Shaman King Fan Fiction ❯ Ivy, Shaman Runaway ❯ Reoccurring Dreams ( Chapter 49 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King.

 

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Reoccurring Dreams

I walked back to my own room after I had made sure that Anna was actually asleep. I replaced my day clothes with my pajama pants, but didn't put on a shirt. Shirts only get in the way, and if I had my way I wouldn't wear one. I lay down on my bed, but I couldn't sleep. I was exhausted, but couldn't sleep.

 

I was too busy thinking of a weird dream I had a day or so ago, or was it a daydream that I had today? I had no idea. Ever since Ivy left the days have all meshed together in a never-ending blur. Anyway, in this dream the whole world around me was white. I seemed to be alone, but then a girl's voice came from somewhere behind me.

 

=Flashback=

 

“Hiya there! You must be Yoh.” I turned to see a little girl sitting on thin air like it was a chair. She was very pretty, but something about her was very familiar. Her hair.

 

She had wavy dark brown hair that I'm sure would have reached to her shoulders if she wore it down, but instead it was put up in a style very similar to Jun's. Only this girl's hair was very messy, and it was falling down, loose strands everywhere. Everything about her was messy; including her clothes.

 

Her pants were similar to Ren's baggy fighting pants, only the left leg was terribly ripped. I could see that her left calf was heavily wrapped with bandages, but some blood was seeping through none-the-less. Her shirt was a little ripped too, but it was still in pretty good shape. Her shirt was a cute little yellow belly shirt tank top thing with a picture of a cartoon skull on the chest area. That too looked remarkably like Jun's clothing.

 

This little girl, about ten years of age, sat staring, her blackish brown eyes boring into me. She smiled sweetly as she stared, studying ever inch of me, and finding me immensely to her liking. I stared back observing this girl's oddity and wondered how she could sit on thin air like that.

 

“Yes, you mustbe Yoh. Hehehe! She was right, you aredrop dead gorgeous.” The girl's smile widened before it turned to a displeased pout. “But you're engaged, aren't ya? Is Anna pretty?—No, never mind. If she's Ivy's twin then of course she's pretty. The real question is, `Is she prettier than Ivy?'” The child waited expectantly for me to answer.

 

“I don't know…I don't think so…well, maybe…no, she's not, but then again…” I blabbered on, talking myself in circles.

 

The girl hit me upside the head, and I immediately shut up. “You talk too much. All I asked was a simple yes or no question; now, who is prettier, Ivy or Anna?”

 

“I don't know.” I stated. That got me another hit to the head.

 

“You have to know!! Ivy's madly in love with you, and you `don't know' if you think Anna or Ivy is prettier?! Make up your mind!” The child walked back over to where she had previously been sitting on thin air, and sat down again, this time taking out an orange to snack on. Exactly where she got the orange from, I don't know, but my best guess was that she conjured it up out of her imagination. That sort of thing seemed possible for this odd little girl.

 

I must have been staring at the orange, because the girl said, “Want a bite?”

 

I nodded, and she gestured for me to sit down next to her. I obliged, and somehow was able to sit on the air next to her, finding it was stable like an invisible brick wall. The girl held the orange out to me, but when I tried to take it from her, she pulled it back looking scandalized.

 

“Eat it from my hand!” She scowled looking like a kid version of Anna.

 

“Okay…” I didn't question the strange girl, but instead leaned in to take a bite of the orange. When I was close enough, the girl pulled back the orange and replaced it with her lips, and I found myself kissing the devious little ten year-old.

 

She pulled back and giggled, smiling broadly at me.

 

“What the heck?” I questioned the girl's sanity.

 

“A little trick Ivy taught me. It works with apples, and pears too. Actually it works with pretty much all finger foods, but Ivy said that fruit is more tactful and less messy.” The girl replied with a thoughtful look on her face.

 

“Who are you, and how do you know Ivy?” I inquired.

 

“Here.” The girl ignored my question, and handed me another orange. “No tricks this time, I promise.”

 

“Thanks. Did you hear me?” I took the orange and asked.

 

“Do you like oranges? I do. I also like music. Have you ever heard of Bob? I love Bob.” The little girl babbled as she ate her orange, rocking back and forth on the “wall”. “I use to have a friend when I lived in New York. We were both shamans, and we didn't want the Shaman Fight to interfere with our friendship. He wanted to live an easy life, and I wanted the respect of my family. I think that we were very childish, looking back. He liked oranges and Bob though. I remember he was very handsome. I had a huge crush on him, but I didn't tell him before my family moved me again. I miss him. I never really had friends; I still don't. We used to watch the stars together in the park or the cemetery. I hardly remember his face, and his name has also faded away from me. I still have the necklace he gave me though…I never take it off except to take baths and such. It's all I have left of him…”

 

`OMG!! No wonder she seemed so familiar…Judo…that day in the park! I was walking, and then her dog got away from her…Ty was her name or something like that. I didn't have a ghost yet, but Aikido was with her!! I…and then she…Oh my God! That necklace that Ivy always wears!! I had forgotten…it was so long ago…'

 

“Can I see the necklace?” I asked tentatively.

