*Sigh* Not a SINGLE review, though someone was kind enough to subscribe. I thank you. Oh well, probably just means either no one felt like reviewing, or just couldn't think of anything to say. The latter happens to me all the time.

Anyway, I've finally feel like I have enough ideas to write another chapter. I just hope it's alright, since I don't really have any idea what people think of this story.

But enough of my complaining, time to start Chapter 2.

Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King, and I wouldn't be able to do it justice if I did. I don't even own the 3 characters who appear in this chapter, for while they are part of the continuity, as far as I am aware of, they have never been given names, so I made some up.

Enjoy!

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The truth is, most of Morty's classmates never talked to him anymore. They didn't even notice him, really. Very few raised an eyebrow when, two days after Morty was causing a HUGE commotion over Yoh, they were suddenly inseparable. No one ever registered or even accidentally overheard what they talked about, or even when suddenly a new girl showed up and scared the pair into doing whatever she said. In fact, when they were gone for an extremely long period of time, only 3 people noticed at all.

This group consisted of a big guy with light colored hair, a girl with shoulder length dark hair, and a boy with short black hair. Their names were Hotaka Heian, Chihiro Asuka, and Kazuhiro Kofun respectively.

Before Yoh had come to their school, Morty would hang out with them, though they could not really be considered true friends. They thought of Morty as a short pipsqueak who was obsessed with his studies, and never considered hanging out with him outside of school, and were never outright kind to him. In fact, Kazuhiro, Hotaka, and Chihiro were merely tolerant of Morty, and never really cared about him.

Despite this, they weren't completely oblivious about what went on with Morty. When he came into school one day ranting about having seen real ghosts at Monument Hill and a guy hanging out with them, they just thought the workload had caused him to snap. And when Yoh walked into their classroom for the first time, Morty immediately accused him of being the "ghost guy", which not surprisingly, he denied. Kazuhiro, having paid slight attention to Morty but not taking him seriously, pointed out to him that a gang of punks known as the Dead Enders hung out in that graveyard, and that Yoh might be one of them. If he really knew Morty well, he would have known Morty was hell bent on proving that he wasn't lying, and if he cared for his wellbeing, he would have outright told him not to go back.

Of course Morty went in order to prove he was sincere, and the Dead Enders beat him up for intruding on their turf. Kazuhiro, Hotaka, and Chihiro, rather than be concerned with Morty's injuries, merely laughed at him for his apparent stupidity, making Morty cry. Then Yoh approached Morty and stated that he believed Morty and wanted to help him.

That evening, someone went to Monument Hill and challenged the leader of the Dead Enders, Wooden Sword Rio, chopping of his prized pompadour and forcing them to flee and leave the graveyard for good. Starting the following day, Morty and Yoh went everywhere together, and had become the closest of friends. Everyone noticed this, but couldn't understand what was going on. No one could comprehend how someone who is so serious and studious can make some ridiculous accusation of a new student who sleeps in every class, than become best friends two days later with said person. Everyone henceforth decided to just avoid Yoh and Morty, deeming them weird.

As if things couldn't get more bizarre, a new girl named Anna joined after break, and although all of the guys were initially kind to her, it didn't take long for them to notice that the girl not only had some connection to Yoh and Morty, but they were completely under her thumb and downright terrified of her. Another odd fact that seemed to be connected with the trio is the fact that Rio, the leader of the feared Dead Enders, had not only reformed, but outside of school, he had become one of their closest friends. Then the group disappeared from town altogether, and was gone for long over a month, and when they came back just a week ago, they all seemed beat as well as on alert for something. But only Morty's old "friends" ever brought this in conversation.

Hotaka: Look at those two. Completely under that girl's control. Why do they put up with her?

Chihiro: Don't know. All I can tell is that they're not smitten with her. What in the world could be going on between them?

Kazuhiro: I don't have a clue either. Morty hasn't said one word to us since befriending that Yoh kid…

Hotaka: That's right! Ever since Yoh showed up, a lot of weird things have been going on, and it all points to them! There was even a rumor that it was Yoh who beat Rio that night!

Kazuhiro: You know, maybe we should ask them. Morty always used to come to us and tell us anything that was on his mind. *chuckling*

Hotaka: Yeah! *laughing* Whether we cared or not!

Chihiro: *sighing, almost sadly* You two are so stupid.

Kazuhiro and Hotaka: HUH?!?

Chihiro: Tell me, when's the last time Morty talked to us?

Kazuhiro: *thinking hard* Not since…

Chihiro: Exactly. Not since Rio beat him up. He considered us his friends, and all we did was laugh at him. Talk about adding insult to injury. He just wanted to prove he was telling the truth, and we mocked him. And then, Yoh, the kid he had accused the day before, offered to help him. It's no wonder they're such good friends. Yoh had the decency to help him in his time of need, and we didn't care at all.

Hotaka: You're right. We were acting like trash, plain and simple.

Kazuhiro: We need to apologize, but not just to Morty. Yoh too, and even Anna, for we just included her in their group. But it's too hard to say we're sorry here, especially in front of everyone we know.

Hotaka: Maybe we could go to Yoh's house and apologize there?

Chihiro: Why his house and not Morty's?

Hotaka: From the few times I ever heard anything from their conversations, it seemed like they spend most of their free time there.

Kazuhiro: Any idea where Yoh's house is?

Hotaka: Uh…no. I know nothing about the guy.

Chihiro: He's probably in the student directory. We should look up Anna's too, just in case.

Kazuhiro: You know what? All this gives me an idea.

Hotaka: What's that?

Kazuhiro: We're going to need a little time before we apologize, right? Not only to find out a good spot to do it, but a good time as well. Plus, we're going to want make sure we do this right.

Hotaka: Who knew there was so much to saying we're sorry.

Chihiro: Kazu's right. What we did back then was horrible, and it's going to take a lot to fix this right.

Kazuhiro: Yeah, and while we're at it, how about we use this opportunity to find out more about what's been going on? Like where they were all that time they were out of school?

Hotaka: Sounds like fun! I'm in!

Chihiro: *sighs* I should have known you'd try to have some fun out of this.

Kazuhiro: C'mon, Chihiro! You know dying to find out too!

Chihiro: *sighs in defeat* Yeah, you're right.

Kazuhiro: Alright! Let the Morty Investigation commence!

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And there you have it, folks. It took me a while, but I finally got my ideas and wrote them down. Luckily, I also now have an idea as to how I want the next two chapters to go, but they may take even longer due to school. I appreciate the patience you've all shown, and I regret having to ask for it to continue, but it's necessary. I'll see you all later, and please review this chapter as well as the last! Thank you!