Sweet Christmas Idiot
CHAPTER 1: "Alone"
Author's notes: Yes I know, another annoying Christmas story, hopefully this one is tolerable. I haven't posted anything in a long time. This was actually a story I started I think last year a month before Christmas (yes I've had it for that long) the plan is TO POST THE FIRST CHAPTER TODAY AND THE SECOND TOMORROW. I don't know how many people will read it if they read it but if you're reading this, I want to THANK YOU for taking the time. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks
Anna cuddled the blanket draped around her thin frame more closely. The heating system was broken, and at the end of December non-the less, a very COLD December. In which she happened to be all alone for the present time. Yoh had gone to accompany his knuckle-head friends to the train station where they would each go to their respectable villages, cities and families to spend the holidays. For this she was thankful. She had spent way too long enduring their idiotic conversations and fights. All in all she was tired of everything, and had been begging for a holiday.
Everyone was out it seemed for even Manta had left with his dad yesterday to spend the holidays in some warm island. Tamao had also gone home, claiming she'd been called in early for the holidays and with her left Ponchi and Conchi.
And so the house was empty, except for her, unconsciously she shivered, not because of the cold but because she realized this was the first time she was all alone in the house since Yoh had left to find Dobey village, three years ago. She hugged the blanket closer to her body while cursing the repairman. Worse of all they were suppose to freeze to death until he finally showed up. Once again she was getting absorbed into the tv show when she heard the outside door slip open and soft steps approaching, steps she recognized all too well.
"Man, it's freezing in here!" Said Yoh as he slipped the tv room's door open to find a pile of blankets wrapped around something with a mass of blonde hair. He stopped to take in the image before laughing at the picture she made, causing the blonde to turn around and give him a deadly glare.
"Sorry Anna, it's just… you look like a snow man. But instead of snow you have blankets!"
"I'm so glad you find this funny because the repair man called and due to a 'family emergency' the heating won't be fixed till at least Monday"
The laughing died off and Yoh collapsed on the floor.
"So we're going to be freezing for at least the next THREE days then?" Asked Yoh NOT happy with the news.
"Either that or first thing tomorrow morning you go buy a portable heater from the hardware store" She replied while turning back around to face the TV.
"Hey that's a great idea Anna! But we'll need two for each of our bedrooms"
"We can't afford two, baka"
Yoh smiled his happy go lucky smile and sat close to the girl.
"Does that mean we get to sleep together then?" He asked in an innocent tone.
"Wouldn't be the first time" She replied casually. It was the truth, they'd slept in the same bed on and off for a while now. But they only did it when the house was empty, neither wished to wake up to the teasing comments of his friends or un-proper comments and questions from Horohoro. So they kept their sleeping and affection arrangements to when they were alone.
"Anna can we share the blanket? I'm kinda cold" He confessed although he was still wearing his coat. Anna turned her head to look at his pleading smile, and nodded softly. Her hidden hands began taking off the blanket and handing a side of it to Yoh. He noticed she too was wearing her coat underneath the very large blanket and smiled at how cute she looked. Taking the side of the offered blanket he scooped closer, smiling as he felt her snuggle against him, he placed his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him and joined the end of the blanket with the other end. Soon there was one fat pile of something wrapped around a blanket with two heads sticking out of it.
"Where did you get such a huge blanket Anna?"
"I found it in my closet, I don't remember having it… it's probably a carpet, but it's clean and warm"
Yoh chuckled at the confession.
"Did you drop them off alright?" She asked referring to his friends.
"Yeah, Len and Horo fought all the way there but I know it's only cause they'll miss each other"
Anna smirked softly. "I think they'll be more happy without each other"
"Naw, they like to fight because they're friends… but at the end they'll miss each other" She rested her head against his shoulder.
"Whatever you say Yoh" She replied sceptically. That boy had too much faith but to try to convince him he was wrong was harder than getting him to train non-stop for a week. She sighed, feeling warm for the first time in hours. She felt something warm touch her hair, looking up a little she noticed that Yoh had just placed a kiss on that spot. She smiled, searching for his hand under the blanket and finding it, before covering it with her own.
"You're still so cold Yoh" She whispered as she reached for the hand around her shoulder to check its temperature.
"It's really cold outside, but they'll warm up in no time" But Anna wasn't so sure, she pushed his arm off her shoulder. But just when he was about to apologize for doing god-knows-what wrong that caused her to pull away, he felt both of his hands being enveloped in a warm hug. His eyes widened in surprise but he smiled lovingly as she held both hands in hers and rubbed them. A few minutes passed till she was convinced they were warm enough and released them. Instead of bringing his now warm hands down he placed them on either side of her cheek and leaned over so their foreheads were touching. He smiled.
"Thanks" He whispered before delivering a sweet kiss upon her lips. She kissed back, not afraid to open her mouth and let his warm kiss fill her.
