Love conquers all—

"Love Conquers All"—Deep Purple

Darkness and Light: Part II

Chapter II

"So, Jeanne, what is it that you want to talk about?" asked Alice, while she sat at the dinner table with Yuri and her daughter.

"It's about Johnny," replied Jeanne.

"Yes, what about him?"

"I want to be with him."

Yuri took a sip of his hot chocolate and said, "Well, you seem to be with him quite a bit, Jeanne."

"No, you don't understand. I want to be with him, when he leaves this village."

"Eh?" Yuri said.

"What exactly do you mean?" asked her mother.

"I want to be with him when he leaves this village, goes to Le Harve, and gets on a boat to return to America."

Yuri and Alice were stunned. Their expression was similar to a deer that looks into the headlights of a car.

Finally, Yuri broke the silence. "Jeanne, do you understand what you're saying?"

"Yes, Daddy, I do."

"What about school, Jeanne?" asked her mother. "A good education is important."

"Mom, I can speak two languages, and work my way through a third. Most of the people I go to school with can't speak anything other than French. Also, I seriously doubt that if I was to remain in place like Domremy, I would need anything more than an eighth grade education."

"Jeanne," Yuri began, while he took a sip of his hot chocolate, "I'm sure that if I asked you, if you loved Johnny, you'd probably say 'yes.' But how do you know for certain that you do?"

"It's the feeling that I have, when I'm around him, Daddy. I couldn't stop thinking about him, when he was away. Being with him just makes me happy."

"Jeanne, you're only 14. Do you even know what happiness is?"

"For me, I do, and that's when I'm around Johnny. I can tell you that I never felt this way about any of the boys in this village."

Yuri sighed, while he took another sip of his hot chocolate. "Please understand, Jeanne, that I'm not trying to discourage you. I like Johnny a lot. I just want to make sure that you consider all the facts. For example, let's assume, Jeanne, that you're over with Johnny in America. You're thousands of miles away from home, and something goes wrong. Something doesn't work out with you and Johnny. What are you going to do? It's a long trip back to Domremy, and it costs a lot of money."

On that question, Jeanne fell silent. She could not imagine such an event happening, and yet, what if it did happen. "I don't believe such a thing would happen to me. But if it did, I would survive, just like you did, Daddy. I am your daughter after all."

Yuri smirked. "Well, that's true, Jeanne, but when all those events happened to me, I didn't have a choice."

"Neither would I."

"But there's a difference, Jeanne. I didn't have a family; you do."

Jeanne sighed. "Look, all I call you is that I want to be with Johnny. Yes, we can write letters, but I don't want to be thousands of miles away from him. Johnny told me that I couldn't go with him, unless I had your blessing, so it's up to you."

Something in Jeanne's words stunned Yuri. A few minutes ago, he thought that he could pass judgment on this situation, but now he felt that he could not.

Alice, however, did have something she wanted to say. "Well, I think that…"

"Just a moment, Alice," Yuri said, interjecting a hand to stop her. "I want to talk to you, before you say anything." And turning to his daughter, he added, "Jeanne, please go to your room and wait. I need to talk to your mother alone for a moment."

Being sent to her room made Jeanne feel like she was four instead of fourteen. A part of her wanted to sneak to the midway point of the stairs, and listen in on her parents' conversation. But she was worried that she might be caught by either one of her parents or by her little brother. Therefore, to kill time, Jeanne decided to look over the photographs of New York from the Encyclopedia Britannica. The photograph that caught her attention the most was an image of the Statue of Liberty. She read stories of immigrants encountering the statue for the first time. Would she get to be among those who saw the statue in New York Harbor, or would she be waking up to another morning looking at St. Remigius' Church? While she pondered this question, someone ascended the stairs.

"Jeanne?" said her mother.

"Yes?"

"Grab your coat. We're going to St. Jehanne's."

At St. Jehanne's Inn, Johnny sat with Lenny and Roger. With the exception of Jacques, the owner, they were the only people at the bar. However, Jacques informed them that their role as the only customers would change soon. Since it was Christmas Day, people would eventually get tired of seeing one, so they would visit the pub as a means to get away. But on Christmas of 1929, Johnny, Lenny, and Roger did not come to St. Jehanne's to escape the company of their hosts. Instead, they came to St. Jehanne's, so Jeanne could have a talk with her parents, as Johnny explained, while he informed Lenny and Roger the nature of their conversation.

"So that's what it's about, eh?" Lenny said, while he sipped on his blended whiskey.

