Skarmory-Ha ha! I guess I can make drama when I'm not trying!
PandaYumi7-Hey there, well I have to thank ya since you kept telling me to update. I DO have to eventually finish this story after all. And maybe, Shiow and Ren were my second option if nobody wanted Shiow with Yoh. But since there are still a couple of people that do, I'll find someway for they to end up together!
"Checkmate!" Anna slammed down the Queen piece and won the American chess game against Shiow. Shiow stared dumfounded and groaned.
"Aw man, I can't believe I lost!" said Shiow and sighed,
"Oh well, too bad. So what's the next game?" Anna asked Tamao,
"You're both tied," she replied looking at the scores that she recorded.
"Final game: you lost so you choose," said Anna as the two cleans up the chess game.
"Hmm…I choose Go," said Shiow confidently and Anna agrees.
Since morning, when Shiow was better, Anna and Shiow have been playing each other at games. They even ate lunch while standing under the waterfall, competing to see who can stay there the longest…Anna won that one. It's the afternoon now and they're tied. Agreeing that Go will be their last game, they got mentally ready. They played 5 in a row before, which Shiow won, but now that they're going to play Go, it's going to be tough. Both took a half hour break before the Go game. Surprisingly, both did the same thing when they both sat down to meditate.
"I'm surprised that someone else could keep up with me," said Anna,
"I'm surprised someone could actually have more stamina than me," said Shiow, referring to the loss against Anna standing under the waterfall and also who can stand on one leg on a bamboo stick the longest. The two kept their eyes shut but sometimes commented on each other. After their break, they sat down on their legs and faced each other at the table.
"You lost the last game so you can pick your color," said Anna and Shiow nodded picking white and the Go game started.
"What in the world have those two been doing?" Horo asked when the two girls plus Tamao haven't come out of one of the rooms.
"They're competing I think," said Kira and slapped down a card.
"I win!" she exclaimed and Horo stared at what just happened.
Chris stayed in the corner of the room watching everyone. Yoh and his team left earlier for a fight and should be getting back soon. The problem is how to keep Shiow away from Hao? Who are we kidding? That's probably the most impossible task in the world. Hao's got so much power there most likely really is nothing he can't do. Okay, then it means Chris has to do the bad thing. Chris sighed at the thought of hurting his friend. It's not like he doesn't want her to be with the one she cares about the most but there are two things preventing them from being together: 1. Hao will take her away and get the King of Spirits the moment they confess their love. 2. Yoh's family would never allow Chinese blood into their pure Japanese family blood.
Chris sighed again,
"The world is going to end…" he groaned.
"TIE!" Chris snapped up when everyone exclaimed about some tie.
"No way! Shiow is smart enough to tie with Anna?" said Ren and Shiow grew an anime vein.
"Then I'll play you!"
"You're on!"
Anna sighed and got to stretch, very challenging game. It seems they both are equally skilled and intelligent.
"Hey guys! Uh, what's going on?" Yoh asked when he saw Shiow and Ren giving each other death glares while putting down black and white pieces on a board.
"Oh hey Yoh! How was your battle?" Kira asked drinking soda while watching the competition that Shiow's been going through the whole day.
"Oh, we won of course!" Ryu gloated proudly,
"Yes, I do believe we are getting stronger," said Faust and when Chris heard his voice he jumped and jumped even higher when he saw Faust was the closets person to him.
"So what's going on?" Yoh asked,
"Shiow and Ren are at it again," said Anna who started eating snacks at the table.
"Oh, so who's winning, Tamao? I don't know this game," Yoh asked walking up to her and Tamao immediately turned red,
"U-Um, w-well, u-uh, its' h-hard to t-tell from h-here…" she stuttered just above a whisper.
"Oh, okay. Hey, are you okay? Your face is red are you sick?" Yoh asked and Tamao turned even redder,
"I-I'm okay, Master Y-Yoh! Really!"
"Well okay then…I don't know who to cheer for," said Yoh and everyone sweat drops except for Shiow and Ren who were too busy to hear what's going on in their surroundings.
"There's no 'cheering' in Go or it will distract the players," Chris explained when Manta walked,
"Yes, Go is a very complicated game is for the best for players to have total silence," he explained and sat down to watch the game.
"Wow, he's really smart!" said Kira and everyone just anime falls,
"Thanks for pointing out the obvious," said Chris and Kira just nodded happily.
