"You won't get any warmer if you stay by the entrance Stupid."
Cloud looked up surprised to see Hao Asakura towering over her. "What-?"
He knelt down beside her and looked at her wound. He placed one hand over it, but didn't touch it. After a couple seconds, her wound disappeared.
Cloud was watching her wound astonished and she lifted her eyes to stare at him wide eyed.
He stood up and looked down at her. Smirking, he said, "Don't stare at me stupidly. I have the power to heal." He turned and walked deeper into the cave. "You would want to get away from the cold…" He shifted his head to look at her with the corner of his eye. "…Cloud Yuumi."
"Eh…" She pushed herself off the floor and grabbed the sword, following him. This guy is kind of creepy.
Hao gave a little twitch, but didn't turn around. He jumped onto a rock and sat down.
Cloud saw rain falling in from the top of the cave into a pond in the cave and smiled. Wow… She gazed around. The scene here is beautiful, just like the lake. Droplets hung on the cave walls and it made the place seem like stars in the sky.
Hao closed his eyes and leaned his head onto his hands.
Cloud glanced over to him and saw him deep in thought. He looks kind of… sad? As soon as she thought that, Hao's eyes snapped open and looked over to her glaring. She made a face, and sneezed. "Ah…" She giggled.
He appeared beside her and threw his poncho over her. "Here."
She gave him a bizarre look.
He glared at her. "Hey. I'm helping you out. Don't take this kindness to heart because it won't happen again."
"But, won't you be cold?" She indicated at his bare chest.
He chuckled. "I control fire. So there's no worry for that." He smirked. "I wouldn't care if you died, but you need to stay alive… for now."
"Wait, do you know something that I don't?" She asked.
"I know a lot of things that you don't."
"What's going on?" She crossed her arms.
"I don't have any intention on telling you. Though from now on, you should stay close to me if you want to live." He smirked. "I-"
"Cloud! Get away from him!" A cry echoed through the cave and a white blur shot between Cloud and Hao.
"Huh?" She was surprised.
Before her stood Cho, and she pointed at Hao's now amused face accusingly. "What do you think you are doing to her? I won't let you harm her!"
"What? Cho? What are you doing here?" Cloud asked.
Cho turned her head to look at Cloud. "It's okay. I'm going to protect you from this evil demon. Get back away from him."
"Hold on. He didn't do anything-" Cloud started, but both Cho and Hao had already jumped away from her. She hung her head. "…to me."
"Interesting spirit." Hao watched Cho. "How do you plan to fight me?"
"You'll see." She answered and began to fly towards him.
Hao's Spirit of Fire appeared and this caused Cho to falter for a second.
"Whoa. He's big." Cloud gazed up amazed, but then snapped back to reality that Cho might not stand a chance against him.
The Spirit of Fire reached for Cho and Cloud quickly darted in front of her. "Stop!" She grabbed Cho's shoulders and held her back. "Calm down Cho. Don't get too hasty."
The Spirit of Fire stopped. Its fiery hand hovered behind Cloud for a second and she could feel the heat burning behind her.
Cho stopped flapping her wings, looked at Cloud and smiled. "Heh. Sorry, sometimes I don't think about things before I act."
The Spirit of Fire disappeared and Hao smirked. "Since you are so enthusiastic about protecting her, you are to be her guardian. She needs one anyhow. She can't train if there's no one to train with."
"Train?" Cloud and Cho glanced over to Hao. "What do you mean train? Why do I need to train?" Cloud asked.
"To protect yourself. You can't run forever. Shamans shouldn't be shamans if they are weak. Therefore my training should make you stronger than what you are now." Hao went back to his rock. "The shaman tournament is starting once more. I will need more followers."
Cloud remembered that Yoh had mentioned the Shaman Tournament just last night when they saw the shooting stars. "Why do you need followers?" Cho questioned.
Hao shifted his eyes to her. "You also aren't aware of who I am either? You called me an evil demon. I figured you knew."
Cho gave a embarrassed chuckle. "Oh, that was because I thought you did something to little Cloud here. I saw you half naked so I thought…" She blushed. "Anyways I have been sleeping for a long time, so I haven't been aware of what has been happening over time. Someone has been disturbing my resting area recently so it woke me."
"Pathetic. There's no purpose in me answering your foolish questions. Don't bother me." He turned his head and went back to thinking.
Cloud shrugged and smiled at Cho. They didn't know what really was going on, but for now they were both happy that they met each other.