She adored the feeling that burned inside of her every time he was holding her, or kissing her. Unfortunately those times were not nearly as often as she wished. They continued kissing, not noticing when they fell on the ground, the tv still on.
Anna found these situations somewhat amusing because of how they always ended up. Yoh would usually be on top of her, been careful enough not to crush her with his weight and she would lie there, just lie and enjoy as his lips claimed hers. It had been too long since they had done this, last time must have been six months ago when the house had been more or less empty. Though she couldn't deny the stolen kisses and touches that they managed to sneak in.
This last thought reminded her of a certain conversation Yoh and her still had to have about a certain pink haired girl. They'd been able to avoid uncomfortable situations with Tamao so far. The girl had never caught them kissing or so she thought but lately Tamao had been acting strange.
Anna was careful to end their kisses swiftly, taming the fire little by little and in doing so bringing their passion to a rest. Yoh pulled his lips away but one of his hands still lingered on her face, tracing her features as if she was the most fragile of things. He didn't need her to talk to know something was bothering her, just one look into her eyes and he knew something was in her mind.
"What's wrong?" His voice was hushed and husky. Anna could feel his warm breath close to her mouth, his face was just a couple of inches away.
"Have you noticed anything strange in Tamao lately?"
"Yeah" The answer shocked her, she expected a no from her oblivious fiancée.
"Do you think she saw us?" She asked, knowing he understood what she meant.
Suddenly Yoh collapsed beside her, his hands gently bringing her to her side to face him, soon they were both on their sides facing each other. He smiled sheepishly, finding this a bit more comfortable on the arms.
" It's not like we're doing anything wrong Yoh, we ARE engaged. And we DO love each other but…"
"But she's still our friend and she might still like me" Anna raised a curious eyebrow.
"Might?" She asked sceptically.
"Remember when Len got sick and she stayed to take care of him? They've been getting pretty cozy since then"
"So she might be over you?"
"Maybe… but I am pretty unforgettable" He was teasing her, challenging her to prove him wrong and she knew it. He was been playful and cocky a sign that he was relaxed, she smiled deciding to indulge him.
"On second thought you're probably right, they might be getting engaged as we speak" Yoh chuckled and brushed some bangs away from her face. "Do you think that's why she's been acting weird? Because she might be growing feelings for Len?"
"Anything's possible" He replied smiling.
"But… Len?" At that Yoh couldn't help but laugh. He had to agree, Len did seem a little too opposite for her but maybe that's what made them such a great couple. Anna and him were so different, yet he felt like the luckiest man alive to have her in his arms. His gaze softened as he looked at her and she noticed it right away.
Smiling she rested her forehead against his, this caused him to smile more. He wrapped both his arms around Anna, holding her to him and Anna did the same. They did this sometimes, just held each other and talk on the other's ear about anything.
"When do we have to leave for Izumo?"
"One week"
Yoh sighed, burying his nose in her neck as he spoke.
"What do you want to do for Christmas?"
"We don't celebrate Christmas" She replied. Christmas was a Christian holiday, they weren't Christian so they didn't celebrate it, however New Year's was what they did celebrate but for that they would be celebrating it in Izumo with Yoh's family this year.
"It doesn't mean we can't have fun and go with it. We can even give each other presents!" Anna pulled back from his hug to look him in the eye. She gave him a 'glare' that said I can't believe you. "Oh c'mon Anna, it'll be fun!"
An idea occurred to Anna as she watched his childish plea.
"So you want a present?"
"Sure"
"Ok, I'll give you a present" A devilish smile appeared on her lips before she pressed her mouth against his in an open mouth kiss. He was shocked to say the least, he found himself flat on his back with Anna on top of him, her tongue dancing inside his mouth and her hands working miracles with his chest, teasing him by grazing his hips with her fingers and going back up, kissing him like there was no tomorrow. There was nothing innocent about it, yet it felt so pure, he felt like if he stopped she would vanish.
In one strong motion he had her under him again, the blanket still wrapped around them, granting them extra warmth. He found all this pure pleasure yet pure torture, to have her but not have her at all. He felt like his insides were burning, his body was responding to her attentions, yet he didn't know how to relieve it. They both had heavy winter jackets on but he could feel the warmth of her skin radiating through the thick clothing, then he pulled away, he couldn't take it anymore.
Their eyes met as their chests rose and fell heavily. Their lungs pulling as much air as possible as they kept their gazes locked on each other. Yoh was the first one to smile, then Anna.
"Best present ever" He whispered. Anna just rolled her eyes, more out of habit than with meaning.
"I'm hungry, go make dinner" She ordered softly. Her voice sounded… teasing. Anna would always be Anna no matter what, yet whenever they were together like this it was as if another side of her took over. A side that teased, worried, kissed, surprised, laughed. That's why for the past year he had tried to be alone with her more often, she was a drug, and once you got a little taste of the real unmasked her you couldn't get enough. At least that's the way he secretly looked at it.
