{sob} I just read the end of Chrno Crusade, and I'm bawling! How dare Moriyama-Sensei do that to Rosette and Chrno! {sob, sob, sob}

…

Chrno looked at Rebecca in silent shock, his face still completely composed. Yes, he had seen it coming when she wouldn't tell him about her past, but it was still strange and sad to hear someone honestly saying "my father killed my mother". Not only that, but he also left her in a blizzard when she was only three.

He looked in her eyes, torn with agony. To be able to survive that and many other things that would come with being a "half-breed", I'm surprised she's so willing to become a contractor.

Rebecca noticed the shock in Chrno's eyes and sat back down. "I suppose you'd like to know the story behind it all, wouldn't you…?"

He shrugged. "I really don't care. Seeing as that part of your past is particularly painful, I won't force you to talk about it yet. I understand when you want to just keep something inside, so when you're ready to tell me, you can."

She giggled a bit as she rested her head in her hand. "If you had wanted me to wait to tell you, I wouldn't have had to tell you about my father."

"Y-Yeah, you're right."

For a few minutes, there was a long, drawn out silence. Both the demon and half-demon were trying to think of something to say to end the silence. But, instead of one of them, Asmaria jumped in and broke the silence.

"Um, we really should get back." Asmaria said suddenly, feeling a little awkward.

Rebecca stood up. "Yes, I suppose we should." She held her hand out to Chrno. "It was nice talking with you. If you want to talk again, or if you decide the answer to my question, you know where to find me."

He stood up and shook her hand. "Yes, yes I do."

She bowed her head down shortly in a sign of respect and followed Asmaria out the door. He looked at the door for, what felt like to him, at least an hour before his legs gave out and he fell back into the chair.

Chrno leaned back in the chair and stared up at the ceiling. His thoughts drifted in and out of the story Rebecca had told him about her father. What's going through that girl's head? She wants to be tied to another demon after what her father did…? I don't understand it at all.

…

Rebecca giggled as she pulled her hair back with a red ponytail holder that blended in with her hair perfectly. "Oh, Azzy, it's just a matter of time…!"

"I told you not to call me that." Asmaria said with a sigh. "Besides, I still don't understand what you're trying to accomplish by becoming Chrno's contractor. If you want to live a long life, using your soul as a payment isn't the way to do it."

"It's simple, really." The older girl said seriously, staring straight ahead at the people going about their daily business as they walked down the street back to the Order's HQ.

"How is it simple?"

"It's simple in the sense that I would finally get justice."

"For your…mother's death?"

"Yes. I know an approximate location as to the whereabouts of my father. If I become Chrno's contractor and we find him," She closed her eyes and leaned her head back to soak up some sun in her already tanned skin, "…my mother's soul can finally be at peace."

Asmaria smiled and continued looking forward, not as confident about not running into anyone as Rebecca. "You remind me of Rosette. It really is a shame she never saved Joshua."

"Yes." Rebecca stopped and took a breath. "I had wanted to meet Joshua so badly after meeting Rosette. I would imagine they both were equally as amazing people." She giggled softly and solemnly a moment before continuing to walk with Asmaria again. "Perhaps, though, Chrno will be a great example of her effect on people. Once I can get him to trust me a bit more, that is."

Asmaria laughed a little. "Yes, that's true. I can't wait for you to meet Satella. She called not too long ago and said she was coming for a visit."

Rebecca smiled. "It'll be nice to meet someone else as well." She stopped at the double doors of the entrance of the Magdalene Order and looked back at the church and graveyard across the street. "I'll catch up with you."

"Hmm?"

"I promised Rosette I'd visit after I met Chrno."

"Okay then. Be back soon though, you know how Sister Kate can get."

Rebecca smiled at her young friend as she turned to walk across the street. "Don't worry, Azzy, I'll hurry."

"Don't call me 'Azzy'!" Asmaria yelled back before turned into the building.

Rebecca didn't even respond to Asmaria's yelling back at her with the lightest giggle as she entered the graveyard. She strolled down the rows of graves, all of different shapes, and even colors as some were weathered from many years of standing proudly. Finally, she stopped and knelt before an ornate Celtic cross.

Rosette Christopher

Daughter, sister, exorcist

"Your journey is over"

Beneath the words were the dates of birth and death. Every time Rebecca laid her eyes on the dates, it reminded her just how young her friend had been when her life was cruelly ended. Nobody had been told how Rosette died, Sister Kate had just informed them all that her body had been found not far from the Order's HQ. Most blamed Chrno because he was seen carrying her body down the street until he couldn't stand, but those who were smart enough knew that he was incapable of killing her. He had loved her.

