Author's Note: Thanks to the following people for reviewing! bOw-doWn-tO-KeiKO, Hannah, Hyper-Shaman-Girl, Keeper of Yoh, kerei-kun, lilc, Nakashima-Michiyo, Rays number gurl, sakura-star69, X37
A lot of people asked about the couple: Tell you the truth, I haven't decided on the coupling yet. But chances are, it'll probably be YohXAnna or HaoXAnna. I guess I'll take a vote or do alternative endings if I end up undecided.
Also, I won't be following the book (Fourplay) completely, so the ending and events might be different (or else the coupling might turn out really...uncommon). I'm glad some of you were curious enough to pick up the book! It's truly inspirational.
On a side note: Wow, what an unexpected reaction to Yoh. Guess I'll have to make him redeem himself later on.
Anna's kind of OOC in part of this chapter. And Jeanne's not as soft spoken (as you've seen throughout the past chapters).
Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King or any of the characters, etc. Hiroyuki Takei does. The storyline is based on a novel, Fourplay by Jane Moore.
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Chapter III
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A mirror tells no lies: at least the mirror in Snow White didn't. That nasty queen would ask a question, and it would spout out an answer without thinking. The truth, simply the truth and nothing more. But that was a fairytale, and this was life.
It had only been two hours since Jeanne left, and three hours since she woke up alone in bed that morning for the first time. In fact, it triggered a series of events that were foreign to her until now; make-up for one.
Anna took one last glance at her reflection, critiquing, smoothing out any wrinkles on her cotton white blouse and running her hands nervously down her low-rise jeans, feeling the warm fabric over her skin. The woman who stared back at her was a brand new being, reborn. The dark bags under her eyes had completely disappeared, thanks to ever-reliable cover-up. She was never a fan of make-up – always believing it hid a person's inner beauty. However, there was always a point in someone's life where they were willing to take a chance, and she had to admit, the nude cosmetics did wonders for her complexion: not too flashy, not too dull.
Finally satisfied, Anna put on her trademark red bandana and was off.
As she made her way outside, Anna locked the door behind her. They had two cars, one was Yoh's (currently missing: no surprises there) and the other her own, a silver Ferrari. Only the best for Anna, though she never drove it. Why pollute the air when you could walk?
Against her will, Anna felt the cold stab of jealousy pierce her heart, soon to be replaced by sorrow.
Being the good-mannered man he was, Yoh had always opened the car door for her whenever they would go out together. As she pushed the unwanted feelings away, Anna realized this was another first: the first time she actually opened the door for herself and climbed into the driver's seat.
She hoped her driving skills weren't rusty; it had been a while since she'd last gripped the wheel. Wouldn't it be unfortunate to die in a car crash, single, alone?
Her grip tightened. No, it wouldn't happen that way. Anna Kyouyama would make sure of that, as she drove towards her destination.
This was also the first time she went to the enemy for help.
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TR Incorporated was a company not-too-different from the Asakura Association. For that reason, the two elite companies were rivals, always trying to one-up each other. Whether it was the stock market, their associates, their employees, or even a bet on who would win the local "All-You-Can-Eat Buffalo Wings" competition, they were at each others' necks.
Anna knew this, and decided to use it to her advantage.
"What is an Asakura doing in my office in the middle of the day?" asked the man, his voice dripping with disdain. He was obviously displeased at having the adversary – or at least their family - so closeby.
"12:00 PM would be mid-day. It's 2:00 PM now, which is officially the afternoon."
"Are you here to readjust my clocks? Spit it out, woman."
"I've come with a business proposition," Anna replied smoothly. She'd rehearsed.
"Tch, in that case you can let yourself out. Our goal is to crush your company, not mingle and get chummy."
The blonde was unfazed, and simply shifted into a more comfortable position in her seat. Golden eyes surveyed her every movement.
"You call me the enemy. Are you aware I am no longer the wife of an Asakura?"
A finely-trimmed eyebrow shot up. This was clearly fresh news. "Go on."
"Yoh cheated on me with his secretary."
"Oh please, I'm in no mood for girly talk and cooing and offering comfort... but while we're on the subject, since when? I never pegged Yoh as an affairs man."
"This morning. I want him back, and you're going to help me."
"Stop spouting nonsense, woman! Why should I help you? And how could I possibly help anyway?"
"This benefits you, as well as me. I can give you details on every private matter involving the Asakura Association. I helped Yoh run the company for a while, after all. All you have to do is hire me as your secretary."
The man grinned, catching on to her plan.
"Lucky for you my current secretary is useless. You're hired Asakura. Just don't do anything funny."
"Kyouyama," Anna corrected, "It was nice doing business with you, Tao."
"Ren. You can call me Ren," the man stated.
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It was hardly more than a week later, but gossip had already spread like a wildfire.
Rumors went around about the two; Ren and Anna that was. They always ate lunch together, in a company-funded restaurant. They were always deep in conversation. No one knew what they were talking about, but the Tao grinned constantly, and Anna looked pleased.
Plotting. They were, in fact, plotting. Well, actually, Anna was plotting. Ren was asking for details concerning Asakura trades. She gave him information, but only enough to please him, not going overboard as to ruin her ex-husband's company.
Regardless, from the looks of things, and the talk going around, everything was according to plan.
Yoh must've heard about it. He was the boss of the opposing company.
But he didn't mention anything of it.
On this Friday morning, here they were, together for the first time in quite a while, but not exactly on good terms. Ren had given her the day off, seeing as he would be away on a business trip for the next three days. After Anna took Hana to the daycare, she came home to find Yoh waiting for her on the porch. He still had the cheerful, laidback look about him. She hoped she looked presentable.
