Mai: Hey! Man it's been a longtime since I updated! I really like this chapter I feel I got a lot done. Oh I apologize for the scene where Hao talks to Yoh. I remember seeing that show on the dub (may the people who dubbed it burn in hell) but I can't remember the conversation to well so I just rewrote it my way. Also I'd like to make a note about the age of everyone in the book (a.k.a. during the turnament). Ren and Umi are 15, Horo-Horo Yoh Hao Anna are 14, and Pirika is 12. Anyway on with the show!

Disclaimer: Look I don't own Shaman King! If I did things would be very different. For example there'd be a lot more romance, the X-laws would be weak and pathetic ('cause I hate religious freaks) and it'd be all Marco's fault.

Chapter 9: Usui

"Umi-chan!" Tamao called up the stairs the next evening. "Ren-san's on the phone and he wants to talk to you!"

Umi bolted up excited at the thought of talking to her friend. She ran into the hall and snatched the upstairs phone off the hook hastily and accidentally dropped it.

"Hello," she said grabbing the phone off the hook.

"Umi?" Ren's voiced echoed through the phone.

"Hi, Ren-kun."

"How are you?" he asked tentatively.

"I'm fine," she answered.

"Remember anything?" he asked holding his breath.

"Well I keep having these dreams about me and this guy. I assume he's my fiancé. We're always talking to each other and kissing each other. And we're in this strange bedroom that seems oddly familiar to me. But I can never remember his face or voice once the dream ends."

"Well maybe that's how your memories are returning. They'll probably come slowly and slightly faded out until something really big triggers more of them. That's what the doctor told me usually happens with patients like you," he said.

"I've been reading some more of that book you gave me," she told him.

"Oh good. Do you like it so far?"

"Yeah. Did the stuff in this book really happen? Because all the characters are exactly like real people that I know. Well I haven't met Hao or any of the people mentioned as his followers but everyone else is real enough."

"They're real," he said quietly.

"It's starting confuse me though. I just read the part where Hao proposed. I'm confused though, the me in the book seems to love Hao but she also seems hesitant. I think that she likes the you in the book too, and I'm confused about who I'm really engaged to," she told him.

"You'll find out soon enough," he said mysteriously.

She sighed knowing that she wouldn't get anything more out of him. "When are you coming back?" she asked.

"Oh yeah that's what I called to tell you. I'm coming home tonight. I'll be here by the time you wake up. I'm taking my private jet so it's a bit quicker then a normal airline flight."

"Great! I can't wait to see you, Ren-kun!" Umi exclaimed happily.

"Me neither. I have to go now. See you later, Umi-chan," he said.

"Bye, Ren-kun," she told him happily. Then she heard a click signaling that he had hung up. "I can't wait to see him again," she sighed.

She looked over at her bedside table where she had left the book the night before. After talking to Ren she seemed to find herself drawn to the book. She needed to read more.

The next two weeks were like a dream for Umi. Everyone was so happy for her and Hao. The Hanagumi had declared themselves the official bridesmaids and Umi felt no desire to argue. It took a while to get everyone (aside from the Hanagumi who knew her too well to even think about it) to stop calling her Umi-sama. But even though she felt happier then she had in her entire life she couldn't escape the nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right.

"We're going to enter Patch Village after we ensure that my idiot brother enters as well. You know, Umi-chan, what with the end of the tournament coming up so soon, we should probably think about the wedding," Hao said one night while they were sitting in his tent.

"Yeah we probably should," she muttered. "I always imagined us getting married on top of a hill. You know out in nature and everything."

"So you did imagine us getting married then?" he teased. "Why didn't you say anything? We could've done this a lot sooner."

"Well I didn't know how you felt. In my defense you should've said something too. I was scared that you'd reject me," she told him defensively.

"Now why would I do that?" he whispered in her ear.

"You can have any woman you want. Why would you want plain old me?"

"Actually there is another girl I considered. I doubt you know her. She's about my height, long blue hair and blue eyes. She's strong and beautiful and I've known her since forever. I was completely crazy about her. But in the end I decided that I didn't have a chance so I gave up and asked you to marry me."

"You're awful you know that?" she asked laughing hysterically.

"Of course I am! Now about that hilltop idea, I like it. But not just any hill will do. We must find the biggest most beautiful hill ever known to man!" Hao exclaimed excitedly.

