"Haniel, Haniel..."

I could hear someone's voice calling me in my sleep, but I was just way too tired. I tried blocking the sound and resuming my nap.

"Seems like she won't wake up..." Said another. "What should we do? We're here already."

"How about we carry her?" suggested someone.

"How about we do this." I felt someone's breath getting closer and closer to my ear. "WAKE UP, STUPID, AND GET OFF MY DAMN SHOULDER." I almost peed myself.

"That was so not necessary, Ren." I rubbed my stiff neck.

"Haha, you sleep like the dead, Hani." Laughed HoroHoro.

Hani? No one has ever called me that before. Sounds cute.

Haru shot a look at Horo Horo.

"Let's go, Haniel, I'll help you with your bags." Haru said. He offered his hand to help me up from my seat and I took it gratefully. My legs were really sore from seating for such a long time.

"Oh, Ren." I turned around. "Sorry about sleeping on you. You should have pushed me away or something."

"Whatever." He grinned for a moment, but then averted his eyes. I couldn't help but giggle.

"Let's go, girl." Called Aki. She was already at the exit of the helicopter.

"Coming!" But when I tried to take a step forward, my legs were so numb I almost fell flat on my face. I say almost because Haru was there to catch me.

"As reliable as ever, Haru." I patted him on the head.

"Can you walk properly? I can carry you if you want." He said. I stood on the tip of my toes and kissed him on the cheek. He blushed a little.

"I'm fine, superman. I can walk by myself." Then I heard a loud smack behind me.

"Why the hell are you punching me out of nowhere, Ren?" whined Chocolove as he rubbed his arm.

"No reason. I felt angry all of a sudden." I shrugged. (Guess we all know the reason XD)

"You little freak." Said the comedian before stepping off the helicopter.

All the teams went separate ways when we stepped on land. Aki explained that there was this huge stadium in the center of the island. Apparently I had missed it while sleeping.

"There is one thing I don't understand, though." Asked Aki while taking a sip from a soda she just bought. "Why did they made us go all the way to America if this island is just next to Japan?" She was obviously displeased. If there was one thing Aki disliked, it was planes.

Haru walked over and placed an arm around her sister.

"What I don't understand, sis, is why you bought that soda for six freaking bucks. Who would drink something so expensive?" Then he took the soda from Aki and took a long and loud drink.

"Hey! You're going to finish it! Stop!" Said Aki as she tried to take her drink back.

"Hey, guys," I said. "How about we go check the teams chart in the stadium. We'll be able to see the names of the other teams."

(Note: I say 'teams chart' because I don't know how the billboard thingy with the teams' names is called XD)

"Let's go then." The twins agreed.

It looks like we weren't the only ones that decided to go to the stadium, because it was packed with people. The three of us had to swim across a sea of shamans to be able to get to the front, and I'm pretty sure someone touched my butt.

"There's our team!" pointed Aki excitedly. Huh, that's funny. I don't remember ever naming our team. Okay let's see...

"H-3? What does that even mean?" I read out loud. Haru sighted.

"Told you she would freak out." Aki just ignored him and placed an arm around my shoulder.

"It's pretty simple. H because you are the team captain, and 3 because, well, we're three people." She made the number three with her fingers.

"That's so lame." I laughed so hard my sides hurt.

"Not as lame as that." said Haru as he pointed a tag below ours that said 'The Ren'.

"Oh gee. I wonder who is on that team..." I asked sarcastically.

"That self-centered bastard." laughed Aki.

After that we spent a few more minutes making fun of every single team name written on that billboard. Then we decided to go back.

The days went by slowly. Most of the tournament fights where pretty boring and every one already knew who would be the winner. At the third day, we just decided to stop going to the stadium. I guess Yoh's and Ren's team decided on the same thing because we would occasionally bump into them at a restaurant or something while the fights were going on.

"Why don't you go to the fights?" I asked once.

"It's pointless. I'll be the winner anyways." Smirked Ren.

"I always fall asleep, so it's basically a waste of time." yawned Yoh.

