Thank you to my friend, Kylie, for helping me with the ending. As they say: All good things must come to an end and this is no exception. Warning: In this chapter there is a lime boarding on lemon. So extreme lime! I have warned you. Once it reaches italics, enter at your own risk.
Anna was nervous as she returned back to the home that Hao and her shared. Well, at least used to share. She highly doubted that any of this belonged to her. The town had been dark and very quiet. When she wondered from the forest, no one was in the streets and everything was closed and it was still very early. It must be because of us, she concluded. Everyone was looking for them and the village was pushed safely into their homes. It made perfect sense but it still made her very uncomfortable. Anna entered into the murky home, taking light and cautious steps as she did. Like the village, the place was deserted and silent, which it made it all the more eerie.
She made a beeline for the bedroom, being very timid about being expose and alone in the halls. She hated that feeling of being so vulnerable. It was a horrible sinking feeling that made her heart pound in her ears and her stomach tie in strict knots. Anna opened the door to the bedroom, just glancing inside. It was the same as the rest of the village. It was like a ghost town. Anna sighed, slightly gulping back a lump of bile in her throat. This was deadly serious. She and the rest were fugitives and by the looks of how quiet it was, they were eager to find them. When there did not seem to be anyone there, Anna entered in. She took in everything that had become quite familiar to her in the last few months with a quiet contemplation.
The first thing she wanted to do was take a bath. She hated this feeling of being grubby and unclean. Her hair was tangled with dirty and mud with a greasy feeling of not being washed for a while. Her clothes were ripped and in tatters around her. Her skin was scraped and bruised and a layer of dirt covered her. She felt sticky with sweat and the smell of earth lingered to her. If she had to approach Hao, she did not want to do it looking like a madwoman. Anna headed toward the bathroom, using the same precautions she had when she was entering the house. Nothing yet again. With shaky hands, Anna turned on the water in the tub and clogged it with a stopper. The water was warm underneath her fingers as she tested it and suddenly she felt exhausted.
Anna found a large, fluffy beige towel nearby along with a robe. She hugged the towel as if it were a stuffed animal, sighing. Her eyes burned with drowsiness and the towel felt so nice against her cheeks. Locking the door, Anna stripped of her clothes and slowly entered into the tub. Instantly the warm water engulfed her and she felt a little more relaxed. After a while, she had quit shaking and her heartbeat had subsided a little. She skimmed her fingers along the top of the water, creating a slithering trail then immersed herself fully into the water. Everything went quiet and she relished in that and surrendered to the peacefulness of the water.
After a few moments, she rose back up as a draft welcomed her wet body. The water was murky with dirt and Anna quickly washed her hair and body with soap she had found. The soap smelt wonderful as it lathered and it calmed her down even more until she felt almost completely relaxed. After a few moment of enjoying the pleasant sound of lapping water, Anna dried herself off and wrapped the robe tightly around her waist. She felt refreshed and mellow as she pushed a strand of damp hair behind her ear. She returned to her room, leaving all precautions behind her. She felt a little strange, light-headed and numb as if nothing was real. Everything had a haze around it. That feeling of terror had vanished replaced by a delicious feeling of security. It felt like a dream.
Anna retreated into the closet, running her fingers over the garments. It was strange because the fabric did not seem entirely solid in underneath her fingers. A noise interrupted her from her thoughts and panic suddenly filled her tranquil nature. Oh no! She made a dash to hide before she could be discovered. This was not how she wanted to face Hao, naked underneath nothing but a robe. Yet it was not Hao who entered into the closet it was a sheepish Yoh. Anna gasped when she saw him, his short hair tied behind him and his shirt opened to expose his chest. He was wearing his orange headphones as usual and when he saw her, a light blush crossed her cheeks.
"A…Anna…I" he stuttered, embarrassed. He looked away from her, fumbling with his jean pockets. "I am sorry Anna. Do not hurt me."
"Yoh," she whispered. Her body filled with peace and longing as she looked at her fiancé. Her true fiancé standing before her. She rushed to him, pulling him into a tight and welcoming embrace.
"A…Anna…" His voice was filled with shock and awkwardness but he did not pull away. Anna did not let him go, a sob escaping from her throat. This was a dream, she concluded as she looked at Yoh's red features.
"Yoh. Oh god I missed you so much," she muttered, cupping his face in her hands and pressing her lips to his. It was strange. She would never be so forward before but with Yoh here, she felt the need to kiss him. Yoh struggled for a moment underneath her, obviously shocked and surprised but he soon gave in. Very cautiously and unsure, his arms wrapped around her waist. She encouraged him by leading his arms. Anna just wanted to be held by him, she wanted to feel safe and take in his smell. He smelt of oranges as usual. His grip became slightly tighter as he became more open and relaxed into the kiss. Absently, Anna thought it was strange when they stumbled together and his grip was tight, that she felt no pain. It was just a feeling a pressure.
