As they walked into the Inn, they both saw him. Hao Asakura was laying on the couch, legs crossed and arms folded. The long-haired boy looked up as Yoh and Anna walked in, a smile spreading vastly over his face. It had been only weeks since the first round of the Shaman Tournament had ended, and no one would ever expect Hao to be at Yoh's house. But, no matter how you looked at it, having Hao Asakura in your house was definately a bad thing.

Anna was the first to notice him, and his familiarity to Yoh, but she knew that this man was bad news, and she could tell just by reading the look on Yoh's face. It was not that of blissful joy, but of worry and panic. Anna quickly grabbed Yoh's arm and sank down behind him. He looked down for a moment at her, and then backed up a bit to shield Anna more. It was comforting, and he could feel her grip on his hand lessening a bit, but she was still scared.

Hao sat up, causing Anna to back away even farther, pulling Yoh along with her. Hao grimaced a bit, and then spoke, with a chilling voice that frightened Anna even more than she already was.

"Why, hello there little brother. And Anna is back from the hospital, I see. Don't worry, give her to me, and I'll take great care of her." Hao's smile widened as he saw Yoh tighten his grip on Anna.

"There is no way that I will let you take her!" Yoh sneered at Hao, hatred reflecting in his voice.

"Well, I'm afraid you do not have much choice in the matter." Hao shot back. He then proceded to call forth his Spirit of Fire and, turning it into a sword, he challenged Yoh to a fight.

Anything for Anna. I can not let Hao take her. If she never gets her memory back, I want her to at least forget Hao. There are some things that she is better off having never known, and Hao is one of them. Even if it uses up all of my strength, I WILL defeat Hao. I WILL win, for Anna's sake. I have to win.

Yoh brought Amidamaru out, and put him into the Intiquity, causing a giant sword, much the same as Hao's, to appear in his hands. He stepped away from Anna a bit, and she backed away into a corner of the room, away from the fighting.

And so, the two boys continued to fight. Yoh had a cut across his chest, two on his arms, and one on his face as well from the fight. Hao, on the other hand, had none, and he certainly had more energy left than Yoh, who was panting now. Now truly enraged at Hao, Yoh was putting forth more effort than he could spare to save Anna, but he had little furyoku left, and much less than Hao had to begin with.

Hao launched another attack, sending Yoh flying backwards, where he landed across the room. He walked right up to Yoh and, stabbing him right through the chest, he sent him out of conciousness. Yoh could hardly breathe, and he was barely alive. Anna made a move to run towards him and help, but Hao stopped her.

"Now now, Anna. He will be fine, but all of that can change, and very quickly might I add. He will remain alive, but only under my circumstances. Now, if you come with me willingly, I will leave him here with the slight chance that he will live. If you refuse, then I will have no choice but to kill him right here. So, what will it be? What is your decision? If you really love him, you will do what it right and come with me."

Anna thought for a moment. It was true, she loved Yoh and it would hurt her too much to see him die because of her. But, Yoh had fought so well to keep her away from this man, and it would be hard to defy his best wishes. Still, what was best for Yoh was much better than what was best for her. And seeing him die would just be too painful.

"I-I'll come with you. I do not want to see him get hurt because of me." Anna said, barely more audible than a whisper. Hao's smile increased as he broke his spirit control in order to bring forth his Spirit of Fire in full mode. He grabbed Anna in his arms and, walking outside to his spirit, he jumped on top of it and took Anna away. Away from Yoh, away from her only safety, and away from everything that she had grown to love.

She did not know where she was going, or what was going to happen to her, but there was still a chance that Yoh would live, and perhaps she would see him again someday. Anna had traded her freedom, her very life, for the chance that Yoh would live.

But, there was still a chance that Yoh would not live, and that, without him, and in the hands of Hao, neither would Anna.