Author Notes: (dodges tomatoes) A late update is better than no update? I've been extremely busy with school and blah the homework. Both of those things can really kill motivation. But since it's spring break.. I thought that I should probably try and get a chapter done. Anyways, I'm sure most of you have probably forgotten this fic… (hopeful twinkle in eye) so I don't think I have to update… too too soon.
Thanks: Like always, thanks to everyone to read and/or reviewed the previous chapters. I've read all of them and I really am thankful for all the encouragement you've all given me. Some of them even made me laugh coughYoh'scough and I hope this chapter.. if you can even remember this fic (I know I barely could..) will satisfy you.. even if it's just a little. Thanks to everyone who put me on author alert/favorites, it really means a lot to me! And thanks to you for taking your time to read this chapter. Thanks for the continuing support even after all this time!
Fic Notes: A lot of this chapter is based on made-up myths, so be prepared! And… the angst genre on this fic is brought back to life in this chapter.
Start/Finish: 081304/033105
The sound of rain falling could be heard anywhere within the Asakura complex. Accompanied with the never-ending downpour were the occasional flashes of lightning and roars of thunder. Tamao watched the drops of liquid crawl down the outside surface of her window. This day seemed well portrayed by the current weather. Gloomy. Sad. Dark.
The pink-haired girl brushed away the tears that were slowly reforming in her eyes. She had debated since yesterday night whether she could bring herself to become the bearer of bad news. A knock softly rapped on her door, startling the young girl back to her senses.
"Tamao…?" Yoh's muffled voice called through the door.
Sprinting towards the door, Tamao caught her reflection in the mirror and double-checked to make sure the remaining tears had already dried. She slid the door open, revealing her two friends behind it.
"Yoh-sama… Anna-sama."
As usual, Anna looked calm and collected. If she knew about her departure, she certainly did not show it. Yoh stood beside her, wearing his ever-so-addicting grin. For a moment, Tamao could sense something between the two… some sort of quality that the two carried that complimented well with one another... but she couldn't put her finger on it.
The boy cried cheerfully as he pointed towards the window, "Come on, the rain won't wait for us!"
The girls exchanged questioning looks with each other as they followed him outside. Streaks of lightning illuminated the skies, sending chills running down Tamao's back. She stopped as her teeth chattered with slight fear.
"What are we doing outside…?" She folded her arms, creating friction between her palms and her lower arms trying to regain the heat that was lost in the cool air surrounding them. "It's raining… so it'll be cold… and---"
"Relax!" Yoh assured her, "It'll be fine. I promise."
He opened the door, welcoming the fresh rainy scent that filled the atmosphere. Running down the stairs and into the backyard he quickly galloped across the puddles, motioning for his friends to join him.
The pink-haired girl gasped, shouting over his laugher, "Yoh-sama! You'll catch a cold… I don't think this was a good idea!"
Anna raised an arm to shield her vision from the rain. She nodded along with Tamao's advice, half wondering if Yoh had lost his marbles.
"C'mon, you guys!" The boy cried, frantically waving for them to come over. When the girls refused to expose themselves any further from the rainfall, Yoh smirked and launched himself into a big puddle just in front of them, splashing the two with cool muddy water. Tamao shirked as the icy liquid ran down her body, covering her with goosebumps. The blond on the other hand, shook her head vigorously whipping the droplets away and glared at the boy.
Standing her ground, she gritted her teeth, "Tamao." Her tone matched that of a captain sending orders to their crew.
The pink-haired girl rubbed her eyes and nodded. Facing the boy with a hinted look of anger, she shouted, "Yoh-sama! We're going to get you!"
The pair ran towards the dark-haired boy at full speed, jumping into puddles deep enough to trigger big splashes towards the boy. Yoh laughed, dodging the waves that came after him. Laughing, he stuck out his tongue at the two and headed further across the yard.
"You guys can't catch me!" he called out. He raised his arms as if he were a bird gliding across the skies.
The girls followed him trying to catch up with the boy. They couldn't help but feel uplifted… it was a contagious feeling. Forgetting their wet feet and sore muscles, they chased each other around, knowing that only one thing mattered.
They were having fun.. and that's all they cared about.
Kino's gaze trailed across the three children standing before her. They were all soaked from head to toe, dripping like wet towels on a clothesline. Unlike the two girls standing beside him, Yoh was a complete mess. Traces of dirt covered his once tan cheeks, his wet hair sticking to his face like natto, his fingers were slightly tinted blue probably due to neglected numbness over a long period of time – yet despite all of that, he beamed at his grandmother. (1)
The aforementioned sighed, shaking her head lightly. "Hurry and go grab… no wait. Never mind, I'll go and get them. The three of you stand absolutely still, I do not need a river flowing inside my home."
