Chapter 10: Accepted by the Asakuras
The night is cold and chilly as a lone convertible car sped through the night. Inside, Yoh fell asleep with Anna cuddled peacefully at his lap. His arms were tied protectively around her like a man carrying a fragile cargo. Saga silently drove through the empty plains while looking behind the two lovers every now and then with a small smile on her face. Traveling at would be boring for Saga if it weren't for Yoh's faithful friend and ally, Amidamaru. His constant question about the "mysterious" Anna amuses her and she answers them carefully without tarnishing her cover.
"Miss Setsuna, how could you trust that woman so easily if you can feel her dark aura?" Amidamaru asked curiously.
"Simple…" Saga remained silent while Amidamaru eagerly awaits her philosophical answer. "Because I wanted to." Amidamaru face faulted at her answer. Saga smiled smugly because she knew Amidamaru is slowly losing patience. "If a book has an ugly cover but it has an interesting story inside…would you still read it?" It took a while for Amidamaru to answer her.
"If it about sword fighting and romance stories like in those afternoon soaps…maybe." Saga gave him a weird stare while Amidamaru just blushed at what he said. "What…I'm bored and got nothing to do."
"You really are weird…but didn't you get what I asked earlier?" Amidamaru just gave her a blank stare. "I guess it was far too obvious because a lot of people use that line…but since you're so slow, I guess I have to explain. Anna is not what she seems." She paused and looked at two sleeping lovers and smiled. "That's all." Saga said simply.
"That's all?" Amidamaru was only answered in silence. "Hmmm…I still don't trust her."
"You may not trust her today just as you don't trust Tokageroh back then…but my mind is made up. Besides don't you think they good look together?" Amidamaru looked at the two at the back seat and sighed in defeat.
"They do look together as if they are made just for each other. They remind me of the people I watch at the TV." Amidamaru returned his stare at the road and was surprised to see Izumo not very far. His brows furrowed in confusion as he tries to calculate the time and distance between two places and he just can't figure out how in the world did they get at Izumo in just 4 hours?
"You can't feel the speed I'm going because your floating and you can't see outside very clearly because the glass are tainted but I assure you if your alive right now…" Saga gave him an evil smirk that made Amidamaru tremble in fear. "Good thing Yoh fell asleep before I get started to speed off and Anna wouldn't be awake for another couple of hours."
With the light streaming through his face he woke up slowly only to be greeted by an amused voice.
"I see you still haven't broke your habit?" Confused at the sudden change of scenery Yoh squinted at everything around him, even his father. It took a while for Yoh to recognize his own father and when he does…
"AAHHHHHH!" Yoh screamed and a woman dresses in light blue kimono with a black flowing hair that reached past her waist, came in running beside Mikihisa.
"Yoh, are you okay? I heard you scream and…" When the lady heard Mikihisa laughed she stopped and glared at him. "ANATA, I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU NEVER TO WAKE HIM UP!" Mikihisa cringed at her when he saw her dark eyes blazing in anger and her smooth porcelain face crinkled in annoyance.
(Anata – a term of endearment like Darling, for Japanese.)
"But Keiko…" Mikihisa tried to say but never got a chance because Keiko, his wife, beat him to it.
"Don't but me mister…" Yoh was about to interrupt when somebody entered the room.
"You would make a great family picture." Saga suddenly appeared behind with Amidamaru on his side.
"Setsuna! Don't scare me like that again!" Keiko reprimanded. "And you young man…" she turned now to Yoh. "You should be taking a rest. I mean look at you, you're getting thin."
"Mom, really I'm okay." Yoh said but Keiko wouldn't budge.
"No your not and to think you actually brought your girlfriend without even telling me you had one in the first…sniff…place." Keiko suddenly bawled out and used Mikihisa's clothes as a tissue. When Mikihisa pulled his clothes out of Keiko's grasp…you wouldn't want to know what's in there.
"Ummm…anata…you're getting emotional again." Keiko blinked and looked at him then to Yoh, who smiled sheepishly, then to Saga, who just looked amused, then to Amidamaru, who seemed freaked out then she blushed and left the room like a regal queen with Mikihisa following behind her.
