Shaman King Fan Fiction ❯ Rules Of Shamanism ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 4 )

 

 

 

 

 

Ambassador Sakuya had finally returned to his home. Actually, it was a safe house in an abandoned suburb of Tokyo, only a few miles northwest of Funbari. It used to be a thriving place until about nine years ago. People had gotten the idea that evil spirits were entering the town. The townspeople just deserted the town and never came back. Everyone in Funbari knew that suburb was haunted, and no one dared go there.

 

Now Sakuya could finally return to his normal persona as “Kyoukan”. After he had gotten far enough away from the village, he paid his assistants and dismissed them. He had hired some lackeys that lived in his real hometown. They knew what Kyoukan did for a living, and often provided him with supplies and services. Kyoukan's request for them was unusual, but they did it without asking questions. Kyoukan paid them a lot of money for this. They all went their separate ways, happy with their money. Kyoukan and Jamanen agreed to meet at the safe house later in the day. Jamanen was supposed to leave the village an hour after Kyoukan did. Jamanen should arrive any second.

 

Kyoukan sat down in a chair behind his desk. This building was very different than his actual home. The safe house used to be a bounty hunter or executioner's shop. It was one of the only buildings that wasn't completely dilapidated. There was an old furnace in one end of the shop that Kyoukan used as a fireplace. This place was sparsely furnished, a few chairs, a table, and a bed. Various tools and other devices were strewn around the room. He poured himself a glass of brandy and waited for Jamanen.

 

After a few seconds, Kyoukan heard a trotting horse approach his building. The horse stopped and Jamanen entered a moment later. “I have to admit, you're a good actor,” said Jamanen as she sat in the chair in front of Kyoukan.

 

“It's one of my many talents,” Kyoukan replied.

 

“Well, I trust you're ready to do the job tonight. Have you planned everything?”

 

“Yes, I have,” replied Kyoukan. After he had seen the village, he came up with a quick idea of what he was going to do. He didn't have any special equipment, just his usual tools. All Kyoukan had to do was fine-tune his plan. “The security at the village seems to be fairly incompetent, so breaking into the mansion shouldn't be difficult. Just in case, I have some chloroform and a cloth. If I see any security that might get in the way, I'll put them out. Then I'll simply kidnap the girl and bring her back here. As for killing her, is there any specific method you had in mind?”

 

“I really don't care,” Jamanen replied. “I just want her dead, and I don't want there to be a body. I don't care what you do to her, as long as it has the same result.” Kyoukan smiled sadistically. One of his pleasures was torturing people. He would enjoy seeing this girl in agony. Kyoukan could hone his torturing skills. He enjoyed his line of work. He could do what he loved and get paid for it.

 

“One more thing,” Kyoukan said. “Tamao and Horo Horo were by your door earlier. What if they heard out conversation? I don't want this plan to be botched. If you wait I can postpone this a while.”

 

“No, I want this done tonight. Just forget about what happened. I'm sure they didn't hear anything. Besides, no one would believe those children if they knew what our plan was. But just in case, I'll take care of Horo Horo. I'll kidnap him an hour before your arrival and you just take care of the other shaman. The boy won't get in your way; I'll kill him myself.”

 

 

 

By the end of the day Horo Horo and Tamao had mostly forgotten the look Kyoukan had given Tamao earlier in the day. They spend most of their time sitting in the market and talking. Now it was starting to get dark, and they were watching the sunset together. “Horo Horo, what are you thinking?” Tamao asked. She gazed into Horo Horo's eyes. She knew that it bugged him when she asked that question.

 

“Huh? Nothing,” Horo Horo replied. Then he turned to her with a quizzical expression. “Why do girls always ask that question? Pirika always asks me that and when I say `nothing' she gets mad. What do you want from us?” Horo Horo could never understand why girls acted the way they did. Being close to Pirika and Tamao gave Horo Horo a special insight on the female mind, but there were still things about them that he couldn't begin to comprehend.

 

“I just want to know what goes on inside your head,” said Tamao, tapping Horo Horo's head with her index finger. “Don't you wanna know what I'm thinking?”

 

“Um… not really.” Horo Horo didn't care what Tamao was thinking; he didn't know why girls had such an obsession with that kind of thing. There were some things Horo Horo didn't want to know. The female mind was a scary place, and Horo Horo didn't want to know what went on in there. It was something that males weren't meant to understand. “I just don't like it when people interrogate me. Especially when girls ask a question with no right answer.”

