Three weeks passed as nothing and here another one was left for Hao and Yoh to go away. Both twins were anxious and excited about the trip: they kept wandering how's it going to be like to life an university's life, what kind of people are Americans and so on. These days, however, were a complete torment to Anna. She hadn't had a peaceful sleep every since she first time had that dream about the mountain and it kept repeating itself each night and each night Anna would wake up breathless, cold sweat dripping down and feeling of loneliness and fear inside. Now that was downright unnatural to her. Her, who would beat up anybody who dared to confront her, her, who was so cold and heartless, was now tormented by such feelings as loneliness. And who would've thought of that..?

As every night, Anna sat up in her bed, beads of cold sweat dripping down her face, chest and spine. The girl sat, looking to one dot and panting heavily. She covered her face into her palms, brushing the sweat that was rolling to her eyes. Anna then pulled of covers from her and kicked into her slippers. As she put on black silky dressing – gown, which matched the night – gown under, she rushed out of her room and walked quietly to the kitchen, which was downstairs. Only when she reached the kitchen she turned on the lights. Halogen light gave out a warm and comfortable yellowish light that lit up almost all of the room. Anna walked to the fridge and poured herself a cup of milk, which she warmed up in the microwave. The blonde sat by the table and stared through the window, mechanically drinking the warm milk. Anna fixed her gaze onto night world outside, not exactly seeing anything. A thought slipped through her mind. She remembered the night her parents were killed. Eve until this day she wouldn't know why.

xxxFLASHBACKxxx

Little Anna walked through the dark corridor of her house, shuddering and gasping each time as lightening flashed across the sky and a rumble of thunder followed it. The little girl was dressed in white pajamas and carried a red bandana in her hand: the precious gift from her mother. Anna woke up that night from a breaking and falling sounds. She also heard her mother scream in horror. The little girl was full of fear, but bravely walked through dark corridor. She closed to her parent's bedroom, from which the light was emerging and lighting up a single square on the ground. Anna looked to the shifting shadows on the floor: three silhouettes of unknown men appeared on the floor. Little Anna gasped silently and quickly crouched herself against the wall. She heard the men's conversation:

"Job done. We can go" one of them said.

"What about the girl?" another spoke in low-boss voice.

"Oh shit, I've forgot about that brat" Anna saw how the silhouette of one of men leaned down to the floor, then she heard him let out a scoffing laugh "this Kyouyama bitch really had some guts" the third man steeped to the light, making a third silhouette.

"Yeah. Wonder how her daughter will be like" he said in mocking tone. Little Anna gasped once again, as she saw a small stream of red blood running from the room. Her eyes widen, little heart skipped few beats. The understanding was already creeping into her mind, but she wouldn't admit it. No. Mom and dad couldn't be gone. No way. No. No…no…no…no…

"NO!" a high voice of screaming girl flew through the thin air. Three men turned around instantly and ran out of the room, but the little girl was already running away, red bandana flickering after her.

"HEY! Quick!" one man shouted and all three burst after her.

Anna ran as quickly as her little legs could carry her, tears streaming down her face. She ran and ran, to face the lake in front. Anna stopped and turned around: three big figures were running to her, lighted up by a lightening from time to time. Anna didn't know what to do, so she just ran on, until she reached water and fell in it, as it knocked into her weak and tired knees. The girl saw how three strong men closed to her, stroking water with their legs. Anna didn't see their faces, but she knew that now it was her turn to die. Little girl gripped tighter to her bandana and closed her eyes, not wanting to see anything.

The last thing she remembered was warmth and peace. As little girl opened her eyes, shock went through her mind, leaving deep scars there. She had a last opportunity to see her mother's already blue dead face being covered with white cover. A soothing voice reached her ear.

"It's all fine now, little one. They're in a better world now" Anna shook head, covering her ears with hand, not wanting to listen to that dreadful voice.

"I want to go with them!" she screamed, tears spilling from eyes. Warm hands stroke her head.

"It's not time for you, yet. Now go to sleep…"…

Then everything blacked out…

xxxENDxOFxFLASHBACKxxx

Anna sat at the table, her gaze fixed into nothingness, her fingers playing with golden locks of her hair, another hand gripping the cup tighter as she remembered the hurtful scene. Anna had already got used to these memories and they seemed as an old and forgotten movie to her, or just a story, happened to somebody else. Normally, she wouldn't feel anything, except maybe emptiness that should've been filled with parent's love. Normally, she would just push those sad memories away, but now her senses were so sharpened and stirred, her mind so messy and rumpled that she couldn't even control them, what she would normally do. A small tear rolled down her face. The blonde brushed it away and looked to her fingers that now were wet from salty tear: Anna didn't cry since that night, so what the hell was going on now? The girl took another sip of milk and continued staring through the window. Suddenly, steps heard at the staircase. Oh well, I'm not the only one who cannot sleep. Hao walked into the kitchen, only in his boxers. His eyes widened as he saw Anna sitting by a table. She looked to him with bored, yet at least not angry, gaze. Hao slightly relaxed as he saw that she's not in mood of shouting. He smiled to her, walking to the dresser.

"Can't sleep?" he asked. Anna nodded.

"No"

"Me neither. For almost a week I've been sleepless" he said, filling himself a glass of water. Anna arched her eyebrow at him.

"And why is that?" Hao smiled weakly and sat in front of her.

"Don't know. Bad dreams I guess" he took a sip of water, looking to Anna through the top of the glass "what about you?" Anna frowned, but still answered, like she just needed to do that.

"Dreams. I just hope they'll stay dreams" Hao nodded.

