Ruby-dream: Errrmmm... Read the chapter to know what happens next. And the next chapter will be far better and happier!

Ayumi Yoshino: Yeah. I just found that out. He'll come. Soon.

Evilanimeblond22: I'll try to keep them as good and long as possible.

CrystallineX: Glad you're enjoying the fic so far.

Chrno Crusade: The End Is Just The Beginning

By:

Guardian Angel of Innocence

Chapter Nine: Death and Hope

Chrno flew down and landed on the ground gracefully. He folded his wings back and walked up to the portal. He didn't know how he could sense it, but he felt that Rosette wasn't going to live to see the following day. He shook his head. It's just my imagination. That's all. He walked through the ring.

"Umm... Mia, one question," Mary said as she and Henry continued to fly in the sky. "Where exactly is Michigan and this forest?"

Mia sweatdropped and grabbed out a map, handing it to Mary. "It's that one. We're bound to run into the forest anyway. I think you'll at least sense the demon aura there."

Mary looked at the map and nodded. "Okay. But, damn, that's a long way from here." She looked towards Henry. "Better keep a good grip on her. We're going to have to go at top speed."

Henry nodded in agreement, his grip on Mia tightening as him and Mary increased their speed greatly.

Mia let out a yelp and wrapped her arms around Henry's neck, hiding her face in his chest.

Henry chuckled from her reaction while Mary rolled her eyes.

Joshua woke up from a slight breeze that had found its way into the cave. He looked around questioningly for the source of the wind, but found no hole. He shook his head and stood up weakly then went over to his sleeping sister's side. He smiled slightly and picked his sister up then carried her closer to the fire, but not too close so she wouldn't be burned. He gently put her back on the ground then eyed the watch around her neck curiously. His eyes then widened in realization.

Flashback

Joshua moved some boxes to the side and coughed from the dust that floated up in the air.

"Joshua, you okay?" Rosette's concerned voice asked.

Joshua looked over in the direction his sister was in and nodded. "Yeah. I'm fine." He raised an eyebrow as Rosette looked through a box full of books. "Rosette, what's with the really old looking watch?"

Rosette looked down at her necklace then looked towards her brother. "It's, errrmm... I like it so I'm keeping it." She stuck out her tongue.

Joshua shook his head and turned his attention back to the dusty shelves.

End Flashback

"You shouldn't have found it, though. Or kept it for that matter," Joshua muttered below his breath.

Flashback

Joshua walked into the garage, having left an hour ago to rest. He raised an eyebrow when he saw that his sister was caught up in a very old book. He went up to her, keeping silent while he did so. He then peered over her shoulder. His eyes widened when he saw on the page Rosette was looking at was the watch she still wore around her neck. He read paragraph after paragraph, learning of the contract and what it did to the contractor's life force if it were made.

Rosette placed the book to the side, obviously intending to keep it.

"Rosette, I really think you should sell that old piece of junk," Joshua said, eyeing the necklace as though it were an evil monster.

"I said no. I want to keep it," Rosette said and placed a hand over the watch.

Joshua sighed and shook his head, knowing he wouldn't be able to convince his sister due to her stubbornness.

End Flashback

"You shouldn't have made the contract. Not when you knew of the risks, Rosette. Now you're going to die an early death," Joshua said softly as he watched the second hand slowly tick by.

"There!" Mia cried and pointed a finger at the forest below her, Mary, and Henry.

The two demons nodded and began to descend. Once they had reached the ground, Henry released Mia. The three began looking around and came to a halt when they spotted Eden II. The group quickly hid behind a tree as they watched Arachnia pace back and forth in front of the ship.

Arachnia stopped for a second and looked in the direction the three were in. She shook her head and went back to her pacing.

"Mrow. My nose still hurts," Emerald said as she walked out of the ship.

"That's your fault for letting that Apostle catch you off guard," Arachnia said coldly.

"It wasn't my fault!" Emerald protested.

"Yes, it was. Now both Apostles are missing!" Arachnia said.

Mia, Mary, and Henry exchanged glances.

"Rosette got free?" Mia asked.

"That appears to be the case," Mary whispered.

"Who would the other Apostle be?" Henry asked.

"Beats me," Mia whispered.

Mary shrugged. "We'll know once we see Rosette, I guess."

Henry and Mia both nodded and the three turned around to go off in search of Rosette when they saw that a group of demons had blocked their way.

"And just where do you think you're going?" Arachnia asked as she took a step forward.

Henry, Mary, and Mia all watched the group of demons intently as they got ready to grab out their weapons.

Maxwell leaned back in the chair and placed his hands behind his head. It wasn't until he heard the ring begin to spin clockwise that he began to type in the codes needed. The symbols glowed red while the inside of it glowed blue again. After a few minutes, the ring began to rapidly spin counter clockwise, the symbols glowing blue and the inside of the ring glowing red. One figure came down the ramp.

