Chrono Crusade Fan Fiction ❯ A Contract ❯ Chapter Two: The Promise ( Chapter 2 )

A Contract

Chapter Two: The Promise

By Selenity Jade

Rated: M

 

Disclaimer: I don't own, will never own, and actually that is probably a very good thing. My stories turn dark, disturbed, and angsty in a serious non-fun type way.

 

Pairing: Chrno/Rosette

 

AN: You know I'm having problems finding bad Chrno Crusade fics. I wonder why that is. I know most fanfiction is just horrible dribble usually with a few good ones splattered in between and I'm pretty lenient about what I like, but even with those very mild criteria, I usually have to search for good ones! I know I must not be looking hard enough, or searching for fics at six in the morning after an all nighter makes all fics good.

 

Also, yes I know I'm rehashing a lot of what was stated as fact from the manga/anime, but there are three very good reasons for this. One, all stories should stand alone. That is the most immediate. I treat all my stories as if they were originals and need to have basic 'laws' pointed out during the course of the story. There is no 'author notes' to explain "Oh, by the way, in my world, horns are really made of blue-cheese" or something. All stories shouldn't have to have an explanation just to make sense. Two, because I will be 'altering' some things and I don't need someone asking me later what is 'true' to this world that is true to the original too. Three, because frankly, I write so much I need the reference on what I've changed from the original and it helps me think.

 

And do you have any idea how hard it was to name this chapter without giving away the entire thing?

 

Warning: I'm giving you all your first warning, not for this chapter, for this fic. It will be slightly darker than the manga/anime was. I tend to be drawn towards anime/manga with non-human men in them. I don't know why, I just do. And they always get all bestial and crap in my fics. I tend to explore their non-human side more, always basing it on previous facts left by the original GOD who wrote the story.

 

xxx

 

"So what do I do?"

 

"First, come here," Chrno ordered briskly.

 

Rosette hesitated a slight reddening on her cheeks.

 

What is wrong with this girl? He frowned. "I'm not going to eat you, but I do have to pick you up."

 

"I know that," the nun snapped. "I just-"

 

Remington laughed. "Rosette, I know you've been sheltered from boys for the last five years but surely this isn't that embarrassing."

 

"It's not that!"

 

The blond man arched an eyebrow. "Well?"

 

"It's nothing," she stated firmly and walked towards where Chrno waited patiently for her.

 

The scent of fear coming off the strange woman startled him. She hadn't been afraid of him at first, which he had noted was odd even for someone trained to deal with demons like she was, so what about him flying her out of this cavern made her actually scared? In fact, after he got over the surprise at having a pretty girl burst into his resting place, it was the first thing he had noticed about her.

 

Her hair caught the sunlight brightly as she stepped beside him. "Are you scared of heights?" he asked her privately, confident he knew just how keen the priest's hearing was. Unless he happened to inherit more from his demon-fused body than he let on.

 

"No," she stated quietly.

 

"Of me?" he asked incredibly.

 

She simply shook her head. "No, no," she replied automatically. "It has nothing to do with you, really. Let's just go up."

 

He could have found out what she was so afraid of with little mental effort, but he let it go. His arm wrapped around her waist securely, causing the nun to jump and then blush in embarrassment, fear receding to a memory. She is just so strange! "Hold onto me, but not on my back. Neck or waist is fine."

 

"Okay." She wrapped both arms around his waist in a tight grip as if she were afraid he'd just drop her when he took to the air.

 

"Ready?" he asked. At her nod, he willed himself into the air. His wings appeared with a slight stab of pain, a definite sign of his low astral. The girl gripped him so tightly he was glad he wasn't human or he knew he wouldn't have been able to get a breath in.

 

"Hey, this is fun!"

 

He felt his lips twitch at her enthusiasm. "Where is this car?"

 

Nodding slightly north, she replied, "Over that hill."

 

Making sure to move slowly enough so that his astral usage was a slow constant, he flew toward the small mountain she had called a hill.

 

"Can I ask you something?"

 

"Hm?"

 

"Why does Minister Remington hate you so much? Other than you being a demon I mean."

 

Chrno hesitated, uncertainty gripping him. Should he tell her? That part of his life was painful and he didn't want to share it, but the girl did deserve a fair answer since the priest obviously hadn't given her any knowledge about him or Remington's past. "I kidnapped the woman he was guarding and she died because of it. He blames me."

 

"Oh." There was a long silence before she asked, "Why did you kidnap her?"

 

"Aion needed her powers."

 

"You used to work for Aion?"

 

"With Aion, yes."

 

"Why don't you anymore?"

 

"He wanted me to kill Magdalene and I didn't, which led to him killing her and taking my horns, but before that I had been having doubts about his methods."

 

"If demons fear you so much, does that mean Aion is that much more powerful than you since he beat you and took your horns?"

 

"Do you ever stop asking questions?"

 

"No."

 

Chrno sighed, spotting the vehicle. He landed in front of it, setting the talkative girl down. "I don't know if Aion is more powerful. We're the same rank. He took me by surprise then."

