Disclaimer: I don't own SK
Chapter 13: Race against time
The tips of his fingers are pressed together as his serious but troubled face looks at the screen where the Shaman king and his friends are seen. The door behind him opened without warning as Deimos came in with the same expression as Nori.
"I know you felt it too. We have to do something." He placed his palms flat on Nori's desk with force. Nori remained the same before Deimos came in.
"We have broken too many rules…" Deimos didn't let him finish what he was going to say because he beat him to it.
"Saga's life might be in danger or worse and all you can think about are these rules? This will create a big fiasco." Nori stared at him evenly and spoke with anger in his voice.
"You didn't let me finish. As I was saying, we have broken too many rules but breaking another one wouldn't matter anymore. I want ask you where are the others?"
"Everyone went to their respective mission to do their duty. Only I, Aoide, Akane, Ai and minor spirits are left." Nori frowned at that news. Just then Ai together with Haku and Aoide went inside. They looked at Deimos questioningly but they decided to leave him off for now.
"Nori there is something in…" Ai started but was cut off by Nori.
"I know…and we need someone who can get there fast enough to stop this but he mustn't be recognized."
"I'll go." Haku volunteered but Nori disagreed.
"They will realize who you are quickly and besides it is not yet time." Nori looked at everyone until his gaze landed on Deimos.
"What made change your mind so sudden in helping us?" Deimos blushed as he looked away.
"I have my reasons." Everyone looked at him suspiciously while Ai just snorted.
"Very well, I will send you to help Saga but be sure nobody would know you are one of us." Nori said to Deimos where some wouldn't agree on this illogical decision.
"Ai and Aoide, I need you to find a way to retrieve Anna's memory as soon as possible." Both of them nodded and left with Deimos. "Any improvements on your mission?" Nori said to Haku.
"Actually, a lot." Haku said with a smirk on his voice.
She stood under the freezing water looking unfazed through everything while he silently watched her at the distance. Tamao painfully tore her gaze to the sight that broke her heart as Horohoro looked torn in comforting her or confronting Yoh. Manta sat beside his best friend still unsure about the whole scenario that was slowly unfolding before him. Chocolove sits quietly as he nurse his swelling cheek. Pirika is trying to melt the ice around the frozen Ren.
Soon, Manta asked Yoh to take a walk around while waiting because it seems nothing has changed so far. After one last glance at Anna, he agreed just because he trusts Anna can do this and surely he can see she doesn't need him. Heck, she doesn't even know him other than being a pitiful human or annoying pest. Their walk was unusually quiet and Manta was getting uneasy for this so he decided to open the conversation and he knows where to start.
"Hey, how come you seem to know Kyouama that well?" Manta asked curiously. Yoh tore his gaze from Anna and looked at Manta with a smile on his face.
"Would you believe I met her in a dream?" Manta gave him a look that he is not up to jokes. Yoh sighed and looked at the stoic Anna trying to find some inspiration on how to tell them, especially since his memory about her seems hazy. Yoh felt uneasy gossiping about Anna but he knows Manta wouldn't stop bothering him not unless he gave in.
"Come on tell me the truth." Manta said.
"Do you remember the time when I woke up and kept on looking for Anna?"
"Yeah, and imagine my surprise when she finally shows up."
"Me too, but that Anna is different from the one I dreamt." Yoh said.
"I guess you weren't lying after all." Manta laughed but Yoh didn't.
"But, it's the truth. I knew her as my fiancé because our family arranged it when we were young, but the thing that didn't changed was she was abandoned by her family…"
"I know that one, the Kyouama family was known to have powerful miko ever but since Anna-san is not one they disinherited her." Manta interrupted. "Sorry I've searched about her in the internet."
"I didn't know that was included in the Internet?"
"No, I just figured out the whole disinherited thing when you told me she's an Itako."
"She's so bossy and scary at that time she even manage to make tough men cry even me." Manta cringed at that. "But I know she's not that bad, she might be an ice queen as everyone would say but she can be nice and caring if she just wanted to be. She was always there when I needed her." Yoh said with a smile but soon vanished "But that doesn't matter anymore, because the Anna I know is just a dream." Yoh said sadly.
"I'm confused but let me get this straight, you met Anna in your dream but when you met her again she's different." Yoh nodded. "You must be glad to know she's not your fiancé anymore. I mean I know how much you don't like to be bossed around and clearly, from what you have said, she always pushed you around and I just can't picture you two together because you're like fire and ice. It must have been a horrible nightmare for you." Yoh stopped dead in his tracks.
