Another Chance

Disclaimer:I don't own Chrno Crusade or any of the characters!!

Author's Note: Sorry that I took so long just on one chapter but I really have quite a busy schedule and can only spare my weekends. I will try to post at least twice a month though.


"Joshua? Rosette? Where are you??" Azmaria cried out as her voice echoed into the dark, gloomy forest. The only reply she heard was the sound of the wind blowing into her ears. "Where are you?? Where am I?" cried Azmaria in hopelessness as she wandered around the trees. Suddenly she saw something move from the corner of her eyes. To her relief, it was just the shadow of a bird. A bird... that seems to be a... vulture... She tried to ignore the uneasy feeling she felt and took a small step forward. Everything was still and quiet. Azmaria felt a chill go up her spine. Perhaps it was just the cold. But what she saw next, as she turned around, told her that it was not the cold.

It was a demon.


"AHHHHHH!"

Suddenly everything became bright and the lights came on.

"What's the matter, Azmaria? Are you alright?" asked a soothing voice as she felt a pair of comforting arms circling her. "Are you alright, Azzy?Why are you crying? It's just a nightmare. Don't worry. You will be fine." said the soothing voice. Azmaria looked up to see Rosette staring at her in concern and she touched her own cheek to feel the moisture dripping from her eyes.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I'm not sure... It was just... just.. just so dark and I felt so lost..." Azmaria broke off as another stream of tears threatened to drop from her eyes.

"It's ok. You're safe now. How about I bring a sleeping bag in to sleep with you? Maybe letting you sleep in the guest room is not such a good idea afterall..."

"It's alright. It's just that the dream seemed so real and it was too overwhelming for me. I think I'll be fine after I fall asleep again."

"Are you sure?"Rosette glanced at her friend's tear-stained face in concern.

"Yes, I am sure. I'll be fine. I'll call out to you if I have any problem."


Joshua rolled over in bed. All he had been dreaming about, ever since Azmaria stayed over, was a lady's desperate cries for help echoing from somewhere in a dark forest. He dreamt about it again. This time, he tried to take up the bravery to step into the forest to search for the source of distress. However, as he took the first step into the forest, he was woken up by Azmaria's screams two rooms down the corridoor. He walked quickly to Azmaria's room door and was about to knock on the door when he heard Azmaria and Rosette talking.

"Do you want to talk about it?"asked Rosette in a concerned voice.

"I'm not sure... It was just... just.. just so dark and I felt so lost..." Azmaria's voice cracked as she came to the last word.

"It's ok. You're safe now. How about I bring a sleeping bag in to sleep with you? Maybe letting you sleep in the guest room is not such a good idea afterall..." Rosette's voice sounded worried as she spoke.

"It's alright. It's just that the dream seemed so real and it was toooverwhelming for me. I think I'll be fine after I fall asleep again."

"Are you sure?"Rosette glanced at her friend's tear-stained face in concern.

"Yes, I am sure. I'll be fine. I'll call out to you if I have any problem."

Joshua quickly ran back to his room and went in just in time to hear Rosette closing the door to Azmaria's room. He breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn't sure that the girls would want to know that he had overheard their conversation. He tried to stay awake to think but gave in when sleep took over again.


"Hi! Good morning! How's your night?" asked Rosette with a huge smile as she came down the stairs and made a beeline towards the breakfast table where Joshua and Azmaria were already sitted.

"Well, except for the slight hiccup last night--I'm sorry for waking everyone up with my screaming. I'm not usually like this-- it was pretty good. I didn't dream again after you left my room." replied Azmaria with a slight smile.

"I see.. That's good. How about you, Joshua? Did you sleep well?"

"Since when did you start caring about my life?" asked Joshua suspiciously.

"Since Azzy started lik-uming woo. Mmph! " Suddenly Rosette's voice became muffled as Azmaria put her hand over Rosette's mouth to stop her from spilling out more information than necessary. "Since I started living here and try to improve the relationship between you two siblings. Rosete has started to learn to be more caring towards her brother,am I right, Rosette?" asked Azmaria has she started at Rosette with a warning look.

"Not particula-... Ouch! Um... Nothing. " said Rosete as she felt a sharp pinch on her arm.

"I see..." said Joshua still staring at Rosette with a suspicious expression.

"Oh no!! We're going to be late for school!" shouted Rosette suddenly as she glanced at the clock on the wall of the dining room.

"But we still have an hour to go before school starts." said Azmaria with a frown.

"You did not see the time from the clock in my room, did you?"

"Yeah, I did. Why?"

"I set it one hour backward! Don't ask the reasons. They sound especially stupid in a time like this. Whatever it is, RUN!! WE'RE LATE!!"


End of Chapter