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

69. Action

As a reminder, Lin's weapon's name is Seiren. Can't remember if I've mentioned that before, but it's said a lot in this chapter and I didn't want anyone to be confused.

Sorry if any of these battles seem rushed. That is not my intention. They are the focal point of the ending, so I didn't want to spend much time on them. However, they are important and need to be shown.

I do not own Black Cat or its characters.

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Lin growled as he leapt to the side to dodge a barrage of bullets from Durham, then threw his cloak up to block a bolt of electricity coming from the fake Train. As Number X rolled to the side, he gripped tightly to one end of his weapon, then wrapped it tightly around his petite body to create a shield.

Bullets and lightning bolts were coming from all angles, so the best way Lin could protect himself was to form a barrier with his Seiren. Luckily for him, the cloak was transparent, which made it easy to see which way his enemies were coming from.

When he saw Durham roll out from behind a tree and throw a grenade at him, Lin leapt to his feet, swiftly unraveled the cloak from around his body, and smacked the bomb to the side. Immediately after, he flicked his cloak forward towards the gunman, aiming the tip of it at the man's chest.

Durham cursed and jumped back, his shirt ripping as trickles of blood fell down his chest. He clenched his fists and aimed his gun at Lin's head, throwing his head back so he could see the man behind his oversized hat.

"Is that the best you can do?! Charden made it sound like you were such a terrible threat that you needed to be singled out!"

Lin brought Seiren back to his body, wrapping it around his arm, slithering it behind his back as he smirked. "The party's just getting started! And you've only had the appetizers."

"And here comes the entrée!"

Lin watched as Durham's head twisted to the side upon hearing Aliane's voice, his voice snarling hideously in enmity when he saw what the girl had done. It seemed that when Lin tossed the grenade aside with his cloak, Aliane took that opportunity while she was still invisible to catch the bomb and throw it back at Durham.

She even held onto it until she knew it would explode just when it reached him.

Lin smirked at the wannabe cowboy Taoist, then turned around and sprinted in the opposite direction as fast as he could. He wanted to create as much distance between him and Durham as possible, to make sure he wasn't caught in the blast as well.

Sephiria certainly trained Aliane well in the short time Chronos had her as a prisoner! Then again, Train mentioned she was a rather clever girl before she betrayed them.

From behind him, Lin could hear Durham scream, which was quickly followed by an explosion. However, soon after that he heard Aliane yelp as the other Taoist unloaded another hail of gunfire at her. Number X didn't need to turn around to know the girl managed to activate her Tao before she was hit, since her laughter could be heard from miles away.

She's strange, isn't she? Similar to Train in his enjoyment of battle, but the amusement is a bit different. A bit darker.

It was clear Aliane had softened greatly since meeting the sweepers, especially after being Chronos' prisoner, but there was still a psychotic side that resided deep within her. A side that Lin believed she once used as a crutch to deal with her loneliness, but now forced it aside to make room for more peaceful thoughts.

Number X chuckled as he heard the girl mocking Durham from several yards away.

Those people really changed her. Then again, Train positively affects everyone he meets. He's just that charismatic. Not to mention cute as a button.

Lin leapt over a large root and ducked behind a tree as another one of Durham's bombs exploded.

"I recognize that look! Creed-sama always had it on his face whenever Train entered the room!"

Lin jumped when Eathes, who was still disguised as Train, hung from a nearby branch with his monkey tail. While it was strange to see a tail protruding from the spitting image of the man he loved, Lin didn't let it distract him. He knew that was the reason the primate chose to camouflage himself as the Black Cat.

Eathes tilted his head and frowned with Train's face as Lin glared daggers at him. "Does that mean you were thinking about me?"

Lin growled and bared his teeth at the Taoist. "Don't you dare pretend even for a second that you're anywhere close to Train's beauty and grace!"

Eathes cackled horrendously with Train's dulcet voice, making Lin's skin crawl. Number X gnarled angrily and swept his Seiren up in the air in an attempt to slash the monkey's face. However, the Taoist dodged at the last second, swinging himself around and off the branch with his tail, landing several feet away from the assassin.

Once he landed, he stood up and gave Lin a cheeky smile with Train's face, which made the number's blood boil. "Oh, come on! You know you're enjoying watching your beloved Black Cat in action. Look at it this way, you get to be close to Heartnet even when he's not here!"

Lin pulled his cloak back to his body and spat at the man. "Shut up! You have no right pretending to be Train. And wipe that damn smile off your face! Train's smile is much more gentle and caring than that!"

Eathes rolled Train's golden eyes and put his hands behind his head, another gesture the cat always did which only further infuriated Number X. "Geeze, talk about sensitive... I thought you'd like seeing this man's face as you knocked on death's door."

Lin clenched his fists, feeling his arms shaking with rage as he lowered his head. "You and I both know the real reason you chose to take Train's form…"

Lin had been doing his best not to make eye contact with Eathes since it made it harder to attack the Taoist. Even though he knew it wasn't Train, it was hard to cause deliberate damage to someone that looked even remotely similar to him, let alone an exact copy of the cat.

And I'm not over that nightmare Doctor forced me to live through yet, which makes this harder.

Lin flipped backwards to avoid another lightning bolt thrown at him by the doppelganger, then threw his cloak in front of himself to block a weak gust of wind.

Every time I look at him, I see a bloody image of Train. Every time I look into those fictitious, glorious eyes, I can't appreciate how beautiful they are because I'm too distracted by that nightmare...

Lin ducked and sprinted forward as another bolt of lightning was thrown at him, keeping his eyes on his opponent's feet since he couldn't look him in the eyes.

Even though I know it isn't Train, even though I know the man before me is not the man I love, it still cripples me to look at him.

Lin rolled on the ground and sliced his cloak in the air to split a gust of wind in half, then stood up and skidded to the side to avoid another jolt of electricity.

I feel paralyzed looking at him because when I do, instead of seeing the beautiful life, heart, and soul that always dances wonderfully in Train's eyes, all I see is a hideous glow that inflicts a wretched dejection in my heart.

That piteous feeling not only incapacitated the number, but it also dulled his senses and slowed his reactions. Looking at the copycat Train handicapped Lin in such a pathetic way that the assassin was ashamed of himself.

And that shame makes it even harder to keep my focus on the battle.

Lin cursed as he was nearly hit by another bolt of lightning, angry with himself for getting caught off guard so easily.

He may look like Train and possess his abilities, but he has no idea what he's doing with them.

Number X rolled his eyes when he heard the monkey curse with Train's voice, annoyance evident in his low grumble.

On top of that, I'm fairly certain he's only able to copy Train's Tao. Which means he doesn't have the Nanomachines.

"What's wrong? Starting to figure out Train's strength doesn't just come from his Tao? Do you have any idea how long it took Train to master his ability?"

Eathes looked up at Lin, smirking when he saw the assassin wince and look away quickly. "Based on your reaction to this face, I don't think I need to have full control of his Tao to beat you. It's fun to watch."

Eathes widened his smirk as Lin took a step back and turned his head to the side, a clear sign the number was working hard to not make eye contact. "Humans are so interesting…"

Lin clenched his fists, lifting his head and staring behind the monkey instead of directly at him. "Are you gonna keep flapping your stolen lips, or are you going to continue giving me my daily cardio workout?"

Eathes glared, but Lin did not see it since he refused to look at his face. "It's not my fault you refuse to take me seriously! Why don't you start fighting like you mean it?!"

Lin leapt in the air and grabbed a low hanging branch, pulling himself into a tree that he adroitly walked along until his back was against the trunk. He glanced down and noticed he was only about six feet in the air, so he reached up and grabbed another branch, pulling himself further up the tree.

"What ever do you mean? I've been taking you seriously from the moment the battle started! Why wouldn't I take a talking monkey who likes to pretend he's human seriously?"

Eathes growled and threw his arm forward, aiming another bolt of lightning at the spot he believed Number X had nestled himself in. "SHUT UP AND COME FIGHT ME LIKE A MAN!"

Lin ran toward the edge of the branch he stood on and threw himself into another nearby tree seconds before the bolt made contact with the branch. He landed gracefully as he began silently climbing up the new plant.

If I attack from above, maybe I'll be able to get the drop on him and knock him out.

Number X gripped Seiren close to his body as he traversed the tree.

I promise I won't kill anyone, Train. I swear it.

"Why are you holding back?! Charden made it sound like you were a force to be reckoned with! Is this really all you've got?!"

Eathes scanned the trees, looking for any signs of movements as he sparked his copycat hand. "...Is it possible you don't want to kill me? Did the Black Cat's nauseating kindness and vow to never kill again poison your assassin spirit?!"

Lin shot a glare in the direction Eathes voice came from, biting his bottom lip to prevent himself from defending his Sweetness.

He doesn't know I've never killed before. I'm an assassin only in name. There's nothing about my spirit that resembles a killer.

Lin was aware he was a walking contradiction. Despite his appreciation and esteem for those who were strong, Number X was gentle and his body had always been dainty and petite. On paper, there was nothing about him that would fit the description of an assassin, yet he had chosen that life so readily that for the longest time, he'd believe he'd grow into the role.

It wasn't until recently that I began questioning my choice. Even when Train first asked me about it, I was confident I had chosen the right path. But… the time I spent away from the sweepers made me question myself.

When he was hospitalized and pulled out of his mission from keeping an eye on Creed, Lin realized how much he missed the sweeper life. Of course he missed being with Train more than anything, but over time, he learned that wasn't all that he longed for.

I longed for a carefree life. I longed to chase down low-level criminals with those people.

A warm smile slid across his lips as he watched Eathes shoot electric bolts at the tree he left.

...I longed to be a part of that family again. To watch them scrap together whatever they could to make ends meet, to watch them laugh and fight with one another.

Being with the sweepers as long as he had been gave him a taste of how enriching life could be. Obviously a lot of his happiness came from being able to be so close to Train every day, but he also knew the rest of those people had a major role in that happiness.

"WHY ARE YOU HIDING?! THIS IS GETTING BORING!"

Lin rolled his eyes.

What a pest. Guess I better get this over with so we can find E and the Apostles' hideout.

Number X watched the Taoist walk underneath him and shoved aside the instinctive fluttering his heart always inevitably experienced whenever he saw Train. Lin shook his body and punched his head.

Damnit, it's not Train! Get a hold of yourself and attack!

Lin leapt out of the tree, whipping Seiren from around his back and folding it in half. As he fell from the branch, Number X adjusted his cloak so it was aimed at Eathes' head, making sure the duller part of his weapon would be the section that made contact with the Taoist.

I will not kill him.

An image of Train flashed in front of his eyes.

I promise.

Just as Seiren was about to land on the monkey's head, the Taoist shot his eyes up and locked Train's golden eyes with Lin's dark ones. The moment that happened, Number X felt his heart stop. With that one, ephemeral glance, a horrifying picture was painted for the assassin.

Images of Train's ensanguined, battered body burned Lin's eyes, the grisly sight reflecting exactly what Doctor had shown the petite man in his nightmare. The Black Cat's clothes were stained with his crimson life force as it slowly oozed out of his every orifice.

His chocolate hair was matted with blood, the maroon juice clotting Train's thick locks together as it crawled eerily down his tanned skin. It coagulated at the gunman's chin, dripping balefully down the rest of his trim body.

The scene was disturbingly prophetic, as if the vision before him were a premonition of the future.

Train…

Unable to focus, Lin let out a ghastly scream as the Taoist shot his arm forward and shocked him with an electrical blast. It was difficult for the number to tell how strong the attack really was since it happened at point blank range, but the close proximity would have made any assault more powerful. Had he been farther away, it might have caused significantly less harm or even missed entirely.

Lin couldn't hear the monkey cackling over the electric shock that surrounded his body, nor did he feel when his body hit the ground. His vision was blinded by the attack, yet somehow he was still able to see the gruesome image of his Sweetness writhing in pain, blood flowing effortlessly from his face.

"Damnit…" Lin grunted as he tried to push himself up, his arms trembling pathetically.

The small man threw his head back and let out another painful scream as he was electrocuted again. He collapsed back on the ground and gasped for air, squeezing his eyes tight as he tried to rid himself of the macabre visions of Train.

"Train…" Lin mumbled as he clutched the ground, angry at himself for being caught off guard.

This… This Taoist… This… monkey can't defeat me so easily…

Lin bit his lower lip to prevent another agonizing howl from escaping his mouth as his opponent zapped him a third time. His body convulsed violently at the forth shock and he could smell his hair burning on the fifth one.

