I'm currently solving my problems with the site bandwidth of my sites…darn. Can't update the site….
Also, my inhuman class sked is causing me problems. When I get home from school, I feel too tired to even brainstorm on a fic, so expect that the updates won't be very constant. ^^;;
"So what did my grandmother say about my training?" asked Yoh as he and Anna ate breakfast together that morning.
"She told me that you will be leaving for someplace where you can concentrate on your training more, without being disturbed by the outside world." Anna looked up at him for a moment. "What's the matter? You don't look too excited. Only the finest of shamans are invited there."
"I'm worried," he admitted. "I don't know where that place is. Besides, I'll miss you guys."
She blinked, then looked back at her plate. He must mean Horo Horo and the others. "Asakura-sensei told me that the place is referred to as the Best Place. The environment of that location differs, depending on the attitude of its visitors. It is said to be harsh to the people it deems unworthy, but it can give you the power as well to control the Great Spirits, if it considers you strong enough to stand for yourself."
"When will I go?"
"This evening." She looked at his fiancé for a long time before she stood up. "Bear in mind what you always say in our trainings."
"Ouch?" guessed Yoh.
"No. That everything will work itself out." A small smile formed on her face, startling her fiancé. "Besides, shouldn't you look relieved? I won't be there to terrorize you."
Yoh grinned sheepishly. "To tell you the truth, I'm not too comfortable with that thought. I have grown so used to your presence. In fact…" He tilted his head to one side in a boyishly shy manner. "…I think I'll miss you," he said softly.
The smile abruptly left her face. She stood up. "Excuse me. Kino-sensei might need me already."
"So this is goodbye?" he asked.
She faced him briefly. "I think so. We might not see each other this afternoon. I am going to run an errand for Yohmei-sama today."
His eyes saddened. "You take care of yourself, ok?"
"T-That should be my line," she said, bewildered.
He shrugged. "I feel like saying that." He slipped his hands into his pocket. "I want to say that. It feels…good."
"You're weird." She turned her back quickly on him just so he wouldn't see the smile return in her face again. "I'm expecting your return, Asakura Yoh, and I want to see you holding the power promised by the Best Place, understood?"
"And if I don't get it…"
"Come back still, and I'll train you again." The important thing is…you come back, she added in her mind.
"I'll do my best!"
"Don't do your best. Just do it."
"Hey, why do you look like you lost your favorite undies, eh, Tamao?" asked Horo Horo when the maid sadly placed the plate of sandwich before him.
She ignored his crack. "Master Yoh is leaving tonight…and I heard that he's going to a really dangerous place." She hugged herself. "I'm so worried for him!"
He waved his hand dismissively. "Eh, don't worry about that fellow! Everything will turn out fine, you'll see."
"Aren't you his friend?" she snapped. "You're supposed to be worried too!"
"I'm not. Worried, I mean." he said breezily. "If anyone can't do it, Master Yoh can. I've got faith on his ability." He witnessed that when he saw how Yoh mastered the oversoul technique that he studied for eight months in just eight hours.
"B-But what if his ability is not good enough?" she asked.
"Don't you trust him?"
"I-I do, but…"
"Trust has no buts," interrupted Horo Horo, eyes serious, "only I believe."
Her eyes widened. "Horo Horo…"
"Besides, there's always this nice little thing we call 'luck'." Horo poured himself some tea. "I may be born handsome, but Master Yoh was born lucky, which makes him almost equal to me."
"So Asakura Yoh is heading for the Best Place to summon the powers for the Great Spirits?" asked En Tao, eyes glinting steely. He looked at Ren. "I trust that you can take care of that boy. He's no match for someone like you, a proud descendant of the real shaman king."
The boy looked on the floor. "I shall pulverize him, Father."
"Go and show him what a real shaman king is."
Jun watched as his brother left the house. "Are you going there now?" she asked, as if he was still in front of her. "I can't let you go there alone."
Pailong appeared. "Mistress Jun?"
"Follow him. Make sure that nobody touches him." She crossed her arms behind her. "And make sure he doesn't sense you. He won't be too happy when he learns that I ordered you to look after him."
"As you wish."
"Asakura Yoh…" grumbled Ren. "I will ring the bell of requiem for you." He was walking in the market place – the bustling shops and stalls that lead to the grand Asakura gates. "I had enough being compared to you. Once and for all, I'll show everyone what absurdity it was to appoint his weak clan for such a great task as keeping the King of Spirits."
Bason appeared. "Master, be careful. We were almost caught the last time we went there."
He then remembered the blue-haired girl, and his hand instantly went to the rose hanky that she gave him before. The only one who saw him as a good person. The only one that he didn't have the heart to reject and push away.
That person…that girl…
"What's her name again?" he asked, rubbing his head.
"Young master!" The spirit became alert. "I sense her aura somewhere."
