(A/N): Ne, never again believe in me when I say I'll update soon (sweatdrop). Ok now, I'm open for complaints of taking so long in updating all of my stories and especially this one. Well, finally I was able to come up with more ideas to make this an interesting chappie and I assure you the long wait was worth it

(Forks and knives are aimed at her)

(Cowers in a corner) Wahhh! I didn't mean that should kill me!

Disclaimer: No time for that... Let's get started! (Black Eyed Peas music sound in the background) Err... never mind that random comment...

Chapter 17:

Summon

´Curse it all!´ screamed Chrno's mind with rage. Why did this had to happen now... today? The situation had become very difficult now! It was so disturbing! Everything had started with that damn fortune teller's so called prediction. This had affected his trust in Rosette's strength and now he had failed her once again. She was injured, in pain, and feeling useless. He could hear her heavy breathing as he hugged her closer against his chest. Her head had a bleeding bruise and every time the vital liquid oozed down her frail skin, she moaned in pain and clutched her hand firmly on the ticking pocketwatch. Chrno snarled when she whispered to his ear that she would undo the seal. His eyes met hers, ocean and fire melding into one; the flames in his eyes seemed hesitant and weak and the waves and currents in her orbs were strong and determined. He finally sighed, showing his Contractor that he couldn't refuse her petition this time and nodded in approval. When her fingers touched the clock's lock a small blue ray of energy was aimed at her skin and causing her to close one eye in pain.

"What happened!" screamed the militia as she shook the ticking artifact but not being able to undo the spell placed on his demon assistant. Neither Chrno nor Rosette could believe their ears as their foe mentioned that because of the barrier Satella had made and the evil fumes surrounding and keeping it up, the pocketwatch was not functioning.

Chrno turned to the Hexen Der Juwel who lied fainted because of the loss of blood, though the bleeding had ceased when she borrowed his coat. The crimson liquid stained the red cloth that was wrapped around the wound in her chest. The cloth didn't seem to be altered because of its red color though the blood was there, marking it with its stains. But what caught the devil's attention was the enchanted emerald that was placed on her bracelet. Its magic energy was gone and it was not shining or any charm flowing through it, then... why was Abundant October's barrier still standing?

´How come the barrier doesn't vanish... Satella is down...´

He heard the fortune teller's hoarse chuckles and turned back at her, sweat falling down his temple, "What's so funny bastard?"

The silver haired lady's expression didn't change as she explained, "If you are wondering about the barrier, by terms in the laws of a jewel witch's magic, if the user of the jewels goes down, then the magic in the artifacts is lost too. But this case is an exception..." she smirked and extended her palm, revealing a violet gem which was glittering faintly.

Rosette gasped, ´Could that be...?´

"Yes... when I ran your friend through I took that as an advantage and took this jewel from her. This is the gem that can manipulate Abundant October's abilities and I can keep it functional since the body I'm using... is that of a witch too!"

Rosette remembered that in one occasion, when they needed to catch an ethereal being named Black Dog (Anime Ep. 11 "Gabriel Hound" mind you) Satella used a different jewel from the emerald she was now wearing. It was a sapphire and it had summoned a huge fish-like creature that could soar at great speeds. If she was correct it was called The Deep March (Tief-fischen) or something like that.

´Crap! She's right! The jewel that lost its magic was The Brave May (Mutig-Ster) not The Abundant October (Fruhtbares-waage) thing! If only we could get that jewel back we could destroy the barrier and undo the seal. But then...´

Rosette turned to Azmaria who had been possessed by an evil spirit and was attacking them unconsciously. She bit her lower lip and tried to make some distance from Chrno's chest. Her eyes were studying every corner of the battle field: in the middle of it all were that cursed fortune teller and Azmaria, they were on one of the left corners and Satella half way through the middle of the zone and then next to her, in the right edge from where they had come was laying her gun. Shit! She had forgotten to get it back! She had let go of it when she went to aid Azmaria and Satella and never retrieved it. With the shock of Azmaria being possessed and the fortune teller reappearing she had no time to go for it. She knew what she had to do, she must get that jewel back and undo the barrier, that way the seal would be broken and Chrno would find a way to get the demon from the fortune teller's body and then the spirit from Azmaria's. But first... she needed her gun... and in her condition it would be a difficult task.

She sighed and pushed Chrno away from her gently, "Chrno... I have a plan."

The young devil's orbs lightened at this but then he showed worry again as she leaned back on her, "Rosette Wait! You must not move in your condition!"

She seemed to be offended by his comment, "Do you honestly plan on doing all things on your own? Come on! Don't you believe in me?"

The devil gulped and remembered once again this evening's conversation and the one he had more than 50 years ago with Magdalene, "No Rosette... I do believe in you but it's just... I don't want to lose you too! I can't risk you! If anything happens I won't be able to protect you because... I'm weak... I don't want to lose anyone who I cherish again in front of me with even being able to do something about it..."

Rosette turned to Azmaria and then to Satella, "Neither do I want to lose someone I cherish again... my parents, Joshua... you see, ever since I was little I've been always running. I felt that if I stopped running, I would be swallowed up by something... That's why... waiting has always been a series of pain. But... before I knew it I had lost something treasured..."

