Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“I wanna go out! I wanna go out!” Hana demanded, planting himself in front of Redseb and tugging on the older boy’s shirt.

“I have homework, Squirt. Ask Seyram.”

A defiant face met a determined one. Perhaps Redseb should have looked away and ignored Hana. He would go away when he was bored. However Redseb felt he could outlast any tricks he could throw at him. First came the jutted out lower lip followed by the slight tremble and damp eyes. Sure Redseb had caved in the past to this routine, but that was only because Seyram hadn’t utilized it much on him when she was younger, but he’d rather not think of those times.

“Crying’s not going to change anything.”

In response Hana’s eyes got wider.

“Move, Squirt, I’ve got work to do.”

“Meanie,” Hana replied with a foot stomp, “just like Daddy.”

Redseb knew if he could just stand strong the battle would be his, but unfortunately the kid was getting too good, or he was just a big softie.

“Fine–”

“YAY–”

“But only for a half and hour,” Redseb finished.

Ten minutes later found Redseb regretting having caved. Cold snow trickled down his neck and back from where Hana had managed to nail him with a snowball. Giggling had erupted immediately, the loudest from Hana but he could also hear the muffled giggles of his sister behind the tree. She was the culprit for teaching Hana how to make snowballs and throw them with surprisingly good accuracy.

“Done now. Wanna go inside.” Hana proclaimed his giggles having subsided.

Redseb crumpled the half formed snowball in his hands realizing it had all been a ploy to just smack him with a snowball. As tempting as it would be to through a snowball at Hana he knew Tamao would kill him if he made Hana cry. Seyram on the other hand he could easily get revenge against at another time.

Chapter Text

“Redseb-nii,” Hana glowers at the older boy, his pudgy hands on his hips, “That's not an oni, and it's not Setsubun.”

“It's a witch,” Redseb replies taking the green mask off. It's a woman's face covered in warts and a crooked nose.

“You didn't scare him,” Seyram snickers, behind her hand.

“That doesn't look like Macchi,” Hana replies, unimpressed.

“That's right,” Macchi agrees, appearing from around the corner, slinging and arm around Redseb so she can rub her fist mercilessly against the top of his head.

“Ow,” Redseb whines, but it goes unheard.

“Why do you want to look ugly, Redseb-nii?”

“I don't know, Hana, I think it's an improvement,” Macchi states, finally releasing him.

“Redseb's trying to be funny because it's Halloween soon,” Seyram explains.

“Redseb-nii's a weenie?”

Seyram and Macchi both burst out laughing while Redseb turns to him, “Listen, Squirt, it's a holiday about free candy.”

Hana's eye's light up.

“This isn't America, bird brain. You can't dress him up and go trick or treating door to door,” Macchi rolls her eyes.

“Where's my free candy, Redseb-nii?”

“Yeah, where's Hana's free candy?” Seyram gangs up on her brother.

“Here, Squirt,” Macchi states, picking him up, “I'll show you the cool things you can do with real witches. Don't you want to know how Jack got his head?”

“I can play with knives?” Hana asks.

“No, but if your extra cute I'll let you put the pumpkin guts on Redseb.”

Hana nods, a gleam in his eyes as he sticks his tongue out at Redseb.

Seyram gives her brother a knowing look.

“You know,” she teases, “Hana's always cute.”

“I'm locking him out of my room for the rest of his life,” Redseb growls.

“And you're never leaving? What if he does the bucket of pumpkin guts outside the door trick?”

“Traitor,” Redseb hisses.

“I'm your sister,” Seyram winks, “You'll always lose.”

“Were'd you get this pumpkin from. It's HUGE,” Hana asks, studying the orange pumpkin that's easily half his size.

“Don't worry about it,” Macchi states, grabbing a marker, “first we have to decide what kind of face you want it to have.”

“That's easy,” Hana says, “The face Redseb-nii makes when Seyram-nee and I prank him really good.”

Hana demonstrates his best face, “Like this.”

“Alright,” Macchi chuckles, “Hold still.”

“Oh, you're making Redseb?” Seyram asks joining them outside.

“It's the face he'll make when I throw the pumpkin guts at him,” Hana agrees, excitedly.

“Time to cut the top off,” Macchi states, “You stay with Seyram.”

