Horo Horo watched the two girls from behind a door as the itako stirred something together under the steady fire.

He couldn't wait for the love potion to be finished. He was starting to get curious about it – whether it will have an effect on him or not.

"So this is it," said Anna as she handed Tamao a cup of the just finished concoction. "Just make the Ainu tribe boy drink half of this and he will be yours for one week."

"Thank you, Ms. Anna." She bowed gratefully, then looked at the dark violet mixture, pondering on how she could make Horo Horo drink it without him suspecting anything.

Just then, Horo Horo jogged into the kitchen. "Whew! Boy, I'm thirsty!" He immediately took the liquid from Tamao's hands and took it in with one gulp, to the maid's shock.

"Thanks! See ya!" Horo jogged out of the kitchen.

Tamao looked at the half-empty cup. "That wasn't so hard."

Anna, on the other hand, looked at the door Horo went out of awhile ago. That was too easy, and if something was too much, there must be something wrong with it.

Ren was walking down the grand staircase of the Tao mansion – he had just been reprimanded by his father for allowing Yoh to reach as far as the cave – when he could hear some female voices coming from the garden.

He recognized his sister's, but the other one…

It couldn't be!

But it could only belong to one girl.

"Your sword must fall straightly. Your arm must not fold up. The air must still be intact when you deal the blow on your opponent."

Pirika could feel sweat drip down her neck, but she didn't dare break her stance just to wipe it. She was concentrating on what Jun was telling her to do.

"Keep that posture up! Very good, Pirika! Show him how determined you are to defeat him!" shouted Jun, turning to the staircase where Ren was standing.

She looked up and saw him looking straight down at her.

Ren was shocked – first, because he didn't expect the blue-haired girl to be in his place. Secondly, because Jun was with Pirika, as if they knew each other already. Finally, because of his sister's last statement – that Pirika was determined to defeat him.

He was rendered speechless when she paused from her sword training and pointed her bamboo sword at his direction. "Hey you, Ren Tao! You won't get off the hook easily! You will have a taste of your own medicine! I promise that! I'll defeat you too, the way you did to my brother!" Her eyes welled up with tears. "Because of you…m-my brother…he had to undergo such beatings…" Her eyes blazed. "Whatever did he do to you anyway?"

He looked away. No, why should he tell her the guilt he immediately felt when he saw those asking eyes of hers when she saw him beside that boy's body last night? Why should he tell her how he berated himself the whole night? To the point that even he had questioned whether what he just did was right?

She wouldn't understand anyway. So all that was left to do was to keep his masquerade on. "Anyone related to the Asakura clan, directly or not, shall pass under the blade of my spear."

"I'm ready!" she shot back.

He eyed her for a few more minutes, and she bravely met his gaze. He looked away first. "Do whatever you want." He left the stair case hurriedly.

Jun watched the word exchange quietly, and there and then she decided that she didn't do a bad move by bringing the girl here.

Tamao crossed her hands together nervously as she waited for Horo Horo to return from his routine 50 km jog. She wanted to know if the potion took any effect on him.

She vaguely heard Ryu talking with someone outside, but she couldn't care less. The prime minister of Japan may be outside riverdancing, and she still wouldn't care!

"I'll go get you something to drink," said Ryu as he let in the visitor. "You came all the way from London just for my master?"

Tamao peeped into the living room and found the tall man entertaining a much smaller boy with green hair and trenchcoat.

"I'll be right back." Ryu entered the kitchen.

The boy's eyes roved around the house until he caught the glimpse of pink hair. "Huh?" He went towards it and found Tamao rushing out of the room. "H-Hey! Don't let me scare you! I'm harmless, honest!"

She paused and turned to him uncertainly.

He smiled. "My name is Lyserg Diethyl. I'm studying the nature of shamans, particularly on the role that they play in connecting the world of the living with the world of the spirits."

Her eyes turned defensive. "And you said you came here for Master Yoh? I won't let you hurt him!"

He held his hands up in surrender. "N-No, I won't hurt anyone here. I-In fact, I'm a dowser." 

"D-Dowser?"

"I use metals or pendulums to detect objects." He smiled and offered his hand. "Now, can we be friends, young miss?"

"I still don't see why a dowser should be interested in a shaman," said a voice loudly from behind. Tamao and Lyserg turned to see Horo Horo who just came back from his jogging. To her utter shock, he placed his arm possessively around her shoulders. "And why a dowser should be interested with my girl."

She nudged his ribs. "Hands off me!"

"Hey!" he complained.

Lyserg grinned. "No, don't worry, my friend. I will limit my interests on shamans."

Horo nodded. "So why do you need to study Master Yoh?"

"I heard that he will be the heir to the title of shaman king, so I seek his words on some questions…"

"Why don't I answer it for him?" offered the Ainu.

"No, thank you. I would prefer the shaman king's answer." Lyserg bowed. "But thanks for the offer anyway."

