A/N: Sorry for the UPLATE (my new term for updating late. Hehe. ^^) 'coz school is bugging me everytime – especially now that we got our weekly long exams! You read that? Weekly? Damn! Hope I can pass. Huhu. T.T Anyways, here's Chap 3. Hope you like it. R&R! Domo! :)
And also, I wanna show everyone my perception of The SK Switch! I scanned my drawing and it's not that high-quality. Really. I'm just a newbie artist so please, don't be harsh on me (puppy eyes). Check it out in the site deviantart, title: shaman_king_SWITCH . I tried pasting the link here, but it won't do so, if you wanna see it, just type the title at the searchbox (it's the only one with the exact title so, don't get loss, 'kay? hehe). If it shows none, try typing the title without underscores. Hehe. If you still can't find it, then, just proceed reading (Kami-sama doesn't want me to show you my ugly art piece. Too bad. Huhu. T.T) Anyways, Hope you like. :)
Enjoy Chap3! Daisuki dayou, minna-san! ^_^
DISCLAIMER: SK ain't mine.
NOTE: All underlined names & attributes refer to the character's soul and not the body. 'Kay?
STORY TITLE: SWITCH
Chapter 3: Still Mine
It was yet another day, and our characters gathered in the dining table for breakfast.
"BAKA ERO!" shouted the brunette onto the gobbling chink with his brown hair spiking up into three sharp points similar to his previous tongari, "You're eating too much calories! And you're not even taking any milk! It's your job to keep my body healthy and well-nourished! Now stop that and train!" he demanded.
"Munch-Munch-Canch-you-shee-I'm-Munch-munch-eaching?" Horohoro defended and went on swallowing each steak wholly while immediately lowering his bandanna enough to cover his ears against the rowdy complaints of the other. He wanted to concentrate eating of course, and Ren's lecture is secondary – scratch that, it's his least priority actually.
"Aargh!" Ren groaned, "And what's that headband doing on my head? Get that thing off, sissy!"
That caught the glutton's attention, "Don't call me sissy! You, triple shark-head!" ridiculed him while pointing on the triple tongari protrusion on the brunette's head.
And as the usual routine… $#/+)*&$#R)*(&%_$&*#_!(*%!
Horohoro immediately grabbed the centrepiece which Ryu prepared last night – the oranges – and attempted to throw it to distract the brunette's Chuuka Zanmai. However he halted while realizing something.
"Fu-fu…" the green-haired sighed while staring blankly into space, not even touching even one-eighth of his meal.
"Yoh?" Manta called his attention worriedly.
"Yoh-donno?" Amidamaru seconded.
Horohoro noticed his low-spirited pal, so did the real owner of its body – That's weird for him not to react even if his oranges were about to be thrown?
Then, he signalled his opponent to stop first and sympathized with their friend.
"Sorry 'bout that, bro. If only we know how to get back to ourselves, things won't be as complicated as this. And if only THAT guy," he pointed to Ren, who was already glaring against him, "…who occupied your body acted nicely even for a TEEEEENY-TINY bit, she won't be acting like that."
"The Ice Queen feeling sad is really something. I feel sorry for her," added the Afro guy, who was currently wearing a long green jacket which covered his dark skin.
"Kisama!" Ren cursed while finishing his cup of milk, "I don't know what you see in her, Yoh, but she can't be a bitch to ditch you like that."
Yoh grinned sheepishly trying to cover his sadness, "Gomen, minna. Sorry for keeping you worried."
"Of course, they should be worried." Everyone jerked upon hearing that icy tone. It's her, they all thought as she continued, "Who's that BITCH by the way? You're not talking ill behind my back, aren't you?" Then she stabbed each of them with her dagger-like glares. Everyone sweatdropped.
"No, Anna," Horohoro denied while pointing to Ren, "he said it, not- Aw!" Then he winced in pain while limping, thanks to Ren's low shin kick, he failed to finish his words.
