haha, word count on just the story (not including this note up here) was 7700... I just think it's kinda funny, and this was 17 pages on my computer so enjoy.

"Hey Remy, how much further do you think we have to go?"
"I don't know, Angeni?" Remington asked
"Well I'd say at least a week of walking a head of you all, unless the river is still around, you could use it as a short cut." Angeni said much to the dismay of Christine
"Elizabeth,"
"Yes?""Could you go take a survey of the land?"
"No problem."

"Knowing how to use the big oversouls now, I bet we could mop the floor with a lot of other shamans!" Blake said, this whole thing was making his cokcyness come out a bit more
"Yeah but the x-laws and Hao already knew that kind of thing, they've probably learned how to use theirs better than us." Hilda said trying to make Blake come back to reality
"You didn't need to remind me of that." Blake sighed
"I'm just saying, just because we learned a few new tricks, you can't act like other shamans haven't either."
"Well I suppose that's true, after all look who was the first of us to figure it out…" Drotoro said looking over at Christine who was backing away from a small roach.
"Hey I heard that!" Christine said still backing away from the bug "ewww"

"Christine don't be such a pansy, bet it doesn't bug Hilda." Blake said picking the roach up and putting it in Hilda's face
"Blake, I honestly have no problem with bugs as long as they aren't at face level… so why don't you PUT THE THING DOWN!" Hilda snapped at Blake
"Y-yeah put it down." Aaralyn said slowly

"Christine,"
"Elizabeth."
"There's a town not too far from here and if you go straight through it the river Angeni mentioned is not far past it. It's filled with mostly shamans, we must be really close to Patch village to be coming to a place like that." Elizabeth said
"Oh yeah, food here I come!" Blake said
"Is food the only thing you think about? I mean Remy is a guy but he's not-" Hilda cut herself short after seeing neither Blake nor Remington was listening when they both just about sang
"food food, we're gonna get some food!"
"I thought we already had food we brought, isn't that what we ate some of last night?" Aaralyn asked
"Yeah but we're talking fast food Burgers, Fries, Pizza, icecream, and hot dogs!" Blake said
"Yeah…" Remington said, both the boys seemed to be practically daydreaming

"Well since the river's still there I don't see why we couldn't stop in the town for a while." Hilda said
"Why not, maybe meet some other shamans that don't want to kill us or anything." Christine said
"This place is awesome; finally we're around a ton of shamans, no Charger, no Hao, No x-laws and no Jenna… I could get used to this." Blake seemed to be in good spirits along with everyone else
"Who knows maybe Patch Village will be this cool." Remington said

"Well, we know that Hao will get there for sure, and the x-laws to, but Charger and Jenna…" Hilda said
"Jenna will make it, she has a lot of help form the family, and Charger, he's got some kind of drive otherwise he wouldn't have made it past the first round." Christine said
"You must be sick or something, Charger Chester, has a drive?" Blake said sliding away from Christine a few feet

"Well doesn't everyone in the fight have their reasons? No one's risking their life for no apparent reason." Remington said
"Yeah, but sooner or later all three of you are going to have to fight each other," Hilda said
"It's a strange thing, how the shaman fights are set up, you're encouraged to find friends but you'll have to beat them and crush their dreams." Lester said a bit disgusted sounding.
"But it's not betrayal if we fight fair, and the shaman king can do anything so we can still do what they wanted to do right?" Blake said "besides, when me and Remington get to fight I think it'll be really close."
"Very close." Remington added

"I'll drop out of the fight if I have to fight Remington." Aaralyn said
"Oh no you will not." Remington said "You'll fight me, it wouldn't be much of a use if you were supposed to win the tournament but quit because you didn't want to fight me."
Blake Hilda Christine and everyone's spirits all started laughing

"You two would go so easy on each other." Blake said between laughs
"The fight would last like all day and night you'd barley use and furyoku at all." Hilda said
Remington started to laugh a bit "Heh, probably."
"Hey I wonder what that's all about…" Christine said looking at a mass of shamans running in a certain direction.
"Let's go find out then." Blake said the group made their way over to the mass to find there was a fight going on.
"It's the x-laws!" Hilda said.
"I've never seen the Egyptian looking team before." Remington said
"Who's the green haired kid, my replacement or something?" Blake said huffing a bit
"Blake, that kid is the same kid from way back when, remember that kid that challenged you and Christine!" Skya said
"Oh yeah, we didn't feel like fighting so we told him to get lost." Christine remembered
"Wonder what was up with him anyway…" Blake said
"Will you all just shut up and watch the fight, you'll miss something important!" Remington said

"My allies know quite well how it feels to lose an important person, too. I don't want to kill anyone. However... that sadness was created by this single evil. If we let that evil roam free... it will give birth to even more victims. In order to prevent more sadness from being born, I will annihilate all obstacles. Until the day I fight Hao indulgence can't save anyone. That is my justice!" The green haired x-law said

"It can't be... Lyserg isn't a kid who could say something so cold..." a bystander with a huge hair do said

"I don't think, anyone has a right to judge what the x-laws do." Blake said looking over at him, he didn't know for sure if the man had heard him because of how low of a tone he used.

