Hello, enjoy some really important discussions between Yoh and Anna. You don't see them during the manga or anime, so here's all you need ;-) I'm pretty nervous about this chapter and really hope you enjoy it!

And once again, thank you so, so much for taking time to read my fic and especially comment on it! It really makes my days and help my motivation 3


Summary: Honestly, read the chapter because I tried to write this summary three times and I'm not sure how - basically Yoh and Anna continue their date and have a really important discussion about being themselves and how their relationship had changed and is changing their lives as well as them as individuals.

TIMELINE: Still at the date.


Chapter 13: Just a shaman girl and shaman boy on a date

(Part 3: Different)

"Are we going to the park now that we're done, Anna?"

"Yes. The park is really big and it's known for its quiet places. I am sure we can find somewhere where we can sit by ourselves without any nosey people. I swear, if we ran into more of those, someone is going to hit." Anna commented clenching her fist.

"Hand!" Yoh complained.

"Oh, yeah, sorry about that!" Anna said casually and left her hand loose - she forgot they were holding hands.

They found the perfect spot under a tree that was far enough from the park's lake not to get attacked by mosquitos, but that could still be visible from their spot. Anna got the picnic blanket out, the one that also helped them with Yoh's disguised and arranged it on the grass. She couldn't afford to get any stains on her new outfit and to be honest, she didn't want Yoh to get any on his. He looked great in it.

Yoh let himself fall on the blanket, resting his head on his hands and closing his eyes contently. Despite his shyness at times, he's been really enjoying this 'date' thing.

Anna instructed Amidamaru to float around, but not too far. Since they were all by themselves and with their guards so lowered, they would make quite the easy target, so it was good to have him around, but away enough not to hear or overhear their conversations. She did threaten to send him for a trip to Hell all tied up if he did hear even the smallest word or came up to 'fangirl' for them again. Amidamaru took his mission more than seriously, although part of him was a bit sad he will miss some good Yoh and Anna moments.

After all, he found them so adorable!...but then again, that's why Anna sent him away, so the spirit just went away understanding it wasn't his place to intrude on their privacy. He got used to hearing them talk or make small interactions showing their care, but when it came to any visible physical interaction like hugs, the ghost still felt rather embarrassed.

Anna leaned down on the blanket, placing her purse in within reach in case of anything happening - she had the beads there for good measure anyway. She watched the sky and sunshine through the tree's leaves.

"It was a nice idea going in this 'date thing. I've been really enjoying it, Anna." Yoh confessed opening his eyes to look at her.

He let one of his hands fall along his body, hoping she would grab it. As expected, she did.

"Good. And well, it's not done yet, we can just spend the rest of the day here. Ryu's making us a late lunch so you don't need to cook. We have at least another two hours to spend not including the train back and I don't expect us to get hungry any soon after all that sweets."

"The juices were also quite fulfilling. What are we going to do now?"

"All the magazines I've read and shows I've watched say that after having food, it's good for couples to discuss different things and get to know each other better, share stuff and things like that." Anna said bored raising their intertwined hands to look at them.

"Oh, I think I read about that, we put random questions like your favorite colour, food, music or what do you like doing in your spare time!" Yoh replied turning to look at her.

"Orange, but sometimes white and blue too. You like all food except anything spicey or bitter, however you don't mind orange bitter. Soul Bob is your very favourite, but you also listen to other various music, especially since you started school in Tokyo, you even listen to foreign music and movies' soundtracks. And you like to listen to music in your spare time or spend time with Manta, chat with Amidamaru…"

"Spend time with you too." Yoh added turning on his side to look better at her while he gave their hands a squeeze.

"…and apparently reading my magazines aside from the TV programme, although I don't understand yet why you read them. They're quite annoying at times with a lot of lies and prototypes of how you should be according to their very expert opinion or to some expert they consider expert or some celebrity. And they are targeted for girls, so what do you find so interesting to read? Sometimes I struggle to finish them, but then I still buy them because some part of me likes reading them…"

Anna had said everything in her usual neutral voice, yet with confidence while she kept staring at their hands, seemingly either mesmerized or trying to find something. Her eyes seemed to narrow at times at their hands, but his squeeze seemed to have drawn her attention enough to make her turn to meet his gaze. She let go of his hand so she could fully turn to face him. Her cheeks coloured a bit when she met his brown loving eyes.

