Author's Note: I know, I know: it took long enough. Didn't realize how horribly school and fanfics clashed – until now, of course – but now I'm back in the whole writing swing blah. I had to read back to jog my memory (almost forgot where I was going with this fic, God forbid), but hopefully I'm back on track. Please excuse any technicalities and/or grammar mistakes, I'm a fair bit rusty.
So anyway, an enormous thank you to my reviewers. Each and every one. Your encouragement is what motivated me to continue this story, as well as my many others. Therefore, without further delay, on with Chapter 7!
Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King.
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CHAPTER VII
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The air stung with a heavy tension. Anna could hear her own breath through the thick, awkward silence, her chest heaving slowly with each cautious exhale.
If ever there was a time Anna Kyouyama was at complete loss for words or in a state of irrepressible shock – or both – this was it. She could no sooner tear her gaze from his than form a coherent response. It seemed for a moment that time had frozen altogether. Anna was sure if she knocked over the glass of water on his desk, the liquid contained within its glass perimeter would not pour out. It was trapped, just as she felt.
"I shouldn't have told you that," Hao said finally, after what felt like an eternity, and then some. A sheepish smile graced his fair features, but his eyes never left hers.
"Can't exactly turn back time," she managed to force out, her voice void of that characteristic sting that it was known for.
Her companion seemed thoughtful for a bit, breaking away from what seemed to be a staring contest and blinking for the first time that afternoon.
"If we could…"
"We can't," she cut him off abruptly. Her eyes had found another object to focus on, in order to avoid his penetrating orbs. Somehow, she knew exactly what he was going to say, what he was about to ask. It was a question that had begun to formulate in her own mind as well, though she was not prepared to face. She didn't know the answer. She didn't want to. At least, not yet.
"Right. Well," here Hao coughed, stalling for a second or two, "…since your innocent has been proven, you're free to go."
Anna had not realized the object she had been staring at so intently was the door of his office. She imagined she must have given him the impression that her greatest wish at that moment was to be on the other side, away from him. Numbly and with great care, she rose from the seat, mistrusting her own limbs. It felt as if her legs would collapse beneath her at any moment.
Taking a deep breath as she twisted the doorknob, Anna tried to regain at least a minor level of the previous familiarity and normalcy that had previously occupied the air of the room. She tilted her head in his direction.
"I'll… see you around."
And she was gone, just like that.
Hao was slightly surprised. He had not been expecting that – well, he hadn't exactly been expecting her to come waltzing into his store and 'robbing' him either, but that's beside the point. Quite on the contrary, after her brusque cutoff of his question earlier, he half-anticipated she would distance herself from him completely.
He thanked his lucky stars – something he didn't find himself doing very often – that this was not the case, as relief washed over him temporarily. The small flame of hope he had been cradling remained alight, though just barely, for, to her, he was only still a measly brother-in-law. Better make that, ex-brother-in-law.
In many ways, Hao was like a candle, flickering through a night's storm, waiting for it to pass. Patiently awaiting the moment the sun would shower its rays upon it, and bring him reprieve at long last. This was indeed a calm. The storm had passed, but night was still upon them.
"If we could… turn back time… would you have chosen me?"
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'As if I don't have enough problems as it is,' Anna mumbled near-bitterly to herself, upon exiting the large compound.
She sighed, turning her gaze upon the darkening blue sky, as it began to fill with a myriad of colors. A great deal of time had passed. At least the sun was setting. This day was finally over. Feeling well overdue for a self-treat, Anna resolved to drag herself to the closest food stand and purchased a large hot fudge sundae. Not her favorite, but it lightened her mood considerably. It even gave her an air of accomplishment, she reasoned, having been forced to beat the vendor senseless until he topped the dessert with the cherry she had so wrongly been robbed of.
'That'll teach him,' Anna praised herself, savoring the smooth texture of her sundae.
Now there was just the issue of Tao's family reunion to deal with… and she had to clear up that whole mess with Horo's wife… oh, and then there was Yoh's twin brother, Hao… and Yoh himself.
Anna sighed, as her many burdens piled upon her again. And not so long ago, she was a not-so-simple-but-rather-luxurious stay-at-home mother. Oh how the winds of change were blowing.
She decided to tackle the easiest task first.
