Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King Confused Memories
Chapter 2. Faith

The wind blew. I was ready for my first fight…

He came charging at me. "Imperial Ice Formation!" "Lack of tactics" came into my brain. He only seems to be charging and when it fails, he will just…charge again. For no apparent reasons, I was delighted. Was I turning into like him, cruel and unfeeling? I heard that his dream was just to plant a vast field of coltsfoot. It is so, innocent? Just then, I was wondering when I was defending. What was it that I was fighting for? For my decease family, or for myself or for… He snapped me out of my trance with a heavy blow. Where did it come from? I should have been more attentive. Suddenly, I felt HIS presence. HE was around. I wanted to end it fast…

"DEVOURING AVALANCHE!" "BIG BEN!" the fight was over. Both of us were drained, just barely maintaining our over-souls. Anybody could get the upper hand. It was like a game of Survival. Anyone who still has enough energy to strike will be the last one standing. We both stood up. I didn't know what happened the next moment. There was a big blast and he blacked out earlier, for when I work up, I was proclaimed the winner. Someone had interfered! But who could it be? Could it be HIM? Why would he do that? Horo walked up near by and shook my hand. "That was a great fight! I didn't know you had so much energy left! Well, that teaches me a lesson not to under estimate our opponents… heheh… If we ever had a chance, I am sure to grow stronger and win you! Haha! Well, shouldn't keep my sister in suspense for the results. Boy, would she be disappointed? But don't feel bad; I will grow a vast field of coltsfoot! Ciao!" He left whistling a happy tune. "HAO ASAKURA! Where are you! Why did you interfere! Why did you…" "I did not want you to lose." I stood there burly. I hoped that someone would bring me out of this confusion. I thought that would be the last thing I hoped for. But, I really needed it. I want HIM to stay by my side and tell me everything before I kill him. I thought I would never have to ask him to explain. Well, you never know what may happen.

I rested for a few days before the oracle bell started flashing again. "Marchii…" wasn't that one of the girls with HIM? She must be strong, strong enough to actually be one of his allies. I was demoralized. I was sure to lose. I might as well give up now. Then, I thought of HIM. He must have wanted me to win so much that he actually violated the rules to make sure that I win. I must not give up! Now I thought, was it for HIM or myself that I am fighting for?

AT THE OTHER SIDE…

"Hao-sama! You aren't calling me to forfeit one match, are you! That's…that's… ARGH! Why in the world would you call me to…" "Enough… I want to hear no more from you Marchii… you have already won two matches and is qualified for the next round. There is no need for the last match." "But… I want a clean sweep and besides, his weak!" "Marchii! Say no more…" "Yes…Hao-sama…"

"Eh…Morphine! Did you see what's written on my oracle bell? My opponent withdrew! That makes 2 wins! I can make it to the next round, even if I lose the last one! Soon, I'm off to Patch Village! It is already like a dream come true! I didn't expect to come this far! O Morphine! Thank you!" Morphine fluttered around. But worried for her master, she urged me to train even harder. I nodded enthusiastically.

For the third match, I waited for my opponent, but he did not arrive. I was counted as the winner for he did not turned up as planned. Why he did not arrive was only known after a short period of time. Some people said that when he was walking to the designated place when he just burst into a ball of flames. HE was behind this. I could bet on it.

I was traveling on an airplane to America when I was flung off from to the airplane. I slipped into the darkness…

I licked my dry and cracked lips as I crouched beside a low branching solitary shrub, trying to find some shelter and relief from the sun. All around me were shards and debris, cold hard evidence of what had happened. I shook my head to clear my mind. "How many days has it been?" I asked Morphine. "Two, four of five? No, it must be two days now." There hadn't been any food and water since the day before and I was wondering how long I could last.

I must have lost track of time. All I could remember now was a huge thunderous roar followed by an enormous ball of flames and I knew nothing more. But what had happened to the plane? How did he get here? The sand shifted under his feet and the hot, dry wind blew across the treeless plain. All I could see were oceans of sand with no end.

I must have dozed off, for when I woke up the sky was darkening and I stared to shiver. I picked up the bundles of things that I had managed to salvage from the plane when I had come to consciousness and I made my way back to the pile of boulders where there were more shelter. "Well Morphine, help is not coming tonight," I thought; my hopes of a rescue ebbing away…

Author's note: Many thanks for reading my story! I update a little slow cause my computer just won't work for the past few days. Sorry to keep my readers waiting. Haha… And many thanks for reviewing! I'll try to make it more exciting by putting in more fight scenes but I'm a rather peaceful guy, so it is very hard for me to write, but I will TRY! Heheh… Will update as soon as I can!