Forgotten Memories Chapter Nine

Chrono Crusade

Date Started: December 5th 2004

Sora Kazuma

Author's Notes- I have seemingly misplaced my copy of Chapter Eight, which Mia was writing herself. Although not much in the way of official storyline, Chapter eight did have a decent bit of sidestory plot and a little bit into what was going to come. Since I don't have it for you guys just yet I'll go ahead and post Chapter Nine so you all can get back to what Sora's gang has been doing since the Central Park incident.

Three weeks passed since the incident in Central Park and the appearance of Aion. The weather got steadily colder, and quickly as it does in New York in early November. For a good week after the case, the Magdalene Order was put on full alert and Joshua was hanging around the compound more and more, making sure everything was okay and everyone was all right. Remington and Mia were merciless in their morning drills, but at least I was exempt from part of the torture since I now had picked up an apprentice.

Julius's shy and timid personality clashed violently with the group drills that took place before sunrise every morning so once the basics were out of the way, I steered him clear of the crowds and took him off for his own personal training sessions. Yugo was around during the morning and usually went off to the underground firing range, practicing his marksmanship. I was proud of his drastic improvement with a gun- he could fire a .45 better then I could after a week or two of daily practice and his hand-eye coordination was inhuman, causing perfect hits every time. He would constantly hang around and help Julius with his drills, walking him through the steps better then I could explain for as long as his patience could hold out (which varied between five minutes and five hours depending on his mood).

Somewhat unsure on what to do, Julius got steadily better with a gun, but I could tell that using a pistol was not his strong point. He blamed himself for constantly falling behind in the firing drills and messing up when his fingers dropped a clip of Sacred rounds on the ground, and even when I reassured him, completely giving into his teary amber eyes, I could tell he still hated himself for not being able to do what I asked.

One afternoon I was heading back from the dorms and spotted that familiar chocolate brown hair sitting down at the stables, the petite form of a silver-haired girl by his side. I smiled, preparing to sneak up on them. Julius and Azmaria made a very cute couple, whether they realized it yet or not.

I hid around the side of the building as they set on the rock porch of the building. I could tell something was up, just by the look on the boy's face.

"Don't worry Julius," Azmaria said comfortingly, sitting a safe distance away on the other side of the porch. She had quickly realized how Julius bristled when someone got close to him. "You're getting better, Sora said it herself."

"I'm still just as clumsy as I ever was though. I'm good at athletics and such, I can do that fine. But give me a gun, and my fingers get all clammy." He sighed, standing up. Grabbing the push broom resting against the supports of the building, he rested it on his shoulders. "I don't know if I'm cut out for this kind of work." He swung the staff of the broom off his left shoulder, spinning around, the pole twisting around his arm with the movements of his body. Stepping back he thrust the broom out, dropping it back to his side.

Azmaria clapped and he looked over at her, crimson covering his cheeks. "That was amazing! What was that you just did?" she asked, standing up.

"Huh?" he blinked. "That? I just… I used to practice with a wooden staff while I was waiting for my horse to finish eating during the evenings. My father gave me the weapon so that I could practice learning the art of defending myself should any of our livestock be attacked. I was eventually supposed to learn it with a sword, but-" he shrugged. "It became less and less of a priority once the demons started attacking my village. Still, I find I like to practice. It helps calm my mind."

I crossed my arms, leaning against the building. This I could use. Debating whether or not to make myself known, I decided against it, heading back to the main buildings instead. This would throw a wrench into my perfectly good training schedule, but it might give the kid an edge against his opponents. A dangerous edge. I swallowed. This type of thing wasn't usually allowed, and definitely not to inexperienced untrained units such as Julius. Still, at least if I talked to the right person, I knew I would have a chance.

I knocked lightly on a particular door, hoping he was still in his office. "Can I come in?"

"Yes." I twisted the handle, and entered, closing it behind me.

"Ah, Sora. What can I do for you?" Remington replied, setting down his pen.

"I know you've done a lot for me, Father Remington, and I already owe you a lot-"

"Sora, you owe me nothing." He smiled. "Come on, sit down."

I nodded hesitantly, sitting down in the chair in front of his desk. "I need a big favor of you Father Rem." I paused. "It's about Julius's training. He's not doing to well with his marksmanship. It's like he's not made for guns."

"That's understandable. Everyone is different, and their skills and tastes differ too." He nodded.

"I know. I was watching him just now and he was down at the stables, practicing defensive moves with a wooden broom. The way he moved…some of our most skilled militia operatives could not pull off the technique I saw him do, and it was fluid, solid too. He told Azmaria that his father was teaching him in order to train him with a sword." I explained.

