ChibiQueen-Anna: Sorry this took so long to update... ehehehe... I had a lot of fics I had to work on, too...
Seito: So glad you like this! I hope you like the future chapters, too... And, you write a lot better than me! XD I love your fics... Ah... And I'll change the summary, too. Sorry about that!
Azalee: lol! Yay! Seito writes really good fics... one of my favorite author's, actually.
Ren F: Yeah... she writes really good stuff... Here's your update!
lilc: I'm not even sure if I should reply to this... seeing as you don't have internet service anymore. ::jabs you:: Ah well. X3 And, my stuff sucks! Yours is a lot better!
chiaki: Actually, I'm not sure. I'm still plotting out everything for this fic now that I'm working on everything again.
wingweaver22: I've never seen that anime... but, I'd like to.
Chibi Ateriel Tsukai: Thank you!
Shrimpy-lil-Shaman: I like vicitimizing Yoh, despite him being my favorite character... ::Sweatdrops:: I'm abusive, aren't I? x3 Ahh... and your fics are really good...
tati1: Here's the update! ::sweatdrops:: Sorry it took so long to get up...
RandomFlame: Hehehehe... x3 I like your username. And, it's no problem!

-------------

Chapter 2

It was a small home, but, it'd do for now.

It was a wonder that Hao even found this place--the old, abandoned building which looked at if... it was about to be torn down.

It was... the only shelter they could find for now. It wasn't like Hao had any money left over from the family.

Everything had burnt in the very same fire that had killed their parents.

He sighed. If only he could reveal the truth to Yoh.... Perhaps later, though; he'd be horrified if he knew the truth. If he knew that he'd never really see his dear parents again. That he wouldn't see the girl Anna once more.

...Actually, Yoh might be happy to learn about that. She wasn't exactly the nicest girl living with them in the estate.

Hao's grip around Yoh's hand only tightened as he looked around. It would take a lot of work to make this into a decent shelter for the both of them.

But, more importantly... Yoh. Hao, of course, would do anything to make sure that his little brother made it through this... war alive and well. It saddened Hao to think that... his brother would never live a normal life due to the stupidity that non-shamans had. His fists clenched around the other's small hand at that thought.

Why was it that... they were so young, yet, so alone in this world...? It wasn't right, or fair.

It was a harsh lesson of life.

Hao and Yoh were just learning one of life's lessons early, he supposed.

Now--Hao was very, very smart for a mere ten year old. One could say that he was a prodigy.

It would have been wise, in fact, not to underestimate someone like Hao.

The said person continued to look around--whoever lived here must have died long ago. It was if... all their furniture was still there, yet, it hadn't been used for a while.

Yes--this would definitely do for now. Hao and Yoh could share different rooms... and hopefully... it'd keep them safe for now.

"Onii-chan." Yoh poked at him; yawning widely. "I'm bored..." His large, begging eyes looked up--only to meet Hao. "I'm going to look around, outside ok...?"

Hao paused at that before shaking his head. "Not now." He sighed. It'd be far too dangerous for Yoh to go outside allowed.

"Why not?" The other gave him a curious look. "We've been in here all day..." He whimpered slightly. He really wanted something to do; anything to do.

He forced a smile at his brother--despite how he was feeling at the moment. "We'll both go outside in a little while, alright?"

Yoh pouted for a moment before finally nodding. Even though it'd mean he'd have to wait a little while longer... it'd be alright, if Hao was with him.

Hao sighed; his eyes saddening for a moment--did being strong for his brother mean that he would need to pretend to be happy as well...? He knew how miserable Yoh was at the moment... and Hao would have done anything to make sure his brother was happy once more.

Perhaps... it would comfort them both if Hao at least tried to be happy.

He nodded. "Yeah..." He slowly smiled at his little brother--they could always get around to looking around this place later.

"Let's go, Yoh." He led his brother outside.

-------------

Cat-like eyes shone at the ruins in the forest in sympathy; the boy looked around the ruins for any chance of a survivor.

...Who did they attack this time?

Yes, this was clearly the results of what had happened was an attack from Shaman-to-Shaman.

The X-Laws have been here...

He sighed. It was a bit sad--Ren had never met a fellow Shaman in his life--with the exception of his family, but...

They were killed as well.

He clenched his fists at that. It had been a fire that had killed his big sister; she had been the one to save him. And at the mere age of six, at that. He was ten now--and he had learned very well to survive on his own.

Tao Ren, of course... prepared the proper burial for his sister's body after the incident; he would have felt like a disgrace to the person whom had saved him if he didn't do any kind of funeral, but... his other family members on the other hand--

Their bodies were never found.

It was a shame, really. Ren, however, wasn't completely devastated by the news.

...Not as devastated as he was when he knew that Jun was dead.

His future was shattered--the purple-haired boy was supposed to be the future leader of the Tao Clan, but...

It'd be a little hard if he was constantly running.

He clenched his fists. I'll defeat those damn X-Laws and avenge 'Nee-san. He hissed lightly under his breath, but, he never stopped walking--glaive in hand. Mark my words. It didn't matter if he didn't have a spirit with him yet, but... he'd get one eventually. No matter what it took--he'd grow stronger. That was all that mattered to him anymore.

That made it dangerous to be out... but, that didn't matter to him, either.

He'd make it--he was Tao Ren, after all.

"Nnn..."

An eyebrow rose. What was that...? He looked in the direction of the noise; his eyes roving over the now-dead part of the forest, until blue hair had caught his eyes.

Two heads with blue hair, to be precise. It was a young girl and a young boy--holding each other close, as if they were trying to defend one another.

His eyes widened. So this was what the X-Law's were looking for...

Ren approached the two; looking at them both. They looked close to dead...

He went to feel the girl's pulse first; pausing for a few moments.

Nothing.

She was dead...

It was a pity. She looked so young... The X-Laws, however, weren't exactly the most merciless people in the world. If they could kill entire families--hundreds of them, in fact--of shaman... what was one more little girl to them...?

He reached out to feel the boy's pulse this time. He frowned deeply--this stranger couldn't have been any older than him. Ren's eyes widened. This was... too good to be a coincidence.

He isn't dead, either... Ren sighed in a breath a relief; looking over to the side.

His eyes widened slightly upon seeing the small spirit. A Koropokkuru... He slowly smirked at the thought. He must be a Shaman as well.

It looked over at Ren in a worried way before disappearing once more. Perhaps... it was the way of the spirit showing that it trusted Ren in some way to save its master. He smirked. This was perfect--he had a Shaman to talk to--to travel with... and more importantly.

To train with, of course! He had to get stronger somehow.

With that--he threw the boy over his shoulders; running out of the forest.

He was running out of time.

-------------

Hao and Yoh both walked through the city; the older one taking Yoh lightly by the hand as he lead him safely.

He frowned. We both have to be careful. It's a small city.... I'm sure the government's looking for us now.

Hao had yet to learn who was doing these murders...but, that didn't matter to him; not now, anyways.

...He needed a spirit, first.

He clenched his fists.

Tomorrow.

I will find a spirit then.

Perhaps then... he'd be able to find who did this to his family and stop them.

...Before anything else happened to him and his brother.

The next step was a simple one for the two if they were caught again.

Death will find us before anything else does.

To be continued

Yes... I killed off Pirika and Jun. Please don't kill me! ;.;

Short chapter... really sorry. ;.; I promise the next one will be longer. ::sighs:: Blame my finals... they're taking all of my free time.

Ehehehe... Seito, please tell me if you want me to change anything at all. n.n; I feel like I'm not giving your one-shots any justice at all...