A/N: I don’t own Chrono Crusade. I'm sorry about the wait. I've had to give up my writing time for homework. I'm still waiting on my beta, but I won't get a chance to post for awhile so...if any serious changes have to be made, I'll let you know.

Chapter four: The Meeting

“So he finally did it? Geez Wren, it’s taken long enough- I had to practically tell him! We’re almost out of time!”

“I didn’t think it would take him that long to pick up on it!” The woman paced, phone cradled against her cheek as she pulled the curtains from the window, staring across a sea of lights to the dark shadow of stone surrounding them all.

“Protecting” them all.

“Oh no? Geez, you should’ve sent her down here!”

“We needed her up here.” She fought to calm her voice, damn him! “Besides, it would’ve been obvious if he came here and she didn’t.”

“And this wasn’t?” She scowled.

“Don’t take that tone you- anyway, they haven’t figured us out, have they.” She shifted a stack of files from her chair- why didn’t they have filing cabinets here?- and sat down, rubbing her feet. Stupid pacing. It was a bad habit.

“No.” his reply echoed over to her, sulky. She chuckled, swiping a hank of black hair from her face. Absently, she leaned back and picked up a framed picture, nuzzling it. Soon.

Soon, soon, soon.

“Then it wasn’t too obvious, was it.” She smirked. “Any other news?”

“Same as usual.” There was quiet as he talked with someone on the other end. “Wren, are you sure we can trust him on this one? After everything? What about-”

“I can trust you, right Lucky?” She stood, straightening her dress. It was nearly time.

“Of course.”

“Then you can trust him. Good night.” Godren hung up the phone, glaring at the damned wall, swallowing.

Soon.

Provided they weren’t late, of course.

In the mean time, she had a meeting to attend.

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“Rosette, how could we be late for this!?” Kate shrieked as they hurled over the city. So much for the girl being more on top of things!

“I needed to find my briefcase!” Rosette looked back, her wings beating furiously. “You know you can’t enter a meeting unprepared!”

“Since when do you need back up on your arguments?” Ewan groaned, swiping his bangs from his face.

“Since damn Stevenson, that’s when! This way- we can reach the debate hall through here!” they thumped onto a small jetty, knocking over several clerks as they bounded through the door and down a hall, screeching to a tangled stop outside the huge black doors. Rosette gulped a breath, patting down her skirt and running a hand over her hair. “Ok.” Rosette hesitated, shifting the strap of her abruptly heavy bag. She licked her lips.

“Here goes nothing.” She pushed open the door and marched in, frowning when she noticed that no one was sitting at the long conference table that had been set up instead of the usual seats. The room was filled with small groups mingling and flocking together- the High Councillors muttering to themselves, the engineers bickering. Stevenson was arguing heatedly with Amelia. Grey and his partner Golden were talking in low tones to Godren, who was pacing and glaring at the second entranceway, growling “late, late, late”. Among them, various other Angels flitted, some with jugs of water, others just talking where the might be- or weren’t- heard.

“About time you three got here.” Rosette looked up as Cam stalked beside them, note pad in hand and already writing furiously. “‘Dren’s in a rotten temper. She threw a book at me! The pages got wrinkled and I’m getting a bruise!” He slouched, face red tinged.

Rosette just sighed. “You do realize who you’re flirting with, right?”

“I wasn’t flirting!”

“Oh sure you-”

“WHAT!”

“What is HE doing here?” Rosette swung around, stumbling on the steps at Kate’s furious gasp, her eyes flying around the room until they landed on the source of the woman’s shock.

Oops.

“Right- that’s-”

“The bastard!” Ewan had tensed and Kate’s face had gone white- she was patting her hip looking for something, even as her eyes never left Him. Rosette groaned, slapping herself on the forehead.

“You didn’t tell them, did you?” Cam pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing.

“It… might have slipped my mind. You know, uh…with the plot to over throw Heaven and all.”

“You mean because you got a letter from your boyfriend.” The teen glared at her. She clutched her fist to keep from hitting him.

How could she have forgotten? They didn’t time for this, not now! “Look, I’m used to this, I forgot. I’ve had 50 years to be used to it.”

