Besarki: Some of my usual reviewers haven't shown their faces for a while :( That's kinda upsetting. Sob.
So, not much to say in this top note. The bottom one is pretty long so I'll keep this one to a minimum. Oh, but I'll give you Anna's completed Naka-Oni chart before the chapter.
Anna
Summon - Naka-Oni
-----Oversoul - Naka (Raft)
-----Oversoul - Naka (Flight)
-----Oversoul - Naka (Burrow)
-----Oversoul - Naka (Shield)
-----Oversoul - Naka-Oni (Solidify)
-----Oversoul--Hyoui Gattai--Naka-Oni - Mana Beam
Dismiss - Naka-Oni
Seal ((Spirits))
Reishi (Limited)
Because Naka is now gone, this chart has become void. However, this is what it looked like completed. Her new chart will be in the bottom author's note.
That is it for now. And now, I present to you, this story's very first Asakura Family Chapter! Though, the real Asakura reunion chapter will be the story's finale. So this is a mini reunion to give you a taste of the big one, which I'm so excited to write. It's gonna be ADORABLE! WAHAHAHA!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maybe I regret everything I said,
No way to take it all back, yeah
Now I'm on my own
How I let you go, I'll never understand
I'll never understand
Tell me why you're so hard to forget
Don't remind me, I'm not over it
Tell me why I can't seem to face the truth
I'm just a little too not over you
Tell me why you're so hard to forget
Don't remind me, I'm not over it
Tell me why I can't seem to face the truth
And I really don't know what to do
I'm just a little too not over you
~A Little Too Not Over You, David Archuleta
Hana
When I awoke, I was lying in an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar room.
"Mrmph..." I grumbled as I pushed myself up. I attacked my eyes with my hands, rubbing them ferociously to get rid of the stinging sensation they held. They wanted me to close them again, but I wasn't gonna. I was awake, darn it! Sleep couldn't beat me!
...And I was thinking like a five year-old. Sighhhh.
I quickly threw the cover off and prepared to roll out of bed, only to realize at the last minute that it wasn't a futon and that I had just rolled off a raised bed.
Thankfully, no one was in the room to see my blunder. I think someone heard it, though.
"What was that?" Someone asked from outside the closed door.
"Probably Hana. Don't worry about it. He does this all the time."
My heart nearly stopped in my chest. I knew that voice. I'd recognize it anywhere, but it wasn't a voice I was expecting to hear again. It was...
I threw the door open.
"Kaa-san?!" I shrilled. My eyes ran down the hall.
The room at the other end had no door, which allowed me to see straight into it. A bizarre-looking animal lying on a fluffy, red cushion was staring back at me. Tou-san was in the room, too, but I could only see part of him.
However, while it may seem cruel, I barely noticed that Tou-san was there. All thoughts of Kaa-san were gone, and I didn't even think to look for Hao. There was only one question on my mind at that moment.
WHO THE HELL LET A FOX IN HERE?!
The animal saw my shock, but took it in stride. She stood up from her makeshift bed and turned to face me. Her vulpine eyes bore holes in my body.
There was definitely something up with this fox. Not only did she have five tails, each of which was far longer than normal, she also had a crest on her forehead, blue markings below each eye, and a loose silver band around her skull. I didn't mean to be eerie, but that band in particular looked awfully familiar...
And now that I looked at it, wasn't that the Asakura crest? The symbol of a five-pronged tree. It was, it definitely was.
The tension in my arms began to settle. Was this Tou-san's spirit ally?
As if I had called him with my thoughts, Tou-san suddenly reached forward and swiped the fox up off the ground. She snarled furiously and flashed an open mouth full of razor sharp teeth.
"Hehehe. I know, I know. But being held for a little won't kill you, will it?"
"Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr."
Tou-san just kept chuckling as he left the room and headed towards me.
"Good morning, Hana," He greeted, the snarling fox tucked under his arm. "How'd you sleep?"
"F-Fine," I attempted to say. Tou-san's spirit was kinda scary. He seemed to notice my apprehension.
"Oh, you don't have to worry about her. I don't think she'll bite you. She might bite me, but probably not you. She'd feel horrible if she did."
She didn't look like she'd feel horrible. With an expression like that, I'd be surprised if she felt anything but rage.
My obvious feelings made Tou-san frown. He put his hands over the vulpine's mouth and held it shut. "Stop that. You're scaring Hana." A ghost of a smile appeared on his face. "Are you sure you aren't really a fox? You act totally in character."
Her fury abruptly dropped and she gave him a look that said, you're kidding, right? He laughed.
"Stp lffing," She mumbled though his hold. (AN: This is supposed to be garbled) "Nd let go." That voice...
