Title: Crossed Paths
Author: Kitsune Asakura
Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King as we shall all know by now. Don't own songs by Evanescence either.
Thanx: The people who reviewed for the epilogue thingy. Thanks everyone!
Contact: Either neomail me at kitsune_asakura, or tag me at .com

Chapter 1 ~Unhappy Comrades
(Kitsune: Nyaha! Here is Marion Phauna X Nichrome from the Patch!)
(Nami: What's wrong with the title? Boring!)
(Tyger: Well, I guess it would have been better if Kitsune was thinking.)
(Kitsune: Does that mean I'm not thinking?)
(Zeyuna: It seems so doesn't it?)
(Tanuki: *surpresses giggles*)
(Kitsune: Argh! I give up! On with the fic!)

Hold strong to kill a pain
But only brought more
I lay dying and I'm pouring crimson regret and betrayal
I'm dying praying bleeding and screaming
Am I too lost to be saved? Am I too lost?
~Tourniquet by Evanescence

Mari's bored now.

What's the matter Mari-chan?

Mathilda Mattisse, also known as Machi, turns around to face her friend Marion Phauna.

Why did we have to turn back from the fight? Mari wanted to kill them...

Not that again Mari. Why are you so presistant about those two brats?

Kanna Bismalk, aka Kana, sighs and stares at Mari who has stopped dead in her tracks. The three of them, the Hanga-Gumi, have been sent out to kill two children by the names of Seyram and Redseb. However, two girls called Jun Tao and Tamao Tamamura had gotten in their way and the two brats had gotten away. Marion had decided that she wanted to kill the two girls, but Mikihisa then got in their way, followed by the Patch called Magna.

Mari doesn't like walking in the first place...

Oh stop whining! Do you want to go hunt for souls again?

...

It's no use talking to her now Machi.

Kana turns to walk away and Machi follows her. Slowly, Marion follows them back to Hao's lair as well.

But why was it Magna that came to stop us?

Mari, Nichrome was busy with Ren Tao.

...

Mari-chan... Are you saying that you wanted Nichrome to stop us specifically...?

Mari suddenly blushes and looks away, hugging Chuck closer to herself.

Kana and Machi suddenly start to laugh, causing Mari to look up furiously, pointing Chuck at that.

What's so funny? Why are you laughing at Mari?

Kana wipes the tears out of her eyes which have resulted from her laughing.

Mari... Can't you even recognize your own emotions?

What do you mean...?

Mari-chan! I think you're in love with Nichrome!

Machi howls with laughter and she falls backwards, only to shut up as a gun shot buries itself into the wall next to her head.

... Don't tell Mari who she's in love with... Mari will never love anyone! They all treat Mari badly! Mari won't forgive people!

But Mari... Calm down. Nichrome is a shaman and he is one of Hao-sama's followers. Don't you remember that?

Of course Mari knows! Otherwise Mari wouldn't have asked why he didn't come to stop us! Just shut up!

Mari grabs Chuck and runs out of the lair and into the nearby woods. Machi runs after her friend, but Kana stops her.

She needs time to think. Hey, you know her the best. What happened to her in her past?

Beats me Kana-chan. I don't think even Mari-chan knows what happened to herself to make her that way. Hey, I can't blame her though. They treated me like a witch as well.

So has I. All we can do now is wait for Mari to calm down. This isn't the first time she's run out on us.

... Yeah. But something seems different about Mari-chan this time. I mean... I think something bad is going to happen... Something different...

Kana coughs and surpresses laughter.

Bad? Different? What isn't bad and different in the world we're in right now? She just needs time Machi. She'll come back when she's bored.

... I hope you're right...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hao-sama.

Yes Nichrome?

Hao turns around to face the loyal Patch member.

We would have succeeded in eliminating Yoh-sama's companions but Yoh-sama got in the way and...

I know.

Opacho knows too.

Nichrome stares at Hao as he just smiles at him. He finally clenches his fists and decides to ask Hao a question that has been bothering him. He opens his mouth, hoping that he will still be alive after asking the question.

... Why did you send Magna to stop the Hana-Gumi?

Why ask that? How did you know that I sent Magna to stop them anyway?

Mathilda Mattisse told me. I could have gone and stopped them.

When you were busy killing off Ren Tao? I don't think so Nichrome.

I still could have...

Opacho thinks Hao-sama is right.

Nichrome bites down on his lip hard to stop himself from yelling at the five year old Opacho.

Nichrome, why are you so presistant about stopping the Hana-Gummi? From getting hurt?

I... I do not know...

Suddenly, Hao's smile widens and his eyes widen slightly as well as some of Nichrome's emotions wash through him like a wave.

Ah. You might not know Nichrome, but I think I know why.

Nichrome looks up curiously at Hao, wondering how Hao could possibly know what lies within his heart.

(Nami: *glares at Nichrome and extends claws* Hate that jyusaishi... Anywho.... HE has REISHI! Isn't it obvious?!)
(Tanuki: Calm down! Only like... Yoh, Anna, Lyserg, Mikihisa, Opacho, Lachist... Like six others know about this power!)

... Is it the Hana-Gumi altogether that you want to stop from getting hurt? Or is it... Just one specific member? Oh like perhaps... Marion Phauna?

Nichrome's heart skips a beat when he hears her name be said. But... How can Hao know what makes him feel so... So strange?

... Hao-sama...

Hao-sama! Mari just ran out from where Hana-Gumi is. She's in the woods now. Oopacho can feel her Furyoku from there!

Before Hao can say anything, Nichrome has already disappeared into the forest. Hao sighs.

Love towards other beings... Are Marion and Nichrome as feeble as to learn how to love as well?

Opacho shrugs and replies,

It seems so Hao-sama.

This is the start of the end. The end of the lonliness of two souls. The start of the end for two lives as well... Unless all can go well...

(Kitsune: End the first chapter prologue thingy.)
(Nami: *sighs* Uh-huh...)
(Tyger: So... How are we all these days?)
(Zeyuna: *falls over* What's that got to do with anything?)
(Tanuki: Please review? *cocks head to the side*)