Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King, etc, etc…

a/n: Hey this is my first SK fic, please review, I don't care if they're bad…

Chapter 1: Memories

"I'm sorry Anna."

Anna looked at him almost dumbfounded.

"…it's just that you've been gone for five years, I don't know if…"

Yoh's voice trailed off and he looked around uncomfortably.

A few seconds trailed went by before Anna finally spoke.

"I don't really understand what you're saying Yoh…"

Yoh took his eyes from the ground, "There are just some things in my life that…"

"You mean her."

Another moment of silence.

"Well, yeah. And she has a name, you know."

Anna nodded, " I know, Utsumi, isn't it?"

Yoh inclined his head in assent but said nothing.

Anna turned her head away and bit her lip. She stole a glance at Yoh. He wasn't looking at her, his eyes at ground once again.

Tiny droplets began to touch Anna's skin but she didn't move.

Neither did Yoh.

With difficulty, Anna cleared her throat, which made Yoh look up.

"Well then, I suppose I don't have much to go on here…" Anna tried to keep her voice at the same cold level. It was hard, but she was succeeding.

"I guess I'll go then."

Yoh took a little step backward, startled.

"Go? What do you mean by go?"

Anna looked at him strangely, as if what she was saying was so obvious, she didn't have to had to explain it.

"You can't…I mean, you could stay with us, you know. You don't have to leave." Yoh said, almost pleadingly.

"Come on, Anna. You've already been gone for five years. Why don't you just stay with us?"

Anna didn't look at him, she just looked at the path before her, sodding wet from the rain.

"Thanks, but I have…other things to do." she said. Even to her own ears that sounded as lame as it can be.

"Then why did you return in the first place?"

The itako didn't answer, she just turned her back on him and began to walk away.

And the Shaman King watched her silently.

Not moving.

In the rain.