Celebrations

by Apple-chan

It's been past seven months since the Funbari Onsen Inn celebrations ended...what has happened so far during that span of time? Set 11 years after the Anime. AnnaXYoh, RenXPilica, TamaoXHoro, LysergXJeanne...and then some. [COMPLETED]

12. Chapter 10: Morning Revelations

Celebrations
by Apple-chan

Disclaimer: insert witty disclaimer remark here

A future fic of sorts. Set approximately 11 years after the Anime. The Funbari Onsen Inn anniversary celebrations has already ended the night before...or has it?^^ Coming up is more love, silliness, love, crazyness, love, happiness...and LOVE. And yes, everyone is -still- here!^_^

Spoilers: The whole Anime series.

Warnings: PG-13 for adult situations and mild swearing (I don't suppose I still have to warn you for the chapter length).

Brief note: London, Paris and Venice is used here as an analogy for First Base, Second Base, and Third Base, respectively.^^



Chapter 10 - Morning Revelations


Lyserg slowly opened his eyes to the glare of the morning sun as it cast its rays upon his room from the balcony. "Ohayo, Morphin," he yawned absently as the pink fairy spirit fluttered above his head. "What time is it...?" He inquired as he fought to keep his eyes open...without much success.

Yawning again, he relaxed once more in his futon. "Never mind, don't bother. I'll get up later..." he called out sleepily. Turning on his right side, he reached for his other pillow, sighing contentedly as he managed to grab it. He wrapped his arms tightly around it, wondering, at the back of his mind, why it seemed to be moving...

MOVING...? He froze.

Something was moving across his...waist. And the...thing was tightening its hold around him, almost as if it was...hugging him. Like...

Briefly, he realized that the...thing around him -had- been there for quite some time. He remembered feeling it last night, but he'd dismissed it, thinking that it was just a weird dream of some sort...and that it would probably go away in the morning.

But...it was morning now, and the...thing was still around his waist. And it was pulling him even tighter, and closer, towards...his pillow.

AAARGH! DAMMIT, why the bloody HELL is my pillow MOVING? Shaking his head forcefully, he refused to open his eyes, afraid of what he might see. Okay. Relax...relax, Lyserg. Breathe. Breathe, alright? There is nothing to be afraid of. Your pillow is not moving. It's just your imagination. Just calm down. He took a deep, long breath...

He coughed as the sweet scent of something filled his senses, and what felt like...hair fluttered against his face, tickling his nostrils and almost causing him to sneeze. He turned his head and rubbed his whole face hard, wondering WHEN his pillow had managed to acquire hair. And familiar, sweet-smelling hair, at that...

Sweet-smelling...? Lyserg's eyes snapped open. He gazed up at the ceiling, frowning slightly...Maybe I'm thinking of HER too much...I mean, there's NO way my pillow would smell the same way HER hair does...it's probably just my imagination.

Or I might have kissed her too much last night...that's why I can't seem to get her out of my head...

But...he paused as he continued holding on to his pillow...last night was just...an accident...a result of HER getting drunk...and not something I should make a big deal out of...I mean, SURE, maybe I got to kiss her, but...he stopped short at that thought as the pillow began to move again.

He then noticed that the pillow was...too incredibly soft, and warm, and...breathing.

BREATHING? WHAT the HELL?!?!? Lyserg looked below him...

...And found two magnificent ruby orbs gazing up at him from sleepy lids.

What the..."J...Jeanne?" He managed in a frozen voice. What is she doing in my room?!?!? She's not supposed to be here, she's not!

"Argh...my head..." The silvery-blue haired maiden answered, her groan muffling as she slammed her face down against his chest.

Wincing slightly at the impact, Lyserg continued to gaze down at her with shock...So those were HER arms wrapped around me, HER hair I thought was the pillow's hair, and...HER...body...I thought...he swallowed...was my large pillow...they were all HER the whole time...

Her. Jeanne.

Jeanne...last night.

Last night...the kiss.

The kiss...Jeanne.

Jeanne. The "I love you"...

...She didn't hear that. You didn't say it out loud, you just thought it.

Bloody hell...He shook his head, clearing his mind as he reminded himself of her earlier statement...

"My head hurts..." Jeanne moaned, her voice vibrating against his chest as she continued to bury her face against it. "...Everything is spinning around me and it doesn't want to stop..."

Now completely awake, Lyserg looked around his room as his hands involuntarily stroked her hair. There has to be something here that I can give her...excellent. He gently pried her away from him and rose up slowly from the futon. "I'll get you something for that hangover," he whispered, sweeping stray hairs out of her face gently. "Just a moment." He walked towards his night stand, where a tray holding a small pot of freshly-made breakfast tea, with two cups, was in clear view. One of the maidservants must have brought it in earlier, he thought as he picked up the tray and brought it towards the sleeping area.

He placed it on the floor beside the top of the futon as he sat down. He gingerly moved closer towards her, tapping her shoulder gently. "...Jeanne. Wake up," he urged. "I brought you tea."

Groaning slightly, the silvery-blue haired maiden reluctantly sat up, sleepily peering at Lyserg. "What am I doing here?"

"I don't know," The Englishman replied. He poured the tea into one of the cups and handed it to her. "Drink," he instructed.

Jeanne obeyed, gracefully lifting the teacup to her lips and taking a small sip, her eyes looking up at him as she did so.

Lyserg watched her without blinking, his face holding an expression she couldn't quite make out. After a few minutes, he turned away and shook his head, fighting off a blush that threatened to stain his cheeks.

Jeanne finished her cup of tea, extremely thankful that, at long last, both her mind and vision have been completely cleared. She glanced at Lyserg, then surveyed the room a little bit before turning back to him. "...This is your room. How did I get here?" Inching closer to him, she studied the expression on his face with concern.

This time, Lyserg started blushing like there was no tomorrow. He glanced briefly at her face, then, his eyes descended to her neck, her shoulders...and down lower...before he shook his head again and averted his eyes. "I'm not sure. You must have..." his voice trailed off as his gaze moved towards the half-open adjoining door. "...There. You must have gone through there, thinking you were still in your room...and that my futon was yours," he added.

...And that you were my pillow, Jeanne told herself silently as she finally remembered faint parts of it. She briefly recalled rising up to get a glass of water...and drinking. And then, standing up and walking...and the hole in the door...the swinging wall panel...and finally, the soft, warm pillow that was Lyserg...

She could feel her face heating up. "Did you bring me to my room?"

The green-haired young man nodded without looking at her.

Jeanne glanced at her clothes briefly before leaning forward to peek at his face. "Who changed my clothes?"

"...You did." He replied. "Morphin helped you out a little..."

"Oh." She nodded, the remnants of her asking Lyserg to unzip her dress for her flashing briefly into her mind, making her blush even more. "...Did I do anything...weird?"

At this, Lyserg coughed and shook his head vigorously. "No." He answered, the redness on his cheeks intensifying, if that was even possible.

Jeanne frowned thoughtfully, examining his face amidst his refusal to look at her. "Are you sure?"

"Yes!" The Englishman said quickly.

"Really?"

"Yeah!" He nodded.

The silvery-blue haired maiden continued to gaze at him as something else occurred to her. "Did I really drink...FOUR bottles of wine?"

"Yes, you did."

"Then...why..." She paused as she inched closer and leaned forward to peek at his face once again. "...was I so thirsty last night?" She wondered.

The Englishman glanced at her face, his green eyes unblinking as his gaze dropped down to her lips...and stopped there. Then, he turned away quickly as if he was doing something forbidden. "I don't know," he muttered, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the wall.

"Are you SURE I really didn't do anything else?" Jeanne persisted, the frown still on her face as she mentally tried to wring out whatever it was that was missing in this whole picture. She...recalled having done SOMETHING, just before she completely fell asleep. She just couldn't remember quite clearly what it was...

"You didn't." Lyserg didn't look back at her anymore as he answered. It was almost as if...he was avoiding her gaze...but why?

What did I do...?

"Lyserg?" She sighed when he still refused to turn his head her way. "Why are you avoiding my eyes...and my gaze?"

"I'm not." He mumbled.

"You ARE." Jeanne slowly inched even closer to him, until practically only a fourth of a millimeter separated them from each other. "...And I realize, there's no way you would be doing that...IF I hadn't done something last night," she added, gently coaxing his head to turn in her direction so she could look at him squarely in the eye, and when he reluctantly did, she pleadingly asked, "Please...could you tell me what I did? I mean...did I hurt you in any way...or take advantage of you, by any chance? Please be honest."

Lyserg looked back at her completely this time, realizing that he no longer had the strength to turn away. "I was the one doing the taking advantage, -not- you." He explained, brows furrowing slightly. "You were drunk, and...well...you...and I..." he shook his head helplessly. "It happened, and I shouldn't have...but I did anyway, so..." his voice trailed off.

Jeanne continued to gaze at him, trying hard to draw out some sense from his incomplete mutterings. Me...drunk...him...

Me, and MY hands...pulling something...HIM...down...

...Something...falling...on top...of me...him.

Him...staring...intense...eyes...feeling...lots...of feelings...

Him...getting up...me...reflex...involuntary movements...my arms...around him...

His...lips...his...mouth touching...mine. Kissing.

His arms...around me...touching me...and more kissing.

I kissed him. And he kissed me back.

...We kissed.

Didn't we?

