Disclaimer: Shaman King belongs to its creators. The piece of fanfiction is exactly what it is: fanfiction. Blah blah yea yea.
For Mummy Ringo, my beloved muse for this story in so many ways.
Pieces Of Heart
written by: damouse ®
"What are you doing here?" Jeanne said, and then winced, hearing her voice sounding much harsher than she had intended it to be.
However, Hao did not seem to take offense at all, as he smiled amusedly at former nun. "Why, wanting some information about your beautiful church and your wonderful religion."
Jeanne's eyes narrowed and her tone was decidedly cool. "I do not appreciate your note of mockery, Asakura Hao."
Hao sighed exaggeratedly. "Must we be so formal with each other? My name…" He took a step closer to her, holding her ruby-red gaze in his chestnut-brown ones. "…is Hao. Just Hao, Jeanne-sama."
Jeanne stiffened as a flutter of indescribable feelings ran through her. Fighting to keep her voice level, she averted her gaze. "I…do not think we really know each other that well to be so intimately acquainted."
"For God's sake, it's only a name." Hao pointed out. "Since you're not hell bent on destroying me anymore…I'll like to get along with you. That's all."
The silver-haired maiden brushed the front of her feeling, feeling a slight tremble of her hand. Suddenly, she felt most uneasy to be standing with Hao, and with what she regarded as proximity closer than it should be. Taking a step back, she cleared her throat, and changed subject as tactfully as she could. "Are you…honestly searching for information about our church?"
Hao stretched, a lazy gesture. "Not really. I was looking for you, more than anything else." He said, looking at her directly.
Again, she felt that rush of emotions. "M…me?"
"I believe you have something belonging to me in your possession."
She stared at him blankly for a moment, unable to comprehend, for some reason. Hao sighed again, releasing his breath in an almost impatient whoosh.
"My cloak?" He pointed out.
"Oh. Yes." Jeanne remembered. Ducking her head, she made her way towards the church. "I…will get it for you, if you would just wait here for me."
Before she even had time to blink, he was by her side. "Why, Jeanne-sama. I will be delighted if you will show me this wonderful church."
The girl stifled a sigh, but did not attempt to stop him as both of them strode up the steps leading to the huge doorways of the church.
-
Lyserg whistled softly to himself as he stacked up his files neatly in order on his desk, enjoying a rare moment of solitude, for all his partners had gone out on their own respective missions.
His peace was shattered two seconds later, when the door leading to his office was flung opened, in the most violent manner. He didn't have to raise his eyes to see his unpleasant visitor.
Marco stood two feet from him, arms crossed, mouth drawn, and giving him his customary glare, eyes flashing behind his glasses. Lyserg then felt the slightest tremor of nerves running through him. It was hard not to have the smallest degree of fear the former X-Laws leader…seeing how he had been under the blonde and all.
"JUST what did you think you were doing, Lyserg Diethyl?" Marco's voice was raised, he was almost shouting.
"I was arranging my files when you came in." He surprised himself with the calmness in his own voice. He, however, jumped slightly as the older man brought his fist down onto his desk with much force, and his files clattered onto the ground, along with a few pens.
"Don't get cheeky with me, boy. What did you think you were doing…seducing Jeanne-sama!?! Have you lost all respect completely?! She…is your most respected and revered LEADER!!"
"Marco-san…" He involuntarily took a step back from the shaking blonde. "Whatever Jeanne chooses is her own freedom. I did not, as you put it so vulgarly, seduce her. We have had but two dinners and a lunch together. I believe I do have the right to tell her how I feel, and she has her own rights either to reject or accept me. Jeanne was…"
"Jeanne-SAMA." Marco broke in sharply.
Lyserg sighed. "Marco-san, please. Jeanne was my former leader. Was. It was in the past, and it is our freedom to…"
Marco waved his hand impatiently, cutting Lyserg off in mid-sentence. "This…this relationship…" He almost spat the word in his fury. "…I will not allow it. It is forbidden!"
"Pray tell, why?" Lyserg raised his voice, losing his patience with Marco.
"I will not allow Jeanne-sama to make a mistake. She is still young, and does not know the ways of the world…and you." Marco glared. "I've seen you looking at Jeanne-sama…even before this. I will talk to Jeanne-sama tonight, and after that, you can be on your way."
"Marco-san…" Lyserg said exasperatedly, trying to get a word in edgewise. "Jeanne is twenty years old! For God's sake, you…"
"I AM her guardian." Marco interrupted. "As long as she is not twenty-one, I am responsible for her. And I shall live up to that responsibility, which includes making sure that she chooses the correct, righteous path in her life. Good day, although that is the least you deserve." With those words, Marco spun on his heel and left Lyserg's office.
