Seductive Lies

Shadows: I have BIG plans for this little episode...Actually, this isn't going to be little...Hao! Do the honours, or you don't get Yoh back! And I know it's been a few days, I was taking some time out to write several chapters at once, and to allow a few more of my loyal readers to find the new update!

Hao:sulking: Shadows doesn't own Shaman King. Or Kitty actually, Kitty is copyrighted to Microsoft:sticks out tongue:

Shadows: Uh... :sweatdrop: Do you want to shag your little brother?

Hao:confused look: Yes.

Shadows: Then shut up... Anyway, moving on now...Review replies, and a rather interesting chapter... :glowers at Hao: I am so on your case bad boy... Kitty! Wake up! This is no time for a cat nap! We have a chapter to write! You're my muse for fucks sake!

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Garnet-Chan: That's okay. :huggles: If that makes you sad, you'll probably enjoy various parts of this chapter. Cute? My chapters aren't supposed to be cute! Well, certain ones are... :wink:

Black Hikari: It's amazing how I do it, isn't it? I surprise myself with my fast updates. Oh yeah, you're gonna LOVE this chapter. Get out your Hao plushies and your HaoxYoh4eva banners...

Inulover4eva: More Ren/Horo fluff in this chapter. I think Ren is beginning to sort out his feelings a little...Glad you like Ski's introduction! (On a reminder, it's pronounced Sky. I dunno who actually reads my rambles at the bottom. )

Azalee: Just out of pure curiosity, do Belgians have their own language? No offence, but I have absolutely no idea, and you write in French. And I strongly recommend a trampoline. V. good when high on sugar... :wink:

KimBob: More Horo/Ren to be shortly on the way... I tie between Ren/Yoh and Ren/Horo. Maybe I should do a fic with a love triangle between them... Hmm... :runs off to the drawing board:

DragonStorm85: Huh:re-reads chapter 7: No, Faust is still there, I just, forgot him a little! All characters in my fics always have formal entrances and exits, sort of a done thing...Finally! Someone agrees with me on the Ren/Pilica pairing! Yes! Yes:sweatdrop: Sorry, I'm in a perky mood today...

Haolover9312: In Ren's place? Somehow, I think you'll want to be in Yoh's place during this little ep...I'm paranoid you know...Insomnia...That's why I freak out myself with my fast updating skills...

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Kitty: Huh, what:gets up in disgust: Hey, I am NOT giving a history lesson on how I wound up as your muse. Now, on with the ficcie I suppose...

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Chapter 8 - Breakdown

Ski awoke the next morning to the sounds of noise and voices coming from inside the house. Her blanket was rather soaked at the bottom, the rain had obviously caught it the night before. She sighed, remembering how she'd wound up like this, a homeless girl living on the streets. She was painfully thin, and pale too, wearing only a thin ragged T-shirt, with a zipper jacket on top. Her trousers were worn and ripped dreadfully in places, drab trainers caked in mud and dirt, the laces knotted together in certain areas. Dirty blonde hair was waist length, tied back in a ponytail, loose strands framing her slightly smeared face.

Yes she was a poor, hungry girl, living it rough on the streets. This was the price for her curiosity. Sighing, she leant back, reminiscing on the past:

0o0 (FLASHBACK) 0o0

"Ski! Come inside! It's beginning to rain! "

"Coming Mama!" A young, 11 year old Ski ran through the lush grasses of the garden, running up the door to greet her mother. Giving her a hug, Ski followed her inside, removing her sandals as she did so.

"So what did you get up to today? Did the neighbour's daughter come round to play again?" Okami Kyouyama ruffled her daughter's hair as she dried it with a towel, earning her little playful yells of protest.

"Nah, she didn't come today. But I made some new friends! They told me something about Anna."

Okami stopped in mid-ruffle. "Anna?..." She managed to stammer out.

"Yes Mama."

"What did they tell you? Please, tell me." Okami looked pale and rather shocked, her breath coming in deep.

"They said that, that she's alive.." Ski innocently said, looking up sadly at her mother.

"But...but that's impossible..." The woman sat down, trying to calm her breathing.

"For Anna-san to be alive? They said that she's in Tokyo, and that she was abandoned when she was a young girl. You didn't hurt her, did you Mama?"

Okami simply stared. Not again. This was, was supposed to be over...

Then Okami's attitude changed. She looked up at the innocent young girl before her, and her eyes narrowed in hate, her upper lip curling in anger.

