Disclaimer: Shaman King does not belong to me, and will never belong to me. They didn't want to sell it to me, boo hoo. 

Together, But Not Forever
written by: da*mouse


Chapter 4: A Step Taken

Oh, no.

That was the only thought in Yoh's head as the cameras began flashing all around him, the flashbulbs almost blinding him. In his arms, Anna muttered something like sounded like a curse as she struggled to regain her balance.

"Let go of me!" she hissed into Yoh's ear, vaguely aware that she could not push him away and gave him a nice huge slap, as much as she would like to. She mentally calculated the ways she could kill those reporters and ripping their cameras into pieces –damn them.

Immediately, Yoh's arms loosened, and gripping Yoh's shoulders, Anna tried to stand up on her feet. But another flashbulb at her face caused her to lose her balance – again – and fell – again – against Yoh. 

Automatically, Yoh caught her, his arms wrapped firmly and securely around her waist, and her arms on his shoulders. 

In the dark corner, where HoroHoro joined Ryu after knocking down Anna, the two culprits gave each other high fives. Although they knew as plain as day that Yoh and Anna's position was merely accidental thanks to the both of them, they portrayed the very image of a loving couple in each other's arms to the bevy and throng of nosy journalists.

By tomorrow, the gay Shaman King would be no more.

As for Yoh, his mind was a flurry of confusion as reporters began shooting questions – most of it very absurd – into his face.

"Yoh-sama! Who is this lady?" shouted one gum-chewing reporter, waving his notepad in the air.

"How long have you two been dating each other?"

"Yoh-sama, are the two of you romantically involved?"

"Yoh-sama! Over here! Is it true that you are married, and just came back from your honeymoon on this train?"

"Miss! How does it feel like to be dating the Shaman King?"

"Miss! How was Yoh-sama like in bed?"

Anna's eyes were growing wider and wider at each question and it was all she could not to kick those little imbeciles to the stratosphere.

"You…" she grounded out through gritted teeth, near Yoh's ear. "Get me out of here."

"If I could, I would beam us out of here in no time. But I can't get through them…not unless you want me to summon Amidamaru and let him take care of them." Yoh hissed back, his eyes looking very worried as his tongue refused to cooperate with him in facing those news-hungry reporters.

"Oh, isn't it sweet!! They're whispering sweet-nothings into each other's ears!" cried one enthusiastic cameraman, promptly snapping a picture.

Anna rolled her eyes, feeling her frustration growing moment after moment. Mentally, she thought of the ways to make Yoh pay for this stupid scenario.

Argh! Why did I EVER agree to this in the first place?!

"Yoh-sama! Answer our questions!" The crowd was getting enthusiastic.

But poor Yoh could only look at them blankly, not having a clue as to what to say. First off, how could he answer such stupid questions? Secondly, he didn't have a single idea on what to say – calling Anna his fiancée, in her face and without her permission would probably resulted him in a hospital. Thirdly, after the whole gay-or-not-gay interview with Manta, he didn't quite trust himself to open his mouth, especially on unprepared grounds.

Ryu sighed, taking out his comb and brushing his ridiculous hairstyle. Deftly tucking the comb back into his trousers, he beckoned to HoroHoro. "It's time for us to rescue the two of them."

"And stage a press-conference to explain and dispel all those rumors…for good." HoroHoro said gleefully.

Honestly, Ryu did feel a bit bad about putting Yoh in such a position, he knew that Yoh could not really handle the situation. But hey, desperate calls for desperate measures. No one could hold that against Ryu. He surveyed the two, Yoh was gaping like a fish out of water with a "get-me-out-of-here" expression on his face, and Anna had her face turned away from all the reporters and cameras, her head against Yoh's chest.

Interestingly enough, the two still hung onto each other without letting go – Anna still had her hands on Yoh's shoulders and Yoh was still holding her waist. Counting out the predicament they were in, they actually looked…very comfortable together.

The older man chewed his bottom lip, looking at the disorientated pair. Could it be…?

Nah.

Both he and HoroHoro neared the crowd, and then broke into a 'pretend' run. They reached Yoh and Anna in no time at all, and relief immediately appeared on Yoh's face. "Ryu! HoroHoro!" He said, his eyes on the seemingly hundreds of news people. "HELP!"

