(A/N: ) Chapter 6: Find a Way...

Lyo and Tamao sleep close to one another that night, in Lyo's bed. Tamao sleeps innocently curled up with her knees to her chin, and Lyo cradles her in his arms, fast asleep himself.

Lyo: His eyes shoot open as he shakes all over his body at once. (in a panic, waking up from a nightmare) "Iye, kisama!" He breathes hard and leans up.

Tamao: She jerks awake as Lyo wakes up. "Lyo-chan, is everything okay?"

Lyo: His breathing normalizes. "Hai, hai Tammy-chan, it's alright... Just a bad dream... Go back to sleep..." He pulls Tamao close and kisses her on the forehead.

Tamao: She almost immediately falls to sleep after Lyo kisses her.

(flashback, Lyo's dream)-----

Lyo floats in the night sky, above the clouds, as the Aurora Boreralis flies through the air, past him. The wind whispers something in Lyo's ear softly and unclearly.

Lyo: (in a panic) "Nani? Nani ga umalelu?" Lyo falls through the clouds, to the ground. He falls in a desert, leaving a large crater in the desert. He lifts his head and stares directly in front of him as something catches his eye. His jaw drops as he stares on.

(end of flashback)-----

Lyo: He stares affectionately at Tamao. Tammy-chan... I can't keep protecting you like this. It's going to get very big and very dangerous shortly, and I'm afraid for you. What I saw in my vision predicts danger ahead in the distant future. The wind told me: 'when the stars count thrice, then thrice forth the elder shalt smiteth thine brethren, and so more shalt thine punishment fit thy crime...' It's talking about Hao. Hao WILL change, and I fear that when he does, I will be too overmatched to shield you from Hao. He brushes Tamao's hair away from her face to get a glimpse of the pure innocence fo Tamao's expression wbhile sleeping. I can't protect you from Hao if I'm so weak myself. But I don't want to see you get hurt by him. So I have got to get stronger as soon as possible! Otherwise... I, I, I won't be able to protect you from him... He leans in on Tamao and holds her cheek in his hand.

Tamao: Her eyes open up slowly as Lyo's warm touch wakes her up. (weakly) "Wha, Lyo-chan, you've got to get some sleep. Go to sleep, Lyo..." She yawns lightly and stretches out.

Lyo: He smiles at her concern.

Tamao: She blushes, turning her face to a color similar in brightness to the color of her hair. (surprised) "Lyo, how are you still awake?"

Lyo: He stares on, past Tamao. "I've just got a lot on my mind. Don't worry, Tammy-chan."

Tamao: (worried) "Lyo-chan, is there... something... bad... going to happen to me in the future?"

Lyo: (bluffing, calmly) "Gomen, I don't know yet, Tammy-chan... Things should be just fine, don't worry."

Tamao: What's aitsu hiding from me? Something is going to happen that Lyo's not telling me. But why won't he tell me? She curls back up into a ball and yawns. "Let's just get some sleep, Lyo-chan. It'll be a long day tomorrow..." She rests her head against Lyo's chest and falls asleep quickly.

Lyo: He stares off into space, worried for the future. It's Hao. Tammy- chan isn't safe with Hao when the Aurora's prophecy is fulfilled. And Hao already made it rather clear that I can't stand up to him to save my life. But I have to. For Tammy-chan. She likes me, and I can't let her feel too scared that she won't ever open up to anyone. Rrr, there's GOT to be a way! And I'll find it! For Tammy-chan... (whispering) "...got to be a way..." He closes his eyes.

Tamao wakes up on Lyo's bed, at the break of dawn. Lyo is no longer with her. Covers have been pulled over her with intention to keep Tamao warm.

Tamao: She squirms out from under the sheets and stands upright on her feet. (calling out in a whisper) "Lyo? Where'd you go?" She glances around.

(Yoh's room)-----

Yoh snores loudly in his bed. The door to his room creaks open, and someone glances in.

Yoh: "...zzz...zzz...zzz...zzz..."

Voice: (sarcastically) "It's a wonder he doesn't wake himself up."

The door shuts again.

(outside Yoh's room)-----

Lyo leans against the door to Yoh's room and closes his eyes.

