It was no secret that Yoh enjoyed sleeping. It was his trademark. And it wasn't until this very moment he knew exactly why. It kept his mind intact. It allowed him to take the insane antics that filled his daily life and make sense of it.

That had to be the only explanation for his current situation. He had never gone this long without a nap and now his brain was going through some sort of withdrawal process. It was either that or he really was standing in the middle of a forest in Izumo.

Yoh began slowly counting his fingers. He heard somewhere that this was a method used to determine if you were having one of those dreams that you could control. If there was an anomaly with the number of digits, you knew you dreaming. Unfortunately for him, he had five fingers on both hands.

Not quite giving up on this being a big hallucination, Yoh decided the best course of action would be to make his way back to his 'grandparents' home.

However there were a few hitches with this current plan.

First of all, he was dog tired. Yoh could barely stand, let alone make the who-knows-how-long trek back to the Asakura compound.

Then there was the problem of knowing where to go. When he was still looking for the shikigami, he actually managed get to lost in the level pretty good. His last memory of the provided mini-map showed that he was somewhere in the middle of the forest.

"I walk left, climbed a hill, crossed a stream..." Yoh shielded his eyes as the high noon sun peeked from behind the clouds. "and then displaced myself through space and time."

If it wasn't attached to his shoulders, Yoh's head would have dropped right to ground, given how low it was hung at the moment. With no goal or destination to guide him, he began trudging in a random direction.

In a very short time Yoh decided it was best for him take a quick rest before continuing on. He shook his head disappointedly as he realized that the most suitable spot was against a large stone poking up from the ground.

Leaning back against the hard rock, he let the situation drift from his mind. His eyes eased closed as his breathing slowed. Finally that familiar drifting feeling began to wash over him. Everything would make sense again after a good afternoon's worth of peaceful, uninterrupted…

"Attention, stranded civilian, this is a restricted area! Please standby for extraction."

Yoh took a moment before casting an annoyed glance the source of the odd command. Standing high among the branches was a figure who Yoh couldn't make out. Fighting back the foul words in his throat, Yoh mustered his remaining strength to call back.

"Thank you but I don't need any extractions."

Unseen by Yoh his would-be benefactor was also trying to bring it's tongue under control.

"Listen pal, this is private property and if you get torn to shreds on it, there are people who will be in very hot water."

Yoh wasn't sure why he trying to chase away anyone that might help his situation. but he chalked it up to lack of sleep. Of course he wasn't sure if he would be left alone to rectify that. There was nothing he could say, unless…the people who would get in trouble, could he mean…?

"It's okay, really, I can fend for myself and besides, my family owns this land."

A shot in the dark but a shot none the less.

"Your family, you say?"

A shot that just might have landed.

The figure made a leap from it's perch in the tree, landing from the great height with no trouble. The glare of the sun made it that his features were still difficult to make out. From what Yoh could see though was that it was smiling.

Seeing as how the figure was quickly closing the distance between them, Yoh thought he should probably stand to greet it. His legs however disagreed with him, sending him back to the ground.

Now standing directly above him, the sun's glare still shadowed the figures face but now Yoh could at least tell that it was male. He offered his hand toward Yoh. Thinking nothing of the oddly cordial gesture Yoh offered his hand up as well.

*thwack*

In a blur the figure's clenched fist met Yoh's forehead right between the eyes. The blow combined with Yoh's fatigue and confusion was the perfect mix to drop him like a ton of bricks.

"Then let's have a little reunion, eh?"

This was last thing Yoh was able to hear before the world darkened and finally he was pulled into unconsciousness.

***

"…even so…reckless and…"

"…look at…insult to his …vaporize it right here."

And those were the magic words. Now was the time to cut the barely lucid act. Yoh's shot open. What was supposed to be "No vaporizing please" come out as an agonized moan.

However unintelligible, it seemed to convey some form of message as the low grumbling that had roused him suddenly halted. Yoh could feel that all eyes were now on him and it made his skin crawl.

Given how dim the room was, he made no attempts to focus his eyes, for some reason he just knew he would be greeted by more shadow figures. He did however try to adjust his arm from under him. The attempt earned sharp pain and a condescending chuckle.

"They must be making them stupid now if it thought it would wake up unrestrained."

"Asaha, please."

Yoh ears perked up. He knew that voice. That proud, stern but dignified voice! It was only confirmed as a body moved from the blob of shadows into the low light…

"Grandpa!"

"Hmph, I may be getting on in years but I'll not be mocked by a familiar."

"No. I mean grandpa as in, you're my mom's dad. It's me."

Yohmei regarded his "grandson" with a intrigued wariness.

"Tell me familiar, who granted you that form and for what purpose?"

"Form? No one granted me any form. Something weird is going on and me being tied up isn't helping."