"Sorry we're late, Yoh-danna, Anna-san," Ryu bowed.

Yoh smiled gratefully. "Ah, I'm just glad you're here, Ryu."

Anna, meanwhile, lifted her head to shoot a very poisonous glare at Ryu. "Took you long enough, you idiot." Suddenly, she realised that her hands were still resting on Yoh's shoulders, and he still had his arms around her waist.

Well, this is wrong, Anna thought crossly, dropping her hands from Yoh's shoulders. Seeing that Ryu had blocked them from the prying eyes of the media, she roughly elbowed Yoh, resulting in the poor guy wincing in pain, letting go of her.  Could anything else possibly go wrong? Just peachy. Just what I didn't want…

"Take it from here, HoroHoro." Ryu bundled off his client and his fiancée, giving HoroHoro a concealed wink.

HoroHoro winked back.

Ryu quickly gestured the young couple to an exit while the reporters still followed, shouting out their nonsensical questions. As the three hopped into a sleek limousine, a collective groan arose.

"People! People!" HoroHoro shouted, waving his arms, indicating that attention should be turned to him. "No doubt all of you are extremely curious about the scenario just now…"

He was interrupted by shouts and yells of agreement.

"…And all your questions shall be answered at a very special press conference on Friday, four o'clock at the Diamond Ballroom of Tokyu Hotel."

Another car pulled up at the exit of the station, clearly meant for HoroHoro. The reporters, however, wasn't about to let him go.

"HoroHoro-san! Tell us, is Yoh-sama dating that blonde girl?"

"Does that mean Yoh-sama is not gay, as initially thought?"

"What are their relations?"

"Is she pregnant?"

"Talk to us, HoroHoro-san!"

HoroHoro waved an arm, signaling that he would answer no more questions, before he disappeared into the waiting car and sped away. Once inside, the blue-haired Ainu folded his hands behind his head in satisfaction.

Mission accomplished.

-

"Something is not connecting here." Anna paced the length of the living room, her pretty face drawn into a huge frown. The three young man, meanwhile, sat on the comfortable couch, although their stiff postures suggested that the comfort of the couch was actually irrelevant given to what they were feeling right now.

The sources of her menacing scowl laid across the glass coffee table – evening editions of papers and tabloids. All of them portraying her and Yoh together, holding each other in an easily misunderstood position, although it wasn't her fault that the supposed Shaman King was such a clumsy oaf. All of them with the most ridiculous headlines blaring above the pictures.

Yoh looked blank, confused and blur, all in one, in addition to an expression of extreme wariness…anytime now his training regime was going to be tripled, quadrupled. He wouldn't put it pass his 'fiancée', he had only been with her for a mere two weeks, but had managed to see her through. At least to some extent.

HoroHoro, for his part, was struggling to maintain a neutral face and wished to God that Ryu would wipe off that excessively innocent and definitely suspicious bright smile across his face. The face just screamed CULPRIT and Ryu might as well been wearing a huge GUILTY sign across his chest.

"Why are all those people there at the train station, just as we are due to arrive? And why are the both of you late?" Anna looked sharply at HoroHoro and Ryu.

At her glare, HoroHoro gave a jump, and twisted his hands nervously.

Damn. He probably just gave himself away.

Ryu's smile grew wider and phonier, as HoroHoro mentally slapped himself on the forehead.

"Why, Anna-san!" He said brightly, and very falsely. "Accidents and mix-ups do happen. I just got the time of your arrival mixed up!"

"And those reporters?" Anna glowered darkly.

"Ahahahaha…I don't know."

Anna marched up to him. "Are you sure you don't know why those reporters just happened to be at the station just as me and this blockhead is due to arrive?"

"Hehehe…I don't know…" Ryu's smile was beginning to slip, and sweat drops formed at his brow. He was about to crack…

Anna leaned closer, a very dangerous look on her face, her dark eyes flashing.

Ryu swallowed hard.

"ALL RIGHT! I CONFESS! IT WAS ALL HOROHORO'S FAULT!" He burst out, hopping up, partly in fear, holding up his arms in shape of cross, no doubt to protect himself from Anna the devil.

