"Ode to a Tree"

-Vx Tao Ren xV

Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King. Enough said.

Author's Note: Okay… I was contemplating writing a third chapter for this.. but I really.. uhmm.. don't like RenxHoro that much [Don't hurt me! I don't know why.. but I find it a bit.. strange.. sumimase.. although I do like HoroxRen! ^_^;;.. heh heh..].. so I wasn't sure if I would.. but thanks to some random inspiration from Yoh today, I have decided to write a surprise chapter 3… in Yoh's P.O.V… you're all probably thinking, "What?! Where the hell did Yoh show up in all of this?!".. well.. all I can say is.. "You'll see…." 

Other Notes: Oh yeah.. my updates are going to come less and less [Well, I don't really update much anyway.. ::sighs::], since I don't have the internet anymore.. Arghh!! And the school computer has a strange lock on FanFiction.net.. for whatever reason.. So I'm trying to make an effort to freeload at Anna's house to get these updates and stories and stuff up for posting. Maybe once a week or once every two weeks or something.. ::sighs:: Oh well.. just to let my devoted fan people (I'm on a sugar high… and as Anna said it today, I'm completely useless when I'm on a sugar high.. so prepare for randomness.. I think..) know.. ne?

Oh yeah.. I'de like to thank my reviewers again! And sumimase.. If you didn't post your review before October 25th (the day I found out my cable modem was missing.. and on Seto-Sama's birthday too.. how depressing…)... I have no idea that you reviewed.. x.X.. but Sankyuu anyway!!!

Ren-Tao: Aww.. don't mind my depression.. I live like 5 blocks away form Anna anyway, I can come and torment her whenever I want! ^_^.. Anyways, Kawaii ja nai ka? Hehe ^_^ I'm really starting to like working on this fic.. Sankyuu!!!!!!

InsaneRenFan: Yay!!!! Oh I just feel like I have to comment about the script of the show thing.. I found that a HUGE compliment!!! Sankyuu!!! I'm a total freak when it comes to accuracy and IC-ness..  Favorite Stories? Waiii!!!!! ^_^

JSF: I like that quote too.. hehe ^_^… I love Bocchama when he's all confused.. he's soo cute that way! ^_^

Hao-sama rulze the world: DUDE! I'm glad you liked it! Hehe ^_^.. I hope you like chapter too.. Have a nice day!!!

Liyh: Actually, I don't know.. I don't have very high expectations of myself.. but I'm really happy that you loved it.. [Dude, did I just say "happy"? ::blinks::]

Vampire of the Light: Uh.. s'ok.. People mistake me for someone else all the time! Okay.. no they don't.. but still..  Waii!! So many people love this story! Shiawase!

Maliksgirl: Ahh!! Horo!! I forgot if you reviewed the second chapter.. although I think you did cuz I kinda remember you mentioning a third chapter.. and if you didn't, then I'm losing my mind.. ::sighs:: Anyway… here's the third chapter, if you requested it ^_^;;, and I hope it isn't too random and complete;y not what you wanted and uhm… stuff.. err.. yeah..

I think that's everyone.. well, everyone that I can remember.. if I missed some people.. I'm sorryyy~~~!!!!!!!! [::blinks:: Oh great, I sound like Ritsu, don't I Horo?.. Arghh!!!!].. Anyway, that's enough ranting for now.. here's the chapter… Enjoy onegai shimasu!!!!!!!

***

"Ode to a Tree"

"Naa.. I think today is going to rain or something…"

"Why do you say that, Yoh-dono?"

"It's not every day Anna lets me take a break from roadwork and training… something bad is probably going to happen instead…"

"Or maybe Anna-dono is trying to be nicer to you.. "

"Ah.. or.. maybe… she's updating my training menu… or something like that."

"Ah.. sou de gazaru ka…."

"Ma.. nanto ka naru sa.."

