Starts, stars…

The Shaman king tournament was about to begin, but still there was nothing going on. It made the thirteen years old Shaman really angry. She was sitting in a five-star hotel room in Tokyo, feeling obsolete. Yes, she had already sensed a few other Shamans in the city, but still no trace of the real event.

"What do you think, Ritchie? Should we start getting rid of the competition just yet, or perhaps we should wait a little bit longer?" she sounded bored. Hell, she was! The dragon, which was about two meters long, said lazily:

"Maybe in a week or so… Actually I think it'd be better if we wait for those idiots to attack. It'll be hell of a surprise for them…"

"Guess you're right. However… I haven't sensed him yet… It makes me a little nervous, gotta admit. I suppose that we could check on the Tao and Asakura family, since there's nothing else to do… I just wonder what that Yoh kid will turn out to be…"

"We could check if you want… but I think we'd better wait and see if he's even going to get to the second part. Maybe out of curiosity some time."

"Sure. Now let's get to train a little, I'm way too bored already!"

It was a beautiful spring evening. The sun had just set, yet there was some light left. It was a bit cold as well, but not too much. The perfect time to wander about if you feel confident enough…

The Shaman girl was walking slowly and, as it seemed, aimlessly into the park. She seemed bored and sleepy, which was probably the reason why the four men decided that she's a great pray… She kept walking, making her way through the semi-dark alleys, heading to the darkest, most depopulated parts of the park… The four men kept following her in what could have been described as a "casual manner". When she reached her destination, she said loud and with confidence:

"Show yourselves, kisamara! Very stupid of you to follow me here." she added with no emotion.

"Stupid of you to come." one of them argued. "Not to mention the fact that there are four of us. Plus, we know what your movements are, your technique is no riddle for us! Prepare to die!"

"Unless you prefer to beg and humiliate yourself." another one added.

"Fools…" was the only thing she bothered telling them. "HYOI GATAI!"

The battle wasn't very intense, since she wasn't even really trying.

"Underestimating us was the biggest mistake you've done in your life" the third aggressor said, then the forth added:
"You stood a chance… about a minute ago!"

Then they combined their attack, thus leaving the young woman without many options. One move could stop three of them, but then the forth was going to make a successful move – paralyzing one, actually. There was the option of showing her special movement, but it was risky. Plus she was almost certain that there's a fifth Shaman somewhere in the shadows of the park. She could, of course, kill two of them in an instant and seriously injure the rest, but… "Becoming a homicide is no option!" thought she. So there was only one option in fact – obviate as many as possible and parry the rest. "Then I might be in a better position!"

She evaded two attacks, parried one and countered the last attacker, but in the meantime the first three had regrouped and they were getting too close to the girl. The Spirit Unity of the four men was making their opponent quite angry.

"SHIT! If only there were one less of the pests!"

As a response to her thought another person came.

"Oh, great! Another one... in addition! Me and my luck...Ritchie, I think it's high time for us to stop fooling around!"

But instead of attacking her, the boy, for it was a boy, said:
"Very rude of you to try to hit a girl. Cowardly, as well! Why don't you try and fight me instead? Let's go! BASON! Spirit Ball Mode! HYOI GATAI!"

The aggressors now seemed confused. They tried another two or three group attacks on both Shamans, but when two of them got hit and flew quite a good distance, the group decided to retreat. After catching her breath, the girl said:
"That was sweet and gentlemanly, but quite... unnecessary. Still... thanks! I'm Lucifer Flame, nice to meet you!"

"I'm Tao Ren."

"And in case you were wondering – this is Ritchie – my pet dragon and best friend."

"Hmm... Friend... I know a person whom I despise, who as well refers to his tool as a friend... But I can forgive you. For you unlike him put an amazing fight. I'm pretty sure that you'd have those bastards without my help. Still, I couldn't just stay back and watch!"

"Very sweet of you, really... But aren't you forgetting one simple fact?"

"And what might that be?"

"We're all competition here!" she said, her sword drawn quickly right next to his throat.

Then she laughed – a deep, happy and warm laughter.

"Gotcha, didn't I? Really must be more careful, though – your nature is kind and slightly naive and you could get hurt!" the sword got back at the scabbard. "Well, we could have tea sometime... and a training perhaps. You really seem strong, Tao Ren. I'd love to kick the ass of such a worthy opponent as you." Then she handed the amazed boy a card with her current "address" in the hotel. Then, without even saying goodbye, she flew into the night.

"That move she made to fly... it wasn't unity..." thought Tao Ren, tracking her as far as he could see.

"So, we saw the Tao... He's weird... but strangely nice... Might turn out to be a great ally... and certainly a powerful enemy..."