 

She walked away from him toward the rear of the car, popping it open when she arrived. She half-crawled into the back end of the machine, her legs kicking back and forth as she dug around. "You loved her, didn't you?" her muffled voice asked him.

 

Chrno started violently.

 

"Your voice said her name with a lot of pain," she explained as if he had asked.

 

She doesn't even know me. Have I completely lost the knack of concealing what I feel? Am I that easy to read? He sighed finally. "Can we not talk about this?"

 

"Fair enough. Are demons telepathic?"

 

He nearly jumped again at the perceptive change in topic. He blinked at her as she walked toward him, a thick rope slung around her shoulder. "Yes. Some more powerful than others."

 

"You're a powerful one, aren't you?"

 

"How do-!"

 

"My brother. When he was first given your horns by Aion, he kept screaming about the noise, clutching his head. That is why the Seventh Bell is frozen as it is, he tried to make the noise stop. I always wondered if it was their thoughts that had hurt him that day."

 

He nodded. "Demon horns are such an integral part of us that your brother 'inherited' my particular brand of powers, you could say."

 

"So how powerful a telepath are you?"

 

"I have to concentrate to not hear thoughts, though that isn't effective if someone is distressed or angry enough."

 

"Does it bother you?"

 

"If I'm around a lot of emotionally charged people it can get annoying, but I've had this ability my entire life. I'm used to it."

 

"I see. So you can tell what I'm thinking?"

 

"I could, but I'm not."

 

She nodded in acceptance.

 

Chrno still didn't know what to make of this girl. She was either painfully naive or stupid. She took what he said at face value, showing nothing but acceptance of what he told her. Did she doubt nothing?

 

"What if those horns don't work? The substitute ones."

 

He shrugged a shoulder absently. "Then if I fight, I'll die."

 

"Is there another way for you to absorb astral energy?"

 

"A human contractor, but that has limitations," he answered hesitantly.

 

"Limitations?"

 

"Every time I use astral, it would take part of my contractor's soul, their life. Their life would be considerably shortened."

 

"Can you get my brother back?"

 

"If I achieve a way to absorb astral, yes. As long as I can see this kid, I can get him back from Aion. I don't know if I can beat Aion, but I can do that." Chrno nearly tugged at his purple hair in frustration, he was actually starting to get used to this girl's haphazard question subjects. He answered without thinking about it, not even to blink at the abrupt change in topics. This is unnerving as all hell. It didn't help that they were talking about such a sore subject.

 

"Then if those horns don't work or aren't enough, I will become your contractor."

 

"Are you out of your mind?" he asked, aghast. The girl is naive, stupid, and crazy!

 

"I am more than willing to give up my life to save my brother and you're my only hope. The Order hasn't been able to even find Aion, let alone hurt him or get my brother back."

 

Resisting the urge to take the girl's shoulders and shake some sense into that blonde head, he forcibly exhaled. "Remington would never allow it."

 

"He doesn't have to know then."

 

"It is not a good idea, you're still a young girl-"

 

"I don't mind," the nun persisted. "Promise me you can get my brother back and I will give you the power you need to do it."

 

He stared into her earnest eyes for a long moment. She didn't flinch or even fidget. Her azure eyes shone with fierce determination and absolutely no fear of the ghastly idea she was suggesting. She wanted this. She wanted her brother saved at all cost, even tying herself to a devil and giving up her life. "Those horns will probably help, but they will most likely not be enough. I cannot imagine your Order getting a hold of any horn but a lowly legion's. The astral absorption will be too low to fully sustain my powers."

 

"If you had horns and a contractor?"

 

"I'd only drain the contractor when low on astral."

 

Rosette held out a pale hand to him. He stared down at it a moment before his gaze flicked up to hers. "Promise me you will save my brother, and I will become your contractor," she stated again.

 

"I don't think this is a good idea," he began again.

 

"Why not?"

 

"Remington would truly be furious if I killed another of the women he was protecting."

 

"Well, you didn't kill Magdalene."

 

The demon sighed. "I did. Indirectly. That is not exactly what we're discussing here. Do you truly want to have your life shortened so much?"

 

She shook her blonde head emphatically. "Of course not. I don't want to die, but I have to save my brother. I'd die to protect him and I'd die to save him." She turned those brilliant blue eyes on him and he suddenly knew why Remington had caved into this girl to release him. "Please? If half of what Minister Remington implied back there is true, you have the power. You might be the only one with the power to save my brother. I'll fight too, I'm great at fighting demons and exorcising them - I won't be a burden - but I am only human."

 

Chrno began to feel the familiar burning embarrassment and anger at the mention of his power and fought not to let it show on his face. It was always going to haunt him. Was his only worth because he could destroy so much so easily? "Is this truly what you want?" he asked, keeping his voice empty of his inner turmoil.

 

She nodded with no sign of indecision.