Is he really glad she's not his fiancée anymore? Sure, she scared him to no end and sometimes annoys him but does he really want to stay this way or continue his supposedly plan to bring her back?
Just then, like a nightmare, he was thrown into a world full of memories where Anna always torture him with back breaking training. Pushing him to do the impossible just because she wanted to have an easy life. Lastly, he saw Anna looking at him full of hate and anger and what she said completely made his decision.
"I don't even know you, you pathetic human so why would you expect me to fall for you or worse know you?"
Little did he know that every vision he had was just a nightmare brought by the vengeful spirit himself.
When she saw Manta and Yoh stood up and left, she went after them but a hand on her arm stopped her from doing so.
"Horohoro?" He gave Tamao an apologetically smile.
"Could…could we talk for a while?" Giving a longing look to where Yoh had disappeared, she agreed to Horohoro. He led her somewhere where they could talk in private. Their walk was silent as both of them are trapped in their own thoughts. They stopped and Horohoro leaned on a tree thinking what would be the best way to start.
"Where do you think Yoh-kun had went to? Oh, I hope it's not that far."
"Would you please stop thinking about him for a minute?" Both of their eyes widen at Horohoro's outburst. "I'm…I'm sorry. I don't know what had gotten into me."
Tamao didn't know what to think at that time. She had never seen Horohoro this angry before and it scared her.
"Tamao why do you always go after Yoh even when you know he doesn't like you that way?" Horohoro asked in a weak voice. The way he said it, as if he was a warrior ready to throw his arms in defeat. Tamao always knew Yoh didn't like her the way she does but saying it right in her face, really hurts a lot. In a shaking voice she answered him.
"I know that he doesn't like me that way but would you blame me if I believe in miracles?"
"Don't you know it hurts me so see you that way?" Horohoro hung his head so that she wouldn't see the blush staining on his cheek nor would he saw her bewildered face.
"What do you mean?" Horohoro bit his lip in frustration and sadness.
"You can't still it out yet…" He pushed himself away from where he stands and looked at her. His hands itched to touch her but before his hands reached her face he stopped and looked away. "Never mind…let's go back." He walked away never looking back.
The ice was halfway on his body as Pirika grudgingly add some logs to the fire.
"If you didn't pushed me in that freezing water you wouldn't have to do this!" Ren shouted angrily to Pirika.
"If you hadn't been infuriating then I wouldn't have pushed you."
"You are such…argh…women!" Ren seemed loss for words at that time.
"Both of you look like a real couple." Chocolove said to them. Both of them glared daggers at him, which he ignored. "Just joking…hey Pirika when you're through with him, would you nurse my aching cheek?" Ren's hair stood up straight.
"Don't you dare ask her that!" Chocolove look at him snidely.
"Why? Is she your girlfriend?" Both Ren and Pirika blushed at that comment but soon Ren smirked.
"No, she's just my woman." Pirika's eyes widen and looked at him. "Once I get out of here, I would kill you."
"Tche, don't you sense a joke when it was said." Chocolove went away but before he does he looked at Ren. "Besides, I already have a girlfriend." Both Ren and Pirika's jaw dropped at that. When Chocolove could not be seen Pirika couldn't seem to look at him in the eye and so does he.
"So…about what you said…" Pirika started but Ren cut him off.
"You don't like it? Okay fine, I take it back." Pirika looked at him with shock written on her face. "Besides, I just said it to annoy you." Little did she know that once the Great Ren Tao was nervous he babbles a lot with nonsense. Annoyed that he just dropped the subject like that, Pirika threw a stick at his face. "What was that for, woman?"
"That was for being an infuriating jerk." Without warning, Ren broke free from the ice he was in and stomped angrily at her.
"Okay do you want me to tell you the truth? I like you even though you are an insufferable woman ever." He pulled her in his arms and his lips crashed into hers. Both of them didn't know what happened after that or before.
SUGAR ALERT SUGAR ALERT!
Soon his lips became gentle against hers and were lost into their own worlds. When they felt a glare sent their way, they broke apart reluctantly and saw a glaring Anna.
"Would you get a room, I'm training in here?" Both of them blushed when they realized they had an audience to all of this.
Suddenly a dark cloud came over them and Anna's attention diverted to the familiar presence that came.
It would take two hours before she gets there but thanks to Ryu, she can manage to get in there in an hour or so. Hopefully she can get there in time.
Everyone ran at full breaking speed once they saw the dark cloud that rest over where Anna and the rest are. When they got in there, they saw Ren being thrown away just like a rag doll. A shadowy form hovers in the air and slowly it takes form of a man. He has the darkest hair ever that reached to his shoulders and the palest skin. He has a broad chin and lower brow. His eyes are gleaming red like bloody ruby. He wore a purple robe with intricate designs on it.
