'Ello everyone! How are you? Good, hopefully! Well, here's the next chapter...and this is the chapter that has "weird wonderings" in it……so I'm just warning you now, this chapter's weird. Also, for those of you that read THCOL I added in a little part that takes over the part where Mrs. Hino and Hao are talking. And I guess I'm getting better because I received cookies for doing a good job from KaIKaI01!! YaY!!! Thank you!!! Enjoy!

Chapter 8:

"Weird Wonderings"

I was working the early shift and once again the Funbari Inn wasn't getting very many costumers. No matter how many times Mrs. Hino said it was okay for me to wear my bandana on my head, I just couldn't when I was working. I didn't want to be treated differently so I just wore it around my waist.

"Anna-chan," Mrs. Hino called, "Don't worry, I have a feeling that today won't be so productive so you can have the day off."

"Oh, its okay Mrs. Hino, I don't mind."

"No, I insist," Mrs. Hino was already in her uniform and she had a newspaper.

"But, Mrs. Hino, I need to work it off!"

"What are you talking about?" She was pushing me out of the desk.

"Mrs. Hino, I stay here for free! That's not right! I have to pay you back!"

"Nonsense, you're like a daughter to me," Mrs. Hino opened up the newspaper and then smiled at me, "Besides, think of how disappointed your Yoh-kun will be when he stops by and you're working?"

I paused and my eyes widened, 'My Yoh-kun?!' "Mrs. Hino! We're not together!"

"Aw, still?"

"Yes, still." It couldn't be more than that, besides, I'm not even sure if he likes me.

"But I bet he's still gonna come over!" Mrs. Hino winked.

"How could you be so sure?"

"Believe me, Anna, if he's your friend, he'll come," Mrs. Hino smile, "Now go on and enjoy the rest of the day!"

I nodded and walked back to my room. I was glad that Mrs. Hino saw me as a daughter, but I still didn't want to be treated differently. But maybe she was right. Maybe I did need a day off.

Well, it looked like I got all dressed up for work for nothing. I sighed, my hair was still a little wet, so I couldn't wear my bandana just yet. Hm……Maybe I'll just go dry my hair since I'm not working.

I was just about to change and get the blow drier when I heard a knock on the door, "Anna? It's me Yoh."

This made me smile, Mrs. Hino was right, "Come in."

I think he was a little shocked to see me in something light blue instead of black, but he didn't say anything about it.

"So what is it this time?" I asked crossing my arms, "I'm pretty sure you gave me my clothes back, unless you took them with you on your way out last time."

"WHAT??!!!?!!!" a yell came from the other side of the door. The first person that came to my mind was: Horo Horo.

"What was that?" Yoh was about to open the door.

"Don't bother, it was probably my neighbor, he's always yelling." Though it was strange, it didn't really sound like Horo……and if it was Horo, he'd still be yelling. I shrugged it off, he's the only person I know who would yell that loud. Then I heard whispers out side of the door. Maybe Pirika finally got Horo to whisper?

"Where's your bandana?" he looked at me.

I pointed to my waist, "Here. This is my work outfit. We aren't allowed to wear bandanas so I wear it as a sash."

"Oh, so you work here?"

I nodded, but I was more curious as to why he was here, "So what are you here for?"

"I dunno," he shrugged, "I just wanted to see you……My brother came to see how I was doing and he acted like I was crazy. I needed to get away."

"So you run here?" Not that I mind, but I wondered why.

"Well, I," Yoh put his head down, "Dammit! Now I feel like him, running away when things get tough!"

I could tell that he really wanted to get away, "It's ok if you come here. It's just weird, I never thought you'd come here for no reason."

"Well, I did promise to talk to you," he gave a slight smile.

"That you did," I sat on the couch, "Are you ready to talk?"

"Not about his death, not yet."

"What about then?" I patted the seat next to me, signaling him to sit down.

"What do you think about life?" He sat down with me, "Hao says that life is nothing but a competition. Survival of the fittest, some people quit when they can't take it."

"That's a way of thinking about it," I nodded, "The people who die early have already won."

"Well, he didn't say that," Yoh half-smiled, "but that could be possible."

"What do you think?"

"I used to think that it was a game. I used to think that our creator was just playing with us. That we were just his experiments."

"Our creator isn't that cruel," I smiled reassuringly at him, "When I was little I used to think that each life was a book, and whoever created us, was just reading us. Each day was a page."

Yoh smiled, "What do you think life is now?"

"Exactly what it is," I said rather plainly, "Life is about loving and dying, but we add so much drama to it."

