Author's notes: This is a compiled fic made from an rpg XD which has reached over 100 pages of unedited text in 1 week. So we're WAY behind the storyline in what we post XD. But being as we're both obsessed with rping, and fics… this is gonna go for a while!
A note on the title: Anachronism: n. 1. An error in chronology in which a person, object, event, etc., is assigned a date or period other than the correct one. 2. a thing or a person that belongs to another, esp. an earlier time. 3. In relation to Chrno crusade: relating to the specific character by the name Chrno, who belongs in another previous earlier time.
Chapter Five: Table Manners and EtiquetteAion smiled at the group, seeing that he had truly missed something on the ship while Chrno was gone. The heart of the group seemed to be back.
Chrno just sat there, red-faced, but once he had finished eating what he could, since while he was rather hungry, his appetite still was not what it should be, he looked up and fixed Aion with an intense look. "I think...you owe me some explanations."
Rosette glanced over at her brother, not liking the tense atmosphere, a large grin on her face as she lifted her spoon and flung some peas at his face.
Joshua squeaked, and shot her a rather surprised look, glanced at the grinning Sheda who looked about ready to join in, and smirked, returning the food at her as he scooped up some rice and flung it. She ducked, and blindly grabbed some mashed potatoes and threw them. Right into Jenai's face. Jenai of course never saw it coming, and jumped up as the warm soft mess landed right on his face. "Gwah! What the hell!?"
Sheda giggled and jumped up, snatching a chicken drum and waving it. "FOOOD FIIIIGHT!"
Aion had opened his mouth to say something to Chrno, only to have a barrage of peas flung into it, causing him to gag. He doubled over coughing before looking up at everyone with a war face. "Bring it on."
Chrno looked up startled, just in time to get a full face full of potatoes, that sent him sprawling on the ground as he tipped over from surprise. Jenai bristled and rubbed his face in irritation, licking the potatoes off his hand as he did so. Rizel simply dissolved in laughter off to the side.
Sheda grinned, crouching down, and bringing up a fistful of green beans, and hurled it right at Aion. "Catch!"
Joshua squealed, and held his ribs tightly in absolute hysterics. "Oh... oh...."
Aion caught almost all of them, a couple bouncing off his glasses with a wet splat. He grabbed a bowl of soup and promptly dumped it on top of Rizel's head, setting the bowl on top like a hat. Rizel screeched in rage, and sat there, sputtering, as her long hair was promptly ruined by chicken soup. "G...gah..."
Rosette giggled, insanely lifting the rest of the mashed potatoes in her sticky hands and advanced on Chrno with a wild look. Said demon was wiping the potatoes out of his face, and staring around in confounded surprise at everyone having fun, and looked obviously not sure what to make of it.
Sheda yowled as Jenai hit her with a cold glass of water, and she hissed spitting all puffed up as she glared at him.
"Come on Chrno!" Rosette giggled, pouncing on him, and smearing the potatoes on his cheeks. "Join the fun!"
"Ah!" Chrno went sprawling again as she pounced him, and kicked his feet a bit. "Y...yamete! Wahmfmfmaf,.." He got a mouthful of potatoes
Wid, unexpectedly walked calmly into the kitchen, grabbing a large tub of Spinach surprise, and used it as a smelly arsenal.
splat A tomato ended up on Aion's face as Jenai smirked to the side. Aion dodged a large chunk of green spinach, only to slip and go face first into his dish. Joshua snuck up behind Rosette, and dog piled her on top of Chrno, with a shower of peas.
"Eep!" Rosette gasped, as she was flattened against Chrno, getting a mouthful of the potatoes mixed with peas.
Chrno coughed, but an evil glint shot up in his eyes, and he took a mass of potatoes that he' cleared off his face, and shoved it right back at her. "Ha!"
Aion sat on the ground ungracefully, his long hair undone and mashed with many a different color food, as he peered out of his smeared and drippy glasses. Sheda squealed, and glomped him, covered in food. "WAAHH SO MUCH FUN!!"
Rosette suddenly felt like a sandwich, a very sticky, food covered sandwich, she reached back with one hand and attacked her brothers side. "Gerrof!" Joshua laughed hard, and rolled off, clutching his stomach in glee.