Horo looked at him for a few more moments then grinned. "Why don't you answer your own questions?"

"What?"

"You're a shaman too, aren't you?" Horo looked at him knowingly. "And you came here not to just interview Master Yoh. You have other plans."

Lyserg paused, then smiled sheepishly. "By golly, you're right. You guessed way ahead! I hate it when people spoil surprises."

Horo's eyes turned alert. "Tamao!" He instantly stepped in front of her protectively and used his back to shield her from the sudden explosion Lyserg caused.

The next thing Horo Horo knew was that he woke up inside his bedroom, Tamao and Yohmei beside him. "W-What happened?" he asked groggily.

"You lost consciousness due to the impact of the close-range explosion. You were able to oversoul just in time," informed Yoh's grandfather.

"W-Where's that guy now?" he asked.

"Lyserg suddenly disappeared," said Tamao, face covered by her pink hair. "When the smoke cleared…I…I didn't see him anymore."

"I wonder why he's so intent on meeting Master Yoh…" wondered Horo.

Yohmei stood up. "I'll just go and get your medicines."

Tamao and Horo Horo were left in the room alone.

"Thanks for saving me," she said suddenly, her face turning as colorful as her hair.

He was amused by her looks. "You look good when you blush."

She looked up, blinking.  The love potion is starting to take effect! So that means…when he saved me… it was only because of the potion!

"Which can only mean that I smashed my head too much; I'm starting to see things," he said, grinning.

He was promptly pummeled by the blushing Tamao.

Anna stood up after her session with Kino.

"Where are you going?" the elder itako wanted to know.

"Downtown," she said, eyes on the floor.

"My grandson…I wonder if he'll still make it out of that cave," said the old woman thoughtfully. "I…I lost my first love in that cave. He was such a daring and bold shaman…he was full of confidence."

Anna merely listened, uncommenting.

"But I wasn't as calm as you back then," she continued narrating. "My life would have been plunged into infinite darkness if not for Yoh's grandfather, who turned out to be heir for the title of shaman king. But he was very much like Yoh, careless and happy-go-lucky." A nostalgic smile spread across the old woman's face. "But like a magician, he brought me back to life." She then turned to Anna. "Yoh may not be exactly the best character you expect to handle the Great Spirits, but his warm and caring nature, plus his strong, unfazed heart…he would undoubtedly become the redeeming Shaman King that the world has waited for."

"I agree," she said silently.

"Has Yoh worked his magic on you already?"

She was caught off-guard by the question.

The old woman smiled. "The Asakura men are incredible magicians."

To her dismay, she felt colors rise to her cheeks. "Excuse me," she mumbled as she retreated away quickly,

Yohmei brought out pieces of parchments and rolled them on the floor as Tamao and Horo Horo looked at them curiously.

"I found out that there is really a Lyserg Diethyl in town, and he's staying in one of the onsen hotels here. He is a dowser, alright, but he's interested in one of the legends of the Asakura clan," explained Yohmei.

"Which is?" prompted Tamao.

"The legend of King Yohmei and the Knights of the Rectangular Tatami?" guessed Horo.

The old man hit the boy servant with his slipper. "No, you stupid moron! I'm talking about Asakura Hao, the legendary destroyer!"

"What?" Horo Horo's forehead creased. "He's part of your family, Master Yohmei? How come I haven't met him yet?"

Tamao knocked his head. "That's because he's only a legend."

"Five hundred years ago, he lived as an heir to the shaman king throne too, but the Great Spirits refused him, for his heart and thoughts were impure. This shaman was enraged, and he studied the forbidden branches of shaman knowledge, and one of these is reincarnation. He vowed to take back the title after 500 years."

"So he's going to kill…Master Yoh?" whispered Tamao.

The old man nodded grimly.

"No way…" mumbled Horo Horo, shaking his head.

Anna stood in front of the cave where Yoh came in yesterday. She clenched her fists when she didn't hear any sign of life inside.

"He won't be back anytime soon," said a voice from somewhere.

She didn't bother to turn around. "What do you want?"

Hao appeared from behind and joined her. "If I tell you that I want you, would you give me what I want?"

Her eyes, emotionless like a wall, turned to him. "Do you want me to answer that?"

"No, I don't think so," he laughed. "But I can give you what you want. A good life, isn't it?"

"Yes, and I want to be the mistress of an onsen hotel." She crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"I can give you all of those," he said, smiling.

"I know you can," she said. "But I don't care."

"And you care for my little brother, is that it?"

"I never said anything like that," she said coolly.

"You don't have to," he said, grinning. "Your heart can say it out loud."

"Your colorful interpretations of my heart's supposedly speeches amuse me, but I'm afraid you're mistaken." Her eyes gave nothing away. "Love isn't for someone like me."

"Then I guess we're compatible." He knelt and brought her free hand to his lips. "Asakura Hao is my name."

Her eyes widened.

