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hao-and-yoh · 11 days ago

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“Fractured Duality” - Vol. 3

Continued from here. Go to the FD Vol 3 Master Post here.

*****

“I created this world exactly how you remembered it, exactly how you lived it. You never knew the world outside of this place, and your memories, though vast and complex, have many gaps and imperfections. Your Yoh is even more saturated than you are – as he existed only in your fabricated mind… …If I expand this world to reflect a more “true” version of reality – I cannot promise it will be perfect. I cannot guarantee your happiness, or his.”

“There’s no such thing as a perfect world. Though I suppose you know that now.”

“Indeed.” “I don’t want a “perfect” Yoh or a “perfect” world. I just want my brother to have a chance of a real life. Or at least, the closest thing he can have to that. I will do anything, your majesty… Even if…

…it means taking me out of the equation…”

***** Chapter 9 - "The Emptiness Machine"

The Subsidiary Commune [The Illusionary World] Fabricated Present Day The Patch Village - Proxy Fight Day One

(1)

On the edge of the Illusionary Patch Village, secluded by a wall of lush trees, there stood a small cottage-like lodging. Rippling gently beside it ran a babbling brook that fed into a nearby stream.

Standing ankle-deep in the shallow waters, Hao found himself gazing at the giant living current of the Great Spirits once again. He knew it was unwise to look at it directly—but even so, he had stood there for quite some time...

...smiling.

Inhaling deeply, he lowered his gaze to his feet and carefully stepped out of the water. He reached for his freshly washed attire and pulled the greyed trousers back on to his clean naked body.

“Hm,” he huffed, noting the uncomfortable fit as his mind recalled his missing staple accessory.

He briefly registered the cold chill on his shoulders as his soddened hair clung to his wet skin. He grumbled a bit at the dampness of his clothes. He swiftly remedied the situation with a gentle invisible heat wave across his body. Steam began to emanate through the wet material as he dried himself almost instantly.

He reached for his new device and with both hands began to tap at the screen,

“Nichrom.”

“Silva.” he argued.

There was a silent pause in his mind as he sent off the instant message. His eyes drifted upwards as he awaited his other’s response.

“If you say so.” came the short reply.

Hao smiled warmly and nodded his head, satisfied that the minor disagreement with himself was resolved.

He began to make his way to the cottage. Stepping inside the open door, he paused for a moment as his eyes scanned the simple interior.

It was exactly how he remembered. All the way down to the crumpled sheets of the single futon bed closest to the front window. It was like he had never been away. The sight of the child’s slept-in bed tugged at his heart, though.

“It’ll be okay. We will see her again. She’s safe.” gently said the voice in his mind. A wave of reassurance accompanied the words. The fire shaman let out a long pleasant sigh in response.

“I know.” he silently replied as a small smile found its way to his face again – grateful for the other’s comforting presence.

He slowly approached the singular dresser by the far side wall. He delicately traced the smooth wooded pine with his fingertips as he gracefully moved across the floor to the furniture piece he was most intrigued to see: the free-standing bronze framed full-length mirror.

He hesitated.

“It’s okay.”

Keeping his gaze lowered to the floor, Hao cautiously stepped in front of the frame. He slowly, somewhat nervously, lifted his head. A smile once again appeared on his lips. It took a second or so to recognise himself. Not seeing the face of someone else - or just not blacking out for God knows how long - somehow felt… unnatural. He leaned in slightly to get a closer view of his own sparkling all-black irises…

A familiar pleasant wave began to wash over him…

“Hao.” came a stern and very recognisable voice, breaking the silent air.

Unfazed, Asakura Hao did not turn around to greet his summoned visitor.

“Silva.” he answered to the mirror. His dark voids drifted to the corner of the frame. He smiled at the reflection of the Patch member standing directly behind him.

A short silence grew in the small room.

“Is there something you require?” formally enquired the officiant.

“My personal effects.” he matter-of-factly replied, “I had them in the café. May you see to it they are returned?”

“Yes. Will that be all?”

Hao grinned. He kept his gaze on his own reflection for a moment longer before he finally pulled himself away from his own face and turned around to greet the new face in the room.

“Are you in a hurry?” he asked curiously, tilting his head to the side as his eyes scanned the draped attire of the other from head to toe.

“I have other duties. Yes.” Silva short-handedly responded.

A flicker of genuine dissatisfaction appeared on the fire shaman’s face,

“I see.” he muttered, taking a step towards the dresser once more. “Must be nice to have something easier to do now,” Hao attempted to suppress the corners of lips from curving upwards even more as he drawled on, “I imagine your duties with my royal self were rather complex, given the nature of the circumstances you were in?”

Silva sighed in irritation, weighing the strange implication behind the words. He wasn’t used to such callous lazy attempts to gain intel—at least from any version of Hao he was familiar with.

“I am not permitted to discuss my duties with the King with Proxy Fight contestants.” he remarked back, coldly.

“Not even with the King’s own copy?” chuckled Hao as the childish smirk found its way to his lips after all. He locked his sinister gaze upon the other shaman.

“Especially not with you.” abruptly snapped back Silva.

Hao let out an amused chortle at the officiant’s formal and suspicious demeanour.

“Come now Silva. It’s not as though speaking to a multi-faceted version of me is new. This is familiar territory for you. If anything, I must be easier to talk to.”

Hao leaned back casually against the dresser and crossed his arms. A kind smile radiated from his friendly features as the hard lines in his face softened again.

Unmoved by the strange hot-and-cold demeanour of the other, Silva stood firm.

“I know who you are. I know who both of you are. You are not the only “multi-faceted” being in this room.” went on Silva, he lowered his head slightly and glared at the illusionary variant of the Shaman King from beneath his tribal head dress. He watched as a menacing glint appeared in Hao’s eye.

“Just as I thought. You are my Silva, after all.” mused the dual minded one.

Silva raised an eyebrow at the odd statement. Seeing the confusion on his descendant’s expression, Hao continued,

“Oh it’s just a silly little anecdote my brother and I came up with,” he candidly chuckled, “My Silva, simply translates to - you came from the same living world I originated from.”

The taller one’s eyes softened at the mention of another shaman who dwelled within the Village.

It was at that moment Silva was reminded of the nature of the one in front of him.

Perhaps he had been too reserved. These were, after all, unfortunate circumstances for all involved…

“In a way.” confirmed Silva, his voice somewhat softer than before, “The Patch Tribe all share the collective knowledge from all ourselves from across realities.”

A devilish smirk appeared on the shorter one’s face once more,

“Then it sounds to me like I am the one with the least complicated mind here. You must get a headache with all of you up there.” joked Hao. When a low rumbling snicker purred from the throat of the King’s copy in response to his own words, an unpleasant grimace momentarily flickered across the features of the King’s servant.

…yet there was another in the room whose nature was very much present.

“Will there be anything else?” demanded Silva, unable to hide his agitation.

Hao paused for a moment as he considered the question. Then he nodded his head.

“Yes.” he began, slipping into a much gentler timbre, “I wondered if you would be so kind to lend me your poncho. I find myself without proper clothing. I did have a suitable garment, but unfortunately it was destroyed by another fellow contestant. I would be grateful and… I promise to return it.”

Silva hesitated as he observed the other’s uncharacteristic genuine and sincere tone.

Did Hao Asakura just ask him nicely for a favour?

