This chapter comes chronologically before the previous chapter. I just wanted to break them up a little.

Disclaimer: I do not own Black Cat

If I have to hear this woman say one more thing about her sister, I may end up killing her before I bring her back to the Apostles.

Doctor was smiling kindly at the woman known simply as E as they sat outside a small, local cafe. Despite his inherent love of coffee and caffeine in general, he hated every bit of what was happening, mostly since it involved pretending he gave a damn about the woman who was causing his ear to bleed internally.

Seriously, does this woman think I actually enjoy hearing her voice this much?! Or does she just enjoy talking so much that she doesn't care what the other people around her think?

Kanzaki was pretty sure it was the latter option, but then again, he knew he wasn't doing anything to persuade her to stop. He simply smiled and nodded at the appropriate times, which was a difficult task to accomplish since he drifted in and out of the conversation constantly.

Not that I would classify this as a conversation. I don't think I've said three words in the last hour. And she doesn't even seem to notice.

Occasionally, he would roll his eyes when he felt like she wanted him to agree with something absurd that happened, or fake a laugh when it sounded like she made a joke. He even went so far as to gasp or make an offended sound when he felt like the woman wanted him to be appalled. And again, all of these normal human reactions were incredibly arduous to fabricate, since they were not emotions he normally felt.

Is this how normal people act on a regular basis? No wonder everyone's so miserable…

The irony that he was pretending to form a relationship with an evidently very sociable woman when he was incapable of forming human bonds due to his inhuman nature was completely lost on him. The only things that seemed to convince the woman that he cared about her was her desperation to claim she had a doctor as a boyfriend, and all the research he had done to learn how to act like a regular human with real emotions.

I don't know how the general public lives like this. How do they tolerate each other to the point of letting another human bemoan their rather privileged lives without wanting to cause them physical harm?

Kanzaki didn't experience emotions the same way everyone else did. In fact, he didn't experience them at all and now was no different. The closest he had ever gotten to understanding love or affection was through his interactions with Creed and Train, or Charden and Echidna. They were the only couples that were able to convince Doctor that they truly loved one another in a deep, unconditional way. Outside of them, he didn't think anyone who claimed to love someone else truly understood what the emotion was.

And even Creed and Train, Charden and Echidna don't seem to have a full grasp on it. They more so seem like slaves to their emotions than in control of them.

Doctor chuckled lightly when he heard the woman make a joke, then took a small sip of his coffee, the bitter brew being the only thing that made the moment somewhat bearable.

Maybe if I had a swig of alcohol in my coffee, I'd be able to tolerate this woman more….

He looked the woman up and down as she went on and on about the argument she had with her sister and noted how surprisingly attractive she was. Despite her good looks, he didn't feel a pang of sympathy or positive emotion for her, not even lust which made Doctor further question how someone could ever fall in love with another human being.

My current and former leaders are all also considered more than conventionally attractive, so I guess that has a role in experiencing the emotion, but still, how could they possibly feel such an irrational and foolish devotion to another person?

Doctor had seen everything Creed had sacrificed for Train, and what Charden had put on the line for Echidna and could not understand either of their reasons. Creed had given up becoming a God and ruling the world just so he could be with the Black Cat and Charden jeopardized the Apostles' goals so he could confess his preposterous feelings for the actress. Doctor wasn't sure why the Blood Taoist told him he was going to profess his love for Echidna, but he knew it could have ended terribly and put a stop to all of their plans.

Especially since we all knew how she used to feel about Creed. But, apparently her feelings changed and she was able to return Charden's illogical emotions. Which is a good thing because it would have been a huge inconvenience if she didn't feel the same way.

Doctor warned Charden to keep his emotions under wraps when he told the scientist he planned on confessing to her, and reminded him that his arbitrary affections for her could have meant the end of the Apostles if she didn't return his feelings. However, it seemed that the absurd and useless sensation of being in love was powerful enough to make Charden believe it was worth the risk to threaten their entire organization just to vocalize them.

