Disclaimer: I do not own the manga/anime Chrno Crusade. (It's Chrono Crusade in English but, the real name is Chrno Crusade in Japanese). I don't own the quotes I use before and after each chapter either.
Casui productions presents
Stars don't shine
A Chrno Crusade Story
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You don't have to say, what you did,
(Don't have to say, what you did)
I already know, I found out from him
(I already know, uh)
Now there's just no chance, for you and me, there'll never be
(No chance, you and me)
And don't it make you sad about it
You told me you loved me
Why did you leave me, all alone
(All alone)
Now you tell me you need me
When you call me, on the phone
(When you call me on the phone)
Girl I refuse, you must have me confused
With some other guy
(I'm not like them baby)
Your bridges were burned, and now it's your turn
(It's your turn)
To cry, cry me a river
(Go on and just)
Cry me a river-er
-Bridge and Chorus to Cry Me a River by Justin Timberlake
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Chapter 10- The Truth Really Does Hurt
Rosette blinked, pinched herself and then looked back at the other girl on the other side of the elevator. "OMG!" she almost shouted out, it was just too good to be true! "You're the Mary Magdalene!" Rosette shouted, saying aloud this time and causing Mary to stumble a bit in shock from her reaction. Rosette quieted down a bit, though still completely shocked. This was simply unbelievable!
Once Mary had gathered herself from the strange blast of emotion Rosette had shown her, she gave her one of her perfect smiles. She couldn't help but laugh, "You said you wouldn't make fun of it though!". Rosette blinked at her, she wasn't making fun of it, she was the one laughing not her. "I know, weird isn't it?" Mary looked up, as if dazing off "To have the same name of the girl from biblical times AND go to the school named after her.".
She turned back over to Rosette, her eyes closed and her mouth smiling "I find it funny, don't you?". Rosette seemed taken aback "What are you talking about!" she said, bluntly making Mary sweat drop. She sure didn't mind expressing her feelings opening, Mary smiled sadly, looking at her feet. She envied her for being able to share her feelings without remorse. She sure was lucky.
"Well, most people usually laugh at my name… They think I'm making a joke or something… But, that's what makes me feel so bad about my name, because I'm not joking." Rosette simply looked at her. "What are you talking about!" she repeated in the same blunt manor. Mary giggled "You really are blunt." Rosette returned her look with a smirk "And you're very honest.".
The two girls looked at each other for a second before bursting into laughter. As both girls wiped their eyes from their sudden burst of happiness, they felt the elevator make a strange jerk beneath their feet. They looked down just as the elevator began to plummet downward.
Before they could get a chance to scream, they felt the elevator collide with the ground, making both girls fall and papers scatter everywhere. "Oh, crap." Mary murmured, beginning to pick up all the papers on the floor. Rosette though was too shocked and maybe injured, to move. "WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED!" Mary sighed, now getting used to her outbursts.
"I think the elevator just fell."
Rosette blinked at her, beginning to help her pick up the books and papers that had fallen all over the floor. She heard Mary sigh again "This place is always falling apart but…they just fixed the elevator yesterday.". Rosette's eyebrows furrowed "Yesterday?" Mary nodded, having finally gathered up everything and setting the pile down by her feet. She banged her head against the wall behind her and let out a sigh of frustration.
Rosette's eyes widened. It looks little-miss-prefect's mask just came off. She smiled, she knew there was some true personality underneath that shell. "Great. So…do you have a cell phone to call the authorities? Or at least the school?" Mary frowned, shaking her head slowly. "It hasn't been working, but you can try." she reached into the pockets of her long brown skirt and handed the phone to Rosette.
She nodded, murmuring a thanks and started to call the dean's office. Mary looked into the other direction, wondering where they were. She knew they had dropped to the very bottom of the elevator shaft, obviously. But she had rumors of another floor beneath the girls dorm, no one knew how to get to it though. "Hmm…" she hummed in thought, trying to figure out if the level would be worth investigating.
"SISTER KATE THIS IS VERY SERIOUS WE'RE STUCK IN THE ELEVATOR!"