In all of his many lives, in every variation of his experience with the troublemaker in front of him, he most certainly was not familiar with these particular circumstances.

A moment of awkward silence grew before the tall long-haired officiant slowly removed his tribal poncho drapes and calmly handed the soft material to the half-naked shaman.

“You may keep it. I have the means to obtain another.” he quietly muttered, keeping his gaze away from the recipient of his gesture.

The other’s face brightened up as he happily accepted the offering.

“That is very kind of you! Thank you very much.” gleefully chimed Hao, quickly pulling the garment over his head and allowing it to fall to his frame. He instantly hopped over to the full-length mirror once more to view his appearance. He flashed a toothy grin at his own reflection. The onyx-coloured irises looking back at him seemed to glisten with genuine joy.

Silva watched on curiously at Hao’s overjoyed and grateful behaviour. A cautious smile crept onto his face,

“You’re welcome.” he said quietly, his surprise ringing clear in his tone. As Silva observed the friendly mannerisms of the strange shaman, it was easy to compare him to another identical face he was a lot more familiar with. The cautious smile on his face quickly faded.

“Do you…” hesitantly began Silva. He cleared his throat a bit before continuing, “Do you wish for any… messages… to be passed along to anyone?”

It took a moment for the officiant’s words to land with the distracted shaman. Hao blinked and quickly brought himself back to the situation at hand.

“Oh yes!”

Asakura Hao spun himself back around. His new gifted attire danced around him as it tried to keep up with his exaggerated excitable movements.

“Please see to it any new arrivals looking for me are directed here. This will be my stationed accommodation. Although technically, as you know, it already was.”

Silva hesitated. At that moment, the Shaman King’s clear and strict instructions echoed in his mind. His resolve returned to his duty.

“Of course.” he said with a polite nod. The officiant watched as Hao turned himself back to observe his own reflection once more. Another genuine and delighted smile appeared on the fire shaman’s face as he admired his own appearance.

Satisfied the extremely awkward conversation was over, Silva began to take his leave.

“Oh - and Silva?”

“Yes?” he breathed as he turned himself back around. He knew there would be more demands!

Asakura Hao locked eyes with the officiant in the mirror.

“It’s good to see you again.” said Hao with a genuine inflection, nodding his head in gratitude.

Silva paused at the doorframe. He bowed his head in response before finally making his escape from the scenario, politely closing the door behind him as he did so. A silence grew in the room as the dual minded individual was left alone with his own reflection.

“You were right. Silva was the right call.”

“I’m right about a lot of things. You should try listening to me more often.”

A playful gentle laugh purred inside his skull.

“It looks good on us.”

“It does.” Hao agreed aloud.

“Feels warmer.”

“Hm.” he mumbled.

“Feels cosier.”

“Yeah…”

“Leaves more to the imagination…”

A tight, sudden knot twisted in Hao’s abdomen, sharp enough to steal his breath. His stomach lurched with a strange flip, then dropped violently, dragging his strength down with it. His knees buckled as he staggered forward, clutching at the sides of the frame for support—only to shove the mirror backward with the force of his grip, nearly sending it crashing to the floor.

“Nn- !” he winced, eyes wide. “What was that for?”

“I seem to recall you argued with me.”

“You just admitted I was right!”

“You were. But, consider this a reminder to not cross me.”

Hao smirked. He leaned in closer to the mirror, staring straight into his own eyes.

“Ooh. I’m soo scared.” he laughed, mockingly. “What are you —?”

Hao had to stabilise himself against the frame once again as another tantalising sensation began to radiate from the inside. This time it spread down both of his legs, causing him to buckle again and force his weight on the frame. After a moment - the flimsy mirror gave in - and it loudly snapped back to the floor with the succumbed shaman kneeling on top. One distinct fracture struck through the glass, splitting his reflection in half.

Now looking down to the floor at his own mirrored face, something about those circumstances felt much more familiar to him.

“That’s seven years bad luck.” Hao whispered, taking a deep inhale in as he tried to steady his breath and racing heart.

“We’re going to have a lot longer than that.”

Before Hao could ask the demon to explain the meaning of his words, that all-consuming pleasurable wave returned to his mind once again. He slowly lowered his head as he absorbed every bit of it. His long hair drooped across the mirror under his writhing hands.

“Remember, you’re all mine now.”

“Yes.” he softly replied, followed by a shuddering sigh.

The pulsating pleasure rushing through his fabricated core cemented him in place. He slowly opened his eyes and observed his split reflection. He noticed how the lips in the bottom half of his mirrored face seemed to curve more unnaturally than his regular smile.

“Zeke,” he breathed, a little nervously. “What… else can you do?”

The second smile in the mirror opened a little wider.

“Anything I want.”

Asakura Hao felt his face flush in response to his internal second self’s words. He knew his thoughts, like his body, were also shared with his other half - and there was no point in trying to deny or hide the intense excitement Zeke’s words had induced in him. Feeling somewhat vulnerable, he shifted himself on the mirror, as he attempted to get away from the eyes that were staring intensely into his own.

The sound of a clicking tongue rang out in his head.

“You’re trying to hide from me?” Zeke chuckled. “How cute.”

Hao allowed his hair and the collar of his new poncho to fall in front of his face, obscuring the glass plain from view. He smirked behind his make shift hiding place as he waited for the inevitable follow up,

“You’re going to drive me crazy, aren’t you?”

Hao let out a playful laugh in response.

“Aren’t I the one with a voice in my head? Who is the crazy one here?”

“Is that all I am? A voice?”

Hao peered over the poncho and met his own eyes in the mirror once again. He watched as they glistened gently, as though there was a genuine sense of disappointment shown in his reflection’s expression. The playful smile dropped. He leaned in closer to his mirrored face.

“Of course not. I was just teasing you.” he soothed apologetically.

The one in the mirror smirked in response.

“I know. I just wanted you to show me your handsome face again.”

Hao felt his cheeks flush in response to the demon’s flirtatious words. Then after a moment, he chuckled a bit.

“It’s your face too, you vain bastard.” he quipped with an amused grin.

A genuine laugh rippled in Hao’s mind in response to the teasing remark.

There was a long pause as the reflected mirrored pair gazed at themselves for a little while. Until eventually, Hao finally climbed back to his feet. He picked up the broken mirror and stood it up back in its original place. He smiled warmly at himself once again before he turned around and observed the small plain single-occupant room surrounding him. He quietly considered how the ordinary indoor lodgings offered more privacy than a traditional tent.

“I was thinking the same thing.”

Hao’s breath hitched as his dangerous thoughts were exposed and laid bare once again. He felt an internal tingling sensation radiating below his abdomen – though he was unsure if that was just his own adolescent instincts reacting to the gentle purring in his mind, or if it were the ethereal powers of the other occupant of his body.

“The officiant should be back soon.” he quietly muttered. He craned his head back slightly, bringing one hand to his neck beneath the poncho, as though to try and hold himself back from the temptation. “They have a habit of letting themselves in without announcing themselves.”

“I have that in common with them, then.”

Hao chuckled a bit in response.

“In more ways than one. Yes.” he silently replied.

“It just makes it more exciting.”

“You’re not the one who has the deal with the embarrassment of getting caught.”

“What’s to be embarrassed about? Touching yourself is natural.”

“He is well aware I am not alone.”

“Then you can blame me for being a naughty influence on you.”

