DISCLAIMER: Shaman King ain't mine. Obviously.
Not much to say; this is kinda an in-betweener. *evil, devilish smile* You won't be bored in the next chapter, my Fuzzeh friend. :P (Then again, you never read the a/n's, do you, FuzzyShadowFox? :PPP)
I feel like I could have written this chapter better, but oh well. I'm not even quite sure if the ending is really what I wanted, but whatever. XD *shrugs* On a sort-of side note, anyone do NaNoWriMo? I was thinking about doing it this year; never done it before. Bet it'll be fun :P
Twelve: Lago
I sat in the main room, frowning as I thought of what had happened last night. HoroHoro had come back late last night when I was the only one left up, and I, with my voice too sore to speak, had Nix explain what happened (we'd been teaching HoroHoro sign language, but he was far from fluent). I hadn't slept, but this body seemed to be designed to withstand long periods of tiredness.
Over in the next room, I heard Manta and Yoh speaking, saying something about breakfast. Deciding that helping was better than just sitting around like I'd done all night, I got up and went into the hallway to see Manta hurrying towards the kitchen; I stopped him with a smile and asked, 'Need help?'
He smiled back. "Yeah, if breakfast isn't ready soon I'm afraid Anna will go ballistic." He noticed the bags under my eyes. "Did you sleep at all?"
I shook my head. 'I couldn't.'
Manta nodded. "I understand." We started walking towards the kitchen. "But you must've seen something like this before, since you're a shaman too."
Oh, I'd seen plenty of possessions, but none through these eyes. 'I just have a lot on my mind,' I signed to him truthfully.
"Do you know when Ryu's supposed to wake up?" Manta asked, rifling through the lower cupboards for a skillet. He could tell that I didn't want to talk about what I was thinking of.
I grabbed a carton of eggs from the fridge before handing it to Manta. With my hands free, I signed, 'She said a week.'
"Hm," Manta said. He pulled a stool up to the oven, and I turned on the stovetop for him as he hopped up. "I wonder what it's like to unite with a spirit."
I smiled, remembering the first time I ever united with Nix, forever ago. At first, it felt like I'd never have breath in me again, but then it felt… like he was always meant to be my spirit. Nix and I rarely got along without a disagreement of some kind, but we were a team, and we always would be. Right now, in this life, he was the only real friend I could have. Part of me didn't feel like it was enough, though.
()()()()()()()()
"I'm terribly sorry!" Ryu apologized, bowing so that his forehead touched the ground. It was after breakfast, and we were in the main room. Ryu had woken up quite earlier than Anna had expected.
"They filled me in," Ryu continued, turning his head to indicate his friends. "I've caused so much trouble."
"It's not Ryu-san's fault, right?" Manta pointed out cheerfully.
"Nope," Yoh agreed. "You were possessed by an evil spirit. Don't worry about it."
I nodded in assent of Yoh's words. Ryu wasn't at fault here.
"No!" Ryu insisted. "I was possessed because of my impure heart!" He stood up and his tone lowered. "Since I was born, I've been like a lost child trying to find his home. I've always been alone. Only my friends were kind enough to look after me. A heart with such a void is what called Tokagero to me."
Ryu's fist was shaking. "I know that I can't make up for what I did with just an apology. But… I can't do anything…" He bowed again. "I'm sorry, master! And sorry, Master Amidamaru! You had to break your own katana to save me. I destroyed your headstone. And I'm good for nothing! I cannot repay this debt, even if I spent my entire life!"
"Yeah, but…" Manta began.
Yoh pointed to Amidamaru, and I almost shared their expressions. "You can see him?"
Ryu raised his head. "Very clearly.
There was stunned silence for a moment.
"So that's it," Anna said.
"What's what?" Yoh asked, turning to her.
"Being possessed by Tokagero awakened his powers," Anna explained.
Yoh's eyes were wide and he came closer to Anna in awe. "Powers? That means…"
"Yep. Shamanic ability." Anna said like it didn't matter.
Yoh's jaw dropped, as well as Ryu's friends' and Manta, as well as mine. Ryu's jaw was dropped farther than anyone else's.
"I can't believe it!" Manta cried.
"That's why he recovered so fast," Anna continued. "It's pretty surprising." She didn't sound surprised.
Ryu's friends crowded around him and congratulated him. He didn't seem to hear them.