(((((((((I am aware I used that same metaphor in my past story)))))))))))
His little romantic comparison caused him to grin, he was becoming a true romantic, or was it a hentai? All he knew was that spending all that time with Horo and Ryu must have done something to his brain. Anna caught the strange grin that glazed his lips and decided to investigate it further.
"Yoh, your becoming such a hentai" She told him, he blushed, looking at her alarmed. What had started out as a teasing statement became cause for alarm at least in her part. Could it true that her sweet, childish innocent Yoh was being perverted? Her expression must have revealed something for Yoh took no time to stand up and run to the kitchen but not before saying a quick
"I'll go make dinner"
She let him, after all questionings could come later, it wasn't like he was going anywhere tonight unless he was planning on waking up frozen.
Making dinner was pretty hard for him to do. Especially when it was so cold, but he managed just fine after placing his hands close to the stove's fire. He cooked dinner slowly, well as slowly as his own stomach would let him. It was just Anna and him tonight and only her to yell at him. It was so strange how every time they were alone the world around them just seemed to slow down. It would be perfect if one he wasn't freezing to death.
Dinner was done in half hour, much to their stomach's gratitude. They ate side by side, sharing the over sized blanket as they sipped their warm soup and steal glances at each other every so often. Finally after fifteen minutes of this gaze-chase Anna broke a smile, causing Yoh to chuckle.
"C'mon Yoh, it's late we should get to bed" She said, if circumstances had been different Yoh would had complained. But since this time 'going to bed' meant having her beside him he was just happy to comply.
Just when Yoh was going to get up to put the dishes away he felt Anna's hand on his arm stopping him.
"Leave it, you'll do them tomorrow"
"Are you that tired?" He asked, not sure he'd heard right.
"No… but you give extra warmth and it's too cold" She sounded like a child explaining why she shouldn't go to bed, because the day would end.
"Ok" After the quick reply, Anna stood up just to find herself in Yoh arms quicker than she could say "put me down" But she let him, just this time she would actually let him carry her god-knows-where. His smile never faltered as he picked her slender frame up and was surprised to realize how little she weighed. She'd given him triple her weight worth of metal weights when training many times before. Yoh made a mental note to make her eat more in the future it just wasn't normal for her to be so light. He argued whether to tell her or not but he figured if he did she would just be on the look-out for her food portions.
As he walked with her in his arms he became aware of how close she was, of the smell of her hair, the smell of her skin even the warmth of her body. It was incredible how something so light and tiny could give out so much warmth.
He went up the stairs with little effort, having more trouble with the hanging huge blanket than with the load in his arms. Anna didn't even glare at him while going up, she knew he wouldn't drop her, so all she did was close her eyes and relax. Soon she opened her eyes to find that Yoh was standing in front of her bedroom door.
His silent sleeping arrangements question was answered by Anna nodding her head in favour. They would be sleeping in her room tonight, they seemed to choose her room more than his, probably because her room had a fixed futon instead of the portable one in Yoh's room. Once in her room Yoh released Anna, placing her gently on her feet.
"You should go grab something warm and comfortable to sleep in Yoh, its way too cold to wear our Yukatas"
He nodded and disappeared out the door, leaving the warm blanket behind. Anna walked to her drawers and proceeded by trying to find something appropriate to wear. But she wasn't the kind to wear anything but her black dress, however she seemed to recall the faint memory of buying sweatpants about a year ago. She searched for the pants but found a long sleeved shirt instead, happy but not content with her unexpected find she proceeded by searching in her small closet.
"Finally" She mumbled after finding the blue sweatpants neatly folded somewhere in her closet. She wasted no time on putting the clothes on, they were loose and comfortable to wear but most importantly, they were warm. Unconsciously she shivered under the blanket and walked toward the futon, once there she sank under the covers. Even her nose felt cold right now.
Yoh walked into the room wearing a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt. He looked around the room for Anna but couldn't see her.
"Anna?"
The bundle at the bed moved, a hand reached to pull down the cover on her face.
"There you are" He chuckled.
"It's too cold"
"That can be fixed"
He wasted no time getting on the warm bed and scooping as close to Anna as possible. They quickly made themselves comfortable. Anna tucked her face against the warm skin of his neck. They were scooped so close together that Yoh thought he could hear her heart beating. On her part Anna felt happier than she'd felt in months.
"Anna?"
"Umm?"
"What do you want to do for the week? I mean we can do whatever we want. It's only You, Amidamaru and I"
"We'll talk about it tomorrow Yoh, for now just stay put and be a good pillow"
He chuckled, he would be more than happy to comply once again.
