What a nightmare... Outta all the freaky things that happened in my life, this one topped the cake. In that nightmare, my bro' disappeared. I searched everywhere but couldn't find him. It seemed like he vanished into nowhere. No one really understands what Yang means to me. We're the Twin Dragons. Together. And I look out for him. 'Cause I gotta protect and take care of my little bro'.

The nightmare ended after I saw him again. He had become a completely different person. Almost as if he had died and became a zombie. And for the longest moment, I thought the dream was reality.

*sigh* The hell am I denying? That was reality. I did go mad with loneliness. I did kick the tar out of Yang. But today, I learned somethin'.

My little brother ain't dead after all.

His eyes... they were normal. And for a bit, I was relieved my little bro' came home.

But now he died again. He's returned to emptiness.

I don't know what the hell's goin' on, but this time I ain't gonna wallow in self pity. I'm gonna get my brother back. After all, if I ain't strong for him, who will be?

Back at the hospital, although Blacksoul was still in semi-critical condition, he felt as if he could run a mile. His spirits were high. Enough to finally smile towards Altacea.

"Finally, Altacea, we can celebrate!" Blacksoul declared. "The Twin Dragons are out of the way for good. Once I have recovered, I can begin to rebuild my empire. An empire without the Lee's foolish legacy to stand in my way."

Altacea stroked her master's chin affectionately. "Together," she corrected, "togeth--"

"BOSS!" a man in black - rather, a man in black covered in shoeprints - burst into the room. He clutched the door handle, panting heavily. "Boss, boss, I got bad news. Yun Lee is still alive, and so is his brother, Yang."

"What?!" Blacksoul rose from his bed. "This can't be possible!"

"It's true, boss," the man in black quickly spoke, "I saw it. I ran into the elder brother earlier... he was carrying a doll for someone. When I went to check up who that person could be, I came upon his brother's hospital room. He's still alive. They're still alive!"

Blacksoul growled. He clenched a plastic spoon and, in seething anger, cracked it. "Well, don't just stand there. Eliminate them at once! Don't let them leave this building alive!"

"Yes, sir!"

Yang's eyes were empty again.

Both brothers stood, motionless, with slight breathing. Neither made the first move. Yun knew should he make any sudden actions, Yang will spring immediately into battle mode. Yang stood still, simply because he was waiting for a good opportunity to run in. A delicate breeze blew into the window. The younger twin's hair rustled slightly. A leaf floated inside and landed in a glass of water. The slight trickle was all that was needed to break the tense silence.

"What's your problem?" Yun asked, slightly exasperated. With one hand on his hip, the older brother pushed the brim of his cap downwards. Yang took that gesture to run in and attack. Swiftly, he dashed forward, striking with a spearhand. Yun easily dodged - he was ready.

"You're obsessed!"

Yang launched a high side kick towards Yun's jaw. The older brother leaned back, cleanly avoiding the hit, and jumped back as Yang brought his leg down and thrust forward with a mid-section side kick.

"Your big bro's here for you. If someone's bugging ya, I'll punch their lights out."

"Let me do that for you!" Yang's hands became knives, which slashed away with the Torou-Zan. Yun parried the first hit, blocked the second, and parried the third, leaving Yang wide open. However, Yun didn't counterattack.

"You're upset because I kicked the crap outta ya. We fight all the time. The last fight doesn't mean a thing."

"Shut up!" Yang snapped. "To you, it means nothing. To me, it's everything!"

Yun blocked the oncoming spearhand stab, but wasn't ready for Yang ducking down and quickly jabbing at his feet. The second Yun regained his footing, Yang stood, stepped forward and elbowed Yun in the ribs, followed by a double-hit rising knifehand, chained into his Byakko Soushouda. Yun went flying back...

Three of Blacksoul's men grumbled to themselves as they walked down the hallway. Sure a job was a job, and it was not in their place to argue, but sometimes they wanted to complain on how obsessed their boss was. For the past few weeks, it was nothing but Twin Dragons this, Twin Dragons that. Collectively, they figured they might as well bump them off quickly and get it over with.

"That's what we shoulda done in the first place." the second declared. "No need for hiring other people to do our job."

"Yeah..." the third nodded, loading his gun.