He sat back, running a hand through his long golden bangs. "It's entirely possible. He is from the country and the most advanced weapons out in the fields with the exception of an occasional shotgun are pitchforks, spears and swords. And coming from a village ravished by demons, it was probably best to teach the boy some type of defense." He nodded slightly. "The moves drilled into him were probably a better learning experience then the training that we give to militia soldiers who desire to learn blades, so it is at all possible that a sword would be the best choice of weapon for him."

"I knew I should take this to you, only because I have not been on Sister Kate's good side lately. The last time she gave me a mission I was practically screamed at." I admitted after a moment.

He chuckled. "Yes, she's not to happy with you training Julius, yet she understands it. Still this…would not have been a good topic to bring up to her. Sora," he paused. "You do realize that all the swords we keep here at the convent are for experienced militia operatives and not for training use only. These blades all have some sort of magic integrated into their metal- their not normal weapons."

"I know. I was thinking of a simple Excalibur sword- the power level of its attack is equal roughly to the power of a Sacred round, correct?" I smiled sheepishly. "Forgive me if I'm wrong- I never took the training for blades."

"No, no, you're right. I believe that would be the best choice." He stood up. "Come with me. I'll open the vault."

We walked down to the underground-restricted level and Remington took a set of keys from his pocket and picked one for the slot on the massive door. "You know if you make this decision, effective immediately Julius's weaponry training will be handed over to another member of the militia."

My eyes widened. I hadn't even been thinking about that. Because I wasn't experienced in swordplay, I wouldn't be able to continue the most laboring and lengthy part of his training with him. I felt a pang of jealousy. After taking the boy as my own apprentice could I just willingly hand him over to another person? And would Julius be able to handle a stranger teaching him, especially when I'm not around?

Remington laid a hand on my shoulder. "Look, I know you love the boy, and I realize that being able to train him is what you wanted and you alone, and the decision is yours."

I blushed at his words. "Even though I've only know Julius for a little over a month, he's like family to me." I admitted.

"I know. I understand if you would rather continue his training as is, but if you go through with this I will personally make sure that his new instructor is aware of his quirks and his personality." He told me, his voice sincere.

I swallowed. "I have to do what's best for him, don't I?"

He smiled. "If that's your decision then." He affectionately ruffled my hair. "I will let it known you are still his master teacher and that the new instructor should report to you. Come on."

We entered the large storeroom, and Remington turned on the lights, revealing a massive room filled with all types of armory.

He walked over, picking a sword from a pile on the rack and holding it up. "This should do just fine." He handed me the blade and I stared down at it. The scripture designed with it was the same as those written around the Gospel bullets. I gave it back to him and he sheathed it in a scabbard he had picked up from somewhere else in the huge maze of weapons. "I'll give this to his new instructor. Julius will get it first thing tomorrow morning. I'll do the paperwork transferring him from one unit to the other and everything should be ready by sunrise tomorrow."

"Thank you Father Remington." I smiled as I headed back out of the underground levels. "Thank you very much."

"It's no problem Sora. You should be getting back to the boy. He's probably looking for you by now." He told me.

I was heading back across the green when I heard him call out for me. "Sora!"

I turned, spotting the handsome young man. "Julius! Have you been having fun?"

He ran behind me, using me as a shield. "Hide me." He replied, his amber eyes wide.

I felt him shaking and I looked over my shoulder at him. "Julius? What's wrong?"

"There's this girl…she won't leave me alone! She grabbed me by the arm, and it was all I could do not to throw her off me." He said, his voice trembling.

"Julius!"

My eyes narrowed. I was silently hoping it was Andrea so that I had an excuse to hall off and hit her.

Molly rounded the corner, her cerulean eyes going wide. "Oh." She huffed seeing me, Julius cowering behind me. He laid a hand on my shoulder to reassure himself and my heart melted. "It's you, Dog Eyes."

I gritted my teeth. "How-"

"Hey!" Julius stepped out from my shadow. "Don't you dare call Sora that!"

I blinked. The kid had a way of surprising me that was for sure.

Molly seemed unfazed by his sudden angry outburst. Her cerulean eyes shined at him admiringly. "Oh Julius, you are bolder then I thought you were. You always seem so shy…"

"Don't call Sora that again." He demanded, his cheeks flushing hotly.

"Yeah, sure, whatever you say." She replied, yet again, off in her own dreamland.

"Molly!"

I glared in the direction of the voice, watching Andrea walk up. She regarded me with the same look I was giving her. "Let's go." She responded, her voice icy, her eyes never leaving mine. "He's not worth it right now."

"Uhm, okay." The girl seemed to snap back to attention. "Later Julius." She smiled, dashing off to join her friends.

Julius let out a held breath, his head sinking, and locks of shaggy chocolate brown hair falling in his eyes. "What is their problem?"

