Author's Note: I didn't think I can do it but I have managed to write a chapter in one single day! High Five with everyone! Train would be tortured badly here. To all Train's fangurls, please be assure that he is in safe hands! XD Please Review!! Be aware that this chapter is really long!

Chapter 27:

"Train my dearest, you do know and understand the punishment that I am going to inflict upon you?"

Train nodded slowly.


"So Eve did you enjoy yourself?"

"Tremendously."

"I'm glad to hear that."

Jenos then sat right beside Eve in their garden under the starlit night. He placed his hands underneath his head to lie down in a more comfortable way and glanced at the object Eve was holding near her lips.

"What is that?"

"A flute."

Jenos gave her a questioning glance.

"A flute?"

Eve nodded and Jenos frowned.

"I didn't recall you having a flute. Where did you get it from?"

"It was a gift of thanks from Train."

Jenos smiled warmly.

"Really? That's awfully nice of him as you so adore music. So what song are you trying to play now?"

"The Risen Hero."

Jenos sat up and look at her.

"The Risen Hero?"

Eve nodded.

"What is it about?"

Eve went quiet for a while and Jenos patiently waited.

"…It is about a boy who had everything snatched from him from the very first day he was born, from pleasure to sorrow. Thus, he felt extremely hollow within him and struggled to find a rightful place and acceptance among the society. From there, he earned glory among his friends but it was not enough. His Destiny doesn't stop here, he had not accomplished his rightful duty; Fate will lead him to his rightful way of life and Love will protect him in her warm embrace from the cruel world. And then at the end of the road, he will finally find what he is looking for as Peace and Joy will welcome him with open arms. Though he had lost much…"

Eve trailed off and Jenos understood it completely.

"Let's hear you played it then."

"No. Now is not yet the time. He must be my first audience as this song is dedicated to him. My sincere apologies, Jenos."

Jenos gave her a warm smile.

"I would have knocked you on the head if you really play it."

And Eve smiled at her kind brother.


Creed smirked at the sight before him. It really pained him to see Train like this, after all, he was the one who did this to him but Train should had obey his orders when Creed had requested him to stay in the castle. He was furious at what Echidna had reported to him. Train had brought Rin to the dance that was organized by The King. He knew that the King had told Train something important but no matter how much he had threaten, Train wouldn't spit it out. According to Echidna, after talking to the King, he had looked downright upset. Something that rarely happened. However, on the other hand, Creed was pleased that Train had noticed Echidna's presence for his hand was poised near the gun, a sign to her who was standing right behind that stupid girl, Eve, as a sign to back off because Echidna was famous for her disguises and sometimes even succeeded in fooling Creed but apparently not Train. After that, Echidna had hurried off and reported to him.

But back to the present, he was currently holding the wounded Train in his arms after the 'small punishment'. And now, Train was panting so heavy that Creed fears he was maybe a bit too harsh but it was for his cat's good, was it not? One thing was for sure, the unconscious Train had learned something important from the King as he recalled that ridiculous question Train had asked him before he went unconscious.

"Did you really saved me from that burning house or did someone plan it ahead of time?! Answer me, Creed!"

The said cat was now lying peacefully against Creed with frantic breathing. His body covered with marks and his clothes ripped slightly. His head was against Creed's shoulder and he unknowingly sat in his lap. The sun was coming up and Creed reluctantly lifted Train up and placed him in a big armchair. Train's head automatically fell against the chair's stand and even though Creed couldn't see his eyes due to his hair, he still thought that Train was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. He kissed him on the lips and with no resistance, he explored thoroughly the moist cavern and he concluded that Train taste extremely sweet. When he drew back, he was delighted to see a trail of saliva running down Train's lips to the chin. He knew he was twisted but really, who cares, maybe Train but no one else right? With one last longing glance at Train, he left the room. He spotted two juniors ahead of him and called to them.

"Guard the 'room' where your senior 'Black Cat' is currently residing. Do not let him out of that room until I come back and no one is allow to visit him. Stay silent if anyone ask about him and if he resist or his friends came to free him, just replied that it is under Creed's order. Although your senior should know that by now. Understand?"

And the two juniors quickly let out a bow.

"Yes sir!"

Creed started walking away but came to an abrupt stop and the juniors froze.

