Author's Note: All righty! 29th chapter done! I'm focusing so much on Train that it scares me!XD Anyways, I need reviews! I think the story is taking a wrong direction but it might be a gut feeling only. Let me know if you are free!XD For now, just enjoy yourself!

Chapter 29:

However, he would need to understand himself better first, and that means facing his past, no matter how cruel it was. And for this reason, he needed to be much stronger.


She thought everything would be much better when Train had return but with the way things are going now, she had a different thinking. She was unsure what her senior was thinking. After a few days of recovering and when he was sure he could walk properly, he was determined in getting his strength back to the point of being reckless. He practiced with Hades like a possessed man and would stay in the training grounds as long as possible, sometimes skipping lunch and dinner if possible. She never visited him during his training as Train was so focused that he would fail to notice the existence of someone else, let alone the presence of his own junior. He was becoming more and more distant from her as time passes. Not only that, Train haven't met with the royalties ever since Rin had happily announced the return of Train and both were delighted. Furthermore, Jenos gave him a hell of time when he demanded where Train had went.


Flashback

Rin had somehow managed to drag Train who was bed-ridden nearly a week to meet Jenos and Eve. Glad to finally leave the bed and get some fresh air, Train didn't resist much. He wouldn't stand the thought of lying in the bed for another five minutes but was reluctant, however, in meeting the royalties.

"Come on Train, it would do you good!"

"No, it won't. And stop latching on my arm and giving me those puppy eyes. You are dealing with a fragile patient here."

Rin huffed and gave Train a sceptical look.

"You know, just the other day, a certain someone was complaining that I was treating him like a sick patient who was at his death-bed and demanded to let him walk around the house at least as he was mainly in charge of the headquarters when Creed wasn't around."

Train folded his arms to himself and glared at his junior.

"Just using your words against you. You know very well that everything should be in order when the leader isn't around."

Rin stood in front of him and was unfazed with his senior's glaring.

"Let the other seniors do it. They aren't incompetent! That's why they are seniors in the first place!"

Train gave her a sceptical look.

"As a matter of fact, the Doctor is constantly busy in the laboratories for whatever reasons that I do not wish to know about. Shiki was given a mission before Creed left and haven't returned yet and the juniors won't listen to Charden."

Rin held a thoughtful look.

"So maybe Charden isn't as good as you and Creed to give out an murderous aura whenever he goes but the juniors still listen to him…sometimes."

"Look, Rin. I'm not saying that Charden is doing badly as a senior, as a matter of fact; he's a better senior than the rest as he knows how to use his judgment and skills perfectly, thus, a valuable asset for the bandits. However, he's not the type to be feared but wearied of. Do you understand, Rin?"

"But…"

"No buts Rin, is true and you know it."

Train stepped to the side and proceeds to continue his way. Rin immediately jogged up to catch up with her senior.

"I know that, Train but that doesn't mean you can't loosen up for a while."

"Being too reckless will be the downfall of bandits, Rin."

Rin went silent again and Train let out a defeated sigh as he saw his junior droopy shoulders.

"But that doesn't mean I won't follow your advice."

Rin immediately perked up.

"Really? Do you really mean it, Train? That you would come and visit them?"

Train let out a small smile and ruffled Rin's hair.

"I can't refuse my junior when it comes down to this, can I? Another headache is unbearable."

"I'm speechless, Train."

Train let out a smirk.

"Yes, Rin. You don't know how to express your eternal gratitude to me."

Rin pouted.

"That's not what I meant and you know it!"

With a small chuckle, Train continued on.


They left the headquarters after dealing a few more problems and headed towards the café that they usually hang out at.

"They know about it?'

"You were away, weren't you? For your information, I have been meeting them ever since you went 'missing', Train."

Train continue walking without providing any reply. The senior never told Rin where and why he went missing and Rin had stopped questioning her senior about it. She was satisfied as long as he was back. She followed Train into the café and was met with a warm blast of air. She was glad that the interior was at least warm during winter. Spotting the two at the usual place, she left a surprised Train in the dust as she ran towards them.

"Hello guys!"

Eve and Jenos looked up simultaneously with a surprised look. Rin had to muffle her laughter at how they both looked so alike.

"Rin? You're early!"

