A Different Fate

by Musal

What if Train didn't know Creed killed Saya? What if he believed it was Chronos? What if Train helped Creed create the Apostles to get revenge on Chronos? What happens when Train learns the truth? CxT

64. 64 Dreamscape Part 1

CW: Non-consensual sexual content. It's brief and technically not real, but I don't want to accidentally trigger anyone, hence this warning.

Disclaimer: I do not own Black Cat or its characters.

---

Train sighed and stretched his legs out in front of himself, crossing his ankles together as he leaned back on his hands. He sighed and looked up at the sky. "She's late…"

Creed frowned at the melancholy tone his beloved used. He could tell Train was feeling anxious about the upcoming meeting, and he understood why.

I can't lie and say I'm not anxious. I really hope my gut is wrong and we're meeting with the real E. I really hope this isn't some kind of ambush.

The more Creed thought back to the electronic conversations he had with the woman, the more he believed he hadn't been speaking to E. However, he refused to voice that opinion to Train, since he knew it would stress his lover out even more than he already was.

And the last thing I want is to upset my Kitten even more.

Creed reached his hand over to Train, placing it gently on top of the cat's, lightly caressing his beloved's fingers as he spoke. "If it's any consolation, being late is within E's character."

Train sighed again, relaxing slightly at the feeling of Creed's fingers softly massaging his own, watching as a delicate, slim cloud drifted listlessly above their heads. "That's true I guess... But, a picnic lunch in the middle of nowhere? That doesn't sound like her at all. She's extremely sociable and likes to be around people. She thrives in large social gatherings."

He frowned as he gently tangled his fingers with Creed's, his heart fluttering slightly when he felt the silverette scoot closer to him. "I thought she'd suggest we'd attend some kind of event or at the very least meet at a restaurant. This doesn't feel right."

Creed moved closer to his Kitten, resting his head on Train's shoulder as he took his hand away from his love's fingers and wrapped his arm around the gunman's elbow. "I know, my love. I know… But maybe she suggested it because wants to be alone with us so we can catch up without interruptions or distractions."

Train rested his head on top of his fiancé's, giving Creed a small kiss as he pressed the sides of their body against one another. "Maybe…"

He reached the arm Creed was not holding across his body and towards the swordsman's face so he could run his fingers gingerly through the man's silver locks. Train tucked a few of them behind Creed's ear and tenderly kissed his lover on the cheek.

Hearing his Stallion release a cute mewl, Train smiled and relaxed slightly. The quiet, sweet noise was able to alleviate a little bit of his stress, but his mind was still unable to think about anything other than the arrival of his old friend.

That is, if she was ever my friend in the first place…

Train shook his head to rid himself of the thought, aware it was a very slim chance she was betraying them.

Sephiria and Creed are right, it makes no sense that she's been secretly working with the Apostles.

As Train caressed his lover's cheek, he glanced at Creed's phone out of the corner of his eye, trying to see if there were any unseen messages from the woman. The silverette had left it to the side and on top of the basket of food they may or may not be eating, and Train found himself constantly distracted by it.

Wonder if she's sent an update…

Creed's eyes were shut as he relaxed into the gentle caresses his beloved was giving him, but opened them quickly when he felt Train's hand leave his face. He blinked as he watched his partner lean across his body to grab his phone, frowning deeply at what he knew Train was checking for.

The silver man pinched his Kitten's cheek as the golden man punched in the correct code to unlock Creed's phone. "I'm starting to think you shouldn't know the code to get into my phone. What if I've got sensitive information in there that you aren't allowed to see?"

Train rolled his eyes and looked through Creed's message chain with E. "Like what?"

Creed shrugged and gave his beloved a coy smile as he continued pinching Train's cheek. "I don't know… Maybe a secret lover or something?"

Train ignored his partner's words along with the way Creed's pinch shook his face back and forth. "Has she sent any updates?"

Creed stopped pinching his Kitten's cheek, but did not remove his fingers. He was able to tell what his fiancé was thinking just by the look on his face. "Train… You know her silence doesn't mean anything…"

Train locked Creed's phone, then stared absentmindedly at the picture that resided on his screen. "Why'd you choose this picture as your lock screen background?"

Creed gave his phone a quick glance, then frowned. "You don't like it?"

Train sighed as he stared at the small image of him sleeping on the couch with Creed spooning him from behind. It was honestly one of Train's favorite pictures of the two of them, but he was trying to change the subject so he didn't have to continue obsessing over the woman who may or may not show up.

The worst part is the implication that will be made if she doesn't show up. Or who might be showing up instead of her.

The cat was completely aware they could be waiting for the final battle to start instead of lunch with an old friend, which was just one of the many things he was so anxious about. It wasn't the potential fight that worried him, it was the knowledge that came with the fight. The confirmation of where E was.

And what they could be doing to her…

Creed watched his beloved shiver and knew the golden man was thinking about what might be happening to E. He leaned against Train, opened up the icon that led to his photos, and moved his body closer to his Kitten.

Creed rested his head against Train's shoulder again as he began scrolling through the picture on his phone. "Very well then, you can pick a different one."

Train pouted at the small device as his eyes took in the literal hundreds of photos of him. "Exactly how many pictures do you have of me?"

Creed shrugged and clicked on a picture of Train sleeping. "I think the better question is how many times in your life are you too adorable or sexy to not snap a picture of? Which is really a rhetorical question."

Train smiled a little, his heart fluttering slightly at the tender words his lover spoke. He knew Creed was trying to make him relax, and he appreciated the effort. "Okay, I only see pictures of me. Where are the pictures of both of us?"

Creed scrolled down a bit more, then clicked on another icon that led to a new folder. "Just like everything else in my life, I keep my phone organized. All the pictures of you are in one place, and the pictures of the two of us are in another."

Train watched as his lover's lithe finger slid across the smooth screen through all of their pictures together, chuckling when a particular image caught his eye. "How the hell did you get this picture?"

Creed looked at where his love was pointing and giggled, then clicked the image to make the picture bigger. "This one? Eve took it and sent it to me. Actually, most of these pictures were taken by Eve which she then texted to me."

Train rolled his eyes and took the phone away from Creed as he set the picture as his lover's new background. "Why is she taking so many pictures of us? And why is she then sending them to you?"

Creed frowned, realizing his beloved was asking silly and easily answered questions because his mind was elsewhere. It was obvious Train was thinking too much about E to realize how frivolous his questions were.

The silver man gave his love a kiss on the cheek, then turned to the basket of food. "I'm pretty sure she takes them for a few reasons, one of them being because she knows I would want her to take them, but probably mostly because she wants to annoy you."

Train growled under his breath as he stared at the new background image on his lover's phone. "I don't understand why it bothers me. I like seeing pictures of the two of us…"

Creed giggled as he pulled out a sandwich and turned to his fiancé. "It annoys you because you never know when she's doing it. Save for a few, all these pictures were taken without your knowledge or consent and that's what bothers you. Not the pictures themselves."

Train finally put Creed's phone down. "That makes sense… I really do like all these pictures, so I guess I'm grateful to her for taking so many."

Creed gave his love a warm smile as he unwrapped the sandwich he was holding. "That's the spirit! I actually have so many that my phone's starting to get full. The only issue is all of them are too perfect to get rid of."

Train chuckled as he pulled up one of his knees to his chest, wrapped his arm around it, and rested his chin on top.

He stared into the depth of the woods in front of him, hardening his gaze as if that would reveal his old friend. "Classic Creed…"

Creed smiled brightly and leaned closer to his lover's face, moving the sandwich towards Train's mouth. "Yes, it's very me to not want to delete a single image of you. Now, how about you have something to eat while we're waiting? It'll help you relax."

Train jumped when his vision was obscured by the sandwich, then pushed it out of his face. "I'm not hungry."

Creed pouted at his partner and pulled the sandwich away. "What…?"

Train pressed his forehead against his knee, staring down at the ground instead of the trees as he repeated himself. "I'm not hungry. Why did we pack food anyway? Aren't we pretty much positive E won't be showing up and this is just a trap?"

Before they left to go to the location they were supposed to meet E at, they had a conversation with Sephiria about the very real probability of it being the Apostles instead of the woman. The fact that E was the one to pick the location and the fact that it was in the middle of the woods made Number One even more certain it wasn't going to be her.

And that combined with the fact that she requested a picnic makes me agree with her. That request is very unlike E.

Train remembered the wedding he attended with the woman and how much she came alive when she was surrounded by people. Every time he met with her after that, she always had them doing something that involved being around other people or at least in public locations. He couldn't remember a single moment when they were actually alone with one another, unless it was the end of the day.

Well, she did try to get me to go back to her house several times to be alone. She was a very tenacious and straightforward woman, and she was very blunt with what she wanted.

Train frowned at his own thoughts, realizing he was thinking in the past tense.

I can't think like that. She's still alive. I know she is.

He clenched his fists, feeling his Nanomachines coming alive as they swirled powerfully with electrical Tao, his heart racing with determination. Train lifted his head and watched as his hands let off a dim yellow light, reminding him of the promise he made to Saya when he was standing at her grave.

I can't forget my conviction. I can't forget my resolve. I'm going to save her. I'm going to save her and end this war once and for all, then finally live peacefully with Creed.

Train kept his eyes locked onto his sparkling hands, knowing he had complete control over his abilities and the scintillation of his limbs was simply a reflective reaction to the bold fortitude he was feeling. There wasn't a single part of him that was concerned he'd lose authority over his powers and accidentally burn the forest to the ground.

I worked hard to regain this control, and I won't ever lose it again. I won't let them take it away from me again, and I won't let them control anyone else the way they tried to control me.

Creed watched as his beloved stared at his glittering hands, not concerned in the slightest that Train was about to lose control. After all the training they had done, the swordsman learned the difference between when Train was losing control and when his body was reacting to his emotions. Based on the way his Kitten was feeling, Creed was sure his beloved's nervous emotions were the only reason the cat's Nanos and Tao were activating.

Creed sighed and moved his body so he was sitting in front of Train, still holding the sandwich in his hand. "I brought it for wishful thinking. The same reason I brought the blanket. Also because I thought you might need something to distract you while we waited."

Train raised his eyes to meet Creed's and his heart began brimming with ardor at the way his lover's irises beamed lovingly at him. He smiled affectionately at the hints of lavender scattered throughout his fiancé's faithful orbs, then sighed as he rested his chin on his knee.

Creed's passionate eyes and maudlin smile calmed Train's heart enough that his limbs returned to normal. "We both know how this is going to end, Creed. I feel stupid for not being on my feet and ready for a fight, and I feel silly for bringing a picnic to what will surely be a fight."

Creed frowned at his love, then pushed Train's legs apart with his hands and scooted between them, sandwich still in hand. "I actually think it's just like you to bring something as ridiculous as a picnic to a fight. It's exactly the kind of thing you'd find funny."

As Train thought about his lover's words, he began chuckling. "...I guess it is kind of funny."

