Slightly AU (fic is based loosely on the series, does not quite follow main storyline i.e. Yoh becoming Shaman King, mainly makes use of setting)

Author's Note/s: This chapter is dedicated to the strawberry ice cream that I had in Shangri La during Mother's day. I had about six servings of it . . . and I would've had more had we not left so early. ToT

Disclaimer's Note/s: Don't own the characters, but I do own the fictional strawberry ice cream. Drool with me, people!

Through the Ages

Age 14: Discussions and Strawberry Ice Cream

Fourteen-year-old Kyouyama Anna settled herself on the floor, and switched on the small television situated in one corner of the room. The Wedding March blasted, unbidden, in full volume, and had her momentarily stunned, clutching her ears. It was only when her head stopped pounding that she looked up to find her savior – a sweat-drenched brunette fresh from his training routine – leaning back from the screen.

"You really shouldn't turn the volume up so high, Anna," fourteen-year-old Asakura Yoh told her, grinning, as he headed for the refrigerator on the other side of the room. "Our neighbors might sue us for disturbing the peace or something."

Anna glared at his back before returning her eyes to the television. "For your information, Yoh, it was probably that blue-headed idiot (1) – NOT me – who did this. I swear, if I see him in this house one more time, I'll have him thrown into a pit, and buried alive." She hated freeloaders more than anything.

And I'd like to see anyone try to sue me she glowered to herself. They'll regret ever being born.

On the glowing screen, a woman in a scandalously pink wedding gown was walking down the aisle, her wavy yellow hair scattered all over her shoulders, her long eyelashes fluttering. Memory stirred at the back of Anna's mind.

This seems familiar . . .

The blonde wrinkled her brow, forgetting the thought. "Her dress clashes with the flooring," she muttered, eying the pink gown and the bright red carpet with distaste.

Suddenly, the smell of sweat and strawberries assailed her nose. "Oh? Since when did you become a color expert?" Yoh dropped down beside her, a small can of ice cream in one hand, and two spoons in the other. "Want some?" He shook the can. "It's strawberry."

She rejected his offer, and pointed to the screen. "It doesn't take a color expert to see that that woman and whoever planned her wedding have no taste whatsoever," she said flatly.

Yoh glanced at the wedding scene, digging a spoon directly into the ice cream container, and turned back to Anna. "Does it matter?"

Anna rolled her eyes. "Of course it does, Yoh. Wedding are one of the most important events in a couple's life. Weddings signify a couple's willingness to stay together for the rest of their life spans. Weddings are special, so, therefore, they must be perfect."

The dark-haired shaman spooned some strawberry ice cream into his mouth, his expression thoughtful. "Buh wha ih (2)" – he swallowed down the dessert – "the wedding's not perfect?"

He says the strangest things . . . She raised an eyebrow. "Not perfect how?"

Yoh pressed the spoon to his mouth a moment, then proceeded to re-attack the ice cream. "Like, say, the rings get lost, or the groom trips on the bride's gown on their way out." He grunted with effort as he struggled to get a decent spoonful of the frozen delicacy. "Will the wedding be ruined by those sorts of things?"

"Of course not," Anna huffed, realizing that he'd won one over her. "The rings can always be replaced, and the couple won't be any less happier if something embarrassing happens." But I still don't like the color of her gown . . . She thought, refusing to accept it.

"Ah . . . Hey, didn't we see this show before, back then when we were living with Jiichan and Baachan?" Yoh stared at the screen, hard, sticking the spoon of strawberry sweetness into his mouth.

Huh? He didn't notice . . . ?

"Yagh! Uhm pohibib nao! (3)" – a loud swallow – "I remember seeing that couple walking down the aisle together towards the end! Eww . . . I never knew it was this sappy. Why d'you watch these things?"

Yep. Didn't notice at all.

Anna didn't know whether to be relieved or exasperated that her future husband's attention span was so short.

"Ugh! They practically jumped on each other! What's the big deal, anyway? The man only said to 'Kiss the bride,' and they're going all out like the world's about to end!"

She sighed inwardly. I suppose that it's better this way . . .

"Yoh?"

"When are they going to stop? It's been two minutes now!"

