"Goldva, you may have the Great Spirits, you may even have the Spirit of Fire. You may have everything. I am not resisting, any longer." Everyone looked at him, not hearing or even understanding what he was talking about.
"Hao…" muttered Ren. "What are you…?" Hao held his hand towards Ren, stopping his words from coming out.
"I know what I need to do." He stated. Everyone looked at one another, not certain what he meant. Hao looked at HoroHoro. "I have been given a second chance, from so many different people. I know this, is such a wonderful miracle. HoroHoro treated me like he had known me his entire life, from the teachings of my younger brother." He looked at Anna. "Yoh was the first to see that maybe even I could have a new life. He never doubted me." He sighed. "No matter what I can't seem to face that I will never be able to be a part of his life. Just look at what I've caused." He opened his hands out to either side of him, which indicated Anna's tears, who was knelt on his right. Ren's rage, who was stood on his left. And the Golden Spirit of Fire, which was stood directly behind him. "I shall destroy the Spirit of Fire, with the help of a few friends. Ren." He looked at Ren. "HoroHoro." He looked at the Patch. "Let him free."
"How do we know this is not some trick you're trying to pull?" asked Goldva. Silva sighed.
"His approach is sincere, I think we should give him a chance." said Silva.
"Silva are you mad? You're talking about Hao!" cried Karim.
"I know it sounds crazy. And I am not certain what he is about to do. But what ever it is, I'm sure he will put things right." Explained Silva. Goldva sighed heavily.
"Very well." He muttered. HoroHoro suddenly blinked hard and then looked around him.
"What the hell is going on?" HoroHoro gasped. He turned to look at Hao. "Hao! What's happening…" he then noticed everyone looking at him. "Huh? What the…" then he noticed the Golden Spirit of Fire. He blinked again and looked at Hao. "Do I really want to know?" he asked him. Hao shook his head.
"Hao. What do you need us to do?" asked Ren, taking a step towards him.
"When the Spirit of Fire is destroyed, the Great Spirits will return to its rightful place. The power that will be released will be very powerful, and may even destroy us." Explained Hao.
"Then… it's suicide!"
"No. It's not. I will not allow any of you to be harmed, I will be the one to destroy it, and I will be the one to be destroyed."
"Hao…"
"Exactly what happened last time… will happen again. Except this time, our entire fate rests with you. You all must work together to weaken it." he looked towards the group of shamans, whom he now considers his friends.
"But Hao… if you die… then…"
"I will not allow Yoh to die too." said Hao.
"I do not understand." Replied Ren.
"I will part from Yoh just before the blast kills me. The power around me will be enough to obtain to part from him, from there I will surrender my power to him so he will not be harmed." Explained Hao.
"I still don't get it." said HoroHoro. "If we need to fight it, how will you destroy it?"
"Because I will not aid it to defend itself. I will remain with it as you fight it. Once it becomes weak enough, I'll break the Oversoul just in time for it to collapse and implode. Which will give you enough time to clear the area, and not be harmed by the explosion. Once the Spirit of Fire disintegrates, Yoh should remain." Hao finished closing his eyes. Anna got on her feet and approached him. She shakily put her hands to her face, blinking tears out of her eyes. Hao opened his eyes to her.
"Th…thank you…" she whispered through her fingers. She put her hands to her sides, finding it unbearable. "Thank you." Hao smiled at her.
"Yoh misses you Anna." He said.
"I miss him too…" she replied nodding her head slowly.
"It's okay. Everything will be okay soon." smiled Hao. Anna nodded, then turned to stand with the others. From out of the crowd of puzzled shamans, Opacho crept out and slowly waddled towards Hao.
"Hao-sama." She called innocently. Hao looked at the little girl approaching him. "Hao-sama." She called again.
"Opacho." Grinned Hao. Once she had reached him Hao knelt down and picked her up. She wrapped her arms around his neck and cuddled him. Hao held her tightly. She looked at his face. "Opacho was worried about Hao-sama." She said.
