Author's Note: ...So. How long has it been? A year? Haha, I'm not even sure. Well, fanfiction activity for the past several months has been deadened to a complete stop. College applications are tearing my life to shreds right about now, so I'm pretty lucky to have been able to get this chapter out. At least the chapter ain't short. And trust me, a buncha stuff happens. Finally. I'm not sure when I'll be able to get the next chapter out, but you can at least count on the fact that the story will not be put on hiatus. Definitely not. I make commitments to finish all my stories, so don't worry. Well, read, enjoy, review.

Disclaimer: Yabuki Kentaro owns Black Cat. Not me. Not ever. Deal with it.

(Oh my god, holy crap, Kentaro began the sequel , that's right, the effing sequel, to To-Love-Ru! I didn't even know until I saw the first chapter already released! How could I? The SEQUEL. And it's all about the counterpart to our favorite bio-weapon! She's known as Golden Darkness in the To-Love-Ru universe. The manga's even titled To-Love-Ru: Darkness. How effing epic is that? I almost wet myself when I first found out. Haha, okay, that's my rant for the day. Enjoy the chapter.)

A feline smirk. The cock of a gun.

"Mark my words, Train, I'll beat you one day."

The grin widened.

"I look forward to it, Princess. Oi, Sven-daddy! What's takin' so long? Get the money so we can buy some food, already!"

A growl.

"Do you insist upon calling me that? How'd that ridiculous nickname crop up, anyway? You and I are both barely twelve!"

"And yet you talk like you're thirty." A cheeky grin.

A voice. Soft, and feminine.

"Oh, lay off him, Train. I think it isn't that he acts too old; you just act too childish!" A blithe giggle.

A pout.

"You wound me, Saya." A mock-indignant sniff.

Suddenly, a growl. Then, laughter.

"Train, was that your stomach?"

"Shut it, Saya! I'm hungry! Come on, Sven! Do you have the money or not? I'm staaaarving!"

"Alright, alright, cool it, hot-shot. We're going. Coming, Eve?"

The sound of a thick leather-bound book snapping shut.

"Sorry. Let's go."

Feigned whines and jubilant laughter faded into the distance.

Eve suddenly shot straight up, the covers sliding off her rigid posture.

Sweat slowly leaked down the side of her face.

Wh...What was that? A-A dream? But I've never had a dream so vivid...an-and was that Train? And who else was..?

She clutched her head. The details of the dream were quickly draining away. Try as she might to remember, the memories of the dream rapidly sifted through her consciousness, and she couldn't maintain her hold on it. It was akin to trying to keep water from escaping with nothing but cupped hands.

It was alarming enough that she'd dream about Train of all people, but Eve couldn't help feeling a sense of desperation. Like whatever she had dreamt stirred something substantial within her.

Grasping feebly at straws, she shook her head.

Oh well. I can't even remember it. Best put it out of my mind for now.

She glanced briefly at the bedside clock. Seven-forty.

"Another day of school." She made a sort of grimace.

"Another day of him."

It had already been three weeks since Eve transferred to Chronos. She was pretty attuned to the general feel of the school now, and settled in comfortably.

Or, at least, as comfortably as she could have with Train dogging her every step with steadfast, irritating alacrity.

Honestly, she silently seethed to herself for about the thousandth time. Can't the guy just take a hint?

Eve thought perhaps that, by now, she would have gotten used to Train and his mannerisms. For some reason, however, she was irritated beyond belief, and her frustration only waxed greater every single time Train meandered over to her.

It was as if something was there beyond normal irritation, and something about Train and his antics - something unexplainable - fell just short of pissing her off to no end.

Though she was nearing her breaking point. Rapidly.

Eve grimaced as she, once again, saw Train cheerfully loitering around the school gate, undoubtedly waiting for her. He was lazily balancing a bottle of milk on the tip of his index finger, before he perked up as he caught sight of her.

Quickly shoving his bottle into his bag, Train came over.