“Used to what?”

She looked up, grinning weakly at the white haired man.

“Oh! Er- Good evening, High Councillor Aion!”

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“Chrono!” he looked up as Rosette barrelled towards him, her recently shorn hair flying behind her. “Hey!” She waved and he smiled, waving back as the sun filtered through his favourite tree, warming the ache from his shoulders.

“Happy birthday, Rosette.” he held out a package- he’d wrapped it that morning and she beamed, flinging her exuberant self at him.

“I knew you wouldn’t forget!” she squealed, knocking them both to the grass and hugging him. “I knew you wouldn’t!” He was still tingling when she rolled off him, tearing at the brown papered box.

“I- I hope you like it,” he said quietly, his stomach whining in his gut. “The only colours of wool I could find were red and white- I know it’s off-season but… I thought they might be useful later on. You know, in winter… when you’re on your missions- as an exorcist.” She looked away from the brilliant red cardigan, the white scarf already draped around her neck despite the August heat, her enormous blue eyes sparkling.

“They’re beautiful.” She pulled on the sweater and he winced- it was huge and the stitches were clumsy, even though he’d done the scarf first to remember how to knit. He hadn’t had a pattern to work with, or a size... but still, it looked… he fought to keep his shoulders from slumping. “I guess you have a lot of spare time on your hands, being under surveillance all the time, huh.” Suddenly quiet, the girl tucked her knees to her chest, staring at the ground and he bolted up, fighting panic. He’d been trying to cheer her up!

“Well, that- that won’t be for much longer!” he announced, his words tripping and stumbling in their haste to escape his confining mouth. “Elder says I should be free to come and help you soon, if I behave-er- and if there aren’t any more accidents at the lab.”

He blinked, realizing that in his desperate want to cheer her up, he’d grabbed her hands, squeezing her small, warm fingers between his stained claws. That and he was looking very closely at the tiny gold-green flecks in her eyes.

Their faces were much closer together than he ever allowed.

“Oh!” he scuttled away, cringing. Sister Kate would kill him if she was watching!

Rosette laughed; her face swooping back into a grin as she flung her arms around him again: a warm human light wrapped around his chest, expelling the shadows. Relief rushed through him and he squeezed her back awkwardly: besides the fact his stomach was still healing, it was a human ritual he didn’t quite understand: a need to touch to express.

In Pandemonium, he’d grown up with no touch but the beat and clout of the constant scraps and battles young demons always instigated as they were taught who to hate. He didn’t think anyone had ever touched him with fondness before Mary.

Mary had touched him, but if it wasn’t out of necessity, it was only a light brush, a cupping of the face with a concerned look. They had both been creatures of solitude, content with their soft contact, even as a feeling he hadn’t know the name of had been there; a need, a thirst. But they never touched more than was acceptable, a hand to cheek, a brushing of shoulders as they walked side by side.

Touch was a treat, a gift rarely given no matter how small; something few would bestow upon any demon, let alone a Sinner like him.

But this beautiful, shining child (she’d hit him if he said it) grinning up at him, her sturdy little arms clamped around his middle, had no such reservations.

She and Joshua had always been touching: squabbling, grabbing, hugging, wrestling, whatever form of contact they could, showing they were together and nothing could pry them apart. When they drew him out of his darkness, he was treated the same, and it had baffled him to be pulled into the tiny bubble of warmth, hugs and smiles.

Now, even with her brother gone- or maybe because of it- and even with eyes streaming down at them, she was hugging him again.

A demon embraced by a Lamb of God.

“Hey, Chrono! Wait here, ok!” Rosette jumped up, waving her hands to push him down. “I have something for you to try!” He sat up, and she was gone again, a low flying angel. A moment and she’d returned, carrying two tan cones of dark coloured ice. “Sister Kate said that since three of us have birthdays this week, we could have a treat! So here you go!”A cone was shoved into his hand. “Eat up, ok?” She plopped down next to him and promptly started chomping on her cone. “Hurry! It’ll melt.” Inspecting the dark mound, he gave it a sniff- human food was another thing he was still getting used too- and then a tentative lick. He shuddered, closing his eyes, cold flooding his mouth and sweeping aside the dry heat of the day.

