Seasons
Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King.
Autumn
Summary: As the dried leaves slowly fall to give way to new life, the barriers that cover his secluded heart falls, giving way to something he never expected.
Dedication: Ashly! [huggles] I wuv you for being my beta-reader, I wuv you for singing duet with me and I wuv you for everything TOMODACHI! Thanks for the reviews my the way
A/N: This is the second part of Autumn, I hope you enjoy this and… may the RenPirika-ness be with you XD Enjoy… but before that I'll just relay some messages to the reviewers I guess… XD
Ashly – As usual, you review with a weird twisted review Oo;; but I love ya anyway tomodachi [huggles] let's duet again sometime, 'Face as old as time, red clouds on his cloak, wrinkles on his face, his hair in a braid, UCHIHA ITACHI' [snickers] We honestly should do that again
GoddessLD, Hyper-Shaman-Girl, Divine Wolf, Anonymous75632, DayDrEaMiNg-child and a-A-a – Thanks for reading [bows down] and I did update rather quickly [smiles] Thanks very much for the reviews… XD
Snakespirit – Winter, Spring and Summer are different stories since the main pairing totally shifts but, it just carries on, so the story is continuous and there are references but the main plot differs and the pairings will stay the same throughout the whole fic, no Hao x Anna [Aaaw…], no Horo x Anna [sighs] and basically, no Hao [WAH! ;; I love Hao pairings…] and thanks for reading and reviewing!
Warning: Major Ren x Pilica and some profanity maybe
Hands in his pockets, Ren Tao made his way to school, backpack strapped on one of his shoulders. He had a frown on his face, as usual, and squished the dry leaves around the area as he walked.
"Ren, hey Ren!" someone called out causing Ren to turn around to see a student, same age as him, running.
The student arrived beside him, panting and clutching his knees. He had jet black hair styled in bowlcut, thick eyebrows and determined onyx eyes, "Sensei said you better not be late for practice today… Please remember that we have martial arts later, I don't want sensei biting my head off again, seeing that one of his superstars is missing."
"Ah… whatever." Ren said paying no attention to the boy and continued walking.
Apparently, that student was his fellow martial artist under the same instructor. The student ran in front of him, wiping the sweat on his forehead with a towel, "You'll come, right Ren? You've been skipping for two weeks straight… sensei is in a panic. Don't you enjoy martial arts anymore?"
Ren sighed, "Whatever Lee, I'll come today, don't worry about it."
"Yatta! Sensei will be so happy!" The bowlcut known as Lee jumped in enthusiasm.
Ren rolled his eyes as he observed the young martial artist, just then a pink-haired girl, accompanied by a blonde-haired boy in Ren's class (who was rather loud and noisy) and a blue black-haired boy, who had his hands in his pocket as well entered the clearing causing Lee to stop his jumping.
His eyes lit up, seeing as the pink-haired girl waved at him, "I have to go Ren, see you later!"
Ren turned around and continued to walk to school hearing what sounded like 'Sakura-san!' being shouted by his fellow martial artist.
Arriving at the front gates of the school, Ren found some familiar faces and joined them.
"Ren!" Yoh called out as he saw Ren running towards him and Horo Horo.
Ren didn't say anything but grunted in recognition of his "friends".
Horo Horo, who was leaning on a tree waved his hands to say hi and had a wide grin on his face. He, as usual, wore his uniform unlike everyone else, he had his shirt unbuttoned halfway. Yoh also wore his uniform differently, contrasting to the proper and formal look of Ren's uniform which was all buttoned and neatly worn.
"What's up with him?" Ren asked looking at the obviously happy Horo Horo.
Yoh shrugged, "I don't know either, what I know is that he came here grinning so happily it freaked me out."
Horo Horo stuck his tongue out at Yoh and Ren, "I'm just happy, yesterday, I managed to eat so much good food thanks to Tamao, can I go to your house again today Yoh? I'll help you with your chores."
"Of course you can Horo Horo-kun! Thanks, I really need help around the house…" Yoh sighed then turned to Ren, "Ano… Ren, I was wondering if…"
"No." Ren replied flatly, expecting that his friend would have asked.
"Eh… but… come on, I promise this is the last time!" Yoh had said, whining.