And it was the same for Creed with Train. Actually, it was worse for Creed. That man would have carved his own heart out and let Train use it as a coaster if that's what the cat wanted. As ridiculous as it was, it was fascinating watching them interact.

Doctor did whatever he could to learn more about the emotion all of humanity coveted, but no matter how much he watched the interactions between Creed and Train or Charden and Echidna, he didn't understand it. What confounded him more was how a person's emotions could change, and they may end up loving another. He witnessed that when he saw the actress fall out of love with Creed and into love with Charden.

And then there's the whole situation with Heartnet and Number X.

Kanzaki may not have known much about love, but even he was able to tell that Lin was clearly in love with Train. However, despite the strong emotional connect the gunman seemed to have with the number, Heartnet did not love him back. In fact, the Black Cat appeared to only ever be capable of loving Creed and vica versa. That was entirely different from the situation with Echidna, and it confounded the scientist to no end.

How can you claim to love someone more than anyone else in the world, then turn around and give those same feelings to another person? Especially when I've witnessed it's possible to love someone for a comically long time like Creed has with Train.

Doctor tried to learn everything he could about the all-consuming emotion known as love by watching the couples that scattered his terrorist group. He did that not because he ever wanted to fall in love, but because he wanted to know more about the emotion in case he ever needed to use it to his advantage.

And the situation he was currently in with E was exactly what he had been preparing for. However, with as much as he felt he had learned through watching his current and former leaders' relationships, it didn't seem to be enough to make the situation with the woman tolerable.

I've tried to mimic the way Creed looks at Train or that way Charden speaks to Echidna, but it's impossible. How do they do it without wanting to slam their head into a wall? And how do they make it look sincere? If only I had more time to watch Creed and the Train's relationship progress...

The relationship between Creed and Train seemed to have the truest, strongest form of love he had ever seen, and that was something Doctor wished he had more time to research. Their love put romantic movies and novels to shame. They made Paris and Helen seem like nothing more than high school sweethearts, and Romeo and Juliet's sacrifice look like a minor inconvenience.

What peaked his interest in the love the men possessed was the fact that Creed claimed to have fallen in love with Train at first sight. For the longest time, Doctor believed that meant the swordsman was just lusting passionately after the Black Cat, but it became clear over time that was not the case. His love with the cooky gunman was unmatched and unsurpassed by any famous fictional or non-fictional couple he could think of.

And then there's Heartnet who somehow managed to continue loving Creed even after finding out about the monumental betrayal.

Doctor gave E a forged, strained smile as the waiter poured him a refill on his saving grace beverage.

How is it possible that Train could still love Creed even after learning he killed his best friend and lied to him about it, yet I can't even sit through one conversation with this woman without thinking about slitting her throat open?

Despite his confusion on the subject of love, he knew the murder of Saya was not something Creed had no control over, especially after her learned more about their past and about the Chronos' drug. After educating himself on the way the mind altering drug worked and understanding how terribly it was administered to him, he knew Creed was not a killer by any means. Chronos has just convinced him he was.

And based on all the Chronos' files we managed to collect when we took the drugs, they've both had traumatic pasts that were so tightly and organically interwoven with one another that I guess must make it impossible for them to truly connect with anyone else but each other.

Again, he ignored the irony that he was incapable of connecting with anyone, so questioning the ex-assassin's connection with each other was unjustifiable and a waste of his time. It was just his nature as a scientist to want to know and understand more.

What's that thing people are always saying about love? I guess they were just meant to be?

Again, Doctor sighed and decided not to entertain that thought further. At the end of the day, the emotion known as love was a foreign concept to him that he wished he knew more about. He thought that maybe if Creed and Train hadn't left when they did, or if he had more eyes on them after their departure, his current circumstances wouldn't be so difficult for him to act his way through.

Oh well! I just need to keep convincing this woman I have feelings for her. That is, at least until it's time to introduce her to the rest of the family.

"And then she had the balls to tell me to stop wearing my Kimono in public! I bought that stupid thing for her stupid bridal party and it was fucking expensive! AND I COULDN'T RETURN IT! You're damn right I'm going to wear it every chance I get!"