"Something weird is going on meh mehmehmeh meh. Cool, it knows how to grovel."

Yoh recognized that voice too. It must have belonged to this "Asaha", the person who decked him. Well that and from somewhere else. It was on the tip of his tongue.

Wait a minute. Asaha?

Where had he heard that name before?

His train of thought was interrupted by Yohmei banging the floor with his cane.

"I will ask you only once more. Why were you given. That. Form "

Yohmei's voice was low and dangerous. Yoh knew that any answer out of his mouth would be the wrong one. His heart began to beat at a quickened rate. It didn't matter anyway though as Asaha's voice preempted him.

"Whatever the reason, they're gonna have to make new one."

If Yoh's heart was racing before it was now running a full marathon as all around the room, multiple leaves began to levitate and glow with a familiar energy.

Yohmei emitted a low growl as he turned around sharply, glaring defiantly at the deadly wall of leaves.

"Damn it boy, will you let me handle this!"

"Oh give me a break this was your next move anyway."

"The thing has hardly said a word and you're going to just destroy it without gaining even a sliver of information."

If he wasn't so scared yoh would have enjoyed a laugh. He couldn't count the number times he's been on the end of one yohmei's lectures. His trip down memory lane was cut short as from out the darkness, Asaha finally decided to reveal himself to better argue with Yohmei.

"Hao?!"

Asaha and Yohmei's voices cut short instantly. The side murmuring in the room also dropped. Both grandparent and grandchild turned their heads slowly to stare daggers at Yoh. After a few seconds Yohmei was the first to speak.

"That name…has not been spoken by someone outside of the Asakura family for five-hundred years. Answer me and answer me truly, how do you know the name Hao?"

To emphasize the seriousness of his question more leaves joined the ones already summoned by Asaha. Yoh gulped and caught his breath as he tried to find his words. He fumbled over most of them.

"I kn- I know that name because…" He fought back some bile in his throat. "Because Hao is my twin brother."

Before he could recompose himself, Yoh felt something close around his neck and roughly slam him into a nearby wall, his legs dangled uselessly. He opened his eyes to the sight of Asaha, absolute murder written on his face.

Asaha other hand began to glow and crackle with furyoku. The energy took the shape of a blade, small but sharp none the less. breathing hard, Asaha trained his blade right at Yoh's neck

"Asaha, stop."

At last the mass of dark figures decided to disband as more and more people stepped into the light.

Yoh's nerves calmed down just enough for him to choke out...

"Mom! Dad!"

Indeed two of the figures were his parents. Even in his groggy state Yoh could see in their eyes a pained confusion. His mother began to reach out to him when his father caught her hand in his. She gave him an understanding nod, stopping her advance.

"Whoever this person is...he is not a familiar. It would be very unwise of you to kill him. Please release him."

Only one person could have a voice that strong and in control, As Asaha blade lowered Yoh's hopes rose as the final figure in the room revealed itself to be none other than...

"Tamao, I'm the last person who would question one of your judgment calls but with something like this? Even if this isn't part of some plot by him, do you think I'm going let some punk shaman abuse my brother's image? "

"And do you think he'd let someone run around looking like that either?"

Slowly the energy began to dissipate. Asaha's glare softened but his grip remained tight. Without warning he dropped him. Turning his back he waved his hands dismissively.

"I don't know who you are but my brother you are not."

And without another word he disappeared out of the room. Soon his parents followed suit, leaving only he and Tamao. Smiling softly she began to untie his bindings.

He rubbed his wrists as soon as his limbs were free. They didn't hurt that bad, but then again there wasn't really much else he could do. Silently Tamao took a seat next to and for the next few minutes they remained there, neither saying a word. Noticing how erratically Yoh was massaging his wrists Tamao placed a hand on his, steadying it.

"But seriously if you tell me who you really are, I might be able to talk them down to only a severe beating."

Yoh buried his head into his hands groaning loudly.

"I'm telling you, I am a member of this family. My name is-"

"Yoh. I know. I think they all know. By some miracle of the Great Spirit, Yoh Asakura has returned to us."

Yoh's head remained planted in hands. His voiced trembled with fatigue and confusion.

"I couldn't have returned because I haven't gone anywhere."

Tamao pulled her knees close to her chest, looking…somewhere, anywhere that wasn't Yoh.

"But our Yoh has."

Another round of silence. Standing up, Tamao gave Yoh's hand a comforting squeeze.

"Don't let what just happened discourage you. I think all that's needed at the moment is time to process all of this, for all of us. "

"So you think they'll stop trying to kill. me?"

"Absolutely. You may not be the one they gave birth to but I think they'll realize, you are their son."

Tamao began to walk away when a loud snore rose into the air.

She chuckled to herself as she moved Yoh from his curled position to more comfortable one lying down.

"You are definitely Yoh."