Beyond Time

Book II

Part VIII – A new world

It was night and the stars were shining in the huge dark sky. Ashley and the boys headed outside and sat on the grass floor. For a few hours Ewan and Chrno kept her distracted by telling her some of the adventures they took part in. Ewan had just started talking about when Chrno and Rosette fought Gabriel Hound when everything became silent. Ewan knew he had touched a forbidden subject: Rosette. Chrno stared sadly at the floor. Ashley was clueless and kept looking from Ewan to Chrno. She decided to cheer them up so she decided to tickle them. It ended much later with the three of them lying on the floor, smiling, panting and watching the bright stars. A couple of minutes later Ewan and Chrno realized she had already fallen asleep so Chrno took her to bed.

Ewan was covering her with the sheets when she started shaking and woke up suddenly with fear in her eyes. After calming her she begged them to stay with her that night. Both agreed. Chrno was a bit uncomfortable with the idea but Ewan was really excited. She took their hands and made them lay with her, one at each side.

She slept trough the night with out dreaming of pain.

Two days after that Sister Kate returned and was thrilled to know the news. She only didn't like two things:

1 – the boys changed her bandages

2 – they slept with her while Sister Kate was gone.

From then on Sister Kate would change Ashley's bandages, but the girl begged her to let the boys stay with her for as long as they could. Reluctantly the nun acceded.

Five days later, a couple of hours before the rest of the girls arrived, Azmaria came. She had been giving concerts and Joshua was escorting her. Joshua was very protective of Azmaria because the girl was like a little sister to him. When they arrived they saw Ewan, Chrno and Ashley getting out of the monastery and heading towards the house. Ashley had been changing her bandages and the boys had just arrived from a mission. Ashley had also been helping with what she could in the monastery. Azmaria and Joshua ran but couldn't reach them in time and they knew they were forbidden to cross the gates that led to the house, so they went to see Sister Kate. After the welcomes Azmaria made some questions about what she had seen so Sister Kate told them almost everything. After all they were trust worthy even if some things didn't need to be said.

After the initial shock of what they had heard had passed Sister Kate took them to the house and then left them to go welcome the other girls.

Part IX – New friends

Ashley was now able to communicate for a couple of hours as long as she kept physical contact with the listener. She and Azmaria became friends instantly and Joshua couldn't help but stare at her. Since she wasn't a nun she wasn't wearing uniform, and her clothes were a bit short. The skirts she wore were above the knee and she usually had a big cleavage. Sometimes she wore pants or shorts. The day they met she was wearing a white dress above the knee and a black corset on top. The cleavage was a bit bigger than usual.

An hour after the rest of the girls arrived, Azmaria went to see them and Ashley was left with the three boys.

Chrno and Ewan were tired of the mission and fell asleep while Azmaria was still there. Ashley was sitting next to them and was gently running her fingers trough their hair. Joshua was blushing looking at her and she didn't know what to do. A couple of minutes later she got up and sat in Joshua's lap, looking deep into his eyes. He turned into a deeper shade of red and only calmed down when she laughed at his cute embarrassed face. She put her hand on his cheek.

Ashley: Calm down, I don't bite you know?

Joshua: Nani? Oh, it's just that I'm not used to this.

Ashley: This what? I'm just playing with you.

Joshua: That sounds…

Ashley: …bad. I know, sorry. I just wanted to make you relax.

Joshua: This is REALLY sounding bad.

Ashley: Nani?

Joshua: Oh, nothing. It's just that you're sitting in my lap…

Ashley: So what? I'm not that heavy and it's not like I'm gonna rape you or anything.

Joshua: You're not?

Ashley: That better not mean you were expecting me to!

Joshua: No, that means I wouldn't mind. Oh, I mean… I'm sorry, just forget I said that.

Before Ashley could say anything Azmaria appeared and saw Ashley sitting in Joshua's lap, both red like a tomato. She giggled as the couple quickly got up. Azmaria said Sister Kate wanted to talk to Joshua so he left. When he closed the door Azmaria grabbed Ashley's hand.

Azmaria: You know, he's just a priest because he has no other place to go, nothing more to do. But if he finds a good reason he'll quit.

Ashley: What's that supposed to mean?

Azmaria: Nothing just thought you might want to know.

The blush in Ashley's face got even worse, what only made Azmaria giggle.