"T….Train…"

Eathes snickered as he stared down at the number. "Too easy… Charden was right, seeing this face fighting against you instead of alongside you is more than your pitiful heart can bear. All I had to do was flash you this cheeky grin and you were pudding in my hands."

The Taoist crouched down so he was closer to the petite man's face, awkwardly brushing aside the hair from his face as he spoke. "Is this really how the infamous Chronos' number known as the Magician meets his end? At the hands of the one he loves?"

Lin gritted his teeth and tried to push himself up, then let out a tormented groan as Eathes gave him another small shock, as if he were merely toying with the number.

"Gah… God… dammit…"

I can't believe I let my emotions get the better of me…

Lin cursed himself for being so weak. He cursed himself for allowing the Apostles' plan to work. He loathed how easy it was for the Taoist to get to him, all because he happened to fall in love with a man he could never have.

Pathetic… I'm so pathetic… No wonder Train doesn't love me.

Number X tried to push himself up again, but was forced back down with another electrical shock. He panted on the ground as his fingers dug into the dirt, his lips involuntarily kissing the Earth as sweat pooled around his forehead.

Who could love a man that would fall so easily to such a weak opponent?

His head began to pound vehemently, his temples throbbing viciously against his skull as he tried to steady his breathing.

Not even a man... A monkey. A stupid monkey who was only sent to fight me because I've made my Achilles' heel so blatantly obvious.

Lin coughed weakly as he felt the Taoist lean over him, unable to open his eyes since he was terrified to see the look of glee in Train's eyes. Even if he knew it wasn't the Black Cat, his heart and mind were too weak to convince himself of that anymore.

They didn't send this primate after Creed because Creed is smart enough to know the difference between Train and a monkey…

He coughed again and groaned at the pain that coursed through his body.

I'm just so hopelessly in love with a man who will never be mine that I'll… I'll believe anything that looks like him could possibly be him… I… desire Train so badly that I'll let an undeniably fake Train take such firm control of me.

Number X choked on the dirt he breathed in, digging his fingers further into the dirt.

An enemy as weak as this… shouldn't be able to take me down so easily…

Eathes snickered again and poked at the back of Lin's head, lightly pinning the downed number to the ground as he readied his other hand with an electrical blast. "I have to say, I'm a little disappointed. I was expecting more."

He shrugged. "Oh well! Guess Charden and Doctor were right. Doesn't matter the obvious difference in our strengths, as long as I look like the Black Cat, you'll be an easy target for me."

Lin tensed his sore body as he readied himself for another attack, prepared for his life to end.

Train…

He shut his eyes and felt a tear glide down his bruised and beaten cheek.

Train, I'm sorry…

Just as he had resigned himself to death, Lin felt the pressure on his heart lessen and the weight of the Taoist disappear. With a loud groan and painful hiss, Lin pushed himself over to see what happened. He smiled despite his agony.

"That girl…"

She's turning out to be more useful than I thought she'd be…

Aliane had shown up quite literally out of nowhere and shoved the monkey off him. Lin made quick eye contact with the girl before she reached out to grab him, using her ability to turn them both invisible.

With a heavy heave and a loud grunt, Aliane threw the small man's arm over her shoulder and dragged him behind a tree. Once they were hidden, Aliane helped sit Lin down, then adjusted herself so she was kneeling in front of the number.

She placed her hands on the assassin's shoulders, keeping her Tao activated so they both remained invisible. "What the hell is wrong with you?! You given' up or something?!"

Lin rested his head against the tree and he panicked a little when he realized he did not go through the bark. He lifted his head back up and gave the girl an anxious look, opening his mouth to question the girl, but shut it quickly when she slapped him in the face.

"Be quiet! We're invisible, but not penetrable. But just because they can't see us doesn't mean they can't hear us."

Lin blinked at the girl a few times, attempting to catch his breath as he looked around to take in his surroundings. Confusion briefly wafted in his eyes as he met the girl's gaze, then lowered his head and stared at the ground.

That's right, her ability makes us invisible to everyone else, but not to each other.

Lin lifted his head and clasped the spot on his cheek where Aliane slapped him, then winced aggressively as he tried to breathe in. He bit his lip and leaned forward, shutting his eyes as he tried to forget about the electrical shocks that continued sizzling his body.

"Dammit…" He whispered as he felt his body twitch involuntarily.

Aliane gritted her teeth and glared at the man, resisting the urge to slap him again. She could tell he was in a lot of pain and didn't want to afflict him with more. Adding to his pile of agony would not make the situation better.

Instead of hurting him, Aliane tried to show sympathy. "What the hell, Dude?! What was that crap just now?!"

Lin rested his head against the tree again and concentrated on calming his breathing, squeezing his eyes tight as he spoke. "I… I don't know… I just…"

Another unintentional twitch ravaged his body as he gritted his teeth. "It's just… That… That damn monkey… I can't… I can't…"

Aliane glanced at Eathes, who was currently getting reamed out by Durham. The two of them were searching the forest for Aliane and Lin, bitterly arguing with one another the entire time.

She rolled her shoulder, grimacing from the graze Durham's Tao infused bullets had created.

I don't know if his aim is terrible, or if it's just really easy to distract him by attacking his pride.

The girl watched as Lin's body convulsed again. "It's because he's disguised as Train, isn't it?"

Lin bit his bottom lip. "It's not just that… It's also… From what happened earlier…"

Aliane watched as the number's twitches continued. She could tell every evasive contraction was excruciating, and he was desperately trying to control the tremors that incessantly marauded his small frame.

I know he loves Train, but he's strong. Why is he letting that monkey get to him?

When Number X opened his dark eyes and stared dolefully at the sky, his despondent irises brimming with tears as a torturous frown plagued his thin lips. With just one look, just one glance, Aliane was able to read the immeasurable sum of emotions that were infesting the poor man's soul.

As she read the discernible flood of agony that rushed through Lin, she felt her heart break at the boundless sensations she saw gnawing at his spirit.

The look in his eyes tells a thousand stories with the same apothegm and the same ending.

The Taoist sighed and lowered her head. "...Are you talking about Doctor's nightmare?"

Lin squeezed his eyes shut, forcing out a long stream of tears to finally fall freely down his face. "Nightmare is an understatement… What he trapped me in was truly Hell…"

Number X wasn't exaggerating in his dramatic proclamation. When Doctor caught him in that Gehenna, Lin truly believed he had died and gone to Hell, and he believed it far longer than he cared to admit.

"...And now I can't look at that damn ape without remembering what happened in that accursed world. Every time he looks at me with Train's eyes, I'm brought back to what Doctor forced me to live through."

Aliane stared at Number X for a few more seconds, then turned her gaze back to their enemies. Neither of the Taoist had discovered where they were yet and were still squabbling like an old married couple.

She winced slightly when she saw Eathes tail flick from Train's lower back. "To be honest, I don't know how you're unable to tell them apart..."

Lin twitched again, relieved that his convulsions were dying down. "I get it, I'm pathetic. I can't help how I feel, Aliane."

Aliane turned back to Lin. "Does this mean you'll never be able to look Train in the eyes again?"

Lin jumped and looked down at the girl. "What?"

Aliane locked eyes with the man and gave him a genuinely confused look. "From what you're saying, it sounds like seeing Train triggers that memory. Are you telling me that you'll never be able to look at Train again without falling apart?"

Lin stared unblinkingly at the girl, opening and closing his mouth a few times as another painful tremor passed through his body. "I… No… No, that's not what I'm saying."

Aliane gestured with her head towards Eathes. "Then why can't you fight him while he's disguised as Train? It doesn't make sense to me."

Lin finally blinked. "I… I…"

"If you ask me, it's not only pathetic, but is also a tad foreboding of the future. I mean, if you can't fight a fake Train, how are you going to be able to spend your life with the real one?"

Lin stared at the sky again, frowning as he tried to gather his thoughts. Another convulsion paced through his body, but it was far less painful than the last.

"I… I don't think that's a fair comparison…" Lin made sure to keep his voice low, the conversation making it easier to forget the pain he was in.

Aliane frowned. "What do you mean?"

Lin looked at the Taoist. "...I think the fact that I know he's fake is what's making it worse. My heart and mind are still weak from Doctor's purgatory, and that monkey pretending to be Train is shoving it in my face."

He looked at Eathes, cringing as he watched the Taoist use his sweet love's body to climb a tree in a very ape-like manner. "My logic and emotions are at war with one another. Logically, I know that isn't Train, but emotionally, I'm not prepared to face another fake Train. Also..."

The number turned back to the girl. "...As much as I hate to admit it, I don't know if I have it in me to cause harm to someone or something that even looks like Train."

His next twitch was less violent than the previous ones, signaling that he was recovering from Eathes' assault. "I know it's pitiful, but like I said before, I can't help how I feel. The idea of causing harm to him while he looks like Train only makes it harder to push Doctor's nightmare out of my mind. Every time I think about attacking him, I see… I see…"

Aliane didn't need to hear the rest of Lin's sentence to know what he was seeing.

Based on his reaction just now and how easily someone as incompetent as Eathes was able to take advantage of him, it can't be good.

She shivered, then spoke before Lin could finish his sentence. "You don't have to describe it to me. Frankly, I don't want to know. But…"

Aliane locked eyes with Lin again and gave him a stern look. "If you let him control you so easily, you'll never see Train again."

Lin felt his body stiffen and stared at the girl, wholly absorbing her blunt, harsh words.

...She's right. She's boorish and rude, but she's right. If I don't get it together, I'll die before I can see Train again.

"...That won't happen." Lin clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.

Images of Train's smile flashed across his mind's eye, slowly alleviating a bit of the fury and pain that had been consuming his heart since the moment the monkey stole his face.

Number X felt a wary smile slid across his lips. "...I won't let it happen."

Another picture of his Sweetness consumed his vision, the cat's glistening, amber eyes flickering playfully at the number as the gunman's vibrant smile sent wave after wave of warm, pleasurable chills down his spine. Lin allowed the imaginary sight to wash through him, becoming quickly captivated by the fictional view as the smile on his face expanded.

Lin let out a contented sigh and shut his eyes when the lively, mirthful laugh of his sweet love filled his ears. The cadence sound flowed through him like a fresh spring down a mountain crest, ameliorating the stress in his heart, cooling the pain that scorched his body.

...I won't die here.

"If Fate has decided this is where I meet my end, then I'll spit in her face and dig my heels in the ground."

I'll get my happily ever after even if I have to rip it from Fate's greedy hands.

Lin raised his head and gave the Taoist a stubborn look. "I'll see Train again. The real Train."

And while it won't be the happily ever after I truly want with him, just the fact that I'll be close to him will be enough.

He smiled at Aliane as the girl gave him a proud look. "I will not go gently into the good night, and death shall have no dominion."

Aliane chuckled and gave the man's shoulders a reassuring squeeze. "Alright, Dylan Thomas, I take it this means you're feeling better?"

Lin shrugged. "I'm going to need some serious therapy after this, but I think I can get it together enough to head back out there and kick some monkey butt."

Aliane frowned. "Do you want me to fight Eathes and you take the wannabe cowboy?"

Lin toyed with the idea momentarily, then shook his head. "No. I'll fight Eathes."

Aliane didn't like the unsettled look in the number's eyes. "Are you sure? I don't mind beating up that monkey. Or at least messing with him until he's too tired or annoyed to fight back."

Lin shook his head a bit more firmly and tried to give the girl a more confident look. "No. I'll do it. I have to do it."

If I can't face my fears now, I'll never be able to look at myself in the mirror… And I'll never be able to proudly face Train again.

Aliane looked the petite man up and down, uncertainty bubbling deep in her chest which she shoved down contentiously. While his face held the façade of tranquility, his eyes screamed the fermented turbulence that dwelled in his heart, but she didn't want to draw attention to it.

He's clearly not okay, but…

Scanning the small man's body, Aliane saw the brunt marks that riddled his body and winced at the lacerations that went down his arms. The electric shocks singed Lin's hair and his bangs were matted with sweat. His skin was paler than usual, and his breathing was still haggard.

She sighed at the determined, stubborn glint he forced to shine in his dark eyes, then gave him a frugal smile.

...He's not going to back down. I need to let him have this.

"...Alright, Lin, whatever you say."

He needs this. He needs to do this for himself. And I can't take that away from him.