"They have…clingy issues." I told him. I reached out, resting a hand on his shoulder. He never flinched when I touched him anymore, something that I was proud of. "Come on, it's getting late."

"I know. I'm going to the bathhouse. I'll be back in the room in a little while." He smiled, heading off.

I went back to the boarding house to find the room empty. Rosette and Chrono were out on a mission, Azmaria was at choir practice, Lena was out on a mission and Mia was off only Remington probably knew where. I collapsed on my bed after changing into my long night shift and closed my eyes. Fallon jumped up on the bed, licking me in my face. Giggling I pushed him away and he settled by snuggling in by my side, resting his head on his small paws. I was practically asleep when I heard the door open somewhere in my head. Fallon lifted his head and then snuggled closer to me, letting gout a set of whimpers. I opened my eyes and bolted up just as I realized there was figure standing at the edge of my bed. He had long onyx hair and crimson eyes and was dressed in a long flowing cloak. "You…" I swallowed. "You again."

Fallon let out a sharp bark and I picked him up, cradling him in my lap as to not let him make another sound. My eyes never left the man standing at my bedside. "What do you want?" I asked, my voice soft. If Yugo knew something was going on, he would be here in minutes.

He made not a sound but sat down at the end of my bed.

"Are… you going to talk? Or at least say something?" I responded.

"I…" his voice was soft and eerily sweet when he finally spoke. Fallon calmed at once and he reached out, running his hands over the puppy's head. "I just wanted to see you, that's all."

I swallowed. "You said your name was Aidan, right?"

He looked up at me, his garnet eyes watching me seriously. "Yes, Mistress."

"You're attitude has changed since the last time I talked to you. You… were so arrogant, confident then. What now?" I told him.

He huffed softly, glancing back to Fallon. "Lord Aion… ordered me to kill off Yugo. That's my job. But I couldn't do that to you… not when I've already caused you so much suffering."

My heart skipped a beat. "W-What!"

His eyes found mine once again and they seemed to bore straight through me, looking completely into my soul. "I've known you for a long time, Sora Maiko. You…just haven't realized it."

My eyes widened. Crimson eyes…filled of extreme fire. I had seen them somewhere before. The gaps in my mind couldn't hide the truth that was staring me blatantly back in my face. "It was you…" My body trembled with the accusation. "You were the one… who killed my sister… you were the betrayer!"

All at once I tried to jump back to my gun, which was lying on my bedside table and was pinned down to the mattress by his strong grip. I gasped, fighting back, squirming under his weight, but to no avail. His arms were like iron bars holding me down. Not caring how much my head would hurt I tried breaking through the barrier to Yugo and found myself paralyzed, unable to move through my mind. 'You will not call him, little one, I won't allow it.'

I cried out. If I couldn't get a hold of Yugo then someone nearby would hear my screams. The figure on top of me leaned down, silencing my cries with his mouth.

I felt the heat rush into my cheeks, my eyes widened as I saw his dark lashes flutter close. The wave of guilt hit me so strongly I felt like I was going to gag, but my heart was racing a million times a second. 'There now,' the voice said calmly. 'Will you keep silent if I pull away?'

The thought was in my head and I retaliated trying once again to get through to Yugo. Aidan ran his tongue along the edges of my lips and I felt myself freeze once again. 'You will not call him Sora, I forbid it.'

I swallowed, my eyes shutting tight. 'Get off of me.'

He pulled away slightly, his raven ponytail tickling the skin on my cheek and neck as it slipped over his left shoulder. His breath was warm on my face and I opened my eyes looking up at him. "What do you want from me?"

"To see you. I wasn't expecting this." He said softly, his voice sincere. "Your sister-"

"You killed her!" I raised my tone sharply. "It was you, wasn't it? She trusted you-"

"She left me no choice. There was more about your sweet elder sister then you think." His voice was bitter, full of quiet rage. He let out a soft sigh. "If only… things had turned out differently… you would be my contracted, like you were supposed to be."

"Supposed to be?" I scoffed. "Yugo is the one I was meant to be with. Him and no one else."

"Yugo is a dog barking his best he can at the bottom of the Sinner chain. At least before he left us he was a good assassin, but that was before his brother stepped in." he hissed, his eyes flaring.

"Get off of me." I demanded, pulling again to free myself from under him. "You Sinners disgust me! At least Yugo had the courage to leave! Aion is a twisted, demented being who has grown way to powerful off his own insane schemes! I heard the man talk- I know just how crazy he is!"

"Lord Aion is in the right, you'll see soon enough!" he spat back. "Oh, Sora…" his voice dropped again, his anger disappearing. "If only you could see the truth."

"I've had enough of this!" I retorted, trying to break free. "Julius!"

Aidan blinked. "Wha?"

