Hello all, sorry, forgot to get this one posted, been really busy. Thanks for reading and especially for taking time to comment. It really helps with my motivation on writing this story 3

Wishing you all Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays or just a lovely December!

Summary: Yoh and Anna had finished their first date, yet now they have to face their friends. Will they manage to keep their relationship still a secret?


Chapter 15: Concealing the truth

"What was that noise just now?" Manta asked Ryu.

"I don't know, but it was as if someone just jumped on the second floor."

"That can't be, Yoh and Anna are out. We should check it out, what if something hit the house like a meteorite?"

"Wait till I get my sword just in case it might be some malevolent spirit. You can never be too sure with those."

After some searching around, Ryu found the sword and he and Manta finally headed upstairs, only to hear another thud noise coming this time from outside.

"Did you hear that?" Ryu asked.

"Yes, this is really weird…"

"I'm home! I'm exhausted and starving!" Yoh called out from the entrance. The latter wasn't a lie.

"Yoh, there's someone in the house, we heard a noise upstairs!"

"You did?" Yoh asked pretending to be surprised.

"Yes, we're just about to check it out."

"It's just a stupid bird who hit the window and fell on the balcony." Anna commented just as she also entered the house.

"But there were two noises!" Manta said.

"Yeah, the second came from me throwing a rock at one of the ghosts because it suddenly appeared in my way."

"Oh…" Manta sweatdropped and Yoh cut it changing the topic.

"What do we have for lunch?"

"I made you a feast a la chef Ryu! Come eat! You're so late, both of you!" Ryu suddenly noticed.

"And Anna, you look di…" Manta stopped himself mid-sentence. He didn't want to reveal seeing Anna in a different look and with a guy, not now and with everyone there. "I look?" Anna narrowed her eyes at him in her usual manner.

"You look disappointed to find us here!" Manta blurred. "Because I think I saw you earlier today and you look disappointed to see me again..."

"Yes I am. I went change if you are so curious about it and then went out again." Anna explained then her murderous look pinned him in place sending shivers on everyone's back from her very sudden dark aura. "Why do I have to explain myself to you, actually? I do what I want, when I want." Then she eyed Ryu. "And so what if I'm late? Do I have a curfew?"

"No, not at all, just didn't want the food to chill…"

"Warm it back up then, I had errands to run. Since Yoh's training, someone else has to maintain the house."

"But that's us…" Manta said in a low voice before her piercing gaze focused on him.

He barely had time to blink before he was on the ground, cheek red from her slap.

"How dare you question me? Do you want to die? And you, is this how you warm up the food, from the entrance, is that your new cooking technique."

"No, miss Anna, I am going right now!" Ryu muttered and ran away in fear to warm up their meal.

"If there's someone who should be explaining himself is Yoh."

The boy stiffened and looked at her with wide eyes.

"Why did you take this long with the training? Were you stalking me or something?" She snapped turning around to face the boy, smirking knowingly. "Well, explain yourself!"

Ryu came back, worried for Yoh's wellbeing, yet the food was warming in the oven. Manta stood up holding his check, also looking concerned for his friend. Yoh, however, was biting his lip, trying not to laugh.

"I got lost while running."

"For two hours." Anna said smile wide knowing the two behind her can't see her reactions, only his.

"Yes."

"So both you and Amidamaru were incapable of finding the way home." Anna made a dramatic pause before she rose her voice making everyone jump in fear. "Do you think I'm stupid and can't recognize a lie when I hear it?! Idiot, that's why I was late, I saw you slacking of the route and followed you! And what do I find? You slacking off at the cemetery sleeping! You're lucky you're not part of the ghosts of the cemetery now, Yoh Asakura! But I had to be nice and let you sleep because you seemed like you needed it and yet, you lie straight into my face! YOH, I don't see anything funny here, you are so dead." She added her voice dropping dangerously low.

Yoh tried to bite his lips from laughing, but he just couldn't suppress a laugh. The situation was just too funny! Manta and Ryu, however, didn't see the funny part either and looked absolutely horrified and genuinely afraid for his life. Anna was glaring at him, yet she also seemed to slightly struggle from not laughing.

