A/N: I might not finish this before ALA as I had expected. I'm very sorry I haven't updated! Thank you for reading!
Chapter Six: Calling All Shamans
"Len?" Jun peeked her head into Ren's room without knocking. She heard some scrambling and the next thing Ren was standing in front of her blushing.
"Jun, what are you doing? Knock!" He said frantically.
She smiled at him. "What are you so flustered for? Do you..." She looked around and leaned into Len to whisper "Do you have a dirty magazine for gays, Len?" She asked.
He looked mortified. "What?" He said, trying to hide his embarrassment. Jun dropped it.
"We're ready to judge, Ren- but first...I need to tell you something."
"Jun, I already know and it's impossible for this to continue-"
So he has already decided. I can change that. She thought. "Len, everyone's decided you can spend a little time- up to a day- with any one of them you like just to make sure..."
"I only need an hour and Jun, is this some plot to get me" He dropped his voice "to choose him? What if we were caught, Jun?" He asked.
"Take Lyserg out third. " Jun said, taking Len by the arm to lead him out. Bason suddenly appeared as Len yanked his arm away and began walking down the hall.
"Bacchumus didn't want to be bothered, Mistress Jun!" Bason told her.
"I don't blame him." She giggled and Len blushed.
"Jun, don't you dare tell anyone!" He said acidly.
"Why would I do that? You'd get in trouble!"
"What happened?" Bason asked.
"Well, you don't have to be specific!" Len whispered to her, though even a whisper was loud in the high-ceilinged court they were walking through now.
"No, but...still....it's your business. Father would be happy to hear you're interested in sex, though, Len..."
"What did you do, Bacchamus?" Bason asked him, and Ren walked faster to loose them.
He burst into the hall rather quickly and was half-way to the middle of the room without thinking. He stood in front of the three remaining. "This is it?" He asked.
En nodded. "Three talented and beautiful women, wouldn't you say? Tsuno's breasts are a bit big perhaps...but there you are!"
Len blushed again and felt he had been doing that too much lately. Jun walked in, Bason floating by her side. "Jun sais I can have time with them." He said. "I need only and hour each." He said. Jun handed him a clipboard all the sudden and Tsuno scowled. "You first." He pointed at Tsuno. "I'll look at beauty later."
"Jun was right to have Len choose personality!" Said his mother. "He obviously cares about it."
Len didn't have to drag Tsuno off. She followed him quickly and willingly. They were out of the room in seconds.
"He's in a hurry." Said Ren's grandfather. "Why don't you go ahead and sit down, ladies." Lyserg and Carolyn sat down.
"He was probably training." En said proudly.
"Most definitely." Jun agreed without pause. She was turning out to be an excellent actress.
"You're Tsuno?" Len asked, consulting his column and seeing for the first time that Jun had taken important facts down for him. I have a wonderful sister. He thought. "Not much here about you." The stepped out into the open courtyard filled with beautifully kept trees and a nice breeze. "We won't be bothered here." he told her. "Jun wrote that you were a warrior."
"I am." Tsuno said proudly. "And my breasts are only B." She added.
Len blushed. This breast thing was really coming back to haunt him. "Still larger than needed." He insulted. "You're to be pregnant."
"They probably won't go up past a C with milk." Tsuno pointed out.
Len shook his head. "It doesn't trouble me most, Tsuno." He said.
"What is it Master Len?" She asked politely. He looked at her, smiling.
She would be wonderful if she were a man. "Just don't call me Bacchumus. Bason calls me that." Len said.
"What does it mean?"
"Young master." Len said.
"I take it you like being called master?" Tsuno said with a sly smile.
"You remind me too much of one of our kyonshie experts." Len told her. "But yes. I'll tell you what bothers me most. You ignored Pailong's soul, Tsuno. You assumed he could not be Jun's friend."
"Spirits are your friends, Master Len?" Tsuno asked.
Len's eyes grew cold and stern. "Maybe I'd marry you." He said "After you had your ass kicked by Yoh and Amidamaru." Tsno's eyes were not equally as cold, but she was obviously insulted. "Bason is my friend, yes, and more loyal than anyone else in this family besides my sister. Pailong is not just a formidable opponent, he is a good person and ally and protects Jun with his body despite past wrongs. And I could say the very same for Bason- who well should have left when I released my iron grip on him. I would have. You can get out of my sight." Len began to head back, leaving Tsuno behind. "And out of my house!" He yelled without looking back at her.
He returned to the room early, much to the surprise of the others. "Get the woman out of my house!" He demanded, and En immediately felt as if he had failed.
"It was her breasts, wasn't it?" He asked Len.
"No, father, it was not." Len replied briskly, then snapped "What are you waiting for?" heatedly at Carolyn.
"Ah! Yes, Len!" She followed him at a slight jog and Len ended up taking her by the arm and pulling her to the garden where Tsuno was just being dragged off, cursing. Carolyn looked nervous.
Len looked behind him where her eyes were fixed. "Oh, you're looking at Tsuno. Don't worry, your marks suggest no such thing will happen to you. Jun warned me about her through this." He held up the clipboard.
"Oh, her notes!"
