Les Shaman Miserables
Enjolren drummed his fingers on a table inside the ABC Café. He was surrounded by his fellow students, waiting for a report on the situation of the people of Paris.
"At Notre Dame the sections are prepared," a student named Kantferre told Enjolren.
"At Rue de Bac they're straining at the leash," Norilly, a female student noted.
"Students, workers, everyone," an older student named Meenfeyrac smiled. "There's a river on the run – like the flowing of the tide, Paris coming to our side!"
"The time is near," Enjolren announced. "So near it's stirring the blood in their veins! And yet, beware – don't let the wine go to your brains! For the army we fight is a dangerous foe, with the men and the arms we never can match. It is easy to sit here and swat them like flies, but the National Guard will be harder to catch."
Enjolren paused. Every eye in the room was staring at him as his bangs flittered in a soft breeze.
"We need a sign!" Enjolren cried. "To rally the people – to bring them to us – to bring them in line!"
The door to the ABC Café banged open, and Marioh entered hurriedly. He knew that the students were staring at him, in particular their leader - and Marioh's best friend.
"Marioh, you're late," Enjolren pointed out.
"What's wrong today?" a younger student named Opaly asked Marioh as he sat down in a seat. "You look as if you've seen a ghost."
"Some wine and say what's going on!" a half-drunk student name Ashitaire yelled.
Marioh ignored Ashitaire and turned to Opaly. "A ghost you say? A ghost maybe… she was like a ghost to me… one minute there, and she was gone!"
"I am agog!" Ashitaire smiled. The wine had clearly gone to his head, and Enjolren shook his head. "I am aghast! Is Marioh in love at last? I've never heard him 'ooh' and 'aah'! You talk of battles to be won –" That was directed to Enjolren, who just glared at Ashitaire with his yellow cat-like eyes – "and here he comes like Don Ju-an! It's better than an o-per-a!"
"It is time for us all," Enjolren snarled, "to decide who we are. Do we fight for the right to a night at the opera now? Have you asked yourselves what's the price you might pay? Is it simply a game for rich young boys to play? The color of the world is changing day by day…!"
Enjolren paused. Every eye in the whole café was looking at him. Then, as if possessed, Enjolren yelled, "Red – the blood of angry men! Black – the dark of ages past! Red – a world about to dawn! Black – the night that ends at last!"
"Had you been there tonight," Marioh murmured, "you might know how it feels to be struck to the bone in a moment of breathless delight! Had you been there tonight, you might also have known how the world may be changed in just one burst of light! And what was right seems wrong… and what was wrong seems right…!"
"Red…" Enjolren began.
"I feel my soul on fire!" Marioh beamed. Ashitaire blinked.
"Black…" Ashitaire started.
"My world if she's not there…" Marioh sighed.
"Red…" all of the students cooed.
"The color of desire!"
"Black…"
"The color of despair!"
Enjolren shook his head and looked into Marioh's eyes. "Marioh, you're no longer a child. I do not doubt you mean it well, but now there is a higher call. Who cares about your lonely soul? We strive toward a larger goal – our little lives don't count at all!"
"Red – the blood of angry men!" the students chanted. "Black – the dark of ages past! Red – a world about to dawn! Black – the night that ends at last!"
"Well, Meenfeyrac, do we have all the guns?" Enjolren began to shoot off rapid-fire questions and demands. "Norilly, Kantferre, our time is running short. Ashitaire, put that bottle down! Do we have all the guns we need?"
"Give me brandy on my breath," Ashitaire slogged. He was beyond drunk. "And I'll breathe them all to death!"
"In St. Antoine they're with us to a man!" Meenfeyrac replied, ignoring Ashitaire.
"In Notre Dame they're tearing up the stones!" Kantferre declared with pride.
"Twenty rifles good as new!" Norilly responded.
The students didn't notice that Maroche had entered the premises of the ABC Café.
"Listen!" Maroche ordered.
"Twenty rounds for every man!" Opaly requested determinedly.
"Listen to me!" Maroche cried to no avail.
"Double that in Port St. Cloud!" a shy little girl named Hitosa Prouvaire suggested to Enjolren with a red face.
"Seven guns in St. Martin!" a somewhat good-looking student named Chatgles cried.
"LISTEN EVERYBODY!" Maroche wailed. All the students looked to him.
"General Chromarque is dead," Maroche pronounced solemnly, and then he left as quickly as he had come.
"Chromarque is dead," Enjolren repeated coldly. "Chromarque! His death is the hour of fate. The people's man… his death is the sign we await!"
"On
his funeral day," Enjolren announced to the group, "they
will honor his name. It's a rallying cry that will reach every ear!
In the death of Chromarque we will kindle the flame – they will see
that the day of salvation is near! The time is near! Let us welcome
it gladly with courage and cheer! Let us take to the streets with no
doubt in our hearts, but a jubilant shout! They will come, one and
all – they will come when we call!"
The students cheered
their leader, with the shy little Hitosa even hugging Enjolren
happily. And Ashitaire was still drunk, so he cheered louder than
everyone else – that is, until Enjolren threw a dart at him.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Shaman King or Les Mis.
Character Notes: Alright, since I used a few obscure characters, here are my notes: Kantferre is Kanta from vol. 1 of the manga, the crazy painter ('WHITE!"). Norilly is Noriko the pianist from Vol. 1 of the manga (one of Yoh's 'non-corporeal consultants'). Meenfeyrac is, of course, Meene of the X-Laws. Enjolren is Ren (duh), Marioh is Yoh, and Opaly is Opachao. Ashitaire is Ashil – the crazy associate of Hao's that got killed by the X-Laws (sniff… I liked him, too.) Hitosa Prouvaire is Hitosa, a character I created for Amusing: A Shaman King Story (read that for more info on her – it's short for one of my works). Chatgles is Blue Chateau, the one good-looking guy in Ryu's gang.
A/N: A true Ryu fangirl! I've never had one review! Sankyu, Miss-Mina-Chan, and sorry about kicking Ryu into a river… turns out he can swim. But I will kick Pilika into the river with Neko-Neko, because I hate Pilika! She tried to take Ren away! Hurry! Bludgeon Pilika!
Pilika: Hello… I'm right here; I can hear every word you're saying…
A/N 2: All right, all you Les Mis fans… get ready to sing along to 'Do You Hear the People Sing?' Ready? I am!