Shaman King Fan Fiction ❯ Ivy, Shaman Runaway ❯ Dealing With The “Devil Boy” ( Chapter 69 )

Disclaimer: Kara doesn't own Shaman King.

 

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Dealing With The “Devil Boy”

Sand and dirt blew in the wind, getting in my eyes and stinging them. Still I pushed on, not knowing where the heck I thought I was going. I knew that I had originally intended to go to Hao's campsite, but now that I was actually out in the harsh desert I found that I would have a hard time getting there in one piece.

 

`I don't even know where I'm going…' I mentally slapped myself for thinking I could find Hao's campsite without ever having been there before. I had been running the whole time, and was starting to get tired. I was about to give up and go back home when I felt something inside of me yelling to keep going. It was as if there was someone telling me, “Go this way!”, or “Make a left turn here!”. The voice was pretty easy to follow, and a few hours later I could see smoke from a campfire.

 

The sun had set, and it was getting dark; I wouldn't make it home until well after midnight. It wasn't long before I could distinctly make out twenty or so tents set up all over in a little valley. Huge amounts of furyoku were evident in the air, and it almost knocked me unconscious with its potency.

 

“Can I help you?” a smooth voice came from behind me, and I could feel the cold metal of a gun against my skull.

 

“I'm looking for my brother.” I replied levelly, willing my voice not to crack or shake. I didn't move for fear of angering the other person. All I could make out about my aggressor was that they were male.

 

“Your brother?” A shadow to my left started moving around to the front of me to get a better look, yet the gun was not removed from my head. There was more than one of them. A match was lit and held up to my face, so that he could see me, but I still couldn't see him. “Ahh…tu eres el hermano de Hao-sama. Muy interesante…”

 

The man drew the match away from my face and blew it out. “Follow me.” Two boney hands gripped both of my wrists and drug me forward. Still the gun was pressed to the back of my head as I was pulled further into camp.

 

“Where are you taking me?” I tried to start a conversation with the mystery man.

 

“To Luca. He should know what to do with you.” The man's answers were quick and to the point. As we approached the big bonfire in the center of camp I could see him better. He wore a big sombrero, and most of his body was covered so no skin, not even his face, showed.

 

“What's your name?” I tried again to get him talking.

 

“Yo soy Peyote.” The man answered in Spanish.

 

“Who's holding this gun to my head?, and is there any chance it can be removed?”

 

“My skeleton dolls. And no.” Peyote was a man of few words.

 

“Why not? I promise I won't run. I want to see my brother. Is he…?” I let my voice trail off, not wanting to even suggest that my brother was dead.

 

“Carlos, Joan, Jose. Release him. I have not been told the status of your brother. You will have to follow me and see Luca to find out.” Peyote led me to the center of camp where a lot of Hao's followers sat starring worriedly at a huge bonfire; they muttered softly to each other.

 

Their conversations all turned to excited whispers when Peyote led me into their circle; everyone stopped what they were doing to look at me. Some smiled, some frowned, and two girls, a blonde and a redhead, winked and blew kisses at me. I smiled back at them, and hoped that the glow from the fire hid my blush.

 

I was escorted up to a tall man in black vestments; he sat next to a little African boy in an orange poncho.

 

“What do you have there, Peyote?” The older man asked, glancing me over.

 

“Master's little brother.”

 

“What is Yoh doing here?” Opacho looked up at me questioningly.

 

“My brother?” I asked again, some of the color drained from my face.

 

“Don't worry. He should be fine.” I turned and found a tall blue-haired woman right up behind me. I recognized her as the leader of the Hanagumi, but I couldn't remember her name. “I'm Kanna. I just got him to go to sleep…Mari and Macchi did their job a little too well.” Kanna glared viciously at the two girls who had been hitting on me only a few minutes earlier.

 

“Then he's alive?” I starred stupidly at the pretty blue-haired girl.

 

“Thankfully.” Luca nodded. “I'm afraid that it's too late to talk to him now, and you won't get home until really late if you try to make it through the desert tonight. Why don't you stay here for the night? We have plenty of room and food. Hao will want to speak with you when you he wakes.”

 

“Uh…I'm not so sure about this…I mean I really do have to get home and all, and I…uh—“

 

“He doesn't trust us.” Opacho stated plainly. “What if Opacho promises that no harm shall come to Yoh while he stays with us?”

 

“I guess it would be okay…” I started to cave, but was still somewhat resistant. These same people had tried to kill me in the past, so what would stop them from murdering me in my sleep? They did seem nice though…

 

“Yeah! We'll take good care of ya!!” the redheaded girl from before somehow popped up next to me without my noticing.

 

“Mari tsumanai…Could Mari and Macchi have fun with Master's brother?” The blonde looked questioningly at Kanna.

 

“No. You've already done enough horseplay for tonight. At least try and save something for marriage.” Luca glared at the precocious blonde before turning to look at me. “Are you hungry?”

 

I nodded. Kanna smiled warmly at me and ushered me toward the kitchen. “What would you like? Something with curry, I suppose—am I correct?”

 

“Yes, actually my favorite food is curry udon. How did you—“

 

“Hao's favorite food is curry bread. I just figured you two being twins and everything…well anyway, I think we have some of that around here—ah yes! Here you go.” She set my meal down on a nearby table, and I sat down to eat.

 

“Why are you guys being so…nice?” I blinked up at Kanna.

 

“You look a lot like your brother, you know?” Kanna fished a popsicle out of the freezer for Opacho.