Bright sunrays made their way into the plain white room. Though bright they offered no warmth in the freezing room. An hour later a head shook a little, finding everything around her pitch black she became disoriented yet she felt radiant heat under her fingerprints and arms. Slowly her mind began to remind her of yesterday's events, she then realized that she blanket was covering both their faces, making it dark. This thought alarmed her for it was possible they slept the morning off.
She blinked, trying to focus her gaze and make out a shape but to was too dark.
'This thing's not only warm, it's also as thick as Yoh's head.' She thought, because of his even breathing she was sure he was still sleep. 'Of course he's still sleeping, if I didn't wake him up he would sleep all day!' deciding to test the temperature of the room her hand carefully made its way out the warmth zone and into the freezer that was the outside world. The temperature shock came fast, causing her to hide her hand back, the jerking movement caused Yoh to stir.
Slowly he was brought back to awareness only to be confused by the darkness of the day. It took him a minute to take in his surroundings. The darkness wasn't as much a trouble to him as it was to Anna, after all he had spent a week in the tunnel of Tartarus where it was way darker than this. Plus here he felt warm, he began noticing the warm arms wrapped around his torso and the light weight on his shoulder. He moved his arm from his stomach just a little toward his face to find an arm blocking the way somewhere in the middle.
He gently followed it, glazing up the soft skin. Been careful enough so not to wake its tender owner. However the careful touch was too ticklish for her for she moved her arm away in an attempt to stop it, this alerted her of his awakened state.
"That tickles" She said in a normal voice, no amusement in it. Yoh turned his face toward the voice and blindly smiled thought she could not see it. Much to Yoh's surprise his vision suddenly became clear and although he couldn't see as well as with normal light he could still make out her silhouette and face. He guessed his Shaman powers were allowing him to see well in the dark.
He watched her face carefully, noticing how her eyes looked in the darkness. So bright and light filled (like with infra-red cameras) her features still sleep filled and hair messy. To him she looked adorable; carefully he leaned in to deliver a soft kiss against her lips.
"Morning Anna" He whispered. In return she smiled, thinking he couldn't see it.
"Morning"
"Why is it so dark?"
"Blanket"
"Oh, why do we still have the blanket over our heads?"
"Check for yourself" She instructed him, taking a certain pleasure on knowing how he would jerk. Unfortunately she didn't consider that unlike her he would actually uncover his head. Fortunately for her she noticed his intention and stayed protected as he did so, in seconds he pushed the blanket onto himself once more, his nose red and cheeks cold bitten. He shuttered, Anna allowed some giggles to come thought her frame.
Again they were under the warm blanket, where it was pitch black, with an Itako furiously fighting to contain any trace of laughter, and a frozen Shaman King.
"Anna! You should've warned me!" He whined, the reproach sounding more like a joke than anything else. But she kept muffling her laugh, his face at that moment when he had gotten the temperature shock just too priceless to stay solemn.
She didn't say anything as she quieted down until she wasn't laughing any more. He covered his cheeks with his hands trying to warm them. Anna felt some guilt coarse through her, after all it had been her fault for not warning him. Silently she took her hands and covered his cheeks with them as she delivered a kiss on his nose. Although she couldn't really see his eyes she was sure his eyes were shining like they did every time she touched him.
As if apolitically she pulled his face toward her neck, her hands going to the back of his neck as she did so. Soon his face made contact with the skin on her neck and the cloth on her shirt. He stayed there, both afraid to move and stop the comfort. Anna kept her hands on Yoh back, stroking the back of his head with all possible tenderness and care.
If she had to choose a word to describe her life it would have to be "cold" cold because she truly wasn't able to be much more than that. Or so she believed. But Yoh had never bought that, ever. He had spent years showing her otherwise, and slowly but surely he'd done it. She felt warm now, for the first time in her life she had the love she had been denied for so long. The love that not even her mother, her own mother had given her.
She'd been denied any type of comfort only because of whom she was, because she was the daughter of her mother and the great lord Kyoyama. Not the love child of her mother with 'the' other man, the child her mother DID loved and cherished, Anna's sister.
The thought almost slashed her heart, she tried not to think about it everyday of her life but in days like this she remembered. And right now, with Yoh's head nuzzled against her neck, her hands around his neck and shoulders with their limbs entangled, she couldn't help but remember what she hadn't had until a year ago.
"Anna… what's wrong?" As always he knew when she was sad.
"Nothing"
He slipped his arms around her frame, managing to pass them both under her back in order to squeeze her chest and waist against him. He began to deliver gentle kisses against her neck, his face now completely warmed.
"Yoh… don't… we have to buy the heater, or we'll freeze to death" She managed to moan out. She was enjoying this a little too much and if she didn't stop it now they would never get out of bed.
"We could always just stay in bed and keep each other warm" He whispered innocently, well as innocently as one kissing his way downward could sound.
