"It's hard to hate someone when you don't understand why you do in the first place." -Anonymous

"I can't stand to fly

I'm not that naive

I'm just out to find

The better part of me

I'm more than a bird...I'm more than a plane

More than some pretty face beside a train

It's not easy to be me"

-Superman(Not Easy)- Five for Fighting

Chapter 11

Her fingers flowed over the Keys effortlessly, playing a song she made of her own when she was a child. It was early and she didn't feel like going back to sleep so she went to the room where she saw a piano when Yoh lead her to the library the other day. It'd been ages since she last played and it would have made her happy if it weren't for the memory of when she last played and for who she last played for.

'I wonder if they got away' she thought. She shook her head. Telling herself not to worry about something that's not worth her, she instead thought about her and Tamao's conversation.

"Asakura Yoh," She whispered. "I wonder if you will live to see tomorrow."

Tamao and Ren both had confused looks on their faces as the caught these words. Anna closed her eyes, ignoring them.

"Why did you agree to stay here anyway?" Ren said. "I doubt it was for the reason you gave me."

Tamao looked even more confused.

Anna opened her eyes. She had a distant look in them. Why did she agree?

She didn't say anything for awhile that Ren almost gave of hope of ever getting an answer when she finally said, "Guess I don't know myself."

"That's a sad song your playing. What is it called?" Anna wasn't startled by the voice. She knew she was there. And for awhile now.

She stopped playing, turning in her seat to look at Keiko.

She didn't reply.

Keiko smiled softly, sadly. She had a feeling that this girl wouldn't talk to her.

"I was about to go to the garden. Since you're the only one up would you like to come?" she asked.

Anna raised an eyebrow. Was this woman serious? Anna looked into her thoughts and found she was. She wanted to talk to her about something, though she couldn't tell what. She wanted to refuse. To ignore this kind faced woman but something about her made Anna shrug and stand.

As the walked down the hall the lead to the back of the Mansion like estate, Anna closed her eyes.

'Why am I going?' she thought. She knew that if Yohmei caught her there'd be a one sided shouting match. Again.

"You have to open your eyes to see the flowers, Hime-Sama," Keiko's voice interrupted her thoughts.

Anna opened her eyes slowly. She saw different kinds of flowers. Red, white, and pink roses. Lilies and daisies. Blue bells, a Mimoza Tree, two Cherry Blossom trees. But the flower that caught her eyes were the red Spider Lilies.

'Abandonment, Death, Reincarnation…My flower' she thought.

She watched as Keiko picked up a watering can, tending to the flowers. Already Anna could tell this woman was kind, despite everything around her. Her thoughts and actions were that of a mother. Warm, comforting, sad yet positive. Confused yet confident.

'What was my mother like?' she found herself thinking. 'Did she have this warm feeling to her thoughts too? Or was she cold hearted and hateful, like my memories show me?'

Before she knew it, Anna walked over, grabbing a spare watering can and helping. Keiko smiled. Anna tried to ignore.

'Like I thought, all women love to take care of flowers' Keiko thought.

"I'm sorry for all the trouble my father has been giving you." she said. "I do not agree with the way he's been treating you, but he sees that it is right."

"Hime-Sama," Keiko hesitated. Anna waited. "Please don't tell Yoh about his brother. It would break his heart to know what happened to him."

Anna frowned. Something seemed off by this request. Anna put down the watering can and placed her hand on Keiko's.

Keiko's eyes widened a little.

Anna dropped her arm and stepped back.

"I won't tell," she said, looking away. "But if he asks about the Asakura history, I'll tell him about Yohken."

Anna turned her back to her.

When she left Keiko looked down at her hand.

"what…was that?" she said quietly. She could still feel the Itako's touch and the feeling it gave her.

Meanwhile, As Anna walked back inside she let her anger show, her lips unconsciously curling into a snarl.

'First you make her forget the woman who gave birth to her then let her believe her eldest son died. Asakura you choices are going to be the death of you'

"Man, I didn't know cooking was so hard."

"No it's not. Your just lazy Yoh."

Yoh and Pirika were in the dining hall, finishing the breakfast they helped make.

"That's mean," Yoh pouted.

"And true," Pirika rolled her eyes.

"Yoh, here you are," Yoh turned in his seat to see his mother walking over.

"Hey Mom, sup?"

"Are you done with helping Ryu?" Keiko asked. Yoh nodded.

"Just finished."

