"Good instincts usually tell you what to do long before your head has figured it out."

-Michael Burke

Chapter 5

"How long do you think she should stay in the infirmary?"

Faust looked over his shoulder at his wife, Eliza. He was looking over some X-Rays they took of Anna. You could see healed fractures in right shoulder and both her legs.

"I'm not sure," He confessed. "The amount of poison in her system has me worried, but according to Tamao-Chan it doesn't effect her unless she weakens." Faust frowned. "But Yohmei-Sama doesn't want her strength to return…"

"You'll know what to do," Eliza smiled and gently touched his arm. "I know that as a doctor you'll be able to heal her."

Faust smiled. His wife always could bring his confidence back up.

"This is cute and all, but I need to ask you something Faust," the German doctor turned to see an unexpected visitor at the door.

"Ah, what a surprise." and it was. Though he didn't show it, this guy hated the infirmary. Especially the needles. "What can I do for you?"

"I need to ask you something about Anna."

"You can't be serious Yohmei!"

"It can't be helped, he and Ren are the only ones left qualified to be an Escort and she'll need both."

"But Chocolove could-"

"-If he wanted to be an Escort. But he doesn't."

Mikihisa sighed, frustrated. "But what if she tells Yoh?" he asked.

Yohmei had an answer. "We'll make a deal with her."

She laid down on her side, her head resting on her arm, her mind full of thoughts. You know how it gets over whelming when your thoughts won't just turn off? Imagine having everyone else's in your head, and it's all you hear. Never having a moment of silence. At least it wasn't as better as before.

Anna thought back to what happened when that blonde nurse, Eliza she thought her name was, saw all her scars on her body. She gasped muttering poor thing, her thoughts out raged that someone would do this to a child.

Child. That was the last thing to describe Kyoyama Anna, Itako Princess of Osorezan, as.

'I wonder if she's awake' Anna quickly closed her eyes and evened out her breathing, forging sleep. She didn't want him to be near her. There may be some differences between them but…it still angered her to see him.

She could smell some food and heard a small clank as he set the tray down on the nightstand.

'Should I wake her or…' Anna saw an image of her slapping him appear in his mind. 'No, she'll just get angry' she heard him sigh and listened as his foot steps retreated.

When she heard the door close Anna sat up.

'Asakura Yoh…' for some reason, she felt something inside her tighten.

"So Tamao, when did you start to get visions?" HoroHoro asked her. They were by the pond in the shade of the trees.

Tamao thought for second. "I…I think…it was just after my parents died, when I was five." she said.

HoroHoro frowned. "Your parents died? How?"

"There was an accident," Tamao wrapped her arms around her legs. She had a distant look in her eyes. "I don't remember much but…it was during a festival when I was five. There was an explosion and my parents died shielding me from it. A volunteer at the hospital I was staying at took care of me until the X-Laws raided out home and took me a year and a half ago."

HoroHoro frowned. "Why would-"

"ONII-CHAN! TAMAO!" Pirika's loud voice came through the air.

"W-What is it Pirika-San?" Tamao asked.

"I told you, it's just Pirika. No San!" The Ainu huffed. "Anyway, Yohmei-Sama and Mikihisa-Sama want to see you."

"Why?" HoroHoro asked.

"Uh…well…"

"No!"

Tamao winced at the fierceness in her voice. She stood in front of Anna with her hands on her shoulders, trying calm her down but…no one can really calm down the princess when she was angry.

"You have to understand that-" Mikihisa tried to reason but for what it was worth he might as well have not spoken.

"No," Anna repeated. Her golden eyes were narrowed as she glared at him and Yohmei. Keiko stood in the door way, a look of concern on her face.

Yohmei sighed, looking frustrated. 'Stubborn girl…' he thought. "You need an Escort and-"

"No. Your brave making him my Escort when you know I could tell him what you did ten years ago, but I will not have him anywhere near me." she said coldly. Keiko's face went pale and so did Mikihisa's, though you couldn't tell because of his mask.

Yohmei glared at her. This was going to be difficult.

"Hey Yoh, are you listening?"

"huh?" Yoh blinked, seeing Chocolove's annoyed look.

"Sheesh, pay attention Yoh," he shook his head. "We have to go to the front gate. A group of Knights are returning and we have to meet them."

"But I though that was Ren and HoroHoro's job," Yoh frowned.

"Yeah, but HoroHoro is that girls Escort and Ren's disappeared somewhere." Chocolove shrugged. Yoh nodded and they headed to the front gate.

Yoh had noticed that it was quieter the usual around here, now he knew it was because most of the Knights were gone. They were in charged of searching out Itako's and capture them before the X-Laws did. If they proved to not be dangerous, their Rosary beads were taken away and they were sent to a village to live in peace, guarded by the Knights. If they were dangerous however, depending on how strong they are, they were either sent to the X-Prisons or executed here.

No, Yoh didn't like it. But it had to be done. At least that's what he was told.

He thought about Anna. She didn't seem dangerous but according to his father and grandfather she was. He remembered what she said last night, about him thinking to much. Could she really read his mind? He thought it was a myth but…maybe it isn't. then there was what she said about him not looking someone. He wondered who she was talking about.

He wanted to ask her this morning when he brought her breakfast but she was asleep. Or pretending too. He had a feeling she was faking.

When they got there they just sat on the ground. There wasn't much to this job, just wait to make sure the Knights were alright, ask if anything happened, and made sure no intruders got in.

"Where did the Knights go? Do you know?"

