A little birdie in my head got me into Beyblade, which is really odd. I don't remember EVER liking Beyblade. I didn't like it when it first came out with the horrid animation, and I didn't like when I saw V-force. But then, my friend forced me to watch one of her RAW episodes with her so... Yeah, I'm now addicted to Yuriy and Mihaeru.
"You're obviously one of those people who like to watch mortals from higher places. I'm going to be the one to take you down, I swear on my life." - Hiwatari Kai, Bakuten shoot Beyblade.
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Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King nor any of it's characters
Worlds Apart
By: Chiharu
Chapter 5
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Somewhere around dawn, Macchi had woken up painlessly. She was never a morning person, so it was an odd sight of her waking up because of the silent crowing.
She walked out into the halls of the shrine, rubbing her purple eyes while looking up at the moon. Bright, leading, and beautiful. She found herself wondering what the moon looked like in Hell.
"She left." A peaceful voice spoke up, cutting through her pondering. She turned around to see Hao behind her, giving out an amused look.
"Boku..."
Hao had shrugged, sitting down next to her on the ails of the sidewalk, laying his head against his palm. "Kyouyama Anna left, I saw her walk past our room."
Macchi blinked, wondering if that qualified as random. "How would you know, don't you sleep?"
"Not really." Hao muttered, looking up at the sky. "I find it peaceful at nighttime, different from day. When the sun is out, the world is full of life again. Busy, up-roaring, pollution of insignificant things."
She didn't try to understand him, it was too early to use her brain. Instead, she focused her glaze on the night-sky. "My mom used to tell me stories of a lady living on the moon..."
"Oh?"
"Her name was Yue Tu, and she lived with her snow-white rabbit. She lived as a dancer, and was granted the privilege from Heaven." Macchi smiled to herself, remembering the childhood story. "My friend and I would daydream about what it was like, you know, to live on the moon by ourselves. But then you back at your life and realize: there's no place like home." She dreaded the fact of sounding corny, but it was partly the truth.
"It's odd that you're wonder about life."
"Pity. Don't worry, I only use my brain when I'm half awake. Other times, I try to avoid contact as much as I can." She rolled her eyes, sarcasm leaking through her voice.
"Nice." He grinned, tucking his knee him while laying his head down. A soft smile on his features, he turned to look at her.
The hallway fell silent.
"Don't you miss your friends?"
She blinked, rubbing her eyes. It took a few seconds for the question to process through her head, logically. "I... My friends are the best. They've seen me with greasy hair, bad fashion, and even when I'm on a temper trampy; even then, they still stick close to me. It's just one of those time when you realize: friends are forever. You know?"
He hummed softly, pastel hair brushing against dark black eyes. "Yes."
She grinned, patting him on the back. "Hey, I know I'm bitchy most of the times, but I'm not a bad person or anything. Or at least, I hope so. We're sort of friends, right?"
"I don't know." He shrugged. "Are we?"
She paused, pressing a finger to her lip. "Well, the way you look at it: we're gonna be stuck together for a long time, might as well be friends. I mean, I don't really care, but it's always easier when you can count on someone else behind your back."
He gave her an amusing look. "Eh, whatever you say."
"Here, pinky swear." She help up her little finger at the boy, grinning dumbly.
He almost laughed, but extended his hand to her. Maybe, finding the right thing at the right time would be unavoidable. But... It was just easier that way.
"Done!" Macchi grinned, pulling on a thread of his hair. She found it amusing, to say the least. "Where are we going next?"
"Back to bed?"
"No, really." The redhead shrugged. "Where are we going next? I mean, I know we're going to Izumo and deliver the package. But what's after that? What do we do when we get there?"
He paused, looking up. "You worry too much."
She snorted. "Me? You're the serious one. I just don't want to mess up on this."
There was a point of pausing.
"You won't."
Macchi blinked, watching the boy get up. Silently wondering if there was something wrong with her hearing. "Come again?"
He was gone already, leaving that odd sense of honesty in the halls. Asakura Hao was one odd cookie, she mused. And speaking of cookies, she could feel her stomach grumble already.