"LYSERG YOU CAN'T!" a brown haired shaman yelled

"THAT'S!" Hilda yelled

"The other Asakura boy!" Blake finished for her
"They must have known that green haired boy well, I think Lyserg was his first name, and that's what they're calling him by." Remington said
"They did, he was with them when they fought Ashil." Hilda said
"Wonder what had to have happened to him to make him join the x-laws." Blake said
"Feathers?" Christine said drawing attention to the fight once again.

"Then I have no choice... but to kill you!" the boy said

"Whether it's justice or evil... People have the freedom to choose, but if you kill him, he won't be able to do even that. There's no justice in killing! Lyserg!" the Asakura boy yelled

"Why? His wire stopped all of a sudden." The shaman the green haired boy was trying to kill said.

"I don't guess he could do it, he stopped his weapon." Hilda said
"He's saying it was his spirit…" Blake said

"Lyserg, I'm disappointed in you." A blonde haired shaman Christine recognized as Marco said

"Oh, sinner, It appears, I'll have to pass judgment on you myself." An iron can looking thang said

"Why is the big iron thing talking…" Remington said
"It's not the iron maiden torture device talking, it's Holy girl Iron maiden Jeanne-sama, the x-laws leader inside of it." Blake explained
"Torture…" Christine said
"Device?" Hilda added
"IS SHE CRAZY?" the two girls asked at the same time

"This form is the proof of my determination. Right now, the world is in the midst of great darkness. Morality is lost... wickedness is spreading... and people are just hurting one another. If possible, I would like to relinquish their sins and pain. That is why I swore to God that I would endure everything with this body, if he would bestow upon me the power to save the world... I will enter the Iron Maiden of Roses... And carry the sins and pain of humans. So that this world... may be at peace." A young silver haired red eyed girl spoke…

"…she's, she sure is something…" Remington said
"If she wins the shaman fight," Aaralyn said
"Wow, she's going to fight, she almost never comes out of there…" Blake said

"Now I understand…" Christine said "Blake ever since we met the one thing I've never gotten is why someone like yourself would choose a group like the x-laws, but the maiden, she, she must really be chosen by a higher power… and I've never really believed in a god, never really had a reason to, things just happen and we live with them… something about this girl…" Christine couldn't sum up words to describe Jeanne

"Well if you ask me, if there is a god, he doesn't want what they're about to do…" Hilda said

"Maiden-sama's Spirit, the God Shamash, Is the God of Justice who bestowed upon mankind their first law, the Code of Hammurabi." Marco said to the on lookers

"What's a code of Hammurabi?" Christine asked
"Basically the first set of written rules used for mankind, back in b.c. times." Blake explained
"S-she just killed those guys!" Remington exclaimed drawing attention back to the fight yet again
"… It had to be done, that's what the x-laws do." Blake explained

"My eyes aren't blind, Lyserg Diethel. Back then... before your spirit stopped the wire
you stopped it with your own hands." Marco said giving the kid a slap

"That fuck Marco I can't believe him, first her accuses me of leaking information and gets me kicked out, puts in a replacement for me and now thinks he can beat my replacement around!" Blake jumped up but was grabbed by Remington and Hilda
"Blake do you want to get your damn ass killed?" Hilda said head locking him
"Blake, you're staying out of that crap, it's not you're fight you're no longer a member and you shouldn't still be loyal to them after how they shunned you!" Remington said being sure to have a tight grip on Blake's arms
"I'll be loyal to Jeanne-sama until the day I die; Marco though… needs to be taught a lesson." Blake said
"If Jeanne… -sama as you all her is so great how come she couldn't tell you were telling the truth Blake?" Hilda said letting go of Blake's head to give him a slap

"Don't be an idiot Blake! I'll have Remington hold you here as long as I have to until you promise me and everyone else you're not going to run off and do something stupid, the x-laws can and will kill you now, and I won't let that happen, and this time you're not going to get hurt I'm putting my foot down because I really care about you and I don't want to see someone I love getting hurt again!" Christine yelled
"LOVE!" Blake asked

"I-I-I-I I…" was all Christine could manage to get out of her mouth she honestly had no idea where those words came from or what the strange feeling she had for Blake was, she never quite thought love was it.
"I think these two need to go for a walk tougher!" Hilda said quickly letting go of Blake and pushing him and Christine tougher and a few feet away.
"O-ok…" Blake said

"Hey! Sprits can't go either!" Hilda said getting Manny, Drotoro, Koncho, Elizabeth, and Skya to come back to the others.
"Let them get a few yards off then Skya and Koncho can lag a little way behind. And not get noticed by Blake or Christine, only go incase something happens, got that?" Hilda said
"C-Christine I- I- I… I umm uhh…" all Blake managed to get out of his mouth, luckily for both of them it was getting dark outside so they couldn't notice each other blushing.

