Anna woke up late the next day, her head aching. The beach's fault... She
told herself. She ordered black coffee and toast for her late breakfast.
That was the only time she noticed the package and an envelope on her bed.
She picked it up and read the attached note.
You were peacefully sleeping that I didn't bother waking you
up. I do know what could happen to me if I do so... Wear the
dress tonight; I know it would look good on you. Attached is
the invitation, you can't go in without it... I'll just see
you at the ball...
Yoh
Before long, Anna began preparing for the ball. She wore the long dress Yoh sent her earlier. The material of the fabric was delicate and transparent, with light streaks of yellow all over, causing the dress to glitter a little. The neckline was modestly low, the sleeves hanging, the slit, not so high. She can't wear her glass slippers; she lost the other pair a year ago.
The ball was to begin at 8, but she left an hour and a half earlier, learning her lesson.
Anna still wondered why she had come at all. She didn't even know if she could bear the sight of that girl...
Speaking of the girl, she wondered why Yoh didn't reveal her name. Yoh said he wanted to surprise the whole world, but still, that seemed not to be the reason. She felt there's something else. Her intuitions were never wrong.
Anna made a mental note. She was not jealous.
Or maybe, perhaps, she was...
She arrived at the palace an hour before 8. She presented her invitation card to the usher. The usher smiled at her, and then led her into another corridor.
Anna noticed she was led to the opposite of where the others where led. She asked the usher why; the only answer was because she was a special guest. Anna accepted that explanation.
"Where's my tie?" Yoh asked, in panic.
Ren grunted. "Would you please relax?" He was playing cards with Hao, Chocolove, Horo-Horo, and Lyserg.
"It's only a ball, for Pete's sake." Chocolove said, putting down his cards.
"And Spiky is quite losing..." Hao mentioned, drawing another card from the deck.
Ren's face turned red in embarrassment. "Shut up! What makes you so confident?"
"Because he has the card you've been waiting for." Horo-Horo replied. "Lyserg?"
"So you better put down those cards or you'll definitely lose the game." Lyserg put down a card.
"Where's my coat?" Yoh cried.
"He's hopeless." Manta shook his head.
Hao smiled triumphantly. "I guess I won." Cries of anguish were heard from the gang especially from Ren, as he revealed his Ace.
"Okay, let's practice what you'll do." Yoh said, regaining self-control.
"Yoh, we practiced that for the tenth time!" Horo-Horo protested, shuffling the cards.
Hao smirked. "You still have to thank us for being actors in your..." At that moment, Jeanne, Tamao, and Pirika appeared.
"Master Yoh, she's already here." Tamao announced.
Yoh breathed hard. "Places everyone. It's time to tell the whole world the name of my bride."
Anna sat on the couch. The usher suggested that she rest here first, and asked her if there's anything, she wanted. Anna shook her head; the usher smiled at her, and then left her immediately. She noticed that this was becoming odd...
There was a knock on her door. Pirika, Jeanne, and Tamao entered, smiling at her.
"Wow, Ms. Anna!" Tamao greeted, "You look so beautiful in that dress!"
Pirika and Jeanne nodded in agreement. "It suits you well!"
Anna forced a smile. "Thank you. You all look wonderful as well."
"We found out that this was your room, so you wouldn't mind if we accompany you?"
"Not at all."
There was another knock, and Hao, Ren, Lyserg, and Horo-Horo appeared. "The ball would start."
Jeanne took Lyserg's arm, Tamao with Horo-Horo, and Pirika with Ren. Anna had no choice but to take Hao's arm.
Hao grinned at her. "You don't have any choice." Anna glared at him.
They entered the ballroom together. Anna looked around. There were so many shamans present.
"One of them would be Yoh's bride..." Hao whispered playfully...
Anna was getting irritated. Yoh didn't speak to her; he merely gave her a nod to acknowledge her presence. His brother didn't make it easier at all.
It was midnight when Yoh asked for everyone's attention. Everyone turned to listen. It was the most-awaited moment that night.
"I don't have to tell you the reason why I'm here in front of you." Yoh started, "You're wondering who she is, what she was like, the girl I'd be marrying. I can only say one thing: I love her..."
Anna excused herself from Hao. Hao didn't let her go. "Anna, Trust me, if you leave, you'll regret this your whole like." Anna had no choice but to stay.
"How? Why? I do not know. I just found myself falling for her. Not because she's nice, she's pretty, she's sweet... Maybe because of her bossy attitude, her horrible temper, her lethal glares, her unique sense of humor, and because she's cute whenever she's mad at me." He smiled. "Maybe because she can protect herself, she can stand on her own, she's independent, she's different from the girls out there, Honestly, I really don't know."
Anna was now listening attentively.
