Hello guys! Finally a new chapter! Sorry for taking so long :( I'm finally getting some new ideas to continue the story, but please feel free to leave suggestions. Please enjoy and leave comments on your way out! Bye:)
Kisses
-kat.A.t
I didn't really wanted to go over and greet them, but it seemed like the polite thing to do, so I walked over.
"Hey, guys. What's up?" I greeted casually, hoping they wouldn't notice my little scrap.
"Haniel, I hope you noticed your arm is pretty busted."
"I did. Thanks for reminding me." I smiled.
"Well?" Asked Ryu, leaning closer to me.
"What?" I answered warily
"What do you mean 'what?' Are you that dumb or just pretending to be?" Asked Ren annoyed.
"Gosh, Ren. Are you on that time of the month or what? I snapped at him.
"What Ren is trying to say is that we would like to know what happened to you." Intervened Yoh before we began fighting right there.
"I got this during training."
"What exactly were you training with? Razor blades?"
"More or less. Is that I-"
"HANIEL!" screamed Haru as he kicked the hotel door open, "I KNEW IT! I really DID hurt you" a second later he was standing beside me and holding my arm. Aki came in after, carrying all our bags. "Sorry Haniel, I know you told us to wait, but as soon as he reacted he bolted right into the village." She was panting and sweating.
"That bastard caused this?" Asked Ren. "What kind of mentally challenged person injures his own team mate?"
Haru didn't even react to his words; he just pushed me to the chair and sat next to me.
"I don't have enough furyoku to heal you completely, but at least it will hurt less." He had already placed his hand on top of my arm and began releasing his energy slowly. It was a warm sensation.
He pressed his forehead in my temple and whispered to me.
"You don't know how sorry I am." He sounded as if he was about to cry. I used my healthy hand place it on top of his.
"Hey calm down. I'm not that fragile you know? We all knew what we were about to face when we came. It's a fact that I'll get hurt in the future, and I can't have you moping around for every little wound." I tried to sound as gentle as possible. It wasn't his fault, after all. I was the one that made a selfish request. He sighted with his face still next to mine.
"I'm sorry."
"I know."
-Ren's POV-
Are we in a goddamned motel? Stupid one and two have been all mushy for a while now, whispering into each other's ears like they were lovers or something. Maybe they were. For some reason, this was pissing me off.
"Get a room," I groaned, but they didn't even heard. Haniel looked as if she was comforting that sissy bastard.
"Ren, could it be..." asked Lyserg
"WHAT?" I snapped at him
"Are you jealous of that guy?" He asked again, in a hush voice this time in order for others not to listen.
"I'm not even going to answer that." I answered as I slumped into the chair.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but haven't you been staring non-stop at that Haniel girl since she stepped here? And haven't you been staring daggers at the guy she is holding hands with? And haven't you-"
"Okay Lyserg, you need to shut up. Now."
"I'm just saying." Then he returned to sipping his tea.
Have I been staring at her? That's impossible. I mean, I know my gaze subconsciously follows her. But why? It must be that ugly cut she has in her arm. Yeah that must be it.
-Back to Haniel's POV-
My arm still stung a little but it was definitely better than before. Haru had used his furyoku completely so he went to rent a room where he could rest for a while.
"So guys, what are you doing here? Looks like you have plenty of free time."
"Nah," answered Yoh with his eyes closed, "We're waiting for Horo Horo. He's been missing for a couple of days now."
"That sucks big time." Then I glanced at a green-haired boy who wore a white shirt. He was really cute, almost like a girl. "Hello, I'm Haniel" I greeted. "You are?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Lyserg. It's a pleasure to meet you." He stood up and extended his hand for me to shake.
"I'm surprised you haven't met before, since you have that on common." Ryu mentioned.
"What exactly do we have in common?"
"You know. Both of your parents were killed by Hao." Then an akward silence filled the room.
"Nice going, stupid." Said Ren.
"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-" Ryu was panicking.
"Is that true?" Suddenly asked Lyserg, as he leaned closer to me.
"Uh...yeah?"
"Then we are searching for the same thing! Revenge! You should come with us!" Lyserg's eyes were shinning like a little puppy's.
"Wow, hold it right there. I'm not sure revenge is what I'm looking for."
