A/N- Ok no copies here dudes. All my work. So read it all.

Chapter 20

"What? Who saved your life?" Ryo said, shocked.

"Saved your life? Really?" Len said.

"I'm as shocked as you."

"Well he would wouldn't he?" Trey said, "I mean, if he wants you as his queen."

"Yeh I guess."

"Karuri! Are you alright?" Yoh said approaching me as we reached the rest of the gang.

"She totally took on the X-Laws dude!" Trey said excitedly.

"Really? All by herself?" Ryo said.

"Oh Karuri! You're ok!" Yolei saidgrabbing me into a suffocating bear hug.

"Yeh." I laughed, prying her hands from my head.

"I guess you saw Lyserg too huh?" Yoh said to me.

"Yeh." I said glumly.

"Aw do you need a hug?" Trey asked.

I looked at him. Was he serious?

"Just kidding," he said grinning. I should have thought so.

"Unless…you really do need a hug," he added.

"I…" I didn't know what to say. Was he serious or joking!

Yoh, Len, Morty and Ryo were all grouped talking about stuff.

Trey wrapped his arms round me anyway and I held him to me. I buried my face in his jacket. I didn't ever want to let him go.

"What's going on here then?" I heard Len say. I stepped away from Trey abruptly. A bit unnecessary really.

"What do you want Len?" Trey said stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"Nothing really," he said, "I just turned around and found you wrapped in each others' arms. What am I supposed to think?"

"Well it's not what you think. Come on Karuri."

I followed Trey and we went to sit on a rock.

"You're not really depressed over Lyserg are you." Trey said, "It's Yoh isn't it."

I didn't reply.

"Well it's not as if he has any choice with Anna. It's a done deal!"

"You're not really helping." I said.

"You're right. I'm sorry. What I mean to say is, there are other guys out there."

"Like who." I said looking to him.

"Uh…Lenny?" he said uncertainly.

I rolled my eyes.

"Lenny? Are you serious? The guy doesn't trust me. He thinks I'm still with Hao!" I said.

"Oh. And I guess Ryo's out of the question."

"You guessed right."

"Well…I dunno maybe…" I had a hope he would suggest himself. But that soon faded away after he didn't say anything.

"Trey. Lenny doesn't like me." I said.

"But do you like him?"

I've never actually thought about it. He was buff I guess. And kinda cute with his hair and his accent. Oh and of course his eyes.

"He's ok I guess."

"Well then why not? Lenny likes you. I saw it the first time he met you. He wouldn't kiss anyone's hand if you paid him!"

I remembered that first day I met him. When he kissed my hand.

I pouted, "I guess so. But-"

"But nothing. There's nothing stopping you."

"So what am I supposed to do? He's not exactly making it easy for me."

"I'll get you two alone together sometime." He grinned.

"Why are you helping me anyway?"

"I just want to…make you happy. Sounds corny I know but it's the truth," he said and put his hand on mine. I looked into his eyes.

'You make me happy.' I wanted to say, but the words were stuck in my throat.

Later we rejoined the others. It was getting dark and they made a fire.

I was staring at the fire, thinking about what Trey told me. I brought my eyes up and they met Yoh's. I was surprised and didn't know what to do so I quickly looked at the fire again.

'Forget Yoh.' I said myself. I looked up again and saw Anna next to Yoh.

"Darling. Can you roast my sausage?" Anna said in his ear. Then she looked me straight in the eye and smiled.

I narrowed my eyes and stared back at her. She was doing this on purpose. I could feel the anger rising up in me.

"Sure." Yoh said holding the sausage by a stick over the fire.

My neck felt hot and as the heat of my anger rose up.

I could hear Callisto in my head, "You need to calm down. It's my fault. I forgot to tell you this. On this new level of power your emotions become real. You could kill someone with a stare like that."

"Well good writtens to her." I said quietly.

"No! You know that not what you want!"

But it was what I wanted. I hope she rots in Hades! She was doing this on purpose! To make me feel worse! I hope her children are born with no eyes! I stared at her harder.

Anna's eyes widened and she clutched her throat. Her face contorted in pain but no sound came out.

"Anna! What's wrong?" Yoh asked urgently, holding Anna's arm.

"Stop Karuri!" Callisto shouted in my head, "You'll kill her!"

Her voice was so loud in my head I closed my eyes and covered my ears. My heart was racing. I didn't realize it took up so much energy. I was actually breathless.

Anna was back to normal but she was breathing heavily, her eyes wide with shock.

"What happened?" Yoh asked looking to me, then Anna, and then me again.

I opened my eyes and looked up.

Anna's eyes were on me like an eagle watching its prey.

"W-What's going on?" Yoh asked, confused.

I took a deep breath but remained silent.

Then Trey and the others came over. Trey plopped down beside me.

"Hey I think its time for some scary stories around the campfire!" Trey said excitedly.

I got up, "Count me out."

"W-Wait. Karuri?" he said as I walked away. Then he had a brainstorm.

"Hey Lenny," he said pointedly, "Why don't you go and see what's wrong with Karuri?"

I had to smile a little. I mean he was so bait!

"Why do I have to go?" he said.

"Because I said so." Trey said with gritted teeth.

"Just because you say so is hardly going to convince me to go."

Len was making this difficult.

"Look Len just go would ya." Trey said closing his eyes obviously trying to calm himself, his eyebrow twitching.

"Fine." Len said finally, "At least it would be better than looking at your face."

"What did you say!" Trey said getting up."

"Hm." Len said and went to where I was. I was sitting on a rock not too far from the group, staring at the starry night. It was a large, flat rock.

Len came and sat next to me.