I really don't know how much more of him I can take.

Eve quietly stared at him as she heard the familiar whispers of conversation blossoming around them, no doubt discussing, as they had been for the past few weeks, Train's apparent obsession with the new girl.

Great. Now basically everyone in the whole school thinks that Train and I... she shivered slightly, not finishing her thought.

Several rumors had already circulated about Train and her, and Eve had practically caught wind of them all. She wasn't exactly someone who really cared what other people thought of her, but at this point, to such an extent...she couldn't help feeling at least a little indignant and embarrassed.

Still... she silently mused to herself. This is sort of peculiar. Why are so many people interested in us? Surely the whole school has more to talk about than just two people?

Apparently not. She didn't take Train to be the popular type, but many people did seem to know him.

"...-ou okay, Li'l Princess?"

Eve snapped out of her trance, now aware of the fact that Train was attempting to speak with her.

"H-Huh? Sorry, Train...what?"

"Nothing, really. You looked like you had something on your mind."

She fervently shook her head.

"No, no...don't worry about it. It's nothing."

Train raised an eyebrow.

"Come on, Princess. You can tell me. I'm your friend, aren't I?"

"I said it was nothing," she snapped, a little harsher than she meant to. "Let's go. We'll be late."

As she turned towards the school, she caught the slightly hurt expression on Train's face, and couldn't help the twinge of guilt she felt.

She let out a quiet sigh of frustration. Train always seemed to bring out the worst in her. She couldn't see how it was his fault. Even if he was overly imposing and cheery all the time, Eve didn't understand why he always provoked such reactions from her.

He's just...so annoying. Somehow.

Eve had managed to restrain herself for all of the past few weeks. But she really was about to be pushed over the edge. It wasn't until lunch, however, that tensions finally spilled over and erupted, and she did something that she would henceforth deeply, sorrowfully, heart-wrenchingly regret for the rest of her life.

They were sitting at their usual table, just the two of them. For someone so apparently well-known, Train didn't seem to have that many friends. Over the time Eve had known Train, the only person she saw that personally conversed with him, aside from herself, was Rinslet.

Oh yeah, Eve remembered. There was also that one creepy guy...Creed, I think his name was? Creed would also talk with him occasionally. Though, it wasn't a two-sided conversation, so much as it was basically Creed repeatedly and passionately proclaiming how perfect and wonderful Train was. Eve found it more than just a little disconcerting. The man seemed to have a few screws popped loose.

Eve suddenly felt a familiar tap on her shoulder.

"Hey, Princess? I was just wonderin', do you wanna go to the amusement park this weekend? I can snag us a few tickets, and I think it'll be good for you unwind a bit. I've seen how hard you work."

Eve's fork froze, midway from her plate to her mouth.

Did...Did he...Did he just ask me out...on a DATE?

It seemed casual, sure, but those circumstances practically screamed the word "date," especially to those gossiping high school students who sat near them and definitely were in close enough proximity to hear what Train said.

Was Train trying to encourage those stupid rumors? Eve felt mutinous.

"Um..." she could barely contain her trembling, angry voice. Why did she feel so riled up? It was just a question.

"Um...sorry, Train, but I...I have something I have to do...this weekend isn't exactly a good time for me."

"Aw, come on. This is exactly what I mean by you needing to relax. It'll be fun."

Eve gritted her teeth. She was trying to end this conversation with some semblance of civility, but Train just kept obliviously ploughing on, like usual, without a clue.

"No, really. I'm sorry, Train, but, um, I really don't think I can-"

"Please, Princess? I know you'd enjoy it. Just come with me and-"

"I already told you, it isn't a good time."

Eve could hear the snickering breaking out now.

Train, we're causing a scene!

Eve inwardly growled.

A boy's voice, from the next table over, interrupted them.

"Yo, Train! Havin' a little lovers' spat, are you?" More snickering.

Train frowned.

