A/N:Well, it's been a good three months since the last update! I don't honestly believe it.

updated 3/27/19

Chapter 10 Black Cat meets Nyuu, part 1

Saya frowned at the man in front of her, of all the times to get separated from a potential suspect she was chasing, now was the worst imaginable time!

"Um, if you don't mind me, sir, I'll be on my way-"

"Hang on a minute there, young lady. Let me help you," Sven said, smiling at her lightly.

"But, I need to chase down a wanted man! I don't need your help to do that!" Saya protested.

Sven's eyes lit up. "Oh, really now? That's interesting...who are you pursuing? I might be able to help you...I am a Sweeper, after all."

Saya smiled, "So am I. This young girl also needs help."

She said before pointing at Mayu, who had her pants down and only her underwear showing.

"What happened to you?" Sven said in concern.

The girl looked at him with teary eyes, "My stepfather makes me do horrible things...if I don't comply, he gets mean."

Sven looked absolutely enraged. "You're a Sweeper, too, aren't you? We should find out where she lives, and arrest her stepfather for sexual abuse!"

"Wait, I need to bring in the Black Cat first! I just ran into him and was giving chase, but I seem to have lost track of him," Saya exclaimed.

Sven stared at her for a few moments, "The Black Cat? I met him before, years ago...he was unique. He's a ruthless criminal, isn't he? I agree with you that he can't be allowed to do as he pleases, but right now, this little girl is in trouble, so her needs come first."

Saya's face flushed. "What? Don't tell me you don't even feel the need to carry out justice because of your stupid gentlemanly demeanor!"

Sven's eye narrowed. "Excuse me, lady, but a lady's needs come before crimefighting. If there are beautiful or scared young ladies in need of help, they have to be saved! It's common sense, don't you understand?"

"Only if I was a sexist jerk who thinks women can't do anything for themselves," Saya muttered.

"All right, all right, no fighting, you two! You need to get along! How can you expect to solve any problems that way?" Train scolded, getting in between the both of them. He sipped some of his milk.

Both of them gaped.

"There he is! It's the Black Cat!" Saya cried.

"Hey, you're right! It is him! Should we get him?" Sven said, which freaked out Train.

"Hey, hey, I'm not even committing any crimes. I'm just talking to you and drinking milk. What's wrong with that?" Train protested.

"That's ignoring the fact that you're a wanted criminal, Black Cat!" Saya cried, but Sven stopped her. He put his hand in front of her.

"Hang on...I met you years ago and you stopped that guy in the restaurant from beating up on his wife, remember? So you can't be all that bad." Sven said sharply.

Train looked at him for a few moments and then his eyes lit up. "That's right! You were that guy in the hat who was an FBI agent! I thought I knew you from somewhere! So what brings you out here...Mr...uhh?"

'Something's different about him...when I first met him, he was depressed and serious...now he's light-hearted and easygoing...what made him change so much?' Sven thought.

"My name is Sven, Sven Vollfied. Black Cat, I would arrest you, but you're not doing anything wrong right now. Mind telling me why you're here, Black Cat-"

"My name's Train. Train Heartnet; call me that instead of Black Cat. You have no idea how infuriating it is to be addressed by that and not your real name," Train said softly. His eyes alighted on the fleeing brunette.

"Hey, she's getting away."

"That's all right. We were just on our way to that girl's house to arrest her father, anyway. He's been sexually abusing her." Sven explained.

Train's eyes narrowed. "I see...scumbags like that shouldn't be allowed to have children."

Sven nodded his head. "Yes...Miss Saya, why don't you go arrest him while 'Train' and I have a nice talk over some lunch?"

Saya nodded and then casted a wary glance at Train before she headed off after the little girl.

Train watched her leave. "Geez, why on earth is she convinced I'm the devil incarnate? I'm not that bad!" He whined, scratching his brown hair with one hand.

"So, you're still a member of Chronos, I take it?" Sven asked quietly.

"Yes," Train said darkly, "Though...you could say my loyalties have shifted a bit."

