A/N: I am so excited about this story, but I'm not really quite sure as to why? Perhaps this is my goal for this Christmas - to finish a few of my fanfiction stories that have been waiting for me.

I hope this story is still up to your liking! Thank you very much and I hope you continue the story of Ana and Yokozawa.


Pieces (The Case of Hideyoshi Ana)

Ana woke up in an unfamiliar room that morning. She moaned, but found herself engulfed in the arms of nobody else but Yokozawa Takafumi. He was asleep, but his naked form, and the way she could feel parts of him from underneath the covers that protected them reminded her of what they had done. She smiled a little, but only snuggled closer. She heard him grumble, and yet, he tightened his grip around her.

Has he always been this way?

She looked up and saw a tiny crevice of his neck appearing for her.

Boldly, she decided to reach up to kiss it gently, then she gave his skin a few tender, soft suckles, before she bit him hard enough to mark. It made him stir, and she knew he would be unhappy with what she had given him, but she decided to take every bit of his anger in exchange for more days like that.

It had been five years since she had a day like that.

X.o.X

"Masamune… Ne, Masamune, open up~!"

She knocked again on the apartment door, sighing into the cold night. Winter was settling in, and she had been standing outside for a good ten minutes. She called her brother's phone, and he still wasn't picking up, and she ended up sitting right next to the door. Where is this guy? She groaned miserably. She moved to his university to make sure he was doing okay, and this was how she was being repayed? She shuddered a bit. She never really liked the cold. It was another ten minutes before two men walked up to that side of the building, and she heard it.

"Shit!"

"Masamune!" Ana huffed, and the brunet sighed. She knew that he'd forgotten. His companion, a black-haired man, looked at her strangely, "I called!"

"S-Sorry, I missed it." He looked at his friend, "Let me introduce you. This is Hideyoshi Ana, my sister. She's a writer. Neechan, this is Yokozawa Takafumi. He's taking up Sales and Marketing Management."

Yokozawa bowed at her, "Nice to meet you."

But she only nodded, her arms across her chest, trying to keep warm, "You too."

There was something about her that irked him. However, the man in question opened the door for them, and let her in. He almost didn't catch her suitcase, but it made a thud against the floor when she pulled it in.

"Uh…" Yokozawa looked at her, "What's that?"

"… Luggage?" she asked as though it was the simplest thing. She was irritable from waiting for twenty-minutes in the cold, "Everything I own is inside."

"Oh, she's the one I said was staying over." The younger one pointed out, and before Yokozawa could add any other questions – "Ah, neechan, did you receive my mail?"

"Yes. I guess you're formally Takano Masamune now, aren't you?" He nodded, and it made her smile, "Are you pleased?"

"It'll take some getting used to… But the papers are a bitch." He explained with dry humor.

"Well, that's what I'm here for." And they shared a laugh.

Yokozawa raised an eyebrow, "So… Where exactly will she be staying?" he asked.

"I can stay with you~" the girl replied playfully, winking, and Yokozawa frowned.

"Sorry, but my standards are higher." He said, looking her up and down. Ana glared – she was starting very much not to like him.

Takano looked at him, appalled, "Since when?"

But a blush stained the salesman's cheeks, and he simply turned and went into his room. Takano chuckled and looked at his sister, "… I think he has a crush on you."

"Shut up, Masamune!"

Of course, Ana didn't realize that (aside from teasing his best friend), what Masamune said that night was the most insightful things he'd ever noticed, and it was never meant to unfold the way it did.

X.o.X

Naturally, Ana was pleased to be back into the life of her "little brother"; and though she'd been hearing he wasn't doing well, it seemed that having her around returned his old ambiance and sense of being. It seemed that Takano was trying to put together two halves of his life by insisting she stay. However, Ana and Yokozawa weren't exactly the best at cohabitating. In fact, they weren't even a good pair to be in the same room, let alone the same house. Anything Ana commented on, Yokozawa had something to say against. It annoyed him too, that she was already working part-time for the company that he had been eyeing, and she was lazing about it as though it was no big deal.

"You're in Marukawa."

