And finally, I update. Yes, I know it's been awhile. I've been quite a bit busy with work and other things. I apologize if the time it took to get this out was upsetting. This coming week is going to be a nightmare (I'm doing the lighting for a play my father is directing and the show goes up next weekend), but I will try to find more free time to write, okay? I'm working really hard to get this out by this weekend, even though these are my roughest days at work. Please, please, please be patient with me. And thanks to all the reviewers who have supported me! I'm forever in debt to your kindness.
NOTE: I'm afraid that the Labyrinth idea went down the hole. I was definitely going to keep it more to CC than to Labyrinth itself and I guess people got the wrong idea. Chrno wasn't going to be the Goblin (Demon) King...lol. I was going to stick to the way CC handled things. For example, Rosette's brother is kidnapped. Well, only one person fit the bill of kidnapper if you ask me... Anyway, I threw it down the toilet, so I'm sorry. I think everyone was getting the wrong idea and then I was getting confused about my own ideas for it and it just made me frustrated. I'm very sorry. I will try to come up with a better or more original chapter story as soon as I can. Please be patient with me.
NOTE 2: Things are about to get terribly complicated with this chapter, seeing as how I've begun to form a plot (filled with holes, but a plot nonetheless)...you have been warned.
NOTE 3: To avoid confusion, keep in mind that this takes place after Rosette finds out about Magdalena and Chrno's past. If there's any further confusion, feel free to ask questions and I'll answer to the best of my ability.
I decided my reader responses were a bit too messy, so I decided to keep things more appropriately spaced. Therefore, the reader responses below are to the reviewers of Chapter 2 of Blank Pages:
fallenangeljulian: More fluff, huh? Hope this will suffice...
Angelstars: I'm glad you like it. :3 I have fun portraying the characters in different ways, but try not to break their foundations. And Chrno is such a fun character. lol As for the Labyrinth idea, it kind of died. But I'll try to make up for it with another and hopefully more original idea once I think of one! And as you can probably tell, writing the interaction between Chrno and Rosette is my favorite part to write. XD
kyanightdragon: Thank you. Hope this is soon enough.
TashaRae: Cliffies are awfully convenient for an author, though. ;D I finally have an idea of where I'm going with this story, though I'm not sure how many chapters it will be yet. Hope it satisfies. :3
pyro the dark angel: Yeah, "Tangles" was adorable. Thanks for the review.
elyssalyn: Truth is, I'm still working on exactly how the Elder changed Chrno's form. But it will definitely be revealed soon. Maybe next chapter. :3 And I've only begun playing with the tension between my two favorite characters, lol. Looks like the Labyrinth thing went down the drain though.
davis45108: I'm glad I can achieve setting a mood. That makes me feel as though I've done at least part of my job as a fanfiction author. Thank you so much for your kind words. I'll work harder to see just how much of that I can accomplish. And yeah, the continuation seems to be going farther than I thought it would. hehe
Helbaworshipper: Glad you liked it. :3 Thanks for the review.
Lillian Claire: Yeah, Chrno has been keeping secrets, but I'm sure Rosette isn't always fully open with him, either. Especially where her feelings are concerned. So it's a fair trade? hehe Rosette seems to go on and off with her submissiveness in this story. I hope that doesn't cause too much confusion. :x Thanks for the encouragement and the review!
Princess-Lalaith: Um, I hope this is fast enough? I'll try to get the next one out even sooner, if possible. Just been a bit busy. Please don't kill anyone. xx;
Zarra Rous: More, it is. :3;
Hanyou-Mieko: Sorry about the cliffie. Thanks for the review! No worries about the Labyrinth thing, though, cause I dropped it.
roguehobbit: Tormenting Chrno is fun, though. But I let him have his manly moments once in awhile. Hope this is soon enough of an update. Don't worry about the Labyrinth thing, though. I kind of ditched it.
JasmineScent85: Thanks for supporting my writing here and my artwork on the Astral Lines forum! (hugs) I really appreciate it! Hope this update is soon enough.
Megami Ryuuzaki: I guess people don't like cliffies, hmm:D;; Well, we need them sometimes. Hope this update is soon enough.
Lord Cynic: LOL. Yeah, I like her Japanese voice well enough, but her English voice is the annoying one. And you can find the manga at most bookstores, I think... Like Barnes and Noble or Walden Books. And I thought Chrno's recount of the night before would be nice. I like to share both character's thoughts and perspectives on situations. It is continuing still, and now even has the beginnings of a plot (lol, me trying to develop a plot...scary). Thanks for the review!