The swordsman continued moving closer to his Kitten, smiling when Train lifted his head up and spread his legs a little more to give Creed more room. "Can you imagine what Charden's reaction would be if he shows up and we have a picnic set up for him? Tiny, triangular sandwiches and all?"

The gunman chuckled louder as Creed slid further between his legs. "He might like the champagne. Maybe he'd make a toast."

Creed chuckled as well, lifting his legs up so they wrapped around Train's waist as he pressed their torso's close to each other. "Yes, I think he would."

Train was too preoccupied with the image of Charden stepping between the trees, rightfully expecting to begin a legendary battle with the sweepers and Chronos only to be greeted with a dainty picnic complete with finger sandwiches. He began laughing a bit more boisterously and didn't notice when Creed wrapped his arms around his back, sandwich still carefully pinched between his slim fingers.

As Creed tucked himself between Train's legs and nestled his upper body against his love's, the gunman lifted one arm in the air, wrapping his fingers around an invisible glass. "A toast to our deaths!"

Train frowned as he looked up at the imaginary glass. "He'd probably come up with something more clever and devious than that."

Creed giggled and nuzzled his face against Train's shoulder, tightening his legs around his beloved's trim waist. "He might even decide to have a quick meal with us before we start fighting."

The silverette kissed his beloved's neck. "I don't think Shiki would take well to beginning an epic fight with a picnic. Could you imagine the look on his face if he saw what we have set up?"

Train threw his head back and cackled, wrapping his arms around his lover's lean frame, grateful to Creed for making him laugh so carefree during such a stressful moment. "No, I can't because I honestly have no idea what his face looks like under that damn diaper!"

Creed smiled as he felt Train relax in his arms, overjoyed that he was able to calm his beloved down with a few jokes and a gentle embrace. "True. I've never seen his face either."

Train chuckled a little longer, then sighed. "I can't imagine we're missing much." He wrapped his arms tighter around his fiancé, running the tips of his fingers gentle up and down Creed's back. "Thank you, Creed."

Creed smiled and purred at the sensation of his lover's fingers trailing up and down his back, scattering goosebumps all along his skin. "For what?"

Train kissed Creed's head and squeezed him tighter. "For always finding a way to make me feel better. It seems like no matter what's wrong with my fucked up brain, you always manage to not only relax me, but make me laugh."

The swordsman swooned at his cat's complimentary words, turning his head slightly so he could brush his lips against Train's neck as he spoke. "You do the same thing for me every time I'm feeling blue, so you don't have to thank me. It's my job, as it is yours."

Train smiled and squeezed Creed's head against his neck, shutting his eyes as he relaxed into the way the man's mouth tenderly consumed his flesh. "You know what they always say? If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life."

Creed giggled and moved his lips to Train's ears, making sure to keep his voice low so their allies he knew were watching them didn't hear him. "And now you can say with complete confidence you have done what you love…"

Train smirked, knowing exactly what his lover was talking about and pinched Creed's cheek as the man nibbled at his neck. "I thought we talked about phrasing, Creed."

Creed giggled and kissed under his Kitten's chin. "You're the one that opened the door to suggestive ideas this time. I simply stepped through."

Train rolled his eyes and gently pet his Stallion's hair. "I guess I did sort of set you up there…"

Creed nodded, then gingerly nipped at Train's neck. "That's right."

Creed flinched when he felt a small pebble hit his face, forcing him to stop sampling his beloved's delicious skin. When the next piece of gravel belted his forehead, Creed pulled his mouth away from Train and glared in the direction the small rock came from.

As he glowered into the tree congested area, he was able to make out Baldor squatting on a high branch, his hand filled with rocks that he tossed threateningly in the air. Next to him was Kranz who was slicing his flat hand across his neck, silently telling Creed to stop what he was doing.

"Getting pummeled with pebbles by our annoyed allies?" Train asked as he rubbed the back of his head, signaling he too had been hit with a few pieces of earth.

Creed nodded and suppressed the urge to stick his tongue out at the man just in case the Apostles were watching. He didn't want their cover to be blown because Creed made a childish gesture.

Even though Baldor throwing stuff at us is a dead giveaway to their location. Maybe he thought he could pass it off as wind blown rubble?

He knew the conversation he and Train were having earlier about the Apostles walking in on a picnic might give away the fact they were expecting to be ambushed, but it didn't give away the location of the sweepers or Chronos.

Besides that, if they have any idea that we think this is a trap, they're sure to know we brought back up. They can't possibly be that careless.

Creed also didn't think their discussion about the Apostles really gave anything away either. Their playful jibes could be interrupted as a normal exchange of words, especially considering how often they joked about their former organization.

Not to mention we're always prepared for an attack from the Apostles. It's not strange to hear us talking about the Taoist jumping us. Especially after they ambushed and kidnapped Train. Since then, it's practically all we've been thinking about.

Creed sighed as he sat back. "Do you see our lovely canary? I haven't heard her sing a song let alone reveal her beautiful wings."

Train knew Creed was talking about Sephiria, but didn't use her name in case their enemies were listening. "I have not. I've been able to spot the rest of the birds, but not that one."

Creed smirked as he rested his hands on Train's shoulders, remembering he still had the sandwich in his hand. "She's found herself a good spot to be obscured from both our views."

Train nodded and looked up at the sky again, leaning back on his hands and away from his lover. "Might be a good thing."

Behind Train's back, Creed ripped the triangular sandwich in half, taking a small bite of one half as he remained seated between Train's legs. "You know what else is a good thing? Having some of this food so I don't feel foolish for packing it."

Train let out a muffled scream as Creed shoved the other half of the sandwich in his mouth, choking a little as he pushed his lover's hand away. He chewed on the bread and meat the silverette had heedlessly plunged into his mouth, yanking out whatever did not fit into his maw and glared at Creed.

The cat swallowed the large bite. "You're lucky it's delicious…"

Creed winked as he ripped off a small part of his half of the sandwich, placing it delicately in his mouth as he booped Train's nose with his other hand. "Why thank you, Kitten."

Train rolled his eyes, but smiled as he ate the rest of the sandwich Creed forced on him. "How much longer are we going to wait until we start considering she stood us up?"

Creed glanced where he knew Belze was and shrugged. "All day if we have to, I guess. It's not like we have anything else planned."

Besides, the gang's all here. We may as well keep waiting.

Train was able to read his partner's thoughts and sighed as he fell back onto the ground. "Uuugh! I don't think I'll last much longer!"

Creed giggled, happy to see his beloved was back to normal. It meant he was feeling less anxious.

And he needs to be himself if he's going to be at his best. Neither of us can afford to be distracted right now.

However, as Creed watched his fiancé lay on the ground, he couldn't help but admire the way the sun's rays bathed Train's exquisite, flawlessly bronze skin. The brilliant, radiant beams of light tangled magnificently with every contour of Train's peaceful, mesmerizing face, completely engulfing the Black Cat and surrounding him with an intangibly inviting ambience.

Creed's lips liberated an amicable sigh and he couldn't help but crawl on top of his beloved, unable to resist the magnetizing pull his lover always seemed to have on his heart, body, mind, and soul.

"No matter how many times I watch the sun submerge your beautiful figure, I still find myself stunned by your beauty, mon chat. Rendered utterly speechless by your perfection."

As the silver man slowly crawled up the beloved's body, he locked his blue eyes with Train's golden ones, smiling reverently at the ardent look in his fiancé's eyes. He placed one hand on the side of Train's face, holding himself up with his arm as the fingers on his other hand tenderly caressed the cat's tanned skin.

The silver hair Train recently tucked behind Creed's ear fell rebelliously into his face, obscuring his view of the sumptuous man lying beneath him momentarily until his precious Kitten slipped his hand lightly against his creamy cheek and slid the silky tresses back behind his ear.

Creed sighed and pressed his forehead against Train's as he finished his thought. "The way the sun clutches so desperately at you…ça me fait croire que l'aube te veut autant que moi…" (1)

Train didn't have a chance to respond vocally or even smile as Creed pressed their lips together. The gunman shut his eyes, unable and unwilling to resist Creed's sizzling lips or lustrous tongue as it glided into his mouth.

The cat tangled his fingers into Creed's hair as the silver man squeezed tightly to his other hand, their rings tapping lightly against one another as the silverette pressed Train's hand against the ground. As their tongues swirled around one another's, savoring every bit of the other man's flavor, Creed slid his other arm around Train's waist, pulling his beloved's body closer to his own.

They remained like that for several minutes and Creed was grateful none of the numbers threw anything at them. As inappropriate as he knew it was to make out with his lover while their enemies might be lurking nearby, the oncoming fight was what made Creed not want to let go. If they really were about to face off with the Apostles, he wanted to make sure the last thing he tasted, the last thing he touched, the last thing he smelled or held would be Train.

In case something happens to either of us, I need to know the last thing we did was embrace one another.

With that thought in mind, Creed relaxed into his Kitten's body, cherishing the way Train's hand knotted into his sanity locks, pulling slightly at the tresses as he moaned serenely whenever they parted for air. He made sure to savor the flavor of his Kitten and basked in the glorious heat, memorizing every second of the moment they were sharing, just in case it was their last.

I don't care if Chronos is watching us and they can throw all the rocks they want, I'll be damned if I pass up any moments with my Kitten when the end could be arriving at any moment.

Creed knew he should be thinking positively, especially with how worried his beloved was, but the fact that they were finally enacting the plan they had spent so long training for forced him to acknowledge the gravity of their situation, and the potential direness of their future.

Sitting there, waiting to see if they would be having lunch with a friend or beginning the final battle with their enemies solidified what could happen in just a matter of seconds.

And I'd rather be sitting on Train than pins and needles. I'd rather be suffocated by his essence than the essence of fear and dread, and I'd rather be feeling his embrace than the perpetually prophetic grasp of our enigmatic future.

The ambiguity of their fates lay completely in the outcome of their encounter with the Apostles, but Creed knew what the unequivocal truth of his future with Train would be if it wasn't for that

Without the Apostles, our lives together will be undeniably blissful. If we can just make it through this one last trial, this one last curve ball life has thrown us, I will finally get everything I've ever wanted in life...

Creed wrapped his arms a little tighter around Train's waist, squeezed his fingers a little firmer between his fingers, and plunged his tongue a little deeper into his fiance's mouth.

I'll finally get to be with Train. After being in love with him for so long, I'll finally get to live happily ever after with the man that has consumed my heart for as long as I can remember.

Creed sighed heartily when he felt his love's fingers glide reverently through his hair, purring zealously when Train's tongue swirled around his own, and felt his heart thump wildly when the rings of their fingers rattled together, reminding him of the promise they made one another.

If this is one of the last moments of peace I will share with my beloved, I want to make it count.

