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Chapter 6: Homecoming

Haou walked into his home very late Saturday evening. He was exhausted, and the bazooka on his back weighted a ton. He leaned it against the wall in the foyer and collapsed onto the couch. He wanted to rest. He just wanted to sleep and not wake up for a week.

"Haou, is that you?"

The second Haou heard the voice, he felt energy return to him. He jumped off the couch and ran right into Yusei's waiting arms. He hugged his brother so tightly that he actually lifted Yusei off the floor. He didn't know how much he missed his big brother until he hadn't seen him (or heard his nagging) in over a week.

"I missed you, Yusei," Haou said as his energy started to dissipate. He collapsed in Yusei's arm, making his brother chuckle.

"Come on, let's get you to bed," Yusei said, picking up his brother bridal style. He carried Haou back to their room and smiled.

Their room had a strange set up. The boys had refused to be parted since their parents died, and thus shared the same room. However, they had taken it a step further. There was a queen sized bed in the middle where Jaden was still sleeping. Kalin, in his cat form, was curled up at the end of the bed. He picked up his head when he heard people enter, and then put his back down and went to sleep. Yusei placed Haou on the side of the bed that was still sort of made. Haou shed his black clock and shoes and crawled under the covers. Yusei went to the other side and slipped in, making Jaden stir.

"Is Haou home…?" Jaden asked sleepily.

"I'm right here, bro," Haou said, wrapping his arm around Jaden's middle.

"Yay…" Jaden said happily, hugging Haou's arm tightly. "We missed you."

"I missed you too," Haou said with a smile. "Now go to sleep."

"Kay…" Jaden said, yawning and falling right asleep again.

"Now take your own advice," Yusei said, reaching over Jaden to ruffle Haou's hair. "Sleep."

"Kay…" Haou said, yawning and snuggling closer to Jaden before falling asleep as well.

~*~

Haou smiled as he walked into the kitchen the next morning. As soon as she saw him, Kisara ran over and pulled Haou into a great big hug. He hugged her back and smiled happily. Kisara was so much like the boy's mother that they had immediately accepted her, unlike her stiff husband.

"Haou, darling, it's so good to see you!" Kisara cried, pulling away to look in his eyes. "We're never sending you way again, dear, I promise! We missed you far too much! How were your jobs? Did you do well at least? Are you hurt at all?"

"I'm fine, Kisa, I'm really fine," Haou said with a smile. He sat down at the island next to Jaden, who immediately hugged him. "Oh look, I have a leech."

"Yes, and this leech missed you," Jaden said with a chuckle. "Can you lift my waffle to my mouth? I don't want to let go." Haou chuckled and lifted the peanut butter smothered waffle to Jaden, who took a huge bite out of it.

"How were your jobs?" Seto asked, all business as usual.

"Great," Haou said with a smile. "I nabbed all but one."

"Which one?" Seto asked, making Yusei slap his arm.

"Shut up, moron," Yusei hissed, making Seto jolt. He then turned to Haou and rubbed his back soothingly. "One Devil doesn't mean a thing."

"He got away from me," Haou snapped, glaring at Yusei.

"It still doesn't mean a thing," Yusei said, getting a little nervous. "I mean, Devils get away from me plenty of times."

"Oh yeah?" Haou asked, incredulously. "When?"

"Oh, well, pfffft…" Yusei sputtered, trying to keep his cool. "Well, I can't think of any at the moment. But I know that there have been ones that get away!"

"Sure…" Haou said miserably.

"Look, it's not that bad," Jaden said, nuzzling Haou's neck affectionately. "I have a lot that get away from me."

"You don't understand!" Haou cried, pouting. "I think I let him get away…"

"Oh…" Yusei gasped, running over to Haou's other side and pulling him into a hug. "Hey, I remember, just Friday, I let my mark get away from me. No joke, I had him and I let him go."

"My God…" Haou chuckled. "What, did you like the Devil or something?"

The boys laughed, but Yusei was sure that Haou had no idea how right he was. Haou smiled at his brothers, knowing that he hit the mark. It was barely noticeable, but Haou could see the small tint of pink on Yusei's cheeks. When he thought about his own job, he also turned a little pink.

"So, what's new?" Haou asked, making the two stop chuckling.

"Well, we need to fill you in on everything," Yusei said, pulling up a third stool.

~*~

Nearly an hour and a half and two location changes later, the story of the week had been told. They needed to move up to their room to finish the tale, so Yusei told the details of his Friday morning to his brothers. They laughed at him at first, but understood his feelings. Jaden also told of his Friday, making him cry and his brothers hug him and comfort him.

"Well, that was quite a tale," Haou said with a nod.

"Now, you need to tell us about your week," Yusei said, still rubbing Jaden's back.

"Well, it was really boring," Haou said with a shrug. "You know, killing Devils for a week. It's not really a tale. My marks were really weak. Well, except the one that got away…"

"That sucks," Jaden mumbled. "Well, at least you won't have to see him again!"

"Y-yeah, right…." Haou said nervously. "Never again…"

Yusei sensed something up with his brother. But, he wisely chose not to say anything. He would find out in time….