"I love her so much that I let her go thrice, all because of one revelation. But I waited long enough. I waited for a year, and that's enough. The most painful part is, I told her I love her, last night, but she didn't believe me. I don't blame her. She has enough reason to do so. Now, I'm going to prove to her, and to the whole world that I love her." Yoh looked at Anna's direction.
Anna was listening harder than ever. Could it be?
"Maybe, you're wondering, the reason why I didn't tell you all her name, when it should have brought prestige to her name, well, she doesn't care about the prestige and wealth that comes with the title of the Asakura." Yoh smiled, "You see, she doesn't know that I'd be marrying her in two days time." Whispers were heard from the crowd.
Anna rolled her eyes. This is odd...
"Yeah, I know that would be unfair on her part, but you see, this is the only way, and I know she can understand that." Yoh stopped again. "She's absolutely here, but I won't tell you her name that easily. You maybe wondering how she would recognize herself, and there are lots of ladies in here, well, I always find a way." He pulled out a glass slipper from his coat, "By means of this glass slipper. I know this glass slipper would fit only her foot. I ask all the ladies to try on the slipper. You may never know. I know this takes time, but, you all waited for a month, what's an hour or less, right?" The ladies took turns in trying the slipper.
Anna was the only one who didn't join the crowd. She was speechless, in a state of shock. She nearly fainted when she saw the glass slipper. Hao was grinning madly at her.
The glass slipper obviously didn't fit the ladies who tried it on. It was either too big, or too small...
Yoh looked around. "I guess there's one more lady who didn't try the slipper." He looked at Anna. The crowd gave way as Yoh approached Anna.
Yoh grinned at her. "Would you care to try on the slipper?" Anna merely nodded. Yoh fell to his knees. Anna slipped her left foot on the slipper. It fits perfectly.
Yoh looked at her. "Madame, it fits perfectly." Yoh brought out the emerald ring form his pocket. Anna was near in tears. "I love you, cheri, I mean it. Would you always be my princess?"
Anna smiled, in spite of her sobs. "Yes," She replied softly, "Do I have a choice?"
Yoh slipped on the ring on her finger. "You know I don't take no as an answer...." He then stood and kissed her. The whole court applauded.
"Have I ever told you I love you, Yoh?" Anna asked.
Yoh shook his head. "Nope!"
Anna smiled. "I just told you, stupid..."
"You really have a unique sense of humor, cheri...." Yoh replied, laughing.
Of course, they live happily ever after... As usual...
*** The END
To all my reviewers... thanks! Please give me your overall insight about the fic... thanks!!!
Yeah, tell me if I should write another yo/na, or another pairing... suggestions about my next fic would be very welcome!!
You were peacefully sleeping that I didn't bother waking you
up. I do know what could happen to me if I do so... Wear the
dress tonight; I know it would look good on you. Attached is
the invitation, you can't go in without it... I'll just see
you at the ball...
Yoh
Before long, Anna began preparing for the ball. She wore the long dress Yoh sent her earlier. The material of the fabric was delicate and transparent, with light streaks of yellow all over, causing the dress to glitter a little. The neckline was modestly low, the sleeves hanging, the slit, not so high. She can't wear her glass slippers; she lost the other pair a year ago.
The ball was to begin at 8, but she left an hour and a half earlier, learning her lesson.
Anna still wondered why she had come at all. She didn't even know if she could bear the sight of that girl...
Speaking of the girl, she wondered why Yoh didn't reveal her name. Yoh said he wanted to surprise the whole world, but still, that seemed not to be the reason. She felt there's something else. Her intuitions were never wrong.
Anna made a mental note. She was not jealous.
Or maybe, perhaps, she was...
She arrived at the palace an hour before 8. She presented her invitation card to the usher. The usher smiled at her, and then led her into another corridor.
Anna noticed she was led to the opposite of where the others where led. She asked the usher why; the only answer was because she was a special guest. Anna accepted that explanation.
"Where's my tie?" Yoh asked, in panic.
Ren grunted. "Would you please relax?" He was playing cards with Hao, Chocolove, Horo-Horo, and Lyserg.
"It's only a ball, for Pete's sake." Chocolove said, putting down his cards.
"And Spiky is quite losing..." Hao mentioned, drawing another card from the deck.
Ren's face turned red in embarrassment. "Shut up! What makes you so confident?"
"Because he has the card you've been waiting for." Horo-Horo replied. "Lyserg?"
"So you better put down those cards or you'll definitely lose the game." Lyserg put down a card.
"Where's my coat?" Yoh cried.
"He's hopeless." Manta shook his head.
Hao smiled triumphantly. "I guess I won." Cries of anguish were heard from the gang especially from Ren, as he revealed his Ace.
"Okay, let's practice what you'll do." Yoh said, regaining self-control.
"Yoh, we practiced that for the tenth time!" Horo-Horo protested, shuffling the cards.
Hao smirked. "You still have to thank us for being actors in your..." At that moment, Jeanne, Tamao, and Pirika appeared.