Lyo: Where's Kyoyama-san? She's all over Yoh just about around the clock, and I need to talk to her about something... Where'd she go?

Anna crosses the corner and approaches the door that Lyo is leaning on. She wears a white bathrobe and carries a small cup in her left hand and a toothbrush in her mouth.

Anna: She notices Lyo. She begins mumbling something to Lyo and points to the door.

Lyo: Hearing the mumbling, he glances towards Anna. (relieved) "Ah, Kyoyama-san, perfect timing, I was just looking for you!"

Anna: She takes a drink from the cup, gurgles the water, and spits back into the cup. (coldly) "Don't flatter me, Lyo-sama. Now wake Yoh up, like I was trying to tell you."

Lyo: "Hai, Kyoyama-san." He bows in respect then enters Yoh's room. He then ducks his head out. "Oh, and I need to talk to you about something. Let me know when you get a chance, okay, Kyoyama-san?"

Anna: She begins to walk away, ignoring Lyo.

Lyo: (anime faint) Well, so much for getting some training advice from Kyoyama-san... He proceeds into Yoh's room. (to Yoh) "Hey, Yoh-san. Kyoyama-san wants you to get up now..."

(that afternoon)-----

Lyo sits in the garden with his eyes shut, motionless as a statue.

Lyo: Must focus... Must focus... Since Kyoyama-san won't train me, I've got to train myself... Must focus, must focus, must focus... He feels someone tapping his shoulder. Without losing focus, he lightly brushes away the hand on his shoulder. "Not right now."

Voice: (coldly) "And after YOU were the one who wanted to talk to ME, YOU have the NERVE to IGNORE ME?!"

Lyo: His eyes shoot open and he looks up. (joyfully) "Kyoyama-san! It's you!" He bows down to Anna immediately. "Domo arigato, domo arigato, Kyoyama-san!"

Anna: She stares at Lyo. (coldly) "What did I say about flattery, Lyo- sama?"

Lyo: "You said it would get me flattened, Kyoyama-san. Gomen, but I'm begging you to help me! Onegai, Kyoyama-san!"

Anna: She slaps her forehead. Figures. One of the boys is a hentai, another is a suckup, and the third is my fiancée... "You said you wanted to talk, so TALK ALREADY!"

Lyo: "Oh, right, yeah, Kyoyama-san, will you..." (hesitating) "er, will you... uh, will you... would you please-"

Anna: (interrupting, disgusted) "NO, I WILL NOT MARRY YOU! I'm engaged, Hentai!" She kicks Lyo in the face with her wooden sandal.

Lyo: He flies backwards about ten feet before landing on his back. "AAA!... Nnnnot what I was trying to ask..."

Anna: She feels herself getting queasy. (disgusted) "Well spit it out before I get sick to my stomach..." She steps away.

Lyo: He stands to his feet weakly, with a black eye on his face. He paces towards her slowly. "Onegai, hear me out, Kyoyama-san, that's not what I was going to say..."

Anna: She backs away at a quickening pace.

Lyo: He advances towards Anna quicker as he notices that she begins to back away. "Onegai, Kyoyama-san..." He stops right in front of Anna, who stopped retreating when she came to the edge of a small lake in the yard. "I-I-I need you-"

Anna: (interrupting) "HENTAI!" She kicks Lyo in the crotch.

Lyo: He roars a scream of pain. "AAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Tamao: She comes running out of the mansion. "That scream! Lyo-chan! Lyo-chan, are you okay?!" She stops at Anna's side and glances down at the cringing Lyo. (shocked, to Anna) "Kyoyama-san, what did you do to Lyo- chan?!" She kneels down to Lyo and helps him to his feet. (to Lyo) "Lyo- chan... are you okay?"

Lyo: He holds his groin, continuing to cringe in pain. He tries to respond to Tamao, but can only squeal. (like a girl) "eep..."

Hao and Yoh arrive to the scene, finding Anna with her back turned to Tamao and Lyo, Lyo squealing like a slowly deflating balloon, and Tamao holding Lyo in her arms.

