Sadly I don't own shaman king; only my oc's and part of the plot. Dang .

Expect some violence, swearing, and funny.

Ksv12: *gasp!* I can't believe no one has ever replied! Stingy people . well you can count on me to reply =] still loving your piccy btw, it's in my faves! For once I'm actually using deviant art now that I've got my own stuff on there =]

Liliambdragon: thanks, I had lots of fun writing it =] especially the Shinji + Nindie Hao bashing session. I couldn't stop grinning as I wrote that =]

Zaza8able: thank you, thank you *bows* and I totally agree with the plans thing, soooo boring. Being spontaneous is way more fun =] and thanks for being such an awesome reviewing person! Sucks about the history exam, hope u get a good grade though, puppy's are very important! I don't know where I'd b without my doggy. Who would I give random hugs to? No one else would put up with it lol =] im still being a big meanie and keeping my cookies to me, my friends already stole half of them the other day! I almost murdered them for it lol. Don't worry about the late review, at least you gave me one =]

Fanny: yay, I have you hooked and now I'm never letting you go! Lol. Thanks 4 the review =] I know exactly what you mean about Hao though. Isn't it just annoying when people make him so out of character so early in the story? I mean honestly, I highly doubt he would get so mushy about a girl so quickly. Heck I still worry some times that I might be making him a little out of character, but I'm not nearly as bad as some people . I'm glad someone sees it my way =]

Thanks again to all the lovley people who reviewed! Im over 40 reviews now people! Only 8 reviews till 50!

Anyway, I've done a couple of mini comics of Shinji with some of the other shaman king characters, so take a look people! Here's my deviantart profile: .com/ have a look at my fave pic too while you're there! It's an awesome pic of Shinji done by my lovely new friend Ksv12 =]

I'll shut up now lol. Heres the chapter!

Chapter 25 –the past

"Well that was lots of fun." Shinji grinned, flopping down on Hao's futon.

"You shouldn't wind them up like that." Hao scolded.

"I know I know, but to be fair they started it."

Hao sighed as he sat down next to her on the futon.

"You know what? I'm gunna go chat to the spirit of fire. He's not great for a conversation, but maybe I can help him figure out his original form or something." Nindie said thoughtfully.

"Wait a minute, original form?" asked Hao curiously.

"well yeah, I mean I have two forms. This one and that big ugly one that so great for scaring the crap out of people."

"So you think the spirit of fire has another form too?"

"Of course! I mean all of the elemental spirits were alive at one point, it's just that most are so old they can't remember their life before they died."

"so how old are you?"

"tut tut Hao, you should never ask a girl her age." Shinji said with a grin.

"I'm the same age as this idiot. I died when I was fifteen, then Great Spirits made me the spirit of rain, and sent me straight back to Shinji."

"Why did they send you back? And what happened to the old spirit of rain?"

"They said that Shinji had the potential to be great, the problem was after I died she went into depression. She wouldn't talk for weeks, and her parents had to practically force her to eat. She was a wreck. The great spirits realized that without me she would probably never recover and be the great shaman they were hoping for, so they sent me back hoping I could knock some sense back into her dumb head." Nindie said with a smile, "and we've been together ever since. As for the old spirit of rain, I have no idea. I've heard rumours. Some say there never was one. Others say it went rogue, tried to flood a whole lode of places, and had its powers stripped away before being sent down to hell. I don't know, and honestly I didn't ask. I got some awesome powers, and I got to see my friend again. That was a lot more than most got when they died. Any who, I'm going to go now. You kiddies have fun!" she said merrily, before floating out the side of the tent to chat with the spirit of fire.

"Well she was a lot more… pleasant." Commented Hao after a brief silence.

"yeah, I think she's warming up to you."

"that's a surprise."

"ha, yeah she really hated your guts. Though to be fair she always got a little pissy at anyone who got close to me after she died. I guess she was worried I would leave her behind."

Hao nodded in understanding. After all, Shinji was alive. She would meet new people, fall in love and then maybe settle down someday. What use was a guardian ghost then?

"I would never do that though." Shinji continued, "She was my friend before anything else, and she's been with me for all this time. I could never leave her behind. I'm just not sure if she knows that herself."

"how did she die?" hao found himself asking. Shinji smiled sadly.

"We were out for a walk, picking blackberry's for a pie my mum wanted to bake, and we headed down to the river. The rapids were known for being particularly dangerous in the area, but the best blackberries were on the other side. I was confident that we could reach them if we crossed this log that went from one end to the other, but Nindie wasn't so sure. I insisted that it would be easy so after a lot of persuasion she agreed to go across with me. I got across no problem, but Nindie… she slipped. I tried to reach her but before I could even get to her she had fallen in, and the water had swept her down the river. I ran as fast as I could downstream, but by the time I found her it was too late, she was trapped between some rocks, her body limp and lifeless. I'd never cried so much in my life. But that was also the day I found out that I was a shaman, though at the time I didn't exactly have a name for it. In my desperation I tried to reach to her, and then the water shifted, and she was being pulled to shore by the very water that had killed her. I guess the strain from using my abilities for the first time must have knocked me out or something, because the next thing I knew I was back at home, and my parents were looking at me sadly. And then… well you know the rest."

