Author's note: I must be crazy, starting this when I haven't even updated my Inu-Yasha story "Darkest Hour" and have so much work to do with promoting my book and beginning the continuation of the story in the second book…but the muse would not be denied. So here is my first multi-chaptered Chrono Crusade story, filling the gaping hole between the end of episode 23 and the middle of the final episode where Rosette and Chrono are living in the old farmhouse before they die in each other's arms. And the time frame is based on the scene where Sister Kate is reading about Black Thursday, October 24, 1929, the Great Crash as she gets the news. As always I cannot lay claim to Chrono Crusade, it is the property of ADV and the creation of Daisuke Moriyama.
SIX MONTHS
End of March
Central Park---March 1929
The battle with Aion had concluded with his last words being the very same words whispered by Jesus Christ as He gave up the ghost, His task of redemption for mankind complete, His sacrificial action one of perfect Divine Love. Yet directly opposite Aion, who had a history of corrupting that of which was most sacred, perversely uttered "Eloi Eloi lama sabachthami---My God My God why have You forsaken me?" before he succumbed to the final blow. The blow delivered to him by once comrade, now enemy, the demon Chrono, was the finish to the demonic reign of terror that Aion carried on as he mocked God and entertained similar delusions of grandeur that Lucifer had which, like that former angel of light had ultimately led to his fall. Aion instead experienced the fulfilling of another word of scripture, which was the result of the wages of sin. As the consummate sinner, he was awarded death.
Over a ways, Chrono was on the ground, collapsed after the borrowed energy of his contractor waned and his own wounds spurted as blood ran down his side. But he could feel the regeneration and healing of the wound as the human life source carried on what astral energy could not, without his demon conductors, his horns. For they were gone, used for a more noble purpose, to slay Aion after being used to control and destroy one of the Almighty's chosen Apostles, the young man Joshua Christopher and brother of his precious contractor, Rosette.
His sherry eyes then scanned the grassy knoll and Chrono saw the supine, motionless form of the young woman who had pledged her life to give him access to his dormant powers, quite selflessly and often impulsively. The watch conductor was open and the hands of the timepiece were rushing forwards, revolving rapidly as days, weeks, months, sped by for Rosette, sucking life from her. Horrified by the sight of the one he treasured most fallen, Chrono rushed to her side.
Kneeling beside her, Chrono gently lifted Rosette, cradling her in loving arms, his heart tearing as he imagined the worst. He murmured, "Rosette? Rosette? Please speak to me."
Her azure orbs flickered as she rasped, "Chrono? I-is it over?"
He smiled softly and nodded, "It's over, Rosette, it's all over. You're now free of Aion. He's dead."
"Y-you killed him?"
"Yeah."
Rosette asked fearfully, "And Joshua?"
"He's been taken to the Order by Anne, Claire, and Mary to be treated but he's going to be fine."
She awarded him with a weak smile. "So everything's jake, huh?"
Chrono chuckled as he nodded again. "Yeah, everything's duck soup." His smile then faded as concern furrowed his brow. But really, how are you feeling, Rosette?"
She moaned slightly as she grinned and replied, "I'm okay." She tried to prove the point by sitting up higher but then fell back into Chrono's arms as he snorted.
"Oh sure. You're still a lousy liar, you know. You're in tough shape and I should get you back to the Order. But first---,"
Chrono then reached for the watch conductor to close the portals and revert to his diminutive form of a youth to preserve her life but her hand stayed him. "No Chrono, don't."
He was perplexed as he asked, "Why not, Rosette? I don't need my powers now and the militia's still around so I can transform back and we can both head over." He reached again for the timepiece and she stopped him once more.
"Chrono please," Rosette beseeched, her eyes wide cerulean pools that drew him in an irresistible force. "Could you take me somewhere first?"
Chrono sighed as the azure orbs were bewitching him as they always had since the day he first saw them as he was awakened from his lonely vigil by Magdalene's coffin. "If we go back to the militia, I can borrow a car and take you wherever you want to go," he reasoned gently while he continued in earnest, "but if the portal stays open any longer, your life will slip completely away. And I can't allow that." Chrono leaned closer and finished softly as tears ran from his eyes, "I told you before I won't live without you, Rosette. I refuse to let you die."
Rosette reached a hand to his cheek and brushed away the warm rivulet as she smiled. "But I need you to take me back, Chrono. Back to---,"
From the look of sad determination on her lovely face he knew instantly. "Seventh Bell."
