A/N: Again, not very talkitive. Hm, guess work is getting to me. I'm normally a chatter bug. *giggle* Well, here's chapter 3. Things get wild from here on out and man, was I ever mean to poor Train this chapter!

Chapter 3
Stalking Cat, Flying Arrow

~.~.~.~

Train awoke early that morning, still in pain.

Slowly he pushed himself up with a hiss escaping his clenched teeth. Much to his surprise and pleasure he found he had gotten some strength back. Unforunately as he tried standing it was more difficult. Thanks to his injured leg which was now screaming its protests at him.

But, being stubborn he gave it another go after catching his breath from the past effort. "This time not so much pressure..."he thought, reminding himself. Slowly he tried again but with more care, keeping much of his wait on his good leg.

And he smiled when he didn't collapse, "Well, that's a good sign."

He slowly looked around the room and found a neatly folded blue t-shirt with a tiger on it in grunge style. He gave a sigh and grabbed it, taking care when putting it on. Along the way he swore the wound must have reopened again. But praise whoever was watching up on high that it didn't. "Hm, I wonder where that Saya girl is..."he thought, seeing no traces around of her yet.

The young time guardian decided to see if she was somewhere else in the house. So, limping, he left the guest room and looked around. The first room was Saya's bedroom which had some cat plushies, floral patterns on the wall, and pretty much anything else a tomboyish girl like would have. He then found the washroom and the kitchen that was also a dining room. But by the time Train had got to the living room he was worn out.

So, he plopped onto the sofa and watched some tv.

This is what Saya saw when she returned from a successful job at catching a bandit bounty. Just enough to get some food for tonight. But come tomorrow she'd go after her new target. "Oh, I see you're feeling better, Train?"she called in greeting.

Train looked over with a bored yawn before raising his hand in greetingg, "Hey."

But much to the assassin's embarressment his stomach growled...loudly. Of course, he hadn't eaten anything for a solid week and pretty much nothing today. Of course Saya chuckled at this with a sly expression on her face. "Oh, I see, so mister big shot assassin's hungry."sneered Saya playfully.

"I-I am not!"protested Train, flustered.

Unforunately his stomach said otherwise.

"Looks like your stomach disagrees with you Train."chuckled the young sweeper.

"Oh fine, I'm hungry...can you blame me?"grumbled Train as a black kitten meowed at the window.

Saya smiled in victory and quickly went to the kitchen and went to work. Train hated to admit it but as the sound of sizzling oil cooking taryaki stir fry and noodles boiling. Accompanied by their welcoming aromas made his mouth water. Which in turn made train peak over the sofa rather comically, yet, cutely too.

It almost made him seem feline in mannerism.

Saya blushed a bit at feeling Train's piercing gaze prickling on her back. She glanced over as she placed the stir fry on the bowl of noodles. It was really weird seeing the famed Black Cat have such a cute, cat-like look on his face. Yet again proving just how human even a time guardian was. With a grin she brought the bowl and chopsticks over to Train and handed it to him.

"Can you still use those chopsticks?"she asked in concern.

Train gave a nod, "It's not a problem, I'm ambidextrous; have been for awhile now."

Saya smiled at this piece of information as she simply just watched Train devour one bowl and then another. She looked at his amber eyes and saw they weren't glazed over, but still gleaming with mild fatigue acompanied by pain now and again. But only if he over did it. Which this guy tended to do.

Crazy Black Cat.

At least he clearly had the strength to move around and eat and stay awake. So, that was a good sign he was getting better. But those wounds would take awhile still. She was amazed that train had devoured at least a good 4 bowl fulls while she only had two.

"Aaah~! That's much better, thanks Saya."sighed Train in satification.

"No problem."said Saya as she took the dishes back to the sink.

"By the way, what apartment are we at?"asked Train as Saya cleaned up.

"SlateStone, why?"asked the female sweeper, glancing over her shoulder.

Train smiled at this news as he got up and looked around for his coat. He found it alright over on a dining room chair and when picked it up he found his holster was there, cleanly polished up. but he saw Hades wasn't there. "That's right...Saya put it in the nightstand. She must have done it so she could clean my equipment. Strange, but I guess I can trust this one sweeper."he thought as he limped off towards the guest room.

"Hm, Train? Train what are you doing?"asked Saya she finished her chore and had seen train leave for the guest room.

