Cold as Fire

Disclaimer: -Laughs- is this even necessary?

Everyone: Yes. (All serious)

KG: Bah!

Everyone: -Silent-

Zoro: Is it me, or are you becoming more and more immature every day?

KG: Oh! I just bought this creepy song! -Tunes out-

Ali-Chan: -Snickers- iTunes!

Everyone: -Stares-

Ali-Chan: Get it? She's Tuning out on iTunes? Get it?

Zoro: Don't. Ever. Do. That. Again.

KG: Let's not fight now…

Ti: I thought you were spaced out?

KG: You weren't, and I can see through you! -Horror music-

Ti: Oh my god! This is my favorite song! -Dances to horror music-

KG: I forgot that you were the evil one. –Runs away-

Ti: Don't run away from yourself! -Still dancing-

This is set when Yoh finally becomes friends with Ren and stuff...like after he beat Ren

0o0o0

Hao grinned to himself as he stretched out across the sofa. He could feel his brother's confusion and hear his jumbled thoughts. Yoh would learn, and Hao would teach him.

0o0o0o

I leaned back and closed my eyes briefly. I could feel Yoh calming down in my room. I knew that he had changed into different clothes like I told him a while ago, but obviously he didn't feel comfortable with leaving the room.

I smirked to myself. Maybe he was simply uncomfortable around me. That was possible.

Well, comfortable or not it was about time he ventured out of my room. Besides, I was eager to see Yoh in my clothing. Yes, I am twisted.

Hao Asakura opened his dark eyes and smirked. He could hear his brother's thoughts twisting around his own mind, reminding him of the boy in his room.

I got up and stalked over to the door he was hiding behind. I knew he could sense me so I didn't bother knocking as I slid into my room. "Otouto?" I called softly.

He was curled up into a ball on the large red carpet. His back was facing me and he was shaking. I wonder if he's figured out yet that I'm the heater of this house.

I walked up to him and crouched down behind him. His figure was relaxed but I could hear the rushed thoughts striking through his mind when I rested my chin on his shoulder and pressed my cheek against his.

"Cold?"

He didn't respond but I knew he was freezing. I laughed softly in his ear and wrapped my arms around his waist, pulling him onto my lap. I felt him relax against me as warmth spread through him.

He turned his head slightly so that he could peer into my face, curious. "Why are you so warm?" he asked slowly.

I just smiled at him. Yoh would figure that out soon enough. "Are you hungry, Yoh?"

He hesitated then nodded. I slid him off my lap, which I'm sure relieved him, and got up. As I slid to the door I let my eyes roam over him slowly. The shirt he was wearing may not show off his chest, but it would keep him warm when I wasn't near him.

I opened the door and waited for him to walk out ahead of me. He walked to the end of the hall then paused and glanced back at me. His expression was calm but his eyes were wide. He was nervous.

I smiled. Good.

0o0o0

Horo yawned loudly and stretched his arms over his head. Blue hair was mussed from sleep and blue eyes were blinking groggily. The Ainu looked out the window absentmindedly. The moon was glowing faintly and filling the room with weak light.

His eyebrows furrowed together in a frown. 'Why am I awake?' he wondered to himself, flopping back down. He searched his mind quickly, something was wrong but he didn't know what.

'What could be wrong?' Horo mused to himself. He had come over to Yoh's to celebrate his victory and was sleeping over. Everything had been great. He even made a new friend, Ren. Well, kind of friend anyway.

He turned over restlessly. Something was missing. He sat up again and looked around the dark room. Nothing seemed out of place. His bags were still thrown in the corner and his snowboard placed carefully against the wall. Everything was as he had left it.

"Horo?" a voice broke the night's silence, making Horo start.

Horo glanced at the door and saw a dark figure in the doorway. He narrowed his eyes trying to make out who it was.

"Horo, wake up."

That accent, it had to be Ren. "What?" Horo asked, surprised.

"Don't you feel it?" Ren moved into the room so that the moonlight washed over him, revealing his exotic features. His amber eyes lit up when the nightglow hit them.

Horo smiled uneasily. "I think so."

Ren's eyes narrowed. "I felt someone missing. It's Yoh."

