Hiya! I'm back! This chapter takes place right after chapter 5…which is weird because according to THCOL this is the second chapter! Oh well, the long the better, right? ((I hope so!)) Enjoy!

Chapter 6:

"Talking Helps"

I started to walk towards the docks after I went to the cemetery. Most people my age were in school right now, so I don't think I'd see him.

By "him" I mean Yoh.

I couldn't help but think about him. He was in pretty bad shape the last time I saw him and I couldn't help but wonder, 'Is he still alive?'

A horrible thought, I know.

I continued to walk toward the docks. Maybe I'll see him? No, that can't be, he'd be in school, right?

Once I reached the docks I saw a figure sitting on the ground. I squinted to look closer, 'That dark chocolate colored hair……So he is alive.' I smirked, "Hey!"

"An-Anna?" He said somewhat surprised as he turned to look at me.

I bent down to place my cold hand on his forehead, "Hm, no fever, have you been eating?"

He gave a slight nod.

"Are you planning to drown yourself again?" I couldn't help but wonder why he was here.

"No," he glared angrily and picked up the clothes next to him, "I came to give this back to you."

What? Why would he come here? "Why didn't you go to the inn?"

"I did," he stood up and dusted the sand off his pants.

"Then why didn't you just leave them with Mrs. Hino?"

"Well I………" he looked away and I couldn't help but smirk, 'He wanted to give this to me in person.'

"Why aren't you in school?" I asked when I realized if I didn't say anything there would be another awkward silence.

"Why aren't you?" 'He's so stubborn!'

"Because I don't have money for supplies, and for other reasons………"

"What 'other reasons'?" I glared at him.

"I answered your question now answer mine!"

"I don't want to go," he said sadly.

"Because for your friend? Was he your only friend?"

"Why are you so interested?"

"I'm trying to help you out," I said simply.

"How does this help me out?" I had a feeling he was going to get all emotional again……

"You may not think so, but talking does help."

"I don't even know you!"

"Which in your case is better, right?"

"What?"

I took a breath, "Well, you have no other friends, and it seems that you and your family aren't very close. Maybe you need to get away from all those you know, because when you tell them you know how they'll react."

"So it's okay to talk to a perfect stranger?"

"No, it's not. But we aren't perfect strangers, I did give you mouth to mouth," I smirked.

Yoh growled, knowing he was losing this argument, "I don't want to talk about it!"

He sat back down and buried his face in his hand and growled in frustration.

I felt bad; he was getting so worked up about talking about it……maybe he just wasn't ready yet……

I sat next to him and hugged my knees, "Look, I'm sorry. I guess you really miss him."

"You think!" He sarcastically said while glaring at me.

"Do you have something he gave you?"

"Of course!"

"What were they?"

Yoh didn't take that glare away and said, "I told you I don't want to talk about it, you may try to find your way around it, but I'm not telling!"

I sighed; this was going to be very hard, but…… "Alright, I'll do the talking. See my bandana? It is very important to me. It was given to me from my family on my birthday. And it reminds me of them."

"Reminds you of them?" Yoh asked looking at me.

"Yes, they're dead," Yoh was so shocked to hear me say it so calmly and so was I, but somehow I remained calm.

I turned to look at him……but I could feel it…my eyes were totally emotionless and I felt as though I was looking through him. He disappeared in vision and I felt cold and it seemed to get dark all around me. I could see them, my mom, my dad, my brother, and an 8 year old me.

I looked in front of me where the "scene" was taking place, "They were murdered right in front of me. My mom, my dad, my brother…………they are all gone." I could see me as a little 8 year old skipping around the puddles that the rain was making. I happily showed off my new bandana……until a dark figure showed up, "My bandana used to be white, but on that day……everyone………everywhere………blood………" As the horrifying scene was going to replay in my head I hurriedly buried my head in my knees, "Why? Why was I the one only one to survive? Why did the murderer spare me? It was me who was supposed to die!"

"I……I'm sorry………"

Suddenly I snapped out of my vision of the past as Yoh said those words I lifted my head up towards him, "You should be!"

"Hey! It isn't easy for me to apologize!" Yoh fired back, but when he saw me smirk he looked confused.

"Stubborn ass!"

"Hey that's not very nice of you!" This little playful "fight" lightened the mood.

"What did I say? I'm not nice!" I smirked.

"Then why did you save me and give me food?"

Oh, sure, you had to go and ruin our little "moment".

"You really have the nerve to ask that!" I gave a glare, "I saw my parents die! You think I'd sit back and watch you die?"

"……sorry……" he whispered, but I knew he meant it.

After the story of my bandana I couldn't help but wonder…… "Do you think I'm a sick freak?"

He turned to look at me, "Why would I think that!"

"Do you think it's weird that I wear a bandana full of my family's blood?"

