Woot, second fanfiction...thing... This takes place roughly 5 years after the Shaman Battle has ended. I am basing the events off what happened in the anime, not the manga...simply because I don't have that far in the books. So, eventually Horo Horo/Ren yaoi...will eventually be rated R... ; and sorry if I get some of the names and their spelling wrong, my subtitles are occasionally odd...

I don't own Shaman King or any of its characters...unfortunately ;

--

As the sun beat down on the leafy marsh, a young man sat under a tree, his head tilted back and eyes closed. The birds sang as if they were singing just for him, and the wind seemed to blow just as the warmth of the sun started to become a little too uncomfortable. The light breeze tossed the boy's hair, the top blue chunks dancing over his black headband before resting back down.

Horo Horo signed, stretching his arms above his head. This land, this weather, and this solitude were going to be difficult to leave for a week or two. He stuffed his hand into the pocket of his long shorts, withdrawing a piece of paper which was more than a little crumpled from being in his company for a few days. He opened it again, almost as if to make sure it's writings hadn't changed. Sapphire eyes twinkled softly in the light as he read it again for the umteenth time that day.

Dear Horo Horo

It's been almost five years since the Shaman Battle ended and we're making an attempt to bring all of us back together. We're setting it in a week, mostly to give Lyserg, Ren, Chocolove and Faust enough time to get here by plane, but also so no one has to drop major plans. Try to get here sometime between July 13th and 17th...If you can't make it, we'll all understand. It's been a while.

Hope to see you there – Yoh, Anna, Amidamaru and Manta.

Horo Horo smiled again, leaning his head back. He had received the letter half a week prior. He had known from the neat, professional handwriting that it wasn't Yoh's. No matter how many tests he took on proper writing techniques, the shaman always maintained a sloppy form of chicken scratch. It was most likely Manta's, and he had no doubt the shorter boy had sent them as well.

The Ainu looked over at the lily marsh that lay ahead of him. The Luh field was now full and lush, and the once endangered species were gaining back their numbers. As his lips were traced with a smile, Kururu floated into his field of vision, a wide grin on her small features. He chuckled, pushing himself to his feet. "Guess you wanna go too?" The earth spirit trilled softly in delight, moving to sit on Horo Horo's shoulder.

He gave the field a final glance before leaving. He guessed it would take him a few hours to pack and get to the bus station. He smiled again as he thought of seeing his old friends again - friends he had, at one time, been willing to risk his life for. After the Shaman Battle was over, the desire to protect each other remained, but this time, there was no threat. For a good number of months, the group had been tight knit, staying close or visiting constantly. But eventually, life moved on, and every one of them had plans that didn't closely involve anyone else. They tried to keep in touch at least every month, if only with a phone call, but even that became difficult.

The Ainu was almost twenty now and he didn't have real life goals like everyone else. His future didn't hold long times in school or stressful jobs. All he had to worry about was his tribe, nature, and his field.

Still, he was curious and excited to see how everyone else was fairing. He had started a gamble with himself, guessing where the other members of the group were taking their lives. It had been almost three years since he had even seen any of them. It was going to been quite a pleasing shock.

But there was one person in particular that he was looking forward to seeing the most.

--

Gods, he hated Japan's streets. Everyone either drove so goddamn slow that he was ready to rear end them, or so damn fast they almost slammed into him whenever he tried to change lanes.

Ren gritted his teeth, his knuckles tightening around the steering wheel of his car. With a sigh, he relaxed a little. It was certainly better than China's streets, where it took what seemed like ten hours to get anywhere. But at least there, Ren didn't worry about the constant threat of being killed.

He was ready to laugh at himself for that thought. Him, worried about a minor car crash? Wasn't there a time in his life where he looked death in the eyes and smirked? He shook his head. This normal life thing was not healthy for him. He still tried to practice his shaman skills whenever an opponent came up, but far fewer people wanted the same thing since the Shaman Battle had ended. He rolled his eyes. Sometimes he seemed like he was the only damned shaman in the country.

He glanced at the note that was lying on his dashboard. He had been called back for a reunion with all his old partners. The postal service had been rather lacking lately, and he had received the note only a few days before he was supposed to be there. It wasn't much of an inconvenience however, since he had a plane and car at his disposal. The only thing he needed time for was convincing his father. 'I'm going to Japan for a few weeks', stand up and leave wasn't the best way he could have gone about it, but it was the quickest way to get the old man out of his hair. He'd deal with it later.

Right now he just wanted to get the hell off this road, park the car and sit down in that damned inn. He was so busy muttering to himself that he almost missed his exit. Quickly swerving the small but expensive car, he barely made it. Another driver, one that came dangerously close to him, hooked loudly. Ren yelled at them to himself, annoyed with how little people paid attention these days.

