A little change

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Just another day. Another exhausting day.

Anna looked for the keys of her apartment. A small place, just one room with the bedroom, living room and kitchen distributed in the same space. The little girl who lived next door greeted her with a big smile when she and her mother arrived at the door of their own apartment. Anna waved her hand as answer, the mom looked at her disgusted and forced her kid to go inside while frowning at the blonde.

I don't like you either. Those were Anna's thoughts, frowning to the place the woman was seconds ago. She finally found the key and entered her own place. Took of her shoes and walked exhausted to the bed. She didn't even bother to change the croupier uniform she was wearing. This blonde girl was only 15 but she worked part time at the "Tokyo's Jackpot" the biggest casino in the city. She had emancipated from her tutors about 2 years ago and was allowed to work in that place, she had a huge salary because of her ability with cards and her own special ability which was well known for the owner of the Tokyo's.

Today it was the beginning of the Golden Week. All the 15-year-old students were taking it like vacation but not her, she hated the Golden Week because she had a LOT of work at the casino. It was like if all the gamblers in Tokyo were released after being locked with their wallets and hands tied.

"This work will kill me… But that's not a bad thing actually…", she whispered to herself. Anna was not suicidal but she was tired of her life. Reading the thoughts of every single person around was tiring, and she had to do it day after day at work. At least the pay was worth it and with all her saves she would pay any college easily. Still had 2 years left to go college but without a family behind she had to be organized. She also needed the money for her own research, she had grown up with her tutors but was curious about her parents. Don't take her wrong, she wanted to know about them just for possible future health issues and the damn headaches she got every time she used her powers, she didn't want to find them for a stupid reason like being a happy family. They abandoned her so it was impossible to love them and she was sure they didn't love her.

"Hey! Why do you ignore me?! I know you can see me! You did it at the Tokyo's!"

And there it was, the annoying man who killed himself after losing millions at the casino and who was haunting her since that morning. She thought he was gone by now, but no, he was still there.

She stretched and stood up. Walked to the closet and looked for the blue pearl necklace she was given by that old medium years ago, the woman taught her the basics and was interested in training her, but her tutors didn't allow it and they moved to Kyoto taking her away from Kino. Of course, they did not want her training with the old lady just because if Anna was gone her maintenance money would be gone as well. Anyway, thanks to Mrs. Kino's teachings she was now able to get rid of the annoying ghosts.

"What are you doing?", the man in front of her asked confused.

"I'm sending you to the other world so you stop annoying me" She raised her arm and closed her eyes ready to start.

"Wait! I didn't mean to be annoying. I'm sorry. Please, I want to ask you a favor!" He cried a little bit desperate.

"Do I look like someone who would do anything for a stranger?" Anna raised her eyebrow.

"Well… I don't know…" The girl was not happy of seeing him that was for sure. But she was his last chance. "But, I need help. Please, help me and I will be gone before you can notice."

Anna sighed. That was pretty common: a spirit asking her for help. She had promised to Kino that she would help those errant spirits even if she didn't want to. That was the price stated by the old lady for teaching her to control her powers and she would not dare to break her promise, Kino Asakura was the only person in the whole world than didn't look at her with reproval or like if she was a monster.

"Fine. What do you need?", she said in a bad mood. She was exhausted and suffering the headache of her life. "Say it before I change my mind".

"Well, I need you to give my little brother the number of the lawyer who has my will. I still had plenty of money and I want to be sure he is the one taking it".

Anna sighed and agreed. She changed clothes and followed the ghost to the place of his little brother. She said she was working on the lawyer's studio and give the message to the guy. The guy thanked her, the spirit rested in peace and she started walking back to her place to finally take her well-deserved rest.

She was reaching the station when she noticed a brown-haired guy with orange headphones looking at her. Anna frowned when she perceived the thoughts of the guy: "She is so cute… Would it be weird if I say hi to her?". Yes, it would be weird 'cause I do not know who the hell you are, answered Anna on her own mind. "Don't be stupid Yoh. C'mon you survived Hao! You can't be afraid of a girl! … and such a cute girl. What's the worst she could tell you? Maybe she will just ignore you in the worst case", those were his thoughts. Anna started to walk faster, she didn't want to meet anybody, she just wanted to go home and have a date with her beloved bed. And she was successful, reached the train leaving the guy behind or at least that was what she thought.

"Yoh? I think I've heard that name before…", she whispered to herself.

"Hi"

Anna almost had a heart attack when she heard his voice on her back. She didn't even notice when he got the train. How the hell did he reach me so fast?!, asked to herself in her mind.

"Hahaha. I'm sorry if I scared you", he said with a sheepish smile while scratching the back of his head. "Well, ammm I guess I have seen you at the 'Tokyo's Jackpot'. You are a croupier there, right?" Of course he had seen her, he was the best friend of the owner's son and they used to hang around the casino on weekends when Manta was forced to work there to get used with one of the family business. And Yoh was thinking how to approach her since she started working there. He felt lucky when he saw her walking in the street, maybe it was a sign to talk to her.

"Just go away and die", she answered indifferently. She was not in the mood for a friendly chat and she wasn't the kind of friendly person actually. Plus, her head was killing her, she had started to feel a little fever.

