Me: Thanks for the reviews during the last chapter! I don't own Shaman King-although, I almost wished I did.

BlackTerriermon: Why?!

Me: Hmm…not really sure. This will be the chapter that focuses on the battle between Yoh and Ren!

Anna: (glares at me with narrowed eyes) And, it will be a battle that Yoh wins, right?

Me: Uh…

BlackTerriermon: (lol) If he doesn't find a way out of this, I'll be doing the remainder of all these chapters, and his stories!

Me: No, you won't! Also, I don't own the chorus of Tamashii Kasanete, both versions-English and Japanese-found on www.animelyrics.com.

BlackTerriermon: To Sonic Angel, DC would have Jun as a Shaman King muse, but the thing is this-we're having so much fun with Anna helping us keep things in line that one other girl may cause strife among us.

Anna: Well? Yoh will win this battle, won't he?!

Me: (glares at BlackTerriermon) Do you want me to take away your TV privileges?!

BlackTerriermon: (clears throat) Anyway…onto the story!

                                                             Shaman King-The Rematch

                                                 Chapter VII: Nothing to Gain, Everything to Lose…

"…I'm no softie like Yoh!" –Kyoyama Anna, Shaman King: Our Ryo

"Everything in relation to you is precious to me…" –Anonymous

"It's time, Amidamaru! Let's do this!"

Moments after holding up his bokuto high in the sky, Asakura Yoh started heading forward toward his adversary Tao Ren, a determined look on his face, while Anna and Manta remained behind to observe the rematch that was only minutes away.

"Only three days, and you still look the same as you did three days ago. Did you really spend your time wisely and train, shaman?"

Glaring at Ren, not even taking his eyes off him once, Yoh clutched his weapon tightly as Amidamaru appeared by his side in Spirit Flame mode Version 2.

"The last three days I spent will be all worth it once I beat you again and prove that spirits aren't mere tools!"

With a wicked chuckle, Ren leaped off Amidamaru's grave and landed within mere inches from Yoh and his samurai spirit.

"Oh, really? You think that you'll be able to best me again when the last time, it was because of your samurai's abilities that you were able to emerge triumphant?!"

"I don't think it-I know it!"

"Very well, then…prove it!"

"INTEGRATE! AMIDAMARU!!"

With hands clenched together, Anna watched as her fiancé integrated with his spirit within .10 seconds and his bokuto blocked Ren's assault with his spear.

"Don't let your guard down, Yoh…you can beat him!"

"You can do this, Yoh!" Manta yelled out a moment later. "Just remember…all the training you went through for the past few months!"

Despite the fact that a vein appeared on her forehead, Anna resisted the urge to hit Manta upside his head for the simple reason she'd given him earlier-he would have to be here-and conscious-to give Yoh support.

.10 seconds after integrating with his spirit partner, Yoh was able to block Ren's initial attack with his bokuto, despite the fact that it nearly split again under the pressure Ren was putting on it.

"You are indeed stronger than when we last faced off…but, that alone won't nearly be enough to assure your victory!" Ren snapped, clutching his spear while thrusting forward.

"It'll be more than enough-and even more than that!" Yoh retorted while dodging the thrust and parrying with a move of his own-leaping up into the air and kicking Ren from behind, hitting him squarely in the back and causing him to stumble.

"Whoa! Who knew Yoh and Amidamaru could perform a move like that?!" Manta thought in amazement while watching the rematch with widened eyes. "If those two can keep this up, they might be able to pull off a stunning victory…!"

Instantly getting to his feet, Ren extended his spear and caught Yoh off guard, sending him sprawling to the ground-hard!

"…if they can avoid from getting seriously hurt-or worse!"

Pulling himself back up-albeit slowly-Yoh kept his eyes focused on his adversary, making sure he wouldn't try anything-or any provoked attacks.

"Be careful, Lord Yoh-he could try anything at anytime!" Amidamaru warned cautiously.

Yoh nodded once to show that he'd understood, then chose the precise moment to launch his attack!

"AMIDA-RYU SHOCK WAVE BUDDHA-GIRI!!!"

Yoh watched, a determined look on his face, as the attack headed toward Ren, knowing there would be no way he could dodge it; Anna was thinking the same thing.

"From that range, there's no way he can avoid Yoh's attack. This fight might be over as quickly as it began."

To Yoh's shock, Anna's disbelief, Manta's surprise, and Amidamaru's astonishment, Ren not only avoided the attack, but was able to split it in two before landing to the ground!

