Chrono Crusade Fan Fiction ❯ A Contract ❯ Chapter Five: Returning to New York ( Chapter 5 )

A Contract

Chapter Five: Returning to New York

By Selenity Jade

Rated: M

 

Disclaimer: I don't own this or anything else except for a few randomly created original characters that won't appear in this story. I wish I were making money off this.

 

Thanks: To That Crazy Girl for using her iPod to read and review my fic. Now, that has to be a first for me. Never had anyone so excited they used their iPod before. Cell phones, yes. iPod no. Squee!

 

Pairing: Chrno/Rosette

 

AN: I'm trying to get as much stuff saved online as I can right now, which is why I'm posting all these so fast. I need to make sure I don't lose stuff in my move that is coming up. Last time, I lost all my files. I'm just hoping this fic doesn't turn NC17 on me like my dbz ones... Though the only reason I dislike it when that happens is I have to create two chapters per chapter of the heavy scenes, one for FFnet and one for the sites that allow NC17. It's such a pain. Sometimes my works take on a life of their own, my characters turn into different people and actually live in here and do what they wish to do. So yeah, my writing has always been off the wall. Anyone else think I have way too many stories for one girl to have written or started? I've got like 50 online...

 

xxx

 

"So what does Sister Kate want us to investigate?" the comfortable blonde girl asked as she leaned against the dark, wooden headboard, a pillow gripped securely in her arms.

 

"Satella was sent in to investigate a series of mysterious sounds and lights in Albany's warehouse district and there were no few people turning up missing. She found a scene similar to the Seventh Bell, except it was only a teenage couple and the small section of the warehouse. Sister Kate wants us to go and have a look since you and I were the only ones who saw the aftermath of Joshua's use of power five years ago. So we'll be headed there after Sister Kate meets Chrno. She insists on seeing for herself if he's dangerous or not." The minister rubbed his forehead, amused. "Apparently, she doesn't trust my judgment or yours. We'll leave first thing tomorrow morning, fly into New York, meet with Sister Kate, then the Elder, then drive up to Albany."

 

"And I'm supposed to be on leave," Rosette grumbled. "I was supposed to have a week off and instead I got dragged back to Michigan, and the first day back home, I'm going to be running around trying to squeeze all that in?"

 

Father Remington wisely didn't comment that coming to Michigan was Rosette's idea. "Chrno, will you be able to tell if this power came from your horns or another demon?"

"It probably is this boy using my horns. Demonic powers don't repeat themselves often and I don't know of another demon with any similar abilities."

 

"So it's probably Joshua," Rosette said softly.

 

The blond priest nodded. "That is what Sister Kate fears."

 

"I hate this," the young woman said softly.

 

Remington stood and put a hand on her shoulder. "Let's just get some sleep."

 

Nodding, Rosette pulled the covers over herself and curled up on the bed glancing towards Chrno. She was bothered by him sleeping on the floor, it just didn't seem right.

 

"It's fine," Chrno said, slumping down near the head of her bed and leaning against it.

 

Father Remington sighed. "Chrno, that is really creepy. While I agreed I wasn't going to butt in to your business with your contractor, would you two not answer thoughts around Sister Kate? She already feels Rosette has put her soul in jeopardy of Hell."

 

Chrno glanced up at the calm man with distant crimson eyes and shrugged, purposely closing his eyes at the man went to turn off the lights.

 

Rosette's eyes adjusted to the sudden dark and were drawn by the slight pale yellow sitting on the blanket by her hand. Chrno's braid had curled up behind his head on her bed and she had an almost irristable urge to touch it. What is wrong with me? I am not usually so touchy feely, she wondered to herself, irritated. He was practically a stranger!

 

::Go ahead,:: the deep voice answered her from the demon on the floor. ::It's just another side effect.::

 

::You feel like touching me too?::

 

::Yes,:: he stated curtly, cutting off further comment with his frustration.

 

She smiled and reached out, wrapping the thick braid around her hand, and brought it to rest against her chin. Exhaling slowly, she relaxed. ::Goodnight.::

 

::Night.::

 

xxx

 

Remington awoke at dawn. It had been habit for more years than he cared to remember and so ingrained into him, he hadn't slept passed dawn in decades. Glancing toward the other bed to check on Rosette, he frowned as he saw her curled up tightly in the corner of the bed nearest the demon who was leaning against the frame with his eyes closed. She was wrapped in the purple-haired demon's braid.

 

In all the years he had known Rosette, he had never seen her sleep in anything but a sprawl, taking up more space than any girl her size should be able to. Even asleep she was drawing nearer to the demon who hadn't moved in the night. He looked peaceful there with is eyes closed, almost harmless, despite what Remington knew about him.

 

The priest sat up and Chrno's eyes snapped open immediately.

 

"Awake, I see," Remington said, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "Don't worry about trying to be quiet, Rosette would sleep through the Apocalypse."

 

Chrno nodded, wincing as the movement yanked on his hair that was caught around the slumbering nun. The devil turned red eyes to Rosette with a grimace.

 

Remington watched them silently before he spoke. "I was thinking last night."

 

Chrno glanced his way.

