Disclaimer: I do not own Chrno Crusade.
KopyKat: I'm just getting used to typing again. The Internet's been off, and is still off. I'm going completely crazy to the point of having withdraws. Took me a few days, but I've decided to start typing up some more of this story since I have nothing better to do as of now. Typing is proving to be difficult right now….
Another note- the demon (other than Chrno) in here is similar to the one that Rosette fought against in episodes 1 and 2. You know, the black impish thing with the long tail and wings.
And yet ANOTHER note, muy importante!- By vote amongst friends, there was an agreement that Chrno should remember her. In a way, I guess that works because he wasn't reincarnated, he was summoned from hell. And personally, I don't think he belongs in hell… but demons can't go to heaven, so… yeah. ;
As if he had heard his name (which he had), his ears give a small twitch and he looks at Rosette over his shoulder. His glowing red eyes widen upon seeing her and he turns completely around to face her, "Ro… Rosette?"
His eyes fade back to their normal amber color as he reaches towards her, though the barrier that had been placed around him gives a shock to his clawed hand. He pulls his hand back, grimacing a little, before looking back at her and meeting her bright blue eyes, 'She looks just like she did when we met the first time…. '
He falls to his knees, looking down at the ground with a hurt expression, 'What if I lose her again…? If I try to break out, then I'll just be quickly sent back to hell because I'll give them a scare. What do I do…? '
Rosette walks closer to Chrno before kneeling before him just outside the barrier, despite the protests of the summoners who screamed at her to get away from him. She looks up at him as he returns his eyes to her as well, swallowing a knot in her throat before speaking, "So, you know me…? I think I know you… but I'm not too sure. I thought demons were supposed to be evil; you seem pretty nice." 'Like that boy in my dream, ' she adds mentally.
Chrno smiles somewhat sadly, "Yes, you could say that I know you, or rather knew you in a past life of yours. You still look the same--- Huh?" His pupils shrink and his jaw clenches when he feels a strong surge of demonic energy. He looks down towards the portal in time to see another demon slightly smaller than himself shoot up through it and up into the sky. If that wasn't bad enough, the demon flew out of the barrier without much resistance. Unfortunately, the barrier was designed to only hold one demon and to hold the strongest.
Rosette gasps, staring up at the impish demon as it flies towards the group of summoners. When it smacks into the barrier around them, it screeches before looking around for another source of food. It spots Rosette and smirks, rows of sharp teeth glistening almost menacingly. It flies down towards her with its claws flashed and its mouth open.
"ROSETTE!" both Chrno and Joshua scream. Chrno begins desperately slashing at the barrier and lashing out at it violently with the whip-like mechanism extending from the back of his head, "Damn it!" His eyes widen in fear when he sees the demon take its first lash at her.
The girl screams, diving to the side to evade it. She takes off running, being careful to try and not trip over the rocks. She glances over her shoulder to see the demon closing in on her and in that moment, ends up tripping over a rock and slicing her knee open on another sharp one. She hisses in pain before taking another look back up at the advancing demon, scraping some sand into her grasp. She closes her eyes tightly before swiping her hand through the air, letting the sand fly. The sand flies into the demon's eyes and it closes them, screeching and shaking its head violently.
Rosette opens her eyes and watches the demon for a second before getting another idea, 'I must be CRAZY!' She snatches up the sharp rock from before and shakily gets to her feet. She musters up some more courage before running behind the demon and leaping up onto its back. She screams out before beginning to stab the demon repeatedly with the rock, her eyes shut tightly to avoid seeing her deed.
The demon screeches out in pain before roaring in anger and flying up high into the sky, spinning around in an effort to shake her off. She hangs on for dear life, screaming, before yelling out, "Help me! CHRNO!"
Chrno watches through wide, frightened eyes, before glaring over at the summoners (who were shaken up to say the least), "Let me out! PLEASE! I have to help her!" When they refuse, he begins clawing at the barrier desperately, ignoring the pain, 'I can't lose her again! I WON'T lose her again! '
Josh watches Rosette, trembling from fear. He knew that she would die if she didn't get help soon. He looks at Chrno and watches the demon as he viciously attacks the barrier while the whole time his eyes were on Rosette. The boy gulps before running out towards Chrno, 'That demon is Rosette's only chance! I have to get him out! ' He reaches the barrier and goes to punch the barrier, only to find that his fist went straight through.
Chrno looks at him and would have been surprised to see Joshua as well if it was not for the grave situation. He was also surprised to say the least when Joshua was able to go through the barrier. That gave him an idea.
"Joshua, erase everything that's outside of the barrier! Every symbol!" Chrno shouts.