Several minutes passed as they embraced with no interruption until a noise from behind broke them apart. Creed's ears perked at the sound as he pushed himself up and off Train. He turned around rapidly as he quickly, yet subtly placed his hand on the hilt of his Imagine Blade. He kept his face calm, but his body was on alert.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Train doing the same thing, making sure not to draw Hades for the same reason he wasn't drawing his sword. If the sound they heard wasn't the Apostles, they didn't want to attack and injure the innocent woman they had been trying to reunite with for eons.

"Oooh, is this what I have to look forward to if we're to see each other more? If that's the case, sign me up!"

Train's heart lifted when he heard that voice. It may have been years since he heard the woman speak, but he recognized her flirtatious timbre anywhere.

"E!" Train shouted as he sat himself up, pushing Creed the rest of the way off.

As the cat leapt to his feet and hurried to greet the woman, Creed grabbed his wrist and pulled him back down, causing Train to give him a skeptical look. He opened his mouth to protest his lover's restraining arm, then shut it quickly when he saw the warning look Creed was giving him.

He's right, we need to be careful…

E frowned when she saw Creed stop Train from approaching. "Why are you stopping your lover from embracing me? Worried my hug will be enough to steal him away from you?"

Creed switched his warning look to a nectarous smile as he subtly scanned the rest of her body for any signs of fraudulency. "You and I both know no matter how magical your embraces may be, they will never come close to what I can provide for his body."

E laughed loudly and slapped her knee, leaning forward slightly as she gasped for air between her fits of chuckles. "If only I could believe that was true! Maybe if you let me watch a little longer just now, I would be more inclined to believe you."

Train gave a cheeky smile as he watched his old friend slowly regain control of herself. He knew they were supposed to be on high alert, but he couldn't ignore the buoyant elation he was feeling in his heart. He wanted nothing more than to dash up to the woman, take her in his arms, and fill her ears with words of relief. He wanted to tell her how much he missed her and how happy he was to see she was okay.

I can't do that. At least until we know for sure this isn't a trap.

With the same saucy smile on his face, Train decided to enter the conversation. "I see you're still quite the deviant, E. Honestly, it's nice to hear you speak such debauched words again."

E returned the golden man's smirk and began walking towards them. "And it's good to see you looking so happy. It's a big change from how you looked when we first met." She glanced at Creed and gave him a grateful look. "And I guess it's safe to say that's due to him?"

Train smiled warmly and nodded. "Yes… Yes, it is."

E smiled, then asked Creed a question. "Do I have permission to hug your dapper lover now?"

Creed frowned at his love for a moment, unsure of whether or not that was a good idea since he still couldn't figure out how he felt about the situation. However, when he saw the hopeful, sad look in his Kitten's eyes, he sighed quietly and nodded.

As the silver man stepped away from his beloved, he gestured for E to embrace him. "Permission granted. But, I'm watching where those slippery hands of yours are going."

E smirked and winked at Creed, then ran up to Train with her arms stretched out. Creed ducked down slightly as the woman approached, wrapping his arms around her the moment she was in front of him and lifted her slightly in the air.

After a few minutes, Train set her back on the ground, but did not release her. "It's so good to see you."

E's only response was her wrapping her arms tighter around the taller man's neck, pressing her face into the cat's shoulder. Since she had never been the sentimental type, when she finally did speak, it was more to change the subject than to express her emotions.

She pushed herself off Train and patted his chest. "Alright, alright, enough with the smooshy feelings. I'm hungry! What's for lunch?"

Train glanced between E and Creed, silently asking the man how he felt about the situation. His gut wasn't giving him any warning signs, but as much as he wanted to trust his instincts, he knew their current situation was not the time to put everything on the line based on something as fleeting as a feeling.

However, if Creed is feeling the same thing I'm feeling, then maybe we can give the signal to brush Chronos away. Not that they'd listen until Sephiria was certain.

Creed saw Train's questioning look and gave him a quick frown. He knew his cat wanted confirmation that he agreed they were safe, but he wasn't ready to make that assumption yet.

Instead of responding with words, Creed looked away from Train and opened the basket of food. He knew if he gave Train any sort of expression, whether it be good or bad, it'd be more information than he was willing to divulge about his current read of the woman.

Instead, he gave a small smile and pulled out a few sandwiches. "Generic picnic stuff. To be honest, I don't actually know what you like, so I erred on the side of caution and packed every kind of sandwich I could think of."

E laughed and brushed his words aside as he stepped closer to the men, then glanced to the side where she noticed a large blanket was folded up. "Aren't you going to be a gentleman and put the blanket down for a lady?"

Train noticed her question was directed at him and quickly leapt over to the thick quilt. "Yeah, sorry. Creed wanted to wait for you to get here before we got fully set up."

Creed rolled his eyes as he picked up the basket and stepped to the side to allow his love to lay the blanket on the ground. "Don't blame me for your ungentlemanly manners."

Train chuckled. "So sensitive! No blame is being cast, I'm simply stating facts."

E snickered as she folded her arms across her chest. "I've only been here three minutes and you're already bickering?"

Creed giggled as Train settled the blanket on the ground and rested the basket back on top. "I'm offended by that statement, young lady. Train and I do not bicker. We have playful banter."

E smiled and sat on the blanket next to Creed. "How sweet of you to call me young! Speaking such flattering words only makes you all the more handsome."

Train chuckled as he sat next to E, placing the woman between him and his partner as he leaned over and grabbed a sandwich. "Watch it, E. He's spoken for."

As Train reached across the woman, her eyes widened and she grabbed his wrist, noticing the ring on his finger. "WAIT, HOLD UP! What the hell is this?!"

Train smirked and gestured towards Creed. "He didn't tell you?"

E's eyes shot over to Creed who was giving a coy, but proud look as he flashed the woman his ring as well. "It wasn't news I wanted to deliver via text."

E let go of Train's hand and tossed her body over to Creed's, grabbing his wrist and bringing the jewelry closer to her face. "Wooow, that's some fancy bling you got there! What's with the flower?"

Creed smiled as he glanced up at Train who was crudely shoving a sandwich in his mouth. "Let's just say… I'm a nostalgic symbol of our love."

E smiled as she pulled back. "Well, congratulations are in order, I guess. When's the big day?"

Ceed frowned, unwilling to answer that question since it involved the Apostles. "No date has been set yet."

E frowned. "I'm surprised to hear that considering how meticulous you are."

Creed shrugged and handed her a sandwich. "My scrupulous behavior is the reason we do not have a date set. I refuse to rush something that needs to be absolutely perfect."

E smiled and took the sandwich Creed offered her, then messed with her hair a little as she unwrapped it. She took a small bite, then grimaced at the flavor as she peeled the top piece of bread up. "What's in this one?"

Creed looked back at the woman, noticing the way she brushed her hair over her ear and frowned. "I think that one has ham in it. Why?"

E sneered at the sandwich and gently wrapped it back up. "Sorry to be 'that guy', but I don't eat pork. Which one doesn't have any ham?"

Train laughed, laying down on the blanket and stared wistfully at the sky, one hand acting as a pillow while the other held his lunch. "Oh yeah, I remember that from the wedding! You said your sister purposefully put pork as the only meat option at her wedding on purpose."

E growled as she set the sandwich back in the basket. "She did! I know it!"

Train smiled a bit more peacefully, relaxing into the blanket as he released a tranquil sigh. The fact that she was reminiscing about such minute details about their past made the cat more assured it wasn't a trap, and he let his guard down a little.

Maybe everything will be okay. Maybe we really will get to enjoy a nice day with an old friend.

As Train shut his eyes and basked in the sun's sultry rays, Creed kept his eyes on the woman, concerned with how focused her hand seemed to be on keeping her thick, dark hair covering her ear. In any other circumstances, he wouldn't have found it odd, but the fact that he was looking for the smallest hint that anything was off made the silver man question if the motion was deliberate.

Creed continued staring at her hand as it continued playing with her hair. "The ones labeled V are veggie, T are turkey, and C are cheese. Help yourself."

E smiled as Creed pushed the basket towards her, running her fingers through the side of her hair and over her hidden ear. "I'll take the veggie, thank you very much!"

Creed watched as she took the sandwich, then looked back to Train, hoping he'd be able to get his lover's attention with his next statement. "Something wrong with your hair?"

E looked away from her sandwich and up at Creed, clutching her hair self consciously as she spoke. "Why? Did you see something? IS IT A GREY HAIR?!"

Creed sighed as he watched the woman pull her hair in front of her eyes, searching each strand to see if there were any discolored locks hidden deep within her unruly mane. He looked back over at Train who seemed more than content to accept that they were enjoying a meal with E with no strings attached, and based on everything thus far, Creed was starting to think it might be true as well.

I've only met E in person twice, so maybe playing with her hair is just a nervous tick? It does seem very in character for her to worry about superficial things like your hair turning grey.

On top of all that, she was talking about things only she and Train would know about, such as her dietary restrictions and how it connected to the wedding they attended. She was also acting exactly how Creed expected and speaking the way he imagined. Even all of her subtle mannerisms matched what he expected of her.

But… Is it too much like what I would expect?

Creed hadn't forgotten that the Apostles had a Taoists whose ability just so happened to be perfect for that exact situation.

However, if this is Eathes, I don't think he's eloquent enough to make a believable E. Not to mention he most certainly doesn't have the acting skills for it.

Along with that, if the Apostles were going to trick them by using Eathes to disguise himself as E, that would mean they had to know who she was in the first place.

And not only know who she is, but know her mannerisms and personality almost perfectly along with her sense of humor. Everything she's saying and doing is too spot on to be an imposter.

Since he didn't know where Sephiria was, Creed glanced in the direction he knew Belze was hiding, looking for any signs that they were going to attack. He figured if Sephiria hadn't done anything by then, it meant she was either having doubts about the meeting being a trap, or she hadn't found the right moment to pounce. He also thought if he was having doubts, she might have been having doubts as well.

Especially with how convinced she's been from the beginning that this was a trap. If seeing this interaction changed the stubborn mind of Number One, then maybe we're in the clear.

With that thought in mind, Creed looked away from the tree and let out a soft sigh. He felt a little more placid about the encounter, enough so that he believed it was safe to grab the bottle of champagne and three glasses he brought.

"Shall we toast?" The silverette asked as he placed his thumb on the cork.

E's eyes lit up when she said that and hastily snatched one of the glasses from the man. "Yes, please! I thought you said you only brought generic picnic things?"

Creed winked at the woman. "You must not know me very well…"

The dark haired woman smirked in return and leaned a little closer, the flirtatious side of her taking over as she spoke. "Then how about you let me get a little closer…?"

"Hey!" Train shouted as he pushed himself up. "I'm right here! Keep in your pants, E!"

As Train turned to the woman, he blinked in confusion when the image of her changed. Instead of seeing the petite, dark skinned, fully grown woman from his past, he saw a young, pale skinned teenage girl who was only just dipping her toe into womanhood. Her bright eyes beamed gleefully at the Black Cat, causing him to jump back as a reflective action.

"What the hell… Kyoko?!"

The teen frowned at the cat. "Aren't you happy to see me?"