 

“Oh, so it annoys you when girls ask you questions like that?” Tamao said tauntingly. She stood up with her back to him and waved her hips. “Does this make my butt look big?” she teased. Horo Horo tried not to blush. “Oh, how `bout this: which dress do you like better, the purple one or orange one? Do I look fat in this?” Horo Horo was clearly flustered. She loved annoying Horo Horo just to get a rise out of him. She sat back down and smiled at him. She didn't want to make him mad.

 

“That's what I'm talking about,” Horo Horo said.

 

“Oh well, I'll try not to ask you any more questions. Isn't that a pretty sunset?” she smiled. Horo Horo playfully pushed her and she wrapped her arm around him. It was a beautiful sight. Now only the twilight and the full moon illuminated the sky.

 

“Isn't it about time for dinner?” Horo Horo asked.

 

“There you go with your stomach again,” said Tamao, rolling her eyes. “But you're right, it is time for dinner. And I'm hungry. I bet I can beat you there.” Horo Horo stood up and prepared to run.

 

“Okay, on the count of three,” Horo Horo said. “Ichi, nii…” Tamao bolted for the entrance. Horo Horo saw her run and chased after her. “Hey, that's not fair!” he yelled. “You got a head start!”

 

“You snooze, you lose,” she yelled back at him. Horo Horo chased Tamao across the yerd and into the mansion. Some of the security tried to tell them to stop running, but to no avail. As they approached the dining room, Horo Horo caught up with Tamao. With a burst of speed he passed her and stopped at the doorway to the dining room.

 

“Hah-hah, I beat you!” he teased. “Cheater.” Tamao sat down in a chair and tried to catch her breath.

 

“I could've beaten you if I wanted to,” she said. “I let you win,” she insisted.

 

“Yeah, sure,” said Horo Horo sarcastically. “So, what's for dinner?” he asked, grabbing his fork expectantly.

 

“I think they're making roast duck today,” replied Tamao. Horo Horo's eyes opened wide.

 

“Duck? As in `quack-quack' duck?” Tamao nodded. Horo Horo had never eaten a duck before. What if it tasted strange? The Tamamura family sure ate a lot of weird things.

 

“Oh don't give me that look,” said Tamao. “You'll like it. Besides, what do you care? You'll eat anything.” She was right; Horo Horo was willing to try anything once. “Oh, here comes the food now,” she said as the spirits entered with their meals. Horo Horo looked at the plate that was placed in front of him. On the plate were mashed potatoes, the roasted duck, and some pretty-looking garnish and decorative things. The duck looked just like a roasted chicken. Tamao started eating her food while Horo Horo just stared at it.

 

“Go on, eat it,” she urged. Horo Horo carefully cut some of the breast meat and ate a piece. It tasted really good. It wasn't as bad as he thought. He really loved whatever spices the cook put on it.

 

“It tastes like chicken,” Horo Horo said, happily devouring his food.

 

“You think everything tastes like chicken,” Tamao commented.

 

“Everything does.” Tamao rolled her eyes. “You know, worms taste like chicken, too,” said Horo Horo, trying to gross out Tamao while she was eating. Tamao just brushed off the comment. “If I had told Pirika that, she would've gotten sick.”

 

Tamao shrugged her shoulders. “Oh well, that doesn't bother me,” Tamao said. “Besides, I've eaten worms before. And they do taste like chicken.” Horo Horo didn't bother trying to gross out Tamao again; that kind of thing just didn't bother her. He decided to concentrate on the food. Horo Horo systematically ate the roasted duck, piece by piece. After a few seconds he completely stripped the bones. He looked over at Tamao who was finished, but some meat still remained on the duck. He smiled at her. “Go ahead,” said Tamao, handing the plate to Horo Horo. He quickly at Tamao's leftovers and finished his potatoes.

 

“Happy now?” Tamao asked. Horo Horo nodded. “Chishioko was right when she said that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.”

 

“What's that supposed to mean?” Horo Horo asked defensively.

 

“Nothing,” Tamao replied innocently. “All I have to do is give you food and you're happy.” Now Horo Horo rolled his eyes. He knew Tamao was right.

 

“It's true, but you shouldn't take advantage of it,” Horo Horo said. “You know I like you because of who you are, not because of the things you give me.”