"Hentai" Much to her shock the accusation sounded like a compliment. Just a year ago she would have slapped him to space if he ever said something like that to her, but right now she didn't have the strength or the wish to. His kisses reached the neck of her shirt, pausing there for a moment as if to give their owner time to think this through. She took this as a wake up call to get up.
"Yoh"
"Uh hu?"
"Either you get off me, right now or you sleep in your room ALONE and COLD tonight."
He sighed, not sounding in the least upset, just amused. This was his Anna all right, and in all fairness she was right. She was almost always right, she was the voice of reason in his mind and reason was usually right so without a word he got off and prepared for the temperature shock.
Anna laid there feeling somewhat guilty for ending their 'warm' moment but she quickly slapped it off as usual. She couldn't let reason take a walk that easily, especially with their priorities being so important right now. Plus there was really no rush, his friends were ALL out of town and they were alone in the pension. They would have time… later.
Anna sighed while looking at the mirror. She wore a pair of black dress pants (not her PJ's) and a turtle neck shirt. Staring at herself felt… weird. These were clothes she never even knew she had until now. Well she 'remembered' buying it, being the cautious 'better safe than sorry' person that she was she'd taken time to actually buy three different pairs of pants and a couple of warm long sleeved shirts with a sweater. Which until now had sat on her closet waiting to be worn.
But her reflection looked so different. A soft knock on the door brought her to the door where Yoh stood also wearing his warmest clothing. (Compliments of Anna who had pushed him last winter into buying something)
He smiled lovingly at her. Her red bandana was wrapped around her neck as a scarf.
"Ready to go?"
"Yeah"
They walked down the stairs to find Amidamaru waiting for them downstairs.
"Will you be going out?"
"Yeah, we're going to go buy a portable heating unit. It's too cold inside"
"Coldness is one thing I do not miss."
"Yeah you're lucky" Joked Yoh. "Do you want to have breakfast first Anna?"
"It's late and we don't want the store to close"
"But Miss Anna it is only morning, it will not close so early"
"We don't know, not too many people venture into the streets right now. For all we know the man might get lazy and decide to close early."
"Yes, but I shall accompany you in case the storm comes in early"
"What storm Amidamaru?" Yoh feared his guardian ghost's answer.
"According to the weather man a heavy snow storm is heading our way and it is expected to hit Funbari within the next twelve hours"
"Great, just what we needed!" Anna couldn't believe her ears, it was as if the clouds were plotting something against them. Some kind of revenge against anyone and everyone, just thinking of how nice and warm Manta must be, resting in some hot tropical island made her envy the shorty.
"Yoh, check the kitchen and see if we have enough food to last us at least a week"
"A week? But Anna the storm can't last 'that' long"
"It's better to be prepared than starving, go check while I phone the repair man again. I will threaten his life if he doesn't come right this minute to fix the stupid heat! And I don't care about his stupid family emergency!"
She yelled the last part as she walked toward the phone, she was pissed and Yoh knew better than to defy her while she was like this. It was just too dangerous. He recognized the worry in her anger though. She was worried, worried for their health and welfare. He and Amidamaru quickly headed to the kitchen to check for food.
"So the fridge is half full… and the cabinets are… kinda empty"
"Will you need to buy a lot master Yoh?"
"No, I don't think so. It should be enough for a few days but we still need stuff…I'll ask Anna"
As Yoh headed outside to ask his fiancée he stopped by a corner and listened to her conversation with the repair man which was truly too hard NOT to hear.
"I DON'T CARE IF HE'S NOT IN TOWN, FIND HIM!"
"……………………"
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN OUR HOUSE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE?"
"…………………."
"THERE CAN'T BE ONLY ONE REPAIR MAN IN ALL FUNBARI!"
"………………………"
"I DON'T GIVE A DAMN THAT THEY ALL BELONG FROM THE SAME FAMILY, ONE SHOULD HAVE STAYED BEHIND"
"………."
"DO YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS A SNOW STORM COMING OUR WAY! WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSE TO DO, FREEZE TO DEATH FOR THEIR STUPID FAMILY EMERGENCY?"
"……………………………….."
"A BABY? WE ARE FREEZING FOR A BABY! WHAT? A DEATH? A BABY OR A DEATH?……….. BOTH? WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE GRANDMOTHER HAD A HEART ATTACK!………….. I DON'T CARE! LISTEN TO ME, THEY BETTER BE BACK BY TOMORROW OR ELSE THE NEXT FUNERAL THEY'LL BE ATENDING WILL BE THEIR OWN, I PROMISE!"
She hanged up, angered and worried. How could someone be that stupid? These were human lives they were talking about, people that could get sick. She sighed as she kept staring at the phone, so deep in thought that she didn't hear Yoh walking toward her. Once he was close enough he slipped both arms around her waist and squeezed her to him.
