Faust smiled at everyone as he walked into the dining room. He headed over to the table and sat down next to Ryu. The table was covered in food of all kinds; Manta had cooked that morning and had clearly made enough food to feed an entire army for a month. Ryu nodded towards him and finished swallowing the overly large mouthful he had before he warned him " Watch your hands Faust, Horo Horo's like a maniac this morning. If you want something to eat, you better get it quick before he finishes everything!"

Over from the far corner of the table Horo Horo spoke up, " Manna, hiss is gate, baa you idint make nuff fo anyone ess," he had clearly not swallowed the food that was nearly hanging out of his mouth before deciding to speak.

" Oh, aha, thanks Horo Horo, it was nothing. The least I can do is give you guys a big healthy breakfast before you head off to the tournament, but uh please try and let the others eat too okay?" Manta smiled and sat down next to Yoh.

After breakfast Ryu and Faust did the dishes while the others got the last of their things ready. Saiyaka grabbed her bag and headed towards Yoh's room. " Yoh, I was wondering if I could ask you a favour." Yoh had been looking out the window but had turned around to face her now, " What would you like?"

" I was wondering if on the way to the airport, we could make a quick stop. My friend told me that she had bought something that she wanted me to take with me to the tournament, but she hasn't been at school for a few days so I was unable to get it. I was hoping, if it wasn't too much trouble, maybe we could stop by her house on the way and I could pick it up."

Yoh walked over towards Saiyaka, patted her on the back, and replied, " No problem Sai, but if we're going to be making a stop we better get going." He was about halfway out the door when he turned around, " I almost forgot! Here." He held out his hand and put a small necklace in the palm of her hand. She looked down at the beautiful silver chain with a small pink gem hanging from the center. Saiyaka glanced up at Yoh with a look of confusion on her face. " Horo Horo got them for us the other day, he got arm bands for us guys but thought you might like it in a necklace instead." He tilted his head to the side and smiled as he stuck out his arm. He was wearing a bracelet of black leather, and in the center was a similar jewel woven into it. Saiyaka put the necklace on and then headed downstairs with Yoh.

The group of six shamans plus Manta (who was coming to see them off), headed towards the airport. They had chosen to walk since they now had to make a stop on their way. It was a brisk fall afternoon, and the leaves crunched on the sidewalk under their feet. Before long they came upon Saiyaka's friends house. They entered the grounds and were met by an older man at the front door. "Kagome? Oh, her mother had to take her to the doctor for her…uh…severe back pain," said the old man.

" My name is Saiyaka, she told me that she had something to give me before I went away, do you happen to know if she left it somewhere?"

" Actually she said it was it on her desk, you may go up and get it if you like."

Saiyaka turned to the boys, " Why don't you guys go relax over on the grass for a bit, I won't be more than five minutes." As Saiyaka headed upstairs the boys walked over to a small patch of grass and sat down. Saiyaka reached Kagome's room at the top of stairs and walked inside. There on her desk lay a small package wrapped in pink paper tied up with a blue ribbon. Saiyaka tore the wrapping paper off to find a green journal. She opened it to the first page, and suddenly a letter dropped out at her feet. She picked up the letter and sat down in Kagome's chair.

Hey Saiyaka,

I'm sorry I couldn't give this to you in person, but I really hope you like it. I know you're really excited about the tournament, so I thought you might like to have a journal to record all of your adventures in. I know that you're going to do great, and I hope that you come back safe and sound. So be careful, good luck, but most of all just have fun!

Kagome

P.S- I thought you might be able to use the ribbon to tie your hair back so you can see your opponents when you're kicking their butts!

Saiyaka put the letter into her new journal, and wiped the tears from her eyes. She had never really had a REAL friend till she met Kagome. They were in the same class at school and even after the rest of the school thought Saiyaka was weird (mostly because she was often seen talking to her guardian ghost, but to others it just looked like she was talking to herself) Kagome still asked her to hang out. They had been friends for the past few months, but Saiyaka rarely saw her because she was always too sick to be around.

