Disclaimer: If Shaman King were mine, I wouldn't need to write fanfics. If any of these songs were mine, I wouldn't be writing fanfics.

Background music: Pretty. Odd. – Track Eleven – Folkin' Around

Chapter Eleven – Folkin' Around

It was a really hot day. Unusually hot for an autumn day. Summer must have been trying to make some kind of half-assed comeback. Thankfully, Smooth E had a turn-of-the-century air conditioner that was the latest of all twenty-first century air conditioners.

So naturally, everyone inside felt like they were icicles. Even Hao seemed to have his joints iced or something because he no longer was interested in mutilating fruit. Silva seemed to have an inner heater because he was prancing around like a spring chicken.

"So, boys! How was your week!"

"Fine." Silva cocked his head disappointedly as the same word came out of all three boys' mouths at the exact same time. It was a tired, bored sounding 'fine'.

If Silva could have entered their minds at that moment, he would have lamented the death of joy and gayness (as in happiness).

Yoh was acting rather broodishly, which was against the carefree happy nature he was born with. He had been having trouble looking Tamao in the eye properly. Tamao seemed to have forgotten how awkward their last kiss was, although maybe she hadn't because they hadn't kissed recently. Did this mean their relationship was heading for the dumps already? The pinkette was still nice and easy-going, but something just wasn't the same anymore. Hao had just summed up his troubles in his observation and it always echoed in his mind every time he was with Tamao.

You were thinking about Lyserg, weren't you?

Hao was feeling lethargic. Like an old man. He thought that maybe he was on drugs and now he was trying to get off cold turkey. And his drug happened to be Lyserg (get it? Ha. Ha.). Something happened and he couldn't put his finger on it. Sure, they had slept with each other and took their relationship to a whole new level, but now it was like Lyserg was not like he used to be. Sure, the boy still had a smile on his face and was still as sharp-tongued as could be, but it seemed more like an act than his usual shenanigans.

And the worst thing was, he hadn't made out with Lyserg for weeks already! (sob!)

Lyserg was the youngest out of all of the people in the room, so he put it upon himself to cheer everyone up. Sure, maybe things were heading a little rocky and sure, maybe he should tell them he was going back to England in a week or two, but everything was going to be fine. It was like that in movies and TV sitcoms. And they were based on real life, so it had to happen, right? Putting on the cutest face he could, he slid up to Hao and linked arms. "Aw, Hao, why so down?"

"Because, Lyserg, we haven't made out in weeks." Hao wasn't one to beat around the bush.

"Is that it?" Lyserg gave Hao his signature Bambi eyes and watched as that did the work for him. Hao could never resist those and after a brief pause, the two were practically on top of each other. Silva let out a whistle and Yoh seemed to slide off the counter.

"And Yoh…why're you so down?" Breaking away to check up on his other toy, Lyserg grabbed Yoh's elbow to try and keep steady as Hao started necking him. He nearly fell over as Yoh shrugged him off and looked a bit listless. "I'm fine."

"Fine? …ooh, Hao, not here!" Yoh wished he had his headphones or something. Anything to block out the voices behind him.

All of a sudden, the bells at the door rang, signaling the entrance of a potential customer. Yoh had to comment them, because as the first chime of the bell rang through the store, his brother and Lyserg darted to the counter as if what?-no-we-have-not-just-been-making-out. Lyserg was adjusting the apron around his neck when Tamao walked up to the counter with a friend, a dirty blonde girl with a red scarf around her neck.

"Anna Kyoyama," Yoh heard Lyserg whisper to Hao. "She's a creepy girl in our class."

"Hello, Yoh," Tamao said, a shy smile on her face. "Like I promised, I brought a customer. This is Anna. She likes to endorse certain shops, so she brought a lot of college students to Starbucks when she heard I work there. She's my friend."

Anna gave Yoh a look down. "This is your boyfriend, Tamao?" Sighing disappointedly, she shook her head. "Well…you did your best."

"W-What?"

Anna finished her search of the premises. "Oh, hello, Lyserg. I didn't know you worked here too."

"Hi Anna." Yoh strangely felt like snickering at the wavering fear in Lyserg's voice. Still, this girl was quite intimidating. Even Silva had been shut up temporarily.

"I'm Hao, Yoh's brother," Hao called, obviously not afraid of this girl like most of the people in the shop was.

"Charmed," Anna said shortly, barely looking at him. "Tamao, can you just talk to your boyfriend and let's just get out of here? I bet they run some kind of black market here. There's no one here." Huffing, Anna walked over to a table and sat down, crossing her arms as she waited for Tamao to finish her business.

"Black market?" Silva whimpered, shriveling even with Hao trying to pat him on the back.

