Celebrations

by Apple-chan

It's been past seven months since the Funbari Onsen Inn celebrations ended...what has happened so far during that span of time? Set 11 years after the Anime. AnnaXYoh, RenXPilica, TamaoXHoro, LysergXJeanne...and then some. [COMPLETED]

11. Chapter 9: The Celebrations End

Celebrations
by Apple-chan

Disclaimer: insert witty disclaimer remark here

A future fic of sorts. Set approximately 11 years after the Anime. It's Funbari Onsen's 3rd anniversary, and Yoh and Anna's daughter's birthday. And yes, everyone is finally here!^^ Lots of silliness, weirdness, and of course, lots of love!^_^

Spoilers: The whole Anime series.

Warnings: PG-13 for adult situations and mild swearing. Warnings for chapter length (but this is much shorter than the previous one).^^

More things happened here, yup.^^



Chapter 9 - The Celebration Ends


"It's late," Ren whispered as he finally lifted his mouth from Pilica's after a long, long kiss. His hands tangled in her hair as golden eyes continued to gaze into dark blue ones intensely...like they never wanted to look away.

"It is," Pilica agreed as she gazed back at him, sighing softly as his hands slowly descended from her hair, softly touched her neck, then moved further downwards to touch her shoulders, her arms...and then, reached their desired destination. She leaned against him as his hands finally drew her close, his arms sliding around her waist. She tightened her hold around his neck, her fingertips stroking the stray hairs at his face.

"I should go now," The Chinese shaman decided as he leaned closer, his mouth merely half a millimeter from hers. He briefly glanced at the door right beside the wall where he and Pilica were leaning. "And you should, too. We've been outside your room for quite some time..."

"Yes. We have," She nodded her head slightly, her eyes slowly drifting close as his face again moved even closer towards hers. "You should go to your room. Jun-san's already gone to hers," She told him.

"I know." Ren replied. "Maybe you should go inside now," he added in a soft murmur as he moved even closer...and closer...

"Uh-huh. I should..." Pilica answered in a whisper, melting in his arms as he finally crossed the half a millimeter barrier between them...and...kissed her again.

At that moment, all thoughts of heading to either one of their rooms vanished from both of their minds.

The only thing that they remembered...was the fact that...they were in each other's arms, once again, savoring the warmth, the softness, the sweetness of their embrace...and the endless, blissful, and practically celestial feeling of the kiss...and of their mouths as they moved over each other's again and again...fusing, melding, then breaking apart...only to meet each other once more as if engaging in some sort of eternal, ethereal dance.

Briefly, Ren tried to recall how many times they had already kissed that night, ever since they had admitted their feelings for each other. Probably more times than he could count...and much more times than he could remember.

He didn't need to remember. Frequency was far less important than intensity--intensity, and depth--these two are the things that were always present every single time they kissed. No matter how many times they might have done it, those two things are what always caught him. Frequency was superficial, but depth and intensity...they defined what was within...like feelings, emotions...and something more.

At the back of his mind, he wondered which poet it had been who preached something along the lines of the first kiss being the one that most people have engraved into their hearts, souls and minds. It's the first kiss that decides how the relationship will go, and if it would last. The love you have felt on the first kiss...that love has got to be enough to last your whole life, because if not...the relationship is not bound to last.

That poet must have been lying...because in his experience, it was...very different. It was different because...every single time they kissed...something happened. Yes, of course he knew--and felt--that he loved her when they had first kissed. He didn't know if the love that had been there then was enough to last them a lifetime, but that didn't matter to him.

That didn't matter because...that thing the poet had said--it wasn't true at all. At least, it didn't apply to him and Pilica, because the memory of the last--the most current kiss they had shared--that was always the one that was usually engraved in his mind. Although the last certainly wasn't the first time...that's what it always felt like. It was always fresh, new...and alive, like the blooming of a new flower.

...And the LOVE...every single time, his love for her increased about ten thousand fold--or more, if that's even possible.

-That- was the part he didn't understand...he didn't understand it at all. It was just that...he felt SO much in every kiss...he felt so much from HER. She offered herself wholly, fully to him in every single kiss...and even if possessing her was the farthest thing in his mind, -still- it felt like refusing her was a sin...that refusing her, or turning her away was the biggest mistake he would ever make in his whole life. It was like...she wanted to be bound with him for always, for...forever, if forever exists.

And it probably does--for them.

She was such a selfless woman, and although he felt like he didn't deserve anything of what she was offering, -still- he took it all, because that was what she wanted. That was what loving meant for her.

As for him...more than his love increasing ten thousand fold every time she offered herself to him, he felt like giving himself to her as well. He wanted to...but the fact that bothered him was...he didn't know if he had enough to give. Considering -who- she was, and how much of herself she was giving to him willingly, he felt like...even his entire being wasn't enough. That even TWO of him wasn't going to be enough to match or equal what she was offering.

-That- was what he didn't understand--loving her made him feel whole, and complete...yet at the same time, loving her made him feel...insufficient, somehow...

...Is...THAT what love is like...?

"Ren-kun...you're sighing," Pilica whispered against his mouth. She opened her eyes and gazed at him softly, deep concern etched all over her beautiful face. She touched his eyebrows, which were slightly furrowed, like he was thinking hard. "Is something wrong?"

"No." Ren said quickly, his eyes snapping open as he shook his head briefly. "I'm fine." Except for the fact that I feel like I'm not enough for you, I'm perfectly fine...He didn't dare voice those thoughts. Instead, he leaned her closer against the wall and started kissing her again.

"Ren...kun..." Pilica sighed slightly, her voice trailing off as she gave up trying to talk to him, and instead, welcomed his kisses and tried to match his fervor by tightening her arms around his neck and kissing him back with her whole heart, mind and soul, surrendering her whole self up to him fully in every single kiss, breath, touch, and taste. She couldn't understand why it came so naturally to her to give herself up totally to just one person. She really wasn't like that normally...but when it comes to...HIM...everything she usually was ceased to exist. She was like a whole new different person...a woman who was not interested in taking, or receiving, but was only interested in giving...giving herself up utterly, wholeheartedly...to Ren...to him, and no one else.

She wasn't interested in taking anything from him...but since he chose to give himself up to her, she accepted nevertheless, for she couldn't do otherwise. He completed her in the most ultimate sense...And she knew, that even though she had already offered herself totally to him, -she- probably wouldn't be able to make him feel as complete as -he- made her feel...because anything she offered, even if she gave him twice or thrice more, it wasn't enough to even come close to what he has given.

But even that knowledge didn't matter to Pilica. The fact that...I know that I had given myself up wholly to him...THAT'S what matters.

"What does...?" Ren stopped kissing her abruptly as he felt her lips mouthing something, her breath whispering something against him.

Pilica's eyes opened as she realized that she'd said her final thoughts out loud. She smiled faintly at him. "You, and me. Us--that's what matters." She answered. Nothing else...not even the feeling that I'm not enough for you...the important thing is that I have given you all of me...and you have given yourself to me as well, and completed me...the way only -you- can...

Ren bowed his head and he looked away, a deep frown on his face. "I'm not good enough for you," he told her quietly, echoing his latest series of thoughts.

The Ainu woman rolled her eyes to the ceiling and sighed impatiently. First, it was "I'm stupid," now it's "I'm not good enough for you." She shook her head. She placed one of her hands underneath his chin and raise his head up with her finger so that their eyes could meet. "You're berating yourself again."

"But I really -am- not good enough for you." He insisted, averting his eyes.

Pilica exhaled. "Could you please let me be the judge of that?" She stroked his eyelids with her fingers, coaxing the beautiful, bright golden orbs that were his eyes to look back at her. "Why do you think you're not good enough?"

The Chinese shaman finally looked back at her. "I just feel it." He answered simply. "Every time we kiss, I know I love you even more, but the thing is..." he paused as he gave a resigned sigh, "...You give yourself to me, and every single time, I feel like I'm...perfected. Completed. Like I have everything in my grasp and I couldn't ask for more...but I can't say the same thing about you, because when I think about it...what do you have left when you've given yourself up to me? I can give you...me...but that wouldn't be enough. I can't complete you the way you complete me. I'm...not sufficient..." he stopped upon seeing that she was laughing softly.

"Oh, I don't know what's wrong with the two of us..." She shook her head as she wiped the tears of laughter from her eyes. Upon seeing Ren's incredibly hurt look, she said quickly, "Ren-kun...if you think you're not good enough for me...then -I'm- not good enough for you either." She sighed, smiling slightly. "We've been thinking along the same lines," she explained. "Except, I've been thinking that...it doesn't matter to me if I'm not enough for you. What matters is that I've given you all that I can...all that I am."

Ren nodded as he continued to stare at her intently, the hurt look vanishing from his face.

"I think," Pilica began, "that no person in this world is born complete...or sufficient, as you say," She declared. "And you and I are no different...but that's the reason why we're together now--so that we can...complete each other." She finished with a decisive nod.

The dark blue-haired young man breathed slowly, shaking his head as everything started to finally make sense to his incredibly clouded mind. He really wasn't very good with feelings. He couldn't even understand his own ones most of the time. It took a whole lot of effort to sort out his feelings for Pilica...and even then, admitting them to her had not been a particularly easy task. It had been like climbing a million mountains and crossing several oceans. He wondered if he could have actually gone through with his confession if she hadn't run after him right after he had stalked out of the dining hall...

He smiled slightly. Maybe...or maybe not. He gazed at the azure-haired woman before him. Pilica...she's very good with feelings...much better than I could ever be, at least...perhaps that's one of the reasons why me, and her, and the two of us...

A loud sigh interrupted his thoughts. "Ren-kun, you need to stop thinking too much." She told him sternly. "It's not good for you. It's not good for anyone, for that matter," she added, shaking her finger in front of him.