“What do you think?” Rosette paused her chocolate bliss long enough to raise an eyebrow at him, attempting to get the chocolate off her chin. He nodded, taking another lick and letting the ice sit in 

his mouth, melting and trickling down his throat. She jabbed him in the side, making him choke, and he coughed until he was blue while she laughed and laughed, tickling him.

“Hey! Ok! Ok! I like it! I like it!” He wheezed, flailing under her insistent fingers.

They had laughed again after that, when he had pointed out that Rosette had ice cream on her nose. She’d hit him, wiped it off and they continued; laughing together and getting brain freeze together and sitting hip to hip together and just being together.

Now, his brain was frozen, but he was alone.

Chrono groaned- it wasn’t just his brain that was throbbing, cold- everything was; a dull ice, coiling around his thoughts and dripping down his neck and shoulders, a numbing river all the way to his toes.

Dark, cold, floating, abstract, immaterial.

Somewhere beyond his eyelids, a candle was flickering, lonely and warm in the bowels of hell. Wherever it was, it was too far. Too far for the light to hurt him, too far for the heat to thaw him.

He kept his eyes shut; trying to push the ache from his senses- you could do that. Push it to some corner of your head where you couldn’t feel anything- not cold, not pain, not lonely skin. Well, you could at least believe you couldn’t feel anything.

Then, in the middle of the night, it would all come crashing back, flooding your senses until you were lost, and floundering in the darkness and nothing. Floundering and debating whether to claw to the surface again, to struggle to the burning light- or, more likely, the void.

He couldn’t bear to look. As much as the shadows threatened to consume him, a night without her memory would be worse. One night without it would strip him of the little sanity the wind had left him. He couldn’t look. He took a shallow breath and pushed the cold away, plunging back into ink and darkness.

Darkness was safe, when you were too tired to fight.

Darkness was contrast- in it you could see that tiny hope’s light.

Wind roared in his ears, calling, calling: Come to me…Coward.

Coward.

That was the only word to describe him.

A murdering coward. He shuddered. The cold was coming back.

Come…

Maybe…the wind scattered the thing trails of thought, echoing in his ears.

Come…

”We both have our faults Chrono, even so, I’m glad you were with me. But what about you? If you say you’ve had enough, then fine. If you’re tired of fighting, then just stop…”

The wind swooped in again, drowning out the rest.

Just stop…

He could just stop…

Falling…

He’d fallen then, that time. They’d both crashed to the floor in a tangle of tears and limbs. He’d hugged her, one of the rare times he’d started the contact. And he’d remembered…

I had to protect you.

After that, he’d tried. He’d tried hard to be strong for her, to protect her…but he’d failed.

Chrono lifted a hand, dragging it to his eyes- they felt gummy, like something was gluing them shut.

Clank.

His hand jerked short of his face, his wrist wrenching at the end of a chain. He trying unsuccessfully to open his eyes, he tried his right hand, turning his face against the cold stone.

Clank. Again, the hand jerked short.

“What…?” his lips cracked. He tasted blood as he moistened them. Twisting, he sat up, gagging as a chain around his neck snapped him back against the dirt, slapping the breath from his lungs. “Oof!” He forced his heart to slow down. This was just another punishment. They’d caught him trying to deliver the letter- no, not trying. He had delivered it. He hadn’t failed this time. His stomach hurt. They must have kicked him hard there- he wasn’t sure though. He had been caught. So now they were punishing him. There. Logic. That made sense.

The darkness loomed over his head, the small safety it provided gone as his ears strained over his erratic heart to hear the sounds rattling around him.

Water dripping.

His own harsh gasps.

A clattering of chains.

Wind.

Faraway shouts.

The clank of picks.

There were no sounds of fire; no clattering of chains besides those on his shivering limbs; no excited murmuring.

