Anna stared at her bedroom's ceiling as the sun rose out of her windowAll
righty, people. Here you have it. second chapter. 25 pages long. God kill me.
@_@
- Bratty
+++
The Dark Side Of The Moon
By: Bratty
Beta-ed by: Cali-chan
+++
Chapter two: Promise
+++
Anna stared at her bedroom's ceiling as the sun rose out of her window. "Time to
get up and wake Yoh," her mind ordered automatically. She didn't obey. She
didn't have to anymore.
She sat up in her futon and felt around with her aura for him. There he was,
already up, in the kitchen. She sighed.
While dressing up, she thought about how much Yoh had changed. It had been so
quick, she hadn't known how to react in the beginning. Now she was just worried.
The first day had been a complete surprise, when as usual, her first stop in the
morning was his room to kick him awake. He wasn't there. Confusion taking over
her, she felt around the house for him with her aura, and just like minutes
before, she had found him in the kitchen.
She had gone down to confirm this, still in her bedclothes, and found him
cooking breakfast for both of them, when they usually ate whatever leftovers
were left from dinner.
That day had been surprising, not only in the morning, but during school time
too, when for the first time, he stayed awake during the complete class period.
And not only that, but he had actually offered himself to answer questions from
the teacher, and got complimented by everyone from the great job he did with
homework and school work in general that day.
That first day, she had to admit, she had been pleased. It had been a nice
change, to see him showing more responsibility that she thought him capable to.
But as the week went by, she found out the reason for the change.
He was up so early because he couldn't sleep at night. He did his homework and
studied, to get distracted. He stayed awake in school, because he was afraid of
falling asleep. No. He was afraid of what might happen if he fell asleep.
Slowly, she had watched him getting older with worries. Not a pleasing sight,
and more worrying that what she wanted to admit.
She adjusted her tie and evaluated her looks on the mirror. She was ready for
another day of silent worry.
+++
The house was silent as she made her way down the stairs to the kitchen.
"Morning," She greeted Yoh as she sat at the table.
He didn't turn towards her. "Morning, Anna."
Of all people, she was the one he didn't try to fool with a fake smile. It was
of no use, since she already knew something was wrong, and it would only anger
her if he tried.
It was also his way to say "thanks" for all she had done for him. Because, since
everything started, until last night, she hadn't asked any questions. She had
let him be, with the silent promise to - in the right time - tell her
everything. Meanwhile, she only watched, supporting him and helping him keep his
sanity by staying at his side all day long.
That was something he was grateful for too, because without her being there for
him all the time, he would have probably crashed days ago. But her silent
support had been the best thing for him to hang on to reality.
"I hope you're hungry, 'coz I made a lot of food," He called to her, still busy
with the oven.
"It's okay. If there's anything left, you can always call your friends. They'll
eat the whole house, given the chance." In a way, she was asking him to bring
them home. To end the silence, she didn't add.
And like all the other times she had suggested it, his face clouded. "I don't
think it's a good idea to have the guys here."
She let herself wince at his words, not because they were hurtful in their
negative to her plea, but because they showed how much he longed for the days he
didn't have to worry about the safety of any of them. He now had to carry that
burden all by himself in a silence that was slowly destroying him from the
inside out.
Yoh was still busy with the oven when he felt her rest her forehead against his
back.
"Anna?" He inquired confusedly.
"Promise me," She said. Her tone was tired, and too, full of longing. "Promise
me, Yoh, that no matter what happen, you will always smile."
Still confused and worried, he looked at her over his shoulder, "Anna? What
are--"
"Promise it," She asked again, this time with a more pleading, desperate tone.
"Please, Yoh... promise it..."
He looked at her one more time, and his gaze softened. She too suffered, and for
him, no less.
He turned around, and hugged her gently, resting his head in the curve of her
neck.
"I promise."
A silly promise, that was, because as long as she stayed by his side, he would
always find a reason to smile.
She hugged him back, and let herself rest in the silence of each other's
company.
+++
Outside, two figures watched. One of them short, the other one sitting. They had
been watching all of what happened, and the amusement was obvious.
"Mr. Hao?" Opacho asked, looking at him with inquiring eyes. "How much longer
will it be?"
He smiled. "Getting tired of the show?"
Opacho shook his head, "No, but he," he pointed towards the house, "Has
promised."
The smile on Hao's face widened. "I know."
"...Mr. Hao?" He asked again, unable to understand his master's words.
"Please go," Hao said, more like an order, "I'd like to be alone for a while
now." Opacho nodded and disappeared.
Hao allowed himself another moment of contemplation of the two in the kitchen,
still hugging, like if just having each other so near could end all of their
troubles. They only made the matters worse, for what was to come.
Expression sharp, Hao's eyes glinted with threat. "Tell me, Yoh, now that you
have promised.... will you be able to stay true to your word?" his words were
quiet, but the danger was palpable.
+++
Inside the house, Yoh's hug became tighter around her.
"Yoh?" She asked, noticing a slight shudder in him.
"Shh.." he asked, eyes shut tightly, hands never wanting to leave her. "Let's
just stay like this for a while."
Anna, too, hugged him tighter.
+++
The bell announced the end of the school day. Yoh sighed and stretched his arms
over his head.
"Yoh!" He didn't need to turn around to know who that was. He smiled.
"Hey, Manta." He greeted lightly.
Manta smiled back. "Wow Yoh, you were awesome today! You actually answered
correctly every question the teacher asked you!" he beamed. "Not only that, but
you have actually stayed awake in class all week long!"
Yoh smiled again, this time with a bit more feeling. It was nice to know that
there were people like Manta in this world. People not easily tainted, and
always cheerful.
Manta frowned. "Yoh… you look tired" he gave him a teasing smile. "Anna has been
giving you her hell training again, hasn't she?"
Blinking, Yoh Asked, "Huh? Why do you say that?"
"C'mon Yoh... I've barely seen you all week long, and when I do, you're always
with her. Something's up with you two, huh?" He gave him a sly look. "So you're
finally spending some quality time as a couple? HoroHoro will be jealous."
Yoh blinked again, and for the first time in days, laughed with true mirth. "He
has Tamao to worry about, remember?" Manta then laughed with him.
Finding a reason to laugh like this felt so good... he missed that feeling. The
look in his eyes had to be giving away what he felt, since Manta's expression
softened with sympathy.
An idea came to him, "Hey, Yoh, can I drop by your house tonight? I can call the
guys, too!" He said excitedly, "We can have a party, for the weekend!"
Yoh stared at him with bit of confusion, "A party?"
A nod, "Yeah!"
Thinking about it, Yoh gave him a cheery smile, "Why not?"
Manta beamed. "Great! Tonight it'll be, then!" He turned to go to his desk, "Oh,
and tell Anna I'll buy all the food!" he called over his shoulder.
Yoh waved at him and looked towards the door. Sure enough, there was Anna, back
against the wall, waiting for him.
He smiled at the sight and picked up his backpack. Once at the door, they both
made their way back home silently.
The dirt road was silent, the wind being the only company of the two.
"Was that a smart thing to do?" She asked quietly, looking down at the road.
Yoh blinked, "What?"
"The party," she answered patiently.
He smiled lightly, "Oh, that." And looking up at the sky, "Why not? It has been
a while since were all together, after all."
He wasn't answering her. "Yoh, you know that's not what I--" He interrupted her
by taking hold of her hand.
"Tonight," He said quietly, "Just for tonight, I want to have a reason to
smile."
She looked at him with a bit of amazement. For the last week, it had become so
natural for both of them to have so much physical contact, that it didn't
surprise her anymore. It was just another form of reassurance in their current
situation.
What surprised her was the longing tone in his voice, when he looked at the sky
and then at her, "As long as there are happy times, I want to keep smiling."
She looked at him for another moment, and smiled. A true smile, one that was
reserved only for him. Her hand in his tightened, and their walk back home was
silent.
+++
For the first time in days, the house felt alive.
That warm night, everyone was there. Manta and Ryu had been the first ones to
get there – as always, to help Tamao with the food. Soon after, Pilika and
HoroHoro had made themselves present. Chaos had started when the Tao's had
arrived. All in all, it was wonderful.
In the living room, yet another fight was starting. This time for the last
sandwich on the tray.
Two hands went for it, making both owners of said hands glare at each other.
"Ryu," HoroHoro hissed, "You already ate eight sandwiches. This one's mine!" and
he dove for it, only to find it snatched out of his reach by Ryu's longer arms.
"No way!" Ryu growled back, raising his arm to make sure the sandwich was out of
reach, "I may have eaten eight sandwiches, but I'm pretty damn sure you ate at
least thirteen of them!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Shut up, both of you!" Ren growled.
HoroHoro stuck out his tongue, "Bite me, China boy!"
"That's it!" and Ren jumped into the fight, which now consisted in Ryu sticking
his arm up, trying to keep the sandwich away from HoroHoro's reach, while said
Ainu was busy not only trying to get the sandwich, but avoiding Ren's glaive as
well.
Anna calmly walked towards them, and took the sandwich from Ryu's hand. The
fight stopped and the guys watched as she calmly chewed of the food.
Eyes wide, HoroHoro stuttered, "But…but…"
She gave him a cool glance, "You want to say something?"
Hanging his head in defeat, he muttered, "No ma'm…"
"Good."
The door was opened by a cheery Tamao, "Hey guys!" she chirped, "I got more
sandwiches!"
The three guys dived in immediately. Tamao considered for a moment to try to
break the fight up, but Manta shaking his head told her it was best not to. So
she sighed and sat next to the others.
Jun smiled at the girl, "You're a hard worker. How can you make sandwiches so
fast?"
Tamao blushed a little, "Oh, it's nothing… Miss Anna told me that it would keep
them busy, so I made Conchi and Ponchi do them for me." Suddenly, everyone who
was listening to her looked a little green. She shook her head frantically, "Oh
no, no! don't worry! They haven't done anything to the sandwiches, I swear! Miss
Anna made sure of that!"
Decidedly relieved sighs were heard all around the room. Manta smiled, and took
notice of something, "Anna has been awfully nice… in her way, I mean." He added.
Tamao took a sandwich from another tray, "You think so?"
Nodding, Jun too spoke, "Now that you mention it, she hasn't scolded anyone in
the whole night."
Tamao looked around, "Where is she, by the way?"
"Yoh isn't around, either," Manta noticed.
"They're out there," Lee Pyron supplied from behind Jun. She gave him a thankful
smile and looked towards were he had signaled.
Outside, in the porch, were Yoh and Anna, sitting quietly next to each other.
They had, somehow, sneaked out a sandwich tray and a couple of cold drinks. She
rested her head on his shoulder.
Manta looked confused, "What are they doing out there? Hey, Y--!" He started
calling, only to be silenced by Lee Pyron's hand over his mouth. Manta looked up
at his smiling face. "I do believe Miss Anna and Mister Yoh do not want to be
bothered right now."
The smile in Jun's face and the slight blush in Tamao's cheeks were enough of an
explanation. He nodded, gave his friend another look and smiled.
+++
The night was warm, and a light breeze blew on to faces of Yoh and Anna.
Still, they couldn't enjoy it.
"He's still out there," Yoh breather into the night, and Anna closed her eyes,
inhaling the night's air, tinted with Yoh's essence, because of the closeness of
the two.
And while during the past few days, such closeness between the two would have
made any bad feeling go away, tonight that was just not happening. Even with the
party, the friends, and the general joy around the house, the bad feeling hadn't
gone away from the two. He, because of his inevitable bond to the problem. She,
because of her ability to notice too much.
He sighed again, listening to the sounds of the party. His friends were there,
laughing and playing. A reminder of what he wanted to protect the most.
But would he be able to protect them, against a power as great as the one that
threatened them at the moment? A power so great that it was almost stifling when
he felt it. Would he be able to fight such power, when the time came?
He felt her long fingers intertwine between his. "You're worried." She said in
an unusually soft tone. Yoh blinked and looked at their hands together. He
sighed, "I'm just not sure about myself anymore."
Anna hummed, understanding. "If it helps: I'm not sure about anything anymore."
She said, looking ahead at the garden, "But I still trust you, and your words."
Inwardly, Yoh smiled, remembering his promise. He tightened his hand with hers,
"Thanks Anna."
"Just remember," She said in a sleepy tone, "That as long as you stay true to
yourself, everything will be all right."
Yoh smiled, remembering several times when he himself had said such words. Who
would have thought that the same words would be said to him in an attempt to
cheer him but by none other than Anna? Life was something wonderfully strange,
he mused, as he rested his head against Anna's hair, and inhaled deeply, feeling
the courage and determination slowly growing back in his chest. "No matter what
happens," he muttered for her, "Everything will surely be all right."
The calmness of the night was broken by a sudden explosion, signaling that the
moment was here.
+++
The explosion in the yard blew part of the house, and raising a thick cloud of
debris cover the place.
After the shock of the explosion, Ryu, Ren and HoroHoro had hurried outside to
find what was happening; everyone else was told to stay inside, in case this was
an attack.
"Yoh!?" HoroHoro called, covering his mouth as to not to breath the dirt from
the debris. He still coughed, but managed to catch a glimpse of movement nearby.
"Yoh!?" he called again, and the lump moved more.
The three guys hurried to the lump in the floor, and found Yoh standing up. In
the second of the explosion he had managed to cover up Anna with his body,
protecting her from any injury, but receiving himself a deep cut in his left
arm. "Guys…" He acknowledge them, and as soon as Anna was free to move, she
started watching on his wound.
