Thunder: Sorry for being late again. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King.

Chapter 37

Just a Dream

Shira was startled when that happy and peaceful look in Moon's face changed to a look of fear and terror.

"What is it?" Shira asked hesitantly, knowing that she wouldn't like the answer at all.

"The sky will turn black…" Moon silently repeated the clue in her mind as the scene unraveled right before her eyes.

"Fire…" Moon answered distantly, too mesmerized by the sight in front of her. Shira quickly pushed her aside and peeked through the glass but then frowned.

"Moon…there's nothing there." She said silently, slowly looking towards Moon.

"What? Can't you see it? Huge flames of fire! Eating up the entire forest! How could you miss it?" Moon asked in astonishment. Shira blinked at her, looked out the window then back to her, a calm but worried look in her eyes.

"Moon, you're hallucinating." Shira stated bluntly. Moon stared at her and then rushed to look out the window.

"But it's right there! How can you just stand there and act so relaxed when our house is burning down in there?" She nearly screamed. Shira shook her head and patted Moon's head with a sigh.

"You're so tired…come on, let's go home, make sure you get a goodnight's rest. Get rid of your building tension." She stated and left the room. Moon stood there dumbfounded. She soon snapped out of it, took what she wanted to take, it was her room after all, took a worried glance at the burning forest and ran after Shira.

"Shira I swear the forest is on fire, I saw it with my own eyes!" Moon shouted once she came out of the front gates.

"Moon, there's no smoke, no flames, and we're standing right between the trees. If there really was a fire, don't you think I would've noticed it by now?" Shira asked but then something quick pushed her.

"Moon?...Moon…what's wrong?" Shira asked. Moon was tightly hugging her, shivering violently.

"Moon, what's wrong?" Shira repeated.

"I don't know…fire scares me…I don't know why but it brings some very bad feeling to me." She replied with a wavering, muffled voice. Shira was surprised for a moment. She…forgot? But why is she hallucinating all of a sudden?

"Come on, hold my hand if it makes you feel better." She said kindly. Moon nodded and took it. Then they started walking. This is too slow, what if the house burns down before we reach it? What if we burn here and no one would ever know?...why can't Shira see? Suddenly Moon heard a rustle behind one of the bushes they walked past. She glanced behind her, where the sound came from, only to see a sonic fast shadow. It was circling them, so fast that Moon could only see a black shadow moving through the flames, forcing them to dance to the force's wind. Then everything fell still and silent, so quiet that it made Moon stiffen in her place. She felt a shiver down her spine as black claws clutched her shoulders.

"Who will die first?" The creature asked playfully, nastily. She felt one sharp claw move towards her neck, savagely pushing its way deeper, drawing out small droplets of blood. Moon took one long frightful gasp, fought out of the creature's grip and started running off with a scream, dragging Shira behind her. She ignored Shira's constant shouts asking her to stop, her feet worked on their own as her mind flew through the worst of thoughts, she looked back once and saw a huge black creature with deadly red eyes tailing after them. She ran even faster, thinking why everything happens to have these red eyes, she tried to put everything together but she was in no state to do so. She ran until they reached a place far away from the castle, but much closer to their house. An explosion of flames was their greeting once they arrived. Moon screamed and held onto Shira while the latter avoided a burning piece of wood that was sent flying by the explosion.

"Sh-Shira….Isn't that where our house is?" Moon asked with voice shaken in fear. Shira looked at her horrified; the girl's outline was shivering.

"Come on! It can't be, let's go and see if we can do anything. Hurry!" She ordered and pulled Moon by the hand.

"Th…That is our house!" She finally exclaimed and started struggling to come closer to it but Moon kept pulling her back.

"Moon let go!" Shira shouted above the fire's crackle.

"Shira there's nothing you can do! Everything's on fire, we must go!" Moon urged on but all her attempts were in vain.

"We can't leave the fire eat the entire forest! We have to do something!" Shira begged as an excuse. She was right though.

