Hello! I just wanted to say that I don't own any of the characters although I wish I did sometimes. This is Shounen-ai and for pure amusement, so don't try to make it fit anywhere in the series.

The couples are:

Yoh/Ren

And one-sided Hao/Ren.

If you like either pairing I think you will enjoy this fanfic.

CHAPTER ONE

Ren tried to ignore Horohoro and Chocolove's bickering as they walked along the dusty road. He didn't know what they were fighting about and he was positive that they were just as clueless. He had attempted to explain this to them and had only ended up causing their dispute to escalate. With a frustrated growl, Ren turned his attention towards the scenery effectively blocking out the unwanted noises coming from behind him.

He was surrounded by hills and mountains that sparkled in the sun's light like giant crystals. The thin dirt road they were following cut through lush green grass that peeked over the edges of the path. The sky was a brilliant blue and there was not a single cloud in view. It was a beautiful day.

Ren had allowed his mind to wander and unknowingly found himself watching the older, brown haired shaman. The boy wore his usual green pants and white shirt/vest. It suited his comfortable, languorous and happy go lucky attitude. His hands were clasped behind his head lost in his chocolate colored hair. He moved to the rhythm emanating from his orange headphones his hips swaying slightly to the music. Ren felt a rush of heat creep into his cheeks as he remarked his companion's physic. Ren had never been shy to scrutinize another man's body. To a certain extent, it was a way to see someone's strength before battling him or her. So why was he blushing?

The troupe came to an abrupt stop bringing Ren away from his personal thoughts. "What's going on?" Ren asked scowling.

"We've stopped." Horo said.

Ren glared at the Ainu. "I know that you idiot. I was asking why." The blue haired shaman was glaring deadly icicles at the Tao when Yoh stepped between them, his usual friendly, carefree grin splitting his face. "This is a great place to camp for the night don't you think guys?" Horo nodded, the tension slowly draining from his body. Ren just grunted crossing his arms across his chest and turning away from the smiling brunette. "Great! Let's get to it." Everyone immediately set to work at Yoh's words even Ren.

They had three tents between the eight of them and even though Anna took one all to herself, they easily divided the last two so that they were all comfortable. Everyone hurriedly set up Anna's tent first before starting on their own. Ryu, Manta, and Lyserg's tent was up without much trouble. Ren, Horo, Chocolove and Yoh's however took a little longer. Ren and Horo were constantly fighting and even when Yoh was able to calm Horo and sate Ren's anger his clumsiness brought even more disasters. Chocolove was useless with his unwelcome, unfunny jokes.

Finally, all three tents were secure and after a delicious supper of soup, cooked by Lyserg, the sun had set and they were all ready to turn in. Everyone would have an hour and a bit of guard duty, excluding Manta and Anna, of course. Ryu took the first watch.

Yoh knew it was a dream, but the fear sweeping through him wouldn't let him take control or even wake up. He was lost in a huge forest, alone. He couldn't find his friends. Hao had come and taken them all away. He didn't know where they were and if they were still alive. The fear gripped his heart so that he couldn't breath, couldn't think. He feared that Hao had killed those he cared about. He was trapped between hope and despair and he couldn't do anything but search. It was futile because it was a nightmare, but he had to keep trying. He couldn't stand the possibility that he might never see them again. He wasn't sure he could go on without them.

Yoh awoke with tears streaming down his face. He looked around at the peaceful sleeping forms of his friends and felt the tension drain from his body. They were all alive and still with him. Swiping away the tears Yoh tried to go back to sleep, but failed miserably and finally decided to take up guard duty since he had nothing else to do.

Ren jumped when a hand softly touched his shoulder, but quickly recovered and became angry when he saw it was just Yoh. "What do you want?" Yoh smiled down at Ren who was being his usual grumpy and distant self because Yoh had accidentally startled him. Yoh didn't try to apologize knowing that it would just make Ren angrier. Ren was like that. He preferred to pretend that he was always alert and aware, but Yoh found it cute how Ren's face slightly reddened before his blush was replaced by anger. Yoh shook his head. Ren…cute? He must still be trying to wake up. He thought.

"Couldn't sleep." Ren didn't say anything, so Yoh plopped himself down on the grass next to Ren gazing up at the stars. Their comforting glow and Ren's warm presence soothing his lingering fear and distress from the nightmare. Yoh lay down with his hands clasped behind his head. He closed his eyes and let the night wrap around him. Peepers sang off in the distance and the wind gently whistled by, but besides that the only sound came from Ren. Yoh could hear the slow even breathing of the younger boy next to him. It was a relaxing rhythm that left him feeling peaceful and content, he knew that he could stay there for hours just listening to Ren tranquil breathing. He wasn't that selfish, but at that one moment he almost wished he was.

