Forgotten Memories
By Elle Pellano
Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King.
Sorry for the late update… been busy with things for the past weeks. To compensate for the delay, I'm putting up a long chapter.
P.S. Let's see if complicatedmind21's guess is correct. =)
Chapter 7: The New Spirit
Ren held his kwan dao in front of him concentrating on the heavy rush of water from the cataract. He took a deep breath then with a swift movement, slice the waterfall in a crisscross pattern. He poised himself for another strike but as his spear hit the water, a spray of shattered ice flew into his face which he successfully blocked with his weapon. He glared at the blue-haired prankster who was snickering at him on top of a protruded stone from the waterfall.
Horo Horo slid down using his snowboard from where he was standing and landed on Ren's side. "I thought it would be easier for you to break the water if it's in solid form," he sneered.
"Bason!" Ren called for his spirit and pointed his kwan dao menacingly at Horo Horo. The Tao's eyes glittered with excitement.
"I'm ready when you are Master Ren," said the warrior spirit as he materialized beside the Chinese shaman.
"It has been a long time since we last dueled Shark-hair," the Ainu was feeling enthusiastic as well. "Bring it on!" Kororo, the tiny Koro Pokkuru spirit appeared by the ice shaman's shoulder.
Ren smirked. "I won't go easy on you."
"Over soul!" both shamans shouted at the same time.
At the forest near the waterfall...
"Mistress Jeanne, are you sure you want me to strike you?" Lyserg hesitated.
"My body has not reached its limit yet, Lyserg. For me to regain my lost spiritual powers, I have to endure a series of painful physical experience. It is only when I have reached enlightenment will my spiritual force overcome my physical weakness." Jeanne said in a pensive voice.
I wish she'd stop saying that. It's time for her to realize that she's no longer inside the iron maiden. The English shaman thought.
"Please Lyserg, I need to regain my powers."
"As much as I do not want to hurt you, Mistress Jeanne, here it goes. Morphine!" Lyserg threw his crystal pendulum at the fragile-looking girl in front of him. However, it missed her by a hair strand and struck instead the Afro-American shaman sleeping next to a dozing jaguar under the tree right behind her.
"What was that for?" Chocolove yelled while rubbing his forehead which bore an angry red mark.
"Oops, sorry, my aim was bad today," Lyserg bowed down his head but did not look apologetic.
Meanwhile, in another part of Osorezan, Yoh and Amidamaru had been walking quietly towards a cave where they're planning to train when the samurai spirit suddenly broke the silence.
"Master Yoh, forgive me for asking this. Mistress Anna seemed to have been ignoring me for quite a few times. Do you think she's mad at me?"
Yoh paused then turned to face the samurai spirit. "If there's one person she should be mad at, it should be me, Amidamaru. These things happened because of my weakness. I need to make it up to her. Will you help me?"
"I'll lend you all my powers Master Yoh." Amidamaru smiled.
"Let's hurry up! Everybody has started."
Back at the Asakura Itako Training Center...
"Hao's wife?" Tamao was dumbfounded from what she had just heard.
"Yes, he got himself a wife when he was reincarnated in the Patch tribe. It was from their lineage that the Shaman fight official, Silva was born into." Kino explained further.
"Yes, I sort of heard that story from Silva himself," Manta remembered.
"I did not expect that such an evil soul could have loved someone else," Tamao thought out loud.
"Perhaps he was just making sure that he could reincarnate into either of the two most powerful shaman clans," Manta pondered on the possibility.
"Mistress Anna, would you like to take some medicines? You looked very pale," inquired Suzume, Kino's young trainee.
Everyone's attention was directed to the blond itako who seemed to be shaking all over.
"I'm fine. No need to worry," Anna tried to look normal.
Before anyone could ask her further, there came several loud screams from the inn's yard. They all ran out of the room to check on the commotion outside. Tamao gasped as she saw several trainees sprawled unconscious on the ground. They seemed to be drained of all of their energies. Manta's forehead began forming tiny beads of sweat upon discovering who was causing the uproar. Anna's heart thumped continuously. She had never expected to see him too soon.
"What a bold move to show your face to us again, Hao." Old Kino stepped forward from the entrance door.
"I had to commend you old woman. You can still sense me even though you already lost your sight," the long-haired shaman scoffed.
"Your soul reeks so much of malevolence for me not to remember it. I only lost my sense of sight but not my sense of seeing," said Kino unafraid.
"This only proves that you're really a talented itako. You did pretty well training these young girls."
Old Kino froze and her voice faltered, "What did you do to my students?"
"Let's just say they have been a good source of food."
Anna stepped forward and with clenched fists she angrily shouted, "You have no right to hurt these young girls. What do you want Hao?"
"My dear Anna, it's good to see you again. You've never changed that strong stance of yours since we last met."
Oh no. Mistress Anna couldn't handle this alone. She's not fully recovered yet. Master Yoh, where are you? Tamao shook with fear.
"Hmmm… so the midget is also here?" Hao turned his gaze at Manta. "That means my little brother is just nearby. Too bad he's not here to witness how I would destroy his clan's inn and all that lives in this rickety place."