Hao raked both of his hands through his long hair as his body began to involuntarily respond to the nature of his silent conversation. He let out an aspirated and frustrated sigh.

A long silence in his mind followed.

“You know… Nichrom would have been back by now.” teased Asakura Zeke.

Asakura Hao laughed, the sound bright and amused as he shook his head. He turned back around and flashed a devilish smirk at his reflection behind him.

“You’re such a prick.”

“I know. But I am you, so, I guess that means you are one too.”

Before Hao could think of a witty comeback, another new sensation began to ripple along his naked skin beneath the thick garment. He tensed up – surprised – as the new feeling almost resembled the tender touch of a hand gently tickling his skin. He brought both of his hands out from beneath the poncho to observe them, checking he had not just unknowingly lost control of his own limbs completely.

“How are you doing that?” he whispered as the invisible touch moving down his abdomen stopped at his trouser waistband.

“I told you. I can do anything I want.” came the amused reply. “But…”

Hao froze as the voice in his head trailed away. His eyes drifted back to mirror as he waited with bated breath for his demon to finish his words.

“But…?” Hao hoarsely repeated, his heart racing.

“But what do you want, Hao?”

The tantalising sensations faded away, leaving Hao bare and wanting.

His answer was already ringing in his mind.

“Say it out loud.” firmly commanded the demon.

“I… I want…”

Asakura Hao inhaled sharply as he succumbed to a pulse of pleasure that began to radiate across every inch of him. He crossed his arms across his middle as he tried to hold himself upright, almost buckling over completely where he stood. He screwed his eyes tightly shut.

“…I want you, Zeke.” he panted breathlessly. His skin began to burn with the desire to be touched again by his daring and exciting companion. Another rush of appreciation flooded his veins in response to his confession.

“This would be much easier if you helped.” chuckled Zeke with a playful inflection.

Hao lifted his head and grinned at the mirror through the strands of hair that fell across his face. A low, defeated and pleasant sigh escaped his lips.

“If we get caught… I’m blaming everything on you.”

Chapter 9 to be continued.

Go to the FD Vol 3 Master Post here.

#shaman king #shaman king fanfiction #fanfiction #fractured duality #volume three #volume 3 #vol 3 #part one #Asakura Hao #Hao Asakura #Asakura Zeke #Zeke Asakura #M/M #Hao and Zeke #Silva #Zeke and Hao

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hao-and-yoh · 16 days ago

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Well, it finally happened... my first contribution to the SK fandom in more than a decade...

Fourth Time's The Charm! (3779 words) by IvyCorp Chapters: 1/? Fandom: Shaman King (Anime & Manga) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Asakura Hao & Asakura Yoh, Asakura Hao & Opacho Characters: Asakura Hao, Asakura Yoh, Tao Ren, Umemiya Ryunosuke, Usui Horokeu | "Trey Racer" Horohoro, Opacho (Shaman King), Oyamada Manta Additional Tags: Time Travel, Crack, Comfort, Following from end of 2001 anime

Summary:

Dying at his brother's hand was not what Hao had expected.

Coming back in time made even less sense.

And yet, there he was.

#reblogging again #screaming internally again #!!!!!!!!!!!#I live for FTTC update day #shaman king #FTTC #ao3 fanfic

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hao-and-yoh · 17 days ago

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Holding space for others can be so rewarding……….

……….one of the most memorable highlights of my trip to London to see all these incredible beautiful people - besides, of course, seeing my favourite band in the whole world ✨again✨ was the moment three of these amazing people locked on to me and asked me a series of open ended questions about my creative work journey with a genuine sense of curiosity✨

This amazing group of people became a close LP community of friends over the last 9 months since we stumbled upon one another last year. And over those 9 months I have been entrenched in the throes of a harsh reality: working a stressful job, juggling raising two little ones, and dealing with some really difficult family issues.

Over those 9 months, I also completed FD Vol 2, began and completed “Alt” Universe, and started FD Vol 3…. as well as creating a never ending stream of art work and bonus material for my AU. And I’ve been having the best time in my little FD bubble✨

And ofc, FD is a story inspired by LP. So naturally the worlds “cross over” sometimes. And occasionally these people in this photo hear me ramble enthusiastically about FD. And my amazing sk fandom friends will equally hear me ramble enthusiastically about LP.

But then on Sunday afternoon, three of these people held space for me - and allowed me to come alive and just gush happily about my work. And their reaction and response blew me away. ✨✨✨

I described myself in the moment like I was inside the Sims video game, and I could feel the friendship plus ➕➕ symbols floating above my head. Because that feeling of being seen and heard when someone else connects with you on a level that gets to the core of who you are just means so much and matters so much. And I made sure to tell them that and thank them for it.

I try and do this for others in small meaningful ways. I do this a lot at work. It’s a superpower when working with teenagers. If I can find that thing that makes them happy and hold space for them to talk about it, it allows them to open up, and it paves the way for the hard work we have to do together.

I do this online with friends in my shared online spaces by ensuring I don’t admire their work quietly, I admire it LOUDLY. I also do it for strangers too. I recently became an ARC reader for a self published indie author. I have started being open to smaller creators across lots of different platforms and genres and showing support for them when I genuinely find something in their work I connect with.

I might forget some of the moments from the gig itself, but I’ll never forget how amazing it felt to be there. And I’ll never forget how those amazing friends of mine made me feel in that moment.

So, show support. Be Kind. Be Curious. Be Enthusiastic. It’s all worthwhile. It can lead to incredible things. And it can really make all the difference to people like me who, despite the mayhem and the hardship they’re going through every day, try their best to hold space for others.

Because I understand how important it is to do so.

#Linkin park #London #2025 #friends #personal #blog post #Spotify

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hao-and-yoh · 21 days ago

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My second Ren contribution for the @skcollab.bsky.social skcollab 💜✨

This time my outfit reference was Ren Medarot (or Medabot in the US) from the Japanese video game franchise of the same name.

This one was a huge challenge, though it played to my strengths more because I suck at drawing clothing, but metal and glass? Yeah I can handle that. I wonder why.

This robot possessed me. It’s the fastest I’ve ever worked in my entire life. My family had to do without their wife/mother today. 🤣

See the Shaman King Medabots on the Medabot website here! There’s also Hao, Yoh and HoroHoro. They’re awesome! I might just have to draw them all.

#shaman king #Ren Tao #Tao Ren #Medabot #Medabots #Medarot #medarots #I added the scar #and made his hair purple obviously #I made a lot of artistic choices really #I’m very happy with him #skcollab #shaman king fanart #ren #ren robot #robots #robotic

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hao-and-yoh · 23 days ago

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I’m obsessed with @ivycorp’s sk 2001 fix it fic “Fourth Time’s The Charm” - can you tell?

I had to draw my favourite scene from Chapter 6 - the joke here is this piece originally had a very badly drawn wild cat on top of Hao (like in the scene.)

But our gorgeous born again boy also loves a funny slogan shirt. So the joke is a double edged sword. 💅

Also how cute does Kororo look in 2001 colours?? ✨

[Background was a free to use stock photo.]

Bonus:

#shaman king #Hao Asakura #Asakura Hao #HoroHoro #Hao and HoroHoro #usui horokeu #horokeu usui #shaman king 2001 #fourth times the charm #shaman king fanfiction #fanfiction #fanfiction fanart #fanart #Kororo #HoroHoro and Kororo

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hao-and-yoh · 24 days ago

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Fractured Duality - Vol. 3

Prologue - Part 3

Continued from here.

