Chrno Crusade: The End Is Just The Beginning
By:
Guardian Angel of Innocence
Chapter Two: Contract Renewed
Chrno was, just as Rosette had expected, in the library. He was searching for a certain book, a book that either was no longer within the library or just was no longer put into the computer systems due to its age. A frown came upon his lips due to the fact he was having such a hard time locating the item. He sighed in exasperation. Chrno wasn't one to give up, but it was a library. There were many books lining the walls. The shelves seemed to go to no end. The one item he was searching for was like searching for a needle through a haystack. He frowned and shook his head, finally coming to the conclusion there was no need to search further. The item was, after all, very old and would either have been so worn and torn that it was no longer of existence or, due to its age, it was kept in a secret cabinet that held all books that had grown worn with age.
Chrno sighed and shook his head. He highly doubted the librarian would lend it to him since, as Sister June had demonstrated, everyone actually had no memory or tried to have no memory of him and Rosette and the events that took place so many years ago. He supposed they rather no one know of demons all together and that they were just mythological, all a part of one's imagination. Too bad he was living proof of that "fictional" creature.
"Looking for something?" a voice asked, interrupting Chrno from his thoughts.
Chrno looked in the direction the voice had come, mentally scolding himself for not noticing anyone within the library. He was somewhat startled when he saw Rosette in front of him, smirking slightly. Beside her stood a girl he didn't recognize.
"Sooooooooooo, you're Chrno, huh?" the girl, Mia, asked. She went up to him and placed her hand on his chest, her face just inches from his. "I must admit, you are a cutey." She winked.
Chrno began to blush from Mia's closeness and comment.
Rosette rolled her eyes and grabbed Mia back by the collar of her shirt. "Down, girl. You just met the guy. Don't scare him half to death." She smirked slightly.
Mia pouted and muttered, "Well, he is and I couldn't help it." She smiled and winked again, Chrno turning a bit redder.
Rosette rolled her eyes again and sat down at a table, ushering for the two to do the same. Mia sat down happily, dragging Chrno down with her and hanging onto his arm tightly. Rosette sweatdropped while Chrno continued blushing.
Rosette frowned and got up then made her best friend release the boy, sitting down in between them. Mia glared at her then pouted afterwards. Chrno let out a sigh of relief and gave Rosette a thankful smile, Rosette returning it.
Chrno's eyes then widened when he spotted a very familiar object hanging around Rosette's neck, scolding himself for not noticing it earlier. "Where did you get that?"
Rosette blinked a few times and looked down at the clock. "This?" She turned her gaze back to Chrno. "It's... An heirloom. The only thing I have left of my family." She smiled sadly.
Chrno's expression changed to one of sympathy and understanding. He nodded. "I see..." It seemed that just like the previous Rosette, this on had no family. This has to be far more than a coincidence, Chrno thought.
"So, what are you searching for?" Rosette asked, changing the topic so that silence no longer ruled over them.
"A... historical reference," Chrno replied.
Rosette groaned. She absolutely hated history. At least that basic history Sister June taught. The type she had mentioned about Aion, though, had greatly interested her. She leaned over and whispered to Mia, "Can you leave Chrno and me alone to talk? It's important."
Mia looked a bit shocked. She then smirked, her eyes holding a glint Rosette didn't like a bit. "Ahhhh. I see." She stood up. "Well, I'll be leaving you two to do your thing." She winked.
Rosette grabbed a few nearby books, growling furiously as she threw them at her best friend.
Mia yelped and quickly ran away.
Chrno sweatdropped and shook his head. It was official; this girl might as well be an exact clone of the Rosette he knew so long ago.
Rosette calmed down and sat down next to Chrno once again. She smiled. "Come on." She took his hand and began leading him somewhere before he could do or say anything.
Chrno smiled warmly feeling like he was with the Rosette he knew so long ago. He shook his head, reminding himself that this wasn't that same Rosette.
Rosette came to a halt in front of a door.