Lyserg gazed at her with surprise. "...You remember?"

...What?

Did I say that out loud? She could feel her cheeks reddening. Taking a deep breath, she continued to look back at him, her eyes meeting his completely as she gathered up her courage and nodded. "...Yes. I do." Though I hadn't meant to say that out loud, she thought at the back of her mind.

The Englishman heaved a loud sigh. "You were drunk." He stated, as if that explained everything.

Jeanne nodded again. "Yes. I was."

"You wouldn't have done it if you weren't."

"THAT was why I was so thirsty." She said out loud, as the realization came over her. "Isn't that right...?" She looked over at him expectantly.

Lyserg shook his head. "It doesn't usually happen that way...not that I have much experience in it or anything, but...I think...you...might have had too much...wine." He finished lamely.

Or...it might be something else, he thought silently.

I mean, I couldn't have possibly...kissed her dry now, could I...?

"That was my first kiss." Jeanne said seriously.

He nodded briefly, clear green eyes unmoving as they stared back at ruby ones.

"Thank you." She added, her face flushing even more.

"...You're welcome," Lyserg managed, now completely aware that she was as close to him as closeness could get. In fact, if she were to move even just a little bit right now...she would end up right on top of his lap. He wondered how she had managed to get...THIS close...without him noticing.

Or maybe he noticed, but he wasn't paying attention...

...Or maybe he noticed, but he liked it too much.

Or...maybe he was just too...preoccupied with her. With looking at her. With staring at her. With thinking about her. Thinking, and wondering what it would be like to kiss her again.

Yes...he wanted to kiss her again. If he hadn't felt so guilty and ashamed and all things in between last night, he would have never stopped kissing her. He would have prolonged it as much as he could...and goodness knows what else could have happened. What else he would have managed to do. How far he would have managed to go...

"Why did you kiss me back?" Jeanne's voice brought him back to reality. "I was drunk...and I grabbed you...and I kissed you, and..." she swallowed, then took a deep breath as the memory of the kiss...finally completely washed over her. "...you kissed me back," her tone wasn't accusing, just merely stating. "...why?" She asked in a slightly breathless voice, shaking her head as a multitude of feelings came running towards her, enfolding her in a sweet embrace...feelings that had everything to do with last night's kiss...and more.

"Because I wanted to." Lyserg answered simply, seriousness written in his whole face as he watched her, silently wondering why she seemed to be struggling against some inner turmoil. Inner feelings...

"Why?" Her voice had dropped down to a whisper as she looked at him.

Lyserg sighed helplessly. "Because I..." he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. "Because I...um," he hesitated, cursing himself silently for being such a coward. You thought it last night...now why don't you go ahead and say it out LOUD? Is it that hard?

Yes, DAMMIT, it's THAT hard! It's harder than anything I've ever done before. Saying those three words requires a lot. More than courage...more than certainty...saying it requires...

Action. The voice inside his head supplied. Action speaks louder than words. You need to act on it before you say it.

...Action demonstrates...and words confirm.

So, act on it. Do it NOW.

"Lyserg?" Jeanne continued to look at him expectantly.

Just GO AHEAD and DO IT ALREADY!

Lyserg looked up to the ceiling and recited a short prayer. Then, he turned back to face Jeanne again. Breathing in deeply, he took her gently by the shoulders...and pinned her down to the floor.

The silvery-blue haired maiden gasped in surprise. "Lyserg? You haven't answered my ques--" Her eyes widened as his mouth captured hers and kissed her into silence. All of a sudden, she forgot what she was asking...forgot what she was even thinking as she surrendered weakly, her arms clenching and unclenching at her sides, before finally sliding up and around his neck as she kissed him back, her eyes fluttering close as she savored the way his hands felt as they went upwards to caress her hair, then down slowly to her neck, then back to her shoulders, then, down...lower...

Abruptly, he tore his mouth from hers and touched his forehead softly against hers, his emerald eyes gazing deeply into her ruby ones, breath mingling with hers.

Jeanne looked back at him, her arms still tightly wrapped around his neck. "Why did you do that?" She whispered.

"Because I wanted to. Because I felt that I should. Because," He paused, taking a deep breath, "...I love you."

She could feel the warmth spreading from her head all the way down to the tips of her toes. "Really?"

"Yes."

"Since...when?" She wondered.

"I don't know." He sighed, resting his head against her neck. "I think it started that day...when...Marco-san first introduced me to you." He smiled wistfully. "That was a long time ago." He raised his head to look at her. "You were no more than ten years old, and I was barely thirteen..."

"Yet...you loved me then?" Jeanne asked, the expression on her face a mixture of surprise, curiosity and contemplation.

"Maybe. I'm not sure..." He paused thoughtfully. "But know that, as of right now, I do." He declared. "...Anyway, even if you don't reciprocate my feelings...please remember that fact: I love you, and I'll be here, protecting you in the best possible way I can. I know you've got a lot of responsibilities and a mission in this world, so I really can't compete with that...and if you've already made a vow with God, it's not like I have the power to interfere--"

"Lyserg," Jeanne interrupted, an exasperated look on her face. "Whoever said I didn't reciprocate your feelings?"

"What do you mean?" Lyserg gave her a blank look.

A sigh. "...I think you've been listening to Asakura Hao too much." She rolled her eyes at him. "I really should have gotten here sooner. If I had, then...he wouldn't have found the time to feed you a multitude of lies about me."

"Lies?"

"He calls me CONVENT GIRL," She emphasized. "I think he's somehow managed to convince you that I'm dedicating my life in service to the Lord as a nun, which basically makes me off-limits." She gave him a look. "Am I right?"

He shook his head vigorously. "No. I mean...ALRIGHT," he exhaled. "Yes, he did. He's not the only one, though. Marco-san doesn't like me going anywhere within two feet near you. He says I'll just be in the way of your mission in this world."

"Marco doesn't run my life for me," She countered, a frown on her face. "...He just thinks he does. And that he has a right to." She shook her head. "I follow him only so much because I know he cares about me, but...even if he can tell me what do or where I should go...there's something in me that he has absolutely no control over...and that's my heart. My feelings. I can choose who it is I want to care for, who I want to be with, and who I want to love...And since my heart and I chose to love you, then...the only thing he can do is accept it." She smiled brightly at him.

"...You love me?" Lyserg looked at her in surprise.

"Yes, I do. I love you." She nodded, gazing back at him with complete certainty in her eyes.

"Since when?"

"Since X-LAWS." She answered matter-of-factly. "But back then, I didn't know what it was. You were protecting me along with everyone else...and at that time, I thought it was just because you were one of my angels and was only doing his job the best way he can. It...never occurred to me...that it was because of something else." She paused to sweep out the hair in front of his eyes. "...Time passed by, and...you were always by my side...still, taking care of me...and protecting me.

"But even then, I still didn't know what I was feeling...I only knew that I had become...EXTREMELY fond of you, more than I ever thought possible." She chuckled. "...Years later, as if by some sort of coincidence, I was summoned from France, asked to come to London to study...and afterwards, to serve as a missionary...and that's where I saw you again...constantly." She added. "...And there was that incident in Venice, a couple of months ago...that led us both to a million realizations." She raised her head up...and gently pressed her lips against his. "...You know the rest," she whispered against his mouth.

Lyserg kissed her briefly, before he spoke. "The guys at the agency think you're my girlfriend," he murmured, stroking her cheeks.

Jeanne's face flushed. "I don't mind." She paused. "I didn't mind it before...but more so now."

He smiled slightly. "I don't either," he replied. "It's just that...well...we haven't gotten it straight out what we are, exactly. You know...in terms of relationship."

"I love you." She reassured him.

"Yes, I know." Lyserg's heart danced with happiness as she repeated the words. "And I love you, too. But..."

"...Then that's what we are," Jeanne nodded decisively. "Love binds us. We're more than just friends. We're involved in more than just a simple relationship between a man and a woman. We're...lovers. Not the superficial meaning, but...lovers, in the ultimate sense of the word." She declared.

"...Yes. Alright. Then that's what we are." Lyserg agreed as he leaned forward and kissed her again. "Lovers, in the ultimate sense..." He breathed against her lips as he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist and rolled them over on his futon, causing them to switch places, this time, with Jeanne pinning him under her. Her arms tightened around his neck as she kissed him back with love, passion, longing...and everything else in between.

This time, the two of them had every intention of extending the kiss for as long as they could. This time, Lyserg won't be pulling away. This time, there won't be any inhibitions. And this time, NO ONE--and NOTHING--can interrupt them.

"Well. Isn't this cozy," A cheerful voice remarked from the balcony.

Lyserg and Jeanne reluctantly broke apart upon hearing this.

"Asakura Hao. What are you doing here?" Jeanne asked, throwing the long-haired shaman a suspicious look as she sat up.

Hao smiled sweetly. "I wanted to greet Lyserg-kun a good morning," he replied. "But it looks like the two of you are...busy." His smile turned into a wicked grin. He gazed at the two of them curiously as he continued to hang upside down--the way he usually did--at the roof of the balcony.

Lyserg sighed, rolling his eyes to the ceiling as he, too, sat up. "What do you want, Hao?"

"Like I told conven...no, Jeanne-san here," he inclined his head at the silvery-blue haired young woman, "I was supposed to greet you good morning, but since you're obviously...preoccupied," he paused meaningfully, "I've decided not to."

