Fan Fiction ❯ That voice ❯ The Plot ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimers: I don't own Shaman King so don't sue me. Just trying to write a fanfiction here so I'm borrowing the storyline of the series for a moment to alter it to my way of thinking, kinda a what if this could happen thing. Based on after ep 64 of the anime since I haven't gotten the manga or read the manga yet. May contain spoilers to those that haven't seen all 64 eps of the anime series.

© April 2003

Chapter 4 - The plot

Hao called himself a fool as these feelings for Anna began to bother him more. A very long time ago he had women that he would use, but never had he allowed those women to use him in such a way that Anna used him. He told himself that it was only because he was carrying on the role of Yoh, that he was doing what Yoh would normally do since it wasn't time yet for everyone to know that he was back. That is why he continued to follow her orders though it caused chaos inside him when he wasn't able to be with her. He spent his nights tracking down those that had once followed him. Many had fallen and lost their way after his death, but after seeing him reappear. Their spirits grew and they followed him once again. He spent his time wisely and resurrected Spirit of Fire. Yoh and Amidamaru had already destroyed Hao's body along with his spirit. Spirit of Fire was in many ways a part of Hao. The fact that Yoh and his human spirit had been able to defeat him and Spirit of Fire troubled Hao. He needed Spirit of Fire to become stronger. An idea began to form in the back of his mind though he wasn't sure if it would be possible. "There's only one way to find out." He heard himself say out loud, but the empty room answered him with silence. He was going to work on a plan that included both powerful spirits. The more time he spent training with Amidamaru, the more he began to understand how the samurai spirit worked. He planned to use it to its full advantage before he was through.

He wrapped his cloak around his shoulders as he was heading out that night. He continued to wear Yoh's clothes, but his cloak covered him making it appear as if he was his former self. His facial expressions continued to be those of his little brother's. He spent his nights in the woods along side a campfire as he plotted his every move. Once he had walked over to a river and peered into it's shallow depths only to see Yoh staring back at him. It had filled him with an unknown feeling that he had never experienced before. He refused to look at his body's reflection. The moment that he had first appeared again before them, they could hardly believe that he was alive and they had believed that it was just Asakura Yoh trying to play some trick on them. Hao had proved his point to them that it was indeed Hao that stood before them. There were moments since then that he stood among his followers and would feel their keen gaze upon him. They too seemed to gaze at him with different eyes. After first noticing their constant stares, he turned toward one of them.

"What is it?"

"Has something happened to you, Hao-sama?"

"What do you mean?" Hao turned to stare at the Shaman that stood a few feet away from him.

"It's just that, Hao-sama. You seem to be tense lately and.."

"Tense? Don't fucking kid me. My plans are working accordingly. I have nothing to worry about." The Shaman nodded.

"Because Yoh-sama isn't around anymore." The Shaman quickly covered his mouth as he realized that he had spoken out loud.

"Shut up." The Shaman took a step back in surprise.

"Yes, Hao-sama." He replied as he dropped his hands back down to his sides. Another Shaman stepped forward.

"Hao-sama?" The other Shaman had noticed the display of emotions play across Hao's face.

"Leave." The Shamans gathered around Hao turned to look at him.

"But Hao-sama.." Hao cut the other Shaman off with a wave of his hand.

"Leave, all of you." The group of Shamans nodded and began to walk off.

He found himself alone again. He gazed deep into the fire's depth, staring into the flames. His thoughts lost in the embers of the fire. When had my life become a joke he wondered. When had it become so simple.. so carefree? Hao raised his hand and looked at it. It was Yoh's hand. Was it the moment I started to live through Yoh? He lowered his hand and closed his eyes. All those moments that I spent with Anna, could it have effected me? Have I changed? So many questions plagued Hao and he opened his eyes to stare into the fire. It held no answers for him.

It was becoming harder for him to keep his emotions in check and hidden from the others. He believed that it was all the fault of Yoh's body. Being in the body of his younger brother was turning out to be tougher than he had thought it would be. Yoh's body was causing Hao's emotions to run wilder. Hao found himself struggling with so many things since his recent return. He wondered how much longer things would be like this before he would be able to return to being his old self.