Ren laughed. He couldn't help it. It was incredibly refreshing to see Pilica frowning at him, and lecturing him like a little boy...lecturing him the way she probably lectured Horo-horo...he winced slightly. Pilica's brother -still- didn't know about the status of Ren and his sister's relationship...by heck, he's probably still refusing to believe that his sister is even remotely interested in anyone...He shrugged. Oh, well...he'll find out about this soon, anyway...and he -had- better learn to accept it, he added darkly. I have no plans of letting his sister go...ever.

Pilica sighed impatiently and pinched his cheek hard when he didn't answer and had only laughed. That was a couple of minutes ago.

"OUCH!" Ren groaned as he rubbed his cheek, a small, red mark slowly forming in the skin. He gave her a wounded look.

"You just laughed at ME," She accused, "and you DIDN'T even heed my warning. You just remained QUIET and continued to THINK!" She glared at him before she pulled away, turning around so that she wouldn't face him.

The Chinese shaman burst out laughing again at this. Darn it, she's even more beautiful when she's angry...Ren took a step towards Pilica and pulled on her shoulder gently, whirling her about. "I didn't mean it," he said sincerely, ceasing his laughter. "I was just thinking of how cute you are when you're trying to lecture me. And..." he lowered his voice a notch, wrapping his arms around her waist and drawing her against him, "how you're even more beautiful when you're angry..." his voice dropped to a whisper at the last word.

Pilica blushed profusely as she allowed him to take her into his arms. "I had no idea you knew how to tease," she murmured softly as she rested her head against his chest.

Ren smiled at her affectionately, stroking her azure hair. "I do. I just never felt the need to use it before." He paused thoughtfully. "...until now, that is..." he tipped her chin up with his finger and brushed his lips tenderly against hers.

She slid her arms around his neck, leaning against him as she deepened the kiss. She sighed against his mouth as he tightened his hold around her and returned her kisses. This time, it was Ren who had his back against the wall. His hands ascended from her waist to caress her shoulders, moving further upwards to her neck, then even further up to her hair. He tangled his fingers in the soft, silky azure strands as the kiss slowly turned from innocent and sweet to hot and demanding.

Pilica moaned with protest as Ren tore his mouth from hers abruptly, then, sighed with pleasure as his mouth moved to touch her chin, her cheeks, her nose, then her eyelids, moved upwards to her forehead, and then, descended back to touch the corners of her mouth, before going down even further to kiss her throat. She gasped as his mouth shifted to the side of her neck, her fingers threading through his hair as she tilted her head up to give him better access. Then, his mouth ascended back to capture her lips once more.

From across the room, someone cleared his throat. Then, a male voice said in a hard, icy tone, "Pilica, go to bed." Horo-horo.

The pair broke apart instantly upon hearing the voice. "Oniichan!" Pilica exclaimed as she furiously tried to straighten out her dress and her hair...without much success. She settled on asking a question instead. "Oniichan...how long have you been there?"

"Long enough," Horo-horo replied dryly, giving her a stern look. "Ren," he said in hard tone, nodding his head briefly at his friend.

"Horo-horo," Ren acknowledged in the same hard tone the Ainu man had used. He folded his arms across his chest, watching Pilica with amusement at the corner of one eye as she continued trying to straighten out her clothes. "We didn't realize you were there."

"I'm sure you didn't," Was the curt reply. He glanced back and forth several times between his sister and Ren, the frown on his face deepening as he gave them both an appraising look. "You should go now," he told Ren.

Somewhere near the staircase, a pair of footsteps were heard. The three turned their heads as a head of pink hair appeared from the said area, followed by the face, the shoulders...and then, the whole person. Tamao.

"Ren-san. Pilica-chan," She smiled brightly upon spotting the two of them. "Shouldn't you both be in bed by now? It's very late," she added, smiling meaningfully at the both of them. Then, she made the mistake of turning her head and her eyes towards far across the room.

At the same time that her head turned, so did Horo-horo's...in her direction.

For a brief moment, rose-pink eyes met dark blue. Then, both Horo-horo and Tamao looked away extremely quickly as if they've been burned, total embarrassment--and something else--quite apparent by the blush on each of their faces.

Ren and Pilica watched this whole scene with amusement, the two of them exchanging a smile.

Horo-horo coughed loudly as he walked towards the pair, the earlier blush still quite visible on his face.

"Oyasumi, Ren-san, Pilica-chan...H...horo-horo..." Tamao swallowed as she said the Ainu man's name, blushing again as she shook her head and started out quickly towards her quarters up on the seventh floor.

"Oyasumi, Tamao-san!" Pilica called out to the pink-haired fortune teller. Tamao waved at her in acknowledgement before finally disappearing.

Horo-horo exhaled, looking up to the ceiling before turning to the Chinese shaman again. "Go to your room, Ren." He said firmly.

Ren raised an eyebrow, his arms still folded across his chest. "Are you trying to order me around?" He asked the Ainu man in a clipped tone.

Horo-horo walked in between his sister and his friend, then leaned against the wall. "What if I am?"

Ren rolled his eyes and shrugged. "...Alright. I'll go," he said finally, with a resigned sigh. He flashed the Ainu man a look. "Happy now?"

"Like HELL I am," Horo-horo shot back.

The Chinese shaman began to walk in the direction of his own room, before he stopped abruptly and marched back towards the Ainu siblings. "Sorry. Forgot something." Then, he took a step towards Pilica, and, ignoring her brother, he swept her into his arms, lowered his mouth to hers...and kissed her long and hard and thoroughly, not stopping until he was sure that he had engraved every single inch of her into his heart, and his memory.

"Ren-kun," Pilica said breathlessly as he finally released her. She stumbled forward and would have fallen on her knees if he hadn't caught her by the shoulders.

"Sorry," He smiled at her sheepishly. "Anyway..." he darted his eyes briefly to Horo-horo, whose earlier frown had now evolved into a full-fledged murderous look. "Oyasumi," he said, loudly enough for the Ainu man to hear. Leaning forward, he whispered against her ear, "Aishiteru yo."

Warm color tinted her cheeks. "Oyasumi nasai." Aishiteru yo, she mouthed to him.

Ren nodded, smiling slightly as he turned away from her, gave Horo-horo a faint nod, and finally, walked briskly towards his own room. "I'll see you both tomorrow morning!" He called out over his shoulder.

"Yeah, whatever!" Horo-horo yelled, glaring at the other man's retreating back. He then turned back to his sister. "Pilica, let's..." He stopped abruptly upon shifting his gaze to her.

His sister was leaning against the wall, her eyes following Ren's retreating back with a soft smile on her face. She was slowly sliding down to the floor...

The Ainu man rolled his eyes and exhaled. He had not seen this coming. Ren definitely had quite an impact on his sister. Why, if Pilica had been a block of ice, she probably would have melted into a water puddle by now...He shook his head. Falling in love certainly did weird things to people, but...he'd never actually thought it would have this kind of effect on his sister. I mean, this is -way- more than weird, it's...it's...very, very strange...crazy, in fact...

...Maybe because it's...Ren.

My sister is in love with TAO REN.

He groaned slightly. I think I'd better start learning to accept that fact...

Love...is making my sister crazy...

As for him...he really wouldn't know, would he? After all, he's never actually fallen in love. And he didn't have any plans to do so anytime soon. I mean, if...THIS...He looked over at his sister again...is what loves does to a person, then...I'd rather not. No, thanks.

"Pilica...oh, for CRYING OUT LOUD!" He held up his hands in defeat, then, pulling on his sister's arms, he managed to straightened her up to a standing position. He swung the door to her room open and deposited her inside it. "Change your clothes and go to bed!" He called out as he slammed the door shut.

Exhaling impatiently upon hearing a faint bump from inside the room, he quickly swung the door open again and stepped inside. He found his sister slumped down on the floor and leaning against the wall, unmoving, her eyes completely dazed...a soft, dreamy smile still on her lips.

Horo-horo sighed with irritation as he looked dismally at his sister...Love. Tch. If -this- it what it does to a person...who needs it?

...I certainly don't.

Yup. I don't need it one bit.


*~*~*~*~*~*


"Oniichan," Yoh greeted his brother as he walked towards the far side of the rooftop where his twin was standing and looking down at the city below them.

"Yoh," Hao greeted back, flipping his hair smoothly and smiling at his brother. He took the stick of English Lemon Tea Lights he was smoking out of his mouth and blew out a couple of smoke rings into the air. "What are you doing here?" He peered behind his twin. "Where are your kids? And where's that lovely wife of yours?"

Yoh frowned at the stick of cigarette his brother was holding, before rolling his eyes and shaking his head. "The twins are still at the dining hall with Faust, Chocolove and Ryu, watching Manta and Opacho's chess game. That game's been going on for almost four hours already, and yet still, no one's winning." He gave a slight chuckle. "I never realized Manta could be so competitive."

"I never realized Opacho could be so competitive, either," Hao replied dryly. "She and Tanma get along so well. It almost makes you think that...there's something going on between them." He finished with a wicked grin.

Yoh looked at his brother curiously. "Is there...?" He wondered. Manta and Opacho...well, THAT'S certainly the weirdest pair he's ever encountered...

Hao laughed. "We'll never know, will we?" He paused, leaning his hands against the railings. "Opacho hasn't even told me what's in it for her if she wins or loses in this tournament." He glanced at his brother. "They must have made some sort of...secrecy pact between them, I gather."

Yoh shrugged. "You're probably right. Manta hasn't told me anything about it, either." He said with a sigh. "You'd think as his best friend, he'd tell me...but noo..." he shook his head.

"He doesn't need to tell you everything that goes on in his life, Otouto," The long-haired shaman admonished. "After all...YOU don't tell him everything either. And me, as well," he added with a meaningful look.

"...You have a point," Yoh said finally, after several minutes. It's not as if I would actually tell them about my...sex life...I mean, THAT'S between me and Anna...

"So...where's the rest of your family?" Hao persisted.

Leaning his elbows against the railings, Yoh replied, "Keiko's with Tamao somewhere, I think...she's probably getting ready for bed. And Anna..." he smiled fondly at the thought of his wife. "...she's with Ren-chan. I think she's giving him a bath and preparing him for bed. We shouldn't have allowed him to stay up this late, but, well...things happened." He said dully.

