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.
A/N: I'm in a Yoh x Anna overload today… just got volume 19 from a local anime shop in Chinese XD it's so Yoh x Anna… though I was too afraid to approach my parents to try and translate the thing for me. I was afraid that they'll translate it to a 'Shaman King – Kiddie Version' --;;. On the other hand, I was so 'bad trip' when I entered that shop Xx;; I wanted this Hyuuga Neji ( my favorite character from NARUTO) keychain but there were this group of teenage otakus in their late twenties that took it, along with the seven other characters keychains away… and there were none left! [Mourns at the lost of the Neji keychain again] Neji… Neji… Neji… [in a daze] and it was so cute [back to mourning]. In the end, even if I lost the Neji keychain, I found the trip amusing, since the saleslady said to this guy, that he and she were fighting for Kakashi's love O,o;; that was freaky, both sml and I freaked. Anyway, leaving my odd anime shopping life, as promised, it took me one week to get this one out. Minna-san, arigato for reading 'Autumn'… I hope you continue reading it till the end. I will post a preview of 'Winter' below if you are interested in reading. I really loved writing Autumn and it has been a while since my last Ren x Pilica, I think it was 'Festival', right? Anyway, a bunch of thanks again…
Message Time:
Bulaklak Girl, norkis, Nakashima-Michiyo – Thanks for the compliment blushes
Ashly – still insane XD how was your club day? Was it fun in CT?
rachiru77 – nope… I no Mari x Nichrome from me, first of all, I don't know them very much and well, I don't want to disappoint its fans and lastly, I don't really like it as much to write a series for it (Sorry Mari x Nichrome fans ;; don't hate me) Hao? He'll be there in the Yoh x Anna one… and maybe a side-story for him since I love him so XD
cherri-chan – I'm glad you like the En Tao x Ran Tao… I thought people wouldn't even like it… and here's what Ren'll do
GoddessLD – I love the part with Horo Horo too… and actually, I love Horo Horo! XD Anyway, here's the update!
DayDrEaMiNg-child – Yoh may not be a good promise keeper, but he does it all for the better ne? He's so cute too XD Thanks for the review and reading XD
snakespirit – ah… the Tokyo Tower thing… ah… I thought it was old or something… sorry about that, but I guess it's narrative? I dunno… still sorry… ;; Umm… Onna does mean woman in Japanese and I say, my friends use it very often . I'm kinda Chinese so I know these dialect things, but since I'm not sure if they're fukien, Mandarin or Cantonese, I just generalized everything to Chinese so no one would be confused. I hope you don't mind XD I don't mind, actually I wanna hug you and give you a huge, giant thanks!!!!!!!!! XD XD I heart you for reading this fic!
Warning: Major Ren x Pilica and some profanity maybe
Yoh stood in front of her smiling in his usual laidback way…
"Onii-chan wants to meet me? In front of the Martial Arts dojo? Why meet there of all the places?"
The laidback Shaman just shrugged, "I don't know either Pilica-chan… what I know is that Horo Horo wanted to meet you there… Sorry, I didn't ask him anymore, it seemed to be rather important though."
"Alright then… if you say so…" the Ainu girl shrugged, "I better go meet him then…"
"Take care Pilica-chan." He smiled.
The Ainu girl left and Yoh smiled widely. A few moments ago, an angered Ren approached him and threatened to kill him, especially if he messed up this mission up. The Chinese also gave him an expensive looking walkie-talkie for communication – Yoh was amazed that Ren needed to be so well-prepared in such a situation. Anyway, the shaman king pulled out the said object and clicked the rather obvious red button at the center of the thing.
He brought up to his mouth, "This is Yoh, Ren, Ren, do you read me?"
A muffled yet understandable voice answered, "What is it Yoh? What's the problem now?"
"Iie Ren… no problemo…" said the shaman lazily, yawning, "Just here to tell you, she's coming… better get ready Ren."
A few coughs from the Chinese shaman then he replied, "So she's on her way here already? Did she seem doubtful on what you were saying Yoh, did she think that you were lying or that you're trying to trick her into anything?"
"Nope, no sign whatsoever… I think."