 

“ I know. I just like to make you happy,” said Tamao. She knew that Horo Horo would like her no matter what. Tamao liked giving him things because it pleased her to see Horo Horo happy.

 

“I'm kind of tired now,” said Horo Horo, yawning.

 

“I am too,” Tamao said.

 

“You're right; it's bedtime,” said Chishioko, standing in the doorway. When did she get there? Chishioko seemed to appear at the most unusual moments. Horo Horo mused that it must be a shamanic power she possessed. Horo Horo and Tamao both left the table and prepared to go to bed. Tamao kissed Horo Horo on the cheek before she closed the door to her bedroom. Horo Horo smiled to himself and went to his room.

 

 

 

Jamanen looked at the clock on her wall. It was midnight. Kyoukan would be here in an hour. Jamanen needed to take care of Horo Horo now. She quietly walked through the dark mansion. It wasn't abnormal for her to be up at this hour, so her presence wouldn't arouse suspicion. Everyone else was asleep; it was the perfect time for her to do her job. She walked to the other side of the mansion and to the third floor. She was in the hallway with Horo Horo and Tamao's bedrooms. Horo Horo's room was just a couple rooms down. Jamanen walked to the door and stopped. She heard a noise coming from the other side of the room. Jamanen ducked behind a corner just as Horo Horo opened his door.

 

Horo Horo slowly walked into the hallway. He was tired but he managed to get out of bed; he had to pee really badly. Horo Horo slowly walked down the hallway and to the bathroom. Horo Horo closed the door and went about his business. Jamanen crept to the bathroom door and hid in the shadows, waiting for Horo Horo. Jamanen removed a handkerchief and a small vial from her pocket. He opened the vial and poured some chemical onto the handkerchief.

 

Horo Horo opened the bathroom door and continued back to his room. He felt much better now. Horo Horo thought he heard footsteps behind him, but before he could turn around, someone grabbed him. Horo Horo felt somebody put a cloth on her face. For a few futile moments, Horo Horo tried to struggle. Then he felt his limbs become heavy and everything went brown as he fell unconscious. Jamanen picked up Horo Horo and carried him away.

 

 

 

Horo Horo woke up in a bright room. His head hurt and his vision was blurred. He tried to get up, but he couldn't move. Horo Horo realized that he was tied up. His legs were tied together and his arms were tied behind his back. To top it off, his whole body was wrapped in a rope like a mummy. He looked around and tried to figure out where he was. The room he was in was very brightly lit by the full moon. He looked up and saw the moon shining through the window bars near the ceiling. He was in the abandoned dungeon. The same one that he and Tamao had explored earlier. Why was he in here?

 

Horo Horo saw a flickering yellow light through the cell bars in the hallway. He hears footsteps approaching. Maybe this person was responsible. The woman stared at Horo Horo and opened the rusted cell door. She hung the lantern on the wall and stood in the corner. Horo Horo saw that it was the woman he'd seen earlier. What did Tamao say her name was? Jamanen?

 

“I would've left you alone, but I feared you would get in the way,” Jamanen said.

 

“What do you want? Why did you tie me up?” Horo Horo asked. He thought of screaming for help, but he didn't. The look on the woman's face told him that if he did, he would be dead. Jamanen's expression reminded Horo Horo of an evil spirit, so dangerous and wicked.

 

“Don't bother yelling for help, no one can hear you,” Jamanen said. “This dungeon has been abandoned for years, and a lot of people don't even know it's here. To answer your question: I took you here because you're a hindrance to my plan.”

 

“What plan?” Horo Horo asked. There was something ominous about the way Jamanen had said that.

 

“Trying to get the bad person to reveal her plan, huh?” Jamanen gave a sinister chuckle. “It doesn't matter if you know, you'll never be able to get help. I guess I should tell you. You might want to know why I did this before I kill you. I couldn't let you die without knowing what the reason was. It's simple, really. I need to get rid of a member of the Tamamura family, who stands in the way of my plans. This person should be taken away any second now.”

 

“Who? Who's being taken away? Tamamura-san? Are you kidnapping Tamamura-san? There's no point in doing that.”

 

“No, I'm not kidnapping Tamamura-san. It's his daughter, Tamao. And I hired someone to do it; I can't be the one to do it myself; that would be too suspicious.”

 

“You're having Tamao kidnapped? Why? You want money, don't you? You're gonna try to get a ransom.”

