Hello all,

Thanks a bunch for giving this story a chance or still being a loyal reader! Your comments make my day and really motivate me to keep writing, so if you do enjoy this story, it will really make me so happy to hear that ^_^ No pressure though, I know life can keep you busy! But BIG THANK YOU to all of you who take a time of your day to comment 3

WARNING for this chapter - mentions or small parts, but not very graphic referring to: blood, violence, neglect, bullying, negative thinking


Summary: While Anna's struggling with great problems that just keep on growing, Yoh is beating himself up for not staying to help her. Amidamaru, however, puts things in a different light for Yoh, making him learn an important lesson about himself. Oh, and Yoh's official match to enter the tournament is about to start, which leaves us with the question, will Yoh get to help Anna? Or will Anna interrupt his official match?


Chapter 18: Hidden pain, hidden struggles

Anna knew she needed to run. She needed to find Yoh. She wasn't strong enough to fight the oni by herself and that pure realization hurt because it meant admitting she was weak. But hiding that fear and being stubborn about doing all this by herself was what brought her here, so she needed to adopt a different tactic. She was also too drained to fight against herself any longer, so she gave in and accepted that she had to reach for Yoh. If she'll have her anymore…if she wasn't still too fed up with her in his world, but maybe he'd been away enough from her to want her back, did he?

"Maybe he wants a lifelong break from you, I mean you are quite annoying by repeating, again and again, the same things."

"Shut up! I'll repeat myself as much as I want till the fact that I'm not afraid of you goes into your thick skull." Anna glared his way, but the oni wasn't impressed the slightest.

"Funny you mention because fear is what brought me here."

"Liar! Are you deaf or what? I'm not afraid of you!" She insisted taking small steps towards the exit of the house, but the oni followed at close distance, step by step after her, his smirk growing ever so slightly at each involuntary flinch from her or random negative thought her mind fed him.

"You might not be afraid of me, but you are afraid of you own weakness. You're afraid you won't be able to grow stronger in time to help Yoh. You're afraid you won't actually be able to control your emotions and onis like me will come for you and him. You're afraid your happiness with Yoh is not going to last because you are changing and you fear he won't like you anymore. You fear you're not a good influence on him despite trying to be better by him. You fear he is fed up with you at times, especially because of your powers. You fear your competition…"

"I am not afraid of you and I am not afraid of Manta!" Anna shouted, but her voice was weak and her eyes betrayed her fear.

The oni took a step towards her, bringing his face close enough so he could be at eye level with her.

"By all means, go on with those lies, they just help me materialize more and more into this world. And you know what's funny? That you pushed your friend away because you feared something like this could happen and because…"

"Shut up!" She screamed trying to cover his next words, yet she heard them.

Loud and clear and they pierced through her whole body till they scratched her heart.

"…because you fear deep down he'll get scared of you and just leave you because you won't be able to keep up with him. That he'll outgrow you and leave you behind because he'll build a new world without you. You fear losing him because he is all you have."

"Leave me alone!" She screamed in terror, tears bursting from her eyes.

"But guess what. You already made him leave and he's not coming back. EVER."

"No, he will!" She sobbed, fists clenched and body shaking from the effort to stand to the oni.

"Not at least till morning, but maybe he'll just decide to move in with his friend, wait, where are you running, wait for me!"

Anna run out of the door, not even getting her coat this time. She needed to find Yoh. She needed to make up. She shouldn't have lashed like that at him, yet his words hurt her and her immediate reaction was to hurt him back. She was so afraid that her mind might be right and he was indeed fed up with her despite what he said, that she just didn't have the courage to confront him about it. She needed him to be away, so she could calm down and improve.

She should have known better - progress doesn't happen overnight, yet she hoped she could. She hoped she would be better by him and overcome her fears, but all of them came crashing down on her. It was only now that Anna realized that not only she had taken too much upon herself, but she also forced herself to do the impossible when she didn't even know what even possible meant.

She made a big mistake the moment she chose herself over sorting things out with her fiancée. Yoh was right - it was always about her and she should have just talked things with him and let him help her. He told her so many times that she could lean on him and he won't judge her, yet she also feared that.

