Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King…

A/N: Really sorry this took so long, I've been extremely busy. Don't get confused in this chapter. You might think that this may not be part of the storyline 'cause it's so different and has no connection to the previous chapter but just read on. Tnx.

Chapter 8: Fireworks in the Hall

Boom!

The sound threatened to shake the dining hall out of its very foundations, if the explosion hadn't done that already.

The second Yoh went up from his chair, he was immediately thrown against the wall with a force so strong, it almost knocked him out.

What was supposed to be a routine dinner was turning out to be a disaster by all standards. A few minutes ago, all the shamans were eating, talking, just as they had on any other night of the conference. Now, they were running everywhere in utter confusion.

As the dust settled and the smoke cleared around him, Yoh saw the silhouettes of his friends surrounding him.

"You alright, Asakura?" Ren asked while gripping his spear a little tighter, in full defense mode.

Yoh clutched the edge of the crater he had created as he crashed into the wall and straightened up.

"I guess."

He dusted off his clothes before turning his attention to the scene before him.

Balls of energy were being hurled everywhere, hitting anything, although it seemed that it had no definite target.

"What the heck is going on?" Horo-horo yelled over the commotion.

Yoh pulled his own sword from his waist before replying, "I don't know." He turned to the man who had appeared next to him, questioningly, "Silva?"

The Oracle shrugged, "Your guess is as good as ours. We never saw this coming."

The Shaman King clenched his fist as they all watched someone fly into the air as he got hit. "This is getting a little out of hand," he said.

"I agree," Ren looked at Yoh, "What do you say we do something about it?"

Yoh nodded, "Alright, guys, everything seems to be coming from that direction," he pointed straight ahead, "On the count of three. One,"

Simultaneously, they began to revv up their furiyoku.

"…Two,"

The turmoil in the hall was intensifying, building up.

"Three."

Everything stopped. The attacks, as well as, the horrendous screaming ceased. It was as if someone pressed the pause button on the remote.

Ryu, who was on the verge of rushing head-on towards battle with his wooden sword, almost tripped in the sudden change of atmosphere.

"What's going on?" he spluttered, clearly confused.

"Shut up!" Ren quickly hissed, "Listen."

They let the sudden silence envelope them. The dining hall was a mess. Yoh could hardly recognize it. Heck, they could hardly see in it because of all the smoke and debris. It didn't matter, though. Yoh knew spirits that could fix the whole place up in minutes. What did matter was the person responsible for it, whoever he or she is.

They heard it all at the same time.

The subtle, but sure footsteps of a person coming right towards them.

Yoh's shoulders tensed. There was definitely something eerie going on. But what was it?

The footsteps finally stopped and a figure emerged.

For a moment, Yoh wondered if he had hit the wall too hard. The person in front of them did not resemble any bad-guy-bent–on-world-destruction at all. He was wearing jeans and a t-shirt, for crying out loud!

Yoh lowered his sword gingerly and observed the boy, from the tip of his black hair, down to his very ordinary sneakers. He looked like he was about their age.

He grinned at them, nervously, "Uh, hi."

Yoh groaned in disbelief. What was this, a prank?

"I can't believe we almost nuked that guy," Horo-horo muttered. Lyserg nodded in agreement.

"But where's the attacker?" Utsumi asked anxiously and Yoh glanced at her, he hadn't realized that that she was already with them.

"Are you alright?" he asked. Blood was staining one of her shirtsleeves.

She looked at him reassuringly, "I'm fine. It's just a scratch."

Reluctantly, Yoh tore his gaze off of her and began concentrating on answering her previous question. Where was the attacker?

He closed his eyes and began to channel his energy into his surroundings. He began to reach out, searching and searching—

"You're a lot tougher than I thought."

Yoh immediately pried his eyes open and swiveled around to face the speaker.

The black-haired guy had not moved from his position. Instead, he had his hands in his pockets and was eyeing him very carefully.

Everyone else just stared right back at him.

"What are you—" Yoh began.

The guy shrugged his shoulders, "I thought I hit you hard enough to knock you out, guess I was wrong."

Yoh took a step back, "You? You're the one who—"

He cut him off, yet again.

"I don't look the part, right? Well, not everyone can be as fashionable as your brother, to say the least. However," his grin grew wider, "but if you want that look so bad, I could oblige."

A gust of wind began to surround him until he was no longer in sight. It took only an instant for it to subside, revealing him, in different clothes, of course.

Everyone gawked at him. He certainly looked the part now.

Dressed in the darkest blue with a cloak to match, he stroked his chin amused by everyone's reaction.

"Like they say, never judge a book by its cover, am I right?" He narrowed his eyes. "You should have attacked me when you first saw me, not that it would hurt. Oh well, it doesn't matter now."

He raised his hand above his head and in it a great amount of furiyoku began to form.

Yoh had no doubt that this time, he definitely has a target.

He tried to brace himself against the attack or at least, get out of the way, but he found that he was locked in place. From the grunts that his friends were producing, he guessed that they had come to the same conclusion.

"Y-Yoh, what do we do?" Manta panted, trying to put up a brave front. It wasn't easy, even Yoh was starting to feel the first signs of horror as furiyoku continued to swivel around them, just waiting to assault.

"Channel your furiyoku now!" He yelled, "We just might break his bind on us!"

Their killer, torturer, or whoever the hell he was, laughed. "Don't bother, Shaman King! You can't break it. For one thing, it's too strong, even for you. And another," his eyes glinted, "That's not furiyoku your fighting."

Yoh suddenly felt a sense of foreboding, but quickly shook it off and concentrated more. There was no way he wasn't using furiyoku to keep them in place. Everything was made of furiyoku. All his experience as both a shaman and the Shaman King proved that.

But as he tried again and again to break his hold the little wisps of hope began to fade and panic began to settle in.

"I don't think he was kidding Asakura," Ren wheezed out, clearly exhausted.

"We're going to die!" Horo-horo cried.

Yoh had no doubt that they will and from the looks of it, pretty soon. His life was already beginning to flash in front of him. His furiyoku was almost gone and he felt his friends weakening around him.

He needed to keep fighting.

He started to draw the last of his furiyoku out and attempt release himself once again.

But it was too late.

The huge ball of furiyoku was hurtling towards them, barely inches from their positions. Any second they would feel their skins burning, melting into oblivion. They were going to die.

Yoh didn't feel anything. He supposed it was quick and painless. Although, he was still out of breath and his body was aching like hell. But you don't really get hurt when you're already dead. Don't you? That was what Amidamaru said.

Realization sunk in and he opened his eyes. He looked around him. His friends were still there, also completely bewildered from what had happened. The wall behind them was completely obliterated. And in front of them was a…barrier?

The stranger who tried to do them damage was still standing in the same position as he did before. He didn't look the bit surprised at this development. He even smiled.

"Well, well. Long time no see, Anna."