Author Notes: Wow, that was way more reviews that I ever expected. Thanks everyone!

Thanks: As always, thanks to everyone who had kindly taken the time to review the previous chapters. And of course YOU, for taking more time to read this fic right now. And and… thanks to all the people who added me to their favourite's list/author alerts and being patient! You guys rock!

Fic Notes: A lot of this chapter are based on made-up myths, so be prepared! Very sorry if I happened to use an incorrect word to describe something totally different! It might seem really long and… never-ending in the beginning... and I do apologize for that. I just.. like to explain things in the fic… --;;

Start/Finish: 041104/050204


Midst of Heaven and Hell, Ch. 3

The entire place was covered with floating transparent figures that barely touched the ground. Each one had a face and even semi-defined bodies, but they weren't human. Or were they? The figures passed through nearby objects as they continued to float about.

"…This is the Asakura memorial graveyard. It contains all the bodies and spirits of those to the Asakura ancestry. Sometimes even Kino-sensei and Yohmei-sensei still turn to them for help. Though most of their spirits have already left to the after world, some still remain here on earth to help guide shamans," Tamao spoke softly.

"These are… spirits?" Is this what Yoh had meant before? Anna asked in awe, "This is what they're afraid of?"

Only twice has Anna seen so many in large numbers. She had never known what they were and had never bothered to figure it out. She had thought that they were a part of this world like any other person. How are these floating human-like figures fearful to their own living descendants?

Tamao replied as if she had been trained to answer these types of questions, "Yes. When people physically die, their spirits may remain on earth for a certain reason – a grudge, a regret maybe even to wait for someone beyond the reaches of time. The spirits take on their earthly form and are unseen by normal humans without shaman abilities. There are extremely rare cases where some humans possess none of these abilities and are still able to see spirits.

"Most humans are afraid because if they can't see them, they don't know what dangers they may bring. Spirits cannot physically touch a human just as humans cannot touch or feel spirits. A shaman however, can touch, feel and hear the cries of the spirits just as if they were human."

Anna remained captivated at the sight of the translucent bodies. After years… she finally knew the answers. Finally. But she couldn't be a shaman could she? She didn't remember possess any abilities… or…

"...Wha--What's happening?" the landlord cried.

A hidden memory flashed through her mind. The landlord was on the floor, hurrying towards the wall. It was bright… too bright. What did happen then? What did she do? She couldn't remember. But something made her tired… what was screaming in her mind?

What… was it?

I'll make him pay. For everything.

Anna blinked. A sharp pain suddenly shot through her temple, bringing the young girl instantly to the floor, clutching the side of her head. The pain blinded her vision and tears quickly rolled down her cheek. She could feel her head aching… pounding… screaming. She just wished for anything… anyone that could stop the throbbing headache.

"Anna-sama? Are you okay? What's wrong?" Tamao quickly knelt beside her, one arm clutching the blond-haired girl tightly in case she fell.

"It….. hurts…"

She could see nothing but darkness. Were her eyes closed or open? She couldn't tell… but that didn't matter right now. Just the pain… if only the pain went away…

The last words she heard was Tamao's cry, "Yoh-sama… One of you... get Yoh-sama! Hurry!"

And then the pain was gone… and so was everything else.


Anna's eyes slowly slid open, relieved that her abnormal migraine was gone. It was warm under the sheets and if she didn't have the urge to get some answers as to what had happened, she would have laid there for another while. Taking her time, she sat up, only to face Yoh's worried expression.

"What happened..?"

"Are you okay? You blacked out in the cemetery. Tamao said you had a severe headache… maybe you need more rest. Would you like that? I don't think your current condition is ready for the test tomorrow… maybe I'll talk to obaa-chan."

The young girl's head spun as she slowly absorbed the handful of information, "I'm… fine. I'll get more rest later… and what test tomorrow?"