She feared everything and she feared even admitting that to herself, so she preferred to run in the night through the streets, shortcuts, pathways through parks and houses, hoping to get to Yoh as soon as possible as well as lose the oni chasing after her. Get away from his taunting voice and sardonic laugh that made her heart clench in fear as he kept on haunting her with all her unspoken most hidden fears. She hoped Yoh was at the cemetery so she just headed there at full pace.

All of a sudden, something jumped in front of her, cutting her way. She assumed it was the oni and she prepared to confront him again, yet her eyes met some unfamiliar ones. And then there was another figure behind her. And one on her left. Then one on the right and behind. And before she knew she was surrounded by a very intimidating gang.

Full of adrenaline and preferring them to the oni, Anna didn't look the slightest scared - she had worse fears right now. She even kept glancing behind looking for the blue oni, yet, he was nowhere in sight and she hoped she had lost him some time ago.

"Kind of late to be running at this time of the night, mmm, young lady?" The first man said measuring her up and down - he seemed to be the leader judging from how the others looked at him and how arrogant he looked.

"None of your business, now step aside." Anna replied determined, but that only made the bunch of men around her laugh.

"I like her."

"Me too."

"Wanna hang around with us?" The leader asked extending his hand and she took a hand back.

"I don't have time to waste with you, now let me cross before I slap that pervert smirk of your face." Anna glared at the man whose current gaze was stuck on the length of her dress while she kept an eye on the leader.

"She has guts."

"What a fierce lady."

"How about we familiarize ourselves with each other better?" The leader said coming closer to Anna, hand still extended.

The girl's courage was starting to fade away and she was aware this is no stupid movie where she'll think of Yoh and he'll materialize next to her. The cemetery was still far away and because she chose shortcuts to get there and didn't pay attention to her surroundings, she was now in a deserted place with too many men around. She was in danger. She tried not to let more fear wash over her and just used what she'd used before, what she always used whenever she felt sad, scared or weak - she became angry.

She looked fiercely at the approaching leader, ready to punch him or his friends or anyone who dared to come close to her.

He took a step closer, too close for her comfort. Eyes burning, anger flooding and growing, Anna raised her hand, prepared to give the legendary left. Despite her determination and feeling ready to face them 'somehow', inside herself she was aware of the danger and feared the outcome of this battle. She prayed things will work out and that Yoh will show by some miracle like in the movies she saw on TV. She relied on their connection and that he will feel there was something wrong with her like they did when Manta was in trouble.

She hit.

The man caught her hand and laughed in her face.

She raised her right hand.

He was already ahead and caught it midway laughing louder at her attempts.

She didn't lose hope, so she prepared to use her feet to hit him, eyes still burning with determination to wipe that arrogant smirk off his face.

She moved her feet.

He saw it coming and he suddenly released her hands.

Anna almost fell on her bottom but managed to keep her balance just as something splashed her body and face. Something red.

She stepped back, hands on her mouth.

For the first time that day, she finally gave in to her fears as she felt absolutely paralyzed with terror as she watched the scene in front of her. The leader's stomach had been pierced by a blue now bloody hand, that slowly retracted from him torse letting the man fall down to the ground unconsciously. His friends took a step back in awe, unable to see the oni, unaware of what just happened. However, anger quickly started to flood them and they eyed the only visible possible culprit.

Anna, however, was too busy staring in shock at the oni who hurt the man. Her oni. Her fault.

"At your service, my lady." The oni mocked her, his piercing blue eyes glaring at her in hunger as he took a deep satisfied breath inhaling her dreadful overflowing emotions.

His voice broke her out of her trance and she was prepared to snarl at him, when one of the men cried at her.

"What did you do to him, witch?! HOW DARE YOU, I'LL KILL YOU!"

He lounged at her in rage. Anna saw him coming just as she saw his hands around something shining in the moonlight - a knife. She forced her body to move, yet she knew she won't be fast enough to avoid him, especially when his friends circled around, blocking any escape route.

The oni laughed at her mockingly.

The men cheered mercilessly.

She screamed.

And then was a dead silence as blood flooded again.


"Yoh-dono, are you OK?" Amidamaru asked as he watched his master lay in the grass watching the stars with a serious gaze.

They were at their usual place on the cemetery hill.

"Yes, I'll be fine Amidamaru, thanks for your concern. It's just a lot been happening lately…today especially…" The boy replied weakly, his voice small.

