Wow, thank you SO much for reviewing (all two of you) that even one person read my story was pretty amazing. I know how people avoid original characters. On behalf of Mai and myself, thank you so much for reading so far and please continue to read. Thanks you guys you really gave me self-confidence!

So I lied, I said next week the next chapter would be up, but really, I figured, why the suspense? It's cruel to and so here we are. Less than a week after the first chapter, the next one has arrived. I should release more often like this, it's less stressful than knowing 'OMGifiowfhqtrh9pqtht I have to write a new chapter but have no ideas aeithqeipthphy' as I did before. But this is the first multi-chapter one I've done for a while. Phew.

Please continue to stick with us. I hope you enjoy the story. Thanks again to my beta Alteng/Leslie who managed to read even with busy work schedules and shifts. Thank you!

On Hao. I really think he's cruel sometimes and at others he's really sort of gentle. In the series even though he hated what Manta was he was always quite polite when they met. I think his kindness is very patronising. He won't ever be truthful. There's a line in Othello in which Othello calls Desdemona as 'treacherous as water' which I think applies more to Hao than Desdemona, he may seem calm but he swiftly changes moods etc. and can be merciless but switch to calm in moments. Another reason why I like writing him. I think it's funny when he's patronising…

Again, British spellings so look out for unfamiliar 'u's in places.

Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman king.

"So," Horohoro asked through a mouth of chocolate "Where's your ghost?"

Mai stared at him for a moment and then remembered what she had said to them. 'I'm in the tournament'. She thought quickly and smiled softly and replied "She's a little shy; I'm sorry if she doesn't say hello"

There was a pause and three out of four boys burst out laughing. Was there a cause? Mai allowed herself a grin to match the boys to cover her falsehoods before muttering "Amusing," she looked up at them. They were looking around at various points in the air, and Mai guessed that their spirits were close by, she allowed herself to look into the directions where they did, hoping she wasn't too far off.

"Do you have any friends in the tournament?" Yoh asked, leaning forward onto his knees

Mai stared at him for a moment, off put once again by his likeness, before nodding "Yes, I know one person but I haven't managed to find him yet"

"Really?" Yoh looked interested "What's his name? Maybe we've met him somewhere before."

It had been two weeks since he had burned her. Two weeks since she had dared say anything to him at all. Mai couldn't turn around and tell her mother, that she didn't want to look after him or indeed any other guest ever again, but she couldn't act normally either. The boy seemed just as intent on ignoring her as well. She would serve his food and lay out the futon and put it away in silence. When it was time for the bath to be used, she laid out a towel on the table for him.

This silent communication seemed to work best for both of them.

Mai had decided at the end of the first week of silent communication, while sitting out in the early morning sun and enjoying the garden, that she couldn't be frightened of him. He was frightening, of course, and her hand had hurt a lot. Her outlook was not to let bullies win, however, and if the kid wanted a fight, then she wouldn't give him one, she'd stay calm and let it go: no more fear.

He didn't offer one anyway. He never met her eyes, or rather, she kept hers lowered, and he made no effort to change that. His attitude was that of indifference, she wasn't there at all. She wondered if he was embarrassed that he had lost his temper. Mai scoffed as she went about her chores, as if he ever seemed normal to begin with. Now she knew something was up. He had spoken about a Shaman and seemed to have mystical powers … and a ghost. She thought about it and realised if that didn't make him a shaman too, there was something wrong with the world.

Her fear slowly turned into resolve, and by the end of the second week, she was ready to break the silence and tell him that she was neither 'clumsy' nor a 'fool' and if he wanted to stay there, he'd better not lay another finger on her. What was he still there for anyway? Surely he had somewhere to go. It was like he was waiting for something.

Late afternoon turned the weather cooler, and the garden plants grew long shadows which crept along the gravel paths. Mai bit her lip and headed across the garden to corner him in his room. The news report of her mother's radio down the hall came out across the air clearly as Mai neared her destination. Reaching it, she looked into the slightly darker room and saw her target. He was sitting on the veranda facing the garden on the opposite corner to her, so they were at right angels, his profile lit up towards her.

