Chapter: 9

Kept Apart

In Your Eyes

Sitting quietly in the silence of darkness, I ask myself…where could a battle lead and find such an answer as to who should be victor. Well, the answer lies within the key…and the key lies within the eyes. But, it is deep rooted a lot deeper than just the color, or the determination there. No, to be sure who can win…

His heart has to be pure….

Although, in a world of greed and never ending temptation, can such a thing still exist. What is it that will take for this world of vampires to be free even withing their own boundaries? The hope of it all seems so lost, and even dreams seem to shatter. So, we are standing now, I want to see what you are working with...maybe just maybe we'll learn something.

One day after Hao's returned, everything had been organized, and they were finally going to face off for the ruler of the throne. Yoh was nervous. He had wanted to ask Anna what was wrong with him before the battle even started but he had put it aside and went on with worrying about the battle. Taking a deep breath, he said to himself "What is there to worry about" and then frowned and crossed his arms. There was a lot to worry about when he thought there was something wrong with him and he was about to go into battle.

"Ah look, he's pouting" Yoh blinked and looked up from sitting on the ground to the golden-eyed vampire, Ren. Ren smirked once he caught Yoh's eyes, and crossed his own arms as he stood there next to his boyfriend.

"Ren" Yoh exclaimed, a soft smile going onto his lips.

"You look tense Yoh," Yoh looked at Horo and sighed when he noted that all his friends were in the room. .

"Yeah" He mumbled. He did not want to worry them; there was no point in him doing so.

"Remember Yoh, you have to win, we don' want anyone other than you to be the king" Yoh nodded his head, even though deep inside, he did not wish to be king. Being king meant he was not free, and he loved to be free. Alternatively, if he was king, he could change the rules. Yeah, that was one way to look at it. He did not want to be controlled, and his only wish was only to look at the ever-changing sky and clouds in Izumo.

"Ah, don't worry, whatever happens, happens" Yoh fluidly stood up, knowing that whether he liked it or not he was going to face his brother. Although, unknown to Yoh, when he asked his friends not to worry, it was when they worried the most. They feared most of the time that Yoh was not taking this seriously, and feared they might get stuck with a different king from what they had envisioned. As soon as Yoh walked out of there, Horo turned to Ren with a scared look in his eyes.

"We are doomed, aren't we"

"I don't know...but it seems we are"

The time had come, and there was no turning back.

Being a vampire, you either accepted it as a curse or a blessing to be what you were. You were not human, maybe above them, but you always needed them to survive since they supplied the blood you needed to feed. It was a fragile balance, but it existed in harmony, because Izumo existed as the perfect plane to hold everything in place. Taking in a king only meant that an alpha male was chosen to make sure certain lines and boundaries were never crossed. It was meant to insure that the rules of this natural and fragile balance stayed in place. So, here stood two powerful brothers, one with a carefree look on his face, and the other with a smile across his lips and mirth in his eyes.

As identical as they might be, and as identical their own DNA combined them to be, they were different in many ways. One was soft, the other was coarse, one could rile up malice and the other preferred to live for peace. "I do hope you are ready for this fight Yoh" Hao spoke "Since, just because you are my twin brother doesn't mean that I will go easy on you"

The younger identical twin smiled, with a small chuckled "I would expect no less from you, my brother" a cold sliver of air picked up that caused everyone around them to feel a tremble down their spine. In the stands, every other vampire feared both brothers, the match did not matter, but their potential power was something hard to imagine. It was almost a nail biting suspense, but at the same time, it was more of a shilling thrill that made you want to cheer.

"Alright boys" Mikihisa said, glancing once at his queen, Keiko who nodded at him that it was alright to continue this, as much as she didn't want Yoh to be hurt, and wanted to learn more about Hao. This could not be changed. Not under both their circumstances at being heir's to the throne. "As it has been decided, there will be killing, and there is a time limit, the one with the upper hand at the given moment is to be the new king" Mikihisa looked between Hao and Yoh go each gave a slight nod. Sighing, and preparing himself for the words, he swallowed hard "Begin!"

Neither Asakura twin moved as Mikihisa started the ten-minute timer. Everyone thought that it was going to be a sort of staring contest, but either way sat at the edge of their seats in suspense. In their own plane and world, both twins looked at each other, for a second, a single splitting moment they locked eyes and then they were gone. Moving so fast that the naked eye of a human could not see them, but other vampires were startled by the sudden movement and for a second lost sight of them before finding them again. Hao, had moved in fast to drive his fist into the centered belly of his twin who gasped at having the air knocked out of him.