"That's it, Yoh, no lunch for you! And after I have my big lunch, you're up to intensive training."

Yoh nodded and then he felt the air wizz by his ear while Manta and Ryu screamed in the background. Anna's fist barely missed his cheek. Despite knowing she intentionally missed, he still felt a shiver and his knees trembled.

"I am not joking here, but I would rather have you fully awake for the training than unconscious from a good beating." Anna added and then to the boy's astonishment, she moved her hand and blew him a kiss before she winked and turned around huffing, making her way towards her room to change for lunch.

Yoh felt on his bottom, eyes wide.

"Yoh!"

"Master Yoh, are you OK?"

Manta and Ryu circled around him concerned, both haven't seen the kiss or wink. Amidamaru, however, did and stayed hidden, unable to keep a poker face, so it was down to Yoh, whose face just uncontrollably broke into a grin.

"Ryu, it's bad, he's smiling, I think he lost it! Can't we sneak him some food in?"

"I think that would be dangerous Manta…I don't want to cross Anna…"

"She broke him, look, he's not even talking, Yoh say something…" Manta said giving his friend a small shake.

"I'm OK, it's OK…" Yoh mumbled trying to think of what to say.

"No, it's not, you haven't eaten since morning and she just forbid you from eating lunch."

"Seriously Manta, I actually ate something, probably that's why she didn't let me have lunch, I bought some snacks. I'll be fine, don't worry."

"If you say so…" Manta commented worriedly.

"Is my food ready Ryu? I want a double portion, we can't let Yoh's food to waste!" Anna shouted from upstairs.

Yoh went upstairs to supposedly change while Ryu went to get Anna her food and Manta followed him deflated.

"Ryu, it's just so unfair, Yoh didn't do anything wrong and Anna took it all on him! We need to sneak some food for him or do something about it…"

"Take it easy little friend! Right now we're both too worked up and will only make things worse. Let's wait till things calm down and we feel more like our normal selves before we take any action or we'll just make things worse for master Yoh. Who knows, maybe he actually isn't hungry, he didn't seem very upset, I mean he was laughing and then he looked more surprised than upset if you think about it now..." Ryu mused while he put Anna a big portion of fish and rice.

"But Ryu Yoh always hides everything behind his cheerful appearance, I know that much of him to know that smile is not always genuine…"

"Yeah, I know, I also noticed that, the boy has some serious issues behind that we don't know much about and I'm not even sure if Anna knows about them. But did it seem to you that Yoh was faking anything this time? I felt he had some genuine reactions? I actually thought Anna was a bit odd, but I'm not sure why…maybe because she missed that hit…" Ryu continued trying to comfort Manta despite himself being upset by the events.

But that was the difference - Ryu was upset, but Manta was upset and worked up.

"I don't care about Anna! Yoh's the victim here, Ryu!" Manta said between his teeth looking cautiously behind his back, his anger only raising more because his friend didn't seem to get it and that full plate was only making him more irritated.

"I agree with Ryu!" Amidamaru cut it appearing out of nowhere.

"Not you too, Amidamaru!"

"I'll take this to her!" Ryu said as he left the kitchen giving Amidamaru an apologetic look for Yoh and also for letting him with the furious Manta.

"Tell me why Amidamaru, why aren't you also furious or want to do something about it?!" Manta said climbing on his chair and gesticulating in the spirit's direction.

"Manta, have you considered that maybe Yoh did tell the truth and he is all right? I mean Anna was angry and punished him, but he was left unscathed. And I can assure you he did have a quite fulfilling snack, so don't worry about him starving. Anna might be harsh, but I am sure once she calms down she'll let him eat something. You know in her weird way she does care." Amidamaru explained calmly trying not to say too much. He could also bet his life the actual reason Anna asked for a double portion was to eat it with Yoh, but then again, he was the only one who knew the two were 'really together'.