"And don't give him food until you are sure he is deathly pale. If he dies, understand your sins would be judged by me without mercy. Understand?"

And Creed walked off, leaving the two frightened and fidgety.


"Where the hell is Train?!"

Rin muttered angrily after trying to search for her senior for the past few hours since she woke up. She felt unsafe that Train wasn't in his room as Train's room was a sanctuary for both of them. She just wanted to invite him to meet Jenos and Eve as she had planned it last night with Jenos. But she had been searching him for hours and she still couldn't locate her senior. It was as though he had vanished right after he had tucked her gently and bid her a soft 'good night'. And Rin clearly knew that Train would have left a message of some sort in replace of his absence so she wouldn't worry.

She huffed and walked towards the door in search of Charden and Kyoko. Perhaps they knew where her stubborn senior went, after all, they were all pretty close.


"Eve, we're going out tonight to see them. No objections, right?"

Eve looked up from her writing and frowned at Jenos.

"Do they know about this?"

"Yeah, I planned it with Rin!"

Eve shook her head slightly.

"I wish you have told me earlier."

Jenos gave a mischievous grin.

"So you can look your very best when you see Train?"

Eve blushed and hurried went back writing.

"No! So I can plan my schedule better!"

Jenos gave a wink and bounced off, leaving Eve in peace.


"Train? No, I haven't seen him."

Rin gave a disappointed sigh.

"I see. Thanks again, Charden. Sorry to disturb you. Maybe I should find Kyoko…"

Charden look at the dejected Rin worriedly.

"If you don't mind me asking, what happen?"

Rin shrugged.

"I have no idea! I haven't seen him since I woke up and is already 3 in the afternoon. I'm worried."

Charden gently pat her on her shoulder.

"I'm sure he has his own reasons. But why not you join me in the library? It will calm you down, besides, Kyoko is out on a mission but don't worry, the first place she always come after completing her duty is here to search for me. I'm sure you can ask her then."

Rin nodded and smiled.

"Thank you; I appreciate your kind offer. I'm going to age faster and lose my beauty if I don't stop worrying about him, right?"

Charden let out a small laugh.

"Well said. Please come in!"


Train slowly opened his eyes and groggily sat up. His body hurts like hell after last night. He was punished for going against Creed's orders, so what else is new? That his back hurts like shit and saliva is trailing down his lips? He painfully got up and dusted himself, including wiping off the saliva. Within a minute, he sank back into the chair due to exhaustion. Creed, as usual, had tied him up and whipped him without mercy, demanding why he had gone out. Train smirked in delight when he thought how he pissed Creed even more when he had asked that particular question and by the look on Creed's face, he knew that he hit the jackpot. Question is why, how and when did it happened?

But back to reality, he knew he was bleeding but Train was certainly not making any effort to stop the blood. Let it bleed for all he care, he wasn't afraid of Death. So what time was it and where was he?

Afternoon? And to his dismay, realization hit him right in his face. He was locked inside the 'room' he had so feared from young till now.

The windowless room provides him silence and darkness as his company. This room, he knew, was specially created for him. It may look ordinary to anyone from the outside but once you step into it; that is when the true terror of the room finally revealed itself. The room was too quiet for hearing, too dark for seeing, too hot for resting, and too cramp for breathing. In other words, this windowless prison would bring death to any normal person who stayed here for more than three days. And the last time he was here, he had stayed until four days and when he was let out, he was at the brink of death and needed to be bed-ridden for a week to gain at least half of his strength back. Therefore, he was surprised that he survived that punishment. So what was his limit now? Five days and Death comes? This could be one of the most painful and humiliating scenario he had ever face. Food was not given to him either, that he knew. Despite the fact that the food here taste horrible, Train is still human and needed nourishment daily.

It wasn't surprising when this prison had driven a traitor to madness when Creed was not bothered to kill him. However, this was only known to Creed and Train as the others only know that they both have taken care of the traitor. Creed also took this as an advantage to teach Train the reality of this room, only him and no one else.

But for now, he would just have to stay put in his chair and prayed that he would survive before his time was up. He gently drew back his legs against his chest and placed his head on his knees while trying to make himself more comfortable on the armchair. It was going to be a long week.