Ren sighed, "I'm sorry but I can't. I have martial arts practice later, and I really can't skip, I don't want Lee killing me. I've been skipping for two weeks now."
"Ah… alright then." Yoh said, and then looked troubled, "Where am I going to get help now?"
"Why don't you try Manta today?" Ren asked, "Where is he anyway? I haven't seen him around recently."
Yoh sighed, "Manta's off on a chess tourney… that's why he hasn't been around lately. Even if he was here, he wouldn't be able to help much because of cram school… Anna's going to kill me!"
"Why do you have to do it anyway?" Horo Horo said as he played with a leaf that has just fallen.
Yoh then laughed softly and smiled, "It's because… if you love someone, you'd do anything they'd ask you to do… Don't you think so?"
"You're hopeless Yoh…" both Ren and Horo Horo told their friend as they punched their brown-haired friend playfully.
Yoh laughed, " I guess I am…"
But that got me thinking, is it really what people do when in love? Are they willing to risk everything and do everything for the other? If that's so… I never want to fall in love. Ren thought as he watched his friend, Yoh chat with Horo Horo. However, before, I thought that friends are just bothers too… so does that mean, love is more than just risking everything and doing everything for that person you love?
"Okaa-san…" The young Ren said as his mother wiped the sweat that glistened on his face after a rough day of training.
His mother looked at her son with loving eyes and smiled. His mother was beautiful; Ran Tao… she had long silky hair and everything about her was simply elegant. Ren loved his mother so much, as far as he understood love anyway. "What is it Ren?" she asked as she patted the young boy's head.
"Do you love otto-san?" he asked the question without thinking, maybe… but he surely did want to know.
"Your father…?" his mother asked with a slight smile, "I used to hate him…"
Ren shrugged, there was nothing to be surprised about that, he hated his father. His father was the one who taught him everything… but he knew, his father's beliefs were wrong, yet he had to comply, because if not, he would not be allowed to bear the family name.
What his mother said next surprised him…
"As you know Ren, your father and I, we were engaged with no accordance to feelings or whatsoever. I hated that thought… I wanted to fall in love, to marry one who I was sure to make me happy but… I couldn't. I could never hold my head up high again if I declined and ran away from responsibility; I could never bear the fact that I have disgraced my family…" Ran said as she let Ren sit on top of her lap.
Ran stroked Ren's hair, playing with the strands of his hair, amused my its uniqueness, "But I learned to fall in love with him… I managed to see what's behind all that hatred that I thought engulfed the Tao clan. Your father, the walls that stood to protect his heart, his capacity to love, I made them all fall and saw… I saw that your father was truly human."
Ren looked at his mother oddly, not believing a single word she had said.
Ran giggled, playing with her little boy's cheeks, "I know you don't believe me… your father nowadays truly doesn't have that part, but he has to continue the legacy of the clan I guess…"
"Okaa-san…" Ren once again called for his mother, "Can I fall in love, like father did to you then?"
"Of course you can… even though one day, your heart might be protected with walls as well, there is surely one person who can make all those walls fall and make you fall in love. You just have to be lucky enough that that certain person is in love with you too, because nothing is more painful that a heartbreak…" his mother explained to the young boy.
"If that's the case… I would never want to fall in love." Ren turned away from his mother.
His mother laughed, "I highly doubt that Ren… but anyway, who wouldn't fall in love with such a cute boy like you?"
His face heated up upon hearing himself being called 'cute', "MOM! I'M NOT CUTE!"
"I'm going now, sensei…" Ren said as he took his things from the shelf, "I'll be here next week, don't worry…" he quickly added before his sensei could say something.
The moment he entered the dojo after two weeks of skipping training, he was harassed by his sensei wanting to find out what he has been doing the past weeks. He really didn't like that feeling and decided that he would never miss practice again. His sensei was so enthusiastic, as much as his classmate, Lee.
"Okay then Ren…" his sensei said, flashing him a shining smile.
Lee suddenly appeared in his martial arts outfit, "You're going Ren? Well, goodbye then… see you next week!" Lee exclaimed, flashing a grin equally as shiny as their sensei's.