Chrno watched the door curiously. His eyes then widened in realization and he let out a heavy sigh.
Rosette gave the boy a questioning look then turned the knob, entering the room. She released Chrno's hand, crossing her arms.
Chrno looked around the room. He smiled sadly as many memories began to fill his mind. This room had been Rosette's. He remembered the many times he had snuck away from the Elder to visit her. Chrno smirked slightly.
Rosette watched Chrno as he admired the items within the room. It hadn't changed a bit and was obviously taken care of very well. None of the items within the room looked old or worn from age. Everything looked exactly as it had before the Rosette Chrno knew had died.
Rosette sighed slightly. She was tempted to ask him more about that night, but decided against it since now wasn't a good time. She stepped outside onto the balcony, her elbows against the railing so that she was resting her head in her hands as she gazed around the scenery. After a few minutes, a familiar presence stood beside her, his hands on the railing and gaze upon the starry night sky.
Rosette smiled and placed her hand over his. Chrno looked at her a bit shocked by her action then a smile slowly made its way across his face.
"I'm tired," Rosette said and yawned.
Chrno chuckled then turned his attention to the old watch around Rosette's neck. He had completely forgotten about it until now. "Rosette?"
"Hmm?" Rosette gave him a questioning look.
Unlike the Rosette Chrno had known this one was shorter than her making it so that this Rosette was at eye level with him, him only being an inch or two taller than her.
"I don't mean to bring up any bad memories, but what happened to the rest of your family?" Chrno asked.
Rosette looked away. "Mom and Dad died when I was five. They were killed in a shootout. I only had my four-year-old brother afterwards. But when I was twelve, four years ago, Joshua died. He was killed in a... an airplane crash. At least that's what the stupid people said." She kicked the railing then crossed her arms. "He didn't deserve such a terrible death..."
Chrno nodded, his expression filled with sorrow and understanding again. "But... Why the necklace?"
Rosette turned her attention to Chrno. She sighed and shook her head. "My parents were Apostles."
Chrno's eyes widened as several questions shot through his mind at once. He shook his head and realized she was changing the subject again. "Rosette, do you realize what this..." He pointed at her necklace. "Does?"
Rosette growled slightly, Sister Kristy and Reverend Maxwell asking her that same exact thing when she had first come four years ago. "Yes, I am fully aware of that, however..." Their eyes met, hers filled with determination and his holding concern. "I haven't even made a contract so don't worry about it."
Chrno eyed the watch. "It was made for me so that I was able to use my powers."
"Do you want to use them again?" Rosette asked softly.
Chrno looked towards her, his eyes wide. He shook his head. It was happening again. Why did history have to repeat itself? "I'd rather not..."
"I'm strong," Rosette said firmly.
I won't have it happen again, Chrno thought. "I don't want to."
"How will you protect me then?" Rosette asked, placing her hands on her hips.
"Whoever said I would?" Chrno asked.
Rosette was about to reply to that when something sticky found its way around her ankle and pulled her downwards.
Rosette yelped and grabbed onto whatever was nearest to save herself from falling down. Unfortunately, her hand caught nothing as she continued to descend downwards.
Chrno caught the young nun in his arms. Rosette's eyes widened when she saw the newly transformed Chrno. His ears had become more pointed, black devil wings came out from his back, three red jewels were upon his forehead, he had gotten taller, his hair now reached his shoulders, something like a long skeletal tail came out from all his hair and reached his feet, his claws were now visible, his eyes were now golden, and his body was far more muscular than before.
Rosette turned crimson when she found she was staring at him, though, Chrno didn't seem to notice. Chrno was holding her close to him protectively and his gaze was upon the one that had dragged Rosette to the ground.
Rosette hadn't noticed it until now, but she saw that Chrno had cut whatever it was that had wrapped around her ankle with his claws. She also noticed that Chrno's feet were now touching the ground. She shook her head and turned her attention to their opponent.