"We're going to be ok Anna" He whispered against her ear.
"How can you know Yoh? When the storm starts the temperature will drop even more. We can freeze to death…" The last part she said it more to herself than to him.
He turned her around in his arms and tried to meet her eyes but her hair was shielding her face and eyes. Not a good sign.
At that moment he realized just how worried she was about this. She was truly worried about them freezing to death. Somehow the thought just didn't sound as important to him, freezing to death wasn't something that happened, it was something from a movie, wasn't it? Even if it wasn't, he wouldn't let her come to harm ever. They would be ok because they were together, didn't she know that?
He hugged her, moving one of his arms from her waist to her neck. He placed her head on his shoulder, hugged her to him as close as he could. She didn't move back or closer, or returned the hug, just stayed in place like a child.
"Tell me Anna, are you cold right now?" He asked her.
"Yoh…"
"Are you?" He nuzzled the top of her head as she shook her head no.
"Then stop worrying, if it gets too cold we can just snuggle and we'll be fine. We're together Anna and I would never let anything harm you"
Her arms reached for him, holding him for dear life. He had changed, but not in a bad way, on the contrary… he'd grown up. Just a year ago he would have walked away and not bothered her after hearing her yell at the man. But just now he had known her better than that and had sensed her worry disguised as anger.
She mumbled some weird words into his jacket as she held him.
"What did you say?"
She looked up a little to meet his gaze.
"I said… I love you" He smiled, a toothy smile. The worry was draining from her expression, a great sign. He squeezed her harder against him, and kissed the top of her head.
"I love you too, and we should get going if we want to be back anytime soon"
They backed away from each other, a gentle smile on Yoh's face and a serene look on Anna's. They walked to the living room hand in hand.
"Ready Amidamaru?"
"Of course"
"Here is your heating unit, kid."
"Thank you, umm do you know if the grocery store is open?"
"Yeah, most shops are opened for today until noon. But we'll be closed until the storm clears out or the sky falls on us Hahaha"
"Ok, thanks" Said Yoh as he carried the big box off the counter. Anna waited for him by the door and together exited the store.
"The owner said the grocery store is open"
"I know"
"How do you…" He stopped when he noticed Amidamaru carrying several grocery bags.
"We went to the grocery store while you bought the heater"
"Wow, you guys were quick"
"There weren't many people"
"So we head home now?"
"Of course"
They walked in silence as the wind slapped their faces. Yoh carried the heater, which wasn't very light at all, though, not that heavy either. Amidamaru carried most of the grocery bags while Anna carried one light one. Under normal circumstances they could have managed just fine but when dealing with a wind chill of –37 degrees Celsius it was proving to be a difficult task.
Finally they arrived, cold and hungry. Their faces cold bitten and just plain tired but that didn't stop them from plugging in the heater first thing. They decided to put it in the living room for now, so they did and in minutes the room began to warm up. Yoh sighed loudly as he collapsed on a cushion while Anna stayed standing.
"It's really getting bad outside" Said Anna masking any worry.
"Good thing then we're inside and not planning on going out"
"Yeah…" She wasn't sure something just didn't feel right. But as long as they had food, water and electricity they would be fine. "I'll go make something" Said Anna as she headed out the room.
"Anna wait, do you want help?"
"No it's ok Yoh. You've had enough for today, I'll just make us some soup"
He nodded and watched her leave. He turned on the tv and was flipping the channels when the telephone rang. He quickly got up and answered it.
"Hello?"
"Hey Yoh are you and Anna alright?"
"Oh hey Manta, yeah we're fine. We just came from buying a heater… ours broke down so the house is pretty much an ice house haha"
Manta however failed to see the amusement of their situation.
"But Yoh there's a HUGE snow storm heading toward Funbari. That's why I called, I just heard it from the weather man"
"Yeah that's what we heard too"
"Are you sure you're going to be all right?"
Yoh's gaze fell upon the door where Anna had just exited and smirked to himself.
"Yeah Manta, we'll be fine"
Manta frowned, not sure whether to believe him or not, how would they be ok if they were freezing? Yet he sounded so sure.
"Ok Yoh, if you say so. But of you need anything just call me ok? I'll leave you the number"
"Yeah, thanks Manta and don't worry we'll be fine"
After Manta gave Yoh a phone number where Yoh could reach him, both guys hanged up just in time to hear Anna's voice from the kitchen.
"Yoh, soup's ready"
"Ok"
He watched Anna bring the soup to the living room where it was already getting warmer.
"Who called?"
"Manta, he wanted to make sure we were all right"
"And?"
"And I told him we were! He's also worried about the storm" His voice sounded light and carefree. But the worry came back to Anna's mind as they sipped their soup. "Soup's really good Anna"
"It's good cause you're hungry" Sometimes just sometimes Anna's excuses for his compliments drove him mad. Couldn't she just say thanks like a normal girl instead of making up something to make him sound like he was crazy for saying those things?
