Disclaimer: Shaman King, as you all know is owned by Hiroyuki Takei… and as usual we praise and worship him.
Author Notes: This was an idea ringing in my head while back before… I hope I can write it as well as my mind imagines it. I can't say that this is a complete Yoh and Anna fic… I mean there IS Yoh and Anna… but the story focuses more on Anna's past. But don't worry… there are a lot of Yoh/Anna scenes to hopefully… please you.
Warnings: Out Of Character
Summary: The parents of Kyouyama Anna returns, seeking another chance of reunion and forgiveness. To understand her parents' story and reason of their departure, Anna must relive her painful past that she buried within her heart long ago. But this time, she's not alone. [Slight Yoh/Anna]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~~~
The sun's rays shone brightly, slipping through the windows of my room. I could feel the heat pounding on my eyelids, forcing them to open into the start of a new day. Not wanting to wake up for another while, I turned to my side. It's a Sunday, for crying out loud!! No sun is going to wake me up today…
Wrong.
Though my eyes were turned away from the rays, the sun decided to warm up my whole body instead. I pulled up the blankets resting around my waist and used them to cover the rest of my body from the top, hoping that the sun's rays would bounce off or just stop right there.
Another mistake.
The wonderful carriers of light and heat were picking a fight... I swear… Heating my whole body from head down with immense heat greater than before. I bet the sun knew I would go for the blanket -- They were both conspiring with one another to barbecue me. And to think, this early in the morning too!
Realizing that my sleep could no longer continue under the grilling sun, I opened my eyes and rose slowly to my feet. Someone was here… More precisely, they were behind the door… And I didn't have to think twice to know who that someone was.
I slid the door open without much effort, finding a shocked Yoh staring at me.
"G-Good morning…" he sheepishly grinned. It was obvious that he was standing there for quite sometime now. "…I wasn't sure… whether or not to come in."
"Is breakfast ready?" I asked, already heading downstairs towards the kitchen to examine it for myself.
He nodded as he followed me down the stairs.
When we arrived in the kitchen I suppose I was a little surprised that Yoh actually managed to get up and well... make breakfast instead of dishing out yesterday's leftovers. He does have a major tendency of doing that lately. I haven't spoken to him of it, seeing how he does seem to make the leftovers as fresh as if he just cooked it. I'll give him points for that.
I sat down in front of a plate covered in scrambled eggs, bacon and waffles. A glass of orange juice sat just ahead of it. The appearance… seems edible. I felt Yoh's gaze directed at me, waiting for a hopeful approval. I reached for the fork and dug it into one of the pieces of the bacon. Now for the cutting process... Oh yay… It CAN be cut apart this time. Hesitantly, I brought it to my mouth, honesty not sure what to expect. Yoh's cooking can be as unpredictable as the weather sometimes… Scratch that-- make that all the time.
Like now… the bacon that I was chewing… was absolutely delicious. I didn't let him know that though. Yoh was fidgeting in his seat, not sure what he should do or say. He sat quietly across from me and twiddled his thumbs in silence. He was kinda cute when he squirmed.
"You pass," I said after I swallowed the piece of meat and washed it down with a sip of juice. His face sighed contently in relief. He picked up his fork and knife and began to devour the breakfast before him. Sometimes I wonder how much guts he has to eat the food he cooks, much less than have me eat it and determine that small potentially life-threatening detail.
After breakfast, I went back upstairs to my room and changed into my usual attire. I came back down to make sure Yoh wasn't avoiding his cleaning duties. Dressed in an apron and a chef's hat, there he was -- washing the dishes as he hummed a BOB song.
I'll admit it… he was cute… too cute. I shouldn't be thinking about this... Need something else to focus on… Right! His training… what fun tasks should he attempt to do today? 50km run as usual with four 10lbs weights, 500… no 550 push-ups… eh.. scratch that out… 600 seems good… with 650 sit-ups. That sounds good. He will not rest under this roof even if he is the Shaman King. Wait, I'm missing something. 50km should get his endurance going… the push-ups and sit-ups will increase his strength… Now I need something to improve his flexibility… It's been a while since the yard's been cleaned out… Alright then… yard work.
