The sun brightly beams rays of sunlight on a cloudless day in the arid hot desert. The yellow sand mounds appear to absorb the intense light and in turn radiates an extreme wave of heat.

"Dear God…why is it hotter than usual today?!" A voice lazily gripes as a gentle breeze billows at the ends of the cloak from against their body.

The individual audibly releases a sigh once the brief gust of wind passes by them when they presume, 'I see that they'll never learn their lesson. No matter how many times I show them mercy and forgiveness.'

'...yet blood is thicker than water.' The figure inwardly assumes once their guardian spirit instantly alerts them that there were three presences nearby that clearly emits ill intent.

"I want to kill all of my enemies!" A blonde girl with green eyes clad in a black Gothic Lolita dress, black hair ties, black shoes and white stockings eagerly proclaims with a placid expression on her face.

A little girl with orange hair and purple eyes dress in a white undershirt, black overalls, boots and a broom visibly rolls her eyes at the blonde as she attempts to concentrate on the materialization of her oversoul, Jack.

"I can't concentrate if you keep talking about killing Marion." She annoyingly retorts once a small skeleton with a black cape, a sharp knife with a pumpkin for a head appears before her.

The girl, name Marion, directs her attention to the blue haired woman with the black top, short jeans with a package attached to her belt, boots and a cigarette to her lips.

"Kanna, why couldn't I be the one that kill her?!"

"Why did you send the tot in? You know how badly I want to kill her!"

"Marion and Matilda, shut up!" The blue haired woman, Kanna, harshly declares in order to cease their banter before it ultimately reveals their location to their target for the ambush.

"…in three…two…one, fire in the hole!" She orders as they rapidly launch a volley of pumpkins that serve as a decoy in the cloak figure direction.

A loud boom accompanied with a massive dark and ominous mushroom cloud that seemed to extend its reach to the heavens can be visibly seen from base camp.

"Opacho," The dark skin little girl with an Afro ponytail dressed in a poncho tugged on the sleeves of the Priest robes in order to capture his attention to see the sight.

The older man glances down at the little girl only to follow her finger in the direction of where she wants him to look.

"Hao-sama will not be pleased at this outcome." Luchist gravely assumes with a slight shake of his head left then right after he witnesses the scene before him.

At the same time…

"Did you get 'em Matilda?" Kanna inquisitively questions once she pops her head from behind a sand dune to observe the outcome of their ambush.

The orange haired girl remains completely silent since her oversoul had yet to appear at her side, which instantly prompts her to become concern, 'I don't like this sensation.'

"You did a pretty good job but I would've done it with a little less smoke." Marion boastfully retorts with the same carefree expression on her face from beforehand.

Matilda suddenly feels the sand underneath her begins to rumble, which prompts her to inquire, "Hey uhm...can you even feel an earthquake in the desert?"

Her random question captures her teammates' attention when the sight of a wooden chair unexpectedly surfaces from underneath where the girl presently stands.

"Why must you persistently attempt to eliminate me?" The voice curiously poses as black leather straps abruptly wraps around Matlida's petite frame.

It slowly yet tightly presses her body against the sharp metallic spikes in the front of the chair.

"You b…" Kanna loudly shouts however the sound of the little girl's yelp from intense pain immediately ceases her statement.

"What's going on here?" A masculine voice sharply demands as the presence instantly commands their attention once he lands within the area.

The male carefully examines the scene before him until he beholds the three members of Hana-Gumi with one of them being strap to what appears to be an Interrogation Chair.

"Hao-sama, please order her to stop hurting her!" Kanna passionately declares right before Matilda releases yet another scream fill with pain and agony.

The male, name Hao, slowly draws back the hood of his cloak as he causally approaches the individual clad in a similar cloak.

Kanna and Marion observe as the wooden chair swiftly vaporizes and abruptly releases Megumi from within its confinement.

The brunette merely scoops the person up in his arms, faces the group of girls, smiles and regards, "When we return from our trip, I will address this issue."

The Hana-gumi group watch as their leader powerfully leaps in to the air and starts to fly away from the three.

"Consider yourselves lucky that I was able to intervene before it became too serious." The young man gravely admits after he briefly peeks over one of his shoulders.

"Are you excited about your return back home?" Hao curiously poses once they were a good distance away from the Hana-gumi and the desert.

"Home is where the heart is, right?" The feminine voice recites as she settles in her position.

She then gently presses her hand against her chest and claims, "My heart has since departed from that place after that incident."

"I'm more than certain that your absence was felt." He confidently asserts with a smirk on his face.

1111

The sound of church bells being rung was heard in the distance of the cathedral, a crowd of wedding goers erupted in cheerful applause upon the sight of the lovely couple.

