Shiki looked at him." Haou is out back with Abby"

"What?!" Xing asked. His eyes narrowed when he saw that Shiki was right. "What's that bastard planning this time?"

Shiki sighed." probably trying to freak out Abby before the fight, I don't think he'd be stupid enough to do anything with us in here"

"I'm not sure," Xing replied. "I'm gonna risk going outside to see what that wacko's doing." With that he headed through the back door.

When he went outside Haou was walking around Abby as if her were a vulture.

Haou grinned." you know you have great power, and you can controll it ... vut that comes with a price doesn't it?,heh I cant wait till we fight, and i get to make you suffer,and be rid of the Asakura family once and for all"

Abby stood there unfazed, her eyes closed as she dockyard on staying calm.

"You do realize that her friends won't let you do that, right?" Xing asked Haou. "She isn't fighting alone." He pointed a thumb at himself. "I'm one of her friends, so you'll have to go through me too."

Abby and Haou both blinked and turned seeing Xing.

Haou looked at Xing and started laughing." oh, you think you can really take me ?", he asked

"Not alone," Xing said. "But I'm pretty damned sure that you'll be going up against me, Abby, Shiki, and Elliot at some point in the shaman fight."

Haou laughed." well have to see"

"We will." Xing replied. "And an Asakura will beat you now, just as Yoh beat you 500 years ago."

Haou laughed darkly." well see about that", he said an laughing he vanished.

Abby sighed." he earks me"

"I can see why. He gives me the heebie-geebies too." Xing replied. "You think he knows I'm a Tao?"

Abby looked to him."more then like;y"

"Greaaaat." Xing replied. "Just what I need; some nutjob who knows the one thing I wish he didn't."

Abby looked at him sadly and looked down."im sorry"

Xing shrugged and sighed. "Meh, I'll get over it...I guess." He replied. "You think we should be getting to your match's location?"

Abby smiledsome and nodded."right!",she said and headedbackfor the kitchen.

At the same time, Elliot knocked on the door. Xing answered it. "Sorry about the lateness," she said. "Alarm clock didn't go off."

"I tried waking her up, but it didn't go over well." Spire replied. "Especially since Elliot's dead to the world when she's asleep." Spire added. Elliot stuck her tongue out at him.

Shiki looked to her and grined."good morning! foods here and waiting"

Abby smiled."hey Eliot"

"Hey guys," Elliot said, picking up a piece of bacon and munching on it. "So, I presume your fight is today?"

Abby nodded."that it is!"

"Mine isn't until the day after tomorrow. And against another American, no less!" Elliot replied. "A guy by the name of Travis Renner."

Shiki looked to her."well be there!"

Elliot nodded. "Good to hear," she replied. "I felt a mean spirit pressure here right before I knocked. Any clue who it was?"

Shiki sighed."Haou...he wastrying to freak out Abby"

Abby grinned."tried and failed"