She nodded. "We have unfinished business there. Now that Joshua's all right, the time has come to make time start again. And in order to do that you know I need your powers." And the stigmata about her forehead began to drip blood as her resolve to save the only family she had ever known at the orphanage solidified.
Chrono observed the phenomena then lowered his head in resignation, his heart sinking as he knew deep inside that she was right. Rosette could do no less for from the moment they first met he knew that is what her life's mission always was, to help others sacrificially, putting her own needs aside, first with her brother and then as she served in the Magdalene Order. It was the part of her that was her very core and one of the main reasons he fell so desperately and totally in love with her. And since she had received the sacred marks on her body, she was even more steadfast in her desire to serve humbly, not unlike the Savior Himself. Chrono then glanced to the side and saw Aion's horns, both intact even after he had been pierced by them in battle and seeing them still alight with astral energy he retrieved them for a very specific use, tucking them away.
"I understand," he stated, burying his emotions as he reached his arm around Rosette's shoulders and under her legs to scoop her up. Scowling, he rose up and commanded gruffly, "Put your arms around my neck and hold on tight to me."
She noticed Chrono's dour demeanor and asked softly, "Are you angry with me, Chrono?"
He gazed at her face, looking so beautiful and brave and his heart was bursting with love and admiration for her. Not trusting himself to speak, he shook his head as he squeezed her reassuringly, pressing his lips to her forehead in a soft kiss.
Rosette then reached and in turn planted a kiss on his cheek while she did as he bade. "Thank you, Chrono."
"Yeah." Chrono nodded with a gnawing feeling of trepidation as he spread his wings and took off into the afternoon sky, a golden light against the blue expanse…
…………………………………………………………………………………………
The grounds surrounding what once was Seventh Bell Orphanage had shown little change in four years outside of the obvious fact that nature had gone on even if time had stopped for its inhabitants. Shrubs were higher and seedlings had grown into young trees. Grass had become tall without Billy to mow it every Saturday as part of his chores, overgrowing the ruins of the stone structure that had born the brunt of the demonic power of a possessed Joshua Christopher, sporting the horns of a demon that had slain one hundred million of his own. In the courtyard the further evidence of the halting of time was seen in the terrified frozen figures of Sara and Nelly fleeing for their lives. Inside the building Miss Jean was with other children looking as if she were trying to bring order to the chaos induced by Joshua's acquisition of Chrono's horns, the causality of Aion's evil plan to battle God. At that fateful moment everyone at the orphanage became frozen in time, like stone that remains static as ages pass.
Chrono landed right in the front of the orphanage and scanned the area, letting Rosette down as the two gazed in stunned silence at the eerie tableau. Still clad in the black dress she wore as Aion's servant, the Holy Woman, Rosette slowly went from one stone figure to the other, her cerulean eyes brimming with tears as she went back in time to remember that day…
She was upset and raced over to the mausoleum that held the coffin of Mary Magdalene, where she knew she would find her new friend Chrono. Since the day she and Joshua had literally stumbled upon the buried tomb and dormant demon, she had come often to share food and friendship with him, which he reciprocated as the trio all grasped at the fleeting joy within their respective sadness. But the minister from the Order named for the entombed saint had come, knowing of her younger brother's powers of healing and ascertaining the possibility of him being an Apostle. He had convinced Joshua to come with him back east to New York and Rosette ran to the tomb, to search out Chrono for comfort, tears streaming down her face, causing him to be alarmed and concerned for her. But as he came forward to offer the comfort she had sought, they were interrupted by a sinister bird that seemed to mock them from the tree that stood in stark contrast against a red moon…
Aion…
The demon had disguised himself as an eagle with red eyes that burned maliciously as Chrono glowered at him in disgust. Aion had made a genial offer for Chrono to join him once again in the pursuit of their dream along with the offer of the return of his horns, which he refused. Then Aion in his despicable way informed them both that he had in fact given Chrono's horns to someone else…
Joshua…
Aion had delivered his coup de gras with malevolent glee, prompting Rosette to gasp in total disbelief. Chrono then transformed to his full demonic form and scooped her up to rush back to the orphanage and her mind filled with the past as she remembered what was…
She was supposed to protect him…it was a solemn vow she made that snowy day in the graveyard…when the gravediggers had deposited the bodies of their parents in the cold, winter-bared earth. She had held him then, a sobbing six year old who could not understand why his mommy and daddy had been taken away by angels to Heaven as she had explained. So as Rosette held her brother's convulsing body, trembling from both grief and the cold wind, she vowed that no matter what…she would always protect Joshua…
Then Miss Jean and Sister Kate had taken them both away…to go to Seventh Bell Orphanage, nestled deep in the Michigan countryside, for the remainder of their Wonder years, until they reached the age of 16, when they would be considered old enough to fend for themselves. And for life at an orphanage, Seventh Bell was a far cry from the horror stories Rosette had heard with the compassionate and caring Miss Jean who loved the boisterous group over which she had charge as if they were her own. There she had found was some small portion of happiness…
Then came the piercing headaches that began with Joshua…pain filled interludes where he felt his head would split in two, screaming into the wee hours of the morning until exhausted, he would fall asleep in her arms. It was a good thing Miss Jean put them in a room that was far from the others in the dormitory or on those nights, nobody would get any sleep whatsoever. But still, Rosette endured her own weariness as she sang softly to Joshua, cradling him to offer comfort as an oasis in the midst of his agony. And yet at the same time, he himself had the power to ease the pains of others, a sad paradox in the truest sense…
Until that horrible day, the day time stopped at Seventh Bell…the day Joshua became the tool of evil, bearing the horns of a bloodthirsty demon who froze Seventh Bell and its inhabitants in their tracks, leaving behind total devastation…
Aion…that beast Rosette said fiercely to herself as she stared at what damage his evil had wrought. He's gone now and good riddance. Now maybe Chrono and I can right his wrongs.
