Chapter 26

'So, did you find him?' Sara suddenly interrupted. All attentions were then focused on the girl.

'No, we didn't. Otou-sama had decided to move on to our next location since we couldn't find him here in Izumo.' Shinichi responded and Kaoru nodded in agreement.

'I see… Well then, where are we going next?' Sayuri asked.

'Funbari.' All three of them answered.

'Ring!!!!!!!'

The alarm clock in his room rang so loudly it could have awoken the dead. Yoh stirred in his futon for a moment and he reach out his hand to locate for his alarm and turned it off. He continued to sleep. He heard the noise of his sliding door being slid open but paid no attention to it.

'Yoh-sama! Wake up!' Opacho said as she went towards the sleeping boy.

'Mmphh…snores…'

'No! Yoh-sama has to wake up now! Wake up! Wake up!'

'Just 10 more minutes Opacho…'

'No! Yoh-sama! Wake up or Hao-sama will get angry!'

'…snores…snores…'

He ran down the stairs hastily as he tied his hair. He went into the kitchen and saw Hao washing the dishes while Opacho and Anna were eating with the others. Anna who was eating immediately gave him a death glare and he cringed in fear. Opacho and the others stared at him worriedly. Hao immediately turned off the tap and turned to Yoh. He was wearing the same attire as Yoh and his hair was tied up in a ponytail. He wasn't wearing his earrings and gloves.

'S-Sorry I'm late.' Yoh told the two. Hao gave him an unreadable expression while Anna continued to glare at him.

'Finish up your lunch. We'll start training after that.' Hao said and Yoh sighed in relief. He sat down at the table and began eating.

A few days had passed ever since Yoh returned from Izumo. Hao was now living/working with them. Meanwhile, Luchist and Opacho wanted to stay close to their master so they both shifted in as well. However, they would have to help the Itako in Funbari Onsen just like Hao. Early in the morning before Yoh had awoken, Hao will be doing training to be ahead of time. After that, he would be helping the others with their work. Surprisingly, he had no problem in handling all the assignments Anna had given him. Most of his former enemies have come to accept him and he seemed to get along well with everyone especially Silva, Lyserg and the iron maiden other than Yoh.

Today, Hao was going to replace Anna in training Yoh because she said wasn't feeling really well and she wanted to take a break. In truth, she only wanted to see whether Hao qualified to be his fiancée's second trainer or not. Although, this would probably be the first and the last time she was going to let him after seeing him so lenient towards Yoh. Hao wiped his hands with a dry cloth as he politely asked Ryu to finish his work for him. Then, he walked towards the table where Yoh is sitting.

SMACK!

'Ouch! What was that for?!' Yoh asked his brother. Hao glared at him.

'Oversleeping. You're supposed to be training now. If you're my allies, I would have considered burning you into crisp or slash you with my katana you lazy boy.' The pyro shaman said angrily.

'I said I'm sorry…' Yoh whined at his brother. Hao scowled at him.

'Sorry doesn't change anything. It's already 6.30 in the morning. You've already missed two and a half hours of practice.'

'It's just two hours…' Yoh gave him a puppy face.

'JUST TWO HOURS?!' Hao raised his voice. He sighed exasperatedly.

'It's no use arguing with him…' Hao thought to himself.

'J-Just finish off your breakfast!' Hao growled.

He went to sit at another table that was placed in the room. (Due to too many guests, they had added in a few tables in the room.) He took the newspaper that Lyserg's father had just finished reading and start reading its content. Meanwhile, Yoh continue with his eating.

'Gasp…gasp…gasp…A-Aniki... gasp…I'm tired…gasp….give me… gasp… a…gasp…break…' Yoh said between gasps as his breathing was uneven.

He had been training for four hours straight as a punishment. This time however, he didn't run 100 laps or do his usual push-ups. This time he was fighting a one-on-one battle and the opponent is none other than Hao. Again, Hao had gained the upper hand without breaking a sweat and also using Ryu's wooden sword instead of his katana. Not to mention he fought without using an oversoul as well.

'No.' Hao bluntly replied.

