Disclaimer: I do not own shaman king.
Andrea Nefisto: I'm really glad you took a look at my piccie and I promise you that there will be kissing... But I will not say when!
Aisuhana: It's really great to have so many people liking my story!
Ginnitsune: I'm really glad you like my story. I'm managing to update so much because I'm on holiday at the moment!
Godoflight: well how can I disappoint all of you by leaving it so long!
They had been travelling for many hours and the light was now fading behind the western mountains. They had reached the foot of the mountain when Hao decided to stop for the night. It had grown much colder and there were even signs of recent snow on the ground. They settled in a large clearing in the dense forest surrounding the base and covering a vast amount of the mountains themselves. Mari gathered a small amount of firewood and with a click of the fingers, Hao set the pile ablaze illuminating the clearing and casting shadows across the frozen ground.
Everyone began to set up there tents around the perimeter of the clearing leaving Tohru feeling quite lonely. Seeing this Opatcho came over and asked her to help set up his tent. She smiled at him then took the poles he was holding and began to help him pitch it. Once that was done she looked around to see if anyone else needed help. Over in one corner she saw Hao tip the components of his tent, all the pegs, poles and canvas on to the ground and give them a look of disdain. Seeing he obviously didn't enjoy this part of the journey she came up to him and offered her assistance.
"Master Hao would you like me to set up your tent for you?"
"OK Tohru set it up and when you're done prepare some food. I'm sure no one including me wants anyone else to cook after the meal you made this lunchtime" he said flashing her another puppy dog smile.
Tohru blushed and tried to busy herself with making Hao's tent.
"I'm not sure the meal was that great but err... thank you for the compliment" She said quietly, looking round at him momentarily.
He smiled at her again and she swiftly turned around in attempt to hide another blush that was creeping onto her cheeks. Hao caught her embarrassment and chuckled softly as he strolled over to sit by the fire. Tohru made quick work of the tent and then began to make everyone dinner. They had limited supplies of food so Tohru decided to make a stew out of some of what was left. By the time she had finished cooking everyone had tried to edge subtly nearer in an attempt to get served first.
"Line up everyone" she called out as she took lifted the pot onto the ground. Hao strolled casually to the front of the line earning grumbles from everyone else. He shot them a look that quickly silenced anyone with complaints and held out his bowl to be served. Tohru quickly looked down at the pot; silently cursing herself for these involuntarily bouts of blushing that seemed to be controlling her since that lunchtime. She ladled some into his bowl and he sat down. After everyone had been served Tohru ladled some into her own bowl and sat down next to Kanna, Matti and Mari who were trying to talk with a mouthful of food. A comforting silence descended on the group as everyone ate. Tohru looked around to see that some people were close to finishing so she put down her bowl and grabbed the pot and ladle again.
"Seconds anyone?"
Those that were close to finishing waved their bowls to get her attention. As more people finished Tohru scurried over to refill their bowls, this continued until everyone had had second and third helpings and there was nothing else left. Tohru cleaned up as everyone settled down for the night. Kanna beckoned Tohru over but she shook her head, remembering that Ellena needed to speak to her.
"I'll come talk to you guys later but Ellena has been anxious to speak to me all day."
She looked over to where Ellena was sitting, looking after Tohru's possessions. Tohru walked over and sat down on a pile of blankets she had taken out of her bag.
"Tell me Ellena, what did you wish to speak about?"
"Tohru, I need to apologise for the way I am always disappearing and explain why." Ellena almost whispered.
"There are five elemental spirits. Earth, air, fire and water as well as the fifth, spirit of spirit otherwise known as the king of spirits. As you know they are the most powerful and I am the spirit of water. At one time I lived with three of the others who were not at that time spirits, Earth, air and fire. The king of spirits was not so much a being at that time, he was merged with the earth and became apart of it. Now when someone merges with him as the new Shaman king will do and has done once every 500 years they gain immeasurable power." Ellena paused and glanced up at the stars.
"I was what you would now call wedded to Aki, who is now the spirit of fire but he had evil in his heart and discovered the power of the king of spirits and tried to take it for his own. He gained some of the power and it changed him into a different form. The people, who are now the spirits of Earth and Air, tried to stop him and died in the process. I managed to stop him but at the cost of my own life and that of my unborn child's. This Hao person you now serve is in control of the spirit of fire and it will take a while for me to adjust to being around him. I disappear off when I think about it. Sometimes I talk to the other two elemental spirits."
"I-I had no idea your past was that sad" Tohru began to sob and buried her face into the blankets she was sitting on.
"Tohru please don't cry, I have a feeling this has all happened for a reason though I will not say why for now" Ellena winked at Tohru and Tohru smiled back.
"Anyway I just need a little time to sort myself out so I wanted to ask you if it would be OK if I made myself scarce for a week. I need to sort out a few things and talk to a few people."
"Of course Ellena. Take longer than a week if you need to. These kind people are looking after me so I won't be in any danger and I can't have you being all distant can I now!"
"Tohru, remember that if you get into trouble I can be back in a flash"
Ellena rested her hand on Tohru's cheek then stood a little distance away and stretched her hands towards the night sky. A twister of water appeared around her and engulfed her causing everyone to turn and see what was going on. Ellena disappeared in the raging tower and as fast as it appeared the twister had gone leaving Tohru and everyone staring at a blank space. Hao watched Tohru, wondering what they had talked about. Toru stood up and walked over to sit down with Kanna, Mari and Matti, everyone else began to busy themselves again, deciding it was best to ignore the power of Tohru's guardian ghost.
"Tohru like now we can give you the gifts we got you!" Mari chirped as Tohru sat down.
