Submission

Disclaimer: -looks at empty wallet- Come on people…pity me! PITY ME! -Gets dragged away by the people in white-

Jessie: Well then…now we know which of us is the sane one…

Joh: -pops in- what are you talking about?

Jessie: Oh, imouto, how nice of you to return!

Joh: -Twitches- the writer's block, oh the writer's block is coming!

Jessie: In other words she's saying that this chapter was very difficult to write.

Joh: Like shit!

Jessie: -Sighs- must you curse so much?

Joh: Since you don't curse I have to for you and myself.

Warnings: language, twincest, yaoi, angst

0o0o0o0

Hao narrowed his eyes, running a hand through his long bangs. "I actually don't know what to do." He confessed, sighing deeply.

Opacho nodded understandingly. "Yoh-sama confuses Hao-sama." She stated.

Hao crossed his legs as he shifted his seat on the throne, eyebrows furrowed in frustration. "He's not acting the way I want him to…" he trailed off.

"Opacho thought you wanted Yoh-sama like this."

"Not…not like this." Hao shook his head slowly. Sure, it had been a pleasant change at first to actually have Yoh kiss him back without having to resort to threats. But it was missing something…Yoh was missing something…

Hao laughed softly. "I changed him, a bit more then I had wanted to." He mused quietly.

Opacho said nothing, rubbing the hem of her poncho between her fingers. She herself couldn't decide whether she preferred the old Yoh, who always insulted her Hao-sama, or the present Yoh who never spoke.

It was also strange for her to see her master unsure like this. Hao always knew what he wanted and always got what he wanted. No problems or complications of any kind. Simple.

But here he was, sitting with his head in his hands asking her for advice.

Hao opened his eyes. "He's…" he broke off, thinking over his thoughts carefully, analyzing them. Hao shook his head quickly, standing up. "Do you think I can make him talk again?" he glanced at the African shaman, a smug smile set on his lips.

Opacho beamed and nodded her head. "Hao-sama can do anything." She chirped.

Hao laughed. "Yes, now that I've broken him…let's see if I can fix him as well."

0o0

Yoh glanced up at Hao entered the room quietly. The older of the twins kneeled down in front of him, his face expressionless. "You'd like to go outside, ne?" Hao smirked, tracing a finger down Yoh's cheek.

Yoh looked at his brother blankly for a moment before nodding slowly, almost suspiciously.

Hao grinned and grabbed Yoh's hand, pulling him to his feet. "Then let's go. You've been looking awfully pale lately so I figure some sunlight will do you good." He explained.

The younger Asakura seemed satisfied with that answer for the questioning look in his eyes disappeared, replaced with his usual blank look. Fire surrounded the two, licking at their ankles with unfelt heat.

Yoh closed his eyes as a weightless feeling drifted over him, as if he was falling endlessly. But then it was over and his feet hit solid ground, reality-rushing back.

Hao watched, somewhat amused, as Yoh looked about himself, eyes squinted in the sunlight. Yoh wiggled his bare feet in the grass, looking somewhat surprised by the feeling. He glanced at Hao oddly before taking a daring step away from him.

Hao didn't mind. He knew Yoh wouldn't run away, and even if he did it would be easy to retrieve him.

The brunette bent down, feeling the grass against his fingertips before standing back up, throwing his head back to gaze into the sky.

As Hao watched him he realized that this was the first time he had seen Yoh look like he was seeing everything. Usually he had that far-away stare in his eyes but this time he knew Yoh was here in his mind and he was taking in everything around him.

He pointed into the sky and it took Hao a moment to realize that he was pointing at a cloud. Hao squinted his eyes at his brother, wondering if it was just his imagination or if that was a hint of a smile crossing Yoh's lips.

"You liked to watch them just as much as I did." Hao told him quietly, taking his hand.

Yoh looked at him before nodding slowly. Hao attempted, as he had so many times before, to read Yoh's mind, see what was going on inside his head. But like all those many times before no result came back.

He sighed, giving up, leading Yoh out of the courtyard. "Let's go on a walk, you'd like that?"

Yoh nodded, eyes downcast.

Hao frowned. "I'm not gonna hurt you…I'm actually doing this for you're sake," he felt annoyance rise up inside of him as his voice rose. "So the least you can do is act a little less gloomy, damn it!"

Yoh's eyes widened as he stared at his twin. He seemed to be going over Hao's words carefully. Finally a weak smile twitched across his lips, strained and brief. If anything it was worse then his blank look.

The anger that had filled Hao evaporated, being replaced with pity instead. "Never mind, forget what I said…just…try and enjoy yourself, okay?"

The younger of the two nodded obediently, just as he was trained to do.

0o0

Horo kicked open his apartment door, grinning widely. "Guess who came to visit?" he yelled happily, throwing two duffle bags on the floor.

A small boy padded into the room wearing a disapproving frown on his face. "You're too loud. Your voice grates on me." He stated blankly, his golden eyes flicking from Horo's beaming expression to the traveling bags at his feet. Slowly his eyes traveled to the boy standing behind Horo. "A visitor?"

