Rosimae: Yay! I'm updating again! Sorry it took so long, school is so annoying!

Yoh: Then just do what I do, wear headphones and sleep. Makes school much more enjoyable.

Hao: Yeah, but Yoh, you're failing all your classes.

Yoh: "..."

Rosimae: Anyway, hope you enjoy the story. We're leaving Manta, Asim, and the girls and checking up on Hao and the others! ^-^

Chapter 21: With Yoh and the Gang

Yoh and the others had been hiking in silence for the first few hours of the trip, due to the early hours of the morning. Ren blinked, shaking off the sleepy fog that refused to leave his mind. Finally, after a huge yawn, he looked over at Yoh.

Yoh was walking with his hands behind his head, a small smile playing on his lips as he thought about Anna. He was liking the softer side of Anna more and more, although he still loved her no matter what.

"So Yoh," Ren said, a wicked grin spreading across his features. "What's up with you and Anna lately. She seems a lot nicer."

Yoh blushed, turning to his friends. "Nothings 'up' as you put it."

"Right," said Horohoro, throwing an arm around Yoh's shoulders. "That's why you've gotten all lovey-dovey on us."

"I have not-" Yoh began, but was cut off.

"There's nothing wrong with love," said Faust, who was holding hands with Eliza and gazing into her eyes.

"Yuck," said Chocolove, turning away from the older shaman as hearts floated all around him.

Lyserg smiled, watching as his friends teased each other.

"What about you, Lyserg, anybody waiting at home for you?" Ryu asked, causing a blush to form on Lyserg's cheeks.

"So there is someone," Horohoro exclaimed, noting the blush. "Who is she? Do we know her? Is she pretty? What's she like? Hmm? Well, are you going to answer?"

Yoh laughed. "You're not even giving him enough time to answer," he said. Yoh then glanced around to the member of the group that had yet to make a comment. "You okay Hao?"

"Hmm?" Hao asked, looking up at Yoh. "What? Oh, yeah, just thinking."

"About Aya-san?" Ren asked. Hao looked over at him, raising an eyebrow. "Hey, not that I like you or anything, just asking is all. Remember, I still don't trust you."

Hao chuckled. "Yeah, I was thinking about Aya, not that its any of your business."

"Aww, Hao's in love," Chocolove said. "Who'd thought that would happen."

Hao blushed, quickly turning away from the others. "We need to head in this direction," he said, changing the subject.

"Hey, how do you know where we're going, anyways?" Ryu asked, shouldering his wooden sword.

"Yeah, what makes you so sure that way is the right way?" Lyserg put in, eying Hao distrustfully.

Hao turned back to them. "Can't you feel it?" he asked.

"Feel what?" Horohoro asked, looking around as though he might find the answer.

Ren snorted, "Figures you idiots wouldn't be able to feel it."

"What?" Chocolove asked.

"The evil energy, its coming from that direction," Yoh said, pointing to where Hao was trying to lead them. "Its not very strong yet, but its there."

Ren nodded, knowing. "Yep, and only the best shamans would be able to feel it at this point," he added snidely.

"Hey! I could feel it, I was, just testing you is all," Horohoro claimed.

"Yeah, we were just testing to see if anyone else could tell," Chocolove and Ryu put in. Lyserg remained quiet, closing his eyes and focusing until he could feel the energy that Hao, Yoh, and Ren spoke of.

"Well, we won't get anything done if we sit here talking, will we?" Yoh asked.

"Hey, what's your hurry?" Horohoro asked, as he and the others sped up to catch up to Yoh and Hao.

"I don't want to keep Anna waiting very long," Yoh said, laughing and rubbing the back of his head. "She'll get mad at me if we take longer than necessary. But, I could always blame it on you."

"Oh, no, you are not sicking your girlfriend on me," Horohoro said, waving his hands in front of him.

"Hey, she's not my girlfriend," Yoh said.

Here we go again, Hao thought, rolling his eyes.

"She's my fiancée," Yoh stated. Everyone sweat dropped.

"Well, if you're going to be specific," Ren said, rolling his eyes. "Hey, where's Faust?"

Everyone turned around looking for their missing friend.

"There he is," Lyserg said, pointing to where they had taken their break awhile ago. Faust was still hand in hand with Eliza, hearts still floating around them.

"Oi! Faust! We're leaving!" Yoh called. Faust looked up, and saw how far ahead of him the others had gotten.

"Oh, coming!" he called, walking at a leisurely pace while holding Eliza's hand.

"See what love does to you?" Horohoro asked, turning to Yoh and Hao.

Hao smiled, drifting into his own little world. "Yeah, but it sure is wonderful," he sighed, thinking of days long years in the past.

"Hey, snap out of it!" Yoh said, waving his hand in front of Hao.

"Right, we need to get going," Hao said.

"Who made you boss?" Ren grumbled.

"Me, since it was my plan," Hao smirked.

Everyone sighed, shaking their heads, then followed Hao off towards the mysterious object belonging to the Shadow King.

***

Rosimae: Well, what'd you think? Sorry if the characters were a little OOC....

Hao: Yeah, why am I all lovey dovey eww?

Rosimae: Cause you're in love, and you're good now, so you can be a little OOC

Yoh: Rosimae, I think you should thank your readers and reviewers

Rosimae: Right! Thanks for reading! And thanks for all of you who have reviewed my story! It spurs me on to write more.

P.S. it might be a little while before I can update again! Got a lot of tests coming up. Sheeesh who would have thought there were so many parts to the bones? Anyway, reviews help motivate me, so, yeah! Thanks again for reading!