I'm so sorry for the late updates! I've just not been in the mood to come up with something interesting :S Anyway, please read and enjoy! Kisses! Oh, and check out my other fanfic 'Child of Destiny'.
I do not own Shaman Kings, btw, just Alessia, the OC.
We traveled for years, or so it felt like. As you may guess, I never really belonged to Hao's group, but then again, the others wouldn't talk to anyone outside their little cliques. It was totally fine by me. Most of them radiated negative feelings most of the time, so I just kept my distance.
Hao was usually the one who would sit by me, walk beside me and stuff. A little girl called Opacho was always stuck to him. She was nice, though. Too pure and innocent to be hanging around this jerk.
The thing I found odd was that sometimes Hao would take off for a while, leaving the rest of us in the camping spot until he returned. He usually came back with a wide grin in his face. Even if I wouldn't admit it, it made me curious. Somehow I knew he had gone to see Yoh and his gang.
"Want to come with me?" He offered once, but I refused. It was way too much trouble. If I get seen too much around this fellow, people will began targeting me as well, and as I said before, it is way too much trouble.
The day we arrived to the entrance of Dobie village, Hao told everyone else to go ahead of us and wait when they get there. I began to walk with the rest of the group, but he held my wrist.
"Not you." he said. Everyone turned around to see what happened, but continued to walk when they saw Hao's glare. "Keep walking" he ordered. When he saw everyone was already gone he turned to me. I honestly expecting him to say something like 'I'm leaving you here. Bye' and then leave. But what happened was quite different.
"As you may already know, Alessia, you are not a participant in the shaman fight. Therefore, your way of getting into Dobie village is different than the other's." he explained as he took a few steps forward.
"If it's too much trouble, I'll just fund my way back home." I wasn't going to go through any trial or something.
"Don't be silly. You know I won't leave you here." He placed both hands on my shoulders and held my steady. I felt my face getting a little hot. "Look, this may hurt a little, but trust me, this is the only way." Sadness struck his face.
"Huh?" Then I understood what he said. He tightened the grip on my shoulder and kneed me in stomach. That's right. He. Kneed. Me. Pain shot through my whole abdomen, and for a second I couldn't breath. I gasped in pain.
"Why did you-" But I couldn't think any longer, I just allowed myself to fall limb and eventually lose consciousness. The last thing I remember is Hao placing a hand on my back and the other under my legs to carry me.
Embarrassing.
When I opened my eyes I was laying in a bed that might as well be made of stone. My back was stiff as a wall, and when I tried to sit up, pain shot through my stomach. It must be evening because outside was already dark.
"Ouch..." I raised my shirt to see what caused that, and sure enough there was a bruise the size of softball right above my bellybutton.
"What the hell..." Then I remembered. Hao.
"So you are up." He was sitting in a dark corner with his legs and arms crossed.
"Yeah, Hao. Thanks for worrying." I said as I struggled to get out of bed and walk into the bathroom. I stood in front of a mirror to take a better look at the damage. As I suspected, it looked worst than I thought. Then Hao's face appeared next to my reflection.
"Sorry about that. There was no other way." Then he placed a small jar in my pocket.
"That will help with the swelling. You look like a mess. Wash up and we'll be waiting for you in the restaurant next door." He said as he patted my head. Then he left.
Oh, I'll wash up, all right. But I won't be going to your stupid dinner.
I just took a quick shower and brushed my hair. Then I slipped out of the hotel carefully so Hao and the others wouldn't see me.
So this is Dobie Village. The streets were filled with souvenir shops and small restaurants. Shamans were everywhere even though it was night. I stopped at a teashop to drink something warm.
"I'll have a small green tea please." I said to the guy in the counter.
"It will be 2.50." He said as he placed a steaming cup on top of the counter. I searched my pockets to find some cash, but unfortunately I had none. I could feel the man's annoyance.
"Here." said someone as he handed the money. I turned around and saw Yoh, smiling at me.
"Thanks, but I don't like owing people. Just keep your money."
"It's okay, really. I'm the one who owes you. Remember?" Oh, that's right. I told him how to land safely. Well, since he is insisting and I'm freezing...
"Thank you." I murmured.
"No prob." He replied. "How come you are not with Hao?"
"What am I? His lapdog?" I said as I sipped my tea. We had walked over to a bench outside and sat for a little while.
"Well, I get the feeling that all of you guys look up to him or something. Like you owe him." He sighted.
