The winter passed and the spring came. Everything was blooming and coming back to life. Sakura's were loaded with ping beautiful blossoms. But not only Nature came back to life. Love seemed to do the same thing. Everywhere you go, you could see happy, love-struck couples. A rather beautiful sight, to tell the truth. But not for everyone…
Anna wasn't happy at all. Not only because she hadn't anyone by her side (if you don't count Yoh, that is), to make it even worse, she and most of the school had an exams of graduation to pass. That made an important issue on their getting to the university.
Anna studied her hardest. Not even to pass the exams, but to forget, too. Forget, forget, forget…her love to Hao. But that doesn't seem so easily forgettable. The girl lived on, but that wasn't easy for her. For many months now, that she was living with Asakura's, she has been acting, that she has got better. And they were falling for it. For days she's been wearing that mask. And she would always get so tired of it…
Hao too acted as if everything's fine. Not a single emotion slipped away through his mask. He even started to talk with Yoh. They would eat together or sit in classes. But there was something that neither Hao nor Anna could do. They still couldn't look at each other, because if they would, they knew that they would just fall in each others embrace, since one couldn't live without another. And so, they went on like this until one day…
That day Anna decided to shop for some clothes in the mall. Since Mikihisa came up with the conclusion that Anna wouldn't meet Hao again, he let her out alone. That was a refreshment to her, because she haven't got a chance to walk alone for ages. So, she entered the mall, which wasn't crowded today. Anna found that strange, since malls nowadays are almost 24/7 crowded. But she didn't care; her motto: the less the merrier played an important role in this matter. Anna got to the first shop and started skimming through clothes…
Hao entered the mall, knowing that he's doing a big mistake. Although he wasn't paying attention, his fan girls were still chasing him. He blew out a sigh of relief when he saw half-empty mall. For one they're not here. He passed a couple of shops, but one caught his attention. Not the shop, but who was inside of it drew his sight to it. He saw a beautiful blond, skimming through the clothes. That blonde was his wife. She's so beautiful. Still my angel. At school, he tried not to look to her, because his heart ached every time he threw a glance on her. But now she was there. No school, no bodyguards, no Yoh, just she and him. Hao toured his eyes through Anna's body. She's still so hot… Anna wore black baggy pants, short black T-shirt that uncovered her delicate waist. Red bandana hung around her neck and peered down her back and waist, like a red stream. Hao was amazed how he found her from new. Silently and carefully he walked behind her and slid his arms around her waist, sinking his face into her almond-scent hair. Still the same…
Anna gasped from a suddenly appeared foreign warmth around her waist and on her back. But it didn't seem so foreign. The scent was familiar, the grip itself was so familiar, so soft, so…loving? Suddenly she realized.
"Hao?" she whispered in shock. Hao kissed her neck softly.
"I've missed you so much. I cannot help it. I want to feel you near" Anna turned around to face him. She saw the same face, the same hair…the same smirking but also loving eyes. Now she couldn't resist. Now she was vulnerable and she knew it. Anna kissed him. Kissed with all the passion she had and the passion only she had. Hao answered the same. The moments passed and they only broke off to take few breaths of air.
"Follow me" Hao whispered to her ear. Anna only nodded and walked along. They sat into Hao's car and drove across the city, not speaking, but not letting go of each others hand, either. They stopped at the yard of Hao's house. Anna didn't resist on going with him, she actually wasn't thinking at all. All she wanted is to be in the arms of the only man she loved. They got into the house and started kissing passionately. Hao pushed Anna to the wall, making his way down her neck, which hade Anna moan from pleasure. They found their way to the bedroom and fell on bed. The waves of lust took them away from this world…
The couple laid in each others embrace, panting. But they were happy now. They were together after such a long period of time they spent apart. Hao kissed Anna's forehead.
"I love you"
"I love you too" Anna said the word which she wanted to say for a long time "but what now? Where to?"
"I have an idea, if it won't be ruined. I'll take you away the day you and Yoh are supposed to be married" Anna looked at him with eyes full of horror.
"That's crazy! They're going to kill you from a first sight"
"I know it's dangerous, but I'll do everything I can to be with you. I cannot live without you anymore, Anna. I love you to much to lose you this way" Anna's cheeks were crossed by a tears. She cried a lot these days.
"Then I'll be waiting for you" she rested her head on Hao's chest and closed eyes "I would rather share one moment with you, than spend all the lifetime alone" Hao hugged her tighter, not wanting to let go.
