Prince Meets Princess

Author's Ramblings: I'm sorry it took a long time for this chapter to come out. My computer has been giving me a lot of trouble, I actually had to rewrite this. Please excuse any grammer or spelling mistakes. I had to use Wordpad because I don't have Word on my new hard drive yet.

Chapter Seven: Encounter

Anna quietly sat in her room after dinner. She contently gazed out the window at the starry sky. Where she lived, you couldn't see the stars very well. But out here, you could see them so well.

The Prince had asked her for a walk, but she refused. As much as she wanted to be Shaman Queen, she didn't want to open herself to anyone. One of Anna's greatest fears was rejection. Throughout her whole life she was always rejected because of what she was. Even though this was a family of shamans, people who fully understood her powers, she couldn't risk falling in love and leaving herself open for heartbreak.

Besides, who in their right minds would pick her? She wasn't pretty, she didn't get along well with other people, not to mention she was a tad bit too bossy.

But unknown to her, a long haired shaman already picked her. Asakura Hao sat on a branch just outside of Anna's window, but just out of her sight. But just because Anna couldn't see him, didn't mean she didn't know he was there.

"Who ever you are, you best come out." She said in a cool, calm voice.

Hao grinned evilly, "As you wish." He said as he stepped onto her windowsill.

Anna frowned as she looked at him, "Who are you?" She asked as she slowly stood up and backed away from the window. Hao smiled widely as he stepped into her room. Anna gasped softly as the shaman walked into the light, he looked exactly like the Prince.

"I am the rightful Shaman King." He said stepping closer to Anna.

Anna glared at him, "Asakura Yoh is the rightful Shaman King." She said as she glared at him.

Hao snorted, " He thinks he will be." He said crossing his arms, "But what is a knig withour a queen?" He asked.

Anna narrowed her eyes, "He doesn't have a queen yet." Anna snapped.

Hao smirked, "Oh I think he does, he's just to naive to realize it." Hao said as he reached Anna.

Anna stared at Hao as he began to caress her cheek, "You will be Shaman Queen, Kyouyama Anna, You will be my Shaman Queen." He said right before disappearing in front of her eyes.

Anna frowned, "Damn it!" She hissed rushing to the door and throwing it open.

----

Tamao sighed deeply as she looked and the azure haired Ainu, "Is something wrong, Pirika-san?" She asked patting the girls shoulder.

Pirika sighed and glanced at the pink headed prophet. Pirika's mind was in turmoil over what happened a few days ago. She wanted to tell someone, but what if they told the King and she was forced to leave? "Where's Onii-chan?" She asked quietly. Her brother, was the last person she wanted to tell, because she knew he would hunt Tao Ren down and beat him to within an inch of death.

Tamao paused to think, "I think him and Yoh-sama went to the hot springs." She said, "So what's the matter?"

Pirika bit her lip, if she didn't tell someone she would explode, "You promise you won't tell anyone?" Pirika said softly, "Not even Onii-chan?"

Tamao nodded, "I won't tell a soul." She promised.

Pirika nodded slowly, "I can't marry Yoh-san anymore." She said softly.

Tamao looked at Pirika oddly, "Why not?" She asked.

"Back home there is a custom that if a man takes a girls first kiss, the girl has to marry the man." Pirika said. Tamao nodded, "Horo-kun told me that."

"Well, I meant a man, and he took my first kiss." Pirika said staring at the hands.

Tamao frowned, "That's awful!" She said, "Who was it?"

"Tao Ren." A voice from near the window said.

Both girls gasped as their eyes shot to the source of the voice, a purple headed Chinese shaman.

Tamao mouth dropped in shock, "Tao-san!" She said covering her mouth with her hand. "Does Asakura-sama know your here?"

Pirika's eyes shot to Tamao, "You know him!" She asked pointing to Ren.

Tamao quickly nodded, "The Taos have long been our rival. The last time Tao-san was here he tried to take Yoh-sama's throne." Tamao said crosisng her arms over her chest.

Ren rolled his eyes, "And your the reason I was caught." He said. Tamao smiled widely and nodded, "Hai!"

"You tried to take the Shaman King throne? And here I was think you were a clean head." Pirika said crossing her arms too.

"He is a clan head...or will be." Tamao said, "But he's--" Before Tamao could finish Ren cut her off, "I'm not here for the throne, just a bride." He said with a added glare.

Tamao smiled, "I know. I perdicted you coming." She said in a sing-song voice.

Ren sighed, "And it just so happens that--" Ren was cut of by a very shocked Pirika, "I'm his bride."

Tamao shook her head, "Tut tut, Tao-san! Resorting to trickery to get a wife. I thought the Tao's were a great people."

"We are." Ren said dryly.

"You won't tell anyone will you, Tamao-chan?" Pirika asked hopefully.

Tamao nodded, "Of course not."

Ren glanced at Pirika, "You mean you'll still marry me?" He asked.

Pirika glared at Ren, "I don't have a choice, you took my first kiss. I wasn't kidding about the customs." Pirika said blushing slightly. In truth, she kind of did want to marry the handsome Chinese shaman. Not because she liked him, no, because he was a clan head.

Ren smirked, "Alright then, I guess I'll have to send news to China." He said walking to the window.

Pirika rolled her eyes, as he climbed onto the windowsill, "How 'bout a kiss good-by?" Ren said teasingly.

Pirika narrowed her eyes before walking over to him, "Your pushing it Tao." She hissed before pushing him out the window.

Tamao chuckled, "Ah young love." She said smiling.

Pirika glared at her, "Forced love." She corrected.

"But still love!" Tamao said happily before walking out or the Ainu's room.

Pirika blushed deeply as she walked back to the window. She gazed outside.

"That was mean!"

Pirika jumped and looked under her windowsill to see a pair of golden eyes that belonged to her finace. She smiled, "You deserved it." She said cupping her cheek. Ren slowly stood up and stared at the Princess before quickly kissing her. He gently cupped her cheek as he pulled anyway, "I got my kiss anyway." He whispered before walking away.

Pirika blushed faintly and smiled, "Good night, Ren-kun." She said waving to the shaman.

Ren glanced over his shoulder and shook his head, inoring the warm feeling he got when she called his name. He wasn't suposed to be falling in love.