"WHAT?!! WHY YOU LOUSY LITTLE GIT!" HoroHoro jumped up in shock, casting a look of absolute panic at Anna. "IT WAS SO YOUR IDEA!"

"IS NOT!"

"IS TOO!"

POW! POW!

Yoh shook his head sadly at his overturned friends on the floor, receiver of Anna's famous slaps…what made them think they could actually get away with the whole idea? Now he knew of it, even he himself had to admit it was pretty ingenious…but in a dense way, because one just didn't trick Kyouyama Anna.

-

Anna straightened her black dress, scowling at the mirror. Impatiently, she dragged a comb through her blonde hair, loosening all the tangles.

She couldn't believe she was standing in front of a mirror fussing over her looks. She couldn't believe she was at the ladies' restroom of Tokyu hotel. She couldn't believe that in another few minutes' time, she was going into that damn ballroom and facing all of Tokyo's nosy journalists as the 'fiancée' of the biggest blockhead she ever came across.

To put it plainly, she just couldn't believe that she, Anna, was doing what she was going to do.

*Flashback*

"Anna-san, listen to me…you have to attend the press conference." Ryu pleaded, standing about five feet away from Anna. It was best to keep his distance, judging by the disbelieving look on Anna's face that was slowly turning into a huge frown, she was about to deliver a slap, and he didn't want to be on the receiving end.

"And pray tell WHY…must I attend your lousy conference?"

"Well…well…" HoroHoro stuttered, and then gathered his courage to talk. "Well…you do know that at some point…you would have to…well…"

Anna huffed impatiently; that she did know. It was just that…she had hoped fervently that that day would never come.

"Anna…" Yoh said hesitantly. "You do know of…obligations, once you're my 'fiancée'…"

"I am NOT your fiancée." She snapped. "It was all a charade, remember?"

"Not to the rest of the world." Yoh pointed out reasonably. "Remember what obaa-san said…?"

She did, and she wished to God that she could forget. But…

"Whatever." Anna growled, and stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

*End of Flashback*

So here she was, waiting. Waiting to be thrown into the lion's den.

"Anna-san…are you ready?" Ryu's muffled voice was heard from the other side of the door.

Anna threw open the door, and stalked past him. "Where's Yoh?" she asked shortly.

"He's waiting, over by the ballroom."

"Fine."

"Ano…Anna-san." Ryu called, a anxious tone in his voice. Anna turned to look at him, an eyebrow raised. He twiddled his thumbs fretfully before replying. "You…uh…do know what to say, right?"

Anna rolled her eyes. "I won't embarrass your Shaman King, if that is what you are worried about. I know what to say and not to say."

"Eh…good then." Ryu smiled nervously.

She headed towards the ballroom, smoothing a crease in her dress. Yoh was waiting for her, along with HoroHoro, who was giving him last-minute instructions. After the last fiasco, this conference had to be nothing less than perfect.

Much as she hated to admit it, Yoh did look good in casual black pants and a plain white shirt, unbuttoned to his usual trademark.

Pity those good looks didn't come equipped with a brighter personality. Anna thought sourly as she approached them.

"Ready?" She asked shortly.

"Ready!" Yoh grinned, and HoroHoro pushed opened the doors to the ballroom.

As expected, flashbulbs began popping once they appeared in the doorway. Anna sighed, and pasted a cheery smile on her usually stoic face, and prepared herself for the inevitable.

-

Yoh walked into the ballroom, grinning cheerfully at all that was present. He stole a glance at the young lady beside him, and did a double take.

The Ice Queen was…smiling.

He looked at her almost wondrously. She was pretty even though with that stone-cold face, and that infamous bored expression…but with that smile, even though it looked a little bit forced…she was…beautiful.

Really beautiful.

The tension lines that seemed to always be present at the edge of her jaw were relaxed, and there was a faint blush to her cheeks. And when she turned to look at him, even her eyes seemed softer…somehow, seeing that they were not narrowed.

It was that smile.

Almost without thinking, he reached out and took her hand.

-

Anna was keeping her eyes straight ahead, smiling at all those bloody busybodies, when she had the sensation that someone was staring at her. She turned her head, and she was right.

