Juntine's Arrest/The Cart

Les Shaman Miserables

Juntine had just come back from her first 'appointment' when a very influential naval captain, Ryutabois, came to the Lilly5's booth. He noticed Juntine immediately.

"Here's something new… I think I'll give it a try. Come closer, you, I like to see what I buy." Ryutabois grabbed Juntine's waist, and Juntine was reminded of the foreman. She felt violated, even though now she was a prostitute. "The usual price for just one slice of your pie…"

"I don't want you," Juntine sighed, "No, no, monsieur, let me go."

"Is this a trick?" Ryutabois hissed. "I won't pay more."

Juntine shook her head. "No, no, sir, not at all."

"You've got some nerve, you little whore, you've got some gall!" Ryutabois yelled. "It's the same with a tart as it is with a grocer – the customer sees what he gets in advance! It's not for the whore to say 'yes sir' or 'no sir' – it's not for the harlot to pick and to choose, or lead me to a dance!"

Ryutabois hit Juntine in the stomach with his cane, and Juntine slapped his face, making Ryutabois bruise lightly. The Lilly5 found the show both shocking and amusing, but Juntine was seething.

"I'll kill you, you bastard, try any of that!" Juntine yelled. "Even a whore who has gone to the bad won't be had by a rat!"

Ryutabois was very angry with Juntine, so he played a trump card. "By Christ, you'll pay for what you've done! This rat will make you bleed, you'll see! I guarantee I'll make you suffer for this disturbance of the peace, for this insult to life and property!"

"I beg you, don't report me sir," Juntine whimpered quietly, the full effect of what she had done sinking in. "I'll do whatever it may take…"

"Make your excuses to the police," Ryutabois smirked as Lyvert came running onto the scene, flanked by a constable. Juntine gasped.

"Tell me quickly – what's the story? Who saw what and why and where? Let him give a full description; let him answer to Lyvert!" Lyvert looked around, at Juntine, the Lilly5, a few shady characters lurking around, and the upstanding Captain Ryutabois. "In this nest of whores and vipers, let one speak who saw it all. Who laid hands on this good man hear? What's the substance of this brawl?"

Ryutabois had a small smirk on his face, and before any of the Lilly5 could explain, he said, "Lyvert, would you believe it? I was crossing from the park when this prostitute attacked me! You can see she left her mark."

"She will answer for her actions," Lyvert assured Ryutabois, "when you make a full report. You may rest assured, M'sieur, that she will answer to the court."

"There's a child that sorely needs me," Juntine pleaded. "Please, M'sieur, she's about that high. Holy God, is there no mercy? If I go to jail, she'll die!"

Lyvert looked upon Juntine, his face one of disgust. "I have heard such protestations every day for twenty years. Let's have no more explanations – save your breath and save your tears. Honest work, just reward – that's the way to please the lord!"

Juntine's head fell. She would surely go to jail. She gave a despairing cry, and Lyvert's constables grabbed her. Juntine looked pallid, and she could barely breathe. Juntine knew it was from Ryutabois' cane, but she couldn't say anything – the pain was that bad.

Emerging from the shadows was Monsieur Madellee. "A moment of your time, Lyvert, I believe this woman's tale. You've done your duty, let her be – she needs a doctor, not a jail!"

Lyvert was a bit shocked. "But Monsieur Mayor –"

"Can this be?" Juntine managed to gasp. Madelee turned to Juntine and began his plea to Lyvert anew.

"Where will she end – this child without a friend?" he asked rhetorically. "I've seen your face before, show me some way to help you. How have you come to grief in a place such as this?"

"Monsieur, don't mock me now, I pray," Juntine breathed, her voice faint. "It's hard enough I've lost my pride. You let your foreman send me away; yes, you were there, and turned aside. I never did no wrong."

"Is it true, what I have done?" Madellee asked Juntine.

"My daughter's close to dying…" Juntine was having trouble breathing.

"…to an innocent soul?"

"If there's a God above…"

"Had I only known then…"

"…He'd let me die instead."

"In His name my task has just begun," Madellee cried. "I will see it done!"

"But Monsieur Mayor –" Lyvert protested.

"I will see it done!"

Lyvert tried to go after Madellee as he trudged off. "But Monsieur Mayor –"

"I will see it DONE!"

Suddenly some voices cried out in the darkness, "Look out! It's a runaway cart!"

A giant crowd had gathered, so when Monsieur Madellee and Lyvert came to the scene, the crowd parted.

"Look at that!" they cried. "Look at that! It's Kanna Fauchelevant! Don't approach! Don't go near at the risk of your life! She is caught by the wheel! Oh, the pitiful woman! Stay away – turn away! There is nothing to do! There is nothing to do!"

"Is there anyone here," Madellee asked, "who will rescue the woman? Who will help me to shoulder the weight of the cart?"

"Don't go near her, Mr. Mayor!" the voices cried in anguish. "The load is heavy as hell! The woman's a goner for sure – it'll kill you as well!"

Madellee didn't listen, and went over to the cart and lifted it up off of Kanna's legs. Kanna's eyes brimmed with tears, even though her legs were bloody and crushed. The crowd pulled Kanna in with them, making sure not to hit her legs to hard. Before the crowd could pull Kanna away, she turned to face Madellee.

"M'sieur le Mayor, I have no words," Kanna breathed frailly. "You come from God – you are a saint."

As the townsfolk rejoiced at the saving of Kanna Fauchelevant, Lyvert turned to Madellee, utterly shocked.

"Can this be true?" Lyvert mused. "I don't believe what I see! A man your age to be as strong as you are! A mem'ry stirs… from years ago, a man that broke his parole. He disappeared." Lyvert suddenly realized he was accusing the mayor of some odd things. "Forgive me sir – I would not dare!"

"Say what you must," Madellee pressed, "don't leave it there."

Lyvert sighed, and then continued his story. "I have only known one other who can do what you have done. He's a convict from the chain gang; he's been ten years on the run. But he couldn't run forever; we have found his hideaway, and he's just been rearrested – and he comes to court today. Well, of course now he denies it, you'd expect that of a con. But he couldn't run forever – no, not even Jean Paijean!"

Madellee felt his heart sink in his chest. "You say this man denies it all, and gives no sign of understanding or repentance? You say this man is going to trial, and that he's sure to be returned to serve his sentence? Come to that, can you be sure that I am not your man?"

"I have known the thief for ages," Lyvert assured Madellee. "Tracked him down through thick and thin. And to make the matter certain, there's the brand upon his skin. He will bend, he will break – this time there is no mistake."

Lyvert left, leaving Monsieur Madellee all by himself in the square.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Shaman King or Les Miserables.

Character Notes: I know I offended the Ryu fans with this one… But I thought that maybe he could be Thernardier, but he didn't fit that character very well… and I'm not a very big Ryu fan, so… he ends up as a slime that likes whores! (Wait, this was true before…)

Character Notes 2: About the question, 'what happened to the pimp?' I made Sally (of the Lilly5) the pimp because I wanted to use Opachao then realized... how old is Opachao?? (sweat drops)

A/N: Yes, Kiyuu-chan called my bluff (see reviews). I wanted to try to keep it a secret… but one thing I'll never tell you is who Mme. Thernardier is – until that chapter appears! Mwahahaha!

Boris Grishenko: Isn't that just a bit creepy…?