Author's Note: Yuuki~desu! Now all is going to go down the drain... Wanna see how? Read on! And Review!

Lu jiao dao – Deerhorn knives

Kwan dao – Ren's spear-like weapon

All Dao Dan Do attacks can be found on Shaman King Wikia along with the Gofukusei and its members!

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"Characters Talking"

Main character thinking

Stressing something or time skips announcements

"Main character's spirit talking"

Chapter 5: Will To Fight

It took us a long trek, but we finally arrived at the hall leading to En's room.

My heart was beating like crazy, adrenaline rushing through my veins. It was clear to me that once the door opened, fight for life began. And while I promised Yami I would try not to get directly involved until necessary, I had no illusion about me not entering the fight at all.

Yoh wasn't ready to face En yet. That kind of power the Tao held was unimaginable for the young shaman, making him extremely naive and vulnerable. Sooner or later, I would have to step in.

"Yami. Get ready in case we have to join in at the last second." I said, gripping my lu jiao dao tightly in my hands.

"Very well." he answered, his voice sounding like pure malice with a hint of mischief.

I chuckled to myself, inwardly glad I wasn't the only one looking forward to the action, no matter how dangerous it will be or the repercussions that surely followed.

Deciding to give Yoh his last warning, Ren spoke to the smiling boy. "Are you ready for this?"

The Asakura shaman didn't even look at his companion. "Yeah." he simply confirmed cheerfully.

Ren pushed open the doors in front of which they were standing, revealing a very unfavorable scene.

There, standing at the center of the room, surrounded by pieces of four defeated Jiang Shi, stood the leader of the Gokufusei, holding onto the collar of Ryu's passed out body.

Immediately noticing their presence, but not taking his eyes off his current prey, Ichi-Johtoh started talking monotonously. "You won't be able to do anything. Because I will make sure you all die. I shall send you to your death."

"Move you idiots!" I shrieked inside the Shadow Realm, trying to figure out whether this was the moment I was to come out.

The two frozen companions stood at the door, the Jiang Shi's threats falling on deaf ears as they simply stared at Ryu's limp body held up by the man in white, and Horohoro's battered form crumpled on the ground nearby.

With incomprehensible speed, the last remaining member of Gokufusei appeared behind the shamans, intent on making true of his bloody words. "They could not keep up." he almost sneered. "Just like the two of you."

Swiftly turning around, Ren and Yoh faced their new enemy. He, in turn, scowled at them.

"Die." Kicking up his leg, making the boys fly up he proudly announced the name of his attack. "Huo Jian Jao!"

"That move! Is it?!" wondered Ren aloud.

In rapid succession, the attacker himself jumped up into the air, above the boys. With a cry of "Zhou Shidao Dan Jiao!" he sent them crashing to the ground.

Luckily, Amidamaru and Bason stepped in, cushioning their descend.

Wincing from the impact, Yoh confirmed Ren's earlier suspicion. "It's unmistakable. That's Dao Dan Do. The same fighting technique Bailong uses!" Quickly collecting himself, he got back to the appropriate fighting stance. "But why is he so much stronger than the others?!"

"I have no idea! It doesn't make any sense!" countered more than a little bit ticked off Tao shaman.

That's exactly when a very feeble and shaky voice piped up from behind a big chinese vase positioned by the door they used to come in. "It's quite obvious in a way. There aren't many who know Dao Dan Do." The voice was revealed to belong to no one else than Manta. "The only who should know it is Bailong."

"Manta! You're alive!" cried out relieved Yoh.

Ren, wanting to know more, abruptly shut him up and let the human continue. "What? Then who is it?!"

"Th-There was also the one who invented it. Bailong's master. It must be Shawen!"

Startled, the boys turned back to their opponent, waiting for him to either confirm the theory or refute it.

"You are most observant..." drawled the Jiang Shi. "Yes, I am Shawen. The heart of Gokufusei. The others were simply a cover." He then pulled up part of his white linen mask, revealing his face to the still disbelieving Yoh.

Smiling, he used the distraction to his advantage, moving rapidly behind the boy.

"YAMI!" I called out, already in my battle stance.

"We won't make it!" he howled in response, making me bite my lip until it bled.

"Yoh! Pay attention! Don't just stand there!" yelled Ren, rushing to help.

This is it. I thought in horror. I failed.

But just when the Jiang Shi's hand was about to reach Yoh, it was stopped by no other than Bailong.

"Bailong!" yelped Shawen, prying his forearm from his former apprentice's grip and moving away from him.

For a moment, I felt faint. The force of the relief I felt was so strong my knees gave out and I had to sit down onto the floor made out of shadows. That was close. REALLY close. Hell, I don't even want to imagine what Hao would have done to me if... I shivered, instantly stopping that train of thought.

"Yami. Start making an invisible portal in Yoh's shadow. It'll be quicker that way to get out." I croaked.

"Yes, Mistress." he breathed out, just as relieved as I was.

Staring, Shawen let his confusion show on his face. "How?! Master En destroyed you!"

"I put him back together." came Jun's voice from an open doorway. "Looks like I made it just in time. Even though I warned you not to fight." she stated.

"Sister..." Ren said dumbfounded.

Eyeing the newcomer, Shawen spoke. "Miss Jun. I strongly advise against this. You don't want your father to punish you again, do you?" Turning back to Bailong, he continued his speech. "It's not wise to go against me. Even if you come at me all at once." Smirking evilly, he added: "...A weak Jiang Shi like Bailong won't make any difference. I am the master. A disciple could never beat his master."

Dejected, Jun answered him. "I guess we were just too soft. I really don't wish to fight anymore." She put up her hair in her usual style, using three purple hairclips. "I wished I would never have to hurt people. But with things as they are... I have no choice but to do this."

With a maniacal laugh, Shawen attacked her. "You are totally confused!" he cried out, poising both his fists in front of him, getting ready to strike.

Unperturbed, Jun didn't move an inch. "No, I see things clearly now." She pulled out her daoshi talismans, smiling softly to herself. "Yes. I have made up my mind."

"What did you say?!" yelled the offender unaware of the attack Bailong was about to unleash behind his back.

"Gofukusei, this is the end for you!" said the younger Jiang Shi as his leg slowly descended on the other's unprotected spine. "I will always protect Jun!" he finished with hateful look in his eyes. "Yu Zhou Zhan Luo Xia!"

Shawen's body practically exploded and landed on the ground with a nasty 'plop' sound.

"You have no right to live if you don't have a heart. Without it, you cannot even be considered alive." said the Tao woman, looking reminiscent. "Come! We are going up!" she suddenly called out resolutely, heading for the staircase leading to En's room.

Everyone sweatdropped, confused by the change in Jun's attitude.

"My sister... She's gone mad." choked out Ren, his eyes wide like saucers.

Meanwhile, Yoh collected Horohoro and slung his arm over his shoulder, supporting his weight, and Ryu woke up on his own.

"Their chances of winning have diminished dramatically, Mistress."

"I can see that." I bit back at my spirit, gathering myself from the ground. Damn it all. They are all so badly beaten up...