Disclaimer: Shaman King belongs to its creators. The piece of fanfiction is exactly what it is: fanfiction. Blah blah yea yea.
Note:
All that is going to be written there forth are events leading to the prologue.
Hope I won't confuse anyone with my epilogue-ish prologue.
Setting: 12 years after the anime. Futuristic, everything happens for a reason.
Once again this is for Apple-chan, who so generously let me borrow her nice Hao from Celebrations, characteristics and all. It is very much appreciated, thank you Apple-chan! *huggles*
Pieces Of Heart
written by: da*mouse ®
Chapter 1: Not What You Think
All was quiet in the late Saturday evening in Street Café, a popular eatery and coffeehouse in London, usually bustling with activity during lunch hours. In one of the tables, a young woman with silver-blue hair sat, sipping a cup of tea and reading a newspaper. A half-eaten scone rested beside her teacup, jam oozing out from it.
A young lady, about 20 years of age, sitting in a London eatery, dressed in a casual skirt and blouse, eating scones, drinking tea and reading a newspaper…it should be a fairly ordinary sight.
Saying that, nothing was ordinary with the spoken patron of the restaurant. For she used to be the leader of a powerful group of shamans: the X-Laws. She was the Iron Maiden Jeanne, whom all the X-Law members had held in reverence, and fair to say, some still did. The X-Laws had one mission: to annihilate Asakura Hao, an extremely powerful shaman bent on destroying humankind, and building a world for him, only for him, and for shamans who would abide by him.
Asakura Hao was evil, and it was the mission of the Iron Maiden and her minions to uphold justice and banish him from the world.
But all of that was in the past now.
Hao, whom everyone feared and deemed undefeatable, was defeated. His own twin brother, Asakura Yoh, who eventually claimed the Shaman King throne for his own, defeated him. The younger Asakura twin was the exact opposite of Hao, he was kind, generous, easygoing. But although Yoh had reigned as Shaman King, the X-Laws waited, and watched, for the rejuvenated Hao. Waited to kill him.
They were in for a surprise.
After his loss, he retreated. And when he appeared again, after 2 years' of absence, he was changed. Different.
Asakura Hao, whom they thought was inhumane beyond belief, evil, cunning and held no regard for life, repented.
And fiercely loyal and protective towards the Shaman King, his brother. What had really changed Hao, what made him into the Hao he was today, of course, the Iron Maiden didn't know, and she would never have to know. All she knew that Hao the Destroyer was no more, and X-Laws had served their duty.
So, she disbanded the X-Laws, and her people went their own ways. As for her, she initially went back to the convent, to resume her training as a nun. But she found that being a nun was not her calling, and so, she stopped her training, and pledged her life to God in a different way: she became a missionary at church.
All those events happened more than 8 years ago.
Out of her old X-Laws minions, only two remained with her: Marco and Lyserg.
In fact, she was waiting for one of them right now.
"Jeanne-sama!" A blonde haired man with glasses rushed over, and sat down across from her, panting slightly. "I'm sorry I'm late."
Jeanne's ruby-red eyes sparkled humorously. "I've told you many times to drop the 'sama', Marco. I'm no longer the Iron Maiden or Jeanne-sama, I'm just plain old Jeanne."
"Do not mock my respect and reverence for you, Jeanne-sama." Marco said solemnly, his eyes looking at Jeanne seriously. "Now! I have here, your schedule from Mother Mathilde, and yours is as follows…."
She sighed and picked up her tea-cup. Someone should really tell Marco to loosen up, he was always so tense, so somber, so boring.
Nothing like Lyserg.
Jeanne smiled at the thought of the green-haired former X-Law member, who had since then became her close confidante and fierce protector, looking after her well. Together, they had been through a lot, and with him, she always felt safe and secure.
Marco claimed to be her protector, too, but he was just overbearing and bossy, never giving her enough space to breathe. She never complained, for she didn't wish to hurt Marco's feelings.
"…your next stop as a missionary will be Tokyo, Japan." Marco was saying, and Jeanne bought her thoughts back to the present.