A few of hours later:
"Can you two please stop playing?!" Horo exclaimed when Shiow and Ren are playing their 20th game.
"Ooh! I know!" C.L. exclaimed and Horo just knocks him out before he can start.
"And I thought Shiow always beaten Spiky!" said Kira who surprisingly was still around. That is, if you didn't count the couple hours of naptime and most people have left the two alone except for her since she fell asleep and Ren's teammates because they didn't want to train.
Chris started snooping around but this time, he's trying to figure out how to keep the X-Laws out of their businesses. Luckily, he saw Lyserg walking around and started following him for a while until Lyserg turned a corner into a small alleyway and Chris followed only to bump right into Lyserg and fell backwards,
"Why are you following me?" Lyserg asked, almost a demand. Chris stood back up and patted his clothes,
"I'm not following you," he said quickly,
"I walked around this village three times, you think I wouldn't notice? I'm not stupid like that little Blondie of a girlfriend of yours!"
"First of all: She's NOT my girlfriend, more like an annoying companion. Second, I never did think you were stupid just mean. Third: Did we really walk around the village three times?"
Lyserg shook his head, he didn't have time for this and walked past Chris but Chris just followed.
"What do you want?!" Lyserg demanded after a few minutes passed and he was still being stalked.
"To make sure you don't get in our way," Chris replied,
"We don't want anything to do with you and or friends! We X-Laws are just trying to rid this world of Hao!"
"Yeah but-wait, you know, that can turn out to be a good thing," said Chris and started thinking on it and Lyserg just stared at him. Having Hao gone is probably the best thing in the world but this guy obviously didn't realize that until now! Lyserg then realized something, remembering what Iron Maiden Jeanne told him…
"Hey, Chris right?" Lyserg asked and Chris looked at him,
"…Yeah…"
"Tell me more about your friend, Shiow…"
"What would I do that?" Chris asked suspiciously,
"It could benefit the both of us," Lyserg replied and Chris stared at him,
"What is that you have in mind that could 'benefit' the both of us…?"
"AHH! Where's Chris?!" Pirika and Kira exclaimed when they searched for over an hour for him. Pirika trying to get his attention and Kira trying to hook him up with Tamao. Of course, the two are just looking in the wrong places…
Ren and Shiow finally stopped playing each considering they aren't really getting anywhere and they both have huge headaches.
Yoh popped his head in,
"Hey guys! Come on! It's dinner time!" he said with a huge grin.
"Yay!" Kira cheered and immediately followed Yoh. The others slowly got up and walked behind them. Yoh slowed down to walk next to Shiow,
"Hey, how are you feeling?" Yoh asked,
"Huh? Oh, fine…" Shiow replied while trying to hide her blush which was not noticeable to Yoh at all.
"Good! Want to sneak out to get a snack again tonight? I have a perfect way to sneak past Anna!" said Yoh cheerfully which made Shiow smile.
"Well…okay!"
When they reached their usually spot to eat, Shiow noticed something fluttering with the others.
"Isn't that Lyserg's?" Shiow asked Yoh and Yoh's face seemed to have dropped ill.
They sat down and everyone explained what had happened. Apparently, Lyserg let go of Morphine in order to get his own angel.
"That's so unfair!" Kira exclaimed in anger,
"I know, poor Morphine…" said Shiow as she lets the little fairy sit on her finger and cry.
"Um…I know this isn't part of what we're talking about but…um, well, Chris isn't here…" Tamao pointed out, shyly.
"I'M HERE!" Chris exclaimed as he slammed open the door, panting there.
"Where have you been?! I've been worried about you!" Kira scolded,
"I uh, talking to Lyserg!" said Chris quickly as he walked up to them and sat down to look at the menu; though, he wasn't really lying.
"Lyserg?! That jerk?!" Kira asked, impatiently,
"Yes, Lyserg the jerk. Apparently, I was able to find some stuff out about the X-Laws from him but the bad part is that I had to tell him something as well…" said Chris and his voice got softer as the sentence ended.
"Like…?" Kira asked as she leaned closer.
"Okay! Bad news or good news first guys?" Chris asked.
"Bad!" everyone raised their hands to vote.
"Um…good news first because then it will make more sense," said Chris and everyone groaned.
"Sorry! Anyway, good news: Apparently, they know a lot about Hao. Now we all know what Hao's after right?" Chris asked and everyone nodded,
"I hope you do. This is why we have to watch over Shiow at all cost!"