 

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” I continued eating as Kanna and Opacho took a seat on the opposite side of the table from me.

 

“A very good thing. You are a part of him after all. I think you're cute. I'm not usually this nice…not even to Hao.” She smirked at me and pulled out a cigarette.

 

I didn't say anything and the silence seemed to coax her to talk more. “Hao is currently unconscious, and hasn't given us the order to kill you, so we will simply wait and see what he tells us to do. We really aren't as evil as people think we are. We've been hurt deeply by the rest of the world, so we fight to rid the world of evil. I know killing is wrong, but…just looking at what has happened to the rest of my teammates…I can't help but hold a grudge. Witches aren't evil, and it wasn't our fault…you can't choose who you're related to, but those humans were so close-minded about the whole thing.”

 

“Opacho never knew his parents.” Opacho spoke up for the first time in awhile. “He was all alone with no name, no clothes, no food, no shelter…no nothing. If Master had not saved him…Opacho would have died…Opacho wasn't even a year old when Master Hao saved him…It makes Opacho mad to hear people call Hao evil!”

 

“I hadn't thought of it that way…” I looked up from my food. “He really isn't such a bad person after all…just so misunderstood…poor aniki…” I finished up my meal and put the dirty dishes in the sink.

 

“Ready for bed?” Opacho looked up at me, a cute little smile placed at a slant on his lips.

 

“Yep!” I smiled my own patented smile at him. “Thanks so much for the food and the bed!”

 

Opacho led me to a spare tent and clicked the light on so that I could see. “Whoa…” The walls of the tent were covered in murals. Beautiful murals of the forest, the beach, a swamp, a desert, a city, mountains, and all other sorts of natural wonders. “Who did all this?”

 

“Ivy. This was her room when she first joined us. She was a whole lot more naïve when it came to men back then. She used to blush whenever Hao smiled at her, and she was too shy to sleep in the same bed as him. Ivy was just a little girl when she first met Hao…It's his fault that she became so sluty…He changed her as much as she changed him.” Opacho sighed softly as he remembered Ivy.

 

“Sorry, Opacho didn't mean to ramble like that! Yoh probably wants to go to sleep, and Opacho is keeping him up! So sorry Yoh-sama!” Opacho bowed his head slightly and started to exit.

 

“Oh, I don't mind! Actually I like hearing about Ivy…I didn't know her as well as I thought I did…” I sighed at the fact that I didn't know the woman I was going to marry at all…

 

“Master had had his eyes on her for awhile before he actually approached her. He was going to ask her to become one of his followers, but he never did. Instead he waited almost five years to introduce himself…Opacho thinks Hao had been in love with her the whole time and just didn't know it, but Opacho is rambling again. Goodnight Yoh-sama.”

 

“Goodnight Opacho.” I smiled one last time before clicking the light off and getting in bed.

 

I got a rude awakening the next morning.

 

“He's cute!” An excited woman's voice cooed somewhere close to my ear.

 

“Shhhh! Macchi will wake Yoh-sama!” Another voice, this one quieter than the first.

 

“Fine. How's this?” The first voice lowered in volume, but retained her excited air.

 

“Good, now help Mari with his belt buckle.” I heard what they were saying, but it didn't make any sense to me. I was still half-asleep.

 

“No way!” The first voice hissed. “You get the lips this time, Mari! I already called the lower half.”

 

“Fine, but Macchi owes Mari one.” A pair of lips descended gracefully onto mine and took advantage of my mouth being half open in sleep. Her tongue slid effortlessly into my mouth and started to massage the roof with an air that told me she had definitely done this before. My subconscious automatically responded to the kiss.

 

“Thanks Mar…You know if he had longer hair he would look exactly like his brother.”

 

“Umhmm…” Mari moaned to Macchi without removing her tongue from my mouth.

 

“This'll be fun!” Macchi had finally gotten my belt buckle undone and had lightly let her robe drop to the floor. My eyes flew open when her lips first touched my skin, and I nearly choked on Mari's tongue. They jumped back in shock.

 

“What the Hell?!” I starred stupidly at the two girls as I slipped back into my pants and shirt.

 

“Uhhhh….” They looked dumbly back at me, unsure of how exactly to handle the situation.

 

Macchi slipped back on her robe, and Mari straightened her own clothes before they actually got a sentence out between the two of them.

 

“It was all Macchi's fault!” Mari pointed at her partner in crime. “Macchi is a bad girl!”

 

“Oh, thanks, Mar!” Macchi glared at her supposed `best friend' “Look,” She returned her attention to me. “I'm really sorry about this…we wouldn't really do anything to you…Right Mari?!” The redhead blushed profusely, smiling apologetically at me.

 

“That's not what Macchi said Mari and Macchi were going to do—“

 

“—I SAID: RIGHT MARI?!?!” Macchi elbowed Mari in the stomach, but Mari didn't cave.

 

“Master is going to be very angry with Mari for being unfaithful to him…” Mari sighed looking sadly at the floor.

 

A look of pure terror struck Macchi's face. “OH GOD!!! You're right; he'll kill us!!” Macchi gripped Mari's shoulders and began to sob. “After what we did to him last night, and then trying the same thing on his little brother!? Oh God, we're dead!!”

 

“Mari can't die…Not yet. Master has still not confessed his love for Mari!” Mari looked even more depressed than usual.

