Shaman King Fan Fiction ❯ Ivy, Shaman Runaway ❯ The Ties That Bind Us ( Chapter 56 )

 

The Ties That Bind Us

“Anna, are you sure about this?” I looked across the table at my X-fiancée, soon to be sister-in-law.

 

Anna glared dangerously at me, and I knew she would snap me like a twig if I said the wrong thing. “Why?! You're not having second thoughts about this marriage are you?!”

 

“No! Of course not! I love Ivy!” I barely meeped out.

 

“Good. I won't have you running off on my little sister. I don't know what she sees in you, but it will break her heart if you refuse her.” Anna's glare softened, and she went back to sipping her herbal tea.

 

“I'm worried about you Anna…” I sighed.

 

She didn't raise her gaze from her tea to look at me. She laughed it off as nonsense. “Heh…worried about me? Ridiculous. What is there to be worried about?”

 

I gripped her free hand in mine. “Anna…how can you be this way? Yesterday you had intense passionate feelings for me, and now…it's like you feel nothing towards me at all…”

 

“Yoh…” Anna rolled her eyes at me, but still didn't look up. “I'm perfectly okay with this whole thing. I arranged it, remember? There's nothing to worry about. I've taken care of my feelings, and they won't get in the way. Let's just forget all about us ever being engaged. That way it can't ever cause us any problems in my future relationships, and your marriage. From now on, I am your sister-in-law. Nothing more.”

 

“Oh Anna…I don't want to forget about you…” I held her hand tighter as I walked over to the other side of the table. I took the teacup a little forcibly out of her hand, and set it down. I captured her now free hand with my other one.

 

“Yoh, stop. This is what you wanted. It's no fair to change your mind now.” Her voice wavered slightly, cracking when she said my name.

 

“Anna?” I let go of her hand to lift her chin. I was surprised to find that she was crying.

 

“Yes, Yoh?” she looked back down.

 

I lifted her chin again, and wiped away some of her tears. “One last kiss for old times sake?” I asked.

 

She smiled slightly, but tried not to show her pleasure. “Yoh, you are hopeless…Make it quick.”

 

I leaned in to kiss her for the last time. I had intended to `make it quick', but once our lips touched, I couldn't pull away. But then again, neither could she.

 

“Ahem…” a disapproving voice cleared his throat from behind us..

 

The kiss quickly broke, and we turned to look at the kitchen doorway, Anna still in my arms. Ren stood in the doorway, looking disgusted. “You two shouldn't be making out in the kitchen. A certain twin sister of yours, Anna, will be down here in a few minutes. I just talked to her, and she's all gung-ho about this whole wedding thing, so it would be a bad idea to upset her now by letting her see you two exchanging saliva. By the way, I need to talk to you later, Asakura.” And with that he left, slinking out of the room like a cat; golden eyes still glaring angrily.

 

I looked sheepishly at the girl in my arms. She rolled her eyes at me, and struggled to get out of my embrace. “Let go Yoh.”

 

“I love you.” I stared unblinkingly into her dark eyes that were now filling with a mix of awe and fear.

 

“Yoh…no…not now.” She broke away from me, a look of denial swarming over her face.

 

“I realized it that night that you cornered me in the hallway. I love you both.” I pulled her back to face me.

 

“Yoh, you can't two-time Ivy like this. It isn't right, and I won't help you hurt my sister!” Anna raised her left hand to strike me down where I stood.

 

“Whoa, Anna! Wait! I know! I'm sorry! I was just going to say: I love you, but I know that I have a commitment to Ivy. I love Ivy, and would never break her heart like that. I've made my decision, Anna. Tomorrow I'm marrying Ivy. I love her, and I'm really excited about finally being able to be with her without worrying about hurting you. I'm really happy about this…honest…” I smiled softly at Anna and kissed her forehead.

