Disclaimer: Chrono Crusade ©Daisuke Moriyama
Open Your Heart: Chapter 3
His deep earthy scent crept into my pores.
And I remembered those nights we watched the stars.
I made a wish.
I longed to stay.
But my clock of life stopped.
And then… nothing.
Peace. Yes, once she found peace. Those years with blonde siblings.
Before the death came knocking on the door. Before she had to vanish.
But she held on as long as she could, waiting for someone. And he came, but it was too late for her.
Oh, she was her best friend. She was the one who encouraged her. She was the one who showed her what true love looked like.
And there will always be a part of her friend in her soul.
Yes, the peace was gone with her. For her brother, for her best friend, and for the demon that loved her with all his heart.
-x-
The phone rang in small house. A woman, whose eyelids opened, revealing crimson eyes, stood up and sighed. She frowned and thought a little bit of answering the phone.
She was taking a nap right now. She glanced across the comfortable living room.
She was sitting on a small red couch. The phone was right beside it, on a small coffee table. She decided to let the answering machine do her work.
Her expression softened when she heard familiar voice on the other side.
''Hello?'' She had to pick up this one.
''Sister Mary. I thought you forgot me.'' She could feel the relief on the other side.
''Apostle. Forgive me-''
''Nonsense Mary. I told you about a hundred times. Call me Azmaria.''
''But-''
''But?'' The voice stayed silent for a moment.
''Azmaria, I'm calling because I sent someone your way. She is quite… special.'' The woman smiled gently while playing with the pillow.
''Well, weren't we all. When is she coming?'' The sound of the bell interrupted Mary's answer. The crimson eyed woman, Azmaria, stood up and peeked through the window. Her eyes widened.
''Mary, does the young lady have blonde hair and blue,'' So much like her, ''azure eyes?''
''Yes, that's Rose. Is that her? She is quick all right.''
Azmaria's voice broke as she immersed in her memory. She breathed deeply for a couple of moment.
''Azmaria?'' The voice was close to hysteric on the other side.
''Calm down Mary. I'm okay. But I'm afraid I won't be able to take that girl in.'' It was a mere whisper, but the abbess could feel some kind of chill in that sentence.
''Give the girl a shot. Would you, please? I really don't know what to do with her anymore. Please Apostle.''
Azmaria thought over it a few times. Old wounds heal slow and are easily opened. And this one particular… was quite painful.
''I'll see. I'm not promising anything.''
''Thank you, Azmaria, I appreciate it. Goodbye.''
''Bye.'' The nun hung up and the woman stood up. She came to the window once more. Yes, the resemblance was quite obvious.
The young lady was nervous, she could see that. She was playing with her blonde hair. She took a final glace out and settled down.
Should she let this girl into her house? She could just pretend that nobody's home.
But wouldn't be fair.
No, she will let her in, but she won't attach to her in any way. She already left me once. Not this time.
Azmaria sighed and opened the door. And the shock was so much bigger. She got the full impact of girl's appearance.
Her fair hair seized just past her shoulders. And her eyes… Bright, impossible cerulean blue. The color so vaguely familiar. She was dressed in worn pair of jeans and a blue shirt without sleeves.
Rosette. It can't be.
A pair of blue orbs looked at her in confusion. The girl scratched her hair and started speaking.
''Um, Apostle, I assume?''
-x-
Rose was looking at a lady in her sixties, maybe seventies. She was never good at estimating age. But the thing was… The woman was obviously different.
From her appearance, she had brilliant crimson eyes, pale skin and white, almost silver hair, she was an albino, to that look in her eyes. Pain. Yes, she saw pain in those eyes of red.
The woman nodded slowly.
''Yes, but if you want to stay on my good side, never, ever call me that again. I'm Azmaria Christopher. Call me by my first name, please. And you-?'' Her voice shook a little, but she could swear that she saw a sparkle in those eyes.
''I'm Rosemary Annette. But people call me all sort of nicknames. Like Rose, Rosie, Ann, Rosie Ann and so on. But the one I prefer most is Rosette.''
Shock was written on those beautiful face.
''Rosette?'' She gasped and nearly collapsed.
Rosette caught her before she fell and helped her to get to the couch. Then she rushed to the sink to get a glass of water.
'That went well,' she thought, 'she collapsed at the very sight of me.'
Azmaria recovered slowly, but she could still see disturbance on that face. She drank some water and apologized.
''I'm sorry, my dear. I guess I forgot to take my iron pill this morning.'' She stared at that face
Everything was the same. Every line, even the skin color. And those blue, blue eyes.
So much like the woman she knew so long ago.
Azmaria sighed.
She could remember another girl, another time, and another problem.
This Rosette was same in the appearance, but was she the same…?
She shook her head. It couldn't be her.
'She died,' the albino reassured herself. 'And all hell broke free when she did.'
But so much decades later, she could still see that church, etched in her memory for all eternity, and him carrying her lifeless body.
The pain, the sorrow in his eyes when he put her down.
The endless screams in agony when they took her away.
The compassion that he refused.
The guilt that was written on his face.
The love that was written in his heart for all eternity.
He buried that same heart, along with a major piece of soul, with her.
And the promise that he made that day.
''Excuse me, miss Azmaria.''
Two voices, one dragging her in her memories of past, and one pulling her into present.
''Yes, child?'' Rosette shrugged.
''I was wondering if you need anything. You kinda scared me back there. And you've been staring into blank space for a time now. Is something wrong?'' Kindness in her voice. Tears in Apostle's eyes. She swallowed past the lump in her throat and silently said.
''No, no, Rosette,'' She almost choked on the name, ''nothing. Don't worry my dear. Now, tell me about yourself.'' The blonde shrugged again, the worries from the past invading her mind.
But something from the very depths of her soul told her that she could trust this woman, this impossibly beautiful albino.
And she decided, for the very first time in a long time, to speak.
A/N: I'm into this story. This wasn't actually planned, though.I planned it as a mere one shot, but chapter three is here.
Well, if I sorta know how will this go on till some point, but suggestions are always welcome.
Thank you all who inspired me for writing this. Without you, well, it would be a one shot. This is my creation for all of you that DIDN'T like that Rosette died. (sniffles)
Okay, see you soon. And you know the thing. Reviews are always wanted. ~MB