Chapter Two: No More Tears

I awoke to fingers stroking my cheek lightly. The kind, gentle, yet hesitant touch told me straight away that it was my contractor. I steadily became aware of the sounds around me and opened one eye to realise the room was still flooded with darkness. But it was not the night kind of darkness. In the background I could hear the birds chirping and instantly knew that the time for us to leave had arrived.

I shifted slightly, realising the familiar woman was still in my arms. I looked down at her and rested my hand upon the hand she rested on my cheek, reassuring her that I was here. She looked up at me with wear and slightly confused eyes.

"Chrno," she whispered, trying to remove herself from my lap so I was free to move.

"Yes, it's time to leave Rosette." I took her hand in mine and slowly lead her off the bed. She stumbled slightly, but I caught her against my chest with a sigh.

"You're the same as ever aren't you Rosette?"

"And so are you, despite the fact your taller…" Rosette mumbled. I cocked my head to the side and placed my hands on her shoulders to distance her slightly.

"Does it bother you? I know you are used to my child form but-"

"That's your true form right?" She cut me off with a sort of serene smile. I nodded in reply and watched her shrug. "I'd rather you were your true self. Besides, you had to catch up to me sometime didn't you?" She giggled lightly to herself, "I will get used to it."

I watched her for a moment curiously for any signs of dissimulation, as she continued to hold onto my thumb. It must have been easier for her to do that than to hold onto my whole hand. So, instead I wrapped mine around hers.

"You need to pack anything you want quickly."

"I don't really need anything…"

"Yes you do!"

"NO I DON'T!"

"WHAT ABOUT CLOTHES? DO YOU INTEND TO PRANCE AROUND NAKED?"

"I'LL BE FINE WITH JUST ONE PAIR!"

I paused for a moment to look down at her not-so-modest nightdress and almost had a nosebleed. If she thought she was going to walk around in that…

"All I need is you…" Her voice had become soft-spoken that I almost didn't hear it, which I discovered was her intention in the first place. But it calmed the blood that had begun to boil from our previous short-lived argument. I held my eyes upon her with a twinkle of amusement hidden in their depths, and opened my mouth to say something, but was instantly cut off. "I mean! You're taking me right! You are going to be protecting me right? I'm not very strong at the moment after all… oh god… save me…" She instantly pulled her hand away from mine and turned her head away with a sort of nervous laugh… this just amused me more. "Ah! I Guess t-there are ss-s-some things I n-n-need to pack! Be right back!" And with that she dove into her closet, fetching out a carry bag and some clothing, some shoes, and some other items I don't really care to repeat.

I folded my arms as something from the top of the wardrobe collided with her head and smirked.

"Try not to make too much noise, no-one knows we are here after all… and didn't you want to keep it that way?" She paused on my comment, prying a pair of dirty socks from her hair. Her eyes suddenly became distant. I let my arms rest at my sides with her sudden change of mood.

"Chrno… I want to see him one more time."

I had nothing to say and just helped her up from the chaos she had created on the floor.

"Just… one more time…"

I let my concerned frown turn into a small smile of agreement. If I wasn't the only person who could understand her true feelings what would I be?

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I opened the door carefully; aware of the squeaking and complaining the doors liked to do when they were moved, having to fix most of them myself; just a small price to pay for being allowed as a demon to live within a house of God.

Once I had poked my head through the door to check the coast was clear, I tightened my loose grip on Rosette's hand. She soon huddled up close next to me in order to look at the vision of the boy sleeping peacefully in his bed. Something she had told me many times she wished to see again. She sighed longingly, her fingers playing with mine absent-mindedly. I pushed the door open a little more, glancing at her as she continued to gaze.

"He looks happy doesn't he?" She said quietly, almost contently. "Perhaps its better he didn't remember anything about what has happened over these four past years, even if it meant forgetting about me, about you too." I tore my eyes from Rosette to watch as the boy turned on his side with a smile.

I searched my mind for any words, anything that would help her wounds heal. "He does remember you Rosette…"

"Yes but as I was back then," She turned to me with desperation. "You would never forget me would you?" She tore her hands from mine to place them upon her chest as if her heart was shattering. "If you did, I just… I just… wouldn't be able to go on." She collapsed to the floor, the cruel harsh reality settling back within her. I had tried to make her forget but my efforts had failed miserably.