"Pirika, you need to get a job!"
Speak of the devil.
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"But I want to help you with the garden!" pleaded a distinctly-feminine voice. Anna watched as the blue-haired snowboarder she had become acquainted with dragged a younger woman, with similarly-colored tresses as himself, down the crowded street. The blonde imagined they were making a beeline for the "Help Wanted" sign flashing conveniently a block or two down.
'They must be related,' she thought to herself.
"There won't be a garden if we're POOR!" he retorted vehemently.
"We're not poor!"
"We WILL BE!"
Anna decided it was fair time she cut in. And she did so.
HoroHoro could not have seen it coming. But he certainly felt it, a searing pain spreading through his right cheek as Anna's palm made contact with his face.
"THAT HURT!" came the wail, as Horo flailed his arms blindly, hoping to return the blow to his assailant.
The young woman – Pirika, was it? – now freed from Horo's grasp, let out a small cry of "Onii-san!", confirming the blonde's suspicions of their relation, and stared at Anna in panic, preparing to bolt straight for the closest telephone booth… just in case the need should arise.
"I'd hope so," Anna said smoothly, "Now, if you'd kindly stop waving your arms around, people can stop staring. I don't favor the thought of people thinking I associate with a bafoon."
"Who's a bafoon?" Horo replied automatically, before the voice registered in his head, "Kyouyama-san?"
Anna sighed. "Do you honestly need to ask that question?"
Horo nudged his sister to go ahead – he would catch up later. She left the two among the busy street, almost reluctantly at the thought of leaving her brother in the company of a violent hit-woman, though fearing her wrath herself.
"So about your wife," Anna began, "What a downhill lovelife."
"It is… going downhill I mean. Look, you don't understand…," Horo said, in a sort of desperation.
Anna's temper flared. She, of all people, not understand the complications of a failed marriage?
"I think I do," she responded, anger quickly being replaced by sympathy, "And that's why… apology accepted."
"What apology?" the blue-haired snowboarder retorted.
"Men and their egos."
Horo huffed, crossing his arms in front of his chest, "Could say the same about you."
He seemed to let the phrase linger in the air, and instead developed a new fascination with his own two feet, before continuing.
"Tamao-chan's great…," he said at last, "It's me. I'm the one who's not good enough for her."
"Never pegged you as the insecure type," Anna mused, causing Horo to grunt in reply, "But taking out other women isn't going to help you become a better husband."
He looked at her with an exasperated expression, "Knew you wouldn't be the type to comfort me."
"No, I'm enjoying your misery."
Anna smiled despite herself. There was no anger. There was no guilt. It ended just as it began: an innocent mistake.
"So, she's your sister."
She gestured towards Pirika, who had made her way to the "Help Wanted" sign without too much difficulty.
"Yeah. Told you my blue hair was natural!"
"Indeed. And she's seeking employment, correct?"
Her tone was coated with the air of an experienced businesswoman, stony expression settling comfortably upon her face.
"Was I screaming that loud?"
Ever the blunt one, Anna replied with a simple, "Yes." As if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Well, are you just going to stand there insulting me all day?" Horo countered, mentally soothing his already bruised and battered self-esteem.
"She can have mine."
Horo's brow raised, "Wouldn't that make you unemployed?"
Anna, having thought ahead, agreed readily, "Of course. But I have my way around these things."
She found her gaze drifting of their own accord to the building she'd just exited, its shadow looming upon the street and its pedestrians.
"So, how does she like China?"
Anna framed the expression of pure, eye-bulging horror Horo gave her in her personal Hall of Glory, as he protested furiously. The thought of his sister traveling to another country during her first job did not settle with him well. However, Anna continued to inform him of the details of the occupation offer, after assurance from that Pirika would be safe and return completely unharmed. In truth, completely meant 99.9 percent, as all knowledgeable business women knew.
'Tao… you wanted a nice girl. I got you one.'
------ to be continued -------
Author's Note: I tried for a more vulnerable Hao in this chapter... a timid Pirika... violent-as-usual Anna of course. And Horo's just there for plot purposes! I'll elaborate on his and Tamao's marriage later of course, if you guys would like that. Hopefully the next update will come much sooner, and pick this story up a great deal. I hope you're all not too disappointed in this chapter.