"This isn't any of your business. I'm just trying to-"

"Hey, no need to be rude!" The group of boys surrounding the speaker guffawed loudly. "Y'know, just 'cause your little girlfriend rejected you!"

Eve rounded on them.

"I'm not his-!"

Train put his hand out and interrupted her.

"It's alright, Princess. Just ignore them. They don't know what they're-"

But that did it. For some reason, that was the last straw. Eve's head suddenly became wracked with a series tiny explosions, and her voice came out in a snarl.

"God-DAMmit!" Eve burst out. Train recoiled, stunned by her outburst.

"Can't you, for once, LAY OFF? Huh, Train? Is that so hard to comprehend? I've had enough! Every damned day, you just waltz in, completely and utterly oblivious!" Eve was caught in a fit of rage. She had no idea just why she had suddenly burst, or what had caused it. All she knew was that Train, in some way or another, was at the center of it all.

"You unrelentingly insist on accompanying wherever I go! You ignore common sense, you ignore anything I have to say, whether on purpose or not, I have no idea, and you have a special knack for giving every single effing person the wrong idea! I've HAD it. I've really had it, Train. Can you just, maybe, perhaps - for, I dunno, three seconds - leave me the hell alone?"

She heaved, panting with exertion, fuchsia eyes narrowed in a glare, directed towards the wide-eyed, frozen youth.

Silence reigned in the cafeteria. No person uttered a single sound for what seemed to stretch on for decades.

At last, Train's raspy, quiet voice permeated the air.

"I...I'm...sorry, Li'l Princess. I swear, I...I really had...no idea. I'll, um...I'll just...go, for now." Train hastily turned his back on Eve, shadows obscuring any outlines of his face, and briskly walked, until he passed the creaking double doors of the cafeteria.

Still slightly heaving with breath, Eve stared after him, the furrow in her brow gradually fading.

She slowly swiveled her head from left to right, taking notice of each student's shocked visage.

Slowly, it dawned upon her what just happened.

What...What did I just...do? Oh...Oh my god. Oh no. I said all those...all those horrible things...I didn't mean...Oh, god, what have I done?

Suddenly, a person broke through the stunned throng, and an arm shot out to grab Eve's wrist, encasing it in a steely grip.

Eve stared at whoever grabbed her. It was Rinslet. And she was furious. Her eyes held an angry gleam, and her teeth gnashed together lethally.

"What the hell was that about?" Her voice was low and deadly.

Eve could only stutter in response, her mind still dwelling on what she had said to Train.

"Um...I-I...I didn't..."

Her angry expression never leaving her face, Rinslet practically dragged Eve along with her as she walked out of the cafeteria.

"Come with me."

Rinslet pulled Eve into an empty classroom, and forcefully plopped Eve down onto a seat. Not that there was much resistance, as Eve still seemed frozen from what had transpired.

Eve turned to Rinslet pleadingly.

"I-I didn't mean to-! I mean, he was irritating, but...but, I don't know what came over-"

Rinslet raised a hand to stop her, and sighed.

"Look, Eve," Rinslet glared at her. "I don't know what the hell brought that on, but you'd better fix it. Whatever you might have thought, Train is the one person in this school least deserving of what you just put him through."

As Rinslet continued to glare at her, Eve trembled.

Rinslet sighed.

"Do you know why, Eve, so much attention was paid to you and Train when you first transferred here?"

Numbly, Eve shook her head.

"It's because people were surprised."

"Wh-What?"

"People were surprised at how Train was acting towards you. Before you came to this school, Train was the most aloof, cold, and bitter person here."

Rinslet nodded at Eve's startled expression.

"Oh, yes. He hardly ever said a word to anyone, he would pierce people with his icy, unfeeling stare, and he didn't take crap from anyone. People were afraid to approach him. They were scared that he might rip their throats out or something if they bothered him, so intimidating was his personality."

Eve stared, open-mouthed, at her.

"Bu-But why? H-How? Train isn't anything like that..."