"Damn." Lyserg muttered, watching Marco's retreating back. Bending down to pick up his files, he was suddenly consumed with unease.
Who ever said that it was going to be easy? He knew that it was going to be a rocky path go walk upon. But for Jeanne, he'd go through that, and much more besides. They would make it, he knew they would.
Nevertheless, his apprehension grew.
-
"…and here, is our smaller chapel, used mostly for…" Jeanne turned to face a yawning Hao, who was not making any attempt to hide his boredom. Abruptly, she stopped walking, and turned to him.
"Asakura Hao. If you find this guided tour so dreary, you can be on your way."
"Oh, no, Jeanne-sama, I was just…"
"Do not worry about being rude. It is much offensive to have someone yawning at your face whilst you were talking to them." Jeanne said pointedly. Turning away from him, she muttered under her breath. "You will never change…"
"Is it so hard to believe that I can change, and have changed? Didn't God teach you to be accepting about everything around you?" Came Hao's voice from behind her.
She whirled around to him, almost reaching the end of her patience, and retorted almost rudely. "Do not mock God, Asakura Hao. What do you know about ways of God and humanity? For that matter, I do not believe you know humanity."
Almost immediately, she regretted her words as Hao's face shadowed considerably. "Is that so." He said flatly.
Jeanne mentally kicked herself. How could she be so rude! Even if it was the Destroyer, she didn't have any right to rebuke him the way she did. Then her eyes widened with disbelief, as what was known as pain began flashing in Hao's eyes. "Is that so, Jeanne-sama…that I don't understand humanity? Is it because I am not worthy? Or something else?"
"Asakura Hao, I…" she began, not knowing what to say.
"Forget it." He interrupted. Holding his head high, he brushed past her, when she called to him. "…Asakura Hao!"
He stopped, but remained where he was, not turning to face her. Hurrying forward, she stopped within a foot of him. "I…apologize. I was out of line, and I should not have spoken the way I did."
"Apology accepted." He said coolly. He took another step forward, and then turned around. "I don't blame you. None of you ever bothered to see beyond the Destroyer. That's all I'll ever be to you. To you, to my brother's friends, to your boyfriend and your little guardian." He shrugged indifferently, although the shadow in his eyes said otherwise. "That suits me just fine."
Looking down at her hands, Jeanne felt shame coursing to her. She, as God's helper, had failed, letting her tempers get the better of her. God taught her to be patient, to be understanding, and she was neither with Asakura Hao, admittedly biased.
He had changed. She knew that. She remembered that it was he who offered her the slightest comfort, and he who gave him her cloak to protect her from the rain and cold. She should be more appreciative. More understanding…
Taking a deep breath, she walked towards him, and looked at him squarely in the eye. "I am sorry." She said sincerely. "And…I do believe that you have changed, Asakura Hao. I believe you were different from what you used to be. And I am sorry for letting you think otherwise…Hao."
He gave a slight start, and she was slightly puzzled until she realized that she had said his name. A faint smile broke over his face, and he took her hand suddenly, surprising her, and to an extent, maybe even himself. He pressed gently on her fingers for a moment, and then let go. "Thank you." He said quietly.
Jeanne felt her cheeks grew hot, and then quickly composed herself. "I'll…get you your cloak."
A moment later, as they were walking out of the church, Hao gave a sudden laugh. "I'm sorry about yawning just now. It's…just that…well, I really have no interest in the church, religion or whatsoever."
"I guessed as much." Jeanne confirmed. "…then why were you here? Just to get your cloak?"
"That, and another thing."
Jeanne raised an eyebrow.
Hao smiled amusedly. "…To see you, of course, Jeanne-sama. Just to see you."
With that, and a casual wave, Hao left, leaving Jeanne standing on the steps, feeling mystified, against her better wishes.
-
"…and the flight will leave at ten past eight in the morning…which means we have to be awake by…" Yoh groaned. "…five o'clock. Oh, the horror of it all…why couldn't you book a later flight, Anna?"
"Stop your complaining." His wife scolded, smacking him lightly on the head with the book she was holding. "Those were the only seats available. Besides, it wouldn't kill you to sleep a few hours less."
"Well…if someone would like to stay up with me…I don't mind not sleeping…if you get what I mean…" Yoh grinned, and scooted closer to Anna, only to be stopped by a slender finger prod against his chest.
"Don't even think about it." Anna said in a bored tone, flipping a page in her book. Yoh's face fell, and their observer from across the table chuckled merrily.
"The two of you are so cute." Hao said, lazily twirling his juice glass, wishing for something stronger. "So nauseatingly cute." He winked at Yoh, who grinned at him in return.