I lay back behind this giant, really thick tree that I found while walking through the local park. I'm not even sure why there's a park in Patch Village.. but there is… And for some reason, I didn't really feel like going to the cemetery [Ren: Okay.. bear with me.. lets just say there's a cemetery at Patch Village too.. just to make my life easier]. I thought something interesting was going to happen today.. something different.. and I thought it would be fun. So I went to the park instead, the last time I was anywhere near something that resembled a park, my grandfather threw me into a lake, hit me over the head, and told me that I could never become Shaman King… but that was what? 11, 12 years ago?

This grass is really comfy.. much more comfortable then at the cemetery.. then again.. everything at the cemetery is either dead, or close to dying.. it's a nice change.. it reminds me of the feeling when we were all together before going to China.. we were all together.. and it was nice.. except no Anna, Manta, Tamao, Ren, Horohoro, Pilica, or Ryu.. so it's much quieter than that time. I can't help but drift off into a deep sleep.. I can barely hear Amidamaru speaking anymore…

~Three Hours Later~

BANG… BANG…

Huh? I wake up.. though still half asleep.. I can feel my head pounding.. and I don't know why. My vision is kinda blurred.. and I have no idea what time it is.. eventhough it's still clearly daytime.. I'd guess around lunchtime… maybe that's why I'm a little hungry..

BANG… BANG…

Ouch! Why is my head hurting?! I sit up, now leaning against the giant tree.. that was easily 3 feet wide.. maybe more.. and put my hand on my head.. hopefully to ease the throbbing pain..

BANG… BANG…

What the? Now my back is hurting.. I sit up straight. And stare at the tree… I put my hand on the bark.. trying to figure out if there was something in it that was attacking me or something…

BANG… BANG…

"This tree…", I say in a low voice.. Amidamaru's hitodama appearing by my hand..

"What about this tree.. Yoh-dono…"

"This weird vibration is coming from the tree…"

"Vibration?"

BANG… BAMG…

Now I hear something, too.. I didn't notice before.. probably because I was still asleep. But now I can hear it.. It's strange.. like maybe.. hitting..?

"Do you hear that, Yoh-dono?"

"Yeah.. You hear it, too.. Amidamaru?"

"Yes, It seems to also come from the tree…"

"Lets try to be quiet.. so we can figure out what it is..", I start to whisper.

"Okay.. Yoh-dono..", Amidamaru is whispering too..

BANG… BANG…

"Argh!!!!"

"What—" BANG… "the hell—" BANG… "is wrong—" BANG… "with me?!" BANG…

What? That voice.. is that..

"Amidamaru…", I whisper to my mochirei, "is that…"

"Horohoro-dono?", he replies…

"Yeah… lets listen to find out what he's doing.."

"Whatever you say.. Yoh-dono.. I am curious myself.."

The sound.. which I now figure out is probably Horohoro, hitting his fist… or even his head… on the bark of the tree, continues for a couple of more seconds, until I hear something else. Someone else..

"What on earth are you doing?"..

"Yoh-dono.. are wa.."

"Ren…"

Definitely. That was definitely Ren. Pretty much no one can mistake his voice. I can't help but listen to the oncoming conversation. Omoshiroi mitai na…

There's silence for a long time… a really long time.. did they leave? No. I don't think they did. I don't want to stick my head out to see. If they're still there.. then Ren will definitely see me.. then maybe I was better off with Anna's special training course.. I sit near the side of the tree.. careful to keep myself hidden.. and listen carefully, with Amidamaru.. still in hitodama mode, and anxiously wait for something to happen.

"What the hell are you staring at me for?!?!?"

That was Ren again.. maybe that's why there wasn't any speaking.. Horohoro was.. staring.. at Ren? Wait a minute! Why would Horohoro be staring at Ren?! And staring at what? His face.. his.. wait.. I'm not gonna go there.. it's a bit.. unpleasant… to be thinking about these things during the day..

More silence… what is it with the silence?! Normally, Ren and Horohoro can't go a minute without some sort of arguing.. this is definitely.. different..

"Whatever. I'm leaving. I didn't come here to be stared at by some brain-dead Ainu."