Hana nods sagely watching Macchi take the knife and start cutting around the top of the pumpkin to remove the top. When she's done she motions Hana forward.

“That's the inside of a pumpkin?” Hana asks, reaching in, “It's all sticky and slimy. Cool.”

“It has to all come out,” Macchi states, as Seyram slides a bucket over to him, “For Redseb” she winks.

Hana gets to work transferring the insides of the pumpkin from the pumpkin to the bucket watching all the seeds move and fall.

“If Redseb-nii ate a seed would it grown inside him like a watermelon?” Hana asks.

“Hana, you know that's not true,” Seyram points out gently.

“Nah, it's only not true because Redseb-nii's not brave enough to try. If he eats it and no watermelon, then I'll believe him. I wanna carve the pumpkin from Redseb-nii's tummy.”

“We'll get him with a watermelon seed next year,” Macchi states, trying to get Hana back on track, “Now watch the magic of your Redseb pumpkin.”

Hana sits at rapt attention as Macchi works on carving the pumpkin into the essence of Redseb. More and more parts come off to make the different facial features and Hana stares on perplexed.

“How do I tell Macchi this isn't very cool?” Hana whispers to Seyram.

“It's not done. Be patient,” Seryram tells him, rubbing some pumpkin on his cheek.

“Cool,” Hana whispers, grabbing more to squish between his fingers.

“Alright, non-believer,” Macchi states, and Hana comes running over, “Time for the finishing touches.”

She places an artificial candle inside and the face of the jack-o-lantern is painted in a yellow glow.

“It's just like Jack!” Hana points, “Redseb-nii into the pumpkin. Oversoul!”

“Just like that,” Macchi agrees.

“Do me! Do me! I want one next!” Hana calls excitedly, “With this face!”

Seyram grabs a pumpkin while chuckling, “Alright I'll make you next.”

“Halloweenie's the best!” Hana cheers, “I'm going to make Redseb-nii fill mine with candy!”

“He'll have to use a special spell to turn all the pumpkin guts you bring him into candy,” Seyram agrees.

“So if I don't put it on Redseb-nii then I get candy?”

“More candy than you could carry,” Seyram agrees.

“We're going to need more pumpkins, Macchi,” Hana states, seriously, turning to her.

“Of course. I can't wait to see his magic trick,” Macchi agrees, “More pumpkins coming up.”

Chapter Text

When he first became Shaman King there was an invasion into his private society because Yoh couldn't leave well enough alone. Hao won't admit he liked or appreciated it. Instead he crossed his arms and grumbled about it the whole way. He kept grumbling even as his society finally emptied out and it was just him and the throne he had coveted for so long.

Quiet. Blissful quiet and solitude, even as his heart panged in fear that maybe everyone was out of his reach once again.

He opened his eyes at the slow and steady thud of a cane echoing in the silence followed by the shuffling of feet and dragging of cloth.

“Still kept that limp I see,” Hao taunted, “Missed me that much?”

“Wanted to always remember that pathetic look on your face when I bested you,” Yabisu spoke, drawing into Hao's line of sight, “It's been an exhilarating 500 years and I look forward to 500 more.”

“Patch Officials can't become Shaman King—“

“They're supposed to serve their King in the Great Spirits,” Yabisu interrupted cutting him off, “And we all saw how well that worked out didn't we?”

Hao clicked his mouth shut because it was true. He cheated the system then, and he had planned to cheat the system to take the throne that rightfully belonged to him. Yohken had just proven to be a road bump. A 500 year set back.

“Then you also understand that I'll be taking that back.”

The leer on Yabisu's face was lecherous as madness danced in his eyes eyeing the throne.

“You need a majority to enact the Flowers of Maize. I doubt anyone will side with you.”

“Yet you forget there are two kings that faced you down and came out triumphant. You forget that every king before them has been able to observe you. 500 years is an awfully long time to gossip. This day was inevitable. Eventually you'd cheat enough that it would be basically handed to you and then it would become our god given duty to take that all away from you.”

Hao scoffed, “The earth sure went to shit in the 500 years I was gone. Why'd they hand it back over to you? I'll know they're serious when they send Jesus or Buddha here to challenge me. Kings the world remembers. Kings the world still follows. You're just a long forgotten whispered conspiracy theory.”