"I'm sorry I worried you." Chuckled Hao, hiding his guilt.
"Why Horo-kun and Ren-sama both look so sad?" asked Opacho looking at them. HoroHoro smiled intently at her, but then walked away followed by Ren, leaving them together.
"Did you hear anything I was saying to Ren and HoroHoro?" asked Hao, hoping her answer would be no. Opacho shook her head.
"No. Opacho was too afraid of that." Opacho pointed to the Spirit of Fire, which golden colour shone brightly.
"Do not be afraid of him. He won't harm you."
"Now we find Hao-sama, can we go home now?" asked Opacho. Opacho gazed at Hao for an answer, he struggled to think of his reply. He smiled despite how he felt.
"Opacho. I won't be coming home." He said quietly.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because, I will be going away for a while."
"When will you come back?" asked Opacho.
"Yes. I do forgive you …Opacho's Hao-sama. I do."
Hao screwed his eyes tightly, and opened them when he felt two small soft hands touch his face.
"Hao-Sama…" she whispered.
"Opacho. I won't be coming back." He said, trying to sound as serious as he could, although it came out softly. Yet the words had the same impact on the child. She didn't say anything, she just gazed and gazed into his eyes like the words he had spoken had flew over her head and vanished. The silence remained, even as her eyes began to slowly fill with tears. "Opacho…" Hao attempted to comfort her, but she began to push away from him. She wanted to be put down. "Oh please Opacho." Hurriedly said Hao before he lost the grip of her and she jumped to the ground. She quickly got to her feet and began to run away from him towards HoroHoro. Hao attempted to follow her but then stopped when she broke down into tears. She stopped running and just screamed in her position, bawling uncontrollably. It broke Hao's heart to see her that way. HoroHoro approached her and lifted her into his arms. HoroHoro looked over at Hao who returned his look. Hao couldn't find the right words to say, or the right things to think.
Maybe destiny was just too much to bare.
"Hao," HoroHoro said, looking at his friend sadly. Hao did not return the glance, now looking at his feet. He nodded.
"I'm going now."
"What? Now?"
"Yes…"
"But… Isn't there another way?" Ren suggested.
"Quiet, all of you. You're only making this hard." said Hao.
"Well you're making it hard for us," HoroHoro snapped.
"Shut up!" Anna yelled, punching him in the stomach. HoroHoro was reduced to the ground, gasping for air. Hao snickered, Ren began laughing. Soon that caused them all to laugh, even in this grim time. Why did this all have to happen, anyway? Hao wondered. Why was I so weak?
Ren noticed Hao was making himself feel bad and decided to get the whole thing over with. "Come on, cheer up." He said. "Isn't this what you want?"
"To bring Yoh Back? Of course. To die? No…"
"I am sorry…" Ren said.
"It is not your fault. It is my own… I should never have been weak enough to allow him to get to me."
"Every one is weak at some point," Ren said. "It's natural."
"Thank you for trying to console me," Hao replied. "You're a good friend."
"Heh. Let's just get this over with so we don't have to see you complain anymore."
"Sounds fine to me."
Hao grinned at the people around him. This was a difficult time. But there was still one person he had to speak to first. Hao closed his eyes, and concentrated on his younger twin. The wind flowed around him and the sun stroked his face. The ground seemed to disappear beneath his feet. His friends vanished and seemed far away, when he opened his eyes, there he was. They were stood in a beautiful atmosphere, surrounded by trees and flowers. Birds danced in the sky and the sun shone brightly. It had never been so beautiful before. Now it was extra special.
"You're smiling." Sighed Hao, breathing deeply enjoying the sun's warmth.
"I know. What you are doing for everyone is wonderful." Replied Yoh.
"But you're not mad?" asked Hao. Yoh shook his head.
"No. I'm not going to be selfish anymore. This is what everyone wants." Said Yoh. Hao looked into his brother's eyes, even though they glowed with agreement, Hao could see past that and saw into his brother's soul.
