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*falls over* I can't believe I got so many reviews! Arigatou! *bows* It means so much to me! Thank you so much! I really appreciate all the reviews! Thank you so much. Ah Bratty and Da*mouse...Thanks so much for your reviews. I actually feel quite honored...^_^

This chapter may be slightly confusing with all the "unkown" thing going on...so bare with me. I am currently suffering from a very bad case of school-blues. (Bwesit talaga ang eskwela) And I am totally pissed for the fact that I can't watch Shaman King anymore...Bwesit and Sched ko...grrr!. So, *sweatdrop* umm, this chapter really isn't that great. But *waves* don't go yet! Ah! Just read and review!

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Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King. *sigh* I only own the plot...

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			Chapter 3 "Promises"

~Funbari, Tokyo~

"Who are you?!" yelled the 17 year old Yoh angrily, staring at the mysterious boy expectantly. His furyoku was slowly coming to an end and still he had no clue what-so-ever who the mysterious boy was. Another shikigami appeared out of nowhere, and by now he was completely surrounded by the monsters.

Manta screamed loudly as he stood by the sidelines as he watched his friends being attacked by all sides. The former peaceful cemetery was now a complete battleground. "Yoh!"

"Who the hell are you?!" screamed Ren loudly losing his temper more than once that night. After killing off another shikigami, another would appear. It was no use for them to defeat those monsters. The whole situtation was getting too tight.

"Not that I mind the free action and all, but this is getting way out of hand," Muttered Horo Horo more to himself than to anybody else. Soon later, he was sent crashing into a nearby tree. Kororo popped out of his snowboard making a small 'epp' sound. "Way-way-way out of hand," he groaned loudly.

Only minutes ago, the group of 4 were peacefully eating dinner at the Asakura residence when all of the sudden Amidamaru announced that a weird vibe was coming from the main cemetery. All of which was soon affirmed by fellow spirit Bason. Soon after, the four were greeted by a rare sight. A mysterious teen was suking all of the spirits into a large purple urn. Only laughing manically, the teen attacked them with a load full of shikigamis. Needless to say, the trio of Shamans were battered, hurt and cut in more than once places. There seemed to be no hope.

Watching in satisfaction, the mysterious teen ordered several more shikigamis to appear. "Finish them off," he whispered into the cold evening wind, his voice ringing throughout the cemetery. Grinning in triumph, he cradled the urn carefully after having suked up the last remaining spirit and dutifully placed the lid on it. 'Master will be happy,'

"Where are you taking the spirits?!" yelled Yoh, staring at the stranger over the huge shoulders of the shikigamis while futilely trying to defend himself. A blow to his gut sent him flying across the grass and land right next to his two friends.

The shikigamis had surrounded them. All of them, growling and grunting in anger, had surrounded the three shamans and the midget. On top of the hill, the teen laughed loudly in triumph.

"I'd never known that the legendary Shaman King could be so easily defeated by a load of shikigamis," the teen commented before laughing once again.

Amidamaru appeared, a look of regret appeared on his face. "I am sorry Master Yoh, but I couldn't last any longer,"

A sheepish grin appeared on Yoh's battered face, "Ah, don't worry Amidamaru. I shouldn't have used all my furyoku at once,"

Grunting in pain, Ren leaned heavly on his glaive and eyed their anonymous opponent. Switching his heated gaze to the shikigamis he growled. "It's times like these that make me wish that, that fake fiancée of yours were here,"

Yoh's smile faltered slightly. At the mention of Anna his throat went tight. 'Anna...'

Horo Horo winced and picked up the beaten Kororo. "Ah, she'd know how to handle these things,"

Yoh's smile now was completely was wiped off his face and he blankly eyed the shikigamis. The mention of the long gone itako made everything harder. Even though it had been three long, painful years, she still lingered in his mind. And he still wished she'd return. He still felt lost without her. He wanted Anna.