Yoh grinned, "Hehe. Hai!"
The 3 stood as they were told, almost like stone monuments, side-glancing one another.
"I wonder if she's mad. She didn't look happy seeing us all wet.." Tamao pondered, slightly uneasy as a list of consequences generated in her mind.
"It'll be okay. I mean, what's the worse punishment we could get?"
"Other then the addition of more training, she could starve us by taking away dinner… tomorrow's breakfast and lunch. She could make us clean out every square inch of every house that is within the complex and---"
Kino smiled as she handed the pink-haired girl a towel, "Well if you really insist on doing all that…" She held out the remaining towels to Yoh and Anna.
Reddening instantly, Tamao whispered a quiet 'thank you' before drying her damp hair.
"Dinner's already prepared so run and change out of your wet clothes before eating," spoke the elder itako as she slowly headed towards the dining room. She did not have to repeat herself again before she heard three sets of thumping footsteps running down the other direction.
Taking in the scent of rainy dew in the air, Yoh yawned lazily as he settled himself down on the front porch of the main house. The stars were already spread across the dark sky, illuminating an entrancing glow.
"It's pretty isn't it?" he asked abruptly, effectively startling the girl standing behind him. "Come sit out here… that way the roof doesn't cover it up."
Anna took the suggestion and retaining a healthy distance, sat beside him. She stole a glance at him – cheerful and at ease. Completely at peace with himself. How she'd wish she could obtain even a portion of that calmness and contentment for herself. But it was impossible.. how could she feel at rest after everything that's happened. The only world she knew of was the small town filled with closed-minded people… fearing what they couldn't comprehend… and what they didn't even try to understand. In anxiety, they grip their weapons and in fear, they use them to erase every trace of what they defined as unknown. She couldn't understand the differences between her and them. Wasn't it normal to see spirits co-existing invisibly along side with humans?
Unconsciously, she curled her fingers inward and gripped the hem of her shirt tightly.
Yoh noticed the girl's uneasiness and sat up, his body appearing to be relaxed yet at the same time it was tense and awkward. As if reading her mind, he took a deep breath and began, "I've always wondered what it was to be normal."
The last word grabbed her attention, her heart and her breath all at once.
"I couldn't understand… Wasn't seeing spirits normal? But I was wrong. I was different. No matter how hard I tried to fit in… No matter how much… I wanted to be normal… but I just wasn't. And I don't know why it hurts… But to know that you can't be just like everyone else… It hurts…"
He turned to face her, smiling weakly… It was genuine carefree smile… yet it was filled with so much… pain.
Anna clasped her hands tightly, wondering how the boy could still manage to smile after all that.
Yoh sighed as he looked up towards the night sky, "Everyone stares at you like you're different. Like you don't belong in this world. But stuff like that can't be avoided… All shamans live with the fact that they can never truly fit in with the human world. When you don't belong with everyone else… you start to think – even if it's for a second – whether or not it would even matter.. if you didn't exist in this world. Would the people you see everyday even notice that you are no longer there? Would they care if they knew you weren't coming back? You know the feeling… right? When I first saw your eyes… They were filled with loneliness. Just like mine were… Like all shamans… I'm sure you went through the pain…"
The girl bit her lip. It was true. Everything… Though now something in her heart nudged for her to carry on with her own dark tale. From the moment her eyes met his… there was a sense of trust… Now that he had revealed his thoughts – so similar to her own – there was not a single person in the world she could have trusted more than him. The boy who had led her out of the dark world and into a place of light. The one… who had taught her that happiness wasn't just a hopeful word… it was an existing feeling. A warm fulfilling feeling.
The dark-haired boy looked at her with curiosity, "Anna?"
"I…" She paused, unsure of how to continue now that she had started. "I once… summoned… a demon. A big demon. I don't know how… or why… But… I could hear… everyone's thoughts… and… none of it made sense. It was hurting my head… and when I realized what happened… A demon was in front of me. Destroying the village… Taking apart everything in sight. No one was killed.. but it caused a lot of damage.. Ever since then… the townspeople hated me. And the thoughts I heard had all disappeared.. I guess it was a one-time happening. "
Exhaling, she watched how Yoh would respond. A part of her heart was a little more at ease now that her big secret was revealed. But how would Yoh take all of this in? He wouldn't… be suddenly afraid of her right? I mean… the thoughts were all gone… so how can a demon be conjured now? Yoh definitely didn't help repress her growing fears by staring at the twinkling stars above them. In fact, he remained silent for a long time… letting silence have it's own monologue.