He'd never seen Yoh this serious or sad before. It was so out of his character! Because of the boy's rather cheery and optimistic personality, Amidamaru never even believed the boy was capable of such emotions. Yet, with time, he learnt it's not that Yoh didn't felt like that, but was just good at pushing those emotions deep within himself and show a smile regardless of the situation instead. Yoh always let the positive emotions flood the negative ones, but this time, the boy looked like he couldn't turn the tables around as easily.

And it deeply pained Amidamaru to see him struggling so much with handling his negative feeling. Has no one told him how to deal with them, what do to? The poor ghost wasn't sure how to help, but that didn't stop him from trying or at least trying to make the boy talk. That was always a good start - to get things off your chest and discuss what bothers you.

"Yoh-dono, I am sorry about Anna, I am sure she didn't mean what she told you."

"I know Amidamaru. Any other time, I should have been able to deal with it, but tonight I just didn't have the energy and I feel really bad about it. I should have helped her, yet I left. I told her so many times we're in this together, yet when things got hard, I just left her. I left her alone to deal with it by herself."

"She asked you to leave."

"She was trying to push me away... She always does that because she wants to sort out her problems by herself. She fears I'll think she's weak or see her differently if I notice she's struggling or if she asks for my help. Even last night, she tried so hard to overcome whatever was stressing her that she fell asleep standing in front of me concentrating on it! Standing, Amidamaru, standing! And that's not good, I'm worried!" Yoh said brows furrowed in concern.

"Yoh-dono…"

"I know she has things in control most times and she's extremely strong, but this is something new. And I'm not even sure if I'm talking about her powers or our relationship, but it's overwhelming. I feel so many things and I have a hard time understanding them, I can barely imagine how it must feel to have to control that depending on your powers. And she's struggling so much because of me and wanting to help me with becoming Shaman King! And I just couldn't stay there and help her and I left her to her own demons. I can't believe I did that to her, what a bad fiancée I am…Do you think she hates me? What if she doesn't love me as much now…" Yoh's voice trembled, frustrated at himself and hurt at the same time.

"Yoh-dono, you're being way too harsh to yourself. I know you two are in a relationship and support each other and want to be there for each other, but I think it's normal to also struggle individually and have your own individual problems, not just the common ones. And I also think it's perfectly normal and reasonable to not always be able to help or be there because of those individual issues."

"What do you mean, Amidamaru?"

"Yoh-dono, it might not be my business, but as your friend, I must say that I am concerned over your family's lack of interest in you or over how you speak of them. I believe it's really affecting you and your own struggles should matter as much as Anna's. Maybe you're not even realizing, but you're hiding behind her issues and disconsidering yours."

Yoh's eyes grew. He got up and turned to fully face Amidamaru who continued one, looking softly at the boy.

"Your problems matter too, Yoh-dono. However, as Anna, you're trying to shoulder on too much by yourself. And because your family doesn't seem to care for you for whatever reason, but obviously that has hurt you, you think that you're doing the same thing now. Just because they weren't there for you, doesn't mean you're not there for Anna now, so don't blame yourself for something that's out of your hands, Yoh-dono, you are a really good person and a wonderful fiancée. If I wouldn't have seen it with my own eyes, maybe I would have doubted it, but I did and I strongly believe without any second thoughts that Anna loves you dearly and could never hate you. I'm sure she's not blaming you at all for leaving…Knowing her, she's probably guilt-trapping herself and feeling awful as much as you are."

"Amidamaru…" Yoh gasped in awe at his ghost's words.

"You're just two kids that are too young to have to deal with such things without parent guidance and it's even more worrying especially since when one of you actually has a family. It's unfortunate that in a twisted and different way, you and Anna struggle just as I and Mosuke struggled without someone there for us to help us, so it was just us to figure things out and deal with the world. Just us like you and Anna…" Amidamaru concluded with sadness and a tint of melancholy towards his own childhood with Mosuke.

'Why did history have to repeat? It's so painful to watch…' The ghost lowered his head feeling defeated by the situation, yet tried to control his anger at the world for creating another situation where two innocent children had to struggle by themselves.

