Note from Author:
++++ Sorry Guys that this, again, has been a late update. I can promise you you've got lots more to come and to look forward to! So thank you all for being so patient, I get new Author Alerts and Favourite Story Alerts every week, so I really appreciate all the support you guys have given me!
One thing I'd like to just outline about these chapters is somewhere along the line me and Chiba Kun began to refer to "Hao" as "Hao" instead of "Yoh" – I know this can get confusing, but just to clarify Hao is still in possession of Yoh's body at this stage in the story!
Anyway, enjoy this large meal I have for you. Bon Appétit! ++++
That day went on easily, nobody really making an effort towards anything. They didn't have enough energy to do anything except laze about the whole day. Anna continued to think about her dream the whole day, not saying much to anyone else. She was grateful when night fell upon them all; she would hopefully get to talk to her fiancée again.
Sadly, her slumber was without dreams. She awoke the next day in despair, as well as relief.
"I didn't see him last night," she muttered to Ren without emotion shown in her voice.
"I see."
"Well that's good then isn't it?" She asked, walking away. Ren shook his head and muttered something in Chinese.
"Horo-kun! Hao-sama! Opacho wants you to wake up." Opacho cried, running and jumping around them. "Quickly! Opacho found something!"
Hao got up first rubbing his head. "What is it, Opacho?" He turned around to find HoroHoro snoring loudly. "Wake up, HoroHoro."
"Huh!" He sat up quickly. "What happened?"
"Nothing bad. Opacho found something."
"Oh sweet well what is it?" HoroHoro asked, sitting up.
"Opacho found this!" She said, holding up a necklace.
"A … necklace?" Hao asked.
"Yes! Opacho likes it! It has a pretty sign on it." She held it up to the sunlight. On the pendant was imprinted the sign of a star, next to which was a diamond and opposite that was a cloud.
"It reminds Opacho of the three of us."
"Does it?"
"Yes. That's why Opacho likes it. It is special to her."
"A symbol of friendship!" HoroHoro said, picking up a stone. He dragged it across his hand gently leaving a black mark. "It's charcoal," he said. "It leaves a small mark on your skin. It's not permanent, either. Look." He showed the two of them his hand, which now donned the symbol on Opacho's necklace. "A reminder."
"Ah. I see." Said Hao taking the stone from him and dragging it along his knuckles on his right hand leaving a black smear across his bare fingers. "But won't it come off in the end?"
"Yeah it will but it's the fact that it has been there that makes it special." Smiled HoroHoro. Opacho held her hands out to Hao, she was staring at her own tiny fingers like it was a really exciting show on TV. Hao grinned at Opacho and drew and little line on each hand, Opacho giggling excitedly.
"Very fine idea HoroHoro. You are not as idiotic as first thought after all."
"Funny, I get that a lot." Said HoroHoro, his face looking dazed as he stared at the clouds in the sky. Hao took the necklace from her and opened the black lined chain to slip it over her head. She suddenly blinked jumping back away from him. "No! No!" she said waving her arms round dramatically. "Opacho give necklace to Hao-Sama!"
"What?" said Hao confused. "Me?"
"Yes Opacho give friendship necklace to friend!" she said.
"To me? But why?"
"Because Hao you're like her idol she looks up to you!" laughed HoroHoro.
"She looks up to everybody she's 2 feet short."
"That's not what I meant!" smiled HoroHoro. "C'mon man the kid loves you. Of course she would want to give you the necklace!"
"Horo-kun right Hao-Sama." Said Opacho. Hao blinked and then looked at the black and silver pendant. The shimmer of it looked like a rainbow in the sunlight. Opacho gently slipped the pendant from him and Hao lowered his head. Opacho lifted the necklace, and extremely carefully even with her little tongue stuck out on one side as she place it over his head perfectly. Once she had done so, she took a step back satisfied. Hao lifted his head smiling happily, obviously touched by his friendship with her. He lifted his friendship marked hand to the back of his neck and lightly lifted his long hair from under the chain and then smoothed his long brown hair back down into perfection. He looked at his bare chest, and the special necklace gleamed on one corner. "Opacho Hao-Sama's best friend." She smiled. Hao lifted his friend in his arms and grinned.
"Well aren't you going to say anything?" chuckled HoroHoro. Hao looked at him and then back at Opacho. Hao got up onto his feet so HoroHoro copied.
"I'll say, that I have the bestest friends anyone on the planet, could possibly dream of."
"All right man! You're so totally adapting!" cheered HoroHoro.
"I think I so totally am." Laughed Hao.
"Hao-Sama have friends! Real friends!"
"And you know, Yoh was right all along. I was so blind to see. But now, friends really are more important."
"Ah, dude! That's so awesome of you!" HoroHoro yelled.
