Disclaimer: Okay, from now on, no promises...that is concerning chapter post deadlines. My life seems destined to be anything but normal, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. There's never a dull moment; I worry sometimes that my newlywed husband will be able to handle it, but he asked for it after all! ^_^ So what can I say? My list of excuses this time include graduation, college, getting engaged then married, and lots of other details that I'd best not trouble you with. Everyone here is waiting to hear about Luna and the Black Cat! I'm still a little rusty having come back to this after so long, but I'll give my all nonetheless.

Hopefully, going for this rather than avoiding it will get me out of my writing slump. One of the HUGE factors in my coming back, though, is none other than YOU! If I hadn't had so many reminders of people actually still reading this and following it, I may not have come back to typing this up. So give yourselves a pat on the back as you read this latest chapter, dubbed Chapter 10 considering the time gap since the last one. WARNING: THIS IS MY FIRST TIME AT ANYTHING CLOSE TO A ROMANTIC SCENE. It's mostly mental processes, and this is a pretty minor incident in the story. Constructive criticism is welcome. Also, what may seem a bit trollish of the office scene was really done to speed things along with the plot.

I do not own the Black Cat manga, anime, or any of their elements. I also do not own a single part of IHOP unless the crepes I ate months ago count.

Chapter 10

Luna's POV

Looking back, I guess I could have reacted better than I had when I finally woke up, but I'll never

admit that to anyone, even after all these years. I still haven't lived down Ryan's teasing about it, but what would anyone else have done in my position? My first waking thoughts were that Ryan and I were being hunted down, and there I was unconscious in a beat-up car with a strange guy staring down at me. The scream came instinctively, but my brain needed a little more effort to recall the self-defense techniques I'd memorized for such a situation. I shoved my wrist into Train's face as I nearly kicked the life out of his gut at the same time. I pinned him against the window and would have gouged his eyes out if I hadn't noticed Ryan staring at us wide-eyed from the other side of the window.

That millisecond of distraction had been the difference between Train and a blind, possibly castrated gunman.

My grip on Train loosened as I tried to get a better view of Ryan out the window. I didn't notice Train's body go slack and lean against me as I continued gaping at seeing Ryan on two wheels.

Ryan was on a bike, a real bike. We had to sell his dirt bikes when our parents died, and I couldn't afford getting him a motorcycle after he got his license, let alone the gas every week. It was just the kind he'd gawk at, too. A sleek Japanese model, hot-red with gold lining and a matching helmet and suit to boot.

Sven slowed the car to a stop on the side of the road, and Ryan followed. I'd been deaf to our driver's protests while I was beating the crap out of Train. He turned to face me, not at all worried about his partner. "Well, glad to see you're as lively as always," he said. Glancing at Train, he added, "Although, it would be nice not to have someone unconscious in the back all the time." I looked down at Train. His head had landed perfectly on my shoulder, his face angled towards mine. The beginning of a bruise was already growing between his brows, though if you ignored that and the drool, he looked...handsome. Fairly chiseled features, with such a peaceful expression. Something inside my chest went soft seeing him this close asleep. His hair was soft against my shoulder and smelled musky, yet somewhat sweet. I wouldn't mind if he leaned against my shoulder a bit more so I could feel how soft his hair was against my cheek, and his scent wasn't half ba-

My face heated up when I realized what I was thinking, and I instantly backed away from Train, realizing how I must have looked. His body bounced against the seat facedown. "S-SORRY!" I shouted, trying to erase any evidence of what I'd been thinking. Next to Sven, Eve, who hadn't glanced up from the book in her lap once, waved it off. "He was asking for it," she said coolly. "I bet he was doing something weird, like staring at you in your sleep, right?" That didn't help beat down the color in my face. I nodded silently for fear my voice would squeak and give me away. Sven gave me a funny look before Ryan opened the back door. Surprise was plain on his face as he took in the scene. One glance at my face, and surprise became confusion. "What were you guys doing?" he asked me. I avoided his gaze and answered. "I-it was self-defense." He raised his eyebrows, looking back down at Train. "Oh. When I was on my bike...I thought -"

I glared daggers at my brother. "He startled me in my sleep. That's it." I spoke with such finality, that no one dared question me further. No doubt Ryan would ask later, but for now, enough was enough. He turned to Sven and changed the subject as if nothing happened. I allowed myself a sigh of relief once their attention was averted. "So, why'd we stop?"