It didn't take him long to get there. That was of course, after he stopped and had Bason fly up to find out where to go next. He pulled up beside the inn, making sure he was at least half off the road. He paused, looking at the steering wheel and taking a deep breath. He clicked off his seatbelt and opened the door. Turning his gaze to the inn, he noted most of the ground level lights were on and a few different voices were coming from inside. Another breath. His fingers tightened around the top of the car door. Did he feel his cheeks heating slightly?

What the hell is wrong with me? Ren shook his head. Why was he so worried about seeing everyone? He slammed the door shut a little harder than he should have and made his way for the inn.

--

Yoh, Ryu and Horo Horo were busy filling each other in on where their personal lives were when the doorbell rang. Manta, who was sitting quietly beside Yoh, waiting to tell his story next, got up to answer the call. He looked back at the room. Only Ren and Lyserg remained to show up. Was everyone really going to make it? He could barely contain his excitement as he opened the door.

Manta wasn't surprised to see Ren there, arms crossed and eyes closed. When one of the saffron iris finally appeared under dark lashes, Manta waved and smiled. Ren had grown, almost as much as the once shorter boy had. He stood an easy 5'7", not bad for someone who used to barely reach 5'2". Manta himself had managed to grow to a normal height...well; normal for a fourteen-year-old girl. The top of his head touched at Ren's shoulders, and he had to look up to see his face.

"Glad you could make it," Manta quickly chirped up, eager to break the short yet uncomfortable silence. "Come in and take a seat." He gestured to the group of people already sitting cross-legged around the large, low table.

Ren's eyes shifted to the group and he stepped inside without a word, his hands now placed in his pockets. He cast a quick survey over his friends. Everyone had changed in appearance at least a bit, but they cast the same aura and personality. Yoh was still bubbly, ending most of his sentences with his signature laugh. Ryu was still loud and brash, yet maintained the respect for Yoh he used to have. Faust was a little to the side, speaking with Anna in his soft voice, one that had barely deepened with age. Chocolove continued to butt in to the main group's conversations with his jokes, which, Ren reluctantly admitted, had gotten better.

Finally, his eyes set on the Ainu. Horo Horo had turned to smile at him, and for a moment, Ren was taken back. The snowboarder had a look in his eyes that Ren had never seen there before. It was almost like maturity...like he had grown much quicker than the others, yet tried not to show it. Horo Horo also seemed genuinely happy to see the Chinese shaman, and actually got up to walk over to him.

"We heard about the postal strike in China and were afraid you wouldn't make it." His voice hadn't changed, only edged and deepened slightly. It was sultry, and didn't have the sharp cut it used to. Ren assumed it would return when Horo Horo had to yell at someone, most likely Chocolove.

Ren's attitude, the main thing that Horo Horo admired and hated about the other boy, hadn't changed in the slightest either. With a 'humph', Ren withdrew his hands from his pockets only to cross them over his chest once again. "How much time do you really think I need to get here?" He gestured outside with his chin. "No doubt you heard the car door."

Horo Horo grinned. "Lucky bastard. I'd almost forgotten about that wealth thing you have going." His voiced quieted and gained a manner of seriousness to it. "How'd your Dad handle the short notice?"

"No idea. I left before he had time to react or respond. I know him well enough to be prepared for the answer I want before I get it from him...just in case he thinks about saying no, and I can leave instantly." Ren brushed past him and sat down, receiving a quick welcome from Yoh, followed by the continuation of a conversation Ren hadn't heard the beginning of. He pushed some dark violet hair away from his eyes, which fell back in the exact same place as soon as his fingers moved. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

Reluctantly accepting the answer and Ren's cast off attitude, Horo Horo took a seat beside him, and re-joined the conversation. They had only been talking for an hour or two; it had seemed like minutes, when there was a final knock at the door.

When the English boy joined the group, everything fell into place, like perfect pieces of a puzzle. The comfort and trust levels the group had once held returned within moments, and it seemed as if it were only days since they had last seen each other. Even the spirits, who had their own little reunion going in one of the corners, had fallen back into place with each other.

Everything was as it should be. Anna was still constantly bickering with Yoh in a way that reminded everyone more of an older sister then a demanding wife. Ryu continued to fawn over Lyserg, who's gentle and feminine looks time had not been able to change. Chocolove continued to brave the assault Ren and Horo Horo were prepared to unleash whenever his jokes were just a little too corny or stupid. But it was when the two turned their arguing one each other that everyone agreed that nothing had changed.

As Tamada and, occasionally, Ryu made the preparations for dinner, everyone pulled in close to the table to fill the others in on how they had spent their last couple of years. What seemed like story telling was passed from shaman to shaman, and internal bets were won and lost. Everyone seemed to be fairing extremely well, in ways that only they could. Their shaman abilities, skills that seemed useless now, were clearly being used to the advantage of the world.

It only took a little sight to see how it was done, and how they were capable of helping each other as well.

--

Huzzah...stayed tuned for part two and the beginning of Horo Horo/Ren slashy.