Anna got to the stables early that morning, hoping she would meet Katashi there. The blonde carried a black leather jacket which belonged to the guy. Anna entered the stables and went to the box where Katashi's steed stood. She stroked hand through his strong brawny neck, admiring fine features of the horse.

"Hey Yuudai, your master isn't here yet, huh?" she asked in a whisper. The black steed snorted gently, like giving her an answer. Well, I'll just have to wait. I do have all day. Anna wanted to meet Katashi. She was anxious to know if he found out anything and, well…to share the things she discovered. Ok, maybe it wasn't really fair in Hao's position, but Anna had no choice. She wanted to make sure that all of this was true, no matter that it was really hard to imagine. Eventually, Hao will know about it.

Anna waited for an hour…then another. She endured noon and afternoon…and still no sign of Katashi. Anna wondered maybe he had already been here at night. After all, sometimes he would do that. Or maybe he won't come here today, maybe something happened. The blonde tried to get rid of all the stupid thoughts that formed in her head about kidnapping, killing, robbing and so on. She was drinking gods know which cup of coffee when the man in black appeared in the stables. Anna was so happy to see him that she jumped up from the chair she was sitting in and hugged him. She had been waiting for him for a half of the day after all. Katashi stood in surprise, not knowing whether to hug back or just…stay frozen.

"Gosh, and to what do I owe such a blessedness of you hugging me, Anna-chan?" Anna laughed and let him go.

"I had been waiting for you since 8 o'clock. Where the hell have you been?" Katashi's eyebrow flew up.

"I was busy. And why would you be waiting for me?" Anna inhaled deeply.

"Let's take a ride, shall we?" Katashi nodded and went to his steed, while Anna went to Emi. On her way she noticed a couple of horses standing in front of each other in boxes. She laid eyes on first, chocolate brown steed. She knew it was Hao's, as firm as he was and just as temperamental and handsome. Horse's name was Katsu – victory and both, the horse and the master matched the name. In front of the chocolate steed stood another, as white as snow. This was Yoh's. This one too was strong, but not so temperamental. However, it was fine horse with good-meaning eyes and devoted soul. Just like Yoh, the horse was steady, although it had its own good and bad days. The name of horse was Arata – freshness. Anna looked to the snow-white steed and smiled. Just like Yoh, this horse would always give you the feeling of morning freshness… Anna shook her head and went to saddle her own fiery – colored mare.

After fifteen minutes, Anna and Katashi ridded away from the stables and headed towards the lake where they would always go. As they reached the mirror still lake, they stopped horses to walk.

"So, what was it you wanted to talk about with me?" Anna reached for her bag, which she took with her. She took out a notebook and looked into Katashi with serious face.

"The thing you told me about my parents. Since then, I'd been searching for info about them and I found out something really shocking" Katashi nodded.

"I thought you might, because I too found out something strange. Ever heard about Mitsuko Kyouyama?"

"Yeah. Listen to this…" and so she told him everything. The didn't know how many circles they walked around the lake, how many times they passed the forest road on the other shore where some huge threes were growing right in the water. Anna stopped as she ended her story. Katasji was silent for a while, but then he inhaled deeply and spoke out:

"Wow, that's even scarier when you're telling me this" Anna gulped.

"Yeah, this gives creeps go up your spine. But I still cannot get one thing: why would somebody kill my parents? I mean, what they got to do with this story?" Katashi stopped his horse, so did Anna, looking at him with confusion. The guy jumped from his steed and Anna followed, feeling a little dumbfounded. Katashi looked into her eyes and this look sent chills up Anna's spine. The blonde fought back shiver of fear.

"Anna, I…I wanted to tell you…something. But I don't know how" Anna looked puzzled as she looked into his eyes: for the first time, Anna saw an emotion there, but it was so unexpected, that Anna almost stepped back from the guy. That emotion was fear.

"Katashi, tell me, what's wrong?" Anna demanded, knowing that this had a great deal with her, but also feeling something else. That something formed a connection between her and Katashi, just that it never occurred to Anna that something like this was about to break her entire world view. Katashi sighed, returning his cold face on.

"I…I just figured out…I mean I knew this all the time I just had forgotten about it…Anna, do you remember anything about the night your parents were killed? I know you saw it" Anna felt frightened by his knowledge, but she answered.

