Yami's koi: it comes down to this, my good friends… we either surrender now, or prepare to watch Yoh and Amidamaru making out. During a Shaman Fight.
Readers: so much yaoi-Ness… in every episode/chapter.
Yami's koi: especially in the ep where Manta is possessed by Mosuke, and Yoh hugs Amidamaru, but since he's short compared to the samurai, it looks like he's touching his ass and stuff…
Amidamaru: who knows… maybe he was. (Grins)
Yoh: heh, heh, heh… Only him and me will ever know!
Yami's koi: right. Here's the fifth… dude, five already? … Chapter of Loving Touches! Hope you enjoy it!
Keiko's smile was evident. Her dark eyes twinkled with happiness. With a pale, slender hand, she flicked back her raven-black hair.
"Well, you couldn't have gone for a better man in personality… or looks, either, considering the other gies you hang around with." Keiko said simply, suddenly adopting the open-mindedness of her son. Amidamaru blushed slightly at the compliment, still not letting go of Yoh. It was where he belonged, after all…
"Hold on just a moment!" Mikihisa spluttered, the happy, carefree moment broken. Yoh stared at his Dad; arms still wrapped around Amidamaru's neck, too. He wasn't letting his lover go, even if his father demanded it: he either accepted him or he didn't. It was that simple.
"Dad?" Yoh asked calmly, not a single trace of fear or sadness in his voice. In fact, he just sounded like he always did… happy, untroubled, caring… all of the things his spirit guardian had fallen in love with, long ago.
Mikihisa seemed to be glaring at him – through the mask, if that was possible.
"So you're not only gay, but in love with a ghost, too?" He snapped, waving his arms in the air, as if he'd had enough. "Well, that's sure to look good… A six hundred year old man--"
"Actually, Amidamaru was twenty four when he died, so technically he's six hundred and twenty four." Yoh glanced up at the silvery haired warrior and smiled. "Sorry if I'm making you feel old."
The samurai would have laughed, had Mikihisa not been glaring daggers into him. Amidamaru stared at him, unconcerned.
"I think Yoh can make his own decisions," He said coolly, as if reading Mikihisa's mind. The Asakura jumped, startled. Amidamaru would never dare to snap at him, he was too honourable… and it was his Lord's Father, too! What was going on?
Amidamaru glanced back down at his liege, shrugging. "And you're as old as you feel. In myself, I'm still only eighteen."
"Oh, and that makes it all right, does it!" Mikihisa snapped, getting extremely enraged now. Amidamaru felt Yoh tense up in his arms, and knew that a full-blown argument was on its way.
"Shut the fuck up, Dad! You're just pissed because your son's not 'normal!'" Yoh hissed, not caring that he swore to his family. He could almost feel Yohmei's blood bubbling, but didn't care.
Keiko eyed her son with slight disappointment after that was registered. "I wish you hadn't said it like that, Yoh, but…"
"Keiko, DON'T tell me you're standing by him, even after you've seen who he says he loves?" Mikihisa asked, exasperated. "I mean--"
"There's nothing wrong with Amidamaru and our son being in love," Keiko answered calmly, not an ounce of anger in her voice, "But I do agree with him. He should be allowed to love whom he wishes to. And if that just so means he's gay…" She glanced at her son, and smiled. "Then so be it. I'm not about to stop him. I've accepted that he's going to be happy with Amidamaru… and am, I turn, happy myself."
Mikihisa spluttered, not expecting that.
"What are you saying!"
Keiko raised an eyebrow. "I would have thought you would understand what I said. I meant, if I must dumb it down, that I don't care what Yoh is. If Amidamaru is good enough for him, he's good enough for me, too." She looked at her son. "And I'm sorry about that sounding so corny, too."
Yoh laughed, staring at his mother in disbelief. Clearly she had strong views on this.
"Thanks, Mom. Aishiteru." He said, his heart swelling. If just his Mom still loved him, then he wouldn't mind… if Mikihisa and Yohmei were being bitches about this, then there was no point in loving them. Or, that was what Yoh's logic concluded.
"Yohmei, you're being quiet. What do you think?" Keiko asked, innocently.
Amidamaru stared at her. Ooh, she was pushing it. Yohmei was the most traditional of the entire Asakura family… and was probably restraining himself from banishing Amidamaru to Hell.
