Disclaimer: I of course own Chrono Crusade-Sees Lawyers ready to start suing-PLUSHIES . ; but not the characters and plot!

Full Summary: Ever since she turned twelve Rosette Christopher had always felt something in her life was missing, something quite important. Living pretty much alone with her younger brother Joshua, except for the rare occasions when their aunt came back home from work, the two have gone on with life as best they could in their small three-bedroom apartment. Yet, when Ray the bus driver decides he wants to teach Rosette about responsibility, a normal day gets twisted into a horrific journey about the true cause of their parent's tragic death and the strange secret in the past that could possibly be the key to saving the world from endless darkness.

Something's Missing

Chapter One: Lost

Red eyes, why did she always see red eyes? When trapped in the darkness the red eyes lead her to the much missed light. Her only wish was to meet those red eyes, and lead them to the same light they showed her. Such sad, longing red eyes...Who did they belong to? Whose soul was crying out to her, begging her to embrace their spirit and show them the missing love that echoed so deeply in their heart?

Her hand stretched out, trying to reach the shadowed figure that haunted her thoughts and dreams. 'Almost there!' she thought, excitement gripping her, perhaps this time she would reach him? Maybe this time would be different then the others, maybe this time she would be allowed to save him to?

Then it happened.

Flames, endless flames erupted and nearly engulfed her delicate hand, the heat scorching it painfully in warning. She recoiled back with a small cry, her ocean eyes a swirl of disappointment and fear. Cradling her injured appendage she looked back up, and tears burst forth. Once again for another night she couldn't save him from the flames, once more he was left alone to die, crying her name.

"Rosette!"

She fell to her knees, her hands flying to her ears in an attempt to block his tortured screams. "No...I failed again..." she whimpered, her eyes closing tightly as her head shook in denial.

"Rosette, I'm sorry..."

She gritted her teeth, why, why did he always apologize! She was the one who failed him! It was all her fault that he died, he did it for her! He wasn't supposed to die, he was supposed to go on living a happy life, perhaps with someone else. He was meant to continue to smile and shine his wondrous light on those worthy, not someone with a selfish heart such as hers!

"Forgive me..."

She let out a scream, "Stop it! Just stop!" before she stood, her hands fisted as she continued to shout at the flames that she knew were devouring him alive, "It's my fault! It's my fault just say it!" she pleaded to him; she needed to hear it, for some reason she wanted to hear him say it.

"Live Rosette...Live..."

"No!" She cried out helplessly, her legs moving as she made way to run into the horrid flames that felt as hot as hell. "I'll save you, you'll live! Live please live!" she begged, more tears falling, caressing her cheeks and leaving sticky streaks behind. Just as she was about to enter the fire, the sensation of falling greeted her, and she found herself becoming surrounded by new darkness.

"No..." She whispered as the flames faded in the distance above her, "I couldn't save you again..."

Her eyes snapped open, and she sprung upward on her bed, panting heavily. Her golden locks were a complete mess from tossing and turning in her sleep, as well as her poor helpless bed. Eyes wide with fright it took her a moment to realize just where she was, and relaxing she laid back down with a small flump. 'I had that dream again...' a bitter smile crept upon her face at the knowledge, and her eyes glanced to her alarm clock.

3:00am, "Right on cue." she muttered out, a long tired sigh escaping her. Turning on her side, her back now to the hated alarm clock she curled deeper in her blanket. 'Why do I keep having this dream?' she asked herself silently, a frown crossing her features. Ever since she turned twelve she had the same dream every night, always awaking at 3:00am.

Always.

That was four long miserable years ago. That's right, she was normal with peaceful sleeps four years ago. Back then she never felt a void in her soul, like something important was missing, something very important. Try as she might she couldn't figure out what had changed when she turned twelve, why she suddenly felt so lonely.

"I'm not alone though, I have Joshua." she reminded herself, like she always did every night. It was strange, she had an odd paranoia that for some reason her younger brother would up and vanish on her. That began; you guessed it, when she was twelve.

Why had everything gone so strange at that age? It made no sense, and when she didn't understand something directly involving her, it pissed her off greatly. Growling she stuffed her head under her pillow and let out a frustrated cry. Curse the age twelve to the lowest pits of hell! Curse it!

Bringing her head back to the surface after a few minutes, she laid on her pillow like normal once more. She would have to get up...glancing back to her mocking alarm clock that now read 4:00am, her eye twitched, "In three hours!" She whispered incredulously, before lifting the blankets above her head in dismay. Stupid school!

And, with annoyance, she fell back asleep ten minutes later.