Oo~h.. Ren is pissed now. Well.. it's not hard to piss Ren off.. it's quite easy. Especially if you're Horohoro.. but why hasn't Horo been talking? I mean.. first he woke me up, cuz he was hitting his head on an innocent tree for no reason.. wait—wasn't Horohoro like.. protective of nature or something? Why was he abusing the poor tree like that? Aww.. poor tree.. Pilica may yell at him for that later.. well.. maybe not.. I bet Kororo is upset.. although it's not like he was burning a fuki leaf or anything.. but it's still a part of nature, right? It's not like Horohoro to be acting all silent and.. weird.. like this..—

"No! Wait!"

Huh? What was I saying.. or well.. thinking.. Oh yeah! The tree! No wait—not the tree.. Ren.. Ren and Horohoro.. Horohoro.. Oh yeah! I just heard Horohoro.. what did he say? Ahhh!! I forgot what he said!!!

"Amidamaru!" I try to be quiet.. I don't think the other two heard me..

"Nani de gozaru ka, Yoh-dono?"

"Uhm.. what do you think is going on?", I try not to sound like I haven't been paying attention.. although I wasn't.. I don't think Amidamaru noticed..

"Well… ano Ren was about to leave.. and Horohoro-dono told him to wait..", Amidamaru is looking a bit suspicious.. Oh well.. wait a second—

"Huh? Why would Horohoro want Ren to stay?", it was a bit weird.. for Horohoro anyway.. it's not something he would normally do, right?

"Hmm.. well now that you mention it…"—

"So.. care to enlighten me with the revelation dawned upon you by continuously slamming your head against a tree?.. or are you just gonna sit there and stare at my face like you've been doing for the past 5 minutes?"

Oh wow… Ren is really mad.. Hmm.. and Horohoro isn't really talking much, is he? That's really strange. Oh wait.. so it was his head that he was hitting against the poor, innocent tree. I really wanna peek over to see what's happening.. but Ren will definitely see me.. and.. that won't end well. It's too bad. All I can do is listen…

"Ri~ght.. I'm going now."

Hmm.. is it just me.. or is Ren acting a tiny bit weird, too. I mean.. I know he gets mad easily.. but it's kinda like he was mad when he first showed up.. but if he were.. he probably would have been grumbling about it.. or.. maybe he was.. I don't think so though.. this is really strange.. And I don't think Amidamaru understands it more than I do..

"N-No! Wait!"

He~h.. This is really strange.. Horohoro definitely isn't acting like himself. He never stuttered like that.. okay.. maybe once or twice.. but his tone of voice is different, too.  It's.. sorta… desperate? No.. it can't be.. but it's very.. different.

"Naa.. Amidamaru.. is it me, or does Horohoro seem a bit.. weird..?"

"Do you mean the way he's acting? It is a bit strange of Horohoro-dono to sound a bit desperate and.. well.. confused like that.."

"Confused? You think so…?" He~h.. This is getting weird. I better pay attention if I wanna know what's going on.

"Look! If you want to say something to me, say it already! I don't have time for this!"

I just listen on in silence… I don't want to think too much.. it may complicate things even more.. Plus Ren's voice is getting more aggressive.. and Horohoro isn't saying anything much.. maybe this is the 'different' thing that I sensed was going to happen this morning…

"Ugh… err…"

Horo.. what's wrong with you?

"Grr…"

"You know what! Forget it!"

Ren is definitely stomping off.. I can hear it from here. I don't hear anything from Horohoro.. has he been moving or anything? I want to know.. I want to see.. but again.. I'm not going to risk being see—"

"Aishiteru!!!"

Eh?

"Eh?" I stare at Amidamaru with a very confused look.. he looks exactly the same..

"Eeeeehhhh~~~~~!", We say in unison.. We're still whispering.. but shocked none the less..

"What… did you just say…?"

Oh right.. Ren.. Ohh.. I really don't think he handled that any better than we did.. I still can't register it.. wait! Horo just said 'Aishiteru' to.. to Ren?!?!?!

"Uhmm… Aishiteru?"

Uhm.. is he serious? He kinda just said that like it was a mistake the first time he said it.. exactly what is he thinking, anyway?

 "This isn't a joke you moron! What the hell would posses you to say that?!"

