Mikau: Hello everybody! Happy Cinco de Mayo! I've been working on this since yesterday, so I haven't been working on 'Ivy', so I better make this quick.

Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King. Though I do own the Asakura brothers' hearts. (No arguments from the peanut gallery!) Speaking of peanuts, I have found peanut butter! It's really good! And guess what. It takes so long for the carbohydrates to melt down inside my body, that peanut butter is considered a free food, and I don't have to take a shot to eat it! Stupid Diabetes…oh well, I cope.

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Bells Of Fate

Ding-dong ding-dong…ding-dong ding-dong. Ding. 1. Ding. 2. Ding. 3. Ding. 4. Ding. 5. Ding. 6. Ding. 7. Ding. 8. Ding. 9. Ding. 10. Ding. 11. Ding. 12.

"Twelve o'clock, and time to roll." I informed Liger as the hall clock sung its hateful melody. My usual soft smile was, tonight, replaced by a thin grim line. I was very much opposed to stealing again, but this is something that had to be done.

'For my mother. For my sister.' I solemnly chanted in my mind. This mantra was the only thing propelling me forward. I know I looked back many a time as I dragged my lead legs toward the museum.

I looked down when I heard a soft, desperate purring by my side. "Liger…Shhhh. Everything will work out. We'll be a family again…and maybe we will even be accepted." I could hope. I could only hope.

Liger bristled at something in a near by tree. I looked up at the tall dogwood, but no one was there. "You're seeing things. You're too jumpy. It's okay. I'm scared too. I don't want to do this."

I didn't even sense his cloaking spell; I didn't know he was there, following me. Watching me. Protecting me.

Up A Tall Dogwood Tree

"So, bird, what information do you have for me tonight?" A calm, sultry voice asked in an off-handed tone.

"Oh, stop it Hao! I have a name!" A small, but majestic looking raven and a handsome young man with long, silky mahogany hair and warm, mischievous chocolate brown eyes sat up a tall dogwood tree watching me.

"Fine. So, Evil Bird, what information do you have for me tonight?" The entrancing young man's voice mocked the poor bird.

"My name is not 'evil' it is 'Evell'! They're pronounced differently! 'Evell' is long a, and vell, rhymes with well. Not evil! And to answer your question: we intervene tonight. Asuka is going to break in and steal the Divine Crown, and Sinopa's Jar. We will NOT interfere—"

"—But what if she tries to bring back Cassidy before we get to her? We won't get there in time, and I'll lose her!" Hao protested.

"NO." Evell reprimanded him firmly. "There will be no medaling before she gets out of that museum! That's final, Lover Boy. She'll be fine. After she gets out, her father will be waiting to trick her into suicide. You will show yourself then. You know what to do Hao. I really think that this will work. We have a nice stable plan, and if everything falls into place, I'll be free, you get Anlita, and we get Cassidy back!"

"Do you think Asuka will hate me forever though?" Hao looked unsurely at the raven perched on the tree limb beside him.

"No. Her father is an evil person. She'll thank you." Evell assured.

"Promise?" He wanted solid proof, but all that Evell could offer was a solemn promise.

"Promise." She purred as she nuzzled Hao's cheek.

"What are all the items that I have to get?" Hao switched gears back to the business side of the deal.

"Cassidy's item is this necklace. She always used to wear it." Evell took out a shimmering pearl necklace with little rubies hanging at the sides.

Hao noticed a pearl was missing. "And that's where you'll put the pearl that you get from Asuka's dad?" Evell nodded. "And how will you get it on there?"

"I'll tie it with the strand of hair that I'm going to pluck from My Master. It will be all up to you from there on. I will only be setting up the props in our favor. Understood?" Evell asked one final time.

"Yes. Let's do this." Hao declared determinedly.

"Hao, are you sure that you're in love with Anlita?" Evell chirped longingly.

"Yes, I love her with everything I've got. Why do you ask Evell?" Hao questioned the sorrowful servant of my father.

"If you're sure about Anlita, then there's nothing to discuss, but if you feel your heart wavering, know that I've fallen for you." Evell nipped at Hao's ear.

"I'm sorry, Evell, but it just wouldn't work out well…" Hao tried to be gentle with the fragile creature.

"I know. It wouldn't work now…me this way, but after I'm free of that hateful man…well, consider it." Evell cooed next to his ear.

"Were you pretty when you were…?" Hao trailed off not finishing the question.

The phantom bird sighed, memories flooding back to her. "A girl with shiny midnight black hair…sky blue eyes that were slightly scary to behold. They were clear crystals against her pale face. She was an otherworldly looking thing. When she wore floor length dresses (Which she always did, mind you.)she looked like she was gliding. The beauty was short and silent, but whenever asked, had good advice. She was no good at following her own advice though…that weakness lead to her end. No more than 14 when the accident happened, and she died. I don't know how I ended up in this mess…Master said he could bring me back to life. Now I see what he meant, but he didn't tell me all the pain I would suffer under his service—I'm sorry Hao! You didn't ask for that long little flashback of mine, I don't know what brought that up, but I just…I just…I needed to tell someone…I needed to finally let go of my pain. I'm sorry…"

"That's okay, Evil Bird. I don't mind what so ever. Whatever helps you…" Hao gently stroked Evell along her neck and up her beak. He leaned down and kissed the miniature velvety bird on top of her small head.

