Chuck: Hey everyone! Sorry it's been so long. I learned how to use Flash and I started making cartoons. So far I got one with the grim reaper, a ghost and I made 2 Pepsi commercials featuring the one and only MARCUS! If I ever get it posted somewhere, everyone will be able to see what Marcus looks like. Yea! Well, on with the chapter! Oh, for those who are concerned, I am trying to finish up the Soul Thief.

Chapter 11

The Wings of a Deal

Yoh awoke early the next morning feeling happy and refreshed. He didn't know why he felt so well, the events of the previous night nothing but faded images in the back of his mind. Golden rays of light shone through the bits of cloud that hung in the sky, while the sky held different shades of pink, yellow. The streets were quiet and empty, as most of the inhabitants of the hotels still lay in bed. The early morning's beauty was truly at it's peak. Yoh smiled, as a ray of light shone in. "It's gonna be a good day." But little did Yoh know, that the morning's light was merely shadowing the dark events soon to come.

Yoh stumbled down the stairs quietly, overhearing Horo Horo's plea for food.

"Come on Ryu! I'm starving!"

"Horo, there's nothing I can do, the kitchen's are all closed."

"Can't you break in?"

"No. That would be illegal."

"Oh, yeah."

Yoh peaked from around the corner, to find everyone sitting at a large table. All was present except for Manta. "Anna?"

The young blonde had been playing with her beads, when she heard Yoh. "Mm?"

"Has Manta come down yet?"

"No. I haven't seen him."

"Oh, alright. Maybe I'll go back up and get him."

Raijin looked up. "You should leave him."

"Huh? How come?"

"I heard him yelling at P.M last night. He might've been having bad dreams of his past. If he was, he should get his rest."

"Well, okay." Yoh sat down at the table, then looked across, realizing Shizuka's head was layed on the table. "Is she sleeping?"

"She was up all night." Raijin looked to her younger sister. "She was studying some old text books that Kino was letting her use."

"Tsumetaku kogoesou na my hands, konna ni omotteru noni, honto wa hikitomete hoshii sou iitakatta..."

The group looked up as Marcus entered the room, a pepsi in hand and Ducky on his shoulder. "Hi, everyone!"

Ren cocked an eyebrow. "Isn't it a little early for pepsi?"

"Too early for pepsi? Never! I have a can every morning, and I feel refreshed." The priest sat down next to Raijin, then smiled at him. "You want a pepsi?"

Red began to stain Raijin's cheeks. "Uh, no thanks Marcus."

"Craaaah!" There was a loud crash, then glass flew onto the table as a large black crow, landed on the table. It looked at them for a moment, then shot back out the window, leaving a note.

"Eh?" Lyserg picked it up, read over it, then handed it to Manta. "It's for you."

"Huh?" Manta cleared his throat, then read it out. "Brother, meet me at the temple.11:00. No weapons. No backup. I don't wish to fight. I give you my word. Yulin." All was quiet as the group digested the text, then Manta spoke up. "Should I go?"

Horo stood up, slamming his hands on the table. "This is the bad guy we're talking about! Of coarse you can't go!"

"He may be the bad guy . . ." The group looked to the transparent angel as he leaned against the wall. " . . . But he's never gone back on his word. I think we can trust him."

"You're even going to go alone?" P.M nodded, then Horo held his head in frustration. "That's crazy!"

"You have to give people a chance to do the right thing, Horo Horo."

The bluenette shaman looked to Yoh as he drank his orange juice. "Eh?"

"Yulin is trying to solve a problem without resorting to violence. We shouldn't ruin this."

P.M pushed off the wall, then stretched. "I'll leave at 10:40."

"I just love how I was given a choice in all of this."

"Oh come on Manta. Where's your since of justice?"

"I left it in my futon, when Anna woke me up this morning." The two slowly trotted through the sand, then temple almost looming over them. Once they were in it's shadow, P.m looked to Manta.

"If we run into trouble, be ready to oversoul."

"Hai."

"There's no need for that."

"Eh?" The two looked up to see Yulin standing on the steps of the temple. "I said no fighting, and I meant it. I'm not that low." Yulin turned from them, then began to enter the temple. "Follow me."

Hesitating for a moment, both Manta, and P.M followed him through the light. Once in the landscape of flowers and stars, they continued to blindly follow Yulin, unaware of wear they could be going. It was about a 10 minute walk until Another temple came into view. With this Manta sighed. "Don't tell me there's gonna be another portal in there."