Standing in front of the two was a girl spider demon. The upper portion of her body was that of a human or so it seemed. The upper portion consisted of a human abdomen, chest, arms, neck, and head. A pair of pointed ears much like Chrno's was sticking out on the sides of her head. A pair of small horns was also on her head, two jewels being on her forehead. At the ends of her hands of what were supposed to be fingernails, were claws. The girl's upper portion had long flowing orange hair that came to a stop once it reached the bottom portion of her body. Her eyes were yellow green. She wore a white vest and watched them both intently. The bottom portion of her body was that of a spider's head and body. The head had no eyes, but it did have a mouth with two fangs being visible.
Chrno and Rosette continued watching the demon, awaiting it to make its move. It looked and seemed very familiar, but, at the same time, it was also very unfamiliar.
The girl smirked and said in a very cold voice, "It is nice to finally meet you, Chrno, but I am not here for you. I am only here for the girl. She is of great importance."
"Back off," Rosette said, though, she couldn't exactly do anything to defend herself other than stay exactly where she was. She sighed. Note to self: Bring gun next time even if I'm only at headquarters.
That would have been a good idea, Chrno's voice told her.
Rosette looked up at Chrno then mentally scolded herself. Darn it! I forgot he could do that!
Chrno grinned slightly then turned his attention back to the girl. "Who are you and why do you want her?"
The girl continued smirking. "I am Arachnia and I want the girl because my master wishes for her." She looked towards Rosette. "You might be happy to come with me, darling. I believe you will find someone very precious there."
Rosette gave her a puzzled look then shook her head. "There's no one that is precious to me any longer. Everyone I held dear is no longer of existence." Except for maybe one... She shook her head.
Chrno looked down at Rosette and raised an eyebrow then turned his attention back to Arachnia. He couldn't do much other than defend Rosette and even that wouldn't last long since his energy was beginning to come to the point where he would have to change back into his smaller form. He sighed as his mind went back to what Rosette had asked earlier. Just how would he protect her?
"Chrno...?" Rosette questioned quietly.
Chrno looked back down at Rosette and felt his heart fill with pain. He knew what she was going to say and he found that wouldn't be able to convince her out of it. Please, no. I don't want to lose someone else. "Yes...?"
Rosette held up her watch, her eyes pleading with him to understand. "We have to use it. Even if it does make my life shorter, I'm willing to do it. We have no other choice."
"No. There must be another way," Chrno said
"Chrno, we have to..." Rosette said softly.
"If you two are done speaking..." Arachnia said, interrupting the two. "I'd like to receive my prey now." She held her hands out and shot webbing towards them.
Chrno quickly jumped to the side, the web missing him, but then it began following him. He cursed and began running away from the webbing. His energy began decreasing dramatically and he felt that he was soon to transform into his smaller form. If that happened, he didn't want to think of what would happen.
Rosette hid her face in his chest as she wrapped her arms around his neck. We have to. There's no other choice.
"There's always a choice," Chrno said as the web began to catch up with them, but he continued to run.
Rosette looked up at him, glaring at him. "Chrno, we have to." She grabbed out his blade that had been sheathed at his side.
Chrno's eyes widened. "What are you-"
Rosette used the blade to cut her wrist then held her bleeding wrist up to Chrno's lips, her eyes pleading for him to make the contract.
Chrno sighed in defeat as he continued to run. He used one arm to continue holding her up then slightly drank some of the blood, licking the wound afterwards to help it heal faster. The contract had been made. He ran over to the side and placed her down then turned his attention to Arachnia.
Rosette had winced slightly when Chrno had drank her blood and blushed as well as smiled a bit warmly when he had licked her cut. She watched the two then placed a hand over her watch, opening it so that Chrno could use his powers.
"Arachnia, you really should leave or I will have to hurt you," Chrno said calmly.
"Not bloody likely, Chrno," Arachnia sneered then charged after him.
Chrno kept where he was as he watched Arachnia approach him.