Yoh stood there stiffen, eyes still wide, lips slightly parted and fists closed around the grass on the ground. He never had anyone say such personal things about himself out loud before and it made him uncomfortable. However, he couldn't deny them or get angry because it was the truth or part of the truth he feared to let out. And that was because they hurt. And they hurt now.

He felt something wet on his cheek and brushed it off immediately, shaking his head as if attempting to shake the pain, the sadness from his eyes and the bitter taste from his mouth away.

"I apologize if I stepped a line." The spirit bowed deeply pained to see Yoh-dono so hurt, so sad, so…defeated just as much as he felt by his helplessness towards the situation. Had he failed his master?

'No, thinking like that would only bring me where Yoh-dono is now and that's not how things are, that's not what I told him, so I mustn't blame myself the same way.' The spirit lectured himself upon letting such self-blaming thoughts intrude his mind.

"Not at all." Yoh smiled weakly looking grateful at his friend for his honesty and care. "Thanks for putting things for me in a different light and I guess for calling me out…" The boy chuckled nervously rubbing the back of his head absent-mindedly. "Maybe you're right…I shouldn't expect Anna to come to me with her struggles if I'm not doing the same with mines and going to her for support. It's just, I don't even know how to bring it up or what to start with…She's an orphan, her family hated her. I feel like a hypocrite complaining about mine when she never had one. I should be grateful, I mean they're fine as a family, but…"

"Yoh-dono, you are crying…" Amidamaru said in a small voice.

"Am I? I didn't even realise…" Yoh admitted brushing his tears aside, smiling sadly. "I…I just don't feel ready to talk about it yet…with Anna or you. Sorry, it's not that I don't trust you, it's just… as I said, I don't know how to even begin…" The boy said fidgeting nervously.

"It's OK Yoh-dono. When you'll be ready, I will be here to lend you my ear. And I am sure so does Anna. Don't feel ashamed to tell her, I am sure she won't judge you the way you think."

"You think so?"

"I genuinely believe so."

"Thank you, Amidamaru! Thank you for being a good friend to me! That actually makes me feel better…" '…because in the future, maybe I could actually tell her everything…and even to Amidamaru. One day.' Yoh said finally smiling, a genuine hopeful smile that warmed his ghost's heart at the sight. He'd been so heartbroken seeing his master so sad and troubled today.

"And about Anna, I'm sure she's not blaming yourself for anything."

"Yeah, you're right. I should go back and talk to her, I think I've left her and myself enough time to calm down and sort out things by ourselves…what's been bugging me is what she said towards the end. It made me think she was upset at me for something I said and that's why she had such a violent outburst - she was hurt by my words. Yet, I can't remember us having a discussion about my world and her today, so I don't know what I did wrong!" The boy threw his arms in the air in frustration because he was so fed up with all those hurtful feelings and this argument and this chain of seemingly never-ending problems and troubling questions.

He wanted answers, sleep and food. Oh, food, he totally forgot he didn't have dinner.


A hooded figure started climbing the stairs of the hill, making its way towards Yoh and Amidamaru who were too deep in thought to notice its presence yet. He made sure to hide his 'furyoku' and walked silently, a nervous smile on his lips.

'I can't sense any power coming from Yoh Asakura yet, but I should still keep my guard up. He might be hiding his power as I am. He might not like surprises and attack me as soon as I reveal myself.' Chrom thought looking in the boy's direction. 'He looks rather aggressive. He seems to be gesticulating violently towards his ghost. Is he lecturing the poor spirit? If he is anything like his brother, I should definitely be extremely careful… I promised Silva before I left that I will come back alive so he won't have 'more blood on his hands'. He can be so dramatic, yet I can't deny to myself that part of me fears this boy might finish me off. Will Yoh Asakura kill me swiftly before I even have a chance to defend myself? Taunt and torture me first? Or will I be able to save him and, thus, myself?' The Patch continued his train of million fuming thoughts.

The boy's image with his spirit became more and more clear as he approached them. It was time to put fears aside if he wanted to save this boy and respect his Patch sworn duties, so Chrom stepped much more confidently ahead. He smiled optimistically in his usual characteristic way, ready for his important mission ahead. He'd been training almost all his life for this - his first tournament qualification match with a shaman. And hopefully not the last.


"Maybe she overheard a different conversation? Or maybe she met with Manta on her way and he said something?" Amidamaru suggested trying to help Yoh-dono who was trying really hard not to get a headache from overthinking and lack of food at the same time.

