Ah, I never thought I would get this far~ I was seriously expecting my good friend lazy to come a knockin'
But for some reason I look forward to my own updates, I amaze myself sometimes (I Know right? What a dork w )
This fic is like my first baby! It will continue to grow, for god knows how long, and I just can't abandon it~ Also I would feel bad If I didn't update on Creed-kun's birthday! 0m0 So I guess this chapter is dedicated to Creed! (yay go creed!) seeing as he doesn't get many gifts~ (seriously this pair just died, everywhere, whether its on LJ or on deviantart, or even here) (well mostly Creed, he died, Train's still alive and kicking. . . . with other people of course! 3 what I a man-whore ^^' ) I'm kidding please don't hunt me down! Sumimasen! * bows down* so enough with the meaningless rant! On to it~
Ah yes! Some of you have met my good friend Clif, mostly known as Cliff-hanger~ , you guys are going to get to know him better through time~ Enjoy! ^w^
~Starts off from where Train was pulled into Echidna's "Gate" m'kay? ~
Chapter Three
Juxtaposition
~ What a dark and sinister feeling, I get. Never imagined what it would be like traveling through here.~ Train looked around him, surrounded by a warping never-ending vortex. Taking a tentative step forward, the gunman found there to be no floor. Whatever was underneath him, well at least he thought it was a floor, seemed to be alive. Not only alive but moving. The walls surrounding him seemed to be alive, to be breathing, with every single step he took. Everything seemed to just cave in, like it were to fall apart at any moment, right before his eyes. Having lost sight of the blonde-haired woman ever since he entered, Train wandered aimlessly through the dark tunnel. Golden eyes looked around everywhere for an exit, until they fell upon an opening. A bright light that shimmered dimly, yet brighter than his current surroundings.
~I think that's the way out. Hmm. . . might as well give it a shot.~ He bounded towards the dim light, only to have it close and disappear completely before his eyes. ~Damn! How am I supposed to get out. . !~ The gunman's thoughts were interrupted as a hand came out of nowhere and pulled him by the collar. Train was pulled through one of the 'breathing' walls and landed on his rear. ~ Ouch~ Slowly, Train started to look around. There was a marble floor, expensive looking too, spread throughout the floor of the room. Not a room, but a hallway, narrow at that. Plain white walls surrounded him, along with a couple of paintings hanged at various ends.
The hallway was darkly lit, too dark. "Hey! Heartnet! Get up," Echidna ordered him. Train snapped out of his daze, and stared blankly at the woman. He got up slowly, his bottom still a little sore from his crash-landing. "Woo, that sure was a thrill! More like one of those house of mirrors." "Well, unlike a house of mirrors, if you would have walked into that light, you wouldn't have come out." Her eyes glanced up to meet with his golden orbs.
"Then how did Creed and the others . . ?" Train began, only to be interrupted. "Creed and the others knew which ways to go and what to avoid." Echidna explained, "Nothing in this world is without consequence, especially when it comes to distorting time and space." "Hmm. . ." Train sighed, " So where exactly am I?" Train looked around and found a window, with bright sunshine beaming through. He walked towards the comforting sunlight, not waiting for a response, and looked outside. ~Whoa ~ Green hills, abundantly vegetated, spread out until they met with the burning horizon. Train looked on, never had he seen such a beautiful place. Beyond one of the hills was a visible forest, mysterious yet so inviting. A small crystalline stream flowing through the forest. "What a breath-taking view!" Train exclaimed.
He continued to look outside the window, when he noticed how high up he was. Looking down he noticed that the floor was about two floors below. ~Hmm. . Must be a mansion. How can he afford this?~ Echidna sighed slightly. ~This man is so easily distracted, yet he was the one who bested Creed.~ She was about to walk over to him when she heard a soft moan. Train, even though far away, heard the sound and tried to focus on its locations. "W-what was that?" Echidna was already sprinting toward the doors that had emitted the sound, Train only a small distance behind.
