Third Person Point of View is up.

Same notes and disclaimers as last time.

~*~

Open Up Your Mind

~*~

"Talking"

'Thoughts'

[song]

{translation of song} – I mixed it up the first time. In the first chapter I had {song} and [translation] when it's the other way around. Sorry if I confused anyone.

~*~

Music danced on the wind as the stars above gleamed and twinkle brightly in the midnight blue sky. The full moon hung lazily, its moonbeams lighting the clouds around it as it shined down upon the festivities. The moonlight revealed the pale pink of the Sakura blossom as they were in full bloom. A gentle breeze blew as those Sakura petals danced and floated slowly to the ground. Bright lights and paper decoration swayed as the breeze blew by. The chatting of people reach the ears of others while they danced to music being played. Vivid colors from kimonos mixed together, changing like a kaleidoscope. It was never the same pattern. Feathers, glitters, and vibrant colors of masks reflected in the lights as the masquerade ball continued onward into the late hours of the night. Couples held their hands listening the music as they danced or sat and watched others. Friends, new and old, talked and chatted about the things in their lives in front of the buffet table. The DJ announced the next songs as couples move off or on the dance floor. One boy was sitting on a crumbling stone bench in the courtyard of his school. His blackish brown bangs swayed in the wind as the gold glitter on his light blue mask sparkled in the light, like a sun that in the midmorning sky. His black eyes, though you couldn't see them through the mask, where closed as he listened to music being played. It helped him to relax. Orange headphones could be seen on the boy's head as his dark blue kimono flapped a bit in the breeze. His name was Asakura Yoh. He was 14 years old and attends, this school, Shinra Private Junior High. Though there physically the boy's thoughts were anywhere but here.

"Hao." The name of his twin brother tumbled out of his mouth. Yoh couldn't stop himself before those words tumbled out of his month. Lately that was all he could think about, his brother and his dream. Asakura Hao was a ambition person. He wanted to become Shaman King in order to create a world where only Shamans exist. As great as that sounded, Yoh knew such an idea was wrong. 'Why Hao? Was ruling the world more important then your life? Why did you want this so much niisan,' thought Yoh. He was feeling miserable. After all he was the one responsible for Hao's death, despite what everyone told him. They wouldn't understand. Yoh would have kept on pondering if a stranger did not approach him.

The stranger wore a brown cloak instead of a kimono like everyone else. He wore brown fingerless gloves as long brown hair dance in the wind. The silver glitter on a midnight blue mask gleamed and sparkled like the stars in a midnight sky. "May I have this dance," the stranger asked Yoh, offering his hand to help Yoh out of his seat and lead him out to the dance floor. Yoh shook his head and said, "No thanks. I'm not in the mood to dance right now." He gave the stranger a warm smile and hoped that he would leave. The stranger's hand disappeared back into his cloak. He seemed to contemplating about something. A small smirk appeared on the stranger's face as Yoh seems to start to worry what that smirk meant. Suddenly the stranger pulled Yoh to his feet and dragged him out to dance floor. The words, "I insist," where heard as the stranger whispered them into Yoh's ears. A ruby red blush stain Yoh's face as he dragged out onto the dance floor. The DJ announced the next song as the music started to play.

[moshimo ima subete ga umaku nante ikanai

makesou ni naru toki datte

hitomi wo tojireba kokoro kara

sekai ga miete kuru]

{Even when it seems that nothing can go right

and you want to just give up,

if you close your eyes,

you can see the world from your heart.}

"You seem sad," the stranger whispered to Yoh. "Why is that?" The stranger lead as the music continued to play.

"It's nothing." Yoh whispered back.

[In this world when life can be so tough

You must be strong

Just believe in yourself and don't you fear

So open up your mind and close your eyes

Take another look from the other side]

The stranger snorted. He wasn't believed Yoh's "It's nothing" remark. Then again Yoh wasn't very convincing in the first places. "Yeah and I am dead," he mumbled. Yoh stared at the stranger for a moment before the words "You could be," tumbled out of his mouth. The stranger looked at him as Yoh realization that he said those words out loud. Yoh let out a soft unnoticeable sigh before he started to explain. "You... you... you remind of someone I used to know."

"Was this person close to you?"

Yoh was slightly startled by the question. "Well no. I didn't know about him until a few months ago," answer Yoh, truthfully.

"Is he special to you?"

"I guess. You could say were distantly related." It then dawn on Yoh that he was practically spilling his heart of to a guy he didn't even know. Heck he didn't even know the guy's name. Yoh would find out soon though. "By the way what's your name," Yoh asked cutely.

