Disclaimer: Sadly I don't own Shaman King or any of the characters in the actual manga/anime. I can, however, claim credit for Ayamae and the Shadow King (both of whom you will meet in the story)! =^-^=

Takes place after the anime (sorry, I haven't read the manga, so this is my take on things)

Anna's Friend

Shamans around the world turned their eyes up to watch the star as it shot across the sky. The shaman fight would soon begin again.

Yoh turned to look at his oracle bell as it beeped at him. Picking it up, he read the new message with some surprise. The shaman fight would not begin for another two months. In that time it said for the shamans to prepare and get ready for it. Anna, looking over Yoh's shoulder, got an evil glint in her eyes.

"Says it right there, Yoh. Enough slacking off. Its time to start my super secret training."

Ren, Faust, and Manta, who had also been looking over Yoh's shoulder paled as they heard about this new training session.

"After you boys are done cleaning the kitchen, you better go to bed and rest up, you'll need all the strength you can get," Anna said, walking out of the room and into the room with the tv. Yoh, Ren, Faust, and Manta heard the tv turn on. Turning to talk to each other and discuss this new development, they heard an angry voice shout "Now!" at them, and instead of talking, they turned and hurried to comply.

***

Over the course of the next few days, Yoh's other friends began showing up at the hotel until everyone was there, including Chocolove and Lyszerg. For the most part they kept to themselves however, trying not to incur Anna's wrath and have to join Yoh in his torture, err, training.

After a very vigorous day of training for Yoh, and poor Horohoro who couldn't escape his sister, the group of shamans collapsed onto their beds, ready for a good nights rest.

The next day, Anna was unusually kind, letting Yoh off the hook early that day. At dinner, she was quite, but Yoh could sense, even thru her mask of ice, that she was excited and nervous.

Halfway thru dinner a knock came at the door. Everyone flinched, knowing that Anna didn't like dinner being interrupted and fearing for the person at the door. Yoh stood up, going to get the door, but was shocked to see Anna already heading towards the door.

"Umm…Anna?" Yoh said, hesitating.

"Just sit down and eat, Yoh," Anna said without turning around. This, of course, perked everyone's interest, and soon Yoh, Ren, Horohoro, Faust (with Eliza), Ryu, Lyszerg, Chocolove, Manta, Pirika, Tamao, and even Jun (with Li BaiLong), were peering around the corner as Anna opened the front door.

"Anna-chan! It's sooo good to see you! How long has it been now? Five, no six years? Far too long," a silvery voice cried as Anna and the visitor embraced in a friendly hug.

"Aya-chan! I'm so happy to see you. Yeah, it's been a long time," Anna said, a smile detected even in her voice. Everyone turned to stare at each other, shocked.

Horohoro poked Yoh. "Hey," he whispered. "Do you know who she is?" Every eye of the hiding individuals turned to Yoh, who shook his head, completely bewildered. Then they turned their eyes back to the front door, hoping to catch a glimpse of the new person. When they did face the door, every one of them paled, and gulped.

My first chapter, Yay! Hope you like it. Sorry if some of the characters seem out of character...