She put her ear against the double doors and waited for another second. "Mnn! Ah!" The blonde didn't wait any longer and burst open the double doors. She dashed quickly to the right side of the bed. Echidna began to examine the figure in the bed, while it continued to whimper out small sounds. Train walked towards the open doors and stepped into the room. ~What a depressing place~ Even though the room was illuminated with light, there was a slight feeling of gloom that hung in the air.
The cat walked towards the side of the bed that the blonde was kneeling in front of. She seemed to be trying to awaken the sleeping figure in the bed. His attention fell onto the figure lying there. ~ Is that. . . C-Creed?~ Train stood besides Echidna, studying the figure he thought to be his ex-partner. Silver-hair, long and uncut, was sprawled all over the pillows. Tufts of silver matted to his forehead. A pale complexion, even paler than the last time Train had seen him, covered Creed. ~ He doesn't even look alive anymore~ But Train was soon proven wrong. "Mn. . . ," were the slight whimpering sounds that parted from the swordsman's lips.
"Creed! Creed!" Echidna yelled. "Get up it's only a dream!" Train watched, there were slight bed of sweat on the man's forehead. ~I never thought I would find him like this.~ "AH!" Creed shouted as he woke up. His eyes snapped open and began to close again, after realizing it was an illusion. Groggily, Creed kept his eyes slightly open, and he looked around. His eyes first fell upon Echidna, this time recognizing her. "E-Echidna, I'm thirsty." She smiled slightly, and felt his forehead for any signs of a temperature. Creed watched her for about thirty seconds, before his eyes were captured by a blurry figure standing next to her. ~W-who?~ Vision still slightly hazy, Creed tried to dechiper the figure. He didn't recognize the clothes, he didn't recognize anything from this person.
A spark of golden yellow caught his amesthysist eyes. Looking up, towards that small twinkle of yellow, he saw a pair of cat-like eyes studying him. The swordsman squinted, to get a better view of this person. ~Those eyes. . . it's like they are sucking my very being into them. . .so attractive~ He reached towards them, yet to no avail. Still confused, Creed continued to look into them. Suddenly his eyes snapped open, as recognition dawned upon him, and he gave an audible gasp. "T-t-train?!" Creed nearly shouted, "Y-you. . .have you finally come to take me away?" Train stood there, his feet rooted to the ground, and said nothing in response to his ex-partner.
"M-my own private angel," Creed said. He stretched his hand out,again, trying to reach Train. Echidna looked on at Creed and Train's interaction. ~Creed's face lit up immediately once he saw the Black Cat~ She felt a pang of jealousy flare deep in her body. Train looked at Creed, his amesthysist eyes slightly dimmed and his face a bit flushed. Creed's eyes began to brim with tears, as he continued to reach toward his 'angel'. "W-why? Take me with you!" Creed pleaded, his arm clawing at the air for any feel of Train.
The gunman saw the desperation in Creed's eyes and finally decided to move. He grabbed Creed's hand, and held it, giving it a slight squeeze. "I-I'm here," Train managed to say. "T-Train. . ." Creed whimpered out. He enclosed his hand around Train's, trying to hold onto it, for fear he might disappear, like a floating illusion. ~He's here. He'll finally take me away.~ Creed felt tired and his eyes began to droop slightly. Yet he was afraid to sleep, Creed clutched Train's hand harder. He glanced at Train. The gunman glanced back at him, "It's ok. Sleep."
