Authors note: Ok! Is anyone actually reading this? Please review if you are even flames would be better than nothing.
Anyways as I promised Gemma and JeanneSama here is a list of the translations used so far that haven't been in English.
Chapter one: None
Chapter Two: "Erus" – Latin = Master
Chapter Three: "Gott sei Dank" – German = Thank goodness
"Ah sehe ich" – German = Ah I see
Chapter Four: "Quisnam es vos? Quis specialis operor vos habitum mihi?" – Latin = who are you? what secrets do you hold for me?
"Operor non permoveo quod ego mos succurro vos!/ sto tergum vos es vix him." – Latin = Do not move and I will help you. / Stand back you are scaring him.
Chapter Five: "Könnte er diesen Weg gegangen sein?" –German = Could he have gone this way?
Disclaimer: I do not Own shaman king or German or Latin or umm anything really.
Krioko Alone.
Krioko turned his head and watched the huge pink over soul take off holding his shaman and the boy, Morty. He sighed wondering if he had made the right decision intrusting her t the Necromancer's care.
As the gap between them grew he could feel her soul, his sense of her, grow fait. As if someone had closed the door on the sound of her 'voice'. He must have looked dejected for the samurai who he had yet to be properly introduced to frowned at him from its position flanking Yoh's left.
"Are you well?" it asked and Krioko was forced to tare his gaze away from the retreating figure to focus on the direction the large serpent spirit fusion over soul was taking them.
"Yes I am thank you." he responded dipping his head. He then looked up and a wry smile spread across his snout. "I have not been apart from my shaman for any length of time it feels somewhat...odd."
To his surprise, the samurai smiled warmly and Yoh by his side turned to pat him reassuringly. "It will not be long until we return and I assure you Faust will take good care of her while we are gone." Amidamaru told him confidently.
##
As they neared the camp, walking the last few feet towards an array of tents Krioko felt himself drawn off slightly to one side towards a blond girl who lay in the sun a can in one hand and a fan in the other. He frowned at her so familiar and yet alien to him.
"So you're back. It's about time." She said without sitting up or removing her sunglasses as the shaman approached her. "Don't you know how rude it is to keep a lady waiting?"
Yoh mumbled something about an apology while Trey looking furious said. "Don't you even want to know if we found Morty?"
Anna sighed and sat up. "If you hadn't found Morty you would still be gone, seeing as how you are back and Yoh seems perfectly calm again I assume you did find him. I sensed some huge furkyoku discharges earlier so that leads me to think that he's gotten himself into trouble and is currently with Faust and you lot are here to pack up camp and move us someplace safer."
She sipped the last of her soda and threw it into the ice box behind her empty. "And who is that?" she added pointing at Krioko.
"His name's Krioko he's the spirit ally of a girl we met. She rescued Morty." Yoh said turning to look at the panda.
Anna slowly stood and cautiously walked her way around the panda that stood stock still his shoulder quivering slightly. "Huh." Anna finally said "You don't look overly threatening."
Krioko laughed a deep rumbling sound within his chest. "Well met indeed Lady Anna it is a pleasure."
The medium's lip twitched slightly in a smile that was gone as quick as it had come. With a flick of her wrist, she was holding her beads and a stern expression "You're shielding your mind from me. Why?"
The others froze mid pack up and stared at the two Yoh looking worriedly between them. The panda stared down at her calmly.
"I do so not to deceive you but to protect my shaman. It is not my place to expose us when we are not sure that you are not hostile."
"Yet you left her with Faust." Anna challenged.
" I did so because part of our mission if you like was to track down and help protect the boy known as Yoh Asakura. " Anna's pupils constricted slightly and Yoh frowned.
"Yeah Déjà mentioned something about that didn't she."
"She did yes." He admitted. "Before she passed out."
"My Yoh doesn't need any protection he can fight his own battles and he can win them. He's the future shaman king. How do we know you're not the hostile ones and you're not trying to simply bump off the competition to make your girl shaman queen instead of me?"
Krioko frowned. "I cannot speak of my intentions without Déjà and we would do well not to linger here any longer. To answer your question I am afraid Lady Anna that you cannot we shall just have to trust one another for now."
They looked at one another as the seconds tricked by then Anna quirked an eyebrow. "Fine...but I'm not pulling extra spirit weight about you'll just have to help out like the others." She went to pack up her things then leaving him standing with Yoh and Amidamaru.