Manta gulped. The shikigamis were slowly advancing to them. Any second now they'd be dead. Any second...the midget began to cower in fear and tremble. Stepping back slightly, he watched the green colored Shikigami eye him menacingly. His blood went cold. The green shikigami took another huge step forward. He closed his eyes, waiting for the sudden death to happen.

It never did

A gasp was drawn from Yoh and a huge intake of breath was made from Horo Horo. Manta opened his eyes and nearly fainted. One by one, the Shikigamis had magical papers plastered on their foreheads. The papers faintly glowed, before making the shikigamis scream in pain and turn into talismans. Manta, as well as the others, stood there transfixed.

The mysterious teen frowned at the sight of having his shikigamis destroyed. Narrowing his eyes down at the shamans he growled. "Who did this?!"

"Ah, you know, you really should teach your shikigamis to be more watchful," a mysterious voice drifted through the cold evening air.

The teen growled, anger boiling up inside of him. "Who the hell are you?!" he yelled loudly, his grip tightened around the urn protectively. "Show yourself coward!"

A small chuckle could be heard as the cold wind rustled the leaves of the nearby oak tree. Instinctively their attention was fixed on the tree. Or rather, who was perched in the tree.

"Ah, you call me a coward. Where in fact you are the one. You send you shikigamis to destroy others while you stand at the side. How courageous are you?" again, another airy chuckle could be heard.

"Who's he talking to?" mused Horo Horo, scratching his head. "Did the tree send those enchanted papers?"

Ren would have hit the ice shaman on his head, if only his arm would not be injured. Instead he just glared at the Ainu. "No stupid! There's someone in the tree!"

Yoh watched silently, his attention fully drawn to the tree. Or rather to whoever was hidden by the tree. He was sure that, he could feel somebody familiar. '...Iie...can it be...?' His eyes widened in shock as he watched a young man jump out of the tree branches.

"He's a shaman," whispered Ren, his eyes narrowing and eyeing the new arrival. His eyes widened when he saw the powerspirit of a samurai glowing at the guy's sword.

Though still all of his featured remained hidden by the dark shadows, one could clearly see the triumphant smirk appear on the mysterious shaman's face. "Return the spirits,"

A smirk appeared on their opponents face. "What makes yo--"

A slashing sound could be heard, quickly followed by the sound of crashing of the urn. Hundreds of spirits, rose up into the air in freedom. Quickly realizing that danger was not yet over, they all headed to their graves, hiding for cover.

"Whoa," mumbled Yoh in awe staring up at the hill. "He's quick!"

Their opponent growled angrily as he stared directly the new comer. Seeing that he had no other chance to defend himself, he took a step back. His white cloak billowed in the wind and smirk appeared on his face. "Ah, this wont be the last time you will see me," he announced. And with a flourish of his cloak, he disappeared.

Shrugging slightly, the young man returned his sword back into its hilt and allowed his samurai spirit to appear once again. "Well, in that case. We'll be prepared." he said. Turning to his power spirit he grinned. "Won't we Kagetsu?"

The power spirit nodded his head. Smiling in satisfaction the young man turned around and walked back down the hill, heading back to the huge oak three. The wind rustled the leaves of the magnificent tree. The young man and his power spirit disappeared into the shadows of the tree.

Yoh stared at the tree... the familiar presence from earlier was gone. He could have sworn he felt somebody familiar by the tree.'A trick of the mind,' he thought bitterly. Staring up the starry night sky, his face grew somber. 'She couldn't...could she?'

~Next day, Funbari High School~

It was a complete mystery to all of them as to who the young man was, who nearly saved them all last night. And it still remained a mystery of who the teen was who attacked them. And Yoh still couldn't shake away the feeling of familiarity that radiated from their mysterious savior. Whoever he was.