"Rosette, you're going to be late get up!"

With a groan she stuffed her face under her pillow, trying to hide from the suddenly bright light that erupted in her dark room.

"Rosette, did you hear me? You're going to be late!" The male voice hissed, and her eyes snapped open. Sitting up, she quickly looked at her clock, before her face paled.

"7:45! AAAAHHH!"

The cry was expected for the boy in the doorway, an amused look crossing his features as he chuckled at her. His ocean eyes suddenly widened however and he ducked, narrowly missing the pillow that was suddenly thrown at him. Hands on his golden locks he slowly stood up, sending his sister an incredulous stare, "Hey!"

Rosette scowled, taking another pillow in her hand, "GET OUT SO I CAN CHANGE JOSHUA!" she screeched, throwing another pillow in his direction, "HOW COME YOU DIDN'T WAKE ME UP SOONER!" she cried out in dismay, her eyes flaming in rage.

Having gone through the same ritual each morning, Joshua wasn't surprised by his sister's rage. Though it did get annoying, especially when the pillows hit him. Speaking of which..."Ow! That one hurt Rosette! It's not my fault you keep hitting the sleep button on you're clock!" he complained after the pillow she threw hit him smack in his face. Rubbing his nose sourly he grumbled incoherent words under his breath about stupid anger management sisters before leaving her room, closing the door behind him as he did so.

Rosette sunk to the floor, "Why me?" she moped, before a determined gleam entered her eyes. With a single hand fisted in front of her, she smiled that smile of hers that promised danger to any who got in her way, "I wont be late this time, not if it kills me! I still have..." She looked to her clock and nearly died, "Ten minutes to get ready! AHHH!"

Jumping off the floor she went into super speed mode, as her brother who was almost like her twin called it. Zooming around her bedroom she got her clothes on in five seconds flat, before she ran downstairs, stuffed down a plain piece of bread before grabbing her lunch pre-made the night before from the fridge. Then she bolted out the door, stopping only to lock it behind her before she raced down the hallway of their apartment building.

"Gotta get to the bus, gotta get to the bus!" she chanted over and over, urging her legs to go faster. She took a quick glance at her wristwatch, and let out another scream, "AAAAHHH! It's 8:00!" Dismay filled her and she forced herself to go even faster, skipping the elevator knowing that it would be to slow to take.

Charging down the stairs, glad that no one ever used them, she eventually went from the third floor to the main. Bursting through the building doors, she looked to her right only to see Joshua boarding the bus a block away at the corner stop. Eyes wide she tore down the sidewalk, apologizing to the many people she crashed into in the process who glared and mouthed off at her. Damn New Yorkers.

"WAIT! Don't leave!" She cried out when the bus doors closed, the signal light flashing mockingly in her eyes. She was almost there, almost!

The bus driver let out a sigh when he seen Rosette charging down the sidewalk, and he debated on whether to teach her a lesson or let her on the bus, late again. Grumbling he chose to ignore her this time, deciding it would give her a chance to be more responsible. He knew both Rosette and Joshua since they were young kids, and even then Rosette was always the one late while Joshua was always the one on time. Over the years it never changed...maybe that's because he never did anything about it.

Smirking almost evilly to himself, he pulled away from the curb, entering the traffic before driving off. He looked in his mirror to see Joshua's surprised expression and merely shrugged at him, "It's time I teach her responsibility. If I keep letting her on late then she'll never learn." he explained, and her brother seemed to silently agree.

Laughing a bit to himself Joshua looked out the window to see Rosette's shocked and horrified expression, "I hope this teaches her not to hit the snooze button...Ray, did you know she threw a pillow at me this morning for waking her up late?" he complained to the bus driver who was more like an adopted father.

Ray let out a hearty laugh, "Sounds like Rosette. She does that every morning, you should be used to it by now." he smirked at Joshua's pouting expression, and smiling now he continued, "Hey, no long faces on Friday. You know the rules, Friday's are always good days." he joked, and Joshua nodded, laughing with him.

"I just hope Rosette will be fine by herself, I wonder what she's going to do?" he asked Ray, who seemed to tense a bit.

"I never thought of that...I hope it's nothing stupid." he frowned, thinking of all the idiotic things she had done in the past. His heart sank, oh, what was he thinking? At least if Rosette was on his bus he could make sure she didn't do something totally reckless to get to school!

Joshua laughed nervously, "Don't count on it when it comes to Rosette...Man, in today's world it could be anything!" he pictured her talking to some poor stranger in a car, trying to hitch a ride and complaining all the way about how the bus driver left without her.