Mary's ears burned at the sudden scream echoing through the room. She turned her head to see Rosette yelling at the dean through the phone. She sweat dropped, obviously school rules didn't stop her from being so rambunctious. "Ugh! She is such a pain!" Rosette shouted in anger, practically throwing the phone back to Mary.
Mary sweat dropped for the third time, "She said she'll call some school mechanical squad to pick us up! I didn't even know they had one!". "Hey Rosette," Mary interrupted, trying to change the uncomfortable topic. Rosette looked surprised and looked back at Mary with a smile "Yeah?". Mary sweat dropped again, was this girl bipolar or something? "There's this story of another floor beneath the school…"
Mary paused, intending on there to be questions but Rosette kept quiet, listening intently. She blinked surprised by such a silence, but then she smiled and continued on "Some people say that they hid secrets from the church here. Plus, there are many stories of people coming here in groups, but only one coming back alive then dying only a day after…. But those are simply rumors.
"The real truth in this tale is that it's at the very bottom floor of the school. Which isn't the first floor, I'm afraid. I was wondering… if you'd like to open the elevator doors and see where we are.". Rosette smirked, her eyes were the only thing holding her motion but they were covered by her golden locks of hair. Mary stood, trying to see from another angle what Rosette was doing.
All of a sudden, Rosette sprung to her feet and shot out a thumb's up with her arm "Yeah! Let's do it!". Mary smiled "Sounds like fun." she agreed. Both girls nodded at each other, grabbing hold of the doors and trying to pry them apart. A loud moaning sound echoed through the small space they were in as the shutters began to move.
After about ten minutes of labor, the doors were fully open. The girls opened their eyes, their strained arms hanging at their sides. Their eyes widened at what they saw "Oh my God." they both said in unison. There in front of them, was a vast room with a door at the end of it. There were no windows whatsoever, yet the room seemed brightened with light.
In the middle of the room was a long couch that seemed like it had been there since the 1800's yet it had a bright sheen to it. It was if it were sparkling new… Or like someone had cleaned it a bit. In the far right corner was a bit of parchment on the wall next to a few paintings that were hung around the room. There was a desk in front of the couch, various documents scattered upon the top.
The girls walked into the room, their faces both shocked and amazed.
Rosette walked over to the couch and sat in the middle, looking at the documents on the desk. She picked one up and examined the date scribbled on the top left corner. "June 17, 1919!" Rosette's jaw dropped. "These documents are from the 1900's! That's barely into the 20th century!" Mary nodded, making a confirming sound from across the room. "I figured so," she began, walking over to Rosette with the paper that was hanging on the wall.
"Look at this," she handed the small piece of parchment over to Rosette. She held the paper up to her face this way she could read the small lettering on it. "March 15, 1920." she read aloud
"Dear Head Organization of New York,
We have just recently received news of the upcoming prophecy. Though our country has just recently finished with a most brutal war, our organization in San Francisco has terrible news. A squad from our sector has gone over to a local church from our area and came back with a few parchments of the original prophecy.
Sadly, the other two parts of the prophecy are quite urgent and it seems that Mary Magdalene's first predictions were correct. There will be at the least, cold blood spilt and much suffering. It is clear that the most brutal war of this era has not even been fought yet. There is much more to come.
Another blood thirsty war shall befall us. There will be poverty and mass suicide. Mistreatment, cruelty, and a state in which even those of the highest power will be doubtful. Please hold on your hold, dear sisters and brothers. If we have not scared you at this pointed, then please keep hold of yourself. This is merely the second prediction…
The third prediction will cause every organization to act. We will have to have a security at the tightest and destroy all of the-"
Rosette stopped, the rest of the letter was ripped off. "You realize it, don't you?" Mary spoke, sitting down next to her. "This is a letter from after World War One and leading into World War Two.". Rosette looked at her, blinking "How do you know?". Mary smiled "Look at the context clues: The letter states that there would be poverty and mass suicide. Noted to happen the most in The Great Depression." she paused, laughing at Rosette's face of shock. "What's so funny!" Rosette growled, putting her hands on her hips "Sorry, it's your face! You look so surprised that I know this!".