"Opacho want to draw it on her hand too!" Opacho squeaked, reaching for the charcoal. "Horo-kun help Opacho?"
"Sure thing dudette." He took the charcoal and began to draw the symbol on Opacho's hand. Opacho giggled. "That tickles!"
"Does it?" Hao asked. HoroHoro finished the drawing and looked at Hao. They exchanged glances and approached Opacho simultaneously. "What Hao-sama and Horo-kun doing?" Opacho took a step back. The boys grinned and fell to their knees, reaching out for Opacho. They began to tickle her, and she roared with laughter. "St – St – Stop! Opacho – ticklish!" she panted, between fits of laughter. HoroHoro and Hao began to laugh too. They stopped soon, still laughing. They rolled on the ground, all three, in fits. HoroHoro began coughing, face turning beet red. Hao began to pat him on the back, to stop him from choking. When HoroHoro felt better, they began to laugh again.
"HoroHoro, you are too funny!" Hao exclaimed.
"Not my fault I choked!" He retorted.
"Opacho thinks you are both funny!"
"Dude, I'm starving though."
"Okay well lets go eat!" Hao said, getting up again. Opacho laughed. "Opacho want ice-cream!"
"Sure thing Opacho!" Hao said, picking her up. "Let's go!"
Anna walked in front of Ren and Chocolove, Lyserg and Ryu trailing behind. "I can't believe I'm doing this. It's so unhealthy."
"Come on Anna!" Lyserg giggled. "Everyone needs to have ice-cream first thing in the morning once in their life!"
"Fine."
Anna pushed the door to the ice-cream shop open, and they all walked in. Anna sat down at a table, and told them to order her some peach ice cream. As they stepped up to the counter, Hao, Opacho, and HoroHoro walked in to the store…
Hao was waving his arms madly around either side of him, a huge smile on his face laughing madly. HoroHoro was in non-sound fit of laughter. The kind of laugh you get when you are laughing so hard you aren't making any noises and you are struggling to breathe. Opacho was giggling frantically.
"Yobi samase!" Recited Hao in a long laughing, but supposedly singing voice. Opacho giggled more, and HoroHoro eventually managed to grab a breath.
"Azayaka ni!" he blurted then laughing hard again.
"Let there be light!" shrieked Opacho. Hao and HoroHoro took another breath and forced the ending as loud as they could.
"Revive a soul!" they sang together then almost rolling with themselves amused. Anna and Ren and the others, stood, widened eyed and opened mouthed at the emotion they are seeing them in.
"HoroHoro!" yelled Ren, angered.
"What they hell do you think you are doing?" screamed Anna.
"What is that he's wearing round his neck?" muttered Chocolove nudging Lyserg.
"Why are you so filthy HoroHoro? I thought I'd taught you at least manners!" shouted Anna eyeing his blackened dirty hands. HoroHoro looked up and them still giggling.
"My hand is of great feeling!" he smiled. "So filled with friendship! We have our very own friendship symbols! Look!" he proudly announced lifting his hand into the air, Hao and Opacho copying.
"Do you believe in Destiny!" announced Hao in a voice that made their positions seem like a dance move. Hao laughed dramatically and uncontrollably causing HoroHoro to literally fall to his knees laughing.
"I've never seen Hao act this way…" whispered Anna.
"Why is HoroHoro acting like they are best friends?" muttered Ren, his whisper directed at Anna, yet she didn't seem to hear him. Hao and HoroHoro stood staring at the ice cream selection menu, every few seconds they snorted, trying very hard to stop laughing. Their faces were strait, as they tried to keep the ticks they were getting inside of them from jumping out again.
"Oh! Lime Ice Cream!" yelled Hao making HoroHoro fall into laughter again for no apparent reason.
"Stop talking like that!" laughed HoroHoro.
"Like what?" chuckled Hao.
"That! When you make me laugh!"
"It's not my fault you're in a giddy mood. Nearly everything will make you laugh." Hao glanced around the shop and then pointed to a poster. "Oh look! Double Chocolate Chip only 3 dollars!" HoroHoro then did indeed start laughing again very loudly. Anna and the others blinked.
"What's with him?" said Ryu. "Is he really enjoying himself with Hao?"
"It looks like it." Replied Lyserg.
"He kinda reminds me of…" trailed off Anna.
"It's okay. That's exactly who he is acting like. It's only normal to think he is acting just like Yoh…" said Ren, not quite realizing he just said that out loud.
"What was that?" Anna whispered to him immediately. She raised her eyebrow suspiciously, pretty sure he had just said something about Yoh.
"Erm… nothing. I said nothing." Ren replied, hoping she believed him. She did not, but let his go nonetheless. Lyserg had a dark look in his eyes and his hand was shaking, clenched now into a fist. "That filthy – "
"Lyserg what's the matter?" Ryu asked. Chocolove looked at Lyserg too.
