For Better, For Worse

By: FiendisHSerapH

Chapter Two: Replacement

"She… she's pregnant?" the blue-haired man's voice raised an octave higher. A nod from the eye-glassed doctor confirmed. "Two weeks old." She added.

"What about her fever? Is that bad?" he asked in a shaky voice.

"It's because she was soaked in the rain. You should take good care of her from now on. It's bad for a pregnant woman to get sick in any way." He nodded as he listened intently on the specialist's words.

"W-what should I do now?" He questioned, his voice getting shakier.

"What? You don't know what to do, mister? Is the baby…planned?" It's the doctor's turn to be surprised.

"Uhm, I am not the father."

"Who are you then?"

"I'm just…" he looked down on his feet. "Just a replacement." He continued sadly.

"Ah, a newbie caretaker, I guess?"

"Yes." It's hard to bear the truth.

The door opened. The pale woman entered and stopped as she reached the man's side.
"Tell her what I've told you. I have a meeting to attend to." The doctor packed her things and prepared to leave. When she reached the door, she added, "Good luck by the way."


She clamped her hand across her mouth after hearing the news. The guy gazed on the table, waiting for a spoken reaction.

"If… if Yoh were here, he'd be very happy." She muttered after two minutes.

"Why? Aren't you happy?" He frowned.

She pursed her lips and gripped the edge of the table tighter. "Yes, I'm not happy."

"But… why?" his expression turned to worry.

Shifting, she changed the topic, "Why are you here?"

His eyes bolted up to her face. It's time to test his alibi-making skills.

"My parent and I had a fight. I went away to calm my head down."

"How about Pirika? Where is she?"

"Uhm I guess she's with them, too."

"You guess?" She crossed her arms.

"I mean… I guess she's on their side as well." His heartbeats grew louder. It's hard telling lies.

Silence. He toyed with his fingers, thinking of a way to ask her without making her angry.

"Besides, being hot-tempered is not good for a pregnant woman." He thought.

"Mi… Miss Anna, would you mind if I'd… I'd…"

"Live here?" she supplied, and he nodded shyly. It's nothing new; just like a year ago. She bit her lower lip in concentration as her eyes scanned him, her husband's friend.

"Only if you'd do EVERYTHING I tell you to." She replied after a few moments.

Just as he thought, Anna hadn't changed. He grinned.

"Will you stop smiling, Horohoro? You're annoying me."


He secured the apron by tying the ends behind him into a knot. Really, this hadn't been worn since he left the place before the two were married a year ago. Only he has the right to wear this garment. It is a proof of his loyalty to the Asakura family… especially to her.

He knocked his mind off the thought as piercing pain invaded his right arm.

"OUCH!" He yelled in pain and held the throbbing area immediately.

"Daydreaming, are we? Remember you still have a list to accomplish." The owner of the household scolded him as she held out a long list of tasks to him.

"Yes, Miss Anna." He grinned awkwardly as he scratched his head. Indeed, it's like the good old days.

"Good we understand each other." She mumbled as she turned heel. She hadn't gone far when she heard Horohoro say, "Thank you."

"And what's that supposed to mean?" she placed a hand on her hip.

"Hmm nothing." He casually replied as he turned away and began sweeping the floor. "I just hope you're not sad or something."

Anna paused on her tracks and answered, "You are really weird."

He fell face flat on the ground. "OUCH…" he muttered.


Horohoro woke up in the middle of the night with an aching head. He rolled his right sleeve up and stared at the little bruises he had received from daydreaming too much. Doing all the household chores sure is tiring. He suddenly wondered if he's going to last the way he's instructed to, or at least the way he planned to.

"Patience and control, Horohoro. You should be strong." He commanded himself, and that statement was followed by a grumbling stomach. He almost forgot; he was woken by his need for something to fill his stomach with. Barefoot, he silently walked to the corridor leading to the kitchen. He had prepared tea and a sandwich when he noticed someone outside.

