SUMMARY - It's been like about two sleepless nights for Yoh and Anna...how is that going to affect them and how many more can they stand? Will they find a way to cope with their latest trauma? Alone or together?
TIMELINE - after the last chapter.
*Please note this is the last chapter of the Tokageroh arc, I'm moving on from it, but that doesn't mean I won't make references to it, but just wanted to let you all know we're moving towards the Ragoh Star and Silva test arcs.
10 chapters posted, OH, WOW! Just wanted to thank everyone who took time to read my fic and especially those who had commented on it! That's why, I dedicate this chapter to everyone who had reviewed my fic either here or on AO3. I really appreciate all your words, they've really motivated me to keep on writing and also just made my personal life better at times. SO THANK YOU!
I will come back to any messages I haven't replied yet, but I'm currently going through a busy period and wanted to get this out because it's been a while since I've updated this fic too.
Hope you enjoy this chapter! COMING UP - The Yohna date chapters 3
Chapter 10:…and a long day (part 4 - last chapter of the Tokageroh arc)
"I don't want to hear you yawning Yoh and you better not fall asleep in class, I told you to go to sleep!" Anna told Yoh annoyed the next day on their way to school before she quickened her pace to walk ahead of them.
She couldn't be seen with them, she was meeting with her so-called friends anyway. And she also felt like yawning, so another reason to quickly distance herself from them.
Yoh suppressed another yawn as he saw her going further away.
"She was very much awake herself, I bet she feels like yawning too!" Manta said yawning as he crossed his arms.
"Yeah, seems no one got any sleep this weekend." Yoh replied yawning and stretching as soon as he saw Anna out of sight.
"Did you talk to Anna about me recently? We had a chat last night and she seemed just a little bit less 'bitey'…" Manta commented.
"Well, we do talk about you at times, so I can't exactly say just recently." Yoh said dismissively.
"You gossip about me with Anna?!"
"We don't gossip. We talk about Anna together too and it's not gossip. You're my friend and visit us quite often, of course we talk about you at times. Why didn't you get any sleep?" Yoh changed the topic hoping Manta won't notice.
"I did sleep, but I was still pretty shaken after the Tokageroh incident…I know you had it worse, but I still felt like I caused you all trouble. But I'm better now, I've also cleared things with Anna, so I don't think it will bug me any longer."
"All in the past." Yoh said smiling, glad his friend found comfort and hoped he could find that himself soon too.
"Yeah, all in the past finally. I wonder why Anna was awake though, I think she took a shower, does she usually do that? I only sleep overnight at you in the weekends, so I don't know all the house habits."
"No, she usually doesn't, she probably forgot to take one before bedtime."
"So she went in the middle of the night, Yoh? Are you sure there isn't something wrong with her, like maybe she had some nightmare?"
"I don't know Manta, I will ask her later…" Yoh replied thoughtfully.
Sadness and worry crossed Yoh's features for a second, before his sleepy face was back on. However, Manta noticed, but didn't ask about it. Yoh looked too sleepy for a serious conversation about his relationship with his fiancée.
"Maybe you shouldn't ask her, especially today. If she didn't get any sleep, she'll be extra grumpy than usual. And she has already tripled your weights already. I don't want to see her tripling your triple."
"Thanks for the heads-up! Maybe you're right. Did we have any homework?"
"Homework? We have a history test!"
"We have?!"
"We have!"
"Uhhh!" Yoh grumbled.
Anna was trying to listen to the teacher, mister Fujimura, yet the recent lack of sleep was nagging her again. She felt drowsy and her eyes kept on closing. At least that history test was over, but the current literature class wasn't helping with her tiredness.
"Asakura read the next paragraph."
Mister Fujimura's voice was so boring it just made her even more sleepy. And now she put Yoh to read. She thought that would help her keep awake, but the opposite happened.
Her fiancée's voice was so suave and pleasant to her ears. It calmed her in its own unique way and made her feel at peace. Her eyes closed and her head slowly lowered on the desk.
"Kyoyama!" The teacher shouted half surprised, half disappointed.
Anna jumped and stood up immediately looking at the teacher, hands slightly trembling from the sudden wake.