The silver-haired man smiled weakly at him and closed his eyes. Unshed tears rolling down his fevered cheeks. Train waited until he had gone back to a peaceful slumber, and began to loosen the grip the swordsman had on his hand. Careful, so not to wake him. Echidna glanced slightly in Train's direction, slightly jealous of the affect he had on her fallen leader. She slowly straightened herself out and checked on Creed quickly. Meanwhile, Train studied his own hand. ~What? Why did I get the impulse to do that?~
After Echidna had made sure Creed was resting peacefully, she ushered Train out of the room. Closing the doors behind her, Echidna turned to Train. "Back there, you didn't have to," she hesitated at her next choice of words, " I'm grateful to you, I don't think that Creed could have handled another disappointment." The gunman gave her a slightly crooked smile in response. "About Creed. . .," Echidna started. "I need to go outside to think," Train responded, "Care to point the way?" A slight motion to the left was the only direction he received from the blonde. Train walked in the direction she had pointed at and found a staircase. He went down the stairs, leaving Echidna confused and irritated. "C-Creed thought you were an illusion," Echidna whispered to the air. ~ Yet, I hadn't seen his smile in awhile.~
"Ah, look at the birds, so careless and free. How I envy them." Rosley muttered to herself, as she stared through the shop window. CRASH! A box of unopened sweets fell to the ground, as a customer opened the door too wide. "I told them it was going to fall over if they put it there." She was brought back to reality as a gun barrel stared her dead in the eye. " Huh?" She managed to stutter out. "I said, GIVE ME ALL THE MONEY!" a gruff voice answered her. Still half-dazed she stared at the gun barrel, her mind not comprehending just yet. "What are ya stupid?!" the robber holding the gun yelled, "I said, GIVE ME THE MONEY!" To put more emphasis on his words, he pushed the gun closer to her face.
Cold metal pushing against her bare skin. Her mind finally came up to par with her eyes at that moment, she she gasped at the cold feel. "Finally realized your situation eh? Damn broad, now. . .!!" his sentence was left unfinished as a silver fist sent his body sprawling. Rosley blinked twice, and a third time for good measure. ~ Did someone just save me? I swear I just saw something metallic hit that jerk right in the jaw.~ "Hey! Ms.! Ms.! Are you ok?" Rosley turned towards the voice, to find herself staring directly at a green-haired man. "Uh. . .yeah. ." she responded, "I'm fine.. ."
Suddenly one of her hands was immediately clutched by the stranger. ~Eh?!~ "Hmm.. you don't seem to be shaking, I guess you're ok," said the green-haired man, yet he continued to hold onto Rosley's hand. "Uh? S-so who are you?" He was about to answer, when someone appeared right beside him. ~. . . !!~ The small blonde girl that had appeared, glared at their conjoined hands. Rosley felt a shiver of fear run through her at that girl's glare. "Hey, Sven," she said, "come on I found the informant." "Really?! Wow, let's go then!" Rosley's hand fell to the counter as the stranger walked away. The blonde went to the end of the store and picked up the knocked out criminal. She began to haul his body out of the store. ~ She doesn't look that strong, but boy looks can be deceiving!~
She and the stranger walked out of the store, leaving Rosley to pick up the aftermath. Just then, the guy came back. "Oh yeah! My name is Sven," he said, bowing, "you can call me Mr. Gentleman." She smiled at her. ~Gentleman huh?~ Sven turned back around, and headed out the door. Waving at Rosley as he left. "If he was such a gentleman," Rosley complained, "he would have helped me clean up." When the thug had gotten hit, his body had gone flying, but he had connected with several aisles of canned food.
Leaving a mess in the small store. She looked at the mess on the floor and reached for the broom. "Hey! Rosley! Stop daydreaming and clean up aisles one thru three!" her boss yelled. ~yeah, yeah.~ She trudged towards the first aisle and commenced to clean up. ~ I do envy the birds, I bet they don't have to clean up mashed peas.~
The sun blared in his eyes, as Train opened the doors to the yard. He walked out into the light, and heard the heavy wooden doors close behind him. ~Creed~ Train couldn't help but feel pity for the man, as thoughts of Creed passed through his head. ~I know he looked before, but he doesn't even look healthy anymore, His skin is so pale, ghostly pale.~ Deep in thought, the gunman walked around the grounds. The soft grass and crisp smelling air doing nothing to put his mind at ease. ~His eyes they've lost that fiery passion, replaced by a fading blue~ His inner turmoil was stopped as he heard a soft crackle underneath his feet, "Hmm..?" Train lifter his foot to find a shriveled rose, smashed to pieces.
"Where am I?" The gunman looked around and found himself to be in a garden of roses. Different colors, all of the roses lined up neatly in rows. The sun blared off of them, illuminating the air around them. "Wow, I'm not much of a flower person, but this is beautiful."Train walked carefully down the rows, he didn't want to ruin them. Someone had obviously worked hard to get them this organized. At the end of one of the rows he saw about a dozen bright blood-colored roses.
