Hey guys:). This is my first fanfic EVER so I'm pretty excited to see how it turns out...Please R&R. If you have an question feel free to ask. Well then, enjoyy!
Kisses
-kat.A.t
P.S. I don't own Shaman King. I do own the OCs are all mine, though.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" I roared as I ran into the house and slammed the door behind me.
"Haniel! Get out here, you spoiled little brat! Training is NOT over!" grandma screamed from behind the door I locked.
"Damn it, old lady! I already told you I'M NOT FOLLOWING THAT SPARTAN TRAINING OF YOURS"
"The Shaman Tournament begins in two days! You need to be prepared or else you'll be killed before you can even say "great spirit".
"If you weren't my grandma, I would tell you just where to shove your stupid tournament. I'm not going to no-man's-land just to get my ass kicked."
"Haniel" her tone changed into a motherly love one. "Come here, I have something to show you"
"That's cheating grandma, you know I can't say no to your sweet voice" I said as I opened the door slowly. She just grinned and guided me to the dinning table, where a sealed envelope laid.
"This is your mother's will, my child. It is time you read it."
"Mom's?" I felt my voice trembling. For fourteen years I've never heard about her. It is an unspoken rule not to mention her name in this household. The room suddenly became colder. A chilly air that for me meant nothing but death. My grandma felt my uneasiness and place a warm hand over mine and with the other handed me the envelope.
"There's nothing to fear, Haniel. The spirits in this house are harmless. You should know that; you should give them a chance." She reassured me.
It's not like I'm scared or anything; I come from a long line of powerful shamans, after all. The only reason I dislike them is because I know how horrible they can be. Like the one who killed my parents, just after mom gave birth to me.
"Could you open it for me, grandma?" I pleaded. She hesitated for a second, but then took the envelope with a smile. The paper was so old that it almost crumbled under her frail-looking fingers. (I say frail looking because my grandma is many things, but frail is not one of them)
"There's only one line in here" Her eyes where fixed on the paper, which she handed to me quickly.
Haniel, my daughter, is to enter the Shaman Tournament at the age of fourteen
"Just perfect. Just freaking perfect." I mumbled. This was not even a will! She is not leaving anything for her only daughter; in fact, she is asking something from me! Something that I'd rather stick pins in my eyes than doing.
"Well, it looks you'll be entering the contest after all."
I felt hot tears drowning my eyes. As soon as one rolled down my cheek, my grandmother placed my head in her lap and began stroking my long, straight, auburn hair; just like when I was a little kid.
"Your mother would never ask the impossible form you, girl. She knows that deep inside, you are way more powerful than your ancestors, and that's saying a lot. That's why she left Ariel with you"
"H-how in the w-world I'm I g-going to pull that o-off?" Sobs began drowning my voice. "Ariel d-doesn't even listens to me! He is supposed t-to do as I say, f-for God's s-sake!"
"Ariel won't accept you as long as you reject him. The correct bond between a shaman and his spirit is based on trust from each party. It's not a slave-master thing." Her voice came out full of confidence and trust. "And besides, Ariel has powers beyond our knowledge. As I've told you before, he has been known as the angel of healing, wrath and creation. His name translates directly into "Lion of God." She went on and on about the greatness of Ariel, my family's legacy. "He is said to have authority over the elements." From there I could hear no longer.
There was only one thing I knew for certain about Ariel. He is too powerful for me to use.
"Haniel, do you know why your parents died?" I bolted up immediately, eager but afraid to hear the story I've wanted to hear for years now.
"Hundreds of years ago, our family received a prophecy. When the seventh child of a seventh child gives birth to the girl with amber eyes, our family's destiny in the Shaman Tournament will be full field." She sounded almost as if she was reciting an old poem. I looked into the glass-table and saw worry reflect in my own amber eyes.
Wait! Amber eyes? My mother was a seventh child, right? That means that the child of the prophecy is-
"The prophecy talks about you, my dear Haniel" I was so shocked I could barely keep on listening. "Unfortunately, the prophecy was heard by our former enemy clan, the Asakura clan. The night you were born, Asakura Hao, sent his Spirit of Fire to assassinate you in order to secure the power of the his clan." I could felt my stomach sinking and tears in my eyes again. Anyway, grandma went on.
