Disclaimer: I still do not own Shaman King or any of its characters.
Author's note: My gosh! I miss you all guys! It's been ages since I've posted another chapter. For those who thought I already abandoned this fic, it's not going to happen I promise that. For those who thought that the El Niño already melted my being, well it's still freaking hot here and even though sometimes it rains it's still hot but thankfully I can still manage to be intact. And before I blab more, I would like to say sorry from the bottom of my heart for the very late update because I've been into a lot of trouble these past few days. My schedule is jam-packed because of the SAD project that we are making. After the insultation (is that even a word?) I mean consultation with our professor we've been through hell in coping with our clients schedule and our class schedule just to get all the information that we need, not to mention the endless sleepless nights preparing for the mock defenses and to top it all my laptop is acting up so I really have no choice but to put this aside until we have enough free time. We made it through 3 mock defenses and 1 more to go and the final one that would decide if our summer had been worthwhile; please help us pray that we can surpass all of them. Thank you.
Here it is my not so freedom wall to greet my readers and reviewers!
~Not –So-Freedom-Wall~
I really miss you guys and I want to give a big THANK YOU for everyone who read and kind enough to leave a review and put it in their favorites and alerts. You've all been nice to me! .^_^.V
Midori no Hime – Thank you for the review! About my new character Ishi, her name doesn't have any kind of meaning. When I'm thinking of a name for my new character I remembered my classmates niece way back in elementary her name is Akemi Ishiwatari, she's half Filipino half Japanese and she's very pretty. I don't want to use Akemi because in my other story I've already used Ayako as name for another character and one more name that stars with letter A and I'll go nuts so I just chose her other nickname which is Ishi, a shortened version of her last name.
Complicatedmind21 – Thank you for the review and understanding my decision on HaoAnna. Yes, it's the second to the last chapter, I don't think that adding a few chapters will be an advantage for this story I might stray away from the plot if I'll do that.
Natasuya – thanks for the review! Don't worry as much as possible I'll check my past and present tense and also my spelling mistakes. I hope this chapter would be better than the last!
Ja 01'Loving you Always – thanks for the review and sorry if I made you cry! You know sometimes life in fanfictions is just like that. I hope by this time you've already recovered from chapter 8.
I hope this will live up to your expectations!
Babsi-Flocke - Thank you for reviewing! Sorry for the late update. I've been very mean to Anna lately but don't worry I'll make it up to her.
Yehey – Thank you for the review! Yes two chapters na lang po kasi baka masira ko pa yung story pag humaba pa siya. Actually akala ko five chapter story lang to nung umpisa pero heto na nga humaba pa siya sa expectation ko. I'll stick with the original plot nalang po.
Df14-blacksnow – Thank you for the review ang cute naman natawa ka dun sa sinabi ni Yoh, me myself laughed after I wrote it but can't change it because I can't think of a better line.
~majrocks~
"If conversation was the lyrics, laughter was the music; making time spent together is a melody that could be replayed over and over without getting stale"
Nicholas Sparks
~majrocks~
Supposedly it's her last day in Aomori, she and Redseb agreed that they'll both take the nine a.m. train to Funbari Hill tomorrow and end this business trip.
Redseb had been bugging her to come jogging with him earlier and since she's so tired of having to argue every single day since she arrived here in Aomori she gave in consoling herself that fresh air is all she needs to take out all the build-up tension inside her body.
It's been a tormenting and unforgettable week of her life. Right now as she run, she found herself craving for the solitude of their home and her room. A part of her life was left open and she knows it will take some time if not forever for it to close.
She sighed, Yoh is gone like a wind that passes by, the man stayed for one week in her life, despite everything that happened she never and would never regret ever meeting him.
"Anna! Are you even listening to me?" Redseb shouted at the top of his lungs. When she stopped she saw him breathing like a horse trying to catch up with her.
"You're saying something?" She asked as she waited for him.
"I said, don't you want to stop and rest for a while? I'm dead tired. You haven't warned me that you run like a madman and have the stamina of a professional runner. Are you practicing for the Olympics?"
"Really? I didn't notice, I've been thinking all this time. But believe me if you will ever ask me to do it again I swear I can't."
They found an empty bench and decided to sit there for a while. A newspaper boy passed by and Anna can' help but saw the headline on the local paper.
'Yoh Asakura took Aomori by storm!'
