Disclaimer: Shaman King belongs to Hiroyuki Takei, not me.

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Anna woke in the middle of the night, feeling groggy. She stumbled into the bathroom and flicked on the light. Then she realized she was covered in blood. Red soaked her yukata. Her breathing coming hard, she undressed and realized that her slim, pale legs were streaked with it. Anna pulled her yukata back on and sat on the edge of the bathtub, panicking. Was she going to die? What was wrong with her?

She weighed her options. She could do what the other students did- go down the nurse and tell her the problem. But that would mean the entire school would know by morning. Or she could wake up Kino, at two o'clock in the morning, and face her wrath. There was nothing she could do.

Or was there?

Anna went back into her room, stumbling in the darkness, and groped for her itako beads. As quietly as she could she went through her prayers and summoned the spirit.

She made sure it was a woman doctor, having no desire to show herself to a man. This doctor was a pretty young woman with kind eyes. "What's wrong?" she asked Anna.

"I'm bleeding," Anna blurted out.

"What do you mean, dear?" she asked.

"I'm bleeding, well..." The twelve-year-old was having trouble explaining. "I think I'm going to die."

The doctor laughed kindly. "You're not going to die, child," she said. "You're only growing up. This happens to every girl when she gets to be around your age. It's nothing to be afraid of." The spirit went on to explain to Anna. The girl listened, and at the end of the instructions, sent the ghost back to the heavens.

A little tear slipped down Anna's cheek as she changed into clean clothes. Other girls got to have their mothers explain this to them. The only person she could ask was a ghost.

-----

"Anna! Pay attention!" Kino snapped. Anna jumped in surprise and hurried to catch up to her teacher. "It's not that long of a walk."

Anna rolled her eyes. The Asakura ancestral home was nearly three miles away. But she welcomed the long walk. Maybe it would give her a chance to collect her thoughts before she had to see Yoh face to face again.

Her cheeks flushed at the remembrance. He probably thought she was stupid. After all, she hadn't exactly made the greatest of impressions on him at their last meeting. But before she had enough time to gather her thoughts properly, they had walked up to the front door.
Kino entered and took off her shoes. "We're here," she said.

"Grammy!" a boy-voice shrieked. Yoh hurtled into the room and hugged his grandmother.

"Calm down, child," Kino said, obviously pleased by her grandson's effusive greeting. "I'm not the only one here. Say hello to Anna."

Yoh straightened and looked at Anna. She glanced back, her eyes shy but her body language steely. "Hi, Anna," he said. "It's been a while."

"Well?" Kino said. "Give her a hug. She is your fiancée, after all, boy."

He didn't seem too upset with the idea. Yoh put his arms around Anna's waist and hugged her. She was forced to slide her arms around his neck. Her chin rested on his strong shoulder. He smelled good, fresh and outdoorsy. It was- no! Stop! She shouldn't get too attached!

It was too late. Anna could already feel her heart pounding as Yoh let got of her. "It's nice to see you, Yoh," she said.

He opened his mouth to say something when a pert little face peeked around the corner. "Yoh-san, are they here- oh!"

Yoh grinned and beckoned to her. "Don't be scared," he said. The little girl shyly came to stand next to him. "Tamao, this is Anna Kyoyama. Anna, this is Tamao Tamamura. She lives with us."

Anna froze. This Tamao...this was the other girl. The one that might take her place. Her hair was soft and the color of a rosebud, flipping up in a short, youthful style. Tamao's eyes were wide and innocent. She had a child's body just barely beginning to show signs of womanhood. Even her clothes accentuated how naïve and innocent she was. She was a beautiful child.

Kino elbowed Anna, jolting her back to reality. "Hello, Tamao," Anna said, her voice a little too severe.

"H-H-Hello," Tamao stammered out, ducking her blushing face behind Yoh's back.

"You don't have to be so shy with her, Tamao," Yoh laughed. "Anna's bark is worse then her bite."