"Miss Kyoyama, was the weekend not long enough for you to get proper sleep? Or Asakura's usual sleepy state is contagious?" The teacher asked unamused. A few classmates giggled, but one angered look from the teacher silenced them immediately. "I am seriously considering the latter, Oyamada has been also yawning. If I wouldn't know better, I would think you three had some sleepover party, but then again, why would our top star students spend time with our number one slacker?" Mister Fujimura complained exasperated.
"But I got a good mark in our last test, Mister Fujimura!" Yoh defended himself.
"Yes, yes you did." Mister Fujimura eyed Yoh from behind his glasses. "But during class you're always rather absent. Even now, you somehow managed to read the next paragraph and not the one we're currently at. You acing the tests is definitely intriguing and one day, I will find your secret to passing my tests." The teacher added narrowing his eyes before he called for another student to read and signalled to Yoh and Anna to sit down.
Mister Fujimura never liked Yoh. He actually didn't like any students, except his top star ones, the ones with the highest marks, whom he always gave them 'special treatment' not because they deserved it, but because he liked to make the others feel miserable. However, it was obvious mister Fujimura had a particular unlinking towards Yoh.
Rumors had it that that was because the man didn't like anything to do with the supernatural and Yoh was associated with ghosts and spirits in school according to student gossip. And teachers do hear part of these rumours, but can't rely on it so since Yoh also falls asleep quite often, the teacher preferred to say that was the real reason and his colleagues believed that because they were also bothered by it.
The rest of the school day passed in a blur, especially for Yoh and Anna. The latter managed to keep herself more awake for the rest of the day and didn't fall asleep in class anymore, she used the breaks just to 'rest her eyes', because sleeping would mean the possibility of a nightmare or talked to her friends. The former just got various lectures from the teachers about sleeping in class as usual.
There were fifteen minutes until the most awaited episode with Fernando and Camille and Amidamaru was buzzing. Yoh was training outside while he was in the living room with Anna, watching the commercials before the telenovela. After spending the weekend at their house, Manta went straight home after school to do some homework and catch up on studying.
Amidamaru was so excited that he didn't notice when Anna leaned on the nearby table. Then she placed her head on the table.
"Ten minutes left Anna, who do you think has kidnapped Camille?" The ghost asked looking at the girl only to find her sound asleep.
'Something seems off with Anna. Yoh-dono thinks she hasn't slept last night and from what I heard from him and Manta, she's been rather sleepy at school too. Is she also still troubled by the recent events as Yoh-dono?' Amidamaru thought floating around the girl, yet with one eye guiding the TV.
His suspicion was confirmed not even a minute later since he saw Anna sleeping. The girl opened her eyes and started looking around concerned. Upon seeing Amidamaru, Anna she put on her ice stare.
"What? Is the episode running on my face?"
"No Anna, no…It's just…"
"Just?" She asked annoyed, yet sleepy.
"Are you OK?"
"Perfectly fine. I bet Maria is behind Camille's kidnapping." She said changing the topic nonchalantly.
"My bets are on Lucinda, she's eviler. Remember when she almost got Camille in prison? That was a good episode but I must admit one of my favourite ones is when we find out Fernando never loved Maria or Lucinda and tells them he thinks of them as cousins or sisters and he actually spells it out for them because he wants to make it clear who he truly loves. Too bad Camille wasn't there to see their surprised faces. Do you have a favourite episode…?" Amidamaru stopped his rumble upon seeing the girl had fallen back asleep.
Amidamaru frowned concernedly. Should he wake her up? The show will start in less than 5 minutes, yet she really looked like she needed sleep. Should he call for Yoh-dono? Anna seemed off to him and he wasn't sure what to do. When Camille hadn't been herself, Fernando took her out for a walk in the middle of the night and they talked things out. Maybe he should suggest again to Yoh-dono to do that, but after they both get some sleep or they won't understand a thing from one another.
Yoh and Anna hadn't been getting any proper sleep for two days now and Amidamaru was getting really worried. They need a recent rest or else they'll just fall down like Anna was right in front of him. And he was sure Yoh-dono won't last too much himself. He was about to go get his master despite the risk of losing this episode when he saw Anna wake up.
As the previous time, she seemed concerned about something and started to look around looking for something or maybe someone. Then her eyes landed on Amidamaru and her eyes widen in horror. The spirit realized she might not be fully awake.
