Chapter title: Don't mess with Anna
Chapter No. 3
Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King.
NG: Interesting title huh? Thank you everyone for the reviews! I hope you like this chapter.
story
"You call this cheap material, quality?"
Yoh sighed, waiting for another 10-minute argument to initiate. Thanks to Anna's bargaining skills, this was turning out to be a really long day, and it wasn't about to end anytime soon. Ever since they had arrived the day before, they had been staying at an Inn Kino had bought, deciding to move nearer to the family. Yoh wondered what had happened to the one in Osorezan, but never asked. He didn't know if he would like to visit it again, but he knew he had to. He wanted to fulfill his promise to Matamune there.
Throughout the train ride, he had decided to visit Osorezan just as soon as he finished Kino's training. But since Kino admitted to a horrified Anna that she really was serious about that particular part, he felt like he had scored Heaven.
That was until this morning of course, when Yoh, out of habit, woke up early in the morning to make Anna breakfast, and in half blindness made his way to the shower. Only realizing where he was AFTER the freezing cold liquid sprayed down on his body.
Anna had come running after hearing him scream. Needless to say the after-affects of Yoh's morning wasn't amusing. To him anyway.
Now, after making both of them a hearty breakfast (and trying to ignore the burning mark on his chin), he found himself standing beside Anna near a bandanna stall, in a cold, chilly weather, while everyone else took a warm and delicious, well earned nap. He wondered if Anna would like to come with him. He didn't wanted to just reveal everything to everyone else yet. He'll let Matamune and Kino explain everything when they return.
It had already been two hours and Yoh was starting to feel his fingers going numb. Anna would just not agree to any reasonable price. Yoh was starting to miss his training. He preferred being hot, sweaty and aching than cold, numb and freezing. (NG: …coughs ;;)
"You won't find a material finer than this anywhere madam."
"That's complete nonsense. I wont give you more than fifteen yens for it."
"Fifteen yens?!" Yoh cried, "Anna that's too much!"
"I know, it should be worth 10 yens,"
"No, I mean that's not enough!"
"Shutup. I'm doing business." (I honestly have no idea how much yen are worth. Review and tell me so I can change it)
"But the man really looks like he has worked hard for it!" Yoh protested
"It doesn't look like it's worth more than 10 yens, I'm being generous."
"Madam please, it is a really fine material."
"I have seen rags with finer material." Anna snapped turning back to the man, "Fifteen yens."
The man sighed, handing her the red bandanna. Yoh felt sorry for him. People didn't come to Izumo as much as they used to, especially after vacations. Yoh doubted the man got many costumers. Izumo was just another vacation spot now.
Anna smiled in satisfaction, handing him the money before heading off. Yoh followed dejectedly, shooting the guy an apology on her behalf.
Five seconds later
"Why do you need another red bandanna anyway?"
"You can never have enough red bandanas." Anna replied before shooting a glance at him, "What are you up to anyway?"
"Eh?" Yoh asked looking at her, confused.
"Why did you come to the market with me?"
"Ah…I just wanted to take a look around again, it's been a really long time since we have last been here. So much has changed…" said Yoh looking around at the shops.
Ofcourse the fact that the really angry Kanata guy was still wandering around for his fiancé, not having a chance to talk to Anna the other day since the Itakos had made sure he didn't enter the house and bother their mistress. Yoh was pretty sure the guy had, by this time, gotten too desperate to be wise and stay away from Anna. Yoh felt sorry for him, and he was anxious for his safety. Of course Anna wouldn't KILL him but…you never know.
"Hm. Whatever you say." Said Anna, turning her gaze back to the road.
They kept on walking in silence for a while as more people started about their daily routine.
"Where to now?"
"I want to visit the temple."
"The temple?" Yoh blinked
The birds chirped as the leaves bathed under the sunlight. Faint ringing of temple bells joined the morning sky as two figures knelt before the statue of Buddha. Around them the echo of children playing and laughing ricocheted around the temple walls. Both of them ignored it and sat silently, until a scream pierced through their concentration, followed by a chorus of laughter.
Finishing his prayer, Yoh stood up and looked behind him. A group of 5 year old boys were surrounding a small 3 year old girl, laughing as a boy waved a small blue scarf at her face before throwing it down and spitting on it. Some boys dragged it around with their feet before pulling down their pants and spraying urine over it.
