Chapter 10: Questions

MARIANA´S POV

July, my first match. It comes unexpectedly soon.

So now I ´m in front of these weirdoes, who call themselves the boss´ and carry electric guitars. Apparently, they are some music band and a dreadful one at that, judging from what I ´m hearing. One of them is supposed to be my opponent.

"Hey, little girl, go home with mummy, this place is for adults!" One of the guys says. He must be my adversary.

"Are you so anxious that you feel the need to bully me?" I smirk at him. He doesn ´t seem to like that. "Hi, Karim! How ´s it going?" I wave at him when I spot him on a tree.

"Good enough" He doesn ´t look like it though. "Everyone ready for the match?" He asks monotonously. What´s up with him today?

"Yeah!" That idiot shouts. I just nod.

"Ok then. This Shaman Fight starts now!"

It doesn´t take ten minutes for me to defeat him. "Oops, I win today. I wish you better luck next time" And with that I´m done. I ´ve won the first match.

(Two weeks later)

8 pm. I ´ve just left Ren ´s and I ´m going for some pizza to have at home. When I´m two blocks away I see two boys and a girl talking…and a spirit is in the conversation as well! Shamans!

"Hey!" I walk towards them and they turn to see who ´s calling. "You ´re shamans, right?"

One of the boys is tall and lazy looking, with headphones around his neck. The other is very short and looks a bit nerd. The girl is blond and doesn ´t seem to be very nice. They all look surprised at me.

"No, just me and the girl" He says pointing at the blond. "How did you know we were shamans?" He asks intrigued.

"I could see you talking to your spirit. I ´m a shaman as well" I smile and shake his hand. "I ´m Mariana. Nice to meet ya"

"Yo! Nice to meet you too. My name is Yoh Azakura" He grins. "And this is Manta" Points at the dwarfie kid. "And this is-"

"My name is Anna and I ´m the fiancé of the soon to be Shaman King" The girl interrupts bluntly, looking very serious.

I give her half a smirk and retort "Sorry, that wont be possible. See, I ´m not a lesbian" She glares at me, obviously not amused at the joke.

I back turn to Yoh. "So, Yoh, you ´re participating in the Tournam-"

"Yoh Azakura. Haha, what a stupid name" We look up. A guy with blue hair and a snowboard is at the top of the building near us. "I ´m HoroHoro, your opponent in the first fight"

"You ´re fighting now?" I question exitedly. "Oh, this is so much fun"

I go and sit in a corner to observe them comfortably. HoroHoro stares at me "Who are you"

"Just an observant" I grin cheekily.

"Riiight" He goes back to Yoh.

And they fight. After a very awesome battle, Yoh wins. HoroHoro looks sad at first, but smartly he takes it well later and we all go to eat something at Yoh and Anna ´s house.

"This is so much fun! I was really looking forward to make friends in the Tournament" I comment happily.

"Yeah, that ´s true. I haven ´t met much shamans since I got here" says HoroHoro. "And most of them look either nerdy or mean" He laughs.

"And you, Yoh? Have you met any shamans who are participating?" I ask him interested.

"Before all of you? Just the one" He answers. "And he was kind of evil"

"Really? That doesn ´t sound cool" I look at him wanting to fish for more information. "So? Who is this guy?"

"Ren Tao. He ´s chinise" Yoh says conversationally.

This information takes a while to reach my brain. I stare at him for a moment. "What?" I finally manage to get out. I ´ve been thinking so much about that boy that I ´m sure I ´ve heard wrong. "What was that again?"

"Ren Tao" Yoh responds clearly.

"But…I know him, I know the guy" I say confused. "He ´s not evil"

"Of course he is!" Manta jumps in. "First he almost killed a man in the street and then he tried to kill Yoh and steal Amidamaru of him!"

I freeze, not believing my ears. "Really?!" My eyes go round "Are you sure we ´re talking about the same person? Purple hair? Golden eyes? His spirit ´s name is Bason?" I ask desperately.

"Yes, that would be him" Yoh responds, now seeming very interested in the conversation.

"But…..how can that be?" I talk to myself loudly. "Just a month ago he saved me! A man was about to attack me and he saved me! I mean, yes, he killed him. But then he took me to his house so I would be all right" I can ´t make any sense out of this conversation.

"He saved you?" Yoh eyes me with wide eyes. "Well, maybe he ´s not that bad. Maybe he was just having a bad day" Manta rolls his eyes behind him.

"I don ´t think so" HoroHoro suddenly comments. "I know who you are talking about. He ´s the boy who killed one of the ten priests. Karim told me. Chrom I think was his name"

"No" I whisper. Gradually, everything starts to make sense. He killed a man. That day. That was why he locked himself in his room. That is why Karim didn ´t look good. But it can ´t be. Why would Ren do something like that? Is he in truth evil? I don ´t know him that much, but I thought I knew enough to make such a judgement. I had concluded that, in spite of his temper and moodiness, he had a good heart. What should I do now?

"Mariana? Are you ok?" I look up and find that everyone ´s staring at me, waiting for my answer.

I take a deep breath. "I don ´t know. I don ´t understand what ´s going on. This is too complicated" No one comments on this. "But I have to find out. I have to go. Now. Excuse me" I stand up, walk briskly to the door and leave without looking back.

First I walk. Then hurry a bit. Then break into a full speed run. The wind hits my face and I go even faster. Without hesitation I keep on rushing.

I know who has the answers to all my questions. The only one who can tell me the truth.

When I get to the location, I dash inside and to the source.

"We need to talk Jun"

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I´ve already started with the next chap, how cool is that?