Desires Chains.

Ashuri: well I guess this would be the sequel to Object of Affection, after one year but I could finally think of something to write after reading eleven volumes of shaman king and watching 4 disks worth of episodes. Depending on how well this story is received, if its anything like OOA, then I might keep it up if not well, we'll get to that later. Anyway enjoy and cue the disclaimer.

Horo and Ren: she does not own Shaman King.

Chapter One: Question.

It was a bright sunny morning in Tokyo and its rays penetrated the thin curtains covering the window leaving a thick ray of sunlight across the face of the one curled up in the large bed. Deep within sleep he did not notice the bight light but continued his slumber subconsciously drawing the blankets closer around him encased in unending silence.

The silence was broken by the sound of his lovers voice being the first sounds of the day.

"Ren! Ren! Ren! Oh come on! Wake up Ren!"

Ren pulled the covers up over his head in an attempt to drown out the voice, mumbling something like "deathings with bricks." The person of whom the voice belonged to was persistent in waking him up and had climbed up on the bed and was gently shaking him awake softly calling his name. Ren elbowed him in the gut and moved closer to the edge of the bed.

The person sighed in exasperation and said. "I'm going to regret doing this but. REN! BREAKFAST IS READY!"

Ren jumped forward from his sleeping position and landed sprawled out on the floor eyes open in shock. He tried to turn and look back at the bed but was bound to tightly within his blankets. He struggled to remove the no longer comforting blankets and sat up. He turned to face his boyfriend who was sitting on the bed with a slightly calm expression on his face.

"Breakfast is ready," Horo said.

Ren glared at him and stood up. He then lunged at Horo who jumped off the bed and fled the room laughing. Ren followed.

"Come back here Horo! I'm going to kill you!"

Horo laughed from somewhere downstairs. Reaching the first floor Ren set off in search of him. There was only so many places he could hide. Entering the kitchen he glanced around quickly determining that Horo was not there and was about to leave when someone grabbed him from behind. Half in mind to flip him over and throw him, he settled for another quick jab to Horo's gut.

"Oof. Good morning to you too," Horo said.

"What did I tell you about waking me up like that? Hmm?"

"Um let me see . . . something about not doing it?"

"And what did you do?" Ren asked.

"I did it," replied Horo.

"Exactly."

"But its so hard to wake you up," Horo whined.

"Well if you didn't like waking up at obscene hours," replied Ren curtly.

"Its ten."

"Oh." Ren looked at the floor. "I'm sorry."

"Nah its ok. I deserved it. Sorta." Horo gave Ren a kiss on the cheek and pulled him over to the table where their breakfast had been laid out. Pancakes, orange juice and milk.

Sitting down Ren smiled ever so slightly. "Can't you make anything else besides pancakes?"

"Do you want cereal?" Horo asked.

"No, never mind." He looked down to inspect his pancakes. Horo's cooking may be better then Yoh's but never the less, if anything could go wrong while cooking Horo could accomplish it.

Noticing that it was burnt slightly Ren didn't say anything but took a bite of it anyway. It wasn't too bad. Though the sentence too bad was stretching it a bit far. He swallowed liberal amounts of milk to wash away the taste. He looked at Horo quickly to see if he had noticed anything but Horo hadn't even started eating and was staring blankly ahead at the cabinets.

Ren blinked slightly but said nothing. He just watched him. Horo seemed slightly distracted. After a moment Horo asked. "Ren, are you happy?"

Ren was slightly startled by the abrupt question but answered. "Doesn't it show? I love eating burned pancakes made by an idiot," with a slightly evil happy smile on his face.

Horo looked hurt and Ren immediately regretted it. He moved closer, gave him a kiss on the cheek and wrapped his arms around his neck. "Yes Horo. I am happy." He turned to look Horo in the face and smiled. Horo smiled back then leaned forward and began to kiss him passionately. Horo fell backwards onto the breakfast booth's bench with Ren on top of him, still kissing.

"I love you," Ren said quietly, the words now easier to say but any louder would do them injustice. They were for Horo's ears only.

"I love you too," Horo replied.

They returned to their kissing and it was promising to be a very good make out session when it was interrupted by a loud noise. They both ignored it and continued. Then Ren looked up and froze.

"Why'd you stop?" Horo asked from underneath him.

Ren's entire face went red and he tried to get away from Horo who held him tightly.

"Ren-"

"Isn't it a bit early to be making out in your kitchen?" A voice said causing Horo to groan and release Ren who scrambled away. Horo sat up and turned abruptly to face his sister, Prika.

"What it gods name are you doing in my house?" Ren said from his seat regaining his foul temper.

"Horo asked me to deliver some of his stuff from home," Prika answered giving Ren a longing look which Ren tired to ignore.

"How did you get in?" he said through gritted teeth.

Prika held up Horo's key. "I borrowed his key."

"So that's where that went," Horo said.

Ren gave him a nasty look. "Horo, you don't leave that key lying around. Its bound to cause annoying interruptions like that one." He pointed at Prika who pouted.

"Would you rather she rang the doorbell?" Horo asked.

"Gah!" Ren made strangling motions with his hands and sat back to fume over his hatred of the blasted doorbell.

"Thanks, Prika. Now you can leave," Horo said getting up and leading her from the kitchen. Their conversation quite audible.