"She's here?" He couldn't explain the sudden excitement in his heart. He tried to rebuke himself. He must not be carried away by his emotions. He was going to make use of her, and to an instrument, he must not get too attached to.
"In the alley over there! She's in danger!"
Pirika slammed on the wall as the street boys, led by the thief who stole her penny yesterday.
"You've got some guts to return to the market," said the leader, smirking evilly. "Didn't you even realize that we might want to take revenge on you, for humiliating me in public yesterday?"
"Even if I wasn't there, you ought to be ashamed, making crimes for a living!" she yelled, sticking her tongue out at him.
He cringed. "You still have the nerve to do that! You know that no one can help you now." He grabbed her jaw. "You'll pay dearly."
"You'll pay dearly too if you don't let her go," said a gravely serious voice. The gang turned to the opening of the alley, but no one was there.
"Up here."
They looked up at the same time, and saw Ren standing on the roof, his eyes piercing them lethally.
"Why? Are you going to save your girlfriend again like what you did yesterday? You can't beat the five of us at the same time!" sneered the leader. But his sneer was short-lived.
Pirika watched in awe as the black and blue bodies of the thugs landed on the ground one after the other within a couple of seconds. She turned to her savior, her eyes twinkling. "A-Arigatou!"
"Stop that!" he snapped.
She flinched.
"Why do you always get into trouble, you little pipsqueak?" he yelled. "What if I didn't happen to pass by here? You could have been raped!"
Her eyes, wide as saucers, looked at him wordlessly.
"Do not invite trouble when you can't handle it!" he reprimanded.
She looked down, lips trembling. She had never been shouted at like that in her entire life. She sniffed, and a sob escaped her throat.
The boy paused.
"W-Why are you so mad at me suddenly?" she whispered. She then broke into tears.
Ren watched her panickedly, not knowing what to do. He didn't mean to sound so harsh – he was just stressed out by the recent incidents that happened this morning, and now, this girl nearly got raped!
"S-Stop crying!" he barked, then immediately regretted it. The girl wailed louder.
"Speak softly…soothingly," advised Bason.
"I-I don't know how," said the boy helplessly. He knelt beside the girl seated on the ground, face buried in her hands. "Hey…stop crying…" he said, trying his best to sound softer and more soothing this time.
She vehemently shook her head.
He was surprised when he didn't even feel annoyed at her stubbornness. All in his mind was to make her smile again. "C-Come on…I'm not mad at you."
Her cries became softer.
He sighed, relieved. "I'll take you home."
She still shook her head.
"Say sorry!" hissed his power spirit.
"What?!" gasped Ren. "Why should I?"
The girl looked at him, wanting to know who he was talking with.
He felt a tug in his heart when he saw her swollen eyes. "Sorry."
Her eyes lit up. "O-Ok."
"I'll buy you ice cream," he promised.
"OK!"
Bason sweatdropped. "What about Asakura Yoh?"
Ren didn't hear him, because the girl's steady stream of chatter was filling the air again.
"You can buy these prawn crackers tomorrow," said Yohmei as Anna prepared to leave.
"It's alright, Yohmei-sama. Just so you can eat tonight. I know you and Kino-sensei love to munch on these while playing Chinese checkers."
"But Yoh is leaving today."
"Yes, he is."
"Won't you see him off?"
"No need, Yohmei-sensei."
"Maybe you just don't know how to say goodbye to him…because you're afraid that it would be your last farewell, am I right?" asked Yoh's grandfather perceptively.
Her hands holding the money clenched, but she chose not to reply.
She was about to leave when he called her again.
"Your presence will mean a lot to him before he enters that dangerous place. Give him the will to live."
"T-The will…to live…" whispered Anna, her mind occupied.
It was evening already, and as Kino handed Yoh the harusame, Tamao watched, eyes welling up with tears. "Master Yoh…"
"Hey, don't look so down. It's not my funeral today," laughed Yoh.
"Master Yoh…" She sniffed delicately. "Please be careful there…"
He grinned. "Sure! Besides, I told Anna that I'll come back triumphant."
Tamao bit her lip as Horo Horo, who was behind Yoh, looked at the maid sympathetically. Until finally, he handed her a hanky. "Here."
She blinked.
"You look awful, tears and mucus mixing on your face," he said, grinning.
Yoh sweatdropped as Tamao seemed to forget that she was crying. She was busy twisting the arm of Horo Horo.
"Thank you for the wonderful day," said Pirika as she swung the arm of Ren happily. "My brother has not taken me out for ice cream for the longest time!"
Ren looked at her sideways, surprised by how happy she was when all he did for her was a simple thing.
"Bye!!!" She waved at him.
"W-Wait! D-Don't go yet!" he cried. "Y-Your name!"
She flashed him a smile. "Pirika. You forgot, didn't you? I already gave it to you….back in the garden."
He looked away. "Ummm…"
She walked towards him and played with the pointed part of his hair. She smiled at him as the breeze blew on her hair. "But I won't forget yours, for it belongs to my knight."