"I do owe him."
"I thought you didn't like owing people."
"That's why I'm with him. I'm repaying him." Awkward silence.
"Hey, have you seen a green haired boy? We have been looking for him. His name is Lyserg." He changed topics abruptly
"Nope."
I was getting a little tired of this conversation and was about to leave when another familiar face walked towards us.
"What are you doing, Yoh? Said the little man, irritated. "She was with Hao, remember?"
"Don't be like that, Ren. She is not a bad person." With this remark, the spike at Ren's head grew taller.
"Everyone is a good person in your eyes." He snapped. Okay, it's time to leave.
"I'll see you around, guys. I better get going."
"Wait!" Said Ren. I halted, but didn't turn around. "What's your name?" He asked suspiciously.
"Alessia." I answered coldly because, well, I was freezing.
"Here." He said as he walked over and handed me one of my darts. "This is from the last time we met. Thank you, but I don't need anyone looking out for me." Somehow, I felt like he was scolding me rather than thanking me.
"Excuse me for saving your sorry ass. Next time I'll just let Hao kill you."
"Hey-" He began, but I was already too far to listen.
I had been walking for a while now, and noticed there was no noise from the village anymore. All I could see now were trees. When did I enter a forest? I'm one of those people than, even with map, are bound to get lost.
My fingers were numb with cold and my cheeks were burning. Then, I felt a wave of sadness. Someone must be close. I don't know why, but I felt the urge to see the one who was feeling such a grief. I followed my instinct until I reached a clearing in the middle of the forest. In he middle, was a small boy.
As I got closer, I realized his feeling were more complex that I first thought. The sadness was mixed with anger and a little bit of guilt.
"Are you okay?" I asked as I sat next to him. He looked up, but did not answered.
His hair was green and he had really girly features. This must be the boy Yoh is looking for.
"People are looking for you, you know?" I tried again. Damn, why do I even bother?
"I do know. I just need some time to think."
"About what?" He looked surprised that I was interested. So was I.
"My revenge." His eyes suddenly turned dark. I knew that was an attempt to scare me away, but such a girly by won't make me run and hide.
"Let me guess. Hao?" I asked.
"That's right." Then he shot me a look. "You don't work for him, do you?"
"No." I said immediately. I'm not lying. I really don't work for him.
"Oh, okay." He relaxed "I was just thinking that maybe Yoh and the others won't be able to help me on my mission. It might be better if I found someone else."
"Like who?" At this stage of the fight, who would team up with him? Everyone should already have his or her teams made up.
"The X-Laws." His eyes lit up a little.
"The what? Wait, don't answer that."
"With them, I feel safe. Stronger." He explained. "The iron maiden Jeanne is a truly admirable shaman. I think I'll fight for her. She has pure motives. It makes me believe that I will really be able to kill Hao and his followers."
"What do you have against the followers?" I asked. I don't know why, but I was feeling defensive about his last statement.
"They support Hao. They fight for him." He looked at me as if I just asked something stupid.
"I do not agree with Hao's plan to destroy humanity, but aren't you just the same as his underlings?" I asked. Lyserg shot up and clenched his fists.
"Don't compare me to them! We are nothing alike!" he shouted.
"Well, from my point of view, you are pretty similar. You are both working for someone you think is you hero, you are both willing to kill people in the process, and you both have your ideals." I tried to explain.
"It's not the same! The maiden Jeanne only kills sinners."
"What makes her think she can judge others? Is she God or something?" Lyserg's face was getting brighter which each word. He was truly mad.
"You know what? I-" but he was cut off by a group of guys who appeared out of nowhere.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" Asked one of them smirking. "What is a couple of young shaman doing so far from the village?"
"Leave us alone." said Lyserg.
"Unfortunately, we can't do that, kid." the man answered. "If we finish you right here, there are more probabilities of us winning the tournament."
Oh shit. I reached for my pocket, and realized I hadn't brought my weapons along with me. I only had the dart Ren returned to me.
They were around ten and we were just two. Only one, actually, since I can't really fight. I caught one of the shamans staring at me.
"Hey! She is the girl Hao was carrying when he arrived!" he shouted while pointing at me. Lyserg shot me a look.
"You said you didn't worked or him! You lied!" He spitted.
"Technically, I didn't. I don't really work for him, I'm just...tagging along." But before I could finish, Lyserg shot some kind of cord to the branch of a nearby tree and managed to get away from the group of people.
