Shaman King Fan Fiction ❯ Ivy, Shaman Runaway ❯ Feathers ( Chapter 66 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King.
 
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Feathers
“Ohhhhh!! Luca, he doesn't look so good!” Macchi's voice echoed seeming to come from inside my head. “God, Hao…don't leave me I love you…”
 
“Master! Master, why?! Master Hao! Don't leave us! Master!” Opacho's voice was littered with panic and his screams resounded along with Macchi's voice.
 
“What the hell was he thinking?” even Kanna sounded like she was crying.
 
“Hao, please don't leave me. I'm lost without you, and I have nowhere to go—we all have nowhere to go if you die…” Mari had dropped her third person speech pattern as she whispered to me.
 
“I've done everything I can. He hit his head on a really sharp rock, so it's bleeding pretty badly, and his lungs are almost all the way full of water…I don't know if he'll make it this time…It doesn't seem like he wants to live anymore. I think we've finally lost him.
 
“Hao!!!” I could hear them all crying, and the next thing I knew I blinked and was back in my bedroom. Immediately my head started killing me, and I couldn't breathe because of the excess water in my lungs. I started coughing and choking much to everyone's surprise.
 
“Hao!” They all crowded around me and started hugging and kissing and all other forms of smothering me.
 
“For God's sake, let the boy breathe!!” Luca pushed everyone away from my bed. “Hao! Are you all right?! How do you feel?! Can you hear me?! Do you understand what I'm saying?! Can you speak?! Do you—“
 
“—If you would shut up, I could answer!!” I growled at my guardian, cutting him off in mid-sentence. “I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me any more.”
 
“Oh Hao!!” Opacho pounced upon me and hugged me to death. The Hanagumi (except Kanna) followed suit with cries of `Hao!!' and `Oh my poor Hao!!'
 
Kanna only smirked at me, “You frickin' bastard. I'd hit you upside the head, but that would probably kill you. What the hell were you thinking?”
 
“Kanna was really worried; she went through three packs of cigarettes the past hour.” Mari whispered in my ear as she snuggled up against the left side of my chest, playing with loose strands of my hair.
 
“I was NOT worried. I knew he would be okay.” Kanna glared at her teammate, she subconsciously reached for another cigarette and lit it.
 
“We were all really worried.” Macchi snuggled up against the right side of my body and wiped away her tears that had been falling up until the point where I woke up.
 
“Master scared us when Ren came and told us that Hao had drown himself. Ren said that he was sorry, but he couldn't have stopped Hao. Everyone started crying, Macchi almost fainted. Luca, Opacho, Macchi, Mari, and Kanna raced to the oasis and were so scared when they saw Master Hao laying lifeless and bleeding half out of the water like that. Master wasn't breathing, and that doggie that pulled Hao out of the water was really worried too.” Opacho snuggled up against me as he sat in my lap.
 
“Wait…dog? What dog?” I interrupted him.
 
“That little Jack Russell.” Luca informed me as he checked the bandages on my head. “He was very protective of your body; we had a hard time getting close to you. I don't think the little fella trusted us. Opacho was the one who finally convinced it that we were there to help.”
 
“It was really cute!” Macchi chirped. “The little guy followed us back to camp and everything. He's really attached to you, Master. I'm surprised that something so small could drag you out of the water. Your pants are really heavy when they're wet.”
 
“How would you know that?” I raised an eyebrow at her.
 
“Mari and Macchi changed Hao out of his wet clothes into dry ones.” Mari volunteered information. “Master Hao has a beautiful body.” Both girls blushed at Mari's comment.
 
`I think I'm going to be sick…' “Uh…thanks…I think.” I chanced a look at Kanna as if asking if they were telling the truth, or just messing with me.
 
“Don't look at me like that; it wasn't my idea!” Kanna glared back at me and lit another cigarette. “It was completely their idea, and they fought over who got to take off the boxers. Hormonal teenage girls.” The blue-haired shaman rolled her eyes as she mumbled insults about her two younger comrades.
 
I refrained from fainting. “Soooo…Luca, how am I? No serious damage done?” I was desperate to change the subject.
 
“No, actually, surprisingly you should be okay. Even that wound to your head seems to be healing nicely. It's not even bleeding anymore. As long as you don't try any more stunts like that you should live. No more suicide attempts, okay?” Luca placed a strong hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eyes. “Please...my old heart can't take anymore scares like the one you gave me today.”
 
I smiled apologetically at the elderly man who had always been a sort of father figure to me. “Don't worry, I promised Ivy that I wouldn't, and I intend to stay alive for her sake if nothing else. I'm gonna go for a walk, okay?” I got up and started outside. No one dared to follow me even if they wanted to.
 
