I'm sorry for cutting that chapter short but I was typing it late at night and wanted to post it before going to bed.

Shadowdragonlady – You'll see who's coming right in this lovely chappy here!

Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King or and any of its characters whether they be bishies, kawaii, funny or otherwise. Krystal and Shadow are my own creations.

Chapter 2: Running and fighting

The group had decided to split into 2 main groups to help Krystal to run away from her chaser. One group was going to go with her to make sure that she had help if she was ambushed and the other would stay to confront her chaser. Tamao however, decided to return to Jun who had been left alone with Ponchi, Konchi and Li Pyron.

'So who's going to stay and fight?' Yoh asked quickly as Tamao trotted back to Jun. 'I want to find out just who's after her.' Krystal was watching the street, anxious to get moving.

'I will go with her to protect her.' Ryu announced proudly. 'I can not stay with you master Yoh.'

'I never back down from a challenge.' Ren said swiftly. 'And since I'm one of the strongest here, I'll stay and fight.'

'Dude lets kick their butts!' Horohoro cried enthusiastically. He had been dying to take part in a shaman fight since they had arrived in Patch Village.

'So that's three of us.' Yoh stated looking at the rest of the group. 'No one else?'

'I'll stay too Yoh.' Faust answered. 'Then the groups are quite level.' Krystal stepped away from the group.

'I need to go now.' She whimpered. 'They're almost here.' She spun around and started to run followed closely by Lyserg, Manta, Ryu and Chocolove. Anna held back.

'I expect you to win Yoh.' She muttered. 'And be careful.'

'Don't worry Anna.' He replied without turning to face her. 'You should hurry up or you're going to lose them.' Anna quickly chased after the others, running around the corner just as they had.

'I wonder just who this person is.' Ren stated calmly. 'I mean, all of Hao's followers are either gone or under the council's supervision.' Bason formed beside him in his full form, ready to be transferred into the Kwan-dao.

'Yeah but, no ones seen anything of any of the council members…' Yoh added.

'Who ever they are I hope they're strong. I've been waiting for a good fight.' Horohoro grinned hopefully. Kororo floated over from the fountain and sat on Horohoro's shoulder. Faust said nothing but Eliza stood up and leaned on him. And they waited for who ever Krystal was running from.

They had been following Krystal run through Patch Village. For some one who claimed not to know their way around the village she sure could navigate its backstreets.

'Hey wait up!' Manta yelped. 'I can't run very fast.' It was true. He was lagging behind the others and Anna had already caught up with him. Krystal finally stopped running and looked behind her at the odd assortment of people who had come with her. Ryu and Lyserg were running alongside each other, Ryu trying to make idle conversation and failing. Chocolove was half running, half skipping in a weird joyful but yet hurried manner. And now Manta was trying desperately to out run Anna, who was looming after him. Krystal had stopped just outside what looked like a tavern and leaned lazily against the wall. She gasped for breath, not just from tiredness from the running but also from fear. She had almost been caught. Lyserg, Ryu and Chocolove reached her first. Ryu knelt beside her, Lyserg stood behind him and Chocolove watched from a distance.

'Now then.' Ryu said calmly. 'Will you now tell us who is after you?' Manta and Anna joined them, Manta dropped to his knees and panted.

'I'd like to know that too.' Anna hissed. Mosuke, Morphin, Mick, Tokagerho and Shadow all shimmered into view next to their corresponding shaman.

'We must tell them so that they may trust us.' Shadow mumbled to his exhausted shaman.

'I know.' Krystal said in between several deep breaths. 'I am being chased by a member of the Shaman Council.'

'The Shaman Council wouldn't do anything to hurt anyone.' Lyserg stated. Chocolove nodded in agreement.

'I agree my young friend.' Ryo said.

'So why is the Shaman Council chasing you?' Tokagerho questioned. Krystal sank to the ground and tear began to form in her eyes.

'I…I… I don't know.' She stammered.

'That's not good enough.' Anna growled.

'Hey give her a break Anna. She's spooked.' Chocolove said kindly. Mick walked over to Krystal and nuzzled against her arm trying to comfort her.

'She's obviously done something to annoy the council and so we shouldn't acquaint with her.' Anna said coldly.

'They're trying to kill me!' Krystal cried. 'I don't know why but they want me dead! Are you happy now Anna! Your beloved Shaman Council is trying to kill me!' Anna froze while Manta and Mosuke stepped between her and Krystal.

'Just leave her alone Anna.' Mosuke said sternly. 'She seems to be in shock.' With Mosuke and Manta stopping Anna, if only temporarily, and Morphin looked into Krystal's eyes. She sighed. Krystal was telling what she believed to be the truth. There was no doubt about it. Morphin flew back to Lyserg and told him what she had seen.

'Don't let them kill me…' Krystal sobbed. She latched onto Mick's fur and hugged him. 'Don't let them send me back to the King of Spirits. I want to stay here.'

'Did you say the King of Spirits?' Anna asked somewhat confused as she brushed past Manta and Mosuke. Krystal nodded slowly. 'That means that you were once dead. Or are you a drifting spirit?'

'Morphin says that there's only Krystal in there. And she honestly believes what she saying.' Lyserg interrupted.

'She can't be a drifting spirit can she?' Manta asked curious about Krystal. 'Anna you said that drifting spirits can't attach themselves to bodies which are dead and that if the attach to a living person then when the person dies the spirit is expelled. It takes an Itako or Dao Shi to put a spirit into or control a dead body. So she can't be a drifting spirit.' Anna thought for a moment while Ryu and Chocolove tried to comfort Krystal. Manta and Lyserg watched with their spirits.

'He sent me here…' Krystal sniffed. 'To make sure that what happened never happens again…'

Yoh, Ren, Horohoro and Faust stood waiting by the fountain until a figure cast in shadows appeared from around the corner. Yoh moved Amidamaru into both the sword and the antiquity as Ren moved Bason into the Kwan-dao and Horohoro placed Kororo into his new snowboard. They readied themselves for a fight as the figure moved closer. Suddenly, they all moved at once, silently jumping the unsuspecting figure. A cloud of dust rose up around both them and the person they were attacking.

'Hey wasn't that…' Faust muttered to himself, he was the only person who didn't actually move. The dust settle and Eliza had her scythe over the cloaked person's head, Ren's Kwan-dao was pointed at their side, Horohoro's snowboard was almost in direct contact with their back and Yoh's small double medium tip was practically on their nose. Everyone froze immediately when they realised just who they had jumped. '…Silva…'

Hurra! second chappy done