Besarki: Greetings from New Jersey! Yep. That's why the chapter is so late. I'm on vacation (that's not the half of it, though. My brother stole my laptop and went on some bad sites, infecting it with viruses. I could have killed him), but I've decided that I've procrastinated enough. It's been two weeks. That's unheard of for this story. :O
Anyway, it's the final chapter of the story. The real final. After this, there will be no more! Unless you count the Hao arc and the Hana arc which will be later than I originally planned. I've been busier than usual lately. Oh, and I just found out that I had a book report due for college. Good thing I didn't KNOW ABOUT IT! EEEEEK! HELP ME!
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I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
Cause everything is never as it seems
(When I fall asleep)
~Fireflies, Owl City
(This was the single of the week last week! He's gonna be MEGA POPULAR guys! I just know it! Oh, and the new album, Ocean Eyes is AWESOME! You MUST go buy it!)
Epilogue
It's been a few weeks since we returned to the onsen. The hype over us coming back still hasn't diminished, though.
Everyone has had their own way of showing that they missed us, and that they haven't forgotten my mother, father, and uncle.
Tamao's relentless bawling is getting really old, and Ryu's little hero complex with Tou-san is starting to freak me out. Those two are by far the weirdest.
On the flip side, what Mari, Macchi, and Kanna did was kinda funny.
I had never heard about Hao's betrayal, and how he turned his back on his teammates when they needed him. From what Kanna told me a few days ago, one of their teammates went psycho and killed almost every single one of Hao's other followers--Hana-gumi included. When the girls became ghosts, they went to Hao for help, only to have him threaten to eat their souls. In the end, it was Kaa-san who saved them. Though my mother lost the battle with Hao that day, she gained a newly anti-Hao trio. Their fury never let up, not even now. I guess that explains why the three girls threw a lamp at Hao when he walked through the door
Obaa-chan was nearly as teary as Tamao when my father entered the humble little inn. Oji-san and Kaa-san weren't able to dodge her bone-crushing hug, either, but, luckily, I was--thanks to a mysterious ghost man with black hair and black clothing who snuck me out the back. I abruptly thanked him, but stumbled when it was time to utter his name. When I asked him what it was, though, he merely smiled and faded into air.
Kaa-san was out with me a minute later, shaking her head and smirking.
That was all the first day we got back--in other words--a while ago.
Today marks the sixth day of the fifth week.
I was lying in front of the TV watching some mecha anime while my parents sat around a little table behind me, eating their lunch--I already finished mine--while periodically glancing over at the screen to ensure that I'm not watching something I shouldn't be. Overprotective losers.
I don't know where Hao is, though, if I had to guess, I'd say that he was probably off torturing the staff again.
Really, after all that happened in our big journey, life now is just...boring. I have Shaman practice every morning, then I go to school, then I come home, watch tv, eat dinner, and go to bed. On the off day that the inn is really crowded, Kaa-san will let me skip school to stay home and help. You know your life is boring when explaining how the hot spring works strikes you as exciting.
I sighed to myself as I stuffed yet another cookie into my mouth.
Kami, was life ever dull.
"Psst," Someone whispered from the window. I subtly glanced over at it, but didn't see anyone there. I cocked my head. "Psst, Hana."
I stood then trudged over to it.
"Hana, what are you doing?" Kaa-san asked from the table. I froze. Crap I had forgotten about her. If there was some big mystery ghost or something outside, and she found out about it, she'd send it away and I wouldn't get to have any fun. I had to think of something fast!
"Uhhh, I'm looking for Matamune." Looking for Matamune? That was the best I could do? Bah!
She lifted an eyebrow. "He's in the garden," She answered, then quietly added, "where you left him."
I slapped my forehead like it was the most obvious thing in the world, which it probably was. "Oh, duh! Thanks, Kaa-san, I'm going to go get him."
I quickly ran out of the room--before she could figure out my real intentions, though, judging by what I heard while running down the hall, she already had. Given, it wasn't all that hard to guess.
The sound of a magazine being picked up echoed through the hall. "He's as bad at lying as you are," She mumbled.
"Hey!" Tou-san yelled.
I didn't bother waiting around to hear the rest of their conversation.
I ran down the hall, accidentally bumping into someone, probably Kanna since I heard a loud, "WATCH IT, TWERP!" just after I collided. I paid no mind, and kept running.
