~¤~Aniki~¤~

Disclaimer:::

I'm amazed that you still read this when you already know what I'm going to say. I don't own SK okay…

Legend:::

(.…bla bla….) Is thoughts

"….bla bla…." Is normal speech

{….bla bla….} Is notes/signs/etc.

….bla bla…. Is memories

*…bla bla..* Is sound effect

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Chapter 11

Day 3

"I have a brother."

Came the whisper that was deafening in the silent room.

A multitude of feelings washed over the solemn boy on the floor.

Happiness; that he had a sibling, even if he could be unrelated by blood.

Sadness; that his parents never mentioned it to him.

Curiosity; what about his foster family, why they never visited or made themselves known.

Confusion; his past in his dreams must have been true.

Excitement; to find his foster family and maybe do some catching up on old times.

However, the next few words that were uttered completely broke the allusion and had brought Yoh hurtling back to reality.

"Your brother is dead."

At that familiar voice, Yoh spun around to look at his cousin and friend of two days with wide stunned eyes. He had been so occupied by his thoughts that he hadn't even noticed him.

Hao stood in his room with his back facing him, arms across each other as he leaned out on the frame of his open window. His midnight eyes stared ahead into the darkness not wanting to meet Yoh's own.

"W~what did you say?" Yoh stammered uncertain that he had heard correctly.

Hao turned to stare at him straight into his eyes.

"Your brother is dead."

The soft breeze and the familiar scent of dawn blew gently through the window of the small bedroom providing the only briefest of sound. The warm sunlight did little to brighten the dark atmosphere of the room.

"H-how would you know? Do you even know about my past?" Yoh asked hesitantly his gaze following his jittery fingers.

"I know it like a book I've read a thousand times. It is fairly common knowledge amongst the clan."

"What? Why didn't you tell me before? Why didn't anyone tell me before?"

"I did not want to tell you because I fear it would have affected your training. The clan leader forbade anyone to tell you about your past-wanting you to recover your memories on your own. Perhaps he was afraid of what it would do to you if you knew."

"Why? I-I need to know. About my past. Please."

Yoh snuggled up to himself, his knees to his chest as he buried his face in his arms.

"Why do you wish to know? I would tell you your past if you asked it of me, but it would only be so much to help you regain your memories. And even if you knew… "

(What would you do?)

The bed creaks. Yoh could hear the steady rhythm of the other boy's breathing as he sat beside him in the morning silence noticing that he had trailed off without finishing his sentence.

"You say my brother is dead. How? What about my foster parents? I need to thank them for taking care of me for those years. I need to give them my condolences on their child's death. I need to…" Yoh started to mumble as if to himself.

A slight pat on his back cut him off. Yoh felt the gentle caress soothe out his thoughts and calm him down. Like the ones his mother gave him when he was little-when he was uneasy about something. The ones that told him not to worry.

"Yoh. Even now, you're thinking of others when you should be worrying about yourself. I've even expected you to feel betrayed and to be angry."

Yoh kept silent.

Hao let out a sigh.

"When you were a mere baby, you were taken away from your parents. You were raised in a land called America. There you lived for about five years until one day, the home you've been in was burnt to the ground by a mysterious fire. Both of your foster parents died in that tragedy."

Hao felt Yoh's body stiffen at that, his breath quickening and a quiet choke.

"You and your brother survived, been named heirs to the family estate. The Clan found out about the fire and made an educated guess based on the information they collected and concluded that you were in fact one of the brothers who had survived the fire. They went to America and got into a fight with the one who had taken you in the first place. They were victorious. However you were injured, and hence your memory loss. And that is how the tale of the famous Asakura Kidnapping goes. It is the most well-known secret of the Clan."

Hao finished with a soft sarcastic murmur.

"They're dead. I can't believe it." Yoh said shakily. "W-what about my brother? You said that he's dead too." A little hope that Hao may have lied to him in the first place resounded in his question.

Hao lifted his reassuring hand and got up, apparently leaving.

"Hao! Tell me!"

Yoh's demand stopped the long-haired shaman in his steps. Hao's voice hid a slight tremble which Yoh did not miss.

"The brother you knew died the very same day that the Clan found and rescued you."

Yoh became totally unfocused, lost in his grief for the family he had gained and lost all in a span of a few hours.