"Mr. Yoh, are you all right?" Ryu asked, kneeling to help too. Yoh allowed
himself to be helped up by them, placing an arm around Anna's shoulder for
support. He grunted, looked up, and glared, "…Hao…"
Everyone but Anna looked shocked at his words. A chuckle was heard from above.
"My, my, it looks like I've been found…"
A unnatural breeze blew, and the debris cleared out, revealing the destruction
around the house. Yoh, though, was still glaring up at Hao, who was sitting on a
high branch of the old tree in the yard, looking down at them with a cheery
smile. "Hi, little brother!"
"HAO!" HoroHoro roared, with his oversoul done in a second, "What THE HELL are
you doing here!?"
"Come down and fight us, coward!" Ren growled, pointing his glaive at him. Hao
ignored them, his attention completely focused in his brother. "My, that's quite
a wound you have there. You better take care of that soon…"
"Enough with the games, Hao," Yoh said firmly, standing in front of Anna,
"You're finally showing your face after purposely making my life hell for the
last week. What business do you have here?"
Ignoring everyone else's shocked face at Yoh's words, Hao's smile didn't changed
in the slightest bit, "Down to business, little brother? You really must be
tired of this." Yoh didn't answer. Hao sighed. "My, so boring… but it's okay. I
too want this over soon."
Everyone tensed as Hao leaped down of the branch he had been sitting at. Yoh
sweated, noticing that he didn't have his sword with him. "Anna," He whispered
to her, who was still behind him, rosary firmly clapped between her hands. She
nodded, knowing what she had to do. She turned and hurried to the house,
stopping to give a last glance at Hao.
He was following her with his eyes. A predator's smile in his face. She glared,
and continued on her way.
A growl caught Hao's attention, making him look at his angry twin. Yoh had
caught him looking at her, and didn't look pleased. Hao gave him a cheery smile.
"Feeling protective? You should. She's beautiful."
Yoh's hands fisted. "What's your business here, Hao?"
"I'm not here for a fight, Yoh," Hao started walking towards him in a calm pace,
paying no attention to the threatening glares from Yoh's friends. His gaze was
deep, as he stared into his twin's eyes, smiling, "Today I'm here to ask you for
something… a request, that – I can assure you – will benefit both you and all of
your loved ones, and me."
Yoh knew that whatever Hao was there to request, couldn't be good. But his
current position didn't give him much choice – he was hurt, disarmed, and
surrounded by innocents who could be hurt if Hao decided so. So, swallowing, he
decided that for the moment it was best to listen. He nodded, "What is it that
you want, Hao?"
Hao's smile grew wider, and the words that no one expected to hear came out of
his mouth, "What I want, brother, is for you to quit the Shaman King
tournament."
+++
Inside the house, Anna's steps could be heard as she made her way up to Yoh's
room. She opened the door with a quick slide and saw the sword right across the
room, against the wall, still in its sheath. She kneeled before it and, holding
her rosary, offered a quick prayer to all of the protections gods. Being Hao the
enemy they were about to fight, no precaution was too much.
"Don't let any harm come to him nor any of his loved ones." She finished out
loud, opening her eyes and taking the sword.
"Miss Anna?"
Anna turned to see Tamao peeking timidly into the room. She looked like she was
about to burst out crying. "Tamao…" she said softly, and suddenly, found herself
being hugged by the young girl.
"Miss Anna! What are we going to do? Young mister Yoh… he will…"
Anna patted her back comfortingly, "Calm down, Tamao… Yoh will be all right.
Isn't he always?" She said soothingly. Tamao sniffed and wiped her eyes before
any tears came out. Anna gave her a small smile, and then remembered something.
"Tamao, where are the others?"
Sniffing, Tamao sat in front of Anna, face flushed "Miss Jun, Miss Pilika and
Young Mister Manta are still in the living room…we didn't knew what to do, so—"
"Tamao, listen to me," Anna interrupted, looking at her in the eyes, "I want you
to go with everyone, and get as far away as possible from the house, okay?"
The young girl looked shocked, "Go...go away? But, Miss Anna…"
"Tamao," Anna said firmly, "I know you want to help Yoh, and so does everyone
else, but the best way in which you can help him is by taking everyone as far
away as possible, so he won't have to worry for your safety."
Tamao knew that Anna was right, so she wiped her eyes, and put a decided look on
her face, "You're right, Miss Anna!" she stood up, "I'll-I'll do what you said!
We cannot stay here, making Young Mister Yoh worry about us!"
"Good," Anna agreed standing up, bracing the sword against her chest. "I'm
trusting you," she said, and Tamao nodded, and ran out to find the others.
Anna allowed herself a proud smile, since she now knew that Tamao's confidence
had somehow increased over the time spent with them, and that was always a good
sign – if Tamao learned to trust herself more, she could be a powerful ally
against any enemy.
But this was not the time for such thoughts. She immediately made her way out to
the yard, and at hearing the muffled voice just steps away from her, she knew
she was still on time.
It was when she got near enough that she heard him say it.
"What I want, brother, is for you to quit the Shaman King tournament."
Anna frowned at this, and made her way silently to Yoh's side. He took the sword
and whispered to her, "How's everyone?"
"Away."
"Good. You too, stay back. I don't trust him." Anna nodded, knowing better not
to argue given the situation. Rosary in her hands, she was ready for whatever
was to happen.
Hao still smiled. "Actually, there's no need for you to worry. As I said before,
I'm not here for a fight." His tone was almost cheery. "So, what's your answer?"
Yoh didn't hesitate, "I don't know what you're really here for, Hao, but I'll
answer you anyway. No. That's my answer." He took out Harusame out of its
sheath, the blade gleaming under to moonlight. "I've worked too hard for this
tournament. No one will make me quit. Especially you."
"So there!" HoroHoro yelled proudly, "Ha! You thought that your fancy entrance
and stupid words would make Yoh quit? Think again!" he laughed. Hao ignored him,
gaze still on Yoh, whose heart pounded with nervousness, feeling that, somehow,
his words had pleased his brother.
When he spoke, his tone did nothing to reassure him, nor did the dangerous air
that suddenly seemed to fill the entire house. "I admit that I expected that
answer. A shame, really." His eyes focused on Anna, who glared icily at him. Hao
gave her a smile, and closed his eyes, "Still, it's of vital importance that you
accept my request, so I'm afraid that I'll have to insist."
"Nothing you say or do will change my mind, Hao," Yoh gritted out, the feeling
of danger creeping up his spine. Something was wrong, but he couldn't show any
kind of nervousness in front of his brother.
Hao chuckled, "You're firm on your decision, I see. I'm proud of you. Such a
persistence is a needed quality in a fighter." His eyes narrowed, his smile
widening, "But I, too, must persist in my request." He turned, and started
walking towards the same tree he had first showed up. "I really didn't want for
this to end in a fight, but since you seem to need some persuasion…. Girls!"
And in a flash, the Hanagumi stood a few steps before him, facing Yoh and his
friends.
Kanna took her cigar out of her mouth, "you called, sir?"
"Yes," Hao told them with a smile, "Yoh here needs some convincing from our
side. Please, take care of that."
Kanna smirked, eyes gleaming, "Gladly."
Hao nodded at them, and walked past them. "Don't touch her." He whispered to
Kanna, as he went past her. She kept her eyes firmly in front of her, and
nodded, sparing a glare to Anna.
"Mari, Matti, get ready," she ordered, and the girls obeyed, oversouls ready.
"Matti, take of the blue haired one. Mari, the one with the glaive." In a
second, said girls were both in front of their assigned opponents. Kanna
smirked, "I'll take Master Hao's brother…"
"Not likely," Ryu said, taking a step ahead, "I made a promise not to let anyone
touch Master Yoh while I was around, and Bokutou no Ryu stays true to his word!"
He prepared to do his oversoul, when Yoh's hand on his weapon stopped him.
"No, Ryu." He said, looking at his with a serious expression. "Please, go away."
Ryu looked at him in shock, "But, Master Yoh…"
Offering him a small smile, Yoh started, "Tamao, Manta and the others are making
their way out. Still, we can't leave them alone like that. Please, go with them
and protect them – I'm trusting you," he said sincerely, and Ryu nodded, happy
to receive such a praise from the one he admired.
"Yes! I won't disappoint you, Master Yoh!" And winking at him, he made his way
out. Yoh turned back to Kanna, and glared, readying his oversoul. "Prepare to
fight."
Kanna smirked, and took her cigar out of her mouth an threw it up in the air.
The smoke cloud grew thick, hiding everything from sight for a second, "Stupid
boy – I'm always ready! ASHCROFT!" And the knight of smoke appeared behind her,
spear ready.
Anna took a step forward, "Yoh, your arm…"
"It's okay, Anna." Yoh said, not looking back at her, "Just stay back…" he
lifted Harusame in front of him. "Amidamaru, into Harusame!"
The fight had begun.
"Koloro!" Was all HoroHoro had to say for his spirit to understand what to do,
immediately forming a snow barrier around HoroHoro and Matti, who observed the
situation with childish interest.
"Wow! How interesting! I love snow!" she laughed like a little girl, while she
touched the snow wall.
HoroHoro smirked, "Well it's nice that you like it, because for the next while
you'll be seeing LOTS of it!" he positioned his board in front of himself, ready
for any attack Matti could prepare.
She only smiled cutely at him, "Ah, I get it! You make a barrier so you can not
only limit my attacks, but you make sure you don't interrupt you friends' fights
either, right?" she said, amused, "Very smart!"
"Thanks! But I'm afraid this is not the time to be getting compliments,"
answered HoroHoro.
Matti's gaze turned sinister, "In that," she took her broom with both hands,
"you're right." Jack, her doll that until now had been hanging from her hand,
suddenly seemed to have life.
Her eyes shined as she raised the broom, "Trick or treat! Attack, Jack!" she
yelled as she gave the first impulse hit to the doll, which flew towards
HoroHoro, who was already prepared.
"Ice shards!" he yelled, and suddenly, a shower of sharp ice shards was shoot
out from his snowboard, but a quick movement from Jack's blades was enough to
avoid the Ainu's attack.
"What!?" shrieked HoroHoro, amazed, when Jack stuck his blades into his
snowboard after easily going trough the ice shards shower.
Matti laughed happily. "Isn't Jack wonderful? Go ahead, Jackie, shatter his
snowboard!" She cheered, while her doll obeyed, stubbornly stabbing HoroHoro's
snowboard with his blades.
"I--- Don't--- see--- what's--- so--- FUNNY!" HoroHoro grunted until he got free
of the hellish doll with a hard move. Jack landed in it's feet's a few meters
ahead, blades ready.
A quick look at the snowboard was enough for HoroHoro to know that the damage
wasn't major, but still, another attack like that could shatter the snowboard.
"Damn…" he cursed, and Matti laughed.
"Oh, come on, don't tell me that's all you've got!" Matti faked a pout, "How
boring! As soon as I break your board the fun is over?"
"I'm not done yet!" HoroHoro yelled in indignation at being treated like that by
Matti. She kept pouting.
"I don't believe you! We only scratch your board a little bit and you're already
cursing!"
"Well in that case, we'll show you! Koloro! Shard Shower!" HoroHoro scream
again, and Koloro answered immediately, attacking with a new shower of sharp ice
that, even when directed right towards Matti, seemed to miss her by a lot.
She only looked at him calmly, "That's the way I like it! Jack!" This time she
didn't need to hit the doll, who with the mere order obeyed by cutting in a
flash every single ice shard that was shot out of the snowboard into little
pieces. HoroHoro insisted with his own attack, putting more and more power in
it. "Dammit, Koloro! More power!" The ice storm increased it's intensity, adding
a strong breeze that, to the Ainu's joy, had effect against the girl, who found
herself obliged to make an effort to stay in her place.
Matti had to shield her face with her arm, "Jack!" she called, "Blade shield!"
The doll suddenly stopped his dance against the ice, and by sticking both blades
together by the handle, he started moving them in a circular motion, like the
reels of a rotor, making a very effective shield which cut anything that dared
come close enough.
But HoroHoro knew that he had the advantage, since he was the one attacking, and
Matti was only defending herself. This was his chance. "Koloro, we can do this!
More power!" again, the attack power was intensified by ten, and even when Jack
and Matti's Blade Shield was strong, it couldn't keep up against the Ainu's
powerful attack.
A shriek came out of Matti's mouth when she was thrown back right into the snow
wall.
"Koloro!" HoroHoro again called for his spirit, decided to finish this match,
and with a new strong breeze from his snowboard, he trapped the girl inside a
very compact snow mass.
The smile became present in his face in a second, "Done! This was nothing!" he
lowered his snowboard, allowing his happy spirit to come out. Sweating, and
panting a little, HoroHoro offered a smile to his spirit, "Good work, Koloro!
Quick, too!"
His spirit nodded, "It didn't take us long, either," HoroHoro laughed, a bit
relieved. "Really, I thought we would see more fighting from her part, but this
was for the best… she won't die in there, but at least it'll keep her trapped,"
he said, lowering his guard already. "Now, to wait for the others!"
But confidence isn't something to hold on to. HoroHoro didn't catch the pulsing
aura coming from inside the snow.
+++
"My, it seems like the idiotic Ainu beat the girl with the broom." Ren noticed,
listening to the shriek coming from inside the ice wall that HoroHoro had made,
"While I get to fight with a little brat who still plays with dolls. Some
enemies." Ren noticed lightly, glaring at Mari, who was standing a few meters in
front of him.