"W-what I m-meant to say was… you know friend love… and uhhh I guess I m-might ummm…" Christine said
"Y-yea I.. I see where you're coming form I also umm… guess I have an umm uhh…"
"S-so we reached an understanding on umm…"
"Uhh I… I guess we did… umm" Blake pulled Christine closer to him her face got redder and Blake's too but not too long after both of them stopped blushing and they both closed they're eyes…
As luck would have it… Blake kissed… but missed

"T-that was my eye…" Christine said
"I-I realized that…" Blake laughed nervously
"W-want to try again?" Christine couldn't believe she just asked him that
"Y-yes." Blake said
The two managed to actually kiss right this time, right after Christine was blushing yet again for a bit she couldn't tell if Blake was but for some reason she didn't think so.

"I'll be right back I got to tell Hilda this like she told me to!" Koncho said
"So in reality… she only sent us to eavesdrop on the two and tell her everything that went on." Skya said
"Uhhh yeah I suppose that might have been part of it but there's also the shamans out there…" Koncho said
"Well don't go back to her then, other shamans being around is enough of a reason not to let Christine or Blake out of out sight." Skya said "Besides, Christine's your shaman and being loyal to her about things like this is very important."

"So about earlier…" Blake said looking at his shoe
"I know how you are about the x-laws, or at least now I do, Jeanne really is something special and the x-laws hearts are at least in the right place…"
"Well besides Marco's I'd say…" Blake said bitterly

"I know you really want to be in the x-laws now and-"

"No… after tonight, I never want to go back to the x-laws, I'm still mad at Marco for what he did but I sort of want to thank him…Because if I didn't leave the x-laws I would have missed out on you and on everything… I mean, if everything really happens for a reason then I shouldn't fight it, and if it does happen for a reason, right now I've got to think that reason is you." Blake said "Somehow I think we were meant to meet, I mean our ghosts, our pasts, in ways our beliefs, even down to out zodiac signs, and if it's love we really are feeling I have to believe it's meant. The only x-laws I really care about is Jeanne-sama and Meene-san… Venstar was cool sure, and me and Denbat hit it off but Meene was like a mom or at least a big sister to me… so I guess I get ticked off because I don't want them thinking I'm so traitor or something, but I won't do something stupid, I have way too much going for me right now."

"Blake, I agree with you… and if this is love, even if it doesn't last forever I want to make the most of it…" Christine said

All of a sudden Blake heard a loud explosion, there was a blinding light and Christine wasn't right by his side anymore, he heard a female voice laughing."Touching really, but I like to attack my prey when it's off guard!"
Blake looked on the ground to see Christine straining to get up. "Christine are you alright?" he asked
"I, I'll be fine getting up is the hardest part…" Christine said as Blake pulled her back on her feet "Jenna!" She exclaimed

"Well I do like to make an entrance…" Jenna laughed
"We honestly had no intentions of eavesdropping but Hilda said for Skya and I to come along incase anything happened, heh that girl has sense." Koncho said
"Koncho, I've never been happier about anyone invading my privacy!" Christine said happily
"Same here Skya!" Blake added "Skya oversoul into the knife!"
"Koncho into the sward!" Christine yelled

The two decided to use the big oversouls for this fight, but Jenna of course was still not going to be easy getting in… Christine lost count at 5 hits on the two.
"She really is fast!" Blake said
"Of course I am I was trained by the great one." Jenna smirked
"Hao's not so great." Blake said clinching his teeth

"Christine I didn't come just today for a battle, just wanted to leave you a friendly warning… if you so much as go near the Yoh Asakura boy and his friends and your and their groups should happen to join forces, prepare to have all of your teammates slowly taken out, I could easily start with lover boy here." Jenna chuckled "I suppose I'll get rid of you all in due time, epically that boy friend of yours, after all I can't let the last surviving member of the Weather's family who isn't loyal to Hao have thing as they were planned from the beginning now can I?"