Kyoko didn't help Rin much either. She had been successful in accomplishing the mission but no sign of Train. Rin had asked every single person she met but gain nothing. That night, with a heavy heart, she set out to meet Eve and Jenos. Perhaps the duo might cheer her up a bit. She felt lonely not able to sense her senior's presence which always ensure her safety, no matter how dangerous or critical the situation was. She now realized how much she depended on Train for survival but she was strong-willed and therefore capable to hold out for a while. She hoped Train would come back soon.

"Hey Rin, over here! You're late!"

Rin gave a weak smile to Jenos.

"Sorry, I got caught up in things."

"Ah, don't worry. Why are you looking so down?"

"Do I?"

"Did something happen? Where is Train? Didn't you invite him or did you guys have an argument?"

Jenos gave a laugh but stopped upon hearing Rin's answer.

"I wish it was the latter."

"What happened, Rin?"

They both look at Eve who had a questioning glance at the empty seat beside Rin where Train usually sat. Rin gave a sigh,

"I don't know. I can't find him. Is as if he had just disappeared! I asked every single person I see about him but nothing."

Eve and Jenos exchanged worried looks.

"I'm worried something might have happened after he bid me good night. I know he is strong but he never disappeared like that. Not like this…"

"Did Train say anything weird or different last night?"

"No. He just looked a bit spooked out, that's all."

"That proves something."

Rin and Jenos stared at Eve.

"What?"

"What do you mean?"

"If what Rin had said is true, than Train had expected something to happen."

Rin frowned.

"Then why wouldn't he tell me? I would have gone with him for sure."

Eve gave a knowing look.

"Not telling you where he would be going and making sure you were asleep, means that he is trying to ensure your safety without dragging you into danger, Rin."

"I know, Eve, believe me, I know. Is just not fair."

Jenos smiled.

"Life is never fair, Rin. Not even to the royal family, we don't always get what we want but that's how we get stronger. By struggling through life, you will eventually learn the real meaning of life."

Rin and Eve stared at him in awe. Started with the staring,

"W….what…are you guys staring at…?!"

Eve spoke up first,

"Really brother, I didn't know you were so intellect about life."

Jenos was clearly embarrassed.

"What…?!"

"Really, Jenos! I didn't know you had so much knowledge!"

"Rin, not you too!"

Both started laughing and Jenos could only look away blushing. Rin was thankful she had come out tonight, she felt so much better already. And she continued laughing after hearing Jenos muttering,

"Someone up there really hates me…"


Four days later…

"What the hell do you want?!"

"I…am so sorry to disturb you, Madam, but lunch is serve."

Rin knew the poor bandit was shivering with fear but really she couldn't help it. She was beyond frustrated that Train haven't come back from wherever he is. She was lonely, sad, angry and fidgety at the same time; in other words, Rin missed Train a lot. Used to be friendly with everyone, she now snapped at anyone she sees and everyone knows what had caused her change of attitude. The absence of 'Black Cat'. How much an absence of someone can cause so much drastic changes in another person.

Not only was Train missing, no one had seen Creed too and everything was a mess as Train usually takes over when Creed wasn't around. Without the two, everything was in chaos, therefore, the seniors and juniors were trying to fix everything back to normal. Charden and Kyoko were also worried about Train. Whenever any of them had free time, they would searched the castle for him. They can only prayed that Train and Creed return as soon as possible.

With a sigh,

"I'm coming..."


"Hey, didn't Lord Creed said we were suppose to provide food if he looks 'deathly pale'?"

The second bandit looked worriedly at the door.

"Yeah. What about it?"

"What you mean 'What about it?'! He looks is already beyond 'deathly pale', now he's skin and bones only! He is really going to die if this continue! This is the fifth day already since he had been trapped in there! Normal people would have die already! Is a miracle he is still living!"

"Well yeah, it is a miracle that he is still alive."

The first bandit had answered with a matter-of-fact tone.

The two bandits glanced in through a small hole, though it was dark they could see Train clearly. The senior had his head on his knees which were drawn up to his chest, preventing the bandits to see his face but from the heavy and jagged breathing sounds they heard, they knew that the senior was suffering greatly and had started coughing on the third day and had grown worse by each day. The bandits were sure that Train was sweating a lot due to the heat in the room and had even begin shivering. To the bandits, Train was such a pitiful sight.

