Notes: Hao's face won't get out of my mind, Ra-dammit. Okay, off with that. I'll acknowledge my silent inspiration – oh please, classmates, anyone you know? – who, well, kinda, been a nice energy booster (along with a cup of coffee laced with choco). REWRITTEN CHAPTER
Disclaimer: Look at the previous chapter if you really want to find a way to get me sued.
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GIFT
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By: Mai
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Chapter One: Mommy
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The onsen was rather still – or the ghosts were – as all the occupants of the onsen were all huddled together at the living room as they all watched the couple with the new addition of the house. When Yoh found the wailing baby, he managed to hushed the little one. Although Anna found it quite unbelievable, Yoh has this rather cool nature that could calm even the wildest of the beasts, or make them laugh for that matter.
Yoh was able to create a makeshift crib from what he can gather from pieces of safe, smooth plywood he hauled from the backyard. To somewhat safeguard the sleeping baby from the sharp edges of the crib, they placed a thick quilt over the wood. The deal that the baby was probably half a year old made it difficult for the both of them, as it might recognize them as strangers and would probably cry out to his mom.
But what surprised both of them was that it responded to Yoh's comfort and lullaby. At six months, the baby can see and identify objects and voice out his wants. Most babies in this stage would get annoyed at strangers, as what Anna learned from one mother spirit in the onsen.
'I guess this baby's a little different from the others.' Her logical part reasoned.
Yoh yawned as he stared the little baby, then at his fiancée, whose gaze is still locked on the 'gift of the stork'. "So, what do you think happened to this one?" he asked in a voice lower than usual to keep the baby from waking up. His confusion to why would the mother left this at their doorstep was one thing, and why would a mother leave such a cute baby to strangers?
"Isn't it obvious? The mother left the baby in our care." Anna replied in the same degree of voice. If she were the mother of that baby, she would never left it to strangers, even if she would suffer. But that is one big 'if'.
"But why?"
Anna sighed, and looked at her fiancé with irritation written on her face. "Yoh, I'm not his mom. Why ask me? She has all the answers, not me."
Yoh just pouted and rested his head on his palm. She just resisted the urge to smile at the scene he was making and opted to shook her head. He was making the baby older than he is. Just like Yoh to do those things to lighten the situation.
After a while, the spirits went back to where they were residing and Anna continued her silent vigil while Yoh returned to his training. That was when the baby opened his eyes and realized that he wasn't where he was earlier.
Instead of calling Yoh out of his scheduled tasks, Anna took the baby in her arms before he could start to cry again and disrupt her fiancé from what he was doing. The baby looked at her for a moment and started to reach out for her face, his face wreathed in smiles. "Mama!"
Instant shock and sudden warmth swept through her at the same time. 'How was that possible?' She bit her lip and sat down, supporting the baby with one arm while the other arm took hold of the tiny hands reaching out to her. So many explanations ran through her head, but none of them seem to fit the puzzle that is the baby. But there is still the strange, comfortable warmth of the kid calling her mom. It was strange, yet………natural. A small smile escaped the once-emotionless itako.
The baby laughed as soon as he saw the smile and wriggled his hands free before he took hold of her blue itako beads – not the 1080, though. That one was destroyed in their attempt to seal Hao. Anna blinked, and took off her beads so that it won't broke. The baby's eyes widened, and happily placed the beads in his mouth – good thing the beads are bigger than his mouth. No words could express what the itako was feeling as she stared at the baby with a look that only one mother could give to her child.
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Yoh had finished his training earlier, and as he slowly walked towards the living room – the baby could be still asleep for all he know – the sight that welcomed him was rather extraordinary. Anna Kyouyama, an itako, probably the last person you'll ever see holding a baby, much more with a smile on her face, was there, doing just that. He just stood at the doorway as he stared at the woman he loved, carrying a child………as if it were her own.
