"Yoh-sama!" Opacho cried, running up to Yoh and hugging his leg tightly. "Opacho is worried!"
Yoh still didn't reply, and Ren walked up to Opacho and lifted her. "Opacho."
"Yes Ren-sama?"
"Let's give Yoh some space."
"Okay…" Opacho whimpered, tears forming in her eyes. HoroHoro walked up to them and took Opacho from Ren. "Don't worry he'll be fine!"
"But, Horo-kun…"
"He'll be fine."
Opacho knew this was her cue to be quiet, before she gave away who Yoh really was. Anna sighed, looking ahead at Yoh. "Why is he acting so strangely…?" she whispered to herself. "I… I'm so worried about him."
"We are all worried about master Yoh." Ryu said, hoping to comfort Anna. They walked up to the counter in the airport and bought their tickets. Ren forgot to call ahead and ask for his family's jet; he was too worried about his friend. They got on board, and still not one word from Yoh. HoroHoro and Anna sat on either side of him, and Ren and Ryu behind with Opacho. Opacho didn't like it. She wanted to sit next to Yoh. "No, he needs some time alone Opacho." Anna said to her. "I know he'd like to sit next to you too, but he is tired and he'd just lose himself playing with you."
"Yes, Anna-sama…" Opacho whispered, though still sad. Ren smiled. "That's okay, you'll sit next to me." Opacho nodded. Then Ren whispered, "Away from big mean Anna."
"Ren! I heard that!" Anna yelled, smacking him over the head.
Opacho frowned. "Anna-sama he wanted to make Opacho feel better…"
"I'm sorry, Opacho…" Anna grunted, turning around and sitting in her seat. Yoh blinked, now trying to think of the fun he had skating. The colour returned to his face slowly, and he smiled. "I'm better now."
"Dude you spoke!" grinned HoroHoro leaning forward to look at Anna.
"Are you sure you're okay?" sighed Anna happy once again.
"Yeah!" laughed Yoh smiling a carefree grin. "I'm fine!" he smiled and the laughed a funny little giggle just like he usually does.
"Yoh I haven't heard you laugh like that in ages." Said Ren sighing with relief too.
"Yoh-sama okay now?" sniffed Opacho wiping her eyes. Yoh turned his body on his side and lifted his arm though the head rest gap and patted Opacho on the head.
"I'm fine Manta!" he chuckled. Anna and HoroHoro looked at him concerned.
"Yoh? Manta isn't here." Said HoroHoro. Yoh turned and put both his hands on the arms of the chair and raised his eyebrows at HoroHoro.
"Then if he isn't here where is he?" blinked Yoh.
"He's missing remember."
"What! Manta is missing!" yelled Yoh jumping on his feet.
"Stop it Yoh you'll ruin everything!""Who said that?" gasped Yoh.
"Yoh! Sit down and put your seatbelt on!" hissed Anna.
"That's it. I'm taking over!"
"Yoh! Sit down!" Anna hissed again. Yoh sat down and put his seatbelt on.
"Yeah. Sorry Anna." He said looking at her like she wasn't even there. "I just forgot a few things that's all."
"Yoh forgot Opacho's name." Whimpered Opacho.
"No! No not at all Opacho." Said Yoh suddenly looking around surprised.
"What's wrong now Master Yoh?" asked Ryu.
"Where are we?" said Yoh.
"Wow how spaced out were you Yoh? We're on a plane." Grinned HoroHoro elbowing him in the stomach.
"Going to the Patch Village." Added Anna.
"Remember?" finished HoroHoro.
"Why are we on a plane? Why couldn't we just go on the Spirit of…" Yoh cut himself off and then blinked. "…Ren?"
"Huh?" murmured Ren.
"The Spirit of Ren? Isn't that the name of your jet?" sighed Yoh hoping that would have been enough to cover up what he just said.
"No…when did my jet have a name?"
"Uh…I just thought it did that's all."
"Right…" muttered Anna slightly confused.
"I'm sorry guys I just don't feel myself right now." Said Yoh yawning and closing his eyes.
"Well, okay Yoh. You just go to sleep again. You'll probably feel better when we get there." Said Anna patting his hand gently.
"Yeah. I am tired." Yawned Yoh. He suddenly shook his head quickly opening his eyes. "No! No! I am not talking to him again!" he yelled.
