This is a smaller work, I literally laid down to sleep and got the idea for the second part of the fic and instead of writing it down and getting back to it in the morning like any sane person would, I had to write it and after talking with Stylanie (who has great Hao stories on here by the way) I had this follow up idea of what if Hao felt when Matamune left this world, just like he felt when Anna tamed Zenki and Goki? So, after getting a (recommended amount) of sleep, I wrote the first part (writing in chronological order who?)


Hao sits in his makeshift tent. It's deep night, and even from here, he can hear the city live. It's New Year 1996, and his followers are having a party. He can hear the bell from the shrine ring exactly 108 times to welcome the New Year.

He doesn't go to the shrine.

It's another New Year, which means that the Shaman Fight is exactly three years away at this point. Hao purses his lips into a thin line. Three more years, and he still needs to feed the Spirit of Fire. He's not big enough yet. Hao knows that he can take out anyone who stands in his way, but he wants his spirit to be at its best. Alright, maybe he wants to tease the Patch with him as well.

He is alone. He doesn't even know what he's doing in Japan at this time of the year. It feels nostalgic, he supposes. They have big plans for the upcoming year. Going to Africa first and later on to Great Britain. Hao has some people who he wants to convince to join him and his group.

The 10-year-old sighs, briefly thinking about going to sleep, but with all the voices flowing through his head, sleep is downright impossible. For a moment, he wonders what his other half is doing. Is he safe, celebrating with his family? Knowing Asakura Yohmei, he's not too sure about that.

Hao pulls the blanket over his exposed torso. He doesn't need it, of course. The Spirit of Fire is making sure he is warm enough. Hao looks at the top of the tent. Maybe he should at least try to sleep.

As soon as his eyes close, Hao feels a tug at his heart. It's not a normal occurrence. His eyes shoot open, but he doesn't move from his position. He can only breathe through this pain, it becomes unbearable for a few seconds, and then, just like that, it's gone, reduced to just a lingering feeling.

He's gone? Hao thinks. He could swear he felt Matamune's spirit leave the mortal plane. Damn, why is he even thinking of that mangy cat? It's not like he cares what happens to him, does he? Briefly, he wonders if the Asakura family has something to do with it.

Hao closes his eyes. It's not like he can do anything about it. Matamune knew what he was doing, he was old and wise enough to know. Hao wants not to think about him, he truly does, but a simple thought crosses his mind.

Another soul to find when I become the Shaman King .

A lonely tear slides down his cheek.

~~oOo~~

It's the first thing Hao notices when he meets Yoh for the first time. It's not that he looks like a carbon copy of him, being his identical twin and all, or the bright orange headphones that he has behind his ears. It's the bear claw necklace, the one Yoh wears, and it brings him so many memories.

"So, Matamune is gone," he whispers under his breath, bracing himself for the inner pain, the pain he feels every time he thinks of that cat, the cat that he had saved all those years ago, the cat that was his whole world once upon a time. The cat that turned his back on him and lost his faith in him.

He knows Yoh isn't accompanied by Matamune. He had seen his match with Tao Ren a month ago; his younger brother possesses a mere human ghost called Amidamaru. There's no saying that he can't do big things with him, but for Hao's liking, he needs to get a lot stronger than he is now.

Hao jumps down from the Spirit of Fire to greet his brother. He has nothing to fear. Yoh's friends are weak; Yoh himself can't do anything to him. Matamune is gone. So why does he feel such a dull ache in his heart?