She looked down, hugging Chuck to her chest, like a little girl who's being told
to go to bed. "The pointy-haired boy talks too much." She said, apparently
talking to the ragged doll.
Ren growled, "Wonderful. She talks to herself, too." Not wanting to lose any
more time, he pointed his glaive to Mari, "This shouldn't take long."
Mari frowned. "Mari doesn't like the pointy-haired boy."
"I feel the same for you," Ren rolled his eyes, "Now, do you want to start with
this already?"
Silently, Mari took Chuck by the hair. Her hair obscuring her eyes, hiding any
emotion. "Master Hao has ordered Mari to get rid of the Pointy-haired boy,"
Slowly, she raised the hand with which she held her doll. Suddenly, a pink aura
surrounded Chuck, making the doll suddenly look alive, and pint both guns to
Ren. "Mari will not disappoint Master Hao." She said ominously, and suddenly
Chuck started shooting an incredible amount of bullets in no time.
With a pleased smile, Ren easily blocked all the shoots, "So, the girl can
fight? That way it's more fun. You know what to do, Bason."
"Yes, young master!" Bason answered obediently.
And while to someone else, Mari's attack's wave would have been something hard
to control, it was not an effort to Ren, who's easiness with the glaive was
something exceptional. A superior smile appeared on his face, "Is this
everything the little girl has?"
Mari didn't answered, frowning more deeply, and placing more of her power into
the attack. Ren barely had to do another little effort to have the new attack
wave dominated.
"Is this all the little girl has? Des Hao trust YOU to beat US? Dear God..." and
with a sudden jump that got him over Mari's attack's way. Ren laughed "Is Hao
making fun of us by giving us such weak enemies? Now I'll show him how to deal
with Ren Tao! BASON!"
"CHUCK!" Mari barely had enough time to raise her doll, who with a sudden quick
attack could stop Ren's attack, right before it hit Mari, who saw herself
obliged to jump back because of the attack's potency.
Ren landed easily where moments ago Mari stood, "Child's games..." he smirked,
his back to Mari.
She, a little shaken because of the attack, glared at Ren, "The pointy-haired
boy hurt Mari." She muttered as she raised Chuck. A glint of anger in her eyes
revealing her intentions, "Mari cannot forgive him!"
Ren snorted, "Forgive me? When have I wanted that?"
Mari raised Chuck, "Mari will not forgive you! Mortal attack, Billy The Kid!"
Chuck started firing, this time with more power, and a deadly intention, but Ren
was ready. "So predictable..." he muttered, turning around way before the
bullets were near enough to touch him, "And that's why, you're so easy to
defeat..." he continued, raising his glaive. A secure glow in his eyes, when he
gave the order, "BASON! GOLDEN BLADE!"
Of course it was risky to do an attack in such a close place, but that had been
his intention. More than one bullet scratched his skin, but none entered his
flesh enough as to hurt him seriously. Still, he didn't felt any pain, while her
mercilessly attacked Mari, who shrieked under the fierceness of his Golden
Blade.
It wasn't long before Mari fell unconscious, Chuck next to her, without the pink
aura of the possession.
Ren's wounds were several, and even if he had spent more power than he would
admit, everything turned out perfectly. "Good job, Bason," he congratulated.
"Took you long enough!" A mocking voice said from the side. Ren growled.
"Shut up, HoroHoro." Ren said, trying to ignore him. HoroHoro, from the place of
his battle, laughed merrily, sitting on his table, "Admit it, Ren! you were only
showing off!"
Ren couldn't take it, "Would you shut up!?"
HoroHoro kept laughing, but now more quietly. "We still aren't done..." he
remembered, and they both looked towards the place where Yoh stood in front of
his enemy,
Yoh and Kanna stood in front of each other, concentrated in trying to predict if
the other one was going to attack, and ignoring the battles around them. Both
were ready, but neither moved.
"Well, young mister Yoh? Are you too much of a gentleman as to attack a lady?"
She mocked, but Yoh didn't answered.
He couldn't fall for the enemy's taunts. This battle was a important one, so he
couldn't allow himself to get distracted in any way. He had to anticipate his
enemy's moves, so he could stop them.
His arm bothered him. The wound was more deep than what he had first thought.
But even when he tried to hide this from Kanna, a cold breeze made him wince,
something that Kanna noticed immediately.
"Well, well, it looks like your wound is bothering you, am I right, young mister
Yoh?" her eyes were dangerous.
Yoh grunted, "I'm fine" but his pale face said something else.
Kanna smirked, "I wouldn't say that... it's bleeding profusely, you know?"
It was true, he had lost a lot of blood. Something that didn't worry just him,
but Anna too, who watched from behind.
Anna looked worried, "Yoh..." she started, but she cut him off.
"I'm fine. Really," he said, and Anna nodded silently, knowing it was a lie.
The conversation seemed to anger Kanna. "Feh, I'm sick of this," she said,
frowning and looking at them with disgust, "I don't know what business Master
Hao has with the two of you, nor do I want to know. I'll just follow his orders,
so ASHCROFT!"
The attack was direct, and easy to anticipate. Yoh dodged the gigantic spear
that ended up stuck in the dirt, after he jumped. "Amidamaru, Buddha's blade!"
he yelled when coming down, and cutting Ashcroft's arm.
The arm dissolved into smoke, and the spirit re-appeared. Kanna didn't look
happy at all, ordering the spirit to continue with its attacks.
Yoh could only defend himself, which was effective, but tiresome. The attacks
were fierce, and were making him retreat slowly. As the sword and spear clashed
against each other, the blood flowed more and more out Yoh's wound.
He was starting to get a headache, and the world spun around him. The sword
weighed more and more by the minute, but he had to keep his spiritual power
flowing into it.
His knees shook, and the fierceness of the attack made him fall down. "Yes! Now,
Ashcroft!" Kanna saw her chance, but just when the spear was about to go trough
Yoh, a very familiar white rosary surrounded it.
Kanna gasped and glared at Anna, who glared back at her, holding the rosary and
stopping Ashcroft. Kanna growled, and Yoh took the chance to escape his current
position.
Furious at having lost her chance, Kanna decided to ignore the given orders,
"Turn yourself into smoke!" she ordered, and Ashcroft escaped the rosary like
water trough fingers. "You interrupted my fight, you idiot!" Ashcroft's attack
was directed towards Anna this time, who observed with wide eyes the gigantic
spear that was about to go through her. But in the last second, strong arms
surrounded her by the waist, getting her out of the dangerous place, with a
jump.
Anna couldn't avoid a little blush when she observed Yoh's face, dirty and hurt,
pale too, but fierce and decided, not taking his eyes off Kanna, ready for any
other attack.
Once they landed, he let her go, panting and tired.
"Yoh.... thanks..." She said, and Yoh offered her the lightest of the smiled,
before being hit from the back by Ashcroft, "Don't get distracted!" Kanna
yelled, looking disgusted at them.
Yoh barely had time to get up to avoid the next attack, "Amidamaru, we have to
attack!"
Amidamaru manifested itself from the sword, "But, Master Yoh, you are not in the
best conditions for—"
"We have to do it!" Yoh ordered trough gritted teeth, "I know we can do it,
Amidamaru! I trust you!"
Feeling his master's decision, and knowing that he couldn't do anything against
it, Amidamaru nodded. He didn't trust this decision, and much less what could
happen to his Master if he used too much power. But he had to try it, and put
his best effort in it.
A pulse of Yoh's aura made Kanna retreat. His pose, and the power that emanated
from him, made obvious the fact that he was about to attack for the first time
since the battle had begun.
His movements were slow and precise, like a mortal dance between a samurai and
his sword. A truly marvelous vision, that of the boy and the samurai, while they
moved the shared body, eyes fierce and glowering.
"Finally..." Kanna muttered to herself, smiling before Yoh's murderous look.
The move was so fast that no-one could anticipate it. It was that amazing speed
that made said move deserve its name. A speed that could only be acknowledged to
a God. "BUDDHA'S BLADE!" yelled Yoh as battle cry, his sword easily cutting
trough Ashcroft's body, making the smoke warrior fall in two pieces.
Kanna watched wordlessly, the attack being more fierce that what she would have
thought it to be.
But it was pleasant.
Very pleasant, she decided when she noticed how Yoh fell to the ground after
using all of his power. His possession disappeared completely. "Yoh!" Anna
called, hurrying next to him, unable to hide her preoccupation.
With an effort, he supported himself on his elbows. Anna helped him, noticing
how pale and exhausted he looked. She directed her gaze to Kanna, who smiled
down at them. "Go. Yoh has beaten you. You have nothing to do here, anymore."
Kanna's smile widened, making Anna's hidden nervousness increase.
"Dammit..." Yoh started, glaring at Kanna.
Anna looked at him, worried, "Yoh?"
"I couldn't..." Yoh tried to sit by himself, but the pain was too much, making
him need Anna's support to sep himself seated. "I couldn't...beat her..."
More worried for Yoh's state that for anything else, Anna hadn't used her powers
to feel Kanna and Yoh's fight spiritually. And even when at first sight, Yoh had
been the winner, the truth was another.
Kanna's cigar kept smoking, meaning that her possession continued. Yoh's,
though, had drained completely with that one, tiresome attack.
Anna paled, "The cigar..."
A mocking laugh CAME from Kanna's mouth, "You thought Ashcroft's possession
object was the cigar I threw up the air at the beginning, didn't you?" she
stomped down her foot, and when she raised it again, on the sloe of her shoe was
the cigar she had thrown up the air at the beginning. "Nope." The cigar in her
mouth shone, and Ashcroft was born again from the smoke cloud, as powerful and
imposing as ever.
Kanna's laugh increased at seeing Anna's pale face, "What's wrong, Itako? Was my
strategy too much for you? It was a stupid trap! Anyone could have defeated it!
But this stupid boy was too worried with defending his poor little itako to
notice it..." she made the word "itako" sound like something dirty.
"Do you think this is over!? We'll help Yoh!" HoroHoro yelled, already running
towards her, Ren right next to him.
Kanna didn't bothered to look at them. "Mari, Matti!"
Two enormous balls of energy took down HoroHoro and Ren while they made their
way to help Yoh.
"But, how!?" HoroHoro croaked, air lacking. Matti laughed from her place, seated
on top of the snow mass in which she had been trapped until moments ago. She
smiled devilishly.
"Silly boys! You fell directly into our trap!" she cheered. Next to her, Mari
observed with a dead expression.
"T-trap...?" Ren asked, holding his side. There was no doubt that Mari's energy
blow had broken some of his ribs.
"Don't you get it, yet!?" Kanna's voice was that of a mad woman, full of glee
and amazement. "You're more stupid than I thought! You fell directly into our
trap! We drained you out of spiritual power, without spending even ten percent
of ours!"
Her words hit them hard. It was true. They had spent all of their spiritual
power, wanting to end the fights as son as possible, completely forgetting that
no-one that Hao sent to fight them could be so easy to defeat.
For the Hanagumi, the expressions of utter horror and anguish in the boys' faces
was something priceless. Everything had been so easy... fool them, by making
them believe they had the upper hand, while they attacked by making almost no
use of their own powers… so simple…
...it was time to finish this.
"Mari, Matti," Kanna ordered suddenly, giving her victims a superior look on her
face, which was enough of a signal for her team companions to know what to do.
The attack shower was strong and unstoppable. Ren and HoroHoro couldn't even
defend themselves, not being able to see where the attacks came from. Was such
the power they had been battling against only minutes ago, and hadn't noticed?
Their screams of pain echoed in the empty house, next to the maniacal laughter
of their attackers, who kept pouncing on them with no mercy at all.
"HOROHORO! REN!" Yoh's desperate cry was only answered by a chuckle from above.
And looking for the source of the chuckle, Yoh found the calm figure of his
brother, looking down to him from the branch he was sitting, with a sweet smile
on his face. "Hao...?" he had forgotten about him, and that he had seen
everything that had happened, which undoubtedly, was nothing but fun to him.
Hao gave him a sweet look before leaping down the tree in which he was sitting
at, and started walking towards Yoh.
"Give up, Yoh." His voice was like the one of a Father speaking to a whimsy
child. "It's useless. You know it." And he walked towards his crouched form.
Anna, next to Yoh, leaned protectively towards him, the 1080 rosary in her
hands. Hao smiled at her, but kneeled in front of Yoh to be at eye-level.
His smile was almost a mocking one. "Look around you, Yoh." he motioned, twin
eyes never leaving each other. But Yoh didn't need to look around to know what
was going on.
His friends, all laying around in bloody heaps, gravely hurt, barely conscious,
but still alive.
But for how long, if this kept up?
"Yoh," Hao started, eyes still locked with his. "You can stop this now, you
know? I'm willing to let all of you go away, with the promise to never again
bother you, if you quit the Shaman tournament." His face showed a almost
angelical look. "It's not so hard, really. You just have to say it, and it'll be
done."
And as predicted, the indignant groans of the fallen parties made themselves
present and Yoh had to smile – his friends would never give up, no matter what,
would they?
"Q-quit the tournament?" Ren spat some blood as he supported himself on his
glaive. "Bullshit."
"No way in all nine hells, Hao." HoroHoro supported himself up with the arm that
wasn't broken. But still, the blood in his shirt gave away the wounds he tried
to hide.