A gentle touch to her shoulders alerted Rosette to Chrono's presence for experiencing the horror from four years ago had made her completely forget about him. She turned and looked up into the still transformed full form of the demon whose very horns had created the chaos around her yet only saw his gentle expression and the soft glow in his eyes. She felt his love for her radiating from those eyes and somehow, the overwhelming sadness of her reawakened memories dissipated like dust in the wind.
"Rosette," he murmured, concern etched on his face. "Are you alright?"
She just nodded woodenly. "Uh-huh."
But Chrono was not fooled. "No, you're not." His hands grasped her by the shoulders and he stated, "You're trembling."
Rosette gazed into those warm pools of sherry and yearned to throw herself at his chiseled chest and allow the luxury of falling to pieces in his arms but her staunch sense of duty would not permit it. She pulled away from him and demanded, "Do you have the horns?" sounding as she always did on a mission for the Order, all business.
Chrono's face, showing dismay at her action snapped to attention, pulling the crimson conductors forward. "Right here."
"Then let's get to it."
"Understood."
Chrono prepared to place the horns to his head to summon the astral energy needed to perform the task but hesitated as he warned, "We'd better put some distance between us and this place. Once the causality of the energy is invoked to bring them back, it could have an opposite effect on you."
Curious, Rosette inquired, "How so?"
Chrono replied, "Because the time will be reversed for a while as they go back to the time before Joshua's attack, it could send you back in time as well." His eyes on the rapidly rotating hands of the contract watch he added as an afterthought, "Maybe that's not entirely a bad thing."
"Why is that?" Rosette wanted to know.
Chrono's eyes grew anguished as he whispered, "Because you might just get back some of the life I've stolen from you." He lowered his head in guilt.
Rosette came before him and getting on her tiptoes, reached up to caress the cheek of the fallen angel who towered over her.
"Silly, how many times do I have to tell you? It was my choice to bind myself to you and offer my life for you to draw power from. I know now and knew then that it would shorten my life and I have absolutely no regrets." She then smiled a sweet smile, causing her eyes to twinkle like a jewel.
His heart pounding, Chrono felt himself falling even deeper in love with her as he nodded. "Very well then. You take off and head for cover and I'll take care of this. But I want you to promise me one thing."
"What?"
"That when we're finished here doing what we came to do, you'll close the watch portal…and never open it again."
She protested, "But Chrono, suppose you--,"
His voice was grim and brooked no excuses. "Rosette, promise me."
He would not be denied so the former Holy Woman sighed in surrender. "I understand and I promise," Rosette said as she glanced around, one more time. "Wait till I get about a quarter mile away and then let 'er rip." She then sprinted down the road, leaving Chrono to do what he had to. When she reached a good distance away, Rosette turned and looked at the sight of the orphanage and was amazed at what she witnessed.
A green glow of energy illuminated the entire area, funneled down from the Astral Line aloft far above the Earth then the sky darkened as a tempest dropped and hovered over the area. Then it was like Rosette was at a penny arcade, watching a nickelodeon going backwards as the events of four years ago were reversed, as trees that had been flattened and defoliated sprang up and were fully restored to their former glory. Transfixed, she watched as the whirlwind ran counterclockwise and the orphanage buildings were reconstructed as walls re-materialized and repositioned and the dormitory and barn were standing whole as if nothing had ever happened. Then it dissipated and retracted back into the sky, which had been dark and stormy and became sunny and clear.