Anna raised one eyebrow. That was all she needed to do for Tamao to twitch in fear and dash out of the room.

Yoh huffed a lock of hair out of his eyes. "Poor Tamao," he said. "She's so shy."

"Where are your parents, boy?" Kino asked her grandson.

"Tou'san is training the new boy, and Kaa'san is making dinner," Yoh explained.

"Run get your mama. I need to talk to her," Kino said.

"Hai, Grammy," Yoh said, running to obey.

"And don't call me Grammy," Kino called. She shook her head. "You'll have your hands full with that one, child. So sweet, and yet, so stupid."

Anna smiled inwardly. Yoh was very kind. She stepped into the main part of the house, following Kino. Suddenly Anna paused. There was a bad aura in the house. It was dirty. She shuddered slightly. Why did it seem so familiar?

She realized why when she followed Kino into the training hall. A young man was training under the cautious watch of a tall older man with a strange mask. The young man was good-looking, even attractive, until he turned.

Anna knew the face. It had haunted her dreams often enough.

It was Noshi.

She took a step back, walking straight into Yoh. "Hey!" he exclaimed, his hands inadvertently spanning her waist to brace her.

She jerked away from him. "Hands off," she snarled.

A tall young woman with long dark hair had followed Yoh, absentmindedly wiping her hands on the pink apron she wore over her clothes. "Mother, you're here," Keiko said, pleased. "And Anna." Keiko smiled brightly at her future daughter, bending to kiss both of Anna's cheeks. "I'm so glad you got here safely." Anna bowed respectfully to Yoh's miko mother.

"Are we going to eat now, Kaa'san?" Yoh whined.

Keiko pulled a face and plucked at his headphones. "You know how I hate it when you whine, Yoh-chan," she reminded him. "Mikihisa, Noshi! Dinner is ready."

The two men stopped. "Hai, Keiko-san," Noshi said, bowing.

"Eh? Who is this little one?" the man with the mask asked.

Keiko put her hands on Anna's shoulders. "Mikihisa, this is Anna Kyoyama, Yoh's soon-to-be wife. Anna, this is my husband and Yoh's father, Mikihisa," she introduced.

Mikihisa took Anna's small hands in his. "It is a pleasure to meet you, little Miss Anna," he said. "I would just like to let you know that you will always be my favorite daughter-in-law."
Yoh blinked. "Won't she be your only daughter-in-law?" he asked.

Keiko cast a quick sideways glance at her husband. "Mikihisa, you have awful jokes," she said.

"Yes, yes, I know. Oh, by the way, Anna, this is my temporary pupil, Noshi Kazaguwa," Mikihisa said.

"We've met," Noshi said, his eyes gleaming. Anna stiffened.

Keiko sensed Anna's tension. "Well, it's time to eat," she said.

"What about that stupid husband of mine?" Kino asked. "He still hasn't shown his bald head around here."

Mikihisa shrugged. "You know Tou'san. He'll wander out at soon as he smells food."

At dinner, Anna found herself sitting between Yoh and Noshi. Tamao was across from her, attempting vainly to keep Ponchi and Konchi, her obnoxious spirits, quiet by feeding them bites of her supper.

"So, Anna," Noshi said, his voice smooth and deep. "What have you been in up to in the past few years?"

"Training," she said flatly, stuffing a rather large piece of sushi in her mouth. Now she wouldn't have to answer his questions while her mouth is full.

Noshi, disregarding the sushi, opened his mouth to ask her another question when suddenly Yohmei came in.

"We've been called to a conference in Hatchi," he said without bothering with pleasantries.

"Hello to you too, husband," Kino said dryly, taking a bite of rice.

"Oh, hello, Kino," Yohmei smiled.

"Why do we have to go to Hatchi?" Keiko pressed. "Anna and Kino just got here. And it's almost New Year's."

"It won't be long; a two day trip at the latest," Yohmei said. "Apparently there's been some trouble in the eastern part of the island and they need our help."

"Can we go too, Gramps?" Yoh asked eagerly.

