Chapter 21

Hao kissed Manta more deeply this time.. causing manta to squirm a bit, but soon enough Manta had given into him. He closed the kiss gently and looked into his eyes. his cheeks crimson in color, Manta panted and shook looking up at him tiredly.

"Yoh...kun.." he whispered resting his head against Hao's chest. Hao frowned angrily.

UGH!! Yoh-kun....Yoh-kun...I'll make him forget all about him...I want him to say my name!!

I didn't even get a chance with Manta! Yoh stole him far before I ever had a chance! He held Manta close to him as if protecting a material possession. Feeling Manta's warmth through the thin shirt he had been wearing, suddenly the door opened. Hao's eyes widened in panic as he looked around the room SHIT!

"Ehhh!!! Manta-chan! Manta-tenshi-chan!!! we're home!!" Yoh's voice rang out like a song filling the room up. Hao was sure Manta had heard it. His chest felt as if something had been squeezing at his heart for a very long time.

" Yoh-kun?" Manta called out bewildered. then a feeling of shock and guilt overcame him.

"Hai!!" Yoh called out merrily.

Ryu walked in as well a very nervous look on his face.

Manta looked up at Hao still blushing but also frowned angrily. " Your not Yoh-kun are you!?" he whispered very bitterly. Hao still held him close then quickly covered his hand over his mouth.

" ahh...I'm not that pansy..." He answered. " Don't scream. now..." he whispered then kissed his cheek again. Manta began to squirm resisting the best he could. " But Manta-chan....Aishiteru...Aishiteru..I mean it..." He ran his hand up Manta's shirt feeling his soft skin. Manta cringed but for some strange reason.. when this person said "Aishiteru.." he wanted to believe it.

" Don't scream....if you don't scream I'll let go of you..." He whispered. Manta nodded nervously. Hao let go and Manta ran off.

" Yoh-kun!!! Yoh-kun!!" Manta ran out to him. Hao's heart felt as if it were being twisted.

" Ahhh... there you are!!" Yoh said happily. Ryu stood there looking around. Somehow he knew Hao was there.

" I should leave..." Hao said to himself quietly.

" You can't leave..." A woman's voice rang out to him and it seemed only he could hear it.

"......." Hao tried over and over again but he could not leave the building he was stuck there. His ear twitched as he heard doors and windows being locked. There was nothing he could do.. he wasn't powerful like he used to be.. he didn't even have a spirit anymore. He was trapped.

admiting defeat Hao stood up. They'll know about me sooner or later He walked straight towards them. Yoh took note of this and immediately backed away

" Who's There!!!????" Yoh shouted watching as the dark figure moved out of the shadows. "Manta-chan...go behind me.." he whispered tenderly. Manta nodded moving quickly behind him and wrapping his arms around his Koibito's legs.

" I said whos there..." Yoh's voice calmed a little..

" ah, seems like you havn't changed a bit.." Hao spoke now in his more familiar voice.

Yoh breathed hard his insides feeling icy. "............" He stood there as Hao came into full view.

" Miss me....??" Hao stepped up to Yoh and embraced him. A sickening smile on his face.

".........H....HAO!" Yoh yelped in disbelief. Manta quivered not being able to believe that someone who gave him such a meaningful possibly be Hao.

" Hai...." Hao responded and Manta imediately felt sick. Hao then walked up to a chair and sat down.

" Let's talk...." He said in a soft voice.

" THERE IS NOTHING TO TALK ABOUT! HOW ARE YOU STILL HERE!? YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD!! I'LL KILL YOU AGAIN IF I HAVE TO!" Yoh screamed shaking.

" oh....but I never died..." Hao responded.

Yoh stood there shaking his eyes dialated.

" I stayed in the kingdom of stars.."

"..............."

" For all this time....I've had time to grow and to think about things..... I've changed unlike you.."

" I don't believe you...."

"Oh?"

" you heard me...."

" I've come here for something very important to me....I hadn't realised it before...but I am capable of love.."

" You? Love? right..." Ryu said suddenly.

" Yes....and I want him FOR MY OWN." Hao demended..

"want who.?" Yoh asked shakily.

" Give me Manta...my dear brother..."

"M...M...Manta...." Yoh turned around to look at him. Manta blushed hiding his face in shame.

" ahh... know why he's so embaressed? we shared a very intimate kiss earlier..." Hao smiled licking his lips.

" I DON'T BELIEVE YOU MANTA WOULD NEVER..." Yoh stopped beggining to break down.. then shook some more and turned around to face him. "Manta...you'd never..."

tears ran down Manta's face and he didn't answer him.

" Manta..." Yoh whispered sounding as if he had been stabbed and left for dead. his voice cracked.

" Yes, you injured me pretty badly, stole my right to be Shaman King...and took Manta all to yourself.. I don't even want to kill you anymore...I don't even want to be Shaman king..I don't even think I hate humans anymore... but I do still hate you..."

:"what?" Yoh's voice was barely hearable.

" I think..when I absorbed you....the good in you rubbed off on me...and during the time.. I was in the land of stars.. I believe little by little any negative feelings or engery or evil perhaps that I had...was taken away from me.."

" How is that possible if you are claiming that You hate me!!!" Yoh yelled.

" Evil is not the only thing capable of hate.. humans and even shamans can hate...and I hate you.." Hao sneered.