"You do not want this." Sighed Hao, putting a hand to Yoh's shoulder.
"I wish you didn't need to go…" admitted Yoh. "Isn't there something else you could do?" Hao shook his head slowly.
"No. And I'm sorry."
"You shouldn't say sorry. This was my fault."
"Don't say that Yoh."
"It's true…" Yoh looked into his elder brother's eyes. "I want to cry but I can't find the tears…"
"That's because you know deep inside you that this is the right thing to do." Smiled Hao. Yoh's head slowly sank to face the ground, until Hao lifted his chin to face him. "Hey. No matter what, I'll always be your twin brother, right?" Yoh nodded, smiling.
"Yeah…"
"You won't forget me will you?" asked Hao. Yoh laughed slightly.
"How can anybody forget someone like you?" he giggled. "No I will never forget you. I swear."
"I just wish, that when you return to the world, I could be there to see you." Sighed Hao. Yoh placed his hands on Hao's face.
"You'll always see me. I know you'll be there." Hao grasped his twin in his arms and hugged him tightly. Yoh held him too.
"This is it." Whispered Hao.
"I know." Muttered Yoh.
"We've been through a lot. Any regrets?" whispered Hao.
"None."
"Really?"
"No regrets." Grinned Yoh.
"Same here…" A short silence grew, until Hao broke the grip. "Are you ready?" he smiled.
"For what?" said Yoh even though he knew what he meant.
"To say goodbye…"
"I'm ready. But I don't want to." He sighed.
"I'm really proud of you, Yoh." Smiled Hao. Yoh smiled back.
"That's me. Asakura Yoh." Sighed Yoh, still smiling. Hao laughed.
"Good." He chuckled.
"So now the time has come…" sighed Yoh, sadly.
"Try hard to smile Yoh." Smiled Hao. "This is really hard, but we can do this together. Just like we've done everything else as one. Together as a whole." Stated Hao.
"It's been an experience I'll never forget." added Yoh.
"Goodbye Yoh…"
"Goodbye Hao…"
"Hao." Whispered Anna, standing before him. Hao slowly reopened his eyes back in the real world. "What did he say?" she asked, knowing what had just happened. Ren looked slightly confused, but some how understood what she meant by that question.
"Is he okay?" asked Ren. Hao smiled.
"He's just fine. He's never been this happy. I am relieved." Grinned Hao.
"Did he say anything about me?" asked Anna.
"We said goodbye. And he said he is pleased what I'm doing for everyone. I can tell he has missed you. Just like I will miss you too…" Hao looked at Anna and then to everyone else. "I'll miss all of you." HoroHoro smiled.
"You take care, dude." He said. "You've come a long way to get this far."
"I know. I wouldn't have done it without you and your friends." Replied Hao.
"They are your friends too." said Ren. Hao looked to everyone. Chocolove, Ryu, Manta, Lyserg and everyone else. Everyone seemed to be there, and not too far away Yoh was there too. He lay peacefully amongst the group of his closest friends, just how he should be.
"You know, from the very beginning, I am certain that Yoh knew that some how… it'll all work out." sighed Hao.
Hao looked over to HoroHoro and Ren. They didn't look at all happy about what is about to happen, but didn't say anything. Their faces showed how they felt however. "You guys know what to do right?" asked Hao. HoroHoro shrugged.
"Well… yeah…" muttered HoroHoro.
"I am not happy about it." Added Ren.
"How do you think I feel?" said Hao.
"That's not what I meant." Sniffed Ren.
"Okay. Enough chat. I want to get this done as soon as possible." said Hao. "I will position myself on the Spirit of Fire, and then I want you two to begin pummeling it as hard as you can. Weaken it. Get others involved if it helps you."
"Alright…" said Ren.
"This is it?" asked HoroHoro.
"This is it." Nodded Hao.
"Hao. You're a really good friend. I'm grateful for Yoh to be able to teach that to me." said HoroHoro, holding his hand out to Hao. Hao took it, grinning as they shook hands.
