Disclaimer: I Don't own Chrno Crusade

A/N: Once again, beware of OCs!

Second Chapter: Foreshadowing of a Pirate Attack (And Other Things)

"Hey do you see that ship over yonder?"

A navy officer squinted out towards the sea from the battlements of the navy headquarters of Summerset Quay. Far in the horizon a black blur was steadily coming closer towards the harbor, backed by the rising sun.

"I think so, but it's too hard to tell."

"You think it could be pirates?"

"The other navy officer laughed loudly. "Pirates attack Summerset Quay? Well maybe if they were suicidal. This fortress has protected the harbor from any and all pirate attacks. Do you know that it even withstood an attack from the Pandemonium Armada?"

The other navel officer looked surprise. He was younger then his colleague and only transferred to Summerset Quay a few months back. "Seriously? This place survived attack from the Pandemonium Armada?"

The other officer shrugged. "We'll they were only scout ships but still. And if that thing is a pirate ship," he shoulder his rifle. "We'll blow it out of the water before it even makes it past these stone arches."

CCC

"Elder I'm back with your tubes. And guess who's with me?"

Christopher shouldered his way through the door into the darkened room beyond. The Captain had offered to help him carry the tubes but the boy refused. It was only a short distance from the harbor to the Elder's house anyway.

"Elder you here?"

Suddenly an explosion from the back shook the house and caused Christopher to drop some tubes. Captain Livingston stepped past him lips pursed and rapier half drawn. Smoke leaked from under a door that lead to other parts of the house.

"Be careful, Christopher," the Captain warned. "Someone could've broken into your house and set explosives. Do you know anyone who has a grudge against the Elder?"

Christopher laughed unexpectedly and picked up the tubes he dropped and setting the whole thing down on a clear table. "A lot of people have grudges against the Elder. It was only last year when he blew apart half of Town Square with a public demonstration for one of his inventions that went awry. Luckily no one was hurt, but ever since then all the towns people have looked at Elder in a… less favorable light. Still, I don't think anyone would take the trouble to sneak in and blow up our house. After all, he does that half the time already. Speaking of which-"

As though on cue the door swung open, releasing a plume of smoke into the faces of Christopher and the Captain. Out of the smoke emerged a coughing old man. He squinted at them through the smog. At least, Christopher thought so; it was hard to tell considering he wore a large pair of goggles.

"So Christopher Chrno your finally back eh? Well it took you long enough, I thought you had run off somewhere, though what you'd do with twenty pieces of steel cylindrical coolant channeling devices remains a mystery to me." The Elder was frowning and scratching his chin, seriously pondering what a twelve-year-old would do with twenty pieces of steel cylindrical coolant channeling devices.

Christopher rolled his eyes and jerked his thumb at the table laden with said steel cylindrical coolant channeling devices. "Your metal tubes are over there. And didn't you notice our guest? I thought you wanted to meet him for a long time."

The boy gestured at Captain Livingston who, sensing no danger, had stepped back behind him.

"Course I noticed him, I'm not blind you know. I was just stalling until I remembered what his name was," The Elder smiled his old lecherous smile and spread his arms wide. "And mission accomplished! It's a pleasure to meet you again, Captain Livingston. Though I wish that you brought that wonderful, and may I say voluptuous, sister of yours again."

The Captain eyed the cackling old man warily but still removed his hat and nodded at him with respect. "After that little… episode when you met her before she vowed never to accompany me anywhere ever again. But that is the regrettable past and Christopher here told me that there are more present matters that you'd like to discuss."

The Elder stopped cackling and stared at him seriously. Or at least Christopher thought his stare was serious, it was really impossible to know. "True, true. Come let us sit. There are a few questions that I'd like to ask."

The Captain followed the Elder through the door, which was now clear of any smoke.

"Umm, may I come along?" Christopher asked meekly, half expecting to be turned away. They had sounded so serious that the boy thought it he wouldn't be allowed to listen.

The elder looked at him with surprise (or so assumed) from over his shoulder. "Of course you can, my boy. It's not like we're going to talk about navel secrets or anything."

Chuckling slightly the Elder disappeared through the doorway. Sighing with relief Christopher quickly followed.

CCC

After a ten-minute display of their sibling rivalry Rosette and Joshua finally got around to sneaking out the hold and off the ship without being seen. The two quickly slipped into the bustling morning crowd, unseen and unnoticed.