"What do you mean planned form the beginning?" Christine asked
"You should ask Miss Elizabeth about that, I'm sure she must know a thing or two. And you all should really get faster and get to Patch Village already, you wouldn't want to not make it there in time, and we'll be watching." Jenna laughed again before walking off

"That chick… must really think she's special, next time she dose that shit things are going to be a lot different if she even comes as close as touching you, her or any of those creeps from your family, I'll take every single one of them out you didn't do a damn thing but be born and they have no right to treat you like this!" Blake said

"Blake don't worry about it, I have a feeling things are about to change with them all." Christine said
"What did she mean by how things were supposed to be anyway?" Koncho asked
"Well I suppose we just ask Elizabeth, maybe she really does know something." Christine said

"It's about time you two showed back up, I was starting to wonder if I should have given you a condom." Hilda said
"We weren't going to do anything quite like that!" Christine said
"So Koncho?" Hilda said
"Sorry Hilda but my lips are sealed…" Koncho said
"… they did not… CHRISTINE ARE YOU STILL A VIRGIN OH GOD NINE MONTHS LEFT BEFORE-?" Hilda yelled
"NOTHING LIKE THAT HAPPENED!" the four yelled

Blake and Christine thought it wasn't the best idea to tell Hilda about the kissing experience they had but did tell the group about Jenna, but with all teh excitement already going around they thought it best not to ask Elizabeth just yet, and have eventually forgot all about that.

"Well in that case, we'll have to travel at night mostly, they can't possibly sneak attack us when we're awake at night and god only knows where during the day right?' Remington said
"Yeah but with the whole river thing, we'll more than likely have to stay put for the night." Hilda said
"True, for tonight you spirits are going to have to keep guard." Blake said
"And I can afford a hotel room for tonight and there has to be one somewhere around here right?" Christine said

Before the group even got to a hotel Christine was about to fall asleep leaning on Blake on the walk there. This only made Hilda say "I'm going to find out what happened between the two one way or another." To Remington
"Eh we got two beds and a couch in here…" Hilda said winking at Remington which neither Blake nor Christine noticed
"Yeah if some of us share no one has to sleep on the floor." Remington looked over at Aaralyn who took her que to play her part "Hilda and I can fit in the same bad; you roll way to much Remy so you should take the couch."
"Sounds like a plan to me Aaralyn." Remington gave her a sheepish grin
"You and Christine are ok with sharing a bed right?" Hilda asked a bit teasingly
"No Hilda why would we? Not like we're going to do anything." Blake said
"Whatever you say but if you want some protection just ask." Hilda joked

Christine was the first to fall asleep Blake not too long after her, Hilda got tired of watching TV eventually and passed out leaving only Remington and Aaralyn awake.
"You think the two actually confessed to each other Remy?" Aaralyn asked Remington
"Looks that way, they seem closer and things would still be a bit awkward with the two if they didn't right?"
"I think they make a perfect match, I mean they both have something in common and they share a bond, that's got to be true love if nothing." Aaralyn
"Funny thing, any of us would accept anything like true love." Remington said
"How so? You do believe right?"
"Too much around me not to, it's just odd how we all have so much in common, all of us really, Hilda as semi normal as her life's been still has things just like everyone here, it's crazy how other shamans have found nothing better to do than mope about the past… our little group here is actually trying to forget it or at least find something better along the way, we have our own optimism…"
"Yeah…"
"Eh, even in the short time we've been around company like this, I feel like there's stuff I should say… and do I'm still too hesitant but maybe if we stick to these people we'll get more than we know. I have a feeling a lot's about to change…" Remington said
"You too huh? I just wanted you to know, or I mean I wanted to t-thank you, you've helped me more than any one person since the fights started if it weren't for you I'd be lost…I'm happy with the way things are."

Since the two were little Remington and Aaralyn had always been closer to each other than anyone else, they had had lots of other friends since they had both gotten older they seemed to be closer than ever, both had the strangest feeling about the other and about how they felt but neither had worked up the guts to come right out and say it yet.
Remington wondered if Blake and Christine could do it maybe he could do it, he knew Aaralyn would always be too shy to say so herself if she had the same feeling.
Aaralyn was insecure about how Remington might feel, she hoped he felt the same but it was hard for her to tell after all she nor he had ever dealt with feeling likes these.
The group got up early the next morning and left the town it was time to end the trip and as fast as possible, everyone was getting tired of traveling and more ready to reach Patch Village.

"Well we can follow the river bed or we can get a boat." Hilda said
"BOAT!" everyone yelled at the same time, everyone but Aaralyn who said it in more of a whisper.
"Heh, luckily Blake was able to bargain for this thing!" Hilda said tapping the edge of the boat the group had acquired
"What can I say it was easy and we're like con-artist kids, people simply can't refuse us stuff." Blake laughed
"I'll be keeping track of how far we have left to go before we have to walk the rest of the way." Angeni said

The boat trip took almost all day, before they got to a place where they had to get out because of rapids comming up a head

"Aww crap…" Christine taking a look at her sunburned arms "English blood why must you mock me?" she sighed "Oh well it'll be better in no time I guess, doesn't look bad but I didn't want to be all red…"
"Don't worry about it, it's dark anyway so it can't get any worse, maybe you'll even tan form it" Hilda said

"So Angeni, where do we go from here?" Remington asked the spirit
"Left, I'll tell you when you get to the next place you turn at, at lest what's left of the wild is still pretty untouched." The spirit said

"Hey do you all hear what I hear?" Hilda said
"No Hilda, we don't have ears that could rival a dog's" Blake said
"Just come on, follow me!" Hilda said
"I can actually hear stuff now…" Blake said
"Oh and I do not have ears that rival a dog's my ears are normal just unlike you I clean my ears." Hilda smirked at Blake.

