I can't believe Christmas is over already! So sad. This chapter was real hard to write so I hope you like it.

You'll get to know some of Yoh and Hao's past in this one as well!

Two Worlds, One Love

Chapter 8 – Found and threatened

Crusty swam slowly through the crowd of mer-people. Where was everyone? He wasn't allowed to go with the king; he wanted Crusty to stay in case Horo should return. It broke the crab's heart not being able to tell the king where his son was but if he found out, well, let's leave that out for the moment.

He landed softly on the ground and sighed, ignoring the bustling tails swishing above him. What was he going to do now?

Looking around his eyes widened as two familiar figures appeared nearby before swimming off in the opposite direction. He jumped up and quickly followed them. He weaved in and out of large bodies until he found himself near the borders of the kingdom.

Pearl and Pilika continued without looking behind. Crusty finally caught up and grabbed their tails. "OUCH! CRUSTY!"

He cringed at their screeches before speaking. "Just where are you two off to?"

"To get my brother back if you don't mind"

The crab's eyes widened before he puffed out his cheeks in annoyance and turning to Pearl. "You told her?"

"She's has a right to know!"

"For Neptune's sake…"

"Please Crusty, don't be mad. I'm scared for him, what if he doesn't come home…" He looked at the sad, defeated look on her face. Once again his soft shell attitude kicked in. He sighed sadly. "All right. You want me to take you to him?" She nodded. "Come on" The crab and fish lead the way with a worried princess close behind.

What was he thinking? No way in hell was he going to do that! Was it even possible for a start?

He tugged at the ropes again even though he knew it was useless. He'd been doing it for God knows how long and his wrists were starting to hurt. He leant his forehead against the pole and sighed. His other half had disappeared somewhere but he didn't know where; not that he cared.

Yoh looked around the cave Hao called home. He couldn't see anything useful, just cupboards and a large black cauldron in the middle of the room. Several bottles, some half full and some empty, were sitting on a table next to it. He didn't want to guess what was in them or what he made in the cauldron.

Looking down at his tail he tried moving it but the chains were real heavy and it just hurt. He was getting uncomfortable as well for being in the one spot for so long. He tried moving again but cried out when a sharp pain went through his stomach. Stupid Hao, why'd he have to stab him?

Ever since they were little Hao would always bully him into doing things and Yoh would be the one that got the blame. Horo and Pilika would always back him up though but sometimes their support wasn't enough. When Hao got exiled from the kingdom Yoh thought he would be happy, but, he was more confused. He was pleased he didn't get into trouble but he was sad because he had no brother to hang around with.

Because one had a tail and the other…didn't…no one believed, at first, they were twins. Hao took straight after his dad where as Yoh took after his mother. His father and Hao became obsessed with magic, dark magic. A serious spell went wrong and they lost their father and their mother tried her best to change Hao but she failed. He continued to learn the Dark Arts and ended up killing an innocent mer-person.

After a while his mother fell into depression and ended up falling ill. She, too, passed away despite the Kings and Yoh's magic to try and heal her. After all that had happened Yoh also became depressed but, thanks to the royal children, he went back to normal.

He cried out in fright when something grabbed him from behind. He laughed.

"Confused are we?"

"Get off Hao!"

The shackles jingled as he shifted to get the older twin to let go. But Hao seemed to like having his arms around his tiny waist.

"So, have we thought about my little offer?"

"I told you before, I'm not doing it! I refuse to hurt my best friend!"

"Sure, you just don't want to get into trouble for helping to…change the king's only son"

Yoh elbowed him in the ribs and tried to free his tail, ignoring the pain it was causing. Hao growled and ripped off the chains, ripping the ropes and throwing the merman to the ground. Using his tentacles to restrain him Hao leaned over him.

"Don't, ever, do that again"

Yoh just glared at him. He couldn't move at all and an uneasy feeling came over him with Hao so close.

"I don't want you hurting anyone else Hao, please just leave us alone"

Hao smirked. "You don't want to help your brother?" Yoh looked away. He wasn't sure anymore what to do. What was right and what was wrong?

Hao grabbed his twin's face roughly and forced him to look at him. "You wouldn't betray your own blood now would you?" Yoh shivered as he felt Hao's lips brush against his own. He closed his eyes and sighed. Hao smiled and whispered. "That's what I thought" He leaned down and kissed the exposed neck and grinned when the form underneath him quivered.

Ren sat on the edge of his bed staring with a blank expression at the floor while Jun rubbed his arms with a towel to warm him up. Horo almost got caught because of his little stunt. Tammy and Lyserg had gone back downstairs leaving Jun to help clean her brother up.

"What on earth possessed you to go near the pool? I thought you were more sensible than that?"

His sister's voice brought him back.

"Uh…I was just, curious…"

"About what? It's a swimming pool"

She took the towel of him and folded it up, placing it on the floor before taking out a dry top and handing it to him. She sat beside him and watched him slowly put it on. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

He looked up to see a concerned look on her face. He hated it when she did that.

"No…"

"Come on, you know you can tell me anything"

"I've already told you, what do you think I'm hiding a merman in there or something?"

He stood up and went into the small bathroom attached to his bedroom and took another towel and started drying his hair. It looked stupid without his usual spike. Jun followed him in.

"Please, just tell me why you were really near the pool"

"I just wanted to see if I could swim" He said not looking at her.

"By yourself? And would happen if you started panicking with no one there to pull you back out?"

He stopped drying his hair and looked down.

"I'm not stupid Ren, now please tell me"

He sighed. She wasn't stupid that was for sure. "I just…slipped in instead of using the ladders at the sides"

She watched him for a bit. "That's the truth?" He nodded even though his clenched up inside. He hated lying to her. After a few minute silence she nodded.

"OK, I guess you'll tell me the truth when you're ready" She turned and left the room. Jun was hard to keep secrets from and she was going to find out sooner or later.

Horo sat on the edge of the pool slowly swinging his midnight blue tail back and forth. Boy did he feel really bad. He almost drowned him. Ren said he didn't like water but he wanted to prove him wrong. He wanted to help him overcome his fear but instead he just made it worse.

He sighed and looked towards the window. There was still no sign of Feathers, he hadn't come back since their conversation was interrupted. He really did miss his friends, and his sister. He wondered what they were doing at the moment. Probably figuring out a plan to get him back home and no doubt Crusty would be leading it!

Looking back into the pool he closed his eyes. What was he father going to say when he got back, if he would ever get back. A shuffle made him open his eyes and he gasped as an unfamiliar reflection hovered above his own.

Before he could dive into the pool arms grabbed him and threw him behind and he fell on the ground. He winced and pushed himself to find he was away from the water.

"So Renny was hiding something"

He looked up to see a boy with green hair and eyes staring at him. He didn't look too friendly either. "He's got everything he wants…and more"

He kicked Horo's tail making him cry out. "Oh so you do make a noise?"

Horo rubbed his tail and glared at him. "Who are you? Where's Ren?"

"I think I should be the one asking the questions" He bent down so he was level with him. "What I'd like to know is why Ren has a merman in his pool?"

"I don't think that's any of your business" Horo was surprised he was able to speak to a human like that.

"Oh but it is" He grabbed Horo's throat. "If you get any closer to him that what you already are…I'll kill you"

He grabbed the merman's tail and dragged him to the pool side before kicking him into the water. With a smirk he left.

Horo slowly drifted to the bottom before half crawling, half swimming into a corner. He lay down and curled up, holding his now throbbing tail. He certainly didn't feel safe anymore.