"So, what is your business with that girl?" Anna asked Yoh. Somehow we ended up sitting in a teashop near by. I didn't even noticed when the rest of Yoh's friends showed up.
I decided to ignore the ugly tone of voice she used to talk about 'that girl'. I could sense the discomfort of everyone in the table. Having tea with one of Hao's underlings must really suck. That Ren looked like he was about to slice my head open with his sword and a zombie-like man was creeping me out.
"She's just a friend, Anna." Yoh rested his head on one of his fists. The itako didn't say anything else. She just continued to observe me carefully from her seat.
Up until now, I hadn't noticed I couldn't read her feelings. She was just like Hao, impenetrable.
"If you don't have anything to say to me. I'll take my leave. It's not a good idea for us to meet anyway." I stood from my chair and dropped some money on the table.
"Master Yoh!" A hairy man with a strange hairdo came running to our table. He looked pretty beaten up.
"Ryu?" Yoh asked. "What's wrong?"
"Manta was kidnapped by the X-Laws! Lyserg came and took him while we were in the woods." He managed to say while gasping for air. When I heard the words 'X-Laws', I stopped on my tracks.
"He was what?" Horo Horo jumped to his feet.
"You're telling me Lyserg kicked your ass?" Ren raised an eyebrow.
So Lyserg is around doing stupid things again, huh.
"Where did they take him?" Yoh asked. He was looking unusually calm.
"They said you had to go meet them at the Northern Waste Lands." Ryu explained.
"We have to go rescue him right away." Zombie man said.
"Faust is right. Let's go." Yoh stood up and everyone followed. "Anna?"
"Fine. Just don't get yourself killed and be back by dinner time." She said before leaving the shop.
"You're coming along too?" Ren asked. I just nodded. I don't know why, but this felt like the big event Luchist warned me about.
Even before we reached the place were they had Yoh's friend captive, I could feel like something was wrong. There was a high concentration of furiyoku, and it was still growing. Hao must definitely be around where somewhere watching this.
When we got there, I was shocked. The huge angel spirits, with Jeanne in middle, were standing in circle. They were slowly releasing their energies into a lighted crest in the floor. It looked like some kind of eye…
There was a small boy hanging from one of the angels. That must be Manta. I didn't know he was just a simple human…
"Marco!" Yoh shouted. "Release Manta!"
"I will." He said. "All you have to do is apologize to Lady Jeanne for having Hao's blood running through your veins and swear to fight for her sake."
What an imbecile, if he really thinks Yoh will do that…
"I will do it." Yoh said without hesitating. Huh?
"WHAT?" Everyone said in response. They weren't the only ones surprised.
"It's okay, guys." He smiled. Then he dropped his weapons and started to make his way towards the circle.
Was he really going to do this? He is going to get himself killed! Wait, Alessia. This is not your fight. Calm down and stay put.
"Yoh, don't!" Manta shouted from his cage. "I know their plan! It's a trap! They plan to open the Gate of Babylon and kill you with it so they can lure Hao!"
So that's their plan. What exactly is the gate of Babylon?
But Yoh just kept walking. Is Hao really going to allow the X-Laws kill Yoh? I don't know why, but I get the feeling Hao really needs his younger brother for something bigger.
"YOHHH!" The human boy shouted again. This time, something unusual happened. Spiritual energy began to grow within Manta's body. The cage that was restraining him shattered and he was floating in the air.
This boy managed to take control of a spirit even though he is just human? That is amazing. Too bad the spirit was weak. In matters of seconds, he had no more energy left and Manta began free falling right into the ground.
"MANTA!" Yoh shouted. I was about to run and try to catch the boy, but Ryu beat me to it. He caught him using a huge spirit chariot with several snake heads.
"Don't let Yoh Asakura escape!" Marco ordered. One of the angels charged at Yoh.
"Yoh!" Horo Horo and Ren called. They grabbed Yoh's weapons from the floor and threw them to him. He was able to join his samurai spirit with the swords just in time to stop the blow that was directed at him.
Suddenly, everyone was fighting. I stood there in the middle of the battle field not quite sure of what to do. Should I fight again the X-Laws too? But this is not my fight. Then again, I can't let Yoh get killed. It's just not right…
"Alessia watch out!" Yoh shouted at me. The sword of an angel was a few meters away from my head. I jumped out of the way and the hit missed me by an inch. Guess this answers my question.
I took a couple of darts from my pocket and threw them at the spirit that attacked me. The darts released a powerful electric current and the spirit fell to the ground. However, it recovered seconds later.
In the middle of the battle, Jeanne's iron coffin slammed open. A young girl stepped out and said:
"Marco, leave the circle." She ordered.
"But Lady Jeanne-" Marco tried to say, but was interrupted by Jeanne.
"We weren't able to catch Yoh, the gate is now useless. Get out now."
"Yes!" Marco said. All of the X-Laws backed away from the circle.
"Shamash!" Jeanne invoked her spirit. Shamash emerged form within the ground and rose above us.
"Everyone, move now!" I tried to warn, but it was too late. Golden lights surrounded us and created a barrier to keep us from escaping. I could feel the spiritual energy leaving my body and everyone else's. All the spirits lost their battle forms and we were concealed in a golden cage. The, it started to float toward the circle, leaving us right in the middle.
"This cage has a strong power in order to prevent us from using our furiyoku." Faust explained while he touched the cage carefully.
"What did I get myself into…" I murmured. "Hao is going to kill me."
"Now I've got you." A familiar voice said. A gigantic red hand materialized behind Jeanne and grabbed her tightly. So Hao came after all.
"Release her NOW!" Marco and Lyserg pointed their guns at Hao, who just chuckled in return.
"You can't protect your dear Lady Jeanne if she is dead, right?" He said while the spirit tightened his grip around the girl.
"Hao…" Marco cursed while he and Lyserg lowered their weapons. Then Hao looked up to us, who were still captive. His eyes locked on mine and he looked at me intently. Was he making sure I was okay? I was not sure of what to do, so I just nodded to let him know I was fine. When he saw my sign he looked at Yoh.
"You guys are mean." Said Hao to the X-Laws. "What were you planning to do to my other half?"
"We only have one purpose." Answered Jeanne with difficulty. "And that is to pass the judgment of justice on you!"
Hao turned to Jeanne.
"Don't push it." He said to her. Then flamed emerged from the spirit's hand and engulfed the girl completely.
"LADY JEANNE!" Lyserg shouted.
"Burn." He said calmly.
"Hao!" I shouted while gripping the bars of the cage tightly. "Don't…"
Hao turned his eyes to me. His expression was a mixture of surprise and confusion.
"Please." I mouthed. We continued to stare at each other for a few more seconds until Hao finally released her. Jeanne's body fell limply, but before hitting the ground, vines that came from her iron coffin caught her and pulled her in.
I sighted in relief.
"Now you won't be able to use the Gate of Babylon you hoped for, right?" Hao smiled. So he knew about the plan from the beginning. Typical…
Lyserg knees gave up and he fell to the ground.
"Not even Lady Jeanne was able to defeat Hao." He sobbed. "What should I do now?"
What an idiot. If we're still trapped in this cage, it means Jeanne's oversoul is still working. She is definitely alive. She must be recovering inside her coffin.
It took him a while to realize this, but when he did, his spirit recovered. The X-Laws were more determined than ever to protect Jeanne, even at the cost of their lives.
"There is nothing wrong in having faith," Hao said. "However, I don't like how you meddled with my other half."
All of Hao's followers materialized in the scene at that moment. They had their spirits ready and charged at the X-Laws without hesitating.
Come on, Hao. Are you really planning on killing them all?