Forgotten Memories

Waking Up

Manta gaped at the large ancient structure which reminded him so much of a haunted house. The Asakura inn which was a home to the young itako trainees of the clan blended perfectly to the eerie atmosphere in Osorezan. A number of boiling sulfur pits containing yellow and sometimes blood red liquid dotted the surroundings. The creepiness of the place was further heightened by the presence of ravens and crows perched on top of leafless trees. The black birds stared with a hungry look in their eyes as if waiting for them to die and rot on the spot.

"Welcome to Hell," Horo Horo was the first to comment.

Manta was beginning to feel nauseated by the sulfuric stench of the air which smelled heavily of rotten eggs. He quickly clung on to Ryuu's leg when a white clad figure which looked like a ten-year old girl appeared by the inn's entrance.

"Welcome visitors," the young itako trainee greeted them with a solemn voice, "to the Asakura itako training center."

"So was this purposefully put up to build a pool of potential shaman queens?" Ren scoffed.

"You're quite right about that young man," a hoarse voice answered him, "in some aspects... This was also built to give hope and home to young girls who are shall we say visually-impaired, abandoned and/or left to die by their parents."

"Hello grandmother. It was nice to see you again", Yoh called out sheepishly after seeing Kino's silhouette form behind the young itako.

"Come inside. There are some matters we need to discuss," old Kino beckoned the group.

The gang found themselves huddled in a small room for receiving visitors. Kino was at the far end of the table while Yoh sat on the other end.

It looked like an interrogation. Manta told himself. Yet nobody would like to start the conversation.

What are we waiting for? Ren was becoming impatient.

Spill out the beans, grandma. Horo Horo was feeling the same thing.

The dead air was stirred by the sliding of the door to reveal Tamao carrying a steaming pot of morning tea and behind her, Iron Maiden Jeanne was holding a tray of tea cups.

"Tamao, I'm glad to see you again. Iron Maiden, what a surprise to see you out of that metal casket," Yoh greeted them.

"I'm sorry for what happened to Mistress Anna, Master Yoh," Tamao bowed shyly. She and Iron Maiden Jeanne then sat beside Manta across Ryuu, Horo Horo and Ren after passing out the cups of tea.

Yoh's heart began to beat fast. What did Tamao exactly mean?

"It's unusual that you went here without your X-Laws bodyguards," Ren asked Jeanne, trying to break the silence brought about by everyone's anxiety.

"On the contrary my friend, I went here with her," Lyserg appeared by the door then sat next to the Iron Maiden.

"Everybody, please welcome back the amazing Chocolove!" said the black American as he entered the room with his arms wide open then sat between Horo Horo and Ren to the two shaman's dismay.

"We were invited over by Master Kino," Lyserg explained.

"I see that we're almost complete," old Kino began to speak.