 

Just then, Ivy came bounding down the stairs in a stunning yellow crop-top, and black capris. On the shirt she had a familiar-looking cartoon skull, and the capris looked like Ren's battle pants…only capri style. Around her neck hung the usual heart pendant that I had given Judo so long ago. Instead of her trademark leather boots (which were in tatters), she wore traditional Chinese slippers similar to Ren and Jun's. Her left calf was tightly bandaged, but some blood still managed to seep through the numerous wrappings. I noticed her bright red lipstick was a little smudged, and the tattoo that usually adorned the corner of her right eye was missing. Her outfit was a variation of Judo's old clothes, but her brown, wavy hair still hung down on her shoulders. She looked gorgeous, and on her ring finger sat the engagement ring I had given her so long ago when I proposed in the garden. I didn't know she had kept it.

 

It was a stunning gold band. Etched into the band were little pentagram stars all around it, and embedded in the band was a golden sun made of topaz, and a pale white crescent moon made of crystal. They were melded together to look similar to a yin-yang.

 

Ivy arched an eyebrow at Anna and me, cocking her head to the side slightly. “I'm sorry, did I interrupt something?” She blinked twice, giving off a look of total innocence. (Innocence that she did not posses, mind you.)

 

I looked sheepishly down at Anna, and then letting go of her, smiled apologetically at my bride-to-be. “No! No, we were just tying up some loose ends before the wedding.” I explained, going over to Ivy and giving her a quick peck on the cheek.

 

Ivy smiled broadly, deciding that I was un-guilty of adultery. “Me too! I've finally decided to let go of my old life, and embrace this new one! I'm really happy about this…”

 

“Let go of her old life she says…Just like she let go of being Judo; now she's letting go of being Ivy…My sister, Judo Tao. Anna's sister, Ivy Kyôyama. Dearest sister, what shall we call you now? Will it be Thorn Asakura?” I looked over Ivy's shoulder and there in the doorway stood the Tao siblings.

 

“Ren do you truly enjoy mocking me?” Ivy spat back at her adoptive brother. The two began screeching at each other, and fists started to fly. Jun simply smiled at her younger siblings squabbling.

 

Jun glided silently over to me and whispered in my ear, “Thank you so much Yoh. I know you'll be good to her, and you're the best I ever could have hoped for to happen to my little sis. I've never seen her so happy…Even when she was little Judo fooling around and making mischief, she has never smiled so often, and her eyes have never been so bright. She loves you…Thank you so much…Take care of my baby sister…I trust you Yoh…”

 

Jun pulled away from me and started to walk out the door with a smile. I nodded and smiled back at her, silently promising to do the best I could for her sister.

 

“Judo, come with me. We've got plenty to do.” Jun motioned for Ivy to follow behind her.

 

Ivy stopped beating up Ren, set him down (rather roughly), and started to follow her elder sibling.

 

A thought suddenly occurred to me, “Hey, Ivy!”

 

“Hmm?” She turned to look at me.

 

“Where did your tattoo go? And how did your lipstick get so smudged?”

 

“Tattoo…?” She blinked several times before she understood what I meant. “Oh! That! It's just eyeliner! I put it on ever morning when I get up. Getting a tattoo there would be painful, and I really don't think I'd like a permanent tattoo…As for the lipstick, that happened upstairs when Ren…” Her face lost a bit of its color as she winced slightly. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Ren turning bright pink. “You know what? Never mind. It's not important.” Ivy gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before running out of the room.

 

Anna rolled her eyes at her little sister as Ivy fled. “I'll see you boys later…” Anna planted a quick kiss on my other cheek, and glared threateningly at Ren as she exited, using the door opposite the one Ivy had.

 

Ren and I were alone. “Wha'd ya need to talk about, buddy?” I smiled brightly at my friend. Ren glared even harder at me. I let my smile slip into a serious thin line. “What's the matter, Ren?”