"I swear there just aren't enough weddings in the world for us Shamans." John mentions as his fellow comrades locate their reserve table, which happens to be at the long rectangular shape table.

"Still, I thought he was going to remain oblivious to the obvious." Larch jokingly retorts with a chuckle as they patiently wait for the bride and groom to enter inside of the reception area.

"Didn't we all." A familiar masculine voice teasingly remarks, which prompts the group to rotate their heads in the direction of the source.

"Now isn't this an awfully familiar face that we see?" Prof quips once their sights set on a young man with shoulder length green hair, who stands about six foot one with shoes on his feet.

"Would you look at that? The green haired runt grew in to a full bean sprout." Chris revels as he roughly pats the crown of the young man's head.

He then gently combs his fingers through his head inorder to smooth his now slightly unruly hair.

"We thought you weren't going to make it back from your latest missionary trip." Ceban expressed his shock at the young man, who was home early from an assignment he recently accepted some weeks back.

The male focuses his sights on to the group of men in front of him and discloses, "Actually, we were blessed to have a speedy and safe journey back."

"I think it's about time you go and greet the bride and groom." John suggests upon the broadcast of the couple's arrival to their reception.

"Lyserg," Meene happily exclaims at the sight of the green haired male clad in a traditional X-Laws outfit with the exception of the white trench coat with golden trim and a large golden cross stitch on the back with a smaller cross on the right chest flap.

He faces the blonde male, who pushes his glasses back on to the bridge of his nose as he comments, "You're back earlier than usual."

"Weddings are rare especially in our field of work besides…" Lyserg discloses while he briefly peers at Meene before he retorts, "…it was pretty obvious from the start."

"Don't start getting cheeky with me young man. You still have a lot to learn for your age." Marco sternly reprimands him with a grave expression on his face to emphasis his point.

"My apologies, but may your marriage receive many years." He quickly offers his apology right before two familiar presences immediately captures their attention.

"It can't be…"

"No way…"

"It's them." Marco and Lyserg confirm the identity of the pair.

A man with long brunette hair clad in a traditional black suit with an open white dress shirt and black dress shoes directly stands at the entrance of the reception room.

However, it was the person to his right that immediately captures their attention.

A woman with meduim length curly silver hair with bright ruby red eyes was clad in a classical traditional black strap Lolita dress with ruffles as it's embellishments.

She was wearing knee length opaque black stockings with black platform ankle length boots. A pair of black bows grace the side of her head with lacy black fingerless wrist gloves. (A/N: The link to see the dress is . ?skuLinkage={%22215%22:%22please%22})

The couple appear to move in total synchronization as their presence immediately create silence and draw the attention of the others onto them.

Jeanne politely curtseys once she approaches Meene and regards, "Congratulations on your marriage!"

"I know just how much you truly cherish Marco and that you will continue to do so. I wish your marriage eternal blessings and longevity."

Tears suddenly start to stream down the bride's face as she swiftly advances forward and lovingly wraps her arms around the young woman.

"I've brought your precious angel back to its sanctuary." Hao asserts once his attention lands on the blonde male.

He then includes, "Let it be known that I've kept my end of the promise, head lap dog."

Meene eventually separates away from the silver haired woman, inspects her from head to toe and compliments her, "I just knew you would grow to be a very beautiful woman."

"Thank you," Jeanne kindly accepts the compliment after she instinctively gains some distance from the woman in order to return to Hao's side.

"I don't mean to cut this reunion short but there's a decision that needs to be made." He hastily interjects once he notices Meene was about to engage in a conversation with Jeanne.

After that comment, the blonde breaks eye contact from Jeanne to her husband to see that his face contorts from complete jubilation to irritation.

"We did agree to the terms that you would return her a year from the day and that she would decide upon her own free will as to what she wants to do with her future." Marco dutifully restates the terms of their agreement.

"However, I cannot forgive you for this sudden appearance during what's supposed to be a happy day for both my wife and I." He firmly admonishes the brunette for his poor taste in timing on his special day.

The young man quirks an eyebrow at the male before he refutes, "The same can be said about you since you like to force your opponent's hand whenever you want to accomplish something in your favor."

Marco was about to respond until he feels his wife's hand presses against his hand as a means to catch his attention.

He then glances to his left at her only to see her shake her head with her eyes close before she states her claim, "As a non-bias witness to the conversation between the two parties, I do have to confirm that he's right about the conditions of the arrangement."

The woman then diverts her sights back on to the pair in front of them and requests, "So what is the decision that you have made, Lady Jeanne?"

A pregnant silence washes over not only the newlywed but also encompasses the other partygoers as well.