Saiyaka headed out towards the grass where the boys were all sitting, but someone was missing. " Hey guys, where'd Horo Horo take off to?" asked Saiyaka, her voice still a little shaky from having cried only moments before.

" He went for a walk, come on let's go get him, " replied Yoh as he stood up. They all got to their feet and Yoh began to call for him. They couldn't waste anymore time, they had to get to the airport right away. " Hey buddy where are ya? Horo Horo? HOROKEU!"

Suddenly a faint voice was heard coming from the gazebo just a few feet away, it was beckoning them to come inside. The group ran over to it and walked down the stairs to find Horo Horo leaning over a well. " Guys, I don't think this well has any water in it. How weird is that!"

" THIS IS WHAT YOU CALLED US FOR?" cried Ren. His voice echoed so loudly that it startled Trey who lost his balance and fell into the well. The group erupted in laughter, all except Len, who had had quite enough of Horo Horo for one day.

" Come on Horo Horo, let's go buddy," said Yoh as he turned to walk back upstairs. No voice echoed back at him.

" Horo Horo?" Yoh walked over to the well and looked inside. He could see the bottom of the well, but no one was there. "What the?" Yoh began to climb into the well.

" And where do you think you're going?" inquired Ren, who was clearly not amused with Horo Horo's attempt at a joke.

" Look, I'm just going to go down there and get him okay?" replied Yoh. Ryu walked up to the well and peered into it. He watched Yoh swing his legs over the edge and jump into the well. "Oh my god, YOH!" Ryu's cry brought everyone's attention to him.

" Ryu, what is it?" asked Manta nervously.

" He just…just vanished."

" WHAT!?" exclaimed Manta with a look of despair.

Ren, who by now was not at all amused by this ongoing prank stomped over to the well and looked down. "Alright, both of you, this has gone on long enough! In case you've forgotten we have a plane to catch!" Slowly Manta, Saiyaka and Faust gathered around the well, " If you two don't want to come that's fine by me, it just means there's two less people in my way of being the Shaman King!" Ryu grabbed Ren's arm, "And just what do you think you're doing?" Ryu thrust Ren into the well, and with everyone else watching, Ren vanished into thin air.

" See what I mean, they disappear!" cried Ryu proudly.

" WHY DID YOU THROW HIM IN!" screamed Manta in horror. He backed away behind Faust hoping that Ryu wouldn't come after him next.

Saiyaka, who had been quiet up until now, stepped forward towards the well. " We have to go after them."

" TO WHERE?" cried Manta; clearly still very frightened that Ryu may throw him in next.

" I'm not sure, but Yoh, Horo Horo and Ren are our friends. We can't just stand idly by while they are whisked off to god knows where through some stupid well. You can stay behind if you want Manta, but I'm going after them." Saiyaka put one her legs over the ledge and felt a hand grab onto her shoulder. She looked back to see Faust smiling at her.

" You are most right Saiyaka, we need to rescue our friends, wherever they may be. That is why Eliza and I will accompany you."

" I am never one to leave friends in danger so I'm coming to!" said Ryu as he plunged head first into the well.

Saiyaka turned back to look at Manta, his eyes showed clearly the fear that was in his heart. " You don't have to come Manta, it's okay." Manta didn't say a word. He turned his gaze away from Saiyaka and focused intently on the ground in front of him. Faust grabbed Saiyaka's hand and they thrust themselves off the edge of the well vanishing before they hit the ground.

Manta stood still, head down, eyes fixated on the ground in front of him. He knew he wasn't the bravest person, and he didn't have a guardian ghost to protect him like all the others did. He also knew deep in his heart that he couldn't just leave his friends, wherever it is that they were. He clenched his fists, took a deep breath and walked over to the well. " I know I'm going to regret this in about 5 minutes."

Manta climbed onto the edge and jumped into the well after his friends.