When Anna woke Yoh wasn’t there, she looked up from the warm shelter of the blankets and saw that it was probably ten in the morning.

Groggily she sat up and went to the kitchen for something to eat. On the fridge was a note:

Dear Anna,

Good morning, I’m out doing my regular training. I should be back before lunch.

Love, Yoh

Anna smiled, as she put the note down and began to rummage through the fridge for something to eat.

She was just lifting the milk out when she felt a cold presence. She hastily put the milk back, ran upstairs to grab her beads and a jacket and went outside.

She skimmed the backyard for anything unusual.

“Come out Hao...I know you’re here...”

Then before she could react she felt two un-humanly strong arms wrap around her body.

“Ah!” She screamed in surprise and struggled.

“Get away from me you jerk!” Anna yelled as she tried to get herself out of his grasp.

“Now, now don’t be stubborn. I need you for my plan to work.”

Then his eyes began to glow and Anna felt a pain inside her.

She screamed again, this time not from surprise but from pain.

“Scream all you want, no one can hear you.” And in truth no one could hear her, Hao had muted her voice so that only he and she could her words.

Finally she became limp, still conscious but limp.

“What are you going to with me?!” She asked angrily.

Hao smiled you will see...

Yoh was almost done, he only had one more mile to go.

He was happily humming to one of his favorite bands when Ameidamaru popped up at his side.

“Yoh you must hurry, Anna is in danger! Hao is here!”

Yoh stopped in his tracks, frozen for a second with fear. Then he turned around and ran back home, faster then he could have thought possible.

He was so engulfed with the task of reaching her that he didn’t even notice that Amidamaru had suddenly disappeared or that he didn’t really sound like himself.

Finally, Yoh reached his house. Sure enough Hao’s fuioku was everywhere. He ran into the house, grabbed the Sprit Sword and ran outside where the furioku was strongest.

“Good, he is here.”

With fear in his heart he ran outside and skimmed the grounds until his eyes fell on them.

But what he saw made him suddenly weaken.

Instead of the scene he was expecting, Anna on the ground in need of rescuing, Hao above her ready to strike he saw then together, in an embrace.

Hao didn’t need to look up, he could feel his brother’s presence and he smiled.

“Let go of me! Yoh!!” Anna cried out, but her pleased fell on deaf ears. She tried to will her body to move but it wouldn’t obey her.

Hao’s plan was working perfectly so far, he could feel the strength leaving Yoh as he looked on with unpredictable eyes. All he needed to do was completely break his brother and that’s what he did.

He kissed Anna, who screamed in protest, invisible tears trickling down her checks as she felt her body move to deepen that cursed kiss.

Yoh fell to his knees, tears brimming in his eyes.

Amidamaru came back, now out of Hao’s spell he watched his master and friend in a moment of grief

“Yoh?” Amidamaru asked, looking at him nervously, and watched where his eyes stayed rooted.

‘He must be upset about the fact that the girl he loves and his worst enemy are...’ “Yoh do not worry, for all we know Anna could be under some kind of spell or somethi-”

“No. The Anna I know would never allow some one to take control of her, let along hold her like that.” The last part he said bitterly.

‘No Yoh! Listen to Amidamaru!’ Hao looked over at them. Releasing his grip on Anna, who sank to the ground, and walked over to Yoh.

“So brother what does it fell like to have the person you love betray you? I hope in hurts.” He grinned evilly.

Yoh just starred blankly in the other direction. Anna was sitting down, her body still numb. She watched nervously as Hao came closer to Yoh.

If that jerk does anything to Yoh I’ll...I’ll.’

“Get up brother. You looked pathetic down there.”

Yoh didn’t move.

“Are you denying me?” He slapped him across the face. Yoh didn’t seem to care.

“I told you to get up. Rise and fight me like a man. Face your death proudly brother.”

Yoh just kept looked the other way in a blank stare. Hao slapped him again. Slap! Slap! Slap! It when on. With each hit his head was forced from one side to the other. Anna watched him, her head slowly moving with his, tears swelling in her eyes as she watched him take the blows one by one. Each must have been painful and he didn’t even make any sound, nothing. And it was all because of her.