"Evell…my name is Evell…" The raven cooed back to her love interest, but she could care less what he called her as long as he called her. "I must leave you now, My Love. I have to go to Anlita now and instruct her on her heist. Be outside the museum watching and waiting for my signal. This ends tonight."

"Fine, but could you not call me your love? I don't want to know what Asuka would think if she heard you call me that." Hao gently informed my father's messenger.

"If you say so, but I'll still think it. I know you may never love me back, but to me, you're my one and only." With that the love-struck bird took flight and flew silently above my head to the museum with me.

Back On The Ground

When I finally got to the Pelago Museum, I surveyed the area. No trees that I could climb close by the museum. I was totally screwed unless I wanted to break in through a door. I didn't want to do that. I want to leave any evidence of my ever being there, and if I entered through a door, then it would be more obvious that there was a burglary. I wanted it to seem as if the items I took simply disappeared.

"What are we gonna do, Liger?" I pondered out loud.

"I may be able to help since you happen to still be wearing Hao's poncho." Evell landed feet from me. I hadn't sensed her at all…she was very good at masking her energy.

"Evell? What did you have in mind?" I asked the midnight black bird.

If birds could smirk, Evell would be smirking like a madman. "Oversoul me into the poncho, and I'll be your wings."

"Okay. If you think it will work…" I furrowed my brow not so sure.

"Anlita, would I let you fall to your death?" Evell frowned at my distrust.

"No, I didn't mean it like that! I only meant—"

"—Furthermore, would I ever let you die if there was something I could do to help?" Evell interrupted, rolling her eyes at me.

"No. You would protect me. I'm sorry for doubting you…let's go. I've got a sister to save." I oversouled Evell into Hao's poncho, and it took the shape of wings. I soared high above the treetops before swooping down upon the rooftop. I made a smooth landing and prepared myself for my last heist ever, and also the most dangerous one. The one where I almost, unknowingly lost my life…

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Mikau: 5's for the 5th of May. I think I'm having problems typing today. Scratch that, I am having typing problems today! I have no idea why, but I'm having a lot of misspellings and stuff…weird.

To Tippy-chan: Okay, so be truthful, how'm I doing? I think I only have two or so chapters left in me. It'll be a nice fluffy ending, and Hao can have a little 'I love Anlita/Asuka' speech, then I'll throw in a little drama when it comes to Asuka's dad. Thanks, I'm glad that I have permission. I didn't want to do anything that drastic without the author's say so. I think it's gonna be good! Thanks for letting me take over this for you! I'm really having fun with it!

To Aisuhana: Glad you're enjoying the story! Well I'm happy that you like that she has to steal, but I don't think Anlita/Asuka is very happy about it…and as for Hao, he is hott, has always been hott, and always will be hott. He is the very personification of HOTT!

To Andrea Nefisto: Lol! Glad that you like this story as well! Tippy will be happy to hear it. I kind of figured that you would understand what Hao said in Italian…Sorry I don't have much time to reply! Thank you for your reviews!

To MaiValentinefan: Evell says she's sorry for interrupting the kiss, but these things must be done. Anlita/Asuka has a totally different personality from Ivy, so Asuka isn't one to kiss someone as easily as Ivy. They'll definitely get a second chance at that kiss though.

To Danny: Hao says he loves you too, but he is already involved in a very intimate relationship with the authoress right now. In fact, they are getting married. You're invited to the wedding though, if that helps ease the pain. LOL! At least that's what I think he would say. You can ponder over what Hao would say back to you, yourself. Lol! See ya later.

To longbca: You weren't the only one deeply saddened by my dearest Hao's name change to Zeke. I HATE the name. Wait…hate…name…! "Zeke, Zeke, wherefore art thou Zeke? Deny thy father and refuse thy name! Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love and I'll no longer be an Ivy. 'Tis but thy name that is my enemy; thou art thyself, though not a Zeke. What's Zeke? it is not hand, nor foot, nor arm, nor face, nor any other part belonging to a man. Oh, be some other name! (such as Hao) What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet; so Zeke would, were he not Zeke called, retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title. Zeke, doff thy name, and for that name, which is no part of thee, take all myself." I'm sorry about that…I randomly memorize Shakespeare, and then rattle it off at random times. I hope I got the wording all right; it's been awhile since I last recited it…

Mikau: Well this fic is ending nicely. I do believe that I only have two or so chapters left in me. I will miss you all when it's over. I'll try to update more often, but I'm also working on Ivy at the same time, so I'm proud to say, I'm learning how to successfully juggle.

PLEASE REVIEW!