It's Miss Anna. She's under the tree.

He ran due to pure sense of something bad going on, dropping his tea on the process. Cries grew louder as he neared the place.

"I don't want you anymore! I don't need you anymore!" Her screams were being devoured by the chilling dawn air. Horohoro seemed to have stopped in shock as he saw her pounding her abdomen brutally.

"The baby!" his inner self hissed, still he didn't move a muscle. "The baby! Will you let him die? Will you break your promise to Yoh? Will you just stare as Miss Anna hurt herself? Will you? WILL YOU!" The voice inside him finally screamed.

I WON'T!

"Miss Anna!" He rushed to the sob-stricken woman, gripping her hands to stop her from doing any more violent movement.

"I don't need this! I HATE THIS!" Her yells grew louder, but her force died away. She sagged on the ground.

"Why? Why are you killing the baby? Don't you realize it's your baby, that it's Yoh's baby?"

"THAT'S WHY I'M KILLING IT!" She hollered hard on his face, and that struck him.

"I don't want to be reminded of Yoh anymore. I don't want to be reminded of his death. Besides…" she inhaled deeply, let it all out and proceeded, "No one will take care of him anymore with me. I'll be left alone…" She shut her eyes. "It's hard you know."

That's when the Ainu's expression softened. He perfectly understood how suffering from a loved one's death feels like, especially being left alone. He finally comprehended why this is Yoh's only wish for him to serenely merge with the spirits above. Yes, he had been a good husband, and he doubted if he could really be a replacement for him.

Despite the terrible self-doubt, he knew he will try his best. If there's a will, there's a way.

"I can take care of you. No… make that I will take care of you." He put on his most sincere smile as he softened his grip on her wrists. Anna looked at him with a grim face. At once she stood up.
"Never mind. Just go to sleep, will you?" Without any other word of acknowledgement, she walked away.

"W-w-wait for me, Miss Anna. What was that for?" He asked loud, followed by a soft "What the?"

"It's all acting, I guess. Now, go to sleep will you? You have lots of work tomorrow."

"Eh? Acting?" he grumbled. He stood up and watched her take three more steps before yelling, "But… I'll help you. I will, I swear I will."

Time stopped and the chilling wind blew again. After a minute of silence, the lady answered,

"I value your concern, but I know… and I know you know, that no one can replace what Yoh had been in my life. Not even his friend, I tell you." Following that was the closing of the door

"Is it disbelief?" he heard himself ask. He looked up to the skies, and the stars looked down on him as well.

"Yoh, I never thought that the task you asked me to do could be this hard." He whispered. Deep inside, he was shattered to tiny pieces. He never expected her to say that; he thought it was okay. Everything was okay, but it really wasn't.

If there's a will, there's a way. That's his principle. The event might have broken him, but it taught him one lesson: never give up.


The next morning, his real mission began.

"Nothing's more effective on starting a new day than a hearty breakfast." He merrily greeted the chirping birds outside as he put on a clean white shirt. His feet carried him outside his room, but instead of going to the kitchen to cook, he headed to the main door.

"And just where do you think you're going?" his collar was pulled back by someone. He turned his head and saw the homeowner in her morning beauty. That moment, he noticed that her hair had grown midway her back.

"She acts as if nothing happened earlier." He thought.

"Just uh… well, you know, early morning jog." He replied with a hint of uncertainty in his tone.

"And oh, I'll be buying some vegetables for lunch!"

"Oh really?" she raised a brow. "Why do you ask, Miss Anna?" he asked in turn.

"I asked because I smell something fishy." She let go of his collar.

"Ah well… there's nothing fishy here. I swear!" Sweat had formed on his right cheek. "I guess I'd be going now. See you later!" With that, hescurried off.

"At least there's no noise this time." She turned away and closed her eyes.

I will take care of you.

She sighed.

- To be continued -