Sven thumbed his friend, who was groaning back into consciousness. "To make sure he was alive, and..." Turning to me he continued, "To finally let your sister get some target practice."

Train sat up, slowly, rubbing his temple and muttering something about a 'Crazy girl,' as I recalled what had happened back at the IHOP.

We'd gone into Katie's office, and then I saw her painting on the wall. Something in me was a bit unsettled about that detail, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Ignoring the feeling, I went past that, remembering what had happened next.

Katie had pulled a switch while I was examining the painting, and sent a set of stairs down by my feet.

She looked to Sven and furrowed her brow. "I don't let newbies in. You do remember that, don't you?" Sven nodded, his expression unreadable. "Eve, could you take Luna and Ryan back to the car?" Though it came out as a question, there was no denying this was an order. Ryan seemed a bit put out. "Then why did we come here in the first place?"

Katie gave him a teasing smile. "I needed to get y'all's sizes first before I could find something that suited you. I've seen you now, so no need to worry anymore." With that, Eve pulled Ryan out by the collar. As I followed, Sven called, "Luna, keep an eye on your brother. No funny business!"

"Will do!" I called over my shoulder.

When we got to the car, Ryan and I took the back seats and Eve sat up front. "Promise no funny business?" I asked him. "Promise," he replied. Satisfied, I leaned my back against a window and let my eyes droop again; a nap without any nightmares would be a nice change for once. "Sven'll kill you if you try to make a move on her," I mumbled, my eyes half-closed. The last image I see before drifting off is of a very red-faced little brother.

Ryan's motorcycle stood outside against a backdrop of desert and a few tiny mountains farther away. "So that's Ryan's weapon?" I asked skeptically, wondering how a bike could be considered a weapon. "He supposed to run over everyone that tries to shoot him?"

Sven shook his head. "That is equipped with a state-of-the-art arsenal in league with the Air Force's tech. Of all the things Katie chose, she went and chose the most expensive thing she had." A small wave of gloom seemed to roll off Sven's shoulders at the thought of the price. He shook himself out of it and looked to me again. "He tested it when you were asleep. Worked like a charm."

Trying not to sound greedy, I had to ask the obvious question. "Sooo...what's..my weapon?"

Sven looked to Train. He put his tanned hand down and looked to me with utmost seriousness. "We felt it was best to choose something suited to your background," he began, looking me straight in the eye. "So from now on, you shall be equipped with a cast iron frying pan." Silence ensued as I took in what he said.

I tried to word my shock into something that sounded like gratitude in my head when a mischievous smile spread across Train's face. "Just kidding. I had to get back at you somehow for that wake up call." A small flame of anger sparked inside me. "And just what were you doing when I woke up, huh?! I wouldn't have hit you if you weren't leaning over me like some stalker!"

Train gave me an annoyed look. "I was just trying to get your seatbelt on."

Eve turned around. "We told you to do that when we left an hour ago," she pointed out. "And I saw you staring at her from the rear-view mirror." Train's cheeks took on a pinker hue before he quickly got out of the car. "Whatever...I'm setting up the cans, okay?" He went to the trunk of the car, not waiting for a reply. I could feel a blush creeping up to my ears again when Train quickly came back to the open door. Avoiding my gaze, he handed me a small blue jewelry box. "This is yours," he said quickly and left.

Blinking and trying to get any distraction I could from the nervous feeling in my stomach, I lifted the lid of the box and looked inside. Against black velvet lining was an intricate set of azure handled daggers, each wrapped in elegant thin silver vines that ended at the guard with two great leaves sticking out on both sides. The six were arranged from short to long then to identically short, all the same width. The largest of the knives had an engraving scrawled along the blade's spine.

Emitte lucem et veritatem. Send out light and truth.

