Disclaimer: No, don't own Chrono...(sigh.)

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Smile Empty Soul

Chapter 2

Three angels watched from Heaven as the scene unfolded.

"That mortal holds many feelings for the one of such destruction," the Angel of Knowledge commented, his tenor voice echoing throughout the sky.

"As does the demon," the Keeper of Time observed. Softly, he added, "Chrono the Sinner has fallen in love with Rosette Christopher…"

"And a little too late it seems," Knowledge murmured, regret woven into his voice. "His astral line energy is returning to the stars."

The Guardian of Astral Energy nodded solemnly in acknowledgement. "It is unfortunate," she expressed whole-heartedly, "that a demon with such a pure soul will never be rewarded with the love that he deserves."

"Chrono was never meant to die this way," Knowledge pointed out. "Just as Aion the Sinner was never meant to live."

Astral sighed with a heavy heart. "Well, it's probably too late to change anything now…unless any of you have a suggestion…"

"…The girl, Azmaria," Time suddenly said, attempting to solve their problem. His eyebrows were furrowed in deep concentration. "Is there anyway she could aid Chrono?"

"No," Knowledge responded, sighing. "She exhausted her powers during the attempt to protect her friends and drive Aion away. Azmaria will be rendered powerless for sometime now."

Astral gazed into the looking glass, her bright green eyes trained on Rosette and Chrono. To her, their fates seemed unfair and unjust.

Both loved each other, yet if nothing was done, they would be separated forever.

"Such pain…" she whispered with a heavy heart.

Time glanced over at Astral, noticing how her wings drooped. "I…don't know what we could do." Looking in on Chrono's situation, Time realized that he felt…pity for the one he would have once considered an enemy.

Could it be possible that not all demons were evil?

Knowledge leaned against the wall, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Is there any way you could direct Chrono's energy back into his body?" he inquired to Astral.

Said angel shook her head. "The Sinner is losing the ability to hold the energy. Any astral power I direct at him will instantly fade."

"There has to be a way," Time said determined, deciding finally that Chrono really did deserve their help.

The Angel of Knowledge blew a golden strand of hair out of his face, sighing. "Well then, it seems that only the essence of time will tell us the answer," he remarked cryptically.

Rosette gently laid a wet cloth on Chrono's forehead. He was so warm, she worried. And yet, he was shaking so violently…

Chrono turned to face his contractor. "P-please," he coughed, "…don't c-cry, Rosette." Cutting into his energy reserves, Chrono lifted his right hand and stroked the side of Rosette's face, wiping away the tears with his thumb.

His contractor quivered under his touch. "I…I don't want you die, Chrono," she said with a shaky, but undeniable conviction . "I need you with me…"

"I…need you t-too," Chrono whispered. He managed to weakly smile at Rosette, his lips trembling.

But while he tried to smile on the outside, an internal war was being waged on the inside.

Chrono fought to contain the valuable astral line energy, but found it only to slip through his fingers like sand.

Even the legion in his body was dying at the same time, leaving Chrono to writhe in his own, private Hell.

"I can't stand to see you like this," Rosette cried for him, her anger, for once, not directed at him. "There has to be something I can do…"

"Smile."

The nun cast a confused glance at her friend, perplexed as to why he'd want her to do that.

Chrono continued, his baritone voice barely above a whisper. "J-just s-smile for m-me…please…"

He realized it was getting harder to talk, the blood streaming out from his internal wounds becoming greater in amount. Chrono's bandages were soaked with wine-colored liquid, as were the bed sheets.

He knew it was only a matter of Time.

Realizing that herself, Rosette did smile for him, pouring in all her feelings for the demon. Her eyes conveyed what she couldn't speak; love.

He directed the better half of his energy to see her clearly, never regretting the expensive cost he would have to pay with the rest of his Time.

I've always loved her smile…

"…Beautiful," Chrono whispered.

And with that said, he knew his Time was cut short.

Chrono's gut wrenched as intense muscle spasms pulverized his body the instant he let his guard down.

He cried out in agony, the sharp pangs that tortured him beginning to spread to his lungs and heart.

Blood rushed up his throat, cutting off his ability to breathe. In desperation, he coughed, trying to stay alive.

Please! Just let me live a little longer! Chrono pleaded to anyone who would listen, gasping for air. Valuable seconds passed, and the demon was beginning to lose his determination to live.

Please!

Rosette panicked and held his head up in an attempt to drain the blood. Fortunately, it worked. Chrono coughed up a small amount of blood that blocked his airway, attempting to breathe as best as he could.

"That better?" Rosette inquired delicately, a sinking feeling uncurling in her stomach.

Chrono managed to nod slightly, the pain subsiding for the time as he coughed to better clear his lungs.