Lin gave her a grateful smile, but the turmoil in his eyes did not waver. He glanced behind the tree again and noticed the Taoists were getting closer. Aliane still had her hands on his shoulders, which told him they were still not visible to their enemies.

"They're going to find us eventually. We should get the jump on them before they hear us." He Gripped his cloak close to his body. "We've been sitting here long enough."

Aliane rolled her eyes. "I was trying to give you time to recover after that savage assault."

Lin looked at her out of the corner of his eyes. "...You don't need to remind me. And I won't let it happen again."

It was embarrassing. Especially since that half-witted primate has no control over Train's Tao.

Number X knew from Train's description of his Tao that it was not easy to control, so the fact that Eathes was able to get the drop on him just from a simple glance of his sweet love's amber eyes infuriated Lin.

It'll be fine because it won't happen again.

Lin slowly began standing up when he saw the Taoists walk away, their ceaseless arguing sounding more agitated by the second. "We should jump out now while their backs are turned."

Aliane pushed Lin back down before he could fully stand up. "Do we really have to fight them?"

Lin blinked at her in confusion. "What?"

Aliane watched Durham smack the back of Eathes head, seeing the monkey's true face appear for a quick moment.

She turned back to Lin. "Why do we have to fight them? I can use my ability to keep us invisible while we make a run for the Apostles. Remember the mission Sephiria gave us? We need to find that woman."

Lin stared at her for a few seconds, then frowned. "Do you know where the Apostles' layer is?"

Aliane frowned as well and shook her head. "No…"

Lin continued. "And do you have any idea where we're going?"

Aliane sighed and rolled her eyes. "No, we're wandering aimlessly. But you said-"

"-We were wandering aimlessly only until we ran until the Apostles. Now that they're here, we need them to find out where E is."

Aliane stared at Lin for a couple seconds, then realization slowly dawned on her. "Oh… You want to get one of them to lead us to the Apostles layer?"

Lin smirked and tapped his nose with his index finger, confirming her statement. "Now we're on the same page. And knowing that, hopefully you'll have incentive not to kill either of them."

Aliane frowned. "Who said I planned on killing them?"

Lin gave the girl a surprised look, then smirked. "Good girl. Now, let go of me so we can jump back into the fray."

Aliane sighed. "Don't command me like a dog."

Lin ignored the girl's bitter comment and whipped Seiren around his body. "As soon as you let go of me, run to that tree over there." He gestured towards a tree about a yard away, then continued. "Climb up as high as you can, then jump when I give you the signal."

Aliane frowned again. "What's the signal?"

Lin didn't look at her as he continued. "You'll know when you hear it."

Aliane stared at the number, then nodded. "Got it. But again, don't talk to me like a dog."

Lin smirked, but did not look at her. Sensing her frustration with his condescending tone, he decided to make her more angry by patting her head.

"Follow my orders and there'll be a nice treat at the end of this."

Aliane growled and smacked the number's hand away, enraged at his patronizing tone and pretentious gestures.

I like him one minute, then the next I want to punch him in the face.

"Now!"

As soon Lin gave her the command, Aliane let go of his shoulders and ran as fast as she could towards the designated tree. She didn't watch Lin, but she knew he made himself known to their enemies because both Eathes and Durham had sprung into action.

I hope Lin's recovered enough to fight.

"THERE YOU ARE YOU COWARD!"

Aliane made it to the tree in time to watch Lin effortlessly brush away the bullets Durham shot at him, then somersault forward to dodge a weak gust of wind thrown at him by Eathes. The number then pushed himself off the ground with his cloak, throwing himself several feet in the air just in time to dodge another bolt from the fake Train.

Aliane smirked.

Guess he is. Man, he springs back fast!

Once in the air, Lin aimed Seiren down and sliced a new gust of wind that was directed at him, quickly grabbing the other end of his weapon and using it to shield himself from another wave of bullets the gunman sent at him. He cursed quietly when one of the bullets whizzed past his head, tsking in discontent when he felt the heat from it.

Fire bullets… We need to be careful.

Lin glanced at the Taoists from behind his cloak as he fell towards the ground. "Hey! Careful where you aim! You've ruined my hair enough."

He landed gracefully on the ground and swiped Seiren in front of himself. "...And Train happens to love my hair."

Over time, Lin learned the cat had a thing for long hair, which encouraged him to grow it out even more and take meticulous care of it.

And the ecstatic almost lewd look on his face the time I braided my hair… God what I wouldn't do to see that look aimed at me again!

The smile on his face remained as Train's aroused, golden eyes prevailed powerfully in his mind. His spirit burned with tenacity and upon realizing the effect a simple image of Train had on him, he decided to focus on his Sweetness's eyes to keep him grounded.

Lin smirked. "So, unless you want to explain to the Black Cat why my hair is ruined, I suggest you be more mindful of where you aim. Besides, attacking my hair won't kill me. Merely wound my ego."

Eathes gave a toothy smile as Durham growled, but it was the former of the men that responded. "I'm surprised you can stand after that attack! It's pretty impressive!

Lin chuckled prettily and tucked a few strands of hair behind his ear, feeling a bit of his true self shining through the pain. "Thank you! Although, I would have much preferred to hear those words come from the authentic Train's voice, it still means a lot to hear even a counterfeit say them."

Lin could feel Eathes smiling at him, but still refused to look at him. "Seems like you're still having a hard time looking at this face… This battle is going to be a cinch."

Lin clenched his fists and forced himself to give the monkey a quick glare. "...Geben Sie mir nicht so wenig Anerkennung." (1)

Eathes tilted his head in confusion, not understanding a single word of Lin's German sentence. Durham growled and aimed his gun directly at Lin's head.

"I'm sick of hearing your voice and I've had enough of your stalling! Where's the traitor?!"

Lin gave an innocent shrug and gingerly fixed his hair, keeping his mind's eye fixated on the bewitching image of Train's erotic eyes. He glanced towards the tree Aliane was hiding in and smirked when he saw a few of the leaves move.

He looked back at his enemies and winked, choosing to keep his dialect in German. "Folge mir und du wirst es herausfinden." (2)

Lin wrapped his cloak around his body and sprinted towards the men, his small frame easily slipping between the two as he dashed to the tree his ally was hiding in. He kept himself encased in Seiren, relying on his beloved weapon to keep him safe as both Taoists unloaded a wave of assaults on him.

He kept his eyes locked onto the tree, looking up to make sure Aliane still had her Tao activated. Noticing the leaves had stopped moving, but seeing the girl illuminate her eyes and lock them with Lin, Number X smirked.

I can do this. I'll beat them, save E, and collect my happily ever after with Train and the others.

That was the thought Lin clung to as he approached the tree and flicked his cloak in the air.

---

Eve opened her wings wide and leaned her body back, tilting her head to the back as well to avoid a slash of wind Leon sent at her face. She tsked quietly and gently flapped her wings as one of her slender fingers lightly flicked away a sliver of blood from her cheek.

She gave the boy an illustrious smile, speaking to Leon in a lofty tone as she steadied the beating of her wings. "Oh, look at that! You managed to scratch me! You're getting better."

Leon grounded his teeth. "You've got more than just a scratch, Little Girl!"

Eve knew he was right. The sleeves of her dress were torn to bits, her left forearm completely exposed and her right shoulder abjectly peeking out. There was dirt and soot covering nearly every inch of her dress with small tears throughout it.

The hem of her dress was ripped and tattered, her shoes scuffed and her long, illustrious blonde hair reduced to a tangled mess of weeds which made it difficult to transform her gold locks.

Her Nanomachines kept healing the slashes along her forearm, but they were continuously reopened by Leon's attacks. They were shallow enough that blood seeped out and stained her porcelain skin, but not so deep that the bots couldn't fix her.

Escorting the slashes was one long gash at the top of her shoulder, which had been causing her the most problems. Even though her Nanomachines were working to heal the wound, it was a fresh and deep laceration, making it difficult for bots as sophisticated as Eve's to close it.

And even when the wound is healed, the pain and soreness can't be concealed by my Nanomachines.

The Nanomachines worked magic when it came to mending injuries, but it didn't work on pain, nor did it help her maintain her stamina.

And the more wounds I receive, the more exhausted I become. I shouldn't take him so lightly.

Despite her thoughts, Eve shrugged, ignoring the pain that plagued her muscles. "Fair enough. However, you look to be in worse shape."

Leon growled and brushed a bit of dust off his shoulder as if that would fix the sorry state he was in. Eve knew saying he was in worse shape than her wasn't fair since she had the Nanomachines to heal her, and he only had the Tao.

Which I'm sure isn't as leveled up as Creed or Train's, so it doesn't heal as well or as fast.

Another difference in their injuries was due to Eve's refusal to kill or even hurt the boy, whereas Leon was very obviously doing everything he could to end her life.

That might actually put him at an advantage since my wounds could have been life threatening if it weren't for my Nanomachines, whereas his have just been inconvenient.

"These small scrapes are nothing. I've gotten worse injuries from falling off a bike as a kid."

Eve curiously tilted her head, a gesture she learned very quickly annoyed the small boy. "A bike? You rode a bike as a kid?"

Leon growled. "...Of course I did. What weirdo kid doesn't?"

Eve smiled wistfully, but made sure the expressions was small enough that Leon couldn't' see it.

That's what I'll do when the war is over… I'll ask Sven to teach me how to ride a bike. I think he'll be happy to do something father's do with their children. Maybe that'll help him get over how much I've grown.

The Bio-girl gave Leon a smirk as she responded. "You know you're still a kid, don't you?"

Leon bared his teeth at the girl and clenched his fists so tightly his arms shook. "SHUT UP YOU ANNOYING BRAT!"

Eve threw her arm in front of her face, using the shield she created from her Nanomachines to block an attack from the Taoist. She felt her body being pushed back despite her shield and flapped her wings powerfully to prevent herself from being thrown too far away.

Once she knew the brunt of the attack had passed, Eve flapped her wings and soared higher in the air. When she was several feet above her opponent, she stopped and stared down at the boy who was dashing rapidly towards her, his small hand gripping the end of his skateboard and angling it up. She smiled at the look in his eyes.

He looks so determined and is fighting so hard to prove to himself he's strong.

Eve flicked her other arm and turned it into a spear. She then kicked her legs out behind her, flipped her body in the air, threw her legs up, and launched herself at Leon, purposefully aiming the spear at his shoulder.

Even when death is looking me in the face, I will not stoop so low as to become a killer.

Leon's eyes widened when he saw the spear and threw himself to the side, narrowly avoiding the tip of Eve's weapon. However, he didn't react in enough time to completely ignore the attack and his shoulder was sliced open, ripping the sleeve off his shirt as he let out a muffled cry. Despite the pain, Leon was determined to keep it hidden from his enemy.

Eve swung her arm to the side to remove the cloth that was attached to the end of her spear, then spun around to face her enemy, who was now above her. It seemed that despite the fact that he had just been hit with a rough attack, Leon didn't slow down. He threw his uninjured arm forward, flicked his wrist up, and twirled his hand in the air.

Eve had seen him make that gesture before and screeched to a halt, flapping her wings wildly as she tried to back away from the tornado she knew was coming. The last time she was caught in it, she was nearly thrown clear across the forest. Leon's tornadoes were not something to be messed with.

And not something I want to deal with again, but it seems I don't have a choice.

The girl was barely able to finish her thoughts as her opponent's assault began. Eve squeezed her eyes shut as she felt the wind encompass her, the lawless, bitter breeze chilling her to the bones as her golden locks and tattered dress whipped wildly around her. She felt her wings fold around her, the only solace they provided being the slight increase in temperature.

She felt her body twirl like a novice ballet dancer who failed to land what was supposed to be a beautiful pirouette. Despite the fact that her eyes were shut, the Bio-girl could tell she was nauseatingly dizzy, her stomach lurching wildly as her mind tried to steady itself and focus on how to escape her cyclonic prison.

As she continued to spin, Eve returned her arms to normal, praying she'd be able to find a lul in the storm that would permit her enough time and space to slip out of the whirlwind. She knew forcing her way out was useless, especially since that one was stronger than the last.

Eve let out a muffled scream as her back slammed against a tree. She felt her bones crack and the exposed flesh on her lower back tear as the wind continued to push her against the bark. As the wind lessened, Eve felt herself slide down the tree, her body too weak to flap her wings.

