Cold as Fire

Disclaimer: Don't own Shaman King, thank you.

Joh: I'm so tired…and I feel poor…

Jessie: Poor baby, why don't you go take a nap.

Joh: I want to but school is tomorrow…I can't afford to use my free days sleeping when I should be writing!

Jessie: Aw, you're being mature…I think.

Joh: Heehee. I want to thank my BETA for editing this chapter for me! Thank you funga-fu-fu

Warnings: Yaoi, Twincest, and…stuff that I can't think of at the moment…I'm tired so whatever I write…beware.

0o0o0o0

I woke with the pleasant feeling of another's warmth against me. Automatically I pulled the sleeping body closer against my own, relishing the feeling.

How many nights have I spent alone before now?

Too many. But that didn't matter anymore…I would never spend another night alone ever again.

I nuzzled Yoh's neck happily, stroking his arms lightly. I don't want to wake him up yet, it's so satisfying to watch him as he sleeps. His face is peaceful and his body relaxed…so vulnerable…helpless even.

I'm going to protect him. From the Asakuras…from everyone. No one will ever, ever hurt him like they had to me.

I kissed his forehead gently and ran a finger down his cheek. His skin is so soft; I can't get enough of it.

He was beginning to stir, moaning softly as his eyelids fluttered open.

Glazed over eyes looked at me warily but he didn't pull away. I brushed his bangs out of his face affectionately.

"Hao?" his voice was groggy as he slowly sat up, blinking childishly.

I smiled. Yoh really was adorable. I sat up as well and wrapped my arms around him, hugging him tightly. I never wanted to let him go. Never, never, never.

He hissed softly in my ear as his body tensed up. I quickly pulled back, remembering that he was probably sore from the treatment he got yesterday.

"Hungry?" I asked him cheerfully, slipping out of the bed.

Yoh looked up at me, nodding. I gestured for him to follow me before padding out of the room to the kitchen. I could hear him following me, his bare feet slapping against the cold stone floor.

I turned my head slightly to look back at him. Yoh seemed relaxed, strangely enough, his eyes were half lidded and his shoulders slouched. When he finally noticed my gaze upon him he grinned slightly.

"Can I have an orange?"

A smile touched my lips. Maybe he was finally getting used to the idea of living with me…

"Course you can, otouto. You can have anything you want." I answered him easily, slipping into the large kitchen. I waved my hand to a bowl of fruit at the table while I myself got out a simple loaf of bread from the cupboards.

He sat down at the table and helped himself to an orange, peeling it eagerly. As I took a seat beside him he blinked at me. "Is that all you're eating?"

I shrugged. "I don't eat much in the mornings."

He rolled the orange against the table for a moment. "I can make you eggs." He offered quietly before glancing at me with an unsure smile.

I blinked, taken aback by the offer. I was happy, but surprised. His attitude towards me seemed to have changed so much…I was almost suspicious. But, no… Since I couldnt imagine any deceit coming from my brother.

His smile widened as he got up to walk over to the fridge. As he pulled out two eggs I couldn't help but ask, "Why are you acting so different?"

He paused, his back facing me. It took him a few minutes to answer. "I…I was thinking a lot last night…and…I figured that I had always wanted a sibling, a brother. And that I do want to get to know you." He began to open drawers and cupboards in search of a pan to cook the eggs in.

"And that I've been acting close-minded lately…I guess," he trailed off, turning around to look at me. "Where's the pan?"

"Don't have one." I answered, still digesting what he had told me.

Yoh scratched his head. "Eh? How can you not have a…"

"I never needed one before."

"Never needed?"

I sighed and got up, snatching the eggs from him. I cracked them in my hand and threw them up in the air, letting a jet of flames hit them spot on. Quickly, I grabbed two plates from the counter, holding them out so the finished eggs landed neatly on the plates.

I smiled and handed a plate to Yoh. His eyes were wide and his mouth gaping slightly. I couldn't help but let my smile evolve into a smirk. With a flourish I sat back down, digging into my egg.

Yoh slowly followed suit. "You should have told me you could do that before hand…"

I shrugged, peering into Yoh's face. He looked thoughtful as he ate, like he was trying to puzzle something out.

"I haven't seen your spirit yet." He finally said.

"No, you haven't." I smiled, pushing my dish towards him. "Now do the dishes."

"But…"

"You're the one who wanted eggs."

"…Fine." He sighed, taking my plate and his over to the sink. I watched him hungrily from my seat, my eyes roaming over his body.

He didn't seem to notice my heated gaze (my brother does seem to be the oblivious type…doesn't he?) as he scrubbed at the dishes.

I was so tempted to just bend him over the counter and take him there and then. I licked my lips at the thought. I had come too close before…

But I didn't want Yoh to hate me. He's the only one I could ever share my life with.

I need to be more patient and wait until Yoh has come to accept me, which will happen. But…

I exhaled and stood up, walking over to stand behind Yoh.

