Thank you for your reviews. I always feel inspired when I read your reviews and it helps me at least try to make them more grammatically correct though…it hard when you get really into it. I am apologizing immensely for the delay. I am about to graduate and work have been keeping me from updating.


Anna walked down the path toward Kino and Keiko's forest home. The weather was murky, the first she had really seen in Patch, and the threatening smell of rain lingered in the air. Her face was flushed and the breezes felt pleasant against her skin. Before she had left, she had received a very demanding kiss from Hao and now she was warm and flustered. He was an expert kisser and his kiss really seemed to melt her. In addition, it made her very irritated. Because not only they were nice but also he still did it, knowing her mindset was thirteen.

Shaking her head, Anna cleared away Hao from her mind. She had to find Tamao and Amidamaru. She was being plagued by the curiosity of what happened to Yoh and why the inexplicit journey back to Patch had occurred. She guess it was the cause of all this and it needed to be discovered. For Yoh's and everyone else's, sake. Anna ran her fingers through her hair, trying to rub away a chill against the back of her neck.

She was being followed. She knew that instantly the moment Hao had let her visit Kino and Keiko unaccompanied but not alone. She did not know who it was, if it was a follower or a spirit. Nor did she really care because she

Was doing what she said she was going to do and it left her conscious clean. The only thing Hao did not know was why she was visiting them and that she would have to be cautious on.

She saw the small cottage emerge from the woods. Smoke billowed in curls from the chimney, indicating someone was home. Anna rapped on the door and the wind suddenly picked up, howling through the trees. Very slowly, after a moment of hesitation, the door opened. Keiko peered out, taking a glance at Anna and paused. Anna could tell she did not know what to do, to let her in or slam the door in her face. It was understandable; Anna had sent danger to them.

"Let her in, Keiko," Anna could hear Kino's voice somewhere behind her. The door opened and Anna was pulled inside. It was hot inside but it felt nice against her frozen skin. It was ill lit as well, shadows devouring most of the space in the cottage. Kino emerged from the shifting shadows, looking over Anna. A silent moment passed in the thick air before Kino turned.

"Follow me, Anna." Keiko gently but firmly placed a hand on her back and pushed her toward Kino's direction. Anna followed her as she went into a part of the cottage she had not seen. It was a bedroom; a queen-sized and a set of dressers were the only things in the room.

"This is our guest room. It serves for shamans who need to rest after a long journey." Kino tapped the floor with a cane that had been resting in a corner next to the dresser. It did not seem like a very suspicious movement but then a few more taps echoed after hers. There was a rusty shriek and the drawers, one by one, were pushed out by an unseen force, forming a staircase. Planks covered the clothes that were neatly folded inside, all apart of some mechanic and the stairs were lower into an open trap door at the base of the dresser. Anna watched in pure silent shock, as there was a final click.

"This is our secret, Anna," Kino said gravely. "We harbor shamans that are fugitives or have been accused of treason. "

"It may seem like we are obedient," Keiko said with a slight smile. "But that is just caution."

"We discussed it after your last visit. It is obvious you are not the Queen Anna."

"You did not believe me, what makes you believe me now?"

"Tamao," Kino replied simply. She took a hold of Anna's arm and began to lead her down into the hole. Keiko handed her a candle and tricked the door so that it closed above their heads.

"Tamao…she is here."

"Yes with Mikihisa and Yohmei and Amidamaru and Bason." Anna felt a sigh of relief rush through her. She let Kino lead her down into the underground sanctuary. It was pitch dark; the candle flickered and offered only a faint glow that dimly outlined the crooked, earthy steps in front of them. Anna used the wall to balance herself, the wet walls crumbled under fingers and she could trace roots in a web in the dirt. It was cold with a faint breeze that ruffled her hair. As they traveled deeper, Anna was aware of vibrations in the air and realized they were voice.

Kino stopped and carefully touched the flame to a torch that was hanging on the side of the wall. Instantly the darkness retreated to reveal a crudely placed door.

"They already know we are here. Those knocks that echoed mine was a spirit and automatically they tell the others. I want you to go first. "Anna looked at Kino then back at the door. She felt a strong sense of safety for one in a long while. Anna trailed her fingers along the door but before she could grab the handle, it flung open. Tamao lurched forward; her arms embrace Anna in a desperate grasp. Anna stumbled back, trying to catch her balance.

"Oh Anna! You are okay. I was so worried," Tamao cried, clutching at Anna. Amidamaru floated behind her, his face was grave but delighted. Kino smiled softly, patting Tamao on her shoulder.

"You should let her breath, girl." Tamao blushed and let go of Anna. She did not realize that she had been holding her breath and let it out. Tamao took her hand and dragged her into a small room that lay behind a door. Mikihisa and Yohmei were sitting in a semi-circle with Lyserg and Jeanne. Bason, Morphine, and other spirits were sitting around solemnly. Several candles flickered about, casting shadows and light heat around the room. All eyes turned to Anna.

"Uncle. Grandfather," Anna said, breathlessly. "Jeanne..Lyserg…oh my god."