"Knight…" he repeated, mostly to himself.
"I'm sure that when you and onii-chan meet, you two will be the best of friends!"
Ren watched as the girl disappeared into the Asakura Gates. Bason materialized beside him. "What are you planning to do with her?"
"What do you mean?" asked the boy, feigning ignorance.
"She's too kind. Don't use her for your self-serving purposes," pleaded the spirit.
Ren smirked. "She seems close to that Asakura Yoh. She can help me a lot with my plans."
Pailong decided that he had heard enough. He went back to his mistress to report what he had heard.
"Is he gone?" asked Ren.
Bason nodded. "He would report that to your sister, no doubt."
The boy nodded, then looked at the Asakura gates. Now that he had access to the compound, he could start his plan on Yoh now.
But before he could begin to act, the gates opened. He quickly hid in the shadows, and out came a small trail of horses. Leading the pack was Asakura Yohmei, and of course, the future shaman king himself, Asakura Yoh.
Ren brought out his spear. "Get ready, Bason."
"Yes, young master."
"Huh?" Yoh suddenly pulled the reins of the horse he was riding on just as something sliced the air inches away from him.
"What the-" Horo Horo stood in front of his master protectively.
A boy with blue pointed hair appeared at the treetop. "I have come to get the title back from your weak clan, Yoh Asakura."
Yoh was surprised. "Hey, what's your problem? Why are you up there? Can't you climb down so we can talk better?"
"And what's with his hair?" said Horo, rolling his eyes. "You think that point can actually cut something?"
"Hah! Quit fussing on my hair!" The boy pointed his spear to Yoh. "Let's fight."
Yoh grinned apologetically. "Sorry! I'm running late for an appointment. Some other time, maybe?"
"No one refuses Ren Tao!" His spear was about to touch Yoh, but Horo Horo blocked it.
"And no one hurts Asakura Yoh. Over my handsome and dashing dead body!" said Horo.
Ren was furious! No one had ever blocked his attack before!
Horo turned to his master. "You go ahead, Master. I can take care of this."
"You're not going anywhere-" Ren tried to head for Yoh, but the Ainu stepped in front of him.
"If you don't defeat me, you won't have any chance against him," smirked Horo. He turned to his friend again. "See ya around, pal!"
Yoh nodded, then rode away with his grandfather.
Ren tried his oversoul, but to his dismay, Horo Horo was stronger than he thought.
"Wahahahahahahha!" laughed Horo Horo, riding on his skateboard. "You can't even touch me. How else do you expect to defeat my master?"
He was furious…very, very furious. This powered his oversoul more.
"Super Golden Chuuka-zanmai!!!!!!!!!"
Pirika's eyes widened. "Onii-chan…" She dropped her chopsticks on the table.
Tamao looked on, concerned. "Pirika, what's wrong?"
"Onii-chan!!!" She ran out of the house as Tamao followed her hurriedly.
"That cave over there is where you shall start your training," said Yohmei, pointing to the gaping hole that seemed to lead downwards. "You're on your own, Yoh."
He nodded, then walked slowly towards the cave as his grandfather looked on.
You can do it, Yoh. You are meant to be the savior, believe me.
Yoh was surprised when he saw a lone figure standing in front of the cave. No, he knew that soft, blond hair dancing in the wind. The billowing red bandanna on her neck. The fitted black skirt. The beads on her creamy skinned wrist. He knew them too well, but he still couldn't believe it.
"Anna?"
She turned to him. "I came to bid you my last good luck."
"I-I thought you were someplace else…"
"I was," she agreed, her face revealing nothing. "But now, I'm here. I am your fiancée, and it's only right that I-" She stopped talking when she saw him smiling. "What?" she asked, irritated.
"Thanks," he said.
"Yohmei-sama told me to come here to give you a last-minute motivation." She narrowed her eyes at him. "Come back here alive, or else, I'll kill you."
Yoh sweatdropped.
"I'm an itako, remember that."
Yoh placed his arms behind his head. "But if I make it back…will you call me by my first name already?"
She nodded slowly.
He walked towards the cave, but then he returned and gave the startled Anna a quick hug before he ran back into the cave.
"Yoh…" Anna felt tears threatening to spill down her cheeks when darkness swallowed the figure.
Ren looked at the almost unmoving body of Horo Horo. The boy sighed, relieved that his opponent finally broke his oversoul. It took him more than three oversoul attacks to take him out.
"You wasted my time," he told the unconscious Horo Horo. "Ah well, once Yoh comes out from that cave, he'll be wishing that he didn't come out in the first place."
"Onii-chan!!!"
Ren's eyes widened.
"Onii-chan, are you al-" Pirika stopped when she saw the paralyzed figure beside her brother's body. Behind her, Tamao sped past her and straight to Horo's side.
Moonlight shone through the dark night skies, revealing the one who harmed her brother.
Ren Tao.
tsuzuku