Doctor noticed there was a pause in her perpetual autobiography and realized she wanted him to say something in response, even though she hadn't asked a question.

"I think the Kimono is cute and you should keep it." Doctor made his voice sound sickenly sweet as he spoke, even though he wanted nothing more than to gouge his eyes out with the spoon he was stirring his coffee with.

E sighed and slumped in her chair. "How would you know? You've never even seen me in it…"

Doctor subtly wrapped his fingers around the knife on the table as his first shook from rage.

So easy… It would be so easy to just end her life right now… Maybe I could gift her body to my former leaders and enrage them enough to seek out revenge…

Doctor knew the Black Cat was most likely still unstable even after having twenty two days of freedom from the Taoists. He was also sure Chronos' scientists and medical team probably stepped in to administer a new drug into Train's system to help balance the drug Kanzaki put in him, but it was going to take more than that to bring the ex-Number XIII back to normal.

And killing this woman might be enough to push him over the edge… And maybe he'd be unstable enough to take out Creed and the rest of Chronos with him in a fit of rage…

Kazanki took a breath and used the knife to butter his toast instead, not caring that the purpose for the sharp utensil was for cutting and not butter, and gave the woman another kind smile. "Then you should show it to me."

I can't kill her since there's no guarantee that's how it will play out. I need to wait to hear from Charden and Echidna before I can move forward with any plan. I can't kill her yet…

Aja and Aztec were staying in the woods while he stayed with the woman in her small house and he recently sent the panther with a message to his leaders. He was pretty sure that even if Charden was no longer recovering from the Nanomachines, his arm was definitely not fully re-grown. That meant the Apostles weren't ready to move or fight, and he had time to bond with E before returning to them.

Charden will need at least another week, maybe more for his arm to be completely back. Until then, I need to keep biding my time until I can reunite with my beloved terrorist family.

Despite all that, he knew he needed to at least reach out to them to let them know he was alive. He was relatively confident Aja would be able to follow her instincts and find out where they were, but it would probably take time. Chances were she'd go to their last few hideouts first until she was finally able to find where they currently were. However, she had been gone for four days, and he was starting to worry.

I shouldn't worry. Atzec wouldn't be so calm right now if something happened to her. She'll come back in one piece.

Even if it took the beast longer to find their comrades, he wasn't concerned about Chronos finding the letter he wrote and tracing back to him or his location. He purposefully made the message vague on the chance that it might not actually reach them, or could be intercepted by their enemies. If Aja came back with a response from his leaders, then he would add more details to his next message.

And it will be Echidna responding since Charden is almost certainly still incapciated, and I'm sure she has all of the Apostles looking for me. But, I'm not worried about them finding me before I find them. I only happened on this place by mistake because of Aja's connection with the Black Cat.

During his torturous twenty-two days with the woman, he had learned a lot about her past and her affiliation with the Black Cat. She was the first friend Train made when he left the Apostles, and she was a primary component in his decision to become a sweeper and his overall decision to return to his friends. She reminded him what it was like to be with people again, which gave him the resolve to finally reunite with his comrades. She was not only a representation of his future, but a symbolism of the hope and prosperity he could have in his life.

She kept going on and on about how fate had a hand in their meeting, which I would believe if I believed in fate or any other nonsense like that. It really just sounds like it was a coincidence they kept running into each other despite not having ever shared their contact information.

Added to that strong connection was Creed's ability to track her down. They had been trying for months to reunite the woman and the cat, but due to the ex-assassin's unfortunate circumstances, they were never able to commit to a time. Doctor had to stifle his laughter when he heard that story, since every time she heard Creed had canceled he could trace it back to something that happened with the Apostles.

And since she didn't know what their reasons were for canceling, that means she doesn't know anything about the Apostles of the Stars, Chronos, the Tao, or Nanomachines.

That also meant she knew nothing about him or what his relationship to the men were. That, combined with the fact that Train and Creed clearly cared about her, made her the perfect bait to lure the men out and put an end to them before their war with Chronos. If he managed to accomplish that, it would put him back in good graces with Charden, since that was the Blood Taoist's primary purpose in kidnapping and experimenting on Train in the first place.