Yoh: (calling to Anna) "Hey, Anna-chan! What's going on?"

Hao: "Anna-chan! I heard a girlish scream, are you okay?"

Yoh: He turns to face Anna. "Anna-chan! What happened here?"

Anna: (snobbishly) "Lyo is a hentai. He said that he..." She shudders. "...NEEDED me..."

Hao and Yoh: (shocked) "Nani?"

Hao: He stares down at Lyo. "Well I figured that Lyo-sama grew a backbone with Tammy-chan around, but once a Skyboy, always a Skyboy, ne?"

Yoh: (partially ashamed) "Uh, Lyo-sama, did you really..."

Lyo: (squealing) "...nooo..." His face twists in agony.

Tamao: (sure of self) "Lyo-chan! I know that's not what happened, I know that Kyoyama-san misunderstood you, Lyo-chan, you wouldn't do that, ne?"

Lyo: He tries to respond to Tamao, but still can only squeal, so he nods his head instead. His voice begins to normalize. (to Tamao, groaning) "Kyoyama-san... she... didn't let me finish..." He turns his head towards Anna.

Anna: She turns back slowly, clearly still disgusted by Lyo. "Go on..."

Lyo: (groaning less) "I-I said that I wanted you to-"

Anna: She snaps a glare at Lyo, interrupting him. "See? Hentai..."

Hao and Yoh: (at once) "Shut up, Anna-chan!"

Anna: She turns to face Yoh and Hao and slaps Yoh and Hao on their left cheek simultaneously.

Lyo: (begging) "Kyoyama-san, would you just HEAR ME OUT? I wanted you to TRAIN me!"

Everyone stares in shock at Lyo.

Yoh: Nani? He wants my ice princess of a fiancée to train him? Does he wanna' die?

Hao: Training? Nani? What for?... Pfft, who'm I kidding, he's trying to get sweet on Tammy-chan...

Tamao: Lyo-chan, what do you want to do training for? I'm more afraid of what Kyoyama-san will do to you rather than what Hao'll do to you...

Anna: (humiliated) "Well, I..." (hesitating) "Well, all I have to say is..." She stares down at the ground.

Yoh and Hao: (anxiously) "Hai?"

Anna: (hesitating) "er..." She shoots a menacing glare at Lyo. (coldly) "Fifty laps around the complex, NOW!"

Lyo: He jumps to his feet with enthusiasm and bows to Anna. "Arigato, domo arigato, Kyoyama-san!" He begins running towards the perimeter of the complex.

Anna: (not impressed) "And you can do twenty more laps for lack of clarity when speaking to me!"

Lyo: (anime faint)

(one week later)-----

Lyo and Yoh jog around the edge of the complex. Yoh is short of breath and verging on passing out of exhaustion. But Lyo is running strong.

Yoh: He stops his running and places his hands on his knees, holding himself up. (panting) "H-h-how can y-y-you keep runn-ning?"

Lyo: He turns to face Yoh, jogging in place. (with no signs of exhaustion) "Yoh-san, you have no idea how lucky you are to have Kyoyama- san with you, training you to be the best."

Yoh: (panting) "Well, ma-maybe I'm mis-sing some-thing, b-but you got t-to ask for this tr-raining. I got s-set up b-by Oji-chan... and T-tou-san... ... with Anna-chan... and... I've got it hard-der than you 'cuz she wants me to be S-shaman K-king..."

Lyo: (enthusiastically) "C'mon, Kyoyama-san's not that bad. She's strong. Trust me. She can take care of herself." (with a hint of jealousy) "And she likes you. Whether you see it or not..." He continues to run on the trail.

Yoh: He collapses on the ground.

Anna: She approaches Yoh with thundering footsteps. (furious) "Get up, baka! Your laziness is pathetic!"

Yoh: He glances up at Anna. (humorously) "Hey, Anna-chan..."

Anna: (still frustrated) "Don't Anna-chan me, got it? Now get moving!"

Yoh: (worried) "Uh, yes ma'am." He gets up and runs away limply.

(inside, kitchen)-----

Hao holds a marshmallow in one hand and a chopstick in the other hand. He skewers the marshmallow onto the chopstick and holds the chopstick with his right hand, over his left hand. He balls up his fist and creates a fire over his left hand.

