A/N: Thought I'd NEVER update huh? Well, blame my temporary AMV making obsession…OBSESSION!! Ahem, anyways…I'm really sorry if the characters are OOC.

Disclaimer: Me? Own? HA! Seriously; no.

-----Chapter 2-----

Rosette sniffed appreciatively at the smells of good food being made. Too bad she was going to have to miss this rare opportunity; Ms. Jean never made a splurge like this anymore except for special occasions. A new guest (orphan) was one of those few chances. "Why did it have to be today?" Rosette thought as she peeked into the kitchen. "Everything looks so good, and delicious, and—No!" She mentally shook herself, "I am not going to give Ms. Jean the satisfaction of knowing her punishment is working."

"Wish you could eat too, huh?" A voice mocked from next to her.

"Joshua!"

The shout did not go unnoticed as Ms. Jean wasn't deaf, and the caretaker promptly stared them down. "Go set the tables."

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"Whew! We got off easy! Ms. Jean really doesn't like us running around there when she's cooking," Joshua said.

"Meaning she doesn't want us in there for hours; away from the one place with heat."

Joshua shrugged. "At least winter hasn't set in yet. When did Ms. Jean say the new orphan is coming?"

"Uhh," Rosette paused from setting down the dishes, "A bit after the sun sets, I think."

Her brother glanced out the window. "Then doesn't that mean the orphan should have arrived by now?"

Rosette opened her mouth to answer, but…"KYAA!!"

Joshua nearly dropped his forks and spoons. "Wh-what was that?"

"It came from the parlor," Rosette said, motioning to her left, "Come on!"

"Go back! Go back! Go awaaaaay!" screamed the voice of a young girl.

Rosette halted as she reached the source of the screams. "What?! Is there a fire?" She looked around frantically, seeing nothing wrong. Heck, the room was empty except for her and two people.

"It's a savage! It's a savage, Rosette!" the 5 year old screeched, "Tell him to go awaaaaaaay!!" The girl waved her hand madly about, pointing to the general area of the only other person in the room. "Go back to your side of the mountains!!"

The supposed 'savage' was really just a boy around the siblings' age. Sure, he looked rather…unique to put it nicely, but not exactly like the natives that used to inhabit the area. The boy's face looked confused and annoyed; mostly annoyed. The fact that his eyes had a reddish tint, making them look more menacing then they really were, didn't exactly help calm down the screeching child in front of him. Rosette, however, wasn't paying attention to his eyes, it was his hair. Sure, to her, the eyes were all fine and dandy, but the hair! It was long, very long. Even longer than her own (which reached half-way down her back)! And it was purple! Purple! His clothes were plain, just a white shirt with brown trousers, and one of his shoes were missing a buckle, but Rosette was just staring at the hair, and nothing else.

Finally, she spoke over the younger child's still screaming voice, "Is your hair real?"

The boy twitched. "Of course it is!" He pulled on it to show her, "It isn't a wig, if that's what you were thinking."

"Did I miss anything?" Joshua asked as he walked in. He took a glance at the screeching child and winced before covering one of his ears. "Will you please be quiet?" Joshua pleaded.

Immediately, Rosette took a step forward and covered the girl's mouth, muffling her screams. "Shh! You're giving Joshua headache!" The noise was quieter, but the girl still threw her arms around. "Calm down, Emily!"

"Whoa!" she heard Joshua exclaim, "Is your hair dyed? Why purple?"

"Because I was born this way," the boy said with a hint of impatience.

"Heh, really? Sorry," Joshua said sheepishly. He then quickly tried to change the conversation. "Sooo, Rosette. What was Emily screaming about anyways?"

"Oh, that?" Rosette began tickling the girl, trying to get her to laugh instead, "She thought he—" Rosette nodded towards the boy, "—was an Indian." Emily had started giggling, so Rosette tickled even harder.

"Really?"

By now, several people were filing into the room, all trying to take a look at what the commotion was.

"Who was being a banshee?" Billy asked, peeved, "I think whoever it was shattered my ears."

"Sorry, that was me," Emily said, finally released from Rosette's grip.

Billy kneeled down to face Emily at eye level. "And just what were you doing squealing like that?"

"There's a savage in the room!"

"Where?"

"There!" Emily waved her hand towards the boy.

Billy raised an eyebrow and looked skeptically at him. "Purple?"

The boy twitched. "Yes. Why is everyone asking me that?"

Hurried footsteps came closer down the small corridor leading to the kitchen. Ms. Jean half-ran in. "Oh! You're here!" She walked over next to the boy and faced the 'crowd' that had grown in the parlor. "Everyone," she announced, "This Chrno. He shall be living her with us from now on."

Billy crossed his arms and gave Chrno a few glances. "Him? Are you sure he's not a savage?"

Ms. Jean glared at him. "Billy? Are you a glutton for punishment? Rest assured, I will not hesitate to give you one." Billy shut his mouth immediately. "Now then, I'm sure you're all very hungry, so dinner is ready!" Everybody cheered and began to push and shove, all trying to be the first into the kitchen. Ms. Jean turned to Rosette briefly, "I believe you are going to your room?"

"Yes, yes, I'm going!"