"Stop right now, Spiderwoman, or I'll shoot!" a girl's voice cried out.
Arachnia stopped and turned her attention in the direction the voice came from, Rosette and Chrno doing the same. Mia stood there pointing a gun at Arachnia, two people standing beside her.
One of them was an older woman who looked to be the age of thirty or forty. She wore the typical nun outfit, had brown eyes, and wore glasses. Her arms were crossed, a cross necklace hanging around her neck.
The other was at least the age of twenty. He had blonde hair and brown eyes. He was quite handsome. He wore a blue formal military style buttoned up shirt and a white buttoned up shirt beneath that. He also wore blue formal pants, black dress shoes, white gloves, and held out a blade, a blade that Chrno instantly recognized.
"Mia! Sister Kristy! Reverend Maxwell!" Rosette cried out happily.
Chrno watched Arachnia.
Arachnia growled. "This isn't over." She disappeared.
"Rosette! Are you okay?!" Mia cried as she ran over to her best friend.
Rosette nodded and closed her watch hoping no one had seen it open, not wanting anyone to find out about the contract. "I'm fine."
"Your wrist!" Mia cried out and held it up. "It's been cut!"
Rosette sweatdropped and took her wrist away from Mia. "It's no big deal. I'll live."
"Rosette, do you know why that demon came here?" Maxwell asked.
Sister Kristy nodded to Maxwell's question.
"Umm... She..."
"Was after me. She's one of the Sinners. Though, she is not from the group I once knew. I am guessing she is an offspring of one of them," Chrno said as he turned back to his smaller form.
Rosette looked towards Chrno, giving him yet another questioning look. Now he was lying and that lie was being said to Sister Kristy and Reverend Maxwell!
"I see," Sister Kristy said and nodded. "Why don't you two get some rest? It has been a long night. Chrno, you can stay in Rosette's room. The... One that is no longer of existence."
Rosette frowned and shook her head then went to her dorm, Mia following her.
The Rosette look-alike shot her gun several times, the bullets being the Sacred ones. Chrno, now being in his form Rosette had seen earlier when Arachnia tried kidnapping her, clawed and slashed at the white head man. The white head man dodged each of their attacks then flew back a bit, holding out his hands, palms faced towards the two. White energy began forming in both of his hands. He then shot it out from his hands towards the two. The Chrno look-alike cried out something, but the speaking was once again muted.
He quickly flew over to the girl and picked her up in his arms, holding her close to him as the blast hit him. Rosette let out a cry as the two crashed into the floor. The girl's face immediately filled with concern as she tried to see if Chrno was all right. She glared at the white head man as he flew towards them. She held her gun pointed towards him and began yelling, tears streaking down her cheeks. The white head man looked at her dully and shot a blast at the gun causing it to fall out of the girl's hands and fly far away from where she was.
Rosette continued glaring at the white head man as feathered wings sprouted from out of her back. She unsheathed Chrno's blade and flew towards the white head man. The man smirked, obviously amused by this...
Rosette woke up, sweat going down her face. She shook her head and sat up, her white gown being drenched from her sweat. She shook her head again and got up, leaving the dorms knowing no one would know as it was one in the morning and everyone was sound asleep. She walked down the halls quietly then stopped in front of a door. She slowly and silently opened the door, entering the room as she slowly and quietly closed the door behind her.
Rosette went over to the sleeping figure on the bed and looked down at it questioningly. She smiled slightly. The sleeping figure was none other than Chrno and, to her, in his sleep he looked like an innocent angel. Her smile was replaced by a smirk. Too bad he wasn't.
"Couldn't sleep?" a voice asked.
Rosette's eyes widened as she saw Chrno's red eyes open, looking up at her. "You're awake?!"
Chrno sat up and smirked slightly. "I know you. You would have tried to scare the hell out of me if I had fallen asleep."
"How did you know?!" Rosette demanded, pointing a very threatening finger at his chest.