"Your mother and father tried to protect you, but were killed almost instantly. Then a miracle occurred. You were able to command Ariel to take you to my house, and he did that, leaving no trace behind. You were able to use your spirit just after one day of being born! That's when we knew you were the one"
"MY FAMILY DIED PROTECTING ME?" now I was on my feet "DON'T MESS WITH ME! WHY COULDN'T THEY JUST LEAVE ME? I HATE THEM FOR GIVING UP THEIR LIVES FOR SUCH A STUPID CAUSE!" Then my legs gave up and I fell on my knees, too angry to cry.
"You worry about others too much. Of course they protected you out of love" Said grandma as she grabbed my chin and lifted my head. "I want you to go, but if you go with a heart filled with hatred, you'll lose much more than just a fight."
"What is that?" I asked while getting on my feet.
"Your humanity, my child."
That night I couldn't sleep. I open my balcony door and stepped into the night. It saddened me to see that no stars where visible. The light of this filthy city made the planet look as if it had already lost the battle against humans. Trying to make this wreck a better place seemed like a lost cause.
A lost cause.
Funny how this reminded me how my parents died for a battle, that deep in my heart I knew that they knew, was a loss for sure. No cause is lost, as long as there is a fool willing to fight for it, I remembered hearing somewhere.
And then, another issue came to my mind. Asakura Hao.
The truth is, a spirit didn't do this to my family, but a man whose heart was filled with selfishness and greed. At the end, spirits just get corrupted because of humans, like everything else that was once pure. Maybe I should listen to my grandma and give them a chance. I closed my eyes and allowed my energy to spread. For a moment, I swore I could feel stars that weren't there. For a moment, I felt Ariel for the first time.
Next morning, I felt ad energy I've had never felt before. I felt light as a feather but strong as a lion. I jumped from my bed and proceeded to change, when I heard a voice I've never spoken to, but knew by heart.
"Good morning, my lady." said the voice
"Ariel" I said in a whisper, almost tasting the strange word as it left my lips. I turned around, and saw my spirit for the first time, standing right there, with the head lowered in a small bow.
He was completely dressed in a golden armor. His face, which was framed by dark brown strands of hair, was lit with a beautiful glow. His eyes, I observed, where the same deep amber as mine. A halo floated over his head and metal wings where neatly folded against his back. A chain with a cross hung from his neck.
"I've been waiting for you to accept me as your spirit"
"Oh, you have no idea" I was too busy staring at him like an idiot that I didn't noticed grandma coming in.
"I see you finally met each other"
"Grandma!" I ran to hug her "I did it! I found my spirit!"
"Seems like it." said grandma in a no-so-amused tone. "Do not get to confident. You are still an inexperienced shaman. The real challenge begins today"
"Jeez grandma, thanks for all your support" I said with sarcasm.
"Your welcome, Haniel; and by the way, I left you a little present in the training grounds. Use is wisely." And with that she was already gone.
When I first stepped into the grounds, all I could see was nothing. Then I looked closely, and I saw it. Leaning against a tree, was a golden staff. A sunray was hitting directly over the thing, making it look like a heavenly gift.
As soon as I got hold of it, I observed every detail adoringly.
It was fairly plain, but I didn't want a flashy weapon anyways. It was completely golden, with two small spheres at each end. I was about a meter long. I looked closer and at the bottom I could see a small scripture engraved. Haniel.
"Holy shit, this is amazing!"
"I think that kind of language is not fit for a lady like you, my lady" Ariel's voice came suddenly from behind, and I realized I had left him in the room.
"Well, I think you should shut up and look at THIS" I handed him the staff.
"It truly is an amazing weapon. It fits you, lady Haniel"
"It does, right?" Could this day get any better? I felt as if the world was smiling at me.
Then the presence of a strong spiritual force zapped through me.
Or maybe not.
I could tell Ariel felt it, too. He had positioned himself in front of me. I took a step forward, but the angel raised a restraining arm in front of me.
"There is a strong shaman near. Please stay back, my lady."
"Yes, Ariel, please protect me with all your might"
"My lady..." he looked at me with eyes full of glee, but I broke his fantasy bubble immediately.
"AS IF!" I shouted at Ariel "Do I really look that defenseless in your eyes, stupid?"
"O-of course not, lady Haniel. Is just that I would like to be useful to you." he was definitely sulking now. Great, A moody angel. Just what I needed right now.
"Look, it's not like I don't trust you. I just think that spirits are not shields for us shamans. I mean-" But I didn't get to finish the last sentence. I was rudely interrupted by a freak that looked like he just came from a costume party.
"Chikako Haniel" Spoke a longhaired man that was floating right above us. "My name is Silva, and I'm here to see if you're worthy of earning your Oracle Bell, and entering the Shaman Tournament."