 

"I have a theory why all these effects are happening."

 

Arching a violet eyebrow, the demon gave the priest his full unwavering attention.

 

With crimson eyes focused so demandingly on him, the priest repressed a shudder and continued. "Normal demon contracts allow the demon summoner to use the demon and the demon devours the soul in payment, correct?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Your clock, it is a device to allow you to use her life force slowly as needed as a substitute for horns. Since finding a new contractor would take time, it seems to me it would make sense that this clock keeps a demon from devouring her soul, instead allows you to harness her life more slowly. So effectively, it should be keeping Rosette's soul from being devoured by yours."

 

"Yes," Chrno agreed with a frown.

 

"I think it's malfunctioning."

 

"What?" the demon said, sitting up straighter.

 

"Well, seriously. You've been in that tomb for over fifty years, what device wouldn't malfunction?"

 

Chrno scowled at the priest. "How is it malfunctioning?"

 

"I think her soul is being leaked out, basically. It's just a theory, mind you. We'll have to discuss this with the Elder as soon as possible."

 

Ruby eyes widening, Chrno turned towards his contractor and Remington couldn't see his expression. He didn't need to though. For some reason, this demon didn't like the idea of devouring souls. "I agree," Chrno stated.

 

"Try to wake her up, I'm going to shower. We have a flight to catch soon." Turning, he entered the bathroom, leaving the pair alone. I really hope I'm wrong.

 

xxx

 

Chrno found he couldn't stand up without ripping the hair from his head, so he twisted around and poked the sleeping girl. "Rosette!"

 

She didn't move.

 

After a few more nudges got the same result, he sighed. Now he knew why the priest said she wouldn't wake up if they spoke. He got onto his knees and attempted to pull his braid out from underneath the girl, shaking her shoulder at the same time. "Rosette, wake up!"

 

Nothing.

 

Well, this is frustrating. This girl slept like she was dead! He frowned and wondered how else to wake her. When his old friends used to get piss drunk and some emergency happened, they used to use buckets of water, but Remington was in the bathroom with the only facet, so that was out.

 

He sighed, carefully got a good grip on the purple braid, and yanked. That got a response, but not the one he was hoping for. She simply whined, curling up tighter, and took more of his braid with her as she rolled over. With a startled grunt, he nearly fell on her. "Rosette!" he cried nearly in her ear.

 

"'O 'way," she mumbled.

 

"Rosette, get off my hair!"

 

Chrno could see her open her eyes fuzzily as his face hung too close to hers for his eyes to focus properly. "Huh?"

 

"Rosette, off the hair!"

 

"What are you doing in my bed, Chrno?" she asked tiredly as she blinked up at him.

 

"You're on my braid," he told her sternly. "Get off."

 

"Oh," she uttered, glancing down and hitting her forehead against his. "Ow!"

 

He agreed. It didn't hurt him, but he could feel it from her as if it did. These side effects were getting really obnoxious. "Carefully untangle my braid from around you," he told her.

 

She did as he asked, and rolled off the rest of it as soon as she was able to.

 

He sighed, plopping back down on the floor and shot her a dirty look. "Do you always sleep that deeply?"

 

Giving him a sheepish grin, she nodded. "Yeah."

 

Great. He could just picture trying to get her up morning after morning and he was absolutely positive the priest would send him to do just that. His sense of humor was twisted enough to get back at Chrno in little frustrating ways like sending him to tangle with a girl who couldn't wake up to save her own life.

 

He blinked as he realized said girl was headed toward the bathroom. "Rosette, Remington is in there."

 

She paused as if confused, glancing back at the demon parked on the floor. "Oh."

 

"Come on, woman. Wake up!"

 

She yawned hugely. "I am awake."

 

The bathroom door opened and a damp-haired Remington walked out. "Ah, you're up, Rosette. Bathroom is all yours." Before he finished his sentence, she was gone, bathroom door shut and water running faintly inside.

 

"That girl is very strange," Chrno grumbled.

 

"You have no idea."

 

xxx

 

Stepping outside into the muggy New York air, Rosette took a deep, relaxing breath. It wasn't fresh air, but it was home. She blinked as she realized three Sisters of the Order were walking toward them and glanced at Father Remington in confusion.

 

He shrugged.

 

One of the girls stepped forward, red-hair barely concealed beneath her blue covering. "Sister Rosette, Father Remington, welcome back. Sister Kate sent us to secure the demon."

 

Rosette opened her mouth angrily. How dare-!

 

"Ah well, as you three can see, Chrno, Rosette, and I have arrived with no mishaps," the calming voice of the priest interrupted before she could vent her wrath on the three younger girls who were just following orders. "I sincerely doubt Chrno will suddenly start destroying and killing in the airport or city when the plan and its passengers all arrived safely."

 

One of the girls, a blonde, blushed.

 

"As I told Sister Kate, Chrno is perfectly safe and you three don't want to doubt my judgment do you?"

 

"Of course not, Father Remington!" the brunette exclaimed with a flush. "Sister Kate did order us to put him under a seal in the van before we arrive."

 

"Well, he's already sealed, Sisters," Remington put in quickly.

