Forgotten Memories

The Council of Elders

She felt two strong hands pulling her up towards the surface just in time before everything went dark. When she regained her consciousness, she felt wet lips enclosing her own and breathing air into her lungs. She opened her eyes and saw a long-haired man who appeared to be a tribal priest staring at her. There was a hint of worry in his stern face, "Are you alright?" she heard him say.

She slowly sat up and asked weakly, "Who are you?"

"My name is Hao. I belong to the Patch tribe and I'm on my way home. I stopped by the oasis to get a drink when I saw you fainting by the side of the lake and falling into the water. If it's not too rude to ask, where are you from? Why is a beautiful woman such as you all alone here?"

It was then that she started to weep. When she had finally calmed down, she began to relate her story. "I'm the daughter of a tribal chieftain ruling the eastern side of the desert. Someone attacked in the night and burned our whole village down killing everyone. My father forced me to escape before he died. He instructed me to locate the Patch tribe and give this to their leader." She showed him a thin wooden string hanging on her neck with a pea size pendant made of some red gem.

The man diverted his gaze to the pendant which reflected his hungry look. The girl hid it safely under her blouse. "I'm really fortunate that a member of the Patch tribe found me."

"Yes, so fortunate. You need not worry, I could bring you there safely," he assured her.

"Thank you very much. I owe you my life."

"You haven't told me your name yet."

"I was called Anya in our tribe."

"Anna! Anna! Anna!" Hao was gently slapping her cheek a couple of times after laying her on the stone where they have been standing before. "Anna! Anna! Anya!"

Hao abruptly discontinued his light spanking to wake the itako up. He couldn't believe what he just heard himself say. I called her by some other name… Anya. He was convinced he was having a déjà vu.

This has happened before.

Anna coughed the water out while Hao was busy with his musings. When she noticed that the long-haired shaman was absentmindedly hovering on top of her she gave him a big push and sent him splashing into the pool of water again.

"Pervert!" she screamed.

Hao swam quickly towards the bank. "You're one difficult woman, Anna. 'Til next time," he waved goodbye before he disappeared in front of her in a blink of an eye. A few seconds later, Yoh's group came running towards her with heavy thuds of footsteps.

"We heard you scream Anna. What happened?" Yoh asked worriedly.

"I - I slipped into the water. I was a bit exhausted and hungry…" Anna half lied. She couldn't understand herself for protecting his fiance's evil twin. Why am I suddenly developing a soft spot for that freak? She silently asked herself. Perhaps it's because he really didn't intend to attack her earlier.

"Maybe you should delay the soul purification ritual for tomorrow Anna. You look really tired and famished," Yoh suggested.

"Yes, I could do that," it was the first time Anna heeded Yoh's advice to everyone's surprise.

"Let's head back to the inn."