Memory! Bayojeanne Week Day 3.-
I'm going to bed at 5 am every day because of BayoJeanne Week. But it's totally worth it. Before we begin, Bayonetta and Jeanne are first 8 years old, then 16, and finally adults.
Without further ado, keep reading! ๐ฆกโจ
The moon was completely destroyed. Balder was dead; there was no reason to keep fighting anymore. Everything was over. Cereza was safe and sound in her own universe, and now only she and Jeanne remained.
After so long, she could finally remember again. Being herself felt strange. She had slept for five hundred years, completely forgetting her first love. She had already been Jeanneโs wife before being sealed away. Feeling loved was something new to her now, and she hadnโt realized just how much she had missed it.
โ Whatโs on your mind, Cereza? โ Jeanne. Here she was.
The two of them were lying somewhere in the city, the damp grass cool against her back as they stared at the ruined moon above them. It felt like a quiet rest after the storm.
Slowly, Cereza turned over to look directly into Jeanneโs eyes. She looked so calm, so at peace. Cereza let out a soft sigh. There were so many questions crowding her mind in that moment, but she didnโt want to break the comfortable silence between them.
โ Jeanneโฆ โ Cereza fell silent for a few seconds, as if carefully thinking through her question. โ How did you propose to me? Iโฆ I want to remember it, butโฆ I canโtโ
โ Oh, wellโฆ it started as a childhood promise, and everything happened because of one simple argumentโฆ โ
Young little Jeanne already had her destiny decided for her. She would become the heir to the Umbra Witches and someday lead her clan. But to Jeanne, it was exhausting. There were days when she genuinely wondered,ย Is this really what I want for my life?ย She was proud to belong to the clan, yet to everyone around her, she was nothing more than the clanโs most important weapon. No friends. No social life. Nothing beyond duty and training.
Wellโฆ that was until she met that strange little girl.
Jeanne had never imagined that a witch could fall in love with a Sage, yet that girl was born from both worlds. Jeanne had the habit of sneaking out of the witchesโ convent whenever she could, and during one of those escapes, she met someone who would change her life forever.
A vast path surrounded by trees and overgrown brush stretched through the forest. Hidden behind one of the trees, Jeanne watched a small girl with long black hair clutching a stuffed toy named Cheshire. That plush was incredibly precious to their dear Cereza.
Maybe it was because Jeanne was an Umbra Witch, or maybe because Cereza had never seen anyone besides her mother before, but the moment Jeanne stared directly at her, Cereza immediately started running, as if she were escaping from somewhere she wasnโt supposed to be.
โ Heyโฆ wait for me! โ Jeanne ran after the strange little girl. Even though Cereza was agile, Jeanne caught up quickly. Her Umbra training had forced her to become fast in terrain like this.
Like a cat pouncing on its prey, Jeanne leapt onto the smaller girl, sending both of them tumbling across the ground for several meters before finally stopping face to faceโJeanne on top, Cereza trapped beneath her.
โ Where did you come from? Who are you? โCereza tried to answer, but Jeanneโs serious and naturally commanding personality made her freeze in silence for a few seconds first.
โ Iโmโฆ Cerezaโฆ โ Her nervous voice barely came out. Though honestly, she wasnโt even paying much attention to the white-haired girl anymore; instead, she was desperately searching around for her beloved plushie.
โ And Iโm Jeanne! โ The cheerful tone in Jeanneโs voice caught Cereza off guard. Why wasnโt she as cold as she had expected? Jeanne quickly noticed Cereza looking around anxiously.
โ Are you searching for something? Before you ran off like a scared cat, I saw you carrying a cute stuffed toy โJeanne stood up and offered her hand to Cereza, helping her to her feet so the two of them could search together for the missing plushie, completely unaware that they were about to begin a beautiful story.
The forest suddenly felt much larger as the two girls wandered through the brush searching for the lost toy. Jeanne pushed branches aside with ease while Cereza followed quietly behind her, still nervous around the overwhelming energy of this unfamiliar girl. To Jeanne, though, Cereza was unbelievably adorable. Besides, she was the first child Jeanne had ever interacted with in a friendly way instead of through another miserable training session.
โ Soโฆ what does your plushie look like? โ Jeanne asked while searching beneath crushed flowers and dry branches.
โ Itโs a catโฆ well, not reallyโฆ his name is Cheshire โ Cereza replied softly, her nervousness obvious. She had never spoken to someone her own age without being called a freak.
โ You gave it a name? โ Jeanne glanced back in surprise. She had never owned a stuffed toy before. Never anything like that. She barely even remembered her mother. The woman had left her there since birth; she had practically been raised entirely by the other witches.