"Isn't that the other Asakura boy?" Aaralyn asked
"Sure is, why don't we go say hello?" Christine said
"Christine, you remember what Jenna said…" Blake said
"Yeah and sure I'm scared of her I'll admit it… but meeting the guy doesn't mean I have to join with him, and besides you did want to meet him."
"Yeah but don't forget about getting to Patch Village, so don't chat long." Hilda said
"You're not still mad about the Ashil thing are you?' Blake asked
"I'll admit I am a bit but I think Yoh and his friends should live now, and I don't want to kill any of them, Hao sure but he's too strong for me to take out and the x-laws, sorry Blake but they just tick me off, they have the right idea but their way of carrying it out is just stupid in my opinion." Hilda said

"Excuse me but, are you by any chance Yoh Asakura?" Blake asked the brown haired shaman
"Yeah, who wants to know?" he asked
"Just our little group here." Christine answered
"If you all are coming to us for directions to Patch Village you can forget it." A boy with an afro said
"Not that at all, we've got our own way…" Blake said
"Actually, we've seen you fight, and I'd have to say you guys sure can make a good run of it…" Hilda said
"We don't want to fight you if that's what you want." Yoh said
"No, I don't like death!" Christine laughed a bit
"What she means is, she's pretty sure you're a lot stronger than us…" Blake said
"What the business is, is Asakura Hao." Hilda said
"What about him?" A girl said, she looked like a person who's bad side you didn't want to see.

"Well, we were wandering if you were on his side… I mean is he like a uncle or something?" Blake asked
"No actually it's weird, I'm his descendent and twin brother, and no I'm against him, hoping you all are." Yoh said
"So are the Asakura's like keeping it in the family I guess?" Hilda said

"I couldn't possibly side with someone like Hao." Remington said
"same here." Hilda said
"After all I've been put through because of him, I wouldn't dream of it." Christine said
"Well I was in the x-laws so I'd have to say I'm as against him as anyone else around here is." Blake said

"Before this gets any further introduce yourselves…" a boy with a large spike of hair said
"Oh umm, I'm Blake Onterrie, the blonde girl is Christine Weathers."
"Hilda Wilkes." Hilda said
"Remington Quennell you're more than welcome to call me by Remy, and Aaralyn Ali." Remington said
"So what exactly brings you over here... I don't believe it's all about Hao?" The girl shaman said
"I think they're friendly Anna, they introduced themselves so we should to right?" Yoh said

"They have girls with them, girls are always a good sign." A shaman with a big hair do said "I am Ryu of the wooden sward pleased to make the acquaintance of such lovely ladies."
"Easy dude, this one's taken." Blake said looking at Christine who blushed a bit "That one is scared of almost everything." He laughed a bit looking at Aaralyn "and I don't think Hilda's really interested in love."
"Everyone has a happy place but me." Ryu said
"Blake, it's not that I'm not interested in love, it's that I'm not interested in any random guy."
"So then?" Ruy asked happily
"No." Hilda said

"Never mind him." A blue haired shaman said "My name is Horohoro."
"Can we please cut this short?" Anna said "I am Anna Koyoama, Yoh's trainer and wife-to-be, which will also make me the feature shaman queen, the midget is Manta, the girl that almost completely refuses to talk with pink hair is called Tammo."

"I remember you two!" Christine saw that Faust had said this
"Yo Faust, made it through the first round after all eh?" Christine said
"H-He made it alright…" the short boy said
"I am Chocolove! One day I will be the world's best comedian and spread the wind of laughter around the world!" the boy with the afro said
"So got any jokes?" Blake asked
"humm, let's see you're name is Blake soo… DANG IT… there's nothing to work with…"

"No one around here has the patience for all this!" the boy with spiked hair yelled "I am Ren Tao
"Patience?" Chocolove asked "Well if only someone named Patience was here then we'd have her!"
"Was that supposed to be a joke?" Hilda asked

"Yes…" Chocolove said
"Umm… that was..." Remington said
"ha ha that was AWESOME!" Christine said
"Only Christine could possibly…" Hilda said sighing
"See someone thinks I'm funny!" The boy said