"Why not?" He asked as if I just said the most outrageous thing ever.
"I'm not really into fighting. Sorry."
"Oh..." That's the last thing he said. Lyserg was clearly disappointed.
After another awkward silence I stood up from the table and said:
"I think I'm going to go get the twins and hit the road again. We should hurry and get there as fast as possible."
"Oh, okay. I guess I'll see you later." Yoh waved.
"Yup. See you later." I waved back.
"Hn." said Ren
"Yeah...bye" Answered Lyserg, not even looking at me. Well, that was a good start.
-At Dobie Village-
I woke up in the middle of an unknown room. I was clenching my chest and gasping for air. I tried to stand up, but I was too dizzy to take another step. My head was killing me.
What was that? I said as I tried to walk to the bathroom. Okay, think. What happened?
All I remember was seeing Haru and Aki hanging from the branches of a huge tree. They were completely beaten up and their weapons where in the floor, smashed to pieces. A voice was telling me to leave, to save myself, but I refused to leave without them. When I tried to fight back, everything turned black. And now here I was.
I was finally beginning to stand straight, so I headed to the bathroom and washed my face. There was a small sign hung above the mirror: Welcome to Dobie Village, it said.
Huh. So I'm finally here. Then what I saw must have been a test. Did I pass? I must have, since I'm here. I exited the bathroom, picked up my stuff and prepared to walk around town. When I was about to exit the room, Silva was standing in the door. He was holding a nasty looking soup.
"Welcome, Haniel. You must be confused as of how you got here. Let me help y-"
"Where are the twins?" I cut him off.
"They are still unconscious in the room next door. Aren't you even curious about why I'm here?" he seemed disappointed by my reaction. "You should drink this it will make you feel better."
"Whatever." They I went pass him and into the hallway, rejecting the offering.
After making sure Haru and Aki were safe in the next room, I went to explore the village. It looked more like a tourist attraction than a tournament village. Restaurants and souvenir shops were at both sides of the shaman-packed street. Everyone seemed to be relaxed and exited about completing the first mission, but I felt like I was suffocating in a sea o people.
After walking aimlessly, I finally saw it. The Great Spirit. Magnificent was the only word that came to my mind. I looked around to find a better place to enjoy the view. I climbed an old building and sat right there for hours. The Great Spirit filled me up with peace and excitement.
"What are you thinking, miss Haniel?" asked Ariel.
"I'm not sure, you know? What I'm I really doing here? I try hard to picture myself as shaman queen; to make myself want it. But I just can't. I get the feeling that it is not my destiny. Then I think about people like Hao. What makes him think he has the right to kill every human in this earth? He is no different form everyone that came with a dream in mind." Then I took a long breath. "But what do I know, right?" I smiled at Ariel.
"Lady Haniel..."
Then I heard steps behind me. I slipped behind a large boulder to get a look of who was coming.
Ren.
For a moment, he just stood there. Desire and fire burnt in his eyes. Then he bit his thumbnail anxiously.
"So that is the great spirit." he said in awe. "Wonderful."
Then he talked to Bason without taking his eyes off his prize.
"Bason, I really want it!" I held back a giggle. He looked just like a kid in a toy store.
"Yes, master." Was all his spirit said in return.
"You are an ambitious one, aren't ya?" I said as I popped out from my hiding place and sat next to where he was standing.
He gave me a startled look. "You...Where you spying on me?"
"Right." I said with sarcasm. He began to leave, but I held his arm before he could.
"Are you in a hurry? Stay for a little while." I was actually craving for some company right now.
He hesitated for a second before finally sitting down next to me.
"Awesome, isn't it?" I said referring to the Great Spirit. Len just nodded firmly.
"Are you sure you'll become shaman king?" I asked in a serious voice, because I was being serious. He turned to look at me suspiciously.
"Of course. Soon all this will belong to me." He said proudly.
"And are you sure you are the right one?"
"I am. What are you trying to imply? That I'm not strong enough?" he turned defensive. I laughed at his reaction, but he was still expecting an answer.
"Ren, I'll be supporting you." I announced
"Huh?"
"I mean, not only you in particular, but anyone who I think has the right to be king. I've decided. I will not allow anyone with selfish plans take over the world. If it happens, it will be over my dead body."
