Disclaimer: Chrono Crusade ©Daisuke Moriyama
Open Your Heart: Chapter 25
I had to find you, tell you I need you… [The Scientist, Coldplay]
-x-
Her hair was falling down her shoulders in strands of liquid gold in the pale morning sunshine. It was slightly disarrayed, but it made her even more beautiful that way. Her cheeks transcended to bright red as she gazed upon him. Her rose lips were slightly open, but Chrono could tell she was out of words on this one. Her eyes seemed so big in her state of mind.
"Rosette, are you okay?" The worlds barely escaped his lips before she yelped and started covering herself. "I'm sorry." Her eyes slightly averted and a kind smile lit her face.
"You don't need to apologize. I'm fine. I… um… just need something to cover myself up." Blush crept across her cheeks as she muttered those words. Even in his state of complete embarrassment, Chrono simply could not redirect his gaze from her lush body. The situation was becoming more awkward as more moments passed by. Finally she gave up in her efforts to collect what was left of her clothing and faced him.
"Can you look up for one moment, Mr. Demon?" Chrono muttered an apology and caught her eyes. Rosette sighed. "Do we need to have this conversation Chrono? I mean, now that we are mates and all, all this shouldn't be embarrassing anymore." Chrono shifted uncomfortably.
"I'm sorry Rosette, had I been in control-"
"No, Chrono, it was bound to happen. We were bound to happen sooner or later. There was nothing you could do to prevent this."
"But I should have. I should have been stronger. How can you even look at me? I rutted you on the forest floor. I practically took all your choices away from you. You could have married a human and have a normal family. And instead you are mated to some demon spawn that can't even control his hormones." The demon side was snarling inside his head, but he ignored it. Rosette must see what was she forced to mate. A monster. The weight of guilt was heavy on his soul. He could see realization in her eyes. Good. Maybe she would hate him as much as he hated himself. He deserved every bit of resentment she felt. He waited for her to leave. She should run away from him. 'Mate.' The demon whined. It was becoming a painful throbbing in his head. He closed his eyes and started massaging his temples. He almost moaned in pleasure when her fingers replaced his.
"I wish someone would just kill me for everything I've done." He enjoyed her soft fingers touching him. He could feel her body heat move closer and her soft skin pressing into his body. She wrapped her hands around his head and pulled him into her.
"Oh, Chrono, why can't you just accept this? You aren't a monster. Our friendship, our love, how could it ever be anything but wonderful? And I can't ever imagine life without you. You are the one I want by my side, the one I want to marry and have children with. How could I ever love anyone else after what I experienced with you?" He could feel moisture on the back of his neck as her tears fell. "You are perfect in my eyes." She held his face tenderly as she finally looked into his eyes.
"I love you. Why can't you see that?" And then her soft lips descended upon his and world melted away. Chrono put his hands on her lower back and pulled her even closer. As their tongues touched, he could not help but feel aroused by her mere presence. His back hit the hard ground below them and reality found its way into his mind. He slowly gripped her upper arms and pulled her away from his touch.
"Rosette, we cannot continue this. I cannot disgrace you on the cold floor."
'Again.'
Her lips shifted from a pout to a silent 'o' shape and she blushed furiously. "I understand." She moved to stand up and face away from him, but he pulled her back to his embrace.
"Thank you Rosette." He said as he softly nuzzled her neck.
"I cannot express my feeling for you in a way you could understand. I'm not in touch with my human side as I was before. Demons do not feel the same emotions as your kind does." His eyes glowed and his tone suddenly shifted.
"But do not mistake me mate. I intend to make an honest woman out of you as soon as we encounter something remotely comfortable for you soft body. I detest those bruises on your lovely skin." He growled softly and she realized it was the demon talking. When he licked her ear in a rather animal fashion, she realized she was right and sported a small smile. In all honesty, she kind of liked his gruff, demon side too. It was fierce and protective, like she owned a guard dog. No, a guard puppy, she softly giggled as she remembered how he liked his ears scratched. She felt him inhale the scent of her hair and calm down. Their fingers intertwined and they stayed simply enjoying each other for a while.
When Rosette shivered, Chrono finally rushed her to her feet and urged to return to the abbey. She tried to tie what remained of her clothes around her so she could hide at least something of her modesty. She couldn't stop the reaction of her body to Chrono's intensive stare. She felt half embarrassed and half satisfied. 'He will never look at anyone else as he looks at me.' That thought warmed her heart despite her miserable state. When she finally managed to look half decent, Chrono scooped her in his arms and they took off towards the abbey.