Chrno continued smiling. "Sometimes history repeats itself." His smile disappeared as he looked down at his hands.
"Look, I might look like that girl you knew, act like her, have too much in common with her, and so on and so forth, but I'm not her," Rosette said determinedly.
"Why was Arachnia after you?" Chrno asked, looking back at her, his face filled with determination.
Rosette's eyes widened slightly, taken aback by the question since she hadn't expected him to ask about it. "I, errr... Really have no clue."
"You said your parents were Apostles," Chrno said calmly. "Was your brother also one?"
"Huh? Ummm... Chrno, maybe I should tell you about my family," Rosette said and sat down next to him. "My parents were Apostles and stuff, yeah. I have no idea about Joshua. But... The reason for my name and maybe everything else is because I'm the great granddaughter of..." She looked at him. "Two people you knew very well, Azmaria and Joshua Christopher. That's whom my parents named us after. They named us after Joshua and Rosette."
"You're a descendent?" Chrno asked, his eyes slightly widening.
Rosette nodded. "I found this..." She held her necklace up. "When I was cleaning the garage to our home just the day before our parents had died. It had been kept hidden in the boxes underneath all that old clothes and stuff. Joshua said I should sell it at the garage sell we were going to hold, but I refused to and I'm glad I did. I kept it hidden from my parents since I knew they had hidden it for a reason.
"I found out why the following day when I was still cleaning the garage and found a pile of old dusty books. Most of them were really lame to me so I just gave them to Joshua so he could decide rather to sell them or not. I continued to read through a few pages here and there to find out if they were interesting or not.
"After going through about twenty books, I finally came upon one that greatly interested me. It had a lot of information about the Apostles and stuff, but I found out about the contract in that book. I didn't really read much in it, just skipped pages unless I found something that interested me. Guess I should have read the whole thing then I would have more insight on what happened... eighty-four years ago."
"They didn't want you to go through a similar fate, you or your brother," Chrno said, looking away. He was now upset at himself for giving in to making the contract with Rosette, especially now that he knew about Rosette's family. He closed his eyes. I'm sorry Az, Joshua. Please forgive me.
"Give me a break. I'm not going down without a fight," Rosette said determinedly. "And, besides..." She smirked slightly. I'm sure there's a reason Arachnia was after me and I don't think it's because I'm related to your old friends."
Chrno opened his eyes and looked at her.
"I've never done anything actually special, but..." She crossed her arms. "Maybe I still have to discover those special powers, ne?"
"Are you saying you might be an Apostle?" Chrno asked. If that was the case, he feared he would regret even more that he had made the contract since Apostles normally were weak and got sick easily. To add slowly draining life from them was even worse. Though... He looked at her curiously. The girl didn't seem to be weak at all nor did she seem to become tired in anyway.
"Maybe," Rosette said, shrugging. "But don't go giving me the special treatment just because of that. I'm no different than you or anyone else."
Chrno was about to object about that, but decided against it, shaking his head. "Rosette, you should have told me this sooner."
"Why? So you could continue refusing to make the contract? I think not," Rosette said. She lied down. "Hey, Chrno?"
Chrno looked down at her. "Yes?"
Rosette placed her hands behind her head, staring up at the ceiling. "That night... What really happened?" She looked towards him.
Chrno stayed silent and lied down on his side, his back to her. "Go to sleep, Rosette."
"But you didn't answer me!" Rosette protested.
"'Night, Rosette," Chrno said, closing his eyes. It was obvious he was avoiding the question.
Rosette sighed in defeat. She got up slightly and kissed Chrno on the cheek, smiling a bit warmly. "Goodnight, Chrno. Hope you have sweet dreams." She lied back down and rolled to her side, her back to him. Little did she know that her kiss had caused Chrno to smile.
Hee, hee. So, what did you think? Took up 7 and 1/4 pages. Lol. Longer than the first chapter, though, ne? Anyway, hoped you enjoyed it and please review it. Thank you very much in advance.