I passed Tamao, sewing in lobby, and Ryu, playing basketball with Tokagero outside. Both waved to me, but I didn't have time to stop so all I could offer was a wave back.
I ran on, turning the corner, and slamming into something.
Or someone.
"OW!" I yelped, falling back and rolling. The culprit of the collision snickered.
"Good morning, Hana," Hao greeted, mischievously.
"Oji-san," I said through gritted teeth. I should have known it was him. I should have known!
My uncle had a really sick sense of humor, let me tell you. This is nothing compared to most of the stuff he does, not that standing in my way is much to begin with, but really, he's just crazy sadistic.
Two weeks ago, Hao held me upside down by my ankles and dangled me from the roof of the inn. Luckily for me, my father caught him in the act and grabbed me before I was dropped. Hao was in the hot seat for days, but it eventually blew over.
Always does.
Oji-san snickered, and rattled off a few snarky comments before reaching down to help me up.
"What brings you here, Hana-chan?" The big oaf asked as I brushed myself off.
I shot him a weird look. Hadn't he brought me here?
"Didn't you call me?"
He smirked. "What gave you that idea?"
"Yeah, what gave you that idea?" Ohachiyo echoed, suddenly appearing right next to his master and standing in an almost identical pose.
"Who invited you?" I demanded.
Ohachiyo stuck his tongue out at me. "Shut up, pork chop."
Pork chop? "Wow, what a comeback."
"SHUT UP!"
I rolled my eyes. This was dumb. I came out here because I thought that if I did, something fun would happen. Maybe it's dumb, but I kinda miss our big adventure, even with all the heartbreak and trauma it involved. It was so exciting. Never a dull moment, always on the brink of the next big thing!
But that's all over now. Life is boring and lame again.
With all the chaos Hao caused in the past, I thought that, maybe, he might have something up his sleeve. Not that I was expecting trouble from him, but maybe an old opponent or something. Anyone to bring a little excitement to my horrendously boring life!
I sighed and sunk to the ground. All good things have to come to end right? Too bad...
"What's wrong?" Hao asked, playing the good guy for once.
"Nothing," I grunted.
Hao frowned and sat down beside me. He waved Ohachiyo off, punching him after he initially refused. The old rabbit grumbled quiet curses as he stormed off.
Oji-san shook his head and chuckled before he turned back to me.
"I talked to Anna yesterday," He told me.
I rose an eyebrow. Was I supposed to care? "Congratulations?"
He smirked, and turned to stare up at the vast sky. "It was at least the third time we'd had this conversation," He recalled. "Anna is a very practical individual. She doesn't see things when they aren't there, and she won't bother pretending to see you as something you aren't." He paused, touching his face thoughtfully. "Maybe that's why the Asakura really chose her. Not for her power or her determination, but her ability to see through everything. It's a rare talent, you know."
I looked at him strangely, wondering why he was telling me all this. I knew about my mother's abilities, how they were so much more extreme than most, and how I had likely inherited them. Why did Hao feel the need to reiterate?
"And Yoh, the Asakura with the heart purer than any the world had ever seen before. His friends swore that you could literally see the extreme depth of his extraordinary kindness in his face, even when he was sad or angry. How bizarre that the lesser half of a reincarnated maniac would amount to something as great as Yoh!" This seemed to amuse him even though he was the said maniac.
He peered down at me, then. Something in my face made him grin. "You are a very odd cross between the two of them, Hana. Your mother raised you so naturally you would act more like her, though if you had picked up her snappy attitude even if you hadn't been, I really wouldn't have been surprised. The first time I saw you, you looked like you wanted to hit someone, even though you were just a baby.
"However, there is a great deal of Yoh in you, also. While you aren't quite as kind and understanding as your father, you still resemble him in your features. You don't have to be nice when you're the son of Asakura Yoh. You can still be rude and angry, but anyone who knew Yoh will see him in you and will know your good intentions deep down. You got off lucky."
"Real lucky. Living in my father's shadow," I grumbled.
"You aren't living in his shadow," Hao assured. "No one sees you as the new Asakura Yoh when you act like your mother."
I found satisfaction in his words. I didn't want to be seen as the new Asakura Anna either, but since I couldn't be both of them, well, maybe this would work to my advantage. Still, who expected all of this coming from Hao?
He read my expression and immediately flashed me a grin. "Didn't think I had it in me, did you?"
"No," I admitted with a chuckle.
