Tears of innocence

---Chapter 5: Walking Through the Night

Rosette continued to look outside of the window of the room where she was with Minister Remington without saying anything to the young priest, who stood behind her. She was still thinking of Chrno. She had wanted to stay with him, instead of going back home to confront the minister... the emotional wound she received upon hearing of her dear brother's disappearance was still painfully fresh.

Tears were forming once again in her eyes, as she continued to look at the clear night sky. There seemed to be some small figures obscuring the stars... how strange. She didn't pay them any attention, however, as her thoughts were currently focused on Joshua. Where could he be? What could he be doing? Was he alright?

"So, what do you say, Rosette?" Remington's kind, yet annoying tone, interrupted her thoughts, though she still didn't look at him. "I understand that this is a bit sudden... but it's now very important to evacuate the orphanage before something happens. This area is not safe for the moment."

Rosette turned around immediately to look at him with surprise, all her previous thoughts forgotten for the moment. "Evacuate?! Why?" The idea, to her, was preposterous. They were not in any danger. Why would they be?

"Like I told you, the Order discovered that the demon sealed here broke free a few weeks ago. We discovered this very recently... I came as soon as I could upon hearing the news. The Order has dispatched several Militia to this area, under my charge. The orphanage will be under our custody now... I was discussing that with Mrs. Jean before you came here."

"What?! But... but... where would we go?!" Rosette asked, still not fully believing her ears. The orphanage, evacuated... that had to be a joke! Chrno would never attack them, though of course, she couldn't say this to the minister. She was determined to keep her friendship with him a secret from everybody that would want to harm him. But still, this was too much for her to bear. First her brother disappearing, and now this...

"You will be sent tomorrow morning to the New York City headquarters for a few days, until we can secure the area. After that, you can all come back. It's possible that what happened is only a false rumor... we only discovered this a few days ago. I already talked with Mrs. Jean, and she has agreed. This is all for your safety... we don't know exactly how dangerous this place is, so it's better to leave the area as soon as possible."

Rosette was speechless for a few moments. The next morning... that was too sudden! She knew she had to tell Remington the truth about Chrno, or the entire orphanage would be sent to a far place, yet she couldn't give him away... She lowered her gaze, and wondered what to do, as a hundred thoughts ran inside her mind. She should speak to Chrno first... but when? They would be forced to leave in a few hours, and it was now very late for her to run to his place, in the middle of the night...

She got up and faced the minister, somewhat defiantly, feeling confused and angry at the sudden turn of events. "Even if that demon awoke, I don't think it's a good reason for us to move away from our home! Why would he attack us? Anyway, you still haven't told me why you want to take me to that convent!" She finished, crossing her arms.

Minister Remington sighed, but smiled at the girl. She was a stubborn one... but definitely not stupid. "Those are very good questions." He admitted. "That's why I needed to talk to you in private. There are many things I need to tell you about."

Rosette frowned, but didn't say anything, so Remington continued. "It's important to move all of you because demons from Pandemonium could come here once they find out that the demonmight bealive. He isn't very popular... he has a lot of enemies, even among his own kin."

She paled a bit at that, but said nothing and just let him continue, still not fully believing everything he said.

"As for your second question... like I told you before, I was thinking of taking you to the Order along with Joshua, but I didn't have my superior's permission at the time. You are a very brave girl, and I think you could be trained as an exorcist. We have many novices that are about your age... I think you would fit with them. There are a lot of recruitment tests, but my superiors considered that being the sister of an Apostle was enough recommendation for you to join, specially since you'd be under my tutelage."

Rosette stared at him with unbelief. She knew the Order 'recruited' new members since they were very young, but it somehow never occurred to her that she would be considered to join it simply for being an Apostle's sister. Minister Remington was a lot more influential that what she thought at first. Still... the idea of leaving the orphanage, and Chrno behind, was unthinkable.

"That demon that was sealed here... what was his name? What did he do, to deserve something like that?" She asked at last, in a very low voice. That was a question she couldn't ask Chrno, for fear of annoying or hurting him, yet she was curious to know. There were still so many things she didn't know about him. She never really cared about his past, but now she knew she had to know.

Remington sighed. "It's a long story... but you must have heard about him. The demon's name is Chrno, nicknamed 'The Sinner' for killing 100 of his own allies during the war." He made a pause. "He is also the one that killed the Holy Maiden, Mary Magdalene."