“Yoh...” She whispered. “Yoh.” A little louder.

She could fell Hao’s furioku slipping off of her, she decided then and there that she had to free herself, no matter what it took. She was the itako after all, there was nothing she couldn’t do if she put her mind and her power to it. She closed her eyes, focused her power from one last blow on his slowly waning furioku. Then...

“Yoh!!!!” She screamed, long and loud, forcing his furioku out and banished it to hell.

Yoh snapped back to life, his eyes met hers. Both pairs were pain stricken and sad.

Hao growled. Then he punched Yoh hard in the stomach, knocking him a few feet farther from there into a pillar. Jumped up onto the nearest tree and drew his sword. “Yoh!” Anna yelled again. Tears trailing from her eyes as she ran in front of him. Hugging him to her, trying to protect him from Hao.

“Anna!” Yoh grabbed her and thrusted them both a few feet from there, realizing what Hao’s next move would be. Yoh covered Anna’s head with his arms, holding her tightly.

The dust cleared, Yoh’s arm was bleeding a little. Yoh sat back up, taking her with him.

Anna smelled the fresh send of blood and look at Yoh’s arm “Yoh your wounded.”

“It’s not that bad.” He said, the life back in his eyes and in his voice. Then he noticed that Hao had disappeared. “Where did Hao go?” He wondered out loud and he looked around them.

Then a scream escaped Anna’s lips as she was lifted out of Yoh’s arms and into the air. “Hao!!” Yoh yelled, jumping to his feet.

Hao held Anna up by one arm, the blade of his sword just below her neck. “Uh...” Anna moaned. Hao’s grip on her wrist was almost unbearable.

“Let her go Hao! It’s me you want so leave her out of this!”

“That is exactly why she must be part of this dear brother. I wanted to destroy your physical body, but if I could break your heart and ruin your life all in one that would be even better.” Hao grinned evilly once more.

“Wait Hao! I’ll fight you! Just leave Anna out of this!” Yoh pleaded, his eyebrows furrowed together in concern.

Hao smiled. ‘Things are going exactly as I planned.’ “However, I’d like to ad a little twist to this. If I win, the girl dies.”

Yoh’s eyes widened. There was just too much on the line now. “No! Hao wait!” “Hmm?” Yoh looked down, his eyes covered by his bangs. “Don’t hurt Anna. If you win I promise that I’ll let you kill me. But if I win she goes free.”

Anna gasped. “No Yoh! Don’t you dare!” She struggled in Hao’s grasp.

“Well, now that sounds more like it. I except.”

He released Anna, letting her drop. She ran to Yoh and threw her arms around Yoh’s shoulders. “What are you doing Yoh?”

He looked up at her, there was still tears left in her eyes. “Anna, I didn’t know you could cry.” He tried to say it happily, to remind her of good times, but the best he could do was smile warmly.

‘How can he still smile at a time like this? “Yoh you’re such an idiot.” She whispered sadly, she leaned her head on his chest. He held her, one hand on her back and one behind her head.

“Shh. Don’t cry. Don’t cry, I’ll protect you I promise.” He said softly.

“I don’t care if you protect me, who’s going to protect you?” She whispered in his ear.

“Anna, don’t worry.” He tried to convince her.

“Yoh you can’t do this. I won’t let you.” She clung tighter to his shirt.

Yoh sighed. Then after only a moment of silence he said sternly. “Anna I don’t want to you watch this fight. You need to go somewhere where you’ll be safe.” He pulled away slightly, he grabbed her hands and held them tightly.

“But-” She started. “Please.” His voice was desperate, yet he smiled at her. Just so that if this was the last time she saw him she would have a good image of him.

She slowly nodded, unsure that this truly was the right decision and walked away, keeping her eyes on him the whole time.

Yoh turned back to Hao, who had been waiting patiently through that. Yoh drew his sword, and stood in his battle stance. Just as he was about to reach for Amidamaru to activate his furioku Hao stopped him.

“No brother, this will be a fight based purely on the strength and skill of the man alone. With no help from our gradient ghosts we will see who is better and deserves the title of Shaman King.