Hidden Sparkle
Chapter 4
Note: Thanks for all the reviews and support. I'll try my best here now. Reviews lift up my spirits. And I now swear to update early and won't take a month. Hahaha!
Yoh jolted from where he is standing. The grandfather clock that was placed at the hallway made it's eerie sound as soon as it reached 'o'clock' in it's hands. "Well, that scared me." Yoh gave out a laugh and so did Amidamaru. "I didn't know you easily get so nervous at things besides Ms. Anna.." The spirit chuckled in it's chibi form. "Now, now Amidmaru.. If she hears that we're both fried." Yoh shivered as he finished the sandwich he was making and poured some orange juice in a glass. He gently placed it on a tray and made his way up to Anna's room.
Anna trailed the path full of snow as the wind blew hard. She shivered but maintained her composure. She's not going to faint here or slide down for she won't allow herself to fall for such weakness. She remained strong and moved forward trying to ignore the voice inside her head as it got louder and louder as she approached the shrine. "Yes.. this way.." It came again. It was annoying really, but the itako had no choice for even the sound of the raging wind cannot defeat it as if anna had a built-in speaker inside her head.
"Anna… I brought you something.. um.." Yoh stuttered as he steadily held on to the tray to avoid the glass and the sandwich from slipping. If it falls, he'll be in it for sure. "Can I come in?" He continued as he slowly reached for the door's handle. "Anna?" Yoh asked again as he slowly balanced the tray in his right hand while the left did the opening. "Anna? Are you okay?" He wondered and slowly peeked inside the room to find nothing but Anna's handmade dolls and her untouched futon on the ground. There was no trace of his fiancé. Yoh did not notice that he was slowly losing his grip on the tray and then he finally dropped it creating sounds of shattered glass and spilled liquid.
"ANNA!!" Yoh yelled behind the sound of violent winds.
"She's not here! She's missing! Where could she be?" Yoh panicked. Fear was painted all over his eyes accompanied by worry. "Yoh Dono! Calm down.. I'll go outside and check her out." Amidamaru disappeared and went up to look for Anna in bird's eye view. "She can't be outside in this weather." Yoh held on to his head. He slowly took his jacket and made his way to the door. Amidamaru appeared only to find his master putting on his boots and was getting ready to face the deadly blizzard. "Yoh Dono.. Where are you going?" The spirit asked worriedly. "Anna's outside… I don't know why, but something is definitely wrong around here." He continued.
In times like these, only Anna can make Yoh worry so much and at the same time make him so seriously mad when someone tries to hurt her. "But the weather.." Amidamaru tried to butt in but then ended his words by saying: "Alright Yoh-don.. I'll help you locate Anna-dono and bring her back safely." Yoh smiled at his trusty friend and off they went outside to look for that certain itako.
"This place hasn't changed." Anna whispered. Suddenly, the voice came again. "I'm in here.. in here.. free me.." Anna scowled at the tone but decided to go near the icy cave and look for the one who owned the annoying voice and get rid of it personally. "I'll do this myself this time.. I can't risk Yoh hurting himself again for me." Anna's eyes softened as she remembered her fiancé's silly smile that seemed to enter her soul and give warmth to her body. "Why are you not angry anymore?" The voice came. Anna did not reply but simply and carefully went down the cave. "I thirst for your anger. Give me that power again." It laughed. Anna's eyes widened but remained cool. "Oni." She replied as she saw the little origami fan blade. "I see.. you actually kept yourself alive in there you little devil. Anna scowled as she approached the origami and tried to tear it apart but a great force threw her away. "You cannot touch me with your weak mind.." It snickered evilly.
Anna stood up and took out her beads to at least get the shield out of the way. However, instead of taking it out, it appeared as if it was becoming stronger with every hit. Oni laughed inside the little paper. "That's it! Give me your anger!" It came. I know who you are and I know exactly how and what you think. You can't stop me now." It continued. Anna fell down on her knees it was so useless.
And to add more to her misery, the Oni gave her such gruesome and mortifying images that she just couldn't bear it and gave out a loud scream of pain.
"Anna!" Yoh jolted as soon as he heard her scream again as if she was in pain. All the snow was making him weak but he tried to stand up still and look for her or in this case, save her. "This place." Yoh whispered. "What is it Yoh-dono?" Amidamaru questioned. Yoh clearly recognized the place and every detail of it and the things that happened there even if the blizzard was covering all of it, as well as the snow that got into Yoh's eyes occasionally. "Matamune.." He whispered again and with a clueless Amidamaru beside him. Yoh has no idea of what was happening but he had this nagging feeling that it had something to do with what happened 6 years ago.