He was impressed with her knowledge of him and how she captured everything about him with so much attention to detail. However, he was quite surprised she didn't consider their time spent together as part of his favorutie things to do...

"Let's see, you don't have a favorite color, but you prefer red and black and would secretly like to wear pink more. You also don't have a favourite food, but you prefer fish and anything that's tasty. Your favourite music comes from Ringo, but you also listen to movies' soundtracks and even hum them at times unconsciously. And in your spare time you like to watch telenovela with Amidamaru, read your magazines despite them annoying you at times to the point you throw them in anyone unlucky to pass by exactly at that moment, plan my training and spend time with me." Yoh said smiling brightly at the last part, making Anna's blush go even darker. "And I only read your magazines because I am curious what you find so interesting in them and also I thought they would help me understand you better…" Yoh mumbled shily the last part.

"You just perfectly described some of my favourite things, yet you need a magazine to understand me better?" Anna raised an eyebrow. "And what do you mean I secretly like to wear pink more? And I hum? I don't unless you're a pervert and listen to me when I shower." She added narrowing her eyes while she rested her chin on her hand for support. Her cheeks also coloured upon realizing she admitted humming in the shower.

"I'm not peeking!" Yoh defended face getting red. "You hum during commercials on TV and sometimes when you skim through your magazines. And about the pink, don't hit me, but my guess it's pink would make you less fierce around the others and would accentuate more your cuteness, so you're probably afraid people won't take you as seriously as when you wear other brighter more vibrant colours." He explained covering his face and peeking from his fingers expecting her to blow up on him for saying such things about her. Yes, the deal included not hitting him, but he was afraid that he might have crossed a line this time.

"Yoh Asakura, what made you think that?" She asked her voice getting rather pitchy from annoyance and embarrassment for being called out.

"Those magazines say so and everyone on TV says so and even though you say you don't listen to them, part of you does respect those norms. You're like me - you grew quite remotely so you don't know exactly how society works, so you guide yourself using the media around. There's nothing wrong with that, I do it at times more or less consciously. So, when you first showed up at the hospital, I do admit I was surprised to find you had changed your outfit colour from pink to black. You look great in either and as those magazines say, you did look more mature, but I personally think you look just fine in pink too. And I don't think you dislike it too, but nothing gave you a reason to wear it so far, reasons to not wear it, however, you had plenty enough." Yoh clarified as he lowered his hands from his face because she didn't seem to have any intentions of hitting him.

Anna listened to him trying not to reveal too much, yet her eyes widened at times because his explanation was quite on point. She had grown and wanted to try new colours. She had also followed the example of her favourite singer, Ringo, and she rarely saw any of the people she admired in her shows or magazines wearing pink. Her brain got used to associate it with her old self and when she came to see Yoh, she didn't want him to think she's still the scared uncontrollable girl he left behind. Her black dress and red bandana had given her a lot of confidence and she liked how she looked with them on.

And Yoh was right. She wanted to inspire fear and respect, not cuteness. She both hated and loved it that he knew her so well, but she leaned more towards the latter since she felt relieved he knew and understood her so well. She could really be herself around him.

"And about the magazines…" Yoh continued not waiting for a response from Anna.

He knew she would feel uncomfortable if he got right why she didn't wear pink - and he was sure right just by reading her reactions to his explanation. Therefore, he didn't give her a chance to respond and moved on before she might react aggressively. He got what he wanted anyway - the fact that she was aware he knew her and accepted her despite those choices…and that she looked cute in pink to him.

"I know I understand you, but I understand you at Anna level…I don't…understand or well…uhhh, know you…understand…you as a…girl…" Yoh mumbled shyly covering his red face with his hands, slightly peaking between his fingers.

"You said you thought the magazines would, so does that mean they didn't? Did you discover I'm a shaman girl instead and it's a difference?" Anna mocked him annoyed.

She didn't quite understand where this discussion was going now and it was making her anxious.

"Well, you're different than girls your age or at least the ones I've seen in school or TV or that I passed by on the streets or in the shops, different in a good way I mean." Yoh added reassuring seeing her getting tense. "It's just…before you, I didn't even think of girls, no one in class bothered about me anyway. Boys bullied or picked on me and girls giggled and made fun of me. And then you were just so…"

"Cute." Anna said knowing very well that that was the word Yoh associated her mostly at that age - and now too.