 

“Sure, but you can't touch it. It's very important to me, and I don't want it to get damaged.” The girl carefully lifted the necklace so that I could see it without having her take it off. It was a chocker made of many black strings encircling her neck, and on the bottom string was a heart pendant made of bright red rubies. It was the same one that Ivy always wore. The one I had given to her when we were only 6 or 7 years old. Back when she was still—

 

“Judo Tao…” Judo looked up when I said her name.

 

“Yes? How do you know my name?! I didn't tell you!” Judo cocked her head to the side like a confused puppy.

 

“I gave you that necklace.” I stated simply.

 

“Yoh Asakura!!” She yelped my name as she pounced on me, her voice full of realization. “God! You turned into such a hunk!!” Judo hugged me tight like a child would a stuffed animal.

 

“Uh…thanks.” I blushed thinking of how a mini Ivy was gushing over me. “Hey, do you know where Ivy is?”

 

“Yes.” Judo nodded vigorously.

 

I waited for her to say more, but when she didn't, I asked, “Well, where?”

 

“Oh! You don't know!?” Judo looked pityingly at me. “I'm so sorry. She's lost her memory, and Hao is taking advantage of that to propose to her.”

 

“What?!” My eyes went wide in fear of losing Ivy to my older brother forever. “But she can't marry him! She doesn't love him, and after the way he mistreated her?! I won't let him get away with this!!” I growled. “Tell me, how do I get to her?!”

 

“I can let you talk to her from here if you want Yoh.” Judo informed me.

 

“Do it.” I nodded, determined to knock some sense back into her.

 

“Alrighty then.” Judo clapped twice, and the whole world started spinning. Soon I found myself alone in a pure white world. Then a figure started to materialize with its back to me. Ivy…

 

She looked totally confused as to where she was, and she didn't seem to notice me even if I was only a few feet behind her.

 

“Have you totally forgotten me then?” I asked.

 

She whipped around, shocked to see me. She studied me hard before deciding that she hadn't met me before. “What do you mean?” She asked.

 

I could feel my heart break as the words left her mouth. She had no idea who I was. “You said you would marry Hao. If that's not totally forgetting me, I don't know what is. Oh why do you torture me like this Ivy?” I moaned.

 

“I love you Ivy.” I stepped forward and took her in my arms, dipped her, and kissed her passionately. As I pulled away, her skin lost all of its color, and she had the most frightened expression on her face.

 

“Oh. My. GOD. Yoh!! How could I forget you!?” Ivy clung to me, trying not to faint.

 

“Hao exactly.” I spat bitterly, hating my brother for putting my Ivy through so much pain and suffering. “Come back to me Ivy. I miss you so much.” I begged. “I love you; he can't have you. He can't take you away from me. He can't!”

 

I noticed that Ivy was starting to fade away with the rest of the world, so I tried to hold on for dear life to her, but it was no use. I whispered after her as she disappeared. “Come back to me Ivy…I won't let Hao have you…”

 

“I'm sorry Yoh.” Judo placed a small hand on my shoulder to comfort me.

 

“It's okay. She remembers now. Everything will work out all right. She'll come back.” I sat back down next to Judo and she smiled warmly at me. She really reminded me of Ivy, only more innocent, but just as devious.

 

I put my hand over hers and smiled.

 

Her own smile turned into a scrutinizing frown when she looked at my left wrist. “That red hair-tie on your wrist!” She pulled the hand closer to her face to examine it more closely.

 

I looked down at it, not remembering what it was doing there. “It's not mine.” I tried to explain. “I just woke up one morning and there it was.” (a/n: It you want to know exactly where it came from, see chapter 24, Romeo and Juliet Syndrome.)

 

“It's Ivy's.” Judo stated.

 

“Really?” I took a closer look at the rubber band. “How can you tell?”

 

“She wore it all the time. I don't know why; she never told me. I don't even know where she got it from, but she said it was like a promise bracelet or something like that. I'm sorry it was so long ago that she told me, and I'm afraid I've forgotten what she said exactly.” Judo apologized.

 

“It's all right. Just tell me whatever you can remember.” I urged.

