AN: sorry it took so long to update: writer's block. But the next three chapters are up and hopefully the whole story will be done before Sakuracon (in which I hope to insert it for the fanfiction contest). If not, than before Easter.

Chapter 9

The Funeral was about to begin. Not many people came. Eve wondered if Rins was an orphan. She probably was, since she was a thief since a young age. Some of her past clients came as well. The funeral, though small, was held in a large church.

Eve found herself looking around a little bit, but otherwise entranced by the service.

Some people spoke about Rins' life, if they knew her when she lived. Jenos kept his face hidden, stiffly accepting the comforts that people tried to give him.

The service ended and Eve glanced around the church. Scenes of the life of Christ stared back at her. She wondered what they meant, but otherwise didn't bother with the stain glass windows.

"And how did you know Rinslet?" the priest asked her.

"She was like a big sister to me," Eve answered.

The priest said nothing else and went to join the other attendees. Eve sat back down on a bench and wondered how she was going to find Bade again.

"Well, I haven't seen you in some time."

She looked up again and saw Creed Diskenth. Despite the tone of his voice, his face was somber.

"How are you keeping up?"

"Okay, I guess. Did you get in contact with Bade?"

Creed nodded. "It didn't go well."

"I see."

"You're not planning on going after him are you?"

"Of course we are."

"No, not you plural, you singular. Are you, individually, planning on going after Bade?"

Eve blinked. So she was, but she wondered how Creed could have guessed that. "Does that matter? The rest of the group is planning to hunt him down, so I might as well join them."

"I advise against it, Eve."

"Why?" she challenged.

"Did they not tell you?"

"That Bade's insane? I know that."

Creed shook his head. "You know that and you still want to help hunt him down? He'd be your most dangerous adversary yet."

"I know, but I don't care. He killed Rins, that's all that matters."

Silence passed between the bio-weapon and the ex-assassin/ex-terrorist.

"Do you know what your name means, Eve?"

Eve looked at him. "It's Hebrew for 'life' or 'life-giving.'"

"Why would God name his first woman 'Eve'? Even after she ate from the forbidden tree and let sin enter the world?"

Eve blinked. She raked her brain to see if she knew, with a shock to find that she didn't.

"Because she was the first mother; all are descended from Eve and her husband, Adam, the first man. Not everyone is a direct descendant of Adam and Eve, but we are all descendants of them."

"Get to the point," Eve growled.

Creed shook his head. "Life is valuable. I learned that the hard way. Paying back sin for a sin is just as wrong."

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind, huh?"

"Precisely; Eve, I don't want you going after Bade with the rest of us."

"But what if I'm needed this time?"

Creed shook his head. "It's too dangerous."

"I faced more dangerous things than this!" Eve shouted.

"That may be so," Creed agreed, repositioning his chair. "But compared to me and the Apostles, Bade is—"

"What?" Eve challenged. "More dangerous? Everyone has already stressed that fact. I've witnessed it first hand when I was stuck in his hideout for a night and a day. He may be the worst criminal I've met yet, but he's definitely not that formidable."

Creed sighed. "I guess I'll just have to try and convince your father to help my case then."

"Good luck. He tried that once and Train helped me change his mind then."

"Are you certain Train would do the same now? He knows Bade's potential as well as I do."

"I'm beyond certain."

"We shall see," Creed said, smirking. "Ah, Echidna, you took long enough."

Eve watched him roll to his wife and decided to eat some crackers. A little bit more chit-chat and they would leave for the cemetery.

There wasn't much for Eve to do, so she looked for Train, eventually exploring the church looking for him.

Entering the tower, she found him looking out a glassless window.

"Train?" she asked. He turned to her and forced a smile.

"Hey, how're you holding up?"

"As well as can be expected," she answered. "You?"

"Likewise," he said, the smile vanishing. Silence filled the void.

"Train," Eve finally spoke. "How are we going to find Bade?"

"Well, there's always fishing, but…"

"You don't want to risk it," she summarized.

"No."

Eve stepped cautiously across the wooden platform and wrapped her arms around Train, who returned the hug. "I want to kill him."

"I know," Train said. "But Bade isn't any normal target."

Eve bit her lip and Train released her. "Come on," he said. "Let's go back downstairs." Eve nodded and he guided her over the platform, down the stairs into the main sanctuary where they met with the others.

She saw Sven talking to Creed. Sven nodded his head as if agreeing with Creed on whatever they were talking about. Eve's stomach clenched. Was it about her determination to avenge Rins?

Creed and Echidna bade their goodbyes, heading out of the church.

Sven gave Eve a semi-stern look. "Creed had some interesting thoughts and concerns about our next target, Eve."

"I want to help," Eve stated. "What if he expects this and comes for me while you and the others are looking for him?"

"I won't put you in the crossfire," Sven stated. "But I was thinking of having you come with us; that's fine if you want to help catch him, but I won't put you in danger. Not after all that we've been through."

"Hold on a moment, Sven," Train interrupted. "I got a thought here," he tapped his head. Sven shrugged and Train turned to Eve. "Princess, how did you feel when you were near Bade?"

"What does that have to do with anything?" Sven asked. Jenos walked over to them, his curiosity taking over.

"Everything," Train answered. He looked at Eve again. "Well?"

Eve wondered to tell them that she was reminded of Gyanza. No, she concluded. That would only convince them to let me stay low. "As I usually did when I was sweeping with you guys."

Jenos glanced at Sven, then Train, then Eve, and finally back to Sven.

Sven had raised his eyebrow in disbelief. Train blinked as though he didn't quite believe her himself. Then he nodded. "There you have it. I think Eve might be a good addition to our now growing team."

"I don't like it," Sven said, lighting a cigarette. "But if she feels fine when cornered by him, than I'll go with it. But if you freeze up," Sven said to Eve, "then that's it."

"I won't freeze," Eve lied. "Not like with what happened when we fought Gyanza." Now that I know what to expect from Bade, I won't react like I did then. I won't.

Just wait, Rins, Eve thought. I'll avenge you.