Between Betrayal And Salvation
Chapter 4
Warning: Angsty, yaoi, shounen-ai, mature contents, emotional abuse. Don't read if this disturbs you. Its rated T instead of M because there's no actual intercourse happening between characters.
Disclaimer: A 23-year old Chinese woman like me will never own Shaman King...
''What the HELL were you thinking?'' It was a hiss, but it sounded like a scream from the blue-haired Ainu.
Yoh frowned slighty and gazed at Horo. ''You acted like you've never seen two people kiss before, Horo-kun.''
The ice shaman sputtered for a moment and then let out a hissing breath. ''It is one thing to see two people kiss. It is quite another thing to see you pin Lyserg to the ground and force him to kiss you!'' This time Horo's voice was nowhere near a hiss and Pirika, Anna, Ren, Tamao, Manta and Ryu stared at the pair in surprise.
Then Ren said with a sigh that shows he is annoyed at this point, ''I just don't get you sometimes, Asakura Yoh. After all that we've been through in the Shaman Fight and dealing with that meddlesome twin brother of yours! And Horo, stop making so much noise or you'll never be able to hear yourself speak again!''
''Hey! I'm just freaked out, okay? If you don't care what Yoh just did, it's fine with me but bear in mind that I'm not a cold-hearted bastard like YOU! What to do now with Lyserg, huh?''
''Big brother, stop it...you're scaring me...Don't raise your voice at Ren-kun, he's concern too even though he doesn't show it. In fact all of us are...''
''But Pirika...''
''Enough, anyone else that dares to speak one more word in this house will have to stay outside.'' Anna interrupted coldly, as a sign of warning, with a vein popping on the side of her forehead. Then she glared at Yoh, ''I will never forgive you...'' she murmured, it indicates to the occupants in the room that Anna is hurt and confused but was not being sure of how to deal with the situation. Sure Lyserg and Yoh shares something between them that she will not understand, but Yoh kissing Lyserg isn't forgivable, not to mention it's uncalled for.
Many people did not know this but Anna had stopped physically abuse or torture Yoh ever since the Shaman King Tournament is over, with the personal reminder that her Yoh proved to everyone that he's a hero in his own right. She would occasionally command him to do some chores or cooking, and so far Yoh often do her bidding, most probably out of fear of her hitting him again.
If only she had the chance to let him know that all of that had changed, and now this. This problem with Lyserg Diethel, she's unsure of what to do. But at the moment she choose to hide her insecurities and weakness from her friends who's questioning Yoh's actions, its best that she still holds some pride for herself.
''Okay Anna, whatever you say. I'm sorry but I'll work this out '' Yoh replied with a forced a smile, and grabbed Horo's wrist, jerking the skateboarder into his room. Once inside, he slammed the door and turned onto his friend, ignoring the yells and questions from the rest of the gang.
Ryu who can't bear with the strong tension and the curiosity that got the better of him so he puts his right ear at Yoh's room door. He consciously whispers to Anna, ''Anna-san... You sure we don't need to eavesdrop, even a tiny bit? ''
''When have I been 'not sure'? I'll let HoroHoro sorts this out with Yoh, for now. Now stop whining about your precious Lyserg, Ryu.''
''Forgive my boldness Anna-san but... you're calmer than usual, is there something that you know that we don't?''
''According to my observation, that kiss is not sexual in nature, its more like a provocation, or an act of hostility, at least on Yoh's part. So I am trying to be calm to let things sort out on their own.''
''I never knew that anyone could use a kiss for such a purpose, not especially Master Yoh.''
''Come on, Horo-kun. Calm down. You wouldn't want to yell any louder, do you?''
''I JUST MIGHT, DUH!''
Yoh stiffened and Horo crossed his arms stubbornly. Finally whatever questions that is raised inside Horohoro's head have to come out.
'' What is going on with you, Yoh? You're acting like a stranger.''
Yoh sat down on his bed and regarded his friend coolly for a moment. The blue-haired boy wasn't used to this side of Yoh and he didn't like it so he looked away.
''We're worried, you just haven't been yourself since yesterday and I thought it's a good idea for us to held a reunion! Just to have Faust, Lyserg and Chocolove coming over and Lyserg happened to arrive first! Is this how you treat a friend coming to-'
''I've got a plan.''
''What? A plan?! What are you talking about?''
''Lyserg.'' The dark-skinned boy replied.
Horo felt the hairs on the back of his neck raised and he settled on the bed next to his friend.
He knew Yoh for almost 2 years now and yet... And yet all of that suddenly felt old and long past. Back then it seemed that Yoh will forever remain being a carefree, naive, hen-pecked but with a big heart that pulls all kinds of people together. Horo felt like he was in the room with a stranger. He's 'Lyserg' now?
Not that Lyserg is a despicable person in HoroHoro's opinion but Lyserg is known to bottle up his own feelings, a natural introvert, who's anti-hero but is also kind towards most people. Its just more usual for Lyserg to have angst issues and perhaps even a little, what's the word again? Emo? Maybe.