But the words that Hao wanted to hear, still didn't leave Yoh's mouth. The
hesitation was obvious in his expression – his mind was chaos. This wasn't good.
He needed to press him.
His eyes gleamed. "It seems like you need a bit more of a push, huh?" And Yoh
then knew what was about to happen.
"No, wait!" But it was too late.
"Kanna, Matti, Mari," was all what Hao had to say for the Hanagumi to attack.
It was immediate: The screams of agony from his friends, as each was attacked,
again and again, mercilessly, by the Hanagumi, who watched smiling as their
victims squirmed in pain.
It was too much.
"Hao, stop it!" The plea went out of his lips before he knew it, and the attack
stopped immediately, as to not interrupt the important conversation.
Hao looked at his twin with an intense look. "Are you ready to give in, Yoh?"
but he could still clearly see the hesitation in his eyes. Doubt. Chaos.
More pressure.
"Girls," he ordered, and the attacks were resumed, but the screams weren't.
They didn't have voices to cry out with.
But they weren't dead – their presence was still in the air. But almost
unrecognizable. Weak, almost faint… Not like the strong and imposing ones he was
used to feel around him every day.
He had to do it. He had to say it.
Nothing was worth if it meant losing your friends.
"Hao…stop them." His voice was now another – one that wasn't filled with chaos
and indecision. He now knew what he needed to do.
Hao knew this, and smiled. The attacks stopped. "Ready now, Yoh?"
Gazing down, Yoh nodded. "Yes."
And a victorious look made itself present in Hao's face. "Just say it, then," he
pushed, like an impatient child. "Say it, and finish all of this."
"Yes." Yoh's answer was almost mechanical as he stood up, shakily, supported by
Anna, whose grip on her rosary was now white, and whose face was blank,
undecided with the emotions she felt.
And it hurt to know what was going on. It hurt to know what he was going to say.
It hurt to know what was going to happen after.
It was for the best.
So she silently supported Yoh, and waited.
"I, Asakura Yoh, now officially quit my participation in the Shaman Fight."
And there was silence.
Then, a low chuckle arouse from Hao's mouth.
His laughing face was almost angelical, if not for the fact that his eyes showed
the complete lack of human emotion inside him.
"I'm glad to see you made a good decision for once, little brother." He stood
up. "Girls, you may retire," he ordered without turning around, and the Hanagumi
spared one last mocking glance towards their victims, and promptly disappeared.
Yoh knew something wasn't right.
The look on his brother's face was the one of a predator who now had his prey in
reach. Something was wrong…terribly wrong… he could feel it, but what was it?
And as he followed his gaze, he knew what was wrong.
What was wrong was the fact that he, Yoh Asakura, had made the most horrible
mistake he could have ever done in his life.
+++
The hospital was quiet as Anna and Yoh walked to the room he shared with his
injured friends.
"There's no danger now," the nurse had said, once all had been bandaged and put
in bed. "But they need to rest."
Under the excuse of having been involved in a gang fight, they were all admitted
like troublesome children. And besides a few mother-like speeches from a few
nurses, everyone else simply ignored them.
He was the one with less injuries of them all – just that cut in the arm, and
the bruise on the head. Aside from a few scratches, that was pretty much it.
And that made him feel all the more guilty when he thought about the other guys'
condition – none of them had awoken or shown any kind of consciousness during
the whole process.
And it was unfair, since Hao only wanted to get something from him – they had
just been innocent people who wouldn't be in this condition if only he had made
up his mind for the best sooner.
But as he thought about it, he knew that even if he dared to voice those
thoughts, he wouldn't get far. No, since he knew that regardless of the way he
could have handled the situation, they would have always gotten themselves
involved.
Because they were friends, and that's what friends did.
Once in the room, Yoh laid his tired body on the bed, and watched silently as
Anna moved around the room, making sure everything was in order.
She, after all, couldn't trust him to look out for the simplest things, such as
making sure all important papers were at hand, that the sword's leather sheath
was properly closed, and so on.
And as she arranged his sandals next to the bed, she felt a sting in her heart
that she had been trying to avoid until now.
This was going to be the last time she would do this for him.
It hurt now as much as it had done when he said that he quitted the tournament.
It hurt because it was for the best, and yet, she completely hated it.
She didn't want to end up like this, and she would have done everything in her
power to change the way things turned out, had she the power to do so.
But she didn't. And Yoh didn't, either.
And because she knew that if he didn't quit the tournament, things would have
turned out far worse, she accepted the new change of things.
"Be careful to have things handy, Yoh. You don't want to lose them, do you?" She
said as she made sure the house keys were in his pockets.
"No, Anna."
"And remember to do laundry at least three times a week." She busied her hands
folding his very dirty and somewhat tattered shirt, when his hand over hers made
her look at his eyes. "Yoh-"
"Thank you," he said, sad smile on his face.
And she fought the sudden wave of emotion that shook her heart. No. Don't make
it worse. "Thanks for what?" She asked, pretending ignorance.
But he didn't buy it. "For everything."
Don't let it out… "Keep up training. Don't make all my work go to waste."
A nod. "I won't."
"And try to stay awake in class – I won't be around to wake you anymore."
A sad smile. "I'll try."
And when she didn't say anything else, his hand over hers tightened, and his
eyes showed the deep sadness he felt. "I didn't want everything to turn out like
this, you know."
"It was for the best." Maybe if she kept repeating it, she would start to
believe it.
He closed his eyes. "Do you really think so?"
She watched him with tender eyes, allowing herself a bit of emotion that she
wouldn't show for anyone else. She wouldn't answer him. "Go to sleep, Yoh. This
has been a tiring day."
"Yes…" his breathing was now calm and rhythmical. He was asleep.
And she hugged his shirt tight to her body, still fighting the tears she didn't
wanted to acknowledge. "It was for the best…" she repeated under her breath.
A change in the air let her know that it was time already, so she slowly placed
down the shirt next to him – and in one last act of emotion, she took out her
rosary and bandanna which then placed over his pillow, next to his head.
Memories of a life that she was now leaving behind. She wouldn't want them with
her in the place she was now about to go to. They would only bring back painful
memories.
Her face was shadowed as she made her way to the backyard of the hospital,
where, under the moonlight, a devil with the face of an angel waited for her.
"Ready now?" he asked, smiling.
She didn't answer, and simply walked next to him, to the disappear in a blur in
the air.
She never saw the sad face that watched them from one of the building's window,
rosary and bandanna firmly clasped in his hands.
And then he turned, and laid down again in his bed, even when he knew that for
that night, and for many others to come, he wouldn't be able to get any sleep at
all.
Because when he, Yoh Asakura, had quit his participation in the Shaman
Tournament, he had quit his position as her future husband. Because she was
promised to the Asakura who would become the Shaman King.
And that Asakura's name was now Hao.
+++
Bratty's rants: Okay, people, I know you want to kill me. That's why I have
THIS! *Bratty appears, wearing a full body armor* with THIS baby, I can survive
bullets, sharp objects and whatever else you've got there for me, so BRING IT
ON!
Heh, now that you're ready maiming me (or so you wish!) it's time for
explanations and dedications.
Fisrt of all: Bratty is NOT an action writer, explaining why the oh-so-crappy
action sequence, which besides LAME, only made sense inside my head. ^^; oh
well, this is a romance fic, anyway…
Second: This isn't over yet. Hell, not even I am that evil….
And now….DEDICATIONS!
Again, all credits for this, goes to Cali-chan, the most wonderful beta-reader
EVER! ^^ thank you, thak you thank you! *bows* I'm not worthy of your help!!
;__;
This fic also goes to Natty-neechan, Ele-neechan and Rally-imotochan! The
greatest cyber sisters ever! ^^ they're cute, cheerful and are the main reason I
actually finished this chapter this MONTH…. They kept reminding me of it EVERY
DAY…. Until I finally wrote the damn thing. Enjoy now! ^-^
And this chapter goes specially for one person: Da*Mouse-chan. THANK YOU! THANK
YOU! THANK YOU! For that AMAZING pic you made for mi "Moments" fic *__* I mean
it! I'm still grinning like an idiot! (not to mention I have it plastered to the
wall right over my bed! YAY!) And remember to update YOUR story! I've been
waiting! ^-^
And now…. REVIEWS!
Cali-chan: Yeap, you were the first one… XD cool, huh? Again: thank you, thank
you, thank you, than you for being such a wonderful person! ^-^ I mean it!!! And
every passing day, I feel it too… the way the Hao dimension is slowly swallowing
us…O.oU
Boiya: *bows* Thank you! not only for your review, but for your wonderful yahoo
group and you wonderful page! ^-^ and for everyone else: go join! Tons of
YohxAnna doujins and GREAT piccys! Not to mention "THE SCENE" from volume 9….
^.~ YohxAnna fans know what I mean…
Mafaldyna: Ah! Thank you so much! *^^* it's always nice to receive praise for my
work!!
Panther: Ah, another authoress! *__* I'd love to read your story, but I'm afraid
I'm don't know the Beyblade universe ^^; I don't have enough background
information as to know what is going on, but I still applaud your work! ^-^
Lady Mist: Aaah,! I'm sorry I was so late with this chapter! But to make up,
it's a long one! ^^; I hope you enjoyed this chapter too!!
Unmei-chan: Aaaah, you've been around for so long! *__* I'm so thankful to you!!
and don't worry, you'll beat that darned Writers Block! I'll help you do it with
my AXE! XD and please, forgive me for this chapter's ending ^^; I added so much
YohxAnna at the beginning as t make up for what's goinna happen! (But don't
worry, hon, I'm still a YohxAnna freak XD) thank you again!!
Kage NoTenshi: Ah! So glad that you like my story so much as to read it not only
in my Deadjournal, but here, too! *^^* I'm also honored to get a review from you
– your stories make me feel so much at the same time…. Wheter is the need to
cry, or the need to laugh, I love them all. ^^ please, keep writing!
Misteryous reviewer: I don't know your name, but THANKS! ^^ Glad to know people
like this fic!
E.Feather: Yoh would give his life for any of his friends, and that's why I love
him ^-^ the "only for Anna" thing was mostly because I'm a YohxAnna freak ^^;
wheee! Hope you liked this chapter!
Rally: IMOTOCHAN! *Glomp!* pase un GRAN cumpleaños! ^^ wheeeee!!! Ne, me encanta
que te agrade la historia! XD y si, ese verbo SI existe en ingles.... creo...
O.o; not sure... ^^u major le pregunto a Cali-chan, ne? ^^; como sea, mil
gracias! Y tu también actualiza tus fics! Aunque ahora que te vas de
vacaciones... ;__; un mes sin mi imotochaaan!!!??? *Bratty wails...*
Da*mouse: CHEESE! *Bratty devours the food* Thank you! *__* Oh, cheese of my
soul… love it XD bwahaaa! Thank you for reviewing, mouse-chan! And I hope you
liked this chapter too! And remember: UPDATE YOURS!! ;__;
Falqenn: *^^* deep? You think? Heeeee!!! Thankies! ^-^
Unpredictable.l: Thankies for the review! ^-^ maybe it's short, but it's enough
to let me know that you're around! XD thankies!
Chocolate Lovah: I too giggle insanely when excited! ^-^ and I, too, love
chocolate! *__* Oh, maybe hose two facts are related? O.o; LOL! XD
Tracy: Woah, long review O.o; I agree with you in all, tho! XD Thank you, and I
hope you liked this chapter too!!
Sweet Anime Fan: You again! ^-^ Thank you!! glad to see you around! XD you too
have been around for a while, something for which I'm grateful, too! Hope you
liked this one, too!
Sydney: Heiya!! ^^ I love your name! It has always been one of my favorites *__*
oh, and "Itako" is, well….Anna. XD An "Itako" is someone who can call spirits
from anywhere, at anytime! ^^ be it from heaven, hell or earth! And that's why
Anna RULES!
Ilovefanfics: Hope you liked this one, too! ^-^
Nagumo: "a gem among the rubbish" O.O Woaaaah…. THAT'S a praise! XD thank
youuuu! ^0^ I hope you liked this one, too!
Fluffychans: Love tringles ROCKS! XD hope you like the way the story is going
^^U Thank you!
Kary-Malfoy: Ahh! Kary-san! Thanks for your review, and for liking this! ^^
espero que este capitulo cumpla con tus expectativas, ne? ^^
Moonwind: You liked the summary? *^^* that's nice to know. I was afraid it was
too long, or confusing!
Sarah22: Oh yeah, YohxAnnaxHao's RULE! XD I love a nice love triangle ^^ do you
think the way I'm writing it is good enough?? ^^U
Akum: don't worry, your review came to my inbox ^^ is just that FF.net was being
a b*** at the time, and didn't saved the reviews (*wails*) thanks for your
review again! ^-^ it's always nice t know that people cares!!
Snowkatt#101: wai *^^* it's nice to receive a review from someone who isn't used
to left one! ^^ I'm so glad you felt that my story deserved it! and you faved
it!? O.O thank you! *^^*
KiraX105: Aaaah! A review from Kira-san! *__* thank you! this was kinds hidden
because of my lack of updating ^^; and because I took more than a month, this is
so long! ^^ hope you like it!!
Kary_Malfoy: Whee! Wish given! An UPDATE! XD
Colerachel: Here ya go! The next one! Wai! XD
*Bratty pants* damn… that was LONG! @_@ I never thought I'd receive THIS many
reviews…. Not that I'm complaining *^^* keep reviewing, please?? *__*
Love you all!!!