Cereza nodded slowly.
โ Mom says I shouldnโt leave him alone because he protects me โ That earned a small laugh from Jeanne. Not a mocking one, but something soft and genuine that even surprised Jeanne herself. It had been a very long time since she had talked to someoneโฆ especially someone this strange.
โ Then we better find him before he fails at his job โ The comment made Cereza smile faintly.
After several more minutes, Jeanne suddenly stopped after noticing something hanging between the roots of a tree.
โ There he is! Iโm sure he went flying when we fell and landed right there! โ She rushed toward the tiny plush covered in dirt and leaves, lifting it triumphantly before walking back toward Cereza and holding it out to her.
Cerezaโs eyes lit up instantly, as though Jeanne had returned something far more important than a simple toy.
โ Cheshireโฆ โ She hugged the plush tightly against her chest.
Jeanne watched the scene in silence. It felt strange. Very strange. Back at the convent, everything revolved around discipline, perfection, and trainingโฆ but this girl seemed to live in an entirely different world. A warmer one. Jeanne had never imagined someone could feel so happy over something so simple, especially while both of them were covered in mud and dirt from their fall.
โ Youโre weird โ Jeanne blurted out without thinking.
Cereza blinked in confusion.
โ Huhโฆ? โ
โ I donโt mean it in a bad way โ Jeanne crossed her arms quickly. โ Iโve just never seen someone smile so much over a stuffed toy โ
Cereza lowered her gaze toward Cheshire before answering quietly.
โ Iโve never really had friendsโฆ so he was always with me. And my mother gave him to me. I almost never get to see herโฆ โย
Those words hit Jeanne strangely hard.
Because she didnโt have friends either.
And one thought echoed through her mind:
Is she the daughter of the traitor?
To Jeanne, it all felt painfully ironic. Someone had chosen love onceโฆ only to be condemned to loneliness forever afterward. In the end, the outcome had been the same.
The wind rustled through the trees, and for a brief moment, both girls simply stared at one another, as if they understood something without needing words.
Then Jeanne spoke again.
โ Thenโฆ I can be your friend โ
Cerezaโs eyes widened immediately.
โ F-friendโฆ? โ
โ Yeah, wellโฆ if you want โ Jeanne looked away with fake pride. โ But donโt get too excited โ
And for the first time in a very long while, Cereza let out a small laugh.
Before Jeanne even had time to react, Cereza wrapped her arms around her in a sudden hug. It was the first genuine embrace Jeanne had received in years. At first, she wanted to pull away, but the warmth surrounding her felt so comforting that, for once in her life, she decided to give in to her emotions.
It had been quite some time since Jeanne and Cereza became best friends. More and more often, Jeanne would sneak out of the witchesโ convent just to visit Cereza. She enjoyed being with her so much that it slowly became the only thing she truly looked forward to.
But for Jeanne, those feelings had started to become something far more romantic.
Cereza was always so lively and special that she could make Jeanne smile without even trying. Cerezaย wassomeone precious to herโsomeone who had become deeply important to her life.
Jeanne had never imagined that one person could change her entire routine so completely.
Before meeting Cereza, every day had been exactly the same. Wake up. Train. Study ancient rituals. Endure the endless pressure of becoming the next Umbra heirโฆ then collapse into bed exhausted, only to repeat everything again the next morning.
But now, every afternoon gave her something to wait for.
Just the thought of sneaking out of the convent made her heart race with excitement. Climbing over walls, wandering through the forest, and finally finding little Cereza waiting for her with that enormous smile had become the best part of her days.
As if she needed her just to breathe.
โ Jeanne! โ Cerezaโs cheerful voice always rang out before she ran toward her.
And Jeanne always pretended to stay serious.
โ Donโt yell so loudly. Someone might hear you, and Iโd hate for us to get separated โ Even if, deep down, she was always happy to see her.
As time passed, the two of them began sharing small moments that Jeanne treasured dearly.ย
Lying on the grass while staring at the clouds, competing to see who could climb trees higher, or listening to Cereza invent ridiculous stories about magical creatures hidden deep within the forest.
Jeanne even started laughing more.
Much more.
Something the other witches slowly began to notice.
โ Youโve been smiling far too much lately โ one of the instructors commented one morning.
Jeanne immediately forced her usual serious expression back onto her face.
โ Youโre imagining nonsense โ The Umbra witch merely raised an eyebrow before continuing the training session.
But it was a lie.
Because every time Jeanne thought about Cereza, warmth filled her chest.
And that feeling had started to scare her a little.
Not because there was anything wrong with Cereza, or because she disliked her. Quite the opposite. But Jeanne was the future bearer of the Left Eye. She wasnโt supposed to have distractions. She wasnโt supposed to grow attached to someone.
