Oh boy. The last chapter. Thank you for keeping up with me for so long. I got really busy yet again. I am in Florida now on the Disney College Program. I work at Disney and I work about 5 days a week for about 8 hours a day, so I have been busy. I have recently begun watching Shaman King on my free time and decided to finish this.
The battle clashed quickly in a roar of rage and vented emotion. Tamao, Jun, Amidamaru and Anna were in the safety of the bushes. Bason had joined Ren in the battle as oversouls began to swell and clash together. Anna could not stand it the cries of pain and determination filling the air. She hated being helpless and this weight of burden sunk deep within her. This was her fault and now they all were going to die. Guilt was not an emotion she had come to embrace. It was foreign and sharp and made her sick. Even worse was the memory of what happen not moments before haunting her. Shivering Anna curled into a cocoon of her own warmth; her head sunk down as she struggled to fight back tears.
"Anna," Tamao's timid voice whispered. Anna looked up from between the folds of her arms at pink haired girl. Her pixie features were tight in worry as she offered a calm hand on Anna's shoulder. "You are shivering. You look so white!"
"Here." Pilica, who had rushed to join them after Ren left, rested a heavy and warm jacket on her back, joining beside Anna. Jun crouched in front of Anna, carefully brushing away a strand of hair from Anna's face. The same expression of pity and concerned were on their face as they gazed at Anna.
"He pretended to be Yoh, "Anna blurted out hoarsely. It was irrelevant and stupid and selfish but it plagued her like the guilt bubbling in her chest. "He…he cut his hair and I thought he was Yoh and…and…"
"Oh, Anna." Tamao's hands were around her in a comforting hug. Jun patted her hand gently while Pilica rubbed her back. Anna shuddered, trying to collect herself. This sensation of having no control was horrible and sickening and so disgustingly familiar. She felt like the Queen Anna again, a shadow of her former self with no control over anything.
"He said he could be Yoh. He wanted to be Yoh for me but I told him he could not and I got him mad. He…he…tried to strangle me…and he knew…he knew our plan. He was going to kill me…though I am not surprised but he looked so…hurt and…" Her voice trailed off and she wet her lips nervously. Tamao brushed her hair and the looks of pity increased tenfold on each of the girls' faces. Jun squeezed her hands while Pilica continued to rub her back. Anna let out a shaky breath and closed her eyes for a brief moment.
"This is not the time for this," she said firmly. She had to get back into control. She needed to gather herself. It really was not the time for it. "What has been has been done. It may haunt me for the rest of life…which might not be that long. But now…we got to do something. Tamao…can you get me some clothes?"
"Um…okay…" Tamao was immediately on her feet and was rushing away toward the nearest house. Anna fixed her hair, brushing it away from her face and brushed her wet eyes.
"We need to help them. We need to get involved. I am not going to stand around helplessly and do nothing, "Anna said, firmly.
"What can we do?"
"We are shamans as well. We cannot stand around here." Tamao rushed back and shoved a few drab garments in Anna's hands. Jun and Pilica covered her as she quickly slipped into a baggy shirt, a tattered skirt and a pair of leggings. She tied the laces of a pair of worn brown boots. A scream of immense pain tore through the unnerving silence. It was hard to tell if it came from their side of the others. Flashes of light filled the sky as the battle continued. Anna crossed her arms over her chest, adopting her familiar stance as she looked coolly at the battle. Her stomach was fluttering with nerves but her face was stoic.
"We got to do something."
"What can we do?"
"I do not know," Anna honestly said. "But we will think of something."
She stepped forward and began to make her way to the battle field. Jun, Tamao and Pilica looked at each other and followed her, trying to keep up with her. Another shriek filled the area but this was not human made. The glowing yellow spirit of fire appeared almost out of no where. His gaping mouth opened again to howl and upon his mighty shoulder was his master. Anna froze for a moment, just on the brim of the forest. With one swipe, the SOF gathered a few of the shamans and devoured them in one motion. They never had a chance to scream or realize what happened. Anna exhaled shakily. He is mad and insane and hurt and…we are dead.
"Anna. What can we possibly do?" Jun asked, watching in horror as the shamans began to scatter and try to maneuver around Hao and the spirit of fire.
"We have to do something…" Anna said firmly. "I have to do something."
"Anna. You can't or they will kill you. You no longer have Hao's protection," Tamao argued reasonably.
