I didn't say anything last week, since I wasn't sure, but I will be changing to weekly updates now (unless I forget, in which case, feel free to kick me). I expect the story to be finished by the first couple of weeks in December (should be about 17 chapters total).
Hope anyone who's still reading this is enjoying it but even without any reviews, since I started it, I'll finish it. Laters.
A year down the line already, though it's hard to believe that the time has flown by so quickly. I'm amazed that my family has left me alone all this time, the same goes for my friends for that matter. I've barely even seen Ren or Jun over what I guess must be the last six months. I don't know what's going to have changed with them, though I'll find out soon enough, since I'm going to drop in on them.
Hopefully they'll be around; it would be a shame if they weren't. It isn't as if I could pick up a phone and call them, so just dropping in is all I can do; it isn't as though it's far away. I know I've changed drastically over the past twelve months, with everything I've learnt and from living with Jian, I wonder what they'll think. Hopefully they'll be fine with it; they've been okay with everything else.
I don't really know why we stopped spending time together in the first place; hopefully it wasn't because I did or said something wrong; they never said anything to me. I guess I'll find out if that is the case soon enough but I don't believe that it is, we've been through too much together and Ren isn't the type not to verbally object to something he doesn't like.
Life is ever changing; it never stays still, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that things have moved on. I'm sure they'll welcome me as normal though, perhaps they'll be glad to know that I've finally finished with that. I'm certainly pleased; now I just need to speak to Hao and everything will be over and done with.
Yoh smiled brightly, it was a relief to finally have everything in place and he was much stronger and wiser now, so protecting himself was far easier. He had found out a lot of how his family worked through Jian's knowledge, which made it easier to figure out how they would react and in-turn stop or counter-act anything detrimental.
He wasn't really worried though, even if they did react badly to things, there was only so much influence they could permeate. That world was finished now and as much as Jian wanted to go, he had acknowledged that Yoh needed to go with Hao before anyone else entered there, once that was done however, they would be able to go and stay there, well beyond the reach of anyone who wished them harm.
It was an exciting time for him and he hoped that his friends would be enthusiastic about it, though moreover Ren and Jun because of all the support they had given him and the fact that they had felt it themselves, even though they didn't understand what it was at the time. They had talked through so much and they were the reason he had met Jian.
Finally arriving at the Tao residence, Yoh knocked on the door, hoping his friends were there and that it was not a bad time. Lee Pailong answered the door and welcomed him into the main hall, asking him to wait while he collected his mistress and her brother. Yoh smiled and nodded and Pailong went up the stairs to the first floor and exited through one of the doors, though Yoh didn't look, admiring the redecoration of the room instead.
"Well look at this." Ren stated snidely, though Yoh could hear it was playful.
"Hello Ren, Jun. It's been a while, how are you both?" Yoh replied cheerfully.
Jun smiled. "We're fine, thank you. It's good to see you, you're looking well."
"Thank you, sorry for just dropping in unannounced but it would be a little difficult to let you know beforehand."
Ren shook his head and embraced Yoh briefly. "Its fine you idiot, we've told you that you're always welcome. So what brings you, is everything okay?"
"Everything is fine; I've finished what I was doing, so I wanted to talk to you both and just see you in general."
"Really? We knew you were getting close but we haven't been able to do certain rituals lately. Have you found a way to block the reishi as well?"
Yoh nodded, pleased that Ren sounded excited about it. "Yes, I finally learnt it."
"Have you spoken to him at all?"
"No, not yet. I'm not really sure how to contact him to be honest but I'm hoping he'll realise and contact me. He knew I was trying to learn it without me saying anything."
"So, is it finalised now? Can anyone go there?"
"It's finished yes, but I haven't been there in person yet, I want to go with Hao first. Jian's agreed to wait until after that but I promise I won't keep you waiting any longer than I have to."
Ren nodded and Jun ushered them both further into the abode, opting eventually for the dining room before disappearing into the kitchen and returning again to sit with them. Logic said that she'd asked the kitchen staff to bring refreshments and sure enough a few minutes later they were served, not that they were really paying any attention by that point.
Soon enough night had fallen and the three retired to bed, only half surprised that they had managed to talk for so many hours without realising it. Yoh smiled as he settled down to sleep, it had been a good reunion. They had all changed and grown but they still got along so well. They even seemed to have accepted the idea of Hao being around; there were no more frowns, hesitations or 'looks'.
