Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King (sadly)

Chapter 11

Tension

Early on a Saturday morning, all students of the x-Law University gathered in the shrine, dressed in white Yukata´s. The prayers are led by the director, Mister Marco Lasso. While he says the prayer out loud, he noticed a certain blond person standing outside of the building, throwing stones into the lake. But he does not let himself be distracted from the prayer.

After the prayer, Marco stood next to the entrance and let the students pass. They showed their respect and went off. Marco saw how Faust approached three students and told them that he needs to talk to them. Just then the last student has passed and Marco called out. "Mister Johann Faust!"

Faust turned around and glanced at Marco with an surprised facial expression. "Go ahead, boys.", Faust called over his shoulder without breaking eye contact with Marco. The music teacher approached Marco slowly.

"I would like to remind you that it is your duty to respect the traditions of this university as long as you are here.", Marco stated calm with a firm voice, his face showed no sign of emotion. The next time you do not stay outside, but come into the shrine.", with that the director attempted to walk pass Faust.

"I am sorry, sir.", Faust said and Marco stopped in his track and glanced at Faust. "But I will not go into the shrine.", the teacher shifted his glance to the shrine. "We have something to purify. He took the girl who believed in his charity. "

"It is not enough to have something to purify with me? You also have to deny your belief?", Marco asked and raised an eyebrow.

"No, sir.", Faust said amused. "I believe in another god.", he stated and turned around to leave.

"Mister Johann Faust.", Marco called and stopped him. "Let me bless you, so that you will have support in your fight."

"I'm sorry sir, but I can not accept that. Because in order to be able to receive it, I have to bow just like the others before. That neither allows me my heart nor my soul."

"I do not force anyone to bow in front of me, Mister Faust.", he said sure of himself. "They do it voluntarily, because they respect me."

Faust smiled and shook his head. "They bow out of fear. You should not confuse fear with respect. I am..."

"You are not afraid of me, Mister Faust.", interrupted him Marco. "I know... Do not be afraid to accept my blessing. Do not worry, I do not ask you to bow to me."

After a few seconds of thinking Faust said "I accept your blessing."

Marco placed a hand on Faust head and said "I wish you good luck."

Faust nodded and replied. "I wish you that too."

xXx

The air was filled with party music, which were coming from the large Ghettoblaster. Nichrom was dancing at one side of the pool surrounded by Girls.

"You are dancing nice, yeah!", he said to one of the girls while walking up to her. "Watch out!", he called out while picking her up and throwing her into the pool. Everyone else cheered.

At the other side of the pool was a uncertain Tamao joining the party. She was dressed in a very, very short light pink dress. Her hands dug into her purse, nervously. She sighed when she saw the crowd surrounding the pool, dancing.

I feel out of place, she thought.

Suddenly a Waiter, dressed in a white blazer and black pants, stopped next to her and held a tray with drinks in front of her face. She was about to decline, when her glance meet the smiling face of the waiter.

"Horohoro!", she screamed with a squeaky voice and wanted to jump in delight. "What are you doing here?", she asked smiling wide.

The Waiter snickered about the reaction of the girl. "Work! What else?", he replied loud to drown out the music. "Here I can earn as much money on a single Saturday, as a week in the cafe. Besides, the hottest girls of this city are at this party.", he said jokingly while looking around. Tamao giggled, because of his straightforwardness. "Such a chance would only refuse a complete idiot."

"I do not believe you in anything.", she replied and put her arms around his arm. "I am glad that you are here. Just stay here with me!"

"Tamao, let go of my arm!", he in a serious tone. She made a pout, while he continues. "What should people think? I am here to work!"

"So, what?"

"That is the party of your boyfriend, you surely know everyone here."

"Not really... they are all friends of Nichrom. I do not know them!", she pouted still clinging to his arm.

"I am sorry, Tamao.", he freed his arm from her grip. "I do not want to lose my job because of you.", he said while leaving her behind.

"Horo!", she pleaded him, but he walked away.

Just then her boyfriend approached her. "Tamao! What´s up, Baby?!", he said happy while hugging her.

"Hi Nichrom.", she said and pushed him away, slightly.

"Come on, I introduce you to the others!", he cheered. "Where were you?"

"One moment please."