Aion fell backwards with a slight gasp of surprise, sending the chicken soup puddle spraying on everything around, including Jenai. Jenai just guffawed, and smacked his hat down at Aion. "Klutz."
Rosette pulled herself off of Chrno, the sticky cheese from the potatoes stretching between their shirts. "Come on!" She giggled, pointing to the mess that was Aion and Sheda. Chrno grinned, and actually laughed, as he stumbled up, and snatched one of the few plates left, a huge bowl of rice, and faced Aion with an almost feral look.
"Ahhh waaaahh look out Aion-sama, he's armed!" Sheda squeaked in mock terror.
Aion Tried to detangle himself from Sheda's overexcited embrace, watching the two advance on him. "Don't you dare Chrno!" His voice was to close to hysterics to be serious.
Rosette gripped the plate of sticky green beans, trying to suppress laughter as she attempted to match Chrno's gaze. Chrno grinned wider, and glanced over at Rosette. "One...two... three." He aimed it right at Aion's face and let loose.
"Waiiiiii bingo!" Sheda crowed, even as rice hit her too.
Rosette flung the contents at them, emptying the sticky mess and then pouncing on Sheda, rubbing it into her hair and ears. "Take this!"
"Kyaaaaaafmamfmmf..." Sheda protested, her tail wiggling as she struggled to escape.
Aion snickered, trying to escape from under the two of them, who were wrestling on his stomach. "Chrno! Help!"
Chrno burst out laughing, and just shook his head, standing there, covered in food, feeling the emptiness and anguish leave him for that brief moment, as they all acted a fraction of their age... well except Rosette and Joshua who were that age.
Wid walked calmly up behind the small demon, a grin on his large face as he set the pot of spaghetti sauce, on top of his head, covering him down to his waist with the metal container, and splattering the red mess over everyone.
Rosette eeked, falling over as it covered her. "I'M HIT!" She giggled, falling over in mock death.
Chrno gasped, and stood there, eyes wide as soon as the sauce finished running all over him. Joshua just died in laughter, and fell down rolling on the floor. "Oh... oh....that's the worst....."
Sheda giggled and trotted over, picking the huge pot up, and peering under, drawing a finger across Chrno's spaghetti stained face and licking it lightly. ."Mmmm meatball."
Aion couldn't contain it any more, his glasses completely covered with a sheet of red and not a fleck of white in his hair, he burst out in peals of laughter, holding his stomach as he lay on the ground, convulsing.
Chrno also, just couldn't hold it back anymore, and sat down right there, pot still on head, and laughed clutching his stomach. The others seemed to finally be worn out, and besides... there was no food left to throw.....
Rosette scooted over next to her brother, worn and still giggling slightly, she rested her head against his sticky shoulder. "I beat you."
Joshua just grinned, wiping away tears from his eyes from laughing so hard. "Naa... I think we all lost..." He glanced around at the horrible mess.
Wid glanced about. Now was the question. who was going to clean it all up... Sheda giggled. "Let's worry about it later....." she wrapped her arms around Chrno and tilted the pot off his head. "Naa? It feels good to laugh, doesn't it.?"
Aion finally seemed to be laughed out, just sprawling out in the mess of Chicken soup and Spaghetti, His eyes closed and a wide smile on his face. "Hasn't been like this for a long time..."
Jenai snorted. "It was a lot cleaner though....but yeah..."
Sheda giggled. "Tanoshii."
Chrno smiled at that, and closed his eyes, remembering what it had been like, for him it didn't seem that long ago, for everyone else it must have been forever. He licked his lips a bit, tasting spaghetti.
Rosette was feeling sleepier by the moment, being a child, it was way past her bed time, and all the excitement was wearing on her. She fought to keep her eyes open as she stood up and offered her hands to her brother. Joshua grabbed her hands, and giggled, also tired since they'd had a very long exciting day.
Jenai snorted. "Well I'll leave this mess to you folks." He glanced at the kids, his gaze softening a bit. "Come on midgets...." His grin widened a bit at Chrno. "Lets get you rooms, na?"
