Disclaimer: If Shaman King were mine, I wouldn't need to write fanfics.
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Not another school story, you say! Please, spare us! I would love to, but my invisible writing stalker won't let me! I promise I will skip over the dramatic shonen-ai shojo version, since I know probably no guys would actually do that, but there will shonen-ai! Pairings are still up in the air, but please know the love square before flaming me. The pairings I suggest may or may not be there in the end. And yes, there will be an end!
Note: I'm not sure if said this, but this is their sophomore year.
Chapter 11 – In and Out
Ren walked down the hallway, feeling slightly bothered that Yoh was acting so strange lately. After all, Yoh used to always pay attention to him when he was flirting with the younger twin, but now Yoh was spacing out so much it was unnatural. Lyserg was also acting a little weird around Yoh too. Something seemed to happen between the two and Hao was using it to his advantage.
"No, I am not going to give you a lap dance," Lyserg had said rather loudly during a loud (but not loud enough) study hall. He glared at Hao, who just smirked and leaned closer to him and whispered something in his ear. Ren had overheard the words 'lap dance' and 'Yoh' in the very same sentence and was slightly startled when Lyserg turned an impressive shade of red when Hao leaned back. Ren couldn't help but repay Lyserg for the favor a few art classes ago.
"Should I try and capture your shade of red?" Ren asked loudly, holding up a red pen. Lyserg seemed even more embarrassed and got up and sat next to Manta, who usually sat alone. Because of that, Manta was currently convinced that Lyserg was his friend and was now following the Diethyl around. At the moment, Lyserg was trying to lose the midget in one of the various hallways.
"Yo! Ren! Wait up!"
Ren turned and saw Horo jogging up to him. "Ren, what happened with Lyserg and Yoh?"
"I don't know." Ren frowned. "Yoh's out of it today."
"Yoh's always out of it."
"I know. But he wasn't even trying to pay attention."
Ren had been sitting very close and being as voluptuous as possible, but Yoh had only nodded at him and continued to stare out at space. Normally, Yoh would have reacted, if not scooted farther away in fear. Okay, when Ren flirted, he flirted.
"Hmm. Hao seems to know about it."
Ren shrugged. "Why are you following me?"
"What else should I do?" Horo rested a hand on Ren's shoulder and pulled it off the instant Ren jumped at the contact. "What?"
"S-sorry…" Ren felt a shade of pink overcome his face. Why had Horo's hand sent sparks through him. Damn it. "Never mind."
At that very instant, Hao rounded the corner and nearly collided into them. "Yo my peeps! What's going through?"
"What?" Ren and Horo asked at the same time.
"What's the story, morning glory? What's the word, humming bird?" (Azumanga Daioh reference) Hao kept asking, pushing the two down the hallway. The two were too confused to tell Hao had an ulterior motive.
"What are you talking about?" Ren demanded, trying to walk in the opposite direction. However, Hao was pushing too hard for him to really resist.
"Where are you taking us?" Horo asked, curious. He really didn't have a problem with Hao…except that boy could be annoyingly straightforward and…just annoying.
"Places…wonderful, awesome places," Hao drawled. He gripped the two in his iron grasp and opened a door in front of them. The door revealed to be a tiny storage closet with no source of light.
"In you two go!" Hao shoved the two into the closet and before they could move, the door closed behind them and there was an unsettling sound of a lock.
"Hao! Let us out!" Ren shouted, moving to the door. There was hardly any room and he toppled over what felt like a metal bucket. Knowing for sure he now had a bruise on his shin, he fell forward and onto Horo.
Hao's laughter could be heard from behind the door. "Enjoy yourselves."
"Damn him," Ren muttered, then suddenly realized he was inches away from Horo's face. He tried to move, but suddenly there was a loud sound and they were buried by the various items in the closet.
Apparently, the bucket he tripped over was the only the first domino in the effect. It was the relieving triangle, the ramp, doorstop, whatever. With it gone from place, everything fell apart.
"Ouch."
"Ren can you move off of me?"
"If I could, I would." Ren was firmly pressed against Horo, feeling the older boy's body heat. He felt his face heat up and was glad it was dark enough so no one could see anything. Horo felt his heart race being so close to Ren.
"Do I feel a boner?"
"Shut up, Ren."
"Ag. Ag, ag, ag. You're horny, Horo."
"I am not!"
"Then I don't want to know what that thing poking into my hip is."
Horo blushed. He attempted to bring his hand up to slap Ren across the head when he encountered something on his way up that blocked access to his head.