"Will you tear up the curtains again?" He asked, jokingly.
That appeared to be the last straw.
She ripped away from him and bit his arm. In shock and in pain, he released her, and she fell to the ground with feline grace.
"I was mad!" She fumed. I watch all this with humongous eyes. That voice was... "Your bastard of a brother turned me into a fox! No, not even a fox! A fox has one tail and no facial markings. I have five and blue ones. I don't even blend in!"
It couldn't be!
"Oh, come on. We had to put your soul somewhere. If you'd reached Nirvana, we'd have serious problems. We could lose our chance at reviving you!"
"I'd rather be dead than be a five-tailed fox!"
"You don't mean that," He said sadly.
There was no way...
He continued. "And plus, you aren't going to be a fox forever. That body is only temporary until we repair yours. So just smile and be happy you're alive, okay? Look at all you'd have to give up if you moved on! Hana, me, Hao--"
"I could live without Hao, Yoh."
I was beginning to suspect that this wasn't Tou-san's spirit ally as I'd previously thought.
"Okay, then forget about Hao. Me and Hana, oh and Manta and Ryu and and Horohoro and Tamao," she looked sort of vexed when he said that one, "and Ren and Lyserg and Chocolove and--"
"OKAY! I GET IT!"
My eyes got all watery then. The fox and Tou-san both turned to stare at me.
"K-Kaa-san?" I wept, the tears falling like waterfalls from my eyes. My father and his friend the fox exchanged a quick glance then just threw in the towel and dropped their defences.
Though I don't think they were really hiding it, their display made me feel like I had just unveiled a great secret. That, and my guess had been absolutely, one hundred percent--
Correct.
"Hana..." She sighed.
I sniveled and took a step forward. A moment later, I gave up every ounce of restraint and ran forward to grab my now-vulpine mother and pull her into a bone-crushing hug.
"Hana!" Her voice was strained, like she was gasping for air.
Tou-san looked like he was going to stop me at first, but after a second, decided not to. Probably because, new body or not, Kaa-san was a ghost. This body was, in a way, also a ghost and so neither of them could be killed by mortal standards. Though, it would be quite a while until I was actually told that.
Still, my gesture undoubtedly caused her quite a bit of discomfort.
"Hana--"
"KAA-SAN, YOU'RE ALIVE!"
"Um--"
"I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! AND YOU'RE A FOX! HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?"
"Hana, if you would just--"
I didn't have the time or the interest to listen to her. It was a good thing she couldn't die. The way I was swinging her around would probably break her neck if that were possible.
"You can let go now," She huffed. "I can't...breathe."
"But you're sort of dead, right? So it doesn't really matter."
She stared at me dumbfounded. "YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND MORE OFTEN THAN YOH CHANGES HIS FAVORITE FOOD!"
In the background, I heard Tou-san mumbling something about curry.
In the second I was focused on him, she wrenched out of my hold and jumped back against the wall.
"No more hugs!" She demanded. Tou-san looked immediately disappointed which made her roll her eyes. "No more hugs that constraint breathing," She amended sourly. My father brightened.
It was at that instant that I remembered what Kaa-san had done earlier, and I didn't mean sacrificing herself to save my life.
"I have a bone to pick with you!" I steamed. She'd left me alone and crying on the battlefield. Sacrifice or not, to do such a thing was unbelievably irresponsible! I was seven years old! I couldn't survive without my parents yet! She should know that.
The fire returned to her eyes, and she barked in surprise.
"What?! Hana, I didn't have a choice! It was either that or we both died. Pardon me for wanting to keep my son alive!"
I stomped in front of her, being careful not to actually stomp on her tiny fox paws.
"Leaving me alone...wasn't. Nice."
She cowered in the corner. It was the first time I'd really stood up to Kaa-san, and even if I really didn't mean it, I felt kinda empowered. Though, the fact that she looked like a stuffed animal might have something to do with it.
It took her about thirty seconds to realize that even though I was three times her size and she fit entirely in my shadow, she had fangs...and I didn't.
She dove forward and bit me in the ankle, contrary to what Tou-san said, and then rammed me until I fell over. She jumped on my stomach, snarling in my face.
"I don't care what I look like, I'm still your mother."
Of course, that made me cry. Kaa-san dropped her head in defeat. Tou-san went off laughing.
---0---0---0---0---0---
After our little reunion in the hallway finally concluded, Tou-san took the initiative to move us back to the "sitting room," as he called it. Looked just like a den or family room to me. Guess it didn't matter.