- Bratty! ^-^
righty, people. Here you have it. second chapter. 25 pages long. God kill me.
@_@
- Bratty
+++
The Dark Side Of The Moon
By: Bratty
Beta-ed by: Cali-chan
+++
Chapter two: Promise
+++
Anna stared at her bedroom's ceiling as the sun rose out of her window. "Time to
get up and wake Yoh," her mind ordered automatically. She didn't obey. She
didn't have to anymore.
She sat up in her futon and felt around with her aura for him. There he was,
already up, in the kitchen. She sighed.
While dressing up, she thought about how much Yoh had changed. It had been so
quick, she hadn't known how to react in the beginning. Now she was just worried.
The first day had been a complete surprise, when as usual, her first stop in the
morning was his room to kick him awake. He wasn't there. Confusion taking over
her, she felt around the house for him with her aura, and just like minutes
before, she had found him in the kitchen.
She had gone down to confirm this, still in her bedclothes, and found him
cooking breakfast for both of them, when they usually ate whatever leftovers
were left from dinner.
That day had been surprising, not only in the morning, but during school time
too, when for the first time, he stayed awake during the complete class period.
And not only that, but he had actually offered himself to answer questions from
the teacher, and got complimented by everyone from the great job he did with
homework and school work in general that day.
That first day, she had to admit, she had been pleased. It had been a nice
change, to see him showing more responsibility that she thought him capable to.
But as the week went by, she found out the reason for the change.
He was up so early because he couldn't sleep at night. He did his homework and
studied, to get distracted. He stayed awake in school, because he was afraid of
falling asleep. No. He was afraid of what might happen if he fell asleep.
Slowly, she had watched him getting older with worries. Not a pleasing sight,
and more worrying that what she wanted to admit.
She adjusted her tie and evaluated her looks on the mirror. She was ready for
another day of silent worry.
+++
The house was silent as she made her way down the stairs to the kitchen.
"Morning," She greeted Yoh as she sat at the table.
He didn't turn towards her. "Morning, Anna."
Of all people, she was the one he didn't try to fool with a fake smile. It was
of no use, since she already knew something was wrong, and it would only anger
her if he tried.
It was also his way to say "thanks" for all she had done for him. Because, since
everything started, until last night, she hadn't asked any questions. She had
let him be, with the silent promise to - in the right time - tell her
everything. Meanwhile, she only watched, supporting him and helping him keep his
sanity by staying at his side all day long.
That was something he was grateful for too, because without her being there for
him all the time, he would have probably crashed days ago. But her silent
support had been the best thing for him to hang on to reality.
"I hope you're hungry, 'coz I made a lot of food," He called to her, still busy
with the oven.
"It's okay. If there's anything left, you can always call your friends. They'll
eat the whole house, given the chance." In a way, she was asking him to bring
them home. To end the silence, she didn't add.
And like all the other times she had suggested it, his face clouded. "I don't
think it's a good idea to have the guys here."
She let herself wince at his words, not because they were hurtful in their
negative to her plea, but because they showed how much he longed for the days he
didn't have to worry about the safety of any of them. He now had to carry that
burden all by himself in a silence that was slowly destroying him from the
inside out.
Yoh was still busy with the oven when he felt her rest her forehead against his
back.
"Anna?" He inquired confusedly.
"Promise me," She said. Her tone was tired, and too, full of longing. "Promise
me, Yoh, that no matter what happen, you will always smile."
Still confused and worried, he looked at her over his shoulder, "Anna? What
are--"
"Promise it," She asked again, this time with a more pleading, desperate tone.
"Please, Yoh... promise it..."
He looked at her one more time, and his gaze softened. She too suffered, and for
him, no less.
He turned around, and hugged her gently, resting his head in the curve of her
neck.
"I promise."
A silly promise, that was, because as long as she stayed by his side, he would
always find a reason to smile.
She hugged him back, and let herself rest in the silence of each other's
company.
+++
Outside, two figures watched. One of them short, the other one sitting. They had
been watching all of what happened, and the amusement was obvious.
"Mr. Hao?" Opacho asked, looking at him with inquiring eyes. "How much longer
will it be?"
He smiled. "Getting tired of the show?"
Opacho shook his head, "No, but he," he pointed towards the house, "Has
promised."
The smile on Hao's face widened. "I know."
"...Mr. Hao?" He asked again, unable to understand his master's words.
"Please go," Hao said, more like an order, "I'd like to be alone for a while
now." Opacho nodded and disappeared.
Hao allowed himself another moment of contemplation of the two in the kitchen,
still hugging, like if just having each other so near could end all of their
troubles. They only made the matters worse, for what was to come.
Expression sharp, Hao's eyes glinted with threat. "Tell me, Yoh, now that you
have promised.... will you be able to stay true to your word?" his words were
quiet, but the danger was palpable.
+++
Inside the house, Yoh's hug became tighter around her.
"Yoh?" She asked, noticing a slight shudder in him.
"Shh.." he asked, eyes shut tightly, hands never wanting to leave her. "Let's
just stay like this for a while."
Anna, too, hugged him tighter.
+++
The bell announced the end of the school day. Yoh sighed and stretched his arms
over his head.
"Yoh!" He didn't need to turn around to know who that was. He smiled.
"Hey, Manta." He greeted lightly.
Manta smiled back. "Wow Yoh, you were awesome today! You actually answered
correctly every question the teacher asked you!" he beamed. "Not only that, but
you have actually stayed awake in class all week long!"
Yoh smiled again, this time with a bit more feeling. It was nice to know that
there were people like Manta in this world. People not easily tainted, and
always cheerful.
Manta frowned. "Yoh… you look tired" he gave him a teasing smile. "Anna has been
giving you her hell training again, hasn't she?"
Blinking, Yoh Asked, "Huh? Why do you say that?"
"C'mon Yoh... I've barely seen you all week long, and when I do, you're always
with her. Something's up with you two, huh?" He gave him a sly look. "So you're
finally spending some quality time as a couple? HoroHoro will be jealous."
Yoh blinked again, and for the first time in days, laughed with true mirth. "He
has Tamao to worry about, remember?" Manta then laughed with him.
Finding a reason to laugh like this felt so good... he missed that feeling. The
look in his eyes had to be giving away what he felt, since Manta's expression
softened with sympathy.
An idea came to him, "Hey, Yoh, can I drop by your house tonight? I can call the
guys, too!" He said excitedly, "We can have a party, for the weekend!"
Yoh stared at him with bit of confusion, "A party?"
A nod, "Yeah!"
Thinking about it, Yoh gave him a cheery smile, "Why not?"
Manta beamed. "Great! Tonight it'll be, then!" He turned to go to his desk, "Oh,
and tell Anna I'll buy all the food!" he called over his shoulder.
Yoh waved at him and looked towards the door. Sure enough, there was Anna, back
against the wall, waiting for him.
He smiled at the sight and picked up his backpack. Once at the door, they both
made their way back home silently.
The dirt road was silent, the wind being the only company of the two.
"Was that a smart thing to do?" She asked quietly, looking down at the road.
Yoh blinked, "What?"
"The party," she answered patiently.
He smiled lightly, "Oh, that." And looking up at the sky, "Why not? It has been
a while since were all together, after all."
He wasn't answering her. "Yoh, you know that's not what I--" He interrupted her
by taking hold of her hand.
"Tonight," He said quietly, "Just for tonight, I want to have a reason to
smile."
She looked at him with a bit of amazement. For the last week, it had become so
natural for both of them to have so much physical contact, that it didn't
surprise her anymore. It was just another form of reassurance in their current
situation.
What surprised her was the longing tone in his voice, when he looked at the sky
and then at her, "As long as there are happy times, I want to keep smiling."
She looked at him for another moment, and smiled. A true smile, one that was
reserved only for him. Her hand in his tightened, and their walk back home was
silent.
+++
For the first time in days, the house felt alive.
That warm night, everyone was there. Manta and Ryu had been the first ones to
get there – as always, to help Tamao with the food. Soon after, Pilika and
HoroHoro had made themselves present. Chaos had started when the Tao's had
arrived. All in all, it was wonderful.
In the living room, yet another fight was starting. This time for the last
sandwich on the tray.
Two hands went for it, making both owners of said hands glare at each other.
"Ryu," HoroHoro hissed, "You already ate eight sandwiches. This one's mine!" and
he dove for it, only to find it snatched out of his reach by Ryu's longer arms.
"No way!" Ryu growled back, raising his arm to make sure the sandwich was out of
reach, "I may have eaten eight sandwiches, but I'm pretty damn sure you ate at
least thirteen of them!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Shut up, both of you!" Ren growled.
HoroHoro stuck out his tongue, "Bite me, China boy!"
"That's it!" and Ren jumped into the fight, which now consisted in Ryu sticking
his arm up, trying to keep the sandwich away from HoroHoro's reach, while said
Ainu was busy not only trying to get the sandwich, but avoiding Ren's glaive as
well.
Anna calmly walked towards them, and took the sandwich from Ryu's hand. The
fight stopped and the guys watched as she calmly chewed of the food.
Eyes wide, HoroHoro stuttered, "But…but…"
She gave him a cool glance, "You want to say something?"
Hanging his head in defeat, he muttered, "No ma'm…"
"Good."
The door was opened by a cheery Tamao, "Hey guys!" she chirped, "I got more
sandwiches!"
The three guys dived in immediately. Tamao considered for a moment to try to
break the fight up, but Manta shaking his head told her it was best not to. So
she sighed and sat next to the others.
Jun smiled at the girl, "You're a hard worker. How can you make sandwiches so
fast?"
Tamao blushed a little, "Oh, it's nothing… Miss Anna told me that it would keep
them busy, so I made Conchi and Ponchi do them for me." Suddenly, everyone who
was listening to her looked a little green. She shook her head frantically, "Oh
no, no! don't worry! They haven't done anything to the sandwiches, I swear! Miss
Anna made sure of that!"
Decidedly relieved sighs were heard all around the room. Manta smiled, and took
notice of something, "Anna has been awfully nice… in her way, I mean." He added.
Tamao took a sandwich from another tray, "You think so?"
Nodding, Jun too spoke, "Now that you mention it, she hasn't scolded anyone in
the whole night."
Tamao looked around, "Where is she, by the way?"
"Yoh isn't around, either," Manta noticed.
"They're out there," Lee Pyron supplied from behind Jun. She gave him a thankful
smile and looked towards were he had signaled.
Outside, in the porch, were Yoh and Anna, sitting quietly next to each other.
They had, somehow, sneaked out a sandwich tray and a couple of cold drinks. She
rested her head on his shoulder.
Manta looked confused, "What are they doing out there? Hey, Y--!" He started
calling, only to be silenced by Lee Pyron's hand over his mouth. Manta looked up
at his smiling face. "I do believe Miss Anna and Mister Yoh do not want to be
bothered right now."
The smile in Jun's face and the slight blush in Tamao's cheeks were enough of an
explanation. He nodded, gave his friend another look and smiled.
+++
The night was warm, and a light breeze blew on to faces of Yoh and Anna.
Still, they couldn't enjoy it.
"He's still out there," Yoh breather into the night, and Anna closed her eyes,
inhaling the night's air, tinted with Yoh's essence, because of the closeness of
the two.
And while during the past few days, such closeness between the two would have
made any bad feeling go away, tonight that was just not happening. Even with the
party, the friends, and the general joy around the house, the bad feeling hadn't
gone away from the two. He, because of his inevitable bond to the problem. She,
because of her ability to notice too much.
He sighed again, listening to the sounds of the party. His friends were there,
laughing and playing. A reminder of what he wanted to protect the most.
But would he be able to protect them, against a power as great as the one that
threatened them at the moment? A power so great that it was almost stifling when
he felt it. Would he be able to fight such power, when the time came?
He felt her long fingers intertwine between his. "You're worried." She said in
an unusually soft tone. Yoh blinked and looked at their hands together. He
sighed, "I'm just not sure about myself anymore."
Anna hummed, understanding. "If it helps: I'm not sure about anything anymore."
She said, looking ahead at the garden, "But I still trust you, and your words."
Inwardly, Yoh smiled, remembering his promise. He tightened his hand with hers,
"Thanks Anna."
"Just remember," She said in a sleepy tone, "That as long as you stay true to
yourself, everything will be all right."
Yoh smiled, remembering several times when he himself had said such words. Who
would have thought that the same words would be said to him in an attempt to
cheer him but by none other than Anna? Life was something wonderfully strange,
he mused, as he rested his head against Anna's hair, and inhaled deeply, feeling
the courage and determination slowly growing back in his chest. "No matter what
happens," he muttered for her, "Everything will surely be all right."
The calmness of the night was broken by a sudden explosion, signaling that the
moment was here.
+++
The explosion in the yard blew part of the house, and raising a thick cloud of
debris cover the place.
After the shock of the explosion, Ryu, Ren and HoroHoro had hurried outside to
find what was happening; everyone else was told to stay inside, in case this was
an attack.
"Yoh!?" HoroHoro called, covering his mouth as to not to breath the dirt from
the debris. He still coughed, but managed to catch a glimpse of movement nearby.
"Yoh!?" he called again, and the lump moved more.
The three guys hurried to the lump in the floor, and found Yoh standing up. In
the second of the explosion he had managed to cover up Anna with his body,
protecting her from any injury, but receiving himself a deep cut in his left
arm. "Guys…" He acknowledge them, and as soon as Anna was free to move, she
started watching on his wound.
