"Ugh!" Yoh flew against the pillar, body slamming on its concrete hardness.
"That is the fifth time your defenses failed you," Hao informed him. "This is not just your day, you know."
"I'm…I'm still getting up…doesn't that mean something?" asked Yoh, wincing when he felt a sharp stab of pain on his chest. It was possible that his ribcage was already injured seriously. But his endurance training first with Anna, then with Shilva, was not for nothing. "Besides, Anna can kick better than you do."
His brother chuckled. "Which reminds me…you were eavesdropping on our last conversation, weren't you?"
"Yes well…" He supported his chest with his one hand. "I wanted to warn you about how hard she can slap."
"Your good intention was a bit too late. She had slapped me for so many countless times already." He tossed his hair behind his shoulders, smiling impishly. "Anyway, otouto, it's nice to know that we have almost the same taste in women."
He steadied his grip on the harusame. "Gomen. I won't give Anna to someone whose mind is as twisted as yours. I can read your thoughts…she's too good for you."
"You just want her for yourself." It was a statement.
"She's too good for me too," he said quietly.
"You entertain me, little brother. If you were a stranger, I would have doubted the simplicity of your mind. But you are a part of me, and I can read the purity of your heart. You're just simply too innocent." Hao raised his sword and pointed it towards his throat. "And everytime I see you, it just keeps on reminding me of my weakness…the time when I was still a foolish human. When I blindly believed that the world was meant for the destructive humans only-"
Yoh's fist landed on his face, and since the onmyouji didn't expect it, he staggered a few steps back, rubbing his cheek.
"You still are a foolish human, just like me," said Yoh in a subdued voice. "You can still feel pain, and it's real."
"Stop uttering foolishness! The punch was nothing. It didn't exist, because how can one punch himself and feel pain?" Hao spat some blood out of his mouth. "I'm going to get rid of you already. Your weakness annoys me too much."
"If I die, then no one can stop you from taking the shaman king throne unjustly. I'm not going to give up the fate of the world just like that." Yoh went back to his offensive stance. "And I won't let Anna marry a scoundrel like you."
"Your life is mine, Yoh Asakura. You are just a fragment of my identity. Anything you have is mine. Anything you want I will take, including her." He suddenly moved towards Yoh, sword raised towards the boy. Yoh got into defensive immediately, but in a couple of seconds realized his folly; that was all his brother was waiting for- for his defenses in the side crumble. In one swift motion, Hao appeared right beside him, gave him a quick grin, then buried the flaming sword into his chest.
Anna froze, and so did Mikihisa. Ren Tao cursed under his breath.
"What's wrong?" asked Horo Horo, puzzled.
"M-Master Yoh!" Shilva sprang into action first, followed by Ren.
"You won't reach them in time," said Mikhisa, then looked up at the Great Spirits above them. The spirits were running wild, as if roaring into life.
Anna walked resolutely towards the pillar.
"Didn't you hear me? We're too late," said Mikihisa calmly.
"How can you be so calm?!" cried Manta. "That was your son!"
"We know that it is either him or Hao. He just wasn't strong enough."
Anna took out her prayer beads. "I know that he is still alive…he won't dare die…I'll kill him if he does." She quickly wiped something from her eye that suspiciously looked like a tear. "I just realized something, and he must live long enough for me to be able to tell him that."
The face of Yoh's father relaxed into a smile. "Just making sure that you know what you're doing, lady."
"I am Kyouyama Anna," she said simply.
"Exactly," agreed Manta.
"You're still alive?!" Hao was torn between anger and disbelief.
Yoh smiled weakly as he touched the flaming sword with his bare hands. "Something's telling me that I must live…my heart still beats. It means I still have to fight for my life." With that, he pulled the sword out of his chest. The flame from the onmyouji's sword died down.
"You insect!" Hao cried, aghast. His gloved hand punched the wound he caused awhile ago with the sword even before Yoh could react. All the boy knew was he felt as if something very, very heavy fell on his chest.
Hao's eyes glinted evilly. "Your heart beats strongly, in fact my furyoku cannot even touch it. Very well, if I can't crush you physically, I'll just have to kill you in another way." He licked his lips. "I will take back the soul within you. I believe it's mine."
His gloved hand began to pull something out within him, just as he felt his chest constrict. It was cutting his breath, his senses, even the flow of thoughts in his mind. Everything was starting to turn into a big dark blank space.
"Master Yoh!" Amidamaru's yell sounded so far away.