 

“Unless he doesn't find out…” Macchi let go of Mari and launched herself at me, attaching herself to my legs. “Please don't tell your brother what we were planning to do! Please, please!! He'll murder us in cold blood, and then we won't be alive to help him get over Ivy because let's face it, he's gonna need a rebound girl sometime, and Mar and I are perfect for him, he just doesn't realize it!! Please don't tell Hao-sama on us!!”

 

“You wouldn't…would you?” Mari's sad emerald eyes begged me to stay quiet about the incident.

 

“I…” I found myself quite entranced by her eyes, and for a second was hypnotized in her gaze. I blinked several times bringing myself back to reality before I replied. “If it means that much to you, I suppose I could—“

 

“OH Thank you!!!” Macchi jumped into my arms and kissed me passionately as if she was trying to devour my tonsils.

 

Mari too smiled, and after Macchi was done with me, pulled me into a similar kiss of gratitude. “Yoh truly is a good person…now if only he had his brother's hair…”

 

“Anna is going to kill me when she finds out about this…” I mused quietly to myself.

 

“Oh, Kanna told us to wake you up for breakfast. I almost forgot! See ya there, Yoh-koi!” Macchi winked seductively at me, and rushed out of the tent.

 

“Don't take too long; Mari will be waiting, Yoh-koi.” Mari smiled slyly before dashing out of the tent, following close behind Macchi.

 

I rolled my eyes as I shook my head. “I have a feeling that even if those two weren't powerful shaman, Hao would have kept them around anyway for entertainment purposes. They sure are amusing to watch.”

 

A few minutes later after heavily scouring the area, I found myself in the kitchen area. Macchi and Mari were conversing, using their arms to gesture vehemently. They didn't see me at first, but when they did they stopped their conversation to drag me over to where they were sitting.

 

“Hello Yoh-koi.” They smiled very suggestively at me and coursed.

 

“Hi Mari, Macchi.” I tried my best to appear happy, but in truth, I was scared stiff that they would try something.

 

“Come sit by me, Yoh-koi!” Macchi happily chirped, grabbing my arm to pull me over to her seat.

 

“No! Sit by Mari, Yoh-koi!!” Mari took hold of my opposite arm and pulled me away from her comrade.

 

“Mari! Macchi!” Kanna marched over to the three of us looking very pissed.

 

“Uh-oh…” Macchi whispered under her breath. “Yes, Kanna?” Macchi let go of my arm, and instead fastened herself to my torso.

 

“Kanna looks angry…” Mari secured herself to the other half of my body.

 

The blue-haired shaman glared down at her subordinates. “Let the poor boy go, and I won't hurt you.” Mari and Macchi instantly detached themselves from me. “Good girls.” Kanna rolled her eyes as she set a plate down for me at the place across from where Mari and Macchi were sitting. “Let me know if they bother you Yoh-sama.” And with that, Kanna walked off.

 

The two remaining Hana-girls took their seats, and I sat across from them. The table was full of food. There were eggs, pancakes, bacon, biscuits, and waffles. Food covered the top of the table, and I knew that they were probably still making more food back in the kitchen.

 

“Who makes all this food?” I directed my question at either one of the two, whoever would answer.

 

Macchi replied with food still in her mouth. “Luca and Opacho usually cook. They love to cook, and they're really good, but Kanna's a really good chef too. Actually, we all can cook…If we get sick of one type of food or one style of cooking then we switch cooks. Luca is really good; he makes all sorts of dishes. Bill makes American food, Mari is all over the Italian, Kanna is especially awesome when she makes German specialties, Han ZanChin makes Chinese, Peyote's got Mexican, and I can sorta make some British-style dishes, but I'm not so great. Opacho is amazing! He can make all sorts of stuff. He was only a few months old when we were in South America and found him, so he doesn't know much about his heritage, but he's a great chef regardless. The best chef ever, though, is Hao-sama! He makes all sorts of stuff from all around the world! He really is amazing…” Macchi sighed dreamily when she talked about my brother.

 

I wondered if I would ever be that popular with women. All it took was the thought of what Anna would think to clear those thoughts from my head. I would never get a chance at any other women. I instead turned my thoughts to my brother. `Where is he? I haven't seen him all morning.'

 

“Hey, where is Hao anyway?”

 

“He's sleeping in.” Kanna appeared out of nowhere, and sat next to me, filling up her plate. “He says he's `trying to break this annoying human habit', but he doesn't do anything about getting up earlier. Ivy always used to sleep in, and he watch her until she woke up…” Kanna ended on a low note and turned her attention toward the contents of her plate.

 

“They really were a great couple…” I again was somehow reminded of how little I knew about Ivy, the woman I had almost married. I had only known her for two or so months, and I had almost married her. If what Opacho had told me the night before was true, then Hao had watched Ivy from afar for several years before he had approached her. She had truly been better off with Hao…Her little fling with me cost her dearly. She had paid with her life.

 

“Yes, Hao and Ivy were made for each other.” Mari agreed with my previous comment. We were left in silence as everyone starred downward at their plates.

 

It was by chance that I looked up when I did. I thought I had seen something out of the corner of my eye, and when I looked up there he stood. My elder twin stood right behind Mari and Macchi. He noticed my gaze on him, and put a finger to his lips. I looked back down and pretended not to have seen anything; however I did keep watch on him out of the corner of my eye. `What is he up to?'

 

`Shhhh. Just a harmless prank, little brother.' If I hadn't have known that Hao could read minds, I would have jumped when I heard his voice inside of my head. Hao snuck up behind the blonde and the redhead without their noticing. He smirked evilly as he positioned himself so that he was right next to their ears.

