Hello again! I'm finally in the mood to continue the story! ::sniff:: Your kind reviews inspired me to keep it going! I'm so moved in ways that make me smile…..you people really like me! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!! T_T

::computer is washed away by her tears:: O_O NO!! ::starts chasing it:: WAIT! COME BACK!! I NEED YOOUUU!!! ::is seen running off into the sunset, chasing the computer, until she crashes into fake sunset scenery:: Itai…… @_ ::staggers to her feet:: Um….that one reviewer whose name I'm too lazy to check…..are you sure the fun in this fic is "good and clean"? I know what you mean about the refreshing absence of romance (not that its not good once in a while….) but does the reference to pot fall under the "good and clean" category? o_o; Not that I don't appreciate the compliment! What I mean is………is………oh jeebus what do I mean? Oh well, on with the fic!

Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King (or any other possible copyright infringements). However, I do own the creators, whom I have shrunk down to fun-sized pieces, which I am keeping in an iguana tank in my room.

Hiroyuki Takei: FEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE…… T_T

::screeches:: IN A MINUTE!! o

Chapter 8: The others are taken

Yoh's heart pounded in his chest, eyes scanning the cold metal and linoleum passage. All his senses are focused, and for a brief minute he wondered if he should've let Amidamaru come with him. No! I can do this on my own! Slightly reassured, he relaxes a bit, making a fatal mistake by letting his guard down. (No, I probably won't be killing him, but you have to admit, it makes this more dramatic, ne?) A faint rustle reaches his ears.

"What was—" but he never got to finish as he is rendered unconscious and carted off by his dubbie.

"Lord Yoh!!" Amidamaru's head snaps up, a strong feeling that Yoh is in danger. He turns around, facing the direction he had come in. I sense he is in grave danger, but he probably wants to do this on his own…, the spirit reasoned. So although he is unable to shake an ominous cloud of foreboding, he faces forward again and continues on his way.

A manly (well, to me he sounds manly in the dub…or at least not half bad…this probably has to do with the fact that he's my favorite character. ^_^; ) voice laughs softly, the mocking laughter reverberating through the narrow hall.

"Who are you? Show yourself!" He draws his spectral swords and glances around him. But he just isn't fast enough as a ghostly hand much like his own traps him in a memorial tablet. The specter laughs again and vanishes.

Ok you know what? Its just gonna go the same way for each of them. Except the hippie. Walking along, hear a noise, "Oh whats that?" Abduction. Lather, rinse, repeat. So why don't we skip ahead a little, hm? It'll save you the time and patience, and bide me more time until I get carpal tunnel syndrome or something.

So one by one, Manta, Yoh, Anna, Amidamaru, Ryu, Ren, and Horo Horo are captured by their evil look-alikes. When they come to, they find themselves inside a very dim, very large cave-like warehouse. A faint dripping and the humming of pipes are the only sounds. As their senses adjust, they realize their hands and feet are chained to one of the cavern walls, with the exception of Amidamaru, who is bound tightly with prayer beads.

"NOT AGAIN!!" he moans.

"How the hell did we get here?" Ren demands.

"Damned if I know…" mutters Horo Horo in awe as he gazes at the eerie surroundings.

"DUDE!" Ryu wails, joining the world of the concious, "THEY MESSED UP MY 'DO!" He gestures to his forelock, which has—again—been lopped off, shorter than ever. (Oh how his hair doth suffer….)

"I would think that's the least of your problems, gentlemen—"

"HEY!"

"—and women." The high-pitched, rather irritating voice from before states.

"Just who are you?! What do you want with us?!" Yoh demands, in the dramatic-hero tone.

"I am Ralph Davis Andrews Alexander Zanzabar Ganondorf Figaro Meow Mix Kibbles Tiddlywink Omega Jacobsonsmithdale, Riboflavin Banana Manna Fo Fanna the third, twice removed! But you may call me Bob…..MASTER OF EVIL!! And head of 4Kids…..OF EVIL!! GAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!" ^O^

"Ha ha, that's a stupid name!" Horo Horo laughs.

"Quiet, HORO HORO!" Anna hisses.

"Are you implying that I have a stupid name?"

"Is the sky blue?"

"Uhh….shouldn't YOU know that? Geez, you really ARE stupid!"

"Ugh, its like chewing tinfoil with you sometimes…"

"You do that too??" ^__^

"A-HEM," Bob, master of evil, interrupts. "Evil genius in need of a little love, here!"

"Would you mind telling us WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!" Manta demands

"I'm so glad you asked," snickers the MoE, "As you may have noticed, you were all escorted—"

"So THAT'S what you call it?" snorts Amidamaru, disgruntled.

"Why yes, what else would you call it? Now, any more interruptions?"

"Kidnapping, abduction—" the ghost starts, but Bob continues as if he hadn't spoken.

"—Good. You were all escorted (Amidamaru glares) to this chamber by exact outer duplicates of yourselves. And WHERE are we again?"

"Ooh I LOVE this game! Lets see….uh….was it the maid…in the library…..with the candlestick?" Horo Horo calls out.

"HA! NOT EVEN CLOSE!"

"That wasn't what he meant either, baka." Anna grumbles.

"Right you are, little missy!" Bob declares.

" 'Little missy'?!" O_ _O

Horo Horo snickers and Anna gives him a killing look.

"What I was TRYING to point out was that we are in 4Kids, the EVILEST of dubbing studios! And what else could those duplicates be but—"

"—dubbies…" Yoh mutters in realization.

"Hey, I was gonna finish!" o

"Oh, sorry you can pick up where you left off if you want to." ^_^;

"No, no the moment was ruined…" -_-;

A shadow, moving with an oily glide, slithers up to the source of the voice, aka Bob.

"Massssster…..there is still the maaatter of the hippieeeee….."

Bob ponders this, "Ah yes….he does prove to be a threat….what with all his talk of peace, love and tranquility….such horrid prospects indeed! You and my other henchmen, go! Apprehend—and by that I mean kill--that wretched freedom fighter!" he screeches at the retreating backs of the shadowy figures.

Yoh bows his head in strained silence, then throws it back, yelling, "RUN, RAINBOW TROUT, RUUUUN!!!"

Everyone stares. "Dude," Ren whispers, embarrassed, "he can't hear you…"

"I know…." T_T

NEXT CHAPTER: We finally find out what happened to Rainbow Trout and whether Bob's henchmen will succeed in "apprehending" him. Also, more of the evil plot is revealed….run, don't walk, to the next installment of this saga!! And don't forget to throw the toiling authoress a bone and Read and Review!! ^__^