"Good." The Englishman sighed with relief. "Can you go away now? Please?" He added.

"Lyserg-kun, are you trying to get rid of me? I'm hurt." Hao placed his hand over his heart and gave Lyserg a wounded look.

The person being addressed groaned. "No, I'm not. I just want you to go away." He muttered.

"Why? Don't you like me anymore?"

"I NEVER liked you in the first PLACE!" Lyserg yelled at him.

"How cruel!" Hao remarked in a mock-pitiful tone. "...Really, can't you even be grateful? After everything I've done for you and Jeanne-san, the least you could do is..."

"THANK you?" The Englishman glared at him. "Why the bloody HELL should we thank YOU? You got Jeanne drunk last night." He pointed out.

"Ah, so I did." Hao agreed. "...but you did manage to kiss her as well, though, didn't you?" He gave Lyserg a cheeky grin. "And now...I do believe you've even successfully managed to confess to each other!" He clapped his hands together. "You should thank me for that." He nodded affirmatively.

Jeanne glared at him. "And WHY should we do that, pray tell?" She asked incredulously.

Hao sighed deeply. "...Jeanne-san. Honestly, don't you know? No, of course you don't." He grinned knowingly. "If it wasn't for me, that bodyguard of yours would probably be here with you and YOU wouldn't have been able to spend your whole time with Lyserg-kun. I mean, I know Egypt is quite far away, but..."

"How did you KNOW Marco was in Egypt?" The silvery-blue haired maiden demanded.

The long-haired shaman smiled sweetly. "Who do you think was responsible for assigning him there?"

"Well, the Directress, of course." Jeanne looked up thoughtfully. "...And the major missionary sponsors. Don't tell me..." she gave Hao a look. "...you? YOU'RE a MAJOR SPONSOR?" She asked disbelievingly.

"Why, yes. I am." Hao said with a flourish. "My corporation is one of the biggest contributors to the funds of the Westminster Missionary, if I'm not mistaken." He gave them both a cheerful grin.

Jeanne gave one final glare at the long-haired shaman, before turning back to Lyserg. She gazed at him silently for a few minutes, thinking.

Lyserg just continued to glare at Hao.

"Alright, alright, no need to thank me," Hao said dryly, rolling his eyes upon noticing the silence. "It doesn't look like either one of you would, anyway..." He shrugged. "Just...make this thing last, okay?" He said firmly, referring, quite clearly, to their newly-acquired relationship. "That'd be gratitude enough for me."

"...Thank you." The Englishman finally said, albeit grudgingly. "Now, GO AWAY." He muttered darkly.

"Hmph." Hao grumbled as he raised himself up. "I get no respect around here." In a few seconds, he disappeared.

Lyserg looked over at the balcony from where he was sitting, making sure that Hao was really gone before turning back to Jeanne. "...He's an annoyance, honestly..." He smiled faintly.

Jeanne smiled back as she allowed herself to fall once again into his arms. "He's got a point, though. I mean, if Marco -had- been here, I wouldn't be with you right now..." She murmured as she slid her arms around his neck. "...And I wouldn't be doing this..." she brought her face closer to his and captured his mouth in a sweet, satisfying kiss.

Before long, Lyserg had her leaning against the futon once more as he kissed her back, his mouth moving over hers gently, caressing her lips, savoring the texture and taste of her mouth and her tongue as she did the same to him.

Having her like this...he couldn't ask for more. Well, except maybe for...THAT, but...it'll come in time. For now, he was content to have her in his arms, and being able to kiss and touch and hold her for as long he wanted...

"I ALMOST FORGOT!" Hao's cheery voice sounded again from the balcony. His head popped out from the roof upside down for the second time that day.

Lyserg groaned as he reluctantly lifted his mouth from Jeanne's to look up murderously at the long-haired shaman. "This better be GOOD." He growled.

"We'll be having breakfast soon," The other man announced cheerfully, "So the two of you had best get yourselves up and ready, ne? Oh, and Jeanne-san," he grinned cheekily at the silvery-blue haired maiden, "...Would it be so much to ask if you changed into more...decent clothes? I can see plenty of you from all the way here," he added, eyeing the low bodice of Jeanne's thin nightgown and raising his eyebrow suggestively.

Jeanne blushed, snatching the blanket beside her and covering herself.

Lyserg looked at her before he turned back to Hao and gave him a dark glare. "GO.AWAY." He snarled.

Hao sighed disappointedly. "Ah, you're no FUN, Lyserg-ku--" He stopped abruptly as a pillow hit him squarely on the face.


*~*~*~*~*~*


Ryu knocked faintly on the door to Jun's room. "...Jun-san?" He asked tentatively. "Can I come in?"

From behind the door, he could hear some shuffling...and then a faint sigh. "...Hai. It's open," Jun's sweet, light voice called out.

He opened the door and gingerly stepped inside, peering hesitantly over what the Chinese woman was doing. She was folding up some clothes and placing them inside a small, dark green suitcase. "...Are you going back to China with Ren?" He inquired.

Jun paused slightly, then she gave a brief nod. "Hai." She replied without looking at him.

Ryu leaned against the wall beside the door helplessly, wondering how he was going to begin his confession. I'm sorry...I kissed you at the wedding, and the day before yesterday I remembered it...but last night I suddenly forgot...but now I remember again. This is what you were asking me last night...right?

I'm really sorry, It's just that...every time I look at you, I just forget. I forget all of my mistakes, my flaws...and my past sins. And I consider that kiss as one of my sins, because...I never should have done it. It never should have happened.

But since it did...can I just apologize for it?

The Chinese woman glanced at him briefly as she secured her suitcase and wheeled it against the wall near the dresser. "Why are you here?" She asked, wariness written all over her beautiful face.

"Um..." Ryu coughed. "I wanted to tell you...I wanted to tell you that...last night, I...I mean, I remember now." He finished lamely.

Jun looked confused for a moment, but the realization hit her...and she nodded. "...Okay." She turned away from him and went back to fixing her things.

Ryu gave a desperate sigh as he gazed at her longingly. You can't even string your sentences right. Dammit, Ryu...tell her right now, or else she'll leave...and you'll never get a chance to tell her because she thinks you've broken her heart. "I meant to say," He said, louder this time, "that I remember what I did at the wedding...I remember it perfectly now. And I'm sorry for it," he added.

Abruptly, she turned to him, a hurt look in her face. "You're...sorry?" She whispered.

He groaned mentally. Great. Now she thinks you didn't like kissing her. Smart move. "I mean...I'm sorry because...I shouldn't have kissed you like that, it wasn't right. It was a sin. Even though the kiss itself wasn't something I'm sorry about...still, the way it happened wasn't...right..." His voice trailed off as he realized she was staring at him completely now.

"Not about the kiss," She stated quietly. "...Just the...circumstances around it. But not the kiss. Right?" She looked up at him expectantly.

"H...hai," He nodded.

"That wasn't the only reason I was chasing you, you know." The Chinese woman said softly. "I was chasing you because...of you. Somewhere along the way, right after that kiss, I...think I might have fallen in love with you..." her voice trailed off, a slight blush creeping up to her cheeks.

"Jun-san, I..." Ryu paused as he took a deep breath, "I feel the same way." He smiled faintly. "That time at the wedding, when I was chasing you, I realized...I never would have done it...if I didn't love you already...I never would have found the courage."

"You were drunk." She pointed out.

"Well...yeah. But even when I'm drunk...I DON'T have that kind of courage. Something else made me do what I did...and even it was a sin and I knew it wasn't right...still, I HAD to let you know how I feel...and that was the only way I could think of."

"It wasn't a sin." Jun said softly, trying to reassure him.

"...Yeah. I know that now." He replied. "If it's you, and it's me...then it's not."

Jun nodded, smiling brightly at him.

Ryu looked over at her suitcases before turning back to her pleadingly. "Are you really going to leave now? I mean...I never even had the chance to..."

"...Kiss me again ?" She supplied helpfully. "No, I'm not leaving yet," she said, laughing softly at the deep blush that accumulated on his face. "I was going to...but I realized that I'll probably end up as the third wheel from the plane trip until China." She shook her head. "I think I'd best give my brother and my future sister-in-law some privacy."

"So...you're staying?" Ryu's eyes lit up hopefully.

"Yes. I am." Jun grinned brightly. "And while we're on the subject...how about repeating that 'sin' one more time?"


*~*~*~*~*~*


Horo-horo glanced at the wall clock on the sixth floor. Eight o'clock in the morning.

He frowned darkly as he walked towards the staircase. Ungrateful sister...leaving me in my room while she gallivanted around the place with Ren...he sighed deeply. She didn't even think to wake me up, did she? After everything I've done for her last night...I helped her get into her room, I asked Kuroro to help her change her clothes, and I helped her get into bed...THIS is the thanks I get for doing ALL of THAT?

Damn ungrateful sister. He stomped forcefully down the stairs.

...And where the hell did she get that ugly pink vase at her dresser, anyway?

"A beautiful white limousine for your thoughts!" A loud, annoying voice beside him chirped.

"GO AWAY." He muttered upon spotting Hao, who had materialized from nowhere at the staircase.