The silver haired woman starts to speak, "It has been quite a while since I've returned within these holy walls."

"How I've missed the daily conversations and interactions amongst each other, the members of the church, and community. The cathedral and the word of God was all I ever knew since I was a child. And for that, I'm forever grateful for such love and gratitude."

"However, the world is so much bigger than the cathedral, France and even Europe." Jeanne mentions as she uses her hands to emphasis her point before she drops them to her side.

"If I were to stay here, I'd merely succumb to repeated totalitarian demands that I simply refuse to endure or live in such an environment any longer." She reveals her assumptions for both choices.

The figure head for the X-Llaws raises her head as her face remains neutral when she discloses, "I've come to enjoy and thrive for my passion of freedom that instantly dampen the moment I set foot back on these grounds."

"I decided that I would continue to explore the world at Hao's side." The young woman firmly asserts her decision with a smile that seems to radiate pure happiness.

Lyserg's hands tightly clench from anger the very instant his eyes behold the brunette demon known as Asakura, Hao.

'The bastard completely brainwashed her! She isn't thinking correctly!' He frantically presumes since the air around the silver haired woman seems completely different than usual.

'I don't believe this. I can't allow her to leave this place.' Marco inwardly weighs before he opens his mouth and verbalizes, "Surely you haven't allowed words of temptation to veer you from your path to enlightenment."

'Way to nail the hammer in the coffin.' Hao happily rejoices while Meene snaps her neck in his direction after she processes what he says, "Marco..."

"Your statement is the very reason why she has chosen to remain at my side." The brunette affirms as he shakes his head at the blonde before he adds, "You have harshly judged her for any decisions that she made throughout her life."

"Meene," Jeanne cordially addresses the blonde woman in front of her to reply, "Since you've served as the lone witness to the agreement, you will now in turn become the witness to my declaration."

"If that is your wish and you deem me fit then I shall fulfill that duty." She dutifully accepts the task from the current leader of the X-Laws.

The silver haired woman releases a sigh, holds her head high, and expresses her thoughts that weigh on her mind, "I will immediately abdicate my role as the leader to the X-Laws under the pretension to escape my oppression and to explore my freedom for myself."

Lyserg's face displays his utmost hatred for Hao while the other members of the X-Laws facial expressions display apparent shock and awe from her declaration.

"Hao," She speaks up as she turns her sights onto the young male to her left and divulges, "I am ready to leave."

"As you wish," He agrees to her wish with a nod of his head, offers her his arms, and proceeds to guide her out of the reception room.

"I bid you a farewell lap dogs and the lovely Mrs. Lasso." Hao adds with a confident smirk and a wave of his free hand.

Meene suddenly observes her husband, Lyserg and the other members of the X-Laws proceed to follow behind the couple, which prompts her to utter, "No…don't do it."

The brunette instantly gazes over his right shoulder and expeditiously releases a wave of his furyoku, which forces those who approach the couple with the intent to stop them down to their knees.

'What in the world is this?' Lyserg angrily grumbles while he desperately struggles to stand to his two feet yet the pressure was too much for even his body.

'Has he discovered a new power?' Marco gravely weighs whem he attempts to raise his head but gravity seems to constantly work against him as he tries to move his limbs.

'So this is the endless untapped ability of Asakura Hao?' Meene inwardly assumed after she witnessed the sight of the X-Laws either stuck on one leg or laid flat out on the floor.

"The lady has firmly stated her resolve yet you continue to force your hand on her." He firmly declares with a straight line across his face rather than his usual calm smirk on his face.

"I don't take too kindly to those that cause this beautiful angel any unnessecary strife." Hao irritably threatens the group.

His furyoku naturally seeps from his body due to the fact that the X-Laws have yet to learn their lesson.

"You should really learn to leave my wife, alone." He adds with emphasis on the word wife.

Some of the attendees either fainted or was in a complete stupor from the sudden revelation.

"There's no way in hell would Lady Jeanne marry a demon such as yourself!" Lyserg furiously yells out.

He somehow manages to place his hand on his knee and raises his head to stare down the brunette.

"That's where you are wrong little rabbit." The young man remarks in a grave tone before he proclaims, "I've showed her what it means to really live a life of freedom and for that I have her love."

"Farewell forever, X-Laws."

1111

Author's Note: Wow, this story has been an absolute pleasure to write. I thank the Hao and Iron Maiden Jeanne Community for its members' encouragement to continue the fic. I will be honest I had intense writer's block for this story after I found out how the actual manga ends but I managed to pull through at the end. Once again, I thank everyone for the support that you have shown me over the years for this story.

Thank you,

aisha12894

07.13.17: Major editing revisions