"If you want to be my husband, you have to defeat my bodyguard. That's my first requirement," said Anna, tossing her hair coolly. She looked at Yoh. "Don't you dare lose."

He grinned. "No, I won't."

"If you dare lose, I swear, I know places where people would never find your body ever."

The boy sweatdropped. "I-I understand."

Amidamaru appeared behind him. "Master Yoh?"

"I'm ready." He rubbed his nose with his thumb and took out the harusame.

Chocolove shrugged. "Fair enough for me." He turned to Mic. "This won't be so bad – the girl's pretty, eh?" The animal nodded in agreement.

"Fight!" said Anna, signaling the start of the fight.

Pirika clenched her fists. Ren had made a fool out of her again. Her eyes welled up with tears, but she angrily blinked them back. If she would let him get into her nerves, he would only enjoy his victory more.

"Here." Manta handed her a handkerchief. She accepted it gratefully.

Ren's face turned sour. "Crybaby," he muttered.

"Of course not!" she said, rubbing her eyes. "Something just got stuck in my eye."

Manta stood up. "You'll need water to wash your eyes up." He hurried back into the kitchen.

She sat down, her eyes averting him. She stifled a gasp when he sat down next to her too, his gaze still on her.

"What are you looking at?" she snapped.

He inched towards her. "Let me see your eyes. Foreign objects in eyes are dangerous."

"Don't touch me!" she hissed.

"Oh, be still!" he ordered. He cupped her face with his hands, his thumb kneading her eyelids. He then bent down his face towards hers, pausing when his nose was just inches away from hers.

She wanted to close her eyes – she remembered what he did to her back in the dining table. She didn't want to see his mocking eyes.

However, what she felt was merely his warm breath fanning her eyes – he was blowing on them gently. She looked up at him and found none - even just a trace – of his vintage smirk. He was frowning in concern.

Her heart started to beat double time when his mouth twitched into a small, amused smile. "Nothing in them but tears fought back bravely, young lady." He released her, but he didn't move away. He merely continued to gaze at her intently.

"Um, I'm fine now," she said slowly.

"Do me a favor," he said. "Tell that midget to leave you alone. I don't want him too close to you."

She scowled as she stood up. "What do you care if I want to be close to him? He's a nice person! Not like you at all!"

His face darkened, and he stood up too. "He wants to marry Anna, not you. Why are you flirting with him?"

"Flirting?!" Her face turned flushed. "How dare you!" Her hand slapped his cheek loudly, nearly staggering him. "I hate you!!!" She ran back into the house, meeting Manta who was struggling with a small basin of water. His puzzled eyes followed the blue-haired girl.

"Pirika?" He automatically turned to Ren, who had grumpily retrieved his weapon lying on the grass.

The Tao looked at him. "I warn you, dwarf boy. Get too close to her and I'll-"

Manta sighed. "The jealous man is always the least sensible person in the world." He retreated back into the house.

Ren's eyes crinkled in anger. "Jealous man? Was he trying to imply something? That I care about that mouse?"

Bason appeared beside him, snickering. "Master Ren is jealous."

He pointed his spear at the power spirit. "One more wisecrack from you and I'll-" He paused when he heard an explosion.

"An oversoul?" said Bason.

"Impossible. It's not the aura of the Ainu," said the Tao.

"Must be someone who responded to the ads of Ms. Anna. Maybe Master Yoh is already battling with that shaman."

Ren nodded. "I better watch the battle."

"Spirit ball fusion?" Chocolove sweatdropped when he saw what Yoh did. "How do you think would you able to last in our battle?"

The boy rubbed his cheek. "Actually, no one has taught me the oversoul technique yet, so I make do with this."

The African put his hand on his hips. "Well, this would be an easy battle to win."

Yoh grinned. "I doubt that. I won't give Anna that easily to strangers." He raised his harusame. "Amidamaru, we'll both do our best to make up for our lack of knowledge in oversoul, right?"

"Of course, Master Yoh!"

Anna watched him, her mouth slightly open with surprise. He suddenly changed – something in his aura did. She could sense that her bodyguard was starting to go down to business already.

"Let's go, Amidamaru!" Yoh attacked first, just as Anna took off her itako beads.

Manta was trying to comfort Pirika when they saw something explode in the garden. The girl stood up as the midget watched, astounded.

"They're having a shaman match!"

"What's a shaman match?" the boy wanted to know.

"Hmm…I think it's better if you see it yourself. Follow me." She dashed towards the garden as the boy followed her somewhat reluctantly.

Yoh was thrown back when Mic slashed his chest with his claws.

"Master Yoh!" cried Amidamaru.

