Okay, this chapter is a little pointless, but I still think it's important. I want everyone to understand why Sephiria did what she did, and this chapter should explain it all.

I'm pretty much half way through my story now (probably more than half way), so I felt like making an interlude. Originally, this was going to be part of the next chapter, but I changed my mind xD. This chapter is short, and pretty much just tells you were Chronos stands at this point. Actually, this is a BelzexSephiria chapter. I keep slipping that pairing in there… I just like it.

For those of your reading Kindred Spirits, I wanna update that one next, but it might not happen for awhile. Hopefully not too long. Anyway, enjoy! (I didn't give it to my editor, cause I thought it was pointless to.)

Question: WHERE HATH MY REVIEWERS GONE?! Did I bore you? Or are you busy with school? Come back, my babies! ;; I promise you cookies with each review!

Disclaimer: I do not own Black Cat

Interlude: Chronos Troubles

It was late at night as Sephiria rewound a tape, sighing impatiently. She barely had any sleep in the past couple days. The Chronos' leader was too caught up in watching their recordings of world wide broadcasts made by the newly found group, The Apostles of the Stars, led by her two ex-comrades. Six months ago, she had her first meeting with them. Since then, she had been searching for her enemies, while at the same time making sure her Numbers were in tip top shape for the eventually battle. The problem was, every time they got close to the Creed and Train's location, the group would move, as if sensing she was near. To top it all off, they were spreading the word about Chronos existence.

And not good word either… There had been several broadcasts made in which Chronos was portrayed as power hungry monsters, bent on controlling the world. The words "garbage" and "useless" were brought up several times. Those do seem to be Creed's favorite words. Other than "Train," that is.

Creed was the one doing the talking in the broadcasts. It made sense, since Train wouldn't be able to explain in such an eloquent way why Chronos was not needed. Train would have kept it short, and full of anger and personal vendetta. Creed, on the other hand, was very charming and persuasive. He was able to turn the world against Chronos by "showing them as the monsters they truly are," (as quoted in the broadcast she watched over two hundred times). He actually needs Creed. Had it been Train talking, everything would have been dismissed as some angry prank.

Then again, if Creed didn't have Train, the situation might have been much worse. Creed was the type to go over the edge, doing unnecessary things in order to get what he wanted. Train may have been risky, never thinking before he leaped, but he also knew what was too much. Creed didn't seem to know when to stop. Perfect partnering couple… Seeing the mess that had now formed, Sephiria often slapped herself for needing to pair people together perfectly in her organization.

"The organization Chronos tries to justify their controlling actions as honorable. They claim what they are doing is, "For the shake of the world." Well, I am asking the world now: do you like the idea of being controlled by a group who stays in the shadows? How does it feel to know your freedom is painted for you?"

Sephiria scoffed at Creed's words. Since when did he know anything about freedom?

"I ask anyone who shares our ideals to join us. Together, we can bring an end to the Chronos regime!"

Apparently, they were trying to recruit new members. Sephiria knew why. They wanted as many people as possible to prepare themselves for Chronos. She wasn't the only one developing her comrade's skills for the upcoming war.

Sephiria turned the tape off, taking it out and replacing it with another. There was a small stack of these broadcasts next to her, and she was bent on memorizing each one, looking for the faintest clues of their new location. It worked before, but in vain, since they would just move. It was almost like they were teasing her. Still, I won't give up. They must be stopped. For the sake of Chronos' future, and the world's.

In this video, she watched Train instead of Creed. Creed was sitting on a large, black chair, with Train leaning on its side. Though he usually didn't speak, Train was always there, standing by Creed's side, or at least close to him. His expression was always carefree, almost as if he wasn't listening as he displayed some rather impressive tricks with his gun. He never shot it though, merely spun it around, twirling it in the air in a very show-offy manner. These tricks would surely send wide eyed fanatics of the Black Cat running to join them. It even seems as though they're flamboyantly displaying his tattoo.

That was most likely another idea of Creed's. If people knew that the legendary Black Cat was against Chronos, either out of fear or admiration, they would join their cause. Sephiria could figure out everything from these videos except one thing. Why is Heartnet corroborating with Creed? Not only that, why is he obeying to him?