"Ohayo." Pilica smiled, setting knife down.
"It's five in the morning." Macchi stated, slowly rubbing her eyes. She scanned the girl over, blinking. Pilica was already dressed in T-shirt and skirt, ready for the day. "Why are you up?"
"I'm always up this early, if that's what you're wondering. I like to cook breakfast, besides, we still have to get ready."
"Ready for what?"
"The party, of course!" Pilica laughed, clapping her hands together.
Macchi stared at her. Before blinking, she mentally pinched her arm. "Oh god, a reoccurring day!"
"What are you talking about?" Pilica giggled. "The actual party is tonight, after you leave. The illusion from yesterday was to distract you. You didn't think we'd set up the entire shrine just to trick you guys, ne?"
"Eh." The redhead grinned. "Of course not.... So there's really gonna be a party?"
"Yes. And since the decorations from yesterday were partly illusional, I still have to finished the decor." She held up to packs of icing. "What do you think? Strawberry or chocolate?"
"Um..." Macchi leaned forward on the counter, running a finger through the white icing. She slowly tasted it, smiling. "Neither, use vanilla."
"Done." Pilica smiled, squeezing the flourish material onto the cake. She slowly perfected the pattern, forming a obvious flower at the end on the sides. Macchi read over it, looking onto the words. It was a five level cake, each larger in radius. It was quite an astounding cake, actually.
"Did you make it yourself?"
"Who, me?" Pilica laughed. "No, the cook did this. I don't have the actual talent to make something like this. I was just editing the icing part."
"Wish I could stay ti taste the cake." She mused, grinning. "It look sooooo good!"
"Actually, that why I have to hide it from Oni-chan." Pilica put her hands on her hip. "I just hope he doesn't eat it all before the guests arrive."
Macchi laughed. "I wouldn't blame him them. It probably is good. Too bad we have to head out today."
"Well, you know." Pilica shrugged. "I'm sure you'll have much more fun out there. I'm stuck with attending the guest, it's not something to be proud of. But the food is good."
"Right." The fairy grinned. "I'm.. Eh, kinda hungry. Can I have some of that cake?"
"Very amusing, no. Nice try."
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"This is where we part." Meene smiled, handing a neatly packaged box to Macchi. "From the temple of Kyoto, you will leave this realm and back to the mortal world. Please do not open the package until you get to the destination."
"Hai." Yoh grinned, resting his arms behind his head.
"Sorry about all the trouble they caused." Nichrome stated, crossing his arms. "I'll keep an eye on them."
Horohoro grinned, leaning one elbow over Nichrome's head. "You do that, shorty." Chronologically, he was still a feet taler than the other boy.
"Go west." Denbat instructed, handing a pice of parchment to Lyserg. The boy gently accepted, blinking slightly.
Macchi leaned over Lyserg's shoulder, grinning. "We don't need a map."
"It's not a map, it's a instructional device for you to keep in contact with the shrine." Pilica explained, her eyes shinning with pride. "It shows you all the hidden realms and magical forces a normal map would not detect. It's perfect for your journey, I made it."
"Right." Macchi grinned, stuffing the rolled-up parchment in her duffle map. "Anything else?"
"Also." Meene smiled. "You know the route, right?"
"The Osorezan mountains." Hao spoke up, silently nodding at it. "We take where the trail in the woods leave us, there should be at least seven or eight towns to pass by."
"Then beware." The string mistress's face suddenly faltered. "There are thing never to be tempered with, good luck on that."
Everyone fell silent.
"Eh... Where's Anna?"
Pilica smiled at Yoh, breaking the eerie silence. "I think she already left. But don't worry, you'll see her again."
Yoh grinned sheepishly, not exactly taking the information in. "Eh, sure."
"Right then, off we go!" Macchi yelled, making a run down the hill, her flaming red hair flowing behind her as her orange duffle bag waved.
"She doesn't have to be so dramatic." Nichrome muttered, chasing off after the girl. He reached for his bag, silently cursing Macchi's agility.
