Chapter 11: Genesis

---

He had dreamt of a lovely angel's arms encircling him, embracing him and he couldn't quite comprehend.

It was a dream.

Yoh woke up late in the morning, a headache starting to rub on him. Even in his subconscious state, he was already readying himself before he even opened his eyes. What if last night turned out to be a dream? What if the worse should happen? What if his senses are deceiving him again?

Last night.

But no. Last night wasn't a dream, it was for real. He opened his eyes and focused his vision around the room. He didn't sleep in his room. The sillhouette of the things around him was nothing like those that are in his room. No, not at all. Yoh squinted the moment the gentle morning breeze parted the curtains to let the light seep through. He found the space beside him empty. Sure enough, she wasn't there.

He stood groggily and trudged outside Anna's room. He rubbed the back of his hand to an eye and yawned. At the porch, he found her, Anna, sitting beside Tamao, drinking tea.

The pink-haired girl was talking to the itako, smiling warmly and she gestured with her hand. She was telling the itako of how things were when she was away. Anna found the courage to ask just this morning as Tamao approached her with tea. But since Tamao knew better, she didn't even try to muster the courage to ask Anna reasons for her leaving but instead contented herself by answering her questions.

"Do people still visit here often?"

"Not that much, but they do. When they wanted to get along with Yoh-kun and maybe invite him to have some fun, they do." Tamao explained.

"Is the house well kept?"

"Hai. Yoh is doing a pretty good job about it, Anna-san."

"I see." Anna continued to drink her tea. "Is he seeing any other friends? Meeting them?" Anna felt kind of awkward just asking, but she wanted to make sure. Just... Just in case. And it's not that she is feeling jealous or anything.

Tamao's brow furrowed in thought as she placed her finger on her chin. "Well," She clapped her hand as if a very brilliant idea came to her. "How can I forget! Aya-chan! Yes, she met Yoh by accident while strolling through town." She nodded.

"Who?" Anna looked hard at the pink-haired girl, daring her to continue.

The pink-haired dared anyway. "Aya-chan." She repeated. "It was all a surprise when we met her."

"Why?"

"Anna-sama, she looks so much like you. We even thought that she was you."

Anna stared at her incredoulously, as if Tamao just told her to get lost. "How can anyone look like me!"

Tamao looked down sheepishly. It wasn't her place to explain these things to Anna-sama. Better let Yoh-kun do it and as Tamao noticed Yoh from behind them, she decided that this was exactly the best opportunity to divert the topic. Tamao turned to him, smiling widely even if Anna continued to glare at her.

"Yoh-kun, ohayo!"

"Ohayo Tamao." Yoh grinned back at her and let his gaze slid to Anna and wondered why she was glaring at Tamao so hard. She didn't turn to look at him when she heard that he was already there. Instead, she continued to sip from her cup gracefully. So much like Anna.

"Would you like a cup of tea?" Tamao offered.

"Hai!" Yoh answered cheerfully. He watched as Tamao stood and walked to the kitchen before positioning himself beside Anna with the slightest hesitation.

"Ohayo, Anna." He wore his smile as usual.

She didn't even look at him when she mouthed the word "ohayo" back at him. This made his brows furrow a little.

"Are you feeling well Anna?" He asked out of concern. This time, Anna looked at him with something in her eyes he couldn't comprehend.

Maybe she was still tired. Maybe she was adjusting still. Maybe...

How many 'maybe's' does he have to supply just to assure himself nothing is amiss? He wanted to ask things. He wanted an answer.

"Hai."

Yoh grinned at her. "Oh, ok. I'm glad you are! Ano, Anna..." Yoh looked down. "I was worried."

Anna's eyebrow shot up, as if disbelieving. "Oh?"

"Err--well, yes." He answered sheepishly.

"I'm fine now. More than fine." Anna stood gracefully and dusted her dress. "You need not worry now." Her eyes focused on Yoh once again almost as the same time Tamao returned from the kitchens.

"Dozo, Yoh-kun." Tamao handed him the cup and turned to look at Anna, standing.

"After that Yoh, you can clean the house. They left a lot of mess here last night." The itako ordered before turning away.

"Hai Anna!" Yoh said cheerfully despite the cold treatment Anna just presented him.

As soon as Anna left, Tamao leaned on Yoh's shoulder and whispered, "Don't worry, there's not much to clean Yoh-kun. I arranged it already after they all bid goodbye. It was...a wonderful meal and they want to say thank you." She smiled assuringly at the shaman.

"Thank you."

Tamao had to go and she bid them goodbye. Besides, they had to be alone. "Yoh-kun, Anna-san, I have to go. Thank you again." She bowed before going.

"Ok! Take care then!" Yoh waved and Anna nodded to the retreating Tamao.

