Disclaimer:

Rule No. One: I don't own Chrno Crusade

Rule No. Two: See Rule No. One.

Author's Note: Yes! FINALLY! I'm Typing this! I had a little bit of it already written in my notebook, but now that I refuse to write any more of IY,TNG, i've got a bit more time on my hands. But anyway .. It's been a really long time, hasn't it? I've written two more fanfics, one of them which i'm hoping I can continue, and i'm working on another one, I need to finish the first chapter of Welcome the the House of Chaos, and get started on a few others .. yeah. n.n; I've got so many ideas, and so little time to write them. Hopefully with the fast-approaching summer (School ends on Friday May 20th over here! YAY!), I can get some things done .. like fanfiction. n.n Anyway, thanks to all who have reviewed! Here's chapter four .. ENJOY!

Someone Like Me

By: Rika

Chapter IV: We Know

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Rosette sat at the breakfast table, a pensive look on her face telling the people around her that she was deep in thought about something. People often asked her what she was thinking about, but she never answered. Chrno, however, knew exactly what was going through his love's mind. He had noticed it too - Joshua and Azmaria weren't eating breakfast. They weren't even at the table. It was peculiar, even though they both knew Joshua didn't like to get up early. They thought at least Azmaria would, though. And If Joshua was in Azmaria's room all night .. then he probably would have been here with Azmaria, or at least getting her something to eat, since she was still supposed to be resting from her near-death experience. Chrno looked to Rosette and offered a comforting smile.

"What do you think is going on with those two, Rosette?" He asked quietly, so that the nuns and priests eating beside them couldn't hear. Rosette snapped out of her thoughts and smiled over at Chrno, placing a comforting hand upon his.

"They're in love. That's what's going on," Rosette said in a tone of voice that suggested that it was obvious. Chrno sighed exasperatedly.

"I know that, Rosette." It was Chrno's turn to look in thought now. "I think we should talk to them." Rosette looked at Chrno like he was crazy.

"TALK TO THEM! ARE YOU CRAZY?" Chrno sighed again.

"Yes, Rosette. Talk to them."

"But .. But Chrno, that's no fun!" Rosette crossed her arms and pouted like a child. Chrno chuckled, then stated his reasonings.

"Rosette, they're going to find out that we know sooner or later. They also need some desperate help if they are going to tell each other how they feel." Rosette looked up at Chrno, a bit surprised.

"How would they need help telling each other?" Chrno smiled.

"Rosette, remember that Joshua may be your brother, but he dosen't come out and say things as easily as you do. Especially when it's something about who he loves." Chrno smiled and whispered something else to Rosette before he stood and left the table.

"You go talk to Azmaria. Tell Joshua to meet me at the fountain outside." Rosette watched him as he left, almost in disbelief, yet she thought his reasons made sense. She grinned, then stood from the table as well, walking quickly torwards Azmaria's room, not knowing what to expect when she got there.

oo

Rosette reached Azmaria's room, and knocked on the door lightly, hoping that her brother and her friend were awake. There was no answer. She knocked again. Still no answer. A confused Rosette then put her hand on the doorknob, twisting it and cracking the door open. She poked her head inside, looking around .. and then she saw why they weren't at breakfast this morning.

The two were still curled up next to each other, asleep. Joshua had his arms around Azmaria, while Azmaria leaned her head against his chest. Rosette saw that their clothes were still on, and was relieved that they hadn't done anything serious. But she was still wondering what this meant .. She figured she could at least talk to Azmaria and find out.

Rosette quietly stepped into the room, closing the door behind her and walking to the bed. She placed a hand on Joshua's shoulder and shook him until he woke up.

"Rise and shine, sleepyhead .." She said in a singsong voice, watching as Joshua's eyes slowly opened. When Joshua realized that he was still in Azmaria's room, his arms around the girl he loved, he smiled and closed his eyes again.

"JOSHUA!" Rosette yelled, which made both Joshua and Azmaria wake up with a start. They saw that Rosette was there, and their faces became red .. very red. Rosette grinned, a look that read 'I caught you!' on her face. Joshua glared at his sister, then sighed. He knew now that she knew. And if she knew, then Chrno did too. He didn't say anything, though; He thought that silence would be best in this situation. Rosette held back a laugh and finally broke the silence.

"Joshua, Chrno wants to talk to you. He told me to tell you to meet him at the fountain. You do know where that is, don't you?" Joshua sighed and got out of Azmaria's bed, running his fingers through his hair in a futile attempt to brush it.

"Yes, Rosette. I know where the fountain is," Joshua said monotonously, and quickly walked out the door, not bothering to look at any of the two women before he left. Azmaria was still looking to the wall, her face still a tomato. Rosette looked to Azmaria and smiled.

"So, how are you feeling today, Azzy?" She asked.

"F-Fine .." Azmaria answered in a small voice. Rosette smirked.

"Are you sure?" Azmaria looked surprised.

"What do you mean?"

"You don't feel anything at all for my brother?"

" .. What do you mean?" Rosette laughed a bit.

"Azmaria, quit hiding it. I know you're in love with Joshua." Azmaria looked down at her bedsheets.

" .. W-what makes you .. say that?" She sounded panicked.

"You've been around him a lot more than normal. I've seen you walking to your Choir Classes with him, eating lunch with him .. " Rosette paused, just for dramatic effect. "You've even been at that lake with him. Alone."