The girl's eyes were blood shot from crying as she watched the scene unfolding before her. She sat on the dirt, trembling, as the boys laughed and imitated her crying.
"What's going on?" Yoh asked, stepping out of the temple.
The group grew quiet as Yoh emerged from the shadows, glancing at the group of boys before turning towards the girl.
"Mind your own business booger brain." Said one boy before the rest burst out laughing.
"Is that your scarf?" Yoh asked, kneeling beside the girl as the boys surrounding her ran off to join their group.
The girl nodded, not daring to look up.
"What's it to you? She's a demon child! That scarf is crawling with her germs." Said the boy again, obviously the leader. The other started murmuring in agreement looking at the girl in disgust,
"You said it Kaito"
"Demon child!"
"She doesn't even have friends!"
"She eats babies"
"Pick up the scarf." Said a voice behind Yoh in a low yet clear whisper, sending a chill up his spine. He did not like her tone.
The boys stopped murmuring, looking around in confusion.
"Who said that?" demanded the leader, Kaito, glaring around him.
Yoh sighed and picked up the girl in his arms before stepping to the side. "You guys shouldn't have done that." He said as Anna came into view, her eyes bathed in cold hatred.
"Pick up the scarf," she said softly.
"Who are you?" Kaito demanded stepping up. His followers decided to stay behind.
"I am Anna Kyouyama, daughter of the demon lord that lurks around in hell, searching for fresh meat." Anna said softly, glaring at the little boy. Slowly her voice started taking up an inhumane sound, "I am an Itako, caller of the dead, the shaman queen. Pick up the scarf or I shall call a real demon to curse you."
Yoh sweat-dropped but decided it was wise not to say anything. Still holding the girl who had wrapped her hands tightly around his neck, he looked at the boys to see what would happen next.
Kaito scoffed and barked out a laugh. On cue his friends started laughing as well.
"Shaman Queen? Oh I am so scared! Look at me! I'm the all power…full…" Kaito trailed off, watching in horror as Anna held up her beads, eyes glowing brightly in the darkness of the temple.
The rest of the boys stopped laughing as well. Watching in growing horror as leaves ripped away from trees and started circling Anna as if she was standing in a middle of a tornado. Rocks burst into dust and the boys screamed. Anna placed down her beads, watching the boys closely, her eyes still burning bright.
Yoh watched in silent amusement as the boys stared transfixed at Anna, beads of sweat trailing down their foreheads. He felt a bit sorry for them, but not sorry enough to interfere.
"Pick up the scarf." Anna growled.
One of the boys quickly bolted and picked up the soaking scarf.
"Tie it around your leaders head."
Yoh couldn't help but smile as Kaito paled. The boy holding the scarf trembled before going up to his leader.
The leader boy jerked and stepped back before trying to make a run for it. Unfortunately Anna shot her beads at him, tying him down and making him fall hard against the ground. Yoh winced. Now he was starting to feel sorry for the boys enough to interfere.
"Tie it on your leader's head." Anna growled at the trembling boys.
The boy with the scarf gulped and started walking up to his leader, who had started whimpering, ready to burst into tears.
Yoh sighed, "Stop." He said stepping towards the boys, "you don't have to do this. Just go home and don't bother her again."
The boys didn't hesitate to comply, leaving their tied up leader on the ground and the scarf behind them.
"Wait!!! Wait for me you cowards!" Kaito cried helplessly, fat trails of tears running down his eyes as he watched his friends making a run for it.
"Some friends." Anna said walking up to the boy, terrifying him more than ever.
"I wish you hadn't scared them so much Anna," Yoh sighed feeling the girl's grip starting to cut off his breathing as she watched Anna try to free the wailing and resisting boy out of her beads, "They're just kids."
"Thats why I didn't kill them." Anna said shortly, freeing the boy and smiling down at him coldly, "Call anyone a demon child again, and I will know. Tell that to your friends as well…got that?"
The boy nodded, still sobbing and trying to wipe his nose.
"Good. Don't show me your face again." Anna said getting up.
The boy quickly got to his feet and ran. Yoh watched in silence, as the boy ran off after his friends, disappearing around the corner.