"So…Yoh…I thought that maybe we'd get together later today?" Tamao smiled again. "We haven't been seeing each other a lot lately…"

A flicker of a smile crossed Lyserg's face, but Tamao was sure it was just a trick of the light. Which happened to be flickering, spluttering, actually. Which was what Silva was doing.

"Black market," he was sputtering to Hao. "She said I ran a black market!"

"Calm, old man. She didn't mean any offence."

"I did," Anna called, causing Silva to whimper again.

"I'd like that." Yoh matched her smile. "I felt like our relationship was a bit stale but I'd like it to be up and going again. I want us to last."

"That's how I feel!" Tamao clapped her hands together to seal the deal. "I think we have a lot of potential and I'm sure we can get everything to work out smoothly."

"Talking about smoothie," Silva piped up, a bit half-hearted. "Care to order anything?"

Tamao glanced over at Anna timidly, who sighed loudly and walked up to the counter. "Fine. I'll have…a mango melon smoothie."

"Same," Tamao said quickly, looking as if she wanted the whole thing to be over soon. Yoh wondered how they could be considered friends if Tamao seemed so afraid of Anna.

"Chop it up, boys!" Silva shouted. "Satisfaction of the customer is tops!"

"I'm sure it is," Anna said. "Tell me, what else do you sell here besides drinks?"

"Um, that's it."

"Is that so? So you're not interested in me offering a few grand for some…goods?" Anna grinned evilly. "I got money."

"Miss, we only sell drinks here!"

"Hm. Well, don't say I didn't offer it." Silva gave another pitiful whimper.

Yoh blinked as he felt Lyserg brush his hand against his and keep it there a few more seconds than a mere brush. He pulled away and looked up at Tamao, who quickly turned away to talk to Anna, who was giving Silva the evil eye. Yoh turned back to Lyserg with a 'stop-that!' glare, which the boy easily deflated with an eye roll. Yoh turned and frowned to himself, feeling disappointed in himself. He was going out with Tamao, dammit!

"Here you go." Lyserg smiled rather mysteriously as he put the finished drinks on the counter. Anna took hers without a second look while Tamao reached for it, frowning a bit as Lyserg gave her a triumphant look. The pinkette could feel sparks practically manifesting in the air.

"I'll see you soon, Yoh," Tamao said, stressing every word as she tugged at Anna's arm. "Let's go, Anna!"

"Alright, fine. Bye, Tamao's boyfriend, Lyserg, Hank, and black market man."

"It's Hao!"

"I am not in the black market!"

…

Other than Tamao and Anna, the number of customers at the end of the day had come down to a grand total of zero. Yoh didn't quite understand while Silva kept buying fruit. There was still a ransom of frozen fruit at the back and Silva had come back with a grin and an arm full of apples, saying "They were on sale! They were good! So I had to buy!".

Impulsive buyers these days…

"Let's all walk home together again!" Lyserg announced, latching his arms around both twin's arms.

"Yeah!" Silva leapt over to them as if he were included in this little gang until Hao held his hand up. "Hold it, old man. Who said he had to do some paperwork after work today?"

"Crap." Silva's face fell. "Well…behave, boys. I wouldn't want you to get arrested for PDA."

"Oh, right."

Walking through the cities at night was always somehow interesting. Either Hao was just asking to be run over or someone would just make some kind of pass at Lyserg, resulting in some kind of attack by Hao. Coupled with the lights and the people, it was a new experience walking down the same road back home every time.

"So how's school?" Hao asked, as he was the current twin Lyserg was holding on to at the moment.

"Fun. School's fun after you get used to the annoying people." Yoh wondered if he was imagining the hint thrown his way. "Not only that, but the people here are nice."

"Nice…like, actual nice? Or nice just to get in your pants?"

"Both!" Lyserg laughed.

"Hey, wanna come over for dinner?" Hao looked a bit full of himself for a moment. "I'm sure I can make something."

"Right," Lyserg said, looking skeptical with a half smile. "Just like last time you said that, they had to evacuate the building."

"I was trying to do that flaming wok thing! I bet they have some kind of trick in the restaurants."

"Why don't we eat out then?"

"Hmm…I'm a bit low in money lately," Hao mused, shaking his head as both Lyserg's and Yoh's mouths opened to offer to treat. "No way. It's on me tonight. Keep your money to yourselves, you selfless bastards."

"Chips and sodas again," Yoh sighed to himself, feeling a smile creep on his face as he heard Lyserg laugh. The boy's laugh was addictive.

"Shut up, little bro. It ain't gonna be drugstore food today. It's gonna be…!" Hao swept his free arm which Lyserg wasn't latched onto in the direction of the place they had stopped in front of. Which happened to be Subway.

