"Wow!" Yoh's eyes widened when he saw Ren's move. He looked on as the boy took his bishop and two of his pawns in one move.
Manta, who was watching the game with Horo Horo, sighed. "Yoh-kun, I told you not to move your pawn."
Yoh grinned. "Well, at least I know now what I should do next time it happens."
"At least," smirked Ren, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
Horo rubbed his jaw, then moved Yoh's queen diagonally, then forward. Ren's jaw dropped.
"What the-" The Tao could not speak. His queen was held captive!
"Checkmate!" called Horo, raising both of his fists in victory.
"Checkmate?!" The Chinese was incredulous. "How could that have happened? I looked at every angle of the board and I know-" His eyes narrowed at the Ainu boy. "You cheated! My bishop wasn't there! It's over here!" He pointed one step back from where his bishop used to be.
"I didn't touch anything!" said Horo indignantly. "You just have a bad case of myopia so you thought that this won't happen."
Manta and Yoh could only sigh as Horo and Ren started yet another of their seemingly endless bickering once again.
"If I am myopic, what do you call your vision?" asked Ren in a huff.
"Why you hair failure-"
"Stop noticing my hair! Why don't you notice yours?"
"Mine doesn't have a long, pointed end," remarked Horo, smirking. "Be careful when you walk, Ren Tao the Carabao. When you stumble forward, you might stab the person before you."
Yoh stepped between Ren – who looked like he picked up the just mentioned idea and was going to practice it on him – and Horo, just as Manta rubbed his head. "You guys, stop talking about hair as if you are hair specialists."
"Hmp. At least mine doesn't look like a wig." He gestured to Horo's hair that was let down. The Ainu boy just finished his bath.
Tamao came into the room, holding a tray of snacks. "Personally, I don't find anything objectionable about Horo Horo's hair." She smiled at the blue-haired boy. "I think it's boyishly cute."
Manta cleared his throat teasingly as Horo raked his hand across his hair self-consciously. Ren sighed as he looked at the chessboard again, wondering how to slam the board on Horo's head gracefully and artistically while achieving maximum pain effect at the same time.
Horo moved over to the right, giving Tamao a space beside him. She sat down, sighing. "I still can't believe that everything is over. You guys are home, Master Yoh is the shaman king already, Ms. Anna is back…" She clasped her hands together. "Everything is back to normal."
Horo grinned. "Anna is going back to normal soon. She'll be back to snap at you and give you brutal trainings, Master Yoh."
"I survived the Best Place, Hao and the Great Spirit. I'll survive her trainings," said Yoh, relaxing against the pillar of the house.
Ren looked away from the chessboard, deciding that the death of the king, queen, bishops, rooks, horses, and pawns wouldn't be given justice if they would die in the freaking spiky hair of Horo Horo. "Your relationship with Anna reminds me of a chess game."
"Why?" asked Yoh curiously.
"You may be the king, but the most powerful figure in the game remains to be the queen," smirked the Tao.
Horo smirked back. "For once, you're right." He slapped the boy's shoulder and immediately received a glare.
"I think it's sweet," said Tamao, defending Yoh. "Not many guys would respect women that way."
"In layman's terms, he would be a henpecked husband," said Horo.
"And you?" asked Manta challengingly.
Horo paused, then looked at Tamao who was eyeing him testily. He grinned. "Yoh and I…W-We'll both be nice husbands."
"That's a safe answer," said Amidamaru, appearing in the room.
Yoh nodded. "I wonder what happened to the others."
It had been almost a week since that fateful battle in the pillar. Since then, they all had lost contact with the others.
Ren shrugged. "It's not really that important, so there's no sense on thinking about it."
Amidamaru rubbed his cheek. "But I am curious…I wonder what happened to the X Laws…"
"To Sister Jeanne, " put Manta in.
"To Lyserg," said Horo. "I still haven't forgiven him for nearly killing me with that explosion-"
"Don't forget Chocolove," said Ren, scowling.