I had already spent a week training and practicing with Hao and Cho everyday. It was really tiring and painful, but I won't give up. For some reason, seeing how strong Hao was, made me want to match his powers. At first, I didn't have the slightest clue what I was doing and messed up about every minute. I could tell that Hao was frustrated with me though he kept his calm collected image. I was able to work on my punches, kicks, sword attacks, speed, and obtain unity with Cho in thoughts and movements. I trained day and night, and I could feel myself getting stronger. However, it was pretty boring in the forest. I really didn't have a purpose in doing the training other than protecting myself. I only went along with it because I don't want to lose to those cloaked people and seem helpless. I even agreed to Hao that I would enter the Shaman tournament. That was because I actually have no reason to go back home. There's no family or friends that would care about me anyways, so I figured I would just enjoy myself.
"Cloud, it's time to train." I heard Hao's voice, but it was faint, so I remained sprawled out on the floor. I was still tired from the morning training.
I felt a nudge against my back. It was probably Hao's foot. I wondered what he would do if I didn't get up. "Hey." I felt the foot nudge me a couple more times, but I still ignored it. "Fine, you leave me no choice." Without warning, I felt him pick me up and my eyes shot open. I saw nothing but the blue sky and felt myself fall.
"Hey!" I cried out and dropped into the cold water. I guess that was what happens if I didn't get up. I surfaced the water coughing. I saw Hao smirking at me and made a disgusted face.
"Give me 10 laps around this whole lake." He ordered.
I slipped off my sword around my back. "Here." I was about to throw it to him, but he held up his hand to stop me.
"Keep that on. You should always stay with your weapon." He informed.
"What? It's heavy." I groaned and slipped it back on. "Where's your weapon?"
"I don't need one. Start already Cloud, you are wasting time."
Arg stupid Hao, I thought to myself. I started swimming, keeping my pace. The lake was not that big, but it wasn't considered small either. It took a pretty long time just to do one lap, but at all times I could see Hao from where I was swimming. I finished my first lap in thirty minutes and started on my second lap, all tired out.
On my fifth lap, I felt like dying. It was hard to breathe and I noticed that the sun was setting. I was kind of proud of myself though. I had gotten stronger since I started Hao's training. Though he makes it very intense, it helps me. Halfway through my fifth lap, a chain wrapped around my waist. My eyes shifted to the shore, but before I had time to react, it pulled me out of the water.
I landed on the floor roughly and slowly I pushed myself up off the ground. I was breathing heavily, but I saw about ten cloaked people. What were they called anyways? I asked myself. Hao appeared behind me and I could already imagine him smirking already. I believe that he smirks to everything, it's actually kind of annoying because it makes the person feels that he knows something that they don't.
"Cloud, let's test out how much you have improve shall we?" His voice sounded behind me.
The chain around my waist suddenly pulled me forward. I punched, kicked, and dodged like all the times I've practiced with Hao. Before I knew it, they were all on the floor knocked out. I looked up over to Hao and guess what? He had smirked again. Does he not smile? I questioned silently. I was beat. The swimming took a lot of my energy and the fighting didn't help.
I took about two steps before I was surrounded by twenty cloaked figures this time. The big guy who I knew as Yashi now, appeared beside Hao. He was chuckling and the cloaked figures were usually silent.
"We have appeared Cloud. Did you miss us?" His voice boomed. "You look too tired to run this time, but I'm not sure how this might turn out considering that the infamous Hao Asakura is here." He gazed at Hao. "By the way, what are you doing with her? My men had said that you have been spending a large amount of time with her…" He paused and joked. "Does the emotionless Hao Asakura have feelings now?"
I could see Hao tense up at those words. I learned that Hao would not admit himself to having any kind of weakness. He especially said that emotions were a large weakness that humans contained. It causes them to falter, hesitate, and question themselves.
"Yashi, I know what you are up to." Hao stated and Yashi looked taken back. "But you can't have it because a person like you isn't worthy of that kind of power."
I thought Yashi would be angry at those words, but he just chortled loudly. "What would you know? You are only a mere child. There are many things about me that you can never discover." He looked over to me. "What are you waiting for? Get her."
I turned to block a hit and started defending myself. This was harder. They were stronger than the last bash and I had already used up most of my energy. I dodged and brought down about ten people before I was punched in the face. I caught myself before I fell and tried to flip outside of the ring where they surrounded me. There was no luck and only ended up being punched and kicked a couple more times before I fell to the ground. I grimaced at the pain when I attempted to move up. I was able to stand, but I was unstable.