"No way…that was Amidamaru's strongest technique!" Manta managed to respond, while Anna just stood there, not moving at all.

"Did you and your little friends think I would just let you and your samurai hit me from that far? If so, then you're more foolish than I originally gave you credit for! Now, an attack you're more familiar with-and, one that will actually connect!"

Manta gasped as he remembered, during their first encounter with Tao Ren and Bason, that his strongest technique was able to split a car in two pieces!

"Prepare to die, headphones boy! VORPAL DANCE! ZHONG HUA ZHAN WU!!"

"Not that attack again!" Manta exclaimed, nearly pulling most of his hair out.

"Dodge the attack, Yoh…!" Anna gasped lightly, while watching as the attack soared closer toward her fiancé…

…until, Yoh had leaped up as far as he could go, and was able to avoid the attack in a different manner than he had the last time, landing next to Amidamaru's grave, a grin on his face!

"That was a close one, wasn't it, Amidamaru?"

"Of course. You were able to avoid the attack effortlessly, Lord Yoh."

Anna sighed in relief while clasping her hands next to her heart; Manta was astounded, and impressed, by what he had just witnessed.

"He was able to avoid my attack…by jumping into the air! That's something a pure novice would do…Though, I must admit-it was quite effective."

Unbeknownst to Ren, Jun had followed her younger brother, and was watching this battle with great interest, despite the concern she had for both combatants.

"That was quite an innovative way to dodge my attack, shaman. There's only one question that must be answered…"

Narrowing his eyes, Yoh took one step forward, not breaking concentration with Ren for a second!

"…Can you dodge two attacks?! VORPAL DANCE! ZHONG HUA ZHAN WU!!"

Grunting loudly, Yoh managed to jump back up in the air again. This time around, seeing the counterattack caused Anna to get frustrated.

"Yoh should know better than to use the same countermove twice! This time, he'll be ready for it!"

"WHAT?!!"

Unfortunately, Anna was right; the second Yoh jumped up to avoid the first attack, Ren instantly launched a second one when his opponent had jumped as high up as he possibly could!

"VORPAL DANCE! ZHONG HUA ZHAN WU!!"

Yoh watched in shock as the attack started hurtling toward him-at the rate he was falling, the attack would almost certainly connect and cause a lot of damage, if not critical!

"Yoh-GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Manta screamed worriedly, flailing his arms up and down, while Anna simply waited to see what would occur.

To everyone's surprise, Yoh was able to dodge the attack by diving over it and rolling onto the ground, now close to his fiancée and his best friend.

"He was able to adapt to my attack while in the air…quite impressive. He could become a potential ally were it not for the fact that we both aspire to be Shaman King…and, that's a goal I intend to accomplish!"

Yoh panted lightly while turning toward Anna and Manta, giving a quick grin of confidence before refocusing his attention on Ren. What Yoh had noticed before doing that was a big grin appearing on Manta's face; what Yoh hadn't noticed, however, was Anna smiling faintly before she also returned her attention to the fight.

"Ren, I have to admit-you've gotten pretty good since I last faced you. But, there's something you've overlooked…I've gotten just as good since then, too!"

At that second, Yoh kicked a lead pipe, that had been on the ground only moments ago, into the air and caught it with his free hand.

"I hope you remember this attack, 'cause this was what I used to beat you the last time! AMIDA-RYU HALO BLADE!!!"

Ren yelled loudly as he'd been caught off guard thanks to Yoh kicking the pipe into his hand, and was sent flying into the air before landing hard onto the ground. Anna couldn't help but smirk at what had transpired.

"There's no way he can get up from that move. This fight is over with."

"No…it's not over with, Lady Anna!"

That response, from Amidamaru, momentarily shocked Anna; as for Manta, he was already in shock, so it wasn't that much of a surprise.

"As good as Lord Yoh has gotten, one hit won't be able to effectively take down an enemy, and I sense that this enemy hasn't given up yet!"

"How correct you are, Amidamaru! You shall be a great asset to my team, and with her helping me to grow stronger-" Ren, after getting to his feet, pointed directly at Anna, who growled lightly, "-we won't lose!"

"Quit trying to show off and continue this fight!" Anna snapped irritably. "It's almost 10:00! The longer you're out here, the later we'll be in getting home!"

"Hmm…you have a point. This fight is growing rather long, and as you'll be 'getting home' with me, you won't have to worry!" Ren raced toward Yoh, his spear already in position to attack.

