Author's Note: Hey, finally managed to upload anoter chapter, I have more free time lately so will probably be uploading more chapters soon :D Enjoy :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Chrno Crusade :(:(:(

Chapter 5

A Question of Cures

Rosette sat with her back against the wall, eyes closed, hands clasped, lips tumbling over every prayer she had ever been taught. Please Lord, I know I shouldn't pray for him, but if you just let him remember me I'll never curse again, I'll do everything Sister Kate tells me, I won't boss Chrno round anymore...just please...let him remember me. She started as a hand rested softly on her shoulder. She tried and failed to smile up at her silver haired friend.

"Any news?" she asked.

"No," Rosette replied. It had been two hours since Chrno had woken up. Thanks to all the medication he was on he was too sedated to do anything but fling his arms around a bit. But he still managed to send most of the objects on his bedside table at them in his confusion and panic. A glass had narrowly missed Rosette's head and Azmaria had to dive out of the way of an empty vase. Father Remington and Elder had rushed forwards to restrain him while Sister Kate pushed both girls from the room. Rosette had wanted to help but the others wouldn't let her while she was so hysterical. She had to admit she could see their point. It had taken her almost an hour just to stop having panic attacks. A few of the more experienced Militia girls had been called in to help and Rosette envied them now, wishing she could be in there, knowing what was going on. She glanced out of the window and saw the sun starting to rise. It was going to be a long day.

"I'm sure he's fine," Azmaria grinned unconvincingly. For once Rosette wasn't comforted by her friend's attempt at cheerfullness. She suddenly wished that now more than every Joshua could be with her. He'd know what to say to cheer her up. If Joshua were here he'd be able to save Chrno with his healing powers. Though, come to think of it, if Azmaria's powers didn't work then maybe his wouldn't either. But he'd still be there for her. She caught Az's anxious gaze and instantly felt guilty. It wasn't her fault Joshua wasn't here and she was doing her best.

"Thanks, Az," Rosette said, smiling properly this time. Azmaria blushed slightly and started to say something but cut off as the infirmary door opened. Father Remington's face was grim and for a split second, Rosette's heart stopped. But then the ticking of the pocket watch reached her ears and relief flooded through her. If he died she would know. "How is he?" she demanded.

"Exhausted and in pain," Father Remington replied, his own face tired. "But he's starting to remember again."

"You mean the poison's wearing off?" Hope suddenly bubbled up inside Rosette like warm water, soothing her aching insides.

"No Rosette," he replied, softly. "The poison is still eating away at him,"

"But then...why does he still remember?" Confusion clouded Rosette's mind as she struggled to understand.

"He's fighting it. But it isn't easy. He's drifting in and out of his own mind. Right now, no ones sure what's going to happen," For a second it seemed like he was going to say something else. But he stopped himself at the last minute, his face relaxing in to a softer expression. "Do you want to see him?" He led the two girls in to the infirmary. The curtains weren't drawn around his bed but he was blocked from sight by the seven militia girls surrounding his bed. They parted to let her past, some throwing her sympathetic smiles, other patting her gently on the back.

She was surprised to see Chrno sitting up, talking to Elder. His face was pale, the shadows under his eyes more pronounced, but apart from that he looked the same as earlier that morning. He didn't notice her immediately. When he did finally see her, a blank look crossed his face and she felt her heart join her stomach. But, to her relief, his expression quickly cleared and that familiar, shy grin crept in to it's place. She had the sudden urge to throw herself in to his arms but restrained herself. She didn't want to hurt him. Not to mention Sister Kate would probably ban her from being within five metres of him if she saw any kind of unnecessary physical contact between them. Instead she took his nearest hand in both of hers, clutching on to it as though it were the only thing to stop her falling. His eyes softened at the edges and she heard the words he didn't say.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Better," he replied, giving her hand a small squeeze. "Sorry I scared you,"

"Oh please, I wasn't scared! Annoyed, yes, but scared? Never. I hope you know how much troubled you've caused! Everyone running around after you all day!" He laughed slightly, subconsciously pulling her closer to him. "I mean it! If you don't get better soon I'm just going to finish you off myself and save everyone the bother," Sister Kate sighed in disapproval, clearly expecting Rosette to put Chrno back in to relapse. But Chrno just smiled. It was unreal the amount of comfort he got just from hearing her voice, even if it was chiding him. Even after his mind had come back to him, it was drenched in fear. What if something happened to Rosette while they were treating him? What if Aion got to her? Or she tripped and fell? She was always so clumsy. He cried out for her, hysterical. It was all they could do to restrain him. Though he could see how silly those fears were now it didn't stop him pulling her even closer so that she was perched on the edge of the bed next to him, listening to her ramble on about how selfish he had been to faint on her when she was all alone like that.