"Your mom sure is…unique." Amidamaru said.
"Auntie is just happy to see Yoh that's all." Saga shrugged it off then looked at Yoh.
"Where is Anna?" All the goofiness in his face seemed to vanish after he said that.
"Your just in time…she is about to wake up." Saga said with a smirk.
OMGOMG
Her eyes opened slowly as it slowly adjust to its surroundings. The swirls around her body are slowly dissipating as her body descent to the ground. She was about to fall off if it weren't for the strong arms that held her.
"Good thing I was here to catch you." Ai groggily looked at the man she fondly call Haku, for no good reason, and smiled.
"Thank you." She stayed that way, in the arms of the man she love secretly.
AN: SUGAR ALERT! THE NEXT SCENE WOULD BE CONFUSING TO SOME BUT IF YOU MANAGE TO SOLVE THIS MYSTERY FROM THE PAST CHAPTER…LOL.
"What…" her eyes widen when past events came back to her. "I'm so sorry…I didn't mean to…I didn't know he would do that but…" tears flowed in her face but Haku just brushed it off.
"It's not your fault…besides he left years ago but I would never forgive you on one thing you did." Ai looked at him with confusion written clearly on her face. "Making me worry to death." Haku stopped from what he was saying when he saw her blush. "I mean I wouldn't want to lose my friend." Ai pouted and sat up with Haku's help.
"Oni is not the only problem we had. He has help." Ai suddenly said.
"I know that is why Nori asked me to give you back your job because I have an important business to attend to." Shock and fear are clearly written on her pretty face.
"Why do I get a feeling something bad is going to happen?"
"Why? What's wrong with helping one of the Great Spirit as an assistant?" Ai couldn't tell whether he is telling the truth or not but she feels something bad is going to happen.
"Okay but promise me you will be okay?" Haku nodded and looked at her. "One more thing, what had happened to the troublesome couple and the shy and loud-mouth couple at the ninja village and is there some improvement at Yoh and Anna?"
OMGOMGOMG
Yoh kneeled beside Anna as he silently watched her sleep. 'Onee-chan said she would be awake very soon but when is that? Maybe she's wrong about it.' Yoh sighed and put on his orange headphones. 'Onee-chan sure do knows a lot but why do I get a feeling that something is wrong in this picture?' his head bobbed up and down but he stopped when he saw a blue bracelet on Anna's arm. 'So this is what onee-chan told me earlier.'
"She is when?" Yoh asked like a child who just learned today is Christmas.
"Soon." Saga gave him a small smile. "She is sleeping across your room." Yoh wasted no time and was about to leave when Saga stopped him. "Oh I gave her a little gift that would help you in the future." Yoh gave Saga a quizzical look. "Now go. I'll take Amidamaru with me." Amidamaru paled at what she said. "We will have an easy training for today." Saga smiled evilly.
Yoh sighed once more and looked at the blue skies outside her room. "Hey Anna," Yoh said as if she was awake, "it would be nice if you would wake up right now and I would take you outside to look at the sky. Hehehehehe!" he looked at her sleeping form and noticed a frown on her face. "Hey, it's not a bad idea…well for you that is but the weather outside is too good to miss. Heck, if you wake up right now I would take you to a picnic on my special place but I would have to cook first." When he saw Anna's face relaxed a bit he continued. "Do you want chicken sandwich or a hamburger?" Yoh put his hand on his chin and began to think. "I hope mom has some ingredients and I hope she knows how to cook it because…"
"Shut up." A cold voice made Yoh stop from his babbling. He slowly looked beside him and saw Anna who is sitting calmly on her futon while glaring at him. Yoh was so captivated by her beauty that it rendered him speechless. Her long blond hair framed her face. Her pink lips set into a grim line. Her dark eyes that spits fire and ready to kill him. However, her eyes are full of hate and anger not like the Anna he used to know. "What are you looking at? Do you want to die?" Anna frowned even more when she saw Yoh grin.
