Author's Note: Thanks for some many pretty reviews!! This is to let you know that the bikini is, by unanimous vote, returning! It's going to be fun...

Oh, and cookies for Authoress: MegaRose for noticing the blanket. You see, every character I write about has a yellow baby blanket because, well, I have a yellow baby blanket. Robin has one, and Yoh has one, and Anna has one, and Hana has one, and...well, you get the idea...

Enjoy the new chapter of Wedding Bells, and be sure to review!! This chapter is EXTRA FLUFFY!!!

"She's been sitting like that for the past two hours," Pilika whispered. "Waiting for the boys to come."

"She must be aware of how much time has passed, isn't she?" Tamao said, horrified.

"Not at all. Watch this," Pilika smirked. "Hey, Anna."

Anna didn't turn around from her position on the front porch. "Hn."

"There's been a freak accident. Your wedding dress was struck by lightning and burnt to a cinder."

"Oh. Okay."

Pilika and Tamao tried to swallow their giggles. "Hey, Anna, Jeanne can't be a bridesmaid, so we're going to have Hao fill in. He's coming tomorrow to be fitted for his red lace dress."

"Oh. Okay."

Tamao had lost it by then. Pilika managed to eke out one more between laughs. "Hey, Anna, Ponchi and Konchi want to throw a bachelorette party for you."

"Oh. Okay."

"She's gone!" Tamao hooted. "Absolutely gone!"

Suddenly Anna bolted from the porch. "You said it!" Pilika laughed, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I guess Yoh's here."

Yoh was three-fourths of the way down the driveway when he saw her. "Yoh!" Anna called, her eyes sparkling. Yoh dropped his backpack to make room for the little blonde girl who hurtled into his embrace. HoroHoro whistled.

Yoh kissed Anna on the forehead. "You really did miss me, didn't you?" he laughed. He kissed her again. "It's good to see you." He picked up his backpack again. "Come on. I'm starving!"

When they reached the house, Anna noticed Tamao and Pilika. She scowled. "What was that about my wedding dress being struck by lightning? And a party?" Anna's scowl deepened. "AND HAO WEARING A RED LACE DRESS?"

"She was listening!" Pilika yelped. She grabbed Tamao's arm. "Run!"

"What was that about your brother wearing red lace?" Ren asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't want to know," Yoh said, eyes wide.

-----

The entire Asakura house was filled with people- Yohmei, Kino, Keiko, and Mikihisa trying to keep order of the six teenagers, plus the wild assortment of ghosts, apparitions, and spirits who usually inhabited the complex.

With all of the people around, it was a full day before Anna saw Yoh by himself. Her heart pounded, and, as was her new habit, she fiddled with her locket as she approached him. "Yoh?" she ventured.

He turned around. "Yeah, Anna?" he said. His dark eyes caught hers for a moment, but she instantly dropped her gaze to stare at the floor.

"I just- I wanted to-" she stammered. Yoh waited patiently. "I picked out the flowers."

"Oh, that's nice," Yoh smiled. He turned around to leave.

"Yoh!" Anna called. She clapped a hand over her mouth.

"Yes, Anna?" he said. This time he didn't bother to turn around.

"Yoh, will you- will you stay with me for a while? Just me?" Anna blurted out. She finally raised her eyes to look at his back.

There was a pause. "That was kind of pathetic," Yoh said. Then he turned around, laughter sparkling in his eyes. "Just kidding. What do you- Anna?"

Her eyes were huge. "Oh," she said. "Oh. You were kidding." She sucked in her breath. "Oh."

"Anna, you didn't think I was serious, did you?" Yoh asked.

Anna tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "Of- of course not," she stammered. She rubbed her eyes. "I knew you were joking."

"Oh, Anna-chan," Yoh said. "I'm sorry. I was just messing around with you." He held out his arms. Anna slipped into his embrace and rested her forehead against his shoulder. Her body shook twice as a few rebellious tears dripped onto his back.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean to-"

"Don't apologize, Anna," Yoh said, setting his finger to her lips. "I shouldn't've messed with you. You're pretty stressed from all of this anyway, and you don't need me adding to all your anxiety." He kissed her forehead. "Tell you what. You pick any place you'd like to go tonight, and I'll take you."

"Really?" she gasped.

"Really really," Yoh said, smiling his infectious grin. "Go put on your favorite dress and I'll take you wherever you want."

"All right," Anna beamed. "I'll be ready in a few minutes!"

Sure enough, ten minutes later she was completely ready, wearing a pretty pink dress that clung softly to her small body. Her long blonde hair was caught up in a ponytail, and she'd washed her face to take away most of the redness from her dark eyes. "How do I look?" Anna asked shyly.

"Adorable," Yoh grinned. "Where would you like to go?"

"I'm not really sure," Anna said, a little hesitant. "Could we just go window shopping for a while?"

"Sounds good to me," Yoh said. "Let's go!"

"Hey, where are you two going?" HoroHoro asked.

"Anna and I have a date," Yoh said proudly. "We'll be back in a few hours."

Anna was glad for the soft twilight. It covered most of her blush.

The early December evening was warm, since winters in Izumo were usually mild. Many people- most of them rushing around finishing Christmas shopping- were milling about on the sidewalks, talking and laughing. Anna was staring at the whirling crowd around her when a warm touch on her hand caught her attention. Yoh nonchalantly reached over and slipped his hand around hers. It wasn't even a little handholding; Yoh's fingers were laced through hers. Anna squeezed his hand.

They walked around for a long time, glancing in windows and commenting on things they saw. Anna discovered it was fun to make Yoh laugh. He laughed easily- unlike her- and his dark eyes always lit up.

