im really sry this chap took so long but as you can see its the longest one yet. i wont talk anymore so you can read. hope you enjoy.

Chapter 6: meetings of good and bad.

Four years had pasted and I was struggling to keep myself alive. There had just been a harsh winter and there was little food and water to speak of. I had travelled around Japan training to improve my skills as a shaman and had become strong. It was hard to adapt to china seeing as it was a lot rougher here. I knew no one and had nothing except the cloths on my back. The angry pangs of my stomach were making my mind weak. I felt starvation creeping in on me when I collapsed to the ground. I sighed in pain, my stomach eating itself. I tried crawling towards a break in the trees. In time I reached it to find I small village. My hopes were restored but as I tried to get up I fell down the hill I was perched on. Rolling down I had knocked my head badly in the same place I had the day I found the temple. When I stopped rolling my vision disappeared along with any consciousness I had left.

Sun was beating down on my face causing me to awake from my slumber. Blinding light shot at my eyes as crackling flames warmed me cold body. As my eyes adjusted I could see a man made hut constructed with mainly branches and animal skins. It was very empty, just a few pots and a backpack. I pulled myself off the comfort of the warm bed I was laying on to take a look around. Although my legs felt heavy I was still able to make it outside before this middle-aged man stopped me. "No you should rest you are very weak at the moment." I was to tired to argue with him so I just followed back into the hut. He sat me down on the bed and gave me a leather bottle that contained water for me to drink. "Here have some. It will help you recover." I gulped down the soothing liquid like I had never drunk before. I had finished it off completely and felt I bit more refreshed when I realised this was probably all the water he had. "Sorry I finished it all." I apologised as he took it from me and placed it on the small table in the far corner. "Don't be. I got that water for you and besides you need it more than I do."

"I still feel bad though. I mean you must be quite poor." I said as I looked around the hut again. "How old are you?" I was a little stunned by his question.

"Nine" I replied.

"You were very lucky. Children your age shouldn't be wandering around here at any time on their own especially in winter. Did you run away from home?"

I looked away feeling a bit ashamed for excepting help from a total stranger when I was meant to be surviving on my own. I closed my eyes tight trying not to think about it but I just came out. "I had an argument with my grandfather in Japan and I felt like the only way to prove to him I'm worthy is to survive on my own. That's why I really don't want your help." A tear fell from my sparkling blue eye when he softly placed his hand on my shoulder and started to rub up and down my arm.

"You seem a lot more mature than just a nine-year-old. You seem to have a great sense of responsibility. My name is Karo Nore." He held out his hand in greeting and I carefully placed mine into his. He squeezed my hand slightly and began to softly shake it. "My name is Kelly Asakura." He nodded as if to say he understood. I watched him as he walked around clearing things, though there wasn't much to clear away. I decided to just lay down and get a bit more sleep seeing as Karo wasn't going to let me go yet. I looked up to the ceiling made of branches and thought to myself "it's already been four years since I've seen them. He's right, I am lucky to still be alive. I don't see the harm of staying here for a while before I move on, after all grandpa doesn't need to know." I smiled to myself happily; knowing I had a friend here whom would take care of me. My eyelids slowly fell as I drifted off into a deep sleep.

It was midmorning the next day when I woke. Stretching, I opened my eyes to find Karo sitting in a chair frantically drawing something on an old dirty piece of paper. I got up to my feet and almost fell, as I was still slightly unstable still. I supported myself against the wall dragging my limp body over to him. "You should stay in bed." He told me. Up until then I didn't even realise he knew I was awake. "I hardly ever do what I'm told if can help it." I smirked at him as I lent against the wall. I herd a faint giggle at my reply from this light brown hair man. He was greying in places but it just made him look wiser. His facial features were similar to that of a young man. His eyes were intense black, glossed over so you could see every emotion he felt. His face was round but with a slight oval shape around his jaw. Every ray of light seemed to sink into his skin making him beam like the sun. There was also no trace what so ever of an impurity or crease in his face. I looked away feeling slightly unworthy to be in his presence. "I like your attitude. It reminds me of another child that passed through here." Eyebrow raised in confusion I looked at him questionably. "Who do I act like?" I asked innocently but guilt struck me when I saw a mournful frown deepen on his face. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't…"

"Don't be. You have a right to know if you're curious. After all I think he was like you."