Train was never the type to obey. Until the end of his employment with Chronos, when given a mission, he'd obey, but do it in his own fashion, ignoring any details given. With Creed, he seemed to accept his every word, his every action and obey. Actually, he looked quite pleased with the results and pretty much… happy all together.

What was it that made him so happy? Was it Creed? Sephiria almost laughed at that. It can't be Creed. He was there in Chronos too, and he paid him less attention than he did everyone else.

She knew the reason Number XIII left. He was under the misconception that she was the one to kill that sweeper girl. Clearly, it had been Creed, but Train didn't know. He was most likely locked up when it happened. Sephiria might not have known it was Creed either, if it wasn't for that conversation she had with him that night. I knew it was a mistake to tell him…

She quickly brought her attention back to the screen as the tape ended. This one always ended in a strange way that Sephiria could not make sense out of. Just as Creed said his final words and Train caught his gun, which he had thrown in the air, the swordsman grabbed Train's arm and pull so that he was sitting on Creed's lap. Before much else could happen, the tape ended, leaving agent Number I completely baffled.

Rewinding it, she watched again, more closely. She knew it had to mean something. It was a strange thing for partners to do during a very serious recording. During the speech, she saw Train glance at Creed every once in a while, smiling slightly. That was a little strange, but not too much. She could tell from their last encounter that Train cared something about Creed. She was able to brush that off as a friendly, or respectful gesture.

Reaching the puzzling part, she paused it and moved closer to the set. Hitting play again, she could see Creed moving his head closer to Train's. That was the exact moment the tape would end, as if the camera man couldn't take anymore. Letting the screen go blank, the blonde woman stared. She was starting to get an inkling of what it could be. There's no way… It couldn't possibly be what I'm thinking… Could it?

Belze walked in as she was contemplating what she just saw, standing behind her as she stared at the blank screen, deep in thought. Number II sighed inwardly. He knew she had been watching those tapes again. As important as he knew it was, he wished she would take a break for once, or at least let him watch the tapes in her stead.

"Did you find anything interesting?" He asked, curiously.

Sephiria was silent for a moment longer before rewinding the tape again. "I believe so. I'd like you to take a look at this, Belze, and tell me what you think."

She pushed play on the same part, allowing Belze to watch the scene himself. Once it ended, the blonde male narrowed his brow in thought.

"What do you think it means?" Asked the Chronos' leader, never taking her eyes off the black screen.

Belze blinked once, then responded. "Honestly, I'm not sure. The only conclusion I can come to is one I wish not to think."

Sephiria sighed, "Then is seems we reached the same conclusion." Suddenly, she turned and looked at him. "Do you think that might be the reason he's agreeing and working with Creed?"

"If we're right in what we're assuming, I doubt it's the only reason. Last we saw them, Train seemed to trust and care for Creed, but I find it hard to believe it was anything more." Belze folded his arms. "Besides, with how Heartnet acted towards him in Chronos, I highly doubt he left us and joined forces with Creed out of personal feelings for him. If there's something between them, it took time to develop into a mutual aspect."

He could believe Creed had feelings for Train. It was obvious since they were first partnered together that he thought much more of Train than Train thought of him. The Black Cat returning these unusual emotions, however, seemed farfetched, but it was the only conclusion he could reach after seeing that.

"So you don't believe Train left us and listens to Creed solely for the possibility of having feelings for him?"

Belze shook his head. "Even if he does have feelings for Diskenth, Heartnet isn't the type to be controlled by someone. I'm sure Creed has had his fair share of convincing."

"I'm glad you feel that way. Those are my thoughts exactly, and I'd rather not believe that the only way Train would have stayed is if he had feelings for me."

Belze frowned at his leader. "It's not your fault the Black Cat betrayed us." He had said that to her numerous times. Her reply was always silence and a sad smile.

This time, however, Sephiria spoke, "In a way… it is."

The male number was confused at her short statement. She leaned back into the chair and explained herself. "Heartnet left because of the sweeper girl's death."