"Mr. Yoh, are you all right?" Ryu asked, kneeling to help too. Yoh allowed
himself to be helped up by them, placing an arm around Anna's shoulder for
support. He grunted, looked up, and glared, "…Hao…"
Everyone but Anna looked shocked at his words. A chuckle was heard from above.
"My, my, it looks like I've been found…"
A unnatural breeze blew, and the debris cleared out, revealing the destruction
around the house. Yoh, though, was still glaring up at Hao, who was sitting on a
high branch of the old tree in the yard, looking down at them with a cheery
smile. "Hi, little brother!"
"HAO!" HoroHoro roared, with his oversoul done in a second, "What THE HELL are
you doing here!?"
"Come down and fight us, coward!" Ren growled, pointing his glaive at him. Hao
ignored them, his attention completely focused in his brother. "My, that's quite
a wound you have there. You better take care of that soon…"
"Enough with the games, Hao," Yoh said firmly, standing in front of Anna,
"You're finally showing your face after purposely making my life hell for the
last week. What business do you have here?"
Ignoring everyone else's shocked face at Yoh's words, Hao's smile didn't changed
in the slightest bit, "Down to business, little brother? You really must be
tired of this." Yoh didn't answer. Hao sighed. "My, so boring… but it's okay. I
too want this over soon."
Everyone tensed as Hao leaped down of the branch he had been sitting at. Yoh
sweated, noticing that he didn't have his sword with him. "Anna," He whispered
to her, who was still behind him, rosary firmly clapped between her hands. She
nodded, knowing what she had to do. She turned and hurried to the house,
stopping to give a last glance at Hao.
He was following her with his eyes. A predator's smile in his face. She glared,
and continued on her way.
A growl caught Hao's attention, making him look at his angry twin. Yoh had
caught him looking at her, and didn't look pleased. Hao gave him a cheery smile.
"Feeling protective? You should. She's beautiful."
Yoh's hands fisted. "What's your business here, Hao?"
"I'm not here for a fight, Yoh," Hao started walking towards him in a calm pace,
paying no attention to the threatening glares from Yoh's friends. His gaze was
deep, as he stared into his twin's eyes, smiling, "Today I'm here to ask you for
something… a request, that – I can assure you – will benefit both you and all of
your loved ones, and me."
Yoh knew that whatever Hao was there to request, couldn't be good. But his
current position didn't give him much choice – he was hurt, disarmed, and
surrounded by innocents who could be hurt if Hao decided so. So, swallowing, he
decided that for the moment it was best to listen. He nodded, "What is it that
you want, Hao?"
Hao's smile grew wider, and the words that no one expected to hear came out of
his mouth, "What I want, brother, is for you to quit the Shaman King
tournament."
+++
Inside the house, Anna's steps could be heard as she made her way up to Yoh's
room. She opened the door with a quick slide and saw the sword right across the
room, against the wall, still in its sheath. She kneeled before it and, holding
her rosary, offered a quick prayer to all of the protections gods. Being Hao the
enemy they were about to fight, no precaution was too much.
"Don't let any harm come to him nor any of his loved ones." She finished out
loud, opening her eyes and taking the sword.
"Miss Anna?"
Anna turned to see Tamao peeking timidly into the room. She looked like she was
about to burst out crying. "Tamao…" she said softly, and suddenly, found herself
being hugged by the young girl.
"Miss Anna! What are we going to do? Young mister Yoh… he will…"
Anna patted her back comfortingly, "Calm down, Tamao… Yoh will be all right.
Isn't he always?" She said soothingly. Tamao sniffed and wiped her eyes before
any tears came out. Anna gave her a small smile, and then remembered something.
"Tamao, where are the others?"
Sniffing, Tamao sat in front of Anna, face flushed "Miss Jun, Miss Pilika and
Young Mister Manta are still in the living room…we didn't knew what to do, so—"
"Tamao, listen to me," Anna interrupted, looking at her in the eyes, "I want you
to go with everyone, and get as far away as possible from the house, okay?"
The young girl looked shocked, "Go...go away? But, Miss Anna…"
"Tamao," Anna said firmly, "I know you want to help Yoh, and so does everyone
else, but the best way in which you can help him is by taking everyone as far
away as possible, so he won't have to worry for your safety."
Tamao knew that Anna was right, so she wiped her eyes, and put a decided look on
her face, "You're right, Miss Anna!" she stood up, "I'll-I'll do what you said!
We cannot stay here, making Young Mister Yoh worry about us!"
"Good," Anna agreed standing up, bracing the sword against her chest. "I'm
trusting you," she said, and Tamao nodded, and ran out to find the others.
Anna allowed herself a proud smile, since she now knew that Tamao's confidence
had somehow increased over the time spent with them, and that was always a good
sign – if Tamao learned to trust herself more, she could be a powerful ally
against any enemy.
But this was not the time for such thoughts. She immediately made her way out to
the yard, and at hearing the muffled voice just steps away from her, she knew
she was still on time.
It was when she got near enough that she heard him say it.
"What I want, brother, is for you to quit the Shaman King tournament."
Anna frowned at this, and made her way silently to Yoh's side. He took the sword
and whispered to her, "How's everyone?"
"Away."
"Good. You too, stay back. I don't trust him." Anna nodded, knowing better not
to argue given the situation. Rosary in her hands, she was ready for whatever
was to happen.
Hao still smiled. "Actually, there's no need for you to worry. As I said before,
I'm not here for a fight." His tone was almost cheery. "So, what's your answer?"
Yoh didn't hesitate, "I don't know what you're really here for, Hao, but I'll
answer you anyway. No. That's my answer." He took out Harusame out of its
sheath, the blade gleaming under to moonlight. "I've worked too hard for this
tournament. No one will make me quit. Especially you."
"So there!" HoroHoro yelled proudly, "Ha! You thought that your fancy entrance
and stupid words would make Yoh quit? Think again!" he laughed. Hao ignored him,
gaze still on Yoh, whose heart pounded with nervousness, feeling that, somehow,
his words had pleased his brother.
When he spoke, his tone did nothing to reassure him, nor did the dangerous air
that suddenly seemed to fill the entire house. "I admit that I expected that
answer. A shame, really." His eyes focused on Anna, who glared icily at him. Hao
gave her a smile, and closed his eyes, "Still, it's of vital importance that you
accept my request, so I'm afraid that I'll have to insist."
"Nothing you say or do will change my mind, Hao," Yoh gritted out, the feeling
of danger creeping up his spine. Something was wrong, but he couldn't show any
kind of nervousness in front of his brother.
Hao chuckled, "You're firm on your decision, I see. I'm proud of you. Such a
persistence is a needed quality in a fighter." His eyes narrowed, his smile
widening, "But I, too, must persist in my request." He turned, and started
walking towards the same tree he had first showed up. "I really didn't want for
this to end in a fight, but since you seem to need some persuasion…. Girls!"
And in a flash, the Hanagumi stood a few steps before him, facing Yoh and his
friends.
Kanna took her cigar out of her mouth, "you called, sir?"
"Yes," Hao told them with a smile, "Yoh here needs some convincing from our
side. Please, take care of that."
Kanna smirked, eyes gleaming, "Gladly."
Hao nodded at them, and walked past them. "Don't touch her." He whispered to
Kanna, as he went past her. She kept her eyes firmly in front of her, and
nodded, sparing a glare to Anna.
"Mari, Matti, get ready," she ordered, and the girls obeyed, oversouls ready.
"Matti, take of the blue haired one. Mari, the one with the glaive." In a
second, said girls were both in front of their assigned opponents. Kanna
smirked, "I'll take Master Hao's brother…"
"Not likely," Ryu said, taking a step ahead, "I made a promise not to let anyone
touch Master Yoh while I was around, and Bokutou no Ryu stays true to his word!"
He prepared to do his oversoul, when Yoh's hand on his weapon stopped him.
"No, Ryu." He said, looking at his with a serious expression. "Please, go away."
Ryu looked at him in shock, "But, Master Yoh…"
Offering him a small smile, Yoh started, "Tamao, Manta and the others are making
their way out. Still, we can't leave them alone like that. Please, go with them
and protect them – I'm trusting you," he said sincerely, and Ryu nodded, happy
to receive such a praise from the one he admired.
"Yes! I won't disappoint you, Master Yoh!" And winking at him, he made his way
out. Yoh turned back to Kanna, and glared, readying his oversoul. "Prepare to
fight."
Kanna smirked, and took her cigar out of her mouth an threw it up in the air.
The smoke cloud grew thick, hiding everything from sight for a second, "Stupid
boy – I'm always ready! ASHCROFT!" And the knight of smoke appeared behind her,
spear ready.
Anna took a step forward, "Yoh, your arm…"
"It's okay, Anna." Yoh said, not looking back at her, "Just stay back…" he
lifted Harusame in front of him. "Amidamaru, into Harusame!"
The fight had begun.
"Koloro!" Was all HoroHoro had to say for his spirit to understand what to do,
immediately forming a snow barrier around HoroHoro and Matti, who observed the
situation with childish interest.
"Wow! How interesting! I love snow!" she laughed like a little girl, while she
touched the snow wall.
HoroHoro smirked, "Well it's nice that you like it, because for the next while
you'll be seeing LOTS of it!" he positioned his board in front of himself, ready
for any attack Matti could prepare.
She only smiled cutely at him, "Ah, I get it! You make a barrier so you can not
only limit my attacks, but you make sure you don't interrupt you friends' fights
either, right?" she said, amused, "Very smart!"
"Thanks! But I'm afraid this is not the time to be getting compliments,"
answered HoroHoro.
Matti's gaze turned sinister, "In that," she took her broom with both hands,
"you're right." Jack, her doll that until now had been hanging from her hand,
suddenly seemed to have life.
Her eyes shined as she raised the broom, "Trick or treat! Attack, Jack!" she
yelled as she gave the first impulse hit to the doll, which flew towards
HoroHoro, who was already prepared.
"Ice shards!" he yelled, and suddenly, a shower of sharp ice shards was shoot
out from his snowboard, but a quick movement from Jack's blades was enough to
avoid the Ainu's attack.
"What!?" shrieked HoroHoro, amazed, when Jack stuck his blades into his
snowboard after easily going trough the ice shards shower.
Matti laughed happily. "Isn't Jack wonderful? Go ahead, Jackie, shatter his
snowboard!" She cheered, while her doll obeyed, stubbornly stabbing HoroHoro's
snowboard with his blades.
"I--- Don't--- see--- what's--- so--- FUNNY!" HoroHoro grunted until he got free
of the hellish doll with a hard move. Jack landed in it's feet's a few meters
ahead, blades ready.
A quick look at the snowboard was enough for HoroHoro to know that the damage
wasn't major, but still, another attack like that could shatter the snowboard.
"Damn…" he cursed, and Matti laughed.
"Oh, come on, don't tell me that's all you've got!" Matti faked a pout, "How
boring! As soon as I break your board the fun is over?"
"I'm not done yet!" HoroHoro yelled in indignation at being treated like that by
Matti. She kept pouting.
"I don't believe you! We only scratch your board a little bit and you're already
cursing!"
"Well in that case, we'll show you! Koloro! Shard Shower!" HoroHoro scream
again, and Koloro answered immediately, attacking with a new shower of sharp ice
that, even when directed right towards Matti, seemed to miss her by a lot.
She only looked at him calmly, "That's the way I like it! Jack!" This time she
didn't need to hit the doll, who with the mere order obeyed by cutting in a
flash every single ice shard that was shot out of the snowboard into little
pieces. HoroHoro insisted with his own attack, putting more and more power in
it. "Dammit, Koloro! More power!" The ice storm increased it's intensity, adding
a strong breeze that, to the Ainu's joy, had effect against the girl, who found
herself obliged to make an effort to stay in her place.
Matti had to shield her face with her arm, "Jack!" she called, "Blade shield!"
The doll suddenly stopped his dance against the ice, and by sticking both blades
together by the handle, he started moving them in a circular motion, like the
reels of a rotor, making a very effective shield which cut anything that dared
come close enough.
But HoroHoro knew that he had the advantage, since he was the one attacking, and
Matti was only defending herself. This was his chance. "Koloro, we can do this!
More power!" again, the attack power was intensified by ten, and even when Jack
and Matti's Blade Shield was strong, it couldn't keep up against the Ainu's
powerful attack.
A shriek came out of Matti's mouth when she was thrown back right into the snow
wall.
"Koloro!" HoroHoro again called for his spirit, decided to finish this match,
and with a new strong breeze from his snowboard, he trapped the girl inside a
very compact snow mass.
The smile became present in his face in a second, "Done! This was nothing!" he
lowered his snowboard, allowing his happy spirit to come out. Sweating, and
panting a little, HoroHoro offered a smile to his spirit, "Good work, Koloro!
Quick, too!"
His spirit nodded, "It didn't take us long, either," HoroHoro laughed, a bit
relieved. "Really, I thought we would see more fighting from her part, but this
was for the best… she won't die in there, but at least it'll keep her trapped,"
he said, lowering his guard already. "Now, to wait for the others!"
But confidence isn't something to hold on to. HoroHoro didn't catch the pulsing
aura coming from inside the snow.
+++
"My, it seems like the idiotic Ainu beat the girl with the broom." Ren noticed,
listening to the shriek coming from inside the ice wall that HoroHoro had made,
"While I get to fight with a little brat who still plays with dolls. Some
enemies." Ren noticed lightly, glaring at Mari, who was standing a few meters in
front of him.