Was he dying? Must be…he was starting to feel floaty…
But within him, a tiny burst of light was emanating. Something that was reminding him of a red, red rose. The one with thorns that he wanted to pluck one by one, never mind if he would get hurt in the process. All he wanted was to protect that one red rose without her having to grow thorns to defend herself.
The red bandanna billowing in the wind, the flaxen hair, the dark orbs that could drown him easily.
Anna. He wanted to see her, for one last time before he closes his eyes permanently. A tear streaked down from his shut eyes.
I love you, Anna. I love you so, and I want to be with you under the stars above the ground, together like the old times. I love you with all the emotions in my command. I love you, and I want to remain doing so for all my life.
In his mind flashed so quickly the many mental images he captured of her: when she was mad, when she was sleeping, when she was smiling absent-mindedly, when she was pensive, when she was quietly happy, when she was sarcastic…
It warmed him all over, and his heart gave a strong beat. Enough to jolt him awake from giving in to the overwhelming calmness threatening to take him in.
I won't die just yet. I want to tell Anna. I want to tell it to the world that I fell in love with the most wonderful girl in the world.
"Yoh Asakura!!!"
Funny, but he could hear Anna's voice vividly. And her voice was the final key that unlocked the chains dragging him to nothingness.
Hao's forehead creased. "What are you doing here, Anna?" The onmyouji looked displeased. He was about to take Yoh's spirit away already when at the last moment, it resisted. And he felt the flow of thoughts of his brother…it was all for Anna.
"I'm going to rescue my worthless bodyguard, if you don't mind," she snapped.
"He's dead," he said.
"Don't lie. I'm an itako and I could have sensed if he already left the world." She turned to the unconscious Yoh. "And you, Yoh Asakura! Stop being a slacker and open your eyes! I know you're still alive. You won't get away from being my bodyguard that easily!"
"Really, Anna. If you haven't come, I would not be forced to use harsh measures on you anymore. But you forced me. Gomen nasai." He brought out his Spirit of Fire. "You're distracting my brother and I'm afraid that it's beyond forgivable. You see, I really, really want the Great Spirits to be mine. And if that means I have to kill you to do that, then I shall oblige."
Anna brought out her prayer beads. Upon seeing it, Hao chuckled. "The 1080 beads. How original."
Just then, Mikihisa and the others arrived. Hao bowed to them exaggeratedly. "And some more guests to witness a massacre. No problem for me, I guess." He turned back to Anna. "Tell me, can you beat me without Yoh's help?"
"I am Kyouyama Anna."
"If you say so, but I can't promise you that I'll be gentle." He smiled. "Are you sure you just don't want to take the less painful way and just be my wife?"
"Nothing can be more painful than being with you," she snapped.
"Then gomen, I shall have to finish you too." Hao moved swiftly towards her.
Anna released the beads just as Ren summoned Bason. The power spirit stopped the Spirit of Fire by its powerful grab, while Shilva fired at Hao. Lyserg used his big oversoul using Morphine, and Choco, Faust and Ryu did the same too with their power spirits. The oversouls held Hao's Spirit of Fire back.
The beads surrounded Hao, locking him in.
"Step back!" yelled Anna. With a quick movement of her fingers, she cast a spell, and the beads surrounding Hao suddenly exploded all at the same time.
Thick smoke settled, and for awhile, Anna thought she succeeded. But then a flaming hand grabbed her. It was the Spirit of Fire, and Hao, partly bruised by her attack but still smiling malevolently nonetheless, chuckled at the shock on her face.
"Well I must certainly applaud you on being able to bruise me a little. It has been quite a while…and a female at that!" Hao grinned. "It is such a shame to get rid of you, but you leave me no other choice…"
"Anna!" yelled Horo Horo and Jeanne.
Ren sprung into action, but before he could even touch the scorching Spirit of Fire, Hao's fast-rising furyoku blocked his powerful chuukanzanmai.
"Now don't be polite, Ren Tao. I'll deal with you later. I can't make Anna wait." Hao glanced at the burning Bason then at the itako again. "So where were we?" He paused again when the rest of Yoh's friends attacked him all at the same time. "They never learn, don't they?" He chuckled merrily when the Spirit of Fire's aura threw them back.
Hao's eyes went back to her. "Gomen. We kept on getting disturbed. This time, I'll finish you for sure. But first…let me kiss you goodbye." He got up from his seat and walked towards the Spirit of Fire's fist that was holding her.
"Don't touch me!" she hissed when he finally reached her.
"I can never understand why you are making things so hard? I am Yoh too, in a way that he comes from me. Why can't you just marry me so you won't have to die?" He looked reluctant to harm her, and Anna understood that there was a part of Yoh in him who was afraid to hurt her.