~*~

That night, the boys were sleeping soundly. Or at least, that's how it looked. Haou was wide awake. He was a little nervous as to what was going to happen. Would his brother's wake up? Would they find out? Haou hoped that they wouldn't find out…

A soft knock was heard at the window. Haou carefully got out of bed, careful not to wake his brothers or Kalin. He slipped over to the window and smiled. He opened it, letting a blue wolf jump into the room. Haou chuckled as the wolf shook out the water that was clinging to his fur.

"It is pouring outside, fucking rain…." the wolf growled.

"It's raining?" Haou asked in a hushed tone. He looked over to an unexpecting Yusei and sighed sadly. "Poor Yus. He'll be in a bad mood tomorrow…"

"Dear God… That's fucked up…" the wolf chuckled, seeing the boys in the bed.

"Shut up!" Haou hissed, lightly hitting his muzzle. "Please change, you're dripping all over the floor."

"Fine," the wolf huffed. He changed and a Jesse look a like was standing in front of Haou. His orange eyes burned brightly from the recent use of his Devil powers. "Hay, Babe."

"Hey yourself," Haou smirked, stepping forward. He linked his arms around the Devi's neck and kissed him lightly. The Devil kissed him back, smiling to himself. "Have a nice trip?"

"I had to avoid a Hunter, run though the worst part of town, nearly get killed several time…" the Devil said with an exasperated sigh.

"That's terrible," Haou said with a chuckle.

"But you're worth it," the Devil said, kissing Haou lightly again.

"Good to know," Haou smiled. He then got really nervous and looked back to his brothers. "Jehu… I don't know if we should…"

"Does your family's approval really mean that much to you?" Jehu asked, cupping Haou's cheek.

"It does," Haou said with a nod. "I just don't want them to hate me. We're all we have left…"

"Well then, let's get their approval!" Jehu said, detaching himself was Haou and going over to the bed.

"No!" Haou cried, instantly clamping his hands over his mouth. But it was too late. Yusei had already jolted upright and had a gun to Jehu's face. "Yusei stop!"

"What are you doing here?" Yusei asked, shaking Jaden awake.

"I'm here to see Haou," Jehu said, putting his hands in a surrender position.

"Then why not come at a more reasonable hour?" Yusei asked, glaring daggers at the Devil.

"Because Seto would be awake," Jehu said, making Yusei have a realization.

"Get the fuck out of here," Yusei growled.

"No," Jehu said. "You have the wrong idea. I don't want to hurt him!"

"Bull shit!" Yusei snapped, making the twins jolt.

"It's true!" Jehu cried, almost pleading. "I love him…"

"Cut the shit, Jesse," Jaden snapped, also glaring at the bluenet. "What, you can't have me, so you go after my brother instead?!"

"Jesse?" Jehu asked, confused. He then burst out into laughter, making all three brothers clamp a hand over his mouth to quiet him. When he was finally done, he asked, "You think I'm Jesse?"

"Aren't you?" Jaden asked, confused.

"No, I'm his twin, Jehu," Jehu said simply.

"Great, twins for twins!" Yusei groaned, putting the gun back under the pillow.

"Is he alright?" Jehu asked Haou.

"Yeah," Haou said with a sigh.

"So," Yusei started, sounding like a girl who wants to gossip. "How did you two meet?"

"This is the Devil that got away," Haou said, making the boys gasp. Instantly, there was a gun pointed between his eyes and a knife at his throat. "Dear God…"

"Stop helping me," Jehu grumbled. "Look, fellows, lets put the weapons away and talk about this like civilized people."

"Not a chance," Yusei snapped, standing so that they were at eye level. "Like it or not, you're still a mark."

"Please don't kill him," Haou begged, giving Yusei the Puppy Dog Eyes of Doom.

"Don't give me those eyes," Yusei said, his resolve faltering. Haou's pout only deepened, making Yusei groan and chuck his gun across the room. "Goddamn it!"

"Thank you!" Haou said happily, quickly hugging Yusei. "You're the best big brother in the world!"

"I better be," Yusei said with a chuckle, hugging Haou back.

"Am I off the hook?" Jehu asked, glancing down at the knife that was on his throat.

"Jaden let him go," Yusei said, making Jaden retract the blade. "I just have a litmus test for you."

"Can I wait a week?" Jehu asked, making Haou palm face.

"It's just some questions," Yusei reassured him. "You said you're Jesse's brother. Are you affiliated with Jack's Pack at all other than that?"

"No way in Hell!" Jehu cried. "I hate that Australian ass and his Pack of mis-fits!"

"Good answer," Yusei said with a chuckle. "I guess he's alright." Yusei then grabbed the front of Jehu's shirt and pulled him closer so they were literally face to face. Yusei then said darkly, "But if you hurt Haou, I will hunt you down. You life will become a living Hell and I will make sure you regret the day you were conceived. Do I make myself clear?"

"Transparently…" Jehu gulped, getting scared.

"Good," Yusei said with a smile. "You go with my blessings."

"Yes!" Haou cried, jumping on Jehu and giving him a big hug.

Jaden smiled as the two kissed briefly. He felt a pang of jealousy as he watched them though. He wished that he could be with Jesse. But his conscience would never allow him. He could never be with someone as pure as Jesse while Jaden was a Devil Hunter. He would never be able to rid himself of the idea that he might have killed one of Jesse's relatives without knowing.