They came to a stop around the area of Yang's hospital door. The first approached. He heard a few minor scuffling going on from behind. So much the better. They could use the noise to their advantage. The first MIB reached to open the door when it was opened for him - without turning the handle.

Yun came crashing through the door. He held back his foot and slammed his elbow backwards, lessening the impact when he connected with the wall. Yang raced through the hole in the door at near-Kaihou speed, thrusting his hand forward. Yun spun out of the way. Yang's hand collided with the wall. The younger brother turned his head and glared that Yun was just standing there with no intention to fight.

'Yang's holding back...'

Yun was about to open his mouth when he saw the men in black standing behind Yang - one with a cocked and loaded gun pointed towards his head.

"Watch out!" Yun cried, lashing out a foot at Yang's knees.

Yang fell, narrowly avoiding a gunshot. However, the bullet grazed Yun's right shoulder. A hot burn skipped into his flesh which soon turned red from blood. Yun winced, but forced himself out of becoming paralyzed from the pain.

Another loud gunshot rang throughout the halls. This time, the bullet connected with the ceiling. Yang had preformed a high-rising side kick, knocking the gun out of the flunkie's hand. The second man in black winced, holding his throbbing gun hand which was slowly turning pink. The other men fell once attacked by rapid spearhands and knifehands to various pressure points.

Not one to be left out, Yun stepped back to ready a Tetsu Zanko (rolling shoulder bash), only to have his foot slide on an object. He looked down and found that Hello Kitty plushie with the bullet hole in the center of its head. 'Oh damn. If Yang sees that...' Discreetly, he tried to push the plush away.

The last of the men in black fell to the ground. Yang turned around to Yun with the same coldness, but with extra fury as he saw the mangled plushie under Yun's foot.

"You... you dare to defile Hello Kitty?!"

Yun raised his eyebrow. "The freak...?" Then he realized Yang noticed the plush after all.

"Not only did you destroy my honor, but you destroy Hello Kitty's as well! Fight back! I'll prove to you who's the stronger one!"

"Look, Yang, we don't gotta fight again." Yun held his arms outwards. "I kicked the tar outta ya earlier 'cause you were actin' like a brat. And 'sides, it's pointless to find out who's the stronger one. Let's all go home and be one big happy..."

"Enough!" Yang snapped. "After how you've bested me earlier, it's only logical you don't want to continue fighting so you stay on top." He crouched downwards. "Let me be the one to dethrone you!"

No use in arguing with the (alleged) smarter brother. Yun raised his guard. Yang snapped his hand forward with the sound of a gunshot. No wait, that was a gunshot. The bullet barely missed Yang, but grazed the right side of his head. Yun, moving on pure instinct, grabbed Yang's wrist and tore out of the hospital.

Several more men in black came upon the site to see three of their comrades lying on the floor, hugging their bodies and twitching uncontrollably. It was very painful to have several of one's nerves struck at the right pressure. One henchman took out a walkie talkie.

"Call reinforcements," he spoke. "We're gonna get those two, no matter what."

'I don't understand. So badly I wanted to fight Yun and find out who was the stronger one. But just being around Yun, I'm beginning to lose all incentive to fight. Is it because I'm expecting the same outcome? He'll just win again?'

At least, that's what Yang wanted to say. Instead, he struggled to break himself free of Yun's grip, repeatedly wringing his hand, twisting Yun's arm in several different painful directions. Yun relieved himself of the extra burden outside the hospital. He placed Yang on the ground and glanced at him from the side.

'He ain't gonna listen to me.' Yun thought. 'No choice but to hit him with the truth.'

"If you're gonna keep acting like this, you're just gonna be another threat to the town." the older brother said aloud. "That means I'm gonna have to kick the crap outta you again."

"I'll do whatever it takes to defeat you." Yang replied simply.

"Then what's holdin' you back?"

Yang snapped. Yun tried his best to hide a grin. He could see it in Yang's eyes. Yang was confused. On the one hand, he wanted to fight to the death, but on the other hand, the non-obsessed side wanted nothing more than acceptance. The theory was proven true as Yang was simply standing there, not fighting, and how Yang was so easily defeated yesterday.