Says walked out and towards the hallway to find train limping out, twirling his gun in his good hand once before putting it away in its holster. But the effort had been down with his currently clumsy hand due to that shoulder's injury. Which made him wince.

"Where are going? you're not healed enough yet."she asked in concern as train unlocked the door.

"Home, thanks for saving me Saya."he said and left the house.

Saya followed after but was surprise to see him stop at the house right next to her own here at the apartment. He soon unlocked his door and disappeared inside. But not without giving her the first kind, sincerest smile towards the sweeper.

"Catch you later,"was all saya heard before the door clicked shut behind Train.

Saya just stared blankly, dumbfounded for a moment before smiling.

"See soon too, Train."smiled Saya before getting ready for her next bounty.

Train growled in frustration.

He had been shooting some empty milk bottles for hours now and no improvement had happened. But thank goodness Chronos had left him on recovery leave. It was funny how it happened really...

Knock!

I let out a groan as I was so rudely awoken from my cat nap. I had fallen asleep on my leather sofa with my flatscreen tv set on. My hair was a total dessray, I was in nothing but some black lounge pants and no top.

Knock! Knock!

"Ugh! Can't a guy get any sleep around here?"I grumbled tiredly before clumisly getting up.

Again, more knocking.

I limped over to the door and checked through the peak hole to find...Saphira! Well, that's one way to snap a person wide awake. So, I opened the door, yawning while she gives me this relieved, yet, kinda upset expression on her face.

Figures.

"What do you want Saphira? this better be important."I said, putting my cold fascade on.

"What am I doing here? WHAT AM I DOING HERE?"snapped the captian, her brow twitching.

She was going to give him a wack on the shoulder until she noticed the bandages on his right arm and shoulder. That caused her to look the prodigy over further, finding he was in fact keeping his weight on his right leg. Her fears from the other day being confirme; still, she had to make sure.

"Train...what happened?"she asked in a sisterly tone she wasn't used to.

Train hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Come inside, captian...make it quick though."

Saphira nodded and followed Train inside, watching as her comrade limped over to the sofa and sat down. "He really is hurt. He must have been hurt enough he couldn't even report in. He's been stuck here resting...but, who saved him? certianly not one of us."thought Saphira.

"So, you going to tell me how you got those wounds?"she asked again.

"You know that mission to assassinate that mayor? well, it didn't go so well for me. He had a kid with him and..."trailed off Train as he moved to remove these old bandages on his arm.

What Saphira saw was a bullet wound that was an angry red and was now bleeding again from Train over doing things again. The pain lacing his features was clear as he grabbed the first-aid kit from the livingroom table.

"This happened. I lost focus but I did manage to deflect the bullets unforunately one hit my arm and a stray hit my leg."he said as he re-bandaged his arm.

"In other words you're out of commision right now?"Train nodded.

"Alright, then by my orders you are to remain at home to recover and are fit enough to return to your responsibilities as the 13th time guardian."said Saphira.

"EH?"...

Train growled in further frustration again as he held his twitching arm that was now bleeding lightly again. "Shit! Not again, I've gotta stop being so reckless."he huffed. That was when he noticed something down on the street. He saw a girl with short hair in a floral kimino with pistal in hand, walking into the night.

"Saya? where's that girl off to now?"he thought aloud.

Something in his gut told him something wasn't right tonight. So, he put away Hades and followed after her from the shadows. He watched nervously as Saya entered this building, the air around her tense and on alert. Suddenly he heard a scream coming from that same building.

Flashes from his childhood flew past his eyes once more; memories of watching his mother's murder, her pleases to flee as his father tried to protect them...only to die as well. "No...Saya."he thought in anger.

"I won't let my only friend be killed!"hissed Black Cat, adrenaline starting to flow due to his growing anger and fear.

Ignoring his injuries he found the strength to race up to the roof top from the escape latters and stairs. Just not as fast as he normally was...but still fast enough. When he reached the broken window what he found was a this freaky mutated man that looked like he was out of some sci-fi movie. And he had Saya cornered. Anger raged in his eyes, his already cat-like pupils becoming slits as he released a massive killer intent that caused the monster to freeze. As well as Saya to look up in surprise as thunder crashed and rain started to fall as he shot the lizard in the shoulder.

"Train!"she yelled in shock.

"STEP AWAY FROM THE WEIRD GIRL!"he growled venomously, and Saya to get a tick mark on her head from the comment.

