Author's Note : Okay guys, second chapter has arrive with the story at a shorter length as it was too long but oh well, no more mistakes this time. As usual, bold words means personal thought and underline words are in dialogues.

Creed Diskenth : 19 years old Head of Bandits

Chapter 2 :

"So dearest Train, who was that beautiful lady?"

Train quickly turned towards the direction of the voice, wondering who had spoken. "Oh great, please, Lord I beg of you, anyone but him…!" But Train know it too well who the 'intruder' was, to his dismay, he was the last person Train wanted to see.

"You know, is really quite rare to see your face filled with surprise and you look simply adorable…!"

Train slightly sulked before replying with a slightly louder voice,

"Creed, please do the world a favor and shut up!"

Creed studied Train with a disapproving look.

"You know, even after teaching you for years you're still disobedient towards me, your beloved leader.

"Beloved leader, my ass……!"

Infuriately, Train knew he was right. Creed Diskeneth was their 'lunatic leader' of their little gang of bandits, much to Train's annoyance. He had silver hair and was slightly taller than Train; his weapon of choice was a blade, Imaginary Blade. No one knew exactly how it works, but it was rumored to be made by a magician, a Tao, even Train, the one that known him the longest couldn't figure that out. Even without his weapon, he often gave many people the impression of him having frightening powers, maybe that's the reason so many people bow to him without any means of struggling. However, Train was sure he could defeat Creed with his own hands, though many obstacles were blocking his path. Another thing that was weird and scary at the same time was his disturbing obsession in Train, himself, though Train doesn't know what exactly the reason was but had a slight suspicion to do with all his killings he done in his past with a cold heart. Perhaps that's the only reason as he tried his best to avoid him as much as possible but, infuriately in vain.

"I will NEVER EVER willingly submit myself to you! Even if it takes me decades or even my entire life, never will I submit to you!"

"Ah…but you will….not now but soon and I'll make sure it last throughout your entire life, you see if I don't!"

A wide smirk plastered on his lips.

"Anyway, dear Train, back to the topic……who was that beautiful lady?"

"Just some brat…, is something the matter?"

Train answered him with a questioning look.

"Oh no, not at all, I was just wondering what kind of girl she is that can allowed me to catch you off-guard, you know, is quite rare…to catch you off-guard…"

Train kept silent and started walking, he wanted to retreat and enter into a slumber sleep, however, he knew it was impossible. Whenever, Creed found a fault in him, either careless or off-guard, he would make sure Train never make the same mistake again. He couldn't understand what Creed's thinking was, it was as though he wanted to make him into a flawless puppet or a doll that would submit to him willingly, obeying every commands that was given to him.

"Train."

Train immediately stopped, he could sense the dangerous tone in Creed's voice.

"Train, I'm serious, a bandit must never be off-guard, especially you, one of the top-rankings, having almost the same reputation with me! Please do not disappoint me!

Train felt tired and simply answered,

"Whatever…"

Train however realizes his mistake as his body was forced to turn towards the opposite direction. He flinched as his back make a solid contact withan old and dusty wall. Trying to understand his situation, he tried struggling but immediately regretting doing so as he felt a hand swiftly reach out and grabbed his hands and proceeds to pin it above his head. Train panicked at the position, he felt worse when a hand slowly caressed his face lovingly and softly as though Train was very fragile, like a broken doll and was suppose to be treated like one.

"Dearest Train, you never learn do you……? But that's why I favored you among the rest because you are the only one who had the power and courage to go against my wishes…"

"Enough Creed, let me go…"

Train's wrist was hurting, and this position was kind of……embarrassing too. What will happen when someone spotted them, someone would think that Creed was trying to rape him or something, though he was sure Creed wouldn't mind. He had spotted a couple walking towards their direction and when they spotted Creed and Train, they immediately stopped in their tracks, faces turning red, they were probably thinking that they had stepped into a wrong place at a wrong time, however Creed's glare had send them running off. Oh, how he wanted to shoot this man who was standing right in front of him but he knew it was an unwise thing to do.

"Enough for today I guess, but Train please bear in mind to be more alert next time, you wouldn't want to force me to punish you in that 'room', would you…"

A smirk clearly plastered on his lips. Train would had given up his own life to know what this man was thinking right there. However, with Creed's mentioning about the 'room', with widened eyes he started to shiver. He hated that room ever since he was small, he knew he could withstand any cruel punishment Creed inflected on him, but Creed had found his real weakness, the only punishment he feared was being sent to that 'room'. That's what had kept him in paced without fully going against his leader, though the gang didn't knew about it, only Train and Creed knows the 'room' existence.

"Oh yes, before you rush off please remember to meet the bandits at the Town Centre at the stroke of midnight, I trust you will remember…...sweet dreams, my dearest Train."

With a quick peck onto Train's forehead he left. Train, however, remained motionless perhaps for an hour sitting on the floor with his legs spread out before him and his back leaning against the wall, to anyone he look like a person who was drunk, but in reality he was recollecting his painful memories about the 'room'. He finally stood up, balances himself and slowly walked back to the inn.

THE NEXT DAY………

"Princess, please wake up is going to be noon……."

A maid was trying her best to wake Eve up but by the looks of it she was making little progress. To every maid, the most difficult test was probably waking the princess from her sleep. Oh no, she wasn't like the fairy tales story book, a typical spoiled princess, she was totally different even she had personally heard the maids talking about it. She had to admit she was not like a princess that appeared in a book but who actually cares about this petty things anyway, not her!

" All right, all right I'm up…….."

After hearing that, the maid immediately backed away giving Eve some space.

"Would you like to have breakfast in bed, your highness?"

"Um…, no I'll go down myself."