"Oh," the itako uttered while finding herself a seat on the dining room. She took the center one nearest the brunette while Yoh was sitting quite farther from her. Did she just distance away from him? – the others wondered.
Then she added, "How ironic. I had never witnessed nor imagined my FIANCE's lips calling me bitch. Not until now." She glared to the fretted brunette, and then Tamao calmed her with a cup of tea.
The green-head boy chuckled, "Hehe. Well, I don't wanna be mean anyway."
"Of course, or else you'd be dead by then," she bluntly said without glancing onto him.
Yoh grinned, "Hehe. Thanks, Anna. Thanks for understanding," he gratified intently.
The blonde girl immediately stood up and turned around flustered – who knows whether she was mad or embarrassed by his words; but then she spoke coldly once more, "Urusai."
"Ne, Anna, you're finished already?" the green-head blinked curiously after she barely drank her tea.
"You… Are… All… Fi-nished…" uttered Anna while stabbing them one by one with her death glare PER syllable, "…If you all slack off today. So, get your asses off the chair and TRAIN!"
Instantly, everyone stood up scuttling outside without worrying anymore whether their meals are finished or not. The five of them simultaneously did their push-ups in the yard, while Anna stayed inside.
"Kuso! Why am I involved with this?" grumbled Ren while the others articulated the 50th count.
"Gomen, Ren," Yoh apologized while the other two, Lyserg and Chocolove already panted on the 55th count. Of course, it was their first time to train under Anna – unwillingly.
"Stop complaining, Ren," the Chinese body hushed him and spoke lowly, "Anna might hear you."
"Oh yes, I heard a lot."
Not that voice again – everyone chorused in their thoughts.
The itako was already standing on their porch with arms crossed and brows raised. Pirika, who just arrived from the market, was astounded of the sight – especially upon seeing her brother train even without her initiation.
"297—298—299—300! Whew!" the quintet gasped for air as they dispersed while searching for a spot to rest.
However, "You," Anna called for the brunette, who was then on confused.
"WHAT?" the chocolate brown eyes stared at her coldly, with eyes scowling. Deep inside, she was bothered. Of course, she's not used to seeing her Yoh acting contemptuous like that – not until now that this scumbag possessed her soon-to-be-husband.
She glowered unto him, "Who told you to dress up like that?"
"Huh?" Ren asked quizzically while looking at his clothes, "What's wrong? These are my EXPENSIVE training clothes shipped from China."
"And yet, we're here in Japan and not in China AND that body is Japanese, NOT Chinese," she answered back, and then she tossed a paper bag towards him, "Wear this."
After opening it, the brunette screamed, "Are you making fun of me?" Then he pulled out all of the contents, "Are you serious? No way will I wear those damn costumes!" Apparently, Ren despised Yoh's battle clothes.
The itako clenched her fists hearing that. Of course, she sew it herself and the design was hers, and yet she was instantly humiliated like that? No way she deserved that treatment; hence, she flung her slap aiming to the grumbling brunette, yet fortunately, the green-head guy intercepted, "He doesn't mean it, Anna. Err. How 'bout this? I'll wear it for his sake and-"
"Go away, leave, and stop defending your friend!"
Yoh's eyes widened in shock from her recent words. To Anna, it was just nothing but her routine coldness. But to her fiancée, considering their current situation, he then concluded that Anna is definitely mad towards him – so did Yoh's friends presumed.
The Ainu finally lost his cool and jolted in front the steadfast Yoh, "What's wrong with you, Anna? Can't you see Yoh's worried here and everyone's thinking how we could possibly get back to our usual selves just to prevent further misunderstanding between you two? And yet, here you are, still cocky and bossy as ever – as if nothing major happened! Sheesh. Get some soul, Anna!"
SLAP!
Horohoro cupped his hand-marked cheek. Everyone jawdropped. She then face Yoh and protested, "Whose fault could this be? If you were the Shaman King, you can immediately reverse the situation, then I can be the Queen, and I can't be as grumpy as this!"
