How's Takeshi gonna fix this one? Read on!
Disclaimer: I don't own SK and also (I forget to mention in the last two chapters) DBZ, YYH and Yu-Gi-Oh!. There. I'm not gonna repeat that again.
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He didn't know how to respond to such a statement. Takeshi felt his heart sink. "…what?"
"You heard me!" Anna cried, locking gazes with Takeshi. Her eyes were on fire. "This is not you anymore—this is a different Takeshi I'm looking at!"
"Whoa, whoa, Anna," Takeshi said in a hurried tone, clasping both his hands around Anna's wrists. He gently pulled them down. "Don't you think you're overreacting quite a bit?"
A second later, Takeshi realized such a question wasn't quite the right thing to say as of the moment. Takeshi didn't know what was worse: Anna crying so hard or Anna getting even angrier every second that passed.
"Overreacting?! Takeshi, I—"
"Hey, hey, look!" Takeshi said desperately, raising his voice. "You shouldn't get so worked up about this!" He took both Anna's slender hands and pressed them against his chest. Anna's crying dampened a bit, her ears unconsciously going red. "Look, it's still me! I'm still the same person! I just don't have the same powers—the same cool powers you thought I had!"
"Takeshi, you don't understand—"
"No, Anna, I understand perfectly! You're just not used to me not having—"
"Takeshi, it hurts me to see this new you!"
Takeshi stopped. She's…hurt? He gaped at her, bewildered. Am I missing something here?
Noticing her chance to finally speak up without being interrupted, Anna continued, "You're not the same guy I've known…the same guy I've respected…and the same guy I loved."
It was the second time that word was uttered. And now, Takeshi heard it, plain and clear. He suddenly felt his heartbeat skip a beat, then speed up. "You…what?"
"What?!" Anna retorted back, angry tears flowing down her cheeks.
"You said…you said…" Takeshi couldn't say the words. It felt like he was telling a lie. It even felt so heavy just trying to process what it meant. Takeshi swallowed. "Since when have you ever loved me?"
Anna rolled her eyes. "Oh please. Can the truth be more obvious? Since seven years ago."
Takeshi refused to believe her. He slowly shook his head. You can't be serious. "Not once you've told me you loved me. I've never even heard those words from you, from the moment I asked you to the prom, to the night I saved your life, to the actual prom day…until the day I left."
"Takeshi, don't be naïve," Anna shot back. "Just because I never said it even once, doesn't mean I've never felt something for you."
Still, Takeshi denied the "truth."
"You're lying," was all he said.
Those two words felt like a stab to Anna's chest and it hurt. Why wouldn't he believe me? Seven years ago, he was so intent on making me fall for him, but why is he refusing me now?
Anna's sobs exemplified and she cried even harder. Takeshi felt horrible. What now?
"Anna."
The itako turned away, refusing to meet his gaze. "Get away from me."
Takeshi tried to sound more soothing, instead of desperate, which he was. He gently took Anna's arms and pulled her to him, slowly, but still keeping considerable distance.
"Anna."
No answer. Just sobbing. So this is how the ice queen's like when she's hurt…and crying. Better keep that in mind.
"Anna, please stop crying."
Still no response.
"Look—I don't like seeing you like this," Takeshi said truthfully. He took a deep breath, squeezing Anna's hand a little tighter. "Please stop."
He heard Anna's sobbing cease. Slowly…but surely. Takeshi smiled.
"Hey, let me make up for this," Takeshi said, shaking Anna gently. "I'll buy you a smoothie. How does that sound?"
Anna sniffed. She looked up at Takeshi. She still wasn't smiling. "What's a smoothie?"
Takeshi sweat-dropped. "You don't know what a smoothie is?" he exclaimed incredulously. "Where have you been living all this time—under a rock?"
Anna glared at him. "No, inside an inn."
"Doesn't Yoh drink smoothies?" Takeshi asked, with a cocked eyebrow. "That guy practically lives on anything—he should know."
"I don't know," Anna snapped at him coldly. "What's it you if I don't know what a smoothie is? You got a problem with that?"
