Chapter: Useless Discussions

Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King

Summary: My take on the battle between Hao and Anna in the manga. What if Yoh hadn't managed to come in time when Hao was about to test Anna's potential in his armour style over soul. What if trying to save the hanagumi spirits she had gotten hurt just as Yoh arrived? Something that happened after that. After Yoh and Hao's coffee meeting.

Story

"How are you feeling?"

Anna Kyouyama didn't bother looking back as she sat on the porch railing, staring out at the dark sky. Her bandaged arm placed on her laps twitched slightly at the chilled wind, but her face remained impassive and calm. Refusing to give a thought to the searing pain running up her veins.

"Fine. Your brother wouldn't dare fight seriously."

"He seemed pretty serious when I got there." Yoh commented calmly, starting to walk up to his fiancé, "Why aren't you resting?"

"I hate lying all day." Anna replied nonchalantly, ignoring Yoh raising an amused eyebrow, "did you finish your training?"

"Just did." Yoh replied, stopping behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist.

Startled, Anna looked up just as Yoh buried his face against her neck.

"Yoh-"

"What were you thinking..?" Yoh asked softly, his voice muffling down against her skin as he pulled her closer.

Anna frowned, feeling a little irritated, "Saving Tamao? She isn't exactly the strongest-"

"Why." Yoh interrupted, his voice firming into a stern tune, "did you find it necessary to face him alone?"

Anna sighed leaning back against him. There were rare times when Yoh wouldn't put up with Anna's upper hand. Really rare. Not so when they were ten before he realized her whole personality was more or less a façade, but it had lessened when they met again at age 13. Whenever that happened, Anna found it hard to stay cool and distant. However being Kyouyama Anna, she still managed. Unfortunately Yoh never bought it.

"No one else was about. I couldn't exactly wait. And I can take care of myself."

No reply.

Anna sighed again, closing her eyes and pressing her lips together, "And I knew you'd come…with help." She added.

Yoh cringed, "What if I hadn't been there in time?"

"Then I would have killed you." Anna replied shortly, "Besides, since when did you started on about what ifs?"

Yoh smiled, "since you started hating lying all day and ordering people about?"

"I didn't said I hated ordering people about."

Yoh winced, looking up "you didn't…?"

"No I didn't. But since you mentioned it-"

"Annaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Yoh whined burying his face against her neck again, "you're not well enough to order about."

"You don't need to be well to order about." Anna replied impassively, "Now get me something to eat."

Yoh looking up and blinked, "You haven't eaten yet?"

"I'm not eating that." Anna replied grimly, pointing at a bowl containing what looked like living, slimy jello, "Faust made it. I think it wants to talk to me. That man is worse in cooking than Ren was."

Yoh hid a smile, "You made Ren cook?"

"Once." Anna replied, still staring at the bowl darkly, "He made me miss your cooking."

"Sorry..." Yoh whispered chuckling softly as he leaned his forehead against Anna's hair, "I'll try not to make you go through that again"

"Better not." Anna replied impatiently, turning to glare at Yoh, "I hope you're not planning on starving your fiancé with these useless discussions Yoh."

Yoh grinned innocently, his eyes wavering to Anna's lips for a mere second, than her bandaged arm before turning back to her, "Not at all…"

Nightglider: Hmm..not the best I had wanted but still, please review!