Back in Fez, Florian sits blankly against one wall.

Noir: What the hell happened to Florian!

Laila: Don't move. Let me treat you.

Noir: Who care's about that.

Isaac: He was always like that. He doesn't remember anyone, much less his own name.

Noir: I...can't believe......!

{sound f/x gu: Noir clutching his fist}

Noir: I can't believe that! Didn't he just save me back there!?

Isaac: That was also part of the cause. Shocked at having shot a person, little by little he closed himself inside of his shell...

Noir: ......!

Laila: Rei!

Noir: ---- Hey, look at me. What's with you!? You... what---- Say something... Don't you understand to say something!!

{sound f/x ka: spark of Noir getting ticked}

{sound f/x gui: grab}

Noir: Florian!

Solomon: Stop it, Rei!

Noir: Let me go~ I'll snap him back to himself.

{sound f/x don: thud}

Noir: Let me go~

Solomon: That's enough!

{sound f/x baki: punch}

Laila: Rei!

{sound f/x dou: thud}

Laila: What're you doing! To an injured man! Not to him.

Solomon: Sorry 'bout that...

Noir: ------!

Laila: Are you okay?

{sound f/x ba: smack}

Noir: Don't touch me.

{sound f/x yoro: Noir staggering}

{sound f/x don: bang of Noir punching the wall}

Noir: Ow...... Dammit.

{sound f/x zu: Noir sliding down the wall}

Noir: Dam...mit...!

Laila: Noir...

Isaac: Don't be impatient. When you're impatient, you worry about things too much. When he settles things for himself, he'll return back naturally---

{sound f/x bu: Florian hanging limply}

Isaac: You were like that, weren't you Rei?

Laila: !?

Isaac: Believe in him.

{sound f/x chapu: plunk, splash}

Laila: This is worse than I thought. The cloth stuck to the burns. I'll have to change the bandages.

Noir: --------

Laila: ........! No... Rei.

{sound f/x gashi: grab}

Noir: !? What is it, Laila?

Laila: Thank...god. You're conscious. I...I thought you had drifted off somewhere, too.

{sound f/x gushi: sniffle}

Laila: Please, don't stare off like that...! Don't leave me alone with all this pain!

{sound f/x ton: thud}

Laila: Ow~

Noir: Don't cry. Stop worrying. It don't mean I'm gonna fade out on you.

Isaac: What? You're going to Tunisia!? Why all of a sudden?

Noir: If we stay here, we'll just cause you trouble. Just because we killed Azura doesn't mean that it's over. What's this treasure that he wanted for so long? I want to see it for myself. The secret treasure of the Knights of Templar-----!

Solomon: Um... I don't exactly have the cash on me to travel to Tunisia.

Noir: I understand. I don't want to ask for any more money from a broke detective, don't worry.

{sound f/x kachin: click of annoyance}

Solomon: (I won't respond to that.)

Noir: You've been a lot of help, Jiisan.

Isaac: ---- What's this? You want money?

Noir: A handshake. Handshake~!

Isaac: Live a long life. Of course, even if I don't say that to you, you plan on doing so. (Hmph.)

Noir and Laila leave with Florian.

Isaac: That kid's really grown up. Must mean I'm getting old, too.

Solomon: I'm sure he was a horrible brat.

Isaac: That's for sure. !? Weren't you going with them?

Solomon: I came here on a different matter. I thought I'd ride Azura's tail for a little while longer.

Isaac: Azura's tail?

Solomon: There's a rumor that he's part of a bigger organization. I want to know the truth about that.

Isaac: And if you know, what'll you do? He's already dead.

Solomon: My younger sister--- and best friend were killed... by that organization. I want to know the reason why they had to be killed--- I suspect that Azura was involved in that organization.

Isaac: Would you like to drink? It's Moroccan Whiskey.

Solomon: Ah... thanks. (Sw, sweet~~~~)

Isaac: "Black Hand."

Solomon: !?

Isaac: I'm sure that's what it was called. Black Hand.

Tanzier

{sound f/x katan: clatter}

Man: Matisse's new work--- "Moroccan Woman".

[This work from Matisse can be seen here.]

Man: These colors and composition are exquisite! The next masterpiece has certainly come to me! To see through to the value of true beauty, that is something that only those chosen few who possess an eye for beauty can do. Yes, like myself...