"Yoh. What you know now has changed nothing. I will give you an hour to reorganize yourself and come down for breakfast. We shall continue with your training and then leave for America late midnight tonight."

Seeing the lack of response, Hao shook his head slightly.

"Spare it no more second thoughts and continue on with your life Yoh. The past is the past. There is no use in dwelling on something that will not change. You could not protect your family then. But you can protect your family now. Be strong. That sad look doesn't suit you."

Hao left his distraught twin on the floor and returned to his room as quickly as his legs can carry. As soon as his feet reached the space of his room, he sagged down into the individual sofa that lay in one of its four corners. Remembering about wanting nothing more than to reveal himself as Yoh's twin brother.

(So why don't you?) His own thoughts mocked him.

"He does not deserve any more grief as it is." Hao answered the voice in his head dully.

(What more harm can you do?)

"He wouldn't believe me."

(Yoh believes in anything.)

"He will not concentrate on his training."

(He is strong. Even you realize that.)

"No, not enough."

(That's not the real reason.)

"If Yoh knows I'm his brother, his blind innocence will bind him to me. If the clan finds out.."

(If the clan finds out?)

"Yoh will die."

The voice in his head shut up immediately and Hao was left alone once more.

A bitter laugh escaped his lips.

"Yoh will die if I don't get this sappy ridiculous thought of revealing my secret out of my head."

Hao reminded to himself softly and proceeded to banish the idea into the deepest, darkest corners of his mind.

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Miles away, a certain Kyoyama Anna shivered.

The night breeze seemed to get colder and colder by the second.  She sat restlessly at the open porch of the old Asakura house. It had been two nights since they lost Yoh to his brother. A short span of time that felt like weeks to Anna.

Anna had to admit. Whatever Hao was doing to avoid their detection, it was effective. Since that day, they have gone for those two days without rest, without sleep, looking for any possible clues to Yoh's whereabouts. All efforts were in vain though and the after-effects of their search are beginning to weigh on them.

The blonde itako spared a glance towards the open hall. Despite the four futons that had been originally arranged in neat rows, the current occupants had shamelessly reduced them into a pile of mess. The boys scattered around amongst the covers oblivious to the cold hard floor, looking spent and worse for wear.

The three shamans will leave for America for the next stage of the Shaman Fight come morning. Along with her and Manta of course after some insistence.

A lot of it.

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Somewhere a rooster crows at the first sign of day.

Hao sat in his usual seat at the dining table, slowly stirring the contents of his cup of coffee. Having sent Opacho on an early start to the western lands, the hall was empty of sound save for the sound of approaching footsteps that resounded of the walls.

And as soon as those footsteps came to a halt, a sleepy and dreary Yoh came through the doors and proceeded towards the table. Once there, the shaman immediately fell asleep on his seat.

Hao observed his twin, deep in thought.

If you were to ask anyone who knew him, they would agree that Yoh wasn't the type of person who brood over thoughts that were out of his control. What Yoh would do would be to brush it off and say that everything will turn out alright.

But Hao knew his little brother hid away his problems and feelings behind a happy smile. It was an unhealthy habit, one that could have drastic consequences.

That was why Hao was a tad bit worried when his twin showed up for breakfast looking as if nothing had happened. They had slipped into the normal routine and when Hao questioned his well-being, Yoh merely gave him a smile and told him not to worry himself over it.

"You said it yourself. The past is the past. Just drop it, alright."

"Fine."

Hao excused himself and told Yoh to meet him at the ledge behind the mansion by noon.

What Hao failed to realize was that his twin wasn't as trusting as he thought he was. Yoh had made up his mind to investigate the matter further, not fully believing in his host's words. Clearly Hao was hiding something from him and Yoh was going to find out what it was.

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The warm waters of the river were relaxing to his nerves. Yoh sat at the edge of the stream with both of his feet soaking into its rushing waves. Absent mindedly, Yoh managed to summon a few water spirits who proceeded to laze around him.

He had an hour to go before being scheduled to meet Hao at the ledge.

What better way to pass the time than to have a short nap in the cool shade while the dipping your feet into a warm river? Can't think of any?

However for the weary shaman, it was also a time of evaluation. Hao hadn't been telling him the whole story. Yoh had no real proof of that save for the feeling that had been nagging at him for ages now.

