Hi again. It's good that I'm enjoying school holidays and waiting for the next semester. I can make the story more often. By the way, I change the summary into the better one (I hope). ^ ^

Thank you for the newest reviews, especially from CattyGothLoli, Darkness-Princess-Kit, Daisy19971, and arthel. Anyway, I've just read the messages of review from edwards-vampire-lover . SS and thank you for them. I love the reviews.

Chapter 10: Cat's Decision

Train POV

I sat on the back seat, feeling bored. The stupid nail hit my bike's tire a few hours ago, and that was enough to make my mood worse. I cursed myself for having no spare tire at that time, and more curses were mentioned when I realized this area was so secluded and quite. Where could I find a repair shop?

It was a good idea from Sven, calling Sephiria. She took my bike to Chronos for a while to repair it. So, here I was, in Sven's old car.

"Are we there yet?" I asked, seeing only trees in our surroundings. Even the road was so ugly. I saw many holes everywhere.

"No," Sven said, driving the car patiently. Rinslet sat beside him, reading a map.

5 minutes later ….

"Are we there yet?"

"No!" He was frustrated.

10 minutes later ….

"Are we there yet?"

"NO! DAMN IT!" He glared at me from the mirror, threatening so I would never have any guts to question again.

5 minutes later ….

"I see that we're not there yet," I stated, bored.

"You can walk there if you want!" He snapped.

"Don't be so harsh," I mumbled.

"Enough you two!" Rinslet turned the tape on, playing the same and latest R&B song for the 40th times in our trip.

"Change the song now. It's boring. I can even memorize its lyric!" I complained.

"This is my current favorite song!" She said back.

"Who cares? Change it now!"

"No way!"

Suddenly Sven turned the tape off.

"Enough!" He shouted impatiently.

Rinslet and I glared at him.

"You're like frustrated. What happens?" Rinslet questioned.

"I forgot to charge the battery of my cell-phone. Now it can't be used," he explained.

"It's your fault, not ours," I muttered.

"Train! Shut up!" Sven yelled.

The ugly road made us often jumped from the seats. How could that Anti-Chronos organization build a base in this area? It was difficult for land transportation to reach it. What did they take to the base? Air transportation? But I didn't see any plane or helicopter here.

"Rins, for how long are we crossing this stupid road?" Sven asked.

"Well, like I said before. It takes two days to reach the base and we still have a day. Just endure it."

"What?! But I can't endure it until one hour later!" I exclaimed. "Is there any alternative way?"

"Actually, yes. And it only takes around 6 hours from our town."

"Why don't you lead us with it?!" I demanded. "It's much faster!"

"Did you forget that Number X's disguise was detected? It's too riskier. We'll get many inspections from the guards if we used that way. It also has many oversensitive radars, alarms, and land mines. In brief, we can't approach the base quietly. So I chose this secluded way. Safe, but we should take around two days."

Too annoyed to listen to her, I tried napping. However, I couldn't since I felt like sitting on the back of a hyperactive giant frog instead of an old car. The bell on my neck rang again and again. So I clutched it tightly, and slowly I felt relaxed as the bell reminded me of someone.

Princess gave it to me as she read a story about a bad cat that changed into a good one after it got a bell on its neck. Actually, I didn't believe any bed stories or legends. But I couldn't deny that since I wore this bell, I could control my killing instinct. Was that because of the bell from Princess? Or … Saya's influence?

I shook my head. A bitter smile on my lips as a short haired young woman appeared in my mind. Her friendly smile. Her strange clothes (she said they were from the east country). The way she shot. The way she lived (which had given me a lot of influences). In short, she was noisy and weird, actually, but too interesting to be ignored.

When I saw the dark sky from the window, suddenly I remembered firework. So many fireworks and exclamations of joy. Yeah, a night festival. Fireworks. Blood. Creed. Her lifeless body.

I held my breath, hiding the pain inside. Even though it had been a long time, but I felt like it happened just yesterday.

Saya Minatsuki. My first friend.

"You clutch it too tightly, Train." Rinslet reminded me. "You'll break it."

"Oh!"

I released the bell on my neck soon. Anyway, talking about the bell on a cat's neck, I ever read a different version. It said that when a cat was put a bell on its neck by someone, it meant that he/she was its master. Moreover, since the cat had a master, it wasn't a stray cat anymore. Actually, I didn't want to mind it. But if the story was true, then it meant that Princess was my ….