He returned the gesture then continued on with his speech. "I've gotten a little off topic, haven't I?"
I shrugged, still smiling. "I don't know. What was your intended topic?
"Hilarious."
"I'm serious."
"Really?"
"Really."
He shielded his eyes from a ray of sun that peeked out from behind the cover of clouds. "Well, I've really veered then." He cleared his throat. "Okay, then, back to what I was originally saying." He took a quick breath and went on. "Anna was the first to see your enormous potential, but that's only because she saw you before Yoh and I did. Don't think she's better at this than we are!" He joked.
I laughed, of course
"We'd be blind to not see all that you were capable of," He paused, "and you'd be stupid to not believe us."
"Shut up, Hao." I snickered. "You're getting corny."
"I'm trying to be serious."
"You're not doing well," I told him.
"Ouch. You're wounding my ego."
"Good. Your ego is a real problem."
"So cruel to your poor uncle."
I just laughed. "You're so dumb, Oji-san!"
"Hey, be nice to me or I won't tell you the big secret."
I went instantly silent. "Secret?" My eyes widened to many times their normal size. "What secret?"
He crossed his arms. "I don't know. It may be a little too much for you to handle."
"I can handle it!" I yelped. "Tell me!"
"Are you sure...?"
"YES! You have to tell me or I'll die!"
"A little extreme, don't you think? You can't be that desperate for adventure."
That word went off like a siren in my head. "ADVENTURE?!?! TELL ME OJI-SAN! PLEASE!"
"How do I know I can trust you? This is an extremely important secret."
"I won't tell ANYONE! I PROMISE!"
"Well...okay. But you have to swear not to tell anyone. Not even your parents." He grinned, probably sure I wouldn't agree. Did I ever show him!
"I SWEAR! I'll never tell Tou-san or Kaa-san! Even if they threaten to ground me!"
"Wow, that's pretty extreme. I guess I can trust you."
"So you'll tell me?!" I demanded, insanely eager to hear whatever it was he was keeping to himself.
"I suppose I will."
"YESSSSSSS!" I cheered.
I was literally shaking with enthusiasm as my uncle leaned over and whispered several words into my ear...
----0---0---0---0---0---
3rd Person POV
Though Hana didn't see them, two figures stood on the inn's balcony, watching him from behind.
"He seems to be getting along with my brother pretty well," Yoh commented, pleased with the revelation.
His almost wife rolled her eyes. "Heaven forbid."
Yoh laughed. "You're too hard on him, Anna."
Anna slapped him upside the head. Naturally, he yelped in pain. "No, you're just a softie, you bonehead."
He cracked a smile as she cracked him on head once more.
"That doesn't really hurt much, anymore," He noted, seemingly confused.
"Your death probably sent your pain tolerance through the roof."
"Really? You think?"
She shrugged. "I guess. It makes sense."
He pounded his fist against his opened palm. "I bet you're right, Anna! How'd you get so smart?"
She shot him a weird look. "Are you honestly asking that or are you trying to flatter me?"
He gave a clueless gesture. "Beats me."
She rolled her eyes and grabbed his hair. She twisted his head so that he was looking out at their son and not at her.
Hana looked absolutely shocked at whatever it was Hao had just told him. His jaw was nearly touching the ground and his glassy eyes looked like giant marbles.
"Wonder what Hao just told him," Yoh thought aloud.
Anna didn't seem to care. "Whatever he told him, I doubt it's true."
"Hehehe. Right again, Anna-san."
Anna sighed, and fell back into the chair behind her. She rested her head in her hands and peered out through the bars of the railing.
"He's had an exciting few months and now he's having trouble adjusting to how life is normally." She stopped for a moment. "Though I suppose there isn't much that's normal about the way we live."
Yoh grinned and ruffled her hair. "What do you think he'll do when we tell him just how eventful the life of a shaman really is?"
Anna looked up at him and smiled. "Oh, he'll be heartbroken."
The resurrected Shaman King reached down and took his Queen's hand. Together, the two gazed out and watched their young son as he soared across the field, the sunbeams gleaming in his unruly blond hair.
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I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
Because my dreams are bursting at the seams...
Besarki: GWAAAAAAAAAA! IT'S COMPLETELY OVER! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! IT'S OVER!
Hao's big secret is a major plot point in Living For Tomorrow. It's revealed EXTREMELY early in the story so you won't have to wait long to find out what it was. :D
The black-haired, black-clothed man was Naka. Hana had mentally called for help and Naka came to his rescue.