6 Years ago…
Yoh stood in front of Anna with blood and bruises all over. He just defeated Oni with the help of Matamune, Hao's former pet cat and friend. And now that he has used all of his oversoul, Matamune has disappeared… forever.. Anna stood there with hooded eyes holding on to a origami kite wearing a blood stained kimono.
Her anger is gone and with that, a sealed promise was made..
A promise to be together..
..forever..
Yoh walked toward the direction of the cave. The snow was completely blinding him, but he can't give up now not until he finds Anna. From the cave, Anna shrieked some more waking Yoh's senses. He hurriedly ran and yelled Anna's name all over again.
"YAMETE!!!" Anna yelled as she held on to her head painfully. The Oni was taking her memory away and she is not going to allow that. "Not Yoh.." She demanded weakly and tried to stand up once more but to no avail. "I know him, he was the one who destroyed my body.." The oni continued, as it stood there still, unable to move inside the origami. But weak as he is physically, he sure has such strong power to weaken the itako and having her let go of her beads. "I'll get rid of you.. once and for all." She continued. "Oh, this is actually your fault remember? I was born because of you.. and I remained alive because of you also." The oni laughed. "NANI?!" Anna scowled and gripped hard on a big rock for support so she can stand up. "I kept the remains of your anger inside me to remain as my energy. You just thought you defeated me because your boyfriend ruined my body." The oni continued.
Anna remained there as tears suddenly flowed from her eyes. She knew deep inside the Oni was going to take over her body and she doesn't know what to do. For the first time she admitted that she was so helpless.
"ANNA!" Yoh cried and Anna looked up to meet his fiancé. "YOH!" She cried in delight. Not because he was going to save her, but because she wanted to see his face again for the last time. "ANNA!" Yoh cried in relief as soon as he saw her fiancé leaning weakly against a huge rock and with tears in her eyes. As soon as he got down, he gave her a warm embrace and stuffed his face on her hair. "Yoh.." Anna whispered giving in to his embrace. "Don't you ever do that again." He sobbed. At that moment, he thought he might lose her. And little did he know he would if the Oni succeeds in its plan.
"Yoh-dono! I feel an evil presence inside this cave!" Amidamaru yelled. "What?" Yoh looked at his friend and then heard a laugh from a corner. "Hello. I don't think you remember me.. " it continued to laugh inside the piece of paper. "I recognize that voice." Yoh looked at the paper dumbly thinking of who owned that particular voice.
"Yoh, it's back." Anna's face became serious. "And its all my fault." She continued. "What's going on? And I don't understand you." Yoh asked his fiancé who just looked at him and smiled. "I'll take care of this. So leave." She returned to her normal cold self as she pushed Yoh away. The Oni laughed hard again and this time, Yoh remembered. "From six years ago.." He whispered to himself. "Anna! What's the meaning of this?" He shouted out asking. "It wants me! MY anger! Everything!" Anna cried out, as she remained to stand in front of Yoh with her back facing him. "And I don't want you hurt this time." She added. Yoh's eyes widened. He finally understood out fully what was going on and he definitely won't allow it.
"It's haunting us back.. maybe kept himself alive to get revenge.. Well let's see about that." Anna smirked as she readied herself with her beads. "NO ANNA! Whatever you are trying to do I won't allow it! Why would he want your anger? You're not anymore what you used to be! You're my sweet anna!!!" Yoh yelled as he ran toward his fiancé again. Anna stopped her tears from coming out and then looked at Yoh. "Yoh.. have I ever told you how much I really, really love you?" She asked and then made her way towards the Oni. Anna wouldn't risk Yoh getting hurt again that's why she left to fight it on her own. Yoh fell on his knees. He can't believe how weak he is to not help the most important person in his life. He has got to do something.
But before all that, Yoh couldn't help but cry out in grief. He curled up inside the cave while the wind angrily roared outside covering Yoh's wails.
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Wahahahaha! I so and so update so early now! WHEEEEEE!!!!! It's such a miracle. Well, it's election day today and I have nothing to since I'm a minor! Hahaha! That's why I had the chance to finish this chapter! I hope you like and understand it.. I tired my best to explain.. that's why I don't like much flashbacks because it's so hard to explain.. but it makes the story cool anyway. Hehe
Thanks for all the reviews! Luv ya guys!