Yabisu raised an eyebrow, “Am I a conspiracy theory? Remember who brought the technology to the Patch. Remember who started the Shaman Fight?”

Hao rolled his eyes, “You're not Grey Saucer.”

“No,” Yabisu conceded, “but Grey Saucer's type is so easy to push around. So easy to control. The real mastermind has always been in the shadows. Have always been controlling things under a human guise. I heard you're going to be an uncle. Congratulations by the way even though you won't be there to see it. I hope he's not afraid of lizards. I'm afraid he might be running into a lot if he upholds your ideals.”

“You're delusional if you think you can touch him.”

Yabisu smirked, “The lizards might be closer than you think. I've been planning for this just as long as you have. I moved all my pawns into place ages ago and I'll continue to move them right under your nose. Enjoy it while you still can Aho-sama.”

Just like that Yabisu disappeared and Hao was once again left in silence. He was left to seethe. He was left to think over everything.

“I swear to myself, Yoh, if your human friend you insisted on bringing is my downfall I'm going to make you regret ruining everything for me.”

Chapter Text

There are flower boxes outside of both Redseb and Seyram's rooms. They're bursting to the brim with green leaves and vibrant petals. Hana stares at them outside, neck craned up because Redseb-nii is a jerk who won't let him into his room no matter how nicely Hana asks.

His eyes wander to a tree nearby and like any six-year-old with too much time on their hands, Hana gets into trouble. He climbs the tree with ease making it up through the branches and level with Redseb's room.

“Hana-dono,” Amidamaru warns as Hana tests a branch he wants to climb across so he can be face to face with the flowers.

“I'm fine,” Hana insists, inching closer and closer to the flowers.

He's reaching out ready to touch the pretty flowers and run the petals between his fingers when Redseb appears moaning about how “Nee-san” is going to kill him, while screaming at Hana as he snatches him out of the tree. Hana would say Redseb-nii was scared except nothing ever scares Redseb-nii. Hana would know. He's tried.

“What were you thinking?” Redseb asks in exasperation.

Hana ignores him because he doesn't have to explain obvious things to Redseb-nii.

“Look! I got in your room! You said I'd never.”

“That's not the point,” Redseb growls, snagging Hana by the back of his overalls as he tries to investigate all his stuff, “And you get in here all the time.”

Hana thinks about it and oh yeah he sneaks into Redseb-nii's room all the time. Hana just laughs proud of himself.

“You're not cute,” Redseb sighs.

“Tamao-kaachan says lying's bad.”

“So's everything you do.”

“Losing to a six-year-old,” Seyram comments, appearing in the doorway, “classy.”

“No one asked you,” Redseb grumbles.

“Did you come cause Redseb-nii screamed like a girl?” Hana asks, bouncing on his heels.

“Hana-chan,” Seyram asks instead, pulling him into her arms, “why'd you climb the tree? That was dangerous.”

“I want flowers too. Bigger and better than Redseb-nii's! He won't let me help.”

“You'll kill them,” Redseb answers.

“Will not,” Hana sticks his tongue out.

“Let's make him his own box,” Seyram states, clapping her hands.

“You don't trust him either,” Redseb glares at his sister.

“Best day ever!” Hana yells, oblivious to Seyram’s deflection.

Except it isn't the best day ever because Tamao-kaachan makes him watch as Ryu cuts down every branch Hana can reach, ending his tree climbing days.

“When I learn how to walk up trees, they'll be sorry,” Hana mutters under his breath.

“You're not a ninja, Hana-dono,” Amidamaru points out.

“My life's so boring,” Hana moans, flopping on the ground.

“Okay, squirt, listen up,” Redseb states, laying out a planter, dirt, flower seeds, and a watering can.

“Where's the flowers?” Hana interrupts, inspecting the items.

“You have to grow them.”

“What about the already growed ones?” Hana asks, turning to Seyram.

“Then you're cheating like Redseb,” Seyram winks at him.

“Yeah, I'm going to be so much better than Redseb-nii,” Hana agrees.

“I grew them from seeds,” Redseb argues.

“Shush, Redseb-nii,” Hana commands, shooing his hands at him “I gots work to do.”