"Aaaaaaaa!" Anna screamed.
"Aaaaaa!" Amidamaru screamed back surprised by the girl's shout.
"Aaaaaaa!" Fernando from the TV also started screaming because he didn't know where Camille was.
"WHAT IS HAPPENING?! ANNA?! AMIDAMARU?!" Yoh shouted coming in the room.
He was training when he just felt something was off. He decided to finish the rest of the weightlifting before he made his way to the house to check on Anna especially, but just then he heard screaming not only from the girl, but also from Amidamaru, so he started to dash to their room.
"Yoh?" Anna turned around looking at him before she blinked a couple of times and her terrified face changed into her neutral expression. "Yoh, have you finished your training?"
"Yes, I did, are you OK, Anna, why are you all screaming? Why is even the TV screaming?!" Yoh asked coming closer to Anna, but the girl seemed too stiff upon his approach so he stopped just a step before her.
"I am perfectly fine. Fernando is screaming because Camille has been kidnapped, I thought either I or Amidamaru have told you about this by now." Anna said avoiding eye contact and looked at the TV while she rubbed her eyes as if they itched although in fact she was brushing away the small tears that had formed in the corners of her eyes. Yoh did notice them and worry crossed his features.
"I have certainly did tell him about Fernando." The spirit admitted eyes glued to the TV although he felt he owed his master an explanation, however, Yoh's eyes were all on Anna.
"Anna."
"Yoh, I'm watching TV, go do another 50 push-ups till we finish the episode."
"Anna, I mean it, what is it?" Yoh pressed concerned.
"Make it 100."
"I'll come during commercials to check."
"150."
"Anna, I'm not playing around." The boy said rather serious and he saw Anna sigh.
"I and Amidamaru have been really waiting to see this episode, we shall discuss if needed after the episode, but I am perfectly fine. Now go do 200 push-ups and 50 laps around the house."
"It is needed!" Yoh cried back a bit exasperated because he could read her and he felt she wasn't even looking at the TV. Her eyes seemed to look through it.
"250 push-up, 100 laps around the house and you have one hour only. Also, Amidamaru looks as he is about to shush as both, so don't make me punish him too."
Anna heard Yoh leave. She felt bad for avoiding him, but she didn't feel like talking now. She felt rather emotional after the last nightmare she had just had with the oni - why did Amidamaru seemingly looked like one?! - and didn't feel like having a discussion right now.
What could she actually tell Yoh anyway? That she was absolutely terrified of sleeping because she kept on having nightmares with possessed evil smirking Yoh, the oni from now and the past? Or Yoh getting killed in multiple horrifying ways by those onis? She was strong, she will fight and overcome this, he doesn't need to worry for her, worrying is her business, he should be focused on more important matters. She'll be fine, she's Anna the Itako for God's sake! She just needs to rest, but then if she rests…
Anna wondered how long people can go on without sleep. Her eyes closed once again despite Amidamaru's gasp upon seeing that Camille had been kidnapped by Rodrigo, Fernando's twin brother.
The spirit was having the time of his life.
"Anna, WHAT A TWIST! I didn't expect Fernando to have a twin brother, his family has kept this secret away from him, I hope they explain why! And he also loves Camille?! What a show! What do you think Fernando will say upon hearing he has a twin?" Amidamaru exclaimed boosting with enthusiasm eyes glued to the TV.
"He would definitely be surprised, but he should probably be happy to discover he has some family as from what you told me, he currently has a horrible family."
"Anna, your voice sounds rough, are you sure you're OK?" The spirit asked finally looking at the girl only to see Yoh smiling at him instead.
"Yoh-dono! Shouldn't you be training?!"
"Shhh, Amidamaru, I hid and waited for her to fall back asleep, I don't think she's even aware she put me to train extra." Yoh whispered as he watched Anna sleeping with her back leaning on the table.
"Yoh-dono maybe you should go do the extra training just in case, what if she beats you senseless when she wakes up? You're outside the deal, so she can hit you." Amidamaru whispered with one eye still watching the TV - Yoh had later on informed him about that particular clause of the deal when Amidamaru had enquired about Anna seeming to not hit him as much anymore.
