So sorry this chapter is late! I've been having so many computer problems! And, for the time being, we can't answer our reviewers in our story, so I'll just do it here. Special thanks to Kitsurumenokistune for your review on this story and my other one Racing Hearts. I really appreciate it! And Mikauzoran! Thanks so much! And I feel bad, that's a lot of homework!

Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King.

"Here we are!" announced Yoh, throwing his arms open wide.

Kari gaped at the sight before her. Yoh's house was huge! It was a giant old-fashioned Japanese style house with sliding doors and everything! She observed the perfectly kept lawn and all of the old fashion statues placed around in decoration, she swore she even saw a natural hot spring in the back!

"So, do you like it?" he asked.

"Huh?" Kari snapped back to reality, blinking at Yoh.

"I said, 'Do you like it?'" he repeated.

"This is the best house I have ever seen! Of course I like it! You are one of the luckiest kids on the planet!" she clasped her hands together and stared at him with big starry eyes.

"He he! Thanks!" the brown-haired shaman smiled lazily.

He led the way as the rest of them and Kari followed, her eyes still roaming around the magnificent house. She almost tripped on the steps as everyone else climbed through the front door, waiting in the mudroom.

In this room, there were several shelves for shoes and the like as she looked around. Kari didn't pay attention as Trey, Len, Morty and Yoh slid off their shoes and climbed up one last step and onto the long wooden sidewalk, which went around the whole mansion.

Kari put on foot on it, and immediately shrunk back from the others looks. Horo Horo and Len glared at her while Morty shook his head, Yoh having a strangely serious face. She blinked and looked at each in turn, trying to force a sheepish smile on her face, not understanding what was wrong.

The short blonde looked at Yoh before stepping forward, gripping tightly onto his humongous encyclopedia.

"Hey, Kari. I know you're new to Japan and all, but… there are some… 'Traditions' you have to be aware of. The first one is, you have to take off you're shoes when entering a house. It's just polite, and a tradition on keeping the house clean." he explained, showing a diagram in his book.

"Really? Oh my god, I'm so sorry!"

She straight away plopped down on her butt and brought her shoe up to her face, yanking it off then preceding onto the other foot. Kari took both of her shoes together in one hand and placed them neatly in line with the rest of the shoes in the coatroom.

The shaman stood up straight with her hands behind her back and grinned guiltily before bowing deeply in apology. Len stalked off into the house, muttering something about "Incompetent", but the others smiled kindly, telling her it was ok.

"That's ok, Kari. I didn't expect you to know, you aren't from around here, even remotely are you?" Yoh asked, starting to walk down the hallway.

"Not in the slightest."

He led them down the hallway with Morty by his side and Trey walking next to her, his arms behind his head. The desert shaman felt a little strange in this place, walking around on the polished wooden floor. Back home, she wore her moccasins out of respect when around the elders, but other than that, she walked around bare foot where ever, usually in the forest. She winced as her feet kept sticking on the wood and squeaking as she walked.

"Kari," Morty asked, looking over his shoulder, "I've been wondering. Where are you from anyway? Your skin is really tan, are you from the south?"

She knew that she couldn't tell them she was from Patch Village; it would be against Goldva's orders. Then, when the time came to travel there, her new friends would want her to lead them there, and they'd miss the important training that the journey provided. Not to mention, she probably couldn't find it again.

The Indian smiled, "Try, west."

"West, huh?" Mortimer pondered.

"C'mon, aren't you going to tell us?" complained Horo Horo.

"Nope. I… want to see you guess." she lied quickly.

"You've gotta be kidding me?"

"No, Trey," jumped in Yoh, "It'll be fun!"

"Err, ok."

"Are you from Egypt?" asked Morty.

"Nope."

"Africa?"

"Nuh uh."

"Hmm…" Horo brought his hand to his chin in thought while Morty consulted his atlas.

"I know!" Yoh cried, punching his hand into the air, "You're from Siberia!"

Kari tripped on the polished floor and fell flat down onto her face in surprise. She lie there, twitching for a moment before digging her head out of the floor board, and spinning on her butt so that she rested with her palms on the floor.

Mortimer had a similar reaction; he nearly tripped over the already fallen Kari, when he leaned forward, the momentum carrying him into the wall where his hands shot out to hold him up. A sigh escaped his lips and he looked up a Yoh, a sweat drop forming on the back of his head.

"Uh, Yoh?" asked Kari, making him look down, "Siberia's next to Russia."

"Oh… opps."

