I do not own any of the characters. Please enjoy and review! This chapter gives a bit more romance between Daichi and Annie.

Can not talk right now because the girls are too bust torturing the boys.

Chapter 4

Daichi soon disappeared through the door once he made sure everybody was asleep. He wanted to go to the forest again to see if the footprints are still there. Amidamaru tried to stop him because he needed to get some rest. Daichi put Amidamaru in his tablet without another word and had left him back in his room. The forest was as silent as ever. There was a crispy chill of wind that ran over him as he went out of the hotel.

He smiles grimly. He really didn't think he was fit to be a leader. He was always a slacker at these things and only wanted to fight other shamans. Sure, he and the other boys have practice fights together as part of their training but he wanted to fight an opponent that he never knew before or hasn't spent much time with.

"Going somewhere?" a voice behind him asked in a soft voice. He turn around to find Annie standing before him in a simple white robe with a red slash to held it in place. Her hair hangs loose and was damp. He caught the scent of strawberries and gave her a small smile. She didn't show it, but from the tone of her words, he could tell that she was worried about him.

He walks over and twirls a strand of her damp hair. She looks at him in surprise before frowning slightly. He chuckled and leans in closer. She could feel his breath against her. Her hand raised up to slap him but he quickly caught it and gave a smirk. She gave him a glare and tried to hold her ground. He loves to see this side of her. He noticed that she only acted like this to him and not to the others. He loves having her to himself.

He slowly lends her down the steps and into the forest. He was surprise that she follow without saying anything. He lends her back to the clearing and soon had a look of dismay on his face. Annie's hand tightens her grip around him and moves a little closer to the ground. The giant footprints were nowhere to be seen. The ground of the clearing was completely smooth with no signs of holes anywhere. He couldn't believe this.

"Daichi."

He turns towards Annie. She stares at him for a few seconds before moving her eyes back to the ground.

"We should go. We can't do anything about this so there is no point in worrying about it. Besides, it is almost midnight and leaving Amidamaru behind isn't very good when he is shouting at the others. I'm surprised that they could still sleep." she gave him a small real smile. He returned the smile and led her back to the hotel.

By the time they got back to the hotel, everybody was up and was waiting. Rei look up and saw Daichi and Annie approaching. Amidamaru flew over to Daichi, panicked.

"Daichi, how could you leave me?!" Amidamaru shouted. "Something could have happen to you!" he then sigh. "But then, you are as stubborn as your father and grandfather. Nothing would change your mind anyway." the Japanese samurai shook his head and smile at his master. Daichi grin. He knew Amidamaru would understand.

"Are we going to go or not?" Annie said coldly.

The rest of the group nodded and they started to head towards the part of the forest where Yuki saw the light. It wasn't far from the hotel. They soon arrived at the far west part of the forest. Fresh, green trees surrounded the clearing. The ground was smooth, too smooth as if it was like this for a purpose. An oval shape cave was covered by huge stone boulders that were stack upon each other. The stones were perfectly carved with master skill. There were strange markings around the edges of each stone. The markings were all the same except for a single message that was carved into the very middle stone that held the rest. There were flowers around the stones as well. Through the gaps of the stone walls, there was indeed a bright light making its way as if it wants to come out, but is sealed away.

Daichi became instantly tensed as soon as they entered the clearing. Using the power of the Spirit Of Earth, he could sense a massive amount of energy that runs through that cave. He could feel the low rumbling as the earth around it shook. Daichi grip his sword tightly. He looks around and saw that everybody else had become tense as well. He walks over and began to feel the stone in the middle. The stone was very smooth and fresh, but that was impossible! These are the ancient markings of the Patch Tribe. These stones are over 10, 0000 years old! He frowns.

"Somebody is keeping those stones alive," Rei said, coming up behind him. Yuki was examining the message carefully. Akira and Serena were checking out the cave while Charlie looks around for any signs.

"Those who wish to be in the fight shall past this simple test. Those who fail will surrender their spirit to the "Holy Volt". Those who pass will get what they desire." Annie read the message easily. They all look at her, dumbfound.

"How can you read this?!" the boys shouted. Their hands were up in the air as they gaped at her. Serena sighs and gave a small smile.

"Annie was trained by Alumi as one of her mentors. Alumi is part of the Patch Tribe that is here today. She would have indeed known about the Patch Tribe. I am surprise that she also taught you to read the language of the Patch. I don't suppose you know how to speak it too?" Serena asked. Annie nodded.

"Man, I am sick of all of these tests and stuff! I want some action!" Akira shouted. He jump up and grab his snowboard. He attaches the snowboard to his shoes.

"Corey! Fusion!" He quickly put Corey into his snowboard. The snowboard shines blue and soon has markings from the tribe that Akira and Serena was born in. The tribe's name was Ainu. Cold air surrounded him.

"Icicle Spike!" he shouted. A giant icicle came out of his snowboard. He delivered a smashing hit on the middle stone. It blast into pieces and fell dead to the ground. There was a loud rumble as one by one, the stones collapse and a blinding light erupted out of the cave. The group covered their eyes.

