Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King, nor do I own any of the characters from the original manga. Hiroyuki Takei owns Shaman King. Not me. Him. It's a very simple concept. I own myself and all of my characters. That including Sofia and Hana Horutari. I own the rights and plot to this fanfic so bleh.

Author's Note: I had to change some of the argument with Sofia and Yoh a couple times but now I think I'm happy with it. Again, please review to tell me if you like what I'm doing or would rather have my head on a pike. Chapter Four!

Sofia, guided by Hana, walked into the hospital building with a bouquet of flowers in her hand. It was an odd sight. All of her clothing was black and her skin was quite pale, making quite an odd contrast. Yet she held such colorful things wrapped in plastic.

Hana led her to the front desk from the waiting room. Sofia leaned on the counter, signaling to a nurse to come forward.

"Yes, how may I help you?"

"I'd like to visit someone here." Sofia said, pointing out the bouquet card. "Would I be allowed in Yoh Asakura's room?"

"Hmm, Yoh Asakura you say?" The nurse walked over to a board with the written names and rooms being displayed to all. "Yoh Asakura... yes here he is. He's in the B ward. Room 301."

The nurse grasped Sofia's arm and led her to a corridor. "Just go down here and it'll be the fourth door on your left. Okay?"

Sofia made an agreeing noise with a nod. "Yes, thank you." The nurse strolled away to attend to her work and Sofia continued down the directed corridor. Of course, helpfully guided by Hana.

"Are you sure this is wise, Sofia-san?" Hana asked, looking concerned.

Sofia sighed with a nod. "I know they might not be happy to see us, but I feel it's right to give condolences."

"Actually, that's not what I was really worried about." She saw Sofia wince, but the blonde took in a deep breath and smoothed out her expression. "This can be a place of... pain."

Sofia nodded. "Don't worry. I'm displacing myself as much as I can."

"We're here." Hana pointed out the fourth door and glanced in. Sofia turned and dragged her walking stick in front of her, figuring out how big the doorframe was to walk in.

Anna looked up from Yoh to the two visitors and arched an eyebrow. "Can I help you?" She asked, her tone as direct as always.

Sofia smiled and bowed. "No, I'm just here as a visitor. I--" She held up the bouquet. "I brought these."

"Hey Sofia." Yoh greeted with a small wave. "Hey Hana. Sorry Amidamaru isn't here. Anna said he was... euh... disrupting my healing is how you put it, right?" Yoh sweatdropped as Anna answered with a scorn.

"Yes. Now who are you?" She asked, turning back to the stranger before her.

"Anna I just said her na--" Yoh was cut off with a jab to his ribs.

Sofia flinched as she did so but clenched her walking stick to calm herself down.

"My name is Sofia Faust. I met Yoh a week or so ago." Anna did a brief double take but was soon back to her cool exterior.

"Faust... as in...? She let her question drift off, knowing Sofia would know what she meant.

"Yes, I'm his daughter." Anna nodded.

"I remember him mentioning you. I think it's a little odd for you to be here though. Your father nearly killed Yoh and you show up with some flowers?"

Sofia took in the rant and nodded. "Yoh is lucky he WASN'T killed. If it hadn't been for that boy on a... horse, I believe, Yoh certainly wouldn't be able to talk right now."

Yoh gave a sheepish grin. "Yeah. That was Tao Ren. I guess I am glad he interfered." He then gave a sympathetic look. "And I'm sorry about your mom."

Sofia could tell how he meant sorry. He wasn't saying sorry for calling her a doll or for chopping off her lower legs. Nor was he saying sorry about her dying. He was saying sorry for her being used in such a way by her father.

Sofia nodded in acknowledgement. Knowing what things he had said during the battle of him and Faust.

"There is no need to apologize." She smiled. Yoh smiled back and looked up to Anna.

"Anna, can I talk with her alone?" The Itako gave him a reproachful look.

"And just what are you talking about tha-"

"Please Anna." The blonde paused to narrow her eyes. She finally rolled her eyes with a scoff and walked off.

"Five minutes. I'm just getting a soda."

"Thanks."

Anna passed by Sofia and tipped her head up in a rather snobbish way. Looking a little miffed. Sofia scratched the back of her neck.

"She's... charming." She said slowly. Yoh nodded with a laugh.

"Yeah if you think scary is charming." Sofia grinned.

"So, what is it you needed to talk to me about?" She came forward to the bed posts and handed him the bouquet.

"Well it's about... your father's beliefs."

"About bringing the dead back to life?" Sofia had this sort of air of knowing what he was thinking. He nodded.

"Yeah. Do you actually believe he can do it?" The blonde sighed, taking off her top hat.

"With the amazing things he has already done... it's hard not to believe him." Yoh leaned back on the pillows.

"Do you believe… it SHOULD be done?" This question came hesitantly. But Sofia smiled warmly.

"I do. I know what my father is capable of I want this to happen more then anything in the whole world."

"I'm not saying it can't be done... I'm saying it's not right. People are meant to die."

"It's what makes life precious, right?" Sofia traced her walking stick around and found a chair to seat herself in.

"Exactly." Her face twitched and she began rubbing at her cheek.

"I understand what you mean Yoh. But it seems so unfair... to have her stolen away the way she was. So young." She didn't say it, but Yoh had a feeling that Sofia felt that she herself had been too young to have her mother taken away.

"Life isn't fair. But facts are facts. People are MEANT to die." Yoh sympathized Sofia. He really did. But not because she'd lost her mother at such a young age. To have the memory of her preserved in such a way that it was haunting.

It seemed so wrong to be playing with life and death the way her father chose to.

"And who says people aren't meant to live again?" Sofia flinched again. Yoh raised an eyebrow at the action. Why did she keep doing that? Did she have a cramp or something? "I'm sorry Yoh, but I just can't go on thinking that people are just meant to die at a certain time."

He sighed, relaxing his limbs a little into his pillow. He was too tired to be in a philosophical argument with this girl. And as if to mirror his thought, Sofia yawned.

"Awnn... S'cuse me. I suppose you're tired so I'll leave you to sleep." Yoh furrowed his eyebrows. 'How did she know I was tired?' He decided to dismiss it as coincidence.

Sofia got to her feet and put on her top hat. "Hope you see me again." He gave a slow nod, still curious to her habits. She paused with her movement and shrugged. "Don't worry about. It doesn't matter."

Yoh drew his head back in confusion. "Worry about what?" Sofia smiled.

" I told you, it doesn't matter."

Hana led Sofia out of the room and gave a bow as she left before going back to her master. Yoh nodded his head before giving a shake of his head. Sofia was... weird.

Anna strolled back into the room, sipping from a grape, soda can. "Have a nice chat?" She asked, licking her lips of the grape liquid

He gave a shrug. "Euh, yeah I guess."