"Like me but how? I don't understand. Did he run away from home to?" he shut his eyes as if trying to forget but he insisted to himself that he had to tell me. "He must be about your age maybe younger. He looked a lot like you except he had brown hair and eyes that contained nothing but fiery rage. He came to our village not so long ago. I saw him up on the cliff that you had fallen on. He muttered some words and when I turned around to see flames engulfed my village. I stood there in mournful shock when I heard him say from behind me 'your village tried to tell me to leave but I made it leave instead. I never do what I'm told.' I gathered the few survivors and we started to rebuild but we haven't made much progress as you can see." He moved his arm to show me the lack of home he had. It was a start but I could see what he meant. "But if you said my attitude reminds you of his then why do like mine?" I felt very confused and sad to think that I reminded him of such a monster and continually question myself why he would like me because of it. He saw me bow my head in shame and cupped a hand on my face lifting it gently. " That isn't the point. Your attitude is like his but in an innocent and kind way, not the unforgiving and monstrous way that he intended it." He paused for a moment then smiled at me. I was still confused. "How is he like me then?" I asked still curious and ashamed to feel like I had judged his man who was trying to help me. He stood from his wooden chair and walked towards the entrance of his home. He sighed deeply and began; "I had read about them in ancient book but never even began to believe they were true until I met him. I know that you're a shaman Kelly. I knew from the first moment I saw you." Shocked took me over. I didn't think a regular human would be able to tell who a shaman is. I sat on the chair that Karo had sat in before. I thought for a few moments trying to figure out why the description of the boy was so familiar. Then it hit me like the frigid winter chill. Yoh looked like that and he is a shaman. But Yoh would never…but his twin might. I pulled my legs up to my chest and curled into a ball feeling grief and guilt flow through my veins like pure ice. He turned as he heard me whimper into my knees. He walked over to me a placed his warm hand on my back to comfort me, but I just started to cry hysterically into his chest. "What's wrong? Why are you crying?" he sounded so concerned for me.

"I-I'm sorry. I-it was m-my…" I paused not knowing how to tell him that it was a member of my family that coursed him so much pain. "What is it? You can tell me."

I breathed in deep and shaky. "My brother did this to your village. I didn't know he was like this." The last words were a little shaky as the exited my mouth. " I understand if you don't like me anymore. Seeing as my family did this I wouldn't blame you." Instead of pushing me away he held me tighter, his arms clinging around me comforting me. "Nonsense, why would I judge you from your brothers actions." I felt more relaxed knowing he didn't blame me like all the others did.

It had been about a week after he had told me what happened to his village. I didn't come out for a few days but when I did I saw the extent of the damage my evil little brother had caused. The ground where the village use to exist was scorched and black like coal. There was no trace of life just a barren wasteland. The villagers that were left built identical huts around the ashes of their former life and friends. The people kept their distance from me knowing my origins, I could tell they didn't trust me but I couldn't blame them. Karo took me to the depths of the forest to a shrine that praised a Chinese god of protection. It was made of grey stone that had been carved into a pattern and there was a hole in the bottom where a small statue of a girl stood. "This is why we stay here. We believe that as long as we stay loyal to her we will be safe." He explained. He knelt before it just looking up at it. I didn't want to seem rude so I did the same. When I looked at the statue I saw something underneath it. "What's that Karo?" I asked pointing towards the brown piece of cloth underneath the stone figure. He also got to his feet, examining the shrine. "Funny that wasn't here before, or at least I didn't see it." His reply made me curious so I reached out for it, gently lifting the statue like paperweight. The tips of my fingers stroked the smooth cloth and I felt a rush of fire blaze through me like hatred. All the old memories about: the day my brothers were born, the argument with my grandfather, the feeling of loneliness I had when I left Japan for China and the story Karo told me all came gushing back to me in a swirl of torment and fear. My control was slipping and I could feel the flames within me rise. I yelled at the top of my lungs as I struggled to contain myself but failed causing Karo to be flung to the ground. My vision blurred from the tears of pain saw nothing but red as my anger became more physical. I began to thrash out like a tiger backed into a corner. Fire emerged from my fingers engulfing my hand. I let out another cry but of fury, not pain. My heart demanded a taste for blood that I could not ignore. I crouched into a dog like position from the extreme pain spreading out of my shoulder plates. My bones cracked and manipulated to the blood covered feathery wings splitting through my skin. I heaved my breaths as my wings spread out into full length, blood dripping from each angelic feather. I levitated using my wings as support, causing the leaves and dirt from the ground to rise into a small whirlwind. The fire from my hands and body burnt me a path through the trees towards the village and I whipped my wings charging to it completely out of control. Karo had chased after me terrified and deeply concerned. I reached the village and saw people scattering around screaming for their lives. Buildings combusted as I pasted them destroying any hope of shelter for the villagers. I cornered a family of a mother, father and two little girls. Just as I pounced at them I felt a pull on my waist. When I looked down I saw the figure of Karo clinging to me. I trashed around again prying him off me. When he finally let go a piece of cloth floated to the floor and the markings on it scuffed and began blotches. I then felt a release of pressure in my heart and lungs, the pain and anger dissolving just into the former memories. My wings contracted back into my spine leaving me to drop to the floor in agonising pain.

