Well, here's the next chapter...enjoy!

Doubtful Love by xo0starfire0ox

Chapter 24

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Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Shaman King characters.

"Okay, everyone! Thank you for coming to celebrate Anna's and my special day. Please, everyone enjoy the food." Yoh greeted as he took his seat beside his new bride. Waiters instantly came to each table, placing a plate of food in front of each person. Tamao watched in excitement and fondness as each guest looked in amazement at the food presented.

Jeanne quietly sat as the waiter placed her plate in front of her. She looked around the table at all the happy couples, and then her eyes went to Hao. Such a strange specimen is he. Though it was a celebration, she couldn't help but feel saddened every time her eyes wandered to Hao's quiet figure. Throughout dinner, he sat there, drinking as much wine as possible. Gulp after gulp, his face reflected his heart. He placed the glass down and got up.

"Onii-chan, where are you going?" Yoh asked him with a smile on his face. Hao turned to him and managed a smile.

"The restroom." He replied simply and went off. Jeanne watched his retreating back and couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the guy. His mood has decreased greatly in the car ride; wonder what had happened? Jeanne removed the cloth napkin from her lap and got up.

"Jeanne-chan, where are you going?" Milly asked the uncertain girl.

"I forgot something in the car." She lied as she inwardly repented. She walked off as she shut the door behind her. She sighed and looked around the lobby, which was pretty empty now. Instinctively, she walked outside and looked around. By the river stood one lone figure, but somehow she knew whom it was. She walked towards him, cautious yet wondering. She paused. 'Wait, why should I care? Why am I even here?' Jeanne wondered. After all he was the Devil's advocate. She turned around. 'But he's changed so much!' she said to herself. Somehow, she knew it was true. A month and he hasn't wreaked any havoc at all. He's calmer and much more peaceful, though he's a bit cheeky and comical, he's a much better improvement than the Hao who wanted to have world domination of a only shaman world. She turned around again, unsure what to do. She pictured his saddened troubled face back there and sighed. To help him or not, that is the question.

"You're going to get dizzy like that." A voice said. Jeanne knew who it was as she looked up in embarrassment.

"What are you doing here?" He asked casually with his hands in his pockets. Jeanne wondered how she was going to answer this.

"You were looking for me?" He asked mockingly, though he had read her mind.

"I would kindly like it if you stop reading my mind." She said as she disconnected her psychic relation with him.

"And, I was just looking for you because I thought you would like to know that dessert is served." Jeanne said, defending herself. She thought it would be around dessert time.

"Jeanne-chan? Do you ever wonder if there's anyone out there for you?" He asked, stunning the Iron Maiden. Hao had his back turned against Jeanne, though he could picture her reaction and smiled. Jeanne composed herself and tried to be as calm as possible.

"Why do you ask that?" She asked calmly and suspiciously.

"It's kind of random, I know. But one can't help it when they're surrounded by loving couples." Hao said as he looked up at the spacious night sky.

"Well, sometimes. But the time will be unraveled when it is time." Jeanne said. Hao nodded at the wisdom.

"And what about us?" He asked. Another shocked response from Jeanne, he noticed.

"Wha-What about us? We're mortal enemies. We're on totally different pages. Totally different sides of the coin." She said nervously as she turned away from him.

"True. You're God's little angel; I'm Satan's slave. But nonetheless we're in the same book, the same coin, the same world." He said. Jeanne looked at him, awed at his wisdom beyond his times and stood there, defeated.

"In my three lives, I've never felt this way-" Hao said mystically. Jeanne clutched her fists.

"Stop. Keep your lustful ways away from me. I want nothing to do with you, nothing at all." Jeanne simply stated and walked off.

"Very well. I understand." He said as he lowered his head. He stayed out there, completely unsure about the future and what it holds for him. Deep down, he did feel his heart being ripped out, but he had to agree with the lovely Jeanne. They were too different.

A few minutes later, Hao went back inside. He comfortably placed himself by the bar, ordering tons of beer and basically binging all of them until he got to the point where he couldn't even stand up. Bottle after bottle, drinking away all his inner sorrows. He was drunk.

Jeanne could care less that he was drinking that much. How could he have done so much evil, and then go on, professing his lust for his enemy? She was the only one who knew, yet didn't care about Hao's drinking. After much dancing, though she didn't get to dance with Hao since he was drunk, she decided she needed some cool night air to help calm her nerves when driving back home. She returned to the calm river, listening to the calming trickle of water as it flowed endlessly. Then who knew tragedy was going to strike.

Some drunk drivers got into a car, revved up the engine. The driver fell asleep instantly, his foot still on the gas. And then it backed up, backed up straight for Jeanne near the river. By the time Jeanne had realized, she only had seconds to dodge it. Until a miracle happened. Someone shoved her away as she fell down the hard gravel. Then she heard a splash and then a large one. She saw a hazy vehicle in the river and that was all she remembered when she blacked out.

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Well, I hope it works out! Hm...thanks to those who have reviewed my fic so far...it's really helpful and supportive!