Title: Stolen Kisses
Chapter: 2 – Ivory Beads; go Clink and Clank
Author: Rekino
I returned back to the others. I had lingered for a few more minutes where Hao had left me – I didn't understand why – I just did. I made my way through the darkness, passing through holes, rocks and sand. One might find it hard to walk around in the middle of the desert at night, especially with the moonlight being overcome by the sudden emergence of clouds. Shadows seemed to crane its head towards me when I walked by. Yet this was me, Itako no Anna. Things like these were nothing.
I passed Manta when I came back – he had this cross between a horrified face and pure disbelief – that it was almost amusing. The shrimp looked terrified, and I hadn't even done anything to him yet. It caused me to wonder as to what happened.
"Anna-sama!" Tamao greeted me. Tao Jun and her kyonshi stood beside the Shaman. Faust was out of my line of sight. I didn't concern myself with him at the moment. There were more important things at hand. I nodded at Tamao and looked to the source of everyone's shock.
There stood Yoh, Ryu, Chocolove, Ren and Horo Horo. Their eyes were hidden in the shadows of the dark. The group of Spiritualists were like frozen statues embedded onto the ground. Deathly still was how they stood. Their eyes unseen but even without looking at their orbs one could notice the surge of magic and power that now ran through their veins. The aura they were giving off was stronger than before. It was obvious that they were both enchanted and entranced by whatever spectacle they had witnessed within Hao's previous mind.
I jerked my head around, blond tendrils wafting on and off my face as I searched for the prayer beads that had caused this. I picked up my ivory beads from the ground and watched the group in the centre intently for any sign of movement. The little gems clinked and clanked as they hit one another in a steady rhythm. I readied them close to me.
Riveting my attention back to the group who were beginning to murmur things that were scaring poor Tamao.
"Anna-sama?" came the questioning voice of the pink-haired Shaman who was easily terrified. I didn't answer but merely continued to watch. The little shrimp came to stand beside me and was demanding to know what happened to 'Yoh-kun'. His presence, though slightly comforting, was throwing off my ability to access the situation.
I replied instantly. My voice hard but still managing to sound faint even to me, "I don't know."
Outwardly cool, but inwardly distressed. That was me.
Had I created a wrong dimension? Was there a flaw in Hao's book? What was it?
"I don't know." I echoed back, my eyes hardening for fear of the worse happening. What had I done?
Manta asked softly, "But how? Yoh-kun?" Turning his gaze back to his best friend.
That was when they decided to make their appearance.
And by 'they' I don't mean Hao and his cronies. I'm talking about the group in white who I later found out to be the X-Laws. They wore ridiculous outfits and while still calling themselves 'people who served for God and Justice' carried guns.
How patriotic, or moronic, I corrected.
It was sickening. I'm pretty sure Hao thought the same.
The man with the glasses and blonde hair was saying something, but he was too far for me to hear. He was accompanied by a short boy that I guessed was about the same age as me. He had startlingly green hair and a look of naivety about him. That was when the blonde man lifted his gun and with a single solitary shot, shot at us directly.
A mechanic angel that shone with brightness appeared heading straight towards Shamans and the future Shaman King.
Yoh.
I wanted to cry.
Yoh.
I wanted to scream.
Yoh!
But instead I froze.
Your Shikigamis Anna!
I heard my mind screaming at me; to move, to stop; to do anything but stand there. Except I didn't simply stand, before I knew it my knees had given way. And I was clutching the soil with my fingers, digging into the dirt while I watched in pure shock. I felt sick.
YOH!
Before I knew it, everything exploded into light. Brightness illuminated the desert. Dust billowed everywhere. The shadows in fear retracted back into the darkness.
Why! Why hadn't I moved? You could have stopped it Anna!
The dust began to thin. The gust of wind subsided. And the light dimmed. My heart was tortured. It almost stopped beating. Inside I was crying. Outside I remained composed. I wanted to cry, to scream. Yoh.