"Master Yoh, she's already here." Tamao announced.
Yoh breathed hard. "Places everyone. It's time to tell the whole world the name of my bride."
Anna sat on the couch. The usher suggested that she rest here first, and asked her if there's anything, she wanted. Anna shook her head; the usher smiled at her, and then left her immediately. She noticed that this was becoming odd...
There was a knock on her door. Pirika, Jeanne, and Tamao entered, smiling at her.
"Wow, Ms. Anna!" Tamao greeted, "You look so beautiful in that dress!"
Pirika and Jeanne nodded in agreement. "It suits you well!"
Anna forced a smile. "Thank you. You all look wonderful as well."
"We found out that this was your room, so you wouldn't mind if we accompany you?"
"Not at all."
There was another knock, and Hao, Ren, Lyserg, and Horo-Horo appeared. "The ball would start."
Jeanne took Lyserg's arm, Tamao with Horo-Horo, and Pirika with Ren. Anna had no choice but to take Hao's arm.
Hao grinned at her. "You don't have any choice." Anna glared at him.
They entered the ballroom together. Anna looked around. There were so many shamans present.
"One of them would be Yoh's bride..." Hao whispered playfully...
Anna was getting irritated. Yoh didn't speak to her; he merely gave her a nod to acknowledge her presence. His brother didn't make it easier at all.
It was midnight when Yoh asked for everyone's attention. Everyone turned to listen. It was the most-awaited moment that night.
"I don't have to tell you the reason why I'm here in front of you." Yoh started, "You're wondering who she is, what she was like, the girl I'd be marrying. I can only say one thing: I love her..."
Anna excused herself from Hao. Hao didn't let her go. "Anna, Trust me, if you leave, you'll regret this your whole like." Anna had no choice but to stay.
"How? Why? I do not know. I just found myself falling for her. Not because she's nice, she's pretty, she's sweet... Maybe because of her bossy attitude, her horrible temper, her lethal glares, her unique sense of humor, and because she's cute whenever she's mad at me." He smiled. "Maybe because she can protect herself, she can stand on her own, she's independent, she's different from the girls out there, Honestly, I really don't know."
Anna was now listening attentively.
"I love her so much that I let her go thrice, all because of one revelation. But I waited long enough. I waited for a year, and that's enough. The most painful part is, I told her I love her, last night, but she didn't believe me. I don't blame her. She has enough reason to do so. Now, I'm going to prove to her, and to the whole world that I love her." Yoh looked at Anna's direction.
Anna was listening harder than ever. Could it be?
"Maybe, you're wondering, the reason why I didn't tell you all her name, when it should have brought prestige to her name, well, she doesn't care about the prestige and wealth that comes with the title of the Asakura." Yoh smiled, "You see, she doesn't know that I'd be marrying her in two days time." Whispers were heard from the crowd.
Anna rolled her eyes. This is odd...
"Yeah, I know that would be unfair on her part, but you see, this is the only way, and I know she can understand that." Yoh stopped again. "She's absolutely here, but I won't tell you her name that easily. You maybe wondering how she would recognize herself, and there are lots of ladies in here, well, I always find a way." He pulled out a glass slipper from his coat, "By means of this glass slipper. I know this glass slipper would fit only her foot. I ask all the ladies to try on the slipper. You may never know. I know this takes time, but, you all waited for a month, what's an hour or less, right?" The ladies took turns in trying the slipper.
Anna was the only one who didn't join the crowd. She was speechless, in a state of shock. She nearly fainted when she saw the glass slipper. Hao was grinning madly at her.
The glass slipper obviously didn't fit the ladies who tried it on. It was either too big, or too small...
Yoh looked around. "I guess there's one more lady who didn't try the slipper." He looked at Anna. The crowd gave way as Yoh approached Anna.
Yoh grinned at her. "Would you care to try on the slipper?" Anna merely nodded. Yoh fell to his knees. Anna slipped her left foot on the slipper. It fits perfectly.
Yoh looked at her. "Madame, it fits perfectly." Yoh brought out the emerald ring form his pocket. Anna was near in tears. "I love you, cheri, I mean it. Would you always be my princess?"
Anna smiled, in spite of her sobs. "Yes," She replied softly, "Do I have a choice?"
Yoh slipped on the ring on her finger. "You know I don't take no as an answer...." He then stood and kissed her. The whole court applauded.
"Have I ever told you I love you, Yoh?" Anna asked.
Yoh shook his head. "Nope!"
Anna smiled. "I just told you, stupid..."
"You really have a unique sense of humor, cheri...." Yoh replied, laughing.
Of course, they live happily ever after... As usual...
*** The END
To all my reviewers... thanks! Please give me your overall insight about the fic... thanks!!!
Yeah, tell me if I should write another yo/na, or another pairing... suggestions about my next fic would be very welcome!!