Strange Circumstances
If We Met
Coming to my apartment?
For the record, Charden was sure that Kyoko inviting him to her apartment was a platonic invitation, much like before all the previous times before that he visited her there. But that was during the time of the Apostles. Here in peace, it was just awkward, especially since she was a girl, and he was a guy, and he had feelings for her.
After all, she lived alone. He was a man, despite his weird attire, and she was a girl - the implications were great.
"So, want to meet my cousin?"
"Your cousin?" Charden frowned. "I've never heard you speak of a cousin."
"Oh yes," Kyoko said, opening the door. "Her name is Catrina. Cat, for short."
"I don't think anyone is here," Charden noticed.
"She's probably at Cait Sith, still," Kyoko said. "I thought she'd be here soon, but no, she had to go off. In that case, let's go, and come back later. Catrina is an idiot - she's just got well, and -" Here
"Her name's Catrina?"
"Yeah," Kyoko said. Her face brightened. "I know, let's visit Black Cat!"
Did she know how much he wished she'd speak of him in that same enthusiasm?
"Sure, Kyoko," he murmured.
"Charden, you're the best!" She hugs her former partner innocently.
It makes it harder for me to get over you.
When you meet up with Black Cat, make sure there are no white cats around.
Sven and Train were just sitting around, playing cards at a restaurant while waiting for that actress who always seemed to be around when they were in town to come with their food (if they could even call it that), when Eve snuck up on them - or attempted to, at any rate.
"Boo!"
"We know you're there, Eve," Train said monotonously, whilst Sven nodded.
Eve sighed. "I don't get it. Why isn't the technique working?"
"What technique?" Train asked.
"The technique is about stealth. I'm learning it. It's from the book Stealth: To Your Advantage."
"You're forgetting that Sven here can see five minutes to the future, and I'm Black Cat."
Eve sat down with a sigh. "I suppose so," she said, in the same monotonous voice.
Sven shook his head. "You have to stop sneaking out of school, Eve," he shook his head.
"There is nothing new there."
"Still, you need an education. If Tearju was here -"
"You wouldn't be here talking to us," Eve said, solemnly. "You'd be off with her. I can tell. You're fascinated by her. You are less confident around her. Your heart beats faster - I can hear it. It was one of the signs of attraction."
Train grinned. "And where did you read that from, Princess?"
"It was in Laws of Attraction."
"Do you really think you should be reading those sort of books, Eve?" Sven felt like melting into a puddle.
"Sven, it wasn't as if you forbade me from those books. The librarian checked them out for me."
"And where did you get it?"
"From school. It was in the non-fiction section."
Sven sweatdropped. Train grinned. "Is that so, Princess? So much for an education, huh, Sven?"
"Don't even start with me."
Eve looked like she was concentrating hard. Sven turned around and saw her, a slight frown on her forehead. "What is it?"
"Kyoko and Charden," she said, pointing behind Train. Both men looked in her direction. Train sighed and made a break for it.
"Black Cat!" Kyoko cried, but Train, forgetting his empty stomach, was out by the back door, and jogged (it would be called running, to other mere mortals) his way to the front, hoping Kyoko would not reach him as he ran towards the entrance of the restaurant.
Damn, he thought. I forgot this restaurant was near that girl's house.
He tried to run as fast as possible amongst the crowd of jostling people, but was too late when a girl with platinum blonde hair and silver eyes in a white yukata came out of nowhere, walking away from the direction of Kyoko's house. He swerved to avoid her, but she moved in the same direction with the same speed to avoid him, and they inevitably bumped into each other, with Train and his greater inertia knocking the petite girl down, and himself falling on top of her. She landed down, on the hard pavement with an oomph, and Train, momentarily annoyed, got up as quickly as he could to avoid Kyoko.
Yet, the girl lying down on the pavement seemed dazed, and Train suddenly realised that him, having fallen on top of her, could have done her some serious injury. Train groaned, but if there was ever one thing Sven had taught him - and could ever teach him, for that matter - it was chivalry, and he ought to make sure the girl was all right.
"Are you okay?" He bent over, extending a hand to the girl on the hard pavement. He took this moment to look at the girl. She looked so very familiar - and yet the colour was all wrong. It was supposed to be black, not platinum blonde, and her eyes were a vivid turquoise, a sea of blue-green, not the cold silver orbs that stared back at him, although they - in a weird way shared the same warmth.
