A/N: hey guys, sorry for delay, but my exams are five days away and I'm a little stressed up! Jeez, it's so close, I HATE it! Anyway, early sorry for grammar, cause I've been writting this in the midle of the night, so i didn't really check it...to tired you know ;) thanx for understanding and I hope you'll like it ;)
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Finally, after two weeks, Yukiko could move into her new home. The blonde felt somehow happy and calm these days. All her thoughts lingered on that one precious gift Yoh gave her. It was beautiful and full now: large bed in bed room, which's windows were fixed on the east, whitely bricked bathroom, cozily furnished living-room with fireplace, little, but cute kitchen, onsen deeper in the forest…sounded like a perfect home. Not to mention a large garden, which was settled in part of the forest, making it look like a real maze. Yukiko loved it here. To her own great surprise, Keiko let her live here and only come to the mansion time to time, when it's really needed. Only the time Yukiko asked for permission wasn't really pleasant. Midori done her part there.
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When Yukiko came in Keiko's working place as she was asked, the blonde found elder woman sitting behind dark wooden table and surrounded by shelves and closets of books and papyrus – writings and documents. So here was the brain of the entire mansion.
Yukiko bowed to Keiko and the elder woman began to speak:
"I'd like to express my concern about your latest reputation, Yukiko" she said in serious tone. The blonde tighten her hands into fists, thoughts about killing Midori this instant flying through her mind.
"And what that would be, mistress?" Keiko did a pause before answering.
"This new girl, Midori, told me that she saw you with my son Yoh together in the countryside"
"Yes, that's true" confirmed Yukiko, her expression not changing "he gave me a birthday present there" The one I've expected the last to be.
"Then tell me why this had to be done so far away from the mansion?"
"That's because Yoh-san gave me a house there" Yukiko said, now expecting the worst. But the worst never came. Instead, Keiko nodded and said:
"You liked it there?" she asked. The blonde nodded, cleverly hiding her surprise.
"Yes, a lot. My only fear is that you won't let me to live there, mistress" Keiko stood up and went to the window. The elder woman started to the world that was only visible to her now. The black-haired woman finally asked, not even looking to Yukiko:
"You know, I didn't believe in anything Midori said about you. Yoh and you are grown up people and I can't have any affection on your relationship. So, let us leave this matter aside. I think it is not as important as other thing I'd like to ask you" Keiko turned around and her eyes rammed into Yukiko's. The blonde held back her look, but didn't quite understand it. However, she didn't have to wait for explanation long.
"Tell me your real name" she almost demanded. Yukiko felt out of words: it was the last thing she expected. Ok, maybe she did tell her name to Yoh, but it was another circumstances. But still, the curiosity caught Yukiko and she said:
"Anna Kyouyama, mistress" Keiko nodded slightly.
"And you have no idea of who your parents were?" Yukiko shook her head. The blonde didn't know why Keiko of all sudden became so interested in her past. But a glimpse of hope appeared in Anna's mind: a hope to know who she really was.
"I see" Keiko turned around again and now talked not looking to the blonde "I may know who your parents were, Anna. I am not sure, not at all, but just maybe I am right" Yukiko gasped, shocked with the news.
"Can you tell me at least who it might be?" she asked.
"Not now, Anna. To tell the truth, I took you under my supervision, because I recognized you, but I need to be completely sure to tell you everything and for now" Keiko sat back into her chair and looked up at Anna "you may begin your moving to your new home. I'm sure you have lots of things to do before leaving" and Yukiko left, bowing automatically and walking to her room. When she closed the door behind her, the blonde's knees bent and she collapsed to the ground. Like this, Anna sat for long time, until like through dew she lifted herself and began to pack. Only after she done packing and gave her luggage to the carriage driver, she realized she had to do one thing, the one she needed to do long time ago. Anna ordered for driver to wait and ran all her way to the old archives on the other side of the mansion. It never occurred to the blonde and everything might be here. As she drew out a drawer and peered through the names, she stopped at letter K where the line said: Kyouyama. But to Anna's misfortune, the blank was empty, only one small picture was there, clearly forgotten by a person who took the documents. The blonde lifted it and her eyes met with the woman, whose blonde hair went all down her wait, which was covered with red kimono. What shocked Anna the most was the woman's face, which was almost identical to her own. Tears filled Anna's eyes. Could this be her mother? Could this really be her…after all these years? Anna wiped tears, which already pearled down her face and putting the blank back to the drawer, she rushed from the archives. The picture lingered pressed by her heart.
