Chapter 2 Secrets Inside

Luckily our last class that day was a free period. We'd all decided that Yoh and me would escort Yemi and Akuma to the house but when we looked, they'd gone. We searched all over the school for them before finding Yemi by the school gates. She'd changed her clothes from the uniform of the school to a long blood red dress with a neckline designed to reveal her amulet, we guessed she was waiting for Akuma.

"Hay you ready to go?" asked Yoh.

"In a moment, Akuma is still changing," she replied.

"I'm here," he called from a little down the road. Yemi went to great him. He'd changed into a teal coloured tight robe, his hair almost seemed to merge with the clothing as the colours blended.

"You sure you can go through with this," he whispered to her as he hugged her.

"Yes, I want to be normal, a little dinner party won't hurt," she replied and they rejoined us.

"Hay Morty we got a little time before Ana expects us, lets go show them round the city, and then Monument Hill," Yoh had a sudden idea. Yemi smiled happily and agreed and that was what we did. We spent two hours walking through the streets even doing some shopping as we walked. I watched our new friends, they walked arm in arm like a royal couple instead of a brother and sister and unlike most siblings seemed totally devoted to one another. When we got to Monument Hill it was sunset, Yemi perched on one of the gravestones and looked out over the vast graveyard.

"Akuma look how pretty it is here, I've never seen one like it," she called to her brother.

"You like graveyards?" asked Yoh, Yemi seemed to quieten again.

"They remind me of my parents," she sighed.

"They're dead, it was too long ago for her to truly remember them though, she can only see them as stone," continued Akuma.

"That's sad. So how come you're in the same class if you're older than her?" I asked but then Yemi stood up sharply.

"We should be getting to your home, it's almost night," she said.

"You're right, Ana's gonna be miffed if we don't get you there soon," smiled Yoh, "follow me everybody!"

We got back to the house and Trey was in the yard, he greeted us, then he saw Yemi.

"Yoh, where'd this beauty come from!" he yelled. Yemi looked puzzled then giggled.

"Trey this is Yemi and her brother Akuma, they're gonna join us for dinner tonight," explained Yoh.

"Does Ana know?" he asked.

"Believe it or not they're her guests!" laughed Yoh.

"So you're new around here huh? If you're looking for someone to help you with anything, anything at all, I'm your man!" said Trey trying to charm her.

"Your funny, but very kind," she giggled. Akuma seemed slightly less pleased by Trey's advances but said nothing. We entered the house and Ana was by the stairs to see us. For a moment the air was tense as Ana stared coldly at first Yemi and then Akuma.

"Nice to meet you, my name is Ana," she said at last.

"Akuma," said Akuma coldly.

"I'm Yemi," said Yemi trying to hide her nervousness.

"Yoh take them to the dining room, I will join you shortly and shorty go tell Ryu dinner is to be ready in five minuets!" she commanded.

"Yes Ana," I stuttered as I left.

Yoh called to Trey and then completed Ana's request. We all sat by the table but Yemi looked very confused. It became obvious that she was not from Japan and had never used utensils like we had.

"Don't worry Yemi, everything's going to be ok," smiled Yoh, then Ana re-entered the room before Ryu appeared with his latest culinary masterpiece.

"Wow Ryu the food looks so good," I smiled.

"My, my, who is this?" said Ryu noticing Yemi.

"Hay back off Ryu!" shouted Trey.

"Sit down both of you! She isn't here to make your romantic dreams come true!" shouted Ana.

"Akuma what if I can't eat like them?" whispered Yemi.

"You'll have to use your magic very discreetly," replied Akuma.

We all began eating and I was actually surprised at how well Yemi was coping with the food, we talked as we ate.

"So where are you from Yemi?" asked Trey.

"America," replied Yemi bluntly.

"Should have guessed really," said Trey nervously.

"Tell me you and Akuma, you're not really brother and sister are you," said Ana not looking up from her food. Yemi gulped, she didn't quite know how to answer.

"We're not," said Akuma, Yemi looked at him worried.

"Then why are you so close?" Ana asked again this time she did look up.

"Yemi and I have been together for a very long time, our bond is very strong," he replied taking Yemi's hand.

"Why?" asked Ryu.

"Yemi has no one to look after her, that is why," replied Akuma harshly. Then Amedamaru appeared.

"I think there is more of a reason than that," he said talking to Yoh.

"Why do you say that?" said Yemi absent – mindedly before realising he was a spirit and shutting herself up.

We all looked at her, not believing our own ears, she'd heard Amedamaru and knew he was there. Ana smiled triumphantly and Akuma could take it no more. He picked the table up and flipped it causing the food to splash all over us.

"Come on Yemi let's get out of here!" he cried grabbing her hand and running away with her behind.

"After her!" cried Ana pursuing. We all had no clue what was going on but we followed Ana to the door.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Yemi panted as she ran.

"It's ok, you weren't to know it was a trap," replied Akuma.

"I'm sorry…" she said again before falling to the floor trapped by Ana's beads.

"Let her go!" boomed Akuma.

"Ana! What the heck do you think you're doing!" cried Yoh as we all filed out.

"These people are not what they seem. I thought I sensed a strange presence come to town last night and I was right," said Ana.

"Please let me go," sobbed Yemi.

"Ana stop this! You're hurting her let her go," I pleaded with her.

"Yemi is perfectly capable of getting out herself," said Ana pulling the beads tighter. Yemi screamed in pain and Akuma went to her.

"Yoh look out!" shouted Amedamaru. Yoh and I looked round as three Hunter Spirits sent by Jun and Len appeared in the yard.

"Darn," said Ana, letting the beads loose a little.

"Don't worry Ana we got this!" said Trey, "come on Ryu!"

"Right behind you Trey, Tocagaro we need you!" Ryu called to his guardian ghost as Trey did the same with Cori. Yoh joined the fight and Ana watched on as it seemed the Hunter Spirits were much stronger this time. Meanwhile Akuma was trying to free Yemi but Ana suddenly tightened the beads again.

"You have no choice Yemi, you have to," he said to her. Yemi nodded sadly before shouting,

"Demonic Darkness!"

Ana looked back to her as immediately a huge burst of energy freed Yemi from the beads. Yemi's dress was now black and in her hand she held a black staff seemingly made of solid crystal gleaming with extreme power. Akuma's robe had also changed to black and flailed out wildly similar to Amedamaru's. They stood together floating in the air, Yemi was a Shaman too!

"What happened Ana!" I shouted frightened.

"Yemi finally showed us what she really is," smiled Ana.

"Dark Bind!" shouted Yemi raising her staff to the sky as black vines burst out of the ground and trapped the Hunter Spirits.

"Akuma! Demon Strike!" cried Yemi. Yemi slashed her staff through the air as Akuma flew down at the three Hunter Spirits slicing all three in half without even using a sword before returning to Yemi's side. We all stood on the ground staring at them as they returned to the ground. Yemi looked so frightening like this, Akuma did too, they seemed not even human anymore. Suddenly Yemi's power diminished and she fainted reverting to her normal appearance. Akuma hung over her holding her as if she were sleeping.

"Now you see, you see what you have made her do!" he shouted angrily at us.

"She'll be fine, take her inside the house she can rest there," replied Ana

"Why should I even think to trust you," growled Akuma.

"I promise she will not come to any harm," replied Ana looking very sincere. I never understood why but Akuma did as Ana said and we lay her on a bed in a small room. Akuma stayed beside her but we left, Ana had some explaining to do.