The more the storm dwindled, the more Eve realized how much it had taken out of her. She was too exhausted to fight gravity's oppressive embrace and found herself succumbing to its tyrannical power. She gasped for air, an ironic gesture considering she was surrounded with it just moments ago.

Is that grass I'm feeling? Am I on the ground?

Eve gripped the dirt and grass and rested her head against the tree, trying to catch her breath before she gathered her bearings. Even if she was able to figure out where the storm had thrown her, the knowledge would be useless if she wasn't able to breath.

Feeling her breathing steadied, the girl opened her eyes and immediately rolled to the side to avoid another burst of air sent at her from Leon. It seemed the boy had followed her down to the ground and had another attack prepared.

Eve dove behind the tree as she heard the bark crack and splinter, turning both her arms into shields to protect herself. She placed them on either side of her body as she felt the wind whip past both her and the tree. Her arms were weak from the twister and her body was shaking from adrenaline, but she wasn't going to give up.

He has to be feeling tired as well. There's no way he's not.

Eve knew despite the strong man act Leon was putting on, he was still just a boy who was spreading himself too thin. She felt he was going too hard too fast and he wasn't going to be able to keep it up for long.

Over the howling wind, she could hear the boy shouting. "WHAT'S WRONG?! GIVING UP ALREADY?!"

Eve took a deep breath, increased the size of her shields and thrust both her arms to one side. She pushed the wind away from her body, giving her just enough space to slip around the tree and towards her opponent.

When she saw Leon lift one of his arms to throw another gust of wind at her, Eve raised one of her shields above her head, protecting her from the second attack. As she took a step towards the Taoist, Eve realized she was right in the boy exhausting himself.

This blast is weaker. It's much easier to move through.

She peaked at Leon between her two shields and noticed the enervated look on his face, confirming what she believed to be true.

He won't be able to take much more.

Eve continued stepping forward, keeping her eyes on the boy's arms for any signs of instability. The moment she spotted subtle wavering, the Bio-girl transformed one of her arms into a blade, the other remaining a shield as she ran forward as quickly as she could.

As she ran, she eyed the boy's skateboard curiously as it rested uselessly at his feet. Leon was still standing on top of it, but he was no longer floating. However, seeing the board gave Eve an idea and she leapt up into the air, slipping her shield arm underneath her feet as her blade remained pointed out in front of her.

She mentally patted herself on the back as she rode the air wave, smirking when she saw the shocked look on Leon's face. "Why give up?! We're just getting started!"

The confidence in her voice was fake since she was hoping their fight would end soon. She was banking on her stamina lasting longer than Leon's, but she had a feeling she was just as fatigued as he was.

Eve pushed that thought aside as she continued surfing the tumultuous wind Leon provided her, aiming her blade at the Taoist's uninjured shoulder as she tried to steady her feet on her shield. The position she was in was awkward and the winds were rough, making it difficult for her to accurately aim.

The girl's smirk faltered as her body teetered erratically on the shield. She knew the only reason Leon hadn't been able to shake her off his gale was because he was too tired and too shocked at what she was doing. And since Eve was positive she wasn't going to last much longer either, she reacted instinctively.

She pushed herself up and off the shield, flapping her wings rapidly as she dove at the boy. The wind surrounding her made it impossible to hit her mark dead on, but she did manage to slice the boy's shoulder open, causing a second injury to what seemed to be the most important part of his body.

If I cripple him enough, he won't be able to fight. I need to focus on his arms since that seems to be the only part that can control the wind.

Leon let out a howl of pain as his body fell to the ground, his head hitting a small rock buried in the dirt and causing a new gash against his scalp. Eve's body landed clumsily a few feet away from him, sliding against the ground until she came to a natural stop.

She sat up immediately and prepared herself for a counter attack, ignoring the way her body throbbed and the dirt that bore into her wounds the Nanomachines were working frantically to heal. She winced as her brian pulsed heavily against her skull, blinking her eyes a few times to rid them of dirt.

She watched as Leon panted on the ground, the boy attempting to push himself up, but his arms continued to give out.

Eve sighed. "Maybe I misspoke. We could be at the end of our battle, not the beginning."

I pray that's the case, anyway…

Leon turned his body over and shot a harsh glare at her. "Don't underestimate me, Little Girl…"

Eve rolled her eyes and gestured for the boy to stand. "Then get up and fight me like the man you think you are."

Those seemed to be the magic words as the boy let out a boisterous growl as an explosion of air burst around him. His body hovered in the air as he used his Tao to straighten himself, his skateboard sliding beneath his feet as he launched himself at Eve.

Eve jumped to the side and pushed another gust of wind away with her shield as she attempted to slice the boy's back. She missed by just a few inches as Leon spun around to dodge. The Taoist lifted one of his shaky arms up, flicking his fingers out as five separate small blasts of air were sent at her.

The girl jumped up and flapped her wings to avoid the attack, then quickly turned her body around so she was flying towards her enemy again. She assumed with how much his arms were visibly trembling, he wouldn't be able to react fast enough to prevent her next attack from landing. However, Leon proved her wrong.

With one swift motion, Leon threw his arm up and sent a slash of wind at Eve, curving it in an attempt to cover as much air as possible so he could be assured he hit the sweeper.

Eve growled and flipped her body around, trying to avoid the attack, but getting nicked on her feet at the very last second. The small collusion caused her body to flip again which disoriented her. Before she had a chance situation herself, Leon sent another gust of wind that clipped her wings and pushed her back several feet.

Eve looked behind herself and saw she was heading towards a lake. She smirked and flapped her wings harder, moving herself faster, pink eyes locked onto the center of the lake.

I might be able to use the water to my advantage if I can get him low enough.

Eve made sure her motions were constantly fluctuating, zigzagging her body in hopes it would make her a harder target to hit. It worked for a few of Leon's attacks, but eventually her body was tossed slightly to the side as one of the Taoist's attacks finally landed.

As soon as Eve was in the middle of the lake, she came to an abrupt halt and turned around to face her enemy. Leon stopped about a yard away from her, his arms quaking with languor as his chest heaved. It was clear his body was burnt out, but his eyes flared with determination.

Eve returned the boy's tenacious look. "What are you trying to prove? Why are you fighting for the Apostles?"

Leon narrowed his eyes. "...Why does it matter? Don't pretend to care!"

Eve frowned, recognizing and empathizing with the bit of loneliness in his voice.

...He reminds me of what I was like before I met Sven and the others.

Eve sighed. "...There's another way to gain your independence."

Leon glared, but the hint of curiosity in his eyes was evident. "What are you talking about?"

Eve gave him a gentle smile. "If you end this war and come with us. We can show you."

Again, the boy's expression was that of utter madness, but his eyes were sparking with traces of intrigue. "Are you seriously asking me to become a lowly sweeper?"

Eve's smile turned into a pout. "There's nothing lowly about being a sweeper… It's a life of freedom and choice. Everything the Apostles have refused you since day one."

Leon growled. "The Apostles didn't take that from me. I lost my freedom long before that."

Eve gave him another soft look. "...I understand that feeling far more than you realize."

The Taoist hardened his glare and raised his arms again. "Don't pretend to understand me!"

Eve clucked her tongue in disappointment as she raised her shield to block the next attack.

Despite his words, I can see it in his eyes that he's enthralled by my offer. Which means there is a part of him that doesn't want to be a part of the Apostles.

Eve clung to that thought as she watched the boy come at her again, knowing exactly what she needed to do to win the fight and save the boy.

I'll use foolishly optimistic ideology to win this battle. I'll fight with my words and my heart instead of my fists.

The moment Leon's attack made contact with her shield, Eve flapped her wings as fast as she could and stood her ground, refusing to move her body. She ducked her head behind her armored arm and took the attack full on, determined to let the boy see how strong she was.

If I can get him to acknowledge my strength, maybe I can get him to listen to me.

The moment the attack ended, Eve threw herself higher into the air, stopping as she stared down at her opponent. "Do you understand who I am? What I am?"

Leon spat at her. "YOU'RE A FREAK CHILD! THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE!"

Eve sighed and lowered her head, her chest heaving with both disappointment and exhaustion.

I need to get through to him quickly so I can find Sven and the others.

She gave him a kind smile as she spoke. "...A few years ago a statement as degrading and childish as that would have hurt. Now, I understand it's spoken from ignorance."

Eve lifted the arm she had turned into a shield and transformed it into a spread, then a sword, then a sledgehammer, then finally back to a shield which she kept at her side. Her eyes were steely and resolute as she spoke, determined to make the Taoist understand.

"Do you really think a 'Freak Child', like me, had a normal life? Do you really think I had a choice in anything I did? Do you really think I had freedom?"

She gestured to her clothes and her hair. "I never got to decide what clothes I could wear, or what I could do with my hair."

She used her normal arm to play with her tangled locks. "I always wanted it short… but, I was forced to keep it long so I didn't disturb the Nanomachines, and I had to wear clothes that allowed the bots to roam freely in my body."

She hardened her expression. "Your clothes may have been dirty and your life may have been wrought with misery, but at least they were your clothes. At least you still had individuality."

Leon clenched his fists and gnarled at the girl, throwing his arms forward to launch another blast of air at her. "SHUT UP!"

Eve flew quickly to one side, avoiding the blast he sent at her. She did not stop moving as more gusts were thrown at her, flapping her wings rapidly to continue dodging each attack. He seemed insistent on hitting her, but his body was weak and his mind was distracted, making it easy for Eve to avoid his feeble assaults.

Noticing he had stopped momentarily to catch his breath, his pained face making it clear his injuries were getting the better of him, Eve stopped and spoke again.

"I never had individuality. My sole purpose, the only reason I was brought into this world was to be sold to the highest bidder as a weapon of mass destruction."

Leon leaned forward on his knees, his skateboard hovering a few inches above the water as he stared tiredly up at her. "At least… At least people… respected you…"

Eve laughed at the boy's words, throwing her head back, genuinely amused by his innocent comment. "Respected?! You think locking me in a room with no knowledge of the outside world, no choice in what I said or did, no choice in what I even wore means I was respected?!"

She stopped laughing, noticing the boy was still glaring at her. "Do you even know what it means to respect someone?"

Leon took in several haggard breaths, swallowing heavily as he spoke in a hoarse voice. "Respect means… Someone sees your value… Someone… Someone understands what you contribute to the world, understands the power and strength you have and… and-"

"-And wants to use that strength for their own selfish benefits?" Eve's harsh, truthful words cut into Leon's heart. "Because that's exactly what Charden is doing. That's exactly what the Apostles are doing."

Leon snarled up at the girl. "And those people you call friends aren't doing that to you?! Isn't the only reason you're fighting in this battle is because they made you?!"

Eve frowned. "I am here of my own free will. No one is forcing me. In fact, I had to convince them to let me come."

Leon huffed obstinately. "Because they didn't trust you enough to fight…"

Eve sighed, a bit annoyed at how convinced the boy was of his own reality. "No. Because they love me."

Leon blinked and looked up at the girl, as if he had never heard that word before. "...Love?"

Eve smiled. "Yes. Love. Creed and Train didn't want me to fight because they believe this is their war. They love me and the others enough to keep us out of something they believe is their mess. And Sven…"

She faltered slightly, scanning the sky in hopes she'd be able to find the older sweeper as she spoke. "...Sven wants to protect me. Not because he doesn't think I'm capable, but because… because he loves me and wants me to be safe."

Leon hardened his glare and spat out a wade of blood that had been pooling in his mouth. "Love doesn't equal respect and I don't care if anyone loves me. I just want to be respected!"

He pointed a harsh finger at the girl, as if she had done something wrong. "And everything you just described sounds nothing like respect!"

Eve grunted in pain as a large blast of air hit her square in the chest, ripping more of her tattered dress as she went flying several feet higher in the air. Leon was quick to follow after her with another attack ready, shoving his left hand forward first, followed soon by his right in an attempt to trap the girl in another whirlwind.

Eve tucked her arms, legs, and wings in as her body was entombed by another cyclone, the rapid winds spinning her around at such a high velocity she quickly became disoriented. She cursed herself for being caught in the boy's tornado again.

When the storm died down, Eve threw herself to the side before Leon could take advantage of her unbalanced state. She flapped her wings and focused on a tree in the distance. Keeping her eyes on an unmoving object made it easier for her to steady her vision.