Servant: Michel-sama. ----Um, there is a telegraph awaiting you.

Michel: Telegraph? From whom?

Servant: Yes, well... It is from Count Rei Balzac du Courland.

Michel: Rei Balzac

Servant: Today he is arriving in Tanzier, therefore he would like to be picked up at the train station---- he said... What shall I do? Would you like me to ignore him?

Michel: No, go for him.

{sound f/x pakin: crackling shatter}

Michel: In the most exclusive Rolls Royce. Let's show off my generosity to him.

Elsewhere in Tanzier.

Laila: Noir! Noir! Ah, we got separated. So many people--- Anyway, I'll make for the exit--- ----Ah~ There, there~! Just ahead--- Noi... Huh!?

Noir and Florian meet a driver with a gleaming Rolls Royce.

Laila: HUUH~...

Servant: You must be Count Rei Balzac du Courland. I have come to greet you.

Noir: Thanks. (Sure showy. It's gold-colored, hey.)

Laila: H, hold on, Noir. (What's with the bad taste?)

Noir: Laila, what're you doing. C'mon.

{sound f/x zawa: exclamations from the crowd}

{sound f/x kira: glittering of the car}

Laila: ----cousin!? Your cousin. The one working in the shipping trade who took everyone back to Paris?

Noir: (I don't really care, but this car's embarrassing.) That's right. Viscount Michel Raoul du Courland. My cousin.

A much paler, much blonder, and much dandier version of Noir greets them.

Michel: Hello there, long time no see! Rei Balzac, I'm so pleased to see you!

Laila: He looks just like Noir! Only a white version! (But it's a bit strange...)

Noir: Yeah, I'm so happy too, Michel. (Stop with those looks and those clothes.)

Michel: If that is so, then why do you avert your eyes! That's so rude! You're looking rather shabby. Using your ring as collateral to ride my ship, what in the world are you doing?

Noir: Well, lots of things. It's that good?

Michel: Hmph. Please, how worthless. At any rate, you're doing such things as usury. You're dirtying the entire family name. You've been told you're clever or a prodigy or whatever, so you're pretty proud of yourself. And maybe you graduated at the top of the University of Paris, but in the end you act like some bastard child!

{sound f/x uza: Noir's annoyance}

{sound f/x kudo: Michel going off}

Michel: Moreover, even though you are doing a nasty trade like usury, you rank higher than myself, and there is nothing more humiliating!

Noir: And who was it who provided the war funds, again?

Michel: That was...! I'll repay you somehow!

Noir: Once indebted to the noble Courland house, it won't be forgotten throughout your entire life, that's our family creedo, isn't it... I think you've used it pretty often, huh Michel?

Michel: You scoundrel! What do you plan on making me do?

Noir: What, it's easy. I want you to take us to Tunisia.

Michel: !?

Michel notices Florian, wrapped in a cloak.

Michel: Doesn't that mean you want me to take part in a crime?

Noir: Not at all. I'm just sweetly asking for a favor.

Michel: If that's so, then take off the hood from this suspicious fellow~!

Laila: Stop, what're you doing!

Michel: Shut up~!

Michel pulls the hood from Florian's head.

Michel: Smouldering amethyst eyes.

{sound f/x bishi: Michel snapping aroung}

Michel: I've got it, you're trafficking humans, you bastard! Are you that degenerate? You're an embarrassment to the entire family!

Noir: Don't jump to conclusions. He's... feeling a little ill. I wanted to let him rest. He's the young Rochefort master, so he's delicate from leading a sheltered life. Don't you think you want to help out, Michel? We're connected by blood lines as distant relatives, so to speak.

Michel: Rochefort!? Those influential nobles----!? Is that, the truth? Rei.

Noir: Yup. Florian du Rochefort. The last son of that noble family with ties to the French king.

Laila: !

Noir: In order to win favor with Michel, I purposely emphasized the class rank. He judges people's worth on their birth---- He would be quite prejudiced...

Laila: How sad... how sad, Noir!

Noir: (S...scary.)

Michel: I understand. Leave everything up to me. I shall arrange for everything. Anything for those beautiful amethyst eyes----right. [chuckle]

Laila: (He's definitely Noir's cousin. They look alike...)

(Admiration)

Noir: (Stop that. I'm not an idiot like him.)