One of Shiow's eyebrows was lifted up to show her confusion,
"I'll explain that in the bad news part. The X-Laws' original plan was to pretty much kill my best friend along with Hao. But! They found out that if they do that, Hao will automatically gain access to the King of Spirits. So, they are actually willing to protect Shiow as well. Now here's the bad news: The King of Spirits is protected, extremely protected. Only the winner of this tournament, the Shaman King, can get there freely almost. But, if you're not the Shaman King and somehow got past everything and reached a gate, then that's where you get stuck. Long ago, a certain key can lock and unlock the gate to the King of Spirits if you're not the Shaman King. But since that key has been misused many times, it was shattered to pieces, to never be used again. But over time, Hao has been collecting these pieces that are scattered worldwide, protected by powerful shamans. This also explains why Hao goes on a killing spree. He either doesn't get the key piece from them or they refuse to join him. Either way, someone dies or joins him and he gets an easier way to get to the King of Spirits. Then, a few years ago, the last piece was hidden inside the Shing family's home…"
"Shiow's family?!" Ren exclaimed and everyone was shocked by that fact. Chris nodded,
"Yes, Hao killed everyone in his way, until he saw Shiow who stumbled upon the room lit in flames. Either Shiow forgot, or they never told her, Shiow had that last piece with her, somehow and somewhere. But when Hao got close to try and get it, the pieces reacted to each other. Apparently this was purposefully done in case someone tries to get all the pieces together again. All the pieces of the key he looked for came together and was sealed inside Shiow's body. It's still in her…"
Everyone gasped and turned their heads towards Shiow who was just as surprised and scared as everyone else.
"H-How?"
"I don't know but it is. Then it begins making a bit more sense. Shiow is a powerful shaman, her mana is almost unlimited. But that's only because of the key that's inside her body which boosts her skills and spiritual powers up," Chris explained,
"Well that explains a lot!" said Kira and Shiow only looked saddened at the thought that what she's done so far wasn't her own skills and power.
"I'm not done. Because Shiow's shamanic powers have increased, Hao decided not to kill her and waited until Shiow gets stronger. We're assuming he might want to recruit her as well so-"
"In his dreams!" Shiow cut in and then lets Chris continue.
"So, right now, we know why Hao shows up all this time and we shouldn't let Shiow out of our sight now that she has no spirit to protect her!"
"Yes sir!" the boys replied with a hand on her head.
"…There's a key inside her?" Kira asked staring at Shiow's stomach.
"Not an actual key, some sort of spirit key," Chris explained and Kira nodded, trying to understand.
"Is that all the bad news?" Horo asked,
"Oh yeah! Yoh, be careful! Don't go near the X-Laws! They're planning on using you to open this Gate of Babylon! Or something! Whatever that is!"
"Uh…so does that mean I can't go out without a supervisor?" Yoh asked with a confused expression.
Everyone sweat drops.
"Just don't go out alone," said Chris in easier words.
"Oh, okay!" said Yoh cheerfully.
"Lady Shiow! Lady Shiow!" Amidamaru whispered loud enough so that only Shiow can hear. Shiow groaned and lifted the covers,
"Don't tell me, Yoh's actually not afraid and he wants to go out for that midnight snack?" Shiow guessed and Amidamaru only smiled and nodded a yes. Shiow sighed and got out of bed to get ready and meet with Yoh.
Yoh was humming a tune while waiting outside a café. Finally, Amidamaru and Shiow arrived.
"Good evening!" he greeted with a smile,
"Good night Yoh…" said Shiow and leaned on the wall for a quick nap. But Yoh gently shook her to keep her awake,
"Come on, Shiow! It's going to be fun!" he said and started leading her away from the wall. But soon Shiow was wide away as she eats all the different cakes and cookies!
"Thanks Yoh! I love sweets!" said Shiow as she happily takes another bite of her second slice of cake.
"No problem! I thought you needed something to take your mind off things," said Yoh as he happily eats his own second slice.
"Hey, how did you know I had a thing for sweets?" Shiow asked when she realized how he knew,
"Huh? Uh…" Yoh's eyes wandered to try and find a good reason as his face turned slightly red.
Hao was lying at the top of the café to look at the stars and to feel Shiow's beating heart.
