Making Sense of it All
By Apple-chan
Disclaimer: IT WOULD NOT HAVE ENDED LIKE IT DID IF I OWNED IT.T_T
Warnings: G/K
Spoilers: Chapter 300
Pairings: RenxJeanne. xLyserg
Exhibit A: Ren
Evidence 3: Pride Goeth Before Destruction
SMASH!
Ren cursed under his breath as he watched the pink and green and purple-trimmed expensive vase fall, and shatter into pieces on the shiny marbled floor. Leaving several hundred thousand scratches and dents. And a heaping mess of broken china.
He stared at the young woman in front of him, trying to keep his voice even. "Stop tha—" he ducked as another vased came his way, smashing against the proud, pristine wall. No longer proud and no longer pristine.
And he snapped.
"STOP IT! RIGHT NOW!" His voice thundered, echoed all throughout the entirety of the room, rattling the Chinese four seasons displays and even the furniture. Voice that could have scared all the heavens into submission. And all the gods.
But apparently not the young woman in front of him.
The fourteen-year-old Iron Maiden Jeanne was unperturbed as she tossed her hair, and calmly picked up her next choice of weapon: a slender, maroon vase with onyx and topaz jewels outlining the elaborate swirly design, with diamonds in the center, and about twelve feet in height. She held it gracefully with nimble fingers and aimed at Ren's head.
"I SAID STOP, OKAY? CEASE THIS MADNESS!" Ren shouted warningly, horrified—and quite shocked—at the easy and comfortable way she held the heavy and expensive piece of china. As if it were made of the lightest feather. He didn't know she had that kind of strength.
But then again, there was much he didn't know about her.
For instance, he didn't know that she could get this…murderous over the whole situation. He had merely plucked her away from her place of residence. It's not as if he actually violated her in any way.
…And it's not like I would, anyway, Ren thought silently. I intend to have her come into my arms of her own free will. And she will, he decided confidently. Of course she will.
Of course. No woman can resist the charms of Tao Ren—especially not if he puts his mind into it. You will be mine. Yes, you will.
But first… "That is an extremely expensive vase," Ren emphasized, gesturing pointedly at the embedded stones. Handcrafted, and paid for with dear life. "So you had better think twice—no, TWENTY BILLION TIMES before you destroy something that precious."
Jeanne eyed the fragile antique with what seemed to be disdain. Of course, Ren knew that she was used to the simple life. Material things probably had little to no value in her eyes. "Expensive," she gave Ren a scornful look. "A single diamond within this piece can buy enough food to alleviate the hunger of all the citizens of Somalia."
"Yes, yes that's right," Ren agreed, although deep inside he wanted to sigh and roll his eyes with exasperation. Somalia? "For a year. Or ten years, even. So if you can just—"
She smirked. "Then I will pick up the fallen diamonds after I smash this in your face." And she raised the vase and, with the strength of a thousand Spartan warriors, threw it at his head.
Ren wasn't quick enough to dodge the full blow of the vase crashing into pieces this time around. A sliver of broken china grazed his left cheek, not enough to draw blood, but enough to leave a small gash.
And enough to send his temper spiraling out of control.
"When I tell you to STOP," his teeth gritted unconsciously, and he felt his hands clench into fists at his sides, "you should STOP." And he couldn't help himself. He glared at her. She was infuriating.
She gazed back at him squarely with calm unperturbed crimson eyes, obviously unfazed. "You have no right to order me around." She was quite obviously not afraid of him. Far from it, even. She picked up the fifteenth—and final—vase in the room and waved it provokingly in front of him. A silvery-blue eyebrow raised as if in challenge.
"PUT. THAT. DOWN." Ren glared.
"No, I will not." Jeanne looked back at him calmly, yet coldly.
Ren fought back a growl threatening to escape his lips as he tried to focus on the matter at hand.
He was supposed to talk to her. Lyserg had explained: communication was the first step to establishing this "courtship" thing. He needed to make his intentions clear before doing anything else. It was something he had to do by himself—Lyserg couldn't help him in this respect. Especially not now that he was already on his way back to London. Ren was on his own. "…Jeanne, put that DOWN. We need to talk."
"I said NO." Her voice was firm. "And additionally? The person who abducted me and locked me in this abominable place does not have ANY right to speak to me about ANYTHING."
Ren frowned. Abominable? Thick and heavy iron doors and Chinese traditional furyoku wards aside, the room he had deposited Jeanne in was quite…respectable and comfortable. And decorative too, what with all the framed paintings, figurines and vases. And, it was almost as large as a ballroom. "This is a nice room," he remarked in defense of his choice of guest quarters for her. It was a special room, for a special person—her.
Her eyes looked at him with leashed fury. "I am a prisoner here," she said pointedly. "There is nothing remotely nice about a PRISON CELL."
"It is NOT a prison cell. It's a guest room for you."
"I am not a guest in this godforsaken place. I am a prisoner. Those wards and iron doors prove this to be so."
"You're not—" Ren exhaled. There was no point in arguing. He was never going to win this. Explaining anything would be moot.
And besides, he admitted to himself grudgingly, I'm in the wrong here. I shouldn't have done this. Lyserg…Lyserg was right.
Kidnapping. What a stupid idea.
"Tao Ren." Her icy voice caught his attention. "If you are not going to release me from this prison, then I suggest you leave. Leave NOW." She said firmly. "Or I will sharpen my aim to make sure this lands on your FACE." She gestured to the remaining vase. Green, with black flowery design. A cheap one. Still expensive by normal standards, but cheap by Tao family standards.
Ren-kun, Lyserg's voice echoed in his head. The first thing you need to do is apologize to her. Apologize for what you've done. Apologize for kidnapping her.
In other words, Lyserg had continued, the first step to your own brand of courtship: you need to swallow your pride. It's the only way, Ren-kun.
Ren looked up at the ceiling, feeling incredulous as he recalled his friend's words of wisdom. Lyserg was nuts.
…But he's right. Apologize, fine. Get this over with. He looked at her, and frowned. Infuriating, this girl.
She glared in response. "I will count to three," she said. "If you do not exit from this place after I finish my count, I will break this vase violently on your head."
"I'm sorry."
"One, two—" she paused. "What?"
Ren exhaled. "I'm sorry. I apologize, okay? I should not have abducted you. Kidnapping is wrong, and I am very sorry." He glared at her. "Okay? Are you satisfied?"
"SATISFIED?" Her voiced raised a notch higher. It started to shake a little too, he noticed. Or a lot. "You honestly think a SIMPLE SORRY will make this all better?" With anger, apparently. At him. Obviously.
"Um…yes?"
Jeanne hissed. "You insufferable bastard."
Ren remembered having muttered a short brief curse before blacking out as she threw the vase at his head—and connected squarely.
Pride goeth before destruction, indeed.
TBC
Notes:
"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." – Proverbs 16:18 King James version. Because I seriously have no originality.
Yes, I tend to go overboard when I work with dialogues which explains the 1000+ words. It is seriously a bad habit.
Wrote this last week. There are bits that need fixing, just can't pinpoint them out. But the grammar's all good so this can go out.
Part four? Who knows when that'll come out…heh.
Reviewing? Thanks!