Hmm.. Ren isn't really taking it in either, now is he? I think he's kinda freaked out.. Although it doesn kinda explain why Horohoro was acting a bit strange before.. hmm…

"Well… umm.. I said it because it's true.. at least.. I think it is.."

Wow.. this uhm.. well.. big. I don't think anyone could have seen this one coming.. I mean.. Horohoro respects Ren.. I guess everyone can see that, no matter how much they fight.. but.. the fact that Horohoro may.. love him?.. That's.. big…

"What do you mean you think it is?"

Hmm.. well… Ren has a point. This is kind of a major thing.. among our group I guess… it wouldn't really help to say it then not mean and.. then it'd be weird and stuff.. and that wouldn't be good. Nope.

"Well, I've been feeling a bit.. weird.. around you lately. Okay, it's happened before… but not this much. It's well, weird. I can't stop thinking about.. err.. you. Every damn Shaman Fight, every damn argument, and every damn waking moment.. I'm thinking about you.. And I don't even know why!"

"…"

Horohoro… I never really saw this side of Horohoro before. I mean, I've seen him deal with hard personal issues and things like that.. especially since we got to Patch Village… but nothing like this.. Come to think of it.. Ren hasn't dealt with anything like this either.. other than the whole ordeal with his father.. not really. Well.. there was that whole thing with Chrome.. but for now.. let's not count that, because he was dead at the time… Come to think of it.. this kind of situation is new to all of us..

"Wait.. don't get me wrong. It's not like I don't care about you.. I mean.. well.. er.."

I guess now it's Ren's turn to be silent.. out of all of us.. he doesn't really show his emotions much.. come to think of it. Well.. other than his anger, of course.. he expresses that very well.. but I don't think anyone has really said that they cared about him or anything.. presumably other than his sister.. I've never even said it.. not straight out like that…

"Look.."

"… lately, I've been getting really.. warm.. feeling when I'm around you. Before, I hated you.. then I envied you.. now.. I think that stepped up a little. I've been trying to figure out why you've been on my mind a lot, why I can't stop thinking about you.. but I think I know why, at least now I think I do."

"Horohoro-dono…."

I smile.. Amidamaru's thinking the same thing I am.. it's really good of Horohoro to talk about that. Eventhough Ren could totally reject him and beat him up. Wait—let's not think about that.. think about.. happy things.. happy things like.. like.. Ren will.. totally erm.. accept him and they'll live happily ever after and be last seen running through a field of flowers.. or.. fuki leaves.. or.. not. Definitely not.

"I'm not quite sure what to tell you. Except.. why me?"

Mou.. I guess Ren is really thinking about it.. I think he's taking it really well, actually. I don't really know what I'd do if someone like erm.. Ryu.. no. no.. definitely not Ryu.. uhm.. no, not Anna.. not Faust.. Hao? Eeeee… not Hao.. how about.. Manta? Yeah.. I don't really know what I'd do if Manta, my best friend came up to me and said that. Gives you something to think about.. sorta…

But then again.. it's Ren we're talking about here.. so.. no one really knows what he's feeling.. except him.

"Uhm.. well, before I just envied you. Ya know.. because of your power I guess. I admired how you never.. uh.. waivered, as you would say. You were strong, you knew it.. and you made sure everyone around you knew it too. I dunno why I would envy you for that. In the beginning, I thought you were an arrogant, egotistical, asshole for it."

Huh? You just proclaimed your love for someone and now you're talking about how you thought they were an asshole? Hmm.. interesting methods Horohoro.. I get what you were trying to say.. but that wasn't very nice…

"Oh.. that's encouraging.."

Well.. Ren does have a point there Horo…

"Sorry… it's just.. lately, that err.. well.. because you do that, I start to believe that you can handle everything… that I don't even have to worry about anything.. because you were strong.. because you could handle it. And because of that, I put all of my faith in you."

"…."
Horohoro.. I really never knew that Horohoro can handle situations like this so well.. emotionally anyway.. his choice of words could be better at times.. but I'm really surprised..