The Subsidiary Commune

[The Illusionary World]

Fabricated Present Day

Mt. Osore, Osorezan. Japan.

Day break washed the icy peak an impressive orange and violet hue. Light began to illuminate the desolate mountain as the rising rays broke through the skyline. The dawn was a welcome relief to those who had been desperately battling the dark traitorous snowy terrain against all plausible sense.

The vigour of an off-road engine married the unforgiving howling wind. The ploughing vehicle’s headlights did little to brighten the path ahead against the falling ice and snow.

Reaching the foot of the rising hill top, the car finally came to a halt as it safely reached its destination against all odds.

The driver allowed the engine to idle and brighten the lonely landscape.

Both car doors eagerly swung open.

Winter boots disturbed the soft blanket underfoot. Dressed for the elements, the pair hastily made their way towards the obscured building. The smaller of the two struggled to stay upright as a brisk icy blast hit them straight on. The taller one reached out to the other, holding them both upright as they braced the perilous force.

A moment of calm broke as the wind momentarily receded. The change in the air’s density allowed the couple to see what was in front of them. The distinctive long thin hair piece of the larger one was the only distinguishing feature of the two - their faces obscured by winter warm balaclavas.

The shorter one took a few steps ahead and stood alone in the bleak open space, absorbing the sight of the grand temple. She brought one hand to her lined hood and pulled it from her head, before gripping the warm covering on her face and swiftly removing it, revealing her delicate features and glistening eyes. She held the material tightly between her palms and brought her gloved hands to her face. She took in a steady slow deep breath. It took all her strength to remain standing. The invisible spiritual aura in the air was more overwhelming than the physical force of the unforgiving weather.

A moment later Keiko’s husband joined her side. He too lifted his face covering, partially revealing his stubbled chiseled chin. He wrapped one firm arm around his wife’s shoulders and brought his lips to the top of her head.

With a shared sense of unwavering determination, Asakura Mikihesa and Asakura Keiko exchanged a knowing glance with one another. They both began to hastily make their way towards the temple.

See FD Vol 3 Master Post here.

The Multi-verse adventure begins!

Continue here.

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hao-and-yoh · 29 days ago

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Happy birthday, Tamao <3 I thought that a badass girl like her should have her own Armor Oversoul. I hope it suits her :)

And bonus: :D

#we interrupt this programme to bring you THIS #HOLY SHIT #LOOK AT WHAT MY FRIEND MADE #AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH #Asakura Twins #Hao and Yoh #Yoh and Hao #tamao tamamura #Hao and Tamao #HaoxTamao #shaman king #shaman king fanart #LOOK AT IT #LOOOOOOOK

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hao-and-yoh · 30 days ago

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Fractured Duality - Vol. 3

Prologue - Part 2

Continued from here.

The Parent Universe

[The Living World]

Real Present Day: 15 years Post Shaman Fight

Funbari Onsen, Japan.

“Purrlock Holmes! McKitty! PurroPurro! Nyoh-Nyoh! The Great Omnikitty Asakura Myao! Meowsuke! Lenny! You’re all here!”

The delighted voice of the fair haired boy only seemed to excite the flurry of slinky creatures clambering at his feet - as the consistent high pitched mewing noises grew louder and louder with every name called.

“Aw, Nyoh-Nyoh - of course I missed you! Hey - claws away Purrlock, leave Myao alone…! Yes, yes, I know he did but you’re meant to a big happy family now, remember?”

The young shaman flicked his short bangs from his eyes and flashed a toothy grin at his furry friends, who by now were turning their attention to the aroma coming from the interior of their long-absent owner’s travelling backpack. He ignored the harsh flick of the blonde and black striped tail against his face belonging to the one straddling his shoulders attempting to warn him of the imminent theft attempt.

“I know, I know! But I told you we’d be back before the end of the summer! No, sorry Lenny, not this time. Oba-chan Tamao said she’d kill me if I brought another friend home for you guys!”

The joyful reunion unfolding in the front yard was swiftly interrupted by the harsh sound of the Inn front door swinging open. Asakura Hana attempted to shake himself free from the numerous cats climbing him like a tree to try and see the face of the young woman marching towards him.

Another over-joyed grin appeared on the boy’s face.

“Nee-san!” he cried happily, “Guess what?! Mr. and Mrs. Tao said our rescue conservation proposal “has promise”! They’re going to invest! The only down side is… we have to find something for Men to - ”

The boy cut off his words as a pair of firm hands grabbed him by the shoulders and practically shook him where he stood.

“If I were you, I’d get my butt on the next flight back to China.” harshly snapped Asakura Opacho. “Or get as far away from here as possible. Pronto!”

The boy blinked. An acute sense of dread came over him as he observed the seriousness in the large dark eyes staring straight into his own.

“Huh? Why?” he babbled.

“You are in big big trouble!”

“W-what? What have I done now?!”

“Not you!!” she snapped in reply, then looking straight at the culprit in question upon the boy’s shoulder.

“MA - TA - MU - NE!!!”

The blonde feline let out a shrill in response to the harrowing sound that had bellowed from the Inn. He immediately leapt to the ground to join the animated group of fluff at his master’s feet. The cats began a chorus of high pitched screams as they continued their uncooperative and uncoordinated mingling, their slinky bodies almost resembled a very cute and fuzzy shoal of anchovies.

“Oh c’mon!?! You’re not seriously hiding from Mother, are you?! Don’t be such a pussy cat!” screeched Hana. He began to lift each cat one-by-one from the noisy litter in an attempt to capture his naughty Spirit Ally.

“Opa, don’t just stand there - help me!” he cried desperately.

“They all look the same to me!” laughed Opacho, crossing her arms as she watched the boy struggle to locate the correct feline.

When his efforts were fruitless as each slender slippery creature in his grip simply slunk from his fingers and rejoined the adorable obstreperous effort, he let out an agitated sigh.

“Okay well - guess I have no choice but to pull out the big guns!”

The short-haired shaman knelt to the ground and grabbed his backpack. The tinkering of his international key chain collection and hand crafted knick-knacks he had displayed upon its exterior immediately caught the attention of most of his fuzzy companions.

The boy reached into the bag and immediately pulled out a handful of smelly jerky and held it high in the air. The sudden extended heads of all his pets resembled a family of meerkats. Their pupils unanimously dilated like dinner plates as they locked their sights on the delicious treat. Hana threw the dried meat across the yard, and within moments, there was only one very sheepish-looking cat left behind.

“Matamune!” snapped Hana, furrowing his brow at his small guardian.

The bear claw necklace around the teen’s neck began to give off an illuminated golden glow and dematerialise. A radiant light swelled in front of him as the ordinary-looking cat transformed into the bi-pedal troublemaker in question.

Matamune let out a small huff of disapproval,

“Curses. My distaste for the disheveled flesh of perished living creatures exposes me once again.” he muttered under his breath.

Asakura Hana stood up straight and swung his heavy backpack onto his shoulder, deliberately shoving the troublesome split-tailed nekomata with it as he did so,

“What did you do?!”

Matamune attempted to maintain some level of dignity and decided that, on this occasion, he would not chastise his young master for purposely striking him.

