Chapter 13: The False Cat!

Snore...

I can't believe he actually accused me of something like that...Me? Kill Saya! There's no way I would ever consider doing something like that.

Snore...

Why did everything have to go so wrong? Right when I was about to tell him how I feel? It's not fair...Now I guess he'll never know how I feel about him. At least not now. It's been about three days since our first meeting with Creed, and since then I do believe that Train had cooled off but-

Snore...

-But I won't be the one to say sorry. Besides what exactly do I have to be sorry for? He's the one who shot accusation after accusation about what I did with Creed, so I should've been the one that was mad not him. He should be the one to come to me and apologize...

Snore...

I glared over my left should at the sleeping Train. A huge snot bubble was hanging from his nose, and his face was almost innocent looking. My glare softened into a heartbroken lovesick gaze. I hadn't realized how hard and painful it was to love someone...I don't think I've ever loved anyone like I did Train. Rinslit did her best explaining it to me but I was sure that eventually I would've realized what was going on...But it was nice to know now then going through the whole ordeal of sorting my feelings. I sighed lightly turning my head back to look out of the window.

Snore...

I hope he decides to talk to me soon because this silence is killing me, but I'm not going to break. And if he never approaches me then...I guess it'll never be resolved, and hopefully I'll move on.

Snore...

Sven darted his eyes to the rear view mirror and saw my glare turn into a longing gaze. Sadly he looked back at the road. He didn't know what was going to happen between those two but he just hoped that whatever happened wouldn't harm their friendship. 'Or what's left of it.' He thought shaking his head. It's been three days since Roze ran towards him crying, and since then neither Train nor Roze had spoken to each other or spoken more than a few words. However, Sven could see in both their eyes that they wanted to make up and put this all behind them, but Roze was waiting for Train to make the first move and Train was positive Roze was still raving mad at him.

He had talked with Train the day after and saw that Train was beating himself up over how he acted.

"I don't know what came over me. I was so angry...I wasn't even thinking when I was talking.." Train shook his head holding his head in his hands, "...I wonder what she was going to tell me. She looked so happy before I began yelling."

Those were Train's exact words, and he'd never forget the guilt ridden look in those yellow eyes of his. He looked so torn and so sure he ruined one of the best things in his life...

Snore...

I shot a worried glance at Sven when he winced and gripped his bandaged arm, but before I could say anything Eve beat me to it, "If your wound is bothering you I could drive."

Sven glanced at the book in her hands and gave a nervous laugh, "Thanks for the offer Eve but that's not the kind of driving you do on a mountain." The book in Eve hands was 'Elementary of Drift Turning'. "So those Warrant Posters that Annet sent us, who's the guy we're going after again? His name sounded like a fruit."

Even held up our current bounty head, "Our current target is Blum Pullman, worth 80 thousand."

"That chump change." Sven sighed.

"I've recently heard the term beggars can't be choosers." Even said once again reading her book.

"I guess we're the beggars."

"I could go for some salmon or clam chowder..." Train, now drooling, mumbled in his sleep, which caused everyone, even Sven who was supposed to be driving, to look at him. "When he's not eating it he's dreaming about it. And he really likes expensive food." Sven complained lightly. I got his attention and pointed to road.

"Oh yeah," He said as if he forgot.

It got real quiet real fast but soon the town we were traveling too came into sight. I couldn't help but smile at the thought of a bath. I tried not to think about it but none of us had, had a decent bath since three days ago. All four of us still had the same clothes on from Sangelas city. Sven pulled up to a bar called 'El Topo'. We took a table close to the door and Eve immediately instructed Sven to take his shirt off so she could re-wrap his wound. Train was sitting on Sven's right and I on Eve's left. So the order of seating from left to right was; Train, Sven, Eve, then me.

Sometime later some girl with light brown hair walked over. She wore a short black skirt with a dark brown button up shirt that stopped above her stomach. On her head was a red scarf that was only tied around the back part of her head. Apparently she and Sven knew each other because they struck up a conversation. Eventually, Sven asked her about the bounty we were after, but she told us some very unfortunate news.

"Are you serious! Pullman got arrested!" Sven yelled.

"Sure did." The girl laughed with a smile.