"Listen you…" Mai began

'In other news; it seems a bomb has gone off in the east, killing at least 40 people. It was near a school. Reports are coming in that a number of children have died . . .' the radio seemed louder at this end of the house, the man's voice clearly reaching their ears. The birds and cicadas were suddenly still, as if listening to the world's horrors, and their silence created an eerie hush. ' . . . also the bush fires are continuing. It's estimated that thousands of animals are in danger and have already been killed, but it has been confirmed the cause was a cigarette butt dropped on dry grass. Our reporter…'

The boy's profile was sad, resigned, but also purposeful as he looked out. "Human selfishness…" he whispered, but it was as if he was shouting the words into her ear. "Look how much suffering it causes."

Mai looked closely at his features for a moment. He sounded mournful, as if the world had dumped all of its troubles upon his shoulders.

"I know what you are" she breathed

His eyes slid in her direction "Do you?"

"If you try to hurt me again I'll let the world know"

He smiled without humour "Unimportant. The world is too wrapped up in its own problems to care"

Mai balled her hands into fists. "I care."

He stared out at the garden. "Is that so?" Stretching his arms in the cotton kimono, he laid down on one side onto the wooden panels, his hair fanning in all directions as he propped his head wearily onto his palm. He no longer seemed the icy cruel personality of that night. He seemed as gentle as an old man who had seen the world for generations of time. His back bent with an age of troubles.

"Then you are the first human I have ever met to do so."

"Who am I looking for?" Mai repeated

"Yes, we have met many Shaman on our quest and would surely be able to point you in the right direction," Ryo explained, balancing his wooden sword on the end of his finger

"Unless it's in the direction of Hao" Horohoro muttered darkly

Mai bit her lip and said carefully, "Hao?"

"Yes, we don't want to run into him again" Ren chimed into the conversation after a long period of silence

They were still sitting on the park benches in the small grove, but the day was passing by quickly and the shadows were getting longer. Mai could feel a chill in the air even as she sat in her coat. The desert; hot at day, freezing at night. She wondered where she could camp.

"…so?"

Mai blinked and looked up at Yoh, "Sorry?"

"Who are you looking for?"

Mai looked away and shook her head "I've forgotten his name," she lied

Mai felt guilty, she hadn't lied so much for a long time, and now it seemed they were spilling out, snowballing after the first one. As long as she didn't show her bare arms. She had noticed that the four had an item strapped to their arm, strange looking, but she knew that if this was necessary for the tournament and she didn't have one, they'd know right away.

It was also difficult keeping up the pretence that she could see their spirits. It was hard work to laugh when they did; looking in the directions they did and follow cues. At least her training as an inn manager had prepared her to follow unspoken cues, but this was a whole new level entirely.

These boys were kind enough to share food and water with her, and she was repaying them with lies. She could only hope they wouldn't figure it out. She didn't want them to hate her.

"Where were you planning on sleeping tonight?" Ryo asked, his eyes were concerned though his tone was joking. "Under the stars?"

"Well . . ." Mai stammered "Yeah! It looks like a nice night tonight, right?" She patted her bag. "Sleeping bag present and accounted for after all!" she grinned "I don't mind"

"On your own…?" Ryo paused before leaping up and placing his hand on his heart. "Then I, Ryo, promise to stay with you throughout this night to protect you from any lecherous fiends in the night, Miss Mai, for it is my duty as a man"

"Didn't anyone tell you that you were a lecherous fiend Ryo?" Ren dead panned before glancing at Mai. "We're camping out, too, however. Perhaps it would be best to stay together for a night?"

Mai thought for a moment. It might not be too bad, before she nodded "Sounds fun."

His stay was full of absences, though he never came home bleeding again. Sometimes he had returned home full of anger and shouted at Mai as she went about her chores, cowering under his wrath, at other times he was quiet and calm when he returned. He was never gone for long periods, at most, two days. He always left his bag though so Mai knew he would come back.

She wondered why her mother didn't make him leave. He was well past the normal stay of a guest; he'd been with them almost a month. Her mother always avoided the subject when Mai tried to discuss it, but then, money was always a carefully kept piece of information in her mother's eyes.