Hao: (joking around) "Hey, Tammy-chan, want a toasted marshmallow?"

Tamao: She stands on a tall stool and wears a bright pink apron that stretches down to her ankles. She turns her head towards Hao. "Hao-sama, don't spoil your appetite. I'm making some lunch now, so be patient, this rice takes a while to cook." She returns her attention to the stove and hums a childish tune to herself.

Hao: (disappointed) "Aww..." He extinguishes the flames on his knuckles and removes the marshmallow from the chopstick. He glances around, scanning the kitchen to see if anyone is there besides Tamao. Not noticing anyone else there, he tosses the marshmallow into his mouth. He quickly chews it up and swallows it before Tamao turns her attention to him again.

Tamao: (anime sigh) She still has her back turned to Hao. (care-freely) "Oh well, go ahead, you can have ONE marshmallow before lunch."

Hao: (guilty) "Um, hey, how'd you know that I ate it? Is this because you're a clairvoyant like Skyboy?"

Tamao: "I'm not stupid, Hao. Now quit ruining your appetite. The tofu and rice are almost done."

Anna walks into the kitchen from an open door.

Anna: (moderately impressed) "Not bad, but you've got to put a little more guilting into it. That's the trick to proper scolding."

Hao: (freaked out) "Nani, Anna-chan? Are you teaching Tammy how to scold me?"

Anna: She folds her arms. (to Hao) "Hai, Hao-sama. She's a natural." (to Tamao) "How long is the rice going to take?"

Tamao: (curious) "Why do you ask?"

Anna: "I want to know how many more laps I can get the boys to run before lunch is ready."

Tamao: She places a finger on he chin. (thinking) "Well, seeing how big the path is, I'd say... about... hmm, it'd be okay if you started them on their cool-down laps."

Anna: "Good. I'll let the boys know that their training is almost done." She leaves the room.

Tamao: "Hey, Kyoyama-san, how is this rice coming? Is it okay?"

Anna: She ducks her head back in. "Just don't overcook it, baka."

Tamao: (worried) "Hai, Kyoyama-san..."

Anna: She leaves the room again and arrives momentarily, dragging Yoh by his shirt collar.

Lyo: He follows Anna into the kitchen. "So we're having rice, ne Tammy- chan?"

Tamao: "Hai, Lyo." She picks up the wok and climbs down to a lower stool, then to the floor. She rushes towards the table, carrying the steaming hot wok with large oversized mittens on her hands.

Yoh: He sniffs the air and immediately jumps to his feet. (enthusiastically) "OOH, FOOD'S READY!" He follows Tamao to the small table in the dining room.

Hao: "Well, it's not yaki soba, but what's good for otouto is good for neesama." He follows Yoh.

Lyo: He folds his arms with pride. "That's my Tammy-chan. Man, can she cook." He grins.

Anna: She grabs Lyo by the shoulder. "Oh, and that reminds me, Lyo-sama, I've been meaning to have a word with you."

Lyo: (surprised) "Nani? What did I do?"

Anna: She grabs his arm and tugs Lyo towards the corridor.

(another room, a few minutes later)-----

Anna drags Lyo into a dark room with the curtains drawn. She shuts the door hard behind her. Lyo takes his place in a heap on the floor next to Anna.

Anna: She turns her head to Lyo and folds her arms. "Let's get this straight right now. I'm no baka, neither are you. So it's pointless to lie at this point. So let's just keep this little talk as honest as possible to avoid wasting my time. And you DON'T want to waste my time, trust me."

Lyo: "Yeah, listening. What's this coming to?"

Anna: "I know you're no more thrilled about my training than that lazy fiancée of mine, so let's get that out of the way right now."

Lyo: He holds his back and groans loudly. (relieved) "Uggg, I felt that, but now I can give up this charade' at last!"

Anna: "Is there something wrong? I'll be frank, this training is to best prepare Yoh for the Shaman Tournament. So if there is some loophole in it that makes it easy, let me know."