"Hmm," Hao surveyed the Ainu man thoughtfully as he walked beside him, a perpetual lunatic grin on his face. "You know, you and Lyserg-kun seem to share the same vocabulary. Why, just moments ago, he was saying the exact same thing to me. You two are more alike than I realized." He paused. "Well...except that...unlike you, Lyserg-kun is having a lot of fun in his room as we speak." He added meaningfully.

Horo-horo paused to glare at the long-haired shaman. "Don't you have ANYTHING better to do besides SPY on other people's LIVES?" He demanded.

"Of COURSE I DO!" Hao announced cheerfully. "...Not only do I spy, I also MEDDLE," he said with emphasis. "...Although the latter is much less accepted than the former. Take for example: earlier today, I was trying to help Lyserg-kun and Jeanne-san...and the thanks I got was a pillow on my face! Can you imagine?" He shook his head sadly, but he brightened again soon after. "...And of course, I also offer very good bargains to people with problematic love lives such as yourself, Horo-horo-kun!" He added gleefully.

The Ainu man continued to stomp down the stairs, ignoring the long-haired shaman.

Unperturbed, Hao followed him. "So...have you figured it out yet?"

"Figured WHAT out?" Horo-horo asked curtly.

Hao sighed dramatically. "Why, that thing with fortune teller lady, what else?" He shook his head in disbelief. "Really, Horo-horo-kun...you don't fool me one bit. I seriously don't think you've forgotten it just like that."

"Forgotten WHAT, exactly?"

The long-haired shaman rolled his eyes. "You are in HIGH DENIAL, Horo-horo-kun." He shook his head. "I promised you my best limousine the day before yesterday, do you remember?"

"...Yeah." Horo-horo nodded. "So...what does that have to do with...?"

"...Fortune teller lady? Horo-horo-kun, this has EVERYTHING to do with her. For one thing, if you haven't figured out by now how you really feel about HER, then you'd better say goodbye to that one month on my beautiful and incredibly luxurious limousine...because if I recall correctly, THAT was what we bargained for, yes?" Hao gazed at the Ainu man expectantly.

Horo-horo sighed. "...Hai," he replied grudgingly.

"....And for another..." He paused as he gave the Ainu man a critical look. "You got to kiss her last night, didn't you?"

Horo-horo looked away. "Yeah. So what's your point?" He muttered, feeling the blush creeping up to his cheeks.

Hao waved his hand casually. "No need to be embarrassed. We're both adults, ne?" He grinned. "Anyway...my offer still stands. My limousine in exchange for your DIRECT confession of your feelings for her."

"BUT I DON'T--" The Ainu man started to protest.

"Now, now," Hao interrupted. "For goodness' sake, please cease your futile attempts at denial. It won't do you any good." He added. He looked up at the clock. "You have two hours." With a final, cheerful wink, he waved his hand briefly before he continued heading downstairs. Then, he yelled over his shoulder, "Her room's on the seventh floor, third door from the right!"

Horo-horo stared at Hao's retreating back, before he reluctantly trudged up the stairs towards the seventh floor.

Towards Tamao's room.

He stood in front of the door, clearly debating on whether he should knock or not, while at the same time, trying to rehearse what he was going to tell her.

...I love you...? No, no, I can't tell her that. I mean, it's not that I DON'T, exactly...just that...I'm not sure if I actually do.

I mean, sure, I kissed her. So what? That doesn't necessarily mean that I love her.

...That doesn't necessarily mean that you DON'T love her, either. The voice inside his head was back in full glory.

But I DON'T.

Will you quit DENYING it? You're giving me a headache...

ME?!? YOU'RE the one giving me a HEADACHE with your "quit denying's" and "you're in denial's." I don't love her. At least, I don't think so.

...Or you're denying the fact that you DO.

SHUT UP.

Come on, think about it. Why did you even kiss her in the first place? Why do you annoy her ALL THE TIME? When did all of this start? And don't you dare try to tell me it was just last night, or I'll kick you.

...People kiss each other all the time WITHOUT meaning. And I annoy her because I WANT TO, that's all! ...And all of this started...all this began when the Funbari Onsen Inn was built...

So that's THREE YEARS. You've been after her for three years. That's much shorter than the time Ren's been after your sister, but...it's still three LONG years.

I HAVEN'T been after HER!

Don't start with that denial again...

ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT! So maybe I'm in love with her. So maybe it all started with cake and with me annoying her. So what? What's it to YOU? Who ARE you, anyway?

...Haven't you figured it out yet? Or are you still in denial? Horo-horo, I'm YOU. I'm the smart, wonderful, perceptive and incredibly sensitive side of you.

...I don't believe this...

Believe it. It would do you a lot of good, trust me.

"YOU PERVERTS!" A loud female voice interrupted his thoughts. The voice sounded particularly familiar...and particularly close by...Horo-horo stared back at the door in front of him...HER room...the voice was coming from HER room...wasn't it?

The Ainu man walked a step closer to the door, raising his hand up in an attempt to knock. However, his hand had barely hit the surface when the door suddenly swung open and two animal figures that looked strangely like Ponchi and Konchi burst out and crashed directly into his face.

"AARGHH!!!" Horo-horo groaned as he fell backwards, collided with a table, and ended up on the floor in a heap. He glared at the fox and raccoon spirits darkly. "You'd better run, before I skin you alive!" He threatened, perfectly aware that his threats made no sense, considering that the two animals were spirits.

Regardless, the two must have sensed his aura of anger, and, not wanting to go against the Ainu shaman, they ran away fast, screaming.

"Hn." Horo-horo grunted as he tried to stand up...

He hit his head on the nearby table, causing the vase on top of it to fall over and land on his head, splashing water and flowers all over his face.

"This is NOT a good day," he muttered as he removed the vase from his head and carefully picked out the leaves and flowers from his hair and clothes. He gingerly stood, managed to evade the table before it hit his head again, and straightened out as he tried to regain some semblance of his dignity despite the mess in his hair and clothes.

At the back of his mind, he was aware that someone had been laughing at him the WHOLE TIME.

He looked up...and saw Tamao standing by the door, a hand clamped over her mouth, shoulders shaking, and rose pink eyes bright with mirth. She was wearing a light blue sleeveless dress.

...Blue is definitely a better color on her than red, he told himself silently, perfectly aware that he was staring at her while she was laughing at him.

...She was laughing at HIM. "What's so funny?" He muttered, groaning as he found another stray leaf on top of his head.

Tamao shook her head. "I'm sorry," she said breathlessly. "It's just that you looked so weird with that vase on top of your head and the flowers..." she broke off abruptly and started laughing again.

"Hmph." The Ainu man huffed. "I'm going. See you later." He turned his back and was on the way down, when a hand suddenly clamped on his wrist.

"Just a second. I'll get you a towel for your hair. Come on." She pulled his hand and led him inside her quarters. "Sit," she instructed, inclining her head at the recliner near the balcony.

Horo-horo obliged, his eyes following her as she disappeared behind the closet. He looked away quickly as she slammed the closet door shut and headed towards him, armed with a light pink towel. "Sorry. This is the only color I have right now. The blue ones are still downstairs. I hope it's alright." She said apologetically.

"It's fine," The Ainu man said with a slight shrug. He could feel the heat rising up to his cheeks as the pink-haired fortune teller bent down in front of him and started wiping his head, hair, face and shoulders with the towel. She had the softest hands. Even against the fabric of the towel, he could feel it...The softness of her hands as they ran lightly against his neck, his shoulders, his hair..."You don't have to do this..."

Tamao chuckled softly as she continued, her hands beneath the towel lingering on his hair, and his face. "Consider this my apology for laughing at you earlier."

"...Hai." Horo-horo closed his eyes and savored the feeling of her hands as they continued to touch him beneath the confines of the towel. Darn it...if she'd only do this every time we see each other, then I probably wouldn't feel the urge to annoy her all the time...

"...There. All dry," She announced, smiling with satisfaction as she removed the towel from his head, all the while ignoring the weird thumping and thundering sounds inside her chest...and resisting the urge to touch him...this time, without the towel as a barrier.

THAT particular one took every ounce of willpower she had...and yet still, the temptation remained. She wanted to touch him. She wanted his arms around her. She wanted to kiss him, and she wanted him to kiss her...just like last night...

"T...Tamao?" The pink-haired fortune teller's heart jumped. "Can I tell you something?" The Ainu man looked up at her hopefully.

She nodded, not trusting her voice to speak. She couldn't speak...not when he was looking at her like that. Like...

Flowers. "I'm sorry." He said sincerely.

"...For what?" She managed to ask in a shaky voice. He was weakening her. The way he was looking at her was weakening her to an almost helpless state...and although it was similar to the way he had looked at her last night, before the kiss...it was undoubtedly different, for this time around, she could feel so much more in his gaze.

...And he wasn't denying it anymore. He was looking at her openly...without hesitation. "For last night," he explained. "And for the million other nights when I did nothing but annoy you and get you angry so much that it bordered on cruelty." He paused. "...And for kissing you without your permission." He added quietly.

Tamao looked surprised, but she gave a short, brief nod. "...Hai."

"So you forgive me?" The Ainu man continued to looked up at her hopefully.

"For the first ones, yes. For the last one--no." She replied.

"...Alright." Horo-horo sighed as he stood up. "I understand." He started to walk out of her room. "Thank you for the towel." He mentally kicked himself. Whatever happened to the confession? You were supposed to confess, yet...what the HELL are you DOING?

