Disclaimer: As usual, I own nothing, although I wish I did. Everything belongs to Moriyama Daisuke, ADV and Gonzo.

Author's note:

Woohoo! Total reviews...4! Yay! Thank you so much!
And now a message to my 3 most recent reviewers...

NightElfCrawler:

Yeah, I know what you mean...Chrno's not really the vampire type. I didn't have it in the story originally, but I was suddenly inspired one night. In reference to the picture which you mentioned, I first saw it on the manga summaries on Devil Inside, that was before I bought the manga by the way. Then I was watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer and I was like, "Hmmm...Interesting..."

But I do agree that the normal Chrno would not be so vampiry and stuff. Still, this is just an exploration of a possible side of Chrno. But I welcome all suggestions and opinions. As to Remington...I was gonna have a "confrontation" scene at first, but then it turned out too much like yours did, and I didn't want to plagiarize or anything. So...I kinda forgot about that detail when writing. Nonetheless, let's see what I shall do in this chapter to fix it up.

This should mostly be based on the manga, but it may sort of deviate into anime storyline every now and then. I'm not terribly sure since I haven't planned that far ahead. I don't even have a set story just yet. I just write whenever an idea comes. Um....if there are any inconsistencies in relation to the manga, it's because my copies are Japanese, and when I read it, it's like me reading French or Italian. I can sound out the words, even get the gist of what's going on, but I won't understand every little thing.

Anyways, thanks heaps for reviewing. I think your story is awesome and I check everyday for updates. Your story inspired me to write, though I didn't get around to actually writing until very recently.

ChibiSamiSala:

Wow, you're so kind. Thanks so much for reviewing. I hope you continue to follow the story. Chrno being vampire like was just for that one occasion in the first chapter. I don't think I'll have him biting anyone anytime in the foreseeable future, because he isn't actually a vampire anyway. Why did he bite her though? I'll explain that in later chapters, or the next depending if it fits into the story or not.

In this fic, Chrno is not evil, but he is not so nice either. He is a demon. And he will be dangerous and wild, though not just yet. I want to play around with his character a bit more first and get a feel of how I can portray him best.

Irisgem:


This is actually in reply to your other review from my other fic, "Running". I did actually try to write emails to ff.net asking for a Chrno Crusade section. They didn't reply, so...I think it's a no...which is kind of crappy. Oh well. Thanks for reviewing!

You guys have really made my day, thanks once again. Now...to the story!

Chapter 3: Eyes

Remington:

They had fallen asleep. Or rather, Rosette had fallen asleep. The demon was too wary of me to let his guard down. Though his eyes were closed, he was still alert, still protectively holding the girl.

I could not believe it when I first saw them in front of the orphanage. The girl I had known well enough. Every time I came to the orphanage, she would disappear with her brother for hours on end. When I did see her, I could feel the hostility radiating from her. It had been shocking to see her on the ground sobbing in the arms of a boy who I had not seen before. But then he had looked up.

Those eyes. I knew those eyes. They had the same look as they did many years ago.

Though the demon had changed from that time, his eyes had not. It had been like a warped sense of deja vu. His eyes still had that same wild quality of danger. But the girl did not fear him. It was bizarre. She would trust a demon more than me, a Minister.

What would I do with the demon? What would I do with the girl?

Although my offer had been a pretext to remove her from the demon, what I said had been true, we could indeed make her into a fine exorcist. But, although trained by the Order, I doubted that her future lay there. To Rosette, her brother would always come first. She would not submit easily to authority, especially due to her free nature.

There would be no point keeping her locked in a place where she didn't want to be.

Birds were made to fly free. To trap them in a cage would encourage them to flee at the first sign of freedom, regardless of the danger. It had happened once before.

Still, the incentive of resources and training to find Joshua would be enough for now to keep Rosette safely cloistered for a few years, of that I was sure.

But what to do with the demon?

He did not appear to have recognized me yet. Interesting...

The sky was beginning to lighten and the dim outline of the Abbey was visible in the distance.

