Mikau: Yes, yes! This chapter is soooooo much better! I feel that I have finally adapted to Asuka. She's different than my previous works. Though diversity is good, ne? I must admit that the first chapter was painful to right, but this one came more naturally, like one of my Ivy chapters. I'm much happier with this chapter than the first. Gomen, gomen, gomen nasai for the delay in updating.

Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King, Tippy-chan owns the ocs, and the "e" on my keyboard is rubbing off. I'm not wearing socks today! (gomen to all my "Ivy" reviewers I promised to stop jabbering about the socks!)

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Ghosts From the Past

"Hao!" I gasped. "What are you doing here!"

"I came because I heard a lot of noise, and was curious. Then I heard you talking about telling someone something, and your father, and problems, and basically a whole lot of…" Hao paused for a moment and looked me over. "What happened to you?" He looked away and blushed profusely as he noticed that I was no longer wearing a shirt.

I starred at him for a minute trying to think of a reason why he might be turning scarlet when Liger nudged me. I turned around and realized he had my shirt in his mouth. 'Oh shoooooot!' I thought. Here I was alone in a bathroom with a cute boy, and I didn't have my shirt on! I quickly turned the same beet red color as Hao.

"Here." He said as he handed me his poncho.

"Arigato." I replied bashfully as I accepted the poncho, which was still warm from his body heat.

Hao sat down on the floor next to me and attempted to get me to talk. "So, what were you talking about before? You we had a deal, you know? I don't inform Anna and Yoh about your little miss hap, and I get to help you."

(Sigh) "I remember." I admitted.

"So spill. I can't help you if you don't talk to me." He coaxed.

"Alright. I trust you. Along time ago I was born into a happy family. My mom was an American, and my dad was a Japanese Shaman. We lived happily in America for about thirteen years. Then it all came crashing down. I had a twin sister; her name was Cassidy. We were polar opposites. She was beautiful, outgoing, brave, daring, and she wouldn't take no for an answer. Naturally she was the favorite. I wanted to be just like her. I wasn't quite jealous of her…no; I admired her. Everyone did.

"Just a few months ago I developed a crush on this boy, but I was too shy to tell him. Cassidy didn't know, but he did. He went out with her anyway just to see us fight over him. It didn't work. When Cassidy found out what he was doing she flat out dumped him. He was totally humiliated. She always had my best interests in mind. She was a really caring person.

"A few weeks after she dumped him, some of his friends confronted us, looking for revenge. They dared us to climb the old water tower on the outskirts of town and take a picture at the top to prove we had actually been up there. Of course Cassidy said yes; it would have been completely against her character to refuse.

"The next afternoon we found ourselves at the base of the rickety, ivy covered, water tower. I watched in utter terror as it swayed in the wind. I couldn't let her do it. I had to stop her."

Flashback

"Cassidy, you can't do this! You'll get killed! It's too dangerous. Please, let's just go back home." I pleaded with my slightly older twin sister.

My sister turned to look at me with that 'come on' look on her face. "Come on, Anlita. It'll be fine! Don't you want to show those awful boys who's boss? It'll be great. We'll be the talk of the town!" she sound so excited, so sure of herself, just like she always did.

"But…Cassidy…you just can't! Let's not do this." I knew that wouldn't stop her. Once you told her she couldn't do something, she had to do it. Example: Cassidy's walking along and sees a wall with wet paint on it, yet there's no sign saying not to touch it. Cassidy walks past the wall without touching the paint. Now let's run that scenario again, this time, with the sign: Cassidy's walking along and sees a wall with wet paint on it. Next to the wall there's a sign reading, "Caution, wet paint; do not touch." Cassidy looks around to make sure no one is watching. touch.

I knew telling her she couldn't wouldn't work, so I tried a different approach. "Cassidy, please, I'm scared!"

No such luck, "Well then, you hold the ladder steady, I'll climb up and take the picture."

Before I could protest any further she started ascending the ladder as I looked on in fear. "Cassie, be careful!"

Cassidy reached the top despite the movement of the tower. She looked down at me and gave me her winning smile; the last she would ever bestow in her short life. As Cassidy set the camera up for the shot, the tower moved as the wind bid, and my beloved sister was thrown over the edge. She came hurtling toward the ground at an increasingly faster pace, and when she hit, the most sickening CRACK resounded for miles.

I raced over to her motionless body, hoping against all hope that my sister was still alive. "CASSIDY! CASSIDY!" I screeched my voice wavering uncontrollably. I kneeled at her side, trying to find any sign of life what so ever. I dialed 911, but it was of no use. My sister and best friend was lost to the world. Never to smile again. Never to laugh. Never to assure me it would all be okay. She was gone. Gone.

End Depressing Flashback

I was sobbing uncontrollably by now, but I had to go on with my story."W-when I got home, t-they blamed m-me. They sa-id I could ha-ve st-stopped her sob, but I di-dn't. They said it was m-my fault! So they shipped me off to live with Y-yoh and An-na sniff!"

Hao looked at me, reduced to a pathetic, hysteric, sobbing, pile on the floor. At first he was unsure of what to do, but soon his arms naturally found their way around my waist. He held me close, and I cried in his arms.

"It's okay. I'm here to protect you now." He whispered.

After baring my soul to him, I felt my soul lighten. I felt better than I had in months. I was finally able to sleep peacefully without fear of my father invading my dreams to torture me. So I cuddled up against his bare chest on rested my head above his heart. I listened to it's beat quickly speed up at just me being this close, and it was the lullaby that sung me to sleep in his arms.

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Mikau: What'd ya think? I liked it. Back to work on Ivy, Shaman Runaway! FUNNY chapter coming up in Ivy. (Anna's entrance! Ha!)

To Tippy-chan: blushes profusely AWWWWEE! Thank you soooooo much! I'm sooo happy you like it! I like this chapter better though. It's longer, and I think I did a better job on this one. It's kind of just coming to me now, like one of my own. I'm working on making them longer; I know that first one was pathetically short.

To Balic Panther: Thank you sooooooo much! I'll be sure to tell Tippy! We do work well together, don't we? If you'd like you could read my story "Ivy, Shaman Runaway". Everyone seems to love it. Thank you!

To Raiki-Casinio: I know, my friend…I know. jumps into Hao's arms.

To haku wife: Thank you for reviewing! I hope you like this chapter as well!

To cutie1789: I agree with you completely; thus this chapter! Thanks for the reviews!

To Shamanbabe: I'm glad you liked my first chapter! I shall inform you all about jello in my next Ivy update!

Mikau: Thank you people soo much for the support. You people make my aching fingers worth it!

REVIEW PLEASE! Not doing so will result in an angry authoress. Ja, people!