Edited: February 8th 2017

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Chapter 10

Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King!

Thought / Dreams

'Telepathic dialogue / Thought that can be heard'

[Voice of the past]

Letter

"Dialogue"

Emphasis

Dangerous tone

Yamata no Orochi

As Ryu was taking his test, Yoh had blocked even more of his Furyoku – leaving him with only 10 percent of it – and hid his presence so he wouldn't leave any trace behind. He was hidden among the trees, and was currently watching over Ryu and Tokageroh.

"Yoh–dono, is this alright? Do you think he can survive?" Amidamaru asked hesitantly.

"Don't worry, Amidamaru. I'm sure that he will be able to pass the test." Yoh said with a reassuring smile, "And if by any chance that he failed, I will get him out of there. I won't let him die".

"I see. That's a relief. I thought that you wouldn't mind if Ryu got killed if he failed." Amidamaru said sheepishly.

Yoh laughed cheerfully hearing that. "I'm not that cruel, Amidamaru." He said happily, "That's why we are here. I have lost 2 people who were close to me to Death, so there's no way I would let someone die in front of my eyes – regardless of who they are".

XXXXX

Far away in the Asakura Estate, Mikihisa was running as fast as he could, since he had received news that someone had entered the River of Orochi. "Father!" Mikihisa yelled as he opened the family room's door.

"What is it, Mikihisa?" Yohmei asked with wide eyes, surprised at Mikihisa's behavior, "You're normally a calm person".

"I had just received terribly bad news. Someone has entered the River of Orochi." Mikihisa explained quietly, but was still urgently.

Yohmei looked grim at that. "This is bad." He said as he crossed his arms, "But we can't do anything rush." He then tapped his chin thoughtfully, "Mikihisa, I want you to watch this person carefully. Since this person dares to challenge that place, then he must be strong. We don't know what this person's purpose is – but if he is a good Shaman, then I want you to train him. Maybe – just maybe – he can be of help to us in our problem with Hao".

"Understood." He answered shortly, before he was gone in that instant.

XXXXX

Yoh was watching Ryu – who was in the middle of climbing onto a rock that was on his way – when he sensed another Shaman's presence around the area, and Amidamaru noticed it as well.

"Seems like another Shaman is interested in watching Ryu." Amidamaru commented as he looked at the direction where he felt the presence.

"Aa." Yoh answered simply while pulling out his cat mask – which he always brought with him, inside his waist bag – before putting it on.

"Why are you wearing a mask, Yoh dono?" Amidamaru asked curiously after returning his attention back to Yoh.

"I don't like my face to be seen in this kind of situation, Amidamaru." Yoh answered him calmly – his voice was muffled by the mask, making it to not sound like him, "And can you not call me by my first name? Haru from Haruyama is fine, but Yoh will risk it".

"Why?" Amidamaru was confused now.

"I have my own reason, which I will tell you some other time." Yoh answered mysteriously. I'm not ready to be found by any of the Asakuras yet. He thought to himself as he glanced at where he felt the other Shaman's presence.

Amidamaru didn't like it when Yoh answered him like that, but he knew that it would be better not to ask. He has his own reason, definitely. He nodded his head in agreement not to call Yoh by his first name. He didn't dare to say it out loud, since he didn't want to risk getting found by making any noise.

Yoh nodded back at him, before following after Ryu more carefully – Ryu had gotten on top of the cliff already by now.

XXXXX

2 weeks had passed without Yoh being found by the other Shaman, but it seemed like today would be the last day, for he had noticed how the other Shaman was getting nearer to him as time passed by. It was only a matter of time until the other Shaman arrived at Yoh's place.

"Haru–dono." Amidamaru flew over back to Yoh, "He had gotten nearer. It won't be more than 10 minutes now until he arrives at our place".

"Yeah, I noticed as well." Yoh replied to his Guardian Spirit, but he wasn't taking his eyes off of Ryu. He was a bit worried at the moment, since Ryu and Tokageroh had been bickering with each other in the past few days. "I better faces this Shaman now. It's only a matter of time, after all. I need you to go back to your Ihai though, Amidamaru".

A second later, Amidamaru quietly went into his Ihai.

It's going to happen soon … I wonder if Ryu can pass it. I have a feeling that he can do it, but I can't tell for sure if something's going to go wrong, can I? Those were what Yoh was thinking when the other Shaman's presence got stronger and closer, causing him to sigh in resignation. It's time. He turned to face the direction from which the other Shaman was coming from, and then he waited for the other Shaman to show up.

"I see, you have noticed me." A manly voice rang out, and his voice was muffled because he was wearing a mask as well.

"From the look of your attire, you're a Shugenja (Mountaineering ascetic), I presume?" Yoh asked in a friendly tone.

"You got it right. I am a Shugenja." He answered with a nod of confirmation, "You are a Shaman too, aren't you?".

Yoh nodded in answer, but said no more. The man walked closer, but Yoh stepped backward, since he didn't want the man to get any closer to him. Yoh wasn't the type to get suspicious – he was naturally a friendly boy to begin with – but he was always cautious when he met with an older Shaman whose face couldn't be seen. The other Shaman stopped his attempt to approach him then. "What's your name?" He asked instead.