Yoh placed the last plate on the dish dryer before he wiped his hands on a clean rag beside him. He gulped in fear as he saw me standing by him, "Yes-s…?"
Smiling inside, I recited his training schedule that I just thought of a few minutes ago. His face paled within seconds.
"Now!" I emphasized, "And don't forget to buy the groceries!"
He nodded quickly, pulling off the hat and apron. Hanging it on the hook on the side of the counter, he kissed me on the cheek with a whisper to return soon before heading out the door.
I held my cheek as I felt my face flush a bit. Sure, Yoh and I grew closer since I arrived in Tokyo and we continued to grow even closer after the Shaman Fight where Yoh was declared the victor… but it still seemed strange to me.
I smiled as I thought of the moment again then cursed myself for being like this. What has become of my supposed cold heart? I promised that I would never let it softened for as long as I would live ever since that day. I hardened it for the sole purpose of protecting me from the pain that exists. I may have become stoic but it seemed worth it at the time. Then Yoh came along…
I lay down on the living room floor, slowly closing my eyes in fatigue. Luckily, no windows were present and no evil sun was near. Deciding that sleep was probably the best thing to do right now, I slowly exhaled, relaxing my tense shoulders. I'll just… doze off for a bit. Little did I know what lay ahead of me in my subconscious.
Darkness covered my vision, leaving me blind and vulnerable to the world. Where am I? I stepped forward in the pitch black view in front of me. Not the one to stand around and wait, I wandered uselessly, deprived of every of every sense I thought I had.
"We'll be back…" A voice said in the blanket of night.
What was that? Who was that? It sounds familiar…
"Just for a while…" The same voice spoke out.
Soon, images of my forsaken past blurred right before me. Sharpening as each second past, I closed my eyes, not wanting to remember those days.
A nightmare…
Yes, that's what it was! But why now? Why like this?
Suddenly, I saw the haunting moment… I froze… No… no… Three people I swore to abandon long ago… The scene played in front of me like an old monochrome movie… but this time… I wanted nothing more than to destroy this picture.
"We're going to the store," he said with a phoney smile I would like to see burn in flames.
"Can I come?" That was me… that was how naive I was. Stupid child… with hopeful eyes…
"No honey, the store doesn't allow children." So my mother said.
"I'll be really quiet!" Stupid me… How foolish I was.
"I'm sorry. Just wait here until we come back… Just for a while…"
Lies!
Their backs turned slowly…
"Come back soon!"
The two figures left without a goodbye. Left me without another thought. Left me alone. Left me to die.
My eyes shot open in fear and I could feel my heart racing. I haven't had this nightmare in years… and shamans don't just dream about something out of the blue. In fact… no one does. What does this mean? I brushed off the blanket covering me and--- wait a minute... Blanket? I don't remember having a blanket anywhere near me.
…Yoh.
Walking towards the door I saw the weights near the bottom of the steps. He must have come back from his training and saw me asleep. At least I was screaming in terror or anything. That would cause him to be suspicious… And the last thing I want to do is to worry him with something so simple and stupid like a nightmare.
Returning the blanket to the closet, I started towards the living room again, trying my best to keep my mind off the terrible dream. I switched on the television, hoping to find a show to focus on -- something to distract me for the time being. Flipping through uninteresting channels, I finally settled into a cooking show.
"Now ladies and gentlemen, make sure never to leave the sauce unstirred for a long period of time. You don't want a crusty seasoning for your chicken."
I spent another few hours watching the programs that followed, picking up useful tips whenever seen or heard. I was listening to advice on barbecue grilling when I thought I sensed someone nearby. I didn't pay attention to of it, of course… but kept my mind alerted and open.
"When outside make sure to use the grill cover to keep germs and insects away. You want your meat preferably around the medium-rare area or higher. Remember that overcooking your meat may lead to g--"
Knock. Knock. Knock.
I gasp aloud as the main door banged loudly, echoing throughout the house. Why did I freak out? Stupid… It's just my imagination… It's probably nothing… Why would---
Knock. Knock. Knock.