"Ah, Yoh! The juniors would be out a couple more minutes earlier than us at lunch. I told Ren and Prikia to look for a good place to eat lunch this time," announced Horo Horo, turning around in his desk and staring at the shaman. A grin appeared on his face, "Ah, I can't wait for lunch,"

Yoh nodded his head slightly. Soon after he regreted his actions. Though none of them were seriously injured last night, they did receive several wounds and bruises and not to mention cuts. Under their school uniforms, they were heavily bandaged up. Wincing slightly, Yoh stared at the ainu. "Every inch of my body hurts,"

Horo Horo nodded his head in agreement. Though ended up wincing for moving too much. "I think Tamao bound me up too tight," he mumbled. "Do you think she did it on purpose?"

Yoh grinned, "You were the one who insulted her yesterday for having the touch similar of a man while she was bandaging you up. It wouldn't surprise me if she'd completely had cut off your blood circulation,"

Horo Horo sweatdropped. "Ah, well...she did go rough on me!"

"Ah, that's because you insulted her for being too sensitive," commented Manta, walking up to them. He by now was as tall as the common student's desk. Turning to look up at Yoh, his face turned into a worried expression. "Do you have any idea who that guy might have been last night?"

The ice Shaman frowned thoughtfully. "Which guy? There were two that we dont now off...and there was that tree..."

Yoh sweatdropped at Horo Horo's last comment. Turning to look down at Manta, he smiled. "Nah, I have no clue. At least we know that one is on our side, right?"

"How can you be so sure of that?" asked Manta, flailing his arms in reaction. "For all we know he might be faking it all!"

Yoh shook his head in disagreement. He was quite sure of it. The guy who helped them out was a good person. He just got the feeling that he knew the guy from somehwere. Though he never really met him before. However what stirred up his feelings inside of him, was the feeling of the familiar presence. 'Anna...' He was sure he must have sensed her somewhere. "Anna..."

Manta and Horo Horo stopped talking as they heard their friend say the one name they had vowed themselves never to say. True, none of the friends never dared to say the itako's name in front of their friend, in fear that it may cause more emotional damages to the young Shaman King. It may have been only 3 long years since the itako had been gone, but still they all could see the change in Yoh. Though he still remained the same laid back, good-hearted Asakura Yoh they had all know before, there was still a huge change in his demeanor. Something that none of them could really explain, though it was quite evident he greatly missed the itako...everybody did.

Yoh however, missed her the most of all. At times he would spend hours in the itako's former room and just sit and do nothing and listen to music. He still trained, however he missed the yells and slaps he would receive from the girl. It just plainly seemed like that a great part of him was missing. He just wants her back. However, they all knew she would never come back. All excpet for Yoh. He still believed, she would come back...someday.

"Yoh?" Horo Horo waved his hand in front of Yoh's blank face. "Hey...Yoh!"

"I wonder how Anna's doing..." mumbled Yoh thoughtfully. Pain briefly flashed in his eyes, however it quickly disappeared and a small smile replaced his features. "Do you think she's happy?" His smile widened and he leaned back in his chair. "I do hope she's happy,"

Manta stared at Yoh in silence, trying to think up something to say. He knew that no matter how much Yoh would look like everything was normal, he still could see the depression in the Shaman's eyes. "Ah...I..."

Having gotten used to Yoh's sudden changing of emotions, Horo Horo simply shrugged his shoulders. "Beats me...I dont think that girl even knows what happiness is..." he said thoughtfully.

Yoh grinned at Horo Horo, "I'm sure Anna's happy..."

Soon their teacher arrived, making everybody in the class quiet down and settle back into their seats. Giving her students a glare to silence them all, she later smiled in satisfaction. Turning to the door she smiled softly, though her smile was slightly hesitant. Yoh looked up sharply as the familiar presence of last night invaded his senses. His eyes widened in surprise.

"We have a new transferee from Aomori High School. She'll be attending her last year here. I hope you will make her feel welcome here." announced their teacher. Excited whispers filled the room as they awaited for the new student to enter. "Would you please enter,"

Yoh's eyes widened in recognition as he watched the new student enter their room. His throat tightened and his heart was ready to jump out of his chest. His fingers curled around the sides of his desk into a tight grip. There dressed in the black skirt and white school blouse and black school blazer with the school's logo, stood Kyouyama Anna. 'Anna!'