"Come on sweetie-pie." She called back to Yoh who hurriedly, with an apologetic look at Krioko, joined his fiancé.
##
Packing the camp had taken no time at all setting it up on the other had seemed to take forever. Lyserg sighed to himself and walked further afield for fire wood. It was very difficult despite the fact they had put past differences to bed for him to remain around his friends for too long without feeling frustrated.
He bent to pick up another stick and add it to the growing stack in his arm. It was a big change he reasoned, from spending so long by himself to then being an X-Law surrounded by adults who did not throw pudding at one another as Joco and trey were so fond of doing. Perhaps he had been too mature for too long. Part of him reasoned with this idea and the lack of logic in it all but if being with Yoh had taught him anything it was that sometimes the best way to live your life is loosely and let fate take you on your way and enjoy the ride. He sighed again. On his shoulder, a pink swirling materialised as a tiny fairy that looked confusedly at him.
"Ooo?" Chloe asked putting her hand on his cheek. He smiled at her. "Don't worry Chloe I'll be fine."
It wasn't so bad being with the guys all the time, somewhere inside he revelled in it. Behind them Trey and Joco were unpacking the tent while he fetched fire wood and Yoh and Len ensured that any tracks they had made leading there were taken care of.
He could hear Trey yelling something indignantly and knew at once Joco had told some kind of joke, most likely about the erection of tents. He smiled shaking his head as the words drifted towards him down the rocky surroundings to the edge of the Forrest where he stood. He started the trek back up to the camp.
"Come on Chloe, someone sensible should be there to stop that happening whatever that is." He joked smiling at his guardian ghost. It was not exactly a bad place to camp, Lenny had been right about that Lyserg observed as he crossed the threshold and made a beeline for the empty ring where the fire should go.
Allowing the wood to tumble from his arms he looked around him again. While it was more compact here than down in the desert it was more sheltered and there were three easy ways of escaping. Up the mountain trail back around and down the more treacherous climb to the desert or off towards the edge of the Forrest in the direction he had just come from.
Nearby a stream gurgled. Three large collapsible bags of water stood by Rio's camp table and He sighed and felt his own face fall as both he and Chloe watched Togageroh cut carrots and add them to the pot of cold spring water - stew again, it was becoming tiresome. He longed for a town and something else than porridge for breakfast, soup for lunch and stew and rice for dinner. Anything else would be better. Despite his brain being repulsed by the stew his stomach happily anticipated its hot salty sates and growled. Lyserg placed a hand on it and smiled ruefully to himself. Chloe danced happily before him as he focused and began stacking the firewood into a pyramid. He had been careful to find dry wood so that they could have the fire and not attract any unwanted attention.
Joco and Trey it seemed had settled their dispute by themselves. The curly haired shaman now sported a large lump on the back of his head and the pair of them were busy erecting the rest of the small dome tents in a slightly crushed circle, the majority of the room being taken up by Lens huge purple monstrosity.
Some minutes later he paused in his reorganisation of the fire to watch the small procession from the mountain cave as they entered camp and one by one vanished into the purple tent. Rio carrying Morty. Faust and Eliza carrying that new girl. Anna followed talking to the Panda ghost.
Straining his ears Lyserg heard Faust say from the cavernous insides. "Yes Anna you are quiet right this will do nicely. And both these camp cots will be perfect. Rio please put Morty on that one Eliza and I will make sure they are both comfortable."
Len was not going to like that he decided. He frowned but said nothing his arguments, mirrored by Len, on how dangerous it was to take unwanted and unknown shaman into their group had been shot down by Yoh who had responded simply with a " Well we brought you into the group and that worked out ok in the end didn't it?" and a grin.
Yes, he supposed it had worked out ok in the end but still, that nagging part of him considered the logic behind being too mature again. Dusting his hands off Lyserg stood and went to get more firewood.
##
Krioko sat by Déjà's side watching her intently his eyes soulful and concerned. After much debate, it had been agreed that the camp would move here and stay here until such a time as Faust deemed Morty and Déjà well enough to travel on again. He was quietly happy about this.
Déjà moaned slightly in her sleep and turned her head. Instantly his train of thought broken he was focused on her, drinking in every tiny twitch of her muscles.