If she knew I have been already dead…, he thought, feeling as if his heart had been ripped out and put on the train line to be crushed.

Anna looked at him curiously just for a second. What did he mean by that? Then ignored him, maybe it was something like an illness. Talking about illnesses, the crowd was making her feel dizzy and the fever seemed to be getting worse. Luckily, her station was the next one. When the train stopped and she moved to get out all turned black around her.

She woke up surrounded by a lot of people and the brown-haired guy holding her head. He looked at her concerned, she had fainted when the train arrived.

"Are you ok?", he asked worried.

"Yes. I'm ok", she answered. Took her head with one hand, too much people and she was not controlling herself because of the exhaustive mind-reading work at the casino that day. It was dangerous for all of them, she needed to go home quickly. "Thank you". She stood up and started walking at her top speed.

"Hey! Wait!" Yoh ran after her.

"Don't follow me!" That stupid Yoh, he was in danger if he walked any closer.

And it appeared: an oni. Just in front of her.

"Damn it!", she muttered. She could not control it on time.

"Be aware! Amidamaru!" Yoh stood in front of her with a sword on his hand, facing the oni. She looked at him with eyes wide opened. He was actually able to see it?! If that was the case she had to warn him. When Anna opened her mouth to warn him about it, the oni was already gone after receiving a clean cut of his sword. She looked at him shocked. Who the hell was him?!

"Are you OK? Did it hurt you?", he asked concerned.

"Y-yeah… I…" Anna shook her head. "What the hell was that?!", she cried out.

"Well, I guess that was an oni―"

"I know that was an oni! Those things appear in front of me since I can remember. I mean what was that than you did with the red sword?!".

Anna looked at him demanding an explanation. Yoh looked back at her with a big smile. Maybe it was in a strange way, but he finally got the opportunity to meet her and talk to her that day after all.

.

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"Asakura? Are you related to Kino Asakura?", she asked after Yoh explained her than he was a shaman. They were at Anna's place, he helped her and she was polite enough to thank him with a tea… and wanted to have some answers of course.

"Uh. Yeah, she is my grandmother. Have you known her?" Yoh was surprised, maybe they had more connections than he expected.

"I trained with her when I lived in Osore. She took me like apprentice when I was 4 but my tutors moved to Kyoto when I turned 9 so I stopped my training with her"

"So, you are that Anna!". Yoh looked at her extremely surprised. "My grandma says than you were her best apprentice ever. She was really sad when you left."

"Really?" Anna's voice was indifferent and she didn't show any emotion on her face but inside she was surprised and that comment moved her deeply, she knew the old lady only wanted to keep her because of her powers, but Kino treated her like if she was just another girl and never looked at her with fear… unlike everyone else.

"Yeah! I'm sure she will be happy to have news about you!", Yoh answered with a big smile on his face. "Hey! It's Golden Week. We don't have school and I'm going to visit my grandparents. You could go with me and visit her!"

"I have to work this week". Anna looked at him frowning. "Do you realize than we have just meet each other and you are asking me to go in a trip with you?"

Yoh blushed. He was so excited for having so much in common with her than never thought about the situation.

"I… I'm sorry", he muttered ashamed. "But… you know… My best friend is the son of the owner and he could get you a few days off… You seem tired" Yoh didn't give up. He just wanted to know more about that beautiful and mysterious blonde girl.

Anna crossed her arms under her chest and frowned at him with a light blush on her cheeks, she was hearing all his thoughts.

"Don't you dare to think we will start dating just because you helped me. And even if your friend is technically the owner, they have me because of my powers and they give me extra hours during holidays and festivities."

Yoh coughed. Anna noted it was fake. Who wouldn't notice?

"Aaam. So, what kind of powers do you use there? I have some friends than maybe could replace you", he asked with a sheepish smile.

"That's not of your business", she responded sharply. He lowered his head and seemed like a little boy being depressed… He is kinda cute… Cute?! What the hell are you thinking Anna?!, she scolded herself in her thoughts two seconds after thinking it.

"Yeah. I guess you're right", he said with another big smile on his face. "We have just met. But I would like to talk with you more often. Is that ok?"

"Do whatever you want." She crossed her arms under her chest looking away and tried to hide her blush. This guy was really annoying.

His smile became wider. She was hard to reach that was for sure, but at least she was giving him a little chance to meet her.

Yoh talked to her at the casino and went to visit often during the next few days, but he went to his grandparent's house after and didn't see him around. She didn't want to admit it, but she was starting to appreciate him. Anna hated all the people around, her ability of mind-reading had made her know the deepest thoughts and feelings of everyone around and every single person she had met was a liar, thinking and feeling one thing but saying another just to keep up appearances. But Yoh was different, he was honest and never lied to her… well, he lied when it was about his feelings about her just to avoid a slap or something like that, but that was Anna's fault after all, she was responsible of he being afraid of her reactions.

After the Golden Week she finally was able to take a rest from work during two weeks. Anna thought she would not see Yoh until her little vacation period was over, but the brown-haired boy had another idea. He was waiting for her in front of her apartment when she arrived after high school that Monday.