"Yeah"

They sat in silence for a while, looking right past each other, like knowing that if they would look to each other's eyes, the wonderful peace between the two. Anna, although not looking directly to him, had a chance to scan his body, what she would never allow herself to do. Gosh, he's so…handsome. That brawny body, that face, that hair…and, the hell, that six-pack belly. Now I see why so many girls were attracted to him. He's so sexy. Not that I'm going to turn into one of thos love struck fans, but…Oh heck, what am I thinking. He's just a stupid happy-go- lucky baka, just like his brother. At least that one's compliant. While Annawas arguing with herself, Hao traveled through her body and face, not noticing that he's obviously scanning drooling to her. God she's beautiful. Not even her face, but body as well: so slim and delicate. Jeez, I wonder if she's as hot when you touch her. WHAT THE FUCK are you thinking Hao! She's almost already your sister-in-law! Nevertheless, I'd much like to feel if she's…STOP IT! You aren't helping at all!

Anna, seeing how Hao's looking to her, broke of an uncomfortable silence, which was getting on her nerves as much as Hao's staring.

"Why are you looking at me this way?" she asked, her voice piercing the air and breaking off the long silence. Hao, lowered his eyes, trying to hold back the smirk that was already growing on his lips.

"Nothing, it's just that…" he couldn't bear himself to finish, knowing that a painful slap will be placed painfully on his cheek.

"What?" Anna snapped at him. Hao felt as if forced into corner.

"It's just that when I'm looking at you, I can't help but admire your beauty" he looked straight into her eyes "you're so pretty" Anna stared back to his gaze, not knowing whether to slap him or just keep silent. For the second time, she was caught off-guard by Asakura brothers, which's not good. However, Anna managed to talk back to his compliment, although it wasn't much of talking back.

"Don't say that. You don't know me" Hao frowned.

"But I see you right here, in the distance of stretched arm. How can I miss this kind of beauty?" Anna crossed arms on her chest, looking angrily to the brunette guy, who was starting to annoy her even more.

"And exactly what kind you have in mind?" Hao couldn't hold back the smirk.

"Cold and dangerous kind" Anna simply boiled inside, but she kept her cool outside on. No, she wouldn't give away and show him that she actually liked his compliments. No, she wouldn't give him this kind of pleasure. But one thing Anna didn't know: Hao liked her even more, when she counteracted to him.

"Are you making fun of me?" she asked, standing up, arms crossed on her chest. She looked down to Hao, piercing him with her well-know dreadful look, which could scare the hell out of anybody. However, Hao held back her gaze and stood up as well.

"No. I'm trying to be nice to you. But obviously you don't want me to be like that, so I'll just walk away" he was just walking past her, as her fist collided with his cheek, leaving a crimson mark there.

"See? You really are impossible to mingle with" he said, cupping his chin. But then again, another hand flew towards his other cheek, but this time Hao stopped it midway. He then snatched Anna by waist and pulled her to him, holding her other hand tight. Anna tried to escape, but his grip was stronger.

"Let me go, you baka!" she shot out to him, but Hao only smirked to her resistance. Anna felt first rudiments of fear starting to travel up her spine: she was no longer in control of situation, so she wasn't sure of herself anymore. That was unexpected from such person as Anna, but she still had one advantage: she didn't show that she was scared and that made Hao a bit confused between two feelings: liking and hating.

"No. I won't, not until you'll promise me one thing?" Anna rested her hands firmly against Hao's chest, trying to push him away, but his strong arms were unbeatable to her. Anna had no choice but to play along.

"And what is that?" Hao smirked to her, tightening his grip.

"That you'll try to nicer to me. So I'll do the same thing and we will be able to live in peace and prosperity" Anna scoffed to this idiotic thought.

"As if that's possible. And if you call this nice…" Hao nodded.

"Yes this isn't nice, but I had no choice, otherwise I'd be beaten up" this almost made Anna laugh. The fact that Hao was actually scared of her, Anna found funny. Sure it was: a guy is afraid of a girl. Anna's eyes warmed up a bit, her body relaxed, but her mind remained alarmed.

"This is ridiculous" she said, but couldn't hold back a slight smile. Hao caught this smile and laughed.

"I can't believe that I see you smiling. This is so…gorgeous" he said in a whisper. Anna looked to his eyes with hard gaze, but Hao once again held it back. He could consider himself lucky.

"You're going to regret this, you know that" Hao smiled perfidiously, leaning closer to her face.

"I know, but I also know that this will be worth it" now Hao was very close to her: Anna could feel his hot breath touching her lips. Wow, he's so hot inside. It almost burns me… Anna didn't lean back, didn't do anything, only said in a whisper:

"What will be worth it?" Hao stopped closing to her, leaving a distance of an inch between their lips. He knew perfectly how to deal with her.

"Making you nicer to me. At least for this moment" that was downright true and Anna admitted it. She was nice to him at the moment. So why not to keep it this way? Only that way should be in a lots greater distance than it is now.

"Let's make a deal: you let me go and I'll try to be nicer to you for your last week. How does that sound?" Hao leaned back a bit, looking to her eyes.

"Sounds perfect" he stepped away, letting her go. Anna turned around and walked away, but stopped in the doorway. She turned around and gave out a very slight smile. For a fresh starting.

"Night…" she silenced for a while "Hao" the guy smiled happily.

"Good night, Anna" the blonde walked away. Hao, sat back at the table, returning to his water. Smile didn't leave his lips for a while. She WAS hot, I could feel it. And, by the gods, she actually smiled to me. Oh well, that's a start…