Anna bowed stifly, "Pleased to meet all of you..." her voice rang through the classroom with a chilly ring to it.

The teacher nodded and smiled at the girl. "There's a seat free at the back of the class. By the window over there. Right behind Zami..." she said, pointing at the back of the classroom.

Anna nodded and briskly made her way down the aile without much further word. She passed by a gaping Manta, whom she completely ignored. Ignoring the sets of eyes that came from across the room, she silently sat down behind the blue haired boy called Zami. Hanging her black book bag onto the hook by the side of her desk, she still continued to ignore the sets of eyes. Propping her right elbow onto her desk, she placed her chin into her hand and began to stare straight ahead. It would be a very long day for her.

Yoh watched her the whole time. She had barely changed. Her hair now was just grazing her shoulders and it was quite evident that she had grown into a fine young woman. There she was, his other half just 5 desks away from him. 5 miserably far desk away from his reach. It had been three long years since he had seen her, and now she was back. He was right when he thought that she would come back. His throat went suddenly tight once again when one question ran through his mind.

'Would she be back for me?' the question felt very absurd...

~

The bell rang throughout the school building signaling lunch break. The class of seniors loudly cheered and rose from their seats getting ready to consume their lunches and a nice long break from their torture sessions. Not being able to hide his excitement, and armed with a broad grin Yoh quickly rose from his seat, ready to confront the itako.

His view from the blonde was shielded, as several of his classmates passed by her desk. With his heart in his troath, and a huge grin on his face, Yoh quickly strode across the room. However, as the last student passed by her desk, Anna was already gone. His smile fell and his shoulders slumped. He blankly stared at her empty desk. 'Anna...'

"Yoh?" murmured Manta, staring up at his best friend.

Horo Horo popped up behind the silent Shaman. A huge grin plastered on his face, "Ah, C'mon Yoh-kun!" he heartily slapped his friend on the back. He completely ignored the fact that Yoh hit the nearby desk face first due to the impact his slap. "Anna-san is back. So, she didn't say Hi or Hello...that's quite typical for a girl out of ice! But Look on the bright side, she's back and you still got after school to talk to her! AND! Tamao made lunch!"

Yoh rubbed his injured head and gave a small grin. "I guess you're right Horo..."

Manta smiled brightly as he watched Horo puff out his chest and comment about being right always. In turn Yoh just sweatdropped at the Ainu's comment. The trio decided to head out for lunch, meeting Ren and the others by the courtyard. Allowing Yoh and Horo Horo to go ahead, Manta suddenly stopped by the door and turned around to stare at Anna's desk. Through Yoh's actions just a while ago, he realized that perhaps this time, everything will turn out right. The midget however frowned in worry. As one though ran through his mind. 'Is she still our friend?'

"Manta! Hurry up!"

Switching his gaze to the end of the hallway, Manta spotted his two friends ready to descend the flight of stairs. "AH! Wait for me!"

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Anna watched the trio walk across the lawn of the school and meet up with Ren, Pirika and Tamao under the shade of a huge Sakura tree. She watched them silently from the top of the school's roof top. Leaning slightly at the green railings of the roof, she got a perfect view of everything. A heavy sigh escaped her lips and she closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the slight breeze. Everything was already too hard for her.

"Anna-san?"

Anna's eyes snapped open and she whirled around and glared at the intruder. Her eyes slightly softened as she saw the familiar ghostly apparition of Kagetsu. "You surprised me,"

Kagetsu smiled sheepishly, and scratched his head. "Gomen,"

Anna nodded her head in understanding and sat down on one of the green benches. Getting her lunch, she began to eat silently. Enjoying the silence of the roof top, both spirit and itako remained silent. Remembering that her brother's power spirit was still hovering nearby she stopped eating and eyed him quizzically. "Why are you here?"

