A/N. Sorry about the long update, and the short last chapter. I just needed something up to feed the wolves. Not that I think you guys are like wolves…*Laughs awkwardly while putting bat behind back as readers yell*Alright, I'll get on to the story, sheesh! So, I've been told that some of my characters are OOC (Rins, Eve) And for that I owe you all my sincerest apologies. I will try and keep them more in character as I write. I see this as going on for around two more chapters…
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Black Cat, except in my imagination…
Pacing around the room slowly, Eve watched as Professor Tearju bound Train's ribs in place, wincing every time he whimpered. Sven was seated on the couch with his feet propped on the coffee table and his hat settled over his face. Rinslet was slumped in an oversized arm chair, arms folded across her mid-section as she watched Eve pace and wince. Eventually, she took pity on the poor girl and decided to intervene.
"Eve, why don't you get something to eat? We never had any dinner last night-I'm sure you're hungry." Eve shot a glance at the massive cat as he yelped loudly, head actually jerking up to glare at Tearju. Rinslet pulled Eve's attention back to herself.
"Train'll keep till you eat something. Even if he is an overgrown kitten." Train managed to get a glare in at Rinslet before Tearju pushed his head back down and gave him a warning glance. He managed to huff at her before she tied the bandage particularly tight. Yelping slightly, he edged away when she tried to help him to his feet. Eve caught a glimpse of him struggling to stand before the doorway covered her view and she was in the kitchen.
Or what she supposed was the kitchen.
Sheafs of paper littered the dirty countertops, and something black and disgusting was cooking on the stove. As she watched, it caught fire. Her eyes widened in surprise before she hurried over to the sink to grab the sprayer, flipping the water on. Liquid shot around the room, sprinkling the notes, trash and hair before Eve centered it on the flames greedily consuming the…food, for lack of a better word, on the pan. They sparked and hissed before finally popping out of existence. Eve stayed in one place for a while, water slowly dripping from the ends of her pigtails before someone came in.
"Eve what happ-" Rinslet stopped short at the sight of the spraying nozzle and wet girl. Eyes glancing towards the stove, one eyebrow rose.
"You already lit something on fire? That's a record, I think." Eve finally moved, glaring at Rinslet as she turned off the water. Smoke spiraled towards the ceiling and the burner on the old-fashioned stove was still trying to heat up the ashes.
"I didn't do that. Whatever was in there caught fire almost as soon as I walked in." Footsteps came from outside, and Tearju stood in the doorway, Sven peering in behind her.
"What happened in here?" He asked, lifting his hat so that he could lean over Tearju's shoulder and get a good look at the 'kitchen'. Something brushed against his legs and he glanced down to see Train slinking in, bell tinkling slightly as his eyes roamed the room. Smoke still lingered slightly on his level, and as he inhaled it, he started choking. Coughing violently, he started backing away from the room, ignoring Tearju's cries of "Shoo, cat! No need for you to die of smoke inhalation!" As if he would have breathed in enough to die. (But Train took refuge on the couch, just in case.)
Back in the kitchen, Rinslet had started clearing clutter away from the counter, looking up as Tearju stepped next to her.
"How do you live in this place? I can't even find your freezer!" She exclaimed, carefully shuffling a few papers and placing them on a growing stack. Tearju looked at her appraisingly before answering.
"I don't usually leave the kitchen, that's why all the notes are out. I've been examining the different ways to cook an omelet." Rinslet snorted as she came across a small notecard.
"Well, I don't think blackened will appeal to many people." She teased, and Tearju smiled lightly.
"You're a sharp girl Ms. Walker." Rinslet nodded her thanks. Sven was carefully carrying the remains of the dead omelet to the sink, dodging Eve as she moved around to talk with Professor Tearju.
"How's Train?" the blonde scientist looked up from the paper of notes she was looking at to stare at Eve.
"He'll live. I got the bones set, so he shouldn't have to worry about them becoming dislocated." Eve seemed discontent with the answer.
"I meant how bad is he…with being a cat?" At this, Tearju set down the notes and turned fully to the young girl.
"It's a complicated matter that I will explain later when he's listening. It will be…difficult…getting him back to normal, but it can be done." The conversation dropped after a loud sigh of relief from Rinslet. Eve looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"It's good that he'll be back to normal soon. I'm tired of finding cat hair on everything." They could faintly hear a hiss of reproach from the next room.
"Apparently, his hearing range is better than you expected, Ms. Walker." The thief rolled her eyes.
"It's his own fault that he's an overgrown pussy cat." She muttered, turning to look at the counter-which was actually visible for the first time in days. A lump of something dark brown and moldy sat in the corner. Rinslet eyes it warily.
"Umm, what is that?" She asked with trepidation. Tearju looked around and sighed once she was the lump.
"That used to be a banana…five weeks ago." Rinslet stared at her in shock and a little concern.
"You left a rotting banana sitting on your kitchen counter for five weeks?" She asked in alarm. Tearju nodded.
"I get easily distracted sometimes-occasionally, I have a scientific breakthrough, and I need to write it down. I forget about mundane things." Rinslet watched in growing horror as the Professor grabbed the rotten fruit and tossed it easily into the overflowing garbage. She looked slightly dizzy. Tearju commented on the fact.
"Ms. Walker, I do believe you've inhaled a bit too much smoke. Perhaps you should go wait in the next room with the panther?" Rinslet nodded, turning away to mutter about 'inhaling too much mold is more like it.'
When she got to the other room, she saw Train nosing around the messy coffee table for something. His head popped up from behind a thick dictionary that he had been trying unsuccessfully to move when he heard her come in. Rinslet stared at the cat for a moment.
"Don't tell me. You're looking for a little yellow bird that can't pronounce the letter s." she guessed. Train cocked his head curiously before shaking it roughly in confusion.
"It's Sylvester. The cartoon with Tweety Bird-never mind." The thief stopped herself, ignoring the odd chuckle Train let loose as he returned to his hunt. She flopped down on the leather couch and knocked a few papers, as well as a remote off the table before propping her feet up. At the dull thunk, Train looked down as saw the black object. Sweeping his tail back and forth in success, he paced over to the remote and picked it up in his jaws. Turning back to the couch, and just then realizing that Rinslet was seated in the exact middle, his brow drew together in a frown. Rinslet noticed.
"What?" Train growled past the remote clenched carefully in his teeth and nudged her legs with his nose. She rolled her eyes.
"Ok, do you want me to move my legs or scoot over?" Train growled in annoyance. How was he supposed to let her know? Sensing the large cat's predicament, she backtracked.
"Move my legs?" Train shook his head.
"Scoot over?" Train's head bobbed up and down. She sighed.
"Fine." The springs groaned slightly as she moved to the side, allowing the panther the room to jump lightly onto the couch and sprawl out across two seats. He dropped the saliva covered remote next to his paw and use his tail to wipe it clean. Rinslet watched in fascination as he extended a razor sharp claw to press one of the buttons. The TV buzzed before flickering to life, color fading in and out every once in a while. The news channel was on until Train started poking a hole into the 'Channel Up' button. Nothing was on this late at night. Rinslet glanced at the clock: 1:35 am. Oops-morning. Train finally settled on some anime show, watching the drawn characters argue over something. Rinslet eyes the cat.
"Never would've figured you for a cartoon watcher Train." She commented, drawing an exasperated sigh from the injured animal. Rinslet stared disinterestedly at the colorful characters before finding it necessary to comment again.
"I never really fancied them myself. The stuff in here is way over-exaggerated. Seems rather outrageous if you ask me." Train turned his head from the flaming gun battle to give the thief a look that clearly stated: I didn't ask you. Rinslet stuck her tongue out at the cat as he turned back to the television. She thought he hadn't seen her.
Train corrected her by whacking her with his tail.
About to retaliate with a solid smack to the head, Rinslet was interrupted when Eve walked in, closely followed by Sven and Tearju, the latter of which was carrying a tray of edible looking peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Setting the tray on top of the dictionary Train had been nosing earlier, she shoved a few papers aside so that Sven could place the large pitcher of water down. Eve placed a bowl of milk next to it for Train. Rinslet laughed at that.
"Almost reminds me of a comic I saw somewhere." Train growled at her before leaning forward to snap up a sandwich in his powerful jaws, downing it in less than a minute. Three more followed in the same fashion before Train turned to lap up the milk. The others all ate, and when Train lifted his head from the now empty bowl, milk dripping off of his chin, they were all staring. He lifted an eyebrow as he drew his head back and curled up next to Rinslet. His expression was one that obviously questioned their motives.
"I think it's time I told you all what I've figured out from examining Train." Tearju broke the silence by getting straight to the heart of the matter. Train nodded lazily, eyes drooping slightly. The rest settled in their seats and waited as Tearju started.
A/N. Not very much of a cliffie for you guys. I've written up all of the chapters, so it shouldn't be much longer…PLZ review!
Thx-
TOAS