Eve ignored Leon's winds as they whipped violently around her. Instead, she focused on the lake beneath her. With her eyes locked onto her watery target, Eve tilted her body towards the lake and flew at it full speed. She wanted to avoid attacking Leon at all cost since it was clear he was already very injured and quite exhausted, so he set her sights on the lake beneath him.

I don't want to keep hurting him. I just want to show him how wrong he is.

When Eve was a few inches above the water, she straightened her body again, her wings skimming the liquid's surface briefly as her vision slowly steadied her body and came to an abrupt halt. She spun around so she was facing up, throwing her shield in front of herself to block another gust thrown at her.

When the blast hit made contact with her, Eve could tell there was more weight behind it. She glanced behind her armor and noticed Leon was only a few inches away from her. Both of his arms were pressed forward as he tried to use his winds to shove her in the water.

Eve tilted her shield to the side slightly, enough that she was still blocking the boy's attack, but enough that she could clip the edge of her safeguard onto Leon's shoulder. She let out a loud growl as she pushed forward and sideways, spinning both their bodies so Leon was below her.

The boy's skateboard slipped out from under his feet and flew several feet away from the dueling duo, skipping across the water a few times before landing and sailing even further away.

Leon had a look of shock on his face as Eve smirked down at him. He quickly lost control of his Tao as his back landed heavily into the water, the cold liquid consuming his small, fragile frame.

The water dampened his ability to use his Tao, so he was unable to stop himself from sinking. He needed to be in open space to summon his wind abilities and that was impossible when he was surrounded by water.

Leon frantically waved his tired, weak arms, trying to reach the surface, desperate for air as bubbles escaped his mouth. He screamed and thrashed as his body sank, his vision becoming more and more obscured the further he fell into the lake's suffocating embrace.

The deeper he plummeted, the darker it became. He didn't know if it was because he was losing oxygen, or if it was the menacing water that stole his sight. Leon had only been in water once which taught him two things: He could not swim, and he could not hold his breath long.

Is… Is this the end…?

Leon felt his eyelids growing heavy, water entering his lungs as he gasped for breath. His arms were already weak from his fight with the girl, but now they were nearly immobile as he struggled to pull himself to the surface.

Is this really how I go? Drowning in a lake some freak child threw me in?

Vision of his past flashed before his eyes, his body becoming weaker and weaker the further he sank.

I… failed…

His flashbacks faded as darkness took over, his arms no longer able to struggle against the water's impenetrable grasp.

I failed myself…

His eyes closed as he resigned himself to his pathetic fate.

I failed to prove myself worthy of existing in this world… So I may as well die…

As he thought those last words, he felt something wrap around his arm and pull him up and out of the water. His eyes were still shut and he was barely conscious, but he could tell whatever had a hold of him was dragging him towards the land.

Once he was on solid ground, he felt something warm and slithery enter his body, the sensation being both uncomfortable and soothing as it wormed and squirmed inside his chest. After a few seconds, his eyes and mouth shot open as he violently coughed up gobs of water.

He tried to sit up, but his arms were still too weak and he ended up falling back to the ground. As he gasped for air, he heard a soft, annoyed voice enter his ears.

"Sit still, I haven't gotten it all out yet."

Leon turned his head and saw Eve sitting next to him, both of her arms appearing normal, her wings gone as her golden locks gilded into his chest. When he felt them enter his lungs, the boy gasped savagely and coughed wickedly once again, spewing out even more water.

His throat burned miserably and his muscles throbbed painfully as Eve's golden locks continued slithering through his chest. With another loud, agonizing cough and violent heave, Leon spit out one last aggregation of water before collapsing back onto the ground.

Leon stared up at the sky, his arms resting out at either side of his body as he spoke in a hoarse, quiet voice. "...Why?"

Eve leaned back on her hands, staring down at the boy with worry in her eyes. "Why what?"

Leon felt a tear forming in his eye, his voice fatigued. "Why… why did you save me…?"

Eve rolled her eyes and pulled one knee up to her chest, resting her chin on it as she spoke. "Honestly, I didn't think I was going to have to. Do you not know how to swim, or were your arms too tired to pull yourself up?"

Leon didn't respond and Eve sighed as she continued. "Doesn't matter. I didn't mean for that to almost kill you. I didn't think you'd sink like that. Does the Tao make you heavier or something?"

Again, no response from the boy, so Eve frowned. "...Like I said before, there's another path in life. Another road you can walk. You don't have to keep living this life."

Leon refused to let the tear from his eye fall, his mind swimming with thoughts of his failure, but his ears perking at Eve's words.

Eve lifted her head and looked up at the sky. "You don't have to walk the path destiny has set before you. You can make your own path. You can decide your own fate. Your own future."

She looked back down at Leon, noticing the tear in his eye as she continued. "Freedom is a basic right every human deserves, and I'm sorry yours was stripped away, but… take it from someone who had to fight tooth and nail for it… It's not too late."

She smiled as she thought of her carefree life. "It's never too late to live your life. It's never too late to seize the freedom you were inherently born with. The circumstances in which it was torn away from you doesn't matter. What matters is you take it back and do what you want with it."

Her eyes sparkled brightly as she finished her statement, her soul relaxing as the boy finally let the tear fall. "And I have a feeling someone as sentimental as you wouldn't choose to spend their life killing for a group of terrorists."

Eve stood up, groaning slightly as she brushed the dirt off her legs. "That's at least what I hope anyway. Whether it bothers you to hear this or not, you are a strong, willful young man with so much life ahead of him. Why you would want to spend it taking freedom away from others is beyond me, especially since you know how that feels."

Again, there was no response from the boy and Eve began to walk away. "I think it's safe to say you won't be attacking me anymore, and I need to find my friends. They're lost without me."

She stepped past the boy, then turned around to wave and smile at him. "See ya."

Leon heard her walking away, another tear falling from his eye as he spoke in a frantic, pained voice. "Wait…"

Hearing Eve stop, Leon continued. "Won't… Chronos continue coming after me?"

Eve blinked at the boy's question, then smiled. "No. Creed and Train made a deal with Sephiria a long time ago. And that deal involved keeping as many of the Apostles' members safe."

I won't tell him they promised not to kill the children since I think that might set him off again. He'd take it as they viewed him as weak.

Leon laughed bitterly, the sound coming out weak and agonized. "Do you really think I'm innocent?"

Eve frowned and turned back around, but did not walk towards him. "Have you killed anyone?"

Leon blinked, then spoke in a quiet whisper. "No…"

Eve nodded in confirmation. "Then you are more innocent than most other people I've met."

Leon felt a bit of anger rise in him. "Being a killer doesn't absolve me of my sins…! It does not make up for my mistakes…"

Eve noticed he spoke his last sentence hesitantly, as if he didn't want to say it out loud.

As if he's still battling with his inner demons. He may be coming to his senses, but he's not there yet. He needs more time to truly realize what he's done wrong.

The girl smiled. "And neither would killing you. The only way you can make up for your sins is to live. Live and atone for what you've done… and never forget those you've hurt."

Leon heard her beginning to step away again and said one last thing. "And what if I can't? What if I can't make up for what I've done? For what I almost did… and still might happen."

Eve knew he was talking about the Apostles' potential success. "I can promise you the ending you thought would happen will not. Even if it was written in the stars, we're going to battle fate and rewrite it. As for whether or not you can redeem yourself and start a new life..."

Eve looked up at the sky, sprouting wings from her back once more as she spoke. "You're a strong man. If anyone can do it… it's you."

Without another word, knowing the boy was watching her fly away, Eve flapped her wings and flew into the sky, a proud, determined smile on her face.

I'm coming, Sven. I'm coming to find you, so please… please still be alive.

---

Sven rolled on the ground and slid behind a tree to evade a hail of knives Watts aimed at him. He pressed his back against the bark and heard at least ten embed themselves into the wood, quickly catching his breath as he glanced to the side to see how his comrades were doing.

To one side he saw Jenos and Rinslet battling Kenneth and Nica, which he was grateful for. Even though he knew he wasn't going to be able to avoid fighting Nica forever, he was relieved his allies were taking it upon themselves to take the woman on so he wouldn't have to.

Sven watched Number VII use his gloves to slice a small hole through a solid wall of dirt, making room for Rinslet to toss a grenade at the old man. Kenneth let out a resounding cackle and an explosion could be heard quite vividly even from where Sven was. The smoke it created made it unclear whether or not it had actually hit its target.

Subconsciously, Sven began searching for Nica, then shook his head and turned away.

Focus! Don't get distracted by her. Or the other fight for that matter.

As Sven turned his head, his Vision Eye caught a glimpse of something yet to come. Without hesitating, the sweeper leapt off the ground and spun to the other side of the tree. He flipped a switch on his Attaché Case and surrounded himself and the tree with a cloud of smoke.

The fog slowly seeped out of one of the numerous ports on his case, pooling around his feet and covering the ground in a thick, dark vapor. To the normal eye, it would have been impossible to navigate through the heavy exhaust, but with his Vision Eye, Sven was able to see what was going to happen next.

He's going to come from the left.

Sven shot his eyes to the left and saw the flash of a silver, pointed object gleaming prophetically in the cloud of smoke. Had it not been for his eye, he wouldn't have spotted it. But, his curse gave him the foresight to know when to duck, which he did just before the blade planted itself in his temple.

The sweeper breathed out a sigh of relief and smirked.

Guess I was wrong… This eye is a gift, not a curse.

Another premonition flashed before his eye and he threw his Attaché Case in front of his face, using its thick, metal casing to shield himself from another barrage of daggers. He tightened his grip on the edges of his weapon, his arms convulsing from the force the copious amount of knives were creating against his case.

When the sweeper felt the last knife insert itself in his weapon, Sven allowed a grateful smile to skate across his lips.

Thanks Llyod. I owe you.

"I wasn't expecting you to dodge anything let alone everything! You seemed distracted just a few minutes ago!"

Sven gritted his teeth behind the cloud. Although he had cut off the stream of smoke billowing out of his case, it still existed in the space around him and was slowly creeping its way up his feet to his knees. It gradually melded with the dust Kenneth was creating with his attacks, making the already opaque air even more murky.

Luckily I have my Vision Eye to show me what's going to happen next, but unfortunately, it can only see one thing at a time.

He looked in the direction his friends and Nica were fighting, once again intuitively wanting to make sure the woman was okay. He hadn't seen her in a while and his heart was beginning to feel heavy at not knowing what was happening to her.

She doesn't seem to be fighting at full strength. It's like she's just as distracted as I am.

"What's wrong? Worried about your girlfriend?"

Sven cursed as he spun his body around, attempting to dodge another dagger that was aimed at his throat. He reacted quickly enough to prevent the weapon from ending his life, but he was not able to dodge the attack completely.

Instead of the dagger landing a fatal blow by piercing his throat, it penetrated his shoulder instead, burrowing into his flesh. The green haired man bit his lower lip and fell to one knee, gripping tightly to his shoulder as blood oozed between his fingers.

Dammit! The point of the smoke was to make it harder for him to attack me. How is he able to have such good aim with all this smoke and one eye?!

When Sven fell to the ground, his knee landed directly on a branch which created a loud cracking noise. His Vision Eye caught another peek of the future and he threw his body to the ground, laying flat on his chest.

Almost as soon as he fell, Sven felt a few daggers wiz past his head, slicing his shirt and creating small cuts along his back. One of the daggers flew into the brim of his hat, causing it to fly off his head and land a few feet away from him.

Despite the danger he was in, Sven felt far too exposed without his gentleman's hat, so he blindly reached his hand out and searched for the accessory. His face was still buried in the dirt making it impossible for him to see where he was reaching, but he didn't care.

I'll be damned if I let that man be the reason I lose my hat!

As he searched the fedora, he rustled and rummaged through piles of leaves, shoving aside a few more twigs as he kept his head low. Daggers were still whooshing past his head, so he didn't dare lift it for fear of his skull being impaled.

I don't understand. How does he know where I am?! Especially now that I'm on the ground, completely covered in smoke.

"Stop searching for that ridiculous hat and fight me! There's no way something as frumpy as that thing is worth your life!"

Sven winced as another dagger ripped his suit coat, cursing inwardly at his ruined outfit. Suddenly, he froze as a thought dawned on him.

...He doesn't see me. He hears me.

It was true there was a lot of background noises coming from the battle taking place outside of them, but it was absolutely feasible that Watts had managed to hone his hearing well enough to make up for the fact that he was missing an eye.

