Sorry for the delayed update. I had to revise something in the story to grant the request of two readers regarding Hao and Anna. This may turn out sappy, mushy, OOC…need I say more? Anyway, Cole, Jess-chan, you'll get your fill next chapter.
Sorry about the spoiler thing in the last chapter, Sweet Anime Fan. ^^:: I just assumed that you already know the ending of the series. Sowee!^^;;

"When will this end?" wondered Hao wearily.

Yoh attacked him repeatedly with the double swords that he fused with Amidamaru. Hao knew that he had already awakened the sleeping dragon within his brother and that there was no sign of him stopping anymore.

On the other hand, he had already lost the desire to fight him anymore, or anyone else for that matter. Why else should he fight, when it would all be for vain? Anna is gone. Whether he defeats Yoh or not would be immaterial to bringing her back.

He then realized that he wasn't the omni power he always believed him to be. Just when it matters most, he was helpless.

Yoh kept on attacking, his moves getting stronger. "Why her?" he yelled, eyes blind with rage. "I will kill you!!!"

"Listen to me-"

"No, you listen to me!" he yelled. "Anna is very dear to me!" Yoh slammed his katana on his brother.

Hao blocked his attack just in time. "Anna is just as dear to me! You're not the only one grieving around here! I lost a part of my life too when she passed away!" He kicked Yoh away. "You are lucky, because before she died, she told you that she loves you! As for me…"

Yoh was silenced, and he suddenly remembered Hao's eyes that reminded him of Horo's. He suddenly felt doubt, whether Hao was saying the truth or not.

"You know very well that I can just leave you alone here and make the Great Spirit swallow you up, but guess what, I won't," hissed his brother. "However, if you won't calm down, even I cannot help you anymore."

"Zinc…he is your servant?" He had not let go of his weapon, but he had slowed down.

"Yes," said Hao.

"But then-" The rest of Yoh's words were interrupted by the descent of the Great Spirit, its thick fog settling all over the pillar.

"What's happening there?" asked Horo when he saw the teeming smoke from the pillar.

Marco smirked. "The Great Spirit has come to deliver justice."

"I doubt if his justice is similar to what you are spouting out," said Shilva sarcastically.

The X Lawman was just about to attack him when he sensed Jeanne's presence. He turned to their leader. "Jeanne-sama…?"

Lyserg was assisting Jeanne in walking. She looked weak, but her eyes were still full of gentle but firm authority.

"Enough, Marco," she said.

The rest of the X Laws obeyed her.

She turned to the pillar. "There are still people in there aside from the twins, am I right?" she asked.

Ryu nodded vehemently. "Dr. Faust and Ms. Anna are in there!"

"Anna?" asked Lyserg, turning to the pillar. "What happened? Why is she with Hao-"

"Long story," cut Ren. "And we don't have time for storytelling right now."

"I will wait for ten more minutes," decided Jeanne. "If the two still doesn't come out by that time, I will use the Gates of Babylon to seal the two inside."

"You can't do that to Yoh!" yelled Horo.

"I'm sorry," said the nun softly. "What must be done should be done. Yoh Asakura is related to Hao the Destroyer. If we don't kill them now, one of them is bound to start an apocalypse." She turned to the pillar. "You see, even if it is Hao only that we seal, he can always take over Yoh's body. I doubt if anyone can be able to stop him when that happens."

Lyserg looked worried. "But you spent most of your powers on reviving the Gates!"

Marco looked concerned too. "Jeanne-sama…"

She smilingly shook her head. "What must be done, should be done," she repeated.

Faust, coughing, finally falls down on his knees. He looked at Anna, then smiled fondly. She really reminds him of Eliza – the soft, blond hair, the creamy skin. And now, the peaceful serenity in her face when she died.

He smiled bitterly. The Great Spirit was playing with his darkest fears. He turned to the others. Zinc dropped dead on the ground. It seemed that the Great Spirit was starting to deliver the verdict of evil and good already. His eyes turned to Yoh and Hao, who were still standing. They were emitting some force he couldn't decipher as the fog enveloped them.

He silently wondered how the two were doing with the Great Spirit's tests.

Yoh felt like his chest was about to explode. He turned to Hao, who was sitting on the ground calmly. Why wasn't he feeling the pain?

Hao spoke up. "I've gone through this already in my past lifetime."

He was silenced. "Are we going to die already?" he asked finally.

"It will all be up to the Great Spirit," shrugged his brother.

Just then, Yoh's vision waned.

I'm dying.

"Yoh!!!"

His eyes flapped open, and a slipper hit his face. He rubbed his face. "Wha-"

Anna was looking at him with her narrowed eyes, arms crossed. "Where is my breakfast? And why aren't you dressed yet? You're going to be late for school!"

He looked around. Where am I?

"Don't just stand there!" she bellowed. "MOVE!!!"

"Hai, hai!" He struggled to get up, all the while in daze. Anna's alive?

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked in irritation.

"T-The match with Hao…"he said slowly. "What happened to Hao?"

"What are you talking about?" she asked. "Who's Hao?"

"Huh? Hao…you know, the guy who looks like me?" he said.

"Oh…that Hao?" She glanced at his reflection in the mirror.

He sighed. "No, no, I'm not talking about my reflection!"

"I know all your friends," she said. "The exchange student from China…the snobby one. Ren Tao? And the weird tribe boy…Horo Horo? What's his surname? Oh, and the security guard of your school, Ryu of the Wooden Sword." She ticked off in her fingers his friends. "The class genius, Manta Oyamada. The campus catch in your classroom Lyserg Diethyl. The comedian, Chocolove. I remember that you even befriended your homeroom adviser…Amidamaru-sensei."

"Eh?" Yoh could only look at her, jaw dropped.

"The school clinic doctor and nurse…Faust-sensei and Nurse Eliza. Novice nun Sister Jeanne…" She sighed. "What are you doing? You're stalling time! Prepare my breakfast already!"

He nodded, then noticed something. "Anna, where are your beads?"

"What beads?" she asked, groaning. "I'm hungry-"

"You never take your itako beads off," he said, frowning.

"What would I do with itako beads?" she asked, frowning too. "Are you sure you're ok?"

"B-But you're an itako…."

"Since when?" she asked.

"Since…" He was at loss for words. "D-Don't you remember? You're an itako engaged to me because you want to be the wife of a shaman king."

"Shaman king?" she echoed. "Yoh Asakura, three things: one, I'm not an itako. I am your childhood friend sent by your grandmother to check on you. Two, I am not engaged to you. Three, you are not a shaman king, because shamans were extinct long ago."

Yoh's eyes widened.

Yoh was walking to school when he was splattered with water from a luxury car. Out came Ren, looking annoyed. "Why are you walking here as if you own the road?"

Anna eyed him lethally. "How dare you talk to Yoh that way!"

Ren glared at her. "I don't remember talking to you."

Yoh smiled. "Ren, I'm so glad we ran into you! Anna is pulling my leg! She said that shamans are extinct already and well…show her your super golden…" His words trailed off when he received odd looks from them. "What?" he asked helplessly.

'Is your boyfriend alright?" asked Ren, rolling his eyes.

"Excuse me, he is not my boyfriend," she interjected.

"But…but…don't you remember?" he asked, wanting to shake Ren's shoulders. "My clan is your archenemy!"

"What does my clan care about you?" the Chinese asked. "My father is living peacefully in China, while my sister treats you normally, although for the life of me, I don't understand why she does."

'But…but…" he sputtered.

"We'll be late," said Ren. He then glanced at them. "Want a ride?" he asked grudgingly.

Anna sighed. "We're not going to pay fare, just for you to know."

"Yeah, yeah." Ren rode into his limousine again as he and Anna followed.

In the classroom, they were met by thunderous laughter caused by the tandem of Horo and Chocolove.

"Hey, let me tell you guys about a doctor and a patient." Horo raised a finger. "One day, a man came to a doctor, saying. 'Sensei, sensei, please help my friend! He thinks he's a dog!' The doctor frowned thoughtfully. 'Since when had this problem started?' The man replied, 'Ever since he was a puppy, sensei!'"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Tamao hit Horo. "Sit down already! I'm listing the students who are noisy!"

Horo grinned. "As my beloved class president says!"

Teasing hums filled the room as Tamao blushed profusely. She was on the verge of crying.

Yoh was puzzle. He turned to his seatmate, Lyserg. "Why would our classmates choose a president who easily cries?"

Lyserg smiled, behind him were swooning fangirls. "Because they can do whatever they want, and she can't do anything about it."

"Oh."

Just then, a tall, silver haired man came into the room. "Class, quiet!'

"Amidamaru!" cried Yoh happily, running towards the man dressed in navy blue business suit.

"Ah…Mr. Asakura?" The man sweatdropped.

Ren pummeled Yoh. "That's our Homeroom adviser, you idiot."

Yoh's eyes grew large. He turned to Amidamaru. "I-It can't be! Amidamaru, tell them they're mistaken." He reached for his oracle bell and harusame and showed them to the stunned teacher.