"Yes." She sipped her coffee and continued to read her novel.

"No, seriously." He looked at her from his homework, "You're working at Marukawa Shoten? You write for them? Like… They hired you?"

She set her book down, then glared at him, "Why is it so hard for you to believe?" she asked, "I write. Period." She looked annoyed at the accusation, almost as though it couldn't be possible that someone like her could be a writer.

He huffed, "You don't look the type." He reclaimed, "I mean… Aren't writers more… Serious?"

"I can see why you're in sales," she said grimly, getting back to her book, and ignoring his comment, "You absolutely do not shut up."

"For fuck's sake, can't both of you shut up?" Takano was reading while making supper, and he had read the previous line of the novel he was reading at least three times because the two kept talking over him. It wasn't like the apartment was huge, the two of them were simply in the sofa five feet away, "Look, you should probably read my sister's work before you say she's terrible."

Yokozawa would probably never admit it… But he actually did sneak a look at one of her works. He found a link on Takano's social media website, and scanned through the poetry. (And he felt his chest tighten at some of them – it was evident he was moved.)

Ana would deny it… But she caught him. (Of course, the number of views appeared on her page, and when she saw that some views were at their exact location, she knew it could only be Yokozawa.)

But, to be honest, they never seemed to like each other very much. They never got along – never. She was much too busy with the fantasies of her world, of what she did and what she wrote to care about how he thought of himself, and he was much too proud to even think that someone like her knew more than what was inside her bubble. Ana was had already passed her stage of vulnerability, worthlessness and dilapidated self-esteem, which was why she always seemed to scowl at Yokozawa, who always seemed to find something wrong with her. And Takafumi always hated people who thought too much of themselves, and did not see value in the things that are happening, especially since he worked so hard to achieve where he was in life, and Ana seemed to just have practically everything he wanted for himself.

Takano was afraid they will never be able to stay in one apartment together.

Then, out of a certain stroke of luck, they did.

Ana remembered it clearly – especially since Takano had to go home for Christmas. She remembered that that was when it began: it was the first Christmas she was spending on campus. She didn't hate the University, not at all. But it did get lonely whenever she realized that she hadn't much to return to, while Takano still had some remaining kind of family he could still consider worthy of returning to. Inevitably, all she knew was that she had her own corner of the universe, a place she could at least keep to herself, and she reminded herself that it was okay. It will be okay. It's going to be okay.

She heard footsteps on the main hall, and her head perked up: surely, Masamune didn't leave anything… Right?

"Tadaima." And instead of her brother, the deep voice of Yokozawa Takafumi greeted her.

Ana stared at him for the longest time before she found her voice: "O-Okaeri nasai." She managed to reply, still staring at him as though he was a phantom.

She took a good look at him. For the first time, he recognized his sharp features, the way his grey eyes were tantalizing in their own way. He was taking off his coat, brushing snow off from his hair, and a small smile played upon her lips. She didn't know he would be staying, too. For a brief moment, she felt elated and couldn't understand why. He caught her looking at him and raised an eyebrow, "What?"

"N-Nothing," she turned back to her cooking, not recognizing the feeling that he had stirred within her, "I just… I thought you'd go home for the holidays."

"I had to stay." He replied simply before walking over to pick up a beer from their fridge, "Why? If you don't want me to stay, you just have to say so. I have friends I'm ready to bombard for the break."

"I never said that." She looked at him, furrowing her eyebrows and slightly offended. She didn't pry for his true reason. She huffed, "If you'd rather stay at some other dingy apartment than stay for the Christmas dinner I'm making, that's up to you."

He had walked to the sofa when she heard him reply: "If you don't want to be alone, all you have to do is say so."

She stopped stirring the stew and turned to him, "Y-Yokozawa…"

"It's Takafumi." He glanced up at her from his seat, opening the can of beer, "Stop calling me like we don't live together. It's Takafumi."

A small, knowing grin played upon her lips, "Isn't it too early to be drinking?"

He shrugged, "I don't see you stopping me." Yokozawa smirked.