"I think he's going to burst!" he yelled. Ryu shook his head. "Don't be stupid Chocolove."
"I'm not being stupid. What's stupid in here is your hair!"
"What!" Ryu shoved his raspberry ice cream right into Chocolove's face. "Hey!" he yelled. "What was that for!"
"Shut up you two." Ren snapped. He was watching Hao carefully, though he didn't notice. "What do you want Opacho?" Hao asked happily.
"Opacho want pineapple ice-cream!"
"Okay." Hao ordered a pineapple ice cream for Opacho, and paid quietly. He sat Opacho down and handed her her ice cream, and went to order one for himself. HoroHoro bought lime, while Hao got double chocolate chip. "It's been a long time since I had ice cream!" Hao said happily. HoroHoro tried to keep himself from laughing. Hao obviously noticed this and walked over to his friend, patting him on the back. "You okay, HoroHoro?"
This time he couldn't prevent the flood of laughter from coming out.
"Are you quite finished?" Ren shot at them. "Some of us want to order." He gestured to Anna, Chocolove, Ryu and Lyserg. Chocolove shook his head. "No Ren I'm okay I got a whole face full of raspberry right here!" he pointed to the cone still on the end of his nose. Opacho laughed. "Chocolove funny! He is funny!" she shrieked. Hao laughed too, and HoroHoro wasn't able to get off the ground.
"Dear God He's going to pass out," Hao said, picking his friend up. HoroHoro caught his breath and barely stopped laughing. "I'm … fine … Hao … Oh… I dropped my ice cream…" he said, noticing his lime ice-cream on the ground. The pair of them began to snicker as HoroHoro ordered a new one. The man behind the counter was beginning to be a little freaked out by them being there, but he didn't say anything.
"HoroHoro, let's leave before they you have a heart attack…"
"I'm fine dude!" But he head for the door. Opacho got up and followed. Hao waved to everyone in there, smiling almost in a taunting way. As he turned around, Lyserg ran up and punched him in the back of the head. Ren gasped; Ryu's face was pure shock. "Lyserg!" He exclaimed. "What has gotten into you?"
"Now, now." Hao said, slipping back into his enchanting and dangerous voice. "This isn't the place for violence, Lyserg."
Lyserg panted, and threw his fist at Hao's face this time. Hao laughed and grabbed Lyserg's arm. "Nor is this an ideal place to die, Lyserg."
Lyserg's eyes widened. He dropped his arm, and Hao laughed. He walked out the door after his friends.
"Hao, dude! What happened?"
"Nothing really. Little Lyserg lost his temper and punched me. Actually it kind of hurt."
"Oh no! He hurt Hao-sama!" Opacho cried.
"Only a little Opacho. Don't worry. I was just surprised by it is all."
Inside, Ren was holding his chest. Anna looked over at him sternly. "What's wrong?"
"His eyes… did you see that cold look in them? Like he really was going to kill Lyserg… and then he looked right at me… as if he were taunting me to attack."
"He did…?"
"Yeah…"
"I don't quite understand…" said Anna. "I thought for sure if he wanted to, he really would have taken that perfect opportunity, and killed him."
"But…he didn't…" Ren glanced over at the shocked filled Lyserg, stood at the door, staring into nothingness. His face owned the look of a corpse, and his eyes stayed alert and he quietly breathed. Ryu slowly walked up to him.
"Lyserg? Are you alright?" he asked gently. Lyserg shivered and slowly blinked, and then looked at Ryu.
"He…killed…my…" he stammered. "And…HoroHoro…is…"
"It's okay Lyserg, you're fine." Soothed Ryu. "Everything will be okay."
"Fine? Everything will be okay?" Lyserg threw at him. "Fine?" he yelled.
"Hey Lyserg. At least you aren't hurt." Said Chocolove walking up to him. "I mean hey look at me! Snow Problem! Get it? Sn-ow problem? No and Snow?" Lyserg and Ryu blinked at him. "You know ice cream on my face is like snow right? So Snow sounds like No and…" Chocolove shut up when he noticed it wasn't helping in the least. "Sorry…"
"That's okay Chocolove. I know you were only trying to cheer me up." Sighed Lyserg. "Sorry for getting annoyed at you Ryu."
"It's no problem Lyserg. What would I expect after you've been through something like that? To be all happy and okay with it?" friendly replied Ryu. "Don't worry Lyserg."
"He killed my parents…" said Lyserg through his teeth. "I will never forgive him for it…"
Back outside, Hao was rubbing the back of his head under his hair.
"Ow…" he muttered.
"Hey are you sure you are okay dude?" asked HoroHoro licking some of his Lime ice cream.
"Yeah I'm okay." Said Hao. "It did hurt a little." Hao brought his hand back from his head, and suddenly gasped as his hand.
"Hey what's wrong?" asked HoroHoro. "You okay?"
