Before going into this fic I want to thank Niji-san for all your awesome advice! I realize what you were saying about Train, how he would never break down in front of Sven, and after looking back through the show I bit and the manga I realized, you're def. right X3 I think the reason I had Train break down was, because at this point, Train has had a lot happen to him and well, he's not exactly the same Train he used to be. Of course now that he's got that anger going through him again he's reverting a little back to the Chronos version of Train, which would be exactly what Creed wants. I may edit chapter 6 later, right now I want to get this chapter started and get to work on some homework…sheesh…so much to do. -.-' But I enjoy writing this, so it's okay! lol

There were so many typos in the latest chapter, I've really go to get back and edit it lol. At one point I said Train instead of Creed, right towards the end, so I hope that didn't confuse you guys, I was just writing so fast I accidentally typed that. ' I've also got an obnoxious knack for writing "Even" instead of "Eve", so I hope that didn't confuse you either!

Well, enjoy the latest chapter; I know I'm gonna like writing it!

"A Battle of Memories"

How was it Creed could get under my skin so easily? He could bait me without even trying and I'd fall for it, and the anger he was hoping for would come surging up through my body and take over, like some sort of curse I had cast on myself.

We were standing across from one another; weapons held at the ready and aimed at vital parts of the others body. This wasn't going to be like the last time we fought, this wasn't going to end with Creed taking the upper hand. I had had it with him, with all of this, and I wanted to take my friends and leave.

Deep down something was eating away at me, warning me of the power Creed now held in his hand as the invisible blade took a deadly aim at my neck. I had fought against Creed and his imaginary blade and won before, it wasn't as though I had always lost, but since the nanotechnology had made him the way he was he had a severe advantage against me.

We studied each other for a long time, my grip tightening on Hades as I stood there, my body aching all over. Creed had healed the worst of my wounds, but the deep cut Eve had left on my back, and the bruises and cracked bone in my body from Maro's attack still remained. Whether Creed healed me or not I was still injured, but I had fought like this before, I had been trained to deal with pain like this.

"Before we continue," Creeds voice came, sounding lower and rough. "I feel that it is only fair to let your friends watch."

He swung his arm through the air, motioning across the room. I turned my head to see Eve, Sven, Rinslet, and the others standing against the furthest wall, three members of the Apostles of the Stars guarding them.

Sven gave me a weak smile as he leaned hard on Rinslet's shoulder, Eve holding tight to his arm and watching him with worried eyes. It looked as though she had had some time to heal him but obviously not enough as he gripped his injured arm, obviously in pain.

"They have nothing to do with this, Creed," I growled, turning my attention back to him. "Let them go."

"They will be released in time," Creed replied, looking back at me with manic eyes. "Once this battle has ended."

I didn't trust him for a second but I had no choice. It was fight him and win, or stay here forever and see my friends possibly die. I knew if I won I had a chance of getting them out and away from here, not to mention they could defend themselves, but obviously something, somewhere had gone wrong, otherwise we wouldn't be in this situation.

"Fine," I growled at Creed, gripping Hades tightly as I held my aim on his chest. "Then let's start this."

"I couldn't agree more," Creed chuckled before winding his arm back and swinging the imaginary blade down in my direction.

I jumped back, my back hitting a nearby pillar as the blade smashed into the ground only inches away from my toes.

He laughed as I watched the ground crack and shudder closer and closer to my feet before a hole smashed into the bottom of the pillar just between my feet. Creed could not only control the shape of the blade, but the length of it as well, and if I didn't move I'd be cut in half.

I swung my leg up and over where I knew the blade was and dodged to the side as the pillar cracked in two and came tumbling down in my direction. I stumbled back as rubble skidded across the floor and beneath my feet, making it hard to stay balanced.

"There's not point in fighting me, Train," Creed laughed maniacally as he sent the second closest pillar crashing down towards me. "You cannot possibly outrun the imaginary blade, or see it to attack with Hades."

