Riuko: Yo! This is the fifteenth chapter! Still not at 50 reviews, but I'm over halfway. Remember, at 50, I'll answer almost any questions you have. Make sure to send me your questions in a message or put it at the end of your review. You don't need to be logged in. Anonymous reviews are enabled. I enjoy hearing from everyone!
Train: My head still hurts.
Riuko: Get used to it. It's going to be happening a lot more.
Caress: *groans* This is such an irritating chapter.
Riuko: Someone just do the disclaimer.
Train: Riuko doesn't own Black Cat.
Caress POV
About an hour after I woke up everyone was seated at the kitchen table; Eve and I on one side and Train and Sven on the other.
"So why are we gathered here again?" I asked as Sven lit a new cigarette.
"I think you know why," he replied.
"Entertain me."
"What happened at that old factory Caress?" Train asked.
"Yeah, what was that? I think you owe us an explanation."
"Yes, I have questions about that too," Eve added. I stared in shock at her. I though she'd put it together. Guess not. When hiding it fails, move on to a believable lie.
I lifted up the stomach of my shirt a little. Surrounding my belly button was a large pink scar from where Rumors had attempted to implant me with nanotech. As I said before, the experiment failed, but they didn't know that.
"Wh-What-" I cut off the flustered Train.
"Rumors implanted me with special nanotechnology," I said before pulling my shirt back down. "They cut open my stomach and put in a device that creates nanomachines, much like how Eve's body makes them."
"Well then, what was that gold liquid, and I'm fairly certain nanotech doesn't make you bleed like that. In fact, it's supposed to do the opposite," Sven replied.
"Not this. They just wanted to make me stronger. They didn't care if damage was done." Train leaned back in his chair, balancing it on its back legs.
"I don't believe you." I glared at him.
"Okay fine! The experiment failed, I almost died, and my body destroyed the device, are you happy now?!" I snapped.
"Nope," Train replied.
"I'll tell you when I think you're ready damn it!"
"And when's that?" Sven asked calmly as he let out a puff of smoke.
"Freaking never! Humans are such detestable creatures! The minute they find out something's different, they attack it and fear it," I said, tears welling up in my eyes, "even if it hasn't done a damn thing wrong; even if it's helped everyone!" I felt my tears roll down my cheeks. When I realized I was crying, I wiped away the tears and stood up. "I'm going out," I stated bluntly. Then I left, slamming the front door.
Train POV
"Wh-What was that about?" I asked. Sven and Eve just shrugged. I hate it when women cry. I can't keep it together, and I was pretty close to saying 'Never mind, we don't want to know.' Then the chair I was balancing on toppled over, taking me with it. "Ow~," I groaned. "How many brain cells do you think I've lost today?"
"You didn't have any to start with," replied Eve.
"What's that supposed to mean Princess?!" I asked as I got up.
"You're stupid," she replied.
"You're acting more like Caress everyday," I grumbled. "Well, I'm going to go talk to her, see if I can figure out what she meant by that last part."
"Okay."
I found her sitting on a park bench, staring at the groups of kids. I sat down next to her and she scooted away.
"You alright?" I asked.
"I'm never alright. I'm not even fully alive," she replied.
"Well, what are you then? How alive are you?"
"Three-fourths human," she replied.
"That seems fairly human to me."
"Believe me, that one-fourth makes one hell of a difference. You saw what I did. That's the full extent of my power… well almost anyways."
"Well the wings were cool." Caress blushed and looked away.
"I hate my wings," she replied. "You saw the blood, you know why."
"What I don't know is why you have them," I said.
"You can't trick me. I'm not as stupid as I look."
"Never said I thought you were stupid," I replied.
"Sure." Then she looked up at the clouds. "I'd be fine with what I am, was not for the pain and the people trying to use me."
"Tell me, what was that about back there? At least tell me that for now."
"My mother. She was killed the day I was born. She was mistaken for a demon, despite that she was a healer for the town. She used the last of her power to protect me as the house came burning down around us. Aria-sama learned of what the town had done when he came to visit, since he was the person who owned the land the town was on. He quickly rushed over and found me alive, underneath my mother's scorched body."
"That sucks, but that kind of thing happens to the best of us. My parents didn't do anything wrong either, and they were still murdered."
"Well, at least you got to know your parents, got to be held by them," Caress muttered. "I'm saying too much." Then she got up. "Just-Just leave me alone for a bit, think you can do that?" I watched her disappear into the brush before following her.
She eventually stopped walking and leaned against a tree, sighing.
"Why me?" She asked the sky.
"You know perfectly well why," said a feminine voice. I looked around, but saw no one, so who had said that.
"That's not a good enough reason," Caress replied. "Lack of Ai or no lack of Ai, I'd still be in this situation, I'd just have different powers and a more realistic attitude." 'Ai? What's Ai?' I asked myself. "God, if Train or Sven saw me like this, they'd think I was crazy. They can't see you unless you make yourselves seen after all."
