Prince Meets Princess
Chapter Fourteen: White Clouds and Cool Rivers
A uneasy, yet peaceful silence filled the Asakura compound. Yoh's visitor had not gone lightly with the rest of the occupants of the palace, particularly Anna. His father, the King, took no surprise to the news, in fact he had expected it to happen. But, oddly enough, Yoh seemed to be taking it the best. He was just as calm, and still offered the same carefree, yet comforting smiles as before.
Perhaps the hardest hit was Anna, after all, Hao had proclaimed her to be the Shaman Queen...his Shaman Queen. Did the visit mean Hao was beginning to make the young itako his? Or was he merely fooling around, striking fear into his brother, though if that the case...it certainly didn't work well.
Everyone one else in the palace, save the King and his wife, walked with an uneasy feeling, always glancing behind them to see in the fabled Asakura Hao would show himself to them as well. The Ainu siblings still thought of Hao as a non-existent person, but the young pink headed prophet knew better, having been raised by Yoh's grandparents who knew Asakura Hao was a real person.
The tension in the palace was almost unbearable for a young brown headed shaman, he, not really liking all the sad faces and downed spirits, has retreated outside for some good old R-n-R, rest and relaxation. He certainly laid on the soft green grass, his arms behind his head, serving as a make-shift pillow, as he stared lazily at the large white fluffy clouds. His mind stuck on a certain itako, wondering if the feelings he had were really what he thought they were, or if they were just a trick of the mind. Because, was is really natural to care for someone so much? He simply didn't know, as he had never had this feel before, not for anyone.
He sighed contentedly as he continued staring at the sky, smiling as he thought about her. Wonder, no hoping, she felt the same way he did. Maybe it wasn't such a far off thought. After all, she didn't smack him after he kissed her good-night, of course it was just a kiss on the cheek. But the girl h gave it too wouldn't have cared, unless she felt the same.
He had just closed his large chocolate brown eyes when he heard the soft thump of feet nearing him.
"How can you be so calm?" A harsh voice snapped.
He just simply smiled, still not opening his eyes, "Because, Anna, it's a beautiful day!" He said, sighing in contentment once more.
The said girl rolled her eyes, "You mean to tell me your not the least bit worried?" Anna snapped, although her tone was a great deal lighter.
Yoh frowned at that, of course he was worried. His twin brother had threatened to take away someone who had come to be so dear to him. "Of course I'm worried." He said softly, his brown eyes opening.
Anna crossed her arms, shifting her weight to one foot, not believing him in the least bit.
Yoh flashed her his trademark grin before sitting up, "Let's go do something, Anna!" He said happily.
Anna looked at Yoh oddly, blinking, "Why?"
Yoh shrugged, "It's a crime to waste such a beautiful day." He said in a matter-of-factly tone. In all honesty he just wanted to spend time with the blonde headed girl, perhaps get her mind off of such awful thoughts and on happier ones.
Anna slowly nodded, "I guess you're right." She said softly as Yoh happily stood up, a silly grin on his face.
Yoh gently grabbed Anna's hand, "I know just the place we can go!" He said happily, pulling a shocked, blushing, Anna towards the woods.
OOO
HoroHoro smiled widely as he glanced at the pinked headed girl next to him. Today was the day he hoped to confess his feelings for this said person. The two were taking a quiet walk through the Asakura Gardens, a beautiful place indeed.
"Thank you so much for asking me on this walk, Horo-kun." Tamao said happily, smiling up at the ice blue headed shaman.
"You welcome..." Horo said before for pausing, a blush creeping up on his cheeks, "Actually, Tamao, I wanted to tell you something." He added softly, quickly looking away to hide his blush.
Tamao frowned slightly as she stopped walking, "HoroHoro-kun? Are you sick? " She asked noticing his red face as she bought te palm of her hand to his forehead, checking his temperature.
Horo smiled, gently grabbing her hand, "No...I'm not sick." He said before pausing once more, "At least not in the way you think I am." He added, still holding her hand.
Tamao looked at him oddly, "What's wrong, Horo-kun?" She asked worriedly. "How are you sick?"
Horo smile widened, "I'm lovesick." He said softly, beginning to gently caress the hand her held in his own.
Tamao raised an eyebrow, a smile on her face, "Oh really? With who Horo-kun?" She said with a playful poke in the ribs.
Horo slowly leaned in towards the prophet, "You." He said simply before pressing his lips against hers before she could reply.
Tamao's eyes widened in shock as her face flushed, but she slowly began to kiss him back, her eyes closing as she relaxed against the kiss.
Horo grinned against the kiss before breaking it, his hand now on Tamao's cheek, gently caressing the soft skin.
Tamao smiled, "So that's why you were blushing!" She said, earning a chuckle from Horo.
OOO
"Yoh...this is a lake." Anna said folding her arms across her chest as she watched the said boy pull off his shoes.
"Yeah...and it may be a beautiful day, " He said grinned up at Anna, who was standing on the bank, "But it sure is hot." He said, slowly stepping into the cool water.
Anna rolled her eyes, "Your point?" She asked, tapping her foot.
Yoh grinned, "We should go for a swim!" He said before throwing off his shirt and diving into the water.
Anna shook her head wearily, eyeing the thrown shirt with a soft blush on her face, "You can swim all you want, but I'm just fine here." She said sitting on the bank, dangling her legs over the edge, her bare foot barely skimmed the water under her.
Yoh grinned up at Anna, after resurfacing, "But Anna!" He whined before grabbing her foot and pulling her in, "The water's so nice!" He said as he watched the itako swim back to the surface of the water.
Anna glared at Yoh, "I will kill you for that!" She said.
Yoh grinned, "Really?" He asked slashing her.
Anna nodded, her glare hardening as the slash hit her. "Yes!" She said pulling out her itako beads, throwing them around Yoh's neck before he could slash any more water at her.
Yoh couldn't help but laugh, "I was only playing!" He whined, pulling the beads, causing Anna to be pulled closer to him.
Anna smirked, not noticing she was being pulled closer, "I'm not!" She said.
Yoh grinned widely, slipping the beads off his neck, he would have to watch out for those in the future. He continued pulling Anna closer, until they were mere inches away.
Anna's eyes widened upon realizing that she was so close to Yoh. How did this situation turn so quickly on her...and why was his face coming closer to hers? Her eyes widened, was he going to do what she thought he was going to do?
Her question was answered when Yoh's lips gently pressed against hers, his arms gently wrapping around her waist, pulling her even closer. Her eyes widened, as she froze in his embrace. Her heart beating rapidly against her chest as she found herself kissing him back.
Yoh smiled against the kiss at Anna's reaction, maybe she did feel the same way about him. He took this chance to deepen the kiss, moving slowly as too not frighten Anna off.
Anna's eyes closed as she fell deeper into the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck. Sighing in pleasure as Yoh's chilled lips moved against hers.
The couple continued their little make-out session until Anna began shivering lightly as the once gentle breeze began to pick up.
Yoh broke the kiss, smiling sheepishly at Anna, "I think we better head back." He said quietly, his arms still around Anna's waist.
Anna slowly nodded as another chilled shiver racked through her body, it didn't help that she was in a sleeveless dress.
The pair began to wade out of the lake and began to walk back to the palace to change into warmer, dryer clothes, but not before Yoh grabbed his forgotten shirt and draped it over Anna shoulders in a weak attempt to keep her warm.
Anna blushed lightly, pulling the shirt closer to her as Yoh gently grabbed her hand as the couple walked back towards the compound.