Apparently, someone was listening up there…

But even then, Chrono found himself losing Astral energy faster than anytime before. It was impossible to escape Fate.

He knew he would be dead by morning.

And slowly, he realized the irony in it all. A strangled, bitter laugh escaped him as he recognized the mockery and sarcasm that had been intermixed within his life. And the more he thought about it, the more he desired his looming death.

Twice, I have failed to fully protect the one I care for…love even. I have merely been used by my enemies…Both times, I played into Aion's hands…He meant for this to happen…He wanted me out of the way so that I couldn't protect Rosette anymore…And in trying to protect her, I just caused her more pain…

Rosette would have been better off without me. This contract…has only stolen her life for vain reasons.

That realization continuously rang in his ears, a feeling of unworthiness permanently settling over him.

Unworthiness; that was a word that he couldn't shake.

I…I have killed so many…And yet, I can not even protect just one person…

…I…I failed…

Failure; he'd lost the fight before it had even begun.

I…failed…

I have failed.

And it was at that moment, that very second, that Chrono lost his will to live…

I never deserved happiness…

I truly am a Sinner.

Faster than he could comprehend, unseen claws began to tear at his heart, the chambers failing from being under such strain.

The soft lights that lit the infirmary suddenly flashed with the intensity of the sun, sending a searing heat throughout his mind.

Chrono shut his eyes tight, hissing in pain. His entire body shook as his internal organs began to shut down. The intensity of the torture soared to an alarming rate and he struggled to tell Rosette his last thoughts.

"R-rose-ete…" he rasped out, beads of sweat trickling down his face.

"There's something I've w-wanted to t-tell y-you…but was t-too m-much… of a c-coward to d-do so…"

Rosette felt tears sting her eyes once more as her heart sped up. She ran her fingers through Chrono's bangs in an attempt to comfort both him and her. "What did you want to tell me?" she questioned softly, knowing that his Time had run out.

"T-that y-you…mean m-more t-to me than…anything…in the w-world…" For a small second, a genuine smile graced his features as the red jewels embedded in his forehead faded to black. He began gasping harshly, as though he couldn't catch his breath.

"C-Chrono?" Rosette's voice cracked as her ocean blue eyes widened. The grip he had on her left hand slackened, pulling the poor girl into a panic. "Don't you dare die on me!"

"…I…l-love…you…"

Rosette's eyes were the last thing Chrono saw.

I'm sorry…Rosette…

His dying heart ripped at the seams, surrendering the last of Chrono's energy and blood. Chrono the Sinner…had been defeated.

For a moment, the nun just sat there, barely even breathing as she watched Chrono's skin turn white.

And it was then mind throbbing shock smacked Rosette in the face with tremendous force. She wrapped her arms around Chrono and laid her head on his good shoulder, trying to prove to herself that he was still there. But his skin was cold against her touch.

N-no! He didn't just…He couldn't have-!

The dizziness that came with unsealing the clock was no longer there... The sickening feeling of her energy flowing out of her body was no longer there.

No longer existed…

Their contract…had faded away with Chrono.

And the feeling of her own energy returning to her was enough break Rosette down.

She numbly gazed at the clock hanging around her neck, seeing Chrono's borrowed energy adding on to her own life.

Fifteen…twenty years added.

Rosette suddenly wished it had been the other way around.

She suddenly felt as though she couldn't catch her breath, small gasps escaping from her. It hurt too much; she couldn't grasp the twisted reality before her.

"No!" she cried out with heart sickness and abandon. "You left me…"

You left me, Chrono!

Fear…anger (mostly) ...loneliness…Such a myriad of emotions unfurled and intertwined within her heart.

You left me!

"Chrono…" she whispered brokenly into the air, a numbness flowing through her veins. "I was supposed to die first, you stupid idiot..." She traced the outline of his facial features with a shaking hand, going over the now cold metallic stripes that adorned Chrono's face.

His half lidded, hollow eyes stared back at her with his dying emotions. And his eyes would be what would haunt Rosette's nightmares.

It was as though someone stabbed her through the heart, the sharp pangs almost unbearable.

Desperately, she wished the battle had never happened.

Desperately, she wished her contractor didn't have to die.

…Desperately, Rosette wished she had told Chrono that she loved him too…

In a trance-like state, Rosette looked out the window by the bed to see light stream through the glass from the rising sun.

It was morning.

So, before you go and hit the back button or choose to review, I have a few questions to ask of you:

1.) Did you think the people were out of character? If so, how could I improve that?

2.) Did you think any part of this chapter lacked in detail or lacked a fluid flow of words?

3.) Did you think the transition from the first chapter to this one was okay, or too choppy?

Thank you for reading and I would really appreciate it if you dropped off a review for me:)

Holographic Shadow