"Hey, let's go in there," Yoh suggested. He tugged her into the little corner bookstore/coffee shop. "You want anything?"

"Hm, I don't know," Anna said. He had let go of her hand.

"I'm getting one of those," Yoh said, pointing to a customer walking away from the counter with a caramel-colored drink topped with about six inches of whipped cream.

Anna batted his hand. "Yoh, it's rude to point," she said.

He rolled his eyes playfully. "I'm still getting one. Wanna share?" he asked. Anna nodded.

Yoh stepped up to the counter. "I want one of those," he announced, pointing to a picture of the beverage. "Two straws, please." He handed the drink to Anna as he dug the correct amount of yen out his pockets. "This could take a while. Find us a seat, okay?" he said, digging in his other pocket. This time Anna was the one to do the eye-rolling.

She looked around and found a little corner table. It took only a few seconds for her to realize, even just a few minutes away, she was lonely without Yoh. Lazily Anna ran the tip of her pinky finger in the whipped cream.

"Hey, you can't start without me!" Yoh protested. He twirled the two straws in his fingers. "I want that."

"Can't have it. It's mine," Anna said, waving her finger. Yoh responded by plunking down next to her and licking the whipped cream off. She stared at him wide-eyed.

"Didn't think I'd actually do it, did you?" Yoh teased. He stuck his index finger in the whipped cream and held it out. "Here. Take a lick." Anna stared at him. He waved the finger. "If you don't lick it off, I'll stick this up your nose," he threatened.

"All right, all right," she sighed. She leaned over and licked the whipped cream off Yoh's finger. His skin was rough and warm against her tongue.

"See? It wasn't bad," Yoh said. He took a sip. "Neither is this. Try some." Without thinking, Anna put his straw in her mouth and sucked in some of the cold, sweet drink. "You have your own straw, you know."

"I know," she said. She was very much aware that her face was pink. "I just like to monopolize things."

"I guess we just need one straw, then," Yoh sighed dramatically, tossing the second one over his shoulder, where it hit a bald man right in the middle of his head. Yoh ducked against Anna, his cheek against her soft bare shoulder. She giggled into his hair. The bald man glanced up and glared in the general direction of anyone with a straw, and then returned to his book.

It took Yoh forever to finish the drink. "Come on, you have some," he pleaded.

"I've already had as much as I can take," Anna said. "Hurry up. I want to go look at the books."

"Go ahead," Yoh sighed. "I'll catch up with you when I've finished this. If I don't find you in ten minutes, it'll mean I've popped."

Anna shook her head and meandered towards the books. She loved to read. It was her favorite mode of escapism when she was a little girl lost in the organized chaos of Kino's training hall. Anna gasped as a large hardbound book caught her eye. It was a collection of fairy tales, filled with paintings. Anna turned the pages reverently. Hans Christian Anderson stories- her favorites. But then she glanced at the price, and she wistfully set the book back on the shelf with a last, loving little pat on its cover.

"Did you find anything?" Yoh asked, sneaking up behind her.

"Not really," she said. "Come on, let's go look around some more." She dragged him away.

It was ten o'clock before they realized it. "We'd better be getting back soon," Anna yawned. "Jeanne and Lyserg are coming in tomorrow."

"Well, I have to go do something really fast. Why don't you go wait for me in the coffee shop for a few minutes?" Yoh suggested. "It'll only take a second."

"All right," Anna said reluctantly. "It better take only a second."

He reappeared several minutes later with a bag in his hand. "That was more than a few minutes," she said, scowling.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Yoh apologized. "Let's go home. I'm about ready to keel over."

The walk back to Izumo in the winter dark was quiet. Anna kept yawning. Her eyes had trouble staying open, but she was quite awake when she felt a strong, warm arm slide around her waist. Yoh pulled Anna towards him, letting her small body curve against his. Anna nestled against him. But it had to end when they reached the house. Yoh let go of her.

"Goodnight, Anna," he said, kissing her on the forehead.

"G'night, Yoh," she yawned. He smiled at her, and then ran up the steps. Anna made a puzzled face, but shrugged and trooped sleepily up the stairs to her room.

Her bedroom door was open when she came down the hall. She made another puzzled face. She hated having her room open. But when she went inside, she understood why.

A plastic bag was lying on her bed- a plastic bag labeled with the bookstore logo. Anna reached inside.

A thick book of fairy tales slid into her hand.

"Yoh!" she called, running down the hall. "Yoh!"

He poked his head out the door, a study of innocence. "Yes, Anna?" he said.

Anna tossed her arms around his neck. "Thank you!" she cried.

Yoh hugged her tightly. "Are you happy?" he asked.

"I'm so happy I could kiss you!" she said breathlessly.

"Then kiss me," Yoh said. He turned his cheek towards her.

Tentatively she leaned close to him. Anna closed her eyes and pressed her lips lightly against his cheek. The kiss was over in a second.

Yoh smiled at her. "That was perfect, Anna," he said. He kissed her cheek. "Goodnight, anata."

She blushed. "Goodnight, Yoh," Anna whispered.

Author's Note: The scene where Yoh accidentally makes Anna cry is taken from Mars. I can't remember the volume, but Rei does the same thing to Kira. In my original draft, Anna was a lot more like Kira and actually burst into tears, and then I read it and went, "Woo, Anna, waterworks much!" so I trimmed it back.

But isn't Yoh an absolute sweetie?!

Again, I am still open to any questions/comments/complaints you have, especially ideas for the wedding ceremony/honeymoon!!