Yohmei's eyebrow twitched. "I think me and my son share opinions on this, Keiko." He spat, turning away from the scene. "But fine. If that's the way you want to be Yoh, then it's okay. But I'm going to disown the both of you."
Yoh's mouth fell open. He had expected Yohmei to be angry, but not this… and it hurt. He wanted to say something, to ask why his Grandfather didn't understand… but he couldn't. Instead, Yoh closed his mouth, and buried his face into Amidamaru's chest. The samurai held him tighter; stroking his hand through chestnut locks… and soon, he felt a warm wetness leak into his shirt. His eyes narrowed.
"You would disown your own family… just to try and turn him into something he isn't? You are unwilling to accept what your Grandson is, but you are willing to give him up, like he doesn't matter to you? Which one is worse, I wonder?" Amidamaru asked coldly, eyes darkening dangerously. He hadn't felt so angry since he had been betrayed, all those years ago… since the day he died…
Yohmei swirled around, glaring at the samurai.
"I do not wish to talk to someone who has turned our family into a dishonourable thing to be in!" He hissed, "Or someone who's gay, for that matter."
"Just because we're gay doesn't change the people we are." Amidamaru whispered, one hand curling into a fist behind Yoh's back, "You will never understand your Grandson… and for that I pity you. He is the most loving, honourable and decent person you can ever wish to meet!"
Yohmei rolled his eyes, and Keiko's rage suddenly released itself.
"YOU… YOU BASTARD! HOW DARE YOU SPEAK ABOUT MY SON LIKE THAT!" Keiko screamed. In one fluid movement, she stood next to Yohmei, shouting in his face, "WHAT'S WRONG WITH TWO PEOPLE BEING IN LOVE! YOH JUST SAID THAT ANNA IS A LESBIAN… BUT I FORGOT! IT'S OKAY WHEN IT'S NOT YOUR FAMILY, BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE THOSE PEOPLE MEAN ANYTHING… BUT NOW, YOU'RE JUST ACTING LIKE YOUR OWN FAMILY MEANS NOTHING! I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF YOH HATED YOU! BECAUSE I DAMN WELL KNOW THAT I DON'T EXACTLY LOVE YOU RIGHT NOW!"
There was a ringing silence after that. Keiko gasped for air; her face tinted slightly pink from her display of emotions. Nervously, she ran her fingers through her hair. Trembling slightly, she backed away into a chair, refusing to look at anyone.
"You shouldn't have to say that," Yoh mumbled, almost to himself. He raised his head, tired of crying. "Look, you can either accept me or not. Which ever way, I'll know what you REALLY wanted a son for… apart from you, Mom," Yoh added, not wanting to offend her. At the moment, she was one of the only allies he had. "And, if you really wanted an heir… just put your hopes into Hao."
Mikihisa, Keiko and Yohmei flinched at hearing that name. Yoh smirked. Amidamaru remained indifferent, but slackened his grip somewhat. One hand curled around his own side, clutching onto Harusame. He had always done this whenever he felt… well, the need to kill.
He knew that he wouldn't do it – hell, Yoh would never forgive him if he did – but they did, truly, deserve it. Amidamaru pulled the steel from its sheath, parting from Yoh entirely. He did this a lot, too. Just staring at his own reflection in the metal blade, sometimes watching enemies approach from behind.
"Samurai!" Yohmei barked, as if reaching a decision. Amidamaru ignored the man. If someone wanted his attention, then they would call him by his first name – gone were the days when he was called 'samurai,' or 'worthless piece of shit.' He was worth something now… and he wasn't going to believe that he was inferior again.
Keiko, still shocked at her own words of truth, closed her eyes to regain her composure.
"I think you should try calling Amidamaru by his name, Yohmei," She said, as if reading his mind. She glanced over at the warrior in question, seeing how angry he was… he definitely needed to vent before somebody got hurt.
Yohmei's face contorted evilly. "Damned will I be if I ever call him by his first name," He spat, "I--"
"That's enough!" Yoh snarled, finally breaking. His eyes gleamed with fury, and anger rampaged through his being. Had Keiko not restrained him the moment he had lunged for Yohmei, his Grandfather would not have survived.
"Yoh! Don't bother getting angry, he's just a senile man who can't face what you are. He's not even worth thinking about." She tried to reason, still effectively holding back her son. Amidamaru, however, was a different matter.