Train jumped up and away from the girl, pointing a shaky finger at the teen. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?! You're supposed to stay undercover until we give the signal! And that will only happy if we're positive this is-"

He stopped his sentence abruptly as he looked around the area, realizing they were no longer in the woods with a charming picnic set up. Instead, he was standing in what he assumed was an empty train, leading him and Kyoko to an unknown location.

"E?" Train asked as he took a few steps back, his shoulder bumping into the handrail that wasn't there just seconds ago.

The cat wrapped his hands around the horizontal piece of metal, his heart picking up speed as he searched for the other person that was with him. "Creed? Creed, where are you?!"

Kyoko pouted and stood up from the train bench, folding her arms across her chest as she glared at the cat. "Creed, Creed, Creed, Creed! That's all you ever talk about! Don't you care about anything other than that man?"

She took a step towards the Black Cat, stretching her arms out towards him. "Isn't it a bit rude to be giving all your attention to another man when you have such a cute girl always pining after you? Doesn't Kyoko deserve a little attention? Especially after everything I've done for you?"

Train smacked the girl's hands away as they attempted to trap him in what he only could assume would be a lethal hug. He had long gotten over his qualms with hugging the teen, but there was clearly something wrong about the situation, and he wasn't about to accept aberrant hugs from his deranged fangirl.

"W-wait… Hold on a second… What the hell is going on? Where's E? Where's Creed?" He looked around the train again, glancing out the window and realizing they were moving. "Where the hell are we?!"

Kyoko pouted and put her arms down, taking a step away from the man as she sat back on the bench. "I see… I guess I picked the wrong woman."

Train gawked at the fire breathing teen, blinking in confusion as he spoke. "What…?"

The girl smirked, her figure maturing slightly as her long hair shortened and her dark eyes turned teal. Instead of wearing a short skirt and tank top, she was wearing a white, flowery yukata and plain, brown getas on her feet.

Train felt his heart stop and his breath catch in his throat as the teen nonchalantly transformed into the woman he had been imploring the Heaven's to let him see again since the day the paradise land took her. The woman that continued to provide him with everlasting support from the otherworld. The woman that blessed his dreams with convivial, confectionate sensations on a nightly basis.

"...Saya?" Train whispered as he let go of the handrail. "Saya…? Is it really you?"

The sweeper girl gave the cat a cheeky grin. "In the flesh! Were you expecting to see someone else?"

Train felt his jaw drop as he gaped at the woman, unable to form a proper sentence as he rubbed his eyes. "Wha… How… Why…?"

Saya's spirited laugh filled his heart with wistful warmth as the surfeit of memories he shared with the girl saturated his mind and ravaged his soul. In a second, visions of his late friend flashed before his eyes and Train felt an exultant, yet despondent smile drift onto his lips.

He saw past images of the girl stealing his milk and pouring it on his head, teaching him how to laugh on the roof of his apartment, challenging him to races then throwing a fit when she lost.

As the recollections he had of the girl clogged his brain, he felt his cheeks burn with tears of joy and his heart beat fast with fidelity. The salty liquid coated his amber eyes as he stared at Saya, their golden depths glistening lustrously against the train's slightly swaying lights.

However, he was able to fight the sentimental squall that was haltingly consuming him since the lunacy of the circumstance was obvious. There was no possible way Saya could be standing in front of him, smiling as if she didn't have a care in the world, as if her life hadn't been tragically cut short far too soon.

It's the same smile I remember her greeting me with the first time we met… The expression is burned in my memory since I didn't understand how someone could smile so festively at a complete stranger.

He put his hands over his eyes as he tried to stop his emotional thoughts from taking over.

Especially when that complete stranger presented themselves as such a dangerous guy.

Saya's effervescent laugh continued and Train had to shove down the frothy excitement that surfaced in his heart and almost made him forget how impossible the situation was. He nearly felt himself laughing in return, but he refused to let those emotions show since he knew something wasn't right.

I don't know what's going on, but this is all wrong. Where are Creed and E? Where's Chronos? Sven and the others?

Saya put her hands behind her back and finally ceased her laughter. "You forgot when and who! Then again, you know who I am, right, Train-kun?"

Train pulled his hands away from his face and stared at the girl, not sure what to say. "I… I… Saya… Saya, what the hell are you doing here? Wait, screw that, what the hell are we doing here? And where the hell is everyone else?! Where are Creed and E?!"

Saya rolled his eyes and put her hands on her hips. "Man, you really have a one track mind. You haven't seen me in, what? Six years? Maybe more? Actually… Yeah, definitely more. Sorry, it's hard keeping track when you're dead."

Train blinked at the sweeper, shocked by the normally cheerful girl's dark statement. It confirmed how artificial the whole encounter was.

Saya would never say something like that. This isn't right.

The cat shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair. "No… No, this isn't real. There's no way this is real… What the hell is going on? Where the hell is Creed?"

Saya sighed and turned her back to Train. "Man, you really are obsessed with the man who killed me. I still can't believe you forgave him so easily after what he did to me."

Train stared at the woman's back as he gripped tightly at his chocolate locks. "What?"

Saya looked over her shoulder at the gunman. "You heard me. I can't believe you fell in love with my murderer. How could you do that to me, Train-kun?"

Train blinked again as he tried to ingest the sweeper's words. "What? What are you talking about? You forgave Creed too! I know you did!"

Saya laughed bitterly and turned around to face the golden man again. "And who told you that? Creed? Pfft, I bet he told you all sorts of lies that misrepresent how I actually view him."

Train frowned, confused at the uncharacteristically atramentous way his friend was talking. "No, he didn't lie! Creed would would never-"

"-Creed would never what? Never lie about me forgiving him? Just like he wouldn't lie about killing me in the first place?"

Train clutched his head and stumbled back into the bench behind him, his knees giving out as he fell into a seated position. "What the hell is going on?!"

...Why do I suddenly feel so dizzy?

Saya smirked, a bizarre expression to see on the lively girl. "Are you serious? What's going on is you're learning the truth. The real truth. The one your precious partner desperately doesn't want you to see. The one where you see Creed for who he really is."

Train rested his head in his hands and his elbows on his knees, his finger running distressfully through his cinnamon hair. "Why are you talking like this? This isn't you, Saya. This isn't anything like you!"

Saya laughed again, but now it sounded more diabolical. "It doesn't? How well did you actually know me, Train-kun? Because it seems like either you didn't know me at all, or you conveniently forgot who I am so you could sleep with the man who killed me."

Train shook his head, but did not look up at the girl. "What… What're you… talking about?"

Saya rolled her eyes even though she knew Train wasn't looking at her. "I'm talking about how you chose to forget about me rather quickly after I was killed just so you could lay in bed with my murderer. And you also seemed to decide on your own how I feel about your lover with absolutely no evidence to back it up other than your atrociously inaccurate gut instinct."

Train shook his head again, beginning to feel sick as he realized how quick the train was moving, the lights swinging wildly the faster they went. "No… No, I never forgot about you. How could I? I owe the life I have now to you…"

Saya laughed crudely, a very peculiar sound for the upbeat girl to make. "You mean the life where you've made it a habit to fuck the man who murdered me? Or let him fuck you? The life that you promised to spend with my assassin? The life you chose to give to the psychopath killer Creed Diskenth?"

Train swallowed thickly, not sure if it was the motion of the train that was making him sick or something else.

Whatever it is, it's making it hard to concentrate on my thoughts let alone refute what I know isn't true about literally everything she's saying.

He took a deep breath as he whispered his next words, worried that if he spoke any louder, he'd regurgitate his breakfast. "No, this is all wrong… It's not like that… Creed was-"

"-Was what? Drugged? Not himself? Unable to make his own decisions because of an outside force? Because of Chronos?"

Saya took a step towards Train, obviously unaffected by the speed of the train. "Trust me, I've heard your prayers loud and clear and I know exactly what that murderer has been saying to manipulate you into forgiving him and sleeping with him on a regular basis."

Train finally lifted his head to meet the woman's gaze, ignoring the blurriness of his vision as he tried to focus his sights on Saya, the angry tone in his voice rising as he spoke. "Why are you talking like this?! I know you, Saya! I know you almost as well as I know myself and I know you'd never talk about anyone like this. Even if they did kill you, you'd forgive them immediately! Even if they weren't sorry about it."

And I know Creed has been beating himself up over it every single day…

"...I hear him cry in his sleep every night about how much he regrets his actions. I hear him beg for your forgiveness, I hear him beg for my forgiveness. I hear him grieve his actions, pray for a world where you are alive and with us."

Train took a deep breath, finding it easier to gather his thoughts when he was thinking about his lover. "Even if it changed the life we have now, even if it meant I never loved him, he'd give it all up to bring you back. That's how much he regrets what he did."

Saya smirked and put her hands behind her head. "And what is that, Train-kun? What exactly did Creed do to me? What did the man you love do to the woman you claim was your best friend?"

Train blinked up at the sweeper as she took a few more steps towards him. "What are you-?"

Saya rolled her eyes. "Ya know, it's been a while since I've heard you say it out loud."

Train continued blinking at her, her figure growing fuzzy once again behind the dizziness he was feeling. "Say what?"

A sinister glint shined in her eyes as she spoke. "Say that you fell in love with the man that killed me. Admit that you know what he did and still were somehow able to spread your legs and let him take you in the most intimate, special way one person could take another."

She lowered her arms and folded them behind her back, the position reminding Train nothing of the girl he once knew. "And you did it without a moment's hesitation. You gave your heart and body to him so quickly I don't think my body was even cold yet. You couldn't even wait for the worms to take me before you jumped into bed with him? Before you let him inside you emotionally and physically? Is that seriously how pathetically lonely you were?"

Train stared at the girl for a moment, then collapsed into his seat, his body sliding down slightly as he tried to center his vision on the sweeper girl.

Why can't I focus on her? Why can't I argue with her? I know what she's saying isn't true and I know this isn't right. Nothing about this is right.

As his eyes scanned Saya's dainty frame, his body wobbled slightly. He tried to check her over for any inconsistencies, and growled when he saw none. She looked exactly how he remembered, and exactly how she appeared in his dreams.

She looks and sounds exactly like Saya, yet nothing about the person standing in front of me is like the girl I remember.

Despite not being able to contend what the girl was saying for some unknown reason, he tried. "It's… It's not like that and you know it. It's more complicated than that. I… I didn't just forgive him… I… I…"

He snarled in annoyance as his head began pounding aggressively against his temples. "Dammit… Why can't I think straight?"

Saya laughed again, the atrocious cacophony slicing through his heart with its poisonous resonance. "Have you ever been able to think straight, Train-kun? Isn't your uncanny ability to ignore all logic and reason one of the things you tout about being one of your best traits?"

Train cursed under his breath and pulled his hands out of his hair, raising his head to lock eyes with the imposter pretending to be his kindhearted friend. "If you won't tell me where the others are, then you can at least tell me what the hell you want and where the hell we are?!"