 

“Asakura...” Ren paused, clearly not liking the tone in his own voice. He tried again, lowering his head, clenching his fists, and this time using a less harsh tone. “Yoh…you are marrying my sister. I've realized that she's not so innocent…or little…or a baby anymore. But she still is my sister…and she always will be…Growing up, I never trusted or liked anyone besides my two sisters…I love them both even if I don't show it, and now…I suppose it's only natural, but I worry about the younger one…When she found out she wasn't a Tao by blood, it shocked her greatly, and she left us. She was so distant and confused, and worried and desperate…and so different from the girl I knew. I was so scared that she would get herself in some horrible kind of danger…and she did. She got herself involved with Hao without even knowing it. I never trusted her with boys. I knew what they were capable of, and I knew that she was considered one of the most beautiful women to ever walk the earth. I've always worried about her well-being because she never seemed to care much for herself. She never took adequate care of herself…she said she could take care of herself…but I never believed her. And so I worried. I still worry. I don't want to lose her, or let her be hurt…but there is only so much I can do…and I can't shield her from the real world. She doesn't want to be protected because she thinks she is fine on her own, but she's not Yoh! She's not!” Ren looked up at me, tears flowing steadily down his cheeks.

 

“Ren…” I smiled sadly at my despairing friend. “I'm going to take good care of her.”

 

“You had better!” Ren glared at me, taking me by the collar of my shirt. “Or it will be your head! If you dare mistreat her, cheat on her, or displease her in any way, shape, or form, I will immaculate you, behead you, and feed you to the sharks!”

 

“Yes, Sir…” I could feel the sweat pouring off of me as I made a mental note to stop wearing collared shirts.

 

“Good!” Ren set me down and poured himself a glass of milk. “I'm sorry…I just can't stand the thought of her being even the slightest bit unhappy…I know you'll be a great husband to her, Yoh. She'll be completely overjoyed with you, and I'm sure you'll have busloads of kids…” Ren shuddered at his last comment. “On second though, keep your hands off of my sister! Don't even look at her! I know what you're thinking Yoh, and I don't like it one bit!” Ren turned on me again.

 

“Ren relax! I swear I'm not marrying her just for the reasons you think I'm marrying her for!” I put up my hands defensively as Ren backed me into a corner.

 

“Oh, don't you play that game with me, Asakura! Don't think just because I'm her brother I haven't noticed her nice body!” Ren's spike grew at least three inches.

 

“Yeah, she's got nice lips, nice hips, nice legs, nice thighs, and a great chest area!”

 

Ren let go of me, and turned slowly on the new voice. Horo had come into the kitchen in search of ice cream when he had overheard our conversation, and couldn't help but add his comments on Ivy's body. I pitied the poor fool as Ren pounced upon him and commenced beating him to a fine powdery substance.

 

“Why you little!! How dare you says such things about my innocent, little, baby sister!! I'll kill you for your dirty thoughts!” Ren straddled Horo Horo, holding him down while he turned to talk to me again. “Yoh, I've changed my mind again. You can have my sister, but be gentle with her! I'd much rather have her sleeping with you than this pervert here, or that despicable brother of yours!”

 

“Thanks Ren! Good talk!” I shot back over my shoulder as I fled the room, blushing like hell.

 

The day went by slowly from then on. I walked around the house, and started to think. I decided that thinking was a dangerous thing when I found myself thinking of all the ways I was inferior to my older brother.

 

He was stronger, smarter, faster, cunning, sly, handsome, powerful, he could give her anything she wanted…Oh, and God knows he could please a woman! He could take her anywhere she wanted…he could give her servants, slaves even! He could treat her like a princess…she would never have to work or worry about anything except entertaining him…which I knew she could do better than most. He could give her everything that I could never even hope for. He would probably end up as the Shaman King…she would be Shaman Queen…she deserved to be queen…the title suited her. That title was made for her…and he could give it to her. I couldn't offer her anything like that. Why didn't she marry Hao? Why choose me over him? He could give her everything, and I could give her nothing…why then did she choose me? How long would we be married before I began to bore her? How long until I began to bore her and she started to sneak off at night with my older, stronger, better-looking, wilder, more experienced, rougher, sexier, more satisfying, twin brother? I could keep her happy for maybe a week tops. Then she would be gone.