Chocolove shrugged. "I think to a village not far from here. There was a report that a group of Itako's were hiding there."

"Oh."

They didn't have a long wait. Only ten minutes had passed when a group of men came, dressed in black pants and silver shits, with black jackets.

Yoh and Chocolove stood, brushing off the dirt on their pants.

"Asakura-San," They bowed when they saw him.

"How'd it go?" Yoh asked the one with a tall man with brown hair.

"We found no traces of Itako's Asakura-San," he bowed again. "It seems we were too late. A witness said she saw an X-Law vehicle leave just before we got there."

"I see, " Yoh frowned. It was strange that they were so near. Even though they had some of a relationship with the Asakura Family, it wasn't exactly stable at the best of times. "You guys can go rest, I'll go tell Jii-Chan."

"Yes Sir!"

Chocolove watched them go, laughing. "Asakura-San, Asakura-San! If they bowed any lower they would be ostriches." he said, making Yoh chuckle.

"If you keep making bad jokes Ren and HoroHoro are going to burry you alive," He said.

"At least Pirika finds me funny!"

"Yeah but, according to HoroHoro she laughs at anything." Yoh grinned then winced. Chocolove, who didn't notice, pouted and walked faster. Yoh hurried to catch up to him but he couldn't get rid of a strange feeling at the back of his head.

Yoh's eyes widened at the sight before him. Anna was kneeling on the floor, her hand covering her mouth. She was coughing and he could see a red liquid dripping from her hands. Tamao and his mother were kneeling beside her, both murmuring words he couldn't hear.

"What happened?" He turned to his father. But before Mikihisa could answer Faust rushed in, Ren and Eliza behind him. Keiko and Tamao got out of the way so he could check her pulse.

"She over-exerted herself," Faust said. He asked Anna something quietly and she shook her head and murmured something. Yoh saw Faust eyes widen in surprise.

"Hmm, I wonder why?" Ren looked at Yohmei, eye brow raised.

"Doesn't matter," Yohmei dismissed. "Yoh, help Dr. Faust. Ren, we need to talk to you about something. Tamao, you my leave also."

Yoh felt uneasy as he watched them and his parents leave. Last time he went near Anna she threatened to kill him.

"Hime-Sama, can you stand on your own?" Faust asked her. She didn't say anything, just stood and went over to her bed.

"Yoh-Kun, could you do me a favour?" Faust asked.

"Sure."

"Well, Eliza and I need to get a certain kind of medicine so we need you to watch over the princess while were gone."

"W-What?" Yoh's eyes widened. He still hadn't forgotten how much that last slap hurt.

"We won't be long," Faust promised.

"Alright…I guess," Yoh scratched the back of his head.

Anna didn't say anything about their exchange. She leaned against the pillows on her bed, looking out the window, lost in thought. She thought about what Yohmei had said to her. A deal.

She'd stay at the Asakura's with two Escorts until they know if she was dangerous or not. She could almost laugh. The only reason why they hadn't sent her back to the X-Prisons was because they were afraid of her strength. That and the fear she'd reveal what they've done in the last five hundred years.

"Here," Yoh's voice broke through her thoughts. She turned to see him holding a cloth. "You still have some blood on you," he told her.

Anna took it without a word.

Her silence made him wonder why she barely spoke. The first and only time he actually heard her voice was when she threatened him. Come to think of it…

"Hey, can you really read minds?" he asked her. He sat down in a chair beside her bed. "I thought that was myth, that Itako's could read thoughts."

She didn't say anything. Not that he expected her to. A minute went by when she finally spoke though.

"It is a myth," she said quietly. "I'm the only one who can hear others thoughts."

"Really?" Yoh said, shocked. "Why?"

Anna raised an eyebrow at his curiosity. Instead of answering she laid down and pulled the covers over her.

"Go away, your annoying," she said.

"Nope," Yoh grinned. "Faust asked me to watch over the princess so I am."

Anna sighed, closed her eyes. Hopefully she'll fall asleep, making it easier to ignore him. But she couldn't. she was too aware of hi presence and his thoughts. He wondered why she barely spoke. He wondered why she was tortured. He wondered why… her eyes flew open.

She sat up quickly, glaring at him. Yoh, who wasn't expecting this, was caught off guard and fell off the chair.

"Why do you know that?" she hissed. He couldn't know of that night.

"So it's true?" Yoh asked. He remembered his dream from a few nights ago. We're Anna had said the Patch betrayed her, even though Matamune had told him they are loyal people.

Anna looked away. Why does he know this?

"Get out," she said in her quiet voice. "Now. Before I kill you."

Yoh just nodded and got up. He had a feeling this would happen. But even so, as he left he felt something in him tighten.

Unfortunately I couldn't find a song that fits this chapter oh well, I am happy. My aunties wedding is this weekend and I'm the DJ! If you don't like to dance this is a good way out of it. Also, I finally finished 'A Flower or A Witch?' my Hana-Gumi I started in July! I seriously didn't think it would take so long…anyway sorry for taking so long to update, and I'm going to update 'Snow Stained Red' and 'Who Knew' soon!

Nina2895: Thanks for your review, I'm glad you like it so much.

blacklightningwolf: Glad you love it! It's gonna get better later on, trust me.

Helen Wang: no problem, hey, when are gonna update you stories? I wanna see what happens!

midori nO himE: glad it was worth it, sorry I can't update faster though I'm just so busy with school! Hope the small YohXAnna scene made up for it.