The Source of Power

By: Yamiko #7

Hello hello! The next chapter is finally here, and I'm going to make sure it lives up to the promises I made. As for how I'm going to do that, I have no idea. But I will do it. (smile)

I went to Laser Quest today. This is the first time in all my (eight) years of playing that I've won a game, i.e. came in first. Maybe I should put Zim as my codename more often. (My friend and I were debating going as Sarge and Grif, but we decided we needed more people so we could do the entire group.) The place was overrun with newbies and kids under the age of eight. (I think that's the only reason I did so well.)

I had a huge peeve with one of the new people. The whole group of them talked through the marshal's spiel about how to play, how to work the vest, where to shoot, all that jazz. Then for some reason during the game, they can't figure out why Emu, all the little kids, and I are running (and shooting) circles around them. One of them even came up to me and asked me where to shoot.

Okay, sir brilliant.

I shot him. Then, in my best Tour Guide Barbie voice, "Flashing lights!"

Another girl stalked me, tried to take over my hiding place…and ended up in dead last.

Okay, so I'm competitive…but really, I wasn't about ready to swear a blue streak at somebody every time I got shot. The girl who ended up in dead last hated me by the end of the second game. When one of her friends beat out both Emu and me for first place in that game, the girl nearly threw a party.

She was like the stereotypical cheerleader-person we all love to hate. She even traveled with her clique during the game. That many flashing lights together…too easy.

I'm tempted to frame the scorecard.

And I've just realized I sound really bitter here. I'm not – I just don't have a lot of tolerance for stupid people with God complexes who refuse to listen to any- and everybody else. I put up with enough of that in high school: I don't need to hear it on my weekends.

Oh-kay! (smacks head against wall) That's more than enough of that. You all want to read the chapter, so we're going to start on that now.

So without further ado…

Chapter Ten: Full Circle

When she saw the grimace on her captor's face, Rosette knew things were starting to look up. If the situation was looking that bad for him, it had to be getting better for her and Chrno.

Speaking of which, where was he?

And what was she going to do once he got here?

One thing was for sure – she definitely wasn't going to sit around and do nothing. He put her through all that hell, and she was not going to let him get away with it.

A Gospel should do the trick.

"You're thinking angry thoughts," the demon accused suddenly.

"Yup," Rosette replied shortly.

"What do you think you're going to do about it?"

"Kill you." This answer was just as short.

"I agree."

The demon grinned, betraying none of the surprise he must have been feeling. (Goodness knows, Rosette had jumped.) "Chrno. So good of you to come." He snapped his fingers and Fido obediently crossed the clearing and sat by his leg.

"Like you left me a choice." Chrno's words dripped acid.

"Well, you could have decided not to come," the demon replied airily.

He sounds like Aion and it's starting to really piss me off. "If I hit your dog again, will you shut up?"

"I did not appreciate that." The demon pointed an accusing finger at Chrno. "Fido certainly didn't deserve it."

Chrno blinked. "You named your familiar "Fido?'" He directed his next comment to the mastiff. "I'm sorry."

"Will you quit making fun of my dog! Good Lord!" The demon was gesticulating wildly with his free hand. "I wanted a stealth mission, but no! You have to talk to Chrno, he says. You need to let him know that he isn't out of the woods just yet. Well this was NOT worth the abuse, and when I get back I'm demanding extra." The demon nodded decisively.

Rosette was lost. "What?"

Chrno, however, had figured it out. "You're a mercenary."

"No, I'm up here getting abused 'cause I flippin' feel like it." The demon may have been calmer, but he was nowhere near sated. A pause – "Brilliant deduction, Holmes."

"So who hired you?" Chrno was not to be deterred.

"Oh. That." The demon shrugged offhandedly. "Lombardi."

It took all of Chrno's self-control to keep from betraying the massive amount of shock that exploded within him at the name. "You know he can't be trusted." His voice was steady. Good. "Do you really think you'll get paid?"

"Oh, I didn't do this for the money." The demon grinned. "Just think of the boost my reputation will receive when word gets out that I killed a Sinner! Offers will come pouring in!" The grin got wider. "This job is simply a means to an end."

"You realize I could say the same thing about killing you." Behind Chrno's quiet words lurked a fury waiting to be released.

"Well, sure," the demon shrugged, "you could say it. You won't do it, though. After all-" he gestured towards his occupied hand "-as you can obviously see, I have your lovemate in a power bind. What I say…what I will…" He snapped his fingers. "Goes." He smirked. "If you want to keep her alive, you'll start listening to me."

"Sorry, not today." Rosette stood, grinning at the shock in her captor's face, and decided to take advantage of it. She had always seen takedowns done the same way: one hand to the back of the neck, a swift foot-sweep, and down they went. So that was what she went for – the back of the neck.

This was a mistake.

What

What in

What

Happened

What

Where

Where am

I

What

I don't

Where

Dark

Dark and

So cold

I

I

I can't

See

Hear

Feel

Breathe

Oh my God

OH MY GOD

I

I'm

Scared

Will I

Am I

Dying

No

NO

I don't

Please

No

I'm

So

So

Scared

Please

Rosette.

…what?

Rosette.

I…

I'm here.

I'll be with you.

What?

I'll be with you.

I promise.

Oh…

That's right.

You promised.

I promise.

And I don't make promises I don't keep.

I know.

I…I'm still here.

I'm not going to die.

I'm still here.

"Rosette?"

She woke slowly to the sound of her name. "Uhn…yeah…"

"Oh thank God." Suddenly there were strong arms around her, and she was leaning against something warm…

Oh.

This was Chrno.

"I'm so glad you're alright…" He sounded as though he were about to cry.

"Yeah…" She wished she could say something more, but for some reason her brain just wasn't working. She looked around slowly, dimly registering the mercenary's dead body and the fact that Fido was melting.

"That is the weirdest damn thing I've ever seen," she said simply, and fainted.

I can't believe it took me nearly six weeks to write this think. Although I suppose if you factor out all the time I spent studying for and taking IB exams, as well as the rest of the time devoted to senior and IB activities, I suppose it was more like two weeks.

What, me busy? Of course not. (sigh)

And now that I'm on summer vacation (wahoo!) I now have:

1) A bad cold that lives in my throat (can't sing, can barely talk)

2) To clean my bookshelves/desk/closets

3) To get rid of the majority of the contents of my bookshelves/desk/closets

4) To find a job

5) An even shorter fuse than I normally do (hard to believe, isn't it?)

6) NO LIFE.

Like I ever had a "life" in the first place. (sigh) Oh well…that's life, or at least it's my life. Expect Chapter Final sometime before August 22nd, which is when I leave Colorado for Pepperdine. Aside from that, no guarantees.

And a quick response to a comment from Scarred Rose, who wondered if I would be writing any fics after this one: heck yes. Three, maybe four of them. And I need all of your help.

For my next fic I need a bunch of extraneous female characters (get those perverted thoughts out of your minds RIGHT NOW, it's not like that). So please create some for me, because I'm having problems. I need one each in (get ready):

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Austin, Texas

Phoenix, Arizona

Toronto, Canada

Bozeman, Montana (I do have a requirement for this one – she has to be a cowgirl)

Atlanta, Georgia

Reno (or Las Vegas), Nevada

Insert-city-here, Delaware (Sorry, my map's too small)

All of this will be explained in the next fic, but right now I need the characters so I can plan. (Look at all that IB training coming into play. Don't I feel special.) Leave the ideas in a review or e-mail them to me: just make sure you've left me a way to contact you, or I won't be able to use it.

Thank you so much for reading this particular fic and helping me write the next one (kinda)! See you in Chapter Final!