"Don't worry Amidamaru, if she does remember, I'll just wake up early tomorrow and do the training, but Anna really needs me now. She's just too sleepy to notice and too sleepy to land any good hits, so I should be fine for now." Yoh assured Amidamaru approaching Anna carefully.
"Yoh, what are you doing?!" The spirit asked alarmed and all red finally turning from the TV to watch Yoh moving Anna as careful as possible, so the girl was now laying in his lap.
"Shhh, just watch the show, I know how to handle Anna, trust me Amidamaru! I really know what I am doing…" Yoh said softly and his spirit nodded before he turned around his face still a tomato. He felt he was intruding, yet his master told him to stay and watch the episode - that in fact he really wanted to see! - so he tried to focus on Fernando's mother explaining the backstory of Ricardo.
Yoh watched Anna with concern. She seemed sound asleep, yet he knew she kept on waking up before. If he was right, he should be the reason she couldn't sleep, so he assumed that if he was close maybe somehow she could feel that and calm down. He hoped it worked like that because that was his only plan actually... She should be able to feel him…He was able to feel people's energy even when he was asleep - well when he was half asleep, so he hoped some part of Anna's was able to feel his presence.
The boy assumed that it was some kind of shaman ability that actually enabled him to feel the souls around and the more powerful they were, the easier it was to feel them. In addition, as Anna also mentioned before, when you form a connection with someone, you feel more than their presence - you feel their emotions, if they are in danger or happy, but at a different level than normal humans could - like a sixth sense…
Fortunately, Yoh's theory proved right and a couple of minutes later Anna was purring in his lap a lightly snore coming from her. Her face was up, her hands were lying on either side of her body and her feet laid spread on the floor.
'She looks so cute…' Yoh thought blushing and couldn't resist touching her soft hair.
And then Anna's hand was suddenly on his wrist and the snoring stopped.
Yoh almost jumped away only to realize the girl seemed to still be sleeping, yet she had his wrist in a strong grip.
'Even in her sleep she guards her personal space, yet last time she seemed content for me to hold her. Maybe it's because now she's not fully, fully aware it's me and last time she somehow did? Uhhh, what a troubled sleep she has! Poor Anna, maybe she's like this because of the onis, I wondered if they bothered her in her sleep before…this new encounter must have thrown her off balance. She's used to being aware while awake, but in her sleep she's rather defenceless so maybe that's why she doesn't sleep…does that mean Anna might be scared? Anna scared? What a new concept, I can't believe it, yet I couldn't blame her. Part of me is scared too after the oni event and I'm worried for her and her wellbeing…' Yoh thought watching her with empathy. His wrist was still stuck in her grip, yet his hand was laying on her hair. 'So soft and beautiful, KAWAII!' Yoh beamed internally losing a bit of the tension, he really enjoyed touching her hair.
Yoh sighed. He didn't like to worry, he liked being happy and carefree. He leaned on the table and closed his eyes tired himself. He shortly fell asleep.
"Nooooo, Rodrigo's assaulting Camille, he's pushed her into the wall and wants to kiss her, but she loves Fernando! Rodrigo's a jerk! What a good episode though, I really enjoyed every second of it, so intense, but I can't believe they've left us in a cliffhanger again! And for two weeks because the telenovela goes on break, uhhh, so frustrating, this hour flew! Anna would have enjoyed this episode for sure, maybe she'll see the repeat." Amidamaru commented to himself and looked behind him at the girl.
The spirit blushed. Yoh's body has slipped lower from the table, so now the boy is sleeping sprawled on the floor, mouth open, saliva falling, hands on the floor, the one on the hair hasd fallen on the side. Anna's head is still laying on his lap with her hand still around his wrist, yet the grip had lost force. Both teens are slightly snoring, probably from exhaustion, purring like two content kittens.
"Awww." Amidamaru whispered to himself watching them like a proud parent and brought his hands together happily. "So serene, I can't believe one of them makes me tremble in fear, yet she looks so peaceful now, they both look, so innocent…"
"I BROUGHT GROCERIES!" A cheerful voice shouted from the hallway breaking the spirit's reveries and making him retreat away from the two in fear.
Yoh and Anna bolted awake, looking around confused.