She smiled gently, even with the increasing discomfort of the Spirit of Fire's scorching grip. "It's because I love Yoh."
Her statement triggered a chain of events. Hao was suddenly silenced, while Mikihisa suddenly noticed the sudden movement of Yoh's body. The Great Spirits began to cry and moan even louder.
Just then, Hao began to choke, as if he couldn't breathe. The grip of the Spirit of Fire loosened, and she fell down helplessly.
"Anna!" yelled Ren.
Swift arms caught her. Mikihisa grinned at her. "Ne, we don't want anything happening to my future daughter-in-law eh?"
Anna blinked.
"Father, you mustn't embarrass me that way with Anna," complained an all-too familiar voice.
Yoh Asakura stretched lazily. "That was a great sleep I had, the best one I had since I began training as a shaman. Now I'm ready to fight again!"
"Damn you…" hissed Hao as he clenched his fists. Yoh was almost dead! How could have he heard what Anna said?
"Let's do it, aniki!" Yoh brought out the harusame once more and fused it with his grandfather's sword.
Final chapter out soon**
Me plugging: If you want to see the Mankin characters led by our adored Ren Tao play ThumbeRena and Hao-sama play the narrator, check out the last 3 chapters of He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not.
**
Quote:
"Why does my brother always break your heart? Ne, does he get a kick out of it, seeing you cry?"
-Yoh to Anna-chan, I'll Be
(Yep, I'm plugging once more for my new fic. Chapter 1 will be up after this)
**
omake translation courtesy of Takari-san. Please thank her ^^ This is the H/T one last chapter.
"Your eyes are on the sky, it seems as if you're looking too far forward…" said Horo Horo when he saw his friend brooding again at the back yard of the house of another close friend of his, Yoh Asakura.
"Horo Horo, please, don't bother me right now," pleaded Tamao Tamamura. She looked at her friend, her eyes pleading to his blue ones.
To her dismay, it seemed as if the word 'pleading' is not a part of Horo Horo's vocabulary. Those words did not affect the proud member of the Ainu tribe one bit. "Why, do you have it today?" asked the male teen-ager grinning. He just wouldn't let her forget that on her first day of raising the ever-notorious red flag that Horo Horo was her companion. Horo Horo was even the one that she ordered to buy Modess (napkin brand) for her. Until now, in a reason she doesn't know, Horo Horo still carried the memory as if it was a badge of honor for a Boy Scout investiture.
"It just finished last week," she replied, "And that's not my problem."
"Did someone tease you, dear?" asked Horo. "Was it a girl? Was she sexy? Do you want me to rape her for her to know what's good for her?"
She rolled her eyes. It seemed as if the first word this pervert learned was 'rape'. "My problem is, I feel that, I'm not lovable."
Horo was surprised, "What did you say?"
She faced her friend, "Tell me, am I beautiful?"
That made Horo chuckle, "Of course, you're much prettier than your average elves, in fairness. It's not noticeable that you're not human."
"You fiend! My question was so serious and-"
"For pete's sake, it's because your question is of no importance." He stood up as he said this, "Let's go and eat, my babies (referring to the intestine parasites like hookworms and stuff ^^) are already complaining to my intestines."
Tamao ignored him. "It's because it's so irritating, Horo. Yoh, the light of my life has Ma'am Anna. Lyserg has Mistress Jeanne. Ryu, there's the Lily Five for him. Jun Tao has Pailong. Chocolove has Mic. Even Ponchi has Konchi. Ren has Bason. The spoon has the fork. What about me? Did destiny or fate forget me?"
That made Horo sit down beside her once more, he wanted to hurt those who ever hurt her, he was thinking bad thoughts. "You know the problem with you is that you are too impatient. Just you see, you will find the man for you that hopefully is someone as handsome as me that I am mistaken for a foreigner from Mt. Olympus."
"Aren't you envious that they have someone to be with in their life but you don't?" she asked curiously.
"I have myself, and he gives me the most wonderful company," he replied coyly. "And," he added after a thoughtful pause. "I'm single and I'm happy. I'm free, I don't need another female in my life. I'm already fine with you and Pirika as my companions. As I think about Yoh's situation right now with a fiancée who's fiercer than Baygon (an insect spray), I feel like my appetite for romance is vanishing."
"But you're a maniac," she said dryly.
"And proud to be one," grinned Horo.
"I really don't know about you!" finally stood Tamao. "It's better is I cooked you something to eat. You get scary if you aren't fed according to schedule!" she went to the kitchen. "Where's you sister that you aren't with her?"