He exited the dojo, there was nothing new about the site he had just witnessed, there were plenty of things similar between Lee and his sensei, they had the same haircut, the same shiny smile, the same thick eyebrows and sometimes the same choice of clothes. He sighed softly; the training today was more tiring than usual, or maybe it was just because he had been skipping for two weeks now and was not used to it anymore.
He took a towel from his bag and began wiping the sweat off his forehead. He peeked at his watch – 7:37 pm. He would have to have a late dinner, Jun would pester him again... he sighed.
He was used to walking alone late at night, if anybody tried to hurt him anyway they would be the one ending up in a hospital bed. He put his hands on his pocket as usual and went about on his usual way home, he scanned around for anything suspicious then shrugged, he didn't really care anyway.
He then paused hearing something… a conversation.
"Hey girlie…. want to spend some time with me tonight? It's gonna be fun… I promise" a man's voice said obviously speaking to a younger and innocent girl.
The girl's voice sounded revolted, "No, onii-chan told me never to talk to strangers."
"Your brother is wrong then… I'm telling you, it's going to be fun" once again the man said with the same disgusting voice that made Ren frown immediately. He may be rude, foul-tempered and arrogant but he was not a hormone-driven, insane maniac.
She shrieked, "Hey, don't touch me!"
"Come on now…" the man whispered.
Not able to take any more of what was going on, Ren Tao entered the vicinity, a frown as usual, on his face but this time, it was obvious that he was furious. He stomped the man who was covering the girl, "Get off her, jerk!"
The man turned around and saw Ren. He laughed, "And what are you planning to do? Poke me with your hair?"
Ren, though a head shorter than the man laughed sarcastically, "My hair's too good for you…" he then took the man by the shoulders then punched him straight in the face.
The man hit the wall and fell unconscious.
The girl soon approached him shakily, "Thank you…" she murmured.
He turned to face her, in shock when he realized you it was, he then managed to murmur, "Pilica…?"
She was equally as shocked, "Ren-kun…?"
He then grabbed her by her hands, "What were you thinking?! At a time like this… what the hell were you thinking?"
She turned away from him, her face warm, "I don't know why you should care."
He paused for a moment, yeah, she was right, he SHOULDN'T care… but he DID care, "It's because… what would your brother think?" he said spitefully.
"He's out today, he decided to spend the night in Yoh-kun's home…" Pilica explained, "I was just going to buy some cup ramen from the grocery, we have run out you see…"
"You can do that tomorrow." He said beginning to drag her somewhere.
"Hey! Where are you taking me? I'm going home Ren-kun!" she exclaimed, trying to pull away, but alas, the Chinese's grip was way too tight for an Ainu girl like to fight.
Ren called out to her, "You're not… it's way to dangerous in your apartment. What is Horo Horo thinking anyway? Leaving you alone in your apartment… what if some pervert comes through your window then? Don't tell me you'll kick his ass or something like that, I think I just saw your capabilities a while ago."
"Fine then…" the Ainu girl looked away, "Then where in heaven are you taking me?"
Ren turned to face her, "Here." He pointed to a huge house that was currently covered by a huge black gate. He clicked the doorbell twice and spoke up once more, "This is… my house."
Entering through the front door, right away, Ren saw his sister, biting her nails in nervousness, probably thinking what was happening to her little brother. He rolled his eyes at the sight, but somehow, deep inside, he appreciated it.
"I'm home, onee-san…" Ren said as he hung his jacket on the clothes rack, at the same time still pulling the Ainu girl around.
"Ren, where were you?" Jun asked exasperated.
Ren rolled his eyes, "Obviously, I was at the dojo, with sensei. Today's a Tuesday, I have martial practice…"
"Oh, yes, yes, correct…" Jun said remembering, "I'm glad… it's just that I thought you were doing something unpleasant… I think you know what I mean…"
Ren rolled his eyes, "How many times to I have to tell you that I won't do those things you're thinking off? You surely have a wild imagination…"
"Umm…" Pilica then said, tiptoeing from behind Ren, "What's going on?"
Jun faced then blanked… then said, "Pilica-chan…?"
Ren slapped his forehead with his hand.
Jun turned to Ren, "You didn't tell me you'll be having a guest over, I would have asked the cook to prepare something special."