"But what can you do? Our spirits can't use water, the only water sources surrounding us are hours away, even if we did reach them, there would be no guarantee that we would be able to carry enough water in time to put the fire out. No, we have no chance, we have to go!" But Shira still refused, she wrenched herself free from Moon's grip, swiftly threw her backpack far away and dashed towards the fire. Moon threw her own backpack and ran after her, shouting her name and begging her to stay away. It was no use, Shira was too deep in her own worries and denial, she denied the fact that there was a fire to begin with. Shira had went inside the burning form of a house, jumping over fire and avoiding shots of it that came from all directions. She searched left and right, she didn't feel the heat, she didn't feel the flames jumping around her, until Moon's fearful scream resounded in her ears, covered by all the fire's crackle and she could still hear it clearly. She quickly ran the way the scream came from. Moon lied there on her back, a thick beam trapping her there in that position. She frantically tried to push it away but her efforts were in vain. The ceiling was crashing down on them and the heat was unbearable. Shira tried to come closer to Moon but then it crashed down in front of her, leaving her cornered by flames. Moon on the other hand was still trapped and it seemed like the end when the ceiling above her fell. All Shira could hear was Moon's desperate cries for help, but she couldn't do a thing! Everything happened so fast, she heard Moon's final scream before the flames grew higher and higher. The crackle and smoke filling everything.

"Moon? Moon can you hear me?" Shira shouted at the top of her voice, no answer. Thoughts raced through her mind. She wished that it was just her imagination, that she would wake up from a bad dream, that a miracle would happen. Just then…

"Shira!" She heard a familiar voice call behind her, something crashed then suddenly someone covered her from the flames. She looked up and whom she saw was Adam.

"Don't worry, Yura is with Moon. He's protecting her but they won't last long, we have to go out." He told her reassuringly and then tried to find a way out.

OOOO

"Moon it's okay, it's okay, you can open your eyes." Yura urged for the fifth time but Moon was still clinging onto his shirt, sobbing, whimpering, shivering and coughing. She had run after Shira reluctantly, she wasn't prepared for what was ahead of her. Once she stepped foot in the house the door crashed behind her and a bar fell and blocked the entrance. She had desperately pulled and pushed the living room door, or what remained of it, hoping to escape from its window but it was no use, she was trapped and Shira simply ignored her. It was every man for himself, something she didn't like at all. Until that beam fell on her. Then Yura came and tried to help her out, but all he achieved was to pull half of her body out of it, giving her the chance to sit up.

"Moon we have to move, get up!" He tried again but it was futile. Yura's oversoul had formed a cage of bone all around them, but bone won't stand long against fire, they had to move.

"Moon come on! Get up!" He tried to pull her out, help her stand but she yelped as he did so, her legs were badly wounded. She started coughing; the smoke filled the tiny space they were in. It filled their lungs and annoyed their eyes. Moon needed air and started gasping for it, but there was no oxygen left. Yura covered her mouth and nose with his hand, thinking of a way out of this. Moon struggled between holding onto him and staying conscious. Yura decided that he should carry Moon out and so he did. With one last pull, he got her out and hurried towards the first opening he saw. Once they were out of the fire and smoke's reach, he searched around for his father, but he was nowhere to be seen.

"Dad?" He shouted with a cough. He couldn't see his father anywhere; he couldn't be still inside, could he?

"Dad? Aunt Shira?" He stood up and considered going back in the deteriorating house, he was about to do so until something grabbed him from his ankle. He looked down and saw Moon struggling for air and trying to get up. He instantly forgot about everything and kneeled down next to her; she breathed too much smoke and is still coughing it all out.

"Where's…Shira?" She asked after gaining some air.

"She's okay, don't you worry." He lied but he didn't know what else to say. He looked up behind him, there was barely anything left of the house to be seen, only flames as high as the trees. Yura tried to look deeper, but the light of the flames and the heat made it nearly impossible. He heard something crash down and it alerted him, where could they be?

OOOO

"What in the Great Spirit's name do you think you're doing?" Adam shouted angrily, avoiding a gush of flames. Shira was wrenching her wrists out of his grip.

"Let me go!" She yelled back at him and finally slipped her wrists out, then ran off somewhere.

"Where are you going? What do you think you can do? It's dangerous, get back!" He asked as he found his way after her.

"I…I must do something." She yelled over the fire and went deeper.

"Some water should do!"

