Chapter 6: Abduction
"Demon…?" The strong whizzing of wind hadn't hidden the sad tone of the voice. The word entered her ears and made her eyes opened. She finally decided to lift her chin but the image of the orange haired boy in her front was blurred due to tears on her eyes. Her hair swaying violently and the snows slapping on her face didn't help to see clearly someone in her front. She ran the sleeves of her white and thin yukata on her face, wiping everything hindering her sight. She finally saw his emotionless face.
She was wondering why he was still there despite the shouts and warns she said to him. She was afraid that those onis come out again and hurt this boy. She was afraid that someone feels terrified again... on her...
"They called me demon too," the boy continued. "No... They never tell it aloud. But I can hear their mind shouting it. They're all smiling but they can't even look at my eyes. They are afraid of me."
She hugged her knees when the breeze touched her visible skin from her tattered yukata. The storm was getting strong and it made her wonder how this boy can stand unaffected.
He unwrap the red scarf on his neck and put on hers. The contact made her uncomfortable, unused with someone caring for her. Next his coat was already on her shoulder. She finally saw his crimson eyes closer and they made her heart stops as she stared on those. She could feel her soul being suck by those orbs, bringing her in the very deep part of it, and will make her burn on those flames flickering on his irises. She involuntarily shuttered.
"Do not be afraid." She heard him said and she came back to her senses as she felt his warm palms on her cheeks. "We're just the same."
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Consciousness was slowly crawling back in him. His senses were weakly awakening, too. Silence... the place where he is was silent. He was lying on something soft. Maybe on soil? No... He can feels something like fabric, a soft fabric. Maybe a futon.
He finally opened his eyes slowly. But blurriness was only greeted him. He dropped his tired heavy eyelids tightly then opened them again and blinked several times. Finally his sight adjusted, recognizing the lone ceiling above.
He was right. He is inside a room... Not in that muddy forest anymore.
He caught his head when he sat up as a throbbing pain crept in there, restraining him to move even more. The world around him had begun to spin, making him dizzier. Pain all over his body covered by gauze followed to torture him.
He was going to drop his tired body on futon when a creaking sound stopped him to do so. Probably the door, he assumed. When he turned his head he saw a blonde woman leaning on door frame.
"You sleep too much," Anna said before closing the door, walked, and sat beside him.
"Sorry," was his only response as he bowed his head.
"I don't need your apology. I want you to get strong as soon as possible so you will not be a burden anymore."
He didn't bother to answer. There was no reason anyway. He didn't have the guts to retort.
"You're wounds are not healing faster unlike before," Anna said blankly, looking at the long hair which fell freely at the young man's shoulder. She frowned slightly as she remembered something.
"Kid is not inside me anymore. No one is helping me to regenerate my body. We both decided he needs to get his freedom so I can control my power," AshLee paused as he bit his lower lip. "At the same time... he escaped..."
Anna didn't say anything as she noticed the trembling body of AshLee.
"Gomen..." AshLee said as he lifted his chin, looking directly at Anna. Guilt and sorrow were reflecting on his eyes. He lifted his trembling hands and shifted his gaze on them. "I'm here to fulfill my promise to you," and closed them tightly, "but I did the opposite. I hurt you again and now I'm putting your life in danger." He finally put down his hands and gripped the blanket covering the lower part of his body. Deep scowl was on his face. "I'm so sorry."
"I'm not afraid."
To say AshLee was surprised from the blonde's sudden answer was understatement. He was looking at her with wide eyes, mouth agape. He frowned next, and looked at her worriedly. "But Anna the one we're talking about is Dave... The one who-"
"I don't care. I said I'm not afraid," she repeated, cutting off AshLee's sentence. She shifted her gaze away from him, bowing her head slightly. "Whatever happens I know Yoh will save me..." AshLee noticed those pink shades appearing on her cheeks despite her impassive expression. She finally lifted her face and looked at him in a manner I-want-to-hear-positive-answer. "You too, right?" It was supposed to be a question but AshLee thought it sounds like a command.
Despite her answers to him were absurd knowing their enemy was not a simple shaman who can they easily defeated, AshLee found himself felt awe towards the blonde. The braveness and trust she was showing is something amusing for him.
The frown on his face finally melted and an understanding one replace.