I sat next to Tou-san on the couch and Kaa-san laid back down on her pillow from before. She looked like a dog, and I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing. She obviously noticed but let me go with a dirty look rather than a reprimanding this time.
"So," Tou-san started, "This is the first time we've been all together as a family. Anyone have anything they want to say?"
Kaa-san and I stared with bored expressions. He scratch his head nervously. No one really wanted to play twenty questions.
"W-Well--"
I suddenly thought of something, which instinctively led my hand to shoot up. Tou-san appeared delighted.
"You don't need to raise your hand Hana, just say whatever it was you wanted to say."
I dropped my hand before I spoke. "Why is Kaa-san a fox?"
She shook her head. "Because your uncle thinks he's hilarious."
"...What?"
"It's Hao's idea of a joke. He went out and found my spirit while Yoh brought you back here." She seemed content not to say anymore, but her words really hadn't answered my question.
"And?" I urged. She shot me a miffed look.
"Isn't it obvious?" Came Hao's voice all of a sudden.
My head whipped to the door, but my parents didn't move.
Hao, Matamune, and Ohachiyo were all standing just outside the door, though Hao was leaning against the threshold.
"Speak of the devil and he shall appear," Kaa-san muttered.
"Don't be so disrespectful, Anna," He taunted, standing from his post and entering the little room. "Since your mother appears to be too lazy--"
That was it.
Kaa-san shot up from her pillow, snarling like a rabid dog and commenced in chasing my uncle out of the room and down the hall.
Tou-san laughed nervously. "Well, I'll just tell you, Hana."
"O-Okay..."
He sighed. "You know that Hao is really old, right?"
"He was born for the first time over a thousand years ago."
"Right, well, you see, in Hao's first life, his mother, Asanoha was mistaken for a fox and killed for it. As I said, she wasn't, but that didn't stop a young Hao from thinking she was. Ohachiyo set him straight, telling him that foxes didn't have the power to become humans. At least mortal foxes, but that's beside the point.
"Anyway, Hao wanted to contradict Ohachiyo and the fact that Anna looked so much like Asanoha gave him the idea..." Though he looked cool about it, it was pretty obvious that he wasn't amused by his brother's joke, either. "He made the body before we even came down here because he knew we'd need it. Because he knew before me, I didn't have any say in where we stored her soul, but know that this isn't something that's permanent. Her old body is completely unusable at this point so we're fixing it. In the meantime, we needed somewhere to leave her so she wouldn't move on...do you get it?"
"...I think..."
"Ha. Well, that's all I can ask for."
Outside the window, we saw Hao sitting against a tree with holes through every part of his shirt. It was a good thing he knew how to heal himself. He was going to need it...
"Tou-san," I said after a minute. My father glanced over at me with calm confusion on his face. I sighed. "I'm sorry I hit you before."
He laughed. "It's okay, Hana. I think I deserved it."
"No, you didn't." I was probably going to embarrass myself, but at least Kaa-san wasn't in here to make fun of me...knock on wood. "Well...it's good to finally, really meet you. I mean, I knew you before, but--"
"I get it," He said with a smile. "I missed you, too."
I leaned over, gave him a quick hug then jumped off the couch. This was starting to get embarrassing.
"I'm going to go find Kaa-san now," I told him.
"Okay. Don't stay out too long, we're eating breakfast soon."
"Okay," I agreed. I smiled slightly and then ran out the door.
---0---0---0---0---0---
Hao
As soon as I saw Hana leave the room, I pushed open the rickety old window and leaned in through it. Yoh looked up at me questioningly.
"Your wife is a firecracker."
"I know," He sighed. "You probably deserved that, though."
I held my wrist up in front of him. There was a huge, bloody bite mark in it.
Yoh gasped and grabbed my arm. "Oh my god! She really got you!"
"What did you think I was talking about?"
"Well, remember that you're the one who gave her this much ability." I rolled my eyes.
"Yeah, because building a body like this takes a lot of mana and I don't want it getting destroyed before we're done with it."
He seemed to understand that. "That's a good point."
"Always."
He dropped my arm and stared at me. "What are you going to do about your minions? I'm guessing that you'll resurrect Opacho, but what about the others?"
"I'll probably heal them all." As I had guessed, Yoh rather uncharacteristically didn't like that. I couldn't say I blamed him, though. They'd indirectly killed his wife, or whatever she was. Of course he wouldn't want them running around, though I was pretty confident that I could control just as I always had.
I sighed and went to push Yoh out of the way. "Move over, I'm coming in."
"Uh, o-okay!" My little brother wasn't the sharpest crayon in the box. Regardless, he quickly shuffled over a bit as I pushed through the window and landed on the couch beside him.