Takeshi flashed a goofy smile. "No, it's just that…it's kind of weird." He stretched out his right arm and looked at his watch. "We still have time to stop by for some smoothies. Let's just make this quick. There's one nearby that sells good smoothies—I want you to have one. My treat."
Anna opened his mouth to protest, but Takeshi raised a palm, grinning broadly. "Trust me. It'll make you feel better. And you'll love it."
Defeated, Anna sighed, a little annoyed and said, "Fine."
Minutes later, they were inside a small café, drinking smoothies. Anna had calmed down and was quietly sipping her smoothie, while looking out the window wistfully.
Takeshi had a look of triumph on his face. He chuckled. "See, told you it's good stuff."
Anna didn't look at him. "I suppose," she said nonchalantly.
Takeshi raised a brow in wonder. Looks like something's bugging her. Wonder what that is.
Anna was, of course, thinking about what she had just told Takeshi minutes ago. She couldn't believe she had just said that she…loved him. But that was seven years ago. Things should've changed.
"Anna?"
"Hmm?"
"There's something I want to ask you."
Like Anna, there was also something bugging Takeshi. Something Anna said that he couldn't understand and comprehend very well.
"What is it?"
"It's about…what we talked about a while ago."
Anna suddenly felt a lump form in her throat. She slowly…anxiously…looked back at Takeshi, reluctantly looking into his eyes.
"I still don't get why you're so…worked up about me not being so special anymore." Takeshi gave Anna a friendly smile. "I mean…I haven't changed much. I'm still the same guy, just no special powers."
"I told you," Anna said, trying not to go hysterical all over again. "You're not the same guy I've grown to love."
Love. There it was again. Takeshi swallowed before saying with a hearty chuckle, "You've grown to love…as a brother?"
"No, Takeshi, it's not that—"
"As a teacher?"
"No—"
"As a friend?" Takeshi said hopefully.
"No, no," Anna said loudly. "It's not any of that. It's more than any of that."
Takeshi knew what she meant, but still he refused to accept it. He looked away. "No…you don't."
"I don't what?" Anna asked, confused.
"You don't love me," Takeshi said flatly. "Don't say things you don't really feel."
"I'm telling the truth!" Anna said indignantly. "I do love you! Since seven years ago!"
Takeshi fell silent. He cleared his throat and said quietly, "Well…you can't love me."
Anna glowered at him. "Wha—you can't tell me what I can't and can do!"
"Yes, I can." Takeshi looked back at Anna with intensity in his eyes. "Anna, you said it yourself. Things have changed. And it's not only my powers. Your life is different now, too."
Anna fell silent. Yoh… Hana… She knew what Takeshi was driving at.
"You have a family," Takeshi continued. "You have a husband who's so devoted to you, who loves you to death…to whom you've pledged to remain loyal to. You've borne a son who needs you both for him to be able to live his life properly."
"I know that," Anna said quietly.
"Yes, that's why you can never love me," Takeshi said soberly. "I don't want anything to destroy a happy family. I want you to be happy."
"Loving you can't destroy our family," Anna argued back.
Takeshi shot her a piercing stare. "Yes, it can. You ever heard of infidelity?"
Anna felt her heart grow heavy. "I—"
"You have, right?" Without waiting for an answer, Takeshi continued. "Tell me and tell it to me honestly—do you love Yoh Asakura?"
Without thinking twice, Anna said almost angrily, "What kind of question is that? Of course I do! He's my husband!"
"But you say you love me, too," Takeshi said coldly. "You can't love two guys at the same time. You can't fall for two of them at the same time. It's unethical."
Anna fell silent again. She looked to be deliberating on what to say.
"Promise me, Anna." Takeshi looked deep into her eyes. "Promise me you'll stay true to your family…to Yoh."
There was a long silence. Finally, she said, "You say my feelings are unethical. What about you losing your powers?"
Takeshi glared at Anna. Anna, surprisingly, recoiled. "Don't try to change the topic, Anna. The absence of my powers has nothing to do with what we're talking about now."
But Anna wasn't about to back down. Not this ice queen. Never.
"It has everything to do with it!" she cried. "That's what we were talking about in the first place! You're the one steering this conversation the other way!"