Centauri Cruxis Angel: I apologize for leaving you hanging. :3;;; Sometimes they're just so convenient to leave off on, though... LOL It would hilarious if he came out and told her something like that. Hope my version doesn't end up disappointing. oO;
romulus901: Thank you very much! The Labyrinth idea flopped, but... Happy belated birthday to your friend:D
Lunatic Pandora1: XD They're just so fun to write. Especially when they interact. Poor Chrno does get picked on a bit much, though.
Aiko: Yeah, Chrno seems to be having problems adjusting to his new body and new feelings, just as Rosette is having to adjust to him. Thing might be a little confusing between them, but just wait until the next chapter...oh boy...
ChibiSamiSala: I'm sorry, but I think the Labyrinth idea flopped. You can read above if you want to know the details.
Jazzy Uchiha: Thank you. Hope this update is considered soon enough.
Lechan: I'm glad you're enjoying it. :3 I update as soon as I can. Thank you for the review!
Outsane: Thank you so much! I'll definitely keep writing. Hope it doesn't disappoint anytime soon. :x
Maiden of the Moon: No worries, lol. I'm honored that you can find the time to review a little fic like mine. I'm glad you liked the last chapter and I hope this one doesn't dissapoint. Poor Chrno can be so fun to pick on, though. Thank you for your kind compliments! Things are going to get a little messy next chapter, however...
Indygodusk: Poor, poor Chrno. But he's such a joy to pick on. Mwahaha... The Labyrinth thing may not work out afterall though, so I've pretty much scrapped it.
Hikari: Thank you for the review and kind words! I'll continue to update.
Hopeless Romantic: I'm glad you like how it's going so far. Things are going to get more complicated, but I'll be updating! Thanks for the review.
Silver Rei: (blushes) I'm really honored that you'd think that highly of my writing. I'm really touched. I hope this is soon enough of a continuation?
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Blank Pages Chapter Three: Torn Pages
ooooooooooooo
Rosette's hands froze amidst the collar of his shirt, a sharp intake of breath being the only sound she could release in response to his soft admission.
She knew he had been hiding something from her. Of course she could tell... but she hadn't expected him to come out with it so soon. Somehow it made her heart beat a little faster. This was going to be important.
Anticipation. Strong and heavy.
Tick, tick, tick...
The life clock gently counted the seconds of silence as the tension in the air thickened considerably. Rosette heard her demon companion take a shaky breath, as though he were trying to calm himself before he continued. Her hands remained stationary in their position, not daring to interrupt.
"Rosette, I should have told you this morning," he started, as though still unsure of his own words. His voice was cracking slightly, but the tone was definitely serious. "It..It wasn't...It wasn't..!"
"CHRNO!" Accompanying the slightly familiar screech of the demon's name, the door burst open and slammed against the stone wall with a deafening smash.
"AUUGH!" Twin screams erupted from the two within, taken completely offguard.
Chrno jumped backward in surprise, and his body slammed right into his Contractor, abruptly sending them both crashing down onto the floor from the force.
"Get your head off of there and GET THE HELL OFF OF ME!"
The poor violet-haired demon could only see stars as his blonde partner quickly shoved his body off to the side, her face flushed a deep red. Chrno moaned pathetically from his position on the floor while holding his aching noggin and still attempting to get the room to become more clear than its current swirl of colors.
"Have I interrupted something?" The voice from the doorway was obviously a little amused, but also held a note of disappointment.
If possible, Rosette blushed more deeply, sending a sharp glare to the newcomer. "What are you doing here, Satella?"
Damn that woman. Damn her. Chrno had been just about to tell her something very important!
The German woman swung her long sheen of hair over to the side, simultaneously tossing a taunting smile to the irritated girl. "My business is with Chrno, not you, Sister of Destruction."
Finally throwing off his dizzy spell, the said demon sat up, pointing to himself as he blinked in confusion. "Me?"
Rosette shook vibrantly, like a volcano ready to burst. "What business do you have...barging in here without so much as knock...and then saying such RUDE-"
"Oh, so I was interrupting something, then?"
Blue eyes blinked, the anger receding like air out of a hole in a balloon as her mouth opened and closed repeatedly, suddenly at a loss for words. Chrno took the opportunity to place himself between the two before Rosette could find her voice- and anger, again. "What do you need to talk to me about, Satella?"
The red-haired woman glanced meaningfully at Rosette before winking in Chrno's direction. "This is for your ears, Chrno. Not hers."
The slightly-older form of the demon glanced pleadingly to his sapphire-eyed Contractor. "Whatever it is shouldn't take long, Rosette. Okay?"
