Me: thank you all so much for the wonderful reviews and your patience…again sorry for the slow updating, but it's vacation now and that means more time to write :D so, on with the story have fun!

Disclaimer: I do (not) own Shaman King! XD

Final Battle part I (preparations)

It was the tenth day and only three days left till the greatest battle of all would take place. As usual the streets of Patch were empty, but not because people were scared, no, everyone, every shaman was busy training. For the past ten days everyone had been training almost day and night, every free minute they had was spilled on intensive training.

And not only the shamans were the ones who thought training was a good thing…

"Yasu-sama, are you sure this is going to work?" Aori watched how the remaining demon army was training for the upcoming battle.

Yasu stood next to her and smirked while also looking down, he was currently in his human form.

"Of course, we are not going to lose this time. The Keys of Light are outnumbered; it's a total of 800.000 demons against, what, 60.000 shamans, one Floral ad a fire shaman, please Aori I don't even think of losing anymore." He chuckled and stared back at training demons.

"I know, but…what if? What if something goes wrong, what will we do then?" Aori was almost whispering.

"We won't lose end of discussion!"

"H-Hai, Yasu-sama…gomen for doubting…"

Yasu laughed and went back inside the cave. Aori kept staring at the ones who were training and sighed. What would happen if they lost…?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

"Keia?"

"Yes, Jun?"

"How many people are going to fight?" Jun looked worriedly around her and her eyes rested on a small group of children who were playing, totally unaware of the dangers around them.

Keia followed her gaze and smiled. "Not them, that's for sure. Those who don't have spirits, those who are wounded, can function very well or are too young…but if we lose it will not matter anymore, because then…everyone is doomed…"

Jun smiled sadly and went back to the coliseum to train with Bailong. Keia stared up at the dark sky, it was already becoming dark, or better said darker. Even though she wasn't showing it, she was pretty nervous herself, or actually more terrified. What if they lost? It would all be over then. The demons would rule the world and mankind would slowly fade away, shamans would probably be kept as energy resources or food. If they would lose the Final Battle everything would be lost…

'Shouldn't be thinking about that! The fight is in three days, I can not freak out now…everyone is expecting that some great force will come and defeat the demons, but…I am not Kirura and I really do not believe I'm capable of doing such a thing she did back then…worst I don't even know how…'

She smiled to herself. If everyone expected that something would happen and would rely on that they defiantly were lost.

"Keia-san."

"Hmm? Oh, Goldva-sama, gomen I didn't see you. Is there something you wanted to ask?" Keia looked surprised at him.

"Yes, almost every inhabit of Patch will fight over three days. Do you have a battle strategy? Do you know the demons' weaknesses? Do you know with how many they are?"

Keia's eyes widened at all the questions, just like everyone else she had also been very busy with training and hadn't even thought about coming up with a strategy. She knew the strategy of last time was a failure and if it wasn't for Yasu most would have probably died that day, but she wasn't very good at coming up with those types of plans.

"Uhm, not really…I know their weaknesses and with how many they are…but I don't exactly know with how many people we are at the moment…or do I have a strategy…" she almost whispered while staring at the ground in shame.

Golva glared at her and sighed. This wasn't what he had expected from someone who was supposed to be a leader. Keia on the other hand had hoped someone else had come with a strategy or at least some kind of plan…

"Keia, you do realize these people see you as their leader don't you?"

"…yes, but I never said I wanted to be! I mean, look at me! Do I look like the leader type to you, Goldva-sama? Why can't someone else be their leader; like Yoh or Hao or maybe Ren, everyone else but me, please!" Keia knew that her little outburst had no effect on the Patch leader, but it felt good.

"I think it's better if you think up a good plan together with your friends, Keia…and some sleep might help against that temper. Good day." Goldva nodded and left, leaving behind a rather stunned Keia.

She blinked twice and shook her head. This day was just too weird…

……………………………………………………………that night…………………………………………………….

"WHAT! You haven't thought up a strategy? The fight is in THREE days!" Horo exclaimed dropping on the couch.

Keia smiled nervously as most of the group glared at her. The smile eventually disappeared from her face and she turned her gaze to the ground.

"Gomen…I kind of forgot because of all the training…" she whispered spitefully. "Maybe you can help…"

Everyone sighed, they had expected for something to go wrong, but not even before the battle had started. This really wasn't what they'd expected at all…

"A strategy…? Hmmm, heh, we never needed one before. Why don't just do what we did last time?" Yoh sweat dropped and smiled uneasily.