Especially not the daughter of the โtraitor.โ
Jeanne had already seen what happened to Cerezaโs mother.
Godโฆ neither of them deserved that fate.
One afternoon, the two of them rested on a massive tree branch after spending hours playing together. Cereza rambled endlessly while hugging Cheshire close to her chest, completely relaxed beside Jeanne. Even at fifteen years old, she still carried Cheshire everywhere.
It was unbelievably adorable.
โ And then the rabbit fell into the river because he tried to fight a crowโฆ although maybe it was a duckโฆ I donโt really rememberโ
Jeanne barely listened to the story.
In truth, she was too busy staring at her.
The way the wind moved through Cerezaโs black hairโฆ the way her eyes sparkled whenever she spokeโฆ even the tiny expressions she made when she got excited.
Everything about her seemed beautiful.
Far too beautiful.
โ Jeanne? โ Cereza tilted her head slightly.
โ Why are you staring at me so much? โ Jeanne immediately snapped out of it.
โ I wasnโt staring at you!โ
โ Yes, you were โ
โ No, I wasnโt โ
โ Yes, you wereโ Jeanne quickly turned her face away, suddenly aware of how warm her cheeks had become.
Cereza let out a small giggle.
That only made Jeanne even more nervous.
Because she was beginning to realize something dangerous.
She no longer wanted Cereza to beย justย her friend.
She wanted to stay by her side forever.
โ Have you ever been in love? โ Jeanne nearly jumped in surprise. Her eyes widened slightly, and she immediately looked away again as heat rushed violently to her face.
Had Cereza figured it out?
Was everything she felt really that obvious?
โ N-neverโฆ โ she answered far too quickly.
Cereza watched her quietly, hugging her knees to her chest while Cheshire rested beside her.
โ Ohโฆ โ The disappointment in her voice hit Jeanne strangely hard.
โ Why are you asking that all of a sudden? โ
Jeanne tried to sound composed.
Cereza took a few seconds before answering.
โ Because I think Iย amย in love โ
Jeanneโs heart lurched so hard it almost hurt.
Her fingers tightened against the grass beneath her, and her voice turned nervous.
โ W-whyโฆ?โ
โ Because Mom always talks about love like itโs something important โ Cereza answered innocently. โ She says that when you love someone, you want to protect them and stay by their side all the timeโ
Every word made Jeanne more anxious.
Because that was exactly how she felt.
โ I love my motherโฆ โ Cereza continued softly. โ But with you, it feels different โ
Jeanne felt her cheeks burn hotter.
โ You make me feel happy even when Iโm sadโฆ and I always want you to come see me again โ
Cereza turned slightly toward her, offering her a small, sincere smile.
โ I think I love you very much, Jeanne. And you could be Cheshireโs mother! Weโd be like a family! โ
That completely shattered whatever composure the future Umbra heir had left.
Jeanne immediately looked away, trying to ignore the violent pounding of her heart.
โ Y-you canโt say things like that so easilyโฆโ
โ Why not? โ
โ B-becauseโฆ because itโs not something simple! โ
Cereza tilted her head in confusion.
โ But itโs true โ
And that was the worst part.
Because Cereza said it with such innocent honesty that Jeanne had no idea how to defend herself against it.
For several long seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then, very slowly, Jeanne clenched the fabric of her own clothes before quietly murmuring:
โ I donโt really understand love eitherโฆ โ
Cereza looked at her attentively.
โ But when Iโm with youโฆ it feels easier to breathe โ
Cerezaโs eyes widened slightly.
Jeanne almost never spoke this honestly.
โ And when I canโt come see youโฆ I miss you too much โ Jeanne continued softly. โ So I guessโฆ maybe I alsoโฆโ
The words died in her throat from pure embarrassment.
But Cereza was already smiling.
A warm, happy smile, completely filled with love.
And then, for the very first time, Cereza gently took Jeanneโs hand.
Jeanne immediately tensed upโฆ though she didnโt pull away.
Instead, she slowly held her hand back.
And with that small touch between their fingers, they understood everything.
They didnโt need words to know what both of them had already realized in silence.
The night was absurdly quiet.
The sound of insects, the soft wind brushing through the grass, and the warmth of Cerezaโs body against hers made Jeanneโs chest feel unbearably tight. No matter how long they had been together, she still felt vulnerable every time Cereza looked at her with that impossibly gentle expression.
And it only became worse whenever they spoke about the Left Eye.
Jeanne stayed silent for a few more seconds, avoiding looking directly at her. Her Umbra pride hated admitting it, but deep down she believed one thing completely:
Cereza had surpassed everything Jeanne had once been.
