Disclaimer: don't own shaman King characters….

Ch. 22
Yoh dropped me off at home. I was shocked and embarrassed when I found that my brother opened the door. "Eric!" I almost screeched.

Eric stared me down. He seemed speechless. And of course, Eric was always low key and cool about everything, even seeing his sister half naked.

"What did you do with her?" Eric asked Yoh. Eric's low voice rumbled in my ears. It was the same tone all the time. Just relaxed and intense at the same time…but ALWAYS serious.

"Nothing!" Yoh cried immediately as he placed me into my brother's arms. I felt so light when Eric held me. My brother was just too macho. His bold facial features, bold smile, bold hair, bold speaking tone, bold eyes, bold walk, bold EVERYTHING made people feel safe and intimidated at the same time. No wonder my precious brother was a gang leader. Of course, no one knew I was related to him since Eric acted like he and I were from different planets.

Eric was an overprotective brother, but he never showed it. He just beat up people who messed with me and when they begged to know why they were being punished, he'd say, "Think hard and maybe you'll figure it out." Then, he'd leave his victims bleeding pints of blood into the sidewalk and walk away as if he had just bought a few cigarettes. Did I mention? My brother smokes like a chimney. My mom tried to talk him out of it about thirty times. And Eric tried once out of those thirty times to quit.

Actually, Eric's version of trying to quit would be something more like "Okay, I wont…five seconds later I need one so I'll do it…five seconds later Never hurt to have one more…five second later Eh, forget it…smoking is not a sin." Of course, he was right on that part. No part of the bible ever directly quoted, "Do not smoke". So, Eric smoked. No part of the bible directly quoted, "Do not beat people up until they are about to die, but don't die and end up in the hospital". So, Eric did so and followed his own version of Christianity. And I didn't argue. It seemed to work for him.

As for this moment, I couldn't tell what Eric was thinking. All I could see was Yoh looking up at Eric, and cringing under Eric's gaze. Yoh's face was mixed with fear and respect. Whichever one he felt more…he was probably right. Eric was fearsome. Eric was respectable. Both defined him perfectly.

After a moment or two of staring, Eric walked across the living room, saying to Yoh, "Stay there."

Yoh obeyed quivering like a dog that had just been freshly reprimanded.

Eric set me down on the couch and then went outside onto the front porch, closing the door behind him. I looked over my shoulder just in time to see Yoh give me that look of "Is-your-brother-going-to-kill-me?".

To be honest, I didn't know.

But ten minutes later, Eric returned inside the house.

Yoh did not.

In fact, the following day, I had expected Yoh to visit. But he didn't. And I couldn't move from bed for two reasons.
One: I was crippled.
Two: I was too weak from Hao's beating to go to school.

People would ask where I was. I was always such a diligent student. What lie would I have to make up that they would believe? I knew. I would say that I was mugged. That would work. They would believe it and no one would have to know about the shame that I had learned to just hide under ashes of pain. Just as that forest had burnt down, I had been burnt, but hiding under the ashes, I managed to keep a shred of my pride. It was a small shred, but one I hung onto for dear life. Maybe it was the only part of me that Hao had not destroyed...Hao had not destroyed everything inside me and about me. He had not. I wouldn't let him. And then, I found out moments later that Eric would not let him either.

Eric entered my room, which made me literally jump.

I was in my pajamas, which was a white spaghetti strap top and tiny shorts. Should I mention that there was no bra underneath? Eric just stared blankly for a moment, wondering what was wrong with me before saying, "Don't worry, your hippo body means nothing to me stupid. I'm your brother."

----;; Hippo body?

Thanks…groan

I looked up at Eric asking, "Why are you in here? The last time you talked to me was in second grade."

"Who's this Hao kid?" Eric asked.

He was always so precise with his words. It made me sick. Eric could say anything with ease, which I couldn't do. I paused for a moment, figuring out a way to talk around the name "Hao", which I had sworn would stay away from the caverns of my mouth. "Um, he's this guy. Why?"

"I'm gonna kill him, okay?"

"What?" I jumped. Once again, Eric was going on with his precise and damn-right-to-the-point wording. "KILL?"

"Fine. I'll damage him."

"Eric…it's okay. I'm fine," I said. I felt both fearful and yet joyful. The feeling of having a protective and perfectly capable older brother gave me a warm, comforting feeling inside.

"It's not okay with me. I might not show that I care, but if anyone messes with my baby sis, I'm gonna give them a very good lesson."

"It's okay, Eric. Just drop it."

"Nah," Eric said, shaking his head, "It's not that easy. Not with me."

Before I could even bother to argue, Eric slammed the door behind him and left. I sat there. Umm…okay…was just about everything I could say. Just "Umm…ok…"

Note: WAAHHA.. Haos gonna get it.. or is he?lolxx.. ANOTHER CUTE GUY in the story heheh.. but not in shamanking ..XD gonna get better… I hope……. SO ENJOYY..