Disclaimer: Did I own it last time? No. So why would I own it now!
Author's note: Keh heh heh…this is so much fun. Sadly, this chapter isn't as good, so please forgive me. I was trying to hurry up and finish it in, at some sense, a good amount of time. Please be nice to me in this one, cause the next will be better! And I will update fast!
Currently listening to: Blackeyed Peas, Evanescence, Now 1-18, Jesse McCartney (sp?), Linkin Park, Switchfoot.
Reminiscence of Regrets
Chapter 2, Why?
The news of what Chrono had done had spread through the convent like a disease. The shocked expressions and hushed whispers were enough to assure her that they hadn't expected it either.
Rosette stared down at the pale face below her. His face was peaceful. Quiet. Pained. She looked away, brushing at the rapid tears that had formed in her eyes. Why couldn't she have stopped him?
"I'm sorry, Sister. There's noth-" The doctor's voice faded quietly as he whispered something to Sister Kate. What was he saying to her?
"Are you sure? There's absolutely nothing?" Sister Kate whispered back, though Rosette heard it this time. The doctor nodded. Sister Kate sighed heavily as the doctor moved on, taking shelter behind closed doors.
"What did he say, Sister Kate?" Rosette's voice cracked with emotion as she voiced her question, looking away as more tears appeared in her watery eyes. Sister Kate looked startled at first, then looked down at the figure on the bed. She walked over, hand outstretched and brushed his pale cheek lightly, her sad eyes observing the frail body.
"He's so thin…the doctor said he hasn't eaten in awhile." Was the only reply Rosette got. Yes, Rosette was told that. His body was frail and malnourished from starvation, wracked with pain and despair. And she still had not noticed the diminished body before her as she looked at him yesterday.
"Sister Kate…what did he say?"
"It's such a shame we didn't see this sooner…"
"Sister Kate! What did he say?" Sister Kate looked up, staring Rosette in the eye with piercing hazelnut eyes. They searched for strength, to see if she could possibly take the news.
"Rosette…the doctor said that…in essence…he has lost the will to live. We may have saved him from bleeding to death, but he is still steadily dying. He'll be dead within a few days. I'm sorry…there's nothing we can do." Rosette's eyes gazed steadily into hers, searching for a sign that it was just a horrible joke.
Her mouth opened and closed suddenly as she swallowed hard, her eyes watering fast and quickly spilling over. She dropped to her knees, her heavenly cerulean eyes hazy and distressed. Sister Kate turned away. She hadn't wanted to tell her until she got over the shock of last night.
"I'm so sorry Rosette…" She whispered as she took one last glance at the barely breathing form on the bed, then briskly walked to the door and quietly closed it behind her.
Rosette crawled over to the bed and grabbed the handrail, pulling herself up with the bar and flopping over the edge next to the pale demon. Her tears stung her eyes and burned her cheeks as she brushed them away. She laid down next to him, burying her head into his shoulder. He still smelled the same…she shut her eyes and put her arm around his neck as the pain in her heart grew. Her fingers unconsciously fiddled with his silky hair, comforting her as she slipped into a fitful sleep.
"Rosette…Rosette…Wake up, Rosette…" She opened her blurry eyes to stare at the intruder. It was Sister Kate. She looked fitful as she wrung her hands together and fidgeted with her habit. Rosette clamored out of bed, confused at her apparent discomfort.
"What is it, Sister Kate?" Sister Kate looked down at the mention of her name.
"Rosette…I'm afraid I have some bad news…" Rosette's heart sank with dread, but she stood up straight, ready for the worst.
"What is it?"
"Rosette…this isn't very good news…are you sure you want to hear it?"
"Yes, Sister Kate. I want to know what's wrong with him."
"Alright Rosette…the doctor said his cuts and injuries aren't healing, but are actually…getting worse. He said there's little to no chance of him recovering from this…and…and…" She trailed off, looking at the extremely pale Chrono.
"And what?"
"And…it would be easier to give him a small injection…to let him go, Rosette. The doctor said he's only suffering, holding on simply because of your insistence." Rosette's breath caught in her throat, shock evident on her face as she took a few steps back.
"We can't…he still has a chance! We can't just give up on him like that! He needs us, Sister Kate…please…don't let them hurt him!" Her voice cracked with her sobs, but still she remained firm. Her eyes held no room for argument as she stood protectively over the bed.
"What's the point of holding on when he's dying anyway, Rosette? He's in pain…you can't force him to stay simply for you alone…think about him. Do you really want him to suffer simply for YOU?"
There was silence for a few minutes, and Sister Kate had thought she had won as Rosette cried, her hand brushing Chrono's cheek delicately with her hand. She gazed fondly at him, her eyes locked on his face as she seemed to think of what to say.
"We aren't God, Sister Kate. WE don't decide when people die…He does…who are we to decide that for Him? Regardless of what you say, if you do anything to affect his life, such as injecting him with poison, that would be MURDER. I thought you taught against that, Sister Kate."
She stood up, watching her with steady eyes, knowing she had struck a point.
"We can use Azmaria. She would be happy to help us heal him. And after his wounds are healed, we can wake him up and help him recover." Sister Kate looked shocked at first, then she smiled sadly.
"Alright Rosette. You get 1 chance, ONE." Rosette smiled happily then took a deep breath, steadying her wavering emotions before brushing by the stunned head nun and walking out the door with a quiet 'thank you'.
Azmaria took a deep breath, watching the people around her before looking back down at the motionless demon.
"You want me to heal his wounds? But there's so many…" She whispered, running her hand over some of the uncovered cuts. Blood stained her fingers the instant she touched them as they ran over onto the white sheets.
"We are confident you can do it, Azmaria." Rosette replied evenly, hand gripping the younger girl's shoulder comfortingly. "Just concentrate." Azmaria took a deep breath, trying to calm the butterflies that were tap-dancing on her assurance.
"Alright…I'll try…" She paused, trying to look at all the cuts and gouges that lined his thin arms. Her heart fluttered in her chest, worry spreading over the doubt and hope. What if she messed up?
'I should try…for Chrono…'
For a minute, nothing happened, and Rosette began to fear it wouldn't work when a sudden burst of blue light brushed the room and pulsed around Azmaria. She gasped in surprise, but quickly directed it at the being intended for healing.
With a hazy rush, the light surged towards the pale demon, slamming into him and making him rise off the bed slightly, floating on the heavenly blue light. What few bandages remained came off, and skin slowly began to crawl over the cuts and gouges. Chrono writhed as if he was in pain, but showed no hint that he was even subordinately conscious.
With a sudden rush, the blue light gave another surge and vanished, leaving Azmaria and Chrono gasping for air. Azmaria fell to her knees, clutching at her heart with one hand and holding onto the bed rail with the other.
"Did it…((pant))…work?" She gasped between breaths, looking up at Rosette with hopeful eyes.
A small groan rose from the bed, making heads turn towards it. Slowly, a crimson orb opened.
End of Chapter 2, Why
Hah hah hah. This chapter sucked. Next chapter, it gets interesting. And a few more things are explained as the plot begins to take on a form! Thanks for all the reviews, they really helped me!
Next Chapter, The pain of ignorance: With Chrono woken up, they can finally begin to heal him properly! But why didn't the cut on his wrist heal? And why won't he let them help him? He seemed angry that he was still alive when he woke up…but perhaps that's what she mixed up with pain in the beginning?