"In a weird way she cares?! How could you defend her Amidamaru?! Have you forgotten she was running after Yoh when he was injured and made him hide in fear in the storage room? Then she almost murdered me and she, she…"

"She is also the reason Yoh made it through the fight against Pyrong and you know how awful she felt when Yoh almost got killed during the Togakeroh night. Maybe she just doesn't show it outside, but we don't know how she feels inside, Manta, we shouldn't judge. Trust me, I would be the first to know if Yoh is suffering and I can assure you he's been very well lately, I am sure you noticed."

"Maybe you and Ryu are right and I got too worked out and judged Anna too harsh again…" Manta sighed in defeat remembering his last discussion with Anna.

"Yoh's your friend, it's normal to be biased and concerned." Amidamaru comforted him and saw a small smile appearing on Manta's face.

"Yeah, you're right…I still don't know a lot about Anna, maybe I should just ask Yoh. He did laugh in her face which I really can't understand how he dared do that or why, but maybe it has to do with him being so happy lately, he just couldn't hold it in and laughed in her face for whatever reason he's so happy. I initially thought he's faking or hiding something big behind that wide smile. However, I know Yoh well enough now to distinguish when it's not completely a genuine smile. And lately, oh boy, he's almost jumping from how happy he is, and I've asked, but he said he's usually like that and I know there's a difference. I can almost feel him bursting with happiness, he's even more dreamy, hums more, sights while his eyes shine, grins wider and blushes." Manta said launching into a full analysis of his friend to try to move on from his previous anger. "If I wouldn't know better, I would say he seems like someone who's in love, but that can't be! I mean, we just saw Anna, how could he suddenly be happier with her when her attitude hasn't changed?! He couldn't have just fallen for her! Do you think Yoh's in love with someone else?"

"Well Manta, I…"

"Because I can't imagine whom else although I never saw him showing any great fondness towards Anna, but I haven't tested either if he actually likes her and…" Manta continued almost forgetting he was just chatting with Amidamaru, but then suddenly stopped.

'But if there's even the slightest chance that Yoh does like Anna, like love her, he might be heartbroken if I tell him about the guy she was out with…but I can't keep that from him, it could only go worse…' Manta thought.

"Everything OK, Manta?" Amidamaru asked concerned.

"Friendship is hard, Amidamaru. I want to be a good friend to Yoh and help him, but Anna's in the way and I am not sure what Yoh sincerely thinks of her as in not what she would like him to say or his family, as in his genuine opinion on her because when we first met he didn't seem too happy about it. However, the way he said it back then almost seemed to be as if he was hiding something and that's OK, we weren't that close back then, but maybe now he'll be more open if I bring up the topic? I mean boys discuss about girls all the time, do you think he would want to speak to me about Anna?"

"I am not sure Manta, that's a question for Yoh-dono, despite our shared connection, I don't want to share his inner thoughts."

"I apologize Amidamaru, I didn't mean it that way, I was just curious to hear your opinion, not Yoh's, like what do you think he thinks, but I guess that's pretty hard, sorry for asking." Manta chuckled nervously realizing that he shouldn't be this nosy.

"Don't feel bad about it, Manta." Amidamaru reassured him smiling softly. "I think you're a great friend and I know you don't mean to pree into their lives with harmful thoughts, you only want to help Yoh-dono, but that's something I recommend bringing it up to him. Be honest with him, maybe it's time you two have a heart-to-heart talk, he's training tomorrow, so that's a good opportunity."

"Thank you Amidamaru. Oh, Ryu, you're back, was Anna any better?"

"She was still fuming, she barely opened the door, took the plate and snapped the door in my face while hissing a thank you."

"Sounds like Anna." Manta sighed.

"Maybe I should go check on Yoh-dono."

Both men nodded in his direction as the spirit left.

Amidamaru expected the teens to share the food, however, what he didn't foresee was that Yoh will be this time in Anna's room, so without thinking, the spirit came looking for him and entered to quite the sight.