"Why are you bringing deadly weapons in school? And what is that pager thing?" asked Amidamaru amidst the laughter.

"Um, excuse me," said a voice softly.

All the boys in the class turned to the voice, led by Horo. Ren's eyes widened. "Nee-san!"

Jun Tao, wearing a sexy mandarin-collared teacher outfit came into the classroom. All the boys, even Amidamaru-sensei, were looking at her sexy pair of legs that seem to run forever.

Boys were about to go to her, led by Amidamaru, when a grim bodyguard appeared beside him. Ren slammed his hand on his forehead. Just what he needs. His sister was doing her practice teaching in their school, and her bodyguard, Li Pailong, tagged along.

Yoh seized the chance to leave the classroom. He left the school, and was greeted while he left by the security guard, Ryu. He couldn't understand what was happening.

Was everything a dream? Just a dream?

He reached for his necklace just as he heard a familiar voice.

"Wake up, Yoh. Is this the world that you want? It's not real."

He froze, and saw Hao standing at the corner.

"The Great Spirit is testing just how you want to envision a world you will rule."  His twin looked at him testily. "Is this how you want your world to be?'

Yoh clenched his fists. "It's unreal. I want it, but it's wrong."

Hao nodded. "Therefore, what do you want to do?"

"I'm coming back." There was determination in his eyes.

Hao nodded again, just as he was engulfed in white light.

Hao smiled when he saw his brother come back and break the fog suffocating him. He remembered that the Great Spirit finished him when he agreed to stay in the dream world that it created for him. He cannot allow his brother to commit the same mistake.

"You are acting strange," said Shilva, who was able to penetrate the fog, along with the eight other priests. They looked at the fallen Zinc.

The Asakura smiled. "Five hundred years can do a lot to you…not to mention five days in the woods with a very special girl."

Yoh opened his eyes and realized that he was back in the pillar again. Hao was kneeling beside him.

Shilva spoke up. " Yoh has survived the test, therefore, the Great Spirit says Yoh Asakura is a worthy shaman king. It is already official. You are now the shaman king."

"It's done?" asked Yoh weakly.

Hao nodded.

"But if not for you…'

His twin brother smiled. "Think nothing of it."

Yoh realized that there was still a human side within the destroyer. He held out his hand to him, and Hao looked at him in surprise.

"Thanks…Nii-san." Yoh grinned.

Hao accepted it, and helped him up. Just then, Horo and the rest of the people poured into the pillar.

"Master Yoh!!!" Horo ran towards Yoh, followed by the tearful Manta and Ryu. Ren looked on, smiling.

"What's up with you and Hao?" asked Horo, frowning at the Asakura.

Yoh smiled. "Long story."

"Ms. Anna!" wailed Chocolove, kneeling beside her.

Yoh's face turned pale. He hurried towards Faust. "Anna…is she…is she…"

"I'm not…dead, Yoh. D-Don' be so excited." Anna opened her eyes weakly.

"A-Anna!!!" Emotions filled him all at once – joy, disbelief, relief, and love. Lots of love. "Anna!!!"

"Hao saved her," explained Faust.

Yoh was stunned. He turned to his brother, but he was there no more.

Horo laughed, knocking Yoh's shoulders. "So you still have to go train, after all!"

Yoh grinned. He had a lot to thank his brother for.

"Yoh…"

He turned to Anna. "Hmm?"

"Before I blacked out…"she said quietly, not meeting her eyes. "Were those words true?"

He grinned. "Why don't I prove that?" He bent down and kissed her lovingly, amidst the gasps of everyone.

"Anna will kill him!" cried Manta.

"No, Anna will kill him if he pulls away," said Horo knowingly, winking.

Hao smiled at the scene. He had transferred most of his life force to Anna awhile ago just to revive her.

"Why did you do that?" asked a voice softly.

He smiled at Jeanne, who was being assisted by Marco and Lyserg. "Because I love her…and my brother."

They didn't expect the answer.

He turned to Lyserg. "If you want to kill me, I will be waiting in the Izumo forest. But don't make me wait too long…I won't last long."

Lyserg was stunned. "I've…forgiven you, Hao," he said, looking down. "After what I saw in the pillar…"

"Thank you," he said. "I can't bring your parents back into life…"

"But they will be happy with what you did," said the dowser. "My parents are the most compassionate people I know."

"You have their genes," said Hao simply before he disappeared into the forest.

The dowser smiled sadly. He knew that it would be their last meeting ever.

"The match is over," said Kino as the skies cleared up.

Yohmei nodded. "I told you, if anyone can do it, Yoh can."

To be concluded