It was a relief that everything had gone so well with them, he had expected everything to be okay but he hadn't thought it would be as good as it was. Things were much better than he had thought they would be and he was very glad for it. If he was lucky, his other friends would still be accepting, as they had been the day he left, not that he was really sure if or when he would see them.
What really mattered now was seeing Hao again and finding out if everything was still okay. It had been a long time and he had no idea if his family had gone after him. He was sure that Hao would retaliate if they did and that it would no doubt lead his brother down the wrong path again. He didn't think it was likely though, Yoh didn't know where he was and Hao was being careful, it wouldn't be so easy to find him, ridiculously powerful or not.
Finally drifting off to sleep, Yoh found himself back in his creation. It was strange to be there now that it was finished and he knew he could go there in person now. It was a real, working world, fully able to support itself and the life upon it. It was hard to believe it was true, that he could have achieved something so amazing. Yoh smiled as he neared the lake, Hao was waiting for him.
"Ototo." Hao greeted gently.
"Hello Hao. You look well, everything is okay still?" Yoh asked warmly.
"Everything is fine, as it was before. So you've finished everything you set out to, congratulations. You've become very strong and I dare say much wiser."
"Not quite everything, I still have to teach you what I've learnt. I'd like to see you for real and I'd like for us to come here in person together as well. What do you think?"
"Certainly; I'm flattered you want us to witness it together before anyone else. I think it best you come to me; I'll leave a clue of how to find me before I leave. Thank you Yoh, for trusting me after everything I put you through and for offering help."
"You're welcome. It's something I want to do, something that's important to me. I don't want things to carry on the way they have. We're family, we shouldn't be fighting and if I can help everyone else then I should be able to do the same for you."
"I'm proud of you; you've come so far and become so strong. I'm glad we've had this opportunity, I really am."
Yoh smiled brightly. "Thank you, I am too."
Hao nodded and took Yoh's hand, leading him to sit beside the lake. Yoh settled down, leaning against Hao's shoulder as he had the last time. It was nice to be able to do that, it just felt right. He had grown a lot and had looked at things from a distance and he was completely confident now that he was doing this for the right reasons and not just for himself.
It's all real and safe and I've never been so content. This is how things are supposed to be and even if they can't see it, this is the best way of stopping Hao, not by pointlessly killing him every time he resurrects, but by taking away the will and intent to act the same way he has for so long.
He and I are meant to be together and I think that's something we've both realised, just not in the way Hao initially thought. We don't need to be the same soul in the same body to feel whole, it's far better to have the company of the other. I'm glad everything has worked out this way, for both our sakes and hopefully for a lot of other people's as well.
"I can't believe it's been a year since we last spoke. It feels like it's gone by so quickly." Yoh muttered softly.
"You've been busy; the illusion of time is that it passes faster when you're too occupied to notice it." Hao replied.
"And what about you? What have you been doing since then?"
"Sadly not a lot of anything, though perhaps that is your ideal?"
Yoh grinned, sticking his tongue out in response. "I've been working my ass off thank you very much. Just because I like to take things easy doesn't mean I'm bone-idle."
"But your wish for becoming Shaman King was to be able to be lazy all day every day, was it not?"
"'Was' being the optimal word, not that I'm sure I ever really meant that. I couldn't live like that knowing others were suffering I don't think. Acting one way and truly being that way in your heart of hearts is two different things."
"And what about now, what do you want? What do you think your 'heart of hearts' is telling you?"
"You and I need to decide on some rules for our new world and we'll see who gets to go there with us. Those with the will to live in harmony with nature and others will get a fresh start without modern society and bloody history looming over them. Everyone else, well we all have to walk our own path."
Hao nodded. "You are most certainly wiser dear brother. I'll do what I can to help you, though I think we should perhaps deal with the reishi before we start playing with others."
"Agreed, empathy could well cause major problems. We'll do that soon though; I'll see you soon, for real for the first time."
It briefly crossed Hao's mind to argue that it wasn't the first time they had met in person before his mind just as quickly informed him that Yoh meant who he was before the reishi made him into someone else. Instead he nodded and agreed with his twin before informing him it was about time they both woke up.
Yoh pouted briefly before changing his mind, his brain having registered that morning no longer meant missing out on things. He would travel to see his brother and they would come here together in the flesh, just as he had wanted for what felt like so long now.
He carefully made note of Hao's clue to his whereabouts before bidding him farewell for a few hours. It wasn't a disappointment to wake up this time; this was the start of something he longed for, the start of their lives together and happiness. Everything was okay now; everything was how it needed to be.