Lyo: "Well, now that you mention it, it's more devoted to physical exercise than to shaman strengthening. But I get a feeling that that's not what you were getting at."

Anna: "Sosa. Lyo-sama, I want you to stop training with Yoh. You're discouraging him."

Lyo: (unconvinced) "Uh huh, sosa, sure. Listen, I don't care about the Shaman Fight, I'm training for a different reason."

Anna: "Sosa. I know that you're training to impress Tamao-sama."

Lyo: (in denial) "IYE! That's not it. I'm not trying to impress anyone. I just want to make sure that Tammy-chan feels safe..."

Anna: "From Hao, ne?"

Lyo: "Sosa. Hao is trying to intimidate poor Tammy-chan into driving me away from her."

Anna: She nods her head. "Sosa, that would do it. You know that Hao is stronger, so you want to be able to defeat him should the need arise..."

Lyo: "And that time is now." (begging) "Kyoyama-san, onegai, if there is a faster way to become better, tell me."

Anna: "The only safe way I know to get more out of training is to double or triple the intensity of the exercises."

Lyo: His eyes light up with hope. "You said 'safe way'! Meaning that there is an unsafe way that is even faster, ne?"

Anna: "Erp, well, uh..."

Lyo: "Didn't you say that we weren't going to keep secrets in this conversation?"

Anna: "Iye, even for you, the tunnel is a crazy idea-"

Lyo: (encouraged) "tunnel? What tunnel?"

Anna: (anime sigh) "Well, no point in delaying this. You'll find the Tunnel of Tartarus one of these days..."

Lyo: "The Tunnel of Tartarus? Why is it so unsafe?"

Anna: "Historically, people have died in that tunnel. Many have entered, and just about all have disappeared. Never to be heard from again."

Lyo: "And if I succeed?"

Anna: "Your mana will increase, and your oversoul would be strengthened significantly."

Lyo: "Arigato, Kyoyama-san, where is this tunnel?" He grabs Anna by the shoulders and shakes her hard.

Anna: She stares coldly at Lyo. "I don't know, Kino-san won't tell me!"

Lyo: He shakes Anna's shoulder again. "Make her tell you!"

Anna: She slaps Lyo across the face, but fails to budge him in his stoic state. She gasps and backs away slowly.

Lyo: He stares on, with Anna's 'slap' having no effect on him. (coldly) "I'm serious. This is very important to me. Moreso than you may ever realize." He stares coldly into her eyes.

Anna: She shrugs her shoulder at Lyo. "Well if you want to get killed, then fine. The Tunnel of Tartarus is on the other side of a large lake on the other side of the forest. It would also be wise to eat up, because the trip through the Tunnel of Tartarus takes close to seven days."

Lyo: "Excellent. Sosa, Kyoyama-san. Arigato." He leaves the room.

Anna: "Where are you going?"

Lyo: "To prepare. I'm gonna' take care of a few things so that nothing falls into chaos while I'm gone."

(Lyo's room, later that day...)-----

Lyo gathers some items into a small backpack, those items including a map of the stars, a flashlight, a Swiss army knife, and a spare gi.

Lyo: "Poncheus, Koncheus, appear now. There is something we must discuss..."

Ponchi and Konchi materialize behind Lyo. They both have grim looks on their faces.

Ponchi: "Lyo-san, what do you wish to tell us?"

Konchi: "It looks like you're leaving. Where're you going?"

Lyo: (coldly) "Somewhere. Somewhere I don't want you two following me to."

Ponchi & Konchi: "Nani?"

Konchi: "Lyo-sama, we are your guardian ghosts!"

Ponchi: "We insist that we accompany you, Lyo-san!"

Lyo: "Iye. You two will be good and watch Tammy-chan till I get back, understood?"

Ponchi & Konchi: "Hai!" They bow down to Lyo.

Lyo: "Arigato, Ponchi and Konchi. I should be back in seven days." He picks up the backpack and walks out his room.

(dining room)-----

Tamao, Hao, and Yoh sit around a small round table. Anna comes to the table in a moment. Hao fiddles with a carrot on his plate.

Tamao: "Hao-sama, eat your veggies..."