"Tokyo…Japan…?" Jeanne looked surprised.
"That's' right. Of course, if it's the time that's unsuitable, I can always talk to Mother Mathilde."
"No, it's good. It's all good, Marco. I'm looking forward to seeing them again…" Jeanne said softly, her face breaking into a wide smile. "It has been a while…"
Marco frowned. "Jeanne-sama, I hope you're not talking about Asakura Yoh and his friends. They are, after all, acquainted with Hao the Destroyer, obstruction of justice."
Jeanne sighed. "Marco…I've told you many times, and it seems like I have to repeat myself again. Asakura Hao is no longer the Destroyer; and we are no longer X-Law members. Try to live your life ordinarily, won't you?"
Marco opened his mouth, presumably to retort, but he never got his words out, as a green-eyed Englishman interrupted him. "Jeanne, Marco-san."
"Lyserg!"
Marco watched rather unpleasantly as the two exchanged a hug, a hug a little more than mere 'friendly', in his opinion.
"How've you been, Jeanne?" Lyserg ruffled her hair rather affectionately.
Jeanne giggled, and slapped his hand away playfully. "Not too shabby. Oh, guess what, I'll be heading off to Tokyo for my next missionary duty."
Lyserg's eyes widened. "Really? When are you leaving?"
"The Monday after the next." Marco interrupted.
Lyserg grinned then. "Then I'll be seeing you in Tokyo…because I am going there myself. For a well deserved holiday. But I'm leaving on Saturday, two days before you leave. I've already booked a room at Funbari Onsen."
Jeanne's pretty face was all smiles. "That's just great! Tell you what, I'll arranged myself on your flight, too. So we can have each other's company."
"Jeanne-sama!" Marco looked most disagreeable. "You're not supposed to travel with him, but with me and the rest of the sisters."
"I'm sure little old me won't be missed for two days. After all, missionaries take holidays, too! I'll talk to Mother Mathilde, don't worry, Marco."
Marco looked disgruntled, and was about to say more, but seeing how his Jeanne-sama was all engaged with Lyserg, he decided to just save his breath, she wasn't paying attention so she wouldn't hear him, anyway.
-
Somewhere in London, a trio was strolling along the streets. Two of them were walking side by side, the female having a faintly annoyed expression on her face. The other walked behind the couple, whistling to himself.
Looking at the three, one would definitely do a double take, for two of the faces were identical. Only their hairstyles distinguished them, the young man with the blonde woman wore his chestnut-brown hair shorter, with spikes. The other's hair, although the same shade of brown, was long, untied and loose.
"You know, I think I won't join you two to the Tower of London." The twin with the long hair, Asakura Hao, stopped all of a sudden, making his announcement.
His brother, the Shaman King, Asakura Yoh, turned around. "Why, onii-chan?"
Hao stretched lazily. "Being a third wheel wasn't as much fun as I thought it would be."
"Then you should've just stayed at home in Tokyo." The blonde haired woman, Asakura Anna, snapped coolly.
The receiver of her sharp tongue merely raised his eyebrow, and chose to ignore her. "You know the way to the Tower, right, Yoh?"
His twin whipped out a map, and frowned at it. "Err…I think I can manage."
"Then you and my darling sister-in-law go ahead." Hao winked at Anna, causing her to glare at him. "I think I'll stop here and have something to eat." He nodded towards a small eatery, with its small, neat hand painted sign marked Street Café.
Anna just stalked ahead without saying anything. Yoh shrugged helplessly at his brother, and Hao winked understandingly, watching as his brother hurried after his wife.
He watched with a tug of jealousy in his heart. Shrugging off his envy, he pushed open the door to the café.
C'est la vie, that's life.
A moment later, he was sitting comfortably in the café, enjoying a nice cup of cappuccino.
-
"I didn't know why he had to come, anyway." Anna glared at her husband. "You and your big mouth."