"What do you mean ´one moment´? I am not waiting!", with that he picked her up bridal style and walked to the pool. "Hey people that is Tamao! Come here everybody, I want to introduce you to Tamao! She is an enthusiastic swimmer!", he called out and with one swift motion he threw her into the pool.

Everyone Cheered and laughed. Tamao reappeared, startled, mouth wide open to get air. The pool wasn´t deep, so she could stand. She wiped her bangs back and placed her arms over her chest to cover herself, in embarrassment and bowed her head down. How can he do this to me?, she through and was about to cry. Nichrom noticed that she sobbed and shivered. "Hey people, rest!" The laughter fell silent and her sobs became audible. Her boyfriend was kneeling at the edge of the pool and stretched an arm out. "Please Tamao, do not cry now. I thought that was funny."

Now tears were falling down her cheeks onto the surface of the water. "I am sorry! Yea, I am sorry. Now give me your hand..."

"Nichrom!", a stern voice called out from the other side of the pool. The called person shifted his glance to the person. There stood a mad Horohoro, his glance fixed at the crying Tamao. He walked down the steps into the pool and took off his blazer, while he approached the girl. He does not care if his clothes got wet or if he loses his job. The only thing that matters now is the girl he loved so dearly is crying right now. And he does not like that it at all, he was boiling in the inside but stayed calm.

When he reached her he put the blazer on her shoulders to cover her. She looked up and Horo send her a knowing look. He placed his arm around her shoulders and escorted her out of the pool.

Nichrom stood up, not happy about how things are turning out. He walked around the pool to approach them. "Listen Tamao, I am really sorry... I should not have done that", he apologized and wanted to touch her, but Horo held him back. Tamao´s head still bowed down, her fingers clutched the blazer tight. "That´s enough, Nichrom. Enough.", the blue haired boy said in a very serious voice and they walked away.

xXx

One, two, three, four, right! One, two, three, four, left!

Yoh was sitting at the edge of the stage in the dancing studio of the Girls College. Behind him was Anna, stretching before she would start her training routine. She glanced at Yoh and found him daydreaming with a huge grin. She followed his glance and found him staring at the Girls, while they were doing their warm up dance routine and wearing as little as possible.

"Pathetic.", she stated disgusted.

"Hm..?", her voice brought him back to reality and he looked sideway at her.

Anna took her bottle next to her gym bag and seated herself next to him. "How stupid you guys are, it is unbelievable! A girl who is interested in a boy just needs to eject the angel."

Yoh gave her a confused look and she sighed. "Put on clothes that have a bit less fabric, just like these girls...", she pointed with her chin in the direction of the dancing girls. "... making you boys drooling. And you're all hanging on the hook."

She looked at him in a serious manner. "Does nothing else count? You never ask yourself, what kind of character does she have? Or about what can I talk to her? Never?", she asked him secretly hoping he would deny.

"Never...no. We never think about that, never.", he said grinning and glanced back at the girls. He knew Anna would get mad at his answer, but he through that she acted really cute when she was angry. Now he wanted to see if the great Kyoyama Anna can get jealous. Even though he was daydreaming about her and accidentally looking in the direction of the girls. But now he would take advantage of this situation.

Anna´s eyes widened "You are a disgusting.", she said in a condescending tone. Yoh just smirked. Exactly according to plan, he thought.

She took a sip from her bottle while Yoh shifted his glance back at her. "I think I know your problem. It is the classic case, you are jealous of Marion."

The blond girl raised an eyebrow. "Jealous... because of Marion.", she asked and shifted her glance quick at the girl at the other side of the hall and then back at Yoh.

"Yes.", he nodded. "Because... basically you want to look the same.", she snorted at the sentence, but he just continues. "But you know that's impossible. Let´s be honest...", he studied her up and down. "...there is something missing." He leaned closer "Therefore, you develop hate feelings for her. I have the impression that the Marion complex is your problem and you should work on it.", he teased her and took her bottle. "Think about it.", he said cheekily and looked back at the girls.

Anna was overloaded with anger, she grabbed him by the collar and looked furiously into his eyes. "Now listen, Mister Asakura Yoh! I am neither jealous of anyone nor do I develop hate! I am completely satisfied with myself! And as for your wonderful Marion, I could always be like her, if I wanted to! But she never can be like me, even if she wants too! Do you understand that?", she asked the last part in a sweet tone.