Silence. Then he said:
"So you found it, huh?"
I was confused. "Found what?"
He gave me a ghost of a smile. "Your reason to be here."
"I guess I did."
Then I heard a loud explosion behind us. We both peeked down and saw a group of white dressed people surrounding a terrified looking man.
"We should help him! That's about eight against one!"
"Why should we? I mean, it's nor our problem." Ren answered.
"Then it will be." I smirked. Then jumped off the building's roof and landed just in the middle of the fight. "Good afternoon, gentlemen. And lady. And strange looking coffin." I greeted.
The whole gang was dressed in white uniforms, with small variations each. They all wore a seal with a cross and the word 'Laws'. At the back of the group stood what seemed like a medieval torture device. A blonde man with glasses took a step forward.
"Who might you be?" he asked politely, but I felt anger in his voice.
"I should be asking you. Who are you, or rather, who the hell do you think you are?"
Blonde became frustrated. He gripped his gun tighter.
"You insolent brat..."
"Marco." Spoke the iron coffin in the back. I was expecting a macho voice from the iron maiden, but was that a... little girl?
"Let her be. She is just trying to help the sinner." As soon as she spoke, 'Marco' regained his cool. He cleared his throat and spoke.
"We are the X Laws, and our mission is to wipe this world from sin."
"No kidding..." I scuffed. They all began to turn towards me, forgetting the guy they were chasing before. That coward took the opportunity to escape and leave be on my own.
"Are you making fun of our mission?" Asked a pretty girl with short hair.
"Who said I was?" They ignored my question.
"Our purpose is to defeat Hao, the root of all evil! The future shaman queen will guide this dark world through the path of light and redemption!" Then he pointed to the coffin. "Behold our master: Holy Maiden, the girl with the iron will!" Tears were welling up in Marco's eyes. Disgusting pedophile.
Then the 'maiden' spoke again:
"I can see your spirit is an angel. The one called by the name of Ariel. You must be Haniel. I've heard a lot about you." her sweet little voice was making me angry. "Your parents were killed by Hao, so you have experienced at first hand how evil Hao can be." Silence "Join us." It sounded more like a command than an invitation.
"Of course! I'll meet you right after I have a nice lunch with Hao." I said flatly. Then my voice turned even sharper. "I'd rather kill myself than joining your God-wannabe crew." In a blink of an eye Marco was standing in front of me with his gun resting on my forehead. Damn.
"How could you reject a direct invitation from our Holy Maiden?" Marco spitted. He was mad with anger.
"Didn't you see? I just did." I was acting brave and defiant, but truthfully I was about to pass out.
"You deserve capital punishment." He said in a more formal tone, as if he was dictating a sentence.
"What are you gonna do? Drown me in your tears?" My shut-up-alert was ringing in my ears, and as usual, I paid no attention to it. I could see his finger tightening around the trigger.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." said a cold voice from behind Marco. There was also a spear inches from his neck.
I sighted in relief.
"Took you long enough, Ren." but he didn't took his eyes off Marco.
"So we meet again, friend of Yoh Asakura."
"Seems like it, X Law freak." So they have met before. Tension was almost visible. Then that disgusting little voice broke the silence.
"We have no reason to fight today, Marco. We will retreat." Marco hesitated for a second, but then he began to leave. "Our Maiden's mercy have saved you today, but next time there will be no forgiveness for you sinners."
Before leaving completley, the maiden spoke to me:
"Haniel, you should really think about my proposal. I'm sure you will make the right decision." I said nothing.
When they were finally out of my sight, my knees gave up and I slumped in the ground. I hadn't noticed I was actually this scared. Then Ren kneeled beside me and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"I-I think so." I answered. He immediately stood up and shook the dust from his pants. His stone face was back. "Then stand up and leave. You are in the middle of the road." Then he left.
X Laws, huh? They placed right below Hao in my prevent-from-becoming-shaman-king list. I couldn't believe I was actually feeling exited for this. Things are finally getting interesting.
Well that's it for this chapter! Please R&R and I apologize again for the late update! Action begins in next chapter. Please make sure to check out my new fanfic "Sweet Escape". Thanks;)