"What do you mean I THINK?!" came a loud and angry reply from the rather nervous Chinese on the other line, "Do you want me to kill you?"
"Ah… well… of course not…" The mahogany haired boy sweatdropped after hearing Ren's rather loud reply, "Just that… I'm not really a master of how a girl thinks Ren… I can't even understand my own fiancé… But I'm 99.99% sure that she didn't know! I swear!"
"You better not be lying…" sighed the Chinese, "And let's just put it this way… your fiancé isn't like any other girl out there."
Yoh laughed heartily, "Well… it's not as if Pilica is what you call normal either, after all, the one who made Ren Tao's heart into mush is no ordinary person."
"My heart is not mush!" shouted the Chinese, and static added to the already ear-piercing sound but the mahogany-haired shaman king was grinning ear to ear.
"Whatever you say Ren, anyway, good luck… did my part in everything… I'm going now…" he clicked the red button again, then stuffing it into his pants' pocket.
"Pssst…" a voice from out of nowhere then began to come out.
The mahogany-haired boy turned around to find no one, but saw a rather deformed bush with blue spikes coming out of it. After a few moments of staring at it, he was absolutely sure on what or rather who it was, "Umm… Horo Horo? What are you doing?"
A tall blue-haired boy popped out from the fake plastic bushes and with a slight pout faced the shaman king, "Grr… how did you know it was me?"
"Ah well… you know." Yoh grinned, "So what're you doing here?"
Horo Horo began to look around, obviously trying to fake something, "Ah well… you know… walking around the park… it's nice this part of the year, autumn, you know? It can't beat winter though… Winter rocks my socks."
"Come of it Horo Horo, just ask me…" Yoh smiled.
The Ainu sighed in surrender, "Fine, fine… you caught me. So how is Ren's plan going? Is it going well?"
"Yep, so far…" the mahogany-haired shaman smiled, "You think Pilica reciprocates the feeling? It'll be quite terrible if it will all just end up badly."
"Yep, as sure as I know Tamao-chan's cooking is wonderful." The Ainu grinned.
"That's good. Speaking of Tamao's cooking, we still have some at home, wanna visit?" Yoh invited.
Horo Horo's eyes held a particularly evil sparkle and nodded almost maniacally. He pushed the shaman king to the direction of the shaman's house, a future inn, "Lead the way Yoh, lead the way…"
He adjusted the collar of his polo shirt, after practice, he practically raided the bathroom of the dojo to scrub himself squeaky clean. He wore a red short sleeve polo, which Jun had given him on his last birthday and she said would give him the best luck in things, along with black pants. Despite all the preparations and the whining of his sister who saw him before practice, he absolutely refused to cut his hair and loose his best form of self-defense. Never, he will never cut his hair and loose the weapon-like hair of his.
"Ren, are you going somewhere? Family reunion maybe?" his fellow martial artist, Lee approached him as he was now straightening any wrinkles in his clothes.
His eyes pierced those of the martial artist, "None of your business."
"Ooh… touchy." Lee said as he turned away from the Chinese shaman and went back to his training. Ren often believed that Lee lived in the dojo, especially since he seemed to spend every waking hour training himself with their instructor.
He took his things and exited the dojo. He looked around wondering if who was supposed to be there was there yet…
Not yet...
He sat on the steps of the martial arts dojo, staring at the night sky. His heart was pounding so fast, but it was only proof that he was alive – and he never felt anymore alive as he is now. His eyes shifted to the trees at the corner of the dojo. The darkness had hid their vivid red color, but the falling leaves had been quite evident. The falling leaves held a significant meaning in his life – it symbolized an important event. One of which he wasn't sure was for the good or not – it just… it just felt right at that moment and time. He also had a sneaking suspicion that it would be that way for the rest of his life.
The falling leaves – they symbolized the broken and fallen walls that had once stood highly and mightily not letting emotion seep through.
Autumn – how it all happened. The inevitable event or person that would have caused all these things to happen, that his walls would break down and fall and make him fall into emotions he never expected or experienced. Pilica, in his case.