Yoh was first startled by her sudden action by grabbing his collar, but after he heard the sweetness in her voice, he grinned and teased her further. "Believe me Anna, you can never look like Marion.", he said grinning. Even though he meant what he was saying, Anna understood it the wrong way and he really enjoyed her madness.

"Oh, yes I can.", she nodded and glared at him challenging.

"No, you can´t.", he grinned.

"Yes, I can!"

"Nope, you can´t",

"Yes, I..."

That would last all day if not someone interrupted them. "Oh, Yoh!", came a voice so sweet you would get diabetes.

Both looked up from each other´s eyes, to see a certain Marion standing in front of them. "I can not get that last dance step right, could you show it to me again? Please!", she asked so sweet, Anna wanted to throw up.

"Sure!", the asked person said and stood up. "And if you have something else in mind, you can come to me.", with that he left Anna behind. She was mad, really mad. I do not know exactly what you are planning, Asakura. But I can play my own game with you, she smirked.

xXx

"Jeanne! You are not ready yet?", Jane asked her daughter in law, after she met her on the stairs. "We wanted to visit Misses Saigan."

"No, Jane. I do not feel like going there...", with that she shifted her glance to the book in her hand.

"It's the same every time, go out, be under people...", Jane said softly while placing her hands on Jeannes shoulders. "... making friends, is something nice and important. You can not hide forever from the world... Alright, take as much time as you need.", her mother in law put a silver strand of her behind her ear.

Jeanne smiled and Jane smiled back, then she made her way downstairs while calling over her shoulder. "It will be late! Please bring the children to bed later. And do not let Seyram watch TV that long!"

"Alright!", Jeanne said and laughed lightly. Then she walked up the stairs to her room. There she noticed a box on her chair. She placed her book down to open the box.

Her eyes widened and she opened her mouth slightly. There were new ballet shoes inside. She saw a note inside and read it.

This little gift, with love greeting, shall adorn your tender feet.

She sighed and glanced back into the box.

"What´s wrong? Do you not like my gift?"

Jeanne startled and looked in the direction were the voice was coming from. There stood the piano teacher smiling, leaning casual on to the wall next to the door.

"You?! Are you crazy?", she asked nervous and placed the box down. "Why are you here?", she walked to the door and looked outside. "What do you think is going to happen, if they catch you here?"

"Relax, no one saw me.", Ren replied and smiled at her reaction.

"I do not want to hear anything! You have to get out of here! Now!"

"Alright, Ok! I will go under one condition."

"What?!", she asked impatient.

"I want you to start dancing again."

"That´s not possible.", she said and turned around to leave, but he got hold of her wrist and she turned around.

"Please, do not say no. We are friends, aren´t we? And as your friend I want to see you happy and I want you to live your life again."

Jeanne shook Ren´s hand of her wrist. "Ren, stop that. I'm just scared!..."

Then she heard the voice of her father-in-law downstairs. "Ren, you have to go! Now!", she pleaded him.

"Will you dance for me?", Ren asked and held a hand out.

"But I can not dance properly anymore. That was a long time ago. I have forgotten everything.", she wanted to leave again, but Ren caught her again and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Why are you doing this?", she asked softly looking up to meet his eyes.

He looked deep in her eyes and smiled lovingly. "Because I know a girl here, who does not dare to be happy. And I would like to show her that it is very easy to find happiness.", he whispered.

Her eyes got glassy and because they were standing so close, she could feel his warm breath on her face. He put one hand on her face and stroked her cheek with his thumb while leaning down. Just when Jeanne wanted to tiptoe to close the gab he leaned back and placed a kiss on her forehead. She closed her eyes and felt the warmth of his tender touch. He let go and smiled one last time at her before he walked out of the room.

Jeanne watched him leave. Her breath was heavy and her face heating up, she could still feel his tender touch and smiled sadly. He knew that she wasn´t ready yet for more, and he would not risk what they have now. Just don't rush things, he told himself.

xxx Hello Reader! I am thanking everyone for the Reviews and following this Story! I hope you liked this chapter! And let me know what you think! It really Keep me motivated! :) xxx