Hello again!

Thanks for the wonderful reviews from CattyGothLoli, lorraine019, yocat, bloody angel, LinaKiryu13, CommanderApple, XxTrain'sCherryBlossomxX, Dark-Lady-Hel, jeune rye, nana567, and Shin.

I'm sorry to post this chapter late (there are so many things I should do). Oh well, I'll shut up. Let's begin.

Disclaimer: I don't own Black Cat!

Chapter 18: Game Over

I want you to know what's in my heart

you're the last and the best thing in my life

Adam POV

I sighed, looking at Train's stiff face.

"Like you, I'm not a patient person, Black Cat," I stated, having no care about the way he was looking at me. Not a friendly one as expected, as he pulled the trigger slowly at my chest.

I bitterly chuckled, feeling sorry to Eve. She looked at Train sadly as if she wanted to stop him, but she couldn't do anything in the tank.

I gave a long and disappointed sigh.

It seems that you've chosen the wrong person, Eve. See what he is doing now! He's just a low murderer, following his killing instinct, ignoring you, the one that he should save.

He doesn't deserve you. He's much far below your expectations … and mine. He doesn't even deserve to die here with you.

I closed my eyes, waiting for the loud sound of his last shoot.

I guessed it was my dead end.

BANG!

I gritted my teeth. But strangely, what I heard next was the sound of broken glass. What the-

Confusion came to me as I opened my eyes suddenly, seeing Train's bangs hid the upper half of his face. Hades in his left hand was over his right shoulder, directing at what behind him.

My eyes widened.

What the hell! Did he shoot without even seeing the target behind him?

He lowered Hades before walking with a slight limp, leaving me behind.

Train POV

I put Hades in my holster. I knew I was such an idiot. But it was the last that I could do.

I approached Princess' broken tank. Water was pouring from a hole until it stopped. It was good that it was big, making enough space for her to get out as I helped her.

Leaning my back against the bottom of the tank, I sat on the floor. Princess sat on my lap, snuggling deeper against my chest, searching for warmness. I shuddered as I felt her very cold body. I guessed this was the result of being in the cold water for more than 24 hours. I wished she wouldn't get hypothermia.

She was panting and coughing, trying to make her respiration system back to the normal one. I rubbed her back slowly, comforting her.

"Why?" Adam snarled. "Why did you-?"

"At least you're still alive!" I retorted.

Adam POV

I was still alive ...

I chuckled bitterly. "You know, Troy's statement was a good one. There is no knight who will succeed in rescuing Princess, because the knights in my own story must die, including Black Cat. I was surprised that idiot can predict this, though I never tell him my plan."

"You think his statement can scare me?" he asked.

"No, I don't think so." I shrugged. "Anyway, what was the point of being alive if the three of us end up stuck here?"

"I refuse it."

"Your time to choose is over, Train," I reminded him.

"It's not about the time."

"Huh?" I didn't understand. I sat up and eyed Train.

He was staring at sleeping Eve with regret.

Train POV

I looked at the unconscious golden haired girl in my arms. Although she was exhausted, she seemed contented. Perhaps, that was because she knew she would be fine since I was here. It was a good thing she trusted me. Thinking of it, I smiled bitterly. If only she knew ...

FLASHBACK

"Be careful," Princess said hesitantly, as if she didn't want me to go.

I said back, "I can say the same thing to you."

"Don't die."

I was amazed. How could she think of that?

"You think I'll die?" I chuckled. "You underestimate Black Cat, you know?"

"I didn't mean to underestimate you. I'm just reminding Sven and you that there is someone waiting for your return alive. Don't disappoint her."

"Don't worry. We'll be okay, returning alive, if that's what you wish, Princess."

Then the sudden action happened. She kissed my cheek as quick as she turned around, making her back faced me.

"Bye." She said, walking and entering the house.

END FLASHBACK

It hurt, recalling those memories. Was it because I was worried that I would break my promise? A promise was a promise, right? It was a thing made to keep. And now, it seemed I would tend to do something unpleasant, breaking it.

All this time since the mission started, I tried to be persistent. I still hoped any good idea would appear from my stressed brain. However, what I see now was a dead end. It was awful to think I still had my way to get out. We would never escape, unless the miracle came.

I cursed silently. Now I needed something to overcome my disappointment. I saw my surroundings. Hitting the wall or the floor sounded nice. But then again, the dreadful pain in my stomach restrained me, like furiously reminding me,

Don't move or I'll give you more hell!

Adam smirked. "Something in your mind?"

"You better shut up," I retorted.

I felt grateful that he listened to me. He didn't say anything for a few minutes later, until something worrying appeared.

The temperature in this closed room gradually increased. Both Adam and I started being anxious. This was an ugly sign. Indeed.

"No window. No air conditioner. No air exchange. It's a normal thing if this room is getting hotter," Adam stated, smiling confidently as he could tell me theoretically about this situation.

Clenching my fist hopelessly, I held a sudden urge to hit his face again.

"Anyway, why did you let yourself being kept here? Is it about 'not about the time' that you said? Or … is it about someone?"