He suddenly sprang to his feet. "This isn't the time to celebrate!" he screamed. He turned to his now semi-cowering friends. "Master Amidamaru's Harusame is broken. And the blame goes to none other than me."
"It's in the past now," Amidamaru reassured him.
Ryu turned around, his fist clenched. "No. My conscience won't let it go. I, Bokotou no Ryu, will make up for it!"
()()()()()()()()
Before long, the house was almost spotlessly clean. Though it was a thought that was rather shameless, I liked it when Ryu felt he owed something.
I lounged around the house, bored. Yoh and Manta had gone out for Yoh's daily run, but I had declined to go with them, not wanting to do anything too physical today. I could've hung out with HoroHoro (he was good for a laugh), but he was…busy with business in the bathroom. Ryu couldn't be bothered (nor did I really want to bother him), and Anna was watching television as usual.
Finding nothing else to do, I thought. I'd gone through the Shaman Fights before with unbiased opinion, but this time around it was obviously going to be different, and I didn't know if I could really make it this time. I had to be totally willing to help the Shaman King when the time came, and if I wasn't, well… I didn't know what would happen, because I'd always been totally willing. I thought about Tao Ren becoming the Shaman King and shuddered. Lately, when I thought about who might become the Shaman King, he'd been popping up more often than Hao in my nightmares.
Would I be feeling so afraid of him if I had stayed alone instead of becoming Yoh's friend? Probably not, I admitted begrudgingly to myself. I fingered the tassel that I kept in my pocket.
I sighed. I hated feeling like this. I needed something to take my mind off of this.
()()()()()()()()
When Yoh and Manta were finally back, I joined them gratefully.
"The spirits have disappeared," Anna said as she leaned against the doorframe leading to the front walk.
"Yeah. I haven't felt their presence since last night," Yoh agreed. "Have you, Tori?"
I blinked and shook my head. I had been so lost in thought that I hadn't noticed that the spirits had left. I should've noticed earlier.
"Now that you mention it, I haven't seen them either," Manta added.
"The recent activities were probably too strong for the weak spirits," HoroHoro said, suddenly appearing, leaning against the outside wall. I looked at him curiously, noting that everyone was looking in a different direction. Suddenly, I felt their presence as well; I must've been really lost in thought if I hadn't noticed the Stars were nearly here!
"So you came," Anna said without much care.
"Not because of that. I just wandered here," HoroHoro admitted, still serious.
"Huh?" Manta asked. He jumped in front of us and waved his hands for attention, but now that I'd noticed the Stars' presence, I felt drawn to them and not him. "What is it?" he asked. "What are you talking about?"
We all ignored him and looked up into the sky.
I cast my senses out, wanting to feel the Stars more. Their calling was-
I didn't show any emotion as I sensed Mikihisa nearby. He must be here to check up on his son…
()()()()()()()()
That night, I was walking past the onsen towards the kitchen when I heard footsteps up ahead, and a lot of them; Ryu's friends must be coming to check up on him. I heard them whispering, and I wondered what they were trying to do. Then I heard HoroHoro's voice; what were they doing…?
I turned the corner, and the first thought that went through my mind was What ugly, poor girls…
Then I realized who they were, and for a moment I didn't know whether to run away or laugh. In the end, I doubled over and leaned against the wall, soundless gasps of laughter escaping me. They just looked so… so freakish! What were they all trying to do, enter a drag queen contest?
Immediately, Ryu's friends started bickering amongst each other, sounding embarrassed. HoroHoro (in a brunette wig, I had seen) stomped his foot and said that they were doing this for Ryu.
I couldn't make out what they were saying, because I was couldn't hear anything over my own breath. They were so weird looking…
HoroHoro snapped his fingers in my face suddenly. "Thank you, Tori, but you can go now."
I managed to catch my breath and looked up into his face only to notice that he was wearing purple eyeliner and almost burst out laughing again. 'Good luck,' I signed, walking past them and trying not to laugh at their bickering and self-conscious faces.
When I was around the other corner, I burst out in another fit of soundless laughter.
Only a minute later, Manta found me. He looked at me in confusion. "What's up?" he asked.
I shook my head. 'I shouldn't say.' My hands were shaking slightly with my amusement. 'You probably wouldn't want to know anyway.'
Manta raised an eyebrow and shrugged.
