CHAPTER FOUR

Yoh tilted his head back until it hurt so that he could see the rooftop. His older brother's instructions had led him to a large, stone mansion in the middle of nowhere. It was approximately a day's travel from the camp. "Are you sure about this master Yoh?" Amidamaru asked for the fifth time. "It'll be fine." Yoh smiled knocking on the wood. The double doors opened at his touch to reveal a long, stone hallway. The doors slammed shut behind them causing Yoh to jump in surprise. Yoh rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment his laughter echoing off the walls.

"Sometimes I wonder how you can be my other half." Hao seemed to appear out of nowhere. "Where's Ren?" Hao raised an inquiring eyebrow. "Ren? You mean that Chinese boy you insisted on hanging out with." Yoh squeezed his antiquity waiting for his twin to continue. "You do not have to worry about him anymore Otouto." Yoh felt an immense pressure squeezing his heart. "What do you mean?" Yoh didn't try to hide the fear in his shaking voice. "I took care of that insignificant little bug." Hao said casually as if he were talking about the weather. "What are you saying?" Hao sighed rolling his eyes. "You are so dense sometimes Yoh. I will be as clear as possible this time. Ren Tao is…dead."

Dead? Ren couldn't be dead. It just wasn't possible. Pain gripped Yoh's heart making him gasp. He could feel the antiquity in his hand, solid, real. Nothing else seemed real; nothing else mattered at that moment. Yoh charged at Hao, but he wasn't concentrating and missed. "Master Yoh!" Darkness filled Yoh's vision and Amidamaru's voice the last thing he heard before blacking out.

Hao shut the cell door behind him a frown on his face. "Poor Otouto." Yoh had foolishly tried to kill Hao when he had heard the news of Ren's death. His plan was working even without the body to back it up. Yoh was too depressed to think. Hao's smile was sadistic. Yoh would join him. The younger Asakura would learn that humans were bugs and the weak die. Ren was neither of these things, but if Yoh believed that the strongest of his group was worthless, it would break Yoh faster. "Soon I will have everything I want, even you Tao Ren." The laughter that filled the hall could make the warmest summer day seem cold.

The purple haired shaman groaned as he picked himself up off the floor. A loud bang had startled him awake and he had rolled off the couch where he had fallen asleep. Ren glared up at the source of the noise. "Good morning." Ren grunted clenching his fists to keep from strangling the other boy. Ren's memories came back to him in a rush. "Yoh?" He turned to see Hao gazing down at him in a dreamlike state. Ren suddenly felt very uncomfortable lying on the floor. If Hao chose to jump him he would be helpless. Not that he wasn't powerless any other time Hao decided to finish what he had started, but that was beside the point.

"What did you do with Yoh?" Ren asked as he stood up as quickly as he could without looking like he was hurrying. Hao seemed to come out of his daze, but his eyes still followed Ren. "What the hell are you staring at?" Ren yelled growing extremely annoyed at the hungry look Hao was giving him. Ren's back hit the wall with Hao's arms on either side of him. "Leave me alone Hao. I'm warning you." Hao leaned his body in so that they were pressed together making Ren squirm at the close contact. "No good morning? Well that will not do." Hao kissed Ren's neck leaving a circular wet mark. Ren tried to escape, but Hao was so close that there was no way to push him off. "I think I deserve a good morning." Hao kissed the smaller boy again. "Just two words and I will stop." Hao's breath traveled up until they were face-to-face, lips inches apart. Ren smiled. If he had to give in he wouldn't do it kindly. Ren kicked the unsuspecting shaman's feet out from under him making him fall onto his back. Ren couldn't help, but smile triumphantly at the surprised look on Hao's face as he lay there on the ground. "Good morning."

Ren walked into the bathroom without a second glance at Hao knowing that he would follow. "So what happened with Yoh?" Ren asked grabbing the toothbrush Hao had left for him. "You know you have a really nice behind." Ren felt a twitch coming on. "Stop changing the subject and tell me what happened." Ren began thoroughly brushing his teeth a little more fiercely than was necessary.

Hao finally answered his question. "You what!" Ren yelled through a mouthful of toothpaste. Ren quickly finished brushing and turned to face Hao. "You lying bastard!" Hao caught Ren's hand inches from his face. "If you hit me I think I will have to kiss you, so please go ahead." Ren let his hand fall to his side unclenching his fist to keep from hurting Hao. "Too bad." Hao pouted walking back into the bedroom. This time Ren was following.

Ren knew that Yoh must be beating himself up for Ren's supposed death. Yoh cared so much for his friends. "Damn it Hao. You can't do this."