"Some water? Shira are you out of your mind? Look around you, you'll need a full tanker to put this all out and it's spreading. Get out of there! Don't you want to see Moon?" He asked trying to get her attention elsewhere as he pulling her away from an enormous flame.

"Yura is with her, she's safe. I can do whatever I want without worrying about her." The answer simply astonished the doctor.

"What are you saying? That she's just some kind of responsibility of yours?"

"Of course not!" She said whipping her head towards him. It seemed to work.

"Then why are you doing this? Why not save her from losing someone else?"

"I…This…I can't, I can't leave this place." She stammered.

"It's all I have left from my father, I can't possibly leave!" She added after a moment.

"The man is dead! Moon is alive! Who is more important to you?"

"I'm not going no matter what you say!" She shouted angrily and then screamed as everything around them started falling apart. Adam protected her, he tried to lead her away and out of this place but she refused.

"Don't be so stubborn!"

"I'm not!"

"Think of Moon, think of what would happen to her without you." Adam tried one more time.

"She'd be fine, I taught her well." She snapped at him and that's when Adam gave her one hard slap that pushed her into a daze. She tried to move away again but he gripped her wrists once more.

"Let me go!" She screamed with tears threatening to fall from her eyes.

"Wake up! This isn't a dream, this is real life! If you die here you're not coming back at all!"

"So what?" She screamed furiously.

"So Moon had lost both her parents in one night and you want her to relive everything all over again? You are a mother to her, you're her older sister! Losing you might send her into all kinds of depression, she could become suicidal. So save up all of that and get yourself out! Wake up! It isn't just about Moon, it's about you too." Shira didn't listen, she tried to free herself as the tears slid down her cheek. A startled scream escaped her lips when a huge claw simply threw away the remains of the house that were over them. Adam kept her as close as possible, protecting her. A giant horse ridden by a giant gladiator loomed over them with what seemed to be a monster with long claws and a long pointy tail next to him. He started stabbing the ground around them with his thick spear, barely missing them. They faced a huge difficulty dodging his attacks though.

OOOO

"What in the world is that?" Yura exclaimed as he saw the giants in front of him. Moon gaped at the site.

"Moon watch out! Run away, I'll do something!"

"No!" She shouted in a firm voice, so firm that it made Yura stand there frozen. She knew who the gladiator was, at least she thought so. Use me…A far away voice whispered to her. I can save…or kill The voice was clearer, but still a whisper. I don't want anyone to be killed! Moon thought while shaking her head. You can use me…I can save the forest…do you want it to die? The place you once called home will soon turn to ash. I have power far beyond your comprehension, set me free. I can help you, use me. The voice coaxed, Moon bit her lips What should I do? She asked. Let my power flow within you, I can save and I can kill, it all lies in your hands. If you are worthy, then you will succeed. If you are not…then you are the one to blame and I am simply your loyal slave, I do what your inner self wants. But who will be powerful enough? Your mind or your heart? Is your inside dead or alive? That answer you must find. Moon gritted her teeth, she had no other option. It's a risk, but it's also worth a try. She stood up, ignoring the pain that shot through her legs. She walked forwards a few steps, Yura watching her with eyes filled with uncertainty. She stretched her hands in front of her, she felt the dark power boil inside her, asking her permission to be let out and roam free. She was the one who would hold the leash; she has to be prepared for the worst. Now what? She asked. Call me, bring it forth. Summon my powers; allow them to return to me. Then we will see which of us has the upper hand. The voice answered with an evil tone in it. Moon reluctantly allowed the black tendrils of foryoku to flow out, they entwined, twisting and turning around her arms until they reached her palms. Moon was panting by then, the energy was immense and it was leaving her all at one, giving her no time to adjust. The black energy materialized into black vines with thorns sticking out of them, prickling her skin. At last, a big sphere of black energy formed between her palms, slowly materializing into a dark black rose, when the power started becoming unstable, Moon released it, aiming it towards the giant. The beam of black light hit its target, the giant's eyes lighted up with red color and evil intentions. That's when the hard part began, where Moon had to control everything in time. She steered the horse at will away from Shira and Adam. She ordered the monster to put out the spreading fire, he obeyed and a huge gush of water came out of his mouth in the shape of a big fountain, spraying the entire forest as if rain was falling down from the skies. Surprisingly enough, the water vanished as soon as every flame died, the monster then vanished in a cloud of black smoke. Moon was exhausted by then, she fell down on her knees panting hard and gasping. Yura quickly knelt next to her, but she could barely hear a thing he said, he kept shouting and looking at her expectantly, he finally pointed in front of her. She turned around but her vision was blurry, she could barely see her hands in front of her, after concentrating for too long she realized that the gladiator has unsheathed his unique black sword and was about to slash it down. Moon got up and ran as fast as she could, her body was numb, she felt absolutely nothing, she was moving through will power only. She threw herself on top of Shira protectively, she heard distant shouts and screams then her consciousness slowly faded.