And so, after calling Masamune on Christmas Eve (and reassuring him that they had not thrown cutlery at each other), they spent Christmas Eve together. Ana made a feast, despite Yokozawa's complaints that he could cook too: she made a special curry, roasted a small turkey for both of them, made potato salad, and baked a special set of brownies – which she needed to stop Yokozawa from finishing before she was ready to bake the second batch.

"I'm not kidding, it's really good." He said with a slight moan, munching on what would be his fifth.

A soft flush rose to Ana's cheek, and she laughed a bit, "You sound surprised."

"You've been hiding this ability from me, I see." Yokozawa said rather playfully. He promised wine and beer, and more alcoholic beverages. He did not disappoint.

So, as they brought their glasses up that night for a toast, Ana smiled cheekily, "I know I said I wouldn't get you anything, but…" She took a small present from a side-table drawer in their living room, "… Merry Christmas, Takafumi."

He looked very surprised as he took it, but he ended up chuckling, "… Good thing too, or I would have looked like an idiot." And then he went over to his coat and took a box from his coat pocket, donned with a red ribbon, "Merry Christmas to you too, Ana."

They stared at each other for a while, and Ana was reconsidering what to do. But she couldn't resist.

She flung her arms around him, and practically enveloped him in an embrace.

X.o.X

It was exam season when Masamune returned, and Ana's relationship with the salesman was still roughly the same. She knew, though, how Masamune noticed that the original bite in their words had been replaced by sly, hidden emotions; how their usually petty arguments now held meaning from their previously stipulated 'bonding time'; and, how, even though she doesn't smoke, Ana stands outside with Takafumi, sometimes even being the one to light his cigarette (yes, she bought her own lighter to light someone else's cigarette), because she knows that the salesman hated feeling alone, despite acting otherwise. However, after that examination period, Ana found herself burying a soft-spot for Takafumi. And once she dared to leave him a note to ask him out on a date, she was absolutely terrified.

She was falling in love.

She was falling in love with Yokozawa Takafumi.

She was falling in love with Yokozawa Takafumi, and she didn't know what the hell to do about it.

Now, it wasn't so bad, because he was a genuinely kind, and good-hearted person. He was protective, and vigilant. He thought ahead, and was always on top of things, with an open mind, but a defined set of principles. She began to know him like the back of her hand, and she was worried again: she was used to being liked by people – men, women… children. But Takafumi made her heart beat, and almost as though it was sure it damn well knew why it did. What started off as tense glares across the room was now replaced with subtle glances, too many blinks and flushed cheeks. She was not used to things like this.

"Ana… can I hold your hand?"

She wasn't used to that either. But she said yes, of course.

She wanted to say yes.

And as they entered the apartment, Takano was by the door, staring at the two of them, his expression unreadable.

Ana froze: but she did not let go. Their fingers were intertwined, and they fit so perfectly. She could feel Yokozawa's hand tightening upon hers, gripping it as though they were preparing for a blow. Ana honestly didn't know what to do.

Finally, he spoke, slightly upset, "I'd been calling the both of you. We're out of coffee. Now what the hell do you expect me to brew in here?!" he demanded.

Ana laughed in relief. Ah, this is good.

"Tea?" she suggested.

Both men glared at her. It was not a very good joke, and she knew it would upset them.

Instead of worrying her more, Takafumi kissed her forehead, then turned, "Let me get it. God knows you love it too much, Ana."

And she was rooted to the spot, flushing, as he left and went out the door. She slowly turned to Masamune, who only raised an inquisitive eyebrow and smirked at her, "I thought you wanted to move into your own apartment?"

X.o.X

"Marukawa wants me to publish a book."

Takafumi dropped a glass, and Ana was thankful it didn't break upon collision against her sink. Nearly everything in her apartment was new. And he was only staying the night – or so, that was the original plan, but, he'd been there all weekend.

"Are you serious?" He asked, appalled.