"Hi, Anna!" Yoh waved with his hand she was holding on to make sure she knows from the beginning it's him.
"Yoh?" The sleepy girl mumbled sleepy yawning.
For the first time in a while, she didn't wake up frightened, but feeling rather good and to such a warming sight. Yoh was so cute waving at her, she couldn't believe there was no stupid oni or evil spirit to possess the boy. Yet her hand on him grounded her enough to realise this was no dream, but the actual reality. She yawned unbothered and started to blink trying to remember what happened and how come she ended sleeping with Yoh again.
Yoh heard steps.
"Ryu's coming, quick, hide!" Yoh panicked and dragged a still sleepy Anna under the close table, the girl barely having any time to protest for being shoved in such a narrow place.
"Oh, Amidamaru, hello! Maybe you should open a window, you look so red! Or did your telenovela show something scandalous?" Ryu winked.
He entered cheerfully the living room carrying many bags heading for the kitchen.
"Do you know where master Yoh and lady Anna are? It's only us for dinner, I know Manta's away and my friends have other things planned for tonight."
"Yoh's out training and Anna is up in her room." Amidamaru blurred but couldn't stop the blush knowing very well where both teens were.
Anna was now very much awake and aware of the situation. She and Yoh held their breath waiting for Ryu to leave. They were very close, elbows touching and although she wasn't holding anymore on his wrist, they somehow ended up holding hands. And they were both blushing madly. She looked at Yoh who looked like he was trying to suppress a laugh. Light was coming through the table apron on the table, so they could still see each other's faces.
One of their famous silent conversations of understanding happened.
'Why are you smiling?' Anna's face said.
'It's funny.' Yoh shrugged blinking innocently, yet his face held a huge smile.
'You're making me laugh, idiot!' Anna complained by rolling her eyes, biting her lips.
'But it's so funny!' Yoh smiled even brighter.
Anna covered her mouth from giggling - the boy had such a silly face and somehow, the situation was funny.
"OK, if you see them, tell them dinner will be ready in half an hour, we'll have fish and rice cooked Ryu chef style!" The boy said giving a thumbs up towards the ghost and entered the kitchen.
Anna and Yoh prepared to get out…
"Are you well Amidamaru? Did you have a good day? A good episode?" Ryu asked head coming back in the room.
The teens froze in place.
"Yes, yes and very yes! It was amazing. This episode we find Fernando has a twin brother and he had kidnapped Camille and he's rudely hitting on her! And Fernando's mother, Fernanda and his father Fernando Senior also told us the history of the two brothers divided at birth because…" Amidamaru stopped his enthusiastic rant because he felt something through his connection with Yoh.
He quickly moved his eyes for a few seconds from Ryu who was listening every word to the teens under the table. The part of the table apron from his side was moved aside so Ryu wouldn't be able to notice, but he could clearly see his master and his fiancée.
There was no word to describe the anger emanating from Anna. Aside from the raised clenched fist, she was also glaring daggers in Amidamaru's direction. The spirit wasn't sure if it was because he kept Ryu there or because he just spoiled the most important parts of the episode to her who didn't get a chance to see it after waiting so long for it. Maybe both.
Yoh had his hands on her shoulders, seemingly trying to keep her from jumping at him while he seemed to bite his lips from laughing. Amidamaru couldn't find anything funny in the current situation, but then again, his master was generally a rather cheerful person.
Anna moved one of her fingers along her throat gesturing obvious murder. Amidamaru paled. It was the latter! He spoiled the show! He looked back at Ryu who seemed to pick on the dark aura.
"Because what? You look like pale as a ghost which is funny because you are already a ghost." Ryu laughed. "What was so horrifying that made you make this face? To be honest, I feel some bad vibes, is it one of the house guests playing some prank on us?"
"A…aaa…aaaa, it was…was a very visual scene, I don't want to think about it anymore, actually I think I'll watch some of the commercials, I love the one for my telenovela, excuse me now Ryu, I didn't mean to keep you from doing dinner. And don't worry about the house ghosts, uuhh, yeah, they're just messing around, just start dinner and they'll leave you alone, I am sure!" Amidamaru mumbled trying to come up with plausible excuses.
"OK, don't worry buddy, dinner won't come too late and you're right! We shouldn't keep master Yoh and Anna waiting!" Ryu said and closed the door of the kitchen.