Train walked towards them and crouched in front of them. " These are the ones who have been getting the most attention it seems," he concluded. He wanted to touch the soft looking petals, but didn't want to ruin them. Flowers can be so delicate if no handled right. ~Just like people~ Train gave a small sigh and walked back to the mansion. ~I wonder whose garden that was~
Echidna stood in the kitchen, preparing dinner. The blonde knew Creed would still refuse to eat, but she could try couldn't she?~Besides, the Black Cat will be hungry, might as well let him eat if Creed doesn't~ "I wonder where that guy went?" "Who ya talking about?" a voice appeared beside her. ~ !!!~ Echidna jumped slightly at the sound. She quickly whipped her head to the side, her blonde hair slicing the air. "Y-you... . !" "What?" Train asked, "Did I scare ya?" Train gave her a cat-smile. Fury began to rise in the blonde, but she managed to keep it in. "Of course not!" she answered a bit too hastily. "Of course," Train mimicked. Echidna glared daggers at the chocolate-haired man. He just smirked in response. ~I can't believe he managed to sneak up on me!~
Calming down a bit, Echidna continued to cook dinner. "Heartnet, about Creed. . . ." "Whose garden was that?" Train blurted out. Echidna blinked slightly, interrupted again, "Outside? That garden belongs to Creed. That's the only thing he seems to care about now. ~Besides you~ "Ah, so that garden belongs to Creed huh? ~ Hmm, I have to admit that surprises me. Something he does care for in this world and he's capable of making it seem so beautiful too~ Train leaned against the counter top.
Echidna, who had finished cooking, began to serve Creed's plate. She left them on a tray, ready to take up stairs. Train, lost in thought, smelled the air and walked towards the alluring smell. "Whose is this?" Train asked, mouth agape and watery. "That's for Creed. Hands off, Heartnet." "Does he really eat all this!" Train pointed, "Everyday?!" ~ He should be as healthy as a horse if he eats like this!~ "Well, he's supposed to." The blonde answered him with a half-hearted tone. "Supposed to? You mean he doesn't eat?!" She stared down to the floor, "No, he doesn't. I try to make him eat, but he only drinks water and won't take anything else." "No wonder he looks so deprived!" Train exclaimed. He gave her a bewildered look and turned back towards the tray. He grabbed it in his hands and quickly sprinted towards the stairs. "HEY!Where are you going with that?!"Echidna yelled after him.
"Where else? To Creed's room, I'm going to make him eat!If I'm going to be staying I'm going to make sure he gets healthy!" Train's voice echoed back to her. Echidna stood there, stunned.~Stay?! Who ever said anything about THAT?!~ As she thought, Echidna remembered what Train had said before that. "Ha, he's going to make Creed eat? To make him healthy again?" ~ Knowing Creed, he just might actually eat. Whether the Black cat knows this or not, Creed really cares about his opinion.~ Her last thoughts sent a shiver of jealousy down her back. She finished her duties in the kitchen and began to walk towards Creed's room. She wanted to see how Train was fairing against Creed's stubborness. ~I wonder if he'll acutally succeed? I doubt it.~ She smiled slightly to herself as she continued to walk down the narrow hallway.
So yeah, that was the end for this chapter. I noticed that they are getting longer. Is this bad or good?
I think I need to make my writing better. It seems sort of sloppy and disorganized to me.
Did I make them in-character? Oh yeah, about Rosley,again, she will pop up in other chapters, only because I like to put her in weird situations! =D
^^'
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CREED! YAY! YOU'RE . . . . . . . . . . THAT OLD! (doesn't know) ^^'
AH! Merry christmas! This is my gift to you guys! Yay I updated during the first hour! Ow, my hands hurts, ah the pain!!! (hmm... did Creed seem weak to you guys? I'm sorry if I made him seem TOO weak I promise I'll get better!)
I look forward to your opinions!!! and reviews whichever come first~
* hugs everyone * till' next time! I hope ^^