The Chinese chose to stop his thoughts from going any further. Nothing was sure yet… he still had to make her admit she felt the same way… He had to… He will…
Finally, after a few moments, a silhouette of long-haired maiden running came into his view. He was rendered speechless – all his planning and ready-made plot almost forgotten. He forced himself to snap out of it. He had to do what he had to do and he had to do it now.
He stood up, hitting his black pants lightly to get rid of the dirt that managed to get on it. He had a face filled with determination, I'm not going to fail… I'm a Tao. I never fail.
"Onii-chan! Onii-chan! Where are you?" a high-pitched feminine voice called out trying to find her elder brother that seemed to be nowhere in sight, "Onii-chan?"
"He's not coming…" Ren said in a rather hoarse voice, who happened to be leaning on the trunk of a tree, eyes closed – how he got there so quickly? Nobody knows…
Her eyes widened as she looked towards his direction, her face looked like a cross between a scowl and a smile until she forced herself to make it a scowl, "You… what are you doing here?"
"If you happened to forget… I'm actually a student here. My parents made me take martial arts ever since I was a young child… Isn't it more applicable if I ask you what you are doing here?" Ren said to her in a rather cold way. Act like she's nothing and you know nothing first – then drop the bomb.
She frowned, "Well, actually you can't ask that either, since obviously you're the reason why I'm here! I can't believe it! How could Yoh-kun do this to me?"
"So you figured out… smart. Anyway, from the start I didn't tell you that I'm not the reason that you're here." Ren shrugged. Currently, the act-cold plan was becoming harder and harder by the minute and his heart was beating faster and fasted by the second. He didn't want to admit it but he was afraid that the plan won't work or that she didn't actually reciprocate his rather strong feelings for her.
"Aww… to hell with it! What do you want Tao?" she glared at him. She was angry. He knew that.
It felt as if a thousand daggers gone through him. He wasn't weak, not at all, but she called him Taonot Ren-kun, even at times that she had been quarrelling and angry at him it had always been REN-KUN that she called him. Hearing that from her somewhat wounded him, but he was strong. A word would not be the cause of his defeat. "Cursing… bad for ladies… how can you expect to marry with that?" Insult then say you love her. It was a whacked out plan but it felt reasonable to him.
She looked gravely wounded but she tried to hide it so shouted, "Well… at least I'm not a rapist or a maniac!"
He expected that. Screw him for relying on his hormones last time but if he didn't he would have never realized his rather surprising feelings for the Ainu girl. "If ever I am a maniac…" he took her hands, which were in a tight fist, and held them tightly, "I am a maniac with very very picky taste…"
"W-What're you trying to say?" she trembled slightly feeling his tight grasp on her small frail hands.
Somehow, their position turned into a rather odd position, which was he and she under a tree, one of his hands grasping her hand and not letting go, the other firmly placed on the trunk of the tree. He was towering over her – she had no escape and had no other choice but to face the Chinese shaman eye to eye, and no matter how odd their position had been, he refused to move a millimeter. "It means just as I say it."
"W-Which is…?" the Ainu girl managed to say. She had been trying to suppress her blush for moments now but apparently she couldn't control it her now. Her face was redder than it had ever been – even redder than the time when Horo Horo had angered her so much because he decided to find out why there was blood in her toilet and was going hysterical in telling her that she was about to die. Sadly, girls on their second day of period should never be bothered, and she ended up punching her brother's face so hard, it had swollen up for weeks. Horo Horo also learned that day never to bother with women's private affairs again – not that he applies what he learns mind you.
Say it now Ren, what're you waiting for? Ren gulped – what was he supposed to tell her again? Oh yeah… THAT. He eyed her again, what happened to all the words he planned out? Where had they gone? He never felt so speechless and dumb in his entire life…
He opened his mouth to say something, and closed it again.
The Ainu girl eyed the Chinese, he suddenly became silent, what's up with that? Nervousness suddenly came to her – was he trying to rephrase the words 'I hate you' to a harsher more painful phrase? It seemed that way.
She's looking at me weirdly… God, I am acting weird! Why can't a tell her a measly phrase?! Ren looked positively outraged and angry. He was angry at himself of course at his sudden spinelessness – it was irritating. It was as if he was a dumb and pathetic weakling.
