Admidamaru nodded. "good",he then looked to Bason. "so what have you been up tomy old friend....."

"I am well, Amidamaru." Bason said, reverting to full ghost form from spirit flame mode. "As you can see, I have remained with the Tao family, and Xing is my shaman master." He sighed. "However, I'm afraid that they've gone back to their old ways of bloodshed and violence. I am amazed Master Xing has retained his kind heart....."

Admidamru sighed and looked at Xing."I comend youon that Xing ..."

Xing nodded a reply. "I'm just wondering when they'll find me....."

Admidamaru gavea smallsmile."if they do .... youll have your friendswith you,just as your ansitor did"

Xing's mouth twitched in a small smile. "I know," he said quietly.

Admidamaru smiled some then looked at the groupsighing some."its really hard to belive that its already been 500 years since the last shaman fight......"

"Well, it has." Elliot sighed. "I guess time must pass differently in the spirit world."

Admidamaru sighed."it feels like it ...."

"I know what you mean," Spire said. "It seems like only yesterday that Elliot was a kid who could barely tell one end of a horse from the other, let alone get on one."

"Shut up, smartass." Elliot said, sticking her tongue out at Spire.

Admidamaru laughed a little.

Kimiko looked at them."I better go cheack on Yukina,and let her know that your awake Xing,it make herhappy to know that"

Xing nodded. "And tell her that I really think she's being emo, 'kay?" He said with a cockeyed grin.

Kimiko smiledsoftly."will do" she said and headed out.

Admidamaru sighed."i cant blame her in way,but she shouldstill know the friends sh has would be there for her no mader what"

"I get the feeling that'll be easier said than done." Xing replied. He looked to Shiki. "Hey, Shiki? You all right man?"

Shiki blinked."hm?oh yes just thinking",he said laughing.

"Just making sure you're still alive in there." Xing said.

Shiki laughed a little."yeah im alive ..... "

Xing gave a cockeyed grin. "Good. You were spacing out there dude." he replied. "What's up with you?"

Shiki shook his head."nothing,just thinking ....."

"You do that a lot," Xing said. He then saw how his new friend glanced at Elliot and supressed a snicker.

It looks like Shiki's got the hots for someone.... He thought.

Shiki laughed."yeah i do"

Elliot pulled up a chair and sat on it backwards, resting her chin on her arms. "So, how long do you think Abby's going to be in this funk?" She asked.

Shiki sighed."no idea ... shesnever acted like this before"

Elliot sighed, not in exasperation, but something else that she couldn't put her finger on. "That complicates matters," she said thoughtfully. "Is she normally this stubborn or is that something new too?"

Shiki looked to her."shes been stubirn,but never this stuburn ....."