Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King. GO GET A LIFE! (jk)
Author Note: Sorry if it's rather short, I'll update quickly as an apology. Please enjoy.
I awoke slowly and almost screamed
I awoke slowly and almost screamed. I'd been stretching when my muscles, sore from everything that'd happened the day before, sent cold fire through my veins.
"Oh my god," I moaned, collapsing limply, waiting for the pain to pass. It settled to a dull ache, and I cautiously moved. The pain came again, but it wasn't as intense.
After several tough, painful minutes, I managed to force myself up. Getting up, I slowly hobbled downstairs, were everyone was waiting.
My father, Mikihishi, has this rule that on Sundays the whole family has to eat together. This is the time were I insert some witty comment, but I rather like eating with my family, it makes me feel closer to them.
I slid carefully next to Hao, slouching low, while Kino studied me with her intense eyes.
"No grandson of mine is going to look so pathetic!" Kino declared, and sent me a dangerous look. "You- I mean Yoh, straighten your back. Try to look like you're a member of the proud Asakura family."
I sighed loudly and slowly forced myself to sit up. Hao, who'd learned about Anna the night before, cast me a sympathetic glance.
"Don't worry bro, she gets better after awhile." Hao assured me, and Mikihishi looked up sharply.
"Whatever happened, she better not be pregnant. I'm too young to be a grandfather." Mikihishi warned, and both Hao and I choked.
"I-it's not like that dad…" I sputtered, and Hao, who'd recovered, grinned mischeviously.
"But, dad, you already are." He stated, and time went still. Mikihishi jumped to his feet, face thunderous.
"WHAT! HAO, YOU-"
"Mikihishi." My mother reproved, while Hao howled with laughter. I grinned as well, then realized I was ravenous.
"Lets eat!" I declared, wolfishly digging into the sweet, buttery pancakes. Next to sleeping, listening to music, stargazing, and cloud gazing, one of my favorite past times is eating. Especially when my mom cooks.
While Mikihishi fumed, the rest of us dug eagerly into our food, and in minutes I was on my second helping.
Yeah, I'm a pig, but you would be to if you tried my mom's delicious, buttery pancakes, crunchy, brown bacon, and crackly sausages.
Yikes, I'm making myself hungry.
After breakfast was finished, Mikihishi huffed up to his room with a muttered 'scuse me.' Hao left with Kino and Grandpa, discussing estate politics, leaving my mom to clean up.
"Wonderful," My mother sighed. "Absolutely predictable. Yoh, help me clean up this mess."
Then again, I guess I was helping too.
Sighing, and feeling slightly bloated, I made way to mother. We worked side by side, not talking much, when it came out of my mouth so fast, it took me a moment to realize what I'd said.
"Mom, I like Anna Kyoyouma, but I dunno what she thinks of me." I said, and my mom cast me a startled glance.
"Isn't that Hao's girlfriend?"
"Ex-girlfriend." I replied instantly, and my mom blinked, looking surprised.
"Really? And they were going so steadily too." She mused, then smiled at the look on my face.
"Don't worry love, I'm sure if you treat her with attention and understanding, she'll come around." She consoled me, and I bit my lip.
"I'll give it a shot." I said, unconvinced.
"You! Get to work!"
"Wha- WAAAAAHHH!" I cried, feeling something wet and cold slid onto my head and roll down my shoulders, seeping into my skin and leaving me freezing.
Scrambling up, I saw Anna smirking at me, a bucket once filled with ice cold water held in her hands.
"Slacker," She snapped, eyes dark. "You still have 156 push-ups left, though now I'm adding 50 more. Now get moving!" I could almost see her cracking an invisible whip over my head.
Moaning, I scrambled back into position and began to pump my arm arms furiously. Anna watched me with disinterested eyes, so I was surprised when she asked me a question.
"Yoh, why are you so happy-go-lucky?" She asked and I blinked, slowing down. "Don't stop." She snapped, and I quickened my pace again.
"I- dunno- gasp- I- gasp, choke- never- really- thought- about- it." I labored out, my arms and legs similar in consistency to jelly.
Anna cocked her head, studying me. I felt myself grow hot and sweaty, and it had nothing to do with the 148th push-up I'd just completed.
"You just always seem so… uncaring. I don't really get you." Anna said slowly, eyes boring into mine.
Sensing my chance, I raised my eyes hopefully.
"Can- I- take- a- break?" I asked, and Anna hesitated, before nodding. I collapsed gratefully unto the ground, relaxing my poor, battered body.
It had been a week since we'd first been partnered, and for about two hours I cooked, did chores, and got the work out of my life every other day.
It was the first time Anna ever bothered to converse with me, and while I could say I handled everything smoothly and she fell for me instantly… that would be lying.
In reality, I was practically jumping up and down with excitement, eyes bright and eager. I adjusted my headphones meticulously, and comfortably flopped on the couch next to Anna.
"Well," I said thoughtfully, "No sense in worrying, right? I find it easier to just go with the flow and all." I nodded my head, trying to look all knowing.
Anna gave me a funny look, then shrugged.
"Whatever, get dinner started, I'm going to take a bath." She said, and I flushed, dirty thoughts swarming my mind.
"Tell me when it's finished," She called over her shoulder, and I nodded slowly.
"H-hai," I said weakly, before making my way to the kitchen. I worked quickly, trying my best. My cooking hadn't improved much, but at least Anna stopped chucking my hard work at my face.
Sighing, I worked diligently, well, kinda, on the thick vegetable stew I'd started. Suddenly, an idea came to me.
No, the world did not end when that happened. Someone probably died of shock when it happened, but the world didn't end.
If Anna was in the shower, and I was simply waiting for the stew to finish… stewing, then maybe I could look around.
Cautiously moving away from the stove, I nervously, feeling like a burglar, tiptoed up the stairs. I saw Anna's room, a plain little door, with the exception of the sign hanging on the knob.
Stay out or die.
Right, that's promising.
Carefully opening the door, I let out a gasp of shock. Anna's room was stuffed with papers. All this time I'd been working out, it turned out Anna was doing her end of the bargain.
Papers with complex equations, diagrams of muscles and, I could only guess it was mine, brains were posted on charts with notes and all sorts of things that was like a different language to me.
Feeling slightly queasy, I stepped back, and knocked into the shower room.
"Yoh?" Came Anna's voice, and I flinched guiltily.
"Uh, stew's ready," I called, and there was a pregnant pause.
"Alright, I'm coming out." She said, and I felt my heart start to pound. Biting my lip, I looked around wildly, then cautiously nudged the door open.
Pressing my face to the gap, I stifled a gasp as Anna walked out of the shower room. I'll tell you, it was all worth it, she had a gorgeous figure. I closed my and took a deep breath, then opened them again.
But Anna was gone. Sitting back, I scratched my head, when the door opened wide and I found myself staring at a toweled Anna.
She stared at me, partly surprised, partly shocked, partly angry, and partly… amused.
"What are you doing, Asakura?" She asked in a false sweet voice.