The scene changed to her walking to school, before coming across a fire and running into the building stupidly to save some poor kid. Once more his mind mocked him with horrific sense of Rosette getting into trouble, ranging from being ambushed by aliens, to somehow getting into a helicopter crash, or ending up involved in a murder scene. His face paled, as did the bus driver whose thoughts were oddly similar to his own.

"Should I go back?" he suddenly ask Joshua, who shook his head, "You'll make everyone else late, and she's probably gone off somewhere by now..." he trailed off, suddenly very nervous. Rosette may be his big sister, but it was only by a single year. As her brother he was protective of her, and it seemed she was the same when it came to him. 'Be ok Rosette...please don't get into anything bad.' he prayed, but inwardly knew it was pointless. After all in 2006 New York there were all sorts of horrible things that could happen to a single girl in one day.

"He...he..." she blinked stupidly, shock evident in her eyes as she watched the bus drive away, "He..." rage began to build inside her, and her hands fisted, "HE LEFT WITHOUT ME THAT JERK!" she shrieked, scaring everyone on the block who turned to give her odd stares. She ignored them in favor of waving her fists at the retreating bus, calling out endless curses as she did so before bolting down the sidewalk in pursuit.

"No one leaves Rosette Christopher behind! Especially Ray!" she raged on, earning her more and more odd stares. She simply continued down the block, trying her best to not lose sight of the bus in the crowded streets. 'Left, right, left again...straight, sharp turn...shit. ' her mind chanted to her before she inwardly cursed.

She had lost sight of the bus.

Looking around her surroundings she tried to get her bearings, maybe she could just walk to school? Panic began to build in her as she looked in every direction, people crashing into her occasionally. She jumped up to see over the towering people's heads, reading the street signs before the many buildings and stores. Finally she stopped, and stood oddly still.

"I don't recognize anything." she whispered horrified, realizing she must have taken a wrong turn somewhere. Now what, she was lost in New York city with no cell phone, late for school, probably going to get suspended for her attendance record, and she had NO money to pay a taxi cab to bring her to school! Could her life get any worse? Why had Ray left her there? She knew he saw her; it was the same thing every morning since she first came here with her brother when...

She allowed herself to trail off the current topic building in her mind. No, she would not remember that day. Steeling her face she began to make her way through the crowds, trying to think of what she was going to do now. 'I could call Az's parents, see if they could pick me up and take me to school?' she debated the thought, weighing it, before finally deciding upon doing it. Now all she needed was a phone.

Stuffing her hands in her pockets, she fished around, trying to find some stray change for a pay phone. Grumbling about her rotten luck when she realized not even a penny lay on her; she began searching for a place that seemed most likely to let her borrow their phone. Her eyes landed on a local bank, and she nodded to herself in approval, "Banks have nothing but phones." she mumbled, a small smile gracing her lips when it seemed her situation was solved.

She went to the crosswalk and stood at the corner, waiting for the walking light to appear as the traffic sped by. Noticing a little girl staring at her curiously she sent the child a small smile, who smiled innocently back. The mother gazed at her as well when she noticed her daughter's attention was captured, and she smiled at her, giving her a small nod.

"Don't mind her, she just likes you're hair color. Blonde is her favorite color." the mother explained, and Rosette blushed, scratching her cheek embarrassed. She didn't know how to take any sort of compliment.

The streetlight changed, and everyone began to walk across the rode safely. When across she headed towards the bank, and was slightly surprised to find the mother and daughter heading there as well. She sent them another smile, "Seems we're going to the same place." she spoke with a small chuckle, and the other two laughed lightly as well, "So it seems." the mother replied as she ushered her daughter along.

They all entered the bank, before splitting in different directions. Feeling like she had to say goodbye Rosette sent them a small wave, which the little girl returned full heartedly back.

"Bye bye blonde lady!" the girl chirped, and Rosette waved at her again to acknowledge that she heard her.

Turning towards the long line up for the tellers, she frowned, deciding that she wasn't going to wait forever just to use a phone. Skipping to the front, ignoring the glares she received, she made her way to a teller just finishing up with a client. Sending her a small smile to break the ice she felt forming she approached the desk, "Hi, I'm sorry to intrude like this but may I quickly use you're phone?" she asked politely, and the teller sent her a bored look, "Back of the line please." she seethed at her, and Rosette blinked in surprise.

"I'm sorry, but I really need to make this call now before I'm any later for school. I promise I'll be fast!" she pleaded desperately, trying to hold back the building annoyance she felt towards the snobbish teller.

"Back of the line."

Rosette's eyebrow twitched, "Please, if only for-"

"I wont say it again, back, of, the, line!"

