Author's Note: Thank you to Rays number girl, bOw-doWn-tO-KeiKO, and Keeper of Yoh for reviewing. If not for you guys, I probably wouldn't have the inspiration to continue writing. Here's chapter two, everyone. Much more plot in this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King or any of the characters, etc. Hiroyuki Takei does. The storyline is based on a novel, Fourplay by Jane Moore.

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CHAPTER II

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With the willpower only the former Anna Kyouyama (now Asakura, thank you very much) could muster, she managed to return to the camera shop. On the way there she'd played every scenario she could think of.

Best-case scenario: the smart-ass, smiling lady would be on her break, the photos would be waiting for her on the desk, and she would just grab them and be on her way. Yes, if Anna saw that perky, plastic surgery-enhanced face one more time, she'd punch her lights out. At home, she'd look through the photos, only to find the remaining six, pictures of their family, were indeed there and it was just an unfortunate mix-up.

Worst-case scenario: the very events that were about to take place.

First off, that happy woman was still there.

"Oh it's you! You're back!" she called.

'Yes, it's me and I'm happy to say I have no clones. And of course I'm back. I didn't pay you three hundred yen to never come back and see your face again. Though that would be nice,' Anna thought bitterly.

"Here they are!" Ms. Happy, as Anna had named her (ignoring the handy dandy nametag that read Yuri), slid an envelope over the counter before turning her attention to the next customer.

Without hesitation, Anna grabbed the photographs and was out of there before you could say itako, promising herself she'd buy a digital camera and develop her own photos once this was all over.

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It was a wonder what difference six photographs could make. The envelope was indeed thicker, fuller. Back at the house, Anna made a bee-line for the dining room. She pulled all of the photos out slowly, not knowing what to expect. She didn't realize she was shaking until she dropped the envelope onto the wooden table.

The first picture was of the three of them, Yoh, Hana, and herself. They were making a snowman. Unfortunately, their location was off, seeing as it was directly in the middle of snowboard traffic. Surely enough, the next morning, the snowman was plowed into the ground. All that remained was the carrot used for the nose.

Anna smiled fondly at the memory. They'd made carrot soup that night and left it outside for the wildlife.

Yes, they were animal lovers.

So far so good. Photo number two, ski lift, where she first realized she was afraid of heights.

She decided she'd delayed long enough, quickly counting through the first twenty-nine... only to drop them as she reached thirty.

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Photographs. A plural word she would forever associate as the cause of her first heartbreak. And it was only that morning that she was so in love. But it did now, and the ache inside of her intensified. Because her suspicions from the beginning were confirmed by those damned photographs!

The remaining six photos were of another woman. A lovely, young face, perhaps three or four years younger than Anna herself, was staring back at her in each. And two even had her husband in them; smiling, hugging, kissing. The nerve!

Resisting all violent impulses, Anna tried to clear her head. Didn't she recognize that face somewhere?

Suddenly, it felt like the world had dropped a piano onto her head. Her husband had committed the cliché. He'd had an affair with his secretary.

Everything made sense: the late nights out, the lack of intimacy, the general decaying of their relationship.

Anna wasn't sure if she was outraged, despaired, or both.

Both. Definitely both. Her darling Yoh would be receiving quite a surprise when he came home that day.

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For a woman whose marriage was in jeopardy, the day went about pretty normally. Her son came home from school, did his homework, then settled down for TV and dinner.

She wasn't surprised when Yoh wasn't home for their nightly supper. He was gentlemanly enough to call and tell them he was eating out. He was rude enough to lie.

It was 10:53 PM. The kids were fast asleep, and her husband would be home any minute; at least she hoped so. This confrontation was necessary for her sanity. She wanted answers, damnit!

Well actually, she wanted to beat some sense into her husband with her wedding dress. But that could wait until she knew all the facts.

She was fully prepared for his arrival. In fact, she anticipated it with every fiber of her being. Anna had arranged all six photos on the dining room table in order of intimacy, the very intimacy that seemed to be lacking in the relationship between Yoh and herself.

Their smiling faces made her want to hurl.

Luckily for her – or was it unluckily maybe? She really wanted to puke her guts out – the sound of a door unlocking drew her attention away from her nausea.

She heard footsteps from the hallway. Each second was excruciating. The time had come. 10:58 PM.

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"Anna? You're still up?"

Yoh was slightly surprised, but his face returned to its casual, serene expression.

Anna said nothing. Eventually, Yoh's gaze drifted to the photos beside her on the table.

"I see you've found out."

His calm was maddening. She expected him to be nervous, fidget. He'd just been caught cheating on his wife, after all! But she wasn't going to lose her cool that easily either.

"A picture is worth a thousand words, Yoh. You have six."

"So would you like to slap me six times? One for each photo? Or would you like me to make you $6000? A dollar for each word?"

