For Better, For Worse
By: FiendisHSerapH

Chapter Three: Perseverance

"Ryu, please help me!" came the pleading voice. Seconds later, the door slid open.
"What are you doing here this early? It's only six a.m." The six feet, four inches tall man yawned and stretched his arms the moment he stepped outside. Upon opening his eyes, he exclaimed, "Hey Horohoro! I thought you went back to the mountains?"
"I… I will explain that later. I need your help. Please?" he whispered.
"Okay then. Just be careful stepping inside; you might wake my children up."


"Oh. So you want me…?"
"Yes. I want you to teach me how to cook."
Silence…
"EH! ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT?" Ryu exclaimed. "But… but I thought you said you hate cooking?"
"That's way, way before." He pouted. "Gosh, I can't believe you still remember that."
"But are you sure?" he faced the blue-haired ice shaman with a scrutinizing eye.
"Yes." Gulp. "I am sure."
"Well then, let's get started!" Ryu grinned. "Wait here; I'll prepare the things."
"ALL RIGHT!" Horohoro raised an eager fist on the air.


"What time is it?" Anna waited for a reply as she tapped her foot on the floor. "And where are the vegetables?"
Horohoro scratched the back of his head once again as he formulated an answer. "Err… I forgot my wallet." He replied with a forced chuckle.
"Where have you been all the time?" He felt the impact on the itako's voice grow stronger. "It's eleven-thirty already; you've spent five hours outside. You've abandoned your chores here!"
"Miss Anna… please don't be angry at me. It's bad for the baby." He reached out a hand to her, signaling her to calm down. She stopped immediately as she sensed the sincerity in his tone.
"Hmph, get inside." She abruptly turned away as soon as she felt her anger sapped away by the man's concern. "Prepare the table and give me the pot."
Horohoro complied and the moment Anna reached for it, she pointed;
"What are those cuts on your hands? Where did you get them? Have you been on a fight?" Another scratching of head followed.
"Uh… I tried cooking on Ryu's place, but yeah… I didn't do well."
"Oh, and the explains why you're gone." She grabbed the pot and filled it with water. "You liar." She grumbled. "I'm sorry." He muttered. Anna heard it, but it seemed like she didn't want to accept it. Soon enough, someone knocked on the door. Anna, who was then nearer the hall, opened it.

"Hello, Anna."
"Oh Ryu. What brings you here?"
"Miss Anna, who… WHAAA---?" Horohoro exclaimed upon seeing who the visitor was.
"Horohoro?" Ryu was wide-eyed. "I… I didn't know you're…"
"What is it?" Anna turned to her housemate, who in turn dashed beside the visitor to cover his mouth.
"Uh… uh… he was just surprised… at how lovely you are now." He poked his friend hard at the back. "RIGHT?" He asked through gritted teeth.
"Ah yeah." Ryu forced a smile. "In fact… no wonder Yoh fell in love with you… oops."
The itako suddenly turned somber. "Would you mind coming in?" she asked and they followed.


"Ma'am Anna hadn't come out from her room since I came." Ryu took a mouthful of the sukiyaki he brought with him. "I think she's still too affected of Master Yoh's loss." His eyes looked down on the extra bowl and chopsticks sitting beside his.
"Who can blame her anyway?" Horohoro sighed.
"And… may I ask why you're here then?" Ryu questioned and Horohoro choked about. After drinking two full glasses of water, he replied;
"Because I…" No use telling him the quarrel-with-parents thing, he thought. "I… just want to comfort her, that's all." Following his last word was Anna's coughs.
"Miss Anna!" he jumped off from his seat and darted to her room.
"HUH? He heard that?" Ryu raised a brow as he followed.

Horohoro's eyes went wide in shock as he saw the lady coughing and vomiting on the bowl.
"M-Miss Anna! Are you alright?" He glided his palm along her back.
Ryu, who was then standing by the door, just stared as the blue-haired guy comforted the coughing lady. When everything was calm, the Ainu asked, "Are you sick or something?"
Ryu sliced in, "Are you, by any chance, pregnant?"