If fate does exist, then meeting this woman surely must be fate. I don't know what it is about her, but it seems like her destiny is tightly knitted with those men.

The fact that she not only ran into the Black Cat by chance on more than one occasion, but Creed and Doctor as well actually gave the scensist a little bit of doubt on his atheistic beliefs.

She's like a magnet to their lives. No matter what they do to keep her away from their drama, she keeps getting pulled in.

"By the way, have you found my phone? I wanted to see if Creed reached out to me."

Kanzaki smiled and handed her a phone that was identical to her original one, with the same pictures, contacts, and settings. "Yes. You lost it in the couch cushions again."

E frowned and took the device from the man. "I checked there…"

Doctor shrugged his shoulders and took another sip of his coffee. "I don't know what to tell you, Dear. That's where I found it."

E sighed and unlocked the device to check her messages. "When did you find it?"

Doctor set his cup down and turned his head to watch all the infinitesimal towns people walk by, occasionally waving at a few who gave him a friendly nod or smile. "This morning before we left the house."

E frowned as she stared at her phone. "No messages from him…" He glanced back up at the man sitting across the table from her. "Why didn't you tell me sooner that you found it?"

Doctor felt like his lips were going to fall off from all the fake smiling he had been doing lately. "You started venting about your sister so quickly and so vehemently I didn't want to interrupt you. It sounded like you needed to get out how angry you were with her."

E smiled warmly, then reached out and took his hands in her own. "You're too good to me…"

Kanzaki turned to her and choked back the impulse to stab her hand with the fork, then returned her smile. "It's the least I could do after all you've done for me."

If I had any capability of feeling remorse, I would almost feel bad for this woman for getting so close to me. Even though I can tell she's using me just like I'm using her.

Doctor had researched legitimate relationships like Creed and Train's enough to understand the woman didn't have feelings for him. After hearing her attraction to both the ex-Apostles' leaders and a few other men she had mentioned in passing, Kanzaki could tell he was certainly not her type physically. It sounded like she went for more unique looking men who were well built, and while he knew his body wasn't in the worst shape, it wasn't anywhere near as athletic or cut as Creed or Train's.

Even personality wise I'm not her type. That goes for my real personality, and my 'good guy' act. The true me would be too extreme for her, and this fake me is too plain.

Again, based on the plethora of information E practically forced onto him on a daily basis, Kanzaki was able to work out she was attracted not just to sui generis looking men, but also polite, intelligent gentlemen, or even just a guy that could make her laugh. She made her type clear in the way she talked about meeting Creed since she went on and on about how he was low key flirting with her, and how genteel he was. Then with the Black Cat, she wouldn't shut up about how he made her laugh to the point of crying.

As much as I know I need to get close to this woman, I refuse to do any of that. But, it doesn't seem like I need to since she's more than happy showing off her boyfriend doctor.

Kanzaki smirked as a thought occurred to him.

Actually, she'd probably be attracted to Charden as well. He has more of the physical and personal appeal she's looking for. I'm just some average looking man with a lucrative career. That's what she's interested in.

From the moment they met, he could tell she was attracted to his profession, not anything specific about him, per se. She made it very clear she just wanted to show off that she had a doctor for a boyfriend since her sister had a lawyer for a husband. That was also why she moved the relationship as fast as she did. She moved him into her house and gave him the title of boyfriend in under a month all because her sister was pregnant, and she needed someone to attend the shower with.

Seriously, what is her controversy with her sister?

Doctor may not have understood how relationships worked, but he knew that was certainly not how they worked. Then again, he didn't care too much about how quickly they were moving since it only benefited his plan to get closer to her. He just went along with whatever she wanted since he knew her goal to mature the relationship coincidentally coincided with his goal to use her.

Is fighting with your sibling this much normal among people with a traditional family? Are you supposed to both love and hate them?

