Yoh and Anna's footsteps echoed; a repetitive tap. They were thankfully alone (so far, anyway,) in the high, symmetrical hall.
"Come on, we really should hurry up!" Yoh called back to his wife, attempting to whisper. Unfortunately, his voice could carry in only one volume. A grin sprawled across his lips and he added, "You know that Ren doesn't like intruders."
Anna looked up as she plodded along. Although they had taken the subway, her swollen feet were achy and sore from all of the walking they had to endure from there. "Hf...hf...He realizes that we are here, anyway. It's not like the fact that we have to walk through four freaking chambers is going to make a difference when we finally do confront him."
Yoh stopped mid-step and blinked. "'Confront?' Why such a brutal word? I mean, Ren and I go way back...It'll be great to see him again, don't you think?"
Anna halted as well after catching up to him. "You seem to think that this is all some sort of reunion." She expected nothing less from Yoh.
"Um," Yoh made a face. "It kind of...is...?"
"No. We are talking about something equally as important as the Shaman Tournament here. You know that much."
"Well, yeah," he replied casually, scratching the back of his neck. "But you know what? If I don't freak out about it, it will all go just as smoothly anyways."
"Haha! 'Just as smoothly,'" Anna laughed. She abruptly let out a small gasp and covered her mouth with her hand, never feeling that she could comfortably let her emotions out.
"Yes."
He touched the hand that was poised over her face. As he brought it to his lips in a kiss, Anna's cheeks flushed and her eyes lightly closed.
Yoh laughed through his satisfied smile. It felt like he had earned the love of the greatest, strongest, and most beautiful woman in the world when she beamed at him.
"WHAT THE HELL—?!! YOH!!!"
"HUH?!"
He turned away from Anna quickly, for she had turned deathly pale in an instant due to whatever it was ahead of them.
Not eight meters away was a gigantic, lumbering, fuzzy object. It was but an enigmatic silhouette; illuminated around its furry body by the dim light that it was blocking out.
And it was alive. And moving.
Towards them.
Sweat trickled down Yoh's forehead; he hesitated on what to do. He wasn't going to attack something that he could barely see...
Anna, however, wasn't making things any easier for him. She looked for blame to pressure her protector, and it brought him down.
(She...had a knack for that...)
"How on EARTH did you not realize that a giant Furby was coming up on us?! This isn't exactly a crowded hall!! What, a couple stairways?!"
"Hey, you didn't see it, either!"
"I was the one who warned you, baka!!!"
"KUUROOOWWWRRR——!!!!!!" The mighty lump emitted something between a light meow and a roar.
"Just don't tick it off anymore, Sweetheart!"
"Don't you 'Sweetheart' me!!!"
"AMIDAMARU!!!"
Yoh flung open his white cloak and wrapped his fingers around the memorial tablet slung through one of his belt loops. The stone slab was what housed his loyal mochirei.
But a moment later, a whorl of silver wind blew through, and there stood a six-hundred-year-old samurai ghost in front of his master.
"Yoh-dono, I know that I was told to keep sealed away, but I knew that you should have called upon me before entering Tao Ren's domain," said the samurai.
Yoh smiled. "Thank you, Amidamaru. You know that you floating around me would have been a dead giveaway of my identity for any shaman. You really needed to keep undercover as much as possible during this time."
Amidamaru bowed low. "I only serve you."
"Ah, well..." Yoh's arms crossed behind his head.
Amidamaru and Yoh laughed alongside each other, reveling in each others' company after Amidamaru's long silence.
Anna, however, was losing patience.
She fumbled underneath her black cloak for a moment with one hand, and when it showed itself again, a long tangle of 1080 blue beads were intertwined between her fingers.
"GAAAH!!"
"UFF!!"
"You know what? I don't care if you've kept your mouth shut since we left Funbari Hill. This is a RIDICULOUS TIME FOR IDLE CHAT WHEN WE NEED TO GET THROUGH THIS PASSAGE!!!"
"Annnnnnaaaa..." Yoh whined through a choke hold from Anna's left arm. "Suman..."