And it told him that his brother wasn't dead.

Yoh felt his eyelids getting heavier. The gentle trickling of the water getting softer. The sighs of the water spirits were almost unheard.

Shouts of laughter rang through the air.

He was running. Chasing something. Someone.

It was no use. That person was just too fast. Yoh ran harder and harder, breathing heavily.

Finally, it seemed he was getting nearer and nearer.

And then the person in front of him stopped.

Yoh bumped into him without warning and they both rolled across the grassy plain, tumbling and turning like a pair of tumbleweeds drifting in the wind.

Yoh woke up with a start. The air was suddenly silent. The water spirits seemed to have disappeared. Feeling eyes on him, he immediately glanced up.

Only to meet the most elegant creature he had ever seen.

Standing before the shaman, staring at him with its glowing red eyes, was a crimson flaming stallion. The whole creature was bathed in different hues of scarlet giving it the effect of actually being burned alive.

But the steed stood there unmoving, unfazed as the morning breeze played its blazing mane and tail.

Curious and awestruck, the shaman inched his way towards the handsome beast crossing the knee-deep waters of the river.

Something about the stallion is familiar to him.

"Fyra-chan! Ride ride!" 

Yoh blinked as the childish voice resounded in his head.

Uncertainly, he called out trying not to stammer.

"Fyra……chan?"

The fire horse's ears flicked towards him and then back again. Other than that, it just stood still. Watching him.

Yoh called out gently every time he took a step towards it until he was but a step left. The stallion didn't even move an inch.

Trembling hands came up towards the stallion's muzzle as Yoh closed the gap between them, staring right into those blazing rubies. His fingers caressed the soft hair. It was amazing. His hand looks as if it's on fire but the blaze didn't even singe him.

"I remember…" a mutter came.

"Fyra-chan? Ride ride?"

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"Whoaaaahahaahaahaa!!!" Yoh half shouted, half laughed out loud.

The ride had been the thrill of his life. Fyra was undoubtedly the fastest steed in the world. Yoh could barely hang on to its back as it sped across the open meadows passing the surroundings in a blur.

It took him a while before he realized that Fyra had slowed down to a stop at the base of the hill of which he was to meet Hao.

Getting off the stallion's back, Yoh straightened his clothes and managed his rumpled hair.

"Thanks for the ride boy." Yoh said patting the horse gently.

Fyra tilted its head to a side, as if giving him a nod.

With a neigh, it trotted off into the distance vanishing from view as quickly as it had appeared.

Yoh proceeded to climb the 'mountain' and nearly shouted in relief when he reached the hill top. He parted the last bushes that separated him from the wide open ledge.

The sight that greeted him was of Hao was standing there his back towards him totally still. Yoh did not know if his cousin realized that he had already arrived but had decided not to disturb him for fear of another bout of fireballs.

A soft wind blew the long tresses from his shoulders and Hao let out a silent sigh.

Then in a swift second that Yoh could barely react, Hao sprinted across the short length of the ground and jumped from the ledge.

And fell face first towards the ground below.

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Yoh couldn't believe his eyes, reacting a minute too late as he dashed towards the ledge and looked over the edge, his hands reaching out in a futile attempt to save the doomed shaman.

Yoh watched Hao drop feet after feet, his locks billowing wildly behind him, his arms outstretched and his palms open.

And then he changed.

The transformation had been subtle and controlled.

Where there was a once falling human boy, in his place was a large jet-black eagle.

Letting out a huge shrill, the bird flapped its powerful wings and glided just a few inches off the ground. Its wings beat in a steady rhythm as it ascended towards the blue open sky. The eagle soared through the air with apparent ease and calm before pausing for a bit.

Yoh could have sworn that the avian blinked at him and descended towards the ledge where the stunned shaman sat in awe.

As the majestic creature neared the cliff, it spread its enormous wings and folded them behind its back when its talons touched the ground.

The black eagle's equally dark eyes stared at Yoh as it changed back into a more familiar form.

Yoh could only gape when Hao smirked at him and asked in a teasing tone,

"Surprised?"

Nod. Fyra had been a big enough surprise but this was even more unexpected.

Hao tilted his head in acknowledgement and slipped quickly into his lecture mode.

"We all have power animals - spirit animals - that are connected to us as protectors.

Many power animals are our spirit guardians that exist in other realms.

