Chapter 8: My team is done
MARIANA´S POV
Eh?! Where am I? I incorporate and find myself in an unfamiliar room. I´m lying in a bed and the place looks kinda rustic. Getting nervous, I get out of the bed and shout "Hey! Anyone here?!"
"Oh, Mariana" I jump at the voice that comes behind me, I spin around quickly to see only Karim there "I see you´re awake"
"Karim! You scared me" I sigh "Is this the Patch village?" I ask curiously.
"That´s correct" Karim smiles "It´s the sacred country of the stars. You are here because you received the benediction of the Great Spirit, it has acknowledged your capacities. You approved the first real test of the Tournament"
"Oh, that´s good" I say distractedly "But where are the others?" I can tell that after all the hallucination, I´m in a strange mood. It´s definitely weird that I´m not excited that I got here.
"They´ve been dealt with" He says mysteriously. I glare hardly at him, not in the mood for formalities, and he coughs a little and looks away "Erm, Horohoro has passed out as well, he´s in the next room" He points at a door to my left "The others were Silva´s responsibility" I glare at him once more "Er…but I think Yoh fainted too, Ryu´s awake and wandering around, as well as Lyserg, and Ren is just outside" He points nervously at my right.
I sigh tiredly once more and look at my things, which have been put next to the bed "What´s up with you?" I look at Karim "You don't seem very cheerful, which is very strange of you"
"I don't know" I tell him honestly. Pause for a minute and then ask "Where´s the Great Spirit?"
"Right outside" He signals with his head at the door.
I walk slowly outside and find myself in a small town, only a few people around. The place is quite peaceful, hardly any noise. I can see over it all, the Great Spirit. It is a real shock to finally see it. So beautiful…
And, as I was expecting, on top of the tallest building, standing proudly, is my guy. I dash to climb the nearest building and get a better look. There he is. He´s facing the sun, his face illuminated with a captivated expression, his eyes shining with awe, his hair messy from the wind. His only focus, the Great Spirit.
Mesmerized by his imposing form, I approach him unhurriedly. He doesn't notice I´m right behind him, so I put a hand on his shoulder. He looks back and his face is just so attractive that I can´t tore my eyes away and I´m unable to hold back the smile that comes to my face. When his mouth quirks upwards, I feel butterflies dancing in my insides. I grab his hand and accompany him in his watching.
(4 hours later)
"I´m sooo going to sleep tonight, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow" I yawn openly as we head to the house assigned for us.
"Yeah, me too" Horohoro yawns too. Dragging their feet right behind, Yoh and Ryu mimic him.
"How on earth can you be tired?" Ren demands sarcastically "You and Yoh were unconscious for hours when you got here"
"He´s got a point, you know?" I snicker childishly as I saunter next to Ren
"Hey! You passed out too" Horohoro complains.
"Yes, Horo, but I woke up ten minutes later, not ten hours later" I snigger some more.
Ren snorts and says "Yeah, don't let all that alertness keep you awake tonight" I laugh out loud.
"Stop complotting against me!" He barks.
"Why? Is Horo-poo all offended?" I baby talk.
Horohoro glares at me and replies "You know, I like you always expect when you get like this, like…..all Ren-like, insulting and everything"
"Jesus, Horo, I was just teasing ya" I chuckle.
"And what´s with the Horo´ by the way?" He continues glaring "It´s Horohoro, so you can stop making a joke out of it too"
"Gee, I didn't think you would be so sensitive about it" I smile cheekily "And Horo it´s not a joke at all, just a nickname. Horohoro is too long"
"Oh, ok then?" He says sulkily, but at least he doesn't look mad anymore. I roll my eyes and Ren smirks.
We finally get there, leave our things and go to a coffee that´s just half a block away. Ren opens the door and lets me in first. A silly grin comes to my face. We pick a table and now Ren offers me a chair. Ok, this might be one of the best days of my life. Celandine gives me the thumbs up and I beam at her. This just can´t mean nothing.
(Next morning)
"Mariana, where were you? Is Ren with you?" Horo demands.