But he knew her better than that, she'd changed a lot since he became Shaman King. He guessed they were both growing up, yet no matter how many walls he got through and how many wounds he tried to heal in her heart he knew some wounds took longer than others. And he was planning on having each little one healed.
Still, couldn't he find a way to make her keep a compliment without her blaming it on his hunger or tiredness or stupid ness? Like magic a little light bulb popped on his head, perhaps tonight could be a good night to make her keep a few compliments. After all it wasn't anything bad, on the contrary it was very, very good.
He grinned, a toothy grin that made Anna eye him suspiciously.
It was after their breakfast, which was more like their lunch when Yoh and Anna snuggled together in front of the TV. There wasn't anything any of them could do beside staying put.
Yoh had an arm around Anna's shoulders, her head on his shoulder and sitting very close together. It would have been great if they hadn't had to put up with the non-stop marathons of Christmas movies. Soon it stroke three and Anna automatically changed the channel to watch her first soap opera of the evening. Usually Yoh would have walked out to listen to some music but since there was nowhere to run today he opted to stay with her and try to follow the melodrama.
It was funny really, Jessica was with Perot who used to be with Kimoki, who was in love with Yuri who loved Jessica. Yet Anna was so into these little dramas that it surprised him. He had never truly realized the weirdness of it all. So after ten minutes of wondering and watching his fiancée observe each character so carefully he decided to ask during a commercial break.
"Anna why do you watch soaps?"
The question believe it or not actually took her by surprise. No one had ever asked her that, maybe because no one had the guts to question her about her likings in fear of push- ups.
"Why? I don't know, they're interesting I guess."
"But they're so confusing"
"Isn't real life confusing too Yoh? In reality our life is sometimes just like a soap, just that when we're in it we never have time to stop and watch"
She stopped just as the commercial break was over, leaving Yoh dumbfounded. He'd never thought about it like that. He smiled and watched her, her eyes looked so intense, her features sharp. After ten minutes she mumbled.
"The nerve of Juri to steal Jessica, I can't believe him. After all Perot did for him…"
He smiled, not believing how cute she looked right now, all worked up over fictional characters who stole each other's girlfriends. He got a strong impulse to kiss her so he did, on the cheek at first, when she turned to face him surprised at his action he kissed her full on the lips. His hand took the side of her neck as he tried to deepen the kiss. Just when she had gotten over the initial shock and was kissing back he moved back just a couple if centimetres in order to whisper.
"You're (kiss) so (kiss) cute (kiss) Anna"
She was about to say something along the lines of stupid when he kissed her again only this time he didn't hold back.
She hated/loved how weak she felt in his arms, under his kiss. It was so intoxicating that it left her vulnerable and crying for more. A feeling that both scared and exhilarated her.
They've had a make-out session well several over the course of four hours, watched two soap- operas, one Christmas movie especial and they couldn't get any more bored. It had gotten to the point where Anna had sent Yoh to sit at the other side of the room because he kept luring her to kisses.
Both had rid themselves of their heavy winter coats and wore their long sleeved shirts and pants. Anna sat knitting at the other side of the room, tired from watching tv. Yoh listened to imaginary music and tapped his foot at the supposed beat. Much to his surprise Anna was letting him since it was either him doing that or him all over her. Although she liked the second option MUCH better than the first, she had to maintain some dignity in order to keep control. And truthfully she feared her willingness to submit to his kisses. It was either that or get married as soon as possible, and the 'soon as possible' wasn't soon enough for their hormones.
"Anna?" She turned to him, curious to why he was calling her.
"What?"
"Why are you so far away?"
"Because my knitting is here" She hoped it didn't sound as lame to him as it did to her.
"Are you scared?"
"What?" Now that was a new one, even for him.
"Scared of me?"
"You? why one earth would I be scared of 'you'?"
"Maybe because… I kiss you"
"You always kiss me"
"Are you scared of where the kissing could lead?"
"It'll lead to the floor"
"And?"
Now she was really getting upset, what was possessing him?
"I'm doubling your training"
"I don't care, Anna answer me" Was he being forceful?
"I don't want to"
In a second he was there, beside her. So close.
"Tell me… why are you scared?"
She almost chuckled, almost.
"Yoh we're not married! Do you know what you grandmother would do to both of us if the kissing led to anything else?" He didn't even realize it. She couldn't believe he hadn't though about it.
"Anna…"
"She would get upset Yoh, very upset and she would loose her faith in me. She chose me as your fiancée because I am strong, respectable and unbreakable, she thinks that is what you need. If she was to find out that we… we got too carried away she could dissolve the engagement!"
