Forgotten Memories

By Elle Pellano

Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King.

Chapter 12: The Bearer of Bad News

Yoh thought he heard several familiar voices calling out his name. Someone was also gently tagging at his shirt coaxing him to wake up but he was too lazy to rise from where he was sleeping. He shifted to his left when he sensed that a crowd was forming on his right. The next thing he knew something cold hit his face which forced him to jolt up. A very annoyed Suzume was holding a bucket of ice cubes by his side. His friends and several smirking itako trainees surrounded him.

"Why are you sleeping on the kitchen table Yoh?" Manta peered at him curiously. He stood on one of the chairs on Yoh's right.

"You were sleepwalking again dude," Horo Horo folded his arms as if scolding him.

"Master Yoh, I believe we have designated a room for you to rest. Your presence here caused a delay in the preparation of the trainees' breakfast. Could you please transfer to your sleeping quarters?" Suzume requested sternly as she put down the bucket of ice on the kitchen sink.

"Oh sorry…" Yoh immediately went down the table. "Ammm… Where is Anna by the way?"

His friends nudged and gave each other knowing looks but preferred to remain silent except for one.

"There you go again… always asking for your fiancée. I'm beginning to think you're becoming a lovesick puppy," Chocolove said exasperated.

"I saw her leave the inn before sunrise. I think she's going to continue the soul purification ritual," Jeanne answered Yoh.

"And we should start training, too." Ren reminded them. "Ryuu will stay with Faust for the morning shift."

Yoh's stomach grumbled. "Err… can we eat breakfast first before training?"

"We can do that before we talk," Old Kino appeared by the door looking grim as ever. The itako trainees and Suzume greeted her with a bow.

"Grandma, you're back!" exclaimed Yoh.

"I tried to come here as soon as possible. The Asakura council of elders already passed a decision," the old woman had a gloomy aura around her.

"Ammm… They decided what grandma?" Yoh was becoming tensed.

Old Kino ignored Yoh's query and turned instead to Tamao, "Please find Anna. It is important for her to hear this."

Anna did not feel as hungry as she was yesterday. The first phase was going on fine and she was clearly sure that she'll be able to withstand it until this evening. A day of fasting and physical numbness was no match for her determination. She had done this before when she was still an itako trainee. Nobody graduates from the training center without passing the soul purification ritual.

However, her concentration was little by little betraying her. There were just too many voices in her head. She closed her eyes and tried to focus instead on the sound of water as it hit the rocks. In spite of this, it was difficult for her to let go of the things that have been bothering her these past few days.

"I am your husband. I own you now."

"Did you love him back then?"

"He will just leave you like what he did to me before."

"You're just a defenseless ordinary human girl."

"The council of elders has the right to replace you."

"Mistress Anna!" Tamao's worried voice resonated louder than everything else. "Mistress Anna! Mistress Anna!"

The itako irritably opened her eyes and glowered at Tamao, "I'm in the middle of a ritual, Tamao. If you would be so kind enough to LEAVE. ME. ALONE!"

"I'm sorry Mistress Anna but Master Kino told me to fetch you." Tamao cowered behind a large stone.

Nobody dared to make a sound or movement as Anna entered the room being occupied by her master, her fiancé and his friends. The blond itako noted that Suzume was absent from the usual gathering. She filled in the vacant seat beside Yoh right across Kino.

Yoh's grandmother rested her chin on her clasped hands as if in deep thought. Her mind was in turmoil at the moment. She didn't know how to begin. Everyone was all eyes on her, waiting to hear her important news. She sighed. Time is running out. They had to know whether they like it or not.

"It really pains me to say this…" the old woman started. "I had brought your current situation to the attention of the Asakura Council of Elders. They were not pleased at all with the continuing existence of the young Hao."

Yoh lowered his head in shame at the mention of this.

"They were also displeased with the result of his new spirit's attack on you, Anna. They were extremely unhappy about the heir's future wife losing her spiritual abilities."

Anna diverted her gaze on the table. Somehow she knew where this conversation was leading to but she's uncertain if she could readily accept her fate.

"They are giving you until the next full moon to regain your powers or..." Kino paused then breathed deeply, "...or you will be forsaken and replaced by the clan as the heir's future wife."

Everyone in the room gasped out loud except for Anna and her master. It was Chocolove who was the first to react, "Granny, you're kidding, right?"

Old Kino did not answer.

"How cruel! Why should it involve ruining their personal relationship?" asked Jeanne.

"Simply because the Asakura clan is protecting its lineage. The heir's task is to uphold the clan's power and position in the shamanic community. An ordinary wife won't live up to the ideals of the clan," Lyserg answered in behalf of Yoh's grandma although he looked as dismayed as everyone else in the room.