"Yeah, I know but I couldn't stand still."

Jenos gave a questioning glance.

"How come?"

Rin gave them a big small smile.

"Because Train is back!"

Hearing her answer, Jenos jumped up in surprise.

"Is that true?!"

"Yes, is true. Now stop acting like a child and seat down. Everyone is staring."

A voice had cut through their conversation and both the royalties stared as Train sat in front of them and make himself comfortable. Rin grinned and follow her senior's example. Realizing that Jenos was still standing, Train gave him a mocking glare.

"Like I said, everyone is staring and if you want to be the center of attention, please by all means continue standing but away from us."

Noticing that everyone was really looking him, Jenos quickly sat down and spoke first.

"Where the hell have you been, Train?! We were worried!"

Train took a sip of his milk that he had previously ordered.

"I was on an assignment and was not allowed to let others know of."

Jenos gave him a disbelief look.

"For five days?"

"Unfortunately, five days were the required time span needed to complete the assignment."

Train noted that he was being very disrespectful towards people who was concern for his safety and was making Jenos angry.

"I'm sorry if I have caused you any trouble or worries when I wasn't around. It isn't my intention to worry any of you, believe me. If I knew this would happen, I would have informed Rin immediately of my whereabouts. It can't be help if my leader has a different thinking."

Jenos who was getting angry at Train's short answers started to cool down.

"Welcome home, Train. I'm glad that you are safe."

Train was surprised as he glanced at Eve who was giving him with an unreadable look. Seeing that Train was speechless at the honest statement, Rin and Jenos started laughing. The blushing Train presumes to glare at them and silently demanded their reason.

"Both of you are so straightforward and honest that is cute. You know that, right?"

They both however stopped laughing immediately as they saw Train's hand inched slowly towards his gun. Seeing that the commotion was over, he faced Eve who was looking at her drink.

"I'm home, Eve. Thank you for your concern. I'm pleased to see you are in good health."

Eve gave him a soft smile.

"It seems you have been through a lot. Your skin is pale and you have lost some weight, are you sure you're alright, Train?"

Jenos and Rin gave each other surprise looks as Train gave a humorless laugh.

"Is it that obvious?"

"It is, Train. The fact that you are sickly-looking is very obvious."

"You know me too well, Eve."

"Better than you, I'm sure."

And they both shared an understanding smile.

Jenos motioned Rin closer.

"Is it true?"

Rin nodded.

"Yes, you should have first seen Train when he returned. He was covered in blood and looked like he was at the brink of death. It was scary."

Jenos frowned at Rin's words.

"But they are cute, aren't they?"

Jenos was taken back by Rin's sudden comment.

"Who?"

Rin gave him a sceptical look.

"Idiot. I was talking about Train and Eve. They are unaware that they know each other so well like the back of their hands. I'm truly glad they met each other."

Jenos smiled. They both really deserved each other; they just needed more time to realize this. They were after all, still young in this department.

"How about us?"

Jenos had suddenly blurted the words without thinking. He blushed in embarrassment as Rin glanced at him in surprise. It got worse when Rin started laughing at caught everyone's attention. She was laughing so hard that tears could be seen at the corner of her eyes. Jenos was getting more embarrassed as each second passed. Deciding to save Jenos, Rin decided to answer.

"Jenos, I knew you were dense but not to this degree!"

The Chronos member held an insulted look.

"Jenos, Jenos, Jenos…"

Rin shook her head after each mention of the name.

"Do you trust me?"

"Huh?"

Jenos gave her a clueless look and Rin gave a defeated sigh.

"Just answer the question."

"Yes."

"And I trust you too. Do you enjoy my company?"

"Yes."

"I enjoyed yours too. Do you like me more than a friend?"

Jenos was silent for a while but looked up with determination.

"Definitely."

"And I like you too."

Rin could read Jenos' feelings like a book. Surprise, pleased and happiness.

"For your naïve and dense attitude."

"What?"

"I mean I liked you for your naïve and dense attitude."

"I'm insulted and hurt, Rin."

Jenos gave a mocked-hurt look which Rin loudly laughed at. And their table was consumed by laughter for that entire night.


That was when it happened, right when they were leaving.

"Train?"

The bandit stopped and turned.

