Mikau: Okay, first things first, Kara's been sick. Sorry it took me a whole week to get this out, but I did warn you that I would be updating on weekends. I'm not at school today, so I'll probably be updating "Ivy" too. Yeah, well on with the fic.
Disclaimer: Don't own Shaman King, don't own Tippy's ocs, don't own most of the plot line, haven't invaded England yet. I'm going to England next year.
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Painful Dreams
In a Dream
"Asuka!" a harsh voice called out to me.
"Who's there!" I called back. A shadow moved into the dim light of my dream world. My father. "Please, stay away! I didn't do anything wrong!" I pleaded.
His malevolent glare put a stop to my pleas once and for all. "Shut up! I'm not here to tall about you murdering your sister, Asuka!"
"I didn't—"
"Asuka!" His voice thundered.
"My name's Anlita!" I cried back desperately.
"ASUKA! Don't you dare defy me!" he slammed his fist into my already wounded stomach. "Listen here, you little…your mother is close to death."
"What? Why! What's wrong with mom!" I whimpered softly.
She won't eat, she won't sleep all because of Cassidy's death. It's your fault that she's dying! And your sister's death is also your fault! So you're going to help me pay for your mother's treatment, and help me bring your sister back to life."
"How is that possible?" I inquired. Personally I thought my father had finally lost it—if he ever had it to begin with.
"Don't question me! This is where your powers will come in handy for once." My father smiled maliciously at me; his eyes glowing, and I could tell he was plotting something that would not end well for me.
I managed to stutter, "Y-yes?"
The evil smile widened, causing a cold shiver to run up my spine. "Who will merge with that cat thing of yours and steal for me."
"I will do no such thing!" I cried, outraged at the unlawfulness of his plan.
"You will!" He threatened. "Or you will have to be…disciplined. Meet my messenger Evell outside the Monroe Museum of Natural Art at 1:33 tonight. Do not be late."
"But—" I hardly had time to protest before his giant-sized hand came in contact with the right side of my head.
End of Dream
I woke up the next morning with my head positively throbbing. I slowly opened my eyes, and met the gaze of several worried faces. I opened my mouth to speak, but I was too weak.
"Don't try to move, Asuka!" Tamao wailed in worry. She seemed so anxious over me.
"Yeah, stay still. Faust is on his way." Yoh reassured me. This was the first time that I had ever seen carefree Yoh without a huge goofy grin on his face.
"Don't worry Asuka, everything will be alright." Hao cooed. A thin grim line replaced his usual sly smile, and his bright chocolate eyes were dull and filled with concern.
I slowly slipped back into darkness.
I slept the whole day away, and while I lay unconscious, Faust came, treated my head wound, and left. Yoh paced my room 3,333,333,337 times. Tamao sat in a chair next to my bed, and knitted 3 scarves. And Hao, who was occupying the chair opposite Tamao, starred off into space as he gently stroked my hair. The rest of the house went about their business until late at night when they went to bed.
I awoke around 12:00 feeling fine. I had one hour and thirty-three minutes to decide what to do about my parent problems. I slowly snuck out of my room as to not wake the other three who had fallen asleep there. I grabbed Liger and made my way to the Museum.
I arrived at the Museum, and wandered over to a little clearing in the woods by the back. I was met by my father's messenger, Evell the raven. 'Hello Asuka. I see you have complied with your father's wishes and have come to help him.' The creepy bird sung telepathically.
"Yes. What does he want me to do? And how can stealing save my mother or bring back my sister? Tell me that before I do this."
'Well…you see, your mother has gone into a life threatening coma. She can be treated, and may be saved, but we have no money with which to pay for it. It's a new procedure, and it's very expensive. You will be stealing valuable things with the help of your cat over there, and your father will sell them.' Evell sighed. She obviously was very bored and didn't want to be here.
"What about Cassidy? Dad said that he could bring her back!" I was very anxious about a chance to see my sister again.
'There is an old vase from the times of the Incas that is said to restore life to those who died a tragic, untimely death. There is a legend if you would like to hear it.'
"Of course! We have time." I took a seat on a near-by tree stump and situated myself for a story.
'Once upon a time there was a beautiful Incan princess named Pules. She had an older twin sister named Sinopa. They were both very beautiful, but Pules was very shy. Both sisters loved a man named Hakan, the village's most handsome warrior.
'Sinopa openly discussed her feelings about Hakan with him, and she was given to him in marriage. Pules was insanely jealous of her sister, for she too loved Hakan. So one night, Pules invited her sister to watch the stars with her on the cliff just on the outskirts of the village.
