Doubtful Love by xo0starfire0ox
Chapter 29
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANY OF THESE CHARACTERS!
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"Onii-chan, what are you doing?" Yoh asked his older brother. Hao, sitting comfortably in a tree, peered down from his newspaper.
"Reading of course, little brother." Hao replied simply as he folded up his newspaper.
"Hao, get down from that tree! You don't have your powers anymore, so if you fall off that tree…GET DOWN FROM THAT TREE!" Anna roared from the house. Hao nodded and sighed in defeat.
"After being married for what? Three years now? She could at least call me Onii-chan too." Hao sulked and started climbing down the trees.
"She's just worried about you. And she's right. You're a human now, Onii-chan. You have to take care of yourself; you don't have powers to rely on anymore." Yoh said.
"And you think in the past I relied on my powers that much?" Hao challenged.
"Well, not really…not before the wedding." Yoh said as his tone suddenly got depressed.
"Cheer up Yoh. No need to bring up sad times…I'm still alive, aren't I?" Hao said as he patted him on the back. Yoh nodded.
Pirika looked outside and smiled. Over the last two and a half years, everything's been perfectly normal. She looked on her hand and smiled. Ren had proposed to her a few weeks ago, and she was beaming, just like any new wife-to-be would've. Well, almost everything was perfect. Hao's back again, pretty much harmless now without his powers, and he's grown to love the human life of simplicity. But she averted her attention to a picture beside her. The whole gang, smiling on Yoh's and Anna's big day. Jeanne was on the left most side of the picture. And Hao right beside her. Pirika sighed, feeling really sad for the two. They were meant to be together, but now, Jeanne's location is unknown, and Hao seems to have never recalled the feelings he had for her. The bedroom door slid open and in came her fiancé. He came right beside her and sat on her bed.
"How's it going?" He asked her.
"I wish Jeanne-chan and Hao-kun could get back together. Everything would've been perfect. Onii-chan and Tamao-chan are now happily married and Tamao is about to give birth in a few months. We're going to get married soon. Yoh-kun and Anna-chan are still together with a kid to handle. But Hao-kun and Jeanne-chan…" Pirika said.
"Well-" Ren began but was cut off by some shouting.
"OMIGOSH! Everyone come quick!" They heard Tamao shout. Pirika quickly jumped out of her bed with Ren trailing behind her.
"Tamao, don't run around like that; you might fall!" Horo said, chasing his wife. In her hand held a white envelope.
"What is it Tamao-chan?" Pirika asked urgently.
"It's a letter! A letter from Jeanne-chan!" Tamao squealed, overjoyed with updated news from her disappeared friend. Everyone grew vastly curious. Pirika, at the mention of Jeanne's name came rushing to Tamao and was excited to hear from her friend.
"What's going on? Why is everyone in the kitchen?" Yoh asked as Hao and him walked inside to a large crowd standing in the middle of his kitchen.
"They had received a letter from Jeanne-chan. After all these years…" Ren said as he stood by them.
"Read it, Tamao-chan!" Pirika pleaded.
"Yeah, let's see how our Maiden is doing." Hao said with a tint of humor. Tamao unfolded the piece of paper and looked at the long letter Jeanne had to write.
Dear everyone,
I'm greatly regretful for not keeping contact for these past two years. But I had needed time and space for a while. I am sorry for leaving at such an abrupt state, but there was nothing left for me there. I do understand our friendship is great and powerful, but there are times when one needs to learn alone. I needed to go out on my own and try to find my path in life, just like many have.
I did return to France with Marco-kun. I continued my schooling, seeing that it is the only path for me at that time. And before you know it, I'm studying abroad in America. Right now, I'm an intern at the hospital in Alaska. I know, Alaska, pretty cold. But I find the winter weather quite interesting. Why are you hearing from me now, you ask? I actually don't know, but I do know that I'm finally moving on. I'm ready to continue in life and pursue my own dreams without that pulling me down. Not that it was pulling me down, but some things are meant to be, aren't they?
I hope everything in Japan is okay. I hope everyone is doing well, and I hope everyone will continue doing well. I really miss all of you dearly. Maybe I could visit sometime soon. Attached are individual letters for each of you.
Until next time,
Iron Maiden Jeanne
Tamao finished. She took out several other envelopes with everyone's names on each one. She smiled, knowing that her friend is doing good, getting over him and finally moving on. Tamao began passing the envelopes out.
"Pirika-chan, here." Tamao handed her the envelope. Pirika quickly opened in and read her portion.
Pirika,
How are you doing? How have things been with Ren-kun? I really do miss all of you very much. And I'm really sorry to have not left without saying good-bye personally. Please forgive me.
I trust you as a very good friend, Pirika-chan. It has been really hard lately. I thought I've gotten over him, but no matter what, I still can't stop thinking about him. How is he? I really hope he's doing okay. Like you said, everyone deserves a second chance. Though Hao-kun has been evil in his past, and probably still is, he's a good guy. I've learned a lot from him, surprisingly enough. And I really do miss him. But I know it's forbidden, forbidden to love someone who is the exact opposite. But what's wrong with loving from afar? That's what I've been doing for the past two years, but it still pains inside. I really wish to tell him these feelings, but I don't think I'll have a chance to. I'm really regretful for blowing the first chance, Pirika-chan.
Don't worry about me Pirika-chan. Continue in your life and I wish you the best of luck!
Jeanne
Pirika felt her eyes water. This wasn't her mood in the intro letter. Jeanne seemed quite pleased with her life, but in her letter, she's pouring out her sadness to her. Pirika looked at Hao, wondering what his letter said, wondering if she told him. She walked up to him.
"Hao-kun?" Pirika asked, shoving the tears away to the back of her eye.
"Yes, Pirika-chan?" Hao said as he twiddled with the letter in his hands.
"Did you read your letter yet?" Pirika asked. Hao looked down to the floor and sucked in some air. Pirika felt the tension go up.
"Yes." He said.
"And?" She asked.
"And what?" He asked.
"What did it say?" She pressured.
"I'm not telling you." Hao said gently.
"Well then, what are your feelings about it?" She asked, trying not to be prying.
"My feelings? Happy." He simply said with a smile. Pirika looked at him with strange amazement.
"Okay." She stated and left in puzzlement. Hao let out a relieved sigh as he looked at the letter in his hands. Indeed, he has read it. He quietly went up to his room and slid open the door. He went straight to his dresser and took out one photo. He looked at it, looked at her, and smiled.
"I finally found you, Jeanne." He said. He sat on his bed, overwhelmed with the good news.
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The ending is coming up...sorta...I don't know if I should make that the ending...I might change it...