I wanna say thanks to these people for reviewing the last chapter:

High Otane2049, Lady Shelina Raven, melon, elyssalyn, YamiandAnzu4ever, Yohna

Thanks guys! You really make my day! Sorry it's taken me so long to update, but I've had exams at school so I was very busy preparing for them. But you don't need to know the details, so lets get on with the story!

'thoughts'

"speaking"

Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King, so do ask me to get you merchandise cause there seems to be a shortage here in the UK…

-I-

Changes: A Yona fic

Chapter 4: Confessions

-I-

The weeks past slowly, like the leaves that fall from a tree. Yoh's body healed quickly, due to his shaman strength. The burn on his chest healed up, leaving only a scar, which was a very interesting shape. If you looked closely enough, you could see that the scar had taken the form of a small flame. But no one was worried about the scar, for they were far more worried about Yoh.

Since he had come home from the hospital, Yoh's attitude to everyone had changed. Like with Anna, he would randomly start shouting and yelling out people. During one argument, he almost hit Anna, but managed to calm himself down enough to control his actions. Once he had, he stormed out the house, hoping that he wouldn't resort to that.

To say that his friends were shocked was an understatement. They were scared. They knew something had happened to him, but they just didn't know exactly what it was. Jun was still trying to research what Hao had done to Yoh, and continued to update Anna, but she hadn't found anything useful to help them.

Yoh's friends may have been scared of this 'new Yoh', but they weren't half as scared as Yoh was himself. He knew what he was doing to everyone, but he just couldn't control it. No matter how hard he tried, or how strong he was, he wasn't able to control his anger anymore. Every time he felt his anger grow, he felt a sharp pain in his heart, and then went ballistic. And after almost hurting Anna, he knew then that there was nothing he could do, no matter how much he tried to fight it. So Yoh to it upon himself to keep himself to himself, hiding in his room, only coming out for the bathroom or to get some food. His training ceased, but Yoh didn't care. As long as he could control his anger as best he could so that he didn't hurt his friends that was all that mattered to him.

One night, on the last day of the eleventh month, Yoh was up in his room, watching the sun set behind the hills. He had just had another argument, this time with Manta. He wasn't sure what had caused the argument (as the case was most of the time), but Manta had somehow managed to piss him off, causing him to snap. Yoh got as far as throwing a vase at the wall 'til he realised that had to leave the room before he did anything else out of the spur of the moment that would hurt Manta.

As Yoh sat by the window and watched the sun set, he sensed someone enter his room, but this person wasn't human, so to speak.

"What d'you want, Amidamaru?" he asked coldly

"Sorry to…disturb you, Master Yoh, but I was hoping that we could talk," Amidamaru answered, a little apprehensive.

"Talk?" Yoh answered arrogantly. "Talk about what?"

"You know what Master Yoh!" Amidamaru said in an outburst. Unlike Yoh though, he soon realised what he did, and managed to control his emotions. He was surprised that he had shouted like that though. He guessed that with what was happening to Yoh, it was also affecting him somehow. "I am sorry, Yoh. I did not mean to shout."

"It's OK Amidamaru," said Yoh, slowly turning his head to face his friend. "I know what's it like, to not be able to control your emotions."

Amidamaru said nothing. He just started at the shaman, waiting for him to continue.

"I'm actually glad that you came here, to talk." Yoh continued, returning his gaze to the sky. "I need to talk to someone about this…'problem'. I know that since the…battle, I've been acting differently. I know that I've been shouting and yelling a lot lately, but the thing is, I can't control it. No matter how much I try, it seems that something inside me is stopping me from controlling my own emotions. I have no idea what it is, or how I can stop it. But I do know this; this is Hao's doing, and the 'problem' is getting worse."

"Worse? What do you mean by that?"

"Haven't you noticed Amidamaru? I'm causing more arguments, more fights. The group is splitting up because of me! And there's nothing we can do!"

"There must be something! If Hao caused this, then there must be a remedy or a spell of some sort that will stop this-"

"Amidamaru!" Yoh stood up, clenching his fists, trying once again to control his emotions. He could feel his anger growing, and the pain in his heart was worse than ever. "I told you there's nothing we can do!"

"But there has to be-"

"ENOUGH!"