"No, grandson," Yohmei said. "You and Noshi will stay here to take care of the girls."

Noshi smiled at Anna. "We'll take good care of them," he said.

Anna leaned away from him, her back brushing against Yoh's arm. He glanced up and put a hand on her arm. She jerked it away. But all that did was make her fall into his lap.

"Um...hi?" Yoh stammered.

Anna glared at him. "Die," she said, pushing herself up. Tamao was blushing, while Keiko and Mikihisa exchanged secretive little smiles with each other. Anna was mortified. But she could have recovered if it hadn't been for Ponchi and Konchi.

"Whoa, getta room!" Ponchi hollered.

"Yeah, this is a G-rated place," Konchi hooted.

In one swift movement Anna grabbed both spirits by the tails. "Don't. Say. Anything. Like. That. Again," she warned. Then she tossed them both outside.

"My little ones!" Tamao wailed, leaping up to rescue them.

Anna crossed her arms and sat down again, glowering.

"She doesn't mess around," Yoh mumbled to himself.

She would have slapped him for that, but when she snapped her head around, she realized he was smiling. So she let him be...just this once.

-----

"We're going now," Keiko called.

Yoh, panting, looked up at Anna. "Can I take a break and say goodbye to my mom?" he begged.

Anna shrugged. "You're still going to finish your exercises," she said.

Relieved for even a slight reprieve, Yoh loped over to his mother, who held out her arms to him. Keiko hugged her son tightly and kissed the top of his head. Anna's face froze and she pretended to check her stopwatch.

"Anna," Keiko said. "Come here, child. I want to say goodbye to you, too."

Her body felt like lead, but she forced herself to walk over to Keiko. The tall, pretty woman drew Anna into her embrace and hugged her. Anna stood there, a little stiff, scared out of her wits. Keiko kissed her cheek and let go. "We'll be back in a day or so," she said. "Make sure that Yoh doesn't slack off, all right?" She gave Anna's thin hand a final squeeze, then set off down the road to catch up with her husband and parents-in-law.

Anna waved goodbye- a tiny, hesitant little wiggle of her fingers. But Keiko saw the shy gesture and waved back. Anna could feel a smile spreading across her face.

And then she remembered Yoh. She wheeled around. "Get back to work!" she barked.

Yoh rolled his eyes. "All right, all right," he said. Anna grinned to herself at this new torture. Yoh had to do one-armed pushups with Ponchi and Konchi on his back. Punishment for all three.

"Faster! Faster!" Ponchi ordered, bouncing up and down. Yoh's face turned blue with effort, but he managed to finish a push-up and immediately collapsed to the ground.

"Finish a hundred more," Anna said.

"But I'm tired," Yoh huffed.

"So am I. And that's why I'm going to bed. Goodnight." She started to back into the house and then turned. "And don't even think about sneaking in before you're done. I'll know." She left Yoh screeching in aggravation.

Anna smiled ruefully as she changed into her yukata. He was a sweet boy. Not very strong, but very sweet. She yawned three times before she finally pulled the covers over her shoulders and dropped into sleep.

She woke up feeling something warm and heavy on her. Hazily she realized that the covers were gone, but she still felt warm. But her shoulders were cold.

Then a sharp bite on her neck woke her up.

"You don't know how long I've waited," Noshi said huskily. "Anna, Anna, Anna. You know you have to give in to me."

"No!" Anna screamed. "Get off! Get off me! Please!"

Noshi pushed on her stomach, pinning her on the floor and making her cry out in pain. "I don't think so," he said. "Nobody's here but those two kids. Face it, Anna. You're mine."

With a sinking heart, Anna realized no one would be coming to save her. She closed her eyes tight, trying to push back the tears, and whimpered as Noshi touched her. Anna began to cry.

"What the- Anna!" Suddenly Noshi's hands dropped away from her and his heavy weight left her body. Tears streaming down her cheeks, Anna pulled her torn yukata around her cold body as her rescuer pummeled Noshi.