But she wasn't bothered he did, not when it came from Yoh because she knew he meant it in a genuine innocent way. It was the total opposite of the perverts who sometimes whistled and called her 'cutey' on the streets or at school or those from her childhood who called her cute as a result of her being beautiful, but that's what they only thought of her - a cute face. Another reason why she hid at times in her room and stayed even more away from people or anyone who visited Kino even if visits were quite rare.

"Cute and unique! You were nothing I could imagine. When I came back to Izumo that winter I thought it's because you are shaman, so we had more things in common such as understanding the world in a similar way, but then mother is also a shaman and she acts different than you, but in her different way…and I always felt you understood me better anyways."

"What makes me different than the human girls then?" Anna asked her voice and face emotionless, her eyes looking through him, seemingly lost in thought.

"You don't do what they do like shopping or a lot of make-up or giggle over whatever boy did in the next class or at sports or bla bla. I know that you fake that at times in school though. And you're also so brave and strong, I feel that if someone attacked you, they would be the one to end up in hospital and not you, but that still doesn't stop me from worrying for you. Other girls usually scream for help or run away." Yoh said sheepishly trying to read her, yet Anna just continued to stare through him. "I mean you're also like them, you dress very nicely and match clothes great, you watch telenovelas and read those magazines and like celebrities, but what I am trying to say is that you're so much more!"

"But I'm odd, I don't fit in and I feel weird when I try to be like them and giggle over stupid things. I don't like playing pretend at school, yet I have to because speaking my mind would be a mess. I'm far from a normal girl or even a shaman girl, Yoh and it sometimes amazes me you don't seem bothered by it the slightest even though you do have this very stereotypical and society custom made opinion of girls." Anna mused, her voice trembling a bit.

"Is that why you thought spending time with you it's not part of the things I like to do in my spare time?" Yoh asked focused on understanding her mood. She didn't seem angry or embarrassed anymore, but rather upset and…sad.

"I put you to train till you drop half dead Yoh." She replied instead but it was as clear as a yes. "I force you over your limits when we're not spending time together. I shout at you. I hit you. I make fun of you in class just as any other girl."

"The last one's not true! I know you only do that to protect me and drive everyone's attention from me when you tell them to leave me alone with my ghosts!"

"You're naive."

"And you're lying to yourself, you know I'm right. Making them think I'm odd because I see ghosts keeps them away from me because you know I don't want to interact with them and I want to be left alone. You know I'm not a big fan of humans too at times. You hate humans and you would want to be left alone too, but since we can't have it both without being bullied, you sacrificed your own self to keep them away from me and I'm grateful for that Anna, I am sorry I never said anything before, I just didn't know how or when…"

"Why saying it now then?" Anna interrupted voice unsteady and Yoh noticed her eyes seemed to get wet. What triggered her? What did he say that make her upset?

"Because now was the perfect time and because it's now you need to hear it most. I don't know what I said that came out wrong, but I like you just the way you are, Anna. I don't want you any other way. I know you train me, you shout or you hit me, but I also understand why you do this things and that's what makes the difference. I do admit I've seen cute girls before, but it's not until I saw you that I really got what cute really meant. And just because you're not the girl or the shaman girl the society portrays or makes you think you should be, I don't care. You're the perfect girl according to my standards and I love you exactly because you are this different, both before and after our deal. Anna is Anna. And if you like yourself, then you should be happy with your standards too."

"I don't know a different way and I can't be a different way although I pretend at school." Anna whispered weakly, yet she felt touched by his confession, his affection and appreciation for her obvious in his tone and gaze.

"I don't know a different way of being me either. Would you like me to be more of a shaman boy or boy of my age?"

"Eww, no, boys your age are gross and stupid and fake, I would have probably killed you in anger for sure by now. I love you for being you." Anna said immediately, no doubt in her voice when she confessed once again.

"And I love you for being you." Yoh echoed her words looking at her with love and adoration. "See, then we're both on the same page. You love me for me and I love you for you. And I love us for being able to be honest about these things and understand that we don't need more than one another, it's like our own lonely world where we could be just us…or so I liked to think when I was 10 and after meeting you I didn't feel so lonely and all by myself in this world anymore.

For all I cared at that time, all humans could have all hated us and that didn't matter anymore to me because we would always have each other at least. I know it sounds childish, but this thought really helped little me move forward through the years…I mean the thought that there was someone as different as me that I could spend the rest of my life with and not feel lonely anymore…" Yoh confessed dreamy, eyes serious and with a tint of melancholy.