Yoh bit his lip, "Obaa-chan… might test to see if you really are a shaman tomorrow. But… it might be too much… I'll delay it for a while… okay?"

"No… I'll do it. I want to know… if I'm a shaman too… Please, let me do it. I'll be okay. Don't worry about me…"

"Bu—"

The door immediately slid open, revealing an older woman grasping her cane lightly. She wore dark glasses that Anna was sure, hid her omniscient eyes. The young girl gulped as she could feel the woman's burning gaze.

"Obaa-chan."

"Yoh. Would you mind leaving the room for just a moment? I need to talk to your young friend here," her voice was cold and stern, leaving chills crawling up Anna's spine.

Yoh nodded and threw Anna a hesitating look before he left the room, sliding the door closed. The room filled with silence almost immediately. The young girl grasped the hem of the blanket tight and closed her eyes. Her heart pounded loudly in her chest.

"So your name is Anna… is that correct?"

Nod.

"You don't have to be afraid. Yoh has told me how he met you. He thinks you have what it takes to be an excellent shaman."

Anna felt as if a strong hand gripped her throat, preventing her from speaking. She swallowed hard, not daring to look into the woman's eyes.

"Do you know where are your parents?"

The invisible hand loosened. "I--- I don't know. I was brought up by the landlord…"

"I see," Kino replied, "Since Tamao has brought you to the graveyard, you must have seen them. The spirits of the ancestors of the Asakura family."

"There were many of them… all floating…" Anna replied. After a slow pause, she decided to ask the question that was weighing on her mind, "Do you know why I fainted? And… why my head hurt…?"

The older woman relaxed her grip on her cane, "I have a few speculations. It could have been anything, really. An overdose on the sight of spiritual beings... Over usage of mental power… Or.. A bitter memory remembered where an excess of spiritual energy was used and lost."

The young girl was awed by how quick a solution was formed in her mind in mere seconds.

"In order to avoid those headaches, you must learn how to control your power and use only what you can at the time."

"How do I learn?" Anna instantly replied, urgency hinted in her voice.

Kino smiled, "Complete and pass the test I shall prepare for you tomorrow. And then once I take you in as my disciple, then I shall teach you the ways of a shaman. Or rather… an itako." She turned towards the door.

Anna opened her mouth to ask what an itako was when Kino answered, "You will learn everything you need to know tomorrow. In the meanwhile, come down and have dinner with us. After, rest well and recuperate your energy. You will certainly need it tomorrow."


The moon hung in the sky, complimenting the dark night sky that almost seemed surreal. Stars shone their timid gleam, spread out almost like the sparkles all over a first-grader's artwork. Not a cloud in sight was seen coming to disrupt the view.

From a distance from the back porch, voices could be heard coming from inside. Even though they were inaudible, one could easily tell that there was two participates: a worried boy who was trying to desperately persuade a girl to see his reasons.

"I'll be fine. I don't see anything to worry about," the blond-haired girl replied with a sigh. Although she was somewhat tired of reassuring Yoh that there wasn't anything to fear, she couldn't suppress two other feelings that seemed to beat along with her heart. Gladness, that for once, there was someone in the world that cared about her well-being.. and of course the feeling of fear. Although she was confident that it wouldn't be too difficult, she still had doubts on whether she actually was gifted enough to pass.

"You don't know my grandmother!" Yoh protested, "Her trainings and tests are… painful! And you can't fail them or else… there's more pain?"

Anna smiled subtly, "I want to take this test because I want to be as strong as you are… I want to see if I'm a shaman and if I have what it takes to be as strong as what I've been hearing… You can bug me all you want, but I will take the test tomorrow."

"Then you should rest like it's your last…" Yoh sighed. He shrugged his shoulders as he continued, "Since I can't do anything… why don't I walk you to your room?"

The young girl nodded, heading off along the wooden pathway towards her room, "Thank you. Thank you for everything. For bringing me here, for believing in me, for dinner, for a roof, for… everything."

