Disclaimer: To cut the long story short: Own nothing, don't sue. Yeah.

Special mention to Memphis Lupine, who made the Hao/Jeanne pairing so endearing to me.

Warnings: What else but OOC-ness?

Exhale
written by: da*mouse

Sometimes it's wrong

And sometimes it's right


It was a dark night, where the moonlight was shimmering faintly, where clouds hid the moon, a night where all was quiet, even the crickets and frogs. It was only such nights when they could meet.

She, the Iron Maiden, and he, the Destroyer.

She stood in front of him, arms crossed. He stood behind her, seemingly without a care in the world.

Silence settled between them, until she spoke.

"We should stop this."

He just shrugged. She turned to him, her ruby eyes serious.

"We shouldn't see each other anymore."

He laughed, amused. "You say this every time we meet."



Sometimes it's wrong


"I mean it this time."

He lifted his gloved hand, and his fingers trailed a path down her face. "I've heard this before, too."

She bit her bottom lip. "It's wrong…" she whispered, almost desperately.

He pulled her to him, and planted a kiss on her forehead, and then on her lips. "Then tell me what's right." he murmured.



Sometimes it's right



She almost trembled in his arms, from the touch of his lips, and from being so close to him.

I don't know what's right…

She broke away from his embrace. "I can't."

He just smiled. "You know you can."  

"Stop it!" she hissed. Then, in a softer tone, she asked. "You won't stop. Would you?"

His eyes narrowed. "No."

She turned away from him. "I knew you couldn't."

"Come a time." He spoke. "That you have to kill me. Could you do it? Would you do it?"

She swiveled around, expecting to see the usual light of mockery in his eyes. But it wasn't there. "I…" she stopped. The word was on the tip of her tongue. She stopped, but her eyes betrayed her.

He knew what her answer was. His lips twisted into a cynical smile. "Let it be known to you, then, that if, when, the situation is reversed, my answer is your answer."

"Then we understood each other." Her voice was steady, showing none of her feelings.

"That we do." His tone bordered on the edge of sarcasm.


Sometimes it's wrong

And sometimes it's right

 

"I'm supposed to kill you."

He chuckled, then. "Then how ironic is it, that you love me."

"I don't love someone that is incapable of loving." She shot back at him. "The next time we meet…I will show no mercy. And I will expect none from you either." She continued, her voice taking a harsh edge.

"I'll see you here tomorrow." He ignored her words, although they struck a chord in him. But he would never admit it.  

"You won't." she said quietly, and turned her back on him.

Her words echoed in his mind as she walked away, and he knew she really meant it this time around.

His fingers clenched into a fist, as he focused on her retreating figure, the curtain of silvery-blue that fell against her back.

If Asakura Hao was incapable of loving, then what explained the pain he felt as Iron Maiden Jeanne walked away from him?



Sometimes it's wrong

And sometimes it's right



Sometimes he, and she, just didn't know what was wrong, or right.

Not anymore.



-Finis-

da*mouse ®
posted 13th October 2003
4.40 a.m.

Urm. Weird. Yeah. Originally planned for Jun/Bailong or Jeanne/Lyserg for this section, but ended up Jeanne/Hao instead. Currently having a liking for Jeanne/Hao, don't know why.

Feel free to review/comment/flame/whatever. In fact, I'll be most happy to receive feedback, so go ahead and tear this apart, whatever, ha.