"You went into a depression, and then Nindie came back as a ghost."

"Right. My parents thought I had lost the plot after that, since they couldn't see Nindie they thought I was talking to myself."

"Your parents were human!"

"Oh don't look at me like that Hao, it's not like every shaman is born from a complete shaman family. My grandparents were shaman though. They were the ones to explain to my parents and me what the hell was going on. Apparently the whole shaman gene skipped my mother's generation and jumped straight down to me and my little sister. We found out that not long after I started seeing ghosts my sister could to. She ended up marrying another shaman, and having lots of little shaman babies." Shinji explained.

"Did you?" asked Hao.

"what?" she asked, confused.

"have… lots of little shaman babies?"

"no! no, no, no, no, no, not a chance! I was too busy training for any of that stuff. Besides, I died before I could even make it to twenty five."

"how?"

"…if I tell you, you have to promise not to laugh."

"why would I laugh?"

"just promise me."

"fine I promise."

"… I caught a cold."

Hao gave her an 'are-you-serious?' look.

"Hey, it could have happened to anyone!"

"but you're a shaman."

"I didn't know how to heal back then. And besides, it's not like it mattered. I'd already learned the five points of the unity star by then so reincarnation was a breeze. And the really good news was I didn't have to get all old and wrinkly before I died!"

"Well I suppose that's a plus." Hao laughed.

Shinji frowned playfully and punched him in the arm.

"Now I feel like I'm forgetting something? What am I forgetting?" she thought out loud. "Hmm… something to do with the x laws…"

"You went to tell them about my medium and…?" Hao prompted.

"Oh yeah! Well I told them, and they were happy, then mad. Oh and they're planning something to do with your next match. They didn't tell me what though. I was politely kicked out before they let slip that little detail."

"why were they mad?"

"because I called Marco an uber nerd with a really bad hairstyle. Needless to say, he was not impressed." She said with a grin.

Hao laughed. He was doing a lot of that these days.

with Rosie and Kekki

Silence.

"You want to know what I am?" kekki asked with a sharp toothy grin. To any other little girl it would have been intimidating, but Rosie was completely unfazed. He couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

"yes." She replied bluntly.

He laughed, though it sounded more like a deep rumble than a laugh.

"you're a brave kid, I like you." He said.

"Good. Now please tell me." She replied.

Kekki laughed again and complied with her request.

"I am what people call a Ly-hound."

"a ly-hound?"

"Let me explain. A ly-hound is a creature that feeds off of human flesh." If he was expecting a reaction he didn't get one, so he continued, "We are beings born of darkness, the demonic shape shifters of the wood."

"If you are so bad then why do you help Miss Shinji?" asked Rosie curiously.

"She saved my life once. I believe it was around five hundred years ago when she rescued me from those murky waters."

"You knew miss Shinji in her past life?"

"Yes. However she was older than she is currently. I believe she was in her early twenties, and it was about a year before the shaman tournament of that time began. I had strayed too close to the water's edge and fell in. Mistress Shinji, being a shaman whose main focus is water, was training by the lake and spotted me. With her control over the water she swept me to shore."

"I don't understand. That would make you-"

"About five hundred years old, yes. I am not bound to the mortal rules of ageing, and draw energy from those whose flesh I have consumed. It keeps me young and alive."

"I presume Shinji does not approve of such a thing?"

"No. but we came to an agreement. I only prey on those humans who are cruel hearted to others. Those who take pleasure in causing misery. And I only do so when necessary."

"I see." Rosie said, nodding in understanding. That seemed just like Shinji. She wouldn't be about to take away what keeps kekki alive, so instead she uses his needs to suit a better purpose.

"So what is your story young one? What is your connection to mistress Shinji, aside from being her sibling of course?" Kekki asked curiously.

"There is no other connection between us. She is my biological sibling and so my loyalty lies with her. Family is important." She replied honestly.

"Is that all? If she were not your sibling would you still fight for her?"

"My opinion on such a thing does not matter. We are related; therefore I will support Miss Shinji for as long as she needs me."

"I do not believe miss Shinji would be pleased with such an answer. She would not want you to do anything against your own wishes simply because of a genetic bond."

"perhaps. But you misunderstand me. I would not do anything that I do not consider to be right. And I know that by helping Miss Shinji I am doing the right thing."

Kekki smiled. Her answer was cold but her heart was in the right place. Honestly he had expected Rosie to be simply an empty robotic child with no mind of her own. Clearly being brought up in the stiff house of the Lemora's had made it difficult for her to express herself, but he was glad to see that Shinji had gotten to her, if only a little.

"Well then, shall we make dinner?"

Rosie smiled; a small crease in her lip that only someone with superior eye sight, like that of a ly-hound's, would see.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxback with Shinji and HaoxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Well I'm tired. I better get back to Rosie and Kekki." Shinji said with a yawn as she went to stand up. Hao pulled her back down onto the futon, wrapping his arm around her waist.