I gently lifted the beauty in my hand, testing my grip on the weight. I nearly gasped at how perfect it felt in my hands; it was a missing part of my whole. I suddenly felt the urge to stab it at something, anything, just as long as I could feel the satisfying pleasure of the blade piercing through it. "Ahem," Sven cleared his throat. I looked up to everyone's uneasy expressions; my hunger for using the daggers must have been plain as day. "How about you try those out for a spin?" Sven asked. I nodded eagerly and got out the car the way Train had, hugging the dagger and box to my chest.

In the sweltering heat of the day, there was no one in sight for miles around. Train stood a good twenty yards in front of the car with his hands crossed in front of him. Any sign of his earlier unrest had vanished and he looked care-free as always. "So who's up for training?!" he shouted. Behind him were a pile of all sorts of equipment. First and foremost was a pyramid of tin cans. Behind that were bowling pins, tennis balls, golf balls, and an old tire. I raised my hand, or rather my dagger automatically, jumping up and down. "ME, ME, ME!" I couldn't even understand my enthusiasm, and I could only imagine Ryan's expression behind me. Train, however, was unperturbed. "That's the spirit!" he said, smiling and giving my joy to play with the sharp objects a thumbs-up. He walked towards us and pointed at a rock directly in front of the car. "Stand there!" he commanded and jogged towards me. "I forgot to give you this," he said, smiling. I was too excited to take note of how unusual his courtesy was. I gladly took the holster he pulled from the trunk of the car. Train watched as I gleefully put all the daggers in their rightful pockets and fastened the soft onyx leather around my thigh. It was a perfect fit, even over the jeans, with sapphires perfectly embedded over each dagger in a neat set of lines. I looked eagerly up at my teacher. "What do I have to do?"

Train smiled and turned my head in the direction of the cans. "Your goal is to get a hole into each can," he instructed. He gestured to my holster. "Each of those gems will recall their corresponding dagger once you tap them. Tapping it twice activates the blades' hidden magnets if you want to have them slip out of the cans."

"Got it," I said quickly before backing away from Train and pulling out one of the smallest blades in my set. I spun it in the air a few times, getting used to the lighter feel compared to the largest of the daggers. Sven came around next to me and tried to give me a few pointers about knife throwing. "Throw it straight across from your throwing arm," he said, demonstrating. "Kinda' like you're going to chop it against a really tall piece of wood. And don't flick your wrist." I put one foot behind me as I prepared to throw the first dagger. Holding it by the handle, I pulled my arm behind me and swung. The dagger was a streak of light and instantly hit the top can, dead center. I grinned madly. "I did it!" I cheered. Sven smirked in approval. "Katie sized you up perfectly," he noted. Train leaned his weight to the side, eyes closed. "Nice aim rookie," he scoffed, clearly unimpressed. Hearing him, my hand stopped midway from the empty pouch's gem. "Nice?" I asked, taking the bait. "What do you suggest I try?"

He eyed me smugly. "I bet you couldn't even get two of those cans if they were moving," he teased. Oh, he was in for it then; I gave him a smug smile. "I'll take that wager. If you lose, you drink my last bottle of watermelon juice for dinner." Train visibly shuddered at the thought. Once he recovered, he had a scheming smile on his face. "Fine. If I win, you're making whatever I ask for throughout dinner." I froze at the prospect. I'd be cooking up until the morning for the guy. I gulped down my fear and put on my game face. "Deal!" I am NOT losing!

On the sidelines, Eve, Ryan, and Sven had shrunk away from the scene. Our auras were overwhelmingly heated, threatening to pull in anyone remotely close enough. "Just to make things clear," Ryan called warily. "None of us are taking sides or anything. We'll just watch from here."

Neither of us looked up from one another. Train pulled Hades out of his holster, and I tapped my gem twice, pulling the dagger back to my hand and pushing the pierced can behind the remaining nine cans. Train walked over to my left. "When I count to three, I'm sending these scraps flying. Ready?"