After a moment, the boys were hit by some unknown force. They were slam into the nearby trees. Daichi clutch his stomach and turn his head towards the cave. What the heck was that? Daichi thought. He stood up and looks around at the others. They were all fine. Thump, thump. Daichi whip his head towards the light.

A person came walking out of the cave. He stood seven feet tall. He wore the cape of the Patch Tribe. A feather headdress was on top of his head and on his face was a strange marking written on his right cheek. His black hair floated in the wave of air that just occurred. His sharp eyes look directly at Daichi.

"So, you wish to gain a piece do you not?" the man's voice was bold and was fill with confidence.

"Who are you?" Rei raise his spear at the man. Bason was in the spear already. The man didn't flinch at the sharpness of the spear or how close it was next to him.

"I am Taki. I am part of the Patch Tribe." the man replied. "I am also the guardian of a piece to build your Oracle Bell. Those who pass my test would be able to get the piece. Those who failed will give up their soul to me and I will feed it to the Great Spirit. So will you take the test or not? Come on, chop chop. I don't have all day."

The boys nodded. Taki smiled and pull out a few pieces of rice and five paintbrushes. They all look at him, confused.

"I want you to write the person you cherish most on a grain of rice." he said.

"What?!"

"Um, write on it?" Akira asked.

"I don't know if you know this, but grains of rice are tiny!" Charlie pointed out. The rest nodded.

"You can do it. You just need to focus." Taki responded. He handed them each a brush and a small white grain of rice. Cherish most? Daichi smile and began writing a certain person's name down. It was hard but somehow all of them were able to do it. Taki held the grains of rice in his palm.

"Good. Now, the real test will begin." As he said those last words, he threw the grains of rice into the forest. The wind carried them far into the vast wilderness. The boys watch as their hard work flew farther and farther away from them. They stood; dumbfound wondering 'what was the point of writing on that grain of rice?!'

"Now, go find your grain of rice." Taki said.

"What?!" They shouted at him, in shock. He just nod and waved them towards the dark forest. The boys sign in defeat and start walking to the forest. Rei and Daichi tried focusing their powers on their grain of rice. Charlie use Mic's great sense of smell while Akira ride low to the ground on his snowboard and was looking at every inch. Yuki walk around and had Chloe fly up to search the trees.

"Focus, focus." Rei mutter. Bason and Shamash floated beside him. Daichi tried to focus but soon he end up falling asleep!

"Daichi! Wake up!" Amidamaru yelped. Annie stomps up and smacks him in the head. He gave a startled cry and rubbed his head.

"Wake up! You are on a test! Quit slacking off!" She ordered. He nodded slightly and went back to focusing his mental energy on the grain of rice.

"Spirit Of Earth, help me in my need." he mumbled. Daichi soon became surrounded by the Earth Spirit. The others saw him and did the same thing with their spirit. Taki came up and nod at their progress. Annie and Serena stood back. The boys soon fell into a trance. One by one, they link out and let the elemental spirits take over.

"This is good. Since they process the elemental spirits, it is wise that they learn to use them. This is a good opportunity to use those powers. Daichi has the most advantage because he has the Spirit Of Earth." Taki said. Annie and Serena nodded.

Suddenly, both of them fell to their kneels. They both clutch their sides and began screaming out in pain. Taki rush over. He gasps when he saw dragon spirits above the two girls that were trying to keep their breathing level. One dragon was a fiery red with orange and yellow markings all along its long body. The other was green and brown and had a massive aurora around it. The red belongs to Serena while the other belongs to Annie. Taki knew that the girls never knew of these spirits. They must have taken over them somehow. A thought suddenly occur to him. The dragon spirit that was green and brown had the same color and aurora as the Spirit Of Earth and the red dragon spirit was the same as the Spirit Of Fire.

"Miss Annie!" Amidamaru shouted as all of the guardian ghosts watch the two dragons that were above the two girls. Chloe and Corey floated next to Serena, worried for the blue-haired girl.

What does this mean? Taki thought. They have the same spirit as Daichi and Yuki but in dragon form. The energy of those dragons felt like only a fraction of the elemental spirits power. How could the elemental spirits have broken apart? More importantly, why those two? If the Spirit Of Earth and the Spirit Of Fire have been broken apart, then the others must have broken apart too. But who are the other people who carried the dragon spirits of the elemental spirits?

There was a sudden rush of wind and the boys slowly got up and began to walk to various parts of the forest. The girls soon fell to the ground when Yuki and Daichi left. They lay unconscious on the ground. Taki felt their pulses and was relieved that they were still alive but their power was drained. He must report this to the tribe as soon as possible. The elemental spirits must be whole once again. He had to get help to find the rest of the dragon spirits.

The boys soon came back and each of them held a grain of rice in their palms. The elemental spirits came out and disappeared. Daichi open his eyes to see Taki with a grave look on his face. His eyes flicker at the two girls that lay unconscious at the ground. The other boys saw as well.