Part X – Evil appears

Ashley had healed well. Only the bruise between her breasts gave her trouble once in a while. Ash (Ashley) was tired of doing nothing so she insisted that Sister Kate should let her help in missions. She wasn't much of a fighter but she was good with guns and so soon she became part of the team. She was doing missions with Joshua and Azmaria or with Ewan. Chrno said his missions were the most dangerous ones so it ought to be better if Ash didn't go with him. The truth was that sometimes Ashley reminded him of Rosette, especially because she was totally obsessed with weapons. At first Joshua felt a bit uncomfortable with her around but later he just couldn't go on a mission with out her. As for Azmaria she had found a sister in Ash. Ashley had now a life there.

Almost a year had passed since she fell from the sky, but she didn't think of her previous life. Sometimes she had bloody nightmares but they were getting rarer and rarer.

Azmaria ran to Ash's house to wake her up. She was needed for a mission, a rather dangerous one. After dressing they headed to Sister Kate's office where the rest of the group already awaited the briefing. The mission ought to take place at nightfall because before that Joshua had to capture a demon. Azmaria couldn't go because she was preparing things for the night, so Ash went alone with him, which didn't leave Ewan very happy. He really liked her and hated it when she was alone with Joshua, but in this case he couldn't do anything for he too needed to prepare for the upcoming mission.

And so Joshua and Ashley left. The mission was rather easy. When Ashley fired the bullet that killed the demon a building started to crumble and she jumped out throwing Joshua to the side, saving him from staying under the ruins. Joshua was lying on the floor with Ashley on top of him, with her hands on each side of his head. They were both panting.

Ashley: You gotta be careful. I can't save you all the time.

Joshua: Yeah, thanks… but you know, I kinda like to be on top…

Ashley: Nani?

Joshua put his arms around her waist and gently kissed her.

Joshua: Ashley…

Ashley: Not now. Come to my place after tonight's mission, and then we'll talk.

Joshua: …okay…

And with a last kiss they got up, just before the police appeared. It would have been embarrassing if they had to explain why a girl was laying on top of a priest in the middle of the street ( or what was left of it), kissing him.

They returned to the monastery and only had time to rest a bit before the next mission. They were going to head to a forsaken mansion. Nuns had been observing it for some time now and it was considered a hide-out for demons. The cross barrier hadn't work so an annihilation team was called.

The team arrived at the place.

Ashley: It's big, dark and creepy…

Ewan: Want me to protect you/grin/

Ashley: Nani?

Joshua: Lets focus on the mission, shall we? If we stick together we'll be safe.

Ashley: …hum guys? What I meant to say was that it's big, dark and creepy. If you had let me finish I would have said "just like I like it". Get it?

Everyone else: NANI?

Ewan: Big, dark and creepy huh/grin/

Joshua: Okay. Just be close to me, k?

Ashley: …okay…

Ewan: Hey what do you mean close to you?

Chrno: Could you stop it already?

Azmaria: Yeah, you'll have time to be jealous latter.

Ewan: …jealous…/blush/

Ashley: Nani? Why would he? I mean, Ewan's like a father to me!

Ewan: …a… father…/psychologically goes sit in corner crying/

Joshua: /smirks/ Take that! Now let's go.

And after this weird conversation they started to work. As usual, once they got in the door closed.

Male voice: At last we meet again, Beatriz.

Part XI – Mystery solved

Ash: Nani?

Voice: Don't you remember? The blood, the pain, dead bodies all around you.

Chrno: So you were the one.

Voice: Indeed. I've been trying to reach her ever since, but she has been well guarded.

Ash: Hey, this is tiring, why can't I speak? My mind is reaching everyone but it uses much of my strength.

Voice: Really? Hadn't noticed it yet.

Ash: Sarcasm, great…

Joshua: Show yourself, monster!

Voice: Careful Don Juan, or you might get yourself hurt. Now let's begin.

The floor collapsed but the fall wasn't that big. After checking if they were hurt they looked around and saw that they were in a torture chamber.

Voice: Now, see that table over there? Place all of your weapons there. If you miss one, all of you will die.

They did so and then a lower demon in human form entered and took the weapons with him.

Voice: As you are probably aware of, today makes a year since Beatriz, sorry, Ashley, came. Now, you see there is a thing called Time Portal. There are a few chosen that after enduring a terrible pain and live can open it. Gladly Ashley opened it for me. I had to kill thousands, I tried for so long! Some perished after passing the tunnel. Most unlucky… But then this young maiden opened it and lived, allowing me to pass trough it. The thing is, the person that opened the portal has to die exactly one year after crossing it, leaving the portal open only to those who have already crossed it. This means you die today sweetie, no hard feelings.

Some demons entered the room and immobilized Ashley while threatening to kill the others.

Ash: What would happen if I didn't die?

Voice: The portal would get completely open and everyone would get to know and use it. Total chaos. Most unadvisable.

Ash: And… if I died before?