"I…uh…" Yoh muttered, breathless as they broke apart.
"Yoh. How are you here?"
"Hao…he was going to hurt you. I overpowered him…for now at least," Yoh said, scratching his head then nodded. Anna smiled, hugging him just so she could feel him against her. This was nice. This was a nice feeling to have. "Anna."
"Yoh," she replied, simply. Yoh smiled his goofy smile and laughed. He picked her up off her feet and gave her a little twirl. A laugh escaped Anna as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Yoh and Anna laughed together, sharing in tears and joy. That pleasant, numb and light feeling floated around her and everything was surreal. Then everything seemed to skip for a moment to another scene. She and Yoh were embracing each other, thoroughly kissing each other like long lost lovers. In which, Anna believed that they were. Yoh was awkward in his kisses, shyly exploring her with hands and tongue. He fumbled a bit but so did Anna. She really did not know what to do just as he did. His lips trailed down to crook of her neck, his finger playing in her wet locks.
"You smell nice, Anna," he murmured.
"I just took a bath," she murmured, a laugh in her voice. She felt his warm smile on her shoulder and he sighed.
"Oh, Anna. I was so worried about you." He stroked her hair calmly and they froze from their interactions just to hold each and savor each other presence. Yoh grinned and pressed his mouth onto hers again, this time he was better and all logical thought flew from her head. This was how it was supposed to be. Her and Yoh together like this. Another scene skipped from her mind and she was laying on the large bed that Hao and her shared. Yoh pressed his lips against hers, while his hands sheepish flickered around the curves of her body. He was being gentle and careful unlike Hao. Anna removed his headphone and hair from the tie so she could feel it underneath her fingers.
The robe around her was beginning to loosen, a sliver of skin revealed from the opening. Yoh blushed at the sight, his face hot but she saw curiosity in his eyes. His hands were warm when they slipped underneath the robe. He looked at her with a questioning gaze. He was still intimidated by her, she could tell. Anna leaned forward and kissed him passionately, letting her hand guided his to tell him it was okay. It was strange feeling to feel so in control. With Hao, she had always lost herself but with Yoh, the understood each other and respect it. His fingers trailed along the curve of her breasts and underneath. Anna felt herself blush with the interaction. It was so different with Yoh, she thought numbingly.
"Anna…" Yoh whispered, breathlessly and huskily.
"Yes."
"I love you."
"I love you too." Yoh smiled happily, letting his other hand untied the sash around her waist. He kissed a trail down her neck, his tongue flickering out once in a while. He was getting more comfortable with it. His finger skimmed a trail down her stomach, wrapping around her waist and holding her down. Anna fumbled to remove his shirt and very gently touch his chest. They kissed again, passionately and recklessly as Yoh's hands slipped down to her legs. Anna raised them and his hand rested on her knee as his lower half rested in between them. It was a strange feeling of fabric against flesh. Her hands went to his waist but he stopped her and raised her hands above her head, his fingers flexing in hers. Anna scowled inwardly. Yoh shifted above her and she felt her head hit against something hard. Pain coursed through her body and the fantasy snapped.
"Hao…" she said, her voice croaking as a heavy feeling of dread and fear suddenly filling her. Her eyes widened and she froze. The person above her brushed a strand out of her face with her hand still in his. He leaned forward, his short hair tickling her cheek.
"I am Yoh, Anna," he whispered in a voice that was unmistakably Hao's. "If you want him so much, I can be him for you."
"NO!" Anna shrieked as she tried to push Hao off of her. She kicked at him and thrashed below him trying to get him off of her. However he was physically stronger and he had her pinned. It was then she realized that here she lay, nude below Hao and her face flared with red heat. A wicked grin crossed his mouth as he very gently laid a butterfly kiss below her ear. Anna felt ice run through her unable to break away from the initial shock as Hao squeezed her hands.
"I can be Yoh," he insisted.
"You can't! You can never be Yoh. Get off me," Anna shrieked, her head moving around as she pushed her knees forward and into his stomach. Hao gasped and jerked away from her. Anna took this time to scramble off the bed, nearly tripping over the covers and pull her robe tightly over her exposed form. Hao sat up on the bed, rubbing his stomach and his short hair fell around his shoulder. Fury overcame Anna as she saw Yoh in him. Tears grew hot in her ear like the flame growing deep within her belly. "You are despicable, Hao Asakura."