 "I think that's why I went insane when you, well, died. Because I put all my faith and beliefs in you, when you died, I lost everything. But when you came back, I started feeling a bit.. differently about you. I started noticing things about you that I never did before."

"Did you know that you squint your eyes a tiny bit when you give a sort of caring expression? And that sometimes you smile in your sleep?"

That he smiles in his sleep? Awww.. that's cute.. wait a minute.. Horohoro.. you watch.. Ren.. when he's.. asleep…? Now that's just.. disturbing!

"You watch me sleep?"

Yup. He's pissed again. Just like Ren is supposed to be.. otherwise it's weird.. Uhm.. I think.. Well.. come on! The guy watches him when he's asleep.. that's not a thing that you'd want to know.. I think… Wait--!! Horohoro lived with me an Anna for a while… didn't he? No! No! It's different.. It's to~tally different! Okay.. Yeah..

"N-No! I mean.. sometimes I can't sleep at night, and well you know.. we share a room because we're on the same team and stuff.. and.. uhm.. sometimes I see you smiling.. uhmm.."

Hehe! He's embarrassed!!! How cu~te! Hahaha! Well, I guess what he said is okay..

"And I guess… ever since you died I mean.. I've worried that you'd well.. die again.. so I guess I watched you to look over you or something. I'm not quite sure why myself… and I think all of that eventually led to well.. you know"

Wow.. I never really thought of it that way. I think Horohoro is the only one who did. I guess we all just assumed that Ren was Ren and he couldn't be defeated easily.. even after he comes back from death. Which is a little ironic in it's own way.. weird… this really making me think.. I didn't know that Horohoro could be this.. well.. insightful.. I don't think anyone knows.. not even Pilica…

"Why are you telling me all of this?"

"I dunno. I wasn't even sure if I.."

"..If I loved you.. or not.. so I came here to think it out. I don't even know if I was ever going to tell you.. but ya know.. you were here and saw me.. hitting my head on the tree.."

Hitting his head on the tree? Oh yeah!! The tree!! Aww you poor tree.. Wait.. why am I talking to the tree? Well.. I'm not really talking to it.. I'm thinking to it.. Wait.. that doesn't make sense either.. Huh? Why is Amidamaru looking at me like I grew an extra head?... or like I have some kind of unnatural growth on my face?.. It's probably because I'm sitting here and arguing with myself, isn't it? Yeah.. that's it.. I should stop right about now.. shouldn't I?

"Uhm.. Yoh-dono… you look a bit confused.. are you okay?"

"Ah.. shinpai suru na.. Ehehehe…"

"Yeah… I was wondering why you were doing that.."

Huh? Doing what? Oh yeah! The tree!! He was hitting his head on the tree..

"N-Not like that!"

Hehehe.. Ren's embarrassed now.. That's kind of funny. I really wanna see his face.. but I can't.. it's not fair.. Ma.. I guess just listening to it is alright.. at least I'm here, ne?

"Oh…"

"It's just that not every day you see someone ranting while continuously bashing their head against a tree like that! It's not normal!"

Aw.. that was I little mean.. Isn't like that you indirectly calling him an abnormal weirdo who is suffering from mild schizophrenia? Amidamaru's looking at me again.. maybe I should leave.. Wait a minute.. I can't leave! Even if I wanted to, I can't.. If I walk away from behind the tree.. I'll come into plain sight of Ren and possible Horohoro! Oh well.. no choice but to sit here and enjoy the soap opera…

"Yeah.. I guess… I just got frustrated 'cuz I couldn't figure out what the feelings that I had about you were.. but now I'm glad that you showed up.. since I told you.. I understand now.. thanks."

"Uhmm.. you're welcome.. I guess.."

Hehe.. this is nice.. sorta.. at first, it was really.. really weird.. but now I got used to it. It's not really all that bad, is it? I think it's sorta sweet.. in it's own.. uhm.. way. I guess the only thing this hangs on is Ren.

I really give Ren credit, though.. and Horohoro, too.. I guess it takes a really brave person to admit feelings like that.

"Hey.. what were you doing here anyway?"

