Of Princesses and Black Cats

Summary: After four years, they finally meet again. Eve starts to realize her true feelings for Train… but doesn't know if she should tell him or not, for fear of experiencing a second heartbreak.

Author-person: I actually started writing this a few years back and only got the idea of pursuing it again just recently…

Just writing this to avoid the ideas from going out of my head… As some of you may know… I experience frequent writer's block…. So I REEEAALLY have to do this…

Some OOC-ness here.

But I hope you'll enjoy!

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Disclaimer: I don't own Black Cat.

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Chapter One: Milk and Apples

Saya meant everything to him… she was his only friend, the only REAL friend that ever came into his life when he was a Chronos Number.

But she was dead.

He loved her, though he never really admits it.

He didn't like her at first. She was nosy, childish and she would always drink the milk he had bought for the cats … but as they spent time together, he found himself falling in love with her.

"Train?" Creed raised a brow.

Train had been staying at his old enemy's place… He'd run out of money a few days before and had no where else to go.

Creed was okay with it… He in fact, was delighted that Train, who was once his 'object of obsession', would be sleeping under the same roof as him.

"What?" He looked at the silver-haired man who sat at the other side of the table.

Creed smiled. A real smile… not the ones he used to make when he killed someone… back when he was still a cold-blooded murderer.

"Nothing." He said sipping his coffee.

Train stared at him. Creed looked different now. He looked as normal as anyone could possibly get. He's ditched his creepy black coat for a pair of jeans and a plain white, long-sleeved polo shirt. Definitely not a dark overlord look, but he's let his hair grow and now wears it in a low ponytail… just like Charden did when he didn't wear that ridiculous hat.

Come to think of it… where is Charden anyway? Train thought.

It was not only Charden he was worried about… but the whole gang. Especially Sven and Eve.

After all it had been four years since they last saw each other. He knew that he missed his eye-patched partner and the golden-haired 'princess'. Four whole years had past since the epic battle between them and Eden, where he nearly lost his life if not for the man sitting in front of him.

Creed saved his life back then… quite unexpected really… but Train was eternally grateful. But here he was asking Creed to take him in for a few days until he got another job.

"I'm sorry. I promise I'll leave as soon as I get a case." He said watching Creed take another sip of coffee.

He felt embarrassed. The Black Cat, former Number Thirteen, elite assassin, was jobless and a freeloader.

"It's fine. Stay as long as you want… know that you're always welcome in my home, Train." At this Creed smiled again.

Train smiled back. He was still not used to this man being so kind to him. Before, Creed was an obsessed lunatic leading a known terrorist group that almost took over the world. But times seemed to have changed him and made him a better man. Creed has turned into a gentle soul, kind and caring, and in love.

"So… when are you planning to propose?" Train suddenly asked.

Creed almost dropped the mug. "Ah… well… I don't know yet. I still have no idea how I'm going to ask her to marry me."

Echidna and he had been living together. Though, it first came as a shock to Train that the relationship had blossomed into something more than just a hopeless case of Echidna's unrequited love.

"Oh." Train blinked.

Creed Diskenth was actually having trouble with a proposal… not that it isn't a BIG problem. The hours of stressful planning, the nervousness, not to mention the expensive ring… a proposal can turn into a man's worst nightmare… especially when you get turned down.

But thankfully, this wasn't the case. Echidna obviously adores Creed. No doubt about that.

"Why?" he couldn't help but to ask.

Creed raised a brow and tilted his head a little. "Well… for one thing, she might not be ready to actually GET married."

"But she loves you… isn't that enough for her to want to marry you?" Train asked again.

"Marriage is commitment, Train. It takes more than love to make it work out." The man replied, setting his mug down on the table. "Why are you asking me this anyway?"

"Just curious… I just can't imagine what I would look like if I ever decide to marry." Train scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.

But really, what would he look like if he does marry? If Saya hadn't died, would he be having problems with his proposal too? Would they live happily ever after just like in the stories that Eve used to read?

Creed gave him a puzzled look. Then he smiled.

Yes, Train would definitely fall in love with someone sooner or later, maybe even when he least expects it… Creed experienced the exact same thing.

Echidna was the best thing that had ever happened to him, and he thanked the gods over and over for bringing someone as special as her into his life.

"Well, I think you'd look charming in a tuxedo, Train. Ahh… I can see it now... You in that aisle with your gorgeous bride…"

Train laughed.