Anna was processing his words that flooded all her worries, washing them away and patching up old and new wounds. It was a nice feeling to know that Yoh thought they had their own special place in their own lonely world. She liked that, she related to that more than she realized, but now that he said it out loud, she did feel less lonely and like she finally had a purpose in life after meeting him too.

'I guess he is right, we might be different, but we're different together and that means, we're not by ourselves anymore. We have each other.' Anna thought and she finally felt her worries about herself calm down.

Yoh had this effect on her - it brough the real her outside, made her be the best version of herself and fixed anything that she thought it was wrong with her. He helped her heal and made her feel less lonely or misunderstood in this world she hated at times because it hated her back and made her think less of herself. And despite not liking being vulnerable, she trusted Yoh enough to be vulnerable around him.

And so far, it had paid off a lot. Their relationship had been growing, she learnt to understand her feelings better, yet some were still a mess, but she had someone to help her along the way and not just with that. Knowing there's someone there making you so happy was making every day much more worth living through almost to the point she felt rather less hateful towards the world. Because as Yoh said, they had their own world where they could be themselves with one another, so then why bother anymore about the world that hated her outside? She didn't need anything else than having Yoh by her side loving her. She won't ever feel lonely again knowing this.

That was such a stunning realization for her that she felt her eyes pricking again. However, this time it was 'happy relived threaten to fall tears' and not like before when she had felt hurt because she was nagged by the feeling of being different and odd. Yoh just saved her once again, her sweet innocent loving guardian angel. Speaking of him…

Yoh gently moved his hand towards her face, waiting for her approval, hesitation holding him back from comforting her as best as he could. She froze, yet she didn't move away from his hand so he cupped her cheek and with a tender move, he brushed the small tear under her eye that didn't get to drop anymore due to his comforting words. Then he did the same for the other eye before he gave her his characteristic signature smile and she couldn't resist not smiling back.

They intertwined their hands, letting them fall between them. Yet, his hesitation to comfort her reminded Anna of something she'd been wanting to address him about. However, he spoke before she had a chance to say something.

"Now that you have your answers, can I ask something?" Yoh asked shily.

"Go on, Yoh, but then I'll ask you something too." Anna replied, her voice back to normal and so was her cheery date mood.

"Why do you want to run an inn or, well, the Funbari Hot springs? You don't like the company of people very much and that would imply having people around?"

"Yes, but I could just make others do those jobs of greeting the guests and entertaining them. I would do the management. You're good with people, so you could greet them, yet I feel it's not on your top wishes for the future." Anna replied thoughtfully.

"Not quite."

"I never actually thought past the idea of leading others. I want to rule others so then they can listen to me. To look up at me." 'Not to hate me.' Anna thought the last part before she moved on with her speech. "The Shaman Queen role will also help me achieve that."

"Did you ever want anything else to do?"

"I've never actually thought. Ever since I met you, my goal has been to become Shaman Queen and help you become Shaman King. And then everything else we wants will just come along with it."

"Yeah, that's how I see it too…I mean my family said that's the way to get what you want and I don't know any jobs that imply sitting and doing nothing."

"Kings don't sit and do nothing Yoh, did your family skip that part?"

"Yeah, but I can still chill between the responsibilities, right? Even you let me take breaks between training! That's how it works!" Yoh said frowning.

"Yes we should be able to do what we want to aside from responsibilities and saving the world. Hmmm, I mean you could always find a job that makes you work from home and be self-employed so then you could work as much as you want, though you will need money. You could write reviews for stuff online, though I'm not sure how good your writing skills are and your critical thinking needs working. You could do programming, yet I'm not sure you know how to use a computer…" Anna mused.

"What do you mean my critical thinking needs working? And I know how to use a TV, does that count? How do you know so much Anna?"

"You use simple words to describe stuff and that's fine, but reviews imply argumentation and pros and cons while you are more a pros for pros person. Like you say food is good, but you don't say why or training killed me, but you don't complain why. Critical thinking implies more analysis as well of those pros and cons. And you're also too nice to be critical at times." Anna explained.

"Oh! I can't deny that!" Yoh agreed stunned at her explanation. Anna always knew so many things!