"No...Horo-horo...wait." The pink-haired young woman walked up in front of him. "I didn't mean it like that." She held on to his arms to make him stop.

The Ainu man paused, stared at her hands on his arms, and then looked at her, dark blue eyes meeting rose pink.

"What I meant was," Tamao continued, "...that kiss wasn't one-sided." Her face flushed a deep red. "I kissed you back...didn't I? And besides," she added, "it wasn't entirely your fault. I could have run away, but I didn't. I could have escaped from your arms, but I didn't. More importantly," she paused, "...I could have just given you a slice of the strawberry cheesecake and got it over and done with, because if I had, then that kiss never would have happened in the first pl--" the last part of her statement was cut off as Horo-horo's mouth came down on hers, silencing her with a long, deep kiss. His arms went tightly around her, enfolding her in a warm, possessive embrace. Her hands, meanwhile, splayed across his shirt-clad chest, before sliding upwards and around his neck as she kissed him back.

Yes. She kissed him back. She told herself she wouldn't. She promised herself she wouldn't...yet she did anyway.

And she vowed that she wouldn't fall in love with him. She'd never fall in love with him...ever.

But...

...She did anyway.

She was falling hard, and fast...and she couldn't stop it even if she tried.

And as she thought about it, she realized...she didn't want to stop. Not when loving him made her feel like this.

Not when loving him made her feel so...alive.

The two of them broke apart moments later to catch their breaths.

Tamao looked up at the Ainu man, her fingers running across his lips reverently. "I didn't see that coming." She murmured.

Horo-horo kissed her fingers as he chuckled. "You were talking too much."

"I was trying to explain." She told him pointedly. "I was trying to tell you--"

"--That you love me?" He interrupted with a smug grin.

The pink-haired fortune teller rolled her eyes, though she didn't deny it. "Other than that--"

"--That I'm so handsome, and so wonderful, and that you wanna worship the ground I walk on?"

She snorted. "Hardly. Well...except probably for the handsome part, although that's still questionable..."

"Are you saying that I'M NOT HANDSOME?" He gave her an affronted look.

Tamao exhaled. "No." She replied dryly. "I was kidding. You ARE handsome. That's the reason why Pilica-chan's so beautiful. The two of you kinda look alike, you know." She paused. "...Though I'm not about to tell Ren-san that. It'd probably make him shiver knowing that he's in love with someone who looks like YOU."

"Hn." Horo-horo grunted.

"...And me." She patted his cheek playfully. "Be very thankful that I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm in love with someone like YOU."

"You're one to talk," He said sarcastically. "If anything, -I- should be ashamed. I mean, -I'm- the one who's in love with a pink-haired woman here, -not- you."

"If it wasn't for my hair, you wouldn't have kissed me." She pointed out. "Didn't I remind you of the cheesecake?"

"Hm." Horo-horo gazed at her hair thoughtfully. "...I'm not sure," he said finally. "I think whether or not there had been a cheesecake last night, I probably still would have kissed you."

"Really?" Tamao raised an eyebrow. "...And who told you that?"

"My SMART side." He answered with a grin.

"Didn't realize you HAD one."

The Ainu man flashed her a hurt look. "OF COURSE I do. We all have one. Even you," he added teasingly.

"Keep doing that and I might have to tell your SISTER that I'm not going to stay over with you at the fields while she's in China." She threatened.

"China?" He looked at her incredulously. "...Pilica's going to China?"

The pink-haired young woman nodded. "She's leaving with Ren-san today. And she asked me if I would be so kind as to stay over with you at the fields while she was away." She added.

"YOU'RE going with ME to our butterbur fields?" Horo-horo gazed at her with surprise.

"Hai," She answered with a smile. "Without Pilica-chan around, you'll need another woman to handle that place...and I'm currently available." She gave him a look. "If you don't want me to go, just say so."

"No, no. Of course I do." The Ainu man said quickly. "...Pilica's going with Ren to China...to that Estate where that scary father of his lives." He shivered, then frowned. "He'd better NOT try anything to take advantage of her..." He muttered darkly.

Tamao snorted. "It's not as if YOU'RE a model of good behavior yourself. I mean, at least Ren-san's got some honor. YOU keep on kissing me without my permission." She pointed out.

"You LIKE it!" He shot back.

"That's NOT the point!" She said impatiently. "Never mind." She waved him away dismissively. "Let's just go down to breakfast."

"...Alright." Horo-horo clasped her hand against his and pulled her towards the door. Together, the two of them walked out and started towards the stairway.

They were on their way down when...

"HORO-HORO-KU~N!!!" Hao's voice echoed cheerfully against the walls and the long-haired shaman materialized right in front of them. He looked over back and forth between Horo-horo and Tamao, a broad, knowing grin spreading across his face. "OMEDETTO! You've FINALLY succeeded!" He chirped. "Three CHEERS and a LIMOUSINE for YOU!" He clapped and shook the Ainu man's hand heartily, then, turning to the pink-haired fortune teller, he kissed her on the cheek. "Three CHEERS and a HORO-HORO-KUN for YOU, Tamao-chan!" He declared brightly.

Tamao blushed and smiled faintly. "A...arigatou, Hao-sama." She managed.

Horo-horo glared at him murderously. "WHO THE HELL GAVE YOU PERMISSION TO KISS HER?!?!?" He exploded.

"It was a congratulatory kiss!" Hao replied defensively. "It's not like I'm gonna do to her what you do with her--"

"AAARRGGGHH, THAT'S IT!" The Ainu man walked towards the nearby table he had bumped into earlier, picked up the vase on top of it, and threw it at Hao's head. "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS, LUNATIC!"

Hao ducked as the vase sailed over his head and smashed at the wall behind him. He looked back at Horo-horo and smiled sweetly. "You MISSED me!" He chirped triumphantly before he ran out of sight, faster than lightning.


*~*~*~*~*~*


"...Wake up, wake up..." Yoh murmured softly as he lay down against the futon and pressed a light kiss on his wife's forehead.

Anna stirred, opening her eyes for a bit, before yawning and closing them again.

Her husband sighed, smiling faintly as he leaned forward to caress her hair gently out of her face. "I bought more strawberries and cream cheese..." he whispered invitingly against her ear.

A soft chuckle escaped her lips as his breath tickled her. "You did...?" She murmured sleepily.

"Uh-huh." Inching closer, he kissed her cheek softly, his warm lips lingering for quite some time, before moving to her mouth to kiss her fully.

Anna returned the kiss, then stopped short to open her eyes. "Where is it...?" She inquired against his mouth as she allowed him to pull her closer, her arms encircling his neck.

"Downstairs." He breathed against her lips. "You can have some of it for breakfast..." His voice trailed off as he kissed her again.

After some time, Yoh lifted his mouth from hers and looked up at his alarm clock. "Ten more minutes," he whispered fleetingly before leaning down to kiss her once more.

Anna sighed with pleasure as his mouth descended from her lips to the base of her throat, then to her shoulders, his kisses getting even hotter and more demanding as he moved deliciously lower...

"TOUCHAN! KAACHAN!" Both husband and wife groaned mentally as two identical five-year-old voices were heard from outside. And then, two identical figures burst in from the doorway cheerfully.

"It's time..." Yohmaru began.

"...For breakfast!" Yohnta finished with a wide grin. Then, the twins simultaneously bowed their heads, ignored their parents' less-than-decent state, and ran out of the room.

From behind the door, someone chuckled. "Energetic, aren't they?" Hao.

"...Oniichan." Yoh greeted his brother as the long-haired shaman peered cautiously inside their bedroom.

"Yoh," Hao greeted back. "Ohayo, sister-in-law." He added, quirking an eyebrow upon noting the current state of Anna's clothing.

"Ohayo," Anna shot back stonily, her face flushing as she raised up the straps of her nightgown and lifted the bodice.

"Anyway, as the twins said," Hao addressed the two of them as he inclined his head towards the path where his twin nephews disappeared, "It's right about time for breakfast, so you two had better prepare." He added. "Oh! And Yoh..."

"Hai?"

Hao flashed them both a knowing grin. "Don't keep us waiting." And with one final, cheerful wave, he turned and walked off.


*~*~*~*~*~*


"Where's Yoh-kun...?" Manta yawned as he stared sleepily at the ceiling, wondering where his best friend was. He sighed and leaned against the armrest of his chair, and closed his eyes.

Beside him, Opacho yawned as well. "Hao-sama...where are you?" She murmured softly, lazily stretching out her arms and pushing Manta's head away with a frown.

Across the room, Faust gazed at them with amusement. "...How did that chess game of yours go, Manta-kun?"

Manta opened one eye, glared at Opacho, and turned to Faust. "...Draw..." he mumbled, before closing the eye and relaxing his head back on the armrest.

Chocolove, near Faust, looked at the pair curiously. "What time, exactly, did your game end? I mean, it was past one when I went up, and you two were still playing..."

The short young man didn't bother to open his eyes as he answered. "...Half...past..."

"...Two," Opacho finished, her frown evolving into a glare as she pushed Manta away once again. "...Manta baka, get off Opacho's chair..."

"...You get off..." Manta shot back in a slurred voice. "I was here first..."

A couple of feet near Manta and Opacho, and sharing a loveseat with Pilica and Ren-chan, was Ren, who raised an eyebrow at the two. "You were playing until two-thirty in the morning and NEITHER ONE of you won?" He shook his head in disbelief. "That's got to be the most pointless chess match I've ever heard of," he remarked.

