Strange Circumstances


Where Are The Others?


At a pleasant villa, with the most breathtaking view of the mountains.

Echidna Parass awoke again, to find Creed not in bed.

Honestly, this is far too many times.

She walked to the balcony. She knew she'd find Creed there. He loved painting there. The air was fresh and it made him feel alive.

"Creed, why didn't –" she was yawning, and then stopped, shocked when she saw the anger he had. Never before had he acted in this way to one of his creations. He seemed to stab the canvas, violently guiding the brush, completing what might be his best work yet. Sadly, (or was it gladly?) it wasn't her he was painting. It was a beautiful girl, smiling an innocent, with raven-black hair and eyes so blue, one could get lost in them. Besides feeling a teensy bit jealous, she was glad, because as Creed turned around, she saw the intense hatred in his eyes –

She drew in a deep breath and shuddered.

The expression on Creed's face softened. "I'm sorry, Echidna. I didn't mean to scare you."

Soothed by the disappearance of the angry face Creed had, Echidna sighed. "No, dear. It's just – I've never seen you act in this way." She paused. "The girl is beautiful. Who is it?"

Fire sprung into Creed's eyes again. "I hate her, witch! She corrupted Train, with her seemingly female innocence!"

"You mean she's the witch you kept telling Train about? The one who got him so angry he wanted to kill you?" Echidna could hardly believe it. There was a serene, peaceful aura around this girl. This girl was the exact opposite of how any witch ought to look like. She was innocent and carefree; she could feel it –

Creed nodded, his head moving up and down with a violent motion.

"But Creed, darling, you said she was dead!"

"She was. Not now."

"I don't understand."

"I killed her." Creed paused and Echidna gasped in shock. "She was corrupting Train. But she was saved in time. They brought her back to life, I think. I was so sure she'd be dead – she was bleeding to death! But I'm almost sure she's alive now. There's this feeling I have – There's been reports of a lookalike at one of the hospitals, I heard, from a few of the criminals who had been under hospitalization and who are well aware of how she looks like, especially since she was the cause of their being imprisoned. Train cannot know of this (he was saying this almost to himself). The witch will –" he trailed off.

"All young Japanese girls have the same features," Echidna added. "I mean, you could've painted Kyoko, and I wouldn't have known the difference."

"Would you have?" Creed asked doubtfully. "I don't think so. You didn't think it was Kyoko to begin with." He turned away from her and with violent strokes on the canvas soft pastel colours were added to the picture. "Sometimes, Echidna, I wish you wouldn't be so dependant on me. It is very annoying." He remarked, and waved a hand to signal her to leave him.

Echidna had been used to Creed's volatility of feelings, sometimes resulting in intense, almost suffocating love for her, and sometimes in the cold indifference that would break her heart, which was accompanied by his degrading ways of addressing her. Each time he said something hurtful, she would silently move away and shed a tear for unrequited love. Why then, did she stay with him? At best, he suffocated her, and at worse he tore her apart. Why could he not be calm and composed? All she knew was that she had given him all of her that he asked, and still he could not love her tenderly.

Love did hurt, but Echidna could not distance her from the sweet intoxicating poison. Still, there was something she could do to resist it, although it would probably destroy her further.

She would see Train and tell him of the witch's survival. At least he deserved a bit of the happiness she seemed destined never to have.


A message from Echidna.

Echidna loved her Tao power, which allowed her to transport herself anywhere by means of portals. She thought she could transport to the moon if she wanted (not that she tried; after all, she didn't have a space-suit, and last time she checked, those weren't commercially on sale).

She appeared in a sleazy motel room, with a tiny bed, a jug of milk and an adjacent shower. There was the sound of running water through the shower, and Echidna dropped a message. The sound of running water stopped and everything became silent.

Knowing that Train had probably heard her, she transported herself elsewhere, not waiting a minute longer than necessary. After all, she did value her life.


Now you hear it, now you don't.

It lasted all of a second.

Train was sure he wasn't hearing things. He heard a slight noise in the middle of the room, and quickly turned off the top, wrapped a towel around his waist and picked up Hades near the shower before jumping out to attack the intruder –

Who was nowhere in sight.

What the hell? Train wondered.

He looked around, and then his sharp observation caught sight of a note that had not been in the room before. He read it. It went along these lines:

The witch may be alive. Meet me at the dock where you and Creed fought that night at 8:30 pm. – EP

Echidna? 'The witch'? Train was confused. Living in his little, isolated world after he had left Eve and Sven at the end of the Eden Project would have done that to anyone who had tried to live life by his own rules. That must have been a year ago –

Wait. Was this person who Echidna thought was 'The witch' who he thought it was?

'The Witch'; Creed used to call Saya that.

"Saya?" he whispered.

She was alive?


The famed docks. Did she die there?