"Baka na otooto! They will be coming with their entire army, an army of 800.000 demons against only 60.000 shamans. I'm not much of a strategist myself, but I agree with Goldva that we need a plan, as much as I hate it." Hao sighed and looked annoyed out of the window.

It remained silent for a while till Ren broke it. "That…place…what was it called again?" Keia looked surprised at him and shook her head as sing that she didn't understood his question.

"You know, that library where you two went as a mission, remember?"

Keia's eyes widened. "Wait…how do you know tha-…KIRURA!" the Floral appeared before her and simple shrugged. "What they had the right to know…since no one told me about it." She raised an eyebrow at Keia, who was looking pretty angry by now.

"Anyway…" she sighed "The place you mean is Akasha, ne? I…don't really think Hao and I are allowed to get back there since we stole those stars and all."

Hao chuckled while Keia blushed heavily. She wasn't sure of what had become of Akasha and to be honest she really didn't want to know either. They could be captured or worse if they went back to it.

"But, it has fragments of certain events of this world. So that means it must have fragments of certain wars too. If we manage to take a look at those books we might come up wit a strategy." Ren closed his eyes and leaned against the wall, waiting for a response.

"Great plan Tao, the only problem is that the moment they see the two of us there, we'll all be captured. The people in Akasha don't care what happens here; they live on a different plane and have no business with our world whatsoever." Hao responded first.

"Actually, it isn't a bad idea at all! We seriously need battle info and Akasha has it. Hao and I may not be allowed in anymore, but if they do not recognize us…" Keia smiled evilly as the rest started to understand what she meant. "Listed this is they plan…"

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

"Yasu-sama!"

"Ah, yes, I know. To Akasha, ne? It would be quite a surprise to see if that place actually has a strategy to overthrow our army." Yasu said rather bored.

Aori closed her eyes and thought about the first fight. Even though she wasn't there, she could feel the demons that died and got hurt. If the Keys of Light would come up with a good fighting plan; how many of them would die this time?

"You're still doubting…why." He looked dangerously at her and waited for an explanation.

"It's just…we already have taken over so much of the world and if we fight the Keys of Light a lot of us will die and what if some strange power awakes and locks us all up again? I don't want to lose, I don't want to lose this fight and get locked up again…I don't care if Keia dies or that she is my sister, we aren't family anymore! I want us to win and live!" Aori yelled. She was on the edge of crying, but refused to do that in front of her master.

"And we shall win. I do not want to get locked up again either, I'd rather die! Keia doesn't posses the power Kirura had back then and that is going to cost her, her head. This fight wont be anything like the one from 800 years ago, this time we will win and the shamans will be destroyed."

"I know and I believe we can do it, but still Yasu-sama…things are so strange, I mean, lately you're only appearing in human form and we're training?" she looked back at the demons who were fighting each other and shook her head.

Yasu stood beside her and followed her gaze. "The reason I let them train, like you call it, is to see which demon will fight which shaman. See it more as a test of strength and the reason for me appearing as a human is to save energy. Unlike you, I lose a certain amount while I'm in my true form and I want to fight at the top of my strength when time has come. Satisfied?"

Aori nodded slowly, not taking her eyes away from the training demons. She still thought it where too many preparations for a group that was supposed to be weak…

………………………………………………………..

"Remind me that once this is over, I must punish you Keia."

"Oh shush it, Hao! I'm not any better off then you!"

"Could you two please stop complaining? We're almost there." Kirura announced rather annoyed.

Hao had teleported everyone near the entrance to Akasha. Unlike the first time they didn't need to go to several spirits to get items for the door. It turned out that Kirura could make an exact replica of the frozen lily, much to Hao's dislike.

"uhm, Kirura-san, I can understand why onii-chan and Keia have to dress up, but why me too?" Yoh asked looking at himself.

The three were all wearing way too big Patch clothes, same as the priests had; a scarf that covered their face and some kind strange colored hat. They only thing that was visible of their faces were their eyes.

"Simple you look like Hao and could be mistaken for him and that would blow our cover." Kirura explained with a sigh.

"Oh…" was all Yoh said in response before pouting again.

"Ah there it is!"

Keia looked up and saw the two enormous trees that would form the door to the upper world library. She smiled as Kirura created their 'key' and two big doors appeared.

"Here we go!" Horo cheered as he opened the door since the rest was too amazed to do something. The wooden doors opened with a squeak and a bright light welcomed them as they entered Akasha.

"Nani! What the hell!" Keia managed to not scream out loud. "Kirura, is this some kind of new safety measure?"