Number II knew who she was talking about. Saya Minatsuki was a sweeper who befriended Train. They thought she had been the one changing his thought process. He continued to stare at the woman confused. "Why would he leave because of that?"

"He thinks I killed her."

Belze widen his eyes slightly at the blunt statement. "Why would he think that?"

Sephiria sighed, "I don't know why he believes that, but I'm sure Creed isn't helping."

There was silence for a moment as Sephiria seemed to fall back into deep thought. Belze was trying to make sense out of everything he was just told. If Train thought Sephiria killed Saya, then that meant the girl must have been murdered, or died in a way that looked like she was killed. But, why would be think it was Sephiria? He should know she doesn't kill unless it's necessary.

"It is my strong belief that Creed killed the girl."

Belze looked down to the small blonde as she sat up straight again. "It would make sense, wouldn't it? We use the same weapon, and are both quite skillful with it."

That did make sense to Belze, but it still didn't answer his question as to why he thought it was Sephiria. "But then, why would he think you killed her and not Creed? You're fighting styles aren't similar in the least."

Sephiria spoke as she crossed her legs and folded her arms. "At the time, he barely knew Creed existed, he wouldn't have been the first person to pop into Train's head. Even if Creed was a suspect of his, he wouldn't have thought he had a way of knowing who Saya was, let alone have a reason to kill her."

Cocking his eyebrow slightly, Belze asked, "How did he know about her?"

Sephiria was silent for a moment before she hesitantly gave her answer, "I… told him. We had a conversation in which I released information I now wish I hadn't."

Belze was shocked. Sephiria wasn't the type to let information just "slip out". If she said something, she had a reason for saying it.

"When Heartnet was confined, I ran into Diskenth standing at his door, ready to cut it down and release the him. Our conversation consisted of an infuriated Creed demanding to know everything about Train's situation. Eventually… I told him about Saya."

Sephiria paused and stared at the blank screen again. "Despite my instincts not to tell him, I did. He was ready to attack everything and anything around him. I didn't want that to happen in the Chronos Headquarters. I didn't want a battle right under the Elders' home."

Belze nodded. "That was the right decision. Creed tends to loose himself, and even though I know you could have taken him, there would have been serious collateral damage, Diskenth is too dramatic. The Elders would not have approved fighting with a comrade in their own base."

Number I sighed again. "Yes, that was my reasoning at the time too. Looking back at it now, I regret my decision. As you said, I could have taken him out then and there, when he was weaker. The damage would have been bad, but Diskenth would be no more, and Heartnet might have still been with us."

The blonde man continued to stare down at the blonde woman. He felt another surge of pity rise in him for her. She was entirely too young for a job like this. This is too much responsibility for anyone.

"I believe Creed killed that young girl as well, but I don't believe you made the wrong decision." Sephiria finally looked up at him. "Yes, Diskenth would have been dead right now, but for one thing, I don't believe he would have left us if Heartnet hadn't, and he wouldn't have been a threat. Another thing, Chronos comes first, you know that. Fighting Creed then and there would have started trouble for the Elders."

Sephiria was still looking at him as he spoke. "As for Heartnet leaving, I believe it was inevitable. Saya Minatsuki's death was just an excuse for leaving sooner. The way he was acting, I'm sure he would have betrayed us eventually."

Sephiria looked away. "So it was a lose, lose situation, huh?"

Belze grasped her shoulder lightly, in a comforting way and looked deeply into her eyes. "There was no way you could have predicted any of this, and no way to have prevented it. I believe your priorities were in order."

Sephiria smiled warmly and stood. "Thank you, Belze." You always know what to say…

She walked out of the room with Belze following behind, deciding it was finally time for bed.

I hope that explained Sephiria's thought process a little better as well as explain why she did what she did.

You know what I realized? Does anyone know of the debate in Romeo and Juliet where the priest, I think it was, was the cause of their deaths cause he didn't send the message or something? Well, do you guys think Sephiria is the cause for Train and Creed's new relationship? Is it her fault Creed killed Saya and indirectly her doings that brought Creed and Train together? Hmm… You decide xD