Silence. The stranger did not answer Yoh right away. instead he seemed to think about and was hesitate to tell Yoh. "Hoshi," he finally answers. Shock painted Yoh's face. 'Could this guy remind me anymore of Hao?! Hao, in the short time I knew him, was obsessed with star. I mean he wore them on his clothes and everything. Also if it was one thing a shaman loves doing, it's looking at the stars at night,' thought Yoh.

[kodoku na yoru demo mayoi osoreru toki mo

ima wa hitori demo kono ashi de doko made mo

aruite ikeru hazu dakara]

{Even on a lonely night, when you wander afraid,

you may be alone now, but

your feet can take you however far you want to go, so}

"And your?"

Yoh blinked at the question. Quickly he snapped out of his thoughts, saying, "Huh?"

'Hoshi' repeated his question. "What is your name?" 'Why do I get the feeling that 'Hoshi' isn't his real name,' thought Yoh. He had this feeling that 'Hoshi' was the stranger's real name. "Yoh," answered Yoh. His thoughts lingered to why the guy wanted to know his. 'This guy must not attend the same school. I know cause anyone who did attend this school, knew who I was even with the mask. My orange headphones were a big hint. I never go anywhere without them. Or this guy did attend this school and really didn't know who I was. There was also the possibly that this guy knew who I was but was pretending not to know,' he thought.

The stranger then changed the subject. He seemed to be curious about this guy that Yoh was talking about. "So this special guy what was his name," Hoshi asked Yoh.

"That I can not tell you," Yoh finally said. He couldn't say Hao's name. The fight still brought nightmares at night.

"What was he like?"

Yoh was hesitate. There was a problem. During the time he knew Hao, Yoh didn't get any chance to sit down with his brother and get to know him. It wasn't like Yoh could go up to Hao and say, 'Hi oniisan (older brother). I know we haven't seen each other in a while and that we're supposed to be enemies, but you want talk or something?' It was near impossible. They were enemies on the different sides. One just wanted to become Shaman King, the other wanted to become Shaman King and create a world just for shamans. It wasn't just right. It was sooner, Lyserg say "I forgive you, Hao" before Yoh and Hao got to know each other at the Shaman Fight. Yoh wouldn't have mind, but his friends would have stopped him, saying along the lines, "It's crazy" and "He'll kill you," and so on.

"So how did he die," the stranger asked Yoh. It was apparent that he wanted to know more about Hao.

[Just hold on tight hitomi tojita nara

Look inside yourself kagayaki ga aru kara

Yes, subete shinjite hoshii

You can take another look from the other side]

{Just hold on tight, because if you close your eyes,

Look inside yourself, there's a shining light there.

Yes, I want you to believe in everything.

You can take another look from the other side}

Yoh fell silence. "I don't want to talk about it," he said. There was no way he could tell the stranger anything. He wouldn't understand. Hao was his other half, his brother. How could he tell someone that he was responsible for his brother death. If his friends didn't understand, how would a stranger would. No one would understand... No one...

"Sometimes telling people is the best way to solve the problem. It's not good to carry the burden alone."

Yoh looked at 'Hoshi'. There was no way he could tell anyone. It was hard enough to just mention his brother. Then there was also the fact that Yoh would have to explain the whole shaman thing. That was something he really didn't want to do. Not now. "It's nothing," he said firmly, hoping the guy would drop the subject.

'Hoshi' locked eyes with Yoh for a brief moment before changing the subject. It was like he knew that Yoh wanted to change the subject just by looking him in the eyes. "So are you here by yourself," 'Hoshi' asked. He seem to scan the crowd as if he knew whom he was looking for.

[Just hold on tight kokoro kujikete mo

Reach into your soul ashita ga mienakute mo

Yes, ikiru tsuyosa ga areba

You can take another look from the other side

ai no subete ni deau made...]

{Just hold on tight, even if your heart is breaking.

Reach into your soul, even if you can't see tomorrow.

Yes, if you have the strength to live,

You can take another look from the other side,

until you find all that is love...}

Yoh looked at 'Hoshi' again, wondering why he was shooting off random questions. 'I really wonder what's up with this guy and his random questions,' thought Yoh. "More or less. My friends couldn't make it tonight," Yoh answered 'Hoshi'.

"Why is that," asked 'Hoshi'.

