Florian: Who am... ! Who am...I...? I can't remember anything. Nothing---

{sound f/x gata: clatter of a chair}

Girl: Ojiichan.

Isaac: Nothing good comes from getting involved with white men. I knew it, I should have stayed out of it back then.

Girl: Y... you won't kick him out, will you? If you throw him out now, he might die! Please! At least, until his wounds heal... okay!

Isaac: ---- [sigh] We've already set sail. Can't be helped.

Man: It's horrible, Isaac-jiisan! Azura's mansion is burning!

Isaac: What~!?

[Like ojiichan, -jiisan refers to a term for an old man. In Isaac's case, it's being friendly but respectful.]

Isaac: ---- This is divine punishment. We Morrocans, our land has been trampled over by white men. He played a part in that. Although you could say--- he's half our blood...! When he was young... he was a shrewd, helpful, good kid--- He changed after he went to America. Everything's the fault of America.

Girl: Ojiichan, Ojiichan!

Isaac: [gasp] What happened?

Girl: [clasping Florian] He just suddenly---

Florian: Uh...... Ahh.

Isaac: Get Fatima away! I'm sorry, but could you subdue him?

Man: Right!

Florian: N... NO, LET ME GO...~

Man: Hold on, I said don't struggle.

Florian: NO----~ DON'T TOUCH ME

Man: Uhya, I can't get a hand on him. Miss, do you have anything we can tie him with?

{sound f/x oro: Fatima's nervousness}

{sound f/x gabu: CHOMP}

Man: O~W---~

Florian: U... uh~

Man: You bastard~

Florian: Uh, uhh

Man: Phew--- What's with this guy?

{sound f/x biku: Florian's heart racing}

Florian: ...... Ah...ah

Isaac: He's probably some spoiled rich son, but he's gotten into opium or something. He's going through withdrawal. You reap what you sow.

Fatima: Ah...

Isaac: Don't worry. He'll come off it soon enough. He's still in the early stages.

Fatima: Ojiichan

Man: No matter what they say, people are good, aren't they. Isaac-jiisan, too...

Man: Yeah. Long ago, he took care of the homeless kids in this area, that's why he's so tough.

Fatima: Huh?

Man: That Azura from the mansion--- Even though he looked out for him for so long, this is how he repays the favor.

{sound f/x biku: Florian's shock}

Florian: Azu...ra? Azu...ra... ---Ah...what. What's...that. This image... Ah......Ah------ N...o------ I'm scared...... Blue------ Blue eyes. Tearing... into me. Some..one......... Some...one----

Noir: Ha! What're you doing. Just like always, you're a stupid ass.

Florian: ! [twitching in anger]

Noir: You're my amethyst, so hurry up and come here, you idiot.

Florian: That's right... There was a guy who talked like that. He was younger than me, so he was so insolent---- But---- Hey...Who---- are...you. You're so...far away. It can't...reach me. Like I am now-----

People: (Allahu Akbar, Hayya' alas Salaah)

Elsewhere, the locals pray, and Noir heals.

Noir: ----- Hey, Solomon. Don't you stick out like a sore thumb? ---Go home...

Solomon: I'm not on display. Break it up. (Shoo, shoo) This is a hotel just for westerners. I thought I'd be traced right away, so I stayed here, but it looks like it was just the opposite effect.

Noir: It'd cause no matter what you do, you don't look like someone from around here. (Finally, a cigar~)

Solomon: It's bad for your wounds, you heavy smoker.

Noir: I'm pretty much in your hands... Since we left everything at Azura's place... I'll pay you back when we get home.

Solomon: Oh--- What an unexpectedly strong sense of duty. (Don't worry about it. Just pay me back for your costs.)

Noir: I don't want to be in debt to you!

{sound f/x peta: Solomon clinging all over Noir}

Solomon: Show me your true colors and we can call it even~

Noir: What're you talking about.

{sound f/x doga: giant crunch}

Noir: (Don't be clinging to me!)

Solomon: Ouff~ (So cruel)

Noir: Geez.

Solomon: By the way, what happened to Laila and Noel? I haven't seen them around?

Noir: They're probably meet with the rest of my men about now. They were talking about leaving earlier.

Solomon: What're you going to do? You haven't got any money, and there're so many people!