"Keep a lookout!" Anna hissed from under the table and Amidamaru went at the kitchen door.
Yoh and Anna exchanged a look before they fled out of the table up the stairs and didn't stop till they reached the hall before their rooms. Then they both burst into laughter. Yoh was actually on his knees laughing while she herself felt tears forming at the corners of her eyes from laughing so hard.
It was moments like this Anna felt it was just her and Yoh and the other world and their responsibilities were far away.
"This is all your fault, Yoh, stop laughing, I can't even breath!" Anna said between laughs.
"I panicked, I didn't mean to shove us under the table!" Yoh replied trying to catch his breath himself.
"Yeah, you didn't mean to shove us under that narrow place, where we were so close, I totally believe, Yoh." Anna teased her laugh now turned into giggles, yet her face blushed at what she implied.
"Maybe that was indeed my plan all along!" Yoh said playfully getting back on his feet.
"Yoh Asakura, how dare you!" Anna shouted back smirking crossing her arms in fake annoyance.
"You have a beautiful laugh Anna." Yoh blurred not wanting to miss the occasion to tell her that. He really enjoyed listening to her laughing and wished to hear it more often. And she deserved to know that…
"Ryu's still in the kitchen…" Amidamaru said as he came towards them, but upon seeing them, he immediately realized he interrupted something. "…and I'll also be there!" The spirit added and quickly ran back downstairs.
"Shhh, you idiot, the house has ears and eyes everywhere!" Anna hissed towards Yoh ignoring Amidamaru.
She tried to compose herself, yet her face was all red because she was always feeling overwhelmed by his sincere compliments as well as the previous discussion. However, Amidamaru's presence brought her back to reality.
"I hope you finished the training. And the extra one." She added trying to sound cold while her eyes scanned for any intruder, yet no house ghost happened to be close.
Their 'magical moment' was gone, yet the girl knew it wouldn't last forever…but that didn't mean there won't be a next one…
"Well, about that one…you getting some sleep was more important at that moment, I'll just do it tomorrow morning."
"Tomorrow we have school, you have time now."
"But dinner?"
"You'll eat later, now go train."
"OK, Anna." Yoh said deflating at the thought of having to go back to working on an empty stomach.
"Good, I'm sure you'll survive…and Yoh?"
"Yes, Anna?" He asked already half-way through the stairs.
"300 push ups, 200 laps around the house. Thank you for the nap. And you'd better be ready before midnight or I'm giving your leftovers to some homeless hobo. Now I'd better see where's that TV programme so I can check when's the next episode repeat." Anna said as she walked past Yoh towards the living room, yet her eyes looked at him softly for a brief moment during the 'thank you', before she was back to her usual cold expression.
"Yes, Anna." Yoh cried, but his face then became serious. 'And I haven't forgotten about our discussion Anna. It is needed.' Yoh thought as he went outside to do the extra training.
Yoh finished his training quite late and ate dinner leftovers alone in the kitchen just as the clock stroke twelve midnight. The boy knew everyone had already eaten hours ago - Anna in the living room watching the episode repeat and Ryu in the kitchen with Amidamaru. His spirit was now with him keeping him company. After finishing he went for a shower and changed into his sleeping yukata.
Ryu was sleeping in the guest room.
Yoh made his way to his room and once he got there he gestured towards Amidamaru to go to sleep before the boy went through the balcony towards Anna's room. He opened it gently and found the girl sewing at her lamp. He wasn't surprised at all to find her wide awake, yet she seemed a bit startled by him before she eyed him annoyed. This meant she knew why he was here.
"Yoh! What are you doing here? I hope you have finished the training this time." She asked coldly trying to concentrate on her sewing. She was hoping he'll drop it, she did get sleep!
"Yes, everything extra and extra. Now, why aren't you sleeping?"
"I will later on, but now I want to sew. Go to sleep." She said as sharply as possible.
"Anna, we're past this, come on." Yoh sighed entering the room, but he left the door of the balcony open.
"Leave. Me. Alone." She said angrily looking at him while she put on her lap the cloth she was working on.
She met his brown eyes that she loved so much and had to look away. She could no longer eye him and shut him out or even shout properly without her voice betraying her.