"You can't do this," Noshi spat. "I'm here as a student. I don't care who you are. You're not allowed to injure a trainee like me. I'm protected."

The sounds of punches stopped. "Get out," Anna's rescuer said, his voice low and tight. "Leave her alone."

Anna silently blessed whoever it was as Noshi's heavy footsteps died away. A gentle hand touched her cheek. "How badly are you hurt?" Yoh asked, his dark eyes gleaming with emotion.

"Yoh?" she whispered.

He smoothed her hair. "Go get cleaned up, Anna. I'll make sure he doesn't come back," Yoh promised. Anna tied her the sash of her yukata, painfully aware of the rips and tears in it. "Hey, you can't wear that. Do you have another one?"

"No," she said.

"I'll go get something from Tamao," Yoh said. "Go take a bath. I'll make sure nothing happens to you." Anna nodded obediently and walked stiffly to the bathroom. She was conscious of Yoh's eyes on her, watching her go.

Anna folded the remains of her yukata, tied her long hair in a bun, and sank into the hot water of the bath. Now she could cry and let her hot tears melt into the water. Strange...it seemed so easy for her to cry now. But still...she couldn't let anyone see her.

"Anna?" Yoh called. "I've got some clothes for you. May I come in please?"

"Wait," she sniffed, getting a big towel and wrapping it around herself. "Now you can." She still couldn't help but blush.

Yoh didn't seem to be staring at her body, however. He set the clothes down on the counter and then turned his back to her. "You get dressed, and we're going to talk," he said, his voice decisive.

"All right," Anna said, looking at the clothes. He'd borrowed a tank top and a pair of cheerleader's shorts from Tamao, both of which looked comfortable to her.

"I'm moving your futon in my room until my parents and grandparents return," Yoh began. "You're going to stay with me at all times, in case that hentai tries again."

"What about Tamao?" Anna asked, shivering as she pulled the tank top over her head. "Doesn't she need looking after?"

"Not with Ponchi and Konchi," Yoh said, a smile in his voice. "They adore her. They have never let anything happen to her since the day they were put in her care." He turned around. "Now, come with me, Anna."

She followed him to his room. He'd already set up her futon next to his, and all of her belongings were piled neatly beside it. "Why are you doing this for me?" she asked softly.

"You're my fiancée," Yoh said. "You need someone to protect you from that hentai, and it's going to be me."

If it had been any other time, she would have laughed his chivalrous words and his tough gaze. But at the time, those were the words she needed to hear.

"Arigato, Yoh-kun," she murmured, slipping into her futon. Yoh turned out the lights and climbed into the one next to her. They both slept deeply.

She awoke the next morning to find Yoh's futon empty and sunlight streaming through the windows. Anna sat up drowsily, rubbing her eyes.

"Morning!" Yoh said. He knelt down beside her. "How do you feel?"

"Still tired," she confessed.

Yoh reached out touch her, then drew his hand back sharply. "May I-" he ventured. Anna shrugged. Yoh ran his fingers lightly against the side of her neck. "That looks pretty bad," he said. "How about your stomach? Do you have any bruises there?"

"I don't know," Anna said. "And I'm not about to lift up my shirt in front of you."

Much to his credit, Yoh blushed deep red. "No, no, no," he protested, waving his arms frantically. "Not like that! I just wanted to make sure you're all right."

"I'm. Perfectly. Fine," Anna said.

"All right, then," Yoh said. "I just came to tell you that breakfast is ready."

"You better not've burned anything," she lectured. "There's nothing more disgusting than burned eggs. Except maybe watery eggs. In that case you can make me something else, and you'll eat the horrid specimens of cookery."

Yoh's mouth opened and closed in shock, but eventually he just rolled his eyes. "Come on," he said.