"You are becoming a stalker, you know?", she said looking for the keys. Yoh giggled and smiled at her.

"Well I was home alone and remembered you said you had to cook dinner after school but you always arrived late and it was annoying because you always arrived hunger and hated to wait", he answered with a big smile and pointed to the white bag in his hand. "So, I brought dinner and we can eat together."

Anna looked at him without expression on her face, but she was really surprised of him remembering such a trivial conversation like the one they had last week during her rest at work.

"You ARE like a stalker".

She finally found the keys and opened the door, they both entered the little apartment and sat down to eat.

"You said you like curry", he said serving her portion with his usual big smile.

Anna was surprised. Yoh seemed to be the typical distracted boy, but he remembered quite well all the details of their conversations, even if they were not relevant like her culinary tastes.

"Oh! Here!" Yoh pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and give it to Anna. She looked at him raising an eyebrow when she read on his mind that it was a letter of Mrs. Kino. "It's a letter from my grandma. She was really happy of having news about you", he said with another big smile.

Anna took the paper and unfold it. It was on braille, of course, Kino was blind. She started reading it silently:

"Anna,

I was really surprised when Yoh told me about you. I'm glad to hear than you can live an almost normal life even with the reishi issue, my grandson says you also got a part time job, that's great! I would like to see you again, maybe if you continue with your training those onis will stop appearing. And even if you don't want to continue with your training please give me some news, you can come to visit anytime you want. This old woman will be glad to see you before leaving this world, so please consider a visit. I will be waiting our meeting.

Kino Asakura."

Anna read it again, a nervous and incredulous smile appeared on her face. Was Kino using her age to make her feel guilty if she didn't visit? And the last phrase: I will be waiting our meeting, Anna almost heard her master saying: You better come here soon, with an authoritarian tone, when she read it.

She hasn't change…, thought Anna. Raised her sight to look at Yoh and thank him, but he wasn't sitting at the table anymore. The brown-haired boy was reading at the notes of her research about her parents.

She stood up upset and pushed him away from the desk, that was personal and he wasn't allowed to see it.

Yoh looked at her and knew he was in trouble because of her eyes… she was upset, she was REALLY upset.

"I- I'm sorry Anna…", he apologized nervously putting his hands in front of him trying to protect himself. "But… there is no… there is nothing wrong with looking for them. Can I help you?", he asked innocently.

Anna kept quiet, giving Yoh a glance that could kill him 20 times. She pointed out at the door trembling in rage, but Yoh didn't move.

"GET OUT!", she yelled furious.

The shaman was trembling in fear, she was scary like hell when she was upset, but he didn't move because he really wanted to know about her. His grandmother said than she needed to continue in training to control herself but her parents didn't allow it even when they didn't seem to care about being with her… Kino also said they didn't love her, and that Anna preferred to stay in the temple instead of her house.

"No! If this makes you mad then it is important to you, let me help you", he said, making heart guts.

"It's not of your business! GET OUT!"

"No! I'm not going anywhere!"

Yoh sat down on the floor crossing his arms on his chest like a stubborn kid. That made Anna angrier, she was about to slap him when someone knocked the door. She had to breath and count ten, it wasn't good to have witnesses of her violence. Anna opened the door. It was the little girl next door holding a white box, the girl smiled at her and gave her the box. Anna took it asking herself why was that.

"It's not good to have a fight with your boyfriend. I'm happy you are not alone anymore", the girl gave her a bright smile, and run to her apartment.

"He is not my boyfriend!", she yelled irritated with her face in shining red, but the little girl was already gone.

Yoh giggled, Anna was really shy inside.

*SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!*

She didn't kick him out again, but the slaps echoed throughout the whole building. Yoh remained lying on the floor unconsciousness for a few minutes, when he woke up he was clear it wasn't a good idea to go against Anna's desires (his face was now aching and burning like hell!), but he asked anyway.

"Still not of your business", she pointed out, leaving the rage behind with those slaps, but she was still upset.

"But... I can help you!"

Yoh wanted to know, the story of his grandmother didn't fit with the actions of Anna, and he was wondering why she had to work so hard. If the people who opposed her training were her parents then Anna should be with them and not looking for them and, even if they were gone, Kino said they didn't love Anna and she didn't like to be with them. So, why would she look for them?

"I didn't ask for your help"

She opened the white box her neighbor had given to her. There were homemade donuts inside the box, that was weird, her neighbor hated her. Maybe it was the little girl's initiative, but Anna won't take the risk.

"Take one"

"Really?" Yoh smiled again. Thinking she had forgiven him. "Thanks!"

Anna studied his reactions while he was eating. Yoh seemed to be ok.

"Wow! Delicious! C'mon Anna take one!"

"I'm just studying if they are poisoned or something. Let me know if you feel bad"

Yoh opened the mouth and the rest of the donut fall on the table. Anna was mean.

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To be continued...

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Hi reader! I hope you enjoy this story, this is the first one I write in english so my apologies for the grammar and orthography crimes I could commit while writing. Let me know if you don't understand that will make me improve and I would be thankfull :)

Thanks for reading! I hope to upload soon. Have nice day/nigth!