Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King. Hiroyuki-sama does.


Chapter 1


The sky was dark, the rain continuous to drop heavily. The weather was lonely as if it sympathizing the events happening in the forest where you could hear the clang 'or of swords. Suddenly, a loud scream from a girl startled the whole forest.

"Release her," a powerful voice commanded.

"No way! If I do that you're going to kill me for sure," a tall, slim man said as he looked down on his companions who were lying on the ground. He was wearing a tattered green shirt and baggy pants. His black hair was tied in a high pony tail and he has pointed bread.

"I won't, if you don't hurt her," answered of an orange-haired young man whose wearing simple clothes.

"Liar! You people who have power and authority always tell lies to simple people like me. You can't fool me," said the man who was known as notorious bandit in their place. His grasp on the blonde girl's hands tightened and also on the knife he was holding which blade was pointed on the blonde's neck. "All I want now is to go home and see if my family is fine. I just want to be with my family," he added as he started to sob.

The young man who looks like a simple villager looked at the blonde girl and saw in her dark orbs that she was scared and in pain. Sighing inwardly he shifted his crimson eyes gaze on the bandit. He knew he will regret the thing he will do but he don't have a choice.

"Fine, just release her and I promise you will see your family safe and sound. As a proof," the young man threw his sword on the ground, "I don't have any intention to kill you neither to fight you. And believe me, as a prince, I keep my words."

The young man then walked towards them. As the bandit saw this, he smiled evilly and pushed the girl behind forcefully. "I don't believe in anyone," the bandit shouted as he ran towards the prince and stabbed the knife in the young man's abdomen. "And you must not believe in the words of a bandit beloved prince. I don't have family."

The prince knew it will happen. That the bandit will attack him once he lowered his guard. But he forgot about this, or rather didn't care anymore as his attention was already on the blonde who was slowly stepping backwards towards the edge of a cliff. The force came from the bandit's push made her uncontrolled her steps.

"ANNA!" he shouted and hardly pushed the bandit away from him. He pulled out the knife from his abdomen and quickly ran towards the girl. He didn't care about the blood pouring from his stomach. He didn't even felt the pain. The only thing in his mind was to save the girl he loves that was now going to fall in the ravine. He did his best to get her and when he finally reached her hands, he threw her back to the ground with all the remaining power he had, which resulted for them to change their positions.

The blonde landed on the ground hardly and when she looked up she didn't saw the prince anymore. She moved towards the edge of the cliff and saw below a flush of water came from the wild river.

"N-no… ASHLEE!"

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Anna jolted from her sleep. Her breathing and heartbeat were fast. She tried to calm herself. But she knew it will take time before she finally recovered.

"AshLee…" she whispered as she looked on the ring with ruby stone on her left hand. She tried to fight back the tears threatening to escape from her eyes but she lost as they flow freely on her rosy cheeks. She embraced her legs over her chest and hid her face on her knees. She knew, whatever she do, it can't help her to stop the tears and the pain she felt. Thinking of him made her sad. Remembering the days when he was there spending time with her made her cry. And that dream, no… it was a nightmare, a real nightmare that hunted not only her dreams but also every second of her life, the nightmare that reminded her what happened that tragic day, it made her heart broken.

Anna had been in that position for few minutes. You could think that she fell asleep again as you can't hear anything from her. But she was still crying. She just taught herself to cry silently as she didn't want anyone to hear her. She cries because she wished the tears subsides the pain she felt. But it didn't, the pain was still there, never leaving her heart.

"Lady Anna?" a voice came from the door followed by soft knocks made her back to reality. She quickly wiped her tears away and straightened herself on her bed.

"Come in," she commanded in a toneless voice. From the door emerged a girl in the same age as her and wearing a tribal robe.

"How's your sleep, Lady Anna?" her personal servant asked her.

"Fine Rutherfor," she lied. She noticed that her servant, which she also treated as a friend, looking at her disbelievingly. "Aren't you believing me?" she asked in a cold voice.

"N-no… I'm sorry my lady," Rutherfor said as he lowered her head. "It's just I heard you… shouted the prince's name again."

Anna's face turned from scowl to a calm one. She knew she was just worried at her. "Don't worry, I'm… fine."

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"Ahh… This is life," a young brunet said as he plopped down himself on the grassy land beneath him. He put his arms under his shoulder length brown hair. His chocolate brown irises gazed the surrounding around him. He admired the greenish of the grass, the lovely flowers beneath the small hill where he was, the Sakura Tree which shed him, the cool wind which played with the leaves and everything it touched, the chirps of birds that like music on his ears, and the sky which partly shaded by dancing clouds. He admitted he really loves this place and thankful that he found this secret paradise. This is really what he wants, a solemn place where he can rest peacefully without someone bothering him. He felt his eyelids became heavier as he watched the clouds transformed from one shape to another. Slowly, his eyes closed and he drifted in a deep slumber.