She would be a hypocrite if she would say that she didn't want to hear anything about him when deep inside she's dying to know what he is doing at the moment, so she made up her mind and bought the newspaper.
The headline referred to an article praising Yoh on his recent show in a five star hotel and his scheduled return to Tokyo later today.
She crumpled the newspaper hard which caught Redseb's attention.
"He will be gone Redseb. He's going back to his life…"
"You still like him? Why not---"
Anna didn't let him finish, "Let's go back to the hotel and pack our things" then started to walk away leaving her cousin staring at the crumpled newspaper.
~majrocks~
For the past days Yoh busied himself in finishing all the commitments that he and his manager Jun had agreed on this trip including the missing scenes on his upcoming movie.
From the outside he looks like a dedicated actor but Jun could see right through him that behind that endless energy and enthusiasm that he shows is a longing and sorrow that he is forced to hide. He is just killing time to make himself forget the misfortune he had experienced. And now as she watched him pack his things on autopilot something inside her snap and she won't take any of this craziness anymore.
"Yoh…" she called his attention
"Yes?"
"Do you still like her?"
"Is it bad if I say yes? I mean it's not that easy to forget" he answered still not looking at her.
"Why don't you come to her and ask for another chance?"
He smiled bitterly, "After everything that happened? You know I cannot do that"
"Why? Because of your freaking pride?" Jun became irritated at his answer, "The worst thing in being human is when we let our pride run our lives, make decisions for us and rule our minds. We've been badly hurt but were still saying were okay. Would you let Anna walk out of your life without giving it a fair fight? Think it over Yoh, you know better than that. You're a fighter, a man of the world! Why would you stay here and hurt yourself when you could go for your own happiness?"
Yoh felt a priest was throwing a sermon on him, he was thoroughly criticized yet he knows that what she is saying is true.
"You think so?"
"Don't ask me, ask yourself idiot! Must I always insult you to open your eyes to the screaming truth? And for heaven's sake I'm your manager not your personal matchmaker!"
~majrocks~
Yoh and Jun purposely missed their train and stayed one more day here in Aomori. He was supposed to go to Anna's hotel by 7 a.m. but maybe due to exhaustion he woke up at around eight. He readied himself and his speech was rehearsed a couple of times.
Since he doesn't want to gain any attention and to spare himself from answering why he is still in Aomori, Yoh rode in Jun's car and let his manager talk with the receptionist first to check if Anna was in her room. A few minutes later Jun hurriedly approached their car and started the engine to his surprise.
"Wait! Where are we going?" asked Yoh.
"Anna's not here anymore...We need to hurry!" was all she said as maneuvered the car as fast as possible.
"What do you mean? Where is she? Why are we driving so fast?"
"Look, your girl has checked out of her hotel room and according to what the receptionist heard, she and her cousin will be taking the nine a.m. train back to Funbari Hill"
"What?" Yoh then looked at his wristwatch, 8:50; "Jun please drive faster. We need to catch her in time!"
"What do you think I'm doing?"
~majrocks~
Because Yoh was on constant out of town trip he already knows and controlled the in and out of the station. Yet there is something that he cannot control.
As they entered the platform the train left the station.
Jun asked a nearby janitor, "Excuse me. Is that the nine a.m. train for Funbari hill?"
"Yes ma'am"
Yoh felt as if his world suddenly came to a halt. He weakly sat on the nearby bench.
"Yoh…"
"Fate already intervened Jun; I have to let her go."
"What are you saying?"
"There is a reason why we woke up late, there's a reason why we have missed her train. It's really not meant to be. We don't have a choice…"
"We don't have a choice?" Jun raised her voice then threw a soft drinks can at Yoh.
"Ouch!"
"I don't believe that we don't have a choice, we all have one. It's just that other people make a wrong choice. This isn't the end. You used to tell me before that if we want there would always be a way. You know where she lives right? She didn't go to the moon or mars or heaven, she just went home and you can follow her there. "
"But what if---?"
"If you won't ask the answer would always be no"
~majrocks~
It's already been a week since she and Redseb left Aomori and returned home. As expected she'd been bombarded with questions regarding Yoh's infamous text message but good thing Redseb rescued her and fabricated a report to deny the accusations.
When she excused herself to go to her room Jeanne was already there waiting for her and demanded that truth for she didn't believe Redseb's drama.