"It's all right. She is dreaming." Faust's voice said from behind him. He turned his head slightly arching his neck and followed the blonde-haired person's procession from chair to cot, shifting aside slightly to allow him room to kneel down.
Gently the necromancer placed the palm of his hand over Déjà's forehead as the other hand took her wrist. He frowned for a split second before his expression returned neutral.
"What is it?" Krioko growled at him as the man kept his hands in place and looked over at the Ghost of the woman that seemed to be joined with him. Eliza he thought he had heard her called.
"Do not be alarmed." Faust replied as through some unspoken point of communication he passed a message on to Eliza. Krioko turned then to watch the woman as she carefully draped a cool cloth over Morty's forehead and picking up a small jug filled another bowl with water. She brought it over and handed it to Faust before returning to her charge.
Krioko watched her quietly for a moment then turned back. Faust's eyes were on him, bright and intelligent they bored into the blackness of the Panda's as both shaman and ghost considered on another. The man broke contact first, he rung out a cloth and placed the compress over Déjà's forehead.
"She has a fever." He explained. "It is not uncommon after exhausting oneself physically and of Furyoku. "
Krioko hummed deep in his throat and felt the doctor's eyes on him again. He could feel the expectancy push at him and considered. After a few moments, he felt the need to say something and yet, what was comforting and explained? Nothing. Instead, he settled for saying.
"You are not liked amongst her people namely for your art. They deem it and its users as those fallen to evil and not to be trusted under any circumstance."
"Yet you trust me." It wasn't so much a question as a statement of fact as the doctor busied himself wringing out the cloth and putting it over Déjà's forehead again.
"I am not as naive and do not follow one cultures customs as if they were universal laws. I have been around too long for such blinkers. It is not a question of trust. I merely do not see you as a threat because you are a necromancer but rather because you are powerful." He paused as the girl moaned slightly in her sleep and tried to turn over. Faust gently prevented her for fear of her stitches bursting and after frowning in her unconsciousness her face relaxed and she lay still.
Krioko watched her intently as he continued. "I see you as an ally because you are powerful but also because you are a doctor and because my partner would be dead if not from your ministrations." Krioko removed his gaze from Déjà to Faust who was now sitting on the edge of the girls Cot. "It is also for those reasons that I thank you."
The blonde smiled slightly his eyes closed and his face warm and friendly. "No problem. "
He paused and the Panda looked expectantly up at him. "I feel that I must say however that it was dangerous for you both to have left it so long to have those injuries tended. The burns seem to have healed without much scarring but the broken ribs... they had set incorrectly and the fight caused a small fragment of bone to puncture the lung." He said softly looking at the girl.
Krioko considered him. "Déjà is strong willed and determined there was little I could do, but I accept your cautionary warnings on behalf of both of us. " Faust nodded, satisfied, before he whipped his head around to look at Morty then back at Déjà as both gave a long shuddering sigh almost simultaneously.
Both patients seemed to relax more and the tense air in the tent began to ebb slowly. Krioko watched Faust with mild interest where he perched on the end of Déjà's cot. The fingers in his right hand twitching as though he were poised to spring to the aid of either boy or girl should they need it.
"...you are developing a connection with my shaman." His tone seemed to take on a slightly more light quality as if he found it endearing. He nodded his head towards Eliza and Morty. "As you did with the young one. A by product of your use of necromancy on both?"
The panda watched him for a reaction and got nothing more than a slight look of shock then a considerate wariness. Finally, with an insignificant bob of the head Faust relented.
"I regret my actions with Morty, I was not myself then, not wholly sane... and I have spent the time since atoning for my sin by trying to keep the others and especially him safe. He is very delicate. "
What a strange odd man Krioko thought watching him. He could sense the rolling waves of sorrow for his actions, he really was such a kind spirit and yet still he felt compelled to press him. "I doubt Déjà will take kindly to your actions should she learn of them. She is a private person and will not be as trusting of you."
He let that hang in the air a moment as the doctor busied himself checking the dressing and sutures to the wound in her side. "With Déjà I had no other option. I had to operate immediately and there was no time to wait for equipment. I had to apply my necromancy skills with my medical knowledge." He sighed.
"I assure you I did not anticipate how much of her suffering and personality I would glean from doing so. It appears that she, like Morty, it seems has a soul compatible with my own. But if you fear for your privacy I will not reveal her to the others if she does not wish to do so herself." He said firmly.
"You will then betray the trust of the Asakura?"