Hao gave Yoh an incoherent shrug, following the others down the slope.
"Oh, and Lyserg?"
The green haired boy turned around, blinking.
"Just... Have some fun, okay?" Meene smiled.
"Eh, sure..." He turned around, running after the others. They were already half-way down the hill, waiting for him.
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"I think....." Macchi paused. "We're lost." "No duh, Sherlock." Nichrome groaned, sitting down next to the tree. "We've been here for hours. Didn't anyone leave some sort of a trail?"
Yoh grinned. "But that wouldn't be fun, though." He gestured toward their right. "Walking around in circles doesn't really mean we're lost. Plus, it's much more fun to explorer the forest at night."
"So you think we're walking in circles too?" Nichrome sighed heavily, leaning his head against the bark of the tree. He turned to Macchi. "What does it say on the map?"
"Nothing."
Lyserg blinked, frowning slightly. "Nothing? I'm quite sure there should be a-"
"That's just it, nothing." Macchi explained, rolling the map onto the ground. The fallen leaves made a cracked noise as she attempted to smooth the paper out. "See?" She pointed to a certain spot. "We're suppose to be right here... But we're not because...."
"We're in the middle of nowhere." Hao deduce, voice flat.
"Gee, aren't you to optimistic one?" Macchi rolled her eyes, brushing a thread of red hair out her eyes. "Anyways, I don't think we're suppose to be here at all."
"Check that map the high priest gave you." Hao said, leaning over Macchi. She could feel strands of his soft hair touching her back. She quickly forced the thought out her head, taking the rolled parchment out.
The boys gathered around the paper as she laid it over the said map.
Lyserg paused. "Mattise-san, I think..."
"We're in the enchanted forest, just great." Nichrome groaned once again. "This place is haunted, and it's about to get dark soon."
"What are you, afraid of ghosts?" Macchi smirked.
"Ah- no. I'm a shaman, Einstein."
"Come to think of it, that's kind of... weird, don't you think?" Macchi turned to Hao. "It seems that everyone involved in this case is a Shaman, or part-shaman." She counted her fingers. "I'm half-shaman, you two are full shamans." She looked at the twins.
"Anna is an Itako." Yoh continued on. "I think Pilica was a cleric Shaman, Horohoro is a shaman, Meene-san was a cleric shaman, high priest Denbat was a monk..."
"I'm a shaman." Nichrome added. Everyone paused, turning to look at Lyserg.
"I'm a drowser." He explained softy. "That's another type of shaman."
"That is kind of odd." Nichrome nodded, folding his arms together. "You'd think there's something weird going on."
"You're just being paranoid." Yoh grinned. "It's probably just by luck. Ne, Lyserg?"
"If you say so..."
"Besides, we can always rest in that cave if the sun goes down." The younger Asakura twin pointed to his right. Macchi blinked, turning her head half-ways.
"That cave wasn't there before..." Hao stated caciously.
"Oh, you're just blind." Macchi gave him a soft pat in the back. "You can stay out here if you want, but I'm going in. There's no way I'm staying out here at night." She stood up, dusting her skirt. "You coming?"
"Don't worry, Aniki. Nothing bad is going to happen." Yoh smiled, following the others down the trail.
Hao paused, blinking. Aniki... No one has called him that before... It sounded... odd. He was always either 'Asakura', or 'hey boy'. Even 'Hao' sounded unfamiliar... He shook his head, it didn't matter.
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The boy pushed the gate open, muttering softly. His dark purple hair was slightly ruffled, not that he cared. Everything in the halls were already set up.
"Eh, hi?" Pilica blinked, sitting another pack of forks down.
"Where's the string mistress?" He deadpanned, ignoring her attempt to be civil.
"Well, hello to you too." Horohoro stepped out, hands on hip. "Mistress Meene is in her study. You're early for the party, feel free to-"
"I'm not staying, I just want to see-"
"Hey Pilica, where's that poker pack you stored in the lobby? I can't find it anywhere-" Meene paused, walking into the halls. She suddenly smiled after seeing the boy, clapping her hands together. "Oh, you're here early!"
