A/N: Yay! Summers here which means I can stay up late. I promise to try to write more! Please review please! I know you guys are reading this and I'd really appreciate critique so I can get better. Arigato!
Disclaimer: Hikari does not own or claim to own Chrono Crusade or any of it's characters.
Chrono had freaked Rosette out when she woke him up. What had happened to him since he left? Satella was obviously well off and she doubted she was the problem. Chrono must have had some reason to run away. Rosette wanted to help Chrono. This was not the Chrono she had befriended. She was trying to find similarities but there was nothing.
He didn't smile nearly as much. When he was younger he always used to smile with her and Joshua. After he befriended them he had been much happier around others. He almost constantly smiled except when new people came around since he knew they thought he looked strange. He never let that get him down though. He was just shy but he was still always cheerful around Rosette and Joshua.
His aura was different. Rosette specifically remembered a light and peaceful aura that he had. Whatever they did, Chrono always had the same gentle aura. It wasn't over powering or demanding. It was there and constantly reminded Rosette that there were always good things to be enjoyed in life. She wondered if it was possible to change auras so drastically. His aura was completely different. It was heavy, dark, over powering, but unintentional. Rosette wondered how she knew it was unintentional but she knew Chrono would never try to make her feel that way was on purpose.
She couldn't even have the comfort of the same looks. His hair looked completely different. She was not used to a orange headed Chrono let alone the short hair. She didn't know which one was worse! She loved his long, silky hair and she also loved the rich purple hair. She decided she would make him re-dye his hair.
"...ette? Rosette? Rosette!" Chrono exclaimed. Rosette jumped not expecting his voice. She looked at him from across the table drinking in his presence. It still seemed surreal for him to be back after all those long years of searching.
"Huh?" she asked.
"I asked how you slept." Chrono said softly. He looked at her concerned. She growled inwardly. She always hated when people felt bad for her. Chrono raised his eyebrow slightly wondering why she was glaring at him with such menace.
"Fine." she growled.
"Really?" Chrono asked as if he didn't believe her.
"Whats that supposed to mean?" she growled clenching her fists.
"Nothing. You just look beat." Chrono said. Rosette opened her mouth to speak but bit her lips. She tried to remember what she dreamed. The first dream was foggy and rough around the edges and was hard for her to recall.
She remembered dreaming about the orphanage with herself and Joshua. She remembered dreaming about Chrono. She then remembered as if someone flipped on a switch that she dreamed of when she saw Chrono emerge from the woods a few days after she and Joshua arrived. It was still foggy and unclear but she remembered the general idea.
She was tossing a ball around with Joshua outside of the orphanage shortly after they arrived. All the other children were off doing their own things. Rosette and Joshua giggled at each other as they threw the ball around. They bother turned when they heard a snapping sound from the trees. "W...who's there?" Joshua stuttered fearfully. "Billy, if that's you, I swear I'll..." Rosette began. She stopped to gasp when Chrono stumbled out of the treelike in front of them. He let out a soft cry as he tripled over some invisible force that Rosette knew later was exhaustion and fell onto the ground. "Chrono!" Rosette shouted. She and Joshua quickly raced to the battered boy. He had small cuts and bruises everywhere and was covered in sweat. His breathing was rapid as if he had just run a race and he was pale. "Joshua, quick! Run inside and get Mrs. Jean!" Rosette barked to him. Joshua got to his feet and ran to the orphanage.
Rosettes memory stopped there. She bit back a growl of frustration as she was unable to recover anything past that point. It had been such a long time ago. She had almost forgotten that. She remembered her next dream with ease.
Rosette heard loud cries of pain and agony all around her. She tried to find the scores of the cries but she was surrounded by a pure, warm light. "Hello?" Rosette called. The screams haunted her. They went straight through the barrier she had put up. The more time went on the more desperate she got. She hated being useless. Why was she in an unknown place if she couldn't protect those people. What had she done to deserve such torture? "Rosette Christopher" a gently voice said. Rosette jumped and spun around searching for the person. "Who's there?" Rosette asked. "If you are to help these people you must embrace your destiny." the voice said ominously. "What's my destiny! Please tell me?" Rosette begged. "Have patience dear child. All your answers will come in time." the voice said. The white light began to dim. Rosette protested and tried to push back the dimness but it quickly won.