"Yeah it's nothing really." Smiled Hao putting his free hand quickly into his pocket and then licking his chocolate ice cream, which was in his other hand. HoroHoro still looked at him, but Hao just closed his eyes and gave HoroHoro a very cheeky looking smile.
"Okay if you say so." Said HoroHoro continuing with his ice cream.
"My name is Opacho! I am cute and small! I want to be stronger! And…" sang Opacho suddenly becoming silent. "Erm…"
"Big and tall?" added Hao.
"Yeah! Opacho like that!" she grinned. "My name is Opacho! I am cute and small! I want to be stronger! And big and tall!" she skipped around singing her little song. Hao and HoroHoro cooing at her cuteness. They were walking along a wide path, which was empty of people. Since the tournament hadn't even started again.
"I just realized something." Said Hao.
"What?"
"I said I wasn't going to come into the village. I was planning on going all the way there strait away." Said Hao looking at HoroHoro for some kind of reply.
"Well a guy has got to eat. And I wasn't expecting us to wake up on that field." Replied HoroHoro.
"I know I didn't expect that either." Replied Hao. He suddenly looked fully alert and then dropped his ice cream onto the floor, his face seemed confused, and then he jolted back like he had just been hit in the face.
"Wow what the hell is wrong with you?" smirked HoroHoro turning to look at him. Hao was bent down slightly, his hair hanging on either side of his face. He looked up and blinked.
"What happened?" he said standing up strait.
"I don't know but you've dropped your breakfast." Said HoroHoro pointing to the brown chocolate puddle on the floor, the cone stood up in the air.
"Oh that's okay, I'll get over it. I suddenly have lost my appetite." Said Hao patting his stomach. HoroHoro blinked at his hand.
"Hao…" he said his eyes wide at his hand. "Your hand…" Hao looked at his hand, and forgot he was supposed to be hiding it. For Lyserg had drawn blood from his skull, and he didn't want HoroHoro to see.
"It's nothing, Ignore it-" Hao jolted back again, but this time a loud mixture of noises rang in his ears, and then disappeared. Hao looked up at HoroHoro looking scared and then he was forced to land on the floor.
"Hao! What is wrong? Is your head bleeding? We need to get you to someone quickly!" shouted HoroHoro worried, trying to pull Hao back up onto his feet, grabbing him by the hands. Hao's face looked filled with pain. He gave a long agonized yell. HoroHoro gasped. "Hao! C'mon try to stand!"
"What is happening to me!" shouted Hao. Voices rang in his ears, like a bunch of school children all trying to talk at the same time. Hao opened his eyes to see Opacho stood over him.
"Hao-Sama scaring Opacho!" she cried tears spilling from her eyes. Hao's face suddenly became more alert and he cried out again.
"Stop!" he screamed. "No More! I can't take it!"
"Hao c'mon man!" HoroHoro pulled Hao to his feet, but Hao staggered forward and then fell to his knees.
"Stop!" he shouted again. Then all the voices stopped all at once. Hao opened his eyes slowly and lifted his head to see HoroHoro was stood a few feet away with Opacho. They had moved back in fear.
"Are you okay now?" asked HoroHoro quite shook up.
"You scary!" screamed Opacho.
"I'm…scary?" whispered Hao.
'You not Opacho's Hao-Sama. You're scary!'"I'm not scary Opacho I'm your friend!" smiled Hao but then he suddenly screwed his face up again.
'That's…that's not companionship! Everyone will hate your methods and leave you!'
"Manta?" whispered Hao. "He said that to me…"
"What are you talking about Hao? Who said what to you?"
"Hao-Sama talking to self?" asked Opacho a shake in her voice.
"Manta…" whispered Hao again.
'Don't do this! I know you've probably absorbed his soul again! Please! Yoh, if there's anything left of you, help me! Please'
"Ah…!" he moaned. "Why am I hearing these things?"
'I am you and you are me you can not escape that fact…my brother…'"No! Not again!" screamed Hao bending to the ground agonized. "I can't take much more of it."
'He's a demon with a human face!'
'You have killed Yoh!'
'Nothing has gone the way you planned it to!'
'Mother…Father…"
"Lyserg?" Hao sat up properly and blinked hard, ignoring the other voices, as this one stood out to him.
'If only they had listened to what I had to say…' 'Mother…Father…' 'You're so tiny.'"Lyserg…" The voices would not leave, new ones from the past and far past still remained. And haunted him.
'Hao! Have you gone insane?''You meanie!'
'Nothing has gone the way you want it to!'
'Hao!'
'I am you…'
'Even if I alone can't do anything, I can try my best with everyone!'
'The Babylon gate shall defeat all evil…'
'Yoh will never be gone!'
'That's why you won't do!'
'It's unthinkable!'
'This time he's gone too far!'
