Chapter: 4

Kept Apart

Encounter

Losing…trapped…it is what people seemed to want him to be. He could not understand, or even come by their standards…to have to kill his brother. Was there no other alternative…something else? It was not fair.

Losing his twin, was like losing a part of himself. That he was not willing to do. He needed that missing piece…

Yoh flipped the card of Admidamaru over his fingers, repeatedly.

For the life of him, he could not figure out how to break Anna's spell on it to release his spirit slave. He needed Admidamaru, he was his friend more than a slave…was even if he was called that, Admidamaru was never a slave to him. Admidamaru loved serving Yoh more than anything and the two of them worked hard to always stay together. It was hard to describe the bond he felt with the spirit, sometimes he was like a friend, others like a parent. And he never had a father….

"Hey Yoh"

Yoh turned around and saw no one. He then glanced down, and there he saw his best friend, Manta. He looked sheepish and a little uncomfortable to even be there. "Hey Manta, how have you been?" he asked, hoping that his friend found this place in the least acceptable.

"I've been fine" Manta said, "Though, it's not something I expected and something that is still hard to accept" Yoh chuckled.

"I bet it is," He said, watching the yellow mixed in blue sky. The sky here was different; the clouds though, were constant and unchanging. Manta also gazed up at the sky, his eyes still looking like they did not believe the color of the sky itself. He still didn't understand where he was, but another part of him told him that it was the most beautiful place that he was ever going to see, and that he had to enjoy it at all times. "I bet it's still hard for you to accept that I am also a vampire" Manta looked at Yoh now.

"Well, a bit, but I still haven't seen your drink blood" Manta said "Which I'm thankful for" Yoh shook his head.

"Well, I fed earlier today" This got Manta's curiosity.

"Ah…Yoh"

"Yeah"

"What is it that you feed on?"

"Human slaves" Yoh answered, "Over there, in the feed house" he pointed to the tall looking factory. Its walls were high and dark and the walls were black.

"Straight out of the neck" Manta said.

"Pretty much"

"How can you?" Manta looked like he was disgusted. Yoh shrugged his shoulders and sat down.

"I never really complained about it, but it's not like we keep them against their will. They are more than willing to bare their necks to us. But we never kill them, you know, never kill the cow that makes your milk" Manta was once again shocked.

"People choose this?"

"As strange as it is, yeah" Yoh responded, "I questioned it once, and I went on a hunt search, since humans do die. I asked one of the new caught humans, and they told me that their lives sucked. They couldn't stand it, that they couldn't live on" Yoh looked down at Manta "You know blood from heartbroken people somehow always tastes the sweetest" Manta glared at Yoh this time as he stood up.

"But how can you Yoh! Would you do that to me! Would you ever bite me if you were hungry?"

"Not without your permission"

"You shouldn't have to bite me at all!" Manta yelled. "For a fifteen year old that lived with humans, and you still don't understand" Yoh chuckled at that.

"Manta, I am a hundred, but you are right, I am still a child in vampire standards, I am going to be a child for a long time"

"You're a hundred?"

Suddenly they were approached by a maid, she bowed her head deeply a couple of times before looking up at Yoh "Master Yoh, your bath has been drawn, lady Anna wants you presentable for the upcoming celebration" Yoh frowned.

"Of course, thank you"

"Why does she boss you around Yoh?" Manta asked, "I mean, how can you let her do that to you"

"I don't have much of a choice right now Manta." Yoh spoke "there has always been something about me as a vampire, that can't figure a witch out"

"You guys interbreed?" Manta asked. Yoh shook his head.

"It's a way to keep strong magic within the vampire bloodline, but yeah, females turn out to be half witches. Anna on the other hand, is a full blooded witch with a warlock father and a witch mother" Manta nodded his head.

"Well, continue to enjoy the day, tonight is going to be hell"

"Why?" Manta asked.

"Celebrations are one thing that I am not fond off, people always look to kiss my ass, and other's hit on me. Most just wish my grandmother would change her mind on who I marry." Yoh waved at Manta and vanished. Manta looked back up at the sky with a frown on his lips, his eyes full of worried. He would never understand Yoh for who he was, but all he wanted was for Yoh to be happy with whom he was. And Anna was obviously not the right choice for a bride for Yoh.