Rinslet folded her arms grimly.

"Maybe I should go back a little further. First...Eve, what do you think of this school?"

"Huh? Wh-What do I think...? How is that related to-"

"Because this is no ordinary school. Probably around three-fourths of the students here graduate normally, albeit prestigiously, as this school is rather well-known for its curriculum. What it's not as known for, however, is the fact that the remaining one-fourths of its students are...hmm, how should I put this? Specially trained."

"Wh-What? S-Specially tr...?"

Rinslet nodded.

"One-fourths of the students here graduate, then go on to work for special government units, like the CIA or the FBI."

Eve stared blankly at her.

"You're pulling my leg."

Rinslet shrugged.

"Believe it if you want, Eve. I, for one, am telling the truth. They really do work for those sorts of agencies, and everyone in their junior year will take an aptitude test to see who is suitable to go on to such occupations. For you to even be accepted into this school means that they have at least considered that you might be appropriate for the job."

Eve half-heartedly raised an eyebrow.

"If this is all true...then how come no one's told me in the three weeks I've been here?"

"The staff members probably just haven't gotten around to it, or just want to let you get accustomed to the school. As for the students, we don't generally even talk about that side of the school until our junior year, when it actually matters to us. Even then, only one-fourths of us will express any real interest."

As Eve showed every sign of interrupting, Rinslet hastily continued.

"But enough about that. I only told you that so you could understand a little about..." Rinslet glared once more at Eve. "...about Train's history."

Rinslet hesitated for all of two seconds, then went on.

"It was...two years ago, in mine and Train's freshman year. He had just transferred here along with the entire freshman class of that year. One of those students' name was Sven. Train's best friend."

Immediately, from the mention of the name "Sven," Eve's head went into hyperdrive. Her blood seemed to expand and converge all at the same time, and fireworks went off in her mind.

"What..." her voice was hoarse. "What did you say?"

Rinslet raised a quizzical eyebrow.

"Sven. He was Train's best friend. Why? Did you know anyone with that name?"

Eve clutched her forehead.

"I...I don't...I mean, I don't think so...No, I-I don't know anyone with that name." But...something about that name...

"Anyway, the two were inseparable. At first, when Train came here, he acted much the same as he did before he met you. Moody. Despondent. He would only talk to Sven. Eventually, though, because I was persistent, I became friends with the two. Train started to talk to someone else besides Sven, and gradually, over the course of our freshman year, Sven and I managed to coerce Train to be more open. He became more cheerful, and instead of moping around, depressed all the time, he laughed more and smiled more. To this day, I don't know what had made Train so depressed in the first place. Sven never told me. But the Train that was our friend...that Train is more like the one you knew, Eve. But then..."

Rinslet's expression grew dark.

"Train and Sven were really interested in the specialized portion of the school. They had their own guns, and everything. They joined organizations in the school, from their sophomore year, that helped foster the special types of covert abilities needed to take on the sort of special jobs Train and Sven had in mind. And they were brilliant. The school had never seen such talented amateurs right off the bat. Train and Sven were sharpshooters of an entirely different caliber. And...and that's when Creed took notice."

"C-Creed?" Eve interjected. That...that creepy guy that knows Train?

"Creed is...for lack of a better term, insane. In any case, he's not normal. He saw the deadly potential the pair possessed, and seemed to take a huge interest. In Train, especially. But, he apparently felt that such potential was wasted with Train's happy, cheerful attitude. He had a glimpse, in our freshman year, of Train in an entirely different sort of light. One that Creed thought was perfect. And so...and so..." Rinslet's voice was choked, and tears started to gather at the corners of her eyes."

"Creed wanted to...to bring back that coldness in Train. He thought it would make Train into the perfect killer, deadly in every way. And he...he did this by..." Rinslet gulped.

"...by killing Sven."

Eve gasped.

"What? What? What...what do you mean he..."