"And considering programming, well it's different than knowing how to use the TV, Yoh. And you would know that too if you didn't sleep over when the school sent that career consultant to talk to us about career prospects or something like that. And then there was a job fair that I went to visit during the break with my so-called friends while you just slept on the desk. Even Manta was there, I blame him though for forgetting you in class."

"Oh, yes I remembered, I took a nap and fell over the chair on the floor and I was so sleepy I didn't notice. I was locked in the class until you all returned from the fair."

"Yeah, the old school vice president didn't notice you sleeping on the floor, so he just locked the class since everyone just left to see the fair during the long break and they didn't want to leave all the stuff unattended."

"Yeah, the old one, we got a new one shortly after. Hope he didn't get in trouble because of me…" Yoh thought concerned.

"Don't worry, it wasn't you." Anna said dismissively bopping his nose to distract him. 'It was me.' She remembered smirking internally.

Anna found out later the vice actually saw Yoh sleeping and just locked him to make fun of him with the other students. She left ahead so she didn't know this happened until a few days later. Oh, and when she found, she made sure some rumours she knew about the vice were 'accidentally' overheard by the right starving for gossip ears and before you know, a new vice had been elected. No one messes with her Yoh and escapes her wrath. She didn't build up this image in school for nothing.

"Working from home does sound nice." Yoh admitted. "What would you do aside from something like leading? Did you find anything interesting at the fair?"

"I did like the idea of reviewing others and working from home too. Don't need to see anyone and I can still put them in their place when needed. That's why I do know so much about it, I paid attention to those in particular."

"Then it seems we have some hobbies as future king and queen."

"Yeah, good point." Anna smirked. "Have you thought what your first order as Shaman King will be?"

"Sleep for a week! I will create Lazy week!"

"But then no one will work for you. Us. And then how you'll be lazy if you need food?"

"You're right, thanks Anna! See, that's why we'll rule together. I will create Lazy for royals only week! It will be an annual celebration just for us the king and queen. Though that's quite too seldom, maybe monthly, I'll think about it. And after then we'll deal with whatever a shaman king and queen should be dealing with." Yoh said enthusiastically.

"Sounds good to me."

"Really?"

"Really. Cause then we'll have time to ourselves."

"Yeah, that too!" Yoh's eyes shone with genuine happiness at the thought and Anna felt she won't doubt again his sincere joy of spending time with her.

Speaking of his joy…

"Yoh? Can I ask something now?"

"Yes?" He replied still shining with happiness looking at her.

She took a deep breath then stared intensely into his eyes.

"What did you actually wanted to do when you touched my face? You hesitated, I felt there was more." Anna said with a serious tone in her voice as she moved their intertwined hands, bringing them closer to their neck level.

Yoh tried to avert his gaze, yet Anna pulled at his hand to draw his attention back to her.

"I mean it, tell me, I really want to know."

"It's..." He tried to make up something before he realized she'll know in an instant he's lying, so he just gazed back at her, feeling awkward.

"I promise I won't be mad about it. Are you afraid to tell me?"

"Yes." Yoh replied sincerely trying to keep the eye contact.

"Please, don't be, I want to know." Anna insisted, but her voice was soft and rather uncharacteristic.

She seemed genuinely interested to know and the way she said it made Yoh understand there was something more to what she asked - it was just a means to get to what she actually wanted to tell him.

'Something is really bothering her and it's related to me or maybe us. She's so perceptive even without her powers that I am positive she knows what I intended to do, so she just wants me to say it out loud…It must be really important to her in a way if she made this effort of being so out of her character as if she's afraid I will recoil or brush it off, so she's trying to ease my tension. Or am I overthinking this too much and she's just curious?

I rarely see this 'soft', vulnerable side of her when she fully opens, so I feel on unknown territory in terms of her reactions. Normally, she would lash out violently and I would get lectured and hit, yet lately she's been different towards me, she beats me less, lashes less at me, only raises her voice and even hits less hard.

I actually can't remember the last time she hit me, she's actually been hitting only the things around me in the past month and did threw one or two things at me. How come I didn't even notice she's actually been less violent!...Then maybe I have nothing to fear if I tell her the truth…'

He felt something touch his nose and he realized he zoned out and she's bopped his nose to bring him back to reality. She's still looking at him with intensity waiting, but she's unconsciously brushing her thumb over their hands which he understood as her slowly running out of patience. Yoh felt like he's using her efforts to encourage him by being so open to him and he would hate himself for that, never meant regret if he doesn't find out what's bothering her to make her be so soft. He gathered up his courage and looked at her with the same serious gaze, confidence obvious in his expression.