She looked down, hugging Chuck to her chest, like a little girl who's being told
to go to bed. "The pointy-haired boy talks too much." She said, apparently
talking to the ragged doll.
Ren growled, "Wonderful. She talks to herself, too." Not wanting to lose any
more time, he pointed his glaive to Mari, "This shouldn't take long."
Mari frowned. "Mari doesn't like the pointy-haired boy."
"I feel the same for you," Ren rolled his eyes, "Now, do you want to start with
this already?"
Silently, Mari took Chuck by the hair. Her hair obscuring her eyes, hiding any
emotion. "Master Hao has ordered Mari to get rid of the Pointy-haired boy,"
Slowly, she raised the hand with which she held her doll. Suddenly, a pink aura
surrounded Chuck, making the doll suddenly look alive, and pint both guns to
Ren. "Mari will not disappoint Master Hao." She said ominously, and suddenly
Chuck started shooting an incredible amount of bullets in no time.
With a pleased smile, Ren easily blocked all the shoots, "So, the girl can
fight? That way it's more fun. You know what to do, Bason."
"Yes, young master!" Bason answered obediently.
And while to someone else, Mari's attack's wave would have been something hard
to control, it was not an effort to Ren, who's easiness with the glaive was
something exceptional. A superior smile appeared on his face, "Is this
everything the little girl has?"
Mari didn't answered, frowning more deeply, and placing more of her power into
the attack. Ren barely had to do another little effort to have the new attack
wave dominated.
"Is this all the little girl has? Des Hao trust YOU to beat US? Dear God..." and
with a sudden jump that got him over Mari's attack's way. Ren laughed "Is Hao
making fun of us by giving us such weak enemies? Now I'll show him how to deal
with Ren Tao! BASON!"
"CHUCK!" Mari barely had enough time to raise her doll, who with a sudden quick
attack could stop Ren's attack, right before it hit Mari, who saw herself
obliged to jump back because of the attack's potency.
Ren landed easily where moments ago Mari stood, "Child's games..." he smirked,
his back to Mari.
She, a little shaken because of the attack, glared at Ren, "The pointy-haired
boy hurt Mari." She muttered as she raised Chuck. A glint of anger in her eyes
revealing her intentions, "Mari cannot forgive him!"
Ren snorted, "Forgive me? When have I wanted that?"
Mari raised Chuck, "Mari will not forgive you! Mortal attack, Billy The Kid!"
Chuck started firing, this time with more power, and a deadly intention, but Ren
was ready. "So predictable..." he muttered, turning around way before the
bullets were near enough to touch him, "And that's why, you're so easy to
defeat..." he continued, raising his glaive. A secure glow in his eyes, when he
gave the order, "BASON! GOLDEN BLADE!"
Of course it was risky to do an attack in such a close place, but that had been
his intention. More than one bullet scratched his skin, but none entered his
flesh enough as to hurt him seriously. Still, he didn't felt any pain, while her
mercilessly attacked Mari, who shrieked under the fierceness of his Golden
Blade.
It wasn't long before Mari fell unconscious, Chuck next to her, without the pink
aura of the possession.
Ren's wounds were several, and even if he had spent more power than he would
admit, everything turned out perfectly. "Good job, Bason," he congratulated.
"Took you long enough!" A mocking voice said from the side. Ren growled.
"Shut up, HoroHoro." Ren said, trying to ignore him. HoroHoro, from the place of
his battle, laughed merrily, sitting on his table, "Admit it, Ren! you were only
showing off!"
Ren couldn't take it, "Would you shut up!?"
HoroHoro kept laughing, but now more quietly. "We still aren't done..." he
remembered, and they both looked towards the place where Yoh stood in front of
his enemy,
Yoh and Kanna stood in front of each other, concentrated in trying to predict if
the other one was going to attack, and ignoring the battles around them. Both
were ready, but neither moved.
"Well, young mister Yoh? Are you too much of a gentleman as to attack a lady?"
She mocked, but Yoh didn't answered.
He couldn't fall for the enemy's taunts. This battle was a important one, so he
couldn't allow himself to get distracted in any way. He had to anticipate his
enemy's moves, so he could stop them.
His arm bothered him. The wound was more deep than what he had first thought.
But even when he tried to hide this from Kanna, a cold breeze made him wince,
something that Kanna noticed immediately.
"Well, well, it looks like your wound is bothering you, am I right, young mister
Yoh?" her eyes were dangerous.
Yoh grunted, "I'm fine" but his pale face said something else.
Kanna smirked, "I wouldn't say that... it's bleeding profusely, you know?"
It was true, he had lost a lot of blood. Something that didn't worry just him,
but Anna too, who watched from behind.
Anna looked worried, "Yoh..." she started, but she cut him off.
"I'm fine. Really," he said, and Anna nodded silently, knowing it was a lie.
The conversation seemed to anger Kanna. "Feh, I'm sick of this," she said,
frowning and looking at them with disgust, "I don't know what business Master
Hao has with the two of you, nor do I want to know. I'll just follow his orders,
so ASHCROFT!"
The attack was direct, and easy to anticipate. Yoh dodged the gigantic spear
that ended up stuck in the dirt, after he jumped. "Amidamaru, Buddha's blade!"
he yelled when coming down, and cutting Ashcroft's arm.
The arm dissolved into smoke, and the spirit re-appeared. Kanna didn't look
happy at all, ordering the spirit to continue with its attacks.
Yoh could only defend himself, which was effective, but tiresome. The attacks
were fierce, and were making him retreat slowly. As the sword and spear clashed
against each other, the blood flowed more and more out Yoh's wound.
He was starting to get a headache, and the world spun around him. The sword
weighed more and more by the minute, but he had to keep his spiritual power
flowing into it.
His knees shook, and the fierceness of the attack made him fall down. "Yes! Now,
Ashcroft!" Kanna saw her chance, but just when the spear was about to go trough
Yoh, a very familiar white rosary surrounded it.
Kanna gasped and glared at Anna, who glared back at her, holding the rosary and
stopping Ashcroft. Kanna growled, and Yoh took the chance to escape his current
position.
Furious at having lost her chance, Kanna decided to ignore the given orders,
"Turn yourself into smoke!" she ordered, and Ashcroft escaped the rosary like
water trough fingers. "You interrupted my fight, you idiot!" Ashcroft's attack
was directed towards Anna this time, who observed with wide eyes the gigantic
spear that was about to go through her. But in the last second, strong arms
surrounded her by the waist, getting her out of the dangerous place, with a
jump.
Anna couldn't avoid a little blush when she observed Yoh's face, dirty and hurt,
pale too, but fierce and decided, not taking his eyes off Kanna, ready for any
other attack.
Once they landed, he let her go, panting and tired.
"Yoh.... thanks..." She said, and Yoh offered her the lightest of the smiled,
before being hit from the back by Ashcroft, "Don't get distracted!" Kanna
yelled, looking disgusted at them.
Yoh barely had time to get up to avoid the next attack, "Amidamaru, we have to
attack!"
Amidamaru manifested itself from the sword, "But, Master Yoh, you are not in the
best conditions for—"
"We have to do it!" Yoh ordered trough gritted teeth, "I know we can do it,
Amidamaru! I trust you!"
Feeling his master's decision, and knowing that he couldn't do anything against
it, Amidamaru nodded. He didn't trust this decision, and much less what could
happen to his Master if he used too much power. But he had to try it, and put
his best effort in it.
A pulse of Yoh's aura made Kanna retreat. His pose, and the power that emanated
from him, made obvious the fact that he was about to attack for the first time
since the battle had begun.
His movements were slow and precise, like a mortal dance between a samurai and
his sword. A truly marvelous vision, that of the boy and the samurai, while they
moved the shared body, eyes fierce and glowering.
"Finally..." Kanna muttered to herself, smiling before Yoh's murderous look.
The move was so fast that no-one could anticipate it. It was that amazing speed
that made said move deserve its name. A speed that could only be acknowledged to
a God. "BUDDHA'S BLADE!" yelled Yoh as battle cry, his sword easily cutting
trough Ashcroft's body, making the smoke warrior fall in two pieces.
Kanna watched wordlessly, the attack being more fierce that what she would have
thought it to be.
But it was pleasant.
Very pleasant, she decided when she noticed how Yoh fell to the ground after
using all of his power. His possession disappeared completely. "Yoh!" Anna
called, hurrying next to him, unable to hide her preoccupation.
With an effort, he supported himself on his elbows. Anna helped him, noticing
how pale and exhausted he looked. She directed her gaze to Kanna, who smiled
down at them. "Go. Yoh has beaten you. You have nothing to do here, anymore."
Kanna's smile widened, making Anna's hidden nervousness increase.
"Dammit..." Yoh started, glaring at Kanna.
Anna looked at him, worried, "Yoh?"
"I couldn't..." Yoh tried to sit by himself, but the pain was too much, making
him need Anna's support to sep himself seated. "I couldn't...beat her..."
More worried for Yoh's state that for anything else, Anna hadn't used her powers
to feel Kanna and Yoh's fight spiritually. And even when at first sight, Yoh had
been the winner, the truth was another.
Kanna's cigar kept smoking, meaning that her possession continued. Yoh's,
though, had drained completely with that one, tiresome attack.
Anna paled, "The cigar..."
A mocking laugh CAME from Kanna's mouth, "You thought Ashcroft's possession
object was the cigar I threw up the air at the beginning, didn't you?" she
stomped down her foot, and when she raised it again, on the sloe of her shoe was
the cigar she had thrown up the air at the beginning. "Nope." The cigar in her
mouth shone, and Ashcroft was born again from the smoke cloud, as powerful and
imposing as ever.
Kanna's laugh increased at seeing Anna's pale face, "What's wrong, Itako? Was my
strategy too much for you? It was a stupid trap! Anyone could have defeated it!
But this stupid boy was too worried with defending his poor little itako to
notice it..." she made the word "itako" sound like something dirty.
"Do you think this is over!? We'll help Yoh!" HoroHoro yelled, already running
towards her, Ren right next to him.
Kanna didn't bothered to look at them. "Mari, Matti!"
Two enormous balls of energy took down HoroHoro and Ren while they made their
way to help Yoh.
"But, how!?" HoroHoro croaked, air lacking. Matti laughed from her place, seated
on top of the snow mass in which she had been trapped until moments ago. She
smiled devilishly.
"Silly boys! You fell directly into our trap!" she cheered. Next to her, Mari
observed with a dead expression.
"T-trap...?" Ren asked, holding his side. There was no doubt that Mari's energy
blow had broken some of his ribs.
"Don't you get it, yet!?" Kanna's voice was that of a mad woman, full of glee
and amazement. "You're more stupid than I thought! You fell directly into our
trap! We drained you out of spiritual power, without spending even ten percent
of ours!"
Her words hit them hard. It was true. They had spent all of their spiritual
power, wanting to end the fights as son as possible, completely forgetting that
no-one that Hao sent to fight them could be so easy to defeat.
For the Hanagumi, the expressions of utter horror and anguish in the boys' faces
was something priceless. Everything had been so easy... fool them, by making
them believe they had the upper hand, while they attacked by making almost no
use of their own powers… so simple…
...it was time to finish this.
"Mari, Matti," Kanna ordered suddenly, giving her victims a superior look on her
face, which was enough of a signal for her team companions to know what to do.
The attack shower was strong and unstoppable. Ren and HoroHoro couldn't even
defend themselves, not being able to see where the attacks came from. Was such
the power they had been battling against only minutes ago, and hadn't noticed?
Their screams of pain echoed in the empty house, next to the maniacal laughter
of their attackers, who kept pouncing on them with no mercy at all.
"HOROHORO! REN!" Yoh's desperate cry was only answered by a chuckle from above.
And looking for the source of the chuckle, Yoh found the calm figure of his
brother, looking down to him from the branch he was sitting, with a sweet smile
on his face. "Hao...?" he had forgotten about him, and that he had seen
everything that had happened, which undoubtedly, was nothing but fun to him.
Hao gave him a sweet look before leaping down the tree in which he was sitting
at, and started walking towards Yoh.
"Give up, Yoh." His voice was like the one of a Father speaking to a whimsy
child. "It's useless. You know it." And he walked towards his crouched form.
Anna, next to Yoh, leaned protectively towards him, the 1080 rosary in her
hands. Hao smiled at her, but kneeled in front of Yoh to be at eye-level.
His smile was almost a mocking one. "Look around you, Yoh." he motioned, twin
eyes never leaving each other. But Yoh didn't need to look around to know what
was going on.
His friends, all laying around in bloody heaps, gravely hurt, barely conscious,
but still alive.
But for how long, if this kept up?
"Yoh," Hao started, eyes still locked with his. "You can stop this now, you
know? I'm willing to let all of you go away, with the promise to never again
bother you, if you quit the Shaman tournament." His face showed a almost
angelical look. "It's not so hard, really. You just have to say it, and it'll be
done."
And as predicted, the indignant groans of the fallen parties made themselves
present and Yoh had to smile – his friends would never give up, no matter what,
would they?
"Q-quit the tournament?" Ren spat some blood as he supported himself on his
glaive. "Bullshit."
"No way in all nine hells, Hao." HoroHoro supported himself up with the arm that
wasn't broken. But still, the blood in his shirt gave away the wounds he tried
to hide.
But the words that Hao wanted to hear, still didn't leave Yoh's mouth. The
hesitation was obvious in his expression – his mind was chaos. This wasn't good.