She was hoping he'd bring up the Ren subject, finally coming around and realizing she was the one who belonged with him. Or at least comment on how she was being a conniving little skank, by having a secretary-boss relationship (like he was) to get on his nerves.
Instead, he said nothing of the subject.
What upset her even more was what Yoh had really come to see her about. From the pocket of his coat, he produced a few papers.
Divorce papers.
It took all Anna had to stop the tears from spilling forth again. She wouldn't cry, not again, and especially not for him.
"So this is really happening," she spoke wistfully.
"I'm sorry, it wasn't meant to be."
"And what about Hana? Haven't you thought about our son?"
"What about Hana? Think about it, Anna. Take him out of the picture."
She gasped, the question repeating over and over again in her head. 'What about Hana?'
To her, their equation was simple. Yoh and Anna and Hana equals Family equals Love.
But to take Hana out?
Yoh and Anna equals ...Family equals ...Love?
It was like adding simple arithmetic. 2 plus 2 plus 1 equals 5. However, if you don't include the 1, it doesn't all add up. Yoh and Anna... doesn't equal love.
Quietly, Anna signed the papers. If not for Hana, would they have stayed together so long?
It was good to know Yoh still cared about their son. It hurt to know he only stayed with her because of their son. They had been living two separate realities.
Her in a world of perfection, a painting of a successful family built on a foundation of love, caring, and honesty.
Him in a world being held together only by one boy, a son, built on a foundation of duty.
Except her reality was only a dream, and his reality was fact, because he chose to make it fact.
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A defeated woman was preparing to wallow in self-pity for the rest of the Saturday afternoon in her room, when a ding-dong disrupted her musings. Grumbling about no-good doorbells and the many ways she could destroy one, she dragged herself over to the front door.
"Anna?"
Now this was a surprise. Not Jeanne, not Yoh, not even Ren was standing before her. It was...
"Lyserg?"
"Ah, good to know you still remember my face."
"I'm not brain damaged or blind, of course I remember. You look well."
A slight laugh erupted from his mouth, "Yes, but I can't say the same for you. I heard what happened from Jeanne. Can I come in?"
She nodded, and led him into the dining room.
"Would you like something to drink? Tea?"
"Yes, tea would be nice. How are things going?"
"It's alright. I'm over it. How've you and Jeanne been doing?"
"I think tonight's the night."
Even without looking at him, Anna knew the green-haired boy was blushing. She smiled to herself as she served up some warm green tea. Lyserg Diethyl and Jeanne had been going steady for the past two years. She would know; she'd been introduced to him the day Jeanne picked him up at the police office when she was retrieving her lost cat who'd fallen out of her window and run away. Lyserg had found it, returned it, and it was love at first sight. Anna wondered if Jeanne gave thanks each day for her cat as she prayed to the Good Lord. It was about time the two tied the knot!
"Jeanne Deithyl, it has a nice ring to it, does it not?" she asked, teasingly.
Lyserg was such a kind boy, and Jeanne such a sweet, righteous girl. They really deserved one another.
He smiled in response, and agreed whole-heartedly. After a little catching up and small talk, Anna felt her earlier despair fading away.
"Thanks Lyserg, I really appreciate it."
"I was happy to do this Anna. You should know Jeanne's really worried about you, and so am I. And plus, I haven't talked to you and Yoh in a long time, it's good to know what's going on."
"I'll keep you updated, or at least Jeanne will."
"Alright, hope everything works out. I've got to go buy the wedding ring! See you around."
"Good luck!"
"You too."
'I'll need it,' Anna thought to herself as she walked Lyserg out.
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The clock struck noon just as the phone rang, slicing through the silence like a knife through butter. It was enough noise to give her a permanent migraine. She had to stop one of them from emitting sound, and dove for the phone.
"Hel-?"
"Anna! What's this about you and Ren? You already found yourself another suitor?" a voice asked in a rush, before she could even finish her greeting phrase. Instantly knowing who was on the other line.
"Hello to you too, Jeanne. No no, he's just a guinea pig. I'm looking for a 'fish,' remember?" Anna replied calmly, throwing her analogy of "There are plenty of fish in the sea" right back at her.
"I thought you were looking for a man," her best friend joked good-naturedly.
"You know what I mean."
"Indeed. You really need to get out and have a good time for once. I know! Find Hana a babysitter, then come with Lyserg and me to dinner tonight. He's taking me to De L'Amour."
Recalling her earlier conversation with Lyserg, Anna remembered he was planning to pop the big question that night. Anna knew he would want some privacy.
"It's a really romantic restaurant. I'm sure you two will want to be alone."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I was planning to go out tonight anyway. A bar maybe."
"Alright, go snag a hot one!"
Anna smiled, though Jeanne could not see, before bidding her goodbye. In truth, she had no clue what to do that night, but her friend had a point. She was like a bird, cooped up in a cage. It was time to spread her wings and fly.
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Before she knew it, 8:40 PM had already rolled around, not that time really mattered much anyway.
She'd decided to go to the bar as she said, actually. And she did find Hana a babysitter for the night. A few drinks would be nice; to forget Yoh, to forget love, to forget life.
Anna cruised down the street in her Ferrari, letting her thoughts just drift away. Her mind was blank, and for the first time in a while, she felt calm and free.
At the same time, her eyelids grew heavier and heavier by the second.
She vaguely recalled the traffic light turning red. And suddenly, the honking of a car horn disturbed her mindless state, before her world became cloaked black.
Anna Kyouyama never made it to the bar.
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to be continued
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A/N: What happened to Anna? That and a new bachelor in the next chapter!
Also, I've decided not to do a Hao vs. Lyserg thing. It would get far too complicated.