"Sora?"

"Julius," my voice was soft, above a whisper. "I need your help, now!"

"I'll be right there!"

Aidan blinked again, his garnet eyes widening. "What did you?"

"Things have changed since the last time you were here." I told him with a satisfied smirk.

"Sora-" The door burst open and Julius entered. His amber eyes widened. "Sora!"

Aidan dissolved right in front of me into a mist that vanished from sight in seconds. I sat up, grabbing at my wrists as Julius rushed over to me. "Sora, are you okay!"

'Not a bad move, calling your friend to you. I'm a little shocked by it, but I'll be ready for it when I come to see you again. Until then, love.'

I let out a sigh. "WHAT IS IT WITH THESE DEVIL GUYS?"

Julius blinked. "You seem okay…?"

I broke the barrier to Yugo. '… come home NOW!'

'What's wrong?'

'I'll explain when you get here.'

With that said and done I stood up. Fallon scampered out from his hiding spot under the bed, whimpering at my feet. I picked him up, scratching him behind the ears. "Joshua." I replied into the room. "Joshua, get here this instant! I know you're hanging around, I've been sensing you through Julius all day!"

Joshua shadowed into the room, startling Julius into jumping back onto my bed. He blinked his cerulean eyes at the boy. "If you know I'm around, there's no need to be frightened."

"I-I know… it's just…you've never shown yourself to me before…" he replied timidly.

"Joshua, what is the story about this Aidan? And I'm serious! The man just kissed me; I should deserve to know what I'm stuck in the middle of!" I replied, trying not to break into hysterics.

"I've known Aidan for four years. He's apparently one of the Sinners who has fallen out of Aion's close circle as the time's passed. He hasn't been taking cases until recently, but he has always had an interest in you. I'm not sure why; there's things about him he won't talk about. I do know that he's hell-bent on stealing you away from Yugo. There has to be something in your past that ties you all together."

"Great… in a past that looks more like a stack of Swiss cheese." I muttered.

"The more you forget, the more Yugo will remember. Between the two of you, the truth should surface." He said with a slight smile. "As harsh as it sounds Sora, it is the truth."

"One more thing Joshua," I said after a minute. "Do you know anything about Yugo's brother?"

He shook his head. "Sorry to say, I've never heard anything about him. He might have died or has gone into hiding. But I'll see what I can find out. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to be getting home to Fiore."

"Fiore?" I furrowed my brows. "You better not be cheating on Lena."

"No, of course not. Fiore is my sister." He smiled. "I will be back later. Goodnight." And with that he was gone again.

I blinked. Fiore? I had never heard of her before. There was more then just one thing that wasn't adding up.

Just then the bedroom door slammed open and Yugo entered, feathers falling off his gray trench coat in his wake. "Where is he?" he hissed. "I can smell that scum…where'd he go?"

"He's been gone." I replied.

"Did that blonde pretty boy take care of it? I can smell his scent too." He asked again.

"No, I just wanted to ask him a few questions." I replied.

"You should have gotten Remington in here immediately." He demanded.

"I don't want Remington to know about this. There's… more to this guy then we originally thought." I told him. I was having a hard time looking at him with the events of this evening and I was trying to keep my thoughts buried but all at once I felt him shatter my spell and recoil at being hit with the tremendous wave of guilt. He stalked over to me and jerked my chin up to face him. "His scent is all over you. Sora… what happened?"

I blushed, trying to pull away to no avail. What was it about male devils and utmost strength? "He…" I swallowed. "He kissed me."

Julius ducked his head, looking away. "Sora…"

My eyes teared up and still I struggled to break his gaze. "I tried to get away from him…I tried to call you but he blocked me… I didn't want him on me…I feel so ashamed."

He pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly. "He will pay for his actions with his life, I can assure you." He growled, his true voice speaking to me as he fought the change in his severe anger. "No one dares lay a finger on you unless I allow it and this… Sinner will answer for his crimes, I swear it."

"Yugo…" I sobbed, burying my head in his chest.

He carried me over to my bed where he collapsed next to Julius, me still crying in his arms. I felt so safe when he held me close that I wished I could stay here forever. I felt Julius's soft touch on my back and I smiled. These two…always taking care of me.

Pulling away, I looked up at Yugo and then at Julius who was leaning against him, watching me. "Thanks guys." I said with a blush.

"It's what we're here for." Julius smiled.

"I agree." Yugo nodded, running his fingers through my hair. "Will you be alright if I get up and change? I don't want to leave you if you'd prefer I stay here."

I blinked, realizing he was still in his waiter's clothing, his trench coat pulled over it. I giggled. "No, you can go. I need to talk to Julius for a minute anyway."