 

Chrno's fists clenched and Rosette felt sadness more than anger this time, but refrained from looking towards the demon.

 

"What?" the blonde asked.

 

"Sister Claire," Remington addressed the red-haired girl and pointed at the clock around Rosette's neck. "He's sealed. I will tell Sister Kate I countermanded your orders. Do we have just the van here?"

 

The nun nodded in surprise.

 

"Then let's go," Remington ordered, leading the way towards the large vehicle with the Order's emblem painted on the side.

 

Rosette touched Chrno's elbow, causing the demon to start as they followed after the priest. "Don't worry about them," Rosette told him softly to avoid being overheard.

 

"I'm used to it. Humans fear us." His tone was so bitter, Rosette felt pained at how much worse it would get.

 

She glanced over her shoulder at the trailing Sisters who watched Chrno as if he might turn and slaughter them all. There was fear there when they watched him, but the glances they gave her were tinged with disgust. She wasn't well-liked in the Order, she had never tried to be or to get to know anyone, but they had never watched her with fear until now. Fear and a bit of disdain, as if she succumbed to the evil they were trained to eradicate. They watched her like she was a demon, too.

 

She felt Chrno stiffen beside her and knew her own hurt feelings leaked through. "People always hate what they fear, Chrno," she told him sadly as they reached the van, in an effort to ease both him and herself.

 

The sisters refused to be anywhere near the 'evil' demon, so she sat with Chrno in the last row of seats. Remington spared her a sympathetic glance, knowing the shunning had already begun.

 

xxx

 

The feared demon watched the scenery pass silently. He didn't know why the three nuns animosity was bothering him so much. It shouldn't have. He was used to fear from humans every time he had ventured near them in the past, once they knew him for what he was. Maybe it was their fear making their thoughts so hard to ignore, or maybe it was the stiff woman sitting a few feet from him, her entire posture screaming discomfort.

 

He was used to the fear and hatred; he had never been bothered by it before. It was healthy in humans to fear and despise demons as most of them meant these frail beings harm. That fear would keep them alive. So why was it suddenly getting to him?

 

It took a moment to realize it was guilt. He hadn't thought what his presence and contract with the girl would mean for her back at her home. He should have, but it never occurred to him that they would view his contractor with the same animosity and fear they felt towards him. Ironically, he felt guilt because of it. He had always been the unusual one - even among the rebels, the Sinners, of his kind - but to actually feel guilt over something so trivial...

 

What is that girl doing to me? He could feel her hurt, anger and distress as keenly as his own emotions and that made him feel remorse. Remorse over hurt feelings. Hurt feelings of all things! He had always been the soft one, the one who hid it behind a solemn expression, never letting anyone see how much killing bothered him, not even the one he viewed as his friend, his brother.

 

Guilt turned to anger quickly. Anger towards those shallow girls sitting up in the front seat, whispering their venomous accusations that were wildly impractical, even if they were impossible. Not to mention complete nonsense. Why would a demon need a virgin sacrifice that involved a goat? And where do they get the idea our anatomy is that bizarre? Where would we hide such monstrosities?

 

It would have been humorous if they hadn't included his contractor in those scenarios. To think they actually believed she had sacrificed herself to him in some bizarre ritual to seal the contract. Doesn't this Order teach them anything? But when the talk turned to what they thought should be done with his contractor, he felt the growl slip out before he could stop it.

 

He jumped when he felt a hand on his forearm. He turned furious, blazing eyes to sympathetic ones.

 

"Don't worry about them."

 

He could have slapped himself. He had gotten upset and of course she started picking up on it. "They're talking about-"

 

"I know. They're simply novice exorcists, though. They have no say in actual decisions. Sister Kate runs our branch with Father Remington as her second. I'm also in the militia and that means I rank them, despite not being a full Sister yet."

 

Her words had the intended effect and he calmed slightly. He was agreeing to help these humans, not join their demented little religious order. They had no right to dictate anything to him. He could just up and leave them to their fate if they made things that intolerable. Even hornless, they couldn't hold him anywhere. Nor could they keep him from his contractor if he wanted to find her.

 

She gave him another comforting pat on his arm before folding her hands in her lap and looked out the window on her side of the van. He watched her thoughtful profile a moment before glancing back towards the front of the van and the gossiping nuns. He didn't let their conversation get to him again. After realizing he could just leave when he wanted was an immense comfort and he didn't even have to ask the girl if she'd leave with him. She wanted her brother saved, that is why she was with this group and that is why she agreed to a contract. As long as he was willing to try to save her brother - and get his horns back - and fight Aion, she'd follow him if he left. She needed his power, after all.

 

xxx

 

AN: Um, yeah. I'm already on chapter five and it's only the second day. This fic is going to be way longer than I originally imagined it. This fic is centered around the contract - hence the title of the story - and its side effects. We'll see where that leads us!

 

Fic Plug: Dance Against Time by EL Silver (Her name is longer, I just... can't remember how to spell the first two words and too tired to go back and forth tabbing, and copy paste messes up my word format. ^_~ Anywho, it's a cute one-shot! (http://www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/s/2793276/1/Dance_Against_Time)