"One of them is sick, one didn't want to come, another is doing some bonding with his friends, one is training and bonding with his sister, and his sister is with him. Any of my other friends aren't here in Japan at the moment," answered Yoh. Manta was sick recovering from food poisoning and the flu, currently running a temperature of 105. Anna didn't want to come. Ryu was bonding with his friends and Horohoro was training, his sister Pirika refuses to let HoroHoro slack. Anyone else Yoh knew is currently not in this country. For example, the Taos, Ren and Jun. They're in China. As for Amidamaru, well Yoh didn't bring him cause he knew people would have thought as him as strange (if they haven't already) if Yoh was talking to myself, since they can't see Amidamaru.

"They must not be good friends if they let you come here by yourself," 'Hoshi' mused.

"They have good reasons." Yoh glared at him, defending his friends.

'Hoshi' snorted. He didn't believe Yoh's words. "So the one who didn't want to come had a good reason."

"She just doesn't like these kind of events," Yoh said in Anna's defense. 'If she heard this guy she would have slapped him so hard, the medics would probably have to come here,' thought Yoh, silence hoping for this guy's sake, that Anna's ghost weren't hearing this. Suddenly, 'Hoshi' began to laugh. Yoh blinked. 'This guy is strange,' he thought.

[kono sekai de ikinuite-iku tame no tsuyosa wo

anata ni negatte-iru kara

kokoro no tobira wo hiraitara [2]

nanika ga miete kuru]

{I wish for you to have the strength

to make it through this world,

so open up your mind, [2]

and you'll be able to see...}

"Why are you laughing," Yoh asked. 'Hoshi' was really confusing him. He didn't understand why 'Hoshi' was laughing about. 'Was it something I said,' thought Yoh innocently. He was confused.

"It's nothing," said Hoshi. His fit of laughter was slowly dying. Yoh was still confused. He still didn't understand this guy. "I still think she isn't a good friend if she made you come here by yourself."

"I told you. She doesn't like these kind of events. She rather stay home and watch t.v."

"Couch potato then."

"Iie! She works really hard. She can be a bit cold and harsh but she a good person and cares a lot about people. She just doesn't show it a lot."

"So do you like her," Hoshi asked.

"Huh?! Where did that question come from," Yoh said in a slightly loud voice. Loud enough to get my point across but not so loud as to disturb the other people around us. His eyes, widening in surprised and slightly shock. 'Hoshi just shrugged. "Just curious," he said.

"No I don't like her."

'Hoshi' blinked. He wasn't expecting Yoh to answer the question. Just stammer and try to invade it was what he was expecting. Not a flat answer of no.

[Just remember you are not alone

So don't you fear

Even though you're miles away

I'm by your side

So open up your mind and close your eyes

I'll be there for you no matter where you are]

"So you don't like her," 'Hoshi' asked Yoh.

Yoh shook his head. "Nope."

'Hoshi' let out a sigh of relief. As Yoh wondered why 'Hoshi' sighed, it came to his attention, that the music was getting softer. He knew the song and knew it wasn't the ending of the song. 'So why was it getting softer,' Yoh thought to himself. Yoh then realized that they were now in the school garden. 'Hoshi' had lead him into the school gardens.

The sakura (cherry blossom) flowers were in full bloom as the soft petals slowly drifted in the ground. It was raining sakura petals. Above the stars gleamed in the night. Tonight the skies were especially clear. The stars seemed brighter then usual as they twinkled against the midnight blue skies. The moon glowed a soft white color and lightens the clouds around it. The dim moonlight made both masks sparkle even more. For some reason both boys' breath were caught in their throats.

[hoshi no inochi nara nagai kedo itsu made mo

onaji kono hibi ga kurikaesu wake ja nai

ashita wa dare ni mo mienai]

{The stars may live for a long time, but that doesn't mean

that the same days will repeat over and over forever.

No one can see into tomorrow.}

"So is there someone you do like," Hoshi asked Yoh.

Yoh blinked at his sudden question. He felt a little uneasy as the questions seemed to get more and more personal. That question just asked was VERY personal. Yet despite what Yoh thought, he felt that he could trust 'Hoshi'. "Yes," said Yoh.

"Who?"

There was a faint blush that magically appeared on Yoh's face before it completely disappeared as quickly as it came. 'How was I supposed to tell him who?! I mean I'm not even sure he like me back. I can't even ask him! How was I supposed to tell him that I guy I loved was my twin brother who which happens to be the same person I killed?!?!,' thought Yoh. Then another idea popped into his head. 'Ack! No! I'm starting to sound like a lovesick high school girl. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing but I'm leaning towards the latter.'