{sound f/x su: Noir slowly holding up his hand}

Solomon: Huh? Ah, your ring?

Noir: What else? I really didn't want to have to do it, but that ring had the crest of the Courland family on it. A cousin working in the shipping trade has his ship in port in Tangier. I dropped him a line to see if he'd let us ride. That ring was the only thing worth three round trips for everyone.

Solomon: I forgot, they say he's from a noble lineage... But isn't that being pretty formal? You've just been through a lot, so wouldn't you have people who'd want to help you out?

Noir: ---- Azura will probably follow me pretty stubbornly. He has tremendous power. I have to prepare myself, too------ I don't intend to get any of my men involved in any more!

Solomon: I heard he was your close friend...... What----- in the world happened?

Noir: ---- I forgot about that stuff long ago.

Solomon: Does this have anything to do with Florian's disappearance? You're trying not to let anyone see, but Rei... you're starting to crumble. I've been watching you for a long time. Call it a detective's intuition. You'd rather die by stabbing each other---- you think that, don't you.

Noir: ----- How true.

Solomon: Wait a second. If you move that fast, you'll open your wounds. ---Hey, I said wait. !

Noir: Uh... ugh...

Solomon: C'mon, didn't I just say that? This is just like after one of your showy torture sessions. You can't stand, can you? C'mon.

Noir: ------ He's......dead.

Solomon: Huh?

Noir: Florian's dead------ It's all------ my fault......

Solomon: ----! That's... a lie, right!?

{sound f/x pasha: whipping of Noir's wet hair}

Noir: Dammit~ Serves you right...! Why... did this happen. I can't get rid of this feeling. I indulged him, that's what caused his death...! It's all---- my fault...!

{sound f/x ka: click of footsteps}

Noir: La...ila. Why're you here? Didn't you go with the others?

Laila: I came back here in secret by myself. I thought, I couldn't leave you alone... Just now, I heard--- about Florian...then.

Noir: -----

Laila: Hey, Noir. Don't suffer alone...... Aren't we your friends!? No matter what happens, I want to be with you, Noir. And then, no matter what happens, it doesn't matter. And if you think I'm dead like Florian, then. ! Ah. He's going to hit me!?

{sound f/x fuwa: soft touch}

Noir: I won't let anyone else be killed.

Laila: ----!

{sound f/x za: soft rustling}

Noir: ---- What're you doing. Hurry up and come.

Elsewhere in Fez.

Solomon: His face... I feel like I must have seen it somewhere... Strange. You wouldn't think I'd forget a distinctive man like him.

Man: Azura? Ahh, the one eyed guy!? A really suspicious guy. They say he's in international trade or something, that's not the truth. Over here there're special low prices, but over there it sells for more. If people object, then he works behind the scenes to make sure that they can't do business anymore. They say that there's even been people killed. He's supposed to be be backed by guys from a big organization who'll get things done at any cost.

Solomon: Big organization... Can I ask for some more details about that?

Man: No way. If I say stupid things like that, I'll be killed. Sorry about that, young man.

Solomon: I knew it, the Black Hand is involved. But still, why is it so fuzzy-----

Fatima: Ah.

Solomon: Right, this glass marble is yours, isn't it.

Fatima: Ah... Thank...you.

Solomon: Oh, man. I think I scared her.

{sound f/x byu: Fatima dashing away}

Fatima: Amethyst! Amethyst.

{sound f/x pita: Solomon stopping suddenly}

Fatima: Let's continue! Okay, I wanted to show you my treasure.

Solomon: Florian!? Is it... an illusion? They said... he died. But... is it possible to have a twin like that......!? He... hey!

Florian & Fatima: [gasp]

Solomon: Florian, you're Florian, aren't you!? Thank god, you're alive! We were so worried.

Florian: Uh... Ah...

Solomon: What's wrong, Flor----

Florian sprints away.

Solomon: He, hey, wait! What happened!

Florian: Ah... Ah......

Fatima: Don't~ Don't follow him! Amethyst doesn't want you to~!

Solomon: He... doesn't know me...?

Fatima: Don't go~!

Solomon: Isn't he Florian...!?

Florian: [gasp gasp]

{sound f/x gata: clattering noise}

Behind Florian, Azura and his guards approach.

Part 3e | Part 3f | Part 3g