"I won't allow you to even come a step closer to this inn," Anna held tightly to her 1080 beads then started her channeling spell, "Spirits of our forefathers, spirits of ancient warriors, I call you from your resting place. Please lend us your powers! Kuchiyose!"
There was a dead air as everyone waited for something to happen. As the minute passed and nothing came out, Anna felt like dropping down to her knees in despair.
Hao put on a curious look on his face then a mischievous smile slowly formed when realization had dawned on him. "Interesting… I never thought it would be like this. Now is the time to show yourself, Argon."
Old Kino was startled at the mention of the name. The Patch warrior spirit holding a hatchet appeared by his master's side. "I'd like you to meet a few of my brother's pitiful friends," said Hao.
"Hold your horses! Save the acquaintances for later. Don't think I'll let you hurt them," a voice called out from behind the evil shaman.
"Ryuu!" Manta was relieved when someone has finally come to their rescue.
The Elvis look alike gave them a broad grin and did a thumb up. However, his grand entrance was cut short when Tamao screamed, "Look out!"
Argon was right behind him ready to strike his hatchet with a murderous intent.
Ryuu immediately turned around, successfully blocked the attack with his wooden sword and jumped a meter away from Argon. Had it been an ordinary wooden sword, it would have broken down into two.
"Tokagero, it's time for us to teach this guy a lesson. Oversoul! Yamata no -- ," but Ryuu was not able to complete his move as he was struck by two arrows on the left and right shoulders. He fell down on his knees and tried to pull the arrow on his left but it would not budge.
"Ryuu!" everybody on his side screamed.
This Argon guy is quick. Ryuu was beginning to lose his composure. A minute ago he was holding a hatchet and just now he hit me with these. I did not see him change his weapon to a bow and arrow. Who the heck is this guy anyway?
Hao gave a satisfied smile. "An insect such as you is no match for me. Argon, finish him off."
In a split second, the Patch warrior spirit was right in front of the fallen Ryuu. He grabbed him by his stylized hair. Ryuu struggled to break free but couldn't move his entire body. He groaned when Argon's hand started to emit a green light which grew even brighter second after second.
"No! Stop it!" Anna yelled desperately as she was fully aware of what to become of Ryuu when the Patch spirit completely absorbs his furyoku.
"Golden Chuuka Zanmai!
"Nipopo Punch!"
Argon let go of the weakened Ryuu to evade Ren's and Horo Horo's simultaneous attacks.
However, he was not able to stir clear of the rope dart that was Morphine who struck him on the chest. Argon cringed a bit but had no time to rest when a huge injection came from the sky.
"Mephisto E!"
Argon successfully dodged it but was punched on the left cheek by Chocolove with his Shaft Claw.
"I bet that taste good!" Chocolove sneered. "And for the final act of this performance…"
Yoh raised his sword, "Amida-ryu Goko -- " but immediately withdrew it in shock when the patch warrior spirit called out his counterattack.
"Yamata no Orochi!" The familiar eight-headed giant snake appeared by Argon's side.
"Long time no see little brother," Hao greeted Yoh with spite. "You owe me a lot of things but payment is due for another day. That will be enough Argon. Let's go!" the evil Asakura twin turned his back on them to retreat.
"Just a moment Hao!" Ren furiously called out.
"Chillout man. We'll let him go for now. Ryuu is badly hurt." Horo Horo grabbed his arm to stop him from running after Hao.
Yoh and the gang hurriedly went to Ryuu who was being tended by Jeanne and Tamao. They immediately carried him into the inn.
"How is he Faust?" Yoh asked the doctor who just entered the room with a grave face. They were once again huddled in the small meeting room.
"He's still alive although very weak. It appears as if he fell into a deep slumber just like what happened to the rest of the young trainees," Faust VIII replied.
"Was he also the one who did that to you Anna?" asked Manta.
"Yes, he's the one." The itako confirmed.
"He almost drained them of their spiritual energy but there were vital signs that they will survive." Faust calmed the group.
"So he's like a furyoku vampire?" Chocolove tried to lighten everyone's mood to no avail.
"Come to think of it, he may have been feeding off Hao with the stolen furyoku. Didn't you notice him being as rejuvenated not to mention as cocky as when he had his Spirit of Fire," Ren pointed out.
"That Argon guy is beginning to give me the creeps. How on earth was he able to draw out Yamata no Orochi?" Horo Horo shuddered.
"It seems like he is absorbing the furyoku to copy also the abilities of his opponents. Thus the calling out of Ryuu's oversoul," Lyserg noted.
"You hit it right on the nail, Lyserg. Argon could be one of those furyoku vampire copycats!" Chocolove exclaimed.
"Basing on Anna's experience, we can be sure that Ryuu and the girls' energies will be fully restored. That's enough good news," Yoh was feeling optimistic.
"I wouldn't be too sure of that Yoh," his fiance said with a serious tone.
"What do you mean Anna?" Manta asked nervously. Old Kino fixed her gaze firmly at her.
"We are not sure if they'd be able to use their spiritual abilities when they have fully recovered. I haven't used mine since I woke up," the itako confessed. "My spiritual eyes had been blinded. I could no longer see or call spirits."
End of Chapter 7
Thanks for reading!