The Shaman King was staring at her, and in a very dopey way.

The smile on her face froze a little, and she felt herself stiffened.

It was then when she felt her hand being taken up…by him.

Her first instinct was to yank her hand out of his, and smack him on his head.

But then she reminded herself that there were reporters all over the place…how would it look if the Shaman King got whacked in front of them? Not too good, probably.

She let him.

Only for show, she told herself.

Once they sat down, she quickly wrenched her hand free. But she remembered how it felt, her hand in his rough, calloused, but warm one…it actually felt kind of…nice. Being held by someone was…comfortable.

The thought was immediately dismissed as some random person began firing questions.

It was time to face the press.

-

"Everyone would have a chance to ask their question," Ryu announced loudly. "Each of you would please ask your questions in an orderly manner."

"Yoh-sama! I believe the question on everyone's lips was…who is this blonde girl beside you?"

Yoh smiled easily. "I've kept her hidden for so long…" here he flashed a mischievous grin at Anna. "…but I do think it's time I introduce Kyouyama Anna to all of you. My fiancée."

At that, audible gasps were heard as the rumor was confirmed. Pencils flew across notepads, and cameras started clicking again.

"No offense, Yoh-sama." One reporter spoke out boldly. "We do find it a bit strange that Kyouyama-san is only introduced after those rumors of your…sexuality surfaced." Her question was met by nods of agreement.

"None taken." Yoh said pleasantly. "Actually, I've been engaged to Anna since the age of ten. It was just that I never felt any need to bring her into the life of limelight, it was only after these rumors in which I think was essential to clear up."

"Ahhh…" Click. Click.

"Kyouyama-san!" One man waved his notepad. "How was it like being with the Shaman King? And you…being his Queen?"

"Yoh is Yoh. It doesn't matter who he is, I'm with him because he's Asakura Yoh, and not because he is the Shaman King." Anna recited from the top of her head, mentally rolling her eyes.

"How did the two of you meet? How did the engagement come to be?"

"Through the Asakura matriarch, my Obaa-san."

"Was your meeting romantic?" Another one called out.

"Ehehe…" Yoh remembered their initial meeting: him gaping like a fish out of the water and the little attention she paid him – he could have been a dust ball to her for all he knew.  "I…we…err…"

"That's a little too personal to share at this stage." Anna rescued him.

Knowing grins were thrown about all over the room.

"What are future plans for the two of you?" A reporter at the back shouted.

Yoh and Anna looked at each other. Yoh shrugged and gestured to her. Anna smoothed the tightening of the muscles on her face, forcing another polite smile. "We don't know what the future holds, but we'll make the best of it." She answered.

"Are the two of you very happy together?"

Anna gritted her teeth. To her, the whole situation was just…ridiculous.

"Yes, we are very happy together."

-

Anna stomped out of the ballroom, an irritated look pasted on her face.

That was nothing less than torture. She would probably have more fun on a dentist's chair, pulling her teeth. And she fervently hoped that was her first AND last time doing such interviews, conferences, whatever the hell they were known as.

"Good job, Yoh." Ryu congratulated. Both him and the publicist looked extremely relieved that the whole saga was cleared up – no more inconsistent rumors. And they were extremely thankful that Yoh did not mess up the whole conference, as feared initially.

"Thank you, Anna-san." HoroHoro bowed politely.

"Hmmph." She muttered, crossing her arms, not looking at any of them.

"Well, that's the day, guys." Ryu tucked a folder into his briefcase.

"Finally!" Yoh yawned and stretched. "I'm free for the day!"

"Ah, but tomorrow…" HoroHoro took out a notebook and began ticking off items. "You have to meet with…"

"Tomorrow," Anna cut in. "…your training resumes. You've fooled around for long enough, Yoh."

"But…but…"

"No arguments from any of you."

Yoh dropped his head despondently. "Yes, Anna."

"Well, it's almost time for dinner!" HoroHoro rubbed his stomach. Yoh brightened up at the thought. "Why don't we go to the Ramen House at Shibuya?"

"Sounds gr…"

"Unfortunately, me and HoroHoro have to work tonight." Ryu interrupted.