"Manta would never say anything like that…And what conversation? We didn't get a chance to chat after Manta left and the only other person I spoke before Anna came was grandfather…" Yoh said and sadness crossed his features again briefly.

"I am sorry about your conversation with your grandfather…I didn't listen to it, but you seemed really off after it…"

"It's OK Amidamaru, it's just that and I don't want to sound selfish, but he didn't even ask about me, like me as a person, but more as a shaman and then he just kept talking about Anna and Anna and…" Yoh said suddenly serious.

"Yo…"

"Shhh, give me a minute Amidamaru…" Yoh asked concentrating on a particular thought, gesturing with his hand up towards Amidamaru to stop talking.

Chrom was now only a few steps from them when he saw the boy shush his ghost with his hand. It was getting harder not to have a bad opinion on Yoh Asakura when all he'd seen him do so far was being hostile towards his spirit. And rather aggressive. It made Chrom wonder if the boy ever tried to hurt his ghost. Or if he also acted like that towards other people around him.

He oversouled for his own safety and came closer, sneaking silently, till he was just behind them. Yoh had his back half turned, still sitting on the ground, cross legged and thoughtful, so he didn't see Chrom coming. However, Amidamaru noticed him and his hand flew on his sword.

Gazes met and Chrom quickly raised one finger to his mouth showing the ghost to be silent while with the other he made the peace sign, stepping closer to them. That only confused Amidamaru for a mini-second before he addressed Yoh at the same time the Patch officiant also spoke towards the boy lost in thought.

"Yoh-dono…"

"Yoh Asakura, I am…"

"THAT'S IT! I know what Anna meant!" Yoh jumped on his feet shouting in revelation, eyes sparkling in recognition. Chrom yelped in surprise, almost losing control and sending a blow in the sky from the unexpected reaction from the boy. His hood almost fell, but he kept it in place - Patch basic rules: no Patch officiant should reveal his identity until he was sure the Shaman had his full attention.

He stepped aside, taking a defensive stance, eyes glued on the beaming boy in front of him and awaited his next move. He should have expected a surprise attack, of course as Hao's brother, Yoh had probably sensed him since he entered the cemetery and he's only been toying with him and now he's just deciding how to end him. Maybe he should start his speech of rehabilitation and Patch advice now…wait, cheery? Bad people usually don't look this joyful. Smug, smirking, but not smiling this brightly like they are surrounded by kittens and puppies.

"She heard me talking to grandfather and misunderstood!" Yoh shouted towards Amidamaru totally oblivious to Chrom's presence, too happy he figured out what was wrong with Anna. "She heard my conversation with grandfather and out of context, she probably thought of the worse! I can't even blame her, now thinking of it, out of the context, it sounds horrible! It makes me a horrible fiancée! I have to make things right by her and clarify the situation!" The boy continued with enthusiasm pleased to have finally found the answer and ignored Amidamaru desperately pointing at the Patch officiant.

"Yoh Asakura, I…" Chrom took a step back, startled by the outburst of enthusiasm, yet addressed the boy.

His 'evilness' manifested in atypical ways that made Chrom doubt more and more that this boy was anything like his twin brother or needed anything like a rehabilitation speech. If anything, maybe he needed to learn a trick or two from this boy who seconds ago was sulking and gesticulating rather aggressively and now was a ball of joy and energy.

"And I have to show her my love for her Amidamaru, so she won't believe things out of context like that ever again!" Yoh finished his speech shouting with determination when he suddenly heard an unfamiliar voice - the one he'd been totally oblivious to.

He turned around, finally noticing the hooded stranger addressing him that Amidamaru seemed to also be pointing at.

"Yoh Asakura, I am…" Chrom tried again, before the boy cut him.

"I am sorry, can't talk now, later!" Yoh waved dashing past before Chrom even had a chance to consider stopping him.

Yoh was so distracted he thought the hooded figure was just one of the ghosts from the cemetery that usually came to hang out with him and not actually a human being, let alone a shaman.

"Gotta sort out things with my fiancee! She needs to know I love her and even if the world isn't about her, my world iiiiiiiiiiiis! Yaaaaay, things have worked ouuuuut! Come on, Amidamaruuuu!" Yoh shouted running happily past Chrom and down the hill, wanting to get home as soon as possible - he felt great to finally have one stressful thing out of the way and overjoyed that his confidence in his motto showed it worked once again.