Considering what his Tao is, I don't think he would have had much of a choice. He'd have to use his other senses to make up for what he lost.

Sven growled, threw his Attaché Case above his prone body and felt the weight of several more daggers insert themselves into its thick, metal shell.

When he felt the last knife stabbed into his weapon, the green haired man pushed himself off the ground, leapt forward, and ran towards the edge of the cloud he was surrounded by. It was beginning to dissipate, but he wanted to get out as swiftly as possible.

I need to be careful where I step. I can't let him follow me through the racket I'm making.

Sven did a small leap over another stick, being careful to avoid large piles of leaves as he sprinted out of the slowly dissolving fog. With his face out of the dirt, he was able to access his Vision Eye a bit better. He breathed a sigh of relief at what his eye revealed to him.

Rinslet's second grenade distracted him. And it seems like Kenneth isn't going to make it any easier for Watts.

Behind him, Sven could hear Watts yelling at the old man who seemed entertained by the turn of events. The sweeper didn't need to turn around to know what was happening. His Vision Eye told him everything.

Kenneth was confused by the smoke when he accidentally threw a wall of dirt in front of Watts. But, judging by his laugh, he doesn't regret it.

Sven winced at the pain in his back. "Damnit…"

Once he knew he was far enough away from the commotion and was certain Jenos and Rinslet were keeping the men busy, Sven stopped and took stock of his physical condition.

"Shit…" He mumbled as he tried to stretch his back, grimacing again at the pain that surged through him. "Damn those Taoists and their recovering cheat!"

Other than Nica who had been mostly absent in the fight, Sven knew their opponent had taken quite a beating, but nothing that their Tao couldn't heal.

And they're healing quicker than I expected. Did they level up?

Sven didn't know much about the Tao, but during the time he had spent with Creed and Train, he had learned enough to understand how leveling up worked. The Taoist would level up when the user was experiencing an intensely powerful emotion, or under extreme duress.

Train said it happened to him when he left Creed and the Apostles, then again when Creed was being suffocated by Charden. Creed's description of his level up was almost identical, except the first time it happened, Train's life wasn't in danger. He was just stabbed in a fight.

But Creed is the type to be dramatic enough to level up after seeing Train experience a simple wound. But, is it the same for these people?

Glancing back at the fight happening behind him, Sven frowned.

I have no way of knowing since I've never seen them use their Tao. I only knew what they were because Train told me.

Sven narrowed his eyes as he watched Watts brush off a bullet shot at him from Rinslet, then clenched his fists.

I can't believe I'm actually wishing I had a healing factor. Get out of your head, Moron!

As the man shook some sense into himself, he shot his head up at something his Vision Eye caught. It was brief, but enough to draw his attention. Especially after remembering what Train said Nica's Tao was.

Sven ripped the blood stained handkerchief out of his suit jacket and covered his mouth. Almost seconds after that, purple smoke circled his feet, undulating ominously, but never rising.

The sweeper cocked an eyebrow and began looking around for the woman.

Is she keeping in low on purpose?

Sven clicked another button on his Attache Case to reveal a large barrel that he aimed in the direction his Eye told him the Taoist was going to come from. His body tensed and his eyes focused, ready for Nica to reveal herself.

"Are you really that much of a coward that you'll attack me from the shadows?" Sven question, his voice steely, yet labored. As if it pained him to say his next words. "Haven't you caused enough pain?"

He was greeted with a moment of silence, then a quiet reply from the woman who was still hidden. "...I suppose there isn't anything I could say that would ensure your forgiveness?"

Sven felt his heart drop to his feet. The resolutely beating muscle felt like a thin wire attached to a weight was tied around it, yanking it emphatically to the ground. During that amaranthine moment, the sweeper felt the world stop, his blood icing over as his flesh tightened.

However severe the moment was or how difficult it was for him to weather it, it was ephemeral. Sven was able to move on from it and hardened his glare on the Taoist. He decided not to respond verbally to the woman. Instead, he let his eyes do the talking for him.

Nica's defeated face fell even more as her heart shattered into oblivion. She didn't want to blatantly display her obvious misery to the man, but with how deep seeded her pain was, she knew she couldn't hide it.

Especially not to the man who had proven time and time again he knows me better than anyone else... Despite the fact that our entire relationship was based on a lie.

Nica leapt in the air to avoid the bullets Sven shot at her feet, then spun behind a tree. She rested her head against the tree and felt tears swell in her eyes as she heard the man run towards her, realizing she didn't have time to experience her emotions since the sweeper wasn't going to permit her such niceties.

Not that I deserve it anyway…

She ran out from behind the tree and away from the sweeper.

Nica chose to keep her eyes ahead since she knew looking back at the man would be too painful. With unshed tears still forming in her eyes, the Taoist dejectedly puckered her lips, lifted her hand, and turned her head to the side.

Keeping her eyes off the man she knew was close behind her, Nica blew another puff of smoke which came out more of a pink than purple. She cursed inwardly and turned back around.

Pink is a bad sign…

The lighter shade her smoke was, the weaker it meant her attack was. In order for her to be effective in any fight, she needed to have her fog come out dark colors.

But… I don't want to hurt him…

That was the thought that rotated incessantly in her head. No matter how many times she tried to convince herself that Sven was her enemy, no matter how many times Charden informed them their goal was to kill as many sweepers and numbers as they could, Nica couldn't change how she saw him.

Nor can I change how I feel.

She heard a strange, mechanical sound coming from Sven's direction and glanced over her shoulder to see the sweeper had opened another hole in his case. It sucked up the feeble fog Nica launched at him and just as quickly as she made it appear, Sven made it disappear.

She could feel the man's smirk against her back. "Train told me about your Tao. I upgraded this case for this specific situation! Your smoke won't work on me!"

Nica couldn't help but smile at the man's words. "...I wouldn't expect any less of you."

She ducked behind a new tree as Sven shot another line of bullets at her, the attack missing her on purpose. She ducked behind another tree and pressed her back against it, catching her breath when she heard the sweeper let out a painful grunt.

"As prepared as you are, your injuries won't allow you to continue. Just give up and maybe I can convince Charden to let you live."

She could tell by the tone in Sven's voice he was rolling his eyes. "Are you seriously trying to sell me another bridge? Because the last one crumbled so quickly I didn't even get a chance to step on it let alone cross it."

Nica gripped her chest, a stabbing pain plaguing her chest as she spoke. "...It wasn't all a lie."

Sven was leaning forward on his knees as he waited for a wave of pain to finish passing through him, and glared at the tree the Taoist was hiding behind. "...What?"

Nica slumped forward. "It wasn't all a lie… My words… my personality… my feelings… Those weren't lies."

Hearing no response from the man and realizing he wasn't moving, Nica pressed on. "My story may have been a lie, and the circumstances in which we met may have been planned, but…"

She leaned her head against the tree and stared wistfully at the sky, a tear finally falling down her porcelain cheek. "You were never part of the plan… We were never part of the plan…"

She shut her eyes and allowed more tears to fall. "I tried to stop myself… tried to convince myself it was just a job but… but…"

Nica rested her head into her hands and released a painful sob. "My heart wouldn't listen, because..."

She grabbed her hair and shook her head. "Todo lo que quería eras tú…" (3)

Another moment of silence was shared between them. It lasted only a few seconds, but felt like an eternity and spoke volumes of emotions words would never be able to effectively relay.

Sven stayed rooted to the spot, staring at the tree he knew the woman was behind, the arm holding his Attaché Case lowering as his heart quaked with despair.

Unknowingly, he took a step towards the woman. "Nica…"

Don't fall for it! It's just another trick! Another trap to hurt you…

Despite his stern thoughts, Sven felt himself moving forward. His heart compelling his body to move in a direction he knew would only lead to more pain.

"Nica… Nica, I…"

Don't listen to her! Her words are brimming with pretty sentiments, but they're filled with empty lies.

Still, he felt himself taking another step forward, unable to stop his feet from moving towards the woman that was supposed to be his enemy.

Don't go any further! Stop right there!

As Sven disregarded his own thoughts and took yet another step towards the Taoist, his head shot up as a horrid sight played before his eyes. His jaw dropped and his body went cold as he watched the prediction play out. When it reached the end, he blinked a few times, feeling tears falling down his face as he tried to refocus on the present instead of the future.

It was a bloody sight that had yet to come, and one he was determined to stop.

"NICA! WAIT! DON'-"

Just as he spoke those words, he felt a dagger zoom past his head and saw a body dash beside him. In the blink of an eye, Nica had sprinted away from the tree and ran towards Sven, throwing her hand in the air to prevent a dagger from embedding itself into the sweeper's temple.

Sven turned his head and blinked at the woman, knowing what was going to happen next and reaching out to grab her wrist to pull her away. However, he wasn't quick enough to stop the woman from jumping behind him, releasing a deathly scream as several more daggers penetrated her chest and shoulders.

The green haired man once again tried to grab Nica, but she instead kicked his feet out from under him, causing Sven to crash to the ground. He landed on his back, his skull bashing against the Earth as he let out a painful grunt.

Pain pulsed through his body when he fell on his wounded back, but that did not stop him from attempting to get up and stop Nica from taking the next attack for him.

As he tried to stand, he was forced back to the ground by Nica, his head hitting a rock his Vision Eye had foretold would be there. When he tried to push her off and get up again, the woman shoved him back down, throwing her bloody, hole ridden body on top of him.

Sven felt her body jolt and convulse on top of him as more dagger pierced her back, the other Taoist either unaware he was attacking his own alley, or not caring.

No…

Once the last knife had punctured her flesh and planted itself in her spine, Nica's body fell limp against the sweeper and she let out a long sigh. Despite how much pain Sven knew she must have been in, the breath of air she released sounded relaxed. As if she were relieved the events played out the way they did.

No…

He pushed the woman's shoulders up and stared into her palling eyes, the life slowly draining from them as she smiled gratefully down at him. Sven held his breath as the woman chuckled, coughing up blood on his chest as she gently cupped his cheek and brushed away his tears.

"It's okay, Sven…" Her voice was weak and her fingers were trembling, but her eyes and smile beamed peacefully at him. "It's okay… I'm okay…"

Her eyes closed and her head fell forward, landing with a light thump against Sven's chest. "...I love you."

She fell limp in his arms, the man unable to move or think as he stared at her lifeless body nestled gingerly against him. He watched as her breathing slowed down until it finally stopped, signaling her soul had departed.

"No…" Sven muttered as he wrapped his arms around her inert body, burying his face in her silky, soft hair.

"No… No, Nica…"

He heaved a heavy sob as he squeezed her tighter. "Nica… Nica…"

Sven felt his body tremble as someone whistled faintly in the background, the sweeper barely able to hear it behind the ringing in his ears.

"Man, she really was a hopeless case, wasn't she? Dying for a man that was just part of a mission?"

Watts stepped up next to the duo, snapping his fingers and making several more daggers appear around him. He rolled his eyes and gave them a disappointed frown.

"It's sad, really. She had a lot of potential. If only she didn't fall for such a weak man."

Sven could only mildly hear what the man was saying behind the deafening ringing in his ears and he refused to open his eyes to acknowledge the man. All he could think about was the dead woman in his arms. The woman who had just spoken the three most powerful words he had ever heard.

"Nica…" He whispered in her dead ear, not caring that it was no longer able to hear his words. Sven needed to say what he was going to say.

"...I love you too."

---

Lin dug his heels into the dirt as he came to a screeching halt, his feet kicking up a cloud of dust as he locked eyes with Eathes' fabricated golden ones.

He smirked at the sweat dripping down the Taoist's face. "Getting tired already?"

The monkey narrowed his eyes and glanced at Lin's legs. "And you're not? Your legs are shaking!"

Lin's smirk did not waver as he delicately tucked a few reckless strands of hair behind his ear, always wanting to look his best, even in the heat of battle. "Oh, no need to worry about me. I bounce back quickly. Can you say the same thing for yourself?"

Eathes growled, his eyes changing from Train's gorgeous golden shade to the monkey's hideous green. The Taoist had been steadily losing his cool which helped Lin discover that the less control the primate had of his emotions, the less control he had of his Tao.

He's also only been using Train's electric ability. I'm not sure if he's forgetting Train's Tao let's him do more, or if his lack of emotional stability makes him unable to use anything else.

Either way, Lin didn't care. Both Eathes and Durham were slowing down both physically and mentally, and he knew he and Aliane weren't far behind.

