Shaman King

Falter

Rated: K, K+, T, T+

Pairings: ChocoloveOC RyuJun YohAnnaOC HaoOC MantaOC RenPirika HoroHoroTamao LysergJeanne and others I cannot yet reveal : )

A/N: I'm on a shaman king fandom 'write different plotted stories that link to each other in a way' spree : ) Lucky readers -- But anyways, I'm seeing which plot is liked best and whatnot, so the site will probably be bombarded with even more fanfiction. I'll still update Bittersweet Idol and maybe Silver Lining; Once Upon A Time, though. Anyways, on with a random prologue X D And yes, be prepared to be confused : ) This is going to be the fluffiest story too : )

The first chapter sets the basis of the story.

Past

Present

Emphasis Emphasis

"Speech" "Speech"

'Thoughts' Present time (Thoughts) past time

Part I

Prologue

"Matamune you baka neko! What the hell possessed you to defy Koutsei-san's orders?"

A figure glanced up at the other, frowning somewhat.

He stood up abruptly, causing his comrade to back away a bit.

"I had to Naito! The core of this place is already messed up to the brink of collapse! I couldn't just stand by and let Outer Heaven swallow itself or collide with the parallel facing planet!"

"Matamune, I understand where you're comin' from, but you can't go against Koutsei-san."

"Well, I just did." The silver haired male huffed indignantly, folding his arms and giving his friend an exasperated look through half lidded eyes. Naito sighed with resignation, shaking his head vigorously, before his hand clamped down upon the wrist of his fellow Nature spirit.

"Look, if he finds out what you did, then there'll be hell to pay." Naito explained, concern flashing in his black orbs and betraying his gruff tone.

Matamune bit his lower lip, giving his friend a hard stare, before shrugging his hand off and walking ahead. Naito proceeded to roll his eyes and jogged to catch up with him.

"Naito," he murmured, pausing and clenching his hands. "What if the already unstable core breaks? What will happen…to us?"

Naito's eyes shifted to the ground, a thoughtful and solemn expression gracing his features, before his gaze flitted back up to the green eyed Nature spirit of light. He scratched his cheek, before his brows furrowed.

"Nothing…I mean, we won't be anything anymore."

Matamune brooded.

"Hao didn't create me to die so easily. Kakashi didn't create you to die so easily either. Baka inu, we can't go down like this. We have to fix the core-even if it means going against Koutsei-san's wishes."

Looking positively alarmed, Naito stepped forward, extending his arm, eyes wide.

"You're kidding! Matamune, he'll skin that little neko hide of yours and kami knows what will befall your human body!"

The boy shrugged as casually as he could, but the burdened air around him told another story as a swirl of dazzling white enveloped him, hastily subsiding to reveal an orangey brown furred neko silently taking its leave. Naito sighed in exasperation, much like Matamune's earlier actions, when a similar swirl of colour covered him, but this time it was jet black. It vanished just as quickly, leaving a black coated inu to scamper up to the neko, growling. "Stubborn as always; aren't you neko? Fine, looks like I'm gonna have to stand by you."

Matamune's head was facing away, but his lips curved up in a small, grateful smile.

PART I

"Typical. First thing in the morning and you're already squabbling. Over MILK." A weary blonde drawled, hand cupping her cheek as she observed the developing fight. The two males paused reluctantly to exchange glares, before looking over at Anna and chorusing angrily;

"HE STARTED IT!"

Anna rolled her eyes as Ren and HoroHoro resumed glaring at each other defiantly, grip around the carton of milk tightening. The blonde rubbed her temples to ease the forming stress, before shaking her head dismissively and walking briskly out, for the sake of her not snapping at them anymore. It seemed inevitable nowadays with those two taking residence up in the onsen that she would be woken up at ridiculously early hours and would be in a sour mood all day. She inwardly scoffed as their antics reached an all time loud, ending with them shouting at each other and storming to opposite ends of the building. By midday, HoroHoro would be back to pestering Ren in a hearty manner and then another fight would erupt…

It only took her a matter of moments to notice her fiancé return from his daily run, panting and leaning forward, planting his hands on his knees. As he regained his composure, he lifted his head to see Anna hovering over him, arms folded over her chest and brow arched. He stumbled back from the shock, but straightened himself, blinking and scratching the back of his head.

"Anna? What are you doing here?" he asked confusedly, all the while smiling.

"Baka," she berated him, rolling her eyes during the process. "You were taking too long, so I came to get you. Besides, it was better than listening to those friends of yours argue constantly."

His smile widened.

"You were worried about me?"

Anna blinked, confusion adorning her expression, before her brows burrowed and she walloped Yoh upside the head.

"Baka. Don't be getting any false ideas."

"Hai, hai Anna." He replied, but his grin was still ever present.