"I think the proper etiquette is for you to say your name first, before asking for someone else's name – if your purpose is good." Yoh told the man, whom he suspected was one of the Asakuras – his blood family – because the only Shaman family in Izumo was the Asakuras.

The said Shaman was silent for a few seconds. "Asakura Mikihisa is my name." He said calmly then, "Now, can you tell me your name, boy?".

"Haru." Yoh said simply, to avoid telling Mikihisa of his full name. Even though it was a family name that came from Luna, he still preferred to remain unknown when he was wearing his cat mask.

"Haru? Just that?" Mikihisa asked again – still calmly, but his tone turned into that of suspicion.

"No. I'm sorry, but I won't say anymore." Yoh replied with a casual shrug.

Mikihisa looked like he wanted to ask more, but the sound of rushing water made him stop. Yoh looked down at Ryu again then, knowing what was about to come.

"It's coming." Yoh mused out loud to himself, "I wonder, can he survive it?".

His musing didn't go unnoticed by Mikihisa though. "You have known that this would happen, haven't you? What do you mean by whether he can survive it or not?" Mikihisa decided to ask.

Yoh didn't bother to answer though, for he was giving all of his attention to watch Ryu's reaction instead. Something that he didn't expect happened though, causing him to gasp in shock. "Tokageroh's leaving Ryu?!" He cried out in disbelief.

"Haru–dono!" Amidamaru's voice rang out from within his Ihai, "We have to help Ryu–dono!".

"Wait, not yet." Yoh replied when he saw that Tokageroh was flying back to Ryu, "Daijoubu (It's Okay). Tokageroh's back now, and I'm sure that Ryu will understand what I have been saying to him".

XXXXX

That Tokageroh ... What a coward! Ryu thought angrily – a great amount of water was rushing towards him from up ahead, and Tokageroh chose to run away!

Calm down and think. Think of what Danna has taught you! He tried to calm himself. Yoh had taught him how to perform Hyoui Gattai and maintained it for as long as he could, but what could help him in this situation? What he had were only his wooden sword and – until he left – Tokageroh.

"Ryu!" Ryu glanced sideways when he heard Tokageroh's voice, seemed like the Bandit had come back, "Let's just run! You're going to die at this rate!".

"No! I have to pass this test!" Ryu said stubbornly. He would never give up. Never!

"What can you do!? You'll die if you don't do anything soon! That boy must be toying with you!" Tokageroh yelled at him in worry.

"No. He said that he has prepared me to be able to pass this test." Ryu answer calmly, even though the water was getting closer and closer. Yoh had said that a calm mind was very important for a Shaman, so he had to stay calm.

"And then what?! He only taught you how to perform Hyoui Gattai with me! And your preparation was only to run laps, fought against his Shikigamis, and maintained Hyoui Gattai for as long as you can!" Tokageroh said frantically as he watched the water kept getting closer by each second, "They're not something that will help you in this kind of situation!" He was already dead, so the water couldn't harm him, but it could – and would – kill Ryu if they didn't do anything soon, so he was panicking.

"No! Danna must have–" His words was then cut off by a memory.

[You know, Ryu ... Basically, Hyoui Gattai is the same as Oversoul. The only difference is that with Hyoui Gattai, you're using your own body as a medium, while Oversoul is using an object as a medium.]

Yoh is using Harukaze as a medium for Amidamaru. A Sword for a Samurai. A Sword…

[Just bring the wooden sword that I gave you and Tokageroh, nothing else]

[To perform an Oversoul, you have to imagine the shape of your Oversoul. The strength of your Oversoul may be depending on your Furyoku, but it also depends on the strength of your mind.]

Oversoul ... A Spirit in an Object. Ryu thought to himself, once again remembered that Yoh was using Harukaze as a medium for Amidamaru. A Sword for a Samurai. A Sword…

[You have to go to that mountain by following this river, and don't take any shortcut. As I have told you before, you will only bring your wooden sword and Tokageroh, and nothing else.]

A Bokutou and Tokageroh…

[Hyoui Gattai, Amidamaru! In Harukaze!]

"I got it!" Ryu exclaimed excitedly, "Danna actually has given me the answer – and what I'm going to need – right from the very beginning!".

"And what is it?!" Tokageroh yelled in panic, the water was getting even closer still.

"This Bokutou ..." Ryu said as he gripped his wooden sword more firmly, "... and you, Tokageroh".

"What the heck does that mean?!" Tokageroh snapped impatiently.

Ryu didn't give an answer though, he decided to act instead. "Tokageroh, Hitodama mode!" The confused Tokageroh then turned into a Spirit Ball on Ryu's palm, "Hyoui Gattai, Tokageroh! In Bokutou!".

Ryu imagined the shape of his Oversoul and sent his Furyoku as much as he dared, since this was his first time performing an Oversoul.

His small Oversoul then changed shape into a large Snake with many heads. "Oversoul! Yamata no Orochi!" Ryu shouted just before using the heads of his Oversoul to block most of the water off – leaving small holes for some of the water to keep flowing, but they weren't big enough to get Ryu swept away by water.