I wasn't sure what words was exchanged between Hao and Yashi, but I saw flames surrounding the cloaked figures. They screamed. Hao's face flashed before me and just like that, we were back near our cave.
"Hao." I was grabbing his poncho.
He ignored me. "Cho. Let's go. They know where we are."
The angelic figure appeared and nodded. She flew to Hao's side. "How far are they?"
"The other side of the lake." Hao stated calmly.
They won't take long to get here. Cho gazed at me. "Let's go somewhere else. I don't think we can fight…"
Hao glared and Cho scratched her head.
"Not that I meant that you aren't strong enough. It's just that it's risky." Cho flapped her wings and hovered above them. "I don't want Cloud to be hurt. They probably have something planned. I don't think they would underestimate you."
His eyes shifted around. She's probably right. He slipped his arms behind my back and under my knees, then scooped me off the ground.
My eyes went wide. "Hey. I can walk you know."
He looked down at me and smirked. "I know, but you might be a little slow and bring us down. We don't want to risk that."
Cho appeared before my face and giggled. "It's true."
I made a face and pouted. Cho is starting to side with Hao more.
"Spirit of Fire." Hao called out and the large guardian made its entrance. He jumped onto his guardian and Cho followed. The Spirit of Fire took off into the sky and flew above the trees.
I glanced down to see Yashi and his men gazing up at us. He gave a mischievous smile when he saw me looking down. I shuddered. He is scarier looking then when I first saw him.
Yashi watched the Spirit of Fire soar above him and disappear. Hao's running away. He laughed and indicated to his men. "Head back. This is a far more interesting chase then I imagined"
"Okay Hao. You can put me down now." I stated and looked at his never fazing expression.
He gazed at me. "Time for another test."
I was caught off guard as he threw me off the Spirit of Fire and fell from thousands of feet from the sky. Damn him always doing unexpected things. I quickly glance up to see Cho being just as surprised as I was, but she shot down towards me. There wasn't a possibility that Cho could reach me in time. I was too far. I turned towards the fast approaching ground. Furyoku. That's what I needed. I closed my eyes and concentrated as I stuck out my hands. Come on… to my hands. A burst of light emitted from my palms and shot towards the ground. I felt myself slowed a bit and opened my eyes. I was slowing down so I wouldn't hit the ground that hard. Hah, I can beat your tests Hao.
However, I spotted a group of little children running away from a little boy with red hair. The little boy was standing still with an angry expression, but there was roots around him that shot towards the children.
What? I was distracted and my full attention was caught onto the little boy. "Hey!" I withdrew my hands without realizing it and clenched my fists. The light disappeared and I fell faster. I guess I stunned myself so I just covered my head as I fell through the trees. I hit the ground hard and the air got knocked out of me. I winced and coughed. As I took deeper breaths, my vision hazed and darkened.
Cho flew down beside Cloud and panicked, when she saw her on the ground passed out. "Cloud!" She circled her. "Wake up! Wake up! Are you okay?"
There was no response and Cho flew around her furiously. Hao landed beside Cho, stopping her. He kneeled on one leg. "That wasn't what I expected. She is weaker than I thought." Something distracted her.
"Hao! That was too sudden! She could've died!" Cho shouted.
He looked up at her. "A shaman should be prepared for everything. She should expect every possibility, especially in her position." He gazed back to Cloud. She almost saved herself. He thought back to a couple seconds ago when she was falling. He had clearly seen her slowed her fall, but he noticed her eyes drifted and caused her to lose concentration.
Cho heard footsteps and looked away from Cloud to see a little boy with red hair. She stared into his eyes and something about them frightened her. What's with this boy?
The boy's face twisted into frustration when he saw that Cho was frightened of him. He stared at her intensely and full of anger. Without warning, roots lashed out at her.
Cho shielded herself, but the roots just went through her, not harming her. It shocked him and saw that she was transparent. What is she?
Hao stood up and looked over to the boy. He gazed into his eyes and saw pain, loneliness, anger, and sadness. The boy's gaze turn to Hao and they just stared at each other. This boy…
Roots flew towards Hao and wall of fire rose up and quickly blocked it off. Hao threw fireballs over to the boy, but the roots protected him and took the hits. Then it circled Hao, who exploded the roots with fire. The little boy glared then roots entwined around Cloud.
"Hao!" Cho cried out. "Do something!"
He glowered at Cho then jumped over to Cloud and pulled her sword. It sliced through the roots entwining her and she dropped to the ground. He flipped to the floor, picked her up, and enveloped in flames.
The little boy's angered face changed to a saddened expression when they disappeared.