She scowled at him, before surveying him and noting his worn out body language.

"You're tired Yoh. And you smell too, to top it all off. Go take a bath, but don't be longer than an hour, 'cause you have to make dinner, ok?"

He nodded obediently, beaming at her as he bolted off into the onsen. She heard the thumping of someone rushing upstairs and when it ceased she frowned lightly, forehead creasing. Was it just her, or was Yoh acting differently?

"Baka." She mumbled under her breath, before turning and making her way back in. Thank god HoroHoro and Ren were silent for the time being. She didn't want to start hitting them at eleven in the morning, on a Saturday none the less.

PART I

"So, oni-chan, I was wondering…why do you always fight with Ren-kun?" Pirika inquired while rummaging through the contents of her day bag. HoroHoro snorted loudly, crossing his arms and leaning back against the wall, grasping the pillow tight t the extent he squeezed the fluff out of it.

"HE started it, honestly!" he exclaimed, smacking his hand to his forehead.

"Oni-chan…"

"Nani?" he groaned, scowling ahead of himself.

"That isn't the answer to my question. That's just your ramblings and grumbles because you're in a bad mood."

"Bad mood? BAD MOOD! I ain't in any bad mood, you're just a baka!"

"Fine. I'll see you later mister sunshine." She hissed back sarcastically, humphing and approaching the door with her day bag hoisted and slung over her shoulder. There was a swish of long blue hair and the slam of a door before she was gone. HoroHoro sighed audibly and changed position so he laid stomach first over his head wincing at it.

Maybe he was in a bad mood.

'Baka oni-chan,' Pirika thought to herself; face tinted red from anger, 'taking his anger out on his sister of all people! Kami, if I see him or Ren-kun today again I'm going to box both their ears in and-.'

Her train of thought was cut off abruptly when she bumped into someone. She glanced upwards, anger melted away by intense golden eyes which bored into her black ones, making her shudder. But wait, she kept to her oaths…

Ren immediately reeled back when two balled fists met both his ears and he clasped his hands over them, half cringing, half glowering at the ticked female Ainu currently right infront of him.

"What the hell was that for wench?" he shot at her, obviously enraged.

"You and oni-chan's arguing is driving everyone around the bend. I'm surprise Anna-sama hasn't done anything yet, but that means lucky you!" she retorted in response, eyes narrowing.

"You have no right to hit me!" he yelled.

"That's just the beginning of your punishment! I'll get oni-chan back later. But for now…"

Pirika grabbed his ear and yanked it, hauling a yelping, furious and protesting Ren away to god knows where…

PART I

"Manta-sama?"

"Eh? Hai Tamao-chan?" the boy replied, not lifting his gaze from the book he was enthralled in. Tamao fidgeted uneasily, before stooping down to his level, the look on her face capturing the small human's attention.

"I need…help, Manta-sama…" she explained, flushed.

He smiled kindly and placed his book down, sliding the bookmark into place and closing the cover down soundlessly.

"Ok, shoot."

Her blush intensified.

"IthinkIlikeHoroHoro-sama!"

Manta blinked sweatdropping.

"Pardon?"

Tamao inhaled deeply, before exhaling, determination flaring in her usually anxious black eyes, increasing both the width and length of his sweatdrop.

"I. Think. I. Like. HoroHoro. Sama." She repeated slowly, hoping Manta got every word. His eyes snapped open as the colours drained from his features.

"NANI? YOU LIKE HORO-!"

"Onegai Manta-sama!" the bubblegum haired girl pleaded, bowing her head and raising interlocked hands, "don't tell anyone!"

Manta blanched visibly, his outburst silence, before he leant closer, a serious expression plastered upon his face.

"You LIKE HoroHoro, of all people?" he questioned in a disbelieving tone, cocking a brow.

Now settled on her knees, Tamao bowed her head again to hide her blush, threaded hands resting in her lap.

Manta rubbed his forehead thoughtfully, sitting back.

"I need help to…tell him Manta-sama. I feel my heart about to burst when I look at him. I need to tell him soon, but I want him to be content and relaxed…"

"Where do I come in with this?" he questioned, not too sure he wanted to find out so much…

She raised her interlocked hands again, closing her eyes with a begging smile upon her face.

"Y-you have lots of money Manta-sama and I was…I was wondering if you would take all of us…on a trip…to a spa temple…"

Manta blanched visibly, apprehension weighing on his shoulders.

"Tamao…"

"Onegai Manta-sama!" she whimpered, making guilt course through his body.

He sighed in resignation, before giving her a small smile.

"Ok Tamao-chan. Just tell me where to go and we'll go, first class."

Tamao's eyes shot upon, her expression ecstatic as she garbled the short human into a bone crushing hug, which was unexpected given the gentle and timidness of the person.

