Shaman King Fan Fiction ❯ Ivy, Shaman Runaway ❯ Stargazers ( Chapter 17 )

 

Stargazers

I looked up at my advocate, only to find Jun Tao standing over me, pleading with Anna.

 

Anna and I wore twin expressions of shock. Anna recovered first and glared angrily at Jun. “Why should I let this slut stay in this house?! She hasn't given me a good reason, and all I see are problems ahead if she stays. Why are you standing up for her Jun?! You don't owe her a thing!” Anna snapped.

 

Jun took a deep breath before replying, “Who's to say I don't have an obligation to her?”

 

Ren jumped in on the conversation, challenging his sister, “Jun you don't owe this harlot; why are you doing this?”

 

Jun turned on her little brother, tears threatening to escape her eyes, “Be quiet, Ren! You don't know what you're saying!”

 

Ren abruptly shut his mouth and looked thoughtfully at me, whispering, “It's not her…” to himself.

 

Jun continued her plea; “I need her here, Anna. I need to know that she's safe. There are too many people out there looking to harm her, and Hao is one of them. I won't let you throw her out into the cold alone. If she goes, I go with her. What's your verdict, Anna?”

 

My mouth dropped. She was willing to be thrown out onto the cold dark street with me if Anna said so! She didn't even know me! Unless… “Jun! You can't do this! I'll be fine out on my own, but you…I don't think you could live street life very well! Please, I'll just go back to Hao; he'll probably beat me and stuff when I get back, but it won't be too bad. I just couldn't let you go with me and see you get hur—“

 

“—See, Anna! She's a good person! She cares about a strange she only just met! You have to let her stay; she's not really a slut! She was only teasing you.” Jun interrupted my rant. “Now, please. What have you decided?”

 

“I want her gone. You can stay Jun, I have no quarrel with you.” Anna said heartlessly.

 

“Then I'm going too, Anna.” I turned around to see Yoh finally standing up to his fiancée.

 

“Stay out of this Yoh. I'm warning you. If you—“

 

“—No Anna, I'm warning you. You can't kick Jun and Ivy out. They're part of the group, and I won't let you throw out any of my friends.” He glared as he advanced on Anna.

 

Anna turned and made her way up the stairs to the bedrooms, hiding her face as she commanded, “Jun, she's your responsibility. Take care of her, and make sure that she stays out of my way.”

 

I slowly stepped forward and gasped, “Thank you sooooo much, Anna!! You won't regret this! Don't worry, I'll tone down the flirting if you like.”

 

No response.

 

Jun placed her hands on my shoulders and gently ushered me away saying, “Shhhhh. Anna's a bit of a sore loser. I wouldn't talk to her if I were you. Come, I'll get you cleaned up. I bet you could use a nice warm shower.”

 

“Okay. Thank you.” I murmured to Jun, but I continued starring after Anna.

 

Jun guided me upstairs, and showed me around. I took a shower and put on an extra pair of Yoh's pjs before joining the rest of the girls in the bedroom. Yoh's clothes were a little big on me, but they were comfy none-the-less. The lights were turned off and the others slowly drifted off to sleep.

 

I, however, could not sleep. I got up from bed, quietly as not to wake the others, and walked over to the open-air window. My storm had subsided, and I looked up at the stars, which were glittering brilliantly.

 

Stars are marvelous things. They are things of perfection. Glittering off in the distance without worry of the humans who gaze up at their glory. Positively shining in the night unaware of all the troubles below. Their ignorance is bliss, and their beauty is heightened by the simple added effect of viewing them through a thin watery curtain of rain.

 

“They're beautiful aren't they?” a voice interrupted my thoughts.

 

“Hello, Jun.” I whispered without turning around.

 

Jun took a seat next to me and glanced up at the stars. “What were you doing with Hao?” she didn't look at me as she asked her question.

 

I in turn did not look at her as I replied. “I'm his fiancée.”

 

“But how did you come to be in such a horrible situation?”

 

“I couldn't properly control my powers, and others were suffering for it. I had to do something.” I suggested.

 

“But sell yourself to him, of all people? You could have gone to see some of the other powerful shaman families. They would have helped for a price. And when I say `a price' I mean you not killing them. It would have been much better than living with Hao for the rest of your life.” Jun sighed.

 

“I tried. I traveled the world while in search of my real family, but there was no one. I met Hao by chance, and he was a last resort.” The stars continued to sparkle, oblivious to the suffering of a young shaman girl so far below them.

 

“I was worried about you, and now I see that my worries were well placed.” Jun smiled remorsefully “I could have gone after you, but Father advised against it. He said you needed to find your own way.”

 

I looked at her for the first time since the beginning of the conversation. “What?!” I choked.

 

My sister still wouldn't look at me. “Stop it. I've known all along. Ren's too blinded by distrust to realize it though. I won't say anything unless you want me to, but I think he should be left to figure it out himself. It would be easier that way.”

 

“I-I-I what do you mean? I'm afraid that I don't know what you're talking about.” I looked away from her. To tell you the truth, I was ashamed of what I had become. I didn't want to be `Ivy, fiancée of Hao Asakura'. I wanted to be `Judo Tao, Shaman King'. I didn't want to let my sister know it was her darling little girl she had raised from an infant that was this pathetic shaman in front of her. I didn't want to let her see what Judo had become, and so I pretended not to be Judo any more. It would be better for Jun if her beloved baby sister were dead than to see the `bloody harlot', as Ren would put it, that Judo had become.

 

I was woken from my thoughts by a compulsive sob. I glanced over at my sister only to see her on her knees, face buried in her hands. “W-why? Why won't you just admit it? I kn-know it's you, yet you won't let me see your true face! I'm not angry with you, if that's what's got you worried. I'm just happy you're safe! Please, won't you just say it?! Say `I am Judo.' I'm not upset, I'm not ashamed, and I don't care where you've been! But please—please—let me know that you are all right. I don't much care for this `Ivy' she's on the run and worried that she'll be caught, she seems so lost and alone! I want my Judo back! I raised her like she was my own child, even if I was only but a few years older than she was! I took care of her that much because no one else had the time! I trained her some myself! I taught her all I knew! She wanted to be Shaman King just so she could prove that she could beat all of the boys up. Please give her back to me!”

 

My heart was braking at the sight of my big sister sobbing her heart out on the floor. Soon my own cheeks became moist and I joined her on the floor. I wrapped my arms around her and let go of all my suffering that I had stored up over the past months.

 

And a light rain fell as the two sisters bawled like babies in each other's arms. The stars smiled down upon them as the sky cried with its young Allure master. The sisters fell into a peaceful sleep and their worries left them. Unfortunately their state of peace would only last for that one night. A visitor would come in the morning, a most unwelcome visitor at that. But for now the sisters were like the stars: blissfully oblivious to the on coming danger. Footsteps are heard in the street as a figure slowly makes its way to wherever it's going. Accompanying the figure is a small child. The two shadows wonder on down the street and the sisters dream on.

 

Stars are wonderful, but perhaps it's best to be aware of the world around you. Maybe the on coming danger could have been avoided.