Author's Note:
[1] Inspired by Chapter 291, Pages 16-17; because even though Yoh made that comment about Ren, I smiled cause I knew he meant those words for himself too. This is a story of how Ren realized he found his own muse, just as Yoh had in the past, - a story about Ren, but also a story about Yoh.
[2] This, I dedicate to Angela Nguyen, :) because you've made me love Ren-Jeanne even more. [How I wished they had screen time in the manga.]
Words: 1000
"I'm going to France."
The declaration was so sudden and completely out of nowhere, that to the untrained ear, it seems like a passing comment.
But Yoh knew this wasn't the case; Ren rarely voiced anything pointless.
"France?" Yoh replied, confused.
Ren pretended not to have heard him, and was focused completely at what was flashed on screen.
Or so it seemed.
"What's in France?" Yoh shouldered on.
"The… Eiffel Tower." Ren said nonchalantly.
The pause was not unnoticed.
Suspicious.
"…a tower…"
" - Yeah. There's also this famous museum…"
"I see." Yoh didn't, really. Ren doesn't strike him as the type to idly tour museums or towers. "Sightseeing?"
"It could be fun." Ren mused in an unusually high-pitched voice. "Food, different culture…"
"Maybe you could visit Marco," Yoh offered.
"ABSOLUTELY NOT! Why the hell would I want to see ugly him!"
"So you can ask where Jeanne is."
Ren opened his mouth to protest, but found himself closing it inch by inch. "I don't need to ask four-eyes for that," he muttered.
Yoh's eyebrows rose to a considerable degree. Ren's ears were getting redder by the minute.
"Shut up" Ren barked.
"I didn't say anything!"
"Your eyes say everything!"
Yoh chuckled. "Ah sorry." Then he flashed Ren a smile to show that he wasn't sorry at all.
"Bastard!"
Then they proceeded to brawl on the floor, the way little boys would, before Anna stepped in to slap them both for disrupting her drama marathon.
-O-
Ren eventually made it to France.
He visited some old palaces, took pictures, bought souvenirs, and met with her in Champs Elysees.
Marco wasn't far behind.
Needless to say, the 'date' was a disaster.
They walked two feet away from each other, or at least Ren and Jeanne did.
Marco walked so close to Ren as he hissed profanities and curses in the boy's ears, constantly telling him that he was unworthy of the Holy Maiden's affection.
Bason floated nearby too.
When Ren's spiky hair finally grew high enough to pierce the roof of a pastry shop, Jeanne cleared her throat.
"Marco, perhaps you'd like to frolic around with Shamash," came her gentle voice.
"Frolic?"
"Bason, get to know some… French spirits," came Ren's brusque order.
"M-Master?"
And before they knew it, Ren and Jeanne curtly turned and walked in an opposite direction.
"…"
The second half of the date was more peaceful. The distance between them was only half a foot.
She'd tell him the good things about France.
He'd tell her it was much better in China.
They would also stop by random torture-device selling stores.
As she picks up a shoe with rugged spikes underneath, he tells her "You're a weird woman."
I think you're cute, interesting, funny to look at… all the words he never said but she understood anyway.
Jeanne merely smiled. "Don't worry. I think you're weird too."
Then they both go quiet as they noticed the sun slowly descending into darkness.
The sky was a hazy orange, fiery and turbulent - exactly like the way he feels right now.
He became suddenly aware of his fingers, as they brushed upon something soft. He carefully moved his eyes to ascertain what it was, and he paused, realizing that his fingers lay atop her own.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" She muses, breaking his silent reverie.
"The sunsets in China are even better."
Jeanne turned to look at him, glancing briefly at their innocently tangled hands, then looked him in the eye. "I've been thinking…"
Ren cocked his brown to show he was listening.
"I'd like to see China someday," she said.
She inclined her head ever so slightly, so her soft fringes seemed aglow with the sunset.
Immediately, Ren thinks that he is in danger.
Even just her eyes, her blood red eyes, leave him speechless, transfixed and holding his breath.
He wondered if there would ever come a time when he wouldn't be so weak against her.
So he simply nodded, unable to find his voice. She turned to watch the sunset once more.
Somehow, they both deemed it unnecessary to move their fingers away, or move even closer for that matter.
This was as close as their comforts would allow.
But for now, it was enough.
-O-
"Ren!" Yoh greeted him with a goofy grin as he stepped inside the inn. "How was France?" Yoh asked. 'How was Jeanne?' was what he meant to say.
Anna didn't fail to miss the implication, and she looked at Ren.
"Fine."
Anna returned to her soaps. Yoh laughed. "That's good to hear."
"Oi Ren! Where are our presents?" Horo-Horo said, as he appeared in a bathrobe.
"I wouldn't give you one if you begged!"
The Ainu's nose flared. "You arrogant brat-" Then he jumped him, just as Ren grabbed his spear.
"QUIET!" Anna seized them both and slapped them fiercely, so that they were both flung in opposite directions. Horo-Horo's face caused a crack in the wall, Ren's pointed hair did the same.
Anna merely sighed. "Yoh."
"Nngg."
"Fix the walls," she ordered.
"W-Why me?"
Anna gave him a cold glare that said Why not? I'll punish you if you disobey.
Yoh gulped, by way of response.
Satisfied, she coolly exited the living room.
As Ren surveyed the scene he noted that Horo-Horo was still out cold and Yoh was crying. "This is what awaits me?"
Yoh immediately stopped, and grinned. "There are good parts." I can think of a million reasons…
"Like what?"
Yoh stood up, dusted his pants and moved towards Ren. "That one, you'll have to figure out on your own." He tugged Ren's foot to detach his hair from the wall.
"You piss me off…" Ren said "…acting like an expert on love."
"Expert?" Yoh grinned. "Course not." Then he moved next to where Horo-Horo was slumped. "I just like being with Anna."
Then he gave Ren a complicated smile.
Because I love her.
That's all there is to it.
You'll understand soon enough, Ren.