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Chrno looked around the room, trying to recognize all the new faces. All but one was here. He turned to blonde boy who he supposed was that girl's brother and gave him a nudge.

"Yeah?" He didn't stop shoveling some potatoes onto his plate or look at him.

"Isn't your, uhh…sister, right? Going to eat?"

"You mean Rosette? Naw."

"She isn't, erm…anorexic is she?"

The brother laughed loudly. "R-rosette? Not eat on purpose? Ha! She loves food. Ms. Jean's just punishing her." He turned to look at Chrno and stared at his plate.

"What?"

"Aren't you going to eat? I mean, your plate is empty."

Chrno look down. "Heh, so it is." With that, he reached and began to take some of the meal.

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GRRRMMMMMMM. Rosette groaned and clutched her stomach. "Oh! Just be quiet stomach, please! I know you're hungry." GGGRRRRMM. Her stomach just wasn't cooperating.

The clatter of the dining room was dieing down, indicating that mealtime was just about over. Pretty soon, the other girls that roomed with her would be coming up to go to sleep. "Alright!" Rosette thought, "I just have to get through the night, and at breakfast, I'm going to eat a lot! So stomach, just hang in there!" GRRRRRRRRM. "I'm doomed!"

A knock came from outside. Rosette sat up straighter, "Wow, that was fast." "Come in!" she called.

The door opened a crack and a head peeked in. It was purple. "Hey! What do you think you're doing on the girl's side!" she whispered.

"Shh!" Chrno ran over and dropped a lumpy bundle wrapped in napkins. "I'm not doing anything suspicious, okay?" He held his hands up and backed out the door.

"Okay, that was…strange," Rosette mumbled. She unwrapped the bundle and her eyes widened. It was food! Glorious, glorious food! Okay, it was a piece of bread and a small slab of meat squished between, but it was food! "I definitely owe you one, Chrno!" Rosette was just about to stuff her face when she paused. "Wait a minute…"

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"How did you sneak food past Ms. Jean? She's got eyes like a hawk!" Rosette said as they (as in the orphanage) walked into their clearing in the woods. She had pulled back Chrno (Joshua walked back uninvited) so that there would be no chance of being overheard by the other orphans, who were up ahead.

"Is it really that hard?"

Joshua openly gaped at him. "Yes it is! Do you know how many times I've tried? And every time, I got caught." A grin spread across Joshua's face. "You've got to tell me how you did that sometime! I want to sneak food to Rosette next time!"

"Uhh, well, you sort of just…do it."

"Do it?" Joshua put on a begging face. The begging face; the one that nearly always convinced Ms. Jean to let Joshua do anything from going outside to getting food right before a meal is served. "Come on! Just tell me! Please!"

Chrno backed away a step and gave a nervous laugh. "I really don't know how to explain it better—"

"Hey! You three hurry up!" Kevin called from up front the path, "You're slowing us down!"

"We're coming!"

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The clearing was known as "Seventh Bell's Clearing" by all the locals. Nearly every week, the orphans and Ms. Jean would come the place and relax or whatever it is the children wish to do. The clearing wasn't very big; just about a 150 meter circumference. Surrounding it were hard spruces and fir trees. For Christmas, the fir trees ended up being make-shift Christmas trees for the orphanage. Running right through the northern part of the forest (which eventually led to a nearby apple orchard) was a small, yet deep, river. Over the nicknamed, "Little Thames" river was hand-built bridge painted a bright red. Ms. Jean usually told them all to be careful around the river. It wasn't that they couldn't swim; it was the river itself. The bottom of the river was nothing but rounded rocks piled awkwardly on top of one and another. Falling in the wrong way would not exactly be…fun.

Winter in the clearing was a magical time, for while all the other clearings and forests' trees have bare branches; this one was still filled with green. But right now, it wasn't winter, (although the Little Thames had started getting frosty edges) so the children were still allowed to go across the bridge, and into the orchards.

Matthew ran back over from Ms. Jean. "Hey! Ms. Jean said that anyone who want's to go to the orchards should go now!" he called.

A few of the boys (and one brave girl) whooped and ran over the bridge with several loud thuds and a few creeks. Some of the other, quieter girls, followed suit and walked over.

Joshua nudged Rosette. "Come on! Let's go!" With that, Joshua stood up and pulled at Rosette's arm until she stood as well.

"You're so impatient."

"So are you, dear sister!" he stuck out his tongue and ran towards the bridge, a slightly angry Rosette in pursuit.

Chrno started after them immediately. Sort of. "Wahh!" A low thud was heard as his face greeted the grass. In moments, Rosette had ran back to help him up (though he didn't really need it).

"Haha! What happened? See something interesting in the grass?" sneered Billy from the other side of Little Thames.

Chrno ignored him and waved Rosette's hand away with a casual, "I'm fine."

"Hey! Are you alright?!" Joshua called as he stepped off the bridge. Crack! Right before their eyes, the remaining orphans (and Ms. Jean) saw the bridge collapse into the water and slowly carried away by the stream.

Billy made a funny noise and drooped his head. "Fantastic," he grumbled, "Now how are we going to get back across?"

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A/N: Clumsy Chrno! ...Or is he?