He'd never thought about that, ever. She couldn't do that could she? Take his Anna away from him just like that, take his light away from him. The thought scared him more than the cold merciless winter storm expected to arrive soon. He found himself crushing Anna into a breathtaking hug, her knitting needles dropped to her side. She stayed there, her head against his chest, his chin resting on the top of her head.
"She can't do that"
"She can"
"I wouldn't let her, I became Shaman King so I could be with you Anna. Nothing is taking you away from me, I earned you… I have you"
The shock of his words was too overwhelming. She had never heard him speak with such intensity, such sureness. Such forcefulness and it was for her, only for her. She chuckled, just chuckled because of how ironic life was. He loved her, actually loved her and after all this time she was still in shock of it all. She held on to him and whispered.
"You have me Yoh, you'll always have me" The words made him smile, lightness returning to his heart as she spoke. Minutes later he felt happy again, they stayed like that, hugging for a while. His hands moved to rest on her waist he was surprised, he'd seen her small waist for years. But he's never actually taken the time to feel it before, and now that he did he realized just how small it was. How thin she was, the more he realized things like thing the more fragile he thought her to be.
Of course then she would slap him or hear her yell like she'd yelled at the man over the phone and he'd be even more amazed at how such a fragile person could hold so much strength and force.
"You're so thin Anna" he whispered.
"So?"
"You should eat more"
"Why?"
"Because I don't want you to get sick" She laughed.
"I've been this thin our whole lives Yoh and I've never gotten sick" He chuckled, she was right. Yet it bothered him now, the king of happy-go-lucky had one weakness, his fiancée.
He hid his face on her hair and muffled a groan. Then he lifted his head and talked.
"Anna I'm soooooo bored" His childishness was back.
"So? What do you want me to do about it"
"I don't know… can't we play a game or something?"
"A game?" She smirked, finding his childishness somewhat amusing.
"Yeah, something like I spy with my little eye" She raised an eyebrow. "Oh, c'mon Anna, pleeeeaaasssssssssse"
"Why don't you just call Amidamaru and play with him instead and let ME finish my knitting"
"Aww, fine but we'll play I spy sooner or later"
"Over my dead body"
He suddenly delivered a warm delicious kiss on the spot just below her ear and whispered.
"We'll see" Goosebumps covered her skin at the sound of his voice so close but before she could slap him he was back at the other side of room calling Amidamaru. She was getting slow on those slaps, at least when directed at him.
It was late afternoon when Anna announced she was going to take a shower. Yoh had been taken back by the news, after all it was pretty cold out and he didn't want her to get sick. But never the less the almighty Itako didn't budge, she was about to exit the room when Yoh in a last attempt to keep her in talked without thinking first.
"Do you want me to go with you?"
"What?"
"Go with you… so you don't get sick"
Anna didn't know whether he was been perverted or just worried for her well being.
"I could take a shower too… I mean-" he was silenced by the hand that made touch with his cheek in a loud "SLAP" he looked at her with a confused expression before she turned around and walked away.
"What did I do?" He asked Amidamaru.
"Perhaps you offended her" Offered the guardian ghost who understood less than Yoh at this moment. From his perspective he'd been watching as the snow fell outside, been called down by his master, had played a game to kill time with him for a few hours until Ms. Anna had made her announcement. But something had changed between then.
As Yoh thought about he said he realized just what it sounded like. It sounded like a perverted thought, not at all like what he'd intended it. But it was too late to apologize for now, she was halfway to her room.
&&
Anna felt so mad and frustrated at this moment that she didn't even mind the coldness of her room as she stopped to grab some clean clothes. Had she not JUST explained to him why they couldn't go too far? Had she not been explicit enough? Had he paid attention? Cared?
'Of course he cares, he just called you 'his' remember' She answered her own question, but not only had he called her, his. No, he had also acted 'possessive' towards her POSSESSIVE Yoh 'never' acted possessive toward ANYONE. Not even his stupid CD's! No one but her, that is. Maybe just maybe he hadn't meant that stupid suggestion like it sounded but it still angered her.
She walked to the bathroom, got undressed and didn't give it a thought until the ice- cold temperature touched her naked skin.
Then she was sorry.
She didn't only hiss of the pain but she nearly screamed. She ran to the small shower room that was placed close to the pool, which was at this moment ice cold. The pool was heated by the heater, which was busted and was the reason for their problems in the first place. The only place where they could find HOT water was from the taps and the shower.
So she ran to the shower room, opened the hot water knob and waited impatiently as the cold water ran, giving way to the hot water. She hissed in pain once again as the smoking hot water hit her skin until she tamped it with cold. Finally after a few seconds the water was template enough to be enjoyed.
She stood like that for what felt like forever, just letting the water run over her face. She felt so much more relaxed now, she could easily ignore the slight pain on her shoulders and upper back, slightly burned.
He was just worriedShe realized it, wishing she could take back that lovely slap.
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