"You...You've seen spirits, haven't you? You, talked to them, and they told you things you shouldn't know..."

"But Mama.."

"Enough! Shukimi! Come quickly!" Ski's father came rushing from his workshop, gasping when he saw how pale his wife had gone.

"My dear, whatever is wrong? Ski?" Shukimi looked around in bewilderment, before Okami answered.

"She knows Shukimi. She knows about Anna. She is possessed! Perhaps she is like Anna, poisonous, a child of the Devil!" Okami shrieked, eyes widening in terror.

"Mama! Papa? What are you talking about?" Ski unknowingly questioned, dark eyes looking questioningly at her parents.

"Heavens above...We must dispose of her." Shukimi stared, eyes cold and hard.

"What? You're scaring me Mama..." Ski whispered.


"Pack your things Ski. And get out."

0o0 (END FLASHBACK) 0o0

"I WILL find you Anna. If you're alive. If you still remember me. If only, if only..."

Ski's head fell into her lap, and she began to softly cry.

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"Huh, what?" Morty sleepily lifted his head, eyes blinking owlishly. He'd eventually fallen asleep at the kitchen table, and had a rather stiff neck that morning.

"Still feeling sleepy?" Ryu asked.

"Uh, I don't like thunder and lightning...It scares me...I didn't get to sleep until 2.50 am..." Morty yawned, before stretching his neck, and wandering off to get a drink.

"Hey, I didn't get to sleep 'til 3.40 am.." Horo added, equally yawning, before burping loudly.

"Come on, even Ren looks tired this morning." Choco smiled, noting how the shaman was trying to keep his eyes open.

"And that's because I fell asleep at around 3.20 am..." Ren shot a glaring look at the comedian, who cowered a little behind Ryu.

"I don't think we all got much sleep last night. But, it's not like that's going to stop us!" Lyserg smiled, subconsciously snuggling a little closer to Ryu. Unknowingly to both of them, Ren's sharp eye caught this, and his mind began to throw a few theories out.

Is it possible? Ryu and Lyserg? Ren looked up at the two laughing about something together for a moment, before he felt Horo silently take his own hand under the table. The Chinese threw him a warning glance, but then saw the rather cute look on his face, and smiled, relaxing a little. For some reason, this felt, right, almost.

"No, that is not going to happen! Tell him Horo!" Lyserg laughed again, reaching across Ryu's arm to try and grab whatever he'd taken. Horo Horo looked up, raising an eyebrow at Ren when he caught the other looking too.

"Think something's going on?" Horo whispered.

Ren merely smiled.

"Between who? Us, or them?" He lightly spoke in reply. Horo ponder on this for a moment, before returning the smile, and squeezing his hand a little.

"Me thinks both." A mischievous look was back in his eyes, and he wordlessly shifted a little closer.

So do I. Ren looked back over at Ryu and Lyserg. Then again, me and Horo are the last people in the world you'd expect to be together. I suppose the same could go for them.

"I second that." Ren finally answered, smirking playfully. "One, because those two are so damn close, and two, I think last night spoke for itself. "

"Um, yeah..." Horo blushed lightly, remembering their antics from the night before. "So, what's the game plan for rescuing Yoh and Anna?"

A diversion. Right now, that was exactly what Ren needed, before he felt the urge to kiss Horo again. That was new as well, Ren had never felt a need to kiss anyone before. Shrugging lightly, Ren turned his attention back to the conversation..

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"One, two, three, it's just you and me, what do you want to do?" Hao licked his lips lightly, eying the mirrored look in Yoh's eyes.

"I want to have some fun!" Yoh grinned, cuddling into his brother. He lay his head against Hao's shoulder momentarily, before shifting his weight so that he was almost sitting in Hao's lap.

"How about more of what we did last night?" Hao suggested, licking his lips again. If he kept this up, it wouldn't be long before Yoh practically gave himself to his brother willingly. And that was what Hao wanted. As much as he wanted to take things a step further, he couldn't force Yoh. That might drive him away, and happened to be the last thing he wanted. No, a little more seduction, mixed with lots of loving, and he'd have himself a willing specimen.

"Mmm, that sounds good. What about Anna?" Hao could tell from the little innocent touch to his voice that his corruption still hadn't completely worked. He was hoping that taking things all the way would put an end to that, but for now, he'd just have to make sure Yoh stayed away from his friends. Still, Hao was getting impatient. He didn't have forever, and he wasn't asking for it. Just long enough...