Train was there early, Echidna noted. He was busy lying down, looking at the stars, with a sad, melancholic look that did not become him at all –

Oh Creed, what did you do?

Echidna felt pity for the pain Train must have carried. His best friend, his only true friend, murdered before his eyes – that was how Train spoke of this witch she had heard of so often. Perhaps Saya Minatsuki wasn't a witch; after all, who would love a witch? And Train had often seemed to her a relatively good judge of character, if he was a little hasty and too impetuous, offending even the most good-natured of people.

"What is it, Echidna?" He suddenly spoke, his voice slicing the air.

"How did you know I was here?" Echidna asked. She moved towards him; there was no use trying to hide herself, he knew she was here anyway.

"I heard you," he said simply.

"Oh."

"It was a starry night, you know."

"What?"

"When she died –" his voice was hoarse now. "There were fireworks, and the night was filled with stars."

"I saw her picture. Creed painted it," Echidna said quietly.

"Creed killed her."

"She was beautiful."

There was a pause. "I suppose she was."

Echidna studied him carefully. It didn't sound like she had been only his best friend. Train acted irrationally every time he met Creed, threatening Creed with his life for killing Saya, even though she had apparently told Train to forget about her – was that not a finer essence of love? "Did you love her?"

Train smiled the same melancholy smile he had before. "She was more like my best friend."

"And she was the reason why you left Chronos to become a sweeper. Yeah, only your best friend could do that," Echidna said flatly.

"You don't believe me?" Train asked inquiringly.

Echidna shook her head.

"Neither did Sven and Princess," Train sighed.

"Perhaps it was because you really did love her. Don't deny it. Love makes you do rash things. I remember when I personally witnessed when you tried to shoot Creed. I presume it was because of her." She paused. "Believe me, I know better than most."

Train knew that she was referring to Creed. He sighed.

"Check all the local hospitals of the country. She could have been moved anywhere. Creed's former allies have noted that someone who looked like her had been hospitalized."

Echidna disappeared, leaving Train stunned.


At Cait Sith.

"Well, Saya, how was your first day at work?" Kyoko asked, as Saya came out of the small pub, dressed in one of Kyoko's summer dresses (due to the fact that Saya's beloved yukata desperately needed to get the blood stain off).

"Did you skip school again?" Saya asked. Kyoko nodded. "Well you shouldn't."

"Why not? It's boring."

"You need to have a good foundation for you future. Don't get me wrong, you have to lead the life you want. It's just that education makes life easier for you."

"And how did education make life easier for you?" Kyoko asked mischievously.

"Physics. Light travels in straight lines. Angles of reflections. I pride myself on being able to ricochet bullets at different angles and velocities. That way, I don't have to kill."

"And waitressing in a pub doesn't make you want to do that?" She remembered the men around the pub and asked Saya about it, only to be greeted with laughter.

"All right, I suppose. Anyone who was out of line got a big boo-boo."

Kyoko looked at Saya in mock horror. "Oh no! Poor them!" Kyoko was secretly pleased, however, that Saya really could put them in their places.

"Kyoko! I wasn't that violent!" Saya said, pouting. "Violence is never the answer!"

Kyoko made big, puppy-dog eyes. "You're too nice. Now can we celebrate?"

"It's a month before I get my first paycheck, Kyoko," Saya reminded.

"So no party to introduce you to Eve and Sven and Black Cat?" Kyoko pouted. "Well, just as well. Maybe I should hang out with you at the pub. I'm sure we'll meet Sven and Eve there."

"Keep dreaming, Kyoko! You're going to bed early because you are not skipping school! You need education for your future. Another time, okay?"

"Hey," Kyoko pouted. "I'm old enough to do whatever I want."

"I'll take you out to buy a cute yukata!" Saya needled Kyoko.

"Done!" Kyoko jumped up and down. "I'm off to bed."

Saya smiled to herself. "Clothes work all the time."


Author's Note:

Your reviews have made me so happy, you guys! I'm so glad you guys love it, and I hope you guys will also enjoy the rest of the story, starting with this chapter!

I know some of you wanted to see Saya and Train meet soon, but unfortunately, I'm going to level on the suspense. Hah! It's supposed to build up the suspense, and their journey in finding each other. I promise you guys, it's worth waiting for!


Reviewers:

Mew Sarin Alchemist– Thanks for the review and that nice comment. I would love to tell you who, but I'm afraid I'll ruin the story for the others. Hint: look in my profile – this story is based on my fave BC couple.

Oujou no Kaze– I'm glad you find it filled with potential, and I'm also hoping that this chapter lived up to expectations.

mahoakitti– Thanks! As for your question – the answer is on my profile.

Crazy Hyper Lady– You like? SO happy! I'm glad it's original IYO, as I really tried to work this plot out in my head (resulting in sometimes sleepless nights).;)

Ayachan107– They will, they will, soon enough. And I wonder what happens then? (Gasp)