Sven watched the young man closely. He spotted his gun hanging from its holster around his waist, but he didn't seem to be carrying any other weapons and his outfit seemed more casual, unless you counted the black cape he wore over it.

Even then, he seemed to act like a completely different person, personality wise. He acted like how a young adult should act...no, he acted childish at times. It was strange...talking to this man.

"So, where do you wanna eat?"

Train shrugged his shoulders. "Anywhere's preferable, so long as I'm not recognized."

"Hmm...how about we go somewhere nice? How about this nice place I know..."

A few minutes later, they had stopped in front of a little shop. Train looked around eagerly.

"So...what's in here?" Train asked.

"The woman who owns this is a friend of mine." Sven said as he pushed the door open, and then motioned for Train to enter.

"Yo, Annette! I'm back!"

A middle-aged woman with blond hair chuckled, looking up from the counter she was currently sweeping with a dusty rag.

"Sven. I'm glad you decided to stop by. What's this...you've brought company with you."

Train eyed the middle-aged woman curiously. "What's up? I'm Train Heartnet! Nice to meet ya! Can ya bring me any food?"

At this, the woman's eyes traveled to the tattoo around his neck. "So...you're a Chronos member, huh? Should I serve you any food at all?"

Train froze.

"...Why not?" He said in annoyance.

"Annette here is a former Sweeper like I am. She doesn't trust criminals like I do," Sven said before smiling in a way that made Train want to punch him.

Train just sighed before settling down in a seat, still noticing how she was looking at him in suspicion. "...Hey, I'm not that bad."

Annette looked at him for a long moment. "...I see. I'll have to decide whether or not you're trustworthy myself. Sit down and have a drink."

Train eyed her for a moment and then smirked slightly. "I'll have some milk, please! Milk, milk, milk!"

Sven raised a brow. "What made you act so different over these last few years, Heartnet?"

"Train, please," Train cut in.

"Fine. Train, how come your personality has changed?" Sven asked.

Train sighed, "There was a girl I tried to protect a few years ago...I couldn't save her...she ran off and was presumably captured again...there's nothing I can do for her now. I feel so ashamed of myself for not trying harder," His fists tightened.

"It's not your fault if she decided to be like that," Sven said, smoking a bit more.

"Oh, and Sven, please put out that cigarette," Annette chided.

Sven pouted, but rubbed it out with his hand.

"Why smoke so much?" Train asked.

"The past...I'd like to forget about my past, Train."

Train smiled sympathetically. "I can understand."

The door opened then and a teenage boy and a girl stepped in, both of them arguing. Train studied them closely. The boy had short black hair and grey eyes and the girl had purple hair and eyes.

They were strangely familiar to Train.

"Stupid Onii-chan, now we're lost! We were supposed to go see Yuka!"

"I know, Kanae, stop arguing with me," The boy groaned.

"Looks like I have more customers," Annette said as she set down a glass of milk for Train and some tea for Sven.

"What are we going to do about that girl we found unconscious near Yuka's house?" The boy said.

"She certainly looks weird. I mean, she has pink hair-"

"This coming from you with purple hair, Kanae. You ought not to accuse her."

The girl looked mad. "Stupid Kouta! You can't trust her! She's suspicious! Kanae remembers how years ago she saw a girl who looked like that with pink hair, red eyes and horns...killing people at the festival with these weird arms..."

At that instant, Train nearly dropped his glass of milk, and jerked up, "Did you say she had horns and red eyes? Where is she?" He cried.

The girl looked at him.

"She's at our cousin's house. She doesn't remember anything except saying the word Nyuu. So that's what we called her."

"I see..." Train trailed off, looking interested.

"Why? Do you know her?" Kanae asked.

"No...it was just a stupid question," Train responded, walking back over to where Sven was sitting.

"What was that about?" Sven asked.

"That's the person I failed to save. And I think I've found her again," Train said,in the tone of the one and only Black Cat.

"So, what will you do?" Sven asked.

Train smirked. "...I'll never lose her again. The Black Cat never loses what he keeps. It'd be bad luck if he did."