"Very well, your highness, by your leave…"

The maid then left, leaving Eve to get herself ready. Eve put on a light blue dress with pearls decorating around it, combs her hair and left the room to have her breakfast.

She sat down and ate like a proper princess but in her mind she didn't had any appetite, instead she was thinking about the incidents that had happened last night.

After her uneventful breakfast, she took a wall around the palace wondering what she could do to kill some time. It was then she saw two maids talking, perhaps more to gossiping. Their goose is cooked if I report them to the Head of the department, but….oh well, if they manage to provide some good information perhaps I will just not say anything about it. So Eve stood by waiting for any news that could be worth listening to. They were chatting about the usual stuffs, the weather, the food prices and so on. Just when Eve was giving up her hope, her ears pricked up when she caught the words 'Fireworks Festival'. She had to admit that the event had almost slipped out of her mind, she silently cursed and continued to pay attention to the conversation taking place.

"Are you going to the festival for tonight?"

"Yeah, I'm so excited about it, I can't sleep for days, just thinking about it sent me goose bumps."

"Yeah, same here, I'm so glad the King had given everyone to let us have a chance to enjoy the festival!"

Eve snorted at the mentioned of her father.

"Anyways, are you going there alone?"

"No way! This kind of event should be spent with a love one…"

"I so agree with you, you going to be with your boyfriend?"

"Yeah definitely, I can barely imagine how romantic it will be…ahh….EEEKKKKK…I can't wait for it!"

"Same here, I understand and I can't wait for it too!"

"Come on, we better get going or not we'll get sacked!" Eve then watched the maids hurrying away, oblivious to someone hiding near the wall hearing their entire question.

Eve had been paying close attention but when they mentioned about their boyfriends, suddenly the image of the young man from last night suddenly appeared in her mind. And she BLUSHED like a TOMATO. Okay, why did I think of him I must have eat something that went bad, sure he was handsome and good looking and all…wait a minute…! Why am I thinking about him ! Okay, I go read something to calm myself down……hopefully…. And with that thought she headed to the Royal Library, unfournately, she couldn't concentrate anything but that man, Train. She was terribly glad that she could meet up with him and was thankful she went out that night. However, she felt disappointment seep into her body when she was told that Train wasn't attending the festival. Perhaps I could still meet him if the Lady Luck is smiling at me and hopefully she is….OKAY, what am I thinking I am sounding like such a childish love-sick crazy girl, GODDAMMIT, I'M A PRINCESS FOR GOD'S SAKE!

Eve then got ready she had found more clothing in the storage in the store room and was glad, because if she was to meet up with Train, he would think that she doesn't take baths. By the time she made up her mind, it was near evening and she knew if she doesn't hurry she would be late for then entire event and is she ever done that she could had been known as the biggest fool to live. She went into her bedroom and silently locked the door behind her. Hoping no one would interrupt when she was ready to leave but the chances was low as her parents had events to attend instead of attending the festival held in this town.

This time her dress was reaching to her knees and similar this time a scarf hung around her neck in peach color and she was ready. Similar to the other night, she had used the same rope and secured it tightly on the bars on the balcony, it would mean bad news to her if she were to fall while climbing the rope. Within a few minutes she was down on and on her way through the town centre. She could still remember how Train had brought her back to her house last night, her photographic memory was what she took pride in and her been useful in many ways. She was glad she had that skill.

She saw a group of people standing there, and she ran towards themfor she knew that the place is where one could witness the festival clearly. She inchedher way slowlythrough the bustling crowds and after a few more minutes she finally got her way. She sat there satisfied, with a beaming smile on her face pleased she had got here on her own without anyone's help. Hopefully this will be a learning experience and I prayed that I will leave with a heart filled with bliss and happiness. She had to wait for quite a while before the festival starts. The festival will end at half past midnight it would have taken a lot of her sleeping time but she knew it would be worth it. And that thought she stopped, actually everyone stopped talking because the Fireworks Festival had just finally begin!

Train meanwhile walked down the street. He knew today was the Fireworks Festivalbut he didn't take any slightest notice of it, fireworks………had been something normal to him when he traveled around. Oh sure, he had to admit it was beautiful, he was transfixed the first time he saw it but now he was all mature, this event would perhaps only bring smiles to couples, children or maybe elderly but not to him, that's for sure. Anyways, he had a sudden feeling that the girl, ………Eve would be there. Train thought that the girl is one of the oddest girl he ever met, odd yet intresting. In the end, the girl had managed to capture Black Cat's intrest. All Train knew that she wasn't like the lousy women he met, in fact the women population should have more people like her.

Anyways he quickly walked down the crowded street that he wished he could avoid but there was no other way. It was then he saw the same girl again, he was tempted to joined her as shewas seen lonelyand needed some company but Train had work to do and couldn't bear to stop right now and delay his mission, if that is so Creed would have his head, he was sure of that 'lunatic leader'. He decided the best way was to just ignore her and he continued to rust by. But before he could 'rushed by' his coat was gently tugged. He quickly turned with a glare on his features but was immediately gone when he saw Eve tugging on his coat. She gave him the look that said Please-accompany-me-! He wanted to refused seeing he had work to do but the pleading look Eve send to him silence him at once. As he slowly sighed and sat right next to her, she gave him a beaming smile that clearly she was grateful that he was here. Eve then leaned her head on his shoulder and sighed contently. Train blushes a bit and it disappeared as quickly as it came.

Eve didn't know Train was rushing by, she didn't know that by luck or by chance that she had turned back and saw Train rushing by, without thinking she stretch her arm, thankful it managed to catch a tight grip on his coat, and when Train turned and locked their gazes on each other she knew that perhaps fate had wanted them to meet each other, she to heal his BROKEN SPIRIT and he to save her for FREEDOM.

-End of Chapter-

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