"That's what I told him." Horohoro grumbled. "But he didn't listen to me."
"Nonsense! He's like family!" Meene smiled, pushing the stoic boy toward the siblings. "Ren, they are my shinigamis: Pilica and Horokue Usui. Guys, this is Tao Ren!"
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Macchi sat up in her sleeping bag, blinking. She grabbed onto Lyserg, who sitting next to her. "What was that?"
"What?" The boy blinked, keeping an eye on the fire.
Macchi sighed. "Oh... Eh, noth-"
It's not me....
She froze, clutching tighter onto his arm. "Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Lyserg paused, giving her a worried look.
She frowned. "You mean, you didn't hear it? It's that... I swear... I..."
"Poor girl." Nichrome tisked, looking innocently sweet. "You're finally acknowledging the voices in your head. It's hurtful to realize you're crazy."
Macchi growled at him, about to open her mouth.
I don't want to die....
She froze, cold shivers running down her forehead. "That, did you hear it this time?"
"Eh... No." Nichrome now looked confused, crossing his legs in a bending position. "I think you should get that checked out, hear things others don't isn't exactly sane."
"I-" Please....
"Did you hear-"
"Macchi." Yoh spoke up. "He's right, you're imagining things. There was nothing there. Look, none of us heard it either. You just ate too much of that fish-"
"I heard it." A quite, but firm voice cut through his speech. Everyone turned to stare at him.
"I head it too." Hao repeated
Yoh frowned. "Are you sure? I mean, it might just be the wind and all. I'm pretty sure I didn't sense anything around than the five of us."
"I'm empathic. If I can hear it, it's defiantly here." Hao stated, standing up. He turned to look at the other end of the tunnel, leading into the depth of the cave.
Everyone paused.
"Eh... Guys..." Nichrome spoke up carefully, voice shaken. "Why is the entrance blocked?"
Macchi blinked, turning around. "What are you talking about, the entrance to the cave isn't-" She frozen, staring at the scene in front of her. What had been the entrance was now completely filled with enlarged rocks. It wasn't even possible, how come none of them had noticed this before?
Please....
She shivered, hugging herself. "I heard it again."
Yoh stood up, face blank. He followed Hao's glaze into the other tunnel, pitch black. "Well, troop. Looks like someone wants us to go in there."
"You've gotta be kidding me."
"I'm not." Yoh shook his head. "It's not not any of us are scared, ne? Besides." He slowly slid his orange walkman back on. "This is pretty cool."
"Do we have to?" Macchi bit her lip, stuffing her sleeping-bag back into its capsule. "The other end of the cave is just... So dark. Can't we do something else?"
"Afraid of the dark?" Nichrome smirked.
"You wish."
"No, I don't." The boy grinned, reaching over Macchi's bag. "Don't you have some sort of flashlight in there?"
"Two." Macchi paused, jerking her duffle bag away from Nichrome. She dug another watch out. "I have a flashlight, and a portable watch screen."
Blank looks were sent her way.
"It's a watch-light, smart one." She grinned, dangling her wrists up. "You know? Like in Meitantei Conan? Besides, this means we can split up in there." She gestured toward the split end of the tunnel, cut in two different directions.
"Then I take the flashlight!" Nichrome declared, grabbing the lighting tool from Macchi. "We're splitting, 2-3. The bigger group takes the flashlight." He reached over and gripped Lyserg by the arm.
"Fine, I'll go with Hao!" Macchi spit back, grasping onto his right arm. She didn't feel like going with Nichrome, he would just taught at her anyways. Lyserg doesn't look like the daring type, and Yoh... Well, she didn't care about what he thought. The only logical one left was Yoh.
"Whatever." The patch boy rolled his eyes, leading his way through the left tunnel as Lyserg and Yoh followed behind.
Macchi glared at him, flicking on her watch while turning toward Hao. "Come on, let's go."
The older twin nodded, following her into the second tunnel. "Why right?" He stepped up so they were side-by side.
