Disclaimer: Well I don't own shaman king though I do have a copy of the first volume of the manga!

As it turns out we're not meant to right messages to every reviewer  . So I'd like to thank everyone that reviewed since the last time I updated. I have to apologise yet again for the long delay. Everything is kind of hectic with all the work I have at school. Writers block unfortunately overcame me as well, then I lost what I had written so lady luck really wasn't smiling down on me! But here it is.

There was a slow dripping noise, Tohru opened her eyes slowly and tried to look around but everything was a blur. She tried to sit up but found she had no power in her muscles. Thoughts raced through her mind. The last thing she remembered was Hao's grief stricken face looking at her. Had she hurt him? Was he able to make it into Dobi Village?

Had he left her all alone?

A tear ran down the side of her face silently and soaked into the fur she was lying on. Opening her eyes again everything around her slowly came into focus. She was in some sort of tent, A tepee the ground was covered in furs and she was wrapped in a number of patchwork quilts keeping her warm. Above her were many drying herbs strung from the wooden supports. Then the smell reached her. There was cooking food and the drying herbs And the smell of greenery, plants and trees. The sounds of life went on outside there was the rustling of leaves in the wind and the crackle of a large fire but the voices of people were subdued and quiet. Slowly and painfully she turned her head towards the flap acting as a door. Wincing at the dull pain shooting through her whole body. She slowly opened her mouth and called out.

"Hello-o" Tohru croaked to see if there was anyone nearby. There was a flurry of movement outside and several heads poked inside showing signs of lack of sleep. They all smiled and Tohru managed a weak smile back.

Opatcho hopped in and hurriedly shooed everyone away.

"How are you feeling everyone was very worried" he said smiling

"hungry...pain..." Tohru tried to talk more but gave up and sank back into the bed her eyes drifting closed again.

When Tohru awoke again it appeared to be early evening. She still felt weak but she was no longer in pain. She tried calling out again but found that her voice had completely left her this time. Wearily she dragged her self from under the covers toppling onto the floor. She slowly pulled herself over to the flap Then hoisted herself to a standing position slowly. She wobbled violently and clutched at the material of he tepee to steady herself. Then, pushing it weakly aside she stumbled into the outside. She was standing in a camp. Everyone turned and fell silent she looked bleakly over at her friend sitting by the fire then wobbled dangerously again splaying her legs to try and regain her balance. Then she slowly shuffled over to the blazing fire. Mari jumped to her feet and helped Tohru over sitting her carefully down. Tohru looked around Hao wasn't sitting with them. Did he really care so little that he hadn't even been there to watch over her? She tried to push such thoughts out of her mind as her friends offered her some food.

She ate hungrily, as everyone talked animatedly to her carefully avoiding mentioning Hao.

"You were out for a week we were all very worried" one person said. Tohru wasn't paying attention to the identity f people talking.

" You have to see Dobi village it's amazing there are streets lined with shops and hundreds of places to stay as well as forests and stream and lakes stretching for miles"

"Yeah just look, see the king of spirits such an awesome site isn't it"

"not as great as Master Hao though.."

"No I never said it was don't go putting words into my mouth"

Tohru's closer companions turned to look at her, they had realised she was upset about not seeing him.

"I think you need more rest Tohru, you look tired" Opatcho said to her quietly she smiled thankfully to him.

He led her back to her tent and helped her settle.

The sunlight poured in through a crack in the flap. It was sweltering in the tent already and Tohru guessed it must be already nearly noon. She went outside and was greeted with the sites sounds and smells of the miles of forest and town that made up Dobi Village. The village itself was about half a mile away. She guessed why, most shaman weren't exactly welcoming of anyone associated with Hao. She put on the star covered bandanna that she had been given but decided against the gloves, it was hot enough already.

Every inch of her body still ached as she stood in the blazing sunlight. The sun beat down on her. She moved into the woods welcoming the shade it offered. She set off through the tall wiry grass, letting her hands brush against the blades that stopped above her knees. Though she didn't have any idea where she was heading she knew where to look for him. Not one word had passed between them since she had regained consciousness. Her heart ached as she tried to fathom why he had been avoiding her.

Was he playing me all this time, just to get my furiyoku? Maybe he's angry I'm still alive. Tohru tried to shift these thoughts from her head as she wandered through the trees. Her surroundings were silent except for the occasional animal noise in the distance. The lack of a breeze meant that their was barely any movement around her. Up ahead the light shone through and illuminated a large clearing. Tohru made her way to it apprehensively. The bright sunlight meant she had to cover her face until her eyes adjusted. As everything became visible she looked around. Right in the middle was a large boulder. Hao sat atop it, his back to her. She stood there unable to move as she watched him just sit there. A silent tear traced her cheek as she searched for what she wanted to say. Hao sat up slightly and turned around slowly looking directly into her eyes for a split second. What Tohru saw in his eyes before he looked swiftly away was something no one would believe possible. Regret.

She walked slowly towards him through the thick grass. As she neared the boulder he jumped down in front of her though he still refused to look at her. This feeling isn't anger, it's worry, he has acted so strangely since I awoke.

Tohru reached forward at that moment and pulled Hao into a fierce hug, startling him. He pulled back holding her at arms length and opened his mouth to speak but before he could do so she pressed her finger softly to his lips to silence him.

"I would have been happy to die for you. Please don't regret that I came to harm. I'm alright now aren't I? And what's more you got into Dobi Village."

She smiled warmly at him, and he looked at her before pulling her into another hug and kissing her cheek tenderly.

"I'm sorry" He whispered, as he ran his fingers slowly though her ivory locks.

She understood at that moment what it took for a man like Hao to apologise. To him everything revolved around his singular goal of merging with the king of spirits. She knew she could never best that. It was something she had accepted along with his proposal and yet she didn't mind because he did love her even though she wasn't what he truly desired as long. As she was by his side throughout, that was all that mattered.

Whew! Another chapter gone. I apologise for the shortness once again. I'll try and improve! Hope you enjoyed this. I'll update again as soon as I can. Try not to leave you hanging!