Without a second thought, Josh begins hurriedly kicking at the symbols drawn on the sand in blood, scattering the sand around and therefore, totally destroying them.
In the meantime, Chrno continues his assault on the barrier as it begins to weaken, hoping to breach it. He keeps his eyes on Rosette, who had still managed to hang on by some miracle. However, her luck seemed to run out because on a quick jerk upwards, her hands slip and she begins falling. Chrno gasps before ramming his whole body against the barrier in a desperate attempt and cracking it. He does it again and it completely breaks. He quickly kicks off into the air and flies under Rosette, catching her.
Rosette looks up into the face of her rescuer, "T-thanks. I thought that I was going to die."
Chrno glares up at the demon, his eyes glowing a blood red color. He holds Rosette to him with one arm before thrusting his other arm up towards the demon, palm open. A blast of energy is fired and it strikes the blinded low-class demon, completely annihilating it. He glares harshly at the remains as they fall to the ground, anger still flooding through him.
She stares up at him, a little frightened upon seeing him looking so bloodthirsty, "C-Chrno…?"
The glow fades from his eyes as he looks down at her, descending. He frowns, "Sorry… I didn't mean to scare you…." His feet touch the ground and he sets her down gently. He stares at her for a few seconds before dropping down to his knees so that he was more even with her in height. He closes his eyes and embraces her with both his arms and his wings, resting his head on her shoulder, "I've missed you… so much… Rosette."
She blushes brightly, standing extremely still, "Well, don't forget that I don't really know you. I just know your name, what you are, and that you're nice." She looks behind him, seeing the summoners advancing on them, "Um, I don't think they're too happy about you escaping."
He opens his eyes and stands up before turning to face them, narrowing his cat-like amber eyes, "I'm not going back to hell, not after I've finally been reunited with someone."
The head summoner takes a step forward, glaring back at Chrno, "No demon, you're going back to where you belong."
For some reason, this statement seems to anger Rosette because she steps in front of Chrno and glares at the man, "No! Chrno doesn't belong there! Bad people go there! Chrno should be able to go wherever he wants to go and be a free man, even if he isn't human! You people are being RACIST!"
The man now glares at her, though the glare towards her wasn't full of hate, "Don't you understand what he is? He's a demon! Demons go to hell for a reason! It's because they're evil and bloodthirsty!"
Rosette glances back at Chrno, who was staring at the man intently, yet did not say a word to defend himself, "Chrno… why aren't you saying anything? He just ragged on you and said so many mean things!"
Chrno closes his eyes and turns his head away, "Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. Besides, in every religion, demons are considered evil and servants of the devil. All demons, except for maybe myself, are evil. So, I can't say I blame them… they aren't entirely wrong…."
Her eyes widen a little in shock before narrowing sadly, "But doesn't it hurt…? When people say such mean things…?"
"Of course it hurts," he responds quietly before opening his eyes and returning his gaze to her, "But I'm accustomed to that kind of treatment, but part of the reason that I can deal with that negative treatment is because I had people who didn't care about what I was, like you." He smiles a small smile, yet the warmth was still there.
She blushes lightly before glaring back at the summoners, who were in order to do another ritual, "You heard it! He's not a murderer like other demons! Leave him ALONE!"
"How can you be sure that he's not a murderer?" the head summoner asks, "He could just be filling you up with sweet thoughts that are false. How do you know that he won't just turn around and kill you?"
Rosette's eyes waver, though she still maintains her determined look, "Because… well, I don't know exactly why or exactly how to explain it, but I trust him. In fact, I trust him so much that I'd trust him with my life. If he were really evil, then he would've let that other demon kill me. He wouldn't have bothered trying to save me, or even smile with such kindness. I believe that he's not out to get anyone and I believe in him…." She balls her hands into fists and raises them to her chest while shouting at them, tears stinging the corners of her eyes, "So please! Please let him have a chance! If he even eats or purposely kills even one human, then…" She closes her eyes, trembling a bit, "… then I'll let you send him back. But at least give him a chance… he at least deserves that much for saving my life…."
The summoner stares at her before his eyes move to the demon. He studies Chrno for what seems like forever (though it was only a minute) before sighing, "I can't believe that I'm allowing this, but we will give him ONE chance. If he starts murdering people or being destructive, then we'll have to send him back. You best watch him closely. Any screw ups and it's back to the pits of hell with him." At his word, all of the summoners go their separate ways, though not without casting Chrno one last glance of suspicion.
Rosette smiles brightly and wipes her tears away with the back of her hand, "Well, it looks like you're staying Chrno." She looks down at her watch and her eyes bug out, "Crud! I was supposed to be home by 8 and it's 8:30!" She whines, "Why do things like this always, always happen to ME?"
