Editor's comments and actions are denoted by [brackets]. Sound effects are written {like this}. (Parenthesis) indicate side notes in the dialogue bubble or the mangaka's note. And finally, italics are thoughts.

Voice: KYAAA

In an opulent household, a woman sobs in front of an open safe. Police fill the room.

Inspector: And so... you saw the shadow of the apparent criminal who broke into your safe, correct, Madame Tassel.

Madame Tassel: [sobbing] Yes. I was... so scared, so scared... Excuse me, Sir Inspector, but I somehow have a feeling that it's the same criminal who was involved in my husband's disappearance. Hurry! Hurry and catch the Masked Noir!

Solomon: Why do you think that the criminal is the Masked Noir, Madame?

Madame Tassel: Huh..? Who's he!?

Inspector: (He came after all~) Solomon Sugar. He's a detective who is has been closely hunting Noir. Now, now, don't interfere with our investigation. Why don't you go snooping somewhere else?

Solomon: You said that you just saw someone's shadow. So why do you think it's Noir?

Madame Tassel: Ah... well. There's no one besides Noir, the one who's causing such a stir, who could have done this... that's what everyone says.

Solomon: An Italian accent. Is she Italian...? You husband is the head of the Tassel du Paris bank, is he not? And so the money in this safe----? Banque Tassel du Paris. Paris's leading bank.

Madame Tassel: Yes... the bank's head office was planning to move into the boulevard, and those funds... they... My husband might already be dead!! [sobbing]

Inspector: Madame... please calm down!

Solomon: This woman is the bank head's wife---- something doesn't feel right.

Voice: Um... Mssr. Solomon?

A maid approaches Solomon in the hall.

Maid: I've heard that you are a famous private investigator. Would you please use your abilities to find the young master of the household?

Solomon: Young master?

Maid #2: Renee, stop this. If you do that, you won't be able to work here any more.

Renee: But...! Aren't you worried about Master Noel!? He... he hasn't come back for three days. But she says that we are not allowed to notify the police! She said... that he's probably out playing and having fun with someone... But I'm sure it's not just that!! Since he's not Madame's own child, she doesn't worry! Our poor young master! He's only five years old!!

Solomon stares in shock at a cute picture of Noel.

Solomon: !? -----This child is-----

{sound f/x da~: Solomon dashing off}

Renee: Ah, Mssr. Solomon!?

Solomon: Did he slip up? Is this the chance I've been looking for...!? Rei Balzac Courland. I can declare that you are "Noir"! My prideful black cat...!

{sound f/x pita: stopping midstep}

Solomon: But... something's... not right. Something is fundamentally... wrong...!

{sound f/x bishi: crack of a whip}

In Noir's favorite little dungeon, he "questions" two men.

Noir: Now then, gentlemen. May I ask why you stepped into my mansion with your little dirty shoes!?

Man #1: Hmph! Who did!

Noir: (hmph) Excellent!

{sound f/x bishi}

Voices: UOO~ GYAAA~

{sound f/x bashi: big whip crack}

{sound f/x bishi}

Noir: ......

The two men sob like little babies.

Man #2: St... stop...

Man #1: [sobbing and wailing]

Man #2: [sobbing]

Noir: Not pretty at all.

Guy: Huh? You're already finished?

{sound f/x poi: chucking the whip to one side}

Noir: (Hmph~) Yeah, just a little more and they'll spill everything. I'll leave it up to you to do it right. I thought that people who would dare step a foot into Noir's mansion would have a little bit more backbone but... They're no fun at all!

Guy: [sweating] (This guy's really twisted. But except for this hobby of his, he's a pretty serious guy!)

In Florian's bedroom, he puts Noel to sleep again. Noel holds onto Florian's finger.

{sound f/x kya: grip}

Florian: You can't stop shaking, can you. But it's all right now, so you can stop worrying. It must be hard for him to be caught up with those people again... That's right, I'll bring you something warm to drink. That will help you rest easy tonight.

Noel: Florian. I promised Papa that Betty Deux and I would be good when he was gone. Only, Papa hasn't come back. Maybe he doesn't need me. 'Cause I wasn't a good boy.

