Title: Try Try Again
Author: kawaiichisaikitsune (piratekiari)
Rating: T
Pairings: (Implied) HoroRen
Summary: " 'Horo, I... I don't really know this feeling, but... I think... I think I like it...' " HoroRen slash. Three-shot fic.
I have given up talking in third person. Just so you all know. XD Now then, I worked all week on this. I was going to use it to revive my HoroRen one-shot collection, but my sister said make it a story on it's own. So then, I did. Here it is. Enjoy.
P.S. There will be no more Author's Notes after this, so I want to apologize in advance for Ren's upcoming OOCness. I just couldn't see it working any other way, I guess. Sorry, but everyone's got their OOC moment, right? XD
P.S.S. I was really hoping to get this up last Friday, but was waiting for my beta-er to read it over for me. Turns out she had better things to do. So, forgive my mistakes if there still are some and I would be rather grateful if you could point out what needs to be fixed to me. Thank you.
Disclaimer - I don't own Shaman King or any of the characters staring in it.
Try Try Again
Chapter One: Once Unsuccessful
"It's so hot!" Horokeu complained loudly, fanning himself with his hand. Being a boy from Hokkaido, the land of traditional cold, it was still hard to adjust to the new heat of Tokyo. His headband had been discarded due to making his forehead drench with sweat and his T-shirt sleeves were rolled up his shoulders to minimize heat absorbtion as much as possible. Still, it was hot.
"You're only hot because you let the heat get to you," Yoh grinned, punching and kicking at the air around him, "That's why you fight!"
Horo raised an eyebrow at the brunet. With exasperation he shook his head and leaned back against the trunk of a tree which he was sitting by, legs outstretched. "You're going to get overheated," he warned lightly.
"I feel like an icecube," the shaman chimed in return. Then he flopped down on his back in the cool grass, panting and staring up at the blue sky. "How pretty..."
The ice shaman looked up through the boughs of the tree. The sunlight filtered through, dotting his face in a light of patterns. Undeniable blue shown past those cooling leaves, not rendered in any way by clouds.
"Yeah," he agreed breathlessly.
Hours seemed to float by in a minute's time as the two basked in the afternoon heat. As time rolled on and the sun began to decend back into the earth, the air began to cool. The skies were colored in splashes of oranges and reds as the distance city buildings were silhouetted against the sunset. Wind blew like a fluttering butterfly, soft and graceful, just barely grazing their faces. The wind was warmed from the heat, yet cool froom the oncoming night's frost. The tree branches swayed to the onslaught of swirling air, ruffling their leaves at their visitors. Distant birds called as distant bugs hummed. And the sun finally merged into the earth.
"Aren't you going home?" Manta spoke to the dead of night, voice mild and controlled. The ice shaman remained, sprawled upon the cool grass and closed eyes cast to the twinkling sky. "You're going to catch a cold if you stay out here all night, you know. Pirika won't be happy..."
"Goodnight."
The small blonde looked torn, but sagged his shoulders in defeat. "Goodnight."
The night was silent, the only noise being a lonely bug humming to the beat of its own heart. Horo listened with attentive ears, singing the absent melody to himself. The buzz stopped as the bug was whisked away by a cawing predator, just as the shaman was whisked away by the purring wind. Yet, he remained still.
A ruffle; a shuffle; the Ainu opened his eyes to the shadow cast across his face. Angry golden eyes pierced through the quiet dark. Yet, tonight, they didn't seem quite so angry.
"What are you doing?" the voice was still the same.
"Sleeping," he grinned.
"In a cemetery?" a thin brow raised, but he moved himself away, "Ainu-baka."
Horo pushed himself upon his hands, gazing over to the chinese who'd stationed himself upon a tall gravestone. "And what are you doing, Renny?"
His eye ticked and he shot a sharp glare to the other. "Stargazing," he answered matter-of-factly.
"In a cemetery?" he used his words against him, but in a less incredulous way.
"The sky is clearest here," Ren responded, sending another disapproving glance before returning to the stars, "The city is far too crowded and busy. The stars are not to be shown to ungrateful pests as those who remain there."