"Introductions are great and everything but why did you come to us?" Ren asked
"Well, actually like we said earlier we had seen you fight before and wanted to meet you, and well…" Blake said
"My cousin gave me and my friends a death threat if we joined you so I wanted to meet you to see why she would say something like that." Christine said
"Who is this cousin of yours?" Yoh asked
"I doubt you know her, Jenna Weathers, she's with Hao though and pretty much hates me and anything to do with me.. And since she didn't seem to like you all I figured hey it would be cool to meet them." Christine said

Before the night was over the two teams had told the others their reasons for joining the fight or at least tagging along.
"Why don't you join up with us?" Yoh asked
"NO YOH, NO MORE FREELOADERS!" Anna yelled at Yoh
"Geze sorry Anna…" Yoh said

"Well we'd love to but, with the way things are I think I'll take Jenna's advice and stay separate." Christine said
"But yeah Yoh, I really want to get the chance to have a shaman fight with you someday." Blake said
"heh, we will eventually." Yoh said
"Well we've been here a while, we should really get going." Hilda reminded
"Ok, bye and see you in Patch Village!" Blake said

"So…" Blake said
"I thought Anna was cool…" Hilda said
"S-she was scary…" Aaralyn said
"Same here!" Blake Christine and Remington said.
"We really should have joined with them…" Hilda said
"Yeah, but I mean they seem to have enough to deal with than have another shaman after their heads… besides it's better this way, if this group got much bigger I think we'd lose what makes us special." Remington said
"And that Anna chick didn't seem like she would have said yes anyway." Christine laughed

The group spent a few more days of traveling and finally, finally, finally reached Patch village.
"Heh, with two days to spare too." Hilda said
"This is so cool." Christine said
"Yeah, one step closer to being shaman king." Blake said smiling
"Blake, you say it like you're going to win…" Remington said
"I am though, or at least I better." Blake said
"Sorry dude but when we fight you're going down." Remington said
"Both of you are going to lose." A voice said

"Not you again…" Blake said looking dully over at Charger Chester "I've seen that Asakura boy in action… he's really something special, if he takes out Hao he'll be the one to win."
"Is this Charger Chester talking? Or some alien in his body…" Blake said
"It's me, but I've changed since you last saw me." Charger said

"WHAT?" everyone in the group yelled besides Aaralyn who just showed a shocked expression

"I know, hard to believe, a person a flawless as myself changing… It actually started right after my last fight with you all, I saw Yoh Asakura and his friends fighting this Mexican looking guy, they were so powerful, all of them. I followed them for a few days staying pretty far off, and it made me realize, I need friends."
"So what you're saying is you got all sentimental… and now you want to be friends with us…" Blake said in a serious tone
"Or you just can't afford lodging or food and are looking to freeload." Hilda said being serious
"Well I have no problem with that as long as you're not going to try something, we could crush you now." Blake laughed

"BALKE YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!" Hilda yelled
"Why not? He knows we'd be able to beat the crap out of him I don't think he has some death wish." Blake explained
"You have got to be the nuttiest thing I ever met Blake." Hilda scoffed

"Well actually I have my own place, and I'm on a shaman fight team now, you did know you're going to need to break up into teams of three right, luckily for you guys you've already got that. But I wanted to make up with you all, I apologize for my acts, I know I wasn't in the right, besides the fact that Hao does not exist I am atheist!"
"Apology accepted, but there is a Hao, why argue though you'll meet him soon enough I figure, probably everyone will." Christine said

A few days had passed and it was time to register the team for the shaman fight, turned out Charger had been right on the money they did have to be in teams of three.

"Our team should be named something like… I don't know something cool at least." Blake said
"What about Zeal?" Remington asked
"What kind of name is that?" Blake asked
"It's an American name means with passion pretty much, I figured it fits us enough." Remington explained
"Sounds good, but dude are you like looking these thing up or something?" Blake asked
"I looked up names on Christine's laptop." Remington admitted
"Sounds like a good name to me." Aaralyn said
"Alright then, Team Zeal it is." Blake said "We're going to get to have a fight soon I hope, I really can't wait for what tomorrow might bring."
"Until then, you all probably should do some training, use the spare time maybe?" Hilda said it was annoying but true.

It had been a few weeks since they chose a name so far no battles yet, they had gotten the chance to see quite a few good battles, and trained a good bit.

"I'm bored, there's nothing to do but walk around here." Blake said"Yeah but I guess they didn't want there to be too much to get involved with, shamans are more encouraged to train and get stronger because of it." Hilda said
"Seen Charger lately?" Remington asked out of boredom
"He bought me dinner the other night." Hilda answered simply
"Since when have you and charger?" Blake asked
"Since never, he was only buying me food and we ate, doesn't make us an item."

Hilda and Charger had been seeing a good bit of each other lately, and Hilda was growing to like the boy but she hadn't bothered to tell anyone because they all seemed busy, and she didn't really think much of it anyway.

