Scabs

Disclaimer: Don't own Shaman King so please don't sue!

Joh: Right…well…uh…I had told myself that I would wait until I finished at least one more story before I started this one….but as you can see that didn't really work out…

Jessie: Oh well, I'm sure people will be happy about this.

Joh: They better be…

Jessie: Now Joh…

Joh: Oh right…heh….so enjoy!

Note: If you haven't read Resistance or Submission go do that now or this won't make much sense considering how this is the sequel to Submission.

Warnings: Yaoi, Twincest, language, angst

2nd Note: Yoh is living in America now with Ren, Horo, and Lyserg. Hao is in Japan.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Two Years Later

A young boy was sitting very quietly against a wall, his long black hair falling gracefully about his shoulders, framing his small round face. His deep gray eyes stared blankly ahead, not giving any sign that he was listening to the conversation about him.

He had his small hands folded neatly in his lap, his pale skin looking even paler as he pressed himself against the dark blue walls.

"Just look at him, he hasn't shown any sign whatsoever of being a shaman! How do you expect something like…like that to become my heir?" a velvet voice snarled.

"Just give him a few more years! He can sort of see spirits now! Just give him a chance! Please!" a shrill voice begged, hysterical.

A slender male looked down at the child, his lips turning into a sneer. "I've given him a chance." He said coldly, gray eyes surveying the boy.

"He's your son!" the woman sobbed, her blue eyes red from tears.

The Shaman King turned his head slightly, his long brown hair swishing with the movement. "No, not anymore." He whispered.

The woman looked up at him, her black hair a mess. "What are you going to do?" she asked fearfully, her voice trembling.

Her husband glanced back down at the child, disgust filling his eyes.

The young boy looked up at his father, face betraying no emotion.

"Get rid of you…along with him."

The child looked back down into his lap, his pale hands clasped together. His eyes suddenly fluttered shut, his full lips parting as he imagined his burning death.

"Yoh!"

Gray eyes suddenly snapped open as a single bead of sweat trickled down the young man's cheek. "Lyserg?" he croaked, breathing heavily.

The green-haired shaman was standing over his bed, large eyes filled with concern. "You okay? You sounded like you were crying or something…" he trailed off, blushing when Yoh sat up and revealed his bare chest.

The blush went unnoticed for Yoh was staring into the white sheets, frowning darkly. "I keep having these weird dreams."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Yoh paused then shook his head, pressing a hand against his chest. He could feel his heart racing. "No…well…maybe…"

Lyserg bit back a yawn as he perched himself on the edge of Yoh's bed. "Go ahead."

Yoh sent him an apolegetic look. "Sorry for waking you up."

"It's not your fault. We have such thin walls so I can hear just about anything on the other side…." Lyserg shrugged.

"Well…. I had a dream…. about…his son." Yoh whispered. They both knew who he was referring to.

Lyserg remained quiet, frowning at the slight tremble in his friend's voice.

"And he was having a fight…with his wife about the son. He said…" Yoh looked up into Lyserg's eyes. "He said he was going to kill them both. The wife and the son!"

"It was just a dream." Lyserg soothed him, reaching out to place a hand on Yoh's shoulder.

The brown-haired man automatically flinched away from the touch, blinking rapidly.

"Oh…sorry." Lyserg said quickly, pulling back his hand. Yoh had gotten much better over the years, but he still shied away from touches. Lyserg hoped that someday Yoh would be able to receive a simple pat on the back without tensing up.

"No….I'm sorry." Yoh sighed, relaxing slightly. He ran a hand through his damp locks, suddenly looking much older. "It's just…I can't…sorry."

"It's alright…" They both lapsed into an awkward silence, broken only by the hum of crickets from outside.

"Well…I'm sorry about your dream." Lyserg finally said, getting up and yawning. "Hope you sleep better."

"Yeah. Thanks." Yoh smiled slightly before lying back down. "Night." He turned over onto his side, closing his eyes and curling up under the covers.

Lyserg walked to the door then looked back at him. "Good night…Yoh." He whispered before stepping out of the bedroom.

0o0

Hao sighed and slid the window shut, pulling his shirt tighter around him. His birthday was approaching, a day that always seemed to depress yet excite him at the same time. Depressed because he couldn't share the day with his twin, excited because that was the one day that he felt a brief mental connection with Yoh.

The Shaman King strode across the bedroom and sat down, neatly crossing his legs. A wooden tray was set out on the low table. An inviting soup and salad was set out for him, obviously done so by Opacho.

Hao reached for the spoon then paused, a small frown flitting across his lips.

"I know you're there. Come in already. Your thoughts are starting to irritate me." Hao said loudly, his gray eyes flashing.

The door slid open silently, revealing a tall woman. She has long black hair that fell past her waist in graceful waves. Her wide blue eyes were leaking, tears streaking down her pale cheeks.

"Don't do this." She whispered.

Hao sighed as he took a careful sip of his soup, pleased at the taste.

"Please don't do this." She repeated, taking a timid step into the room. "He's showing some signs now…" she trailed off when her husband shot her an annoyed glance.

"The decision has already been made." Hao told her calmly, picking up his mug and taking a long drink of green tea.

The woman stared down at the floor, hands trembling.

"You can try and run away with him. But that won't save you." Hao set down his cup and finally turned to look at her fully, his eyes smoldering.

She took a faltering step back, tears falling faster.

"Go on, run. Take the child and run as far as you can. You may be able to delay your deaths but you won't be able to prevent it from happening." Hao smiled coldly before turning back to his dinner, unconcerned with the look of horror spreading across the woman's face.

She quickly turned and fled the room, her long hair billowing out behind her.

0o0

He was dreaming again. Hao had always welcomed dreams as they were a way to connect with his younger brother.

And tonight was no exception.

"Yoh." Hao called out softly, his voice echoing through the darkness.

He strained his eyes when he caught a flicker of movement ahead, a shift in the blackness.

"Yoh…" he called out again, taking a step forward. He could not see his twin but he knew that he was there. And he was getting closer. "Just a little longer, Yoh."

There was silence and then...a soft voice answered him.

Hao strained his ears to hear but the voice was muffled, as if it was underwater. The Shaman King stared ahead, frustrated.

He took several steps forward but he could see the dim outline of Yoh stepping back. Anger rippled through him.

"Just wait Yoh...I'm getting closer to you...I can feel it." A small smile twisted across his lips. "You can feel it too."

And millions of miles away Yoh woke up for the second time that night, sobbing and shaking as he considered his dreams.

0o0o0o0o0

Joh: I finally did it! I finished the first chapter of the third installment!

Jessie: I'm so proud of you sweetie! -Kisses-

Joh: -Hugs- Please review…tell me what you think…give me ideas, encouragement, whatever.