'But…gasp…I'm…gasp …too…gasp…tired…' he said and finally fainted. His oversoul then dissipated.

'Yoh-dono!' Amidamaru exclaimed as he stared warily at his fainted master.

Hao sighed and lowered the wooden sword he was holding. He went towards his younger twin and carried him back into the house. The samurai spirit floated behind him.

'Maybe I was a little too hard on him…' he muttered to no one in particular and sighed. He didn't expect for an answer but he got one.

'I think Yoh is not strong enough to endure it that's all.' a cold voice replied. Hao knew that voice all too well. He turned to the source of the voice.

'Is there anything I can do for you Anna-san?' Hao asked the Itako.

'Yohmei and Kino-sensei would like to meet you. They're in the tea room. Make sure you go there alone.' She emphasized on the word 'alone'.

'I'll be there in a few minutes.' Hao said and went up the stairs all the while still carrying his unconscious little brother.

Anna stared at him with her usual cold expression as he walked up the stairs followed by Amidamaru. A few moments later, he returned alone and walked pass the Itako who was still standing on the same spot as before. As he walked away from her, she abruptly turned and followed him from behind. After a long while of silence, Hao asked the Itako a question.

'Is it that personal that even you have to follow me as if I'm a prisoner?' Hao asked suddenly.

'Don't take it the wrong way Hao. I'm just following orders from them.' The ice queen said coldly.

They arrived at the door and Hao went into the room. Kino gave nod at Anna and she closed the door behind the pyro shaman. She stood outside the room preventing anyone from either eavesdropping or entering.

'Have a seat.' Mikihisa told the boy.

The boy stared at them suspiciously. Wasn't it supposed to be only him and the Asakura's? Why were the X-Laws in this room as well?

'We don't intend to have an argument or a fight if not necessary so please, just sit down will you?' Yohmei said coldly.

'Sure.' He said casually even though he didn't let down his guard.

He had said if not necessary. Plus, he can't afford to get hurt further. The injury he received from the shaman fight and his former enemies in Izumo hadn't even recovered yet. Seeing no other option, Hao decided that it was better for him to just oblige. He sat at the only seat left which was just one step in front of him. They were silent as they stared at each other for long moments.

'Hao…' Yohmei finally broke the silence.

'We would like to ask you to--'

'--leave Yoh as soon as possible. We do not welcome a demon like you being near with Yoh.' Hao finished Yohmei's sentence.

Things had gone exactly the way he had been expecting. They definitely won't let him stay with Yoh for long and he had always known it. He didn't plan to stay with him for long as well for he knew he would have to risk his twin's life if they were to be together. He didn't want to admit it but deep in his heart, he really didn't want Yoh to suffer. He knew it and that is why there were times when he gets infuriated and lose his cool. One of those times was when he had fell into Yoh's trap (refer to chapter 6) while the other was when he was about to left Yoh but ended up nearly hurting the younger boy physically. (Refer to chapter 9) Asakura Hao had never been that caring towards anyone but his faithful companion, Opacho. Yet he cared for him. Not as his other half of his soul, but as a twin…

'You don't need to worry Asakura Yohmei. As I have told you I will leave when the right time comes. Is that all you want to tell me?'

There were silence as the X-Laws stared at the fire shaman unbelievingly. How could the great Asakura Hao agreed to something so easily? They would have done that in the past if they knew he was actually that easy to be negotiated. Still, they remained silent out of respect for the Asakura.

'We want you to leave immediately. I don't want you to be poisoning my grandson's mind. Get out of his life and never come back. We don't give a damn about you. I don't care where you go as long as you stay away from Yoh.' Yohmei said coldly.

Hao sighed and stood up.

'Fine. I'll leave but in case you don't know, it takes time for me to pack my stuff.'

'Then make it quick.' Yohmei told him. The boy was about to walk out of the room when he suddenly stopped.

'Ah…I almost forgot to warn you, since I'll be leaving this place, remind Yoh to not leave the house alone for if you don't do that…you'll definitely regret it.'

'What are you talking about?!' Yohmei exclaimed.

