Forgotten Memories

By Elle Pellano

Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King.

Chapter 11: Confessions

"I'm not sure if you're a monster or just some lucky guy, Ryuu," Horo Horo said after gulping another can of soda. He had three already that evening.

The gang was huddled in the private dining area of the Asakura itako inn for Ryuu's re-awakening party. Empty canned soda and chips were scattered all around the place ala Funbari Onsen's summer vacation party part two.

While the gang enjoyed themselves, Suzume and Anna both sat glowering in one corner of the room. Their master would kill them if she found out that her grandson and his friends had messed up the place. Suzume, in particular, felt guilty for taking part in this boisterous celebration. She had even helped Tamao buy some groceries from the shop at the foot of Osorezan as the gang trained all afternoon.

"I'm the strongest man in the world for all you know, Horo Horo," Ryuu grinned and flexed his arms.

"Don't be such a braggart. You're only lucky 'cause we arrived just in time to save your neck! Hao's spirit may not have the chance to absorb your furyoku completely." Ren sneered.

"Nonetheless, Ryuu was able to recover in just one day unlike the rest of the trainees who remained asleep until now. That is really something," Jeanne spoke with a hint of amazement.

The tall guy lovingly held the girl's hands while tears streamed down his face, "You really are my friend, Mistress Jeanne. I appreciate your commendations."

"I agree with you, Jeanne. You're such a downer, Ren. Can't you see that our guy here is a survivor?" Chocolove patted Ryuu's head like a dog.

"One thing's for sure though. It appears that Ryuu still possesses his spiritual senses," Faust VIII remarked which hushed everyone in the room.

"Oh yes, I haven't noticed that he can see Tokagero and other ghosts until now," Tamao thought out loud.

"I'm still examining the other victims whom I hope would wake up soon. No offense, Anna but I'm really baffled at your current situation," the doctor turned to the itako who was brooding at the corner. The group was all eyes on Yoh's fiance.

"It's a bit frustrating on my part as a doctor that I couldn't find any cure to treat your affliction if you may call it that way."

"What happened to Anna is really strange. No hard feelings Ryuu but I don't believe Anna has lesser spiritual strength than you for her to completely lose her powers," Lyserg admitted.

"The very reason I'm undergoing the Soul Purification Ritual is to gain them back," Anna stood up. "I better get enough sleep tonight for tomorrow's second try." The blond itako shot a glare at Yoh before leaving, "Better clean up this mess or else." Then she left the room and went to her own.

He had always known the leader of the Patch tribe as a strong-willed man who made the right decisions all the time. He had always known him to be his father and master although they were never related by blood. He was found alone in the oasis and was adopted by the Patch tribe when he was very young. Ever since he was asked to be his apprentice, he had never left his master's side. That night he positioned himself behind him as his father convened the Patch council of elders' meeting. The village priest who was called Hao stood before them bearing some grim news of their neighbor tribe's demise.

"I found her in the oasis. She was the lone survivor of the eastern shamanic tribe," he heard him say. The elders wore shocked faces upon hearing his words.

"Are you telling us Hao that the entire tribe was wiped out completely?" one of the council members wanted to verify his understanding.

"Yes, save for her," the priest confirmed.

"Huh! The gods had punished them for their malpractices. They deserved it," another elder spoke with spite.

The leader raised his wrinkled hand to silence everyone. "That would be enough. We are always known for being a hospitable tribe to friends and enemies alike." Then he waved at the guards on standby, "Bring our guest in."

The two warriors opened the door and motioned the girl to come inside. Her eyes showed fear as she faced the curious members. Hao let out a small smile to make her feel comfortable.

"What is your name?" the old council head inquired.

"I was called Anya by my father, Tiberium."

"I did not know my GOOD FRIEND Tiberium had a beautiful daughter." His apprentice chuckled behind his back for he recognized the sarcasm in the council head's voice. Tiberium and his master had been long time rivals.

"He asked me to come here sir… to give this to you." Anya pulled the necklace from her neck and handed it over to the council head. The other elders gasped at the sight of the red pendant. They began murmuring things to each other but the girl who by then looked confused can only make out the words, "fire" and "powerful."

The council head furrowed his eyebrows as he looked intensely at the gem on the palm of his hand. After a few minutes, he breathed deeply which signaled the rest to stop whispering because he had finally come to a decision. "Of course, Patch village will be its new home as much as it will be yours."

"Master Aureum, she can't possibly stay here. We are all aware of what kind of tribe she once belonged to," the elder who made the spiteful remark earlier protested.

"Yes, we have always known the eastern tribe for breaking some shamanic laws and engaging into malicious practices. Although Tiberium and I shared an argumentative relationship, our tribes had been fated by the gods to be forever allies. Their leader had entrusted his only surviving daughter and their guardian spirit to us. It is a crime to turn our backs on an old ally's death wish. You may go now, Anya. From now on, you belonged to the Patch village."

He then instructed his apprentice behind him, "Argon, please provide the assistance that she needs."

"You seemed to be in a very deep thought," Hao approached his new spirit who was floating on the edge of a cliff overlooking a wide river.