"Ah. Hello, Yoh."
"Um...hi?" He was confused. I wasn't surprised.
"Heh heh heh. What are the chances we'd find this old abandoned house, eh, little brother?"
"Yeah, it was pretty lucky..."
Ha. What a doofus. I put this house here. I build it out of the fallen trees around it. And poor little Yoh would never know.
"So...where's Anna?" He asked randomly.
"I tied her to a tree."
"YOU WHAT?!" He yelped, sitting up and staring with horrified eyes.
I pointed out the window. "That one. I put her in a collar then tied the leash around the tree. The leash is a choke chain so she can't chew through it. That should hold her for a while."
Yoh looked like he'd just seen the ghost of his dead father...with no head and no limbs. Ah, Mikihisa.
He abruptly stood and stared out the window. "SHOOT! ANNA!"
"Shoot Anna? Well, I wasn't planning on being that violent, but I suppose I can."
"Shut up, Hao!" He yelled. A moment later, he zipped out of the room, leaving me to laugh at the silence.
Besarki: So, we're getting lighter again. But honestly, I'm going to estimate five more chapters and then we're done. That includes one more battle which is going to be hard as hell to write and Anna's return to normal. Sighhhhh. So much work.
"I stomped in front of her, being careful not to actually stomp on her tiny fox paws." I was sorely tempted to make a Chocolove joke here and make a play on Faux Pas (though it's pronounced differently), but I restrained myself. Be thankful ;)
About the stuffed animal remark: She doesn't. She really looks like a fox with five tails. The number has significance, but I won't tell you what it is yet. Try to figure it out. It has something to do with her new oversoul, or rather, Hana's new oversoul. Also, Anna is a simple Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes if you like scientific stuff ;) ) Oh, and to be specific, Anna's new body is sort of like an oversoul made from Hao's mana. Just like with Matamune in Osorezan Revoir. She's still a ghost when push comes to shove, but she's solid. Also, she said she doesn't blend in, but she does. To anyone without a significant sixth sense, she just looks like a normal fox. But, like with what happened with Naka in Italy, if someone with hidden shamanic abilities sees her, it's pretty obvious that she's not normal.
Speaking of foxes, did you know that you can legally keep a Fennac Fox as a pet in the United States, Canada, and Japan as well as a few other unlisted places? Have you seen them? They are ADORABLE! I WANNA FENNAC! They're so adorable! Though apparently, they're near impossible to housebreak ^-^; . I DON'T CARE! ALL OF YOU! GO OUT AND BUY ME A FENNAC! I DEMAND IT OF YOU!
Oh, yes, before I forget, I've FINALLY updated my hidden photobucket album with pictures from Mantarite/Mentalite. I've also included a movie version of Snake's Legs, the first chapter in Mantarite. You've all seen my video of Hana's Epoch. It's essentially the exact same format, but there's no backwards slide and the video is much shorter. So yeah, Snake's Legs, Shaman Files for Men, Anna III, Asanoha, Hana, Tamao, etc. as well as various pictures from within the book, including one with Anna and Tamao which I don't remember seeing before. If you recognize it, please tell me where it's from cause I usually recognize pictures, but not this one. Well, the Tamao is from FnU, but the Anna doesn't look familiar. Hmmmmm! It's definitely SK Anna, too. Hmmmm... Anyway, remember that this album is password encrypted, and it's not the one on my profile. If you want the link, ask me, but be aware that I'll probably refuse if you've only reviewed once or haven't reviewed at all. The three that do have the password and link, go crazy. I told you I'd get it done eventually AND I FINALLY HAVE! Either way, do buy Mantarite if you can. SUPPORT TAKEI-SAMA!
So, the POV chapter poll has concluded. The final result was... "A chapter split between Yoh's, Hana's, and Anna's POV" That will be coming up very soon :)
New poll up! Time to determine the final fate of THE HAO ARC! The review thing pretty much ended in a tie so I'm going to leave it to everyone now. GO VOTE! Voting will close within the next few chapters.
Also, I'm thinking about adding a calender to my website with release dates for upcoming chapters. Obviously, it will do little good for this fic seeing as how it looks like it will end with chapter 29, but for any upcoming stories, it will be helpful! Haha. How dead obvious is it that I love playing with this site? Hahaha.
Well, that was an alarmingly long author's note. Anywho, next chapter is going to be split between YohxAnna and Hao VS. Hana. So, it'll be cute and funny. It's all bonding time, even the last, though Hana bonds by beating people up. Hahaha! MEET THE QUOTA!
Hasta!
Anna
-----Oversoul--Self - Fox Fire
Seal ((Spirits))
Reishi (Limited)