()()()()()()()()
"Hey, think we can do it now?" Yoh asked Anna as we stood outside the entrance to the onsen later that day.
"Yes," Anna answered.
"Huh?" Manta asked. I had to share his confusion as we headed outside.
()()()()()()()()
In the front yard, Ryu and his friends stood in a loose semicircle around Anna, who had out her itako beads. I, Manta, Yoh, and Amidamaru stood off to the side a little bit.
"Call Mosuke?" Amidamaru asked Yoh in astonishment.
Yoh nodded. "Yup."
"That's right!" Manta exclaimed. "Anna-san can summon spirits that have already gone to the afterlife! Harusame can be repaired!"
I found myself smiling. Mosuke could certainly fix Harusame, and then no one would have to be sad anymore; I had seen Amidamaru moping around a little bit earlier.
Ryu was taken aback. "Is this true, Mistress Anna?"
"Well, it depends on you," she answered.
"Huh?"
"I'm going to put Mosuke's spirit in you," she continued. "Well, with that much energy, you shouldn't have any problems."
"But why not Yoh-kun or Tori-kun?" Manta asked.
Anna looked back. "I have a different job for Yoh. Tori's the odd one out."
I nodded, fine with the situation. It wasn't like Anna let me do much else in these spiritual matters, anyways.
"You can finally see Mosuke," Yoh said to Amidamaru.
"I-I only care about Harusame getting repaired," Amidamaru stuttered. Liar.
"What? Are you embarrassed?" Yoh asked, amused and smiling.
"Why would I be embarrassed?" Amidamaru shot back, defensive. He seemed to deflate a little. "I just don't know what to talk about."
"You don't need to talk about anything," Yoh assured him. "That's why we're going to put Mosuke in Ryu."
Amidamaru and I both blinked and looked at Yoh for a moment before we looked to Anna, who held up her itako beads. "Let's start," she declared.
"Okay," Ryu agreed, taking a ready stance. "If Harusame can be repaired, it doesn't matter what happens to my body. Please use it freely." "I would have anyways," Anna said carelessly.
Ryu suddenly looked nervous.
Anna began her chant, her beads glowing. When she opened her eyes, they also glowed. I was in awe; I'd never seen such a powerful itako so young.
Anna held out her beads in both hands, and a spirit began to form behind her as Yoh merged with Amidamaru. Anna jumped into the air and guided the spirit into Ryu's body with a shout, and I watched the unfolding scene with undivided attention.
"Amidamaru…" Mosuke spoke through Ryu.
"That voice…" Amidamaru choked out.
Ryu straightened up, and Mosuke's face appeared just above him. "You bastard. How dare you break my katana again!" Suddenly, he started forward, readying a punch. "How many times have I told you not to break it and come home?"
"What about you?" Amidamaru shot back, also readying his own punch. "Making me wait for six hundred years! You stubborn fool!"
"Why are they doing this all of a sudden?" Manta cried as Amidamaru and Mosuke's punches met each other's cheeks.
"They can't talk freely," Anna explained, "until they do something like that. How troublesome."
'Men,' I added in sign to her, and she smirked ever so slightly.
"I've wanted to see you," Mosuke admitted, his cheek still being pushed in by Amidamaru. He grinned.
"It's been a while," Amidamaru replied in a likewise position, also grinning.
()()()()()()()()
Before long, Yoh was holding up the shining, whole Harusame, Mosuke having repaired it through Ryu's body. I had to admire its gleam in the moonlight. It was quite the beautiful weapon.
"It was all thanks to you," Amidamaru thanked Ryu.
Ryu held up his hands. "Please stop, master," he pleaded. He sighed. "I was the one saved. Being a shaman really is the best."
Depends on when and where to look at it, I thought bitterly before I could catch myself, thinking about my current standstill with my friendships and my job. I immediately pushed the thought out of my mind; I was honored to have this job.
Everyone besides me chuckled at Ryu's words. HoroHoro, who was standing just in front of me with Manta, turned his head slightly and gave me a smile, but it turned to a slight frown when he saw my expression. I gave a wide smile to try and cover it; it helped to remember HoroHoro in drag.
Yoh sheathed the katana and held it out to Ryu. "We have to return this to the museum."
Ryu laughed and scratched the back of his head sheepishly before taking the katana. "Yeah."