"I just want you to feel the same for me as you do Yoh," he replied calmly, examining his hair. Anna scoffed and folded her arms over her chest.
"Oh really! Well I do not and I never will. I hate you! You…you…are evil and cruel and I loathe you even more!" Hao did not say anything but his eyes were burning. Anna gulped, ready to back down but she stood her ground. She had to get him angry so she continued. "You are a pathetic being. You lost the Shaman Fight and the only way was to manipulate reality. You think that you are strong but you are very weak!"
"Anna…" he hissed. He stepped off the bed and Anna backed up. She took a deep breath and stood her ground.
"Do not call me by my name. We are not husband and wife. This is all some delusion that was created. And you…you are just as foolish as you were before! Not only with your subjects and blind ambition but with you are emotions. You say you want me to love you, you do not know what love is. Even in a trance I knew this. You are not in love…you are just obsessed! Love has no right within you either to love or be loved. You are just a heartless…"her speech was cut off as Hao's hand clamped around her throat. His bangs fell over one eye which was white with pure fury. Anna struggled against his grip, clawing at him to no avail. He began to chuckle which turned into a maniacal laugh. She remembered that laugh, that look of insanity.
"So small," he muttered, his grip tightening on her throat and stealing away her breath. "I can kill you right now Anna with one swift movement."
"See," she chocked. "All you knew is hatred and violence. You can't love at all and I can never love you."
"Maybe you are right, Anna. All I have come to know is hatred and violence," he grinned, slightly lifting her off her feet. "But with you, I felt connect to someone I just can never allow another betrayal. I do not need that pain again. I do care for you, Anna. No matter what you say."
"That is why you are chocking…" She could not breathe suddenly, Hao's free hand knocking the wind out of her. She doubled over and it made matters worse that she could not catch her breath with his hand on her throat. Her vision blurred and thing went black. Yoh, where are you, Anna pleaded. Everything was silent except for the harsh sound of Hao's breathing. Hao tossed her to the side suddenly, her head hitting against the bed and her body vibrated with pain. Hao stood laughing, his head tossed back. Anna scrambled to stand up, her vision blurring.
"Are you trying to contact, Yoh? It will not work, my dear Anna," he mused standing before her. Anna mouth opened and she tried to speak. Hao leaned in, capturing her head in his hand and pulled her forward to kiss her mouth painfully. Anna struggled to get away. "I know your plan. You are stupid to get me mad. I knew there was a motive. What will you do now? I can still be your Yoh. I can do it just for you. I did just a few minutes ago."
"It will never be the same," Anna replied tightly and feebly. His eyes widened, the whiteness was endless in the pits of rage.
"WHY ARE YOU BEING DIFFICULT?" He shoved her to the side. Anna went flying, the robe loose around her. Hao looked at her, smiling wickedly. Anna blushed and covered herself. "You almost gave yourself to me. I was Yoh and you believed it."
"I thought it was a dream. Besides, you can never be my Yoh. You are Hao and that is who you will remain." There was a knock at the door and they both looked at it. Kanna stepped in without invitation, her face white and sweaty. Kanna looked at Anna then at Hao with his short hair. A moment of shock crossed her features.
"Master Hao."
"Not now, Kanna. Go away."
"But Master Hao. There is an uprising. The shamans in the village same from the bushes." Hao's eyes flared with hot fire and his lips twitched into a sneer. Anna was pleasantly surprised. So that was where they went. Ren and everyone rallied them up but that means. Her triumph was short lived as the color drained from her face. She failed in her mission though. They were going to die. Anna stepped back, trying to figure it out. Hao dismissed Kanna and turned to Anna. He laughed again.
"How clever. How brave," he mocked. Anna dashed passed him, forgetting everything. He tried to reach for her but Anna dodged out of the way. She ran into the wall but recovered quickly. Surprisingly Hao did not follow her as she ran outside, holding the robe. Outside it looked like a battle ready to fight. Hao's minions were on one side and the shamans on the other. Anna dashed passed them, ignoring there stares. She found Tamao and Jun hiding somewhere in the bushes with Amidamaru and Bason.
"Anna…" Tamao began, looking at her as she came near them.
"Do not ask."
"Did you contact Yoh," Jun asked. Anna hung her head.
"No. It did not work. Now Hao is furious and…"
"We are all dead."
The humor in it. They thought that they were bunnies. This is while Hao and Anna were starting to behave like bunnies. Amidamaru is Hugh Hefner and the bunnies were playboy. Very inside joke between my friend and I. I hope you enjoyed it. Boy was that long…