Anna raised an eyebrow at her brother-in-law. "If you have nothing productive to say, then say nothing at all."
"Yes, of course, dear Anna." Hao answered, almost distractedly, for he was drawn back into his own thoughts.
They were to be leaving London tomorrow. It was a good thing, perhaps. Going back to Japan, would be just what he needed to forget…Hao stopped. Forget about what?
Jeanne?
He shook his head mentally. But admittedly, he hadn't been able to get the former Iron-Maiden out of his mind, since their meeting this afternoon. He didn't understand why her words hurt him they way they did. He, after all, got enough sarcastic comments from Ren, and snappy ones from HoroHoro, thinly-veiled insults from Faust…and all he did was laughed them aside. But to hear Jeanne…well, it had hurt him, that was the point, and the other point was he didn't understand.
And the relief and gratitude…hell, he, Asakura Hao, felt gratitude, when she apologized and said she had believed him…
You've got it bad…an irritating voice, very much like his own, began taunting him.
Shut up, Hao warned fiercely. Asakura Hao would never bother about a mere woman. Never.
Across from him, his twin and Anna had their heads close together, Yoh apparently reading over Anna's shoulder as she showed him a passage in her book. He saw how Yoh absently traced Anna's knuckles with his fingers as she talked, how he then picked up Anna's hand and squeezed it. He noticed how Anna's fingers curled around Yoh's, their linked hands displayed so casually.
He remembered how he took Jeanne's hand in his, how it felt in his callused one, how small it seemed, and how warm it was…Hao shook his head again, trying to clear his thoughts. Yes, it was a good thing that he was leaving London.
The lesser he saw of her, the lesser he had to think about her.
-
Their hands clasped together, the couple made their way back to the church, where Jeanne was in the midst of packing, before he asked her out for dinner. Lyserg had finished his own packing yesterday, ready for his trip to Japan.
Turning to Jeanne, Lyserg hesitated, contemplating whether or not to tell Jeanne about Marco's visit to his office earlier in the day.
He didn't have to make that decision, however, as Marco's dominating figure loomed over Jeanne and Lyserg once they stepped into the church. Marco's gaze swept disdainfully over the green-haired young man, and then he turned to Jeanne.
"Jeanne-sama, I have taken the liberty of helping you to finish your packing." He said crisply. "Now that it is out of the way, I wish to have a discussion with you…about your duties and among other matters." Here, he gave Lyserg a most unpleasant look. The intended receiver chose to ignore it, but Jeanne's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I think I am perfectly clear about my duties, Marco. Mother Mathilde talked to me this morning, and I understand all I have to do." Jeanne said evenly, her fingers tightening on Lyserg's, almost a sign of reassurance.
Marco's face darkened, and he pointed at their linked hands. "Jeanne-sama, I won't have that!"
"Have what?"
"You…and him." Marco growled. "I told you that it was utterly inappropriate. You are his leader! This sort of interaction…"
"Marco!" Jeanne broke in sharply. "How many times do I have to tell you to make you understand? I am no longer Iron Maiden Jeanne. X-Laws no longer existed!"
"But Jeanne-sama, with Asakura Hao still alive…"
"Asakura Hao has repented. He has changed!"
For some reason, Lyserg stiffened upon hearing those words from Jeanne.
Marco straightened himself. "I had hope, Jeanne-sama, that one day, the X-Laws…"
"Marco…please." Jeanne said tiredly. "Enough."
The blonde man still refused to give up. "Jeanne-sama…"
"ENOUGH!" Jeanne's voice carried an unusually sharp warning tone as she regarded her guardian. "If you hold me in such high reverence, then please! For once, trust my judgment!"
Marco took a step back, eyes wide with shock.
"I appreciate all you have ever done for me, Marco. But I do not appreciate your interference into my personal life. My relationship with Lyserg are my personal affairs, and please respect that." Jeanne concluded quietly. "Good night, Marco. I will see you tomorrow when we depart for Tokyo."
Turning to Lyserg, she gave him a swift peck on the cheek. "…I will see you tomorrow, too, all right?" Giving him a hug, she whispered into his ear. "I will be fine, do not worry…"
Lyserg nodded, and Jeanne turned to retreat to her room. Putting on his coat, Lyserg snuck a glance at Marco, who was still standing with his mouth wide-opened.
He couldn't help smirking with satisfaction.
-
"ARGH! The passports!" Yoh's panicked face popped up in front of Hao's, with the latter still looking half-dead in the early morning, his nose almost in his cup of cappuccino.
"Eh…?" Hao mumbled, and then yawned widely.