". . . Yoh."

"Yeah, yeah, wait a sec. I'm timing this . . . Aw, three minutes!" Yoh made a gagging noise.

Anna didn't like being ignored for a television show. She slammed her fist into the side of her fiancée's face, and folded her arms. "Who's hooked now?"

"Itai . . . Anna, that hurt," Yoh sobbed, rubbing his red cheek. He turned mournful, brown puppy dog eyes on her. "You usually say my name a third time before you punch me. I only counted two!"

. . . What does that have to do with anything!

A vein near her temple throbbed dangerously. "Yoh no baka. If you KNEW you were going to be punched, why didn't you stop?"

The shaman stopped rubbing his cheek, and stared at her, eyes wide. "Eh? I never thought of that . . ."

Anna wanted to slam her head on the floor. Repeatedly.

"But now that you mentioned it . . ." Yoh grinned at her, and his tone suddenly changed into something like fondness, "I think it's because it's fun to see you all flustered."

What . . . ? She stared.

The idiot was just smiling again. He always smiled, sometimes for no reason at all. She thought that it made him look like an airhead, but now that he was smiling because of her . . . for her . . . She hurriedly willed away the warmth that threatened to spread across her cheeks. He was teasing her, but the tone of his voice back there . . .

She looked away and pretended to focus her attention on the fairytale couple on the TV, who were currently parading down the aisle amidst much cheering and shouting.

"Don't you have some grocery shopping to do?" she asked, cool and composed. "I gave you the list this morning."

"Groceries? Ah . . ." he scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "I was going to get them later."

"Get them now."

"Aww . . . but Anna –"

"Do you want me to make dinner, or not?"

"What?" The boy didn't bother to hide his surprise. "You're cooking tonight?"

"You have a problem with that?" the itako asked listlessly.

"Well . . . no, but . . ." he chuckled, "You hardly ever cook. What's the occasion?"

"Does there have to be one?" She tore her eyes away from the screen to look at him impassively. "If you don't want me to cook then say so, and stop bothering me." There was no missing the threat in her tone.

He backed away, grinning nervously. "No! You can cook, Anna! By all means!"

"Then," she lifted herself on one knee, and leaned her face in close to his, "get the food or it's two hundred push-ups and no breakfast for you."

"Ehe," Yoh sweatdropped, "I'm going – honest!" He stood up to leave, then paused. "Ah, and Anna, I left the ice cream there in case you change your mind about wanting some. It's really good!"

She glared at him.

He winced, gave a small wave, and a "Ja! I'm going now!" And was gone in a thrice.

I don't know what'd happen to that idiot if I were not here to keep him in line. Honestly . . . Anna stretched a bit before lying down on the floor. She frowned in annoyance when she saw that the cast and credits began appearing from the bottom of the screen. Made me miss my show . . .

"I'll make him buy me a cake tomorrow, and I won't give him any," she muttered. Her eyes strayed to the little can of dessert not far away from her grasp. She reached over, and brought it closer to her.

What's so good about ice cream, anyway?

She popped the lid open, and examined the can's pink contents. Then, taking the extra spoon Yoh'd brought, she experimentally dug it inside. The ice cream had softened so it was relatively easy for her to get a decent spoonful. When she put the spoon into her mouth, she couldn't help but make a small noise of approval. It really was good.

Did I say cake? she thought, a small, smug smile forming on her usually stoic face, I meant strawberry ice cream. I'll have him buy a whole can, and eat it myself. In front of him. That'll teach him.

Nobody teases Kyouyama Anna and gets away with it. No one. . .

But then . . . She was letting him off pretty easy, though she didn't want to admit it.

End

(1) By 'blue-headed idiot', Anna is referring to Boro-boro– Ah, I mean, Horo-horo.
(2) "Buh wha ih" : "But what if."
(3) "Yagh! Uhm pohibib nao!" : "Yeah! I'm positive now!"

Author's Note/s: The ending was rather abrupt in my opinion. Oh well. I encourage all you people to REVIEW and gush on and on about that wonderful topic that is strawberry ice cream and how even it has that magical power to bring two people together. Man, love is messed up.