"And Shilva," said Horo Horo.
"And Dr. Faust," said Tamao, making Manta shiver in fear.
"Please don't mention his name…it's creepy."
"I thought you're less scared of him now," said the girl.
"That's right, but I never said I am totally not scared of him."
Yoh looked up at the sky, a lazy smile on his face. "Yes, I wonder…"
Lyserg hurried into the church and pushed the heavy double doors open. "Jeanne-sama?"
Marco looked at him disapprovingly. He instantly turned silent.
Jeanne then arrived, smiling. "I'm glad everyone's here. I have come to announce that the duty of the X Laws is over. Hao Asakura the Destroyer is no more."
"Hao is still alive!" protested Marco.
"I never said that he's dead. The Destroyer is dead, not Asakura Hao," she said. "I am positive that he shall not commit his sins again."
"Are you sure, Jeanne-sama?" asked Marco doubtfully.
She nodded. "You are all free now. There is no more need for us."
Everyone but Lyserg stepped out of the church to discuss Jeanne's decision. The dowser followed her. "Jeanne-sama!"
The nun paused. "Yes, Lyserg?"
He inhaled shakily. "Are you really disbanding the group?"
"Yes. It is not right to bind your lives forever to me. You deserve to seek your own happiness in this world."
He clenched his fists. "B-But I am happy serving you, Jeanne-sama."
Her eyes shook.
"Jeanne-sama, don't make me go away," he pleaded. "I want to be with you. You are my happiness."
She was silenced.
"Jeanne-sama, I…"
She placed her finger on his lips. "Hush. I am a nun in training. I have a vow of chastity."
"Oh." His face fell.
"I know what you want to say, and I am really grateful," she said. If things were different, I would say yes to you at once, dakedo, I have obligations." She patted his hand. "You shall still find the right girl for you – someone who is free from commitments. One who will love you more than I can."
"Jeanne-sama…" He suddenly pulled her to his chest and hugged her, smoothing her nun habit with his hand.
"I'm going to dedicate my life to one of service and ever ready helping hand. But I shall not forget you, Lyserg Diethyl. Never," she said, tears glistening.
It was a solemn promise, and the doves in flight outside the stained glass window became the witnesses.
Lyserg left the chapel with a heavy heart. Jeanne was his first love. He silently wondered how his life would be now that it has lost its two purposes – defeating Hao and protecting the nun.
"Prince Lyserg!!!"
He blinked. He knew that voice. "Millie?"
The girl jumped up to his arms joyfully. "I missed you! I really, really missed you!"
He smiled at her. "What are you doing here? How did you know I'm here?"
She beamed. "I looked for you everywhere."
Lyserg looked at Ellie and the other girls, then back at the little girl. "Thank you for finding me."
"I missed your stories," she said. "Let's go home."
He nodded.
He still had one more purpose- to be Millie's prince.
"Let's go home," he agreed, taking her by the hand.
Chocolove waved his arms wildly to the crowd. "Hear ye, hear ye! Here is a story: a man is walking on the road. Two children are playing in the bench. One of them looks at the man and says, 'He is my father, but I am not his son.' What then is their relationship?"
"Godfather and godson?" asked one from the crowd.
"Grandfather?" asked another.
"No! The child is the man's daughter!" replied the boy as the audience erupted into thunderous laughter.
Chocolove smiled to himself. He felt really, really happy. He was starting to gain good audience, some of them traveling from distant cities just to watch him perform!
If only Ms. Anna can see me now, he thought briefly before turning his attention back to his audience. " Thank you, thank you! I love your applause and all, but I also accept cash, credit cards, checks, CODs, and even payments!"
Shilva looked up from his crochet work just to sneeze. He rubbed his nose, sighing. "I wonder who's thinking of me."
"Maybe it's your future girlfriend," kiddedKarimu, looking up from the bead necklace he was stringing together.
"I wish," said the priest, rolling his eyes.