Reverend Maxwell's eyes widened in disbelief. "Chrno?! Is that you?!"

Chrno looked towards Maxwell. "Of course it's me. Why do you find it..." He trailed off when he caught the scents of Mia, Mary, and Henry. "Why were Mia, Mary, and Henry here?"

"They informed me of the events that had taken place," Reverend Maxwell explained. "They mistook you for dead, that you had sacrificed your life in order to save Rosette's. Apparently they were mistaken."

"It's fine," Chrno said and shook his head. "Where did they go?"

"I sent them to Michigan," Maxwell said. "I believe you will find that area to be very familiar to you." He grabbed out a map and pointed to the forest the portal had opened more than once.

Chrno's eyes widened slightly. "I... See. Then... I will go." He flew up into the air, feeling somewhat heartbroken. He began to fly in the direction of his destination.

Rosette weakly opened her eyes, the world seeming to spin around her. She groaned and put a hand to her head. "What's wrong with me?"

"Welcome, Rosette Maryanne Christopher," a voice said.

Rosette looked up to see a man offering his hand out, him wearing clothes that a conductor would normally wear. She took his hand and staggered slightly as she tried to stand and keep her balance. The world stopped spinning showing her that she was at a train station. She couldn't see much since it was densely foggy, but she could see people walking to the trains, some children crying while they were dragged aboard.

Rosette looked around puzzled, not remembering even being near a train station. If she recalled correctly, she had passed out in the cave. Her eyes then widened in realization. She quickly turned her attention back to the conductor. "Am I dead?!"

"Is there anything you're forgetting, Miss?" the man asked.

"No. I don't think so, but-"

"Very well then. Please board before the train departs, Miss," the man continued, not allowing her to finish.

"Wait! Am I-" Before Rosette could continue, the passengers began to push and shove their way through onto the train, dragging her with them.

The man boarded the train afterwards and closed the doors.

"Wait!" Rosette cried out and tried to make her way through to the doors. Once she had, though, the train began to take off. She placed a hand over the ice-cold window as she watched the scenery begin to go by, tears filling her eyes.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Arachnia said, eyeing their weapons.

"Well, you're not so there's really nothing you can do about it," Mia said and grabbed out her whip, hitting the ground in front of the spider demon.

Arachnia sent her a glare and began to form web in her hands.

Mary and Henry both unsheathed their blades and watched the group of demons as they began to close in on them.

"Any bright ideas?" Henry asked as he watched the demons closely.

"Fighting all of them is futile, but I refuse to run," Mary said.

"I'm not leaving your side," Henry said.

Mary looked towards Mia. "Go find Rosette. Henry and I will take care of this."

"You sure?" Mia asked, her expression filling with concern.

"Yes. I'm sure," Mary said then charged after the onslaught of demons. She swung her blade horizontally and jumped back so she wasn't caught by the webbing Arachnia had shot at her.

Henry watched as the demons began to run towards him and Mia. He fought them off with his blade while grabbing out an ax and throwing it at the demon that had been going after Mia, hitting it in its back.

Mia used the battling confusion to her advantage and began running away from the scene, intent on finding her best friend.

Joshua watched his sister anxiously. Rosette's skin had turned pale and her lips were ice blue. He took her hand in his. "Please don't die, Sister." Her hand was freezing cold. This caused him to begin to slightly panic. "Rosette! Don't die! Please don't die!" Tears began to roll down his cheeks as he began to sob.

Chrno heard the clashing of weapons and looked down to see he had arrived at the forest. He gracefully landed on the ground then went to investigate the scene. What he saw was Mary and Henry fighting Arachnia and a group of demons. This led him to wonder where Mia was since she had been with the two. He looked up ahead to see Eden II. Rosette! He took a step forward then stopped when he found her scent was actually very faint. She... Ran away? He smiled slightly then turned around and began going in the direction Rosette's scent led him in.

Be careful, Mary told him telepathically. Henry and I will be fine. As soon as you get Rosette, tell us and then we'll flee.

Right, Chrno told her and left the scene.

Rosette watched the trees as the train passed each of them. A few tears found their way down her cheeks. She looked down at the ground, trying to keep herself from crying.

Rosette! a voice cried.

Rosette looked out the window, her eyes widening. "Chrno?!" She didn't see him anywhere in sight, but she had heard his voice within her mind. "Chrno! Can you hear me?!" Please say yes. Oh, please say yes. She began biting on her lower lip. Her gaze fell to the ground when she didn't hear a reply.