"Horo, get your hand off my ass!"
"Okay, jeez!" Horo shifted and something fell, blocking his hand from moving backward.
"Shit. I can't move my hand, Ren."
"Great. At least someone's going to enjoy their time in here," Ren grumbled. "Just don't start groping me, alright?"
"Fine." Horo smiled to himself, letting his hand rest where it was, feeling Ren squirm uncomfortably. After a time of struggle, Ren gave up and rest his head on Horo's chest. The two watched shadows flicker across the crack in the doorway and both were surprised when the other didn't immediately call out for help when someone walked past the door. Well, at least Horo was.
In Ren's defense, it was comfortable. The two spent most of the time in silence, Ren forcing (and failing) his heart's erratic beating to return to normal. Horo soon 'calmed down' and almost fell asleep.
"Horo?"
"…"
"Don't fall asleep on me, you asshole."
"I'm up."
Ren was silent. "Do you think…" he trailed off. He was bored and when he got bored, he started thinking. And when he started thinking, he started thinking out loud. And often times, he couldn't control speaking out loud.
"What?"
"Do you think Yoh's ever going to like me?" Hell, Horo knew and it wasn't as if someone was listening in on him. Horo was one of Yoh's confidants, along with Lyserg. Yoh was always there with Ren, but Yoh always kept his trap shut anyway.
Horo didn't reply for a minute. "I don't know," he said truthfully. Although he wanted to say 'No' and crush Ren's hopes (and hopefully, in that hopelessness state, he'd actually start falling for him), but a part of him knew he shouldn't lie to Ren. And he honestly didn't know. Then again, Yoh had already revealed that he liked Lyserg, but only in a drunk state, and didn't really say much about the subject.
"What does that mean?"
"You know Yoh. He's not interested in things like that. He's like a boy who goes through puberty and doesn't even think about looking at porn."
"You look at porn?" Ren asked disgustedly.
"No, that's not what I mean," Horo said quickly.
"Has Yoh told anything to you about the subject?" Ren's voice sounded soft and quiet, as if he wanted to know, but at the same time, didn't.
"Well…it was when he was drunk, so I don't think he was thinking about it…"
"What is it?"
"Well, like I said, he was drunk and he probably wasn't even thinking straight…"
"Tell me, Horokeu."
Horo grimaced. Whenever Ren used his first name, he found he couldn't resist. It was one of his weak spots. That and Ren's voice had been full of determination and strength. One of the reasons Horo found Ren irresistible: despite his height (or he was vertically challenged, he liked to say) and first impression, Ren was actually quite strong-willed and was willing to do anything to get his way. Strength…he liked that in a person. He sighed. "Well…if you don't want to hear it…"
"I do. Tell me."
Horo took a deep breath. "You know how Lyserg was on top of Yoh? Well…they were like that for a long time that night and Yoh was drunk…so he might have been impaired…"
"Say it," Ren said, although Horo could hear the despair in his voice.
"Yoh said…" Horo faltered. He hated doing this Ren. Hated hearing the hope disappear. But if Ren wanted to hear it, he'd have to say it. The thought of lying completely crossed his mind, but Horo believed in the truth. "He said to Lyserg… 'I so want to do you so badly, Lyserg.' I'm not sure if he really meant it or he was just drunk but…"
"Thank you," Ren whispered, and Horo jumped to hear the boy on top of him's voice crack. He felt Ren tremble and Horo leapt into action. "Listen, Yoh probably didn't mean it, he was drunk and when you're drunk you don't think…you don't know what you're saying…"
His mother really hadn't meant You're a waste of space, you and your sister
Your father really left me with two annoyingly wasteful brats!
I hate you!
"He meant it," Ren said, sounding utterly defeated and trying to stop the tears from coming. "Because…you've seen how Yoh gets whenever something bad happens to Lyserg. Remember a few days ago when Ryu was trying to lure Lyserg to go smoking with him? Lyserg was fine by himself but Yoh…he just jumped in and saved him." Ren sniffed, feeling the tears trickle down his face and soaking Horo's shirt. "Like a fricking knight in shining armor, Horo. Like a fricking knight."
"I'm sorry," Horo said in a low voice.
"Don't be. I've known for a while that Yoh wasn't interested in me. I just didn't know it was Lyserg." Ren shifted slightly and Horo realized his shirt had teardrops on it. "Are you crying, Ren?"
"Yeah!" Ren said, the sorrow in his voice giving away to frustration. "I think you would too if someone who really changed your life didn't feel the same way you do!"