"Mm………a little," at least he was honest, "but it's a reminder so it's not that weird."

"It……it's just that when I wear it, it feels as though we're together again," I looked toward the water, "Most of the scars are from the accident."

"Most?"

I didn't want to answer that so I just kept my eyes on the water.

I heard Yoh sigh, "My friend, Amidamaru………he gave me orange head-phones."

"Then Yoh," I got up and dusted off my skirt, "Next time I see you; I want to see those head-phones on your head! That is, if I see you again."

I started to walk away without waiting for a reply, "Ja ne!"

I was half way home and I couldn't help but feel as though I forgot something. Oh! My father's clothes! I stopped and debated on whether I should go back or not, 'Nah, I'm already almost home. Besides it gives me another chance to see Yoh.' I smirked and continued my way home.

"Hello, Anna!" Makoto said; it seemed she was working behind the desk today.

"Hello, Mako," 'Mako' was my nick-name for her.

"Mrs. Hino said she wanted to see you," Mako smiled, "She's in her room."

I nodded in acknowledgment and walked over to Mrs. Hino's room.

"You wanted to see me Mrs. Hino?"

"Oh! Anna-chan!" Mrs. Hino hugged me, "I was worried when I went to the hospital and you weren't there!"

"Oh, sorry about that…" I felt a little guilty, "…but you know I had to visit my family at the cemetery."

"Well it would be nice if you told someone! Dr. Faust and his wife seemed very upset!"

"Sorry."

Mrs. Hino sighed, "Anyway, that boy came to see you."

"'That boy'?" I asked.

"What's his name……Yom…no, that's not right……Y-Yow? Hm……y'know that friend of yours that you met at the docks…what was his name?"

I smiled, "Yoh?"

"Ah! That's right! He came to see you today but I told him you were out."

"Oh, don't worry, I met him on the way back from the cemetery," I smiled.

"Oh? So that's why you snuck out of the hospital! To meet that boy!" Mrs. Hino laughed and my eyes grew wide as I said, "What?"

"Don't deny it! You've got a boyfriend! Now why didn't you tell me?" Mrs. Hino was just so happy, but he wasn't my boyfriend, "What? Are you embarrassed to tell little ol' me? Afraid that I was right about you getting a boyfriend?"

"But Mrs. Hino, he's not my boyfriend!" In truth, I was a little embarrassed at the fact that I knew what I was saying is right but knowing her she'd tease me about it.

"Really?" Mrs. Hino said unbelievably and lifted a brow.

"Really."

"Hm……then why would he come all this way to see you?"

I didn't want to tell her that I lend some of my clothes out to him so I lied, "I…I don't know."

"Well, so far I like Yow-kun."

"Yoh-kun." I corrected her.

"Right, Yoh-kun," she smiled, "He seems really nice and he makes you smile."

"Hm?" I hadn't noticed but this whole time we were talking about Yoh I was smiling, not smirking, "I suppose you're right……"

"So you two aren't together?"

I shook my head.

Mrs. Hino sighed, "Well then stay friends and maybe your feelings will change and you'll fall in love."

I smiled; Mrs. Hino really wanted what was best for me, but I couldn't let myself fall in love. Besides, I doubt he'd start falling for a "Nosy, Misery Chick" like me.

"Wouldn't that be nice?" I had a feeling that she was remembering when she met her husband, "Besides, he's pretty cute, don't you think?"

I smirked, "Mrs. Hino, I'm sorry, but I think you're too old for him."

"Oh, Anna-chan! Not for me, for you!" She placed her hands on her hips.

Talking to Mrs. Hino like this really made me happy. It made me feel like I was talking with my mom. At this point in my life all I have is Mrs. Hino as family and she only has me. It was really nice just to talk.

Mrs. Hino sighed, "Well, Anna-chan it's getting late, would you like to stay for dinner?"

By that she meant "would you like me to cook you dinner?" I usually just cook for myself but I enjoy those times where she cooked for me and we ate together, "Sure."

Mrs. Hino smiled as she got up to get food, "Thank you……Mrs. Hino…"

"For?"

"For talking with me."

"Oh? That's nothing! People don't get thanked for talking!" Mrs. Hino smiled at me, "You can talk to me anytime you want to, k?"

I nodded, 'Even though we weren't talking about my past or her past it still helped to talk………Talking helps……'

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Yea I know……that was a weird way to end this chapter. I really just put in that last part in for humorous reasons ((and I hoped it worked)), but it seemed to go on. After the whole "boyfriend" part, I just wanted to show the actual closeness of Anna and Mrs. Hino. I wanted Mrs. Hino to look like the "mother figure" to Anna and I hope that this proved it. So……anyway tell me what you think and I will update soon! Until next time

Ja ne!