"Who?"
"My brother. I keep dreaming about him." Yoh couldn't believe he just said that out loud.
"Oh Yoh! I knew you were worried about him being back." Cried Anna squeezing his hand gently. "What has been happening in your dream?"
"Well…" started Yoh. He might as well tell the truth it won't give anything away. "He keeps saying the same things over and over."
"Like what dude?"
"He says 'I am you and you are me. You can not escape that fact my brother' and no matter how many times I tell him he won't shut up. He just keeps saying it…and saying…and saying it!" Yoh grabbed hold of his head shaking Anna off him as he did. He shook his head violently.
"Why does he keep haunting me? I can't take back what I did!"
"What you did was cool man! You saved the world!" laughed HoroHoro hoping to cheer him up.
"Yeah!" added Anna.
They are completely missing the point. Why can't I have real friends like Yoh does? Then I could share my problems not hide them all the time.
"This is getting too much…I don't want to go to the Patch Village any more." Said Yoh beginning to struggle in his seat.
"Yoh! The plane is moving." Said Anna pointing out the window. Sure enough, the trees and grass was rushing past the window. And suddenly, the plane took off.
"Oh…"
I can't believe you are scared Hao! He told himself. Since when were you afraid of your own brother? You are the strongest shaman in the world! Get a grip!
"Yoh? Are you crying?" said Anna gently stroking his cheek removing the tear.
"What? Me? No!"
"Yoh-Sama not okay. Opacho not okay." Whimpered Opacho tears streaming down her face.
"C'mon Opacho." Said Ren smiling at her. "It will be okay. HoroHoro and Anna are two of his closest companions he'll feel better after talking to them."
"No! Opacho Yoh-Sama's best friend!" she yelled.
"Please Opacho. Give Yoh some time." Said Ren.
"Master Yoh is going through a stage."
"A tough one."
"Opacho sad."
"So am I." Said Ren. "So am I."
"You were crying Yoh." Said HoroHoro.
"No…I…wasn't. I don't cry!" said Yoh through his teeth.
"Oh course you do! You cry whenever you do hard training. You cry when you hurt yourself."
"Man I'm a cry baby."
"I like you being a cry baby." Smiled Anna blushing slightly.
"You! Would!" hissed Yoh.
"Yoh don't take it out on Anna." Said HoroHoro concerned.
"You're right. Sorry." Said Yoh patting Anna's hand and then sighing. "I do love ya you know Anna." He said casually and starting to relax in his seat eyeing the in-flight TV. Anna blushed fiercely. "Hey and stop blushing like that I know you love me too." He said laughing.
"What-what makes you say that?" smiled Anna.
"Well, you are here sat next to me trying to cheer me up. You always want to know where I am or else you wouldn't have come looking for me in the fist place. Right?" Anna blinked and smiled, her face going completely pink. "Right?"
"Yeah." She smiled. "Yeah you're right."
"I knew it," he said, laughing.
"Glad you're back dude!" HoroHoro yelled. Catching glares from the other people on the plane. "Shut up you dimwit!" Ren hissed. He turned to Yoh smiling. "Yes, its true. We all are glad you're back."
"Is Yoh-sama okay now?" Opacho asked timidly. Yoh laughed. "Yes, Yoh-sama is fine."
"Yay! Opacho is happy!"
"Good!"
"Master Yoh, are you sure? You still look a little off…"
"Awh lighten up Ryu."
Ren raised his eyebrow, smirking. "Yes he could use a little 'lightening' up."
"Why, you …!"
"Touch me and you'll face the sharp end of my – "
"Guys, calm down!" Yoh exclaimed. "You're attracting too much attention – "
"Your what? Your Hair?" Ryu shot back. Ren pulled out his spare Kwan-Dao, and unfolded it. Everyone on the plane gasped in fear of Ren. Ren didn't notice, until Anna slapped him in the face. HoroHoro burst out in hysterical laughter and Opacho soon joined in. Ren put away his weapon, but everyone continued to stare. Yoh slumped in his seat. "Too much attention…"
"What about on the bus? Who got everyone to stare then?" Ren snapped at Yoh.
"Hey, it wasn't my fault!"
"Leave my Yoh alone!" Anna yelled. Yoh blushed, both inside and out.
"You've … never said that before."
"Well… I … I … just shut up!"
"If you say so!"