The ice shaman made a face of understanding, laying back upon the chilled grass, hands folded behind his head. A hand suddenly shot up, pointing to the navy sky. "I can see Aquarius from here!" he beamed, tracing the invisible line connecting the stars with his finger.
"Then Capricorn should be over there," the chinese spoke softly, waving his hand in a general direction of the sky. "There is it," he corrected himself, drawing the lines of the constellation in his mind.
Horo pushed himself back upon his hands, looking over to his former teammate. How long had it been since it ended? Four, or was it five years? He couldn't seem to remember but, how old was he now? Seventeen; eighteen. Perhaps it had been six.
"Renny," he was soft spoken, but still received a mild glare, "How often do you come here?"
"As often as I can," the smaller responded earnestly, "Since I've gotten here." He looked over to the other, an unusually gentle questioning look. His voice was still strong, "Why do you ask?"
The Ainu picked himself from the ground, dusting loose grass leaves off his pants as he sauntered over to ther tiger eyed one. "No reason. It's just that every time I come here, you're here too. It makes me curious."
"And why is that?" he raised an eyebrow at the nearing shaman.
"Beats me," Horo shrugged, settling himself beside the other on the edge of the gravestone. "The night really suits you." He smiled to the other's bafflement. He spoke nothing but the truth.
Tao Ren, tiger eyed wonder of China, took well to the twinkling heavens. The vicious dark brought out a lighter, more tender gold of his large almond eyes, his dark lashes enhancing their brilliance. His skin, being such a milky cream color and absolutely flawless, stood out against the black as well. The shaman's face was aristocratic, but somehow very soft, with gentle features, thin pink lips, and delicately arched brows. His hair stood in one dominant indigo-purple spike, long bangs falling in and around his face and catching the silvery glow of the hanging moon just perfectly.
Horohoro felt his heart leap into his throat, a merciless pounding that had the blood rushing to his face. The other had turned to him, an angry, questioning look in those royal eyes. His soft lips were thinned in a tight line until parted when he spoke. He snapped, but it sounded more like a chorus of angles; "What?"
The blue-haired Ainu stumbled for words, quickly turning his gaze away. "Nothing." What was he thinking? If Ren had heard even a line of that, his kwan dao would instantly have been thrusted up to his throat, piercing thin skin. But...
The chinese's gaze seemed to linger. But when the other glanced back, instantly he looked away as if never even seeing him. His eyes would be dark and his mouth pressed tight, as if regretting a past.
The ice shaman looked over, lips upturned in a thinking pout. Dare he? Dare he do what no one would think of doing? Dare he do what was desired, even though putting himself up to rejection? Dare he?
Dare he...
"Horo?" Ren's voice brought him back to reality. The other blinked, but did not shy away this time. Nor did he blush. Instead, acting upon gut and pure boldness, he drew up his hand and cupped the other's cheek. Slowly, ever so slowly, he leaned it, choosing to miss the surprised, wide-eyed look.
"Ainu-baka," the smaller shaman growled in warning, after the initial shock of the sudden closeness wore off. His warning was cut short, however, as warm lips pressed together. Golden eyes widened immediately in shock, before he jerked away. "What the hell are you doing!?"
"Kissing you," the Ainu replied nonchalantly with a shrug of his shoulders.
"What the hell gives you the right?!"
Horohoro was at a loss, gaping like a fish out of water. What could he say? Then instict came over him again and he rather happily embraced it. His fingers tilted the smaller's head up and lips meshed against lips yet again. It didn't last long, though, as he was shoved away roughly. He fell to the grassy ground with a thump, leaning back on his hands to catch his balance.
Ren stood from his seat on the gravestone, a heavy blush blanketing his cheeks, but barely noticably in the wavering dark. "Stay away from me," he growled before quickly rushing off and leaving his former teammate to just sit there, rethinking what he'd just done.
TBC
Flames are ignored, constructive critism is highly appreciated, and praise is great for my ego. :)