Introduction

Well. There was a bit of a problem-o with the last chapter. But, I think it's fixed now.

This chapter will start to actually go into the story. I've decided that I've spent way too much time on how the characters relate to one another. TT Sorry darlings. My mood changes a lot. It's PMS!

Ren will be making his grand entrance in this chapter...as a evil advisor! How fun. Sorry to all you Ren fans. .

Disclaimer

I don't own Shaman King.

Chapter Three - Planning

"She won't give me back what she owes!" A bald man with gold earrings and a long, flowing red and gold tunic protested, staring at a thin woman dressed in rags, bent over on her knees in the center of the shining white marble floor of the palace court. He was the perfect picture of the typical rich city merchant.

"I've given him all I can afford! He's just a old miser that wants to drive a woman into poverty to expand his own riches!"

The woman looked appealingly to Mikihisa. He could see the bags under her eyes.

"Please, please give me another chance. I will pay back my debts once I have money..."

"Yes, and when will that be? Next month? Next year?" The merchant said as he got up and strode towards the woman.

The woman's dark, beady eyes flashed with anger.

"How dare you doubt me? How dare you, you - you - you ugly fat pig!"

The merchant gasped, and his face turned a bright scarlet. He made a violent gesture, as if to slap the woman.

The woman threw herself down, sprawling over the floor as the palace guards rushed over to take hold of the man. He was struggling wildly and roaring, using his teeth, fists, to escape.

Mikihisa winced at the horrible sound. He massaged his temple, closing his eyes.

"Take them both away," He said, getting up from his throne, "I'm not in the mood for this right now."

"Yes sir."

The guards dragged the still struggling merchant out, along with the silent woman.

"Are you all right?" Keiko looked, concerned at her husband, "You seem to be feeling very disoriented lately. This is the third time you've had to call off something today."

Mikihisa shook his head.

"I'm fine. Just a little tired."

"At least take some medicine."

"I'm fine!" Mikihisa snapped. His temple immediately throbbed furiously, and he bent over, groaning.

"Mikihisa!" Keiko jumped up and bent down over the shaking body of her husband. Lifting his head up onto her silk-clad lap, she cried out for the servants.

"Did you hear? The king had one of his headaches again."

"Oh, really? How bad was it this time?"

"Bad. Really bad. He collapsed, and the queen had to call in servants to take him to the doctor."

"How terrible. Is he okay now?"

"Yes, he's fine. The queen is in hysterics though."

"Poor dear."

The servants stopped talking as soon as Ren strode into the room. Gossiping annoyed him, but he always learned a great deal of things that helped him that way. This was no exception.

So, the king was sick, He thought. Interesting. He could work this unfortunate event to his benefit. The old man must be at least fifty by now. His time was probably up. The Asakura kings never lived long. Ren had been Mikihisa's father's advisor, and his father's symptoms had also started off with headaches. Mikihisa's father had let Ren have free reign to rule the kingdom while he was sick, his son Mikihisa being too young, and not trusting his wife to do so. Ren had had a taste of power then, and became intoxicated by it. To be able to control people's lives, their wealth, their status, their property, was kind of like a drug to him. Those few months when he was allowed to rule was like heaven. It held a kind of pleasure for him, to be like a kind of God to people, controlling them like puppets. When the king finally died, he named Mikihisa heir, and cast Ren aside to be the royal advisor. It wouldn't have been so bad, if Mikihisa had trusted him as much as his father had. But he didn't, and Ren was often shunned aside, barely listened to when he made suggestions on how to run the kingdom. Ren had resigned himself, thinking that he would never have a taste of power again. But now the king was sick, just like his father. He also had two young sons. Young, but old enough to rule, if something should happen to their father.

Children are easily persuaded, Ren thought, smiling. The king was quickly reaching his time. If one of the twins should be led to kill the other one, Ren could secure the throne for himself. The young prince would be like a political marionette, and Ren would be holding the strings. Ren would have the power of the royal army behind him, as the soliders were most familiar with him, and he could easily persuade one of the princes to try and take the throne.

Now, just to decide which one.

Yoh was weak, but he was too close to the king and queen. Ren shook his head. Yoh was a bad choice. He would go running to his parents as soon as Ren approached him with the idea.

That left Hao.

Ren remembered his first meeting with the boy. He had been walking down the palace courtyard, when he heard a noise. He had walked toward it, expecting to find one of the lady servants sneaking off with one of the guards again. Instead, he found Hao talking to a bird. The bird was beautiful, with glossy, long, blue feathers and a graceful curved beak. It was perched on Hao's shoulder, it's head leaning towards Hao's head, as if it were actually listening to what the boy was saying.

As Ren looked on at the strange scene, he felt a twinge in his heart. The boy must be lonely, He had thought. Didn't he have any friends?

Now that Ren looked back onto this, he found that Hao was the perfect for his plan. He wasn't close to his parents, and while he was stronger than Yoh, Ren was sure that even Hao could not withstand his persuasive power. After all, how hard would it be to win over a boy that talks to animals?

Abrupt ending again. It's just so hard to make a good ending. So. Review.