He needed to press him.
His eyes gleamed. "It seems like you need a bit more of a push, huh?" And Yoh
then knew what was about to happen.
"No, wait!" But it was too late.
"Kanna, Matti, Mari," was all what Hao had to say for the Hanagumi to attack.
It was immediate: The screams of agony from his friends, as each was attacked,
again and again, mercilessly, by the Hanagumi, who watched smiling as their
victims squirmed in pain.
It was too much.
"Hao, stop it!" The plea went out of his lips before he knew it, and the attack
stopped immediately, as to not interrupt the important conversation.
Hao looked at his twin with an intense look. "Are you ready to give in, Yoh?"
but he could still clearly see the hesitation in his eyes. Doubt. Chaos.
More pressure.
"Girls," he ordered, and the attacks were resumed, but the screams weren't.
They didn't have voices to cry out with.
But they weren't dead – their presence was still in the air. But almost
unrecognizable. Weak, almost faint… Not like the strong and imposing ones he was
used to feel around him every day.
He had to do it. He had to say it.
Nothing was worth if it meant losing your friends.
"Hao…stop them." His voice was now another – one that wasn't filled with chaos
and indecision. He now knew what he needed to do.
Hao knew this, and smiled. The attacks stopped. "Ready now, Yoh?"
Gazing down, Yoh nodded. "Yes."
And a victorious look made itself present in Hao's face. "Just say it, then," he
pushed, like an impatient child. "Say it, and finish all of this."
"Yes." Yoh's answer was almost mechanical as he stood up, shakily, supported by
Anna, whose grip on her rosary was now white, and whose face was blank,
undecided with the emotions she felt.
And it hurt to know what was going on. It hurt to know what he was going to say.
It hurt to know what was going to happen after.
It was for the best.
So she silently supported Yoh, and waited.
"I, Asakura Yoh, now officially quit my participation in the Shaman Fight."
And there was silence.
Then, a low chuckle arouse from Hao's mouth.
His laughing face was almost angelical, if not for the fact that his eyes showed
the complete lack of human emotion inside him.
"I'm glad to see you made a good decision for once, little brother." He stood
up. "Girls, you may retire," he ordered without turning around, and the Hanagumi
spared one last mocking glance towards their victims, and promptly disappeared.
Yoh knew something wasn't right.
The look on his brother's face was the one of a predator who now had his prey in
reach. Something was wrong…terribly wrong… he could feel it, but what was it?
And as he followed his gaze, he knew what was wrong.
What was wrong was the fact that he, Yoh Asakura, had made the most horrible
mistake he could have ever done in his life.
+++
The hospital was quiet as Anna and Yoh walked to the room he shared with his
injured friends.
"There's no danger now," the nurse had said, once all had been bandaged and put
in bed. "But they need to rest."
Under the excuse of having been involved in a gang fight, they were all admitted
like troublesome children. And besides a few mother-like speeches from a few
nurses, everyone else simply ignored them.
He was the one with less injuries of them all – just that cut in the arm, and
the bruise on the head. Aside from a few scratches, that was pretty much it.
And that made him feel all the more guilty when he thought about the other guys'
condition – none of them had awoken or shown any kind of consciousness during
the whole process.
And it was unfair, since Hao only wanted to get something from him – they had
just been innocent people who wouldn't be in this condition if only he had made
up his mind for the best sooner.
But as he thought about it, he knew that even if he dared to voice those
thoughts, he wouldn't get far. No, since he knew that regardless of the way he
could have handled the situation, they would have always gotten themselves
involved.
Because they were friends, and that's what friends did.
Once in the room, Yoh laid his tired body on the bed, and watched silently as
Anna moved around the room, making sure everything was in order.
She, after all, couldn't trust him to look out for the simplest things, such as
making sure all important papers were at hand, that the sword's leather sheath
was properly closed, and so on.
And as she arranged his sandals next to the bed, she felt a sting in her heart
that she had been trying to avoid until now.
This was going to be the last time she would do this for him.
It hurt now as much as it had done when he said that he quitted the tournament.
It hurt because it was for the best, and yet, she completely hated it.
She didn't want to end up like this, and she would have done everything in her
power to change the way things turned out, had she the power to do so.
But she didn't. And Yoh didn't, either.
And because she knew that if he didn't quit the tournament, things would have
turned out far worse, she accepted the new change of things.
"Be careful to have things handy, Yoh. You don't want to lose them, do you?" She
said as she made sure the house keys were in his pockets.
"No, Anna."
"And remember to do laundry at least three times a week." She busied her hands
folding his very dirty and somewhat tattered shirt, when his hand over hers made
her look at his eyes. "Yoh-"
"Thank you," he said, sad smile on his face.
And she fought the sudden wave of emotion that shook her heart. No. Don't make
it worse. "Thanks for what?" She asked, pretending ignorance.
But he didn't buy it. "For everything."
Don't let it out… "Keep up training. Don't make all my work go to waste."
A nod. "I won't."
"And try to stay awake in class – I won't be around to wake you anymore."
A sad smile. "I'll try."
And when she didn't say anything else, his hand over hers tightened, and his
eyes showed the deep sadness he felt. "I didn't want everything to turn out like
this, you know."
"It was for the best." Maybe if she kept repeating it, she would start to
believe it.
He closed his eyes. "Do you really think so?"
She watched him with tender eyes, allowing herself a bit of emotion that she
wouldn't show for anyone else. She wouldn't answer him. "Go to sleep, Yoh. This
has been a tiring day."
"Yes…" his breathing was now calm and rhythmical. He was asleep.
And she hugged his shirt tight to her body, still fighting the tears she didn't
wanted to acknowledge. "It was for the best…" she repeated under her breath.
A change in the air let her know that it was time already, so she slowly placed
down the shirt next to him – and in one last act of emotion, she took out her
rosary and bandanna which then placed over his pillow, next to his head.
Memories of a life that she was now leaving behind. She wouldn't want them with
her in the place she was now about to go to. They would only bring back painful
memories.
Her face was shadowed as she made her way to the backyard of the hospital,
where, under the moonlight, a devil with the face of an angel waited for her.
"Ready now?" he asked, smiling.
She didn't answer, and simply walked next to him, to the disappear in a blur in
the air.
She never saw the sad face that watched them from one of the building's window,
rosary and bandanna firmly clasped in his hands.
And then he turned, and laid down again in his bed, even when he knew that for
that night, and for many others to come, he wouldn't be able to get any sleep at
all.
Because when he, Yoh Asakura, had quit his participation in the Shaman
Tournament, he had quit his position as her future husband. Because she was
promised to the Asakura who would become the Shaman King.
And that Asakura's name was now Hao.
+++
Bratty's rants: Okay, people, I know you want to kill me. That's why I have
THIS! *Bratty appears, wearing a full body armor* with THIS baby, I can survive
bullets, sharp objects and whatever else you've got there for me, so BRING IT
ON!
Heh, now that you're ready maiming me (or so you wish!) it's time for
explanations and dedications.
Fisrt of all: Bratty is NOT an action writer, explaining why the oh-so-crappy
action sequence, which besides LAME, only made sense inside my head. ^^; oh
well, this is a romance fic, anyway…
Second: This isn't over yet. Hell, not even I am that evil….
And now….DEDICATIONS!
Again, all credits for this, goes to Cali-chan, the most wonderful beta-reader
EVER! ^^ thank you, thak you thank you! *bows* I'm not worthy of your help!!
;__;
This fic also goes to Natty-neechan, Ele-neechan and Rally-imotochan! The
greatest cyber sisters ever! ^^ they're cute, cheerful and are the main reason I
actually finished this chapter this MONTH…. They kept reminding me of it EVERY
DAY…. Until I finally wrote the damn thing. Enjoy now! ^-^
And this chapter goes specially for one person: Da*Mouse-chan. THANK YOU! THANK
YOU! THANK YOU! For that AMAZING pic you made for mi "Moments" fic *__* I mean
it! I'm still grinning like an idiot! (not to mention I have it plastered to the
wall right over my bed! YAY!) And remember to update YOUR story! I've been
waiting! ^-^
And now…. REVIEWS!
Cali-chan: Yeap, you were the first one… XD cool, huh? Again: thank you, thank
you, thank you, than you for being such a wonderful person! ^-^ I mean it!!! And
every passing day, I feel it too… the way the Hao dimension is slowly swallowing
us…O.oU
Boiya: *bows* Thank you! not only for your review, but for your wonderful yahoo
group and you wonderful page! ^-^ and for everyone else: go join! Tons of
YohxAnna doujins and GREAT piccys! Not to mention "THE SCENE" from volume 9….
^.~ YohxAnna fans know what I mean…
Mafaldyna: Ah! Thank you so much! *^^* it's always nice to receive praise for my
work!!
Panther: Ah, another authoress! *__* I'd love to read your story, but I'm afraid
I'm don't know the Beyblade universe ^^; I don't have enough background
information as to know what is going on, but I still applaud your work! ^-^
Lady Mist: Aaah,! I'm sorry I was so late with this chapter! But to make up,
it's a long one! ^^; I hope you enjoyed this chapter too!!
Unmei-chan: Aaaah, you've been around for so long! *__* I'm so thankful to you!!
and don't worry, you'll beat that darned Writers Block! I'll help you do it with
my AXE! XD and please, forgive me for this chapter's ending ^^; I added so much
YohxAnna at the beginning as t make up for what's goinna happen! (But don't
worry, hon, I'm still a YohxAnna freak XD) thank you again!!
Kage NoTenshi: Ah! So glad that you like my story so much as to read it not only
in my Deadjournal, but here, too! *^^* I'm also honored to get a review from you
– your stories make me feel so much at the same time…. Wheter is the need to
cry, or the need to laugh, I love them all. ^^ please, keep writing!
Misteryous reviewer: I don't know your name, but THANKS! ^^ Glad to know people
like this fic!
E.Feather: Yoh would give his life for any of his friends, and that's why I love
him ^-^ the "only for Anna" thing was mostly because I'm a YohxAnna freak ^^;
wheee! Hope you liked this chapter!
Rally: IMOTOCHAN! *Glomp!* pase un GRAN cumpleaños! ^^ wheeeee!!! Ne, me encanta
que te agrade la historia! XD y si, ese verbo SI existe en ingles.... creo...
O.o; not sure... ^^u major le pregunto a Cali-chan, ne? ^^; como sea, mil
gracias! Y tu también actualiza tus fics! Aunque ahora que te vas de
vacaciones... ;__; un mes sin mi imotochaaan!!!??? *Bratty wails...*
Da*mouse: CHEESE! *Bratty devours the food* Thank you! *__* Oh, cheese of my
soul… love it XD bwahaaa! Thank you for reviewing, mouse-chan! And I hope you
liked this chapter too! And remember: UPDATE YOURS!! ;__;
Falqenn: *^^* deep? You think? Heeeee!!! Thankies! ^-^
Unpredictable.l: Thankies for the review! ^-^ maybe it's short, but it's enough
to let me know that you're around! XD thankies!
Chocolate Lovah: I too giggle insanely when excited! ^-^ and I, too, love
chocolate! *__* Oh, maybe hose two facts are related? O.o; LOL! XD
Tracy: Woah, long review O.o; I agree with you in all, tho! XD Thank you, and I
hope you liked this chapter too!!
Sweet Anime Fan: You again! ^-^ Thank you!! glad to see you around! XD you too
have been around for a while, something for which I'm grateful, too! Hope you
liked this one, too!
Sydney: Heiya!! ^^ I love your name! It has always been one of my favorites *__*
oh, and "Itako" is, well….Anna. XD An "Itako" is someone who can call spirits
from anywhere, at anytime! ^^ be it from heaven, hell or earth! And that's why
Anna RULES!
Ilovefanfics: Hope you liked this one, too! ^-^
Nagumo: "a gem among the rubbish" O.O Woaaaah…. THAT'S a praise! XD thank
youuuu! ^0^ I hope you liked this one, too!
Fluffychans: Love tringles ROCKS! XD hope you like the way the story is going
^^U Thank you!
Kary-Malfoy: Ahh! Kary-san! Thanks for your review, and for liking this! ^^
espero que este capitulo cumpla con tus expectativas, ne? ^^
Moonwind: You liked the summary? *^^* that's nice to know. I was afraid it was
too long, or confusing!
Sarah22: Oh yeah, YohxAnnaxHao's RULE! XD I love a nice love triangle ^^ do you
think the way I'm writing it is good enough?? ^^U
Akum: don't worry, your review came to my inbox ^^ is just that FF.net was being
a b*** at the time, and didn't saved the reviews (*wails*) thanks for your
review again! ^-^ it's always nice t know that people cares!!
Snowkatt#101: wai *^^* it's nice to receive a review from someone who isn't used
to left one! ^^ I'm so glad you felt that my story deserved it! and you faved
it!? O.O thank you! *^^*
KiraX105: Aaaah! A review from Kira-san! *__* thank you! this was kinds hidden
because of my lack of updating ^^; and because I took more than a month, this is
so long! ^^ hope you like it!!
Kary_Malfoy: Whee! Wish given! An UPDATE! XD
Colerachel: Here ya go! The next one! Wai! XD
*Bratty pants* damn… that was LONG! @_@ I never thought I'd receive THIS many
reviews…. Not that I'm complaining *^^* keep reviewing, please?? *__*
Love you all!!!
- Bratty! ^-^