"I didn't think that he would invite himself along…" Yoh protested. "I did stress that it was yours and my private little holiday…while Ren was in town, he could help Ryu and HoroHoro with the managing of Funbari Onsen, and that we needed some getaway time."
"Ha! That mental brother of yours doesn't know the meaning of the word tact." Anna snorted, rolling her eyes.
Yoh just grinned sheepishly, and then he grabbed Anna's hand. "Well, at least he's giving us some private time together."
"Humph."
He pulled his wife closer to him, and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Since we are alone…why don't we go back to the hotel, and…" he murmured in her ears mischievously. He was then rewarded with a sharp jab in his stomach.
"Ouch!"
"Yoh no hentai!" Anna snapped.
"Aww…Anna, I was just suggesting…" A pair of soft lips stopped his complaining. Grinning, he drew Anna to him, deepening their embrace, enjoying the feel and taste of his beautiful wife.
When they broke off for air, for a moment, Yoh thought Anna was going to take him up on his suggestion. Instead, she tugged on his hand, and said with a rare playful air, "Tower of London awaits, ne, Yoh?"
"…Anna!"
She laughed, as he rolled his eyes, pulled her to him, and kissed her again.
-
"Jeanne-sama, it's time to go back to the church. You have an appointment with Mother Mathilde." A displeased Marco interrupted Lyserg and Jeanne's conversation.
Inwardly, Lyserg frowned. He held grudging respect for the man when they were in X-Laws for his abilities and being that he was Jeanne's right-hand man, As of now, he still did respect him, but he couldn't disliking him.
Jeanne looked at Lyserg apologetically. "He's right, I had better get going."
Lyserg stood up. "I'll walk you, it's on my way, anyhow."
Marco grunted.
Jeanne linked her arm with Lyserg's in a friendly way. Lyserg looked at the arm hooked with his in a casual way, and couldn't help feeling a twinge of disappointment, the way he always felt whenever he thought of Jeanne, and how she regarded him as a close friend, a surrogate brother.
Nothing more than that.
After that many years of being with Jeanne, he was ready to admit that his feelings for her surpassed those for a mere friend or a younger sister; but he could only confessed that to himself, not Jeanne. He knew that perhaps he was cowardly, but he valued her friendship, more than he wanted her love.
Oh, he did want her to love him, he very much wanted it, but he wasn't about to jeopardize their friendship for that.
For Jeanne meant too much to him.
Lyserg stifled a sigh under his breath, seemingly preoccupied, when Jeanne suddenly clutched his arm tighter. "Lyserg…look."
He did, and saw one of the sights he loathed most in the world.
Sitting at a table near the door, with a foamy cup of cappuccino and a cigarette, was Asakura Hao.
-
Hao raised at eyebrow as a trio approached him, instantly recognising the green hair of the young man and the ruby-red eyes of the young lady. Although it had been years since he last saw the both of them, he still remembered, very clearly.
And the blonde man…yes, he was that very irritating git in the X-Laws who thought he hung the moon.
Hao's lips lifted in a half smile, and he crushed his cigarette into the ashtray, standing up to the approaching trio.
Not surprisingly, the faces of the two men automatically changed. Lyserg's face was almost as red as Jeanne's eyes, while there was a huge, ugly smile plastered on Marco's face.
Jeanne was the only one who maintained a neutral expression on her face.
Jeanne…Hao gave her a quick appraisal. It had been almost 8 years since he last saw her, and during that time, she was still a young 12 year-old girl. Now she was a grown woman, mature, and admittedly, very beautiful.
"What are you doing here?" Lyserg hissed, his fingers clenched into a fist, as Marco snarled, "Hao the Destroyer."
Hao smiled sweetly at the angry men. "It's a free country, and I come and go as I please, and as for you…" he nodded at Marco. "…glad you still placed me in such high decibels, but plain old Asakura Hao will do."
Marco took a step forward, and Lyserg rested his left hand on his right wrist. Hao merely smirked. "Come on now, people." He drawled lazily. "I may no longer be the Destroyer, but my Spirit of the Fire is still…well…functional as it had been 8 years ago. Perhaps even more."