"How the mighty had fallen in such a broken way…"

The first bandit muttered.

"Don't say it that way! I'm sure that he didn't do anything wrong!"

The second bandit desperately trying to prove Train's innocence.

"Why are you defending him so much anyway, Jack?"

"I don't know, Rick. I just get the feeling he is innocent."

"Yeah, what benefits are you trying to get?"

"Shut up, Rick! That isn't a nice thing to say!"


Train didn't really think he was in such a bad shape. Sure, he was skin and bones but he was still alive, right? He was still bleeding slowly but surely as he didn't have enough energy to heal himself. It was already straining enough to lift his own head, let alone sit up. He loathed that way he is now and hugged his hands tightly around him, fingernails digging into the pale skin. He didn't care how tight he was hugging himself, causing more wounds to reopen again and again. He didn't care how much he was sweating. He didn't care how much he was shivering. He didn't care how hungry he was. He didn't care what the bandits thought about him. He didn't care whether Creed will laugh at his pitiful sight. He didn't care how close he was to Death. He only cared about getting out. He was close to reaching his limit. Give him a few more hours in this maddening room and he will be sure he would be dead by then. The first bandit, Rick, was disrupting his thoughts again, and his eyes widened at the sound of footsteps from the opposite direction. Apparently, the bandits haven't realized it yet.

"Whatever! I rather want him dead anyway! If I were Lord Creed…"

"If you were Lord Creed?"

"Sir?!"

Standing behind Rick was Creed who stood there smirking.

"And how is my dear Train?"

They both quickly salute and Rick immediately answered,

"Lord Train is fine, sir!"

"Is that so? So what were you going to say if you were me?"

"I would have set him free, sir!!"

Train snorted at the obvious lie and he knew Creed wouldn't be fool so easily. Just as he thought, a scream was heard and the sound of a body hitting the floor.

"Open the door so that I may see my beloved Cat."

"Y…yes sir!"

Obviously shaken, he quickly fondled the keys and unlocked the door. Train immediately closed his eyes at the sudden light for the first five days trapped in this prison. He felt Creed's hand stroking his cheek gently and found himself facing Creed with fingers that gently supports his head.

"My beloved cat, how pale you look. Skin and bones! Well, I'm sure you are sick of this place! What do you think? Do you want out?"

Train immediately snarled and jerked his head away from him.

"Keep…the light…away from…me! Don't…touch me! Don't come near…me! Don't talk…to me! Don't…bother me! Leave me…alone and go away…"

All this was said in a raspy voice as though he had been screaming for ages, and his voice had gone hoarse. His throat had hurt too. Train was surprised at what he had said. Didn't he want out? Or maybe that was just an excuse to bail himself out? No, he really wanted everyone to leave him alone, no matter how horrible he looked now.

He heard a laugh and he glanced at Creed wearily.

"My pet, what are you saying? Don't you want out?"

Train glared at him again.

"I want out…and away from…you! Go…away! Leave me…in my peaceful darkness…that I so craved…and let me go…!"

Again in a hoarse voice. He winced as he felt hands suddenly pulling him up from the armchair. Weak and no balance, he stumbled hopelessly and fell into Creed's arms that caught him immediately.

"You must been taken care of immediately before things get too serious, can you walk?"

Train glared at him and painfully forced himself to walk towards the light. He quickly hold onto the door to balance himself because of the lack of strength and the fresh air he was met upon stepping out of his room.

"Well, I don't think I need you anymore. Thank you kindly for your service."

Train look back in time to see Creed raising his sword high up in front of the terrified bandit. Without another thought, he had stood between both of them, which greatly surprise Creed and Rick.

With a hoarse voice, Train painfully panted out his words,

"I…am…in need…of his…service. Do…not kill…him."

Creed looked annoyed but upon seeing Train panting so hard, he lowered his sword in defeat. To Rick,

"See that my right-hand-man does not collapse or you clearly know what will happen!"

Creed presumed to walk away. Having sure that Creed was gone, Train immediately slumped against the wall.

"S…sir…thank…you sir for saving me! My loyalty lies in you forever sir!"

Train replied nothing at the excited bandit. He knew, no doubt, that he could count on his loyalty.

Instead of replying, he struggled to remain balance and head towards his room.

-End-of-Chapter-

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