Disclaimer: I own Chrono, yes I do! I'm a liar, how 'bout you!

Author's Note: See chapter one or chapter seven.

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Ticks of the Clock

Just One More

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He bit his tongue painfully, trying his very, very best not to lose his temper. It was taking a lot more will-power than he had originally thought it would.

Casting a careful glance towards the hyperactive siblings, the devil watched in mild irritation as they continued to prance merrily; giggling and sticking leaves in their hair. Rosette warbled what she called an Indian War Chant, and Joshua began attempting to squish red berries up in his palms; applying streaks of the juice to his face. Hopping in frantic circles around their demon, they began poking and prodding and pulling at him, wanting him to join their game.

In spite of his best attempts to keep calm, Chrono felt a vein on his forehead give a throb. "What are you doing?" he inquired a bit dryly, staring pointedly at the sky. The children persistently tugged on his sleeves, ignoring his hands as he tried to gently bat them away.

"We're getting ready for battle!" the little girl laughed, trying (and failing) to keep a solemn expression on her face. "Can't you see our impressive warrior makeup?" She pointed towards the maroon squiggles Joshua had applied to their cheeks. The boy grinned toothily, white shirt now stained with ruby-colored pulp.

Chrono's frown deepened. "Battle?" he repeated, voice oddly hallow. "You're playing. . . ?"

"Yeah!" Joshua smiled, waving a stick around like a sword. "Battle! It's fun. We both get to be the bad guys and the good guys and use sticks as weapons. And we take turns dieing- we can use other berries and stuff for blood and-! Eh-?"

He cut himself off in surprise when he felt one clawed hand harshly grab his forearm, yanking him to the ground before the devil. Rosette, too, had evidently been snagged and dragged into the dirt; her side bumping roughly into her brother's. They blinked, taken aback and shocked, as Chrono propped himself up on his knees in front of them; a scolding look on his face.

"Wha- Chrono, what's-?"

"Hey, why're y-!"

"War," he interrupted sternly, leaning towards them and staring into each set of blue eyes in turn, "is nothing to joke about. Death and destruction is not funny. It is not a game." Taking a bit of his loose leather poncho, the Sinner dabbed the remains of the fruits off of the children's faces. "It is not something to joke about, or take lightly. I know. . . Many moons have passed and still. . . still I stare into the heavens each night and morn the passing of every soul I've sent to rejoin the stars. Every person in this world has a purpose in life, a journey to take, a path to follow- and war distracts them from such important things. There are many causes for which men should die. Pointless battle. . . is not one of them. It is a waste of time, a breaker of hearts, and the least helpful road to travel when looking to find the 'greater good'."

Sighing deeply, he placed one hand on each of the tiny shoulders before him. "Do you understa. . .

Huh?" He stiffened, stunned stupid- when he noticed the huge, glittering ocean orbs before him; wide and bursting with admiration. 'What the-?'

"Wow. . ." Rosette gasped, looking almost as impressed as her younger brother, "th-that's so amazing. . ."

"W-w-what?" Chrono stammered, rearing back. "I don-"

"What a good story!" Joshua cried ardently, pale face flushed with excitement. "Chrono- please tell us another!"

"Yeah!" his sister chorused.

"Hold on! Wait a minute-!"

"PLEEEEEASE?" the two begged, bouncing up and down on their rears. "Just ONE MORE story?"

". . ."

The demon stared from one to the other, dazed. 'Well. . . That sort of backfired.'

(Note: Credit to Le-chan and her story 'Confessions of a Memory' which inspired this idea. (We just keep bouncing fic ideas off of one another. . . It's kinda funny. XD))