I threw myself back again as more rubble showered down around me, smashing into pieces as it collided with the marble floor. I watched as Creed came closer, passing through the row of pillars towards the center of the room and entering the shadowed part I now stood in.

"Do you think you're safe there?" He chuckled as he shook his head as if scolding a child.

He swung his arm back again before swinging the blade into the wall and dragging it towards me. I ducked as it cut through the solid stone right where my chest had been before rolling forward, aiming and shooting at the hilt of the blade.

With speed far faster than I thought he possessed Creed brought the blade down and cut the bullet in two before swiping it across my chest.

I grimaced as I looked down to see a clean cut that started at the ribs on the right side and cut up close to the collar bone on the other side. It wasn't deep, and it wouldn't interfere with what I knew I had to do, but it hurt and was yet another distraction I would have to ignore.

"You see, Train," Creed laughed, my head shooting up to see him standing a few feet away, the blade aimed towards me, most likely at my face. "You cannot hope to defeat me in your present state. If you join us you will possess the power of the Tao, you will become powerful-my equal."

I tightened my hands into fists before whipping Hades up and shooting, the bullet flying through the center of his neck and out the back, lodging itself in the nearest pillar. I sat there, my arm still raised and a tiny wisp of smoke filtering up from Hades as Creed stood there, a sickening smile on his face.

His laugh started out low and small until it echoed maniacally throughout the entire room. Blood was running down his neck freely as the bullet wound began to heal itself, closing slowly until there was nothing left but blood and bare skin.

"Train!" Creed cackled as I stayed crouched in front of him, glaring up at him. "You know better than to think that would defeat me."

I cursed silently, knowing well enough that unless Creed's brain was destroyed he could not die, but I had hoped that would at least stun him long enough to make another attack.

I jumped back and landed on my feet as Creed swung the blade towards me, nicking my arm in the process, but not enough to do much damage. I felt the blood sliding down my arm as he came closer, holding the sword out in front of him, its tip growing closer and closer but impossible for me to predict its location.

He swung his arm back again, ready to attack, but as he did I lunged forward and flipped backward, kicking him hard on the chin before landing on my hands, still upside down, and kicking him hard in the chest with both of my feet.

He stumbled backwards before falling to the ground, still a little dazed as he pulled his head forward and looked up at me. I looked around frantically, trying to find that invisible weapon of his, but as I caught sight of the handle shimming in the light just beyond the pillars Creed stood.

I threw myself forward and brushed past him and rushing towards the blade, needing to get to it before he could. I felt his hand take hold of my elbow before he yanked me back, swung me around, and threw me back into the center of the room.

I landed hard, my head slamming against the marble floor. I heard the scraping of the blade against the ground as he came closer, the sound forcing me to sit and figure out where he was. He continued to walk towards me, dragging the blade against the ground and leaving a clean cut behind it.

I glared at him before throwing myself to my feet and aiming Hades at him, waiting for him to attack again. Blood leaked down from his mouth and onto his chin as he pulled the blade up in front of him at a side angle with both hands, his legs bent as if he might pounce.

He swung the blade forward and I arched backwards, my back bending as far as it could and the blade missing my chest, stomach, and face by centimeters. Once I was clear of danger I let myself fall backwards, throwing my left hand up to catch me before flipping back onto my feet.

I threw Hades up in front of me just in time to block another blow, the power of it pushing me backwards, and the soles of my shoes skidding against the slick floor. Creed pushed harder, a smirk across his lips as he came closer, our faces onto centimeters apart as our weapons crossed one another.

"You will be mine, Train," He said as I struggled against his strength.

At that pulled my leg back before sending it straight into his stomach. He loosened the pressure of the blade against Hades, allowing me to pull back safely, aim, and shoot. Blood splattered the floor behind him as the bullet went through his stomach. I sent another and another, blood flying I shot through his arm, his leg, his ankle, his shoulder, and the hand holding the blade.

He cried out as bullet after bullet hit him, obviously not expecting the barrage as he dropped the sword, its invisible blade clattering against the ground and sliding towards me. Creed regained his composure as the bullets stopped, the wounds beginning to heal as blood soaked into his clothing.

