Author's Note: Yuuki~desu! Hey there! Finally the moment you've been all waiting for! The first interaction between Yin and Hao! So... What is their relationship like? Do they hate each other? Is it all a business? Or is it something more personal? You'll have to read on to find out!

Cheongsam – chinese female dress like the one Jun wears

Jian – chinese sword (forgot to mention this one in the last chappie)

FONT EXPLANATION:

"Characters Talking"

Main character thinking

Stressing something or time skips announcements

"Main character's spirit talking"

Chapter 9: Home Sweet Home

After my not-so-great escape from the Tao mansion, I decided getting back home as quickly as I could was my top priority. Thankfully, I had my spirit to help with that.

Traveling in the Shadow Realm was easier and much faster than going by train or even boat thanks to the distortion of time, but it had its own disadvantages. No change of scenery and lack of sounds were only few of those.

"Hey, Yami?" I finally broke the heavy silence settling upon us.

"Yes, Mistress?"

"Do you... Do you think I did the right thing, leaving like that? I mean, I did leave behind Yoh..." I mumbled, hoping the spirit would somehow help lift my mood.

Yami, however, opted to stay silent.

"Okay, I got it. I screwed up." And Hao won't let me forget about it for a long, long time. I added to myself, gulping. "Let's just hope we manage to squeeze in some rest before the interrogation."

"Yeah, let's." sighed my spirit sounding uncharacteristically exhausted.

Two days later...

For the first time in two long months, I was standing at the front porch of my house.

Frantically digging inside the travel sack I got from mother, I pulled out my house key and rammed it into the lock. Once I heard the familiar 'click' I slid the door open and locked it behind me, purely out of habit.

Kicking off my white silk flats, I strode down the hallway like a zombie, excessive use of furyoku leaving me fatigued, exhausted and a bit on the edge.

I didn't bother to look around, I simply marched into my room, grabbed clean underwear from my dresser and practically ran into my personal bathroom.

After taking a quick hot shower, I put on the underwear and short, black silk bathrobe like I always did after cleaning up. Brushing my teeth in record speed, I got out of the small tiled room and threw myself on my queen-sized bed with purple sheets. Totally drained, I managed to muster up enough energy to get under the comforter and fell asleep like a baby.

I woke up to feeling my bed's mattress dip under added weight.

"I didn't expect you to return in another week or two." said a deep baritone from behind me.

I groaned inwardly, already feeling miserable. "Things happened." I answered gruffly, refusing to turn around and face the one who invaded my most personal space so casually.

My flatmate chuckled, his warm breath tickling the short hair at the nape of my neck. "I can see that."

"That's great." I said wryly. "Then I'm sure you can see why my report will have to wait for a few hours."

He outright laughed then, making me cringe at the loud sound when all I wanted was to go back to sleep. "Fine then," he agreed at last. "Have your few hours of dreamless sleep. But know I'll expect your full report in the afternoon."

I nodded, just grateful he complied.

My mind was about to be claimed by the land of dreams when he spoke again.

"Aren't you going to tell me to get out of your bed?" He sounded highly amused, which in turn inspired my own mischievous persona, though I managed to squash it down.

"We both know you wouldn't listen to me even if I told you to. Now just let me sleep, Hao."

His silence was as good as yes, so I let myself drift off again, lulled by his soft chuckles.

When I woke up again, I was alone. And thank all deities for that.

I grabbed my usual clothes consisting of an extremely short, fitting sapphire blue cheongsam top that reached barely two and half inches past my breasts, short white cycling shorts, sapphire blue loincloth and my spare silver sash and went back to the bathroom, trying to make myself look presentable.

I brushed up half of my hair, putting it on top of my head as a bun, held in place by a simple silver hairpin with black pearl on top of it, while letting the lower half of my hair fall freely over my shoulders. All that was left was to strap on my white oracle bell.

Now I'm ready to face the world. I thought grimly, remembering that to face the world, I would have to first face Hao and possibly, his disappointment.

Taking one last look around my disarrayed safe haven, I stepped out, heading for the living room.

"Ah! Yin-sama! Welcome home." chirped a kid's voice.

I couldn't help but smile. The little african child always managed to caress that soft spot I had. "Hello to you too, Opacho."

Dutifully, the little girl moved a little to the right, making space for me on the couch. Not wanting to offend her, I sat down, still smiling.

"How was your trip to China?" she asked, her guileless eyes shining with a little knowing spark.

I, being used to living with two people who can read minds, let her fully into mine, blurring the most gruesome and cruel scenes a little.

"Awww. Opacho wanted to see pandas, too!" she cried out when she was done, slight pressure of her mind on my own receding.

I sweat-dropped. All of those fights and she picks up the most insignificant thing that happened to me on my way there?

"I'm sorry, dear. Maybe next time we'll all go?" I asked, already picturing our odd group climbing the mountains of China and exploring its forests.

Opacho pouted but nodded. "Okay."

"Oh? So you've been to China..." said Hao, who was now leaning against the door frame leading into kitchen. "Without telling me, too." he added, his eyes darkening.

Chills running down my spine, I tried to cover it by scratching the back of my head nervously. "Ha ha. I guess I forgot to tell you, in all that hurry..."

"Is that so?" he smiled coldly and my blood practically froze.

Well damn. This doesn't look good.

Years of experience taught me that when Hao started forcing his smile, you either ran or started begging. With running away being out of question, and begging not being my style, I had think of something else. Like trying to amend my mistake.

"How about we do this the quick way? I haven't eaten anything in..." I stopped, trying to remember when exactly I had last had any meal. "Three days?" I said, astonishing even myself.

Hao frowned, crossing his arms on his chest. "I thought you hated it when I probed around your head."

"I don't exactly hate it when you read my mind. I just hate it when you use what you see to tease me afterwards." I grumbled, trying hard not to remember of all those times he revealed my secrets and got me into some really embarrassing situations.

After a long staring contest between us, he sighed and moved to stand above me, not breaking the eye contact.

With a weak shudder, I lowered my inner defenses further than I had when I let in Opacho.

Remembering the process, I pictured myself sitting in the tree that day when Bason came to ask Yoh for help. Once the image crystallized, I handed the control over to Hao, whose heavy presence already invaded my unprotected privacy.

Together, we watched everything that happened between my decision to follow the group of misfits and my sudden leave of the Tao mansion. I cringed every time Hao stopped the memory images and asked me to elaborate on something.

I would always glare at him, knowing full well he knew my reasons. He was in my head, after all. He knew everything I did and thought at the time.

When we were done, I felt ready to attack the fridge. I was so hungry, I was willing to eat about anything.

Hao smirked at me, probably enjoying seeing me so restless.

"I hate to tell you this," he started, my dread flaring up. "There is nothing left in the fridge. Or the pantry."

My eyes almost bulged out. "What?!" I hissed, standing up. "You can't be serious!"

"It's true!" piped up Opacho defensively. "Hao-sama and Opacho have gone camping for the last two weeks and only returned this morning."

I died a little on the inside when the little girl confirmed Hao's announcement. B-But the closest supermarket is 20-minute's walk away!

Still mentally unstable, I fought back the tears that threatened to spill. Seeing this, Hao broke out into hysterical laughter, which served as the push I needed.

"Hao." I growled and latched onto his wrist. "You, me, shopping. Right now." Opacho looked at me questioningly and I motioned for her to come too before I led our group out of the house.

Hao didn't protest or even try to free his arm from my grasp throughout all of our little journey. He simply continued to chuckle.