"Oh quit whining," said a new voice. "You've got a physical form, we don't."
"Yeah, and whose fault is that?" Caress replied. "It's not my fault your physical bodies were destroyed. After all, you didn't have to protect me mom." 'Mom? Did she just say 'mom'? I thought her mother was dead. Alight, I want to know what's going on!'
"Yes well your powers aren't very developed. If they were, you would've sensed our guest," the more elderly voice snapped. 'Crap, how'd-' Then the branch below me gave way and I came crashing to the ground.
"Ow. What the hell was that?"
"You never listen, do you Train?" I looked up. This voice belonged to Caress. "I asked you to leave me alone, but you can't even do that. There are things I prefer to do in private. Meaning without you around!"
"I know what it means Caress-Chan."
"I swear to god, you call me –Chan one more freaking time, I will beat you with a fu-"
"Caress!" One of the voices snapped.
"I don't give a crap!" Caress hissed back.
"Who are you talking to?" I asked. "I hear voices, but I see no one." Caress glared at me.
"None of your fu-"
"Caress!" The voice snapped again.
"Shut up! I'm twenty-two, I can use whatever language I feel like!" Caress spat back. Then I saw them; two blonde women in long white dresses, one with hearts, and one with crosses.
"What? What do you see?" Caress asked. I pointed behind her and she spun around to face the two figures. "Quit being visible."
"Aw come on hon." One whined. "What's so wrong with letting him see us?"
"Because you're my mother and you exist to embarrass the hell out of me!"
"W-Wait, I thought you mother was dead." Caress turned to face me.
"She is," Caress replied. "Her physical body is dead, but her spirit is still here, anchored to her descendant's body; my body. Same with my grandmother," she said, pointing to the figure whose dress was decorated in hearts. The figure saluted me.
"Yo, nice to meetcha."
"Back inside my soul now!" Caress then glared at me. "Tell Sven and I will rip your throat out, and don't bother trying to ask. It's confusing to me too." I stood up and brushed myself off.
"Well, let's go back," I stated. Caress just shrugged, as if what'd just happened was nothing. "So, trust me enough to tell me what you are?" I asked hopefully. Caress twirled around to face me and smiled mockingly at me.
"Not a chance in hell," she replied.
Caress POV
"I swear, he's the most stubborn idiot I've ever met," I said to Eve as I lay on my bed.
"Are you going to answer my questions?" Eve asked.
"Sure," I replied. "After all, you know what I am. So shoot."
"You said your mother and grandmother reside inside you, how does that work?"
"Their physical bodies have been destroyed, so since I am their only descendant, their souls will be anchored to my body until my body is destroyed. Then, we will be forced to wander the eternal plane as ghosts; that is, unless I have a child, then we'll be rooted to her, but that won't happen," I said laughing.
"How do you know it would be a girl?" Eve asked.
"The chances of a male white angel being born are one in one-hundred," I explained.
"Why?"
"They don't tend to live very long. They don't spread every so often like females do, so the power builds and builds until they can't contain it anymore. That's how I lost Aria-sama. Until a girl is fourteen, she can absorb some of that energy, but once she reaches fourteen…"
"What? What happens?"
"We begin mass producing our powers, making our bodies unable to contain much more that what we already make. On my fourteenth birthday, Aria-sama died in an explosion of his own power. He should've died long before he met me. Most males don't get passed fourteen, but Aria-sama, he made it to thirty before meeting me. I kept him alive for fourteen more years, but there were times when I almost lost him then too."
"This man you talk about so much, Aria, was he your father?" I let out a pained laugh.
"No, oh no. Aria was just a half angel who happened to own the land the town was built on. Had he not passed through that day, I wouldn't be here."
"But it takes a man and a woman to make a child, right?" I blushed a little at Eve's bold statement. "So where was your dad?"
"My dad… he ditched my mom when he found out she was pregnant. I don't know where he is, and if I ever find him, I'll probably beat him to a bloody pulp."
"I'm a clone, I don't have a mother or father," Eve stated bluntly.
"Yeah well… family's overrated. I mean, I'm twenty-two and my mom is still bossing me around, from inside me no less." Eve let out a small giggle as I burst into laughter. Man it was good to have friends.
Riuko: Alright! I hope this chapter answered questions some of you had! I don't know if you had questions, but I hope it helped anyways.
Caress: How much further do you plan to embarrass me?
Riuko: A lot.
Caress: Then take this! *pokes Riuko in the side*
Riuko: *lets out a shrill squeak*
Angsty: Hey! Only I can do that!
Riuko: What am I, a squeaky toy?!
Angsty and Caress: Yes.
Riuko: I am not a squeaky toy! *starts chasing Caress and Angsty*
Train: Review and send questions please.