We might be better off than the Taoist, but we're still not doing well.

Lin flicked his cloak in front of his face to deflect a weak bolt of lightning, then wrapped the weapon around himself so he could safely roll along the ground. As he rolled, he felt a few more electrical bolts strike his cloak which fizzled out almost immediately when they made contact with his Seiren.

He's really getting weaker. That's exactly what I want.

Lin had been holding onto the hope that he and Aliane could outlast their enemies, pin them down, and get them to reveal where they were keeping E.

Lin stopped rolling and pulled his cloak out from around him, swinging it in the air as he gave Eathes a staunch look. He planted his feet on the ground, ready to charge at the Taoist who was now having a difficult time maintaining Train's angelic face.

Number X watched as the monkey tried to send another electrical bolt at him, but was only met with paltry flares that kindled fraily from his fingertips. Eathes mumbled angrily under his breath and wiped the sweat off his filthy, bruised forehead with the back of his hand.

Lin ran full speed at the Taoist who was distracted by the feeble sparks that continued emitting from his hands. It was a prime chance for Lin to corner the monkey and get him to talk.

No matter what, I'll complete my mission and keep my promise to Train.

Eathes looked up when Lin was just a few feet away from him and let out an alarmed sound, unaware his face had almost completely turned back to that of a monkey as he attempted to fire another blast at the number.

With his cloak still in the air, Lin swung it down and at his enemy, smacking the monkey's furry hands aside. Eathes tried to step away, but tripped over a large root, his body falling backwards as Lin threw Seiren forward again.

With a flick of his wrist and swing of his arm, Lin wrapped his weapon around the weakened Taoist, pinning his arms and legs together as the number yanked him forward just before he hit the ground. Lin twisted the end of his cloak around his hand and pulled his arm closer to his body, forcing Eathes to stand up straight.

Number X smiled triumphantly at the monkey's tired face, the cheeks that had once mirrored the smooth skin of Train's now had turned a light shade of green with bits of fur sprouting around his chin. The thick hair forming around his face was matted with blood, one of his eyes swelling as bruises slowly made their appearance.

As Lin grinned at the Taoist, he repositioned his feet so he was standing more steadily. However, the motion caused a surge of pain shot through his body, making the number wince subtly, but not enough for his enemy to see it.

Don't give in to the pain yet. You've got him pinned, now you just need to make him talk.

Despite the upper hand he clearly had, Lin was feeling the pain of the battle. Unlike his opponents, Lin didn't have the Tao to heal him. While his enemies and Aliane had been able to recover from at least minor injuries, Number X was forced to deal with every blow dealt to him.

I can't succumb to my injuries yet. Especially not after lasting this long.

He was proud of himself for being able to stand toe-to-toe with opponents who had healing abilities, but he knew he wasn't going to be able to last much longer.

With that thought in mind, Lin ignored the way his arms shook with pain as he tightened Seiren around Eathes and secured him in an upright position. Despite how enervated and stricken Lin felt, Number X allowed a wave of confidence to pass through him, flipping his hair back as he stared down the Taoist.

Lin covered up the fatigue he knew resided in his eyes with a teasing glint. "Well, now that you're all tied up, how about we have a little chat?"

Eathes narrowed his eyes, his face grotesquely mixing with Train's as he smiled with his deformed lips. "A chat? Are you going to ask me about that woman again? Even if I knew anything, why would I tell you?!"

Lin rolled his eyes and tightened Seiren around Eathes, squeezing a bit of air out of the primate. "I'm pretty sure this should be enough of an answer to that question…"

Eathes choked, losing control of his Tao as more of his organic face revealed itself. He coughed, then took in a haggard breath. "I'm serious! Do you really think I know where we even are right now?! I just jumped into the portal that Charden told me to jump in. I have no idea where we are, or even how to get back to the Apostles!"

Lin frowned, realizing the Taoist might be telling the truth. "Then what was the plan after you killed us? Wander the forest until Echidna Parass opens another portal to bring you back?"

Eathes tried to sigh, but realized it was impossible with how tight the cloak was wrapped around him. "I guess… I don't know! Listen man, I just follow orders."

Lin glared at his enemy, squeezing a little more air out of him as he spoke. "Following orders, huh? So, you're okay with the Apostles holding an innocent woman captive? And you're okay with stealing her identity to play mind games with your opponents?"

Eathes choked again, then slowly breathed out as Lin let up his cloak a little. "It's not like you or Chronos are innocent… Even those sweepers probably have committed some sort of crime! You can't tell me the Black Cat's hands are completely clea-AGH!"

Lin's eyes were firing noxious daggers at him, as if he was daring the Taoist to say another ill word about Train. He gritted his teeth and applied more pressure around Eathes' body, crushing a few of the ape's ribs, wringing even more air out of his opponent's lungs.

Through a clenched jaw, Lin spoke with a savage tone. "Don't. Talk. About. Train." He constricted Seiren more, ignoring the monkey's gasps of air. "It's bad enough you attempted to mimic him… Don't you dare lump him in with the rest of your weak trash."

Eathes opened his mouth, unable to let out a painful scream due to lack of oxygen, but shook his head wildly. He hoped that would relay to the man how sorry he was for his transgressive words.

Lin blinked when he realized what he was doing. When he did, he heard Train's voice asking him to loosen up and saw his sweet love's eyes twinkled worriedly at him.

What am I doing?

Lin relaxed his weapon's hold on the monkey, allowing oxygen to enter the Taoist's lungs. However, he made sure he did not loosen it enough that the monkey could escape, just enough that he could breathe and speak freely.

I won't kill anyone. Not just for Train, but for myself as well.

It was true Train played a large role in his decision to never kill and resign as an assassin, but it wasn't the only reason he had chosen to walk that path. He saw what killing had done to so many people around him, and he didn't wish to be tormented in a similar manner.

I'm not a killer, and I will never be a killer. Both for his sake and for the peace of my own immortal soul.

"Are you really trying to convince me that you don't know anything about where the Apostles are keeping E?"

Eathes coughed wildly, his body now completely transformed back into his monkey form, relieved he was able to speak. "Not… Not exactly…"

Lin gave him a knowing look and tightened his cloak again, but not so much that Eathes couldn't breathe. "Go on…"

Eathes lowered his head, but kept his eyes on Lin. He was giving the number a pathetic look, making Lin wonder if he knew he no longer looked like Train. "I don't know where the Apostles' layer is from here, but I do know where they're keeping the woman."

Lin smiled, feeling relieved as his previously cruel demeanor faded. "Now we're talking. Was that so hard to say?"

Eathes rolled his eyes, realizing his puppy dog look wasn't working and deciding to drop the whole façade. "It doesn't matter if I know where in the hideout she is if I can't get you there!"

Lin's smile turned into a cheeky one as his eyes glimmered with their trademark mischievous gleam. "So, you're saying if we can get to the Apostles' hideout, you'll take us to her?"

Eathes frowned, attempting to free his arms from the cloak's firm embrace. "Are you crazy?! Do you think I could do that without enraging Charden?! He'll kill me if I do anything that even remotely betrays the Apostles!"

Lin tilted his head, giving the man an innocent look. "And you think Sephiria will go any easier on you?"

Eathes froze, then blinked at Number X. "Wh-what do you mean…"

Lin gave him a cute smile, his old playful self coming back as he explained his logic to the Taoist. "I mean, I think it's pretty obvious I've got a tight hold on you…"

To prove his point, Lin tightened Seiren again, allowing it to choke the monkey briefly before he let him go again. The sweet smile remained colored on the number's face as he watched his enemy struggle, his voice coated in honey as he spoke.

"And if you won't cooperate with me… Maybe you'll cooperate with my boss." Lin winked at the ape, flashing his teeth for a moment as he finished his sentence. "And I think we both know she will not be as nice as I have been…"

Eathes gurgled as Lin tightened his hold again, releasing it quickly once more and permitting the Taoist oxygen. It was clear from the way Number X had been fighting him that he did not intend to kill Eathes, but he knew Sephiria had no intention of letting him live.

The monkey growled as he struggled fiercely, infuriated at how little movement he could make trapped within the cloak. "DAMMIT! WHY IS THIS THIN PIECE OF FABRIC SO STRONG?!"

Lin rolled his eyes, watching as the ape winced painfully. He knew Eathes must have had a few broken and bruised ribs at that point, which made his Seiren's hold all the more agonizing.

Now he'll know just a fraction of what Train went through when they held him captive…

Lin knew Eathes had nothing to do with that and most likely had minimal if not zero contact with Train during his imprisonment, but he didn't care. As far as he was concerned, the Taoist in front of him would answer for the rest of his comrades' sins.

Calm down. Don't let your emotions get the better of you. You have the upper hand.

"Just like Hades, Seiren is made out of Orichalcum. All of the number's weapons are made out of Orichalcum. Didn't you know that?"

Eathes gave Lin a weak look when he loosened his cloak's hold again, the monkey's defeated demeanor being all the number needed to answer his question.

Number X sighed. "Guess not. Wow, Charden really doesn't keep you in the loop. Remind me again why you're loyal to him?"

Eathes winced as Lin quickly tightened Seiren. "Isn't it obvious? I'm scared to death of the guy! It's the same reason I obeyed Creed. They were both terrifying!"

Lin giggled, the cute sound sending shivers down Eathes spine which the number could feel through his cloak. "And Chronos doesn't? Sephiria doesn't?"

Seeing the look of fear in the Taoist's eyes, Lin continued driving his point home. "You know Creed isn't going to kill you, and I'm pretty sure you've worked out I won't either."

Eathes sighed, then slowly nodded, but did not say anything.

Lin went on. "It's true if you betray Charden he will absolutely kill you, however-"

Number X allowed his smile to falter slightly, giving the Taoist a serious look as he finished the rest of his statement. "-If you decide to betray the Apostles, I might be able to convince Sephiria to let you live."

Fat chance, but this monkey doesn't seem that intelligent. Well, for a monkey I'm sure he is, but it's still not at an average human's level let alone mine.

Lin already knew he was a clever and smarter than the average person, so he figured he'd be able to pull the wool over Eathes eyes rather easily.

Seeing the monkey was not responding, Lin sighed, realizing he wasn't buying it. "Listen, if you help me get to E, I promise I'll make sure Sephiria goes easy on you. And before you decide if you believe me or not, let me ask you this: Do you know how I feel about Train?"

Eathes blinked a few times, then nodded. "Yeah… I'm pretty sure the entire world knows."

Lin gave the man a genuine smile, then continued. "And do you think if I didn't do everything in my power to spare your life that he'd forgive me?"

Again the monkey blinked, seemingly thinking over what Lin was saying, then frowned. "...So, you'd only save me in hopes it would win back the Black Cat's affections?"

Lin frowned. He knew that wasn't the whole truth, but there was no point in explaining everything to Eathes.

What good would it do to reveal my decision to change my path in life? It'll only waste time, and I don't know where Durham and Aliane are.

Durham's gunshots and Aliane's amused cackles could be heard in the background, but Lin wasn't sure where they were coming from.

If I can convince him to work with us, it'll make it easier to deal with that wannabe cowboy.

Lin locked eyes with the Taoist and nodded. "Yes. And if you really know how strongly I feel about him, that should be enough."

Eathes eyed the assassin curiously, his voice meek as he spoke. "...So, you're telling me if I help you find the Apostles' hideout and bring you to the woman, you'll spare my life?"

Lin nodded and gave Eathes another sincere smile. Truthfully, he wasn't lying to the Taoist, since he was going to do everything and anything in his power to spare the monkey's life.

"Yes. I'll do whatever I can to make sure Chronos doesn't kill you."

Eathes stared at the number for a few seconds, then sighed and lowered his chin to his chest. "...Alright, I'll help you out."

Lin sighed, then reached out with his other hand to pat the monkey's head in a condescending manner. "That's a good monkey. Now, if you would be so kind as to-"

Lin's sentence was cut off as a large explosion erupted a few feet away from him, bringing both of their attention to location. Number X's eyes looked to the ground where he saw leaves and sticks crunching signaling Aliane was running towards them. Behind the girl was Durham, the gunman sprinting in the direction of the girl he could not see.

Lin cursed under his breath and turned back to Eathes, giving the monkey a sympathetic look as he spoke. "Sorry, but you're gonna have to take a nap while I deal with the cowboy."

