Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King…Hiroyuki Takei does...but I wish I did. That would be kick azz.
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Indeed, I made sure that all those responsible for what happened were dealt with. In a blaze of hatred I burned all who dwelled in the village. It was only fitting to kill them that way since it was how they decided Kiemi should have died. My father, of course, was first in line for the executions. It was then that I finally mastered my final element: fire. But I could have no joy in achieving it fore it was brought to me in much pain and cost me the one thing I could not live without.
-#-#-#-
I tried everything I could to bring her back. I even resorted to seeking the aid of a well known necromancer that went by the name of Faust. After months of traveling, I finally tracked him down to a small town in Germany. But not even he could not help me.
"I'm sorry," Faust said to me when I handed her to him, "I can't save her."
"But you are a necromancer, the best from what I've heard," I protested, "Why can't you bring her back?"
"I'm afraid it is too late for her," Faust explained, "She's been dead for too long, I can't bring her back."
"You will bring her back to me," I said sternly.
"Had you gotten her to me sooner, it would have been possible, but there is nothing I can do for her now," Faust said sympathetically, "I am sorry, but she is beyond even my skill."
"…Very well, you're only human after all," I said calmly, "And for that, you'll pay for your incompetence with your life."
And with that said, I destroyed Faust's establishment along with him. He is dead, killed at my hands. He wasn't the first and he won't be the last. Kiemi was lost to me. There was no longer a reason for me to keep my anger in check. She was everything to me; my guide, my companion…and she was gone.
She came to me in a dream not long after that. Her last attempt to save me I suppose. It was so long ago, but I still remember it so clearly.
-#-#-#-Hao's dream-#-#-#-
I was standing on the training field hidden in the forest surrounding my village. It was snowing; the ground was blanketed in white. But a soft, warm breeze was blowing so soothingly. And there she was. She appeared out of nowhere and was standing right in front of me, white garb covering her wondrous form.
"Kiemi?" I called softly, "Is that really you?" In reply, she smiled at me.
"Have you returned to me?" I asked, hoping that she would say yes.
But she didn't say a word. Her smile disappeared and she bowed her head in sadness. As a tear escaped down her glowing face, she shook her head. And as my heart broke in a million pieces, she looked at me and smiled sadly, reaching out and placing a hand over my heart.
"No matter where you are, I will always be with you, Hao," she said to me, "Never forget that."
And with those words, she began to fade away.
"No, wait," I shouted, "Don't go!"
Try as I might, nothing could keep her from disappearing out of my life once again. But this time I knew she was not coming back.
-#-#-#-Hao's dream ends-#-#-#-
I woke with a start, Kiemi's name on my lips. The dream was so real I almost expected to look around the room and see her wonderful face again. But she was not there, and I knew that she never would be. Her last words still rang in my ears.
"No matter where you are, I will always be with you, Hao," her voice whispered to me, "Never forget that."
"I won't forget, my dear Kiemi," I said tearfully, knowing she was watching me from where ever she was, "But the humans must pay for taking you away from me."
-#-#-#-
And so, my reign of destruction began. The humans took what was most dear to me and for that, they must pay. It has been a thousand years and still it pains me to think back to that day as she died in my arms. That is the reason why I do not look for a queen to reign beside me. No one could take her place; no one could come close to doing so. My followers do not understand but they are too afraid to question me. How could they understand that she meant everything to me; that my dark heart was breaking, knowing that she would never come back?
Even now, as I gaze into the glowing fire before me, my body aches for her memory, wishing that it was the warmth of her body that I felt instead of the emotionless warmth of the fire. And yet something inside of me can still feel her with me; her presence so near to my own. It was as if she were alive again, living and breathing once again; her soul yearning for mine just as mine did for hers. But that was an impossible thought. Only I know the secrets to reincarnation, so such a thought was ridiculous…wasn't it?
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THE END
AN: Well that's it, that's all I have. I've started on writing a sequel to this and I've been working on it for the past two years at least (I actually wrote this fic about three years ago). But every time I work on it, the writing and plot just doesn't seem right. And now the schoolwork is really piling on, taking away any spare time that I would usually devote to my writing. So I wouldn't get your hopes up on seeing a sequel in the near future if ever.
But it's been a great run. In all honesty this was the first fanfiction I ever wrote in my life and half time I had no clear idea where the plot was going myself. So it was great taking Hao's journey with you all. It's been a great year (because indeed this fic took a duration of a little over a year before every chapter was submitted). I appreciate each and every one of you who read and especially those who took the time to review. They kept me going. I really hope to write for you all again someday.
A special thanks goes out to Morningstripe and Unawokendream. You guys were there with me from the beginning and I just wanted to let the two of you know that it really really meant a lot to me to see your reviews on almost every chapter. Thanks for the devotion, I love you two for it.