I wrapped my arms around his waist and pressed my lips against his nape. I wanted him so bad…to make him officially mine. If I marked him then no one would be able to take him away. And eventually…Yoh would forgive me.

I could feel him stiffen under my touch.

"Hao…"

He was nervous, but not scared. I contented myself with breathing in his smell while I debated with myself over Yoh.

To take him…or to not take him…to take him…or to not take him…

"Hao…stop it!" Yoh suddenly cried out, wiggling away from me. He was clutching his stomach and grimacing.

I glanced down at my hands and only then noticed the blood on my nails. Looked like I had unconsciously been digging my nails into his stomach when I was thinking…

Oops.

I licked the blood away from my fingers. "Didn't mean to do that." I told him.

He just nodded, still clutching his stomach. I pried his hand away and lifted his shirt up a bit to inspect the damage. Four red half moons had welled up near his navel, spotted with blood.

"It's not too bad." I knelt down on my knees and let my tongue dart out to swipe at the cuts.

I heard him gasp from above me and jerk away. "Stop it!"

My eyes flashed darker as anger shot through me. I simply hate it when people tell me what to do, and Yoh is no exception. I pulled him down roughly so that we were eye-level.

He winced as he was brought to his knees sharply but looked me in the eyes all the same. "Hao, wait…"

I ignored him and grabbed his chin, crushing my lips against his. Yoh was making loud noises of complaint but I quickly muffled them by slipping my tongue into his mouth.

I drew back quickly as pain raced through me. Blood trickled from the corner of my mouth as I scowled at Yoh. "You bit me."

Yoh looked at me, frowning. "I did that without thinking." He muttered, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

I tangled a hand in his hair, smiling in a dangerous fashion. Then, without warning, I backhanded him roughly across the face.

His head swung to the side from the impact and his eyes fluttered. He looked back at me, scowling now. "Hao…stop it."

My anger spiked and I shoved him to the floor, slapping him repeatedly.

His face was bruised and bleeding from the treatment, lips quivering as he took deep breaths.

I fisted my hand in his shirt as I looked down at him.

"Why did…you do that?" Yoh asked me after a long moment of silence.

"I was mad."

"Do you always hit people when you're mad?"

I got off of him. "Depends."

He sat up slowly, rubbing his stinging face. I could tell he was mad. He was pissed. "You…didn't need to hit me…"

I shrugged then decided to mock him a bit. Just for fun. "What happens happens." I had heard him use that phrase a couple of times when he was younger.

He blinked then frowned.

"Recognize that line?" I smirked.

His wide brown eyes were staring at me, full of confusion. "How…did you know…?" he trailed off quietly.

I chuckled and flicked his long bangs. "I told you once before, you really should listen, I liked to watch you when we were younger."

"That's…kinda creepy."

My eyes gleamed in amusement. It surprised me at how quickly Yoh's anger could flee. His resentment from before had almost completely dissolved, replaced with unease and curiosity.

It pleased me that I could control his feelings so powerfully; by one word I could change his entire mood. I could focus his entire world upon me and me only.

Yoh leaned towards me, snapping me out of my musings. He was looking thoughtful now, a questioning light in his eyes. "Hao…. we were separated at birth…right?"

My expression darkened as I remembered the night we were born. "Yes."

"How? What happened? If we really were separated from the moment of birth then how did you know I existed? Who raised you? You couldn't have raised yourself."

I held out a hand, stopping his flow of questions. Of course, it was only natural for Yoh to be this curious…but still…I had taken him to be the type of person who takes things without questioning. Guess he surprised me again.

"I had a follower raise me until I could take care of myself."

"Oh…how did you know about me?"

I smiled. "You're a part of me Yoh. How could I not know about you?" I really didn't want to have to go into the whole story about myself, maybe another day.

Yoh seemed to be unsatisfied with my answers but lapsed into a thoughtful silence all the same.

"You have friends?" Yoh finally asked me after a few long moments.

"Followers." I corrected him firmly, tracing his features with my eyes.

"Will I ever meet them?"

I studied him for a moment. "Why do you want to see them so badly?"

He smiled slightly, rubbing his sore face. "I want to know what my brother's friends are like."

"They're not my friends."

He ignored me and continued rubbing at his stinging cheeks. I felt a twinge of guilt but quickly brushed it off. Feeling bad about what I did wouldn't change anything and Yoh deserved it. Besides, he didn't seem to be too upset about it.

I studied his mind for a good two minutes. Just as I thought. My brother really is predictable.

He's one of those kinds of people who try not to let anything (and I mean anything) get them down. The type who always reassure themselves and shrug off anger.

I smiled and reached out to ruffle his hair. How cute.

0o0o0o0

Joh: I'm really tired…really…really…really…tired…

Jessie: Then go to bed!

Joh: I don't wanna!

Jessie: You don't make any sense….-sighs-

Joh: I'm hungry…no wait…no I'm not.