"Lady Anna, please let me carry out my duty," pleaded Amidamaru. He was practically strangled by the prayer beads that were just a little too-snugly tied around him.
Anna's eyes narrowed, and then she released her husband's neck (much to his relief).
"-Geho-geho-geho-" Yoh coughed. "Amidamaru, into Harusame!"
Anna unbound the spirit, and he entered the sword with a flash of fiery orange light.
"OVERSOUL!!!!"
With the glowing sword's hilt grasped in Yoh's sure, steady right hand, the hairy guest was startled. It started to softly bumble away.
"Ah! It's leaving!" Yoh called out, stating the obvious.
"Yoh! It's," Anna peered harder through the chamber. Yoh's illuminating blade had helped her to see their fellow occupant much more clearly. Her eyes widened.
"It's a panda..."
Yoh took a step back and disengaged his Oversoul. "What?"
"IT IS."
At the boom of a loud, unfamiliar voice, the entire perimeter became lit.
"Ah!" Yoh gasped, and Anna's head turned this way and that to take in their surroundings. Ornate vases, red tapestries, and a reflective marble floor characterized the room in a sharp, chic, almost supernatural way. Intricately-patterned metal railings wound up the length of shining stairways. Their steps met near the ceiling on a strong, intimidating balcony. At the center of this towering architecture was a tall, auburn threshold. The magnificent portal was crested with glossy, golden dragon figures at the top, and each door was embossed with an image of the Tao.
The splendour of the environment, the laborious mission, the sudden brightness, and the...Giant Panda...
It was all making Anna very light-headed.
Yoh and Amidamaru looked on for a few seconds at the whimpering panda, still scuttling toward the shadows just below the stairs. Then, Yoh's chin rose up, and he was faced with the stare of a daunting man.
Tao Ren stood in a staid manner, looking over the balcony railing. His height was great, topping off at nearly six feet. He carried himself in such a way, though, that it seemed that he was even taller. With such a pretentious stature, it was amusing that he was complemented with an imperially slim build. The aura of a lord from the top of his pointy, jet-black hair down to his small feet, he was donned with the most august of Chinese dress. Shining purple silk immersed in a cape of black, a soft golden sash, and black, thinly soled slippers comprised his attire.
He had a pale complexion, detailed with intense features. His lips were as tedious and thin as if a needle had painted them on with India ink. The nose, placid in the middle of his face, was small, delicate, and sharp, and below it were wisps of hair that made up a distinguished mustache. Ren's beard was equally as slight, ending in a tip the size of a sharpened pencil point below his chin. What was perhaps his most wickedly profound facial feature, though, was met with Yoh's welcome attention.
His eyes. A severe, strong, and vivid yellow hue burst forth from his slanted irises. They were not only the eyes of a tiger, but the eyes...of a Tao.
"Asakura Yoh." The man smirked. "Asakura Anna. To find you like this, in my own home..."
"We are surprised ourselves," Yoh replied in sincerity.
"..." Ren looked down further. "Yes." His head twisted in the direction of the panda, which was curled up in lazy defense beneath the stairway. The man's mouth downturned ever-so-slightly.
"You know why we came here, don't you?" Yoh inquired him. He already knew the true answer.
Ren looked on at Yoh with an I-think-you-are-an-imbecile air, and yet his voice maintained a level of respect when he spoke. "Not really."
"Sou ka?" Yoh asked in return. Amidamaru watched intently, and Anna wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. She was quietly perspiring, surrounded with the stuffiness of a mansion.
Ren knew that eventually Yoh would speak, but he had intentions of his own. "Yoh, Anna, I would like you to follow me. Please don't be made to feel uncomfortable here."
Yoh and Amidamaru looked at one another, each curiously wondering what they should do. Everything was awkward and forced, but the ice needed to be broken somehow. Neither they nor Anna had seen Ren for five years. Yoh turned to Anna, who was a ways behind him and his guardian spirit.
Anna, appearing twice as uncomfortable as he, looked up directly at Ren. She quietly but assuredly replied to his request with, "All right, we will follow you. Are we going to the highest chamber?"