"...Who asked YOU?" Manta retorted in a mumble.

"You should have a rematch." Ren suggested. He smiled slightly as he heard a soft laugh beside him. He turned his head to find Ren-chan, who was in Pilica's lap, wrapping his arms around the Ainu woman's neck and caressing her hair, complete and utter fascination written on his face.

Pilica pinched the little boy's cheek playfully, earning her a slight giggle from him. "You are the cutest thing EVER," She proclaimed, pressing a light kiss on the one-year-old's nose. She smiled brightly at Ren upon realizing that he was studying them. "Jealous?" She asked teasingly.

"Who? Me?" Ren raised an eyebrow. "Ren-chan adores me as much as he adores you."

The Ainu woman rolled her eyes. "I didn't mean THAT," She said dryly. "I meant...never mind," She shook her head and focused all her attention on the little boy in her arms.

Smiling with amusement, Ren reached behind her, subtly sliding his arms around her waist and leaning closer. "...I was kidding," He whispered against her ear.

Pilica shivered, relaxing in his arms. "You're teasing me again..." she murmured.

"Yup. And there's plenty more where that came from." Ren replied, grinning mischievously.

Near the dining table, Horo-horo watched this whole scene with a frown. Then, he rolled his eyes and sighed exasperatedly. "Could the two of you PLEASE stop THAT? We're drowning in sweetness here," he added, giving the both of them a meaningful look.

Tamao snorted beside him as she continued fixing the table. "You're just JEALOUS," she told him dryly.

"I am NOT jealous," Horo-horo countered. He surveyed the food on the table, brightening as his eyes came upon something he liked...a plate of sugar-glazed donuts. He leaned over and attempted to reached for it...

Tamao's hand slapped his wrist. "ITAI!" He gave her a wounded look.

"Wait until everyone's here BEFORE you attack the donuts," She told him firmly, unruffled by his pleading gaze. "Understand?" She raised an expectant eyebrow.

Sighing with resignation, and flashing her a final wounded look, the Ainu man grudgingly retracted his hand from the plate of donuts, and sat down on the chair beside his sister and Ren's, sulking like a little kid.

Tamao flashed him a sweet smile of satisfaction before she turned away and resumed arranging the glassware on the table.

"...BREAKFAST IS SERVED!" A small, sweet voice announced cheerfully from the doorway. Little Asakura Keiko grinned at everyone as she entered, carrying a large tray of fruits over her head, with Jun behind her, and with her little golden-brown puppy happily circling and barking around her legs.

"Ohayo," The Chinese woman greeted everyone brightly as she set down a large plate of breakfast pastries in the middle of the table. "Ohayo, dear brother, dear future sister-in-law," she added meaningfully, inclining her head at the pair who were sharing a loveseat (along with little Ren-chan).

Ignoring the faint blush that threatened to stain his cheeks, Ren eyed his sister suspiciously. "What are you so happy about?"

She gave him an innocent smile. "Nothing..." Her eyes lit up even more as Ryu, along with a couple of other maidservants, entered the room, his face carrying an expression unmistakably similar to hers.

"Ohayo gozaimasu!" Ryu addressed everyone politely, exchanging a smile with Jun as he did so. He looked around. "...Yoh Danna and Anna Okami aren't here yet. Where are they?"

"...Still upstairs," A voice from the doorway answered. Hao leaned at the wall panel and grinned cheerfully at everyone. "...Ohayo," he bowed his head regally, then stepped aside as his twin nephews burst in through the door. Smiling at the two of them, he continued, "my dear Otouto and his wife are currently...preoccupied as of the moment," he paused, raising an eyebrow meaningfully, "...but they'll be down soon, I believe. Well," he clasped his hands together, "...let's all have breakfast, shall we?" He sat down at his usual spot on the table, smiling slightly as a sleepy-looking Opacho hopped along and went to him.

"Wait a second," Yohmaru looked around him, as everyone else sat down, "...I know where Touchan and Kaachan are, but...where's Uncle Lyserg and Aunt Jeanne?" He exchanged a questioning look with his twin. Then, the two of them turned to Hao.

Hao raised an eyebrow. "You think I know? Alright, I do." He relented, sighing dramatically. "...Lyserg-kun and conven...Jeanne-san were a bit...busy when I left them earlier this morning. I'm not quite sure what they are up to as of the moment..." he paused to take a sip from the cup of tea that was placed in front of him, "...but, speaking like a true...realist...I have an idea of what they are doing, although I'm...not certain that such a thing is proper for -your- chaste ears, children," he smiled sympathetically at his twin nephews.

"Oh." Yohmaru and Yohnta's faces showed identical expressions of disappointment.

"However," Hao went on cheerfully, "...for the benefit of all the grownups," he surveyed everyone at the table, sans the four children, thoughtfully, "I can always elaborate on it later." He grinned.

Horo-horo rolled his eyes, cautiously glancing at Tamao before snatching a chocolate croissant from the pastry plate. "Well, don't keep us in suspense." He muttered sarcastically, taking a bite from the sweet pastry.

"You'd better watch what you say, Horo-horo-kun, or I MIGHT just change my mind and add more conditions to that bargain we had. Like a certain bedroom activity." Hao threatened sweetly.

The Ainu man choked on the croissant, all the while trying hard to fight off the deep blush that attempted to stain his cheeks.

He was saved from much more embarrassment as Yoh and Anna's voices echoed from the doorway.

"Ohayo!" Yoh popped in through the door cheerfully, followed by Anna, who immediately sat down at her usual place beside her children. Her husband followed her soon after, his eyes scanning the room briefly. "Where in the world are Lyserg and Jeanne?" He wondered aloud.

"Upstairs," Keiko piped up. "Uncle Hao said they were busy," she added, smiling brightly at her father.

"Shouldn't we wait for them?" Yoh asked his wife.

"They're late," she answered with a shrug. "We can save some of the food for them when they decide to come down. Anyway..." she looked up at her husband, then at the large plate laden with strawberries and cream cheese in front of her. "...Thank you for getting these." She murmured, leaning over to kiss him on the cheek. "I know you went to a lot of trouble."

Yoh chuckled. "Anything for you." He inclined his head at his twin sons. "They sort of helped me out, too. And Oniichan, as well." He added, giving his brother a look.

Anna smiled at her two children, before turning her head and nodding civilly at her brother-in-law. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Hao acknowledged with a faint smile. I'll take what I can get, he told himself silently.

"Well..." Yoh looked around one more time again. "...What are you all waiting for? Everyone, dig in...or else Horo-horo will eat them all," he added jokingly.

Horo-horo harrumphed and glared at his friend. "I thought I could eat as much as I wanted. That's what you said yesterday."

"...I was kidding. Of course you can," Yoh answered with a grin.

Just then, Lyserg's figure emerged from the doorway, his bright green hair still damp and slightly disheveled, and clothes hastily thrown. Jeanne popped in right beside him, her whole appearance in much the same state as his.

"...Hi everyone! Sorry we're late," Lyserg apologized as he walked towards his usual seat, pulling the silvery-blue haired maiden along with him in the process, for he was holding her hand.

"Ohayo," Jeanne greeted breathlessly as she sat down, trying to gain back even just an ounce of her dignity despite her and Lyserg's not-so-conventional entrance. She was wearing a light pink dress which was long and not flimsy at all, and had a high bodice, something which Hao quickly noted with relief.

But clothes aside, something about the grand ceremonial entrance of the couple...made everyone suspicious.

Add to that the current state of both their hairstyles, Jeanne's short, shallow breathing, and Lyserg's half-open shirt...well, let's just say it was all more than a little suggestive...Hao could sense a broad, wicked grin spreading on his face. Eyeing the Englishman's shirt meaningfully, he remarked, "Lyserg-kun...you GOT SOME, didn't you?" There was a whole world of meaning in the long-haired shaman's tone.

Lyserg blushed, but he didn't answer. He picked up his cup of tea and started to drink very, very slowly, completely aware that all the grownup's eyes were upon him and Jeanne.

Dignified princess that she was, the silvery-blue haired maiden smiled faintly at him, casually gave everyone a brief nod, and pretended to be extremely interested in her breakfast, ignoring the slight blush that stained her cheeks. Similarly, she didn't acknowledge Hao's remark, although she didn't show signs of denying it, either...which could only mean...

Undaunted by their silence...or perhaps encouraged by it, Hao went on, "So Lyserg-kun, Jeanne-san...how far were you able to go? London, Paris...or Venice?"

"...Venice." Jeanne and Lyserg answered in unison before they could stop themselves.

Everyone else simultaneously coughed out their beverages and choked on their food.


*~*~*~*~*~*


"...Pilica?" Ren called out tentatively as he knocked at the Ainu woman's room door. He could hear faint sounds of shuffling from inside.

A small, incoherent noise. And then, "Ren-kun. Come on in!" Pilica's voice yelled.

The Chinese shaman swung the door open and stepped inside, looking around hesitantly for a faint sign of the azure haired young woman. Walking cautiously towards the divider, near the sleeping area, he came across a small footstool. As he looked up, his eyes met a pair of incredibly fair, incredibly smooth...and incredibly shapely legs and feet.