 

Her excuse would be that she had never loved me in the first place. She would say that Hao had been neglecting her, and she had wanted to make him jealous. What better way to make him suffer than to marry his twin brother? There was no sweeter revenge. She would file for divorce; I would give in to all of her demands because I was still in love with her and wanted her to be happy. She would smile sweetly at me, apologize, and then walk out the door with his arm secured possessively around her waist. Anna would be there behind me to catch me on the rebound, but I wouldn't be able to marry her. I would be too upset over Ivy to marry ever again. I wouldn't see Ivy for another year, but one day out of nowhere she would appear on my front doorstep, begging me to take her back; saying something like “Hao doesn't appreciate me anymore! Not like the way you did Yoh honey…” I would welcome her back with open arms; I had secretly been waiting for her to return to me. Nine months later exactly, she would leave me again, this time leaving behind with me our child whom she claimed couldn't possibly be hers. Yet, every time I would forgive her. Every time I would welcome her back. Every time she left she would leave yet another mouth to feed behind. I would still love her though…I would probably never get over Ivy. I couldn't help but forgive her, and welcome her back, and take care of all of the children for her while she was gone until she would return the next year to give me yet another child to take care of. One day I would finally snap and ask her, “So, if you have 12 kids with me, how many do you have with Hao?” She would probably reply, “12? Is it 12 already? Hmmm…I don't know how many kids I have…between the both of you, I've lost count!”

 

“Yoh?” a concerned voice broke the depressing trance that had fallen upon me.

 

“Wha?!” I looked into the obsidian eyes of the woman who claimed to be in love with me.

 

“Yoh, you look pale…what's the matter?” Ivy's eyes filled with worry.

 

“Oh…I was just thinking…” I tried to explain.

 

“It's late…you should be asleep…” she reached out and gently stroked my cheek.

 

“If it's so late, then why are you still up?” I countered.

 

“I can't sleep.” She shrugged. “If you can't sleep either, would you like to join me up in my room?”

 

“W-w-what?!” I blushed madly at her offer.

 

She noticed my blush, and winced slightly, “Wait! That didn't come out right! That's not what I meant at all!” She too was blushing now. “I meant: `would you like to come to my room and sit up with me?'”

 

“Uh…sure!” I smiled back at her as she took me by the hand and pulled me up the stairs. When we got to her room, she shut the door behind me, and invited me to sit down next to her on her bed. “Hey, Ivy?”

 

“Yes?” She lay down next to me and looked up at me inquisitively.

 

“Why is it that you can't sleep?” I lay down on my side so I could face her.

 

“I'm nervous about the wedding.” Ivy's eyes slid partway closed. “We're only fifteen, Yoh…and yet, we're getting married…I'm kind of scared.” She shifted so that she was leaning up against me.

 

My arms automatically went around her. “I'm scared too, but I love you, so I know everything will be okay. I know that you're the one I want to be with, so I'm sure things will work out for the best.”

 

Ivy snuggled closer up against me, resting her head on my chest. “You think so?”

 

“I know so.” I took a red hair tie out of my pocket; it was similar to the one I had on my left wrist. I slipped the band on her left wrist and whispered. “I love you, and I'll always be there for you.”

 

She smiled up at me, and kissed me on the cheek. “Judo told you?”

 

“Yes. She did.” I ran my fingers through her hair.

 

“Stay with me tonight?” she was beginning to fall asleep in my arms.

 

“Goodnight Ivy.”

 

“I love you…” she whispered as she slowly drifted off to sleep.

 

“I love you too.” I held her tighter as I too fell asleep.