Hao: He continues to stare at the carrot and shrinks away from it. (disappointed) "Aww, oh okay..." He grabs the carrot and turns away. He pulls a small cracker out from his sleeve and crunches it in his mouth. He then holds up the carrot and stares at it. The carrot catches fire and disintegrates momentarily. He turns back to the table. (chewing) "Okay, I ate the carrot, happy?"

Tamao: "Arigato, Hao-sama. That wasn't so bad, was it?"

Anna: She proceeds to eat her rice. (under her breath) "cheater..."

Tamao: (overhearing Anna) "Hao-sama, you've got to eat your veggies if you want to be the Shaman King someday..."

Hao: He rests his elbows on the table and rests his chin on his hands.

Tamao: "And it's impolite to put your elbows on the table, Hao-sama."

Hao: She's less like my girlfriend and more like a Kaa-san every day... He takes his elbows off the table.

Yoh: He scarfs down his rice quickly, then looks to the empty seat next to Tamao. He raises an eyebrow. (suspiciously) "Hmm, hey Tamao-sama, Anna- chan, neesama, who knows where Lyo-sama went? He's never late for anything." He points to the empty chair next to Tamao.

Everyone turns their gaze to the empty chair except for Anna.

Anna: Lyo must be preparing himself. Koetsu seemed serious about the Tunnel of Tartarus... Baka no Koetsu's going to get himself killed if he goes in the tunnel... (unsure) "I-I'm sure he'll be coming any minute now..."

Yoh: "And if not... more for me!" He reaches for the bowl of rice at the empty seat, but Anna lightly slaps his hand.

Anna: (to Yoh) "He'll be here."

Lyo walks past the open door to the dining room and continues on, with Ponchi and Konchi in how pursuit.

Konchi and Ponchi: (begging as they walk past) "Lyo-san, don't go!"

Lyo, Ponchi, and Konchi all pass by the door completely.

Yoh: He lowers his chopsticks to the table and stands up. "Hmm, Lyo- sama's going somewhere?"

Anna: She tugs him back down on his chair. "It's not important. Now eat your food."

Tamao: She stands up and heads out the door, after Lyo. "Hey Lyo-chan, wait up!"

(at the front door)-----

Ponchi and Konchi continue to whimper to Lyo, trying to change his mind about something. Lyo grabs a large bamboo rod that is almost his height. He swings the stick around like a staff, ignoring Ponchi and Konchi.

Ponchi: "Lyo-san!"

Konchi: "We're begging you, don't go!"

Tamao: She approaches slowly. (timidly whispering) "L-Lyo-chan, where are you going?"

Lyo, Ponchi and Konchi all turn their attention to Tamao.

Lyo: (affectionately) "Tammy-chan..." He holds out his hand. "Come here, there's something I need to tell you..."

Tamao: She blushes brightly. "Lyo-chan..." She paces towards Lyo slowly and uncertainly.

Lyo: (assuring) "Tammy-chan, I won't bite... Come here, Tammy-chan. This is important..."

Tamao: She walks in between Ponchi and Konchi, towards Lyo. She comes about a foot in front of Lyo.

Lyo: "Tammy-chan..." He leans his bamboo stick against the wall, then fiddles with something tied around his left wrist. "I, I want to give you this before I leave. Just in case..." He unties a string around his left wrist and hands a small purple stone fastened to the string to Tamao. "Take it..."

Ponchi and Konchi: Their jaws hang open. (stuttering in fear) "K-K-Kokoro no Tsugchi!"

Tamao: "Nani? Kokoro no Tsugchi?" She takes the stone into her hands and stares at the stone in reverence. "What's so special about this stone, Lyo- chan?"

Lyo: "Kokoro no Tsugchi. It means 'heart of the stars' in Japanese. They say that when a comet hits the Earth, it releases an immense amount of spiritual energy, or mana as some call it. Kokoro no Tsugchi allows a shaman to use this energy and channel it to his or her own mana. And... I want you to have it. Just in case that..." He hesitates.

Tamao: She worries about Lyo's lack of words. "Lyo-chan, is everything okay?"

Lyo: "I-I..." He holds his face in his hand and trembles at the shoulders.