 

“Okay. She said something about red pinkie strings that I didn't understand, but then she said that if you gave the bracelet to someone important to you and they always wore it on their left wrist then your heart would always be with them. Then she got really technical about how it had to be the left wrist because the left side was the closest to the heart and something about the heart meridian and blah, blah, blah.” Judo looked up at me and shrugged. “That's it.”

 

“Oh Ivy…” I sighed as I fingered the little bracelet.

 

“I gotta leave now Yoh.” Judo hugged me goodbye.

 

“Thank you so much Judo.” I thanked her earnestly as I hugged her back.

 

“Don't mention it. She'll come back to you Yoh, don't worry.” Judo assured me before I awoke in my bed.

 

=End Flashback=

 

I sighed as I remembered the dream. I had had several weird ones ever since Ivy left, but that one was the weirdest. I rolled over on my back, still unable to summon sleep. I looked down at my left wrist and smiled. “She'll be back.”

 

I don't know if I was afraid to fall asleep or what, but sleep wouldn't come. True, I was tired, but if I fell asleep, I would have another one of those creepy dreams.

 

The dream would start out okay, great even; it was early in the morning and I was lying in bed with Ivy next to me. She wasn't awake yet, so I could just lie there looking at her thinking about what went on between us the previous night.

 

Then Horo would burst in wide-eyed and frantic screaming, “YOH!!!”. Ivy would wake with a start and sit up in bed, using the blanket to cover herself. Then there would be an awkward moment where Horo would realize what we had been doing and then shake his head at me and mutter, “No wonder she…Oh, never mind. Yoh, Ivy, meet me out in the hall when you two are dressed. It's about Anna…”

 

I would slip on my boxers and pants and hand Ivy her clothes, and we would see what Horo Horo needed to tell us about Anna. It was different ever night, one night it would be drowning in the bathtub, the next a drug overdose. A slit wrist, or a slit throat, hanging, jumping, a gun equipped with a silencer, stabbing, or poison. It was a different way every time, but the letter was always the same:

 

Yoh, I can't take it anymore. It's painfully obvious that you don't love me, and never will. I can't stand watching you and Ivy sneak dreamy looks at each other when you think I'm not looking. I'm sick of you having to make up excuses for where you were last night when I know full well that you snuck off to do something together. I'm sorry that I was always in your and Ivy's way. Now that I'm gone you two won't have to sneak around behind my back every time you want to sleep together. Now you can finally get married without worrying about eloping to get away from me. No one ever liked me, so I figure no one will miss me now that I'm dead. Have a great life together and have tons of kids. Sorry for being a nuisance. Love, Anna

 

Ivy would then collapse in my arms sobbing, and I would have to face the fact that Anna had killed herself because of me. It was all my fault. I would then wake up in a cold sweat and not be able to get the image of Anna lying dead to stop replaying itself over and over again in my mind.

 

The other dream I had was also pretty disturbing. In this dream I had chosen Anna over Ivy. I watched helplessly as Hao tortured, raped, and beat Ivy. She cried my name over and over, begging for me to come and rescue her, but every time I tried to go to her, Anna held me back, pleading with me not to go. Ivy reached out her battered hand toward me, but I couldn't move. I was cemented to the spot where I stood. All I could do was watch her die. It was maddening, it really was to have to see both women that you care about die, and have it be your fault. It was hard to know that I could have saved both of them, but I didn't.

 

The lack of sleep was starting to take a toll on me. `Maybe if I listen to some music?' I turned on the radio, and a scarily relevant song came on. “Do You Know What You Want” by M2M:

 

Someone who treats you right,

Stay with you day and night,

I can tell that's what you need.

I know just what to do;

I'll take good care of you.

Baby, you can get that from me.

I can tell she's not treating you right

Every time you look at me.

So which one will you choose?

You look so confused.

Tell me the truth:

Do you know what you want?

Do you know what you want?

(Do you know what you want?)

Do you know what you want?

(What you want)

Love's so hard to find,

So make up your mind.

Do you know what you want?

Oh baby can't you see,

One minute you're with me,

Next one you are all over her.

She talks behind your back.

You know I'll stay on track.

Something she wouldn't for sure.

How can I help you to make up your mind?

Boy you're running out of time.

So which one will you choose?

You look so confused.

Tell me the truth:

Do you know what you want?

Do you know what you want?

(Yes I know what I want.)

Do you know what you want?

(Give me love.)

Love's so hard to find,

So make up your mind.

Do you know what you want?

Please call me and say,

I am the one

You need in your life.

The game that you play

Ain't no fun.