Saya chuckled, a strange sound to hear escaping the girl's lips. "I thought the answers to both those questions were obvious. Are you telling me you can't tell what I want from the way I've been talking?"

She gestured to the train around them. "And are you really so blind that you can't tell that we're on a train? Man, I knew you were oblivious, but I didn't think you were that inattentive." Another snicker left her lips. "Actually, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. After all, you were dumb enough to fall for all of Creed's lies for so many years."

Saya took another step towards the cat, leaving only a few feet of space between them as she made a sarcastic gesture with her hands. "And you were gullible enough to fall for his lies to the point that you just so happened to fall into his bed. It's absolutely pathetic."

Train locked eyes with her, his vision able to focus on the girl a little easier the closer she moved to him. "Are you seriously telling me that all you want is to hear me admit out loud what Creed did to you? And what? Admit that I'm wrong for falling in love with him? Admit that I'm an idiot for it?"

Train noticed Saya didn't say anything, but the look in her eyes had not changed. He sighed and looked down at his hands, his body swinging slightly from the motions of the train they were on. He knew what he wanted to say in response to her, but he needed a moment to control the dizziness that was making him sick.

The Black Cat took a deep breath and kept his head down as he spoke. "Had you asked me a couple years ago how I felt about being in love with Creed, I would have agreed without a second thought that I was an absolute, complete and utter moron. I would have also agreed that I was a fool for falling for him in the first place, and an idiot for believing his lies for as long as I did."

Train stared at the palms of his hands, confused why he wasn't sparking at all, despite the anger he was feeling. What he was more surprised at was the fact that he didn't feel even an inkling of his Tao or Nanomachines. It was as if the train was stifling his powers and suffocating his strength.

What about Hades? Do I still have that?

The Black Cat shot his hands to his holster, sighing in relief when he felt the smooth exterior of his beloved gun and tentatively wrapped his fingers around it. He had never been so happy to feel Hades resting at thigh.

Especially since it seems as though I am entirely defenseless without it at the moment, seeing as my Tao and Nanomachines aren't working.

He flexed his fingers, attempting to feel even the smallest flicker of energy surging through him, then sighed when he felt nothing. "It took me a long time to accept what I felt for him even before I knew what he did to you, and I'm not about to let a counterfeit Saya bring me back into that dark hole!"

I'm feeling a heavy force of malignant energy coming from this… thing disguising itself as Saya, I don't feel like it's out for blood. More like it wants to mess with my mind. Like it wants to drive me crazy and kill me through mental torture.

While he didn't know if Hades worked in whatever infernal fantasy he was trapped, it was comforting to know it was there.

At the very least I guess I can pistol whip someone with it…

He lifted his gaze to meet the woman's eyes again, determination burning in his golden orbs as he spoke. "It may have taken me a while to realize it, but I know now that when I initially fell in love with Creed, there was nothing I could do about it. What I felt for him was too strong and too overwhelming to ignore."

An old woman popped into his head as he continued. "Then with the help of an old friend, and when I say old, I mean it in both the literal and figurative sense, I realized that I couldn't blame myself for still loving him even after I found out what he did. It wasn't my fault that I fell for him in the first place, and it wasn't my fault that I couldn't just get over him no matter how hard I tried... and God help me, I tried."

Train smiled wistfully as he leaned back in the bench, his vision clearing slightly as he spoke. "I tried my damndest to ignore the staggeringly potent love I felt for him, tried to shove it down and pretend it didn't exist, to push it back into the dark recesses of my mind and forget about it, but all I was doing was running away from it, and I couldn't do that forever… and I couldn't beat myself up over it."

He glanced at the window behind them, noticing there was nothing outside but the blue sky and a never ending desert that nestled neatly beneath it. "I even tried forcing myself to love someone else but try as I might, I couldn't get Creed out of my system. I couldn't forget how much I loved him, or what he meant to me… What we meant to each other..."

Train looked back to Saya, his disequilibrium slowly dissipating. "This isn't real. I know this isn't real because the real Saya wouldn't be talking to me like this. The real Saya wouldn't be harboring ill feelings towards Creed or casting blame on him for something she knows full well he had no control over. Something she would undoubtedly understand he regrets and tortures himself with on a regular basis."

He smiled and sat up a little taller. "The real Saya wouldn't try to guilt me for how I feel about Creed. The real Saya would have been furious with me for taking so long to finally find happiness with him. The real Saya would be happy that I was happy. She wouldn't be standing in front of me calling the man I love a murderer, condemning and denouncing me for something I can't control… or admonishing Creed for a mistake he had no control over."

Train took a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling, his queasiness mitigating as he continued smiling at the girl he knew wasn't his friend.

I know this isn't her and I know this isn't right. Something happened. Did I fall asleep? Is this a dream?

Train frowned slightly at his own thoughts, the fake sweeper girl in front of him seemingly lost in her own thoughts and ignoring the cat's change in expression.

No, this can't be a dream. Even in my worst nightmares Saya doesn't talk to me like this. Actually, now that I think about it, she's never been in my nightmares. She only ever comes to visit me when my dreams are pleasant.

He always thought it was just like her to only frequent his dreams when they were jubilant or even just content and peace out whenever he got negative.

Well, that's not entirely true. She's snapped me out of my nightmares before and scolded me for being negative and dark. But, that doesn't match this situation. And I certainly don't feel like I'm asleep. Well, at least not a normal sleep anyway.

While Saya was distracted with her own thoughts, Train pinched his arm and noted the small sensation of pain he received from the contact. He also noticed with a frown that his skin was not as elastic as it normally was.

It actually feels like it used to. It feels normal. Did something happen to my powers?

He scanned the train again, looking for any familiar signs.

Now that I think about it despite my name, I don't think I've ever been on a train before.

As ironic as it might have been, the harder he thought about it, the more he realized he had never actually ridden a train before. When he was with Chronos he walked or ran everywhere, then with the Apostles they had Echidna's portal to move them, and as a sweeper, he drove or transported himself with his Tao.

And the only reason I drive is because Sven hates using my transportation ability and Creed occasionally wants to take our time getting to the location, or wants to surprise me like when we went to the mini golf course or the cave.

The more he thought about it, the more he realized how rarely he was ever in any kind of vehicle, whether it be public or not, which made the fact that they were somehow magically in a train made no sense.

So even if this is a dream, why would I dream we're on a train? Even in a nightmare I wouldn't dream up a train. It makes no sense.

He glanced behind Saya and out the window, frowning at the desolate area that resided outside the caravan. It was possible the train was some kind of metaphor for something the cat didn't understand, but he wasn't willing to delve too much into that thought.

All that matters is figuring out how I got here and how I get out.

"Where is everyone?" Train asked again, ending the silent exchange he found himself trapped in with the fake sweeper. "How did we get here and why are we here?"

Saya smiled and leaned forward so her face was only a few inches away from Train's face. "Ah ah ah, don't spoil the surprise! You'll find out in due time."

Train narrowed his eyes at the girl, finding it easy to show his rage after confirming with himself that none of what was happening was real. "Cut the crap and tell me what happened!"

Saya frowned, her demeanor suddenly switching from cold and crass to dismal and fragile. Train could even hear the hurt in her voice as she spoke. "...Did you really forget me that quickly, Train-kun? Did you really move on so fast you forgot what became of me? Did you…"

She choked on her words a little, a few tears falling from her forged, innocent eyes, giving her a far more wholesome look than Train thought she deserved. "...Did you ever care in the first place? Or was I just another stepping stone to your happiness?"

Train watched her for a few seconds, wincing at the phoney tears that stained her apocryphal cheeks, unnerved by how committed the fictitious Saya was to her misleading tears. He could see right through her act and even though he knew it wasn't real, the fact that the imposter physically looked and sounded exactly like his friend was enough to pluck a few of his heartstrings to make him waver in his next words.

The Black Cat twitched as another tear slid down her porcelain face, slipping between her lips and into her mouth. "Kn-knock it off and answer my question! This makes no sense whatsoever and I'm sure you can tell by now I'm not going to fall for it, so you may as well tell me how to get out of h-"

Train stopped his sentence as he suddenly became cognizant of what might have happened.

Maybe this is a dream after all…

He looked up at the fabricated Saya and leaned forward a little, trying to see if he could read her face for any signs that his thoughts were correct. "...This has something to do wi-"

That time his words were cut off because of the blood that splattered against his face, a few flecks of the sanguine fluid landing his mouth, causing him to reflectively spit. He was too stunned by crimson juice that doused him to jump or even twitch at the scene playing out.

Saya's animated eyes slowly lost their light as she coughed coarsely, spewing out even more precious life force as he locked her gaze onto Train's. Her body began to tremble as she reached an arm out to the golden man, her pale skin blanching even more as life gently slithered out of her diminutive frame.

As she reached out to the cat, her fingers twitched, blood seeping out of her chest, staining her aureate, unconventional dress. "T-Train….k-kun…"

Her knees buckled under her body and she fell forward onto the ground. It wasn't until the girl fell that Train realized what had been the cause of her demise and his heart stopped when he saw the blade poking out of the dying girl's chest. It was obvious the sword had effortlessly penetrated the sweeper's heart, ending her life before Train could even stand up.

As the girl's lifeless body tumbled to the floor, the sword slowly slid out of her chest, as if the wielder were more than happy to watch the sleek, wine colored substance dye his blade a deadly hue.

Once Saya was sprawled out on the floor and the blade was properly removed from her corpse, the owner of said weapon flicked it off to the side, cleansing it of the girl's vital fluid with one swift motion.

Train's heart froze as he stared into the eyes of the train's new occupant. His body felt cold and his hair stood on its ends as he locked eyes with a pair of familiar blue ones that always set his soul on fire and his heart racing. He shivered at the smirk on the man's face, a smirk he hadn't seen since they first met at Chronos.

Creed brought the blade to his face and licked the tip of it, smiling almost seductively at Train as he spoke in a low purr. "Hello, my beautiful, precious, darling, Train. I'm happy to see she didn't hurt you. But, I'm glad I got here before she could dig her claw deeper into you."

The silver man took a step forward, slicing his sword to the side as he offered Train his hand. "Don't worry, my love… She'll never hurt you again."

---

"Oh Lord, what fresh Hell is this?" Creed muttered under his breath, pointing his Imagine Blade in front of him, ready for a fight to begin at any moment.

Creed's first instinct was to pull out his blade and search the room for Train and E, but he was unable to instantly spot either of them. However, the second unfortunate thing the swordsman realized might have been worse than not knowing where any of his friends were.

This situation is beyond bad... Not only is my sword not working, but I don't feel a glimmer of my Tao. Not even a peep!

The moment he tried to activate his blade he nearly panicked and gave away the fact that he was defenseless when he realized it was impossible. The most he was able to get out of his sword was a few sparks.

That's never happened before... It's almost as if it's short circuiting or malfunctioning. Which makes no sense since my Tao doesn't involve any form of electricity.