Rosette looked away, murmuring an "I am.". Mary laughed harder, but began to regain herself and continued. "Plus, look at the date. It's dated in 1920. The war started in Denmark and Holland around that time. But the United States got involved in it after those two countries surrendered to Germany." Rosette nodded, smirking. "What's that look for!" This time it was Rosette's turn to laugh.
"Sorry, you just seem to pay attention in Social Studies a lot more than I do."
With that statement, Mary began to laugh along too.
Rosette suddenly stopped laughing, looking up at the ceiling. "Hey Mary," "Hmm?" Mary said, also stopping but her face was still flushed with happiness. "You told me a story, so…do you mind if I tell you one?" Mary smiled "Of course, we might as well do something while were waiting for the elevator to work again.". Rosette didn't smile back though, or even give a cheery response, instead she sighed.
"You may have heard it before so… If I forget any parts, can you fill them in for me?"
Mary smiled for the last time that day, giving her a response of "Sure!" before Rosette continued. With one finalizing sigh, Rosette looked up at the ceiling, her bangs covered her eyes and she began her tale.
"There was once a boy who was discriminated by many by the way he looked… He was very apart from the other people around him and because of this, his attitude became very shy and harsh. One day though, he was hanging out with a person who he no longer calls a friend named Aion."
Mary's eyes widened, every word Rosette was saying had some weird effect on her heart. It made her feel like there was a heavy burden in her shoulders that was panging against her like pouring rain.
Spite Mary's sudden reaction to her story, Rosette continued knowing the worst of her actions had not come. "It was the beginning of a new semester and they were standing outside of their dorms looking at the new students arrive off their buses. All of a sudden Aion points a certain group of students who happen to be girls out to him.
"He looks over at the girls and sees one particular one with long, blonde hair. The girl suddenly turns and their eyes meet. She smiles and walks over to him. He's shocked that she's coming without any regret. At first he thinks it's to see Aion, but then she walks right up to him, her friends following behind her. While all of her friends flirt around with Aion, she introduces herself as Mary Magdalene to him.
"At first, he's nervous and thinks that she's just fooling him. But then he introduces himself and a bond begins to build between them…Eventually, they fall in love."
Mary's fingers were now clenching the couch cushions. Trying to keep her cool, but her mouth slipped murmuring "Stop it.". Rosette couldn't stop though, not quite yet. She felt sad to make Mary feel so heartbroken by doing it this way but obviously this memory was hard on both of their hearts, and she had to make them ease up a bit.
"They were like the best of friends. But soon, feelings became revealed and they became boyfriend and girlfriend. They were a lovely couple, both to those around them and to themselves. But then something horrible happened…" Rosette stopped, she was bluffing now. She wasn't sure if all that she was saying was true, but by Mary's reaction she was guessing that she was right. "Care to fill in the rest… My memory's a bit blurry."
Mary's long blonde bangs cover her eyes and most of her nose. "You want to know that badly, huh?" Rosette nodded, now looking at her, trying to see her blue eyes through her straw-colored bangs. "Sorry if I was a bit of an asshole by doing that, but it's very important for me to know." Mary laughed at her bluntness. Rosette's personality was very funny once you got to know her.
"It's alright. Who told you?" She smirked "None other than the fool himself, Chrono.". Mary laughed harder, Rosette laughed too, throwing her head back and letting her laugh boom out into the room. Mary's laugh began to quiet down, as did Rosette's, both glad that that little bit of tension had gone away. "Well, how come he didn't tell you?" Rosette looked down, "That's a whole other story…".
Mary nodded, understanding somehow. "Alright then. Are you sure that you want to hear the end of the story?" Rosette nodded, "Of course. I went through all this trouble to find out, didn't I?". Mary smiled at her answer, nodding to confirm. "I supposed it happened a little bit around Christmas…"
Mary shook her blonde locks out of her face, exiting the school building. She was dressed in a bright red turtleneck sweater with a snowflake sewn in the collar, a dark green skirt that went down to her knees and tall golden boots that met her knees. Her long straw-colored hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, it being held by a crystal hair ornament, giving to her by her mother when she was little. She loved her tiny outfit, each piece had been given to her by someone she loved. Sweater made by grandma, hair pin from mom, skirt from grandpa, and boots given to her by her father.