Lastly, that ending song is still Fireflies by Owl City. At the very end of the song, the chorus changes, so I thought I'd add it as a nice little tie up. Mostly because I love that last line. Isn't it good?
Well, that's it for this story. There will be no new content but I'll be editing it until it is spelling and grammar error free! In theory anyway. If you see any errors do let me know.
The Quota:
Ah, this lovely thing that you all adore. XD Well, the entire story I vehemently refused to tell you what the quota was, but now, I will finally tell you.
At the beginning of the story, there was a hit quota rather than a review quota. I updated once I got 70 hits on a chapter. Chapters were pretty much free of restriction then so I was more laid back. When the story progressed to its middle point, shortly before I introduced the subject of a quota, I determined that I would change the quota over to a combination of written reviews and PMs. The review quota was seven. If I said that I rose it, it was usually only to eight. I talk a good game, but I'm usually pretty pathetic when it comes to action. ^-^;
THE REVIEWER AWARDS:
I said earlier that I would be recognizing the most frequent and best reviewers at the end of the story and that's exactly what I'm about to do.
Kumiho-Kitsune
Kumiho-Kitsune was the only one who reviewed chapters via PMing. However, besides that, she also talked to me a lot, which I loved! We got to discuss the differences and similarities between English and Italian and we had random little discussions teaching the other our native language (sort of). It was seriously cool. Then, as if that wasn't enough, she went off and asked to translate this story, and I was, like, SERIOUSLY?! I was outrageously pumped when I read that. Made my week! Even though her reviews were typically pretty short she still reviewed, and was the only to take my advice on PM reviewing. She didn't have any competition for this award but she totally deserves to win it.
*Best PM Reviews*
Animewitch17
Not only was she the first one to leave a review, but she was also one of only two people who stuck with me throughout the entire story. Animewitch17 gets her award for being the event reviewer, meaning that she left reviews for two monumental (in my eyes) numbers: 1 and 200. This is normally the "Earliest Reviewer that stuck with me the entire time" award, but since you were both 1 and 200, I thought Event Reviewer sounded cooler. Don't you? ;)
*Event Reviewer*
and finally...
Smart Angel
The only person to review on EVERY SINGLE CHAPTER. This kid is my hero. She also left the overall, lengthiest reviews, has been with this story since square one, and always gave input when I asked for it. I don't even need to say much. It goes without saying that Smart Angel was, without a doubt the most frequent and most in-depth reviewer. Therefore, she gets recognized as the overall best reviewer.
*Best Reviewer*
So, that means that ***Living For The Moment is dedicated to Kumiho-Kitsune, Animewitch17, and Smart Angel.***HOORAY! All three of you are going on my favorite Author's list cause you're some of my favorite people on here and I promise to try to review for all of your stories (that I can read since all three of you are foreign. Hehe) as much as I can!
Ahahaha! I love my games! If you weren't recognized this time, don't be discouraged, you still have Living For Tomorrow and Living For Yesterday, heck, even Fire in the Sky if you read that one too,to get recognized in the reviewer awards. See, Munchies? It PAYS to review!
Also, I'm adding a new poll for Hana's Spirit Ally in L.F.T. GO VOTE!
Aww, well, I guess that's it. *Bursts out crying* I CAN'T BELIVE IT'S OVER! *Falls over and cries* (That's different, eh?) IT'S REALLY OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!
...Unless you count Living For Tomorrow and Living For Yesterday. YAY! I'm going to count on those!
Living For Tomorrow will be out later this month. Living For Yesterday has no determined release date as of yet.
There's also no summary yet for Living For Yesterday, but there's been one for Living For Tomorrow on my website for weeks. This is the full version:
Living For Tomorrow:
Sequel to Living For The Moment. Several months have passed since the twins' return. While most has returned to normal, the increasingly dangerous situation with Hao's minions has not. Hao insists that this is something he must deal with alone, but with his powers depleted, he might be in way over his head. Yoh, Anna, and Hana may be his only hope, but Hao isn't going to make it easy for them to follow.
The condensed version is on my site if you really want to see it. Otherwise, look for it as the summary for the sequel!
THAT'S ALL! I'LL MISS YOU! TALK TO YOU SOON! LOVE YOU GUYS!
~Besarki/Lexi