 

Jamanen chuckled. “You are a naïve little boy aren't you?” Horo Horo looked confused. “I've got more money than I'll ever need. And I'm not having Tamao kidnapped… I'm having her killed.” Infuriated, Horo Horo struggled to get loose, but he only fell onto his side.

 

“How dare you!” Horo Horo yelled. “If she gets a scratch on her I'll kill you!”

 

“It's too late; she's already gone.”

 

Horo Horo had to think rationally. He couldn't let his anger blind him. Tamao wasn't dead now; he could feel it. He had to try and see if he could get more information, and possibly escape. He had to be calm. “Why are you doing this?” Horo Horo asked, his fury showing on his face.

 

“Because. That stupid girl is the only one in my way to my rise of power. If she's dead, I'll become Shaman Queen.”

 

“What? But the shaman officiates won't allow that! You won't become Shaman Queen that way! Are you going to kill the officiates too?”

 

“No I'm not going to kill the officiates,” replied Jamanen with a cackle. “Since you're too dumb to understand, I'll explain it to you. When the participating shamans die or abdicate, the officiates make a special announcement to all existing shamanic families. But, if they are dead, then there will be no Shaman King. That's when I become Queen.”

 

“What do you mean? The officiates can make anyone they want Shaman King. Why would they name you?”

 

 

“You have no idea how this world works. The officiates don't just decide; they have to follow certain laws. My future as Shaman Queen is secured by the Rules of Shamanism. In an event of a mass murder or abdication of the shaman contestants, the last male will ascend to the throne. If there are no men, then the last woman will become shaman queen. But, if no contestants are able to, an officiate takes the throne. That's the good part: no officiates are able to. There are special rules for this. If there are no officiates to claim the crown, a shaman who didn't take place in the tournament will. That's me.”

 

“That's the stupidest idea I've ever heard,” Horo Horo said. “The officiates could just postpone it until the next 300 years.”

 

Jamanen cackled again. This boy had no grasp on reality. “You obviously don't know the officiates. It's impossible for them to postpone a tournament; mainly because of the comet Rahu is the sign of the shaman tournament. They cannot postpone it even if they wanted to. The only thing they can do is making someone Shaman King or Queen, which is I. If I were the only shaman left, they would have no choice but to make me Shaman Queen. I wouldn't kill them. I'll owe them too much. They are the ones who will give me the throne when I rid of every last shaman family in existence. Not counting the officiates of course.

 

“And you. I have plans for you. I can tell that you love Tamao a lot. In fact, you love Tamao so much, that when you find out she's dead, you can't go on living. Out of grief, you commit suicide. Now do you understand?”

 

Horo Horo glared at Jamanen. He wouldn't let this woman hurt Tamao. Horo Horo would do anything to save Tamao; he would die for her. “You're not getting away with this!” Horo Horo yelled, squirming again. Jamanen rolled her eyes and took a large piece of cloth from her pocket.

 

“I'm sick of hearing your voice,” Jamanen said. She rolled up the cloth and stuffed some of it in Horo Horo's mouth. Horo Horo could do nothing to resist; he could barely move his head. Jamanen stuffed the gag into Horo Horo's mouth and tied it tightly around Horo Horo's head. Horo Horo winced as Jamanen tightened it. It really hurt. Horo Horo fidgeted and mumbled through the gag. “That's better. Unfortunately, you're going to be staying here for a while. I have some work to do right now. Mainly, making your suicide note, stuff like that. Don't worry, no one will find you here. I'll be back in a few minutes so you can… commit suicide.” Jamanen gave a sinister smile and walked out of the cell. Horo Horo gave a muffled scream. Jamanen took the lamp and locked the cell door. The lock was rusted and weak, but she didn't worry. Horo Horo would never be able to get out of the ropes.

 

 

 

Kyoukan, dressed completely in brown, sat on his horse and gazed at the exterior of the village walls. The gates were open, but that would cause no problems. He steered his horse to a tree and dismounted. He then tied his horse to a tree, which wasn't unusual. People did it all the time, sometimes leaving their horses out overnight. Kyoukan approached the wall and tried to gouge the appropriate distance. He removed a long rope and grappling hook from his backpack and tossed it in the air. The hook flew over the wall and landed with a clang. He tugged at it to make sure it was secure. When he was satisfied, Kyoukan climbed up and over the roof of a building. This particular building housed the gates' automatic mechanism, and also acted as a kind of look out tower. Stairs were conveniently carved into a side of the stone building. He descended the stairs and quickly made his way to the village mansion.