"Don't you think that was a bit harsh?"
"You of all people should know what's harsh." Anna snapped, "Or have you forgotten what it feels like to be a demon child?"
Yoh frowned, "They were just kids Anna-"
"We were just kids Yoh. And SHE is just a kid. Particularly one without any shaman abilities."
"You can't keep blaming everyone Anna," Yoh said sighing.
He watched Anna cross her arms turning her back to him, staring down at the forgotten scarf, not saying anything.
Yoh was about to say something when he became aware (again) of the girl holding on to his collar tightly.
"Hey you want something to eat?" he asked, smiling cheerfully.
The girl shook her head, staring at Anna sullenly.
"Well what's your name?"
When she gave no answer Yoh smiled, "I'll get you something to eat, wait here for me ok?"
The girl looked like she wanted to protest as Yoh set her down, but she stayed silent, still gazing at Anna anxiously.
Yoh ran off to the nearest ice-cream stall. When he came back with three cones of ice cream, he was surprised to find Anna kneeling before the girl, adjusting her new red bandanna on her head exactly like she used to wear.
"If you tie it tight enough it wont fall." She said getting up, glancing at Yoh, "You took long."
The girl turned around beaming brightly, looking like a smaller version of Anna with dark bangs, "Anna made me pretty."
Yoh grinned, "Yeah she did, do you like chocolate?" he asked, holding out a cone.
It turned out she did. And it turned out she liked a lot of other things as well. The whole day Yoh found himself buying burgers, sodas, cotton candy, hot buns, sweet buns, lollipops and a number of things he didn't even knew existed for both Anna and the girl. He had lost his appetite after he realized the whole day would be spent with him spending his money, maybe all of it. He had a sinking feeling Anna was starting to find something else to replace his training.
The sun had already set by the time Anna and Yoh dropped the girl at her house.
"Thank you very much for taking care of her." Said the girl's mother, bowing down to them gratefully.
The girl beamed at Yoh and Anna, "Arigato!"
Yoh grinned, "No problem, we had fun. Right Anna."
Anna sighed, "sure."
"We should be heading home now." Yoh said bowing to the woman.
The woman bowed back, "Thank you again for your trouble."
"Not at all!" Yoh said rubbing the back of his head and grinning sheepishly, "Ja-ne!"
"Okaa-san- what?"
Yoh blinked. It was the boy from before, Kanata.
"Yo!" Yoh said waving his hand in greeting before realizing Anna had already started walking away.
"Ch-Chotto matte Anna!" Yoh and Kanata cried at the same time. Hearing Kanata Yoh stopped short to stare at the boy in surprise. Ignoring him, Kanata continued to sprint after Anna.
"Wait!" He said grabbing her arm.
SLAP!
Yoh winced just as Kanata's mother and his little sister gasped behind him.
A burning red mark started appearing on Kanata's cheek as he held it and stared at Anna in surprise.
Anna stared back nonchalantly, "You're annoying."
Yoh sweat dropped, "That was harsh Anna," he whined dismally from afar, knowing his words won't have any effect on her.
"Stay out of this Shaman." Kanata spat, shooting him a glare before turning back to Anna, "Anna-"
"You're making a fool of yourself." Anna cut in shortly, "I don't want to talk."
"But-"
"Come-on Yoh, it's getting late."
"Ah, yeah." Yoh said awkwardly, "Ja'ne Usagi-chan."
"Ja'ne Yoh-nii-san! Anna-nee-san!" the girl, Usagi, waved as Yoh and Anna started moving again, leaving a silent and steaming Kanata behind.
Yoh sighed, wishing he knew what to do. The other day everyone had tried to get Anna to tell them who Kanata was. Anna would either give short useless answers, or not answer at all. No one wanted to get on her bad side, but everyone, including Yoh, had found them selves with growing curiosity. Especially when all the Itako students and gathered outside the inn, standing guard. Kino seemed more and more amused by this and Anna more and more indifferent…if that was possible.
Manta had even asked one of the Itako students, but he never got a reply.
Suddenly something got a hold of Anna's arm. Turning around to deliver another tight slap if she had to, she was surprised to find Yoh wincing and smiling sheepishly at her at the same time.
