A/N: Hello all you people out there. My first shaman king fic. The pace would be much faster than my previous work – like duh, my last one had a really sloooooooow pace. Anyway, hope you guys enjoy, do review. Thanks.

Ice Breaker

A tall slender lady creeps towards the sliding door, just as she's about to open it, she hears someone stirring behind her.

"Mmm… Someone's being rude now, no goodbye this time?" he said in a muffled voice with eyes still shut.

She turns around slowly and smiles shyly at the young lad, "I'm sorry, it's just that, I thought you were asleep already."

He rubs his eyes and pushes himself up, "I'm joking, but do take care alright?" he whispers, giving her a grin.

"Don't worry, I will." She said, gently pushing the door open, "Goodbye, see you in a week." And she vanishes, leaving the door slightly ajar as the chilling wind blew in.

The boy lets out a soft sigh and mummers to himself, "it's gonna be a long week…"

Horo Horo looked lazily at the scene before him. Yoh and Anna was about to go off for a walk while Tamao, Pirika, Ryu and Chocolove were having a snowball fight in the snow-covered lawn. Usually, he would love to join them. But not today he thought. He always seemed to get these sort of 'withdrawal symptoms' during the first few days she left.

"Hey," Manta walked over and sat beside Horo Horo "not boarding despite the good weather?"

"Not now, Manta" He gives him a weak smile. Today's the first day she's gone he thought. Just then, a snowball hits him, smack in the face.

Manta's face twitched as he looked at the ice shaman, awaiting him to deliver the punishment upon the offender. Horo Horo hated getting smashed by snowballs when he's not involved in the snowball fight. Usually, when that happens, he would mercilessly get Kororo to summon up some mini personal snowstorm on the offender regardless of whether the hit was intentional or not.

But not today.

Horo Horo lazily brushed the snow off his face before picking up the cup of tea beside him and started to gingerly sip it. While in the background, Chocolove lets out a huge sigh of relief. Guess Horo's in a good mood today thought the wannabe comedian.

"Brother! Stop being so lifeless there! What's wrong?" Pirika asked as she ran towards her brother.

"Oh nothing," he gives her the same smile he gave Manta just moments ago. No snowstorm today, he thought.

Pirika blinked at her dazed looking older brother wondering what the source of his lifelessness was, and then it struck her, "Ahh. It's that time already isn't it?" she smiled.

"Yup. Smart girl," He gave her a wry grin and slowly stood up, "well, I'm really hungry now, Manta, want to grab a bite?"

Manta who had been listening to the conversation between the siblings scrambled up, following the tired looking Ainu to the kitchen.

Horo Horo sifted through the fridge and picked out some ingredients for a sandwich, as Manta sat silently at the table looking at the Ainu's clockwork movements.

"Horo, I – you – wha – what does Pirika mean when she says that it's that time? What time is it?" Manta blurts out, the whole enigma was killing him. He couldn't take it any longer!

Horo Horo shifted his sight from the sandwich in his hands to the short boy in front of him, then, in a voice barely audible he answered,

"It's time for Kororo to go home"


A/N: Alright. So how was it? I hope that was a good start, it's been so eons since I wrote a piece of fanfic. Hur. Want to know more? Drop me a review. Thanks!