"I kind of envy the shaman king," said Karimu. "At age 14, he already has a sure wife. He wouldn't have a problem in courting."
"True, true," sighed Shilva. "Anyway, we better hurry and rush these to the market. If we don't sell anything today, we won't eat. Crash diet is not my thing."
"We can always eat in Yoh Asakura's house."
Shilva's eyes twinkled. "You want to suffer the same fate Zinc did?"
"You mean that I would die?"
"No. You would pare potatoes."
Yoh realized that he had already fallen half asleep. When he woke up, Horo Horo was using an oversoul against Ren as Manta sat with Amidamaru, playing chess. The two players seemed lost to their own black and white checkerboard world.
He looked up at the sky and frowned when he saw the dark clouds overhead. "Is it going to rain?"
Tamao, who was sewing, nodded. "The wind feels cold."
"Anna left long ago to buy prawn crackers. She might not have brought an umbrella." Yoh stood up. "I better meet her outside the compound." He stepped to the left, whistling, just as Ren's spear bulls-eyed the spot where he stood awhile ago.
"Sorry!" called Horo.
He nodded and grinned. He stretched, then reached for an umbrella just as a very, very, displeased Pirika marched towards Horo and Ren.
"You two are fighting again?!" yelled Pirika as the two boys froze.
"P-Pirika!" Ren's face turned flushed. "A-Ah…"
Horo snickered. "What's the matter, Rennie boy? Where is the Tao courage your father was bragging about?"
"Take a hike!"
"Stop it!!!" she screamed.
Horo snickered some more. "Hey Pirika, you know what? I know a guy who's secretly in love with you."
Ren's red face turned hotter. "@#$%."
"H-Hontou?" Her face turned pink.
Manta sighed as Ren took the chessboard. "Um, Amidamaru and I are not exactly done with the game yet-"
The board slammed on Horo.
"Game over," shrugged Amidamaru. "Master Manta, let's just watch hentai tapes instead."
Everyone's eyes widened. Tamao narrowed her eyes at Horo Horo.
"It wasn't me!" the boy said quickly. "I didn't teach him anything, honest!"
The spirit laughed. "Of course not! Master Yohmei was the one who rented the tapes."
"Count me in!" said Horo as Tamao sighed. He turned to Ren. "Want to come with us?"
Ren's eyes flickered with interest. "What are hentai tapes?"
"Um…they're a creative way of teaching anatomy," said Horo. "You should see La Blue Girl…"
"Blue girl?" Ren's eyes darted towards Pirika. He loves blue-haired girls. "O-Oh, alright."
"Your life would never be the same again," said Horo, snickering.
"Horo…"Tamao rolled her eyes.
"See ya later, Tamao my love!" Horo pulled Ren along with him. Amidamaru and Bason followed excitedly.
Just then, a head popped into the room. "Hello!"
Tamao jumped in surprise as Manta freaked out. Faust VIII was standing in the doorway, grinning. "I came here as I promised Anna. I'm going to live here already." He turned to Tamao. "Are you the wonderful cook who gave life to my rib soup?"
"A-Ah…" She nodded slowly.
He hugged her tight, freaking Tamao out. "Oh, I'm so happy! I wouldn't have to go back to those canned sardines anymore! Yipee!"
"W-Why would Anna want you to live here?" asked Manta, squeaking.
"Because I will be the doctor of the onsen hotel she will build someday!" announced Faust proudly as Tamao and Manta sweatdropped.
Anna brought out an apple from her grocery bag as she passed by the Izumo forest. She threw it up, and the fruit was instantly caught by a gloved hand. Hao's hand.
"You still found time to visit me. I'm flattered," he said, eyes crinkling into a delighted smile.
She smiled at him good-naturedly. "You saved my life."
Silence.
"Yeah, I did," he said, biting on the apple.
"I wasn't able to thank you," she said.
"It's alright. I'm just glad you're safe."
"Why…did you do that? Don't you love your life anymore?" she asked, referring to his transferring of most of his life force to her.