"HOW DID YOU KNOW?" Horohoro reacted violently and Ryu facefaulted.
"What. The. Hell! I am a father now, therefore I should know."
"Two weeks." Anna mumbled, still choking. Horohoro proceeded calming her down.
"I understand. That's morning sickness, Ma'am Anna." Ryu ran and searched in their medicine cabinet for something. Then, he went to the fridge to get some water. "Here, Ma'am Anna. Drink this and you shall go and have some bed rest." Together, they assisted the woman to her room. Horohoro was amazed on how Ryu acted on the situation. He concluded that he should be like that to fulfill his task well. He should never give up.


"Tell me, Ryu." Horohoro asked after telling the mission Yoh had given him, skipping the emotional part of course.
"What?"
"Do I…" He let his chopsticks clang on the bowl's edge. "Can I… safeguard Miss Anna well?"
"Of course you can!" Ryu exclaimed. "You know, you're one of the most stubborn people I've ever met, so I strongly believe you can." He patted the slouching lad on the shoulder.
"Thanks, man." He smiled shortly. "So… upon saying that…" he slowly turned to the tall man, wearing a wide grin.
"W-what? Come on; take of that grin. You're scaring me."
"Can we have a second term on your cooking classes?" He proceeded.
Ryu patted the man's shoulder louder and laughed, "Sure we can! It's for dinner, right?"
"You bet!" Horohoro beamed as well.

If there's a will, there's a way.


New strength was given to him by his friend. Bringing with him an assuring pat on the shoulder, he ran back to his beloved's home. From a distance he could clearly see her waiting by the door. Upon reaching the last step of the stairs, he stretched his arms, waved one on the air and said, "I have returned!" while wearing his biggest smile.

It seemed like time had stopped for Anna… or more like, it had moved back to a time when everything was about to be sad.

"When will you come back?" She asked while he his beloved fixed his shoelace.
"After three weeks or so."
"Please be careful, Yoh."
"Of course I will!" he wore his biggest smile; the one Anna would surely miss.
He held his wife close, cupped his hands on her face, and then stated, "I promise I will return."
"But what if you don't?" The woman was anxious.
"If I don't, then I will send someone to guide you." He looked up as a hawk flew overhead. Staring at her face for the last time, he pressed his lips on her forehead and said farewell.

Could he be? Is he back?
A tear fell down the concrete.

"Miss Anna? Why are you crying?" Worry overflowed in Horohoro's voice as he walked closer.
Wiping it off with one hand, Anna replied, "Stupid. It's just sweat." Then she began walking inside.
Shrugging, the man called her. She turned back, annoyed. "What is it?"
"Supper's ready."
"Yes. There's some left from what Ryu brought here. It's by the oven." She walked three small steps when Horohoro corrected,
"I was the one who cooked that for you."
She ran out of clever remarks, obviously astonished.
"Come on; I'm starving!" He ran to the door, holding Anna's left hand in the process.

Yoh, are you back?


Three knocks fell on the door. No reply, thereforethey werefollowed by another four.
"Wait a second, please! Why are you in a hurry?" Doctor Kazegawa rushed to the door and opened it. There, she found someone soaked and wet.
"What are you planning to do with your life going here without any raingear?" she asked. It took her a moment to recognize who her visitor was.
"Oh, Mister Newbie Caretaker…" she smiled. "What can I do for you?"
Horohoro looked at her with imploring eyes then asked hesitantly, "Can I… can I…?"
She understood it.

"Sure you can."

- To be Continued -

Author's Notes: YEAH! Still kicking though assignments had buried me alive. Thanks for those people who commented nicely and otherwise on this fic... especially to Vulpixi Misa who added my story to her HoroAnna C2 community. Gosh, I feel so honored. Promise, I'll post more HoroAnna fics for your delight! Thanks once again and please review this short chapter.