Chapter 2: Regret

Hao silently teleported to a nearby cave, his spirit beside him all the while. He sadly looked at the flames emitting from a small shrine. It was getting smaller, and Hao could feel himself weakening.

Yes, those flames symbolize Hao's life. Once it gets extinguished, he will die.

Or course, this is a special fire than can never be extinguished by physical means, and only by spiritual means. He sadly looked at the fire. At this rate, he only had a week to live.

"Might as well make the best out of it." He said silently, and in a split-second, he was back in his room. Anna doesn't know about his life coming to an end, and he knew it would pain her if he told her, but it might hurt her more if he told him when it was too late.

"I'll tell her tomorrow."

The sun's soft rays poked in the glass windows of Yoh's room.

He stirred, opening his eyes.

"Tam?" Was all he can say, noticing the absence of the girl beside him. He grabbed his yukata, heading downstairs, still looking for the girl.

"Tam?"

His eyes fell on piece of neatly folded paper lying on the table. It said "Yoh".

Yoh picked it up and slowly unfolded it.

It said:

Yoh,

I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to…but please, I didn't mean to hurt you.

I knew from the start it was wrong…but I proceeded…by the time you read this letter I might already be in Aomori. Just promise me that you'll find another girl to love…Anna isn't the only one…please, it pains me to see you like that. I hope for all the best.

Tam

Yoh gave a sigh as he put down the note. "I can't believe what I just did…I hurt her…Tam…" He looked at his wrist, which was still wrapped in her handkerchief.

Anna rubbed her eyes, making her way to the dining room. Surprisingly, Hao was there, with some food items on the table.
"Morning, Anna." He greeted her happily, setting down his apron on the nearby chair.Anna gave a small smile as she sat down her chair.

"Honestly, what has gotten into you lately?"

"Nothing, it's just…well, just eat, Anna."

Anna did as she was told and picked up her bowl. Several minutes later, Hao sat and followed suit. The room was filled with silence until…

"Anna…."
"Hm?"
"Whatever you do, please take care of yourself, okay?" Hao tried to keep a steady face."What are you talking about, Hao?"
"Anna, please, just listen, okay?"
"I…" He started, trying to hold back his pain. "I…Anna…I'm dying."
Anna dropped what she was holding and stared at Hao, her eyes brimmed with tears.

She forced a smile as the tears ran down her cheeks.

"Hao…w-what kind of j-joke is this? Whatever it is…it-it's not funny."
"I wish I was joking." He said, looking away.

Anna ran from the room heading to the bathroom. Her tear-stained face half covered with her blonde hair. Hao ran and stopped her halfway, forcefully tugging on her arm and catching her in an embrace.

"Anna…I wish I could've told you sooner…but I've procrastinated….Anna…I'll make the most out of the few days remaining in my life…I love you, Anna." He said, burying his head in her hair.
"Ha…Hao…I feel the same for you…" She sobbed, wrapping her thin arms around him.

Yoh slowly made his way outside, walking towards the park.

Ever since Anna left him, he took long walks in the park, watching the serene world. The days when the gang used to go in this place together seemed like yesterday, even though 4 years had passed since then.

He felt a familiar presence behind him.
"What are you doing here?"
"I need your help."
Yoh let out a sarcastic laugh.
"Help? That's new." He said, not turning around.

"Yoh, Anna…"

"I don't give a damn about you or Anna. I've stopped caring half a year ago, what makes you think I'll care?" He said coldly, unleashing a cold, unfeeling side of him he never knew existed until now.

"Yoh, I need you to take care of Anna for me once I'm gone."
"Hmp. You can always return to life. Besides, haven't I made myself clear? I don't care."
"I understand." Hao said in defeat, bursting into flames.

"What are we doing here again?" Ren asked the azure-haired girl impatiently, scowling.
"Onii-chan got us an apartment here in Funbari, and I want to visit Yoh and Anna." She said, heading towards the En inn.
"Hm…I guess they're not here. It's locked."
"That's weird. They don't leave much when we were here." Ren said, looking at the gate.
"Hm…but maybe things have changed. It's been four years, after all." Pilica said thoughtfully. "How about we take a walk around the city for awhile?" She said, tugging on Ren's arm.

Anna led Hao outside the apartment, trying to forget the fact that he'll be gone soon, and walked towards the city.

Yoh walked around, not minding nor knowing where he was heading. He just walked.
He was so occupied with his thoughts that he subconsciously crossed the road, not noticing the trailer truck heading straight for him.

"YOH!"
Yoh turned around to see, but it was too late.

SCREEEECH! CRASH!

Screeching tires, screaming people, and the sound of a brunette landing in the middle of the street. Yoh couldn't believe what he just witnessed.

---Flashback---

"Yoh!"
Yoh turned around, and was pushed by a long haired brunette, which caused him to land on his side. He watched in horror as his savior was hit by the truck and landed on the pavement with a thud. The truck came to an abrupt halt and the driver ran off.

---End of Flashback---

His stomach lurched. He knew who it was.

"Hao, please…hold on…" Anna sobbed, holding his bloody hand. Hao gave her a small smile and wiped off the tears on her cheek.
"Don't cry, Anna…"

Anna took her cell phone with trembling hands and called an ambulance.

Yoh stared wide-eyed at his savior, who lay in the arms of a blonde girl he knew so well.

From his sides he could hear the whispering crowd.

"Oh, my, he was handsome…"

"You think he's alright?"

He slowly walked towards his brother, a tear running down his cheek unconsciously. Anna glared at him with her tear-stained face and bloodshot eyes.

"You…you caused all this! You…" She sobbed. Yoh couldn't believe what he was seeing. Anna was crying?

"Anna…i…it's…not…his…fault…." Hao said weakly, trying to calm her down.

Yoh looked away. Why?

"Yoh…" Hao said, motioning for him to come closer.

"Please…take…care…of Anna…for…for…me…please…take…care of….yourselves…Anna…"

"Yes?"

"It seems like I'd be go…going sooner…than expected…sayon--"

"HAO!"