Author's Notice: Eh, sorry about the long update. . . Um, here have ren. ^^

"..."
"He's... he's.... Not here!"
My fists rolled up and tightened, I held my mouth shut with my teeth, still letting out an aggravated scream. Unbelievable! After all the effort I put in, dragging my ass down to the music store (he wasn't there either) to look for him so Anna wouldn't come out and kill him herself, then to the Chinese restaurant (but they were close), then I checked the park and he wasn't sitting on the swing sets. The last thing on my list was this Funbari Hill cemetery- he already had Amidamaru as spirit ally, right? So I don't think he'd be here for another one. Turns out, I was half right.

"Where on Earth is the little brat?!"I growled, watching as my breath came out in a hot puff.

"If you're looking for the kid with the headphones," came a voice from behind me, "... then you just missed him."

I turned around slowly, half expecting to hear the voice I had heard in my dreams and the body that went with it but I could already tell that it couldn't be him. No, this voice didn't have the overwhelming sense of command that could force possibly even Anna into submission. Besides, the voice in my dream told me he was a god. Perhaps I had spoken to a Shinigami last night? I suppose that could make sense, my aunt and mom did push for me to be trained as a miko after all.... It only made sense that sooner or later I would be able to come in contact with some sort of divine figure. Yes, with the impression I was left with when I woke up -aside with the sudden need to check on Yoh after all the first few dreams last night- that I had come in contact with something I never should have. I hope that doesn't come back to haunt me- no pun intended. Nevertheless, this guy standing in front of me did not seem anything like the man from my recent dreams.

He wasn't insanely tall, I was maybe an inch or two taller, but he definitely wasn't short. He was wearing a dark yellow school uniform that matched his golden eyes, which seemed to be watching me as well... almost like a COUGH creepy perv COUGH lion stalking their prey. His skin was like a darker peach in the moonlight. Not to mention a spike in the middle of his head. What was that for channeling chi or something? Or a mohawk gone bad?

"Well?"

I blinked. Had I actually been staring at a guy I just met, no saw? "What? Sorry didn't catch what you said before." Smooth, I know.
He smirked and crossed his arms arrogantly over his chest. "Never mind, you just answered my question by with your idiocy."
Hahahahahahahaha- no. "And what question did I just answer sir?"
"The one where I asked what your relationship to Yoh Askaura was," the boy stated. "It obvious now that you two must be related, being oblivious must be a trait that you Askauras passed one very well."
"Excuse you?" Dear god, why is it the first time a good looking guy even acknowledges my presence, without intention to ask for drugs or Coral's cell phone number, I have to go and turn it into and argument? Coral was so going to kill me when she saw me tomorrow at school....
"Feh, did I offend you?" he mocked.
I glared at him. "No not at all," my voice was overly sweet. Ug. It reminded me of one of the bitches I pushed to back at prep school in the USA. Too bad I got thrown back into a prep school once I got to Japan, I almost could have escaped them. Damn grandpa, 'watching out for me'- for once! The asshole had yet to come and even visit me after causing a fuss like he was going to bring all 75 lords of the underworld the beat my sorry ass the moment the plane touched down in Japan. Men. Complete jerks, be it an old geezer like gramps or a teenage one like Sir-spikes-a'lot over here.

"You'd best watch what you say miss," he warned. Ignoring his dangerous tone and pulled my left lower eyelid down and stuck out my tongue, blowing him a raspberry. With my other hand behind my back, I concentrated my mana into it, summoning one of my flyers. I felt it stay in my hand and creep down me to the shadow of the tombstone behind me, slowing 'shadow-jumping' until it made its way to behind the tree where the purple hair guy was standing. Quick and silent, just like I needed it to be. Flyers had always been my favorite Shikigami to use, even if they did look a tad bit ridiculous in the light. Still, the little dragon like devils got the job done, even impressed me from time to time too.

