Notes:
Marukai: I does not own Shaman King, but I wish to own Ren in a way. -wink- However, I do own the characters Marukaique, Makena and Makena's True/Pure forms. :D Also, this is my first ever fanfic, so if you do flame me, don't flame me to Hell. t.t

Ren: HEY! No one can ever own me! I am way too powe- gak!

Marukai: -strangles- He's just sleeping. :D

"Blahblah" words.
'Blahblah' thoughts.
blahblah Sentijakan, the universal language of demons from Saturn (how corny, but true.), the Jatiskan (wolf demon)version.


Chapter 2 : Meeting in the Mouth of Darkness

Listening to Horo Horo for once, Ren prepared quickly for the upcoming fight. But Ren will always be Ren and have no doubts of his victory.

"I'll probably be against some amateur again, what do I have to worry about?" Ren chuckled, "That Ainu is always doubting me.

Meanwhile, Horo was outside with Yoh trying to find out what happened. Yoh kept reassuring his friend it was nothing to be concerned about, but Horo Horo kept insisting.

"But Yoooh, it was really weird and stuff. I sat there yelling at him and he looked fine then all of a sudden, bam! He sprang up and looked like he was going to cry, seriously!"

"Just leave him alone about it, it's probably nothing or it's probably something. It's none of our business to know unless he tells us." Yoh sat down and laid back, starting at the trees and beyond them the afternoon sky.

Ren burst out of the door ready to leave, but turned to growl at his hypocrite friend who was nothing but dressed and fed.

"Grr, what is taking you so long, stupid Ainu," Ren muttered out, cursed him some words in Chinese, then walked off.

"What was that, big-hair boy?" Horo yelped, but gave up and grabbed a few things, rushing to keep up behind his friends. While they were ahead, Ryu and Manta poked at Ren for informmation of his dream

"So short one, may Ryu ask what plagued your sleep causing you to sweat a sea of fear?"

Ren tried to stay silent, for he himself did not know what had caused it. "No, but maybe this fight ought to shed some light upon it," He said, guessing to get them off his back.

It was a bit of a journey to their destination, but luckily for them Horo Horo did not catch up to ruin the soft, peaceful mood. The 'arena' was beautiful, green upon green stretching out for miles with lush, vivid flowers of every color surrounding them. Ren took this as an oppritunity to clear his mind. Nightmares would only cause problems in a fight. He closed his eyes half way, then fully staring at the sky. Yoh noticed, and started to wonder if the Ainu was right - Ren was acting a bit strange.

The others noticed Silva arriving, and Ren's eyes opened from his clearity state, glaring.

"Erm..." Silva cleared his throat, "this may seem a bit odd to you, but allow me to speak first. Your opponent is a newer shaman, but has shown incredible potential. However, they have requested to only fight one of you," Silva turned toward Ren, who simply laughed.

"So all these new shamans think they can take me? I want to see them try."

Silva sighed, "Well your opponent should be here any moment... their name is Junik Marun I believe, and they don't talk much."

"What's with all this 'they', is it a he or she?" Yoh sighed boredly, a bit disappointed.

"They did not wish to reveal that."

"Probably because they have something to hide..." The Ainu boy laughed under his breath, until a sharp leaf cut him across the cheek. It wasn't even windy. "Er, hey? What the hell?" Horo started to shout his head off, while everyone hushed to hear footsteps approaching.

When the figure cleared into view, they saw a person with a size similar to theirs, possibly beign their age. The hair was white, the front half was spiked in a wild manner while the back was separated into 5 thick strands clamped by gold bands. A mask split down the center with one side black, one side white. A panel of gray fabric covered their torso front and back. The only words spoken were by the hand, a simple wave 'hello'.

Ren felt his stomach lurch, making him feel sick beyond reason. 'What the hell? What's going on... erk...' A sharp pain struck him through his chest, and he gripped his heart. 'Argh... this is the same pain from before...in my dream.' He looked at the shaman and growled, having a feeling they had something to do with this. The Tao's glare pierced through the wolfen, eyeless mask placing bright blue eyes into a widened lock.

The shaman mumbled something quietly, being inaudible to everyone around. "...it's him..." Junik thought to themself a way to be separated from the other shaman with the Tao. "A void will work simple enough..."

Ren struggled to his feet and shouted acrossed the green.

"Let's get this started then!" This guardian spirit appeared beside him, prepared for the worst.

The Marun simply nodded, a wide grin hidden behind the mask.

Ren simply charged while Junik stayed still, summoning a white wolf head around her hand and forearm, glowing with an arua that shocked the Tao. He slowed down a bit for a defensive side to think.

'What's with that aura? ...it seems so familar.' He searched his mind for an answer, only coming to his dream. Stopping he watched Junik bring forth a large sword surrounding itself with the sameaura. The shaman whispered what seem to be a chant, but Tao Ren could only focus on the last two sylables spoken with a dry voice.

"...kaique..."

"What?"

A few moments later, the Tao and Marun were surrounded by a dark void, causing Ren to shiver in fear of his memory.

'I need to see behind that mask'

The fearful Tao looked around, using his senses to try to locate his opponent. He heard gentle footsteps approaching and turned toward its source.

"Just show youself, I know who you are," Running forward, he swung out his weapon and struck something, hoping he didn't really hurt his opponent too bad, it would be too easy.

A light glowed, showing both of their faces in a multi-color aura. The hidden shaman's mask broke in half right along the center line between the two colors.

"Hah, you got me." A soft voice giggled.

Ren was stunned, "Wha-? You're a girl?"

Yeah, I am. Junik isn't my name either," She grinned, ignoring the shocked Tao staring at her. "My real name is Makena Criundae... uhh... are you ok?" She waved her hands in front of his eyes.

"Huh? Uh.. hi!" Ren's face turned red as he felt embarrassed of being caught off guard. Makena started to poke at him, giggling the whole time.

"You look like a cherry!"

"That's NOT funny!" Ren shouted, turning even redder.

Outside, Yoh and Horo thought something was defintly wrong, but the others thought nothing of it. Horo Horo had to be funny and make a 'joke'.

"What if that Junik character is a girl, and is like... you know," He started making kissing noises but was stopped when Lyserg's hand connected with his head.


A/N: Woo, ok. Second chapter which I spent an hour last night and like 2 hours during school to write. It sucks when your friends try to read it before it's done. ..;; I changed my mind on reviews, 10 for a 3rd, and 14-15 for some goodness in that chapter when I attempt to write it tonight.

Ren: Uh... rawr?

Marukai: LESS AWAKING! -strangles-

Oh,

Mr Gasparutti - Fat people don't count. XD
Single and lovin it - I uh... noticed that. I fixed it. I must have been typing it fast and didn't see right away. :o