"Black Cat! There you - oh!"
"Kyoko!" The girl cried out. "It's me. Catrina!"
Kyoko looked confused. "Oh my goodness!" She finally said, as if she recollected something. "You look so different! What did you do to yourself?" Then, looking at the girl's prostrate form, gave a small shriek. "Sa - I mean, Catrina! Are you okay? What happened?"
Train groaned, and picked up a white cat straying along the pavement, using it as a shield against the glomping Kyoko when she tried to kiss him.
"Argh! A white cat! And they say black cats bring bad luck!"
"Catrina?" A voice said behind Kyoko. It was Charden, and behind him were Sven and Eve. "Is this your cousin, Kyoko?"
Kyoko nodded. "Sure is! Say - I mean, Catrina Kirisaki!"
"Do people call you Cat?" Charden asked.
Catrina laughed. "Sometimes they do! It's a nickname of sorts, like Cat, Catrina, you know?"
"Why does Kyoko keep saying Sa, and then changing her mind and saying Catrina instead?" Eve, the most perceptive of them all, ventured to ask, after staring at Catrina curiously.
Kyoko's face turned weird, Train noticed. It was as if she had something to hide - but that was ludicrous. he doubted Kyoko could keep a secret.
But Catrina, on the other hand, laughed. "Because my name is actually Sayuri! But I prefer Catrina!"
Sayuri - Saya - could it be? Train shook his head. Sayuri was perfectly healthy, and not to mention had a totally different hair colour and eye colour. And so what if she wore a yukata? He saw Kyoko in a yukata, and she definitely wasn't Saya. Besides, Sayuri - or Catrina, if she preferred - was healthy, if her movements were any indication. Saya would have still been in the hospital -
Wouldn't she?
Kyoko lost her weird expression, and began to smile. "Catrina is my cousin, Black Cat! Remember I told you about her? And these are also my friends! Charden Flamberg (pointing at Charden), Sven Vollfield (pointing at Sven) and that cute girl is Eve! Oh, and the guy you bumped into is Black Cat, also known as Train Heartnet!)"
"Nice to meet you guys!" Catrina laughed.
"Catrina. Variant of Catriona, Gaelic form of Katherine, from the Greek name Aikaterine, etymology debated, with some saying it was derived from Hecate, goddess associated with witchcraft, tombs, demons and the underworld," Eve said suddenly. "You have a really interesting name, you know," she added.
"Witch," Catrina whispered, face now pale.
Witch, Train remembered Creed saying that, over and over again, in front of him, when referring to Saya. Witch. Witch-witch-witch-witch-witch-witch-witch-witch -
Train frowned as he fell into a reverie, which was broken when he felt someone gaze upon him. It was Catrina, her eyes on him now, scrutinising him, as if looking for a trace of something - recognition? He looked back at her, straight into those wrong-coloured eyes, and she smiled, a wan, sad smile, but a soft smile that would stir the depth of your hollow soul.
That girl was weird -
Just like Saya.
I hid my identity from a person I knew...
Saya was surprised when she stared into the face of the person she knocked down. His hair was messy, a chocolate brown shade. His eyes were amber, with golden flecks. She knew this man.
Train Heartnet.
In her coma, she knew her heart had stopped several times, and her spirit must have left her body. He was safe, and he was different. He was free.
"Are you okay?" He had asked her.
He was all right! She thanked God for that. He seemed like he'd finally lost his cold, solitary behaviour, and he seemed more at ease. Before she could say anything, she saw Kyoko coming, and called out to her. Kyoko looked confused, and she had a right to be. For one thing, she'd been in Cait Sith for a while now, and for another thing, she hadn't exactly run through the plan with Kyoko. Thankfully, Kyoko recognised her - or at least she believed what Saya said, that this was Catrina Kirisaki, although she nearly slipped once she realised Saya was now differently looking (despite the different appearance, Saya concluded that Kyoko recognised names and not voices, which was why it was so difficult to pin her name as Catrina to her new look, and not relapsing into Saya).