"Damn it, I totally forgot about the tournament!" I said to myself.
"Ready or not, our fight begins now" and then he launched at me.
"WOAH!" I dodged "What the hell are you doing?"
"With that level of furyoku, you won't even make it to the first round" the look in his face was dead serious.
"Fury...oku? What is that? Answer me!"
"Furyoku is the ability to grant our spirit physical forms. That is the true power of a shaman!"
So that's what he's been using up until now!
"If you want to defeat me, you must figure how to use it."
".FAIR!. I mean, how I'm I going to figure a new technique in less than, what? Five minutes? I just got a spirit this morning, for crying out loud!"
"So you are just going to whine there until time runs out?" Silva defied me "What would your mother think about this?"
"You better watch your words, jerkface. Talk about my mom one more time and-"
"And what? You are going to kill me? I would like to see you try!" he was smirking like an ass hole.
"And I'll kick your ass from here to whatever cave you came from! That's what!" Suddenly, I felt a rush of power run through my whole body. My mind was crystal clear and I felt as if I knew what to do. Before I could even think, my body was already moving on it's own.
"ARIEL" I commanded "INTO THE STAFF" Then all I could see was light.
A spiritual power that I never knew I had began to unleash as Ariel fused with my staff. When I was able to open my eyes again, I had a whole new weapon.
The staff, which used to be plain gold, was now surrounded by a chain; and at the top, metallic wings appeared. It looked like an artifact that belongs to an angel or something.
"Mistress..." Ariel said. "You are releasing to much furyoku at the same time! I won't be able to maintain the over soul stable!"
"H-how do I m-make it stop?" Now I felt was he was talking about. My spiritual energy was over whelming my mind and body.
"A-amazing," mumbled Silva to himself. "so much furyoku without previous experience. Who exactly is this girl?"
Now I was losing my self. How could I not be able to control my own over soul? This is ridiculous.
That's it! This is MY power. As long as I clear my head, I would be able to control it; or so I've heard. Okay, it's now or never so-
"MAKE IT STOP!" Fortunately, it did. Everyone was frozen in place (even my grandma, who had just stepped out of the house), but I was too tired to care. I felt light headed, and in matters of second I blacked out.
-Meanwhile Haniel was unconscious-
"There is no doubt your granddaughter possesses great power" Said Silva while sipping from his cup of tea. "But she lacks control. Today she released so much energy that the souls around here have become restless. It is dangerous to send her to the tournament in her current state.
"Do no underestimate Haniel. What she lacks in physical strength, she compensates in determination; when she wants to, of course. The fact that Ariel was finally able to appear to her means that she is beginning to accept her destiny." the old lady answered back. "She has natural talent, not to mention a powerful weapon; instinct. She only lacks self-confidence"
There was a long pause.
"Very well, then. I'll let her participate in the tournament. Since preliminaries are already over, she will be marked as an official competitor. Here is her Oracle Bell and a map to where all contestants will meet tomorrow. Goodnight, Kikyo."
Haniel is far stronger than you all suspect, though grandma.
-End-
When I woke up, I found the Oracle Bell next to my pillow. A map was attached to it and a post it was stuck in the door.
The meeting of all shamans is at 10:00 a.m. don't be late, Haniel, it said. P.S. Haru and Aki will be waiting for you downstairs.
I glanced at the clock and realized I still had plenty of time to get ready. It took me sometime to pick an outfit, but I finally picked something practical and decent at the same time.
I chose to wear a sleeveless white cotton dress that went down to the middle of my thighs. The dress had slits at both sides of my legs, revealing a tight, black short underneath. I used a brown lather strap to tie my staff around my back, and finally tied my hair in a high ponytail.
When I finished packing, it was 9:00 a.m. I better get going.
"Ariel, we're leaving now"
"I'm ready, lady Haniel"
I rushed down the stairs and found a girl (Aki), and a boy (Haru) already waiting for me at the entrance.
Haru and Aki are twins from the second branch of my clan. As members of the second branch, they are supposed to obey the main house (me). They are both quite strong and Haru has some kind of healing ability. Anyway, when I was younger, it was decided that if I ever entered the Shaman Tournament, they would be my teammates. Which was totally fine with me since I love them to death.
"Haru! Aki! It's been so long since I last saw you!" I gave both a hug "This is Ariel, my spirit."
