Author's Note: Alright! New chapter! Out a lot quicker than the previous one, at least. Enjoy! I know you're just itching to find out whether or not certain things have occurred. *shifty eyes*

Disclaimer: I think that my version of Black Cat is a tad too morbid for me to have actually created it in the first place. Don't you think?

"Train, I've noticed that recently, we've spent an exceedingly large amount of time with each other."

"Huh? Oh. Is there something wrong with that?"

"No...but it's not sort of strange to you? The whole point of us doing this was for you and me to spend time with Saya and Sven, respectively, not each other."

"Things don't always work themselves out to be black and white, Li'l Princess. It's not as if we know what we're doing, after all."

"That's what annoys me."

"I think that you only brought this up because you want to stall for more time. You actually enjoy being with me, don't you?"

"..."

"H-Hey, Li'l Princess. Don't get mad, I was only teasing."

"It's a given that I have to become angry? What you just said has to be passed off as a joke?"

"...Wait, huh?"

"Don't sell yourself so short, Train. It's not like I despise you."

"..."

"What?"

"Coming from you, Li'l Princess, that's practically a love confession."

The bell poised at the top of the entryway jingled as the door opened and brushed it back and forth.

Rinslet looked up and smiled.

"Welcome to the Sweeper's Shanty. Is there anything I can help you find?"

The man who entered tipped his over-sized hat towards her.

"No, thank you. Just browsing, Miss."

Rinslet nodded.

"Alright. Let me know if you need anything."

The man tipped his hat once more and disappeared into the cluttered shelves filled with various gadgets, weaponry, and a vast breadth of different objects, all of which aided a Sweeper in his criminal-capturing endeavors in some way.

Rinslet sighed. She had figured that since her education had consisted of espionage, combat, and everything in between, it would be fitting to pay for the university she was currently attending by taking a job at a Sweepers' shop. Because her future occupation would involve things very akin to a Sweeper's work, finding such a convenient job had been nothing short of a blessing to her.

Not a day goes by that she isn't grateful to her manager for letting her take the position of manning the store. She almost always felt right at home, standing at the register.

Today, however...

Her eyes gazed down sadly at a spot next to her, where an old, crumpled newspaper silently resided.

She sighed once more, picked up the paper, and smoothed out its several creases before laying it gently on the counter in front of her. As she listlessly stared down at it, she kept her elbows pinned on top of it, her hand supporting her cheek.

It's been three years...

"Why the glum face?"

Rinslet jumped, and almost caused the newspaper to slide across the counter and drift towards the floor with a startled sweep of her elbow. She caught it by the tips of her fingers in the nick of time.

"Ex-Excuse me?" she stammered, hastily brushing aside lavender strands of hair.

"Oh, well, it's just that you looked a little down. Something on your mind?"

Rinslet narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Excuse me, sir, but...if you're just trying to flirt with me, I'm afraid my shift hasn't ended."

To her surprise, the customer chuckled as he raised a gloved hand to steady his teetering hat. Its large size eclipsed his face in shadow.

"Rest assured, ma'am. I'm merely genuinely curious."

Rinslet blinked. It was unusual these days that anyone remained this polite.

"I-I'm sorry, sir. I'm just a little...off, today."

"If I'm not overly encroaching, may I ask why?"

Perhaps it was his warm smile, or his kind demeanor, but Rinslet suddenly found herself wanting to convey to him all that perturbed her. She had to talk to someone, in any case, and this stranger seemed willing to listen, at the very least.

She heaved a sigh.

"Are you aware, sir, of what happened in this town three years ago this very day?"

He shook his head.

"I'm sorry, ma'am-"

"Please," she interrupted with a smile, "call me Rinslet."

He grinned as well.

"...Ms. Rinslet, then. Forgive me for my lack of seemly knowledge, but I'm not a local here, so I'm a bit unfamiliar with anything that might have happened. Does it have anything to do with what you've been reading?" he inquired as he pointed to the newspaper she held.

She grimaced as she saw his finger land on the picture of a solemn girl with a head of blond hair.

"Yes...these two in the article...Train Heartnet and Eve Lunatique, they-" her voice hitched in her throat for a moment.

"...They died in the fire that took place in the old warehouse several blocks from here. A fire set off by bomb detonations."

The man's mouth tightened in surprise.

"...It seems as if you knew them personally."

Rinslet nodded.

"They were...my friends. Well, I-I didn't know Eve that well, but...I'd have liked to. If only I hadn't...hadn't told her to go after Train, then maybe they wouldn't have-" she broke off in a sob. She seemed to be talking more to herself, now.