She looked even fearful now… he looked angry – positively outraged. He began to open his mouth. She expected the worst.
He clasped his mouth shut again – he liked silence, but not at times like this.
Her heart was pounding, he didn't speak yet – was he prolonging her agony? She just wanted to get this over with and after everything, cry herself to sleep for years and years to come. She loved him, but it was obvious he didn't feel the same way. Ren Tao would never fall in love with such a nobody like her. Perhaps she loved him ever since long long ago when they had first met, that's why she was so keen on arguing with him, because there was no other way to talk to him. Even at times when he tried not to argue with her, she would spark up an argument just to talk to him. Finally, these past few days she realized that all of those things. She did all of those things because she loved Ren Tao.
She looks at me as if she's going to hate what I'm going to say – does she know already? He was turning hysterical and as much as he wanted to tell her already there was this part of him stopping himself from saying anything until he makes it absolutely perfect.
Both of them opened their mouths after a few moments. Seeing the other open one's mouth they immediately shut it.
Silence surrounded the two once more, their eyes staring deeply into each other's. They must've been blind not to have seen the longing in each other's eyes – but apparently, they were worse than those who are blind, they were lovesick idiots, whether they would ever admit that or not.
Ren got tired of it already telling that part of him that wouldn't let him say anything and shouted…
"Aww… to hell with it!" he then firmly placed his lips on hers, putting in his action what had been bottled up in him for weeks now, passion, possessiveness, love – he released everything, hoping that in his action she would understand everything that he couldn't place in words either because of his perfectionist ideals or his Tao pride.
Her eyes widened by his sudden bold action – she never felt anything like this before. Daresay, it was her first ever kiss and words could never describe how she felt as she was being kissed by Tao Ren right at that moment. She kissed back, hoping that it would be enough for him, sincerely putting her love into it as well. She threw away her mask that had the words 'I hate Ren Tao' written on it and instead, showed her true self that she kept bottled up because she knew he would never look at her again if ever he found out about such a side in her.
They pulled apart, breathless. They looked at each other nervously, wondering if what just occurred actually happened or if it was but their fantasy.
It wasn't…
They looked at each other for a moment until Pilica spoke…
"Umm… so Ren-kun…?"
It was official, she was calling her Ren-kun again. He would have smiled but sadly, he wasn't too familiar with the skill. "What is it?" he said breathlessly.
She would admit that his voice had a sexy ring to it when it was breathless, a naughty part of her commented but she pushed that aside for now. She was still rather confused – what exactly happened? She had no idea, and planned to find out, "What does this mean?"
Ren blinked for a few moments, and he thought he was dumb. Ren smirked, "Why don't you go figure out by yourself?"
She pouted, his hands had just released her and they were no longer in such an odd and implicative position, she was kinda depressed by it but she had been eager to know what everything had meant now… "Tell me!"
"What do you think does it mean?" the Tao said sarcastically – he was getting quite impatient already, talk about dense Ainus.
The Ainu looked at him, wondering what he had meant. If she had thought correctly, everything was going well… but if not – she was dead. She would be in so much pain… Ugh. Why does Ren Tao have to be so confusing?
The Tao eyed her for a moment – to hell with teasing her…
"I didn't think you'd be so stupid…" Ren whispered to her ear before cupping her face and giving her a short peck on the lips, this time it was gentle, short – Pilica barely realized what had happened.
"Ren-kun…" she stuttered in surprise.
Ren laughed lightly, scooping her up into the air with his strong hands, "If you don't know yet… then you're more idiotic than your brother."
Pushing aside the comment on her brother, she smiled and softly said, "I love you Ren-kun."
"Likewise…" the Tao said with no hesitation, carrying the female Ainu to somewhere she had no idea of.
"Umm… where are we going?" Pilica asked Ren, blushing fiercely since she was being carried.
Ren coughed for a moment…
"I'm hungry, let's get something to eat."
It was amidst the end of autumn and for sure, it had been a meaningful autumn for two certain persons, so different in many ways but alike in a way due to their strong emotions for each other…
"Ren-kun! Ren-kun!" exclaimed a youthful and jubilant Ainu girl as she ran up to a young man with a very distinct hairstyle.