"Ah… Iie! I'm already thankful that you're feeding me Jun-san…" Pilica told her, then glaring at Ren.
"Hmm… how did you end up visiting again, Pilica-chan?" Jun asked, wondering why Ren would invite her over, "Did you finally gave in to Ren's stalking and came home with him?"
Both of them blushed terribly red and Ren stood up from the table, "I do NOT stalk her!" the two females observed as Ren's hair went higher and higher in his anger.
"Ooh… touchy." Jun commented as she turned to her food, taking some and chewing it.
Pilica giggled, she was surprised that in a place where people such as the Taos resided, there was humor and obvious closeness between the siblings. She had always imagined from the way her brother had explained it, that they were cold, distant, and uncaring. But it was obvious that the Tao siblings cared so much for each other.
"What are you laughing at?" Ren glared at her, obviously embarrassed after previous events.
She stuck out her tongue, "It's nothing of your concern Ren-kun."
"Ren-kun…?" a surprised comment from Jun.
Ren turned away, "She wouldn't stop calling me that, can I help it?"
"You seem happy though Ren-kun… is it that you like being called Ren-kun, Ren-kun?" Jun said obviously teasing.
"Get off my case." Ren said flatly as he stared down at his food, turning completely silent for the night.
He sat down on his bed, flipping randomly through a book. He hadn't realized tomorrow was a school day… which meant that they would need to drop by her house. Thankfully, Jun lent her some pajamas from when she was Pilica's age and promised that tomorrow, her uniform will be as good as new. He hadn't realized what he was doing until he found himself on his front steps, his hand grasping her shoulder tightly, convinced to not let go.
She surely did a lot of things to him…
He sighed, putting down the book, about to sleep when his door opened…
"Ren-kun…?" Pilica was there, leaning near his door, she dragged her futon to his room rather surprisingly, and he pillow too… but Ren didn't care to notice that, he was too busy looking at her in his sister's old pajamas, which fitted her rather loosely.
He watched her in aghast, "W-What are you doing here, Pilica?"
She laid her futon beside his bed, "The room Jun-san offered me was rather huge… but she did say you were just near by… It was scary to be there alone…"
He smirked, pushing off his hormone-driven thoughts off his mind, "So, you're afraid…? I thought Ainus were supposedly brave?"
"You said it yourself, it's dangerous…" she stuck out her tongue. She then managed to see him, in his pajamas at that. He looked handsome, the total opposite for his (as she sees it) disgusting personality. If it was only to be judged by looks, he would surely be one of her favorite Bishounen. She then pushed away those absurd thoughts.
"I guess so… just don't harass me, okay? I'm going to sleep now." Ren muttered as he stood up to close the lights.
She scowled, "As if… I'm going to sleep myself!"
The lights turned off and Ren made his way back to his bed, trying his best not to step on Pilica who was nearby.
He laid on his bed for a few moments, watching the ceiling, waiting for sleep to take over him but apparently, it must've been the sandman's day off. Either that or the sandman wasn't able to find sand strong enough to make Ren take the girl near him off his head for him to be peaceful enough to sleep.
He stared at the moon, which could have been seen evidently from his window. Its light making him able to see his surroundings. He looked bellow him, seeing the Ainu sleep peacefully. She had wonderful, long light blue hair, and no matter he was terrified to admit it, she, amidst the fact that she looked a lot like her big brother, was very cute, beautiful to a certain extent. He inspected her more, observing her lips, it took him a lot of self control to stop his urge to kiss it…
Too bad though, his self control wasn't enough.
He leaned towards her, against his will? Not exactly… it was something his heart was forcing him to do, no matter how much his brain screamed NO!
He was getting closer and closer, until he was pushed away.
He sat up from his position, confused too of what was going on around him. He had no idea… He lost control… What the heck happened?
The Ainu girl sat up as well, glaring at him. She had screamed moments ago and no doubt that Jun would come soon…
As expected, the door opened revealing a worried Jun, "What happened?"
Ren opened his mouth to say something, finding out it was dry.
::Tsuzuku – to be continued::
A/N: I'm rather proud of the chapter, I updated it quickly and it's quite long too… I will hopefully update the next one quickly too :P I hope you enjoyed this… Please R/R!