"What is it?"

Jenos stopped for a while as he decided which words were more appropriate to voice out his question.

"You still recalled my father's invitation right?"

And Train went from silent to mute. Of course, Train remembered the King's invitation. It was something that had been haunting his dreams and thoughts. Truthfully, he didn't want to know more about himself. Why should he? His past would revealed his parents that hated him so much that they had willingly send their only child to a battle where he had barely survived. It hurts. It really hurts when parents abandoned their children and Train knows the feeling very well.

But what if it isn't the truth? Everything might have been a fluke, someone might have messed his memories to make him think that way. For all he knows, he might be recalling memories that were false. He still suspected Creed as the more he thought about it, the more suspicious his leader became. It was no pure chance or luck that Creed had appeared before him that night and rescued him. He was living in a twisted memory and Train knows it. He was confused. Confused of his current place and his should-be enemies. Will his parents be disappointed or pleased with him when they found out that he was rotting away in a nest of bandits? Was the headquarters really where he belonged? Or somewhere else? Truth to be told, he should be treating Jenos and Eve as his enemies. He should be weary of them and not let his guard down at all times but he had befriended them. He might not show it but he treasured the friendship between the two parties deeply. But what if he was wrong? Up until now, had he been doing the right thing and making the right decisions?

He was disrupted when he felt a hand on his shoulder and swiftly positioned his gun at the right position.

"Train! What are you doing?!"

Train snapped up when he heard Rin's scream and noticed that he was aiming at Jenos' forehead. Upon seeing the famous gun, Jenos had, Train assumed, placed his hands above his head unconsiously while Rin and Eve looked on with shocked and worried expressions. With an apologetic look, he quickly placed Hades back into his holster.

"I'm sorry. I got carried away in my thoughts."

Jenos let out a breath of relief.

"My bad. I shouldn't have brought up the topic. I'm sorry."

"No, is my fault. I shouldn't have been so distracted by the mere thought on it. When I'm ready, I will come and personally meet your father but I unsure when."

Jenos gave a big grin.

"No problem! My dad will welcome you even if he's busy. He holds you in high regards and looks forward in seeing you."

Train gave a grateful smile.

"I'm truly honored that your father thinks of me that way."

Jenos' grin went even wider.

"You might need to be careful of our cousins though."

Jenos' grin immediately falters at Eve's words. Train gave both of them a clueless look.

"Apparently what they said was true that night during the party as they are currently living in nearby our neighborhood."

Both the bandits held a grimaced look. Jenos gave a sigh.

"Yes, we know. Isn't it horrible? And to make things worse, they are having dinner with us every single night because our parents are very friendly with our cousins' parents."

The grimaced look became sympathetic. Jenos continued on with his ramblings.

"Now high-and-mighty Michael won't leave Eve alone and naïve little Elizabeth is determine to stalk me in my own house. I feel like I'm playing a game of hide-and-seek!"

Rin let out a small laugh.

"Aren't you lucky that a girl is so in love with you that she's stalking you?"

Jenos had a pure-shock look plastered on to his face.

"No way! I rather have Train stalked me through the entire house than Elizabeth!"

Train gave a look.

"Really? I wouldn't mind doing that, you know? I'm pretty good at hide-and-seek."

Jenos detecting an evil glint in Train, immediately backed away while Rin laughed.

"Is true, Jenos. He just need to shout a few threatening words and with his infamous death glare and aura, all his victims will come rushing out!"

"Okay enough already you two! Anyways, try and avoid Elizabeth if you can because she's been asking about you too."

Train held a disbelieving look. Eve laughed softly and dragged her brother with her while waving.

"We have to go. See you another time?"

Rin held a thumbs-up.

"Definitely! Count on it!"

End flashback

Creed is probably the only one happy with the outcome. He was delighted that Train was spending majority of his time in the training grounds. As a result, Train was receiving more missions compared to the other seniors and she knew that Train had completed every single mission successfully. Creed was definitely pleased, alright.

Rin sighed in depression as they hardly spoke to each other as days went by and she was busy training the other junior too. What was his name again? Jack, was it? He had a lot of potential in succeeding her as he was pretty good in collecting important news and information too. Not only that, Rin was also very impressed with his news-network.

