Note: Sorry for the wait! Here's chapter 7, coming right up! (Ps: Anna's VERY ooc here)

Chapter 7: Holiday- Day 1

"I can't believe you," Jun told Anna incredulously on Sunday morning. "We came all the way to the beach to play and you're just going to sit and read?" She crossed her slender arms indignantly and looked at the blonde girl, who stretched and lazed on the picnic mat. "Well…" Anna said uncertainly. "Yeah! Don't be a spoilsport! Come and PLAY!" Matilda squealed excitedly. Anna hesitated. "Come on!" Tamao insisted quietly. "No…" Anna said slowly. "Come ON! You've got your bikini on already!" Pillica wailed. Anna blushed. Indeed, under her black dress was her dark blue, two piece swim suit that Jun had insisted her on buying just for this trip. "I…" Anna thought for a moment. "I really don't know why you bother whining at and begging someone like her! Just pull off her dress and haul her into the water!" Hao yelled from behind, tugging off the zip of Anna's new dress. "ASAKURA HAO!" Anna yelled when her dress slipped off her shoulders. She tugged at it quickly, but too late, Marion had appeared out of nowhere like Hao and flung off her dress. "Mari! I'm going to get you once I slap Hao!" Anna shouted angrily. "Haul Miss Anna into the water!" Pillica and Matilda cheered as Hao and Jun grabbed Anna and dragged her into the salty sea water.

"What does Hao think he is doing to my fiancée!" Yoh cried indignantly to HoroHoro, Lyzerg, Ren and Manta as they watched Hao throw Anna violently into the water, with Matilda, Pillica Marion and Jun shrieking with laughter. "Hao!" And Yoh jumped onto his twin from behind. "What are you doing to Anna!" He shouted.

Marion gave a shriek as Anna pulled her down into the water as well. The ribbons binding her hair broke, and the silky, long blonde hair that resembled Anna's golden one, fell past her waist and into the water. Hao and Yoh stood together, watching their two fiancées play and laugh together.

It was a pretty sight for the two brothers, and it brought back many bitter sweet memories, especially for Hao. In a flash, he remembered all the harsh things he had said to Yoh and his friends, how he had hurt them during the tournament, and how he had almost killed Yoh, who wanted to do nothing but help him…. And yet, yet, they still agreed to accept him, and decided not to blame him however hard it may be…

All of Hao's allies have dispersed, leaving only Matilda, who stuck with him out of gratitude, and Marion, who stood by him out of love. Kanna had disappeared with the others, but Hao did not care anymore. All he knew is that he is grateful that Marion and Matilda brought him to Yoh. It was Yoh who have been helping him all these while, and Hao was truly grateful.

As if Yoh knew what his twin was thinking, he said pleasantly, " Aren't you really happy now? You have family, friends and a fiancée by your side. Surely you're contented?"

Hao cast Yoh a sidelong glance and smiled a little. "Of course I'm contented. But, Yoh… I need to apologize for…" "Didn't we say it's ok and we won't bring up the tournament matters anymore?" Yoh interrupted Hao before he could continue. "Yoh is right. And it's not like we all blame you anymore." Tamao whispered shyly from behind. Hao smiled at Tamao, who blushed dreadfully. "Why're you all standing down there for? Come and PLAY!" Matilda yelled, joining Marion and Anna in the water. "Tamao, bring the beach ball!"

And so, from sunrise till sunset, the group of friends abandoned all their troubles and played to their hearts' content, oblivious to the passing time and other people around them.

As the barbecue took place that night, Yoh and Anna wandered off together, Anna now wearing her black turtleneck dress that fell past her slim thighs. Her hair, which is still slightly coarse due to the salt water, was set loose, swaying around breezily as the sea breeze blew comfortably around. The hem of her black dress skimmed lightly on her thighs as she raised a hand to tuck her hair behind her ears.

Yoh smiled to himself as he watched the sweet maiden stare out towards the ocean, a soft light glinting in her wonderfully clear brown eyes. She was so graceful in her every movement that Yoh could not help but admire the way she stood like a graceful statue, the moonlight shining down on her, making her fair skin look as if they are glowing.

Yoh's white blouse rustled breezily, and, upon hearing the soft sound, Anna turned. Yoh started, and blushed slightly. "Yoh… You idiot," Anna said softly, reaching out to button the blouse, "How many times do you need me to tell you? Button-your-blouse-up-or-you'll-catch-a-cold." She emphasized each word as she trailed her long fingers loosely down the blouse, buttoning it up. "T…Thanks." Yoh stammered, still blushing. Watching Yoh blush and stammer like a lovesick kid made Anna laugh a little, and Yoh stared at her, amazed that Ice Queen Anna had actually laughed. "What-" Yoh stuttered, blushing redder. Anna stared at Yoh fixedly, then hugged him. Taken by surprise, Yoh stood there stupidly, until Anna said, in a gentle tone, "You've matured a lot recently, Yoh."Yoh smiled a little, and said, "So have you, Anna. Is the ice wall finally melting?"

He was teasing, Anna knew, but she played along. "Of course it has, or I wouldn't have laughed, would I?" "Of course not. Anna… I love you." Yoh told her quietly. Anna blushed, totally not expecting this at all. "What? Am I supposed to answer you now? What should I say?" Anna thought, biting her lip. "Tell him that you love him too. What else, dummy!" The voice at the back of her head told her. "Hey, I'm the Ice Queen!" She thought, gritting her teeth. "I thought you said the ice had melted." Anna sighed softly to herself. "Oh all right. I give up." And then, she turned her attention back to Yoh. "I… I love you too."

"I wonder where Yoh and Anna are. They are like, totally missing the fantastic food!" Matilda exclaimed while trying to stuff a meatball in with several cuttlefish. "Stop stuffing yourself, Matilda, or you'll choke." Lyzerg told the hyperactive girl patiently. "Well, I hope HOROHORO will choke." Ren smirked at the blue-haired boy, who, like Matilda, was stuffing food continuously down their throats. HoroHoro glared at Ren. "Shut it, Chinese boy!" He yelled. "What, you want to fight?" Ren demanded, and HoroHoro and Ren began to shout at each other. "My, my. They sure are lively." Jun said with a smile. "You call that lively? Please, stop them before they hurt each other!" Tamao shrieked, terrified. "Aw, don't worry them already. You're already used to the two of them being like this, anyway." Pillica said. Matilda gave a small yawn and laid her head on Lyzerg's shoulder unconsciously. Lyzerg smiled down at her, and she grinned back. "Tired? Let's go back to the chalet together." He offered. "Ok!" Matilda said cheerfully, and got up with Lyzerg. "Going back to the chalet so soon?" Hao asked in surprise, gulping down sake. "Yeah. She's tired, and it's not safe for a girl to go back alone." Lyzerg said. "Aww, how sweet!" Manta said with a grin. "Take care! Night, Matilda, Night, Lyzerg!" Ryu said cheerfully. "Night guys! See you, Mari!" And Matilda and Lyzerg strolled off.

Lyzerg Diethel's diary entry for the day:

What can I say now… It's was really fun today! Anyway, I always thought it was impossible for me to fall for Matilda, but… But… it's happening. Here I am, sitting by the window, writing my silly entry, and Matilda's actually on the bed behind me, trying to sleep. Sure, it was pretty tiring, since we played so much. Oh well. Matilda's nice. Bite that. She's a great girl! Anyway, I no longer care if she used to serve Hao and no longer care that she used to be our enemy… Like what Yoh had said, the past is the past already, so we should just let go! Right! Now I wonder where Yoh is?

Lyzerg Diethel