She tried to deny her suspicions but Jeanne had been persistent and even cried in front of her saying that she didn't trust her anymore. The last thing that Anna wants is a crying lady in front of her so after grumbling a few words she told Jeanne the whole story. And now a week after that she was heading to their company and back to their office.
When she opened her door she was greeted by the sweet smell of flowers and when she looked inside she saw her office was transformed into a makeshift flower shop.
"Miss Tanaka!" she called her secretary.
The person called immediately went to her direction.
"Welcome back Miss Kyouyama!"
"Well, okay. But what happened to my office?"
"Oh that, a while ago a delivery boy arrived and brought those flowers saying that they are for you"
"For me? All of them?"
The secretary nodded.
She went inside and found a card in her table:
'I'm not rich to buy yesterday but I'm willing to trade my future for a day spent with you'
Anna can't help but smile at the message inside the card; too corny for her taste.
She put it aside then continued to work
Later Seyram arrives from school.
"Hi Anna! Wow! I didn't know that we have a new line of business? You're managing this flower project?" she said as she took a seat in front of her table.
"Nope, we don't have a flower business. Somebody just gave me all of this."
Her eyes went wide as saucers as the information sink in on her mind.
"Who gave you all of this? Is that your boyfriend?"
Anna raise an eyebrow at her, "How many times do I have to clear that out? I DON'T HAVE A BOYFRIEND! Never had, never will!"
Seyram outs her hand in front of her to show that she surrenders, "Okay fine. Sorry"
~majrocks~
Yoh was now in front of the so called Funbari Palace, flowers at his hand; he checked his reflection at his car's rear view mirror and smiled at what he saw, 'Perfect'
He got out of the car and reached for the doorbell of the enormous off white gate and was greeted by a maid.
"Excuse me, can I help you?" asked Kanna at the brunette in front of her.
"I'm looking for Anna Kyouyama"
"Oh, Miss Anna is not here. Wait… isn't you Yoh Asakura?" she asked as she rummaged her pocket for a piece of paper.
Yoh sweat dropped, "Uh…"
Suddenly the gate opened and a silver car emerged from it.
"Can I have an autograph? I'm a big fan of yours!" Kanna squealed in delight then batted her eyelashes at him.
Yoh sweat dropped again, he needs to know where Anna is right now; he signed the paper then asks, "By the way, where---"
"Yoh?" he was cut off when he heard a familiar voice
"Redseb!" he greeted, and then saw another person emerged form the car. Redseb was dressed in a tuxedo and beside him is a beautiful silver haired girl with ruby red eyes. She was dressed in a peach colored gown with flowers in her hair.
"Long time no see. Uhm… by the way I'm looking for Anna" Yoh said.
Redseb felt silent for a moment, looked at Jeanne then answered him, "Oh Anna, she's on her way to the church for the wedding"
Color drained from Yoh's face, "T-the church for the wedding?"
Redseb nodded, "It's the church near the Orchidarium. It's really a special day for her and all of us. "
Yoh's jaw dropped then immediately left the cousins and made his way for his car; as he passed them by he said, "Thanks Redseb, but I need to go now"
After he left, Jeanne punched the blond boy, "What's got into you? Why did you tell him that? He might do something at the wedding!"
"Ouch!" Redseb wailed, "I can't help it, he is bound to know it sooner or later, and didn't you see his expression on his face when I said it? Priceless! "
Jeanne rolled her eyes, "If anything funny happens on the wedding, I'll surely tell dad and you'll be so dead!"
Redseb just winked at her, "I'm really looking forward to the wedding now", then entered back into the car, "Come on, Jeanne"
~majrocks~
A blond was looking at herself at the mirror; the wedding gown clung to her body perfectly and hugged her curves in place. She was looking radiant. Today was her wedding day. Just a week ago her life turned upside down and now here she was getting ready to start again. She just wished that she made the right decision.
She now reached for her flowers wrapped in a red fancy paper and turned her face at the man waiting for her; her dad.
Akira Kyouyama looks tenderly at his daughter then wiped a few tears that threaten to fall on his eyes.
"You're the prettiest bride I've ever seen but don't tell it to your mom okay?" then hugs his daughter.
"Dad!"
"You're really a Kyouyama and the prettiest one!"
"And I won't breathe a word to mom" she said then put a hand on his elbow.
