Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King
Author's Note: Late update, I know. It's tough to write the past few days, writer's block and all. But, yeah, whatever. :) Special thanks to theterrorist for always letting me know her thoughts on every chapter.
"Tadaima!"
The little boy bounced in and out of the threshold in search for his parents. The past few days he spent with his grandma had been really fun. Unlike his foster Mom Tamao, his grandmother was more lenient. She would let him have a few more of the things he likes - video games, candies, maybe a snuggle here and there; he adored her the most. But he really wanted to be with his parents.
~o0o0o~
"I'll see you soon Oba-chan."
"Of course Hana-chan. Send my regards to your Mom and Dad."
He bid Keiko farewell but not before planting a soft kiss on her cheeks.
~o0o0o~
"Hello!" He yelled again.
"Why are you shouting?" Anna scolded; but her son missed her too much to even pay attention to what she was saying.
"Mom!" A wide grin formed on his face as soon as she came into view and collided into her with a bear hug. "I miss you sooooo much."
"Uh huh. You've gotten fat Hana. I say we shed off a few pounds starting tomorrow." She said as she ruffled his hair and pinched his cheeks in a playful manner.
"Aaaww!" He huffed. "I'm not fat!"
"Oh? Would you prefer the term 'chubby' then?"
"Mom..." He whined.
Anna raised a brow before asking "Did you finish all your homework? Did your chores in Izumo?" She paused "And don't even think of lying to me. You know I have eyes everywhere." She warned with a devious smile.
"You're freaking me out Mom. But I have a very important question."
His mother bent down and said "Okay. Spill."
"Aren't you the least bit concerned on how I got here?"
Anna scoffed. "Why should I be? Ryu dropped you off didn't he?"
"Well, he did...but how did you...?" He crinkled his brow in utter confusion.
"Did you honestly think the people in Izumo would let you out of their sight just like that?"
Hana rolled his eyes and concluded "Oh yeah. Coz if they did then they'll answer to you, is that it?"
"Clever. So what's the important question?"
Hana sighed in defeat and hung his head down as he made his way upstairs though not until he asked "May I be excused?" and she nodded in response.
Midway, he runs into his Dad.
"Hey Dad." He said without even looking up.
"Hey Hana." He greeted casually.
Anna was there by the bottom stairs, mouth agape as Yoh continued to descend.
"Anna?" He started, "Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something wrong?"
"You just called him 'Hana'". She stated.
Yoh's forehead creased "Is his name not Hana?"
"You just called him Hana, Yoh." She said more firmly.
"So...?"
"You mean you don't know who he is? His relationship to you?"
"Uhhh... now that you mention it... I don't know anything about him except his name."
Anna sighs. "I just thought you remembered him."
"Is he..."
"Our son, yes."
"I have a son...that's...well, that's great!" He exclaimed. "How old is he?"
"Six. Trust me, he's a handful."
"He must be."
"Yeah."
"I hate it - the fact that I don't remember."
"Feeling's mutual."
~o0o0o~
"Hey kiddo!"
Hana exchanged high-fives before exclaiming "Uncle Ren! What are you doing here?"
"Just hanging out. So, how are you?"
"I'm good. Hey, maybe we could play dodge ball!"
"Love to Hana. But, I gotta run."
"But I just got here!"
"I was just waiting for you."
"You were? Why?"
"I got some bad news about your Dad."
"What do you mean?"
Ren ushered Hana to sit down next to him before he continued "Well, you know that your Dad lost his memories, right?"
"Right. And then?"
"He was recovering before they went to Okinawa..."
"Yes, and then?"
"Do you know why your mother sent you to Izumo?"
"To visit my grandma." He answered, slightly annoyed. "Will you stop beating around the bush Uncle Ren? Whatever it is that you wanted to tell me, just tell me already!"
"Okay, geez, aren't you a persuasive kid. You guys are back to square one."
"What? What's square one? Why are we talking about shapes? Didn't I just tell you to stop beating around the bush?"
Ren tried to muffle his laughter but failed miserably. He had expected too much from the kid just because the little one knew that certain idiomatic expression.
"Would you just quit your laughing and get to the point? I'm really getting irritated now." He warned.
"Sorry Hana. Anyway, back to square one means 'to start all over again.' Whatever your Dad recovered the past days has been lost..."
"What? But he just called me a while ago when I bumped into him by the stairs. He knows who I am."
Ren looks at him, a little surprised "Really? I mean, was he downstairs when you arrived?"
"No, he wasn't."
"Are you sure he was referring to you?" Ren is still unconvinced.
"Do you know anyone in this house named Hana, Uncle Ren?"
The chinese Shaman had no rebuttal for that.
"Fine," He crossed his arms "In any case, help him remember everything. Got it?"
"You bet. When will you come visit again?"
"Soon, Hana."
~o0o0o~
Ren left the inn, still baffled by the recent fact from Hana which Anna validated.
Hana is stupefied as well when he learned that Yoh didn't know anything about him but his name. He's saddened too; it's only been a few months since he met his Dad.
Dinner was awkward. Hana recalls that it was always Yoh who would start the conversation with something like 'Have you heard Bob's new single?' or 'Would you like to go fishing sometimes?'. It was never 'How's school?' or 'Do you have any homework' - all because those were his Mom's lines.
Hana would stare at Yoh one second, Yoh would glance back but no one dared to say anything - except Anna.
"Hana, do you want to say something?" She asked.
"Uhh, no Mom. I really don't feel like eating, is it okay if I just go to my room?" He asked politely.
"Yeah."
"Thanks."
Once Hana was completely out of sight, Yoh asked "Did I do something wrong? He looks like he's upset."
"He's trying to cope. He'll come around, don't worry."
"I'll work hard to regain everything, I promise. You'll help me, right?"
"Of course."