"I never get the time of the fight right, so I just gave up on going." shrugged Horo Horo.

Those were pretty much our reasons as well, so we didn't say anything about it.

One hot afternoon, my team and I were hanging around at the village. So I decided it was time to talk to them about what were my plans about the tournament.

"Hey, guys?" I took a deep breath. "I'm not planning on becoming shaman queen." Then I shut my eyes and waited for their shouts and scolds. But they never came.

"Yeah, we know." answered Aki.

"Huh? How?" I never told them, so how did they know? Could it be the heard me talking with Ren that day?

"Come on, Haniel. We've been friends before we could even speak. We kinda suspected you weren't fighting to be queen." smiled Haru.

"He's right. If you were, you wouldn't even be talking to other teams, but planning a way to defeat them." Aki said.

"So you're not angry at all?"

"How could we be angry at our precious main-branch leader?" Aki ruffled my hair.

"Whatever you decide to do, count with us, okay?" Haru joined.

"Thanks, I really-" But I was interrupted by my oracle bell, which started to vibrate.

"Our first match." I grunted. "And I was so happy we didn't had to fight up until now."

"Seems like our opponent is the team Dai Rei Dou." Read Haru from his oracle bell. "Hm, I've heard some interesting rumors about them."

"What rumors?"

"The last teams that were scheduled to fight against the Dai Rei Dou disappeared mysteriously."

"That's obviously some dirty scheme planned by them." I stood up and stretch my arms. "Guess we're fighting, then. Can't deny I'm kind of curious."

"All right!" cheered Aki.

"Lets give them a good show, shall we?" I motioned the twins to follow me, and together we headed for the stadium.

On our way there, I forgot I left my staff back our room. I told the others to go ahead.

"Just hurry, Haniel. Be back in ten minutes top." Ordered Haru.

"I'll make it in five." Then I turned around and ran full speed to fetch my weapon. In less than two minutes, I had it in hand and began to make my way back to the arena.

"Seems like you are in a hurry, Haniel." said someone as I passed by. Hao, of course. Just when I need him. I tried my best to ignore him and kept on jogging.

"I have some advice for you." he tried again to get my attention.

"Sorry, I think you have mistaken me for someone that actually gives a damn."

"You should hear this. The leader of the team you're fighting against is called the priestess Muri. She defeats others by showing you them the darkness in their hearts."

"Darkness in their hearts?" I muttered.

"That's right. Then she offers to show you the light and guide you through the path a redemption." He smiled goofily. "Will you be able to handle your own demons, Haniel?"

"That's funny. I have one right in front of my face and I seem to be handling it pretty well. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go. I don't have time for this." Then I hurried back.

"What took you so long?" asked Haru when we met.

"Nothing much." He looked at me with suspicious eyes, but I glanced away. Then I noticed Ren's and Yoh's teams seating in the first row, waiting for the fight to start. I ran over to them and climbed up to their seats.

"So you guys came to see my fight?" I smiled.

"Of course! We wouldn't miss it!" said Horo Horo.

"We'll be rooting for you." Waved Yoh.

"Thank you! We'll, I better get going. Seems like I'm the only one missing in the arena."

"Haniel," Called Ren before I left. "try not to get too pounded."

I winked at him and replied. "I'll try."

I climbed up the arena and stood in between Haru and Aki. They both had their oversouls ready for attack.

"Ready, Ariel?" I whispered.

"Only if you are, my lady." He materialized next to me.

"Then let's do this. Ariel! Into the staff!" And just like that my weapon changed completely. No matter how much times I see it, the huge metallic wings that expanded at each side of the staff still impressed me.

The patch official/referee raised his hand into the air and shouted into the microphone:

"Let the fight between Dai Rei Dou and H3 begin!"

Three ugly looking guys from the other team lounged immediately at us. I stood there waiting for them to reach me, but they just when past me and attacked Haru and Aki instead.

"Can you handle them?" I asked the twins.