"Of course," he answered shortly, his eyes were covered by his bangs while his lips held small smile.
Anna restrained herself to smile.
"Ne, Anna, can I hug you?" The direct request of orange head guy made her surprise but she remained silent as she looked away.
AshLee took her actions as 'yes'. Slowly, he moved closer to her. The blanket slips from his legs. He place her hands covered with gauze around her while his chin rested on crook of her neck.
Anna remained motionless, letting the trembling guy rest his body on hers.
"Thank you."
The creak from the door made AshLee jerked away from Anna. They looked up and saw a brunet held with expression of something between surprise and question.
"O-oh? G-gomen..." Yoh said as he scratched his head and quickly masked his face with uneasy smile.
"What do you want Yoh?" Anna interrogated impassively.
"Well... I came here to check AshLee's condition. I don't know you're here Anna," Yoh answered, then looked at the orange head. "I'm glad you're fine now, AshLee."
AshLee only nodded as response. His gaze was away from Yoh's eyes.
"Rest," Anna stated to AshLee as she stood, "you need to restore your energy." She then walked towards Yoh. She looked briefly at the brunet and said, "Let's go."
Yoh followed the blonde outside the room after throwing a quick glance at AshLee.
Silence was ruling the hallway where they were. But it was unnoticed by Yoh. He was busy with his thoughts.
In his mind there was a debate between the two sides of his brain. The other side wanted to ask Anna why her orange head friend holding her like that. He was really surprise to see AshLee embracing his fiancee. He felt jealous and he can't hide it to himself. But still he can't find himself to feel angry against AshLee.
The other side was against on the first idea. It was telling him to just trust Anna. It was telling comfortable words, like Anna was only comforting AshLee and nothing more.
Yoh's mind then drifted on the earlier conversation with Anna and others. The discussion was about AshLee being a demon.
'Demon in human shell...' it was what Anna said as description to AshLee, or rather, a description by people in AshLee's kingdom about him.
A new born person has a soul composed by souls of those who passed away and merged to become one. Those souls combine their talents, weakness, strengths, personalities and became the new soul's character. Those merged souls lost their memories and forever sleep for the new soul to have own journey.
At AshLee's case his soul is composed by two demons, memories are still with them and senses are awake, they are asleep but waiting for the right time to awaken and overpower him. Demons that said almost crush AshLee's kingdom and near countries centuries ago. Demons who were still lusting for power and battles. And demons whose powers are incredible which AshLee can't control.
That's why three years ago, at age of twelve he looked for someone who can restrain demons or put them to eternal sleep... Like the itakos.
There he met Anna, at inn in Aomori where the famous Itako no Kino lives.
At first the old woman declined his request and felt doubtful on him sensing his murderous furyoku. But at the end Kino reluctantly agreed, in exchange of some things.
The training under Kino was harder than he thought. In able to control the demons inside him, they must awaken those demons. A little freedom will give to those demons and AshLee must be able to restrain them. It's a battle inside AshLee's body and mind.
On the other hand, Anna was being taught by Kino of some powerful spells on how to restrain a demon, a spell which can drain someone's furyoko, and a spell which will determine between which furyoko is greater between the restrainer and the one who is being restrained.
A month later since the training started AshLee went berserk. The demon inside him had finally overpowered him. The demon who introduced himself as Dave tried to kill Kino. The old woman who fight at the beginning was starting to get weak as the demon was sucking her furyoko. Anna, who was hurt at that time too, finally stood and chant the greatest spell she knew against demons to restrain Dave. The act Anna made is dangerous as she hadn't perfected the spell that time. It made her wince in weakness but she managed to put Dave back to sleep. She can still remember the curses and hateful glares from that demon before AshLee's body dropped on floor. As AshLee awakened Anna noticed that his blazing crimson bloody eyes earlier turned back into gentle and warm eyes again.
AshLee doesn't have any memories of what happened while Dave was controlling his body. He was in trance of slumber. But despite that he knew he did something wrong and it made him felt guilty of what happened to Kino and Anna.
After a week since the incident, AshLee decided to leave.
Yoh sighed. For some reason he can't blame AshLee's protectiveness towards Anna. But still...
"Funny, you are thinking..."
The sarcastic comment of the blonde made Yoh back to reality. He almost yelps when he realized Anna was just few inches away from him and he almost bump at her. She was facing him, her arms were snaked around her torso.
