Warmth

Chapter 5

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 was slowly stirring awake; I felt someone's breath brush to me, then go near my ear. With that I was instantly awoken, though my eyes were still closed there was a whisper in my ear.

"I love you" a baritone voice whispered to my ear.

At first it wasn't clear to me what those words were – or even who said it. However, I remembered who I was with – who wrapped me in his warm embrace, who is the only one in this room right now… Yoh.

I fluttered my eyes open and my thoughts weren't proven wrong – Yoh was smiling about to go asleep himself. I looked at him in shock.

A very stupid thing to do, since he is my fiance and… and… Anna Kyouyama never gets shocked.

Seeing my reaction, he laughed nervously and scratched his chin, "Oops…"

I eyed him still, thinking of what kind of person would ever say that in such a moment. Then it hit me, this is Yoh we were talking about. He really is that way, probably he even forgets his own birthday or Christmas. It must be because he sleeps too much. But even with all his imperfections, I… still love him.

You can rarely find someone like that in the world, yes, Yoh, my Yoh is one and unique. And so is my love for him.

Those are all one and unique for the way I treat him… and the way he treats me isn't like what people would call lovers but… but…

Honestly, I don't know. And probably, I couldn't care less.

I didn't say anything about this, though it has greatly struck me… struck the little heart that I have… or maybe it isn't little, maybe thanks to Yoh, it grows… and I am learning what a heart is.

Because…

If I didn't know or have a heart…

I wouldn't love Yoh.

Probably not replying tensed Yoh, "Anna, are you mad at me?" he told me.

I wanted to laugh, probably one of the few times I did, ever… in my life. Yoh, with those words of yours, I actually want to believe it… not forget it nor would I enraged by it… maybe… just a bit flattered.

I shook my head but still had an even facial expression.

He sighed and I was half-expecting this already –

He's taking those three words back.

It's not as if it's true, right? Of course not… that's just my imagination – if I have one that is…

"Anna… even if you don't… uh… what's that word again?" he rummaged his mind for the correct vocabulary and if I were I normal person, I would have found this adorable but I ain't so… well I didn't. He suddenly lit up, "Oh yeah, I meant to say… even if you don't reciprocate how I feel; I love you. I really do…"

And probably if I was one of those hopeless romantics out there in the world I would have been in a verge of tears but I am Kyouyama Anna and as expected I didn't but those words…

They melted the wall of ice that shielded my small heart making me love this person in front of me more… but still, I gave no reply.

Yoh gave a sheepish grin despite his nervousness, "And by the way I wasn't able to start Christmas shopping yet…" he bowed in apology as if I was a priest (?) and he was confessing such a grave sin to me.

I raised an eyesbrow and looked at him for a moment as he flinched, "Don't worry about it, just add even more training for tomorrow and I'll just accompany you next time…" I told him.

He smiled at me; he probably thought I didn't hear him there a while ago… when he confessed those three words to me. However, he's wrong; I remember that quite vividly. Or maybe he thought that I didn't understand – which I honestly don't. Or maybe he thinks I took it in another way – which way did I take it for anyway? Do I think the love meant sibling-love, love because he is my fiance or love that comes from the deepest regions of his heart? I myself don't know.

He seemed to have relaxed and suddenly just asked, "What would you like for Christmas, Anna?"

I actually thought that I shouldn't answer him anymore but I did anyway… but maybe that wasn't even an answer, "I don't know…"

He seemed to be ecstatic to find out so he asked again, now in a phrasing the words differently, "Anything that you would want, I mean… I want to give you a gift that you would love and cherish…"

I shrugged then asked, "Why are you so intent with finding out anyway?"

"Didn't I already tell you? I love you… from the deepest regions of my heart," he smiled sheepishly, "Now that I told you, I feel a huge weight has been lifted from me."

I was speechless but managed to ask him in an even voice, "Don't you care if I don't love you back?"

Yoh sighed, "Well, if I did mope will things get better for me? I'm just happy to know that you are a part of my life Anna, and I know I can't force you to love me, if you don't. Even if I do feel pain, I wouldn't want you to see it because I want you to be happy – happy the way you are happy."

"It was a hypothetical question Yoh." I said plopped yourself on the couch in your lazy way.

"Oh I see…" he yawned then his eyes widened, "I know what hypothetical means since it was one of the vocabulary words sensei gave us but… but… what do you mean by that?"

Maybe it wouldn't be bad for Yoh to know, I mean… it is only right he gets his reply correct?

I whispered something to his ear with a faint smirk.

His face turned crimson and shocked and I gave another smirk – one resembling those made by his friend, Ren Tao.

"You have no idea how this makes me so happy!" he smiled blissfully; he was all flushed and seemed so warm when I felt arms around me.

He hugged be then… Oh God, whoever though Yoh these things? Honestly, I know they don't teach this in school… it must be those whacked up friends of his… WHAT!? DID HE PRACTICE? Oh well, who's there to complain?

I was enjoying his every bit of kissing me. In addition to that, I kissed back… Anna Kyouyama kissed back.

However, even if I wasn't acting like myself…

It just feels so right…

Right?

And with this, I still managed to remember how cold I was a while ago…

Indeed, when the warmth of hot chocolate isn't enough, you can feel warmth with the one you love…

Finally we broke apart, and all I saw was his smiling face and sparkling eyes.

And even though thinking this isn't like me, that's all I wanted to see.

Tsuzuku and to be concluded ^^

And I would like to thank Ashly and Nic for reminding me about my close deadline and causing me to cram, also the song Omokage to keep me going ^^