"Yep! And all the way from New York too!" Horo chirped, practically cart-wheeling into the apartment. He planted a quick peck on his boyfriend before turning to present their visitor.

Their old teammate grinned at them as he stepped into he room, closing the door behind him. "I still can't believe you guys hooked up." He whistled. "I mean I knew Ren was gay but I didn't know HoroHoro…"

Ren glared viciously. "Pardon?"

The comedian quickly held his hands up in surrender, remembering all too well the hits he took from his ex-teammate. "Nothing! I said nothing!"

Ren stared at him for a few more moments before looking away, a smug smirk on his lips. "Thought so." He broke off suddenly, sitting down on the brown sofa. "What are you doing here anyway, Chocolove?"

Chocolove laughed, shrugging. "Wanted a vacation, decided to come to Japan where all you guys are…" he trailed off, suddenly looking troubled. "Although…I could only find you two and Manta here. Where has everyone else gone?"

Horo frowned, sending a sidelong glance at his lover who had frozen up. "We've all split up, you should realize that. Lyserg returned to England, Faust and Eliza are traveling around the world and Ryu is living in the mountains…" Horo trailed off with a casual shrug.

Chocolove scratched his neck, leaning against the wall. "But what about Yoh and Anna? They should still be around…" he broke off, seeing Ren shaking. "Ren?"

The Tao stood up jerkily, breathing quickly and clutching at his chest.

Horo cursed, rushing to his boyfriend's side hastily. He wrapped a loose arm around Ren's shoulders. "Ren, calm down. Take deep breaths…calm down." He whispered firmly.

"Shit! Is he okay?"

"Just shut up for a moment!" Horo hissed at Chocolove, running a hand up and down Ren's back. "Breath."

Ren hunched over, clutching at his chest as his face twisted in agony. "It's burning!" he gasped out, falling to his knees.

"No, no it's not! It's all in your head Ren. You're not on fire."

"Burning." Ren hissed, hunching over into a ball.

His breaths quickened dangerously. "I can't breath! Horo!" he whimpered, eyes glazing over before closing.

Horo cursed, scooping up the limp form carefully and lying him down on the sofa. Gingerly, he undid Ren's high collared shirt so that when he woke up he wouldn't panic. With a sigh he glanced up at Chocolove.

The comedian was staring at Ren's chest with a look of horror. To be more exact, he was staring at the scar running down Ren's chest. It was a long vicious burn that had turned Ren's smooth, pale skin a raw brown color. The burnt skin looked stretched and scaly, it was enough to make you wonder how Ren survived that kind of wound at all.

Blue eyes met brown as Chocolove forced himself to look away. "HoroHoro, you have a lot to fill me in on."

The Ainu's eyes saddened. "Yeah."

0o0o0o0

Joh: Yeah…I ran into writer's block and this time it was too big to be run over.

Jessie: Poor dear…

Joh: Yeah…and I have Chocolove entering the story! Sorry but he's one of my favorite characters…I just can't write his jokes…I'll try to though in the next chapter but I couldn't in this one because it was too serious…and I dunno how…

Jessie: If any of you have suggestions…?

Joh: That would be helpful.

ANSWERS TO REVIEWS

Little-Anna-Chan
Thank you! Hope this chapter was just as good…

Yumeorb
Yoh with a crazy glint in his eyes? Hmm…maybe…I think I know where I can do that…

Inu15kags
I know…Yoh not smiling…-shudders- it freaked me out while I was writing it!

cheerful-pinkstar
And you shall receive more!

Kuroi Kitty
Thanks! Did you like this chapter?

ryougabriellucile
Heehee, now aren't you smart…of course I wouldn't kill Ren! I revealed Ren at last…although I could have done it a bit more dramatically…oh well.

Sora no Hoshi
Yes, Ren is still alive…but scarred for life. Poor dear.

Tormented Urban Girl
Thanks! My update it kind of late though, but not too late.

thoughtless dreamer
You really think so? Yay!

DarkLuminescence
I can't believe I'm on the second chapter of the sequel already!

Lemon Wine
Really? That's so nice!

Star Sapphirex
Yeah, but writing with a nameless person is really hard! I'm glad I don't have to do that anymore.

demonlifehealer
I know. Not depressing chapter! Someone please hit me!

sweetsorrowthroughEternity
Heeheehee! You're very enthusiastic!

Still don't remember alias
Haha I like your name thingy. It's funny…

Esryeal
Yeah, HoroHoro with a ponytail is funny but I like it…not sure why. I keep trying to draw it but I mess up.

kitsunelova
Yeah…Yoh all not happy is weird…

realdarkangel
Aw, you really liked the first chapter that much? Thanks!

Sandblasted-Kitten
Poor Yoh needs to be fixed…-sniggers- what? For some odd reason I find that funny…

Senasitara
Thanks! Hope this chapter wasn't too short…I keep thinking it was…

IceDemonKiara004
Haha! Yes, you are the first reviewer. Be proud! -Hands you roses- Good job!

Review please!