It was a cool Friday afternoon at the Asakura household, but one would think it was the coldest day in the world. At least that is what poor Yoh Asakura thought. There Yoh sat cross-legged on a mat staring at his presumed dead brother Hao. It had been only about four months since the battle for the Shaman King title and Hao had stayed pretty much the same.

He still held a confident smirk and his trademark long hair and earrings. In his poncho's steed, he wore a black tee-shirt that had flame designs on it. No surprise with that. He did keep his baggy pants though. The only thing different was the black color that adorned them.

However, that was not the source for the chill Yoh felt nor was the long dead friend floating behind him. It was Anna Kyoyama, his fiancée. His very angry fiancée. Her glare was unrelenting and most might have run out of the door for fear of death or frost bite. Whichever came first.

Not his brother though. He sat smiling like he had just won a million dollar prize. Yoh looked back at Anna. She had changed very little. Her golden blond hair was maybe just an inch longer. She had brown eyes that had just the slightest hint of a golden hue to them and, of course, she was wearing her black dress that stopped about two inches from her knees. Her blood red scarf was lying next to the television.

Yoh looked down at Anna's hands. They were gripping her blue beads so hard that her knuckles were white. She still had the small beads around her wrist. He had always wondered where she had gotten them. Most likely from his grandmother.

"Why?"

Yoh jumped in surprise at Anna's cold voice. She was calm, but he could tell she was as confused as he was. Yoh looked at Hao and saw him give Anna a smirk.

"Anna… come on. Is that how you treat a guest? A future relative no less."

Hao was grinning hugely at that little comment. Yoh looked back to Anna and saw the same icy glare as before.

"It is when the guest tried to kill every non shaman in the world and tried to do the same to his own brother."

Hao laughed lightly at this. He was expecting such a reaction from Anna. After all, she was very intelligent. Almost like himself. Just… not as good, of course. He glanced at Yoh, his twin. Yoh still looked the same way he did the day he beat the most powerful shaman. The most powerful shaman being himself, Hao Asakura.

Yoh still wore the white open shirt with the green pants. The bear claw necklace was still there too. So was the orange headphones that Yoh seemed to adore. Hao looked at the ghost behind Yoh. Amidamaru was his name. He was a samurai in the days of the Muromachi era.

Being a ghost, Amidamaru didn't change from his long white hair or the white robe with the red and black colored shoulder pad-like things he wore. Since he is a samurai, he of course had two swords that hung at his hips. Hao glanced back at Anna. His eyes had only wandered for about a second, but Anna's glare suggested he was looking around longer.

"I wish to live here."

Yoh and Amidamaru's eyes just about popped out of their heads at this sudden statement. Anna also seemed to exchange her angry look for surprised, but she wasn't one to show something like shock, not for long anyway.

"Do you honestly think that we'll trust you enough to let you live in our house?!"

Hao sighed at Anna's question. He saw that coming too.

"If I didn't think you'd let me live here… why do you think I'd come to ask?"

Anna's glare became even scarier in Yoh's point of view. Amidamaru leaned his head to the right in a questioning manner.

"You haven't told us why you want to live here Hao. How are we supposed to know that you aren't moving in just to kill Yoh?"

Hao smirked at Amidamaru and looked back at Anna. She raised an eyebrow, which meant she wanted to know the same thing that Amidamaru did. Hao shrugged.

"Do I really need a reason? I just need a place to stay and as my brother pointed out, I don't have any friends. So I thought; why not stay with my loving brother and his beautiful fiancée?"

Anna crossed her arms over her chest, her hand still gripping her beads.

"So why should we trust you?"

Hao sighed and ran a hand though his long hair.

"Because, I was defeated Anna, my chance to take over the world is gone for now. Why would I make a fuss now? Besides, I need time to think over… what I'm going to do with myself. I promise I will behave and I won't burn anything down that is off limits."

Anna said nothing; she was busy staring at Hao and thinking. Yoh scratched the back of his neck as he thought it over. Hao looked over at Yoh and their eyes locked for a second. Hao frowned for about the same amount of time and then looked back at Anna ready for whatever she might say.

Yoh said, "Ok. You can stay."

Hao's eyes widened as he, Amidamaru and Anna looked at Yoh.

"What?! Are you nuts Yoh!?"

Anna glared at Yoh. Her words were sharp and angry. Why was Yoh so damn stupid? Yoh grinned at Anna. He was hoping that he would not regret this.

"I think he's telling the truth Anna and he is my brother. You know if he tries anything funny, I can stop him! I will even increase my training just so you know I can!"