"She went soul-searching." Smiled Horo, "Choco chip cookies okay, ale (old woman usually selling something)?"
"Okay,"
"Don't put too much feeling that there's no one who'll make mistakes for you," he advised. "Who knows, he might just be waiting for the chance… you know, the timing. He must just be trying to gain the courage to do so,"
She turned around because of this, "Horo Horo?"
He grinned, "And this shows that the people in this town is still normal because they don't court you."
"You animal! I'll burn your cookies, just you wait and see!"
"Wait, that shouldn't be the way to solve this. Why did you involve my cookies into your anger?"
"Bastard! Monster! Maniac! Uncircumcised!"
"I object! I may be a bastard, a monster and a very proud maniac, but for the love of my dog, I'm not uncircumcised!, god damn it!" said Horo looking wounded.
Soon, Horo Horo ate the cookies Tamao worked hard for just a while ago with such joy.
"You can get married now," chirped Horo as he bit on the chocolate bits of the cookie.
"Is it because I'm good in cooking?" Tamao firmly believes that the best way to a man's heart is through his bottomless stomach.
"You can already make pulutan (food when drinking)…" said Horo Horo.
"Who will I marry?" she pouted.
"Why don't you ask the marines?"
"Really!" sighed Tamao. She was trying to charm him since a while ago but his being dense is worse than the Dead Sea. She nearly shouted to his irritatingly kawaii face that she is lonely, single, needs a loved one, etc. etc.
She promised to herself that she will fall in love once more, just not to a member of the Ainu tribe. They're harder to spell than supergalifragilisticexpialidocius.
That is if she will fall in love again. No matter how she forces herself, but she can't love anyone as she loves Horo Horo.
Sometimes she wonders why she even fell for her friend who is a lazy bum, a gastronome and a maniac. It is because her heart is so stubborn, always chanting, "That's why you love Horo Horo, the proud Ainu. You love everything about him, including his laziness, gluttony and perverted-ness."
"You seem to be thinking of something deep, dear," said Horo suddenly as she was thinking.
"I-It's nothing,"
"Are you thinking about my pal, Yoh?" asked Horo, his eyes suddenly sharp, as in like the Gilette original.
She went into confusion, and the next thing she knew, she was nodding. Yoh was her defense mechanism, because it always manages to make her freaky friend shut up.
"Your mental energy is being wasted, Tamao," said Horo, even if she didn't ask for his advice. "Enjoy your being single."
She pursed her lips petulantly. "I want someone to love. I want someone to hug with."
"I'll buy you a stuff toy. Which do you want, Pikachu or Hello Kitty?"
"I want someone as tall as me or even taller,"
"I'll buy you a life-sized stuffed toy."
"That doesn't talk!"
"No problem! We'll buy a talking life-size stuffed toy."
"Horo Horo, you just don't understand…" said Tamao. She is really amazed by his being dense.
"It's you I don't understand. It's a simple thing and you're making it a big issue,"
"Horo Horo, I want somebody to love me," she said softly, her voice breaking.
He stopped and said, "I know. But… but you know that that's impossible, right? He has Anna and… and Yoh loves her very, very much." Horo stood up and sat beside her. "OK, how about this… be contented with this friend of yours." He gestures to himself. "Even if I don't have an appeal like Yoh's, I'm more handsome. And I won't complain if you hug me, or tell stories to me to bore me."
"W-Why would you do that?" she asked uncertainly. "Do you pity me?"
"It's me who's pitying myself," Horo answered, "I was planning to court you formally but I thought I can never be good enough for you. So it's okay for me to be only a substitute. Second-best, hole-coverer(in our language, it means a proxy )… I don't mind. As long as you're not sad." He cupped her face gently, "Call?"
This made Tamao smile, laugh and soon, cry. "If you're saying that as a joke, I'll kill you."
"I take it you say yes?" he asked, hope written all over his face.
She laid her head on his chest and laughed. "You just can't stand seeing me sad, ne?"
"Of course. I love you, eh, so bear it," he said flippantly, but his touch made it clear that he was telling nothing more than the truth.
She enjoyed his embrace. She'll tell him about her feelings later on. She will just enjoy the feeling of courting first.
End
And this one is from the previous chapters…the one from chap. 15. Cole-chan translated this one, so worship her…it takes quite a skill to translate a technically Filipino only piece of writing ^^
Last Insert: Random Mankin Talk (remember, there is nothing impossible in animes! And yes, it has Yaoi themes w/ matching profanities so STOP reading if you don't like that. ^^)
Anna: What's going to happen if Marcos(1) is still the president today?
