It was a normal morning on the Hill Funbari. The birds were chirping. The spirits were abuzz with the latest afterlife gossip. And that vein on Anna's head was doing that throbby thing it does so well.

Yes it seemed that everyone's favorite lazy shaman had decided that he liked sleep more than he liked not having a fist in his jaw. This was a failure on her part. And someone would have to pay for that realization…

"And just where are you floating off to so early."

Shoulders slumped the ghostly samurai turned his head toward Anna, a look of absolutely dejection stuck on his face.

"It is as I have always feared. My weakness has finally become too much of a burden for master Yoh. It is with a heavy but understanding heart that I must depart before I hamper his progress further still."

"What are you talking about? Why isn't Yoh up yet?"

"Lady Anna I don't think Master Yoh likes me anymore."

With that Amidimaru become a ball (literally) of tears and incomprehensible sobbing. The wailing calmed down as he slyly eyed Anna marching past him towards Yoh's room.

---

*thwack*

"Wake up you slacker. You're going to have to run some serious laps to make up for the time you missed today."

For most people a kick to the ribs is a stressful wake up call. For Yoh, it was eight-thirty.

"Aagh, what was that about?"

"You overslept."

Yoh bolted upright making a frantic grab for his alarm clock.

"No way, Amidimaru would have woken me up."

The spirit materialized, eyes still gushing.

"But lord Yoh I did. I tried for an hour to wake you up. But all my efforts were useless…Like me~e." And the wailing started anew.

Yoh stared at Amidimaru for a moment. Or rather he stared at the area Amidimaru was floating.

"Where is he anyway?"

"Now he doesn't even recognize my presence" Amidimaru began to disappear into the floor. A familiar pressure binding his arms stopped him half way.

"I missed this gag"

"Yeah, yeah, memories." Anna gave her beads a tug. "Okay Yoh , whatever issues there are between you two, resolve them. Now."

"Problem, me? What?"

"Oh I don't know, maybe the crying samurai who thinks his best friends hates him."

Yoh's scanned the room. His head tilted in confusion.

"Amidimaru is upset? I gotta go find him and straighten this out." Yoh's covers were thrown about as he made a mad dash for the door. He would have made it if Anna hadn't tripped him.

"He's right there." Anna's tone lost just a hint of sharpness.

Yoh looked at his fiancée as if she had grown another head.

"Um, Anna? If Amidimaru was here I would be able see him, he's a big guy. And if he was crying like you said, I'd be annoyed, probably enough to tell him to dial it down a notch. But I can't and I'm not, so he must not be here." A dopey smile spread itself across Yoh's face.

That same smile disappeared quickly when wordlessly, Anna crossed over to him. She drew close to him, almost uncomfortably as her eyes locked with his.

"Yoh…point to one the house ghosts that are floating around this room."

"Uh, Anna-"

"Point!"

He was the one to break their gaze. Time seemed to slow as Yoh scanned the room. When he finally spoke his voice was low, as if unsure.

"There aren't any ghosts in here."

Anna inhaled sharply as she rose to her feet. She quickly disappeared into the hallway and down the stairs. Yoh sat anxiously, absent-mindedly fiddling with the end of his shirt. He jumped a bit when he heard Anna's voice echoing for the lower floor. He silently crawled to the door try and hear her better.

"Yes Miss Kino…neither see or hear…furyoku weak…there right away."

Yoh scampered back to his mat as he heard footsteps on the stairs. Soon Anna reappeared, coat on and an overnight bag over her shoulder.

"Yoh, I'm leaving for your grandparents home. I' be back in a few days. Until I do I want you stay in the house."

"What about training? I have to leave to go running."

"No!" he jumped at her sudden outburst. "No…no, just please stay in the house."

Yoh was taken aback, there was genuine concern in Anna's words. Whatever was wrong had her visibly worried.

"Amidimaru, I want you stay here with Yoh. Keep any wandering spirits away from him."

The samurai nodded nervously.

As she turned to leave Yoh gently grabbed her shoulder. When she tuned back to face him, his eyes were as wide as saucers.

"Anna what's happening to me?"

"Yoh, you're become….dulled."