"She's not leaving with you, Ren-because I don't plan on losing!" Yoh retorted, blocking Ren's weapon with his bokuto…which turned out to be a mistake! At that second, it was sliced in two, and the tip of Ren's spear was on a collision course with Yoh's head!

"YOH, WATCH OUT!" Manta yelled, balling his fists up by his sides.

Instantly, Yoh swung up the lead pipe and deflected the spear, causing Ren to stumble a bit.

"You've lost one of your weapons, which leaves you with just one. Can you handle my assaults with just one weapon?" Ren asked, a light smirk on his face.

"I came here with just one weapon…I just discarded one for another." Yoh responded, already poised for attack.

"Finish this guy off, Yoh!" Anna demanded, apparently, in Yoh, and Manta's point of view, in no mood to be messed with.

"You can do it, Yoh-hurry and knock this guy outta the cemetery!" Manta insisted.

Eyeing both combatants, Jun waited to see which one would emerge triumphant.

"If I were you, Yoh…I'd try to figure out a different plan of attack. Taking my brother head-on like this won't work much longer!"

"It's time to finish this, Amidamaru!" Yoh declared, holding onto the lead pipe with a ferocious grip.

"Too true, headphones boy-it is time to finish this! And, it's time for you to die in peace! 100% INTEGRATION!!! VORPAL DANCE! ZHONG HUA ZHAN WU!!!"

"I don't think so! 100% INTEGRATION!!! AMIDA-RYU SHOCK WAVE BUDDHA-GIRI!!!"

The two attacks not only collided fiercely in the air, they each were split in two, and went in different directions! One of Yoh's attacks nearly hit Ren head-on, but he had been able to dodge it; the other one went up into the sky and eventually faded from sight. One of Ren's attacks nearly hit Manta, if Anna hadn't used her beads to pull him-none too gently-out of harm's way; as for the other attack, that had grazed Yoh's right arm, which caused him intense pain, but he hadn't dropped the pipe at all.

"And, now that you're wounded, this fight will be mine! VORPAL DANCE! ZHONG HUA ZHAN WU!!!"

This time, Yoh hadn't even had time to look up at it whatsoever-he'd taken a direct hit!

Time seemed to stop for a moment as Anna, with widened eyes, Manta, with hands on either side of his face, Jun, with a look of shock on her face, and Ren, a smug look of confidence on his face and in his eyes, all watched as Asakura Yoh slowly fell backward and gently hit the ground next to Amidamaru's grave, the pipe still clutched in his hand…

"YOH! HANG ON!" Manta pleaded, already starting to run toward his best friend, but a light sob made him refocus his attention behind him.

"That idiot actually lost this rematch…I believed him when he told me everything was going to be okay…"

"It can't be…!" Manta whispered lightly, his thoughts confirming what he was saying. "Anna's always a take-charge girl, never revealing emotion of any kind, but now…"

In pure disbelief, Anna dropped to her knees, clutching her heart like it was breaking, not wanting to believe what had just transpired.

Deau nakama sono egao wa yasuragi kureru kara…

(Because the friends I meet, those smiling faces, give me peace of mind…)

Chorus: Mimamotte itai shinjite itai…

Donna toki mo hanarebanare demo…

(I want to be watching over them, I want to believe in them…

No matter what time, no matter if we're apart…)

Kokoro wa itsumo tomo ni aru no sa…

Atatakai nukumori ni…

(Our hearts are always together…

In warmth…)

Tamashii kasanete…

(Our souls overlap…)

"Anna…what are we going to do?" Manta asked out loud, not expecting what was coming next from her, and definitely not expecting to see tears falling down her face.

"I don't know! If Yoh dies…I'll never forgive him for lying to me!"

Now Manta was really shook up, after seeing this display of emotion from Anna.

"Anna's crying…?"

After taking a moment or so to process this information, Manta ended up saying the last thing he'd never thought he'd say.

"THE WORLD'S GONNA END, AND WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!!"

"One day, you might…but, this day, only one of us has died!" Ren responded, a smirk on his face. "And, that's the one who thought he could defeat me! But, just to make sure he's truly dead…!"

Chuckling evilly, Ren leaped up into the air and extended his spear once more, knowing victory was practically in his grasp.

"SAY GOODBYE, 'SHAMAN!' VORPAL DANCE! ZHONG HUA ZHAN WU!!!"