"Good," Keiko reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. "I have an errand for you and Ren. You'll have to go into town to get this stuff."

"An errand? But what about Anna?"

"You can take her with you two. I already talked to your grandfather and though it made him upset, he agreed it'll be good to see if we can trust her around others or not."

Anna scowled out the window, definitely not happy with how things turned out for the day.

'Going into town…this is going to fun' she thought bitterly.

She was sitting in the back of a black SUV. Ren was driving while Yoh sat in the passengers seat. Apparently people got their licences at fifteen here and both were sixteen. She refused to go but she didn't have much choice. They had to do an errand and since they were her Escorts she had to go.

Annoying.

Yoh looked over his shoulder to look at her. He saw her annoyed look and sighed, remembering how he figured that too many thoughts most likely caused her pain.

'I hope she'll be okay' He thought, surprising himself. Why was he always concerned about her well being? Sure, he was naturally a nice and caring person but this seemed different…

The vehicle jerked to a stopped in front of a store. They had arrived.

Yoh and Ren got out, Ren opening the door for Anna.

"Come on, we're here," he said. She didn't move.

"Anna?" Yoh went over to see what was taking so long.

Anna sighed, closing her eyes for a second before getting out.

"Let's just get this over with," she muttered.

They walked around, picking stuff up the stuff Keiko requested.

Yukata, women's

Coloured paper

Light orange and red vase

Two quilts, White

Sewing needles

Ink

Candles

Orange, White, Red, Black, Dark Blue fabric

"I wonder why Kaa-San wants some of this stuff," Yoh said, reading over the list.

"Some of the stuff is for Jun, since she's coming to stay for a while," Said Ren.

"Really? Why?"

"She said she wants to see everyone since she hasn't for a long time." Anna snorted at this. Yoh looked at her but she was looking down the street.

"Well, let's divide the stuff, it'll be quicker that way," Yoh suggested.

"Sure, meet you here in an hour."

Ripping the slip of paper in half, Ren took the top half and went one way, while Yoh kept the other.

"Well, should we get going?" He asked Anna.

She shrugged so Yoh took that as a 'yes'.

They first stopped at a small fabric store where Yoh figured they'd find most of the stuff. Not many people were there, only the woman behind the counter and two teenage girls.

There were rolls of fabric on the wall and some in bins that formed rolls. They had every colour Yoh's ever heard of and even some he's never seen before. He double checked the list for the what colours he need to get.

He went over to where he saw some blue.

"Think this is good?" he asked Anna, who remained silent for the past few minutes.

She looked at the fabric.

"This is old," she said.

"So?"

Sighing, Anna reached forward and pulled the fabric. It ripped easily. "The older it is the easier it tears," She looked around and gabbed the roll beside it, one that shined a bit in the light.

"Here," she through it at him long with a red and black roll.

Yoh fumbled a bit, following her as she went to where the bright fabric was.

"You know lot about this," Yoh said, a bit in awe.

Anna hesitated before saying, "There wasn't much to do on Osorezan so I…I would sew or play the piano to pass time."

Yoh blinked before smiling. This was the first time she shared something about herself. He was about to comment on it but something caught his eye.

"Whoa! That's so coo!" Dark orange fabric with bright oranges as the design! "I wonder if we have enough to-"

"No." Anna said bluntly, grabbing the plain one beside it.

"Aw, why not?"

"Because I'll go blind starring at it."

"But I love oranges, can't we just get a little and-"

"NO!"

Yoh pouted.

They grabbed sewing needles and went to the counter to pay. As Yoh talked to the elderly woman Anna starred out one of the windows.

'Why did I tell him that' she wondered. She had never told someone that before. Not even-

"And whose your friend?" Anna looked over to see the woman starring at her.

"Um, this is Anna," Yoh wanted to add 'My friend' but he knew he couldn't, and for some reason, that made him a little sad.

"I see," The woman smiled kindly but Anna heard her thoughts.

'Probably some girl hoping to get with the Asakura's. poor boy, he has no idea he's being taken advantage of'

Anna glared at her, her eyes flashing. The woman paled.

Turning on her heels Anna left, slamming the door behind her.

"A-Anna!" Quickly gabbing the stuff, Yoh ran out after her.

"Anna, what's wrong?" Yoh asked her. Her face was a bit pale but there was a fire in her eyes.

"Nothing." Anna snapped. "Just get the rest of the stuff and go."

Yoh, very and clearly confused, did what she said.

Anna walked a few step behind her, glaring at the ground.