Josh rubs the back of his head, "Well, you were in a lot of trouble. You had a demon attack you 'n all." He smiles sheepishly, "Unfortunately, I don't think your mother will accept that excuse, even if she does believe it." The smile fades, "Though I was supposed to be home by now…."
She kicks at the sand a little before getting an idea and looking up at Chrno, "Chrno, can you fly Josh and I home?"
"Of course I can," the demon replies, smiling and picking the two of them up. He takes off into the air, now glowing a gold color and resembles a comet streaking across the sky. While flying, he looks down at the two children in his grasp, "So, you two aren't siblings anymore?"
The two look up at him before looking at one another, blinking in confusion.
"Siblings…?" Josh questions, still staring at Rosette.
"What do you mean by 'siblings'?" Rosette asks, looking up at Chrno.
The demon stares off ahead, "Well, that answers my question."
The young girl puffs her cheeks out in annoyance and crosses her arms, "Yeah, but it doesn't answer mine!"
Chrno smiles nervously, remembering that expression all too well before answering, "A long time ago, the two of you were alive though slightly different people. You and Joshua were brother and sister."
The two look at one another before looking back up at him, skeptical, "Yeah, right."
The demon sighs mentally, "So stubborn." He smiles at Rosette, "You really aren't any different than you were back then."
"Would you STOP with the RIDDLES?" Rosette screams, bashing Chrno on the head.
He sways in flight, a large lump rising on the side of his head and he looks at Rosette, putting on a somewhat annoyed expression, "Rosette, darnit, that hurts! It's also not the wisest thing to do while we're flying."
The young girl smiles sheepishly, "Ah, yeah… I didn't think about that."
Josh eyes her, "As usual. One of these days you're going to get us killed Rosette. We're gonna get eaten alive by some demon or something because you decide to go wrestle with it. You are nothing but a freakin' HAZARD."
"Shut up Josh!" Rosette snaps, eyeing him back.
Chrno smiles nervously, 'Yep, I know now that this is the Rosette from back then. No doubt in my mind. Joshua too.' The nervousness leaves him and he smiles warmly, watching the two children argue (though he was currently tuning them out). Yep, this was like the last time when he first met them. They were around the same age and even their personalities were the same. The resemblance was uncanny- it had to be them.
Rosette notices him smiling and pokes his cheek, "Whaddya smiling for? You find something funny?"
His nervous smile returns, "No, not at all! I was just… thinking. I'm also just happy to see you alive and well. Same goes for Joshua."
Josh looks up at him, "Close. The name's Josh, not Joshua."
"Ah, oh… sorry then. But it's still nice to see you both alive and healthy," the demon replies, his normal smile returning. It was a weird feeling rising up in his chest. Never before had he felt so relieved, as if he truly was now carefree. With Aion gone and no present danger, maybe there was truly nothing to be worried about anymore. Those days were quite possibly over. No longer did he feel guilty for stealing away someone's life. Aion was gone, Joshua—Josh was safe. He wasn't bound by contract, especially since he now had his horns and also he was kinda 'too far down' to make one with a human anyway (not that he would've wanted to). It felt almost as if the world had been lifted off of his shoulders. Maybe now he could live life happily, like back before Joshua disappeared in his 'past life.'
"Chrno! You just passed my house!" Josh suddenly shouts, snapping Chrno back into reality.
Chrno turns around, "Well, geez, you could've told me sooner where it was! It's not like I automatically know where you live, at least not yet."
They land outside Josh's house and drop him off, saying a quick goodbye before taking back off into the air again.
"My house is right over there Chrno," Rosette says, pointing off to the side, "It's a white color."
He looks around, "Well, it's kinda hard to tell the differences in color at night. Is that the one? With the tree so close to the side of the house?" He points towards it.
She nods, "Yep! That's the one!"
He flies towards it and drops her off in near the front door, "I'll drop you off here so you can make an entrance. I guess I'll hang around in that tree for now." He flies up into the tree and sets himself on a sturdy branch, folding his wings against him.
She sighs, dreading the moment to come before opening the door and entering her home. As she suspected, she is reprimanded by her mother. Her excuse for being late was that she fell on the rocks (thus the injured knee) and refused to walk for the longest time until Josh finally forced her to. After a short lecture, she's let go and she runs up to her room after snatching something out of the kitchen. She thrusts open the window and looks out, spotting him sitting on the branch, "You're still here!"
Chrno can't help himself and ends up laughing a little, "Well, yeah! Of course! I told you that I'd wait up here, didn't I? Unfortunately, if I'm going to be staying, I need to find somewhere else to hide, especially during the day. I think your mom would have a cow if she saw me hanging around your window." He smiles nervously, "I rather not be thought of as a pervert of all things…." His thoughts went back to the Elder, though the old man was surely long dead by this time.
