Prince Meets Princess

Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Calm Before the Storm

It was the calm before the storm. Everyone knew he was coming, they could feel it. The unmistakable power of Asakura Hao. Everyone was caught it the gasp before the plunge. Hao's presense mocked everyone. It felt so close, but, he was no where in sight. This, above all other things bugged Kyouyama Anna the most. She hated, perhaps more than anyone else, being caught in a battle she could not escape, but she chose to be here...by Yoh's side. It was where she was meant to be, she could see this now. At least she chose to be here.

Usui Pirika on the other hand, did not chose to be by her finace's side, she was forced when the Chinese shaman stole her first kiss. But, she wouldn't change that fact for anything or anyone in the world. Neither would Tao Ren. The Chinese shaman stood on the edge of a battle as well, one he walked into, but who would he be if he refused to help an old friend.

Her elder brother, as dense as me may seem at times, was preparing for this battle as was everyone else. Even though his idea of 'preparing' was very much like Yoh's...doing as little as possible for as long as possible. Either that or spending his time with a certain pink headed prophet.

But, the single person who should be most worried about this, was in fact...napping under the afternoon sun. Something he did quite often his finacee had come to notice.

Kyouyama Anna stood over her soon-to-be husband, her hands on her hips, a glare on her face and her foot tapping impatently, "Asakura Yoh." She snapped, kicking the foot of the said sleeping shaman.

Asakura Yoh did not stur, for it took so much more than a mere kick to wake him up, this too Anna had come to find out. But, that was no matter, she had other ways of waking his up.

Her glare hardened as she kneeled next to him, "Yoh." She said in an almost sweet voice before she smacked the poor boy, finally waking the shaman.

It took a moment for Yoh to figure out what had happen, but the stinging feeling on his cheek told him the story, "Why'd you hit me?" He pouted.

Anna glared, "You were suppose to have my lunch ready a half an hour ago." She said raising back up, "Where is it?"

Yoh blinked before laughing sheepishly, "I forgot to make it." He said, scratching his head, grinning his goofy grin.

Anna sighed, rolling her eyes, "Well, you can make it now." She said softly.

Yoh grinned as an idea came to his mind, I know a shocking thing within his own right, but it does happen, "Ne, Anna? Why don't we go for a picnic." He asked, trying not to sound too hopeful.

Anna blinked before looking at Yoh, "Why?"

Yoh's grin widened, at least she was considering it right? "So, maybe, me and you could spend sometime together." He said.

A blush came over Anna's face, "Oh." She said softly before slowly nodding.

Yoh jumped up, grabbing Anna's hand as he darted into the palace, "We can ask Tamao-chan to make us some food." He said, glad that he didn't have to cook anymore. He couldn't really cook anyway.

Anna allowed Yoh to drag her through the hallway to the kitchen where a pink headed girl was baking her famous cookies for a blue haired boy.

"Here, HoroHoro-kun." Tamao said, placing a plate of cookies and a glass of milk in front of the blue haired shaman, "Be careful there still hot." She added as the Ainu pratcally inhaled them.

Horo grinned, stuffing a cookie in his mouth, "You know Tamao..." He said slowly, pausing from eating, "...You bake almost as good as you look."

Tamao blinked, staring at Horo with a confused look on her face. Slowly in dawned on her, Horo had just said she was pretty...well not in those actual words, but it was enough to cause the shy girl to turn a rather cute shade of red.

Horo smiled before returning to his cookies and milk. Just as he did this, Yoh practilly skipped, yes skipped into the kitchen, dragging a rahter flushed Anna behind him, "Tamao-chan!" He said happily.

Tamao blinked, " Hai, Yoh-sama?" She said, smiling slightly upon seeing her master so happy, of course it was because Anna had returned to him.

"Would you pack me and Anna a lunch, please?" Yoh said in his best pleading cute puppy dog voice.

Tamao chuckled, "Of course Yoh-sama. Anything for you and Anna-san." She said with a wide grin.

Yoh smiled widely before he caught sight of Horo, "Whatca doing, Horo?" He asked, finally letting go of Anna's hand.

Horo blinked, "Eating Tamao's cookies." He said, shoving another in his mouth.

Yoh smiled, grabbing a cookie, "Tamao can cook so well!"

Horo's mouth fell open in shock, "Did I mention they were my cookies?" He said.

Yoh grinned, poping the cookie in his mouth, "Mine now!" He said with a playful grin.

Horo glared, "You dare eat my cookies!" He said in a false manly man voice, jumping out of his seat.

"Hai...they were good too...I might just have to steal another." Yoh said doing the said thing before Horo dive bomded him.

Yoh ran out of the kitchen, cookies in hand, laughing madly as Horo chased him leaving Tamao amused looks and Anna's glares behind. The teens chased each other to the garden were Tao Ren was sharing a rather tender moment with his soon-to-be wife.

"And after this mess is taken care of you'll return to China with me and 'Nee-san." Ren said, brushing the long silkly blue locks of his finace's hair.

"China?" Pirika said in amazment, "What about Onii-chan?"

Ren snorted, "I have a feeling he'll be just fine here." He said, his thoughts falling on Pirika's elder brother and the pink headed shaman.

Pirika giggled, as Ren smiled down at her, "Of course he'd come to China for our wedding, ne, Ren-kun." She said looking up from Ren's lap.

Ren blinked, "If he promises he won't ruin our wedding by trying to lock you in a closet so I can't marry you." He said, gently running his hand over Pirika's cheek.

Pirika giggled once more just as Asakura Yoh ran up to them, clutching a plate of cookies, "You can't catch me!" He sang as Horo ran up.

Hor stopped dead upon seeing the postion his little sister and Ren were in, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" He yelled, glaring at Ren.

Ren rolled his eyes, "Nothing like that you hentai..." He paused before a smirk came over his face, "...That's for the wedding night."

Horo roared as Pirika blushed deeply and sat up just as her brother jumped on Ren and perceded to once again beat the living day lights out of him.

Just then Tamao and Anna walked up, Tamao clutching a basket, "Here Yoh-sama." She said handing the basket to Yoh.

Yoh smiled widely, grabbing the basket then Anna's hand, "We'll be gone for awhile, make sure they don't actually kill each other." He said to Pirika and Tamao as he began to walk off, Anna following close behind.

OOO

Anna sighed deeply, "Yoh...are we there yet?" She asked as the couple walked through the woods.

Yoh shook his head, "Almost, I've got the perfect spot for our pinic." He said happily.

Anna sighed yet again, a small smile graced her face. What was this feeling that sprung in her chest...dare she say it was...love?

"Here we are!" Yoh said happily.

Anna's eyes widened, they were at a river, the same exact river where Yoh first kissed her. A light blush fell across her face at the memory.

Yoh smiled as he set the basket down, "I knew you'd like it!" He said happily gently grabbing Anna and pulling her closer to him, "Do you know how much you mean to me?" He whispered against Anna's blonde hair.

Anna stiffened, she could feel Yoh's heart beat, it was slow and steady, while hers was about to jump out of her chest and into her throat.

Yoh pulled Anna even closer to him, "Anna..." He said softly, biting his lower lip, "...I love you."

With a burst of flames the tender moment was ruined, "Took you long enough if I do say so myself, Otouto." Asakura Hao said cheerfully.

"Hao!" Yoh said, narrowing his eyes as he stood in front of Anna.

Hao tsked him, "Now, now, there's no need to protect her from her future husband." He said, an evil grin on his face as he gazed at the blonde itako.

Anna glared, "More like he's protecting you from me!" Anna snapped.

Yoh sweatdropped as Hao chuckled pleasently, "Oh my dear itako...if only you knew."