"That whore? She can stay where she is and do a little scrying. Make sure those idiots don't actually track me down to here. As for you, I think you'd like a little loving..." Hao kissed Yoh at that, making quick work of Yoh's shirt. Trailing down bare skin to the waistband of his pants, the older shaman felt Yoh slip his arms around him, pulling them closer, returning the kiss with passion and fervour. He ran his fingers through Yoh's brown locks, enjoying the soft silky feel of Yoh's bangs against his fingertips. This had become the norm to the two of them, and Hao wanted more. He pushed the younger backwards, pinning him firmly, yet gently to the floor, kissing every inch of bare skin he could find. Yoh moaned and sighed with the intimate touches, feeling his body heating in response to Hao's incentives.

Deciding that Yoh's pants were getting in the way, Hao undid the zipper, lifting the other shaman's hips carefully tugging both pants and boxers down. Yoh was already hard, and he let out a deep moan when Hao wrapped a gloved hand around his member, moving it up and down, the stimulation causing even more moans and whimpers to come from Yoh. He descended again, pulling Yoh up slightly to meet his lips, caressing his cheek lightly. Hao felt the other shaman quietly remove his poncho, enjoying the touch of bare skin against bare skin. To Yoh, this was almost an addiction, Hao was a drug he couldn't resist, had in his system. It was intoxicating, mysterious, and yet Yoh was curious to explore more about his brother. Finally, he detected that Hao was moving downwards, smiling as he realised that he was going to get what he had been waiting for.

The older shaman merely kissed his way down Yoh's bare chest, moving on downwards until he reached Yoh's member. Then, his hands gently wrapped around it again, giving Yoh an invigorating feeling. Hao simply licked, slowly at first, then more firmer at Yoh, who moaned loudly with every lick. This became more and more passionate, before Hao eventually took the tip of Yoh's member into his mouth, sucking lightly, feeling Yoh tense around him at the contact. He built up a rhythm, taking more of Yoh in, sucking deeply and with an increased speed. Yoh was lost in another world, his pupils dilated, body tense, his hands gripping tightly at whatever was beneath them. As the pace enlarged, he gradually began to move his hips with Hao's rhythm, the noises from both of them increasing. Any noise Hao made vibrated in his throat, which only added to Yoh's sensations.

Finally, Yoh could take it no more. His world narrowed to a point where he could only focus on what Hao was doing, his body tense and willing for a release. With a final moan of pleasure, Yoh released himself into Hao's mouth, who eagerly swallowed everything he could. While Yoh relaxed, panting and trying to recover, Hao licked up every drop, scooping up a few droplets with his fingers, which he offered to Yoh. The younger shaman took in the fingers one at a time, sucking gently at them, tasting the strangely bitter, yet still sweet taste of himself on Hao.

Sudden noises outside made Hao whirl around in shock. Eyes narrowing, he swiftly left Yoh's side for a few seconds. Sure enough, he recognised those voices.

Oh crap... He thought, biting his lower lip.

"I think we have visitors," Hao sweetly whispered to Yoh.

"Who?" Yoh panted, his breathing gradually returning to normal.

"A few old friends of yours." Hao growled in anger.

0o0o

"I told you, we've been going the wrong way! The disk isn't glowing anymore!" Chocolove complained, trying to get to the front of the little party.

"Will somebody please shut him up before I feel the need to impale him on a spear." Ren glowered at Choco, before focusing back on the disk. Concentrating, he could hear the little tinkle of laughter again, and realised that it was louder. The feeling was stronger too, but something wasn't right. Ren's forehead creased as he pondered over things for a minute, the fighting shamans not fazing him in the least.

"What's wrong?" Horo asked, sitting beside him.

"I think we're close. But something's not right. Like, Yoh's possessed, and the feeling isn't quite there. It feels like Yoh is standing beside me, but it also feels like someone else is there."

"Hao." It was more of a statement than a question. "I think you were right, Yoh must be under some sort of spell."

Ren smiled, enjoying the pure bliss of simply having Horo sat beside him.

"Besides, " Horo lowered his voice, and whispered in Ren's ear, "I know I already am. " He kissed Ren's cheek lightly, his hand shielding the action, before he pulled away. A blush did creep lightly across the Chinese shaman's cheeks, making Ren look rather different. The glow from the disk suddenly became much brighter, the laughter becoming loud enough to make the others stop to listen.