~majrocks~
He was lost he knew it, not just figuratively but also literally. When he immediately left Anna's house after learning that her wedding will be held at the church near the Orchidarium he forgot that he didn't have any idea where the hell is the Orchidarium.
He can't go back now, for sure Redseb and the pretty lady already left, he didn't have any choice but to ask someone, but whom? Who can tell him where it is without asking so many questions?
Ren…
Yeah, he remembered Jun telling him before that Ren once attended a conference in the Orchidarium.
In less that three rings Ren answered,
"Uhmm…. Ren… I … uhm are you busy?"
"Not that much why?"
"Do you know where the Orchidarium is?"
"Yes, why?"
"I need directions on how to go there"
"Why?"
"I need it now, can I just explain later?"
"No, explain now and get what you want or explain later and get it also later."
Holy cow. He forgot how alike Ren and Jun are. Why is it that in the movies that he'd done when the 'I'm going to stop the wedding' scene plays, the protagonists already knew where the church is without anyone informing him of the location.
"Time is running..." he heard Ren said and felt déjà vu just washed over him; isn't that the very same line that he told Anna before?
He smiled as he remembered Anna's reaction.
"Okay Ren, I need it because..."
~majrocks~
The music began to play; she herself chose the song to be sung while she walks the aisle. She saw everyone look at her direction. Her eight bridesmaids and ushers came before her.
She was now besides her dad, walking side by side.
In the middle of the aisle she stopped; her dad looked surprised and she could see people murmuring amongst themselves.
Akira looks worried as he watches his daughter stood still as a statue, "An--"
"Dad, do you think I should do this? Can we just wait a little longer?"
He clasps his daughter's hand, "Honey, you're just nervous. Every bride feels that. But the sooner we start the better. Let's get this over with okay?"
She nodded then started to walk; 'Will someone come and stop this wedding?'
~majrocks~
Yoh on the other hand almost had the car flying as he reaches the church. As quick as a lightning he got out of his car and run for the door...
But the thing is, it's already close, signaling that the wedding already started...
He was already losing hope when his eyes caught the churches' bell and an idea pops in his mind.
~majrocks~
Her groom and the guests were now staring at her, the priest already asked her twice and right now she was drowning in nervousness.
She opened her mouth to speak when they heard a weird sound. To be specific, the church bell is ringing!
They all hurried outside and are curious as to what is happening.
When they look up, they saw a man making the bell ring. When he noticed that a lot of people gathered outside the church Yoh stopped.
Anna's brow furrowed, "Yoh?"
He smiled widely; at last he had gotten their attention, "Anna! Don't marry him! Please stop this wedding!'
They all looked at Anna who blushes, "Marry? Me getting married? What kind of joke is that? "
Yoh looked again and was shocked to see a different woman wearing the wedding gown. She looked a bit like Anna but definitely not she for Anna was wearing the same peach colored gown that Redseb's companion is wearing.
A vein pops in Anna's forehead and shouted, "Yoh no baka! Get down here immediately! Do you have any idea what you're doing at my sister's wedding?"
Yoh sweat dropped then blushes, "B-but Redseb said...."
The bride, Angelou Kyouyama glared at her cousin, "Redseb!"
Redseb sweat dropped then raises a peace symbol with his finger.
~majrocks~
They were now on the hot seat. The wedding proceeded smoothly, then after that Yoh and Anna were interrogated by the whole clan. Because of that, they were forced to tell them everything including Yoh's infamous text message. Yoh muttered a bunch of apologies to the bride and groom as well as their families.
They all forgave him and even invited him to the reception while they enjoy teasing Anna on the side. Anna glares at him while smiling on the approaching visitors.
He meet all of her family and had a chitchat with the people he texted while on the hospital. Anna noticed how he easily blended in with her family. How he effortlessly charmed his way even with the elders, she can't help but smile.
"He is a very fine young man. I like him" she heard her dad whispered in her ear.
"Dad!"
"Why? Isn't he your boyfriend?" Akira teased her youngest daughter.
Anna pouted then glared at him.
He laughed then playfully touched Anna's hair, "But I still like him. Showbiz isn't that bad if you look closely at it" then turned to a guest that had just arrived.
Anna sighed then went to the direction that would lead her to the swimming pool; away from all the guests and family members who found a new form of entertainment by teasing her.
She was walking silently when she heard someone called her name.
"Anna!"