Takeshi suddenly felt hurt creep into him. Something just didn't seem right…
"What does loving me got to do with me not having my old powers?" he said, sullen and a little hurt. "Are you saying that the reason you loved me is because of my powers?"
Anna felt a twinge of pain echoing in Takeshi's voice. She tried to make damage control.
"No, I didn't mean it like that…!"
"But that's what it all sounds like to me!" Takeshi's breathing grew swallow. "If you loved me for who I am, and not because I was physically powerful and can destroy planets, you wouldn't be acting this way when I told you I no longer had my powers. It would've been okay, since I'm still the same person, anyway!"
Anna grew quiet. He was right. What was wrong with her? Of course she treasured Takeshi because he's Takeshi, not because he was a mighty Saiyan.
"That's not true," Anna said quietly. "I'm not in it for your powers—that's a lie." She paused and stared down uncomfortably. "I'm sorry. You're right—I had been overreacting."
Takeshi blinked twice. That was…it? "You…you really mean that?"
Anna nodded. For the first time in so long, she smiled. Takeshi felt butterflies in his stomach, which didn't quite add up.
"Thank you," Takeshi sincerely said, wiping sweat from his brow. "It's good that we finally got this settled."
"But don't forget," Anna warned. "You still have to explain this to Yoh."
Takeshi sighed bitterly. "I know."
"You know he won't like it," Anna reminded him. "You know he looks up to you as a teacher…as a warrior. You being a Saiyan always meant the world to him. It'll break his heart if he finds out about what happened to you. He might even think you had been leading him on--fooling him--all this time."
"This is why I couldn't tell this to you while he was still there, listening," Takeshi said despondently. "This is why I couldn't tell him the truth. That I can't spar. That I'm no longer a match for his fighting abilities."
"What are you going do?" Anna said, asking the most obvious question.
"I don't know," Takeshi admitted. "He'll find out sooner or later anyway, but I want him to know through me." He paused. "I don't know how to do this…you'll help me, won't you, Anna?" He looked hopeful.
Anna stopped before nodding. "Yes…I will. But we have to plan this carefully."
Takeshi nodded. "Yoh asked me to spar with him. How can I tell him I can't?"
Anna flashed a cunning grin. "Don't worry; I'll take care of that. That won't be so hard to handle."
Takeshi smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Anna. You don't know how much that means to me." He looked at the clock above their heads. It had been fifteen minutes since they had finished their smoothies and began arguing.
"Uh-oh," Takeshi said. "We have to get our move on, Anna. Yoh might think I kidnapped you all this time and am holding you hostage. Don't want him to worry."
The moment they exited the front door, it began to rain. Hard.
Takeshi heard Anna curse silently under her breath. He immediately took off his jacket and wrapped it around the itako's head and shoulders.
Surprised, Anna stared at the man. "Takeshi…!"
"You're welcome." He winked. He put his arm around Anna's shoulders and guided her across the streets. "Now let's go. I don't want us to catch a cold. You've got classes tomorrow and so do I."
As they crossed the intersection to their right and entered a small alleyway, a sharp gunshot was heard. The cars cleverly masked the sound, but since Anna was just beside Takeshi, she heard it quite clearly.
Takeshi suddenly grew heavy. He was suddenly leaning against Anna's body for support.
"Oh, sh-shit…" he cursed under his breath.
Bewildered and a little concerned, Anna put her hand on Takeshi's back, trying to help him gain his balance, when she felt something wet on his shirt.
The moonlight shone down on them both and Anna saw what it was. She felt herself go pale.
It was blood.
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What, another annoying cliffhanger?
Sorry about that; I guess I kind of have a thing for cliffhangers. I think it makes a chapter more intriguing…and leaves readers wanting for more. So there you have it.
Obviously, duh, the history prof's been shot, so since Takeshi's not so special anymore and he can no longer bounce bullets off his skin, then getting shot means big trouble. Not to mention, it's pretty deadly.
On another note, I'm officially continuing this fic, by the way, since it's proving to be very good warm-up practice when I'm having writer's block with my unpublished novel. It kind of liberates my thoughts.
Anyway, that's all for now. Thanks for reading. Don't forget to review. ;)