Chapter 7

Disclaimer : I Don't own Shaman King!

Italic stands for thought / dreams

'Italic with single quote stands telepathic voice'

[Stands for voice from the past]

-Stands for telephone-

Underline stands for letter

"Quote stands for dialogue"

Bold stands for emphasis

Bold italic stands for a dangerous tone

Soft Spot

Ren sighed softly as he looked at the stars, he just won his two out of three fight in the preliminaries round, most of everyone in the inn already won twice, that's mean the only one left is only Luna, who only need one winning to passed. That is what worrying him, Shouyo hasn't come back from wherever she was told to go by her family yet, they had heard a rumor that the first real Shaman Fight will be held in another place so they are worried if when Shouyo back they would be gone to wherever the next place is already.

It's kind of strange, maybe because they had used to the girl cheerfulness and easy-going personality, but when Shouyo gone, the inn feels so empty even though there are many people live there. Shouyo said she will finished her business as fast as she can, but it's already a month since she had gone, and worse, Anna's mood really bad because of it. Strange yet it happens, Anna and Shouyo are really close to each others, even with clashing personalities, Shouyo somehow managed to break through Anna's barrier and become her best friend.

Ren's thought cut off by the sound of his Oracle Bell beeping, he blinked and read the message he just received. He sighed, "Luna has her fight now, and that's mean the preliminaries round will be end after her fight." He mumbled, it's really strange that he is kind of anxious just because one person isn't around, or maybe not because everyone feels the same, all of them are anxious if something happens to the easy-going brunette.

Deciding he had stay in the place his second fight taken place for too long, Ren turned around and walking back to the inn. When he got to the inn though, the air felt really heavy, "I'm back." He said calmly even though he become nervous all the sudden, he had felt the air this kind of air before, it's when Anna was really mad because Mikihisa, Keiko-san's husband, came to the inn to forced Keiko back to the Asakura estate in Izumo.

True to his feeling, Anna's scowling face was the first thing that caught his attention when he entered the living room, "Welcome back . . . Ren." Horo Horo said in really low voice out of fear, it's understandable, not many people have the courage to face Anna's wrath, only Keiko-san, Luna, and Shouyo. Even Ren a bit scared of Anna's wrath, so he went off to his room right away. An hour after that, their Oracle Bells beeping, Ren sighed as he looked at his Oracle Bell and read the message.

For all participants of Shaman Fight,

For the next round, we want you to come to Yokocha American Air Base tomorrow at 11 A.M. to go to the Patch Village together.

Goldva

"Keiko." A man's voice rang when Anna, Ren, Horo Horo, Ryu, Luna and Keiko sat on a grassy field away from the other participants.

They turned and found Mikihisa walking to them, "What do you want?" Anna snarled immediately, angry that the man still dared to come even after Anna chased him off two weeks ago, and she even more angry since she is worried. Shouyo had beed gone for a month without a word, and she had promised to Anna that she will finished the problem as soon as she can too, so when there's no news from her, Anna get anxious.

What if something happened to her? What if she gone because she dislike Anna's attitude towards her? What if she forgets about Anna and the rest? Anna is well aware that she isn't act like her usual self but when the first real friend she ever has had gone and not contacting them, it can't be helped if she get anxious and worried.

"I come here to tell you, it's dangerous to participate, go back home, Keiko." The Shugenja said sternly.

"I won't." Keiko said calmly but firmly, "Yohmei killed Yoh, I don't want to meet him anytime soon, and I want to meet him, I want to at least try to change him".

Mikihisa want to answer but a voice make him stunned, "Well, well, isn't this interesting that my parents are here of all place?".

Anna and the rest looked at the figure that just talked to them, he has long brown hair that touched his waist, onyx eyes that looked at them sharply, in an instant, Anna recognize him as a male version of Shouyo. It's just, Shouyo's aura is more gentler and friendlier while the boy's aura feels so dangerous and intimidating, he smirked as he looked at Mikihisa and Keiko.

Keiko gasped, "Hao." She called softly, eyes filled with tears immediately.

