And We Danced
Chapter 8
...When Will I Protect You...?
Yoh watched Hao and Anna, knew there really wasn't much for him to do, seeing as anything could set Hao off and Anna would be the one feeling pain.
...think... Yoh thought, wishing he could just tackle Hao, in the process hitting Anna away, but no, he was forced to stand there once again at the mercy of his insane brother.
"You look upset Yoh." said Hao, smirking some.
"Or is it jealousy?" he asked in a playfully tone, holding Anna agianst him.
"Let Anna go!" shouted Yoh, about to burst with anger and give Hao one hell of a Halo Blade.
...can't... noted Yoh's internal voice, knowing full well if he did Anna would perish right along side Hao.
Hao sighed contently, hugging Anna and kissing her forehead softly.
"Forgive me, but I have some things I need to attend to." he said, raising her chin to look at him Anna stairing at him, not sure what he was going to do next.
Hao just smiled, grabbed the upper part of her right arm and tossed her over to Yoh, who caught her, holding her protectivly.
"I'm sure Yoh can keep you company until I come back." stated Hao with a grin.
"Bastard!" spat Yoh.
Hao only bowed, gave a playfully wink at Anna, then turned, disappearing around the corner of the hall.
Yoh was about to chases after his brother, but stopped, feeling Anna's fingers about his arm.
"Don't" she said, Yoh looking to her, saw she wore an expressionless look.
"He's gone." she said simply, Yoh blinking a bit, though agreed, noting he couldn't sense Hao's furioku anymore.
...thank God... he thought, throughly relived.
He then turned his attention towards Anna.
She stood, looking to the floor, her expression still blank as always. She didn't...look any different or anything, which made Yoh feel alot better. Knowing Hao, anything was possible. He wanted to ask if anything had happened between the two, if Hao had done anything to her, but felt it would be best to just not mention it, knew that was something Anna never liked to discuss.
"Are you okay...?" asked Yoh as gently as he could.
Anna sighed first, but nodded, placing her hands on her hips, looking at him as she always had.
"I'm fine." she replied, Yoh noting it was sincere, her voice wasn't shakey or anything which was good.
"I'm glad." he said, stepping to her.
Anna looked to him, Yoh looking back at her, lightly stroking an erect strand of hair behind her ear.
"I'm sorry I wasn't able to get here sooner..." he said, looking at her sadly.
Anna blushed at his touch, and though she was mad about him letting Meril cling on him, she knew he really did feel bad about not being able to go along with her.
"It's ok." she said, looking down some as she blushed.
Yoh blinked a bit, then lightly raised her chin, looking to her, Anna looking back, trying her hardest not to blush anymore then what she already was. Yoh then gave a toothy grin with his eyes closed.
"I'm glad you're alright Anna." he said hapiily, Anna blinking, suddenly unable to hold back a smile of her own, beaming happily at the boy she loved so much.
"Where were you headed to anyway?" asked Yoh, looking to her questionably.
Anna blinked then, remembered the note in her hand, raising it up now for both of them to see.
"I was going to deliver this to the office." she stated, Yoh blinking at the small note.
"What is it?" he asked, Anna shrugging some.
"A note of some sort." she replied, Yoh nodding, turning now to head towards the office but stopped when he noticed Anna wasn't following.
"Uh, Anna?" he called, then fell over anime style when he saw her reading the letter.
"We should really take that to the office don't you think?" asked Yoh with a nervous laugh.
Anna ignored him, skimming over the cursive handwritting, noting the strong feminie hand.
...just letting you know the girls are in the system...all three are very bright and beautiful...seem kind of odd...im sure they'll be a joy to have in class...
Anna rolled her eyes some, though noted that the class was about to expand, times three, which seemed rather odd, seeing as how it was already into their third semester. Spring break and the Spring Dance were right around the corner, and it seemed rather pointless to enroll three new students when in the next few months school would be out once again for summer vacation. That said, Anna was more then eager to take the damn thing to the office, lowering it a bit when some writting at the bottom caught her eye.
...P.S. one of the girls is very tall, which makes me wonder if she was held back a few times or not...not really my business but still...she looks like she could be a shaparone to the dance for the two other girls...
