And, the next installment in Mothers. Hehehehehe. I feel really bad for Yoh in this chappie.

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Yoh sat by the phone, eagerly awaiting a call. This call would be from his beloved fiancee who, at the present time, would be with his mother and grandmother in Osorezan.

The day after the baby shower, Yoh had arranged for Anna to spend a little time in Osorezan with the Asakura females. She'd felt insecure in her maternal capability and wanted to talk a few things over with Kino and Keiko. Now in her seventh month, Anna was getting slightly worried about the babies.

Withdrawal

However, Yoh had no idea that they would take so long! She'd been there for a month and a half already!

'I hope she's learning some good stuff over there!' he thought bitterly, staring at the telephone. 'Because the withdrawal over this end is practically killing me!'

It was true. Not being able to see Anna every day really cut into him deeply, especially in her present condition. He rarely ate or slept. His days were spent worrying endlessly about her and trying to decide whether or not he should go to Osorezan and find her. Just seeing her face would be good enough!

However, he knew he was forbidden by the family to do that.

The sound of her voice during her weekly phone calls would have to do.

Granted, his position wasn't as bad as before their wedding.

During their engagement, Anna was required to go spend three months at Osorezan without Yoh, plus no communication of any kind.

This procedure was designed to make the woman think over her engagement, and make sure the man she would be marrying was really "the one". The time away from him in isolation woul,d certainly spark a great many feelings, withdrawal among them. And when the man and woman were reunited on their wedding day, the honeymoon later on was sure to be a... well, eventful one.

And so, you can imagine the relief and feelings flowing through the two after that.

Yoh didn't know whether now the feeling was worse, because he was really waiting for three people, or better, since it hadn't been as long. Although, he didn't really know how long it would continue, and therefore the pain of this event could quickly outweigh the one at their wedding.

The telephone rang.

"Anna?" Yoh asked eagerly.

"Dude, you've really got to get out!"

And for those of you who know Anna, you'd know that that was definately not her.

"Hello, Trey," Yoh said, disappointment showing in his voice.

"Awww, don't sound so happy! Really!" Trey said, sarcasm reeking from the statement.

"Sorry, it's just-"

"I know dude. I'm totally not looking forward to this three-months thing with Tamora,"

"Their making Tammy go to Osorezan?" Yoh asked the recently-engaged shaman.

"Yep. She's gotta leave next week," Trey said, the energy in his voice dropping several levels.

"And where is the lovely prophetess right now?" Yoh asked, indicating Trey's fiancee.

"With my sister. Where else! Pilica's totally eating into my time with her. I mean she can go to Osorezan to see her, but I can't! Is that fair?"

"Nope," Yoh said. "But you gotta make sacrifices for both the happiness of your sister and the happiness of your future wife,"

"No one would know better than you," Trey responded. "What with your brother and all,"

"Hey!" Yoh said, laughing. "Otouto is not that bad,"

"Ohhh, I'm so sure," Trey said back. "Do you even know where he is right now?"

"What do I look like, his keeper?" Yoh shot back.

"Well, that's a NO. But I myself wouldn't be surprised if he's at Osorezan with your darling wife,"

"And just what's that s'posed to mean?" Yoh asked, genuinely dumbfounded.

"C'mon, dude! You can't say that after that whole thing with Anna, his feelings have changed?"

"Hey! We agreed never to bring that up again,"

"But you can't totally say for sure that he's not. After all, it was the last time you two were apart that he made his move. Remember?"

'How could I forget?' Yoh thought...

It was during the first week of their three-month separation before the wedding. Anna was walking back to her room when an unexpected guest popped up before her.

"Hao," she seethed, her teeth gritting and her fists closing.

"Hello, darling Anna," he greeted, that familiar mischievous smile dotting his face.

"What are you doing here? No males except for Yohmei are allowed here during the present time. Or have you forgotten?"

"If they really wanted to keep me out, they should have put up a better male-repelling charm," Hao shot back, stepping closer. Anna held her ground.

"That doesn't answer why you're here," she stated simply.

"That would be because of you, Anna,"

"What?" she asked.

"I came specifically because of you. You see, dear, I know about your thoughts. You know, the ones about cold feet at the wedding-"

Anna gasped. She hadn't told anyone about her second thoughts.

"- and I came to tell you that there are other fish in the sea,"

Anna regained her composure. "And why would I need to know that?" she asked.

