I guess miracles do happen! I'm in the seventh chapter! gasps I really couldn't help but update since it's my sem break and all.

Disclaimer: For the seventh time, no. I don't own Shaman King.

Set in Horo's POV

"Red"

Chapter seven: Real

"I'm human too…"

"Horo-nii…" She didn't hesitate.

A dark aura exploded from me and I couldn't suppress a blood curling scream. Pirika was flown back by the invisible force and the others got ready on what will happen next. Ren rushed to my sister's side checking her.

I wanted to go to her… but I couldn't move. Black spun around me. I could feel the seal spreading on my body. It burned. I didn't know what was happening. I felt blinded. I felt alone.

Then that feeling suddenly vanished.

It was replaced by a shooting pain in my chest. Something inside escaped.

Black feathers gracefully danced in the air. I didn't see it coming. Right in front of me was… me. I looked around me. It was dark. The only thing I could see was the feathers and the me I'm facing. And I also realized I was standing on water. But I wasn't sinking. I was just standing.

I stared once more at the figure in front. It was me, alright. Me controlled by the person in me. Red eyes. Black wings. Dark markings around. Seal. Emotionless face.

That, I realized, was the real me.

It sounds farfetched but I know who I am. That is me.

Then another body appeared beside the one I'm facing. It was yet another me. But this one's the one with the smile. Cheerful. Untroubled. Unsealed.

That wasn't me. A fake. A mask.

I have two shadows, but I am only one person. I know what I must do. It's either to live like who I really am, or to live a complete lie. One of these choices, I believe, would make me real.

I stared at my reflection on the water. I look like a monster. But I am who I am. I can't hide from the truth.

I took a step closer to my decision. My future. This is my final choice.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

The black gust surrounding me disappeared. I was put on my feet. I still couldn't put a finger on what was happening.

I heard gasps. "Horo…" Yoh gaped at me wide-eyed.

I stood there. My crimson eyes were tiredly half closed, like I used a lot of my furyoku. And my jacket seemed larger; the collar covered lower half of my face. Markings covered around me. And black wings had sprouted from my back. I remember now. I remember the path I chose. I chose to be myself.

"Horo, what… I can't understand… There's no possible way…" the brunette choked.

"Yoh…" I started. "I'm sorry for keeping this from you guys. You weren't supposed to know… You were never supposed to know…". I looked down my feet.

Ren got a hold of himself. He went to his feet, and got a grip on his basontou(1). Expectantly, from the great Tao, he charged at me.

"Ren, what are you doing!" the English boy asked.

"I don't care if you're Horo… because you're not. But I'm gong to be Shaman King; to do that, I have to kill you." The golden eyed shaman looked at me in the eye.

Red orbs narrowed and dark shards of ice aimed to the purple haired teen's flesh. Some blood spilled, not only from Ren, but also from the pair that was a second late, Yoh and Lyserg.

"You won't… since you can't." With those words I vanished from the room.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

I lay curled up in my former bedroom. It was dusty, but it felt like home to me. After all these years I couldn't appreciate it even more.

I watched in my mirror on what was happening outside. It was one of my powers. I'm able to see the events even if I'm not physically there, like a television.

Ryu supported Lyserg on the way to the medics. Faust was quite short in supplies so they needed help. Chocolove helped Yoh but Ren insisted that he didn't need any assistance. My younger sister stayed silent, staring on the ground, thinking.

The news once again managed to travel in record time. Shamans started interrogating the group with numerous questions, but many asked the same.

"Who is it?"

Pirka grimaced and the Asakura looked hesitant after stealing a glance at her.

The elders rushed to them, expecting answers.

"Horo Horo…" Yoh unknowingly responded to the previous query, oblivious to the old man's wince.

"So… you've faced him…" the elder sounded sorry. The brunette nodded. "Do you know where he is?"

"No time for that… We need to treat them right away." Faust interrupted the small conversation.

"Right. Ruriko, take them to the medics." Shikon's mother abruptly led them to a hut.

Red flames indulged itself with screams of pain and agony. I quickly looked at the mirror and saw the medical house burning with fire.

"Hao." I recognized the enormous Spirit of Fire and the long haired twin of Yoh.

"Ohh… You hold a shaman only party and not invite me? I'm hurt." The cloaked shaman gave a fake sob.

"How can you be alive!" one of the Patch guards, Silva, got ready for action.

"It's. A. Secret." Hao playfully replied. "Now, I heard of a demon here… where is it?"

The younger Asakura glared, " It's a 'he', not an 'it'."

"Dear brother, what happened to you? Bloody and all…" the fire shaman cunningly smiled.

I then subconsciously chanted a memorable chant. A chant I often like to use as a kid for amusement. A summoning chant.

A small white snow dog appeared beside me. I gently pet it on the head.

"Hey, Khashi… Are you hungry?" I asked the little animal. The snow dog barked a yes. I grinned, "Go outside and you'll find many spirits. Eat all you can."

Khashi simply went through the locked window and turned into a giant white wolf (2).

"Hn." I smiled in content. This will be amusing.

x-x-x—x-x-x—x-x-x

A/N

I'm sorry if this chapter's short… But at least I updated, yeah? And that's a good thing! XD

Oh, if you can't entirely imagine Horo like I described it… uhh… That's your problem. I would provide a drawing if I had a scanner…

Notes:

basontou is like the original name of the kwan dao, it means bason spear… I think.

I got this from Princess Mononoke. Just imagine a white wolf 5x bigger than a cow that eats spirits like SoF. Oh, and Khashi is just a random name…

Okay guys, there's going to be a character death thing here… but I can't decide who'll die. So… any suggestions?

And please tell me if I should rise this fic's rating… just in case.

Please review!