Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman king.

To those who fed Rufus

Asavako: It's great to hear you say that. It gets very interesting once they get to Dobi Village with some very good twists!

Ginnitsune: Boxing sounds like a great idea

Godoflight: MWAHAHAHA! I am so evil. Hear is your long awaited update

Andrea Nefisto: I know they are sooo cute!

Windscarbabe: Yes the random box. Now everyone can rejoice from the relief of knowing what was in it. Hope you like the chappie.

Airtose: So polite. And there is even more to come. EVERYBODY REJOICE!

Fizzysoda: Not long now I can assure you. And it won't be without problems

Invader Neo: Wow so many reviews in so little time. I was shocked but thanks to you I now have over 50 reviews. YAY. I praise your craziness!

"This is it Ellena, we only have enough left for one final attack" Tohru whispered as she wiped the sweat from her forehead.

Ellena held out both her hands and shot a raging torrent from her hands straight at Hao. The spirit of fire countered by shooting a continuous length of flames out of his hands. As Tohru lost the last of her Furiyoku the water died down and Ellena turned back to normal leaving Tohru 50 feet above ground.

She felt herself falling through and caught her breath, waiting for the impact but it never came. Instead she was in someone's arms. She opened her eyes which had been squeezed shut and looked up to see Hao staring back at her. She realised they were being taken to the ground by the Spirit of Fire. When they reached the ground Hao hopped off and let Tohru stand up. Ellena smiled.

"I'll see you again soon Ellena"

"See you soon Tohru" Ellena smiled as she disappeared again.

Everyone rushed over. Opatcho tugged on her dress and hugged her when she bent down. Kanna patted her on the back and Mari and Matti gave her a hug.

"I think I need to sit down" she said to them as they handed her back her chain.

They all walked with her back to camp. Hao walked slightly behind the rest of the group.

"Master Hao does she have enough?" Opatcho asked, tugging at Hao's wrap.

Hao looked down at him.

"She has more than enough to get me inside and survive. I have no doubt she will be fine." He said, "But first I have to tell her everything."

"You're not worried are you, Master?"

"No. Tohru is incredibly accepting"Hao replied. I hope.

Later...

"Tohru I need to talk to you."

The sun was setting on the Horizon and the sky was an Hazy orange colour. He took her hand and led her away from the group. He sat down when they were far out of earshot and pulled her down as well. She sat opposite Hao waiting for him to say something but he remained silent. Tohru rubbed her arms as a cold breeze blew about them. Hao saw this and started to take off his warp to put around her. Tohru saw what he was doing and put her hands up to stop him.

"You have to keep warm as well Master Hao."

He smiled at Tohru then grabbed her waist and pulled her onto his lap. He covered her in his wrap so they both kept warm. She blushed at his sudden movement but the close contact sent shivers down her spine. Hao pulled her closer then began to talk.

"1000 years ago there was a Buddhist monk who was a Shaman. He mastered the five points of the unity star and became extremely powerful. One day he had a vision that humans would destroy the earth, he knew what he had to do to save the earth and that was remove the humans..." He began quietly.

Tohru looked round at him slightly confused but didn't say anything and let him carry on.

"He saw that humans had no awareness of what they were doing and like a plague they infected the planet. He tried to get the other monks to help him in saving the earth but they were afraid of his power and sought to destroy and they succeeded."

"That was harsh. Especially if he wanted to save the planet." Tohru whispered.

Hao smiled at her reaction and continued.

"Yes it was. Anyway having mastered the unity star he had developed the ability to reincarnate himself and so about 500 years later he reincarnated himself in order to become Shaman King because with the power of the King of Spirits he could save the earth. He gained many followers and became even more powerful but once again people became fearful of his power and tried to stop him which they succeeded in again. Which brings me to the present day."

Tohru's eyes widened as she realised what he was saying. She looked at him for a moment, trying to grasp the concept of him living 100 years ago. He looked back at her waiting for her to say something. Instead she began to cry and flung her arms around him. Hao held her back, confused at her reaction.

"Err... Tohru why exactly are you crying?" he asked her.

"All you wanted to do was save the earth and they killed you. You suffered all the pain that comes with dying but not just once. How could they be so cruel." She sobbed into his chest.

Hao lifted her chin and wiped the tears from her face.

"You truly are a remarkable person Tohru." He said.

Tohru continued to look at him and realised what she wanted to do. She rested her hands on his shoulders.

"I promise never to let you suffer that pain again."

Tohru leaned in and kissed him lightly on the forehead. She drew away to look at him again but he hooked one hand around the back of her neck and pulled her back to him, pressing his lips against hers. Tohru's heart skipped a beat and wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss. Hao broke away and kissed her gently on the forehead. Tohru took a deep breath then laid her head on his shoulder. Hao ran his fingers through her and laid his other hand on her thigh.

"Tohru, I need your help." Hao whispered into her ear, "To get into Dobi Village people in the tournament have to pass a test. For me to get past this with out being turned away I have to effectively trick the King of Spirits with a special kind of furiyoku. You have that furiyoku and I need you to give me some so that I can get into Dobi Village and become Shaman King."

He waited for her answer.

"Will it hurt?" she asked. Is he just like Toma? Is that all he wanted? That stupid Celestial Furiyoku I have.

"For most it would kill them."