"I would never betray Yoh!" Faust Hissed through his teeth. "He and Anna returned my beloved to me I belong with them and I will fight for him until my very last breath."
He turned his gaze, sharp and foreboding to the spirit beside him. Krioko watched with concealed interest behind his stoic eyes and muzzle as he glimpsed a small part of the insanity within Faust.
"But for you to dare insinuate that protecting the interests of my patient is a betrayal...you go too far!" Truly, Faust's anger was a spectacle to behold, in that instant Krioko read enough to settle in his mind his opinion of the young doctor.
His soul was bright and he loved so passionately that his anger and hate were almost a sheer force, it was wise, Krioko concluded to be his ally or indifferent and suckle on the milk of human kindness than to be his enemy.
"You see Much Faust-Ue I am impressed. Forgive me i should not discount your strength of character. "
Immediately Eliza was at their side her hand on his face. He looked at her, his eyes cooled and his hand clasped hers. The mask of peace settled back on him as if some unknown creature within him had submerged itself once more. He nodded indicating he had forgiven the moment and his eyes fell on Deja again.
"She seems to be healing well and there is no sign of infection Eliza and I will keep an eye on the fever."
"Thank you." Krioko said calmly and watched as he followed Eliza to check on Morty.
Yes, it was better to be his Ally than his enemy Faust. However, where, he wondered, would Déjà place herself? He would not be openly hostile to her but the milk of human kindness and one mans patience could only last so long.
##
Some hours later Krioko paced slightly around the tent talking in intervals with Mosuke and Faust as they waited for Yoh and Len to return with a field report or their respective shaman to wake. Eliza had gone off to talk with Anna on Faust's request minutes before.
"You will tire yourself with the pacing. " Faust said from his chair in the shadows of the tent.
Krioko paused "I am dead I will not tire myself but I thank you for your concern."
Behind him Mosuke wrung his hands and fingered a spirit hammer, betraying his tension. Regardless the Panda sank to his haunches and Looked at the necromancer who smiled warmly in return.
"You seem tired, perhaps you should sleep." Krioko said quietly.
"I do not require much sleep." Morty made a small mumbling sound causing Faust to sit up slightly to look at him. Outside talking grew louder.
"Mosuke?" the boy asked and instantly the Ghost was by his side looking relieved. "You're awake finally!" he said smiling. "You had me worried my partner."
Where are we?" Krioko heard him ask, his voice sounded weak and unsure.
"We are back at the new camp." Mosuke said and in a hushed voice explained all that had befallen them from battle field to tent He spoke for some minutes as the talking outside got louder Krioko frowned and quirked his ears.
"So it wasn't a dream." Morty was muttering sadly. They had prepared for this eventuality and just as they had rehearsed, Mosuke responded.
"No it was not. But it was necessary he did not mean to frighten you."
"She was scared when I said he was a Necromancer." Morty seemed defiant to get this point across as if he had failed to protect his new friend. He was deviating from the rehearsed script and Krioko could see Mosuke peripherally stop to consider forgetting he was supposed to be assuring the boy that Faust did the right thing.
"Yes they have not got the best of reputations even in my day." Mosuke finally said causing the Panda to glance at Faust who looked expressionless then add.
"Do not concern yourself Young one." He did not turn to face the boy. "If I had thought your friend would have harmed her further I would not have entrusted her to him. I assure you, you should feel no guilt about this Morty. I will take the responsibility from the spirits around us for the betrayal of our people's beliefs." He looked at Faust again in time to see the little quirk of the necromancer's lips.
The voices were shouting now like a gunshot ripping through the once peaceful air. Krioko pressed his ears flat and growled.
"WHY DO I HAVE TO SHARE MY TENT?" Len yelled
"Please master Len remain clam." Bason interjected.
"I DO NOT SEE HOW I SHOULD HAVE TO GIVE UP MY COMFORT FOR A COMPLETE STRANGER AND MORTY? FAUST CAN TAKE CARE OF THEM EASILY IN HIS OWN TENT."
Krioko growled again and padded out of the tent. He approached the small group of shaman; Len stood facing off against Anna who had her arms crossed. Yoh hovering between them was grinning awkwardly and waving his hands trying to diffuse the situation it seemed with no luck.
Bason saw Krioko and blinked in his spirit flame mode apologetically as he tried to reason with his shaman "You will wake the others Master Len." He said anxiously.
