkness, Chloe asks that they drink tea again, sometime later.
Asking what the fork was, Kirika answered that she got it from the kitchen and that Chloe did not leave any opening until the end. Kirika then adds that the man who was talking with them on the phone, is no longer alive. The two stands alone in the dark of the street as the scene fades out.
[End]