"I know but I am dead anyway. I need to do something. Anything," Anna said calmly. Bason in his towering form attacked one of Hao's many loyal followers, the two spirits glaring at each other with such menacing hatred. Ryu was battling and losing against the constant attacks of his opponent. Chocolove screamed as his arm was sliced by a scythe and his spirit was taking a lot of the blows. The Spirit of Fire slowly burned a few shamans, catching a few of his own. Yet he paid no heed to their cries of pain.
Anna was moving before she could even think about it. Into the fray, into the pain and misery and hatred. Anna ignored Jun, Tamao and Pilica's cries of surprise as they tried to call her back. She did not know why she was returning to it. She needed to do something, anything even if she is killed. What other choice was there? They were all doomed…was that not what they had told themselves. She had to go for it just like everyone else was. Anna was not going to let herself stand by and watch and then wait after the battle to see what would happen.
She dodged attacks that were being thrown, running underneath the chessboard of spirits. Anna was heading toward the spirit of fire with blind determination. There was nothing she could do in battle. She was helpless in that aspect and even summing a spirit would help her. She needed a shaman who can handle a spirit. Yet she was going to try again. Anna needed to attempt something even if Hao killed her. Anna stumbled as a wild attack crashed toward her. She fell with a painful thud onto the dust ground. She scrambled back onto her feet as another direct attack came at her. Kanna came behind her, grinning wickedly as her spirit advanced on Anna.
"Look what we have here. Queen Anna…or should I say the late Queen Anna."
"How trite, Kanna. How long did it take you for that one?"
"Oh that has been my dream since you married Master Hao."
"Jealous as usual, Kanna."
"Of you. Of course not." Anna kept her face toward her as Kanna advanced. The blue-haired woman was grinning wickedly.
"Oh do not lie, Kanna dear. I married Hao not you. Your master married someone who was not deserving of him. Of course, I am more his age," Anna said recklessly, brushing her hair away from her eyes. Kanna eyes narrowed in fury. Her metal spirit raised his spear toward Anna as if reading his mistress's mind. Death. "Do not mess with me, Kanna. I am not in the mood."
"What is the little itako going to do? Summon a spirit."
"How witty," Anna replied, adopting a bored tone. Kanna did not even counter but her grin revealed more than any words. Her spirit lurched forward, the spear straight at Anna's heart. She prepared to dodge, waiting for a moment when it was close enough for her to attack. However she did not need to. Kanna and her spirit both burst into flames without any warning and Kanna's scream scorched Anna's ears just like the blaze before her. A hot wind whipped her hair around and Hao appeared before her. His short hair fluttered into the wind and his eyes were filled with pain, hatred and violence.
"You cannot stay out of trouble can you, Anna."
"And you cannot help but setting people on fire."
"I guess it is just a flaw of ours." They stared at each other for a moment, a tension as hot as the fire surrounded them and the last of Kanna's screams faded into the wind.
"Why do you return, Anna? I could easily kill you."
"Of course but as long as I die knowing I did something," she said honestly.
"What were you planning to do, if I may ask?"
"I…"
"Were being reckless. Do you really hate me that much that even the most insignificant act of defiance is worth your life?"
"Pretty much."
"And yet you still return to me," Hao replied, frightening playful.
"Not to you. Do not get such a big head. I am here for Yoh."
"But Yoh is not here and soon he will no longer exist."
"He always will to me no matter what you do, Hao. And you will always live with the fact that no matter how hard you tried, I still choose Yoh over you."
Hao suddenly rushed forward. He was set on killing her. She could tell it by the burning white eyes that were focused only on her. Then everything seemed to slow down and vanish around them. A warm cloud of silvery fog and dull light surrounded them and it seemed as if they were floating. What was going on? Anna looked around. Where were they? How did they get here? Anna eyes feel upon Hao close in front of her. He was staring blankly at her, the fury gone face his eyes. His mouth moved but he did not speak. Anna scowled, shaking her head.
"Why cannot you love me?" His voice cracked with such pain and sorrow and his eyes glisten with wet, unshed tears. Anna was a little taken back by the raw emotion that was over taking Hao.
"I love Yoh," she replied in a matter-of-fact tone.
"I know but why cannot you love me too?"
"I cannot love two people." This was strange how calm this conversation was. Each time this had happened it caused a heavy tension that could not be broken.
"Why not?" He said almost like a lost boy, searching for some affection in a cruel world.