"Well? What happen when we were gone?" Daichi's eyes were cold now towards Taki. Amidamaru flew in and block Taki. Daichi narrow his eyes at his ghost.

"Daichi! You are wrong!" Amidamaru shouted. The rest of the spirits nodded and flew in front of Taki. "When all of you went into a trance, Serena and Annie began screaming out in pain and then there was these two dragon spirits that came out within them!"

"Dragon spirits?!" the boys exclaimed. Dragon spirits were very powerful. Some say that they were only rumors and legends. Daichi never quite believe it, but is there really dragon spirits?

"Those are only legends!" Charlie said. Mic came over and shook its furry head. Charlie stared in shock at his ghost.

"Bason! Shamash! Is this true?!" Rei ask his ghosts. They both nodded.

Daichi turn towards Taki. The Patch Tribe member nodded his head slowly. Daichi walked over and knelt besides Annie. He picked her up in his arms while Yuki did the same for Serena. He began to walk back to the hotel. The others followed along with Taki. As soon as Daichi and Yuki laid the two girls on their beds, Daichi turn towards Taki.

"Talk." he said, quite calmly. Taki walk over and took a seat on one of the chairs.

"It all happen the moment all of you went into a trance." Taki began. "I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the two dragon spirits above them. My guess is that they didn't know that they had these spirits in them. Controlling dragons is extremely difficult and dangerous to do. If one has a weak mind, they will perish in the dragon's hands. Nobody knows how much power a dragon has. And even worst, the girls have elemental dragon spirits." One by one, the boys raise their eyebrows at this.

"But I thought that we have the elemental spirits and that there was no other spirits like ours!" Charlie protested.

Taki rest his head in his hands. "There most weird thing is that those dragons had the same aurora as Daichi and Yuki's spirits."

"What?!" Daichi and Yuki exclaimed. Their eyes quickly shifted to the now sleeping girls.

"That is true. Chloe and I saw them." Amidamaru said. Chloe nodded.

"What about the rest of us?" Rei asked.

"Yeah! That's right! Don't we have dragon spirits too?" Akira jump up from his spot on the floor.

"When did you get your elemental spirits?' Taki suddenly asked.

"On our first birthday." Daichi replied. The boys were all born on the same day.

"Yes, that was when we all met each other." Yuki piped up.

"It was also the day when they got all of us." Bason said. The other guardian ghosts smiled, remembering the day they had been given to their new shamans.

Taki nodded, suddenly understanding what was going on. "All of you were too young to control the spirits, so they must have broken a fraction of themselves and planted it into another person. Those fractions must have turn into dragons."

The boys look at one another. "Does this mean we have to find the people who carry part of our spirits?"

Taki nodded. "You must find them soon; the elemental spirits must be whole again. I will report this to the Patch Tribe. Continue on your journey and look out for the person who has your spirits. Since you are all boys, the dragons must be in all girls."

Taki look over at Daichi and Yuki. "Did you two feel anything different when you are around them?"

"Well, I did think that there was some kind of magic I didn't know inside of Annie." Daichi rubbed his head. "She seems different then any other girl I ever met."

"I felt like something was drawing me towards Serena." Yuki said slowly.

"Then that means that you could somehow sense something from the dragon spirits. This will help you find them. Remember they are girls." Taki said towards Rei, Akira, and Charlie. They all nodded.

Taki stood up and handed each boy a small pouch in their hands. Each pouch was a different color, but all of them had the same ancient marking sew into the soft leather pouch. A small ribbon was to knot the pouch and attach to the ribbon was a small golden bell that jingles as the pouch move. Daichi's was orange, Yuki's was green, Charlie's was yellow, Akira's was blue and Rei's was red. The boys open them to find two pieces for their Oracle Bell. There was a small computer-like screen and a gold bell. The boys look at Taki, confused. Weren't they only supposed to get only one item?

"I'm giving you two because the guardian that was protecting the bell piece died one day when a shaman came to get his piece. A mere boy kill my friend in the Mirmo region. I now carried his piece too until we can train a new guardian." there was a look of pain on Taki's face before he shook his head to try to erase the memory.

A boy? Daichi thought. The note came back to him. Beware of the boy who crushes. What does that mean? He quickly pulls out the note and hand it to Taki. The Patch Tribe member looks at it before narrowing his eyes. He asks Daichi how he got this so Daichi told him about the alley and the ninja stars. Taki began muttering to himself before he said that he had to leave right away. Before he went out, he told them that they should tell the girls about his and that they must protect the girl that has their dragon spirit at all costs.

After a while, Annie and Serena woke up. The boys quickly fill them in and then they decided to leave to Demtra. The girls were surprised at the news. Annie had Daichi's spirit and Serena had Yuki's.

"This journey just got interesting." Annie muttered. Daichi smiled. He was glad that she was okay. She's right. We have a whole new challenge, he thought. They set out that morning and began making their way to Demtra.