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After that incident, Keiko didn't mention a word to Anna. But it was enough for the blonde to know that there was someone who she could trust with this entirely. It was a calming thought…a thought of hope.
A bird slipped through the branches of firs, catching Anna's attention. The blonde was sitting in her onsen's terrace and reading the weekly report about royal geisha house and its work. The news satisfied Anna's cause it was going all well even without her being around so often. Anna listened how the small creature's wings quickly pierces the air and fades away in a distance. It brought her into a smile. It was so nice to have a place of her own that Anna nearly forgot all her worries, except maybe one…Hao. All this time, since she lived in this heavenly place, the blonde thought how wonderful it would be to share the space with him. To share happiness with him. To share love. Yes, it was love that Anna felt for him: so deep, so passionate, so true and clear, so unbreakable and so free. As well as so impossible. Anna knew perfectly well and Hao and Jeanne's wedding is dated after month and no one was to stop it…and Anna didn't even thought about trying. This was it now. She will just forget all her passions and, if it would be too hard to say goodbye, cherish those moments they spent together in careless way…the way she wanted to be all her life.
The blonde shook her head to get rid of depressive thoughts and stood up from the square wooden table. It was a nice spring day, although some clouds were rolling over the sky. But despite that, Anna decided to visit her old teacher…Aya.
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Hao was standing in front of his mother, who eyed him with her piercing and judging look…the one Hao wished the last to see when he was called here, to her working room.
"You seem concerned, mother" Hao started. Keiko only answered with unchanged look.
"Strangely, I could say the same thing about you' she said almost coldly. Keiko, although, loved her son, but Hao was the type of person who she knew didn't like being treated like a child, not he was interested in flattery. And to make it even, Keiko don't remember herself folding everything she said t Hao in sugary outfit.
"Well, I started the first, so don't turn the subject" Hao's voice too sounded demanding and cold: somehow, he and mother didn't seem to know how to be warm to each other.
"I'm worried about Yukiko" she said sincerely "but the reason is to be hidden for everyone…at least for the time being" by the name of Yukiko, Hao's heart skipped few beats, his lungs became airless. However, he managed to keep it from his mother's eyes, but still short flames in them showed to him the failure of this attempt: Keiko had too keen eye.
"Is there something really dangerous to her that worries you?" Hao asked as calm as he could.
"Dangerous? I don't think so. More like shocking. But as I said, I want it to be secret" Keiko stood up and went around the table. She leaned onto it in front of Hao and crossed arms on chest.
"Now it's your turn" she said shortly. Hao hesitated for a while.
"It's nothing important" he finally said, making Keiko roll her eyes and sigh heavily.
"If there's something I really know that would be the time when you're troubled" she said in bored tone "so, what's the problem. Is it something about Jeanne?" Hao shook his head.
"No, not about her" his voice now sounded somewhat angry "and as I told you, this isn't important" Hao turned around and walked to the door, but before closing them behind him, he said "I will deal with it myself. Good day to you, mother" and he slammed it. Keiko sighed and looked to the floor. She knew the problem and that problem had a name – Anna Kyouyama. To Keiko Asakura, Hao was so obviously in love with her that the woman almost felt sorry for her son struggling so painfully over this, but deal's a deal. No turning back now…
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Anna and Aya were sitting in front of each other by a square table at Aya's place. They weren't talking much, until Aya touched the spot where Anna had this weakness.
"You are in love, aren't you?" she said suddenly. Anna's hand trembled a bit as she placed a cup of tea onto the table with more sound than she expected.
"What makes you think so?" the blonde asked, not looking to her teacher's eyes.