Father Remington smiled lightly. Chrno seemed to visably improve the moment Rosette stepped in to the room, despite the fact that she was telling him off. His smile faded however when he caught Sister Kate's eye. She nodded to him before leaving the room. He waited a couple of seconds before following her out. They walked in silence for a while, heading towards her office. He knew what she was going to say and waited for her to spit it out.

"The poison is still taking over Chrno's mind," It wasn't a question. "It will covert him until he sees nothing but danger and enemies in everything. He won't remember how he cared about us. He'll be no better than the bloodthirsty Sinner he was before Magdalene,"

"It might not come to that," Father Remington argued. "We've never actually studied the effects of the poison on a demon. This is only Elder's theory. For all we know Chrno's body might start fighting off the poison itself,"

"I don't think we can't take that risk," They had reached her office.

"What are you saying?" Father Remington glared at her, his normally passive face uncharacteristically hard. The nun met his stern gaze for a moment before looking away. "We can't abandon Chrno now in his hour of need. Not only would that go against everything this Order stands for but it would destroy Rosette. Or more likely she would end up destroying us. You've seen how much she cares for him,"

"And look what good it has done her!" She exploded. "Every second she inches closer to a premature death! She'll be lucky if she makes it to thirty! Not only that but she's putting her immortal soul in danger every time she's with him,"

Father Remington raised his eyebrows at her, causing her to blush slightly. "You don't really think Chrno would let things get that far, do you? He knows the risks. He would never risk her eternal damnation for his own satisfaction. He loves her,"

Sister Kate winced at the last bit but ignored it. "Strangely it isn't him I'm worried about. I've seem the way she looks at him when she thinks no one sees her. The way she caresses him. He wouldn't try anything with her, but he's already proven himself a fool to temptation," she paused for a moment, trying not to think about the consequences if that particular sin were committed. "But all of that aside, I will not put the lives of my girls at risk if he should loose control again. We need to find a secure place to put him in case of emergencies,"

They both thought for a moment. "The dungeons underground," Father Remington suggested. They had once kept low level demons used for training down there but had stopped using them once more high tech options came along. They were out of the way and had holy barriers in every corner.

"It will have to do," Sister Kate agreed. "He can stay in the infirmary tonight but I want him sleeping in a secure room from now on," She went to close the door but stopped at the last minute. "Oh and Remington? Tell Rosette that I will arrange for someone to take over her duties for now,"

"Sister Kate. Could we be developing a soft spot for the girl?" Father Remington teased.

Sister Kate smiled wryly at him, not raising to his bait. "Go and get some sleep, Remington. Lord knows we could all do with some rest,"

"Well... I suppose it's better than sleeping outside," Chrno commented, glancing nervously at Rosette who was pacing back and forth, muttering under her breath. "It's even quite cosy when you think about it..."

"Cosy?!" Rosette glared around at the tiny box room which consisted of a small bed in one corner, a chest of drawers in the other and about a foots space in between. "She's just doing this to annoy me," She felt the anger pulsing inside of her again and resumed her pacing and muttering. Chrno chuckled to himself, simply glad to have Rosette where he could keep an eye on her. Although he knew he was being stupid, he couldn't stop the anxiety stabbing at his chest just at the thought of her leaving him. He told himself that she was safe here, it was a convent after all. But there were still so many things that could go wrong; stairs that could be tripped on, a number of dangerous weapons just waiting for someone as destructive as Rosette to pick them up.

"Chrno?" Chrno started to find Rosette staring at him anxiously. "You're eyes have got that look again,"

"What look?"

"I dunno...kind of dark. Like when I first met you," She touched her hand to his face, smoothing out the creases of worry. "There, that's better," She went to pull her hand away but he caught it and held it to his cheek. "Much better," he agreed, smiling up at her. She blushed slightly but didn't move. A knock at the door made them both spring apart. It was followed by one of the militia girls that Sister Kate had ordered to guard Chrno's doors at night. "I'm sorry, Sister Rosette, but Sister Kate ordered me to make sure you were out of here before nine," She smiled apologetically at the pair and waited for Rosette to leave. Sighing, Rosette bid Chrno goodnight before following after her fellow nun, leaving Chrno alone in the small room. He sat on the edge of the bed, unsure what to do with himself. Finally he lowered himself on to his back and closed his eyes. In his mind he started the exercises that Elder had encouraged him to do. He pictured the lake near the Seven Bells in his mind, a safe harbour, a place that held so many happy memories. He saw Rosette there, smiling peacefully as she gazed up at the sky. Joshua joined her side and wrapped his arm around her. They turned back to look at him and Rosette's smile faded slightly to a look of confusion.

