Haha, another update! It's short, but I felt that it needed to end there, it just seemed right. Hope you enjoy! Thanks for reading!
Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King, but that would be awesome!
"Big mistake," Ayamae said, voice still flat. She raised her right arm, still clutching her Sai, and poised it right over Hao's heart.
Chapter 37: The Shadow's Retreat
Hao could feel Ayamae's arm swing down, and knew this was it. He was going to die. Only this time, he wouldn't be reborn. He had given up the Shadow King's power. This life was his last life to live.
He looked up into the eyes of the woman he loved. At least, if he had to die, he would die holding her, just as she had died all those years ago. Her shadow filled eyes met his dark brown ones, and in them Hao saw their lifetimes together, this one and the previous one.
Yoh watched as Ayamae lowered her arm and didn't know what to do. He could vaguely hear the others yelling at him, telling him to stop her, to put an end to this, but he found he couldn't move. There was something in Hao's eyes that froze him where he stood, despite the danger his twin was in.
It seemed the whole world held its breath as Ayamae swung her Sai downwards, and stopped. Yoh blinked as both Sais hit the ground with a clatter, leaving Ayamae standing there in Hao's arms, hands hanging limply by her waist.
"Ayamae," Hao said, not breaking eye contact with her. Her eyes were still swirling with shadows, her face still blank, but Hao could tell the Shadow King's hold on her was lessening. "It's okay, Ayamae, we're here for you," Hao continued, reaching up a hand to brush a wild strand of hair from her face. "I love you," Hao whispered this in her ear, feeling the tension leave her body.
"No!" Cal shouted, still standing far enough away that nobody had gone after him. "This isn't the end! Ayamae!"
Hao felt Ayamae stiffen again, and before he could do anything she had broken out of his embrace. She spun, grabbing a stunned Yoh and practically throwing him over her shoulder and into Hao.
With Yoh's concentration broken, Amidamaru's shield disappeared, and the Spirit of Wind burst in, swirling around Ayamae. Hao and Yoh struggled to get back on their feet as Ren and the others rushed towards Ayamae.
Ren spun his halberd, slamming it into the ground and causing hundreds of spears and spikes to rise up, chasing Ayamae's footsteps. Ayamae leapt, spinning in the air. The wind around her died as a huge panther took form, Ayamae landing on its back.
The panther spun around, growling at the shamans, and a burst of light broke free, hitting Ren and the others and sending them all careening back into the twins, who had just regained their feet.
The panther turned and ran, Ayamae still on its back, straight into a dark portal that Cal had just walked in. The portal disappeared as everyone tried to regain their feet.
"AYAMAE!" Hao yelled, rushing to where the portal had been seconds before. Hao collapsed to his knees, feeling as if the very ground were caving in. For the second time in his lifetimes he had lost her. He had failed to save her.