"What do you think about death?"

"Death is," I took a breath, "The High Cost of Living."

Yoh stayed quiet for a bit soaking up what I just said. He seemed to understand and posed another question, "Do you think there is a perfect world?" He leaned his head back onto the couch.

"Yes, this world is pretty close, don't you think?" I gave a slight smile toward him.

"What?!" He lifted his head and looked at me in complete shock, "This world id FAR from close!"

"Well, if you think about it, there is death and hatred and all this drama," I leaned my head back, "But isn't that what makes life fun? All you have to do is take away the murderers."

"Say what you want, but I still think this world is far from being perfect," he leaned his head back once again.

"Perhaps," I shrugged, "The only perfect world is heaven."

"If there is one."

"There has to be," I said in a far way voice, "There has to be a perfect world out there." I was reminded of my family, they had to be somewhere. They couldn't have just died and ended up nowhere.

"You never know," Yoh shrugged. I wonder where he thinks his friend is right now.

"Maybe," I winced, "We're the ones that are dead." I know that that sounds stupid, but what if we were in purgatory right now and we didn't even know it?

"Then what happens when we die?" Yoh asked confusedly.

I don't feel like explaining it so I said, "I don't know." I lifted my head, "I'm just wondering. Do you think your brother is worried?"

"No, why would he?" Yoh spat out and crossed his arms.

"Maybe it's because nothing like this has happened before, or has it?"

"How do you do that?" Yoh lifted his head from the couch.

"Do what?"

"That thing you do!"

"Yoh, what are you talking about?" I lifted an eyebrow.

"You know exactly what to say!" He sounded a little angry, "When my brother and I fought, he said almost the same thing! He said, 'One of our friends has never died before!' Which is kinda the same!"

I shrugged, "I don't know, but maybe your brother is worried, you should go back."

He looked away, "You're just trying to kick me out."

"Well, kinda," I smiled while he was confused; "I need to go to the cemetery."

"I'm just curious," Yoh looked at his hands, "If I died, would you visit me?"

I lifted an eyebrow and crossed my arms, "Oh, you need to die so I can visit you?"

"No," he gave a slight laugh, "I just wanted to know, if for some reason I died, would anyone be there?"

"There is a saying that you can tell a person's worth by how many people there were at their funeral."

Yoh sadly looked down, "I guess I won't be worth that much."

"Not true. Whoever said that was wrong. It's not the people that represent the worth, it's the tears. I say that you can tell a person's worth by the tears that were shed when they die. And let me tell you Yoh, you're worth a lot. You may not now it, but your family cares. And, yes, I would visit your grave, when you die an old man, if you still wish to know me."

"Of course I will!" Yoh suddenly took my hands in his, "You're the only friend I got right now!"

"Yoh," I said softly, 'Don't do this. We can't be too close……' I took my hands out of his and looked away, "You'll find other friends………"

"I don't want another friend! I want you!" My eyes widened.

I was utterly confused. I was just supposed to be someone to make him feel better about himself, "I thought you didn't like me!"

"Only because I thought you were teasing me!"

I looked at his face, as much as I wanted to……..I shouldn't……it would hurt him even more if I died. But right now, looking at his face, it felt as though it didn't matter. I didn't want it to matter, maybe if I become his friend, it would help him more. But I have to be just his friend……nothing more, "Alright, I'll be your friend."

"Just my friend?"

I lifted an eyebrow and pretended I didn't hear it, even if I wanted to be more……I couldn't let myself, "What?"

"Nothing," he got up and smiled, "Well you better get to that cemetery."

"Be nice to your brother," I got up, "You better not kill each other."

"Tell that to him!" Yoh smiled as he reached the door, "Bye!"

I waved, "Bye!"

Well, my hair is dried now, so I better get dressed and put my bandana on. While I was doing that, I caught myself with a smile on my face; something I don't do often. Yoh made me smile, and I liked it. I was growing very fond of Yoh, and that got me scared. I couldn't to get too close, no matter how much I wanted to.

I was done getting dressed and started to put on my bandana. I was too confused about Yoh. I had never felt this way towards someone before……he made me………extremely happy. Which wasn't normal for me, maybe I'll talk to Mrs. Hino about it. With that I finished putting on my bandana.

Before I even had time to grab my coat a boy burst in my room shouting:

"What's your game? What are you doing alone in this room with Yoh?!!"

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Yea, sorry, a cliffhanger, but I'll update soon if you review! I hope you liked that chapter!! As weird as it may sound……I don't really have anything to say, but thanks for those who like my story!!! Until Next time

Ja ne