Author's Note: I've been waiting so long to finally put this fic up! I'm so happy :)
Well, welcome to my newest RenxHoro fic! It's my favourite one so far, so I'm hoping you'll all enjoy it too. It's a world away from the things I usually write, so this is new grounds for me! During the course of the story, I have alot of people to thank for different things, so look out for those in my (usually over-sized) author's notes at the start of my chapters. It was only thanks to the help of these people that this fic is what it is! This fic is nearly finished is about three quarters finished in its draft form, but I'm still open to suggestions and changes should you be kind enough to submit them to me.

Dedication: This one goes out to Day-DrEaMiNg-child and MeeLee for helping me and supporting me for quite a while now. Thank you so much you guys - you're both incredible.

IMPORTANT: I decided I should warn everyone right from the start that this fic will get pretty dark from time to time... character death, some language, attempted suicide, and a little yaoi (very light, but there, none the less). So, if you don't like that kinda stuff, don't say I didn't warn you...

SHATTERED
Chapter 1 - Blood in My Hands

It was a late summer night, and school had not long ago ended.

Usui Horokeu and Tao Ren were headed home to Funbari Onsen, walking hand-in-hand. But Horohoro felt far from relaxed – ever since leaving the school building, he had had an odd feeling, like one of being watched. He tried to dismiss it as just his imagination, but the events of what had happened earlier somehow told him differently.

-Flashback –
They had come out of the main doors of their school a little later than most, having being held back by it being their turn on the cleaning rota.

"Man, I hate cleaning up after everyone…" Horo complained, stretching as they stepped out into the golden glow of the late summer sun. "Cleaning rotas totally bite!"

"If you didn't complain so much and just got on with it, it wouldn't take us half as long," Ren said, shooting him a sideward glance.

Horo gave a slight laugh, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment.

"There you are. I've been looking for you."

The pair had just passed the main gates, and had stepped out on to the sidewalk when they heard the voice address them.

Ren, having always had the quicker reflexes, turned first. And so, was the first of the two of them to see who it was that had spoken.

Horo followed Ren's lead, catching sight of long brown hair, chestnut eyes and a soft-looking smile that somehow had a more sinister purpose.

"Hao…" Ren seethed, golden eyes narrowing.

Horo wasn't exactly pleased to see him either. This somewhat dysfunctional Shaman had been following Ren around for months, trying to get the Chinese to agree to his insane propositions. It seemed Hao had harboured feelings for Ren for quite a while, and – obviously unaware of the relationship between Ren and Horo – had been trying to win his heart, a fruitless game that Ren was getting tired of.

"And you won't even say hello to me?" Hao said, mockingly taking an insult.

"You know I have nothing to say to you," Ren said, anger in his words. "So whatever it is you are here for, get it done, and get out of here."

"Now, now, Ren," Hao took a step forward, smiling still. "Let's not get hasty. I'm here to ask you something; I'm sure you know what it is."

Horo gave Hao a dark stare. He knew Ren wouldn't sink as low as to agree to whatever insane ideas Hao suggested but it didn't stop him hating Hao for trying to take Ren from him.

"Yes, and I think you are quite aware of my response," the Chinese retaliated, stiffening as Hao came nearer. "And that would be, go to hell. No matter what twisted ideas you have in that delusional head of yours, realise that I will never be a part of them!"

"Oh, you'd be surprised…" Hao smirked, his face close to Ren's, a determined stare in his eyes. "Make no mistake, Ren. You will be mine. You can only refuse me for so long."

Hao reached out a hand, as if to hold Ren's, only to have it knocked away harshly by the Chinese. "I can refuse you forever, Hao," Ren said, darkly. With not another word, Ren turned and walked away from Hao. "Just get out of my life, and keep it that way."

Before following Ren, Horo shot one last disgusted look at Hao, in time to see something inexplicable pass his face. Before Horo could look twice, Hao's expression once again morphed into a carefree smile.

"Have it your way," Horo heard Hao mutter – his undertones sounding much more dangerous than usual.

Catching up with Ren, Horo peered with worry into his lover's eyes. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Ren replied. "But I swear, if he shows up once more…"

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," Horo advised, playfully. And with a nervous glance back to make sure Hao was gone, took Ren's hand in his. He felt Ren go to instinctively pull away at first. But as he let his guard fall for a while, his grip remained firm.
- Flashback end-

He looked down thoughtfully at their clasped hands, their entwined fingers. The two of them were just turning off an alley that led off the main street on to the small lane that would take them up to Funbari Onsen.

Horo noticed that Ren had seemed a little edgy, at least, but nowhere near as nervous as he himself felt. He almost wished that Ren would be a little anxious or something… the fact that Ren said nothing and didn't even seem to be fazed by Hao's words earlier made the Ainu feel twice as bad, as though he was worried enough for both of them. The feeling of being watched still hasn't left him, even up this tiny road.

The sun was beginning to disappear behind the horizon, bringing with it a sudden cold breeze. It was a heralding sign that fall would be arriving soon.

Horo shuddered as the wind caught him unexpectedly. Trying to break the silence that made him so much more on-edge, he smiled as best as he could to Ren. "It's getting pretty cold out now, don't you think?"

Ren nodded in response, saying nothing.