"I think we should listen to what he has to say. It seems pretty important."
"Its not important." Anna said curtly before jerking her arm away and starting to walk forward again.
Yoh sighed and stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jeans, "come on Anna, do you really want him to make another scene in front of the guys?"
Anna stopped short. Yoh grinned. He knew Anna couldn't take another interrogation session. And the only way to avoid that is to keep Kanata far away. In order to keep him far away she needed to listen to him. And Yoh would finally be able to tell everyone what really was happening. He didn't really care much of course, it was just that his friends wanted to know.
Looking back around the corner, he was startled to see Kanata punching the wall. Glaring at it furiously.
Yoh was about to call out to him when he felt someone taking hold of his sleeves.
"Its late." Said Anna, "later."
Yoh sighed, "He doesn't look very happy, what does he want?"
For a second Yoh was sure Anna wouldn't reply, but then to his surprise Anna shrugged.
"Its nothing important."
Yoh raised his eyebrows, "Really?"
"I didn't used to leave my room much. Kino-sama used to give me private lessons. One day she sent me out to get something for her for the first time. He saw me coming out. I sensed disturbing thoughts from him."
"I didn't see him the first time I visited. But then I never thought grandma taught guys as well."
"He isn't exactly a student. Just someone grandma took in and taught self defense."
"Where was he when I came?"
"He was running scared of my demons by that time"
Yoh sweat-dropped, "What did he do when he first saw you?"
"He just wanted to know why I was living with Kino. He always wanted her attention."
"So you really have no idea what he wants?"
Anna paused then shook her head, "He was always competing with me in being Kino's best student. I don't know what he wants to talk about. I never talked to him much. His thoughts were always disturbing."
"Perverted?"
"Close."
"Ah…maybe he likes you."
Anna smirked, "I heard disturbing thoughts from you the first time you blocked my path in Osorezon. I 'doubt' you started liking me then."
Yoh cleared his throat sweat dropping, "Yeah well…lets head home it really is getting late"
"Hm. Whatever." Anna said turning around starting to walk. When she didn't sense Yoh following her she turned back to him.
"What is it?"
Yoh grinned, "I was thinking of visiting Osorezan tomorrow before everyone woke up. Want to come?"
Anna raised her eyebrow, "why before everyone woke up?"
Yoh smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head, "there would be too much explanation. I'll just leave them a note"
"Saying?"
"That we went to take care of a promise."
Anna's eyes widened in realization, "Matamune."
Yoh nodded, "Its time we meet him again don't you think?"
Anna smiled, "Right."
"Where have you been?!" Manta yelled as Yoh walked in the living room, hands tucked in his pockets.
"I was out with Anna," Yoh said, silencing everyone in the room.
Yoh blinked, "Why? Is something wrong?"
Suddenly out of nowhere Horo Horo appeared on his right, "Out with Anna huh? Does this sudden outing has anything to do with that Kanata dude from yesterday?"
Yoh sweat dropped, "Well-"
"Don't tell me you find him a threat Yoh," said Ren appearing on Yoh's left
"Hey Ren when did you came?" Yoh greeted
"Oh comeON DUDE! Don't change the topic!" Horo Horo said from Yoh's right.
Yoh eyed Horo in confusion, "What topic?"
"I thought you of all the people were above that Yoh." Said Ren from Yoh's left.
"What are you guys talking about?" Yoh asked, clueless.
"Ah master Yoh is finally being controlled by the most powerful emotion mother-nature has ever created." Put in Ryu appearing behind Yoh, placing his hands on his shoulders, "But do not worry master I shall teach you everything you need to know to win Anna-san back"
"Win her back?!" Yoh asked raising his eyebrows, in surprise.
Manta sweat-dropped watching his best friend being tormented by the other Shamans. He caught a glimpse of Anna making her way upstairs silently as almost everyone in the living room laughed and joked about. Glancing back at Yoh who was now flushing slightly and trying to protest against what everyone was thinking, Manta wondered if Kanata would be the cause of something big during their vacation.
Nightglider: Well that's it! I enjoyed writing this more than I had the last two chapters. Hehe, was this predictable? Anyway I'd love a review. And I promise the chapters will get better and better.
