"She's safe," announced Faust just as noon came. Overwhelming relief dawned on the face of Horo Horo and Lyserg.

The nun behind the boys put down a basin of water and started to wipe the face of Tamao quietly. Lyserg's emerald eyes tried to follow her every move, hoping it would give him a clue as to why she felt so familiar.

"Young man, I need to talk to you about her condition though," said the doctor, getting up. Horo nodded and followed him outside.

The dowser seized the chance to suddenly grab the nun's hand. "Jeanne."

The startled nun dropped the towel on the ground. "Iie…" Her protests were stifled when he suddenly grabbed her towards him and hugged her.

"Don't you know that a man would recognize a lady he loves anywhere?" he murmured against her cheek.

"L-Lyserg…"

"I missed you, Jeanne. You don't know how miserable you made me when I opened my eyes then and didn't find you next to me," he said quietly.

"Gomen nasai." Her heart was racing wildly with his sudden confession. He loved her. He loved her. He loved her. The words echoed in her mind repeatedly like a mantra. She looked up at him and smiled. "I missed you too."

He grinned and pinched her cheek fondly.

"If I am not mistaken, she is the Asakura Court Prophetess," began Faust. Horo Horo was seated on the ground, listening to him grimly.

"Yes, she is," he said. He remembered that she was running away from the Prince when they met.

"I've heard of the legendary prophetesses. The prophetess before her lived five hundred years ago, and she was the one who prophesized the coming of the Lago. All her predictions came true, so she was sought by all the kingdoms for her power. However, every prediction she makes takes a fraction of her life. Her power to see the future diminished her chance of seeing her own come true."

Horo clenched his fists. "So every prediction she makes costs a part of her life!" He remembered how he made a bargain with her to help him become rich and in turn, she would be helped to hide from the palace guards. "In a way…I'm one of the people who is responsible for her…her…" He cursed under his breath.

"Horo Horo, listen. If she didn't tell you about it, you are not at fault. You didn't know," the doctor tried to comfort him.

"I-Isn't there any way to save her?" he asked desperately.

"The only thing you can do for her is to help her enjoy the remaining days she has," said the man, shaking his head sadly. "We can't do anything more for her. She told you that she would die soon anyway."

"I-If…if I give her all my furyoku…"

Faust paused. "Your furyoku is also part of the life force of a shaman. If you attempt to give more furyoku aside from that you gave to her awhile ago, your own life span will be shortened."

"I don't care!" he said immediately.

"Is she the only one you live for?" asked the doctor.

He froze. He remembered Pirika, his beloved younger sister.

Faust turned his back on him. "Consider your decision carefully. Your furyoku can help a lot to help her live longer, but your own life would be risked. There is still one more person that depends on you too, one who needs you to live long too."

"I wonder what's taking our order so long," said Yoh.

Anna looked up from the magazine she was reading. "Go check on your Indian friend. He could have stupidly fell on the boiling pot of water and drowned himself." She got up. "I'm going to look at the shop I saw some blocks from here. When I return, I want the dishes to be already here."

He nodded, and she got out of the empty restaurant.

The boy grinned, then strode into the kitchen. "Shilva?"

"M-Master Yoh, gomen!" The Indian grinned at him apologetically. "I had to redo the noodles…it came too soggy."

Yoh noticed the television left open. "You were watching the re-run of Who Wants to be a Millionaire again?"

"Hmp! If I was the one in the hotseat, I could have been a millionaire already. The guy was too stupid!" snorted Shilva. He then glanced at his young master. "Um, Master Yoh, did you say it already?"

"Say what?" He tasted a strand of the noodles.

"Did you tell her about your feelings already?" asked the Indian, although he could already guess his answer to that.

"No. I'm scared." He sat down the chair thoughtfully. "I always wait for my chance, but when it comes, I can't summon the guts to start speaking."

"Tell you what, I'll help you confess to her now." Shilva faced him. "You'll tell her your feelings sooner or later, so why don't you do it now?"

Yoh paused. When it was put that way, it does start to make sense. "Oh alright, Shilva! Let's-" He suddenly felt his insides tense.

The Indian was looking out at the window, lips set in a dismal line. He decided to look at the direction where he was looking at. His forehead creased too.

The pillar of light representing the Great Spirit was starting to rise from the Sacred Ground.

"Why is it reacting like that?" asked Yoh. 

"Simple. It is rejoicing that after a thousand years, the real shaman king has returned," said a voice from somewhere.

Shilva automatically stepped in front of Yoh protectively. "Master Yoh!"

A flame appeared, revealing a boy with features similar to Yoh, only more menacing. Beside him was a midget too, bowing respectfully before its master.