She paused upon seeing everyone's astounded reaction. Of course, it was their first seeing Anna TOTALLY lost her cool like that. She was always considered the 'Ice Queen' – cold, aloof, emotionless, pokerface, name it all. But now…
Realizing her sudden outburst, she walked out from the scene, still leaving the entire group gaping.
"Uhh... What just happened?" mumbled the blue-headed Chocolove.
'Ugh! Those damn people! How can they annoy me like this? Who do they think they are?' Anna's mind crowded with exasperation while stomping heavily along the side street. Her destination – she wasn't thinking of that yet.
'Damn you too, Anna!' now, she's charging unto herself, 'Why allow them get into your nerves? They're supposed to be IDITOS! And only IDIOTS get irritated to IDIOTS! Why become an IDIOT like them, Anna? Baka!'
Then, her feet led her to the cemetery where her fiancée used to slack off. She curled under the large tree thinking why her Yoh ended up like this. They're supposed to be celebrating the end of the SK fight together but they can't, and even though she wants to, she can't stand seeing her fiancée's face kept scowling unto her like that, while her REAL Yoh looked girly with his green hair and is being molested by Ryu! Shoot!
Her thought was vague and fuzzy – What to do? What to do? That idea echoed in her mind. Unexpectedly…
"What a noise," a voice smirked in a distance with its light footsteps nearing her spot, "You've been bombarding me with a lot of thoughts, Anna."
That smirk – it's familiar, Anna thought as she looked unto the voice. Damn right. "So you retrieved your reishi now, Hao?" she uttered with a snob.
He chuckled changing the topic, "Is today your red flag?"
"HAO!" the reddened itako groaned, embarrassed, while snappily standing out swinging her right hand towards the guy.
Luckily, he caught that, "Sorry, but you really look upset so I thought-" But, Anna persisted with her legendary left, "I saw that," said Hao gripping her left tightly.
Annoyed, she scoffed, "You're forgetting something," then her right leg sprung upward kicking him harshly straight to his balls, "…My leg can crack balls too."
"Ow…" Hao cowered while wincing in pain, still his smile not fading away, "That… I didn't expect. You're still as strong as ever, Anna. You never fail to surprise me."
Anna curled back to her spot in silence while Hao gradually stood up after somehow recovering from the pain. He sat next to her, fixing his gaze on the itako's meek face wondering how it greatly contradicts the boldness of her lion's heart. He smiled.
Pissed off, Anna muttered, "Stop that before I kill you."
He laughed. "You're still funny even you're mad, Anna." She glared, so he paused changing the topic, "I was just wondering. You're depressing your thoughts again."
Of course, she doesn't want Hao to know how worried she is for her fiancée. She's the Ice Queen after all. She can't show her emotions – especially not to this mischievous brother of her Yoh. She's good in countering Hao's mind-reading skills after all.
"None of your business," she said coldly, still staring to space.
"Lemme see," Hao opened calmly, "You're terribly annoyed because of the boys in the inn, aren't you?"
Ignored.
He sighed, "And you're wondering what to do to resolve the problem, right?"
Ignored.
He smirked, "And yet, you're still ignoring the person who caused you such trouble. Don't you think, Anna?"
She turned to him, frowning in both confusion and anger, "What the hell, Hao!" She flung her left arm but the guy swiftly leaped away evading her attack. "Stop being a brat now that you're the Shaman King! Stop playing fools on people, you prick!" she screamed clenching her fists.
And again, the long-haired brunette laughed amusedly. She gritted her teeth, holding back.
"Calm down, Anna. You see, I'm kinda bored being with Matamune alone-"
"Then give up your throne if you're getting bored sitting on it."
He smiled looking unto the horizon, "I heard everything earlier, Anna. If you really wanted to be the Shaman Queen badly, then why not come to me and leave this mortal world?" Then she faced her intently, "Marry me, Anna."