"BE QUIET BASON!" Len flared back.
Into the camp walked Lyserg with an armful of branches. He seemed satisfied by something and continued to his almost complete fire. Dumping the branches he began checking if they had enough for the night.
Krioko growled as he came to a halt by Yoh. Len turned to look at him as Anna took her chance at a rebuttal.
"No you be quiet!" she fumed in her normal tone of voice each syllable emphasising out of the two who was in charge."You're making enough noise to summon any shaman looking for us from a thousand mile radius."
Len frowned and brandished his Kwando at Krioko in indignation his mouth opened to continue the argument. It skimmed close to Yoh, the Panda growling earnestly now when Anna's hand like a rocket unfolded itself and struck Len hard against the face. There was silence for a second, then two.
"Faust gets your tent because it's the biggest and he has two sick people to care for. With them, their guardian ghosts and both himself and Eliza it's the only place that they will all fit and be protected from the elements and anything else. "She crossed her arms again and waited as if daring him to challenge her again.
"But...but where am I supposed to sleep!" Len fumed holding his hand over the stinging palm mark the now covered the right hand side of his face.
"Ask someone who cares." Anna said as she returned to her seat by the fire Lyserg was busy trying to light. Yoh continued to diffuse the situation as Krioko padded back towards the tent. His irritation increased as he entered and noted the lines that crossed Déjà's forehead even under the compress.
So much like his father Len Tao, Krioko mused as gently he pushed his nose into the hand that hung off the side of the bed. He could not feel her heart pump blood through her veins in his current form but he could sense it. The shouting had apparently touched something in her unconscious state and her heart rate was reacting as a result. He looked around at Faust again concerned.
The doctor frowned and looked across at Morty who seemed enthralled by the voices outside. He pushed himself up and put his index and middle fingers into Déjà's neck. His frown became a scowl. Quietly he walked to the Tent's entrance, Morty having just noticed his presence following him with wide eyes.
The German threw back the tent flap and exited into the afternoon sunlight his hand pulling something Krioko could just make out a silver metal instrument from the pocket in the voluptuous lab coat he wore. The tent flap closed behind him.
Faust waited a second or so for his eyes to adjust to the light and then walked towards Len, the source of the disturbance. His long legs carried him towards the boy quickly and before the younger shaman was aware of the coming danger he had seized him by the upper arm and turned him into a closer embrace.
Len spun into the force tugging him and attempted to wrench his arm from his assailants grip. He paled slightly when he saw who t was who held him. Odd, Faust considered tilting his head at the reaction.
"What are you doing? Unhand me!" Len said.
Putting the mystery to one side for now Faust pulled the trigger on his ' Designed to scare loudmouthed people' surgical tool It clacked wickedly an exceptionally fortunate glow of the newly lit fire and setting sun tinting the edges a nice red glint. "If Len wishes to remain in his tent I can easily arrange it for him." He said allowing the hint of annoyance and danger to creep into his tone "I assure you." he added a sly smile playing on his lips. "...you will fit right in with the others."
"Ah Faust..." Yoh asked worriedly taking a step back from the pair as Both Anna and Eliza looked up the latter rolling her eyes and shaking her head slightly, as a mother would when her offspring was doing something slightly mischievous."What exactly is that?"
Fust looked inoffensively down at the device. His expression and tone returning to placid good natured Faust not irritated psycho doctor. "It is an 1890 Tonsil Guillotine." He said.
Len's arm stiffened at the word tonsil guillotine and he pushed against Faust. "What...get away from me!" he demanded his breathing becoming ever so slightly erratic. Faust watched him with interest. "There's nothing wrong with my tonsils." He said haughtily.
"Are you sure?" Faust said sounding slightly disappointed as he kept the boy in place.
"Yes! I'm very sure seeing as I haven't got any tonsils!" His eyes flickered once to Bason then back as he pushed away again squirming his arm trying to free it.
"So you won't be joining us in the purple tent?" Faust asked innocently.
"No I will not. Now unhand me." He stared incredulously up at the other shaman who smiled cheerfully at him and pocketed the strange device again. Score one for reverse psychology Faust thought.
"Oh well if you are sure." He said mischievously and sauntered off back the way he had come. The poor boy rubbed his arm as it the necromancers grip had burned him.
"Master Len you do have..." Bason started.