Her eyes closed, and her face turned deadly calm. The teller gave her an odd look, unsure of what to expect. Suddenly her eyes snapped open, and the teller flinched back from the fierce gaze, "And I wont ask it again, MAY I PLEASE USE YOU'RE PHONE FOR A MOMENT!" she hissed loudly, earning some stares. Bewildered the teller complied, quickly getting the phone with shaky hands before setting it on the desk in front of her, "H-Here you go m-miss!" she squeaked, and Rosette sent her a pleasant warm smile, "Thank you!"

Picking up the phone she dialed the number, biting on her lower lip in nervousness as she twirled the cord absently, waiting for an answer. A pout crossed her lips when the answering machine sounded, and she sighed, deciding to leave a message anyways, "Hey, this is Rosette calling from Capital Bank. Um...I kinda missed my bus so when you get in do you think you could please come and pick me up here? I'll wait for you all day, so just come when you get home. I'm a little lost, sorry to sorta force this on you but I'm quite stuck on what else to do. Thanks again I'll-"

Whatever else she was going to say was suddenly cut off when the bank doors burst open and six people ran inside, each of them with guns in their hands. The one who appeared to be the leader, a medium built man with pure white hair bearing glasses, step forward, "Don't anyone move, this is a robbery." he stated calmly, his gun moving around the room.

Suddenly his hand flew to the side before he pulled the trigger, a loud roar tearing through the silence as the gun went off. Suddenly, a man who was planning on making a move was found dead on the floor. Screams erupted from the room as the leader shook his head, "There is always one who wants to be a hero..." he muttered, taking in the terrified expressions of the people. Raising his eyebrows he tilted his head, "Why are you all still standing, on the floor now." his voice was smooth and calm, but deadly serious.

Rosette's eyes went wide after the man had been shot, and she mutely set the phone down before lowering to the floor with everyone else. 'Oh my god.' her mind kept repeating over and over as terror gripped her, 'This can't be happening, this isn't real! It's all just a dream!' she screwed her eyes shut, her body quaking.

Footsteps erupted around the deadly silent room, and she peeked her eye open to see that the other five had gone to work. She caught glimpses of them, and they all seemed pretty odd. Cat ears, strangely happy eyes, violet hair, red eyes...Her breath hitched. With incredibly slow movements, she gradually shifted her position to get a better look at the robbers. 'Red eyes...they can't be the same.' she told herself over and over, after all, she knew exactly what group this was.

The Sinners.

The Sinners were known world wide for their terrorizing and heartless slaughters. Rumors had it that they possessed super natural abilities, and therefore were able to always elude the police. That's why she couldn't believe those red eyes were the same. The person she was sure they belonged to was gentle and caring, and would never be mixed in such a group as that!

Her body tensed when another shot was fired, "I said don't move." the same eerie calm voice replied afterwards, some place close by her. Silent sobs broke lose and it didn't take a genius to figure out that someone else had just been killed.

"Ready to go boss!" chirped a merry voice that contrasted greatly with the atmosphere in the room. She peered over at them, making sure to only move her eyes. The leader nodded at the peppy female with cat ears, before looking around at all the people on the floor.

"Chrono, take the child." he suddenly spoke, and many people in the room tensed. She withheld a small gasp when she realized he was referring to the person with red eyes. Yes, they couldn't be the same...he wouldn't take a child. 'But how do I know that? How do I know he even exists?' why she was thinking things like this made absolutely no sense to her. What made even less sense was why she got a strange feeling of familiarity when she watched the one known as Chrono.

Chrono merely nodded, his body a little more rigged then before. Walking over to the trembling mother he tore the crying child from her quaky grip before making his way back towards his leader, "Shall we go?" he asked him, and his leader only nodded, "Yes, we have our hostage let us take leave."

Rosette's eyes widened considerably, "No..." she whispered when she realized who the child was. "Bye bye blonde Lady!" Her hands fisted, how could they choose her out of everyone? They couldn't get away with this; they wouldn't get away with this! Taking a deep shuttering breath, she mustered up her courage and stood, calling out in a loud clear voice "Take me instead!"

The group of six froze their actions for a moment, all turning towards her. Four of them raised their guns and she tensed, her face paling slightly, what had she done? Now she was going to die! Terror gripped her when she seen their fingers tightening on the triggers, and she braced herself, steeling her face. 'I wont show them I'm afraid.' she told herself over and over, but surprise couldn't help but make it's way across her face when the leader waved his hand in front of his crew.

