Chapter dedication: Miko-chan and her imouto
Jeanne was nibbling on her breakfast – yet another fruit tray—and fresh coconut milk, which until now she was contemplating on how Hao's minions were able to produce, when Hao arrived, all smiles.
"Ohayou!" greeted the male warmly. "I wish you had a good sleep." He plopped down directly across her, bringing his own breakfast of identical fruit medley. She stopped herself from commenting at his originality regarding his meal. Fighting with him would be as foolish as fighting her own shadow.
Instead, she chose to ignore him, concentrating on reading today's verses in the Bible while making sure that none of the fruit's juices would spill on the sacred book.
"Any good news so far?" he asked, cheerfully biting on the watermelon.
She fought valiantly the urge to slam his face on the sandy ground. She stared at the verses, repeating them over and over in her mind.
Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited.
She nodded slowly. Harmony. Yes, that was the key word.
His eyes twinkled. "You look serious. I reckon that you haven't come across one yet. I'm not surprised. That book contains nothing but tales of a punishing being who delights on showing the world that He is boss by sending misfortunes and disasters to some fraction of people far away from Japan."
Her eyes widened in disbelief. Was that how this man really see the Bible?
Repay no one for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all.
She exhaled deeply, then eyed him. "Perhaps you are myopic. You tend to see things in one side only. Those disasters he gave to the people in the bible stories were made to correct their ways or show them that they were wavering off the path of God."
He shrugged. "And He's supposed to be merciful?"
She groaned. "Yes, he most certainly is. If he isn't, we wouldn't have existed. He wouldn't have created us to enjoy our earthly life."
"He created us so He would have puppets to play with to pass time," shrugged the man, ignoring her look of horror. He didn't seem to be bothered by his blasphemous words, and she slowly realized that Hao must be very bitter to say things like that."
"If God wanted puppets, He should not have made good and evil," she reminded him gently.
He quieted down, but his eyes were still defiant. She sighed. Somehow, his agnostic beliefs reminded her of his own dear Lyserg Diethyl who stopped believing in the Lord after the tragic death of his parents.
As she stared at the man before her, she wondered what it was like to exist as them, not having a faith to cling on in times of troubles. She wondered how they got by without prayers.
"Don't stare. It's rude," he said suddenly, grinning.
She rolled her eyes. He had an incredible talent on breaking tension like so.
"Why don't you read aloud those things you're reading," he suddenly said, shifting his seat eagerly. There was no "please" in his voice. It was an order.
And despite her earlier resentment against him, she did as told – she was one very bored woman, what was she supposed to do? She cleared her throat then began to voice out the verses.
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord". No, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head." Do not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
She looked up at his blank face. "It's from Roman: 12 19-21."
"I see." He shrugged. "Well, obviously that guy and I have different ideas on how to deal with foes."
"I'm sure." Her forehead creased when she saw his hand dip towards her fruit tray and take a slice of papaya out from it. She looked at him warningly, but he merely grinned. She set aside her bible and began eating the remaining fruits, hoping to finish the tray before he thinks of taking another fruit from her breakfast. She bit herself from lashing out on his gluttony.
He seemed to realize that she was picking up her pace in finishing the fruits. This made him only smile the more as he nonchalantly took the grapes from the plate. Minutes later, enduring her stomachache, Jeanne was satisfied to see that Hao couldn't take anything more from her tray. She silently asked God for forgiveness for her own gluttony, but she rationalized that it was all for teaching this fellow the tenth commandment, namely, not to covet thy neighbors goods.
She picked up the bi she was eating Hao's share, and she had the audacity to take all of his food!
Her face flamed. Why didn't he say anything? He could have told her that the fruits weren't hers, and yet…
Maybe he did this in order to embarrass me more…and he succeeded.
She folded her hands in prayer, asking for forgiveness for thinking wrongly about Hao and of her own selfishness. She still wasn't satisfied though. She wanted to do something as a penance for him. But what?
She decided to think it over inside the carriage for Opacho was calling her already to the coach. It looked like they were going to continue their travel across the desert again. However, she was surprised when they stopped in front of an inn.
"OK, Most Holy Jeanne-san, time for your corporal sanitation," said Hao cheerfully as he showed her a crystal-blue bath. He had just brought her inside the edifice that turned out to be a hotel – the only hotel in the Patch Village.
She looked at him, puzzled.
"Well, I felt that you might want a more private place to bathe in other than an oasis, so…" He grinned. "Don't worry. My family owns this."
She looked around the room. It was, indeed, better than the open-air oasis. She turned to him, a smile of gratitude on her face. It vanished though when she saw his confused look.
"Ah…what did I do to…ah…deserve that lovely smile awhile ago, Jeanne-san?" he asked softly.
She felt electricity course through her whole body. She turned her back on him to hide her profuse blush. "Don't be too observant," she said out of having nothing to say.
"Whatever you say."