 

Kanna suppressed a smirk as she mumbled under her breath, “Troublemaker…He's a few thousand years old, but he still acts like a child.”

 

Hao showed another evil smirk before he screamed, “Boo!” directly into Mari and Macchi's ears.

 

Both girls jumped out of their seats and landed on the ground at Hao's feet. “M-MASTER!!”

 

“Hello. Give me a good reason why I shouldn't toast you two right now for what you did last night.” Hao smiled wickedly down at his two groupies.

 

“M-master! We are so sorry! We know that we shouldn't of, but it was tempting, and we only did it because…because…” Macchi looked at Mari for support.

 

“It was all Kanna's idea!” Mari pointed at her blue-haired leader.

 

“No need to point fingers, Mari. I've already decided your fate for what you did to me last night, and for trying the same thing on my little brother this morning.”

 

Hao turned to me and asked fondly, “They didn't hurt you too badly did they?” I shook my head vigorously. “Good.”

 

My brother redirected his attention back at the girls on the ground. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. You've both been naughty. We'll have to punish you for this.”

 

“Master, please—“ Kanna stood straight up and tried to persuade Hao not to kill her teammates.

 

“—Sit down Kanna.” Hao's harsh tone forced Kanna to obey. “Marion, Matilda, stand up.”

 

“Yes, Master.” The two girls in question stood as Hao circled them like a vulture.

 

“Matilda. You've been a very bad girl.”

 

“Sorry Master.” Macchi shuddered as Hao started playing with her hair. My brother undid Macchi's pigtails, and ran his hands through her locks, twisting and twirling her orange tresses around his fingers. Hao rubbed the back of Macchi's neck, and pushed a pressure point on her neck right below the jaw. Macchi looked a bit shocked at first, but then a dazed look came over her face. “M-master…” She sighed, a bit out of breath.

 

“And you Marion. I'm disappointed in you.”

 

“Will Master ever forgive Mari?” Mari whimpered softly, but the whimper turned to a moan as Hao gently stroked the back of the girl's neck.

 

“Relax Mari.” Mari jumped as Hao pushed the pressure point at the base of her jaw, sending hot jolts of electricity to her brain. “M-master!”

 

“Oh, yes. You'll be punished.” All of a sudden the evil look on Hao's face dropped into a mischievous grin. “Remind me later.” Hao nipped lightly at the tender part of each girls' neck right below the front part of the jaw.

 

After Hao was done with them he sat down across from me. “So, Yoh, what are you doing here—Oh, sorry, I almost forgot. One minute.” Hao got up again, and just managed to catch both Mari and Macchi as they passed out. The fire-wielder carefully set his groupies on the floor.

 

`How did he…?' I sat wide-eyed at my brother's amazing feat.

 

“Pressure points.” Hao answered my mental query. “I forget why exactly it knocks them out, but all you have to do is press here,” He pointed to the back of Mari's neck. “here,” He indicated the place just under Macchi's jaw where he had pressed. “and there.” He called attention to the slightly red spots on both victims' necks where he had nipped them.

 

Hao returned to his seat when he was done with his explanation.

 

“You shouldn't have scared them like that Hao. I was afraid that you really would hurt them this time.” Kanna breathed a sigh of relief.

 

“I shall do what I want when I want. I can scare them however I please.” Hao glared angrily at Kanna.

 

“You may do whatever you want within reason Mr. Hao Asakura.” Kanna returned the glare with an equally angry one of her own.

 

“Uh…how long are Mari and Macchi going to be…” I gestured towards the two sleeping beauties on the ground.

 

“Huh? Oh! Them…” Hao cast a fond glace in Mari and Macchi's direction. “They should be up in five…four…three…two…on—“

 

“—Master!!!” The witch and the doll master quickly regained consciousness, and began to verbally assault their master. When they had finished harassing him, Mari took the seat to his left, and Macchi sat on his right.

 

“Hmph! Why do all the women in my life abuse me?” Hao grumbled as he set one elbow down on the tabletop, and rested his head on in his hand.

 

“We do not abuse you.” Kanna rolled her eyes at her leader. “Now get your elbows off the table; it's rude.”

 

“I will do as I please. This is my team, and my campsite, and if it weren't for me you all would be dead, or out on the streets.” Hao moped defiantly.

 

“You may have saved us all, and that's why we care about you, but we will not allow you to be rude and lacking in manners. Now, elbows off the table.” Kanna reached across the table to whack Hao on the head. With a reluctant moan, Hao removed his elbow from the tabletop, but replaced it with his chin.

 

It was positively adorable to see the feared, all-powerful, Hao Asakura treated like a child. I could no longer stifle my fit of giggles.

 

“What's so funny?” My brother glared up at me.

 

I got my giggle fit under control, and answered him, “You are. It's just that we're brothers, and I've never really gotten to know you. All I've ever seen of you is your cruelty and evil side. Then I came here and learned about how you saved all these people and gave them food and a home. You gave these guys a reason to live. I'm relived to know that you're not as evil as I thought, and I'm glad to have you as a brother.”

 

I smiled warmly at him, and was glad when he lifted his head off of the table and returned the smile, saying, “Thank you…Maybe we could…get together sometime and get to know each other better?”

 

“Sounds great!”

 

“Master, is Hao going to eat anything? Is Hao not hungry?” Mari looked up questioningly at her master.