“All right, Hao. I trust you. I'm going to make dinner; anyone hungry?” Luca got a positive response from most of my followers, and so he set off towards the kitchen area.
 
I saw the dog as soon as I exited the tent. He had been waiting just outside my door. I quickly glanced down at the dog, but didn't acknowledge it as I walked past back to the oasis. The dog followed at my heels, happily yipping and yapping. I stopped and sat down at the water's edge. The little terrier followed suit and lay down with its head on my lap.
 
I absent-mindedly started to pet it. “So you saved me? Hmm…that makes twice that you've saved my life. You really must stop doing that, you know; did you ever consider that I want to die? Well, I suppose that I shouldn't try anything like that again…I did promise Ivy after all. It's pretty hard to keep going when you feel so alone. It's hard when you feel so unloved. I know that my followers care and are always there for me, but it's really not the same, is it? It's not like she's there for me…She told me that she's watching me, but I…It's just not the same.”
 
I looked down at the dog as he snuggled up against me reassuringly. “What about you? Don't you have a family or someone who cares about you?” The dog just looked up at me expectantly and cocked its head to the side. “No? Nobody, huh? Well I didn't have anyone before I met Ivy. She's changed me...Ivy is this girl I'm totally in love with. We were engaged, but I kind of tricked her into that…I'm not really sure if she ever really wanted to marry me in the first place.” I suddenly felt the strange urge to spill my guts out to this dog. It was like for once in my life I wasn't being judged, and I could freely speak my mind and soul.
 
“I loved her…I was horrible to her…I threatened her, used her, lied to her, beat her, almost rapped her, but she still stuck around…up until the day she ran off with Yoh my twin brother…She was going to marry him, but I crashed the wedding, challenged my brother to a duel over her, and she accidentally got killed in the process…I killed her.”
 
Hot tears rolled down my face and the puppy gently licked them away. It was as if he was saying, `It's okay, you can cry. Let it all out.'. “Now, I'm so lost without her…I'm losing my sanity. I suppose you're all alone too…No one to care for you…no one to love you…no one to even feed you! Looks like you've got it worse than I do. At least I have a roof over my head and assurance of meals everyday. You poor thing.” The dog was intently tuning in to the sound of my voice, and was hanging on every word I said.
 
“I suppose I could take care of you…Ivy always liked dogs, but I never got her one. What do you say?” I ruffled his ears slightly and the puppy barked twice enthusiastically. “Let's see…you'll need a collar.” I thought for a moment before I started to de-attach one of the many star belts from my pants. I adjusted said belt as I put it around the terrier's neck and made sure it fit. Once I was done the puppy approached the water's edge and peered into the water at its reflection. He wagged his tail happily as he looked back up at me. If dogs could smile, this one would.
 
“You'll also need a name…” I thought and I thought and I though mauling over possible names: Hoshi-no I was way too obsessed with stars already. Tsuki-no not the moon. Sora-no sky wouldn't do either. I needed to get away from all the sky related names. I considered Ten, but decided Heaven would remind me too much of Ivy. Matamune-now there's a name that brings back memories…God I miss that cat. Akuma-no that was just mean, and it didn't fit the dog's personality what so ever. Tsumi-no…guilt wasn't a suitable name either. Nageki-no grief won't do…`I could just call you Inu…no. No one goes around calling their dog `Dog'.' Yume-naaa…that's a girl's name.
 
While I was going through my mental name list I saw the dog out of the corner of my eye. He was playing around with some leaves blowing around in the wind. He seemed so weightless and free like a wind spirit as he soared around the clearing chasing the particles blowing in the wind. `Weightless like a feather…A feather…'
 
Finally it struck me: “Hane (Hah nay)! Come here!” At hearing my voice call his name, the little terrier tore over to be at my side. “Hane…good boy.” I smiled at my new pet.
 
A while later I found myself hungry. I got up from my seat by the lake and called Hane over to me. I scooped the puppy up in my arms and teleported not too far away from the kitchen. Surprisingly the dog wasn't scared like I thought he would be; he sat there in my arms and didn't even flinch when we were surrounded by flames.
 
No one was in the kitchen, so I helped myself to the refrigerator, looking for something that a dog could eat. I stood looking into the fridge with the door wide open. Hane sat at my side pressed against my leg, sniffing at the various contents of the refrigerator.
 
“Looking for something, Hao?” I looked over the fridge door as Luca entered the room.
 
“Uh, yeah…Hey Luca, what exactly would, let's say—a dog—eat?” The fridge door obstructed Luca's view of Hane.
 