He got up, dropping a kiss on my forehead. "Alright then. Be back in a minute." He got some clothes from the trunk and headed to the changing room, Fallon following behind him.

"What is it Sora?" Julius asked me, blinking his bright amber eyes.

"Julius…" I hesitated. I didn't want to break this to the kid, but there was no other choice. "Tomorrow… you won't be reporting to me for training after the drills. You've been transferred over to another member of the miltia."

"But why!" he furrowed his eyebrows.

I reached out, ruffling his dark hair. "Pistols aren't your strong point." I admitted with a weak smile.

"But I'll get better! I'll practice all day if I have to! Please…" he sided closer to me. "Don't give up on me…"

I sighed in defeat, hugging him to me. "Julius, I was down at the stables this afternoon, and I saw you with Azmaria."

His head jerked off my shoulder, his face blood red. "You were!"

I nodded. "But more importantly I saw that little trick of yours with the broom. You weren't cut out for guns kid, not when you can wield a sword in your hand."

"You…" he swallowed. "They're militia operatives who use swords instead?"

"Yep. You can talk to Remington if you like, he's one of them." I smiled as he rested his head back on my shoulder. "Just give it a try Jul. If you're too uncomfortable with it, then we'll go back to the way things were, all right? But if you feel better working with swords then… try and be strong. For me, okay? Nobody here is going to hurt you."

"I'll…" he sighed, ducking his head, strands of chocolate brown falling in his face. "I'll try." When he spoke again his voice was determined, not scared at all and I blinked in surprise. He hardly ever spoke in that tone. I imagined it was the way he was before the incident that had scarred him so badly… confident and proud in whatever he did. I ran a hand down his back. I had already seen changes in him since he had first arrived here. I was just hoping he continued to get better.

"You'll be fine Julius." Yugo emerged, wearing normal khakis and a white shirt, Fallon in his arms. He sat down on the side of the bed by the boy, the puppy hopping out of his arms to comfort the one who needed it the most right now. The devil smiled as Julius fought laughter at the puppy's small tongue lapped at his hands and face. He put a hand on the boy's shoulder reassuringly. "You are a man after all, and despite what's happened to you, you know what's best for you. You just have to believe in your own inner strength and not falter."

Julius looked up at him with a smile, cuddling Fallon in his arms. "Yes sir."

I tried to hide my yawn, but Yugo saw it and blinked at me with his gold eyes. "You need to sleep."

"It's been difficult the last couple of nights because you haven't been around." I told him and he smiled.

"Well, I'm here tonight and you're going to get some sleep." He told me.

"It is getting pretty late. I should head to bed as well." Julius told us, hopping the five feet or so over to his bed. Picking up the brush on his bedside table, he began to run it through his damp hair. Fallon jumped off my bed and over to his, wagging his tail expectantly. "Oh, you want up here?" He looked at me. "Is it okay Sora?"

I nodded. And he scooped the puppy up onto his bed. The small husky decided to make a game out of trying to pounce the end of the brush as Julius ran it through his hair and I giggled. It was at that moment, I felt Yugo's hand on my shoulder and looked back over at him. "You need to be getting to sleep." He replied again, his tone more serious.

"Okay, okay, I get your point." I sighed, looking around the room. "Wow, this place is empty. We need someone else to come home."

"They'll be in later." Yugo replied, going over to cut off the lights. He undid the buttons on his shirt as he came back to the bed, and I fought a blush.

'Must you do that?' I asked him, trying to keep it quiet so that Julius could get some sleep. He had laid down the second the lights went off, and I knew he was probably exhausted from multiple drills this week.

'Just so you can blush? Yes.' He replied, lying down by my side. 'Sora… I miss you when I can't be around you.' He sighed into the pillows, his cyan hair falling over his shoulders.

My face got red and I hid my head in the crook between his neck and his shoulder. 'I miss you too Yugo. It seems you've been around less and less lately.'

'I know, and I'm going to make that change. I should have been here when that creep showed up. You were in danger and I was nowhere near to stop it. I thank Julius for risking his life coming in here like that when you needed help. The boy's not as helpless as he looks.'

'No… he's not. I have a feeling he will be a great asset to the Order as soon as his training is done and hopefully his timid mood will change.'

'It already has started to. He's become more talkative among your friends and he and Azmaria have become friends. The kid was not meant to live dwelled up in a hole with his emotions. You've done a great job with him so far Sora.' His arms wrapped around my waist then. 'But no matter what, you'll still mine and I'm not sharing you with anyone. Not Julius and definitely not this…Aidan.'

I smiled into his chest. 'You are to much Yugo. But…I wouldn't have it any other way.'

The next morning, Julius, Yugo and I waited around for Julius's new instructor to show up. Mia had informed me upon waking up that morning where we were supposed to meet him and we were there, in the underground training room number two, awaiting the boy's new orders.