 

“I'm not eating.” Hao replied firmly, refusing all food.

 

“Well, if you won't eat of your own free will, Mari and I could always make you eat the way we did before…” Macchi smirked suggestively at Hao.

 

Hao's smug grin disappeared, and he frantically asked, “Kanna, could you pass the toast?!” This earned laughs from the three women, but I, not knowing the origin of the inside joke just sat there and blinked stupidly.

 

After breakfast, my brother showed me around his campsite. He introduced me to all of his followers, and surprisingly they were all happy to meet me, and were gracious hosts. They accepted me into their community, and seemed genuinely glad to show me around and talk about just about anything. They had such an evil reputation, but they were really great people. All except Peyote, he didn't seem to like me at all, but that might just have been because of his cold personality.

 

Hao reassured me, “Don't worry, he's like this with all `outsiders'.”

 

Soon I found that Hao had led me onto a little path through the woods. The trees and shrubs and underbrush were thick, and it seemed that we were just walking aimlessly through the woods. “How do you know which way to go? There's no real path to follow.” I finally broke down and asked my older twin.

 

“There is a path. See.” He pointed down to the ground under his feet, and pointed to the supposed `path' through the woods.

 

“I don't see it.” I bluntly admitted.

 

Hao only smiled simply at me. “I keep forgetting how inferior you are to me, my little brother. You don't see the path because you don't know where it is. The path that we are on is practically invisible to those who don't already know exactly where it is. Look.” He took my face in his hands and forced me to look at the ground. “See how the twigs on the ground are snapped and the grass is slightly pressed out of the way? Those are both signs that someone has already walked this way. Follow the signs, and we'll get to our destination.” Hao released me, and continued forward.

 

`I hadn't thought of that…'

 

“You could learn a lot from me Yoh. Maybe you should join my group; my other followers seem to have taken a liking to you…especially the Hanagumi.”

 

I blushed bright red as flashbacks of my wake up call that morning played in my head. Hao only smirked, amused at my suffering.

 

“We're here.” Hao stopped suddenly and stepped aside to let me be the first to enter the clearing.

 

“Whoa…” was all I could get out. It was an amazing view. In the clearing was a crystal clear lake with glass-like blue water; you could even see the pebbles on the bottom, it was that unpolluted. It surface was calm for the most part, and only a few waves lapped up against the beach shore. The beach itself was full of whitish orange and yellow sand. Some driftwood had washed up on shore, and they made great natural benches to sit on. Hao sat down on a stump, and invited me to sit next to him. I took a seat and continued surveying the scene. A cliff rose out of the water on the other side of the clearing, what looked like maybe a football field's distance away.

 

“You know, you could probably jump off of that cliff and land in the water if the water was deep enough…Say, how deep is the water all the way out there anyway?” I looked away from the breath-taking sight to glance at my older brother.

 

“Deep enough to drown in.” Hao replied sadistically.

 

“W-what do you mean by that?” I wasn't quite sure what was up with the sadistic tone in my brother's voice, but it was made painfully clear that this was something to tread lightly on when you were talking about this topic.

 

“Ivy used to come out here all the time to train. She'd take off her boots, and go out into the water bear-foot. She'd put on an old pair of Kanna's shorts, and one of Macchi's swimming suit tops, which, needless to say, were way too small, so they were very tight. She'd wade out to mid-thigh into the water and practice controlling her allure powers. I would always sit out here on one of these stumps and watch her, making sure nothing went wrong. She was so determined to do well and control every aspect of her powers. She had a great sense of pride about her, and she had to do everything perfectly on her own on her first try. That's what got her in trouble most times…She wanted to show off. One time she almost drown because of her pride…” A distant look came over Hao, and his eyes glazed over as he looked out at the lake. It was almost as if he could see Ivy out on the lake practicing right then and there.

 

==Flashback==

 

“But Master!” She looked absolutely beautiful when she whined. “I swear I'm ready.”

 

“No. For the last time: N-O. No. I won't teach you something of that magnitude yet. You are not ready, and this is really dangerous magic you're playing with.” I refused to look up at her, and instead concentrated on the book I was reading.

 

I was lounging on my bed reading, and Ivy stood to the side of me, begging me to teach her how to summon a hurricane. The girl simply wasn't ready to take on that kind of challenge yet.

 

“Master…Please?” She got onto the bed and sat directly behind me. “I know that I'm ready. All I need is you to teach me.” Ivy started to gently massage my shoulders as she begged. She was trying to seduce me into it, a new trick she had learned; Ivy usually was too shy to try something like that.

 

I let her massage me for a while and pretended to be considering it. When she seemed to be done massaging I answered with a firm, “No.”

 

Ivy, enraged, practically jumped off the bed and stopped off, only to return a minute later. “Why not?!”

 

“This is serious business, and someone will get hurt. Probably you.” I still didn't look up from my book.

 

“I will not!!” She protested angrily, looking ravishing with that wild beauty of hers. “If you won't teach me, I'll teach myself! I don't need you anyway—I should have never accepted your help, I could have just trained myself, and then I wouldn't have to marry you! Hmph! What kind of fiancée doesn't even tell his wife-to-be his name?! I'm outta here!” And she stormed off.

 

“Ivy…That woman is gonna get herself killed.” I quickly took off all of the belts and dangly things on my pants, and anything else that would weigh me down if I should have to save her. I set off after her, hoping that she wasn't too far ahead of me.