Kagetsu once again grinned sheepishly, "Ah, I thought you might need company,"

Raising an eyebrow at the spirit's comment, the itako simply went back to finishing her meal. After several more minutes of utter silence between the two, Anna had already finished her lunch.

"You know..." murmured Anna, standing up and walking back to the railings. "...I wish we never did come here," she said, leaning on the railings and staring out into the horizon.

Kagetsu watched the itako with a worried expression. He was not quite sure on how to deal with the current situation that he was facing right now. After being dead so long, the spirit had no clue on how to deal with the emotions of humans. Though he still felt the pain that his mistress was going through. It hurt."..."

"I wish Onii-san was never accepted in Funbari College...I wish..." Anna's hand tightened around the green railings. "...I never see him again..." Her gaze switched to the certain Sakura tree, under which Horo Horo was laying knocked out by a screaming Tamao.

"You shouldn't say that about Yoh-san..." protested Kagetsu, a frown crossed his lips.

"I don't care..."

"You do care..."

"Iie, I don't!" Anna whirled around and glared at the power spirit. "I don't care for him because he didn't care for me! If he did, then he would have followed me three years ago! He would have realized that I cared for him. But he didn't realize that, he just understood that I was a simple tool of Kino-sensei's plans. Since he taught me how to let go of the past, I have let go of him...he is my past,"

The power spirit's grey eyes began to show his worry. "Anna-san..."

Anna turned back to the railings and ignored the spirit. Feeling a slight wetness growing in her eyes, she quickly closed them. Her throat felt dry and tight and her hands were trembling slightly. When she realized on what she said, it hurt even more to say it aloud than to think about it. Yoh did not care for her and she didn't care for him...

'I promised myself to not open my heart to anyone anymore after I left you Asakura Yoh. I learned that growing fond of something that I can't have only brings pain. Only seeing you makes me realize what pain I brought myself into. I promised myself to not care for you back then but I failed to keep that promise. But now, I will keep that promise. You belong to my past, I have let go of you,'

Anna opened her eyes and found a solidary tear slide down her cheek. Cursing herself for having her emotions take the better of her, she wiped the blasted tear away. Feeling that somebody was watching her, she instictively looked down to the grounds. 'Yoh,'

Black clashed with black.

It seemed like an eternity as both teens stared into each others eyes. She watched him as he gave her one of his laid back smiles and a wave his hand. '...The promise...' she mused. And with a very heavy heart, of which she was unaware of, she sent him a glare and briskly turned around. Completely betraying her heart and ignoring the stabbing pain on the inside.

Down by the grounds, an utterly surprised Yoh stood rooted to the spot staring up at the now empty roof. A brief sign of pain flashed through his eyes, before forwning deeply. "Anna..." he whispered. With a heavy heart, he trugged back into the school building wondering what he did wrong to the one that caught his heart.

A few moments later, the school bell rang signaling the end of lunch and the start of the afternoon sessions. Behind one of the huge Sakura trees by the far end of the grounds, a figure stood underneath it. Securely hidden from view by the long casting shadow of the tree. The figure's lips curled into a smile as he stared up the empty roof top. "..."

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Uhh...How was it? X_x...I know not the best yet...but I promise to do better...*raised hand* I do...^_^ So...was it a nice cliffhanger? ^______^ I hope so!

Again, I am just reminding you to review! I am open to ideas and suggestions! Flame me if you will...Makes me happy! ^____^ Thanks for reading! And Review!

Well, I am off to do once again a nice load of "Pain"-work...*cough*...Homework...(I think I need an advil...^_^;)...

Oh, and thank you to all that reviewed about the age thing for school. Since I got so many different ages...I just came up with the general thought of 17...Oh! And none of you got the ages of the other shamans then, I'll tell you. Yoh, Anna, Manta, Horo Horo are all 17 and Pirika, Tamao and Ren aree all 16...got that? ^____^ I hope you do!

Well, thanks for reading!

Ja ne!

Elisabeth