"Quiet Bason..." Len said clamping a hand over the ghost's mouth and frowning at Eliza who looked innocently back.
Faust chuckled darkly to himself as the tent flap closed.
##
It was early Morning of the fourth day when Faust finally released Morty from the 'Sick Tent' as he had come to think of it. The small shaman pushed his way out from under the purple flap using one hand to keep it out of his way and the other to zip up his hoodie.
He glanced around him once then made a bee-line directly for Yoh. The brunet shaman was sitting by the fire with Amidamaru and Mosuke on one side and Krioko on the other. Anna sat close by a bowl of porridge in her hand and the spoon in her mouth.
As he passed Len, he heard the Chinese shaman huff to Bason and rub his neck. A bottle of milk half drunk clutched in his hand. They both stopped whatever they had been speaking about as he neared them and He smiled sheepishly not wanting them to think he had been eaves dropping.
"I'm sorry about your tent Len. I hope mine hasn't been too uncomfortable for you."
Len frowned slightly at him and then played with the straw in his milk "It was not to the standard I am used to but I suppose it was all right." He uncharacteristically smiled at Morty who raised his eyebrows in return.
"I'm glad. Aren't you going to drink that?" he said
Len considered it. "Yes it's just out of the chiller box so it's too cold right now it hurts my...Teeth. I have very sensitive teeth you know. " Len blushed.
"Err...right ok." Morty replied and chuckling nervously walked closer to Yoh. "Hey!" he said as he reached the odd group.
Yoh looked up and beamed. "Morty!" his expression sobered and he looked around him quickly. "Does Faust know you're out here!" he whispered conspiratorially causing the smaller Shaman to chuckle and nod.
"He said since I'm feeling better I could go but that he would be checking up on me." The small boy frowned slightly as if this was a deal he knew he would soon be regretting. Yoh patted him on the back as Lyserg lowered himself down by them and offered Morty a bowl.
"That's great news. You had us worried buddy."
"Yes." Amidamaru agreed and laughed as he materialised. "I do not think I have seen Mosuke Look so green or worried since our boat ride back in 1399."
Mosuke appeared looking annoyed. "That is not a fair comparison, I was concerned for my shaman and if you remember I spent the hour before that trip eating at the festival. I had consumed too much sake and was not to know the sea was angry."
The samurai laughed. "Yes I recall now you were very sick."
"You would have been just as worried! It was a horrific fate to befall poor Morty! How dare you snigger at such hardship for shame Amidamaru!" and the pair continued their argument as their shaman laughed good-naturedly and changed topics.
"I'm sorry for worrying you guys." Morty said as he took the bowl from Lyserg.
The English shaman hummed to himself then voiced something that, by his tone, had clearly been on his mind. "I'm glad you are ok Morty but I don't know if I quiet trust your friend."
Yoh frowned and shook his head as Len joined them. "Yes I agree with Lyserg. As I've already told you Yoh. We know nothing about the girl. Where did she come from?" He asked looking at Morty.
The small shaman shrugged. "I don't know. It's all a bit confusing and muddled. She was looking down on me after Mosuke left and jumped down I think, then the scorpion bit me and I think...I think she was digging me out, she had a knife."
"She used a knife to dig you out? How strange." Rio said sitting himself down with a bowl. Joco and Trey joined them.
"You got up high dude. I wonder how she was even able to get you so far across the desert like that before she ran into the goons."
"There's a point." Joco said. "From what it looked like when we got there it seemed like she was running with you and Faust and Yoh were following. They were a good distance ahead of us but you guys were ahead of them I don't even see how it's that possible to run as fast as she was going."
"I uhh...I don't remember, I woke up at the river again." Morty said he felt uncomfortable being surrounded by probing questions. With a small huff he let the air out of his lungs in exasperation. Maybe he should have stayed with Faust.
"Its obvious really isn't it." Anna asked. Causing attention to flicker to her. "She was in spirit unity while she was running."She glanced once at Krioko who growled an affirmative.
"Yeah but why was she running?" Lyserg pressed. "It's almost like she was taking Morty to those guys."
"Yeah." Joco agreed as bickering between the group started on the likelihood of this.
"No!" Morty yelled loudly. Krioko stared at him questioningly, the conversation stopped short and Faust's head appeared though the tent flap. Morty blushed.