'This is why I hate being around people' she thought.

Ren muttered under his breath about hating shopping as he went down the street. He was about to go meet up with Yoh and Anna when he saw three Knights there.

Two had short brown hair, brothers. Zex and Adam. Zex was older and taller and had green eyes while Adam had blue. That last Knight, Enishi, had sandy blonde hair and grey eyes. Ren's eyes narrowed. He had never liked these three.

"What are you three doing here?" He barked at them. They jumped like three little boy in trouble.

"T-Tao-San!" Zex and Adam stammered. They were afraid of the temperamental Chinese. "We, uh, we, uh-"

"We're surveying the area. Yohmei-Sama knows were here," Said Enishi. Ren snorted.

"Whatever. Just stay out of trouble." he said before leaving them.

Mikihisa found his wife in their room, looking out the window, silent tears running down her face.

"Keiko, what's wrong?" Mikihisa hurried to her side.

Keiko shook her head, wiping her sleeve across her eyes. "I-I'm sorry, I was just…" she got a longing look on her face. "I was just wishing that…I could remember something about my mother…and…"

"And?" Mikihisa held her close to him.

"I wish…I could have both my sons with me."

Mikihisa looked away guiltily.

"And we're here why?"

"May as well get something to eat while we're here, right?"

Anna didn't say anything. She looked around the small restaurant they were in. it was on the edge of town and not many people were there, which she was glad. These thoughts that were surrounding her were starting to get to her and now that they were in a small area, she could block out thoughts a bit easier.

Yoh ate his Ramen greedily, starving from all the walking around, while Anna took small bites of her rice. Unlike her Escort, she wasn't very hungry and just ordered a small dish of salmon and plain rice.

"Ne, Anna?" Yoh said suddenly. She glanced at him. "Why…why did you run out of that store?"

Anna sighed. She had a feeling he would ask this sooner or later. She didn't have to read his mind to know that. She looked away, out the window were she saw some kids playing.

"People pretend to be kind, pretend they care about others." She said. "But deep down they are greedy and selfish. That old lady is no exception."

Yoh put down his chopsticks, an unusually serious look on his face.

"When I was little, I used to go to school with others who couldn't see spirits." he told her. "They knew about Shamans and Itako's, and feared both. They were either afraid of me, or hated me because of what my family did." he leaned back in his chair. "Maybe that's why I don't like what my family does."

Anna waited.

"You know why Itako's are banned, don't you?" Yoh looked at her.

"Of course," She answered after a minute. She was still looking away. "It's the Asakura's fault that Itako's are feared. Them and the X-Laws."

'The Asakura's fault?' "What do you mean?" Yoh asked.

Anna closed her eyes, collecting her thoughts. When she opened them, there was a distant look in the golden depths.

"Up until five hundred years ago, Itako's helped people. For some, it's hard to let go of someone whose passed on so Itako's would summon their spirit to give them comfort that they didn't die in vain. Itako's are blind for a reason. Society said they were useless, so by becoming an Itako's it gave them a reason to live.

Asakura Yohken was engaged to an Itako. He loved her but he suddenly got ill, his mind started weaken from fever and sickness. One day, they were attacked by demons and his Fiancée used her powers to banish them. It scared him. He met with the leader of the X-Laws, who convinced him Itako's were demons in disguise, and that they only summon evil spirits to kill others.

With his mind failing him, Yohken went mad with fear, saying Itako's were too dangerous to be allowed to live and had his Fiancée killed. Because the Asakura had a high influence back then, and still do in some parts, it became law that Itako's were banned, and anyone who was found of being one would be instantly killed."

Matamune walked through the library, enjoying the quiet it provided. Though Yoh was in town the Nekomata decided to stay. He knew Yoh wasn't going to be in nay danger.

He paused at the table where Yoh and Anna were sitting at the day before. The book Anna was reading was still there. Curious, Matamune looked at the title.

"A Summers Death…" he read. Jumping down from the table, he went to put in back on the shelf when something caught his eye. A book on the floor.

'Seer: The Repeated Prophecy of Itako's Fate'

Matamune frowned. This was supposed to be in the restricted section. What was it doing here in the open? And who was reading it?

"There you are," Ren said, clearly annoyed.

"Sorry," Yoh muttered, making him raise an eye brow.

"What's with you?"

"Nothing," Yoh sighed, but he was lying. He couldn't get over what Anna told him. He knew the Asakura and X-laws were partners, but he didn't know it went back five hundred years, or that it was the reason Itako's were hunted. It gave him a sick feeling.

