I was resting peacefully with the unusually placid Brownie in my lap when I suddenly heard the door open. I already knew at once who my guest was – the only one who still hadn't learned the ethics of knocking.

"Ohayou, Gishi!" Asakura Hao greeted cheerfully.

"I see nothing good in my morning," I said hollowly, then looked out at the drizzle outside. "Brownie and I couldn't play outside."

"Look at my face and you'll realize how good your morning is today." He sat down on my bed and looked at the tray. "No breakfast left-over?"

I knew that even if he was pretending to sulk, he was delighted to know that my appetite is returning.

"Ah, never mind!" He faced me again. "Get dressed, Anna. We're going to run an errand for my daddy," he smirked.

"Why don't you go all by yourself?" I snapped.

"Because I'll miss you," he teased.

"Well, I won't," I said, narrowing my eyes at him. To my dismay, he only seemed to enjoy my gaze at him. He arrogantly preened as I inspected his wares icily. Later, I looked away first. This man was impossible! He was bestowed with so much overpowering confidence!

"So…are you coming with me or are you coming with me?" he asked, grinning.

"What kind of a question is that?" I asked wearily. "Either way, I'll end up with you."

"At least you can't say I didn't give you options," he laughed.

To my surprise, he allowed me to use my wheelchair.

"The town is quite far, and I'm not sure if you can stand such a tiring walk," he said, voice hinting genuine concern, as he helped me to my chair. He placed a blanket on my lap, a scarf around my neck, and a bonnet on my head. He then turned to Tamao, who was clutching Shirayuki and Brownie.

"Feed them on time and don't lose them from your sight, do you understand?" he asked authoritatively. She nodded. He then grinned at her. "Thanks, Cherry." He seemed amused when the pink-haired girl blushed. I sighed audibly, and his eyes moved to me, twinkling with mischief.

"Do you always do that?" I asked when we were on the road already.

He feigned cluelessness. "Huh?"

"Do you always flirt like that?" I asked again. "Even to little girls?"

"When did I flirt?" he asked, rubbing his cheek.

I rolled my eyes. "Awhile ago, with Tamao."

"Oh, that. It meant nothing to me," he shrugged.

"Well, I've got news for you, Asakura Hao," I said through gritted teeth. "Tamao is the type of girl who is easy to be drawn by silken words! She's so innocent, so I ask that you leave her alone!"

He blinked, then laughed. "Anna, don't tell me…you're jealous!"

My eyes grew wide. "Damn you! I was merely-"

"But if the lady wishes me to stop being friendly with women, I shall grant her request." He gave me a heart-stopping grin. "After all, you are my priority."

I knew I was supposed to feel angry at his deliberate flirting again, but I couldn't understand why his last statement tugged something within me. I could only stare at him, wondering where my coherence went.

He must have noticed the awkwardness so he looked away in silence.

We maintained the tension until we reached the town.

"Master Mikihisa made you go downtown to buy Butterfingers?" I cried in disbelief when he finished paying the purchase.

He held up the bag of various chocolates, smiling. "Well, we also have Hershey's Cookies and Cream here. Yum!" He held up another plastic bag. "I made my own purchase too – a bottle of energy milk drink for Brownie and Shirayuki!" He looked at me eagerly to see my reaction.

I was smiling in amusement and disbelief. "You bought milk for the kittens?"

"Yup. I want them to remain strong and healthy!" He began to push the wheelchair out of the store. "I bought you milk too," he said quietly. "For the same purpose I have with the kittens…and more."

I blinked.

He smiled, shaking his head. "Nothing." He then noticed the nearby town park. "Come, let's check that place out first."

"This is the place I would never regret to die protecting," he told me as we passed by the flower-adorned lane leading to the fountain area of the park.

I had to nod in agreement, but flinched when I felt his gaze on me. I never liked the intensity of his gazes – they could be frighteningly hypnotic too. They could make me do stupid things.

Like what I'm doing now, sneaking a glance up at my brother-in-law.

Only to find him looking at me with the same intensity, perhaps even more, when he spoke of the place he would never regret to die protecting. His eyes were telling me that he felt the same way too about me.

"Anna?" My name rolled out of his tongue silkily, sending shivers up and down my spine.

"Y-Yes?" I congratulated myself for successfully keeping out the shakiness in my voice.

He smiled gently. "Please don't look at me that way. You can drive any man to his knees with such gazes."

"And what do you mean by that?" I snapped.

He laughed, a hint of nervous relief in his voice. "Nothing." He continued to push my wheelchair towards the center of the park. I didn't know why he suddenly sounded so relieved.

"What are those coins doing under the water?" asked Hao when we sat by the fountain.