"Care to tell me what's in your mind?" Anna continued.
The brunet felt all his blood rushed towards his cheek. He was totally caught off guard. He didn't know how to answer her. Then, he began to spit many words in a quick manner that even he didn't understand. Anna's glare gave him warn and he felt his body stiffened. He stood straight and said, "I... I'm just wondering..." he began with nervous voice as sweats formed all over his body. He was looking directly at Anna's eyes, there was a cute pout on his lips and noticeable pink blush on his cheeks, "...what is your real relation with AshLee?" When Yoh saw Anna's brow arc he quickly explained his self while waving his hands on air and panicky muttered the words "Don't get me wrong. I know you two are friends but..." he stopped as he looked for the right words coming from his heart. Is it right to tell it? Oh! He guessed it is much better than looking for the answer by his self for long time. "... You seem really close to him. Too close that he can even hug you like that."
"Don't tell me you're jealous?" Anna asked blankly. She was expecting him to deny it. She was expecting Yoh to say many alibis just to say no. So when Yoh looked at her with that honest pout which can compare to a child who was in a verge of crying for taking something important to him she can't help but to get surprise.
"Of course I am. I'm your fiancé after all." With those words, Anna's fierce expression was melted. "B-but I promise it's just a little jealous. A tiny mini little jealous. Like this," Yoh then held out his hand and showed the little distance between his thumb and index finger.
AshLee's words echoed in Anna's mind as she remembered what they talked about the first day of training. She suppressed a smile which wanted to form on her lips and maybe the laugh that wanted to escape from her throat. 'Idiots...' she thought.
"Yoh," the one who was called by straightened as his name mentioned. His expression turned slightly surprised as he noted the softness on his fiancée's voice. "Do you know why AshLee's hair is long?" The sudden change of topic only added to the confusion he already had. No other choice but to answer, Yoh shook his head. Of course, he doesn't know the reason. And the question seems came from nowhere. But knowing Anna, there must be a reason. "It's a sign that he hasn't found his sister until now."
"Sister?" was only Yoh uttered for the new information he acquired.
"AshLee has a sister who is missing since he was three. She was kidnapped because of him. He was wandering in different places just to find her. No one knows if she is still alive but he was hoping to see her again."
Yoh remained silent.
"I remind him of his sister, that what he said to me back in Aomori." Anna's gaze travel afar as she remembered one morning back in inn of Kino. She went to his room to inform him about the training but she was surprised to see no one in that room. She was going to go away when she heard a sob. Anna followed it and found herself in front of window. When she opened it she then saw someone on the roof. Curious she stepped on the chilly roof which covered with snow and stopped beside a young man who was curled in his sit. His face was hidden between his legs and his shoulders were shaking. Finally sensing he was not alone anymore, AshLee looked up and saw Anna with blank expression.
"Anna..." he mumbled while staring at her. AshLee then quickly wiped the tears away from his face and forced a smile as he looked once more at the blonde. "What's up? Is it time for training?" But Anna remained silent, looking at him with question. AshLee looked away and gazed on cloudy sky. He spoke again, "You know you remind me of my sister."
"Where is she?" Anna asked as AshLee fell on deep silence.
"I don't know..." the orange head guy answered as tears fell on his eyes again.
Anna remembered when AshLee asked for her permission to hug her and she obliged as she knelt down beside him. She remembered clearly how he trembled while crying silently as the snow fell from heavens.
"That's the reason why he was close to me. He wanted to protect me as much as he wanted to protect his sister." Anna continued after the short silence.
Yoh only nodded as understanding. As his gaze lay again at the blonde he saw her criticizing stare. He flinched when she leaned forward and her face was just few centimeters from his. "So tell me, is that jealousy a form of mistrust?"
"O-of course not!" he defended as he frantically shook his head. "I'm jealous because... well... I'm jealous..." He really couldn't explain why he was. "Is being jealous is wrong?" He was acting like a child again and his expression was priceless.
Anna went back to her original position and crossed her arms. "Not really," she answered shortly. "But I will still punish you."
Yoh shut his eyes tightly, expecting a powerful slap to come contact on his cheeks. The sweats form again on his body. He was trembling and he was wishing the punishment will end quickly. A soft touch on his lips made him open his eyes. Surprise is underestimation to describe the feeling he has now.
