Ch 2. Evening Melancholy

The sun had already sunk beneath the horizon when the itako made her way back. She entered what seemed like an empty house with no one to greet her. But she knew he was there, his presence always radiating.

Surely enough, she found him sitting outside on the porch, with his back facing the house. His position permitted an admirer to study him. A slender girl, with shoulder length hair and a timid disposition, stood at the side of the sliding doors, just a few feet away from Yoh.

Of course he had to have noticed the other girl; he only feigned oblivion. He also had to been aware that she, Anna, had stepped into the house. But with both of their backs turned to her, Anna allowed herself to stare at them. On Yoh, broadness replaced what were once slim shoulders. His arms were behind him, palms lying flat on the deck to support his weight. The muscles in the back of his arms and forearms stood out defined and more apparent.

Many feelings within her stirred, yet her expression remained blank.

Almost in a whisper she said, "Tamao, when will dinner be ready?"

The startled girl turned around abruptly, a motion that resembled a clumsy jump.

"Ha—hai, Anna-san. Uh…Gomen---"

"Welcome back Anna," the shaman said without moving from his spot. He only turned his head towards her direction. The warm grin on his face elicited nothing more than a blank stare from Anna.

She turned back to Tamao. "When?"

"Gomen. Soon. Gomen!" The rosy color spread further on Tamao's face.

"Then, I'll be in my room for now." With that, Anna walked away while Yoh had remained in the same spot. After a good distance between them increased, she heard him say, "Tomao, are you making my favorites today?" By the time she reached the stairs, they were no longer within earshot. Nothing more could have reached her anyway; she had fallen deep into her own contemplation.

"Why are you faltering now, Anna?" she asked herself in a whisper.

When Yoh came into the room, he found a pensive Anna gazing out of the window. Her long, blond hair was pulled over her right shoulder while the ends draped her breasts. She was biting on her lower lip. A rare sight. Her bottom lip had swelled to a deep crimson where she had bit it.

"Anna, dinner is ready."

She motioned towards him without a word and his heart beat quickened its pace.

But she only walked right past him.

Turning around, he just smiled at her back, letting out a sigh afterwards. It seemed he was getting too familiar with the view of her back.

They ate dinner together in the usual manner; dinner was always with just the three of them now. But in the last few weeks Anna ceased to join in their conversation. She only spoke when necessary, answering questions with too few words, if she even answered at all.

"I heard that Manta-kun was coming back for a visit next week? Is that true?"

Yoh gave a boyish laugh, which only made Tamao blush. "It reminds me. I wonder if he's grown any. But yes, that's true. He found time to take a small break. It's been awhile since we all got together hasn't it?"

"That's great! When he comes over, I'll prepare a big feast."

"If Tamao makes a big feast, then I'm really going to look forward to Manta's visit even more," Yoh chimed. He was met by the girl's blush once more. The moment was cut short when the sound of Anna's knees banging against the table interrupted. Yoh briskly placed his hands on the table to steady it. He looked at her oddly, because Anna was usually not clumsy.

She just looked at him and coolly inserted, "Tamao, thank you for dinner. It was delicious as usual."

"Oh, it's nothing," Tamao replied nervously.

"Tamao, I'll do the dishes since you cooked," Yoh volunteered. He began collecting the empty bowls and plates before the girl could protest.

Normally, Anna would have been watching a television program, but at this time she yearned for reclusion. She went to bathe after their meal. It was funny because she used to scold Yoh for bathing after he ate. But right now there were too many things on her mind for her to care about that. The night sky was unfolding and infinite stars glimmered within it. A single maple leaf had fallen into the hot spring and floated in front of her. She examined its fire-like color for a bit, before letting her gaze fall past the leaf and to her underwater belly. She placed her left hand on her stomach and gently squeezed it.

And scoffed.

This feeling of having no direction was rare for Anna.

Following her bath, Anna slipped into a cream robe and sat on top of the futon in her bedroom. She ran a small comb through her damp mane, not acknowledging Yoh, who had slipped through the doorway and was now watching her.

He took notice of her loosely tied rob; it slipped off a little on one side, exposing a shoulder and her bare neck. Something roused inside him. Without warning, he turned to the only burning lantern and blew it out.

The darkness allowed him to lose his inhibitions.

Anna gave no reaction other than setting her comb down. Not even when Yoh walked over and crouched down before her.

Taking those as signs of submission, Yoh placed his hands on her shoulders and gently pushed his wife down onto the futon.

Revised & reposted 10/30/05