#opacho

My amazing friend Faust_Vlll reimagined fanart I made in 2003 as this beautiful Pixel art Shaman King banner. Original design below the cut. 👇

My 12 year old self would be absolutely over the moon!

Look at how cool it is!!!! ✨✨✨✨

Thank you so much Faust!!!! I love it so much 🥹🥹

Faust is such an amazing creator and supporter of the SK fandom. Find more from him here:

YouTube | Reddit | Twitter

Background was created using Sora’s Pixel converter.

"The desert has no mercy for the uncertain. Stand steady, and it may accept you."

Manga panel I drew as a practice.

I used the original manga as a base/reference to speed up my process; I redraw the whole panel, basically working on it with my own understanding (and mistakes.)

About the lore: Tsukiko gives a real shit about the whole Shaman Fight; she only entered because she heard from Kalim shamans from all the world would be there. She ended replacing Opacho in the team mostly to act as a 'shield' since Hao has enemies everywhere, and while she's aware it's his fault, it doesn't mean she feels good as a spectator.

This is a fanfic test and is currently not canon in FD.

Spoiler warning: Content may include spoilers for FD Vol 3 and Ep 13 of “Alt” Universe

Characters: Alt Hao, Asakura Zeke, Opacho

Hurt / Angst / Crack / FD Canon Elements

Words: 800

Read “Fractured Duality” here.

Enter “Alt” Universe here.

“Hao-sama?”

“Mm?” he mumbled in reply. The long-haired fire wielding shaman lifted his gaze from the crackling campfire and met the big glistening eyes of the small infant in his care.

“Why is Hao-sama so sad?”

Hao’s bleak expression faltered. Then he smiled kindly at the child. He pulled his gloved hands out from beneath his thick soft poncho and opened his arms wide. Opacho shuffled around the campfire and fell into her guardian’s lap, shifting herself onto one side so to closely examine his face. She placed her little hands on both of his cheeks and attempted to manipulate his lips into a forced upward smile.

Hao chuckled softly at the infant’s innocent attempt to cheer him up. But then he took in a deep inhale and exhaled slowly. He affectionately placed the back of his fingers of one hand on the little girl’s cheek. Opacho’s bottom lip quivered when she saw Hao’s eyes glaze over.

“I just miss you, that’s all.” he sighed, trying to force a reassuring genuine smile beneath her small hands.

Opacho’s fingers moved to the silver circular starred discs hanging from her guardian’s ears and began to caress them. She then reached behind his ears, rooting her grip deep into his thick hair before gently tugging at his long loose stands.

She let out a small whimper.

“Opacho can’t feel Hao-sama.”

Hao’s smile dropped. The child then lowered her head onto his chest in an attempt to bring them both some comfort. He pulled her closer into a tight squeeze, closing his eyes.

A short sorrowful silence grew.

“I know. I can’t feel myself either.”

After a moment of silence, a small smile appeared on Hao’s face as a hand once again moved up into his hair. The gentle and slow touch sent a reassuring wave throughout his body. His shoulders relaxed as the warmth of the campfire in front of him began to pour outward and flow over him like an invisible blanket. The weight of the one on his lap shifted again - and it took a moment or so for Asakura Hao to realise the toddler was no longer sitting within his embrace - yet the hand in his hair went deeper - a tantalising sensation began to sink into his skull - until the hand inside his head slipped effortlessly through to the other side, moving through his core like a knife in butter.

“Where were you?” muttered Hao, somewhat coldly.

“I’m sorry.” came the gentle reply. “I was pulled away, but I’m back now.”

“It’s awful here without you.” he sighed in response, allowing his head to lull forward as he embraced the familiar warm and comforting overpowering presence behind him.

“I know.”

Another smooth touch of ecstasy began to radiate down his naked shoulder. A brisk cool breeze danced along his skin. The absence of his poncho seemed to allude him as its warmth was replaced by another - as Asakura Zeke wrapped his ghostly apparition around the one in his arms.

“I wish you would stay.” went on Hao, opening his eyes slightly and looking aimlessly to the side. “When you leave, the darkness comes.”

“I am here now, aren’t I?”

Hao lifted his head and allowed himself to fall back into the pleasurable addictive all consuming embrace of the one behind him. As their eyes met, Hao found himself forgetting what he was so upset about - as the black endless voids that were Zeke’s eyes washed away every worry in Hao’s mind, and a small pleasant absentminded smile appeared on Hao’s lips.

“Feeling better?” chuckled Zeke.

“Yes.”

Zeke smiled.

“You know it’s not my fault,” sadly went on Zeke as he gently removed a long loose strand of Hao’s hair from his face, “I was not the one who trapped us here.”

“I know.” Hao sighed in reply.

“It’ll be okay. We will succeed. And then, I promise, it’ll all work out.“

Hao felt a small tug in his heart at Zeke’s words and his worrying thoughts began to return.

“It wasn’t supposed to be this way. How could I let this happen?” whispered Hao, shakily.

Zeke’s face wavered for a moment as he recognised the subtle but noticeable change in Hao’s resistance to his control. But then, he smiled softly once more.

“Shh...” gently soothed Asakura Zeke. He lowered his head to bring his eyes closer the face of the one in his arms. “I will take care of everything. You don’t have to worry anymore, Hao. I’m here.”

Hao sighed happily as Zeke’s gentle and reassuring voice began to envelope his thoughts. His void-like irises began to pull Hao down in a comfortable abyss, pushing out the anxiety and pulling in the warmth and security all around him into his mind and soul.

“I just… wish you didn’t have to go…”