Suddenly, I sensed a burst of shamanic energy, and I felt the presence of Mikihisa again. What did he want?
There was a thump, and we looked to see three of what I knew to be Mikihisa's oversouls. HoroHoro jumped, looking like he was about to attack; I put a hand on his shoulder just as Anna stopped him with her arm before turning around and heading inside. Suddenly realizing what I was doing, I retracted my hand quickly.
Ryu attempted to give Yoh Harusame, but Yoh held up his hand in dismissal, looking at the oversouls calmly.
"What are these things?" Amidamaru asked.
"These are the perfect things to test the other Harusame," Yoh answered.
"The other one?" Ryu asked, mirroring my confusion.
"Anna?" Yoh looked expectantly at the front door.
Anna tossed a sheath, and Manta caught it. "Wow, it's light." He popped open the cap to see that there was no sword inside. "Huh?" He put the cap back on.
"Master, what do you plan to do with that?" Ryu asked.
Yoh chuckled as Manta brought him the sheath. "Just watch."
Quickly, he merged with Amidamaru and took the sheath. He pulled out the handle and the inside glowed before forming into a katana; an exact, spiritual copy of Harusame.
"Oh, I see," HoroHoro noted, his arms crossed. "It's because of Mosuke, isn't it?"
"That's right," Anna replied. "Mosuke's will is inside. When Amidamaru is with Yoh and holding it, a spiritual blade forms. For the Shaman Fight, it's required."
A spiritual weapon… Not quite oversoul, but still, Yoh was getting closer.
Yoh jumped at the oversouls and slashed, cutting one cleanly in half before doing it again lengthwise to another, and then again to the last one and sheathing the katana.
Three feathers, each one sliced in half, floated away from him. One landed in front of me, and I picked it up.
"A feather?" HoroHoro asked.
"It's Oji-sama's guardian," Anna explained.
"Huh?" HoroHoro looked completely confused.
"Mikihisa-Oji-sama," Anna replied just as I thought his name. "Yoh's dad." She looked up to the roof, and I followed her gaze, but all that was there was the moon in the sky.
"Father?" Yoh held up a feather. "Yeah, Dad's guardian," he confirmed. "I wonder why he came."
To test you, I thought. But for now, I had to act in the dark. It'd be more than just a little awkward for Yoh to know that I had met his father before.
()()()()()()()()
I went up to the roof a little later, watching Ryu ride off on his motorcycle. I had a feeling that I wouldn't be seeing him again for a while.
Suddenly, a bright, blue light streaked across the sky. 'Lago… We haven't seen that for a while, have we?'
Nix appeared on my shoulder. 'No, we haven't.' He hopped off my shoulder and onto the side of the roof, gazing at the star. I knew what was on his mind.
"Lago?" I looked down from the roof to see Manta in the yard, staring up at Yoh on the balcony. If Anna or HoroHoro was there, I couldn't see them.
"You didn't go home?" Yoh asked.
"What's Lago?" Manta asked.
Yoh looked back up at the blue sphere in the sky. "The star that signals the beginning." He caught sight of me out of the corner of his eye and smiled at me. I backed up out of sight.
Nix looked at me. 'And also the end,' he added to me. I smiled sadly.
I heard Anna's voice. "Lago is in one of the Esoteric Buddhism stories. It's a mysterious star that represents total destruction. It is said to near Earth with the star Keito once every five hundred years, bringing great disaster."
"Destruction?" I heard Manta ask. "Great disaster? I've never heard of this."
"Of course not," Anna replied. "Because a savior has appeared each time and changed it from great destruction to a great revival."
"Do you mean…?"
"Yes," Yoh said. "That would be the Shaman King."
Nix hopped back up onto my shoulder. 'It's your duty.'
'I know,' I replied. 'I just wish I didn't have to detach myself from these friends… It'll be hard. This body is different from the ones I had in the other Fights. It needs more… relationships with others.'
Nix gave me a sad, doubtful look. He sighed. 'You've changed.'
I stayed silent for a moment. '…I know. But I don't know why.'
'…I suppose we'll just have to deal with this,' Nix replied quietly. 'Perhaps it's the will of the King of Spirits. Perhaps it is a test.'
I gave him a look, but neither of us continued. I looked back up at Lago, choosing to ignore Nix's words for now. I took in the star that signaled the beginning, and also the end…