'Is he… afraid of me now? Or does he ha----'
"It must be tiresome," the boy simply replied.
The sudden reply shocked the young girl from her thoughts. She swallowed hard, trying to figure out what he meant by that.
Turning to look her square in the eye, Yoh spoke gently, "To go through what others feel… To realize their never-ending desires... It must be stressful… Ne?"
The blonde's eyes widened, letting his response sink into her mind... he… he had understood. He realized the anguish… and was not frightened by it. To finally have someone… understand the painful emotions she had tightly bottled up inside long ago…
The girl gritted her teeth, willing herself not to cry… How could such simple words start breaking free her hidden feelings? The emotions she never knew existed within her.. The feeling of agony... and suffering…
She lowered her head, biting down her lip to stop her shaky voice. "Yes. It was painful. Very… painful." Her hands tensed, gripping her knees tightly.
Yoh tentatively reached for her hand, hoping to comfort her somehow. He knew he made her uncomfortable… and that was the last thing he wanted to do. However, instead of feeling consoled the girl gasped, wincing at the sudden contact between them.
Slightly flushed, Yoh quickly pulled back his hand, mumbling a small 'G-gomen.'
"No, it's okay.." She could still feel the lingering tingles left from his touch. The years have taught her that even the slightest physical contact with another being meant pain. Despite a completely different living situation, she couldn't stop her habitual reflexes.
"…I—err… Y-you must be t-tired… right? I'll… walk you b-back to your room?" stuttered Yoh, who immediately stood up, hoping to avoid furthering his embarrassment. He chuckled lightly, heading off down the pathway that connected the porch to all the outer bedrooms.
Placing her other hand over the spot where his fingers met her skin, she followed him quietly.
"Goodnight, Anna."
"Goodnight." The door closed with a soft click between them.
Tamao anxiously exhaled as she heard Yoh's footsteps coming towards her. It was now or never. She held her breath, "Y-Yoh-sama?"
The boy stopped in his tracks, turning to face the source of question. "What's up?"
"H-has your grandmother… talked to you yet?"
"Yep. She said that because we left a big puddle near the front door, we have to wake up extra early tomorrow t---"
"…No… not about today," she tightened her fists under her sleeves. It will break him… she knew it. But it's best that he finds out and tries to cope with it now then learn about it later and regret not doing enough in the end. "…A-about… Anna-sama…"
After looking at his innocent gaze, she knew she couldn't bear to see that twinkle in his eyes to fade. Her eyes slid shut, "A-Anna-sama is… Anna-sama… is leaving to train with Kino-sensei in Aomori!"
No response. Only crickets could be heard from a distance.
"Y-Yoh-sama?"
Corners of the boy's mouth twitched upwards, "Heh…" Tamao saw him look far off with his head low so his hair draped out in front of his eyes, covering what could have been a display of emotion. "She's too good." Her eyes met his dark ones – completely void of emotion.
"I'm s-sorry! I.. I thought it would be… good if I told you first… before anyone else did… Was I wrong?"
"No… It's alright. Thank you for caring…" Then a thought hit him hard, "Does Anna know about this?"
"I'm… not sure… though I don't think so…"
"Sou ka.." Sighing, he continued, "But who would've thought that Anna… would be able to make that kind of impression on obaa-chan. She's amazing… I can't even measure it…" (2)
A smile was plastered on his face… yet his eyes deceived him… revealing his true feelings of loss and sadness.
Just a little further from where they were standing, a door slid carefully to a close, leaving an inaudible click behind.
The next morning, contrary to what everyone was feeling, was brightly lit and sunny. There was not a single cloud that was on its way to cover the sun high above the complex. Gathered around the low table, the members of the Asakura family (including their newest addition) sat still, eating and enjoying their meal in silence.
Mikihisa and Yohmei left almost as soon as they were finished, respectively claiming that they had training to start or errands to run. Keiko took off shortly after to help out with a wedding ceremony for one of her old friends. As the miko slipped out of the dining room, Kino placed her chopsticks down and faced the three children in front of her.
"I have something to announce to the three of you."
Yoh continued to chew and swallow his food, before he took in another mouthful of rice with his chopsticks.
Tamao looked away, suddenly finding the door extremely fascinating. She hoped either Yoh's mother, father or grandfather had left something important in this room and needed to go through those doors to retrieve it.
