Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King, so there's nothing to sue in here. And please leave the broke high school alone with his/her own fantasies.

In this chapter, they are currently in the oasis that Akira found last night, probably because she showed it to them and they all decided it would be best to camp in the woods than out in the open. And besides, there's water!

Chapter 2: Complicated

"What did he mean?"

It was no use! She can't find peace in herself with the stupid thoughts of Hao in her mind. 'Maybe that was probably just a dream. Yeah! That's right! It is a dream! But . . . but that kiss. It felt so real . . . Geez! We're in the middle of nowhere and all I can think of is Hao's stupid kiss!'

The others were just eating but then noticed that Akira barely touched her meal. And they could tell by the disturbed expression on her face that something was bothering her.

"Hey, Akira! I know my cooking is not that great but you don't have to stare at it like that!" Horohoro exclaimed, "Huh? Akira?"

"So you admit it, you're a lousy cook." Ren said with a cocky tone,

"Lay off!" the Ainu spat back,

'Why? Why did he kiss me?' these questions screamed in her head, until . . . 'Aaah! I can't take it anymore! This is coz Hao said all those stupid things!' she then stood up not realizing what just happened around her while she was spacing out.

"That's it! I'm going to find that jerk and smack him in the face!" she yelled out loud,

"Akira!" the others yelped in chorus,

"Huh?" obviously confused as the others twitchily point at Ren while backing away, "Uh-oh . . ." As the case was, when Akira stood up with the bowl in her hands, she accidentally threw it on top of a now-very-very-angry Ren. This was bad! He was clearly pissed off as the ingredients in Horohoro's cooking fell down on his face. She could tell that by the vein on his head that looked like it was about to explode. Bason simply said, "Master Ren" Ren stood up, staring at her menacingly as one of his eyebrows was jerking violently.

"Uh. Yoh-kun," looking at Yoh nervously looking up, "you know any good defense against his attack?" Yoh nervously laugh and simply said, "I think you should run . . . eh-he. . ."

"Good idea, Yoh-kun! Bye Ren-kun! Aaah!" she screamed then shot out to a run.

After what seemed like an hour or so of running backward and forward while Ren running after her with his Kwan-do in hand and with some of Akira screaming, "C'mon! I-didn't-mean-it!", obviously catching her breath. Ren finally settled down as Yoh and Horohoro held him down. They all sat down and decided that all should first finish their . . . um . . . breakfast. Akira was cleaning Ren's hair with a towel while smirking at him nervously, probably still scared that Ren-kun might poke her with his Kwan-do.

"C'mon, Ren-kun. I'm sorry about that. I was just in deep thought and I didn't mean to do it anyways." It was hard cleaning Ren's hair considering that the ingredients in Horohoro's cooking was well . . . disgusting! Ren didn't pay much attention to the girl but rather glared at Yoh and Horohoro for tackling him to the ground, of course nobody likes being tackled down to the ground!

"You were in deep thought?" Ren asked flatly, "and here I thought it was just because of Horohoro's lousy cooking."

"Hey! It's not that bad! Right, Yoh?" looking towards the said boy. Yoh didn't reply but instead gave him a small laugh.

"You're mean!" Horohoro said and in an instant he sulked in a corner. (there's a corner in the middle of nowhere?)

"Anyway, Akira," Yoh suddenly changed the topic, "what were you thinking?"

'should I tell them? No. they would surely freak out if they found out that Hao suddenly showed up on me last night and kissed me! Heck yeah!" she thought to herself, "No. it was nothing important, really!"

"But you said earlier that you were going to smack some guy?" Lyserg interrupted, "who is it?" Obviously evading the question, she stood up and began walking away like a robot, with her arms and legs stiffened as she walked. "I'm just going somewhere for a walk. Eh-he!" The guys stared at her for a moment as she walked away.

"Huh?" the guys asked in chorus with a sweat drop appearing on top of their heads when she suddenly broke out into a run.

(Somewhere in the oasis . . .)

"Damn that Hao!" Akira was simply sitting on a huge rock trying to keep her balance, "He causes me so much trouble, and in just one night!"

"Why is that so?", "Huh?" she looked around and almost fell when she saw Hao sitting at the palm of Spirit of Fire behind her,

"Why are you here? Come to bring more mischief to people?" she asked sarcastically, turning herself facing away from Hao smugly,

"No. I have already told you before, I just want to talk to you." He was now close enough for a physical contact then she grabbed her chin and forcibly faced her towards him. He was smiling at her when he said, "you didn't answer my question earlier."

Akira was in a state of shock for a moment but quickly recovered then swatted Hao's hand. She then turned her back from Hao again and said, "I don't need to answer any of questions now, do I? Now, you've caused more than enough trouble so just please go bother somebody else." This was awkward. Deep inside her, she was about to explode! Too nervous, for the thought of Hao striking her with one blow was too scary of a thought. But no matter, Akira thought of fighting him in the first place, that is if she really needs to! But she still knew to herself that she wouldn't stand a chance against Hao. After all, he was WAY older than her . . . let's say about a thousand years older!