"Changed your life?"
"Yeah," Ren said bitterly. "I used to be an anti-social brat who didn't think friends were worth having, but Yoh showed me that some people are really nice…" His voice trailed off. "I wouldn't expect you to understand. No one's changed your life like that."
"Yeah. You."
Ren's eyes widened in the dark. "What?"
"You," Horo repeated. Hell, they were spilling their guts. What was the harm just going with the flow? After all, Ren knew he liked him. "I used to be hopeless…I mean, without hope, not like I was hopeless…but you've given me a reason to actually try. Yeah, cheesy, I know. Call me on it."
"American cheese chessy," Ren admitted. "But thank you anyway."
Horo chuckled. "Well, that's you. Now I have a question for you."
"What?"
"Is there any way you would ever like me?"
Ren felt his heart suddenly start racing. Horo? Would he ever like Horo?
"No," he said automatically, although he had considered it. Horo was a nice person…strange and stupid sometimes, yes, but nice.
"Well, thank you," Horo said sarcastically. "Well, I'm just fine with you knowing about it and respecting me for it."
Yes, I respect you for coming out with it "I never said I respected you for it."
"You're so mean, Ren. Sometimes I wonder why I like you."
"Hey, you're rubbing my ass now."
"I'd be rubbing your back, but I can't reach it. I'll have to make do."
"Yeah, you wanna do me."
"Hey. Do you want another boner?"
"Ew! Stop!"
"So…wanna hang out at my house?"
"No, Manta, I'm busy all week," Lyserg said, trying to walk quickly down the hall. Strange…Manta had such short legs but he was keeping up with him so well.
"No really, it'll be fun!" Manta was wearing a school shirt normally issued to fourth graders and his tie was more like a scarf. He trotted down the hall next to Lyserg. "We can talk about…stuff!"
"I don't want to talk about stuff, Manta," Lyserg said, wondering if Hao could just come and save him from Manta. He was that desperate.
"Not even about Asakura Yoh?"
Lyserg stopped in his tracks and Manta quickly caught up to him, knowing he had struck the greenette's Achilles heel. "I heard what Hao said, about 'giving Yoh a lap dance'," he panted. Okay, it was hard to keep up with someone whose legs were longer than yours. "So do you like him?"
"Of course I like Yoh. He's my friend," Lyserg said, sounding a little strained.
"You know what I mean," Manta said, sounding like a girl in a gossip group. "Like like him?"
Lyserg turned, a little frown on his face. "Why are we talking about this?"
Manta smiled, creepily. Lyserg turned back down the hallway and found salvation in a single door. Feeling liberated, he started walking toward it. He really didn't want to discuss his private life with this midget.
"Where are you going?"
"To see the school psychiatrist," Lyserg said, a twisted smile crossing his face. "You're right…I should really talk about it."
Manta stopped in his tracks for a moment before sprinting to keep up with Lyserg. "Wait! You're not really going to be talking to…Marco…are you?!"
"Yeah, actually, I am. Have a problem with it?" He arrived at the school psychiatrist's door, and looked back down at Manta. Manta didn't look like he was going to budge, as if daring Lyserg to go in. Shrugging, Lyserg reached for the doorknob and turned. Manta's face started to turn white.
"Marco!" Lyserg called, laughing to himself as Manta started backing away. This shrimp really thought he was bluffing, wasn't he? Lyserg smiled and stepped into the office, closing the door behind him.
Marco looked up from the desk he was sitting in, his eyes looking above his rimless spectacles. He had been writing something amidst his paper filled desk as he looked up, his work space the only messy part of the whole room. There was a peaceful spot with a couch where students could spill their guts in the traditional shrink way.
Marco even kept files on every student that came to see him.
"Can I help you, Mr. Diethyl?" Marco asked.
"Oh, not really. I was just trying to escape from someone." Lyserg tried to look through the misted pane and decided that Manta had scampered. "Okay, I guess I can go now…" Lyserg reached for the door handle.
"Wait a minute. I've been hearing things about you."
"Good things, I hope," Lyserg laughed, his hand resting on the door knob. Marco was a friendly guy. He didn't really quite understand why everyone at school was so weirded out to go to see the school counselor.
"Hmm…you could say." Marco sat back at his desk. "I've been having some talks with Jeanne lately."
Ag. Talks. Jeanne was another teacher Lyserg had no problem being friends with. Except he hadn't exactly talked to the French teacher in a while. He didn't even take French. He was fluent in Spanish, English, and Japanese, thank you very much.