...interesting... thought Anna, her thoughts quickly leaping back to Hao's dance routine and the whole Spring Dance flyer.
It was odd enough that three new students were being enrolled into the school at this point in the year, and this just made it seem even odder, and Anna found her thoughts focusing more and more on Hao and the flyer.
...Hao's not really the type to send in his lackies... she thought, but after his losing streak against Yoh and the boys, anything was possible...anything.
...this whole thing is fishy... she thought, lowering the paper a bit, her expression once again blank.
It was something to think about, but since she didn't know who the girls were or even what they looked like, she felt it would be best to just sit and watch, at least until she could get some hardcore eveidence that this was another one of Hao's master plans.
...works for me... she thought, turning now to meet Yoh, who had apparently been watching and calling to her the entire time.
"Sorry, did you say something?" Anna asked, looking to him before brushing past him, Yoh once again falling over anime style.
"Hey wait!" he shouted, quickly recovering and hurrying after her.
Anna stopped a bit and waited until he caught up to her, the two then continuing on. It only took them a few minutes to reach the office, Yoh waiting while Anna dropped off the letter to one of the office attendence.
After a quick thank you and a hint that they should hurry back to class, Anna and Yoh headed back down the hall. It would be a semi-long walk, but the two were really in no rush to get back to the class discussion...especially Anna. She knew the minute Yoh set foot back in that class room Meril would be all over him...at least all over his arm.
...which is just what I need right now... her inner voice stated with a hint of sarcasim.
Yoh was mostly quiet, looking around some and scratching his head. It had been a while since him and Anna had actually had anytime together like this. Not to mention the whole silence was driving him nuts, and the fact that he had no clue what Hao had said or done to Anna...and there was no way in hell he was going to ask her about it. Something like that was up to Anna only and if she wanted to discuss it she would, if not, then it was her call. All Yoh could do was be there when she needed to talk. Yoh would have carried on his own mental conversation when his hand accidently brushed against Anna's. The two stopped for a moment and looked at one another, but quickly tunred away, blushing shyly.
"Sorry." managed Yoh, looking the other way, scaratching his head.
"It's ok." replied Anna, looking forward again now, followed by more silence, quickly broken by Anna.
"I'm worried about the dance." she started, Yoh blinking and looking to her.
"I'm sure you'll find a dress by then." said Yoh assuringly, Anna frowning a bit.
"Not that." she said, Yoh stopping, looking to her.
"What then?" he asked, Anna before him now, her expression blank.
"Did Hao...say something?" he asked knew he had stepped onto some broken glass and knew he had to walk softly, or risk one heck of a beating.
Anna stared at him for a while, but nodded.
"Yes, which makes me wonder if he'll show up or not." she said, Yoh frowning.
"Great." he said sighing.
Thats just what they needed; Hao crashing the party as always, but at least this time they'd all be together. On the other hand, there were going to be normal people there, innocent kids who wanted to have fun. Add Hao to the mix and you got yourself one hell of a masacure.
But Yoh was more then ready to face off against Hao. And he was more then ready to protect the students not to mention Anna. So regaurdless of what Hao was planning, Yoh and the boys would be there to take care of things. That said, Yoh smiled to Anna who blinked, wearing her expressionless look.
"It'll be ok Anna." he began, reaching to her now, taking her hands in his.
"I'll protect you no matter what." he said, Anna blinking, blushing bright red.
Who was he to tell her he'd protect her! She never said anyhting about Hao coming after her, nor that she wanted to be protected. She wasn't some "damsel in distress." She was tough, she was trained to be strong and independent, and she was to an extent, that is, whenever Hao hadn't bound her to a tree or such. All in all, she was one hell of a Shamanic Princess, and it was because of her skills and talents that the Asakura's had chose her to wed thier son. It was because of that image that Anna couldn't allow herself to be viewed as weak. It just wasn't her style. Although...
...although Hao does seem to have some sort of unhealthy fasination with me... she thought, closing her eyes, shuddering, a slight chill running up her spine.
That in mind, she felt relieved at Yoh's words, knew that as long as he was there by her side, that she'd be ok, that'd he'd protect her with his very life.