"It is a pleasure to finally meet Haniel's spirit" said Haru "My name is Haru, and this is my spirit, Lex" he pointed at the eagle that was sitting on his shoulder.
"Hey there! My name is Aki! This is Nex" The panther beside her nodded slightly.
The thing is, none of their spirits talk.
"Okay! Let's go then!"
-At the air base-
"God, this looks like a goddamned freak show"
"It does," said both twins in agreement. Heh, I love when they do that.
We walked around for a while, then the twins went to buy some supplies and left Ariel and me to wandering alone.
"LADY HANIEL, WATCH OUT!"
I reflexively jumped back just in time to avoid getting hit by a boy who was sent flying into a wood pillar. The boy's blue spiky hair was now covered with shattered wood. His jacket and shorts were the same.
"This is picking a fight, Horo Horo." Said the guy, who apparently was responsible for what just happened.
"Horo Horo!" shouted a bunch of guys who came running to aid his friend.
Suddenly, the biggest spirit I've ever seen appeared above us. He was completely red and resembled a demon. Sparks of fire where went flying everywhere, burning the people who stood close enough.
"STOP IT!" I said without thinking. "Can't you see innocent bystanders are getting hurt? What are you, brain dead?"
I swear, this mouth of mine is going to get me killed someday.
The long haired boy who controlled the demon was now staring right into my eyes.
Or maybe right now.
"Well, well. We finally meet again, little Haniel. You have grown" he said with a smile. What did he meant with "again"? Have I seen this bastard before?
"What is that thing?" Asked a man dressed in a white suit and whose hair was spliced in two.
"This is the Spirit of Fire, Ryu" answered demon-boy "He is very easily angered, so choose your words carefully when you talk to the future king, Hao"
"You don't say..." I said in perfectly audible voice.
Then realization hit me like a train. Spirit of Fire? Hao? Could this guy possibly be...? I can't believe it! I've heard of reincarnation before, but never actually thought it was possible. I could feel anger filling my body and my blood was boiling. This is the one who-.
"What a pretentious guy" Now the one talking was a boy with a single spike in his hair. He had a beautiful eye color. "You are no king, because you are gone die right now!" then he jumped at Hao with a gigantic spear, or whatever it is called.
His attacked was deflected easily.
"Such a small temper, why are you in such a hurry, Ren?" Hao's relaxed expression was making me sick. I could barely resist the urge of attacking him with all I've got. Then I felt something on my shoulder. It was Ariel.
"My lady, please calm down. It is not worth fighting him right now." he assured "Remember that if you hold hatred in your soul, you won't get away with only your pride hurt"
"Thanks Ariel, you are right; but someone should warn them as well." I was referring to that group who was about to start an all-out fight against Hao.
I was expecting a rain of blood to fall any second, but Hao began to retreat, but first said a few words to a boy who looked exactly as him, but with shorter hair.
"Yoh, I was moved my your determination. I believe you will make a good lackey for me, so you must win every battle for me, the future king." I expected him to turn around and walk away, but instead he approached me and continued his little speech. "I'll see you soon, Haniel. Maybe if you are strong enough, I will allow you to live. As my servant, of course. So do me a favor and stay alive."
"I say the same thing to you, Hao. Stay alive because I'll be the one who defeats you"
He looked amused for a second, and then began laughing. Hard. Then finally he left.
As he walked away I could feel everyone's eyes on me, specially that Yoh fellow.
"What?" I snapped. I was already angry enough to listen to this people's crap.
"Heh heh, you are pretty interesting. What is your name?"
"Haniel"
"That's a cool name. Well, I'm Yoh." He ext ended his hand, and I took it hesitantly.
"Guys, why don't you introduce yourselves to Haniel?"
"Why should we?" said Ren, or Wen, or whatever. "How do we know she is not one of Hao's underlings? She could be planning to kill us right now."
Are you serious?
"Oh come on, Ren. She seems like a nice girl." said Horo Horo.
"You are all a bunch of naive baboons. How can you be so trusting of this brat?"
Okay, that was enough.
"Okay, listen up, jerk" he threw a death glare at me. "First of all, you don't need my help to get killed. You were doing fine by yourself just now. Second of all the only brat around here is you and that horn at the top of your head" I didn't noticed I have taken a few steps forward or the fact that my nose and Ren's were almost touching. "And one last thing" I said before leaving "call me Hao's underling one more time, and I'll rip your lungs out."
I heard a bunch of giggles and laughter coming from Horo Horo and Yoh. With a satisfied grin I walked towards the plane.