"Yeah, I remember three men in my house, then a stream of my mother's blood…then running…cold water…and then…I don't know I must've blacked out because I can't remember anything. My last memories are about how my mother's body was packed up" Anna let her breath go, only now noticing that she'd been holing it all the time she spoke. Katashi nodded.

"You see…one of the three men…he was…my father" Anna blinked to him twice. What the hell?

"What?"

"Yes. By that time he came back home, I was about seven years old, but I remember everything. He came home in early morning and found me and my mom waiting for him. He would never come back as late as it was then, but now he did. My mother asked him where was he, but dad didn't answer. My mother burst in tears and ran away. My dad looked after her in disappointment and kinda fear, since he loved her very much. Then, he turned to me and gave a something…a picture of a little blonde girl and told that to this girl he had just ruined life, so if I'll ever meet her, I should tell her truth of her parents. And the truth was that her parents were the followers of The Evil and was very happy to have a reincarnation of Mitsuko, who caused so much trouble. He told me, that I don't have to carry on hunting her, since my father felt guilt even then, after he joined in killing her parents, but I should expose truth to her, because everything would be kept hidden from her. I didn't understand much then, but now I do. And I know that the girl, whose parents were killed that night 18 years ago, is standing right here in front of me" Katashi fell silent, waiting for Anna's reaction.

And Anna didn't know what to do. She just stood there, looking right into Katashi, but not exactly seeing him. She felt how all kinds of emotions and thought are creeping into her mind and body, making her shiver. First the feeling of anger came to her, and then it mixed with pain and loneliness. This entire burst out as tears: now Anna was standing and crying silently, wanting to slap, but also wanting to be hugged, that somebody would just swipe away all her pain. Suddenly, Anna snapped back to the reality, feeling more hurt than before. She looked to the man, who stood in front of her: now he seemed so cold and distant. Only now Anna felt how warm tears are washing her milky face. Katashi stretched out his hand and wiped them away. Anna didn't react to this, she was in a state of full shock, not fully realizing the surroundings, of where she was, or who she was now.

"I'm so sorry" Katashi whispered in a low voice, but this sorry seemed so...unsuitable to his cold, distant, black eyes which now scared Anna even more. Anna stepped backwards, not knowing why she's so afraid of this man. After all, he wasn't his father who killed her parents. But now, to Anna, Katashi seemed as the cause of all her past and present; from the death of her parents to her inability to by with Hao. Hao? I need him so much right now! And before katashi could do anything, Anna jumped on Emi and ridded towards the stables, handed the mare to the stableman and running back home.

Anna didn't stop running until she reached the yard of Asakura mansion. She flew open the door and banged them closed, panting heavily. She noticed Yoh's usual shoes were gone so he must've left. Anna ran upstairs, looking for Hao. Her cheeks were still streaming with tears. Anna slid the door of his room open and found him there, lying on bed. Hao immediately jumped on feet, another second being hugged by Anna, feeling how she's sobbing and warm tears felling down on him. He soothed her, stroking his hands softly through her head and back. As Anna calmed herself down, feeling safe in Hao's arms, Hao asked her:

"Anna, what's wrong, baby? What happened?" Anna lest out a long sigh.

"Hao…I have so much to tell you. I don't know if I…" Hao kissed her forehead.

"Come on, sit down for while" he pulled her down onto bed and Anna rested her head on his shoulder, feeling how strangely heavy became.

"Hao…this is about us" she said in a low voice. Hao nodded, understanding.

"I'm listening" Anna told him again: everything, from the night her parents were killed to the news she'd found out just about ten minutes ago. About her guessing and thoughts of their past life. Hao listened patiently, sweeping her tears away from time to time when they would break out. As Anna finished, Hao sat in a shock for sometime.

"Oh, Anna, we're in such a fucked up mess" he said with nuisance voice.

"Yes we are. And what we're supposed to do now?" Hao shrugged his shoulders, feeling so helpless and miserable, that he didn't even know how to console Anna. After all, this all was a greater shock to her.

"I don't know, baby. I hate to admit it, but I feel like just…empty" Anna hugged him around waist.

"I know the feeling. Oh, Hao, what now?" Hao kissed her temple.

"Yeah, what now?" they sat like this until the shadows of the evening fell, sinking into their own misery…