Sora-san: And we're getting down to the final showdown! Yes, my friends, this story is gonna start wrapping up. But don't be sad—this isn't the last chapter. Not yet anyway.
Shuzumo: Way to be comforting.
Sora-san: I try. Anyways, Here is the 11th chapter in which you will laugh, say "Poor ((bleeped out))" and "Yay Rosette!" So sit back, relax, and enjoy Chapter 11. And Chapter 12 is on its way.
Why Can't Dreams Be Real?
11. Dreams Really Are Real
Sora-san: Not starting with Rosette! GASP!
"Azmaria? Azmaria wake up!"
"Unh five more minutes…" Azmaria mumbled rolling over.
"Azmaria please—we can go now!"
"We can—OW!" Azmaria cried as she sat up too quickly and bumped into Joshua's head.
"Ouch…"
"I'm so sorry! Um…you said we can leave?"
"Oh! Yeah—the door's unlocked today!" Joshua said excitedly.
"Alright!" Azmaria said happily, hopping out of bed.
The two tiptoed to the door, opened it, and continued to sneak out into the hall.
"We have to be quiet." Joshua said, turning to Azmaria and putting a finger to his lips.
Azmaria nodded, then froze when she saw Joshua's eyes widen. "Joshua?
What—"
"Look out!" Joshua cried.
"LADEN!"
In a flurry of blue light the demon that was sneaking up behind Azmaria disintegrated. Azmaria spun to see who saved her and saw a woman with long red hair smirking at her.
"Now what have I told you about messing with demons Azmaria?" The woman teased.
"Satella!" Azmaria cried happily.
"Who?" Joshua asked.
Satella practically fell over and Azmaria burst out laughing.
"My name is Satella. Satella Harvenheit." She said, stepping forward and extending a hand. Joshua shook it.
"Nice to meet you! My name is Joshua, Joshua Christopher."
"CHRISTOPHER?" Azmaria and Satella yelled at the same time.
"Y-yeah…" Joshua stuttered.
"As in Joshua, Rosette Christopher's brother?" Satella asked.
"You know my sister?"
"Yeah! We're good friends! Well…not really. Actually…we're more like acquaintances. All she ever does is mooch off me." Satella grumbled.
Joshua laughed. "Yeah, that sounds like Rosette alright!"
"So you really are Rosette's brother…But that means…" Azmaria paused for a moment to think. "Rosette's finally found her brother!"
Joshua fell over and Satella looked like Azmaria had just told them they were on Mars.
"Rosette's not here dummy." The jewel witch commented harshly.
"Oh…yeah." Azmaria said, looking depressed.
"Hey don't worry—we'll find her! We can all look together!" Joshua said brightly, extending a hand.
"Yeah!" Azmaria said, nodding and taking his hand. The two began skipping down the hallway hand-in-hand.
"…Aren't they forgetting me? Not that I feel like skipping or anything…" Satella wondered aloud. She must've said the last part too quietly because they came back for her.
"Come on Satella you too!" Azmaria said, extending a hand.
"Oh no—I am not skipping."
"Please?" Azmaria begged.
A few minutes later Satella found herself skipping gloomily down the hall next to her peppy friends.
Sora-san: La-dee-da still not on Rosette…
"…So. This is where you've been hiding."
"Noia? Oh um…I can explain…"
"No need. I've already figured it out."
"…You are good! …But that's what I love about you!"
"Not now. Look—I don't have much time. I have a plan, but I'm going to need your help."
"As always…What do ya need?"
"…I need you to lead Chrno…there."
"There? Are you sure Noia? Is Rosette really ready to meet him again?"
"She needs to meet him again! Please…just trust me this once!"
"Okay, okay…boy I sure hope you know what you're doing Noia…"
"So do I."
Sora-san: And finally…ROSETTE! Bwaha!
"Noia? Are you alright? You look kinda worn down."
"I'm fine Rosette…thank you for asking." He said, wearily sitting in a chair by my bed. "How is your leg?"
"Actually…I think it's completely healed."
"That's odd."
"…Not really." I said, smiling fondly at what I remembered.
"Are you walking ok?"
"Thanks to that numbing cream you gave me…"
"Hey Noia?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you…know where Chrno is?"
Noia looked at me in surprise. "I thought…"
"That I don't remember?" I shook my head. "I don't completely but…I know I will. That's why I want to see him. I want…to understand the way I feel."
"Rosette…"
"What?"
"You…really are an amazing person." Noia said, then laughed. His laugh quickly turned to a cough and I jumped in surprise.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You don't look fine." I said, glaring at him.
He smiled weakly at me. "Please don't worry about me. Come on." He said, standing up. "I'll take you to Chrno."
I said nothing, but got up to follow him. Was he really going to be alright?
Noia led me through the compound and outside, over a hill, and towards a cave.
"I…know this place." I realized suddenly.
"That's right." Noia said, smiling at me.
"This is…where I met Chrno."
"Well who are you?"
"I'm Chrno. I'm what you humans call a demon."
"She's not here yet…what's taking so long…?" Noia asked suddenly. "Rosette…I'm going to leave you here alone for a minute."
"…Why?"
"I have to make sure it's safe." He said, walking off into the cave clutching his side.
'Why is he holding his side?' I wondered. Looking down I saw grass that had been tinged red. 'He's bleeding?' I stared off into the cave. 'Noia…'
"What are you looking at Rosette Christopher?" Someone asked.
I jumped, then gasped when the speaker stepped into the light. "Aion!"
"Look around you." Aion said, spreading his arms wide. "How many demons do you see?"
"Only one!" I snapped, pulling out my gun and pointing it at him.
"Now, now, you wouldn't shoot an endangered species would you?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Demons are a dying breed Rosette. Especially ones like Noia."
I pulled the bullet release and pointed my gun at Aion's head.
"So you really will shoot. But would you still shoot if you knew killing me would kill Noia?"
"…What?" I asked, confused.
"I'm sure he's told you I'm his mirror and he is mine. We don't have to look alike to mirror each other. If I die, he'll die."
"Who?"
"My mirror."
"You're lying."
"It's a shame you like Noia so much. Chrno would be distraught."
"I do not like Noia."
"And you like Chrno? You don't even remember him." Aion sneered.
"…you said 'I hate you Chrno'."
"Chrno…"
"I guess it's true…"
"Chrno…you know I don't hate you. You're like my best friend…and it was just a dream, ne? The things you see in dreams aren't real."
"I…"
"You…?"
"I…I love you Chrno."
"I love you too Rosette. I always have."
"Dreams…aren't real. There's no way Chrno loves me…"
"No. I love Rosette."
"Dreams…aren't real."
"I've been…so stupid. Lying to myself this whole time. Dreams are real…Maybe not all of them, but…I…I need to believe in my dreams. Because…It's true. I really do…I LOVE CHRNO!" And I pulled the trigger.