"We do?" HoroHoro looked confused.

"We do." Ryu affirmed. "So, Yoh, you and Anna-san enjoy yourselves. We'll see you tomorrow, ja!" He began propelling HoroHoro towards the door, the latter obviously intent on protesting.

Anna sighed exasperatedly. Yoh gave her an uncertain grin. "You want to go grab dinner after all? I promise it's good."

She was suddenly aware that they were alone, just the two of them. She was about to refuse him when her stomach answered for her, growling loudly. She felt her cheeks growing hot at the embarrassing sound.

Yoh grinned. "Shall we go?"

Oh heck. Whatever.

"Whatever…" Anna muttered, echoing her own thoughts.

"Let's go then!"

-

It was a dark night, peaceful. But Asakura Mikihasa's tensed shoulders told that he was feeling anything but that.

He could feel no peace. For he knew tonight he would see him again…

"Honorable Otou-san, to whom I owed this utmost honor to?" A mocking voice was heard from the darkness.

Mikihasa clenched his fists. "Hao." He said, his voice low.

The young man stepped out of the darkness, an amused smile on his face. "I've been expecting you." He said coolly.

"It's no use, Hao. It's no use trying anything. The Shaman Fight is over. Yoh is declared the Shaman King."

"Oh?" His tone was disbelieving. "What makes you think I can't do anything, honorable Otou-san?"

"Why are you doing this?" A note of despair crept into Mikihasa's voice. "Does it not matter to you that he is your…"

"He is not my anybody." Hao interrupted fiercely. "He shouldn't have been anybody, anything."

"Hao…"

"I hate him." Hao said evenly, coolly. "I hate him, resent him, everything he stood for." His fingers curled into a fist. It should have been mine.

"Why can't you see? The two of you…"

"Do you honestly think it meant anything to me, honorable Otou-san?" Hao yawned, almost deliberately.

"There's a lot you do not understand." Mikihasa looked at his older son straight in the eye.

"What I want to understand, I understood. And that's enough." There was a stubborn tone in Hao's voice. 

"You can't kill him. He's your brother. More than that. He's your twin!"

Hao appraised Mikihasa critically, suddenly feeling resentful. He recalled a fight, one whole year ago…where his father, his own father struck him, battled him…because of Asakura Yoh. He, who shouldn't even exist.

"Yes. And you're my father."

He didn't have to explain, Mikihasa understood perfectly from his bitter tone. "I will stop you."

Hao disappeared into the darkness, but not before answering his father.

"By all means, go ahead."

-

Lyserg smiled at the silvery-blue haired clerk at the reception, taking the keys to his room at the inn. He didn't plan to stay for long; the little inn looked decent enough for a short, comfortable stay.

He only had one thing on his mind, to find Asakura Yoh, and demand an explanation. How could they let a cold-blooded murderer be crowned as the Shaman King? What was wrong with all the people?

He found that he was getting restless in his room. Originally, he had planned for a rest, but now he was in Tokyo…he couldn't. Throwing on an overcoat, Lyserg headed out of the door.

He was here, he might as well do some searching. He was about to exit the inn when he thought of something. The lovely clerk that welcomed him just now, she might or might not be a shaman, he couldn't really tell, but there was a special aura radiating from her, he could sense it. Walking to the reception counter, he waved to the clerk again.

She approached him, smiling pleasantly. "What I can do for you?"

"I was just wondering…" he said casually. "Have you heard of a person called Asakura Yoh?"

A smile spread across her face. "Yoh-kun? Of course, who hadn't?"

Lyserg gripped the marble counter-top, his heart pounding. His first try! He couldn't believe his luck. Images began swirling in his mind, the fire, the heat…his parents, the sneering face…Asakura Yoh…

"You're a shaman too, right?" The girl was saying.

He snapped back into reality. "Huh?"

"You're a shaman, right?" She repeated amiably. "It would be just the shamans who would be looking for Yoh-kun."

"You seemed to be…pretty close to him." He said slowly, noticing her use of 'kun'.

"Fairly." She laughed. "Yoh-kun is such a nice person, he's a friend to everyone. Anyway, I used to be one of his opponents at the Shaman Fight, en route to his victory."