"People who sit here throw it there," I explained, marveling at the fact that Asakura Hao knew so much, but understood so little about people.

"Why?"

"They make a wish there, and they believe that when a coin is thrown as offering, their wish would come true."

"That's stupid," he said. "A penny can't grant wishes."

"It's not the penny that can make the wish come true," I said quietly. "It's the faith of the person."

He paused.

"Watch me." I took out a coin and tossed it to the water. I then clasped my hands together and wished quietly.

When I looked at him, he was watching me, awed.

"I would never have imagined that you will be the type to believe in silly, romantic things," he said, smiling.

"Then join me." I handed him my last coin in my purse.

He hesitated, then took the coin and threw it down the fountain. He shut his eyes for a moment to say his wish.

"So what did you wish for?" I asked when he opened his eyes.

"I'm telling mine if you tell me yours," he said, grinning wickedly.

I blinked, then looked down at my lap. "Alright. I wished that I…that I…"My mind echoed the words I used to make a wish. However, when I looked at him, I lost my courage. I knew he might just use it to tease me ad infinitum.

"I have a feeling you won't tell me," he said, grinning. "Oh well, I don't think I can say mine too."

"Damn you! What if I was able to tell you my wish and you didn't tell me yours?" I snapped.

He grinned, then pushed my wheelchair again.

I sighed exasperatedly, then leaned back on the chair, suddenly feeling tired. I was so used to the stillness of my room that even a short activity like this has taken much of my strength and energy.

I then felt my chair stop. I turned to him, but he was nowhere in sight. I frowned. "Hao?" I straightened myself. "Hao? Hao, where the hell are you? Hao?" I began to feel nervous, although common sense insists that he won't leave me just like that.

I got my answer when he returned, coming from behind. He was holding two cones of ice cream. "Sorry for leaving you so abruptly, but I thought you were sleeping already," he apologized.

I tried to hide my relief with my temper. "You knew I was sleeping and yet you left me all by myself?! Didn't you even think of the consequences of what you did? That someone might take interest on me and suddenly whisk me off while you're away?"

"The ice cream man is just some feet away," he said patiently.

She bit her lip, embarrassed. Of course, Hao would know better than to just desert her. How could have she doubted the same man who gave her back the desire to walk again?

"I see you've come to realized a few flattering things," he guessed, then handed me a cone.

"Shut up, Asakura."

"My name, please."

"I'm glad you knew what my favorite flavor is." I idly licked the dripping mocha off my wafer cone.

I paused when I saw his eyes on me. I blushed. "W-What are you looking at?"

"I found the perfect blackmail today." He suddenly knelt in front of my lap. "Call me by my name, or I'll lick the ice cream on your finger."

I tried to shake my head nonchalantly. "I won't call your bluff, Asakura Hao."

"Suit yourself." He took my hand into his in one swift move, and in slow motion, brought my fingers to his lips.

I felt electricity run up and down within me. How could have I even thought of taunting him? He was the devil himself, unafraid of any dare!

I opened my mouth to apologize, but a moan escaped my throat instead. His tongue was caressing my mocha-teased finger already.

"H-Hao…" I said shakily when his lips had slipped its way up to my palm already.

He looked up at me briefly, his eyes burning with frightening passion. "Damn, you should have said that earlier." He reluctantly planted a chaste kiss at the back of my palm and got up. To my dismay, I felt emptiness crawl within me. Kami-sama, I enjoyed what he did!

"You won't be giving me any sleep tonight, lady," he said gruffly. He started to push the wheelchair again.

He shouldn't be so mad; I know I won't be having much myself too.

That night, as I held my palm close to my heart, I looked out at the shining star that I guessed was Yoh. "Your stupid brother just tongue-kissed my palm! Gah, his audacity! Even you have not kissed me that intimately! Ooh, I hate him!"

I could picture his laughing face, and I smiled. "Enough of him. Yoh, I wished awhile ago that I would find the man who will love me the way you did. Since you're up there and you can see basically every man from there, can you help me find Mr. Right?"

The star twinkled, as if saying, 'Of course!'.

At that moment, I heard someone call my name. I looked down and found Hao standing by the house, waving.

I felt my heart stop. No, it was just a coincidence. It had to be!

"I forgot to say good night!" he said, grinning.

"Damn you!" I yelled. He left awhile ago without saying anything when he brought me home. I was relieved then – I didn't know how I could talk to him again after what happened.

But from the way he greeted me, he must have recovered already.

He smiled. "Thanks. Sweet dreams to you too!"

I looked up at the star. "You didn't mean that, did you, Yoh?"

The star twinkled again.

tsuzuku