Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King

Note: Hmm...a lot of people thought the last chapter was the end. Of course I wouldn't have left you hanging like that. There's still unfinished business...yes, the tape recording. Well, if you thought that was the end, it did sound like an ending, then you can think of this as an epilogue. Enjoy.

In Different Worlds

Ed's eyelids fluttered open to a high pitched voice that belonged to his little brother. "Niisan," Al called one last time and Ed finally looked up at him, recognizing his presence. The armor practically threw himself at the smaller older brother causing Ed to let out a choking sound. "I really missed you niisan!" Luckily the bed sheet was between them so there was no alchemic reaction from the philosopher's stone in Al. Realizing he wasn't supposed to touch his brother, Al finally released him and laughed sheepishly. Ed just sat up and smiled at his little brother and greeted him in the usual way, "Hi, Al. Good Morning."

Al wailed with relief beside his brother. Ed laughed at his little brother's reaction. Deep down, he guessed that he too had been worried about not being able to come back, but in the end, it all worked out, didn't it? Ed stepped out of bed and twirled around, taking in the setting of the room. It felt strange. Even though he had been gone for only one day, it felt like he hadn't seen it for a long time. Maybe having such a big adventure in a different world on the day before does that, Ed thought to himself.

Al watched his brother happily then piped, "Hey, niisan. Ren-oniisan told me all about his world. Did you have fun while you were there?" Ed turned to him. There was a spark in his eyes that read 'yeah, indeed it was a lot of fun'. The blond nodded, "Yup!" However he added, "It was a lot of fun and very relaxing, but I really missed you."

The little brother choked back sobs. His eyes were teary. There was a way in how he was standing that showed he was about to make a jump for his brother. When Ed saw this he took a step back and waved his hands at the armor in a panic. "Al! Al, I'm back already, aren't I? I promise not to leave anymore, not-that-I-left-on-my-own-in-the-first-place, so calm down!" Al took a step back and nodded. Seeing that, Ed let out a sigh.

The blond made his way towards the window. He casually peered out, not really expecting anything new to see, but just out of habit. Then something caught his eye. "Hey, Al," he asked as he scrutinized something from the window and pointed at it, "Did Winly plant some onions while I was gone? Cause I see a big white one sticking out from the ground."

"Um…" Al answered weakly when he saw what his brother was referring to, "Niisan, that's not an onion…"

"Ren!" Horohoro called happily as he and Chocolove followed Ren down the stairs of the building their room is in. The purple haired boy totally ignored him and cursed under his breath about whoever made his teammates so chummy all of a sudden. Ren had a suspicion of just who might it have been. He slapped away the blue haired boy by the stomach when he got too close. Ren grunted when he heard the voice call after him again, having recovered from the hit.

He stepped out of the building when he was stopped short by the sight of Yoh and a few others standing there waiting for him. Ren immediately found the ground very interesting. If there was one person that can make Tao Ren divert his piercing gaze it was Yoh. The taller boy sauntered over till they were inches away. This act of course caused Ren to flinch uneasily. "Hi, Ren. How's it going?" he said in a friendly tone.

"N..nothing much…" he stumbled, embarrassed for some reason that he couldn't understand. He cursed to himself at the way his cheeks were starting to flare up.

"I missed you, Ren."

Those four words—Ren couldn't understand how Yoh does it, but they caused Ren's entire face to heat up into such a deep shade of red that one would fear he may pop a vessel. The others watched from the side as this went on, clutching on to their mouths to prevent their snickering from being noticed. The moment doesn't last long, however, as a large blast of wind caught them, coming from the other end of the road.

Hao snickered evilly as the Spirit of Fire landed in the middle of the road in front of the two boys. The bandages and the bruises from Ed's damage were clear on his face, but none of the friends said anything as the expression on Hao still made him very fearful-looking. The cloaked boy paused as he scanned their minds once again to confirm something. He nodded when it was agreeable and taunted at the group, "I know that boy is not with you anymore. Without that strange ability of his, you won't be able to stop me."

He began, "How dare you for making a fool out of me yesterday. No one will make a fool out of me and get away with it. Today, I will show you. I will kill off every single one of you!" Hao was too caught up in his speech and didn't notice when Ren knelt to the ground and began drawing on the dirt with his finger. When he was finished, he placed two hands to the side of the array. A while light flashed just when Hao finished his speech. It surrounded him and the Spirit of Fire, catching them in surprise.

When the light was gone, there was a large glass box encasing Hao and the Spirit of Fire was gone. They quickly learned the reason to be the lack of air in the transparent container as Hao knocked furiously on the glass while his mouth made movements of gasping for air. The 1000 year old hammered desperately, growing red to the face, as the people watched on in awe at the second time Hao was getting licked.

The wall finally shattered to pieces as Hao collapsed onto the ground with them. He laid there, sucking in air to his deprived lungs. Ren began walking away when Yoh woke from his trance and followed after his friend. He said excitedly, "hey, Ren. With that, now you can easily defeat Hao!" The reply, however, was one that was not expected. Without turning or stopping, Ren growled, "I will not use alchemy!"

"There's too many things that doesn't make sense about it," he finished, his choice resolute though irrational. Nevertheless, Yoh smiled and caught up to his friend's side. 'It was just the way Ren was,' the cheery boy thought. He followed Ren happily towards the place where they have breakfast. Soon, one by one, the others came around and began chasing after the two, ready to give the stubborn boy a piece of their mind and to change his decision. As the group left, a few members of the Patch watched from one of the rooftops.

"So Goldva-sama, is this also a will of the Great Spirit?" the man asked uncertainly. Goldva didn't know what to say. To think someone came from another world with the ability to stop someone they had dreaded and couldn't for so many years, and Tao Ren goes and returns from another world with the same ability. And to add to that, the boy refuses to use the ability. The elder Patch didn't know what to do anymore, but just for the sake of consistency while in front of his younger tribesmen, he nodded slowly and said,

"..yes…it is all the will of the Great Spirits…"

(Later…)

"Hey, Ren. We're glad that you made it back to save us," the blue haired boy walked up to the purple-haired one. Ren crossed his arms and smirked, "Hmph, of course I'm back to save you all because you guys are…" Ren stopped when he felt his voice being drowned out by a loud and sappy-sounding voice—his own voice,

"You guys are my best friends!"

It was perfect. Everyone in the room covered their mouths. The recording had been played at the right moment and sounded as if the great Tao Ren had said it. "Yosh, perfect." Horohoro snapped the stop button on the tape recorder. Golden eyes trained onto the small device and it didn't take long for Ren to realize what was done.

"Bastard, give me that!" Ren tried to lunge forward, but felt himself being pulled back. He turned around to glare at Yoh who told him, "Calm down, Ren. It's not nice to fight." The grin on Yoh's face gave him away—the boy was in on this too. Ren narrowed his eyes then said in a low and dangerous tone,

"I'm gonna kill you all."

E

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D

bwah ha ha, so Ren won't use alchemy and all will go on as if none of this happened…not unless Ren slips and decides to use it anyway, he he he…

It's been a pleasure writing this fic and I thank you all for reading. (bows)

See you in another!