Everyone sweat dropped as Yoh extended his hand to the shaman on the ground, pulling her up and once again, she landed in his chest. Her face immediately reddened and behind her she could hear Horo's snickering. Kari jumped back out of Yoh's arms and bowed her head, the brown-haired shaman raising an eyebrow at Morty who shook his head.

He shrugged and walked a few more steps down the hall and came to a sliding door, opening it and beckoning everyone inside. Morty went first with Kari following him, Trey and Yoh behind her, the host shutting the door after everyone had entered.

Kari could feel herself gasp at the beautifully decorated room, a few elegant flowers placed around the room and a shiny black coffee table with cushions placed around the edge which everyone went down and sat on. She sat down between Yoh and Morty, trying to look away from the shaman on her right and bowing as she accepted the tea from the blonde.

She picked up the dark green no-handled cup, bringing it to her lips and taking a quick, small sip. Her face crunched up at the strange taste as she struggled to swallow the tea. Len smirked as he slid open the door, coming into the room with a bottle of fresh milk, watching her face with amusement.

"First time you've had tea, huh?" he smirked.

Her lips pinched together, "Yeah."

"He he, you like it?" asked Yoh.

"I… don't hate it." she replied, setting the cup down and staring at it.

"Have you ever tried sushi before?" questioned Horo, leaning forward and closer to her from across the table.

"Nope."

"Don't bother," Yoh butted in, "I still prefer burgers and French fries myself."

"That has been the only edible thing I've found since I got here. That, and ice cream of course." Kari said before picking up her glass and holding it arms length like it was a dirty diaper, then brought it close in a quick sip before putting it down again.

"Finally!" the host shouted, bringing his arms up to the ceiling in praise, "Some one speaks my language!"

"Hallelujah!" everyone but Len raised his or her hands into the air.

After a moment, Kari started to snigger, and then everyone broke into a laughing fit, Horo banging on the table with his fist. Yoh chuckled with his lazy face on when he leaned over and placed his arm around her neck for support, her laughter immediately dying down to a nervous chuckle as blush rose to her cheeks.

"Here we are! A healthy snack of strawberries!" a sudden deep voice called, heavily laced with an accent.

Kari looked up to see a tall, muscular and… hairy man with a strange Elvis hairstyle while wearing white clothes and a frilly apron. He had a platter in his hands and set it down in the middle of the table, standing back up straight and wiped his hands on the apron, sitting down before he actually noticed her. He blinked before his eyes turned into hearts and he brought his clasped hands to the side of his face.

"Oh, hello there my beauty. I don't believe we have met, my name is Ryu!" he said, taking her hand and kissing it.

Kari could feel herself freeze as his lips grew the size of balloons and continued to slop over her hand. Her face was blank when he suddenly stopped, a semi-transparent blade being lightly pressed to the back of his neck.

"If you wish to keep that perverted head of yours shaman," Aiko sneered, "You will let go of her and back away, slowly, if you don't wish to join us."

Then, a green lizard looking man materialized beside the Ryu man, wearing a black headband and what looked like a giant motorcycle helmet. He growled as he reached for his own sword on his belt.

"What do you think you are doing to my shaman!" the lizard man demanded.

Aiko barely looked over, before she pulled the sword from Ryu's neck and pulled out a second one from it's sheath, spinning in a circle until one sword was back on the Elvis man's neck and the other was placed right under his guardian ghost's chin.

"I'm telling him to get away from my own shaman, before he suffers the consequences." the female warrior stated calmly with a tone that was not to be questioned.

"You're worse than Silva." Kari muttered under her breath, before bringing her head up smiling, "I think what she means is, you are a very unique way of greeting people, like gentlemen of old. They don't make 'em like you anymore! I am very please to meet you, but um, could you let go of my hand?"

"Oh, yes of course!" Ryu exclaimed, dropping her hand, the blade removing from his neck, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss…?"

"Kari."

He clasped his hands together beside his head again, saying in a sweet voice, "Pleasure to meet you Miss Kari, and welcome to Funbari Onsen!"

"Um, thanks?"

"Forgive me if this is rude, but, don't you have a surname?" Ryu questioned.

She straightened, "A surname?"

"A last name, a family name."

Bringing her finger to her chin she shook her head, "I don't think so."

"Hmm… err… interesting." he replied, leaning back on his cushion.

"You a Native American aren't you?" Morty spoke up, everyone turning to him.