"...ette? Rosette? Rosette!" Chrono exclaimed again.
"Hmm? I'm sorry can you say that again?" Rosette asked.
"Geez Rosette! Are you feeling ok? You're not acting yourself!" Chrono scoffed trying not to look too concerned.
"Hmp! You shouldn't be talking." Rosette grumbled. Chrono's lips pursed.
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
"You changed so much! I don't understand a single thing about you anymore! It's like you're a completely different person!" Rosette exclaimed. Chrono's eyes narrowed defiantly.
"Well sorry for changing so much but that's what happens after so many years pass!" Chrono snapped.
"Then maybe you shouldn't have left!" Rosette exclaimed. She immediately wished she could take back those words but they flew out of her mouth before she could catch them.
"I'm sorry Rosette. I didn't want to leave. I...I..." Chrono trailed off unsure of what else to say. His scarlet eyes saddened for a few seconds before forcing the shield back over them, hiding his emotions.
"Chrono, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that. I didn't mean it, I swear." Rosette said. Chrono smiled to himself.
"Sure Rosette. Sure." he said. Rosette opened her mouth to talk but Chrono quickly cut her off. " I have to go meet a friend so make yourself at home." he said. He grabbed his jacket off the hook and began to leave the room.
"Chrono..." Rosette said. He shut the door leaving Rosette.
Chrono adjusted the jacket to fit better on his frame. He zippered it up and shuffled down the street. He was walking to the bar where he met Mary to talk with Aion and his gang. He had been a little nervous about meeting the gang in case they tried to trick him but he ignored it. It was either meet the game or go through with her plan. He wasn't wild about either but Aions' idea was the better of the two.
Chrono was determined to push Rosettes words from his mind. He could worry about that later. He had other things to worry about for the time being. He walked into the bar which was only serving breakfast at this hour. He was disappointed to not see Mary. His waitress led him to a table and he patiently waited for Aion. In a few minutes Aion joined him along with a tall thin woman named Rizel, a woman with black hair and glasses named Shader, a big man with broad shoulders named Viede and a man wearing a cowboy hat named Genai. Aion flashed a confident smile at Chrono.
"Thanks for meeting us Chrono! I wanted to discuss this as soon as possible!" Aion said.
"No problem. What did you have in mind?" Chrono said. Aion leaned in and whispered something to Chrono. None of the others looked interested so Chrono assumed they already knew. Chrono smiled slightly and nodded.
"Sounds like a plan." he said.
"Great. I'll let you know when we're ready." Aion said. Chrono nodded.
"Thanks." he said. Aion and his gang left afterwards, only being there for less then five minutes. Chrono decided to get breakfast to prolong going home. Is this what it's like to be married? he wondered. He scoured the menu for something good. The waitress soon came to take his order.
"Excuse me but is Mary here?" he asked. The girls eyes saddened. Chrono wondered if he offended her.
"I'm sorry sir but Mary was murdered last night." the waitress said.
"What?" Chrono said unable to hide his surprise.
"I'm very sorry, sir" the girl said. Chrono shook his head.
"No thats fine. I'm sorry but I'm not very hungry now. I'm sorry for the trouble. Have a tip." he said handing her a twenty and walking out without waiting for an answer. He hadn't known Mary that well but the poor girl was murdered after he saw her. Mary seemed like a nice girl, polite and kind. How was he going to tell Mary? Hadn't she been friends with her? He walked into his apartment with a sigh.
"Chrono?" Rosette asked.
"Rosette I need to tell you something." Chrono said feeling a heavy weight settle in his chest. Rosette came in with a questionable look.
"Huh?" she asked.
"I'm so sorry Rosette but Mary is dead" he said. Rosette didn't move. It was a few moments before she spoke in a low voice.
"What?" she asked.
"She was murdered." Chrono said. He could see Rosettes defenses crumbling. "Rosette, I'm so sorry" he said. He drew Rosette into a hug. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her head in between his neck and shoulder. Chrono gently stroked her hair.
"I'm so sorry, Rosette." he said.
A/N: Anyone catch the last thing Chrono said at the end? When this is over you'll get it. Please review so I have your thoughts and predictions. It allows anonymous people too. If you have nothing to say then just say rawr just so I know you read it. I'd be very appreciative! Arigato gonzaimasu!