Yoh tugged at his brother's sleeve. "Onii-chan, you have GOT to help me look! If Anna finds out I misplaced the passports, she's going to…"
Hao looked blearily at his twin, and then to something behind Yoh. "Too late…"
Yoh turned, and his eyes widened. "Eep." He squeaked. Turning to Hao, he asked. "Did she hear…?"
Hao's mouth opened again in a yawn. "Probably everything."
"Well, Yoh? Where are the passports?" Anna said, tapping her foot and regarding her husband with cool eyes.
"Ehehehe…you see, I was perfectly sure I had them with me. Why, I was just going to the toilet, and I…" Yoh's voice trailed off. "Okay! I've lost them!" He half-wailed, anticipating a smack, or a slap, and he was not disappointed.
"Baka!" Anna snapped, giving him a nice slap. Holding up a waist bag, she dangled it at his face. "You left it at the coffee counter!"
"Thank goodness!" Yoh grabbed the bag and held on to it, as Anna huffed impatiently. "…Anna? You're…not too angry, are you?"
"Why should I be? It's only passports…and plane tickets." Anna scowled, and stalked off.
Yoh tossed the bag at his sleepy brother. "Hold on to this, please, Onii-chan…" and with that, he took off after Anna, trying to cajole his rightfully irritated wife. Blearily, Hao watched Yoh trying to take Anna's hand and gesturing, whilst Anna seemed to be snapping at him. It was only after a few moments, he saw Yoh's arms going around Anna, and the blonde woman's hand was curving around her husband's neck, although her other hand was still smacking his arm.
Hao smiled sleepily. "You go, Otouto." Still yawning – he hadn't gotten much sleep the night before due to unwanted thoughts – he dragged himself to the coffee counter for another cup of strong, black coffee. As he waited, he let his eyes sweep over the airport, decidedly less busy in the early morning, and he spotted a familiar figure.
Two familiar figures, and they were fast approaching him.
Lyserg and Jeanne.
Pasting a smile on his face, he watched them advanced towards him. Catching sign of their linked hands, Hao felt the smile on his face growing decidedly frozen, for some reason.
Lyserg's face was immediately encased in a frown when he saw Hao…and Jeanne's was one of absolute surprise. She dropped Lyserg's hand.
"Hao!" She exclaimed. "What are you…oh…returning to Tokyo?"
Hao silently nodded, watching Lyserg's frown grew wider. Jeanne, for her part, looked back and forth between the two men, sensing the growing tension.
"We'll…be on our way. Perhaps…we will see you in Tokyo…Hao." With a quick smile, Jeanne tactfully steered Lyserg away.
Watching them leave, Hao let his breath out in a whoosh.
Ever heard of the expression where the tension was so thick you need to slice it with a knife? Well, try a hatchet for the situation just now.
-
"What is the meaning of that?!" Lyserg growled, shaking Jeanne's hand from his arm.
"Of…what?" Jeanne was confused.
"Since when were you on a first-name basis with Asakura Hao?"
"Well…it isn't really…anything…" Jeanne now looked uncomfortable, to a degree. "Lyserg…it's just a name," She said, trying to pacify her enraged boyfriend.
"I don't want you to be on a first name basis with him! In fact, I don't want you to have anything to do with him, AT ALL!"
"Lyserg…" Jeanne tried, but to no avail, as Lyserg threw a lethal glare towards Hao's direction. Jeanne sighed, looking down at her hands. "Lyserg, we need to board."
He whirled around to face her, his eyes still dark with anger. He gripped her shoulders, looking at her intensely. "Promise me, Jeanne, that you will never associate yourself with him ever again."
A hot retort was on the tip of her tongue, but she chose to hold it and prevent an argument. She didn't want to argue with Lyserg…not at all.
So she nodded mutely, and watched as his hunched shoulders relaxed.
As they walked towards the boarding gate, Jeanne found herself looking back, almost involuntarily, at the small coffee bar where Hao had been standing.
It's a little too late not to have anything to do with him now…
-to be continued-
damouse ®
posted June 13th 2004
Yikes. I know…I suck. -- I've not updated for so long, I hope there are still readers.
Yeah, Hao/Jeanne/Lyserg is looking up…from now. I've sort of started it….if it could be seen, anyway. kicks herself
An explanation for the Hao/Jeanne in this story: What I envisioned - Hao always had a sort if fascination with Jeanne, and as for Jeanne, let's just say that she was attracted to Hao, very much so, even if she had feelings for Lyserg. It was an attraction…that could potentially be developed.
Anyway, the common drill…review/comment/whatever. It's 4AM so I need to get to bed…will explain any questions in the next chapter. Thanks to reviewers for Chapter 4…really really appreciate it!
EDIT: Last line added for more tension, all thanks to the wonderful, beautiful, huggable Mummy Ringo.