"I…just…can't…"
"What can I do just to have a small place in your heart?"
"Do you really want to know what you can do?"
"Yes. I want to make you happy. I do not want you to hate me."
"Than give me back Yoh. Restore reality to it was."
"That is a tall order," Hao replied, reluctantly. Anna sighed. His hatred was to strong to over come. He would not give up his perfect world for her. That was ridiculous.
"Than what do you plan to do? Your only option is to kill me." Hao lifted his hand, caressing her cheek with delicate fingers. He leaned close, gently kissing her lips with such tenderness and compassion. Anna allowed him to but she did not kiss him back.
"Can you do me one favor before I have to do what I must," Hao asked.
"What," Anna asked suspiciously.
"Please kiss me back."
"Hao…" She sighed but the pain in his brown eyes and very gently kissed his mouth. It was simple at first, a mere touch of lips that blossomed into something slightly more. It was no passionate and wild but gentle and unsure. They pulled away from each other and stared at each others. Hao pulled her toward him, hugging her as if it would be his last. Anna closed her eyes. She knew she could not do anything. She was going to die but she would die knowing he would feel the pain. Cruel as it was, it gave her small satisfaction. His mouth brushed her ear as he gently whispered.
"Take good care of Yoh," he whispered. Anna's eyes snapped opened to darkness. She looked around at her surrounding. She was laying somewhere warm and familiar. Light filtered in from a window nearby. Anna sat up, her hair just skimming her shoulders. Her hand flew to her head, the soft short hair than wondered to her chest. Nothing…well not really. Anna pushed the blanket off of her, stumbling in the darkness. She pushed over the curtains and looked outside. They were in Patch Village and people were already up and about as they began the day.
Somewhere beyond her room she heard voices arguing. Familiar and annoying voice that were untouched by age. Anna rushed out of her room and followed them down to a living room. Ren and HoroHoro were arguing with each other while Manta watched with a sigh. Manta! It was actually Manta! Chocolove was laughing at the two boy's expense while Ryu was flirting heavily with Lyserg. Anna stood in the doorway as excitement brewed in her. She was back…she was back in her own time! She was…where was Yoh?
"Good morning, Anna," Yoh said sheepishly. It seemed as if too had just woken up. His long hair fell around his shoulders in thick layers. "Have a good sleep?"
"Yoh," she breathed cautious. His eyes went wide.
"Did I do something wrong? Am I in trouble?"
"Yoh. Why are we in Patch?"
"Are you okay, Anna? Remember. I am became shaman king last night!" Memories of the ceremony flooded to her as if they had taken a while to get back. They had celebrated all night and Yoh…Yoh had been Yoh. Anna smiled and pulled Yoh toward her. She kissed him, knowing that no one knew that they were up and could see them.
"A…Anna," he stammered when she pulled away. His face blazed with red heat.
"I had the worst nightmare," Anna replied simply. Yoh grinned, his face still red but his eyes flashed with something that was contented.
"Oh…okay. It must have been some nightmare," he said lightly, smiling.
"You have no idea. I lost you for a while," she admitted. Yoh cocked his head curiously and Anna felt a blush come across her own features. He took her hand into his and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
"It is okay, Anna. I will always be here with you!"
"Good. Now go make me some breakfast."
"Aww….Anna…I just got up…"
"Yoh…" she said sternly. Yoh whimpered for a moment, looking at her with pleading puppy eyes. Anna leaned forward and he made a motion to move from any blow. Anna kissed his cheek and he beamed then bounded away toward the kitchen. Anna stood in the hallway alone as she listened to the chatter in the living room. She wrapped her arms around herself and looked behind her as if she was looking into the past as a strange realization came to her. Hao must have really loved her. He gave up his title as Shaman King for her. Anna snorted gently and shook her head. Just for a place in her heart that he would never be able to share. It was kind of stupid but then it made Anna feel oddly warm and satisfied. I guess he really was not a really bad guy.
"Anna. Breakfast," Yoh called and Anna went to join her true fiancé and let her 'dream' become her own twisted fairy tale.
OMG. It is finished. I spent almost all day trying to finish this up. If you noticed spelling errors, grammar errors or anything, I apologize. It is really hard for me to get on and I needed to put this up quickly. I hope you enjoyed it. I might start on Twin Heroes (time pending) but do not give hopes up….Oddly enough this ending sounds like the Phantom of the Opera….oh well…