"I have a question."
"Yes?"
"This Manny seems wonderful. What happened to her?" Len asked.
Carolyn blushed a bit. "Oh, she didn't want to marry you. She was pretty too!"
Len stared at Carolyn, then began to laugh hysterically.
Carolyn giggled with him. She had a very pretty laugh. "A shame, isn't it?" She added. "She was witty."
"Witty?" Len said, truly interested. "Are you not witty?"
"I'm afraid not..." Carolyn replied sweetly.
At this point, Len looked over his notes. There had to be some reason she was not right for him, besides the fact she was female- Wait. He looked down on her head due to her height, then pushed her back for a better look. She was pretty attractive. He stepped back. "Turn around." He said, and she happily did a catwalk turn which reminded him of Lyserg. That's when he saw En staring out the front window. He was starting to spy. He pretended not to notice. "Carolyn?"
"Yes?"
"May I ask you a personal question?" He asked, an almost complete blush covering his face.
"Is this about my breast size, I'm pretty sure I'm small...But I don't mind if you stare at them a while." She said with a smile.
Len blushed further, thanking her for her cooperation.
"You're actually really shy, you know that? But strong...like a samurai." Carolyn joked. Len blushed even more, pictures of Amidamaru popping into his head.
He closed his eyes "Don't say that. I know a Samurai."
"Oh, you do? Sorry, Master Len..." Carolyn said. "I've been meaning to ask what kind of spirit you had, by the way!" She added as if she just remembered.
"He's...a Chinese Warlord."
"Hm...I've never seen one." Carolyn said.
"My sister says you have a nature spirit here." Len said, consulting the clipboard. "Mira?"
"I told her to wait in my room." She said. "She gets really possessive sometimes. She's the spirit of a lake- you know...a water nymphe."
"Powerful?" Len asked.
"Yes, very." Carolyn said proudly. "She's been my only friend for the last six years." Carolyn promptly covered her mouth, but Len reacted on instinct as well. He grabbed her hand and took it away, then realized what he'd done and let it go immediately. It dropped to her side. She smiled awkwardly.
He looked at the ground and blushed, imagining his father's big smile at the exchange. "I know the feeling." Len said. "That's all. There was no need for you to stop yourself from saying something like this. Many shamans find themselves in the same situation most of their lives."
Carolyn nodded. "I suppose you're right. I don't know any other Shamans." she looked into the sky. "This is my chance." She whispered.
Guilt stabbed Len through the heart. This girl didn't deserve what she had. She needed someone like her....and that someone was him. He thought of Lyserg. His happiness...my happiness...Jun's worked so hard for us. But there was no absolute reason why he shouldn't like her. His selfishness was absolute. He nodded to her, and made a decision. "I forgot something. I need to make a phone call. Can we return?" He asked.
She nodded. They headed back up to the main floor, where En was sitting like he hadn't moved. Jun looked at him with concern when she saw Carolyn walk in smiling at him. "Father, I need a short break. The last doesn't mind waiting?" Len asked. En looked at Lyserg, but Lyserg's eyes were on Len, and he shook his head.
"I don't mind waiting at all, Master Ren." He said, and Len nodded at him.
"I'll be right back." He left the room quickly.
"Bathroom, I'm sure." En said, shifting in his throne with his big oversoul. Lyserg nodded at him with a smile, but he wasn't so sure.
"I have them on the phone." The servant handed Len the phone. Jun had bought one to comunicate with Yoh and Len's other friends when she realized he would never ask himself to have one. Funny how things Jun did always got back to him in a useful way.
"Leave at once." Len said quickly, and the servant obeyed. Bason appeared in flame ball mode next to him as the phone rung.
"Bacchamus-"
"Bason, I'm really about to be embarrassed by your presence, so if you would leave..." Bason disappeared.
The phone clicked. "Funibari Hot Springs. How may I help you?"
"......................"
"Hello?"
"Ana?"
"Ren?" Ana switched the phone to her other ear. "Are you calling for Yoh? How did you get this number? This is a business line!"
"Manta gave it to Jun." Ren's voice said on the other side.
Anna glared at Manta, who scooted out of the room.
Ren heard a loud noise. "May I talk to Yoh?" He asked.
"He's taking to Horo."
"Horo's still there?" Ren said, not entirely surprised.
"He's paying. Oh...he's paying." Anna said dangerously. "Faust! Come fix manta! He got on my bad side again!" Ana's voice sounded far away now.
"Anna! Anna!" Ren called, trying to get her attension again.
"Don't take too long." Anna's voice said.
"For me?" Yoh asked her.
"It's Ren."
"IT's REN?" Horro and Yoh said together.
The phone made a few more noises, as if it was being picked up or taken. "Ren?"
"Yoh...." Ren found himself stuck after this word.
"What's the matter?"
"Uh...did you get your invitation to the banquet?" Ren asked. He kicked himself mentally.
"Oh, yah." Yoh said happily. "Horo got his too. Oh, and Manta. We already sent out our reply yesterday."
"Where you worried, Ren?" Horro's voice shouted faintly.
Ren took a deep breath. "Yoh, I have a problem."