"Whatever happened, Miss Rinslet, I'm sure you weren't at fault."

"N-No!" she gasped. "If I didn't tell Eve to...to..."

Rinslet felt he man place a hand on her shoulder.

"Though I'm not exactly clear on the details, it sounds as if it was out of your control. I doubt if there was anything you could have done to change the outcome."

He paused for a moment, apparently in contemplation.

"Who was it that set the bomb off?"

Rinslet's mouth became a thin line, and her eyes narrowed in loathing.

"Creed...From the beginning, it's always been that bastard."

"Creed?"

"Yes. Someone as sinister as he was unstable. He was obsessed with Train, and was willing to kill for his obsession. That disgusting, vile strip of filth!" Rinslet snarled as she trembled.

The man slowly withdrew his hand.

"Where is this Creed now? Did he escape?"

"He...He was in the middle of the fire, as well, apparently. But no body was found, and he disappeared, so nobody really knows what happened to him."

"Then how can you say that the other two died? Were their bodies found?"

"N-No..." Rinslet shook her head. "But traces of their clothing were discovered along the shore of the river near the warehouse, the one flowing in the deep trench. The only way that we couldn't have found the bodies was for them to have fallen in. But if they had, then there's no way they could have survived. The river's currents are way too treacherous, it's the reason that it's constantly fenced off. Not even Train or Eve could have lived through such an ordeal..."

The man drummed his fingers on the counter.

"Hmm...Even if they were wounded from the explosion, why would they have chosen to jump in like that in the first place?"

"Creed had men stationed all throughout the region surrounding the warehouse. Those who didn't die or commit suicide were arrested when law enforcement arrived, but at the time, they would have been able to capture Train and Eve, which is why they must have...leaped into the river to save themselves."

"...And since then, you've seen hide nor hair of either Train or Eve, nor have you heard anything that might imply that they survived. So..."

She nodded sadly.

"It's assumed by everyone that they died. I...I've practically given up all hope that they might return, at this point..."

She buried her face in her hands.

He looked at her with something akin to sympathy.

She blinked, surprised, when he dropped a package of bullets on the counter, placing the money for it off to the side slightly.

She wiped her face clean of her tears and managed a small smile.

"...Thanks for your business."

He grinned.

"No problem. Miss Rinslet, if they are alive, then I'm sure they'd wish for nothing more and less than your happiness. I am absolutely positive that they wouldn't blame you for anything that happened. All they'd want, in my opinion, is to express their gratitude for the friendship you've shown them in the past. So cheer up, alright? All anyone can do, all any of us can do, as humans, is to move forward in life. They'd tell you that themselves, I'm sure, if they were here."

Rinslet's lips parted slightly, before she smiled once more, and nodded.

"...I'll be sure to keep that in mind."

He smiled back, before snatching up his purchase and swiveling back around, headed for the store's exit.

As Rinslet saw him raise a hand in farewell and saw the dark cloak rippling on his back, she was overwhelmed with a feeling of trust. No matter what she thought before, somehow, inexplicably, she completely believed in the stranger's words.

Speaking for Train and Eve as he was, what he just told her seemed as if it was backed by something irrevocable and utterly genuine.

Rinslet found it unsettling as it was remarkable.

The man walked quietly onto the pavement, the door to the shop swinging shut behind him. He strode quickly across the street, before navigating several alleyways and street corners.

Eventually, after thirty straight minutes of walking, he came to a motel, and went inside. He rode the elevator to the twenty-third floor, exited, and promptly ambled towards his room.

He swiped his card key across the reader on the door, turned the handle, and entered.

Sitting on one of two beds was a girl idly flipping the pages of a large book, her slender legs dangling casually over the side of the mattress.

She looked up as he walked in.

"About time! Took you long enough."

He pouted.

"You're always so demanding. Don't I get a reward for going all that way?"

The girl rolled her eyes, but closed the book and sauntered over to him, enveloping him in a hug.

"You're such a child," she said.

The man laughed as he played with a twine of her golden hair.

She released him and looked expectantly at him.

"S-So...? How was she?"

He scratched his head, before walking over and plopping himself down on one of the beds.

"...She's doing fine. A little sad, though, since today's the anniversary of the incident. But don't worry, Li'l Princess, Rinslet's doing just fine for herself."

The girl sighed.

"So, it's...been exactly three years since we left this town. I can only imagine how this place has changed. Train...do you think we should have told her?"