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Far from the forest and inside a beautiful castle, there was a youth who was enjoying himself in reading books. He was wearing an elegant robe and sitting inside a luxurious room. In his front was a silver tea table where a teapot and a cup placed. His long dark brown locks flew as the wind entered his room from the open window. His chocolate brown eyes were scanning the small book he was holding. A soft knock from the door disturbed the silence enveloping inside his room.

"Come in," he said as he leaned on the soft couch.

"Beloved prince, the Highness wanted to see you," a young man with dark hair and wearing a tribal robe said as he entered the room.

"Tell father I'm coming, Nichrome," the prince said and smiled to his trusted servant.

"As you wish, Prince Hao."

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"I'm here," a stern voice said coming from the adolescent guy who entered the room. His face showed no emotion at all. The truth, he didn't want to be here in this big, dark room. He didn't want to see him. He despised being here.

"Finally," said of a powerful voice came from a big man, he was looking outside the window and his back facing the small guy. "You already knew why I called you, right?"

The adolescent's brows wrinkled. Hearing only his voice made the spike of his hair grow. His golden eyes were looking deeply on the man's back. If looks can kill, the man was already dead. "I do," he answered simply.

"Very well, at least I don't have to elaborate things on you." The man then faced his son. "Make sure you will make the Taos proud, Ren."

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"Brother, how long it will take for you to come here?" an annoyed girl asked, patting her right foot, crossed arms on her chest, a frown on her beautiful face. She had been waiting for her brother for about half hour. "If you don't come here now, I'm going to leave you."

"I'm coming… I'm coming…" a bluenet shouted as he run towards the door. "Pirika, I haven't even eaten my breakfast."

"It's your fault Horo-nii-chan. I already awakened you earlier but you decided to fall asleep again," the blue-haired girl said with scowl and began to walk. The older only sighed as he knew he was not going to win against her. Pushing a cart full of many objects he followed his sister's pace.

The walk was too long and too painful for him as his stomach didn't stop growling and his sister didn't stop blaming him for they're being late. Suddenly her sister became quiet. Curious on what thing made her sister stopped from her speech he looked at her. He noticed that she was looking at the beautiful carriage passing by at their front. The young girl's gaze followed the wheeled object pulling by horse until it was gone from their sight. He then noticed the sadness on his sister's eyes.

"Pirika… are you okay?" he asked her.

The girl in question jolted a bit as she realized that she was thinking too deep again and came back to her senses as her brother called her. "O-of course I am. Let's go. Manta must be tired of waiting of us."

Horohoro looked at her sister's retreating form. He sighed as he thought that this day will be hard again for him as he was going to blame himself again.

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Inside the beautiful carriage a deep sigh heard. Pink irises seen as the maiden opened her eyes. She pushed the curtain slightly. Outside the window she saw the big palace waiting for her. Sadness formed in her eyes as thought of her new prison was just few minutes away from her. She went back to her original position and put her hands above her chest. She is not ready yet. She wanted to feel the freedom.

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I'm here… the blonde thought as she pulled her horse towards the Sakura Tree. She touched the bark of the said tree and let her fingers felt the name engrave on there. She then slowly walked towards the sea of flowers beneath the small hill and stopped when she was in the middle. She looked above, admiring the beautiful sky calming her lonely soul. She closed her eyes as the wind blew and played with her golden locks and the simple dress she wore.

It is still beautiful here… so peaceful… it doesn't change a bit… except you're not here anymore… AshLee…

A pain crossed inside her chest as she thought of that name. It had been a year since he was gone but still she couldn't accept the truth. And this place always reminds her of him, their secret paradise which was the witness of their friendship… and their love. Until now she was hoping, that he will suddenly came out from those flowers and surprise her, he then say sorry if he scared her, and she will acted angry and punch her playfully, next he will tickle her then run and she will run after him, they will play and enjoy each other company, just like the old times.

Fighting back the tears which want to escape from her eyes, she suddenly felt something moving behind her. Anna quickly looked at her back and noticed some flowers shaking rapidly.

"Who's there?" she asked as she held the handle of the sword hanging on her side. No one answered. "I said who is there?" she asked in more demanding tone but still no one responded. Then the shaking stopped. Curious, she slowly moved towards the place where the flowers shook. "A-AshLee?"

As she approached the place, a hand suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her. She didn't know how or what really happened. But the next thing she knew, she was leaning on someone's chest, she was looking on a pair of chocolate brown irises, and their faces are uncomfortably close.


This is my second multi chapter story. Hope you will enjoy reading this. A review will motivates me to write more so please don't forget to leave one. Tee hee… ^_^