Seyram shovels the dirt into the planter and Hana very helpfully pat it down behind her raking his fingers through the dirt. He's making more of a mess than helping, but he doesn't care.

“Okay, Hana, it's time to plant the seeds, and we have to be very gentle,” Seyram states.

Hana nods sagely as she hands him the seeds that he carefully and meticulously pats into the dirt.

Redseb watches marveling at the abrupt change in character while Seyram smirks at him over the top of Hana's head.

“Time to give them a shower,” Seyram says, holding the watering can.

“Me! Me!” Hana calls, holding his hands out.

“Watch carefully. Too much water isn't good for them.”

Hana pouts but doesn't take the watering can from her.

“Witch,” Redseb whispers.

“It's called understanding children.”

“Redseb-nii dum-dum,” Hana agrees, not knowing what's going on.

“Can I now?” Hana asks, holding out his hands.

“Nope. Once a day. You can tomorrow. Let's put it in the window now.”

“How am I supposed to water it all the way up there or see them?” Hana whines, following her.

“With this, squirt,” Redseb answers, placing a stepstool next to the window.

Hana scrambles up the stepstool and watches the flowers intently.

“You know,” Seyram whispers, “we could have just put one in your room.”

“He'd never leave. I'm finally going to have peace and quiet now.”

“Sure,” Seyram shrugs, not convinced.

“Redseb-nii, Redseb-nii,” Hana bawls outside his door the next day, “I don't got any flowers.”

“It's been one day,” Redseb sighs.

Hana looks at him critically, “I thought they were magic seeds like the magic beans?”

“No one ever said that.”

He watches Hana think and process the words before Hana reaches a decision.

“I'll just water it more,” Hana decides, “I'll show you and Seyram-nee. I’m gonna have the best flowers ever.”

“You know he drowned the seeds, right?” Redseb whispers to his sister as they both listen to the overflow of water falling to the ground below.

“He was going to kill whatever we got him. He's got too much love to give.”

“When he realizes they aren't going to grow he's going to be a terror. He won't stop crying for days and he'll never leave me alone. This is all your fault.”

“This is nothing new,” Seyram states, “he loves his Redseb-nii. He loves drowning you with his love just like those seeds.”

“Why can't he drown you for a change,” Redseb mutters.

Hana's voice carries from inside his room, “Tomorrow for sure, I'll have better flowers than Redseb-nii. Then he'll be sorry he never let me help.”

“It's a miracle!” Hana screams, running into Redseb's room, “I didn't have any flowers when I woke up, but Tamao-kaachan made me go grocery shopping with Ryu and now I have flowers!”

“Really?” Redseb asks, not sure what the trick is. He's just pretty sure Hana can't reach his flowers to kill them if this is an elaborate plan to get Redseb out of his room so Hana can take revenge.

Redseb follows Hana to his room and sure enough the planter is filled with flowers. Closer inspection reveals that every single flower and leaf in that box is fake.

“I'm the best flower grower ever!” Hana declares.

“Um, yeah, squirt.”

Redseb spots his sister in the background.

“He can water them all he wants,” Seyram winks, “and they'll magically change and grow all year round.”

Redseb's pretty sure Hana can drown the fake flowers too. All that water's sure to take its toll on the material, but Hana's not crying and he's not bothering Redseb either. Seyram can spend her own allowance funding this elaborate hoax that's all her fault.

“Just remember,” Seyram states with a knowing look, “You bought him the seeds first.”

“It was your idea,” Redseb hisses.

“And you were the first person at the garden shop.”

“See, Redseb-nii,” Hana chimes, turning to him, “You really do love me! Told you lying's bad.”

Chapter Text

Hana grumbles as they sit on the train. The sprawling metropolis of Tokyo is melting away to a peaceful countryside as they move further and further away from the heart of the country.

“The city is stuffy,” Alumi replies, reading his mind.

That's incorrect. Hana knows what reishi is. Reishi is what his mom had and why everyone does what she says. She's scary and cool and Hana wishes she'd come back home . Reishi is also what Uncle God had. It's why he's still moody and insists on surrounding himself with cats. Alumi doesn't have it. She's what keeps his onis at bay no thanks to Uncle God .