Chrno stared at her in worry and whispered her name as some crystalline tears formed in her azure orbs.

"I've been an idiot. Not realizing before it was too late... I can't run anymore! I can't lose anymore! I won't lose my friends Chrno and I want you to support me! I won't lose my time no more!"

At these, she clutched his shirt firmly with her fists and sobbed silently, her head pinned to his chest and facing the floor and her shoulders shaking. Chrno found himself speechless... had he... had he really made her feel so... weak? He hated himself... Voices came to his mind, flashbacks of conversation's with Rosette and Magdalene... Magdalene... yes, it was her voice as she questioned him inside his mind...

If only... the things that are important to you are lost forever... forever...

He saw Rosette's face, she looked so weak and small...

You are crying... why do you cry?

He heard a feminine voice answer him, sweet and tender.

Because I'm sad...

He didn't think of it twice before answering her, "Why... are you sad?"

Again, he heard that voice, "If only death never existed..."

Why... is death sad?

Now he could see where he was... surging from the darkness came a light that illuminated a room faintly, in it there was a huge window and two figures. One of a kneeling blonde lady whose face wasn't depicted. Lying on her lap was another shadowy figure, and Chrno could see himself, he was the one resting on her limbs.

The lady's lips moved as if answering his latte question, he could see them moving but no words came from them. Then she was finished and her plum cheeks were curved into a smile, and her answer echoed in his ears.

The things important to you... are forever lost...

The Chrno who was on the lady's lap, Magdalene's lap, looked pensive and somber at her answer, ´ So that's it... but I'm different. That day will come... when Rosette never cries.´

The image of the room with the window slowly changed into a different scene, a familiar scene, now he went 4 years back in the past, when Rosette was 12 and in a desperate move they had to make the famed Contract. He was in his mighty demon appearance. He snickered. Mighty you say? Not mighty but weak. No... Not even weak... despicable. He was kneeled before a once small Rosette. She had always been strong, it was never his desire to make her feel weak. She was luminous... she was the one who should be named as someone mighty. And if it wasn't because of him she would have lived on with Joshua and she would have never felt so small... she was something far bigger than that... and she should be treated like that. Just like... Magdalene... he was the cause for the loss of both things he had always cherished... he was the one who should feel and be treated like someone small and weak...

Again... before me... the important things... it's not like it's lost.

The images of both crying blondes returned to his mind, making him feel worse. He had failed twice...

That's it... it was a promise wasn't it? Selfish.

Once again did the image of the room with the huge window came to his mind. Though this time, there was only one person... no kneeling lady... only himself lying on the floor alone. Alone. He had always been alone.

The problem that time was...

Chrno stood up when he found himself separated from Magdalene... she was not there with him, making him company, soothing his soul... he turned and noticed her staring out the huge window at the passing clouds.

Again, I didn't realize it... at that time... it was you.

He tried to reach her, as the light coming from the window blinded him for an instant, he outstretched his hand in order to take hers, for their fingers and hands to meld into one.

But... you never came... you never kept that promise...

His hand never found hers as his palm crashed against the cold crystal. He could through the glass three silhouettes, it was himself, his hands, which were holding her body, were covered in gore, her gore. His face rested on hers as he closed his eyes in disbelief and sobbed. The killer stood before them, the moonlight illuminating the pale shadow's skin as two huge bat-like wings surged from the figure's back.

That person... AION!

The sealed version of Chrno inside the room continued staring through the window, his eyes widening with horror and outstretching his hand more but always crashing against the glass. He couldn't touch nor find her anymore... because she was dead and forever lost.

Chrno snapped back to reality when Rosette's sobs reached his pointy ears once more. Her grip on his shirt tightening and squeezing the skin underneath.

"Chrno!" screamed the blonde in between sobs, "Please..."

Chrno then looked down at her and cupped her face with his fingers, " Be...lieve..."

The tears stopped and her throat went dry, "Chrno you..."

Chrno nodded making the militia smile. Their moment was ruined when their enemy's voice pierced through their ears once again as she chuckled loudly, "How touching. So sad it's all about to finish."

" It will finish for you punk!" screamed Rosette forcing herself up, with the help of his Contractor in between heavy breathing coming from her part.

Chrno returned his attention to her and held her hand tightly, "You take care of Az... I'll handle this trifle."

Rosette nodded as she turned to the Apostle, then to where her gun laid. Then with one last look on Chrno, their hands were separated and they parted on opposite ways.

"GO!"

(A/N): And that's it! I'm so sorry that I took so long and hope this chapter was worth it. I personally think this chapter was interesting and quite hard to write. I liked it since it tells us about Chrno's inner feelings about Rosette and Magdalene. Hope it was not very confusing (sweatdrop). Just to let you know I haven't given up in any of my stories and am not planning to, I'm only having a tough time since school's a bummer and I need more time. Of course Author's Block was also in the way. Anyways, I'll try to update soon! Please don't kill me and don't forget to review!