Chapter 2: Pure Coincidence
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"Yoh..."
That voice... It sounds familiar.
"Yoh."
"Where are you?"
Wait a minute... I know that voice. Anna?
"Yoh...I'm here"
"Anna! Wait, I can't see you!"
Anna...
"Yoh please wait for me...I lo--"
"Ooww! What the-" I woke up with a start when I felt the alarm clock I was keeping bounce off my head. It hit me on the forehead squarely and landed on the side of the bed. I was scratching my head furiously and realized that it was already bright, as I focused on the window by the far side of my room. The clock vibrated still beside me and reached for it in hopes of turning it off. I sat up in bed and yawned widely before I proceeded to the kitchen to cook breakfast.
I would have given a great deal not to react when I heard the noise of pans moving about in the cupboard but I thought those standing-on-the-ends blue hair was familiar. That black band that was used to hold that hair was only worn by one person...
"Horohoro!" I said in amusement and surprise as I walked purposely toward him. He was staring at me wide-eyed holding a kettle that I have never used in ages. I leaned on the counter and crossed my arms casually on my chest. I smiled. "Whatever are you doing here?" I asked gleefully. I have never seen him in weeks and I have never thought that he would come creeping in my house just to inspect my pans and kettles.
He rose and swiftly hid the ladle behind him, grinning sheepishly.
"Ohayo, Yoh. Ahehehe..." When I responded with a smile, he sighed in resignation, and turned to look at me. "I was trying to cook."
Stare.
Smile.
"Come one Yoh! I haven't seen you in weeks already!"
I laughed heartily ad tapped him on the shoulder. "Just joking Horohoro. Sure why not? But...how did you get in my house?" I asked out of curiosity when I began to wonder when he came.
"Easy." He said with the snap of a finger. "See that window on your backyard?" He pointed to the window which is opened easily, with no effort applied. "I unlocked some of the things there,"
"What things?"
"Oh believe me, you wouldn't want to know. But don't worry it's fixed already. Then I entered. Hah! No mess!" He beamed up at me proudly and couldn't help but laugh.
"Okay. Cook for me you said?"
"Yep."
"Cook for me then."
Silence.
"Do you know how to?" I asked aghast, but good naturedly.
"...well, not really but Pirika was trying to teach me a little. Why don't we try?"
"Okay, okay. Go then."
He smiled and turned his back on me rummaging through the cabinets for food and utensils. I sat on the table with my chin rested on a splayed hand. I watched him move about, walking in front of me back and forth with a spoon in hand then went to the refrigerator to get eggs and return to the pan on the stove.
It was after a few minutes that he finished cooking and set the platter on the table with a proud grin. "See?"
I inspected the eggs and pancakes. "Hmm..." I looked at him. "Say, Pirika did a wonderful job at teaching you eh?"
"Like hell she did. Let's eat I'm starving." Horohoro seated himself directly in front of me. "Itadakimasu!"
"How are you Yoh?"
"Me? Just fine. You?"
"Fine as ever. Nothing much though, I've been spending my whole vacation in the forest. Trying to find unusual plants. Really, I don't know what lead me there. I just wanted to I guess." He shoveled his spoon into his mouth. "I fot you wubbe bored so ay bisited, you know?"
I laughed at this. I though he was going to be mad at me for the way I avoided them both when Anna went away. "How's Pirika?"
"Oh? Good. Well, I just thought she spanks me too often though. Hell, a day can't pass without her screaming her throat off on me."
"Ha! You're just plain stubborn."
"No I am not. It's her hobby."
"I was hoping to find you the other day but instead I found Manta."
Horohoro looked up from his plate.
"What did he say?"
"Nothing really. We were just talking about what we would do for the rest of the summer."
Silence.
"Yoh, can I ask you something?"
I was abruptly surprised by the question but retaliated by smiling instead. "Sure."
"Are you...um...do you...do you still think about her?"
"Who's 'her'?" I asked, frowning.
"Anna. I mean, I saw how you acted when...when...she left. Are you sure you are okay?"
"Me? Of course I am. I don't even think about it anymore."
I know who he was referring to. Anna. How did the subject came anyway? I don't remember giving any hints about it. I lied. But the look in his eyes told me he knew I was lying. I have to think of a way to get rid of that subject.
"Let's clear this up." I said as I stood up from my place at the table and started piling the plates. Thank goodness he was making this easy for me. He had let the subject fall knowing that he can't get honest answers from me. But I was somehow sure that the subject I am avoiding will soon be raised over and over again.
Later, we sat on the porch playing cards and drinking lemonade. From here, I can see several women pass by, carrying baskets and their pouches. Probably they are going to the market today. The day is fair, therefore it shouldn't be wasted.
"I am getting bored." Horohoro yawned in front of me, interrupting my train of thoughts. "Let's go to town." He stood and stretched. Somehow he had grown taller this few weeks.
I gathered all the cards and rose. "What do you want to do?"
"I dunno. Let's just stroll, I guess." He smiled that devilish grin and we were off, trotting towards town.
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"Oh cool Yoh! Look at this!" Shouted Horohoro and placed his hands on the glass, gaping at boards of some kind, I don't know. "I knew it! They've got issues already!"
Oh? Okay. What was that anyway? Geez, if I only know. I shook my head and grinned. "Are you going to buy that Horo?" I asked.
"Maybe after... a month? I still don't have money now." He said, suddenly looking forlorn.
"Ok. Why don't you save?" I tapped his shoulder in simple sympathy.
"I am and I am really going to buy that! Hah!" He punched the air with his fist.
"Come on. We can go elsewhere; I heard there are new shops." I jogged ahead as he followed my wake. He was walking with both hands on his head. He kept looking this way and that way, occasionally stopping as he glances at the shops.
I wasn't aware that I have already jogged too far ahead of him when someone made me reeling back that I almost fell to the pavement. I was in a very uncomfortable position with my hands behind me and my feet apart. I was unable still to focus my vision because my head was still reeling from the impact but the moment I did focus, I become very much aware of someone's weight on me. She was leaning a hand on the pavement, while her other hand was covering her gaping mouth. She was actually on top of me if it wasn't for the leaning arm.
She blushed deep scarlet and hastily stood, dusting off her jeans and black shirt. I stood too, for two many people already are watching us.
I lifted my eyes to look at her and smiled, but the moment I did, I regret having to look at her.
The hair...
Those eyes...
It was all too familiar... as if I have seen those eyes already. I felt a tiny pang inside, tiny but it sure hit me hard. Then it all came awfully crashing down.
Anna.
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A/n: revised as of 03/26/2007