XXXXX

"He got it." Yoh commented as Ryu formed his Oversoul, "I nearly got a heart attack when Tokageroh left earlier though".

"He came back though. It seems like he had grown fond of Ryu." Amidamaru added from the Ihai, making his voice echoed.

"Aa. That was why I told them to perform Hyoui Gattai everyday for as long as they could." Yoh explained to his Mochirei (Guardian Spirit).

"I see ..." Yoh flinched slightly when he heard another voice replied to him, he had forgotten that Mikihisa was still around. "The more often they unite, the more they understand each other, and thus they're growing fond of each other." Yoh turned and faced Mikihisa again – nodding his head in agreement, but didn't say anything. "I would like to speak with him and train him later, if you – as his teacher, I assume – would allow me to".

Yoh looked at Ryu thoughtfully for a moment. "Wait until he's finished with what he has to do first." After saying so, Yoh jumped off the cliff and onto Ryu's place. "Hi, Ryu." Yoh greeted him in friendly way.

Ryu turned to Yoh, looking confused for a bit before recognizing his attire. "Oh! Danna!" He greeted joyfully and excitedly – feeling pleasantly surprised when he realized that Yoh was watching all the time, "I can make an Oversoul, Danna!".

"Yes, I know." Yoh smiled at him, even though the man couldn't see it, "That is part of the real test – for you to be able to use Oversoul and survives the flood." He explained further, "You still have to go to the mountain though, it is also part of the test after all".

"Understood, Danna! I will definitely pass this test and become your apprentice!" Ryu exclaimed determinedly, but excitedly.

Yoh chuckled at the man's antics. "Silly Ryu." He said in amusement, "You're a Shaman yourself already, you know? Oh, and there's something that I didn't tell you".

Ryu broke off his Oversoul. "What is it, Danna?" He asked hesitantly.

"Remember the first test that I gave you that day?" Yoh asked curiously, earning a nod from Ryu, "The first test was actually to see if you can become a Shaman. Then, the preparation for the second test was actually the test itself – to see if you're patient and determined enough to follow my guide. You actually have passed the test without knowing it, Ryu." Yoh explained gently, "Also, this test itself is actually a form of my training for you. By doing this test, it forces you to experience the greatest power in this world – the Nature herself – and after doing this test, I know that you will become a Shaman who respects the Nature. This test also forces you make an Oversoul and build your stamina by going through hard and dangerous ways. So, by passing this test, you have finished my first level of training".

Ryu's face shone in surprise. "So, I'm your apprentice already, and I have done the basic training without realizing it?!" He asked excitedly, "So, after finishing the rest of this test, I will be able to take the further level of training?!".

"Nope." Yoh answered right away, making Ryu's face fell, and Yoh had to laugh at his antics. "Don't worry, Ryu. I just want you to learn the second level from another person, before I would give you the rest of my training, because the rest of the training will take so long to finish!" Yoh explained happily, "This person who will be your Teacher next wears an attire of the Shugenja, and he will approach you once you arrived at the mountain. I want you to learn the way of Shamans from him, but don't anything about me to him, I would like to remain unknown when I'm wearing this mask".

"Uh, but I already know that this is you, Danna." Ryu said in confusion.

"Yes." Yoh confirmed with a nod, "You are my apprentice though, so I let you know, but no one else should know unless I'm the one who tell them." He then moved closer to whisper to Ryu, "I will tell you the reason one day, but before then, don't say a word that you know the person behind this mask – not even to Ren and the others. If someone asked my name, then just say Haru from 'Haruyama', and the fact that Amidamaru is my Mochirei is to be kept secret when I'm wearing this mask as well. Remember, Haruyama Yoh is not the same person as Haru – the cat masked boy, okay?".

Ryu looked even more confused now. "Uh, I don't know the reason, but I will act like Danna and Haru are two different people – like I have 2 Teachers." He said with a nod, "Is that alright?".

"Yes." Yoh replied with a nod of his head as well, "We will meet again after the Shaman Tournament started. Until then, you will be trained by Asakura Mikihisa. Don't tell him about me being Yoh, not until I as 'Yoh' is the one who goes to meet him in person by myself. Just tell him that you're Haru's apprentice. Then, when we would meet again at the Shaman Tournament, you can say that before becoming Haru's apprentice, you're mine – because at that time, I would have met him as 'Haruyama Yoh' already, but Haru is a different person from Yoh. Do you understand?".

"Yes, I understand." Ryu gave Yoh a thumb–up, "But I want to know the reason after we meet again in the future, Danna".

Yoh nodded in answer to him, before jumping to the cliff on the opposite direction from Mikihisa. I know that I can trust you, Ryu.

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To be continued …

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Froim: Yay! I thought that I would be late, I'm glad that I make it in time!

Elfrost: You sure are energetic.

Froim: Because I'm happy!

Yuki: Don't mind her, she's always like that.

Froim: What does that mean? (Pout)

Luna: As Yuki said, don't mind her. Please review, everyone.

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Next Chapter: "This is for you, Yoh. But don't you dare talk to anyone else about this, or I will definitely kill you!"