Disclaimer:

I do not own Black Cat. Anything from Black Cat is not mine. I only take credit for original characters and plot lines. This is a fan fiction. Enjoy.

Chapter One

A year after Creed's defeat…

Morning sun shined cheerfully through the windows of the peaceful and quiet summer hideout of Train, Sven and Eve. It was a small, two-story house with a modest garden in the back and located in serene isolation from the busier parts of town. A young girl walked up to the house with the day's mail and strolled on in. When she got to the morning room, she plopped down onto the sofa and started sifting through envelopes. Her attention came to a light lavender envelope near the bottom of the stack. At this moment, a lean boyish-looking man walked into the room.

"Little princess, whatcha got there?" Train asked while ruffling his medium-length, spiky brown hair.

"Oh, good morning Train. It's a letter from Rinslet." Eve replied.

"Really? Wow, it's been about a year!"

Sven came into a room with a plate of scrambled eggs, sizzling bacon, and a glass of orange juice.

"Morning, little princess! Here's breakfast." After placing the glass and plate on the coffee table in front of Eve, Sven then proceeded to pick up the newspaper and sank down next to Eve.

"Thanks, Sven." She said while munching on a piece of bacon.

"Wha? Where's mine?"

"Make your own." Sven replied with indifference.

"But Daddy Sven! I'm hungry!" Train lamented in a light, mocking tone.

"Hey, Rinslet invited us to the 'Around The World' cruise." Eve announced while Sven was just about to beat Train upside the head with his attaché case weapon. "And everything is paid for."

"What?!" Train and Sven exclaimed in unison, "Let me see!"

Dear Train, Sven, and Eve,

Hey! It's been way too long! How have you all been? Still sweeping the streets of thugs right? Anyways, we need to get together again. I miss you all, especially you, Eve! Yesterday I was out shopping and I found the perfect bikini for you! You will love it! Oh, and you can wear it on the cruise ship because with this letter I have included tickets for the "Around The World" cruise! All expenses paid! Don't ask how I got them though, that's a secret so shh! *Wink* Okay! Get packing! It's in two weeks! See ya there!

Love,

Rinslet

Included with the letter were three tickets and a pamphlet containing photos and general info. Train picked up the pamphlet and started flipping through.

"B-b-b-buffets! Ev-ev-every night!" Train stuttered gasping in disbelief at the photos of extravagant rows and rows of food. "Imp-p-possible!"

"Why do I feel like there is a catch to this?" Sven wondered. He knew from past experience that whenever Rinslet contacted them, something was up. Suddenly, sweet realization hit him as for the next three months, all food and lodging expenses were paid for!

"Sven… what are you doing?" Eve asked. Sven was on his knees with tears of happiness flowing down and an aura of light shining from apparently nowhere.

"Crabs! Steak! Sushi! Rice! Fried rice! Omelettes! Lobsters!-" Train had joined Sven in the spotlight of eternal bliss and was chanting his potential meals.

"Train…" Eve started.

"Milk! Cod! Tuna! Pizza! Burritos! Chicken! Lobsters! Crabs!-"

"Train…" Eve said with a little more force.

"Yes, little princess?"

"You're drooling."

"Ah? Oh. Thanks."

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

The night before the morning of the "Around The World" cruise…

Rinslet was packing her clothes into her suitcase while seething with anger. There was a man in the room with her. Sitting in a cushioned chair, he brought the cigar to his lips and inhaled. In his other hand, a gun pointed at Rinslet.

"Take your time. I apologize for the short notice but I had other matters to attend to. Hey, don't look so sour, you're getting a free cruise trip with your three friends, right?"

With no reply, Rinslet put the last of her belongings she was bringing into the suitcase. Rage and fear kept her silent. She thought about the situation she was in right now. Somehow, this mysterious man had gotten into her house and threatened to kill Jenos Hazard, a …friend of hers. If the man had not shown Rinslet the bloody glove of "Excelion", the Orichalcum weapon of the Chronos No. VII, she would not have been so scared. To defeat a Chronos number meant something. It meant that you were not to be messed with and right now Rinslet had no choice but to comply with this dangerous man's every whim which to her relief did not involve lust.

"Remember, you are allowed to have fun. But, you will gain the trust of Train Heartnet, Ex-Chronos No. XIII, and bring me his gun "Hades" after the trip. If not, I will finish off No. VII, who is imprisoned in my dungeon. I will keep him alive for three months. He is safe… for now. Besides, you're a professional thief right? I trust you'll succeed."

Hate welled up in Rinslet. This scum of a man sitting in her chair had apparently forged a letter from her, barged in with a threat to kill her friend just so she could steal Train's gun? She had to do something about it. From where she was at, she could reach her whip hidden in the crevice between the bedposts and mattress. The man had relaxed the grip on his gun. Rinslet smoothly and stealthily grabbed the whip and lashed out. Next thing she knew, she was pinned to the ground with a knee on her back.

"Uggh…"

"Haha, your efforts are futile." Then, Rinslet saw darkness.