"Who's that, Joshua?" she asked.

She went to take a step towards Chrno but her brother stopped her. "It's no one," he replied, pulling her towards him and grinning sardonically at Chrno. "No one at all," Chrno realised what was about to happen before it did. He cried out as Joshua sudden swiped at Rosette throat, the six inch claws sprouting from the tips of his fingers digging deep in to her flesh. Liquid ruby gushed down her throat, staining her blue dress. Her face paled and she stared accusingly at Chrno. "Why didn't you save me?" she demanded. "Why did you let me die?"

Chrno ran forwards, reaching out for her but when he looked down his hands clutched only the blood stained dress. He looked up to find himself standing in darkness, completely alone.

Chrno's eyes snapped open. His heart was beating wildly, fear and guilt pulsating through his veins. How could he even imagine Joshua hurting Rosette. He was her brother! He loved her! He would never intentionally hurt her. It was Chrno's fault that Aion had taken him in the first place. If he had only protected the boy more carefully, recognised the need to keep him safe instead of only feeling sorry for himself and mourning over Magdalene. And now Rosette risked her life (what was left of it anyway) on a daily basis just to get the smallest step closer to finding a clue to his whereabouts. He had promised to help her find her brother and he would keep his promise if it was the last thing he ever did, and it was becoming increasingly likely that it would be. He turned on his side and closed his eyes again, keeping this solid thought in his mind. But he couldn't stop the image of Joshua's sadistic smile drifting in and out of his mind every now and then.

Father Remington sat opposite Sister Kate, a tense silence filling the room more than any noise could have. On the desk between them was a large brown envelope. Seconds ticked by, counted by the clock hanging on the wall, a constant reminder that time never stopped, not even for a moment. It had been exactly seven minutes since either of them had spoke. Father Remington stared hard at the nun but she avoided his gaze, only her thin lips showing just how annoyed she was. Her hand raced back and forth across the forms she was filling in.

"This is wrong," He spoke quietly but his tone was firm.

"We are not having this argument again, Remington. Not now," Sister Kate replied, without stopping.

"Yes now. There won't be time later," he struggled to keep calm but it wasn't easy. "Chrno is dying. We know that there's a cure. We know how to find it,"

"It might be too late for that,"

"It might not be," Father Remington countered.

"She is just a child!" Sister Kate cried, slamming her hands down on the desk. "She can't handle this mission!"

"She can't. But he can." Sister Kate met his gaze for the first time since he'd started talking, her expression stony. He was tempted just to shut up now but he knew there was no time to tiptoe around the woman's feelings. "You know of the power he possesses. If he uses it, even just for a short time, there is no doubt that they can win,"

"I will not risk what little time she has left on the off chance that it isn't already too late for him. Do you want her to die?"

"Of course not! But I think she's old enough to make that decision for herself,"

"No she isn't. She would just jump in to it, without any thought to the future as always," Sister Kate took a deep, calming breath. "I will not let her die before she even reaches twenty. We don't even know if this poison will kill Chrno,"

"So you're willing to take that chance, are you? That it might not kill him, just destroy his mind so that, lets face it, in the end we'll probably have to finish him off anyway,"

"If it saves Rosette's life, then yes," Sister Kate relied, coldly.

"It isn't up to just you anymore Kate," Father Remington stood up. "I refuse to keep this from them. This is their choice to make. I'm telling her,"

"Once you tell her, there will be no stopping her! It won't matter what anyone says, not even Chrno. Have you thought about what he wants?" Father Remington faltered slightly. Sister Kate continued before he had a chance to argue back. "This is a cure for Chrno we're talking about. If you must tell them, tell him first. Let him decide whether or not to tell Rosette,"

Father Remington thought for a moment before sighing, defeated. "Alright," he agreed. "I'll tell Chrno first," He paused for a moment, as if piecing together what he would say in his mind. Then he turned and left. Sister Kate waited for the door to click shut before slumping in to her chair, relief washing through her. As much as she distrusted the demon, she knew that she could rely on him for one thing; he would never let Rosette waste any more of her life just to save him. He wouldn't tell Rosette about the cure, she was sure of it. She felt a stab of guilt for the poor demon. But she quickly stifled it. If he was meant to live, God would find a way to save him. It wasn't her job to save Demons. But it is your job to save, the small voice in her mind muttered. She silence it and started on her paper work again.