Her eyes widened for a second in surprise at his sudden change, yet she waited, his trust for her clear in his brown orbs. She felt her heart skip a beat and she enjoyed it, aware of her reddening cheeks.

"I would have hugged you. I always want to, but I know you like your personal space, so I didn't want to invade it. That was all."

"Then do it." She said blushing.

"What?"

"Yoh, I always invade your personal space. I took over your room for God's sake."

"I brought you there."

"Yes, but it was my choice to stay. What I mean is that if we are together, it's not fair that I get to use your personal space whenever I feel while you just stare at me either itching or having to refrain from coming closer."

"But you don't like your personal space invaded!" Yoh defended blushing unsure where this discussion was going. "And I'm fine how things are, I am happy you invade my personal space, like…please don't stop, it really doesn't bother me." He added almost pleading the last part afraid he'll lose her presence around him.

"I won't stop, don't worry, that's not what I meant." Anna said reassuring giving his hand a squeeze before she continued trying to keep her voice steady, yet her blush was only increasing. "I don't want to hit you anymore, so then you can do whatever you want. Wait, that didn't come out right, uhhh!"

"It's OK…"

"YOH IS NOT OK!" Anna snapped loudly and stood on her bottom urging Yoh to do the same.

She untangled their hands so she could make hers into fists, trying to control the overflowing waves of emotions. She just couldn't properly focus just laying down!

Yoh looked scared and that's exactly what she wanted to change.

"Yoh it's not OK I'm hitting you! Would you hit me?"

"GOD NO!" He answered absolutely appalled by the idea.

"See that's my point! I hit and invade your space, yet you just sit there doing nothing and it's not fair Yoh Asakura, that's not how a relationship should work and I don't need a stupid magazine to tell me that! I am smart enough to realize I'm abusing our relationship for my own selfish goals and I don't want a toxic relationship!"

"You…you're breaking up with me?" Yoh asked voice barely audible.

He felt the last word stuck in his throat and he just couldn't feel the air come through his lungs anymore. He was panicking and wanted to say something to understand why, but Anna just snapped once again.

"NO, IDIOT, what on Earth made you think that?! God Yoh, I'm trying my best to tell you I want to do better by you, not to break up with you!"

Yoh felt he could breath properly again, yet he almost recoiled in fear at the anger in her voice.

Anna hated herself for his reaction - that's exactly what she wanted to change, so she sighed, trying to calm herself. She opened her arms, looking sideways.

"Come here, I love you too much to leave you idiot! How could you even consider that…" The girl mumbled cheeks red.

Yoh immediately complied and hugged her tight as if she would leave him any second if he let go. She gasped in surprise at his reaction, yet bit her lip and tried to control her immediate reaction freezing or hitting. She put his arms around him returning the embrace which seemed to make him fully relax.

"Yoh, please don't ever say these words out loud ever again or even think them or consider them or if they ever pass my mouth, it's definitely somebody else pretending to be me or for whatever reason I'm possessed or controlled. I would never break up with you. I just can't, it would kill me, you're the reason I'm alive, dummy!" Anna whispered while she rested her head on his shoulder before she continued her voice still rather low.

"What I am trying to say is that I don't want you to fear me, so I don't want to hit you anymore or be violent to you even if you annoy me, so you can also invade my personal space. I want you to hug me if you want or touch my cheeks or take my hand or any physical contact that you feel. I trust you enough to know you won't do anything inappropriate or too much, so if you want to hug me or come close to me or touch me, just do it and I promise I will try my best not to hit you. I might hit you accidentally a few times before I get used to it, but please don't give up. I really do want to share my personal space with you!"

Yoh gasped loudly, never ever having considered Anna would tell him something like that. He was speechless despite knowing he should say something.

There was a pause in which they only concentrated on their two racing hearts and nervous breathing, none of them said anything. Then Yoh moved from her embrace so he could see her face and she rose her head from his shoulder so they could make eye contact.

"That's what you wanted to say? God Anna you scared me so much, I thought I really messed up something and you wanted some space from me because after the date with me today you realized you had enough or me or you could do better or had enough or something like that from what you were saying. I honestly didn't expect what you just said or even understood it at the very beginning, but I got it now! I am very much happy to invade your space, but I don't want to make you uncomfortable…" The boy said awkwardly.