"So he really has changed after all." Remington said
"He's an okay guy, needs to do something with the ego but he's alright." Hilda said
"You feel ok?" Blake asked
"I'm fine kid." Hilda answered

"I hardly ever hear you say he's alright in the same sentence with anyone's name." Christine said
"Eh, that's your opinion… I remember saying it a few times before now about other people." Hilda said coolly "So, Blake Christine, I'm guessing you two are still an item." She eyeballed Blake and Christine holding hands, they were getting to be less shy about things like that she if attention was drawn to it they would blush, Hilda knew all too well about this and used it to her advantage often.

"Asakura Hao and some guy are about to go at it!" Aaralyn heard someone say
"H-hey, they just said Hao and someone was going to fight." She said
"Should we go see?" Christine asked Blake she seemed unsure about it
"I don't think so..." Aaralyn said quietly a bit too quiet because no one heard her
"Why not, nothing's happening anyway, maybe they'll be able to take him out." Blake said "and it could be someone we know, and we might need to stop them."

It didn't take the group to find out where the fight was, and to find out Hao was going to fight Charger Chester.
"Dude, you can't fight him, he's too powerful!" Hilda said
"He's not so hot, remember I'm atheist, I fear no so called gods." Charger laughed a bit his voice seemed nervous though
"Don't do this." Hilda said
"It'll be fine, not like he could kill me, besides, it's my payback time for him, he killed my band, so now I'm going to stop him right here, right now, and after I'm done Hilda, I want to ask you something very important, of course it has to wait until the hero saves the world, then is the right time for a question of such importance."
Christine and the others tried to stop him but it was too late Hao had already arrived and within seconds he had killed Charger Chester in the bloodiest way possible, since they were all near the front row a good bit of blood was splattered on them
"I would tell you to eat his soul, Spirit of fire, but that's worthless for you, eat his spirit's soul though, his is like poison to something like you." Hao said, Spirit of fire gobbling up Charger's guaridan ghost

"Dose he mean…" Remington asked, he was trying to keep Aaralyn from seeing all that but knew he didn't succeed when he realized she was crying, she wasn't good at taking a thing like death even with the deaths she had seen when the two were stuck working for Dareh.
"Charger's ghost is around, wonder why he didn't cross over or where he is…" Blake said
"Yes, but that really doesn't matter, what matters is today you have all witnessed greatness and true power, my dream is to get a world without humans, all who oppose me aren't a problem, you all saw what I did to that pathetic excuse for a shaman, his ghost being around will be a reminder to anyone not to mess with me." Hao laughed a bit before going away again

"I-I'm going for a walk…" Hilda said
"Want me to come with?" Christine asked
"No kid that's cool." Hilda answered
"I'm going to take Aaralyn back to the hotel, and get cleaned up catch you two later." Remington said
"Ok Remy." Blake said

"I can't believe he…" Christine started to say but couldn't find the right words
"That bastard… I'd like to give him a piece of my mind!" Koncho growled
"You're not the only one." Drotoro said
"Charger really did change too, sure he was still cocky and egotistical, but I could tell his intentions weren't just to get back at Hao." Elizabeth said
"I wish we could have gotten to know the kid's good side better." Manny said Skya nodded
"I wonder, since his spirit stayed, did it become fixated, or is he wandering around somewhere? Hao is really powerful to be able to just kill and not even work up a sweat…" Blake said
"Hao needs to be stopped." Skya said
"Stopped forever, not just for another 500 years either." Koncho added

Christine had been pretty quiet for a while
"Christine you ready to go too?" Blake asked her
"I'm… I don't know." Christine said Elizabeth Koncho and Manny glanced at one another
"Christine you're ok right?" Blake asked after noticing how her voice had shook a bit
"I don't understand… why didn't I hear him, maybe then I could have told Charger what Hao was planning to do." Christine said
"We tried all we could; Charger wouldn't listen even if you had heard Hao he wouldn't have listened." Blake said
"Hao really is strong, he's got 1000 years worth of experience in him, it's going to take a miracle to take him out now." Christine said
"Yoh Asakura, though he's the one I know he is." Blake said

"But there's nothing we can do but sit aside and watch people get dropped off like flies until then?" Christine said
"Let's go Christine… we shouldn't stand out here like this, you never know if Hao might want to come back or something, and we have to try and find Hilda."
"You should give Hilda her space." Elizabeth said
"Her space could put her in danger." Blake said
"She'll be fine, she'll be even better if she gets the time alone she needs." Skya agreed with Elizabeth
"Christine we really should go though, too many people would have a reason to pick us off, besides we're covered in blood." Blake said taking hold of Christine's hand she followed him, but slowly and she didn't say a thing on the entire walk back.