I dashed forward and threw myself towards the blade, my hand reaching out and grasping around the only visible part of it, the handle. I yanked it back just as time as Creed made an attempt to stomp his foot down on my hand, the blade stabbed into my ankle accidentally. I had no idea how long it was or where it was, and there was no way of knowing.

I grimaced as I yanked the blade out of my ankle and stood, favoring my uninjured leg as I held the blade in front of me, my own blood dripping off the end, a dead give away of its location.

Creed stopped just short of the tip as he came charging towards me, realizing that if he went any further the sword would be through him and his body would attempt to heal around it.

"Clever," he smirked before he grabbed the blade, blood running down his fingers and dripped to the floor as he gripped it tighter and yanked it from my hand.

I reached out frantically, trying to grab the handle, but it was too late as he threw it into the air and caught it as the handle spun down towards him. He cut it through the air before it slammed into my shoulder, cutting deep into the tendons and muscle, rendering my left arm almost useless. I could still move it but it hurt far too much and caused too much blood loss with each movement.

I gripped it painfully, looking up at Creed who was holding the sword close to his face, admiring it as both of ours blood slid down its sharp surface and dripped onto the floor. I winced as he actually licked the blade and quite a bit of the blood before pulling the blade down, pointing it directly at me, and charging.

I turned and ran, throwing myself at the nearest pillar and running up it before flipping backwards and behind Creed. I aimed Hades and pulled the trigger several times, missing his neck by centimeters but sending the barrage of bullets into the pillar just beyond him.

He whipped around, the blade held ready, but looked confused as I continued to fire past him, my eyes on his the entire time. I stepped back several feet as the pillar behind him began to crack and shift before falling forward and slamming into him. He disappeared beneath the massive slab of marble as if fell and smashed against the floor.

All that was visible was his hand, still gripping tightly to the handle of the sword. I stood there, looking down at him and waiting.

"Train!" Rinslet's voice came from across the room, sounding high and semi-cheerful. "You did it!"

But I knew I hadn't. If a bullet through the neck hadn't killed him than this wouldn't. All I could hope was that it had either knocked him unconscious, or crushed his head. I didn't want to kill him deep down, I realized that now-now that the adrenaline had begun to slowly subside-that feeling that always brought out the worst in me and the killing instinct.

I felt the floor shake and suddenly cracks began to spider their way out beneath the pillar. This was it. I knew Creed hadn't even been trying that hard before now, but now that he was angry-now that he realized I was going to put up a fight, he was pulling out all the stops.

The remains of the pillar exploded into the air, rubble smashing in the nearby, unharmed pillars and one grazing past my cheek. I remained motionless, even as the rubbed tore past my skin, and watched-waiting to see what would come next.

As the dust and rubble cleared Creed stood, that strange, grotesque arm winding it's way out of his shoulder and holding the imagine blade, obviously at the highest level it could go as I could now see it, the disgusting mouth and all.

In the falling silence I could hear Creed laughing, a distorted, almost choked sound that sent shivers up my spine. This was all a game to him, one he thought he knew he could win. I continued to stand there as he came closer, knowing that running would do me no good.

As I caught sight of his face I saw his eyes almost glowing, his mouth contorted into a distorted grimace, and his skin flushed from the energy that was now surging through his body.

He came closer still until he was only inches away. I refused to move, I refused to run as the energy boiled up inside me, surging into my limbs and making my grip on Hades tighten so hard my hand shook.

He leaned forward, his eyes meeting mine, and for a moment I thought he was going to kiss me-making me jerk back slightly. He laughed at my reaction, and I cursed silently at myself for moving…he now thought he was the stronger of the two of us.

"Now," He said quietly as he brought the giant swords tip up beneath my chin. "Let's finish this."

I bent backwards again as he pushed the blade up, intending to cut through my entire head. As I fell backward I spun to the side, turning my body around and ran, throwing myself behind one of the pillars as the imagine blade slammed into it just above my head.