''I wasn't aware that you and Lyserg were so informal.''
The chocolate-haired boy grinned, an expression that would have been familiar if his eyes hadn't been so cold.
''We will be.''
Horo crossed his arms. But there's only silence, it's killing him slowly. ''Explain now dude!''
''It's really quite simple, Horo-kun. I'm going to make him fall in love with me, seduce him, fuck him, and then leave him broken.''
For a moment Horo didn't say anything and only stared at his friend in disbelief. Yoh couldn't be serious about this, he just couldn't...
Yoh pulled out a book from his drawer and toss it to the ice shaman. He flipped it open and found himself face to face with some very explicit photos and looked at the cover. ''The Gay Karma Sutra.'' A pair of blue eyes widened with horror and Horo threw the book back to Yoh as if it was on fire or an item that would cause anyone to stumble into sin.
''Oh Gods… YOU'RE SERIOUS!''
Yoh caught the paperback easily and tucked it back in his drawer. ''Horo…you make it sound like it is something horrible.''
''IT IS HORRIBLE YOU MISERABLE, GOOD FOR NOTHING, SEX DEPRIVED...!''
''Shh! Do you want to get into trouble?''
''Why? What do you possibly think you can accomplish by doing this? If you want to have sex that badly, you don't need to-''
''It has nothing to do with sex. Think of it as a bigger dose of what he gets when he betrays his companions.''
''SO? That is long forgotten and he has proven himself worthy to be trusted by people that needs his trust! People do mistakes and move on! What are you going to do? Beat him up and rape him? ''
''NO!'' The tanned-skinned boy shook his head vehemently. ''I would never have sex with someone without their consent. What do you take me for, Horo?''
''I DON'T KNOW!'' The blue-haired boy exploded, forgetting where they were. ''A week ago I wouldn't thought that you'd sit down and plan to fuck with someone's head. What you want is worse than physical rape, Yoh!''
'' He…he…he…I think you're reading into this a bit, Horo.''
Horo felt like he was going to rip out his hair. ''Are you hearing yourself, Yoh?! What's with that disgusting 'he...he...he' of yours?! Have you lost your mind?''
Yoh stared at him blankly.
''Yoh, he's not a toy... You can't just play with-''
''Why not? After all he did that to Ren, me, you, Ryu and the rest of us...we were once toys to him. And turnabout is fair play.'' Yoh's voice was low and dark.
Horo blinked. ''What?''
''That day…the day he tried to kill you when you're being controlled by Boris. And then, he left us and joined the X-Laws. It was nothing but a game for him. He used Manta as a bait. He ditched his own spirit guardian Morphine, he even made Ryu cry, Horo. And he enjoyed it!''
''Ryu?'' The skateboarder stared.'' This is about Ryu?''
''NO, this isn't about Ryu!'' Yoh snarled, looking mad for the first time since the last Shaman King Tournament. ''He's laughing at us Horo! He's sitting up there with his tragic parent's death story, his convenient innocence and his damn pathetic pretty face and confusion, and he's laughing at us!''
''But Yoh…We won…''
''No, we didn't! He's happy as a clam while we still had to clean up the mess he made while he does nothing but smile his usual pathetic sweet smile! As long as he's sitting up there safe and happy, we haven't won a damn thing! He still thinks he can do this to people, but he can't. He's gonna get a taste of his own medicine now. He deserves it, Horo-kun.''
Horo couldn't believe what he was hearing. He shook his head. ''No way.''
''What?''
''Just…no way. No way. You can't do this. You won't do this. I think you can't! Lyserg is smart, Yoh! He knows every direction, every sort of psychological disorders in people and what-nots that we don't. Smarter than me and definitely smarter than you. You won't even make it to second base.''
Yoh grinned at his Ainu friend. What is this fool grinning about now...?
''It only means that Lyserg is book smart, not street smart so, is that a challenge?'' Horo suddenly threw his hands into the air. ''A challenge? No! No! I absolutely refuse to have this conversation with you! Have you lost your mind?''
''Calm down, Horo-kun.''
''I am calm! Listen, I want no part in this, Yoh, you hear me? This is gonna blow up in your face and I won't come near you when that happens. Think about what Anna's gonna do to you too when she hears this.''
''He…he…he…Horo, don't worry. I can handle this. I'm only gonna teach him a lesson. It has nothing to do with Anna by the way. I't's not like I'm gonna kill him, he'll survive. It's not serious or-''
''This is a lot more serious than you think it is, Asakura Yoh!''
''Whatever. Look, can you just take over this house for me for a while?''
''What for?''
Yoh walked over to the door and opened it. He smiled at his friend. ''I have to hurry if I'm gonna make it to the train to reach Lyserg. He's at the nearest motel in Tamachi now.''
Well, that's all everyone! Please review okay? Oh yeah, just to let you guys know, Tamachi is a town near Tokyo city. The motel where Lyserg just rented that is…. Arigato!