It was too early to think of him getting married. Heck, he hasn't even found the right person yet!

And if what Creed said about marriage being a commitment was in fact true, then he wasn't ready at all.

He still wanted to be the stray cat he's always been... Just wandering off to wherever the wind would take him and not worrying about anything besides what he would eat the next day or what kind of people he would have to catch when he got a job… that was his kind of lifestyle.

"I don't think I'll ever be ready for that kind of life… you on the other hand might do better at it."

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The 'princess', he once called her.

Eve missed hearing his voice. He was the brother that she never had. Though they bickered a lot, competed with each other, even tried to kill each other when she and Train first met, the times she spent with him and Sven were the best in her life.

"Has there been any news?' She asked Sven who was busy yelling at the stupid cab that they almost crashed into.

"I haven't heard any news about Train, if that's what you're asking." The man with the eye patch answered stepping on the gas pedal.

They had traveled together for a while. Doing some sweeper business occasionally and earning money for Eve's tuition.

Sven decided not to look for Train anymore. Saying, 'he'll come back sooner or later…'

But it has been 'sooner or later' and Train has yet to be spotted by Rinslet or by any of their other sweeper friends.

Eve fingered her golden hair. She decided to keep it short after the battle with Eden as it got in the way at times... and she wanted to look different from Tearju… her 'mother'.

She writes to Eve often and sends interesting postcards from the countries she's been to.

Recently,Tearju's been to Genova, and Eve couldn't help but laugh at the postcard that had a picture of a ballet troupe of men, wearing tutus and tiaras as they stood on their toes, hands up in the air.

"I was hoping we'd have some clues to where he is by now… and…"

"… Eve…"

"… I still haven't said thanks to him."

Sven parked the car in front of the park. He let out a sigh and looked at the golden-haired princess that sat miserably on the passenger seat.

"Maybe… he still has a few things to do."

"What things? He's not an Eraser anymore isn't he? What other business does he have aside from being a sweeper? Do you think he's after Creed again? That can't be right." She started again.

Sven called it the 'Traintrum'. The occasional questioning of Train's whereabouts and occupations often drove him nuts. It wasn't like Eve to be so… so… annoying. But he thought it to be good at times, saying that Eve's just going through puberty.

"I don't know." He said half-irritated. "He's just… out there. Probably eating deep-fried bread crusts again."

Eve looked at him, brows furrowed and with a serious look on her face. She was serious about finding him again. She didn't know why she tried so hard. But it was probably because of the fact that Train is part of the family… the family that Eve treasured most in the world.

Sven sighed. "Eve, I know how you must feel about it. But Train chose to go out and see the bigger part of the world alone. You just can't force him to come back with us when he still has a whole lot of things that he wants to see."

"He could've traveled with us." She insisted, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

At this, Sven decided not to answer anymore as it might bring about more questions… why did Train leave? He couldn't help but think. He could've stayed with them. Weren't they good enough traveling companions for him that he would rather journey alone?

"We should find him, Sven." Eve said after a long silence.

Sven looked at her. Something in her eyes moved him, and although tracking down Number Thirteen was the last thing he had on his mind, he couldn't say no to her. Not to Eve.

Was he ever this weak to little girls? Sven looked at her again. No, she isn't a little girl anymore.

Eve's already a teenager... she could handle herself now.

She was popular among boys at her school and received at least two confessions in a month. She'd reject them, though. But they would be stubborn and would try again and again until Sven would step in and tell them off for being too damn persistent.

Sven shook his head, but finally gave in

"I won't promise you anything, Eve, but I'll-…" Something caught his eye.

There was a man with long silver hair on the other side of the street, buying apples from a fruit stand. With him was another man, clad in a black leather jacket and was drinking milk from a bottle.

No it can't be.

He was pretty sure he was seeing some very familiar faces, but he couldn't imagine those two people actually together. After all that's happened… really, could it be that simple to put the past behind them?

And they were out buying apples! APPLES! For Christ's sake!

But as rolled down the car window and leaned to take a closer look, he became sure of what he was seeing. Those golden eyes, that spiky brown hair and the bottle of milk in his hand… Even someone like Sven who could only see from one eye could tell it was him.

"Train?"

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Author-person: Wow. This is the first time I've ever posted a multi-chapter fanfic.

I'm nervous… haha.

Anyways I hope you liked it! Read and review, people!