Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King.
A/N: You must have finished the manga before continuing. May contain spoilers. You've been warned =p
Chapter 8
Ren was impaled by Peyote's OS when some of Hao's followers came in to attack team the REN. Horohoro and Chocolove fought hard to save Ren while defending from their attackers. It was Yoh's arrival which made their enemies hesitate. When the others came, Hao's underlings conceded.
Rue arrived with Ryu and Faust and ran to check on Ren's body lying on a rock. She slightly touches his skin and immediately retracts her fingers. She then starts to sob. She faintly hears Bason materialize behind her.
"Rue, Faust, you can heal him, right?"
"Sorry," she said hesitantly, "Horohoro, my power is still not enough for that. I'm truly sorry, I'm late." I can't do anything, she thought sadly as she put her hands on her mouth trying her hardest to stop crying.
"W-what do you mean?"
Faust tells his observations on Ren's body, each description was like a needle through their hearts. "His body is already dead." He said in conclusion.
Horohoro was infuriated; say it isn't true, he thinks helplessly.
Yoh tries to calm Horohoro, and then says he knows someone who can save Ren. Yeah, and that is still another one, Rue thought as she forced herself to listen in.
"Iron Maiden Jeanne." Yoh stated.
Horohoro's grip on Yoh's shirt loosened, his face full of disbelief.
"Who…" Horohoro trailed off.
"Maybe she can help us with her healing powers." Yoh added.
"What the fuck are you thinking Yoh?!" Horohoro angrily shouted. "She's our enemy, we're their enemies! They would never agree to this, not without something in return!"
"I know"
"No! I won't let you! Ren's from our team, I won't agree to it!"
"Horohoro, Ren's dying! It's not the time to think about those things!" It was Yoh's turn to shout, hopeful that he might talk Horohoro out of his anger.
"We have Faust! We have Rue! I don't know, we don't know, maybe they can combine their powers and revive Ren!" Horohoro said, a bit confused. He turned to Rue.
"Right Rue? We can't give up hope! You can do it, can you?" Horohoro demanded.
She wanted to say yes, desperately so. Horohoro had been correct; she had considered their compatibility in terms of the nature of their power. Faust was a doctor, an expert in the human body and had a very strong furyoku. But she knew the reality; their combined power was still not enough to revive the… dead.
"Rue!" she jumped upon mention of her name. Horohoro's really angry this time around, but she pushed back the thought. "help me here, I'm right, aren't I? We don't need their help. Right?" he sounded more forceful this time. But Rue still couldn't find it in herself to answer, I couldn't do it. I can't. I'm still weak. I'm so sorry Horohoro, she thought as more tears came.
"Stop it Horohoro!" Yoh interrupted, "You can't help by pushing your anger onto others. It's hard for all of us, too, Horohoro."
"Rue…" Horohoro shakily said. Unable to continue, he casted down his head.
"I'm sorry, Yoh." Rue says, her tears not still stopping.
"It's no one's fault." Yoh came closer to Rue to wipe her tears, which were replaced by new ones. Yoh patted her head, instead.
"How will you convince them, Yoh?" Chocolove asked.
"You can leave that to me." Yoh answered with a small smile.
It was then Chocolove's turn to shout at Yoh. He doesn't have to give himself to others. Why not be selfish for once? Why Yoh? Even Faust and Ryu? He thought as he tried to talk sense to Yoh.
Horohoro decided to leave, Chocolove, still not able to understand what Horohoro was thinking followed him. I do trust Yoh. But right now Ren's not here, Horohoro needs a friend, so I will be there, Chocolove thought as he followed his teammate.
"When Ren gets revived, he'll be a few times stronger." Rue heard Yoh say. This part, Yoh did not tell her, she wanted to speak and ask him, but then, another man's voice was heard, "You talk as if you knew everything long ago." It was Marco.
She immediately whipped her head to the sound of the voice and glared. These people can make her blood boil by even the sound of their voice – Marco, especially. Here he was; the bastard's still trying to insult Yoh 'til the very end – he's saying Yoh's not fit to be the Shaman King. He's not the Great Spirit to pass on that judgment, Rue angrily thought.
"Well, if the shaman king should be like your pretentious little Maiden, then Yoh's really not fit for that!" Rue wanted to retort, but she had heard Faust comment that they cannot mess this up. They were the ones asking favor, so she needs to hold it in.
I know what Yoh said. I trust him, I really do, but not these people. She was having a hard time accepting that they had to turn over Ren's body. Bason will be there, Lyserg, too. She tried to reason with herself, but failed. I've decided,she thought with determination.
It was really painful looking at Yoh as he slowly removed the locks of his Oracle Bell. She was looking at Yoh's face all the while; she knows that face, it was calm and peaceful. But she knows it too, the sadness within himself, it would have been easier, if he was fighting for himself. But it was not, it was never for Yoh. He had so much on his back, and so many counting on him. And now he must let it go, all of his dreams. All of their dreams. Her heart was crushed as she heard the oracle bell hit the ground. Yoh.
The die is cast. She recalled reading that phrase in one of her textbooks back at school. School. It seemed ages ago since I've stepped in one. Now they can't turn back. She stood up, still crying and gripping her arms tightly, and spoke, "I'd like to go wherever you'll take Ren." Yoh and the others have just left. But before leaving, Yoh turned to look at her, but she only signaled for them to go on.
"You! Don't think you can just order us around!"
She glared at the owner of the voice, I did not ask for the bastard's opinion, she said to herself.