Rosette was almost in shock after hearing that revelation, as many thoughts rushed inside her head. That couldn't be... the minister was lying... yet what he said made sense, as she remembered the inscription engraved at the marble block that marked Chrno's burial place. 'Holy Maiden Magdalene, pray for us' it said. She had wondered about it the first time she saw it, but she had quickly forgotten about it in the face of everything that happened afterwards. But now...

She sat down and lowered her head so that Remington couldn't see her expression. Chrno... his name had sounded vaguely familiar to her the first time he said it, but she never really thought that it could be important. There had been little time for that... he had been seriously ill, and she had to do something to save him, regardless of who he was. Several long-forgotten memories of things she had read about rushed back to her in one single instant. Chrno the Sinner. The Ignoble One... how could she ever forget about it?

"Why... why did he kill the Holy Maiden? How do you know he did it?" She asked somewhat defensively. None of the stories she had heard about him ever say anything about his motives, just a few vague facts. Chrno, a killer... she shook her head lightly. No matter what all the stories and history books said, that just couldn't be right. And even if it was true, there had to be a reason for it. He was different from other demons, she was sure of it. He was her best friend... and she would not doubt him until she heard the truth.

Remington's gaze became somewhat distant, and he was about to speak, in reply to her question, when the door opened suddenly. Mrs. Jean stood on the doorway, with a look of fear on her normally serene face. "Minister!!" She shouted, as some kids stood behind her, looking equally afraid and almost about to cry. "A horde of demons are coming this way!!"

Remington's face became suddenly as cold as ice, as he ran towards the nearest window. Indeed... there were several large figures flying towards the house, getting nearer and nearer, their eyes glowing red...

"Everybody hide in the basement. I will try to keep them at bay." He said, his voice cold and commanding. Damn it, this was too soon... they had underestimated their enemies. And he was alone... the Militia under his charge wouldn't be there until the morning. "HURRY!" He shouted, turning his head to look at Mrs. Jean before taking out his sword and walking towards the door of the building, his face hard and set. He would fight to the death... it wouldn't be an easy battle, but he would at least try to hold them back, and pray that the rest of the Militia arrived soon... they should be aware of the danger by now...

Mrs. Jean and the kids started running towards the basement, as she shouted for everyone to hide there. Rosette, however, didn't follow her advice. Chrno... she had to go to Chrno's side… he could save them, she was sure of it. She had to go to his place as soon as possible!

"ROSETTE!" Mrs. Jean shouted from the entrance to the basement, just as one of the windows was shattered by one of the demons, who smiled at the sight ofhis prey... the young blonde girl, who froze for a few moments at the sight of him.

Far away from there, in the middle of the forest, Chrno and Aion continued to speak, unaware of the nearbydanger.

"Why do you need my cooperation?" Chrno asked Aion, frowning. "If the Apostle boy is kept in Pandemonium's core, like you just said, then you know that there is nothing I can do about it."

Aion smiled. "Of course not... that would be suicide. No, what I'm asking you is to keep a watch on the boy's only sister... Rosette Christopher, I think that's what her name is..."

Chrno's eyes widened in surprise for a moment, before his expression got slightly hostile. "What do you want from her? She is a normal human girl, she doesn't have any of her brother's powers."

"How do you know that? Have you met her?" Aion asked, a little surprised.

Chrno couldn't help but to smile at this. "Rather obvious question, my brother. It was the Apostle named Joshua and his sister the ones who woke me up. Should have figured that sooner... only an Apostle would have been able to break the seals on this place." He said, a bit sarcastically. "But tell me, why do you need the girl? I don't see why she would be of any use to you." No matter what Aion said, the girl was his... and he didn't want to share her.

Aion sighed. "It's a long story… basically, Pandemonium wants her so they can manipulate the young Apostle. The boy has been rather unstable, and constantly asks for her... the energies of Pandemonium's core were a bit too much for him, and they need her to calm him down so he can 'cooperate' with their cause... and ours."

Chrno frowned. Somehow, he didn't like hearing about this... though it really didn't came as a surprise. Pandemonium had rather harsh ways to exert control over anybody who dared to oppose the demonic society, and an Apostle would be no exception to the rule. He almost felt sorry for the boy. If Rosette were to hear about this...