'The 1080 are our last hope.'
'Bind Him!'
'And you are me…'
'I am right!'
"Huh?"
'I am correct!'"I am…"
'That is the form that nature should take.''Correct?"
'You guys are utter fools… If you hadn't gotten involved with Yoh… You wouldn't have come this far, would you?' 'Who in their right minds would give me a second chance?'"I am correct."
'The thing you guys call 'companionship' only amounts to this.'
'I am right."
"Hao? Are you feeling okay? You keep saying the same thing."
"I am correct…correct…correct…"
"Correct." Hao stood up on his feet. "I am correct."
"Why Hao-Sama keep saying that?" asked Opacho.
"Ah." Hao smiled placing his hand on his chest. "I never noticed up until now, the power I have obtained since I had united with Yoh." He grinned at HoroHoro.
"Hao?"
"Yeah. That is I. Asakura Hao."
"Why are you suddenly talking differently?"
"I have been given a reminder. Of the shaman I once was. I realize, what is the point of being like this? It will not get me anywhere. When I have a great opportunity." Hao looked towards the Great Spirits. "When I first tried, I failed." Hao laughed quietly. "No one on this earth shall give me a second chance, pity for my brother. I'm sure he would have accomplished more in life if I was apart of it."
"Hao? What are you saying?"
"But instead, he is apart of me."
"Hao-Sama?"
"And you may stop calling me that, Opacho."
"Huh?"
"I have no time for friends." Hao lifted his marked hand, and smudged the black friendship marking away, and instead leaving a red mark from the blood that had been removed from his head. Hao looked at his hand. "Oh? Blood?" Hao placed his hand back upon the back of his head, bringing out more blood. "Ah yes. Lyserg. He will pay for that, none the less." He smiled, then slowly lifted the tips of his fingers to his face, and licked the blood from them. "More satisfying than meaningless existences such as ice cream. Blood will make you stronger, my blood that still runs through my veins, even after so long, is still good."
"Hao-Sama, not like friendship necklace too?" whimpered Opacho. Hao looked at her face and down at his bare chest which hung the precious friendship necklace. He sniggered.
"What is the meaning of these things?" Hao reached to the pendant and tugged hard down, snapping the chain behind his neck, each side of the chain falling and hanging on either side of his hand as he looked at it. "Is this supposed to contain some kind of power? Because if not, it has no meaning what so ever to me." Hao turned his hand over, and the opened his fingers as the pendant fell to the floor, Opacho broke down into tears.
"Hao has made Opacho sad!" she cried. Hao just laughed. HoroHoro was staring at Hao, his eyes filled with both fear and sadness.
"Hao you…" he whispered in despair. "I gave you another chance…"Hao closed his eyes, grinning. He sighed, and began to laugh maniacally. Opacho ran and buried her face in HoroHoro's side, hoping that this was all just a horrible dream. "Opacho … so scared…" she whimpered. When Hao calmed down, he looked at the two of them on the ground. His eyes were narrowed and he had a smirk on his face.
"Well, I think if you'll excuse me I have some Great Spirits I need to get to." He said, turning around and walking off. HoroHoro stared, wide-eyed. Opacho wiped her eyes on her arm. "Horo-kun, your friends here…"
"HoroHoro! What was that!" Ren exclaimed, running up to his friend, helping him up.
"I… don't know. Hao just …" he trailed off. Shaking his head, he began to think how foolish he had been. But still…
Ren shook his head in disgust. "We warned you, HoroHoro," he said. The others ran up to them quickly. "See? I was right," Ren told them. "Hao would do something horrible to him. Look, even Opacho." He pointed to the fragile little girl digging her face into HoroHoro's side, crying.
"You're right." Anna said. "Where did he go?"
"To … to the Great Spirits…" HoroHoro replied shakily. He pointed in the direction Hao walked off in. He knew something was wrong. He knew Hao would never do that, not to Opacho anyway. Why had he suddenly begun to act so strangely?
"Let's go. We haven't any time to waste." Anna said, running off. Ren followed suit with Lyserg and Ryu. "HoroHoro," Chocolove said. "You coming too?"
"No… not now…" he said, holding Opacho tenderly. "We … need some time to get over this … if we even can …"
"Okay. Just come when you're ready." And with that, Chocolove too was off.
Once he reached his friends, he told them what HoroHoro had said.
"Even so," Anna said, not looking back at him. "We can't trust him."
"He betrayed us by going with Hao," Lyserg added. "For all we know, they could be staging this whole thing."
"It's a huge slap in the face," Ren muttered. "But it's true. Besides, aren't you even the slightest bit annoyed at him?"
"I suppose…"
"Exactly."
They continued to the Path of the Stars in silence, though each of their heads was buzzing with thoughts and questions.