“I have existed on this earth for far too long to answer such a question, Hana-dono.” he replied with a hint of a smile, “It would be much easier to consider what I have not done.”

“Don’t be such a smart cat!” quipped Hana, “Why does it sound like Mother is going to skin us both?!” he then turned to the taller one stood by his side, “Nee-san? What’s going on?!”

Opacho sighed deeply in response.

“You really really don’t want to know. You both should have made your escape when you still had the chance.”

The summertime hot air seemed to turn an icy cold as a new presence appeared by the Onsen front door.

All three turned their attention to the earth-splitting death-stare glaring at them from across the yard.

“Get in this house. Right. Now.” coldly demanded Asakura Anna.

The boy and cat duo simultaneously turned to one another and gulped nervously. They hesitantly began to make their way towards the Inn.

****

“Never in my wildest imagination did I ever consider this outcome, Anna-san.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be wise?” snapped the Itako, “You made the decision to meddle in the Fight in the first place! Did you honestly believe there would not be any long term detrimental consequences?”

“Anna, don’t you think you’re being a little too hard on him?” nervously spoke up Tamamura Tamao.

“Yeah Mom! It’s not his fault! He was just trying to help!”

Asakura Anna stood up straight from her arched stance above the pint-sized cat spirit and glued her eyes onto the frantic expression of her son standing beside him.

“Hana. Go to your room.” she said firmly and calmly to him.

Hana shook his head. He took in a sharp deep breath and stood his ground.

“No way! Matamune is my best friend! I’m staying right here!”

The boy felt a shudder run down his spine as a fierce fire appeared in his mother’s eyes in response to his defiant attitude.

“Hana Asakura! Go to your - !”

“Anna.”

The mother and son pair turned towards the new presence entering through the open outside door. Relief washed over the young teen’s body when he saw the warm kind eyes of his father.

“He is old enough now.” calmly began Asakura Yoh. “He is the same age as I was when I joined the Fight. He can handle this.”

Anna screwed up her nose in response to her husband’s cautious yet combative tone.

“He should not have to be concerned with these matters.” she angrily quipped, crossing her arms.

The long-haired shaman smiled kindly at his wife in response.

“We are lucky that we have all lived in a world without these concerns until now,” he went on, “But this is an Asakura family matter. And it concerns all of us.”

An awkward silence came over the whole room. Opacho bit her lip as she tried to stifle a nervous laugh.

“Thanks Dad…” breathed Hana with a slight relieved grin.

Anna and Yoh engaged in a silent debate from opposing sides of their communal living room. Until eventually, Anna’s eyes softened. Yoh let out a small breath of relief as his wife reluctantly relented.

“Yoh-san,” spoke up Matamune with a respectful bow of his head, “I can only apologise for not returning home with Hana-dono sooner. I had no idea of the severity of this matter.” The cat spirit then turned his attention to the one sitting eye-level with him by Anna’s side, “How fortunate that you were able to see the situation before it was too late, Tamao-san.”

“The King gave us a warning,” she replied with a small nod, “I am certain he would not have told Yoh anything at all if he did not intend for us to assist.”

“I agree,” added Yoh, “He is unable to interfere directly. And so he did the only thing he could do.”

Hana blinked in surprise as he absorbed the new information,

“Wait, Dad - what do you mean? Uncle Hao told you what was going on in that fake world?”

“Sort of,” admitted his father, “He said he was worried about you. Well, another you. And he knew that would be enough.”

“Another me? There’s two of me too?!” yelled the boy, a little too excitedly.

Yoh let out a small chuckle in response, he then met the large worried eyes of the split-tailed cat stood beside him.

“Who knows? Perhaps even infinite numbers.” sighed Yoh with a small knowing smile. He brought one hand to his belt and instinctively wrapped his fingers around the singular silver disc that hung there.

Matamune sighed deeply,

“There can only be one plausible explanation,” he began, “The Hana that exists in that commune must be the soul of a living variant of Hana-dono. Which can only mean that he is of critical importance to the King.”

“But - how did a “living” version of me end up in — oh never mind. He must be dead. Hah. What a loser.” scoffed Hana, earning him a small slap to the back of his head from Opacho.

“The illusion commune has become “neutral ground” for the “Flowers of Maize”.” interjected Tamao, “Hana must be the King’s chosen champion. The general of Team Hao.”

“The Flowers of what?” babbled the teen, confused.

“The Flowers of Maize.” repeated Anna, “A proxy war that occurs if more than three members of the “G8” Shaman King Council disagree with the new King’s vision for the world. A team of shaman on earth are assembled to represent each King - ”

“I’ll do it!” excitedly interrupted her son, “I’ll fight for Uncle Hao in the Flowers of Whatever! That sounds awesome!”

“Hold your horses there kiddo.” chuckled Yoh, “The F.O.M does not exist in our world.”

“But you just said it does!” whined the boy.

“We have been fortunate to live in a plain of reality that is not in dispute by the G8.” explained Tamao.

“Wow this “multi-verse” stuff is making my head hurt…” mumbled Hana as he brought one hand to his forehead, he then looked around the room at each member of his family one by one, “So does that mean that everything is all good for Uncle Hao, then? He’s going to get to keep his throne?”

An unusual silence came over all the adults in the room. Hana locked his gaze upon his father.

“Dad?”

Yoh sighed sadly once more and dropped his shoulders,

“We don’t know.” he muttered.

“WHAT?!”

“Hana-dono, please try to exercise some level of moderation of your volume.” chastised his large-eared Spirit Ally.

“I’m sorry Matamune!” cried Hana, “But this is the most exciting thing to ever happen in my entire life! And it’s not even my life we’re talking about!”

Asakura Yoh chortled in response to his son’s misplaced enthusiasm once again. He then exchanged a glance with his hard-faced wife - who did not share in his amusement.

“Wait wait - back up a sec.” went on the excitable teen, “Oba-chan, did you just say that you helped them? How? What did you do?”

Tamao sighed softly as she met Hana’s wide eyes and anticipating expression,

“I was fortunately able to commune with my copy and arm her with the necessary knowledge to perform the “Cloud” technique. An advanced shamanic method, thus granting her access to the pool of my collective furyoku across multiple dimensions whenever she requires it.”

Hana hung his jaw open in utter disbelief at his aunt’s alarming explanation and matter-of-fact tone.

“Very impressive assistance indeed, Tamao-san.” nodded Matamune with an impressed grin.

“And that’s not all.” added Anna, giving her husband a hard look.

Hana and Matamune followed Anna’s implied direction and looked towards the long haired samurai shaman, who suddenly had a very awkward toothy grin on his face.

“I also may have given her Harasume…” he muttered sheepishly. It was obvious by the way Anna’s eyes were burning that this was an on-going unresolved sore point between the married couple.

“Holy smokes!” yelled Hana. “What does that copy of Oba-chan need that much power for?!”

Hana watched as his father exchanged a sorrowful knowing look with all three of the ladies in the room. Yoh then looked towards Matamune once more.

“There’s another real soul from yet another living world involved too.” firmly stated Asakura Yoh, his tone hollow.

“Who?!” yelled Hana.

Yoh and Matamune seemed to engage in a silent conversation of their own. Then after a moment, the cat spirit’s large ears dropped.

“Hao-san.” breathed Matamune, his eyes white.

