Disclaimer: No, still don't own CC...

Sorry it took so long to get this chapter out!

Chrono Crusade

Smile Empty Soul

Chapter 6

"I saw him," the Elder spoke grimly to his colleague, worry woven into his tone. "He was fully transformed as well, but then his image just disappeared before me."

"I sensed that he was here too, in Mess Hall," Father Remington said gravely, sitting down at his desk. "I did not see him though."

The older man set his small invention on the desk and sat down opposite of Remington. "I'm positive I saw him," he said with conviction.

"Oh, I don't doubt that," Yuan replied. "I can still sense that Chrono is here. Judging by the aura, I would say that he is in Rosette's dorm room."

Of course, Elder being Elder, he instantly thought sick and twisted ideas. His frown warped into a smirk and Remington had to restrain himself from punching the old man.

"Why that sly fox! I never thought-"

"Enough, Elder." A vein popped on Father Remington's forehead as he rubbed his temples. "That was not what I meant and you know it."

"Of course, of course!" Elder smiled, but quickly sobered back up.

"Now," Remington sighed, "let's get back on topic. I'm sure both of us could agree that Chrono's soul is not at rest, yes?"

Elder nodded, encouraging the priest to explain more.

"And you do realize that the many jobs of the Magdalene Order include taking care of restless spirits?"

Suddenly, the Elder knew where the conversation was going. And the feeling of dread building in his mind didn't particularly help the situation.

"What are you getting at, Remington?"

"…Chrono," Yuan said, struggling with his words, "needs to accept…what happened. If he does not, then his soul will just continue to wander like the spirits we've helped out in the past. He needs our help to do this though, I'm afraid."

"So what do you think we should do?" the Elder asked seriously, for once in his life.

"I…don't know," Remington replied honestly. "I've never had an emotional tie, so to speak, with a supernatural being before, and I wouldn't stand to see him torture himself like this. But…I don't think I have the heart to shoot him like we've done the others."

"…Maybe we should give him a few days," Elder suggested. "You know, so then he could accept it without our interference. After all, it hasn't been too long since…that day."

"Oh, get realistic, Elder," the priest snapped. "It's been three weeks since then."

"Still…"

Father Remington forced himself to calm down his racing nerves and sighed. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt…"

"I am going to give him three days to accept that he's dead," Remington said with false finality.

"And if he doesn't?" Elder inquired.

"I'll be…forced to take action."

An Archangel observed the situation from the clouds alongside three minor angels.

"This Chrono," he said, "seems very devoted to the girl Rosette. How unusual…" He tapped his fingers against the golden washed walls, contemplating Knowledge's proposal. "You said that you wanted to resurrect him, yes?"

Astral answered for the group. "Yes. We believe that the good he could do on Earth outweighs the trouble it would take to bring him back."

"And did your meeting with him convince you of that?" the Archangel asked, raising a regal eyebrow.

Astral nervously toyed with her sleeve as she stuttered out a response. "B-but he was confused! Wouldn't you have been too if you were in his shoes?"

The Archangel of Reason smiled, his deep purple eyes wrinkled in amusement. "Believe me, I once was."

Astral lost her ability to argue.

"I do see your point, though," Reason continued. "He means well, despite his behavior sometimes."

"Either way, however," he thought out loud, "would bring pain. If I choose to let him die, then the girl Rosette will die of heartbreak and the Order itself will also suffer."

"But if I choose to let Chrono live, then Aion will destroy many a great city in order to again kill his opponent. That wouldn't be good for the U.S. economy, you know. It could bring on a Depression…"

Astral blinked, finally understanding why the man was called the "Angel of Reason."

"But, without him, we will be forced to take care of Aion ourselves. And that could cause trouble within the mortal's world. So, maybe this Depression Aion would cause is the better end of the deal," he told Time, Knowledge, and Astral.

"And with Time, the U.S. could grow together and learn from a Depression," the Keeper of Time voiced.

But the angel didn't need to say anything, for Reason already knew his answer from the moment they asked him.

"I have decided," he announced to the lower angels. "But unfortunately, I myself cannot just resurrect a soul; a wandering soul at that."

"But why not?" Astral demanded to know, frustrated.

"Chrono himself could not accept his death, and that suspends me from using my power," Reason responded sadly.

"I cannot do anything until he accepts that he is no longer alive."

The sun was setting, casting various hues of read and violet over the Magdalene Order.