She was startled. 'Was that a confession? Hell no. I had been loving Yoh ever since I was 10. I don't know if Yoh feels the same but-'
"Does Yoh really feel the same way?" Hao read her thoughts.
"Stop reading me, Hao!" she demanded.
"He never actually told you he loved you, right, Anna?"
"Stop!"
"And the marriage thing was plainly arranged by the elder Asakuras."
"I said stop!"
"So, him being your fiancée was yet self-proclaimed."
"She said stop!" another voice shouted.
Surprised, Hao and Anna turned to its bearer – it was Lyserg. No, it was Yoh. He butted-in while gasping for air. He was actually trailing Anna from behind but it took him minutes though before he left the inn and searched for her, so he came kinda late.
"Yoh?" the itako doubted.
The green-head threw his trademark grin in greetings, "Sorry, I'm late, Anna. I'm not kinda used running around with Lyserg's body, that's why."
Hao laughed while nearing to his brother. Then he tapped the green-head's shoulder, "You look feminine, Otouto."
Yoh spoke calmly, "Please don't bother Anna, Hao."
The king raised his arms in surrender, "I got it. I'll raise my white flag against the red flag."
"HAO!" Anna detested blushingly.
Hao chuckled. Yoh raised a brow with a quizzical look, "Red flag?"
Noticing his innocent brother, Hao whispered to him.
"EHHHHH? Is that why Anna is grumpy all the while?" Yoh exclaimed astoundingly.
"STOP INSTILLING WEIRD IDEAS ON HIM, HAO!" she screeched but Hao kept on whispering words to her fiancée.
"And also…" the brunette continued whispering until the green-head's face gradually flustered in crimson red.
"Hao!" Now the itako snapped and went straight to the elder twin. Seeing Yoh's embarrassed expression, she pulled Hao away, "What did you tell him?"
Hao smiled, "A way to break the spell." Then he leaped up calling an enormous spirit, then vanished leaving his farewell words echoing, "Ganbare, Otouto!"
"Sheesh," the itako blurted annoyingly, then to the guy fronting him, she spoke, "What did he tell you, Yoh?"
He fretted while stammering, "Ano… ah… eh..." still with the embarrassed color on his face.
"Stop reciting the alphabet and speak!" Anna demanded.
The boy stiffened while sweating profusely, "Ano…"
Her brow rose, "What?"
"Well…" he grinned sheepishly while scratching his head, "Let me gather my thoughts for a sec, ne?" Then he turned around buying himself some time thinking. 'What? Should I tell her? But it's too embarrassing! She might hit me after! But if I don't spit it out, she'll still hit me. But if I tell her, she'll probably hit me more-'
"YOH!" she called for his attention upon seeing the boy emitting a gloomy aura around him. But seeing him busy organizing his thoughts, she plainly walked off.
"Yoshi!" he boosted himself, "Okay, Anna…" Then he turned around to face her, but to his dismay, she was already ambling farther from him, "Chotto matte, Anna!"
She paused; he did, too. Then, Anna spoke lowly, "I don't have the leisure to play dumb with you, Yoh. If you want to say it, then spit it out. If you can't, fine. It's you and your brother's business, not mine. And, I'm already tired."
"Okay, Anna!" he smiled while energetically sauntering unto her, pulling her aside, "Then let's walk home, ne? I'll try speaking with the boys later. Then I'll tell you the details after you rested, 'kay? And also, sorry about earlier. "
"No, Yoh. It's me who should apologize."
That stunned Yoh. Overwhelmed, he heaved a large sigh then he glued his usual grin, "That's a relief, Anna! But it's nobody's fault so everything will work out fine just fine! 'Kay?"
She bluntly nodded, but deep inside she was happy and grateful that despite the change on his physical contours – he is still Yoh. He is still my Yoh.
tsuzuku
A/N: Well, what ya think? Review. Review. Review. Puhleeese! Domo! Be gentle to the kid, hehe . ^_^