"Very well." He said, clenching his fist. "I will protect the girl from falling into Pandemonium's hands to the best of my ability." Now, that wasn't something difficult to do, as few in Pandemonium dared to go against him. Protecting his contractor...that was the closest thing to a fun job as he could think of. "But surely you didn't come all the way here just to tell me that, did you?" He knew his brother too well...

"No, I certainly did not... I actually came to request your services as my 'sword'." He smiled. "You are strong, Chrno, and there are several Pursuers that have been chasing me lately that I want you to eradicate." He made a pause, his face hardening. "I'm no longer trusted in Pandemonium. Though nobody has any proof of my plans for rebellion, there are still some old enemies of ours that want to see me dead. They are constantly following me, to make sure that I don't do anything suspicious. If you take care of them then I would be free to do as I please, until the right moment comes." He smiled. "Nobody can accuse me of killing them, though, of course I will keep the fact that you're alive as a top secret."

Chrno shook his head lightly, smiling despite himself. "Very well... I will trust you with that."

"Nobody even knows that I came here. Feel free to destroy those Pursuers as you see fit. After all, killing is your specialty... and from what I heard earlier today, there are a bunch of demons that have been sent here to look for you. They will be headed here after they kill some Militia from the famous Magdalan Order that were apparently sent to look for the Apostle's sister. They shouldn't be too far away... though they will probably get the Apostle's sister first."

Chrno froze. Pursuers coming this way, to look for him, and to get Rosette? He raised his head, all his senses alert, and indeed, he could feel a faint hostile demonic presence not too far away. Shit!!!

He didn't wait a single moment more, as he shot forward to the air and flew straight towards the orphanage, not even glancing back at Aion. Damn it... damn it!! NOBODY would get a hold of his contractor... especially not those bastards!

Remington fell to the floor, bleeding profusely. He had managed to kill 2 of the demons, but he had been injured, and there were still several other tall figures closing in around the building. He grasped his sword, clenching his teeth in pain. What was taking the Militia so long to come there? At this rate, all the children in the orphanage, except for Rosette, would be dead along with him. There were too many enemies for just one man alone... especially one that was injured.

Another demon crashed through one of the walls, and came inside the place, his red eyes fixed on him, as it raised his large claws. This would be difficult... Rosette had been captured already, and she continued toscream, trying hard to escape from her captor...

"ROSETTE!" Chrno's deep voice was heard suddenly, as he descended from the air with unusual speed, and slammed against the Pursuer, tearing his head off in a single movement of his claws. Burning rage flowed through his veins... rage, and an intense desire for revenge.

Rosette fell to the floor, blood from the Pursuer pooling around her.

Remington tried to stand, and shouted at Rosette to hide, but she ignored him completely, as she stood frozen, watching the violent scene unfolding in front of her eyes. Chrno, tearing all the Pursuers apart with a twisted smile on his face...

Everything fell silent in a matter of minutes, as Chrno took easy care of each of the demons that had attacked, even the ones that were trying to escape. He couldn't leave any of them alive... if he did, then Pandemonium would find out that he was still alive, and that didn't suit his plans.

He landed on the ground, his claws dripping blood, as he turned around, looking for Rosette. Where was she?

Their eyes met.

Rosette was standing in the doorway of the nearly demolished building, her face pale and scared, as she looked at the dead bodies of the demons that were scattered everywhere, which soon started to turn into mist, as well as the blood splattered on her dress.

Chrno frowned, and turned away. He could tell what her reaction would be... she would be scared of him, and would probably never want to face him again. That really didn't bother him, as long as she... as long as she was…

"Chrno!" Rosette yelled suddenly, running towards him, stopping a short distance away, her eyes filled with worry. "Chrno, are you alright?" She asked, in a trembling voice, looking up to see his face. "I thought I would never see you again..."

He turned to look down at her, his face an odd mixture of surprise, unbelief and something else... why wasn't she scared of him, even after everything she saw? Did she still consider him to be harmless?

"I am fine." He said at last. "Don't worry about me. As long as you're..." He trailed off, his eyes narrowing at the sight of Remington, who was walking out of the destroyed building with a hostile expression, clearly injured, but still willing to fight, as he clenched his sword.

"Get away from him, Rosette." He said, his voice cold, recognizing the figure of the violet-haired demon in front of him. Chrno. The Sinner...

To Be Continued

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Well, after a long while, Chapter 5 is finally done... Chapter 6 is already in the works, but please, keep your reviews coming! Feedback is always appreciated!!

Love,

Vero-chan