Amidamaru shrugged in Chrom's direction and waved smiling, before he followed Yoh-dono. He felt relieved to see his master back to his joyful self. He'll remind him about the mysterious hooded figure some other time. Compared to Yoh, Amidamaru knew it was a human, but he couldn't see more than the figure's eyes and that told him something already.

'He didn't look malevolent…but still…' Amidamaru thought briefly before he tried to keep up with the running boy.

Chrom had been left standing and so taken aback by the whole meeting with Yoh Asakura that he didn't even get a chance to put his cloak away and showcase his Patch officiant outfit. Or his Patch speech and tips and pieces of advice and everything he rehearsed so much, especially about helping the troubled evil soul of Hao Asakura's twin and including his survival plan against his possible massive power.

As the boy faded away shouting happily about his fiancée and love, Chrom suddenly started laughing out loud, his body trembling from his loud chuckles so much he had to put his hands around his torso to suppress it. His hood fell.

Finally catching his breath, Chrom composed himself, arranging his feathers and bandana.

"Silva's worry and judgmental views had clouded my own and I had a very wrong opinion on the young not Hao Asakura. Or shall I say Magna's ideas have influenced and poisoned our objective view on this boy. Yes, Yoh Asakura is indeed a troubled soul, but a troubled soul with love. And that's wonderful! I shall let him sort that out for now with his fiancée, his examination can wait for another time." Chrom said smiling widely in understanding and relieved that all the worry was for nothing. "It seems tonight I will have another shaman to test for my first official match and I hope that you actually get this one, Silva." The officiant smiled as he started walking away searching for a different shaman to test.


"Hello?" A grumpy voice answered, a bit hoarse from sleep.

"Hello grandpa, it's me Yoh! I'm sorry to interrupt your training…"

"Of course you interrupted my training, young boy, now what do you want?" Yohmei yawned away from the phone satisfied his grandson believed he was training and not slacking. "Has something happened?" His voice suddenly became serious, all sleep forgotten.

"N…"

"Have you been attacked?"

"N…"

"Has Anna left you?"

"NO!"

"Killed you?" Yohmei's voice faded, finally giving Yoh a chance to say something.

"No! I wouldn't be speaking with you!"

"Oh, right. Then have you not been chosen for the competition?"

"I don't know? Was I supposed to be contacted by someone?"

"Have you broken a limb from Anna's training?"

"No!"

"That's bad, maybe she should train you harder or your resistance might have grown and she's actually training you well …"

"No, no, NO! Grandpa, could you take a minute to listen to me!"

"What is it Yoh? You know I'm a busy man and guiding your mum into running the Asakura estate is not easy. It should be man's job, but you know your father's training and you're training for the Shaman competition and…"

"Yes, yes, everyone's training as usual everywhere, as I was saying…"

"Anna broke you something because you did something stupid!" Yohmei exclaimed in revelation mentally congratulating himself for the guess.

"No, grandpa! I guess you have to train those divination skills more." Yoh chuckled trying to keep his calm - his grandpa is an old man, he has to be patient.

"You insolent child! Have you called to insult me?" His grandfather yelled making Yoh move the phone from his ear temporarily.

"No, I actually called to tell you Rahu has shown."

"Yes, Yoh, your grandma is the one blind, not me, I saw it and probably even she is aware of that."

"Don't you have any advice for me or know anything that I should be aware now that the competition is starting, like what's the next step or…" Yoh took a break before, hopefully, he also added. "…maybe some words of encouragement for me?"

There was a pause.

"Grandpa?"

"HAHAHAHAHAHA." His grandpa burst out laughing loud and once again the boy had to move the phone away from his ear. "Encouragement words, where is he getting this from? School? TV?" His grandfather said chuckling before he finally caught his breath and continued. "Sure, Yoh, don't die and become Shaman King and make the Asakura family and its ancestors proud. Make me proud." Yohmei said boastfully recalling his training of the boy. "I have taught you so much, I hope you remember it…"

"Yes grandpa…" Yoh replied deflated - this isn't how he wished the conversation to go.