After a while the pain had gone but the destruction was still left to burn. I got back up to my feet feeling dazed, people were stepping away from me in fear. When I saw Karo limp body lying in a young woman's arms I tried to get to him to see if he was all right. When I moved people screamed and got further away from me. Then it struck me; I had just destroyed their homes exactly like my brother did. What made me do it? I turned and they flinched again but I was to busy looking at the piece of cloth that was from the shrine. I lent down to pick it up and felt sick to the stomach. "G-GO! GET OUT AND N-NEVER COME BACK MONSTER!" I heard a deep stuttering voice from one of the villages. They started to chant trying to drive me out of their sacred ground. I ran for my life as they threw pitchforks and old farming tools at me that had survived the flames. One caught my leg slicing it open. Blood pored from it as I struggled to get into the shelter of the forest.

I was left to bleed to death at the edge of the forest even though I had bandaged my leg it was still bleeding heavily. I felt a presence in the trees and it was getting closer. I forced my eyes open to see who it was. It was a ghost with fiery orange hair and blazing red eyes. She was rapped in ribbons instead of clothing and had a look of concern on her face. "Oh my. Your badly injured, here let me help."

"NO! I don't need your help." I felt as if I would do her harm if she did so I pushed her away. "I knew someone even more stubborn than you and I soon got through to him and your going to be no different." I flinched as she placed some tears on my wound. A sharp pain ran through my leg but soon turned to relief as the cut healed itself and closed without even a scar. "There that wasn't so bad now was it?" I looked at her confused for a moment wondering why a ghost would help me. A human roar could be heard from the dark depths of the trees that made the spirit jump. A look of pure terror flushed her face. She went to run when I grabbed her arm, "why are you running?" she tried desperately to get her arm free from my grasp.

"You don't understand, we have to go now!" just as she spoke a swarm of zombie like creatures charged out of the trees surrounding us. The spirit pushed me away in an attempt to draw the beast's attention to her. It worked. They started to close in on the helpless girl with sharp spears and nets that could capture spirits. I couldn't just stand by and watch her be imprisoned by these cut and paste zombie slaves, so I charged at them using all my force causing their attention to divert to me. I sprinted past the trees panting trying to lead them away from her. I could here their trampling footsteps pound after me. I turned my head for just a moment to see how close they were, but when I turned back I almost smacked face first into cliff edge. Skidding to a stop and tumbling over as I did so, I got up and backed against the wall wishing to go through it to the other side. I tried to run to my left but was surrounded by at least 50 grey, rotting zombie slaves. They all aimed weaponry at me not even thinking twice about my life when I felt a rush of strength flow into me. I looked down at my chest to see a spirit ball that resembled the girl. Soon I had felt almost taken over by it, as though its thoughts were my own. Again I could feel an inner flame re-light deep in my soul but I could control it this time. We looked down to see a large branch that seemed sturdy and could do a lot of damage. I heard a voice in my head say 'pick it up and remove the talismans on their face' I did as instructed though I could hardly disobey seeing as the zombies prepared to attack. We lifted the branch and jumped higher than ever causing me to uppercut the first zombie's talisman. He disintegrated into dust leaving no trace as I soared above the army of undead like a bird. We landed on top of one of the soldiers and simply tore of his talisman and as he to disintegrated we spun like a top using the branch to cut about 20 of the talismans significantly wiping them out. After a few minutes of tireless fighting we began to feel tired and decided that we were fighting a loosing battle being severally out numbered and had to retreat. Using our new found jumping skills we leapt into the treetops where they could not catch us.