Anna, calm and steadily, raised her cup to take a small sip of her tea.
"Anna. Three days from now, I'll be taking you to Aomori to train your itako powers. I do not know when we'll return… As for the two of you… Yoh and Tamao… don't worry, I'll try and keep in touch with Yohmei and the rest."
'Three days…' Yoh repeated in his head. Even if Tamao had told him about this ahead of time… How could three days ever be enough? How could he befriend someone for about a week and then let them go so suddenly? Still, he kept his face stoic as he let his gaze travel down to the floor and back up to the girl beside him.
Whether she knew or not, Anna brought her teacup down and placed it on the plate with a clink, as if she hadn't heard anything remotely important within the last five minutes. Everyone watched the young girl for a reaction. Something…. Anything that would tell them that she had heard the dismaying news.
When her head finally tilted up, Yoh and Tamao couldn't help but sharply inhale.
"I understand," she simply responded without a sign or tone of emotion hidden.
And only silence replied.
Over the next few days, Yoh and Tamao tried their best to make Anna's final days with them memorable. But even with newly made memories… they knew it would come to an end. Maybe it was even the thought of the end that ruined all of the cherished moments. For after every laugh… after every smile… there was silence. And in those times, how could they not help but think about the reason why they were all trying so hard?
..To ease the pain that would soon follow…
..To try and stop the loneliness that was already lying in wait..
Three days turned into hours… and the hours became seconds… And before anyone knew it… the day arrived… unwelcomed and loathed.
It was cloudy the day Kino and Anna left. Not to mention the ever-thickening fogs that accompanied it. Nothing could be seen further then a few meters. From the window of the main house, dust-like clouds covered the main gate and everything beyond that.
Tamao hugged the blonde tightly. "I'll miss you, Anna-sama. Please be careful."
Anna made a small smile and gave her a squeeze of reassurance, "Don't worry. I will."
Mikihisa scratched his head, "Are you sure you want to leave when you can't even see your hands in front of you?"
"Hah! Don't think for a second that fog will keep us both here. I've made it through much worse conditions," Kino retorted. "Besides you're exaggerating…"
"Alright, if you're sure then…" Keiko bowed, "Have a safe journey, okaa-san."
"Thank you. Take care of everyone while I'm away."
"I will."
The traveling duo headed down from the porch and turned back. "Well then," the elder itako started. "Yohmei… make sure that Yoh doesn't slack off from his training."
The boy chuckled, "I'll work hard…! I promise."
"Hmmf."
Yoh rushed ahead with a big grin on his face. When the distance between them became too close for her comfort, Anna took a few steps back. She gulped as the boy continued to close in on her. He wrapped his arms around Anna and pulled her towards him, hugging her firmly. "I'll be waiting for you… Anna."
The girl stood still – shock stiffening every part of her body.
"I'll miss you…"
"..Yoh.." She couldn't resist the smile that crept on her face. She returned the embrace, absorbing the warmth from his body.
Reluctantly releasing her, Yoh flashed a smile, "The next time we meet… you're going to become really strong! That's why… you shouldn't worry so much."
Anna nodded, wishing she could somehow pry off the invisible hand that had grasped her throat. Kino's hand touched her shoulder and she knew she couldn't delay it any longer.
"I'll… miss you too… I'll miss everyone here." She took his hand and looked straight into his eyes, "Thank you… again.. for everything."
Yoh grinned as he gave her hand a squeeze, "Be careful."
Their hands dropped to their sides, suddenly becoming lifeless without each other's touch. Kino turned away and began to head off into the fog. Anna followed immediately, not wanting to prolong yet another painful experience.
The dark-haired boy waved vigorously, hoping to see the face of the blond-haired girl once more… even though he knew his request was impossible… for then he'd want to see it once again afterwards.. and then again after that.
He watched her figure walking on… fading… fading… until she was finally consumed by the dark gloomy gray cloud that would separate them for what would seem like eternity.
-(TBC)-
Ending Notes:
(1) – If I recall, natto is fermented soybeans that are highly nutritious and highly sticky :P Think a gluey edible.. paste.
(2) – Sou ka means "I see" in this context.
Anything flaws you found in this fic are probably due to my laziness in proofreading it again. In addition to that, any inconsistencies that you may find are solely due to the fact that even I, myself.. cannot recall what I've written in the past.. so.. deepest apologies to that as well.
Again.. sorry it took so long to finish… I'll try to write the next one sooner.
Comments/Concerns/ Flames/Questions/Criticism can all be directed to me through e-mail or by review.