Thoughts of that last statement entered his mind, and as soon as he found himself a mental picture of him and Anna having their own children………his face turned into a lovely shade of crimson. Though thoughts like that were normal for fifteen-year-old's, be reminded that he isn't a normal fifteen-year-old. He immediately shook it off, and went back to staring at his fiancée, this time with a grin on his face and a slight tinge of red on his cheeks. Time will only tell that. One day, they'll get married.
But for now, he's contented at what the both of them are doing. It is quite wonderful that Anna would allow herself to take that leap along with him. Ever since the time in Osorezan, he silently moved to bring down the walls the girl he was going to marry placed around her heart. Silent, slow, but sure, he was able to do it. With his smiles, laid-back personality and his tolerating nature. He wanted their union to be because of love, not because they were engaged to be with one another when they were ten.
She wanted to be his queen, and even though the Shaman tournament has not yet been decided, he is more than happy to give her the spot of the Shaman Queen had the fates been good enough.
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After watching the baby play with her beads, Anna felt Yoh's presence that somewhat lingered around the room. She turned around to see the young shaman leaning on the doorpost, a smile on his face, as always. It seems that he was there for quite a while, making her wonder why she wasn't able to sense him there. She went back to the baby, who has her beads in his mouth. The baby stared at her with his big, questioning eyes as he continued to preoccupy himself with the itako beads. After some observation, Anna's gaze returned to her fiancé's.
"Yoh, why don't you go here and take him?"
Yoh, not used to command not request, blinked.
"Well, what are you waiting for?"
He snapped out of it and sprinted to his fiancée's side. Once he made it, the baby looked at him, and immediately, the beads were forgotten and the little one was reaching out for the young shaman. Anna caught the beads before they came in contact with the floor and handed the baby over to Yoh.
He looked at Yoh intently, silent awe written on his face. After, he reached out both his hands to the shaman's face. When he felt Yoh's face, he cooed happily and squeezed his cheeks. "Papa!"
"Eh?" Yoh blinked as the baby continued to pinch his cheeks. He looked at Anna, helpless both at the situation and what the baby had just said. Anna just shrugged, unable to explain what had just happened.
He stared back at the baby, and after confusion, a big smile lit his handsome features. "Well, looks like we need a name for you, huh?"
"Name!"
Yoh chuckled. Since the kid could talk, he's taking his sweet time trying to learn the words. "Yeah, a name! We're gonna have to find you one now, aren't we?"
"Name!"
Anna only stared at them incredulously. Who would've though Yoh would be this good in handling kids? Then again, with that personality, he would've been mistaken for a kid himself. She just watched as Yoh now took her place as the baby sitter. The same person who passed through her rigorous training, had his soul taken by his stronger half, Hao, miraculously awoke and defeated his twin, and that very same laid-back person who is to become her husband in the near future, is carrying a child who is a quarter of his size and talking to him in a language only babies are supposed to understand. Yes, truly, the world has turned upside down.
And it will turn a little more after this………
"Say Anna, why don't we name him Orange?"
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Well, that's the chapter one of this story. To clear up a few things, I'll summarize about it a bit.
One. If I read and heard right, Anna's beads were destroyed………I saw a pic of the last episode, but I can't be too sure. Think you guys can fill me in on this?
Two. I've read my baby record book (I dug it out 'cause I need it for my medical records for college :P) and it said that children at six months can speak a few words and can fit words with things. Babies at this stage would often get annoyed at strangers, meaning they'll only go with those who raised him, most probably the immediate family. What that kid in this story said and did, you think about it. If you think you got the right thing, don't hesitate to mail me. .
Three. I'll probably sign out for a while since I'll be flying north for my enrollment in college. So I might not be able to update for a while. But don't worry, I'm not going to take long for this one.
Well, this is the second chapter and Advanced Happy Mother's day to all moms and soon to be moms!
REWRITTEN.
Quote of the month: "I'm not throwing away my anger. I'm redirecting it." – Ren Tao (Shaman King)