Chapter 5

Anna woke with a start. How long had she been sleeping? What time was it? She pressed a button on the TV remote and discovered it was 8.12 AM. She yawned, rubbed her eyes and went into the kitchen to find herself something to eat. Hang on a minute. Where was the microwave? What had happened to the fridge? She slapped her forehead. Breakfast would have to wait this morning.

She was just going to change into clean clothes when the phone rang. She charged down the stairs she'd just gone up, and picked up the handset.

"Hello? Anna Kyouyama here."

"Morning, Anna."

"Hao? Is that you?Do you know what time it is?"

"Er, yes and yes. Are you OK? I've heard you're having some problems lately..."

"Wha - ? How do you know?" she asked angrily.

"Ren told me last night. What d'you ring him for?"

"He wasn't meant to tell anyone! When I get my hands on that pointy-haired bastard..."

"Cool down, sweetie. I called up to ask if you want to come out to breakfast with me."

"Hao! For goodness' sake! Stop trying to make me fall in love with you! Yoh is - was - the only one I loved, and maybe it should stay that way."

Hao smiled on the other end of the line. "I love it when you act stubborn, Anna," he purred seductively. "Is it a yes, then?"

Anna sighed, fed up with his silver-tongued charm. "Oh, whatever. I have nothing better to do. See you at half past nine." She put down the phone. A few streets away, Haowas also putting the phone down,with a satisfied smirk.

Anna got changed, put on her coat and set out for the town centre. It was cold for September. She stuffed her hands further into her pockets and shivered.A mini-Anna screamed at herfromthe back of her mind.What are you doing! it yelled. This is betraying Yoh, going out with his twin brother. Can't you see it'spracticallya DATE?

She knew the voice was right, but she did not turn backAs shewalked round a corner about ten minutes later, she was bewildered by what she saw. There were so many people on the pavement that people were getting pushed into the road. They all seemed to be wearing long off-white robes with hoods. Strange, said the voice in Anna's head. Be on your guard. Suddenly, the people in robes turned around. They all had long brown hair and brown eyes carrying a glint of malice. They closed in on her. She gasped - hundreds of Hao's. Anna screamed - a loud, piercing scream that she was surprised she could make. The Hao's moved closer, their robes swirling in the wind. She screamed again, then everything went black.

"Anna? Anna! Are you okay? Speak to me!" somebody said. Anna groaned and opened her eyes. Hao stood over her, a look of worry in his enchanting eyes. She was lying on the pavement and he was kneeling next to her, holding her. She brushed herself off and stood up. A small crowd had formed by then. Hao shooed them away and they walked along, his arm round her shoulder. Her head hurt too much for her to care. "What happened?" she asked Hao painfully. "You screamed twice at something for no apparent reason, then fainted. I thinkyou're pretty much OK now," he explained, pulling her close to him. She pushed away half-heartedly.The shaman and the blonde Itako sat down at a table outside a small café. Anna was daydreaming, not listeningto Hao. Suddenly she found herself teleported again.

The sky was deep blue,the grass greener than a tree-frog's slimy skin in this new place. Anna was sitting under a gnarled,spreading tree, dappled sunlight shining through the leaves. The clouds were cotton-wool wisps revealing nothing more than another vivid patch of sky. The silence was pure innocence, telling her nothing. She smiled as a flower fell from the tree, dancing past her delicate face.

"Time to wake up yet?" she whispered, for no reason. Far away she could her the voice of an excited teenage boy.

"She spoke! I swear! She did! Honest! Well, of course I'm not making it up. Why would I?"

She sat up. The voice sounded familiar. She couldn't quite put her finger on it. She felt the sensation of dreaming, even though she was awake. Or was she? She was sick and tired of having to guess what was real and what was make-believe. The magic of this new place was fading fast. The colours grew paler, and the smell of apple blossom and dried grass turned to one of pungent cleaning liquids and starch.

"Time to wake up," she whispered softly. She closed her eyes and felt the world slip away from her.