Ren: I will walk barefooted.
Anna: Huh?
Ren: His wife(2) will collect all the shoes from all over the Philippines.
Anna: What if it's Cory? (3)
Ren: You will not be able to watch Lavender. There will be power failure every day.
Anna: Good thing it's not her. Lavnder is on its 11th episode. (it's going too end soon)
Ren: Stupid! The girl's gonna die with the baby in the ending!
Anna: Idiot!!! *hit Ren* SPOILER!!!
Ren: Sorry, sorry, I'm human too!(4) I didn't mean it! Just watch the next soap after the Lavender.
Anna: Chinovela again?
Ren: La Vendor. Starring me and Hao.
Anna: Thanks, but no thanks. I better watch the soap with Jericho and Kristine.(5)
Lyserg: Hao got soap? Wonder when's mine?
Ren: Dont worry, Ill ask Director Syao-chan to add you in the guest list.
Lyserg: Dont even bother, knowing Syao-chan, she will let me hit by a ten-wheeler truck after I stand in the street for 5 minutes *mutters* she really cant accept that I want to kill Hao.
Manta: Or do a bedscene with Ryu.
Lyserg: No thanks. Ill just guest in Are You Scared?, Can You Still Handle It? (6)
Ren: Or with Hao?
Lyserg: Thats ok Ren, do it again and ill kiss you in no time.
Anna: Manta, I heard that they need a new partner for Mahal(7) in MTB.
Manta: Ill transfer to the other channel? With Yoh?
Anna: Idiot. You're imagining things again, you little bitch!
Manta: Ei, shut up you gay! Or Ill tell them about your operation!(8)
Anna: *eyes alert* errr....
Horo: What the fucking hell r u talking, Mantot?
Manta: You too, Toro Toro! Trying hard to speak English! As if I dont know where you went last night! You said that you'll hang around Greenhills, but you ended up in Pegasus!(9)
Horo: Oh, you think I'm a lier, huh? I'm not a lier!
Manta: owwwwwsssssss......
Horo: you lack iodized salt in your body that's why your mind is so rough! you are afraid of Enervon C and Ceelin!(10)
Manta: Son of a....
Ren: Hehehe....Do you really think you'll grow up again?
Manta: Speaking of which.....
Chocolove: Ren bitching?
Ren: Shut up! You SON OF A BITCH! *busies himself in burying Choco in the nearest septic tank* (11)
Anna: Morons! All of you are lame conversationalist! I wish the land will open and swallow all of you! *walks away, behind her, the land really opened and swallow all Mankin characters. Its true that theres no impossible in animes and Syao-chan's mind, esp. Anna's orders*
Bow!
Notes: (There are lots of historical references...sooo feel free to dozed off...unless you dont want to be confused)
1. Ferdinand Marcos - ruled the Philippines with an iron hand during the martial law. He and his wife plundered the country's wealth, everybody feared their lives during his administration.
2. Imelda Marcos - aka Madame Butterfly, who loves to collect different kinds of shoes worth hundred thousand pesos (or dollars) using the money of the common people.
3. Corazon C. Aquino - president of the Philippines in 1986, after Marcos was overthrown by the Filipinos during EDSA Revolution.
4. Meaning...we all make mistakes, nobody is perfect etc....just an __expression.
5. Another soap, can be watched on the rival network with the channel who hosts Lavender. (Naks! Favorite)
6. Filipino version of "Goosebumps" or "Are You Afraid of the Dark" ; (no comment)
7. Mahal ("expensive" or "love") is a midget like Manta. They're about the same size (not quite 80cm, i think so, she's about[yes, a SHE] 30+ yrs old) -----I think her name is changed to "Mura" (cheap) or (profane language like "damn you!" etc)
8. Operation - (accdg. to my POV) Manta means that Anna is not really a girl - but a GAY! - who had an organ transplant, boob enhancement, liposuction etc you name it, to become a "real" woman all over, from head to toe.....
9. Greenhills - a shopping place full of bargain goods (am I right? Or its another place). Pegasus - along Quezon Ave., a nightclub...you know those stuffs for the adult and the likes, is often raided by the police for their "illegal performances" Ows? ----actually the jeep that I take going home pass by this club, all the men passenger look at big pictures of sexy stars when we pass by....as in
10. Enervon C and Ceelin - medicine for kids to grow up with strong bones...
11. Septic tank - has the same use with the poso negro where human wastes are concerned