"I was just reminiscing the days when I was still alive, Master Hao," Argon turned around to face him.

"The mind is really a wonderful work of art, don't you think? It lets you remember things from your past even if they are but 500-year old memories."

"Indeed Master Hao," the spirit replied then said to himself. Although in your case, you can't recall a single thing.

"You said you have been my follower during my Patch tribe days. Can you help me remember who Anya is?"

"She was a very strong beautiful woman."

"The positive descriptions are fine but I need more than those."

"She was your wife."

Hao grinned. "Then my suppositions had been right. The girl whom you had haunted with 'fake' memories had been my reincarnated wife all along."

"Would you want her still even if you just rendered her powerless?"

"I will take everything my little brother owns but I will do it in a manner that would hurt him the most."

It was night time but she radiated with loveliness. She wore a wreath of small blue violet flowers and a flowing white robe that was embroidered with gold thread forming intricate patterns. Two young girls accompanied her as she walked to a straw hut. The spacious candle-lit room only contained an aged Patch tribe member sitting behind a small wooden table and a kneeling man whose face was mostly covered by his long hair as he bowed in front of the elder.

"Ahhh, she has finally arrived. We can start the ceremony," she heard the old Patch say.

She knelt beside the bowed man but did not have the chance to peek at his face because the aged shaman who resembled Goldva in some ways started his rapid chant. The only words she had clearly heard came at the end of the long prayer, "The gods have now united you in body and soul. You are her husband and she is your wife. You can never be broken apart." The ceremony ended with the blowing out of the candlelight.

The man swept her off her feet and carried her to a smaller hut. She instantly felt a blush creeping on her cheeks when she saw a mat inside. She closed her eyes as he gently laid her down and said, "We could do this some other time if you want to."

"I'm fine. I love you." She encouraged him to go on. She wanted to slap herself for giving in so quickly.

The long-haired man then blew the almost consumed candle next to the mat. She felt him tracing her neck with soft kisses as he fumbled for the string of her robe. She slightly shivered as he began feeling her in places that nobody had dared to touch yet. She tried to peek at his face right in time for the full moon to rise from behind the clouds. It shone brightly by the window and revealed whom she had just wed earlier. To her horror, she saw Hao's evil youthful face looking hungrily at her, "I am your husband. I own you now!" She tried to push him away but his strong hands grabbed her own and shoved her deeply into the mat.

"Yoh!" She started to yell for help but her mouth was immediately covered by the young Hao's own mouth.

"Anna! Anna! Anna!" Yoh shook his fiancé who was crying bitterly in her sleep. She was frantically pushing him away and whispering repeatedly, "Stop it! Help me Yoh."

"Anna, I'm here. Please wake up," he brushed away the tears forming in her eyelids then continued to shake her. Yoh rejoiced at the sight of his fiancé opening her eyes but all he got in return was a hard slap on the left cheek.

"Anna, what was that for?" Yoh grimaced in pain as he rubbed his swollen red cheek. He was getting way too many slaps in this inn.

"Yoh..." she whispered his name as soon as she realized she mistook him for someone else.

"I… uhhmmm… got up to pee and thought to check on you. I heard you calling for me in your sleep so I invited myself into your room… Sorry Anna…"

The itako began to cry again. "Yoh, we were married."

"Oh don't cry Anna. I'm sure we will be… errr… 6 years from now perhaps?"

"No, you don't understand. He was my husband."

"What are you talking about Anna? I'm confused. Who is your husband?"

"Your brother, Hao, he was my husband 500 years ago."

Yoh refilled the cup with warm milk and gave it to his fiancée. They were in the kitchen and the blonde itako was continuously sobbing and sniffing. Yoh felt like he was in a stupor. He had never seen Anna cry so bitterly.

"It was only a dream Anna… a very bad dream…"

"No, everything looked and felt so real!" Anna took out a napkin from the tissue holder and blew her nose. "They are my forgotten memories, Yoh and they are haunting me now."

"Then you can just completely forget them all over again." Yoh grinned sheepishly.

"It's like telling me to sleep with my eyes open, stupid!"

"Sorry…" Yoh scratched the back of his head. He paused for a while then asked curiously, "Errr…. Did you love him back then?"

Anna stopped sobbing and sniffing. The long silence was followed by a little nod. "I guess so… I wouldn't marry him if I did not."

"Ohh… yes, that's right…" her fiancé whispered and averted his gaze from her red swollen eyes. "Do you, do you lo-lo-lo-" he stammered inaudibly and couldn't find the courage to continue.

"Yoh, thanks for everything…" Anna blushed for she wasn't used to expressing her gratitude to him. "You can rest now in your room… I'll just sleep in the kitchen… I'm always having nightmares in my room…"

"I'll accompany you here. I haven't tried sleeping on the kitchen table yet. Besides, my room is crowded at the moment." Yoh cleared away the mug and the tissue holder then positioned himself on the table.

Anna gazed at his sleeping form. I love you, Yoh… She couldn't find the courage to tell him.

End of Chapter 11

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