Moon's eyes opened somewhere else, in someone else's body, but she had no control over it, she could only watch. It seemed like she hasn't missed much, Yura was just about to strike…her?

"Bare your fangs and eat your prey. I summon you here to beat this monster, leave nothing more than bone splinter. I summon you, Black whisper!" She heard Yura call and suddenly a huge black feline jumped out and attacked her current body, it was then that she realized that she was trapped inside the gladiator. A huge black lion roared as it buried its claws deep inside the horse she was on, making it jump up and drop the gladiator off, disappearing in another cloud of black smoke.

"Yura we must get the two out of here!" Adam shouted

"I know, I know!" Yura replied. Moon watched as Adam knelt next to Shira who held Moon's numb, unconscious body. The look on her face showing pure shock and fear. Moon frowned at the site, her body was covered with blood, but she didn't remember being hit at all. The gladiator's body, her current body, didn't move an inch; he/she just lied there on the ground motionless.

"Whisper would you please get on with it already?" Yura said angrily.

"Mmmm….let me enjoy my meal for once, you never let me eat properly." Replied the red-eyed lion in a lazy, uninterested tone.

"Well eat him up faster!"

"Oh shut up, he's not even physical for me to enjoy. Would you kindly give me that blood-coated girl? I've had an eye out for her for quite a long time now." The lion said as he hopped down the gladiator's, now transparent, body.

"Not in a million years! As a punishment you'll carry her home."

"Oh dear me, how horrible I feel. You make it sound as if you're going to torture me by having her on my back and still can't have a lick. Well…that plan of yours just might work." Whisper said with an evil grin, showing off his big white fans with his red eyes gleaming.

"On second thoughts, I don't trust you with such things." Yura said while crossing his arms over his chest and turning around.

"Oh young master… you've hurt my honorable spirit. Have you no faith in your loyal friend and helper." Whisper said in an innocent tone, with one paw on it's chest, showing that it's hurt.

"You're nothing but a killing machine, alright? Would you mind disappearing now?" Yura said with an impatient growl but Whisper didn't seem so keen on going back at all.

"I'd rather go hunting in the forest for something to play with between my claws."

"Suit yourself." Yura said dismissively.

"Won't you feel dizzy without me?" The lion teased.

"Oh I think I can manage." Yura said as he walked towards Moon's body. Moon felt herself moving away again, as if she was a spirit but at the same time, she wasn't. She felt herself back into her body then felt Yura's arms slide beneath her and lifting her up. Slowly she faded into complete darkness.

Moon woke up to the sound of humming, she felt arms hugging her, she felt her body resting against someone else's, someone rocking from left to right while humming a lullaby. She slowly opened her eyes and looked up. The room was bathed in sunshine.

"Hey." Shira whispered with a soft smile and continued rocking left to right. Moon smiled back, albeit tiredly.

"Was it just a bad dream?" Moon asked confused after a while. Shira tilted her head and smiled a confused smile.

"What was?" She asked. Moon blinked at her tiredly, confusion barely visible on her tired face. Shira laughed.

"Look at yourself; you can barely open your eyes. Go back to sleep." She told her and continued humming. Moon chuckled to herself and rested her head on Shira's chest.

"Just a bad dream." She murmured as she closed her eyes and fell asleep again.

Thunder: Hmm…didn't quite come out as I wanted it too, I hope you all liked it though.

Please review!