Mia ran pass the trees trying not to trip over roots or crash into any branches. Sweat was pouring down her face and her legs were beginning to ache while her lungs told her they needed more time to breathe. She ignored the pain, however, and continued to run. That is until a rather tall demon jumped in her way, holding up his large blade. Mia's eyes widened and she took a step back, watching the blade. She quickly grabbed out her gun and pointed it at the demon. "What do you want and what's with the knight clothes? You're definitely not my knight in shiny armor."

The demon smirked. "You obviously do not know who I am. I am Jenai."

"No shit, Sherlock," Mia said. "Now tell what in the seven hells you want!"

"I want you to take me to the Apostles," the demon said.

"Not even in this life time nor the next and so on forth, pal," Mia said and shot her gun.

The demon held up his blade and blocked the bullet. "You will have to if you wish to continue living."

"I'd rather die than give up my best friend," Mia sneered and fired her gun again.

Rosette sighed and sat down, her gaze still on the ground. Her eyes widened as memories she never knew she had began to come to her all at once. She saw the final battle between Aion and Chrno, saw that the Rosette Chrno once knew hadn't actually died and had just passed out, saw that the two were supposed to die six months after the incident after the sun had set, saw that the two had been buried together, saw that Chrno hadn't died and had gotten free of his grave only to travel the world in deep depression, saw that Chrno wanted several times to die so he could be united with Rosette, and then... She saw him smile and her heart skipped a beat. It was that day when she had first met him. She had been writing the back to Chrno and Chrno had been watching her, smiling slightly. She hadn't caught him watching her since by the time she had turned around to pass the note again, Chrno had quickly looked away.

Rosette saw everything from there on and then it all ended with Chrno running through the forest in his true form. Her eyes widened when she realized that was the forest Aion and the others were in. Chrno's expression held desperation and determination in it. He's... Searching for me? She stood up instantly and ran towards the end of the train. I have to get back somehow before he finds me! I won't have him go through that pain again! The visions began going through her head once again starting off when Chrno had met Magdalene and ending before the final battle with Aion began. I'm the reincarnation of Magdalene and Rosette. I'm also an Apostle. But I won't allow Aion to win this time. Neither Chrno nor I will die and Aion's reign of terror will end!

Rosette pushed pass several people, opening the doors to the next cart whenever she came across one. She finally reached the final cart and opened the door, going over to the railing. The ground was covered in snow as well as the trees around her. The air was at a freezing temperature causing her to shiver slightly. I have no clue where I am, but I'm not staying here.

"Miss, please come inside," a man's voice said.

Rosette turned around to see it was the same conductor from earlier. She glared at him and shook her head. "I refuse to. I'm not leaving Chrno again!"

The man was taken aback by this. He smiled slightly. "Your soul never changes no matter how many times it's reincarnated. You can come back, but you'll have to go through the process of reincarnation again meaning you will have no memory of the events that have taken place nor any memory of the ones you regained."

Rosette's determination faltered as she looked down at the ground. "It'll be too late by then. And I'll make Chrno depressed again." Tears filled her eyes. "By the time I've met him again, it'll probably be too late. The world will be gone and there's nothing I can do." She shook her head and fell to her knees, beginning to sob.

The man smiled sadly and hugged her, trying to comfort her. "If you like, we will start to send memories to your reincarnated soul once it has reached the age of four. By then, you would have had your full memory by the age of ten. The future will hold a great many things for you and it will be quite tough, but this is the way it must be. The reason you have died again now was it was needed to shape the way things will turn out in the future. I fear you will not like it much, but this was your mission for this lifetime. The next will be much happier, trust me." He smiled again.

Rosette growled and punched the man in the face causing him to crash into the door. "I don't want to die now, you idiot! I don't care how the future looks! I won't have Chrno stay in pain until I somehow meet him again and that won't happen until I'm at least the age of twelve! Twelve years of making him suffer alone! The only one who should suffer is me, not him!"

The man shook his head. "You always somehow have the same violent reaction to this news whenever I give it to you. At least as Magdalene, you weren't as such."

"I was locked up in the Order never being able to leave until Chrno supposedly kidnapped me and took me to Aion. I had much more fun being free, but I wasn't as violent because I never had to protect anyone or ever was given the chance. As Rosette-the one from one hundred and something years ago-I was given that chance and that turned me into the person I am today since that lifetime might as well have repeated itself!" Rosette said.

The man shook his head again and stood up. "You can try and leave, but you will only start where you last began."

Rosette was confused somewhat by that statement as the man left, unsure if he meant she would end up at the train station again or if she would be reincarnated. She sighed and shook her head. If I stay here, Chrno's going to suffer anyway. At least reincarnated, I have a chance to heal those wounds much faster. She jumped off the train, going through the snowy ground...