When he raised his gaze up even more, he was able to confirm what his mind had already surmised--the legs and feet belonged to Pilica, and she was standing on top of the footstool on tiptoes, her hands reaching up above the closet for something. Upon noticing him, she glanced down briefly and smiled. "Hi."

"Hi," Ren greeted back, folding his arms across his chest as he continued to look up at her curiously. "What are you doing?"

Pilica's brows furrowed slightly as she continued to reach for something above the closet. "Looking for the garter."

"What garter?" He wanted to know.

She shot him a look. "The garter you placed up and around my thigh six years ago, Ren-kun," she paused thoughtfully. "I keep it with me all the time. Sometimes I even wear it, but..." she shrugged. "Oniichan said at breakfast this morning that he managed to step and slip on it last night, and he got annoyed, so he tossed it up here."

"...Oh! That," Ren nodded as he realized. Musing thoughtfully, he said, "...what did you do with the bouquet?"

"I kept it in my room," Pilica answered. "...In a chest of drawers under my bed, along with everything you've given me...including the sword." She smiled impishly. "It's the only place at home where Oniichan can't find it." She frowned as she continued to feel for the garter. "If Oniichan threw it up here, it should be around, but I wonder where it is...ah! Here!" She announced triumphantly, holding up the garter in her hand. As she did so, she lost her footing on the stool and it shook out of balance, sending her falling.

"CAREFUL!" Ren exclaimed, going into immediate alert mode and spreading his arms out, managing to catch her as she fell. Unfortunately, the impact of the fall must have been too strong, for he ended up losing his balance too. He landed on the floor in a heap, with Pilica in his arms.

For a brief moment, the two of them silently looked at each other. Then, they burst out laughing.

"I knew you'd fall over me someday," Ren said breathlessly, rubbing his back with one hand, with the other, around her waist.

"Pick-up lines are so NOT you, Ren-kun," Pilica remarked in between gales of laughter. Then, she glanced at the footstool. "...That wasn't such a good idea, was it?" She mused. "I shouldn't have done that, it was dangerous, and...OH, GOD! Are you hurt anywhere?" Her eyes rushed back to him with concern as her hands felt his face, his arms, and any other part of him she could touch for any bruises or broken bones.

He shook his head and clasped her hands against his. "Pilica...I'm fine," he told her reassuringly. "I am," he added when she continued to look doubtful.

"Are you sure?" Still, she gazed at him with concern.

"Yes." Ren answered with an affirmative nod.

"Good." She smiled, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him softly on the lips.

She had only meant to give him a brief, innocent kiss, but the instant their mouths touched, Ren's senses were awakened into an alarming height, and he ended up deepening the kiss more than he should have. Pilica, on the other hand, surrendered blissfully to the whole experience, melting against him the way she always did each and every time they kissed.

Too caught up with the kiss and with each other, the couple didn't notice the adjoining door to Pilica's room swing open, and Horo-horo stepping right through it.

When the Ainu man saw what his sister and his friend were doing, he froze. Although that only lasted for about a minute, because afterwards, he just shook his head and rolled his eyes to the ceiling, and continued on as if he hadn't seen anything out of the ordinary. "Pilica, you'd better finish packing all your stuff. I'll ask the limo to drop off you and Ren at the airport." He told his sister loudly, clearly intending to interrupt her and Ren.

Upon hearing the voice, the couple broke off abruptly from each other and got up, faster than lightning.

Pilica gazed at her brother with embarrassment, her cheeks slightly flushed. "...Hai, Oniichan." And with a brief, meaningful glance at Ren, she went back to her dresser and resumed packing.

Ignoring the blush on his face, Ren folded his arms across his chest and regarded Horo-horo curiously. "...Limo? Don't tell me you got off with that deal you made with Hao." He raised an eyebrow.

"I did." Horo-horo answered matter-of-factly. "Pilica," he called out to his sister, "Hurry up with that. You'd better cancel that car of yours," he told Ren. "Like I said, I'll see to it that you two get to the airport safely. I mean, your private plane's there, right?" He paused. "You'd better take good care of my sister, Tao, or you'll have me to answer to." He added with a threatening glare.

"I will." Ren glared back. "Wait a second..." he frowned as he briefly recalled Horo-horo's earlier statement. Airport...me...and Pilica? He turned to the Ainu woman. "...Pilica? You're coming with me to China?" The expression on his face showed a mixture of surprise and happiness.

Pilica glanced up from her dresser and nodded. "Hai." She smiled brightly at him. "Jun-san invited me several days ago. She said it was supposed to be a surprise for you." Turning to her brother, she asked curiously, "Oniichan...how did you know?"

Horo-horo gave a grin. "I have my ways."

"Tamao san told you...didn't she?" Pilica's face broke into a grin as she briefly recalled how...friendly the pink-haired fortune teller and her brother had been to each other during breakfast. "Is she going back with you to our fields?"

"Yeah..." The Ainu man's grin widened even more.

"You confessed to her...didn't you?" She asked.

"Uh-huh." Her brother answered with a slight nod of confirmation.

"I KNEW it!" Pilica exclaimed, her face now currently holding an expression extremely similar to her brother's.

In fact, Ren noted, looking back and forth between the siblings and studying them critically, if I didn't know better, I'd say the two of them sort of look...alike. Almost as if Pilica was actually Horo-horo's female version...and vice versa...he cringed.

I am in love with a woman who looks just like one of my friends...and Horo-horo, at that...he shivered slightly at the thought. Weird. Very weird indeed...

"Ren-kun?" Pilica's voice brought him back to reality. "...Is it alright for me to go with you?" She looked up at him hopefully. "Because, if it's not...then I won't." She added, her eyes downcast.

"Of course it's alright! I'd love to have you over," Ren answered with a brilliant smile. And I'd love to thank Neesan for this excellent idea of hers...

Pilica's face lit up. "Good." She ran into his arms and gave him a hug. "I love you," she whispered as she kissed him on the cheek.

"I love you too," He whispered back as he held her close, chuckling as he caught Horo-horo rolling his eyes before he turned away and left.

Ah, well...what does it matter if she looks like him?

The fact that she loves me, and I love her...THAT'S what matters.


*~*~*~*~*~*


"Will everyone be leaving today?" Anna asked her husband as the two of them watched their youngest son play with the puppy. They were sitting in the garden by the front entrance, waiting for all their friends.

"...I think Jun's staying over for a little while," Yoh answered as he bent down to pick up Ren-chan. "She and Ryu have a lot of catching up to do, it seems." he added, chuckling. His head turned to the front door as it opened and out came his twin brother, with his trusty assistant beside him. "Oniichan...what in the world are you wearing?" He gazed down at his brother and burst out laughing. "You look weird..."

Hao adjusted his tie, smoothed out his blazer, pulled on his ponytail, and gave his brother an affronted look. "Haven't you ever seen me in formal clothes?" He shook his head. "I'm supposed to head a board meeting this morning." He explained. "STOP laughing, Otouto...else I'm going to make you wear one of these." He warned.

"I'm sorry," Yoh wheezed. "You just look so funny wearing that and I..." he broke off and started laughing again.

"Hmph." Hao flashed his brother a half-insulted, half-amused look. "...Ah! The car's here. Excellent," He clasped his hands together as three vehicles pulled over into the driveway of the Funbari Onsen Inn. One of them was a long, silvery-white limousine. The second one was a custom-made maroon Jaguar, and the third one, a black Mercedes.

"Hmm, perfect timing!" Manta declared as he stepped out of the front door, Chocolove behind him. Just like Hao, Manta was wearing a suit and tie. He walked over towards Yoh and Anna. "Thanks for everything, Yoh-kun, Anna-san. I'll drop by again soon." He told the couple.

"Ditto to what he said," Chocolove added with a grin.

"Thanks, you two." Yoh said, smiling brightly at his two friends. He watched as Manta walked towards the black Mercedes, and Hao, who was leaning beside the maroon Jaguar along with Opacho, grinned evilly at the short man.

"...So," The long-haired shaman began casually, looking back and forth between Opacho and Manta, "would either one of you care to tell me now: What was the deal you made with each other for that chess tournament?"

"...None of your business," Manta mumbled.

"...Opacho can't say." His assistant told him.

Hao rolled his eyes. "...A secret, huh?" He smirked. "...Horo-horo-kun! You're just in time!" He greeted as the Ainu man stepped out of the doorway with the pink-haired fortune teller right behind him. The two waved to Yoh and Anna, grinned at Manta and Chocolove, and then, approached Hao.

Horo-horo eyed him critically at first, before heading towards the silvery-white limousine and examining it thoughtfully. "It's this one, right?" He asked Hao.

"Hai." The long-haired shaman smiled sweetly. He looked over at Tamao. "Don't let him do anything I wouldn't do, ne?"

Tamao nodded, blushing deeply at his statement. "Hai. Arigatou, Hao-sama," she managed.

Horo-horo glared at Hao as he placed an arm possessively around the pink-haired fortune teller. "QUIT flirting with her, LUNATIC!"

Hao shrugged, smiling and winking cheerfully at Tamao before walking away. "Whatever you say, Horo-horo-kun."

"...Neesan, let go of me..." Ren's voice groaned as he got out of the front door, blushing quite profusely as his sister continued to hold on to him like there was no tomorrow.

Jun sighed, then gave her brother one last, tight hug. "...I'll miss you, little brother!"