"Now we find some food." Rosette was relaxed, hands behind her head and confidence in her steps. The sun was shining, the seagulls were squawking and the breeze was cooling. What better day could one ask for?

"The only thing that would ruin this day was some kind of unexpected pirate attack or the sun exploding." She laughed at her own improbable situations.

Joshua rolled his ocean blue eyes and rubbed his stomach. "Still, unless you can eat it, a perfect day can't solve our food problems."

"This is a seaside town, little brother. I'm sure we can afford to buy some fish here even with our… scant amount of money."

"And how much fish do you think we can buy with nothing?" he was only half sarcastic.

Rosette abruptly stopped walking and Joshua knocked into her back and fell on his bottom.

"Geez Rosette, you could at least warn me before you stop walking." The boy was rubbing his aching behind when the shadow of his sister loomed over him.

"What do you mean nothing?"

Joshua pulled out a purse from the pocket of his breeches and held it open upside down. "I mean we have no more money. Not even a single silver piece. We are flat broke, my dear sister."

"WHAT?!"

Rosette's outburst attracted the attention of the crowd around her. Dozens of heads turned towards the two siblings.

"Err…" Rosette pulled up her brother and dragged him into a nearby alley.

"What do you mean we're out of money?!" she hissed. "I mean, we left with a purse full of silver pieces."

"Lets see," Joshua started to count off with his fingers. "There's that roasted rack of lamb you ate in Ringings, that gourmet restaurant were you insisted we eat in at Steepston, can't forget that overly expensive roast duck at Sestinbul. Should I go on?"

Rosette was staring at her brother, mouth agape, when she finally realized he was finished. "W-well it's your fault for not stopping me!"

A vein throbbed over Joshua's right eye. "I did try and stop you. In fact as I recall, when I tried to stop you from eating that duck you bit me!"

The girl chewed on her bottom lip and stared at Joshua's hand, her stomach rumbled. Joshua noticed the direction of her gaze and pocketed his hands protectively.

"Anyway we should try and find a job or something."

He started to look around, as though a job was waiting for him somewhere in the alley. Rosette rolled her eyes in frustration and crossed her arms.

"You're not going to just suddenly find a job in this alley, Joshua."

"Ah," Joshua pointed at a poster that hung on the wall behind Rosette. "I think I found one."

Rosette whirled around and read the poster:

Lab Assistant Needed

No Past Experience Required

Minimum Pay

Food and Lodging Included

Ask Elder About Job Inside This House

If This Isn't on the Right House Then Someone Must Have Moved It

If This Notice Has Been Moved Then It's a Shame

Thank You

"That was lucky, and we don't even know if this is the right house."

Joshua shrugged and started to walk out the alley. "It doesn't hurt to try. Anyway it says no experience needed, so I guess you'll be perfect for the job, Rosette."

Laughing he ran the last few steps out the alley and around the corner. Rosette huffed and quickly chased after him.

"Get back here! I don't really get what you said but I bet it wasn't nice!"

CCC

"I'd offer you some tea, but I'm afraid the automatic tea maker I was tinkering with just blow up." The Elder gestured feebly towards a wooden table standing in the room. On its surface was large and quite noticeable burn mark. "Hope you don't mind."

The Captain tipped his head. "Not at all."

The three of them took a seat around said table.

"Now," the Elder sat forward on his seat, elbows on the table and fingers threaded together before his face. "How have you been, old friend?"

The Captain laughed briefly before answering. "I must say that it has been calm around these waters. I haven't seen as much as a single pirate ship."

His face and voice suddenly sobered. "I can't say the same for other regions. For some reason many pirates from that place are starting to leave from there. Many ships from the Pandemonium Armada have started to show up in harbors nowhere near that place. God knows what we can do if an actual flagship from the Armada shows up. If we had some help for the Grand Militia we'd at least stand a chance, but they already have their hands full at that place."

He sighed tiredly and took off his hat. Christopher looked at him with concern. For the first time he noticed the weary lines on the Captain's face and bags under his eyes. After a brief pause the captain continued.

"The Armada isn't the only problem either. The Dutchman and the Abyss aren't making life easier for the navy. And there's still that blasted flying ship to deal with." He laughed, tone suddenly light again. "The navy isn't all powdered wigs and flashy uniforms, eh Christopher?"