"Anna. You have grown up so much," Yohmei said, solemnly. Anna looked at the him, nodding. She took in everyone's images, comparing them to the ones she remembered. It was hard to tell if Mikihisa had aged, his face still hidden behind his mask. Yet a steady streaks of age in his hair revealed otherwise. Yohmei looked even more weary, wrinkles lining his features heavily and his eyes were duller. His hair was nearly gone and left weak puffs of white. Jeanne was sitting next to Lyserg, dressed in a tattered brown robe. Her silvery-blue hair cascaded around her, curling on the dirt bench. Her magenta eyes were half-open, half asleep. Lyserg green-hair was long and hidden underneath a hat. He was wearing an off-white tunic and a pair of brown pants.

"You are all still alive?" Anna asked in amazement.

"If you call this living," Mikihisa answered. "We are outlaws. This is the only place for us to hide until we move again."

"I heard you travel," Anna said, taking a wooden chair and looking at the group. Kino stood beside her and Tamao took a seat on the floor beside Yohmei.

"Just trying to survive and hopefully find away to get ride of Hao." Mikihisa's voice went bitter, as it taste Hao's name. Silence hung into the air as everyone looked down on the ground. Everyone expect Anna who was looking at Mikihisa. His legs were wrapped up in white linen and she noticed he was in a makeshift wheelchair. It must be hard to move around being handicapped, Anna thought.

"We are surprised you are with us now, Queen Anna," Lyserg said with a visible annoyance.

"Not as surprised as I was when I found out I was married to Hao," Anna replied, not letting Lyserg's grudge against Hao affect her.

"We have heard about that. Is it true you are Anna from the past," Jeanne asked, patting Lyserg's hand in comfort.

"Yes."

"What do you remember?"

"Not much," Anna frowned. "I been having weird dreams about…about after the Shaman fight. Yet I know that Yoh was…is…alive. At least he was mentally or he was himself."

"Anna you are not making sense," Kino said.

"I know. Nothing makes any sense. All I know was that Yoh had become Shaman King and I know Hao has something to do why he isn't."

"What do you mean? Yoh did die Anna."

"No…well…for a moment…but he…" Anna stopped in the middle. All eyes were on her. She decided to take another approach to it. "Hao and Yoh are the same spirit with two conflicting personalities. Just because the body if gone does not mean they are. At the moment, I believe they are sharing one body with Hao in control but that is all I know so far."

"You are telling me there is chance to get Yoh back," Lyserg asked after a moment of silence. Anna shrugged.

"I don't know. I really don't understand it all."

"Miss Anna, "Tamao said. "What about Ren and them?"

"They are alive or at least for now."

"I do not mean to cut this short," a voice said. Everyone turned to see Keiko standing in the doorway. "Yet some of Hao's followers are coming this way, those girls."

"Come on, Anna. It is time to say goodbye. We will try to keep in touch with you, okay?" Anna nodded and stood up.

"Anna," Yohmei suddenly spoke as she began to follow Keiko and Kino back to the cottage.

"Yes."

"If this is true, we need you to remember more about what happen. Mikihisa and I will look for a solution, can you try, and do it. For Yoh."

"Yes, grandfather." Anna bowed to the group before she left and made her way back upstairs. She burned with more determination to save Yoh and destroy Hao. The fire crackled deep within her and as Keiko helped her out of the passage, Anna decided she was going to get everything back to normal.


"You are in trouble, girlie," Kana snickered as they brought her to a room. The other two girls of the Hana Gumi were grinning mischievously. Anna rolled her eyes, annoyed by their giggles. They were walking down a long, winding corridor and at the end were a towering wall decorated in Patch design. Kana knocked on it in a rhythmic repetition.

"Only Anna may come in." It was obviously Hao's voice, flat and deadly. For a moment, Anna was annoyed. Why was he being so secretive? Why did he sound mad? To his knowledge, she had done nothing wrong. Unless he had a spirit follow, her, and he knew about the group under the cottage. Kana pushed her into the room and slammed the door behind her. Anna looked around the dim-litted room. It was a library. Scrolls, books and other knickknacks cluttered the towering stone shelves. In the middle was a large seat and in it was Hao.

"So this is where you go," Anna said, stepping forward. It suited him, old and alone.

"This is my little sanctuary away from everyone and everything," He replied, his eyes were focused hard and her. Anna held her head up, hiding her worry masterfully.

"What do you want? Why am I in trouble? I have not done anything wrong." A glimmer of Hao's teeth flash in the dim light, a cruel and savage smile.

"Try again Anna." He stood up, stalking toward her with long strides. Anna fists automatically went up, his prowling stance alerting her. He roughly grabbed her hands, his smile chilling her. His fingers grasped her wrist, tight as he gave her a hard yank, lifting her off her feet. Anna gasped and desperately tried to feel for the floor below her.

"Let go of me. What the hell is wrong with you? I did nothing."

"Then where are they?" Anna winced, his fingers crushing her that it felt like he would break her wrist.

"Where are who?" Hao tossed her angrily to the side, her head hitting something on the floor. Sitting up, Anna rubbed her head and looked over at what she hit. It was the trunk. The lid was open and Anna was staring in disbelief into the darkness. Oh no…oh shit.

"Where are Amidamaru and Bason, Anna? And do not lie to me; I am not in the mood for your games."


Yeah finally, I finished the 14th chapter. I finally had some time to do it. Well sort of. I had to cut it short because I got too got. I hope you will enjoy it.