Luca blinked a few times, and looked questioningly at me, but answered my question non-the-less with a dignified air that suggested him to be an expert on the subject. “A dog? Hmm…well they eat a variety of different things ranging from beef to…well, it really depends on what kind of dog.”
 
“What about a…Jack Russell Terrier?” I paused before answering, trying to make it sound like I had just come up with this subject off the top of my head. What would Luca think if he found out that I had gotten a pet when I had strongly voiced my opinion against them so many times in the past?
 
“Well you could feed it pork, beef, chicken, turkey, etc, etc. They eat all sorts of meat.” Luca paused in his lecture for a moment to raise his eyebrows at me. “Why exactly do you care, Master?”
 
“Oh, no reason…just curious.” I smiled brightly at my eldest follower.
 
He didn't buy it. “Really…You wouldn't be hiding something from me, would you Hao?” He started to approach me, coming to the other side of the refrigerator door where he would see the dog.
 
“NO!” I replied quickly…too quickly…and too loudly. He was sure to be suspicious now.
 
The older man picked me up and set me down on the same side of the refrigerator door as him. He looked where I had just been standing, and a puzzled look came over his old face. “I could have sworn…Uh, sorry Master Hao.”
 
I blinked several times, and looked on the other side of the door where Hane should have been. The dog wasn't there. I looked around desperately searching for my missing pet. I remembered that Luca had said something to me, and decided I had better answer. “Uh, yeah. It's fine.”
 
“Ummm…what are you looking for, Hao?” Luca leaned over to inspect the floor where I was searching down on my knees.
 
“I think I dropped my contact lens.” I made up whatever lie first popped into my head.
 
`He's definitely lying…I for one know that he doesn't wear contacts.' I picked up on a random thought of Luca's.
 
I glared upward at him, still on my knees. “Don't accuse me of lying! I do to wear contacts!”
 
This seemed to shut him up for at least two seconds. After the two second silence he began screaming like a frightened little girl. I turned around to find Luca's cloak being played with by a certain terrier. I had a hard time stifling my laughter as I whistled for the dog. “Hane! Leave poor Luca alone.”
 
The dog instantly obeyed and came racing back to my side. Hane looked expectantly up at me as if awaiting his next order. I patted him lovingly on the head and muttered a soft `good boy' of approval. I glared slightly at a starring Luca. “What are you looking at?!”
 
A wide grin spread across Luca's face. “Nothing. I'm just so glad that you finally decided to act at least a little bit like a normal fifteen year-old boy.” Tears of joy streamed down his face as Luca kneeled (he still managed to be a few inches taller than me) and enveloped me in a tight, bone-crushing hug. “I didn't know what I was going to do if you didn't cheer up soon. You were going to give me a heart attack. I just want you to be happy.”
 
For a minute I was shocked. I couldn't believe he was actually hugging me—me—The Great Hao Asakura! I shouldn't have allowed it. No one hugs the devil-incarnate! Especially not a human; even if he was one of my most loyal and trusted advisors! I shouldn't have let it continue in such a way! I shouldn't have participated in such a human activity…but I did. Only a few seconds later I found myself with my head rested on his shoulder, and returning the hug.
 
“I'm sorry to have worried you. I assure you, I'm quite myself again, and I most likely won't be killing myself anytime soon. I still have to become Shaman King, you know.” It felt good to finally let go of all the pain and sorrow that being in love with Ivy caused me. I was finally returning to my normal self…only this time I was less of a ruthless murderer. `I still don't think I could kill someone, not after seeing her die like that, but I will be the Shaman King.'
 
“It's good to have you back Hao-sama.” Luca released me and got to his feet. “Now, let's get—`Hane' was it?—fed.” He got a dish out of a cabinet and proceeded to fill it with all sorts of dog-edible food.
 
I myself was hungry, so I pulled an ice cream cone out of the freezer, sat at the nearest table, and began to daintily lick my dinner in a similar fashion to that of a cat. “Oh, I almost forgot: Luca, if you ever hug me again, I will be forced to burn you alive.”
 
“Yes Master.” Luca suppressed a giggle as smiled goofily at me.
 
I stopped in mid-lick to glare at him. “What's so funny?” I tried to ask, but it didn't exactly come out right since I had my tongue sticking out of my mouth, ready to lick the ice cream.
 
“Ahem.” Luca cleared his throat in a failed attempt to cover a laugh. “I'm sorry, it's just so hard to take you seriously when you look so cute with your ice cream like that.”
 
“Oh really?” I shut my eyes and turned up my nose in a matter that clearly said `Hmph.' as continued to lick my ice cream. “Spirit of Fire.”
 
My spirit came within a few inches of crushing Luca's face. Luca, not being a total idiot, took the hint. “Sorry Master. I take it back.”
 