"Oh arigatou Manta-sama!" she chirruped, oblivious to his muffled moans of;

"I can't breathe!"

PART I

Jeanne's fingers drummed impatiently upon the table as she eyed Lyserg warily out of the corner of her eye. She sighed loudly, but that didn't divert his attention from his studies. Having come to his house in England was meant to be a good, fun experience, but she had learnt things.

At first, it was just an amateurish assumption, but the fact became underlined when she visited his house. Yes, Lyserg was a very serious workaholic.

He'd only said a matter of five sentences to her all day, while she had been rambling on, eventually aware he was only nodding his head and not paying attention. He reminded her of a robot by the way his eyes would scan over the page and he would flip it over, repeating the process over and over and over AND

Over…

It had gotten old long ago.

Jeanne wasn't patient, but she wasn't impatient. She was that fine bit in-between where a lot of things were tolerated, but a lot also were not. And she had the strong urge to grab him by the head and force him to face her, but that was a no-no.

If she did that, he'd be rather frightened of her. She did have pretty, kind red eyes, but when they showed anger…

They really damn showed it.

She chewed her lower lip tentatively, observing the brooding boy quietly. He had appeared to have stumbled over a problem of some sort. Jeanne rolled her eyes playfully, before hopping to her feet and nearing him.

Lyserg jerked forward in surprise when someone tapped his shoulder and from behind him a familiar, melodious laughter sounded. He fought his blush down and looked over his shoulder, both brows raised in confusion. Jeanne smiled innocently at him, hands clasped behind her back, silver locks framing her face. He dismissed the fact she looked adorable at that moment and opted to scowl half heartedly at her, the response being a professional eyeroll.

"Jeanne, why did you interrupt me?" he tried to ask harshly, finding his resolve failing with every word as her lips twitched. He couldn't move his eyes. They looked so tender, so soft, so kissable…

Hold up Lyserg. Not going there now old chap.

"You haven't talked to me all day," she replied with a pout, eyebrows knitting together. "I was feeling lonely. Its kinda boring to stare at your brooding face all day Lyserg-kun."

The dowser blinked, heat flooding his cheeks.

"You were staring at me all day?" he inquired in a dubious tone, spirits lifted when a soft pink spread over her face.

Jeanne proceeded to give him a very feminine scowl-a very peeved one.

"Don't get ideas Lyserg." She admonished, placing her hands on his desk and giving him a hard stare. He rolled his eyes playfully at her tone, before he tapped the page of the book, frowning. Jeanne cocked a brow, snatching the book up despite his protests.

"How are you of all people brooding over a detective book?" she asked in puzzlement, flicking through the pages. "It isn't exactly dire to try and read."

He snatched the book back, half glaring, and half staring at her before setting it back down upon the table.

"Its just…the detective in this series of books-Detective Rowland is amazing. He puts things that make my mind ache into such an easy perspective! That makes me think of my skills and-."

He trailed off when he was greeted by a sharp prod on the shoulder, glancing up to meet somewhat amused and sorrowful eyes.

"Lyserg, Lyserg." She sighed, rolling her eyes in a fashion he had grown accustomed to over the years. "You think too much. He is a character of fiction. You are the real deal. Besides, I'm presuming he's a good forty years older than you."

The green eyed shaman smiled ruefully.

"Fifty actually."

"There you go. He has years and years under that magnifying glass of his. I'm saying you shouldn't worry and your detective skills are great for the sake of not blabbing a long and tiresome speech. Ok?"

His smile broadened.

"Gomen for ignoring you. I was just so into my-."

"Lyserg," she groaned, smacking her hand against her forehead. "You're fifteen hours too late!"

PART I

"Its still not much of a holiday with those two around." Anna grumbled, inclining her head towards Ren and HoroHoro. Tamao, a meek air about her gulped and gave Anna a pleading glance. Anna rolled her eyes.

"Onegai Anna-sama…"

"Geez, stop with the Onegais and formalities Tamao. You're doing my head in."

"G-gomen Anna-sama!"

Anna's left brow twitched.

"Alright, we can go to this spa temple thing, but you two!" she stated icily, glaring to and fro the male Ainu and Chinese Tao. "Any trouble and I will deal with it. PERSONALLY."

Against their will, both boys shuddered at the same time, inwardly, if not outwardly also flinching. Tamao's eyes watered as happiness adorned her features. She glanced quickly at HoroHoro, but snapped her head away, blushing furiously.

Anna, observant as always, stoically raised a brow, a humoured look glimmering in her eyes.

Tamao had gone from Yoh to HoroHoro?

That was good, but there was a different look in her eyes this time. Anna looked up at the ceiling, eye lids drooped.

There was a spark.

Tsuzuku!