Yami's koi: 'tis an odd thing, Valentines Day. I hate the holiday. In commemoration of this dislike, it has been decided after one moment of thought that I will do a Shaman King fic. A romantic Shaman King fic. And, if that came across as I hate Shaman King, trust me, I LOVE the manga. And the show.

Neutral Man: is screaming KILL THOSE DUCKS!

Yami's koi: sweatdrops don't ask. This is AU, and Anna doesn't exist. So… Yoh is slightly older than what he is in the manga. I don't own Shaman King, and I know that if it were on sale, I would probably never get it. Sniffles See ya at the bottom…

Flashback

Horohoro took Ren's hand and both slowly walked into the Dining Room. Yoh stared up at them both complacently, happy that both were in love… yet secretly envying their happiness. He loved someone and could not find enough courage to admit it to himself… and yet Horohoro and Ren… possibly the most unimaginable couple ever, were together.

How the FUCK had that happened? Sure, Yoh didn't envy them for being with another, but he just felt jealous that they could be happy without awkward and incomprehensible complications.

"I know I don't say this often, but you're very special to me, Horohoro…" Ren began softly, a small blush touching his cheeks as he spoke, "And I love you a lot." He reached into his back pocket and produced a box. Ren opened it and… inside was a ring. Horohoro glanced between his lover and the ring. It had small jewels of sapphire in it, surrounded by the most beautiful white gold.

"Will you marry me, Horohoro?" Ren asked softly, stroking the hand he held. Several people gasped – yet he could not wrench his gaze away from the most attractive eyes that he had ever seen.

Horohoro's heart suddenly felt lighter, and all of his senses seemed somewhat slower than usual. He stared into Ren's eyes… and made up his mind. His cheeks too, began to blush… an odd contrast, given his hair colour.

"Yes…"

Ren's face beamed, and his trembling fingers slipped the ring on his fiancé's finger. Then, applause – obviously from Yoh.

"Congrats, you gies. I guess you'll be happy enough…" Yoh trailed off, fading out into his own stream of thought. Now, if Amidamaru could only do that to him…

"GAH!" Came Horohoro's frustrated cry, bursting in on Yoh's thoughts, "We have so much to plan, dude! I dunno even where to start!"

"You can start by making me bridesmaid," Jun interrupted, her eyes alight with hope and stars, whilst her spirit ally sweat dropped.

"Er, HELLO! Only the bride gets bridesmaids, doofus!" Yoh reminded her, breaking her hopes.

"And just what are you saying about Horohoro, Yoh?" Ren asked, in a would-be-sweet voice. The Shaman King merely shook his head and lowered it to the floor. He grinned.

"Just saying that I can't imagine Horohoro in a dress."

End Flashback

"YOH!" Manta screamed, slamming his enormous Encyclopaedia onto Yoh's unsuspecting fingers. Yoh's eyes promptly widened, and his body began to voice its agony.

"ITAIITAIITAIITAI!" He yelped, shaking his injured hand whilst glaring at the short man beside him. "What was that for?"

"What was it for? WHAT WAS IT FOR? YOU'VE BEEN IGNORING ME FOR THE PAST HALF HOUR!" Manta bellowed, his voice echoing off the stone walls of the En Inn. For some odd reason far beyond anyone's comprehensive thought, Horohoro had decided to host the combined stag night of him and Ren… at Yoh's house. Whilst everyone else was drunk, singing awfully on karioki and drinking some more, Yoh had hardly spoken all night and was barely even drunk. He grabbed a fresh bottle of Bailey's, and downed it in a moment. His throat burned, but the drink was gorgeous.

The drink was effective after ten minutes. Although Yoh wasn't the type to slur usually, he could dimly hear himself talking about his deepest thoughts to Manta, behind the warm, peaceful falsehood in his mind that everything was all right. This, of course, was a sure-fire-sign that he was drunk.

"Ya know something, Manta? I've always thought Rio was a bit of an idiot in some ways. I mean, look at his hair!" Yoh managed, pointing vaguely at the currently singing and half-naked Shaman. Yoh shook his head. "Ya know, it's just… he kinda looks… silly…"

Manta then had an evil thought, and managed a small grin: if Yoh was the type to tell the truth about how he felt when drunk, then if he asked the Shaman about his love-life, then would he be fooled and tell his friend about who he felt attracted to?

"And what about Amidamaru, Yoh?" Manta asked innocently, ducking for a moment behind Yoh as Horohoro's spirit ally zoomed past, blindly heading towards the general vicinity of the toilets… and who said ghosts couldn't get drunk!

Yoh paused for a moment, and made himself another drink: this time an alchopop and several shots of Whiskey combined. He mixed it in a pint glass, and drunk roughly a third of it.

"I really think you'd make a good couple, Yoh," Manta said quietly, just so that only the relaxed and collected Yoh Asakura could hear him.