 

Chrno relented sadly and knelt before her small frame, bowing his head. "Then we will forge a contract, Rosette," he stated softly, reaching up to grip the clock around his neck. He lifted it over his head and watched as the sunlight reflected off the face with a cheerful sparkle. It was so innocent looking for such a deadly device. He handed it to her and as she made to take the watch, he grasped her slender hand, pulling it to his mouth and nipping the tip of her index finger sharply.

 

She hissed in pain and surprise, but didn't yank the appendage from him.

 

The metallic tang of blood hit his tongue as he ran it over the tiny wound he had made. He slowly pulled the finger from his mouth, turning his eyes to her startled face. Keeping a secure grip on her hand, he spoke again. "Our souls are connected now. Your life is mine and my powers to serve you, my contractor."

 

He felt her fingers tremble against his palm, but as ruby met sapphire, fear wasn't the reason why. He couldn't read her eyes as guarded as she kept them, but fear was not her response to binding her life to him.

 

He stood up, releasing her hand. She held the oddly bulky clock against her chest as she watched him.

 

"You should have that around your neck, but Remington saw me wearing it. I do not think he knows what it is for, but he'll ask questions if he sees you have it now, so keep it out of sight if you truly do not intend to tell him."

 

"What is it?" she asked somberly.

 

"It seals my powers when closed. Opening it lets me drain your soul to use them. The clock indicates the time you have left" he told her tonelessly.

 

She nodded, putting the clock around her neck, and tucking it into her nun's habit.

 

"We should head back before the priest gets worried about you."

 

She nodded, walking to his side. She immediately wrapped her arms around his waist, causing him to stiffen slightly before he lifted her off the ground. "Why isn't it draining me now?"

 

"I'm using the astral I have left, when I get dangerously low, I'll probably switch into my human form immediately so I had best not be flying. When I need your life, you will have to unseal me."

 

"Thank you," she uttered forcefully, her entire tone conveying just how grateful she was.

 

"Don't thank me," Chrno told her firmly. "I'll be killing you."

 

"But you'll also be helping me."

 

"I need to get my horns back anyway," he told her as he landed outside the huge hole they had left only fifteen or so minutes before. "Remington?" he called into the crevice.

 

"I'm here. What took you two so long?" The voice was slightly muffled and echoing at the same time.

 

"I had to search for the rope," his new contractor put in immediately.

 

Resisting the urge to point out she sounded very fake when trying to hide something, he took the rope from her and lowered it into the stone cavern.

 

"Is it secure?" the priest called from below.

 

"I can pull you up," Chrno reminded the man.

 

"Oh."

 

"Demons are stronger than humans, Father Remington," Rosette stated in a teasing, sing-song voice.

 

"Teach your grandmother to suck eggs, will you?"

 

The blonde laughed. It was a nice, open laugh. It was different than his first contractor. She had always been reserved. This girl though didn't have a reserved bone in her body. She laughed as she did everything else, with her whole being. The laughter reminded Chrno of a happier time before his entire existence had been turned into one giant, volatile mess.

 

He felt a tug at the rope and easily started pulling the man out of the tomb, letting Remington exert his own strength at the end once his arms had cleared the crumbling stone ceiling.

 

Brushing himself off, Remington carefully watched Chrno and Rosette without bothering to hide how seriously he studied them. "So what really took so long? I know you can fly there in seconds, Chrno."

 

"We were talking," Rosette put in before Chrno could reply. Again. Would the girl never let him answer a question?

 

"It took at least two minutes, I am hoarding my astral."

 

"Oh?" Remington asked suspiciously, glancing at Chrno.

 

"I'm using as little as possible so I didn't break the sound barrier."

 

"Well, that makes sense, but you, Rosette, are a horrible liar and I know you're hiding something."

 

Rosette shrugged. "It's my own business what Chrno and I talked about."

 

The light-haired priest frowned at her, then glanced up into his own demon eyes. Chrno put up a hand to halt him. "Don't bring me into this. If she doesn't want to share, I'm not about to."

 

Remington threw up his hands in frustrated defeat. "Fine, but if it's important and I found out you withheld valuable information, Rosette, I'll have you up before Sister Kate."

 

The girl shuddered, but didn't relent. "Fine."

 

"Let's just get back to the car. Chrno stop it with the wings already. Human form, if you please," the priest ordered.

 

Chrno gave the human man a hard look, but did as requested.

 

"Let's go," Remington said before he turned and started towards the trees surrounding Magdalene's tomb.

 

xxx

 

AN: Well this is as good a spot to stop as any, I suppose. I think this is going to me one of my rare fics where lots happen in very little time, like dialog, characterization building, etc. Also I'm trying to get better at description, so let me know if it gets too bad. I tend to use conversation to do most of my background building and characterization and that means I sometimes forget to describe stuff.

 

Fic of the Week: Oddly enough, I'm have a ton on 'back up' for this little category thanks to a late night of fic reading. Keep in mind, I'm not nominating perfection here, just simply "This is very nice" and that doesn't always mean grammar-wise or mistake wise. Anyway, for this chapter: Strawberry Shortcake by Manda-chan (http://www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/s/2337407/1/Strawberry_Shortcake) - this was very cute. ^_^

 

Lovies!