"Marco, she's just worried about her friend. I can see it in her eyes; she has no ill intentions in going. I won't mind at all." The maiden says as she smiled at Rue.
Rue turned her back and went closer to Ren, "Thank you, Maiden," not waiting to hear what Marco has to say.
Bason carried Ren to the X-laws' vehicle, but as she went to follow him, she turned back and looked at Yoh's oracle, probably for the last time. She sighed as she told herself, I must not look back, because I still have an important thing to do.
The abandoned factory
While the X-laws members were setting up everything, Rue was instructed to stay a bit far from the group.
"Stay there!" the great Marco told her, "I don't know what you're planning, but I would like to remind you that you're on close watch. If you make any action against the law, be prepared to pay with your life."
Whatever, Idiot. She didn't mind at all because she was still trying to keep up with all that's happening so far.
She remembered the walk with Yoh earlier. She had just learned one of the biggest secrets of their family – HAO FREAKING ASAKURA! and Yoh's twin, no less. But it all came in second to Yoh's news.
FLASHBACK
"Silva told me that the Ren team is in danger." He said calmly as both of them walked within the forest, Ryu and Faust following them.
"WHAT?!" Rue had to stop and make him face her. Maybe she heard wrong, she hoped she did. Yoh, on the other hand did not answer, but he looked at her sympathetically.
"What are you saying right now?! Well, then, let's hurry!"
"Rue…"
"Did Silva say where they would be?"
"Rue, wait."
"Wait, today? We have to help them, right?" she started walking forward, but was uncertain where to go, exactly.
"Rue, listen to me." He held her arms as he pulled her back. "It's gonna be alright."
She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding as she calmed herself. Yoh's famous line had always calmed her since they were kids.
"Trust me, I have a plan." He reassured her.
"A plan?"
"Yeah, that's where Manta is going right now." They started to walk again. He explained where Manta was going. He needs to request Maiden Jeanne's help.
When she heard the maiden's name, she was about to protest, but was silenced when Yoh grinned at her and said, "Don't worry, I got this."
"What do you mean?"
"They need something from me, too. So I'm sure they'll agree."
"Yoh, what does that mean?" she asked, her tone, careful. She doesn't think she'll like what was coming next.
"They want me to resign from the battles. I imagined they would ask me that in exchange for saving Ren." Yoh said seriously as he looked forward.
"What, no…" Rue trailed off, she had stopped walking. Why? She thought. She was too shocked to take a step forward.
"Rue, let's go." Yoh grabbed her by the arms to pull her forward.
"No, Yoh!" she said as she pulled her arms back forcefully. "That's impossible! No! I won't let you! We don't need their help. And what will happen with Ren? Yoh?! We can save them, we don't need the X-Laws' help!" for the second time today, she wanted to cry.
"Rue, he has to do this. Did you know the biggest regret Ren has in entering this competition?" Yoh faced her, as he held both her shoulders.
"The qualifying exam?" she guessed, that was the only thing she could think of.
"Yes, Chrom." Yoh nodded with her answer.
"Jun-nee told me." She explained.
"He has a brother, Nichrom. And he is out there, with Ren's attackers."
"What?!"
"No, Rue, listen to me first. This is his way of reconciling with his own heart."
"I… I'm not sure if I understand."
"Just have faith, Rue. It'll be okay. I promise."
Rue just nodded in response; tired of thinking about the complexities of the minds of her male friends.
"What about Anna?" she asked a few minutes after they've started walking again.
Yoh's shoulders slumped at this question, "Let me handle that one, too."
FLASHBACK END
It was when Marco talked aloud that she came out of her stupor.
"What do you have for me Denbat?"
Said man stood alert as he heard his name and answered in a straight tone, "Tao Ren, was indeed the shaman who killed his ex-guardian, Chrom, during the qualifications round."
"I see…" he adjusted his glasses and continued, "thank you for your report."
Rue nervously stands from where she was sitting, something's wrong, she thought as she stared at Marco, why the need to bring that up?
When Jeanne entered the room, all Rue's focus was on her. She faintly heard Marco and his lackeys shout something.
We're both Yutas, yet she has the power to revive the dead. Could it be because of the God-level spirit? Either way, I need to learn how she'll do it. That power would be very beneficial to us in the battles to come. She thought as she looked at Jeanne.
"Please wait Maiden-sama," he said with authority, "this Marco thinks it is not a good idea to bring Tao Ren back."
HUH?!
Bason materialized in an instant, she couldn't make of what they said, because as fast as Bason arrived, the other angels had already cornered him.
Wait, what's happening? she thought; perhaps out of shock, she was unable to respond. But then Lyserg had beaten her to it.
"What are you saying Marco?" he shouted frantically, "Then for what reason did Yoh…?"
He wasn't able to finish as Marco had interrupted him, "We heard something more terrible, Tao Ren has murdered one of the ten patches in getting his oracle bell."
With his next words, Rue's self-control came flying out the window.
Yaaaay, new chapter! :D
To all the readers: Thank you for taking the time to read this story! :D But, I'm really sad, because updates might go slowly from now on. I'm doing major revisions on the next chapters, and I still can't decide on the ending XP
I would loooove to know what you think! ;) Thanksmuch!
A little side note: It's not that I hate the Ren-Jeanne pairing, but it really came off as a shock (O_O) I was like, I didn't see that coming. Hahahaha! But I love Men's character (and his hair!) and the mystery of his family in the Flowers manga, I've been waiting for so long to read the next chapters - 'cause I can't read the raws :(