She looks up in thought, "Well, I guess you might hafta sleep on the roof. Sorry, but I don't think it's a good idea to keep you in my room, especially since I have school and all that. No telling if mom'll enter while I'm gone. Oh! I almost forgot!" She hands him a bag of chips and a coke, "In case you get a little hungry. Sorry it's not an actual dinner, but I don't think mom would appreciate me bringing a demon to the dinner table."
Memories arise in his mind of the 'old' Rosette handing him cookies and sweets when she first met him when he had told her that he was low on energy. He looks down at the offerings, smiling gently, 'It's just like last time…only this time it's something a little different.' He returns his eyes to her, smiling brightly, "It's jake! I completely understand. Heh, I guess I would be more than a little nervous about a demon sitting at the same table as I was if I were her."
She blinks, "It's… 'jake'…?" She snorts before closing her eyes with an arrogant expression and giving a flick of her wrist, "That is SO a century ago!"
He becomes flustered, not quite knowing how to respond to this, "Well, that's the time that I lived in! Give me a break! That's also the time that you lived in in your past life! Furthermore, I learned that expression from YOU…! So… so THERE!" He makes a face afterwards.
She puffs out her cheeks in mock-irritation, "W-Well, well!" She turns her back to him and crosses her arms, "It's still OLD! So THERE back to YOU!" She didn't know of a good comeback.
'Just like before, she can never think of a good comeback,' he thinks, smiling. His smile softens as he holds the bag of chips against him, "Thanks for the food Rosette. I really appreciate it."
Rosette turns slightly and looks at him, smiling again after a few seconds, "Sure, no problem. I can't have you starving, can I?" A bead of sweat appears on the side of her head and rolls, "But this is starting to feel like I'm trying to hide some pet. It's weird."
He smiles nervously, "Heh, yeah." He stands up on the tree branch and looks up towards the roof, spreading out his wings, "Guess I'll head up for the night."
"Go drop that off up there and then come back down. I wanna at least give you a pillow. The roof's a tad hard afterall," she says before allowing him to fly up.
He returns a few short moments later to retrieve a pillow and to his surprise, a blanket as well, "A blanket…?"
She eyes him, "Well, yeah! As I said, the roof's hard. If you don't need it to keep warm, then use it as cushioning! Good grief, don't you think?"
"Erm… of course I do!" he exclaims, blushing slightly from embarrassment before levitating in the air again. He smiles a little, "Well, good night Rosette."
She returns the smile and gives a small wave, "G'night Chrno." She closes her window and pulls the curtains closed as well.
He flies up onto the roof and transforms into his 'human' form. Afterwards, he eats his rather unhealthy dinner, which was also unfamiliar to him since chips and coke weren't available when he was last alive. They tasted good too! He fixes his bed and plops down on his back after having polished off most of the bag of chips and the entire can of soda. He lets out a sigh of content, stretching a little and letting out a yawn. Actually, he was too worked up to really sleep just yet. Afterall, he had just been reunited with Rosette only a few hours ago and the whole thing seemed like a dream to him still.
He narrows his eyes slightly while staring up at the stars, 'I'm afraid that if I go to sleep, I'll wake up only to find that all of this was nothing but a dream. All of what happened tonight seemed too real to be a dream, but… I just really hope that this is reality.' He pinches his arm and smiles a little upon feeling some pain, becoming reassured somewhat that this wasn't a dream. He really had found Rosette.
He continues gazing up at the stars, naming all the constellations off in his head. He knew all of them since he had spent such a long time alive. A couple centuries at least, which was MUCH longer than humans. The whole idea of a longer life wasn't appealing to the demon any longer and hadn't been for awhile. He had wanted to die so badly when Magdalene died, but he wasn't able to due to his supply of astral energy. When Rosette came along, he had grown so weak by that point and had stayed almost as weak the whole time up until she died. He had made a promise to her some time before she had died and he kept to that promise; the promise that he would return before her time ran out. Before he had reunited with her that one time, he had broken his own horns off again just so that he could join her soon after in death, if not at the same time.
Chrno sighs, closing his eyes and rolling over onto his side, curling up a little, 'I'll make a new promise, more of a personal one….' He opens his eyes up a quarter of the way, staring at the empty can for a few seconds. The demon closes his eyes again, preparing to go to sleep, 'From now on… I won't allow myself to make the same mistakes that I did in my past life. I want Rosette to be happy and live a long, fulfilling life this time. I just want Rosette… to live….' With that thought, he soon drifts off to sleep.