For a second, Yoh seemed to have lost his thought process as he was pushed aside. Before he hit the rimmed wall of the dome though, he vanished and re-appeared behind the elder Asakura who noted this, his eyes widening and expressing themselves to catch every movement. The fight continued, moving fast as Yoh managed to land his own blows with Hao, making them equally matched in a hand on hand combat. It amazed Hao at how many punches his twin could take and not for once be knocked down and out.

Both seemed to have the same thought in mind as each one of them drew out a sword of their own, the metals clashing together.

Neither spoke, their eyes a white silver all around except for the black pupil center of their eye. They both stared, at their identical furiosity, and Hao felt himself feel the need to pull away. Yoh moved away just as a wall of fire grew around Hao. It almost seemed unfair that the elder Asakura was able to manipulate flames all for himself, as seeing that the licks of flames were the weakness of any other vampire.

That did not stop Yoh from starting his own dust storm, angrily pushing at the wall of fire that kept him from reaching his brother.

They were the same.

Yet, at the same time, they were not.

Flaming hot dust seemed to move and heat the dome where they had been battling, everyone around them hissed out and moved away to the sky. Everyone was watching perplexed at the immense strength that filled in the small area, tensing everything around it. Flames licked and rapidly moved to the ground, in search of Yoh's feet, but the younger Asakura already had strong roots heading the way of his older twin.

It all lead back to the power of their eyes.

Noticing the vines, and the other noticing the flames, both allowed their wings to sprout out of their backs in strong bursts. They flew up, and continued to clash their swords, as they saw that they were equally powered. It was exhilarating; it was almost like a game as both of them started to move, fast and quick in hopes to dominate each other.

"You are incredible," Hao whispered.

Yoh looked at him perplexed "I" And he found himself pushed down the ground. Harshly his body making contact with the heated dirt, "Augh"

"You let yourself get distracted" Hao leaned in, a smirk on his face.

Feeling a little embarrassed at allowing himself to be placed under such a position, Yoh moved his legs and arms to remove his twin from on top of him. "I won't let it happen again" he hissed, his fangs prominent and white in his mouth.

Hao was shocked at his younger twin's show of dominance for that split second "You really think you can win this?"

"Win what?" Yoh asked, "I never came into this looking to win anything" Yoh's words were cold and sincere. The Younger Asakura did not care what he was titled as long as he got to live and watch the sky swirl in colors once more.

"You are like no one I ever met Yoh" Hao dropped his weapon, in the desire to grasp his twins wrist and pin him down again "Your heart seems to sweet and pure for you to ever be a vampire" Hao's eyes widened when he felt a root wrap around his waist and pull him away from his younger twin. Yoh smirked.

"Heh, Hao you let yourself get distracted"

"Oops" Hao snapped his fingers "My mistake" The root was ashes before Yoh knew it and his twin was gone. He searched wildly for a moment; when he felt strong arms wrap themselves around his waist and then hot breath breathe into his ear "I shouldn't underestimate you"

Yoh's heart was racing, and all he could think about was pushing Hao away from him. It was at that moment's instinctive pull that Yoh used more of his strength than usual to push Hao down. Hao too, had been taking by the fact that his younger twin had seen his playful banter as something to attack. Yoh was panting hard, shaking as the dirt around him stopped spinning. "Hao…" He whispered, his hand trembling.

"Ouch," Hao mumbled, in an uncaring way as he sat up rubbing the back of his head. Hao's flames died down, and as soon as everything was dropped, and with thirty seconds to go, both twins seemed to be at a standstill. Mikihisa wished one of them would move and provide the final assault, but neither seemed preoccupied with doing so. Both seemed to be in the positions that they had been in before. The time slowly slipped through the mellow stares and everyone just stayed speechless as the last second came. Who had won?

"TIME!"

Silence followed, before the crowd started an uproar.

"What's going on?"

"Who won, I don't get it"

"Will you two shut up!"

"Anna"

Everyone stayed silent as the golden haired witch crossed her arms over her chest. A glare stood over her confident and strong face, she was not in the mood to have people talking. The battle, it had been incredible and she could not help but feel that if this were a real life and dead battle, it would be hard to say that both had survived. Both twins were equally matched for being different elements, but most of all now, she saw what they did for each other. They balanced each other out, to place them in a fight was like calling on the forces of nature to create a hurricane and destroy a population.

"So, boys" Mikihisa called as he walked over to them, "Who won?"

There was no question as to who the victor in the battle had been. Hao had felt impressed by his younger twin, his words, his spirit, and drive in battle. Yoh was incredible, and he could see it now, the beauty behind those eyes. Yoh was, in so many words other than amazing, a hard person to describe and come by. He needed to be strong, but there was no doubt, he was the one.