"And where do you think you're going?" he asked.

"Didn't you hear what I just said? I have to get back to Rosie and Kekki. I'm not sure I like leaving them alone together. Rosie can be a little blunt sometimes, she might say something offensive and Kekki might try to eat her or something."

"Well you're going to have to live with it, because you're not going anywhere. You still haven't told me about your eyes."

"Aw can't I tell you tomorrow? I'm tired!" she whined, pulling a puppy dog face.

"…fine. But only if you stay here for the night."

Shinji frowned, "Fine, but just so you know blackmail is not nice." she said, pulling out a mobile phone from her pocket and quickly dialling a number.

"Hey Rosie? Hi. Are you guys doing okay? What? Kekki is teaching you a new recipe? …ew… I mean great! Well I'll be staying here tonight, okay? What?…Rosie! You shouldn't even know about that sort of thing! No I am not dodging the question! Of course I'm not! Okay, I'll see you tomorrow. Don't stay up too late all right? Rosie will you quit it! Nothing is going to happen! Okay, night." Shinji said hanging up with an extremely flustered look on her face. 'Damn kid. Why'd she have to go and say that stuff?'

"what stuff?" asked Hao with a smug smirk on his face.

"n-nothing" Shinji stuttered. 'Shit! I forgot to block my thoughts again!'

"then why are your eyes pink?"

"because…uh…"

Hao laughed as she fumbled with her words.

"The lighting is funny! Yeah that's it." Shinji replied eventually.

"oh really? So then it has nothing to do with what your sister said about, now how did she put it? doing 'the nasty' with me."

"Hao!"

"well you should have just told her she has nothing to worry about. You aren't nearly developed enough for me just yet."

Shinji glared at him. "Well I feel Soooo much better! It's great to know I'm not good enough for you with my poor underdeveloped body." She retorted sarcastically.

"Don't worry; give it a few years I'm sure you'll get some curves."

"You- you, ah you asshole! I'll have you know I have a very good body shape considering my current age, unlike some people."

"What do you mean, unlike some people?" Hao frowned.

"All I'm saying is, reincarnation didn't exactly dump you into the good end of the gene pool this time short ass."

"I am not short!"

"Yeah sure, keep telling yourself that. You know you're probably even more underdeveloped than I am."

"I'm taller than you!"

"Yeah but I'm a girl, what's your excuse?"

"I'm only fifteen in this lifetime!"

"Well so am I!"

"Hao-sama, Opacho heard yelling, is-"

"Not now Opacho!" Hao snapped.

"Hao! Don't yell at her! She's just a kid!" Shinji said, hurrying over to the little watery-eyed girl and patting her fuzzy head comfortingly. Opacho sniffed sadly, her big dark eyes growing bigger as the tears threatened to fall. Hao's frown faded to a look of concern.

"I'm sorry Opacho." Hao said, walking over to the child and smiling weakly, "I didn't mean to yell at you."

The girl instantly snapped out of her tear jerking state and smiled brightly.

"Opacho is okay, Opacho knows Hao-sama didn't mean to scare Opacho." She replied sweetly. Shinji couldn't help but hug her.

"Aw your soooo cute!" she cried, "If Hao every yells at you again just tell me okay? I'll beat him up for you."

"Pft, like you could."

Opacho's eyes went wide, "no! Hao-sama and lady must not fight! Lady is Hao-sama's important lady friend! Hao-sama has been happy since lady has been here," she said, concern filling her small voice, her eyes starting to water once again.

"It's okay Opacho. We won't fight anymore. Can you stay with the team flower for tonight? Shinji and I need to talk."

Opacho nodded and happily trotted out of the tent. Silence followed.

"…I'm leaving." Shinji said, standing up and attempting to go out the door. But Hao was faster, pulling her by the hand into his embrace. Before she could protest he was kissing her. It was sweet and gentle, like honey. Shinji felt like she was melting against him, and as mad as she was she couldn't help but feel more and more drawn to him. As they pulled away her anger had all but dissolved, and a pink flush tinted her eyes and cheeks. For one sweet moment they just looked at each other, neither quite knowing what to say, but then Hao looked away.

"I'm sorry. I don't know why I said that. I didn't mean it."

Shinji smiled, knowing he was sincere despite how hard it must have been to admit it.

"I'm sorry too. You're not really short. You're an average height!"

Hao smiled lightly and rested his forehead against hers.

"Well I feel sooo much better." He mimicked.

Shinji laughed, and pulled him back over to the futon. "Come on, let's just get some sleep. I have a funny feeling that tomorrow's going to be a busy day." She said, tugging her shirt up over her head to reveal the tank top underneath, before slipping under the covers. Hao followed suit, taking off his poncho and throwing it absently off to the side of the tent, before sliding in beside her. As Shinji snuggled against him Hao turned off the oil lamp that was next to where they lay, and they were engulfed in darkness.

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Well that's it for now =] but don't worry, now that my writers block Is gone I'll b updating more often =] don't forget to check out my deviantart profile: .com/ and take a look at my cute little Shinji comic strips! Oh, and REVIEW! I must make it to 50!