By the time Chrno found his voice once again, the astral energy was used up, and his larger form was shed in soft glow for his smaller one. His grip on Rosette did not faulter, however. Nor did his embrace. He would not let her go, even if others were staring.

Let them stare. He was a demon. They stared anyway.

His shirt reformed under her hand, although the touch remained on his mind more than his altering sensations of suddenly becoming much shorter. He pulled her close, keeping her tightly to him as she cried, resting his cheek on her head.

Questions lurked in his chest, dying before they even hit his tongue. He wanted to know everything, what they did to his contractor. His desire to protect and his inability to follow through swelled with conflict in his chest, tightening with silent panic.

"Nnn.." The affirmative answer to the Doctor. It was a good idea. Get Rosette somewhere safe was certainly top on his list. Shifting her just enough so that Chrno could wrap his arms around her, the shorter demon tried to hold tightly onto her as he rose to his feet, which was a relatively easy task. He had some strength, it just wasn't what he was when he was enlarged.

The difficulty would come when he would try to move. It wasn't that Rosette was heavy, but the height difference she had on him counted and made his face contort slightly with the strain.

At least Rosette couldn't see.