As soon as he realized his blade wasn't going to turn on, he quickly stopped trying since all it seemed to be doing was drawing more attention to the fact that it didn't work. Instead, he kept his hilt in his hand, pretending that he was fully armed, and scanned the room.

I guess saying I'm completely defenseless isn't entirely true.

Creed was relatively decent in hand-to-hand combat, maybe even a bit better at it than Train was since, as a swordsman, he was forced to deal with people up close far more often than his partner. Along with that, he was stronger than the average person. In fact, the only person he knew without a shadow of a doubt was stronger than him was his beloved Black Cat.

However, I'm pretty certain I won't be dealing with the average person right now. And I have a feeling using brute strength won't be enough to defeat whoever will come out of the shadows.

As his eyes darted left and right, he frowned at the desolation of the room. All he saw was a dirty, broken, incommodious looking mattress that sent chills down his spine just to gaze upon. There was also an eerily familiar feeling he received while looking around the room. A feeling that sent repulsive chills down his spine.

The silver man frowned and lowered his blade. "I've been here before…"

Other than the slanted mattress tucked carelessly in the corner of the room, there wasn't much else to see. The tacky, floral wallpaper was peeling at almost every angle and the color was faded, making it almost impossible to tell what the design even was. It was as if whoever owned the room never bothered to upkeep anything inside of it.

The wall underneath the unsightly, decrepit paper was grey and haggard with several holes pierced throughout. Creed was able to determine the size of the holes were about the size of a fist, which sent another wave of agonizing misery and torment through his body, making the silverette release a wretched tremble.

Creed managed to shove his inquietude aside and continued examining his surroundings.

He looked down at the stained, discolored carpet, noting the dirt that was embedded deep within it and the patches where it looked as though the fabric had been torn up. The bits of the carpet that were ripped apart revealed broken, decaying wood boards that were hidden underneath and splintered at every end.

As he continued skimming the room, realization slowly dawned on him as to where he was and he swallowed thickly.

I swore I'd never come back here… Then again, I don't think I really had a choice this time… Not that I had a choice back then either.

Knowing what else was in the room, he turned to the wall that was the opposite side of the bed and stared at the small window. It was boarded up with thick pieces of plywood that left just a small crack, allowing only a tiny sliver of light to shine through.

"A tortuous way to raise a child, really…" Creed's voice remained quiet, his eyes locked onto the single beam of light that pervaded the room.

Sensing he was alone, Creed felt safe enough to reattach his useless blade to his hip and stepped towards the light, not bothering to check the room for anything else. He was positive he knew where he was now, and positive there was nothing else to look at.

There isn't even a door to examine. It was removed years ago.

Creed laughed bitterly at his own thoughts as he stepped into the small ray of light. "More like forcibly yanked off by a deranged, drunk, abusive woman."

The silver man stood in the light for a moment, his eyes circling the room once more just to make sure there weren't any signs of life or hints of Train having been there. Seeing it was just like how he remembered it as a kid, Creed continued walking towards the window.

When I was a kid I was too small to see through this, but now I bet I could.

Creed couldn't help the bitter chuckle that left his lips.

Guess I've grown into this room… Like a fish in a tank or a tadpole in a pond.

Creed let out a despondent sigh as he made his way towards the window. "Not that this room was big to begin with… Or that I ever belonged here in the first place."

Once he was in front of the small pane of glass, he pushed himself up on his toes slightly and pressed his face against the plywood. When the blazing sun assaulted his pale eyes, Creed pulled his head back and grumbled under his breath as he took a small step backwards.

He blinked, trying to rid himself of the glare the sun deviled his eyes with.

How can something so blatantly opulent manage to thrive and be powerful enough to cause me pain with its magnificence when a room as dispiritingly somber and destitute as this exists?

That was the philosophical conundrum Creed found himself caught in for the entirety of his childhood and adolescence, and even a portion of his adulthood. An inner war he had with himself every day and night until a certain Heavenly, golden eyed man walked into his life and proved his previous theories of the grief and hopelessness of the world wrong.

It's amazing that something as impressive and powerful as the sun hung right outside my window throughout my entire childhood and I had no idea. Similar to how someone as amazing as Train existed for so long without my knowledge.

Creed squinted at the window, then rubbed his eyes again when he realized the spots had not departed his vision. It was easy for his mind to expunge the sun's innate brilliance when he was trapped in that dreary room.

All those years I thought I was alone, but it was just floating out there, silently keeping me company as it waited for me to acknowledge its existence. Again… Just like Train.

When he was a child, being stuck between those four walls made him forget the beautiful world that prevailed outside his prison. The world that would exist no matter what untoward circumstances may have befallen him. No matter what horrid situations he might find himself in, the universe surrounding him would remain as immaculate and pure as the day it was created.

The irrefutable beauty this world holds will not die simply because of my horrid life. No matter what happens to me, the world will still be as amazing as he made me realize it was…

Creed rubbed his eyes and smiled as he finished his inner thoughts.

The truth of the world she made him see as well…

As annoying as it was to be blinded by the sun, he was a bit grateful for it since it gave him a moment to remind himself there was a world outside that room.

A world where Train exists. And I will find him. I know I will, because I always do.

Feeling all his unease disappear and noticing his vision returned to normal, Creed stepped up to the window once again in an attempt to see what was happening outside. However, that time when he peeked through the window, he was ready for the sun and his eyes were not harmed.

It's too hard to see anything beyond the sun. I can't see a damn thing!

Despite that, he squinted his eyes and scanned the area outside, attempting to work out if he truly was in his old room, or if it was some sort of trap.

Although, I never saw the space outside my room as a kid, so it's not like I would recognize anything out there.

Seeing nothing by the sun, Creed sighed and stepped away from the window. "I shouldn't think such stupid things. Of course this isn't real."

There's no way we time traveled and I don't remember seeing one of Echidna's portals. I was just suddenly here.

The swordsman stood in the center of the room and folded his arms across his chest, lowering his head as he tried to work out what happened.

The last thing I remember being in the middle of a conversation with E and Train, then the scene abruptly changed and the walls around me appeared out of nowhere. It happened so quickly I didn't have time to react.

Creed placed his hand on his hip, reminding himself that his Imagine Blade was still there, and despite the fact that it didn't work, feeling the smooth hilt gave him comfort and he wrapped his fingers around it.

Guess this was a trap after all… And we fell for it.

Creed shook his head before he could begin mentally berating himself.

Can't think about my stupidity right now. I need to figure out what happened and how to get out of here. I'm sure whatever happened has to have something to do with the Apostles, but what?

Creed gripped his sword tighter, glancing back and forth quickly, and frowned.

None of Taoists have time traveling abilities and even if they did, for some reason that doesn't feel like what's happening right now. It almost feels like a dream.

Creed lifted his head and widened his eyes, suddenly realizing what happened. He ripped his blade off his hip, ignoring the fact that it didn't work and sliced at the air in front of him. He was sure the man that was undoubtedly watching him knew it didn't work, but it was soothing to feel his weapon in his hand.

The silver man spun his body around once, his inoperative sword pointed in front of him as he spoke in a commanding tone. "Show yourself, Doctor!"

Creed stood still for a moment, waiting for any form of response, whether it be physical or verbal. He shot his eyes back and forth rapidly, tightening his hold on the hilt of his weapon as he browsed the room for any signs of life.

He growled and spoke again, raising the volume of his voice slightly. "DOCTOR! I know this is your doing! Where's Train?! Where's E?!"

Again, his ears were greeted with nothing by silence. As he scanned the room once more, he felt his body falter and his vision blur. Creed felt his stomach churn and he lurched forward slightly, swallowing heavily as he fought to keep the contents of his stomach inside.

What the hell is going on? Why do I suddenly feel sick?

Creed shook his head, gripping his blade firmly as he took a deep breath in hopes it would calm his queasy stomach. After a few seconds, the dizziness went away and his stomach settled, giving him a moment of peace as he breathed out a sigh of relief. However, just as quickly as the ailing feeling went away, it came back with a vengeance, forcing the swordsman onto his knees.

Creed lowered his blade and leaned forward on his hands, shutting his eyes as he rested his face against the filthy carpet. A few bits of sweat began mildly soaking the fabric beneath him and he groaned at the light throbbing that was pounding against his skull.

Is this a side effect of Doctor's Tao? Does it make you so sick you're able to fight?

As the next wave of nausea passed, Creed took several shallow breaths to lower his heart rate and slowly raised his head again to scan the room. His vision was returning, but since he wasn't sure how long it would last, he wanted to get his bearings again.

If a fight breaks out I'll be at a disadvantage if I keep getting sick.

As the painful palpitations died down, Creed let out a long, quiet sigh and he pushed himself back onto his feet, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand.

Hopefully it's just a temporary sensation while my body gets used to this world.

The longer he thought about it and the more he ran through the various possibilities of what could have happened to bring him to that room, the more he was convinced Kanzaki had trapped him in his Dreamworld. He never saw the scientist use his Tao and as far as he knew he had never been trapped in it before, but it was the only reasonable explanation he could come up with.

Since I have no previous experience or evidence to go based off this is all speculation, but what else could it be?

He didn't entirely understand how Doctor's Tao worked, but he knew it had something to do with digging deep into the victim's subconscious which made sense how he suddenly came to be in an exact replica of the room he slept in as a child.

Or at least exactly how I remember it. I was so little, it could look different, but if this is Doctor's Tao, he's using my memories to recreate it. Not reality.

Creed looked down at his hand, flexing his fingers slightly as his vision blurred and cleared again, his head feeling as though it was swimming in murky water for a moment as he tried to focus his eyes on his lithe, long, digits.

It certainly feels like a dream, but… It also doesn't.

It was hard for him to put words to how he was feeling. It felt like he was asleep, but also cognizant enough to have his own thoughts and control himself. Almost like it was a lucid dream.

However, there was a nagging doubt piercing his sound sensibility that made him believe it wasn't entirely accurate to claim he had complete domain over his body.

While I can move my limbs and have my own thoughts, I feel like I have tentative, if any, control over the world around me.

Creed let out a paradoxical chuckle.

Although, I guess that's not too different from the real world. While I may have control of my own actions, I can't always control the actions of others.

That was a truth that took Creed far longer than he cared to admit to accept as reality.

Doesn't matter. All that matters is I find Train and E and get the hell out of here.

What was really frightening was that Creed didn't know if Train and E had been taken into the Dreamworld as well, or if they were being held captive by the Apostles.

And if they were taken into the Dreamworld, does that mean I'll run into them? Or is Doctor capable of opening as many worlds as he wants?

It was also possible there was an epic battle going on between the Taoists, the sweepers, and Chronos while Creed slept like a useless hump of garbage on the ground.

I don't know if my physical body is vulnerable and sleeping in the middle of the woods, or if I've been completely absorbed by his powers.