The young man turned around, eyes brightening up upon seeing her but held an expression of evenness. He looked at her dotingly then said softly and less harsh than he usually did with any other person in the world, "Pilica…"
"Did you wait long? It's just that onii-chan began to interview me about where I was going again." Pilica explained and he did not question, her brother had always been too over-protective of her. He was overprotective too… with his Pilica and his elder sister.
Ren shook his head, "Not really… I just got here…"
"So where are we going?" the Ainu questioned.
Ren shrugged, "Where do you want to go?"
"Mmm… me?" Pilica said thoughtfully placing her hands on his broad chest, "Anywhere – as long as it is with you…" she leaned up to kiss him.
He placed his index finger on her lips seeing the slightly her expression on her face. He smirked as he pulled her to be with him under the shade of the tree.
He kissed her.
She kissed back.
"Ehem."
They continued kissing – oblivious of the world around them.
"Ehem."
They had heard it this time, but why should they care? They surely didn't think of what others thought, especially Ren.
"EHEM!"
Irritation caused both heads to turn and say in an annoyed tone, "WHAT?! Can't you see we're doing something?"
The one who had been the source of the 'ehem's glared at them, "Fine activity you've been doing there… just what exactly are you two doing? Hmm…?"
"Horo Horo?!"
"Onii-chan?!"
Horo Horo glared at both of them carrying a plastic filled with groceries accompanied by Tamao. He let her hold the things for a moment then began to chase the Chinese shaman in a rampage, "COME BACK HERE YOU! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"
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 – love to a young Ainu girl.
::Autumn End::
::Tsuzuku – to be continued::
A/N: XD Done! The ending might be totally screwed up with the Horo Horo chasing Ren scene but I liked it anyway. It humors me XD Anyway, Autumn is done! We're moving on to Winter! I love every single one of you reviewers and readers!!! XD (not romantically though O,o;;) Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the finale of Autumn XD [smiles like an obsessive weirdo that she is] We're moving onto Winter! Winter! Yey! Neways, here's the preview I promised… heart ya all XD
Winter Summary: He never thought he would ever fall in love – it was just not him. She never thought she would forget about her Prince Charming – it was just too unexpected. Will the gentle fall of snow erase their doubts?
Excerpt:
"Horo Horo-kun, what are you doing?" a young woman around two years younger than him entered the living room where he lay down idly flipping the channels of the TV – apparently, at that time of the day all that were home TV shopping shows. He didn't like those shows, not only did they show odd and worthless things that were too expensive for a young man like him.
Horo Horo smiled lazily at his friend, eyes lightening up when he saw her in her lemon yellow apron, face having hints of flour, "Nothing much… nothing good is on…" he shifted the subject with a wide grin, "You been baking?"
She nodded shyly, taking her seat on the other end of the sofa, "Hai… I've been making a cake – I made two since I know you would finish one yourself. It will take a few more minutes though…"
"Thank you…" Horo Horo grinned, "Does the other one have 'I love you, Yoh-sama' written on it?"
She blushed profusely, "Ah… no of course not! H-Horo Horo-kun… you shouldn't tease me like that!"
He laughed amusedly, "I'm not teasing you – I just want you to get everything over with Tamao. Isn't it better when all the weight of such a burden is gone? How will you move on, ne?"
"I-I don't think I'll ever move on…" Tamao began looking away from her good friend, "I know I'm not some princess than a prince like Yoh-sama will fall in love with, that's Anna-okami, but I don't think… I don't think I can handle rejection – even a mild one, you know?"
Horo Horo sighed, "I don't get it… I don't get it at all… But good luck anyways… you're going to need it."
"I know…" Tamao looked away.
"Aww, anyway, aren't the cakes ready yet?" he said lightening up the subject because seeing her hurt and depressed hurt him, though he didn't quite understand why. Playing with her light pink hair, he said, "I'm getting quite hungry."
That's it! Interested? I hope you are XD! I'm posting it around Monday or Tuesday so watch out for it! Anyway, thanks for reading Autumn! R/R!