Amidamaru jumped (if ghosts can jump) back slightly at Yoh's sudden outburst. Yoh was right, it was getting worse, but he had only wanted to help his master, his friend.

"I think you should leave Amidamaru," Yoh said sternly, "before I do something that I'll regret. After all, a shaman lives on both planes, so I can easily hurt you."

"But Yoh-"

"I said GO!"

Amidamaru just looked at his master, shocked that his anger had grown so quickly. Then, with a glance back at his Lord, he disappeared from Yoh's room.

As soon as Yoh knew that Amidamaru was gone, he slammed his fist into he wall, hoping to relieve some of his anger. Unfortunately, it only caused him more pain.

'Why? Why is this happening to me? Why can't I control what my brother is doing to me? I hate this. I HATE THIS! I'm hurting everyone! My friends, Amidamaru…even Anna. I don't want to hurt them anymore! This has to stop!'

Yoh removed his fist from the wall, ignoring the cuts on his knuckles. He had to figure out a way to stop this…this…what ever it was. He knew Hao had put something into his body during their last encounter, but what was it? Even though he had been half conscious out the time, he remembered Hao calling out something, but what?

Dark

It had something to do with the word 'dark'. But what?

Yoh thought (he can think?!) for a moment, trying to figure this thing out. He had one word sorted: dark. That was easy, for when Yoh began shouting, he felt evil and dark. But there was more to it.

Whenever he felt his anger grow, he felt different. He didn't feel like his normal self. It was as if his soul had changed, or if another 'dark' soul had entered his body…

Soul!

That was another word! OK, what words does he have now? 'Dark', and 'Soul'. 'Dark Soul'… what? There was something else.

He thought again, concentrating on the events that had passed during these past few weeks. Whenever he felt the pain in his heart, and began shouting, he couldn't control his emotions, but it felt as though someone else did…

Control!

'Control' was the last word. 'Dark soul control'! That's what Hao had said during their battle. But what was it? And was there a cure? He had to find out. He needed to do some research, but, where would he find books about 'dark soul control'? He was never a book-lover, like Manta, and he left any sort of research after him. But he couldn't ask Manta to help him; he had to do it on his own. This was a battle between him and his brother.

That's when he sensed it; a strong and dark force, and he knew exactly whom it belonged to.

"Hao."

Yoh moved without thinking. He grabbed Harusame from by his bed, and without looking back or calling anyone to help him, or tell them where he was going, he jumped out his window, landing with a small 'thump' on the ground below. It was almost dark, and it was getting cold, but Yoh didn't care. He had to sort this 'problem' out once and for all, and that meant going straight to the source…

Hao.

He ran out the gates at the front, making sure that no one saw him leave. He didn't want the other's to come. They would just get in the way; besides, he didn't want them to get hurt because of him. He ran off towards the graveyard, for a final battle with his brother.

-I-

Anna fiddled with the ring that Yoh had given her as a gift for their anniversary, back when he was normal, the same old Yoh. It seemed so long ago now, but it was only a few weeks. So much had happened in such a sort amount of time. Why had Yoh suddenly change? What had Hao done to him? Was there a way in which they could stop whatever it was?

Anna was so engrossed in her own little world, that she wasn't paying any attention to the rest of the group. They had all gathered to discuss what they could do about Yoh. Jun had told them that she had found a little information about what Hao may have done to Yoh, but she wasn't 100 sure. But it was better than nothing, the gang decided. The gang were engrossed in this subject, like Anna was with her thoughts. In fact, all of them so absorbed by what she/he was talking/thinking about, that none of them noticed a noise from outside, and none of them notice a shadow leaving the house, and disappearing down the road.

But one person did sense something. This person looked up from what they were doing, and looked out the window, hoping to see something. Unfortunately, they didn't, but they still sensed whatever it was. It felt like a powerful force was near by, and that a second powerful force was making it's way towards it. There was going to be a great battle.

Anna continued to look out the window. She couldn't work out whom the first force belonged to, it was too far away, but the second force she recognised immediately.

"Yoh?"

-I-

To be continued

-I-

Sorry this chapter was so short and boring, but this was like a filler chapter. I promise that there will be more action in the next chapter! Please R&R!