"Because that is obvious" Aya smirked "so, who is it?" to Anna, Aya didn't seem to be mad, more like opposite of it. Strange, cause all Anna ever heard from Aya was that she is not allowed to love. However, when the question was stated like this, right in front of her, Anna felt lost: she didn't know the answer, or rather words to describe the feeling.
"I don't know" she said "I don't know what I feel. The only thing I know is that I don't want to feel it, but I just can't help it. The only hope is now that through time it will pass" Aya just smiled to her weakly.
"I'm afraid it won't" she said "remember what I told you almost a year ago, when we were going to the ball? I told you that I was in love as well. And guess what? I'm still in love with the very same person. It's only that this love is further away from me and it is hidden very well. You, however, don't have skill to hide it so well" Anna looked to her teacup for a second, eyes piercing the nothingness.
"So, it all goes to one final word: time" she said finally and stood up, looking down to Aya "if what I have to do is to wait, then I will. It's what I do best in my life: waiting" Anna said it not without sorrow and despair in her voice. Aya sensed it ad for one tiny second wanted to hug Anna and comfort her, but then again, Anna maybe wouldn't have wanted that.
"I think it's the best option, especially if he's unreachable" Anna thought for a while. No, Hao wasn't unreachable. Anna could've only go to him and talk to him and come up with the plan to run away…but no. Hao had his family, his duties, his responsibilities and Anna had none. That was the main thing in love: you cannot think about yourself only.
"I don't think that's in my hands, one-san" Anna said silently "it all is unknown" the blonde turned around and bowed "I have to go now. Be so kind and visit my new home someday" Aya stood up and placed her hands on Anna's shoulders.
"I will, Anna" she said. It was strange to Anna to hear her name sound like that, but now more and more people knew about it…guess she just has to get used to it "be strong, my dear. Love is killing" and with these words Anna left Aya's home.
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Back at her own home, Anna found it not empty as she expected. Ren Tao was sitting on a pillow, leaned against the wall. As Anna entered, he lifted his head and looked at her with his usual cold gaze.
"I don't recall giving you the keys, Tao" Anna said harshly. The man stood up and walked to her.
"You better don't ask how I got in here" Tao stopped in few inches distance from Anna and before she could say something, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled to him, swinging in with a kiss. This was the last thing Anna expected. She froze in his arms – the blonde wasn't used of feeling his tightly dressed body so close to hers, but still…she could find this very likely to happen. Anna answered the kiss. At first slowly, but it got deeper and more passionate. The blonde was even surprised how well Ren could kiss, not to mention how passionately and pleasurably. They broke off after few minutes, their foreheads left rammed into each other.
"I've missed you" Ren said coldly, but silently. This made his words feel softed.
"I can tell" Anna smirked. Only now she found that there was something missing too: evenings with Ren. They seemed so far away, like some almost forgotten memory of the past. However, Ren was right here, right now, so Anna felt full again….at least for the moment. Just like Yoh, Ren had this ability to make Anna not feel lonely, but it would be only for short times like these, but not entirely. The only person who could do that was Hao.
"You got yourself a nice place here" Ren said looking around. He didn't release Anna from his arms though.
"You can come here under one condition" Anna said dangerously.
"And that would be?"
"Don't barge into the house, but at least learn to knock. Deal?" she asked.
"Deal"
"Got yourself a good part, Ren?" a low smirking voice flew through the air and made the couple turn around. To Anna's greatest horror and worse nightmare, Hao was standing there, dressed in black and white gyoto hakama and wore a belt, white which a katana was dangerously tied up. His eyes were lowered and his lips smirking...also dangerously. Anna didn't like this expression of face. She, however, started the unpleasant talk.
„What do you want?" Hao only scooffed.
„Can't I come and visit you sometimes, Yukiko?"
„Not without my permission" the blonde said harshly, feeling how Ren's arms tightened around her waist.
"In other words" he said angrily "get out!"
"As if you can order something to me, Tao" Hao said, ramming his gaze into Ren's yellow eyes "I do hope you remember the thing I said to you almost year ago" Ren smirked, releasing Anna and turning to face Hao.
"I don't think that matter anything right now" he said in laughing voice "you have just lost" suddenly Hao's blade left its bin and turned right to Ren's throat.