The lizard-man snarled in anger and pain before snapping his whip-like tail. "A black, gold plated gun, the tatoo for the number 13, and eyes like a cat. It must be my lucky day. Oh ho ho~! The precious bounty on your head in the black market...I'm gonna enjoy THIS!"snarled the monster as it charged at Train.

Saya watch in shock as Train took this thing head on, the monster forcing them out into the merciless thunder storm. Train made haste and started to fire rapidly to unleash his Black Claw attack, not caring that this outlaw's claws just slashed up his arms and chest during this rather brave, reckless action. He tried his best to ignore the severe sensation of dagger piercing agony from his new and ennlarged wounds.

"Train!"squealed Saya as she watched the Time Guardian twist the lizard man in mid air and smashed into the ground.

Unforunately for Train as he got off the lizard-man's tail was lashed out at him, Saya's words of warning as she hurried to get down the emergancy stairs and latter reaching his ears. Train managed to avoid the hit but the man got him by surprise by wrapping the end of the tail around his ankle and tossed him away into a run down brick wall.

Train's pained scream swallowed by the thunder crash as the outlaw stalked closer to his struggling form. Saya wasn't about to let this happen so she emptied her pistel as fast as she could and loaded a few of her own custom reflect bullets. But again was when train surpised her and got up and leered at the man.

"I've come to bring some bad luck."he whispered and shot the outlaw dead in the chest, his wounded arms only allowing him to render the man helpless.

Saya finally reached her new friend just as he fell onto his knees, shaking from the now increased suffering and the blood he had lost. Coughing a bit before collapsing to his side.

"NO, TRAIN!"wailed Saya as she ran over to his side, droping her pistel.

Carefully she lifted Train up so that his head was resting on his shoulder. The rain by now had left the poor duo drenched but none more so then Train. "Why? why did he follow me all the way here and in his condition too?"she thought as a tear escaped her teal eyes.

"T-Train...talk to me, please!"she stuttered a pleading edge to her tone, not caring her expensive kimono was drenched with crimson from his wounds.

Train slowly opened his eyes and gave a half-hearted smile, mischief and pain dancing in those now dull amber irises. Some how though he had managed to hold onto Hades even as he had collapsed both times.

Tears.

That was the last thing he wanted to see on this girl's face.

Didn't know why though that was...it reminded him too much of his own he would shed after the nightmares he would have. "Hey...Saya"he rasped with a grin.

"Hey, that's all you can say when you almost get yourself killed! Crazy cat!"huffed Saya in annoyance, "What were you thiniking? you were already injured to start with. Now look at you, looking what the drowned cat dragged in!"

Train looked back in equal defiance, "I-I just-I just wanted...to return the favor. That freak had you cornered..."

Saya wasn't a fool for she saw the blush on Train's blood plastered face. But she gave a small laugh in return, Train laughing as well at what just happened. But that turned into a pained-stricken coughing fit, shivers beginning to rake his body as he wivered in his suffering. His eyes shut tight and his teeth clenched. This caused Saya to worry even more, so she hoisted him up, his arm draped around her shoulders like last time.

"Train, give me your gun, please! I'll put it back in your holster."pleaded Saya.

Train complied, shakily and frailly, but he still complied without complaint. She took Hades and placed it securely back to the safety brown leather holster on his leg. Then she got up and started to head back to their apartment complex which was a good half hour's walk from here.

The bounty served no purpose to her in her mind right now.

Only the life of her reckless friend she had saved once, who just rescued her in return, but now was in worse shape. Possibly even at risk for illness now. Saya bit her lip nervously as they continued. "Ugh! This slow pace is getting us nowhere! And I have to be careful with Train now in his current condition...hm, ah! That'll work!"she thought, stopping as an idea surfaced. At the same time Train looked up and over at Saya, his brown hair now black from being heavy with rain water and had paled considerately.

"...Why di-did you...stop Saya?"he groaned.

Saya, hearing his voice looked at him in mild surpise but gave a reassuring smile as she set him down. "Just making it so we can get back faster."she explained, moving the injured assassin to carry him piggy back style. Train was startled by this but gave little resistance as he passed out as Saya got up and broke into a run.

The young sweeper was stronger then she appeared.

Being a bounty hunter did that to people.

It was either get strong or be killed in the sweeper career and it was nothing to laugh at either. With each step she picked up speed after stealing a glance at Train's troubled expression.

"Just hang in there Black Cat, don't you dare go dying on me!"