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Yasuo smiled as the memories forced their way into his mind. The scream of a little girl who couldn't quite make out what was under the porch.

"Yasuo-kun!!! Ana had screamed, running at him with tears already rolling down her face. Yasuo had been a bit scared, but no seven year old would admit to something when it came to girls. He'd held her hand all the way back to the porch. She stood a good four feet away as he'd forced his little body through a hole. When the kitten had first touched him it had taken all the strength a boy could manage not to scream. Realizing what it was, he'd called out to his childhood friend. "It's alright! It's a kitten!" he called excitedly. Carefully cradling the cat, he'd climbed free and showed the orange cat to Ana. "What would you like to name it?" he asked, handing it to her. Ana had giggled happily at the thought of naming the cat. "Spot." she'd said simply in reference to the small gray spot on his chin.

"Spot." Yasuo said aloud after the memory had passed. "I wonder whatever happened to him."

"I'd imagine." he said, still laughing. "I can't believe you never told me." Yasuo said, mock hurt on his face. "Imagine the memories I could have created with that cat!" he finished the last of his meal and stood to move the dishes to the sink. A frown creased its way into his forehead. "Ana, why did our friendship diminish the way it did?" he asked, searching his brain. It had all seemed so sudden. One day they'd been playing in the woods together, the next she'd shut him out. "I'm sure it's my fault, but i can't seem to remember what it was."

Yasuo wrestled around with the idea in head. So, it was his fault. He'd neglected her for his own selfish impulses and needs. "I'm sorry." he said. "I guess I didn't realize it at the time. Every time I'd come over your father would tell me you weren't there or that you were busy with something." Yasuo remembered the last time he'd attempted to visit Ana.

He'd been surprisingly nervous, for what reason he couldn't have been sure. He'd stood on the porch, immaculately dressed and groomed for the occasion. In his hands he held a small wrapped box and a dozen roses. Six pink and six yellow. He'd worked on saving money for them for almost six months, not wanting his parents help with the gifts. He'd rung the bell, hoping it would be Ana that answered. Instead he'd gotten her father. His already tense nerves had tightened as Yasuo smiled at the taller man. "Hello." he'd said, clearing his throat before he continued. "I was hoping to see Ana. I want to wish her Happy Birthday!" he explained. "Is she in?" he asked, able to hear several people inside. Yasuo had stood there for nearly two full minutes before the other man spoke.
"Whatever it is you have for her, she doesn't want or need. And that includes you. She told me she doesn't want you at this years party and as her father I want what she wants. I suggest you leave and don't come back, boy." His tone had been threatening and at the young age of sixteen, Yasuo had left, taking the flowers to the nearest garbage can as he went.
He'd fought back the tears of anger and rejection as he'd sat on his own porch, looking at the small box in shiny gold paper and the simple red bow. Inside the box had been a gold bracelet with a simple heart shaped charm. The words Friends Forever etched into the heart.
Yasuo had walked angrily to the pond that sat behind his home and tossed it into the water.

It was from that day he'd decided not to get serious about any one women. Not when there were so many of them. He'd headed out and tried to forget what had happened and how much it had hurt him. And he had, until today with Ana sitting across from him. So many memories of the past were creeping in on him, making him realize what a jerk he was.

"Throwing your birthday gift into the pond." he said honestly. "I had planned to attend your party as I always had." he explained. "Your father turned me away, saying you didn't want me there and that you didn't need me anymore." Yasuo smiled sadly at her. "Through the rest of school I avoided you and even had a class changed so we wouldn't be in the same one. After that I left, leaving you alone as I was told you wanted. When we did finally end up in the same place again, I made a vow to make you regret wanting me to leave you. And that's where I've been, until this last month. I realized whatever I'd been aiming for wasn't working. I'm not entirely sure what it is I'm aiming for anymore." he admitted.

Yasuo took her hands gently away from the dishes and dried them before pulling her into his arms to comfort her. For the first time in a long time, he felt at peace, glad that what had happened in the past hadn't been entirely his fault. Perhaps if he'd been older when he'd been turned away he would have made a fuss and he'd never have left her. Yasuo pushed the thoughts away. He was the man he was today because of that.

He held Ana tightly, waiting for her tears to subside but not caring how long that took. She was with him again, willingly, and the meant more to him than he realized.

Yasuo caught her hand as she reached the door. "Ana, wait." he said, not wanting her to leave after they'd finally gotten back to the friendship he'd been missing for so long. Unsure weather or not to continue with their former conversation or not, he decided to skip it. "I made dessert." he said lamely. "Apple pie, to be exact." He let her hand fall from his, a crooked smile on his face.

"At least take a piece with you." he said, the soft smile of long ago on his face. "Two minutes." he promised turning back into the kitchen to get her a slice. Holding the container with the much to large slice of pie in it, he went back to her and handed it to her. "I'll see you at work." he said, unsure how else to end the night. He hid his disappointment from her, not wanting to upset her more than he already had.