"Idiot, erase those stupid thoughts. Even if you messed up, I would never think less of you. You are enough for me and the best, so don't ever doubt or have seconds thoughts about it. It's like you said, we're enough for one another. And if someone says something else point them to me and I'll beat them senseless till they get it or die trying or torture them slowly before sending them in the darkest parts of Hell if they're just that stupid not to get it."

"You just said you'll be less violent." Yoh said feeling shivers from the threatening sharp tone in her voice as well as from the descriptions she provided.

"Towards you. I only promised you. I'm still going to hit anyone else annoying me or coming too close to my personal space, Amidamaru and especially Manta included. You're the only one with special treatment because you deserve it. The others could all go to Hell, I don't care."

"Oh." Yoh sweat dropped.

It was astonishing to him how sweet and loving she could be with him, yet how cold and violent she was towards the rest of the world. He knew she wasn't acting around him and she was just open towards him, while with the rest she was reserved. She, unfortunately, had plenty of reasons to be like that and Yoh didn't even try to convince her of else because he knew them.

"And it's not that you make me uncomfortable, I did think about this. It's just…I'm not used to it, but I like having you close. Don't you think that's the reason I always come around?"

"Yeah, you do like my personal space." Yoh grinned.

"Yes, I do love your personal space. But now what's mine is also yours just as what's yours is mine. And one last thing, I would rather appreciate if you would display this…"

"When it's just us. Don't worry, I know. To be honest I think I would be too embarrassed…"

"Knowing you, you would probably jump on me if it would be an emergency…" Anna mused.

"Oh, yeah, maybe then…" Yoh smiled.

"Good, now that we're settled, lay down, the earth is uncomfortable, your body will certainly provide a better pillow."

"You want to what?" Yoh's face reddened.

"I'll let you play with my hair."

Yoh immediately laid on his back eager to make the most of the opportunity and he felt Anna rest her head on his chest.

"Much better!" The girl murmured contently smiling, glancing at him.

The boy put one hand under his head and smiled back at Anna softly. Then he moved his hand free hand from his body and moved it slowly on the girl's head.

'So soft!' He thought eyes shining in happiness when he felt her hair.

"What's this fascination with my hair?" Anna asked genuinely curious.

"It's beautiful! And so soft and beautiful! And smells beautifully!"

"Yours is not bad either and it would be softer if you would wash it better, I am sure. Just put more shampoo. And wait, my hair smells?"

"Beautifully!"

Anna took one of her bangs and smelled it, yet the scent of the shampoo seemed rather faded. She blushed madly at the thought that the boy might just like her natural smell.

'How come every compliment he tells me transforms me into this puddle of mixed feels, joy, embracement, shyness, denial, appreciation…it's just so nice. I think that's how Yoh would also describe it.' Anna thought closing her eyes, enjoying his touch, but opened them shortly after so she could peek at his happy face.

They stayed in silence once again content just by being in each other's presence. Yoh was so happy that he didn't even think over what Anna told him anymore in fear he would find something to cloud his happiness. He just accepted he was allowed to come closer to her and that alone just made him feel something that could only be described like over, over, very over happy. Like elated happy. Exhilarated. Overjoyed.

Never in his life could he had ever imagined he would be given this level of affection. His family had always been rather cold and distant when it come with showing love through any physical contact. They rarely displayed affection and whenever they did, Yoh hold on to that moment until the next one, cherishing and relishing in the warmness and joy the contact made him feel. During the years, he just got used to not getting love, yet that didn't mean he didn't yearn for it eagerly.

That's another reason he was surprised Anna wanted to spend time with him in the first place, so when he understood, he just made the deal, eager to make the most of it and secretly hoping for me. He never thought that more would actually become true and even beyond it - the girl has actually given her consent to him to show his affection towards her in a physical way if he felt so. And he just couldn't be happier because he couldn't wait to make the most of it.

Yoh kept the widest smile he could and his eyes were shining happily to the point he was actually crying in joy. Dates sure were great! And bless once again the day they made the deal.

Anna noticed him crying, but let him be. She understood that her assumptions had been right - giving Yoh permission to her space meant the world to the boy who just wanted to show his love to her in every way. Or probably to anyone, but little did she know she was the first one to tell him that and that gave him this much affection or allowed him to show so much affection towards someone.

Yoh couldn't have been happier.