I am so happy everyone is enjoying this as much as I am! Thank for all your reviews, YOU GUYS ROCK! (and you also inspire me to keep writing!) I thought I should just leave you guys a quick note to inform you all that I have only seen the first "season" of Shaman King (which was brought to me 4kids and they changed a whole bunch of things, so thanks to everyone who corrected my errors there!) and as for the manga, well I've only been able to get my hands on what Shonen Jump will put out slowly...I mean monthly. So I'm only up to where Silva is warned about Yoh's next opponent Faust. I'm trying my best, and I thank all of you who helped me out instead of flaming me, you guys are so great. So, on to the next chapter! :)

It was beginning to get dark out so the group decided to set up camp. The cool breeze rolled through the trees ever so gently. Inuyasha and Miroku had made a fire and most of the group had gathered around it. Manta was warming his hands next to the fire when he looked up to find that Yoh was missing. He got up and walked over towards a small cliff just a few feet away from everyone else. Yoh was sitting with Amidamaru looking out at the beautiful view before them.

" Sure is pretty here at night," said Manta quietly.

" Yeah, it sure is. It's so natural, you can see all the stars from here." Yoh replied in awe.

" It is…quite a beautiful sight Master Yoh," commented Amidamaru as he looked out over the vast landscape before them.

" Yoh, can I ask you something?" inquired Manta.

" What's on your mind Manta?"

" You haven't forgotten about the Shaman tournament have you? I mean shouldn't we be trying to find a way back home?"

" You're probably right, but right now, our new friends need our help. Besides, Anna would want me to be practicing right? And what better way to practice then by killing some demons!" Yoh said happily. He lay back against the grass and stared up into the sky. Manta followed Yoh's lead and layback as well staring up into the vastness of the starlit sky above them. Neither said a word after that, they simply took in the beauty that surrounded them.

Kagome and Sango had taken Saiyaka to a nearby hot spring to freshen up. The water was so warm on such a cool night; it was refreshing to feel its warmth ease their aching muscles.

" Lady Saiyaka, we should return to the others before they begin to worry," warned Setsuna. He had been Saiyaka's guardian spirit since she was 10. They had met the night that Saiyaka had run away from the orphanage. She had been sitting alone underneath a large oak tree when suddenly he appeared before her. He was rather tall and thin, with blonde hair that constantly fell over his piercing blue eyes. He was the type of guy that girl's referred to as a "pretty boy", but he was also the type you just couldn't help but fall head over heels in love with. He had been angry that someone had disturbed his resting place that evening, but when he saw the small red haired girl, tears running down her face, scared and alone, he was reminded of his own life. He had only been 19 when four fellow classmates murdered him as he attempted to walk home one evening. He had been at the library studying alone, like always, and still in his school uniform, he walked home through the park like he had always done. Without warning, four of his classmates surrounded him and began to push him around. The four boys had been bored and decided to beat someone up just for the sake of something to do. Setsuna fell to the ground and began to back away from his attackers. Still they kicked him and punched him, he backed up against the tall oak tree and curled into a ball as they continuously beat him. The more he begged them to stop, the harder they hit him. Blood was dripping down into his eyes making it harder for him to see. They had stopped beating him, but he couldn't tell if they were gone, or just waiting for him to try and get up, to begin attacking him again. He lay beneath the oak tree tears rolling down his face intertwining with the blood that was now beginning to cover his clothes and body. He couldn't take the pain anymore; he breathed his last breath, and died alone at the base of the tree. The moment he saw Saiyaka there, laying beneath the oak tree all alone, just like he had done, was the moment he made his choice to be her guardian spirit. He had never left her side since.

" Setsuna, you worry too much! They probably haven't even noticed we're gone!" laughed Saiyaka.

" Umm, if you don't mind me asking Saiyaka, who are you talking to?" questioned Sango.

" My guardian spirit, Setsuna, he's been sitting on the ledge over there next to our clothes ever since we got here. He's sorta been watching out for us," answered Saiyaka.

" WHAT!" screamed Sango and Kagome.

" What? What's wrong?" Saiyaka began to look around frantically.

" A guy has been watching us the whole time?? But we're…" Sango lowered her voice, " not dressed."

" It's okay, he's not like your friend Miroku, no offence, Setsuna's more interested in what's going on around us then us being not dressed." Saiyaka replied with a smile. Sango and Kagome laughed awkwardly but still felt a little uneasy about the "man" watching them as they bathed.

" Lady Saiyaka," whispered Setsuna, " I think something is moving in the bushes beyond you."

The girls looked towards the bushes on their left and they could hear the faint rustle of its leaves. Kagome groaned and grabbed a rock from the edge of the hot spring. The flung it towards the bushes.

" What are you doing Kagome?" questioned Saiyaka a little uneasy; she wasn't prepared for a battle at a time like this.

" YEOOW!!" a male voice echoed from the bushes.

" Alright, you've had your show, now get out of here!" yelled an angry Kagome. Miroku stood up followed by Horo Horo and Ryu.

" Oh hello ladies! We didn't even see you there, how's the water? Nice and warm?" asked Miroku with a sly smile.

Horo Horo leaned in towards Miroku, " What are you talking about? You knew they were here, you told us we'd be able to see them from here!" snapped Horo Horo. Miroku slammed his fist down on Horo Horo's head.

" Hello ladies," smiled Ryu as he waved at the three girls.

Miroku sighed heavily; he grabbed Horo Horo and Ryu and dragged them back towards the camp that had been set up.

Sango, Kagome and Saiyaka returned to camp not long after the three boys. By that time Yoh and Manta had seated themselves around the fire as well. They sat around swapping stories for a few hours, the shamans about their qualifying matches and the others about the demons they had defeated. Everyone was starting to feel tired and they decided that it was time to take a rest. With the spirits keeping a careful watch, everyone tried to find a comfortable place to sleep.

Miroku tried to cozy up next to Sango but Kirara made it quite clear that that was not a good idea. He ended up sleeping next to Ryu and Horo Horo. Kagome slept close to Inuyasha, who felt that even though spirits were keeping a watchful eye, he too better sleep lightly and keep guard. Yoh and Manta found themselves a comfortable spot not too far from Ryu and the other boys. Saiyaka walked over to Ren and lay down next to him.

" What do you think you're doing?" he snapped.

" I just thought that…this uh…looked like a comfortable spot, that's all," Saiyaka replied sheepishly. Ren grabbed his Quan Dao and dug a line through the grass between himself and Saiyaka.

He poked her with the end of the Quan Dao, " That's your side. Don't get any ideas and you can stay."

With that he rolled over, turning his back to her. She smiled to herself; she was wearing him down, she thought, little by little.