I looked up to see it cracked slowly, the upper half teetering back and forth before falling to the side and missing me.

"Train," Creed taunted me as I stood there, catching my breath and thinking hard. "Come out and play, why don't you? After all, this is our game."

As his words faded the pillar to my right exploded, followed by the one on my left as he attacked them with the giant blade. I took in a deep breathe before lunging forward, the remains of the pillar I had been leaning against exploding like the others.

I whipped around and aimed, shooting at the arm as it shot towards me. I cried out as it grabbed my head, the nails digging into my neck before throwing me across the room and into the opposite wall.

I doubled over before pushing myself to my knees and standing slowly, my body screaming as the crumbling wall behind me fell to pieces. I looked up just to time to dodge a large piece of rubbed Creed had thrown at me and stumbled to the side, my vision slightly swaying after the impact of my head and the wall.

He laughed again as three of the pillars in front of me exploded, the rubble flying past me but never hitting me. I raised my gun and shot a large piece that did come in my direction to pieces, falling in front of my feet and crumbling.

"Train!" I heard Eve scream from where she stood.

I turned to look at her only to see half of a pillar flying at me, slamming into my side and throwing me into the next one. I slid down to the ground and hit it hard, coughing and tasting blood as I tried to push my self to my hands and knees but fell, my face hitting the cold floor.

"Train!" Sven yelled, his voice sounding strangled. "Get up! Get up!"

I tightened every part of me before shoving myself to my hands and knees and shakily standing. I turned, but before I could focus on what was in front of me I felt Creeds finger wrap around my neck and lift me off the ground, slamming my back into the pillar behind me.

I held onto his hand, my injured arm making me want to scream as I forced it to work. I tried my hardest to hold onto Hades, refusing to lose my weapon as Creed slammed me into the pillar several more times, my head hitting hard.

"Train," Creed laughed maniacally as he slammed me into the pillar once again before holding me still, tightening his grip on my neck and digging his fingers in between the tendons and bones. "Give up now and there will be no punishment later on."

I felt myself growl from somewhere in my closing throat before pulling my arm up slowly, the pain shooting through my body almost too much for me to take. I aimed the gun at him, right between the eyes, and pulled the trigger.

I jerked as the strange hand from his shoulder suddenly grabbed my hand and Hades, the bullet that had been mean for Creeds head burying itself somewhere in its palm. Creed gave me a disturbing smirk before the hand turned sharply and a loud crack filled the air.

I let out a yell of pain as my hand was left useless, the bones inside cracking and shattering. I hooked my finger against the trigger just as Hades began to fall from my now lifeless fingers and with all the strength left in that arm and ignoring all the pain I was causing myself I threw it into the air.

It spun several times as it flew over Creeds head and landed in my awaiting left hand. I aimed again, not at his head but at the shoulder of the arm this time, at the shining crystal that was buried in the green skin, and pulled the trigger.

The bullet smashed through it, Creed's screaming echoing through the room as his hand loosened on my neck and I took in deep gasps of air. With what strength he had left he threw me aside, my body hitting the floor hard and sliding for several feet.

I pushed myself up with my left hand, holding my right one against my stomach as I watched Creed shake violently as the arm began to disintegrate and fall apart.

"NO!" he screamed in disbelief as his power began to fade, leaving him as he had been before, still full of the power of Tao, but without his most powerful attack. His sword began to glow as it reverted back to the thin, invisible blade it had been before as he fell to his knees, staring at his hands as if they had committed the crime.

His head rose slowly as he looked at me, his eyes dark and his expression looking as though he might act out violently at any moment. I pushed myself to my feet and stood slowly, my eyes never leaving his as we glared at one another.

He grabbed the imaginary blade from the floor and began to stand. I aimed and shot both of his legs in the thigh, his voice screaming as his legs failed him and his knees buckled, sending him crashing to the floor. He refused to fall helpless as he rose to his knees again, but realized there was nothing he could do in that state.