 

Kyoukan was finally at the mansion. Getting past the ghosts by the gate outside was a cinch; a child could break into the mansion. He was in now. Kyoukan knew exactly where Tamao's bedroom was. He had gone over the plan in his head a hundred times; he knew exactly what to do. Kyoukan entered the mansion's foyer. The lack of internal security made Kyoukan's job a lot easier. He almost pitied the overconfidence of the people here. They apparently never thought that anyone could actually break into the mansion. He crept silently into the foyer and took a left at a stairwell. Kyoukan climbed the stairs and peeked into the hallway; no one was here. Tamao's room was just down the hallway and there wasn't even a ghost in front of it, such idiots. He wouldn't have to worry about Horo Horo; Jamanen should've taken care of him by now. He walked up to the second door and puts his ear against it; he heard nothing. He removed a small mirror attached to a thin rod and slid it under the door. He scanned the room with the tiny mirror and saw no one there. Good, he had to make sure no one would catch him. He repeated the process with each door, finding only a sleeping Chishioko. Excellent, he thought.

 

Kyoukan walked to Tamao's door and slowly opened it. She was in her bed, sleeping peacefully. Kyoukan walked up to her and looked at her. This was the target. This was the girl he was being paid one million yen to assassinate. He would also be able to torture her to death. He could definitely practice some new methods on her. Kyoukan pulled a cloth and a bottle out of his pocket. He poured the chloroform onto the cloth and covered Tamao's nose and mouth. She opened her eyes and tried to scream. She struggled and fidgeted, but to no avail. She passed out within milliseconds. Kyoukan picked up Tamao's unconscious body and hefted it over his shoulders. He silently exited her room and closed the door. With cat-like stealth, he walked down the stairs, through the foyer, and out of the mansion.

 

The single sentry at the front gate was sound asleep. Kyoukan smiled; this was too easy. He made sure that no one had seen or heard him. He quietly evaded the ghosts and walked to the mansion's gate. He wouldn't be able to climb that hill and get out, not while carrying Tamao. He placed Tamao on the ground and approached the unsuspecting ghost. Kyoukan placed some spell on onto his rag and tiptoed towards the ghost, whose back was facing Kyoukan. With one fluid motion, Kyoukan threw the rag at the ghost. The ghost crossed over without making a sound.

 

Kyoukan opened the gate, picked up Tamao, and carried her though the sleeping Funbari population. He climbed up the building he'd originally entered and looked over the wall. His horse was standing right where he left it. Kyoukan clipped a metal ring attached to his belt onto the rope. Holding Tamao over his shoulder and holding the rope with his other hand, he swiftly rappelled down the wall. Now he had to ride his horse back to Tokyo. Carrying Tamao's limp, unconscious body was going to make riding difficult. He mounted his horse and placed Tamao in front of him on the saddle as if she were riding. He wrapped one arm around Tamao's body to hold her still, and used the other hand to control the horse's reigns. Kyoukan held onto Tamao tightly as the horse galloped towards his safe house in Tokyo.

 

When Tamao woke up, she was groggy. She felt someone's arms wrapped around her. She opened her eyes and realized someone was carrying her. Kyoukan was carrying her off a horse and into some building. Tamao began to squirm around wildly, trying to get out of the man's grip. “Let go of me!” she screamed. She kicked and wriggled.

 

“You are a feisty one,” said Kyoukan. They were in the safe house, and he was holding her tight. Tamao started to scream at the top of her lungs. “Shut up!” screamed Kyoukan, as he placed his hand over her mouth. Tamao stopped screaming and bit down as hard as she could. Her teeth sunk into Kyoukan's hand until she could feel the blood. Kyoukan yelled and instinctively let go of Tamao to examine his hand. When he let go, Tamao bolted for the door so she could escape. As she fidgeted with the locks, Kyoukan ran over and grabbed the back of her nightgown. Tamao was caught again. Kyoukan spun her around.

 

“You insolent bitch!” he yelled, striking her with his fist across right cheek as hard as he could. The impact knocked Tamao onto the ground. The pain in her jaw was enormous. She tasted blood in her mouth; this time it was her own blood. She spit a mouthful of blood onto the floor. It hurt so much. She saw Kyoukan looming over her; there was nothing she could do. Kyoukan lifted his hand and chopped her on the back of her neck with the blade of his palm. She was unconscious immediately.