"There's no reason to be jealous." With those words she continued her pace and left him alone.
Yoh touched his lips. Oh! How he wishes he wished that punishment won't end quickly.
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Dark and gloomy. It was always they had thought about her room. Light will turn its back from her room and leave her alone.
Well yes, darkness was what welcomed her as she opened the door of her room. But hasn't darkness always greeted you first if the switch of light is off? Besides, her room is not totally dark. The moonlit entering from the opened window helped her to see her way towards the table besides her room.
Gloomy... Was a room decorated by wallpaper printed by spider lilies, a bookshelf in the corner, dolls from another shelf, her closet, a single bed on the other corner and pictures of a young brunet with goofy smiles and her other friends on desk can be considered as gloomy?
Oh! She was not sure. But she didn't care at all. She wants a simple room where she can rest. That's all.
Anna noticed an apple besides the lamp on her side table which near the window. It was four days ago since AshLee gave it to her. She lifted it and examined. At least it seems edible. Anna made a bite and smiled as her taste buds tasted the sweetness of the fruit.
A big flame suddenly emerged outside the window. She quickly looked and her eyes widened in shocked as the flame vanished and a lad with scarlet long hair and bloody red irises replaced, floating in air.
The young man gave her a wick smile. "Hello, Anna."
The apple dropped on tatami floor.
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AshLee remained sitting on futon as Anna and Yoh left him. He was staring at nowhere and thinking deeply. Soon, a smile formed on his lips as he remembered Yoh's expression when the brunet saw him and Anna in too-close-for-a-friend act earlier. That one was not part of the game he planned. But he was contented to see Yoh's expression. The brunet had only shown his true feelings.
If only Dave didn't come maybe AshLee will see sooner the finale of his little experiment.
Dave...
AshLee's senses tense up as he felt someone's aura. Terror was all over his face. No doubt that presence is owned by Dave.
"Anna..." he whispered as he tried to stand up. But he quickly fell on his knees. His body hasn't recovered yet. But he still stood and tried to reach the door. He needs to save her.
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The smile never leaves his lips and he can still feel the sweetness from Anna's action earlier.
Yoh was going to open the door of his room after a quick glance at his fiancee's door when he sensed something wrong. He quickly run towards Anna's room and as he opened the door he saw the blonde being pulled by a huge amount of flame. Anna's lower body was held by the red flame and the said flame was creeping upwards her.
"Anna," Yoh shouted as he run towards the window. Anna looked back her room and saw his fiancé. She tried her best to reach out Yoh's hands which lifted to reach her. Their hands are just few centimeters from each other. Yoh almost reached Anna's hand until the flame pulled the blonde away from Yoh. A curse unexpectedly escaped from brunet's throat.
Soon the flame finally engulfed Anna totally. In snap of second the flame vanished along with Anna. Yoh's eyes widened and his mind stopped for seconds.
"Anna!" Yoh heard from behind and snapped back to his senses as he saw AshLee ran pass him and jumped from the window which on the second floor. Yoh followed and landed on the ground with ease. He found himself in their backyard.
"Dave, come out!" AshLee shouted.
A flame suddenly formed then turned into a young man who was carrying an unconscious lady on his arms.
"My, what a tempered AshLee..." The teasing voice was visible and it only added in the furious AshLee felt.
"Give back Anna!" Yoh shouted next, looking as angry as AshLee at Dave.
"Tsk. Not so fast." Dave answered with evil smile. "Let's play a game first. A role play." A flame with dragon shaped formed behind the demon. "I'm going to act as the dragon that kidnaps the princess. Now who will save her? The prince" he looked at Yoh, "or the knight?" then at AshLee. "Will they save her before the dragon totally devours her?" Yoh and AshLee became wary. "Or will the princess die?"
Let's see… It's been a year since I last updated this story. My life has been busy lately that even reading fanfic stories became hard. Still, I want to finish this first story I posted here in FF and the others. If I'm going to have a new year's resolution maybe that is to have a time management. Oh! How I wish to kick the laziness I always feels.
By the way, I haven't proof-read this so forgive me for my grammar.
Hope you enjoy this chapter. Climax is around the corner and this story will end soon which mean I will update my second multi-chap story, the Why Do I Love You.
Review and I'll update soon. X3