Florian: Noel is a good boy. I guarantee it.

{sound f/x posu: patting Noel's head}

Florian: You have absolutely nothing to worry about.

Noel: [sobbing] Un... ugn... [hiccough] Florian...!

Florian: His shoulders shaking like a little bird. I wonder what this child has had to bear alone. His heart is crammed with so much fear and sadness----

In the kitchen, Florian heats up some milk.

Florian: Laila.

Laila: (Hmm--) You're just like a mother, Florian. Looks like those guys spilled something to do with Noel.

Florian: Ah. Right, I'll go right away. Ah~ but the hot milk---

Laila: I'll take it to Noel. Hurry up and go.

Florian: Right! Thank you, Laila!

{sound f/x shuu: pouring}

{sound f/x kopo: glugging}

Laila: Now, it's always about Florian... Noir.

{sound f/x kopo}

Laila: Hmph. So what. That's fine with me. So I guess Laila's just one of the followers, is she. Noir's an idiot~ (Ah~ I spilled it.)

Florian catches up with Noir in his study.

Noir: That brat's real name is Noel Tassel. He's the son of the head of Banque Tassel du Paris.

Florian: Tassel du Paris...!

Noir: You've heard of that large bank, I'm sure.

Florian: Yes... But then, why...

Noir holds up the two star sapphires.

Noir: I'll give you a hint.

Florian: (??????)

Noir: That's enough. We don't have time. [sigh] Monsieur Tassel... That brat's father lost it or something. He took all of his bank's money and made it his by changing it into priceless jewels---- In order to make them harder to find, he hid them inside of a present for his son. That's apparently what they're after.

Florian: Inside of Betty Deux! ----No... Then are you saying that those men were sent by Noel's father!? It can't be...

Noel: Papa bought me Betty Deux. It's my treasure.

Florian: How---- How horrible......!

Laila: We've got trouble...~

{sound f/x ban: the doors flying open}

Laila: We've got big trouble!!

Noir: What is it, Laila. You could have at least knocked.

Laila: This is no time for that! Noel...! I can't find him anywhere!

Florian: What did you say!? You mean, those guys caught him...

Laila: I don't think so. There's no signs that anyone entered the mansion. I think he just went outside by himself.

Florian: Noel! So that you wouldn't cause anyone any problems...!?

Florian runs towards the door.

Laila: Ah, wait! Me, too----

{sound f/x zui: Noir shoving past}

Laila: Huh!?

{sound f/x dan: Noir hitting the door}

Noir pins Florian between himself and the closed door.

Noir: I'm not finished talking. Listen to me when I'm speaking to you.

Florian: I can do that afterwards! If we don't hurry, we'll lose Noel!

Noir: Forget about that brat. He's a nuisance and seriously dangerous.

Florian: Weren't you the one who said, "Throw him out, now"!? He's all alone. At least I have to be the one to stick by him...! Get out of my way, you heartless bastard~!

{sound f/x bashi: slap}

{sound f/x dan: Noir hitting the door}

Noir slaps Florian and corners him again.

Noir: Aren't you just getting all sentimental and seeing yourself in that brat! Don't worry. He's far stronger than you! Got it? I bought you. Don't forget that I control your everything. You're not premitted to go out without my permission! You should always keep in mind the position you're in!

Laila: (That's pretty harsh, Noir.) Ah. (That's such a cartoony way of saying things...) !?

{sound f/x bashi~: punch}

{sound f/x wapo: whack}

Florian punches Noir through his tears.

Florian: Since I'm in your debt, I'll listen to you to a certain degree. But it doesn't mean that I'm a slave! If you're trying to do what you want with my feelings, too, then that's just killing me!

Noir: (Dammit- You actually punched me--~~) ------ Then do whatever the hell you want!

Florian: Yeah, I'll do that!

{sound f/x da: Florian dashing out}

{sound f/x batan: door slamming}

Laila: Ah... um, Florian left. This really okay, Noi-...

{sound f/x mogaga: muffled sounds}

Noir slaps his hand over Laila's mouth.

Laila: -r...!?

Noir: What's my name...? Laila.