"Don't worry. There isn't."

The trio entered the dark structure, only to find a series of halls and doors, looking almost ancient. The dark marble floor was illuminated by the calm light that came of the torches. Yulin began to walk through the hall, knowing exactly where he was going, while P.M and Manta struggled to keep up. A few moments later, Yulin stopped at a door. He looked to his two guests and placed a finger to his lips, telling them to be quiet. The three slowly entered the room, and in doing so, saw Hao laying silently."Nani?" Manta stepped out from behind P.M and stared at the almost perfect reflection of his friend.

Hao looked terrible, his body thin and weak such as a corpse, yet there was twisted beauty in his pale flesh and dark eyes; almost angelic. His lips slightly parted as he slept, he looked as though he were an innocent child. Manta didn't like this. His expression was too familiar. It was too much like Yoh's.

"Hao-chan?" Yulin walked over to the side of the bed, then placed his hand on Hao's cheek as he sat.

The weak shaman's eyes slowly opened. "Yulin-chan?"

Yulin smiled. "Yeah. It's me. How are you feeling?"

Hao smiled weakly, then shook his head, tears beginning to flow down his cheeks. "I feel . . . so horrible . . ."

"Shh . . ." Yulin began to stroke Hao's face. "Sorry for waking you."

Once Hao was asleep, Yulin stood up, and lead the two Manta's out into the hall, leaving Opacho to care for Hao. Yulin stood quietly for a moment, then looked to his guests. "Manta, I can't take this. Hao is suffering and there's nothing I can do to help him." He was silent for a moment, then he looked up once again. "How about we call a truce."

"Eh?"

"You know, we're pretty much in love with the same person. If we allow the two to merge, we both get what we want, technically."

"Yulin, you know I would never . . ."

Yulin suddenly grabbed his shoulders. "Look at him! He's suffering! How can you let him be like this!"

P.M slowly escaped from his brother's grip, then frowned. "That's not my problem."

Manta stood awkwardly, feeling very rejected. "Uh, does my opinion count for anything?"

"You stubborn bastard!"

"Uh, I guess not."

"I'm stubborn! You're the one who betrayed your family and friends, for that, that . . ."

"Beautiful person! Are you blind to Heaven's sins? There were souls being kept out of heaven, just because they loved someone of the same gender! They're all so stupid up there! Well, I'll change all of that!"

P.M cocked an eyebrow. "What do you intend to do?"

"Once Hao is revived, we shall rebuild Heaven."

"Heh!" Manta tugged on Yulin's pant leg. "Yulin, you can't do that! What if you wreck it!"

"Hmm? Who asked you?" Yulin gave the small boy a soft kick, then looked back up to P.M. "Anyway, perhaps I should run the idea of saving Hao over with the other one. I'm sure he would be willing to help."

"You stay away from him!"

"I think he should know. Hao is his brother after all."

P.M suddenly drew his sword. "I said stay away from him!"

Yulin stared at the blade, his expression becoming sad, then he frowned. "You broke out deal. I said no weapons. Oh well, I wont go back on my part." He suddenly grabbed the sword, and squeezed the blade. "Meet me here tonight. We'll have a little 'Final Battle' sort of thing, alright?" Yulin suddenly grabbed hold of the two Manta's throats, and threw them out of the temple. "See you then, squirt."

"Manta? Daijoubu?"

The two looked up and smiled, still rubbing their necks from Yulin's attack.

Manta nodded. "Yeah. We're fine."

Yoh ran over, and examined the two injuries, then tilted his head. "He went back on his promise?"

"Actually . . ." P.M slowly drew his sword, scarlet still running off of it.

Yoh stared for a moment, then turned away. "P.M . . ."

"I couldn't trust him. He was talking about how he was going to destroy heaven and . . ."

"Did he say the words 'destroy'?"

"Nani?"

Yoh turned to him. "Did he say 'destroy'?"

"Well no . . ."

"Yoh-kun, he said he was going to rebuild it."

Yoh lppked down to Manta and smiled. "Sou kaa?"

"Uh huh."

Yoh knelt down to Manta, and poked him in the head. "Now we know what we're dealing with." The brunette smiled, not noticing Manta's blush, then looked up to P.M. "So what's the plan then?"

"We fight tonight."