"Exactly that. I mean he killed Sven. Sven wasn't at school one day. Everyone passed it off as nothing. People miss school days here just as often as in other schools. It happened. But Train said he couldn't shake this foreboding feeling. Well, school ended, and Train walked along the same path he always did to get home. He said he hadn't gone more than a couple blocks before he came across Sven's corpse. He was shot, right through the chest. Train had found him dead, leaning against the wall of the alleyway. Creed had undoubtedly planned it so that Train was the first to come across the...the body."

"But...But..." Eve could not keep her voice from trembling. "But how are you so sure it's Creed?"

"Oh, I'm sure alright. It's not common knowledge. There was literally no ounce of proof that could incriminate Creed as the killer. But Train and I...I think we were the only ones who realized who it was. You should have heard Creed before that day. Always pestering Train to unleash his untapped instincts or fury or whatever. I have no doubt that it was him. If...If we could've found any evidence...we wouldn't rest until Creed was behind bars. But after a whole year of searching...still nothing."

Eve's tears splashed against the marble floor.

"So...so after that...Train...?"

Rinslet nodded, frowning.

"Train completely shut down. He reverted back to how he was before. Except even worse this time. He shut everyone out. Even I was barely able to talk with him for more than a few seconds at a time. He became cold and calculating. Playing almost directly into Creed's hands."

Rinslet then turned fiercely to Eve.

"Which was why people were so interested when you came along, Eve. Don't you see? Train...as soon as he met you...the moment he met you, he instantly changed. For these past three weeks, since Train interacted with you, I saw a side of him I never thought I'd ever see again. He became cheerful again. Mischievous. And playful. I...I still don't know how you did it, or what you did. But it has to be something about you. And are you going to just let that be tossed back around, like it never happened, because of what happened during lunch? Eve...please...for some reason, Train needs you." Her voice had turned pleading.

By now, Eve's vision was blurred by tears.

All this time, and I never even...and now, for me to have been so stupid...Train, I'm so sorry...

"I..." Eve's voice cracked. "I have to...go after him."

Without another word, Eve bolted out of the classroom and dashed towards the open grounds of the school.

Rinslet stared out after her, and sighed.

Train...please, don't lose yourself. Not after all Sven and I did...

Eve panted, sprinted across dewy grass, hair fanning out behind her in the harsh, cold wind. She breathed deep, heaving gasps, but did not slow down as she spurted forward with all her might.

"Train!" She yelled out.

"Train, where are you? Train! Please, answer me!" Eve hoarsely bellowed out for all she was worth.

But the wind was unrelenting, and Eve knew that her feeble voice would be drowned out.

However, her breath caught in her throat. There he was, just leaning against the side of the building, glancing skywards. Apparently in deep contemplation.

"Train!" Eve hurriedly ran towards him.

Hearing the shout, Train turned towards her with a surprised expression.

"Li'l Princess?"

Eve ran towards him with all her might, hair whipping about in every which direction.

Suddenly, Train's eyes narrowed, and he growled.

"Li'l Princess!" He suddenly dashed forward, gripped her tightly, then swiveled her around, squeezing Eve's smaller form to him tightly, so that Train's back covered her completely.

Not a split second later, the sound of a gun-shot deafened the air. Train's coat was painted crimson. The smell of gunpowder wafted lazily to Eve's nostrils.

The shadow of a figure from behind Train suddenly escaped in the other direction, already leaping over the school's boundaries.

Eve's eyes widened. Realization streaked across her blood-peppered face. Her anguished scream reverberated throughout the open grounds.

"TRAIN!"

Author's Note: Again, my apologies for the long overdue update...at this point, I really can't help it, however. At least a lot of stuff happened in this chapter right? How's that for moving quickly? Haha. Well, it's not like I'm asking for forgiveness...but please review! Cross your fingers for a quicker update next time!

Random quotation of the day:

"Believing in personal miracles is risky, it makes you feel self-important."

-Jean Dominique Bauby, from The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.