Rosette took a deep breath as she saw a figure in gold streaking across the sky and landing before her, Chrono glowing as his power was evident. He then stepped forward to address her.
"It's done," he stated as he glanced back at the now intact building in the distance. "Everyone's the same as if nothing happened four years ago. Miss Jean and the children are alive and well."
"Good. I-I'm glad," Rosette said as she became weak and collapsed on the grass, alarming the demon as he rushed to her side in a panic.
"ROSETTE!" he cried as he knelt besides her, enfolding her in his arms, his heart constricting as he immediately surmised that her life force was on the wane, due to the portal being open so long.
She offered a wan smile and tried to reassure him. "D-don't worry about me, Chrono. W-we still have one more thing to take care of, then I'll close the watch and never open it again, just as I promised."
Chrono closed his eyes and nodded, composing himself as he knew right away to what she was referring. Without a word, he scooped Rosette up and leapt into the air, flying over to where they first met, the mausoleum where Mary of Magdalene's remains rested. He landed there and after putting Rosette down, went to pull open the door to enter. But she stood back, uncertainty on her face, suddenly feeling very awkward.
"C'mon Rosette," Chrono said, reaching his hand to her but then spied the unusual reticence of the always bold young woman and became bemused. "Rosette, what's wrong?"
Pasting a too-bright smile on her lips she shook her head. "N-no that's okay. You go ahead without me."
"Why?" he wanted to know, his gaze gently questioning. "I have the horns here, to lay them to rest." He held Aion's appendages in his hand as he asked, "Don't you want to see the end of everything?"
Rosette lowered her head as she replied, "I-I don't have to…t-that is if it's easier for you if I stay out here."
Now Chrono was even more confused. "Why would I want you to stay out here?" He reached to take hold of her chin and raised her head so they could meet eye-to-eye. "Tell me, Rosette."
She gazed straight into the warm orbs like garnets and bit her lip as she answered, "Because you might want to be alone, to speak to Mary privately." She turned away and murmured, "I know you loved her very much."
Understanding lit Chrono's features and his eyes glowed softly as he responded, gently turning her head back to face him and saying, "That's true. I did love her very much fifty years ago but now--," he paused for effect and smiled. "I love you."
Rosette was struck silent as he continued, "Rosette, I have to tell you something so please listen. When I fought Joshua and broke off my horns from him, the same thing that happened to the children at the orphanage…happened to me. I became completely frozen, at least on the outside."
At her shocked expression Chrono nodded and went on. "When that happened, the militia took me back to the Order and placed me in a storage shed, where I remained frozen until the apparition of Mary appeared. She came and spoke to me, words that took me back to fifty years ago, when I met her in the library of the Order and whisked her away to where Aion and the rest of us Sinners were. We were going to use her powers as a prophet and the head of Pandemonium to channel the Astral Line and make us the most powerful beings on Earth. But something happened…"
Rosette was mesmerized as Chrono told his tale. "As I was assigned to watch over Magdalene the Holy One she shared with me the incredible news that she had foreseen of her meeting with me. That she had visions of me when she was a child, visions of me…crying." He lowered his head in abject sadness as he added, "And most shocking of all, that I was the one who would take her life. Yet when I asked her why she had accepted being with me since I would kill her, she told me it was because she had fallen in love with me. And at those words, my heart too became lost to her."
"Oh Chrono," Rosette whispered as she saw the agony in the features of her friend. Yet unable to help herself she then asked, "What else happened?"
His voice filled with bitterness Chrono continued, "Aion determined that she was not to help us achieve our dream but that she was in fact planted by God to destroy us. So he commanded that I kill her. When I refused and tried to protect her, he came at me to kill her himself and in the heat of our battle, tore off my horns, mortally wounding me. Mary had knelt beside me as I mentioned how the tides had turned and I was to die instead of her but she refused to accept my words and produced…the watch. She then vowed to give her life in exchange, entering into a contract with me and as her life force revived me…she died in my arms. And I remained here at her final resting place for fifty years until…,"
Rosette gasped as her hands went instantly to the timepiece hanging from her neck, its hands still moving forward as her own life force was extracted. Her eyes were wide cerulean saucers as she digested Chrono's story and he seemed to relive his past once again. She shook her head as she said, "Joshua and I found you, four years ago."
"Uh-huh."
"So how did you come out of being frozen?"