The redhead shrugged. "Eh, because they turned left? Besides, this place is haunted, it gives me the creeps." She silently shivered at the thought.
"You said you weren't afraid of ghosts." He adjusted his jacket.
"I'm not." Macchi frowned slightly, biting on her lower lip. The corner was getting darker, even her light-watch was only able to give out a small amount of light, barely enough. She found her hand slipping into his. "It's just.. Not right."
Hao paused, blinking. He held up his arm, she still didn't let go of his hand.
"Sorry." The girl muttered, blushing. "I... Eh, have to hold someone else's hand whenever I'm scared."
"Right." He smiled, sending a pack of butterflies down her stomach. Why do the cute ones have to be weird, she silently wondered. It was the same thing she had asked when they first met.
"Thank..." Macchi mummer, continue to walk.
There was a period of awkward silence between the two. She slowly counted the number of steps they had taken from the spot, sounds echoing through the cave.
Help me....
Both teens froze, looking around.
I don't... I didn't...
Macchi found herself clutching tighter onto Hao, looking around desperately. "Ah.. Oi, Who's there?!"
Please...
Hao kept quite, slowly closing his eyes as if predicting something. She stared at him, feeling a warm surge of furyoku channeling through her body. "Wha..."
"She never told you, Macchi."
"Eh?" The girl blinked, completely lost. Just when she was about to speak, her eyes widened. Countless thoughts passed through her head, messing around with the cycle.
--Why?--
--We can't tell her, Avern. It's just not right. I want her to be a normal girl, living a normal life--
--Are you crazy? She's a justice fairy, part shaman living in the 7th realm! Of course she can't be normal, who is?--
--I want her to live in the mortal realm with me.--
--What? That's not funny.--
--I wasn't joking. I want her to live with a normal life with me. We're leaving you, Avern.--
--You creep! Get a life, our daughter is growing up here, like any other normal justice fairy! Period. We're gone talking, get out of my house!--
.......
She looked up at him, shivering. Her eyes shook, beginning to tear up. "Asakura, whatever joke you're playing, this isn't funny! Get those thoughts out of my head!"
He leaned down, gently cupping her face. "I'm not playing with you, Mattise Matilda. Your mother never told you this, but she was an empath as well. You're half-empathic."
His chocolate brown eyes blended into the serenity, calming her nerves down. Temperately forgetting their location, she frowned. "No, I'm not. I would know if I was empathic, because I... I'm not." She whispered softly.
"Yes, you are."Hao firmly correctly, brushing red hair out of Macchi's eyes. "Empaths are crazy and pathetic, I know. But your mother was partly empathic, about 10. That why you're hearing these things Macchi. The other voices were not strong enough for you to detect before."
"Lair." She muttered, trying to level a glare at him. She wasn't empathic, nor did she want to be. Empaths were crazy, they had too many problems not being able to control.
"Listen." He leaned down even lower, face barely away from hers. "I'm not going to lie to you, being empathic sucks. But you don't have to worry, you're only 5 empathic. I doubt it will even matter. Only the most concentrated traits can be detected by you, which is practically never. Just... I just want you to except that about yourself." Was he.. Trying to comfort her?
"What?" She blinked, eyelashes fluttering softly.
"So you can except me."
"I-"
"Don't lie, you're afraid of me. You think I'm some sort of bad seed from Hao, so you try the hardest to stay away from me." Hao replied slowly, almost whispering into her ear. "You want to be friends with me, but you don't want to except the fact that I have... Issues."
"I don't have a problem with your issues..." She said, biting her lips. Exactly why where they whispering again? "Fine, I get that I'm kinda empathic, what do you want me to do about it?"
He smiled, letting go of chin. "Good, I need you to try and find where that voice is coming from. There's something static blocking my signals."
She blinked, was this what he was trying to get to all along? She quickly shook her head, it didn't matter. "Yeah.... Can you just, try not to be so serious about it next time? Besides, what was all that mumbo-jumbo about?"
"That mumbo-jumbo was your parents fighting, Macchi." He frowned, crossing his arms together. "About where you would go, in case you couldn't figure that out."
