#mikihesa

[hao-and-yoh]

Shaman King “Fractured Duality” - Alternative Universe

Continued from here.

Episode Three (4)

“Your father is on his way here with her now. They should be here any - ”

At that moment, Mikihisa walked through the open outside door. He was carrying a small barefooted infant in his arms wearing an orange poncho. Hao recognised the child immediately.

“Opacho!” cried Hao, immediately leaping towards his father to examine the little girl. Opacho was unconscious, but fortunately she seemed to be in good condition.

“You know this child?” asked Kino, confused.

“Yes - she is my, well, actually - it’s hard to explain. How did you find her?” babbled Hao, struggling to find the words to string together to form sentences. The strange mix of joy and confusion he was feeling in that moment was overwhelming.

“It was a complete chance of fate.” replied Mikihisa, meeting Hao’s desperate eyes. “I was hiking in the mountains, I found her completely alone, out in the open. Almost as though she was left there for me to find. It was a miracle we crossed paths.”

Hao could hardly believe what he was hearing, then he looked back at Opacho’s innocent little face. He managed a brief delighted smile.

“The child hears the voices, Hao.” explained Kino. “Perhaps… you could use your abilities and place the same seal on her as you did with Anna, time may be more on our side this time. She is so young…”

“No.” firmly replied Hao. “No spells, no seals. She just needs someone to care for her. I will take her. Give her to me.” Hao outstretched his arms towards his father, Mikihisa instinctively handed the little girl over to him.

“You will care for her?” asked Kino, astonished.

“Yes, she is mine.” replied Hao, cradling Opacho gently in his arms.

Mikihisa looked towards Kino and then looked back at Hao, unable to hide the confusion on his face.

“What exactly happened to you in that other world?” asked Kino.

“Other world?!” shrieked Mikihisa, alarmed.

“It’s a long story, but, now I am starting to think that none of this is an accident or a coincidence.” Hao turned on his heel and took a few steps towards the conservatory doorway. “I must find Anna and bring her back home. Grandmother Kino, please do your best to seek out her location - and do it quickly. I will go to the temple to investigate the book.”

“Hao?” came a little squeak from behind Mikihisa. Hao turned back around towards his father at the sound of another familiar voice. Mikihisa stepped to the side to reveal his young pink haired apprentice, who seemed to be nervously hiding around the outside door.

“Tamao.” softly said Hao.

“It was me.” admitted Tamao, taking a step into the room and shutting her eyes tightly, like she could not bear to look at Hao as she confessed. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to break the seal, it just slipped off when I picked up the book…”

“Tamao! That was extremely reckless of you! You could have been killed!” snapped Kino.

Tamao flinched slightly as Kino shouted at her. Hao blinked at Tamao’s words.

“Then… who defeated my familiars?” gently asked Hao.

“I don’t know, I ran away… and I left the book behind. I’m sorry Hao, I let curiosity get the better of me. I was just...”

“Tamao,” interrupted Hao, “There’s a reason the temple is forbidden. It’s dangerous… I am dangerous.”

Tamao opened her eyes and met Hao’s sorrowful stare.

“No - no you’re not!!” she squeaked. There was an uncomfortable pause as Tamao’s face turned bright pink. After a moment, Hao managed a kind but pained smile at her in response.

Hao looked around the room at the three faces looking in his direction. He sighed deeply.

“Though my fate and life turned out to be unexpectedly brighter this time around, I can see how my past still haunts this family even to this day.” He looked towards his Grandmother. “I do not blame you, Kino, for harbouring some resentment for me, as I also feel the same way about myself.”

“Hao…” sadly replied Kino, “I was being unkind, I shouldn’t - ”

“You have already shown me enough kindness in one short lifetime that I have not truly earned, or really deserve.” Hao turned around and made his way to the doorway with Opacho.

“Son, what has gotten into you?” asked Mikihisa, concerned.

“I will leave as soon as Opacho is rested enough to travel. Find Anna.” demanded Hao, swiftly leaving the room.

The three members of the Asakura family left behind all shared in the same concerned and confused sentiment. There was an extended period of quiet contemplated silence shared between them.

“Where… where is Yoh?” quietly muttered Tamao.

Kino sighed deeply.

“I asked Hao to come alone, but, now I see perhaps that was a mistake.”

End of Episode Three

Continue here.

Read the Intro to “Alt Universe” here.

Read “Fractured Duality” in full here.