Chrono's hands covered hers as he murmured, "All this appeared to me as I was frozen and Mary's spirit came before me. Then she spoke to me and stated the fact that I'm in love with you and that I needed to save you, that it was my duty and destiny as I admitted the desire to protect you was stronger than even my love for her. So she brought me back, to save you."
He released Rosette's hands and cupped her face, smiling tenderly as he said, "Rosette, I love you, with all of my heart. Even Mary knew that." He then took hold of her hand and pulled her to the door of Magdalene's tomb. "So come with me as I say good-bye to her for the last time."
Rosette bit her lip and then nodded. "Okay."
Chrono pushed and the door opened with a loud creak, ushering them into the dank tomb where the remains of the one for whom the Magdalene Order was named were laid. Rosette shivered as the heavy and cold feeling of death enveloped her and she clung tighter to Chrono's hand as he led her to the casket and then to the portrait of Mary of Magdalene that hung over it. There, Mary's likeness gazed down upon them with a serene Mona Lisa smile, almost knowingly.
Chrono then released Rosette's hand and drew out the crimson horns that once were Aion's. He reached up with his fingers to the portrait and let them linger on Mary's cheek in a reverent caress as feeling increasingly uncomfortable Rosette backed away, giving Chrono a small measure of privacy.
"It's been fifty years, Mary. And at last I can say that Aion is dead, having paid for his multitude of sins because I finally killed him, avenging your death. So here is the proof."
He proffered the horns and slid them in the frame of the painting as he spoke softly his final words to his former beloved, "So your words of prophecy to me came true. I did have to harm someone who was once close to me in order to protect someone else important to me." He gazed over at Rosette for a moment then lowered his raven head and said, "I failed to protect you Mary, causing you to give your life for mine but I swear I'll never make that mistake again. Rest in peace, dear love."
Chrono bowed his head for a minute, then sighed and turned toward Rosette, who stood back observing, her eyes filled with compassion for him in his pain. He was moved by her support and smiled at her lovingly, approaching her and then reaching out, his hands on the watch portals.
"Rosette, it's time now. We came and did what we had to do. Now the watch must be closed," he said gently.
She protested, "Chrono, I---," but he shook his head.
"No, Rosette. You have a promise to keep and so do I. Remember the night at the carnival I vowed I would not let you die and I just swore those words again. I never intend on breaking that promise, ever. And I won't let you break your promise, either." He cradled her face with one hand as he added, "But first…,"
Chrono leaned down and captured Rosette's lips with his own, her eyes wide pools that fluttered closed as he teased her mouth open to receive him. He then kissed her with all the love stored in his heart, taking her breath away as his tongue explored the sweet cavern of her mouth, making her oblivious to everything but him…
While he was ravaging her with the soft storm of his passion, Chrono's other hand was free and he slid it to where the watch lay on her bosom. He then deftly closed the portals causing the rapidly rotating hands to cease, preserving what was remaining of her life once more. He immediately reverted back to the diminutive figure of a thirteen-year-old boy as he continued to kiss her, not missing a beat.
From her side Rosette was still aloft in the heights of emotion, aware only of Chrono's lips as she eagerly responded, her arms snaked about his torso, not noticing that the center of gravity had dropped considerably when he transformed. So when they finally were spent and drew apart, she was surprised to see the fallen angel that had towered over her was again the youth with the long braid who had been her partner. And then she noticed the watch portal had been closed.
"Chrono," she said, her right hand on the timepiece as he held her by the left. "You closed the watch down."
He nodded, "That's right I did. I told you I wasn't going to let you break your promise to me and I meant it." With a look of sheer determination he added adamantly, "You'll never open that watch again, no matter what happens, I'll see to that."
"B-but what if you get hurt..?"
He yelled, "I said NEVER, damnit!"
Shocked by the outburst from the usually placid and genial demon and realizing his true intent, Rosette pulled her hand away and said dully, " So that's why you kissed me. To distract me so you could close the portals." She tried to turn away but Chrono grasped her arms in a firm grip.
"No, Rosette," he said softly, his voice in the low timbre of his true form. "I kissed you because I wanted to as a symbol of me embracing my future as I leave behind my past." He reached up to caress her face as he continued, "You are my future, my destiny, and my life and I kissed you to leave no doubt that my heart is yours, always and forever."
Her eyes glimmering with unshed tears, Rosette whispered, "Oh Chrono."
He took her hand. "C'mon. Let's get out of here, Rosette."
The door opened and the golden light of the setting sun streamed into the mausoleum, bathing the fallen angel and former sister of the Order of Magdalene as they exited the darkness and entered the light…
NEXT….APRIL 1929.…A NEW LIFE