Yugo lifted his head suddenly, his eyes watching the door oddly. "There's someone coming." He told me.

The door opened and Father Remington walked in, papers and sword in hand. "Uh, good morning Father." I swallowed, afraid something had happened and they couldn't find anyone to train the boy. "Is there something wrong?"

"On the contrary," he replied, folding the papers and putting them in his pocket. He tossed the scabbard to the boy, flashing him a smile when he caught it in one hand. "Julius, let's get started."

Yugo smirked, crossing his arms. "I see." He turned heading for the door. "Let's go Sora."

"Sir?" Julius blinked.

"Come on, we don't have to much time. Sora come and get him in about two hours?" Remington looked over at me, waiting for an answer.

I smiled. "Yes sir." Leaving the room with Yugo I was silently thanking the lord. Remington had decided to take him on, as his own apprentice instead of handing him over to someone Julius had never met before.

"So what now?" asked Yugo as we left the training hall. "We have two hours alone."

I hesitated. There… was something I wanted to do in my spare time. "Yugo…" I swallowed. "When Aidan attacked me last night, he… mentioned you had a brother."

The devil by my side stopped in his tracks. He looked over at me, his golden eyes wide. "I… what?"

"He said that if it hadn't been for your brother that you would still be an active part of the Sinners. You… don't remember anything about him, do you?" I asked him.

He shook his head. "Nothing. Everything is just a blank."

"Well, come on then," I grabbed his hand, locking my fingers in his. "We're heading to the Order Library."

"The… where? Hey, you never mentioned that place before." He barked as I dragged him into the main hall.

"That's because it's off limits to most Order exorcists. Need I repeat 'most'. The librarian more then owes me." I winked at him as we entered a long corridor on the second floor and passed through a set of tall wooden doors.

The woman behind the desk looked up and her brown eyes widened. "Sister Sora-"

"It's alright Lizzie, we just came to do some quick book hunting. We'll be out as soon as possible." I whispered to her.

She nodded. "Yes mam."

I led him through the massive aisles of shelves, careful not to distract attention to us. This was a famous hanging spot of Sister Kate when she wasn't in her office so if we were caught, we were done for.

I went down a particular aisle, my eyes glancing at the shelves. "Ah-ha! There you are!" I smiled, reached up on the sixth shelf for a massive book kept together with a handsome brown leather cover and binding.

"What do you have there?" Yugo whispered, his eyes keeping alert of the scenes around us.

"This book lists all the known demons that Aion had in his armies when he originally tried to remake the world years ago. Basically it's a listing and biography of all the Sinners." I replied with a whisper. "The Order keeps all this stuff in here, that's why normal people like me aren't allowed in here," I blinked at him. "And definitely not you. This was the book I used when I was doing my research on you."

"I'm in that book?" he asked, his eyes widening in surprise.

"You have your own chapter." I told him, sliding closer to the shelves as I heard footsteps in the next row. "We need to get out of here. If we're caught-" I swallowed. "Well, I don't want to think about the consequences."

Yugo raised his head, his eyes narrowing. "I don't think that's going to be a problem." From the link in side of Yugo's head I heard a faint voice pick up. An annoying, nagging voice from out in the hall. 'But Sister Kate, I swear it! She dragged Yugo into the library with her! Aw, the poor thing, I feel so bad for him!'

I growled. "Damnit… Andrea." I shoved the book up against his chest. "Here, you carry this. If we can get down to the front desk, we'll be fine."

"Oh yes, give the demon the mystical forbidden book, so I look like even more of an ass when Kate catches us." Yugo replied.

"Shut up!" I hissed. "Come on." I led him back out of the maze, trying to bypass Remington's team who had been given permission to be in the library that afternoon. As true as they were to the Father, I had a feeling that most of them would crumble under Kate's deathglare.

I jumped down the steps, rushing over to the front desk. Lizzie regarded me with surprise and fear as Yugo fell in step behind me. "Whatever you do, act like we've been in conversation the entire time." I told her with a whisper as the doors to the library open on the far right. "-So then I told Rosette that there was no way that could have happened, she was just overreacting, but you know how she is-"

"Sister Sora!" Kate demanded the moment she saw me, Andrea, Molly and Katherine in tow. Her face was crimson red and I knew she was two inches away from exploding. "What are you doing in here!"

"Oh, Sister Kate, you shouldn't worry. Lizzie looked bored to tears in here with all these men, so I figured I'd stop in here and give her something interesting to talk about, like the last time Rosette screwed up a mission." I told her with a grin.

"Ah, yes I know the one your talking about. She killed that brand new car we had just gotten to." Kate replied letting out a sigh.