Doctor ran away from home before he could really learn much about what it meant to be with a real family. Well, he didn't so much run away as was kicked out by his parents after they caught him experimenting on his little sister. When his parents walked into the gruesome scene and questioned what was going on, he told them very matter-of-factly that he was playing doctor with the girl. As an adult, he realized now that was something kids said they were doing when something sexual was going on, but the display he created was anything but that.

I was ready to leave anyway. I was sick of their home and their rules. They never appreciated my intelligence or drive to learn. If they did, they wouldn't have sent me to a public school.

Even though he saw his sister as nothing more than something to use as a subject for his sick curiosity, he thought other families were different. Obviously, E's relationship with her sister wasn't anywhere near as unconventional as the one he had with his sister, but it was strange to see her both love and hate the woman.

E's phone began to vibrate as Kanzaki contemplated the woman's relationship with her sister. His fake girlfriend sighed as she looked at the screen. "Sorry, it's my sister. I need to answer."

Doctor nodded politely as he dug into his pocket to find the woman's real phone. "Take your time, we have all day."

As E had a conversation with her sister, Kanzaki flipped through her original phone. Not only was he able to duplicate everything about her phone perfectly, but he also was able to forward all incoming phone calls and messages from her old phone to the new one. However, seeing she got a call from her sister without him knowing made him realize he needed to keep an eye on her real phone for any messages from Creed. If she got anything from his former leader, he wanted to make sure she didn't see it first.

I didn't spend all this time copying her phone just to get caught. I need to be more careful with what she can and cannot receive.

There was a short delay between messages being sent between the phones, which gave Doctor time to see what it was before he decided it was okay to pass along. That way, if Creed reached out to her, Kanzaki could intercept the message before it got to her. He also learned what her texting style was like so that when it came time to reach out to the silver haired man, Doctor would be able to speak with him as if he was E.

I need to be careful with that as well. Next to me, Creed is the smartest person I know, and he knows how people work. He might be able to see right through me if I'm not perfect in my delivery.

He hadn't messaged the swordsman yet because he was still waiting to hear back from his leaders. He also wasn't in much of a rush. He knew Charden was still recovering, which meant nothing could happen yet, and he needed to continue growing his relationship with the woman before he brought her to the Apostles' layer. Once he heard from them and had more of a feel where they were at mentally, emotionally, and physically, then he would know it was a good time to make the next move.

And the next move requires "E" making contact with Creed again.

"Okay, okay, thank you, Sis. I love you too. Bye."

When E hung up the phone, she threw her arms up in the air as if she had won a prize. "I get to wear the Kimono to the baby shower!"

Doctor nodded and patted the woman's hand. "That's great, Darling. So glad to hear it."

Kanzaki learned from watching Charden that women liked to be called things like 'my dear' or 'Darling'. He thought about calling her 'Love' or thinking up some sort of pet name like Creed and Train had for each other, but he didn't have it in him to go that far into his commitment to their fictitious relationship. Besides, Creed and Train were both men. He didn't know if it worked differently with different sexes.

She seems to like these names, so I'll keep using them.

E put her arms down and frowned at him. "You're still coming to the shower with me, right?"

Doctor pretended to think about that, knowing she liked it when he was playful. He used Train as his inspiration for that part of his personality. "I don't know… when it is again?"

E threw a spoon at him which Kanzaki pretended to laugh at, even though it annoyed him that the utensil almost hit his eye.

And I still don't have my glasses to protect. It's starting to get disorienting.

E pouted at him as she leaned her elbows on the table. "Come on… You know when it is… You're still going, right?"

Doctor smiled, then nodded his head. "It's in three days, right?" He watched as the woman rolled her eyes and nodded. "Hm… Let me just double check."

E made a frustrated noise and fell back heavily in her chair as the man checked his phone. "Uuugh! You are the worst!"

Kanzaki chuckled and set his phone aside, one that he bought the second day he was trapped in that prosaic town. "I have nothing scheduled. Of course I'll be there."

E sighed and rolled her eyes again. "Good… It's not like you have anywhere else to go…"

Doctor smiled and took one of her hands in his own, fighting back the repugnant shiver he got at the skin to skin contact. "For you, my dear, I'll make all the time in the world."