"Yeah!." Answered Haru while blocking punches. "Focus on the girl!"

That's when I noticed a small girl was standing a few feet in front of me. She was just looking at me with puppy eyes.

"So you must be Muri. You're just gonna sit there?" I provoked her.

"I'm not here to fight." She began.

"You don't say..." I answered. But she continued.

"I'm here to show you the darkness that lays in your heart." She extended her hands in front of her. "Then I'll guide you to the light. You will finally be free from hate!"

Her words were just like Hao predicted.

"You god-complex girls are all the same. I won't let you win this fight."

"Oh, really?" She took a step forward and looked me straight into the eyes. "How are you going to do that with all that doubt residing in your heart?"

Her words felt like knives piercing into my skin. It was impossible to block them out.

"You feel weak. You know that deep inside you're not strong enough to defeat Hao. And you'll never be."

"U-ugh" I heard her voice from deep within my brain. Then I realized I was the one speaking.

"I can't beat Hao. I'll stay weak and pathetic forever..." I couldn't stop myself from thinking that. The worst part is that I knew this is what I truly felt. After a minute, my knees gave out and I fell on the hard floor.

"Haniel! What are you doing?" Screamed Haru. "Don't listen to her!"

"I-I can't..." So this is what true despair feels like. Aki came to me and kneed beside me.

"Haniel, please! You know you are better than these. We're here, remember? We'll help you every time you-" But she never got to finish that last phrase. Her eyes opened wide and she let out a small cry. Blood dripped from her mouth and she fell right on her face. Behind her was a pig-like man holding a blade. He had attacked Aki when she tried to help me.

"A-Aki?" I whispered. Tears where flooding my eyes, but I couldn't move.

"AKI!" I heard Haru's cries in the background.

"This is the result of your darkness." Talked the priestess again. "The feelings you have buried in your heart for so many years."

This is my fault. If Aki dies, her blood will be in my hands. All because the secrets I have kept hidden...

Wait. That's it! That's the key!

I slowly rose from the ground and smirked confidently.

"I'm sorry, miss. But playtime is over. You just gave me the answer to this whole shitty mess."

-Haru's POV-

A few seconds ago, Haniel had been kneeled in the ground, shaking and at the verge of crying. But now she stood there, confident as hell. What plan did she come up with? She turned around and looked right at me.

"Take Aki and begin healing her." She ordered. "I'll take care of the rest."

"But-" I tried to talk back to her.

"Haru. Do it." She ordered once more. Even if we don't pay much attention to the hierarchy thing in our clan, when someone from the main house says an order, we follow. So I took Aki and began healing her slowly.

That Muri chick took a step back. Looks like she was losing her confidence to Haniel.

"Like you said before," Haniel spoke. Her voice was loud and clear. The whole stadium had fallen silent. "These are my true feelings. You are right. I do feel weak and I don't think I can actually defeat Hao; but that won't keep me from trying. I decide how to deal with my own darkness, so you should just fuck off."

No matter how you see it, Haniel was incredible. Muri had anger spread through her delicate features. Once again she spoke.

"I-I'm the only one who c-can guide you to the path of light." Her voice was getting weaker by the second. This comment really pissed Haniel.

"Path of light? Don't make me laugh." Then with one hand, she raised the staff to the skies. The wings in her staff shone brightly with the afternoon sun. "I'll show you what real light looks like"

Then just like that, Haniel and Dai Rei Dou where surrounded by a blinding pillar of light that disappeared high into the sky.

-Ren's POV-

I used my arms to cover my eyes from the powerful light.

"W-what the hell is that?" Asked Horo Horo while doing the same as me.

Anna was standing next to me. She had dark sunglasses on and was watching directly to the arena. Her face, as usual, revealed nothing.

"Guys, you should look at your oracle bells. Right now." Chocolove said and we all followed.

"What the-" I mumbled.

"This amount of furyoku is...incredible." said Horo Horo. "Who exactly is that girl?"