I shook my head. How could I think of that? Princess was Princess.

Then I remembered the kiss that she gave me on my cheek at the morning before we went. Her constant shyness, innocence, and impulse.

Am I sick? I asked myself when I felt something flying in my stomach. What kind of sickness is this?

"Hey, Train. Do you know where Creed is?" Rinslet questioned.

My face hardened, hearing the name. "No. Why? Don't tell me he is the member of …."

"No, he isn't. I thought you would know about him. Well, Numbers can't help us. So why don't we ask him for help? Is it a good idea?"

"No," I said casually. "This is Chronos internal business. I can't ask help for the ones that I don't trust mostly. It's Sephiria's advice."

"But he was your partner in Chronos."

"Not anymore. Just don't involve him."

"I agree with Train," Sven supported me.

The purple haired woman pouted at us, but not as cute as Princess did. In my eyes.

Damn. Stupid nervousness. Why did it come again?!

"I need a doctor soon," I mumbled for myself. But Sven heard it.

"Are you sick, Train?" he asked.

"Just forget it," I said back, trying hard to be nonchalant.

Now I concentrated on the previous name. Creed Diskence. My partner in Chronos.

In many missions, he usually played as the spy, the informant, or the helper, although I never ask any help from him. I didn't even care whether he joined me in mission.

When I was still Chronos' pet, I was annoyed with his insult. He mocked me as I failed to kill Torneo's bioweapon, thinking that I couldn't shoot a kid.

In fact, there were no words like 'woman' and 'kid' in Chronos mission. The only word that Black Cat, Number XIII, knew was 'target'. And in this mission, my target was a little girl. I felt grateful that I was not the person who spoke his mind at that moment. If I was, Creed could hear when I muttered, "Angel ….", seeing her picture.

Truly, that was an easy mission. Killing, and then escaping. Usual job. Nothing special. So that my failure was a big surprise for everyone. Indeed.

It was not like I couldn't be able to kill a little girl. But when she touched Hades, forlornly saying that she smelled blood, I realized there was something wrong with my decision to kill her. I felt the pressure and wondered why I felt that way. Was that because of her angelic face? Her sad and fearless stare? Her innocence? Her gentle, soft, and polite tone? Her quite and elegant attitude? Or her first touch? However, I still had a good amount of will to pull the trigger, showing that I was cruel enough to kill her, until Torneo and his subordinates came.

I didn't know whether I should thank them. As I knew, when they came, I felt free from that pressure, as I should pay attention to other stuffs, like saving myself, killing Torneo, and escaping. Killing her could be at my next job, and I hoped it was the last time I felt that pressure.

However, I was wrong.

I started betraying Chronos' orders as I never killed my targets anymore. Yes, she was not the only one target that Black Cat released. There were some people. Yet, she still remained special.

I attacked and asked my alive targets to flee to another town or forest if they wanted to live longer. But, I never asked her to escape; never said anything in order to keep her safe from me. Why? Well, no reason as it was an act of impulse. But when I thought about it again now, I was grateful as I realized that if I asked her to flee, I would never meet her again. I would never know where to find her. I would never see the angelic creature once more if she left.

I closed my eyes as the pressure came again. Why did it always come when I think about her? I felt like sad, hurt, yet so fond.

"This is so quite, so boring," Rinslet whined, persuading Sven to allow her to turn the tape on.

Sven turned the radio on, selecting news channel.

"There are many channels. How about music?" She suggested.

"No. I want to listen to Evening News," Sven said.

I heard Rinslet's cell-phone rang. She picked it up happily, seeing Jenos' name in the screen while lowering the radio volume.

"Yes?" She said, and then her face looked shocked and worried. "How did that happen? Who? And the latest situation? Ok. I'll tell them."

She turned the radio off.

Sven protested, "Why you-"

"I have important news," she said firmly. "Eve was kidnapped."

Sven stopped the car suddenly, making Rinslet and I were pushed forward, almost breaking the windshield.

Sven POV

"Rins, it's not funny!" I yelled.