Creed futility sliced his sword's hilt in the air again, then pointed it towards the door where he heard footsteps approaching. "Finally deciding to show your face, Kanzaki?"

Instead of hearing the snide voice of a mad man, he heard the furious muttering of a woman he never wished to think about, let alone hear or see again. "Where is he?! Where is that useless piece of garbage?!"

Creed felt his body twitch when the woman spit out those last words and for a moment, he reverted to the pathetic, weak child he once was. He trembled slightly and felt the arm holding his sword waver as images of his macabre childhood flashed before his eyes. In an instant, he suddenly remembered how every single hole in the wall had gotten there and why the door was no longer attached.

As he heard the footsteps getting closer, smoke slowly began to billow in the room and he wasn't sure if it was real or part of Doctor's sick dream. What made the smog even more terrifying was how familiar it was and how perfectly it matched a particularly horrifying memory he had.

Even though it was only covering the soles of his shoes, Creed choked on the smoke, frustrated with himself for showing any signs of weakness to the hidden enemy. He could tell by the way he was shaking and the images swarming his brain that the only reason he was choking was because his lungs were reacting to the emotional turmoil of the traumatic memories violating his mind.

Creed clenched his fist and straightened out his sword arm, forcing himself to ignore the smoke in favor of whatever was about to walk into the room. Judging by the voice he knew what it should have been, but since he was positive he was caught in a dream created by a demented man, there was no way of being absolutely certain what was about to step through the doorway.

Creed was able to shake himself of the weakness that once infected his body as a child and ignored the next stream of sickness that raided his otherwise healthy body so he could focus on the situation at hand. He stifled another cough as more smoke rippled into the room, his feet now blanketed by the sheet of fog.

The silverette narrowed his eyes. "Sick tricks like this won't work, Doctor. I cast aside my old life and my old worldviews long ago. If your goal is to try and revert me to my old self it won't work. There's nothing you can do to bring back the devil inside me."

As the footsteps got closer, the smoke covering his feet grew and now pooled up to his shins, just below his knees. The speed at which the mist was expanding and growing began to worry him. Despite that, he remained still. He knew the smoke could be a ploy to catch him off guard and get his attention off the door.

This smoke is reminding me more and more of that night…

Creed shook his head, unwilling to relive what had become one of the worst nights of his life. Instead, he kept both his mind and feet grounded, adjusting his body so it was in a fighting stance as the occupant outside the room edged closer and closer.

Hearing the person had stopped, Creed rolled his eyes and spoke in an aggravated tone. "Seriously? What are you trying to do? Build the suspense? If that's the case, it certainly is not killing me, so you might want to think about changing your tactics."

He waited a moment, then sighed at the silence. "I already know what, or rather who you're going to walk in as, so why not get it over with so we can start this long overdue fight? We've drawn this event out long enough and I'm growing rather impatient. Both for the last battle to begin, and for you to show that ugly mug of yours."

Creed smirked and lifted his blade slightly, ignoring the smoke that had risen up to his hips. "...And I still need to pay you back for the wonderful care you took of my beloved Train when you so graciously offered your home and services to him."

Again, there was only silence from the stranger lurking outside his old room, and Creed sighed again. "How much more of a dramatic entrance do you need? You've already got the fog show going, do you require a light show as well? Because if that's the case, you'll have to change the scenery. There's no way light can permeate this room from the outside and I have no idea how you'd set it up on the inside. There isn't an outlet let alone overhead lighting."

He narrowed his eyes as he stared at the doorway. "Trust me… I spent enough of my childhood trapped in this room. Albeit, my time here was unwilling, it did give me a good idea of how the room functions. Which is to say it doesn't."

The voice laughed, or rather cackled and Creed's blood boiled at the sound. He got what he wanted when the person finally responded, yet instead of being relieved, his skin crawled at the woman's voice. Hearing her atrocious vociferation again made him regret inviting the woman to a conversation.

"The time you spent trapped here?! Is that the thanks I get for raising you even though it was clear you were garbage?! Even though I made it clear how much I hated you? Even though you were the one that ruined my life?"

Creed tightened his grip on the blade and refused to entertain the memories that were threatening to consume his mind. If he did, he might fall apart and he forbade himself from showing any weakness at hearing his mother's voice again.

I've put that part of my life behind me. There's no need to relive those memories. What's done is done.

Creed kept the hilt of his sword pointed at the door, hoping that whatever company he was about to receive wouldn't call him on his bluff about his Tao. "You must be grasping for straws if your method for making me lose my cool is showing me that woman again…"

His mother's hideous snicker reverberated grimly through the doorway. "I'm the one that should be complaining about seeing you again. You really think I want to see trash like you?"

Creed's eyes widened and he felt his arm drop when he saw the person step through the door.

Instead of seeing the disastrous figure of the inebriated woman who dared to call herself his mother, he saw an elderly woman whose lips normally sported a kind smile and whose eyes were commonly filled with warmth. However, at the moment she was not looking at Creed that way he was used to.

In lieu of giving Creed a kind and sympathetic look, her lips were curled into a ghastly sneer and her eyes replete with enmity and malice. The lively spark that regularly resided within her normally spirited eyes was replaced with contempt and hostility, and it seemed to be directly aimed at Creed.

Creed stared at the woman as she slowly entered the room, her trademark cane stepping through the doorway first. She stopped when she was just inside the room, sneering at the silverette as the smoke rose a little higher and floated up to her waist.

Seeing the shocked look on her student's face, Anastasia frowned and tilted her head in confusion. "What's wrong? Haven't you missed me?"

---

Train gawked at the man that would be his lover, unable to speak, move, or even breathe as he tried to properly swallow the rather large, emotional bite Creed forced him to suddenly take. He felt the color slowly drain from his face, the sickness taking over yet again, but Train had a feeling it had nothing to do with the world he found himself trapped in.

Creed frowned as he watched his beloved Black Cat tremble, whimpering a little when he saw how pale his perfect partner had become. "Train? What's wrong? Why won't you take my hand? Don't you realize what I've just done for you?"

Again, Train didn't respond and Creed felt his heart begin to shatter. "...I saved you, Train. Is this the thanks I get for saving you?!"

Seeing his precious love was not responding to his words, Creed decided to set his sword back on his hip, take a step forward, and wrap his arms around Train's lean frame. "Is this a side effect of the witch's curse? Is there anything else I can do to help?"

Train still did not respond and Creed was getting frustrated. "Train… Why won't you answer me?"

Hearing no response yet again, Creed growled and let his possessive side take over. He squeezed his beloved tighter, gently running his fingers through the cat's hair as he nuzzled his face close. While his one hand smoothly caressed the golden man's head, his other slithered around Train's thin waist, sliding the gunman forward so his chest was pressed against Creed's.

Train gagged quietly as Creed clutched avariciously to his body, the fingers running through his chocolate hair becoming less comforting and more gluttonous as the swordsman spoke. "It's because of her, isn't it? You're not responding because she's still inside of you, isn't she? She's still possessing your beautiful soul!"

The silver man's squeezing brought Train out of his stunned stupor and he began clawing at Creed's arms, desperate to get air to his lungs before he passed out. "C-Creed…. I-I c-can't-"

"Shh, it's okay, my love…" Creed cooed lovingly into his ear, sighing in relief at hearing his sweet cat's alluring voice. "She won't hurt you anymore, my precious Train. I won't let her or anyone else have you ever again…"

Train coughed and choked and tried to pry the silverette off him, but it was like Creed was made of stone. No matter how much Train struggled, no matter how much he tried to scratch and rip at the other man's arms, Creed remained still and unaffected. In fact, it seemed like the more Train fought, the stronger the silver man's arm became.

"C-Creed… C-Creed, l-let go!" Train miraculously managed to spit out between his gasps for air.

Train couldn't see Creed's face, but he could tell his lips had mutated into the sick, tangled smirk he hadn't seen on his lover's face since the day they met, and he prayed he'd never see again.

As Creed's arms crept further around Train's body and constricted the cat even harder against his chest, a low, sinister snicker skittered out of his supposed partner's mouth, turning the golden man's hot blood into ice.

Creed buried his face as far as it would go into Train's hair and spoke in a tyrannical, ruthless tone. "Now why would I ever do that, my sweet Train? You saw what happened when I took my eyes off you for a moment. The whole world is out to get you, Train. The whole world wants to take you away from me."

Creed widened his perverse sneer and turned his head so he was whispering in Train's ear. "But, I won't let them, Train. I won't let anyone take you away from me ever again… Not Chronos, not that witch, not anyone!"

He lightly nibbled at Train's ear, but did not lessen his hold on the cat. "You are mine, Train! You belong to me… You have always belonged to me and you will always be mine!"

Creed licked the shell of Train's ear, then blew in it slightly before speaking again. "You and I are meant to be! Our partnership goes beyond soulmates, it goes beyond Chronos, it goes beyond eternity!"

He lowered his lips so he was sucking at Train's neck, making sure his arms did not release the cat for fear of him running away. "We are inevitable, my dearest Black Cat! I am your destiny! I am your future! I will be your future, and I will never let you go again…"

Feeling Train struggle in his arms, Creed snarled and pulled back to stare into his beloved's eyes, gripping tightly at his shoulder as he spoke. "Why are you struggling, Train?! Can't you see how perfect we are for one another?! Can't you see the truth of our destiny?! Why can't you see that I'm just trying to protect you?!"

A tear fell from Creed's eye as he watched Train catch his breath, his heart shattering yet again as he watched his treasured partner ignore the pain he was obviously in. "I don't understand, Train… Don't you love me? Can't you see that you belong to me? That you are mine?"

Now that Train was free and able to breathe, he let out a loud cough. Seeing his fake partner was crying and noticing the illusion's fingers were still gripping tightly to his shoulders, Train placed his hands against the phony Creed's shoulders, trying to push away the being that took on the face of his lover.

Noticing the revenant didn't budge, Train coughed again and pushed harder. "Th… This isn't right… You're not Creed… Creed doesn't talk to me like this… Creed doesn't try to suffocate me like that…"

Again, Creed let out a depraved snicker and moved his face so it was only a few inches away from Train's, brushing his lips against the cat's as he spoke in a vile, rapacious tone. "It sounds like you need a bit more convincing… Don't worry, my love… I'll happily remind you of the deep seated, eternal love we share…"

Train widened his eyes as Creed pushed him backwards and pinned his shoulders against the wall, pressing his lips harshly on top of the cat's as he shoved their mouths together. There was nothing but greed and gluttony behind the acquisitive kiss, and Train was quickly beginning to feel like a prisoner to the one man he had willingly given his heart to.

Train let out a muffled scream behind the fictitious Creed's kiss, struggling as the man crawled onto his lap and used one hand to tilt his head backwards. As soon as the silver man's hand had released his shoulder, Train lifted his arm and attempted to push the monster off him yet again.