"Oh, my love, what else will we go through for being together" Anna didn't respond. She just cuddled closer to him. Now their bodies were as close as possible. Both didn't want this moment to end…
Anna got back to Izumo after an hour. She carried two bags with her. After an incident at Hao's place he drove her back to the mall where she bought few things and then…once again a goodbye. But this time both knew that goodbye wasn't for ever. The future held something for them… As Anna walked towards her room, thinking to herself, she hit into something, or someone. It was Yoh.
"Sorry. I didn't see you" Anna said looking into an exact clone of Hao. But this clone didn't give her feelings that Hao did.
"Ah it's ok. Listen, tomorrow's Friday so I thought maybe we could go out and have a dinner somewhere? You know, away from everyone" he shot her a cute smile. Anna shuddered inside, but instead she said:
"Fine by me. I still won't be doing anything" Yoh hugged her. This unexpected hug made Anna blush, but Yoh, luckily, didn't notice that.
"You're wonderful, Anna" the girl smiled, blush already left her cheeks "I'll be looking forward to it" he said and walked away. Anna sighed and walked into her room, sliding the door behind her.
What Yoh and Anna didn't know, was that they've been watched by other pair of eyes. Those eyes grew angrier as they followed Anna's moves. The man disappeared in the shadows of evening light…
So next evening, Yoh and Anna drove to the city. Yoh wore a black suit with black shirt and he hardly could take his eyes away from Anna. She was wearing a long red dress with crochets. It was with long sleeves, but opened Anna's chest. On her neck hung a necklace of rubies. The gift from Mikihisa as his son's bride-to-be. Yoh drooled to her every time he could. Am I dreaming, or I'm really to marry this girl? He kept questioning himself every time he saw her.
To Anna, on the other hand, these looks and drools were very annoying. She wanted to slap this Asakura guy, who couldn't even see that she's all tense and tired of it all. But now she couldn't show it. Another two months and she'll be free. If it's work out for Hao and her that is. Yoh parked by the hotel. In it's cellar there was a restaurant. They entered it and sat by the table. Anna notice that every man who was there, was drooling to her, but she didn't react. Thanks, I have enough trouble with Yoh.
"Well, what would you like" Yoh asked, giving her a menu that was brought by a waiter. She took it, smiling to him...
At the same time, Hao just came back from his night walk in the park. He was just putting his leather jacket to the wardrobe, when the door burst open. Hao turned around and saw his father, Mikihisa.
"Nice of you to knock" Hao said sarcastically. He continued putting the jacket to it's place.
"You were with her, weren't you" Hao froze. How the hell he find out?
"With who?"
"Don't play coy with me, Hao. You know perfectly that I forbid you to meet with Anna" Hao let out a smirk to him and crossed his arms on chest.
"I don't give a damn on what you forbid or don't forbid to do, Mikihisa" for a first time, Hao called his father by name. Everything that was beautiful in his heart for father now was gone.
"Don't you dare to call me like that!" the man shouted. This action of his son made his heart bleed.
"Don't you dare to shout at me. And what's about Anna, is that I'm taking her away. With or without your permission" Mikihisa froze. For a first time he saw his son confronting him like that. Mikihisa understood that Hao wasn't a little boy anymore, but he was his son and Hao should obey him.
"You're not. I warn you, Hao. If you touch her at least with one finger, you're no longer welcome in our family" Hao only rolled eyes.
"Then I'm out of it long ago. Not that I care. She doesn't care either" Mikihisa rose his fist at Hao, but as he saw how his son stood in complete peace, the man lowered it.
"You ask for it. That's what you're going to do: you'll graduate high here and go to Oxford, Harvard or where ever, but away from Japan and you don't come back until I let you to. And don't you even dare to steel Anna away" Hao smiled weakly.
"You care for her or for your son and family's name?" he asked his voice icy.
"How dare you to even think that I could…"
"See, that's the difference between us. You care about the names and I care about her and only her. So stay out of my way and get out of my house" Hao showed him the door. Mikihisa sighed.
"If you don't obey, you're no son for me then" Hao chuckled.
"As if I care about that either" Mikihisa only nodded and left. Hao sighed and collapsed to the floor. He never confronted his father that way before and it ached his heart to ruin his dreams. But if you want to have your love with you, you have to fight for it in any way! And so Hao did.