"Really?" She looked up at the boy. "I never knew.... Was that why they split up?"
"Don't know." He reached for her hand, smiling softly. "Still need me to hold your hand?"
She felt her face burning, "Ah..."
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"So...." Nichrome raised an eyebrow, slowly picking at the rock. "We're at a end dead."
"Yep." Yoh grinned slowly, rubbing the side of his head. "I guess we'll have to go back. Aniki and Macchi probably took the right path, I wonder if they waited for us."
"Right." Nichrome sighed, turning around before pausing. He flicked the button on the flashlight, blinking slightly. "Eh... This thing isn't turning on."
"Ne?" Yoh looked down the handle, chucking the batteries out. He paused for a second, grinning. "Well, that's interesting..."
"What is?" Lyserg spoke up, looking around.
"...."
"What is it?!" Nichrome demanded impatiently, tapping his foot.
"We're out of power."
The boy choked, falling onto his back. This was so not the right time.
"Eh... You if want, I can point the way out with my pendulum..." Lyserg assured him, taking out his wire-based strings.
"Really?" Yoh grinned, putting his hands behind his head. "Cool, I didn't know you could do that."
"Why didn't you tell us this earlier?!" Nichrome nearly yelled.
"Eh..." Lyserg sweat-dropped. "You never asked."
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"This is crazy." Macchi declared. "I can't hear anything now. I mean, I'm trying, but I really just can't hear anything."
"It's okay." Hao shrugged, leaning back against the wall of the cave. He looked out at the scene of the beach, sand brushing against his feet. "At least you led us out the cave."
"You think Nichrome and the others will realize they're at the wrong end soon?"
"I already do." Another voice cut in.
Both turned around, already expecting the face of a partly paranoid boy, a grinning brunette, and a smiling grenette. Nichrome, Yoh, and Lyserg who was silently drew his wire up, folding it back into its sash.
"Look, it's dawn." Macchi whispered, pointed toward the view of the silent beach. She waved pounded softly onto the shore, carrying some shells and pieces of the ocean. "It's so pretty."
Indeed, she hadn't realized they had spent the whole night in the cave. But the beach was beautiful, anyone who disagrees would clearly be blind. She would just sit there, watching the beach everyday.
It took a few seconds to register the fact that Lyserg had asked her a question. Macchi blinked, turning toward the green-hair boy. "Eh... What?"
"He said." Nichrome restated, sitting down next to her on the edge of the cave. "Where are we heading now?"
"Silly." She sighed, laying her head down sideways on Nichrome's shoulder. The boy immediately tensed up, but she didn't care. They were both too tired to complain anyway. "We're still head toward Osorezan, I think."
"Okie doky." The youngest boy replied, rubbing his eyes. "The whole cave-hunting thing really isn't my forte."
"Me either."
"Group hug?" Yoh suggested, taking a seat on the other side of Macchi.
"Course." The girl grinned, grasping both boys with her arm, also managing to hook Lyserg down in the progress. "I was so scared in there, I dark corners. Being a girl sucks."
"If it makes you feel any better, that horrid shriek from inside was when Lyserg walking into a wall." Nichrome offered, sighing. Macchi smiled, even though she felt Lyserg blush at the confirmation.
"You all are the best." She grinned, yawning. "I wouldn't ask for anyone else to terrorize my assignment with."
"......."
"I hate to be the party breaker, but there's a-"
"Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!" A halting scream cut them their moment of bonding. Hao instantly took a few steps out, eyes searching the beach. He paused, spot in a small figure in the water.
"What is it?" Macchi grabbed Hao by the arm, she seemed to be doing that a lot lately.
"Help! I can't swimmmm! I-op!"
"Look, over there!" Lyserg gasped, pointing toward the beach. "That girl, she's..."
More waves were splattered onto sure, getting more violent by the moment. Macchi couldn't understand. "Why are we getting high tides? The wave should be resolving smaller since it's dawn."
"Someone's messing with the waves." Hao declared.
Macchi instantly let go of her arm, running down the beach. She could feel the sand leaking through her shoes, silently getting more slippery. "Come on, we've got to help them!"
