A/N: Ok, I've decided to do those wonderful comments to your reviewers. Because I love my reviewers. However, that will be at the END of the chapter so you must read on to get your personalized response. 3
As it normally goes, I do not own Shaman King or the characters in this story. I DO own the plot and story it's self.
A note on this chapter: Many of the customs mentioned in this chapter may be confusing if you are not familiar with Japanese school systems. I will do my best to work explanations in, but if you're still confused, please say what confuses you in your review and I'll answer your question next chapter!
Now, on to the chapter!
--------------Chapter Three---------------
She really wished they could be more like American schools. At least in America, they switched classes, and had different people…but not here. No, here in Japan they stayed in one class together all day, and their teachers came to them.
This, of course, meant she sat next to Hao the entirety of the day. Which may not have been so bad, except for the note that appeared on her desk half-way through math. She blinked at the piece of paper. A note? Who in their right mind would write her a note? She picked it up, and began to open it, when there was a hushed 'no!' from near her. Her brown eyes found the source of this, and lo and behold, it was a girl in her class, frantically motioning for her to give the note to Hao.
Anna twitched once. She had the compulsion to deliver the note to their Sensei, but instead begrudgingly passed the note to Hao, who was watching expectantly.
The rustle of paper. The silence as her new classmate read the neatly written words of the girl. And then, he wrote something, and gave it back to Anna. She had the new compulsion to beat her head on the desk. When had she become messenger girl? However, the note found its way to its original owner.
Oh, Great Spirits. The girl read it, blushed, giggled, and then looked at Hao.
And heaven forbid, Hao winked.
It might as well have been a shojo anime. Anna spent the entirety of the period passing the note back and forth, barely getting any of her notes taken, and was about at the bursting point when the bell signaling for lunch rang. The blonde had never been out of her seat faster. If she had to stay next to the giggling dimwit of a female or the idiotic, and, she presumed, playboy next to her, she'd blow a fuse.
So what really did her in was when she reached for her last book, and saw another pair of hands get there first. Her eyes raised slowly, as though dreading what she would see…and there, her book clasped firmly in his hands, was the last person she wanted to see right now. Hao. He flashed her a smile, and she opened her mouth to tell him to piss off and go off with his new friend, but he beat her to speaking.
"Can you show me where you usually eat lunch?" He asked casually, innocently, blinking at her. "I'll carry your books for you."
She cast a glance towards the door. Yoh and Manta were watching her, waiting, wearing matching expressions of confusion—though Manta looked slightly impatient as well. Anna's eyes shifted back to the newcomer. "Pfft. Why don't you get your new friend to show you around? I barely got anything done, thanks to the two of you." She spat, reaching for her last book. So what if she had a lot to carry? No way she was going to let this strange Yoh-look alike carry anything of hers. She already disliked him—nothing new for her, of course—and usually people stayed a good distance from her, even when they first arrived. She didn't know if rumors flew that fast, or if she just seemed that unapproachable, but either way, she didn't really mind. She preferred it that way.
So why the hell was he bothering her?
Well, at the very least, he'd leave her alone now that she'd made it very clear that she wasn't interested. Right?
Oh, she was so wrong.
He flashed that annoying smile again that reminded her of Yoh and eased another of her books from her hand—her notebook, this time, and flicked it open, quickly reading the name on top. "Anna-chan…ah! What a nice name!" The brunette rolled the syllables over his tongue as though savoring something sweet and pleasing.
A-anna…CHAN? Who the hell was he to speak to her so informally? She felt the heat rising into her cheeks, her eyebrow twitching furiously, and a vein pulsed dangerously in her forehead as she snatched her notebook back from him. And he had completely ignored her blatant dismissal, as well! The nerve of him! It almost left her speechless! …almost, anyways.
"Give me my book." She hissed dangerously, and she could feel Yoh and Manta cringe by the exit. They were wasting lunch time and Anna was in a bad mood. Not a good combination. Anna continued speaking, "And don't ever speak so casually to me, Asakura-san. It's Kyoyama-san to you."
She snatched her other book from his grasp and stomped off towards her waiting companions, her head held high as she did so. Briskly, she commanded them to follow so they could eat, and her fiancé and the midget exchanged wary looks before following silently.
If this kept up, it would be a long school year.
Lunch went without interruption, and Hao said nothing to her during the few hours of classes that followed that. A relieved Anna believed that he had taken the hint and would leave her alone. When the final bell rang and announced that it was o soji, she joined the throng of students in the hallways to clean the school. O soji…something else that those kids in America didn't have. They never had to join their entire studen body everyday after school to clean up the halls and grounds. It was really the only cleaning she ever did. At home, she had a maid that made her bed and kept her room tidy, along with the rest of the housework. When she and Yoh married, they'd have a maid as well. If not, she would see to it that Yoh knew how to clean house and cook.