"I know, it was terrible, wasn't it?" I smiled. "Poor Yugo though, he's been standing here all this time. I feel bad for the guy, having to endure womanly gossip." I winked at Andrea, knowing she was just about ready to lose it. She hated how I had turned the tables on her so easily.

"I see." Kate swallowed. "I apologize for yelling at you. Andrea, you and your friends should ask before you start accusing someone of breaking the rules."

"Yes," I replied, trying to keep from laughing. "You should. Aren't you supposed to be in the kitchen anyway, cleaning up from breakfast?"

The color drained from her face and my teeth clamped together to avoid laughing. She had been caught hooking duties just to get me in trouble. "Yes, but I... I saw you and I thought…"

"Enough of this foolishness. Come on, I'll walk you girls back to the kitchen then." Kate said, shooing them out of the library.

The moment they were gone I busted out into giggles. "Oh, that was to great…"

"Sora, that was close. You probably shouldn't come in here anymore." Lizzie said, her face flushing from embarrassment. "I don't want to even know how you knew she was coming…"

"It was him, but don't say anything. And you're right. I'm sorry to get you into trouble. Yugo and I won't be back any time soon." I smiled as we headed for the door.

Heading down the hallway I let out my laughter full force.

"You're crazy, you know that? You're a nun. You're not supposed to lie to your superiors unless it's a life or death situation." Yugo told me, his voice full of mock anger.

"That was a life or death situation. Kate would have had my head if she had known I was snooping around in the books." I told him with a grin.

"Okay, then what about stealing?" He replied, pulling the book from underneath his coat and holding it up to show me.

"Technically, it wasn't me who stole it, it was you, and you're a devil, so rules don't apply anyway. And besides we didn't really steal it, because it's not really going anywhere. We're just…borrowing it for a while." I said as we exited the hall. "Now put that away until we get back to the room."

When we got back, Fallon was ready to pounce us and I pulled him up onto my bed with me, taking the book from Yugo and setting it down on the blankets. "Someone's in the changing room." Yugo told me as soon as we entered. "Hello?" he called, rapping lightly on the door.

"Hi Yugo!" it was Lena's voice that echoed back to us, and I paid no attention flipping through the book anyway. Lena wouldn't care, we were holding secrets for her sake as well.

"Hey!" I stopped on a certain page, staring at the right and the picture. "It's Chrono…or what Chrono used to look like, a long time ago." I smiled. "Not bad."

Yugo huffed, turning to look down on the book as well. "What's it say?" he asked.

I blinked looking up at him. "You can't read?"

"Of course I can." He responded. "The swirls… aren't what I'm used to though."

I smiled. Cursive. "Chrono, the Broken Horn, was a devil responsible for many deaths back in biblical times." I blinked. "Wow. He doesn't look that old."

"Continue reading." Yugo snapped.

"He was a close friend and strong supporter of Aion's cause until…he fell out of the war mysteriously, as if he never existed. He has yet to resurface in this day and age." I turned the book over, finding the copyright date to be 1914. Rosette was two and I was four at the time. "Makes me wonder how Rosette and Chrono met, if fourteen years ago, no one had still never heard of him."

"Maybe you should ask her." Yugo replied. "I guarantee you she'll probably tell you."

"What are you all looking at?" Lena asked, reappearing from the changing room.

"A book with the listings of the Sinners in it." I told her. My eyes couldn't leave the ink sketch of Chrono. If this truly was what he looked like…

'Sora,' Yugo spoke up, his voice bitter. 'Continue in the book, please.'

I flipped a few more pages finding no text that I recognized until I came to a page that had been previously marked. "Ah, here we go. Yugo, the Fanged Raven."

"Wow Yugo, you're in a book?" Lena said, her emerald eyes shining.

"Apparently." He shrugged.

"He was a major cause of the chaos throughout the 1500s in what is now known as England. It's said it was him that put a halt in the crusade's name as he began torturing and picking off their ranks one by one. He then turned and fled Europe in the early 1600s and has not been seen since." I looked up at him. "You're over five hundred years old?"

"If I fought with Chrono and Aion long before that, I'm probably going on a thousand years or so, wouldn't you say?" he told me with a proud smile.

I sighed. "So my boyfriend's as old as time itself. At least I can say you look good for your age."

"Your boyfriend?" Yugo raised an eyebrow.

"Well with our relationship what it is, I couldn't really call you otherwise." I replied.

"Sora… that's the first time…" he leaned down, stealing a kiss from me.

"Come on guys." Lena giggled.

I pulled away feeling like I was flying instead of sitting in the middle of my bed. "Yes, research. That's what we should be doing." I replied, flipping a few more pages until a familiar name quickly ended my dreamy mood. "Aidan." I said, staring at the page. "The Destroyer With a Heart of Ice."

