Disclaimer: I don't own Chrno Crusade or any other anime, so if this fic resembles any other one (D.N.Angel for example) it is a pure coincidence and should be considered very, very unfortunate.

Chapter 1

Chrno woke up exhilarated. Not only was today his birthday, but his fourteenth birthday! And for some reason that made it special.

He got up, showered, dressed and went into the kitchen for breakfast, or rather to make breakfast since he's usually the first one up. Even though Chrno already knew this he still hoped someone else made breakfast for a change, considering today was his special day. He sighed when he saw that the kitchen was as empty as any other morning.

"Why am I not surprised," Chrno muttered to himself, "lazy bums."

With that he rolled up his sleeves (not really since he was wearing a t-shirt and, considering that it was November in Michigan, pretty cold) and got to work on the day's first meal.

Chrno had just finished setting plates of scrambled eggs on the table when the second member of the house entered the kitchen. Chrno looked up to it was his brother, Aion.

"Mornin' Chrno," he yawned as he sat down in front of his plate, "and before I forget, happy birthday."

Chrno stared at his older brother as he wolfed down forkfuls of eggs. Even though they were brothers, they looked nothing alike. Aion was tall and tanned; his hair was shoulder length and white, which he kept in a ponytail, and violet coloured eyes. He also wore a pair of half-circle glasses. Chrno on the other hand was kind of on the short side and a bit pale; his purple hair was short and spiky and his eyes were red but not to the point of them being demonic.

Chrno sat down behind his own plate of eggs. "If you knew it was my birthday why couldn't you make breakfast for a change?"

Aion shrugged. "You know how I am. I'm just lazy."

Before Chrno could say something back, their conversation was inturupted by a squeal.

"CHRNO!" Chrno's sister, Shader came bouncing into the kitchen. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

She jumped into his lap, through her arms around him and gave him a big kiss on the cheek. Even though she was older than Chrno by three years, she was still small enough to sit on his lap. "YOUR FINALLY FOURTEEN! TWO MORE YEARS AND YOU'LL BE MY AGE NOW!"

Chrno laughed. Even though his sister has a genius, she acted like a ten-year-old. Like Aion, the two siblings looked nothing alike. Shader's hair reached just under her jaw and was blue so dark it was almost black. Her eyes were the same colour as her hair and she had face like a cat, only without the whiskers.

"HERE'S YOUR PRESENT!" Shader gave him a small box with a little bow on it. Chrno held his breathe as he accepted the gift. He always loved Shader's presents since she always made them herself, and considering she was a genius with the imagination of a child, they were always cool. Last year she had given him a laser pointer that used a real laser. He had almost decapitated his brother because of it.

When Chrno opened the box though he was slightly disappointed to see its contents. Inside was a bronze pocket watch on a chain. He pulled it out and it swung hypnotically on its chain. He shook out of his reverie when he noticed Shader, no longer on his lap, talking to him. "… like the ones me, Aion and mother has. It was actually very hard to make. I'm glad mother asked me to make it though. So Chrno what do you think?"

Chrno smiled at her. "I think its great." He hung the chain around his neck. The clock thumped lightly on his chest send a small shock through him.

"You must be very careful Chrno. Now that you are fourteen you will need that watch. Keep it with you always and never let it leave your sight." Aion said to him in a serious tone. Chrno was shocked. In all his fourteen years on this earth he had never heard his brother talk like that before.

"Now let me got you my present." Tone light once again Aion quickly left the kitchen. Chrno was still concerned though. What did Aion mean when he talked about the watch? He was about to question his sister when Aion returned. What he saw took his breath away also with all thoughts of what was said a few minutes earlier. Chrno stood up and ran towards his brother who was holding up a red trench coat.

"Aion thank you!" he said while trying it on, "And I forgive you for not making breakfast." The coat fit perfectly.

Aion laughed and messed up his hair. "Don't mention it little buddy, but I suggest you better get going or you'll be late for the bus."

Chrno saw the time and yelped. He quickly grabbed his bag and bolted out the door. When the door slammed closed behind him Aion stopped smiling. "I hope the kid's ready for what's coming." He said to himself quietly.

"Don't worry," Shader said in the same quiet voice, "We've done all we could to prepare him. The rest is up to luck."

Chrno's mad dash to the bus was not in vain. He got there just as the doors were about to close. "Wait!" yelled before he jumped for the doors. He got in just as the doors were about to close on the tail of his trench coat. He let out a sigh of relief and smiled at the annoyed bus driver. Shouldering his bag, Chrno went straight to a seat occupied by a blonde headed girl.

"Hey Rosette," he greeted before plopping down beside her. Rosette Christopher, Chrno's best friend since always, turn her ocean blue eyes towards him. "Hey Chrno. Happy birthday. And cool coat. Present I assume?"

Chrno grinned and plucked his sleeve. "You like it? Aion gave it to me."

"Its really nice. Red suits you. How come you don't wear it more? You look real good in that colour, matches your eyes."

Chrno turned slightly red at the comment. "I don't have that much red clothing," he stammered, "and what about you? You'd look great in blue and don't say 'I don't have any blue clothing' because I've seen your closet (they've been best friends for a long time so it's not that weird)."

Rosette snorted. "If I wanted to wear blue I'd become a cop, like Joshua. Anyway I don't want to impress anyone. You on the other hand…" She looked at him slyly. "May I remind you of a certain golden haired cousin of mine named Mary Magdalene?"

Chrno turned into a tomato. He was about to retort by reminding her about a certain golden haired teacher when the bus screeched to a halt. They had arrived at school.

A/N: Just some things I didn't make clear in the chapter. Shader is seventeen but because she's a genius doesn't go to school anymore. Aion is nineteen, Rosette and Magdalene are fourteen and Joshua is fifteen. That is all. Bye bye.