It took Yoh only a few hours to finish the tasks at hand. He whistled a merry tune, happy at the moment, oblivious to everything. He had been able to do things properly and he didn't feel tired at all.

As Yoh was working, all the while, Anna was gazing at him, not paying attention to the magazine that she was reading.

It was hard for her to look at him long enough to read what was inside his head. The word 'natural' was long lost from her vocabulary and she didn't know how to retrieve it back. She didn't know how to react to him, what to say to him. Going back was hard and now this situation was harder to handle. Curse Yoh for being so damn cool as if nothing is happening. She was surprised when he didn't attack her with questions. At least for now. She felt so uneasy; it was a miracle that she was able to keep her composure despite everything. And another thing, who was that Aya that Tamao was talking about? And she looked like Anna? 'Impossible', Anna thought. She would have to see that for herself. For now, all she can do is at least be optimistic. She can do this and she will. She hadn't backed out on anything yet. She wasn't afraid of anything before. And she wasn't weak and will not start now.

With all these thoughts running inside her head, she didn't notice that Yoh had already seated himself in front of her. Yoh had been calling out to her but her mind remained in a daze until Yoh brought his face near hers causing her to be startled.

"Anna!"

"Huh?"

"Anna!"

"What!"

"You sure you're ok?" Yoh reached out to her forehead, and looked up thoughtfully. "You're temperature's normal. Does your head hurt?" He asked the startled itako, still a few inches away from her.

Anna seemed to become aware of Yoh's hand on her forehead that she wasn't able to reply quickly enough and was staring at him quite stupidly. Trying to hide the blushing of her cheeks, she retaliated by swatting Yoh's hand away and dismissed the subject by waving her hand at him.

"Of course I'm fine! I told you that already! And stop hovering at me like a hen. What is it that you want?" She asked him, snapping back words as her only defense. As if being shouted at by people is typically normal and funny, Yoh just grinned sardonically at her thus, making Anna blush more evenly. Now, that reminded her that what she was doing isn't exactly working...or is it? Anna scowled at Yoh and waited for a response.

"Well?"

"What would you like for lunch? Or would you prefer to eat oustide?"

"I..."

"Don't you like to go outside?"

"Ii-" She interjected.

"Why, it's a beautiful morning! We should go out!"

A vein twitched on Anna's forehead and, grabbing the magazine that she had been reading, she threw it at Yoh's head. "How am I supposed to decide when you keep cutting me off! Baka!" She growled.

"Ow!" Yoh laughed and grabbed Anna's unaware hand and led her oustide.

"What the-! Wait!" Anna tried to move away but Yoh kept pulling her. She just gave up and followed, thankful that Yoh isn't making this harder for her. "Where is Tamao?"

Yoh cocked an eyebrow amusingly at her. "She left awhile ago; she said she had something to do. Aren't you listening to what she was saying?" Yoh explained to her. They were walking at a normal pace now. Yoh's hand was behind his head while Anna crossed her arms.

"Well, never mind." She scowled at the ground. How can she be so deaf as to not to hear what the prophetess was saying? Well, now, at least the world 'humiliation' reached new heights for her.

"Where do you plan to eat?" Anna asked, finding the silence quite awkward. The pressure of her stupidity was starting to fit in.

"Where do you want to eat?" Yoh asked her grinning. He was supposed to treat her so it was up to her to decide where she wanted to go and where she wanted to eat and what she wanted to do. Sure enough, if he had let her stay at home, she wouldn't be enjoying herself and just be bored. And bored isn't exactly what she should feel right now.

"Are you supposed to be answering a question by a question? I am the one doing the asking here. Answer me." She retorted.

"I don't know, I wanted you to pick which place we would eat."

Anna sighed heavily. "Whatever." She led the way now, walking faster as Yoh walked beside her, smiling.

Yoh and Anna walked side by side towards home. They had eaten fitfully at a Chinese Restaurant, that of course, Anna decided and Yoh agreed without hesitation. Full as they were, Yoh urged Anna to stay in town, which was quite unusual. Since Anna decided to give in to the urge, they trudged along town, browsing through shops.

"Want ice cream Anna?"

"Fine."

"How about those crackers?"

"...Whatever."

"AH! Cakes!"

"Argh! Stop it Yoh! I'm full and you're getting too much fat into my body!"

"Ahehehe..."

It cost them hours and now, the darkness had begun to fall. The stars were beginning to pop out and the moon started to shine ever so brightly in the darkening horizon.

Obviously Yoh had been trying to make this day a special day for her, or so that's what she thought. She had been happy but didn't show it, being the ice maiden that she was. Contrary to Yoh, who kept grinning and smiling at her.

"Are you tired, Anna?" Yoh gazed at her as they continued to walk along side.

