If I Smile And Don't Believe, Hoshiko

Summary: After a mental breakdown following Hao's untimely death, Anna seems to have lost all of her memories except of her beloved Hao…one night, when she attempts to escape from the En Inn where Manta has been watching over her, she is stopped by none other than Eliza, who stops her tears and begins to act as a mother for her. But as she grows more and more dependent on this new, "mother," Anna's mind drifts farther and farther away..and all Yoh can do is watch. Will Faust be able to help he and Eliza give Anna up as the daughter they never had, their "Hoshiko?" …or will they play onto the illusion and let Anna die?

Disclaimer: The tortured, vertically-challenged, exhausted authoress does not own Shaman King so please don't hurt her. That would be rude and insulting to Faust and Eliza and Frankensteiny. You don't want to upset the poor dears.

A/N: I love this plot! I wanted to have a main character, but it frequently switches between many characters like Anna, Yoh, Eliza, and Faust…Yay for Faust and Eliza on their way to stardom!

FaustEliza: Damn straight!

Neko-Neko Faust VIII: My god, Faust you are a sexy beast!

Eliza: Second to that!

Faust: I am what I is!

All: big cheesy smile Have fun with this story! 'Tis dramatic and angsty but the Author Notes shall brighten your gloomy day! And please convince Neko-Neko Faust VIII to cease doing her author notes in script! 

Chapter Seven: Do You Remember Last Christmas?- Anna POV

I woke up really fast.

It was Christmas morning, and I was real excited to see San…Santa Claus come to our big tree in the livingroom and give me my presents. I jumped out of my bed and I raced down stairs.

I don't know why I'm so happy or excited but I am. It's new. Like dawn but…something that reminds me of someone I don't know.

Do I?

I was thinking a whole lot while I ran down the stairs, and I wasn't paying attention, and I fell down a long way, and landed on my bottom.

"Waaaaahh….mommy! Daddy!!" I was crying very quiet, I didn't want Santa to know I'm awake. Mommy said he won't come unless I go to sleep.

I heard someone moving downstairs.

"Hohoho..." he was laughing. I could tell it was a man, because of his voice.

"Santa!"

I can't believe it's really him. Really Santa Claus!

He was wearing a red outfit with a dangly, poofy hat like a cat toy, and he had a white beard and he was fat. It was really Mr. Santa!

I think he saw me. "Why are you crying, little girl?" he asked me.

Funny…Santa kind of sounds like daddy, you know?

He picked me up and showed me the tree, under the tree was the most prettiest candy I've seen in my life!! There were a bunch of pretty dolls, and toys, and a giant dollhouse that I could live in if I wanted to! And a doll who looked just like me!

Also there was a picture. A boy with long dark chocolatey hair, and handsome brown eyes…he was the handsomest boy I ever saw…he reminds me of someone I saw last Christmas….someone warm…someone who loves me….someone…

Someone like….Hao…

Someone I remember.

Suddenly I screamed, "Where am I?! Why don't I know where I am?!" and I bit Santa, because I didn't know who he was, either. I'm not supposed to talk to strangers.

A bunch of memories just came to me….I looked at Santa. But he wasn't Santa anymore. I realized Daddy was Santa, and I got real proud that my own daddy was Santa Claus.

He looked at me like he was very sad and worried.

"Hoshiko….please…don't…." he pleaded.

I screamed louder than I ever had, and I didn't know what I was going to do…I just ran as fast as I could, and I ran out the door and slammed it real loud.

"Where's Hao?! I want Hao back!!!" I screamed as I slammed the door. Daddy heard me, and Mommy did too, I saw her come out of the bedroom and she was crying.

Why does mommy cry and she doesn't look sad? Why is daddy crying with her?

"Oh god…I have to realize again Eliza….oh god, oh god…." he murmured softly. I was listening out the window.

Mommy's name is Eliza? But mommy is mommy!

He continued, and I shivered. He sounded so tragic…like he was far away somewhere else…like he and mommy were on a planet of their own, and mommy was flying away.

"Oh god….I didn't want to realize you're still dead…."

I ran as fast as I could, screaming and thinking of Hao, and mommy, and daddy.

Mommy's dead?

A/N: I know, haunting, ne? Since it's Christmas, I didn't want to do the stereotypical mental-drama-thriller Christmas where the main character "realizes who he/she really is and is cured, and spends a heartwarming christmas!!!" That's just me. I'm in such a crappy mood today…why is that???