It was an amazing power indeed. Minutes before, she looked so frail while kneeling on the floor. Made me want to stop this whole damn thing and bring her up here. But I, better than anyone, know what a fight represents to the participants.

"I might have misjudged her." admitted Anna. "She might actually be a threat to us."

"Looks like it." grinned Yoh.

The light in front of us vanished suddenly. It simply rose to the sky and was completely gone. Everyone stood up, trying to see what was happening with the shamans in the stadium. There was a surprised gasp among the crowd.

Something was off with the Dai Rei Dou team. What used to be that priestess' followers, where now crushed stone scattered around the stage. The priestess herself was lying lifelessly with her face to the ground. Haniel was the only one standing now. Well, kind of. She was definitely weakened and was using her staff as a cane for support. She was panting and her eyes where half closed.

"THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE OUTCOME, LADIES AND GENTLMEN!" screamed the patch official into the microphone. "THE DAI REI DOU WERE COMPLETLY WIPED OUT IN ONE SINGLE, BUT AMAZING, STRIKE!" The stadium exploded into cheers. "THE WINNERS OF THIS FIGHT ARE THE H-3!"

"Wait." announced Silva, as he stepped into the stage. "The team Dai Rei Dou committed fault by only having one single member."

Apparently, Muri used souls to poses status so they would fight along with her. Utterly pathetic. Well, they lost anyways.

"Looks like Haniel, from H-3, is having some technical difficulties." said the announcer once more. And he was right. Haniel was paler than snow and her knees were shaking. Then she began staggering back and forth. I stood up from my seat and screamed at the Haru guy:

"Catch her, you moron. She is about o pass out!" He reacted just in time to run to Haniel and catch her before her head hit the hard floor. Then Haru looked up at me and nodded.

"Well, that was an unexpected match." commented Manta.

"Her furyoku was, well, higher than mine..." said Horo Horo in disbelief. "She had the perfect image of a cute, but stubborn chick. Seems like she's got something to back up her stubbornness."

"But there is something odd about this." said Anna with her arms crossed. "It seems like she isn't even aware of her powers. We will have to use that as our advantage."

"I don't think there's need for that, Anna." replied Yoh.

"This is of no concern for me. I will head back." I announced as I stood from my seat and walked away.

I remember the time Haniel told me about not wanting to become shaman queen, but help the right person to get there. From my point of view, it is a completely senseless way of thinking. Isn't it natural for someone to want all the power?

I also remembered I haven't told anyone about this. Anna would probably be happy with the news. Should I tell them? Better not. I feel like that moment was something just between her and me. I'll keep it that way for a little longer...

"REN!" a voice interrupted my thinking.

"What do you want, Horo Horo?" I asked coldly. Seems like he followed my all the way from the stadium.

"God, I just wanted some company. You are such an a-hole."" He said.

"And I'm supposed to believe that crap? What do you really want?" I glared at him. Then he grinned slyly and elbowed me a couple of times.

"You got me. I actually want to talk to you about something."

"Go to someone else then. What do I look like? Your teenage best friend?" Then I walked past him.

"It's about Haniel."

I froze and turned around. "What about her?"

"Come on, man. Do you seriously think I haven't noticed?"

"Noticed what exactly?"

Horo Horo placed an arm around my shoulder and whispered into my ear.

"That you like her!"

What. The. Hell. I didn't even think twice before punching him in the face.

"That hurt, bastard! Just freaking admit it already!" He said as he rubbed his arm.

"Fine. I like her more than the other women I've ever known." I admitted. Saying it out loud was easier than I thought. Horo Horo just stared at me blankly.

"WHAT NOW?" I snapped.

"I never thought you would actually admit it." He said.

"First of all, I have not admitted to have any romantic feelings for her. And second of all, what kind of Tao wouldn't be man enough to admit what he feels?"

"Well, you're right about that second statement. But be careful, Ren. I might make a move on our dear Haniel." he warned teasingly. I snorted.

"For your own good, don't. You will just get your ego shattered." I answered with a smirk.

"Stupid..." he muttered before leaving.