Shinano watched as his lord eyes which were once lost in thought snapped into focus. Lord Kohaku stood up quickly and said :"He's here" Shinano nodded and stood up too. Together, Shinano and his lord flew towards the direction the scent of the evil spirit came from. None of them bothering to change back into spirit form. (Its only a form, it does not affect their abilities) After learning part of the story, Shinano was no longer mad as his lord. His lord wasn't a playboy, his lord was just... in love with Chihiro Ogino. Jealousy once again emerged in his heart, why?! Shinano didn't know the answer.

"So, we meet again, Shinano" They were at the river where Shinano first learnt about Chihiro's name. The spirit had grown considerably stronger, the evil spirit now was able to take form of a handsome looking teenager. He was wearing a black tee-shirt, tight jeans, and this 'bad-boy' aura that could definitely make the girls at school squeal. A spirit needs to have a certain amount of spiritual energy to take form of a human. Obviously, the evil-spirit's spiritual energy has increased a lot, which means he has become much stronger. Which was literally impossible, there wasn't enough time.

"I will be back, Shinano, and the next time we meet, it won't be so easy" The last conversation he had with the spirit rang in his mind. He had fulfill his promise, this won't be an easy fight.

That is, if he was the only one fighting.

Next to him was a Master of an area, the evil-spirit is nothing compared to his lord. He took a glance at his lord, his lord had a serious expression. Was this spirit a dangerous opponent? Or was it just because this was the spirit that was threatening Chihiro Ogino? Shinano could not read his face, or should he say, no longer. He felt as if his lord was a different person than he was before.

"It's been a long time, Tone (To-ne)" Lord Haku said without showing a change of expression. Does Lord Haku know this spirit?

"Oh yes, it has been a very, very, long time dear teacher. I've heard that you've became Master of Tokyo, or was it Osaka? Hmm, maybe Kyoto? You know what? I don't really care" The evil spirit was showing no sign of respect of all, but judging by how he calls Lord Kohaku, he was once Lord Kohaku's student. Shinano had not heard any news of any student before him, so why does this Tone calls Lord Kohaku his teacher?

"It seems that you have regain your spiritual energy" Lord Haku wasn't mad at the evil spirit named Tone's disrespect nor did he admit that Tone was his student.

"I've trained for years to regain what once was mine. I still remember the day you personally absorbed all my spiritual energy all because I suggested a way to improve our land. Did you really think that would be enough to destroy me? You know my abilities Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi." Hearing Tone saying his lord's full name out loud with such a harsh tone made Shinano very angry, nobody disrespects his lord. (Let's just ignore the fact that Shinano just disrespected him shall we, he was mad)

"You know what you've done Tone, absorbing your spiritual energy was all I could do to help you" Haku said, ignoring the other half of Tone's speech

"Well, you should have just killed me!" Tone's voice was filled with anger, at the same moment he finished talking, Tone launched an attack towards Lord Kohaku. Coincidentally, Shinano had had enough of Tone's disrespect towards his lord and launched an attack. The two attacks collided and Shinano's attack was completely pushed back without even putting up a fight. Lord Kohaku had to interfere to block the attack for Shinano. Shinano could not believe that his attack didn't even stood a chance against Tone's. Just about a week ago, Tone was just a weak spirit, but now Shinano was no match for him.

But was Tone just a weak spirit?

The question suddenly struck Shinano. As far as Shinano knew, Tone could have just been hiding his spiritual energy. When they first faced each other, Tone could have just been toying with him. Showing Shinano that he had no interest in fighting him. Some parts didn't make sense to Shinano, for example how weak the barrier was, and why had the evil spirit he saw tried to swallow Chihiro Ogino to posses her? Tone definitely had the ability to posses her without doing that, and he could have done it much faster? So why use the slow way if there was a faster way?

Shinano could only think about it later, for Tone wasn't done yet.

Tone launched a second attack towards them which Lord Kohaku swapped aside, which destroyed everything that came in contact, which caused some smoke. Using the smoke as disguise, Tone ran towards them so fast that Shinano didn't even see him coming. Shinano only managed to get eye contact with Tone and saw something that surprised him before Tone hit Shinano in his chest and sent him flying. The blow was so hard that for a second Shinano thought that would be the end of him, and for a few moments Shinano couldn't move nor see anything. Shinano was the apprentice of the Master, which ultimately leads to him being a strong spirit, but now, Shinano had coughed up blood.

"Shinano!" Shinano heard his lord called out to him.

"Uh uh! You shouldn't take your eyes off your enemy!" Shinano heard Tone's voice, but he still couldn't see anything. Shinano had never felt any more useless. When Shinano had finally adjusted to the pain, he saw Tone and Lord Kohaku fighting each other in the sky. They exchanged fist, took turns to block and dodge, attacked with their spiritual energy and also took turns getting hit. It was an intense fight between two very strong spirits and those who could be even with Lord Kohaku could be counted by a single hand. Currently on Shinano's list: One and one only, Tone.

"It seems that you have improved as well, teacher" Shinano overheard Tone say

"I see you practiced defense" Said Lord Kohaku

"Did you really think I'd be the same as five years ago?" Shinano was completely out of the situation. Based on what Tone said, Lord Kohaku was Tone's teacher five years ago, yet for some reason he no longer is. And something about Lord Kohaku absorbing his spiritual energy? Shinano couldn't even grasp an idea on what was going on. After a few more moves, they both landed on the ground, facing each other few metres away.

"Let's draw the curtains" Lord Kohaku said, charging spiritual energy in his fist

"The very same thoughts I had in mind" Tone said, mimicking what Lord Kohaku had just done. Two huge attacks from two strong spirits collided, both attacks pushing against each other, neither willing to back down. They both continued to pour spiritual energy into their attacks respectively. Sometimes the white coloured spiritual energy that belonged to Lord Kohaku would push back the light blue coloured spiritual energy belonging to Tone and vice versa. But in the end the other side would push back. At some point the attacks didn't push back and forth any more, but exploded. As in, literally exploded. The light caused by the explosion forced Shinano to looked away, when he could see again, his lord was standing while Tone was kneeling on the floor coughing out blood. His lord has won the fight!

"I will be back" Tone glared up at Lord Kohaku's cold face, and then dissolved into the shadows. Shinano had the bad feeling that the next time Tone shows up, his lord may not be able to defeat him any more. Shinano was just about to call out to his lord when Lord Kohaku suddenly spat out blood.

Lord Kohaku collapsed to the ground.