He did not know what it was like, but one thing he did know, if it was he who was being forced to be with someone, he would never be happy. He would want to choose someone for his own, on his own time, so he knew that Yoh was trapped in this world.

At Izumo Mountains

Hao moved the huge bolder at the top of the mountain he had stayed at the night before. Opacho had regained her strength again, and Hao found it to be safer to move now. From his hiding spot, he could see the huge palace and where he was sure, his twin brother would be. "To kill or to not kill, I wonder what is going to happen"

"But Master Hao, do you want to rule the palace?"

"I'm not sure" Hao said, "I don't want to lose my life, but I don't want to listen to anyone on what to do" Hao looked up at the oddly colored sky, a beautiful shade of gold with a dark blue that contrasted against it. The clouds seemed constant, washing over it. "Opacho"

"Yes, my lord"

"Can you show me what is going on inside the palace?" The small African girl tilted her head to the side and then nodded. A smile spread over her small wide face.

"Yes, my lord" she said, she then placed her hands together and then pressed them into the rock. Hao moved back, sitting Indian style as he watched her with a smile on his face. " " She then turned to Hao as a screen appeared on the bolder. It was a window to the palace now. He could see inside now, there was a blonde-haired person there and a pink haired girl. Oh wait…that was the girl that was to be his fiancée.

Anger rose within him.

'Lady Anna, I need you to teach me on how to control someone…like your fiancée'

'Are you comparing his psychotic twin to my' She paused there, a look of disdain on her face. 'Well, I couldn't exactly tell you the other twins name, who knows if you are working for the other twin to get information' His fiancée shrugged.

'I would never ask you for his name, just like I would never give you…the other one's name!' The pink haired girl snapped. 'I just need some training in my magic, after all, I'm half'

'Well alright. But not today' she said 'we have to prepare for the celebration to welcome back the prince, I expect you to be there as well and show your gratitude that your head is still in your shoulders' The blond flipped her hair and walked away from the now agitated pink haired girl. As soon as the blond girl was gone, the pink haired girl growled.

'She so full of herself for being such a full blooded witch!'

"Full blooded witch, I thought they were all going extinct, the way they have them mate with Vampires to create something better" Opacho looked at her master and grinned. She after all, was a full witch, but as she was dying, her master had turned her into a vampire as well. She was grateful to her master now.

"Well, only a full Witch will appear once in a while, they don't all come out here" Opacho spoke "It was lucky you found me and saved me, even though I still am a full witched that has been turned" Hao nodded. He also understood that that made Opacho stronger than your average witch, full or half give or take a pint of blood or two.

"Lets attend the ball!" he said, a smile on his face. Opacho also smiled and did a happy dance.

"Yay!"

"But first, Opacho"

"Huh, yes my lord"

"You have to give us a new appearance" he looked back to the screen. "It has to be someone that can be close to my twin though…" he said as he looked back into the peering window on the rock.

"Okay" She said and looked as well. People passed by, that was when they saw a boy with blue hair walking with a small blond that looked to be about Opacho's height. "how about them, My lord"

"Well, I hate the look, but it'll have to do" Hao said as he stood up and turned his back away. Opacho grinned as she worked her magic and brought forth the both of them.

"WHAT THE!" The blue haired boy was loud.

He looked up and noticed the boy there; Hao had turned back around and faced him with a wide smile on his face. "Hey there"

"Who...who are you" Horo asked, shaking as he stood. "You look just like Yoh…" he ended up mumbling, but Hao's sharp hearing caught it.

"Yoh?" he asked, "And who might that be?" Horo glared at him and shook his head.

"I am not telling you anything!" he yelled, "Now, you tell me who you are!" The accusing finger was to Hao now, but no one in his or her right mind would boss or even tell Hao what to do. Right now though, he was running out of patience with this imbecile. Horo noticed the sharp fiery look on the other boy's eye and shuddered as he moved back. "What…what are you doing?"

"Me?" Hao asked in an innocent enough voice "Oh nothing, nothing at all" Something about the tone of the longhaired male's voice told Horo that he should run. The boy kept advancing on him and Horo felt his body respond by moving backwards. There was something about him that was different from Yoh… unless Yoh was the one playing the trick.