After Mai had confronted him about hurting her, their relationships were, on the most part, silent once more. His frightening side seemed to be hidden away somewhere, waiting for anger to bait it, lying beneath the surface, and what Mai was left with was a quiet guest who only spoke when spoken to. At least it wasn't what Mai had dreaded.

One evening on an unusually cool summer day she had just placed out his evening meal when he returned from the bath, his hair wet and knotted and skin damp, not unlike his first meal in the inn a few weeks ago. He looked at the meal blankly and blinked.

"It's late" he stated slowly

Mai didn't know whether he wanted a reply, so poured his green tea into the porcelain cup and drew back, waiting. He stood on the floor for a moment before placing himself beside the table gently. Mai watched his profile in the red sunlight as she waited to continue serving him.

Hao himself, was picking up small pieces of one particular dish and examining it carefully. The small crease in his features was one of intelligence, an expression Mai had never seen on him or expected to. A side that almost seemed human compared to his character she had held of him in her mind. To further her curiosity about this new side to her guest, he blinked and put the piece down again. A frown tugging his features, as he decided he did not know what the food was. The action seemed so out of character and suddenly humorous she almost laughed.

Mai couldn't help it, she had to say something to ease his confusion, she said quietly, "It's squid."

The boy looked up, jerked out of his thoughts and repeated "Squid?"

"What you were just holding. Squid," Mai informed him

The boy picked up a piece of the meat again and eyed it casually. "It doesn't look like squid." He looked at Mai. "Are you sure?"

She nodded gently. "It's a house speciality. I'd recognise it anywhere"

He shrugged. "Is it good?"

"I think so."

He looked thoughtfully at her and then back at the squid "Then…perhaps I will like it," and placed the piece into his mouth gingerly and giving an experimental chew

Mai waited with baited breath. It was true, she did like the squid, but she had noticed that the boy had avoided squid every meal he had taken in front of her that was recognisable. Why did he choose now to taste it, when he had been so obstinate before? Looking up at his expression she snorted and in horror at what she had just done pressed her hands across her face.

"I'm sorry" she began

"Hao"

Mai blinked. "I'm sorry?" She looked up from her apology and saw him taking a large gulp of tea before wiping his mouth and pushing the squid away from him again

"My name is Hao," he repeated, "I just want you to know that before I punish you for making me eat such a foul piece of venom on such a lovely evening."

"Punish me?" Mai felt fear flood through her. She had gone too far this time she was certain. Her hands felt icy. Why did she have the stupidity to laugh at him?

Unconsciously, she rubbed the burn on her wrist.

"Come here."

Mai didn't move; she was frozen to the spot on the other side of the table to him. She didn't dare to make a sound in case she angered him further. She didn't want to be burned again. The scar she had from before was likely to stay for life.

"I said, come here."

But surely not obeying would only anger him more and thus increase punishment? Carefully she stood up and walked to where he was sitting. She kept her eyes on the floor. She saw his hand motion to a spot beside him. Mai held her breath.

"Sit," Hao said firmly and to make his point slapped the tatami mat hard with his palm.

There was nothing for it. She sat on the floor and waited. Nothing happened. The room wasn't heating from an unseen fire. Nothing. In vain she listened for some sort of sign a spirit was near and angry, or a sign her guest was angry. But none came, his breathing was regular, his movements to the table and back were calm. She watched his elbow move as he stretched for food and ate it slowly.

"I never did like squid"

Mai gasped as the bowl of squid pieces was plonked down into her hands firmly. Looking up at Hao with confusion as he continued eating and back down at the lacquer bowl; the squid pieces seemed to look up at her with an expression that mimicked her own confused one.

"I thought a 'house speciality' that you recommended might be different," he continued, "Obviously not. You like it. You eat it," he sighed, "Human's have strange tastes. Take it away."

Mai didn't move. He wasn't going to punish her for laughing at him?

Hao glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "I said take it away." He licked his lips free of flavour and said more firmly. "Just having you within ten feet wears me out. Please leave."

Mai stood up. "But, sir"

"I don't wish to see you. Leave and take that squid with you."

Mai bowed at the boy hunched over the table and backed out of the room. From a quick glance she shot back at the room, she could have sworn she saw him smiling gently out over his food. His posture was more relaxed than she had ever seen it in his presence. Perhaps his stay at the inn was beginning to relax him?