'Just tell him this, don't go out alone or you'll be the next one. That is all for me to tell. The others are for you to figure it out yourself.' He said and left.

'Where's Aniki?' Yoh suddenly asked all those who was in the living room. He hadn't seen him at all after he had regained his consciousness. They were silent as the question was left hanging in the air. Yoh almost thought he won't be getting an answer when someone suddenly interrupted from behind.

'He left already.' Yohmei told his grandson.

'What?' Yoh turned to them. He thought he had misheard.

'Like what your grandfather said, he already left.' Kino said.

Silence…

'HE ALREADY LEFT?! WITHOUT EVEN A WORD?!' Yoh exclaimed.

'Calm down Yoh. I was the one who shoved him off.' Yohmei spoke calmly.

'WHAT?! WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!'

'It's for your own good! You would have lived a better life without him!'

However, his grandson already walked away from the place and was now wearing his sandals at the entrance. Just then the entrance door slid open revealing Mikihisa and Keiko.

'Yoh, where are you going?' Mikihisa suddenly asked.

'Mikihisa stop him! He's going to find that demon!' Yohmei shouted.

'HE IS NOT A DEMON! HE IS MY BROTHER! DON'T CALL HIM THAT!' Yoh said and quickly shove his parents out of the way before they could stop him.

'I'M GOING TO FIND HIM! I HAVE A BONE TO PICK WITH HIM!' he said and ran out of the house only to be attacked by a demon that appeared out of nowhere.

'Yoh!' all of them exclaimed in unison.

The demon had a pattern and a talisman in the middle of his body. It's the exact the same pattern as the other demon he had encountered at his home in Izumo. The demon attacked the boy but he managed to dodge it in time.

'Yoh, catch!' Mikihisa called out.

He turned to his father who immediately threw his katana and Futsu no Mitama at him. As he was about to catch his sword, the demon charged at him causing him to be thrown sideways. The katana dropped on the floor. The demon attacked him again and he dodged its attack once again. After that he quickly ran and grabbed his weapon.

'Amidamaru! Oversoul! Spirit of Sword!'

He ran straight towards the demon and charged at him but before his oversoul could touch the demon it was already nullified. His eyes widened. The demon attacked him and he lost his grip on his katana as he fell on the floor. The demon charged and gave him his final blow.

'YOH!!!' all of them exclaimed in a panicking tone.

Yoh closed his eyes and braced himself for the attack.

One minute later...

Yoh opened one of his eyes when he felt nothing and the first thing he saw was the demon's hand almost reaching his body. He opened both of his eyes and he realized that the demon had been stationary all the while. Suddenly, it was consumed by blue-colored flames and it began to topple down. Coincidentally, Yoh was just underneath him.

'WAHHHH!!!' Yoh exclaimed and rolled away from the burning demon.

'I told you, don't let him leave the house alone or he'll be the next victim.' A deep voice said. Yoh turned and saw his brother with small blue-colored fireballs around him. He didn't look really happy at the moment.

'HAO! WHY ARE YOU HERE?!'

'If I weren't here then your grandson should have been dead by now Yohmei.' He said in an unusually cold voice and the fireballs around him deflagrated. Yohmei fell silent.

'ANIKI! I HAD A BONE TO PICK WITH YOU!'

'You can pick all you want but I'm not going to argue with you. Plus, there is already a lot of bone right beside you.' Hao told his younger brother.

'THAT'S! NOT! THE POINT!' Yoh said angrily.

'Anyway, now that I'm done I'll be going.' He said and slowly walked away.

'WAIT! ANIKI!' Yoh stood up but fell down on the floor. Keiko and Mikihisa ran towards him. Hao halted his movement.

'Your bone has been dislocated. You shouldn't move so much.' he told him without turning to face him.

'Why? Why can't you stay with me? Aren't we brothers?'

Hao remained silent for a moment before he answer his younger twin's question.

'Yes, we are brothers. Not to mention we're both twins. Even so, I still can't stay with you...' he said softly.

[I'm sorry Otouto.] He thought to his younger brother and disappeared in a lick of flames.