"Seriously duded, you are starting to scare me"

"HAAAAAAH!" He swiftly turned his head around to see a Manta down on the floor unconscious, and then another Manta that looked evil standing over him.

"Huh…Manta?" he asked, he bared his fangs then, and turned to face the other, only to see that he was face to face with Yoh's look alike…"You are his twin" he said before he felt a blow to the side of his ribs.

"Thanks for telling me my twin's name" Hao said, this time kicking Horo on his face with his boot and knocking him out. Only one thought had ran through Horo's mind as he was knocked out, and that was the mistake that he had just committed by speaking Yoh's name! Hao on the other hand was thankful. "I thought no one would ever tell me his name, but at least I found it out." Opacho said in a male voice, in Manta's form nodded her head as she brought the bound human over to her master.

She looked at the blue haired vampire and then cast the spell over her master. It was strong magic that even a full-blooded witch like that blond girl would not be able to tell the difference. Horo was then bound and both were left in a magic cage within the cave caverns. "Come on Opacho, let's go," he said as he let his flames grow. Opacho nodded head and followed Hao into the fire, as they were transported to a secluded area of the palace.

They both glanced around the white marbled walls. "Kind of tacky" Hao commented, in his Horo appearance and scowled as he heard the change in his voice as well.

"Ah, master, you have to remember to act like that guy…" Opacho racked over her mind. "Your name is Horokeu by the way, preferably Horo, and mine is Manta" She started to walk and he followed her.

"I hate this right now," he said.

"Horo!" There was a yell, and Hao froze. He slowly turned around to face a girl with long blue hair and a glare on her face "You are still not ready for the celebration for the prince tonight! Come, lets get you ready, we only have some hours left!" She snapped. Before Hao knew it, he was being dragged out along. Opacho hasty followed. "Stay out human runt!" the girl yelled when she noticed the small blond boy.

Opacho's eyes widen with slight tears "Master" She mumbled.

Hao, on the other hand, was about ready to kill the girl-whatever he name is.

Yoh was dressed in simple attire of a long white sleeveless shirt that fitted his well, and then split in the lower back, with two long tails to it. He had on black pants that were a little too big for him, but not that much and hugged his hips. He also had a belt on, one slanted, and then what looked to be belts on the side of his pants in a lose fashion. He also had a small gem in the middle of his forehead that told of his status as prince. He had on fingerless gloves, and his hair was neatly brushed on his head. It still looked short on him, and it still seemed to stand but it did not look messy.

He was walking down the hall when he heard a sob "Manta?" he called out. He saw his friend bawling over the door that belonged to Horo's sister, Pirika. "Manta. Are you alright?" he asked once again. This time, 'Manta' turned to look at him. He watched the kids eyes widen and then he blinked his own.

He got down on his knees and pocked this Manta impersonator in the forehead. "Ouch"

"You're not Manta" Yoh chuckled "You're cute though, what's your name little one?" he asked as he picked up the small girl. Of course, Opacho was shocked that this person could see her; maybe it had to do with the resemblance to her master.

"What…what are you talking about?" She decided to play it cool. Yoh chuckled.

"Are you really trying to be Manta?" Yoh asked. She nodded her head and then shook it to a no. She was so confused.

"Who are you?" she asked, the boy surprised her by his keen sixth sense that allow him to look through her magic. Only one other vampire could do that and that was her sire, Hao. Yoh tilted his head at what the girl asked.

"I'm Asakura Yoh"

"Ah!" She said a fit of giggles and glee "You are my master's twin brother! He'll be so happy that Opacho found you!" she said with triumph and in a childish manner. Yoh was slightly amused and at the same time he was intrigued as he stood up, holding the small girl like a child as he did so.

"My twin brother?" He asked, the girl nodded in confirmation "So," he said, "What is my twin's name?" The girl giggled.

"The great lord Asakura Hao!" She proclaimed.

"Hao" Yoh repeated slowly, and nodded his head. He liked the name already. He looked up at the sky and the clouds that accumulated over the palace "he really is here" The girl shrank in his arms a little.

"Are you going to do anything bad to my master?" she asked "Because if so, I'd have to stop you myself" Yoh looked down at the girl and shook his head.