"Anna." Yoh said softly kneeling next to her.
"Yoh." She replied in her normal tone her voice steady.
"It's OK if you don't want to discuss it."
"It's good that brain of yours got this information at last. Now GO." She insisted and he noticed her hands started to tremble on her lap from the anxiety. She could fight it, it's just a matter of time till she masters it, so what if she loses more nights not sleeping? Yoh can't see she's weak because she is NOT. She promised she'll get stronger, she can't let him down…She'll fight those stupid negative feelings!
'She's not trembling from the anger, she's truly shaken. She's trying to fight whatever is bothering her and I'm breaking her concentration. I can't stand letting her struggle like this any longer. Time to risk getting hit, but if it's for Anna, it will be worth it.' Yoh thought determined and looked seriously at her, a part of him hurting from seeing how troubled she seemed.
"Do you trust me?" Yoh asked gaze serious, eyes focused on her intently, yet she was still not looking at him.
"Of course." She replied automatically. "Go to sleep Yoh, you're starting to ask stupid things that you already know the answer to."
"Then trust me with doing the next thing and put the sewing aside and close the lamp."
"I can't sew in the dark although I am quite proficient at sewing in general." She replied in a flat voice.
"Just trust me Anna, please. I promise I will go to sleep after, but I need you to just trust me blindly on this one." He said giving her his best puppy look and loving smile.
She made the mistake to peek at him. Her heart melted and she bit her lip, Yoh was just too adorable and part of her was really curious to see what he was up to. He rarely asked for stuff so much and it was anyway better than sitting in the dark sewing and forcing her mind to think of anything else than the recent traumatic events.
"Fine!" She huffed putting the sewing aside and turning off the lights, trying to sound uninterested, yet she was excited to find out. She even crossed her arms watching him expectantly.
Yoh was happy to see she finally gave in, he was actually expecting her to put more fight into this. The boy assumed it was because she was really at her limit fighting her troubled mind, so that's why she didn't put more effort into it. And not because she was weak - he could never think of her like that. He knew how strong she was and not being able to fight something didn't make her weak - it just showed she had limits, that she was human.
And Yoh understood that perfectly both because he understood Anna and because himself was struggling, but he had his own way to hide it just as Anna had hers. The boy was sure that if she wouldn't have been this troubled, she would have noticed it by now. And that's what actually alarmed Yoh about Anna being off in the first place - she didn't notice he was off himself. Yoh wouldn't have known if Amidamaru hadn't pointed out either…And them not being well and fighting it on their own didn't work, so time to try out something else, something that Yoh had thought of.
Now the boy just had to put his plan in practice, especially since he got Anna's consent. Shyly and blushing but with confidence in his eyes, Yoh leaned forward and grabbed Anna, before he stood up carrying her bridal style. The contact made her stiffened, but she relaxed in his embrace enjoying the loving warmth that came. Maybe Yoh wanted to give her a hug? She liked hugs, but she also knew he loved them.
"What are you doing?" She whispered in a small voice looking at his beautiful eyes.
"Just trust me." Yoh replied winking with a big smile and placed a kiss on her forehead. He really didn't trust his voice to explain it so he just hoped she'll just let him do his thing.
Anna went still and blushed from the contact, yet she nodded. Then she once again let herself enjoy the intimacy of the closure, learning her head on his chest while her hands held his sleeping yukata. She decided she'll just let him be and see what he has in mind - she did fully trust him and if she'll have to wait to see, she'll wait.
Yoh made his way back to his room with the girl in his arms, not bothered about being seen. Aside from the times Anna sent them away such as when she wanted time with Yoh or wanted to peacefully watch TV, the house ghosts had some 'resting hours' and this was one of them - as shamans, you know that much when you live in with spirits.
The boy gently placed Anna in a sitting position on his futon before he dashed outside of the room and shortly came back with the girl's bed. Then he arranged it as best as he could at about half a meter from where his own futon was.
All this time Anna watched him with curiosity, yet waiting patiently. She could feel Amidamaru somewhere in the room, so she assumed he was resting in his mortuary tablet unaware of what was probably happening. Then Yoh came back to her and grabbed her again and took her into his arms before he placed her with great care on her bed, but this time in a laying position and covered her with her blanket. Anna let him do whatever he wanted, obeying each move without question until he saw him go into his own bed, back towards her, obviously up to sleep.