Eathes opened his mouth to question the man, but felt his head being bashed against the tree behind him. It was hard enough that it didn't kill him, but strong enough that it knocked him out. Lin sighed as he threw the monkey into a pile of leaves, hoping that'd be enough to hide him.

He was at the end of his rope anyway. I'm not sure how much longer he would have stayed conscious. That's probably why it was so easy to knock him out.

Lin brought his cloak back and wrapped it around his waist, grimacing as it lightly brushed against his bruised and beaten body. He gritted his teeth and looked back in the direction of the gunman, breathing in deeply as he tried to ignore his own injuries.

We need to knock this cowboy out before it's too late.

With one more deep breath, Lin spun around and ran towards the other Taoist, whipping Seiren out to the side as it floated lightly in the air. He leapt up and towards his new opponent, avoiding the fire bullets the man sent at him as he slipped Seiren under his feet.

Using the momentum of his leap, Lin rode on his cloak for a few feet, landing in front of the gunman who seemed put off by the close proximity. Lin smirked then sliced Seiren between them, cutting two more of Durham's bullets in half. He watched as they sparked wildly, letting the number know what kind of bullets they were.

With another flick of his wrist, Lin snapped his cloak at Durham's face, slicing the beak-like mask he was wearing in half, causing it to fall to the floor. As Durham's face was revealed, Lin blanched at the face he saw.

"Ew. If I had known that was what was hiding under there, I wouldn't have broken your mask."

Durham growled as he reloaded his gun, leaping backwards and aiming at Lin. "DON'T FUCK WITH ME!"

Lin snickered and spun around, swiping away Durham's bullets with Seiren before stopping to give the man an innocent look. "Aww, what's wrong? Getting tired? Too bad, 'cause it seems like your buddy has abandoned you."

Durham blinked, then looked around, realizing he didn't see Eathes anywhere. He growled and clenched his fists, his limbs shaking with exhaustion as he spoke. "Did you kill him?"

Lin shrugged, not wanting his enemy to know the truth.

Actually, it's better if he thinks I killed him.

Lin smirked, a fake, murderous glint shining in his eyes as he spoke. "What do you think?"

Durham gritted his teeth and lifted his arm to fire another barrage of bullets at the number which Lin ducked to avoid. The gunman let out an angry gnarl as he unloaded the rest of his bullets at the petite man, each one missing, but causing small explosions all around Lin.

Number X leapt backwards quickly, realizing how dangerous it was to be close to the Taoist.

Shit, that was the explosion I heard earlier, wasn't it?

Lin continued jumping backwards as Durham walked towards him and knelt down to avoid one aimed at his head, then pushed himself up with his right hand, using it to propel himself up. His plan was to use the momentum to flip his body in the air, but it seemed his body had other plans in mind.

As soon as Lin tried to use his hand, a wave of pain shot through his body, starting at his wrist as it worked through every one of his nerves.

Shit! I forgot that wrist is broken…

For a moment, his vision blurred from the pain, but he reacted quickly and laid flat on the ground, narrowly avoiding an explosive bullet. Knowing he didn't have a lot of time, Lin gripped his broken wrist and pushed his body to the side with his feet, praying that would be enough to avoid the next shot.

The motion was enough to avoid direct contact with the bullet, but it wasn't enough to protect him from the explosion. When he pushed himself away, he gave the bullet nowhere else to go by the ground in front of him.

Lin felt his body being thrown into the air, his vision obscured by the dirt, dust, and soot that clouded the sky. The volume of the explosion was so boisterous he didn't hear himself scream and all he could do was shut his eyes and brace himself for impact. He didn't know when he was going to hit the ground, but he understood the laws of physics.

He cried out again, the winding being knocked out of him when his back collided with a tree. His body smashed ruthlessly against it then slid down the bark. He landed heavily on the ground, his ears ringing as he coughed up the dust littering the air.

His lungs burned as he attempted to get clean air to them, coughing tempestuously as his throat coated itself with dirt. He tasted blood as he collapsed on the ground shutting his tear filled eyes in an attempt to relax his body.

Not good… This is not good…

A vision of Train passed before his eyes and Lin whimpered with want.

Train…

He saw himself and Train sitting at the restaurant where they had their first date, Lin's heart full of love as he relished in the way the candles flickered against the gunman's flawless skin. Seeing Train genuinely smile at him for the first time that night was the moment Lin realized how deeply in love he had fallen.

No… No, I can't die…

He saw himself and the sweepers on a mission, running side by side with Train as they chased down a perp. He could feel the Black Cat's strong arms wrap around his waist as he swung Lin in the air, saving him from a grenade that had been thrown.

"I… I won't die…"

Darkness slowly took over as he saw Train's body hovering over him, the golden god's lips brushing lightly against his own before pressing passionately against him. For a moment, Lin on longer tasted the blood in his mouth, but instead savored the sweet flavor of the man he loved.

There's still the mission… There's still so much to do… I won't let him down…

Lin lifted his arm in an attempt to caress Train's cheek, the Black Cat smiling warmly up at him as the petite man settled himself on his back. He watched as Train's face lit up with an irresistibly alluring glow as Lin gifted him with a sensation he had never experienced before.

No… don't play this moment! It's not over yet!

Lin couldn't hear the footsteps approaching over the ringing in his ears, nor could he see the man that was standing in front of him. Even when he opened his eyes, all he could see was Train's face as they made love for the first time. When the cold barrel pressed against his head, Lin only felt Train's hand pushing him back on the bed as the Black Cat took control of his body.

Lin shut his eyes, resting his head on the ground as he spoke. "You… You can do whatever you want, Train…"

A single tear fell from his eye as he smiled, concentrating on the heat Train's embrace granted him, focusing on how it felt to have the Black Cat make love to him. It was better than what reality was offering him.

"As long as you love me…" Lin whispered, forgetting his mission as he slowly succumbed to Death's tight grasp. "...You can do whatever you want with me."

A part of Lin had convinced himself that it was Train who was about to end his life. He wanted to see Train so badly, please him so much that he truly believed the gun pressed against his head was Hades. And the belief that it was Train who was about to shoot a bullet through his skull was somehow soothing to Lin.

Whatever you want, Train… Whatever you want to make you happy…

Durham made an annoyed sound and rolled his eyes. "Pathetic." He cocked his gun. "And to think Charden believed you to be a threat."

The Taoist narrowed his eyes. "A normal bullet will be enough. Then I'll go deal with your friend."

Durham's body froze and he widened his eyes. He tried to move his arms, but found it to be impossible. Growling angrily, the gunman gritted his teeth and watched as his hand moved away from Lin's skull and towards his own.

"What… the… hell…"

When the barrel was removed from his head, Lin opened his eyes and stared up at the man. The sight before him was shocking enough to bring some life back into him as he spoke.

"No…" Lin whispered as he scrambled to get up. "No… don't kill him. Don't do it…"

The man blinked down at Lin, then glanced to the side to watch as his shaking arm moved away from his skull and to his thigh. He growled louder than before as he attempted to take control of his limb, total confusion evident on his face.

"What… What the hell… is going on…?!" He glared at Lin as he spoke. "Is this… You're doing…?"

Lin smiled and shook his head. "No… It's that friend of mine you just mentioned…"

Durham's eyes widened even further in shock as his own finger pulled the trigger on his gun, shooting his thigh and causing him to collapse to the ground. He screamed and took hold of his leg, rolling around as he stared up at the sky.

"AHHH! DAMMIT!"

Lin sighed in relief as he watched Aliane step out of the Taoist's body. "Did you feel the shot?"

Aliane fell to the ground the moment she left Durham's body, panting wildly as she flexed her arm. "No. I dipped out before I could. My arm is killing me, though! That man has very strong arms."

Lin snickered and shut his eyes. "He's a gunman. Most gunmen have very strong arms." He opened his eyes and gave the girl a coy look. "Trust me, I know."

Aliane rolled her eyes, opening her mouth to speak sarcastically to the number when she realized what terrible shape he was in. She pushed herself off the ground and scrambled towards him, gawking at the bloody mess that was Lin.

She pressed the back of her hand to his forehead. "What the hell happened to you?!"

Lin rolled his eyes and pushed the girl's hand away. "That man's damn explosive bullets happened. Didn't you see it?"

Aliane sat back on her legs. "No, but I heard it…"

Lin shut his eyes again and let out a long, painful breath. "Well, that was the sound of me almost dying…" He winced and shivered. "Or maybe it will become the sound of my death… That part is yet to reveal itself."

Aliane stared at the man for a few seconds, then placed her hands on his chest. That seemed to be where the most damage was and she was hoping she'd be able to help.

Feeling the small hands being placed against his chest, Lin opened one eye and gave the girl a confused look. "What are you doing?"

Aliane spoke in a stiff voice as she concentrated on her hands. "I think I leveled up in this battle. If I did, I might be able to use my Tao to heal you at least a little."

Lin blinked a few more times. "...Good luck."

Aliane saw her hands glow with a faint shade of pink. "Thanks…"

Lin felt a small ball of heat enter his chest that gently burnt his flesh. He hissed and gritted his teeth, waiting for the pain to pass before he let out a slow breath. After a few seconds, he felt the girl pull her hand away and sighed in relief.

"...Ouch."

Aliane frowned and gave him a sympathetic look. "Did it work?"

Lin glanced down at his chest, staring at his torn shirt as he spoke. "A little, I think… I didn't know the Tao could do that."

Aliane leaned back. "I didn't either. It was just a guess."

Lin rested back against the tree. "Then we're lucky… You can't heal me any more than that?"

Aliane shook her head. "No. Even if I'm capable of it, I'm too exhausted to do anything more. Where's Eathes?"

Lin gestured to the pile of leaves several yards away. "Hopefully still knocked out in that pile. He said he'll help us find E."

Alaine sighed and fell back against the ground, giving Lin a thumbs up as she spoke. "Great… What about the other guy?"

Lin looked over to see Durham had passed out from blood loss and frowned. "He's done. Here-" He slowly slipped his jacket off, hissing in pain as he moved his body. "Use this to wrap up his leg. I don't want him to bleed out."

Aliane eyed the jacket being handed to her, but did as she was told. "Fine, whatever…"

She slowly moved over to the gunman and once she was done wrapping up his leg, she turned back to Lin. "What now?"

Lin gave her an annoyed look. "What do you think? We take that monkey, find E, then find everyone else."

Aliane lowered her head. "Setting aside the ludicrous notion that we can trust Eathes, can you even move right now?"

Lin looked away from the girl, then grunted as he pulled his legs up and towards his chest. "...In a few minutes I can."

The girl lifted her head. "And what if we run into more Apostles? You can't take them on and I'm too tired to use my Tao to keep all three of us invisible for a long period of time."

Lin sighed again. "...Then let's rest for a bit. Maybe we'll get lucky and run into Train or Eve and they can heal me."

Aliane laid back on the ground. "That's a big maybe… What if Durham wakes up?"

Lin pushed himself off the tree. "Good point. Let's move just far enough away that he can't find us, then we'll rest."

Aliane sighed, but nodded nonetheless. "Guess I'll get the monkey… If he's still there…"

Lin rolled his eyes as he slowly stood up and leaned against the tree. He hissed and groaned in pain, taking in several rapid breaths as he steadied his body.

For Train… I'll fight through this pain for Train and the rest of the sweepers.

"He's definitely still there. I hit him pretty hard."

Aliane shouted from over her shoulder as she dug through the pile. "Did you kill him?!"

Lin sighed. "No, Idiot…"

I should be nice considering she saved me. Hopefully that counts for something when I bring her back to Chronos.

"Found him! And he's waking up!"

Lin sighed in relief. "Good. If he gets ornery, remind him Sephiria wants him dead and I'm sure that'll get him in line real fast."

He heard the girl grunt as she threw the monkey's feet over her shoulders, dragging his upper body on the ground as she spoke. "Will do. Can you walk on your own?"

Lin tried to shrug, but winced in pain instead. "No… But unless my knight in shining armor walks through those trees right now, I don't really have a choice."

Even though he couldn't see Aliane, he knew the girl was about to speak and interrupted her. "Just shut up and start walking before my legs can't move anymore."

He pushed himself off the tree and took a shaky step forward, his eyes locking on the unknown path in front of him, undaunted by its mystery.

To see Train again… To see them all again, I'll keep moving forward. One painful step at a time…

---

Translation:

1. "Don't give me such little credit."

2. "Follow me and you'll find out."

3. "All it wanted was you…"