Gah! I started this chapter with an empty mind, so it was really, really hard and slow. My mind has this bad habit of never focusing on the task and tends to wander.

The good news is that since my mind wandered so much during this chapter, it thought up a gazillion scenes for the next gazillion chapters…yay! No seriously, I have the whole story plot planned out vaguely, and even the next two stories in the series!

Of course…with the unique characteristics of one such as myself, it'll will take forever and another day. cough laziness cough. I need encouragement and enthusiasm…yeah yeah…this is a blatant demand for more reviews…

Machinations

Creed had left Train and Doctor before his temper rose and did some serious harm to two of his most trusted companions. Of course, that meant Creed had to search for an outlet to all his frustration. So, he spent the better part of the day hacking at the trees surrounding the mansion with his invisible blade. No need to say, that with a maximum ki output of 80 meters, his invisible blade decimated the entire forest. After collapsing from overuse of Tao, he was found by Doctor and brought back to the lab for healing.

As Doctor bandaged up his many wounds, a backlash of over usage, Creed asked, "So…would you mind telling me what that was all about?"

Doctor paused in his action of wrapping Creed's wrist with a roll of gauze, and decided that playing innocent would get no where. That did not mean he had to tell the whole truth though.

"I met Train-san in the greenhouse, and he seemed in a hurry. I discovered he had a cut across his wrist, and immediately thought he had tried to suicide. I wanted him to come back to the lab with me immediately, but he would not comply," Doctor reported.

Creed was alarmed. Suicide? "And why would he try to kill himself?" he asked sarcastically.

"The operation is not without fault. It causes mental instability and mixed hormonal reactions. Perhaps in his confusion…"

Creed thought about it. The possibility of there, but the explanation had too many holes. A normal person might have tried to commit suicide, but this was Train Heartnet. The Black Cat never took the easy way out, even when he was in his corrupted state, Creed thought, remembering the tower incident and where Train sacrificed his arm to locate the imagine blade. And if Train did wish to commit suicide, he would no doubt do it by bullet, and would not miss and fail by any chance.

Doctor was lying…but why?

"Very well, I will talk to him," Creed said, as much to make Doctor think that he believed him as to take care of his own business, remembering why he'd seek out Train earlier.

Doctor, however, did not miss the flash of disbelief on Creed's face before it melted into a pleasant visage of compliance. He inwardly smiled. Humans were naturally easy to manipulate.

3 hours, 48 hallways, and 21 petrified servants later, Creed could still not find Train. He had Shiki search with worker bees. He had Sheldon check the surveillance cameras. He'd even reduced himself to starting up a conversation with Kyoko, hoping she'd seen him. And really, it was a miracle that his patience even held out this long. He'd need to find another forest to decimate later.

Walking by the armory for the 12th time, Creed caught the billowing of a coat down the hall. Drawing near, he found himself alone in the middle of a hall. The hall where Train's aura had destroyed all the precious stained glass windows.

"What do you want." A voice by his ear demanded monotonously. Creed could barely keep his startled reaction in check. He could feel the hot breaths on his neck and the slight exhalations in his ears. Other than that, however, he could not sense Train anywhere. The lingering aura in the hall matched Train's murderous aura so perfectly that he really was one of the shadows. This world had morphed into the Black Cat's domain, and he seemed very territorial.

"I've come to you for two things," Creed said. "One: Doctor thinks you're suicidal."

The only answer Creed received was a death glare aimed at his back. He hurried on, "That's all bullshit of course. The real matter is that tomorrow, Sheldon and Kyoko are going to intercept the Orihalcon deal, as they blend in more people. Shiki and Maro will accompany me to face any obstacles in obtaining the mines. Ekidonna will use "void" (1) to transport the mine."

Creed stepped away from the warmth of Train's body, and turned around to face him. His eyes were now never brown, but not quite gold either. The orbs flickered between the two, creating what seemed like a bronze hell fire within. He was wearing a black silk shirt (courtesy of Creed's wardrobe), opened in the front to reveal the bandages that held his ribs in place as the nano machines mended his bones, and tight leather pants (Train found it quite annoying that all Creed's pants were leather, but he was grateful he did not have to borrow from Maro).

The lithe, well muscled figure before him struck Creed speechless for a moment. Flustered (and Creed Diskence did NOT do flustering), he continued on, "Ah…Train, wouldn't you rather have some fun joining us than staying at home?"

Train stiffened at the word "home". Then suddenly, he was not there anymore. Creed could not sense him through the suffocating aura of the hall. The glass shards glittered eerily, casting uncertain shadows a around.

A voice echoed sinisterly across the corridor.

"I will see you tomorrow, Creed-sama."

Sunset found Train on the rooftop, waiting for the stars to shyly appear. He stared across the vast expanses of the grounds. The lawn alone was enough to build a whole neighborhood on. Bushes, flowers and trees made a vast geometric pattern while fountains sprayed streams of glittering water under the golden sun.

As the shadows lengthened, Train's mind wandered back to what Creed had said.

Home…

Was this expansive land and rich, elaborate manor really his home? No, certainly not. He had always preferred a quiet dark corner. No, that did not sound right. Somehow, his heart seemed to suddenly yearn for a warm cozy place full of "friends" to call home. But that was entirely ridiculous. Where had that notion come from anyways?

There was no definition for home, for the Black Cat was a wanderer, and he only stayed to rest, not to live. This place was just a stop in his ever moving life. Still, it bothered him incessantly, since Creed had said it was his home. It sounded so right when Creed said that, that Train could not rise up in argument. Why did Creed make this place "home"?

Train sat staring at the skies, torn between wanting and not wanting, a past memory and a false perception.

Doctor wandered out into the cold night air; his thin lab coat was a flimsy protection against the weather. He stood on the lawn for a moment, letting the damp grass soak through the bottom of his trousers, as he stared at the silhouette of the Black Cat on the roof of the mansion.

"Train-san." It was barely above a whisper, but Train's head swiveled and his glowing eyes landed contact with Doctor's. "Creed has ordered your return to the manor to prepare for the mines, as it is almost sunrise."

Train complied, gracefully rising, before jumping 6 stories down to land in front of Doctor. As Doctor turned and walked back to the open doors of the mansion, Train made to follow, but stopped as he smelled blood. It was normal for Creed's land to be soaked in the smell of blood and terror, but the aura left around here was so anguished that it even gave Train pause. In his perfect night vision, he could see glittering splatters of blood shining all across the walkway up to the mansion.

Shrugging inwardly, though sympathetically to the poor soul who no doubt died of torture there, Train followed Doctor back – and here, Creed's echoing voice would not leave him alone until his mind collapsed in resignation – … home.

(1) Made it up, though Ekidonna could really have this power; it seems like she should. What power you ask? You'll see.

So why is Doctor lying? No, really! I have no idea and it just came out that way…;;;

He seems to take on a personality of his own. Any suggestions would be helpful.