I do not own Chrno Crusade or any of the characters. I merely am using them to write this fanfiction. The honor of owning this anime/manga belongs to Daisuke Moriyama.
Ch. 2 - Findings
After examining the outside of the folder for a good five minutes she had finally decided to open it.
Inside was a bunch of stray papers all happening to be in the same condition as the cover. The words were in a different language, or at least that is what Rosette believed. She couldn't make anything out but only a few words.
"Help…..defeat….evil…tsk? No no…task….impossible…alone…" She said mumbling aloud.
Suddenly creaking noises coming from the hallway indicated someone was creeping up the stairs towards her. She realized she'd spent too much time playing Sherlock Holmes and forgot that she was being waited on by her friends.
Taking the folder with her was a decision she couldn't make a clear judgment on. In the end, however, she'd managed to convince herself that the document was disguarded in the trash and could be claimed by anyone.
Back downstairs, Azmaria and Chrno wait in the sitting room for Rosette. The fire in the fireplace crackling gave a warm sensation to the lifeless room, dancing shadows across the room's walls.
"Do you believe everyone has a purpose in life, Chrno?" Azmaria said, twiddling her fingers together.
Chrno lowered his head, "Why do you ask?"
"I was only wondering if the reason for Rosette's shortened life is to allow her a chance to see her path more clearly as too what is expected of her in her life." She replied, seeing the sadness that Chrno was suppressing.
"I don't know if I believe that everyone's life is purposeful, however, I do believe that no matter what you believe you were born for, it's what you do with the gift of life that makes all the difference." He said, staring into the fire.
Coming slowly down the stairs Rosette saw the two of her closest friends clearly by the light from the fire shining off their faces. She realized they were speaking and decided to play a little spy game and watch from behind one of the building pillars.
"I noticed that neither you nor her look at the clock's time." Azmaria said at a low whisper, making it hard for Rosette to hear.
Chrno turned his face away from the light of the fire and into the darkness, making his expressions hidden, "Every time we're reminded of how much time is left everything becomes sad. Sometimes it's best not to think of the future even when others want to, do you understand?"
Without another word Azmaria nodded, realizing she'd gone to deep a level of emotions and probably should not have even mentioned the subject.
Rosette wiped a tear from her cheek and preceded into the sitting room, "Enjoying yourself you two?" she asked happily, trying not to make it obvious she was listening.
"We're just talking and having tea. Would you like any Rosette?" Azmaria asked politely, raising the teapot to an empty teacup.
"Did you have fun cleaning?" Chrno asked, turning his face back into the light. He was eagerly trying to keep his sorrowful emotions from showing through his fake smile.
"Actually I found something interesting that I was hoping to share with you. I found it in Sister's Kate's office." Rosette replied, trying to perk up everyone.
A sweatdrop appeared on the side of Chrno's face, "You stole it didn't you?"
"Actually it was in her trash, so I claimed it." She replied casually.
"You can get in big trouble for that…"Azmaria said, trying to sound like the voice of reason.
Quickly Rosette pulled out the folder from underneath her arm and handed it to Chrno to examine. "How old do you think it is?" she asked as she watched him.
Chrno sighed, "Well you may be onto something. This writing is Romanian. What would Sister Kate be doing with a document this old and in a form of language so remote?"
"I guess there is only one person we can ask to find out the mystery of the unknown folder." Rosette stated, snatching the folder back and holding it up in the air.
"Sister Kate?" Azmaria asked, blinking.
"That would only get us in trouble. I was thinking more along the lines of someone who has been here for a very long time, at least longer than any of us." Rosette replied, pointing to the door leading outside.
Upon entering the Elder's shack outside at the back of the Order Azmaria saw every type of weirdly shaped bottle she'd ever seen lining every shelf that occupied a wall. She'd never seen the Elder's workplace and wasn't sure if she was brave enough to alone seeing as how he didn't have the greatest reputation in the Magdalene Order.
On the other hand Chrno and Rosette walked right on through, having already been and seen all they needed to of the Elder's 'home'.
"Not again!" They heard the Elder yell, turning a corner to find him jumping up and down around a beat up Henry Ford Model T car.
"Having car trouble?" Chrno asked, resting his elbows on a wooden ledge next to the elder.
"Well, if Rosette wouldn't total every car she's issued I'd have more time to research new and exciting ways to kill demons." The Elder replied, over-dramatically crying while tightening a bolt on the engine.
"Are you sure its not so that you'll have more time to peep in and out of girl's dressing?" Rosette said, unsympathetic to the old man's tears.
"Are you here to borrow the last car that isn't wrecked?" The Elder asked, going back to his rhythmic order of things.
Azmaria sat down next to Rosette on a metal stool and started lightly swinging her feet against the hollow legs holding her up.
"We've acquired a folder in Sister's Kate's office that we'd like to ask you about. Funny thing is we can't read it because it's in Romanian." Rosette said, just as a clang of metal fell against something of the same make.
The Elder had dropped his wrench, and by the look of his actions it was not accidental.
"I'm guessing that you know something?" Azmaria asked, finally speaking up after the silence she endured.
The Elder grabbed a nearby rag, wiped the grease and oil off his face, and than threw it on the hood of the car, "I know that you probably, without consulting Sister Kate, took that folder out from her desk. Maybe its fate that you should find it, I don't know. I knew one day that it would resurface."
"What would resurface? Is this a mission folder?" Rosette asked eagerly, waiting for the details.
"What I'm about to tell you, you can't let sink into emotion and you can't allow yourself to pursue such a death trap. Agreed?" the Elder said, the most serious anyone had ever heard him. The seriousness of his voice sent quivers up and down the spines of the listeners sharply.
Everyone nodded in agreement. To Rosette, it wasn't like a promise or anything close to.
"In Romania, there are legends of Vampires. Bat-like beings that suck the blood of the living, only come out at night or in dark, can easily hide their appearances, and give no mercy to their enemies." The Elder said, taking a short breather.
"One group, or clan as in those days, was called the 'Crucea Roşie' meaning 'Red Cross'. This deathly group of Vampires hunts on humans every night, killing every man woman and child in the nearby villages. It's a miracle that anyone is left in these villages. The time we received that document they were planning to wage war against the Vampires using the little firearms they possessed. The outcome of the war is unknown. I can tell you that the Vampires survived, as for the villagers little is known to this day. Rumor has it that they are still fighting. Sister Kate chose not to advance to their help because of the sheer danger involved. However, there isn't one day that goes by that she doesn't regret it."
After listening to the story thoroughly everyone looked at each other in utter silence, unsure what to say.