Rebecca's eyes drifted over to a matching Celtic cross next to Rosette's.

Joshua Christopher

Brother

There were different theories as to why only his name, dates of birth and death, and his relation to Rosette were the only things on his grave. Most people ended up being half-right, saying that Chrno had requested it for one reason or another, though none knew that it was for such a simple reason as to remind people of Rosette's dedication to finding her brother – her death. Rebecca, though, never had any theories as to why this is; she just always accepted it as the way things were meant to be.

"Hey Rosette." Rebecca said softly. "I visited him today, I visited Chrno. He's just as I thought he would be…lost and confused without you. He doesn't show it, but…but it's there."

She waited a moment with her eyes closed, trying to imagine how Rosette would react to this news…but couldn't get a clear picture in her mind. "I guess you miss him though. You two were in love, it was so obvious. But, god, I don't know how to convince him to let me be his contractor. He needs someone to help him through this, Rosette, and I don't know what to do about it."

"You can start by not trying to have conversations with the dead."

Rebecca turned around and saw Chrno standing behind her. "C-Chrno! You scared me!"

"That wasn't my intention, believe me." He walked forward and placed a bouquet of red and white roses in front of Rosette's grave. "Does everyone come to the grave of someone they miss in order to seek guidance for difficult decisions?"

"Probably." She looked over at Chrno as he knelt beside her and stared at the grave. "It's just such a solemn place that it clears your head and allows you to think."

"Yeah, that's true."

She looked back at the grave as he began to trace the letters of Rosette's name with his fingers. "So, why did you come here?"

He didn't say anything for a long moment, but finally said, "Guidance."

"Hmm…"

"I understand you want to become my contractor," his fingers dropped to land beside the bouquet, "and I understand why you want to, but my answer is no."

Rebecca turned to Chrno sharply. "Why not?!"

"Partially because I have no need for a contractor anymore, but mostly because I can't risk another person dying because of me." He sighed and looked up at the sky, darkening with rain clouds.

"Chrno, I can deal with it. Like Rosette, I have a goal that I can't accomplish without your help."

"She…never accomplished her goal because of me! If I hadn't been draining her soul, she'd still be alive! She would've been able to defend herself against…"

"Against?"

"No one." Chrno stood up and turned around to walk away but suddenly stopped just behind Rebecca. "Rizel?! How are you alive?!"

"Chrno?" She turned around to see a hornless demon girl staring at him with a smirk. "Who's that?"

"Rizel, a demon that I knew a long time ago…but Rosette killed her, at least, I thought."

Rizel shrugged as she saw Rebecca. "No half-breed needs to know my name, or who I am." She held out one of her hands to Chrno. "Come on now, Chrno, Lord Aion wants you back on our side."

"No." He drew out a blade from a hidden sheath attached to the back of his waist.

"You've nothing left here, Chrno. One day, the Magdalene exorcists are going to get tired of you staying around here and they will kill you." Rizel said in a halfway reasonable voice.

"No they won't!" Rebecca said suddenly. "I won't let them—"

"Silence, you impudent mutt! I'll kill you if I have to, but Chrno is going back to Eden with me!" The demon woman screamed. "He has nothing here, why are you—"

"Eden is rebuilt then?" Chrno asked with a crease formed between his brows.

"Yes, it has been rebuilt to its former glory. I was revived just in time to see it happen too." She sighed. "Now, Chrno, please, lets go home."

"Eden is not my home." He held his blade straight out in front of him. "My home is here, regardless of what the Magdalene Order thinks of me."

"Well, I didn't want to have to do this, but…" Rizel transformed into a true demon in front of them both. "My orders are to bring you back at all costs."

"Fine by me." Chrno tensed as his stance took a more defensive turn.

"I'll help you, Chrno." Rebecca said as she drew a gun out of a pocket near the waist of her dress.

"Are you insane?! Go get help from the Order! Someone stronger, you fool!" He yelled at her.

"Only if I can't fight her." She pointed her gun, loaded with Holy, at Rizel. "I know that we don't need their help."

Chrno sighed. "Fine. But this won't be easy for you."

"I'm exorcist, it's what I do." Rebecca smiled at Chrno. "Besides, how hard can one demon be to take down?"

"You'd be surprised." He mumbled under his breath.

"Are you done talking?!" Rizel jumped into the air. "First, I'll get rid of you! You taint the demon that runs in your veins!"