"I was buying this" I say cheerfully and show him the guitar all painted in Patch style that I´ve just acquired
"You´re buying that crap?" Horo sweatdrops.
"It´s a guitar, I´m not buying it because it´s Patch stuff" I state plainly "And I have no idea where Ren is. When I woke up he was already gone. He must be exploring or something like that. And hey, have you found Lyserg yet?" I ask uneasily.
"NNOOOO" Ryu wails miserably and slumps down.
"You had to bring it up, didn't you?" Horo hisses.
"Well, sorry, but I´m actually worried about Lyserg" I tell him truthfully.
"You worry needlessly" Ren´s voice comes from behind us. I turn around to face him "He´s not coming back"
"I know that. But what worries me is where he went"
"Hey, where´d you gone to, Ren?" Yoh asks.
"To observe the enemy, but since everyone´s our enemy here, I might have missed a few" He smirks and I snort loudly.
Later on, we encounter Anna, who says she´s come all the way here to make Yoh train properly. Much to the poor guy´s distress. But I´m not stupid, I smell something else going on in here. Yoh doesn't seem to be the only one affected by her presence, Ryu and Horo seem to be in a gloomy mood after her appearance.
"Hmph! I see the whole group has assembled" A strange voice speaks up and we turn to see a very weird black guy with a skirt. This is the most ridiculous thing I´ve seen since Ryu´s hair "Will you still be together when the fight starts?" He says assertively.
We stare at him absent-mindedly for a moment, before we start walking back to our place. "Don't ignore me" The stranger shouts "I´m participating in the tournament, you know!"
We look back at him for a moment and continue on our way "Did you hear me?! I´m serious!" He shouts yet again.
Eventually, Ren has enough of this, turns to him and points his Kwan Dao at him "Talk fast or I´ll behead you" He deadpans. I grin at this and the others roll their eyes.
"Yes!" The boy looks anxiously at the weapon close to his face "I want to be your teammate"
"What are you talking about?" Ren questions.
"For the third part of the Tournament, everyone must divide in groups of three for the upcoming fights" He explains "Those are the rules. So I´m looking for people to team up with"
Ren frowns "What´s your name?"
"Chocolove" Silence for a minute and then Ren accidentally pokes him in the nose "WAAAHH!! I´m telling the truth!" The guy cries out, rubbing his nose.
"That´s you real name?" Ren sweatdrops and I laugh out loud.
"That´s the stupidest name ever" I keep on laughing.
"Hey!" Chocolove protests.
"If we don't find Lyserg, we would be a member short" Yoh says.
"Ok, then he´ll be on my team" Ren declares with a smirk. We all look at him "This way I´ll have more chance of competing with Yoh sooner"
"Right. Who´s your third guy?" Horo asks.
"Either one of you three will do" He says indifferently, signalling Horo, Ryu and me.
Ryu and Horo are about to complain heatedly at that insult but I jump in quickly "Ok, I´ll be on you team!" I beam happily.
"Ok, it´s decided" Ren´s smirk gets even wider "Chocolate-love and Mariana. My team is done" He turns to us and gives us a twisted smile "All you two have to do is sit back while I do all the work"
"Er……sure?" I smile uncertainly.
He doesn't listen to me and his look gets fierce "I´ll win this Tournament" Then, he turns around quickly "See you later, don't get lost" And with that, he leaves again.
"Ok" I call with a grin from ear to ear. That was sooo cool of him!!
"Damn him!" Horo trembles with rage "I´ll show him my real strength!! And sweep that arrogant look off his face!" He looks at me "How can you want to team up with him?!"
"Well, I would rather be on a team where I know no one will flirt with me" I lie smoothly. Why wouldn't I want to team up with Ren?!
"Hey! That was only once!" He complains "And how do you know he wont?" He points at Chocolove.
I walk over to Chocolove, who´s on the floor still rubbing his nose "Hey, I´m sorry Choco, I wont make fun of your name anymore" I offer him a hand and he shakes it "Nice to meat you. Glad to be on the same team as you" I tell him genially "There´s only one rule on this team. I´m off limits" With a last smile, I turn around and hurry to follow Ren.