A Reunion

Creed walked through the corridor, enjoying the abundant sunshine from the towering windows on both sides. Outside, he could see a serene lake turning golden with the setting sun. He shut his eyes, bathing in the golden warmth, before opening them with a snap, eyes set and determined.

The farther he walked down the hall, the harder it was to breath. Whether it was from the stomach-flopping anticipation of meeting Train again, or the suffocating death aura emitting ahead, he did not know. But Train was at the end of this corridor, giving off the dangerous yet intoxicating aura he used to have.

An image flashed through Creed's mind. The Black Cat was standing in the rain, eyes golden, hair wild, and a maniac grin on his face. The gun he held at point-blank range to the head of the "assignment" glinted dangerously with a life of its own. A gunshot resonated through the air. Creed watched in fascination as blood splattered onto Train's pale, eerily glowing skin.

So beautiful.

Creed quickened his pace.

He was dropped on his knees. Unable to erect himself, he saw the marble tiles come up to meet him, mentally closing his eyes from the upcoming impact, even though his real eyes were unable to close, stinging from the lack of moisture. A sudden short tug on both his elbows prevented his collision with the ground, though he still could not lift his neck up. As he stared listlessly at the spider-line cracks between each rose tile, his ears picked up a quiet steps and a familiarly mercurial aura.

Creed.

He floundered against the helplessness that consumed him when he lunged at the blond maniac bunt found his own body unmoving. So close. Within arms reach. His inner hunter whispered. With just one strike through the heart…

Death, death, death…

Creed observed the slumped man. His position was one of defeat, but the murderous feeling around him gave a different opinion. The feeling suddenly flared and he could hear the stained glass windows shattering one by one down the hall. He observed as Shiki flinched, nearly dropping the man's arms.

"Train…" The awe in his voice was cracked, and he realized that tears ran down his face.

So long…so long he had waited for this moment.

"Train," he softly tried again. "Train, look at me."

There was no movement. Anger flared uncontrollably.

"Are you still mourning for that dead witch! What is she to you? She's DEAD! Look at me Train! You are the only one worthy of looking at me as an equal. Acknowledge me as your partner. Look at –"

"Creed-sama," Shiki interrupted before he got around to repeating himself. "Since he was unwilling to cooperate, I had him paralyzed. He cannot move."

Anger redirected at the bandaged Taoist. "How DARE you!"

A hand lay on Creed's shoulder, stopping his urge for lunging at one of his companions.

"It was necessary, Creed-sama," came Doctor's soothing voice.

The blond stepped away from him, everything forgotten but the slumped man in front of him. He knelt down and lifted Train's head with a finger under his chin, gasping at the pair of murderous golden orbs glaring at him. His face was otherwise slack though, and disappointment settled in Creed's heart again.

"How long until he is able to move?" asked Creed, never taking his eyes off Train.

"It usually takes half a day, but since it's the Black Cat," Shiki sneered, "An hour or so is all he needs."

Creed nodded, rising. "Shiki, take Train down to the Doctor's lab and chain him up. Ekidonna-san, please create a warped space all around him."

Shiki nodded. Ekidonna followed obediently behind.

"Soon Train, soon…"