"I'll miss you too, Neesan." He rolled his eyes as she gave him a kiss on the cheek. Then he smiled at Pilica, who was on his right side (as Jun was on his left) and has been watching the Tao siblings with an extremely fond expression on her face. "...You alright?"

Pilica nodded reassuringly. "Hai."

Jun stepped merrily away from her brother and moved closer towards Pilica, smiling at her affectionately. "...Dear future sister-in-law," She murmured as she enfolded the Ainu woman in a big hug. "Take care of my brother for me, will you?" She asked hopefully.

This time, it was Pilica's turn to blush profusely, her eyes widening as she hesitantly wrapped her arms around the older woman as well. "I...I will." She managed. "Jun...neesan," she added, her blush deepening upon the final statement.

Jun sighed with happiness and hugged her even tighter. "...Ohh, I've always wanted a little sister, and now I have one!" She exclaimed.

Ren rolled his eyes again as he tried to disentangle his sister from his girlfriend. "Neesan...you're suffocating her."

"Oh! Sorry!" Jun grinned sheepishly at both Ren and Pilica. "Well, I'd better get inside before Ryu-kun and Faust-san miss me." She kissed her brother again on the cheek, and then leaned over towards the Ainu woman and kissed her cheek as well. "Call me when you get there, onegai? Oh, and have a safe trip, everyone!" With a final wave, she entered the Inn again.

Ren and Pilica gazed at Jun's retreating back, and then, they looked at each other and exchanged a smile.

"HEY, YOU TWO!" Horo-horo's voice boomed loudly. "HURRY UP IF YOU'RE COMING WITH US!"

"YOU WILL WAIT FOR US, IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU!" Ren shouted back.

"OH YEAH?" Horo-horo raised an eyebrow and placed his hands on his hips. "ARE YOU THREATENING ME?" He yelled with a glare.

The Chinese man glared back and folded his arms across his chest. "WHAT IF I AM?"

Pilica and Tamao simultaneously rolled their eyes. At the same time that the Ainu woman said, "Stop it, Ren-kun," the pink-haired fortune teller also exclaimed, "Cut it out, Horo-horo!"

The two men being addressed gazed at the two women and mutually relented, but not without exchanging another glare.

Yoh, who was watching this whole scene, laughed. "Looks like you're both finally getting a taste of what it's like to be wrapped around a woman's finger."

Ren and Horo-horo snorted in unison. "Who, me? You've gotta be kidding." They said at the same time.

At this, everyone started laughing hard--except for the two men.

"WHAT'S SO FUNNY?!?!?" Ren and Horo-horo said again at the same time. Then, realizing that they had spoken in unison for the second time that day, the two glared at each other again and turned around with a simultaneous huff.

"Come on, you two. It's not like it's such a bad thing," Yoh protested. "I mean, I don't mind it one bit. It's one of the things that makes my life worth living, in fact."

"Speaking from experience, aren't you, Otouto?" Hao remarked, grinning cheekily at his twin.

"Straight from the horse's mouth, eh?" Manta commented with a chuckle.

"Straight from the HENPECKED horse's mouth," Hao corrected, earning him a sheepish grin from his brother and a murderous glare from his sister-in-law. He winced slightly, but brightened up unusually again when the front door opened and out came the Iron Maiden Jeanne, with Lyserg and the other three Asakura children behind her. "Speaking of henpecked horses...here's another one of them now!" He announced cheerfully.

"What's going on?" Lyserg asked as he walked towards Yoh and Anna.

"My brother says you're a henpecked horse," Yoh replied with a grin.

"WHAT? I am -NOT- a horse!" Lyserg said hotly, glaring at Hao. "Who are YOU calling a horse?!?" He demanded.

Hao raised his finger and pointed respectively at Yoh, Horo-horo, Ren and Lyserg. "The four of you. Henpecked horses." He proclaimed. "And the hens, I believe, are--" He stopped abruptly and evaded a fist that had threatened to hit his head.

"YOU'D BETTER SHUT UP NOW IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU." Anna, who had somehow managed to approach Hao's side in the blink of an eye, warned him with a menacing growl.

"...Right." Hao inched away warily from his sister-in-law. "I'll stop," he said quickly.

Yoh gave his brother a wicked grin. "Henpecked brother-in-law, aren't you, Oniichan...ITAI!" He groaned as a fist came into contact with his head. "What was that for?" He flashed his wife a wounded look.

Anna flexed the fingers of her fist and smiled sweetly at her husband. "That was for encouraging him...and everyone else." She turned her back to him and smiled at all the women instead. "Are you all ready?"

"Yes. Just about." Jeanne, who was pulling Lyserg forcefully away from Hao, smiled at the older woman. "Lyserg...let's go. I believe Horo-horo-san offered us a ride back to the airport." Her voice was firm and insistent.

The Englishman glared one last time at the long-haired shaman, before he whirled around. "...Alright," he relented.

Hao looked up briefly at the front door of the Inn, which was slightly ajar because the valets were loading out everyone's suitcases. "Has everyone's baggage been secured in their respective places?" He called out to the men.

"...Hai, Asakura-sama!" Answered one of the men. "We're done!"

"Excellent." Hao clasped his hands together and smiled with satisfaction as he surveyed everybody who was leaving thoughtfully. Then, he turned to his brother and sister-in-law. "Well, Otouto, sister-in-law, children," he added, smiling at his niece and nephews, "I guess this is goodbye."

"--For now," Yoh chuckled. "We'll see you on the twelfth, Oniichan." He gave his brother a hug and a pat on the back.

Hao smiled wistfully as he returned his brother's hug. "Ah, yes...the twelfth. Our twenty-fourth birthday, yes?"

"Hai." His twin brother grinned.

"I'll be here, rest assured." Hao told him with a nod. Then, with a final wave, he walked off towards the Jaguar. "So long, everyone!"

"I'll drop by again soon, Yoh-kun, Anna-san!" Manta called out from his Mercedes.

"Come and see one of my shows in New York one of these days, you guys!" Chocolove called out from the limousine.

"We'll see you next year, Yoh-kun, Anna-san, children!" Lyserg in front of him shouted.

"Thank you for everything, Yoh-san, Anna-san! Goodbye, children!" Called out Jeanne, who was beside Lyserg.

"I'll be back in two weeks, Yoh-sama, Anna-sama! Stay out of trouble, kids!" Tamao near the front seat called out with a reassuring wave.

"See you, everyone!" Horo-horo beside Tamao yelled.

"Bye, everybody!" Pilica beside her brother shouted cheerfully.

"I'll see you all soon!" Ren beside Pilica called out.

"Thanks for coming, everyone!" Yoh yelled back.

"Yes, thank you!" Anna agreed, waving.

"Come here more often, Uncle Lyserg! Uncle Chocolove! Uncle Manta!" Yohmaru and Yohnta shouted in unison. "Take care of Aunt Tamao, Uncle Horo!"

"I'll see you soon, Uncle Hao! I'll miss you, Auntie Jeanne!" Keiko called out in a tearful voice. "Come back in two weeks, Auntie Tamao!"

"Ren-jichan! Pilica-bachan!" Ren-chan waved joyfully from his father's arms. "Ja ne!"

"Woof, woof, WOOF!" Koroku barked out his goodbye three times.


*~*~*~*~*~*


"...Well," Yoh turned to his wife and children as soon as all three vehicles had moved out of sight, "I guess that's that. The end of another celebration, eh?"

"...Not quite," Anna told him with a smile. "Your birthday's coming in six days. You just said so yourself, remember?"

"Oh...yeah," He scratched his head and grinned sheepishly. "My birthday. Right." He smiled fondly as Ren-chan wrapped his pudgy arms around his neck. "I'll be twenty-four in six days...and Oniichan, too..."

"Uh-hm." His wife nodded. "Come on, we'd better get back inside." She said to the twins and Keiko. "...Coming, Yoh?" She asked her husband.

"...Yeah. Just a sec," Yoh told her.

"Alright." Kissing him on the cheek, she smiled brightly as she turned around and headed inside the Onsen with their three kids.

He grinned fondly at their retreating backs, then turned to his youngest son, who flashed him a similar grin before hugging him tightly.

My birthday's in six days...and in less than eight months, Anna and I are going to have another child...He gazed up at the late morning sky, sighing contentedly.

Life is perfect.



TSUZUKU.



End notes:

Thanks for all the reviews! Epilogue coming up next!

Trivia (sort of):
1. English Breakfast Tea (strong) does wonders for extreme hangovers, even more than coffee does. And it cleanses the system too.^^
2. Kissing does not usually make you thirsty, no matter how torrid it may get. Although, a friend of mine attests that it all still depends, so it's probably possible (Okay...that was weird. Please ignore it.^^;;;).
3. The analogy that Hao used here is literal in that I based it from Lyserg and Jeanne's place of origin...technically, in this story, Jeanne is also from London...so that makes London the nearest place for the two of them. Paris is the second nearest place...and Venice is the farthest. Still, lots of other interpretations can be drawn out from this analogy (like the water in Venice...hehehe). Anyway, if I'm confusing you here, please let me know, onegaishimasu?
4. The subbed version I have of Shaman King translates Horo-horo's plant as "butterbur."
5. Er...I sure hope no one minds that I allowed Lyserg to reached third base with Jeanne. Anyway, Ren reached second base with Pilica in the previous chapter, so...um.

Reviews will be very much appreciated.