"I have to get dressed first," she said. "I'll be down when I'm ready." Yoh tromped down the stairs, grumbling. Anna closed the door behind him- locking it securely- and pulled out her kimono. The slightly high collar hid the bites on her shoulders, and the sleeves covered her bruises. She tied the obi loosely around her waist. She left her hair in the bun she'd slept in. When she'd put it up the night before it had been smooth and tight, but sleeping left it slightly mussed, and little curls twined around her small ears and her hairline. At the moment she didn't much care about the condition of her hair, and only headed downstairs to eat.

Tamao was already in the kitchen, sitting at the table with Ponchi and Konchi at her side. At the sight of Anna they fled, chirping in fear. "Good morning, Anna-san," Tamao said shyly. "Did you sleep well?"

"Well enough," Anna said, sitting down.

"Why did you need to borrow my clothes?" Tamao asked. "If...if I'm not too bold."

Anna looked at her over the rim of her teacup. "That is too bold," she said coldly. Tamao made a little "eep" noise and hurriedly went back to eating.

Yoh set a plate in front of Anna. "There. Eat," he said, none too happy about her egg comments.

Anna took a bite. "It'll pass," she said. "At least I won't die of salmonella or anything."

Yoh opened his mouth to say something, but Noshi chose to enter at that moment. Anna stiffened- in fear or in anger, even she wasn't sure. Yoh closed his mouth and put a hand on Anna's shoulder.

"Noshi-san!" Tamao exclaimed. "What happened to you? Where did all of those scrapes and bruises come from?" She jumped up, her compassionate nature getting the best of her. "Please let me help you."

"No," Yoh said. He held out his other hand to the naïve girl. "Tamao, come here. Right now." Confused, Tamao obeyed. Yoh kept one hand on Tamao's thin arm and the other on Anna's shoulder. He rubbed the back of her neck with his thumb. "Noshi, get what you need and leave."

Noshi glared at him fiercely, but said nothing. Tamao blinked rapidly, but didn't disobey Yoh's order. The older boy slammed some food on a plate and disappeared upstairs.

As soon as Noshi was gone, Anna rolled her shoulder hard, bumping Yoh's hand away. "No touching," she said.

"Fine!" Yoh said, yanking his hand away.

"As soon as I'm done we're starting your training program for the morning," Anna said. "Crunches until your abs twitch. And then you'll do the electric chair until your legs fall off." Yoh moaned in pain and headed off to pull on his workout clothes. Anna calmly finished her breakfast and left to brush her teeth.

Tamao, still bemused, could only stare in total bewilderment.

-----

"Anna?"

She cracked open one eye. "What?" she groused.

"Am I done yet?" Yoh asked.

"What time is it?" Anna said.

"Six-thirty," Yoh said.

She blinked, realizing for the first time that the sun had set behind the mountains. "Oh," she said. "You could have stopped an hour ago." Yoh moaned in aggravation. "I fell asleep!" she defended.

"And I wish I was asleep," Yoh grumbled. "At this rate, I'll be too tired to stay up for New Year's tomorrow night."

Anna stretched lazily. "Hm, whatever," she said. "Go start dinner. I'm hungry."

"An-na!" Yoh whined.

She hooked a finger in his belt loop and tugged on his pants. He yelped. "Your mother's right. You are annoying when you whine," she said. "Come on. Maybe that little pink-haired twitcan do something."

"Hey, don't insult Tamao," Yoh said.

She glanced at him through her long hair. "Why not?" she asked. "You in love with her or something."

"No," Yoh said, switching his weight from one foot to the other. "Tamao's just...just shy. She's afraid of her own shadow, even. Just try to be a little nicer to her, please?"

"I'm not making any promises," Anna shrugged. She pointed towards the driveway. "Look. Your parents are home. They're early."

Yoh cheered and ran helter-skelter towards them. Anna followed a ways behind, wishing...well, she wasn't sure what she was wishing. She wandered into the house through the backdoor.

And saw Noshi pinning Tamao to the floor.

The poor little thing was too frightened to even scream. Her eyes were doe-wide with fear as Noshi lifted up her shirt.