I nodded, fingers humming at the pommel of my largest dagger. "1...,2...,3!" I heard a million shots in one as the cans seemed to jump out of their places all at once. They'd all disappeared. I glanced upwards, the only possible place they'd be. I unfocused my eyes and watched the cans fall before refocusing on the select cans I hoped to get. Electricity flowed through my arms as I threw my knives like my life depended on it. Pull, swing, pull swing. It didn't matter which arm I was even using, so long as I got those cans. Within seconds, my blades and the cans had reached the ground. Panting from the adrenaline of the moment, I jogged over to where the cans lay. I examined the pile of metal, searching for my daggers. Train came up beside me, and looked through the mess. Finally, one of us smiled.

Sven came to see the results for himself, then whistled. "I've gotta hand it to ya, Luna. You're dangerous with daggers." I stood up. "Thanks Sven!" I said cheerfully. He turned to Train, who hadn't moved since he saw the cans. "Well, what do you say, Train? Did we get ourselves a decent sweeper?"

Train responded by standing up and walking up to me. With an air of respect, he offered me his hand and smiled, not as a joke, but as to a partner. "Great game, Luna Davis." I gladly took his hand and shook, feeling as if I'd passed an initiation. I returned the smile. "The pleasure was mine, Train...?" He'd never told me his last name up until then. "Heartnet." He finished. "Then the pleasure was mine, Train Heartnet." I smirked. "It's almost a pity I have to punish you now." Train's face wasn't visible under his gloom before I turned away.

Train's POV

I watched her back as she walked off, tapping each of the buttons on her holster twice. Behind us, her daggers left their arranged places and flew in her direction. She caught them all with ease, three in each hand, and slipped them in her holster. "That girl's really something, huh?" I asked Sven. He snorted. "Unless all women can get two hits on the same flying can, and then another three on the second. You were really giving her a run for her money, too." He pulled out a cigarette and lighter, taking a breather with the rare chance he had. I pretended I couldn't see him eyeing me from under his hat. Looking up at the sky, he said. "You know, with enough practice, I think she might even get up to your level."

"We both know I'm in a league of my own," I said patiently. It wasn't arrogance, but a hard-earned fact. Sven let out a breath of smoke before he replied. "Whatever you say buddy, but she's definitely in your league when it comes to looks."

My ears itched at what Sven had said out of the blue. I quickly glanced over at the car where the others were looking at Luna's set. "You planned that didn't you?" I mumbled quickly. I crossed my arms in front of my chest and looked away. "Train, please. You're acting worse than Ryan. Just admit you like her."

"It's nothing. I admit, her outfit's...fitting, but that's it." I looked at her again. She was laughing at something Eve had said, her cheeks the slightest bit flushed. "It must be to get the Black Cat flustered," Sven countered. "You know, she likes you, too."

"Somehow, I doubt that," I said, counting how many times she'd attacked me so far. "Besides that, I never even said I liked her." Sven still didn't seem convinced. I looked back at him. "It's just a spur of the moment thing. And now's not exactly the best time for either of us to get involved with anyone-"

"Except each other," Sven interrupted. "In a little over a day, she and her brother will be sweepers like us, and they're trusting us to help them out." Sven gave me a knowing look. "You should know better than anyone here that you don't delay things like this, no matter the reason. Before you know it, you might be too late."

I stayed silent for a while. What had happened with Saya...I didn't want to see that a second time around. But...watching Luna laugh and smile, I couldn't bring myself to risk destroying that either. She was cute, a great cook, independent, caring, and an excellent marksman, but did I really feel something as deep as love for her? Maybe she just reminded me of Saya, and I was confusing comfort with something else. And what would she do if I said I loved her after just a few days? Panic? Leave? I shook my head. "I don't want to give her any more to worry about," I said finally, allowing myself a smile as I watched Luna break out into laughter again. Silently, I promised myself to protect Luna, whatever my feelings were for her. For now, this is enough for the both of us.

"Hey Sven! When are we stopping for dinner tonight?! I want to make sure the cooler keeps Train's juice cool 'til then!"

For now, this is definitely enough.

So what did you think? As I slowly write this, I'm hoping I think of more opportunities to up the heat in this lukewarm affair. Plus, I haven't forgotten Ryan and Eve. Until next time (and who know when that'll be? -_-; i HOPE to get another chapter done by the end of this week, but we'll see.)