A note to anyone who is reading this. This story is based on another that I read in English, (was suppose to be reading another one but this one was more interesting) the idea for this story came from a story called the painted door, it was written by the brilliant Canadian author Sinclair Ross. So if you like the story line for this fan fic it came from Sinclair Ross. I just changed it a little.

The painted door

Straight across town, pass the skyscrapers and the busy subways it was four hours to Manta's house, and in this sort of traffic another two if Yoh was lucky.

"I think I'll ride my motorcycle today," Yoh said at breakfast to his wife. "The traffic will be bad out, and I can weave in and out of the cars easier. That way I'll be home in time for supper.'

"You really shouldn't be going today, the television said that it could rain later on," Anna said looking calmly out the window. "You said yourself it felt like it could even snow."

Yoh just smiled at her.

Anna walked over to the table and sat down, purposely avoiding his eyes.

He glanced up uneasily, then setting his bowl down he tried to reassure her. "I won't be long. And if it does start to storm out, I'll be careful. I'll just slow down."

Anna just looked over at him, gently tapping her chopstick on her bowl. Yoh watched her intently, wondering what she was thinking. He watched her a moment or two longer. Thinking she hadn't heard him, he repeated more insistently, "I said I'll be careful, you don't need to worry."

"Yes-I heard you," It was a cold voice now, as if her words were chilled by the wind outside. "Anyway I have plenty to do while your gone. The bedroom door has been waiting to get painted for months now. Even though I had asked you to do it."

Yoh lowered his head, pretending to be suddenly interested in his rice.

Anna shook her head, "Don't pay any attention to me Yoh, it's this weather that has put me in a bad mood. Manta is your best friend. He will want to spend time with you before he leaves on his trip. Three months is a long time to be gone."

A loud gusts of wind hit the house, shaking the front door, blowing cold air into the warm home. Both Anna and Yoh turned their heads. "Well perhaps I should stay at home. The weather lately has been very unpredictable." Yoh said looking over at Anna.

Anna grabbed the dishes and walked over to the sink, "No, you better go, Manta will be disappointed if you don't come." he could no longer see her face. "If you leave now you may beat the traffic."

"Anna," Yoh got up and walked behind her, "You should know by now that I'll be home in time."

Anna knew very well that he would be home in time. He always was. But sometimes she almost wished that he would be late. Just for a change. These past few years had become like one giant blur. Every day mixing into the next. Anna found it hard sometimes to distinguish on day from the other. Back when Yoh was battling to become Shaman King every second of her life was different, but now. Now their conversations swayed more and more over to the old times when their lives had been exciting. Either that or what was on the news. Year after year their lives went on in this same little groove. A groove Anna desperately wanted to get out of.

With that Yoh slowly made his way over to the door. He grabbed for his cell phone.

"Don't bother with that, the batteries are dead. If you decide to stay overnight you can call me from Manta's." She turned on the water, still not looking directly into Yoh's eyes. "Make sure you wear your warm coat, or you'll freeze out there."

Yoh put on his coat and gloves. "Don't worry I'll be back in time, I always am." He gave Anna one more reassuring smile before he put his helmet on. Anna watched as he started his bike, she had heard the noise of the bike before, but this time it gave her an uneasy feeling.