She turned to him, her poise back. "S-So where is your family?"
"Huh?"
"You said your family owns this hotel?"
He shrugged. "My mother owns this. When she died, my grandparents took her place. They didn't know though that I often pass by here to relax. They're seldom here, and the hotel staff are not exactly inquisitive about customers."
"I-If you do not mind me asking, where, pray tell, are your grandparents?" she asked, curiosity getting the best of her.
He shrugged again. "In Izumo, back in Japan. They're attached to their ancestral home."
"And you don't stay with them?"
"I don't relish their company, and they don't enjoy mine." He smiled. "Conflicting interests and convictions, I guess." He gazed at her, then spoke, "Maybe you should get started on your aesthetic ritual, Jeanne-san. You're starting to enjoy my company already, you know."
Her eyes widened, and her face flushed. "I-I was trying to act civil," she said defensively. What was it awhile ago anyway that made her forgot their strange circumstances?
"Once you have convinced yourself, you can start convincing me that," he replied, then waved. "Have a nice time splashing around!"
She seethed as he shut the door closed, declaring who won this verbal joust in this round.
After her relaxing bath, Jeanne went to her room to get dressed. She felt uneasy wearing nothing under her gray kimono, but she stupidly forgot her change of clothes inside her own room a hallway away. Fortunately, she was the only guest in this floor of the hotel that afternoon.
At last, she reached her room. Her ruby eyes ran across the room, searching for her suitcases.
"I-It's…NOT HERE!" She started to get frantic. Where were her things? Her heart hammered. She needed to get dressed now!
Barefooted, she walked towards the hallway, looking for Hao's ubiquitous minions. Her heart fell when she reached the end of the long hallway of the third floor. Even Opacho was nowhere to be found!
She started to panic. Where was everyone?
Dejectedly, she went back to her room and searched the closet for anything to wear. She settled for a large, pale silk robe in peach blossom motif. She smiled in delight when she felt the fabric caress her flawlessly smooth ivory skin lovingly.
She sat down the futon and brushed her hair with her fingers tensely. She opted to wait for Opacho or Hao or any of his minions for awhile, but some minutes later, she got up.
I will go look for them.
By the second floor window, she noticed Hao sleeping under the tree relaxedly, surrounded by his servants. They seemed to be engaged in an animated conversation.
Her blood boiled. So all this while she worried where they went to, they were just down here, resting!
She marched towards the façade of the inn, out to give the arrogant man a piece of his mind.
"Master Hao, Lady Jeanne is heading our way," informed Opacho, but not turning to look at the fast approaching lady.
Hao grinned. "She must have discovered our little prank already."
He waited until he could feel her hovering near him in silent fury. He wondered if she would lose her poise and resort to brutal physical tactics his sister-in-law uses. But then, Jeanne breathes finesse. He crossed the possibility out of his mind.
"Monsieur, I think we need to talk," she began.
He had to smile when he heard her French accent. She sounded delightful, perhaps, even cute. "Bonjour, Mademoiselle! Bon voyage, mi corazon?" he replied.
He heard her gasp, then a repressed sound suspiciously like a giggle. She coughed, then continued. "Do not make fun of me, I implore you, Sir. And Mi Corazon is not French. Anyway, I came here to talk to you about another entirely different business."
"Oh?" He turned to her, smiling.
Then he froze.
Jeanne didn't seem to notice his sudden pause. "My clothes are missing in my room, and I am most certain that my things were brought into my room earlier. I now want to ask if you would kindly return my suitcases already and…"
"That robe…where did you get it?" he asked, forehead creasing.
She then noticed what she was wearing. "Ah, this? I found it in one of the cabinets…"
He gazed at her for a few more moments, his eyes darkening. "It's not supposed to be there." He motioned to one of the priest servants, and her suitcases materialized.
"Take that off. Never wear that again." With that, he turned his back on her, leaving the nun bewildered.
Jeanne knew that the last thing she was supposed to be doing now was losing sleep over the incident with the robe awhile ago. But that was the first time she ever saw one raw emotion visible in his face.
She concluded that there must be a memory attached to that elegant robe…the one who wore it before. She wanted to ask her abductor about it, but she knew that he would not answer her.
Sighing, she shut her eyes and went to sleep.
"Don't hurt her, Hao," said Lyserg warningly over the phone. "I swear, if you dare lay a finger on her…"
"Just bring my brother to me, and I promise that no harm will come upon her." He chuckled. "Hurry up. Your time is running out quickly."
"If you were man enough, you wouldn't use this damn phone! You would talk with me face to face! Hao, I'll kill you!"
"If your girlfriend hears you saying such ungodly profanities. Anyway, I should recommend that you read Romans 12: 19-21."
"Go to hell!" Ear-smashing crash, then busy tone. Hao laughed quietly, then looked up at the stairs leading to the hallway of Jeanne's room. His face softened, then grinned.
To be continued…