Anna was sitting in her room, back to the wall with one hand holding her magazine and the other a fork that she used to dig in the food she had in her lap. She would move the cutlery to her mouth and while she chewed she would dig it again and shove it mechanically to her right in Yoh's eager mouth and then she would fill it with food and eat again and then fed Yoh and then herself and so on.

Yoh was sitting facing her from the sides, listening to his headphone's music. He was happily trying to catch the food from her - Anna wasn't really paying attention where she shoved that fork, so he didn't want to miss his turn.

Amidamaru's face went tomato red, because he realized two things. One, he intruded on something he shouldn't and two, and even worse, he entered Anna's room without permission. He was doomed, so he tried to materialize away, but the girl spotted him at the same time his mind acknowledged his mistake.

"YOU, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE, YOU PERVERT!" Anna shouted as she instinctively threw the plate in Amidamaru's direction like a frisbee.

"No, the food!" Yoh cried louder accidentally trying to cover the music coming from his headphones, fork still in his mouth.

"SHHH!" Anna turned around to shush him, but the others had already heard the noise including the plate that had crushed outside.

Furious the girl chased after Amidamaru who tried to fly away, but Anna used her beads and caught him just as he was leaving the balcony. Too scared, the poor spirit had forgotten he could have just materialized from the room. Now he sobbed awaiting his punishment for crossing the line.

"Anna, no!" Yoh shouted stopping his headphones and trying to approach the girl but one look from her stopped him in his tracks.

"What's happening?" Manta shouted from outside the door.

"Everything OK Miss Anna?" Ryu also asked.

"We…" Yoh was about to answer when he felt Anna lounge at him full force making him fall on the ground.

He couldn't even cry from the hit because her hands were on his mouth in seconds, Amidamaru now freed from her hold, yet not from the beads.

"None of your business, I just threw a plate at Yoh who was being lazy in the balcony and when he regains consciousness I'll send him train." Anna said coldly eying Amidamaru.

"Anna, please, don't hurt him! I'll run at the shop nearby and get you anything you want, please let him live!" Manta pleaded through the door fearing the girl is strangling the boy or something because he thought he heard his voice, but then he just went silent.

Yoh felt bad, but didn't know how he could make things better in his current situation.

"I'll make you a list and I want them all in half an hour."

"Sure!" Manta said through the door.

"I'm timing it starting now." Anna smirked satisfied and stretched herself resting her chin on Yoh's head unconsciously listening to Manta's rushed footsteps.

Yoh barely heard half of the discussion because he was blushing madly from the closure. He was sure Anna didn't even realise their position or that she was now laying on him. He hoped she would because his heart was racing, and his fingers were moving anxiously.

"And you." Anna said sharply suddenly moving towards Amidamaru, but she stopped.

She realized where she was sitting and blushed. She ran away and hid in her wardrobe dragging a crying Amidamaru with her.

Yoh stood up looking after her and it took a few minutes before his brain registered the sobs coming from his spirit, but before he had a chance to react, the door opened and Anna came out dragging an unconscious Amidamaru. She untied him and gave him another kick for safe measurement before she looked in Yoh's direction, eyes down.

"I'll meet you downstairs for your training. He might be off for a while." She said referring to Amidamaru, her face still red from embarrassment and fury. If you train properly I'll let you take a break after an hour to have some food, at least we ate some now and we had snacks in the train, so we should be fine."

"Great, thank you Anna!" Yoh nodded grabbing a hold of Amidamaru and dragging him towards his room, but then he stopped. "Do I also get a rice cake?" He asked eyes shining.

"No."

His eyes got sad.

"But maybe we can have some in the evening after everyone leaves."

His eyes shone back with happiness and his smile grew.

Anna was just watching his beaming reaction when an irritating voice broke her reverie.

"Anna, I forgot to ask for the list…" Manta said, his voice coming in ragged breaths from the running.

"He's lucky he's getting me magazines or else he'd also be unconscious." Anna muttered to herself fuming as she grabbed a piece of paper. "Wait for it."

"Oh, hi Manta!" Yoh waved as he came out of his room dragging an unconscious crying Amidamaru.

"Oh, no, what happened to him?"