So stay calm. He swallowed, the dripping of water growing louder. Was he close to the sump then? Where else was there water in hell that wasn’t frozen? Had Marty and the others noticed he was gone? They’d (correctly) assume that he had gone to send the letter, but if he wasn’t back by the time they finished their shift? Would they come to look for him? Part of him wished they would; that they would get him out of this…but he was more resistant to this sort of thing than they were. It was far better if they didn’t come looking.

Don’t come looking.

Clomp. Someone was coming, and he tensed, feeling the air shift. Relax, relax, relax! He reminded himself. It was the anticipation that was the worst.

Drip. A cold drop of water landed on his collar bone and slid down his chest. His mouth burned; dry. He swallowed.

“Damned idiot! You awake yet?” he didn’t answer, forcing himself to breath normally. “I know you’re faking it, stupid.” A jolt of pain scoured his side as the guard- or whoever it was- grabbed his arm and unlocked the cuff. He stayed sleep-limp. “It took you bloody long enough, you stupid oaf- are you TRYING to get Heaven torn apart?” His other arm was free. “Honestly!”

A bucket’s worth of ice water splashed into his face, and he jerked up with a gasp, nearly hanging himself by the wretched shackles as his eyes snapped open, free of whatever had been gluing them shut.

“Shit, that’s cold!” he coughed, shaking the water from his face, shivering in the cold air.

“Serves you right for faking sleep, Sinner Chrono.” He looked up and Lucky raised an eyebrow at him, crossing his red robed arms. “Yeah, I know your name. Can’t keep to yourself, can you?” The guard sat, still glaring at him. “And you can’t get your head out of the clouds either, you idiot.”

“What do you want.” Chrono fought the urge to spit in the man’s face. Or punch him. He really wanted to do that, but the chain around his neck was in the way.

Besides: he was supposed to be staying calm. Calm meant you could think. He tugged lightly at the chain on his leg then glowered at Lucky.

The guard rolled his eyes.

“What do I want? Same as you do: a bit of freedom. The ability to see someone in a place I’m not allowed.” Lucky leaned back, his hands behind his head in mock relaxation, the keys jingling at his 

waist. “But it’s not what I want that’s important. And stop looking at me like that.” The Guard took off his hat, scratching the stubby horns perched in his shaggy black hair.

“Like what.” Chrono growled- how could a Heaven Guard have horns? He glanced around the cavern, but there were no furnishings. Just open, dripping darkness lit by the tiny candle by the door.

“Like you’re going to murder me the first chance you get. It makes me uncomfortable.” The guard grinned at him- was it a joke? “Alright, alright. Geez, you’re a hard case, you know that? I’m patient. Anyone else would’ve killed you by now.” The demon slapped his hat off his knee, his lips pressing into a little line. “Chrono, you and I have something in common.”

“Besides you being a demon? I thought they weren’t allowed in Heaven.”

“Yes, well,” Lucky winked. “That’s our little secret now, isn’t it. And no, we aren’t really welcome there.”

“What, did you kill a real Guard and sneak in?” he stilled his twitching claws.

“You make it bloody hard to cut a deal, you know. It could be so much easier.”

“We’re in Hell.”

“Ever hear about honour among thieves?”

“That’s thieves. We’re demons. Dead demons.”

“Big difference!”

Where was this going? Chrono sneezed- so much for looking dangerous. Not that he could, lying on the ground in chains and dripping wet. Lucky groaned, running his gloved hands through his hair and patting the sword at his side.

“You still going t’ kill me? If you aren’t, I can let you out of these stupid chains and talk to you in my office. I’m getting a crick in my neck looking at you like this.” The guard rolled his shoulders, the crack echoing in the room.

Chrono sneezed again.

“Now, sit down. Geez, all you Hellions are so thin!” Lucky threw a towel at him as he stepped into the well dim cavern, ducking under the door.

“It might help if they actually fed us more than once every two days.” Chrono growled, frowning at the heavy wood, running a claw over it in surprise. Apart from the handle of his pick, he hadn’t seen any sign of any material but rock and metal in Hell. Even the soup they had once a month tasted like the stone that hung in the air.

“Hurry up will you! You want to get caught?” Lucky grabbed the chain that still hung around the violet haired demon’s neck and yanked him inside, shutting the door with a fugitive look around the hall and setting the candle in a mirrored holder.

