And here we are finally at the last chapter. Thank you for everyone who has reviewed (and may yet still), it's much appreciated. I hope you've enjoyed reading!

Amidamaru quickly glomping Yoh was all it took to lighten the mood and he was soon laughing and chatting with his friends. They had a lot to catch up on, and while it was obvious that they had all grown up and changed, it didn't take long for them to return to old habits.

Initially Hao and Hanagumi were ignored, the group more interested in their friends and having fun than dealing with the serious matters. They could wait until later, once the excitement had worn off. Yoh knew his brother and the girls wouldn't mind so he wasn't really concerned.

Jian stepped through the portal a while later and Yoh excused himself from the group to speak to him. Horo-Horo and Lee Pailong had quickly confirmed that they were there because of Jian, so Yoh was confident he was right and the fact that Jian was able to go through the portal confirmed it. Had he any ill-intent Yoh was sure he would have been repelled.

"I'm sorry Yoh." Jian said softly, bowing as he did.

Yoh smiled and shook his head. "It's okay; I knew you weren't happy with it. As long as you're okay and they don't know anything that can hurt us or this place then everything is fine. Thank you for getting my friends here, I was worried I was going to have to go out there again."

"Thank you Yoh. I had thought that would be the case, so inviting them on your behalf seemed like the best way I could make it up to you. I promise I haven't told them anything I know, so it should be okay."

"I appreciate it and it certainly makes things easier and less worrisome for me."

So far so good, I wonder what will happen when Hao comes into the equation however, especially the current rather questionable relationship we have. I'm not particularly convinced that will go down very well at all. Unfortunately it's unavoidable, they're going to learn about it at some point in time, whether they can accept it or not.

It will be strange for everyone and will take a while to get used to, especially given Hao and I don't even really know how we feel or what we want, but hopefully they'll be as accepting of things as Hanagumi. It would be a shame for so few of us to enjoy this place and a new start. We'll just have to see how things go I guess and deal with whatever comes.

After several hours Yoh looked over to Hao apologetically, his friends were still chattering merrily and weren't showing any signs of tiring of it. He hated Hao being ignored for so long and really wanted nothing more than to go and sit with him as he had earlier.

Hao smiled and shook his head and Yoh supposed he must understand his friend's need to talk to him so much. It still wasn't fair to exclude Hao and the girls, even if their inclusion would make things slightly less easy and relaxed. They would have to accept their presence eventually and Yoh wouldn't accept any less.

Ren nudged him slightly and motioned for him to go to his brother, presumably he would distract them for a while so Yoh could make sure the others weren't completely neglected, even if Hao maintained he didn't mind. If he was lucky they might eventually follow him over and include Hao and Hanagumi in the conversation as well.

"I said you needn't worry about it, didn't I?" Hao asked rhetorically when Yoh sat with him.

"Ren offered and I don't like you all being ignored. Besides, I want to be here." Yoh retorted playfully.

Hao smiled and wrapped an arm around Yoh, allowing the other to lean on him properly. Yoh gladly accepted the action and snuggled further into Hao. He didn't really understand why it felt so right to just be close like this, he knew their soul had been one and may well want to be one again, but he'd never heard of other twins being that way. It was quite possible that it was perfectly normal and it was just something that wasn't spoken about because they didn't understand and/or couldn't explain the bond they felt.

"Do you think they'll stay here as well?" Macchi asked suddenly.

Yoh shook his head. "I don't know; though if they're not going to accept you then I'm not sure they're welcome."

"Yoh-sama would choose us first?" Mari asked, tone both surprised and confused.

"You were here first, you're willing to accept anyone that Hao and I do and you want and need this world as much as we do. It wouldn't be fair to brush you aside, besides which, that would mean the same for Hao too and given so much of this was for him, I'm certainly not going to have the same problems repeat and risk us falling out."

Kanna smiled. "Hao-sama was right; you have changed and grown a lot, though you're still as soft and considerate as ever. You're definitely stronger and more determined than you were; it's an honour to be allowed here and to have your support after everything that's happened."

Yoh smiled, it was nice to hear such comments and support, he knew if nothing else that Hanagumi, as with Ren and Jun, would provide no problems for him. Jian should be fine with everything as well but his other friends were still an unknown quantity, as well as anyone else who came after, assuming anyone did.