"Really?"

She nodded, brushing back a lock of hair.

Lyserg suddenly realised that he never introduced himself. Mentally cursing himself for his rudeness, all his English manners then came into play. "It's really rude of me not to introduce myself…after chatting with you for such a while." He stuck out his hand, in a typical English fashion. "I'm Lyserg."

She bowed to him. "I'm Jeanne, pleased to meet you, Lyserg-san."

"Jeanne…" he said slowly. "Sounds familiar."  He pursed his lips, trying to place her…and then, he snapped his fingers.

"X-Laws! You're their leader!"

She smiled. "So you've heard of us."

"Uh-huh." He nodded. "You guys are pretty great at the Shaman Fight. Really competent shamans." Lyserg said admiringly. And controversial too, but he wasn't about to tell Jeanne that.

She laughed then. "Not good enough to defeat Yoh-kun," she said good-naturedly, showing no signs of being a disgruntled loser. At the mention of Yoh, Lyserg's eyes hardened.

"Actually, Jeanne…" he said, fighting for a casual tone. "I really need to see Asakura-san…would it be possible that you bring me to him? Since you're acquainted and all."

"If I could manage." Jeanne answered. "Yoh-kun is so busy nowadays, I practically had to book him in a weeks' advance for a cup of coffee. But I'll try my best."

Lyserg felt a rush of gratitude towards the young girl. "Thank you, Jeanne."

"No problem." She said cheerfully. "By the way, can I ask – if you don't mind telling, that is – why are you looking for Yoh-kun?"

He flashed an apologetic look. "If I say I couldn't tell…"

"Then it's all right. I'm just curious."

Lyserg managed a smile for Jeanne, but his fingers curled themselves into tight fists.

Asakura Yoh…soon.

-

Anna looked around her apprehensively as they got off the subway, half expecting a bevy of female fans to accost Yoh. Surprisingly, everyone ignored the two teenagers, going about their own business.

"Don't worry." Yoh assured. He grinned. "It's a wonder what a cap and a buttoned-up shirt can do for me."

Anna just rolled her eyes. She stepped out of the subway station, looking all around her.

So this is Shibuya. She scanned her surroundings with a mild air of curiosity. The streets were very busy, packed full with people, hurrying about, barking into mobile phones, dressed in wild clothes and extreme multicolored hairstyles.

She never saw all of those before, never. Of course, how could she when she spent all her time in Izumo and Osorezan, training with Kino for as long as she could remember? She had never been exposed to the highly industrialized and capitalized Japan.

"Crazy, isn't it?" Yoh observed the slightly awed expression on Anna's face. She turned to face him then, the look slipping off her face. She shrugged, feigning indifference. "I supposed."

"Come on, this Ramen place is great, and often full. We'd better hurry if we want some good seats."

It was a good ten minutes later when the two were finally seated in the packed restaurant, steaming bowl of noodles placed in front of them. Yoh dug in immediately, slurping his noodles, obviously hungry.

Anna delicately picked up her chopsticks, and began eating slowly. The ramen was extremely delicious. She was on her second mouthful when Yoh set down his bowl with a thump, and signaled the waiter. Anna raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you've finished."

A small burp escaped Yoh, and he looked at her sheepishly. Anna shook her head, and made a mental note.

Cut him down on all those calories.

Yoh's second bowl of noodles arrived, and he began eating with gusto. Through mouthfuls of vegetables, he spoke. "So…Anna."

She looked at him. He picked up his tea and gulped down a few mouthfuls. "I…think we never really had the opportunity to talk, just to two of us. I would really like to know more about you."

Once again, she was bothered by the thought that she was alone with him. "What's there to know?" She said shortly, picking up her own tea.

"Well…where do you come from, how did you come across obaa-san, all those?"

She exhaled noisily, setting down her cup. "I'm an orphan, and I have been with Kino-sensei for as long as I could remember."

He nodded, looking thoughtful. Then he brightened. "Well, go on, keep on talking."

"About what?"

"Yourself. You seemed to know so much about me, and yet I know so little about you." Yoh shrugged.

"There's nothing to tell." Anna popped a piece of prawn into her mouth.