I smirked as I waved the Spirit of Fire away. “That's what I thought you would say.” I popped the rest of the cone into my mouth and got up from the table. “I shall see you later. Coming Hane?”
 
An enthusiastic yip answered me as Hane followed me back to my tent where two `hormonal teenage girls' awaited me. They nearly floored me as I entered, and fastened the door tightly before Hane could enter as well.
 
“Hello Master! Ready for bed?!” Macchi took me by the wrist, and flung me onto the bed where the two started ridding me of my clothing.
 
“Master Hao must be exhausted from his hectic day. Mari and Macchi will help him relax.” Mari started to undo one of my many belt buckles.
 
Just about then I noticed that they were both wearing skimpy lace nightgowns. If I had any less self-control I would have gotten a major nosebleed. Luckily for me I managed to control my primal instincts and re-zipped my pants.
 
“Uh, sorry to turn down such a foxy pair of hott vixens, but I'm afraid I'm not really in the mood tonight. I am exhausted after all.” I smiled seductively at them, praying that they would take the bait and bend to my will.
 
No such luck. “But Master! You have to!!” Macchi whined, pulling off my shoes.
 
“Macchi, I—“
 
“Master!! What about Mari?!” Mari attacked my pants, finally managing to get them away from me.
 
“Mari! He's mine!!” Macchi glared at her partner in crime before forcing her lips onto mine.
 
“NO!! Hao belongs to Mari!!” Mari's hands started to rid me of my last remaining clothing article.
 
I tried to put up a fight and struggle, but not even The Great Hao Asakura can fight two determined fan girls. Thankfully someone intervened before Mari and Macchi had too much fun.
 
“Mari!! Macchi!!” Kanna's booming voice did not sound happy as she burst through my bedroom door, little Hane bursting in after her, yapping worriedly.
 
Both girls got off of me at the sound of their leader's anger, and started pulling their clothes back on. “OUT!!” Kanna glared as the blonde and the redhead slunk out of the tent, looking ashamed at being caught.
 
I lay on the bed panting and gasping for breath. Hane picked up my pants and brought them over to me to slip on. “Thanks…” I muttered through gasps.
 
“You okay?” Kanna took a seat beside me on the bed and starting tracing my hairline gently like an older sister would do to her sick kid brother.
 
“Kanna, have I ever confessed my eternal love to you?” I finally had caught my breath, and my heartbeat as well as my body temperature were going back down to normal.
 
“No…and you better not now or I'll have to get you a doctor.” She scoffed.
 
“Thank you. Almost being rapped is not a pleasant experience.” I leaned into her hand, urging her to keep stroking my face.
 
“Now you know how Ivy felt…though I'm sure you did worse things to her than what those two did to you.” Her clear blue eyes saddened some at the mention of Ivy.
 
I sat straight up in bed, finally realizing how scared and hurt Ivy must have been all the times I… “Ivy…Oh God…I wish I could tell her how sorry I am…I had no right what so ever, even if I was her fiancée! I never should have!...I was such a jerk! I can't believe I actually did something so horrible to her! Oh…Ivy…I'm so sorry…”
 
“The other two won't be bothering you anymore now that you finally understand. Not that they minded. Goodnight Hao.”
 
Kanna got up to leave, but I stopped her when I snapped, “You planned this!!”
 
The bluenette smirked over her shoulder as she lit up another cigarette. “Call it divine intervention. Someone had to do it.” `We had to…according to that idiot Raph anyway. I really don't trust that man, but if we pull this off…those guys better hold up their end of the deal!'
 
I starred after her with a questioning gaze as I caught her strange thoughts. Hane jumped up onto my bed and lay his head down on my stomach, instantly falling asleep.
 
`Ivy…I said it felt good to finally get rid of all pain and suffering, but it was just a lie…I'm so addicted to that pain…I need it. I need her…before I break…Goodnight Ivy…I love you, and…I'm so sorry.'
 
“Apology accepted.”
 
“You haven't said anything in awhile, Ivy. Are you feeling okay?” Michael placed a worried hand protectively on my shoulder.
 
“She's just lost in thought. You can tell she's lusting after him.” Gabriel sipped a cup of green tea as he calmly explained why I had been so quiet.
 
“That's not it!” I glared at him without taking my eyes off of the sleeping form of Hao. `He's so cute and innocent looking when he's asleep…'
 
“Her biggest fear is her greatest desire.” Raphael smirked all-knowingly, causing me to blush. “I think your anger towards Hao has finally turned into lust; admit it!”
 
“Angel shouldn't be allowed to allude to such things.” I snorted. “Show me my fiancée and my sister next.” I requested.