"T-That was an accident!" Azmaria protested. She knew it was worthless, though. Rosette already knew. "But .. yes. I .. I do love him .." Azmaria sighed, defeated.

"So you haven't told him yet," Rosette inferred.

" .. No. I'm too afraid of his answer to even try." Azmaria looked like she was going to burst into tears at any moment. Rosette gave her friend a hug.

"It's okay. Joshua's the same way. But you know .. neither of you will ever know anything unless you tell each other what you're feeling. And even if you two weren't meant to be .. you can still be friends. Am I right, Azmaria?" Rosette asked softly, trying to console her young friend. Azmaria sniffed, and Rosette could feel her head nod in answer.

"Believe me, if you two aren't together, being friends is good enough. You may want more, but even if you don't get it, he'll still be here. And If I know my brother well enough .. he feels the same way." She pulled away from Azmaria and looked her in the eye.

"Go tell him, Azzy." Azmaria smiled and nodded, swinging her legs over and standing up .. unfortunately, she stood up a little too quickly, and ended up sitting on the bed a few seconds later. Rosette laughed.

"What's the rush? Chrno's probably still talking to Joshua right now." Azmaria smiled sheepishly, then stood up again, a bit slower this time.

"Just make sure the doctor dosen't know? Joshua's going to be worried enough, I don't need a doctor telling me to rest," Azmaria giggled and stepped over to her closet, pulling out her uniform for the day and beginning to change. Rosette nodded.

"I know how that is!" Rosette exlaimed. Azmaria finished dressing, and was in quite a hurry to get out the door, when Rosette grabbed her arm.

"Azzy, I think you should wait until Joshua and Chrno are finished talking before .."

"But I have to go to the bathroom, Rosette!" Rosette looked at Azmaria strangely, then laughed, realizing that Azmaria probably would have to go to the bathroom. She let go of Azmaria's arm and watched as she headed to the bathroom. Rosette followed her, deciding that she would wait for her outside of the room.

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Chrno sat on the edge of the fountain, listening to the sound of the running water, and of course, waiting for his future brother-in-law to come out so they could talk. Upon finally seeing Joshua walk out the doors of the order and into the courtyard though, Chrno smiled warmly and patted the seat next to him, telling Joshua that this was serious. Joshua sighed and walked over to the fountain, sitting down beside Chrno and staring down at the grass beneath his feet. Chrno looked to Joshua with a smile.

"Is everything okay, Joshua?" Chrno asked, to which Joshua looked up at the face of his future brother-in-law and sighed.

"Quit playing dumb, Chrno. You know what it is." Chrno chuckled.

"Yes, Rosette and I have known for quite a while now. But it was only yesterday that I knew how true it was." Joshua looked to Chrno in shock.

"What do you mean?"

"Yesterday, when Azmaria almost drowned .. Any of her friends would have rescued her from the water when they realized that she wasn't there. But you not only got her out of the water, you saved her life. Any normal person would have run to get help, and the most they would do would be to stay with her until the doctor was there. But you went right into action, that alone proves that you care deeply for Azmaria," Chrno explained with a smile. "It was almost as if you were determined to save her, that you loved her too much to let her die in front of you. In fact .. that's exactly what it was, wasn't it, Joshua?" Joshua blushed, but nodded his head in response.

"I do love her .. I love her so much that If she were hurt, I would die .." Joshua crossed his arms over his chest. "I just can't find the right words to explain it .. and i'm too afraid of rejection. I know Azmaria wouldn't want to hurt me like that, but if she didn't feel the same way, I would be very hurt .." He sighed. Chrno looked to Joshua and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"But you'll never know if you don't tell her. It's better than being torn up inside, living a lie." Joshua looked downwards at the grass again silently.

"Joshua .. tell her. It's the only way." Joshua looked up at Chrno, opening his mouth in protest, but Chrno cut him off.

"Tell her." Joshua closed his mouth, swallowed, then nodded slowly.

"Okay. God knows I want to .." Chrno smiled, then took his hand off of Joshua's shoulder and looked to the doors of the order, which had just opened to show that Rosette and Azmaria had come outside. Rosette wore her usual grin, while Azmaria blushed and looked to the ground immediately when she saw Joshua. Rosette urged Azmaria foreward, walking torwards Chrno and Joshua with her. Chrno grabbed Joshua's arm and forced him to stand up. One look at Azmaria, though, and Joshua's face was red as well, his gaze averting torwards the ground, like Azmaria's. Rosette and Chrno grinned at each other, then pushed Azmaria and Joshua gently torwards each other, causing them both to look up at each other, and look into each other eyes.

" .. Az .. " Joshua broke the silence ..

"Joshua .. " Azmaria answered ..

"We need to talk." They said in unison.

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AN: Aaaaaaaand .. that's chapter four! Hehehe .. yes, evil cliffy. Next chapter is the last chapter, ya'll! -sniff- I'm going to miss working on this fic .. Ahh well. I'll have time to work on Purity, Welcome to the house of Chaos, One day, Ordinary People, and others. n.n I hope it was all worthwhile. Maybe i'll make some future fanfictions for Chrno Crusade? Hmm ... Hehehe. n.n Well, i'll see ya'll in the next chapter of Someone Like Me:D

Next Chapter .. Azmaria and Joshua finally reveal their feelings! Thanks to Chrno and Rosette's Help, they have finally done it! So, what do the two have planned for the future? And what about Chrno and Rosette's marriage? Will everything be happily ever after? Find out in the final chapter of Someone Like Me!