Please answer me now,

Gotta know what you want.

I can tell she's not treating you right

Every time you look at me.

So which one will you choose?

You look so confused.

Tell me; tell me, do you do you?

How can I help you to make up your mind?

Boy you're running out of time.

So which one will you choose?

You look so confused.

Give me the truth:

Do you know what you want?

(Yes I know what I want.)

Do you know what you want?

(Yes I know what I want.)

Do you know what you want?

(Tell me what do you want.)

Do you know what you want?

Love's so hard to find,

So make up your mind.

Do you know what you want?

 

“No, I have no idea what I want. Thank you very much!” I spat bitterly at the machine as I slammed down the off button. “God, now even the machines are mocking me!”

 

I got out of bed and started downstairs, grabbing my wireless headphones on the way out the door. I made my way downstairs to make some hot chocolate for myself while listening to music on my headphones. I seemed to be doing this a lot lately. I snuck a glance at the hall clock as I descended the stairs. 1:53 AM. I flipped to track number three on my CD and started to quietly sing along to Soul Decision's Faded.

 

“When I get you all alone I'm gonna move in nice and close. Ain't nobody gonna interrupt my game, oh no, no.” I sleepily walked into the kitchen and turned on the light. I didn't notice that someone was sitting at the kitchen table.

 

“Ever since you've been hanging `round I've been trying to figure out: What I can say to you to get some play? Yeah.” I sung as I got out the hot chocolate mix.

 

“Yoh?” a sleepy voice called from behind me. I turned to find Anna in her lace nightgown sitting at the table.

 

“Oh, hey Anna. Want some hot chocolate?” I did wait for her answer, but instead went back to singing. ”Couldn't we do what we did last night again? Baby you and I'd be better friends.”

 

“Sure.” Anna shrugged. “Hot chocolate wouldn't hurt.”

 

“Don't you think it's time we went a bit further? Oh yeah.”

 

“What did you say, Yoh?!” Anna questioned, sounding shocked.

 

“I didn't say anything Anna. Every night when we say goodbye

how can I help looking in your eyes?” I headed over to the refrigerator to get out the milk.

 

“I could have sworn I heard you say something. I guess the lack of sleep is making me hear things.” Anna started talking, but I really didn't hear her. I was too busy concentrating on mumbling along with the song and making hot chocolate.

 

“Wondering why you and I haven't hit it. Can we get it on?”

 

“Yoh?!” Anna asked as if she didn't believe I could have possibly said what she thought I had said. I looked back at her wondering what had caused that reaction. Since my headphones didn't have any wires, she didn't know that I had headphones on. My hair hung down, blocking her view of my small earpieces.

 

“What?” I asked innocently, stopping to look at her in mid-pour of the milk into the glasses.

 

“I'm sorry, I could have sworn I heard you just ask `Can we get it on?'.” Anna looked at me to confirm her suspicions.

 

I looked away from her and went back to work on the drinks. “Sorry to disappoint you, but no. Are you okay Anna?”

 

“I guess I'm just tired. I haven't slept well the past few nights. How are you?”

 

I didn't hear her, but instead sang the next line of the song. “I'm kinda faded but I feel alright.”

 

“`Faded'? Hmmm, whatever you say Yoh. I actually feel kind of sick…and guilty.” Anna muttered. “Yoh, how do you really feel about me?”

 

“I can't pretend that you're only my friend when you're holding my body tight.” I had my back to her, and didn't hear her.

 

“Yoh? Are you serious? I feel the same way…” And then she said something else. I didn't hear that either.

 

“Cause I like the way you're making your move. I like the way you're making me wait.”

 

“I'm so happy that you think of me as more than a friend.”

 

“At the end of the night when I make up your mind you'll be coming on home with me.”

 

Anna puzzled over this for a minute. “But I already live with you. Wait…you don't mean that you want to—“

 

“Yeah you know you got it, and you know I want it. I can't wait to take you home. Think what we could do alone.”

 

Anna rose to her feet, walked over to me and draped herself on my shoulders. “Oh Yoh! I'd love to! I thought that you were still hung up over Ivy, but now—Oh Yoh, I love you so much!”

 

I hadn't heard a word she had said, but I could tell it was important. I took the earpieces out of my ears and questioned. “I'm sorry Anna, what did you say? I was listening to something on my headphones.”

 

Anna looked so mad at me. “You…but I…a song? GRRRRR YOH!!” And she slapped me.

 

“Ouch!! What was that for?!” I groaned as I rubbed my sore cheek.

 

Anna marched back over to her seat and sighed as she sat down. “Is the hot chocolate ready yet?”