"Yo! Good Morning Anna!" what he did tick her more than ever. She raised her hand and glared at it when she saw her powers wasn't working. She also noticed that she now wore a blue beaded bracelet that wasn't there before. She tried to take it off but the bracelet wouldn't budge. "Hey what's wrong?" Yoh asked.
"Take this wretched thing off." Anna said coldly. Yoh slowly approached her and took her wrist in his hands. She flinched the moment his hands came in contact with her. He tried to take the bracelet off but some invisible force wouldn't let him. When Anna saw that he too couldn't take the bracelet off, she harshly pulled her hand away. "You will pay for this." Anna said as she held her hand close to her.
"But it isn't my fault, you see my cousin put that in you so maybe she could take it off." Yoh started to babble and sweat like crazy when he saw a very pissed Anna.
"Where is she?"
"Outside." She shakily stood up and glared at Yoh when she saw that he was about to help her. She angrily opened the shoji door and glared even more when Saga stood before her with a smirk on her face.
"You were about to look for me?" Saga said innocently. Anna squinted at her trying to put a name on her familiar face. "What's wrong Anna? Isn't the bracelet I gave you looks good?" Saga smirked even more when she learned that Anna is trying to remember her dream encounter with her. Anna shook with anger. Yoh sweat-dropped at what is happening.
'Why do I feel like I don't stand any chance against her? Who is she?' she was about to beat her up senseless or use any power she has just to inflict pain to this cocky woman, when she stopped and saw Saga's mysterious look that says "Try if you can because you can't hurt me." Annoyed, she slapped Saga very hard leaving a red mark on her face. Yoh was about to interfere when Saga laughed making his jaw drops to the floor.
"Is that the best you can do, Itako?" Anna was about to lunge at her when Yoh stopped her by locking her frail body with his arms. Anna flinched the moment Yoh held her. Yoh noticed the way she flinched when he held her and felt bad because of it. Anna remained calm after that because she can't really fight off Yoh's strength.
(Itako – spiritual medium. Learn more next chapter.)
"Let me go and I promise you will die very quick." Anna said to Yoh. Yoh looked at Saga with a nervous smile while Saga sighed.
"The bracelet would help you control your powers and prevent you from killing yourself but since you hate it, I guess I have to take it off." Saga said as she pretended to sulk. She took the bracelet off Anna, who got free from Yoh's grip. Just then Amidamaru appeared with an excited expression on his face.
"Miss Setsuna, Matthew is about to kiss Leah at the observation tower, come quick." Saga blushed and gave the bracelet to Anna and left with head held high. Anna turned around and saw a pale Yoh.
(If you were a Filipino, you would know who are Leah and Matthew. They are characters from a romantic comedy show.)
"Onee-chan sure is strong…hehehe…she is the first person I know who didn't flinch from your slap." Anna looked at him with a blank stare. Yoh became nervous when Anna just stared at him quietly. "Ummm…do you want some oranges?" Anna's eyebrow rose up as she still looked at him.
"You never got bored eating those…" Anna stopped in mid-sentence after she said those. Yoh's eyes widen at what she said.
"How did you know I like oranges?" Anna held her head and with her free hand she blasted Yoh to the wall. Yoh coughed and shakily stood up. He used the wall as a support to stand. Anna blasted the wall inches away from him as he looked at her.
"Why?" Anna asked softly as she looked at him blankly. "Why can't I kill you!" she blasted the wall again beside Yoh.
"I don't know." Yoh said softly. "One thing is for sure, everything will be alright." He said with a grin. Anna glared at him as she blasted the wall above him.
"Who are you and why do you know me?" A frown appeared on his face for a millisecond but it soon changed into a lazy grin.
"Yoh Asakura." Anna looked at him blankly as if still waiting for an answer. Yoh's smile faltered for a bit. "I met you once…in a dream." Her eyebrow rose at his answer as if not believing him. Yoh just grinned at her at that time.
"I'll believe you for NOW…" Anna said coldly. 'Why do I get this feeling that I have seen this guy before? A dream huh?' Yoh laughed at her answer.
