Well yet another update! How do I manage it?

Angelic Gemini – Ahhh so you're a fellow Britton. I know. They do that all the time – two new episodes then jump back like 30episodes . The last time they did that I went crazy chucked a bunch of stuff at the TV!

Andrea Nefisto – You're about to find out why they took her. I haven't seen Bad Boyz 2 I'll have to make a point of checking it out.

Disclaimer/sobs/ I don't own Shaman King

"So then Tammy was all like trying to kill me and I have like no idea why I mean I only told her that she had like no hope of winning the Shaman tournament. I mean like Master Hao is so totally gonna be Shaman king" burbled one of the girls as if her life depended on it her orange hair bouncing as she talked.

The other two nodded in agreement and Tohru sat quietly and smiled not really knowing how to respond. She'd never heard anyone talk so fast.

They all sat outside the girls tents as everyone else in the camp began random tasks that had been set out for them during the day.

"So you must be Tohru it's totally awesome to meet you. I'm Matti, the blonde is Mari and this blue haired one is Kanna she's the leader of our particular group. We've heard a lot about you and how you're gonna ..."

Matti stopped abruptly as she was hit on the head by Opatcho who had appeared behind her.

"Ooooo yeah sorry" she said

Tohru looked at the two slightly confused at what they were talking about.

"What I was trying to say was that you're gonna head to err... Dobi Village. You're gonna come with our group right. "She said to Tohru, looking expectantly.

"Errr... well yeah I suppose so" mumbled Tohru overwhelmed by the Hospitality she was being shown by complete strangers.

"Well that is like soo awesome and we like also went and got you these yesterday cuz we were told to cuz like apparently those are the only clothes you have."

"Yeah these are the only clothes I have but you didn't have to get anything for me I..."

"Nonsense. You have to look the part if you're travelling with us, right girls?" said Kanna with a rather more subdued voice than the others.

"Yeah" said Mari and Matti in unison

Mari got a large brown parcel from the inside of there black tent and handed it to Tohru. Tohru began to untie the brown twining that bound it together.

"There was a sale so you have a lot of stuff...aaaaand...here" said Mari as she handed Tohru another parcel

As Tohru opened the parcel she gasped.

"The only thing we didn't buy was shoes because they didn't have anything practical even though we found like the most amazing shoes with these kitten heels...but you can't walk in them so we didn't buy them."

Tohru held up each piece of clothing they had bought in turn. The first was a pale blue cotton slip dress with thin straps that flared out from the waist. It reached down to her knees. The next was a cotton skirt that stretched down to her ankles and had a slit up either side to her knees. This was also in a light blue although the colour was more vibrant than the last.

"We got most of the stuff in like cotton and like light materials cuz like it's really hot here isn't it." Said Mari

The rest of the clothes were similar in different pastel shades although there was luckily no pink. They had bought her three dresses of slightly different styles as well as three tops and matching skirts. There were also shirts for colder days and the night time as well as a load of underwear.

"We heard you already had a really nice black trench coat so we didn't get you any of them" exclaimed Matti.

There were also a lot of hair accessories in a small bag such as ribbons clips and pins. Tohru began to sob.

"Thank you so much" she cried.

"Awwwwwwww" They all gave her a hug.

Tohru opened up the second parcel to find a large black rucksack made from a thick material.

"You can put all your things in that. It's a lot bigger than your other one."

Tohru burst out into fresh tears and got another hug from the girls.

"You know it wasn't our money. Master Hao was the one who sent us to get you some clothes although we went a bit over budget and used our own money as well" Matti whispered in her ear.

"S-so is that Hao." Asked Tohru as she pointed to Hao, still sat on the log.

"Yeah. Except you should call him Master Hao if you're travelling with us."

"Master?"

"Yeah."

"OK."

Hao got up and wandered back into the woods having eaten some food. He made his way to the spot where Tohru had sat and watched the sun rise that morning and sat down himself, the wind whipping through his hair.

Tohru was changed into the blue slip dress and pinned her hair back on one side of her face. She stood barefoot examining herself as best she could without a mirror. Opatcho hopped over to her holding her chain.

"Here is your chain" he said as he handed it to her.

She smiled and wrapped it around her waist.

"This is also for you" he said opening up his right hand to reveal a small bracelet made from wooden beads, "I made it myself"

Tohru put it on and admired it hanging around her wrist. Then she bent down and hugged him causing Opatcho to blush profusely.

Tohru sat down on the blankets she had been sleeping on to sort out all the clothes she had acquired and packing them into her new bag along with her old clothes she couldn't bare to part with and her box full of keepsakes.

"You wouldn't happen to know where H- I mean your Master Hao is would you Opatcho?" she asked him

"Master Hao went into the woods a while ago and if you are travelling with us then he is your Master as well."

"Why exactly do you all call him Master anyway" asked Tohru

"Because Master Hao is the most powerful Shaman in the world"

"Ooook" Tohru said, not quite sure if she could believe that a seventeen year old boy was the most powerful Shaman.

"So he went that way. Thank you!" She yelled back to Opatcho as she made her way into the woods.

Not knowing where to look first she decided to wander to where she had sat that morning. Her heart was heavy as she began to realise just what she was about to do. Tohru stopped abruptly as she saw Hao sitting in front of her, back turned.

"Ummm..Hao could I err speak with you for a moment."

He said nothing but motioned for her to sit next to him.

"Right umm... well first I wanted to thank you for letting me stay here and the err clothes" Tohru began to fiddle nervously with the hem of her dress, "And I umm... wanted to also thank you for saving my life"

"Ummmm... well this is a matter of honour so I'll get it over with. I was taught that when someone saves your life then you serve them until the debt is repaid so in accordance with this and me being completely indebted to you I must obey your every command until I have either saved your life or given my own to you."

Tohru bowed her head in respect trying to stop herself from crying at the fact she had just given up her freedom but she remembered her family and how proud they would have been and the honour this would have brought them. Hao turned to look at her. He tilted his head to the side and looked at her.

"You're not like the others"

"Huh"

"Don't worry I'll tell you later."

"I suppose if you are travelling with us then you should refer to me as Master Hao especially with this whole serving me till you repay your debt type thing you have going on and I expect the utmost respect"

"Oh, OK then Master Hao" Tohru replied lifting her head again to sit up straight facing him.

"There are also a few things I must clear up now and some that I will leave for later. You will not talk to other Shaman from outside our group."

I can't have her meeting my brother or those damned X laws at the moment he thought to himself.

"I have killed that old man Toma and every one of his pathetic followers that were chasing you so there is no need to worry about them anymore. Stay close to Opatcho at all times, he can help you out with anything you need. In fact now that we're at it I don't wish to have you straying off from the group at all, like you did this morning understood? Also...can you cook?"

"Err...yes Master Hao" she replied

"Good then you will prepare the meals and with your guardian ghost you will come in handy should we run short of water."

"So, is that what you meant when you said I would be useful?"

"No, but that is more talk for later."

Hao was fully aware of the way in which she would react to his reasons for becoming Shaman King at this point and he needed to gain her trust first so he had instructed everyone in the group from talking about it.

Tohru sat there watching him. He was arrogant and obviously egotistical with all these followers but he must have some good qualities she thought to herself, and as long as I am stuck with him I may as well make the most of it and try and focus on those good qualities... whatever they are. She began to smile as she got herself into a more positive frame of mind.

"Now you had better head back to camp and help Opatcho make lunch"

"Err...right...I mean yes Master Hao.