Some animals were with us from past lives but may have been another physical form. Power Animals are usually a reflection of your deepest self and also represent qualities which you need in this world, but which are often hidden or obscured.

As shamans we have the ability to merge with our power animals to the point of changing physically. Many shamans have learned this technique and it is quite a well-known one.

The Ten Oracles command animal spirits. Yet they do not often become them. It is said that you risk loosing your consciousness to the animal, becoming like a mindless creature with no sentience. But with enough control and respect, that is fallacy.

All of my comrades have acquired this skill, having the ability to change into a selected animal.

That is why I expect no less from you." 

Yoh gulped. Somehow he got the feeling that something bad would happen if he didn't meet Hao's expectations.

"First, close your eyes . . . relax your mind . . ."

Yoh obediently did as he was told. He let go of the questions that plagued his mind and tried not to think of anything else. He felt his head grow lighter and lighter. And he liked the sensation. It was like falling asleep to his favorite Bob Love music.

"Feel the muscles in your body relaxing . . . your head . . . your shoulders . . . your neck . . . your jaw . . . the torso of your body . . . your arms . . ."

The short haired shaman took to relaxation like a fish to water. If there ever was an expert of relaxation around then Yoh would be the one. Soon his body felt as light as a feather and the next words in an echo-dreamlike tone.


"Take 2 long slow deep breaths . . . breathing in through your nose . . . holding the breath as is comfortable for you . . . exhaling slowly through your mouth . . ."

Yoh took two deep breaths and after a moment or two sighed contently.

"Still your thoughts. Call your power animal to you."

"How?"

"With your mind, idiot. Telepathically ask your power animal to show itself to you on the screen in your mind."

"Oh."

Yoh frowned a little in concentration. And he nearly shouted in excitement when a blurred shape began to appear before him behind his eye.

He watched transfixed as the image sharpened into fur, fangs, and claws against the dark screen in his head.

A huge full grown wolf with fur as white as snow, stared back at him with coal black eyes. After a moment or two of staring, it then began to walk in a slow pace towards him. Its strong muscles rippled as it strode with each confident step.

(My lord.)

Yoh yelped at the mental voice and realized that the one who spoke it was none other than the creature before him.

(Uh...please don't eat me.) Yoh said a bit unnerved.

The wolf made a few noises that sounded like laughter through its large fangs.

(Eat you? Why young master, you are hardly worth a day's meal. No, no. I would have to fatten you up first.)

(Eep!) Yoh cowered.

(Ha ha ha. Do not tell that you believed me, my lord?)

(Huh?)

(It was a joke, my lord.)

(Whew. That's good.) Yoh sighed in relief while the wolf gave him look of disbelief. (Anyway, who are you?)

(My name is Kiba, my lord Yoh.)

(Kiba. Why do you keep calling me 'my lord'?)

(I, Kiba, am your Guardian, here to serve you and you only, my lord, Asakura Yoh.) The white wolf gave Yoh a bow as a sign of his servitude.

(Oh.)

There was a peaceful silence as the boy and his wolf stood facing each other in contemplation.

(So what am I supposed to do now?)

(We will merge young master. I will lend you my physical form.)

(How?)

(Leave it to me.)

Yoh forced himself to relax and trust his Guardian. Kiba stepped towards him and as Yoh watched in disbelief, he saw the wolf overlap with his body.

And then his body began to shift, blurring more and more into that of Kiba's. He could feel each cell of his body changing and rearranging itself.

And then the sensation stopped.

Yoh nervously opened his eyes only to find a totally different world.

Then he realized that it is not the world that has changed but himself.

His senses felt like it has been increased by folds. He could hear a leaf break from its branch meters away. He could smell the strong rich flavor of the earth. He could see the grooves of the tree bark from the base of the hill.

And he had the insane urge to howl and race down the hill, over the river and across the plains. A sore pain shot up his right arm reminding him that it was still injured and to run on four paws would be suicidal.

"The Wolf: loyalty, perseverance, strong sense of self, success."

Yoh's ears flicked at the sudden sound. The canine sniffed the air and caught a distinguishable scent.

Hao sat on a large boulder observing him with keen interest. Yoh had momentarily forgotten about the human boy.

"It's amazing Yoh. You changed yourself, without the need of my instruction." He said but his voice held no edge of amazement.

