Hmmm…there are so many untied ends in this story that I'm afraid I'm gonna spend the next ten chapters just explaining all the crap instead of getting on with the plot. As you can see, the chapters are getting longer in compensation. Oh well, that's life.

I find that though the previous chapter titles are funny in their own way, this one implies…well…you'll see.

Meeting, Drinking, and Waking up Naked

"As you know, our spy network connects half the world already. Three days ago, one of my spies, Preta (1), was killed."

Actually, Doctor observed, Preta was just bearly alive when he gave information report to Creed. Creed had killed the Taoist himself in a fit of rage by throwing him out the window overlooking a cliff.

"Preta?" Maro asked, as he paused in eating some sushi Kyoko had made for him, "Isn't he the Eroding Taoist sent to spy on the Peace conference in the Kingdom of Hikarimono?" (2)

"Yes. He was attacked by the Ceberus team, composed of Chronos Number V, Naizer Blackheimer, Number VII, Janus Hazard, and Number XI, Belga J. Hard."

The room was silent, and there were no murmurings. Even so, the air filled with tension. Many of its occupants had encountered this crude but effective team with more or less luck than Preta. It was one aura in particular though, that just dripped with hatred. A normal person would have died in fright standing anywhere within a half a mile radius from it.

Doctor laughed inwardly as he realized that Creed had told Train that V, VII, XI were the ones that killed Saya. The clever devil indeed.

He observed amusedly as people began shifting away from Train Heartnet, leaving a wide open circle. Some moved away unconsciously out of a self-preservation instinct. Some moved away out of respect. But the one group Doctor admired were those who moved out of fear. These people were the ones who did not rely entirely on fickle instincts or a chaotic leader, but on their own judgment of the situation. These were the people who could become the future elite in the Hoshi.

And then there were, of course, those who feared for a different reason. These people emitted an aura almost as bloody as Train's, but more uncontrolled. Getting anywhere near Train would inflame their fighting aura and dissolve their resistance against the temptation to pounce him and demand for a fight to the death. They were the wild cards. Some would not even be worth controlling, and some would become the top of the elite. But all of them, Doctor observed cynically, would die in a blaze of bloody glory.

"…vast deposit of Orihalcon (3) was discovered in one of its mines. The country is infested with Chronos numbers, and a deal will no doubt be transacted soon. Our goal is to intercept this deal and steal the Orihalcon, and then secure the mine from the Kingdom and Chronos. It will be a great loss for the Chronos and a great gain for us. Failure is never tolerated. Please be ready by your stations on that day. Dismissed."

The members stood still in two wide circles, one around Creed and one around Train, for another second, before each began to slip off into the shadows or flash out in a blaze of elemental glory. Another moment later, and the entrance hall was empty save Creed, Train, Doctor, and the mutilated corpse of Leon Elliot.

Creed lead Train into another one of the numerous rooms in the maze he called a mansion. He handed him a small, ceramic bottle.

"Drink this."

The only orders Train had ever obeyed were from Chronos. He found himself, however, complying without question to Creed. He shot a this-better-not-be-poison-or-I'll-come-back-from-the-dead-and-kill-you glare before tossing back the dose.

Darkness immediately surrounded him and he collapsed into the waiting arms of Creed Diskence.

Creed observed the young man in his arms with nothing short of obsession. Train's unruly hair cast his closed eyes into shadow, creating an omniscient glow about him even in his state of unconsciousness. His slender arms dangled limply before Creed gently tucked them inside his embrace. The XIII tattoo contrasted darkly against his pale smooth skin.

He sighed contently, and stayed kneeling on the ground for what seemed like hours, basking in the content of having the Black Cat in his arms. He did not want to move, but he knew he should tuck Train into bed before his legs fell asleep entirely.

Creed rose unsteadily, and walked out a door into an adjacent bedroom. It was a small compared to most room in the mansion, meaning it was bigger and grander than a 5 star hotel suite. It was decked in a rich dark red with velvet black trimmings. Creed stared longingly at the plush red sofa before staring resolutely at the staircase leading up to the balcony where the bed was. He nearly tripped over the thousand dollar Persian rug before he reached the staircase. Finally on the landing, he drew away the transparent, dark curtain veils and gently dumped Train on the soft, 4-poster bed. He drew up the velveteen silk blanket and gently brought it up to Train's chin. Exhausted, Creed finally gave into temptation and crawled into bed next to Train and fell asleep.

Creed awoke to the bloody screams of his bed partner. Panicked, he rolled out of bed and looked over at Train, who had bit through his lower lip in the futile attempt to keep from making any noises.

Creed tried to shake Train awake, but to no avail. His hands slipped on the sweat soaked shirt as he tried to pull Train up by the shoulders. He tried again, pulling on his arms, but slipped again. Frowning at his lacking grip, he realized his hands were coated with blood.

Train was soaked in blood.

"...comatose. Lacerations covering 80 percent of his body surface. Internal bleeding," Doctor ticked off the injuries on his fingers, "4 broken ribs and 10 reopened old bullet wounds..."

Creed Diskence shook under each word. How was that possible? He had checked for poison in the potion a million times, not to mention Doctor himself processed it. The potion was enough to ignite one's inner ki and bring forth the natural genetic ability in each human. The subject was supposed to just fall into a trance for 10 hours and awaken with the realization that he or she could sprout wings or control flames or something. How could it affect Train so?

It had been a near death experience as Train was rushed to Doctor by Creed after he discovered his bloody and battered state. Doctor immediately put him back in stasis chamber 496-B and released the maximum amount of nano machines into the healing liquid as possible.

Still, the Grim Reaper had been looming over Train for the last three days. Stability had only been gained 3 hours ago. Doctor had worked tirelessly between running checks on Train and calming Creed's hysterical mind. He was near collapse, but he wanted to do a final check on Train.

Suddenly, Train's heart rate increased 3 folds and the serenely floating body started to go into spasms. Creed gasped as a glow lit Train from within, casting odd shadows across the lab. The liquid inside the chamber bubbled turbulently before swirling into a mini cyclone around him. His hair whipped wildly and his eyes suddenly opened and flashed a gold so bright it was almost white. It was like seeing a god, and Creed knew the tiny glass chamber, though 2 feet thick and bulletproof, could not withstand the power within.

Creed pulled Doctor behind a metal counter just as the glass exploded spectacularly in glittering shards. The lights blinked on and off throughout the lab and then burned a glaring white before they all exploded. Creed risked a look over the counter, despite the glass debris swirling around in chaos, seeking to cut and draw blood. Train Heartnet was floating a foot above the wreck that used to be the chamber, and electricity crackled around his form. Suddenly, all the glass stopped speeding, trembled, and fell to the ground, and Train fell with it.

Creed's heart pounded, and his mind wondered with dread if he was dead.

He had no need to worry, for Train suddenly pulled out of the remains of the 496-B. Blood trailed from little cuts from the glass all over his naked body, mirroring Creed's physical state. For the second time in as many days, Train Heartnet demanded in his emotionless voice.

"Creed-san. What has happened."

(1) Chapter 132.

(2) It means "shiny metal" in Japanese. It also means fish with the silver skin left on it, so I couldn't resist naming a country after fish, as this is a Black Cat fanfiction ..

(3) The metal Train's gun, as well as the other Chronos members' weapons, is made out of Orihalcon.

So…the real fighting action will begin in another chapter or two or three...

Doctor's personality is really fun to write, though I'm not sure I have it right. It'll develop quite a lot through the fic, so enjoy!