-x-
It was chaos. Azmaria sat on the balcony and eyed the damage on the institution as Satella crept by her side.
"What's the count?" She quietly asked the brunette. A small smile appeared on Satella's face. "Better than the initial reports showed. We have only four soldiers injured, all minor injuries that should heal within a week. The damage on the building should take at least a month to repair though. Also, our supplies of astral weapons are almost expired." Azmaria shrugged and met Satella's eyes.
"Can you contact the Order and arrange the necessary repairments?" "It's already done Azmaria. I shall also be the supervisor for the workers when they begin within the next week." "Good. And now, we must see what emerges from this." Both pairs of eyes turned to the sky. Suddenly they heard hurried footsteps as Dr. Hamilton rushed outside.
"Apostle, the radar picked up two life forms closing in. Only one of them bears human genome."
"So, they return. Well, what are you two only standing here? We must welcome our guests in a proper way." All three women exchanged grins and rushed to the courtyard.
-x-
Chrono landed in a rush of wings. Rosette yipped and quickly jumped out of his arms. "Do you think we could quietly sneak in and find some clothes?" She asked gingerly. Chrono smirked. Their lack of clothes hadn't exactly worried him. He only wore clothes for combat and to make humans comfortable around him.
He stopped and felt the air around them. He landed a few meters away from the 'official' entrance to the institution on purpose. He did not know if the Apostle and her Knight have lowered the barriers and he was not sure if he would stay in the air if he collided with one. He would take that risk if he were alone, but he couldn't risk Rosette. He could feel his power building beneath his skin and he was genuinely surprised. He was more powerful than ever. It was like a foreign pathway in his body was unlocked and some new power began to surge through his veins. The air vibrations were normal and he did not detect any holy barriers in his surroundings. Good.
It was obvious that the Apostle anticipated them to return here. "What is the matter Chrono?" She moved to stand beside him. "You are pulsing." A look of shock appeared on his face.
"You could feel me using my powers?"
"Well, I felt something, I was not aware-"
"So you have returned." A woman's voice echoed. Rosette quickly turned and ran to the albino. "Azmaria, I am so glad to see you." The two women hugged for a few moments, but then someone coughed in the background.
"I cannot notice that you are in dire need of some clothes." Satella said, amusement evident in her tone. Rosette blushed to the roots of her blue hair.
"Well…"
"Why don't we all go inside and have a cup of warm tea?"
-x-
Rosette put on a plain blue dress and walked towards Azmaria's quarters. She knocked on the big oak door and entered. Doc was already all over her demon, trying to probe him with various equipment, much to his dismay.
Chrono was back in his human form, but his eyes still held the undertone of demonic. Satella and Azmaria quietly talked and drank their tea. Rosette placed herself opposite of them and suddenly all eyes were on her. And the conversation began.
-x-
Chrono sighed. The lunatic blonde doctor had somehow managed to convince his mate (also crazy, as it seemed) to let her take some samples. He was feeling edgy all afternoon since he was separated from Rosette. He did not simply understand why they did not allow him to see her.
So he paced around her bedroom, trying to emerge himself in the floral scent of her and forget everything else. It did not work as planned. His heightened sense could feel that the scent was not fresh and it bothered him. It also did nothing to calm the demon snarling in his head. It whined and growled and for once Chrono could identify himself with it. He also wanted to howl in misery.
Just as he decided that he could not take it anymore, his mate marched into the bedroom and slammed the door behind her. He was beside her in a heartbeat, inhaling her scent.
"You smell like medicine." He snarled. Rosette shrugged. "Must be from the lab. Ami's got some wicked chemicals mixing. I'll just take a bath." His ears perked at the words.
"Can I bathe you?" He wanted to clean every bit of that foul scent from her body. The demon wanted to imprint his scent on her. He once more agreed with it on the subject.
"Only if that stops you from whining in my head. You are giving me a headache. Do you honestly think that I would be separated from you by my choice?" She placed a tender kiss on his lips and reached for the straps of her dress.
He almost burned her with the look he gave her while she stripped in front of him. It aroused her more that it should. She turned her back on him and headed towards the bathroom. Chrono took a deep breath as her butt swayed. He could simply not take his eyes off her.
A foreign feeling crept into his demon heart. It was consuming and scorching. It felt like lust, but so much more. It felt like friendship. 'Is this what humans call love?' And just then his mate stuck her blonde head from the bathroom doorway.
"Are you coming or what?"
Chrono chuckled and slowly took off his clothes. He decided that he liked this strange feeling called love.
-x-
A/N: Finals' week inspiration yay. Too lazy to edit grammar. Epilogue on the way. Probably.
~MB