Resurfacing by Strawberry'd
Chapter One: Old Memories
"Anna, why are there suitcases in your room?" Yoh asked. "You aren't—leaving, are you?"
"Yoh, would it matter if I was going or not?" Anna asked, calmly.
"Of course it would! You're my fiancée and you—my-my trainer, and…"
"You don't need me anymore, Yoh." Anna replied, standing up.
"But-but…" Yoh trailed off.
"I'm sorry, Yoh, but I'm no use to you anymore." She turned to face him. "Goodbye, Yoh." She started to walk up to her room.
"Wait! Anna, I-I…" he paused. "I love you!" he burst out.
Anna halted and turned around, her face stony. "I'm sorry, Yoh, I just don't feel the same way"
His eyes were bright and he blinked many times as he starred, disbelieving, at his former fiancé.
"Anna…" he whispered but made no move to stop her as she walked out the door. She thought she heard his murmur something else, but couldn't quite catch what he said.
"Don't forget me…" Yoh raced out the door and watched her. He wanted desperately for her to look at him over her shoulder, one last time, but it didn't happen. He felt his heart wrench in two. He walked with heavy footsteps back into the house.
About halfway to the train station, Anna turned and watched as Yoh's figure disappeared into the house.
She tossed and turned but the dream kept flashing before her eyes. It was the same dream, again and again, since she had left Yoh. Anna opened her eyes and turned on her back. She rubbed her eyes and muttered, "Why won't this dream leave me? I had nothing back then, why would it keep reminding me of it?"
Maybe it wasn't her subconscious retelling the story, maybe it was her heart.
"Moshi, moshi (1)?" Yoh picked up the phone.
"Hello ototo-san (2)." A voice said.
"Konnichiwa (3) onii-san (4). How are you?"
"I'm ok, but you have to pick up Ayame. I'm busy today and I have no one to baby-sit her. Will you do it for me?" Hao asked.
"Sure. When should I come over?" Yoh said.
"Um, around three would be great, thanks ototo-san."
"Ok, I'll be there." Yoh hung up and smiled when he thought of his little niece. She had turned seven last month and was adorable.
As his mind thought of one female, it moved onto another. Yoh hung his head and banged it against the wall. He never liked thinking of Anna. Sure, he loved her, but she brought him pain and sorrow, not happiness.
It had been three years since he had last seen her and he missed her a great deal. But Yoh knew he probably would never see Anna again, but that never discouraged him.
Yoh wished with all this heart that he could see his beloved Anna again; the only thing he didn't know was that his wish was going to come true a lot sooner than he had expected.
"Otou-san (5)! Otou-san!" called a little girl, running to her father.
"Ah! Ayame-chan, how are you, my princess?" he asked.
"I'm not a princess!' she said. "I'm a fairy!" Ayame proclaimed proudly.
Hao laughed. "Alright, my little fairy, will you grant your old father a wish?"
"You're not old, otou-san. But I will grant you one wish!" she smiled up at him.
"Ok, I wish… I wish…" Hao sat, pretending to be deep in thought.
"Otou-san, why are you taking so long? The wish will runaway if you take any longer." Ayame said, impatiently.
"Alright, alright, I have my wish. I wish that Ayame will be a good little girl—excuse me, fairy, when Uncle Yoh comes over today."
Her little eyes grew wide. "Oji-san (6)is coming?" she asked excitedly.
"Yes, to baby-sit you. I bet he'll take you all around town, but you have to promise to be a good little girl and listen to whatever he says."
"Ok!" she said, beaming.
"Oji-san is coming! Oji-san is coming!" she called happily as she ran around the room.
Hao smiled, lovingly at his daughter.
If I knew it would hurt this much, I wouldn't have left. She thought.
Anna smiled softly and thought of how he would always try and get out of her training. She thought of his lazy grin and his orange headphones. Of the way his hair fell into his eyes when he was sleeping. Of the way he would do whatever it took to please her. And last of all, she thought of when he told her he loved her.
Annafelt a tear trickle down her cheeks and wiped it away gently. I think I'm going to go out today. Maybe go to the mall or something. Something to keep my mind off Yoh.
"Ohayou (7)oji-san" Ayame cried out when she saw Yoh.
He smiled down at her and said, "Ohayou Ayame-chan. Guess what I brought you."
"Ooh! Ooh! Is it… candy?" she said excitingly.
"Nooo…" Yoh said.
"Is it… a dolly?" she asked.
"Aww… how did you guess?" Yoh said, acting disappointed.
"I'm very smart, you know!" Ayame said, gleefully.
"Well, here you are! " Yoh handed her a pretty doll with rosy red cheeks, a wide smile, and blonde hair.
"Arigatou gozaimasu (8), oji-san!" Ayame said, delighted with her present.
"You're welcome, Ayame. Do you want to bring her when we go out into the city?"
"Can I, otou-san? Onegai (9)?" Ayame said using the power of the puppy eyes.
"Ok, but be careful, she's new, remember."
"I will!" Ayame said cheerfully and grabbed Yoh's hand. "Let's go, oji-san! Bye otou-san! See you later!"
"Bye Ayame! Bye Yoh!" Hao said waving.
"Bye!" Yoh waved back and let himself be dragged out by the little girl.
Notes: -san is used as a suffix. ex. mr, ms, mrs. -chan is used for a suffix for little children and mostly females.
(1): hello, usually used when on the phone.
(2): little brother
(3): hello
(4): older brother
(5): father
(6): uncle
(7): good morning
(8): thank you
(9): please, I'm begging you
End of Chapter One