The Eyes of a Boy

Summary: The Shaman Fight is over, but is Hao really dead? Yoh doesn't think so, which in extension means neither does anyone else. With the unwilling Lyserg and uncertain but willing Tamao leading the way, Yoh and friends manage to locate the bleeding, fading, Hao Asakura on the outskirts of the Patch Village. The question is no longer whether or not Hao is alive, but if Hao can live a normal life after all that he's done. Is it even possible to form bonds of friendship and trust with those he'd once tried to kill, or will their inability to see past the older Asakura brother's misdeeds push him even further away?

Anime/Manga: Shaman King

Pairing: Yoh/Anna

Genre: Romance/Angst/Hurt/Comfort/Humor

Rated: M for Mature Content

WARNING: SPOILER ALERT FOR ANYONE WHO HASN'T "READ" THE "MANGA"!

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Chapter Six

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Being that there were a multitude of bedrooms available in the Funbari Hot Springs, finding an available room for Hao hadn't taken long at all. Actually, it was just a simple matter of setting up a room, which took Ryu and Ren only a couple seconds after arriving back at the Inn. Yoh had actually waited till everyone left before moving Hao to the bedroom directly beside his. Anna didn't like the idea of Hao being so close to Yoh's room, but he'd talked her down and avoided an argument all-together.

'I guess I'm getting better at taking charge...or maybe Hao helped me overcome my fear of Anna...since he was kind of scarier, if just for a little while.' Yoh thought with a smile as he sat in Hao's room, waiting patiently for the older twin to wake up again. Anna had told him that he could have a break from training, which was great! ...except...then she told him that during his break he was to talk Hao into attending Shinra Private Academy.

This was easier said than it was done. Hao had only woken up once during the time they'd been back at the Inn, and that was while Anna and Yoh had been out and about. While there weren't there, Ryu had been preparing dinner, and that was when he had heard Hao falling out of his bed after trying to stand. Anna and Yoh had returned home almost an hour later to hear that Hao had woken up, and Ryu had helped him to the washroom and then back to bed after providing him with a glass of water. He'd only been awake for a few minute, no more than ten, really.

With one day gone, and only two days left till Monday, Yoh was running out of time to convince his brother. Anna told him to hurry it up, but he wasn't about to shake his brother awake and demand his attention.

Yoh glanced up at the sound of the bedsheets moving. Standing, he moved to Hao's side, his twin was awake and trying to sit up without asking for help. Yoh, however...assisted without offering, and was happy when he accepted his help. "I'm glad you're awake; how do you feel?"

Hao flexed his hands and ever so carefully, he brought one of his knees in as if to sit cross-legged, and brought the other close to his chest so to rest his arm on top of it. "Better, sitting up still hurts, mind you. Also, I can't stand on my own quite yet." He eyed Yoh for a while, "for just a moment, you and I were one body, and one soul, I can tell when you have something on your mind."

Yoh gave his twin a sheepish grin, "sorry...um, how do I say this?" He opened his eyes and leveled them on Hao, "Anna and I took the liberty of placing you in the same school that I and Anna attend, as well as Ren. Starting Monday, Hao Asakura will be a new student at Shinra Private Academy...what do you think?"

Hao was quiet for a moment, "I understand." He turned his mahogany brown eyes to the window and nodded his head towards it. "Could you open the window?"

"Sure, are you hungry?" Yoh asked as he pushed open the window.

"Actually, now that you mentioned it, it's been awhile since I last ate." Hao dropped his hand to his stomach, and as if on que, it gave a soft grumble.

"Proof that you are also human!" Yoh laughed at the annoyed look on his brothers face, a light flush of pink ran across his cheeks, a sign of his embarrassment. "I'll have Ryu prepare you something to eat." He stuck his head out the window and called for his spirit. Amidamaru was quick to enter the room from where he'd been perched atop the roof, "Can you tell Ryu that Hao is awake and in dire need of sustenance!"

"Tch,"

Yoh smiled, "kidding, but really, ask Ryu to make him something light so not to upset his stomach."

"Of course, Master Yoh!"

Hao watched the spirit leave the room before turning his eyes back to the now open window. A light breeze swept across his face and his hair swayed gently against his cheeks.

"I don't really know what's going on in your head, Hao...I don't know what you're feeling, aside from what you let me feel. You're good at blocking your feelings, even from me...however, I can tell you this. Everything will work out, I promise. Spirit of Fire and Opacho...they will both come back, Hao." Yoh said gently as he took a seat beside his brother on the bed his twin was now sitting up on.

"...yeah..."

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Me: Here is chapter six of The Eyes of a Boy, I hope you all enjoy this chapter, I will see all of you again soon~! Love always, Ja~!