The next day, everyone was at their usual place to eat, mainly because Silva works there. Yoh and Shiow yawned and tried to sleep with their heads in their arms on the table.
"What's wrong with you two?" Manta asked and Yoh raised his head and yawned again,
"Nothing…"
"Well, you're lucky, Yoh, apparently, Silva said there are no fights today. Which is why it's so packed in here!" Ren shouted so that the people around him could move somewhere else.
"Let's pack up the shamans!" Chocolove exclaimed holding a suitcase.
"…" no one said anything and ignored him except for Pirka who cracked up laughing.
"Pack! Pack up! That's good!" she giggled between laughs.
Ryu groaned,
"What's the matter, Ryu?" Faust asked,
"Lyserg…" he moaned,
"I'm starting to feel sorry for him now," said Horo as everyone turned their attention to Ryu who looked like he was dying in agony. Everyone tried to cheer him up but it only made Ryu leave.
"Wait! Ryu!" Manta called after him as he got off his seat and took off after Ryu.
"Manta!" the others called but Manta only continued to follow Ryu.
"Should we train today?" Chris asked,
"No way!" Kira immediately answers,
"I agree! We've trained enough already!" Horo added.
"I say we should! We need to be strong enough to defeat Hao!" Ren cut in, making a point.
"Ren does have a point," said Faust calmly.
"Well I'm sure Shiow will agree, right?" Ren asked but received no reply.
"Shiow!" Ren shouted to wake Shiow up but she only groaned and grabbed for something warm and grabbed Anna's red scarf and pulled it close like a blanket. Anna snapped and grabbed Shiow's collar so that she faces her and to slapped Shiow hard; then she lets her fall.
"DON'T TOUCH THINGS THAT DON'T BELONG TO YOU!" she snapped and Shiow touched her face.
"ANNA SLAPPED SHIOW! WITH HER LEFT HAND!" Tamao exclaimed in fear.
"Ow…sorry, I didn't know," said Shiow as she rubs her face, tiredly, like she didn't even feel it.
But it was soon found out that she felt it 10 minutes later.
"Anna…that hurt…" Shiow groaned as she kept ice against her face.
"You could've choked me!" Anna pointed out as she took a sip of her tea.
"Yeah but still!"
"But nothing! A woman should not let others do as they please. They must be strong and not let others boss them around!" said Anna proudly and Shiow only nodded.
"I know…" she said,
"And also, they must be there for their man…" Anna added as she looks at Shiow, who looked back at her,
"If I ever find my man, of course," said Shiow and sighed.
"Well one's thing's certain; you'd made a horrible housewife!"
"Don't criticize me! Who said I even wanted to be a housewife?!"
"Well it's true!"
"Name one reason!"
"You can't cook!"
"I haven't seen you do it!"
"My cooking is the matching for a Shaman Queen!"
"What?! At least if I ever find a man, I can fight along side him!"
"Women are not meant to do so! They are to wait patiently for their man!"
"Not all the time!"
"There they go again…" said Horo as he drinks from his ice tea. The others moved from their original table to another one and watches the two toughest girls go at it.
Chris stopped snacking and looked out the window. Then he nudged Kira,
"I think Hao's near," he whispered,
"What did you expect? He wants Shiow," Kira pointed out,
"But still…I'm still wondering why he hasn't confronted Shiow recently…" said Chris as he puts his hand on his chin.
Suddenly, Ryu stumbled in, all battered up and bruised.
"RYU!" they exclaimed and ran to his side.
"Master Yoh!"
"What is it, Ryu?" Yoh asked as he knelt down to help, sleep completely forgotten.
"It's Manta! Lyserg took him!"
Everyone lightly gasped.
"……Everyone! Let's go! We have to save Manta!" Yoh commanded and stood up to get his sword. Yoh, Ren, Horo Horo, Faust VIII, Chocolove, Ryu, and Kira picked up their weapons and moved out, telling the remaining people not to follow as they moved to confront Lyserg and the X-Laws once more.
Please R and R!
I hope I update this story faster too. I think I just need to watch some Shaman King to get back into the mood. So see what happens when they go rescue Manta! Though some or most of you might already know if you watched the entire series…but I have 3 extra characters in here so it's still going to be different!
Oh yeah: 5 in a row is a game using Go pieces to try and get 5 in a row. So those that go confused in the beginning, no, Anna and Shiow didn't play 5 games in a row, just the game 5 in a row.