She frowned, all of them were dead now except her father and because he was ill she had to be sent to this school. Where she couldn't catch his virus and be with friends and get a good education. Mary shook her head, not letting the sudden memories of her saying farewell to her father get her down. It was Christmas and she was loved by someone.
"Mary!"
Speaking of that someone, she turned around and saw the boy who was exactly her height and dressed in jeans and a brown sweater. "Hey Chrono," she kissed him gently and smiled when they pulled away. "Merry Christmas." Chrono said, blushing from either the kiss or the famous Manhattan cold. She laughed at his shyness "Merry Christmas, Chrono."
"Here,"
Chrono gave her a confused look as she reached into her skirt pocket. Just as she began to take something out, she shot Chrono a look. "What?" he said, nervous because of her sudden look. "Close your eyes!" he looked confused "Why?" she glared harder "Just do it!". Chrono let out a growl of rebel before closing his eyes, Mary smiled, loving how he would always make that little sound, it was so adorable. But she wouldn't tell him that, it'd only make him blush and argue against it.
"I'm not cute!" she imagined him saying while his face was tinged red. She giggled under her breath "Why are you laughing? What are you up to?" he asked, suspiciously. "What? Don't you trust me?" he shrugged his shoulders "Maybe." she laughed, punching his arm playfully. "Chrono!" "What? You asked.".
Mary laughed harder, pulling the item out of her pocket. "Hold out your hands in front of you." he obeyed her order, except he only held out his hands and not his arms. She laughed, "Your arms too, Chrono!" he smirked, doing the order correctly this time. She returned the smirk, placing the item in his hands. "Okay, you can open your eyes." "Can I loosen my arms too?" She laughed "No.". Chrono gasped in fake surprise, she laughed harder "I'm just kidding! Yes, you can."
"Like I need your permission." he grunted playfully, receiving another playful punch in the arm. Chrono smiled, opening his eyes, there laying in his arms was a homemade scarf. It was black with white stripes, but what made it so special was the little gold lettering on the edge saying "I love you Chrono, Mary.".
Chrono looked up at Mary's face that was slightly flushed pink. "Do you like it?" she asked, biting her lip with hope. He paused, taking a chance to let everything in. With one swift move, he put the scarf in one hand and embraced her, holding her close to his chest. "I love it…but not as much as you." his words almost made tears come to her eyes, she wrapped her fingers into her shirt as he nuzzled her neck.
Mary smiled, she really did love him. She was everything she needed, everything she wanted, and the best part was that he loved her back. He had just said it, in his own little way, not what she was expecting, which made her love him even more.
As they pulled away, Chrono snuck up to her ear and whispered "I have a surprise for you too, Mary.". Mary shivered at his voice in her ear. Damn, he was cute and sexy. He pulled away and reached in his pocket "This time you close your eyes." he said, stepping behind her.
"What are you up to?"
"Nuh uh! I closed my eyes, now you close yours." Mary rolled her eyes and gave out a huff of air, detesting his order. He chuckled slightly, slipping something onto her shoulders. Then feeling a sudden warmth on her lips, she figured that he just kissed her. Chrono pulled away and smiled "Ok, open your eyes.".
Mary opened her eyes, and felt around her neck where his presence had once been. There on her shoulders was a thick gold chain. Hanging at the end of it like a pendulum, was a golden pocket watch ticking time away. She gasped, holding the watch up with her hands and up to her face. "It was my father's…before he passed away." Chrono said , wrapping his new scarf around his neck.
Chrono blinked at her, awaiting her reaction. Her bangs were over her eyes so she couldn't tell if she was sad or angry that he didn't get her a better present. "Mary are you ok- OOF!" all of a sudden Mary hugged him… Well more like tackled him to the ground since he fell over with her arms around his neck and her head snuggling into his chest. "Thank you so much, Chrono! I love it!" surprising him, yet again, she kissed him deeply.
When they pulled away, they grinned at each other. Suddenly, they both laughed at the strange position they were in, loving each other more and more each minute.