"Wait…" HoroHoro said. "Opacho…"
"Horo-kun think he know something?" Opacho sniffed.
"Yeah… did Hao fall to his knees?"
"Yes…"
"And start to talk to himself?"
"Yes, Opacho think so…"
"What if…" he began quietly. "He was recalling past memories…?"
"Opacho don't understand."
HoroHoro shook his head. Even if that were true, then Hao wouldn't have changed … would he? "Opacho." He said again, picking her up. "I know Hao used to do this and I hope you don't mind, but…" he put her on his shoulders. "I think something's wrong." He started to walk, though his balance was thrown off by aftershock. "Ouch!" Opacho squealed. "Horo-kun's hair hurt Opacho's hand."
"Yeah careful about that okay?" he said. Closing his eyes, he reflected on what he knew…
"There he is!" shouted Ren, pointing to the huge red demon floating into the expanse. "After him!"
"We'll never get there in time!" shouted Lyserg.
"Don't be so negative!" screamed Anna. "We got there before we can get there again!"
On the spirit of fire, Hao sighed and then looked behind him, to see the path in the background to have several little images running towards him.
"What's the point?" he said. The sound of his voice didn't quite indicate whether he meant, 'What's the point in them following?' or 'What's the point in me doing this?'
Eventually, after short flight, Hao arrived at the beginning of his journey. He walked through a tunnel in the Management Headquarters area and arrived in a large open room. He blinked and looked around the wide-open space surprised no one was around. In front of him, he could see the passage, which led to the Shaman Council room, where Goldva would be. Hao shifted on his feet and started to make his way to the door on his left, which led to a darker room. He peered inside, noticing no light what so ever. He opened his palms in front of him, generating a medium sized flame. Hao's face remained strait, not smiling, not frowning, just a face which held no emotion at all as he stepped in side. He maneuvered around on the spot, trying to work out which way to go. He walked forwards, his steps being the only sound he could hear and they echoed through the whole cave-like room. After a few more seconds the room became light, and he noticed he was stood on the cliff walkway overlooking the entire Forbidden Forest. He smiled as he looked around. He looked down the over looking cliff he had walked out onto, and saw no point in walking down the slope, when it would be a lot easier to jump. So he did. He jumped off the side, and then landed hard on his feet, bending. He stood, and smiled happily. He looked up and the cliff, and it looked a lot further up than it looked down. Obviously, he could tell he was possibly the only one who had done that before. And then he began to walk through the trees in the direction his instinct told him. To wards the Great Spirits.
Meanwhile, elsewhere…
"Guys!" called HoroHoro running, Opacho bopping up and down trying to keep still on his shoulders.
"Slow down Horo-kun Opacho feeling sick." She said gripping his neck to keep still. Anna turned her head to see him following.
"Anna! Wait! I need to tell you something!" he called.
"Can't he just disappear?" she said to everyone. Lyserg turned around on the spot running backwards.
"Go away!" he shouted. "We don't want you with us!"
"Lyserg!" snapped Ren.
"Well I don't want him anywhere near me!" shouted Lyserg. "Betrayer!"
"Please!" gasped HoroHoro actually catching up. "I need to tell you something."
"What ever it is make it quick!" screamed Anna.
"Stop shouting." Said HoroHoro. "There is something wrong."
"Like what?" asked Ren.
"There is something wrong with Hao." He panted out of breath.
"Obviously! He's insane! There's something wrong with his head!" yelled Anna.
"He isn't like that anymore!" shouted HoroHoro.
"Hao-Sama nice! Hao-Sama friend!" squealed Opacho looking annoyed.
"Oh yeah! You think so do ya!" grunted Ren. "Then why did he reduce Opacho to tears, and now he's going for the Great Spirits? Tell me that!"
"And the most important of all! He killed my Yoh! He will pay!" screamed Anna, turning her head to hide the tears that had begun to spill.
"You don't understand!" he continued. "What happened back there was freaky. The dude started crying out, and his head is bleeding! I think you knocked his brain back into evil Lyserg!" screamed HoroHoro.
"Don't blame this on Lyserg!" snapped Ren.
"I'm not, look, he went through something back there. I'm not sure what it was, but it changed his mind on the way he was viewing this whole situation. He starting repeating himself over and over, it was scary man!"
"Hao-Sama break special necklace Opacho give Hao-Sama," whimpered Opacho holding up the broken chain.
"Don't worry we'll fix that." Sighed HoroHoro looking up at her.
"Opacho want Hao-Sama to fix! Opacho want Hao-Sama to be all better…Opacho…Opacho want…" her eyes filled up with tears and then she started bawling. "Opacho want Hao-Sama back! Opacho miss Hao-Sama!" she cried tears pouring like waterfalls. She began to scream and whimper everyone shocked to see her so upset about him.