He shook his head.

"I'm sorry, Eve, but...just as always, it's too dangerous. We can't even let Rinslet know. It'd be unfair of us to drag her into our problems."

She nodded.

"I-I know."

Train mused for a second, taking off his large hat.

"Y'know, Princess...when I asked her if she knew us personally, she said that she didn't know you that well, but she'd have liked to."

Eve blinked, surprised.

"Oh. I...I'd have liked to be friends, too..."

Train grinned as he looked at her.

"She was your friend, too, Li'l Princess. She said so herself."

As he faced her, she winced.

"What's the matter?"

"I-It's nothing. Just...your eye...I'm sorry, I can't get over the fact that it was my fault. You saved me again, and...if it weren't for that, your eye wouldn't have-"

Train sighed, lifting a finger to gently touch the black patch stretched over his right eye.

"This again, Princess? I've told you time and time again to stop blaming yourself. What, was I supposed to just let you burn to a crisp along with the warehouse? I personally think that we're lucky to have escaped with only a few charred scars and a scorched eye."

Eve sat on the edge of the bed and looked down at her feet.

"Rinslet...is our only friend we have left from our past. We absolutely can't let anything happen to her."

Train stretched his limbs and sat up.

"And we won't. You said so yourself, Princess. We didn't come back for lolly-gagging. Nor did we become Sweepers for no reason."

Eve clenched her teeth.

"I won't rest until that infernal syndicate is eradicated. The Apostles will rue the day they ever tangled with us."

Train grinned.

"That said, Li'l Princess...while I was out seeing Rinslet, did you get the bounty? Those who have no source of income can't exactly deal with organized crime, after all."

"Hmph. Unlike you, I wasn't taking my merry time. You were there at her shop an awfully long time, Train."

She glared at him.

"Oh, could this possibly be? Are you perhaps jealous, Li'l Princess? Turning green with envy?" Train teased.

She violently flung a worn piece of paper at him, blushing as he laughed all the while. He caught the paper with two fingers, noticing the picture a gruff looking man with a beard.

"Shut up! Don't be ridiculous."

He laughed.

"Eve, you're always so cute. Good friend though she is, Rinslet wasn't the one traveling with me for three years, Li'l Princess. You're irreplaceable, I hope you realize."

"H-Hmph. Whatever, let's just get started on the bounty already."

"As you wish, your Highness," Train joked, as he looked down at the piece of paper.

"Forty five thousand dollars? Pretty good for a day's work, wouldn't you say?"

Eve was already at the door, inserting her arms smoothly into the sleeves of a leather jacket, sliding her gun into the holster at her hip.

"Let's get this done quickly."

"Couldn't agree more, Princess," Train exclaimed cheerfully, ruffling her hair as he walked by.

The door creaked to a close behind them.

"Oi, boss, we gotta be careful. This city's supposedly just crawling with bounty hunters and Sweepers alike, not to mention that Chronos organization."

The large, bulky man bit down on his cigar as he smirked.

"Nothing to worry about. I've already seen what this place has got to offer in terms of opposition. Not very impressive, to say the least. Must've had about forty scrubs come after me already, and not one of 'em gave me the least bit o' trouble. Our business here'll be a breeze."

"Even so..."

"I know what I'm doing, Kendall. Now hurry up an' bring in the rest of it. The truck's waiting on the street."

"R-Right, boss."

The scrawny man hastily ran off towards a stack of bundles. He chose one and struggled to sling it over his shoulder.

Kendall wobbled slightly, before righting himself and walking towards the opening in the narrow alleyway, one that led into the street. The back part of a truck could just barely be distinguished from his vantage point. Along with him were around fourteen others, each hauling their own sacks toward the truck.

Suddenly, Kendall's eyes widened, the bag in his hands plummeting to the ground as his grip loosened.

The large man took notice.

"Hey, what the hell's goin' on, Kendall? Don't tell that even that much is too heavy for y-"

But Kendall shook his head with fervor, opting not to speak, instead pointing towards the part of the alleyway opening into the sidewalk.

Heads turned to where he was pointing, and witnessed the sudden appearance of two shadows, one shorter than the other.

One walked into the dim lighting of the alley, revealing itself to be a man with tufts of brown hair and a long, black trench coat.

He looked around before speaking.

"Might one of you be Earl Hastings, the one accused of numerous accounts of smuggling and embezzlement?"

The large man grinned, rising to his feet, projecting a wide girth around him.