Chrono yelled, the sudden light scouring his vision and he stumbled, trying to see beyond the dots of colour blinding him. He was pushed into a chair and the towel was thrust into his face again.

“You’re dripping all over the silk throw.” Lucky muttered, gesturing at the ratty- and now wet- upholstery. “Don’t encourage the mould.” Chrono peered around the reeking towel as a second chair scraped back and Lucky seated himself behind a rough stone desk, folding his arms and looking unnervingly like a male version of Sister Kate.

Sister Kate. That had been the voice- one of them, of the people he’d given the letter to. So Sister Kate was in heaven. That was good- she was a good leader, if stern. Lucky cleared his throat.

“Have you gained control over yourself?” He scowled. “I have a meeting to attend, and I need your services, former contractor of Rosette Christopher.” The Heaven Guard smirked. Chrono stiffened, a chill shooting up his back- he knew?

“I refuse to help you destroy Heaven.”

“If you don’t help me, then your precious Contractor will die.” Chrono felt his claws dig into the cold stone of the chair, a familiar rage twisting through him.

Rise to the challenge. He forced the anger away. He would not fall prey to it-

“If you lay one hand of Rosette Christopher, I’ll kill you!” The door burst open and he yelped; a pair of enormous arms grabbing him by the scuff of the neck and yanking him aside as Uma, Marty and Tzi piled through the door, crashing in a heap at his feet. Uma blinked, her heart shaped face looking up at him in confusion. “Oops. Wrong demon.”

Lucky groaned, rubbing his eyes.

“Why? Why me?” A second Heaven Guard stuck his head in, his sword drawn.

“Cap? Should I deal with them?” Lucky waved his free hand, still rubbing his temples.

“No David. Just assume this is normal and close the door. I’ll handle this.” David nodded; his brown eyes decidedly blank as he turned around and shut the door. Lucky glanced at Marty. “Lock that, will you? And you!” he pointed at Ivan. “Put him down.” Chrono grinned weakly at Ivan as the giant released him to land lightly on his feet. Uma jumped up, her hair crackling around her face.

“What are you planning on doing to Rosette?” she snarled. “You traitor! Bastard! How dare you attack an angel!”

“Uma! Can it!”

“Don’t you boss me, you chauvinist swine!”

“Chauvinist? What the hell!”

“Silence! All of you!” Lucky banged his hand on his desk, standing and glaring at Chrono. “I’m assuming these are your friends?”

“Damn right we are!” Marty roared, surging forward. Uma and Tzigane grabbed his arms. “Lay off Uma! And yeah, we’re his friends. Got a problem with it?” Chrono closed his eyes.

Apparently, he couldn’t even get into trouble without starting even more.

“Chrono, if they damage my office, you are paying for it. Now, shut up all of you and sit down before someone hears you all and this gets blown to pieces before it even starts!” The demonic Guard started pacing, grinding his teeth. “Chrono, I need your services.”

“I told you I wouldn’t help you destroy Heaven.”

“Arg! You bloody idiot!” Chrono flattened himself to the chair as Lucky whirled on him, face turning the colour of his uniform. “I need you to finish what you started by sending that letter.” He threw up his hands. “I’m not the one who wants to destroy Heaven, you idiots!”

Chrono snorted.

“And that’s exactly why you were discussing the tunnels? And why you raised the alarm that I was headed for the main tunnel?”

“In case you didn’t notice, if you hadn’t over heard me- very bluntly, might I add!- ask that ruddy guard about the tunnels, you would never have wondered about where the tunnels were going! And anyway, if the rest of the guard had caught you, you wouldn’t be sitting here right now.” He glared at his watch. “Dammit! That lot.” he jabbed a finger at Marty, Uma, Tzi and Ivan. “Can you trust them?” Tzi cocked her head to the side.

“He has purple in his aura. Is he an angel or a demon, Uma?” she chirped, her long chestnut braid flopping haphazardly over her shoulder. “And Chrono, why do you have a collar on? Are you a doggy?” The woman giggled, a delicate hand covering her mouth as Uma stepped in front of her.