And she finally snapped after a week. She couldn't take the silence anymore. Coming back to the present, she had, without difficulty, cornered an exhausted Train right after his training.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Train?! Why are you avoiding and not talking to me?!"

The surprised Train finally gave out a long sigh.

"Sorry, Rin. I didn't mean to but I was caught up with my own thoughts."

Rin placed her hands upon his shoulders with a concern look.

"You know that I'm always ready to listen."

Train gave her a grateful smile before continuing.

"I have been doing a lot of thinking, Rin, ever since that day. That perhaps is really time to face my own past, no matter how bad it is…"

Rin felt silent as she finally realized what had been troubling Train.

"You don't have to, Train, if you don't want too. No one is forcing you." Rin answered softly.

"But I have to, sooner or later, you know that very well, Rin. My past is going to catch up with me somehow and reared its' ugly head to me. I might as well do it at my own pace."

"Train, I know you well enough that you would go even if I cried my eyes out."

"A point well taken, Rin, because you would look ugly if you really cried your eyes out and anyone would run away at such a sight."

Rin huffed in annoyance.

"That's mean, Train. You were making fun of me, weren't you?"

Train gave an amused smirk.

"Never in a million years."

Rin sat down as Train cleaned up the training grounds.

"When do you plan to go?"

"Tomorrow. Creed won't be around tomorrow for another assignment. Perfect time to go and visit the King."

"Ah, I see."

Train saw Rin's dejected look.

"You're coming with me, you know, so you better be ready and meet me at the entrance at 2 in the afternoon."

Rin's face brightened up instantly.

"Really? I'm coming?"

Train nodded and smirked at Rin.

"You're going to distract Elizabeth so that she won't come looking for me."

"No way!"

"Just joking. Anyways, be ready on time."

Train and Rin left the training grounds together but failed to notice a shadow who quickly disappeared through a portal.


"Are you sure, Echidna?!

"Yes sir."

Creed grabbed Echidna's wrist and drew her closer, not caring whether was he hurting her or not.

"Are you absolutely sure?!"

With a pant, Echidna tried to free herself while answering.

"Yes sir. I, myself, was there."

Creed tightened his hold on Echidna and the beautiful lady scream out in pain. Creed quickly snapped out of his anger and immediately let her go.

"Forgive me, Echidna. I shouldn't have done that but you know how emotional I get when it comes to my dear cat."

Echidna felt herself burned with jealousy but quickly pushed it away.

"It's alright, Creed. It will get better soon."

Creed gave an apologetic look and calmed himself down.

"Alright, tell me about it again."

Echidna straightened herself.

"As I was saying, Creed, I overheard them talking about visiting the King tomorrow at 2 in the afternoon. They are going there in hopes of recovering Black Cat's memories."

Creed cursed silently as he looked out the window. He thought he finally convinced Train not to involve himself with the royalties anymore. At first, he was pleased that Train was training for most of the time as Creed woudn't have any trouble in keeping an eye on him. Moreover, Creed could see an obvious improvement. His right-hand-man was much faster and now has sharper reflexes. He's accuracy was deadly and originally left-handed, Train was working his right-hand grasp too. He deserved his nickname more than ever. Perhaps if time permit, maybe he can convince Train to have a one-on-one battle with him again.

But back to the matter on hand, it was crucial that Train doesn't learn anything new about his past or else what Creed had been hiding from Train for the last few years will be revealed. However, one little good thing is that only he and Echidna knew what really happened that night and no one else. He still recalled the night when Train had swore his loyalty to Creed who shivered with happiness of those spoken words. Train belongs to him and no one else. It was only just a matter of time. Only he would be able to protect Train and give what Black Cat desires.

"Echidna, try and found out what he will learn tomorrow. Follow him if you must. I believed that it isn't a difficult task for you?"

Echidna smiled softly.

"It isn't, Creed. I would bring the information back without fail."

"Perfect."

And his junior left gracefully.

Creed felt guilty in doing this but Train would leave him for sure if he finds out about his sinful acts and Creed would never wish for that to happen.

-End-of-Chapter-

Reviews:

icecoldprincess: I am very grateful that you are still reading this! Really glad that you have such high compliments for this fic! Thanx again for your review!!You just made my day!XD