0o0o0

"What time is it?" Yoh asked sitting down at the low table.

I cast him a blank look. "Night."

He nodded and looked around. I guess he is surprised that I don't own anything electronic. I forget how little he knows about me. "I don't believe in machines." I tell him, listening to his thoughts. "They help destroy the planet." I tilted my head to the side and stared at him, wondering what his reaction would be.

He blinked at me. "I suppose some do." He admitted after a long moment.

I laughed bitterly. "All do." I pushed a bowl full of oranges towards him. "Take some, they're your favorite, right?"

He eagerly accepted and selected the ripest one. He began to peel it slowly, but then he froze and looked up at me with a strange expression on his face.

"How did you know that?"

Yoh shivered at the dark smirk that was spreading across his brother's face. Hao had a distant look when he stared at Yoh, a look that chilled him to the bone.

I smirked and sat down across from him. "Go ahead and eat." I encourage him, he must be hungry after the spell I had put on him.

"You didn't answer my question though." He pointed out to me with a small smile.

"Start eating and I'll explain."

Yoh nodded and began to peel again.

"I watched you grow up. And when I didn't have time to watch you I could hear you." My smile grew as I remembered those days when I had been all alone, listening to my brother's thoughts. Now he was here, sitting across from me.

He popped an orange piece into his mouth, absorbing what I told him. "That's kind of creepy."

I chuckled. "Maybe I'm just a creepy person."

Yoh chewed thoughtfully. I watched him, amused, as shock washed over his calm features. "Where's Amidamaru?" he asked, more to himself then to me.

"Ah, he is safe." I replied, smile not leaving my face.

My twin was staring at me with a horrified look apparently he didn't believe me. I smiled wider; I love it when he looks like that. After all, it isn't everyday I get to see my otouto terrified. I do plan on seeing that expression again, in the near future.

"Where is he?"

"Safe." I let my smile slide off my face. "You do not trust me?" I watched as Yoh struggled to answer that. Of course he had every right to distrust me, even fear me, but I knew what he was like, he wouldn't want to hurt my feelings by admitting he didn't trust me but then he wouldn't want to lie to me either.

I cocked an eyebrow and waited patiently for his response.

He stared at me then quickly ate the rest of his orange, a diversion to my question. Once he finished he was forced to look back at me. I could tell he was choosing his words carefully. "Should I trust you?"

I reached over the table and ran my fingers through his hair. A pleasant smile graced my lips as I shook my head. "No, you shouldn't."

0o0o0

"Yoh's gone?" Horo repeated, a disbelieving grin spreading across his face.

The Chinese boy scowled and hit him hard on the head. "Don't make me repeat myself, snow bunny."

"Are you serious?" Horo asked, rubbing his sore head.

Ren simply frowned. "You can check for yourself. He's gone. His whole presence is gone. And he's not nearby either." His frown deepened.

"Maybe he took a walk." Horo paused then shook his head. "No, Yoh's too lazy to go take a walk in the middle of night."

Ren was quiet for a moment. Then he sighed and sat down on Horo's futon. "Yoh didn't leave. I was able to sense that someone else was with him, someone powerful."

"Who?"

"I…I don't know."

0o0o0

KG: Oho, it's getting good!

Zoro: You're so stupid.

KG: No, I'm just not nerdy!

Ti: Hey! No dissing my sister! You insult her you insult me!

Zoro: Hit two birds with one stone.

KG and Ti: Hey!

Answers to my wonderful reviewers!

BBShadowCat-Thanks! And of course I'll continue, I just realized how much fun this is to write!

MiStraLL-Thank you so much, I'm glad you liked it!

Kairi922-Um, at the beginning of this chapter I answered your question.

Alicia's power-Thanks! Definitely continuing now.

AWSOME! XD- Whoa! Awesome (and eccentric) review you gave me! It made me laugh!

Deshi-sama-Did I update soon enough?

Ranchdressing-Hot French fry? -Blinks- that would hurt! haha!

Vegetasbride1669-And there shall be lemony goodness!

Red Asatari-You really think it's exciting?

thoughtless dreamer-Twin, you reviewed first! I love you!

Review please! Review and I'll probably update quickly!