Yun snapped his fingers. "That reminds me. Gran wanted to talk to you..."

He halted in midsentence upon seeing light glint off of a gun handle. Yang noticed it too. Both brothers vaulted out of the way to avoid being hit by a barrage of bullets.

"Take this!" a voice from the 3rd floor cried. A helpful nurse tossed Yun's skateboard out the window.

Yun caught his skateboard with an outstretched foot. (It pays to be flexible.) He swung it downwards and once again grabbed Yang's wrist. "Come on!"

He tore off with the men in pursuit. Blacksoul held a fist outside his window. "And don't come back until you've finished them once and for all!"

The brothers didn't stop until they came to the outskirts of town. They came to a rest on a grassy hill which overlooked the village. Yun leaned on the tree, out of breath. But since his brother was watching him, he ceased his panting and grinned. Naturally, Yang's reaction was less than positive.

"So tell me, bro', what bug died and crawled up your ass while you were gone?" Yun asked.

Yang looked down to the side. 'Am I really holding back? ... No, I can't afford to. This is the perfect place to strike where no one is watching. No witnesses...'

"Well?" Yun tapped his foot impatiently.

"We're out in the open. No bystanders." Yang raised his arms. "Let's finish this once and for all, Yun."

Yun sighed. His hand covered the left side of his face of which he pulled his cap brim down. "I don't know what the hell's goin' on. But until you tell me, I'm just gonna stand here and let you pound away on me. You don't want that, do ya?"

'It's all a matter of pride.'

"Let me explain the passion which fuels your brother." hissed a teasing feminine voice.

Succubus came out from behind the tree and behind Yang. She placed her hands on his shoulders. He didn't retaliate as at that moment, it appeared he was in a trance. Yun eyed her warily. The vibes she emitted were turning him off.

"And you are...?"

"I am known as Succubus." the red-haired lady replied. "Lord Blacksoul hired me to exterminate you. But I didn't find that job quite... fitting for one of my stature. Instead, I simply claimed a prize. Don't you think he's quite a catch?" she grazed her hands in circles on Yang's chest.

Yun winced. 'This weird lady's askin' me if my brother's attractive. Ugh!' He pointed at Succubus with an accusing finger. "So you're the one who kidnapped my brother. Normally I hate beatin' on girls, but if you don't tell me what you did to my brother, I'm gonna tear you limb by limb."

"I have nothing to hide." Succubus tossed some locks of hair over her shoulder. "I simply brought out his hidden emotions."

"His...what?"

"While you relish in the spotlight, your brother silently suffers from continuing lack of self confidence. Instead of taking his problems out on you, he buried these emotions deep inside. Do you deny that these feelings of wanting to best you are not his? Didn't your grandmother tell you he feels inferior? Did you not realize yourself?"

Yun tipped his cap and grinned. "Look, this psychological mumbo jumbo's goin' over my head. All I can see is you messed with my little bro'. I hate to do this to a pretty lady like yourself, but I'm gonna make you pay."

Succubus chuckled. "What a simple-minded young man you are." She whispered to Yang, "Go. Kill your brother. That's what you want, isn't it?"

"...Yes."

Yang reached in his pocket and produced a knife with all intention to kill his older brother. Yun stepped back, holding up his hands, then lowered them.

"I understand. If you wanna kill me so badly, go ahead and do it. I'm waitin'."

"....." Yang stepped closer towards Yun. Ever so slowly, he raised the knife, ready to deliver a final blow.

'That smile... the one big brother -- Yun shows his fans. I was resentful of that smile. Because he doesn't smile like that to me. He... he...'

He closed his eyes to briefly recall the way Yun smiled at him in the hospital.

'He has a smile meant only for me.'

Yang swung the knife downwards. The knife's blade cut cleanly through it's mark -- the heart of Succubus. With an outraged expression, she glanced down to see the knife stabbed through her chest. "How -- how dare you?!"

"It's true I do feel inferior towards my brother." Yang spoke, now realizing the logic behind his emotions. "He is so much stronger, so much more popular, so much more loved, I know I can never compare. But the truth is, I would rather die before he. For we are soul mates. If he dies, so do I."