"But Jenos told me. Some AC members were sent to kidnap her about two hours ago. Before that, they attacked Annette for getting Train's data. Her laptop, cell-phone, and Eve's cell-phone were taken too. He … he mentioned a name that did these."

"Who?"

"Troy Wolff."

My eyes widened.

"Nano-tech data and him? I don't see any relation." I frowned.

"His father sponsors the nano research," she uttered.

"They worked fast! Damn it!" I hit the steering wheel aggravated.

"What should we do now?" She looked anxious.

"Keep going," Train answered with his monotone voice.

Just two words, but greatly enough to made Rinslet and I could not say anything. We stared at him unbelievably. Although he had tried composing himself, I saw his restrained worried and angry expression. He was clenching his fist. Now he could look like a man of his age, not like careless brat I knew. He also didn't use his childish and whining voice like usual. He spoke with his real voice. Cold, mature, and firm one, like … Black Cat's when I first met him.

I was surprised that he could change his character suddenly. Was that caused by his unstable personality? Well, that idea could not be categorized as a wrong one. It was difficult, in fact, almost impossible, to change a cold blooded killer's personality into a childish and innocent one so fast. Maybe until now, he had been trying hard. Even though sometimes he could not hold his previous nature, like this moment.

Usually, I told or suggested him what he should do. It was rare for him to directly suggest and ask me. But, then again, what was my suggestion? I could not think clearly!

"How can you …." I tried finishing my sentence, asking about why he decided it, but I failed as I was too shocked. I thought that returning faster was a good idea. We could check the house accurately from our view, call police, call IBI, or maybe call Chronos, asking for helps. We could not continue our way to the enemy's base.

"It can't be helped," he said with that tone again.

I grabbed his collar black jacket, yelling angrily, "HOW CAN YOU BE SO HEARTLESS? WE SHOULD GO BACK, YOU DOLT!"

"Sven, stop," Rinslet tried comforting me.

"No, I won't let him! He should realize that he's wrong!"

But Train was able to free himself. He leant on the back seat, making sure that I would not grab his neck again.

"It's not wrong!" Train defended.

"WHY?" I demanded.

"I've thought it. Princess was kidnapped about two hours ago. Troy should take the fastest way. It takes 6 hours, right?" He glanced at Rins as she nodded. "We still have about 4 hours before he arrives the base."

"BUT WE NEED A DAY TO ARRIVE IT FROM HERE!" I complained harshly.

"So we should keep going faster. Or maybe we can take the fastest way." He told us, looking at my distress and tired expression. "Just sit on the back seat. You've been driving for a day. Let me drive."

I let Train drove my car. He speeded my old vehicle up. I was sure that sooner it would be broken. But I didn't care. Eve was the first priority.

I hated myself at this moment. When Eve needed me, I was not the one who had any initiatives about what we should do. In fact, Train did it well. Well, realizing this, secretly I admired him. Train was so damn dependable in facing vital situation that needed fast decision.

"Rins, should we take the fastest way?" Train asked.

"No." She replied, reading the map. "It will take more time. Just continue this way."

We didn't say anything for few hours. I saw Rins took a nap on her seat.

I started talking when my self control worked normally again.

"Train, you're not bad in making fast decision," I said indifferently.

He smirked. "You should learn one thing, Sven. You never underestimate Black Cat. I often faced the critical situations when I worked for Chronos. They made me think and act fast and effectively."

"Yeah."

"Beside, talking about Princess' abduction, I can not let myself keep worrying without doing anything. I don't want her to wait for us there too long, especially when she expects us to come while feeling unsecure."

From his long sentences, I caught his anxiety and care for my daughter. I was tempted to say something.

"I know that you have a fond side for her, but I don't know that you care for her a little bit too deeply," I stated bluntly.

"Huh?" He was a bit surprised, staring at me from the rear-view mirror.

I stared back at him.

This made his cheeks flushed. He looked away. Actually, his act made me thought that what he said earlier was unexpected to be heard, especially by me.

"What's the matter?" I asked, pretending to be clueless.

"… nothing."

"Fine."

I didn't know clearly why I felt this way after seeing Train blushed, talking about Eve. Actually, it hurt. I felt like I would lose someone important.

TBC …

A/N: OMG. I can't believe I've written ten chapters in one month! Well, I guess this is the longest chapter that I ever write. Please review.