Mary paused, as if reliving those memories as she told them to Rosette. Rosette's bangs were over her eyes, her emotion unreadable. "You two sounded so happy together, so in love." Mary nodded, giving a small sad smile. "We were, as you said, people who saw us thought we were the perfect couple. And so did I.".
Rosette gave her a confused look through her golden bangs "What do you me only you and the people? What about Chrono?". All of a sudden a sort of banging noise was heard by the elevator. Both of the girl's attention turned to the open shaft.
"Hello?" they heard a sudden voice echo from up the shaft.
The girls looked at teach other in shock before running over to the elevator. "Yes!" they answered, their voices booming up the shaft. "Hi! We're the mechanical squad that Sister Kate sent over. Are you stuck?" Rosette rolled her eyes "Take a good guess!" she retorted, making Mary giggle at her open-minded-ness.
"Alright then, we're about to pull you up. It just looks like a wire snapped…Though it looks more like someone cut it… Anyway, please stay in the elevator and makes sure the doors were closed."
With that statement, the two girls rushed into the elevators. They each took a door and pulled with all their might. They could hear the squad beginning to pull them up, they didn't want to fall up while going upwards so they began to pull harder. Faces turning red with strain, the two students finally managed to close the doors, just as they were hoisted up.
Since the papers were still on their collected piles in the elevator. They gathered them up in their hands. One sheet fell off the pile and Rosette grabbed it off the floor. "Huh?" Mary looked over to her. She was looking at the paper with an obscure look on her face, then she began to quickly scan over the other ones.
"What's the matter?"
Rosette didn't respond, she was still looking. "Well that's strange." she said aloud, putting the pile she had just taken apart back together. "What's strange?" Mary questioned, eager to know what was intriguing Rosette so. "All of these pages are blank." Mary's eyebrows furrowed "But…Didn't the pastor say that these were very important papers?".
Rosette nodded, "That's what's strange about all this. It's just blank paper. No documents, letters, nothing even biblical or important to the church nor the school!". "Hmm." Mary put a hand on her chin and looked up at the ceiling of the elevator. "Do you think the dean's office just needed printer paper?" Rosette shook her head almost automatically, "I've been in the dean's office recently. Trust me, they have so many papers they don't know what to do with most of it." she said, remembering the many papers scattered upon Vanessa's desk.
"Oh, why were you in the dean's office?"
Rosette froze, the hair on the back of her neck rising up. "Uh…I'll explain on the way back to the dorms." "Oh,…alright then." Mary said, a suspicious look in her eyes. "Anyway, what other reason would the paper be blank then?" Mary asked, crossing her arms over her chest and setting the various papers and books down. Rosette paused before speaking, trying not to sound naïve, she spoke "What if he intended for us to come here?"
Mary looked confused "What do you mean?". "I mean, what if he gave us plain old books and blank papers just for us to get stuck in the elevator and see the hidden room." Rosette said, looking up and preparing for the doors to open. "No way. There's no way anyone could've predicted all of that at once." Rosette shrugged "Maybe your right. But something must have been plotted. What else would explain this empty papers? Plus they said that the rope looked like it had been cut."
"But they said it had snapped, just looked cut." Mary argued. "But it's still possible!" Rosette argued, persistence very high in her voice. Mary rolled her eyes "Whatever, either way, we don't know for sure. Why would he want us to discover it anyway?". Rosette blinked "I don't know…Maybe it wasn't the room…Maybe…It was you telling me the story about Chrono…Or us just meeting."
Mary almost laughed "That sounds a bit unreasonable, don't you think? Not to mention, naïve.". Rosette shrugged, looking at her feet "It's possible" she murmured.
The elevator doors opened and a few teens from the mechanical squad smiled at them. "Good to know that you two ladies are alright" a guy from the squad smiled, flexing his muscles. Both girls rolled their eyes, murmured a "thanks" and walked past him. "Hmm" a girl from the squad said, looking at the pile of papers and books in their hands.
"No wonder the elevator fell. You probably went over the weight limit with all these papers. Either that or one of you are piling on a lot of weight." Rosette glared at her. "Why did you look at me when you said that!" She said, making Mary laugh at her bold sarcasm.