"Wait." he stated, and they looked at him oddly. A smirked played on his lips, "As you wish." he said to her in his annoying calm voice. He gestured for Chrono to take her.

The Sinner set the small girl down, who ran and embraced her mother, before looking at her, his crimson eyes shining...something unreadable. She stood, frozen to her spot as she watched him slowly come towards her. He stopped in front of her, standing only slightly taller then herself. (A/N: Chrono looks like he did when Rosette and Joshua first found him in the cave, and he's not horribly short, but not overly tall...it's my story I do what I want!) She held back her urge to gulp as his eyes pierced through her, but he made no movements to take her.

"Hurry up Chrono! We don't exactly have all day!" someone shouted from the back, and that seemed to be enough to snap him out of whatever trance he was in. His hand straightened, like a karate person getting ready to chop wood, and the next thing she knew was horrible pain erupting in the side of her neck. A cry escaped her before darkness overtook her vision.

The last thing she saw was crimson eyes.

……………

Joshua bit his lower lip as he made his way through the halls, "Maybe I'll call home to see if she really did decided to skip." He decided, thinking back to the previous conversation he had with Rosette's friend Mary.

"Hey Joshua! I've been looking for you!" the peppy blonde he had sadly grown to know so well sang his name some distance down the hall. Looking up from the floor he sent her a smile, "Hello Mary." He greeted when she arrived.

Huffing slightly, having ran all the way down the halls, she sent him a smile back, "Hi Joshua! I wanted to ask you…" she peered behind him, before left and right, "Where is Rosette? She wasn't in first block so I thought maybe she was late again, but she never showed up for the whole class. I see she isn't for some reason with you either…" her eyes grew worried.

Joshua frowned, "So then she never made it to school…" he mumbled, and Mary gave him an odd look, "Didn't she take the bus with you?" she asked him, and he absently shook his head.

"So she didn't show up for first block?" he asked Mary once more, to assure himself. She only shook her head, "What's going on? Why wasn't she on the bus with you?"

A sigh escaped him, "Ray decided today he would teach her responsibility. She's always late when it comes to the bus so he figured this time he wouldn't wait for her." He let out a frustrated breath, "Why does she always have to be so irresponsible?"

Mary patted him on the shoulder, "I'm sure she's fine! She's probably just at home, sitting on the sofa enjoying her 'day off'." Mary chuckled, "If she keeps that up she's going to get suspended from school."

Joshua looked up, "Suspended? Why?"

Mary blinked at him, "Don't you know? She's late for every single class she goes to, at least by ten minutes. Because of that, the teacher's have been kicking her out of the class for the whole block, hoping she'd clean up her act. Now she's missed so many classes the school said if she missed any more they would suspended for a week." Mary shook her head, "Poor Rosette…"

Joshua's eye twitched, "She never told me that!" he shouted, and Mary only laughed, "She didn't want you to worry." Was her simple reply, but Joshua could only scoff.

Crossing his arms he gave Mary a bored stare, "And why is she always late for class?" he asked her plainly, and she fidgeted under his gaze. His eyebrow rose, "Well?"

With a pouting expression Mary let out a defeated sigh, "Fine, don't tell her I told you this, it's supposed to be a secret, but before every class starts she goes to check up on you. After all, you used to get picked on a lot, and with you're health lately…She just wants to assure herself that you're going to be there by the end of the day."

Joshua stared at her in surprise, "She…checks up on me?" Mary only nodded.

'Why do you never worry about yourself Rosette, just for once?' he thought to himself, new worry and guilt building in his heart. He should have known…

Joshua shook his head, curse Rosette! He wasn't a child! Why couldn't she start to trust him to look after himself a bit? Why couldn't she just for once not be late all the time? If it weren't for her stupid habits, he wouldn't be walking the halls, worrying if she was still alive or not.

Entering the office he was surprised to find a secretary relieved to see him standing there.

"Joshua! Thank god you're here, come quickly." The lady ordered, and, with growing unease, he obeyed, "What is it?"

The secretary gave him a sad expression, "Azmaria is on her way down to. Her parents are coming to pick you both up." She explained, and he stared at her with confusion, "Why?"

Her body tensed, and her face became unreadable, "I'm afraid there has been…an incident involving your sister..." The secretary took in a breath,

"She's missing."

Joshua's eye's widened.

"What?"

End Chapter One.

After Comments: Well, I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter of this story! I currently just finished watching Chrono Crusade on YouTube and became obsessed with the plot and characters. So I figured, what the hell, why not start my own continuation? And volla! We have the story Something's Missing! I don't know when the next update will be, but hopefully soon. Until next time! Waves