"It's okay Opacho. Everything will be okay." soothed HoroHoro taking her down off his shoulders and rocking her in his arms. Opacho sniffed.
"Hao-Sama used to rock Opacho when she was crying too." She whimpered.
"I know he did." He whispered slowing down, everyone slowing down slightly too, watching them together. Did they see an image of Hao when they looked at them together? Did they see just how much he really did care for the little girl? "And I know I can't ever be as good as he was to you." He continued. "But he will come back to you, you'll see. The real Hao is in there somewhere, it's up to us to find him." He stroked her fluffy hair and smiled at her.
"The…real Hao?" muttered Anna. What did he mean the real Hao? Surely that is the real Hao that was acting upon his actions now wasn't it? Trying to take the Great Spirits? Hao is evil…
Isn't he?
"The Real Hao?" Lyserg yelled. "The Real Hao! HoroHoro! That is the real Hao!"
"No, its not." HoroHoro replied, a little annoyed. "After just a few moments, I know who the real Hao is. Lyserg, it's the real you I don't know."
With those words, Lyserg stopped in his tracks. He let out a soft whimper, and shook his head, tears beginning to form.
"Manta, I think I hear someone." The Iron Maiden whispered, looking at Manta delicately. Manta's eyes lit up. "It's them!" he cried. He ran off in the direction the sounds of movement were coming from. "HoroHoro! Ren! Lyserg! Ryu! Chocolove!" he called, waving. He stopped when he saw Yoh come forward. Manta stopped, his eyes widening. "Hmm? Manta?"
"It's you! Hao…!"
"What are you doing alive?"
"Well, actually you…"
"I have no time to chat," Hao muttered, moving past Manta swiftly. "I have someone I need to get to."
"Manta!" Jeanne called. "How are they?"
"Oh, I see you brought her with you…" Hao looked up and saw the Iron Maiden walking towards them. Her reaction was much like Manta's.
"Hao! What are you doing here?"
"What does it look like I'm walking of course."
"You won't take the Great Spirits again!" She shot at him. He just shrugged carelessly, not turning around to face her. "And why not?" he asked calmly. This shouldn't be hard.
"Because you are evil!" she said.
Hao smiled, now looking at her. "And why is that?" he asked her.
"You'll kill all who get in the way of your goal!" she screamed at him. Hao laughed carelessly once more. "In that case, I am not the only evil one here, am I right?"
"What?"
"You said it yourself. You'd kill any if it meant destroying me."
"I am only doing what is right."
"Well, so am I!" he chuckled. "Little Maiden Jeanne… so helpless. You couldn't defeat me if you tried to!" Suddenly, Manta felt a need to jump in. "Because your spirit devoured Shamash!"
"Yes, that's right." Hao said. "And apparently Shamash was good."
"You …!" Jeanne said. "You are horrible!"
"I'm only doing what I think is right. More than we can say for you."
"What?"
"You doubt yourself, don't think I haven't noticed. You aren't sure if what you're doing is right or not." He laughed, thinking how easy this was. Jeanne began to spill some tears.
"Stop it … just stop …" she whispered. Hao laughed. Manta ran up to Jeanne and tried to comfort her. "Don't cry, don't cry! Jeanne!"
As the two were preoccupied, Hao saw his chance to leave. He walked away, laughing maniacally.
"Great Spirits!" called Hao, once he had calmed down, looking to the skies. "Great Spirits you can't hide from me!"
"I have witnessed your soul once before…" came a very loud and booming voice.
"What is happening?" said Jeanne looking up at the Great Spirits' soul gathering pillar.
"Come." Said the voice. "I believe you have not changed…"
"Ah." Smiled Hao. "Do you see Jeanne? This is the will, of the Great Spirits!" he yelled, laughing insanely again.
"No…how can that be true? Haven't the Great Spirits learned their lesson?" shouted Manta very surprised. Suddenly, several white shining beams appeared from the sky, a few of them emerged around the area Hao, Jeanne and Manta was stood in, Hao stepping into the nearest one, and vanishing into the light. Manta suddenly began to jog towards the beam. "No! Come back you can't do this!" Jeanne reached forward and stopped him from going any further.
"Manta. We must wait for the others." She said in her calm and soft voice.
"But we…"
"Manta. You being there will not change a thing. We must wait." Manta sighed.
"Okay. If you say so." Suddenly, there came a lot of shouting coming from the forest around the two of them. Manta glanced around shocked. The trees behind them rustled, and HoroHoro appeared out of them.
"He went in that one!" he yelled, running with Opacho on his left arm.
"HoroHoro!" yelled Manta happily. "Quick we've got to stop him! He's going to take the Great Spirits again!"
"Hao! Wait up dude!"
"Hao-Sama wait for friends!" shrieked Opacho.
"We're still here with you!" added HoroHoro, sprinting as fast as he could to the star pillar Hao had vanished into.
