Title: Truth

Chapter: 10

Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King.

NG: Sorry for the late update, thanks for the reviews. Enjoy the chap!

Story

Anna smiled as Yoh pulled away, looking at her with his trademark, 'Aren't-I-so-charming?' grin

But then…

SLAP, PUNCH, KICK

A teenage couple stopped dead in the track at the strange sound emitting from behind the shrine, looking at each other nervously.

"M-maybe we should just tell them we went in." The guy stammered, taking hold of the girl's hand.

The girl nodded quickly, before scampering off to the direction they came from.

Anna felt a vain throbbing on her temple as Yoh lied a few feet away from her in a tangled heap. Eyes swirling in daze. The nerve of the guy. Who did he think she was, 5?

Shaking his head to regain control of the world spinning around him, Yoh tried getting up before a huge shadow looming over him startled him to attention.

"I won't have my fiance lying to me…" Anna whispered softly, eyes glinting dangerously.

Yoh gulped and smiled nervously, trying not to be bothered by the evil dark aura surrounding his fiancée.

"W-what do you mean Ann-"

A sharp pain ripping up from his foot stopped him from speaking further. Yoh bit his lip after a small yelp, giving Anna a wounded look.

Anna glared, "That look wont work. Tell me why we're here. Now."

"But I just-"

"We have never celebrated our 'anniversary' as you put it, and even if we did, it wouldn't be today. It would be near New years."

"Well…be-lated then?"

"…"

"Early?"

"…"

"…for all the ones we missed?"

Anna's glare only narrowed.

Yoh sighed, bowing his head a bit in defeat.

Finally convinced her fiance was being serious; Anna stepped off of Yoh's foot, crossing her arms.

Yoh got up, wincing slightly at his throbbing toe before looking squarely at Anna.

"Don't get mad ok?"

Anna lowered her eyelids at Yoh, not bothering to reply.

Yoh ignored the look and stepped closer. His lips lined grimly.

"Your parents are looking for you."

Kanata panted, resisting an urge to rest his hands on his knees. Helga (the old woman, just in case you forgot) grinned happily around the scenery, propped comfortably on his back.

Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to stand upright, ignoring the huge weight on his back. He looked about, trying to calm his heart beating furiously.

"Where…could they be…?" he wondered aloud to himself, searching for a gist of blond hair. A sharp tug on his hair tore his attention from his surrounding.

"Ouch! What the hell are you doing grandma!?"

"Nice hair, Boy chicken nice hair." Helga chirped, leaning down to grin her toothy grin at Kanata.

Kanata grimaced in disgust as a fowl smell wafted off from the woman's mouth.

"Ok ok ok, just back off will you?" he asked, looking away in disgust.

When he was sure the woman had placed her mouth a safe distance away from him, he looked back before him and sighed.

The things he did for love…Anna better appreciate this when he gets her off the spell.

…ok so maybe she wont remember a thing that happened for now, and maybe it wasn't Anna's fault that he was carrying a smelly old woman on his back running up and down hills in search for her like a maniac (but she should appreciate that!), ok so he could have left the woman at the shack…but…

Helga looked down at Kanata again, grinning to what seems to be affection. He felt himself smile a bit, the odor keeping that smile from being too visible. In all honest truth, the woman wasn't THAT bad…take out the smell and her…insanity. She was a pretty good sport. Especially since she knew how to make love potions.

Unconsciously, Kanata patted the small bottle strapped against his belt and smiled.

FLASH BACK

The door closed with a loud thud, and Kanata's anger ran its peak.

"THAT BLOODY ASAKURA!" He cried clenching his fist and waving them around like he saw in cartoons, "I NEED A LOVE POTION NOW!"

"Here."

Kanata blinked, looking down to see the old woman holding up a dirty small bottle at him.

"…What?"

"You cry baby." Helga glared, "Here. Love Love."

Kanata stared at the woman, What?

The woman sighed taking out a cane and hitting Kanata hard on the head, before he could react.

"HE-" Kanata cried before blinking, everything suddenly making sense, "Is that…a love potion?"

Helga grinned, "Love Love"

Kanata blinked again, taking the love potion from the woman and staring at him for a few minutes.

Suddenly he grinned, anger forgotten. "Well…this is convenient."

END FLASHBACK

The Asakura's had taken his Anna away from him by force. Well Kanata wasn't an idiot. He knew how to get her back. Then once Anna would finally come back to normal, he would show her he had finished her condition, the task that would make Anna completely his. She would finally hear what he has to say. Then no one, not even Asakura Yoh, could take her away from him.

Manta sighed, stretching his arms above his head as he walked out of the inn. Yoh and Anna had still not returned, but he wasn't worried anymore.

If Kanata was with them, he would hold Anna off long enough for Yoh to escape. At least, he hoped he would. But then Anna was his friend too and there was no doubt if Kanata tried to do anything he would die. Anna would make sure of it.

Feeling his shoulders slump, Manta took a seat on the wooden platform (is that what its called?), staring up at the sky sadly.

It wasn't like everything ever made sense when it came to his friends, but things had been more out of control than before. He had a million questions and no one to answer them. Why were they here? Why didn't Yoh's grandmother wanted him to train while they stayed here? Where Yoh and Anna had run off to? And if they had gone off to marry; why now? Who was Kanata? What did he want with Anna? Why was Yoh YOH?

…ok so the last question had been on his mind ever since he could remember, well…ever since he had met Yoh anyway, but that was not the point.

"If I didn't know better, I'd think you were homesick."