"No." She plainly replied without looking at him.

"I had fun and I enjoyed the food..." He grinned while Anna fought the urge to look at his handsome features visible in the dark.

"Yes, yes. I know." Her voice was laced with irritation. "Yoh, just hurry along please!" With this she started to walk faster, gathering speed with every step she took.

As if on instinct and from the thought that he might become lost or she will (either way), Yoh leaned forward and suddenly took hold of Anna's hand causing her to stop walking.

"What now?"

"Let's go home!" Yoh walked non-chalantly, once again, pulled Anna behind him gently. Proud of himself actually, grinning again.

"What's that grin for Yoh Asakura?"

"Nothing." Despite having said it, he continued grinning like a lunatic and kept Anna's hand in his as he walked.

"And will you stop pulling me Yoh! I'm about to tri--"

The sentence isn't even finished when Anna suddenly jerked forward helplessly, tripping on a stone lying carelessly in the middle of the road. She gave out a small cry of frustration as she went stumbling forward. Yoh, with quick reflexes, caught her flailing arms as she fell to him.

Her cheeks burned as it grazed Yoh's chest. How can she be so stupid as to trip? Trip! Of all the things that can happen, why did she have to trip?

Lame, Anna, lame!

Yoh was surprised when Anna suddenly tumbled towards him. He noticed that she had tripped over a stone and he had done the most gentlemanly thing to do; catch her. He did and was quick to it. His arms closed in on her small waist, steadying her and helping her find her balance.

Once she was on her feet, Yoh didn't quite released her yet but kept holding her, Anna's flushed cheeks leaning on his chest. It was only after a moment that Yoh spoke.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes." She seemed to falter a bit, and tried to cover it. She felt like crying, but then she thought that she would die first before she let Yoh see her tears. She swallowed through a throat that seems parched. She pushed him gently away and took a quick glance at Yoh. His face was quite unreadable. He wasn't grinning or smiling and that was very unusual indeed.

"Let's go." Anna said numbly, at loss for what to say. Yoh obediently followed her.

And they went home in silence.

---

"Manta, we wouldn't want to disturb them right? I mean, this is the first time they'll be together again! They should be left alone so they could talk things out, right? Ne? What! Hey? Manta! MANTA! Are you even listening to me?"

"Calm down, Aya. I just wanted to ask Yoh something and I really do think this is very important." Manta explained calmly at Aya, who kept reasoning with him ever since he dragged her to accompany him.

"Wait a minute... why do you even have to drag me, of all people? I take it you have many friends!" Aya placed her hands at her hips and stopped walking. "So why me?"

"You're the only one available at the moment and besides my house is near yours and Aya, we are friends!"

"Ugh, your OTHER friends Manta! There's...there's that pointy haired person last night, right? And Tamao! And the blue haired uh, uhm...person! Oh please Manta!" Aya almost begged Manta.

"Aya-san, what is the matter?"

"..."

"What?"

"Nothing..."

"It's Anna right?"

"I, uh...well..."

"Don't worry, she's a nice person." Manta nodded and smiled at Aya assuringly. Nice? Right.

"Really? It's just that...ugh. Come on."

---

"Yoh, would you get the door?" Anna ordered from inside. Yoh dropped the broom he was holding. He was using it awhile ago to clean the backyard and the one he dodged when Anna opted to pound him with it when he forgot to clean the windows.

"Hai!"

Yoh opened the door to find Manta and Aya standing at the doorstep. For a moment, Yoh thought Aya looked rather pale and had an unsure smile plastered on her face. Was it just him or Aya really looked pale?

"Hi Yoh!"

"Hi Manta, Aya." He grinned at the nervous looking girl. "Aya, are you ok?"

"Hmm? Me? Yes, Yoh-kun. We hope we aren't disturbing you, Manta-kun wanted very badly to go here."

"It's fine. Come on inside!" Yoh ushered them inside as the same time as Anna was coming out of her room.

"Who is it, Yoh?" Anna asked.

Anna stood in the doorway to her room, leaning with crossed arms. Yoh walked in followed by Manta and A girl she hadn't seen before. Her head was bowed down that's why Anna couldn't see her face fully. Her blonde hair, almost as the same shade as hers, mostly shadowed her face.

Yoh placed his arms behind his head and stopped before Anna. "Manta. I think he wants to ask me something."

"Such as?" Anna said, averting her eyes at Manta.

This time it was Manta who spoke, "I need his help to find something. Well, it's not that urgent but it's important."

"Oh and Anna, I want you to meet Aya." Yoh introduced Aya, making way so the pale faced girl could be seen. "Aya, this is Anna. Anna this is Aya."

It was only then that Aya raised her head to meet Yoh's fiancee, Anna.

---

A/n: revised as of 3/27/2007