A/N: oh oh, sorry guys for abandoning you like this, but I was having these stupid exams, which ate all my time and I couldn't help it, but stop writing. I'm SO sorry! Anyway, now I'm on holiday, so I'll come up with something with my story ;) promise ;)
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Grey morning dew hallowed above the endless fields. It was still two hours before sunrise, but Hao Asakura already opened his eyes and instantly, his lips curled into smile: she was still here. Anna slept tight in his embrace, her naked body of fair skin pressing softly onto his. That was the most beautiful sight Hao had ever seen in his life. The brown haired man carefully stood up and walked inside, taking one warm blanket and covering the blonde with it and slipping under it as well. Hao now lied there, face to face with her. If only she'd been born under different circumstances…then we'd be able to be like this for ever… Hao's thoughts were only dreams, however. But he didn't bother to think about it now. How can you, when the entire world is left behind and cannot interrupt…when all the people are forgotten and can't destroy this moment…when the morning dew deliberately fell on them, hiding the couple from everything.
But the moment of Hao, staring at is angel ended as soon as Anna started to move in his arms and slowly, lazily opened her onyx eyes.
"Morning" Hao whispered softly. The blonde smiled slightly back.
"Morning. Why so early?" Anna intuitively put her arm around Hao's shoulder, pressing herself to him even more. He took it all too well.
"Maybe because I wanted to stare at you without slapping?" Hao smirked to her. For this he earned a kick into shank.
"Then stop it" Anna said, not opening her eyes "and besides, shouldn't you be going?" Hao sighed.
"I don't want to" this made the blonde to reopen her eyes and look seriously at him: the magic of the moment was long gone.
"You have to" she almost ordered it "if not for yourself, then at least for me" she sat up, covering her body with blanket "you know what happens if you don't"
"Yes, yes, I know. Why can't you be my wife?" he said in rhetorical way, maybe just his thoughts slipped off his tongue…but it shaken Anna deeply.
"I can't…" she said, realizing her voice was trembling. Hao smiled understandingly and flicked few strands of golden hair behind her ear.
"You will be" he whispered. Anna pushed his hand away and drilled him with her sharp look.
"I hope you don't mean breaking your current marriage…well, to be, but still…" Hao put his finger on her lips.
"That's exactly what I mean" Anna's eyes popped out. Oh no, he can't be serious.
"You're crazy" she snapped.
"For you? Sure I am" Hao smirked to the blonde. She, on the other hand, quickly stood up, pulling the blanket after her and leaving Hao naked. He instantly jumped up.
"What are you…" Anna threw him his pants.
"Put some clothes on, will you" she said harshly. Hao found it quite logical and slid into his black large pants.
"Ok, what's that suppose to mean?"
"That you're leaving?" Anna said, putting on her red dressing gown. She turned around and crossed arms on her chest "I told you didn't I? It's too dangerous and too foolish thing to do"
"But you want to, don't you?" Hao walked closer to her, but Anna turned her head away.
"So what if I do. My wishes mean nothing for all my life. And besides" her serious look shaken Hao like thunder "your life here is at stake. It's better to see you alive from distance that to not see you at all" Hao took her face to his hands and turned to see her eyes.
"You really mean it, don't you?" he asked silently.
"Yes, I do. Is this answer's good enough for you?" Hao closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.
"Better than any music in this world" he rammed his forehead into hers "did I tell you that I love you?" Anna's lips curled into smirk.
"Don't know. Refresh my memory" Hao kissed her softly "I love you"
"Love you too" she kissed him back…
The sun was already dying the eastern horizon with red color as Hao jumped on his black steed and gave last kiss to Anna.
"Just be careful" she warned him "we're playing dangerous game here"
"Tell me about it" Hao sighed "wait, Anna, wait" and by urging his horse, Hao galloped through the field back to the mansion.
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As Hao reached the stables, he was greeted by greatly surprised horseman. But Asakura slipped through with explanation about earlier in the morning taken horse to take a ride. He now only hoped that this alibi will be alright with Jeanne.
Hao entered his bedroom and found his fiancé standing by the window, all dressed in white night-gown and looking into gorgeous sunrise.
"Where were you?" she asked silently, turning around and looking to him "you made me worry" Hao smiled gently to her and slowly walked closer.
"I've just taken a ride earlier in the morning" he said. Jeanne hugged Hao tightly and whispered to his ear:
"Next time, please let me know"
"I sure will" Hao promised. A soft ripple of wind came from the outside and touched Jeanne's long white hair. The woman inhaled deeply, wanting to feel the fresh air of morning, but instead…a warm scent of jasmine, mixed with roses and honey hit her nose…Jeanne's eyes sparkled in anger. She knew who left it…
"I will take a shower now" Hao said and by kissing Jeanne on forehead, he walked out of the room. The white-haired woman stood in one place, frozen by a sudden surprise and annoyance. Yukiko. This name echoed in Jeanne's mind for some time, until she decided to do something she thought of doing for a long time…Jeanne's going to pay Yukiko a visit…finally.