This damn shower is yet another reason I can't take her to the Apostles yet. If she turns up missing before such a big event, it will make her family suspicious and word might spread about me. This town is full of gossip and rumors.

Even though Doctor didn't care what anyone thought about him, he didn't want to make a lot of noise. And a woman who met a strange man in the woods and then disappeared less than a month later was suspicious.

E smiled warmly and returned his tender gesture. "Tell me again why you decided to stay here with me instead of returning to your exciting job in the hustle and bustle of the big city?"

Doctor chuckled again and pulled his hand away, unable to tell his spurious story while sustaining physical contact with her. "Because there was something about this town that just felt like home. Like I was supposed to be here. And…"

He locked eyes with her as he spoke, trying to remember how Creed looked at Train every time he saw the Black Cat so he could fabricate the love sick puppy dog look the silverette always took on. "...I felt like I was supposed to meet you. Getting lost in the woods must have been fate's way of leading me to you. What started out as one of the worst days of my life, turned into the best decision I ever made."

Those were all words he knew were similar to ones Creed's would say to Train. While it may not have had the same poetic beauty or loving timbre the swordsman was known to have whenever he spoke to the gunman, it seemed to work well enough on the woman to convince her his feelings were genuine.

E sighed and grabbed his hands again. "I'll never get tired of hearing you say that…"

Doctor brought her hands up to kiss them gently, resisting the urge to gag as he set them back on the table. "Then I'll say them every day if that's what you want, Darling."

Why does Charden use that word so much? It's embarrassing.

But, judging by the smile on E's face, he knew it did the trick. "When are you going to introduce me to your family?"

Doctor sighed, happy he was able to show a little bit of his true feelings for a moment as he answered her question with a slightly annoyed tone. "I keep telling you my family is eccentric. I'm not ashamed of them meeting you, I'm ashamed of you meeting them. I'm afraid you'll run off when you see just how insane they are."

But I have a feeling you won't be able to get away…

E frowned and leaned across the table to take a gentle hold of his chin so she could turn his face towards her. "There's nothing anyone could ever do to make me run away from you…"

Doctor chuckled, managing to make it sound sweet at the last minute as his bitter thoughts circulated through his head.

I beg to differ, "Darling"...

She had been bugging him to introduce her to his family for the last week and a half, but he kept saying he wasn't ready yet. Which wasn't too far off from the truth. He needed to make contact with not only his leaders, but also Creed before he brought their relationship to the next level.

She certainly moves fast. She introduced me to her sister the first week we met. But again, I'm sure that was just to show off she landed a doctor.

Doctor also wasn't sure if the pace they were moving at was abnormal for relationships. After all, he had never been in one, so for all he knew, everything she was requesting of him was completely normal. That was another reason why he never turned anything she suggested down. He wanted to be on her good side, so he acted like he wanted everything she wanted.

And this is the one time I can't use Creed and Train or Charden and Echidna's relationship as a reference. They all had their own speed and level of comfort at which they moved.

Creed fell in love with Train at first sight while it took years for the Black Cat to even notice the silver man. Echidna also seemed to have fallen in love with Creed at first sight, whereas her love for Charden grew over time. Then there was the Blood Taoist, who was somewhere between Creed's fall for Train and Train's fall for Creed.

Seeing the woman was still staring at him, Doctor sighed and patted her hand gently. "You'll meet them in due time, my dear. Just have patience."

E pouted, then poked his forehead and sat back down. "Fine. Guess I've pushed enough on you anyway. As long as you're willing to show your face at the shower, I'm happy."

Kanzaki chuckled again as he finished his coffee and toast. "By the way, how did you convince her to let me come along? Aren't baby showers usually supposed to just be for women? And on top of that, I've only met your sister once."

E gave him an incredulous voice. "...Are you trying to come up with ways to avoid going?"

Doctor put up his hand defensively and laughed apprehensively, a gesture he learned from various people who were trying to look innocent. "Of course not! I just don't understand. I mean, am I going to be the only man there?"

