Warmth
Chapter 3
Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King.
When the warmth of hot chocolate isn't enough, you can feel warm with the one you love. J
Anna's POV
I fluttered my eyes open and soon found myself face to mug with a mug of hot chocolate. I looked up and there I found my fiancé, Yoh smiling at me. I first wondered why I was there; wrapped in a blanket, cold and warm at the same time. Then I remembered…
Oh… yeah… that.
I blushed slightly and Yoh assisted me to sit down and in those wonderfully warm, calm and sweet ebony eyes of his there was a sign of relief; I wonder why… then I felt the cold engulf me once more and hugged the blanket wrapped over me tightly.
"Yoh…?" I managed to utter softly even if I was feeble.
"Anna, do you want some hot chocolate?" he smiled offering me a mug of hot chocolate.
I looked at him for a moment then nodded.
"Here you go…" he grinned at me; he handed me a mug and I accepted feeling the warmth that it gave; my body was surely cold but just a touch of the mug and a sip from it made me feel warm – still cold, but not that much anymore…
"Thank you…" I looked down and found my clothes were… how do I say this? Changed, new, different… I think you get the point, "Yoh…" I said slowly glaring at him with my usual glare that can turn him into a puddle of water if and only if he was ice, or anything that can melt for that matter.
"What is it Anna? Is it not good enough?" Yoh bowed down in forgiveness, "I'm sorry… I did the best I could and…" I soon cut him of…
"Iie… it's not that." I told him shortly and he looked at me confused, "my clothes…" I managed to say when once again Yoh bowed his head seemingly blushing but that - that was surely just my imagination.
Was he the one who changed my clothes? My cheeks flushed, the thought of Yoh doing that - changing my clothing, I mean. It can only bring a blush to my cheeks, and these cheeks are the cheeks of Kyouyama Anna!
"Ah…" was all he said.
I glared at Yoh; he scratched his chin with a somewhat nervous grin.
"Actually Anna, I didn't do it… or maybe I did…" Yoh mumbled scratching his chin again.
"What do you mean by that?" I told giving Yoh my deadliest glare that can reduce him to a puddle of water if I wanted.
He squirmed in his position.
"Well… you see I used hyou gattai…" he looked at me then down at the ground.
"What do you mean? You asked Amidamaru to change me?" I looked shocked, of course I did; the thought of my fiancé picking his power spirit to change me instead of him is quite offensive. Coming from Yoh though, it could be gentlemanly. He respects me and I know that.
"Iie… since I was a guy and he was a guy and no one was around…" Yoh managed to stutter, "I asked the resident ghost to hyou gattai with me… she being female and all."
"I see," I said looking at Yoh seemingly proud and I was, really. He was such a gentleman and also so kind and I can undoubtedly exclaim in my mind that I am proud that I have a fiancé like him, in my mind anyway.
"Are you mad?" Yoh asked me, pleading evident in is eyes.
"Iie… not really… if you promise to train harder, I will forget about it." I told him wrapping the blanket around me tighter than a while ago.
"Hai!" Yoh saluted grinning happily.
I looked at Yoh; he was weird actually caring about how I felt… he did it for the better but he was afraid I didn't like it? He was so sweet, so gentlemanly, so adorable, so charming, so… so Yoh. He was a fiancé anyone could ever wish for - a man of anyone's dreams. In the beginning of this set marriage however, I never thought this. I wasn't anyone; I was Anna Kyouyama.
I first thought he was too soft, and he is really… but it's actually good. Gentleness like that is new, gentleness like that is admirable… especially in Yoh. He was lazy… but in truth he would do anything if he willed to, if he had to, if he needed to. He is a miracle worker; he can bring out new and sometimes even crazy things with anyone, even me. Yoh brought out things in me one could never know… love… is this it? Is this so-called love? Am I in love with Yoh?
It's too early to tell…
"Anna…?" Yoh asked me slowly as if something was bothering him…
"I was talking to Ren and the others before Horo Horo and Tamao left and something's been bothering me…" Yoh stuttered slowly and I saw the curious look on his face.
"What is it?" I asked fondly; it makes me wonder what Yoh is thinking about.
"What is
menopause? Horo Horo was telling me about that if I got too stressed I'd get
early menopause, but what is it really?" Yoh asked me; there doesn't seem to be
any hint of deceitfulness here… he really doesn't know?
I choked some of the hot chocolate I was drinking at this thought but Yoh didn't notice and continued.
"He said I should ask you and all… he said you knew and had it? What is it anyway?" he asked tapping his chin. Naïve, that's what Yoh is, my Yoh.
I coughed and noted in my mind to murder that loudmouth Ainu when he gets back from the mountains, my mouth twitched but soon answered, "Men do not get menopause Yoh, only stressed old women do…"
"I see… so it was a joke…" Yoh said thoughtfully, "Then why did he tell me that you had it, you're not old Anna…"
I refrained myself from strangling Yoh, "It's a joke Yoh, a joke." I said glaring at him lethally as he sweatdropped. He must already be used to my lethal glares, from the day it was announced that we marry – the first time we met; I have been giving his this glare.
"I understand now!" Yoh said lightening up as if he was a kindergartener who learned something new.
I smiled weakly; it was surprising mind you. I rarely smile.
I just realized something, in the middle of this conversation with Yoh, I forgot all about the coldness I felt. I looked down to see that blanket was now thrown astray on the side of the couch. I quickly took it and wrapped it around me again; I was beginning to feel cold again… even dizzy…
Next thing I knew, I, Kyouyama Anna fainted for the second time that day…
*******
I fluttered my eyes open and right away I saw Yoh's worried face looking at me… it felt so cold…
"Anna, are you alright? You fainted a few moments ago… don't you feel well?" He interrogated me but I couldn't listen anymore… I felt so feeble… so un-Anna-like.
I wrapped myself in the blanket more – if it was ever still possible that is. I just looked at him and picked up the hot chocolate to sip. Yet now… it didn't seem to bring warmth to me any longer.
Yoh gestured to go closer to me and felt my forehead, "You have a fever… How do you feel?" he asked worriedly.
I managed to say one word… "Cold…"
There was a part in my mind who just wanted to kill myself; I hate being vulnerable… and this… is vulnerable. That was the sane part of my mind. Another was enjoying every moment in which Yoh would come closer to me and show gestures of care. That was my unreasonable part of my mind that was doing nothing but LYING. RIGHT?
Yes, it was lying… Why would I care about Yoh being caring… to me… HE IS ALWAYS KIND. HE IS ALWAYS IRRITATINGLY KIND. I should put that in my mind always.
I must not be charmed into his gentlemanly ways… for… for… he is always this way.
"Anna…" he said in confusion, "What should I do?"
I didn't reply… I was too busy shaking… like hell.
He looked as if he was a lost puppy and looked at me, to the ceiling, to the kitchen, to the bathroom, to his hands, to his shirt and then back to me. "Don't get angry, ne Anna?" he said looking at me pleadingly.
I looked at him confusedly and managed to utter a soft, "About what?"
He then took me in his arms for an embrace… and just then I realized something…
I realized that…
I love Yoh Asakura.
Tsuzuku
