Author's Note: Just wanted to point out that some chapters will vary in length because of how they're formatted.
"…WHAT!!"
The lone word hung high in the air as silence immediately ran after it. The walls of the building shook and trembled as the cry of amazement rang throughout the empty hallways.
Somewhere close, but outside the hotel, there was a nest, high and on top of a sturdy branch of an ancient oak tree. Inside it, a busy bird was currently feeding her chirping younglings. The little birds were oblivious to the startled yell from inside and were already causing an uproar contrasting to the still quiet that had overtaken the mansion after the voice.
"A
cousin?! Are you
sure? Since when?!"
Two figures stood in the darkness of the
hallways. Astoundingly, everyone else within the house was sleeping
peacefully.
'Talk about unfair. I want some sleep too.' Grouchy thoughts came from the one responsible of the outburst. The one who was apparently getting on the nerves of the person across from him in the hallway.
"No, I'm lying." In the dark setting, an elder man's voice dripped with heavy sarcasm.
"Really? Then why'd you wake me, Grandpa? I was sleeping- I could've been asleep right now! Don't you know that it's going to be a long day tomorrow? Anna said she'd have me training before breakfast! It's awful!" A large intake of breath was heard as the horrified ramblings continued, "I'll have to slave around all day, and then do the shopping, and then do the cooking, and then run laps, and THEN-"
"WILL YOU JUST BE QUIET YOH?" snapped the eldest Asakura. "You've never been one to care so why start now?"
"I just thought-" But the elderly man held up his right hand to silence his complaining grandson.
Yoh looked down at the wooden planks on the ground floor and sighed, accepting tomorrow's inevitable fate. The crickets around the two Asakuras sang out their sympathy into the late night. Yoh tiredly leaned against the wall, having realized he was going to be standing and listening for awhile.
"…So I have a cousin?" The statement seemed almost radical at the moment. Yoh never knew that he had relatives. Now why couldn't grandpa have told him this earlier? He ran a hand through his chocolate brown hair and grinned.
'Well, that's nice. Can I go to bed now?' His sleep deprived mind questioned and yawned.
Sadly, Yoh's thoughts were clear on his face, despite the grin. The elder in front of him twitched in irritation at his grandson's natural carefree and bipolar personality. Why did his grandson have to be an idiot?
"Yes Yoh, you have a cousin. But most importantly, your cousin , she – Raven- is coming over from America. She had...a dilemma at school…
xXx
"…and has decided to come here for a bit."
Manta crossed his arms over his chest, suspicious about the sudden news. The Shaman King tournament was soon to arrive. Yoh didn't need any other stress or more trouble headed his way than necessary.
"What kind of dilemma?" Something about the way his father's assistant spoke made him alert to the fact that there was indeed, a slightly odd problem that came with this cousin's arrival.
"An insignificant school realted problem, Mr. Manta. I assure you, nothing too serious."
Manta huffed and sat down, still doubtful. He threw a wary glance to the assisstant and asked, "So when is she coming?"
xXx
"In about a week." Yoh's grandfather's face was grim as he muttered out the last of his speech.
"Cool," Before him, his grandson smiled, "Can't wait to meet her.." Silence rang in the air once again that night. "So, er..."
The elder Asakura raised up an eyebrow in wonder. "What is it, Yoh?"
"…Can I go to bed now?"