Verboten - Vietato - Kinmotsu - Forbidden

WIP 4 of 13

AN: Here is the newest chapter of Gabriel's life. It's been a while I know I've been busy lately taking care of my new daughter. Thankfully everything turned out okay. I've spent the last two months getting used to sleep deprivation and mindlessness.

Addendum - Well lets make that six months and we've got it. Thankfully I have gotten over my sleep deprivation and writers block. Just in the nick of time too. Well here's hoping that you all haven't given up on me and my story. On with the show.

But she will sing
Til everything burns
While everyone screams
Burning their lies
Burning my dreams
All of this hate
And all of this pain
I'll burn it all down
As my anger reigns
Til everything burns

-Ben Moody Featuring Anastacia "Everything Burns"

Disclaimer: I do not own Chrno Crusade, just what I've done to them. If you want to sue me, you can have my insane cat and the fabric for my Satella costume.

V V K F

"We made a promise didn't we. Julian and I are going to help you find Rosette. No matter what."

Chrno sighed as she woke. Trying to roll over she started when she noticed that her arms were tied to the corners of the bed. "What?"

"Shhhh." A single clawed finger traced her bare spine.

"Stop this Gabriel."

The young male ignored the voice behind him as he continued with his ministrations.

The female demon growled as strong arms wrapped around her pinning her arms to her sides and her wings to her back. "Let me go."

"Not until I have my answers." The male demon's warm breath caused Chrno to shiver as it ghosted across her neck.

Turning her head she glared into eyes the color of the summer sky. "Why are you doing this Gabriel?"

Gabriel nodded towards the passionate couple on the bed. Chrno's human half was untied and very deeply engrossed in the kiss of the human Gabriel. "I want answers." He released Chrno and pushed her.

Startled Chrno overbalanced and fell through the humans, who dissipated like mist.

"Am I really Rosette Christopher?"

Chrno lay unmoving where she had fallen. "What do you think?"

Gabriel growled as he flipped her onto her back and knelt over her, one hand wrapped around her throat. "I think that you need to answer my question. If you die here, you die." Loosening his grip, he rubbed his thumb over the engraving on her silver collar. "Servant of God or not."

Chrno's voice was sad as she finally answered him. "You are the reborn soul of the Saint once named Rosette."

"Who is Mr. Anthony?"

A single tear slid down her left temple, burying itself in her hair. "He is one whom I once called brother."

Gabriel leapt back off the bed as though burned. He stared disbelieving at the female who lay draped across the bed crying. "He is a Sinner?" His voice was quiet when he found it.

Chrno looked up at him as her tears continued to fall. "Just as I was called the Broken Horn and the Ignoble One, so is he called the Hornless One and the Betrayer. For it is he, my once brother, who stole Pandemonium's head all those years ago."

"Who is he?"

Chrno looked away from the anger in his eyes, her voice broken. "Aion."

"Aion?"

"It was he who caused all this. He's the reason I killed one whom I loved. He is the reason my beloved contractor died. If not for him…" Her voice faded away on a sob.

"How did you find me?"

"I didn't." Chrno raised a trembling hand to the watch that hung around her neck. "This told us of your return to life, but no more than that."

Gabriel's face screwed up in anger and another emotion that she did not want to acknowledge. "I've had enough." Gabriel lunged at the female demon and…

… Chrno woke with a scream.

V V K F

Julian screamed herself as her friend suddenly woke. She had been trying to wake her unsuccessfully for the last half an hour. "Oh, goodness you scared me." The young nun took a deep breath before facing her friend and partner again. Noticing the extremely pale color of her skin and the blood on her neck she scurried away from the bed and called out the door for Father Remington.

Chrno's apprentice and her other partner followed quickly behind the elder priest. "What happened?"

Julian motioned to Chrno. "She was sleeping. But not naturally. I tried to get her to wake up for nearly half an hour. When she finally did, she screamed, and blood started pouring from her neck. And then I called for you."

The blond priest hurried to his friend's side, shoving her apprentice away from her. Carefully looking at the wound on her neck, he asked quietly, "Is that a…"

"Mating mark." Chrno's voice was tiny, her cheeks flooded with the heat of humiliation.

Sensing her discomfort, Ewan nodded and moved on with his questions. "What happened?"

Chrno dropped her head to her chest. "A sleep spell combined with an astral projection spell."

"Who?"

V V K F

"Gabriel-sama." Ryuu called softly to her master as the spell circles dissolved.

Gabriel smiled as he sat up slowly, light glinting off of his bloody lips. "I am well Ryuu."

The petite green haired demon drew back the drapes. "Did everything go well?"

Gabriel grinned. "Like a knife through tiramisu. She finally told me what needed to be done."

"May I ask how?"

"She told me his name. That is enough." Gabriel smirked at the sound of a knock on the door. "Let our host in."

Ryuu bowed as she opened the door to admit Mr. Anthony.

"Good morning Gabriel."

"Good morning Monsignor. What brings you to my door so early?"

Mr. Anthony somewhat smiled at his guest. "I stopped by to let you know that breakfast was ready." His nose twitched slightly as he caught the scent of blood that had a particular smell to it that he just couldn't place.

Gabriel nodded. "Thank you I will be down shortly."

Mr. Anthony bowed slightly as he backed out of the room, a peculiar expression on his face.

"Might I ask why you did that?"

"Let him smell her blood you mean."

Ryuu nodded her violet eyes puzzled.

"To confuse him of course." Gabriel dressed quickly. "It is always best to keep one's enemy off balance."

"Yes. I see."

Upon entering Mr. Anthony's private breakfast room, Gabriel was fixed with a glare. "Who is she?"

Gabriel plastered an innocent expression on his face as he sat across from his host. "Whom do you mean?"

"The blood on your lips this morning. I could feel the spell work that you were using. Again I ask who was it?"

Gabriel smiled at his anger. There was much he had to pay this demon back for, the least of which being his separation from his new mate and the death of his past self. "I was just paying a visit to my mate. She is a most extraordinary female. I believe that she will bare me many fine sons."

Mr. Anthony's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "But you do not have a mate. You're too young."

Gabriel blinked at him. "I am an adult. Besides, us half-demons mature faster than full demons. So it is entirely possible for me to have a mate at my age."

Mr. Anthony's answering smile was tightlipped. "Might I ask who she is?"

Gabriel sat back and lifted a fork full of egg to his mouth. "No. I don't think I want anyone to know who she is just yet." Shoving the food in his mouth he proceeded to eat quickly, thereby avoiding any further questions from his host. 'I don't think you'll like the answer Sinner.'

V V K F