Title: I'll Be There For You

Chapter. 1: Off To Izumo

Disclaimer: Shaman King is NOT owned by me.

NG: OK! I hope you like this people! If not you're welcome to flame coz I didn't liked this chapter either I don't know, I don't feel like I used to when I wrote looonng ago. ..ok so not THAT long ago. But one or two years ago. So I thought if I started writing I could get the 'IT' back you know? Anyway I still hope you at least enjoy it, I'll put my best effort in the next chapter 3


"Just-A-Few-More-Minutes-Gotta-Run-Faster-Legs-Not-Aching-Arms-Not-Tired-I'm-Not-Tired-"

"5 minute left Yoh." Manta warned, trailing after his friend on his small bicycle.

That did it.

To the delight and dismay of his best friend, Yoh managed to forget about the searing pain his body was experiencing and hightailed down the path in a blur.

"H-Hey! Yoh wait up!" Cried Manta padding faster to catch up with his friend.

"Can't-Wait-Will be-Late-"

Hearing that, Morty felt another pang of sympathy for Yoh. The shaman Tournament had long been over, but Anna had decided her day wouldn't be complete without putting Yoh through her hell again. Day by day it seemed to get worse. Amidamaru was strangely quiet about it. Manta couldn't blame him. Living with the blond itako must be quite a traumatizing experience.

However, even though Manta was too used to Anna being unpredictable. The itako was rarely unreasonable...unless it concerned her of course. Why did she suddenly insist Yoh to follow a stricter training program than before?

To make matters worse, the itako was simply demanding the impossible.

Instead of 500 laps, she demanded Yoh to get up at three in the morning and run 900 laps in three hours. If Yoh wasn't able to finish even one lap, she would make him do more than 9 the next day, until he got used to running 900 laps in three hours.

And with a few whines and complains, Yoh would do it.

"Can't you slow down a bit even for a second?!" Gasps Manta feeling his leg starting to throb from paddling.

"Are-You-Nuts?!" Yoh panted, feeling the pain in his abdomen increase and his chest contract and heave painfully.

"If you don't slow down-you'll die even before Anna gets her hands on you!" Manta tried to reason, pitying his friend's condition.

Today Yoh Asakura was closer to finish 900 laps in the given hours than he was before. Unfortunately due to lack of finishing them in time, he had to do four more after it.

"Why is Anna being so cruel anyway?" Manta wondered out loud feeling his muscles starting to ache, "She wasn't this evil before."

"I-Have-No-I-dea-Morty" Yoh gasped trying to force himself not to slow down, "Chest-Not-Hurting-Arms-Not-Tired-Legs-Not-Killing-" Yoh started again feeling two river of tears falling down his eyes in misery.

"What-Did-I-do-to-deserve-this-Morty?" He cried unable to help himself.

"Maybe you could forget the extra four laps and just tell her you did it. You look like you have anyway."

"Right-And-She-Would-Believe-Me." Yoh gasped sarcastically.

Manta couldn't help but grin at that. Ever since Anna found out Yoh had been heating food for her instead of making one himself, Yoh had lost the ability to lie to Anna. Somehow, Anna always figured out when Yoh was telling the truth and when he wasn't. Manta suspected that it had something to do with the severe punishment Yoh had to go through after Anna found out of his little… 'Act'. He didn't know what Anna made him do though. Whenever he asked, Yoh would just turn ash pale and start muttering inaudible words. Even Amidamaru wouldn't be able to sustain his horror.

After a couple of unsuccessful tries, Manta eventually decided it was wiser to let the subject go. If that punishment was as horrible as both Yoh and Amidamaru feared from even mentioning it, he decided not knowing would be safer for him.

The two ceased conversations as they turned to their home-street. Aside from Yoh's continuous mantras. Spotting the Inn not far, Manta didn't know whether to sigh from relief or groan from despair.

In front of the onsen, waiting with her arms crossed and bandanna securely tied around her head, Anna stood with her usual frown, tapping her foot impatiently.

"What took you so long?" She snapped as the two shamans reached her.

"The-track-" Yoh tried to explain, finding it even harder to breath when Anna cut him.

"Go and get changed. We're going to Izumo."

"You're WHAT?!" Manta cried

Yoh blinked, frowning slightly, "Izumo?"

"Yes. I got a telegram from Kino-sensei this morning after you left. She needs us to come to Izumo immediately. She wasn't specific, but she says she has something important to tell us about the tournament."

"Why didn't she just send you a letter?" Manta asked before he could stop himself.

Anna turned her cold malicious eyes on him, freezing him to his bones in fear.

"I don't know. But it is clearly too important to be discussed in one. Sensei wouldn't play around."

She looked back at Yoh, her eyes softening back to her usual glare, "Go and change. I have already bought the tickets and we leave in an hour." She looked back at Manta with a something Manta was sure was a little smirk. "Coming shorty?"

"Of course I am!" Manta cried indignantly, "You guys just can't go without-"

"Good. I charged the price of the tickets to your name. Go and pack."

Manta sighed, 'I should have known…'

Yoh smiled apologetically at his friend, "At least we wont have to tr-"

"Well what are you waiting for?" Anna suddenly snapped, setting the two boys in a flurry, "Oh and Yoh?" she added sweetly, a bit too sweetly for even a normal girl.

Yoh froze. This would not be good.

"Get plenty of rest on the plane."

Yoh's jaw dropped, he was sure Anna would make him do electric chair on the plane as well…but then...wait…that meant.

"Sensei has special training in store. She asked me not to train you anymore, and hand the reins to her." Anna answered casually before Yoh could speak, walking past him.

Instantly two trails of tears started streaming down Yoh's eyes, this just wasn't his week.


NG: ok, tell me how you liked it so far!

RE-EDITED: This chapter was re-edited, so you might find stuff you didn't before. And I might re-edit the other chapter a bit a well.