He stood up. "Asakura Kino must have told you a lot of tales about me, I presume."

She withdrew her hand from his. "They're not exactly the most glowing tales though."

"Perfectly understandable. They hated me because they are inferior compared to me."

"Wrong," she said evenly. "They hated you because you are evil."

"Who are you to judge what is good and what is evil?" he asked sharply, although the smile remained pasted on his face. "Humans are the real evil in this world. They are the flaws and obstructions in preserving the immutable goodness of the world. They must perish, in order to renew and rejuvenate the face of the earth. I will be the savior."

"Some savior you are," she said sarcastically. "A savior who saves the world by mass execution."

His hand slipped up to her face, caressing her skin. "What is a few thousand lives sacrificed in the name of a new and better world for mankind?"

"You're crazy."

"I am enlightened." He smiled. "I can see that you hate people too. I can see that once upon a time, you had been ostracized and hated too, because you are an itako. Don't you want those ignorant people to suffer in front of your eyes?"

"I'll only stoop as low as them if I do that," she said frostily. She slapped his hand away. "I do not know why you are so interested with me, but let me tell you this: I would never fall into your hands."

"I know a challenge when I hear one." Hao bowed. "Kyouyama Anna, I will make you mine." He tried to inch closer to her, but Amidamaru appeared beside her, ready to defend his master's lady.

Hao chuckled. "Ah, my brother's power spirit. I should advise you to work harder, samurai spirit. You shall be acquainted with my Spirit of Fire soon enough." He bowed at Anna and disappeared in the forest.

"Ma'am Anna, are you alright?" asked Amidamaru quickly when he saw her lean on the bark of the tree shakily. "I'm sorry. I should have come sooner."

She didn't answer. Instead, she turned to the cave. Yoh, please come back already.

Tamao sat alone in front of her board, predicting.

"Master Yoh will come back tomorrow evening." Her eyes lit up, then widened.

"Oh my god! I only have up to tomorrow night to make Horo fall in love with me!"

Ren and Bason watched as Pirika continued her training under the guidance of the moonlight.

"She really is…determined to kill me," Ren found himself telling his main spirit. "What did my sister do now? What is she trying to prove? I know that I can never hurt that girl…not in a million years." He shook his head. "If I've only known earlier that he was her brother, I would not have…I would not have…"

Bason could only gaze at his master in wonder. Ever since he met that girl, he had changed so dramatically.

Because Pirika treated her like a good friend, and it melted his heart.

All his life, Ren Tao had only seen hatred and violence. Bitterness and rage over the Asakura clan. Pain and suffering.

And in a short span of time, the girl showed him that there is another side of life where people do not need to hate or to feel bitter or be pained.

All that is needed is to be happy.

And the spirit knew that Ren Tao became happy when he met her.

Fate is really cruel. Why did everything have to end like this? Now that he finally understood what happiness is…

Ren was speaking again. "I will finish Asakura Yoh, then I'll free myself from my obligations to the family, then I'll beg for her forgiveness."

In a softer voice, he continued, "And I'll offer myself too, if she would have me back."

"Waaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!" Tamao screamed in the kitchen.

Anna and Kino looked up as the maid freaked out. "What is it, Tamao?" asked the elder mistress.

"Who drank my love potion?!!!" she cried as she showed them the empty bottle.

"Love potion?" echoed Yohmei and Horo Horo. The latter hid a smirk.

Tamao felt her face heat up. "U-Uh…."

"The violet liquid?" asked Yoh's grandfather. "I recall that Horo Horo offered Ryu grape juice and…"

"Tamao!!!!! My love!!!!!!!!!" cried Ryu of the Wooden Sword, entering the house. "I've come to give you the biggest smooch of your life, dearieeeee!!!!!!"

"Waaaaahhhhh!!!!!" Tamao tried to hide behind Kino and Anna as Ryu tried to chase her. Horo Horo, on the other hand, laughed his heart out.

Lyserg jotted something in his notepad. Behind him, a little girl looked over his shoulders, trying to read what he just wrote down.

"Millie," he said, smiling. "Sharon and the others would scold me again for keeping you here."

She shook her head firmly. "Uh-uh. I'll stay right here."

"But you cleaning up my room and cooking my meals…" He smiled. "I'm bothering you enough."

"No! It's my pleasure doing that!" she insisted, blushing. "I like serving Lyserg-kun!"

He sighed. He met Millie back in the airport, when he found her crying in the middle of the crowd, wailing that she was lost. It was only he who had the concern to page her company. Before Sharon and her friends found her, he had already taken her out to dine and toured her around the place. By that time, she was already smitten with him, and had refused to leave his side. Her friends had no choice but to tag along with him in his trip to Japan just so Millie wouldn't go on a tantrum.

"What are you writing?" she asked shyly.

He looked at his notes. "I'm preparing for someone's funeral."

Her eyes widened.

His grip on his quill pen tightened. "Asakura Hao's."

tsuzuku