Chapter three: Power and Fear.

Over the next two weeks I had been able to control my emotions, but it was an ongoing battle and I could tell they were slowly winning me over. Now I was not only feeling sudden rage but other emotions as well. I would be happy one second then felt as if I lost everything the next. I would feel a sudden urge to have control over people, to let them know I was more powerful then them.

Fear no longer existed in my body, when Anna shot me glares I wouldn't even flinch. I would do what she wanted but felt no need to hurry and work very hard. I had been avoiding people as much as I could, I was scared that they would fall victim to one of my sudden mood changes. But one night I was unable to control myself and unfortunately Anna was the target.

The night was so hot that I could not sleep. I lay on top of my covers, wishing that a breeze would cool the house and allow me rest. Sweat covered my chest and forehead like another layer of skin. I had taken of my shirt sometime during the night, hoping that it would cool me down. I looked over at my clock. 4:00 that was all. For once I wished that it were morning. I closed my eyes desperately trying to let sleep take me but was distracted when I heard Anna's door slide open. I listened to her feet cross the wooden floor and down the steps. I was going to just ignore my curiosity of why she was awake but not being able to sleep anyway I got up and walked downstairs.

I found her in the kitchen; her back was turned to me.

"What are you doing up so late?" I asked.

She jumped a little, I must have surprised her.

"I couldn't sleep. You?"

"Same," I watched as she poured herself a glass of water. She was wearing a nightshirt along with a pair of my shorts that I had lent her. I sat down and rested my hand on the table, the cool wood from its surface provided a little relief from the heat. I looked over at her; the moon was full and bathing the kitchen in light causing her hair to glow. Suddenly I was overwhelmed with this sudden feeling of desire to run my hands threw her hair. Before I knew what was happening I was getting up and walking towards her. It felt as if I had no control over my body let alone this powerful emotion inside of me.

Her back was still turned to me, oblivious of my advance. She set down her cup and rested both hands on the counter top. I slid one arm around each side of her waist and rested my hands gently on hers. Anna stiffened, jolting her head up in surprise hitting me in the chin.

I pulled back rubbing my chin. Why had I just done that? Of course I had wanted to do things like that before. I mean I'm a 17-year old guy for crying out loud. But never before had I felt the courage to do something that bold. It was as if some strange power was swirling inside of me. Allowing me the courage and the confidence that I needed.

Anna stood there rubbing the back of her head, sending me death glares.

"What was that?" she demanded, still rubbing the back of her head.

I just stood there, probably looking like a total jackass. But truthfully I didn't know what 'that' was. I walked closer to her, sliding my bare feet across the floor, not really knowing what I was going to do or say when I reached her. To her surprise, and mine as well, I ran my hand through her hair where she had hit her head on my chin. But before I could say sorry for surprising her, my face was hit with her open palm.

"Damn it Anna!" I yelled out. Later on I would regret saying those words. But at the moment I felt no guilt only anger.

She stood there in surprise at my sudden comment, left without words to shoot me down with. Never before had I talked back to her, especially like that.

I rubbed the side of my face, feeling it becoming hot while the pain slowly subsided. The two of us just stood there. Both surprised at each other's actions. I was no longer scared of her and I think she realized that now, and it was frightening her.

"Do I repulse you that much that you can't even stand to have me touch you!?" I yelled out feeling that dull anger inside of me build and spread through my entire body. Before she could speak I turned my back on her and started to walk away.

"Yoh wait!" she called from the kitchen, her voice sounded concerned.

I turned to face her, most of her features were hidden in shadow but I could tell she was looking straight into my eyes.

"You don't repulse me. It's just that, well, you never tried anything like that before and it surprised me, that's all."

I continued to stare at the dark mass that was Anna, hidden in the shadows, searching for her eyes. She slowly walked out of the darkness letting the moonlight flow over her face like water over river stones. She reached out and placed her hand on my cheek she had earlier assaulted. Before she pulled away I slid my hand over hers. This time I could see the expression in her eyes. She did not shoot me looks that could kill and elephant; this time her eyes were a mixture of disbelief and fear.