He had not yet attempted to harm Yohmei, or Mikihisa, but his eyes had wandered from his unsheathed blade. They also contained hatred, but he bit his lip so hard that it began to bleed. Amidamaru didn't do anything to stop that, either, since he was only a spirit… it wouldn't amount to anything. He concentrated on his tongue tracing over the small wound; oblivious to all sound around him, other than Keiko's weakening grip on her son.
Suddenly, however, Yoh stopped struggling. His chestnut brown eyes stared at the door, his mouth falling open slightly.
It was Anna… and Jun. He grinned at them, knowing that they had finally seen sense and gotten together. He gave them a half-wave, which was difficult, since Keiko had her arms tucked under his. Yoh's trademark, usual grin slipped onto his lips.
"Hey, how's it goin'?"
Amidamaru then snapped from his trance, blood slowly trickling down his chin.
"Anna?" He asked unsurely. He didn't know if she hated him now, or what… but when Jun emerged form around the corner, and when she offered him a wide smile, he knew where he stood. They were still friends, at least. It was a start.
"What… have you done to your lip?" Jun asked unsurely then, transfixed at the fact that Amidamaru could bleed. However, as soon as it began to drip from his chin, it vanished… nothing more than a ghostly attempt at bleeding.
"I bit it so that I wouldn't speak my mind," He replied, jerking his head in the general direction of Mikihisa and Yohmei. "Gay stuff," The samurai added, when Jun's emerald eyes narrowed in confusion.
"Wait a moment… Anna, please tell me that my son and you ARE going to marry, because he swears that he's gay." Mikihisa said tiredly, his eyes boring into hers.
Anna returned the gaze with her look of indifference. "No, I'm not. You got a problem with that?" She asked, her usual snappy, bossy attitude returning. She glanced at Keiko and Yoh.
"You tried to kill Yohmei?" She asked, uncaring as to if she got yelled at, or hated, for this. Yoh nodded sheepishly.
"Well, they shouldn't have said what they did, should they?" Yoh asked to no one in particular. Still not convinced, Keiko held him up, his feet leaving the ground as she raised her arms that were tucked beneath Yoh's. He rolled his eyes. "I'm just saying the truth, Mom."
Keiko nodded. "I know. I just don't want a bloodbath." She said gently, and Yoh stared at the now slightly further away floor. "Yoh, how many people know about you?"
Amidamaru looked over then, seeing the Asakura Lady staring at him. "No one," He answered, watching Yoh for reactions, like any lover does, "Apart from Anna, Jun and Bailong. And you, of course."
Keiko spluttered slightly. "Bailong!"
Jun blushed. She knew that she had not dismissed the martial arts expert from the room whilst Yoh had been confessing, and for that she felt slightly guilty. "Gomenasai," She apologised, "But I was in the room when Yoh was telling Anna, and Bailong too. Don't worry, he won't say anything." She added, seeing Keiko's eyes darken. "He knows better."
Yoh's arms were getting sore now, and he felt stupid knowing that Amidamaru was watching him being lifted into the air a few inches by his mother.
"Mom, can you let go now? I'm really sorry… And I look like an idiot…" He tried, sweetly. Keiko hesitated, before slowly dropping him onto the floor again. Yoh grinned. "Thanks."
"HOLD ON JUST A SECOND!" Yohmei croaked, at the top of his voice. He pointed firstly at his Grandson and Amidamaru, and then at Anna and Jun. "YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT I HAVE TWO FAGS, AND TWO DYKES IN THIS HOUSE!"
Anna found an opportunity to snap. "Oh, shut up old man! Jeez, Yoh, you've actually had to listen to this gie! I always said you never had much of a backbone, but bloody hell…"
"Hey, I've been swearing at him for the past few minutes," Yoh replied, rubbing the upper areas of his arms, where Keiko had been holding him, "And I'm the weak one? Anna, I thought you were an acid-tongued demon at one point! Come on, show a bit of backbone!"
Anna blinked at her ex fiancée. "Wow. No wonder the air in here is so tense. There's so much bloodlust."
Amidamaru nudged Harusame back into its sheath, the chink of metal sliding back into its much less tempting space. It was a great hint, and Anna understood it.
"So… I'm here to talk to you about what you've done for me in the past," Anna began. Yoh realised that she had been planning this for at least twenty minutes, and learned why she had taken so long. Although no words had been exchanged about this, Yoh's Shamanic abilities had warned him that something along these lines might happen.