Laila: N... Noir eagle's talons, the XXXX that conceal's them, Rei Balzac Courland~! [As a reminder, noir is French for black. And I have absolutley no idea what the heck Laila was going to say that was bleeped out, so don't ask me...]

Noir: Bingo!

Voice: ......... Or so you say.

Noir sends his whip lashing out at the window curtain.

Noir: How long were you planning to hide there!

Solomon: [smiling] Did I give myself away?

Laila: Solomon Sugar! [gasp] When did you...

Noir: What a lovely hobby of peeping in on people you have. ----Such is the country's famous Sir Detective! Talk.

{sound f/x pa: the whip snapping loose from Solomon's arm}

Solomon: Don't be so stubborn. We're talking about you and me, right~?

Noir: How much did you hear?

Solomon: I got the general gist of things!

Noir: Then you already know. I don't have anything to do with that brat. Get out of here right away! I don't know what kind of investigation you're got going on, but stop going off in front of me?

Solomon: I would for Rei Balzac Courland. But for the Masked Noir, I can't do that.

Noir: !?

{sound f/x dodo: rumble of a car}

On the dark Paris streets, Noel wanders alone as Florian searches for him.

Florian: Where did he go?

{sound f/x da: running}

Florian: I'm sure that he must have come down this way.

Voice: LET ME GOO~!

Florian: !?

Noel screams as a man wrestles him into a car.

Noel: NO, LET ME GO!

Man: Quiet down~!

Noel: LET ME GOO~

Florian: Noel!

Noel: FLORIAN! FLORIAN!

Florian: Wa~

{sound f/x ga: roar of the car}

Florian: NOEL!

Back in Noir's study...

Solomon: This is still top-secret, but that boy's father, Mssr. Tassel from the bank family, has disappeared. They're investivating Noir as being behind both a safe's break-in and Mssr. Tassel's disappearance. But when I heard the conversation earlier, I felt relieved. My Noir wouldn't have committed those sort of cheap crimes. He has aesthetics.

Noir: [twitching] That's great~ (It's not "my" anything. It's mine... hmph) ----And that's all great so why don't you leave at once.

Solomon: "Louise Tassel" ----Did your intruders say anything about her? ----She's Mssr. Tassel's second wife. ----In other words, she's Noel's step-mother---- It's just a hunch, but there's something strangely fishy about that woman. Doesn't that have some sort of connection to why you were so incredibly stubborn with Florian, too?

On the street, an older man pulls up in a carriage.

Man: Hey, Florian, what're you doing out in the middle of the night!?

Florian: Mssr. Feder. Please, let me ride with you! I want to follow that car!! A child's life is at stake!

Feder: But, I'm on the job... [sideways glance]

Florian: I've got money!

Feder: WELL THEN, get on and we'll ride!

{sound f/x gara: clatter of carriage wheel against street}

The carriage takes off after the car carrying Noel.

Man: Dammit--- He just keeps following us.

Woman: We'll shake him off at the crossroads. More importantly, you've got the teddy bear, haven't you?

Noel: [bound and gagged] Mmngh---- Mngh---

Man: Of course.

Noel's step-mother, Louise Tassel, grins from the back of the car.

Louise: What a vexing child! Causing "Mama" such problems. Thanks to you, you really upset our plans. Isn't that right, boy, why is that?

{sound f/x gyuu: pinching Noel's cheek}

Noir: Louise Tassel's------ real name is Louise Mastroianni. She's a member of the Italian crime syndicate based in New York called "Black Hand." Apparently she's a Parisian crime boss.

Florian: Noel, I'm coming to save you! Hurry! Mssr. Feder, hurry~!

{sound f/x gara: clatter of carriage wheels}

Part 2a | Part 2b | Part 2c

Manga belongs to Higuri You, Eyes Comics, and Shuueisha, taken from the Gorgeous Carat -Kurayami no Bitoku- manga, ISBN4-8342-6122-0. Not like the story makes sense if you haven't read the manga anyway. Romanized and translated into English very badly by Mina-P, with desperately needed help, as always, by Mako-chan. Any comments or corrections can be mailed to Mina-P at Minako@senshigakuen.com.

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