Yoh caught a faint scent of unease from the other shaman.

"Do you know how to change back?"

Yoh tried to answer but instead gave out a few barks.

"I suppose the answer is no."

Yoh shook his head.

Hao gave a nod of acknowledgement.

"Concentrate. See yourself changing. Will your body back to its original form."

Again as Yoh concentrated, he felt the familiar sensation that sent a tingle down his spine. He felt his body shape-shifting back to his human self.

Yoh looked at his human hands and even checked his feet to see if anything had changed.

Everything had gone back to the way it was before he attempted to contact his animal spirit.

"So did you enjoy yourself?"

"Yeah! It was great!" an exhilarated Yoh exclaimed.

Hao looked amused.

"Well, it's more than just fun and games Yoh. The form you took is that of your Guardian, am I correct?"

"Kiba said he was."

"Your Guardian is your main power animal. It is usually your strongest form and the one that matches your personality the most. And there is more to this than just shape-shifting."

"There is?"

"I will show you."

With that Hao changed again into his eagle form and took to the air again. His wings beat effortlessly as he hovered right in front of Yoh's injured arm. 

And then a whitish glow began to emanate from his arm the moment a warm wave washed throughout his body. When the glow receded, a human Hao stood before him once again.

"What just happened?" Yoh asked confused.

The long-haired boy just shrugged before he brought a hand up.

And landed a heavy blow on Yoh's injured arm.

Yoh was about to scream in pain when he realized that there wasn't any.

Sure the blow did sting, but there was no agony of broken bones.

None at all.

"What just happened?" Yoh asked again, more confused then ever.

"I just healed your arm genius." Hao mocked, rolling his eyes.

"B-but how?"

"I am not sure. I believe shape-shifting may result in your initiation into higher realms of Spirit and healing. Regardless of the reason, one can heal others when he has learned the art of shape-shifting even though most are too incompetent to achieve this."

"Oh."

"It is not something that is taught therefore I have no lesson for you. You have to discover it yourself."

Yoh seemed a little excited. Then a frown appeared when he realized something.

"Hey, if you could heal my arm all along, why didn't you do it earlier?"

"Why? Well, I thought you deserved it." Hao grinned.

"What?"

"It'll teach you not to lose in a fight next time."

"B-but I didn't have Amidamaru with me that time."

"Excuses aren't worth anything when you're dead."

"B-but I-I, it hurt a lot!" Yoh complained.

"Yoh, if you do not stop with your whining, I am going to remind you exactly how much it hurts." Hao glared.

That got Yoh to shut up.

"Now that that's settled, we should get some rest before we set to leave."

"Leave?"

"Yes, leave. In case you haven't noticed, the Shaman Fight is still on. And it'll be held in America."

"Oh. How are we going again?" 

"You'll find out later."

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"Meet our ride."

Yoh stood open mouthed as he arched his neck upwards to have a full view of the enormous spirit.

"The Spirit of Fire, my mochirei."

Yoh thought he saw the slightest of flinches from the crimson spirit as Hao said those words. However as it stood there unmoving and staring at him with those glaring eyes, the thought was dismissed as his imagination.

"Yo!" the shaman greeted, lifting one of his hands, not knowing what to say.

The Spirit of Fire tilted its head to a side, as if giving him a nod.

Yoh smiled.

"Let's get going now."

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They readied themselves to board the huge aircraft.

Ren had generously offered his family plane to fly them to America. The flight will take the whole night, with them reaching the western lands the next morning.

A red burning shooting star races across the midnight sky. Briefly, Anna paused to make a wish, almost a prayer that Yoh will be returned to them unharmed. Even though she had already grown past childish notions such as wishing upon a falling star.  

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Okay, first of all. I would really like to say GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! GOMEN NASAI!! for not updating in such a long time…...

And the biggest of THANK YOU's to all you wonderful readers, most of all to those who bugged me to update. ^__^;;; And to those who sent me e-mails thanx again and sorry for not replying. I solemnly swear I will reply all e-mails from now on.

I took some of the info of the power animals from a site somewhere whose address I've lost. If someone knows what site I'm talking about, plz tell me. The credit of course goes to that person who wrote that stuff.

Please Review! If you don't I'll just sulk to myself and say I deserved it. o

Shiroi Ai. (CF)