Author's Note: This will be, more or less, a sister collection to my story 'Ticks of the Clock'. Originally they were all going to be chapters in said fic, but because they (and there is a growing number of them) have a common factor (the fact that they take place during those 6 "alone" months), I figured I'd group them by themselves to avoid confusion. Other than that, they will be written in a nearly identical format to those moments in TotC, will still be ranging from humor to angst to romance to stupidity, and will continue to be nothing more than seconds passing between Rosette and Chrono.
I hope you enjoy this new collection.
WARNING: Spoilers (ranging from subtle to glaring) for the last episode of the Chrono Crusade anime.
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Sunsets
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Neighbors
"You new 'round these parts?"
The boy with long violet hair stiffened, seemingly taken aback, before turning towards the speaker with a small smile. "Whatever makes you say that, sir?" he inquired cheerfully, picking an apple out of the display barrel. He examined it for a moment, then added it to his basket.
The storeowner—and apparent cashier— grinned softly in return, if only to show that he felt no ill will towards the young stranger. "Well, when you live in a small town like this one for all of your life, sonny, you tend to remember faces. Where you livin'? Their ain't any vacancies in these parts. . . ?" He arched a questioning eyebrow.
"You're right, of course," the smaller one chuckled, picking up another piece of fruit. "But there's an abandoned farm house a mile or two down the road. . . I'm staying there with someone."
"Are you, now?" the older male murmured, surprised and amused. "Your parents?"
"No," the red-eyed newcomer assured. "Someone else. I'm not as young as I look."
"Oh. . . oh, I see." The shopkeeper fiddled with a strand of his white beard. "A girl, is it?" He laughed when the boy flushed. "A little young for that, aren't ya? Well, it's none of my business, all the same." Shaking his head and muttering good-naturedly about 'youngins' under his breath, the elder returned to wiping off his register. "Anyway, if I remember correctly, that farm house ain't too bad of a place to stay, considerin', but if you need anything, you just let us know, you hear?"
The child—in the middle of selecting new pewter plates from a nearby shelf—faltered, casting the grocer a stunned look. "P—pardon?"
"I said, let us know if you need any help," the man repeated warmly. "We're not the richest, as people go, but we love to lend a helpin' hand. Besides, you seem like a good kid—I'm sure your friend is, too." Nodding to himself, the gentleman started loading the stranger's purchases into a cloth bag. "Yep. . . there are too many nasty people in the world today—we all need some good neighbors to fall back upon when times get rough, you know. . . uh. . . ?"
"Chrono," the boy filled in, beaming as he handed over some coins. "And yes, I do. . . Thank you. Really— Thank you very much!"
With that, Chrono left. . . not only with his groceries, but with a smile and two invitations to a town party, as well.
(NOTE: Someone asked in their review which DVD had the picture that inspired "Bed." My answer: DVD 7. The last DVD.
. . . yeah. That's all! XD)