'Why didn't anyone tell me?' he thought. He looked over his shoulder where Anna was walking behind them. She'd been quiet ever since the left ten minutes ago.

"I can tell your lying," Ren said. "But I won't pry. It doesn't matter to me if your depressed or not."

"uh, thanks?" even now, Yoh still wasn't sure how to act with his friends actions.

The three stopped a they heard a scream.

"STOP IT! LET ME GO!"

Yoh and Ren hurried around the corner. Ren let out a snarl.

"What do you three think your doing?" it was the three Knight Ren ran into earlier, Zex, Adam, and Enishi.

Zex and Adam were holding a girl between them by her arms while Enishi just watched. She had long light blonde hair and a light blue dress with eyes to match. Tears were running down her face. "I'm not an Itako…I'm not!" she sobbed.

"This girl is an Itako, Tao-San," Enishi said emotionlessly with a shrug. "We were just doing our job and-"

"Zex, Adam, let her go," Yoh stepped forward. Zex and Adam paled but didn't let the sobbing girl go.

"B-But Asakura-Sama, she-"

"Let her go, or I'll kill you both." Anna appeared. Zex and Adam immediately let her go. Even Enishi seemed frightened and Yoh couldn't blame them. Anna's eyes had a fierce fire in them. Not like back in the fabric shop, you could latterly see what looked like small flames in her eyes. The people walking by froze in fear.

"A-Anna?" Yoh said, warily. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't afraid but mostly he was worried.

She walked up to the Knights, who stepped away from her. Ignoring them, Anna kneeled down in front of the little girl.

"You ok?" Yoh blinked, shocked at her voice. He may have looked fierce but her voice was gentle. It almost reminded him of his mother, when he got scared and she would comfort him.

The little girl nodded and threw her arms around Anna's neck, crying. Anna stiffened.

Ren turned to glare at the Knights.

"I thought I specifically told you three not to cause trouble." he snarled.

"But she's an Itako-"

"Are you stupid?" Ren snapped. "Is she blind? Does she have a Rosary?"

They didn't say anything.

"I'm going to report this to my Grandfather." Yoh told them. "He'll deal with you then."

"Yes Asakura-Sama," they muttered. Slowly, the crowd around them disappeared.

Yoh turned away from them and went to Anna, who was still being hugged by the little girl. Anna was slightly pale.

"Get this girl off me," she muttered. Yoh sighed and tapped the girls shoulder.

"Sweetie?" he said. "How about you let go of Anna so we can find your parents, okay?"

"Mimi has no parents," she said, still hanging onto to Anna. "Mimi wants to stay with Nee-San."

Anna sighed, unwrapping the girls arms from he strangle hold. She looked annoyed. "No. we'll look for your brother instead. Alright?"

Mimi looked at her sadly but nodded all the same.

"There's a boy looking for his sister three blocks from," Anna said quietly, standing. "He has the same hair colour as her, green eyes, about your height. You should be able to find him."

Yoh nodded but didn't move. He didn't want to leave. Anna looked so pale by now he wondered if she was going to pass out.

"I'll stay with her," Ren said, seeing the look on Yoh's face. "I'll send these idiots back and we'll be in the SUV."

Yoh nodded. "Thanks Ren." turning to Mimi, he smiled, "Want to go find your Onii-Chan?"

She nodded. Waving at Anna, she said, "Bye Nee-Chan," and too Yoh's hand.

Anna watched them go, her face blank. 'This is why I hate people'

"Your really protective of little kids, huh?" Ren said. When she didn't say anything he nodded to himself.

'Just as I thought…she mostly only talks if he's around' "Let's go then-" just as he turned he saw Anna sway slightly in the corner of his eye and caught her before she could hit the ground.

"Anna?" he called. No use. She was out cold.

Sighing, he pulled her onto his back and muttered, "Annoying…You still pass out randomly."

Sorry for the late update, been busy what with the holidays coming up also, slightly depressed that the Rough Riders lost the Cup...two years, it's not fair I tell ya... Anyway sorry if this chapter is confusing, if you don't understand something tell me and I'll try to clear it up best I can.

Cat-so-curious: I can't say when Hao will show up. As for romantic moments between Yoh and Anna there's nothing major planned anytime soon. But there will be a moment between them next chapter that I hope you'll like!

Ficitiongurl3553: Thanks for your review, sorry you had to wait so long again for a chapter!