"HoroHoro wait!" yelled Ren.
"What is going on Ren?" asked Manta grabbing hold of his trouser leg when Ren ran past him. Ren kept running, forcing Manta to let go, after HoroHoro ignoring Manta's desperate question.
"No! HoroHoro!" he yelled. "Don't go with him!"
"What the hell is going on!" yelled Manta to Lyserg and Chocolove when they ran past, Lyserg grabbed Ren's shoulder, pulling him backwards, Chocolove then grabbed Ren's arm, stopping him from going after HoroHoro. "No! HoroHoro!" screamed Ren reaching his free hand out in the direction HoroHoro was running. HoroHoro didn't give it another thought, and vanished into the light. "HoroHoro!" Ren fell to his knees, Lyserg and Chocolove trying to pull him back onto his feet again when he did. Manta ran to Anna when he saw her.
"Anna! For goodness sake what has happened!" he cried.
"Manta, HoroHoro…is…" she stuttered. "Not like he used to be."
"You mean… He's one of Hao's now?" Manta asked timidly, horror evident in his widened eyes.
"I don't know," Anna sighed. "I just don't know…"
"Hao! Dude, where are you?" HoroHoro called. Not very far away, Hao heard him shout. He laughed quietly. "HoroHoro…" he whispered. Suddenly a tear rolled down Hao's cheek. "What's this … a tear?" he wiped it off his face. "It would appear that Yoh is crying …" he muttered. "But maybe…" he whispered even more quietly, not finishing his sentence.
Look, a reminder.
"I have no need for friends." Hao said, shaking his head to wave away the voices in his ears. "Friends are useless…"
I'll have you a race later HoroHoro!
You killed Opacho's Hao-sama!
Fire and Ice?
He shook his head vigorously again. "Why does this keep happening?" He asked. He fell to his knees. "Stop it… please…"
You tried to save me too?
A … necklace?
My hand is of great feeling!
A symbol of our friendship.
Hao…Yoh… whatever!
Are you okay?
Hao?
"Dude, are you alright?" HoroHoro was standing over Hao, Opacho holding on to his arm worriedly. Hao opened his eyes quickly. "What…?"
"Hao-sama hurt?" Opacho squealed. "Hao-sama scared?"
"No, I'm not … just …" He snapped his eyes shut again, getting up quickly and pushing them aside. He dashed off into the distance, not turning back. He called to them. "Just… stay away from me! I …" he stopped, still running. I don't need them… he thought, I really don't… and besides, I'd never forgive myself … if they got hurt …
"Maybe it was I who was crying … not Yoh …"
"Hey Hao watch where you're going!" called HoroHoro. Hao looked over his shoulder.
"Huh?" and then he suddenly made impact with something and fell to the floor. He shook his head surprised, and looked up, to see a tall pillar. "Oh…how humiliating."
"Show us your soul." Came a voice. "Show us your soul." It repeated.
"You've seen my soul before." He said to them, his face squinting from pain from his sudden landing.
"Hey Hao are you okay?" said HoroHoro trying to slowly approach him.
"Get away from me!" he said quickly jumping up, HoroHoro stepping back. "I just want to get my brother back!" he lied. "That's all!" shouted Hao.
"That is not your soul." From the middle of the pillars, appeared three golden birds.
"What?" muttered Hao surprised.
"Show us your soul." Boomed the voice.
"Fine!" he called. "Have it your way!" the huge Spirit of Fire formed, gusts of wind flying in all directions. Hao's hair lifted up in the wind as he swung his hand forwards, the Spirit of Fire copying, hitting a golden bird with a crucial blow. He then sung his arm back, and his huge spirit elbowed another and the two of them disappeared. Hao turned backwards smacking the third in the face and before HoroHoro had a chance to say anything, Hao started running to the center of the pillars, disappearing through the atmosphere shield. HoroHoro and Opacho, finding no other option, but to follow.
"Hao!" called HoroHoro, panicking.
"Hao-Sama!" cried Opacho. HoroHoro was running with Opacho grasping his right hand, trying her best to keep up. Once they both had made it up the steps onto the huge familiar platform the salvation of the human race took place in, HoroHoro noticed Hao knelt on the ground, grasping his stomach with one arm, and his other hand on his face. "Hao!" called HoroHoro, letting go of Opacho and sprinting towards him. Hao was gasping for breath, almost like he couldn't breathe. His face was screwed into an unimaginable look of pain and he looked like he was about to vomit. "Oh god Hao. What is happening to you?" whispered HoroHoro kneeling beside him. Opacho wouldn't approach, obviously this place brought back many bad memories. Possibly too much to bear for Hao as well. Hao's eyes snapped open suddenly, and he got to his feet.
"Get…away…from me." He said, his spirit appearing once more lifting him off the ground. "I have no time…for friends…"