Tohru's body tensed at the mention of death. He is. Kill me and take my furiyoku. Leave me to rot.

"... but that's the reason I fought you yesterday. I was testing to see how much furiyoku you have. With the amount you have I have no doubt you would survive."

"But does it hurt?" Tiegan said I had to forgive him. She's never been wrong before. If I'm not to die then maybe he's not like Makura Toma. He already saved my life. I owe him everything, how can I say no.

"The pain is intense but bearable."

Hao grabbed one of her hands that had slumped on to her lap and intertwined his fingers with hers.

"I-I I have to go I can't think about this right now. I'm so sorry" cried Tohru.

She pushed against him freeing herself from his embrace then ran off away from the camp into the desert wilderness. She continued to run until she was out of breath then collapsed in the dust, sobbing.

He was just after my furiyoku, he didn't care about me, he didn't care what happened to me. How can I forgive him? How can I stay by his side? He has no feelings. Tiegan was wrong.

She continued to sob then curled up on the floor with her knees pressed against her chest.

"Well what do we have here?" came an eerily calm voice.

Tohru opened her eyes to see a man dressed in white standing in over her.

"You must be one of the evil one's followers" he almost whispered, pushing his pristine glasses further up the bridge of his nose, "We must rid the world of Hao's followers, then we will eliminate Hao. The light of justice will prevail."

Tohru stood up hurriedly feeling the sudden need to defend her own and her Master's honour.

"Master Hao is not evil and neither am I. Anyway who are you?" She felt the anger rise within her as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"My name is Marco and we are the X-laws," he said gesturing to a number of similarly dressed people standing a small distance away, "Repent now and we save your life."

Tohru grabbed his wrist firmly and pushed his hand off her shoulder.

"I don't know who you freaks are but no-one threatens my life. Don't you ever touch me again." She said through gritted teeth.

"I see, you are some sort of whore to the evil that is Hao. Am I right? Well we already killed one of your evil companions today. "

Tohru clenched her fists and glared at Marco as she tried desperately to control her temper. Tears sting her eyes. Basel. Basel's dead.

"No-one---calls---me---a---whore" she seethed.

Her whole body was trembling as she stepped forward and shoved him fiercely backwards causing him to trip.

"X-laws! Kill this dirty whore. She will not repent!" he hollered.

The X-laws shining angels appeared behind them and prepared to strike. One aimed and blasted straight at Tohru. There was a blinding light and Tohru looked up to see the Spirit of fire blocking the blast. As the light faded she saw Hao jump down.

"No-one calls her a whore. The only whore around here is the one in that tin can you haul around" he sneered.

The X-laws gasped at his cruel words.

"You and you're evil followers will be destroyed" Marco said as the X-laws disappeared in another blinding flash of light.

Hao looked over his shoulder at Tohru was standing looking back at him. He walked over and took her hand.

He just saved my life again. He even defended my honour. How can I say no now. I mean I- I love him.

"OK. I'll give you my furiyoku" she said smiling faintly.

"When you do that I will consider your debt repaid and you will be free to leave whenever you want."

Tohru looked at him and her eyes began to fill with tears again He wants me to leave.

"But I don't want you to leave."

On hearing this Tohru no longer wanted to cry, instead she was smiling her dazzling smile again. Hao looked at her for a moment then hugged her tightly and whispered in hear the words she had been longing to hear.

"I love you"

Tohru's breath caught as she heard those words and she pressed her lips quickly against his again.

"I love you too" she breathed.

Hao rummaged around in his pocket for something. Tohru watched him slightly confused at what he was doing.

It's a good thing their were girls in this group who knew what to get for me. He thought to himself

"Tohru, when I become Shaman King I don't want to spend my time alone. I've only known you properly for a matter of weeks but I've gotten to know you and more than that I fell in love with you and because of that..."

He took the small velvet box out of his pocket and Tohru gasped when she realised it was time. He opened it up to reveal a ring made from white gold with a green, pear shaped diamond set into it.

"...I want you to marry me and become my Shaman queen so we can spend the rest of our days together." He finished.

Tohru stared at the beautiful ring in awe and took off the gloves she was wearing. Holding out her left hand she smiled at him.

"You lead everyone to believe you're ruthless and you show no compassion yet here you are telling me you love me. Saving my life and defending my honour. I never believed I would be marrying anyone so young and yet I found you and fell in love and here I am accepting your proposal."

"You know you're eyes are really beautiful, especially under the moonlight. Just like diamonds." He whispered in her ear

"You know my father used to say that"

He took her hand and slipped the ring onto her finger. She began to cry again but this time she was smiling brightly.

Tohru flung herself at him so hard that he was knocked to the ground. She planted a kiss on his lips again and he pulled her against him prolonging it. He began to stroke her back then crept his hands down the sides of her thighs.

"We should get back." She whispered softly, "There'll be plenty of time for all this later on. But don't think you're getting any of that until we're married"

"WHAT." He exclaimed, "WHY NOT!"

Tohru smiled mischievously and picked up the gloves she had taken off then jumped up and began to saunter back in the direction of camp swinging her hips as she went. Holding out her hand in front of her to watch the ring sparkling in the moonlight. Hao looked at her retreating figure, smiled then jumped up and rushed after her, sweeping her up in his arms and carrying her back to where everyone was waiting expectantly to find out what had happened.

As always Rufus awaits your delicious meals with impatience.