Disclaimers: me no own SK. Me will die happy if me does… Fic's title is taken from a song with the same title written by a friend. It will be featured in the fic's later chapters.

Author's Note:Sorry you guys haven't heard from me in a while. School, exams, penniless and broke…damn, this is so good. x_x PLUS, I am suffering from writer's block. Ok, change topic…

I'd like to thank the people who reviewed. Shucks, you guys make me feel special... Irish-red, Don't worry, I'm working on it… *winks* This story seems like its going nowhere so I'll see to how far I could keep it going. I am totally blank!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I don't like it.

I've finished writing the chapter October last year and I was too lazy to post it... I'm sorry!!!!

Running From Myself
Chapter 2: Burn My Soul
3 days later.

A cloaked messenger entered the tent and knelt before the master, his face on the ground, making sure he doesn't make eye contact. "Master I bring news from our spies we've assigned at the Valley of Tears."

Hao lazily eyed the man, gesturing him to continue speaking, "Go on, speak."

"Master Hao, our spies have found another shaman sanctuary. They are refugees from one of the towns we have previously ravaged. Their leader is still alive, Master, and they will fight to the death to protect him. However, they hide in fear from our men. They are worried we sneak in on them and catch them off guard."

Hao suddenly looked perked. He sat upright in his chair and stared intently at the kneeling man. "What type of shaman are these refugees, again?" His eyes narrowed and his brows furrowed, trying to figure out which is which.

"Warrior shamans, my lord," replied the messenger. The messenger recoiled inside. He knew these shamans were powerful but they were nothing against Hao. The thought of his master killing those shamans for fun and power made him shudder.

Hao gave a small evil smile and replied, "Oh them, I remember them! Good, good. Inform our men to withdraw. I will personally pay our dear friends a visit tonight or they might think I'm too inconsiderate."

"Yes master." The messenger rose, gave a small bow and exited the tent.

'Finally, fun! I hope those shamans would put up a good fight. I am perpetually bored,' Hao said to himself.

-==+==-

"How is he doing, Anna?" Manta asked groggily. He just woke after a few hours of sleep Anna permitted him.

Anna let out a sigh and faced Manta, giving him an exhausted look. "Worse." The reply was heavy with emotion. Manta blinked, thinking his eyes deceived him. Did Anna look like she was about to cry? Before he could scrutinize that look, Anna blinked and it was gone.

She stared at the boy lying on the futon. Without any second thoughts, she planted a soft kiss on Yoh's forehead and whispered in his ear. 'Please get better.'

It's been three days since Yoh collapsed and both Manta and Anna haven't had a decent meal or sleep since. They were always keeping vigil on Yoh, taking turns on watching over the boy.

Yoh's fever wasn't getting any better. Instead, his fever was burning, growing hotter and hotter each day. Strangely, Yoh didn't even sweat, and this baffled Manta and Anna. It was as if Yoh's body simply emitted more and more heat by the day. And yesterday, when Horohoro came to visit, an occurrence happened leaving everyone alarmed and baffled.

'The crazy Ainu iced the whole room', as Manta would put it.

Indeed, Horohoro covered the room's walls and ceiling with a thick layer of ice and surrounded the floor with snow. He even added those sharp ice crystals at the ceiling. 'It might help Yoh cool down', the Ainu reason.

Anna surely gave him a piece of her mind…er…hand. To Horohoro, it felt like his face would forever face the left side.

However, while everyone was busy debating about the Ainu's stupid feat, no one noticed that the room started to grow warm and the ice began to melt. It was only when the melted ice formed a big shallow pool of water in the room that everyone stopped arguing.

'Now look! You've made a mess! Can't even control your own doing from melting!" Anna snapped.

"But…but…it wasn't me!" Horohoro's eyes strayed trying to avoid his companion's displeased stares. Suddenly, beads of sweat formed on his nose and his jaw dropped. "Ummmm. Guys, I think you better see this. Something's happening to Yoh and I'm sure it isn't because of contact lenses."

Anna and Manta turned their gaze to Yoh and what the beheld was not a product of insufficient rest. Yoh's eyeballs were black but his pupils were like yellow-orange-red flames jumping, like a forest fire, wildly burning. His face was angry, furious in fact and he was thrashing in his futon, guttural screams of rage ensued from Asakura Yoh.

Manta paled while Anna's face seems emotionless, her lips forming a thin line.

Minutes later, all three of them were sweating profusely-the room was suddenly humid like inside a sauna. But what amazed them was that the water at their feet grew warm and they could see a mist developing inside the room.

When all the ice, snow and water have finally evaporated, the room assumed its normal temperature once again, Yoh's eyes were back to normal and he fell asleep, though his fever didn't subside.

"Anna, don't you think his spirit is being burned?" Manta suggested. "You did say that this is no ordinary fever. Then perhaps its really not fever. What if it's his spirit or even his own power his growing. But its fire, Yoh doesn't have the power of fire…"

"Hao." was the only reply, barely above a whisper.

"Nani, Anna?" Manta didn't hear what Anna said.

"Bear in mind, Manta, that Yoh has a twin, and he controls the Spirit of Fire. Though they are different individuals, there is always a bond between them, a strong and unique bond that connects and binds them. It might be possible that…that…or maybe not."

"That what? Go on, tell." Manta pleaded. He wanted to know more, he had to. This was his friend and he had to know something so they could help him.

"Nothing. It was just a silly thought," Anna said, her tone defensive. "You watch over Yoh now, Manta. I'd catch a few winks first." With that, Anna crawled to her futon at the corner of Yoh's room and snuggled in, closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Manta gazed at the girl's sleeping figure. 'She know something. I'm sure of that.'