"Not over exerting ourselves are we?" Faust's sing song like voice asked causing both Morty and Lens spines to straighten.
"No." He said back quieter this time.
"Good. Can you try to keep it down in that case, Eliza and I are trying to do an examination and it is very distracting." His head retracted
Morty returned to the conversation at hand. "No, she wasn't taking me to those guys. She was worried that the venom from the scorpion was going to kill me and that she hadn't managed to save me in time and she was taking me to find help. To find a doctor, I told her about you guys and Faust and she promised to help me find you when those three showed up." He explained.
"That's convenient." Lyserg added sceptically.
Morty frowned and looked in turn at each of his friends. "What's with you guys? Déjà saved my life she's my friend why are you acting like she's the reincarnation of Zeke or something."
"Hardly." Len scoffed. "From what I was able to disconcert she's at best a mediocre shaman. "
Krioko growled from his position by Anna causing the Chinese shaman to look at him.
"If you think I am wrong then answer me this how come I was able to defeat those goon easily where she failed? If not for me she would be shark bait." He smirked and sipped his milk. "By the way while we're on this line of conversation Asakura I fail to see how they presented a problem to you."
Yoh chuckled and scratched his head. "They were actually really powerful Len you just came in at the end of the battle Déjà had weakened that shark guy a great deal before you got there."
"Yes." Rio agreed. "And we had the element of surprise on our side it is not something to be sneered at in battle I think. "
Krioko growled slightly. "His name was Kaolin and while Yoh is correct Len also has a point. The creatures you faced were not merely shaman with their own furkyoku but shaman utilising more power than their bodies alone could ever hope to hold."
Len frowned at the Panda. "Stop speaking in riddles. If you know so much why won't you tell us?"
Before the panda could respond Anna cut in " Because it's not his place to give us all of the information it's Déjà's and seeing how she's unconscious right now its probably not going to happen any time soon."
Len frowned and crossed his arms as Lyserg copied his expression. "Well maybe we should wake her up and get her to tell us what's going on. If there re more people like that out there I don't think it's something that we should be kept in the dark about."
"Nor will you be. " Krioko said calmly. "I assure you Déjà and I mean no harm to you but we come with a heavy load and she will explain everything in due time."
"Besides." Rio interrupted "Faust is not going to like it if we go barging into that tent and demand to wake her she's probably not going to last well under direct questioning anyway."
"Morty seems fine." Trey said pointing his spoon covered in oats at the boy who scowled.
"I'm getting sick of petty arguments. Allow me to settle this." Anna said putting her spoon into her bowl. She turned her head to the direction of the purple tent. "Faust!" she called.
A second passed before the blonde appeared in the tent flap wearing a stethoscope, which he pulled out of his ears, and left hanging from his neck. His tone turned respectful but hinted on exasperation, as if he wanted to say 'What now?' instead of "Yes Miss Anna?"
"Is Déjà well enough for us to question?"
The necromancer frowned seeming bemused. "Right now she's still unconscious Miss Anna."
"And would you wake her for us to question?" she asked placidly as if enquiring no more from Faust than his opinion on the weather.
His bemusement faded like melting ice. "No I certainly would not. Who would suggest such a thing?" Faust demanded frowning sternly at the backs of the assembled Shaman. His eyes lingered on Len, who visibly stiffened once again, for a second then with a shake of his head he vanished back inside the tent.
With a slight shake, Len recovered "yes well." He began, clearing his throat. "If we cannot get the information from her I say let's get it from him. Make him talk." Len said pointing his Kwando at Krioko.
Morty covered his ears as the growling reached an almost roar like level the ghost panda's muzzle drawn back and his long canine teeth exposed. Could panda's even roar?
"DO not test me Tao Len for I am not simply one of these feeble ghosts of the ether you may take and bend to your whim. I was a guardian spirit before your ghosts were even conceived in their mothers' wombs and birthed into their first lives. If you will not take my assurances then heed me on this at least my shaman may be a fledgling but I am not."
"Whoa there...ok guys I think this has gone far enough. Len put away the Kwando, Krioko relax you're amongst friends here we wont do anything to you or Déjà until we've heard you guys out. "Yoh said looking between the two.
Len fumed but reluctantly sat down again. "Hmm, sometimes your annoying fascination with diplomacy bothers even me Yoh. Fine, I'll wait. But challenge me again Panda and I will ensure you are stuffed and sent home as a birthday gift for my sister."