Manta jumped, whirling about as his jaw slightly fell open. When did she get there?

Kino Asakura didn't seem to react at that. Cane gripped proudly beneath her palm, she made her way to the blond boy, stopping beside him.

Manta smiled at her nervously, wondering what to say. She was the woman who raised Kyouyama Anna. What could a person say?

"I don't care about needless hospitality." Kino said, making Manta sweat drop, "I just came to put your mind at ease."

Manta blinked, "Eh?"

Kino didn't bother looking at him, keeping her ace steady towards the gate, "Yoh and Anna will be coming back soon."

"TAMAO-CHAN!"

Tamamura Tamao cringed and stepped slightly closer to the wall. It wasn't like she was HIDING. She was…just trying to make sure Pirika didn't see her. She was worse to shop with than Anna.

"Tamao-chan where ARE you?!" Pirika huffed, hands clenched into fists as she made her way down the street full of buzzing shoppers. It was early afternoon and the shops were crowded with tourists and customers. Shop keepers yelled out the latest products, trying to attract more customers and drowning Pirika's yells out of hearing.

Pirika Usui, was not happy.

"TAMAMURA TAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOO!!" She yelled, cupping her hand around her mouth.

"I can see how you're related to the idiot."

Pirika whirled about, face reddening as she spotted Ren standing a few feet behind her.

"Shut up Tao. I'm trying to find Tamao." Pirika growled before turning away from him again.

Ren smirked, shooting a sideways glancing to a thoroughly miserable and nervous pink haired prophetess, crouching at a far end of a shop.

"Why? Did she finally gather enough sense to run away?" Ren mocked, keeping his eyes trained on the timid girl.

Tamao slumped lower, drawing her newly bought hat lower her face. Ren grinned to himself.

Pirika's face darkened but she forced herself to ignore him.

"TAMAMURA!" She screeched, feeling herself losing patience. Honestly, where did the girl went off to? No one in Japan seemed to have any manners! First Yoh and Anna ran off somewhere after inviting her and her brother to their grandmother's inn, then the ego maniac Tao Ran and her good for nothing brother decided to test her nerves, and now when she decided to cheer up Tamao for her not so concealed broken heart over the young shaman king, the girl disappeared! Did no one appreciate humanity anymore?!

"TAM-"

"You'll only severe your lungs screeching like that."

"I AM NOT SCREECHING!"

Ren raised an eyebrow, a small smirk playing across his lips.

Pirika felt heat rising up her cheeks as a few old woman stepped away from the girl, looking at her in disapproval.

Sighing impatiently and thoroughly pissed Pirika gathered up her breath.

"TAMAMURA TAMAO GET HERE THIS INSTANT!" She screamed as loudly as she could.

Ren winced as a few people around them stopped short, covering their ears. It wasn't too long before a policeman found his way to the young Inu.

Watching the cop coming near, Ren sighed. Well it wasn't like he wasn't expecting that.

Anna looked at Yoh impassively. Arms still crossed.

Yoh looked back, trying to swallow a nervous lump forming in his throat. The night they had arrived and Anna had gone to rest without answering anyone's questions, Kino Asakura had taken her grandson aside. Taking advantage of everyone discussing about Kanata.

FLASHBACK

"What is it grandma?" Yoh asked closing the door to his grandmother's room.

Kino remained silent as she settled herself down on the floor, looking at Yoh expectantly.

Yoh took a seat before her, waiting patiently for an answer.

"I want you to take Anna to Osorezon."

Yoh blinked, "Oso-"

"Don't bring her back until a week has passed." Kino continued as if Yoh had said nothing, "You may bring her back then."

"Why?"

Anna's parents are looking for her." She said plainly, pouring herself tea.

Yoh's eyes widened slightly, his heart skipping a beat.

"What?"

"I received a letter from them about a month ago. Somehow they found out I took her in. And when they came and didn't find her, they headed a further investigation until they found your address in Funbari."

"But-how did they-"

"That doesn't matter for now." Kino interrupted, training her eyes firmly on Yoh, "I told them I didn't know about it but-"

"Why?" Yoh interrupted, narrowing his eyes slightly, "shouldn't they-"

"No they shouldn't." Kino interrupted

"But-"

"Do you want them to take her away?" Kino interrupted her grandson again, eyes flashing strangely.

Yoh grew silent, contemplating on what Kino just said.

Kino smiled, "Thought so. I want you to take her away tomorrow morning."

Yoh sighed, glaring slightly at his grandmother, "Hai."

END FLASHBACK

Yoh looked at his feet, waiting for Anna to lash out at him. When nothing happened, he looked back again.

Anna wasn't glaring. But she wasn't frowning. Her arms were still crossed as she looked at her fiance, as though waiting or more.

Yoh creased his eyebrow, mouth suddenly running dry.

"I…don't really know what to do. I'm not going to keep you away from them." Yoh looked down again, licking his lips in apprehension before feeling his shoulders slump. Matamune would have to wait.

"We should head back..."

"Hai." Anna said finally, her tone simple and uncaring.

Yoh looked back at his fiancée sadly, but Anna turned away, walking off a few steps.

He opened his mouth, feeling the need to say something but then decided against it.

With a small sigh, he followed his fiancée back. Wishing more than anything they had never gotten his grandma's telegram.

NG: That's it or today! How was it? I think it was better than a lot of chaps I have written before. But maybe its just me. Anyway sorry for the late update. I had a lot of assignments and stuff to do. At least I updated right? Please leave a review and wait patiently for the next chapter. I can't say when I'll update next, but I'll try to within this month.