Tamao: "Lyo-chan, arigato..." She kisses Lyo on the cheek.

Lyo: He looks up at Tamao. "Tammy-chan... I'm going on a trip, and there's a good chance that I won't be coming back. S-so if I don't come back, I, I want you to know..." (stuttering) "Ai-aishteru, Tammy-chan... You've been so special to me since you came here... and I-I..." He hugs Tamao close and with tender affection.

Tamao: She nods her head back and forth. (worried) "Iye, Lyo-chan, you say it as if you're not coming back..."

Lyo: He continues to hold Tamao in his arms. (stuttering) "Ai-aishteru, Tammy-chan..."

Tamao: "Lyo-chan, you don't have to leave..."

Lyo: He breaks away from Tamao. (defiantly) "Hai, I MUST! Tammy-chan, if this works, we can be together forever, not having to fear anyone... ever again... Tammy-chan, if this works, it'll be the end of your worries, and it'll just be anata and boku, forever... Is that not worth it?"

Tamao: Her eyes shoot open. (surprised) "Lyo-chan, what are you going to do?" A tear comes down her cheek.

Lyo: He quickly wipes the tear off Tamao's cheek. "Tammy-chan, this isn't going to be easy, and if anything happens to me and I don't come back to you, I want you to know that I'll always love you..." Tears flow down his cheeks. He raises Tamao's hand and closes it around the purple stone in her palm. "Keep Kokoro no Tsugchi... as a way to remember me... if I fail at this..." He touches the front door with his left hand and he turns away from Ponchi, Konchi and Tamao.

Tamao: She pulls him back by the shoulder. "Madamada, Lyo-chan..."

Lyo: He turns around and stares Tamao in the eye.

Tamao: (nervously) "I-I want to give you something to remember me by too..."

Lyo: (sadly pleading) "Tammy-chan, I can't stand long goodbyes from those I love, onegai, make it quick..."

Tamao: She quickly throws her arms around Lyo's neck and kisses him on the lips.

Ponchi and Konchi: They stare in shock, jaws hanging wide open.

Lyo: He leans in and kisses back. He then leans away. "Tammy-chan... I'll miss you..." He backs up and grabs the bamboo staff and walks out the door quickly. He proceeds into a run.

Tamao: She shakes at the knees and falls to the floor and cries into her hands.

Yoh, Hao and Anna pop their heads around the corner.

Hao: "Uh, Tammy-chan, what happened here?"

Ponchi: He turns to face Hao, Yoh and Anna. "It's Lyo-san."

Konchi: He turns around. "He-"

Anna: (interrupting) "Left, ne?"

Ponchi & Konchi: (to Anna) "Kyoyama-san, how'd you know that?"

Yoh and Hao turn their attention to Anna.

Anna: She glances around the hallway with obvious guilt. "Er, well..."

Yoh: "Anna-chan..."

Hao: "Anna-c-"

Anna: She interrupts Hao with an icy 'don't you finish that comment' look.

Hao: He takes a step away from Anna. (correcting self) "I-I mean Kyoyama- san!"

Anna: She raises an eyebrow. "Better..."

Tamao: (timidly) "K-K-K-Kyoyama-san?"

Anna: She stares towards Tamao. "Hai?"

Tamao: "Kyoyama-san? Where did Lyo-chan go? You seem to know something about it, ne?"

Anna: She shrugs her shoulder at Tamao. (coldly) "Lyo-sama isn't coming back..."

Tamao: With tears in her eyes, she jumps towards Anna and grabs her by the shoulder. "Kyoyama-san, tell me!"

Anna: She shoots a menacing glare at Tamao over her shoulder. (after a pause) "If you weren't so pathetic, you'd be without many of your teeth right now. DON'T EVER order ME around!" She slaps Tamao across the face.

Tamao: She plummets to the ground as Anna strikes her across the cheek. Tears pour out her eyes.

Anna: "Consider that a warning shot, since you're new here..."

Yoh: He grabs Anna by the shoulder. "And now it's my turn, Anna-chan. I'm ordering you to tell me where Lyo-sama went. Tell me..."

Anna: She quickly raises her left hand to strike Yoh across the cheek.