"And why not my cat? Yoh must learn the lesson eventually. I have just made it sooner rather than later." Ren shook with anger. It was his fault that Yoh had walked into Hao's trap. If he hadn't been captured or if he had been stronger, Yoh might be happy and safe at camp surrounded by his friends. He had to do something to help Yoh, anything. "I want to go see him. I need to show him that I'm not dead." Hao laughed and it was bitter. "What makes you think that I will just let you ruin my ploy?" Ren searched through his head. There had to be some way.

Ren's whole body sagged. As he spoke he talked to the floor not wanting to see Hao's face. "Our deal. You do this for me and I do something for you." Ren could feel Hao's evil smile. "Okay. What exactly do you want?" Ren took a deep breath. "I to go see Yoh and have a private conversation with him. ALONE. And that means no spying or eavesdropping from you or anyone else."

"Agreed."

Ren waited silently for Hao to voice his horrible fate. Ren was willing to do anything to help Yoh. He didn't like to admit it, but he cared for Yoh more deeply than anyone else except Jun, but she was his sister. Yoh was something different.

Hao used his index finger to lift Ren's chin up so that they were looking into each other's eyes. "I will not ask for your virginity this time my cat. It is only a matter of time and the more you deny me the more I want you. Eventually I will not even be able to resist the temptation."

Ren grunted trying to hide his blush. Ren backed away from the approaching Hao and the back of his legs hit the couch. Hao was on top of him in seconds. The kiss left them both breathless and Ren enraged. He stayed still glaring at the evil shaman. For Yoh.

"Now can we go?"

Hao was still sitting on top of Ren when he spoke. "I don't know what I will do with youmy cat." One of his hands was lingering near Ren's butt and the younger shaman couldn't take it anymore. Ren caught Hao's hand making Hao sigh. "I will bring you to Yoh tomorrow night."

"What!" Ren didn't try to unclench his fists. He didn't care if he hit Hao or not. "You did not specify when you wanted to see my Otouto, so I have decided the time." Hao was up and off him and heading for the door ignoring Ren's curses. "Be grateful I am allowing you to see him so soon. One kiss is not enough to satisfy my for long. I will be back tonight." Ren punched the door after Hao had left. His knuckles were bleeding, but he was too angry to care.

Ren worked out until he could barely move in an attempt to keep his mind off of Yoh. Ren hated that Yoh was suffering and there was nothing he could do. "Three hundred…three hundred and one…" Ren was taught that Tao's didn't have feelings, that emotion was a weakness and Tao's were not weak. Yoh was proof that the statement was incorrect, but Ren still had trouble acknowledging his feelings. He tried not to think deeply about what he felt. He knew he cared for Yoh and that he would protect Yoh no matter what. He did not feel the need to inspect why he would do this. It was enough for him to act.

Ren staggered to bed. It was well past dark and he had spent the whole day working out. As Ren lay down on the comfortable bed he wasn't sure he could have moved if he wanted to. Hao hadn't come back. A huge blessing! He must be busy with something else. The thought ended there as Ren fell into a dream-filled sleep.

Ren was sitting at the kitchen table back at Yoh's house with a nice cold glass of milk in his hand. "Yo." Ren nearly chocked on his milk at the surprise greeting. The shaman that had startled Ren burst into laughter. Ren glared at the brunette using a napkin to wipe up the mess and clean off his milk covered face. Seeing Ren's angry glower Yoh tried to apologize through his suppressed giggling. "Gomen. I didn't expect that to happen." Yoh clutched his side as another bout of laughter erupted from his mouth. Ren smiled. Yoh seemed to have that affect on him.

The world began to spin and the room changed into his room upstairs. It was nighttime and Ren was gazing contently out at the stars when he felt someone wrap their arms around his stomach from behind. He didn't have to look to know that it was Yoh. "What do you want?" Ren asked turning to face the older shaman and making him let go. "Can we talk?" Ren grunted in response. "It's just that…I…I…it's nothing. Good night." Yoh said moving for the door. "You didn't come to see me late at night to say nothing. If it's so important say it." Yoh walked back to Ren so that they were inches apart. "It's important." Ren felt a slight blush creep up his face as he realized how close he and Yoh were. Yoh leaned in their lips close enough that a breath would make them touch. "I…"

The world spun again and Ren opened his eyes. He was awake. The stone wall that he faced was proof of that. Ren touched his lips. It was just a dream. Yoh hadn't really been about to kiss him. Ren froze as he felt someone else's presence. Turning slowly, he found Hao sprawled out on the rest of the bed, one of his hands lightly touching Ren. Ren held his breath praying that the pyro would not wake up.

Sharing a room with Horo or Chocolove was not the same as being in the same bed with Hao. Neither of his friend's had tried to rape him for one thing and there was an intimacy to sharing a bed. Whether it was the dream or Hao being in the same bed as him Ren didn't know, but he couldn't go back to sleep. It was going to be a long night.

Well, I think this is going well so far. Please read and review.

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