[Just hold on tight hitomi tojita nara

Look inside yourself kodou kanjiru kara

Yes, "MIRAI" shinjite hoshii

You can take another look from the other side]

{Just hold on tight, because if you close your eyes,

look inside yourself, you'll feel a heartbeat.

Yes, I want you to believe in the future.

You can take another look from the other side.}

'Hoshi' looked shocked for some reason. Then 'Hoshi' made movements to pull Yoh's mask off. As 'Hoshi' began to tug on Yoh's mask, Yoh realized what he was doing. . "Hey! Stop that," Yoh said in annoyed voice. He made movements to swatted 'Hoshi' hands away and pulled his mask back down. He childishly stuck his tongue out at 'Hoshi'. An amused smirked played on 'Hoshi' face. It seemed the annoyed expression on Yoh's face seemed to amused 'Hoshi' for some reason.

"You're very cute when you're annoyed," he whispered into Yoh's ears. Upon hearing this, the annoyed expression on Yoh's face turned into confusion. Taking advantage of Yoh's confusion 'Hoshi' quickly grabbed Yoh's mask. Yoh found that 'Hoshi' had Yoh's mask in his hand, grinning at Yoh like a cat. Yoh blinked once, twice. He didn't even see 'Hoshi' moved. Once again Yoh prayed that Anna wasn't watching through her ghost. He could even evade 'Hoshi' movements to grab his mask. If Anna found out, his training was about to double.

'Hoshi' moved again. This time Yoh saw him, but he didn't; couldn't move. Yoh's black eyes widen in shock and a small gasp was heard. 'Hoshi' waited patiently for Yoh's reaction. The black eyes behind the mask, so much like Yoh's, practically hoping for something. Yoh's fingers when to his lips, tracing it, like he was trying to taste the linger sweetness. There was a slight sparkle of recognition. Yoh knew who 'Hoshi' really was.

[Just hold on tight kokoro kujikete mo

Reach into your soul ashita ga mienakute mo

Yes, chigau sekai ga atte

You can take another look from the other side

ai no subete ni deaeru yo...]

{Just hold on tight, even if your heart is breaking.

Reach into your soul, even if you can't see tomorrow.

Yes, there's another world out there.

You can take another look from the other side,

and you'll be able to find all that is love...}

'Hoshi' took off his mask and smiled at Yoh. "I love you too, ototo (little brother)," he said. All Yoh could do was stare in completely shock. "How," he whispered. "How? You're supposed to be dead." He couldn't believe, yet his heart told him to believe it.

He shrugged. "There are some things where things best left unsaid." He didn't say it, but Yoh knew, he was waiting for an answer. He smiled at Yoh. This one held more love and trust then Yoh has ever seen. Yoh frantically searched his eyes to see if it was a trick. If not his, whether his mind was playing ones on him.

"No tricks."

[Just hold on tight hitomi tojita nara

Look inside yourself kodou kanjiru kara

Yes, "MIRAI" shinjite hoshii

You can take another look from the other side]

{Just hold on tight, because if you close your eyes,

look inside yourself, you'll feel a heartbeat.

Yes, I want you to believe in the "future."

You can take another look from the other side}

Yoh stared for a moment before smiling. Before anything else happened he ran into his other half's arms and caught him in a kiss. Shock played on Hao's face for a brief moment before he returned the kiss. As they both broke for air, Yoh's carefree smile made its way on his face. "I love you too, Hao," he said. Hao leaned over and kissed Yoh on the forehead. Somehow everything just seemed right.

Above a shooting star shot over them, leaving a trail of dust in the midnight blue sky. To the twins, everything just seems right.

[Just hold on tight kokoro kujikete mo

Reach into your soul ashita ga mienakute mo

Yes, chigau sekai ga atte

You can take another look from the other side

ai no subete ni deau made...]

{Just hold on tight, even if your heart is breaking.

Reach into your soul, even if you can't see tomorrow.

Yes, there's another world out there.

You can take another look from the other side,

until you find all that is love...}

~*~

[1] and [2] are the same as the first chapter.

I just need to know one little thing before you guys start reviewing. Hao can hear others' thoughts right? I think I read that somewhere. It's the reason he when bad right? This is the reason I posted this thing. It's not as good as Yoh's POV and I think Hao's one is coming out even better then this one. Oh well. I hope you guys enjoyed the story. Hao's POV will be out soon. Sooner if someone tells me the sooner I can get it out. If not well then it'll just be wrong. Forgive spelling and grammar mistakes.

Please review. ^^