Now that was a huge shock. Yoh? Saying he would increase his own training? Anna frowned for a second and glanced at Hao. He had a small smile on his lips. Anna looked back at Yoh.

"… Fine. If you really think he's telling the truth, he may stay."

Yoh pumped his fist in the air happy that he had gotten his brother in, but then Anna started talking once more.

"However! He has to promise he'll not set anything on fire and not to try anything I deem questionable. He must also listen to me and do what I say. If he doesn't, he's out. Also if you don't double your training and keep it that way until I say otherwise, he will be out and you will be severely punished. Understand?"

Yoh looked horrified. Double his training? Severely punished?! Oh God. Yoh looked at Hao and then back to Anna. He sighed seeing no other way and nodded.

"Yeah, Anna. I understand."

Hao smirked at his brother and nodded as well.

"I understand as well Anna. I promise to keep my hazardous pyromaniac self under control."

Anna stood up and glared down darkly at Hao.

"I'll be watching you Hao. I will know if you try anything."

With that, Anna walked over to the television and turned it on. She sighed at Yoh's stupidity and sat down. Her favorite soaps were coming on and she wouldn't miss them because of Hao of all people. Yoh grinned at Anna and looked at Hao. It might be fun having Hao here.

"Alright Hao. Let me show you to your room!"

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~{A Few Months Later}~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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All was quiet. No one was awake on this cool March day. It was just turning to Thursday. All were peacefully asleep in their little beds. Hao, Yoh and even little Manta, who had come to spend the night. Yes, they were all enjoying their slumber. All except one who wasn't mentioned. Anna. Her restless body tossed and turned as her hands gripped the sheet that was draped over her.

One could guess why. She was being plagued by the horrid things that mess with our heads at night. Things that give all, at least once, a hard time. Anna Kyoyama, was being assaulted with a nightmare. A bad one as far as one could tell.

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~{Anna's Dream}~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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A young girl looked down at the cold wooden floor. She was no more than six. Her face was hidden behind long golden hair. Someone scoffed at the girl rudely and the mere sound made the girl look up.

"Anna, tell me why you didn't do as I said."

Anna frowned lightly while she mulled over her thoughts. What should she say? She couldn't tell the truth. Or else…

"It was… an accident. I made a mistake. I'll make it better."

Anna looked up but couldn't see the person she was talking to, but she knew all too well who it was... However, while Anna couldn't see the person, she could see the whip that dangled from the person's hand. The said person was looking over Anna from the black chair the person was sitting in. Anna wore small brown baggy pants with a green tee shirt and her little blue bandana tied around her waist.

"Tell me what you did wrong."

Anna sighed, knowing what was coming.

"I… I think I put in five potatoes instead of six… and a bit more salt then you are used to…"

A deep throated growl was heard. Anna looked up at the person sensing the anger that was radiating around the room.

"You will make the food again. It is already ten minutes past dinner. If you mess up again, I'm sure you know how… unhappy I'll be."

The person shifted in the seat. Anna nodded as she felt a heated glare upon her. With a grunt, the person threw the plate containing said food out into the hallway.

"Be sure to clean that up Anna."

Anna nodded and turned to leave the room when she felt a sharp sting on her back. She had been struck with the whip. Anna fell to her knees in shock and pain. Anna bit her lip and stood back up and brushed herself off.

"Anna. Make sure it's good."

Anna nodded and continued to make her way out of the room, ignoring the feeling of a small trickle of blood running down her back.

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~~~~~~~~~~~{Anna's Reality}~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Anna's heavy eyes opened to see darkness. One of her eye brows rose in question. It was still dark? No, if was still night, she wouldn't hear Yoh in her room. Wait… why was Yoh in her room?! She stayed still not wanting to get up. She got even more confused when she heard Horohoro talking in panic.

"Dude!! She's dead!! I-I don't know what happened!"

Yoh sighed and looked at his spiky blue haired friend and scratched the back of his own head. It was a habit really. Yoh looked at his friend. Horohoro was his name. He was still wearing his blue Yutaka from bed. He also had on black and blue boxers and his blue head band. Meanwhile Anna was smirking under the covers. How funny that Horo thought she was dead. She was breathing after all. Didn't he think to look?

"Horo… she can't be dead. She's breathing."

A short person walked in at this point smirking widely. He had decided to come in and make sure Horo hadn't gotten Yoh into trouble with Anna.

"I agree with Yoh. If someone is dead, they shouldn't be breathing."

Horohoro let out a loud groan and gripped at his hair. He looked down at the little guy and saw he was fully dressed.

"Oh what do you know Manta?! You aren't a doctor!"

Manta rolled his eyes at this remark.