"There has to be something." Yoh urged.

Goodness! He won't quit, would he? Anna thought grudgingly. "Really, there's nothing. I lead a very boring life, ok?"

"That was before you met me." He said cheerfully. As her eyebrows drew together dangerously, he raised his hands, laughing. "Just a joke, Anna."

"Whatever." She continued her meal. She wasn't about to tell him about her life, he didn't need to know. The loneliness, abandonment, heartache, pain that all her childhood held. He would never know any of those emotions, never.

"Anna."

The serious tone in his voice made her looked up. He certainly did look serious. "You do know you're actually a very interesting person. I really want to get to know you better, as a person. Not as my trainer, or my 'fiancée'…" the word was punctuated with a wry grin. "…but as a friend."

"Friend?" She looked taken back.

"Of course." He grinned cheerfully. "We can be friends, ne?"

The only friend she had ever known was Tamao. And even then, she wasn't sure she could really call Tamao that. Looking at the Shaman King across from her, the boyish expression making him seemed much younger than his eighteen years, with all his sincerity, Anna felt…

Well, she didn't really know what she was feeling. But she knew she felt differently.

It was the second time that day, that when she looked at him, she didn't feel irritation or the urge to smack him.

-

Tao Ren sipped his milk, looking grimly at the fire. He had trained himself extremely hard that day, forcing himself almost to the point of complete exhaustion. If not for the worried refusal of his spirit, he knew that he would've continued pushing himself.

Having fought with Yoh, he realised…

He would need more, much more skill and strength in order to wipe that infuriating grin off Yoh's face. His laidback attitude disgusts me, Ren thought sourly.

Deep in thought, he began planning his regime for the next day. So preoccupied was he that he didn't see a shadow beside him, a shadow who raised a muscular arm, and then pressed a finger against his neck.

Before he even had time to register his surprise, Tao Ren had already lost consciousness, slumping onto the ground.

The shadowy figure then came into view, revealing the grim face of Lee BaiLong. Beside him,  Tao Jun kneeled down, looking upset.

"I'm sorry…Ren. But if this is the only way…so be it."

-

"Ahhhh…that was a good meal."

Both Yoh and Anna exited the restaurant, Yoh with a toothpick dangling out of the corner of his mouth and a satisfied grin on his face. Anna, meanwhile, was expressionless as usual as she crossed her slender arms across her chest.

"Can you please get rid of that dangling toothpick? You look like an idiot." She remarked, a snappy tone in her voice, the toothpick in Yoh's mouth somehow annoying her.  Yoh immediately threw away his toothpick, looking sheepish.

"Where to now?" He asked her, falling into step behind her quick stride.

"Back. I'm tired, and I want to rest."

"It's such a nice night…want to go for a walk?" He said nonchalantly.

"A walk?" She said, an incredulous note to her voice. "It's freezing out here, and you want to go for a walk?"

He nodded, grinning.

"You're crazy." She muttered.

"I take that as a yes?" Yoh asked.

"As long as you don't take forever."

-

It was a quiet night indeed, as the two teenagers made their way through a park. Crossing a bridge, Anna stood for a moment, putting her hands on the rails on the bridge, looking at the reflection of the moon in the clear water.

"This is great." Yoh suddenly spoke up, breaking the silence between them.

She raised her head a little.

Yoh stretched his arms. "You know, just spending some quiet time out here by myself…for once when life was not all hectic and hurried with promotions, commercials, all that crazy stuff Ryu and HoroHoro always thought up for me."

"I thought you liked that kind of life. Whirlwind, parties, celebrities…" Anna remarked.

"Nah." Yoh laughed. "I put up with it because it was my said duty. But no, I don't really like that kind of life."

"Then? Lead the kind of life you want to lead." Anna said indifferently.

"When you're the Shaman King, a lot of people expect a lot from you." Yoh affirmed. "And then comes a point when you're just not living for yourself anymore." He added quietly.

Anna looked up in surprise. It was the first time that Yoh had actually said something deep and insightful. So unlike him.

"But…hehehe…" Yoh laughed sheepishly. "Well, sometimes I just wish I could do more, you know? I didn't think that being the Shaman King would be so…so…" he fumbled for a word.