"Hmm… what?" My head snapped up in shock. That voice, that familiar idiotic voice, "We're fine!" He turned around unharmed and gave me that grin that made me feel like I would melt and cry at the same time. Only Yoh could have done that.
Yoh.
With shaky legs and features frowning due to my fiancé's idiocy I stood up, dusting the dirt off my knees. Relief flooded me within, I had never been so happy before.
Yoh turned to look back at the blonde haired man who I swear to Kami I would murder myself if he tried something like that again, "Come now this is just the start. We still have so much to learn!" I could hear Yoh smile, whilst the others smirked beside him.
"So much to learn?" wondered Manta beside, His little head bopping in confusion.
"After making contact with Hao, they realised their smallness," I exclaimed, unfazed his confusion on the matter. What could one expect when he wasn't even a Shaman? "And how there may be someone stronger than them out there." Manta looked up to me.
"I'm glad he learned that." I looked at the group wistfully.
"Here this is from Oji-san." I had finally managed to get Yoh alone. Everyone seemed to be celebrating their sudden gain in strength and was once again associating themselves with everyone else. I passed Yoh the crimson sword. It's chipped ends making him frown in wonder. He looked at it then to me in confusion, weighing the item in one hand to test it out, his katana in another.
He gave me a questioning glance, "What is it?"
"It's an heirloom. Be careful." I warned watching him balance it in a palm warily.
Yoh shifted it in his palm to get a better look at the weapon. He didn't seem to be taking my warning seriously, he never does, but that's what made him different. "What's its use?"
I wasn't told what it was. My mission was to simply deliver it to Yoh, which I had done. It was not in my position to ask. Besides, Yoh would learn what it is sooner or later, "Sa." I replied simply, shrugging to emphasize my answer.
"Oh well," he sighed and smiled once more. Flashes of tonight's earlier events whisked through my mind. I remember thinking that he died and how my heart almost stopped. What would happen if Yoh died? My existence would be meaningless then. I lived only for the Shaman King. Asakura Yoh.
Silently I watched him, contemplating my future husband. Behind that foolish grin and easy-going personality lay a person who knew the difference between right and wrong. He would lead the Shamans, "Yoh."
He seemed to be searching for something to tell me, as he would look at me every few seconds when he thought my attention was diverted elsewhere, but I noticed. He gave me one of his sheepish grins and rubbed the back of his head clumsily as if that would help him find the words that he wanted to say, "Maa… the thing is you look very energetic, Anna,"
I closed my eyes and took in his words, "You too." Inside I was smiling.
He grinned once more and gave me a true smile. Kneeling down, he placed the items he held on the floor. Confused at his actions I watched as he stood up, dusted his hands, smiled and reached out to pull me towards him.
Before my mind could catch up with this. I, then realised, Yoh was hugging me. The same teenager who would complain about my training was holding me near his body
My face, which must have been blushing was hot as he held me softly; one hand caressing my back and another on my waist.
"I missed you, Anna." He said softly near my ear for only me to hear. A small smile fluttered on my features. My hands limp at my side took strength and hugged him back. I could hear my beads clinking against one another, when I closed my eyes and relaxed in his hold. A glint flashed and I opened my eyes once more to see a shooting star pass through the sky and I made a wish; for me to stay in his arms until the end of time.
"Me too."
Ivory Beads; go Clink and Clank
To be continued / Chapter 3
Fic notes;
Excuse the bad translations; again too lazy to go check otherwise.
Acknowledgements;
T.One, RemedyTheThief, Darkness Falls, pendulum-swing, BabyKaoru-sama, Scythe the Grim Reaperess, bukaskha, lost spirit, kurama-kawai, YamiandAnzu4ever, Nyago, Bafu, anitaking3, Dark Light, sweetkukumalu.
Author notes;
Umm… none really… I just hope you guys like this chapter. Thanks to all those who reviewed.
Rekino