"Spending time with these pathetic humans are we my dear Anna?" Oni sneered at Anna. Anna glared at him and remembered the bracelet she still wore. When she tried to pull it out, it miraculously taken off. With a smirk she looked at him and threw her most powerful attack ever, but Oni just deflected it easily. "I see you got the nerve to fight me."
"Only when you insult me."
"So be it." Oni formed a dark ball and threw it at her. As it got near her the ball got near it became larger than ever. Soon, she got trapped inside the large ball. She kept on pounding and blasting but no effect came.
"Do you like my new toy? I got lots of it." He didn't expect the attack of the Giant mode of Amidamaru behind him. He staggered on his step and smiled at Yoh. "I seem to forgot some pest in here." Everyone is in their giant spirit mode.
"Let…Anna…GO!" Yoh said angrily. Oni looked at him in an amused tone.
"You know if this is a sappy romantic flick or story, shouldn't Yoh have to stand in the way before that girl get stuck in that big ball?" Chocolove asked all of the sudden. Everyone went completely silent after that as a strong wind blew their way.
"Do you know that guy?" Oni asked.
"Sadly, yes." Yoh answered.
"Oh I see." Oni said and blinked at Chocolove. Just like a show has ended Oni looked at them and snorted. "You expect me to fight you weaklings? I would be better off fighting with babies."
"Don't listen to him guys, he's just making you angry so that you can't show your best." Manta shouted.
With that they attacked him one by one trying to see if they can take up to him this way but sadly Oni just deflected their attacks as mere nothing. Soon they started to combine their powers and attacked simultaneously and had a little effect on Oni. Seeing that this somehow worked they cornered him on both corners and attacked him. Their attack formed a thick smoke around them not knowing if they succeeded or not. When the smoke cleared off, a large crater was formed in their center but no Oni.
"This is just like in some action movies where the hero thought that he had finished the enemy but the enemy is just hiding somewhere and suddenly attacks." Horohoro said. Seeing that there is no sign of Oni, Tamao, Pirika, and Manta was about to go to them when an evil laugh vibrated throughout the place.
"You should never let your guard down humans." Oni charged from the sky and pulled out a black sword and started to fight everyone. Just like a dance, Oni managed to hold off the rest of them at the same time attacking them forcefully.
Meanwhile, Anna who was watching the whole thing helplessly started to fall down in her knees and weakly struggled to get up. Oni saw this and smirked. He formed a black ball and hit Chocolove square in his chest. Chocolove's giant spirit disappeared as he fall into midair. Good thing Manta was there to cushion his fall.
"One down three to go." He swiped his sword in Ren's direction good thing he deflected it. "So little passion but don't worry I'll fix that." He sent two dark balls hurtling towards Tamao and Pirika but it was too late for Ren and Horohoro to save them. "Word of advice, if you don't manage to get them out in there for…let's say fifteen minutes, they die."
The three of them charged together as they melded their energy into one and blast it to Oni. Oni underestimated the power they blast his way, so he fell to the ground. When he stood up, he has scratches and some parts of his robes are tattered. He got surprised when he saw the three of their giant spirit is charging before him and mist covered the place once more. They stood away and looked at his unconscious form. Without wasting any time they ran to their respective partners and tried to blast the ball away; however, Tamao was slightly disappointed because Horohoro came for her.
"What…are…you still doing here human? Leave me alone." Anna said coldly but weakly and notices Yoh stops in his tracks and refuses to look at her. Anna's eyes widens as she sees Oni slowly stand up with a smirk on his face and let out a strong force that manages to blow everyone away. Because they are low on furyoku and can only do oversoul, they stand up and charged at him with all of their powers but sadly they lost because Oni sent another powerful attack on them. Yoh who seems determined to win uses his double medium oversoul (?) and attack him. He manages to do a lot of damage on Oni and so Yoh fell on the ground.
Fear is an alien feeling for her, but it grips her heart like it slowly killing her. She wants everything to stop and hope it is just a dreadful nightmare…but then she remembered she is an ice queen. She looks at the guy who turns her life upside down and decides to forget everything she was.
But it was too late because Oni was about to deliver the final blow…
"YOH!" Anna cried out clearly surprising herself.
Before the tip of his sword would pierce his chest and strong barrier surrounded the shaman fighters and the dark ball around the girls vanishes.
"Looks like I came just in time." Saga said as she looked at Oni coldly.
So sad nobody reviewed my last chapter except for my best friend…but that's okay. Sniff…please read and review.