Chapter 1: Forgetting What Is Past

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After a month…

The sun shone brightly over the busy streets of town and trees surrounding the area. Yoh lay under the tree, grateful for its shade. He felt the distorted shadows that painted his face, nothing felt better than this place.

A feeling of peace and serenity…

He breathed in the fresh smell of the leaves and felt the wind caress his face. Squinting up at the sun, he raised his hands and blocked the light this magnificent star is emitting. It was summer again. So much time has passed, it was already midsummer.

He usually spent his time here, in this abandoned but peaceful place. This was the only time he had rest since the Shaman Fight was over. He was arranging this and that; he barely had time left for himself. He enjoyed it nonetheless, though there are times he almost wanted to give up but with the help of his friends, he made it.

He sat up abruptly and inhaled, his hands behind him supporting his weight. He looked around him, only a few people passed below. He can see it for he was like in a hill, stretched before him was the whole city. He wondered where Manta and Horohoro is now. Forgetting all thoughts about having a rest, he went in search for them.

He walked through the streets with both hands in his pockets. He hummed a soft tune, glance here and there, hoping to find a blue mess of a hair or a familiar short, yellow haired boy. People sure are busy today, he thought. As he turned a corner, he found Manta browsing through a stack of magazines. Yoh walked purposely toward him and leaned over the very much unaware Manta.

He grinned mischievously behind him and blew a soft bluster of air into his ear and said an eerie, "Booooo…"

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaahh!" Manta jumped in surprise and threw the magazine at Yoh's face as he reeled backward, almost toppling the magazine rack.

"Hey!" Yoh said reaching up to his face with his hand.

"Ah!" Manta said as soon as he realized that it was Yoh who got hit with his thrown magazine. "Sorry Yoh! I didn't know you are there! Are you bleeding?" He said with a huge gasp.

"Hahaha! You could have made my nosebleed there. Yeah, yeah, I'm okay." Yoh said wiping his face and grinning widely. "I just wanna treat you over. Want to come with me?"

"Okay. I'll just pay for this inside."

Manta rushed inside to where the cashier was staring furtively at them and was almost banging the cashier box when she gave the change.

"Ahehe…gomen…" said Manta scratching his head. All Yoh can do was to cover his mouth to stop himself from laughing.

Later, Yoh and Manta was walking to the ice cream parlor to eat. They were already talking about so many things about the past few days. It was like they have just met.

Yoh ordered them sundaes and continued chatting.

"Have you seen Horohoro?"

"Horohoro? Nope. Not yet."

"Oh? I thought you two were together."

"Nah. I was spending my time mostly on magazine shops wasting my time on blasted magazines that won't come out for weeks. Well, at least now it came." He said, licking the ice cream.

Yoh chuckled. He missed the times he spent with his friends because he's spending his time usually alone, thinking over things. He ought to spend more time with them.

"Manta, when you see him, say hi for me okay?"

"Mochiron."

They walked home together and said their goodbyes. Yoh was gradually happier today than before. His spending time with his friends raised his spirits, somehow fulfilling him other than the loss he felt when Anna left her.

Anna…

She left me. There was no use brooding over something that won't ever come back. I will not let her affect my life like this. She left me without so much of a goodbye. I won't let anyone see how much she has affected my life. Never…even if she come back.

With this on his mind, he settled on that decision. It will be hard but whatever, no matter how much it takes he will never, ever let her affect him now. Yoh went to the kitchen to get refreshment for himself then to his room and read a little before deciding that he is already sleepy.

Tomorrow will be new day for him. A day for change and focusing on other things that is more engaging. He closed his eyes and felt the darkness swallow him as he drifted into his subconscious state…

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A/n: revised as of 03/26/2007