The Captain winked at the boy and tapped the side of his nose (his own powdered wig was safely hidden- err, tucked away somewhere in the captains quarters). Christopher reddened in embarrassment and looked down. He had been talking about joining the navy as though it were some kind of game. He knew better now. Kinda. He opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by a desperate knocking on the front door.

"I'll get it," Christopher said quickly and stood up. The knock became more desperate then ever as Christopher opened the door. What lay before his was a sandy haired boy caught in a headlock by another boy, this one had shoulder length gold hair. It was the one in the headlock who was knocking. Both of them froze and started at Christopher with the same ocean blue eyes.

"Erm… am I interrupting?"

The two boys quickly untangled themselves from each other and stood at attention.

"Uh, we're sorry you had to see that sir. My name is Joshua and this is my older si- brother, Ross."

Christopher stared at both of them curiously. "Um, well it's nice to meet you, Joshua and Ross. I'm Christopher by the way. Err, is there something you need?"

"What a coincidence, Christopher is our last name!" Ross chirped. Joshua stomped on his foot.

"We were interested in the lab assistant job, if it's still available."

Christopher looked at them with surprise. "Oh, you guys aren't from around here are you?"

Ross cocked his head to one side. "We just arrived here this morning. Why, will that be a problem?"

Christopher scratched the back of his head nervously. He should probably warn them about the Elder's experiments. Then again the boy was tired of being the old man's lab assistant, or lab rat depending on how you look at it.

"No, no problem at all. Come in and I'll fetch him for you."

He stepped aside and brandished at the interior of the house as though it were some grand castle. The two boys stepped inside meekly.

"We appreciate this opportunity, sir."

Christopher shook his head and smiled and winked. Strangely the boy Ross reddened a little. Nah, it was probably just a trick of the light. "It's okay, I was tired of being cooped up in here anyway with just the old man for company. And you don't have to call me sir, just Christopher. And I wouldn't recommend calling the Elder that either or it'll get to his head."

Leaving the two by the door Christopher went back to the room from which he previously came.

CCC

Once the boy Christopher was out of earshot Rosette practically collapsed against her brother. "Did you see that? He was pretty cute. And he winked at me!"

Joshua rolled his eyes. "I don't think he meant it that way. Anyway he seems pretty convinced that you're a boy. Wasn't that hard to fool him in any case."

What are you implying?" Rosette hissed through gritted teeth. She was very sensitive about her particularly flat front.

"Oh nothing, just that you act like a brutish boy sometimes."

"Why you little-!"

"Careful, or your boyfriend might come back and see."

Rosette reddened again and almost screamed. "I'll get you for this! I swear!"

"Yeah, well- what's that sound?"

A whistling sound could be heard from outside. And it was steadily getting louder.

CCC

As Christopher entered the room conversation between the two men abruptly stopped.

"So Chrno my boy, who was at the door?"

Christopher wanted to know what they were talking about, but he felt that asking was inappropriate. Whatever it is, it's their business not his.

"Two boys are here about the lab assistant job. And please don't call me Chrno, that's my last name."

"Two of them you say? Ah, they must not be from around here. Send them in then."

Christopher bowed briefly and shallowly. "Yes Elder."

A resounding explosion rocked the house.

CCC

"Lerajie, what the hell was that?" Ricardo Hendric snapped.

The masked man parted the closed curtains slightly and peered through the carriage window. Panic-stricken people were screaming and running past the cart.

"It appears as though the town has been fired upon. I presume that it is pirates."

The old man swore violently. "Yet another set back. Lerajie, I command you to take care of these damned sea rats."

Lerajie tilted his head slightly. "Yes mast-"

An explosion just outside the carriage knocked it on its side with a piece of the roof and two walls missing. Ricardo and Azmaria tumbled towards two different corners of the carriage. Quick as lightning Lerajie lunged for the old man's ring. But before his greedy fingers could even touch it a red barrier encased the ring.

"FOOL!" Ricardo roared, having recovered quickly. Shadow chains bound Lerajie's whole body and started to tighten. The masked man struggled in vain to get free. Neither of them noticed Azmaria slip through the gapping hole in the roof.

A/N: Chapter the second is finished! Once again I ask you guys to inform me of any mistakes so I can fix it up. Oh, and as always, review please!