"I... I don't believe this..." Succubus gaped. "Although I tore your soul bond to shreds, somehow by you two being together, it regenerated... how...?"

Yun grinned. "Haven't ya heard the expression, 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder'?"

Succubus screamed. "This can't be true! My plans, my beautiful plans...!"

Her words came to a halt as Yang struck her low with a Tenshin Senkyuutai -- quickly rolling on the ground and springing from his hand to a high rising kick. Then at the peak, he kicked her once, twice, three times. Yang landed first and out of the way, with Succubus landing in Yun's awaiting fist of a You-Hou. He punched her, shoulder bashed her upwards...

"One-Man-You-Hou-Seichusen-Godanzuki!" Yun cried before sending an anger-charged final punch. Succubus soared into the air and vanished with a *ping*.

Yang couldn't turn to face his brother. He felt so ashamed. Only now did he realize how selfish he was acting. Sure brothers do fight but he need not carry such a heavy grudge so much further. Especially since now he realized how close he felt towards Yun.

The older brother understood. He decided to give Yang time to think. He placed a hand on Yang's shoulder, then rode away on his skateboard.

Several of Blacksoul's Men in Black heard a loud scream from above. They looked up to see Succubus soaring through the air. Giant sweatdrops went down the sides of their heads. One MIB pulled out a walkie talkie.

"Boss. Succubus failed."

"I see." Blacksoul sighed. "Everyone return. I've had enough of these Twin Dragons. I'm going to take a vacation."

Succubus clutched her bleeding chest, panting heavily. Abnormal beings like her don't die by a simple stab through the heart. As a matter of fact, her using her stealth manteau to hide in a run-down barrage had taken more of a toll on her.

"Damn them... Damn them...!" she cursed. Dripping blood marked her trail. "Those Twin Dragons. Now no matter what means I must use, I shall destroy them!"

She rounded the corner and accidentally bumped into a bystander. No rather, Remy placed himself there on purpose. Succubus clutched his jacket for support.

"Remy... help me. Help me get revenge on the Twin Dragons. Please, Remy, I implore you!"

Remy shrugged. "Don't get me involved with your problems. It's none of my business."

"Please... help me...!"

Succubus leaped at Remy, raising her arm to the side. Her nails elongated to become claws which threatened to tear Remy to pieces. The Frenchman blinked not for he was ready as well.

"Light of Justice!"

Multiple projectiles created by an air vacuum were hurled at Succubus in pairs, triplets, then pairs again. Each projectile sliced through Succubus' skin in various places. Then, Remy let the last one loose. It connected with Succubus' neck, cleanly slicing off the appendage. Succubus' body crashed to the ground in one direction, her head in another.

Remy stood over the unfortunate woman. No doubt that once her head was placed on her neck again she will revive. He gave her head a punt. Red hair billowed in the air as her head fell and sank into the sea. Remy sighed, shaking his head and placing his hands in his pockets.

"Why am I here anyway?"

Tick... tock...

Tick...

Tock...

Hours have passed since Yun went home. Silence prevailed the household with the random noises of Yun tinkering with his skateboard. Hours have passed and Yang wasn't home. Yun tried his best to get his mind away from his problems. He wasn't expecting Yang to come home anytime soon.

His thoughts were interrupted by his stomach rumbling. "Damn, I'm starved." he muttered to himself. "Gotta get some grub."

The second he opened his bedroom door was the second he heard a soft click coming from the front room. Tsuchin darted out of Yang's room and down the stairs. 'I've never seen her run that fast in her life.' Yun thought amusedly. He trailed down the stairs as well.

"Tsuchin!" a familiar voice exclaimed, but not too loudly as his voice was soft.

"Meow, mrow!" the white kitten cried in return. Then she ran to Yun and tugged on his pants - a probable gesture that she wanted him to follow. Yun did and glanced at the visitor. None other than Yang. In his arms was the same Hello Kitty plush from earlier, only with a band-aid over the bullet hole.

"Yang, you're back."

Yang bit his lip. "Big brother... I..."

He stopped speaking as he felt his brother wrap his arm around the younger's shoulder. The Yang braced himself for the upcoming condensation. Yun tipped his hat and smiled - that same wonderful smile that was only meant to be seen by Yang.

"Welcome home."