Rosette eyed the man funny, before nodding, stifling a yawn, and trotting over to Chrno's side. "We're gonna need another bath..."
Chrno smiled and grinned a little flicking some potatoes off her nose. "Yep....You...go have fun." He waved her with a hand.
She nodded lightly, grabbing her brother's hand and followed Jenai out. Jenai smirked a bit, and turned leading them down the hall and to another set of stairs, that headed up to the top atrium where the private rooms were. Joshua yawned, and skipped a bit with Rosette, waving cheerfully goodnight to the others.
Aion sat up, taking off his glasses in a futile attempt to clean them, sighing loudly. Chrno stuck a finger in his ear and wiggled it a bit, feeling spaghetti sauce squelch. "Maa...."
Sheda stood, and shook herself like a cat, sending food flying at the others. "Well! This'll be the perfect opportunity to use my new invention."
Aion lifted an arm, trying to block the shower of food, failing badly as he got a tomato right in the eye. "Hn?"
Sheda grinned and waved her hands a bit. "I made something that was meant to take care of dust... but it's a bit strong. it obliterates any organic matter in a room! You just have to make sure you're not IN it."
Wid looked uncomfortable. "Sheda, the last time you tested that..."
Sheda giggled. "Yeah I know! but the fish are doing better! They just cloned about ten copies."
"I did not appreciate the death of my pets..."Aion grumbled.
Sheda poked his forehead, flicking a leafy veggie off. "I'll replicate you new ones!" Chrno just shook his head, grinning a bit listening to their banter.
"The replicas will never be the same as the original." Aion argued, setting his smeared glasses back on his face, despite the fact that he couldn't see through them
"Bah they're fish! they're meant to be EATEN. Stop making a fuss!"
"So, by that theory, you should be run up a tree!" Aion placed a soft hand on her head, A grin twitching on the side of his mouth. "Maybe I should buy a dog."
Sheda growled. "Don't you dare!" She latched onto Chrno's arm and lay her ears flat back. "Bite him, Chrno!"
Chrno rubbed the back of his spaghetti-stained head. "You two never change..."
Aion stood, a grin on his face. "Hn. We should get cleaned up." Juices dribbled from his hair as it stuck to his back. "And get out of here before Sheda does to us what she did to my fish."
Chrno sweatdropped a bit, and eyed Sheda. "Eat us?"
"Why you!!!" Sheda threw a pie tin at the two of them. "OUTOUTOUTOUT!"
Aion started laughing again, dodging a pie tin as he slipped out of the cafeteria. Chrno giggled, and did the same, skidding on his feet as he slid down the stairs quickly to escape her wrath.
Aion stepped in pace with his friend as they made their way down the corridor, a grin on his face. "You let you hair grow."
Chrno sweatdropped a bit, looking up at the vastly taller demon. "I didn't really have a choice..."
Aion's smile melted a bit, as he looked at the hallway walls. He was silent, not sure how to bring up the subject he knew was on both of their minds. Chrno remained silent, also not really wanting to bring it up since they'd just spent a much needed happy moment....but of course it couldn't last for long. He felt the ache inside begin to take hold and he stood a bit taller clenching his fists, forcing it back. "We...need to talk about it...but...not now."
"Un." He nodded, clasping his hand on Chrno's small shoulder. "Shall I show you to your room?" He gave him a warm understanding smile.
Chrno nodded once, lowering his gaze. He needed time to figure out everything....since all that had happened was like a confusing rush in his mind. Aion picked up the pace, moving into the private rooms, and stopping in front of one. "This one is yours, The children are right across the hall." He opened the door, revealing a slightly plain room. "I am going to get cleaned up, the bathing area is just down there." He pointed down a thin hallway, where steam was leaking out, from obvious use.
Chrno glanced at the door, and nodded, picking up his rather gunky braid. "Good idea.......I think that's a priority."
Aion opened the door, heading off to one of the showers with a light yawn. "There is a hot spring if you want to take a dip. Try not to get food in it though, Jenai made that mistake once."
Chrno sweatdropped a bit. "Who beat him up afterwards?"
Aion muffled a laugh, "Rizel, She was the one who was in it when the clog exploded."
Chrno sweatdropped more, and shook his head, pushing the door to the shower and changing room open. "Knowing her, he didn't stand up for a week...."
Aion stepped out of the shower, "See you tomorrow Chrno." He called, waltzing out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped about his waist, glad to have all that crap out of his hair.
"Ah... yeah..." Chrno said quietly watching him go, then stepped out of the shower himself, and with a small sigh, entered the hot springs area, and blinked a bit seeing the two kids there already.
Rosette leaned against the side of the tub, glancing over to where the bathhouse was separated. "Joshua?" She asked, climbing out and knocking on the thin tatami wall. "You want to go into the spring before bed?"
Joshua giggled from inside. "Of course!!! You think I wanna sleep like this?" He poked his head out of the room, and grinned at her. "Naa... can I come in, or are you gonna throw soap at me?"
She grabbed a towel and shoved the divider apart, a grin on her face. "Only if you make fun of my flat chest again." She stuck her tongue out at him, and motioned towards the large springs. "Who knew that you could have a spring in a space ship!"
Joshua whooped and plunged in happily, making a large splash. "They've got EVERYTHING.... did you see? They had an atrium up top where you can stand and it looks like you're just floating in the stars.
Rosette slid in the water after him, swimming around calmly as she stared at the glass ceiling, watching the stars twinkle at them through the steamed panes. "Wow. Its gonna take forever for us to see everything.."
Joshua giggled and floated on his back casually. "Just think.. this morning we were going to school like normal... we have an adventure, wake up a demon, meet a bunch more, and are traveling in space in a luxury ship....."
"Beats the hell out of avoiding Remington ne?"
He grinned widely. "Yeah!...." He frowned a bit. "Though I wonder how Remington knew Chrno... did you notice that?"
Rosette nodded, "Man I knew he was old, but Jeeze..."
Joshua frowned a little. "Yeah but... 300 ? That's like... impossible."
Rosette splashed at him, "I know that silly. Maybe he's eating children's souls to keep young, that's why he wanted you!"
Joshua eeped, and his eyes got very huge, and he nearly lost his balance in the water. "R....really?"
"Yeah! with you powers, he could live like another millennium!"
Joshua turned pale and looked around spooked as if Remi was gonna come eat him right there. "Wahhhh"
Rosette cackled, "And you thought he was nice."
Joshua shuddered and ducked under the water making bubbles.
Rosette giggled, turning around to see Chrno standing there. "Oii Chrno Join us!" She waved happily to him.
Chrno blinked a bit, glancing around, seeing no one else was there, and stepped forward into the water. "Ah.... you two look like you're enjoying yourself."
"We just figured out what Remington is! A soul eater!" Rosette exclaimed wading over to him. "Joshua's gonna have nightmares"
Chrno promptly slipped and fell face first into the hot springs at that comment. He sputtered up, blinking water out of his eyes. "N...nani!?"
"A soul eater, that's why he wanted Joshua, so he can get rid of those wrinkles that are forming under his eyes."
Chrno stared at her wide-eyed, then burst out laughing.
"Oi...." Joshua appeared from behind Chrno, just his eyes poking out of the water like a croc. "Its not funny....my soul is in danger...."
"Yeah, he might come for you tonight Joshua" She wiggled her fingers spookily at her brother.
Joshua eeked, and clung to Chrno from behind. "Help meeee!"
Chrno put a hand to his head. "Maaa... you two have overactive imaginations...." He sighed a bit and grinned over at Rosette. "He's not a soul eater, trust me."
She pouted, " Na Chrno...You ruin my fun..." She poked him in the chest, while trying to blow a bit of her hair out of her eyes.
Chrno blinked at her a bit, and looked briefly confused, but spread his hands. "Maa naa.. You two are incorrigible." He stuck his tongue out a little at her, opening one eye and winking."
She laughed at that, tackling both of them and sending water spraying everywhere in a large splash. "Uwahhh!" Chrno went down, with Joshua behind him in a plume of water.
"Aaahhh neeesaaaaan!"
Rosette giggled as she came up for air first, shaking her head like a dog to free it of the water. "Ne Chrno, Joshua?"
Joshua was swirly eyed floating up in the water. "Aaarrraaa...."
Chrno merely coughed, and surfaced, shaking his head sending water flying everywhere.
"How about we make a pact!" She asked, grabbing her brother by the shoulders, shaking him a bit to wake him.
"Aaraaa........you're meeean....."
Chrno blinked a bit. "A pact...?"
"Hai! You see, we're going to be explorers when we grow up!" She said enthusiastically, elbowing her brother to get his attention. "Right Joshua?"
"Uwaa.....ha...hai...."
Chrno glanced over at the two, blinking water out of his eyes as his mind turned that over. "Explorers...?"
"You don't sound very enthusiastic." Rosette said flatly, her eyebrows pursing up. "How is your breathing?"
"Ah... fine...." Joshua grinned a bit, and sat up, sticking his tongue at her. "I haven't felt better actually..."
"Good." She smiled at him before turning to Chrno again. "We're gonna discover something that no one has ever seen before! And go across the galaxy and see cool things."
Chrno blinked, but then smiled broadly. "Sounds like a fun goal."
"Un. Then lets make a pact. That we'll go exploring, just the three of us someday." She placed out her hand, closing her eyes amiably.
Joshua grinned widely. "Yeah!" He grabbed her hand tightly with his , and turned his bright blue eyes on the demon.
Chrno blinked a little more, staring at the two of them, and his gaze drifting down to the clock glittering at Rosette's chest. Then he smiled faintly, and put his hand out with theirs. "Ah... That would be fun."
"Good, that settles it, Welcome to the group Chrno!" She smiled, opening her eyes and squeezing all their hands with her free one. "I won't forget this remember that, so you better not run away."
He laughed a little. "Hai hai, how can I compete..." He shook his head, and winked at her. "Besides, I can't run away. Where you go, I go. Until such time..." He trailed off and then shook his head quickly.
Joshua grinned and leapt up. "Yosh!!! now lets....zzz....." He toppled over passed out.
"Ah Joshua!" Rosette gasped pulling her brother above the water. "Joshua! Joshua! Don't die on me Joshua!!" Joshua just snored loudly, completely drained.
Chrno laughed softly. "It's been a long day for you two..."
She glanced over at Chrno tears in her eyes as she hugged Joshua to her. "Naaa...Help me with him.."
Chrno smiled a bit, and shook his head. "Hai hai!" He knelt down and scooped Joshua up onto his back, and with a slight hefting, picked him up.
She placed a hand on his shoulder, a soft smile on her face. "Thank you Chrno.."
He just smiled back at her. "Hai hai.." He managed to climb out of the pool, and shake himself a little bit, then head out into the corridor, caring Joshua, entered their room, and put the young apostle down gently on the bed.
Rosette followed him slightly behind, her eyes cast to the side as she tugged on the clean nightdress that Sheda had left lying on her bed. "Ne I tell you something?"
He glanced over, adjusting the towel around his waist as he turned to face her. "Eh? Sure..."
"I think, before we go exploring…I'd like to become a doctor. That way I could take care of Joshua..." she sat down on her bed, pulling her knees up to her chin, suddenly feeling really tired. "Ah, but it takes a lot of smarts to become one, which I think I don't have...Oh well, forget I said anything about it." She smiled at him, before her eyes closed and she just collapsed down on her bed, sound asleep.
Chrno listened, and smiled softly as she professed her goals. "So caring..." He murmured quietly, touching her cheek gently to brush some hair out of her face, before rising and slipping the sheet over her sleeping form, then turning and exiting the room. He entered his own, and sighed, leaning against the door.
He slowly walked over to the window where the bed was laying next to, and sat down, staring out at the scenery beyond, as he ran a hand through his hair, since he'd unbraided it to wash it....the stars seemed to sparkle with a glittering knowledge, teasing the forlorn demon, as he curled his legs up to his chest, took a shuddering breath, then buried his face and let the tears come....it wasn't until late in the 'night' that he finally fell asleep just like that.
TBC