"I figured this was a problem, Ren....the banquet's for your marriage. How are you feeling?"
"How did you feel when you got engaged?" Ren asked in a whisper.
Silence.
"Exacly." Ren told him. "Now, here's the problem...the real problem...my sister..." He dropped his voice to a whisper again "My sister has Lyserg here."
"WOW! REALLY?!"
"Tell me Horro can't hear this...." Ren groaned.
"He can't. So, you choose Lyserg, right Ren? We won't be conspicuous about it, but I'll have to tell the others about you and Lyserg-"
"Yoh."
"Huh?"
"It isn't fair." Ren mumbled. "It's unfair....all these girls....Carolyn...she came so far...she's kind...talented...."
"Ren....." Yoh looked at the phone. "Ok." He said when he got back on. "Listen, Ren. Do you remember what you kept saying about the Shaman fight? About how only one person can ever win it?"
"I know that, Yoh...I know what I have to do for Lyserg and I, but I need to ask...a favor."
"Go ahead."
"Tell someone you have a wife for them. Horo, Chocolove, Ryu...they're all stupid so I don't care who. She needs a Shaman, Yoh..." Ren said "She has no choice where she lives. Someone who can take care of her and who is Shamanic. Or spiritualistic or....you know..."
"Manta." Yoh suddenly said on the other line. "Want a Shamanic wife?"
"WHAT?!" Ren and Manta both yelled.
"Hm? You said you didn't care who..." Yoh told Ren.
"MANTA'S NOT A SHAMAN!"
"But he belongs here, Ren." Yoh said happily into the phone. "He belongs in the word of Shamans. And he's rich. And he's smart. He's like you, Ren...but nicer. And not as powerful. He'll understand her need for the spiritual world."
Len was silent on the phone.
"Oh, Yoh...." Manta and Yoh smiled at each other. Manta fought tears in his eyes, but shook his head really quickly. "I- I can't!"
"Sure you can." Yoh said with a smile. "Everything will work out! I bet she's really pretty!"
"It isn't that...it's just that...she's a Shaman and-"
"You're not being selfish, Manta. This is your world too."
Manta seemed frozen in happiness all the sudden. Ren was starting to wonder what was going on.
"It's true." Yoh told his friend, and the Manta gave up on fighting the tears back. "Ah...Manta...don't cry..." Yoh comforted.
"Hold that thought, Yoh...For a long time." Ren said
"Ah.....how long?" Yoh asked.
"LONG!" Ren said, and the line went dead.
Len ran back to the main room. Lyserg was still standing there with Carolyn, who was still in the running, next to him. "This one?"
"Lyserg." He said.
Len sighed. "Strange foreign name." En nodded. "Come with me, please." Lyserg followed Len almost side by side down into the courtyard.
Len whispered to him as they went "Don't let on you're male, Lyserg. My father's been at the top window spying on me." Lyserg nodded.
Len looked at the clipboard as soon as they were outside. "So...no bad marks from Jun....good ones, though. You're trilingual?" Len said with real shock.
"Huh? Yah...I speak Japanese, English and Spanish." Lyerg said. "I don't speak Spanish well, though..."
"I see." Len said. "Japanese...many of my friends speak Japanese."
"Well, Shaman fight in Tokyo." Lyersg joked.
"Witty, aren't you?" Len asked. " You are very talented. You'd never sewn before..."
"No. Jun said I did quiet well."
Len looked up a bit. En could see them, but he couldn't hear them, he was sure. "Lyserg, turn around." he said, repeating the same thing he had done with Carolyn. He definitely loved what he saw at this time. Lyserg did a slow turn around and Len blushed. He has such grace... he shook his head to get himself out of it, but it didn't really work. Right in his presence like this, Len couldn't help but feel like being sexy with him. "Your spirit." Len said, deciding to call attention to her since she was giggling at Len's inability to suppress his desires.
She stopped laughing and Lyserg held out his finger for her. She sat on it. "Morphea. I'm a dowser. Remember?" At this Lyserg's lips curled up slightly. Of course he hadn't forgotten, and that was the point. Len was sure that En saw that little smile. He had very good eyesight.
"Witty." Len said again and Lyserg's smile became more full. "Do you make a habit of teasing men?" This was actually a very old line between them. Lyserg couldn't help a little laugh.
"No, Master Len." He said politely. "You're just irresistible." It was very clearly sarcasm.
"I suggest you don't do that to my father, Lyserg." Ren said, stepping closer despite his blush. "But I find it rather cute." Morphine burst into giggles again, flying behind Lyserg's shoulder and peeking her head over. "You and your spirit may go if you don't like me."
"On the contrary." Lyserg flirted. "Morphea and I find you more than worthy of attention. We like you very much, Tao Ren. Please excuse my tone...it's just I think you're very....sexy...it's hard to control such wit in front of you."
"I'm not surprised." Len said. He remembered his father and added "I was hoping for something like this. Shall we return?"
A yelp of joy was heard from two floors above, and Len glared at his father as he tried to hide. Lyserg repressed his laughter and Morphea didn't even try.
Rea: I know, cliffhanger! Sorry again about not updating!