Phoenix in the Dark

I just started watching Shaman King and I think it is a super anime! I think Anna is a very complex character so this fic is mostly about her and is dedicated to my friends Lina and Olga who are back in Singapore. Now I will try to make this a multi-chapter fic so to keep me going read and review (heehee ;) )

Emerald: Unfortunately since my assistant Kaiba is not available for this story having to go to help the gang save the world again, I will have to ask Rio to do the disclaimer.

Rio: EmeraldWolfChild does not own Shaman King except for the plot of the story she came up with in the shower while…

Emerald: Ok Rio, too much info. Hee hee. Please read and review.

Note: In this fanfic I'm using the English names. And the Asakura residence is the house they show on in the anime whatever it is.

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" Yoh. You better have finished the 200 push ups and sit ups I asked you to do or else a 10km run should refresh your memory." Anna's voice echoed through the house.

It was a bright and sunny day though the breeze was crisp and all around the Asakura residence the trees were putting on their colourful garments. The ground was covered in red, orange and gold maple leaves and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Yoh Asakura was lying on the ground enjoying the peace and quiet with his best friend Morty when suddenly Anna's silhouette loomed over them causing Yoh to raise his eyes lazily and said with her usual disapproving tone " If anybody's interested it is time for dinner. Oh and Morty, it is your turn to do the dishes." With that she returned to the house, frowning slightly.

"Not again. Don't you think Anna should treat you better since you won the Shaman tournament?" Morty's inquisitive tone penetrated the stillness.

"Aw don't sweat it Morty. C'mon before Anna eats all the food and we are stuck with making dinner again." Yoh stood up and stretched, breathing in the autum air when Amidamaru, the boy's Guardian Ghost, appeared next to him. "Yoh, I think you should be more careful. Someone might take the opportunity of trying to hurt you before the actual tournament begins."

"Tournament? Amidamaru what are you talking about?" A puzzled look passed over Yoh's face and Amidamaru saw that the boy knew nothing of the plan. "Didn't Anna tell you about it? Oh then…I think I should go…" And with that the spirit disappeared leaving a very confused shaman. Yoh made his way inside the house and saw that Anna was not alone in the room.

"Hey Len, bud , didn't expect to see you so soon." Two amber eyes flickered on Yoh before his vision was obstructed by what seemed like a blue snowball." Yoh! Man! Am I glad to see ya! Anna started giving Len some more techniques on how to torture me!." Anna gave the Northerner with such an icy stare that would make the South Pole seem warm. "Or maybe that was something to do with training. He he. I'll keep quiet now."

"Anna why is everyone here? What tournament was Amidamaru talking about?" Yoh slowly sat down opposite his fiancée, picked up a bowl of noodles and then cast a glance around the room. "Ah yes Anna why did you ask as to us to come. You see I have a very important project I must complete and I don't have time for any nonsense." Trey also nodded. "Ya, why do you need us for?" With a grim nod as though confirming something, she began.

"After every Shaman Tournament every 500 years there is another. The Fire tournament is made only for the six strongest shaman in the world. Here are those people who are participating: Yoh, Len, Trey, Rio, Lyserg and… Zeke." A shocked silence followed this statement until Anna continued. "Even though Yoh has defeated Zeke, he is still one of the most powerful shaman in the world. Some mediums even say this tournament is even more important than the Shaman one."

A chorus of exclamations rose from the room. Anna continued "You see the winner of this tournament gets one wish, anything that his heart desires . He also gets…" Anna shook her head and continued. "He could even wish to be the Shaman King. If this wish is granted he gets all the powers for one day and can reek havoc on the world that would be irreversible. The first part of the tournament takes place in the arena near the forest tomorrow. So all of you, be ready. Rio has already contacted me and Lyserg sent a letter that he would be here and I'm sure that Zeke will not miss an opportunity like this."

Anna went out of the room with a forbidding frown on her facial features, which was really uncharacteristic for even her that made Yoh worried. Why was Anna so scared? He had defeated Zeke once. He was sure he could defeat him again.

Meanwhile inside her room Anna was sitting quietly on her bed fixing her trademark bandana-turned-scarf on her neck. Walking softly down the hallway she paused briefly by the illuminated room, hiding in the shadows. Trey was trying to strangle Len for some reason or other. Morty and Yoh were discussing the latest shaman techniques and Amidamaru and Bason were talking of the good old days, mainly who battled who and where to find the best bison meat.

A small smile played on her lips, a rare occurrence that only a few people have seen. If you would have looked at her a moment later you would have thought it was something wrong with your eyes for there was not a trace of the smile but only an empty lonely look. She then betook herself outside slipping out like someone on wings. But this did not go unnoticed to one particular person inside the room.

Why had her destiny been turned into a curse? It wasn't supposed to happen. How is it the maple amulet disappeared right before the tournament? Wasn't the other medium the final choice? With these thoughts she walked slowly around the house to the old maple tree where the worn swing hung. The swing creaked slightly as the wind blew making the night even more ghostly feeling. She down on the swing and started gently rocking herself to and fro, the rhythm in her movements unconsciously dispersing the troubling thoughts and bringing back an old memory.

------Flashback------

Six year-old Anna looked at the clock, sighing. Her best friend was supposed to be home in 5 minutes from some 'training' Grandpa took to him everyday since his last birthday. She really wished she could go with him but she had her own 'ghost' lessons everyday with grandma and her magic beads.

"Anna, Anna! I'm home!" A six year old Yoh dashed into the room, knocking over the giggling girl in a big hug . "Come on! You wanna go and play on the swing?"

The two kids ran out laughing all the way. "You wanna go first Anna? Come on, I'll push you." Higher and higher the swing went until suddenly in a flash of a second Anna was sprawled at the bottom of the tree. "Ow,ow,ow! I hurt my finger! Ow." A worried looking Yoh ran up behind her and glanced at the finger. "Anna needs a kiss to make it all better." He took her small hand and in to his own and gave it a small peck followed by a hug. " Now you gotta catch me." He whispered in her ear before taking of across the yard.

-----End Flashback----

Anna softly smiled and lifted her hand but then her eyes clouded over. By her mothers standards she was weak with emotions and so in the first years of school she was weaned off of any social contact and soon became as cold as a blizzard to everyone who came across her path. Only when it was too overwhelming did she let her guard slip from her grasp. When her mother died she let out a proclamation that Anna and Yoh were engaged and that her daughter must become the Shaman Queen. So she spared no mercy in training Yoh for the tournament and when he died…

Suddenly she felt two strong warm hands pushing her. Not receiving any objection the person continued. Higher and higher the swing went until she suddenly jumped off and turned to face the person responsible. As she had predicted it was none other than Yoh. She crossed her arms, her usual expression of distaste once again on her face and as she was about to speak, the young shaman interrupted her.

"You know Anna, you shouldn't worry so much. Everything's gonna be fine and besides worrying about something you can't control is pointless."

" I can control that you are going to do 20 laps tomorrow before sunrise and I suggest you don't try to cheer me up." With that she turned around, heading back to the house and leaving a confused Yoh behind.

"What is wrong with her? I was only trying…" Leaving his sentence hanging he followed the retreating figure of Anna thoughts racing around in his head.

But both of them could not sense the presence near them. A pair of onyx eyes was looking at them from the tree right above. "Soon you shall be mine." It whispered at the space where the icy blonde had sat.

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Here we go for the first chapter. Ya, I know it's a bit stiff but as the story goes on there will be more info and descriptions but for now this is all I can give. So I hope you still enjoyed the first chapter and I would really appreciate if you can review. Next chapter coming soon. See ya soon!

-EmeraldWolfChild