"Anna." Yoh shrugged and before Manta had a chance to respond, Anna opened the door and shoved him her list.

"It's a full shopping list, Ryu just made shopping." Manta said confused and earned a murderous look from the girl.

"You said anything from the shop, now move it, you have only half an hour and 50 items to buy. And you, training, now." Anna ordered them and the boys ran each to their assigned activities.

"Everyone's gone. Finally." Anna said as her body started to relax.

"You could have trained Ryu too, he seemed so sad, especially after you also sent him home." Yoh suggested as he sat in front of her, stretching his arms.

They were both sitting on their knees, facing each other in Anna's room, near the opened balcony door. They were supposedly looking at the stars, yet they were actually gazing into each other's eyes. The house was quiet - Manta left with Ryu and his friends after Yoh finished his training - he did get a proper lunch at some point and so did Anna, Amidamaru was resting in Yoh's room after the training and all the other spirits were as far away from the itako's room as possible. That gave the two teens not only more time to themselves, but also a tranquil evening together after such a long eventful day.

"He was distracting you. And he was also intending to use Amidamaru, the audacity! Like spirit union is something you learn overnight, you worked so hard all these years and he thinks he can just become shaman overnight after fighting over one possession, what an idiot." Anna said harshly and very annoyed.

"I liked it, I mean our date. It was fun and sweet." Yoh admitted trying to change her mood.

He watched her narrowed gaze soften. She sighed and met his gaze, a small smile appearing on her face.

"Yeah, I enjoyed it too." She admitted blushing and she was surprised to find Yoh's hand on hers.

"We should definitely go again, maybe I can plan one of those dates." Yoh smiled brightly and her heart skipped a beat.

"As you wish Yoh, but knowing you, by the time you come up with something, I'll have planned at least another two-three dates. But do go ahead, I'm intrigued, is there a place you would like to take me?"

"Not yet…" Yoh replied flustered. "But I'll think about it."

"Good." Anna smirked satisfied.

"Also, Anna…"

She looked at him waiting.

"There's something I've been meaning to give you during the date, but I just didn't know when or I guess I was too shy about it…" Yoh replied looking away, his face getting very red.

"Yoh, we discussed about it, you don't necessarily have to buy me gifts just because the usual couples do." Anna said yet her eyes sparkled with curiosity at what he could have got her.

"No, I really didn't want to give you a gift because couples do so, I just felt like."

"Ok, then, give it to me." Anna said impatient looking around him for it.

"Well…"

"Is it behind you?" The girl asked now trying to see behind him.

"No!"

"Did you lose it?"

"No…"

"If it's in your room then, go get it!"

"Wait, wait, Anna! For someone who said she doesn't want gifts you're sure eager to get one." Yoh said blushing madly, yet pleasantly surprised by her excitement.

"Well you got it now, we don't want it to waste, so come on, don't shy now, I want it." Anna said crossing her arms and pouting.

"OK, OK, I'll get it, just close your eyes, it's a surprise."

"You better not take too long and leave me hanging here."

"Nope, just don't peek."

"I promise I won't." Anna said uncrossing her arms and resting them on the floor waiting with her eyes closed.

"OK…" He said in a shaky voice.

Yoh was nervous - he found himself hard to breath. 'What if she doesn't like it? What if what I got for her this time is too much? Should I have just given it during the date? What's got into me to actually want to give her this?! I can't even blame it on the whole date because I wanted to give her this for a while, but she can be so unpredictable at times and then she said she doesn't want stuff…yet then our relationship improved more and more, so that just gave me so much hope and I wanted to give it to her during the date, but I didn't get a chance and then she was upset and I didn't want it to be a comfort gift and now just feels like the right time, so I can't back down now, but look at her cute face and beautiful hair and UHHH, she's distracting me!" Yoh wandered overwhelmed by his own feelings, yet he gathered his confidence because there was no turning back now.

Part of him was eager to give Anna what he got for her as much as it was really curious to see how she'll react to it - like it? Hate it? Slapping him shouldn't be any more an option, so he prayed she wouldn't hate it.