He had stopped to look in on Anna before he had left the house that night. For a moment he had dared to open the door all the way and was going to enter her room when he had noticed her roll over. He had quickly shut the door as his heart had began to race. He was able to leave the house after slowly calming himself. Such feelings are foolishness he told himself and felt himself becoming angry. He forced himself to push such thoughts aside.

He decided that tonight he would let his body rest since he had not slept since he had taken over Yoh's body over two weeks ago. He lied down a little ways away from the raging flames and felt himself begin to drift off to sleep. He had forgotten how good it felt to just rest for a moment. He forgot about his foolish new feelings that seemed to overwhelm him lately.

Anna had left the house a few moments after Yoh and she brought Amidamaru with her. They tried to follow Yoh, but lost sight of him.

"Find Yoh." Anna told the spirit and he disappeared to find his friend. Anna also searched the area for any signs of Yoh, but was unable to find anything. Amidamaru appeared before his mistress sadly shaking his head.

"I'm sorry, Anna-dono, but Yoh-dono has disappeared with no trace. I cannot find him anywhere."

"Hm." Anna closed her eyes. Amidamaru watched and waited for his mistress's orders. She opened her eyes. "It's going to rain soon." Amidamaru looked up toward the heavens and noticed for the first time that gray clouds had been gathering. "We'll just head back and wait." Amidamaru nodded and followed his mistress. What is happening to Yoh-dono he wondered as they walked off?

Yoh quickly sat up and looked around. Am I still dreaming he wondered as he viewed the scene around him? A fire blazed not too far from him and the woods surrounded him. He knew where he was. He had finally done it. He had returned. He noticed the cloak that was wrapped around his body as he began to stand up. He had been trying to get back to stop Hao. Everything seemed to run different in his inner world. He had lost track of how much time had passed since Hao had reappeared to him. He started to walk out of the woods. He knew that it had not been a dream. Hao had come back through his body. He had no idea what Hao had done in his body while he had been taken over. Yoh only could hope that the others were okay and that Hao had not hurt anyone using his body.

Yoh striped off the cloak and tossed it to the side as he came into the house.

"Amidamaru! Anna!" No one answered as he ran toward the rooms. He found no one in the house. There was no sign of Anna, only an empty bed. Amidamaru's tablet was nowhere to be found. Had something really happened to everyone he wondered. Had Hao done something to cause everyone to leave? Perhaps he had everyone locked away somewhere? Yoh tried to search through his memories in hope that he would find something of Hao's recent memories, but couldn't remember anything that had happened. That voice had been the last thing that he had heard before he had been left alone to fend for himself. It was more of an out of body state of being as he lived and fought in the dream for a way to be able to return, but no matter what he did. He found no way, no openings, nothing that would hint as to a way to return to the normal world. He had never given up hope because he wanted to see everyone again. He had worried over what evil things that Hao would be doing to everyone.

Yoh ran outside the house and noticed the sky was filled with gray clouds. It was going to rain. He hadn't noticed the weather change so much earlier. He didn't bother to turn around and get an umbrella. He was worried about the others. He wanted to go look for them while he still had time before the rain would begin to fall. Yoh wasn't quick enough as the clouds opened up and the rain began to fall. He didn't let it stop him as he ran down the streets. His eyes searched as he pushed on in hopes of finding some sign of the others.

"Yoh!" Yoh stopped in his tracks as a voice that he knew called out to him. He turned around and looked into the distance. A figure was walking toward him, but he knew the voice well. It was Anna and he could see the shape of something floating beside Anna. He was sure that it was Amidamaru. Yoh smiled as relief flooded through him. They were safe. Yoh took off at a sprint toward the two.

"Amidamaru! Anna!" He called out to them and waved. His smile seemed to brighten the closer he got to them. He closed his eyes for what seemed like a second as his smile radiated. The next moment he found himself loosing his balance as the ground slipped out from under him, the force of gravity pulling him down and into darkness.