What I could think now was that Adam really had a lot of guts. He could blatantly give a daring question to me, a blacklisted ex-Chronos Number. Yet, I felt my cheeks were slightly burned, hearing his latest question.

"Why'd you ask?" I questioned uncaringly. I didn't want him to be able to read my mind.

"I asked first!" He demanded.

I looked away as he was staring at me curiously.

Adam POV

"It's not a good time to hide something in this situation," I advised wisely.

"I regretted to not kill you," he said bluntly. Then he clutched the bell at his neck. "But I didn't want to make Princess' effort to go to waste. You should thank her later."

'It's great to be a genius'. That was what I thought. I immediately understood the meaning of what he said by seeing his gesture. It was about a bed story for kids. Putting a bell at the bad cat's neck would change it into the good one.

Now I could deny anymore that Eve had succeed to change him, the killer, into the merciful person. He didn't even intend to go back to his bad personality although he could.

I smiled a bit.

"When will you be able to do some transformations?" He asked.

I eyed him tiredly, knowing where he directed the topic. He just wondered if my ability of transformation could save us.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but I need about one or two days for rest. Unfortunately, we'll be lack of air in this room not more than a day."

He gave a long and depressed sigh.

"So, what do you mean about 'it's not about the time' you said earlier?" I questioned again.

He looked at me uncertainly, wondering if he should replied, before speaking with a cheerless tone, "I promised to Sven to bring her to him safe and sound. I also promised something to her." He seemed unsure to share this with me. But that was okay. Although I didn't know it, I still appreciated it. Then he said, "I wish I could keep them."

He's still liable to keep his promises although it looks like he'll break them?

Suddenly the lights in this room went out.

I raised my face upward, seeing the ceiling. It looked like the system in this room was down, making this room dark. But strangely, Train looked like nothing happened here.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" He seemed angry.

I gulped. I didn't want him to know that I analyzed him. But his cat eyes were great in the darkness. So I lied, "Oh, nothing. Just wondered if you chose to run away like a pathetic cat when I offered you those options. How disappointing!"

Soon I felt my cheek was burnt as he punched me.

"I won't chicken out in this mission."

I swallowed hard. I didn't even see his move towards me. It seemed that Train leant Eve back against the wall before he hit me with his amazing speed in the darkness, before returning to his previous spot.

Honestly, I didn't care if he attacked me again. I really wanted to push him farther, betting on my luck. "Well yeah, you didn't escape. But look at this now! Do you want to die together with her badly?"

"I have my own reason!" He snapped, looking so hurt, making me feeling guilty.

I was speechless. What kind of statement was that? I couldn't guess anything about it. Did I miss something here? He was here because he wanted to keep his promises, right? He was here because he wanted to save Eve, right? Although it sounded impossible now. He also didn't want to be assumed as a coward, did he? However, was there another reason behind them? Wait, he didn't have any feeling towards her, did he?

Did he?

I shuddered. I had no believe in it, and I would never believe in it as long as I didn't hear it from his own mouth.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I sulked.

For several minutes, we just sat on the floor without a single word spoken. The more time went by, the more difficult it was to breath. I even started to not think straight. What was this feeling? Why? Was it because of the air condition in this room, getting worse? Or maybe because of the darkness? No one would be happy to die like this anyway.

I glanced at Train once. Although the room wasn't too bright, I could see the concern from his face because he had brought Eve and himself in danger.

I teased him. "Now I see even the bad luck can come to Black Cat, the famous eraser in the criminal world."

Then I cringed a bit as I thought he would be angry again. But I was wrong. His response was unexpected.

"My world …." He whispered huskily. His bangs covered his eyes. "… the large one … alone …."

I stared at him in the darkness, confused. He looked so difficult to say in a completed sentence so I didn't really understand the meaning what he said. However, I thought something strange. A mixture of hurt, cold, solitude, and intensity.

He continued weakly, "I'm here …."

Why? My mind asked willingly, ready to hear what the next was. What did he wanna say anyway? Was this the hidden side of him? Something that actually he wanted to keep alone? Just for himself?

"I just … don't want to be alone … anymore. I … someone …." His covered eyes landed on the sleeping Eve.

I was stunned. Even though I didn't get the completed answer (damn Train for being so unapproachable about his feeling), I could see, no, unconsciously know what the meaning what he said. So this was his real reason. 'Someone' whom he referred to.

Eve.

Black Cat's weakness.

His strongest, yet most vulnerable feeling.

A submission, waiting to be rightly taken by the special person.

I held my breath. So this was ….

… final and valid point …, my mind finished the sentence. Let's end this.

I smiled sincerely.

He saw me, puzzled and hurt, as if he thought I would be ready to die happily. What a wrong thought!

Well, he would know it soon anyway.

A soft signal could be heard in this room, and then the blank huge monitor in front of us was automatically switched on.

"It's …." Train looked at the screen, eyes widening in surprise, especially when he read something on it: SYSTEM ACTIVATED.

"… time to get out," I grinned, continuing what he said.

To be continued ….

A/N: It looks like the adventurous part of this story is over. Stay tune please. ;)