Cold as Fire

Disclaimer: Heh don't own it?

Joh: yeah I know I have like 10 or 11 other stories but I was bored and I really wanted to write this, forgive me

Everyone: never

Joh: -cries-

Warnings: um, language and stuff that makes the rating the way it is –waggles eyebrows- ohohohoho, are we clear?

This is set before Yoh meets Hao, so he doesn't know he has a brother and stuff

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Black. It was all black. Everything was dark. No sound, no sight, nothing.

I turned over, brow furrowing in a frown. Something wasn't right. I could feel it. Something was there, hovering over me like a dark shadow refusing to be chased away by the light.

Something was burning. Hot waves danced through my body as I trembled in my sleep. Was I asleep? It didn't feel like it.

'I want to wake up!' I thought desperately, a tight knot of fear in the pit of my stomach. 'I need to wake up…!'

The struggling boy began to thrash, tangling his limbs in the dark thin bed sheets. Sweat beaded his body as his breath quickened.

A soft, cool, calm voice played across my ears, tickled my mind. It broke into my dark dreams and stilled my, calming me yet at the same time frightening me.

"Yoh…"

Who was that talking? I strained my ears to hear that voice again, but nothing. All sound faded away, replaced by an eerie silence once again. It was enough to drive anyone mad.

I tried to open my eyes, but failed. After taking several deep breaths I relaxed slightly. Maybe if I waited I would be released from this endless dream.

I could feel something! I struggled to reach out, but it was like trying to swim through thick mud, possible but exhausting. But even though everything was in a hazy darkness for me, that cold touch on my cheek was so clear. I could feel it, almost as if I were fully awake.

"Yoh."

Whoever had been speaking was now amused. Who were they? I could feel them; they were now stroking my cheek softly.

I used all my might and will power to finally stretch my arm out. I felt a cool hand take mine and press it against a soft cheek.

"Open your eyes."

And like that, my eyes fluttered open. Everything was blurry at first, but I didn't realize why until I felt something wet slide down my face. Had I been crying in my sleep? Possibly.

I blinked a few times, trying to clear my vision. It was as if I hadn't opened them in years. The first thing I noticed was that I was lying flat on my back, staring up into a mirror, my own reflection smirking down at me.

Smirking? I reached up slowly with my arm, trying to steady my shaky movements. Why is it so hard to move? I felt the outline of my lips. No, I definitely wasn't smirking. So was that not a reflection? I studied the 'reflection' again and noticed that it had longer hair that was curtained around me, tickling my chest.

It had my own deep black eyes, although its were narrowed dangerously. My own were wide and teary. I noticed that it was holding my trembling hand against its cold cheek. I tried to pull my hand away but it held me firmly, smirk widening.

I struggled to find my voice. "W-who are…who are you?" I stammered. Why does my voice sound so weird?

The smirk on its face changed into a calm smile, eerily similar to that of my own. He leant down over me and whispered in my ear.

The boy's eyes widened at the words he heard. His eyes dilated, he didn't even notice when the 'reflection' let his hand fall back to his side, the smile on his face evolving into a devious grin.

"Welcome, otouto." His tone was thick with amusement.

I blinked. Had I heard him right? "Otouto?" I repeated slowly. "Who are you?"

"Hao Asakura." He answered, stroking my face.

I frowned. He did look like me, and he had the same last name. But why didn't I know him? "Hao…" I said his name aloud, doubtful. I let my eyes trail away from his face and study the room I was in.

I was lying in a large soft black bed with numerous pillows. The walls were paneled with dark wood and the floorboards were a hard stone, covered with large red rugs. A high window was placed near the bed, allowing moonlight to drift in. Several long mirrors were placed along the walls, reminding me of the boy towering over me.

"Where am I?" I asked, frowning. This wasn't my room.

Hao smirked and leaned down over me. "In good hands." He whispered, sending chills up my spine.

I turned my head away from him uneasily. For some reason I doubted his words. I was still so confused, he hadn't really answered my question but I could guess that I was at his house in his room. I wonder if he is a shaman? He said he was my brother so I suppose he is.

He laughed and sat up, regarding me with lazy eyes. "Of course I'm a shaman, Yoh."

I stared at him. How did he know?

"You being my twin make your thoughts even clearer. Of course I can hear anyone's mind, yours is just so much louder to me."

So he could read my mind. And we're twins? "Why don't I know you?"

Hao's expression darkened considerably and his smirk was replaced with a scowl. "You've been sheltered from me," he paused and looked at me thoughtfully. "Although we have plenty of time to get to know each other now." He smiled darkly.

"I don't understand…" I trailed off. I sat up and brought my knees up to my chest and rested my chin on them. What would Anna do once she finds out I'm gone? I winced at the thought. How far away am I?

"Get up."

I blinked at him.

He frowned. "I said get up."

I slid out of the bed and swayed slightly. He placed his hands on my shoulders to brace me and I offered him a small smile. His eyes flashed and his grip on my shoulders tightened painfully.

I stared at him and backed away clumsily, wariness taking hold of me.

Hao let go and he swept across the room to the door.

I watched him slide it open and he glanced back at me. "Get dressed." He ordered.

"But I'm already dressed."

"Change." He replied simply, sliding the door shut behind him.

I sighed. Hao was just as bossy as Anna. I glanced around and spotted a tall dark wardrobe. It creaked when I opened it. Inside, three shirts were hung up and several pants were folded. I pulled out a simple dark blue shirt and a pair of black jeans.

Slipping off my own wrinkled clothing I shivered at how cold the room was. It hadn't been that cold when Hao was in here, what happened? Quickly I pulled on the clothes I had chosen and glanced at the bed.

It looked so inviting, but what if I fell into that weird dream state again?

I didn't want to risk that. With a sigh I walked over to the window and tried to peer out, but it was too high up for me to reach. So I resigned myself to plopping down on the fluffy red carpet.

Nothing was making sense. I had fallen asleep under a tree without exactly meaning to and then I woke up here with a strange boy who looks just like me, claiming that he was my brother, my twin.

I didn't think he was lying.

But how did he know me when this was the first time I've met him?

Hao grinned to himself as he stretched out across the sofa. He could feel his brother's confusion and hear his jumbled thoughts. Yoh would learn, and Hao would teach him.

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Joh: What you guys think? Should I continue?

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Review!