It was after introductions that Saya noticed Train become a little weird. Kyoko confirming Train was really Train and also telling her that he was Black Cat showed that Kyoko had a crush on Train Heartnet made Saya smile at the irony. Saya ought to have known. She remembered the gun with the Roman numerals XIII, but she'd never seen the tattoo, and what little she knew about Train's job was that he was being ordered to murder, and he did so, like a mindless servant. He never spoke to her of Chronos per say, but she should have guessed, from his superior attack and defense skills, and for his unbelievable reflexes and instincts – he was more than fit to be Chronos' star assassin, especially with his ability to be apathetic and devoid of any emotions.
No, Train was never one for emotions, although right now he seemed lost in a reverie, as if trying to link to pieces of a puzzle. Did he guess? She tried to observe him, see how he had changed, whether he was in love with Kyoko back, whether he missed her, whether he was truly himself, a free person now, or still stuck to the ways of his past, which had left him angry and bitter. He didn't deserve that, she had thought then and she thought now. He'd deserve to experience life, and how could you do so when you'd bottled up your emotions like that?
He did, she thought. There was a collar with a bell on his neck, like the fable, but there was a freedom, a change in the way he carried himself, a more comfortable, relaxed manner, less restraint - he looked up at her -
And she smiled at him, proud of him for standing up against his superiors and finding the courage to live his life on his own terms.
She knew he could do it, and she was glad to meet him again, under more warm and friendly circumstances, even if he did not know her. Because they were friends. Best friends.
Perhaps they could see the fireworks together again.
He didn't smile back. She didn't expect him to. He didn't know her. But at least he was willing to accept her, without keeping an arm's length from her.
She was happy just to be his friend again.
Rinslet discovers a part of Saya's life...
"Coming, Rins?" Jenos asked, leaning against the wall, innocently - well, as innocent as someone so sexy bent on seducing his lover tonight.
Rinslet swore. Damn, but she did like him - way too much for her own good.
"Jenos?"
"What up?" Jenos asked, absently. There was a dangerous glint in his eyes, as he moved closer to her -
She swatted his arms away. "You know what I mean, Jenos. Or rather, who I mean. Did you know Saya Minatsuki's family relatively well?"
Jenos sighed. "Yes. Why?"
"Did your parents know people in the evil business?"
"Now love, why would you say that?"
"Just asking."
Jenos sighed. "Well, I don't think so."
"Are you sure?"
"Why?"
Rinslet sighed. "Saya's so-called parents were evil, did you know that?"
Jenos frowned. "Really?"
Rinslet nodded. "It - it was horrible, Jenos. You know, when you said she disappeared, she actually left with her paternal grandmother. Did you know that was after she fell into a coma for nearly and woke up with amnesia? Her grandmother had been summoned by social services to care for the child, but that was too late for her father's beatings and her mother's neglect. She nearly died, did you know?"
"No," Jenos froze. "I didn't."
Was that why -
"I'm going to live as an emancipated minor, free to do whatever I want and bring justice to the whole world!"
She was free now.
She was a sweeper, bringing justice to those criminals.
That explained a lot.
"Rinslet, you shouldn't cry -"
"Why would her parents do something like that to their child?" Rinslet cried into his shoulder. "I knew the world was filled with bad things, but Jenos - the hospital reports! And it was very low-profile too! Not even a word on the papers - you didn't know yourself, and you lived near her! I - I could never do that! I could lie, I could steal, I could seduce, but never could I hurt a child!"
"But why does it affect you?" Jenos asked softly.
"If I were ever to have a child -"
"You'd be a wonderful mother."
"Jenos?"
"Yes?"
"She won't know who you are. You can't convince her you knew her."
"I know. I won't be much help to Train."
Rinslet sighed and made herself more comfortable.
"Jenos?"
"Yes."
"I love you."
Jenos allowed his lips to form a secret smile. That was the first time she'd ever said it to him, and he felt elated, blissful - he felt the world was his.
They fell asleep on the chair in front of the computer, in that position, as Rinslet's sobs quietened, and the night was peaceful once more.
Author's Note
A much longer chapter than usual! Enjoy! Added a little Rins/Jenos (they are so cute!) and one-sided Charden/Kyoko. You think Kyoko should like Charden back, or what? Tell me your thoughts! :)