Yoh regained his balance. Holding on to his chest, he forced a grin. "Do…remind your pet…to cut its nails even at least once in a month only…"

Chocolove grinned. "You're still standing, with such a flimsy shield you used awhile ago. But I am impressed. Even oversouls can't protect a shaman from Mic's claws. If you learn what an oversoul is, I'm sure you'll be a formidable opponent." He turned to Anna. "Right, my lovely wife?"

Anna clenched her fists. "Say that one more time and you'll get what you're looking for." She shot him a lethal look, making him shut up quickly.

"I'm still…standing…so don't call her yours yet," said Yoh, gripping the harusame again. "You have to defeat me first, remember?"

"Then let's formalize my victory." Without warning, Choco attacked Yoh.

At the last minute, a trident intervened. Ren was standing beside Yoh, smirking.

"No one can kill Yoh but me," he said.

"And who are you?" asked Choco.

"It's a good thing you asked." Ren smirked some more. "I am-"

"He's my bodyguard," said Anna from the sidelines.

Choco raised a brow. Ren was shocked. Yoh sweatdropped.

"What are you waiting for?" Anna snapped at the Tao. "Do away with him."

Grumbling, Ren faced the African. He couldn't understand why the woman called him her bodyguard, but he knew that she wanted him to save Yoh. "I will fight for my comrade."

Choco grinned. "Very well."

With a quick slash delivered in a few seconds, Choco's oversoul suddenly vanished.

Yoh looked on, amazed. "H-How did you do that, Ren?"

The Tao grinned proudly. "That's a clan secret."

"What? Clan concert?" quipped Choco, who had recovered already.

Anna, Ren, and Yoh sweatdropped, and just as the girl was about to strangle Choco with her beads, Yoh was able to stop her, begging her to break his neck instead. The itako obliged and dragged Yoh into the garden.

On the other hand, Ren noticed Pirika looking at them in daze. He felt something pinched within him when he saw the slightly swollen eyes of the girl.

Maybe I should apologize, he thought.

But before he could do so, Pirika walked towards them. He straightened, the words of apology playing in his mind already.

But she went to Chocolove instead. She slapped his shoulders, laughing very hard. "Clan concert?! Wahahahahahah!!! That was so funny!!! Wahahahhahahahah!!!!"

Manta and Ren sweatdropped as Chocolove broke into a grin.

Horo Horo gaped at the African boy that Pirika was happily serving.

"Would you like some coffee?" she asked brightly.

The guest grinned. "Yes, please. Black, with cream."

She burst into laughter again. "Wahahhahahaahha!!! That was good!!!!"

Ren sighed audibly. First, the midget, now a trying-hard clown. He was beginning to dislike the ads Anna put up seriously.

"Who is he?" asked Horo, pulling a seat beside Ren.

"Another one who answered the stupid ad," grumbled the Tao.

Horo sighed. "If all shaman king wannabes are like them, I wouldn't be too surprised if the Great Spirit would decide to end the world already." He then noticed the two empty seats on the right. "So where's the loving couple of the century?"

"Oh, you mean Anna-okami and Yoh?" said Pirika, pausing in between her giggles. "They're in the garden."

Yoh looked at Anna, who had been looking at him for quite a while already. Perhaps, deliberating on how to mutilate him for not being able to protect her?

He looked down. He felt ashamed too, for he had already given his best in the battle, but he still lost. If not for Ren, Anna would be forced to marry the stranger.

Amidamaru appeared, looking at Anna beggingly. "Please don't be mad at Master Yoh! I-It was me at fault. I-I wasn't good enough a power spirit."

"You know that it's not true," said Anna, her voice losing its harshness. It was even thoughtful and quiet, as if she was pondering on something.

Master and power spirit looked at each other, then at the itako.

"I can't stop thinking of what Chocolove said – that you were able to defend against an oversoul attack with your simple fusion," she continued. "What more if you were using an oversoul defense?"

"It's time to teach you the oversoul technique, Master Yoh," said a voice from behind. The three turned to see Shilva and Karimu, both looking grim. The latter was holding a tattered book.

"Shilva! Karimu! How did you locate us?" asked Yoh happily.

"It's not important to know anymore, young master." Shilva held up the book. "Your grandmother sent us to train you. Afterwards, we shall bring you to the Best Place to maximize your furyoku."

"G-Grandmother? B-But I thought-"

"Explaining more would only waste time," cut Karimu. "We need to hurry with your training before your brother learns about you."

"B-Brother?"

Shilva nodded. "A shaman with frightening power that only you can match up against. We have been long preparing for this."

Karimu smiled at Anna. "We saw his battle awhile ago, and I personally think that Yoh improved, not only in the actual battle techniques. He now has the motivation to fight."