"I do, very much," he said, grinning. You are my life, Anna. I existed, but I've only begun to live when I met you.
"Then-" Anna stopped talking when a breeze blew her bandanna away. Hao got up and picked it up for her. He walked towards her purposefully.
Anna suddenly began to become nervous again. Something in his eyes was making her uncomfortable.
He stopped right in front of her, then secured the bandanna around her neck. She shut her eyes tight when she felt his fingers tickling her nape.
"Anna?"
Why could I feel his breath on my face? She opened her eyes and realized how close his face was to hers. "H-Hao?"
He smiled. "May I kiss my lady goodbye?"
She felt her cheeks heat up. "Stupid." She slapped his face, but his hand caught her midway as his eyes laughed. He then pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight.
"You better start calling me 'Nii-san' too," he said, crushing her soft body with his arms.
"Never."
"Never," agreed Hao, kissing her hair. Because if you do, you might just make me cry.
"Hey!" said Anna, suddenly looking up towards him. She gasped when his lips slid down to her forehead, tracing its way down to her nose to its tip, their lips just inches away from each other.
Hao grinned. "Imouto-chan, you better leave before I forget that I should be a prim and proper brother-in-law."
She frowned, blushing profusely. "E-Excuse me…" she said lamely.
"Say 'hello' to Yoh for me," he said.
She nodded.
As Hao watched her walk away, he sighed deeply.
"I never…got to tell her how I really feel about her." He laid his back against the tree. "Oh well, at least for once, I did something right."
Anna was walking home, heart beating fast. What was Asakura Hao trying to insinuate awhile ago? Was he toying with her again? But he sounded sincere… The rain was starting to drop quickly. She hastened her walk, which soon became a jog, until finally a track race as she tried to find a shade.
I should have stayed in the forest. There are a lot of trees there. She then rolled her eyes, remembering she just ran away from Hao.
"Here."
Anna blinked and turned around. Yoh was holding out an umbrella to her, grinning uncertainly.
As they walked under the rain protected only by a single umbrella, they remained silent. Anna could feel Yoh's gaze on her, so she finally looked at him, eyebrow raised. "Yes?"
He cringed. "A-Ah…" He looked down.
"What do you want to tell me?" she asked.
"About Nii-san, actually…"
She blinked.
"A-Amidamaru…told me about everything that he saw that transpired between you...and…and…him." He looked away. "I-I mean, it's not my business…but…"
"But what?"
"I…want to ask if you…would be, um…happier with him."
Silence.
"You're making me go away?" she asked testily.
His eyes grew large. "Of course not!"
"Then why are you asking things like that?"
"B-Because…because…" He looked down. "I want you to be happy, and I do not want you to be forced into a commitment you don't want."
"So you think I'm forced?"
"A-Ah!" He panicked at her icy glare. "N-No..ah…" He grinned sheepishly. "I don't know."
"You don't know?! We're going to get married in four years and you don't know?!!"
"A-Ah, Anna!"
She grabbed his collar. "Do you love me or not?"
"W-With all my heart, I love you," he sputtered.
"Sure?"
"Yes!"
She let him go. "Good."
"Anna…"
"Hmm?"
"I told you before that my dream is to be happy. I want to be happy in my entire lifetime."
"I remember." She rolled her eyes. "You have such high ambitions, I recall," she said sarcastically.
He grinned and rubbed his cheek shyly. "I'm happy when you're with me."
She blinked.
"Really, really happy." His voice grew huskier as he let go of the umbrella.
She felt exactly the same as he kissed her lovingly under the pouring rain.
And that, folks, is the story of Anna and the King.
END
Lessons of the Story :
- Visit the hair parlor regularly so you won't have long, pointed hair at the top of your head.
-If ever you will make a love potion, label it properly so as not to be mistaken for grape juice.
-Do
not urinate in bushes. You may never know when an assassin or a spy may
be sitting there.
lolz. arigato again! ---syaowee