"She said you've been having a falling out with one of your friends."
"And she knows this how?" Lyserg said, the smile still on his face.
"She watches, Mr. Diethyl. I'm sure you know your friend Mr. Asakura…Yoh, I mean," Marco added, as Lyserg opened his mouth to ask which one, "takes French…Jeanne says he's been quiet lately and that you two usually walk to your next class together. Except you haven't been doing that as of late."
Lyserg didn't say anything.
"I don't walk around the school for nothing," Marco said shortly before coughing lightly in his hand. "I've been watching you."
Okay, now he was starting to understand the freakiness of this office.
"Care to elaborate?" Marco asked, pulling out a legal pad. "Is it friendship issues? Peer pressure?" Marco paused for a moment. "Relationship issues?"
Feeling his face heat up, Lyserg tried to open the door to leave but found himself oddly unable to move. Frozen by panic (or fear of realization?), Lyserg tried to make himself move when the doorknob suddenly turned on its own and the door swung outwards, causing Lyserg to let go of the knob and fall backwards.
"Lyserg! There you are! I've been looking for you!" Catching him at the right moment, Lyserg turned to see Yoh's concerned face staring down at him. "We're late for next class and I was looking for you when I saw you through the window. What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Lyserg muttered, quickly getting to his feet and avoided looking at the counselor, who was looking amused. "You should have someone check on the door if someone can see through it so easily," he mumbled, pulling Yoh out of the doorway.
"Come by anytime," Marco called as the door shut behind them.
"Is something wrong? You actually went to Marco," Yoh said, following Lyserg. "I guess I saved you from something."
"You didn't save me from something," Lyserg defended, knowing the blush on his face hadn't disappeared yet.
Yoh looked at him for a minute. "Lyserg, are you embarrassed?"
"No!" Lyserg spun around, his eyes flashing anger for a moment. "I am not embarrassed and I don't care what you say! I don't care if you like me or you want to do me but just STOP…" He was cut off as Yoh slipped a hand onto his cheek, gently, and smiled.
"You're so cute when you're like this, Lyserg."
"Stop! We're at school!" Lyserg hissed, his face reddening as Yoh chuckled. "Get…get your hand…" But he couldn't finish his sentence, he was feeling so preoccupied.
"What, now?" Yoh chuckled again as he moved closer. Lyserg reached out and put his hands on Yoh's shoulders, as if to widen the already diminished space between them, but the Asakura felt no pressure push him back. He let his hand drop and circle itself around Lyserg's waist, feeling the smaller boy tense in his grasp.
"Y-Yoh…" Lyserg started again, but bit his tongue as Yoh just held him in his feather-like grip; holding, yet loose and comfortable. He hated the feeling of overwhelming shyness overcome him again, but Yoh was forcing it on him lately. His crush on Horo was already among the least thought about subjects in his head.
Yoh was gentle…so gentle and this felt so comfortable…Lyserg didn't make a sound as Yoh leaned down to kiss him, claim his perfectly pink lips for the younger twin's own…
Crash. "Shit."
The two leapt apart and turned to a door next to them. There sounded like there was someone behind it.
"Horo, what was that for?"
"Hey, I'm sorry, I moved. I was feeling numb."
"So you have to push your big ass around? Great, they probably heard us."
"So? Like you care."
"Horo? Ren? What are you two doing there?" Yoh asked, bending down to speak through the crack at the door.
"Hao locked us in here," said Ren's voice.
"We've been in here for an entire period," Horo's voice chimed in.
"Why don't you get out?" Lyserg asked, pulling at the door handle, which came off in his hand. "How did that happen?"
There was a clonk on the other side of the door. "What fell?" Ren accused Horo.
"The doorknob," Yoh said, speaking through the hole. "Let us get a janitor. Are you guys hurt or uncomfortable?"
"Hurt, no, but I've been on top of Horo for a whole forty minutes," Ren said sarcastically. "So, no, we're peachy."
Yoh and Lyserg exchanged amused looks. "Well, we'll go get someone to get you two out! Just sit tight!"
"Or lie tight, whatever floats your boat," Lyserg added, as the two scampered off to get help.
Note: ew too much shojo. thank you for all your reviews! it makes me feel loved! thank you! also, there will be a sequel, although i'm having a few bouts of writer's block. i have at least three chapters written for it though.
SHAMAN KING REPRINT MARCH 4! GET EXCITED!