Stronger.
More determined.
More extraordinary.
โ Whatโs troubling you, darling? โ Cerezaโs body was completely bare, faint scratches scattered across her arms and back thanks to Jeanne herself. Even after all the years they had spent together, Jeanne still blushed whenever she saw her like this. Her perfect body. The marks Jeanne herself had left behind.
โ You deserve to become the successor of the Left Eyeโฆ โ Jeanne finally murmured. โ You have to admit youโre stronger than me now. Youโve surpassed me in every way I ever trained you toโ
Cereza didnโt answer immediately.
Instead, she slowly moved closer and wrapped Jeanne in her arms, pulling her gently against her chest as though she wanted to shield her from the entire world. Jeanne immediately felt her heartbeat quicken.
Because Cereza always did this.
She always made Jeanneโs insecurities feel smallerโฆ sometimes like they disappeared entirely.
Jeanne often felt insecure about her own body. She was too thin. Too flat. Nothing like Cereza. Tall, strong, soft curves, powerful and beautiful in ways Jeanne felt she could never compare to. And every single time Jeanne mentioned it, Cereza would look at her as though she were someone precious. Perfect. Beautiful.
The silence between them wasnโt uncomfortable.
It was warm.
Jeanne listened to Cerezaโs steady breathing while the stars dimly illuminated the forest clearing around them. Then she felt Cerezaโs hand carefully slide through her white hair. Her hair had always been one of her weak pointsโฆ and Cerezaโs touch was even worse.
โ You know what I think? โ Cereza finally spoke softly.
โ Whatโฆ? โ
โ I think you always try to carry everything alone โ
Jeanne closed her eyes slightly.
โ Iโm the Umbra heir. Itโs my duty to admit when someone is stronger than me โ
โ No, Jeanne โ Cereza smiled faintly. โ Thatโs the problem. You always talk about dutiesโฆ never about whatย youwant. Itโs always the same thing: โHeir of the Left Eye.โ โ
That hit directly at Jeanneโs chest.
Because she didnโt even know how to answer that question herself.
Whatย didย she truly want?
The clan.
Duty.
Responsibility.
Her entire life revolved around those things.
But then Cereza gently lifted Jeanneโs chin, forcing her to look at her.
โ I donโt want to be more important than you. I donโt care about titles โ Cerezaโs voice was calm, sincere, relaxed.
โ I want to stay by your side. Thatโs different. My mother was an heir too, and she still fell in love. I know Iโm strongโmaybe even stronger than you nowโbut I would still choose you over some damned clan that abandoned me the moment I was born โ
Jeanne felt a horrible knot tighten in her throat.
And before she could answer with something cold or prideful to hide how deeply those words affected her, Cereza suddenly let out a small laugh.
โ Besides, youโre way too beautiful when you worry like this. Even when you make that terrifying witch face. When we were children, you used to scare me with that serious expression โ
โ Terrifying witchโฆ? โ
Jeanne finally let out an incredulous laugh. She had never thought of herself that way. She had only ever tried to be strong.
โ Mhm. You can be scary sometimes. I think the other witches are afraid of you too โ
โ I trained you too well if youโre still talking back to me like this โ
โ And yet you still lose arguments with me, kitty โ That finally made Jeanne bury her face against Cereza, completely defeated.
And while the two of them remained beneath the stars, Jeanne realized something the Umbra convent had never taught her:
Love was not a battle to prove who was stronger.
It was finding someone capable of holding you together, even when you no longer knew who you were yourself.
โ Fine. Iโll go to the convent and fight you just to prove Iโm stronger than you โ
That completely caught Jeanne off guard. She had never expected Cereza to agree to something like that.
Did she really just decide that?
That was unusualโฆ
โ But that doesnโt mean Iโm stronger than you โ
One of Cerezaโs hands gently caressed Jeanneโs cheek, forcing her to look at her again.
โ To me,ย youโreย stronger. You taught me everything I know. You taught me how to love youโฆ and what it means to be loved โ
Before Jeanne could say anything, Cereza shook her head slightly and continued:
โ On one condition. You have to marry me โ The moment those words left her mouth, Jeanne shot upright so quickly that her entire bare body became visible beneath the moonlight. Then she let out a scream so loud that the birds resting nearby burst from the trees and flew into the night sky.
โ WHAT?! โ
โ And thatโs how you proposed to me โ
Cerezaโs playful laughter filled the quiet night.
โ And I kept my promise, my kitty โ
With that, Cereza leaned closer to press soft kisses across Jeanneโs face. To her, Jeanne would always remain the strongest woman in the entire worldโฆ and the most beautiful one too.