"In the past?" Keiko asked, looking curious. Anna nodded.
"Yes. Keiko, I must thank you for all of the times you encouraged me, and taught me many things. I'm just sorry that they will never be put into practice on your son, like it was originally planned." Keiko shrugged, tightening the knot on her Kimono.
"Mikihisa… hmmm… what can I thank you for…?" Anna asked herself, biting her lower lip, "Aah, yes, for introducing me to Yoh. Although we won't marry, it's thanks to him that I came here to this Tournament… and got to know Jun better." The emerald-eyed Chinese teen smiled happily.
"And Yohmei… well, I must thank your wife, if nothing else, for teaching me all that I know. It is thanks to her that I am the Itako I am today. All of my power… all of my wisdom… has come from her teachings. I am eternally grateful."
Yoh fake gasped. "I think that's the longest you've ever spoken to someone so politely."
Anna didn't look at Yoh, still slightly shaken by the turn of events, but bit her lip. "Manners don't cost anything."
Yoh almost laughed: like she could talk… she'd rarely ever used manners when living in his house, in Tokyo.
"Excuse me!" Yohmei snarled, still fuming. "I refuse to accept who you are, Yoh!"
Yoh shrugged. "Then fuck you." He said simply, resisting the urge to flip off the old man. He didn't even waste time staring at his reaction… he turned and walked out.
Outside
"Yoh! Come back here, they still need to hear a lot of things!"
The Shaman King turned to face his ex fiancé, glaring.
"I don't give a shit, Anna," He replied casually, "And you shouldn't, either. If he doesn't care, then… well, I don't know if I'm a loss to anyone, really, because I don't like to think that way… but I'm big-headed enough to know that I shouldn't bother with people like that. There's going to be too many people like him in my way of life to care about, so I might as well put on this act whilst I can still bear it… just about."
That was probably the longest he had ever gone without feeling the need to either collapse or breakdown when with Anna. She flicked her hair back.
"What, so you're just going to up and leave? Silva doesn't even know yet!" Anna cried.
Yoh shrugged. "He'll probably hate me, too. It's just better if I don't bother anymore."
A white Kimono came into view, and Yoh knew he was in… well, in for something. It was Keiko, so he couldn't be in too much trouble at least… however…
"Yoh, you shouldn't give up so easily," She said with a sigh, a ghostly figure beside her handing her a cell phone that Yoh knew to be his father's. Keiko dialled a number directly from the phone book, and lifted the phone to her ear.
"Hey, Silva? Yoh has something to tell you… where are you now? Patch Café… No, too open. Come to Yoh's apartment… yeah, his room, you dumbass. See you in a minute. Be there." She ordered, everyone getting the gist from what she had been saying.
Yoh didn't say anything to anyone but Amidamaru on the way to his temporary house.
"I don't want another family member to hate me," He said bluntly, eyes full of a sadness that hurt the samurai more than what his death ever could.
"Silva and you are very close," Amidamaru reasoned, "Mikihisa and Yohmei are just too bothered about them continuing the noble Asakura family… or something to that idea. Plus, Silva knows something that no one else does."
The silver haired warrior entwined their hands as they spoke, refusing to blush. They walked past various staring Shamans, but he didn't care. He was happy, and that was one thing that Yoh considered being very important. Yoh's happiness made Amidamaru happy, and in turn that happiness made Yoh happy, which in turn… etc, etc.
"Yeah… let's just hope he isn't… well, who would want to go out with him, anyway?" Yoh wondered, a very pale blush of joy spreading across his cheeks as he felt the rough hand touch his own adorably.
Amidamaru thought for a moment. "Ren. I have odds with Mosuke on him being gay anyway... But with Horo."
Yoh couldn't help but burst into fits of laughter. That sounded so much like the sword smith. For a few wild, tense weeks, he had thought Mosuke and Amidamaru were partners… but that had soon passed when Mosuke had assured him otherwise.
Keiko turned around, an eyebrow raised, and noted the two linking hands… and her smile eventually grew, too. Flicking hair back over her shoulder, she quickened her pace. Like the circle of happiness with Yoh and Amidamaru, when her son was happy, so was she. If the process went both ways, Keiko did not know… but she knew now that Yoh loved her more than ever now.
Anna fell into step with what should – but thankfully, wasn't – be her future mother-in-law.