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Ren Tao was sitting in his mansion's garden by a breakfast table, thinking to himself until a voice woke him up from trance.
"It's so unusual to see you thinking so deeply, brother" June said, sitting in front of him "what's bothering you?" she asked, pouring herself some tea. Ren only eyed her with piercing look.
"As if you can help me with anything" June only smirked, removing some strand of green hair from her face.
"Don't forget that I am older, more experienced and shrewder than you"
"Fox" muttered Ren under his breath, but not silent enough for June to not hear it.
"Exactly" she lifted a cup to her lips and took a small sip "and don't tell me those ridiculous stories about being worried about your reputation. You stopped caring about it years ago" June said it in bored tone. Ren only shrugged, but still answered:
"I may need your help, sister" he said after moments of silence "and in obvious, but disguised way" June giggled happily.
"That's what I'm best at" she smiled "what we are talking about?"
"Who, June, who" Ren corrected her "and her name is Yukiko. I want to know everything about her. If you need to, check on archives, dig out her real name, I don't care" Ren watched a gentle butterfly, carefully landing on the orchid's blossom. When in finally reached its goal, Ren continued:
"I want to know everything about her. And I mean it" June raised an eyebrow when she bit the rise scone.
"Why such an interest, Ren? Care about her so much?" the blue-haired man didn't answer at first, only touched his kwan-dao, placed by his side.
"Personal and old matter. And it needs to be finished".
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Yukiko had only finished her dinner as she heard hooves closing to her house. An alarm of danger rang in her mind. Hao wouldn't be so stupid to come back here so soon…and no one could possibly visit her…maybe Yoh, but he'd announce it, or…or make a surprise…but no. This time, Yukiko felt that it wasn't good. The blonde looked through the living room's window and her worst fears came true: she saw Jeanne, ridding on chestnut horse towards her place. Not good. Yukiko sighed deeply, calming herself down. The blonde knew that this moment would come one day…what she didn't know was that it would come so soon. Yukiko heard soft knock on the door and by fixing her golden hair, she went to open it.
Behind the door, Jeanne stood, dressed in baby blue kimono and left her white hair loose.
"Jeanne-san" Yukiko started.
"Yukiko-san" said Jeanne coldly "I assume my visit wasn't so unexpected" Yukiko smiled, a little glimpse of gloat in it.
"No, it wasn't at all unexpected. Please, do come in" Yukiko let her through and closed the door. Jeanne turned around and rammed her red eyes into Yukiko's.
"I'll go straight to the point, Yukiko-san" she spat out harshly "Was or wasn't Hao here yesterday night?" Yukiko thought for a while: lying wasn't necessary, since Jeanne wouldn't have come here.
"What if he was?" Yukiko asked provocatively "it's not my fault you can't control him" Jeanne swallowed the insult and answered, but her voice was trembling a little…but not from pain…anger.
"What do you mean by that?" Yukiko only scoffed.
"What I mean" the blonde showed to the door "now that you know the truth, you may go"
"I'm not going anywhere, until you get one thing" Jeanne snapped at her, but before she could continue, Yukiko talked:
"Get what? That Asakura Hao belongs to you? Please" the blonde scoffed "don't tell me something that is absolutely obvious" Yukiko walked closer to Jeanne "if you want me to retreat, then I will. That was the choice I made long ago" for a while, both women stood in silence, looking to each other's eyes. Finally, Jeanne said:
"You're sincere, Yukiko-san. I can trust you in this I think" and by passing Yukiko, the white-haired woman walked out. The blonde looked to the place where she was gone for a while and nodded to herself. She will take good care of him. Good. But it's painful…
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Next day after Jeanne's visit, a postman brought invitation to Anna, to attend wedding of Hao Asakura and Jeanne Otoku. Not that Anna wasn't expecting this, but still, it hit her harder than she wanted: the blonde burst into tears. But nothing hit her harder than what Keiko said and showed to her the next evening.
Anna entered Keiko's work room at the exact time she was requested. The blonde found Keiko sitting behind her desk, illuminated by red rays of setting sun. The dark wooden desk was covered by a map of what seemed was of the island of Hokkaido. Anna bowed to Keiko.
"You sent for me?"
"Yes I did" the elder woman nodded, folding her fingers in front of face "I have news for you, Anna" the blonde slightly gasped.
"About my family?"