Chrno continued to run through the forest and came to a halt when he had reached a lake. He looked down at it, his reflection being shown to him. He suddenly felt his energy began to waver, his eyes widening from realization. Rosette! He dived into the water and began swimming through it towards the cave. You better have not died! Better be alive! He swam up to the surface once he had reached the inside of the cave. He quickly ran over to Joshua and Rosette's side when he had spotted the two.

"She's gone..." Joshua said quietly.

Chrno looked over at Joshua to see he had been crying. He felt tears fill his eyes but shook his head. "No. She's alive." He hugged Rosette's limp body and held her close to him. "She won't give in so easily, not when we can have another chance together."

"She's gone, gone forever," Joshua said quietly.

"Hello, Chrno. Thank you very much for leading me to the Apostle," a voice said.

Chrno and Joshua turned around to see Aion standing there, though, he was wet from swimming in the lake to the cave.

Chrno growled. "Aion!" He gently lied Rosette back down and stood up, his hands turning to fists.

"You lost yet again, Chrno. Face it, no matter how many times Magdalene's soul is reincarnated, she will still die and leave you behind," Aion said. "The first time was my fault, yes. The second and third, however, were entirely your fault. You made the same mistakes twice by forming a contract with her. You also made the same three mistakes by falling in love with her. This is what happens because of those mistakes." He shook his head. "Chrno, mistakes are to learned from so you do not repeat them. Obviously, you have not learned from any of them. Do you really think she will come back a fourth time just for your sake? I highly doubt it."

Chrno growled and lunged forward, tackling Aion. He then began to claw at him repeatedly.

Joshua gulped and picked his sister up, going in the corner as he watched Aion and Chrno begin to fight one another. He felt tears fill his eyes and held his sister close to him. "Rosette... I'm scared. Make it stop." His eyes slightly widened when he found that she had her guns. He took one of them then loaded it and pointed it at the two fuming demons. Blinded by his grief and hatred towards the two, he fired the gun, which had been loaded with gospel bullets. He fired it repeatedly.

Aion and Chrno both separated and turned their attention to Joshua.

Chrno's eyes widened. "Joshua! Stop firing! You're going to cause the cave to crumble!"

Aion glared at Joshua. "Stop this at once! You will kill us all!"

Joshua didn't seem to hear the two and continued firing the holy weapon.

Aion growled and charged towards the young boy, but Chrno quickly grabbed the demon by the ankles causing them both to fall to the ground.

"Joshua! Stop!" Chrno cried as the bullets burned him and Aion. He winced as his mind went back to the question Aion had asked, "Do you really think she will come back a fourth time just for your sake? I highly doubt it." He growled. "I don't doubt it. Love has never kept us apart for long." I will continue to live if it means the chance of seeing her again.

Joshua stopped when he heard what Chrno had said, his eyes widening slightly. He smiled. She'll return. He looked over at his dead sister. And she'd hate it if I were to die here. He stood up and was about to pick his sister's body up when he heard Chrno shout out his name. Before he could do or say anything, Aion had knocked him out.

Chrno growled and stood up again. He was about to charge after Aion when Aion shook his head.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Aion said and smirked slightly.

"And why's that?!" Chrno demanded.

"One, you're wasting your energy and won't be able to see Rosette if she returns by doing so," Aion explained. "And, two, your friends will be harmed if you do not stop." He pointed his clawed finger behind Chrno.

Chrno turned around to see Jenai holding an unconscious Mia and Arachnia holding an unconscious Mary and Henry. He sighed in defeat and looked down at the ground, his hands turning to fists. He would give in... For now.

Yeah. Yeah. I know. You all hate me for killing Rosette and I wasn't sure if I was going to put this chapter up since I wasn't sure if it would work through to give me the next chapter how I wanted it. However, it turned out to work out after all.

Sneak Peak:

Rose walked down the silent halls and yawned. She rubbed one of her eyes. "I'm tired. I really need to get more rest." She saw Chrno walk out of her father's room and frowned. She went up to him and smiled. "Hey. What did Dad want? And you had better tell me or your head will be in a world of hurting."

Chrno sweatdropped from the threat and shook his head. "You'll never change."

"Of course I won't change! Now answer me!" Rose cried.

"He... Let's just say there won't be any need for that old watch of yours," Chrno said.

"What...?" Rose asked and looked down at the old watch around her neck. "I know you have your horns and all, but... Aion could just take them away from you like he did last time." She looked back at him. "I know you'll try to prevent him from doing so, but he may be able to sooner or later. I don't want to leave your side, Chrno, but I won't have you die."

"Rose, I won't lose you again," Chrno said, his expression changing to a saddened one.

"I won't leave you, not again," Rose said firmly. "Not even Aion, death, or God will keep me away from you." With that said, she walked pass him and went to her room.

And please don't forget to review and tell me what you think. Thank you very much in advance.