"I though we had a deal then" Hao said, still smiling dangerously "you didn't keep it"
"That wasn't a deal, Asakura" disagreed Ren, not a glimpse of fear slipping from his voice "that was only your unsuccessful attempt to order me" Hao's eyes suddenly were filled with anger. He was about to strike to Tao.
"No!" said Anna loud, but shortly. This one single word made Hao's blade stop in the mid-air. The blonde walked in front of Ren and stopped there, profile facing them both. She didn't look into the eyes of neither, but instead she said:
"I will not have you doing foolishness in my home, Asakura" she said coldly "and if I am only a deal for you, then you're free to get out"
"Yukiko, no, that…"
"Enough!" she silenced him "don't talk to me, Asakura. Just go" only now she turned her emotionless eyes to Hao's soft chocolate abysses. For a moment, Anna could swear she saw slight tears in those eyes…the ones she really loved…but her pride talked for her and now, the odds were to Ren's favor.
"Do you need repeating?" she asked coldly. Hao didn't say anything. He just returned his katana back into bin and turned around. But before he left, he said:
"Just like before, this isn't over, Tao" Ren's eyes burned with yellow flames of anger, but he answered:
"My pleasure, Asakura, my pleasure"
"The pleasure will be mine" Hao said and gone behind the door.
Anna sighed heavily, feeling relief. She didn't want these two to fight each other, especially in her house and over her. This was outrageous. But now her attention turned into Ren, who was about to get into trouble too.
"Care to explain anything?" Anna demanded. Ren looked to her for a few seconds and said:
"If this is about you being a deal then don't mind it. It's nothing like that" Ren paused and talked on "almost a year ago, Hao threaten me not to get closer to you. But, as you see, he failed at this" a smirk slowly grew on Ren's lips "understand his rage; he's not used to defeating" Anna slapped him. Hard.
"I'm still only a deal for you!" she shot "maybe now that you won you'll leave without asking?"
"Yukiko, I didn't want to win or anything" Ren tried to explain, rubbing his crimson cheek "just because Asakura got things wrong it's not my fault"
"Oh, but it is" Anna said, stepping backwards and crossing arms on her chest "you were a part of this and you can't convince me otherwise" she showed to the door "now leave. I want to be alone" her eyes stayed closed, finger pointing to the door. Ren only sighed silently and walked away, leaving the blonde alone.
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In the middle of the night, Hao's patience ended and he sat up in bed. He couldn't sleep, not in this state. The sight of Yukiko in Ren's arms never left his eyes, giving as little peace as possible. Hao sighed: no, this isn't right. Yukiko can't just forget everything that has been between them, can she? But she did stop him killing Tao, and then maybe she really forgot? No, the look in her eyes as she turned to him was saying differently. She still cared. But then why she protected Ren? And showed him out? For a moment there, Hao even thought that she actually hates him. Sure she could, since his marriage didn't do things well between the two. Hao sighed again and turned to face a white beauty sleeping next to him. Her hair and skin, illuminated by a full moon, shone beautifully. Hao smiled slightly and stroke his hand through her white locks carefully, so he wouldn't wake her up. And why the hell he just couldn't love her? She was extraordinary! But Yukiko was lots better. Lots and lots.
The man climbed out of the bed and walked to the opened window, through which the light of the full moon poured. Hao inhaled fresh and yet warm air of mid-spring and a solution came to him: he had to get the answer. Now. He had to know what Yukiko thinks and feels. He had to know if it isn't lost. He had to know if she loves him the way he loves her. He had to find out.
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Hao silently jumped onto his favorite black steed Katsu, not even bothering to put on saddle. He was sure no one followed him, so he flied across the town, the fir forest and into the field. It was so brightly illuminated by a full moon that Hao almost felt like in daytime. He pierced the night air, closing to the small Japanese house, which was now dark. But Hao knew Yukiko wasn't sleeping. She was a creature of the night just like him, and loved starry sky.