Ren nodded and then turned around abruptly, facing the passageway out of the Xuan-Ming level. The doors opened up to him, and he seemed to glide through.
Anna heaved a great sigh and softly touched the Shaman King's back. "Let's go," she urged.
Yoh faced her and smiled. When Anna looked down to the ground and bit her lip, Yoh gestured for Amidamaru to trail behind them. He humbly obeyed.
When Anna took the first move forward, Yoh realized that Anna's eyes squinted shut when she stepped. It was as though she was wincing in pain. Had Yoh been oblivious to her needs all this time?
"Anna?" he asked her, voice hinting concern.
"What."
"Are you doing all right?" As they walked up the stairs, warily keeping one eye on the panda that lay underneath their path, Yoh turned Anna's cheek toward him. "Anna, you're turning bright red. And I think that you have a temperature."
"I'm fine. We'll be up to the top soon. The 'Dan-Yuan.'"
"...Nn. Anna, I'm worried."
"What the heck, Yoh? You shouldn't be worried about me." Anna jerked away from him. "I mean it, we need to focus on our duty. You can't get distracted so easily—I didn't train you that way."
Yoh, though age twenty-two, was never too mature or experienced to be scared of Anna's wrath. Even with the threat, though, he shared more with her when they reached the top of the steps.
"If you won't let me worry about you," he told her in a huff, "at least let me worry about our baby."
The Ice Queen's death glare was softened this time. "...I need to sit down as soon as possible, Yoh."
"See? You need to—"
"WE need to keep moving." With this, she briskly got ahead of him, her hands swinging at her sides fully clenched. Yoh caught the an annoyed look wrenched across her face as she whipped past him.
Amidamaru blinked a few times. "Yoh-dono...Lady Anna really never changes, does she?"
"Aaahh..." Yoh cried. "Amidamaru, let's hurry. I caught that hint about the training."
Amidamaru nearly laughed, but he kept it to himself. He was worried about Anna, too.
FUNBARI HILL
"Ah, Yoh-sama, he is so cute..." The young woman blushed, her cheeks as pink as her hair. Her eyes went aglow at the mere sight of Hana. His shoulder-length blond hair absolutely toyed with the wind, whipping around in his face and making him giggle delightfully. But he just sat there plainly, gazing wide-eyed at the nature around him. Tamamura Tamao was the onlooker, trying to feel content just staring through the window that separated her from the outdoors.
The yard near twilight looks like the brightest sunrise with such an angel running around out there, Tamao thought to herself. She adored anything about Yoh, but in all honesty, it was his son that she loved most. He was a pure soul, full of more spirit and jubilation than she'd ever seen in a boy.
Yoh was a little behind Tamao, beaming at her awe over Hana. At twenty years old, he was incredibly self-complacent. He felt that he had the carefree life he'd always dreamed of; the world in the palm of his hand (which, ultimately, he did); and, best of all,
The world's most wonderful family.
Yoh looked on at his wife, clad in a thin white top and tan capris, lying under the tree and sewing as their five-year-old son played with a fallen leaf. It was a crisp, cool autumn day, and the sunset dazzled everything with a reddish-orange glow. It was right then that he remembered to ask Tamao what Anna told him to.
"Tamao?"
"Yes, Yoh-sama."
"How would you feel if you could be Hana's mom?"
A jolt of electricity shot through Tamao's system. "Y-Y-Yoh-samaaa????" What in the world...was he talking about?!
She had always secretly wished that she was the one with Yoh. Could it be that he knew this, and was just teasing her along?
"Hehe!" Yoh laughed. "Why such a shocked face? I'm serious...in a sense. I mean, I have something to ask of you. And I really want you to consider it."
Tamao looked away from the glass, now painfully glistening from the setting sun's rays, and timidly darted her eyes away from Yoh. She knew it was rude not to face his direct request, but she couldn't bring herself to take him seriously with such a random comment. It had touched her too deeply, and she was completely embarrassed.
"Tamao...?" Yoh inquired nervously. "Are you okay? I mean, you don't have to answer, but I haven't even really asked you yet..."