"You know I would never Rosette!" I dropped to her side; wiping the tears she was desperately trying to keep silent. "Don't you want to go in?" I asked her sympathetically, helping her up from the floor. I was not a fool; I could just glimpse the morning colour in the sky. My sense of dawn was coming on, and I knew what time normal nuns rose from bed to go about their duties, not including Rosette of course… But it was early, super early, we didn't have much time left. But I wasn't going to ruin her moment, not this one last moment she had with her brother. She would treasure this one moment she got to see her brother in peace for the last time.

"No" She held her hand up to silence me. "It's time I took a step forward and worried about what is in front of me." I became silent instantly as she stepped up on her toes to place a hesitant hand on my cheek. "He chose Remington, he is happy with Remington. I need to let go… I don't have much time after all."

We were silent for the moment as we watched the sunrise through the clear windows in what was to be our last moment here. Her eyes slowly found mine again. With one glance I knew it was time to leave.

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"Should we tell them?" Rosette asked me as she loaded a very small amount of luggage into the truck with some trouble. I race to her side to help her. I'm used to being the pack mule after all. And she had lost a lot of blood… there was going to be a lot of resting for her over the next couple of days. Even if I had to force her.

The morning air was crisp and cold and I paused for a moment to take a deep breath in, Rosette glancing up at me curiously. I soon realized she was waiting patiently for a reply and I tried to tear my eyes away from the sunrise that looked especially beautiful this morning.

My reply was simple and it came swiftly and bluntly. "No"

"But Chrno! They didn't even know that I returned… and now we are taking a car!"

"Wasn't that your idea?" I cocked an eyebrow as she placed her hand on my shoulder which was now harder for her to reach, trying to pull me towards her to see her reasoning. I opened one of my eyes and frowned.

"You were bleeding Rosette! What were we supposed to do? We had to come here to bandage your wounds! I'll be damned if I loose you now." She blushed slightly as my hands returned the favour and were gently placed on her shoulders. "We already discussed this right?" I turned my face from hers to stare up at the building fondly which had become our home a long time ago, no matter how many times Rosette denied it. "It's better this way, if you tell them they will want to know… where we are going" I turned to her with a smile. "Besides, you don't want to prove Sister Kate right do you?"

She blushed further as I placed my finger on her nose lightly. "About what?" She asked, turning her eyes to the dew on the green grass.

I shrugged and pulled away from her. "Wasn't she always telling you 'Sister Rosette! You are going to break your vows I just know it if you continue to carry on like this!'"

Rosette blushed harder remembering the incident clearly. I remembered too, as innocent as it was, it was hilarious. A few nuns had walked in on both Rosette and I wrestling. I remembered with amusement as the nuns ran from her room with a gasp. I had been hurt badly by Rosette and she'd had a whole talk with Sister Kate about proper conduct… which was not eloping with a demon apparently. She hadn't talked to me for a week. Whether it was out of embarrassment or anger, I still didn't know.

"Well that was your entire fault! Y-you! You took my last chocolate!" She stepped on my foot angrily and turned away with an aggravated expression.

"OUCH!" I yelled, growling after her as she stomped away with her cheeks puffed out. "Seriously…" I smiled to myself as Rosette gazed out at the order. I could tell she was melancholic or nostalgic, even if she crapped on about how much she hated the place, she did feel attached. I suddenly felt guilty, like I was forcing her to leave. I knew she would say it wasn't the case… That I thought into things too much. But leaving her brother and her friends would have been a hard thing for her.

"Let's go Chrno." She spoke up suddenly, turning to me with a smile. My worries were put aside as I broke into a grin and stepped into the passenger seat.

"So were too Mister?" Rosette smiled as she started up the car with enthusiasm. I sighed as she took off a little too fast for comfort and hung out the window.

"You know as well as I do Rosette…"

She looked at me for a moment before nodding.

And we drove off to the most isolated place we knew. Maybe it would be random; maybe somewhere we had been before. But we were going to get away.

She was going to forget. She was going to enjoy the breeze. She was going to enjoy the fresh air. She was going to enjoy our solitude. She was going to enjoy many beautiful things that I wanted to give her. She wasn't going to cry again, I would make sure of it.

Saturn Stars