It was there Chrono wandered aimlessly, having watched over Rosette until she had fallen into an uneasy sleep. He now found himself floating past the fountains and beautiful landscape, worries weighing heavily on his mind.

As he thought about it, Chrono still didn't regret protecting Rosette. No; he would die a thousand times if it meant her safety.

But why couldn't he have just died? Why did he have to suffer like this? He was of the In-between world now, and Chrono wanted a way out.

Or better yet: he wanted life.

The wandering spirit stopped flying for a moment to watch the sun disappear slowly beneath the horizon, taking comfort in the last rays of light.

I could never leave this place…

"I know that you are here, Chrono."

Said spirit jumped slightly, startled by the voice behind him. Chronowheeled around to see Father Remington standing next to the fountain. "Y-you…can see me?"

The priest sat down on the fountain's ledge, his elbows on his knees. "No, Chrono," he said tiredly. "I cannot see you. But I could sense that you were there."

The ghost floated down from the sky to stand next to Remington. "So then how are we able to talk?"

"I was trained to know such things."

"…Oh…"

An uncomfortable silence fell between the two, the tension growing. Finally, Chrono couldn't stand it anymore.

"Why are you here, Remington?"

"I could ask the you the same thing, Chrono."

Chrono rubbed the back of his neck and sat down next to the man.

Maybe I should tell him…And who knows? This might be the last time I'll talk to anyone still alive…

"I think…I think I missed my chance…You see, I was given a choice, and I didn't believe her…I realize that now…"

Remington raised an eyebrow as he stared up at the now visible stars. "What chance did you miss?"

Chrono sighed. "The Guardian of Astral Energy said that it was possible to resurrect me…I…I thought she was tricking me," he admitted sheepishly. "After all, I'm a demon and she an angel; I figured that she was wanting to get my hopes up before she crushed them…"

Yuan laughed softly, a bitter tone reaching the spirit's ears. "The one time you don't trust someone, and it turns out to be someone whom could give you the world."

"You sound like your talking from experience," Chrono said lightly.

"I am." Remington looked beside him, and somehow managed to see the faint outline of Chrono in his true form. "So tell me, how did you became a wandering spirit?" he asked dryly.

"You know, that's a good question," the ghost drawled flatly. "Honestly, I'm not entirely sure. I remember that I refused the Guardian's help, in so many words…I got so angry; I thought at the time that she was just joking and was really there to take me to Hell.

"I ran from where I was and tried to escape, tried to find a way back to Earth. And I don't know why or how it happened, but just before these chains dragged me back here, I could have sworn that I had a heartbeat…"

Chrono shook his head "I don't know…Maybe it was the magic I was surrounded in that took away my heart, and transformed me into this…"

"Or," Remington pointed out, "maybe it was your own denial that forced your soul into this state of restlessness."

"…my…denial?"

"Yes. Maybe the reason why you are here is because you couldn't accept your death," the priest stated, hinting to Chrono about what he should do.

He didn't take the advice. "B-but…but I did! I did accept it, even if I didn't like it." Chrono began to babble at that point, a bad habit he had picked up from Rosette. "I mean, I know I didn't want to die, but-"

"Tell me," Remington interrupted, "was there something…someone…you just couldn't let go of?"

Instantly, Chrono shut up. He knew what he was talking about.

Rosette…

"…Yes," the spirit replied slowly, almost in a guarded tone. "There is someone…"

"Then perhaps that is why you couldn't accept your death," the young priest stated. "Because you were too afraid to leave that person behind."

Chrono did not answer him.

Sighing, Father Remington stood up, staring at the luminescent moon in the distance. "Chrono, your presence here is causing more harm than good," he explained point blank. The priest recalled the many lessons and lectures he'd had over the years about restless spirits. "Even though Rosette can't see or hear you, your aura actually has an effect on her, and it's dragging her down with you."

Chrono blinked, cocking his head to the side.

Remington sighed.Obviously, he has no idea what I'm talking about…

"Your aura is trying to reach Rosette's, I can tell. But while Rosette's aura is reaching out for yours, her soul never quite makes it. And because of this, your memory, you, haunt her."

And with that said, he stood up from the fountain ledge and walked off, hoping that Chrono would take his words to heart.

The spirit decided not follow the priest, and instead watched silently as Father Remington walked back to his office, their conversation replaying in his mind.

You can't just wander forever…

His eyes lingered on the horizon even after Remington had disappeared from sight.

Tell me, was there something…someone…you just couldn't let go of?

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