"I think we're nearly there." Ren muttered, holding up the disk to look.

Several minutes later, they pushed through a group of branches and trees to find themselves in a little clearing. They gazing around, not hearing anything, before a gasp of relief came from the left of them.

"Oh my god. You found us!" Everyone turned to see Anna, looking rather beaten and bruised, her dark eyes sparkling with hope.

"Miss Anna?" Ryu rushed to Anna's aid, Faust joining him to check her over, making sure she was fit to at least get back with them.

"I'll be fine. You must save Yoh, he's currently with Hao." Anna looked rather desperate, and a little flushed. Faust merely sat her down, waving the others away.

"Go. Find Yoh. Me and Eliza will look after her. Call if you need our help." He nodded to the little group, and for a few seconds, a solemn moment fell over everyone.

"Ah, good to see you all again. " The moment broken, everyone turned to see Hao leaning against a tree, a smirk on his face. "I'm sorry, Yoh's not available right now, but if you want, I can take a message." Summoning his spirit of fire, Hao advanced on the group, a murderous look in his eyes.

"Come on! Attack!" Ryu yelled, and the group charged into battle.

"I think it's time we finished what we started Ren." Hao called, after calmly smacking Lyserg away and into a tree trunk.

"Lets just say I'm a little more prepared this time." Ren's eyes took on a dangerous look as he prepared for battle. "And I will take you down, or die trying.

"Then you will die trying!" Hao charged at Ren, who ducked out of the way, barely dodging a burst of flame that shot after him. This game of dodge ball continued, as Hao also smacked and punched away anyone that came within 10 feet of him.

Nobody saw Yoh's head poke out, calmly observing the battle before him. He could only think of one thing. They were trying to hurt his brother. Nobody was going to harm his brother. Picking up his sword, Yoh headed for the doorway.

"Faust! We need you!" Horo shouted, crying out in pain as he was slammed against a tree. He just had a second to see Hao, before the shaman punched him aggressively in the face, repeatedly. He was stopped when Ryu charged, and managed to slash Hao across the back, who yelled as he felt the welt throbbing painfully. Turning in anger, Hao shot a blast of fire at Ryu, who only just ducked out of the way. When he looked back again, Hao found Horo Horo gone, and the shaman cursed roughly.

Yoh meanwhile, had managed to creep up on Ren and Lyserg. The two were hiding, waiting for the right moment to strike.

"Hello again." Yoh spoke softly, watching them jump in fright. Lyserg seemed only momentarily stunned, but Ren, Ren went rather pale.

"What's the matter? Aren't you pleased to see me?" Yoh asked steadily.

"You...you sound...like Hao..." Ren managed to stammer out. Lyserg looked at him, surprised. The Chinese really looked shocked to the core by it, and the other shaman shook his shoulder to snap him out of it.

"Yoh! What has Hao done to you?" Lyserg asked, beginning to panic.

"Nothing...much..." Yoh suggestively licked his lips, and Ren nearly puked. "But you're trying to hurt my brother. We won't be having that..." Yoh drew his sword, and rushed into battle with the two shamans.

"Yoh please! " Lyserg cried, as he was pinned against a tree.

"Bocchama, I know it pains you, but you must attack. That is not the Yoh you know, and I know you understand that."

"I know Bason. I know.." Ren closed his eyes momentarily. Then, he charged at Yoh, knocking him off Lyserg, who fell to the floor choking.

"Just like old times, eh?" Yoh grinned, striking back, and catching Ren's shoulder. The younger swore lightly, ignoring the pain, before anger, regret, fear, and everything else swelled up inside of him. Allowing his emotions to consume him, the Chinese blinked rapidly again, before narrowing his gaze, and throwing everything he had at Yoh. It was amazing how much Yoh could be like Hao, his expression was identical, and his eyes held that same piercing glare. But his eyes were misted over, like a film was covering those big brown eyes, and his voice was harsher, completely un-Yoh like.

"Yoh, don't you remember? We're your friends." Ren hissed, as he pinned Yoh against a rock near the waters edge.

"I only need one friend." Yoh growled in response.

"Hao is just using you! Think back Yoh, remember. Hao did something to make you this way!" Ren's strength was, for once, greater than Yoh's and he held him securely against the rock.

"Never! I know he loves me!"

"And what if he doesn't? What if he plans to dump you once you've played your part in his master plan?"