"Are we nearly there?" Startled out of my thoughts, my gaze flicked briefly to the rear view mirror. The demon had opened his eyes.

"Yes. When we arrive, I will be taking both of you to see Sister Kate, the head of the New York branch."

Sister Kate...I could already imagine what her reaction would be...

He nodded, then turned and gently shook Rosette. "Rosette." He murmured. It was disturbing. There was such warmth in his eyes. She was obviously important to the demon. When and why did the demon attach himself to this girl?

As Rosette opened her eyes I wondered at the strange contrast between the two. Purple and blonde, red and blue. They were as different as night and day. What was it that drew them to each other? Had she been embraced by darkness or had he been drawn to the light?

Storing these thoughts away, I stopped the car. "We have arrived."

As we got out of the car, I watched them carefully. Rosette was looking around apprehensively. The demon looked slightly haunted.

"Come." I said. "I will take you to see Sister Kate."

I turned and led the way to the main building. "Wait here." I ordered when we were outside Sister Kate's office. "I will speak with her first. She did not anticipate your arrival."

Rosette flinched, and I wished I hadn't said the last part. "She was expecting to meet Joshua, wasn't she?" she spoke softly, eyes not leaving the floor. The demon was glaring at me again.

I sighed mentally. Kneeling in front of her, I raised her chin gently. "You will be welcomed even if your arrival was not planned." I said as warmly as I could. "And as promised, I will ask her to allow you to be trained. Here, you will find a new home and purpose." She nodded slowly, and I stood back up.

"I cannot say the same thing for you though." I directed this to the demon. He narrowed his eyes, but said nothing.

"Wait here." I repeated, and knocked on the door. Even as I entered the office, I could feel those red eyes...watching my every move.

"Welcome back, Minister." Sister Kate greeted me with a smile, as I stepped into the office. "You're back earlier than expected. Have you brought the Apostle?"

I sighed. "Things did not go according to plan." Her face darkened. "I was to bring him back tomorrow, but something happened while I was away. I'm not terribly sure what it was...but when I returned to the orphanage, the Apostle Joshua was nowhere to be found. I believe that he has been abducted by some force of evil. The orphanage had been destroyed, with everything and everyone being time-frozen but for the the Apostle's sister, Rosette, and a demon."

She gasped. "What became of the girl?" Sister Kate asked anxiously.

"I brought her back with me." I said carefully.

She nodded in approval, looking relieved. "And the demon?"

"He is here as well." I said.

She looked shocked, then worried and disapproving. "Minister, how could you..."

I broke in. "I could not take the girl without bringing him along. He was fiercely protective," 'or possessive, rather' I thought before continuing, "and he was adamant on accompanying her. She had not wanted to come at first, but I told her that we would train her to become an exorcist if she came, so that she would be better equipped to search for her brother when the time came."

Sister Kate frowned thoughtfully. "We can arrange for that easily. But what of the demon? He has no place here."

"He will not leave the girl, of that I am sure." I stated. "If Rosette stays, we cannot get rid of the demon. It is not just that he is attached to her, but she also to him. She will not see him leave without a fight."

"I will not have him near others in the Abbey." said Sister Kate.

"I've been thinking." I said. "How about putting him with the Elder. He's been wanting to have an assistant for his 'projects', and this way, the demon would be occupied, hopefully."

"I will decide after I speak with him and the girl." Sister Kate said firmly. "Send them in."

TBC

Bleh..!

This chapter was a bit... But I had just written it as an excuse to put up replies for my lovely reviewers. That's why the chapter itself was so short. I was actually listening to "Eyes on me" by Faye Wong when I wrote this.

The main part for me was my responses to them. This chapter was just a ramble. I did try to explain my view of Remington and his perception of Chrno, but I don't know if I achieved that very well...please review and tell me what you think. I'll do a better job in the next chapter, hopefully. Until then, bear with me for a while longer.

I'm actually meant to be doing an assignment right now, but I'm kind of procrastinating and getting side tracked....hehehe!!!