"Wh-where are we?"
We were surrounded once again by plain, brown surface, unchanging and riddled with mirages. The sweltering heat was the only indication I needed to know where we were.
"We're back in the desert…" I said to Trey, shielding my eyes from the bright sun.
I stood up slowly and continued to observe my surroundings. Yoh, Rio, Faust, Jocco, Lyserg, Morty Anna, Lee Pai Long and Jun had also made it back safely.
"The desert?" Trey repeated, brushing himself. "So what happened then? Did we win?"
Yoh picked his sword up off the ground and turned to us. "Yep! We sure did!" he replied with a grin.
"Well, I suggest first thing's first," Lyserg started, "We should head for the nearest city and start making our way to the airport."
I held myself back from rolling my eyes at the green haired freak. "No." I said flatly.
The others turned suddenly to stare at me in awe. Crossing my arms across my chest, I took a step back and averted my eyes from them. There had not been one single time in the whole duration of the tournament that we spent with Lyserg that I had ever agreed with him. His negative attitude and his abhorrent view on the world made me almost hate him from the very beginning. Not to mention he nearly turned us all into practice dummies the very first day we met him.
"We're in the middle of the desert, we just defeated the 'all powerful' Zeke Asakura," I let as much sarcasm into my tone as I possibly could. "And the Shaman Tournament has been called off indefinitely. What hurry are we in to get out of here?"
Trey and Jocco stared at me in disbelief. "Y-you really want to stay here Len?"
"No I don't want to stay here, you dolt!" I snapped, my temper flaring slightly. "I'm merely saying that rushing around aimlessly is a waste of time."
"Pointy-head has a good point," Rio agreed. "It's not like we have one month to find our way home. We can enjoy the open road!"
The group all started squawking at the same time. Only once the spirits emerged did I dig my sword into the ground and yell loudly. "Enough!"
The bickering ceased temporarily and focus returned to the question at hand.
"I agree with Len and Rio!" Yoh chimed in with a smile. "We've had a hard journey, so let's just take it easy for a while!"
A mutual consensus came around the whole group that we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves, and maybe have some fun along the way. We were free, not constrained by time or perilous obligations. The enemies who had been on our tails were either gone or too scared to face us. It almost seemed like we could be normal teenagers again, but the likeliness of that happening was slim to none.
I couldn't deny it though, I was not eager to return home. Living under my uncle's reign for so long had kept me from what I really needed to experience in the world. What little I had experienced was blurred by the shadow of rage and hatred, and I certainly didn't want that shadow to remain. It was all thanks to my new friends that I was given this sort of second chance, and even though I would never admit it, they were the reason that I didn't want to return home any time soon.
"Okay, well then," Jocco said, breaking the momentary silence. "Maybe we don't have to take off right away but I don't think standing in one place for a long time is a good idea either."
We all nodded again and set off down the road we had landed near. Before long, the group had staggered themselves, and started high spirited conversations. Trey, Jocco, and Yoh were all having a stand-off over who could eat the most cheese burgers while Morty silently moderated. Lyserg was showing Rio how to dowse. Anna, Tamara, and Jun were submersed in girlish subjects, and Faust and Eliza were trailing along behind us.
After what may have been several hours, my eyes were drawn to the eastern horizon by a startling flash of light. I stared for a moment, but the light never reoccurred.
"Len?" Jun said softly from behind me. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes. Yes, everything is fine," I hesitated, glancing back to the craggy horizon again.
I passed the phenomenon off as an illusion caused by the heat, but shortly after it came again, and I wasn't the only one to see it.
"Did you guys see that?" Trey asked, pointing in the direction it had come from.
"What was that?" Rio said in awe.
I took a step closer to the edge of the rocks and watched as more of the strange lights danced through the valley below. It occurred to me then that it wasn't a heat illusion.
"It looks like it might be a fight. That glow is characteristic of spirits," I explained, drawing my sword as precaution.
"Well let's go check it out!" Yoh suggested eagerly.
In unison, we all generated spirit control and descended the cliff. We observed that the fight was further down than we thought, but made way carefully with weapons drawn. The clash of metal on metal and energy explosions was beginning to grow louder, and as we came to a clearing, the contestants were revealed. Three grown men in long cloaks were up against only one person, much smaller, but I couldn't make out many details of the person. We didn't have to linger for long to realize the singular fighter was being creamed, but also that that fighter would not back down.
Yoh motioned silently for us to climb up the embankment so more could be seen. We reached the top in time to see the lone shaman fall to the ground hard, and struggle to get back up. The opposing side decided to show some mercy, and gave their target some time.
"Now, for the last time, tell us where Len Tao is and we'll let you live!" one of them spoke in a loud, gruff voice.
"What?" I gasped at the mention of my name.
I still couldn't see who it was these men were after, but judging from their size I could only guess it was a child.
"I've already told you: I don't know who that is!" the target shouted desperately in an accented voice, much like my own.
"Look kid, lying's not in your best interests either! Quasar, get that lying pest!"
All three of the men seemed to be wielding ferocious ninja spirits, and the middle one, who I assumed to be the leader, had just sent his guardian ghost on the little one.
"I don't know who those men are or why they're looking for me, but I don't want this innocent person to suffer for me! Bason!" I growled, lengthening my sword and moving to jump out on the men.
"Hang on Len, it could be a trap!" Yoh warned.
I watched avidly as the next man attacked the target, who hadn't even gotten up from the last one. "I don't care! I have to help. If it's me they want, then it's me they'll get!"
Without any further discussion, I launched myself off the cliff, performing spirit control as I flew. "Bason! Spirit Form, into the Sword!" I landed between the two sides in time to block the third attack, and nearly send it straight back to them.
As the dust settled, they stood transfixed, staring at me in shock. I made no indication that I was in any way affiliated with their target. I was only there to set their business with me.
"And who are you, kid?" the middle man inquired with a smirk.
"I am the one who you apparently have no problem with hurting innocent people to find." I turned slightly to the target without taking my eyes off the enemies. "I would suggest you leave before things get worse." I heard scuffling behind me, signaling that my advice was taken.
"Ah, so you're Len Tao then! My name is Alesh, and we have a most enticing proposition for you!"
"I rather doubt that," I retorted, raising an eyebrow at him. "What do you want?"
Alesh took a step forward and released his spirit control, which would be an unfortunate mistake on his part. "We want you to join us in our quest to finish what Zeke started!"
I gripped my sword tightly, trying hard not to let my temper flare. "You've got to be the daftest person I have ever met. I helped defeat Zeke. What makes you think I would even consider continuing his disasters?"
"You will join us, or else!" Alesh threatened.
"Or what? You'll destroy me? Ha!" I laughed with sarcasm. "Bason!" I let my furyoku swell, and Giant Bason rose from under me, towering over the three men. "You'll get out of here now if you know what's good for you! And I don't ever want to see your faces again!" I shouted defiantly.
The men's looks of confidence and malice suddenly to panic and fear for the newest phase of confrontation. I didn't even have to move another muscle before they took off running deep into the canyon.
"What losers," I muttered to Bason before releasing my spirit control.
I took a few steps towards the clearing entrance where the others would be waiting, but a small voice reached me first.
"Excuse me?" It was the same accented voice I heard earlier…
I turned around quickly and found something I definitely wasn't expecting. "Oh! Y-you're a girl!"
