Author's Note: So this is it guys - the last chapter. Hope you have enjoyed the story :D Please Review :D

P.S sorry about spelling mistakes couldn't be bothered to check through :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Chrno Crusade


Final Chapter

Ends and Beginings

Chrno paces around the abandoned warehouse, rage burning inside of him, driving him forwards. Now that his only source of life was dead he isn't entirely sure why he is still living. He can only assume that it is this hatred pulsating through him, both boiling hot and painfully cold at the same time, that is keeping him going. He wishes he could hold Rosette one last time. He wishes he could have told her goodbye. He wishes he could have contatined himself enough to draw out the death of that vile, worthless piece of shit that killed her so that it suffered more. But more than anything he wishes he could die. He isn't stupid. He doesn't expect to see Rosette again in the next life. They are not destined to go to the same place. But this life is pointless without her. Like a gun with no one to aim him, he wonders around aimlessly, at a loss of what to do.

He had planned on ending his own life at the first town he came to. But then the poison began to taunt him even further, bringing forth apparitions of Rosette, alive and well. He can still see her, though he refuses to look at her. Her smile reflectes off every surface, the fierce gleam in her eye shimmers in every drop of water that fell from the ceiling.

And she isn't all he sees. Surrounding him are hundreds of that bird-formed demon, perching on each beam, hiding in each corner, red eyes glaring at him. He wills them to take him, to end his suffering now.

"Christ, will you just do it already!" he screams. "Kill me! Kill me! KILL ME!"

At that moment the doors burst open and in swarmed the very militia he had once served, headed by that sour faced bitch and...

For a second Chrno's breath catches in his throat. He almost runs to her. Then he remembers her dead body lyingin front of him. He felt her lifeless form with his own hands. He knows what is real and what is not. He tries his best to remain calm. They will shoot him, this he knows. Him and Sister Kate have a deal. He will not allow himself to succumb to the poison before he dies.

"Sinner Chrno, we are giving you one last chance to surrender yourself. If you fail to stand down we will shoot you!"

Chrno ignores her, focusing only on the Rosette-copy. He knows she insn't real and yet this is the last face he wants to see before he dies. The imaginary gun is pointed straight at him, release just a pull of the trigger away. He smirks at the vision. "Go on. Do it." he goads. "It's why you're here isn't it? So go ahead...kill me," The gun hovered for a moment, her finger stroking the trigger. And then before he can register what is happening, she is throwing it to one side, walking towards him, ordering the others not to shoot. He's impressed at how convincing the poison iss. The creatures around him squack mockingly as the fake Rosette stopps in front of him, close enough that he can feel the heat off her body. No, he's just imagining it. There is no heat. He can't look away from her gaze all the same.

Annoyed, he starts to laugh, the only thing he can think to do. He can feel anticipation building in the bottom of his belly. It won't be long now before his suffering is over. The thought was dizzying. Rosette is speaking but he can't quite understand what she is saying. It's like they're in too different places, talking through a faulty phone line. He tries to concentrate but everything keeps fading in to darkness before coming back again, too bright, too colourful. He is struggling to stand up. Suddenly the fake Rosette is standing so close, their bodies are touching. And then power in surging in to his body, filling him right to his core. He feels himself rising to his real height, the wings tearing out of his back. By the time he realises the truth it is already too late.

Pain ripped through Rosette's body, tearing her to shreads. She could feel the substance that made up her being draining away, leaving her hollow, empty. For a couple of seconds after Chrno manages to shut the seal, she lies in his arms, panting. She has to concentrate hard just to suck enough air in to her tight lungs. With some effort she turns her head slightly so that she is looking in to Chrno's crimson eyes. They are just as distant as her own must be. She is slipping away and, she realises, taking him with her.

"Chrno..."

"Shh..don't talk," he whispers and his voice is just as rasping as her.

He tries to support both of their weight but he can feel himself slumping until they are both curled up together on the cold floor, oblivious to the fifty or so armed nuns surrounding them, some weeping, some simply staring. A couple of long moments pass. No one speaks. All the can be heard is the slow, rattling breaths that rise and fall in unison to the relentless rythem of the ticking pocketwatch. And then there is silence.

Six Months Later:

Sister Kate stood at her office window, staring out at the grounds, enjoying the peaceful silence while it lasts. On cue, there is a light tap at the door. Holding in her exasperated sigh, Sister Kate calls out for the knocker to enter. Azmaria appeared on the other side of the door, her serene face breaking in to a small smile. "Good morning, Sister Kate,"

"Good morning, Sister Azmaria,"

The small child beams at the use of her newly earned title. She rolls the tea trolly in to the room, followed by Father Remington who strolls in without permission as usual. Azmaria hands them all a china tea cup and they all sitin silence for a moment, sipping at the hot tea. Then Sister Kate pulls out a big brown envelope and its back to buisiness.

"So what have we got?" Father Remington asks, leaning forwards.

"A recent, confirmed sighting in San Francisco," Sister Kate replies, showing them the photo.

"When do we leave?" Sister Azmaria asks, a determined gleam in her eyes.

"Your train leaves tomorrow evening," Sister Kate replies. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes," Azmaria replies, her hand coming to a rest on the still pocket watch that always hangs around her neck. "She would have wanted this,"

Theres a moment where they all remember them. But there's no time for the past. They must concentrate on the future. They plough forwards, planning their next moves carefully until no detail has been left uncovered. When they are done Azmaria heads to the chapel to say a quick prayer before she packs. She kneels in the silence of the altar, her mind drifting back to happier times spent in here, giggling in the middle of mass with a certain blonde. She smiles, and rises to her feet.

"Look after me," she says, no longer addressing God. "Help me do you proud,"

She walks away from the chapel and the memories it holds, and starts on a new, darker path that will lead her to her destiny.


Okay so a bit of cheese at the end then but I myself enjoy some cheese in stories :D hope you all enjoyed it. Sorry if the ending wasn't what you wanted.I love Rosette and Chrno but they just couldn't live :( I'm thinking of doing a sequal to this following Azmaria's adventures trying to find Joshua and what not but I dunno, let me know what you think :)