...Yoh... she thought, looking down a bit.
...i know... she thought, lowering her gaze more, her expression saddening.
...i know...you're always...going to protect me... she continued.
Yoh had done so much for her, had protected her, had saved her so many times, and yet what had she done for him? Sure, she trained him like mad and kept him in line, but had also caused him much pain. all thoses battles, all those fights, it had been her fault, why? Because she was the key to his downfall, his enemy's target, the one thing that could bring about and seal his doom; she was his one, true weakness...and she knew it. And nothing she ever said or did was going to change that.
...because no matter what... she thought.
...i'll never be the one...to protect you...
It was that thought that hurt so much more then any physical pain ever could, yet she knew she had to be strong, had to be strong, not for him but for herself as well. If Yoh knew how she felt, her entire image would be ruined, not to mention it was something that he didn't really need to worry about.
...all i can do now...is smile... she thought, forcing a smile, as she rasied her gaze to his.
Yoh looked ot her, noted the rather long silence, and was feeling kind of worried, but blinked when his eyes met hers, felt her hands against his, her fingers interlocking with his own, the two holding one anothers hands, smiling softly at one another.
"I know..." Anna said softly, Yoh blinking a bit, but smiled happily with his eyes closed, glad to know she trusted him with protecting her.
Yoh however saw something deeper, something more, knew behind that shy smile and strong words, she was worried, troubled and by what he didn't know, but only wanted to make it go away, wanted to ease the pain she carried in her heart.
Slowly, he leaned to her closing his eyes, lightly pressing his lips to her, Anna blushing, doing the same, the two holding hands as they shared a soft kiss.
The two parted slowly, Yoh leaning back a bit, smiling cheesily with his eyes closed, cheeks beet red, forehead against hers. Anna did the same, smiling softly at him, continuing to hold his hands, also a bit red from the kiss. And though she wished the two could share more time like this, she knew they needed to get back to class, that or risk getting spoted by one of the teachers or students.
"We should really had back to class." said Anna, her smile fading some to her normal expresionless look.
Yoh blinked, realizing they had probably been out and about for a good ten minutes or so. It wouldn't be much longer before a teacher started hunting them down.
"You're right." he said, nodding.
Anna nodded back, turning from him now to head down the hall, Yoh quickly following.
"Hey wait!" he said, jogging to her side, taking her hand.
"I'll walk you to class!" he said, smiling happily with his eyes closed.
Anna stared at him for a moment, her expression blank. She knew he was trying to make up for earlier, but she was still upset over the whole Meril thing. She'd use this time to tease him.
"That won't be hard, seeing as how we're both going to the same classroom." she said simply, walking on, Yoh falling over anime style once more.
"It's the thought that counts!" he stated, quickly recovering, joining her once more.
The two continued down the hall, Anna smiling, though kept her line of sight straight ahead, thinking a bit more.
...you're always protecting me... she thought.
...but when will i get a chance to protect you...?
Anna couldn't help but wonder.
Well JEEEPERS! Been a while eh? Yup, Yup, I know i'm slow v.v' I'm SORRY! I will soo get the next chapter up before the end of next week. So yeah, kinda a dull chappy ja? I don't know, I thought it was kinda cute, I mean my stories are YohXAnna, so we needs lots of YohXAnna moments! XD Ahem, anyhoo, yes, action is riiight around the corner! Hope you all enjoyed the last chappy. Nothing like a good YohXAnnaXHao fight XD But, alas, I PROMISE you, next chapter will have action! So, still like the story? I think it's pretty good, and though i'm planning another one, YES, yet another Shaman King fic that continues after this XD, however I refuse to start a new story without finishing my first. That said, I must stop ramblng and get my butt workin' on chapter 9! Wow, 9 chapters. I feel proud n.n So, please PLEASE continue to read and review and please enjoy this chapter and the next! -Melis
P.S. Just wanted to say, REMEMBER THIS CHAPTER! Yes, this chapter will be VERY important later on for one of my later Shaman King fanfics. So please understand that what's said in this chapter will later influence one of my other stories! Just thought i'd let you all know, incase you were wondering why it was sounding a bit odd or serious. Thanks! n.n