"Ren?" A soft grunt told him that Ren was listening. "I'm not going to be able to go back to sleep so you might as well get some rest." For a few minutes, nothing happened. Ren continued to take deep even breathes and Yoh couldn't help but sit up to look at the other boy.

Ren was in his meditating position. Legs crossed and hands resting open palmed on his knees. Yoh thought he was meditating, but golden eyes as beautiful as the stars gazed over at him. Yoh smiled after he found his breath. Ren was wearing his usual attire. Black pants and a red Chinese top that revealed most of his stomach. Not that Yoh minded. Ren had a great stomach. Yoh shook away the thought, but couldn't tear his gaze from the Chinese shaman. His hair was a natural purple and spiked in the back in a tongari. It looked so silky and Yoh had the overwhelming urge to run his hands it. Yoh shook his head fiercely to get Ren out of his head.

"Are you alright?" Yoh stopped his head from shaking and managed to nod. Ren got to his feet in a graceful almost cat-like motion. Yoh peeled his eyes from Ren with great effort, but the image of Ren's slim, well-built body was stuck in his mind. "I'll take the offer." Ren said over his shoulder. Yoh said a hurried good night, but didn't watch as Ren headed into the tent. When he was sure that the other Shaman was gone Yoh opened his eyes and relaxed. What was wrong with him? Why had Ren affected him like that, it had never happened before? Yoh shrugged, brushing it off as shock from the nightmare and turned his attention to the road.

Two hours had passed and Yoh was finally thinking about going to bed when a noise brought his gaze to the road. Hao tilted his head to one side with a smile. "No warm welcome Otouto?" Yoh smiled back, but it didn't reach his eyes like it usually did. "Why are you here?" Hao's sigh came from behind Yoh and he whirled around to face his twin. Hao smiled down at his now frowning little brother. "I will say it again if it pleases you. I am here to ask to join me before…well let us not think ahead of ourselves." Yoh stepped away from Hao shaking his head. "No." Hao glided forward and took hold of Yoh's arm pulling Yoh close to him. His long brown hair fell forward to lightly brush Yoh's trapped arm. Yoh tried to move away, but Hao held him firmly. Yoh met his identical twin's chocolate eyes knowing that his were the same color, but also aware that Hao's held an evil inside that his never would.

"I have asked politely over and over, yet you still deny me?" Hao shook his head slightly, a frown on his face. Yoh tried another time to take his wrist back, but failed once again. "Together we could do so much, be so much. There would be no one to rival our power. What must I do to convince you to unite with me my brother?"

"Leave me alone." Hao released Yoh who was desperately tugging at his arm. Free, Yoh backed farther away not wanting to be close to Hao.

"I see you will not give in easily, but we were once one and it is inevitable Otouto, we will be one once more." Yoh continued to shake his head. "I did not wish to resort to this. If you had just accepted the truth no one would have had to get hurt." Yoh froze. What was Hao going to do? Would he fight Yoh? If so Yoh wasn't sure he could best his brother, he was not as strong as Hao. Reaching for his weapon Yoh smiled at his twin. "I will not join you and nothing you can do to me will change my mind."

Hao laughed, but it wasn't a happy sound, it was wicked and sadistic. "It is not what I can do to you Otouto. It is what I can do to your friends." Yoh's breath caught in his throat. "I saw into your dreams, Yoh." Recognition dawned on Yoh and he knew he had to do something before Hao could act. Yoh hoped that the element of surprise would be enough and he lunged himself at Hao with his antiquity in hand. Hao disappeared in a burst of flame. Yoh stumbled and fell to the ground. "And now I will make your nightmare a reality." Hao's voice whispered in his ear before he disappeared in a flash of red flames again.

Yoh's body reacted immediately. He pushed himself to his feet and ran towards his tent. Whom did Hao take? His mind repeated the question over and over. It felt like an eternity before his hand shoved back the tent flap. His gaze fell on the empty sleeping bag and his knees buckled unable to support him. "Damn it, Hao!" Yoh's curse woke up the sleeping shaman's and in seconds everyone was crowded around Yoh with weapons drawn. Well, almost everyone. Amidamaru hovered next to Yoh unsure what was wrong like everyone else. No one moved or breathed as they watched Yoh until Horo's voice broke the silence. "Hey, where's Ren?"

I think that is a good way to end the first chapter, don't you? I hope you liked it and will read more. Please review! The next chapter will be up as soon as I figure out how to work this flaming thing. lol