"Hello, little brother!" greeted the stranger, smiling.

"Hao Asakura," said Shilva, teeth gritted.

"Hello too, Shilva. So this is what happened to you. From a former respected court priest, you have become a cook for a lowly restaurant." Hao chuckled. "Quite a demotion you've got."

"I left the Asakura court voluntarily," said Shilva. "Because I know that I cannot continue serving the devil that I know will destroy us when he gets the chance!"

"Ouch." Hao smirked. "But let me remind you of one little error in your passionate speech." He glanced at Yoh. "The same person you're protecting is a part of me too. He is also a devil too."

Yoh was stunned.

I am…him?

"Don't listen to him, Master Yoh! You are different from him!" insisted the Indian. "I could have said that you are his brother, but then, your heart is different from his!"

Yoh gasped when Shilva suddenly was set into flames. "Shilva!"

Hao chuckled at the fear and wrath that crossed his brother's face. "You are so easy to anger, little brother. He is a shaman; no ordinary fire could kill him. I just want him to stop butting in so we can talk peacefully." He turned to Opacho. "But if my brother is not sure about my words, may I ask my servant to get a pail of water so we can dowse Shilva."

"Yes, Master Hao." The midget hurried into the kitchen.

Hao faced him again. "So where were we?"

Yoh clenched his fists. "I wasn't aware then that you existed, and even though I am now, I still have no intention of taking anything away from you. Not the throne, not anything. I will continue to live as if I don't know you exist."

"But that's impossible," laughed his brother. "You are a part of me, Yoh Asakura. As long as you exist, I will forever be threatened."

Yoh knew that he was mocking him. "You're more powerful than I am! Shilva said so!"

"But the whole Asakura family is building your furyoku up too," said Hao. "In due time, I know we will have a showdown. Nothing excites me more than testing my powers- the extent of how much I was able to acquire in this lifetime." He smiled. "You are the only one I know that can match up against me. Why, you're even armed with the Super Notes on Shamanic Powers!" His eyes went on Opacho who was struggling with the pail of water. "Besides, your powers do not threaten me at all. I can crush you easily now if I want to, but I will wait for you to grow a little stronger."

"Then why am I a threat to you?" Yoh was bewildered.

Hao chuckled. "God, you're denser than I thought." He turned his back on his brother. "Yoh, I would like to invite you to the Asakura Court tonight. I will introduce you personally to the Asakura family."

"I'm not coming," said Yoh defiantly. "I told you, I'm not interested in your affairs!"

"Accept my invitation, or I'll invite myself to your own home." Hao smiled. "I can provide the town of Izumo with some pyrotechnics…a mansion set aflame."

Yoh's fists clenched even more. "Don't involve my friends here."

"But all your friends will die too…sooner or later." Hao grinned. "When I acquire the Great Spirit, all who will be insignificant to rebuilding the world will perish."

"Damn you!!!"

The prince smiled once more. "I shall send Opacho and Zinc tonight to fetch you, little brother."

"Hao!!!!" Yoh suddenly drew out his katana.

"Not now, Yoh," said Hao. "You're not yet ready. If you come to the court tonight, Father would be happy to teach you more oversoul techniques."

Yoh ignored him. "Amidamaru, into the harusame!"

The onmyouji sighed. "I don't want to set into flames the whole restaurant of Shilva, but if you exist…" He summoned his Spirit of Fire into a sword, just as Yoh jumped up to attack him.

Anna rushed into the kitchen when she saw a spark of flame from the kitchen. "Yoh!!!" She suddenly stopped dead in her tracks.

Hao and Yoh were engaged in fierce combat.

The former noticed her first. "Good afternoon, Anna!" he greeted cheerfully. He withdrew his flaming sword from Yoh's stomach, and the latter fell on the floor, half-unconscious.

"Y-Yoh…" Anna felt her heart stop its beating.

Hao walked towards her, still smiling. "Your bodyguard insisted to fight. I'm sorry I had to hurt him."

A slap stopped him. Anna's eyes were blazing, but they were also shaking. He spotted a tear drop down her cheek before she went to his brother. He watched, face unreadable, as she cradled Yoh in her arms. "Idiot. Wake up," she pleaded.

Yoh smiled at her forcibly. "G-Gomen, Anna." He winced when he felt his wound sting again, but no, it doesn't hurt as much as the thought that even after all the trainings he went through, he still wasn't good enough a bodyguard for her.

He silently came to a decision then, perhaps the most difficult one he had ever made.

Tzuzuku

(had to be interrupted bec. Someone wants to play counterstrike in our pc *rolls eyes* will make up for it next chap ^^;;)