"So, what happened with Chrono?"
Mary froze. They were walking back from the church where they had left the papers inside with the pastor . They had politely explained to him the issue and he didn't really mind, in fact he didn't seem to care at all. It's like the papers and books were simply worthless to him. Now they had finally entered the building and were heading up the stairs to their separate dorms.
"You said before that everyone thought that you two were a perfect couple, including you… But he didn't." Mary winced, a pained look crossing her face. "What happened between you two that made it like that?…" Rosette asked, careful not to upset her or send her on an off-balance or give her an awkward emotion.
Mary gulped, biting her lip. Rosette caught this act and tried to seem less blunt. "I'm sorry, if you don't want to talk about it…" "It's alright. It's by time I talk to someone about it anyway." she paused, looking Rosette in the eyes so that blue met blue. "Listen, meet me tomorrow by the gym area around lunch time. I'll explain it to you then. I promise I won't leave out a single detail." Mary assured her, knowing Rosette was eager to know.
"Wait," she said before Mary went off to her dorm. "Can you at least tell me something? Just one small detail.". Mary gave her a small smile, nodding "I'll give you one that you'll be so shocked you may have to sleep on it just so that it gets through to your head.". Rosette laughed at her exaggeration, nodding her head vigorously. "Alright then," Mary began trying to smile and seem as if it wasn't a big deal.
"He cheated." she said, walking onto her floor, leaving Rosette in the stairwell frozen in shock.
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I wanted you to know
I love the way you laugh
I wanna hold you high
And steal your pain
Away
I keep your photograph;
I know it serves me well
I wanna hold you high
And steal your pain
'Cause I'm broken
When I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right
When you're gone
Away
You've gone away
You don't feel me here anymore
The worst is over now
And we can breathe again
I wanna hold you high,
You steal my pain
Away
There's so much left to learn,
And no one left to fight
I wanna hold you high
And steal your pain
'Cause I'm broken
When I'm open
And I don't feel like
I am strong enough
'Cause I'm broken
When I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right
When you're gone away
-First two verses and chorus to Broken by Seether featuring Amy Lee
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There ya go! Another chapter done and done! I hope I left you all with a good cliffhanger this time! .! I tried my best! Anyway, as for the voting the results come as:
No chicken's better than turkey! (Keep Dialogue)- 4 votes
Bye Bye Pickle (No more Dear Reader dialogue)- 3 votes
The Dear Reader dialogue stays! I apologize to all of those people who didn't like the dialogue and I understand if you no longer find the story interesting because of it. As you can see, I didn't put any of the dialogue in this chapter for you guys. If you have decided not toe read it anymore because of that reason, I say: Thank you very much for reading my story! .!
But…
I found that it's much easier to write without that format. It was kind of fun at first. But then I realized that it's kind of like putting in a filler-chapter. It's just taking up space and it takes you away from the story. So,…I've decided to let my friends decided (Those who read Chrono Crusade that is). I want to see what they say. I'll let you guys know the results as soon as I can. But until then, the dialogue will be in some chapters and some chapters won't. I'll try to keep it even.
Me: OMG, I'm so freaking tired! I've been typing since noon and it's almost 1:00 in the morning!
Dakota: Too bad for you. I pity you… No wait, I don't even care!
Me: (glaring) Was that necessary?
Dakota: Of course it was.
Me: Why?
Dakota: Because you're a loser, DUH!
Me: …(surging with anger)
Dakota: Brought to you by The Life of a Teenage Loser, aka MY SISTER!
Me: THAT'S IT! COME HERE YOU LITTLE-
Dakota: AHHH! CHILD ABUSE!
Me: You idiot. I didn't even touch you yet. Plus, if I'm a child it doesn't count either and I'm only giving you a wedgie!
Dakota: It still counts! Think of my poor butt!
Me: (glare) Poor butt my ass…(chases)
Dakota: AHHH! (runs away)
Hope you enjoyed the chapter! This one is very long! So ENJOY OR ELSE! (innocent smile). Now all that's left to do is:
REVIEW AND PREVIEW!
-casui