Eheheheh….i got sidetracked during this chapter due to the massive amounts of ideas I've been getting. I actually stopped 2 sentences in, and worked on something else. LOL! So this chapter might be totally random. The good news is that I ditched this chapter to work on chapter 17 or 18 (depending on how much plot development I plan for the next chapter) and so I have it done!

Disappearing Act

Silence reigned in the clearing, as everyone measured each other up. Creed finally sighed, "We'd love to just stand here and gawk at each other, but there is a mission to complete. Train?"

Train looked up. Baldor sneered, "So he's got you trained to answer to his every beck and call, does he?" Train retorted coldly, "Perhaps you should go running back to your Chronos masters, Baldori."

As Baldor obligingly worked himself up into a non-existing shade of red, Creed commented casually, "You should take Ekidonna to the center. I want to have some fun. They did dirty my clothes after all." Creed smiled mischievously; he obviously cared nothing for the clothes, but as for even trying to hurt Train…

Train wanted to protest. He still hadn't killed off this Janus person after all. As soon as Creed finished his sentence, however, a complete sense of agreement took over. The mission was more important.

He watched for a while as Creed unsheathed Kotetsu, his beloved sword. Baldor scoffed typically at the seemingly bladeless state, but Krad, in his blindness, could feel its existence. He seemed like the perfect opponent for Creed, Train observed. Suddenly, Janus blocked his view.

"I can't let you go, Train," he said, holding a cell phone in one hand. "I've called for Sephiria for back up. Luckily, she's in town observing the progress. She'll be here any minute."

Train got pissed off again when Janus swiped his wires across at him, cutting through anything in the surroundings under 3 meters tall. What is with this guy? He drew out a spark of electricity from within using his Tao, and sent a wave of it at Janus. Number VII managed to dodge, but unexpectedly, it was not a simple bolt of lightning. The electricity arced through the air like a glowing version of Janus's own technique, and found the nearest path of least resistence: his wires. The current traveled up the metal and connected with Janus, sending a jolt that left him unconsciously crumpling to the ground.

Train wondered absently if it was worth his time decapitating the fool, when a flash in the corner of his eyes warned him of the flying chain that tried to wrap around him. As Train ducked, Baldor reeled in his chain and ball and sent it at Ekidonna.

Train paused a moment before remembering that leaving Ekidonna to fend for herself would mean mission failure – something Creed would not be happy about. Mentally strangling the woman for her idiocy, he dashed toward her. It was too late though; even with his fast speed, the ball was faster.

Baldor started in surprise as his ball, which had locked onto Ekidonna, suddenly swerved to the left and pulled taunt his chain, straining against his hold toward a shining and crackling mass. The ball finally won the tug-o-war, and went flying toward it. Suddenly, the ball stopped and hovered in mid-air. The shining mass then pulsed, and that was all he saw before the ball was repelled straight toward his head and knocked him flying over his partner's helmet head.
Train groaned inwardly, and he couldn't help wince at the total soreness every muscle in his entire body was feeling. Even his lungs strained to take in oxygen. He decided turning his body into an electromagnet would not be something he'd do often, or ever again for that matter.

Staggering toward Ekidonna, he was met by her worried face and a barrage of apologies. "I'm so sorry, Train-san. I couldn't move myself out of the way. Thank you for saving my life. If only I reacted faster, I could have opened up a portal to dive through. There was not enough time though and I--"

Train cut her off by gripping her neck with one hand and raising her above the ground. "I did it for Creed, you incompetent fool. You are important to the mission." He paused, sensing something, then continued. "Go to the center of the mines and finish your job. I'll deal with the company."

With that, he threw her on the ground. Ekidonna coughed for a few seconds and then staggered forward, disappearing into her portal.

Train turned toward Creed, who was having fun slashing Krad into little pieces, using his speed and unpredictable extending sword against Krad's limited range knives. He was not paying attention to the fight, however. His eyes focused beyond that, into the dark shadows under the trees.

"Come out, Time Guardians."

YAAWWWN...!

"This is boring." Kyoko sat on the conference table stretching. A few dead representatives of the Kingdom of Hikarimono littered around her, some (those old wrinkly guys) scorched, and some (the cute and kissable ones) merely ashes.

"Perhaps you'd mind helping me, Miss Kyoko?" asked Sheldon casually as he strangled another bodyguard with his blood ability. He then collected the blood from the guard, draining him, and proceeded to stab the others with crystallized blood shards.

Kyoko yawned again. "Too boring. I wonder what Kuro-sama and Creed –sama are doing. I bet they're having fun."

Sheldon's exasperated voice rang out through the cries of a ring of dying security officers. "Do you have the mine plans?"

Kyoko perked up. "Yup, as well as some purple info disks that number II guy left for the conference before rushing out of here."

"Very well, let's return back to the mansion."

"Awww...!Let's go shopping first!"

"Sephiria Axe, Belze Rushful," acknowledged Train coldly.

"Train, have you truly gone traitor, helping Creed Diskence?" asked number I sadly. Had she used him wrongly? No. Belze always told her she played her cards perfectly as a master of manipulation. Then what had happened to Train? There was no way his taste for freedom would allow him to be chained to Creed. "Do you wish to desecrate the name of Saya?"

Train's aura flared in anger, but his eyes seemed to dull out. He could not remember anything about Saya, only that she was important somehow and that…

"You Time Guardians murdered her! How dare you bring up her name! I'll KILL YOU!"

Bewildered, Sephiria raised her sword in protection from Train's bullets. Surprisingly, the bullet blew her back into Belze, despite her strong and unmoving stance. The speed and the power, as well as the electricity crackling around Hades (1) told her Train had somehow turned his gun into an electromagnetic one.

"I'll blow you away with my 'rail gun'," Train stated dangerously.

"I can tell you are exhausted. You're movements are not fluid, but jerky. You hands are shaking. You eyes are unfocused. I bet you cannot fire again without collapsing," Belze observed calmly.

"Stop deciding things on your own!" Train denied, before raising his gun at both Time Guardians.

Belze ducked, Sephiria brought her sword up ready as a shield. There was no gunshot however.

In front of the Time Guardians, from the area right before Train was standing, to 600 meters out, a huge, perfect crater about 300 meters deep sat where the mines used to be. The motionless bodies of Janus, Krad and Baldor were the only recognizable part of the landscape.

Train Heartnet had disappeared with Creed Diskence into the darkness.

(1) Those of you who forgot, Hades is Train's gun.

Well guys, I've decided that this story will hint strongly of Train/Creed, maybe with a slight mix of other characters, though I really doubt they'd jump into each other's beds right now. But then again, this is Creed I'm talking about…