"I'm surprised you've taken this so well, Keiko," She said quietly, so that the laughing boy behind her wouldn't quite hear. "I think it makes Yoh feel special too, which is definitely a good thing… he hasn't felt like that for a long time now."
Keiko sighed. "I just hope that Silva sees sense, and that Mikihisa comes around. Oh, I don't care much for Yohmei anyway," She added seeing Anna's sceptical look, "It would be a blessing, but I doubt he will ever change his opinion on this. I refuse to let Mikihisa desert his own son, so I'm working on it for the moment."
"But what if they all desert him?" Jun asked then, feeling awkward butting in. After all, she was the reason why Anna wasn't marrying Yoh: both a good thing, and a bad thing. "What then?"
Keiko shrugged, slowing down as they approached their destination. "I don't know. Yoh will have to deal with this now… but I don't want him to have to go around thinking he has only two people in the world out there who love him for who he is."
Anna fell silent, and nudged her girlfriend to hint that she did likewise. Jun nodded, entering the familiar building that they slept in. The Patch Tribe Officiant was already there, lighting a cigarette. He raised an eyebrow as he saw so many people entering, but didn't question it just yet.
"Keiko. What is the meaning of this? Don't you realise that us Officiants have to do some more shit before the Ceremony tomorrow?"
"Well, Silva… tell me, what do you think of gays?" Keiko asked straightforwardly, reminding Amidamaru too much of Yoh. Their hands had fallen to their own sides, but he longed to feel his master's touch again. Yoh was addicting… it was almost scary that a thirteen year old boy had the power to do that to him… the most perfect samurai.
Silva inhaled as he considered the question. "Why, has Mikihisa gone off with Kalim?"
One of Keiko's ghosts gave him a sharp slap, and the Lady Asakura smiled at him sweetly as he rubbed his cheek.
"Seriously, you idiot. You hate them or not?" She paused then. "Mikihisa and Kalim?"
Silva shrugged. "Random couple. Like Faust and Manta. Random."
"Random couples, he says, random couples, random couples!" Silva Wing squawked, being ignored by everyone. Anna considered pummelling the bird, but a hand on her shoulder stopped her. Silently she cursed the bird, and leaned back into Jun's hand.
"Hmmm… About gays? There's no problem with them. I myself am bisexual, so if I had a problem with it, I would hate myself. Although, come to think of it, I'm more gay than straight…"
Yoh breathed a sigh of relief.
"Great Silva."
With that, he turned and consumed Amidamaru in a heart-stopping kiss. Their tongues danced passionately, arms wrapping around each other's necks, fingers entangling in silvery locks, heat exchanged and built on. The kiss would have gone on forever, had Yoh not needed to break for air. He turned to face Silva, grinning widely.
Silva had allowed some of his cigarette ash to fall on the floor, his eyes slightly wider than usual. He exhaled a breath of cloudy smoke, his lips curving into a smile.
"Out of all the things you've done in front of me… excluding dreams… that's probably the hottest," He said conclusively, taking another drag. Amidamaru breathed a sigh of relief, glad that his busted lip hadn't affected the kiss in any way.
"Wait, Silva! Do you realise what you just said!"
Silva grinned. "Yeah. That I have dreams about Yoh doing hotter things than that kiss, and I'm more gay than straight. You put together the pieces in which ever way you want." He exhaled, winking at the stunned mother of two.
Yoh just blushed.
Yami's koi: hey, hey! How was that then, people! I thought it was H-A-W-T… but then, I am a Yoh x Silva fan as well as a Yoh x Amidamaru maniac…
Silva: I'm… bi? Gay?
Nefertiri: well. That was somewhat of a twist, hikari.
Yami's koi: thanks, yami. Anyway. I would greatly appreciate any reviews. Seriously. Am I good? Do I suck? Yay or nay? Oh, for the love of God, please tell me! Please! Tell me! R&R… and tell me how you want the next chapter to end. I know what I will include… but should it be angsty, with deaths and good stuff, or with love and good stuff? Whichever way it goes, I am pleased. But which should I do? Oh, and I know that Silva is somehow related to Yoh, but could anyone please tell me how? Is he, like, an Uncle or something? Gah!
Nefertiri: Okay… (Watches yamiskoi running away) Well, since she's supposed to do this part… I think I'll just up and leave.
Silva: I'm… gay… no way… bi… wow…
Yoh: (Avoids Silva) See ya next time round!