He didn't really doubt that word would spread but without any input from them, most would probably be afraid of going there because of Hao. Of course he wasn't sure that anyone acting through fear or hatred was really what was wanted or even if they would be accepted but he didn't want people missing out if it was something they wanted and needed, just like Yoh and the others.

It was all out of his hands he supposed, he didn't want to leave and wasn't the least bit convinced that it was safe to do so and he didn't know that he could really do much to explain anyway. How was he supposed to spread word to everyone, with guarantees that Hao had changed and it was safe? One could only really pass on such information to the people known to them. Unless…

"Manta, can I ask you about something?" Yoh queried, calling all attention to him.

Manta nodded and walked over to Yoh, though it was clear he was uncomfortable going so close to Hao and Hanagumi. "What is it Yoh-kun?"

"Would it be possible to use the internet to post something about this place where shamans, well, anyone would be able to find it if they looked?"

"I should be able to do something like that for you. Just let me know what you want me to put. I might need to go back through to be able to connect though, I'm not sure that I'll get internet coverage on another planet, not that it's easy to believe we are on a completely different world."

Yoh nodded. "Arigato Manta, I think that's probably the best I can do under the circumstances."

The others wandered over, as weary as Manta, despite Yoh being completely relaxed and unconcerned, Ren snorted ad walked past them, sitting beside Hanagumi, Jun and Jian soon following suit. Yoh smiled gratefully at the attempt to put their concerns at ease, irrespective of whether it worked or not. It was all they could do, just to try and ease the fears that were no longer needed and to try to help people understand the situation and this place as best they could.

Amidamaru, Faust and Eliza were the first of the others to sit with them, which didn't surprise Yoh in the least. He knew Amidamaru trusted him and his judgement, just as Faust did and he supposed Faust inadvertently owed Hao, since Eliza was only with him as she was because of the Chou Senji Ryakketsu. Eventually the others joined them as well, though there was an uncomfortable silence.

Rolling his eyes again, Ren ignored the unease and engaged in a general conversation with Hanagumi, leaving it open for anyone to join in. The aforementioned accepting members took the offer and joined in, sharing their thoughts and opinions without concern. Eventually Horo-Horo found himself unable to not add his own comments and the others followed suit.

It's taken them an hour of chatting with Hao and the girls before they've finally started to relax. I don't know whether to be understanding, annoyed or insulted. If Ren and I have no problems and aren't the least bit on-guard, surely that should be good enough? I guess Ren has grown up more than they have, though he was always more accepting, even with his concerns.

Still, they've begun to accept and relax, so that's something. I can only hope that everything continues to go well, though I'm not convinced that we won't have problems again should Hao and I decide it definitely is a relationship we want. Whatever comes will come, it can't be helped and I'm not afraid. Those who can accept these changes and rise above them will hopefully find the happiness they desire.

I know if nothing else, even if it is so few of us, that we will be happy and content. It may not flourish with human life here, there may not come another generation from those of us here but perhaps that's for the best. If human hands can only spoil and are always doomed to slip into bad habits and soil and destroy the land and nature then perhaps it is best to be left alone.

The portal should remain even after my passing, so for those this world will accept, the gateway should always be open for them to come should they need. I don't like the idea of the wrong sort of people ending up here, which is probably ultimately going to occur if human life does flourish, one can never account for what souls may be born.

Still, come what may, I've done the best I can and for the foreseeable future at least, this place should be a haven from the world in which we were all born and the societies that seem so set in it's destruction, even if they don't realize that is ultimately going to be the end result.

"You're thinking too much again, just relax." Hao muttered softly.

Yoh grinned. "I am allowed to think you know; I'm not as brain-dead as generally assumed."

Hao sighed melodramatically, though still quietly as to keep the conversation between the two of them. "I'm well aware of that, you are the other half of my soul after all."

"Don't worry; I'm not stressing myself out, just confirming my resolution in all this. I'm ready to accept all of this and whatever follows, no matter what. I know that this is what I want, that it's the right thing to do and I won't back down no matter what. I love you and I love this place and I will leave behind everything I have to in order to protect what matters most. I'm not afraid anymore."

"I love you too, no matter what, you'll always have me and I'll support and care for you forever."

Yoh smiled and joined his lips with Hao's, this time ignoring the gasps. They could accept them or not but this was the way things were going to be either way. He heard Ren mutter something along the lines of it being about time Yoh made his mind up but he wasn't really paying any attention to them. Being with Hao now and for the rest of their lives and perhaps eternity itself was all that really mattered.

Fin~