Tamao's blush deepened, and her head shook nervously from side to side. She could now barely see Yoh's face, for the sun had gone down and no lights had been turned on in the meantime. But that was for the better; she couldn't control her racing heart. Say something! Say anything! Anything good, I mean...
"I didn't want to ignore you. I'll try my best to do anything to help you, Yoh-sama."
"Anything?"
"Ah, I..."
"Tamao, please look up at me. This is important."
Yoh's index finger curled under her chin and lifted the girl's head up. She immediately grew doe-eyed and gulped. "Okay," she told him calmly. "Just ask me."
Yoh's teeth shone white in the dark as he grinned at her. "Well, really, Anna—"
"AHEM."
In the doorway Anna stood, clutching her son and propping his sleeping body up in her arms. She glared at Tamao, who was nearly eighteen and quite pretty, and then at her husband. Their faces were but ten centimeters apart, and Yoh's hand was supporting Tamao's gaze from underneath the tip of her chin. Anna asked icily, "What about me, exactly?"
"Aah, um," Yoh stammered. "I was...asking Tamao about...you know."
Anna raised her head up. "One second while I tuck Hana in bed. Running around so much makes him go out like a light, you know." She cleared her throat pronouncedly. "I will be right back."
Quick as a flash, Yoh's hand fell to his side and stayed there. He decided to let Anna do the talking when she came back so that she would not inflict on him a world of pain. Tamao fell dead silent, awaiting their favor to ask of her.
When Hana's door closed so that his night light shone through only a creak, Anna approached the two. She turned to Tamao, her light blue eyes highly visible even in the dark.
"We're on a mission from the Great Spirit."
-cricket chirps-
"What, Anna-sama?" Tamao's face contorted in confusion. This had to be some joke now.
"I mean it," Anna snapped. "Yoh and I need to gather together the seven Legendary Warriors. We already have two ready to work toward our goal, but the other five will take considerably longer to assemble peacefully. If we wait any longer...it surely won't go as smoothly as it could right now."
"Nani...?" Tamao had trouble deciphering whatever Anna was asking of her. She fidgeted and fiddled with her fingers, asking, "What exactly do you mean? What 'Warriors'? And, which two have you gotten prepared?"
"We can't tell you!" Anna told her sharply. "Yoh is the Shaman King. It is for him to use the Great Spirit's unbelievable power, and it is also for the Great Spirit to use Yoh to carry out Its will. It is the perfect integration, and you certainly shouldn't question it."
"Hai, Anna-sama!" Tamao apologized. She bowed. "Wakarimasu." I understand
"Tamao," Yoh interrupted Anna carefully. "What we would need is someone to make sure that Hana has a normal childhood while we're away."
"And Ryu could DEFINITELY not do that on his own," Anna puffed in disfavor. Yoh laughed quietly, nervously; he then continued.
"He still needs to go to school. He needs someone to look after him. And bake him cookies."
Anna elbowed Yoh at his ridiculous last comment on parenting. "Could you do this for Hana?" she asked, almost sweetly.
Tamao couldn't believe what was going to happen. Yoh, the forever unattainable love of her life, was leaving for what sounded like some while, at least. She would be in charge of his own son—the playful, feisty, completely irresistibly adorable Hana. And not only was the easygoing Yoh wanting for this to happen, but...wait, didn't she hear multiple times that it was Anna's idea to ask Tamao?
She didn't know what to say. But something subconsciously pried a crystal clear "Yes" from her little lips.
Yoh chuckled and pat Tamao on the shoulder. "I know he will be very happy to find out about this. He'll get on fine without us; he's got determination to pull through with whatever comes his way."
Anna, for the first time, lowered her eyes and bowed low to Tamao. The rosy-haired girl blinked repeatedly for a moment. Soon after, she put her fingers to her lips in surprise and utter appreciation of Anna's immense trust in her.
"I guess...I shall be going to bed," Tamao told the couple. "When will you tell me when I should prepare to give my all into the keeping of this household?"
She had become so floored in the honor that Anna and Yoh bestowed upon her, that she hadn't realized they were already off to their bedroom.