The firey nun rose slowly to her feet, shaking as she attempted to hold in a re-building torrent of rage. "FINE!" she burst out in fury, blue eyes blazing. "WHO CARES IF YOU WERE INTERRUPTING SOMETHING! JUST TAKE HIM!" Shoving Chrno roughly toward Satella's vicinity, Rosette stomped her way to the door.
As if by instinct, Chrno quickly dashed forward and caught her arm, startling the young blonde. "Rosette, listen to me." She turned to face him, brows still furrowed angrily. "Tonight," he continued, locking his crimson eyes with hers. "Meet where we met last night. Understand?"
Cerulean eyes widened drastically as her mouth fell open, all anger forgotten once more. They didn't meet at all last night. It had been a dream, hadn't it? What in the world was he talking about?
"Understand, Rosette?"
He squeezed her arm gently and she swallowed, allowing a small nod. Before she could glimpse the warm smile he offered before he let her arm go, she turned and fled without another word, heart beating wildly in her chest as she expanded the distance between herself and the Elder's hut.
Once his partner was safely out of earshot, Chrno turned to the waiting young woman, whose eyebrows were raised highly in inquisition of what she'd just witnessed. He, however, chose to ignore her silent question.
"Is there a problem?"
Deciding not to satisfy her curiosity-for the time being- the redhead's expression turned serious. "Actually, I have a message for you."
Chrno felt his insides squirm uncomfortably. This didn't sound good.
"One of the demons with my older sister, the feline one, requested that I relay a message to you as soon as possible," Satella explained, " I'm not sure what it means, but she was certain you would understand."
There was a pause and Chrno curled his fingers in and out nervously.
"It involves a clock-like device and a woman named Magdalena..."
ooooooooooooooooo
Rosette Christopher hung from the stone column, her body still heaving and inhaling sharply from her mini-marathon across the grounds, and her ears ringing with the rushed pace of her heartrate.
It wasn't a dream.
Oh God, it wasn't a dream.
Chrno did- and said- everything, just as she remembered. Unconciously, she raised a finger to her lips and let it linger for a moment. He had really kissed her? She had really kissed him back?
Something was still foggy in her mind. ...What had happened after the kiss? She could recall him speaking, but the words were muddled. ...Then everything went black.
She had passed out, the young nun realized. But what had Chrno done then...? An image of his taller night-clothed figure carrying her off to the women's dorms enterered her mind and she felt her face heat. He must have brought her back to her room.
And tonight...
Tonight was most definitely going to be interesting.
"Rosette?"
The blonde girl nearly shrieked in surprise, jumping to the side. A small, pale hand reached out to steady her. "Are you alright, Rosette? You look like you've been running for your life."
"Oh, Azmaria," the blue-eyed Sister sighed in relief.
The Apostle raised one fine eyebrow, helping her friend to stand up straight before letting go. "Who did you think I was?" she questioned curiously, then her features creased in worry. "Did something happen?"
Rosette rubbed the back of her head and laughed shakily. "No, no. It's nothing. You just startled me."
Azmaria's face remained frowning in concern. "Rosette, dinner was served an hour ago. You were hiding in your room all day and refusing to talk to anyone, then suddenly turned up missing from the dorms without a trace."
The blonde exorcist waved her hands frantically. "I'm alright. Really, Azmaria. I just went to see Chrno for a little while, that's all." She smiled lop-sidedly at her female companion. "Sorry for worrying you."
The silver-haired girl looked skeptical for a moment longer, but shook her head and smiled despite her doubts. "Well I brought some leftover food to your room, in case you were hungry after missing the main meal."
Rosette returned the smile, fully. "Thanks, Azmaria."
"But," the young Apostle grabbed a hold of the taller girl's hand once more. "Even though I may be young and lacking in experience, I'll do whatever I can to help if you want to talk to me about anything!"
"I'll keep that in mind, " the nun promised with a wink. She patted the girl's hand softly and made her way back to the dorms.
Ah, food could take her mind off of anything.
ooooooooooooooo
The demon Sinner wasn't sure just how long he'd been staring blankly at the wall. It could have been minutes, it could have been hours. But it didn't matter. He didn't care.
Far too many questions were running like wildfire through his head.
Chrno replayed Satella's message in his mind.
"She didn't seem too keen to tell me any details, but she wants to see you right away. And she mentioned that you must bring the that device, the clock, with you. She'll meet you at the girl's grave at sunset tomorrow, she said. ...I assume you understand this better than I do."
Of course he understood. Bring the life-clock to Magdalena's tomb.
...But why?
Sheda was a good friend of his, from back in the day. She got along well with Magdalena, too. And no one doubted her supreme mechanical and science-related skills. The cat demon was nothing short of a genius.
And for her to request to see him there, of all places, and probably without Aion's knowledge, was simply mind-boggling. And thus he concluded, must be phenominally important.
He'd had many thoughts regarding the possibilities, but each was more outlandish than its predecessor. Besides...there were other things occupying his mind currently, as well.
Such as a certain hot-headed blonde exorcist by the name of Rosette Christopher.
And judging by the increasing inky-blackness of the sky, it wouldn't be long until their appointed meeting time. Then...things were going to get sticky. Chrno was already aware that he almost bluntly told her she hadn't been dreaming the night before. The demon Sinner wasn't about to start lying to her all over again. And that meant, he'd tell her the truth. For certain.
Chrno groaned aloud in frustration. How? How in the world was he supposed to tell her something like...that? True, his actions from the previous night reflected what he'd spent the day hiding from her, but what if he...
What if he felt compelled to do something again? Or speak words that may unintentionally startle her?
Fine mess he'd gotten himself into.
Not that he would mind brushing his fingertips over her soft cheek again, or taste the sweetness of her lips once more...
Whoa, whoa. Already his thoughts were straying into the new danger zone! That couldn't be a good sign.
Shaking the rising heat away from his face, the crimson-eyed boy rose from his cot and quietly crept out of the Elder's hut. His form blended into the night effortlessly, disappearing into the darkness as he swiftly trekked across the grounds and toward the dim light flickering from the distant window of the common room.
oooooooooooo
Rosette couldn't sit still, not even for a few seconds. Eletrifying anticipation bubbled through her veins and refused her a moment's relaxtion.
Since Chrno already assured her that she hadn't been dreaming the night before, what else could he be hiding?
It bothered her greatly. His hesitation to speak to her of it meant that whatever it was he was hiding, had to be something in context to her, right? Or if it wasn't that, only one other thing was even possible.
Was he going to tell her something else about his past? Something she hadn't "witnessed"?
An image of a beautiful young woman with pale blonde hair and ocean-colored eyes flashed across her mind and her heart gave an unnatural jolt, as though it had been sqeezed by an inviible pair of pliers. Magdalena. Of course she couldn't forget. Chrno's love, his most important person...
Everything she could never be to him.
The invisble pressure increased and she instinctively clutched the night clothing over her chest. No, she couldn't start thinking about that right now. Chrno would be coming soon.
She sighed, letting go of the soft fabric.
Perhaps she should be ashamed of hiding things from him, too...
"Were you waiting long?"
"Eee!" Rosette nearly flew out of her own skin as she fell forward onto the floor in surprise.
The tan-skinned male immediately rushed to her side, helping the startled girl to her feet. "Sorry, Rosette. I didn't mean to scare you."
There was a slight pause after he successfully lifted her lithe form from below. Rosette skillfully avoided his eyes as a pretty pink blush rose to her cheeks. "It wasn't a dream, was it, Chrno?"
He swallowed, his eyes drifting shut. "No," he admitted softly. "We did meet here last night, and..."
"We kissed," Rosette interrupted lightly, her sapphire orbs trained on the fire flickering to her left. Then abruptly, she whirled around and snatched a hold of both sides of his shirt's collar, one flap in each hand as her voice erupted in a desperate whisper, blue eyes filled with confusion and silent pleas. "Then what-what is it you're-!"
"I'm attracted to you, Rosette."
The blonde froze in place, shocked cerulean eyes broadening as they searched his deep red gaze. W-What?
That was the absolute last thing she could have dared to guess he was going to tell her.
Chrno took her stunned silence as an invitation to continue. "I'm not sure what to tell you now, to be truthful, but I don't think hiding it from you was going to do any good, in the long run."
"W-What do you mean?" she stammered, her eyebrows twitching in puzzlement as she processed the information.
His gaze was serious as he kept his crimson orbs focused on her. "Did you feel anything when I kissed you last night?"
The fair-haired nun blinked as her mind travelled back to the previous evening and the thrill his actions and words sent through her body. Of course she felt many things when they had kissed...but how could she begin to translate that into something she could actually articulate?
"More than anything," he deep tone cut the silence once more. "I felt...like I never wanted it to stop, Rosette. And as though...I wanted to do even more." She sucked in her breath, unable to reply, and Chrno immediately regretted voicing anything. "I scared you, didn't I?"
He moved to back away from her, even leaving himself open to her beatings if she felt the need to hit him. And his surprise was more than clear when she briskly reached out and took his hand, halting any further distance he could put between them.
"I like it...when you're open with me, Chrno."
At this, his stunned gaze rose to meet her clam blue eyes once again. "I was a little taken aback with your strange behavior last night and I probably should have knocked you good for it," she mused, smirking slightly. "But you don't have to be afraid, Chrno," her voice softened as she reached a slim hand to his face and traced the curve of his cheekbone. "You don't frighten me. What you have to say may knock me off my feet sometimes, but don't worry, okay? I'd rather you were open and truthful with me, instead of hiding everything."
"But Rosette, I-"
One small finger glided down to press against his lips. "You don't have to pretend to be a child all the time. And I'd be a liar if I tried to say I wasn't attracted to you, dummy."
He blinked cutely and she chuckled, removing her finger from the skin of his lips. "Well, anything else you want to say?"
Chrno merely stared at her for a moment, watching the firelight dance across form. He stepped closer to her and she looked up at him, tilting her head to the side in silent question. "Chrno...?"
Gentle but firm fingers latched underneath of the teen exorcist's chin, persuading her head to arch backwards. The demon's other arm snaked around her waist, pulling her more snuggly against his tall frame as his face quickly descended upon hers. Rosette's dark eyelashes barely had enough time to close before Chrno's lips reclaimed hers, filled with new confidence and traces of the previous encounter's desire. Passion heightened from the intimate action and the blonde girl eagerly returned his mouth's embrace upon her own.
She was forever grateful that it hadn't been a dream. To experience such bliss was heaven.
The hand left her chin and slowly began to trail down her exposed neck. The young demon exorcist involuntarily shivered from the touch.
Yes, it was heaven. She felt as though she were floating in the sea of Astral, diving deep into the depths of her partner's soft and pleasure-inducing movements...
His hand travelled farther down, feather-light as it passed her collarbone.
Maybe the other Sisters would consider her acts sinful, but she didn't care. At the moment, Rosette felt she could take on Sister Kate's worst mood and pull out victorious. Her arms worked up to their position of the preceeding evening, twining around his neck as the kiss entered an even deeper state.
Still the hand descended, slowly, until it rested over the cloth covering the left side of her chest. And there it remained.
Rosette felt the slight shock of something akin to an electric spark and pulled back just slightly from her demon comrade's busy mouth, her eyes blinking open as heat rose to her face in mere seconds. "Wha?" she half whispered-half moaned.
Chrno appeared unaffected by her bit of discomfort, completely absorbed in the kiss. Her hazy mind finally registered exactly where the tingling was coming from, sending an immesurable blood rush to her face that could put any blush to shame. Her mouth began to mimic a fish as she pushed pushed herself away from the demon's strong lips. At least, enough to alert him that something was wrong.
"...'Sette?" His half-lidded ruby eyes blinked open, still heavy with desire and longing. "Is something-"
The violet-haired demon's speech died instanteously when he realized where his right hand was situated and immediately withdrew the appendage, stuttering unintellibly as his blonde Contractor's fist collided with his skull. He rubbed his swelling cheek and lifted his gaze to hers, surprised the girl hadn't continued her assault. She glared back at him, face still flushed with a mix of embarrassment and anger. "Chrno..." she ground out, blue eyes narrowing. "There's such a thing as being too open, you pervert."
The crimson-eyed demon forced a nervous chuckle, backing away from the aura that surrounded the girl, currently laced with promises of pain and punishment.
"Well, uh...Good night, Rosette," the Sinner spoke awkwardly and rushed, disappearing into the shadows within seconds.
The blonde exorcist glowered into the darkness for a moment longer, until she was sure he had vacated the area, then sighed and lost all support in her legs as she fell to her knees.
It had felt a little...different. Sure, it was pleasurable, but... When his hand had...and his kiss had...
Magdalena had Chrno's love.
...She had his...lust?
oooooooooooo
I hope that was satisfactory for the wait? Again, I'm really sorry. I would have gotten this chapter out earlier, but it would have been shorter. And I like to write pretty long, so... By the way, I won't turn this into anything lemony, so don't worry (unless a lot of people request it, then maybe I'll put something on AFF eventually). I'm just going to confuse the hell out the characters. And it only gets worse next chapter...
Please continue to review if you would be so kind! It really does inspire and motivate me to keep going on this fic and I'm glad so many of you like it. I hope not to let you down.
Next chapter: Chrno will recount the heated encounter with his Contractor and Sheda will have news that is sure to turn Rosette and Chrno's world upside-down.
Thank you for reading.