Hao was right about her: there she was, peacefully sitting in terrace, eyes lifted to the full moon. The man stopped the horse and looked to the angel, which was sitting there. His eyes traveled her perfect body, only covered with white short robes, reflecting the moon, so the woman looked like surrounded a light of an aura. Her golden hair hung down her shoulders, released freely. Her skin looked pale, but it suited her even more. Hao sighed with trembling breath, seeing his only goddess so close and yet so far away. But there was problem: a small bridge over a river. Horse's shoes would make a lot of noise, but Hao, with all the help from the gods, might pass it unnoticed. He didn't want to scare her away. The man jumped from the steed and quickly and silently like a fox crossed the bridge: Yukiko didn't even move. Happy about his success, Hao slowly moved behind the wall and to the small stairs to the terrace. He climbed them and looked from behind the wall…and nearly fainted. Yukiko was sitting leaned on hands; her long and perfectly shaped legs stretched out and slightly bent over knees. Her white robes were so short and it showed more leg then Hao could handle it…he so wanted her. But not now. He needed to control himself. Ok, here goes nothing…
"Nice night isn't it?" he asked suddenly. Anna, surprisingly, didn't react much: she just lowered her head and closed her eyes.
"What do you want?" she asked coldly. Hao stepped out of the shadows and sat by her side. Again Anna didn't react.
"To talk" Hao answered shortly, with all his strength trying to resist to the intoxicating smell of wild flowers, jasmine and honey.
"I don't thing we have something to talk about" the blonde answered, her voice out of emotions.
"Oh, I think we do" said Hao, turning his sight to her: now he really was out of breath. But he still managed to keep his cool and not loose his senses "I want to know the truth, Yukiko" he said. The blonde looked into his eyes, taking the last bit of Hao's breath away. Anna seemed to be cool and collected, but inside she was feeling just about the same way as Hao: boiling with passion and longing. Her eyes traveled down, quickly explored his half naked body, only covered by black large pants. His muscular body almost made Anna go crazy and loose her temper.
"What truth, Hao?"
"About Ren" he said "if you don't want to start, then I'll say I almost exploded with jealousy when I saw you in his arm. That was like a living nightmare to me. I barely controlled myself"
"Figured" stated Anna, again turned her look to the floor "now you can at least imagine how I felt when your and Jeanne's wedding were announced in front of all people" the blonde sighed, the breath making ripples on her white robe, which almost killed Hao "this is the truth"
"But what about him?" Hao still asked. He wasn't going anywhere without answer to this.
"Ren? Nothing. I don't know" Anna searched for explanation in her head, but wasn't quite satisfied with the one she found "maybe I just felt lonely. Besides, I didn't expect you to come after all this time. As a matter of fact, I didn't expect you to come at all" Lie. Thought Anna. Not only I expected you to come, but I wanted you to come. And now that you're here, I'm dying from lust to you. Why did you come here anyway?
"So, nothing serious?" Hao tried to reassure himself.
"Even if it was, you'd be the last person to know it" Anna said harshly, lifting eyes to the sky…a gasp left her lips. Hao looked up as well and his mouth slightly fell open from amazement: a meteor shower, so gentle and slow was all over the sky, filling it with slowly coming and dying stars.
"Wonderful" Anna whispered. Hao looked back to her and allowed himself to obviously stare to her perfect body. Slowly, he bent to her ear and whispered softly:
"I was wondering what is there, in your heart, Yukiko" he said "and I think I know" the blonde turned to him and looked suspiciously to his eyes.
"What?"
"Love, Yukiko, love" he said. The blonde shock her head.
"Anna" she said "my name is Anna Kyouyama" Hao looked to her for a while, absorbing this new and unexpected information. Did she really do it?
"Anna…how beautiful" he whispered "softly stroking her cheek with his palm "I love you, Anna" he said softly. The blonde didn't dare to say it. She was not used to it, but Hao didn't request for it to be audible: he saw it all to well in her eyes. The man kissed Anna softly, bit by bit breaking into lustrous passion, which bloomed in the light of the moon and falling stars, as Hao laid the blonde onto warm wooden terrace floor and kissed all her already naked body… Anna wanted this all too much. She needed him like air and here he was, closer then ever…inside of her…guess she loved him after all…