He doesn't say anything more. He knows Alumi is no stranger to the city. Los Angeles is just as crowded, just as busy, and just as hectic. He knows what she's really missing. She misses the quiet of her life. She misses her people. All because that stupid jerk Yosuke had to take everything from her. All because he wasn’t strong enough to stop him.

“Do not punch a hole in the seat cushion,” Alumi warns, watching the way his fingers tremble and tighten into a fist.

“What do you think, Yohane,” Hana settles for, crossing his arms and leaning back in his seat. He's not pouting. He never pouts.

“The city,” Yohane states, “only because my life got better after coming to it.”

“Yeah, it turned out great for you that you're too weak to kill me.”

“You still lost Amidamaru,” Alumi points out, “to his sister who gave him to Yosuke.”

“Whatever. Amidamaru was my dad's anyway. He just liked to boss me around. Didn't let me have any fun. My new partner is going to be way cooler.”

He doesn't see Alumi mouth the word liar. He doesn't look at either of them as he stares out the window. Not having a spirit partner is a problem and one that he needs to fix. It's just finding the right one is so hard, and before this he didn't really have any motivation. There was no Shaman Fight. There was no Flowers of Maize. Just a boring everyday life for Hana.

Their stop is announced and they disembark in a quaint town. A floral fragrance hits them immediately as Alumi inhales a deep breath, arms thrown out as she spins, slowly taking it all in. Next to him Yohane sneezes.

“Allergies too? Hana asks, incredulous. He swears. Yohane has to be the most frail person he's ever met. His broken arm still hasn’t healed.

“We didn't get out much,” Yohane shrugs.

“Come on, come on, come on,” Alumi chants, grabbing both of their wrists and dragging them further from town and towards a field.

“Shouldn't we get Sniffles—“ Hana is cut off as Alumi yanks harder and any attempt to steer her towards town and civilization is ruined.

“You're a shaman. It's time to commune with nature.”

“I'll be fine,” Yohane adds, after another sneeze, “It's nothing”

His puffy eyes later tonight aren't going to be nothing, but Hana isn't stupid. He does know a losing battle when he sees it. He just doesn't always choose to surrender. Especially if the person on the other side is that slimy worm Yosuke.

Alumi pulls them to a field where the grass is hidden completely by flower petals.

“We could never do this in the desert,” Alumi chirps before turning solemn, “And the plains were ruined long ago.”

She doesn't spare a moment to tell either boy her plan. She gives them no warning until they are mercilessly tugged to the ground as petals fly up from the force before floating back down.

Yohane's nose crinkles as one lands on it before a sneeze sends it back into the air.

“Ow,” Hana grumbles because he's not about to admit how nice this really is or that Alumi was right.

“See, it was worth it. A chance to get away from everything. A chance to be three teenagers without a care in the world.”

That's exactly the opposite of what Hana wants, but maybe he can admit that this is good for Yohane. Yohane has no friends. He has no social skills. He's not going to get any of these experiences unless Hana puts aside his wants to show Yohane what “normal” life is like.

“You're sitting next to him when he sneezes the whole way home,” Hana settles for.

“Really, guys, I'm fine,” Yohane insists as another sneeze betrays him.

“We could have spared five minutes to get him something,” Hana argues.

“And miss this?” Alumi asks, pointing up to the sky.

Hana had lost all track of time. It's later than he thought. The sun is starting to set, bathing everything in soft pinks and oranges. The field really does feel alive and magical as he stretches his hand up. If he tries hard enough it's like he can grab that next world and enter into it. Maybe that's where they're waiting for him.

He lets his hand fall back down to the earth. It's stupid and childish. Hana knows the world only consists of this one and the next. There's no cheat into the Great Spirits. This isn't Mu. If his parents were in the Great Spirits then Uncle God would have let him see them by now. Uncle God could summon him and send him anywhere for a time before depositing him back in this boring, lonely world.

“You're thinking about your wish for when we win,” Alumi whispers.

“Yeah,” Hana agrees.

He thinks about it every day. No matter how tough he is. No matter how fine he pretends to be. No matter how good Tamao and Ryu are to him. He's always thinking about the life he didn't get. The life he's chasing.

He's not looking for adventure.

He's looking for home.