"Yeah. Same goes for me." said Ren, holding his hand to Hao too. Hao released HoroHoro and shook Ren's hand as well.
"Hao! Knock, knock!" called Chocolove, running towards him.
"Who's there?" Chuckled Hao, holding his hand towards Chocolove, and they shook hands too.
"I am. And I always will be there." said Chocolove, smiling.
"You're so soft." Laughed Hao, punching his arm.
"Hao." Smiled Anna. "From all of us…" she looked towards everyone and then back at him. "Thanks." She finished.
Hao just nodded.
"All right then. Let's go."
It was happening.
After waiting so long, it was finally happening.
"Keep it up! That's it you can do it HoroHoro!" shouted Hao.
HoroHoro hit again, harder. Ren joined in, slashing into its skull.
"Bason!" called out Ren. Bason gave a grunt of agreement, like Ren had called out a command, not just his name.
"Well done Ren!" cheered on Hao.
"They've been fighting for so long…" whispered Anna. "How much longer will this take?"
"I don't know." Replied Manta.
"Look at Hao." She said.
"I am."
"He looks different."
"I know." He replied. "I know."
"Arggh! Kororo! Again!" screamed HoroHoro. Chocolove chipped in, followed by Ryu. Lyserg threw a blow too. They had been fighting long and hard, Ren looked to Hao.
"Now?" Ren shouted.
"No keep going!" replied Hao. "Again!"
So they kept fighting. Hao fell to one knee, thrown off by the constant clashing of his spirit. He glanced to the distance, where the Patch and the rest of them were standing, watching. Opacho would have been there too, watching him being killed.
"Now?" HoroHoro shouted. Hao shook his head.
"Again!" he replied. "Keep it up!"
"Okay everyone, together!" shouted Ren to his comrades. HoroHoro, Chocolove, Lyserg and Ryu all nodded.
"Now!" they charged the spirit as one, all of them throwing their furyoku into the same place. Hitting the spirit dead on.
It shook suddenly, and staggered. Hao did the same. He fell to both his knees, gasping for oxygen. He lifted his head, and nodded. "Okay!" he called out. "Now go!"
Lyserg, Ryu, Chocolove and Ren all did as instructed. They fled.
"HoroHoro! Now!" shouted Hao, staring at his friend.
"Hao…" muttered HoroHoro.
"Go! I can do it!" he persuaded. "Now!"
HoroHoro nodded. "See ya, dude." He muttered, almost overwhelmed. He turned, and followed the others.
"Okay Yoh." Sighed Hao. "Here we go…"
He reached down with both of his hands, his weak Oversoul began to dissolve beneath him. It soon gave way, and fell into itself. Hao fell, falling into the great over powering warmth of his Oversoul. He looked up, expecting to see a sky, but all he saw was a golden glow. He kept on falling, if he was going to do it, this was the time.
He held his hands out either side of him, reaching into his power with his own fingers. He pulled energy toward him, and released it. A blinding light shone, piercing out of his body like a shooting star. It glowed greatly, overpowering him. Hao blinked open his eyes, as he felt half of him vanish. Above him, where he once saw a never-ending oblivion, now shone two friendly eyes, a happy smile. A face.
"Yoh." Smiled Hao, closing his eyes once more. "I did it."
"You're not going anywhere, not if I can help it."
"What do you mean?" said Hao, opening his eyes again. "This will kill me. Only one can survive."
"We are one, remember? We can both survive."
"Yoh…"
"Trust me."
Hao opened his eyes once again, Yoh was holding a hand to him. It almost seemed like a gesture, but it was more than that.
That hand was about to save his life.
"I trust you…" sighed Hao. Hao took the hand gently, gripping his fingers. The half of him that had left suddenly rushed back. But just as a feeling. Yoh made him complete, whether he was part of him or not.
The light began to fade…
It didn't seem real…
Where only one was meant to lay alive, there lay the Asakura Twins.
Side by side, attached by the hand.
Yoh and Hao, together.
At last.