"Beautiful isn't it?" he said.

I looked at him. I liked the way his purple hair fell over his eyes, and how his eyes were half shaded when the moonlight feel on his eyes.

"Yeh." I said. I didn't realize I was staring at him till he looked at me. I was so surprised I just kept staring at him. Its not as if I liked him that much. Well not as much as Yoh. I just thought he was buff. Is that so bad?

He brought his face close to mine and before I knew it I was kissing him. He brought one hand behind me neck and the other round my waist and pulled me closer. I put my hand on his arm and my other behind his neck. My head swam as he started kissing my neck. It felt sort of…exciting.

"Len," I breathed, "I'm not sure if I…I don't know if I…"

What I wanted to say was, 'I don't like you this way.'

But I didn't want to hurt his feelings. So I let him carry on. In a way, I was doing more damage.

Then he pushed me back onto the rock and brought his lips to mine.

Then all of a sudden I felt and intense heat and I saw what looked like flames wrap around Len's arms and hoist him into the air. Then a huge ball of fire appeared on the floor and it fizzled out to reveal Hao.

"You should know better Len…" Hao said.

"Unhand me you!" Len shouted. Then Len gritted his teeth in pain. Hao was allowing the fire to scorch Len.

"…than to fool around with my queen. Did you think you would get away with it? Did you think I wouldn't see?" Hao sighed, "You have made me very angry."

Len cried out in pain.

"Hao stop!" I said.

He looked to me, "You care for him?"

"I…" I had to think…and quick!

"You…care about him?"

"No I just…he's my friend."

Hao sighed, "I don't understand this fixation between friends in you humans."

"Why don't you show me how much you love me?" Hao said.

"Uh…how?"

Then he whispered, "You would let me show you how I feel."

My heart started to race. That could mean anything. But I had a uh…rough idea of what he was talking about. Aw who am I kidding? We ALL know what he's talking about. (ahem )

I looked at him. Not knowing what to say.

"Uh…well that's a direct approach." I settled on.

Hao smiled. Uh-oh. Nothing good happens when he smiles.

"It's either that or," Hao said as his guardian ghost appeared and wrapped its claws round Len, "Len becomes one with my spirit." Then the Spirit of Fire opened its jaws to show what he meant. He was always blackmailing me!

Hao held out his hand.

I looked to Len, then took it reluctantly.

"Hao!" I heard Yoh shout as the gang came near.

Hao turned.

I shook my head, "Yoh. Its ok. I should go. This is all my fault. It would have been better if…"

Yoh shook his head, "No Karuri! Don't say that, we can fight him!"

It pained me to say this. I mean, you know how much I like Yoh.

"…better if I'd never met you. None of this would have happened if it wasn't for me."

"Karuri-chaaan!" I heard Yolei shout, "NO! Don't leave me again!"

My eyes filled with tears.

"Don't leave me…us Karuri!" Trey came forward as I joined Hao on the Spirit of Fire.

"Trey I...I don't know what else to do. Its better this way."

"No! Karuriiii!" he shouted as the Spirit of Fire dropped Len and we took off.

"Why do you do this Hao?" I asked after a while. He was sitting on my right. Hao just smiled.

I hate it when he does that! Both he and Yoh are the same! They don't give me a straight answer!

Then he took my right arm, put his other round my waist and pushed me back with his weight.

"Hao I…I'm not-!" I started but then he kissed me and put his whole weight on me. I gasped.

Its not that he was heavy or anything. It was just the closeness of our bodies that surprised me. And its not as if I could just slap him or something. He could destroy my friends and my parents in the blink of an eye if he wanted to. Besides he was pretty buff and kinda cute with his long hair and his quiet intensity and…anyway that's not the point. Don't look at me like that. The point is its not like I wanted to do it with the guy so you can stop looking at me like that.

"Uh…master Hao?" we heard Opacho say.

Hao sighed, "Yes Opacho?"

"It's the X-Laws."

"Again?" Hao said then got off me. Below us we could see the gang of X-Laws with their white coats and…Lyserg.

The Spirit of Fire landed in front of the X-Laws.

"Sorry guys I'm a bit busy I'll have to fight with you later." Hao said.

"We're not here to fight." Marco said.

"We want Karuri," Lyserg added.

Hao smiled, "I'm afraid that won't be possible. We're busy. Besides she is my queen. Why would I hand her over to you."

"Isn't that up to Karuri?"

Hao grinned, "Ask her then."

Hao knew I wouldn't join them. He knew I have to say no.

Damn it!

"Well? How about it Karuri? Leave Hao and join us. You're not really with Hao." Lyserg said..

"Lyserg." I sighed, "I can't."

"You're kidding!" Lyserg said, "You're not really on his side are you!"

"I'm sorry." I said.

"She has made her choice. We'll just destroy her along with Hao." Marco said.

I knew they could never beat Hao anyway.

Hao brought a whole meaning to the word 'power'.

"Well you think you can destroy me. Unfortunately, you can't. And if you lay a finger on my queen I'll make sure you never see the light of day again." Hao said and we took off once more.

"I don't think anyone can beat you." I said to him, "I don't think anyone ever will." How depressing.

"Of course not." Hao agreed, "We will be approaching Dobi Village soon."

"You know where it is!"

"Of course I do. Its just taken us a while because I'm watching how Yoh comes along."

"Why are you so interested in Yoh anyway?"

"He's my brother of course."

I still found that hard to believe. He and Yoh were so different.

"But how!"

"I am a 3rd reincarnation of my original form from over 1000 years ago."

"Yes I know that."

"And I was born into Yoh's family. It's a s simple as that."

A/N- Er...yeh. End of Chatper 20