"Ouch, that hurts!" Sven complained, but Eve only ignored him. "Say you're not following me are you?"

"No, way I just like traveling. I have great stories. So what happened to your arm?" She questioned with a laugh.

"I ran into a wall." Sven replied dryly.

"I see..." She started while walking away, "You don't have a line of credit here."

Sven started grunting in pain as Eve tightened the bandages around his arm. "Is that your wounded pride you're squealing about?" Train muttered from behind a menu. "And just who's hide was I saving when I got shot!" Sven retorted with a slight yell.

"And I said thank you. I thought we moved pass that."

I looked up when that waiter girl was coming back with a tray full of...Bread crust?

She slammed the tray on the table gaining the other three's attention, "These are on the house!" She exclaimed happily. "Alright yeah!" Train looked at the food happily before deflating puffing his cheeks out once he realized what it was. "Is this just more bread crust?"

"Nope, not just bread crust. Fried bread crust." Like it made a difference.

"Just shut up Train, it's not wise to turn down free-"

"Listen up Train," Eve started interrupting Sven and getting in Train's face, "Someone else picked up Pullman and his bounty and we have not even paid Sven's medical bills. So don't be picky." A small giggle escaped my mouth at the look on Train and Sven's face.

"Your daughter is really mature." The waitress stated.

"SHE'S NOT MY DAUGHTER!"

"On a different note when was Pullman picked up and who did the picking up?" Sven asked in a completely different tone from a few seconds ago. I shook my head at that but was curious myself.

"It happened here yesterday on the lunch shift. I don't know him but he said his name was Black cat."

"But how could it have been Black Cat!" Sven yelled, as he, Eve, and I turned to Train watching him stuffing his face with the fried bread crust. "Apparently he's a big shot in the underworld. He's cold, calculating, and cruel. They said he was a hired assassin until he turned to Sweeping. Story goes he vanished about 6 months ago collecting bounties."

"How exactly did Black Cat look?" I said talking for the first time at all today, "You must've been here."

The waitress put a finger to her chin in thought, "Well he was 40, a beer gut, a goatee, and love handles." She laughed, "He should really ditch the name Black Cat for Fat Cat." I stuck my tongue out at the image that came to me at her description. That defiantly wasn't Black Cat, not even close. After some time Eve said she was going to get some medicine for Sven, and because I really didn't feel like sitting here I offered to accompany her. Sven said by to us, but I don't thing Train even noticed we were gone.

Once we were some distance from the bar Eve asked, "Is there something wrong between you and Train?"

I recoiled at the question not expecting Eve to ask me something like that. "Wh-what do you mean?"

"Sven has asked me not to mention anything about it, but I thought you might want to talk about it." I considered Eve for a while. It probably would do me some good to talk about what I'm feeling instead of keeping it all bottled up. I sighed, looking straight ahead.

"I really don't know what to do about Train. Apparently I love him, according to Rinslit, and I was going to tell him...But he got really mad at me because I didn't tell him Creed was my twin brother. Then he accused me of having a helping hand in killing Saya..."

"But why aren't you two talking? It's been three days."

"Because I'm waiting for Train to make the first move. I have nothing to be sorry for..." I trailed off retreating into my thoughts.

"I see..." We soon came to the Drug Store and I leaned against the side of the building while Eve went and ordered for it. When the guy found out it was a prescription for a bullet wound he fell out with in surprise. After getting the medicine Eve and I walked around town looking at many different shops. One was a dress store, a bakery, and a magazine shop. We both went into a hat and a sunglasses store and began trying on different hats and sunglasses.

While in the sunglasses shop we heard a man say, "So you're saying you ran into Black Cat on the street?"

"Yeah!"

"If you're lying you'll be sorry." I motioned for Eve to follow me and we tailed those guys to an alleyway. Then a guy in a purple shirt said, "Why would I be lying? I took him out to the Quick Draw Inn on the main drag."

"Heh, if we lay out Black Cat we'll get some serious street cred." One of the three guys surrounding the one in purple said. "Yeah, let's go to the Inn and wait for him." Eve and I shared a look and we both knew where we were about to go. Whoever was masquerading as Black Cat was about to get killed by these people. Not that I really cared about this guy dying because it's his fault that he's about to die. But having Train's rep take a drop was something that I wasn't going to let happen, besides with this guy telling everyone that he was Black Cat eventually one of the Apostles might get the wrong info and go after him instead.

"Huh? Don't stare too hard senoritas, you don't want to fall in love with me. I'm nothing but trouble." I blinked as I just realized that Eve and I were standing in front of a short pudgy man that fit the description the waitress lady gave to us to a point.

"Please tell me are you the Black Cat?" Eve asked.

The guy laughed, "That's right babe! You wanna see my tattoo?"

"Sir, you are a target." I told him.

"Give me a break Senorita, you don't have to call me sir," His eyes then went small, "W-what do you mean I'm a target?"

"I saw a man with eyes like these," Eve pulled the corner of her eyes back, "and he was with some other men planning to take you out. So you might wanna run away."

"Heh, Black Cat doesn't run from anything. All I have to do is whip out my trusty Haadysu and show them who's boss." He then turned to walk away but ran into one of the men Eve and I saw earlier.

"Well Howdy, you're black cat right."

Before I knew it the three guys and the Black Cat imposter had attracted a crowd of many townspeople. The four were in the center while Eve and I stood off to the side intending to watch this little showdown.

"When the town clock tolls six bells then we'll draw." The old guy in the middle of the three guys trying to kill the imposter said. To me he looked like a cowboy, but...maybe not. Either that or a bunch of outlaws. Are they the same thing? Hm...I don't really know. The clock hit 6:00 and a loud bell went off signaling the start of the showdown...

"Oh year look at this feast! Since I was saved out there! O-oh I mean since I beat those guys fairly I've worked up quite an appetite." 'Black cat' said gloating with a fork full of cake. The feast he was talking about was a table full of sweets. A bunch of delicious looking cakes stared back at Eve and I. "This is my victory celebration. 3 against 1 and I win, awesome!" I put a piece of the cake on my plate in my mouth, thinking back to a few minutes ago. Eve used her hair and transformed it into a fist and swiftly punched the three and knocked them out. I don't even know how no one else noticed that but they didn't so everyone thought it was this fat guy that did it. I was about to step in but...Eve handled things better because I'm positive that everyone would've noticed three gun shots going off.

"I'm so fast I can't even remember hitting those guys." He laughed, "Oh man, guess I lost the track of time I guess I better get you two home."

"We have no home." Eve said eating her own piece of cake.

"Wha! No parents?"

"No." We said.

"You two are orphans? I was raised with no parents as well." He hung his head tears forming in his eyes, "We're so alike even with those cute faces you still have found a family. You don't have to be strong, I know what it's like living in a world with no one to love you." He then looked at us the tears gone, "I may be the best Sweeper in the land today but in my past I was a weakling, a coward, always getting picked on and beat up." He quickly stood up with a wide grin on his face, "Hey I know! You two can come with me and I'll be like your older brother!"

"No thanks." I said to his offer.

"Come on! You'll never be afraid with Black Cat traveling by your side."

I glared at the table, 'Right now I wish I wasn't traveling with him.'

"I get your drift Senoritas you wanna live life by your own rules. And I'm not gonna fight you in fact I support your decision. Yeah, it's not safe rolling with a man of danger like me. It's just too dangerous for you two."

"We are simply amazed that you survived this long." Eve said.

"Yeah you're not the only one. What with my cat like reflexes I whip out my trusty Haadysu and bust a cap in 'em. To put it in Lamen's term my body moves faster than my mind can process. Well it's too complicated to explain to two little girls." I had tuned him out long ago and was staring at the man standing behind him. He looked familiar but I couldn't place him...He wore a large brown hat and something metal over his mouth, with a large red scarf around his neck. Where have I seen him before...

My eyes widened, 'He was with Creed!'

As soon as I thought that he pulled out a gun and Eve yelled, "Mister get down!" She threw herself at the fat guy pulling his leg causing him to fall just as the guy began shooting into the restaurant. I ducked and jammed my left hand into my jacket, grabbing my gun getting ready to shoot. All of the other people in the restaurant had ran out so it was just Eve, the fat guy, this weird guy, and me.

Once he finished firing I got into a kneeling position next to Eve, with the guy pointing his gun at us. He looked at Eve, "I know you," He started his voice sounding a bit robotic, "You were with Black Cat back at Sangelas city." Then he turned to me. "And you're that other chick that Creed's trying to get in our group. Hn, now one of you better tell me where Train is before I fire into those vacant eye's of yours." When we didn't say anything he said, "You had your chance girls."

Just as he was about to pull the trigger, and I was about to pull out my gun, the fat guy jumped in front of us, "Hold it right there!"

"What the hell do you think you're doing tubby?" Gunman question.

"I'm the Bla-bla-bla-"

"Blah blah blah move your ass."

"No I won't!" When Eve told him that he should move he went into some speech about how he made a pledge to protect every one. I allowed him to finish before I stood up from my kneeled position, and with my eyes trained on my enemy I pointed my gun to the Gunman. When Whitney, who I just found out when he whispered his own name, heard the click of a gun he turned surprised, "Wh-wh-what! What is a senorita like you doing with a piece!"

"Thank you mister for protecting us, but you are out of your league."

"Hn, and what do you plan on doing little miss." Gunman taunted laughing at me. I glared,

"White milk, yellow milk, red milk's oh so bad...Oh, oh, oh yeah! Milk festivals coming to town..." I couldn't help but sweat drop when I heard Train singing some made up song about milk as he was walking down the street right pass the restaurant we were in. He stopped when he saw us, "Oh Princess, Roze there you are!" A sharp pain when through my chest when he didn't address me by the nickname he gave me. Suddenly the Gunman turned his head, "Black Cat!"

A look of recognition passed through Train's face. "Hey I know you; you were the one who tried to kill me back at Sangelas city." Train didn't have much time for remembering because he had to rapidly dodge the bullets Gunman shot at him. Weird thing was that they were red. I sighed and put away my gun while watching Train deflect the Gunman's bullets with his own gun.

"Hn, it's a waste of time waiting for me to run out of bullets. This gun channels my Ki energy, so I have an endless supply of bullets. Let's see how well you block this one." The Gunman shot another bullet but this one missed Train before curving back behind him intending to get Train from behind. Train turned his head and raised his gun. Then he fired a bullet hitting Gunman's bullet and altering its course and in turn avoiding being shot.

I turned my head when I heard light whimpering and saw the fat guy holding his head not looking at the fight. I shook my head before returning my gaze to Train when he started talking. "Tell me was it Creed who sent you to come get me?" The Gunman growled and began shooting shot after shot at Train as he deflected every shot easily while walking towards the Gunman. Faster than I could see Train was standing under the Gunman with his gun pointed under the Gunman's chin. "Tough luck. Creed is the only one I want to fight."

"Damn you!" Suddenly Gunman turned his head down and that metal thing opened showing another gun. Quickly Train slammed his elbow into his jaw causing the Gunman's head to snap towards the sky, and allowing the bullet Gunman fired off to shoot harmlessly into the sky. Train then threw a few punches effectively knocking the Gunman out. Minutes later two head lights appeared and I saw that it was Sven's car. Sven stepped out the car, "Man where are we...Train? I thought you guys were at the Inn. What are you guys doing here?"

Train shrugged, "Just hanging out."


"You've got some truly sick ideas. I gotta give you that." Sven said from the front of the car. After Sven had found us in the middle of the street we all piled in the car and Rinslit had the idea of forcing Gunman to show us how to get to the other Apostles. So Rinslit was in the back seat with Eve and I sitting between us. The fat guy, who introduced himself as Whitney, was with us but following us on his motor bike and he was dragging Gunman, who sat on a board that had a rope attached to the back of Whitney's motor bike.

"What's the matter Sven? What's so wrong about letting the bad guy lead us to the other bad guys?" Rinslit giggled.

I sighed and looked out the window dreading what's to come when we finally find the Apostle's hideout. I closed my eyes and rested my head on the window seal. Faster than I even realized I fell into a deep dreamless sleep.


Hi everyone! I know it's been a while since I've posted for this story, and I'm sorry for that. I'm gonna try to get up to speed with my stories again.

There wasn't that much Train/Roze action in this one and I know you probably hate me because I didn't have them make up in this chapter, but I promise in the next one you'll love me again. ^^

Or at least I hope so.

Please review! ^^