The moment Train tried to shove Creed off, the beast let out a vehement gnarl and grabbed both of the cat's wrists, pinning them against the window just above the gunman's head. He pulled his lips away from Train's and placed both his legs on either side of the golden man's waist, sitting himself on the Black Cat's lap as he rested his forehead against his beloved's.

"Oh, my darling Train…" Creed's twisted voice came out as a dangerous whisper. "It seems I need to do more to remind you exactly what we mean to each other…"

Train let out a vicious scream as Creed bit violently down at his neck, immediately breaking skin as his tongue lapped up the blood that left his body. The cat tried to free his wrists, but again it felt like the man on top of him was made of stone. No matter how much he resisted, no matter how much he trashed his body underneath his captor, the silverette did not move an inch.

"GET OFF!" Train shouted as his forged fiancé moved his tongue across his neck.

Creed snickered as he licked the wound he created on his precious love, then outlined his jawline with his tongue, stopping momentarily to nibble at his flesh. "What's wrong, my dear Train? We've done this so many times, I thought you'd be used to it by now."

Train bit his lip to prevent another painful howl from leaving his lips as the swordsman bit at the other side of his neck, drawing more blood as he hungrily lapped at the red liquid seeping from his body.

He knew without a doubt that the man attacking his body and pinning him to the train's bench was not his lover. It was Doctor using an image of Creed to assault him as some sick form of torture.

Train stifled an agonizing groan as the nightmare Creed pressed his body closer, pinning the cat's body flush between the wall and the predator's chest. He drew blood on his own lip to prevent another cry from leaving his throat when the incubus dug both his knees into Train's ribs, pushing out the precious air he had just reclaimed after his first attack.

Train growled as he heard his lover's voice moan and sigh seductively as he continued savoring every inch of his neck. "I swear, Kanzaki, if this is actually you on top of me and not some sort of dream demon, I'm going to pluck every hair from your body and give you an electric bath!"

The cat tried to kick his legs as he spoke. "I'd rather be assaulted by a demon than you, Doc!"

As soon as he finished his sentence Creed suddenly stopped as if he were frozen in time. For a moment, Train thought he had somehow managed to break the dream with his half assed insult. However, when he tried to break his hands free again, he realized that was not the case, since Creed pulled him off the wall and against his chest again.

"Train…" The vision whispered as he once again clasped the cat tightly to his chest. "Train… Train… Why are you talking about another man? Why are you talking about someone else while we're being intimate?"

His fingers began digging into Train's back, his nails lightly scraping at the cat's clothing as he spat out his next words. "WHY ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT ANYONE OTHER THAN ME?!"

As soon as he finished his sentence, Creed threw Train against the wall and shoved his mouth against the cat's. As Train tried to pull his mouth away from the devil's, the monster's hands began tearing at his clothes, leaving undeniably real scratches on his chest.

"YOU ARE MINE, TRAIN HEARTNET!" Creed screamed as he pulled his lips away, ripping Train's shirt off his chest. "AND I'M GOING TO PROVE THAT TO YOU NOW! I'M GOING TO PROVE TO YOU NO ONE ELSE IS WORTHY OF YOUR AFFECTION!"

Train tried to push the man's hands away from his body, turning his head to the side to avoid another clash with the fiend's lips. However, that only seemed to add fuel to the creature's fire as the silver man back handed him roughly.

Creed grabbed Train's shoulder and pushed him onto the bench, shoving the cat's legs together with his knees as he glared down at the gunman. "No one else is worthy of your presence… No one else is worthy of your gaze… No one is worthy of your attention, or even a second of your thoughts…"

Train could tell the beast meant to give him a loving smile, but the flash of his teeth made it clear his intentions were anything but gentle. He removed one hand from Train's shoulder, gingerly caressing the back of cheek he just struck.

"...No one except me is worthy of you, my sweet Train. No one is good enough to exist in a world with you except me. That's why we need to clean up this world, my love. We need to remove every piece of human trash from his miserable planet until we are all that's left. Then, we can live in Eden together… Forever…"

Train pulled his head away from the hand massaging his bruised cheek, then spit out a wad of blood at the man pinning him down. "Go fuck a goat instead, Doctor! Stop trying to make me see Creed as something I know he isn't!"

Again, Creed froze as the chunk of blood splashed against his cheek, slowly dripping down his face and clinging to his jaw. Train blinked in confusion as he watched the emptiness take over his fabricated lover's face, narrowing his eyes as he tried to figure out what was going on in the brute's head.

It's almost like he's resetting… Or at least trying to rethink what he should be saying. That makes me more convinced it's Doctor trying to rape me right now.

Train felt a bit of bile pool in his mouth at that thought and he swallowed it quickly, attempting to slide out from underneath the beast that had him pinned. However, the moment he tried to slither away, Creed seemed to wake up and shoved him back against the bench, adjusting his body slightly so he pinned the cat's arms to the bench with his knees.

"Stop struggling and just admit this is what our life together is meant to be, Train!" Creed's voice was an acrid growl, nothing like the saccharine alto Train had fallen in love with. "Just admit this is who I am, Train! Just admit this is the man you love! ADMIT YOU LOVE THE MAN THAT KILLED SAYA MINASTUKI!"

Train froze when Creed said that, barely registering when the man's mouth wrapped back around his neck and devoured his skins with the famine of a starving wolf. He stared at the ceiling of the train as Creed's hands slid down his chest and to his pants, swiftly unzipping his pants as he gorged himself on the Black Cat's body.

Is… Is this my deepest fear?

Train felt his body go numb, no longer able to feel the monster that was consuming every inch of his chest, his nefarious mouth sucking and biting as viciously and violently as he could. He did not struggle as the apocryphal Creed slid his hands into his pants and wrapped its fingers around his flaccid shaft.

This is the dilemma I conquered long ago… The dilemma of whether or not I can love the man that killed Saya…

As he heard Creed's debauchery moan in his ear and felt the sham of a man's hands feebly try to jerk him off, Train clenched his fists and grinded his teeth. "Except this isn't that man I love… This isn't a man I even recognize… This isn't Creed!"

The succubus snickered as he continued to fumble with Train's limp cock, seemingly unaware of how ineffectual his presumed provocative tactics were as he attempted to purr in the cat's ear. "What are you talking about, Kitten? This is the Creed you have buried deep in your mind…"

The devil bit roughly at his ear as his other hand traveled down Train's chest and slithered between his legs, ineptly attempting to aid his other limb in pleasuring the gunman. "This is the real Creed… The Creed you know deep down still exists. The Creed that killed the woman you love…"

Train twitched painfully as the man's rough hands grinded crudely at his shaft, his body beginning to tremble with rage as his eyes burned with fury. "No, you're wrong… This isn't Creed…"

Is that how his Tao works? He digs into our subconscious and reveals our deepest, darkest fears? Even if they don't exist anymore? Does he bring out our inner demons and force us to face them in hopes it will destroy us completely?

Train inadvertently let out a distressing groan and again began to struggle against the man on top of him. As the spectrum violated his body in a lame attempt to make the cat believe he was being abused by his Stallion, Train managed to turn his wrist slightly and freed one of his arms from the monster's knee.

The gunman snarled as the nightmare attacking him made nauseating noises that were meant to be interpreted as gratifying moans and balled his hand into a fist. "THERE'S NO WAY CREED WOULD EVER ASSAULT ME LIKE THIS!"

Train threw his fist back, then hurled it against the doppelganger's face, his knuckles colliding with the apparition's cheek, sending him flying off the cat's body.

The moment he was freed, Train threw himself across the bench as far away from the being as he could, making sure to fix his pants before quickly grabbing Hades from its holster.

As Train watched the creature cower on the ground, he wiped the blood that was splatter on his face and neck, the blood that belonged to both him and the dead girl who laid on the floor next to them.

Train made a disgusted noise and spit out another clump of blood, unsure of when he bit his tongue during the attack. "God damn, what are your hands made of? Sandpaper?"

The cat rubbed tentatively between his legs, wincing comically as if to drive his point home. "If that rough foreplay wasn't enough to convince me you aren't Creed, then the way you haphazardly fumbled down there would have been a dead give away! My partner is a pro and you clearly have no idea what you're doing. You probably should have done some research before trying to half assedly seduce me."

The Black Cat cocked Hades, his golden eyes narrowing as he aimed his gun directly at the poltergeist's body. "Well? Are we going to get this party started for real? Or are you going to find another way to violate my body?"

Train smirked as he watched the devil, meant to be his lover, remain still on the floor. "I'm starting to think everything you've done in regards to me is just some sort of sick crush. If that's the case, I'm sorry to say the feelings are not mutual. Even if my heart wasn't spoken for, there's a rather long line you need to wait behind before I can even think about entertaining your ludicrous affections."

Creed remained frozen for several more seconds, then slowly began to shake. As he shook, the cat noticed the train they were riding shook as well, vibrating back and forth at the same speed the dejected man on the ground was.

"...Is that all you have to say, Train?" Creed grumbled viciously, his fingers curling into fists as he lowered his head to rest against the ground. "...Is that really all you have to say for breaking my heart, again?!"

The train began shaking so violently, feeling as though it was going to leap off the track. However, he kept his eyes locked onto the phantom on the ground, waiting for it to make a move just like he knew it would.

Creed slammed his head onto the ground, punching the steel floor furiously as he let out an animalistic scream. "IS THAT ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY TO MY FEELINGS OF LOVE?! ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO REJECT ME AGAIN?!"

Train grabbed onto the closest handrail as the vehicle rocked back and forth, the sensation feeling very similar to that of a rowboat being stuck at sea during a vicious storm.

The cat lost his footing and wrapped his arms around the railing, forcing his eyes to stay open as he watched Creed bang his head against the floor over and over again, noting the blood that was pooling beneath the deranged creature.

"ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO BREAK MY HEART AGAIN?!"

Suddenly, the train stopped, nearly throwing the Black Cat off his feet with its abrupt halt. Train kept his eyes on the lithe figure as it stopped slamming its head against the floor and swiftly stood up, back facing the gunman as Creed's Imagine Blade suddenly appeared in his hand.

The fake silverette turned around and glared at Train, pointing the hilt towards the cat, digging the invisible tip lightly against his throat as he spoke. "...If that's how you really feel, Train… Then I can see all my efforts to save you are in vein."

He gripped his sword tightly and pushed the tip of his blade a little deeper into Train's neck. "...And if I can't save you… If I can't have you to myself… If I can't make you see the truth that is so blatantly written in the stars…"

Creed smirked as he watched the cat twitch when the blade pierced his throat, a single drop of blood leaving his flawless feline's impeccably exquisite skin as he licked his lips in anticipation. He was thrilled at the idea of fighting his beloved despite the endless sea of turmoil swarming in his heart upon being rejected, yet again, by the man he loved.

"...Then I'll just have to end your life." Tears fell down his face as he spoke, allowing the rage and anguish he felt to shine brightly in his calamitous eyes. "...I'll save you by putting you out of her misery."

---

Translations:

"... it makes me believe the dawn wants you just as much as I do…"