Disclaimer: I have no rights whatsoever to claim Chrno Crusade mine, but this fic is MINE! ;)
Okay, this chapter has been dragged for a suuuuper long time xD…apologies!! Started it during Christmas, but look…couldn't get it done til now =x Anyway, enjoy the last chapter of "The Ending That Never Was" and thanks for all your support throughout!
Warning: OoCness may be included, please bear with it. Not to mention a bit of cheese factor ..
"Rossette!!" Chrno yelled as the young blonde dragged him into the car. "Where are we going?"
"Wait and see!" Rossette called back slightly impatiently. "Hurry up Chrno!"
It had been two days since the night at the lake where Chrno had finally regained his lost memory and now, everything seemed to be back to normal.
As Rossette screeched to a halt finally at the porch of a house, Chrno looked out, his face green, too busy trying to straighten himself out to wonder where they were.
'Ding Dong', Rossette pressed the doorbell cheerily as she grabbed Chrno to the right house. A sound of footsteps running was heard inside the house just before the door was opened with a click. A fair haired teen stood before them with a small smile on his face.
"Nee-san!" Joshua smiled as he greeted his sister. "Chrno! Long time no see…"
"Y-yea…" Chrno had forgotten about Joshua until he had actually seen him.
"Where's Minister Remington?" Rossette asked, looking around the house as they entered.
"He said something about having some work to do," Joshua replied, putting a plate of cookies on the table in front of them.
Joshua looked at his sister sitting next to Chrno, happily gobbling up the cookies. He felt a wave of nostalgia sweep through him as he remembered the past, before Aion had given him the horns and the war had started, the times when the three of them were together. The happy times. The carefree moments.
"I wonder what exactly happened to Aion," he suddenly blurted out, to them, mentioning that horrible past was an unmentioned, but silently agreed taboo. For some strange reason, he just wanted to talk it over.
"He died, that's that," Rossette replied with mock cheerfulness after the silence in the room had gone on for too long.
Chrno felt a little bitter, he was the only one who would remember the scene where Aion died, after all, Rossette was barely conscious, and Joshua was not even there…he shifted in his seat as the scene of him killing whom he would have thought was his best friend long ago played in his mind again.
"What really happened during the time I was under Aion's control?" Joshua ventured again, something in him wanted to know…wanted to know the truth, even though he knew that it would hurt him, even though he knew it would hurt his sister and Chrno.
"Joshua…" Rossette began, her face becoming weary. "Why…"
"I don't know," Joshua shook his head slightly miserably, contrary to his usual happy-go-lucky self. "I just…I just want to know the events that happened, maybe so I can share your grief…umm…if you don't want to say it…oh…never mind…"
"We were searching for you," Chrno said, deciding that it would do no good to hide from the past. "Actually, not all of it was bad, we had some good times whilst searching as well…right Rossette?" he glanced at her with an encouraging smile as she was lost for words, holding her hand gently.
"Yes…" Rossette admitted with a smile. "We got to meet Azu, and Satella…" At the mention of Satella, Rossette's voice broke as she gave a gasp and tears began to fall from her cheeks.
Chrno, knowing the pain Rossette was going through, comforted her as Joshua, with his head bent, told his sister, "Forget it, sorry…"
"No, but our time together…it was fun…she was…she was searching for her sister too…" Rossette looked up, her eyes full of tears, but she had a smile on her face.
"Fiore," Joshua's eyes dimmed as he remembered. "I thought that she was my sister…no," he continued fiercely. "Aion made me think she was my sister…the number of families he broke up, if only…if only…" he was on the verge of tears.
"What's done is done, we're lucky that we were given a second chance," Chrno said placidly.
"Joshua," Rossette gave her brother a hug. Even though she did not say it, Joshua knew that she meant how glad she was to have the chance to be together with him again. He returned the hug as a tear slipped out from his eye.
"Aion was a terrible person," Chrno's voice was uneven. "He probably got what he deserved…the things he did were beyond 'bad'…"
Everyone was silent for a few minutes as various thoughts went through their heads. After such an experience they knew more than anyone else to be grateful for the new lease of life they were given.
"Oh well, it's all over right?" Rossette tried to lighten the atmosphere with a cheerful voice, although deep down, she knew it would take a long time to heal the painful scars.
"Yea," Chrno agreed. "Let's cherish our time together from now on…"
Later that night, Rossette and Chrno were sitting under a tree just outside the Magdalene Order.
"Hey Chrno," Rossette mused. "I'm really glad we still can be together…"
"Yea," Chrno murmured softly, a light blush covering his face as his bangs drooped to cover his eyes. "Rossette…I…err…I love you…"
A tinge of pink appeared on Rossette's face as she bolted up from her relaxed position. For a long time now, they both knew of their feelings for each other, but they had never said it out loud before. Saying it aloud was a confirmation to each other, it felt closer somehow…
"I love you too," Rossette replied smiling up to Chrno's face.
The two sat side by side under the tree, staring at the starry sky, their hands clasped together. Now they had time, they would enjoy it together.
And…END! More apologies for dragging it, and hope it isn't very anti-climax >.
Thanks to all those who reviewed me! Since this is my last chapter, I'll have this section here.
Loads of thanks to those who reviewed me or gave me concrit (if I missed out anyone, I'm sorry!):
p3paula
Patience Halliwell
Yashi Inuzuka
Yvi-sama
Cranberry Window
Kurai Genkaku
Nihongoneko
Wielder of the Mighty Pen
The Twins
Anime-Freak
WhiteWolf
Demon-boy-chrno
Nerrin(dearest c-chan :D)
The Real Phony(juicey dear)
Velvet Star
CMC
Dawn
Ahh…that took some time =x but anyway, thanks again for sticking through this weird fic people!