"Okay. Hey do you want to go on a picnic or do you want to take a rest?" Yoh said casually.
"Stop being so nice, it irritates me." Anna snapped as she sat on the chair inside the room. She twirled the bracelet in her hands as Yoh looked at her. "Why did you brought me here?" Yoh pushed himself away from the wall and went to sit in front of her.
"Your life is in danger at Osorezan, so Onee-chan and I brought you here." A smirk appeared on her face.
(Onee-chan – big sister)
"Stupid human, didn't you know I could kill those pathetic people with just a snap of my fingers?"
"I know." Yoh said seriously. "But I don't want you to get hurt or hurt anyone." Anna stared at him with doubt on her face.
"Stupid human." Anna said while Yoh just grinned at her. Because she forced her body to use too much energy, even though she just woke up and her body is not that strong YET, she falls down in Yoh's arms.
"I think I should cancel the picnic today." Yoh said softly as Anna's eyes began to droop.
"Let…go…me…yawn…warm." Anna said before drifting off in deep slumber.
"What?" Yoh asked only to find her asleep in his embrace.
Afternoon came and Yoh lazily sat outside the porch while his parents were drinking tea and his grandfather, Yohmei, was massaging the stiff shoulders of his grandmother, Kino. Saga left saying she had "business" to attend. Little did they know is that she went back to the Spirit's realm.
The living room is far too large for them. You could fit a queen size bed with a dressing room in it. The room is set in traditional Japanese room. The only high tech device that could be found in there are the television set, sound system, and the wireless telephone.
"That girl you brought sure is strong." Kino said out of the blue. Yoh ignored her because of the loud music that blasted in his headphones.
"WHY IS IT YOU…" Yoh sang the lyrics at the top of his lung. "AHHH…KANASHIMI…" (Line from the song…can you guess? Ahhhh…the sadness…) Out of nowhere, a cane hit Yoh squarely in his head. "Owwww…that hurts" Yoh whined as he took off his headphones and rubbed his aching head. He looked behind him and saw a vein popping in his grandmother's head. Everyone sweat-dropped at Yoh who is now sweating. "Ummm…grandma, your cane flew. Hehehe."
"Yoh do you want me to personally train you?" Yoh gulped and looked at his parents for help. Unfortunately, he found them sipping tea casually.
"Anata, do you think the amount of sugar is right in this tea?" Keiko asked Mikihisa. Yoh sighed and looked at his ticked grandmother. His grandmother sighed and looked at Yoh.
"I'm going to get an early menopause with you…"
"But you are…" Yohmei shut his mouth when he saw the glare of his wife.
"As I was saying, that girl you've brought is strong. Saga told me everything about that girl and her raw energy. Too bad nobody trained her."
"Why don't you train her?" Yoh asked casually. "After all she is an Itako."
"Yoh is right mom, if anyone can do it you can?" Mikihisa said.
"An Itako huh?" Kino said silently.
"So Yoh, what course are you going to take at college?" Yoh looked at his mother as if she had grown another head. "Don't give me that look young man! We know this might sound weird but we want you to somehow live a normal life."
"What course do rocker band have?" Yoh said curiously. Yohmei threw his cane at Yoh out of frustration. Keiko's jaw dropped at his answer. Mikihisa…well nobody could tell because his face is hidden behind the mask. "So there is no course for rock band, too bad. Hmmm…this is hard." Yoh sat down thinking until he fell asleep. He woke up when a sandal hit him in the head. He stood up and smiled at them. "I know I'll take business because I want to open the Funbari Hot Spring." Everyone's jaw fell to the floor at the answer he gave.
"Yoh are sick?" Keiko asked worriedly.
"How did you come up with that idea?" Yohmei asked. Yoh grinned at them and said.
"A very special person once said to me how she would like to own and open a hot spring for the public just because she wants to be a good wife." Yoh said softly. Everyone fell silent at that knowing thinking how did the young boy turned into a man. Outside the living room, Anna stood silently in the dark hallways listening to them.
"A family to call your own…" Anna said as she left into the dark hallways.
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