Total Eclipse Of The Heart
"Kaikinisshoku"
Chapter One: Enter: Hao, The Shaman King
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halo watched, from the high peaks of the cliff, the burning of her village as she had previously known it. Hao had finally prevailed. After presumed to be killed by Yoh Asakura, Hao reappeared form the Spirit World along with his Spirit of Fire. He launched a secondary, secret attack on the currently unguarded secret passage to the King of Spirits while the rest of the world was busy rejoicing in great festivities in honor of Hao's assumed defeat. No one knows how he managed to defy death this time around.
With the King of Spirits, Hao took the crown of Shaman King and continued on his plan of a Shaman only world. Unfortunately, all was going according to plan. No one had dared interfere… so far.
Halo watched, not able to do anything, as the Spirit of Fire Ravaged through the village to a scorched pile of ashes. Those Shamans strong enough… joined Hao. Halo clenched her fist at the site. Those treacherous traitors! Among those who joined, Halo could've sworn that she saw her sister, Ava, join. Of those, not a single died for possible freedom or even tried to escape. It was the saddest and most pitiful thing Halo ever witnessed.
Halo saw it all. She focused her vision on Hao, the one who started it all. He was a commanding figure, tall though the mess of debris and dust. He was a rather handsome figure, but the effect was lost on Halo. She was well known to have a mental consciousness of steel. Through the fire and smoke, the power of her glare was noticed. Hao turned his head. He locked eyes with Halo… and smiled the most wicked smile Halo had ever seen. Halo's heart clenched.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hao was certain that he was being watched. Years of being a powerful Shaman had taught him many things. He wouldn't be alive right now if he didn't have senses of a ninja. Taking a brief stop in his supervised pillaging, Hao looked up, the place where he had sensed a tremendous hatred. Among the highest peaks of the surrounding mountain ranges, he saw a tall, bold figure. Piercing onyx eyes gave him a disdainful glare.
She was pretty, Hao had to admit. An arresting smooth face surrounded by whipping silky black bangs. Knowledgeable eyes scanned his own. Perched on her shoulder was the most beautiful spirit creature Hao ever laid eyes on: a large majestic steel-feathered falcon with diamond eyes and ruby red crest feathers. Long, flowing, elegant silvery wings were folded neatly on his back. A sheen of invisible power aura surrounded them both.
Hao smiled wickedly. An escaped Shaman, huh? Those were defiantly the most fun to deal with. Those who willingly fell into submission was good, but… Hao grinned again. A little resistance was always welcomed. After all, no one could defeat Hao. No one.
He glanced at his subordinates situated around him. "Bring Yoh to me." He ordered suddenly. Immediately, they scrambled off and returned dragging Yoh a couple seconds later.
Hao was rewarded by an immediate glare. "What do you want, Hao?! What more could you possibly want from me?" Yoh spat out disgustedly. He was in poor shape. Apparently, Hao had pounded him good. His usual cheerful smile had vanished. His clothes lay limply, full of grime and blood. Bruises and scratches covered his face and hands. But obviously his resistance had yet to die out.
Hao smiled. "I just need you to do a tiny little errand for me."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halo left. It was just too much to stay and further watch. Jumping into the battle would be useless too. She would be killed in a second. What she really needed was a good plan and a place to survive in hiding. Aero, her trusty companion spirit cooed lowly.
"Have you got a plan yet, Halo?" He muttered with a deep voice.
"As a matter of fact, I think I do. We run from here."
Aero nodded seriously. "Fair enough."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yoh was scandalized. That was all he would feel. He never knew Hao could have such a… devious mind. He lowered his head. What he was just asked to do would go against all former morals.
"So what's it going to be, Yoh?" Hao asked. "Do what I ask, or…" He beckoned to a person behind him. "Let little Manta be slaughtered in cold blood?"
The person behind him emerged, being none other than Yoh's best friend, Manta. Something was different about him though. His eyes were dull and his arms were limp.
"W-what… Hao! What did you do to Manta?"
"Oh, I just… let a spirit of mine possess him for a little. He always wanted to be closer to a shaman. This is his chance." Hao smiled. "So, your answer?"