"Can't I stay for breakfast?"

"No."

"You're so mean nii-chan. After all the help I was getting your stuff here."

"And I will repay you some other time. Now get out."

"Fine." And the door closed.

Horo came back into the kitchen swing his key around on his finger and pushing a box with his foot.

Ren looked at him, then at the box. "So what's in there?"

"Just some stuff I want to keep that's all. Childhood stuff," answered Horo.

"I see." Ren got up and went over to it. "Can I see?"

"No," Horo said quickly.

Ren smiled mischievously. "Why is there some other stuffed animal in there like the one upstairs?"

The one upstairs was the white rabbit with blue eyes that had belonged to Horo and was known to be one of the sources of Ren's mental problems when he was alone. It was sitting on a dresser next to a purple rabbit with yellow eyes. Its partner in life.

"No," Horo said again.

Ren dropped to his knees to open the box and Horo didn't object. He rummaged around inside and pulled out a bear. "Aha see!" He held it up to Horo.

"Teddy!" Horo exclaimed. He grabbed it and hugged it tightly. Fighting the urge to laugh Ren looked back at the box.

Inside were a few memento's mostly Ainu carvings, some paper and photographs. He pulled out a photo of him, Horo, Yoh, Ryu, Chocolove, and Manta. It was an old picture from when they were kids but it made Ren smile.

In the photo Ren was threatening Horo as usual, Horo was attempting to fight back. Everyone had etched away from Chocolove who was standing alone, apparently talking to himself and Ryu was combing his hair. Yoh and Manta were sitting on the ground lazily laughing. The sun shone in the background. Even the expression of murder on Ren's face in the photo was hiding the happy expression waiting to break free of its chains.

He returned it took the box and his eyes fell on a small box. He reached for it but Horo snatched it away. "Nahuh. You can looking in the big box but not his one."

"Why is it some secret treasure?" Ren asked.

"Uh yes. And you can't see." He backed away and Ren stood up. "Come on Horo. I won't laugh. I promise."

Horo shook his head. "Nope.

"Come on."

"No."

"Horo."

"Ren."

"Just let me look."

"Uhuh."

"Just open the box."

"Nope."

"Do it."

"No."

"Open it."

"No."

Ren made a face. Horo's reluctance to show him what was inside only heightened his curiosity as to what was inside. "Fine," Ren said folding his arms. "Don't show me."

"Aw Ren, don't be like that."

Horo came closer. When he was in reach Ren made wild grabs for the box and almost had it. Horo held it out of his reach and they grappled for it. Eventually they trapped and landed sprawled out on the floor which just made it easier for Ren to force the box open.

Inside was a beautifully crafted gold ring with Ainu markings. It was slightly mesmerizing. And it looked brand new. No wonder Horo didn't want him to look or touch it.

Ren continued to stare at it before saying. "What's it for?"

"Must it have a purpose?" Horo asked.

"Well I just figure something of this quality would have some deep meaning," Ren said.

"Ok, you got me there. It has a purpose."

"What is it?" Ren looked down at Horo who was staring up at him lovingly.

"Will you marry me?"

". . ."

Ren released Horo and jumped upwards and backwards away from him. Horo sat up and looked at him puzzled. Ren adverted his gaze. "Why are you asking me this?" He said awkwardly after a few minutes.

"Because I love you and I want to be with you always," Horo replied as though it was the most obviously answer in the world.

"Can't we do that without getting married?" Ren asked.

Horo continued to look at him puzzled.

Ren took a deep breath and said, "Getting married is evil. Marriage is a trap for couples to bind them together and then rip them apart. Marriages don't last forever. And I don't want to be chained."

"Oh Ren it wouldn't be like that," Horo said getting to his feet.

"How do you know?" Ren shot at him. "It could all change if we got married. It'll all go down the drain when you become negligent and make me your slave."

"I would never do that too you, Ren," Horo said looking hurt. "You should know that by now."

"I do. But things change. People change. I'm unstable enough without becoming your slave."

Horo sighed. "So your answer is no?"

Ren nodded.

"For now?" Horo asked.

Ren didn't say anything for a second but then answered. "I'm not getting married."

"Fine." Horo stomped past him, placed the ring in the box and stomped up the stairs to their room and slammed the door. Ren actually cringed.

He hadn't made Horo that angry in a while. He had avoided doing so fearing that he would leave. And as much as he wanted to make Horo happy, Horo had to understand that there was some things Ren wouldn't do and he had to respect that or their relationship would never work despite their best efforts to make it.

Ren looked over at the table with their forgot breakfast. He went to it and threw the pancakes in the garbage and placed the dishes in the sink not quite in the mood to clean them. He then wandered into the living room and plopped down onto the couch.

For now?

Horo had asked that as though Ren would give in eventually. Just like he had given into to his feelings for they were his salvation for his insanity and because of Horo's persistence, and cause he did love him. And since he knew Horo like he did, he had a sneaking suspicion that Horo was going to do everything in his power to bring Ren over to his side on the idea of marriage.

Ren groaned. That was not a comforting thought. Was he trying to make him go insane again? Knowing Horo, he was probably the only person who could drive him insane and get away with it.

Ashuri: and so that is the end to chapter one. Please leave a review. I want to know what you think.