Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King nor any of the characters presented in this piece of work.
Tamao sat silent by herself, bored out of her mind. She looked at the clock above her head again, the hands pointed to the numbers reading 8:15.
" Wow, this is the 5th day in a row she's been late. Not like Anna at all." Just then the bell sounded and in ran Manta, panting out of breath. " What's up Manta?" Tamao's face brighten, happy to finally have some company. " Are you ok?" she asked with concern.
" Here..." Manta said between taking a deep breath. In his hand was an ordinary white envelope.
" What's this?" Tamao looked at the envelope curiously as she took it from Manta's awaited hand.
" It's a letter for Anna," Manta finally caught his breath. " Yoh asked me to give it to her."
" Yoh?" Tamao was really confused now. " When have they gotten to know each other?"
" I don't know. All he told me on the phone was for me to give her this letter. Well I got to go now. I'm already running late for work." Manta began to walk off waving goodbye to Tamao.
" Wait! Going already?" she asked sadly.
" Yeah," he answered quickly. " Can't be late for work. In reality, Manta could be as late as he wanted. The business was his own, an inheritance from his late parents.
" Well, ummmm... how about we go to..."
Manta stopped and looked at Tamao confused. " What is it?"
" I was wondering, what if we go to lunch together today?"
Manta's eyes widen. Is she asking me out? " Uhhhh..."
" If you're busy, then that's ok!" Tamao said quickly, sensing he might reject her offer.
" No no!" Manta shouted before she got the wrong idea. " Lunch sounds great! I'll be by around noon to pick you up. Gotta go!" Manta ran out the shop and skipped his way to his await limo. I got a date with Tamao!
----------
Anna struggled to pull her sweater on. She was so consumed in catching the news that she forgot to get dress for work. It's been that way the whole week ever since...
" I'm here live at the scene of the American Embassy as the police officials are helping everyone evacuate the building. Apparently, a young boy tipped off the police about the bombs set inside the building. They have found 4 out of 5 so far..."
Anna tuned in the news as she pour herself a cup of juice from the kitchen. " Come on, get to the weather forcast already!" Anna said to the TV. She felt a bit dumb at the moment. She's never acted this way before. In fact, she didn't really remember watching the TV that much. But now, she's caught herself checking the daily news, morning and evening, just to see the weather forcast. Sometimes she scolded herself for doing so, but she flipped on the TV daily without even a thought.
" ... And now for our 5 day forcast with Tai Hori." annouced the anchor.
Finally! Anna ran to the livingroom and proped herself down in front of the TV. Well it looks like we can look forward to a nice clean weather for the next fiv..." Anna tuned out the rest after that. Damn, where's the snow when you want it? Wait a minute. Why do I want it? I'm not waiting for him. Kyoyama Anna waits for noone. Anna shook the thought from her head then grabbed her purse and walked out the door.
----------
The walk to her shop was growing tedious. For some reason, Anna just wanted to stay home and lay on her couch, blanket pulled up to her neck... and with the TV on. Arghhhh! Stop thinking about him Anna! What's the matter with you? Anna was too deep in her thoughts to notice a car coming straight towards her. The loud honking shook her from her thoughts. She turned around just in time to see the red corvet swirlv left and right as it screech to a hault just a few inches away. Fear overtook her body for the first time in many years. She couldn't move her body. A dark hair guy ran out of the car and started yelling things she couldn't quite comprehend. He then stops once he got a good look at Anna. His features changed to a softer, more concern look.
" I'm sorry, are you ok?" The guy put his hand on Anna's shoulder. She finally snapped out of her daze at his touch.
" I'm fine!" she said sharply, shrugging off his hand. She didn't want anybody else's hands on her. The guy gave a startle look, but it quickly went make to the expression he had before.
" I'm sorry again. I wasn't wasn't paying too much attention." he tried once again to get on her good side.
" No, it's my fault. I didn't look before crossing. Don't worry about it." Anna started to walk off after that.
" Hey wait!, Can I at least have your name?" he guy called from behind.
" No!" she answered loud and clear.
" Humph," the guy snorted. " She looks like a challenge... I like that." He grinned as he watched her walk off. " You'll soon find out nobody walks away from Tao Ren that easily."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sigh... I've been pursuaded to keep this story going. I get pursuade pretty easily "hint hint" . This chapter didn't have any Yoh/Anna moments but oh wells. They'll come soon enough. BTW, I hope everyone got the part when the news came on about the American Embassy. That's where our hero was mention Ren's made an appearence. Read on to see our other mankin boys
And here's to answer elyssalyn's question. Manta knows Yoh since they went to school high together. At this time, Yoh, Anna, and Manta are 23 years old. Tamao doesn't know Yoh personally. She's only heard of Yoh from Anna, who mentioned to her many times about Yoh sitting on his bench and just stare at her every morning. That's why Tamao refered to Yoh as "the tall brunette" in chapter 2. Well hope that covers everything.