"Hao…" Lyserg growled.
"Come on now, Lyserg-kun. Don't behold ignorant little me for that terrible deed 18 years ago. After all, it had been 18 years, live and let go, right? Forgive and forget?"
Lyserg was beside himself with rage. "Asakura Hao, how dare you talk about your murderous deed in that casual fashion. You caused me to be an orphan at the age of six, and I watched my parents die. Forgive and forget? Never!"
Hao was instantly sorry, although he would rather choke before he could admit that to Lyserg. He admitted to himself that he wasn't proud of his insane rampages all those years ago, years of brotherhood with Yoh made him see the world, and himself, in a new light. He was sorry for all that he had done, but still, the Asakura Hao pride stopped him from apologizing.
Flippantly, he shrugged. "Fine. Anything you say, Lyserg-kun."
Lyserg was almost going to throw the first punch and command Morphin at the same time, when a restraining hand pressured his arm.
"Lyserg." Jeanne said quietly. He calmed down, although he was still fuming. Her eyes immediately swerved to the red-face Marco. He, too, relaxed a little, although a death glare was still directed at Hao.
She then turned to Hao. "Asakura Hao."
"Jeanne-sama, the Iron Maiden." His mocking emphasis on 'sama' was not missed.
"You can't blame my friends for feeling the way they did. You, yourself, alone knew of the sins you have committed in the past," she said quietly. "All the same, if they had disrupted your afternoon, I apologise on their behalf."
Both of her companions exploded at once. "JEANNE! WHY ARE YOU APOLOGISING TO THAT INHUMANE CREEP!?!" "JEANNE-SAMA, WHAT ARE YOU DOING??!"
"Let's go, Lyserg, Marco. For my sake, please don't create a scene here."
"Listen to your Holy Maiden. She's the only one with sense around here." Hao lighted yet another cigarette.
Jeanne tugged at Lyserg's arm gently, willing him to walk away. Unwillingly, he did, but not without scathing words to Hao. "I'll see you again someday, Asakura Hao. And I'll avenged my parents' death…"
Somehow, even if he could throw aside his mighty pride and apologise, he doubted that it would do any good. So he chose to wave cheerfully. "Ja ne, Lyserg-kun!"
He sensed that it would infuriate the Englishman more, and he was right.
Taking a drag out of his cigarette, he added, almost as an afterthought. "And oh, Jeanne-sama…"
The sliver-blue haired girl stopped, but didn't turn around to acknowledge him.
"I'll see you again, soon, too, I presume."
-to be continued-
da*mouse ®
reposted October 2nd 2003
11.18 a.m.
**PLUG**: Please read Apple-chan and da*mouse's collaboration of a new Shaman King fic, titled Vestige of Dreams [storyid=1543814] - it's a Yoh/Anna/Hao fic – rated R – as to why it hasn't been showing up at ff.net…^_^ A brief summary would be that it is about Yoh and Anna's married life and marriage troubles.
Thing is, me and Apple-chan was talking about SK fics the other day and how it often was happily ever after for Yoh and Anna after Anna got over her iciness and began to show Yoh how much she loves him – their only seemingly problem was that either one of them or both them refused to admit their love for each other. We started talking about a more realistic take on the Yoh/Anna pairing, and the problems that they might run into during the course of their marriage, if it wasn't happily ever after. What if they doubted that they ever loved each other? As a result, Vestige of Dreams is born.
Both of us would very appreciate a read and a review, so please do! Read and review, I mean.
Errr…back to my own story: well…going…weird…don't know…so readers, please leave me a comment/review/flame/whatever, so long as it helps me to make this more enjoyable for you guys. ^_^ As of now, I am still open to suggestions: Jeanne/Hao or Jeanne/Lyserg or maybe I should just kill all of them, bwhhahahaha.
Oh, couldn't resist throwing in a bit of a Yoh/Anna moment in this chapter. Yeah, I am so fixated on this couple, it's almost pathetic. O_o
Till next chap! ^_^