Yoh gave him a look while Len and Trey looked expectantly at her. The blonde just smiled as he had his encyclopedia open to a page with all kinds of tribe names listed and a few diagrams.

"Yep, that's right. How did you know?" she had to ask.

"Well," he blushed, "You said you were new to Japan, which makes since because most villagers don't leave the village. That and, some tribes don't have surnames, just names like 'Crazy Horse' and stuff. And," he reddened even more, pointing at her backpack, "You have all kinds of animal skin stuff."

Kari backed up, blinking in surprise, "Wow, you're really smart!"

He blushed.

"So," Trey leaned over the table again, "Do you have a name like 'Crazy Horse'? You know, a spiritual one?"

She could feel herself biting her lip, blush creeping over her face as she bowed her head, "Yeah, I have quite a few actually."

"Really? Like what?" Yoh leaned closer, getting really excited.

"Yes, Kari-dono, like what?" Aiko couldn't help but tease.

"Well, for starters, Little Squirrel." she muttered, while Horo Horo burst open laughing.

"W-Why… why would they call you 'Little Squirrel'?" he said between laughs.

"Because I always get into trouble, like a squirrel, putting my nose where it doesn't belong."

"S-S-Sorry." Horo gasped, "I didn't mean, mean to laugh but your name is still better than mine!"

"What other names do you have?" Yoh asked, while Len took a sip of his milk.

"Flowing River, Mighty Oak and Girl Who Calls The Rain."

"Interesting." replied Morty.

"So basically," Len butted in, raising an eyebrow, "You call each other funny names, dance around fires and sleep in tents all year round because you want to? You have a very strange family."

Kari narrowed her eyes as she could feel her face burn as she clenched her fists tightly. Horo Horo slapped his face with his hand in embarrassment for the Chinese shaman, while the others, even the ghosts, backed away.

"At least I'm not a midget with a weird hairdo who runs around thinking he's a king while wearing a dress." she sneered.

He slammed down his bottle of milk, the glass shattering over the table and digging into his palm. The Tao ignored the glass being pressed into his flesh as he balled his fists while his shoulders shook in rage. His golden eyes glared at her from under his purple bangs as he stood up.

In a flash, Len had Bason in his over soul and pointed the Qwan Dao at her, the blade lightly touching her chin. If it had hit any other spot on her neck while he was swinging it, she would have died immediately or eventually of blood loss.

"What did you say?" Len growled.

"From your reaction, I believe you heard me quite clearly." Kari replied, remaining calm, while Aiko placed her hand on her blade handle.

"I am a Tao. I do not act like a king, I am a king, and soon, I shall be the Shaman King. So you better get used to it," he recited, lowering his weapon and releasing his over soul.

Len sat down and crossed his arms, sticking her nose in the other direction and completely ignoring her once again. Ryu stood up right after he was done and swept away the shards of glass, walking away through the door he came from and disappearing with a swish of his apron.

Next to her, Kari heard Yoh let go of a breath she didn't know he was holding. She glanced over to see his face unnaturally firm and serious, a look that in the time she'd known him didn't suit him at all. They're eyes met and his face broke into smile, the girl couldn't help but smile back.

"Don't worry about him," Trey nodded in Len's direction, "He's got an ego problem."

"So I can tell."

"Well, he's not as bad as her." Morty spoke up.

All around the room, shudders were given, even by Len. The ghosts shrank back and Yoh put his hands over his head in defense, curling up into a ball. Kari raised an eyebrow and looked up at Aiko, who shrugged in response.

"Who's 'her'?" Kari asked.

"Anna." whispered Yoh and everyone shuddered again.

"What's so bad about her?" she snorted.

"'What's so bad about her'!" repeated Morty, standing on the table, "She's the bitch from hell! She trains Yoh for the Shaman Tournament and he nearly kills himself everyday for it! Plus, she makes the rest of us her house slaves to do her bidding, cleaning the house, cooking dinner! All kinds of things!"

"Then why don't you just leave? Or better yet, ask her to leave?"

"You… just don't do that with Anna." Horo Horo said.

"Right."

All of a sudden, there was a slam of a sliding door almost being thrown off its hinges. Muffled shouts echoed through the compound and there was a loud crash and the sound of breaking china. Loud foot stomps came from far away to right outside their door as everyone but Kari tried to duck under the table to avoid being seen.

"Anna's back." whispered Trey as the door slid open.

What the young shaman girl saw what definitely unexpected.

Oh my god! I think I did a cliffhanger! Whee! So, please review!