Krioko huffed air through his snout and padded to sit by Morty. As conversation broke out again Anna turned to him. "That was unfortunate. For such an old spirit you let your temper get the better of you easily."
The bear considered her and her neutral expression. "I apologise you are correct. I am concerned for my shaman and I do not like to hide myself from those who we seek to ally ourselves with it is like circles within circles."
"I have found when dealing with shaman that it often is like that." Anna said slowly playing with her spoon.
Morty huffed. "I don't care what the rest of the guys say, I'm with Déjà and Krioko they are good guys."
Krioko smiled and placed a paw over the boy's leg. "I would caution you from casting your fate with us until you've heard our story young one." The others paused to listen as he continued. "We are not your enemy as I have said but we are not a good omen either."
##
Slowly the morning progressed into afternoon and the slight chill that had hung on the air began to dissipate with the suns progress into the high noon position. The sky remained blue where they were but in the distance, a smudge of black on the edge of the horizon threatened rain. The air was charged Krioko could feel the impulses of the sky pull his fur straight, thunder.
He frowned off into the distance his soulful eyes filled with concern and longing for his companion. Nearly four days Déjà had been unconscious, he had not quiet perceived that she was as badly injured as she had turned out to be. He turned his head and watched Morty laugh with Yoh and choke on the soda he was drinking.
The little guy seemed to be whole again, even if he was still rather pale. His presence lightened the mood; even Anna was smiling The Panda considered the small boy.
Because of the way he had been joined with her, he was privy to more information about his shaman than most guardians and had shared Déjà's thoughts, her feelings and her memories- the most prominent of which was the face of this boy.
He had appeared in her vision during their flight, spurring her on to find who he was and what he held for her fate, despite his constant reminders that they must find Yoh and gain his alliance.
For just as the clouds grew dark in the distance before them he could sense another storm brewing behind and knew that despite Déjà's skill and power that alone she would be broken and tossed aside like a brittle piece of bamboo. The alliance with Yoh and his friends was important, they were powerful, they had put an end to the island clans greatest fear and if anyone could stop the rising tide of these imbibo os navitas...these drinker s of energy, stealers of furkyoku, he knew it would be them. Yet even now he felt deep inside that Morty, small...unsure of himself and his new found powers had some important part to play, what he knew not.
Krioko huffed air from his snout and standing padded towards the purple tent, his thoughts and longing for her driving him to check on her again for the third time in the last hour. She was growing more and more restless in her sleep which was causing the necromancer some concern. Though the man never said anything to the effect , and continued to smile and reassure the worry could not be wiped from his Wife's face.
Sure enough as he pushed, his head into the flap of the tent Eliza stood busy fixing another of those strange smelling bags to the small stand at Déjà's bedside, while Faust listened to her lungs again using his strange device.
Krioko frowned not that he did not trust modern medicine, but the strange smelling liquid bothered him. He had asked its usage and understood its importance but in truth, he failed to see why the time-tested use of tea and herbs that Déjà had always been treated by could not be just as effective here.
He had even gone down with the green haired boy Lyserg to the edge of the mountain rage where it dipped into the forest in search of some herbs and brought them back. Yet still Faust was insistent on his liquid bags. He huffed again.
Faust hearing him turned and smiled reassuringly as he removed the stethoscope from his ears. To Krioko's surprise Eliza smiled too this time. "My apologies I did not mean to disrupt you at work Faust." The panda said dipping his head.
Faust blinked in surprise then his eyes softened. "Not at all, her breathing is still a little shallow but I think we're over the worst of it." He said going from happy go lucky to stern. "Once the fever breaks and she regains consciousness I will rest easier."
"Will we be able to move then?" Krioko asked. The man tilted his head considering.
"No. If she wakes today, I might be coerced into allowing her to move around for long enough to relocate tomorrow but no sooner. She will be terribly weak for a couple of days yet as her Furkyoku returns."
The panda nodded his huge head. "I understand." He growled and cocked his ears as Anna's voice called to him. "Please keep me informed on her progress." He withdrew his head.
The campers sat together like an old war council Krioko decided, it was strange in a way that it reminded him of home. He closed his eyes as he stood and sniffed the burning smell of wood, heard the bubble of the river nearby and voices, the sound of nature. He could very easily believe that they were back on Avalon, back long before this mess had begun...