Voice: Then everyone that got through it, including you, ought to be trapped in a place where there is no time. A very nasty place if you allow me to say, that's why I'm not taking any chances with you.

Ash: I see…so I have to die at the exact same time, right?

Voice: That's right. My "friends" are there to assure you don't go dying on me too soon. As appreciation for what you've done for me I'll let you have a final request.

Ash: I guess that's an obvious one: let them go, but let me properly say goodbye to them.

Voice: Fair enough. I'll let you do that, but my men will keep a close eye on you. Say your goodbyes.

Ash: No! I don't trust you! Let me see them getting out.

Voice: May I remind you that you are in no position to negotiate? But since I'm feeling very nice today, and there's really nothing you could do, I'll agree. Take them to the entrance.

When they got there Ashley was allowed to say goodbye. She hugged Azmaria, Ewan and Chrno and mumbled something to each one of them as she passed. Then it was Joshua's turn.

Joshua: I can't let you die! Not like this! Not now…

Ash: I have to and you know it. But I have to thank him. Because of him I was allowed to meet you, all of you… I lived my life this year. I'm sorry Joshua, I guess we can't have that talk after all.

Joshua hugged her tight and they kissed under everyone's surprised look. It was a bitter kiss. Neither one of them wanted to let go of the other, never. They knew that it would be their last one. The moment their lips parted from the other everything would end. He gently bit her lower lip and she opened her mouth allowing his tongue to enter. Their last kiss. They wanted it to last forever. They were both crying and their tears joined together in their lips, making it have a salty taste. A goodbye kiss. Joshua tightened his grip on her, trying to make them melt. In return Ashley's arms left his neck and started heading down. Joshua felt her hand at the end of his back and understood what she was going to do. In the middle of the confusion he had completely forgotten about that. And like that the spell was broken, and so was their kiss.

Joshua: No, don't!

Ashley: I have to. Don't ever forget, I love you.

And with a last smile she took the hidden dagger out of Joshua's clothes and pierced her heart.

Ash: I'll take you to hell!

After screams and pain Ash fell on the floor. She was dead, prisoner of time. She sacrificed her life and soul to kill the demon.

Part XII – The End

The funeral was a couple of days later. Joshua couldn't stop crying. He was going to leave the monastery and become an explorer, like he always had wanted to. He couldn't bear staying there, looking at the places that reminded him so much of her. It had been hard staying there after Rosette's death, but now after loosing Ashley too it was just impossible. When they were finally going to be together she was taken from him.

Everyone was together at the funeral. After it Joshua said goodbye to everyone and left forever. He took the dagger that killed Ash with him, never letting go of it. It was a piece of her that was always with him. He could feel her in it. Every time he lay to look at the stars he remembered the last time he did that with her. It was magical. It was the first time they loved each other, under the stars just a couple of days before her death. The first and only. When the stars are especially shinny he feels her laying her head in his chest and he swears he feels his fingers running trough her silky hair. No one knew, but the girl that died was his wife (with no need for a priest or a ceremony, their hearts were married and that was what was important to them) and that talk they were going to have was to decide what they would do after telling everyone they were together. Now he regrets he didn't left with her sooner. Because of that his wife, the one he loved so much, was now dead. Forever taken away from him.

Part XIII – The untold story

Chrono (note that it's nor Chrno) had finally got his wish granted. A girl had opened the portal for him. Once he crossed to the place where the girl had fallen (not the place where she was supposed to fall) he realized that his body was different. After studying he discovered that the truth was that his soul occupied a certain body made to fit the time and place he was now at. When one changes the course of time the body has to adapt itself, therefore his appearance changes. That goes for both humans and demons. Then he cursed himself. He had been looking for the girl based on her appearance, but she too ought to have changed. Then he realized there was another way of finding her. He knew, even before crossing the portal, that as a punishment for doing so he would lose his voice and suffer mental and physical damage. As compensation he could communicate mentally. The girl should be the same. Chrono was a demon, and demons find demons. He gathered a small army and looked for the girl. It wasn't hard to find her after that because she used her gift in missions. The hardest was to get to her. So he made a small set-up, guiding her way into the mansion. He was running out of time and becoming desperate, he had to get to her soon.

Chrono: Ah, finally they've arrived. Tonight you die, Beatriz.

The End

A/N:Meaning that the last line was when Ashley and the rest of the group arrived at the mansion. Sorry, I just had to tell this.

Also, I didn't explain here, but Rosette died, in this story, because she gave the last of her life to Chrno to defeat Aion before he got his horns back.

Hope you enjoyed! Thanks for reading and reviewing (for those who have, for those who didn't… please review!)