She turns around and saw Yoh walking near her.
"What are you doing here?" she coldly asks him.
"Anna, I- I wanted to say sorry. I know I've said things that I shouldn't have, at that time I was so confused, so… so jealous. Can you still forgive me?" he looks at her eyes pleading for forgiveness.
"Would that make you feel better?"
"Yes"
"So, you're asking forgiveness just to make yourself feel better?"
"No, it's more than that Anna" he reasons out.
Anna turns her back at him, "Guess, we can't change anything that happened, but I guess I could always forgive right? You're forgiven, but please leave my life alone now."
"I love you"
Anna blushed but sarcastically said instead, "Love? How can you possibly love someone as cheap as me? And someone who would want all the guys that she likes begging at her feet all at the same time, can you tolerate that behavior?"
"Shhh… " Yoh made her face him then puts a finger in her mouth, "Stop saying that to the woman I love. She doesn't deserve it."
Anna fled from his touch, "Please stop. Just go now… get lost!" then walked away from him.
"Anna!" he called, "I love you. Do you know that I can't swim? If you want me to get lost then I'll do it" he walked backwards then let himself fall in the water.
Anna's eyes widen as she saw him sink into the water; he really can't swim.
"Oh my gosh! Yoh I don't also know how to swim!" she shrieked in horror. Panic striking her being.
'What!' Was all he could think as his lungs were slowly giving in and he is squirming for dear life
Anna immediately searched for something to help Yoh float. She saw a nearby diving board and a rope.
She quickly tied the rope to the diving board and toss it to Yoh, "Yoh! Hold on to this!"
He blindly reached for the board and when Anna saw Yoh finally took hold of it, pulls the rope with all her might.
When he was near the rim of the pool Anna helps him to reach the upper ground.
Yoh was coughing as Anna pats his back and held his body close to hers.
"What are you thinking? How can you assume that I can swim?" Anna scolded him but a few tears rolled on her cheeks.
Yoh faintly smiled at her then caresses her cheeks, "Now tell me you don't love me?" then turns it to a coy smile.
Anna wipes her face then slap him hard, "Don't you ever dare to do that again to me!"
"So you're my girlfriend now?"
"What? I'm not yet crazy to do that."
Yoh laughed, "Then I'll court you into it"
Anna smiled devilishly at him, "I think we can manage to arrange that."
He sweat dropped, he had a weird feeling about this
"Well, you will have to court me for half a year then to be able to hold my hand you have to ask for it for a month, another for hug, two for a kiss and another so you can introduce me to others. Understand?"
Yoh scratches his head, "Seems like a long engagement to me."
Anna raised her eyebrows at him, ""Think it over. I'm giving you an hour."
"It's a deal"
Anna produced a pen and paper form her hand bag and handed it to Yoh, "Write those down"
""Write what?"
"What we've just agreed. Write it down"
Yoh's jaw dropped, "Really? I should?"
Anna rolled her eyes which prompted Yoh to write all of it down.
"And don't forget to sign it," she reminded him.
After a while Yoh gave her the pen and paper.
"Signed?"
He nodded.
She puts his thumb on her lips which made Yoh blush while using her lipstick as ink and presses his thumb on the paper for thumb mark.
"It's settled then. You can't back out now" she stated, "Legal and binding"
Yoh gave her those sweet smiles that he usually give in his movies then kissed her lightly on her lips leaving the blond dazed for a moment.
"Hey! We have a contract remember? Your braking one statement here!"
"I didn't, you said I still have an hour right?" then kissed her for the second time.
~majrocks~
"Are you positive that you saw Yoh on the church?" a reporter asked his asset on the phone.
"I'm 100% sure. I'll give you the other details that I have gathered…"
"Okay, wait I'll be there in an hour." As he puts the phone down the reporter smiled to himself, "Well, just my luck, there hadn't been any juicy intrigues this days and that report will surely make a loud noise…"
~majrocks~
I missed writing this although I thought that this was a bit crappy to begin with since it's been ages since I updated. So please forgive me and understand my situation.
Next chapter would be the finale and I hope that you would still follow this until the end. I honestly don't know when I will post it but have faith in me that I'll manage to squeeze it as soon as possible.
Please don't forget to leave a review guys, it really means a lot to hear what other people think about this even constructive criticisms are more than welcome.
Lovelots,
Majrocks .^_^.V