"I.. What?" Lyserg stared, eyes wide. "We can't, the tides are too high, you'll drown!"
"Fine, I'll do it!" Macchi yelled back, running into the cold water.
"Jeeze." Nichrome muttered, finally chasing after Macchi. He easily slipped out of his shoes, throwing them onto the sand as he made his way across the beach.
"Heelllllllppp!"
Yoh paused for a moment before dumping his bad and headphone onto Lyserg. "Watch after my stuff." He ran after the other two teens, nearly slipping on the wet sandy beach. Macchi had thrown her jacket off, leaping into the water, trying desperately to swim against the tides. Nichrome was behind her, trying to get past the suddenly harsh waves. The girl was still 20 feet away in the water.
Lyserg stared at them. "They're all crazy..."
"No." Hao cut in, staring at the other boy. "You're just ungrateful."
"HEEELLLLP!"
"Nani?" Lyserg stared at Hao. "Yoh don't understand, it's too dangerous for me to try and save that girl... I-"
"Macchi risked her life to save you. That day, when your car disfunction down the slope, she tried to help you." The brunette stated, crushing any hopes of defense against the other boy.
"And any help that did." Lyserg lowered his head. "My parents are dead, they-"
"Fuck it!" Hao had violently grabbed him by the collar, glaring deadly at him. "What is wrong with you?! You're parents are dead, you're still alive! Don't waste your life in mourning, do something frigin' useful and help them!!"
"I-"
"You're selfish, spiteful, and too blind! Get off your ass and help them, damn-it!" The older twin yelled, pointing toward the water.
"Heeeelllllpppp me, please!"
Lyserg turned around, looking painful as the others tried swim toward the girl. The waves were still too harsh for anyone to get pass. He pushed Hao away, inserting his pendulum in the disk. "Morphine, OVERSOUL!!"
With a flash of pink light, the small fairy sat into the seat of the pendulums, combining his furyoku into one concentrated blast in the air. "Grab hold of my pendulum He yelled over the water as the wire shot out.
"I-.." Gasp. "I'l- try!"
Macchi had froze from her spot in the water, looking over her head as the string passed their head and toward the small girl. She had reached up for it, grabbing hold onto the end.
"RETRACT!" Lyserg yelled, waving his arm back. The wire came flying back, lifting the girl out of the water and into the air. Halfway between the lope, she had let go of the string.
"Ahhh!"
"I got her!" Yoh yelled out, extending his arms out and kneeling down. The girl had landing into his arm, burying her face into his shirt, sobbing. Her pastel pink hair were torn out of its braid, her pale skin soft from the water. She was so cold....
"Here."
Yoh looked up to see his twin in front of him, kneeling down while taking off his jacket. He slowly rapped it around her body, tightening hugging the small girl.
"Is she okay?" Macchi was out of the water, standing in front of them. Soft waves brushed past their feet, tingling. She was dripping from head to toe, her red-hair in water.
"Jeeze, smart one." Nichrome was suddenly behind her, picking up her coat. He dumped it onto her shoulder. "The girl will be fine, but ware something or you'll get sick."
"Eh... Thanks."
"Seyram!!!!!!" A blue hair boy rushed toward them, crying out as a pack of villagers followed him. "Seyram, are you okay?! Seyram, come on sis, say something!"
The girl looked up, smiling softly as she shivered. "I..... I'-" She coughed. "I'm fine!"
"Oh my goodness!" An elderly women gasped toward the teens. "We saw the whole thing at the end of the beach. You were so courageous, you saved her!"
"Dear child!" Another lady had grabbed the girl into a tight hug. "We almost lost you."
"Are you okay?!"
"Are you cold?!"
"Fever?"!
"Illness?!"
"She's fine." Hao stated, crossing his arms together. "Just don't suffocate her."
"Hero!" A young boy yelled up, pulling on the end of Hao's hair. "You're a hero, you save Se-chan! I'll never be able to thank you enough! You saved her, you saved my sister and-"
"Yes, you're heros!" A old man walked toward them, his crane tapping into the wet sand. "And unbelievably brave as well, you saved that girl. We can never thank you enough."