"Because, dear Anna, if you do get cold feet," he said, stepping closer. "There will be someone out there who will always love you,"

He kissed her.

She gasped again.

He pulled back.

"Taa-taa!" he waved, and then disappeared again.

---

That kiss had sent off another charm that had been put on the place. Immediately, everyone who mattered was informed of the situation, and the kiss. Anna had had one of the most embarassing nights of her life following that event: trying to explain what happened to the two elder shamans, specifically Kino and Yohmei. In the end, they had been forgiving and the marriage went on as planned.

That day, Anna had felt secure in her feelings for the first time.

She was going to be an Asakura...

...And she was going to marry Yoh

She loved him.

"I don't think he'd try the same thing again," Yoh said to Trey. "After all, Anna and I are married now, and she's pregnant with my twins. I think he'd consider her out of his league now,"

"I dunno, buddy-" Trey started.

"Besides," Yoh interrupted. "I had a feeling that there was more to that encounter that meets the eye,"

"... Dude? Don't do that again. It was very un-you," Trey said, referring to Yoh's previous statement. "Oh! I gotta go! Tamora got away from Pilica! Finally, some alone time!" he cheered.

"G'bye!" Yoh said, dropping the phone back on the reciever. 'Those two...' he thought.

Looking to his right, he found a picture of himself and his twin. Picking it up, he looked at it fondly.

'What were you thinking when you did that?'

Were you really trying to go after her? After everything we've been through?...

Or were you doing both her and I a favor, making her aware of her feelings for me?

All I know is that, if you hadn't kissed her, she may have gotten cold feet after all,

So even if it wasn't intentional for her to find her feelings, thank you, otouto,'

He sighed and placed the picture back down again on the table, returning to his previous task of staring at the phone.

He was surprised when, two seconds later, it rang.

"Anna?" he asked eagerly.

"Yoh!" her joyous voice sounded on the other end.

"Annika! How are you?" he asked. "Are they treating you well? Are the babies fine? Have you been learning anything-"

"Yoh!" she shouted. "Firing questions at me is not going to get things answered. Now, the twins and I are fine. I really have to thank you for setting this up. I feel much more secure now... the only downside is you not being here with me,"

"Aww, It's okay Anna," he encouraged, not wanting to make her feel too bad. "You know I would have come if I could, and that I would gladly hop on a train and come and see you right now if I wasn't forbidden by grandma,"

"I... I know, Yoh," she said, downcast.

"When are you coming home?" Yoh asked in the silence.

"I don't know yet," she sounded disappointed. "But I hope it's soon. It's driving me crazy not being able to see you," she said.

"I know the feeling. But it's not as bad as before the wedding, right?"

She giggled a little bit. "You're right," she affirmed.

"When was your last checkup?" Yoh asked.

"A few weeks ago. Kino had to dispel the male-repelling charm for him to get in. Apparently, security was boosted,"

Yoh laughed, secretly happy. 'I know he's not there,' he reminded himself. "Well I supose that's good. Don't want anyone coming in and stealing my Anna away from me! Especially not with two little ones inside of her!"

"Your concern is touching," she said. "But I hope not to have any mishaps this time,"

'He's not there,' he told himself again. "So do I," he responded.

"That was a really embarassing night," Anna said.

'He isn't there! Don't let Trey's comment get to you!' Yoh told himself more sternly than last time. "I know," he said.

"Yoh? Is anything wrong?" Anna asked, concerned.

"He's not there! He's not there! HE'S NOT THERE!' Yoh shouted at himself. "No, Anna! Nothing's wrong!"

"You seem out of sorts. You're sure you're alright? You've been eating well? Sleeping well?"

"Please, Anna! Of course! Although, it is hard to sleep when you've gotten accustomed to a body laying beside yours evey night," Yoh said. 'NOT THERE!'

"Don't let me stop you from sleeping. it used to be one of your favorite hobbies!" she said cheerfully.

'He. Isn't. There.' Yoh told himself, but finally cracked. "Uh, Anna. Hao isn't there by any chance, is he?"

"Well, no. But he stopped by earlier this week to say hello!"

"Huh?"

End of Chapter

YAY! Another chappie! I'm on a roll this week!

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AND THANKS FOR ALL OF THE REVIEWS I OT ON THE LAST CHAPPIE!

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