Hana frantically looked back and forth between his guardian and his father as he recognised the sudden shift of mood between them,

“You mean the - ”

“- the illusion of my brother,” sadly completed Yoh, “Hao told me a long time ago he had created a world just for him. He knew that’s what I would have wanted for him… all he ever wanted was to be reunited with his - ”

“Yoh-san. This was not your doing. It is mine and mine alone.” firmly declared Matamune, closing his eyes.

“Why is that a bad thing?” went on Hana as he continued to try and make sense of the situation unfolding around him. Realising he was missing something, Hana’s anxiety spiked, as did his volume - “Matamune?! What’s going on? What other real soul are we talking about?!”

“He goes by another name.” came the cold monotone voice of his mother, “But we know exactly who he is…”

“The Great Onmyoji, Asakura Zeke.”

A foreboding mood momentarily washed over the room, though the silence was abruptly interrupted by the trumpeting sound of suppressed childish laughter,

“Pfffft - That’s his name?! He sounds like the lead singer of a boy band or something!”

“Hana, this is - ”

“Ooo - watch out for “scary” Zeke! He might moonwalk into you or try to steal your girlfriend!” happily mused the boy.

“Hana-dono - ”

“Run away!” he yelled with a feigned concerned expression, “His overwhelming double-denim and “teenage heart throb” hair style will make you go weak at the knees!”

As Asakura Hana fell about giggling, his less than impressed mother rolled her eyes and shook her head at her husband.

“You were the one who said he was mature enough for this.” she muttered disapprovingly to him.

Yoh stepped forward and placed one firm hand on his son’s shoulder,

“Hana. Do you understand what we are saying?”

Hana met the uncharacteristically concerned eyes of his father and blinked at him in response. He then stood up straight and nodded.

“Duh!” he retorted with a confident smirk, “There’s a “real soul variant” of Uncle Hao with a stupid name from an alternate living world stuck in a fake commune with a “real” dead version of me. What’s the big deal? Wasn’t that world created by Uncle Hao for his own “illusion”? He trained you during the Shaman Fight, didn’t he, Dad? And Oba-chan’s copy sounds like a badass! Zeke Efron doesn’t stand a chance!”

“Who?” mumbled Matamune, opening his eyes at the mention of a strange new name.

“I personally prefer Corbin Bleu…” muttered Opacho with an absentminded smile.

Asakura Yoh sighed deeply and smiled a bit at the child-like innocence of both of the teens in his care.

“Hold on,” continued Hana bringing himself back to the present moment, “If Zeke is a “real soul” from another living world then… how did he end up in… oh… you mean… he’s dead too?”

“….Yes.” hesitantly replied Yoh.

“Hah. Loser.” smirked the boy.

“Zeke is not just a “real soul”. He is an evil demonic monster born from the darkest depths of Hell.” angrily snapped Asakura Anna.

Hana and Opacho exchanged a worried glance in response to the Itako’s harrowing declaration.

“Okay… He sounds a teeny tiny bit scarier when you say it like that…” muttered Hana, worriedly.

Matamune took several steps towards the large window and looked out at the view. His eyes slowly drifted towards the sky. He seemed to be lost in deep contemplated thought. The others in the room waited patiently for the wise old companion of the Shaman King to speak again,

“Every reality where the Shaman Fight exists should have followed the same core outcome: there can only ever be one destined victor of the Shaman Fight. Only then can there be one King of the observable universe. In death, Asakura Zeke became something reconstructed, twisted… deformed. He was sealed away within an untouchable, unreachable abyss by the Gods.”

“Okay yeah… maybe a lot scarier.” whispered Hana, nudging Opacho with his elbow.

“It is not possible for Zeke to exist within any of the Great Spirits’ multiple communes as his own being.” continued Matamune, “He could not have escaped his eternal prison without some sort of divine assistance.”

“Escaped? Divine assistance?” repeated Hana.

“Matamune. Now do you see?” calmly said Anna, her earlier confrontational tone softening. She took a step towards the window to stand beside him.

“Anna-san.” breathed Matamune, bowing his head at her apologetically. “I am so… so sorry for my part in this.”

“Matamune.” came a reassuring gentle voice, “There was no possible way you could have known this would happen. It is not your fault.” sighed Yoh, taking a step towards him too and placing one reassuring hand to the back of his good friend’s head. Matamune looked up at the two shaman standing above him and managed a small pained smile in response.

Confused, Hana watched on helplessly as his parents attempted to bring his spirit some comfort.

“Okay - okay. Can you guys please stop doing that thing where you figure stuff out and then not say it out loud? It’s really annoying! Some of us are struggling to keep up here!” he cried with a hint of agitation.

Yoh turned around and locked eyes with his confused teenage son.

“Hana. My brother’s illusion and Asakura Zeke are the same person.” he said firmly and clearly.

“So what?” retorted Hana, “It’s not the first time there’s been two Uncle Hao’s in one place, right?”

Yoh paused for a moment as he considered how to rephrase his words,

“They are not just the same person, Hana. They are one and the same.”

Yoh watched as the cogs slowly turned in the boy’s head. Then after a moment, his face became a ghostly white.

“….Oh shit.”

“Hana! Language!” gasped Tamao.

“Sorry! But this sounds really really bad! How did you even manage to contact your illusion copies, anyway?”

“”We got lucky.”” echoed Tamao and Anna.

“Lucky, Anna-san?”

“The others of ourselves were conducting similar incantations at the exact same time in space and reality within their own worlds too.” began Tamao, “This made it possible to transfer Harasume between worlds, and obtain another physical article from the same living world the demon originated from…”

“…Another variation of my 1080 beads,” confirmed Anna, “Forged differently in that living world for a different purpose. To bind the soul of Asakura Zeke with one thousand and eighty Asakura ancestor souls.”

“Holy cow Mom! That’s so cool!”

“Unfortunately,” went on Tamao, “the beads belong to that living world, and will have to return to their original point in time and reality after one use…”

“…and we will never know if this was enough to prevent Zeke from obtaining a new physical form within the King’s illusionary variant.” finished Anna, lowering her head slightly.

“Can’t you just… talk to yourselves again?” asked Opacho, curiously.

“Not possible.” replied Anna, “It would appear they have left Japan in their world. And their spiritual presence is unreachable now.”

“They must have travelled to an unreachable domain.” added Yoh.

“The Patch Village, perhaps?” wondered Matamune, “Could there be another Shaman Fight occurring in that world?”

Anna and Yoh nodded their heads in unison.

“That is what we believe may be the case. Yes.”

“No way!” gasped Hana, alarmed. “That other Hana is gonna be in a Shaman Fight?! That’s so unfair!”

“Hana-dono.” came the stern voice of his guardian spirit, “This is a war. Wishing for such a thing to be brought upon yourself is extremely ignorant and foolish.”

Blinking in surprise at Matamune’s unusually harsh words, Hana shoved his hands into his pockets and sulked.

“Sounds to me like this is just a practice for the “Flowers of Maize” or what ever anyway…” he mumbled childishly, “…it’s not like that world is real. Why does it matter?”

“It is not just a “practice” Hana. It is the Flowers of Maize. It is not a coincidence that the King’s champion is in that world.” explained his mother.

Hana blinked,

“But… didn’t you just say the other old Kings had to choose a team too?”

“Fra YVS has not chosen a team for this Fight. He’s attempting to cheat.” sighed Matamune with a slight hint of anger.

“What? Who the heck is YVS?!” babbled Hana.