"Get off her!" Anna screamed, kicking Noshi in the side. He made a weird "ulp" noise and fell away from the girl. Tamao finally realized what was going on and broke into tears. Noshi pushed himself up, swearing. Anna fell to her knees beside Tamao and pulled her into her arms, protecting the timid girl. "Don't come near us," Anna threatened.

"Why not?" Noshi said. "They won't be home for hours."

"Wrong, hentai."

Noshi whirled around to see Yoh and Mikihisa standing in the doorway. Hastily he bowed. "Sensei...this is...it is...this isn't what it looks like," he stammered.

"Really?" Mikihisa said coolly. "You just felt like making two little girls cry." He strode over and scooped up the sobbing Tamao in his arms. "I'll have you know that this child has been raised in my home since she was four. She is like my own." He handed Tamao to Keiko, who stood behind him with her arms open. Mikihisa placed his hand on Anna's head. "This little one will be my son's wife. She is an honorable, brave, beautiful child. And you dared to touch them. No, more than touch them. You dared to destroy them." Mikihisa helped Anna to her feet and placed her cold, trembling hands in Yoh's. Then he took Noshi by the neck and pinned him against the wall. Noshi's face turned blue as his feet kicked helplessly against the wall. Choked noises rattled in his throat. "If you ever try to touch my daughters again, I will kill you." His eyes were piercing through his mask. "Don't ever show your face here again. Understand?" Noshi nodded, desperate for breath. Mikihisa let go. The hentai made his way to the door, sputtering. Yoh, Anna's hands still tucked in his, kicked him in his area. Noshi shrieked and stumbled out of the house.

"Are you all right, child?" Mikihisa asked. "I saw him hurting Tamao, but did he-"

"Tou'san, he was worse with Anna," Yoh said. "Show him what he did to you."

Reluctantly Anna tugged the collar of her kimono aside, showing the angry red marks and varicolored bruising on her neck and shoulders. Mikihisa cupped her cheeks in his hands and kissed her on her forehead. "He won't hurt you again," he promised. "Let's see if my Keiko can do anything to help those bruises, ne? Yoh, take her to your mother, and then come with me. I would like to speak to you."

Tamao was sobbing uncontrollably, as Keiko rocked her slowly. "She's not hurt. Only scared," she said softly. "I don't blame her."

"Kaa'san, will you take care of Anna too?" Yoh asked.

"Did he hurt her too?" Keiko gasped. "Oh, poor child. Come here." She held out her free arm to the blonde girl. Hesitantly Anna came closer and let Keiko tug her onto her lap. Her body trembling, Anna laid her head on Keiko's shoulder, and, for the first time, knew what it was like to have a mother.

-----

Anna shifted the sash of her dress. She only owned one nice dress, and this was it- a light blue dress with a sweetheart neckline and puffed sleeves. She had never felt so embarrassed in her life. It was like a three- year-old's dress.

A knock on the door startled her. "Go away!" she barked.

"Anna? Why aren't you coming down?" Yoh asked.

"I don't want to. Now go away and leave me alone," she said. She went out on the balcony and plunked down on the seat.

Yoh sat down next to her. "Hey, it looks like your neck is healing," he said, reaching out to touch the marks.

She jerked away. "Remember what I told you about touching?" she said. "No. Never."

"You let me hold your hands yesterday," he pointed out.

"That was...different," she said.

"Why?" he asked.

Anna realized that she was unconsciously sliding towards him. "Just go away!" she said, giving him a none-so-gentle push. "Go away!"

Yoh let her push him to the door. Then he grinned at her. "You look cute," he said.

Anna planted a hand on his forehead, shoved him, and slammed the door. "Ow..." he moaned. She stood behind the door for a second, then jerked it open.

Yoh was making a face and rubbing his forehead, staring grumpily at her door. "Anna-" he started to say.

She kissed him on the cheek.

"Thank you for everything," she whispered. "And now...go away!" She slammed the door again.
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Author's Notes:

CAN THE OVERDRAMATIC ANGST GET EVEN WORSE?!

I don't think it can...