Shaman King Fan Fiction ❯ Ivy, Shaman Runaway ❯ Morning Bribes ( Chapter 20 )

 

Morning Bribes

I woke up the next morning to the smell of breakfast cooking. I wasn't particularly hungry at the moment, so I decided to take a shower first, before going down to eat with the others. Just as I was getting out of the shower the bathroom door opened. I didn't notice and continued to dry myself off.

 

I turned around and in walked Yoh, himself in a towel. Luckily I managed to cover myself before he got too much of a view. There was much apologizing and other awkwardness that can only be achieved when both people conversing are in only shrimpy bathroom towels. Thankfully we both made it out of the bathroom and into our respective bedrooms without overly embarrassing ourselves.

 

I got dressed went downstairs where I saw the table laid out with pancakes, sausages, eggs, ham, and all sorts of good food. Everyone was still in his or her pajamas from the night before and they were chatting heartily. I took a seat next to Yoh who had somehow beaten me downstairs. “Good morning everyone!” I chirped.

 

Some people looked at me like I was crazy, being so cheerful in the morning (Ren and Anna), but the rest replied with polite good mornings back to me. I helped myself to the food since everyone else was already eating.

 

“Hey, Ivy.” I looked to my right at Yoh.

 

I swallowed and answered “Hmm?”

 

“I would like to talk to you after breakfast. Could you meet me in my room?” He whispered.

 

“Your room?” I gave him a quizzical look, questioning his judgment. “If Anna was to accidentally walk in on us what would she think? She already distrusts me, and she'll hate me even more if she sees us alone, together, in your bedroom.” I teased.

 

“Hmmm. You're right. Hey, why do you care so much what Anna thinks?” Yoh inquired, looking at me suspiciously.

 

`I would like to have a loving relationship with my only other shaman relative.' I thought. “I like her, and I want her to accept me…like a…like a sister!” I answered truthfully.

 

Yoh rolled his eyes playfully, “Anna doesn't get `sisterly' with many people, but good luck to you. I still think you're crazy.”

 

“Crazy about you.” I winked.

 

Yoh blushed a bit, but soon a solemn look came over his face, “Seriously?” he looked straight into my eyes as he awaited his answer.

 

This wasn't the reaction I had been expecting, and I had to think about it for a moment before I responded. I looked away from his expectant gaze and said, “I don't know. Maybe. You're cute enough, but you already have a fiancée. I couldn't do that to my sist—Anna!” `Oh, shoot!'

 

Yoh's face turned to disbelief and total shock, “YOUR SISTER!!!”

 

I pounced on Yoh, clamping my hand over his mouth. “Can I talk to you outside!!?” I screeched before dragging him outside.

 

When I was sure that we were well out of anyone's hearing range I let go of Yoh. He took a big breath before he let out, “ANNA'S YOUR SISTER!!??”

 

I glared at him and put my finger over my lips signaling for him to be quiet. “Yes. She's my sister, and could you be any louder about it?!” I hissed.

 

Yoh looked off into space and started rambling, “I can't believe it. How can you and she be twin sisters? You're so different! I mean, she's distant and somewhat antisocial, and you're loud and outgoing. She's reserved and secretive about her emotions and feelings, and you're…um…”

 

“Go ahead, say it. I'm a bit of a slut okay. Maybe not just a bit either…” I supplied.

 

Yoh scrunched up his face as if he was thinking. “Well…you're not exactly a slut so much as just overly flirty. You're really open about your feelings. But you're both very manipulative. Anna can make anyone do anything.”

 

“Then how am I manipulative?!” I probed.

 

Yoh rolled his eyes at me. “Well, that's obvious. Have you ever really kissed someone?”

 

`I've kissed you—what?—three of four times?' “Of course I've kissed someone before! A lot of guys!” I glared at his stupidity.

 

He glared back at my ignorance, “That's exactly what I mean. You've kissed so many guys that kissing for you isn't special anymore! Your kiss means nothing! I was asking have you ever kissed a guy because you love him? Only say yes if he's kissed you back because he truly loves you too.”

 

My heart stopped cold. He was right. I had never kissed a guy because I loved him…except when I thought I loved Hao, but that was a lie. He didn't love me, and I wasn't really in love. I just thought I was. I sunk down to the ground and propped myself against the building as I hugged my knees to my chest. “No. I've never really kissed anyone before. Never. I've never been in love, and my whole life has been a lie.”

 

Silent tears fell down my face and I laid my head on my knees and cried. Yoh rubbed my back and comforted me. “Shhhh, it's okay. It's not to late to start over. You can try again.”

 

I looked up at him. I must have looked a mess, and my eyes were sure to be puffy and red. “What do you mean?”

 

“Try again at life. Tons of people have done it. You can start a new life for yourself right here.” I lay down my head on Yoh's chest and snuggled up against him.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“No problem.” Silence swelled over us for a minute or three before Yoh spoke again. “Ivy?”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“Why does Anna act like you two have never met before?” He tilted his face downward to look at me.

 

“We haven't met before. I was abandoned the same week I was born. Our parents weren't shaman, so my little power surges scared them to death. It was even worse when I accidentally electrocuted two or so of the nurses. My parents didn't understand any of what was going on. They thought I was a devil, so they abandoned me, and never spoke about me to my older twin sister Anna. Anna developed shaman powers a few years later, and they left her with the Asakuras.” Yoh nodded that he understood.

 

“Yoh, can you keep a secret?” I asked as I pulled away from him to look him in the eye.

 

“Yeah, why?” He asked innocently.

 

I smiled at him knowingly as I shook my head at his naivety. “Don't tell her okay? It would only hurt her. Promise me?”

 

“What's in it for me?” Yoh teased.

 

“Yoh!”

 

“Seriously. If Anna finds out it's my hide, for keeping a secret from her.” Yoh looked expectantly at me.

 

I pondered what I could do to make him keep his mouth shut. `Keep his mouth shut…mouth…shut…hmmm!' “Yoh, must I seal your mouth for you?” I said as my eyes beckoned him to come closer.

 

He pretended to think about it for a moment. “May-be.”

 

“Then how's this?” I leaned forward and gave him a short kiss on the lips. “I'll do your chores for a week.”

 

After Yoh got over the shock of the kiss he quickly spit out, “Deal.”

 

A little back-story on Isabelle: Isabelle is originally from South America (Peru), like my dearest Andrea Nefisto! But she moved to North America (to the `Wild Wild West' that's where she gets her accent from) and started a gang of bandits, taking the name `Cactus Rose'. She was accidentally killed one day doing a selfless deed. (You shall learn more about the selfless deed later.) And after her death she realized what she was doing during her life was wrong, and that she was hurting others. So she repented, and one day ran into Ivy. The have been shaman and ghost ever since.