The ghost girl and me sat in a secluded area far from the battleground at the other end of the forest. I was panting from exhaustion but the girl just sat looking and smiling proudly at me. I glared at her for a few seconds about to say something but stopped myself and got up starting to walk off. "Wait, where are you going?" she floated after me but I didn't reply just shook her off. "Why did you save me back there?" she gestured towards the direction were I was lying before. I sighed heavily replying "you saved my life I saved yours, so now we're square. Just leave me alone." I stomped off through an opening in the trees trying to loose her but she didn't give up that easily. "So what your name? Mines Phoe." I just carried on walking picking up speed. Phoe's face turned grumpy at not receiving a reply and tapped her face with her finger thinking of a way to get me to talk. "Its getting late and you look tired, maybe you should get some sleep. The next towns over three miles away." I stopped thinking that she was right and it was getting dark. I looked to my left to see a hole in the bottom of a tree. It was mossy and damp but it would do. I crept into the cramped space and curled myself into a ball of loneliness. I could still feel the presence of the spirit lying next to me for comfort. I looked over my shoulder to see her fast asleep half of her body inside the wall of bark and the other on the outside. I couldn't help but giggle to myself about it as I to drifted off into a wondrous dream.

For six years that ghost followed me around and no matter how hard I tried I could not shake her off. After about my 12 birthday I gave up trying to ditch her in forests and valleys throughout the world and slowly we became good friends. We also decided mostly for our own safety that we should become spirit partners, we made an excellent team. On our journey around the world I came across an old artefact called feather of phoenix staff which I shortened to phoenix staff. My powers with both spirit control and my inner strength progressed a lot with Phoe's help and after the incident with Karo I only damaged a small part of a village in South Africa. Now that I was 15, I desperately wanted to see my little brother again and if I just so happened to bump into my grandpa I could show him how far I'd come with my powers. I had known about the shaman tournament but decided I was not ready for such a risk although it would be my only chance to become shaman queen, I saw no point. I had reached Japan and had to travel through Fanbari to get back and see Yoh. I walked into town and brought some food from a small corner shop. People looked at me and pointed saying 'look at her cloths' and 'who does she think she's trying to fool?' because my cloths were torn a lot and my skirt had got very short. Typically I heard most of these remarks from tarty girls in skirts even shorter that mine and their boobs almost hanging out of their tops. I looked blankly at them as if saying you're seriously not worth the effort when they walked by. I went to the outskirts of town to get away from all the hustle and bustle of the town when it started to get late. As I walked down a road that led to a forest just outside of town I passed a huge house that looked like it was very expensive and old though it had some obvious renovations. I heard some voices coming from it; one of them seemed familiar so I tiptoed like a mouse over to the window where I heard the voices emerging. I listened to their conversation careful so not to be noticed. One was talking about the north and something called minutions. Another was frantically trying to get himself out of a life-threatening situation that couldn't help but smile at. Then I heard it; his voice hit me like block of cement. It was Yoh. I heard his footsteps coming closer so I panicked. I got up looking for a place to hide when I spotted I bush next to me. I jumped in it when his head popped around the window and he lent against the window frame. I watched him in amazement to see how much he had changed and was a little proud of myself for recognising his voice. "Yoh, shut that dam window, there's a draft!" was shouted from the house. Her voice pierced my ears like scorching nails. As I cringed back to reality I saw Yoh trying desperately to close the window as he panicked. When the cost was clear I stepped out of the bush. Unluckily for me it was a rose bush and a VERY sharp one at that.

