Ray Balzac Courland's mother was a french noblewoman who grew restless at the life that was expected of her.  She traveled to distant lands on her own, and eventually met and fell in love with the leader of an Arabic clan.  It didn't take long until she became pregnant with Ray, and the first few years that followed were very happy for the little family.  The happiness didn't last forever, though.  Ray's father was killed in a power struggle and Ray's mother fled with him to Morocco to escape the grave danger that faced them.  She fell very ill once they arrived, and young Ray had to do whatever he could to keep them both alive.  Things began to look up for Ray when he met another boy named Azura, who became his whole world.  After Ray's mother died, he stayed with Azura, who taught him many things and how to survive in the rough world that they lived in.  Ray eventually traveled back to France, where he attended college and began to make his way in the world.  He met up with a young girl named Laila and took her with him, and the two became constant companions.  Ray began to make a name for himself as a merciless usurer (loan shark), but his true profession was a secret to everyone but Laila and a few who he trusted.  His secret identity was that of Noir the Phantom Thief, and he was able to use the skills he picked up in his childhood to steal jewels.  Ray was captivated by jewels, and it wasn't long before everyone in Paris knew of Noir.

Florian du Rochefort was the last member of the once powerful and respected Rochefort family.  By the time Florian was born, his family's financial state was not in good shape, and it only became worse after his father passed away.  Nevertheless, Florian was pampered and doted on by his mother, and although he grew up relatively levelheaded, he never lost that little bit of aristocratic pride.  As he got older, times grew more desperate and Florian's mother mortgaged all of their land and sold most of their belongings and family heirlooms in an effort to maintain the facade to the outside world that the Rocheforts were still as they always had been.  The one thing that his mother would never part with was the priceless family jewel, the Flame of Mughal, even though that could have been the very thing to save them.  At one of her parties, Madam Rochefort invited a very distant relative, Ray Balzac, to attend as she heard that he was well off and might be able to loan them some money.

Ray had had his eye on the Rochefort family jewel and agreed to attend the party, but it was the amethyst eyes of a certain young man that instantly captivated the jewel thief.  When Ray met with Madam Rochefort to work out the details of the loan, he offered her a trade.  He would help her with her debts if she would give him either the Flame of Mughal or her son, Florian.  Florian was understandably outraged, but knew in his heart that his mother would never part with the jewel.  To spare her the indignity of having to choose the jewel over him, Florian told Ray he would go with him and told him to name his price.  Florian and Ray did not get off to a good start at all, and it took a long time until they became used to one another.  In the beginning, Florian did not accept the fact that he was being thought of as Ray's property, and Ray did not hesitate to remind Florian of his place in any way possible.

Things eventually settled down and both Ray and Florian began to get along a little bit better.  Laila found herself growing jealous at the special attention Ray paid to Florian and she began to feel challenged by his presence.  Laila began to unintentionally lash out at Florian and told him that she wasn't going to lose to "a pampered little pet".  She eventually told Ray of her romantic feelings towards him, but it was mostly to get it off her chest and not because she thought anything would come of it.  Ray began to notice that he was indeed beginning to harbor feelings for Florian.  One day, a message arrived from Azura, Ray's old friend, inviting him to Maghreb to help him out.  Ray and his group headed out immediately and arrived to find a very rich and powerful Azura, a far cry from the street rat that Ray had known growing up.  Azura knew of Ray's identity as Noir, and asked for his assistance in finding a treasure.  Ray agreed, wanting to do anything to help his closest friend.

It turned out that Azura was nothing like the kind person he used to be, and Florian was unfortunate enough to find that out as he stumbled into the very wrong place at the wrong time.  Azura had become the leader of the crime syndicate known as the Black Hand, which they had had trouble with in the past.  Azura was intrigued by how Ray had taken to the young aristocrat, and thought that it would be interesting to get him out of the way.  He drugged and raped Florian and told him that if Ray found out about his connection to the Black Hand that everyone would be in danger.  Florian was furious and hurt, but his fear to keep his friends safe and his forced addiction to opium clouded his judgment.  Once Azura grew tired of Florian, he let him go and sent a guard after him to finish him off.  By this point, Laila had already noticed Florian's drug addiction and told Ray.  That, combined with what Florian's young charge, Noel, told him, Ray was forced to face the truth about his old friend.  Things did not go well after that, but Ray eventually escaped Azura and took Florian with him.  Book four followed Florian's recovery and their hunt for the treasure Azura was looking for, with said crime lord hot on their heels.

Ray's extreme guilt at what happened to Florian, combined with almost losing him, really brought out a different side of the jewel thief.  He was a lot kinder and more open with Florian after that ordeal and shared things with Florian that I don't think he even ever told Laila.  The two have not yet gone beyond their first kiss, but the chemistry between them is undeniable.  Ray is now insanely protective of Florian, but loves to rile him up, especially by adding to (and reminding him of) his enormous debts.  Florian has even lightened up a little and has, on occasion, helped Ray in his stunts as Noir, as unbelievable as that may have seemed at the beginning of the series!  The horrible things that happened to them over the course of the manga did not destroy them, but did change the kind of people they were, even if it is only noticeable in little ways.

The author has thankfully decided to continue the series, so I am not sure how Ray and Florian's story will end.  I am hopeful that it will be good for them though, because they really are a good couple.  Ray's feelings for Florian, while probably not noticed enough by Florian, were very apparent to the reader.  Florian's feelings, on the other hand, were a little more up in the air.  It is my belief that he loves Ray, although it will probably take him a little longer to get used to the idea because of what happened to him by Azura.  Whatever comes their way, I am sure that they will make it through it together and continue to grow closer.

After rescuing Florian from a hostage situation, Ray makes sure to get back the jewels that he brought in exchange for Florian's safe return.  As they are escaping, Florian is none to happy because an acquaintance of theirs was left behind to be arrested.

Ray: "He'll be arrested.  That's what he wanted."

Florian: "As if you care.  You got your precious jewels.  So what does anything else matter?"

Ray: "Ha!  Jealous of them?"

Florian: "Of course not!  Why would I be jealous over some-"

Ray: "Then watch this." [Ray tosses the jewels off of the airship]

Florian: "Noir?!  Hey!  Wh-What the hell are you thinking?"

Ray: "I'm paying back all the people of Paris in Mr. Tassel's place.  Now... Do you understand?" [Ray grabs Florian's chin and looks into his eyes] "To me, these beautiful amethyst eyes...  Are more precious than any treasure."

Florian: "Noir..."

~~~

When Ray and Florian visit the estate of one of Florian's relatives, it comes as no surprise to anyone when they end up in a whole lot of trouble.  Florian is taken captive by a disturbed young woman named Eleanora, who has decided to end her life by blowing up the secret passage they are in.

Florian: "Ray... you should escape... on your own."

Ray: "What are you talking about?  But... you know I can't do that!"

Florian: "Ray..."

Ray: "If you are staying... I'm staying."

Eleanora: "...I cannot trust you."

Ray: "If so... treat me like him.  Handcuff me... I won't resist."

Eleanora: "Why... would you go so far?"

Ray: "Truthfully, I'm not sure either.  But... to me... he is worth that much.  Perhaps that is it."