"Ah," Hao nodded his head with understanding as he took a long drag from his stick. "I remember quite clearly how Ren-kun kidnapped your son just before he...stormed out of the dining hall in the middle of the poker game," he smiled slightly. "...and the object of his affections followed him soon after," he added, a knowing grin spreading across his face.

"Yeah, I've heard," Yoh said with a chuckle, shaking his head with mock-exasperation at his twin. "Oniichan...you got him angry again...didn't you?"

"It wasn't me, it was chance!" Hao protested. "Chance did it. Well, I...might have added fuel to the fire," he admitted, "...but it honestly wasn't me who's responsible for all of it. If anything," he continued brightly, "the pattern of Ren-kun's fortune must have been the sole culprit, so if there's anyone who knows about it...it should be Tamao-chan." He grinned widely upon mentioning the pink-haired fortune teller. "Although I have doubts as to whether she'll be able to give us an accurate reading anytime soon. I do believe...she's a little bit...distracted."

"Hn." Yoh groaned slightly. "Thanks for reminding me. I -still- can't believe it, though...I mean, I knew about Ren and Pilica...but Tamao...and HORO-HORO?" He shook his head with disbelief. "It's kind of strange..."

Hao reached forward and patted his brother's head. "Your perception is apparently not working too well," He remarked teasingly. "Either that," he continued thoughtfully, "...or you're just too...preoccupied...distracted...by your wife," he supplied with a knowing grin. "Ne?"

"Well..." Yoh grinned sheepishly and scratched his head. "She's a wonderful distraction..." he shook his head helplessly. "I can't help it if I always...um. You know," he said with slight embarrassment.

The long-haired shaman waved his hand dismissively at his brother. "No need to explain. I understand quite perfectly," he grinned again. "Anyway," he said seriously, "...if Horo-horo-kun manages to sort out all his feelings by early tomorrow morning, then...I'd have to say goodbye to my most beautiful limousine for one whole month. Ah, the pain of it..." he said dramatically, placing a hand over his heart and shaking his head sadly.

"What did you bargain your limousine to Horo-horo with?" Yoh asked incredulously.

"Nothing much," Hao replied innocently, taking another long drag from his stick. "Just, you know...a whole month with it in exchange for any further developments in his love life...like realizations, confessions, significant bedroom occurrences...that kind of thing."

Yoh narrowed his eyes at his brother. Significant BEDROOM occurrences? "You're joking...right?"

His twin shook his head. "No, I'm not." He replied smoothly. "Well I MIGHT have been joking on the significant bedroom occurrences thing..." he added after some thought.

Yoh raised his eyes up to the sky and sighed with resignation. "I REALLY don't know what I'm going to do with you, Oniichan."

"Like I told you earlier today, brother..." Hao rested his arms around his brother's shoulders and smiled sweetly at him. "...there's nothing you need to do. And I'm sure you're not gonna want to do anything, either...for I KNOW you love me the way I am." He rested his head on Yoh's right shoulder and grinned cheerfully. "Ne?"

His brother gave another sigh. "...Hai." He answered finally. "But you know, I just have to ask..." Yoh turned his head slightly to look at Hao. "Why do you always feel that...NEED to do something...WEIRD every single time the Asakuras have some sort of a celebration?"

"Weird?" Hao quirked an eyebrow. "Define 'weird,' Yoh."

"Don't play innocent with me now," Yoh warned dryly. "You KNOW what I'm talking about. During my wedding, you got Ryu drunk enough to chase Ren's sister around the reception hall and..." he shook his head. "...two years ago, you got...ME drunk during our birthday." he added.

"So I did," Hao agreed. "...but if I remember correctly, you and your wife succeeded in creating Ren-chan that day, too." He grinned wickedly at his brother.

Flushing slightly, Yoh exhaled. "Yeah, but it would have been much nicer if I remembered..." he muttered. "Anyway, tonight..." he gave his brother a look. "You've managed to succeed in getting both Horo-horo -and- Jeanne drunk." He folded his arms across his chest. "What do you have to say about that, Oniichan?"

Hao shrugged. "It's not my fault Horo-horo-kun's got no luck when it comes to card games. And it's not exactly my fault that convent girl's bad luck followed her all the way from London. Besides...let me ask you this: between Lyserg-kun and Iron Maiden and me...which one of us do you think was winning frequently in the poker game?" He asked.

Yoh looked at his brother thoughtfully. "Don't tell me..." he frowned. "...Lyserg? If I remember right, he's the second luckiest next to Ren."

"Exactly!" Hao said triumphantly. "Convent girl -would- have won a couple of games and stayed merely half-drunk like Horo-horo-kun if Lyserg-kun hadn't played or if he'd played to lose, but the thing is..."

"...He didn't want to allow Jeanne to play with you alone," Yoh finished.

"Yes, exactly!" Hao nodded vigorously. "...Thus, convent girl's drunken state was only -partly- my fault."

"You still initiated the game, you know." Yoh pointed out. He coughed as Hao took another drag from his cigarette and blew off the smoke into his face. "Could you get rid of that?" He pointed at the cigarette. "Throw out the whole pack, too," he added.

Hao grinned. "Sure thing. Spirit of Fire!" He called out. In a second, the enormous, bright red mecha-spirit materialized from nowhere in front of them. "Burn it." He tossed his cigarette stick and the rectangular pack towards the spirit, and in a matter of seconds, Spirit of Fire burned the remaining cigarette and the pack of English Lemon Tea Lights to ashes.

Yoh stared incredulously at the red spirit before turning back to his brother. "Please, for goodness' sake -don't- let him inside the Onsen anymore, alright? I mean, if it was just me, I don't really mind, but Anna..."

"Nothing to worry about," Hao said, smiling unfalteringly and waving his hand with reassurance. "From now on, Spirit of Fire will remain outdoors, I promise you that." He added with a nod.

"Good." Yoh smiled at his brother. "Anyway...where were we?"

"Drunk convent girl." Hao supplied helpfully, with a meaningful grin. "Drunk convent girl, and Lyserg-kun."

"Don't tell me..." Yoh closed his eyes and sighed wearily. "The poker game, and getting Jeanne drunk...was that another one of your schemes again?"

Hao grinned mysteriously. "You could say that," he said cheerfully.

"NOW I get it," Yoh turned around to face his brother, "YOU angered Ren so he could finally confess to Pilica...YOU got Horo-horo half-drunk so he could um...realize how he feels about Tamao, and then...YOU got Jeanne drunk so that she and Lyserg can...what?" He wondered.

"So they can get it on."

"WHAT?"

Hao laughed. "I'm kidding." He gazed at his brother with amusement. "...I don't have a clue as to what will happen to them yet. But...you can say I just gave them...a little push," he added meaningfully. "I'm leaving the rest for the two of them. As for the first two..." he paused, shaking his head. "I know I'm good, Otouto, but I'm -not- THAT good." He shrugged. "I really didn't mean to get Ren-kun angry...nor did I mean to get Horo-horo-kun half-drunk. But well..." He grinned widely. "...seems like everything's working out as they should, anyway, ne?"

Yoh just shook his head and smiled faintly at his brother. "Honestly, I don't know if I should be happy that you're like this..." he sighed. "I wonder if things would be much better off if we had...you know...the old -you- of eleven years ago around..." he mused.

This time, Hao looked away and sighed. "The me of eleven years ago would have killed all of you in a heartbeat." He said quietly, gazing down at the city below him.

His brother sighed, as well. "Yeah. You're right." He agreed, following Hao's gaze and looking down at the city as well.

A long silence followed.

Then, Hao turned to Yoh, an odd expression crossing over his usually cheerful face. "Yoh...have I thanked you yet?"

Yoh looked up at his brother with confusion. "For what?"

"...For sparing my life," Hao answered quietly. "Right after...everything...I asked myself a thousand times...WHY you did not kill me then...when you had the chance." He sighed. "See...even when...you referred to me as your brother...I didn't understand. I COULDN'T understand." He paused. "I tried to kill you once...tried to take away your soul...caused you and your friends...and your wife a whole lot of pain, and yet...YOU approached me, called me brother, even after everything I've done and tried to do...I mean, if I had been you, I certainly would have killed ME without a single hesitation, but you..." his voice trailed off.

At this, Yoh walked closer towards his brother and patted his arm. "Oniichan..."

"There is no need to call me that, Yoh. I don't deserve to be addressed with that." Hao told him quietly.

This time, Yoh smacked his brother on the head. "O.NII.CHAN!" He said loudly.

"OUCH!" Hao rubbed his head, groaning as he looked at his twin incredulously. "And WHAT, pray tell, was that FOR?" He demanded.

"Oniichan," Yoh repeated. "No matter how many times you turn the world around and over, no matter where you go, no matter who you become, and MOST especially, NO MATTER what you do, and what you did in the past, the fact is: YOU'RE MY BROTHER. My older brother. My twin brother. My sibling. My blood. Nothing, and no one can change -nor- deny that fact." He gave his brother a meaningful look. "So there's no point in you wallowing in self-pity. I didn't kill you because you're my BROTHER. My Aniki. My Oniichan. The other half of me--you know, in blood-sense. Two halves of the same whole, two different personas with the same face..."

"...and two bodies, two different hearts, minds and souls, yet one blood." Hao finished, smiling faintly at his twin. Yoh's philosophy in life is...he shook his head. Something else. He sighed. Sometimes I wish that I could change the past...turn back time...go back to that point in my life when I was being born...and instead of leaving, I would stay...I would stay, and watch over the brother I should have grown up with...and guide him...protect him...

But past is past. The present, and the future...are what's important. Our present, and our future...as brothers. As the brothers we should have been long before...

"Oniichan...what are you thinking of?" Yoh asked curiously.

Hao shook his head, smiling slightly. "Nothing. Nothing at all. Just...thinking about the past..." He sighed as he leaned his hands against the railings and looked up at the sky. "You know...you, and me, and our mother...the old man...the old guy, and the old lady..." He chuckled, referring, respectively, to his and Yoh's mother, father, grandfather and grandmother.