"Commercialized?" Anna supplied, her eyebrow raised. 

"Yeah, that." Yoh rested his own elbows on the rail of the bridge.

"You know what I really want? What I really want is to set up a nice place, a sort of a school, for young shamans, to teach them to adapt to their abilities. It scared the heck out of me when I realised I could see spirits, but I had ojii-san, otou-san…to help me out with that. A lot of people wouldn't be as lucky as me – to be born into a shaman family. They must really have a lot of difficulty adapting."

Anna listened quietly to his words, her opinion of what she thought as a lazy, laidback bum already changing.

"So, it was like…since I am the Shaman King, the leader of all shamans, don't I have some responsibility to make sure that everyone turned out all right?" Yoh mused, almost to himself, lost in his thoughts, when Anna's voice broke in.

"That must be the first intelligent comments I've heard from you since knowing you."

He turned to look at her. Her tone was indifferent, but the expression on her face had softened.

"I guess you're not a brainless moron after all."

"I take that as a compliment." Yoh grinned.

She smiled at him then, just a small smile, really, it was only a slight lifting of the corners of her mouth, but nonetheless, a smile. And not a forced one. Yoh could feel his own grin growing wider.

They continued watching the moon and the water in comfortable silence.

-

"It's late." Anna noted.

"Ah." Yoh nodded. "We should be getting back then."

They both turned, and Yoh found himself face-to-face with a man dressed in white: white clothes and a white hat on his head. Tufts of blonde hair, a shade darker than Anna's, peeked out from underneath his hat.

"Asakura Yoh?" The man said in a low voice.

Yoh found himself protectively standing in front of Anna, all his senses on alert. "Yes." He said curtly.

He broke in a wide grin. "I've found you at last!"

"Huh?" Yoh looked quizzical.

"I'm Faust VIII." He began, bowing politely in the Japanese custom, although it was evident that he wasn't Japanese. "I've come from Germany, to seek your help."

Still looking cautious, Yoh replied. "And what is it you need help with, Faust-san?"

From underneath his coat, Faust revealed…a skeleton.

Yoh jumped back in shock. Anna's face revealed no emotion, except for the surprise in her dark eyes.

"This is Eliza." Faust held the skeleton against lovingly.

He's crazy. Yoh thought, looking at the man hugging the skeleton.

"My beautiful wife."

"Urmm, I still don't understand." Yoh said.

"You are the Shaman King, right? Then you can help me revive my beloved Eliza." Faust replied, but he was looking at the skeleton. Then his eyes shot towards Yoh, his expression menacing. "You will help you, will you not?"

"Whoa, look here." Yoh held up his hands, and he laughed. "What makes you think I can revive the dead?"

"You're the Shaman King." Faust replied, his tone turning dark. "Of course you can."

"Actually, I think that's a tad bit too much of a rumor. I can't." Yoh said.

"You can't?" Faust's eyes were trained on the young Shaman King.

"I can't." Yoh affirmed.

With lightning quickness that Yoh never anticipated, Faust shot out, and grabbed Anna by her arm, dragging her towards him.

"Anna!" Yoh cried.

"Get off me!" Anna snapped, and elbowed the doctor roughly. He didn't even flinch, but instead tightened his grip on her. Anna lashed out viciously, but all was futile.

"Amidamaru!" Yoh commanded immediately, his eyes never leaving Faust and Anna.

"Either you help me revive Eliza…" Faust was looking decidingly maniacal now. "Or that I use your lady friend's life to replace my wife's."

"Take your pick, Asakura Yoh."


-To be continued-

*

da*mouse ®
posted November 14th 2003
3.13 p.m.

In a hurry, so no long author's notes this chap.

Urm…let me know if this is getting draggy, yah? Oh, by the way, does anyone think that Anna and Yoh were warming up to each other a tad bit too fast? [mind you, Anna's not warm yet] But I wish to reiterate the fact that Yoh does have a crush on Anna, yup. ^_^

I hoped for more development on the other characters next chapter. Till next chapter, folks. Remember to leave me a review/comment/whatever to let me know you've been here and read this.

And yes, my chapters are getting a tad bit too long. O_o