 

“Yes.” I muttered as I handed her her cup and sat down across form her. “I'm sorry Anna. Could you repeat what you said?” I asked meekly.

 

“You didn't miss much. Sighhhhhh…so why are you up so late Yoh? You usually have no problem sleeping.” She asked back.

 

“Well…the problem is that I'm exhausted, but I keep having this reoccurring nightmare that is keeping me from sleeping soundly.” I confessed.

 

“Why don't you tell me about it?” Anna offered.

 

I winced slightly as an image of Anna lying dead fluttered before my eyes. “I'd rather not talk about it, if it's all the same. What about you? What are you doing up so late?”

 

“Yoh, I really think you need to talk about this. Every night this week you've gotten out of bed and gone downstairs. If you're losing this much sleep over it, we need to talk.” Anna gently stroked my cheek.

 

I smiled lightly at her. “Sorry to worry you Anna, but I just can't explain it to you. I can't make you understand.”

 

“What is there to understand?” Anna raised an eyebrow at me.

 

“I have no idea.” I sighed. “Is this why you're up so late? To talk to me?”

 

“Partially. I couldn't sleep either.” Anna took a sip of the hot chocolate.

 

“And why would that be?”

 

“I'm not feeling well. I haven't been eating much lately, and I haven't been sleeping, and I just…I just have been worrying myself sick. I'm so worried about losing you, and it's driving me to the breaking point. What Ren said today…it really hurt. I feel so guilty about Ivy, and him saying that…it…it just hurt.” Anna sobbed softly and took another sip of her hot chocolate.

 

“Anna…don't worry about it. I'm not going anywhere…I don't want you to kill yourself over something as stupid as me…” I clasped her hand firmly in mine.

 

“Yoh, I can't compete with Ivy. I'm nowhere as pretty or flirty or anything like her at all! I can't make you happy like she can…I…I'm just not like her at all…” Anna sobbed even harder.

 

“Don't be an idiot Anna.” Even to me, my voice sounded harsh, but at least it got her attention.

 

“What?!” Anna looked up at me with a shocked look on her face.

 

“I told you not to be an idiot. I don't care if you're not like Ivy. That's not why I like you. I like you for who you are.” I leaned in and quickly kissed her on the cheek.

 

“Yoh…” Anna smiled softly as she felt the spot on her cheek where I had kissed her. “Thank you…” She leaned in to kiss me on the lips, but a loud banging on the door interrupted us.

 

“I'll get it.” I said. `Ivy?'

 

“Who could be at the door at this hour? Only idiots are up this early in the morning.” Anna seethed as she followed me to the door.

 

The knocking became louder and more urgent by the second. I turned on the hall light and made my way to the door, Anna close behind me.

 

I opened the door and there before me, lying bleeding on the ground was “Ivy…” She smiled up at me, relieved, but passed out as soon as she knew she was safe. Her whole body was scratched up, and her left leg was spewing blood. Her clothes were falling off of her, but she still managed to look beautiful.

 

“Who is it Yoh?” Anna looked over my shoulder and gasped when she saw Ivy. “Ahhhhhhhh!! Oh my God!!!!” All of the color drained form Anna's face, and I could tell that she wouldn't be on her feet much longer. “No…no…Oh Yoh, I'm so sorry…please forgive me…”

 

I caught her as she fell, and set her propped against the wall. I picked up Ivy and carried her inside, blood smearing all over me. “FAUST!!!” I yelled, and soon the whole house was awake and down in the living room.

 

The girls were squealing and crying, Jun totally frantic, and the boys in full panic mode, Ren singing out a string of Chinese curses. Faust immediately started tending to Ivy while Eliza worked on reviving Anna. Ivy's ghosts were in a state of utter hysteria. Aikido was sobbing in Amidamaru's arms, Chip was frantically flying all over the room chirping up a storm, and Isabelle was just being insane, cursing and yelling and sobbing all at once.

 

I didn't know what to do, so I just sat on the floor next to Ivy, and prayed that she would be all right. Anna regained consciousness about five minutes later, and sat next to me, anxiously clinging to my arm.

 

After Faust had finished cleaning and bandaging Ivy up, he carried her up to one of the girl's rooms, and they put some clean clothes on her. They put her in my shirt, the one with the little leaf on it, Ren's fighting pants, and set aside a pair of Anna's sandals for her.

 

We put her in bed back in her room, and Ivy woke up not long after that. She was really weak, but when she saw me she smiled and sighed, “Yoh…” She fell back asleep instantly, and we left her alone until morning. I was just glad that she was back safe and sound. Anna however, was even more on edge and jumpy than usual. Something was up.