She nodded slowly, smiling widely, "Y-Yeah." She said, "One of the directors talked to me. They're assigning me an editor, but I have the option to choose my own. I'm going to begin interviewing them by next week. They're going to start with publishing some poems I'd written a few months back, and I already gave me the liberty to choose an artist to collaborate with. They'll publish my poems twice a month in Ruby, the poetry issue. They gave me an initial pay, that's what I used to buy my apartment. I was supposed to be assigned a sales manager too, but, um…" She looked up at him, biting her lower lip, "I… I told them to put that on hold."

His brows furrowed, "What? Don't you need someone to monitor your market and net profit?"

"W-Well, have you checked your email?" she asked.

Takafumi paused, thinking about how it had anything to do with what was going on, before he stared at her in awe, "W-What?" he asked slowly.

"I told them you were graduating this term, and you're the top of your year and-!"

"Ana!" He enveloped her in an embrace, and she flushed. He buried his head in her hair, and he kissed the top of her head, "What have you done, you silly girl? I didn't need you to do that for me. You knew I wanted to get into Marukawa already. You didn't need to move that mountain for me."

She pulled away and looked up at him, "Takafumi…You know I would, if I had the power."

His brows furrowed, "W-Wait… Doesn't that mean you can't publish until I graduate?"

"Marukawa will wait for me," she said, looking into his eyes, "I'll make anything, and any other person wait. But not you, Takafumi."

As she lay against his chest that night, tracing circles against his shirt, his breathing was heavy when he asked, "Have you started?"

"The novel?" He nodded, picking up some stray strands in her hair, "Well, I did, but I haven't named it yet. I'm finding it very difficult to find a metaphor for love."

"A metaphor for love?" he asked, stroking her hair and untangling some curls, "Is it a love story?"

"A bit of romance, a bit of adventure," she shrugged, "I mean… Aren't most great loves a form of adventure? It's just… It's cliché to say 'Reasons I like this Person' or, 'Reasons why I like…' whatever. I mean, there should be some better way of saying it, right?"

She looked up at his grey eyes, and he smiled, "Coffee."

"What?" she asked curiously.

He chuckled, then gave her a quick peck upon the lips.

"Why don't you call it 'Reasons why I like Coffee'?"

X.o.X

Ana stared at her phone:

10 missed calls from Takano Masamune

35 missed calls from Yokozawa Takafumi

22 messages from Yokozawa Takafumi

28 voice messages from Yokozawa Takafumi

Tears prickled at her eyes. She didn't want to do it. She didn't want to leave him in the middle of that. It was the first time someone had touched her the way he did, the way he held on to her waist as though she was the most beautiful piece of art that ever existed on the planet. His fingers, coarse from writing caressed her gently, but the way he kissed her was rough enough to bring her into ecstasy. Every inch of their body was almost made for each other, and his eyes, half-close as they whispered good-night, were the only image that retained in her mind.

She shook her head.

No. Takafumi deserves so much better than that.

And as she packed nothing but a small backpack, and all the money she had left, she had hopped onto a train to Marukawa, where she officially signed a document to bring her to their Western branch, in New York, for her novel's introduction.

She was afraid, it's true. She was afraid to have someone mean so much to her, to give so much of herself to somebody that she'd never know if she would return to who she used to be if he were to hurt her. She knew, of course, that Takafumi's intentions were to love her, and love her deeply, the way only he could. But Ana never tied herself like that, and she felt like such a terrible person.

She just left him. She didn't breathe a word, and just left him.

Ana wiped at her tears: she knew that no matter what she did, there would always be pieces of her heart, and who she was that belonged only to Takafumi. There were parts of her that would never be filled by anyone but him. And she would always be, no matter what she did, truly and irrevocably in love with him, despite what she says.

"… Ana-sensei, would you like some tissue?" The voice was from the editor that Marukawa sent. He looked worried, brows furrowed, long, black hair tied in a high pony-tail but his blue eyes were shining with concern. His hand held out a small pack Kleenex.

"W-What's your name, again?" she asked, taking the tissue that he had offered, "Y-You're newly recruited, right?"

He nodded, "Kagami." He said, "Mizuki Kagami."

She nodded in understanding, "You should know one thing, Kagami…" The young editor looked worried.

"There's nothing like your first love."