Macchi felt herself smile, she silently shivered. The water had been cold, maybe she had caught a cold? It didn't matter, she girl was safe. Her vision shifted, she frowned. Everything was getting fuzzy...
"Hey, are you okay?" Nichrome blinked, giving her a weird look. She looked almost like she was about to faint... "Hey! Macchi? Hey, I'm talking to yo-"
Her sight became black.
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"Sh... You're wake her up."
"I am being quite, you're not."
"Hey!"
"Please don't argue, Macchi's hurt and-"
"Aren't you mister sensitive? I was the one who caught her from falling onto the ground!"
"I...."
"Hey, stop gaining up on Lyserg. Why are you bragging? Aniki was the one who carried her all the way back."
"Eh... Yeah, I forgot."
A snort.
"Stop laughing!"
"I'm not."
"Well, you were about to!"
A groan.
"Grow up, Nic-chan."
"Hey, don't call me that!"
"Oi.. I think she's waking up." The room fell silent. Macchi groaned softly, running a hand through her hair. It was pasturing on the pillow, out of its usual pigtails. She felt a tug from the bottom.
"Nee-chan..." A soft voice mumered, pulling on the end of the tip. Macchi blinked, adjusting her vision.
It was the girl from the beach.
"Finally." Yoh grinned, sitting down at the foot of her bed. "You fainted right after coming out from the water. It was kinda cold too." He shivered. "The lady offered for us to stay at their house, seeing that we're the supposed heros and all."
"Are you okay?" Lyserg leaned foreword, frowning.
"Fine, fine." She tried to sit up, grimacing as the boys pushed her down.
"We can't have the only girl fall, now can we?" Nichrome smirked, sitting on a stool next to the bed. "If you die, I'll have to turn in the reports alone. And needless to say, that wouldn't be very good when shown on my record."
She blinked.
"He's just playing." Yoh smacked the boy in the back of his head. "Nic-chan was worried too, he practically started yelling when you fainted. Didn't he, Aniki?" He turned to his twin for support.
Hao smiled. "Would that have anything to do with the fact that a 150 pound girl was lying on top of him, knocking all the oxygen out of his lungs?"
"Hey!" Macchi sat up, crossing her arms. "I do not weight 150 pound."
"You did when your entire outfit was soaked with water." Lyserg explain, offering her a small smile. "All that water in your cloth were adding at least an extra 50 pounds onto you."
"Yeah, there was no way anyone would carry you like that." Nichrome smirked once again. "So we had to take all of your cloth off and strip you so that there couldn't be any extra- I'm kidding!" He explained, seeing that look she was giving him.
"Yeah. Hao-niichan carried you all the way from the beach." The small grin chipped, jumped onto the bed. "He's so strong, brave, smart, handsome, and-"
"Seyram!"
A small blue-hair boy ran into the room, jumping onto the bed in the progress. He grinned at Macchi. "Nee-chan, are you okay? Yoh-niichan said you fainted, so grandmother said you could stay here. I'm Redseb, and that's my sister Seyram. We're officially in Esprit Valley!"
Nichrome froze, turning to stare at the kid. "Where?"
Redseb frowned, tilting his head sideways. "Esprit Valley."
That was when she heard it again, a soft and haunting voice. Full of distress and cynicism, heart frowning in hurt. She finally remembered her mother, who had told her about it before.
Espirit Valley, land of lost spirit.
--------------TBC--------------
Well, what do you know? More characters! Redseb and Seyram are from the manga, they're actually really cute kids. The two loves to follow Yoh and Anna around, not to mention they're also in the tournament.
Anyways, hope this chapter wasn't too confusing. Sorry if the story is moving too fast, I just didn't want to leave out any details.
Anyways, I'm going to China from Winter break, so I'll be gone for 3 weeks. Appearently, I'll also be super busy since I also have to continue studying for high school entrance exams. Gah....
Reviews, please?
Chiharu