Horo looked thoughtful, desperate to ease this tension. "Here," he said, taking his hand from Ren's and pulling his coat around them both. He put his hand on Ren's shoulder, holding it there to shield both of them from the chilly wind.

Ren gave him a grateful smile and huddled closer to him as they walked.

The roof of the Onsen rose up over the hill, and Horo sighed with relief. He would be glad to get home, so he could escape the unseen eyes that he felt were observing he and Ren.

He could soon see the gates heralded the entrance to the yard. And… a figure, standing outside them as if waiting for something.

Yoh…?

As they reached the crest of the hill, the figure turned. Horo wasn't surprised at his mistake. After all, Hao would the closest thing you could get to Yoh…

Horo shot a glance at Ren, to see his eyes narrowed with frustration.

"What the hell do you want from me now?" Ren growled as they neared him.

Horo saw something about the brown-haired Shaman wasn't quite right. As he locked eyes on the couple, Horo noticed his face was not plastered with an easy-going smile as it usually was – there was something almost demonic about the grin he had now…

"This time, Ren, you've pushed it too far," Hao said, his tone low and foreboding. "You go with the pathetic little Ainu Shaman, just to get to me, is that it?"

Horo's eyes widened at Hao's words as Ren pulled himself out his grasp, furious.

"You're even more delusional than I first thought," Ren seethed. "That kind of game is your level, not mine."

Hao's eyes were flickering flames. "You never… not once… mentioned him to me."

"And why should I have? This is my business, and my life is no concern of yours!"

Horo could sense both Shamans' tempers flaring. He glanced nervously toward the Onsen, hoping that someone may hear and come outside to help. He didn't know how Ren would fare against Hao if things got rough. But Ren was right – Hao did seem delusional, acting as though Ren was a possession of his, as though he had a right to know everything about him. This was far from the case – Horo knew Ren despised Hao.

"What's your business is mine, Ren," Hao retaliated. "Your life is mine."

"You are not part of my life, nor have you ever been!" Ren remarked, jaw set. "And you certainly never will be."

Horo didn't even get the chance to blink before he saw Hao dart towards Ren. A gloved fist ploughed straight in to his stomach, knocking him backwards.

"Ren!" Horo called, running towards him.

Taken by surprise, Ren had been defenceless. Lying on the ground, breath knocked out of him, he managed, "Horo, get ba-"

Not even knowing where it had come from, Horo suddenly saw Hao right in front of him. A strong fist knocked him to the ground too, out of the way.

His body shook with the impact, and he struggled up from the ground to see Hao standing above Ren, pummelling angry punches into his stomach as though he had gone into a frenzy.

Scrambling to his feet, Horo ran directly at Hao, pushing him out of the way.

"Horo!" he heard Ren cry his name as he struggled against the recoil. Picking his balance, he dashed back to Ren's side.

Hao was faster. The moment, Horo's knees touched the ground, Hao punched him backwards again, the blow striking him right in the stomach.

Ren, weakened by the blows to his chest, struggling to get his breath back, wasn't able to get up before Hao's fist came down on him again.

Horo's horrified eyes saw the powerful blow collide with the side of Ren's head with a terrifying sound. Ren's cheek hit the ground as his eyes fell shut, unconscious.

"Shit, Ren!" Horo panicked. He was about to run to Ren before he remembered Hao. Horo saw him almost immediately, but it took a few moments for him to realise what Hao was doing.

The blood red of the setting sun glimmered on the blade of a knife.

Horo was barely able to register even what it was before he saw Hao plunging it with a raging sob into Ren's stomach.

"Gods, no!" he heard himself cry out. Forgetting now all about Hao, not even caring, Horo rushed over to Ren. He fell down beside him, calling out his name. "Ren… REN!"

Hao stopped. He stared down at the scene unfolding in front of him with a blank expression. He looked down at his own hands for a moment, considering. Had he… killed him? He saw Horo, desperately shaking the shoulders of the one he loved. Retrieve the knife… take it in his back… the thought of driving both lovers to the grave with the same weapon made him blood course with joy…

No. He stopped himself, an evil smirk spreading back across his empty face. This is much crueller, he decided. A dull laugh echoed from him, building and building, until it became a chilling, evil chuckle.

"If I can't have him… no one will," he smirked, turning his back on the despairing Horo.

Hearing his words, Horo looked up at him, eyes full of tears. "You… sick bastard! Don't you even care what you've done to him?"

"Enjoy your life without him, Horohoro…"

The words echoed eerily around him, followed by that same, sinister laughter, making him feel hollow inside.

He looked at Ren's still face, colour drained from his cheeks. No, he's still here… he told himself. Ren doesn't go down that easily.

He put his arms around him, pulling him on to his knees. Ren's skin felt ice-cold against his own.

"Yoh! Anna! Ryu!" he tried calling out to the Onsen. His voice sounded quiet and far away even from himself. "Chocolove! Manta! …someone…"

The tears started to flow suddenly, to roll down his face and land on his hands, stained with Ren's blood.

But the tears didn't clean them – nothing would. With these same hands, he continued to hopelessly shake Ren's shoulders, desperately praying that he would open his eyes.


Author's Note: So, there's the first chapter! I hope you enjoyed it, and I shall put the next one up as soon as I can. Please let me know what you thought!
Peace out for now ;)