Hao chuckled softly, "I already heard that you are in Tokyo, Keiko, but I never thought that I will ever see you here among the participants." He said calmly with a voice that sent chill to the spine, his eyes then narrowed at Mikihisa, "So, Yohmei sent you to Shaman Fight to kill me? It's unfortunate, but you won't stand a chance against me".

Mikihisa make his Shikigamis silently and send them to attack Hao, Hao chuckled darkly as all the sudden a big figure appeared behind him, lifting him from the ground and burned the Shikigamis easily. Hao moved his hand and the big firey figure knocked Mikihisa aside, sending him away from the others.

"Hao." Keiko said softly, "Why do you come here?" she looked at him with a pair of sad eyes.

Hao raised an eyebrow and hopped down, walking leisurely to Keiko with a smirked, "Well, I know you don't want to meet him, so I sent him away." He said calmly, "Aside from it, I just want to inform you something, because you are a mother, there's no way you don't love your son, that's why I will inform you this. You said before that Yohmei killed Yoh, it's not true, my twin is still alive, Keiko".

"Yoh is still alive?" Keiko asked in shock, "Is that true?" she looked straight to Hao's eyes to see if he is lying.

"Yes, but he is in the care of non Shaman family, I know so because I felt his extremely weak furyoku, but I don't know which family he is in." Hao answered calmly, "Just that, I don't know where he is." He then turned around and leave with his followers, I dislike to see her cry, he thought to himself.

"Yoh is still alive." Keiko whispered as her tears downed her cheek, but it's a relief and happy tears.

"Who is this Yoh, Keiko-sama?" Anna asked softly as she handed the woman who is already like her own mother a handkerchief, "And who is that boy just now?".

Keiko smiled at her, "It's a long story, but I will tell you everything." She said between sobs and began to tell them everything.

Shouyo growled at the mountain of paper in front of him, Rose and Roy, the siblings that chosen to accompanied him back off a few step from their previous position behind the Leader's seat. "Mai really taking advantage of me this time." He growled as he remembered what happened the day he wanted to leave the village to go back to Japan.

**Flashback**

"Wait, Young Leader." Rose called out just before Shouyo passed the gate, "There's a call from Leader".

Shouyo blinked, while wondering why Mai not call his phone and instead call Rose's, he accept the phone and placed it on his ears, "Yes, Mai?" he asked in confusion.

"Shou-chan, I'm sorry but can you handle the reports that I haven't done while you are there?" Mai asked to the point.

"Reports?" Shouyo blinked, "You mean reading them and decide what to do? But isn't that your duty as a Leader?" He frowned in confusion, he is not a Leader yet, he need to learn more before he can take this duty.

Mai chuckled, "Yeah, it's mine, but I'm needed here more than there, and isn't this a good opportunity for you to train your leadership?" she asked cheerfully, "I'm going to let you take care of the village sooner or later anyway, so I think that since you are over there, why not?" she chuckled again.

"But I promised my friends to get back to Japan as soon as possible." Shouyo protested weakly.

"Well, you can still keep it if you done the reports as fast as you can." Mai countered, "And I'm the Leader, I can order you to do it, but since you are my son, I will let you know that it's for your own good. You can learn, you can start to build your reputation, and I can test your leadership ability, it's good, right?".

Shouyo sighed, "I have no choice, right? Fine, I will do it." He said in defeat, "Just don't give me more".

"Okay, Good Luck my sweetie." Mai said melodically like singing a song, "I will wait for you to give me a report when you are done".

**End of Flashback**

Shouyo sighed, "Why is it that I'm so weak when it's involving Mai?" he shook his head and started working again, "Really, it's already a month, and the reports is still this many left." He groaned and started to work again.

"Well, at least the files already reduced twice of that amount." Roy said nervously, he didn't want the Young Leader to be angry, it's not suit him at all.

"That's right, Young Leader." Rose agreed, "If you work in the same pace, then you can finished in two weeks".

Shouyo can only sighed and nodded, he really has a soft spot for Mai, which always used without hesitation by his adopted mother.

To Be Continued . . .

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Next Chapter : "I got myself in trouble again."