She blinked, then blushed. She turned her back on the chuckling priest, grateful that Yoh was still engaged in a talk with Shilva.

"Ah…Anna?"

She turned to her bodyguard.

"Will it be ok if I come with them to train?" he asked, pushing his hands together above his bowed head in a begging position. "Please?"

"Do what you want. I'm giving you one week." She took off her itako beads, walked to him, and took off the imaginary clasp on the tusk band. He immediately felt that something heavy on his neck was taken off.

She eyed him under her narrowed gaze. "I will be waiting, Yoh." She handed him her itako beads.

"Er…what will I do with this, Anna?" he asked. "I mean, it clashes with my outfit-"

She slammed her fist on his head as the priests watched, amused. "Idiot! I want you to keep that all throughout your training, just so you would be reminded that you still have someone to return to!"

He blinked.

"I want you to give me that back after one week, same time."

He nodded. "Sou." He put the prayer beads around his neck. "There!" He grinned at her. "When I return, I promise I'll be stronger."

"Good."

"Say goodbye to Horo Horo and the others for me. Tell Ren my thanks too for intervening awhile ago. Tell him too that I'm entrusting your safety to him for the meantime."

"Will do." Her eyes shook. He was about to leave, and it was still her safety that he was worried about.

"Let's go, Master Yoh."

"Hai!" He smiled at her. "Bye!"

She nodded briefly. She couldn't find her voice anymore.

Hao looked up at the dark sky, frowning. "Oh dear, is a storm coming?" He patted his trusty horse. "Boy, we have to pick up our pace. I don't want you to get sick." He stood straight on the treetop. He could already see the coltsfoot field from their location.

"Shilva and Karimu passed by here too." He grinned. "Perfect! Hitting two birds with one stone!"

tsuzuku

due to popular demand…

Pinoy Omake 3 : Mankin Goes to Commercials

(I'll do my best to translate this in English next chap)

---

Tamao in front of chibi Mankin characters.

Tamao: Let's see your pictures of animals with strong teeth...

Chibi Chocolove: *holds out a picture of Mic grinning at the camera* Tiger!!!

Everyone: Boo! Nde nman tiger yan!

Chibi Chocolove: Eh ano ngaun? Mahal ko c Mic at wala kayong magagawa!

Little Yoh: *holds out a pciture* Anna!!!

Small Anna: P*tang ina! Mukha ba akong animal, hayup ka!

Little Yoh: *points mindlessly to the picture* Ikaw kc eh, ninakaw mo ung una kong assignment na shark, kaya nag-improvise ako, tutal kamukha mo nman ung bida sa Jaws eh.

Small Anna: Punyeta ka! Humanda ka sa bahay pagdating natin dun! *bares fangs as Little Yoh scrambles to hide...alam nya, pag nakita cya ni Anna, nde na cya sisikatan ng araw*

Everyone: O.O

Mini-Ren: Kamukha nga ni Classmate Anna, in fairness.

Everyone: In fairness.

Tamao: *sweatdrops, then turns to Horo* Horo, ako yan ah!

(everyone laughs)

Munting Horo: Kc po,u brush ur teeth regularly with Koolgate™

Tamao: Tama ka, Horo. Imagine this is your tooth.

*a pearly shell appears*

Mini-Ren: Tangna, nde akin yang ngipin na yan! Ang laki nman nyan!

Little Yoh: *muffled voice from the janitor's cabinet na pinipilit buksan ng galit na galit na Small Anna* Baka kay Anna yan...

Small Anna: G*go! B*gok! Lumabas ka nga jan! Para kang nde lalake!!! Square tayo!

Little Yoh: *squeaks* Wag po, WAG PO!!!

Tamao: *ahem* With Koolgate™, mananatiling fresh and white ang ngipin nyo.

Mini-Ren: Ah basta, nde akin ang ngipin na yan. *shoves the pearly shell slide away*

Small Anna: Eh anong tinitingin-tingin nyo jan? Nde rin akin yan, mga bobo! Baka gusto nyong magkalasug-lasog ang bawat isa sa 210 developing bones nyo!

Little Yoh: *whimper* akin, 206 na lng. Winasak na ni Anna yung apat sa mga nasa skeletal system ko. Nde na cla system..incomplete na.

Small Anna: Lumabas ka nga jan, duwag! Nang mabanatan na kita!

Little Yoh: Wag po! Wag po, utang na loob!!! Bankrupt na ang bone bank ko!!!

Tamao: ahhh...class...basta Koolgate™...

Everyone: No cavities! Pati ngipin, lagas rin!!!

Narrator (Shilva) : Use Koolgate™. Approved by most dentists.

*Faust' grinning face appears*

Shilva: Nde ko cya dentist, FYI.