Ch 9. Spring Magnolia, Summer Wedding

The passage of time had brought an end to the cherry blossoms, leaving only the remnants of pale pink petals to carpet the ground. Plum blossoms lingered, decorating the side of the mountain with its darker shade of rose. Anna chose their sakura-viewing spot beneath the largest arbor. With each breeze, petals showered down, landing on her neatly plaited hair, which divided into two braids. She wore them with a touch of child-like innocence. In contrast, vast experience and knowledge pooled in her dark eyes. She was Asakura Anna, a great itako, wife of the Shaman King, and now a first time mother.

The Shaman King inhaled the air with gusto; it left a tang in his mouth. The smell of plum blossoms faded beneath the ripe scent of distant magnolias. There was something about that fragrance that he couldn't quite put his finger on. It didn't have a signature aroma; it seemed to always be imitating something else. Sometimes it emulated the fullness of a rose or the juiciness of a ripened peach, but it never had its own distinct smell that Yoh could recall.

He looked down at his wife who was also doing her best to absorb the entire surroundings. Her usually calm eyes were now spanning the landscape vigorously, processing all the sensations that flooded their minds.

Their son, Hana, was cradled in the sea of Anna's teal blue kimono, surrounded by the small saffron prints. He slept peacefully, dreaming whatever babies dreamt about. A petal fell, softly landing on his plump cheek. Anna noticed this and lightly brushed it off. The small disturbance stirred their son, and he opened his eyes, giving out a gentle yawn in the process. He briefly met his mother's gaze, and as if satisfied by that, he closed his eyelids once again and returned to his slumber.

His father smiled. "It's another nice day, Anna."

"Hmmm."

"I wouldn't mind spending the rest of my life doing this."

"But we have an onsen to run."

"There's always time to do this too."

"I suppose." Hana shifted in her arms. "Instead of chasing after shaman dreams, Hana will be running a business. It's going to be a normal life, isn't it?"

"I wonder." Yoh lay on his back next to Anna, pillowing the back of his head with his folded arms. The massive plum tree hovered over them; sunlight peered through the empty spaces between the leaves, creating an incandescent dance as it shimmered. He added in his afterthought, "However he lives his life, I can only hope that he does it happily."

"I'll probably die a virgin at this rate!" wailed the drunken Ainu. "I can't find a girlfriend!"

"Onii-chan, you're gonna wake up with a COLOSSAL headache!" Pirika tried to pry her brother's fingers from the wine bottle, but he clutched it too tightly.

"Hey, let him be. He'll have to learn his lesson the hard way," Ren asserted matter-of-factly to his new bride.

Pirika let out an exasperated sigh. "Onii-chan, you're such an idiot," she muttered underneath her breath. "Ren, shouldn't we do something?"

"What do you want me to do? Jab him with my glaive?"

She let out another exasperated sigh, this time directed at her groom. "WITHOUT resorting to violence, AN--NAT—TA."

Blushing fervidly, Ren looked around to make sure no one noticed. He loathed her use of the word, "anata." Ren wouldn't have minded it if she used it for private affection. On the contrary, she armed it threateningly, warning of the possible assault to his carefully guarded pride.

"I should have known better. Marrying you means I'll be marrying your brother too."

"What did you say?"

"What? I'm not saying you're dumb or anything. But marrying you means I have to also deal with your idiotic brother."

Pirika's patience was hanging by the string. "Oh? Is that how it is? Well, it's not too late to get this marriage annulled!"

The Tao temper flared. "Baka! Maybe I will!"

"Then do it!"

"I said MAYBE!"

Ren's attention to Pirika abruptly waned. There was something else more menacing on the rise.

"Jun-chan, you look beautiful. That outfit does fit nicely." Ryu was gawking at the long slit that ran down Jun's snug dress, exposing an alluring thigh and long legs. Ren fumed. It was one idiot after another. He could have mistaken this for an idiot parade rather than a wedding reception.

The perpetrator had gotten on his knees before his sister. "Jun-chan, I like your style. Would you join me in seeking our best pl-------" Before Ryu could finish, numerous chopsticks and forks plunged at him, forming his outline on the wall behind him.

"Kisama! Who said you could get so familiar with my sister?"

Jun flailed her arms desperately, attempting to subside her brother's anger. Things could get ugly.

Now Horo Horo was awake from his stupor. "I said the same thing to you, Ren, but did you listen?"

The mad flush spread on Ren's cheek. "Of course Pirika and I have to get familiar, we just got married today, didn't we?"

Horo Horo abruptly stood up and shook his fists at his former teammate turned brother-in-law. "That's not what I meant. I warned you to stay away from my sister from the beginning, but look at how things turned out!" He took another chug of the alcohol.

"Che! Why are you still complaining? You should be thankful your sister married into a rich family. As if you'd be able to take care of her."

Horo Horo spouted something unintelligible before swaggering to the floor. Pirika gave up and just left him there.

Ren hadn't forgotten about his sister. "Nee-san, you're dressed too provocatively. You'll only attract insects like him!"

"Ren, aren't you taking things a bit too far? What you said to Ryu was rude," admonished his sister.

"Yeah! You did go too far, calling me an insect and all." Tears welled up in Ryu's emotional eyes.

"Quit chirping, you! You're too noisy."