Tamao's heart was light as a feather after the heavy conversation that night.
"Aah..." Anna panted with a cringe as she, Yoh, and Amidamaru found their way through yet another door. The last door. Her head was absolutely pounding.
This portal, like most others they'd past, opened mysteriously for them, as if it was magical. But that was hardly the case.
Going by this door, Yoh wrapped his cloak comfortingly around his wife's shaky shoulders. He bowed slightly to the panda that held open the entrance.
What the hell is with all of these pandas...? he thought. He realized that Ren had done numerous things to the Tao Palace, but the most bizarre addition by far was the quiet, almost eerily obedient pandas that guarded every hall.
When they were halfway down the hall, the light quality began to diminish with each step forth. Yoh wanted to at least make sure that he could see Anna, and he became wary about what lurking forces could steal away Amidamaru. Ren was a powerful and puzzling shaman after all, capable of anything. He summoned his mochirei back into his memorial tablet, and quietly kissed Anna.
"It'll be okay; I think the door is right here in front of us."
He felt Anna's hair brush his face as she nodded. To feel her body tremble in his arms made even Yoh nervous, for it was very rarely that Anna looked even remotely weak.
She, on the other hand, was as fired up as ever to get on with the "interview" that awaited them. Though her condition was poor, she would stand by Yoh's side throughout the entire process. Besides, there was no one who made the Shaman Queen feel more confident than her Shaman King.
Surprisingly to Yoh, Anna sure-handedly pushed on the door to open before he did. When it wasn't pulled fully open by another panda like they were expecting, Yoh helped her to force the way through.
Bursting beyond the heavy doors, Yoh was expecting to find the unlit, dismally colored dungeon that he had found himself in years ago. However, he found a new facet to the Dan Yuan chamber this time. It was lit in a red haze that came from the blazing fireplace. The tan carpeting's elegant design illuminated and flickered in the light.
Ren sat in a high-backed, black leather chair. Bason, looking rather glum, towered behind him.
"You have finally reached it," Ren said amusedly. He seemed in decent spirits toward Yoh, who he often resented. "Please, have a seat." He austerely motioned toward the two plush, red armchairs facing him.
"Well," Yoh started to explain as he and Anna settled into the chairs, "I was going to ask if after all this high-up improvement, you'd installed an elevator or something."
"Oh?" His eyes grew intrigued for a split second.
"It's just that Anna isn't doing so well right now."
The woman beside him violently ripped off the white cloak that he was sharing with her. "I told you that I'm fine, you stupid obaka!!!" She gnashed her teeth together.
This was just what she did not want: Yoh to bring to Ren's attention that she was vulnerable.
The Tao's eyes glistened with the luster of venom. "I am glad that the...Shaman Queen... is in optimal condition." A smile began to coyly spread.
Yoh braced himself, hand over the fully concealed Harusame.
Anna was trying to take in exactly what he was going to do. But she never even had a chance to defend herself.
In a flash, Ren was poised behind her with complete control of a spectacular shining Oversoul. The halberd that he controlled, his fearsome kwan dao, channeled all of Bason's power and might through its solid gold handle. This weapon was pressed steadily into the flesh of Anna's throat, and as Ren's temper flared, the blade came closer and closer to cutting.
Anna panted and bit down on her lip hard. As the blood trickled down her chin, sweat formed on her forehead.
"Go ahead, Anna," Ren sneered. "I would love to hear you scream out loud."
Seeming that she would break down and cry with all that was bearing down on her, she remained headstrong.
"Yoh..." she pleaded hoarsely.
Yoh's head hung low as he sat in his armchair. One would never have accurately guessed how very in tune he was with what was going on; he, with his silky, dark brown hair curtaining his concealed face.
Ren's cool expression exchanged itself for one of maniacal intolerance. He wanted Anna's integrity to crumple now.
"Get that filthy piece of garbage away from her," came the voice from under a long mane.
Ren's head turned sharply toward Yoh; Anna's didn't dare move an inch. Inside, her heart instantly fluttered...
Before filling with even more fear.