Laila admires the ship as it takes off.

Laila: Kya----~ What a deluxe luxury cruise liner----~ (We're finally back to feeling rich.)

Servant: A delivery from Michel-sama. Please wear these and attend tonight's gala----he said.

Noir: He won't stand for us to look too shabby. Heh~

Laila: These are the latest in fashionable clothing. Ama--zing~

Noir dresses the still dazed Florian.

Noir: Okay, now give me your other foot. Geez, you're really annoying. Laila? She not around?

Laila: Since Florian's been like that, Noir won't part from him for even a moment. Even if I hadn't left, it would have been too awkward.

Michel: Hey, haven't you changed yet? I provided something for you, too, didn't I?

Laila: Michel-san...!? Huh...why...

Michel: Yes, I decided to come along as well. Rei Balzac isn't the only one who is worried about Rochefort-kun. It's the perfect time for a nice vacance for myself.

[As can be expected, vacance is "vacation" in French.]

Laila: If it's Florian, than leave him to Rei and he'll be fine. It's just a cover for you anyway.

Michel: Well, in any case you understand. Now then, there isn't time before the part. You should get changed as well. You can't have your master waiting for you.

Laila: What's with him. ----Um... but there wasn't anything but boy's clothes...

Michel: What're you saying! You... You! I see. You're a girl. (A-ha-ha-ha) How rude of me~

{sound f/x piki: Laila twitching in anger}

Laila: THIS GUY'S THE WORST. (He's like this, after all.)

Michel: ----Wait. In apology, I shall gift you with an extraordinarily beautiful dress. It shall be perfect for you!

Laila: I don't need it! It's easier to move like this. Let me go!

Michel: ---- My my.

Later on, at the party.

Partygoer: Oh my, is that THE Count Courland?

Partygoer: Look, it's that corrupt loan shark-----

Partygoer: I heard he was half Arabian.

Partygoer: And for that reason, his mother was banished from the Courland household.

Partygoer: So then why did he end up returning to become a count!

{sound f/x hiso: whispering}

{sound f/x kuso: soft laughter}

Laila: ----What's this. I've got a bad feeling.

Michel: Heey, Rei Balzac, are you having fun?

Noir: I suppose. This is enough, right? We can go back to our rooms?

Michel: If you were reminded of where you stand, then it's enough. Well, don't get too depressed. Slander eases your way into society.

Noir approaches Florian, sitting by himself.

Noir: Sorry you've been waiting. Let's go.

Florian doesn't respond.

Noir: ---- No good, huh. Look here, hold on tight. (Heave ho)

Florian suddenly flops over.

Noir: .........!

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

Laila: ----! Don't! If you do too much, your wounds will open again!

Noir carries Florian out of the ballroom.

Noir: This is the second time I've held you like this.

[If you don't remember this reference, the first time was on the ship headed to Morocco.]

Noir: Geez, you're a lot of trouble for a spoiled kid.

{sound f/x pota: plopping blood}

Michel: Hmph, how disagreeable. After I go through the trouble to get him into this party, he gives such a horrible performance?

{sound f/x bashi: slap}

Partygoer: Kyaa~ Michel-sama!

Partygoer: Seize her!

Laila: You, what do you know~? You're the one making a spectacle of Rei. Why do you think that a proud man like him put up with it without saying a word!

Michel: !?

Laila: Noir's atoning for everything, keeping it inside of himself. Florian's state and Azura's death, too. I don't know about your class rank or anything, but when it comes to human beings, you're the worst!

{sound f/x da: Laila dashing off}

Michel: Ah... wait... -----

On the deck

Noir: Are you a little tired? You get sea sick, don't you. But the day after tomorrow we'll be in Tunisia. Facing the Mediterranean Sea, that country's exceedingly beautiful even for the Maghreb. The ancient Roman ruins lined up everywhere, it's an amazing sight. I'm sure you'll like it, too. The chalk walls, the blue sea, everything's so serene... !

Florian's hand reaches out to take Noir's, covered in blood from his reopened wounds.

Noir: ------ Everything's so serene. Blue----- sky-----

Back in Fez

{sound f/x gata: clatter}

Isaac: ! Who's there!?

{sound f/x ga: grab}

Azura: Jiisan, where is he. Where did Rei go?

Part 3h | Part 3i | Part 3j