When I got to a suitable area to sleep I sat and started trying to heal my wounds from the rose bush. It amazing how you can go around destroying zombie after zombie and then be so utterly defeated by a few thorns. Phoe had taught me how to use my energy to heal through tears so I began to cry myself into rejuvenating. It was a good hour and a half later when my cuts were just little red slits. I thought back to the house where my brother was when I realised I recognised another in the house. Phoe had told me many times of the family she served in China before she ran away and all the assassin missions she was forced to do. But there was one person she was very insistent on telling me about. Len Tao, who for many years Phoe had been the only one he could confide in and she would always comfort him when he needed it most. As soon as En found out about her little moral boosting he told her that if she didn't leave Len alone he would make the training twice as torturous. She had no choice but to agree but she couldn't just stay there and see Len get hurt. She thought it better for them both to leave. When En heard of her sudden exit he sent undead soldiers to find and capture her spirit to use as his own power. She hadn't seen Len for seven years because of En. She was ecstatic when I told her I saw the boy from her very long and detailed descriptions. "Oh…my…GOD! I can't believe he finally broke away from his family's old traditions and made friends. I have to see him." I lay there looking at the stars just thinking of my brother when she said those words. "Hay hold up. If he's with my brother then he's obviously gonna tell him I'm here and I'm not ready to see Yoh yet." I looked very jumpy and felt a bit ashamed saying that I was scared of seeing my brother again but I didn't know what to say to him. "Well you don't have to come see him with me, he won't know you're here."

"When you get excited you'll blab anything and everything."

"I wont, promise."

She did an extremely bad puppy dog eye thing at me that would have put any real dog to shame. But I knew it would mean the world to her so I agreed that we would call Len to us and not go see him.

Phoe travelled to the house about midnight to see everyone sound asleep in bed. Now our plan could commence. She searched the house for the slumbering Chinese boy when she came into a room at the back of the house in which she saw him immediately. She contacted me through my mind which is one of the links we both shear to discus exactly what I wanted her to manipulate into his dream. Seeing as me not being the detail kind of gal I wanted Phoe to go into his current dream and take it from there. I closed my eyes and saw as if I was dreaming myself the visions Len saw. I was stunned by the misery and disappear he was in and could she he was unsure of his destiny. He was kicking himself for it. I felt something deep inside myself that felt the same. I didn't want him to go through in also so I decided I would encourage him to accept my help. I told Phoe exactly what I wanted her to do and say in which she replied 'where do you get this stuff from?' I trusted that Phoe would do exactly as instructed so I left her to do it. I yawned and stretched until my shoulder cracked loudly. I then slumped back into a pile of brown and red leaves that had fallen from the autumn chill. Cold didn't effect me much anymore so I comfortably floated off into a dream pondering of what to say to my brother and of what his reactions might be.

I could feel that Len was becoming curious and the more I saw him the more attached I became. Phoe kept bugging me about wanting to see him so much it was imprinted in my brain cells. Every night for a month I gave him the same dream over and over again and was surprised on the effect it had on him. One night I saw a red glowing star in the sky and felt very lonely when I started thinking of Len. I uttered some words in my head:

"Len… fire leads you to me… Len… I need you…Follow the flames of your heart…Of your memories… Len, come to me."

I don't know what made me say the words but I made me feel uneasy and was pulling me in. eventually I could see that the dreams were stressing him out. I felt like this should be the final dream message and I would change it. I asked Phoe if I could do it this time. I got to the part of the dream were I would normally lecture him. He seemed more aware tonight. Just as I opened my lips I felt something pull me around and viciously slash a claw up my face causing blood to gush out. I heard someone say something "master, the girl is now yours." Then another more dark voice emerged. "Good now not even Yoh can stop us…sister." I felt again a rush of hatred flow into my veins. I let out and ear shattering scream and blacked out completely, a thunderous noise breaking the storm.

well there is my OCs story. i hope you liked the way i blended it in. i will try and write the next one as fast as i can though i am completely stumped on what to do next. owell ill think of somit. bi 4 now.