Submission

Disclaimer: Don't own it!

Joh: I can't believe this is the last chapter! Thank you all for sticking with me and supporting this story.

Jessie: She really did have a lot of fun writing this…

Joh: Yeah, Jessie helped me a lot too when I got writer's block. –Grins-

Jessie: -Blushes- No big deal.

Joh: So…hope you enjoy the final chapter while I struggle with defeating the 3rd Seymour…-grumbles-

Warnings: Yaoi, language, angst

0o0o0o0

Yoh pressed a hand against his chest, eyes widening. "It's gone." He whispered, looking up at Ren. "It's really…gone."

Ren smiled softly as he drew Yoh from the window over to the fireplace. "Remember what we told you? Don't go near the windows, don't answer the door, the phone, anything."

The room the group of shamans was residing in was small but snug. A few red armchairs were pushed against the blue painted walls. The brick fireplace cast cheery shadows along the swept floor and illuminated the sleeping bags and beds spread out.

Yoh frowned but didn't argue as he took a seat on the floor before the fire. The embers cast a warm glow across his features, reflecting orange in his eyes.

Ren stared at him before sighing and turning around to glance at the woman standing in the doorway.

She was watching the group of friends with a tired expression, her old brown eyes studying them.

Lyserg bowed his head towards her and offered her a charming smile. "Thank you for letting us rest here. We promise to leave soon."

She shook her head, smiling slightly. "It's fine. Stay as long as you need to. Anyone seeking escape from Hao is welcome in my home." She glanced at Yoh sympathetically. "You've had a hard life."

She nodded to all of them politely before excusing herself from the guest room.

Horo sighed and flopped down on the sleeping bag laid out for him. "Where to after this?" he stared up at the ceiling, eyes tracing the lines in the paint.

"Not sure yet." Lyserg answered him as he drew the curtain shut. "We'll find a place."

Horo nodded distantly before getting up and glancing at Ren. "Can I talk to you?"

Ren stared back at him, scowling. He opened his mouth, looking like he was going to say no before he change his mind and nodded.

Yoh watched the two boys slip out of the room. "Horo really loves Ren." He whispered sadly.

Chocolove looked up from his laptop before grinning. "Don't worry, Yoh. They'll get back together. Believe me, they were meant for each other." He chuckled. "Ren can only stay mad at Horo for so long…"

Yoh stared into the fire, listening contentedly to the crack of the embers. The flames leapt and danced in the grate, as if struggling to reach higher to find something new to consume.

"It's funny," Yoh said softly, eyes absorbed in the flames. "People can change so easily. Over time it's hard to…even recognize someone you thought you knew. It's hard to recognize yourself once you get the chance to look in a mirror." He looked up at Chocolove and struggled to summon a smile.

"But…that's not always a bad thing, is it?" his voice grew softer as he turned his attention back to the fire. "Chocolove?"

"Yeah?"

"I want to change." The flickering light from the fire highlighted the tears rolling down the young shaman's cheeks. "I really want to change." He wiped furiously at his eyes as he took in a shaky breath.

"More than anything…I want to change." He told his friend, a note of desperation in his voice.

"You will Yoh, I promise."

0o0

Three years later

Opacho skipped into her king's room nervously. Her brown dress swished at her ankles as she slipped into the living room. She tugged anxiously at her bushy black hair that she had tied back into two buns.

After taking over the world Hao refused to set foot into his castle and had it destroyed. No one was ever really sure why he did that since it was such a grand palace, but no one dared to question him.

He had a new home built for him, a much simpler dwelling. The manor built for him was large and constructed in a traditional Japanese style with elegant sliding doors and vast gardens filled with glimmering ponds.

Opacho decided she liked this new home a lot more because of how sunny it was.

"Hao-sama?" her voice had smoothed out over the years into a high, yet no longer squeaky voice.

The shaman king was sitting elegantly at the window ledge, sunlight playing across his handsome features.

Hao hadn't changed much over the years despite his added height and slimness. His silky hair had grown far past his waist and was kept back in a thick braid. Dark bangs shadowed his smooth face and framed his slanted gray eyes.

His full lips parted in a frown as he toyed with a single black feather in his fingers. "Yes?" his voice was soft but clear.

"You haven't been eating very well." She noted, eyeing the untouched tray of food set on the low glass table.

He shrugged. "I haven't been hungry as of late."

She bit her lip as she moved forward to collect the lunch tray. "Opacho worries about you." She whispered.

He glanced at her. She had grown steadily but he still saw her as a child. "You don't need to."

He turned his attention back to the window, gazing out fondly at the green plains. The world had healed, thanks to him. Humans no longer killed the earth. In fact, most humans no longer even walked the earth. Sure, a few humans remained with the sole purpose of serving the stronger shamans but he didn't really count those.

Yes…. he was a hero and his dreams had finally been fulfilled.

Hao sighed, tossing the feather out the window, watching as the breeze caught it and tugged it away into the sky.

When he had imagined himself ruling a shaman only world he had imagined Yoh by his side.

He had planned on waking up every morning to Yoh sleeping happily beside him.

Hao felt anger suddenly flare inside of him, brining fire into his eyes. It wasn't supposed to be like this. Yoh belonged to him…no one had the right to take Yoh away from him.

After all, Yoh was the only one who would ever understand him.

His anger was chased away by sudden loneliness. He turned to glance at Opacho was standing by the door, balancing the tray of untouched food in her hands.

"Thank you." He forced a smile as he dismissed her.

He would find Yoh again…no matter how long it took him he wouldn't give up until he had him once more.

0o0

A young shaman ran down a narrow dirt road, his messy brown hair waving in the wind.

He clutched a white cloth bag tightly to his chest as he ran, cradling it carefully.

A voice called out to him, causing him to skid to a stop and turn around slowly. A small silver stud in his ear glinted as the sun gleamed down upon it.

"Hey! Wait up!" A young blue-haired man waved to him.

Once he was caught up with him he grinned and slapped his back. "Man, you gotta stop running so fast!" he swept his blue hair out of his eyes as he chuckled.

"Sorry." The brown-haired shaman replied sheepishly.

"Nah it's fine. Look, I got you something." The taller of the two grinned and dropped his back pack to rummage through it. As he searched through it he eyed the bag the shaman was carrying. "What's in the bag?"

"Oranges."

The blue-haired man laughed and shook his head. "Here. I saw this at a stand and thought of you." He pulled out a pair of blue headphones.

Gray eyes widened in surprise and delight. "For me?"

"Yep!"

The shaman reached out and took the bulky headphones, setting them behind his ears. He looked up into his friend's blue eyes and smiled.

As his laugh played through the wind it was then that his friend remembered how much he had missed that sound, that smile.

Owari

Joh: Not sure about then ending…but I hope you enjoyed it. Thank you everyone for all the support! I might do another story that follows up on this….I'm not sure yet…so…keep an eye out in case I do.

Jessie: Wow, I'm so proud of you sweetie! This will be the third story you've finished!

Joh: Yep! I'm happy with myself.

Thank you again for all the support. I'm amazed that so many people have enjoyed this series. It all started out as a simple one-shot that soon turned into a sequel being written! Thank you all so much for sticking with me despite the long waits for updates. I especially thank the people that have stuck with this story since the very beginning and have been encouraging me at every chapter!

Thank you!