Shaman King (2001-2002)

Continued from here.

Answering a call for help, the twins decide to venture further into their mysterious and unusual world.

Episode Eight

“A Tale of Two Men”

(1)

“Yoh? Are you really doing this - now?”

“Keeping the truth from them feels wrong, Anna.”

“What truth?” asked Manta, confused.

“Yeah, Yoh. You’re kinda freaking me out a little.” nervously added HoroHoro.

“Should I even be here?” awkwardly asked Ryu. “This sounds like it’s between you guys and has nothing to do with me.”

“Yes - you should be here, Ryu.” sighed Yoh, reassuringly. “In fact, you belong here.”

“I do?” muttered Ryu, blinking. He then looked up at the ghostly apparition of Tokageroh beside him, who looked back at him awkwardly and gave him a crooked smile.

Yoh smiled nervously at all the faces staring in his direction waiting for answers. He quietly considered how seeing all his friends sitting calmly in a circle on the floor of his communal living room was a scene that was very familiar to him.

“Yoh - I can’t believe I’m saying this but - perhaps you should get Hao’s approval first?” scoffed Anna, rolling her eyes slightly.

“Ah, yeah.” breathed Yoh, scratching the back of his head. “I might be jumping the gun a little.”

At that moment, the elder Asakura brother entered the room followed by Tamao - she was gripping her Kokkuri board firmly under her arms. All noticed immediately her bruised face had miraculously been healed. She looked on nervously at the group in front of her. Hao gave her a sympathetic smile, knowing how she was not comfortable in larger social situations, especially with new faces. But then he noticed how all in the room had fallen silent and were looking directly at him.

“Okay, is someone going to tell me what the hell is going on?” asked Hao, raising an eyebrow. He locked his gaze upon his twin.

“Nii-chan, I think it’s time we tell the others about…” began Yoh, smiling a bit.

Hao paused. He then looked around the room at all of the confused faces looking back at him. He shared a silent look with Anna and then looked back at Yoh.

“Hm. Yes. Given the circumstances, I think that’s appropriate.” agreed Hao, he then took a few steps into the room and sat on the empty futon couch and gestured for Tamao to sit beside him.

Tokageroh looked on at the pink haired girl sitting down nervously on the couch and decided to speak up,

“Child, I apologise for my earlier unforgivable violent actions. I am relieved to see you looking well again.” said the bandit spirit apologetically, before bowing his head respectfully at Tamao.

Tamao blinked at the spirit who had just apologised to her and she quickly lifted her board and pointed it at Hao, hiding her face behind it as she began to spell out her response to him,

“Hao - told me - what - happened. And yes - I am - feeling - much better - now - Thank you.” patiently read out Hao, then giving Tamao a kind smile when she was finished.

Realising what the bandit’s words meant, Ryu found himself leaping towards the shy girl sitting on the couch and knelt directly in front of her. He grasped one of her hands in both of his.

“Beautiful fair maiden - please forgive me and these hands of mine that struck you - a real gentleman only uses his hands to bring his woman happiness as they build their Happy Place together.” pleaded Ryu, staring intensely at Tamao as he spoke.

Tamao froze and tensed up as her face flushed a bright red. She looked like she could just about burst from embarrassment.

The others felt the air in the room suddenly go bitterly cold.

“Uh… Ryu…?” shakily said Yoh, he watched helplessly as his twin brother suddenly had a fierce fire in his eyes as he locked his deathly livid expression on Ryu.

As Ryu turned to the fire wielding shaman sitting directly next to the girl whose hand he was holding, he momentarily felt his soul leave his body when he saw a pair of dark, cold eyes staring directly into his. Ryu immediately let go of Tamao’s fingers and he fell back onto the floor.

“Touch her again and I’ll sever the nerves in your body so badly you’ll never feel the delicate touch of a “woman” ever again.” angrily seethed Hao.

Tamao wrapped her arms tightly around her board and hid her face behind it.

“Oh my.” she squeaked, quietly.

Ryu remained frozen in fear on the spot on the floor. The others in the room exchanged fearful and nervous looks with one another. Anna rolled her eyes again and shook her head.

Yoh laughed nervously.

“I think we need to have a talk about your violent impulses, Nii-chan.” jokingly said Yoh.

Tamao peered around her board to look at Hao beside her, she smiled at him sheepishly.

Hao looked back at her with a devilish glint in his eye.

“Still think I’m not dangerous?” he said softly to her with a charming smile.

Continue here.

Enter the “Alt Universe” here.

Been having far too much fun with shaman king lately, and ryus design in the sequel manga (that was recently announced to be getting animated) I just adore.