Fear? Why was she scared? Because she no longer had power over me? No that couldn't be it. Or was it because of her fear, that she was letting me touch her hand?

I let her hand slip out of mine, a small smile came to her face but her eyes still betrayed her true discomfort of the situation. Searching my face for answers to my behaviour.

I knew that I should have left it at that. She would go to her room and I would follow heading into my own room, to try and sleep in the giant oven that was our house. But instead I felt the need to test out this power I now had over her. I bent down and kissed her forehead. I heard her suck in a breath of air as I did this. But still she did not pull away. Amused by this newfound power I had over her, I placed another kiss on her cheek. Still she did not pull away. So I decided to go further.

I slid my arms around her waist and pulled her close to me, into a tight embrace. I could feel her heart pound louder when our chests touched. My eyes shot open in surprise when I felt her arms wrap loosely around my neck, her one hand playing lightly with the string of my necklace. She was still unsure of what was happening. I could feel the hesitance in her touch. I lightly kissed her neck causing her grip around my neck to tighten, and her body temperature to increase even more despite the already hot weather. I pulled back and saw that she had patches of red on her cheeks. I had caused her to blush. To actually be embarrassed. I smiled at this, I enjoyed seeing her uncomfortable.

I leaned towards her and kissed her on the lips, perhaps a little more forcefully then I had intended, but she kissed me back. She slowly started to move back, I didn't know if she was trying to get away but at the moment I didn't care. I followed with my arms wrapped around her. She backed into the wall and leaned against it without breaking the kiss. I pulled away my hands that were around her waist and rested one on the wall beside her head. Leaning in closer to deepen the kiss as my other hand rested on the inside of her leg, slowly traveling up her thigh.

As soon as I did this she immediately pushed me away, her eyes burning with a fury that I had never seen before.

"What the hell are you doing Yoh!" she snapped out at me.

Again I could feel that anger burning inside of me, "What does it look like? I'm pleasuring you!" I spat out at her.

The next thing I knew I saw her right hand rise into the air. I braced myself to get slapped once again, but this time I was met with a closed fist that cracked me right in the jaw. The force was so great that it knocked me off balance and I fell to the ground, slowly the taste of blood filled my mouth as I sat there trying to see clearly. By the time I came to, she was gone and the only indication of where she was, was the loud bang of her bedroom door closing.

I got up still a little dazed; I never knew Anna could punch like that. I walked to the kitchen and leaned my head over the sink. Watching as blood dripped onto its silvery surface. I turned on the tap and washed my face, cleaning off most of the blood, but my mouth still stung. I opened my mouth; carefully I ran my finger along my teeth until I came to one that wiggled.

I couldn't believe it; she almost knocked out one of my teeth. It wasn't as if she wasn't allowing me to touch her. Why did she all of a sudden pull back like that? Taunting me with her sudden change of feelings then, smack, when you least expect it, a fist in the jaw. My hand tightened on both sides of the sink desperately trying to hold back all of the rage that was burning inside of me. I spit into the sink, spraying red all over it's clean surface. The pain was slowly going away but I would be spitting tomato soup for a few days.

I must say, you trying to deal with your new emotions is very amusing. But now I think you realize how powerful they are. I know for a fact that you would have never tried pulling a stunt like that, nor would have Anna let you pull a stunt like that. You see when you tap into our true power you can do anything. Hell you made the invincible Itako a little scared.

"But I don't want to make her scared," I replied coldly.

Or so you think, at the moment.

"At the moment?" I questioned, but those last words echoed in my head until the ringing of my alarm clock woke me up.

I did not get up that morning when I heard Anna open her door and walk down the hall. I listened as I heard her stop at my door for a second. Perhaps debating whether to come in or not. But after a few moments she continued down the hallway.