Father Remington didn't go straight to Chrno. He knew that this was a touchy subject for Chrno and he would have to approach it lightly. He went over what he planned to say in his mind over and over again as he made his way to the demon's room. Nodding to the militia girl currently guarding the door. She smiled at him and moved so that he could get passed. Remington tapped on the door and waited for reply. After a moment or two of silence he pushed the door open slowly. "Chrno?" The room was in darkness, lit only by the light flooding in from the hallway. It took a couple of seconds for his eyes to adjust. When they did he could make out Chrno's outline, hunched up on the bed, rocking back and forth slightly. Remington stepped in to the room cautiously, not wanting to shock him. "Chrno? Are you okay?" The demon's head snapped towards him, his whole body tensed. "Chrno, it's me, Remington,"

"I don't know any Remington," Chrno protested.

"Yes you do, Chrno. I'm a priest of the Magdalene Order where you live with Rosette Christopher,"

Chrno's face lit up slightly. "Rosette? You know Rosette?"

"Yes, and I know you," he watched as Chrno's eyes swept over him, seeing the silent struggle behind them. "It's okay Chrno, take your time,"

Several minutes passed by. Finally Chrno's face cleared. His body relaxed and his head slumped forwards. Remington came fully in to the room and switched on the lamp next to the bed. The light threw an orange glow on Chrno's eyes, high lighting the dark shadows underneath them. "How are you feeling?"

"Fantastic," Chrno replied bitterly. He caught himself and smiled sheepishly up at the priest. "Sorry. It's just been difficult, locked up in here all day. Rosette and Azmaria try to visit but they have their chores to do," Remington shifted guiltily on his feet. It was true that Sister Kate had been piling the chores on Rosette in an attempt to stop the pair spending too much time alone together. Apparently she thought that in his current form, Chrno was even less trust worthy, though not necessarily for demonic reasons. "So, what brings you here?" A look of alarm suddenly crossed his face. "Rosette isn't hurt is she?"

"No, no, she's fine," Remington hurriedly assured him. "Actually, she doesn't know I'm here...there's something I need to talk to you about," Chrno frowned, curious and waited for him to continue. "A couple of days ago, Sister Kate and I learned of a demon who's poison is the counter part to the poison you were infected with," Chrno stared at him blankly. "In other words, if we infect you with the other poison, it should cancel yours out, basically curing you,"

"I can be cured?" Chrno demanded, jumping to his feet excitedly.

"In theory, though we aren't entirely sure what the outcome of mixing these two poisons would be. Elder is optimistic about the whole thing but, well it's Elder,"

"Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?" Chrno thought about the last couple of days, the feeling of venerability, the hazy patches in his mind and felt an uncharacteristic flare of anger rise in him.

"I wanted to," Remington replied. "But Sister Kate wouldn't let me,"

"Wow, she really does want me dead," Chrno muttered.

"I assure you that isn't the case," though he couldn't deny that that may have been part of the reason she kept her mouth shut. "We need to get the demon here, alive, so that we can transfuse his venom in to you. The problem is, he's a high ranking fellow. We can't risk sending our militia after him, knowing there's a big chance we might loose some of them. The only one strong enough to defeat the demon without actually killing it is you,"

"Me? But in this form I'm just as weak as the rest of these humans," He met Remington's gaze and understanding dawned in his crimson eyes. He sighed and sank on to the bed. "You mean, the other me,"

"Yes. Only your demonic form has the power to truly defeat this creature." Father Remington watched as Chrno shifted so that he was lying on his back staring up at the ceiling. "I understand this is a lot to think about-"

"There's nothing to think about," Chrno inturrupted. "Its bad enough that I drain her life on a daily basis, even more so when saving others. I refuse to use up her life span to save myself,"

Father Remington stared down at the man lying before him and, not for the first time, he Chrno's true age shining in his eyes. It was a bizarre thing, seeing such an old expression on a young face. "You'll die without this cure,"

"Maybe," Chrno replied, shutting his eyes.

Remington sighed. "No, not maybe," he hesitated a moment. "Chrno once it takes your mind, you will go mad. There will be no telling what you'll do. You could hurt someone, or yourself,"

Chrno didn't open his eyes. A strangely peaceful expression settled on his face. "You worry too much Remington. Have faith; isn't that what you're God thing is all about?"

Remington didn't reply. He was becoming more uneasy about leaving everything in God's hands. It didn't seem like He had any better handle on the situation than the rest of them did. "Will you tell Rosette?"

"Of course not," Chrno replied. Remington paused for a moment before nodding and leaving the room. He didn't see Azmaria disappear around the corner.

Azmaria stood with her back against the wall, breathing hard. She hadn't meant to eavesdrop. She'd been on her way to visit Chrno when she'd heard Remington's voice and before she could leave she had been drawn in by what they were saying. A cure? And they weren't going to tell Rosette? The small girl bit down on her lip, anxiously. She had to find Rosette.

:O will Azmaria tell Rosette?? find out next time..... ;)

R&R and please don't hate me for not updating in like aaaaggggeeess!! :P