Hao simply stood up. He was staring blankly at Akira. Then finally heaved a sigh and smiled towards her. "You know, you are a spunky girl. I think too much of it really. That attitude might just end up killing you." Akira quickly darted a shocked look on Hao that just made him giggle. Akira mentally slapped herself, realizing that Hao was only kidding. At least, that's what she thought.

"Was that a compliment or an insult?" then she jumped down from the rock and walked away saying, "now go bother somebody else beside me, or my friends, if you have nothing better to do. And we HAVE something to do! So, bye."

Hao couldn't help but smile at this magnificent sight, Akira's long hair following her through the gentle breeze, the way she walked showed the curves in her body and how she elegantly walked through the woods. Despite her somewhat nasty attitude towards Hao, she was still lovely. An evil grin aroused the boy's face. A devilish plan was forming in his head. He wanted to have her! And if any means necessary!

(Back at the campsite . . .)

Akira came towards the group madly, stomping her foot as she took a step real hard. She didn't pay attention to the curious (and scared) eyes that were on her.

"YOH!" Akira blurted towards Yoh(but normally she would call him Yoh-kun) making him stand in an upright military position, "Yes?", "let's get a move on already!" sounding really harsh and scary (not to mention the devilish face on her) ," the Patch Village isn't going to be nearer when we just stand here!"

With that they took off. Akira was still in a bad mood(steam coming out of her ears) that the others kept their distance from her. They all wondered what happened to her. Just a few moments ago, she was cheery, than confused, then half-scared with Ren chasing her, and now mad. Sure there were times when she was furious about someone. Like when Manta-kun accidentally threw her anime card collections on an open flame when Manta-kun slipped on a banana peel! (talk about cliché!) But they have never seen her this angry before. She was already in her worst when she was THAT mad! They all feared how they can deal with an almost (she already is) smoking girl! What had happened in those times that she was alone? They couldn't help but worry about her. After all, she was the only female in the group and they should take good care of her.

Ryu managed to catch a ride with his road friend (the guy who shows up when Ryu sticks out his THUMB) and, gladly, it took them to the nearest town, which calmed Akira. This was good. They all enjoyed their stay here, even Akira. It seemed so long ago that they hadn't had a decent meal, which made Horohoro to have a fight with Ren, which caused Lyserg to try and stop them, which then caused Ren to accidentally push him to the ground, which then led to Ryu joining the fight! (Let me catch my breath first . . . whew! LOOONG!) Before they knew it, they were all outside, kicked out by the manager for being so noisy. Then it (again!) led to another fight of Horohoro and Ren accusing each other whose fault it is. This kind of scenes always seemed to relax Akira. This was normal and soothing(eh?) to her, considering the major headache she gets after shutting them up.

Luckily, before night came, they found a place to stay. Except . . . there was only one room left! Oh shit! It was enough having to spend the day with them, but now they had to sleep practically next to each other too! But the gang had no choice. (much to Lyserg's dismay) It was the only room left and it was already dark outside. They decided to play a 'cunning' game to decide who gets to sleep on the bed. But Ryu insisted that Akira should get the bed with another one, being a gentleman and all.(ya right!) The lady downstairs only brought up 4 futons for some of them to sleep on the floor, just to get them to be quiet, and there were 5 of them(Akira not included).

"Rock-Papers-Scissors!" the guys chorused, (right, cunning . . .)

"Looks like I win you guys." Yoh said with a fake laugh(?)

"NOT FAIR!" Horohoro and Ren said in unison. Hearing this, Akira looked at both of them with her innocent eyes as she sat on the bed. The two quickly blushed. Ren quickly made up an excuse and said stammering,"I-I h-have . . .b-been sleeping o-on solid ground! And I want to sleep on a bed again!" saying it in quite a hurry, still blushing. Horohoro simple muttered, "Yeah! Me too!"

Then Ryu suddenly interrupted, "guys, a deal is a deal! Master Yoh won the bed fair and square." They couldn't argue anymore seeing that all they wanted was a good nights rest. "Fine." The two said. Seeing that the matter has been settled, they all snuggled in their beds. Yoh and Akira were on the same bed, facing away from each other, already sound asleep. Ren was well positioned between Horohoro and the bed. Horohoro was however 'naughty'(couldn't think of a better word) on the way he sleeps. His feet was dangerously close to Ryu's face and was snoring loudly. Lyserg was sleeping while laying on his side like Ryu, lightly snoring facing Horohoro.

how is it? I hope it's any better . . . it took me forever to think of something to write. Hope you can all bear with this piece of crap. Sorry if I misspelled some things and for those who think the character's attitudes are out of place!

Thank you by the way for all the reviews, namely, Mai Valentinefan; Elemental Storm; Asakura Yukiko; ksarap; and HAO-Addictive(for reading my first work!) arigatou mina-san! And also to EdElric, if he/she is reading this anyway!