Forgotten Memories

By Elle Pellano

Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King.

Chapter 13: Anya of the Patch

It was raining that day when she told him of the news. He had the sudden urge to shake her out of her wits and tell her she made the wrong decision but her eyes were so full of happiness.

"We're going to get married tonight," she said excitedly.

Those words drowned his heart in deep sorrow as the rain formed puddles of muddy water in his backyard. He had been secretly in love with her but his show of feelings went unnoticed. After four months of being good friends, he had finally realized that he had fallen for her but her eyes were already set on someone else.

"Don't you think that's too rush, Anya?"

"No, it's the perfect timing. He said so himself. Master Aureum will be busy to entertain wedding requests like this since he will be focusing more on the Shaman Fight next year."

"Yes, and I heard your husband-to-be had volunteered to be an official."

"He said it was one of his long time dreams to serve as an official in the Shaman Fight. It only happens every 500 years."

"Anya, some of the council members are not comfortable with him. They say he is a man full of schemes. Are you sure you know him well enough for you to be his wife?"

"Yes, I know him to be a quiet and reserved person. There were times that I can not understand his mood swings but he slowly opened himself to me. He shared with me his childhood dreams, his fears, his ambition, the things he likes, the things he wants to do for the rest of his life. How can I believe what other people say if all I can see is his care for me?"

He felt like he had already lost her completely. Although he knew what she was going to answer, he still asked her anyway, "Do you love him?"

"Of course, I love him. I wouldn't marry him if I don't," Anya thought the question was rather silly.

He felt his heart breaking again at the mention of those words. "Did he ever tell you that he loves you?"

Anya looked down at her feet to avoid his eyes. "He's too shy for words but he shows it," she said softly. "He is a very traditional man… never outspoken with regard to his feelings.."

Before he could stop himself, he had already enclosed her in a tight hug. "I love you Anya. I have loved you since the first day I saw you. Please think about it… Please choose me over him instead."

Anya gently pulled herself from his embrace. "Thank you for being a good friend to me and I love you for it… but from tonight onwards, he will be my life."

"You seemed to be spacing out again, Argon," Hao noticed his spirit who was looking intently on the bonfire crackling between him and his master. They were staying in a cave at the moment, trying to warm themselves from the coldness of the rain outside.

"I just remembered something Master Hao but it is rather unimportant."

"I hope you're not wasting your energy on those antique memories of yours. You should prepare for tomorrow's great battle."

"I am always ready, Master Hao."

The long-haired shaman let out an evil grin as he stared at the burning flame.

"Be ready too, little brother. Everyone will witness your death tomorrow."

Anna was awaken by the smashing of porcelain followed by the wails of a baby. She found herself lying on a woven mat in a place which appeared to be a small bed room in a straw hut. The place seemed so familiar to her. It looked like one of the Patch Village hotels where they have stayed during the Shaman Fight. She immediately stood up and peeked at the cause of the disturbance outside.

There was this angry long-haired man who resembled Silva. He was apparently arguing with a woman who was already weeping. Pieces of a broken vase was scattered on the floor between them. The beautiful brown-skinned woman was gently swinging the small hammock containing the crying infant. Anna felt suddenly upset at Silva's lookalike for making his wife feel miserable. She was about to barge in to give the man one of her signature slaps but she stayed put upon hearing their next conversation.

"You're asking me to do the impossible, Hao," said the weeping wife.

"Why can't you help me, Anya? This is the only favor that I have asked from you. Your tribe owns the Spirit of Fire. You are the only person who is capable of freeing it."

"Our tribe does not own it. We are merely its protectors. The Spirit of Fire already found its way home in the Patch Village. Let it rest here, Hao. Besides, I do not know where the council is keeping it."

"That wouldn't be of any problem. I have already found it," the Patch Hao showed his wife a string with a red pendant. "They were keeping it in the council head's office."

The wife wore a shock expression and began to cry hysterically. "No, Hao! What did you do? You stole it, didn't you? The burning of Master Aureum's hut… You started the fire. Did you intentionally kill him, too? It was no accident after all... Hao, how could you?"

The husband let out an evil grin. There was no trace of remorse or guilt in his face. "I told the council that the Spirit of Fire had probably escaped killing Aureum in the process. Being unpopular that I am, they would not believe me that it finally awaken and left the council head's premises on its own unless it showed its face to them. If they found out that I've invented the whole story I would be tried and executed. Your son would no longer have a father. You would no longer have a husband to protect you."

"And you are no longer the man I married. Hao, what happened to you? I do not know you anymore."

"You know too well that my dream is to become the Shaman King. I'm going to resign from my current position as a Shaman Fight official and enter the competition. I can not do it without any partner Spirit. Do you understand that, Anya?"

"But if you appeared in the Fight with the Spirit of Fire they would suspect you for stealing it," his wife was confused.

"They will definitely suspect me but if I win the tournament, they would have no choice but to bow before me - bow before their new Shaman King."

There was no response but the wife's pitiful cries had already softened.

Patch Hao approached her and wiped the tears in her eyes, "Anya, do you love me?"

The wife whispered, "Yes, with all my soul."

"Then you will help me."

Anya finally nodded.

Patch Hao smiled and whispered in her ear, "I'm doing this for you and your son, remember that." Then he passionately kissed her on the lips.

Anna wanted to call out to Anya from behind the door. She wanted to scream at the Patch Hao for being a liar but she suddenly felt lightheaded as if someone just swept her off her feet. Darkness ensued afterwards.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here? Somebody left his fiancé alone in a dark forest," Hao folded his arms while staring at the unconscious Anna lying on the ground. "Everything is a cycle isn't it, Argon?"

His spirit floated beside him examining the itako sprawled on the soft earth. Her head was bleeding after hitting it on the broken stone slab. Her dress and hair was too dirty with mud.

"I found her again in this very place where I have first left her. Oh, little brother," Hao called to Yoh even if he was miles away. "I'm going to take now what was originally mine." He then lifted Anna and carried her back into the cave.

"Anna has a mother?" Chocolove blurted out in disbelief.

"Of course she has dummy! Everyone has. How else could she have been born here on earth?" Ren said exasperated.

"Where had she been all this years?" Yoh asked curiously.

"She's already dead," Old Kino murmured. A tear drop rolled down the old woman's left cheek. "She was killed by my own hands..."

End of Chapter 13

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