"And I hope you are learning a lot from Anna too, Kino has thoroughly trained her to help you."

"Ye…"

"Is she well?"

"Ye…"

"Is she eating enough?"

"Y…"

"I hope you are treating her well and..." Yohmei reached for his tea to drink and Yoh used that break to finally say something.

"Of course! She is very well. Don't you want to know how I am doing? Or about my training or maybe school…"

"Are you passing school?"

"Yes, barel…"

"Are you training?"

"Yes, almost eve..."

"Eating, sleeping and listening to your music to keep a healthy living so you can improve your shaman development?"

"Ye…"

"And you have a spirit and train together regularly?"

"Y…"

"There, I knew you're doing well because I have my powers to tell me that, but I indulged in your silly questioning for your sake, now where was I…" Yohmei said annoyed.

"How is mum? Tam…"

"She's busy running the Asakura family estate. Stop putting stupid questions and actually listen to what I'm saying. I was just asking if you're treating Anna well?"

"And I told you that I am!" Yoh replied trying to keep his voice steady, yet his grandfather was really annoying him right now.

"Is she sleeping well? Does she have a good room to sleep in? Maybe you should sleep outside, what if your snoring bothers her, you know woman can be very sensitive and we don't want you to scare her away with your lack of manners." Yohmei said thoughtfully.

"I'm not snoring! And I don't want to sleep outside!" Yoh shirked embarrassed - he really hoped he didn't snore at night, he was sure Anna would have mentioned it by now.

"But it sounds like a good training for you, Yoh! Is Anna close? Can I speak with her? I think it's an excellent training idea to put your sleep through different rough conditions, to make you more aware of your surroundings…" Yohmei continued ignoring Yoh's comment.

"No, she's not…"

"Where is she? Are you sure you didn't scare her away?" Yohmei's tone became panicked. "Yoh, we can't afford to lose her, she's the perfect Asakura bride, she's powerful and beautiful and you need her help to become Shaman King! What did you do to her?"

Yoh's free hand closed into a fist and he just couldn't control his voice this time.

"Anna, Anna, ANNA! It's all about her all the time, what about me, the world isn't all about her, UHHH! She's not mistreated in anyway and I care enough for her to make that sure!"

"No need to be jealous on the poor girl, Yoh, she wasn't lucky to have a family like you and it's important to care for her. You shouldn't have called if you're in a bad mood. Make sure you get into the competition, so all those years training you weren't a waste. Goodbye!"

"Goodbye, grandpa…" Yoh hung off and sighed, before he dragged his body to the kitchen.

"Yoh-dono?" Amidamaru asked him concerned upon seeing his deflated body and sad look.

"It's nothing." He murmured more to himself.

They heard the entrance door. Yoh's sadness was replaced by a smile, yet some of it was still visible. The boy couldn't wait to have some time with Anna and forget about his family drama.


"Were you speaking on the phone, Father? I hope I didn't interrupt." Keiko said as she brought Yohmei his dinner into his room after she knocked.

"No, not at all. Thank you for the food." Yohmei replied eagerly reaching for the tray.

"Was that Yoh by any chance?" The woman asked keeping her voice low.

There was silence while Yohmei's eyes narrowed at her.

"No, it was just a possible customer, he'll call again tomorrow maybe. The boy is too busy with his training to call us and that's how it should be. We taught him everything we could, now it's up to him to take the Asakura legacy on and, one day, defeat Hao and become Shaman King."

"Yes, Father."

Keiko left letting Yohmei eat and contemplate at the Asakura legacy she really didn't want to hear about for the hundredth time.

She sighed.

Was it fair to pass the Asakura legacy on to Yoh when he didn't know what it implied? Was it fair they gave him a purpose that wasn't even the real purpose? Was it fair that, from before his birth even, they never gave him a choice in the matter or in any matter including getting him a fiancée Keiko only heard terrible things about?

'Is it fair that just because I didn't get a choice in the matter, nor did my child... My children…?' Keiko asked herself lowering her head in shame as she put her arms around herself.

She actually got earlier at the door and heard Yohmei was talking to Yoh, so she waited for it to finish before she entered, not wanting to interrupt.

'And I'm still being left out as much as he is. Do I really want this to continue for me? For my children?' Keiko mused.

She went back to her duties.