E shook her head and finally started eating her breakfast. "No. Everyone is bringing their significant others. Honestly, I agree with you, I don't understand what my family's obsession is with couples. I feel like if I'm not in a relationship, I'm utterly useless to them."

And there's the proof she doesn't actually want to be in a relationship with anyone.

Doctor pouted at the woman, an expression he learned from Creed and Train whenever they were trying to get the other to pity them. "Are you saying you'd rather be alone than with me?"

E jumped a little. "No, not at all! I just wish I didn't have to show you off like a trophy to gain their approval. It's annoying. They should love me for me and not feel sorry for me for not being married at my age."

Doctor smiled a coy, Creed-like smile at her. "Well, keep playing your cards right and you might just get that life."

E returned his smile, but even Kanzaki could tell it wasn't a genuine expression. "Then I guess I better be on my best behavior."

Doctor continued smiling at her until he saw a flash of blue light appear from an alley behind them. He looked in the direction of the light, pulling the woman's attention off him and in that direction as well.

"Did you see something?" E asked as she tried to get a better look.

Doctor turned her head back around and chuckled. "I thought I did, but it was nothing. Just a reflection on the window."

E rolled her eyes and turned back to her food. "You really should look into getting glasses…"

Doctor smiled. "I'll do that soon. For now, finish your breakfast. I'm going to use the restroom."

As he stood up and walked past her, Doctor squeezed her shoulder tightly and walked towards the door of the building. He looked over his shoulder to make sure the woman wasn't looking, then slipped down the alley he was sure he saw Aja flash into. As soon as he took one step in, he saw the panther sitting against the brick wall at the end of the small street, purring the moment she made eye contact with the scientist.

Doctor put up a hand to stop her from approaching and looked over his shoulder to make sure no one was looking. Seeing a few people walk by, he gave the beast a command. "Schrumpfen." (1)

Aja did as her master commanded her and shrunk to the size of a house cat. Seeing the man nod, she walked up to Kanzaki, rubbing against him very much like a pet cat would. Doctor smiled and picked the small creature up, petting her gently as he spoke.

"It certainly took you a while to come back. Does that mean you were able to find them and deliver the message?"

His only response was a purr, which was exactly what he expected. He inspected the cat further, then noticed the piece of paper that was pinned to her tail. The second he saw the handwriting he knew he was correct in thinking Echidna would be the one to respond to him.

Doctor,

I will call off the Apostles' search for you on the condition that you explain yourself and give me advice on how to take care of Charden. If you do not respond to this message in four days, I will not be so forgiving or even willing to hear whatever else it is you have to say. I will also have the Apostles resume their search and alter their orders to take you back dear or alive.

Doctor chuckled and pulled a pen out of his pocket, using the space that was left on the paper to write a response, along with instructions on how to take care of Charden. He noted how the woman didn't sign her name, and knew that was because it was obvious who was writing.

This note also confirms that they need me. She may say they'll take me back dead or alive, but we both knew she can't kill me. Especially with the condition Charden's in.

He purposefully made his care instructions vague so they would continue having a need for him and therefore wouldn't kill him. They were specific enough that the Blood Taoist would stay alive, but not so specific that Hue would be able to handle Charden all by herself. Not that Doctor expected her to be able to do that even with his help. As skilled of a scientist as she might have been, he didn't see her as a competent doctor.

"Still, we can't sacrifice Charden for our own pride, right?"

Aja tilted her head in confusion as he pinned the note back to her tail.

"Don't worry about it. Just deliver this back to the Apostles, then come back right away."

Aja purred, then zapped out of Kanzaki's hand, causing a minor burn on his hands. He sucked on his fingers for a moment, then pulled out his fake girlfriend's real phone.

Now that I understand more of what the state of the Apostles is, I can at least start setting the bait for the sweepers.

As soon as he wrote the message, making sure to match the woman's tone as best he could, he changed the settings in her phone to no longer forward any messages from Creed to her. That way, he wouldn't have to worry about missing something from the silver haired man.

Doctor pocketed the phone again and left the alley, smiling acerbically as he stared at the woman's back.

It's only a matter of time now, my dear…

Translation:

(1) "Shrink."