“The ex King - obviously.” teased Opacho, rolling her eyes. “Do you ever pay attention? Must you have everything explained to you like a baby?”

“Hey!” argued Hana, giving her a slight nudge with his shoulder in retaliation, “This is a lot of information to take in, okay? We can’t all be “Little Miss. Know-it-all” like you!”

“Matamune,” sighed Yoh, kneeling before the nekomata cat and bringing himself eye-level with his friend, “We were hoping you could shed some light on the circumstances of your deal with the previous King. This might be the key to understanding exactly how this happened in the first place.”

Matamune looked around the room at all the anticipating faces of the family he had served for generations. He then sighed deeply and began his story,

“I had roamed the spirit realm for many years with a broken heart. Death was not the sweet relief from my torment that I had prayed for. It is a wonder I did not become twisted too... Sensing my tormented soul, the King approached me with a proposition. He offered me a chance to prove my unshakeable view Hao-dono was a redeemable soul. He said he could fabricate an oversoul from “Hao’s true heart” and allow me to prove my convictions that Hao was a kind, selfless and merciful man at his very core.

At first I was hesitant, for I was familiar with the nature of Fra YVS during his reign. He was a greedy, selfish and cruel man when he was alive, too.

However, he assured me that he only wished to be proven wrong about Hao’s integrity as the destined King, in an effort to maintain his ideals of his, in his personal view, “utopian society”.

And of course. He required a suitable recompense. My eternal soul.”

Hana leaned closer to Opacho,

“Sounds to me like he didn’t want Matamune sticking around to find out what he was really up to…” he whispered.

“I refused his offer.” continued Matamune, “But that was when he added a “contractual clause” to the deal - one that made the agreement seem harmless. The illusion of Hao would know love… and should the “pure heart” of the illusion turn out to be untrue, the deal would be broken, and Hao-dono would be released from his prison and thus erase the fake from the living world for good.”

“You mean like if the illusion killed anyone?” questioned Hana.

“Just say it how it is why don’t you?” snapped Opacho.

“What? I’m just translating his old man language into words my brain will understand!”

“He made a promise to me, in his world. He lived by that promise.” confirmed Asakura Yoh.

“That was part of his fabricated core make up, Yoh-san.” nodded Matamune, “The deal’s clause and the promise you speak of are the exact same thing…

…I firmly believe Hao-san really was an accurate true reflection of the goodness that exists within the real Hao. Our world and King can contest to that truth. Though… now it would seem his very creation may have only been a means to an end…”

“What are you saying, Matamune?” pressed Yoh, nervously.

The old cat spirit considered his words before speaking again,

“Consider what we know of Hao and his mastery of the practice of Omnyodo. The way of Yin and Yang… if Hao-san is a true reflection of the goodness in Hao, then there remains the very real possibility that the opposite could also exist within our observable universe. A perfect counter-balance. A variant of Hao who is also the true reflection of his deepest darkness.”

“Holy sh— ! You mean the demon?!” screeched Hana.

“Of course that’s what he means, genius!” sarcastically quipped Opacho.

“I am doubtful this was unknown knowledge for Fra YVS at the time he made me his offer,” went on Matamune, “Though I am skeptical he would have foresaw what later occurred in our world. Perhaps he had intended to bring the two halves of Hao together at some point, but was thwarted when…”

“…when Hao was brought back into our reality prematurely.” completed Anna.

“Without that clause, this new variant could be unstoppable.” continued Matamune, “And with god-like capabilities. That scheming ex-King has indirectly created the perfect weapon to assassinate the new King. I should have known better. I was foolish to trust him. This is all my doing…”

“Well? Are we just going to sit here and yap about it all day?” remarked Asakura Hana, adopting an unusual tone of unwavering optimism mixed with a harsh firmness, “What are you going to do about it, Matamune?

You intervened once…

…what’s stopping you from doing it again?”

Continue here.

See FD Vol 3 Master Post here.

#shaman king #shaman king fanfiction #fanfiction #fractured duality #hao asakura #yoh asakura #Asakura twins #Hao and Yoh #Matamune #Hana Asakura #Asakura Hana #Shaman King Flowers #tamao tamamura #anna asakura #Opacho #volume 3 #prolouge #part two

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hao-and-yoh · 1 month ago

Text

Fractured Duality - Vol. 3

Prologue - Part 1

The Subsidiary Commune

[The Illusionary World]

Winter - 1991.

Asakura Residence, Izumo. Japan.

The seasonal blistering freeze had gripped the mountainous landscape, signalling an earlier than expected end to the Fall. A warm inviting glow brightened the central windows of the grand Asakura temple, illuminating the speckled frost trailing along the glistening glass exterior - beckoning any lost wandering spirit to take refuge from the brisk mountain wind.

Candlelight swelled the walls within the silent temple. The one kneeling before the ancestral shrine moved fluidly between each candle, flint in one delicate hand, igniting each wick in turn. Tending to every individual reflected flame with courtesy and care.

Continuing her ritual, Asakura Keiko placed her palms together and slowly closed her eyes. The decorative mirrored plates aligning the impressive tapestries multiplied her gentle features all around her.

Distantly from within the grounds, a distinctive playful sound disturbed the peace.

She opened one curious eye and listened.

When the somber silence returned, her alert eyelid closed once more. She inhaled deeply, returning to her nightly prayer.

The tiny alight flames littering the impressive shrine began to burn brighter.

“Tajikarao. Show me.” she commanded, firmly - opening her eyes.

The flickering flames instantly responded to her words and began a systematic dance. Each fire projected a vision within every adjacent mirrored plate, creating a moving display of two small boys happily running from one side of the shrine to the other, like animated images on a zeotrope wheel.

Keiko raised one hand into the air.

The flames abruptly stopped their motion.

*****

Elsewhere in the temple, giggles and joyful quick footsteps echoed throughout the empty corridors. The occasional thud and shove against the ground and walls sounded out, as the children seemed to have little regard for how their usual outdoor game did not translate well indoors.

The longer haired one stopped in his tracks.

The other identical boy ran a few paces ahead, before he too stopped and spun around - his sandals involuntarily sliding a little across the shiny smooth-surfaced floor,

“Nii-chan?” he panted, blinking with curious eyes.

The other boy sighed a bit, giving his brother a sympathetic grin.

“It’s mother. She says we must behave and be silent.”

The younger twin grunted and stomped his foot.

“How does she always know?!” he whined, but blinked when his brother chuckled in response.

“I’m not sure.” laughed Hao, bringing one hand to the back of his head - a gesture his twin had learned was a tell-tale sign that his big brother was telling a white lie.

“You know how she does it, don’t you?!” accused Yoh, “That’s soo unfair! Why do you always know shaman stuff that I don’t?!”

Hao paused for a moment, considering his twin’s question. Then he sighed deeply. He began to walk calmly and silently in the direction the pair of them were heading.

“If you want to know so badly,” he quietly mused with an inflection of a smile, “maybe you should ask her.”

Yoh watched in a confused silence as his twin walked away from him, before his brain finally reconnected with his legs and he hurried along behind him.

“Fine! I will!” he teased happily, then shoving his big brother with enough force to make him lose his footing. Before Hao could retaliate, Yoh sprinted away from him as fast as he could, disappearing around a corner.