Matti was busy trying to stitch black lace around the hem of one of her old dresses but she hugged Tohru when she sat down. Kanna was reading a magazine which she pushed aside to make way for the bag in which she had placed the gifts they had gotten Tohru.
"Guys, you don't have to keep buying me all this stuff"
"Nonsense, we shop because we love to. You're the first girl we've been able to talk to in a long while. No-one else here is remotely interested in fashion. We did ask Master Hao if we wanted to come shopping once but he didn't come. Isn't that right girls?" Kanna said.
They all huddled around the bag. Kanna reached in and pulled out a small bag and handed it to Tohru. Tohru looked at it then hesitantly opened up the top and put her hand inside. Her hands wrapped around a small which she pulled out and brought up to her face to look at. The moment she could see it. She burst out crying again and buried her face in her hands. The tears streamed down her face and collected on the ground. Everyone turned around to see what was going on now and Hao stood up and walked over to where Tohru was sitting. He looked at Kanna who looked back at him and shrugged her shoulders in confusion. She put her hand on Tohru's shoulder.
"Tohru do you not like it. What on earth's wrong?"
"Th-th-the perfume..." Tohru spluttered.
Hao realised this was one of those soppy girly moments that tended to happen when the Hanagumi's bought each other gifts and he backed away slowly, not wanting to be caught up in the frenzy and get asked for his opinion on whether Mari looked better in blue or black (again).
"Th-th-the perfume" Tohru repeated. "It's magn-magnolia scented"
"Do you not like magnolia?" Mari asked wrapping her arms around Tohru and pulling her into a hug.
"I-I- love magnolia" Tohru sobbed, "M-my mother always smelt of magnolia. Every morning when she did her hair she would put in fresh flowers. Her favourite and mine were the magnolia flowers from our garden. You guys bought me the most wonderful thing ever and it just reminded me of mom and I couldn't stop crying"
Tohru began to compose herself again and Kanna handed her a tissue.
"Thank you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me. Everyone is so kind to me here. You guys you're the first friends I have had in months you're the best friends ever."
All four of them hugged each other for what seemed to be forever, then Kanna reached into the bag and pulled out a parcel similar to the ones that had they had given her with her new clothing inside.
"This is also for you. Except you can't open it yet." Kanna looked at the other girls and smirked, "Inside here is something that we all reckon you will love a little later on during our journey. Trust us it is the most awesome thing you can wear while you're part of our group."
"Umm...OK" Tohru replied as she looked at the parcel in wonder.
After almost an hour of chatting most people had gone to bed and the girls were all feeling tired as well. Tohru went back over to all her clothing and began to lay out the blankets a little near the fire. Everyone was fast asleep as she finally sorted everything out. Hao walked over and sat down.
"Where exactly is my tent? I couldn't find it amongst my belongings when we left."
"One of Toma's men managed to destroy it while I was moving you out of their sight. Why? Are you cold?"
"No I just wondered. As long as I'm close to the fire and you're keeping the elements out then it's OK." Tohru sat down on her blankets opposite him.
"You should get some sleep. I don't need people with no energy to do anything." Hao said as he got up and walked away.
Tohru took off her coat and shoes and wrapped herself in the blankets. She quickly fell asleep. The gentle roar of the fire and the warmth it emitted soothed her and soon she was dreaming. It was the same dream she had almost every night.
She was in the field at the back of her house playing with her father. He was chasing her around and she hid in the grass. There was a fresh spring breeze and the grass reached up to Tohru's waist. She ducked down and crawled along the ground so her father wouldn't see her she bobbed her head up every so often to take a look at where he was.
Then the sky turned black and the wind grew more forceful. Tohru stood up so she and her father could head back to the house but he was nowhere around. She began to run but tripped and fell back into the grass, squeezing her eyes tight shut. When she opened them again she was no longer in the field but a dense forest. She called out for her father but no-one answered.
This was usually the part where Tohru would wake up but this time she hadn't. Calling out again Tohru realised she was alone. She sank down between the roots of a large tree and wrapped her arms around her knees and began to hum to drown out the silence that surrounded her. She closed her eyes and sat there for what seemed like an eternity when she realised someone was carrying her. The person's body was warm and she huddled closer to this person as they held her tightly.
It was about three in the morning when Hao woke up. He had the strangest feeling that something was wrong and he crawled out of his tent to see if something had happened. He wandered around the perimeter of the camp then crept over to see if Tohru was asleep. He stopped dead when he saw she wasn't there. Her blankets were strewn across the floor and her coat and boots were still where she had put them earlier. He began to worry that someone had kidnapped her but realised no-one would be that stupid.
He thought he heard something in the forest behind him. So he ran in following the sound until he was surrounded by darkness. The sound was extremely close and he looked around him to try and make out where it was coming from. His eyes caught sight of a small form huddled against a tree. He walked over to find Tohru asleep, muttering to herself. He realised she had been sleepwalking and crouched down to pick her up. The moment he touched her skin he drew his hand back in shock. Her skin was ice cold. He put his hand to her forehead and felt it was warm. He realised she had a fever. He took off his wrap and covered Tohru in it. Then he scooped her up and carried her back to camp.
Realising he needed to keep an eye on her he took her to his tent and laid her down then brought her blankets to keep her warm. Tohru tossed and turned, thrashing about as her fever got worse. Hao sat there wondering how to stop her. He lay down next to her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling Tohru close to him. He was surprised to see this calmed her down quite rapidly and he put his hand up to her forehead to find her fever had broken. He pulled her closer and she nestled her head under his so that his head rested on hers. He smiled at her sleeping form then closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
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