Yoh closed his eyes. There was really no choice involved. His friend mattered beyond anything right now. "Alright, Hao. But mark my words; I will defeat you again, once and for all! Manta, I'll free you eventually, you just wait for me!" Without waiting for a response, Yoh snapped the chains on his wrists and bounded off, determined to do thwart Hao's plan.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Several hours later, Yoh was getting exasperated. The escaped Shaman was nowhere to be seen. He wouldn't be surprised to know that Hao had been hallucinating. His mind darkened again when he thought of Hao's order.
"Find a Shaman with a steel falcon. If she's worthy, and you know what I mean, bring her to me. If she's weak… Kill her. It's a simple errand."
Yoh sighed. He knew exactly who the shaman was. Halo. He had met her in the Shaman fights. No one could mistake the steel falcon. It had taken nearly all his willpower to prevent Hao from detecting that he already knew Halo. If only he had completely destroyed Hao in their last Shaman fight… Yoh shook his head. It was no use. Hao would just find another shortcut to reincarnation. Yoh jumped over a small brook and started heading toward the nearest village.
Halo wandered through the forest. After Hao had become the Shaman king, he had taken great pains to re-grow most of civilization. All technology, buildings and other man-made objects were burned to the last cinder. In their ashes, plants, trees, forests, and even rivers filled in. Brushing aside, a dropping branch, Halo saw a village that hadn't yet received Hao's verdict of 'Kill all humans and Burn all technology.' Just thinking of that stupid psychotic pyromaniac made her hair curl. She entered the city, bent on warning its occupants of Hao's coming.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yoh entered the city with a gloomy deposition. It wouldn't be long before this town was in flames. Heading toward the nearest inn, Yoh cleaned himself up from Hao's beating. Tossing a couple coins at the innkeeper, Yoh set out to find something to eat.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halo settled down at a booth of the nearest restaurant. Aero was hovering over her, invisible to the human eye, and warding off any shaman that would possibly want to attack her. Some imbeciles just don't understand that the Shaman Fights were over.
Ordering a double cheeseburger and a drink, Halo leaned back and observed the setting. Few were shamans out of the many that were humans. All of them steered clear of her. A bell tinkled lightly as another person entered.
Halo froze as his eyes directly locked onto hers. Hao?! No. Impossible. It couldn't be Hao. This person has such a kinder face…
"Yo!" He said, and smiled a wide smile.
Halo blinked, then laughed. "Yoh Asakura?"
"Yup!" He walked over and took the seat across from Halo. "Long time no see, Halo. Where were you all this time?"
Halo smirked. "Whatddaya think? I spent all this time trying to find a way to get rid of your pyro of a brother. Speaking of Hao, you completely freaked me out a few minutes ago. I could've sworn you were your brother. Oh, by the way, weren't you captured by Hao?"
Yoh sighed. "Yeah, I was captured. Halo… I need your help right now. Hao's making me hunt you down by holding Manta hostage through spirit possession. You remember him? The short guy with the laptop?"
"Oh, no. Hao got him too?"
"Yeah. He's got all of us under his control now. Ren Tao, Horohoro, Ryo, Joco, Faust, even Anna!" Yoh groaned. "I don't know how I'm going to be able to attack Hao at all with all my friends as hostages!"
"We'll find a way… First thing we have to do is get Manta away from Hao's clutches. He's human. The rest can take care of themselves when the time arises. At least… for a little while."
Yoh ran a hand through his hair. A worried expression was on his face. "It just seems so… hopeless."
They were silent for a minute. Finally, Halo sighed. "Geeze… I guess I just have to do what I have to do."
Yoh raised his head. Confusion was written all over his face.
Halo sighed again, and stood up. "Yoh, you're going to have to pretend that you captured me. You'll turn me in, and Manta will get out of immediate danger. He won't get out of danger totally, but that's the best we can do right now. We have to keep as many people alive as possible. After Manta ok… I'll see if I can find any others."
Yoh stood up as well. "No, Halo. He'll kill you if he thinks you aren't strong enough to be worthy to live in his world!"
"Look Yoh. I have to do what I have to do. This is simply something I have to do. Anyway…" a smile crossed her face. "There's no way I'm letting a psychotic bamboozle take my life. You can count on that much."
Yoh smiled warily, despite the harsh situation. "Halo… I'm warning you. My brother's nothing like me."
"Yeah, I can see that much." Halo said dryly.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------