"Yes that's true, but you aren't one either, judging by you freaking out and saying Anna's dead when she is clearly breathing. Anyway, if something happened, I'm sure Yoh would have known before you."

Yoh laughed lightly and looked down at Manta. Manta had changed a bit from the shaman fight. Mentally, not physically that is. He rarely jumps in fright when a ghost just happens to appear beside him. Ones he knows anyway. His knowledge has increased about ghosts and he always tries to get any book on mythology, lore, and ghost research he can find. Sadly, they don't make as many as they used to. Not really informative ones anyway. Most of them are made for children.

Physically Manta remained the same. He changed his pant color from black to a burnt brown color and his tie was the same color as the pants now. His shirt was still white with a pocket on the left side.

"Yeah, Manta is right. No worries Horo, everything will be ok. I'm sure Anna's just tired."

Horohoro threw his hands up in the air all the while glaring at Yoh.

"You don't get it! I've yelled and stomped on the floor as loud as could. I even got Ryu to come in here and sing. The only thing that did was make my ears bleed and she still hasn't woken up!! I'm telling you she's dead or in a coma!"

Manta sighed. Horohoro was driving him nuts. Also, every second they stood here, Anna was coming closer and closer to waking up. Something he didn't want to be here for, since Anna is known for brutal slaps.

"Horo Horo. Do you really think that we would stand around doing nothing if Anna was hurt?"

Horohoro for a second looked doubtful of Anna really being dead. He brought his hand to his chin and closed his eyes and made a corny 'hmm' sound. Yoh and Manta sweat dropped at this and Yoh just hoped that Horohoro would agree with Manta. Horohoro suddenly looked up and walked out of the door.

"I'll be right back!"

Yoh and Manta looked at each other nervously. What was Horohoro doing?

"I hope he isn't doing anything that he'll get in trouble for."

Yoh laughed lightly as not to wake Anna. Meanwhile, Anna still was unmoving. She was tired more so than usual and couldn't shake the feeling of something bad happening later today. However, if she stayed in bed all day, she would miss school. That was unacceptable.

Anna glared at the blanket. She'd get up…. just not now. She could get away with a few more minutes. She hoped anyway.

"Besides, I'm sure one of the ghosts would wake me up before I was late."

That was her last thought as she fell asleep once more. Yoh shrugged as he looked down at Manta. Knowing Horohoro, he'd try to do something stupid.

"I guess I should make breakfast for when Anna wakes up."

Manta looked up at Yoh and nodded. He was still remembering the last time Anna had woken up when there was no breakfast. She made Yoh wake up an hour earlier to get ready to make breakfast for a week. That meant four in the morning wake up times. Not fun.

"Yeah, ok Yoh. I'll help."

Being careful, they quietly slipped out of Anna's room and out into the hallway of the second floor. As they made their way downstairs, Horohoro was stomping up the stairs. Yoh and Manta moved out of their friend's way as he ascended the stairway with a bucket full of… something.

"Hey, Yoh… what was in that bucket?"

Yoh scratched the back of his head for a second with a confused look on his face.

"Well… I thought it was water, but I have no idea what he'd do with a bucket full of water."

Manta's eyes shot open in fear. Horohoro wouldn't... surely he wasn't that stupid? Manta looked up at Yoh and saw that Yoh's eyes reflected the same fear as his did. When they heard a loud splash, they knew that their worst fear has been realized.

"DAMN YOU HOROHORO!!!!!"

Loud thumps were heard as Yoh and Manta jumped back against the wall to allow a panicking and screaming Horohoro down the stairs.

"SHE'S ALLLLLIIIIVVVEEEE!!!!"

They sweat dropped at Horo Horo's scream. They froze in fear when a very wet and very angry Anna zoomed downstairs in her Yutaka with her beads in hand.

"We better hurry and save Horohoro from becoming a guardian ghost."

Yoh chuckled as he started walking downstairs trying not to fall on the slippery stairs. Thanks to Anna they were covered in water from head to toe which left Yoh wondering how she got downstairs without killing herself.

"When we get downstairs, make sure you call Faust ok?"

Manta laughed lightly knowing that Horohoro would need him after Anna was done with him.

"Yeah, I will. I just hope we don't get caught in the middle…"

Yoh and Manta looked at each other and gulped nervously and headed downstairs hoping to be able to go to school in one piece.

~~~~~~~~{End Chapter}~~~~~~~~

Metal: "Whew. That was hard!"

Anna: "It was harder to look at than to do, I assure you."

Metal (Glares): "Thank you Anna. That makes me feel so good. Anyways, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it."