 

When I was only a hundred yards or so from the clearing, the sky turned black, and the winds picked up. Rain started pelting the Earth, and I could only pray that she still had this storm under control. I ran the last stretch to the clearing, and immediately spotted my fiancée out on the water, summoning a small hurricane.

 

She was doing well so far, but she was too far out in the water, and she didn't realize it. “IVY!!!!!!” I called to her, but she couldn't hear me over the howl of the wind. The waves got bigger and bigger, but she still managed to keep her footing. She was really doing well…better than I thought she could. I had underestimated her, but that still didn't change the fact that as soon as the funnel rose out of the water, she would either be sucked in, or drown by the sear force and vast amount of water. Her foolishness would be her death.

 

“IVY!!!!!!!!!!” I tried one last desperate attempt to make her hear me. She didn't because right then the funnel started to rise out of the water, and she lost control of the violent storm as she was swept up into the waves.

 

I pulled off my shoes, gloves, and poncho all in two seconds flat, and dove in after her. The waves were tough to swim against, but something inside of me drove me to keep going. Somehow I finally got out far enough to reach her. She was unconscious, and her storm was abating a little bit, but it was still hard to swim in such monstrous waves. I just barely managed to grab hold of her hand and teleported to shore.

 

She wasn't breathing. It was all I could do not to panic. I pressed my lips to hers and forced air into her lungs, pressing on her chest every so often. After three or four tries, she started coughing up the water in her lungs. It took her a minute, but soon Ivy came to. She lay dazed on the beach looking up at me. “W-what happened?”

 

I propped her up in my arms and held her tight. “I almost lost you…”

 

“I thought I could control it…” She tried to explain, remembering what had happened.

 

“I told you that you weren't ready.” I replied gently.

 

“I should have listened to you, I'm so sorry…I didn't mean all of those things that I said…I was pretty horrible to you, and for a minute I forgot about what I owed you. I'm sorry Master…I shouldn't have said all those things.” She refused to look me in the eyes, ashamed of her rebelliousness.

 

“I was wrong.”

 

“What?!” My statement had caught her by surprise.

 

“I said: `I was wrong.' You are ready for that level of stuff; all you need is me to teach you how to do this safely. I underestimated the amount of control you have over your powers. I'm sorry. I was wrong.” I carefully pushed a bang out of her eyes. “How do you feel? Are you doing all right?”

 

“Oh Master!” Ivy's arms surrounded my neck and she pulled our lips together for a small chaste kiss. She pulled back, blushing madly. “I'm sorry…I don't know what came over me…” She let go of me, not able to look into my eyes. She sat up on her own and gazed out at the now calm lake.

 

“What came over you just now is called `lust'.” I whispered throatily into her ear.

 

Her cherry red face turned a deep shade of magenta, and I was almost certain I could hear her heart pounding inside of her chest.

 

I place a hand on her shoulder. “It's okay; we're engaged. There's no reason to hide your feelings any longer.”

 

“Yes Master…you're right.” Her blush decreased, and soon only a hint of red remained on her cheeks. “You know, we are engaged; it doesn't seem right for me to call you `Master' all the time. What's your real name? Won't you tell me?” She smiled coyly at me, and her cuteness was just too much. I had to kiss her again.

 

I licked lightly at he lips, and I was surprised when she understood and opened her mouth. She had always been a naïve girl, and I didn't think she ever kissed anyone before me. She let me slip my tongue in her mouth and she let me play with her, but when I tried to deepen the kiss, she pulled back, the blush in place on her cheeks again. Ivy got up and stood with her back to me.

 

“Y-you know M-master, if you just give me a hint…” She gasped for air, and tried to recover from the shock of what I had just been doing to her.

 

“Ivy…you are such a naïve girl. You make me feel like I'm taking advantage of a child.” I smirked teasingly at her. “You realize that what we were just doing now was child's play compared to what we'll do at night a month or so from now, don't you?”

 

“How can you talk about such things like they're nothing?! I'm only a few months younger than you, yet you seem so mature for only being fifteen!” Ivy spun around to face me, an incredulous look on her face.

 

I smiled gently at her. “Ivy, my dear, have you not noticed I'm a hormonal fifteen year-old male? It's perfectly normal. You're the naïve one.” I walked up beside her and nipped her lightly on the ear. “That's what's so alluring about you. You're so childish; well, you'll grow up fast being around me.”

 

She blushed again, but only slightly this time. “What do you mean Master?”

 

“The letter `H'.” I looked back over my shoulder at her as I walked away. Ivy only starred at me, completely confused. “That's your clue: My name starts with the letter `H'. Good luck.”

 

=End Flashback=

 

Hao snapped out of the trance that had fallen over him, and blinked several times before looking at me. “I'm sorry, I forgot to ask what you were doing at my camp in the first place.

 

My brother waited expectantly for my answer. “Ren came back after coming to kill you, and he said that you had drown yourself.”

 

“Ah.” Hao nodded curtly. “That. You see, Yoh, I tried to drown myself. It didn't really work out the way I planned. Actually all my attempts have been thwarted so far. I've tried everything!—Well, maybe not everything…I haven't tried to poison myself yet. Anyway, I must remember to thank that Ren of yours for not interfering.”

 

“Why?! Why are you trying to do this?! You promised Ivy that you would be happy! You told her that you would find some other girl! How can you be happy if you're dead?!” I demanded an answer from my other half. I just couldn't understand why he felt he had to kill himself.

