Thank you for all your reviews! They always give me inspiration to continue. And yes, the coupling is HoroHoro and Jeanne. My friend told me about the coupling and I never seen it in fanfics, so I used it. Sorry for the updating delay, I just started school and were a short people at work so I am been busy! This might seem very..umm etchy? Uneven? But I did this is small parts.

She felt guilty. The emotion crawled up into her as she silently listened to the voices around her. Almost a year after the shaman fight and she was surround by her fiancé's friends. Anna did not care for them but this was important. It involved Yoh and Hao. It was important as they tried to figure it out. Anna sipped her green tea, the boys' voices were tossed back and forward. Some suspicious and other defensive and even both mingled together as they chattered. Then the door open and there stood...Hao?

Movement awakened Anna as she was pulled back to reality. Was that...a memory? She shifted in the chair she had fallen asleep in and looked curiously around. Light was beginning to shine through as daylight began to approach. The large room was gleaming with the fresh sun's lights. Her eyes trailed back to the figure in front of her. Hao smiled, sheepishly, something that reminded her greatly of Yoh and lowered his hands, the blanket brushing against her legs. All the memories of last night rushed toward her. She had waited for the remainder of the night for Hao to return, waiting to ask him and interrogate him.

"I didn't mean to wake you," he whispered, even though there was no need. Anna stared at him, his features silently. Hao gently brushed a piece of stray hair away from her eyes, leaning close to her, offering a soft kiss against her lips. "Good morning."

"Where were you all night," she asked, slightly grouchy and groggy from the way she slept. Hao smiled, gracefully falling to his knees in front of her. Anna looked down at him through drowsy eyes, resenting but calm.

"I had business to take care of," he said, chronically.

"Did you catch them?" He looked at her with an eerily calm but deadly gaze and Anna held it. Yes, I know, she thought. Fingers snaked around her hand, casually and curled between hers.

"We did." Anna froze, staring at their entwined fingers, blankly.

"You did?" she replied numbly.

"Yes. Faust was helping them. Though I suspected it would not be long before he betrayed me," he said. Anna did not say anything, pursing her lips. She actually felt guilty. If she had not ordered Faust to help...what will happen to Eliza? "Now, why were you wondering around the halls when I told you to stay?"

"They were outside the door. I couldn't stay here and just wait for them, now could I?"

"I suppose not," Hao said, lightly kissing her fingertips. "But next time, do what I say and stay." It was not a simple order; he was softly trying to convert the conversation away from Yoh's friends to their own private matters. Anna nodded forcefully and submissively, acting as if she had not noticed the slip in the conversation. Yet she did not give up on her topic.

"What will happen to them?"

"Why should you care, Anna," Hao asked, playfully. Why did she care? Anna never cared for Yoh's friends before.

"It a matter of my past connection. I am just simply curious what is going to happen to them." Hao smiled a disturbingly pleasant and amused smirk, which made Anna suspicious and a bit unnerved. Slowly he rose, gently placing his one of his knees on the edge of the chair. Anna gazed intently at him; her features were drawn in a nonchalant expression. He tenderly touched her lips with his. She felt a deep feeling in her stomach, cold and dark as Hao's smirking mouth sweetly caressed hers. Her fingers gripped the arms of the chair, tightly as Hao's fingers played in her hair with a touch so light and soft, it felt like feathers.

"Then do not be curious," he whispered, soothingly savage against her lips. Anna pushed Hao back gently and licked her lips. Hao loomed over her, looking at her intently, entrapping her in the chair. His long hair fell around his face, his eyes were wide, and his smile was slight. He curled a strand of her hair lazily in his fingers, though the action was more than relaxed.

"Hao," Anna said, testily trying to keep collected as she clenched the arms of the chair. "It is not like you to avoid a subject. "

"Anna," Hao's voice went low, menacing. She had gone too far, but Anna did not flinch or at least outwardly, she put up a brave front. Inside, her stomach tightened. He gently wrapped his long fingers around her wrist and pulled her out of the chair, firmly. She was getting him irritated. She did not want that to happen, for her safety and her cover. Hao sighed then. "They're trial is tonight, you stubborn woman. Now get dressed."

"For what? Will you kill them?"

"Do not test me, Anna. Just do as I say." Anna opened her mouth, not liking to be ordered about but quickly shut it, pursing her lips hard together. She wiggled her arm out of Hao's grasp and began to walk away, almost stomping. Hao smiled, gently. His mood swings were extremely irritating. Yet why did he get defensive about Yoh's friends. Anna stepped into the closet, closing her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. Her temper was beginning to flare and she would danger herself if she struck out. She counted down to one, unclenched her hands, and opened her eyes, feeling slightly calmer.

"Anna."

"What?" Hao stood in the doorway, his long hair falling in wisps around his features. His arms were crossed over his chest as he tilted his head, looking at her with an innocent expression. Anna's heart sank. The look in his eyes reminded her of Yoh.

"Wear the white dress for me," he asked, softly. Anna laughed, slightly amused, slightly bitter.

"You certainly have more mood swings than any woman," she said, sarcastically, locating the dress, hidden deep within the rows of clothes, turning her back on him. She fingered the thin fabric, examining the long and billowy sundress. She snickered to herself on how his mood swings might even rival her own.

"It good to here you laugh." Anna nearly jumped as Hao whispered sweetly in her ear. He rested his head against her shoulder and wrapped his hands around her waist, holding her extremely tight.

"Anna. Why do you resent me," he asked, fiercely.

"What?"

"Why do you resent me? Why do you disobey? Why do you shield yourself away from me? Why won't you let me love you?" He bombarded her with questions. Old question, familiar and stale questions. She heard this before; some had been vague and hinted at but other direct and stabbing with accusation. Questions that Anna could not answer.

"You are paranoid."

"You always say that and you always make me more paranoid." Anna turned in Hao arms, holding the dress tightly to her chest. She captured his eyes, staring at him strongly.

"You make me the feel the same way when you are paranoid. It makes me uneasy, Hao," she replied, softly. Anna of the past was entranced as words spilled out of her mouth without any thought. She listened to them carefully, those subconscious feeling buried deep down inside her with a sort of awe but in resentment for her present self. Then she kissed Hao, gently. A reassuring kiss but deceiving caress, which turned into something more heated. It was not love but a strong kinship.

"You are crushing my dress," Anna said, trying to catch her breath. Her face felt hot. Was this how life was like with Hao? One moment they were facing each other off, locked in a battle of wills and getting to each other but neither dared to act open there anger. The next they were sharing a moment of intensity together. On the other hand, was it just because she and Queen Anna's feeling were clashing? Whatever it was, Anna was confused. Hao backed away, strands of hair falling over his heated eyes. Anna touched her sensitive lips, swallowing as Hao left her to change.

Sorry for the shortness of this chapter, I just love cliffhangers.