Yet when they were given their assignments for the day, the blonde groaned. She and Hao had been assigned to work together this week, to clean the north hall's bathrooms.
Anna twitched.
Hao smirked.
Damn it.
Two days had passed, and o soji was once again upon them. Anna had managed so far to keep conversation with her 'cleaning partner' to a minimal as she scrubbed, even as he happily chattered away to her. Other times, he was perfectly quiet, and simply handed her the supplies she demanded from him. And still other times, he would offer her a break, and take over for her, scrubbing diligently, until the bathroom was cleaned. Their task only took an hour each day, and then they parted ways, Hao always flicking her a wave, and Anna ignoring it and strutting off haughtily.
However, on this particular day, she was at her nerve's end. All day had been spent passing notes back and forth for him and his 'groupies', as she none-so-fondly had named them. Her notes on the lectures were horrible and she didn't catch the homework they had at the end of the period because the groupie next to her had shrieked in delight over something in her note as Sensei had announced it.
And so, the atmosphere in the restroom was tenser than usual: and that meant it was very, very tense.
If that annoying pig Hao noticed, he obviously didn't care, because he hummed to himself as he handed Anna supplies. Somehow, this humming drove her slowly more insane, until she couldn't stand it anymore. She whirled around on him, Windex held threateningly before her as though she might spray that face of his, and snapped.
"What are you in such a good mood about?"
Oh, and he just blinked at her, like he was confused. Like he had no clue what was bothering her ( more than his presence, naturally ). He gave a good natured laugh and brushed a bang from his eyes, which twinkled at her as though this was some sort of joke. "Do I have to have a reason? Ah, but if you want the truth, it's because I get to work along side you, Anna-chan…" Cooed the brunette affectionately, and the Windex dropped from Anna's hand and clanked to the floor.
"I told you, quit daydreaming!" Pale, slender hand drawing back, she whipped it around to slap him harshly across the cheek.
Something very unexpected happened. When the blonde's hand should have made contact with the cheek of the male, instead, something clasped around her wrist.
He had caught her slap, and in an instant, she was whirled and found herself partially pinned against the cool tile wall behind her, Hao's face inches from hers, his eyes narrowed just slightly; she couldn't tell if he was amused or angered, but something about the look he was giving her sent the first spirals of fear down her spine. His voice, when he spoke, seemed calm enough, but there was a tinge in it she couldn't quite name.
"My, my…such a temper." He cooed, and his lips curved into something that reminded her of a smirk. "I was going to wait…but I suppose I can tell you why I'm here, Anna-chan."
She wanted to tell him she didn't give a damn why he was here, but he cut her off.
"You see, I know who you are, and what you are. And I know how to control those little 'gifts' of yours, dear Anna-chan. But you seem so intent to make things between us…difficult."
The dark eyes of the blonde widened. He knew? Impossible. He knew nothing about her. This was some sick joke to try to get under her skin, for reasons she didn't know, and didn't want to know. Her left hand, still free, twitched at her side.
"You know nothing about me." She whispered in a calm yet dangerous voice, face devoid of emotion. "And you're so naïve." Free hand making harsh contact with his cheek, she was satisfied when he stumbled back and released her, holding onto the pulsing red flesh. "You forgot about my left!"
-------------------End Chapter---------------------
Woo! The chapter was kind of short, sorry for that! Ok, so that last scene may be familiar to lots of you! Like I said, I'm trying to work in actual tidbits from the original show/manga. What will happen next? How will Hao react? Garuanteed, next chapter is full of suspense, surprises, and twists!
Please read and review!
--------------------------Response to Reviewers----------------------------
Skyhorse: Thank you for your compliments! It really encourages me to hear things like that. I promise to keep updating for you!
Simmie: Hah, most of the people who read this fic are HaoxAnna fans. Wonder why? Well, I love that pairing too, so I promise you'll get more of it!
KagomeAnna: I always thought it was 'daijoubu datte'. Maybe I've been reading too much Naruto? Anways, I'll definitely look into it. Thank you for bringing it to my attention and I hope you keep reading!
Mrs Asakura Hao: Yes, Hao-sama! We all love him so much.
Jenny-R: I'm glad you like my fic! I'll do my best to keep on updating, if you keep reading and reviewing.
Little-Anna-Chan: HEY. You're supposed to be writing that 'My Dark Destiny' fic? Where is the next chapter at? Write more, I'm waiting on you! ahem Yes, Yoh's reaction was just…what I expected little him to think. He wouldn't be too concerned, really. After all, in his mind, 'everything works out eventually'. Please keep reading!
AND a final note to the dear Koi of mine, reading this: I love you, my Hao-sama.