“Of course I can trust them.” Chrono snapped; his head pounding. There was no way this man was telling the truth... was there? He didn’t know anything abut the Heaven’s Guard. Only that they seemed to be very close to Delacroix, especially Lucky.

Yet he wouldn’t have noticed. He wouldn’t wonder about the tunnels.

Chrono met Lucky’s gaze evenly, trying not to look behind him as there was yet another crash. Who knew what the others were doing. The Heaven’s Guard grimaced.

“We’re out of time. You better be able to trust them.” The demon tossed a handful of thin black cloaks at them. “Put those on and pull up the hoods.”

“What-” they pulled on the cloaks, lifting the hoods until their faces were covered. Lucky nodded, his face still hard.

“It’ll have to do. Damn, I didn’t think I’d have to deal with so many. Take one each.” Lucky held out a small wicker basket filled with fine gold rings.

Chrono blinked, staring at the thin gold loop on his palm.

“This is…”

“A temporary halo.” Lucky pulled on a cloak of his own, jamming one of the heaven ring on his finger. “Somewhere in human mythology, the gold rings angels wear to give them wings and access to heaven got changed to halos around their head- utter stupidity, that. These are the real halos. These ones will give you about four hours, so that should be enough for this mission.”

“Mission?” Uma frowned, still holding Marty back. “What mission?” Lucky grinned.

“Your first mission as Heaven’s Horn. Now, for once in you afterlives, keep your rings and cloaks on, shut up and pay close attention to what’s going on. You will be tested.” Lucky strode to a tall cabinet and yanked open the door. “Through you go.” Chrono looked at the row of red uniforms and black cloaks. He looked at Lucky. The others looked at him.

Why not? His afterlife certainly wouldn’t be any weirder. Head still swirling with confusion and wind, he stepped into the closet, the his friends at his heels.

The ground beneath them vanished, and in a flurry of black cloaks, flailing hands and panic yowls, they plunged downward.

The ground came harder and far faster than Chrono expected.

“Oof!” he landed, his head hitting with a crack that sent constellations into his eyes. Around him, the others landed in similar fashion, complaining and groaning.

What the Hell had they gotten into?

“Everyone here?” A candle flared to life and Lucky smirked, leaning against the wall of- what was this anyway? Chrono looked around the small chamber. Tzi giggled again.

“I’ve always loved elevators- will there be funny music?” She sat up, looking around, her eyes wide and bright. Lucky smirked.

“No, no funny music. You’re Tzigane, I assume.” He stepped forward, leaning down to help the woman up. Uma jumped between them.

“Don’t you lay a hand on her, you traitor!” She snarled, face ruddy with fury. “And don’t go messing with her head neither!”

“Uma.” Chrono patted her shoulder- he didn’t have to stretch his arm to do so in the confining space. “Uma, stop. If he was going to do something to us, he would’ve done it before now. Let him help her up.”

“We don’t need a Heaven Guard to get to our feet!” Uma snapped, bending and yanking Tzigane up. “See?”

“Oh grow up Uma.” Marty snapped, giving her a little push. She swung around and smacked him. Chrono leaned against the wall, staring at the ground. They were changing altitude- his ears were popping. Absently, he rubbed one. How long had it been since he’d felt the “crack” from a changing in altitude?

“Marty!” Uma was squawking, batting at Martin.

It reminded Chrono of Eden.

“Missed me!”

It reminded him of Rosette and Joshua. His heart ached.

“So what are we doing once we get out of here?” He turned to Lucky, narrowing his eyes at the other demon. “You never said what this “mission” was. What are we doing?” The ring around his finger was humming softly, low enough humans wouldn’t hear. He flicked a pointed ear in annoyance. He didn’t like being used at the best of times.

Now wasn’t the best of times.

Lucky shook his head. “You’re questioning now?” The small compartment jerked to a halt. “Ah! Now, does every one have their rings and hoods on? Good, now don’t take them off. Stick together children; I’ll call you when I need you.” Whistling Lucky tapped lightly on the wall. With a high pitched whine, the wall was flung open, and the compartment was flooded with blinding, brilliant light.