Yoh grinned as he followed her, "It's nothing. But try your hardest to pass the test tomorrow and we're even."

"By the sounds of that, you seem like I'll fail for sure."

"No… but… you'll see. Tomorrow." Yoh stopped in front of Anna's room. He gave her a quick anxious look for a split second before he hid it with a look of glee. "Think you'll be alright here? I could always sleep in your room for a while… until you're used to sleeping alone."

"I'm fine," Anna reassured him once again, "I've always slept alone befo—"

'Fozzie.'

She froze as she thought of her little friend. Alone. Scared, even. He was always there for her when she needed him… But now.. he was 8 hours away and impossible to rescue. How could she have forgotten her once and only friend in the world? She had held onto him for comfort and for strength all those years back, and now she has done the opposite to him… the worst kind of abuse an owner could do … abandonment. After she had been discarded just like that from her parents and after Fozzie had been thrown away by his owner… Now it was happening again to him. By her. The one who would know… the one who should know... how painful it is the most…

She turned away and closed her eyes as she tried to hold down the cries in her aching heart. How could she do this to him…

"Anna.. what's wrong?" Yoh looked at her with concerned eyes.

'I can't abandon him. He's already been abandoned once… But…'

Anna bit her lip, willing herself not to cry. Her vision became slightly blurred. If only she could turn back time… and take Fozzie with her…

"Anna!"

She slid slowly to the ground, huddling in front of her door, "I left him behind."

Yoh's heart raced, "Who..?"

"Fozzie."

"Fozzie?"

"My… stuffed… bear."

"Ehh?" his heart relaxed, somewhat relieved that it wasn't a very serious situation.

"He's important to me. And I've left him behind! How could I do something so stupid! He's been ditched by his own family.. and now.. again… I'm the one… I'm… that person…"

Anna quickly brushed away her falling tears. She couldn't be seen crying… But… Fozzie wasn't here..

Yoh placed his hands on her shoulders, "It'll be fine. Okay? Everything will work out in the end… I promise."

"But Fozzie is still back with the landlord… he could have… tossed it out.. or… or… what if he burnt him!"

The boy pulled her up, holding her arms tightly, "Fozzie is okay. I'm sure of it. But for now… you have to get some rest. You have a test tomorrow."

The rock that sat on top of her chest moved slightly. He was right. She knew it. But she couldn't let go… Even if it was just a bear… it was still her friend.

...And friends don't abandon friends. No matter what the circumstances may be.

But… the circumstances were impossible in this situation. She couldn't go back… especially if she was seen. She didn't want to think of what would happen the next time if she were to meet up with the landlord. Then again, she didn't want to think of what would happen to Fozzie if he were abandoned by her.

'Maybe he'll find a new owner. A better one… way better than me. And who'll love him… and won't abandon him. I can't be his owner anymore… not after what I just did.'

Yoh pulled the door open and walked closely by her side. "Do you want me to sleep here tonight?"

Anna shook her head, "I'll.. be okay."

"You sure? Are you really really sure?"

She nodded, dragging her body to her futon and rolling under the covers. Yoh watched her for a moment before closing the door with a soft click.

The girl whispered, "Goodbye, Fozzie. May a new owner find you and take care of you better than I did."


Yoh closed his closet door, holding out the object he was searching for. Covered in dust, tape and bandages, his alarm clock was still in decent condition... to an extent.

He spun the arms of the clock to 6:30 in the morning before tossing it aside.

"Should be enough time," the boy spoke as he pulled the blanket over himself. He hummed silently before his final mumble of the night, "Oi.. Amidamaru… rest well… We have another big day ahead of us. A rescue mission!"


-(TBC)-

Okay, that chapter was probably a huge let down --;; I promise WAAAAY more things will happen in the next chapter. Like Anna's test, and Yoh's mission. But nonetheless, you can now review and criticize me --