 

“How can I be happy when I'm alive?” An insane, sadistic grin found its way to Hao's face as he looked out over the lake. “Did you ever think that taking another woman as my wife would make me miserable? It will I just know it will. If I ever tried anything with another woman, I would just end up calling her Ivy. I know I would for a fact because that's the way it always is with Mari and Macchi. It doesn't matter who the girl is; through it all, the only thing my mind is screaming is `Ivy, Ivy!' I can't stop thinking about her…it's become an obsession. The only thing that will make me happy is to see her again, even if it is just for a fleeting instant. Yoh, when I die, before they cart me off to Hell, they have to have a formal trial even if they already know the verdict is going to be `guilty'. They take you to the courtroom in the office buildings. Ivy is currently getting rid of some unfinished business, and the courtroom is right down the hall from where she is staying. Also, people waiting to get into Heaven are invited to attend other people's trails; now surely Ivy will come to mine. I don't care if it's only for a few seconds or minutes or hours or days. I have to see her again, and this is the only way to do it.”

 

“You've got this all planned out, don't you?” I starred sadly at my big brother.

 

“Yep.”

 

“And there's no way I can talk you out of this?” Even I could hear the slight begging tone in my voice; it must have been overly obvious to my brother.

 

“Nope. I've already made up my mind.” Hao smiled happily at his fate.

 

“But I don't want you to die, Aniki…” I could hardly hold back my tears. `Doesn't he know how much his team needs him? He can't just leave them…not like this.'

 

“What did you say?” Hao looked astonished at me.

 

“I said that I don't want you to die big brother…” I repeated.

 

“I think that's the first time that you've called me `big brother' to my face, outside your own thoughts.” Hao smiled, genuinely pleased. “Listen, Yoh…after I'm gone, I'll need someone to look after my followers. Mari and Macchi will be heartbroken, Kanna will have no one to baby and tease, Opacho will be nearly inconsolable, Luca will blame himself, I'm sure, and the others will all be an equal wreck. They like you, and they accept you as one of them, so I want you to look out for them. Can you do that for me?”

 

I nodded my head up and down rapidly. “Of course…When are you going to end it?” I held my breath and waited for the answer.

 

“Today at Ivy's funeral. I don't know how exactly I'm going to do it yet, but I want to be buried next to her, okay?”

 

I nodded again. “If you're sure this is the only way.” I knew that he was a lost cause, but I just didn't want to give up on my brother.

 

“It's the only way.” He affirmed, and everything went silent. A small whimper came from the bushes behind me, and the sudden noise caused me to jump. I turned around, and from the bushes emerged a Jack Russell Terrier puppy. “A dog???”

 

Hao laughed at me, and whistled for the puppy to come to him. The dog obediently dashed over to Hao and sat down to be pet. Hao lovingly stroked the puppy. “Yoh, I'd like you to meet my newest follower, Hane. Hane, this is my little brother, Yoh. Shake Hane.”

 

Hane held out his right paw for me to shake; I gladly took the paw and shook the puppy's hand, all the while chuckling at the cute trick. “Pleasure to meet you Hane.”

 

I looked up at Hao. “When did you get a dog?”

 

“Yesterday. He pulled me out of the water after I hit my head on the bottom of the lake and was knocked out cold. The little guy's quite brave; he saved me from Ren too, when Ren was determined to kill me.” Hao resumed petting the little creature lovingly.

 

“It seems very un-Hao-like for The Great Hao Asakura, Destroyer of the World to have a puppy dog.” I smirked fondly at my mirror image, and started to pet the doggie too.

 

“I can do whatever I want.” He smirked back.

 

“What is going to happen to Hane when you're gone?” My gaze locked with the puppy's.

 

“Opacho will get him. He'll take good care of Hane since he's always wanted a pet. Things will work out, Yoh. You'll see. You and Anna will get married, you'll have tons of kids, and everyone will forget about me for five hundred years until I'm reborn yet again.”

 

“Are you sure you can't try to love again?” I looked into Hao's eyes, and the answer was clear:

 

“Yoh, I don't even want to look at another woman ever again. How can I go out on dates and shop around when I can't stop thinking of Ivy? No, I'll be happier in Hell.” Hao ruffled my hair slightly, and went back to playing with his pet.

 

“I understand.” I mumbled, still petting Hane; the dog softly licked at my hand. I took the key to Ivy's boots off of around my neck, and placed it around my brother's neck instead. “Here, I left Ivy's boots in the tent I was staying in. The keyhole is on the soul of her shoes, you have to poke around the bottoms of the soul a little before the little door thingy comes off, but the key goes to both boots.”

 

I got up to leave, but a hand on my shoulder restricted forward movement. I turned to look at my brother.

 

“Are you telling me that there is a secret compartment hidden in the heel part of Ivy's boots?”

 

I nodded.

 

“Wow…that's creative…Oh, and do you need a ride home? I bet your fiancée is either really worried, or really pissed.” Hao smiled smugly at me.

 

“Uh…that would be great.”

 

“See ya then.” Hao waved goodbye and a wall of fire surrounded me.

 

“Bye.” I waved back as the flames teleported me home. It was a smooth form of travel up until the landing. The flames decided to drop me off in mid-air. I didn't break anything, but it was an unpleasant experience. I got up, brushed myself off, and went inside.

 

“Yoh Asakura!!!” An enraged screech met my ears.

 

“Uh…Anna?” I cowered in fear at the look that my fiancée was giving me.