"Hao?" she breathed, "I wonder why he told me that…"

Three out of four boys were snoring peacefully on the ground in the moonlight. It was around midnight and they had talked and joked for a long time. Mai found being in their presence was relaxing, but she was exhausted from keeping up her pretence. The boys had one by one dropped off, claiming a spot around the park benches as their own. After sending Ren to hunt for an inn and him coming back empty handed, they decided that maybe the clearing was good enough after all and settled down for the night.

Yoh was sitting across from her, his eyelids drooping but not yet asleep, and Mai could hear Ryo mumbling under his breath as he slept at her feet, to, in his words, 'protect' her from 'vagrants and vagabonds'. Horohoro was snoring loudly but it seemed that in contrast, Ren was a silent, immobile sleeper. Yoh yawned and looked ready to pack it in also.

Mai didn't want to turn in yet, the moonlight and lamplight cast strange shapes across the land, and Mai was lost in her own thoughts.

"You're not a Shaman, are you?"

Mai sighed and shook her head. "Was it that obvious?" Her heart felt heavy but at least she didn't have to lie anymore

Yoh grinned sleepily and rested his head on his palm, an expression so familiar…he scratched his head and commented, "You were pretty good at hiding it, but the fact you completely ignored Amidamaru and made sure your sleeve was down to you fingertips gave it away" waving his wrist "No oracle bell!" He motioned to the others. "I'm not sure about what they thought but I figured you had your reasons."

Mai nodded and then asked, "Amidamaru, is he your spirit?"

"Yeah" Yoh replied "We're partners. You can't see him, but he's right here with us" he waved a hand into an empty spot on his right "Right about here. He's pretty tall and has lots of hair, and, oh yeah, he's also quite old fashioned!" Yoh ducked his head at a silent reprimand before laughing. "I meant your clothing, your clothing!"

Mai smiled "I wish I could see him…"

"Well…I don't know about seeing him because I've only met one guy who wasn't a Shaman who could see ghosts," he grinned, "And he's my best friend! But I think maybe if you concentrated you could perhaps feel Amidamaru's presence. Do you want to try it?"

Somehow Mai felt the question was not directed at her.

"OK then," Yoh chuckled, "This should be fun. He says he's glad to help you have a ghost encounter"

"Really?"

"Sure! Just close your eyes." Yoh closed his own eyes. "You'll pick up something, even if it's only a whisper or a touch. Where do you think the ghost stories come from?"

Mai closed her eyes and listened to the night song. The breeze crossed her face; it wasn't as cold as the previous nights but still held an icy edge. She was warm in her coat though, and Ryo's body at her feet was comforting even if she didn't know him at all. Something rustled in the bushes behind her and she heard the flap of wings above.

"Amidamaru," she heard him say softly, "Do your stuff"

Was that a whisper in her ear? A soft word from a person long since dead? Did she really feel those fingers brush her forehead? The breeze was picking up, but was that natural or not? Goose bumps prickled her skin as she felt a gentle presence and caught the scent of grass like that of her own inn's garden. A soon as it had begun however and Mai felt she had to open her eyes.

Yoh was grinning at her widely, all traces of sleep gone. He looked happy with the experiment "You tired poor Amidamaru out with all that effort. He's never done that to a non-Shaman before. You feel anything?"

Mai smiled softly and pressed her hands to her face "Yes. I think I did" she rubbed her arms "That felt much better than last time"

"Last time?"

"Oh yeah, last time hurt a lot more," Mai said before noticing Yoh's sudden change in expression, he looked serious…angry, even.

"Someone hurt you? With their spirit?" he asked quietly, his voice was hard and Mai instantly felt the recognition in her head pop up again.

Mai held up her hands. "Don't worry, it was a while ago! It was just a small burn, nothing really big or anything, and I did deserve it after all," she laughed nervously, "I wasn't…nice to him...that's all…" She rubbed her wrist along the scar. "I deserved it"

She didn't notice Yoh's grip tighten on his long canvas-covered holder as he said "How could anyone deserve that?"

Mai shrugged "I'm only human, right?"

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