"Pretty much," replied Johnny, while he took a gulp of his beer.

"What are your thoughts on this, Johnny?" asked Roger, while he sipped on his chardonnay.

"I would love it, if Jeanne came with me. But I told her that it could only be with her parents' blessing. If Yuri and Alice refuse to grant that, then she will have to stay in Domremy." Johnny paused to take another gulp of his beer. "But I will remain in contact with her, and I will do my best to visit Domremy often."

"That can be quite expensive, Master," commented Lenny.

"That may be so, but I'll sacrifice if necessary. And if I have to, maybe I'll just consider opening a business somewhere here in France, if business remains slow in America."

"It would certainly be sad to see Miss Hyuga go," interjected Jacques, who had been listening in. "I've known her, since she was a baby. I can remember Yuri carrying her on his shoulders; just before he would put her down to go inside the pub. Yet, I could understand why she would want to go. It's not just that she's smitten by Johnny. It's also that this is a sleepy village where nothing really changes—unlike major cities like Paris and New York."

Johnny took in what Jacques was saying, but he wondered if Yuri and Alice would look at the situation in a similar fashion. He would not have to wait long, however. The door to St. Jehanne's opened to reveal the Hyugas: Yuri, Alice, Jeanne, and Zachary. Johnny and Jeanne looked at one another; however, Johnny was unable to tell him if Jeanne was giving him a positive or negative expression.

"Merry Christmas, Hyuga family!" said Jacques.

"Thank you, Jacques, and the same to you as well," replied Yuri, and turning to his son, he added, "Zack, why don't you have Jacques give you a glass of wine, and get the pool table ready. I'll come and play with you in a minute, but I need to talk to Jeanne and Johnny first."

"What about?" asked his young son.

"I'll tell you in a little bit. But for now, why don't you get your glass of wine, and the pool table ready?"

"Okay, Dad."

While Jacques was preparing Zachary a glass of wine—even though the proprietor was trying to listen in on the conversation Yuri would have with Jeanne and Johnny—Yuri presented Johnny with a smile. Johnny, however, could not tell if Yuri's smile was wicked or sincere.

"Jeanne?" Yuri said, as he turned to his daughter.

"Yes, Daddy?"

"Please go over and stand by Johnny."

Jeanne did as her father requested.

Yuri maintained his smile, and like Johnny, Jeanne was not certain if its meaning was positive or negative. Neither were Lenny and Roger, who were trying to listen in on the conversation.

"My daughter tells me that she would like to go with you to America?" Yuri said, while he focused on Johnny.

Johnny nodded. "Yes, that's correct, but only if she has the blessing of you and Alice."

Yuri returned the nod. "That's what she told me as well. And I think that statement had a strong affect on my decision. I can't say if it was the same with my wife, but it certainly was with me. You're a good person, Johnny Garland. You were brave enough to enter the Nemeton Monastery, and I trust you. Therefore, both my wife and I decided that Jeanne can go with you to New York."

Jeanne smiled, which only radiated her blue eyes, while she kissed Johnny's cheek.

Yuri also smiled, and this time Johnny and Jeanne could tell that his smile was positive.

"However," continued Yuri, "I do have a couple of requests."

"Yes?" Johnny said.

"First," Yuri began, while he gestured to Johnny, "take good care of my daughter; keep her safe."

Johnny nodded. "Trust me, Yuri, I will."

Yuri smiled. "I trust you, Johnny, and I know that you will.

"Second," Yuri added, while he turned to Jeanne, "I would like you back here by Easter, and write to us often. Otherwise we might unexpectedly show up in New York."

Jeanne smiled. "I will, Daddy."

Yuri maintained his smile. "Good. Now you'll have to excuse me, I need to go and play some pool with your little brother."

Johnny and Jeanne held hands and smiled. They could not believe the news that Yuri hand given them.

But while Johnny and Jeanne continued their teenage romance, Alice had one last important role to fulfill on behalf of herself and her husband. "Lenny?"

The cue-ball headed butler gestured for her to wait, while he finished the last of his drink. "Yes, Alice?"

"There's something I need to talk to you about," Alice said, while she gestured for Lenny to follow her away from everyone else.

Lenny did, as Alice requested, and when they were away, he again asked her, "Yes, what is it, Alice?"

Alice placed a finger to her lips, asking for Lenny to be silent, while she presented him with an envelope full of money. "I want you to hold on to that money, Lenny."

"What for?"

"It's for Jeanne, but Yuri and I don't want her to know about it."

