Title:Number XIII
Author: Golden Weaver
Pairings: None
Warnings: Violence… etc. etc. the good stuff…
Disclaimer: I hereby lay no claims upon any original Black Cat characters/plots.

Summary: AU In a world where Saya left before Creed killed her, Train remained the Chronos' Black Cat and Creed left Chronos to form the Messengers of the Stars. Soon, the three would meet, clash, and change the world…

To ALL my reviewers: Thank you all for the encouraging words! You guys are awesome! - Here's the next installment of the fic! I'm a slow updater… so sorry. >. " I'll try to be faster next time. XD

PS. Some charrys might be a little OOC here...

Chapter Two: Coincidence Waiting

Three Years Later…


"You target is… Torneo Rudman," Sephiria stated. She reached down into the drawer of the desk, and selected one particularly huge file. "He is suspected to be collaborating with Creed Diskence." A pause. No visible reaction on either face of the men opposite her. She handed the file to XIII, Train. "His personal information is all here. Read it over. Bleze – " she nodded at the older man, standing impassively beside Train – "will accompany you as your supervisor. Do you understand."

Train nodded, his face an expressionless mask, his thump fingering the course white of the thick paper file.

"Good." Sephiria concluded. "You are dismissed. Bleze, stay."

With that, the youngest of the three pushed back his chair, stood, and strode out of the elaborately decorated, yet somehow cold and uninviting study, leaving I and II still seated behind.

Sephiria sighed. And leaned back into her chair, relaxing now that it was only she and Bleze alone. "Do you think… we're being too hard on him?"

"It is… necessary."

She sighed once more. "I never want him to become like this. But the Elders…"

"I understand. We had to."

She gazed soulfully at the windows, at the night-lights below. "But… I wished we didn't."

Train sat on the helicopter, Belze beside him, holding the leash of the cat. In front, a member in the lower levels of the hierarchy of Chronos navigated. Down beneath, the streetlights flickered and flashed in a light play of green and blue and white.

The sky gradually darkened, fading from the golden, purple dusk to the ebony black evening. The Black Cat closed his eyes. The cold of the night is soothing; the mild fragrance of the perfumed air relaxes him. But the pouch of bullets hanging from his belt and Hades strapped on his thighs both felt like oppressing weights, settling down on him, and pushing, pressing, crashing.

He wasn't sure how long he would – could – last.

"We'll be there soon." Belze's deep voice.

Train's eyelids flattered open gently, revealing those cold, golden gemstones, forever set in a cold, emotionless mask. He directed a small nod at the older Number, drew himself up to his full height, and clenched his black cloak close to his body. His eyes swept across the small city below.

And he waited.

Saya changed out of her yukata.

There's a job tonight.

Pulling on an outfit that is much, much easier to run in, Saya pondered on the situation at hand. Barely days ago, she was contacted by the famous, or infamous thief-for-hire, Rinslet Walker. They were old friends, going way back, so when Rins asked for a favor, Saya said yes without even thinking about it.

Tonight, Saya and Sven are going to cause chaos!

Strapping on her gun, Saya grinned. A glance at the mirror – tank top, shorts, and steel-toed boots – told her that, god does she look good! Grin still pasted on her face, she bounced out of her room, and ran into Sven, leaning against the wall.

Sven gave Saya a once-over, smiled, and took a puff on his cigarette. "You look excited."

"Damn right I am!" she chirped, and turned to go down the stairs. "Let's go!"

"I met a girl today." Sven's smile was gone, the stamp of his cigarette crashed beneath his feet.

Saya paused.

"She was the one Rins was talking about – the human bio weapon." He smiled ruefully, and Saya turned around, concern in her eyes. "She's just a girl, you know? Just a girl… trapped with a monster… I promised that I would bring her to go eat something good, someday."

Saya closed her eyes, and smiled. "Then let's go keep your promise."

Creed sighed, dramatically.

And then he pouted.

And he sighed again.

Because dealing with Torneo always left him feeling a little bit oily, and unclean. That fat bastard of a human being shouldn't be allowed to live! And the only reason Creed haven't killed that man yet was because of the nano-machine's research. Sighing again, Creed decided that Torneo Rudman would be one of the first ones to go during his Revolution.

And then Shiki came into his room. "Master Creed? News from the information network."

"Ah… yes?"

"The Chronos is moving in on Torneo Rudman. A Number is on his way."

Creed raised a brow. "Which one?"

"XIII -"

"I'm going there."

To Be CONTINUED...