Yoh banged his fists on the table. "Grandma, if that's the case, I'm renouncing my position as heir of the Asakura clan."

"You can not do that foolish boy. There's no other heir but you," Old Kino rebuked him.

"Before this meeting, I'm beginning to admit that the Asakuras were far better than the Taos in terms of family relationships. But I was wrong. You are far worse. Your clan has such a loose way of thinking," Ren said with a tone of disappointment.

"I do not have the luxury of time, do I, Master Kino?" Anna calmly asked.

"Oh my god!" Tamao covered her mouth. "The next full moon is tomorrow night."

"Those heartless old geezers!" Horo Horo growled.

"They are asking for the impossible!" Ryuu cried in protest.

"The soul purification ritual will take 3 days. Even if I would undergo the ritual, there's no assurance that I will regain my powers." Anna stood up from her seat. "There's no point in continuing this conversation anymore. It will be a waste of time to stay here." She began to leave.

Yoh tried to stop her by grabbing her right wrist. "Anna, don't tell me you'll let this go?"

Anna forcefully twisted her wrist free but her soon to be ex-fiancé held it more tightly.

"Yoh, I'm no longer fit to be your wife. In fact, I'm happy that I'm not tasked anymore to train you everyday. Let me go. Now." There were no tears in her eyes. Only deep resentment. Yoh loosened his grip. Anna automatically pulled her hand away, turned around and headed for the door.

"Anna, don't leave this room yet." Old Kino called after her.

The blond itako did not look back, "Who are you to order me around? You are no longer my master," then proceeded to leave the room.

"Anna, wait!" Yoh began to follow her out.

But Old Kino stopped him, "Let her be. She needs to be alone for now."

Anna ran out of the inn crying furiously. It was dark and gloomy outside. Raindrops started splattering on the ground as if the sky was weeping along with her. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her. She did not know where she was going or where she would go to after this. All she wanted was to get as far away from the inn as possible. She had no other clothes but the black dress she was wearing. She even left her 1080 beads which was useless anyway since she couldn't summon spirits. She had no money or any belongings to buy food with. Her stomach was growling now. She had no known relatives or friends, no home to stay in for the rest of the day. Every intake of air was becoming laborious and exhaustion was beginning to overcome her. She couldn't feel her legs anymore. Her bitter tears were clouding her eyes for her to notice a protruding tree root. She tripped, fell and hit her head on a broken stone slab. Everything went dark afterwards.

"I was right, wasn't I?" the woman in the large mirror sneered at her. Anna found herself sprawled in front of the life size glass. With her remaining strength, she sat up so she was face to face with the blond lady.

"You poor girl. I told you he would also leave you but you did not believe me. Give me your hand. I will show you everything you need to know."

Anna pressed the palm of her right hand on the mirror so that their palms were touching. She felt her entire body being pushed inside the glass.

Everyone was quiet back at the inn.

It is so uncomfortable being here. Manta fidgeted in his seat.

The lights suddenly went out as a lightning struck an electricity line somewhere. Tamao flicked the single lamp on the table open.

Despite the dim light, Ren's scowl was clearly visible to Jeanne who was sitting across him. "I wouldn't forsake my wife-to-be even if she becomes an ordinary human girl," the young Tao vowed. Somehow their eyes met at some point which Ren hurriedly averted. A little blush formed on his cheeks.

The room was starting to get cold because of the rainy weather outside. They all looked at Horo Horo to check if he was playing a prank on them by creating an icy atmosphere in the room. However, the blue-haired shaman remained lost in thought. Manta inserted his hands into his jacket's pocket to warm them and felt something made of paper. He took the flat object out and stared at the black and white class picture from the inn's library.

Chocolove who was sitting to his right, snatched the old photo from him. "Huh! What have we got here? Oh…. I thought it's a picture of your special someone." The Afro-American was a bit disappointed. "This looks and smells ancient Manta. Why are you keeping this with you?"

Ryuu who was sitting next to Chocolove peered at the old photo. "Wow, so many pretty girls! Hey, this one next to old Kino looks like Mistress Anna."

Kino stiffened from her seat. "Where did you get that? Give it to me!" there was panic in her voice.

Chocolove instantly handed the old photograph over to Yoh's grandmother. Manta spoke trembling, "I found it by accident in the library. It slipped from a book. I'm sorry for taking it from there."

Yoh peered at the photograph Kino was holding. "That girl beside you Grandma really looks like Anna. Who is she?"

Yoh thought he saw tears forming in his grandmother's eyes. "I've been the bearer of awful news today. Perhaps an old one might not hurt so much." Old Kino let out a sigh…

"The girl in the photo was an old student of mine. Her name was Ayako and she was Anna's mother."

End of Chapter 12

Thanks for reading!