Just as Kirura wanted to answer a women with azure blue hair came and answered for her. "Welcome! And to directly answer your question, yes it is. When nine years ago the Silver Stars were stolen Akasha's best sages came up with different spells to identify the thieves. Everyone who comes in will automatically receive Akasha's power suppressing clothes, so that if someone dares to steal something again they won't be able to escape our guards. Pretty cool, huh? Anyway, I'm new here and if you need help you can ask me or my colleagues. I hope you find what you need, good day!"

Everyone stood there looking stunned.

"They didn't recognize us?" Keia blinked twice.

"Power suppressing… clothes?" Hao shook his head.

"There goes our cover…" Yoh said sighing.

"Don't complain you bakas, at least you don't look like fools anymore." Anna said, rolling her eyes. She seemed the only one who wasn't amazed or surprised.

But she was right they didn't look like fools anymore. The girls were all wearing silver, white robes with the prints of Akasha on them in gold. The boys were wearing white baggy pants and shirts also with the same prints on them and both were wearing the same kind of Chinese shoes Ren always wears.

"Anyway, let's go search those books. We have only two days left till the big fight, so lets hurry!" Kylee sprinted off only to come back a few seconds later.

"Uhm, where do we look?"

Everyone blinked and dropped to the floor. "Kyleee!"

"You see that shining orb there in the centre? If you place your hands on it and say what you're looking for you'll be teleported to the bookshelf that has the information you seek." Kirura explained while pointing at a shining blue orb that rested on a golden hand.

They did what she said and got teleported to the right place.

"This place sure is high-tech." Manta said once they reappeared.

"Yeah…" Horo responded looking a bit terrified at all the books. "We don't have to read all of them, do we?"

"Nah, the books are empty…they show you the fragments of what they want to tell you. I know it sounds vague, but it way more fun then reading it, ne nii-chan?" Keia laughed and hit Horo on the back.

She grabbed a book from the shelf and read the title. "Shaman strategies through the ages" Anya grabbed another one. "Shamanic wars in the 10e century" Hao chuckled at the titles while Ren tried not to get annoyed.

"The four depths of Furyoku, How to reach the ultimate level; what kind of titles are these?" Horo yelled waving the two books he was holding.

Kirura shrugged. "If you want to know just open it. Hmm, The shamanic war between Light and Darkness, I think this is the one we need."

"Ehm, I'm not s sure about that…" Keia said, holding up a book that said 'Demons and shamans in war'

The Floral sweat dropped and sighed frustrated, this was going to be a very long night…

…………………………………………………………………………..

After searching for hours and hour they had finally come up with a plan. They left Akasha and teleported back to Patch to tell the other shamans about their strategy. It wasn't very difficult to understand and most shamans immediately approved the plan.

Keia sat in her room staring at the Great spirits. It was night and with only one day left…she didn't want to think about that. She knew that in the past twelve days she hadn't become any stronger, but that wasn't what she feared. She feared that if they lost it would all be over, she feared for losing her friends and, how strange it might sound, she also feared for losing her real sister, Aori.

"The day after tomorrow we have to fight…I'm scared…"

"How did you know it me?"

"You always seem to appear when I'm not feeling too well…and I'm not feeling too well." She smiled while hugging her knees and laying her head on them.

"Hmm…or your senses are just getting stronger."

"Or that…so, what brings you here this time Hao?" she sighed and kept staring out of the window.

Hao leaned against the wall across her and did the same. "Those books in Akasha had a new sort of oversoul in them, did you see?"

Keia looked up and smiled. "Hai, we all did. Are you planning on using it?" she tilted her head to one side and waited for an answer.

"I don't know yet, if I have to I guess. The others have informed Goldva about it and he is telling it to other shamans who are interested." Hao said rather bored and uninterested.

"Maybe it can help, who knows…at least we stand a chance and have a secret weapon. The fight will be soon and many lives will be taken, but everyone knows what they're fighting for and that scares me, because I don't know what I'm fighting for." Keia whispered and pulled her knees even closer to her.

"You're fighting for the sake of the shamans…and probably humans. You're fighting for the Earth and the Great Spirits; isn't that what we're all fighting for?" Hao turned his gaze to her.

Keia sighed again. "Maybe…I just want everyone to be safe, but I know that's not going to happen. I know people are going to die, maybe even people that stands very close to you and that thought frightens me. If it was possible I would have fought them by myself, but they're with too many…"

'I'd rather sacrifice myself then to lose my friends, my family and all those people. They know they might die and still they fight; for the Earth, for mankind, for their loved ones and for each other. Shamans who would have never been friends are now working together; enemies are now companions and respect each other. But that wont do…that just…wont do…'

Keia was so lost in her thoughts, she hadn't noticed Hao had come and sat beside her. It was when he stroked her cheek she noticed and immediately started to blush.