Yoh looked directly ahead, his mind warm and buzzing slightly. At odd intervals, the room would decrease in size and then elongate, causing the Shaman to feel dizzy. He knew that mixing drinks was a bad idea, but it would help him to get through the night. Plus, the mixed drinks tasted so good… he had even left an experiment at his side in case he later decided that it was worthy of being drunk…

The problem wasn't intentional, Yoh could vaguely recall, but he knew that he couldn't let himself be drawn in by the samurai, who himself was drinking, yet in moderation, and in more sensible manners. Amidamaru was clad in dark robes, which resembled his usual gi very much. A golden band was tied across his middle, and the warrior's inviting-looking chest half exposed to all. Fuck, he was so sexy… and that, Yoh knew, would be the only coherent memory he would have from that point onward.

Ever since they had first joined in battle, when Yoh had first met Manta… the attraction had been there. The long, silvery locks swirling around his face; his eyes, so dark and alluring to the teenager; the pale yet gorgeous muscular physique that was seemingly begging for Yoh to fall for… and, of course, the slightly husky, seductive voice of the samurai. Amidamaru had spoken with Yoh about his goals in his previous life, and why he had not found salvation. Even as he spoke, Yoh had found himself in love with Amidamaru's devotion, honesty, and passion for everything around him. The samurai had made it clear that he would do anything for the boy, and Yoh had found his heart slowly melting.

"Ya know somethin, Manta?" Yoh finally said, staring blearily into his dwarf-like companion's eyes, his own forced to become serious looking and trusting. "I think so, too."

Before he could see his friend's astonished face, Yoh turned, and climbed onto the table.

"PEOPLE!" Yoh shouted, brandishing his glass at several nearby Shamans before pausing. "Fuck, I sounded so drunk then…" He collected himself. "I just wanna say… to Horohoro and Ren… that I hope you gies have a fucking ace marriage… and that you get yourselves real pissed tonight. Ya deserve it, gies!"

Horohoro laughed, staggered for a moment, before falling over, right next to Amidamaru. The samurai shook his head, and lifted the Ainu snowboarder to his feet. Horohoro began to giggle, and swayed slightly as he looked up at the deceased warrior in questioning.

"Come on now, Master Horohoro. I think you need to get some fresh air," Amidamaru said firmly, guiding him outside. Yoh's chestnut coloured eyes followed his muscular body outside, before his lips let out a sigh and he glanced at the clock. Eleven thirty…

"And now, my friends, I am going to sing a song written by myself!" Ryu bellowed, clearing his throat. "Aahh… I love you every time you hold me, babe…"

Obviously he'd been mixing drinks as well.

Yami's koi: okay. Should I continue this? I swear, this chap is kinda crap, but…

Neutral Man: …that's no surprise?

Amidamaru: I have no feelings for Yoh-dono…

Yami's koi: grins ssuuuurrrrree you don't… then why did I see you two up on Monument Hill kissing each other?

Yoh: blushes he was, er… smelling my hair. Yes. He was smelling my hair.

Amidamaru: right. Just smelling his hair… because it smelt nice.

Yami's koi: fascinating. Well… if I get no reviews, no continuation, people. Plushie of Horohoro to those who do review me. Luvvies!

Yami's koi: I am so sorry that this got kicked off, but it was my fault… and I am so sorry that you reviewers are the real victims here.

Neutral Man: what the hell has gotten into you!

Yami's koi: ignore that fool. Thanks for showing an interest in this fic… I really appreciate it, ya know?

Neutral Man: how do you know what it's like to be drunk, anyway?

Yami's koi: let's just say it's not so fun when you're throwing up at four am… but fun when you miss school! XD See ya at the bottom someplace…

Manta shook as the full impact of what Yoh had just said to him took its force. Yoh Asakura… loved his guardian ghost? That would just complicate things even more so! For one, Amidamaru was clearly dead. He was older than Yoh; he probably would be disturbed at such a thought, being as he did things very traditionally…

"Is there something bothering you, Lord Manta?" A gentle, deep voice asked calmly. Immediately the ghost took a seat beside the diminutive boy, and looked at him with slight concern. "You seem to be very quiet tonight, Manta. Can you not find the joy within you to help Lords' Ren and Horohoro celebrate their bonding ceremony tomorrow?"

"I feel happy for them, but…" Manta paused. He could NEVER tell Amidamaru what Yoh had just said. There was absolutely no… way. The Shaman would probably never forgive him, and send him to the graveyard, allowing the dead ones to have no mercy upon him, and –

"Whose is this?" Amidamaru asked, gesturing to a nearby glass. The colour of it was a horribly murky brown colour, and Manta identified it automatically.

"Yoh's."

The Samurai sighed. "I know I can't stop him, but it does worry me when I see him vomiting in the early hours."

'You have no idea,' Manta thought desperately, as the spirit slowly wandered away, his concern seemingly vanished.