There was a silence, yet hidden massage that was passed between both twins that could only be seen in their eyes. Hao, walked over to Yoh and reached for his hand "Yoh is the victor, I concede defeat to him" He smiled, in an odd way that made Yoh's heart skip, and then erratically dance happily in his chest. Maybe something was wrong with him, the mere thought of having Hao close to him made his inside clench and the skin holding him on the outside want to melt.

Yoh would have loved to say something, but with the loud cheering, he did not get the chance. And Hao seemed to become one with that crowd, at the moment that his twin pulled away, it made him feel completely empty inside.

Even though everyone was happy and found the occasion pleasing, Yoh had many questions lain in his heart that he wanted answered. He felt like he could not relax unless they were.

Later that day, late into the night while Anna was sitting in the living room drinking a cup of tea, she felt someone sit next to her. "Yoh, it's a surprise you would even come and sit next to me," She said, placing the cut of tea down. No one else was up and about anymore, which was the perfect time to talk with her. Yoh sighed, slowly.

"Hey Anna" He bit into his lower lip, cutting his own thought afraid of what he wanted to ask and what the answer might be.

"What is it Yoh?" She asked, worried now.

"I wanted to ask you about something, something that has been bothering me lately" Yoh seemed so defeated in Anna's eyes, not even her own rigorous training would leave him looking like this. Had the fight with Hao taken a lot out of him? Anna reached for his hand, in a small soothing way, as little as comfort she could muster to show to Yoh.

"You can tell me anything Yoh, and I will help you"

Yoh seemed to hesitate and then nodded his head, "Anna…my heart…" he swallowed but willed himself to say the words "Every time I come near Hao, my heart just beats so fast and not in a bad way, but it feels good, and…and it makes me happy yet confused at the same time. I'm scared Anna, what can it be?" Yoh pressed his other hand to his chest "What is this feeling?" he asked, his eyes seeming to see far away as Anna stared at him perplexed.

"Yoh" She said, her voice low…Now she was scaring him. The young Asakura sat up, straight and stare at her pointedly. His worst nightmare just seemed to have been confirmed right there and then by the shocked look on her face.

"There is something seriously wrong with me, isn't there" He quickly said, assuming the worse. Anna shook her head and glared at him.

"No Yoh!" She snapped, then sighed as she more lowly, to maintain privacy said "Yoh…I think you could be falling in love with Hao"

"What?" Yoh asked, feeling his heart kick at the mere thought, "That can't be right"

"You might have a crush" Anna teased, a smile crossing her lips "You like, like you're older twin brother"

Yoh felt his face heat up "Wh-what?" This could not be happening. He had never heard of such a thing ever happening. He never believed such a thing could happen to him. He wanted to pull away from Anna, and scream his head off. No, he wanted her to take the words back…no she was just teasing him…he could not be falling in love. "That can't be right, it's…it would never happen for me, I was never going to like anyone"

Anna got a maddening and mischievous grin on her face "Oh, but you are like the rest of us that own a heart Yoh, you are falling in love"

"No…"

"Yes" Anna chuckled darkly, "Ah, maybe we should plan a love letter you could give him"

"No"

"Oh, what's got you so scared?" she whispered, and Yoh felt like he was about to die…could he really have a crush on his older twin brother? Could he be falling in love with Hao? In such a short time of knowing him, for Yoh, his head was spinning and this was happening too fast…

Anna on the other hand, loved the idea.

From a corner in the darkness, unknown to them, Hao watched them as they sat whispering in the couch and he felt anger rise within him…'could Yoh be in love with that witch?' He thought to himself. For a reason unknown to him, he did not like the idea of Yoh being in love with anyone at all. He could not bring himself to accept Yoh with anyone else.

But him.

Time, it is like water running past our fingers before our eyes and there is no way to stop it, and with time there is change. With change, there is a new hope born and a completely new perspective of the world, and the new generation takes is it then, that in a single day so much can pass between two individuals and set so similar thoughts two the identity of their souls...

What was it that the world is calling for...maybe a little change. And slowly, this change seemed to sing the melody and the quotation of the words "Let's work together...together..."

Hey there everyone! Thank you for your reviews! so... How's it going? I have had no real inspiration to continue this story or This Love, but do not fear, I will NEVER abandoned them. I already got an idea of what I want the next chapters to be about for This Love, so I'll work on that as soon as inspiration flows, And Even so, sooner or later, they will be update and continued.

As for this story, there is still a lot more I want to write, and I want to get it right. So, how was this chapter. It's the beginign for the second half of this fic! Hope you all continue to enjoy.

Please Review.