"Yoh, now what?" She asked leaning on her elbow staring at his back frowning.
"Now we sleep, didn't I tell you I'll go to sleep after." Yoh said casually avoiding looking at her.
In all honesty, Yoh was now absolutely terrified. Not terrified as in scared, but terrified as in extremely nervous. His face was red, his heart was racing and he felt his palms sweating, all previous confidence gone now that he had finished his mission. Will Anna leave? Would she hit him? Is he doing something inappropriate…again? He heard noise and moved his head ever so slightly just to be met with Anna's golden eyes staring into his, noses almost touching. He froze, holding his breath.
"No, you're not sleeping, but it seems you're going through one of your suffocating moments and judging by previous times, I am usually the cause, so spill it up Yoh, what is it? Why did you bring me here idiot? And start breathing!" Anna demanded the last part grabbing his shoulders to turn him towards her in a sitting position so she could give him a light shake.
The sudden movement made Yoh to accidentally squeak in surprise which made Amidamaru bolt out of his mortuary tablet, concern over his master obvious on his face.
"Yoh-dono, I feel you're being in great distress, what is…" The spirit stopped at the scene in front of him before he flushed red, eyes wide.
Anna eyed him murderously, literally hissing in his direction, her arms still holding on to Yoh's shoulders.
"BACK. NOW." She said sharply.
"Yeeeep!" Amidamaru cried and run back to hide in his mortuary tablet praying for his master's safety although judging by his master's face, the spirit deducted he wasn't actually in any 'danger', just probably emotionally overwhelmed.
'Yoh-dono always thinks with the heart and then gets all shy and panics, nothing new…' Amidamaru sighed within his tablet and tried to go back to his rest, ignoring his own embarrassment from having intruded on the teens. He was still not used to seeing them so close and, in his opinion, these were private moments he shouldn't be witnessing.
"Now, where were we? At least your breathing is back…but now calm down and tell me why I am here!" Anna ordered crossing her arms and watching him expectantly, annoyance growing.
"I…I…I can't sleep Anna and you can't sleep either, so I thought if we sleep together, as in together in the same room, it will help us because last time it did! I'm worried for you and I'm genuinely concerned something will eat you while I'm sleeping here, please stay at least tonight!" Yoh begged grabbing her hands, his emotions overwhelming him.
Anna was surprised by his outburst as much as she was by his clear distress in the voice and trembling hands.
"Deep breaths Yoh, deep breaths, I'm here, calm down." The girl said softly leaning her forehead on his.
Anna felt bad. She's been so focused on herself and getting over this that she forgot it wasn't only about her. The onis might be one of her biggest traumas, but so were they for Yoh ever since he met her. She was responsible for it and she should have thought he won't lightly go over it either. How didn't she actually notice he was so stressed about it himself?
Part of her felt the need to slap him and lecture him to knock some sense into him, but another just didn't have the power or heart to do it. Why punish him for something she couldn't get over herself? Why was she actually hitting him all the time?! Punishing him now would be as if she had been shouting at herself…Yoh didn't deserve that…when she showed him her vulnerable side, he didn't push her, he didn't make fun of her, he'd been supportive. And so will she. After all, they were in this together.
Anna moved her hands on his back and hugged him gently, but the boy immediately returned her embrace, holding on her. She felt him relax and almost felt him smiling on her shoulder.
"I had dreams too, Yoh, I just didn't consider you'll to have them as well. If you think this will work, then I meant it - I do trust you and I'll sleep here tonight. As I've previously said, we're working on this together."
"Thank you, Anna! Really!" Yoh beamed holding her tighter.
"Good, now off to sleep! You can't train properly if you're sleeping on your feet, Yoh."
They both let go of each other and smiled before they made their way to each other's bed. They fell asleep quite easily and even if one of them did wake up through the night from some bad dream, falling back asleep felt much easier because each other's close presence brought them comfort and eased their troubled mind.
After a few days, both teens were back to having a good sleep, yet none of them made any move to change the current sleeping arrangements. They felt at peace and content to be close to the one who they felt most safe with. And loved.