"And what of it? I am Earl. I see two more dead pigeons have flapped their way unknowingly into our den. I apologize, for you have already witnessed too much. You will not leave here alive."

He casually motioned to two of his subordinates, who immediately opened fire, their guns rapidly expelling bullets from within the depths of their barrels.

However, their target had already disappeared from sight, causing the bullets to ricochet harmlessly off the decrepit walls flanking the alley.

In a split second, he reappeared directly in front of the closest of them, and promptly slammed his fist into the brute's abdomen, who instantly collapsed onto the stone pavement.

The second hastily turned to face the assailant, only to have his gun effortlessly swatted out of his hands, before he himself was sent crashing into the far wall with a brutal kick.

The other men all looked on in surprise, before regaining themselves and raised their guns, which were pointed towards the man in the trench coat.

"Wait!" shouted Earl, who held up his hand.

Kendall looked questioningly at his boss.

"Wh-What is it, sir?"

He frowned, looking in the direction of his opponents, sizing them up. The second person walked into view as well, and revealed herself as a female wearing a leather jacket.

"A black eye-patch on the right eye," Earl murmured as he glanced towards the man. "...and blond hair of such length that it reaches the ground," he exclaimed as he shifted his view towards the girl.

He narrowed his eyes.

"Could it be? Rumors tell of the two partnered bounty hunters, who are relentless in their endeavors, to the extent that no prey has ever been able to evade their deadly grasp."

Earl rubbed his chin thoughtfully, before grinning.

"Yes...the legendary Sweepers. The fabled Black Cat, and his infamous associate, Golden Darkness."

The girl inclined her head to the side slightly without changing her expression.

"And if we are?"

Earl gritted his teeth.

"Hmph. You are right. It matters not! I don't care how skilled you are, you're still just two people, and I'll be damned if I let myself get beaten like this!"

He turned towards his men and yelled.

"Kill them!"

They obeyed, and showered the air with bullets.

With a flash of gold and black, the two Sweepers ducked away behind a trash can. If the shells did not fly harmlessly over their heads, then they peppered the rusted metal of the container shielding the two.

The Black Cat cupped his hands and brought them low towards the ground, before feeling the sole of Golden Darkness' shoe pressing against his palms.

With a grunt, he flung her into the air, and she soared overhead in a wide arc.

Earl grinned.

"Fools! No matter how good you are, you can't maneuver in mid-air!"

Every gun was suddenly pointed upwards, towards the somersaulting girl above them, her outline silhouetted against the blinding sun.

Suddenly, the Black Cat stood up and, within the span of three seconds, promptly and effortlessly fired at the hands of every one of the Earl's subordinates.

Before any of them could fire a single shot at Golden Darkness, their guns spiraled away from them, useless, and they clutched at their wrists in pain.

Golden Darkness landed directly behind Earl, whose eyes widened in abject horror. He felt the barrel of a gun pressed softly against the back of his cranium.

"H-How...?" he whispered. "How was I...so soundly defeated...by only two people?"

The Black Cat, who strolled over to them, chuckled.

"How, indeed? I'm afraid there really is no way we'd lose to you. We aren't merely two individuals. We're partners, who trust each other seamlessly with our very lives. Our souls have been bound together by shared experience."

From behind him, Earl heard Golden Darkness speak. She possessed a light, delicate voice, befitting that of a fragile doll. Yet, her tone suggested anything but.

"Because we've been through hell and back together...because we've seen and helped each other in our darkest of moments, our deepest of tragedies, our most overwhelming of joys and fears..."

Earl heard the click that signified his hands becoming bound by cuffs.

"...There exists a bond between us that is everlasting. Something irrevocable..."

The Black Cat stopped in front of Earl, still wearing a smile.

"...and something which we can't even begin to understand."

Author's Notes: Hooray! Train and Eve live! Ain't that great news? Wow, for once, I didn't end on a cliffhanger. I seem to be habitually drawn to those, for some reason. In any case, nothing terribly major happened in this chapter, as you can tell, but I mainly used it to set up the context of the aftermath of the warehouse explosion, and the three years following it. And did anyone catch the To-Love-Ru reference I hurled in there? Eve's title fits rather well, eh? Heh. Well, in any case, I think it was interesting to have the last portion of the chapter be from Earl's perspective. I hope I pulled it off well enough, as I haven't really done anything like this in the past that much. Oh well, my precious readers will be the judge of that, right? Review, please!

Random Quotation of the day:

"We would not seek a battle as we are, yet as we are, we say we will not shun it."

-King Henry V, Shakespeare