This sparked a little doubt in Yoh, which reflected in his eyes. Sensing a breakthrough, the Chinese continued.

"We're your friends Yoh. No matter what, we won't abandon you." Ren spoke softly, his eyes mirroring the same fear, rejection, betrayal and hurt that was now rushing it's way through Yoh, making him momentarily doubt himself.

"But if Hao doesn't love me, who does?" Yoh asked, the innocence finally showing through again in his voice. Ren dropped his voice, leaning towards Yoh's ear.

"I do. " He whispered, trying to blink back tears.

Yoh closed his eyes as a blinding pain streaked across his head. And suddenly, the bare contact between them meant that Yoh felt everything Ren could, and Ren everything that Yoh could. Flashbacks, memories, feelings and deepest desires. They passed through, and Yoh eventually sighed, dropping his head.

When Yoh lifted his head again, he blinked, opening his eyes to focus on Ren. His beautiful brown eyes had returned, and it was like he had suddenly woken up from a dream.

"Yoh?" Ren asked. The older shaman shook his head, before giving a sheepish smile.

"I'm sorry." Yoh whispered, tears welling up in his eyes. He couldn't help it, and the droplets ran down his cheeks, softly falling onto his shirt.

Across the clearing, after hitting away Horo for the millionth time, Hao suddenly became aware of the scene going on between Ren and Yoh.

"Oh fucking hell." He snarled, jumping across to land behind Ren. Raising the wooden log in his hand, he smacked it around Ren's head, who wobbled a little,and looking a little dazed, lifted his hand to touch the wound, bringing down his hand to see the scarlet blood dripping down like rubies into the grass. For a moment, there was no pain, and Ren merely focused on the blood that stained his fingertips. Then the pain did come, an overwhelming sharp stab of hurt that flowed through his head, making Ren rather dizzy and light-headed.

"Ow..." He lightly moaned, before collapsing to the ground.

Yoh however panicked. He looked left and right, down at the bleeding Ren, before he looked up at Hao, and the pure evil that shone in his eyes.

With a final sob of despair, Yoh turned and blindly ran, ignoring the shouts from behind him. He ran and ran, trying to forget the memories that pushed their way to the surface, trying to ignore the pain inside his heart.

At that time, Yoh just wanted to die. All the pain that he'd caused, all the terrible things he'd done.

Worse of all, the things, oh the things he'd let Hao do to him.

Stopping suddenly, surrounded by trees, Yoh broke down in the moonlight shining above him. Softly, sobs and whimpers rose up into the cool night, as Yoh began to cry like he'd never stop.

"Um, I think it's time to go guys." Horo winced, grasping his bleeding arm.

"Good idea..." Choco echoed, helping Anna to her feet, Lyserg running to help. Faust swiftly scooped up the unconscious Ren, whilst Ryu ran around, making sure everyone was ready.

Hao lay in the middle of the clearing, having fell to his knees in anguish when Yoh had run away. He cried out in pain and anger, calling out for Yoh, forgetting the shaman around him. They had wisely ran for the nearest exit, running into the night, leaving Hao alone to drown in his misery.

And it was then, when everyone had gone, and he was alone, that Hao began to cry as well, cool salty drops of raw human emotion falling into the grass, as Hao cried desperately for his brother, calling out for him to come back.

It wasn't the shaman in Hao that loved Yoh.

It was the human. And Hao allowed the human in him to overtake his mind, and dictate to him to what to do. And right now, the human was telling Hao to cry, to express the loss in him.

"Oh my beautiful Yoh, where have you gone? Why have you left me?" Hao cried all over again, burying his face in the wet grass.

"I love you, Yoh Asakura..."

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Shadows: Whoa, now that was a BIG chapter! Lots happening...Yay! Yoh is good again! Well, he's a little confused, but that's nothing a little lovin' from his big bro can clear up...

Hao: You made me cry! How could you! You're making me look like some weak human!

Kitty: Now, now, don't insult your authoress. She can, and will, bend the rules so that you are denied your sweet pleasure of shagging your little brother.

Hao:sulking: Fine. Just so you all know, when I get out of this, I am so getting on Microsoft's case, and I'll get them to sue her for every penny she's worth!

Shadows and Kitty:evil glares, tapping sharp weapons in hands/paws: You really don't want to shag Yoh, do you:wink:

Hao:sweatdrop: Uh, review please?...Okay, leave me alone you crazy women...:hides: