Yes folks, it's time for one of Syao-chan's irritating breaks in the fanfic --- something she does whenever she's not in the mood to type long chapters.

The couple in focus this time is Hao/Anna. In case they are OOC, please don't get mad, ok?

Now for the one who was asking for my cel no., I'm sorry but I do not own a CP. I own a PC, but not a CP. *ouch*. But if you email me with your no., I will find a way to text you.

I'm also glad that there are Filipino readers enjoying this fic. Salamat ha! Pagbubutihan ko ang updates. ^__^ Actually, hindi ko na nga napapanood ang Mankin eh. Bwiset kasi ang sked ko as STI.

On to the chapters!

Hao had fallen asleep on her lap once again. Anna sighed. She couldn't understand the person before her. He was sinister, indeed, he was the type that would never trust and would never be trusted. Yet, he allowed himself to sleep in her presence, as if not caring whether she was free to get rid of him or something. What do you call that? Was it trust? Was it confidence?

It irritated her, and at the same time, it warmed her heart in a peculiarly nice way. It reminded her that beneath his cocky smiles and manipulative ways, he was still a human.

Even though she could not understand what is it about her that interests Hao, she wouldn't complain about the way he treats her. He treated her like a fine lady and a little girl at the same time, with his indulging and affable smiles. His dominating ways, deciding things for her – perhaps done in good intention even if she didn't like not being consulted about his moves. His suave way of dismissing her sarcastic remarks. His temper that was always checked, no matter how hard she tries to push his patience over the edge. His witty rebuttals, ever ready whenever she tries to raise an issue against him.

Ah, Asakura Hao was an enigma in the truest sense. She could never piece together his mystery.

That was part of his charm, in a way. He could make any woman feel like one whenever with him.

Hao opened his eyes and found Anna gazing at him. He smiled teasingly. "Did I pass your standards?"

He chuckled when he saw a faint blush creep on her cheeks. She looked away. "My feet are starting to sleep."

"Oh?" He sat up and stretched. "OK, we'll wake them up."

Anna gasped when he suddenly knelt in front of her and began to massage her legs. He looked up at her, eyes twinkling. "This will help improve blood circulation, and can help ease your pin and needles sensation."

He continued to knead her knees with utmost gentleness, as if afraid that squeezing her too much could break her like a brittle porcelain doll.

The two were silent, Hao concentrating on massaging her, and Anna concentrating on eyeing him.

"Anna?"

"Yes?"

"Do you know how to cook?"

"Yes, but I don't cook."

"I want you to cook for me tonight." He grinned. "Just like wives do for their husbands."

She scowled. "I am not your wi-"

"Just for tonight," he said, and she thought she detected a hint of begging in his voice. She just had to nod.

His eyes lit up, and he continued on his massage again, humming.

Just like a little boy, thought Anna.

"Do you cook for my brother?" he asked suddenly.

She shook her head truthfully. "I make him do the household chores."

"I'm afraid I'm not like him," laughed Hao. "I'm terrible at those things."

Anna watched him, stunned. This wasn't the Hao she saw in the Asakura yard that nearly killed her fiancé. He looked and sounded so different, that it was so easy for her to think that what happened that stormy afternoon was all just a dream.

"But for your sake, I will do my best to learn," continued Hao, grinning.

"Are you really sure that I will be your wife?" she asked coldly.

"I will be the shaman king, and you are engaged to one, so therefore…"

"After what you sent to Yoh…"

Hao smiled. "I'm not worried. What I gave my brother was but a ghost of an advantage. He would know all my powers and moves, but he could never decipher fast enough which one of them I would pull."

"But then, he will learn counterattacks…"

"Which will be fine by me," said Hao, shrugging carelessly. "The match would be better if he knows better defense stances rather than his stand-and-wait techniques." He smiled at her. "What is important is that I have you, and he doesn't."

"Do you think I'm a toy?" she snapped. "Something siblings would fight over?"

"You are worth every reason to fight over and fight for, Anna Kyouyama." He stood up. "You may not know how really extraordinary you are, but I do."

Anna was silenced.

"Ever since I saw you under that snowy sky, I had vowed to myself that I would have you at any cost. And now that you're here with me, anyone who wants to challenge me and get you will have to pass by me first."

"Why me?" she asked.

He smiled, eyes laughing. "That's the same question I keep asking myself after all the showers of insults I got from you all throughout yesterday."

"Do you really want me to cook you dinner?" asked Anna after a moment.

He nodded.

She whipped out a piece of paper from her pocket and a ballpen.

"You always have those in handy?" asked Hao, puzzled.

"I always ask Yoh to do the groceries, so I keep jotting materials handy," she explained as she listed all the ingredients she needed.

"I see." Hao took the list from her when she finished. "You'll get them later." He snapped his finger. "Zinc?"

The priest appeared. "Hao-sama?"

"Go to the market and get these ingredients."

"Huh?" The priest sweatdropped. "W-Why should I?"

"Because Anna needs those written on that paper," explained Hao patiently.

"But why me?" cried the priest.

"Simple. Because you're the only one available here," explained Yoh's brother.

Grumbling, Zinc took the list and left.

True to Hao's words, within a quarter of an hour, the priest returned, successful from his grocery trip. As he grumpily laid the ingredients on the table, Anna started to gather the twigs scattered around the forest.

"What are you doing?" asked Hao, bewildered.

Anna turned to him. "I'm going to start a fire. Do you have anything against it?"

He chuckled. "Don't be so grouchy. I was just asking." He snapped his finger, and a flame appeared on the twigs. Anna dropped the flaming twig, startled.

"I thought you might want some help," he explained.

"No, I don't need you to help. After all, I am your slave," she said.

Hao shook his head. "No, let me correct that. You are not my slave. You are my pet. My pets are treated with respect, almost half the way my minions respect me."

Anna paused.

"If any of them dares to insult you, tell me."

"You yourself are insulting me," she pointed out. "I am Anna Kyouyama, and I am my own person. Nobody owns me."

"That was then. Now somebody does. You are mine." Hao cupped his chin with one of his hands. "You are my favorite pet, my favorite person. You should feel flattered."

"Where do you get all your hot air-powered spunk, Asakura Hao?" she asked, ignoring his words.

"I always get my way," he said, shifting his position. "I ask for the moon, I get it. I ask for summer rain, I get it. I want the sun to set in the east, it happens. I am the omni power of the world. "

"You sure are delusional with megalomania," said Anna as she began to chop the vegetables. "You will discover by yourself that not everything in the world is served in a silver platter for you. That includes the title of the shaman king. Yoh is an impressive shaman with a strong heart empowered by the desire to protect the weak. Those are the traits the Great Spirit is seeking."

Hao shrugged. "The Great Spirit is just insecure, because it couldn't believe that there is a creature like me that is much stronger than it, so it decides to pick on weak people to carry it out."

Anna shook her head. "The Great Spirit's wisdom is an abyss."

Silence.

"I don't want to talk about these." Hao walked beside her. "What are you cooking?"

"Vegetable soup."

"Good. It's been centuries since I last had a good soup."

Hao watched as Anna gracefully pivoted back and forth as she busily cooked the dish. He loved observing her – it was like watching fine art in motion. Her every move radiated with quiet grace and finesse, and ironically, she had no idea that she was doing so!

She stirred the wok that she also asked Zinc to buy. The aroma of the buttered fried vegetables, plus the sight of Anna cooking, made him suddenly imagine how great a life would be to wake up to this scene for an entire lifetime.

When I look at her, my whole world seems to stop. All that matters is her actions. Her scent. Her feel. Her touch. Her melody. I forget about everything else but her name.

Anna Kyouyama Asakura.

He liked it already.

"Here."

Hao paused and saw the bowl that Anna was offering him.

He accepted it gratefully, then proceeded to eat. He gave no complaints, but his eyes did the talking.

Now if only Anna would look at him in the eye for more than three seconds, then he might just be able to explain to her what he was feeling at that time.

He frowned thoughtfully when he saw Anna looking out at the direction of the Asakura house.

He still had a long way to go before truly owning her.

Hao asked one of his minions to start a bonfire while he and Anna sat by a log, watching the dark skies overhead turn lighter that early morning. Sunlight was filtering through them already.

"The storm is over," remarked Anna.

"Wrong. The storm is just starting," said Hao ominously.

tsuzuku