When Sinopa got close to the edge, Pules pushed her sister off to her death, and when Pules returned to the village, she brought news that her darling sister had tripped and fallen to her death. No one questioned Pules, for they were too busy grieving for their beloved princess, Sinopa.
Hakan too grieved for his wife, but after two months he took Pules as his wife, as was the custom. Hakan tried to love Pules, but he found himself constantly missing Sinopa.
Hakan went to the village shaman priestess, and entreated her help. The shaman asked him, "Are you willing to die for her?"
"Yes. I'll do anything!" was his desperate answer.
"Then go to the underworld and bring me a jar full of water from The River Styx. Then I can help you." The crone sighed.
Hakan journeyed to the underworld and gathered a jar full of water from The River Styx and then brought it back to the shaman, saying, "I have brought you the water in this old blue jar, now how will this help me?"
"I shall use the water to bring her back into the world of the living. I ask you one more time are you willing to die for her?" The old shaman priestess asked one final time.
"Of course! Haven't I proved that already! Please bring my Sinopa back to me!" The hag nodded solemnly and set about her task.
"Give me something of hers." She demanded. Hakan gave the shaman a hair tie that Sinopa had always used, and the shaman dropped the tie into the water-filled jar.
The water began to shine and the jar turned from a rusty blue color to pure gold, and suddenly Sinopa stood before them alive and well—'
An old clock rang in the distance signaling that it was 1:30. I had three minutes to get into place or I would probably be pounded to death by my father. "I'm sorry Evell, that was a good story, but I have to go now. What am I after tonight?"
The bird sighed and glared at the clock that had interrupted her story. 'The stone you're after is called The Mystery Smile. Here's a picture of it. While you're in there look for the golden jar of Sinopa, and be quick about it.'
"Thank you! What do I have to do to bring Cassidy back?" I questioned.
'Fill the jar with water, and put something of Cassidy's in it, but—'
"—I'm sorry, Evell, I really have to go! Thank you!" I ran off to prepare myself for the heist, leaving Evell behind in the small clearing, fuming.
'She really should have let me finish my story. Sinopa stood before them alive and well, but Hakan dropped dead on the floor of the hut. He had given his life so that his wife could live. Oh, master, why do you plot your second daughter's death just so you may have your first daughter back. It doesn't seem fair for poor Anlita. It just doesn't seem fair…'
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Mikau: Well that didn't go as badly as it could have gone. It was a pretty okay chapter. I still like the second one I did best. Well, I hope you liked it. The next chapter should be out next weekend. See ya then!
To Tippy-chan: I'm glad that I'm getting more into character as I go along. I don't know if this chapter was all that great, cause not much happened, but…oh, well. Hopefully the next chapter will be better. I'm not doing well with my Diabetes lately, and all the low blood sugars are making me very ill. I hope it's not affecting my writing. And yes, what Hao said was very sweet. Though I won't tell you exactly what it was. (you hit it pretty much on the mark anyway, except 'dolce' means sweet). I shall talk to you later. How's the weather in the subs of Chicago? St. Louis is hot one day, and freezing the next. It's not helping my health much…
To cutie1789: I'm glad you like the way that American is going. I hope you still like it after this chapter. Surprisingly I'm still kind of sticking to what Tippy had originally had in mind…kind of. You shall all find out what Hao said sometime in the fic in the near future—maybe. I don't exactly have an exact ending, but I'm still playing with some stuff, so I think it'll end well when it does end…
To Shamanbabe: Hao spoke Italian because I don't want you to know what he said. big evil grin you will find out eventually. Know that it was really sweet.
To longbca: I liked chapter 7 too. Chapter 8 was a bit of a disappointment to me, but it didn't turn out as badly as it could have. I hope everyone still likes the way this fic is going.
To ice is nice: Everyone is obsessed with Hao. Including me. It's a good thing. I'm glad you like the fic! I'm always finding myself calling it 'my fic', but I can't really put that because technically it's not my fic, I'm just writing it. It is fun to write though.
To Jenn: I soooo happy you like the fic! I'll have to tell Natalie! (Tippy) I'm trying my best to update ASAHP (as soon as humanly possible), but things don't always work out. I'm trying to update more than just on the weekends for this fic, but it's not working. So every weekend it shall be!
To MaiValentinefan: I'm glad you got time to read the fic! I love that so many of my reviewers read both stories! Thank you for your constant reviews!
Mikau: Okay, people. I'm not feeling well at the moment so I must go check my blood sugar. I'll see you all later when I update Ivy!
PLEASE REVIEW!