"Ok, now you're scaring me," Umi said as she slowly edged away from her crazed fiancé.

"Ok I'm sorry I just get so I excited when I think about our wedding. I want you to have anything you want. So that you have the happiest wedding possible and just enjoy marrying me to the fullest."

"Aw you're so sweet," she said as she leaned in to kiss him passionately. This simple kiss soon progressed into a long passionate make out session on Hao's cot. Normally Umi would have been overjoyed at the very thought of this but once again the nagging feeling that had come to pain her over the last few weeks returned.

She felt that something wasn't quite right. But how could something be out of place here? She was with Hao the guy she had loved since before she was old enough to really comprehend what love was.

There wasn't anything wrong, she decided. She was just shocked by the suddenness of the engagement and how perfect everything was. Yeah, a startled surprised reaction to how sudden and fast things were progressing, that was exactly what it was. These thoughts were slightly annoying but they would go away with time as she got used to her new role in Hao's life because she loved Hao and nothing else mattered.

At least that was what she told herself. In some small place in the back of her mind however she knew that that wasn't quite true. But the rest of her consciousness shut out that part of her mind.

Two days later Yoh Asakura and his friends entered Patch Village (surprisingly for Hao and Umi he didn't need a push in the right direction). Hao moved him and his followers into the village as soon as he was sure that Yoh would make it.

They were all camped just outside of the village. Everyone secretly wanted to stay in the village but unfortunately not even Hao (or even the super rich Ren Tao for that matter) could afford to put up such a huge group in one of the overpriced Patch hotels. Normally Hao would have threatened his way into free room and board but unfortunately there was a rule that anyone who harassed and/or threatened the Patch people for free stuff would automatically get disqualified.

"Ok the camp has been all set up right?" Hao asked Opacho.

"Hai, Hao-sama, all the tents have been successfully put up," the small African child told Hao.

"Good. It's been about a day and a half my brother should be waking up by now. I say it's time we go confront him," Hao said with an evil grin. "I want Umi, Opacho, the Hanagumi, and Luca to accompany me. The rest of you stay here and try to keep out of trouble."

"Hai, Hao-sama!" the whole camp said in unison. Hao then nodded at the group and they all followed him.

An hour later they located Yoh and friends at a small overpriced Patch Café. They only took a few seconds to notice Hao's presence (much to the surprise of a few members of the group).

"You!" Ren and Horo-Horo yelled in unison jumping to his feet and reaching for his collapsible Kwan Dao. Umi knew that he probably meant Hao she couldn't help but feel that it was slightly directed at her too. More surprising though was the slight pain of regret that she felt at hearing the tone of hatred in their voices.

"What are you doing here?" Yoh asked calmly although Umi noticed that his hand was tensely clasped around his sword.

"We just came to talk so you can relax," Umi said airily.

"Oh really," Ren growled, "Why do I find that so hard to believe?"

Umi ignored him. "I haven't properly introduced myself to you yet," she said smiling. "My name is Usui Umi recently engaged to the future Shaman King, Asakura Hao." They were all speechless the exact effect that Umi had wanted.

"Y-You're gonna marry this psycho, Umi?" Horo-Horo asked disbelievingly.

"If you talk about my fiancé that way again you're dead!" Umi growled at the stupid Ainu.

"That's enough, Umi. It doesn't matter what the trash thinks of me. Yoh's the only one in the group that's even worth acknowledging," Hao said smirking. "By the way my dear brother, I came to wish you luck in the upcoming tournament. You'll need it. Oh and if you want to stand even the tiniest chance against me you'll need to get stronger."

And with that Hao's group left leaving Yoh and his friends to stare after Hao and Umi.

"She said her last name was Usui, right?" Horo asked wondering if he had misheard her.

"Yes she did, didn't she," Ren said calmly.

"Could there be some sort of family connection? I mean she said she was an orphan but still…" Horo-Horo trailed off thinking of what this could all mean.

Umi felt her eyes flutter tiredly. It was getting pretty late and yet she had to read more.

Maybe I'll just rest my eyes for a second…

It was four in the morning when Tao Ren gently entered Umi's room to see her fast asleep with the book lying open on her chest. He smiled as he gently put the book on her bedside table, and put a blanket over her. Then he kissed her on the forehead before turning off her light and leaving the room.