Anna ignored the remark. "How long?"

Yoh sighed, but did not lose his composure. He seemed uncharacteristically serious.

"A month."

"How can you sneak behind my back for that long? Were you ever going to tell me? I deserve to know, Yoh!"

Anna couldn't control the anger slipping into her voice.

"I was planning to confess as soon as I found a way to tell you without hurting you."

Typical Yoh, still worrying about her. Her temper died down a little, and he saw his chance. Within only two long strides, he held her sobbing form, within his warm embrace. For a moment, everything was okay.

And the next moment, she realized this may be the last time he held her.

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11:02 PM. Yoh was on the sofa in the living room, with Anna cradled gently in his arms. She'd stopped crying, but she refused to allow him to let go. Her eyes were still red and sore from the bittersweet tears.

"Why?" she croaked out finally, "I...I love you."

"And I loved you."

Loved? Past tense?

"...but I guess it wasn't real love. I must've convinced myself I cared about you because we were engaged. I should love my wife-to-be, and it worked. I felt warm inside every time I saw you, but after a while, the warmth died down. I guess the only thing that kept us together was our son. And then I met Machiko and you must know the rest, " Yoh trailed off, before picking off where he left off moments later, "I still care for you. You'll always have a place in my heart."

Anna nodded. She wanted to scream at him, that he not only occupied a place in her heart, he was the only one in her heart.

What did this mean for their future?

"I'll move out in the morning. We'll work out everything else afterwards."

She didn't want him to go, but she knew it was for the best. Divorce was inevitable.

All of a sudden, a loud slap was heard. The sound resonating upon impact bounced off the walls and echoed throughout the room. In surprise, Yoh let go of Anna, shock written all over his face.

Anna smiled inside, glad she finally broke his maddening calm.

"For old time's sake," she explained.

Yoh smiled and bid her goodnight before going to sleep, leaving the blonde to her thoughts.

'Machiko... her name means fortunate child. And what a fortunate child to have stolen the heart of my Yoh.'

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She didn't want morning to come, but here it was. Sunlight leaked through the blinds, rousing her from her sleep. At least in her dreams, she was at peace. She didn't want to deal with the turmoil in her heart at the moment, but she knew she shouldn't – couldn't – run away.

That decided, Anna Asakura woke up alone in her bed for the first time. Yoh had slept in the guest room. The clock on her nightstand read 11:40 AM. She was surprised she woke up so late in the day, being quite the early bird.

'He must've moved out by now. Probably back to his family's estate,' she thought gloomily as she struggled out of bed and looked around the room.

It was true. His nightstand was cleared, and after checking in their large closet, found his side empty of all clothes. The drawers must've been in the same condition, as well as his personal belongings throughout the rest of the house.

She should hate him. But, he still cared for her. Enough to leave her the house with all the furniture, enough to think of an easy way to break it to her. But he didn't love her the way she wished he would.

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"Hello?" a voice inquired.

"Jeanne?"

"Anna? You sound terrible! Are you alright?"

"Please... come over."

A click signified the telephone being hung up. Jeanne had heard enough. Anna saying 'please'? Something terribly tragic must have taken place.

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For once in her life, Jeanne was glad she was jobless. After hanging up the phone, she rushed to the aid of her best friend.

The two sat down for lunch, and Anna told Jeanne everything. About life... about love. Jeanne listened, nodding sympathetically and giving words of advice here and there, wishing desperately there was some way to cheer up the soon-to-be single mother.

Anna sighed, "Men."

"Oh! Oh! This story ought to cheer you up."

"Hm?"

"Alright there's a man dating three women, and all three are pulling all the shots for his attention. One woman brings him to the fanciest restaurant in town. They spend a romantic night together, enjoying dinner and an absolutely beautiful view. The next woman brings them to a club, where they got drunk and danced all night and all that jazz. They had a blast. And the last woman took him for a walk in the park. It was a peaceful night of stargazing and stimulating conversation. So, which one did he pick?"

Anna shrugged.

"The girl with the biggest boobs, of course."

The blonde couldn't help but let out an appreciative laugh. Jeanne smiled, "See, I haven't lost it."

"Thank you, Jeanne. If it wasn't for you... I don't know what I'd do."

"Don't say that! There're plenty of fish in the ocean."

"But I need a man, not a fish."

"You know what I mean."

She couldn't help it. A hope was lit inside her. Jeanne was right! There were plenty of guys out there. She was still young, gorgeous, intelligent…etc. Anna Kyouyama had too much flair to be single for the rest of her life.

Perhaps, her husband would come to realize it, as well, with the help of a few other men…

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to be continued

A/N: Secretary is an original character, because I couldn't bring myself to put any of the Mankin girls in her place. Feel free to hate her, but don't worry she'll be disposed of in the future. Next chapter: Enter Bachelor Number One.