Greed

Snow fell in gentle waves, unassuming as it landed on the icy pavement. The small town road was mostly deserted, the solitude only disturbed by the occasional passerby, their hands buried in their pockets and collars flipped to avoid eye contact. The day in itself was an ordinary one, typical in its usual happenings - even the snow was a guaranteed occurrence this time of year. On this especially ordinary day in this particularly smallish town, no one found anything at all special about a young girl they assumed to be carrying home groceries to her family.

The girl in question was indeed carrying groceries, and was not happy about it. The plastic bags were heavy, cutting painfully into her hand, but Anna paid the sensation no mind as she continuously cursed Hao in her mind. Camping in an abandoned home, she and Hao's few followers (she refused to place herself in that category) were waiting for him to return from one of his worldwide escapades in search of allies. Usually, Anna joined Hao on these frequent trips, but, for whatever reason, she'd been denied this latest time (much to the delight of Luchist Lasso) and left behind.

Just as Anna felt the familiar aura of growing oni at these thoughts, a sound struck her, washing through the ill will like a rush of cold water. Turning towards the noise, Anna found herself frozen, staring into one of the television screens lining an old electronic store. Singing in a clear and beautiful voice was a women, her clothes and make-up belying the vulnerability of her lyrics.

And there you have it! Awaya Ringo and Bob Love!

The announcers voice brought her out of her trance, the cold world coming back around her.

"You like Bob?"

Anna turned sharply to see an eerily familiar boy standing beside her.

"What?" her shock at his appearance holding back any cynical comment she might have said.

He smiled, nodding to the TV screen. "You seemed pretty interested when he was singing. I'm just surprised since not many people like him."

"I was watching the woman," she stated quietly.

The boy seemed to visibly deflate. "Oh her. Yeah, I guess she's okay - a little scary, though," he said, rubbing the back of his head.

Anna turned back to the lightly frosted window, waiting to see if the woman would continue singing, when the familiar prickle of emitting emotion and thought touched her neck.

What now? She doesn't even like Bob, should I just leave? Grandma will want me back soon...

What to say... what to say...

"What's your name?" Anna asked, looking down at her shoes.

"My name?" The boy repeated, flustered. "Uh, it's Yoh Asakura."

Anna nodded, that would explain the resemblance.

"...What's your name?"

She looked up, scrutinizing him, though not unkindly. "You want to know my name?"

Yoh nodded, cheeks flushed a light shade of pink.

"It's-"

"Anna."

Hao was standing a few feet away, a pleasant smile fixed on his face as both Yoh and Anna turned to him in surprise. He eyed Yoh up and down before calmly facing Anna, "Luchist said you left some time ago, we were all worried you'd lost your way."

"I'm sure," Anna remarked, slightly perturbed Hao had managed to sneak up on her so thoroughly.

"In any case, we should get you home. Come, Anna," Hao said, his manner amiable as he took her arm and tugged her away from his younger brother.

"Hey, wai-"

"Good to see you again, Yoh!" Hao called behind him with a little wave.

"What...?"

Hao frowned once he'd manoeuvred Anna away from Yoh. How curious, he mused, to find his brother like this - an awkward little boy chatting up his follower. Though, truthfully, it wasn't his brother that concerned him, it was the warmth he'd sensed from Anna. Not, mind you, that she would ever consider leaving him.

Still, it may be best to rethink his decision to leave her home while he traveled - it wouldn't do to have her running away from him. After all, Anna was a powerful and competent ally - it would be a shame to kill her over a silly thing like betrayal.

o


I love Yoh. So much. AnnaYoh is actually my OTP - the only reason I don't write them is I find their relationship difficult to portray. In contrast I find Hao and Anna lots and lots of fun to write.

I always try hard to keep the characters "in character" and I had a bit of trouble with this one because it IS an AU and I have to kind of assume how their characters would develop in the situation I have made for them...tricky.

Let me know what you think!