I walked slowly towards him, Hades in my left hand and rising to point at the back of his head as I came closer. He remained on his hands and knees as I stopped in front of him, pressing the muzzle of my gun hard against his skull.

"It's over, Creed," I said slowly, my finger against the trigger as he knelt before me. "Not let us go."

He chuckled softly as he pushed himself back and onto his knees, my gun reaming between his eyes.

"It's not over, Train," He whispered softly, and suddenly pain was shooting through my chest as something hit me hard.

My eyes grew wide in shock and my left arm began to shake. The sword…that damn sword…he had been holding it against the ground, there was no way he could have-

He laughed louder as he realized I was trying to figure the situation out, my hand holding Hades beginning to shake as my body slowly went into shock.

The blade had entered through my chest and exited through the back, passing clear through me and, obviously, barely missing my heart as I was still alive.

"You seem to forget I can change the shape of my sword with my mind, Train," Creed said softly, looking into my eyes with an emotion that was both overjoyed and sad. "A sword does not always have to be straight."

I looked down to see the form of the sword taking shape my blood ran down it. He had been holding it down, the blade flat against the ground, but with his mind he had made it shoot diagonally upward and right into me.

I coughed as blood began to fill my lungs and I watched in disbelief as Hades fell from my hand and clattered against the ground.

"Train!" Sven yelled from across the room and I turned my head to see him rushing towards me, ready to help no matter what.

"Take care of him," Creed snapped in a cold voice, and within seconds Echidna had opened a portal and appeared in front of him, pointing her gun directly between his eyes and pulling the trigger.

"SVEN!" I screamed, needing to get to him as his body seemed to fall in slow motion.

I yelled in pain as I yanked backwards, the blade sliding out of me, before turning and running as fast as I could towards Sven as he hit the ground hard. It was all I could do keep moving as the pain in my chest intensified and felt as though someone were stabbing me over and over.

"Sven!" I yelled again as I fell hard to my knees beside him and pulled him up off the ground. "Sven! Sven, you idiot!"

I shook him hard, knowing no matter what I did I wouldn't be able to get him to open his eyes. I shook him one last time before resting him on the floor again, images of Saya flashing in front of my eyes as my forehead lowered and rested against his still chest.

I wanted to scream, to hit something, to hurt Sven for letting this happen to him-but that wouldn't matter now. The pain in my chest was unbearable and blood was spilling out of me faster than safely should, but I didn't care now. I felt the anger surge through me before I straightened me back and turned to stand but falling short as Creeds sword sliced through the air and pointed at me neck.

"That was merely an example of what will happen if you refuse my offer, Train," Creed spoke softly, the tip of his blade running up my neck softly, as if it were an affectionate gesture.

"I…" I began softly, trying to control the anger coursing through me. "I won't let you!"

I screamed the last words as I pulled Hades up and aimed at him and pulling the trigger several times. His chest filled with bullet holes and blood as I took my anger out on him, refusing to stop until Hades was empty, the barrel clicking empty as I continued to pull the trigger.

"The girl." Creed said calmly as he looked past me to where the rest of my friends stood.

I turned my head from where I was kneeling to see Maro take a hold of Eve's arm in his giant hand and Echidna pointed her gun at her head. Eve refused to look at them or me, her eyes were focused on Sven's lifeless body as he lay there beside me, his eyes still open and blood leaking down his forehead and pooling beneath his head.

"No!" I yelled as Echidna's finger tightened against the trigger.

"So, Train," Creed spoke softly as I kept staring at Eve. "You will stay here, and you will join the Apostles of the Stars."

I stared at Eve for several seconds before looking to the others, Rinslet shaking her head frantically as if I had a choice. My eyes fell down to Sven's lifeless face, something tight forming in my throat as the realization of what happened suddenly slammed into me harder than ever.

"Y-Yes," I muttered loud enough for him to hear.

The blade left my neck and Creed took a hold of Hades, sliding it from my hand and dropping it into his coat pocket. He brushed past me as I knelt there, my eyes still on Sven as all the energy left me and I slouched forward, leaning over Sven wanting to throw up.