“Mother said we must behave!” chastised the elder twin, leaping to this feet. Though Hao couldn’t hide the delight on his face when he heard his little brother’s fearful shriek mixed with laughter echoing across the temple walls.

*****

“Why have we never seen your spirit ally before, Mom?”

Keiko smiled sweetly at the innocent question as she met the curious wide eyes of her youngest. She pulled the covers back and calmly turned her head towards the adjacent bed. She nodded at her eldest, gesturing for him to join his little brother. Hao happily obliged, climbing in next to his twin, and the pair waited patiently for their mother to answer,

“Tajikarao is a special kind of Kami spirit,” she began, perching herself upon the edge of the tatami mattress, “He dwells within the dimension that separates our world from the vast universe around us. He does not exist within one plain, he is everywhere all at once.”

“Wow - so he’s like, invisible? But all around us at the exact same time? That’s so cool!” gleefully cried Yoh.

Keiko brought one hand to her chin and looked around the room as she tried to find the right words to explain her spirit’s unique qualities to a five year old.

“Have you ever heard that old saying that mirrors are like portals… windows… to other worlds?” came the voice of her eldest son. Keiko gave Hao a smile and a nod, grateful for his assistance.

Yoh’s eyes widened. He leapt to his feet and bounced on the mattress. He pointed at his Mother’s face accusingly.

“So that’s how you always know what we’re up to! You use Tajikarao to spy on us!” he yelled, though his voice sounded accusatory, his eyes sparkled with delight and he beamed a huge toothy smile at his mother, clearly pleased with his deductive skills.

His brother and his mother laughed in symmetrical unison at his childish behaviour.

“I suppose that’s true, yes.” admitted Keiko. She reached for both of Yoh’s hands and gently tugged at his arms, guiding him to sit back down beside his twin. “When you grow up and have important responsibilities Yoh, you’ll understand the benefit of having eyes everywhere.” she laughed, stressing her words and leaning into Yoh’s face, nuzzling his nose with her own, making him giggle.

Yoh thought about her words for a moment, then he sat up straight and blinked.

“You mean like, having kids? No way! I’m never having kids! That sounds like far too much work! I just want an easy life!” firmly declared the child, crossing his arms.

Hao exchanged a concerned glance with Keiko, then he sighed deeply,

“Mother, will you sing “Ame-no-Tajikarao” to us?” he asked gently.

“He has a song, too?!” babbled Yoh, amazed.

Keiko smiled.

“Of course. I used to sing that song to you all the time when you were babies. It has been a while. I hope I can remember the words…”

“I remember them well.” said Hao with a nod.

“Wait, how do you know the song and I don’t?” whined Yoh, nudging his brother with his elbow.

“I obviously have a better memory than you, little brother. I am the oldest.” quipped Hao, nudging him back, only slightly harder.

“By like - six minutes!”

“It still counts!”

“Boys.”

The twins blinked and turned to their mother in their synchronised mirrored way.

“”Sorry Mother.”” they echoed, nodding their heads apologetically.

Keiko sighed with a sweet smile as she observed her sons’ mirrored anticipating expressions. She then hung her head lower and closed her eyes, taking in a deep inhale……

*****

“Ame-no-tajikarao,

Ame-no-tajikarao,

Hikari no musume o sukue,

Kurayami kara.”

(Saved the daughter of the sun,

From the darkness of the cave.)

“Ame-no-tajikarao,

Ame-no-tajikarao,

Sekai ni hikari o torimodosu,

Watashitachi no tanoshimi.”

(Bring light back to earth,

Show her the fun we have, oh.)

“Amaterasu.

Into Ama-no-Iwato,

She retreats,

She retreats.

Amaterasu.

Into Ama-no-Iwato,

She hides,

She hides.

Save her, show her,

Kanban o kakagete kudasai.”

(Hold up a sign.)

“Save her, see her.

Kanojo no hikari o,

Kagayaka sete kudasai.”

(Let her light shine.)

“Ame-no-tajikarao,

Ame-no-tajikarao,

Laughter, Joy,

She seeks,

She seeks.

Happiness, Peace,

She peeks,

Ame-no-tajikarao.

Open the cave,

Bring her out, let her out,

Her reflection she sees,

Laughter she hears,

She is here.

Ame-no-tajikarao,

Hikari no musume o sukue

Kurayami kara.”

(Saved the daughter of the sun,

From the darkness of the cave.)

“Ame-no-tajikarao,

Ame-no-tajikarao,

Seal the door.

Seal the cave.

Sekai ni akarui hikari o torimodosu.

Nidoto kakureru koto wa arimasen.”

(Bathe the land in light this day.

May she never again hide away.)

****

The gentle snores of the youngest twin was the only sound in the room when Keiko’s angelic voice completed her song. Hao gently shifted his little brother from his shoulder, lowering him to the pillow and pulling the covers to his chin. He affectionately removed one loose strand of hair from his face, allowing himself a few seconds to watch Yoh sleep peacefully by his side.

“Hao. Do you suppose the time has come to tell him the truth?”

Almost as though Asakura Hao had not heard his mother’s words, he did not move or respond. Though his eyes glazed over as he continued to watch the subtle movements of his twin’s rising chest.

“It is your sixth birthday this spring,” she went on, “Should you wish to carry out your duty, the time you have left to do so shrinks ever smaller with the passing of each day.”

“He is not ready.” he replied, the four words sounded sorrowful, though there was a hint of uncertainty carried on his breathless worried voice.

Hao felt the smooth touch of his mother’s arm wrap around his legs as her other arm slipped under his. He relaxed into her hold at Keiko carefully lifted his juvenile body from his brother’s bed and slowly lowered him back onto his own.

“Is it he that is not ready, or is it you, my child?” gently soothed Keiko.

Hao shifted himself onto his side and gazed at the sleeping child in the other bed.

“Mother Keiko. What if he…?” he whispered shakily, unable to complete his words.

A short silence grew in the darkened bedroom.

“You must have faith in him. Faith that he will see what I see.” came the reassuring gentle reply.

Asakura Hao’s brown and golden eyes glistened delicately as he met the kind face of his mother leaning closer him.

“And I see you, Hao.”

Hao closed his eyes as his mother kissed him gently on the forehead. As her outpouring unconditional love and affection warmed his heart and soul, Hao sighed pleasantly.

“Alright. I will take him to the temple tomorrow.” he said hesitantly as she continued to tuck him in for the night, “But if the worst should happen, this will be my final night here.” he declared, firmly.

Keiko smiled warmly in response.

Hao watched as their mother moved gracefully to the other bed beside his own and kissed his sleeping twin, tucking in the bedside. She then stood upright and headed towards the boys’ shared bedroom door.

She hesitated at the doorway. She then turned around and met the child-like curious expression of her great ancestor, who looked back at her with worried eyes.

“We have had many “final nights”… just like this one. I look forward to many, many more.” she whispered sweetly to him, before sliding the door closed.

Keiko had been gone for a matter of moments before Hao leapt from his tucked-in mattress and climbed back into bed beside his twin brother.

Waking slightly from his slumber, the younger boy instinctively shuffled up to make room. They curled around one another, and one little hand slipped into the other’s.

A peaceful silence came over the room.

“Did you have a bad dream?” sleepily yawned Yoh.

“No. I had a very long… very happy dream.” gently replied Hao.

“That’s good. Those are the best kind.”

Continue here.

See FD Vol 3 Master Post here.

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