"We will win this war, I'm just as sure about that as that I'm going to be Shaman King. People may die, but it's what they die for that counts and I believe that makes them…"

"Heroes." Keia finished his sentence. After that they both remained silent and listened to the noises outside. Many people went out to party or do things they liked; if these were their last days on Earth then at least make them their best days!

"I'm glad at least some people make the best of it…" Keia smiled and looked out of the window.

"Don't you then?"

"Heh, haven't you heard what I just said?"

"Those are worries. Don't you enjoy it more then ever to be with your family and…friends." for a brief moment Hao looked a bit annoyed at saying the word friends, but it was gone before Keia knew it.

"I suppose you're right." Keia looked at the ground and finally found to courage to lean against him and place her head on his shoulder. Hao looked at her and smiled, for now he didn't mind.

"Why didn't you just take me with you instead of erasing my whole memory?" Hao looked surprised at her; the question came out of the blue.

"Because you needed to train and get stronger. It was better that way."

"Who said I wouldn't train and get stronger if I was with you?" Keia looked him in the eye. That question had been bugging her for awhile now.

"No one said that…it was just better and why would you possibly want to be with me?" Hao raised an eyebrow and looked suspiciously at her.

"Because…because…I-I…"

"Yes?"

"Because…I-I…love…you…" Keia blushes several shades of red and tried to not look at him. Though she had thought it many times, this was the first time she had said it out loud.

"Listen before you say anything. I know you can't and won't return the feeling, but maybe this is the last time I could say it and I…just wanted you to know. I'm not expecting anything from you, really." Keia kept looking away from him while tears started to form in her eyes.

Hao smiled and closed his eyes. He already knew that, but it was…cute to hear her say it. Keia on the other hand was on the edge of crying and refused to look at him. Until she once again felt him stroking her cheek.

"Hao…"

"Don't worry it's okay."

He slowly leaned closer and closed the gab between them. At first Keia was shocked, was he kissing her just to tease her? To her it didn't felt that way, but she also was sure he didn't feel the same for her like she did for him.

"Why are you doing that?" she asked when they broke.

"……"

"Well…"

Instead of giving her an answer he just did the same, this time making it last a little longer. Keia finally gave in and kissed him back, if this was what he wanted for the last night of real peace…then why not?

"Hao…I love you…"


"Argh!"

"Something wrong Aori?" Yasu looked calmly at the girl who was leaning against the rock wall.

"Keia…! Damn you, I can't stand that feeling!" Aori's eyes turned glowing red and two wings appeared out of her back. She let out a scream of pain and started cursing at everything around her.

"Ah I see…seems that she and that fire shaman have grown closer to each other then we all expected. How nice…" Yasu trailed off and received a glare from Aori.

"Yasu-sama with all the respect…please, shut up!"

"Haha, oh Aori relax, the link you and your sister share will soon be broken, so just hold on a little longer." He looked evilly at her and walked away. "Tell them we're heading to Patch."

"H-hai."


The next morning my eyes shot open, my vision was blurry but quickly came back. I looked beside me and saw Keia sleeping softly. I couldn't believe what had happened last night, but…well, it happened.

"Hmm, Hao? You're awake?" she slowly rubbed her eyes and looked sleepy at me. I tried to smile like I usually did, but failed miserably.

"How are you, Keia?"

"Uhm, a bit sore, but…as good as I can be, I guess…and you?" she blushed once again, but this time didn't look away.

"Alright."

We both fell silent and locked ourselves away in our own thoughts. As far as I could see we were both pretty messed up in there.

Suddenly a loud bang was heard on the door and we both looked up. Someone kept banging on the door and it sounded a bit panicked.

"Keia, Keia wake up! They're here, the demons, they have arrived!" it was the Ainu. And now I could hear people scream outside, warning each other to prepare for the fight.

Keia looked shocked at me. I knew what she thought even without reading her mind.

"They've come too early…"

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Me: I'm so sorry for taking so long T.T I had a writers block and was stuck at a certain point…gomen nasai…I'll do my very best to update again this weekend, I promise!

Thank you all for the wonderful reviews! I'm in a hurry so I can't thank everyone separately, I'll do thank next time also a promise!

Please review and thank you all for still reading!