Mar's back~ So, we've got an idea for this story up until one point... and from there, nothing. But we don't plan on ending it any time soon. Just fair warning.

Disclaimer: -.- This is the tenth chapter... but, -sigh-, we do not own Black Cat... although, the OCs are ours.

Chapter 10: Chronos Really Need's To Get A Life

Star lasped into silence, which Amber took as a hint. She stood, knowing that there was no way she could fall back asleep after the unorthodox hour of talking with Celeste. She looked at the girl for a moment, the same one who was having fun being so childish... the same one whose past would crush her if she didn't do something about it. Soon. Amber wanted to help her further, but she had a battle of her own, and besides... this was a problem that Star had to settle with Star.

An idea hit her, something that she could do until the sun rose. She turned to Star. "I'll leave you alone... if you want." She nodded. "If I go off to visit-" she paused. Perhaps mentioning her sister when Star was so upset about her family wasn't the best idea... She started over. "I'm going to leave for a bit. Will you cover for me if someone objects?"

Someone, meaning Sven. No, she was not over that yet. Star nodded again, blankly.

Amber walked back inside, to her room. She had a small bag with some money in it, after paying the bills and buying enough food, they each got a share of the bounty. She took that now, slipping back out the door and passing Star. On the short path that led around the house and into the streets of the city, she couldn't help but sigh. Kit... I promised you I would come back, didn't I? That's one thing I can keep... her fist tightened. No, not the only thing.

"Hey." A hand on her shoulder caused her to jump, spinning to face the owner of the voice. She blinked at the familiar face.

"... Lin." There was a look in his eyes that literally scared Amber. Sort of... haunted, or frustrated, even.

"Where's Star?" His urgent voice was something else to make her nervous.

She pointed behind her, toward the bench where Star was still seated.

"Why's she crying?"

"Personal reasons."

He gave her a look, but decided it wasn't as important as whatever else was on his mind. Even after he left to join Star, Amber stood there. Usually he had this cool look about him... as if everything was fine, even when he told them of... Sephiria's disapearence. But telling by his action's now...

Everything was not fine.

Worry about one thing at a time, she told herself. Kit comes first. Setting off again, trying to put Lin and Star out of her head for the moment, she scurried as quickly as she could through the streets. After going up and down many confusing paths- all of which she knew well- she came to a stop in front of an old toy store. Yep, when nothing's going right, count on Amber to run to a toy shop.

But a few minutes later, she exited with a stuffed bear in her arms. Then it was back to the complicated street crossing. Finally, Amber made it to her grandmother's house.

She knocked. The door opened slowly, as ususal, Helen poking her head out to give Amber that same look that she always does. Only this time, something else glimmered in her eyes. "Amber."

There's something wrong. Amber knew immediately, alarm filling her. The tone of her grandmother's voice, the look in her eyes... She nearly dropped the bear as she began shaking and pushed passed Helen. Helen let her. She rushed herself all the way to her sister's room, stopping when she saw her lying in bed. Kit's an energetic little kid, she dosen't sleep unless she has too. So...

As her grandmother came up behind her, Amber asked, "It's that bad already?"

"Yes... just be glad that she finally managed fall asleep... her side has been hurting her."

There was a short pause. "I don't have much time left, do I?"

Instead of commenting on how stupid her search was in the first place like normally, Helen replied, "No. She doesn't have too long before the pancreatic cancer takes her away completely."

Amber stood there. This... was what she was trying so desperately to prevent. Her mission... the reason why she became mixed up with Shiki... was to ensure her sister's life.

She couldn't stand it any longer. This can't be happening. "Give this to Kit when she wake's up..." she murmured numbly, handing over the bear to Helen.

"You're leaving?"

She had barely heard her grandmother, already going down the hall... to the front door... leaving...

What did it really matter? Now Amber was outside, gritting her teeth and fighting her surging emotions. They had done... what? Played video games, had an ice cream fight, and had movie night? It's useless! We've done nothing! You... you forgot about Kit... how important your promise was. She cursed herself mentally- she seemed to be doing that alot lately- and kept going. I have to start doing something again, no matter what it takes... this isn't over. Not yet.

If Shiki thought he was going to mess this up, if he get's in my way, I'll kill him.

Then she stopped, listening. There was something off-putting in the thin air of night. No, a noise. A buzzing, maybe?

She couldn't help but emit a startled yelp as she flung herself out of the way as a hand struck air that should've been her head. "What the pancake do you think you're doing?" Amber shut her mouth. Perhaps she had been hanging out with Star and Train too much.

"You are an ally of traitors of Chronos. If you are on there side, then you're fate will be the same as thier's."

"Chronos?" Hold up, I thought our enemy was Shiki.

Instead of wasting breath, the man... or Number, struck out at her again. She dodged out of the way of a knife, no, a vibrating knife. "If that's how you want to play." She started to circle her fingers, but he cut her off with another swipe. Amber, being a little too slow to move this time, threw up her own dagger to block. Thank you, Train, for shouting 'bomb' and convincing me to grab this. But she found it hard to hold onto, the blade's violent shaking numbing her hand. Then he twisted his elbow and rammed it into the side of her head. She hit the ground.

"Little girl... would you like to know the name of your killer?" Raising her eyes, she got her first good look at him. A helmet covered the top of his face, the numerals IV marked on the side. Amber slipped her arm behind her, spining her fingers slowly.

"Kranz." She paused. That wasn't his voice. "Although, I highly doubt she's interested." A smile crossed her lips. Star. Trying her best to speed up, she finished setting up her tao powers.

Amber pulled herself up, dagger still in hand. She walked over to the enemy, reared back her dagger, and struck him. Shoulder, leg, side. She wasn't sure she could kill this man, not knowing the full story yet. So she deactivated it with the opposite hand. All most immediately, Star was on him, Ares drawn and whipped across Kranz chest. Star landed directly beside Amber.

Kranz, unable to dodge Star from Amber's attack, fell with a surprised gasp. "What...? C-celeste... you're stooping low enough... to side with a Taoist?"

That hit Amber worse than Kranz's elbow. Why? She wasn't sure. Maybe it was the way he said it... as if it was absolutely horrible.

It is. Shiki is. Why am I so surprised about that? Being labled off as a bad guy... I should have expected it. It doesn't really matter, anyway. She glanced at Star. "Do we finish him off?"

Star looked up at the dawn just barely visable. Then down at the lightening street. "No. Leave him here." She sighed. "We have other trouble."

"Do we?"

"Yes."

Amber stared at Kranz on the ground. "If you don't want him dead, then you'll need to deal with his bleeding."

"He can deal with it." Star looked dark again, angry. All traces of humor or carefreeness were gone. "This wouldn't happen if Sephiria was there." She muttered again.

"What's going on?"

Star shook her head. "Let's go help the others."

Wow, I really had fun with this chapter~ Then again, I really like this story altogether. Please leave a review, and let us know if you like it as much as I do. Oh, and to Sorayah who I know will eventually read this, I changed the name of the chapter because it didn't really... er.. reveal what it was going to. So, R&R!