"You are on your own." He said before escaping. What a coward!
"Looks like you just got dumped by your boyfriend." Some one the men laughed. They began to walk slowly, closing the circle.
The first one to attack was a short blond guy, not too tough looking. He had a huge hammer, which glowed with his over soul. He swung the thing as if it didn't weight a single pound. I tried to dodge, but the hammer made contact with my stomach, just where Hao had kneed me.
I was sprawled in the ground, gasping for air, when the same guy grabbed me by the neck and suspended me in the air. I could feel consciousness slipping away from me.
Then another figure appeared in the clearing, a huge red spirit stood behind him.
"Good night, gentlemen. I'm afraid you are messing with my property." There was and edge of anger in his voice.
"Hao..." I managed to say before blonde guy smashed me against the floor. "I-I'm *cough* not e-even a damn c-competitor *cough*."
Hao walked towards me and kneeled.
"Stupid! It's far too dangerous for you to leave like that!" He shouted ay my face. Was Hao...mad at me? The guy sneaked up behind Hao and raised his hammer, ready to attack.
"How dare you ignore me like that? I'll show-" But he didn't get to finish that last phrase, because he combusted instantly.
"STOP!" I screamed at Hao, while clutching his robe. "Don't do this. Just let them go."
"Why?" he answered so coldly it scared me. "They tried to kill you and you want me to 'let them go'?" There was fire in his eyes.
I began coughing again, this time blood came out. "P-please."
"You are hurt badly. We should take you back to the village." For the second time, he carried me in his arms and began walking back to the village.
"But first..." Then flames suddenly consumed the other nine shamans left. After a little while, there was nothing left.
"W-why did *cough* y-you do that?" Hao placed a hand over my mouth to keep me from talking any longer.
He didn't even bother to answer. This was the first time I've seen him so angry. It sent chills down my spine.
"Where is the closest health center?" He asked with his teeth gritted together. I just shook my head in response.
"Fine. I'll just burn this forest down until I find the way back to the village." And he kind of did that. He only had to look in one direction and fire burned everything in front of us, making a path of about twenty meters wide.
"Show off..." I muttered, then closed my eyes and enjoyed the rest of the ride.
-Meanwhile-
"We should give up. Lyserg is nowhere to be found." Said Yoh with a yawn.
"I knew this was just a waste of time." says Ren.
"We're just doing this for Ryu, guys." encouraged Horo Horo
"Ugh, whatever." scowled Ren.
Yoh just threw his arms over his head and walked with half closed eyes.
"Something about that Alessia girl makes me uncomfortable." said Ren out of nowhere.
"You are right. There is something...different about her. Could it be the way she talks to Hao?"
"You are right!" interjected Horo Horo. "It's as if she didn't held any respect for her 'master'. I get the feeling she is not like the other slaves."
"Not as strong either." Added Ren. Then a small frown appeared in Yoh's forehead. "Then why did he recruit her? Or even listens to what she says?".
"Beats me." answered Horo Horo. Then a cloud of black smoke that rose in the sky took his attention. "Is that a fire in the forest?" he asked.
"I highly doubt it." Replied Yoh, who felt a strong spiritual energy, but decided it was better to not get involved. Then he pointed at a small ramen shop at one side of the street.
"Hey, let's go in there! We should take a break, and it's dinner time anyway." The other two companions nodded and headed into the restaurant.
They all ordered and sat back to wait for the food to arrive.
"What's going on outside?" someone who sat in the next table asked? Yoh, Ren, and Horo Horo peeked out of the restaurant to see what was the big commotion.
Outside, everyone was hurrying to get away from the street. Glares and scared expressions where on the faces of everyone who saw what was going on. It was Hao, with a girl in his arms and the spirit of fire following closely behind. He had the coldest glare in his eyes. They looked like they just came into the village from the forest. So that was no mere fire.
"Is that...?" said Horo Horo.
"Alessia." Finished Ren. "She looked really banged up."
"And Hao seemed angry." Added Yoh. "Should we go and take a look?" He had already begun to stand up from his chair, but Ren held his arms.
"We better don't, Yoh. She isn't even on your team or mine."
Yoh sat back down, but he still wondered.
Why is he so angry about? I've seen him get rid of his underlings with a smile o his face.
Thanks for reading! Please review on your way out:)