"...Were you wondering what it would've been like if we had grown up together?" Yoh asked.

"Something like that, yes."

"Well...I don't," Yoh declared. "I don't think about the past much. Of course, I do think about our mother a lot, but other than her..." he shrugged. "I'm not saying that what happened in the past isn't important...it is, but what's more important is...learning from the mistakes in the past, and moving forward, changing for the better...like you have." He grinned at his twin.

"I owe all this to you, you know." Hao pointed out.

"Maybe...but you made the change yourself."

A chuckle. "So I did."

"Oniichan..." Yoh began, "did you ever ...kill anyone again...I mean, right after that time you met Nakatsugawa-san?"

Hao gave him a look. "Of course not. I've become an advocate in upholding life and nature, you know that."

"That's good then." Yoh smiled. "You know, Oniichan...with all the things you've done for this country as the bodyguard and representative speaker of the late Prime Minister...I think you'll be a shoo-in for the position, if you run. People love you as much as they had loved Nakatsugawa-san, or maybe even more...isn't that right?"

"Well...yes." Hao admitted modestly.

"So...why don't you run?" Yoh wondered.

"Ex-bodyguards-turned-heirs don't run for office, Yoh. And besides...I don't think I love humanity enough for me to want to serve it in that kind of a position. I'm perfectly satisfied with the way things are." Hao answered matter-of-factly.

"But you can do so much more if you run...this country needs good officials. I think you'll do a good job." His brother declared.

"Do you now?" The long-haired shaman laughed. "Well...why don't -YOU- run?" He asked his brother.

Yoh chuckled. "Me? No way. I'm perfectly happy with my life right now...no worries, just relaxing all day long with Anna and our kids...it's what I've always wanted." He grinned. "And I have friends, and Oyaji, and Jii-chan and Baa-chan...and you. I couldn't ask for more, could I?"

Hao smiled at his brother, but shook his head. "A lot of the people in this country trust me, I can say that much," He began. "...However, there's a certain group of people whose trust I have yet to gain, and who matter to me more than anyone else in this entire planet." He gave his brother a meaningful look. "It's you, your family, and your friends, Otouto."

His twin gave him a confused look as he scratched his head. "I trust you, Oniichan. And my kids do, too. And my friends...well...you know how they are," he shrugged. "Everyone else has pretty much learned to accept you, and it's only a matter of time before you'll be able to gain their trust. Well, except for Lyserg and Jeanne...but given your history with them, that can't be helped," he added quickly. "And Anna..."

"She doesn't trust me." It was a statement, not a question.

"Anna's...well...Anna's different. She's my wife, and she loves me...I don't know exactly how much, but...I guess maybe it's because of who you were before, and what you did to me then. I can forgive you because, well...you're part of me. It's the twin thing, I guess...I just understand you more than other people do...but Anna..." Yoh's voice trailed off.

"She loves you more than you could possibly imagine," Hao said quietly. "That's why she hates me so much. Every time she looks at my face, she remembers how I tried to take away your soul eleven years ago. She hasn't forgiven me for that...and maybe she never will." He added sadly. "I don't blame her. If it were the me of now, and I had been in her position...I don't think I'd forgive myself, either. You're her life, Yoh. You, and your children are -her- life, and her very soul...and once, I tried to take that away...that's why I don't think she'll ever forgive me."

"Just...give her time, Hao Oniichan. Don't try too hard to win her over. It's time she needs." Yoh told his brother with a reassuring smile.

"Hai."

"Oniichan?"

"Otouto?"

"I've just decided," he began, "...When Anna gives birth, and if we get lucky and have a little baby boy again...I think I'd like to name him after you," He proclaimed.

"Your wife will never agree to that."

A chuckle. "We'll just see. I happen to be very persuasive when I want to be."

Hao couldn't help but laugh. "I'm sure."

"Yoh." Yoh and Hao turned around as, from the stairway door, Anna appeared, cradling little Ren-chan in her arms. She walked slowly towards her husband, nodded civilly at Hao, and spoke. "It's getting late. We should get back to the living quarters now so that the kids can sleep." Yoh noticed that Ren-chan was already in sleeping clothes. His head was resting on his mother's shoulder, although his eyes were open. Once in a while, he would give a small yawn.

Yoh nodded. "Alright." Turning to his brother, he said. "...You should get some rest, too, Oniichan. You've had a long day," he added.

Hao grinned. "Hai, I will. In a few minutes. I just want to stay here for a little while. You three go on ahead." He nodded at them.

"Okay then." Yoh placed an arm around his wife and smiled sweetly before he leaned over to kiss her cheek. "Let's go. Oyasumi, Oniichan!" He called out to his brother as he and his wife, and their youngest son, walked towards the stairway door.

"Oyasumi, Yoh, sister-in-law, Ren-chan," Hao called out to them, before he turned his head to look up at the sky, a smile on his lips.


*~*~*~*~*~*


"Where are we?" Jeanne murmured dreamily against Lyserg's chest as the two of them stumbled out of the elevator and entered the sixth floor.

The Englishman groaned mentally as he supported the silvery blue-haired maiden by the waist, trying his best to keep his balance as the two of them struggled to walk towards their rooms. "At the sixth floor. We're almost in your room," he whispered to her hair, ignoring the sweet scent and softness of the long, silky mass, fearing that he might just faint if he concentrated hard on it, which would create an entirely new problem for both of them. They were in quite a mess now as it is, for during the poker game, Jeanne had managed to empty four full bottles of the wine Hao had brought. He cursed himself silently for allowing it to happen.

Although Jeanne can certainly hold her alcohol well, he thought with a small smile. The Iron Maiden had quite a strong tolerance for alcohol, having been able to ingest -that- much. Still, though...he shouldn't have allowed this to happen.

But, since he did...he -knew- he would have to pay for the consequences...

"WHOOPS!" Jeanne giggled slightly as she managed to loosen her hold on Lyserg, causing her to slip across the floor. She would have fallen flat on the surface if the green-haired Englishman hadn't caught her in his arms. "You saved me. My hero!" She wrapped her arms tightly about his neck and kissed him on the cheek...her soft, warm lips lingering for quite some time...

Lyserg could feel his whole face heating up. Resisting the urge to turn his face so he could meet her lips with his own, he raised his head up and turned her face away from his. Then, taking a deep, long breath, he struggled to walk again, pulling her along in the process.

He had only taken about three steps when her hold around his neck suddenly loosened again and she slumped down slowly on the floor by his feet.

Heaving a resigned sigh, he looked up to the ceiling. "Why is this happening to me?" He muttered. Then, realizing he had no other option, he sighed again, with defeat this time, and then, bent down and swept her fully into his arms.

Jeanne sighed with contentment as she subconsciously wrapped her arms tightly around him, burying her head at the crook of his neck. "Are we there yet?" She whispered against him.

He paused to stroke her hair, nodding. "Just about," he whispered back. Now that he no longer had to assist her in walking, Lyserg moved fast. In a short while, he finally reached the door leading to Jeanne's room. "...we're here," he murmured, nudging her head gently with his hand.

Jeanne looked up, and blinked her eyes sleepily at him. "Wonderful..." she said with a yawn, before burying her face back at the crook of his neck.

The Englishman shook his head, smiling slightly. If she wanted to sleep in his arms, that was perfectly fine. More than fine, in fact...He turned the knob and swung the door to her room open. He walked in slowly, surveying the surroundings critically before heading towards the sleeping area and setting her down on top of the futon. He gently untangled her arms around him and painstakingly lay her head on top of the pillow, smoothing out her hair across it at the same time.

"Good night," He whispered as he straightened up and started towards his own room.

But before he was able to take any further step, she stirred. Her eyes opened...and magnificent ruby orbs peeked sleepily from the lids. "...Lyserg? I need to change into my nightgown. Could you help me...?"

Lyserg froze. "N...nightgown?" He managed. Is that the wine talking...or is it her?

"Yes." Jeanne nodded as she sat up and yawned. She inclined her head and squinted her eyes at the Englishman. "Would you please get it for me? It's in the dresser," she added, pointing at the dresser drawer by the nightstand.

Lyserg nodded mechanically, not trusting his voice to speak. He went towards the said place, snatched the long, flimsy pink silk thing at the very top, and, fighting the urge to examine it, he walked back near her futon and handed her the garment.

"Thank you." She placed the gown on top of her pillow and reached behind her to unzip her dress. She struggled for a couple of seconds, then, giving up, she turned to him. "Lyserg? I need your help again." She pointed sheepishly at her back. "I can't reach it."

No.

No.

No, no, NO.

This is just way, way, -way- WAY too much. Lyserg wondered why he hasn't died from blood loss as of yet; he was blushing so hard. I can't do this. I can't do this anymore. I definitely can't do this. As much as it might be the most tempting thing on earth...still, I can't do this. He took a deep breath, straightened out his shoulders, and walked briskly towards the door.

The door by the side leading towards -his- room.

Jeanne's room had three doors, he realized. The bathroom door, the front entrance door...and the adjoining door.

What the...adjoining door?

Who the bloody -hell- put an adjoining door in here...?

Since when has my room ever been adjoined with Jeanne's...?

"Lyserg...?" Jeanne's sweet, drunk voice called out to him again. "I really need your help here..."

The Englishman looked back at her, then shifted his gaze towards the adjoining door, then back to her again. Ah, hell...does it even matter now...? He shook his head and finally opened the adjoining door. "Morphin! Come in here, I need your help." He called out to his power spirit, who had been in his room the whole time.

The little pink fairy fluttered towards the doorway and hovered above her master questioningly. "Help her out," Lyserg instructed, with an incline of his head towards Jeanne. "...she's trying to change into her nightgown," he added. And I couldn't possibly go there and...help her take her clothes off now, could I? I mean, that isn't proper...that isn't proper at all...it's not something I should even consider at all doing...should I?

Morphin floated over his head briefly as if to say yes, before flying towards the silvery blue-haired maiden. The green-haired young man turned around and stared at the wall as he heard the shuffling of clothes, closing his eyes and trying very hard not to concentrate on the fact that HE was in HER room while SHE was TAKING OFF her CLOTHES. He wasn't having much success. Thinking about Jeanne taking off her clothes was NOT a good thought. Nope, it was not a good thought AT ALL...

"Morphin, thank you..." Lyserg breathed a sigh of relief as the shuffling noise finally stopped. He turned around just in time to see Morphin flutter above him happily, before heading back towards his room. He looked over across the room at the futon, smiling faintly upon seeing that Jeanne was again lying down...and probably asleep already.

Glancing at the adjoining door briefly, he left it slightly open, and, deciding that -she- was a maiden and -he- should really be more of a gentleman, he strode softly across the floor towards the front entrance of her room--the proper thing to do, after all, was to exit her room through the -right- door. Going through the adjoining door...held a whole LOT of meaning...and a whole LOT of connotation...something he didn't want to risk.

As he continued to walk...he didn't dare pause, nor did he look at her as he passed by the sleeping area. Not even a single, quick glance.

Nope, he didn't look at her. He didn't look at her at all. He didn't even so much as stop briefly as he reached her futon. And more importantly, he didn't even so much as run his eyes across her sleeping form and examined her from head to toe. Nope, he didn't do any of that at all...

...Yet he was still looking. Bloody hell.

He should have given in to the temptation and checked that nightgown first before he gave it to her...if he had, he wouldn't be looking at her right now...WHILE she was wearing an incredibly thin nightgown...which almost made it seem like she wasn't wearing anything at all...

Well, except for the fluttering fabric of the garment, but...other than that...he raised his eyes up to the ceiling. He wasn't going to look anymore. He'd seen more than he should have...more than he was even allowed to see...

Damn. He was still looking.

His feet were frozen on the floor. He couldn't move. He couldn't even think. He continued to gaze down at her sleeping form, surveying her from head to toe several times...examining every single detail about her, like she was some incredibly precious prized jewel. From her feet, he moved his eyes upwards again, very much enthralled at how unbelievably beautiful her ruby eyes were as his own eyes went further upwards to gaze at her...

Wait a minute...

Hold on a second...

Her EYES...?

She's AWAKE...?

No. NO. No.Way.

Bloody freaking hell...

"Lyserg?" Her sleepy voice questioned as she looked up at him. "Are you alright?"

"Yes!" Lyserg's brain finally started working again. "I'll...I'll go now," he said quickly. "Good night." He crossed her futon and began to resume heading towards the front door.

But...just before he took another step forward, Jeanne's hand pulled his wrist quite forcefully, causing him to lose his balance.

...And that said action thereby resulted to...

"WHOOPS!" Jeanne giggled as he managed to fall over on top of her.

"Sorry," he muttered in apology, his face--and his whole body--flaming as he raised himself up quickly. He placed both of his hands on either side of the futon on top of her head to serve as a leverage. Just as he was straightening up, he made the mistake of glancing at her face.

He shouldn't have looked at her.

He really shouldn't have...but he just couldn't help himself. She was just...too...beautiful...

And she was lying on top of the futon, facing him. She was just lying there...with her hair spread across the pillows...making her seem like some kind of a...goddess...HIS goddess...

Oh, dear LORD...if this is a dream...I hope I never wake up...

"I'll go now." He heard himself say again as he continued to gaze at her magnificence. He didn't move an inch. It was like...his whole body was...stuck...in that position.

And his eyes...

He really couldn't help himself.

He couldn't stop looking at her...he didn't WANT to stop looking at her...

Jeanne blushed furiously as he continued to gaze at her...his beautiful, beautiful green eyes looking her over again and again from head to toe. Even in her drunken state, THIS could not escape her senses...not when he was this close. Not when she was feeling SO MUCH as he looked at her.

...So...damned...much...

"I'll go now." Lyserg said for the third time.

"Okay," She whispered, nodding her head. "Good night."

"Good night." The Englishman raised himself up again...but before he could hoist himself further up, a pair of smooth, graceful white arms encircled his neck...and then, the same arms pulled him close...

And then...soft, warm lips reached up, brushing softly against his cheek...his chin...

And finally, those same lips...went even FURTHER...and met his own...in a soft, gentle kiss.

...Jeanne's lips...on mine...

...Her mouth...on MINE...

This time, Lyserg fell over on top of her completely, half from sudden pleasure...and half from shock.

But the shock didn't last much longer...for his whole body, mind, and heart...quickly GAVE IN to the pleasure.

His hands tangled at the sheets on either side of her head as he kissed her back with surrender, his mouth moving over hers gently...He tasted her mouth and her lips and her tongue over and over again, his whole being much too caught up and overwhelmed by drugging sweetness that he discovered within her...

...A sweetness which was the mixture of the fine wine she had drank...and a sweetness that was just purely, uniquely hers and hers alone.

Jeanne sighed blissfully against him as her hands caressed his hair, her fingertips stroking the beautiful green strands as she savored the warmth of his kisses, the feel of his body against hers, and the gentleness of his hands as they slowly moved from the sheets to her hair, his fingers softly caressing every single inch...and then, he trailed his fingers downwards to touch her shoulders...roving even further as he finally reached...

Lyserg pulled away abruptly, breathless and slightly dazed. His half-lidded jade-green eyes gazed down at her and stroked her cheeks, his fingertips traveling briefly across her face..and pausing at her lips, all the while endlessly relieving the memory of the kiss that had just transpired...a sweet, brief kiss that all seemed too wonderful to be real, yet...too poignant to be just a mere dream. A kiss that he didn't exactly want to end. A kiss that he wanted to perpetuate for eternity...a kiss that was unlike anything he'd ever felt before...and unlike everything he'd ever dreamed of...

...But dream or no, he had stopped because...he KNEW he HAD to stop. I mean...she's drunk. She'd never do this if she wasn't...

...And whether or not she was actually aware of what she was doing...and of what -I- was doing...the fact remains that...I'm taking advantage of her like this. It...isn't right...he restrained himself from kissing the silvery blue-haired maiden again as he continued to gaze down at her, smiling softly to compensate for his actions.

Jeanne looked up and returned his smile, her face still showing faint signs of being drunk, sleepy...and half-dazed. "Good night..." her eyes slowly fluttered close...moments later, she fell asleep. Whether or not she was actually aware of what just happened...of what she just...did...and of what she had...ALLOWED Lyserg to do, one can only guess...

The green-haired Englishman continued to gaze at the silvery-blue haired maiden's face long after she had fallen asleep...long after he had heard her even breathing.

He -still- couldn't believe he had kissed her like that...it was...so unlike anything he had ever imagined.

It was so much more.

Much, much, MUCH more...

Sighing, Lyserg finally got up from the futon and straightened himself. He gazed back at her once more, the turmoil evident on his face as his eyes darted back and forth between Jeanne and the front door. Giving in to the temptation, he bent down, leaned towards her face...and kissed her lightly on the forehead.

...I love you, he thought as he gazed at her one last time. I love you, Iron Maiden Jeanne...

Then, crossing towards the door and opening it, he stepped out and headed towards his room.

At the futon, Jeanne turned on her right side, smiling slightly in her sleep. "...love you..." she murmured softly against the pillow.


*~*~*~*~*~*


"Oyasumi, my little angel..." Anna murmured as she gently placed the sleeping Ren-chan on his crib. She smiled at the little boy affectionately one last time, before turning around to face her husband. Folding her arms across her chest, she looked up at him, an eyebrow slightly raised. "What?"

"Huh? Nothing." Yoh shook his head, smiling innocently. "I was just thinking..." he leaned over, took her face into his palms, caressing her cheeks softly, "...of how beautiful and wonderful you are..." he bent down, brushing his lips lightly across hers, "and of how much I love you, and how everyday, that love seems to intensify even more..." he brushed his lips against hers one last time, before finally kissing her completely.

Sighing, she tipped her chin up and returned his kiss briefly before pulling away. "You want something...don't you?" She asked, giving her husband an expectant look.

Yoh scratched his head and nodded. "Yeah, I do..." He said thoughtfully.

Anna exhaled, rolling her eyes. "Alright. What do you want?"

"YOU." He grinned cheekily.

She flushed slightly. "What do you want with me?"

Her husband gave her a meaningful look. "You KNOW what I want."

Anna glared at him as her blush deepened. She -knew- what he wanted, of course. It wasn't like she didn't want it too, but..."We can't do that right now."

"Why not?"

She gave an exasperated sigh. "Because Keiko and the twins will be coming along in a while. And we still haven't given Keiko her gift."

"And...?"

She rolled her eyes again. Since when did my husband become such a hentai...? "We should wait until they're all asleep. Besides...our daughter sleeps in between us on our futon, or have you forgotten?"

"...No, I haven't." He shook his head. "But...we can always ask Keiko to sleep in the twins' room for the night, you know." He reminded her.

"You have a point," She admitted. She walked towards the freshly-spread out futon she and her husband shared and sat down on top of it, folding her legs demurely at her side. She looked up at her husband, motioning for him to sit down beside her.

Yoh obliged, sitting as close to his wife as he could manage, and the minute he was comfortable, he enfolded her in his arms and rested his cheek softly against her neck, his breath tickling her ear.

Anna shivered slightly, attempting to pull away...but his hold on her was too tight...and it wasn't like she really wanted to, anyway..."Yoh...not now..." she murmured, sighing softly as he began to press feather-light kisses on the side of her neck. "We should wait a little longer..."

"...Are you sure...?" Her husband breathed as his lips traveled to the base of her throat.

"Umm...yes," She closed her eyes...somewhere in the back of her mind, she realized she had her arms around his neck. "Yoh, the twins and Keiko are coming any minute now, and we should--" her protests soon died as his mouth silenced hers into submission, his arms gently coaxing her body into a lying position. She complied weakly as she kissed him back, her hands pulling him down on top of her in the process.

"Anna-sama? Yoh-sama?" Tamao's voice.

"Kaachan? Touchan?" Keiko.

The couple stopped abruptly upon hearing the voices, and turned their heads to the doorway where both their daughter and the pink-haired fortune teller were peeking out.

"U...um," Tamao blushed upon noticing the couple's weird position...She blushed even harder when her eyes met Yoh's and the memory of what he had seen...of what he had caught her and Horo-horo doing came over her. "...I'm here to deliver Keiko-chan...and uhm, now that I have...I'll just...oyasumi!" She gave a short bow and quickly ran out of the room.

"Auntie Tamao, oyasumi!" Keiko called out to the fortune teller's retreating back cheerfully. Then, unperturbed by their position on the futon, she turned back to her parents and jumped joyfully on the cushion, wrapping her arms around the both of them. "Auntie Tamao allowed me to ride the elevator on my own. It was sooo much fun!" She exclaimed as she continued jumping up and down.

"Keiko, be careful," Anna warned her daughter upon seeing the jump, as she and Yoh reluctantly pulled away from each other and sat up. "She let you ride by yourself?" She asked incredulously, remembering the last statement.

Keiko shook her head vigorously. "Not really...I had Ponchi and Konchi with me, but other than the two of them...it was just me!"

Anna exchanged a look with her husband, who merely shrugged and smiled. She sighed. "Well...I guess it's alright," she decided.

"Ne, Kaachan...Touchan..." The three-year-old looked up at her mother and father hopefully, "...what was it you were gonna give me for my birthday?"

Yoh chuckled, exchanging a look with his wife. "...Well, the truth is...it's actually just your mother's gift to you," he began, "Since I couldn't think of anything I can give you that you don't already have, so...the party was your Kaachan's and my gift."

"Touchan, I know that!" Keiko nodded and wrapped her arms happily about her father's neck. "You don't really need to give me anything more, I've already got enough!" She kissed his cheek softly. "...It's just that...Kaachan mentioned it..." She looked at her mother curiously.

Anna smiled fondly at her daughter. Then, she stood up and walked towards her dresser drawer and dug out something from what appeared to be a secret compartment underneath the whole cabinet: a medium-sized jewel box. The blonde woman walked back towards her husband and daughter, setting the box on the futon in between the three of them. "This belonged to me...but starting today, it's yours." She told Keiko.

"What is it?" The little girl wondered as she gazed at the box, all the while still hugging her father.

Yoh smiled affectionately as he stroked his daughter's hair. "Open it."

Keiko looked back and forth between her parents, before she pulled away from Yoh, reached for the box, took the key her mother was holding out, and used it to unlock the box. When she finally had it open, she glanced at her mother. "It's...Kaachan...it's your necklace," she announced, holding out the long string of blue beads reverently, her face showing an expression of total awe.

Anna nodded. "I'm giving that to you now...but you can't use it yet," she paused. "You'll need to grow up a little bit more first before I can teach you how to use it. You have the abilities...I've been sure about that ever since you were born," she smiled. "But the training requires more maturity than you have now. You'll first need to prove yourself to me. After that, then...I'll decide whether I'll start training you or not."

"You'll teach me how to be like you? Like an..." The little girl paused thoughtfully. "An..."

"...Itako," Yoh supplied helpfully, ruffling Keiko's hair gently. "Yes, she will. In three years or so...maybe earlier, if you can manage it." He added. "Ne?"

"Hai." Anna gave a brief nod.

"Sugoi!" Keiko declared as she jumped into her mother's arms and hugged her tightly. "Aishiteru, Kaachan! Aishiteru, Touchan!" She said happily. "I'll prove it to you! I'll make myself more..." she paused again as she searched her memory for the term her mother had used earlier. "More mat...mat..."

"...Mature," Her mother supplied with a chuckle as she returned the hug. "And Keiko...you can start proving how mature you can be right now." She looked at her daughter seriously, "...how about sleeping in your own room for tonight? I think that counts as maturity," she added, smiling meaningfully at her husband. "Ne?"

Yoh grinned slightly. "Hai, that's right." He agreed. Really, she comes up with the best ideas all the time...he shook his head. I shouldn't be surprised. It's one of the reasons I love her, after all...

"Hmm..." Keiko looked thoughtfully from one parent to another, wondering if they were really trying to teach her something about maturity...or if they were just trying to get rid of her...no, of course not. They loved her too much to want to try to get rid of her even for a night...or maybe they wanted to have another qualitime, she thought. "...Okay," she said finally. "I'll sleep in my room tonight!" She smiled brightly at both parents, gave them a hug and a kiss each, swept the jewel box containing the Itako necklace in her arms and hugged it like it was the most important thing on earth, and stood up. "Oyasumi, Kaachan, Touchan!" She called out over her shoulder as she ran towards her own room, carefully holding on to the jewel box in her arms.

"Oyasumi!" Yoh and Anna called out in unison to their daughter's retreating back.

Then, Yoh turned to his wife with a wicked grin. "Excellent idea, that," he told her, referring to the maturity thing.

Anna smiled sweetly as she allowed him to pull her into his arms. "Why, thank you." She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him down on the futon. "So...where were we?"

Her husband raised an eyebrow. "I thought you said we should wait until all the kids are asleep."

"Well, I changed my mind. Is that a problem?" Anna gave him a look.

"...No." Yoh chuckled slightly as he gently moved her back to a lying position, with him on top, and started kissing her again.

He was in the middle of kissing her neck when something wet, warm and slobbery touched his foot. And then, a loud barking was heard, startling Anna and causing her to push him forcefully back away from her...and making him hit the floor hard in the process.

"Ouch." Yoh groaned, rubbing his back as he looked up at his wife, who had stood up as fast as she could upon hearing the bark. "...Koroku," he greeted the golden-brown puppy who had licked his foot earlier as it jumped on his lap and showered his face with kisses.

Anna was glaring at the doorway, her hands on her hips. "Who told you that you can bring the puppy here?" She demanded from her twin sons, who had just peeked their heads through the door.

"...I did. Gomen ne, Anna-san," Faust's head appeared in the doorway and gazed at the blonde woman apologetically. "Keiko-chan and these two asked," he paused to incline his head at the twins, "...and I just couldn't say no." He added.

"Can't he stay here, Kaachan?" Yohmaru asked, looking up at his mother hopefully.

"Please?" Yohnta added, his face mirroring his twin's expression.

"Yeah, Anna. Let Koroku stay," Yoh agreed, giving his twins sons a meaningful look, while holding the puppy in his arms.

Anna looked back and forth from her sons to her husband, the glare on her face slowly transforming into resignation. "Alright, alright," she told them with a sigh. "He can stay. Just make sure he doesn't make a mess. And keep him inside your room," she added warningly.

The twins grinned at each other, then at their father, and finally, at their mother. "Hai!" They replied, nodding their heads in unison.

"Come on, Koroku!" Yohmaru called out to the puppy.

"WOOF!" Koroku jumped out of Yoh's arms and followed Yohmaru and Yohnta to their room.

"Oyasumi, Touchan, Kaachan!" The twins called out in unison to their parents.

"Oyasumi!" Yoh and Anna called in return.

Faust chuckled as he watched the twins' retreating backs. "Well, I guess I'd better go. Oyasumi, Anna-san, Yoh-kun," he told the couple with a slight bow.

"Oyasumi." Yoh replied with a smile. "See you in the morning," he added.

"Hai." With a final, brief nod, the blonde doctor walked out of the room.

Yoh and Anna stared at each other for a good couple of minutes while listening in to the twins preparing for bed. After some time, the voices from the twins' room ceased.

"Yoh...do you think they're all asleep?" Anna whispered to her husband.

"...I'll check. Stay here." Yoh whispered back. He walked out of their room quietly to briefly look into both the twins' and Keiko's rooms. After a minute or so, he popped his head back inside his and Anna's room, a huge grin on his face. "Coast is clear."

"Good." Anna smiled widely. "Come on in here. And close the door," she added.

"Now..." Yoh murmured as he went inside the room, switching off the lights and pulling his wife into his arms, "...Where were we?"


*~*~*~*~*~*


"...do you remember what you did after getting drunk?"

Ryu stared at the wall in his room, pondering about the question Jun had posed to him earlier this evening. What I did...after getting drunk...?

He slowly paced around the floor, his brows furrowing as he tried to dig deeper into his brain.

...What -did- I do...?

It was all in there somewhere, in his memory. Deep inside his heart of hearts, he KNEW why Jun was chasing him...or used to, he noted sadly. He knew it. He knew it very well.

...He just couldn't remember it.

He whipped about, causing a small, dark-green vase on the table near him to smash into pieces. He glared down at the broken pieces of the vase, wondering if this was an omen of some sort. Dark green...slender vase...dark green...hair...Jun. He shook his head. The vase reminded him of the Chinese woman. It was just like her...smooth, and fragile, and simple...and beautiful.

The smashed pieces reminded him of how she had looked earlier this evening, just before she left him in the kitchen. That dejected, hopeless, and incredibly...LONELY expression on her face...the sadness that was beyond words...

The heart that was bleeding beneath that sad smile.

Her heart...which he had just managed to smash into pieces...and he never even knew why. He -still- didn't know why.

...It made him feel...extremely guilty. And regretful. And sad. And...

"...It doesn't matter," the sadness was evident in her face then. "If you don't remember...then maybe it's for the best. I'll stop chasing you now."

And when she left...he didn't know what he was going to do. Part of him wanted to run after her...but the other part willed him not to...told him to stop, and think about what she said...think about it before he does anything else...

...Like run after her.

Ironic...so ironic it was, that for six years, -she- was the one who had been doing the chasing...and now that's she's given up...he was going to perpetuate the chasing expedition...this time, it was -he- who was going to do the chasing...just like he did before at his Danna and Okami's wedding when she...

Ryu stopped pacing the floor abruptly at that thought.

"What I'm saying is that you should STOP running, and face the consequences of your stolen kiss. It's not that she didn't like it, anyway. Why do you -think- is she chasing YOU?" Hao's voice echoed at the back of his mind.

Yoh Danna and Anna Okami's wedding...three and a half bottles of Hao's wine...jade-haired beautiful girl caught my eye...started chasing her...she ran from me...but I caught her...I caught her behind the curtain and I...and I...

...I kissed her.

I.Kissed.Her.

I kissed Tao Jun at the Danna and Okami's wedding...and she was chasing me because of that.

She was chasing me...because...at that time...I was the one who was chasing after HER.

...How could I have forgotten about it? I...KNEW about it just...yesterday morning...how could I have been so STUPID and FORGOTTEN about IT?

Because you consider it as one of your sins, a voice inside him answered. And when you looked at her earlier tonight...you forgot everything. One gaze at her, and you forgot it all--your past mistakes, your own name, your bad qualities, your idiosyncrasies...even your sins. She's the only woman who has been able to do that...isn't she?

Hai, she is, he answered the voice with a thought of his own. That kiss...that kiss...was a sin. I shouldn't have kissed her. It wasn't right...I had NO right...that's why it's a sin.

You think she would be chasing you if she thought -that- was a sin?

Well, no...of course n...he stopped briefly at that thought.

Is that right?

...H...hai.

Hmm...maybe you ought to reconsider the way you look at things now, Ryu.

...Maybe you're right.


*~*~*~*~*~*


Horo-horo leaned his back across the balcony at his sister's room and glared at her sleeping--probably also dreaming--form. She was hugging and caressing her pillow at the same time, sighing softly every once in a while. She was probably dreaming about Ren.

He couldn't help but wince at the thought of his Chinese friend. Yes, Ren was his friend, and he accepted Ren as -his- friend...but it would take some time before he would be able to accept Ren as his sister's...boyfriend. A -long- time, probably even a whole year. Although Ren wasn't exactly a bad guy...this was still his Imouto in question here, which was why it was so hard for him to accept.

Anything that has to do with her...most especially when it's about love...is hard for me to accept. Love means losing her to another person...having someone else to share her with...and I'm not exactly sure I'm ready for that yet.

So...does that make me a bad brother...or just an incredibly paranoid and possessive one?

Pilica stirred in her sleep, interrupting his thoughts. She still had that weird sweet dreamy smile on her face. He shook his head. Maybe I wouldn't mind so much if she wasn't so...so...SO CRAZY. I mean, it's like she's totally lost her mind, for crying out loud! If I hadn't shaken her so hard just a couple of minutes ago, she would have never moved from that spot by the wall near the front door. She would have remained there, sitting like a lunatic, smiling like a lunatic, and staring off into far space like a mental patient...he rolled his eyes. Really...love. He snorted. If it's something that can drive you to insanity, and if it's something that can make you do things you wouldn't even normally dream doing...then who the HELL needs it?

...It's just a damn bother to life, that's what it is.

Horo-horo stretched out his arms and yawned. Well...it looks like she's fast asleep. I'd better go to bed, too. He straightened up and walked towards the adjoining door leading to his room. Hopefully she'll stop acting crazy by tomorrow morning, he thought to himself as he gave Pilica one last long look.

He was about to turn the doorknob when something near the edge of Pilica's dresser caught his eye.

...A pink vase.

...PINK...Horo-horo froze on the spot. Why the HELL is there a...pink vase inside my sister's room?!?!?

Rose pink, a voice inside his head corrected. It's not merely pink, it's ROSE PINK. Now...what does that remind you of?

...Nothing! He shot back silently at the voice. It doesn't remind me of ANYTHING! It doesn't remind me of anything AT ALL!

Oh...really? For some strange reason, the voice inside Horo-horo's head sounded distinctly like...Asakura Hao. Why don't you try being honest with yourself for once, and admit it...?

I don't have ANYTHING to admit! That vase doesn't remind me of anything...or ANYONE. It's just a vase. Sure, it's rose pink, just like HER eyes and HER hair, but...it doesn't remind me of HER at ALL...

Her WHO, exactly...?

That woman.

And her name is...?

T...Tamao. His face colored as he thought about her.

Right. And that vase doesn't remind you of her at all? The voice sounded sarcastic.

No, of course it doesn't! Didn't I already say that?

...Why, yes. Silly me, I forgot.

So are you convinced NOW?

I sure am. You're not reminded of her at all, correct?

YES! I mean...NO, of COURSE NOT!

...And when you look at that vase over there, you don't even recall any detail of whatever you did earlier tonight at the Tea Room...isn't that right?

Nope! When I look at that vase, I only see a vase. I don't remember coming into the Tea Room right after getting drunk and demanding her for cheesecake, and when she wouldn't give it to me, I kissed her instead. I don't recall any of that at all. I really don't.

...Who are you trying to convince--me, or yourself?

NO ONE, Horo-horo threw back. I'm trying to state facts here...

Yeah, right. Are you even listening to yourself? To your own THOUGHTS? Even now, you're contradicting yourself. Either you're in denial, or you're INSANE...

I AM -NOT- INSANE!

Oh, yeah. Of COURSE you're not. The voice was being sarcastic once again. You're arguing with a voice inside your head. Of COURSE you're perfectly sane...

YES I AM! Horo-horo slammed his fist against the wall. I'M SANE!

...Yes. You are. The voice replied in mock-agreement.

And I am NOT in denial.

...No, of course not.

And that vase doesn't remind me of her at all....

No, it doesn't.

...I DON'T remember her when I look at that vase.

Yup, that's right...

And I don't remember making her angry. I don't remember provoking her so that she'd be annoyed...

Uh-huh, the voice agreed.

AND more importantly, I don't remember staring at her like I wanted her more than I wanted the cheesecake...because I didn't.

Didn't want HER, or didn't want the CHEESECAKE?

Both...I mean, I -only- wanted the cheesecake, dammit! Just the cheesecake, NOT her!

Oh. Right.

And...I don't remember...backing her into a corner and making sure she couldn't escape...I didn't do that.

No, of course you didn't...

...And, I DON'T REMEMBER kissing her AT ALL. I don't even remember how she felt like in my arms...or how her lips felt like against mine...or how they tasted like...or how...I...

No, no, of course you DON'T! The voice said cheerfully. You don't remember any of that!

...And MOST of ALL...I don't remember how I felt after that. I don't remember feeling disappointed when Yoh's presence suddenly interrupted us right in the middle of it all. And I don't remember feeling sad when she turned her back and ran away from me. And I don't remember feeling empty when I realized that she'd disappeared, and that I wasn't holding her in my arms anymore...

Nope, you don't remember any of that...

Yes. So...are you thoroughly convinced?

I was convinced earlier...but more so now.

Good. Because I don't remember anything at all.

Right, right. Keep telling yourself that, Horo-horo...it might just come true. And when it does...I certainly hope -you- won't regret it...

Of course I won't! And one more thing...

What's that?

I'm NOT in love with her. I'm NOT in love with her AT ALL.

Oh...you're not?

Shaking his head, Horo-horo finally turned away from the vase, opened the adjoining door, and entered his room.

Nope, I'm not in love with Tamamura Tamao.

...I'm not in love with her.

I'm not.


*~*~*~*~*~*


Tamao paused from running to catch her breath as she reached the wing of the seventh floor where her sleeping quarters were. Looking behind her, she sighed deeply, feeling her face reddening again as she recalled catching Yoh's eye, just moments ago.

He had merely smiled at her in acknowledgement, but...she knew better. Underneath his innocent smile...there was a hint of knowing in his eyes, and she had seen that. She had seen it...and it was the only evidence she needed...the only evidence she needed to confirm: both Anna and Yoh knew about what happened between her and Horo-horo at the Tea Room. Granted, it was only Yoh who had seen it, but...he and Anna had no secrets from each other, so it was more than possible that -he- had told her about it. Of course, it wasn't evident from the Itako's actions earlier that she knew about it, but Anna was aloof to almost everyone for the most part...

...Or maybe she just ran away too fast to warrant any reaction.

Either that, she thought to herself as she began to walk slowly towards the door leading to her room, or I'm just feeling extremely guilty about the whole thing...

Guilty, embarrassed...and regretful. -Extremely- regretful. I never should have done what I did. I should have just given him a slice of the cheesecake and allowed myself to suffer through Anna-sama's wrath. I would have preferred that over...over THIS. She swallowed and shook her head, shaking off the memory of the kiss as it threatened to invade her head...and her heart...again. Anything is much better than this. Anything at all is much better than this...confusion.

...And whose fault was this in the first place...? She frowned. HIS fault. All of this is HIS fault. If HE hadn't gotten himself half-drunk and if he hadn't allowed himself to get lost inside the Tea Room, near MY table, this never would have happened...

CRASH! Tamao groaned slightly as she bumped into a nearby table and a light blue vase filled with what looked like forget-me-nots fell to the floor and smashed into pieces. She paused, staring down at the mess below her, an odd expression crossing over her pretty face.

Forget-me-nots...blue...HIM. Horo-horo. She mentally kicked herself as the Ainu man invaded her thoughts once again--more clearly this time--upon setting her eyes on the blue flowers. She bent down and picked up the broken pieces of the smashed vase. Light blue vase...like his hair...

His hair...felt so INCREDIBLY soft against my hands...

"Ouch." She winced slightly as one of the broken pieces slashed through her skin, making a small trail of bright red blood ooze slightly. She stared at her hand, oblivious to the pain as she continued to think.

Red. My dress. The strawberries. My lipstick. All of them are red.

He had stared at me like I was a cheesecake with red strawberries...but my lips -don't- look like strawberries -at all-.

...And he had stared at my lips before he kissed me. She mentally shook off the warmth that was threatening to color her face again. I didn't run away...WHY the heck didn't I run away when I had the chance? I mean, I had plenty of chances, I could have run away. I COULD have.

...But I didn't. Why...didn't I...?

Tamao straightened up and placed the broken pieces of the porcelain onto the table. Then, she bent down one last time and picked up each of the fallen forget-me-nots. Instead of putting them down on the table together with the broken vase, she held the flowers reverently in front of her, gazing at the whole bunch...and marveling at the startling contrast the flowers made against her dress...and against the blood on her hand...

Blood. She hastily took a handkerchief from her pocket and held it against her bloodied palm, a realization coming over her as she did so.

I didn't pull away...and I didn't run away because...I didn't want to.

Even though my mind was shouting no, the rest of me was saying yes...my heart...and my soul...THOSE two in particular...

...Why?

Who has he ever been to me but...an annoyance? A weird man who only wishes to get me angry, and insult me, and annoy me...while at the same time, get all the sweets he wanted out of me. And that hasn't changed. That will never change.

...Right...?

With another long sigh, Tamao continued walking towards her room, carrying the bunch of forget-me-nots. She decided to take the flowers with her...she was going to place it in the rose-pink vase that she had by the window. She had two of those vases...but she had given one of them to Pilica as a gift, because the Ainu woman liked it.

Upon reaching her room, she looked back at the hallway wing, where the table with the broken vase was, making a mental note to throw it away first thing tomorrow morning.

As soon as she entered her room, she held up the bunch of forget-me-nots against her face once more, while leaning against the door. Yes, she gave a decisive nod. That will never change. He'll always remain as the biggest annoyance in my life. That's what he has been and that's what he'll always be.

...And I'll never allow him to kiss me again, she added to that thought.

...But when...IF...he ever tries to kiss me again, then this time...I WON'T kiss back.

And...most important of all...I WON'T fall in love with him.

I'll never fall in love with him.

Never.


*~*~*~*~*~*


A slender female figure in a flimsy pink silk nightgown, and with silvery-blue hair, rose up from the futon she had been sleeping in for about thirty minutes or so. The figure struggled to get up, and when she managed, she looked around her, wondering why everything was so fuzzy and blurry and foggy...and why all of them seemed to swim around her head--including her--every ten seconds or so.

The said figure, who was actually none other than the extremely drunk Iron Maiden Jeanne, shook her head in an effort to clear her vision...but she didn't have much success, for her whole surroundings remained unclear long after the headshake. Giving up, she blinked several times before she walked, fighting hard to keep her balance as she stumbled towards her night table...or what LOOKED like her night table...she took several more steps...any second now and she was going to reach it...

...There. Sighing, the silvery-blue haired young woman felt for the night table chair behind her, and when she was...almost certain that she had grasped it, she pulled it towards her and sleepily sat down.

...She ended up falling on the floor. Groaning slightly, she rubbed the side of her hip and rested her head against what was probably...one of the table's legs. She didn't bother to get up anymore; instead, she raised her hand and felt the top of the night table for her glass of water--it was the sole reason why she had bothered to get up, after all. She had been feeling incredibly thirsty ever since she'd gone to bed...and speaking of that...

What time, exactly, did I go to bed...? She wondered as she continued feeling absently for her glass...there. She sighed with relief as she managed to grab the glass before it toppled over, for it almost did. She brought it towards her face shakily, took off the cover, raised the glass to her lips, and drank slowly.

After a while, she placed the empty glass on the floor beside her, sighing helplessly. Although the water did wonders to clear her mind even just a little bit, it didn't help much in clearing her vision. Everything was still one big blurry mass in her eyes. It was certainly a wonder that she even managed to distinguish the night table from the rest of the room; everything looked so similar to her.

Did...Lyserg...bring me to my room...? She was struggling to stand up as that particular thought entered her head. She walked back slowly towards the sleeping area, stumbling along the way, as the memory of something raced through her mind: her thirst. She wondered why she was so thirsty. Did I...-really- drink...four full bottles...of wine...? She could still feel the bittersweet aftertaste in her mouth.

And...something else.

If I did...then...why am I so thirsty...?

BUMP! Jeanne groaned softly as she managed to collide against something hard, something that looked like...the wall. The wall, and it has a...small hole that can open sideways...since when was there a hole in -my- room...? She wondered absently. She went through the opening in the wall, slightly confused when she felt that the wall panel...seemed to swing back and forth when she passed through it, almost as if it was...a door.

But there is -no- door, she reminded herself sleepily. This is -my- room...she yawned. And I want to sleep. I'm still thirsty, but...that can't be helped. She stumbled across something extremely solid and hard, and would have fallen over if she hadn't managed to lean her hands against the...wall. Yes, that's the wall. That's the wall, alright. I'm pretty sure that's the wall. She stopped leaning against it and continued to walk, sighing with relief as her blurry vision finally made out something that looked distinctly like her futon very close by. Just a couple of more steps...she paused abruptly as the swimming sensation chose that time to attack her head, making her wince slightly as, not only did the room become even more blurry, it also started spinning around and around. Dear Lord...if you really wish for me to die right now...please let me die a peaceful death...preferably -while- I'm asleep...she sighed with relief as the swimming sensation finally stopped.

Just...three...no, four...no, three...more steps...She swayed forward, yawning again. Two...one...no...two more steps...breathing in once, she stumbled, silently cheering as she felt something soft and padded by her foot. My futon...finally. Sliding her body downwards, Jeanne fell forward on top of the soft, warm cushion with a contented sigh. She laid her cheek sleepily on top of her warm, sweetly scented pillow. Then, with a final yawn, she closed her eyes...and after a few minutes, she drifted off to sleep.

With her eyes closed, she shifted to a more comfortable position and wrapped her arms around her large, warm pillow. Thank you, Lord. Now...I'm ready to die.

Meanwhile, due to her drunken state and blurry vision, Jeanne didn't realize that the pillow she was holding on to was...TOO unusually large--life-sized, in fact--for a normally large pillow. It was also unusually-shaped, unusually warm, and...breathing.

It was breathing. It was...alive.

Strangely enough, the pillow also looked extremely familiar...


*~*~*~*~*~*


At the rooftop, Hao smiled upon seeing that the last light illuminating the whole city was finally turned off. He gazed up at the night sky, briefly noting that the only other light, aside from the stars, which probably still shone brightly at this hour, was the one in the dining hall, where Manta and Opacho were still playing the last moves of the final round of their chess tournament.

He grinned slightly at the thought of his trusty assistant. I wonder what I would do if she ever leaves me...

Briefly, he thought about Manta, as well as his brother's other friends. -My- friends too, he corrected himself silently. According to Yoh, that is.

Trust is the hardest thing to gain, so acceptance...he sighed. I'll take what I can get. It's the first step towards gaining their trust, at least...it probably won't be so easy...especially when it comes to...Lyserg-kun and convent girl...no, Iron Maiden Jeanne, -not- convent girl. Her name is Jeanne.

If I want to gain all of their trust, I'd best remember to address them by their rightful names...

Hao smiled fondly as a sharp, loud bark reached his ears. Koroku...Keiko's puppy. Keiko...Yohmaru...Yohnta...Ren-chan...and the future Hao-chan, if Yoh manages to convince his wife...he shook his head. As their only full-blooded Uncle...I promise myself that I'll take care of them...I'll take care of them like a second parent, much like the way my brother and his wife does, yet differently...he grinned. I'll give them everything they could ever want in this world...and I'll protect them in the best possible way I can.

As for the discipline...he paused at this thought...I'll leave that up to Yoh and Anna. Values, and morality are not Asakura Hao's specialty...they're more my brother's...more his wife's than his, rather...

Anna...he sighed with resignation as he thought about his sister-in-law. Coldness I can accept. Aloofness, hatred...-anything- she wants to throw at me, I'll accept wholeheartedly...but I won't give up. Sooner or later, I'll gain her trust. Sooner or later, she'll learn to accept me as her brother...and then, the trust will come afterwards.

Sooner or later, either -I- will get through to her...or Yoh will convince her. He smiled slightly. I have much more faith in the latter than the former. I have doubts as to whether I'll succeed...but my brother...if anyone can make Anna change her mind about something...or someone, -he- can. I have complete faith in my brother.

Faith, hope, trust...and love.

I love my brother. I'm not ashamed to admit it. He's the only reason I'm even alive right now...and he's the reason why I continue to live. Him, our family, -his- family...and our friends.

They're the reason why -I'm- here...ALL of them...but...more than anyone...HIM. My brother...the other half of me.

And brother...I promise myself that I'll protect you. For as long as I am here, I'll protect you...the way I should have protected you long ago.

You...and everyone else you love.

And hopefully...he leaned against the railings as he continued to look up at the sky...hopefully we'll remain brothers...for always.

Oyasumi once again, Otouto...he thought silently, sending his twin a message without words, only thoughts. Unspoken.

...Hao could've sworn he heard an answer. Oyasumi nasai, Oniichan. You should go to bed now. It's late.

The long-haired shaman smiled brightly as he realized...and felt...the link between them. "Hai, Otouto. I will." He said out loud. Then, with a final glance at the city, covered in darkness, illuminated softly by the moon and the stars, he turned around and headed towards the stairway, to his own room.

Oyasumi nasai, Funbarigaoka. See you in the morning.



TSUZUKU.



End notes:

One more chapter to go, plus the epilogue.^^ I *totally* enjoyed writing this chapter, yes I did.^^

Smoking is, as always, bad for your health. And drinking, too...^^

To Unmei...no, I didn't receive the map.;_; My email is being mean...could you please send it again? Please, please, please, please, with strawberry cheesecake on top?^_^ Thank you, and I am so incredibly glad you're back. Ne, what happened to you, anyways...?

To da*mouse and Kira, have I thanked you yet for the dedications...? I know I haven't, so...thank you from the bottom of my heart.^^ And Kira-chan, you wonder how I'm able to write 30+ pages long stuff...? Honestly...I don't know either.^^;;; I haven't written anything this long before, ever (well, except for my thesis, which was 170+ pages long...). Maybe it's got something to do with the overflowing ideas in my head...added to the fact that when the SK characters start talking or thinking in my head, they never stop.^^;;;

Anyway, thanks for all those who have been reading and reviewing (and liking and loving and even hating, if you will) this fic. You've all been really great.^^

And oh! Before I forget...HAPPY BELATED 18TH BIRTHDAY, MANTA!!! (September 5, yup^^).

Reviews will be very much appreciated.