"Who is this guy?" Lena blinked, checking out the book. "He's kinda cute." She admitted with a blush.

"About as cute as an insane vampire can be." I snapped. "He was responsible for the deaths of many of the religious fanatics back in Egypt and continued to hunt people of the church up into to 17th century. He's known for slaughtering his victims like cattle and leaving their massacred bodies on the doorsteps of people the victims once knew. No one has ever seen him come and go but rumors say that he arrives with the evening fog itself." I sat back as I finished the paragraph. "He's a water devil. That would explain his ability to transform into fog. And his sickening way of killing people backs up my theory that he's completely crazy."

"Does it say anything about what he's been up to in the last hundred years?" He asked.

I skimmed down to the bottom of the page. "The last known attack he was accused of was in… Korea in 1860." I looked up at Yugo and realized that what I had said had registered. We both knew that Yugo thought Korea was his homeland. "Since then he has disappeared, like many of the Sinners who have since fallen from their status. Many think he may have died in battle." I swallowed. "But he didn't die because he was the one who attacked and killed my sister, six years ago."

Lena gasped. "Is that true Sora?" she asked, her eyes widening.

"Most of the Sinners didn't die," Yugo pushed off the bed support, walking to the window. "Granted, some probably did, but those of us who freed ourselves from Aion's grip went on to live rather peaceful, solitude lives. Those who are still shackled to Aion are just biding their time, like he has been, to strike down at the humans once again."

"Yugo…are you…do you remember something?" I asked him.

He turned to look at me, shaking his head. "Just what my feelings are telling me and my mind's formulating together."

"So this devil, Aidan, works for Aion?" Lena asked after a minute, staring at the book. "And he killed your sister Sora?"

"He attacked here last night." I told her.

"What?" she blinked. "Are you guys okay?"

"Yeah, we're fine. But he gave us some interesting information, Information we are trying to find more about. And before you ask, I already asked Joshua for his input." I explained.

"That's fine. He's not feeling to good today anyway. I think I'll let him sleep." She smiled.

"I'm going to take Fallon out for a walk down to the stable. We have to go pick up Julius soon." Yugo replied, scooping the puppy up into his arms. Because he was still a secret, the only place we could take his is where we knew he wouldn't be found…at the stables.

"Alright." I nodded, watching him leave.

"So, you got this book to look up Aidan?" Lena asked, staring back at it.

"No, actually I got it to see if we could find Yugo's brother." I said, flipping through pages.

"Yugo has a brother?" Lena asked with a giggle.

"Yeah, that's what I said." I replied. "Actually… I think I'm going to wake up Joshua for a minute, and see if he found out something for me. I won't bug him long." I responded when I saw her distressed look.

'Joshua, I need to know if you found out anything.'

'…What time is it Sora? Is it night yet?'

I blinked when he spoke. He sounded like he was in pain.

'It's only morning here. I don't know what it's like where you are.'

'It's night then. Thank you… for the wake up call.'

'Did you find out anything hon?' I said, not pushing him as hard as I had the first time I asked.

'Just a name. Seung Jin.' He sighed. 'If you don't mind, I'm going to sleep some more.' He said and the connection was gone.

"He's asleep again." Lena responded. "That's how he's been all day."

"He's probably just worn out." I told her looking through the book. "Now we can get somewhere though. Seung Jin seems to be a piece of this gigantic puzzle."

I scanned the book three times and nothing, nowhere, said anything about a Seung Jin. I sighed. "Another brick wall."

"Hey what's that there? A dog?" Lena said, pointing to a page in the far back. She pulled it onto her lap, staring at it. "Wow! He's pretty! The White Wolf."

I blinked. "What? Where?"

"Right here." She pointed to a page that I looked upside down at. "The legendary White Wolf has been spotted at everyone of Aion's attacks. No one knows if it is a possessed creature of his dark army or simply a angel of the dead. After Aion's armies were beaten back it simply disappeared. Whether it felt its mercy was fulfilled or its bloodlust comforted, no one knows." She ran a hand over the page. "He's so pretty! What do you think Sora?"

I stared at the page. A white wolf…staring at the picture, I felt like I was staring at something utterly familiar.

Author's Notes- Chapter Nine is done! Unfortunately, I've fallen behind in my story telling, but that's okay (Ch 9 doesn't sync up with episode nine of Chrono Crusade), oh well. Aidan, came back and spilled a little more of his sob story past. I don't know whether I like him or not…as crazy as he seems I kinda feel bad for him… but he's still nuts. Handsome but crazy. In the next chapter Remington gets to show off some of his flashy moves with his uber-cool cross light saber and Lena gets kidnapped! Fun times! Till I write again,

-Sora Tokumi Kazuma