What happened next was no surprise. Spike boy got wide eyed like someone had just slapped him- apparently he wasn't used to getting taunted by girls. He made a motion like he was about to rush up and slug me. "Why you little-"
"Master look out!" From somewhere in his yellow coat a spirit in flame ball mode had popped up and was gesturing to where my Flyer was. Spikey shot around, ready to fight off a human foe or another spirit; he was completely taken back my Flyer rushing at his face.
"KRAAAAAAWWWRRRR!" My Flyer screeched as it almost had a head on collision with Spikey's face but the boy jumped away just in a nick of time.
"The hell...? What's that?" Spikey half shouted. He whipped his head around to look at me. No sooner did he ask that did my Flyer come back around and tackle him to the ground.
"What's the matter?" I asked trying to hold back my grin watching him wrestle with my creature of darkness. They tussled for a few moments before the boy grunted and picked up a weapon on the ground that I hadn't even noticed. Maybe if I had, I would have just tucked tail and left because I was in serious trouble if he decided that his curved blade on a spear was destined to cut my head off my shoulders. As if to prove my point that I was in serious trouble, he created an oversoul with the weapon and the spirit, slicing at my Flyer and destroying it in one slash. Well, that had felt good for the moment it lasted; being able to see the skinny boy jump like that even with his ghost having warned him of its coming better summon another one to protect me from that blade. Guess that- ... hold on... ghost? Looking behind the boy I saw there was indeed a giant ominous figure of an ancient warrior clad in armor totally different from Amidamaru's. I tried to think of where the warrior might be from but just kept drawing up blanks. I guess I'll have to ask the walking encyclopedia formally known as Coral's little cousin Manta. Bronze chest plates, disks, knee guards, lots of leather underneath metal and a helmet that reminded me of something the Trojans might have worn. The warrior ghost looked a lot tougher than my shikigami, especially since my shikigami just look like... weirdness. "So… you're a shaman too?"

"And it would appear you are as well...." He looked in my direction, quite interested in my new flyer. "What is that?"

"A shikigami," I replied happily as my red, yellow and purple flyer perched on my should, making me giggle a bit. It wrapped its arms around my head and snuggled it. Awwwwww, ain't my weirdie the custest~?

"An Onmyouji...amazing. Master... its amazing isn't it?" Asked the warrior. Spike-boy scoffed. "It would be if she knew how to use that."
"I heard that!"
"Pity I still can hear you..." He muttered and turned away, facing his back to me.
A gust of wind rippled through his loose school uniforms. Betcha he has a nice body under there. Whoa, whoa, whoa! Down girl, down, can't be having thoughts like that after just being in Japan for a little over a week. Coral must be rubbing off on me...

"So that's it?" I asked as the boy and his ghost began to follow the path across the bridge, past me, and on the way out of the cemetery. "You're just going to walk off after being a complete assface without another word?" He stopped and glanced back at me with a smirk but remained silent. What was up with that? "Not even going to tell me your name or why you've got this thing against my little cousin?"
"Ren."
"What?"
"You can call me Ren!" Spikey, er I mean, Ren said a little louder than necessary. "And what qualms I've against your cousin, are nothing to concern you. He owes me something... that's all."
I nodded, resting my hand on my chin. It made perfect sense. Heck, I'd have issues like that if I was having issues with a debt being owed to me. "Want me to get him to fork it over?" I offered not knowing that he was referring to wanting Amidamaru for his ally.
No answer.
"Ren? Ren?" Where'd he go off to now?! I ran ahead to the edge and looked over it. Ren had already made himself down by the gate. He's fast. "HEY REN! ARE YOU IN THE TOURNEMENT TOO?" The jerk didn't even look up at me or wave. His ghost did give me something that looked like a thumbs up though.

"Fine," I scoffed at the retreating figure. "Pretend I don't exist. I'll show you," I muttered and sat down on the edge of the bridge. "I won't tell you that I know that 'Ren' can't be your real name. I'll pretend like I don't notice your accent. And I'll pretend that the alias you gave me isn't a girls name that means water lily."

As I ranted to myself I couldn't help but smile. He might have been a jerk, but I have to give props where props are due. He was a pretty nice looking jerk, even strong looking too. I'd be lying if I didn't want to see him again.