Blake was happy to see Aaralyn was over earlier, he was hoping Christine would snap out of her funk and Hilda would be back soon, Charger's death bugged him a bit but he preferred to not let it show and not let it get to him.

"I'm, going to go to bed early…" Christine said

Hilda came in not too long after and pretty much refused to talk to anyone about anything, it was pretty much like she had shut everyone else out, and as for Christine, she just slept and had asked not to be bothered so no one did.

"Blake, Aaralyn and I are going to run a while." Remington said the next morning
"Why it's so early?" Blake asked
"Yeah but earlier the better right?" Aaralyn said
"Guess so…" Blake said

"Kid, I'm going to go to and pickup some crap from the store." Hilda said walking out almost right after saying that

"Eh, ok… I'm going back to bed too early for me to do stuff." Blake said
"Actually Blake, I want to ask you to take care of that little problem there." Remington said pointing to Christine
"Umm okay." Blake said, he wasn't too good with dealing with stuff like that but figured if anyone was going to have to do it, it was going to end up being his job after all the two were a couple now. He did figure he'd wait a little while longer, it was only about an hour from when they normally got up anyway

"Christine, want to go bother an official?" Blake asked
"Blake, it's to early for all that." Christine rolled over
"You always get up at this time, besides you went to bed earlier than anyone else. You can't possibly be sleepy still"
"Well I am Blake."
"Are not."
"Are too."
"You're not still upset about Charger are you?" Blake asked
"Blake, I don't get upset, I get over… I'm just tried."

"She, never actually seemed very upset over her parents or her aunt, we were positive she really was but we didn't want to bring it out because we figured things would be fine as long as she seemed happy. When she was happy we were all happy, even the fleas were pleased." Koncho explained

"Come on Christine, moping around like this isn't going to help anything." Blake said jumping on top of her bed and stretching out beside her
"Not like much else helped before."
"Hao's strong but he's not going to win, lives are going to be lost because of him but in the end that's what's going to get people to unite against him." Blake said sighing
"I-I don't care about all that…" Christine said Blake noticed she had started to sob and honestly had no clue how to deal with that
"Well, I'm going to do something about Hao, I'll get stronger, and I'll get stronger faster… I'll kill the fuck and anyone who gets in my way of doing so." Blake said
"N-no I don't want you to die too."
"I won't, because I know I'm going to take some part in taking him out once and for all."

"NO, you're not going anywhere near him unless it's an official fight and you're a lot stronger than you are now, even then you should stay away I won't let Hao take someone else from me that I care about. If you really want to fight him eventually, promise me you'll stay away from him and train more that you have before, prove to me that you aren't an easy target."
"Ok then, I will, and I'll mop the floor with that bastard too, you'll see… so cheer up already! Charger's gone but none of us are going anywhere, and if we do we won't let Hao be the cause of that."
"Blake, I'll be fine, just give me some time." Christine said "Go out there and join Remington and Aaralyn, or at least make sure Hilda didn't forget anything at the store."
"Ok then I will." Blake said

It wasn't very long not even noon before Christine was back to her normal self, or at least as close to normal as that possibly was, Hilda still hadn't come back and everyone was starting to worry a bit.

"You think she…" Remington said
"No she wouldn't she knows better than to mess with him." Aaralyn said
"Yeah I agree with Aaralyn she's too smart for that." Christine said
"Hey sorry it took so long, didn't know what type of milk to get, and there's someone you all should remember." Hilda had just walked back into the hotel room saying
"I LIKE TO ROCK N' ROLL!" a voice said
"No freaking way!" Blake said recognizing the voice
"Yes way, everyone, I now have a guardian ghost, you all probably know him, Charger Chester!"

"Sorry for taking so long to show up I had to make sure my team got someone else to join in my place and stuff… but hey, not a bad room you got here." Charger said
"I don't mean to seem really shocked, but Hilda… never thought you'd do something like this…" Blake said

"There's a lot you don't think I'd do that I'll do." Hilda said smirking.
This would prove to be an odd addition to the group, maybe worth wile though, Charger had become stronger and maybe his spirit would be strong as well.

I wanted Blake and Christine to ask Elizabeth about what Jenna had said at another time because this chapter was so big... there should be at least 4 to 5 chapters left I think... and yeah I wanted Hilda to have a love intrest but have three couples would make this thing seem like too much of a soap opra and I realized Charger would get pretty old and Hilda did need a guardian ghost but I didn't want to add in another character so killing Charger off solved all that.

I tried to make this chapter a bit sad but I didn't want to roll it in angst so I didn't describe much of his death or let him play too big of a roll... I DID figure it was time for Christine to get a little frustrated with stuff too.

I'm not sure though if Charger's going to be the only death in this story I may decide to kill others off but if I do that's for me to know and you to find out.