Anna wondered if his gift was handmade or something like that and that was the reason he seemed so nervous about it. Then a sudden thought crossed her mind - did he buy her a ring? Anna felt her cheeks hot and her palms got really sweaty. She closed her fists in an attempt to calm down her overpowering feelings.

'It's impossible, he said it was a gift he wanted to give me during the date, so he couldn't have predicted the shop discussion, but what if he had it from before planned.' Anna thought finding her breathing harder at the thought Yoh actually might have got her a ring. 'Maybe my mind just making stuff, it can't be…Move faster Yoh, just give me the gift!'

She heard him coming closer, till their knees touched and he felt his hand grabbing hers. She unclenched her fist, relaxing her hand in his and he gave her a gentle squeeze.

They could both hear each other's racing hearts, yet none made a comment about it or about anything else, waiting for the other's next action.

Anna got even more nervous when she realized he'd taken her hand in his. Will he drop the gift in her palm. Is it actually a ring?

She held her breath.

His heart skipped a beat.

She felt he bopped her hose and thought it was his way to make her open her eyes, but before she did so, she felt a small pressure on her lips, that slightly grew. Her eyes opened wide to find Yoh's closed eyes and his face only millimetres away from hers. Then she saw him move away, blushing and awkwardly looking at her with apologetic eyes.

He kissed her - their first kiss. Her first kiss. His first kiss…

She draw in air, realizing she'd been holding her breath all this time. Dazed, she moved her free hand to her lips touching them, mouth slightly opened, yet she never freed her other hand from his hold. Then she looked at him and met his worried gaze. That's when she realized she didn't kiss him back, she'd been too dazed and shocked by his so-called gift.

"Anna?" He murmured not sure how to read her shock.

"Yoh…" She said softly and squeezed his hand in reassurance and moved her face closer to him till their noses were almost touching. "I really like this gift." 'It's better than what I expected.' She thought delighted.

And then Yoh's eyes went wide as he saw her close the gap, her lips pressing softly on his before the pressure increased slightly.

His eyes closed and he responded to the kiss.

He'd been worried he'd overstepped when he kissed her since she just didn't say anything. She didn't seem displeased, but pleased either, so he wasn't sure if she was shocked by his action or that he actually took this step further in their relationship. The fact that she never released her hold on his hand, however, gave him hope for the best.

He'd been meaning to kiss her for quite the while, but didn't know how, when or if she would be happy since she didn't like her personal space invaded. Part of him had been afraid she'll think he'd taken advantage of her - she just gave him permission to be closer to her and he's already kissing her. He hoped she wouldn't misunderstand because she knew him and she said she trusted him, so he just took the chance. And he didn't regret it at all.

He felt fantastic kissing Anna - extremely nervous, yet confident and eager to kiss her. And now she was kissing him too and it felt even better. In fact, Yoh thought it was exactly as he heard or read a kiss should be - noses touching, hands intertwined, purple fireworks illuminating in the background. 'My brain sure got creative!' Yoh thought as he and Anna broke the kiss looking into each other's eyes shily, yet they both had a wide pleased grin on their faces.

"I thought they made it up on TV that you see fireworks when you kiss someone." Anna mumbled blushing.

"Me too! In fact, I can still see them!"

"Same…" Anna said getting confused.

And then both teens realized they weren't seeing things and the purple light was still there. They got up and went into the balcony, the cause of 'their fireworks' finally hitting them.

"It's finally here…" Anna said impressed.

"W-wow!" Yoh also commented in astonishment. "It's even bigger and brighter than grandpa said. So that's the legendary comet we've been waiting for…Rahu!"

"Ra..Rahu?"

Yoh noticed Manta's figure under the balcony, looking in awe at the star.

Before launching into explaining Rahu to Manta further, Yoh and Anna exchange a quick unnoticed glance. They smiled knowingly - things we're looking bright for them and despite the star being considered a bad omen, they looked at it as a good sign. As Rahu was marking the beginning of the Shaman King, they considered it also a mark for the beginning of a new milestone step in their relationship.