 

“You have some explaining to do.” I shivered as she backed me up against the wall. “Where were you last night? What were you doing there? Did you drink? Where did you sleep? With whom did you sleep? How many women did you have? How drunk exactly did you get? How many illegitimate children are you going to have? Have you decided to leave me for any one of these tramps? What's her name? When's the wedding? When's the baby due? Is she pretty? What color are her eyes? How big are her--?”

 

“Anna!!” I cut her off, unable to take anymore of her accusing questions. “I was at Hao's campsite. My brother is still alive. I went to check up on Hao. I did not drink. Opacho let me use a spare tent, so I slept there. I didn't sleep with anyone. There were no other women. I didn't get drunk. There will be no illegitimate children, only ours. I'm never going to leave you, Anna. I love you. There's no one else.”

 

“Yoh…” Anna smiled sweetly at me and gently raised her hand to stroke my cheek. SLAP! “…you lying bastard!”

 

“What?!” I held onto my throbbing, red cheek.

 

“Don't think you can fool me! I smell their perfume! I see the lipstick on your cheeks, and all over your shirt collar, AND on your PANTS!! What did she unzip them with her mouth?! I bet you have hickeys all over!” She pulled off my shirt, and I was mortified to see that there were hickeys all along my neckline, and some down to my pants line.

 

“Aww, crap! Mari and Macchi!” I softly hissed to myself.

 

Anna heard me. “Two of them?! Asakura!! One after the other, or were they at completely different times?”

 

“Uh…more like both at the same time….” I caught the look she gave me and quickly added. “Anna, please let me explain! This is not what it looks like!”

 

“Save it Yoh. Now, tell me, how'd you manage the both of them at once? One working up top while the other worked down below? Tell me the truth I'll know if you're lying.”

 

“Yes, but Anna: the hickeys were all they did. They didn't do anything else, I swear!”

 

“Then what is this!?” She pulled down my pants line so that she could see the top of my boxers. There on the lower part of my hip was written: Yoh loves Mari' “And this?!” She spun me around, and pointed to the small of my back right above my butt. She read: “Yoh loves Macchi. Care to explain, lover boy?”

 

“Anna, look. They did that while I was sleeping, and then Kanna—“

 

“KANNA?! There were three of them?! YOH ASAKURA, YOU DOG!!” Anna slapped me again. “How many women can you do in one night?!

 

“Anna, please…”

 

“NO. I will not. No amount of cuteness from you will change my mind. I will not—“ I cut her off by pulling her lips to mine. My tongue slipped easily into her mouth, and I was in pure bliss for all of three seconds. Then there was a sharp pain, and I could taste my own blood.

 

Anna pulled away from me and glared. She had bitten my tongue! “I will not have that filthy thing in my mouth! Not when it's been inside so many other girls! God, who knows all the places it's been!?”

 

She was just about to slap me again when there was a knock on the door. `Saved by the bell' I thought as Anna walked over towards the door to open it. “Who the Hell are you, and what do you want. I'm busy.” Anna glared at the person at the door. The door itself blocked my view of the poor person.

 

I snuck up behind Anna, and looked over her shoulder at the people: Mari and Macchi.

 

“Oh, hey Yoh-koi!” Macchi chirped when she saw me.

 

“Hello Yoh-koi.” Mari smiled slightly at me, but then her face returned to its perpetual saddened look.

 

“`Yoh-koi'?” Anna glared at me.

 

“Uh…yeah. Hey Macchi…Mari.” I gulped.

 

“Oh, so this is Mari and Macchi. Come in, the both of you!” Anna smiled sweetly and beckoned the girls inside the house.

 

“That's really nice of ya.” Macchi smiled back hyperly at Anna.

 

“Why don't you have a seat on the couch?” Anna offered, gesturing with her hands. “Yoh, why don't you sit in between them?”

 

I did as she asked, and hoped that she wouldn't murder us all.

 

“So what are you two doing here?” Anna asked in her mock-sweet voice.

 

Macchi was the first to respond. “Me and Mari here, came to apologize to poor Yoh-koi. We were horrible to him when he was asleep this morning.”

 

“A bunch of sluts worse than Ivy was.” Mari agreed.

 

“We sorta, kinda tried to ravish him in his sleep. When he woke up he was really mad, yelling something about some beloved fiancée of his or something.” Macchi rolled her eyes, pretending to not know that Anna was my fiancée.

 

“Lucky girl. She gets all of Yoh-koi to herself. He seems to be waiting until he's married to her.” Mari replied scornfully, going along with the ploy that they didn't know that they were talking to my fiancée. “Lucky, lucky girl. Yoh-koi wouldn't even let Mari and Macchi kiss him because he said Yoh-koi's fiancée would never speak to him again if he so much looked at another woman.”

 

“Yep. That's all we wanted. Can you ever forgive us, Yoh-koi?” Macchi got up and started to walk towards the door, only waiting for my answer. Mari followed the redhead.

 

“Sure, just never do it again.” I smiled slightly, but not too widely incase Anna got the wrong idea.

 

“Great!” The Hana-girls coursed. “See you Yoh-koi.” And they left.

 

“Anna?” I looked tentatively at my fiancée.

 

“Oh, Yoh!! I was so worried about you!!” Anna tackled me to the couch. “I'm so sorry!”

 

“It's okay. I love you.”

 

“I love you too.” She allowed me a quick kiss before: “Now go upstairs, and get ready for the funeral.”

 

“Yes Anna.”