"I'm not going to do anything to him, if he doesn't do anything to me and I'd have to defend myself" Opacho nodded her head.

"My master would never attack his brother" she said with so much confirmation to it.

"Is that so" Yoh said, "Come, let's get you ready for the celebration? You'll have to tell me where my brother is though" Opacho nodded her head.

"All I can say right now is that he is pretending to be that boy Horo" Yoh was shocked. But at the same time he was excited, perhaps now he can meet the brother he never got the change to know.

A few hours later.

Hao was pissed, and at the same time embarrassed.

The girl had made him shower, and he had no way of saying anything, since he did not want to cause a scene. But this, this was getting on his nerves. She was telling him what to wear, she was insulting him…wait, she was insulting the person he was impersonating. It was still damn infuriating.

He was done pretending.

Hao was about to burn the girl to ashes, whose name he did not know yet, and then burry her underground. That was when the door opened. "Lady Pirika, the celebration is about to start" the servant said. The girl nodded her head and the maid bowed before leaving.

"Come on Horo" She said, and snapped her fingers.

'I'm going to snap her in half' Hao mentally growled.

The Celebration

Opacho hid behind Yoh.

"What's wrong?" he asked her in a low voice. She pointed to the pink haired girl that was talking to Anna at the moment.

"It's her, the one that is forcing hand in marriage to my master," She said, with hatred in her voice. If Yoh did not know any better, he would say Opacho was like Hao's daughter, and right now, the girl was feeling resentment toward Tamamura.

"It'll be okay," he said. She nodded her head and looked around to see if she could see her master.

"Prince Yoh" Someone random came up to him and grabbed Yoh's hand and kissed it. Yoh quickly pulled it away. "Good evening,"

"Good evening" Yoh responded with a forced grin. "Hope you enjoy the celebration, please help yourself to some food" The man nodded his head bowed his head and entered the celebration. He made his way over to the food table. Opacho had stopped looking for her master to look at Yoh and the people that came up to him. Most of them not touching him, but others seemed to think it was a blessing to do so.

"Yoh! My prince" an old woman said. Opacho shook her head and looked at the line that had built to get Yoh's attention. She then tugged at his shirt. Once he looked down at her she smiled.

"I'll go find him" she said and ran out of there. Yoh watched her leave but then was preoccupied with the welcoming people of the kingdom. 'Man' Yoh thought 'How many more of them want to welcome me anyway? It's not like they even know me'

That was when Anna noticed his distress and decided that he needed a break.

"Yoh, you can leave for now," She said and turned the people with a bright smile. She was wearing a long black dress and a red scarf around her neck. She looked pretty with her hair clipped up. "Please, enjoy yourselves and allow the prince a brief break" The people all nodded and headed over to get food and speak amongst each other.

Anna sighed when she saw that Yoh was already gone. Well, she was not going to search for him; she needed to make sure everything here went smoothly.

Yoh had been searching for Opacho, wondering where the small witch had run off. All around the festivities he did not see her though. He did see his friends, all talking amongst themselves, but for some strange reason, he did not feel like he felt like their friend anymore. Something about their friendship had crumbled and he thought it had to do with the fact that he had ran away. Also with the fact that he would not kill his twin.

Sighing, he walked towards the stairs and started to head up stairs. He gasped though, when he reached the top and saw 'Horo' standing over the knocked out body of his sister. "Horo?" he called out. That was when he noticed Opacho was there as well, she smiled at him and ran over to him. She tugged at his hand.

"Come!"

"What is" he glanced up back at Horo, but on further inspection, he could see that it was not Horo. It was someone else, with long brown hair and similar eyes to his. He swallowed hard as he stared at the now identical person to him.

Hao on the other end had not expected to be caught, when he heard a soft male voice he turned his head ready to take care of them as well…when he stopped and stared at the boy that looked like him. "The prince Asakura, Yoh" he said, a smirk on his face. He could not help it.

"Who are you?" he asked…

"Your twin" Hao answered, his eyes narrowing to see if the boy was about to attack. Yoh on the other hand was lost in the other's fierce eyes….

Was his twin here to kill him?

Haha! And they finally meet. –Smirks- Lol. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!

See you next chapter!
Please review.