I turned and watched as my friends were ushered from the room, watching me until they disappeared through the darkened doorway Sven and I had originally entered through. I wanted to run to them, to tell them I was sorry and that this was all my fault, but there was a time and place for that sort of thing and at that moment, I couldn't bare to see their faces and their hurt expressions.

I felt Creeds hand fall on my uninjured shoulder before he squeezed it, kneeling down beside me and looking into my eyes.

"They will be sent home safe and sound, just as I promised," He said quietly, his hand raising and brushing away a tear I didn't realize had fallen.

I pulled my head away from his hand, angry at him for doing this, angry at myself for being weak enough to cry, and angry at Sven for…angry at Sven for…for leaving us. I looked down at his face before reaching out with my uninjured hand and brushing his eyes shut. This wasn't fair-it wasn't fair at all. Who was I that Sven felt it was worth giving his life for mine?

I let my hand fall away as Creed stood, taking my left arm in his and gently pulling me to my feet. He walked me to the end of the room, my mind too hurt-too upset to fight back. I hadn't lost this fight-I could've fought back after Creed had attacked one last time with his word…Creed had cheated and I would never forgive him for that.

It didn't matter that he hadn't been the one to pull the trigger and directly killed Sven, had had given the order, and that was what mattered. I followed him slowly, my arm still in his hand as he led me back up the stairs, my legs shaking as I took them one by one, far slower than I normally would. I felt ready to collapse from pain and the overwhelming emotion that was washing through me.

Once we reached the top of the stairs Creed led me to the bedroom I would now call mine, and sat me down on the bed. He removed my shoes and my coat as I sat there in a daze, staring blankly ahead of me and never reacting as he pulled my shirt from my body and then my pants, leaving them in a pile on the chair beside us.

He pulled the covers back and laid me down, kissing me on the forehead before retrieving a medium sized white box from the dresser nearby. He opened it and pulled out a white cloth, dabbing away the blood on my hands and face and cleaning the wounds he could.

I vaguely remember Doctor coming in later and beginning to heal my wounds with the powers the Tao had given him. He pieced the bones in my hand back together until it was good as new, passed his fingers over my cuts and healed them shut, healed everything else he could.

"The bruises will go away in time," He said as he filled a syringe with a clear liquid before sliding the need into my arm. "There's nothing I can do for them, but you've dealt with worse."

I looked past him to Creed, the anger surging back through me but the energy to take action was gone. Doctor left the room on Creeds orders, shutting the door quickly and disappearing for what would be the next several days.

Creed came closer and sat beside me, taking my still aching hand in his. He smiled weakly down at me but it faded as I returned it with a glare stronger than I thought I had in me.

"I'm sorry, Train," He said softly again. "I really didn't mean for this to happen."

I pulled my hand from his and rolled onto my side, my body aching as I turned my back to him. I didn't have the energy or patience to talk to him, and the fact he had cheated to win our fight was making me angrier by the second.

"You cheated," I stated simply, my voice as cold as my body was beginning to feel.

"I-I didn't cheat, Train," He said, trying to sound carefree and innocent. "I won before your friend died."

"You didn't win," I said quietly. "I could've beat you…"

"I-I think this discussion should be saved for a later time when you've regained your strength," He changed the subject, his hand resting in between my shoulder blades. "For now just sleep, Train, and I will see you in the morning."

His hand retreated from my cold back and I listened as he padded across the floor and shut the door behind him, leaving me to myself and memories I didn't want.

The image of Sven's face flashed across my mind and I clamped my eyes shut, gripping the pillow tightly as I tried to forget-tried to erase it from my mind, but deep down I didn't want it erased. Sven's blood was on my hands therefore I had to be the one to find his retribution. I knew he wouldn't want me to seek revenge against Creed, but I did, and at the moment that was what mattered.

"I'm going to fix this, Sven," I muttered as I stared out the fading sun outside the open window. "I'm going to kill him."