That's right! We know why Horohoro came here.. but Ren kinda popped up out of nowhere, didn't he? And I thought that Ren much preferred dark places like cemeteries and other deserted places where he could think.. well.. during the night anyway.. What wouid he be doing at lunchtime, out of nowhere, going to a park, in Patch Village..? It's.. un-Ren-like..

"Neesan was talking to me about why I haven't got a girlfriend or some crap like that.. I just needed to get out of the hotel and clear my mind I guess.. then I find you hitting your head against a tree.. and telling me about how you love me.. ironic turn of events, isn't it?"

I try to hold in my laughter.. Amidamaru is smirking, too..

"He's absolutely right, Yoh-dono.. it's quite funny…"

I try not to crack up, too.. eventhough they haven't been hearing our whispers.. we can't take a chance on being discovered.. God knows what they'd do to us..

Well, Horohoro is laughing really loudly.. and.. a lot.. since it's so loud.. I let a couple of laughs out.. but no one heard.. he's still laughing, too…

"It's not that funny, you know.."

It was funny, though…

"I know.."

Aww.. there it is again.. the silence.. the silence from before has come to swallow my curiosity whole! I can't stand it.. it's.. it's nerve-wracking!

Now I can hear ruffling.. hmm? What could that be? It's not a lot..  I'm guessing that Horohoro is doing something now.. the ruffling is probably from that winter coat he wears..

"Oi! What are you do—"

Ren? What happened? His speech was muffled during the end so I couldn't hear it… Wait a minute? Muffled….. ruffling…. 'Oi.. what are you do—'.. 'doing was probably what he was saying.. soo.. uh oh… is Horohoro..

I can't stand it.. I have to see.. I have to.. I carefully lay down on the grass.. trying not to make a sound.. thankfully a tee shirt and sweatpants doesn't make much noise on grassy surfaces.. I then slide to the side of the tree.. just enough so that I can see what's happening.. I stop as soon as my eyes clear the side of the tree.. and I came face to face with the strangest sight I have ever seen…

It was Horohoro.. who was kissing… yep.. kissing Ren.. who was wide-eyed, paralyzed, and I think may be twitching.. but I can't see too well.. My God this is strange..

I quickly slide back to my previous place on the other side of the tree and I probably have the most hocked expression on my face.. I'll tell Amidamaru about it later.. His hitodama is floating around my head mouthing out 'what is it?'.. since it's too quiet to whisper anything..

I think Horohoro has just stopped kissing Ren.. Man that sounds weird.. I can hear footsteps within the silence.. I'm guessing it's Horohoro.. since Ren's shoes don't make too much noise..

"Aishiteru… Tao Ren…"

The footsteps are fading now.. but I'm pretty sure Ren is still standing there. Probably.

I lean up against the tree and just think about what happened.. This was definitely the thing that was going to happen today.. That one thing that replaced my roadwork.. the thing that was different.. Heh.. I don't think I'm going to tell anyone.. this is something that they should figure out.. Over time I may forget anyway.. Ma.. toriaezu.. Nanto ka naru sa… zettai ni..

I close my eyes again.. and fall into yet another sleep.. uncaring if Ren was there or not.. if he'll find me later..

… Everything will work out… definitely…

***

Owari!!

Oh wow.. now that was pointless! I think I know why I never write anything in Yoh's P.O.V… Because I don't understand him at all!!!!

 Aiiieee!! It really wasn't that bad.. but I may have been able to get it better.. if I understood Yoh's mentality.. which I don't.. so I'm not quite sure about that. I think that the randomness is kinda funny.. but I tried to make Yoh insightful at points.. but not too insightful.. even though he is insightful.. a lot.. I was just thinking about how funny Yoh was in the beginning of the series (Even though this is a manga-based fic) when he was a bit uhm.. yeah.. I cant find the proper word for it.. but I think I ended up making him seem like an airhead X.X…. ::falls over:: Ahh!! Forgive me!! Anyway..  Please review.. If you liked it.. let me know.. (Even though I can only check ff.net during my photography class..) I may just attempt to write another Yoh P.O.V. some day.. ^_^..

Arigatou Gozaimasu yo!