In Anna's arms, Hana cried from all the commotion. A sympathetic Tamao offered to take him home. "Tamao, didn't you want to stay here a little longer?"

"It's okay, Anna-san should stay at the reception longer. Besides," Tamao tilted her head towards Yoh, "I'm sure he'll need your help in getting home." Anna glanced at her husband, who was half falling out of his chair and still grinning under droopy eyelids. She rolled her eyes; he barely sipped a few drops from his wine glass.

"Are you sure Tamao?"

"Yes, Anna-san. It's okay; I'm kind of tired anyway."

"Thank you then." Anna handed Hana over to Tamao.

"Everyone, I'm going back to the onsen now. I will see you guys again sometime." And as an added thought, "Pirika-san, Ren-san, congratulations."

Ren just nodded. Pirika smiled warmly at the apprentice. "Thank you Tamao, for attending our wedding."

Jun gave her the same smile. "See you later, Tamao."

"Tamao, I'll walk with you," proposed Manta.

"But----"

"It's late; you shouldn't go off on your own." Tamao smiled, accepting Manta's offer.

Manta stood up. "Everyone, we are leaving now." Ren, Pirika, Jun, and Anna waved good-bye. The others were too drunk to bid them farewell.

Ren's attention turned to Chocolove who was now trying to balance various cups and plates upon a single chop stick off of his large nose.

"YOU IDIOT! WHO DO YOU THINK HAS TO PAY FOR THEM IF THEY BREAK?"

"I'm glad they didn't take the offer to hold the wedding reception at the onsen. That restaurant was a mess. But then again, it would have been better if they got married in China, because I wouldn't have gone, therefore saving myself from this headache."

"They had lots of good memories in Funbari. That's why they chose to be here. Besides, you were happy to see everyone together again."

"Ohhh? So you think you know me so well now, huh?" Anna was supporting Yoh's weight with her shoulder. WAS. He fell down to the ground with a loud thud when she released him.

"I guess not, because I didn't see that one coming." Yoh smiled at her sheepishly while he rubbed sorely at his bottom.

"Here." Anna gave him her hand again, so he took it.

"Before we head home, can we go that way first?"

Anna agreed without looking at the direction that Yoh indicated. He hadn't let go of her hand yet.

As he led the way, Anna decided she would allow their fingers to be intertwined just a little longer. They walked along a moonlit path, crushing the long grass beneath their feet. Many trees were passed by, but the distance of the moon remained the same. Anna recalled trying to follow the moon as a child. It eluded her then, as it did now. This time was different though, this time she wasn't alone.

A melody of crickets chirping played through the warm summer air.

"I wish I could play the violin. A concert with the crickets would sound really good."

The absurd thought of it made Anna stop and drop his from his.

He wished to have a concert with the crickets. Such a random thing. Only Yoh would feel comfortable spouting something silly like that out loud.

Yoh was puzzled as to why she suddenly ceased to move. He stepped in front her and leaned in, trying to decode the expression on her face. He tilted his head and looked at her sideways.

He was pleasantly surprised when unguarded laughter came from her. It was delicate, quiet, and free from affectation. His surprise was brief. He joined in on her laughter while scratching the back of his head with one of his hands.

They continued walking until they reached the granite monument where Yoh traced the inscription with his fingers. Both kept silent, feeling the summer draft wash over them, carrying the smell of night blooming jasmines.

Looking around, Yoh could see how flowers adorned the other graves while Hao's was bare, making Yoh sad.

"This was all I could find." Anna placed a vine of jasmine across Hao's grave. Yoh hadn't even noticed that she left his side to go pick the white flowers.

"Thanks, Anna."

"Hmmm."

"Despite the differences in our beliefs our methods…"

"He was still your brother and your ancestor."

"So I think it's nice to give him flowers. Somehow I don't think he would mind at all." He placed his hand on the edge of the stone. It felt cool to his touch. "Anna, the meaning of snow assumes a different weight now."

"Ah. It makes you think of Hao's last day."

"In my mind, I can no longer see snow as white and pure. There will always be a little smudge of red----it's not all bad though. That day one life passed, while another was born."

"Hana," Anna said quietly.

"I hope our son will see the world for what it is, with all its beauties and its blemishes. And I hope he accepts those blemishes without letting it mar his entire view."

"Of course, Yoh. He is your son."

"It's starting to get cold now, we should go home."

Anna nodded. She walked ahead of him. Her honey locks sashayed from side to side. "Anna thanks for always understanding me."

She didn't look back. "Well, naturally. Is it so strange for a woman to understand the man she loves?"

His lack of response didn't worry her, but when she failed to hear his footsteps falling behind, she stopped to look back at him. "Yoh, what are you looking at?"

He was staring at her. The gleam in his eyes made her blush, so she turned away--- but not soon enough. His hands caught her wrist as he pulled her mouth to his, kissing her under the moon that bathed the world in a vivid blue light.

Owari

July 7, 2005. Sorry for the delay in updating, but it's finally done! Life's been busy, yet I didn't want to leave this hanging. Not much happened here. Hoped you weren't bored or disappointed. And hopefully this is the right closure for the story. I appreciate any honest feelings. Thanks guys, for reading this. And especially thanks to the people who took the time to review each chapter. Until next time…Cheers!

10/30/05—small cleanup