"Yes, Anna. About your family" Keiko sighed heavily, leaning against high backrest of wooden chair "I found out almost everything, Anna, and now I'd like to share it with you. Please, sit" the black-haired woman showed to the small wooden chair in front of her. Anna sat down, feeling how her heart beats fast, almost jumping out of throat. Since Anna didn't start with questions, Keiko spoke:
"Firstly, I'll start with the fact that you're not peasant or servant" she spoke silently, but clearly "you are as royal as I am. Your blood comes from long dynasty, which, unfortunately, had been forgotten during time. That's why your name wasn't so…how can I put it…outstanding" Keiko smiled slightly "you seem impressed" she noted. Anna only nodded and spoke with voice, stronger than she felt inside:
"You mean that I…have something like home, wealth, family pictures and so on?"
"Oh yes, exactly" Keiko nodded "but more of that later. Be patient, Anna. Before telling you your present, you must know your past, agree?" Anna nodded and with it, Keiko continued.
"As I said, your family was royal, but in time, their name began to equal to darkness. The feminine side of the bloodline began to be held as dark sorceresses for their ability to connect with other world. Personally, I don't know how true it is, but my guess is that the rumors weren't without a reason. I found many books and scrolls, written by your ancestors about the ways of communicating with other world, spirits, shamans, dark forces and so on. I was greatly surprised about the amount of this, so my guess the rumors were true. Your ancestors came from Hokkaido island's region called Osorezan. I do believe you know that this region is known as strangest and the most secretive from all. Not many would agree to go there. About twenty three years ago, when I was about your age, there was a great hunt announced: a hunting of darkness"
"That was the year when I was born" Anna whispered in trembling voice "that's how…" the blonde couldn't finish: the truth appeared to be harder to handle than it looked from first.
"How your parents died, yes" Keiko said still in serious tone "I assume they decided to take you away from home before the catastrophe happened, to keep you alive and as safe as possible. Well, their wish was granted" Keiko silenced for a while. She gave Anna moments of break, letting her absorb the information. And since the blonde still didn't asked anything, the elder woman continued:
"You wanted to know about your present. So listen carefully: your parents left you a mansion at the mountains of Osorezan and impressive family savings. Not to mention servants, who had been taking care of the house for all twenty three years, waiting for its inheritor…you" Keiko showed on the map at the very far end of Hokkaido "here is the place where your mansion in, in these mountains. I sent messengers to it, to announce that the inheritor has been found. The servants must know something more, especially the one called Honoka. This old woman is known as the most trustworthy person of your parents. Now it's only up to you to choose whether to go or not" Keiko looked into Anna's black eyes, now encrusted with haze. The blonde managed only to say:
"I need…time" her voice was trembling just as her body. Keiko nodded and showed her to leave. Before Anna closed the door, she whispered "thank you" and hoped that Keiko heard it.
On her way out of the mansion, Anna heard her voice being called, but the voice came out like from distant tunnel. The blonde stopped on her way and waited, a light trance still lingering on her mind.
"Anna, I didn't expect…what's wrong?" Yoh asked in the middle of his greeting, seeing two tears, pearling down Anna's cheeks: the woman didn't even notice it to happen. Seconds later, Anna couldn't pretend to be strong anymore: she hugged Yoh, letting herself to cry out at least once in her entire life. Yoh, on the other hand, felt lost and clueless, but he decided to wait until Anna calms down and instead of asking stupid questions, he just hugged her tightly back.
"Come on, let's go somewhere else" Yoh said softly and led Anna to his room. He showed Anna to sit on the bed and Yoh joined her.
"What happened, Anna?" Yoh asked "is it about Ren or…" he stopped, because Anna just shook her head.
"No, it's nothing like that" she said silently, her voice weak, but at least not trembling "it's…about me…my past…my parents" few tears again stained her red kimono "Yoh, I've just found out what happened to them" and she told him everything that she heard from Keiko, tears keep pearling down her cheeks.
"So, what are you planning to do?" Yoh asked, feeling shocked himself. Anna only shrugged shoulders.
"Don't know. I'll go to Osorezan, I think. After all, what could there be a better way to know more about my past than there?" Yoh almost intuitively brushed some tears from her cheek.
"It's far away. But you are right – you have to go. And as soon as possible" Yoh smiled sheepishly to her, making Anna feel slightly better "want me to come with you?" the blonde almost let out a laugh.
"You're so kind, Yoh. I can't thank you enough for your friendship and support" she said sincerely "but I need to go alone. Besides, your brother's going to need you more than me" these words hit Anna hard: the wedding was only month away and it pierced her heart like dagger. Luckily, Yoh didn't notice anything…or at least Anna hoped so.
"Yes, I guess you are right. But let me know when you're leaving. And keep writing, ok?"
"Ok" Anna tired to smile, but from Yoh's eyes she saw that it wasn't successful.
"Something else bothers you?" he asked carefully. Anna's face froze. A sudden cold reached her insides and slowed her heartbeat: she became as frosty as she was before.
"Yes, Yoh, you are right. But it will stay out of your nose" the brown-haired man smiled sheepishly again, letting Anna know that he doesn't mind it at all.
"As you wish"
"Thank you, Yoh" Anna smiled, this time with real smile…but not inside…