"Subway it is!" Hao said happily. "Maybe not the cheapest, but hell, as I'm spending money anyway! Wanna go in and buy it with me, Lyserg?"

"I think I'll keep Yoh company, thanks." Letting Hao go, Lyserg scooted over to Yoh, who straightened drastically. Practically bouncing into the store, Hao left the two alone on the sidewalk, to be given sometimes odd sometimes endearing looks from passerby's.

"You okay, Yoh? You've been quiet lately." Lyserg's hyper voice toward Hao had died down to his regular teasing tone. "Did something happen with Tamao?"

"No." Yoh tried not to grimace as he felt Lyserg slip his arm around his. If he didn't stop this, he knew he would probably end up being unfaithful to Tamao in the long run. "Listen, Lyserg, I've been meaning to tell you something."

"Yeah?" Yoh started as he realized Lyserg was leaning up for a kiss and quickly ducked away. "Listen. Tamao and I are planning to get serious about what we have."

"And what do you have?"

"Don't be like this, Lyserg. You know what I mean. I don't want to sound mean or anything, but I'd like you to stop…whatever you're doing…with me. I don't know what you're trying to do, but I really want my relationship with Tamao to last, and that means…no more kissing up with someone other than her."

Lyserg's face changed for a split second before a confused look set in. "What are you trying to say?"

"You know! Don't play dumb with me, Lyserg. Stop…stop trying to come onto me, alright? It's distracting and I don't like it since I'm already going out with someone else!"

"It wouldn't be distracting if you didn't feel anything…"

"Stop trying to change the subject!" Yoh took a deep breath as he realized he was probably attracting attention by yelling. "Listen, bottom line is, stop, okay? I don't know what you're thinking when you're 'playing' with me, but listen, you've played enough. I don't want to yell at you, but I'd like you to keep your distance while I'm going out with Tamao, okay?"

Yoh never really was much of a confronter. He didn't mean for people to step all over him, but there was a line, and he was sure Lyserg had just crossed it. He wasn't going to let other people ruin his life for him! But strangely, telling Lyserg off wasn't as satisfying as he thought it would be. He felt kind of bad, actually, like he had just yelled at a little kid for something stupid that probably wasn't the kid's fault. Well, no matter. He wasn't going to be wishy-washy and apologize or anything. And he was serious! He wanted to be serious with Tamao!

"Tamao, huh?" Lyserg's voice had grown dangerously quiet and for a moment he looked like he was going to cry. Yoh resisted the comforting urge he got whenever someone else got sad and stood his ground firmly.

"Well…okay then." Yoh blinked. He was used to Lyserg's stubbornness and was a bit off guard when the boy was oddly submissive. He almost wished Hao was here to lighten the mood. It was depressing. The spark had seemingly disappeared from the Brit and Yoh wondered if he could say anything, anything to cheer it up.

"Um, okay. Just so you know." Why was everything he saying coming out sounding so awkward? Cursing at his inability to make situations better, Yoh scratched his head awkwardly. "It's not that I don't like you or anything, but…"

"Yeah, I know." The boy's tone had dropped so low that Yoh wondered if maybe he thought Lyserg had spoken. "I'm sorry." Whoa, was that an apology? He didn't know Lyserg could swallow his mountain of pride like that! Did no one ever tell him off, or was he just suffering some kind of backlash from surprise? Thankfully, Hao appeared at that perfect moment with three subs.

"Dinner!" His grin twitched when he looked at the scene in front of him, a kind of baffled looking younger brother and a very damper Lyserg. "Um…did something happen?"

"Nothing. We were just talking." Yoh smiled in such a mysterious way that Hao never thought possible. "Anyway, I hope you didn't leave onions on mine. I still hate them, you know."

"Um, on second thought…" Lyserg reached out suddenly and grabbed a random sandwich in Hao's hands. "I'm not feeling very well, so I hope you guys don't mind I eat alone, tonight, right? I'm fine," he added, as Hao looked at him. "I just want some time alone. See you two tomorrow." Without another word, Lyserg set off at an unusually fast pace back to BRSJ.

"Huh." Hao watched Lyserg walk away before turning back to Yoh with a suspicious look. "What did you just do?"

"Nothing."

To be continued…

--

Note: I sincerely apologize for not updating Pretty. Odd. I know there are people reading it and waiting for the ending, but I really have been busy lately and even when I'm not busy, I keep running into walls while I write. This was supposed to be really short, since the song is really short, but somehow I couldn't get all the ideas down. But here it FINALLY is. Sorry about that. For Mankin Side of Life, I had the next chapters already down but this is very spur of the moment. So sorry if I haven't been updating beastly, but don't worry. I'll do better. So wait up, and in the mean while, review. Because reviews make me work FASTER!