Chapter Text

Kagome's not stupid. She's seen the IOUs scattered around Yosuke's messy apartment when he thinks no one's looking. They're loans really, with interest rates so high they're only meant to bury someone alive. She doesn't know why Yosuke feels the need to flash around money he doesn't have. He could have less debt living out of a modest apartment and dressed in the simple attire of his youth. Instead he's 21, dressed to the nines, and suffocating under whatever self imposed persona he has.

She's never given the impression she's into money has she?

Yet she doesn't say no to the single shoulder dark blue dress that hugs her perfectly and has a slit up one leg. She should turn it down because she see's the IOU for it peeking out from under a fashion magazine on the coffee table, but she looks so damn good in it. If Yosuke wants to destroy himself then she should get to have one night where she doesn't have to worry about him.

When Yosuke comes out of his bedroom she half expects him to be in a coat with tails.

“Something wrong?” Yosuke asks, adjusting his bow tie and unaware of what she's just been looking at.

“Just not what I was expecting. It's modest for you these days,” Kagome answers, taking in the black suspenders over his white dress shirt. Her eye's glance at the IOU as she nudges it further out of sight and she has to wonder if all of his budget for whatever this is went to her.

“When you're crashing a party it's best not to standout,” Yosuke answers, his arms snaking around her waist and a little lower than she'd prefer.

“We're crashing a party? I thought this was for your job?”

What job she's not sure. She's pretty sure Yosuke should be homeless yet he always defies all odds and she allows herself to keep following it blindly.

“It is,” Yosuke answers, before his eyes narrow, “I wasn't invited.”

“You're not even going to get in the door.”

If they are dressed this nicely then it has to be a high class event. Someone is going to be watching the door ensuring only those on the guest list enter.

“I can just reattach the tags and your can return it and get your money back.”

“Keep it. It looks good,” Yosuke whispers pulling her closer.

She has her clutch up and blocking Yosuke before his lips can try anything. She loves him, she really does, but she also doesn't like whatever he's become. She wants the old Yosuke back. She's not going to let him kiss her with those lying lips.

“I'm not stupid, Yosuke,” she replies, prying his fingers off easily so she can reach down and grab the IOU and shove it at him. “You've got hundreds of these littered around. I thought your mom taught you good spending habits?”

“Everyone has a little debt, Kagome,” Yosuke shrugs.

“This isn't a little debt. Do you even have any money? Do you think I won't look at you if you're poor?”

“It's complicated,” Yosuke huffs.

“It's not,” Kagome answers poking a finger at his chest, “I don't care what you can or can't buy me Kamogawa Yosuke. I care about the nerdy little boy I went to school with before whatever this is happened.”

“Then you're wasting your time, Kagome. He's dead. He's dead because nobody cared, but now somebody does.”

“Using you so you wrack up a debt isn't caring, Yosuke, and you're wrong. I've always cared about you.”

“Well you shouldn't have,” Yosuke yells, and Kagome's not sure the last time she's seen him get truly angry. It's a crack in the mask. It's a glimpse back at the boy who faded away.

“We can get this under control,” Kagome softens, her hand cupping Yosuke's face.

“I'm not taking you down with me,” Yosuke mumbles, not meeting her eyes.

“That's not your choice, Yosuke. It's mine.”

“Just keep the dress and leave. I don't feel like going out anymore.”

He's defeated and she doesn't know why. She's always reaching her hand out to him and he always refuses it. She doesn't understand why he doesn't want to be pulled up from whatever pit he's in.

“I'm sorry,” Kagome whispers, but it's too late. He's shut down again. He's closed off. What was supposed to be another nice evening is ruined before it's even started. It seems all they do is fight. Maybe it's all Yosuke thinks he deserves.

She leaves him because staying never accomplishes anything. The IOUs keep piling up. He refuses to listen to reason, and Kagome can only break her own heart so much.

The IOU for her dress sits crumpled in her hand. She'll return it or at least she'll try her best to return it without the receipt because Yosuke would never give that to her. She'll find the rest of the money as well. She can't pay off all of Yosuke's debt but she can at least pay off this one. She can march into the building of the Yahabe corporation and see at least what Yosuke has gotten himself into that he insists he can't get back out of.

She'll save him. She'll save him even if he'll never look at her again for doing it.