Hi everyone. Just stopping by to say...

I don't own any of the characters the show Shaman King itself. Also, I do not own the movie 13 Ghosts and I barely own the characters I made up for the purpose of this story. I hope you all enjoy it. Please regard me kindly.

The Blood Drawing Arc

Chapter One: Lantern House

It had been years since we had a house. Anna gazed at the sprawling fields of spearmint. She had never been to Hokkaido before and she was taking in as much of its beauty as she could on the long ride to her family's new home. They all rode packed tightly together in a rented SUV. Ryu was driving, Anna had the front seat, Yoh, Tammy, Hana, and Morty had the middle row, and Trey, Len, and Lyserg were squished in the tiny third row amongst the bags. It was no different than back at their apartment in Tokyo though-- there was hardly enough space for Hana to play, for Anna to lounge, or for Yoh's records. Needless to say, it wasn't the kind of place that could accommodate a large group of friends so for a good while, the group wasn't able to get together as often as they used to. It was a nice apartment―not perfect but okay. To help pay for the rent, Anna had taken up a desk job in a small boring office. She wasn't even sure what the office was all about; all she did was file, copy, print, and deliver. Anna often found herself sighing and muttering something along the lines of 'it could be worse' as she pecked away at the keyboard looking for live streams of soap operas. Yoh had taken on job as a store hand in an upscale shop that sold organic foods and fancy, fresh baked breads. He moved boxes, stocked shelves, and manned the sample counter every once in a while (although he was often scolded for tasting too much). Tamara still took care of the house and baby sat Hana when he came home from school. She worked hard to be sure a warm meal of whatever they could afford was on the table. Despite cramped quarters, being low on food, loud neighbors, and not having enough time to watch soaps, Yoh did a good job remaining confident constantly saying he knew things would get better. 'He was right' Anna thought peeking at Yoh from the rear view mirror.

Two days ago Yoh had gotten a call from Hao's personal assistant Opacho; apparently Hao had died of illness and was leaving his 'beloved' brother his home. Anna didn't really know what to think of the idea at all―she didn't know Hao and couldn't shake the feeling of suspicion but at the same time, Opacho had mentioned it being a large home with a quiet, lush bit of land surrounding it and Anna admitted she wouldn't mind that. Yoh had assured Anna that the house would be just what they need to bring happiness back into their lives. You see ever since the house had burned down back in Funbari Hill and Yoh, Anna, their son Hana, and Tamara had all been staying in the small apartment previously mentioned things had indeed become a bit more dreary. Even after two months, the small family hadn't been able to make their apartment a home. That being the case, the new (free!) home was a blessing anyway you sliced it.

"This is great huh Anna?" Yoh called to Anna who sat in the front seat. He was cheerful, his carefree smile stretching across his face. It had been so long since Anna had seen it. Yoh was having a hard time adjusting to the hard and cold city life and hadn't been smiling much since. The scenery to their new home was nothing but nature and small homely houses all spaced apart―the polar opposite of city life. "Wha? Oh yeah…sure." Even though Anna was slowly becoming all the more uncomfortable as they traveled mile after mile, she bit her tongue...Yoh and Hana were happy and so, she supposed, she was happy as well.

"The house is called the Spirit of Fire in Hokkaido--it glows with light in the deep forest. Opacho loves the house and so did Master Hao. Yoh will like it too." The words still rang in Anna's ears from Opacho's fax which included directions to the house, and a small map of the 'town' closest to the house. She didn't trust Opacho―just another stranger. She refused to say anything about Hao personally other than saying that he was wealthy, kind, and resembled his brother. Anna was curious about this Hao, just who was he? He thoughts were disturbed when Len and Horo Horo tussled with each other for the millionth time in the third row. Their outbursts were enough to keep the trip lively. Yoh had invited Len, Jun, Horo Horo, Pilika, Ryu, Lyserg, and Morty to come along and stay with them. "It'll be just like old times!" Yoh had explained once. Minus Faust and Chocoai, every one of Yoh's old friends would be coming along and staying with him again. His grin never left his face.

As Yoh, Horo Horo, Len, Ryu, and Morty bantered happily in the car Tamara was excited to be going to a new place and seemed alright by the idea of having to take care of a mansion and Hana. She seemed satisfied with anything as long as she could help Yoh―she was a hard worker. Hana had been sleeping off and on in the car ride and he was in his longest run of sleep until he stirred when the SUV stopped at a dirt road.

Ryu turned back to Yoh who was totally at ease (as always). "Is this the right way?" Yoh looked sure. "Yeah. That or the road to a crazy ax wielding maniac." He mocked the 'dun-uh, dun-uh, dun-uh from cliché horror flicks and made a stabbing motion with his hand. Anna, Morty, a Tamara stared incredulously at Yoh who brushed it all off and laughed. "But it's definitely the house!" Anna was looking disapprovingly at her husband and son who joined in laughter at the joke. Anna didn't think it was funny.

"Its way out here isn't it?" Morty looked outside the windows into the dark forest. "I don't know, I kinda like the set up." Yoh was ever optimistic. Even as the once clear day turned to a black and almost moonless night, Yoh's smile never faded. Anna, however, was still at unrest―she fidgeted in the front seat.

Soon the car came to a complete stop in the grassy plain that probably stood as a front yard of sorts. "Whoa what a yard!" Hana was first to bound out of the car from Tammy's lap. Tamara got out and followed after him as he ran around into the tall grass. Horo Horo, Ryu, Lyserg, and Morty gawked at the wide spread of land as they got out and stretched. Yoh went to help an absent mined Anna out of the front seat. He looked into her eyes lovingly. "What's wrong Anna?" She was clearly upset, biting her bottom lip. "Nothing I just feel…uneasy." Yoh was understanding and wrapped his arm around Anna's shoulder pulling her close. "It's okay Anna, you'll get used to it. You'll see." Anna felt a twinge of pain in her chest as she thought of how unfair it was that her mood was bringing her Yoh down. So, she picked herself up a little and glared. "Whatever." She looked a little agitated. Yoh cracked a smile---his Anna had returned for the moment.

At the door step stood Opacho. She was a small girl and she wore a clean, well pressed white blouse and skirt. "Welcome to the Spirit of Fire." She gestured to the towering house that glowed in the night like a lantern. The outer walls were translucent like paper and light illuminated from them. "Wow guys this is great! Yeah!" Hana suddenly bolted past Yoh and Anna and up to the large glass doors coming to an abrupt halt in front of Opacho grinning sheepishly. "HANA COME BACK!" Tamara followed in pursuit as she had when she followed him into the grass. After catching her breath, she apologized to Opacho who frowned with distaste,

After a second or two, Opacho then stared at Yoh and Anna. "Take care of Master Hao's home, it was his pride." Opacho then turned her back to Hana and Tammy, slipped a quill pen from her hair and pressed the sharp tip to her finger. A single drop of warm blood pooled at the small wound and Opacho quickly wiped the blood onto the walls. Without anyone but Opacho noticing, the blood soaked into the paper like walls with unnatural quickness. "You'll have to excuse this door's lock," Opacho said looking over her shoulder. "It can be a little temperamental." The thick glass doors then slid into ground revealing a normal house door and Opacho smiled warmly. "Welcome Home."

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