Yoh: He catches her hand before getting 'the slap'.

Anna: (slightly impressed) "Hmm, you're getting better..." She slaps Yoh across the cheek with her right hand. (coldly) "But not good enough."

Tamao: She grabs Anna's ankle, still with tears pouring out of her eyes. "Kyoyama-san... Please... tell me... Where did Lyo-chan go?" She stares at Anna with the 'puppy dog eyes'.

Anna: She stares down at Tamao, trying to keep a straight face. (calmly) "Lyo-sama... He's going to... the Tunnel... The Tunnel of Tartarus..."

Tamao: "Tunnel of Tartarus? Where's that?"

Hao and Yoh: Confused, they stare at each other.

Anna: "It's, it's too far away. Even if you left now, you'd never catch Lyo in time..."

Hao: (defiantly) "I will."

Anna, Yoh, Tamao, Ponchi and Konchi: They stare at Hao in shock. "Nani?!"

Tamao: "Hao-sama, you'll never make it!"

Hao: "I'm gonna' try!" (to Anna) "Anna-sama, where is the Tunnel of Tartarus?"

Anna: "On the other side of the forest, there's a large lake, with multiple canoes. Take one of the canoes and follow the current to the blackest cave there. That's the Tunnel of Tartarus. You'll know it when you see it."

Hao: He immediately runs out the door. "Got it, through the forest, follow the current!" Current, lake... I HATE WATER! I'd better hurry up before Lyo gets to the docks!

(at the edge of the lake)-----

Lyo emerges from the forest, carrying his bamboo stick like a walking stick. He sees a dock that leads over a large lake that leads into some mountains. At the dock, a single canoe is held onto the dock with an old rope. Jumping into the boat, he pulls out the swiss army knife from his backpack and proceeds to sever the rope while in the boat. As he cuts the last thread of the rope, Hao comes out from the forest.

Hao: "Lyo-kun, stop it!"

Lyo: He glances up at Hao. (stoically) "Hao, shiyano, don't give me that 'Lyo-kun' nonsense! You know that there's nothing higher on your 'things to do' list than to have Tammy-chan to yourself, Kisama." He severs the rope completely.

Hao: He runs to the dock at full speed, being careful not to fall in the water. "Lyo-kun..."

Lyo: "I SAID don't give me that!"

Hao: He giggles to himself. "Hey Skyboy, I'll be frank with you. You're the last one I'd think that would throw away their life for the love of anyone."

Lyo: His canoe drifts away from the dock. (coldly) "Funny, your actions don't surprise me at all. Goodbye, kisama, I'll see you in seven days..."

Hao: "Lyo-kun... Gomen, Lyo-kun... I-I-I didn't know that you liked Tammy- chan... I thought it would be the same as when Anna came to live with us, where you'd just keep away from her out of being so uneasy around girls..."

Lyo: His canoe drifts even further away. (coldly) "Right, kisama, you didn't think AT ALL! Tammy-chan is so special to me, and I don't want to see you hurt her like you did to Anna. So since then, I could never consider you 'Hao-kun' anymore. But only now have I realized that I have to worry about you. And about you hurting Tammy-chan... I love her, and you can't take that because you never knew real love at all..."

Hao: (apologetically) "I, hey Lyo-kun, gomen. I didn't think that you would love Tammy-chan, and that she'd learn that the hard way. So I tried to keep you away, I was wrong. But please, come back, Lyo-kun, and we can put this whole thing behind us..."

Lyo: (right before the boat leaves sight range, shouting) "TOO LATE!" The boat disappears behind the mountains.

Hao: He reaches out to Lyo's boat as it disappears beyond the mountains. "Lyo-kun!"

(A/N: Japanese dictionary update:

-yaki soba: a kind of Japanese pancake / pizza

-kun: suffix, used when referring to a good friend.

-onegai: please -hentai: pervert, being perverted

-'kokoro no tsugchi': 'heart of the stars', 'will of the stars'

-'nani ga umalelu': 'What will happen?"

This is really taking a turn to Hao Tamao. Not that that's bad, on the contrary, I like it. But more to the point,