"How come?"

"While Yuri and I really like Johnny, we know that there is a possibility that something could happen in their relationship. Somehow they could break up, and Jeanne would be stuck in America, thousands of miles away from home. If that happens, this money is to help her return to America. We want you to take good care of it, and only use it, if something like that comes to pass."

Lenny nodded. "I promise you, Alice—and you can tell this to Yuri as well—I promise you that I will only use the money, if such an event were to happen."

Alice smiled. "Thank you, Lenny."

Around ten the next morning, the Hyugas—along with Johnny and Lenny—gathered in the forest outside of Domremy to wish Roger Bacon a safe journey. As Bacon Jet left the surface of the Earth, and prepared to fly north, Jeanne held Johnny's hand. But once Bacon Jet was gone, Jeanne turned to her young lover and said, "Johnny?"

"Yes, Jeanne?"

"I need to be alone for a little while."

"Alone?"

Jeanne nodded.

"How come? Is something wrong?"

Jeanne shook her head. "No, nothing is wrong. It's just that this is my last full day in Domremy." Jeanne turned to her village, before she returned to Johnny. "I just want to spend some time in this village by myself."

"I understand," Johnny said with a nod.

"Shall we meet later at the inn?"

"We shall," Johnny replied, and the two kissed before Jeanne left the company of Johnny, Lenny, and her family.

Jeanne had never been on the type of trip she was about to undertake. While it was true that she had requested it, that didn't mean she was not slightly nervous about it. Jeanne had been to Paris, the United Kingdom, and Japan; but everything that she went, she went with her family. Now she would be traveling without them. Jeanne packed only what she felt she would need until around the third week of April, which would lead into Holy Week and into Easter. Jeanne would leave the village in the early hours of the morning, and would only have time for a light breakfast. For her final full day in Domremy, Jeanne said 'goodbye' to the places she had grown up with. She gazed at Domremy's meadow, and remembered the wonderful times she had spent playing there as a young girl. When she returned in time for Easter, perhaps the meadow would be in full bloom. From the meadow, Jeanne spent some time in St. Remigius' Church. She was baptized in this church, and had witnessed its bell tower every morning that she woke up.

Slightly after dawn, Jeanne asked Johnny to join her inside St. Remigius' Church. The two said a prayer together, and received the blessing of the priest. After they left the church, the two walked hand-in-hand to the carriage that would take the two of them and Lenny to Paris. From Paris, the three of them would take a train to Le Harve, and from there, either a ship or an airplane to New York City. On the walk to the carriage, Jeanne gazed one last time at Domremy's meadow, and with her free hand she waved goodbye. When the two arrived at the carriage, Jeanne was greeted by her family and by Lenny.

Turning to her little brother, Jeanne gave him a hug and said, "I want you to take good care of things while I'm gone, Zack."

"I will, Jeanne," Zachary Hyuga said with a nod. "Don't worry."

And to her parents, Jeanne said, "I'll write often; I promise."

"We know you will," Alice Hyuga said, while she gave her daughter a hug.

But when Jeanne turned to her father, she noticed that he had tears in his eyes. Yuri Hyuga, the man who had slain beasts, was trying hard not to cry. "Don't cry, Daddy," Jeanne Hyuga said, while she hugged her father. "You know that I'll be back by Easter."

"I know that you will," Yuri said in a raspy voice. After he embraced his daughter, Yuri had to turn away. His baby girl was leaving him; it was hard for him not to become emotional.

As Jeanne prepared to enter the carriage, a voice called out her name.

Those present turned to see Jacques, the proprietor of St. Jehanne's coming forward.

"I'm glad that I caught you," the proprietor said. "I have something to give you."

"What is it?" asked Jeanne.

"Hold out your hand," Jacques said with a smile.

Jeanne did as Jacques requested, and in her hand Jacques placed some money. Jeanne was stunned. "Jacques, you didn't have to do this."

"No, I didn't," Jacques said, while he maintained his smile. "But I wanted to. I've known you since you were born, and I wanted to give you a little money to take with you to the New World."

Jeanne gave Jacques a hug, before she entered the carriage on her journey to the New World. As the carriage wheels turned, Jeanne would look back to see her family members and Jacques waving goodbye. She also could tell that her father was wiping away tears. The last image Jeanne saw of Domremy was only fitting—St. Remigius' Church, which she had seen everyday growing up in the village. Once St. Remigius' bell tower had disappeared, Jeanne turned her head forward. Her journey was about to begin. She was going to the New World.