I rose to my feet in disgust. More than likely the person behind the door does not fully understand the meaning of the word patience. The knocking continued as I unhurriedly headed towards the door, preparing my long and tortuous speech for the person who has the guts to knock this many times without ever waiting in silence in between.
Sliding the door open in anger, I removed my beads around my neck and prepared to launch an attack. That is… until I saw the faces behind the door.
I dropped my beads as I stood there, stunned beyond belief. I wanted to slam the door at them and hoped it was all a nightmare again.
The couple held their hands together as they looked at me, their eyes beginning to water. Unfortunately I could tell it was them... Even if they were century old I could still make out their repulsive faces. The man and woman I knew as my mother and father…
"Anna... You look well," the woman said with a slight smile.
"What the hell do you guys want?" I demanded. I didn't need nor want to show respect for the people who ditched me like yesterday's old newspaper.
Their eyes widened in shock but smiled as the brunette woman replied, "I guess we deserve that. But… please hear us out. We only want to talk."
I pointed behind them, "You may want to talk… but I have no intentions or desires to talk to you. Please leave."
They took a few steps back as I continued, "How dare you come here after all these years."
Taking a few steps forward, I looked into their eyes not bothering to hide my bearing fangs of anger and contempt.
How could they show up here at a time like this? Did they think they would simply say 'I'm sorry' and I could forgive their mistake of leaving me? Do they now cherish my life and wish to be a part of it? Do they think they can make up for 13 years of my life without them?
"Listen to us… please. Only this one time… and if it's what you truly want… we'll leave you in peace," the tall blonde male spoke to me as if I was holding a gun to his head.
"I have nothing to say to you," I turned my head away in agony.
"But… we have something we would like to say to you. Please hear us out… just his once," he pleaded.
"Anna!"
I looked up ahead of me and saw Yoh running closer, carrying a bag of groceries. "Yoh…"
"What's going on?" he asked as he saw us together, in the midst of a disagreement. He looked over at the standing pair and knew almost as well as I did, who they were. Yoh moved quickly ahead of me and wedged himself between my parents and I. Ugh… I don't want to use that word again.
With a serious and unexpected tone that shocked me, Yoh growled, "Leave. Now." His arm rose as if to protect me from incoming strikes. Even I didn't know… what had gotten into him.
"We only want to talk," the man raised his hands, "We promise to leave after. We… just feel that… we at least owe a word of apology and a reason… Please! Only for a moment."
The look in Yoh's eyes seemed more serious than when in fighting shaman battles. A part of me wondered what such reason would lead them to the conclusion that dumping your child on the streets is for the best. What did it matter?
…13 years of my life…
I was 16 now… and I was happy living with Yoh. They can't take that away from me by asking me to go back with them… they had no such right of commanding me around if they weren't even there during the majority of my life.
…Why did they do it?
Damn the curiosity that exists within me… Why do I care? They did it right? They even lied about it… Why should I hear them out? Why should I care?
"Please…" the woman begs.
I lowered my head as I cursed myself again for even considering hearing them out. I could see Yoh's shoulders tensed as he continued to act as a shield. If the people in front of me weren't related to me by blood… or if I knew how to react to all this, I would probably push Yoh aside. I don't need to be protected… but… I knew that Yoh wasn't trying to physically… protect me from pain… but emotionally… shield me. He's the second person to know about my past and even then… his knowledge of it wasn't in complete detail.
"Hear us out… just this once," she pleas once more.
I reach out and touch Yoh's back, mentally telling him that it was okay. His shoulders loosened when my palms made contact with it.
Yoh sighed and whispered to me, "Is this… what you really want..?"
I nodded slowly, myself not even willing to believe that I was letting this happen. I walked past Yoh so that I was in front of my parents.
"We'll go inside. And then you will say what you came here to say. Then you will leave here as soon as possible… and you won't come back. Ever."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As always, Reviews/Comments/Flames/Constructive-ism/Everything/Anything is always accepted and greatly appreciated.