Blind Ambition

Chapter 2: A Less Than Friendly Encounter

By: Saroya

Rated: PG-13 for now. (Language, suggestive humor)

Warning: SHOUNEN-AI. All haters go elsewhere.

Disclaimer: (Forgot this last time, huh?) I do not own Shaman King.

"Horohoro!"

The black and blue haired boy whirled around in the middle of the hallway, watching as a blue head bobbed it's way through the crowd, Pirika racing towards him. He half-waved as she fell into step with him, waiting as she caught her breath.

"Why are you going this way?" he asked after a few moments of silence. "Isn't your third period on the other side of the school?" His sister's eyes shone brightly as she excitedly shook her head no. "Well then what's up?"

"There's a new student here who transferred from Shinanome Academy!" she squealed, clasping her hands together. "Can you believe it? Someone from that school is coming here!"

"Feh," he scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Shinanome is over-rated- just a school where they send all those super-brains." He stuck his tongue out indignantly. Pirika glared at him hatefully.

"You're just saying that because they didn't accept you when you applied!" she snapped.

"Correction: Mom sent in the application. I honestly didn't give a crap if I got in or not. Going there would just mean more homework and less time for my band." The younger girl continued to glower at her brother. Sensing the foreboding lecture, he quickly changed the subject. "Anyways, what does a new student have to do with you not going to class?"

Once again her eyes brightened. "Since I have an A in all my classes," she began, aiming a small smirk in his direction, getting only a sneer in return. "They're having me show the new kid around- help them get used to things. He'll be sitting with us at lunch, too."

"Sounds like a blast," Horo replied sarcastically, noticing where they were. "Well, this is my class, so see you at lunch, Brainiac. Have fun mingling with your kind." He grinned, watching her face turn beet red in rage. Turning, he entered his third period class: Art.

Sitting in a corner in the back of the Art room, Horohoro bent over his notebook, feverishly writing as a documentary about a European artist named Picasso played at the front of the room. Sure, they were probably going to do something that related to the video. And sure, he'd probably be completely and utterly clueless when it came time to do actual work, but when inspiration hit, all he could do was work. And at that very moment, he had the urge to write.

Even though he was the drummer for the band, he often wrote songs for Oversoul- everything from lyrics, to drum parts, to guitar solos. His memorization of all the different clefs for different instruments made some people believe that he did inherit some of the "genius" genes that Pirika seemed to have, but none spoke of it. As far as people were concerned, Pirika was the mastermind of the family, and Horo was the "musically inclined" one.

Horo's almost dazed writing was brought to a halt by a sharp knock on the Art room door. It even made his teacher, who had the personality that fit a Clear Eyes commercial perfectly, to jump in his chair, where he'd been sleeping. Groaning, the old man rose to his feet, stalking across the wide room to the door. Opening it, he stared out at whoever was there, scratching his head.

"I'm sorry to interrupt," a curt, young female voice said from outside. "But I have a new student with me who has been put in your class, sir." Nodding slowly, the drowsy man stood to the side, allowing a short, blue-haired girl to march in, dragging a boy of about equal height behind her.

Horo groaned, immediately recognizing his sister, and hesitantly looked at the boy next to her, who was scowling both at her and the rest of the class. He had a small frame and dark purple hair hung down his neck and stood up on his head in a sharp spike. He wore a fuchsia school uniform, which Horo assumed was Shinanome's official uniform. What struck him most about the boy, though, were his eyes- piercing twin orbs of pure gold. They scanned the room, and to Horo, they appeared to stare into every person's soul, searching for the individual's weakness. As the cat-like flare met Horo's eyes, he flinched slightly, looking away after only a second.

"Well, okay," the teacher said, then grumbling something about short notice. He walked back to the front of the class and yawned again. "There's a new student, class," he stated dismally, gesturing towards the mauve-haired boy. "Umn…what's your name again?"

The boy looked at him quickly before giving the curt reply: "Tao Ren." The teacher's brow furrowed for a moment.

"Tao…why does Tao sound so familiar?" he inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Because it definitely should!" Pirika interrupted. "He's the son of the owner of the Tao Corporation- the corporation who donates to our school!" She grinned happily, bouncing on her heels. The Art teacher looked at her for a second.

"And who are you again?"

The blue haired girl growled angrily. "I was sent here to escort Ren to all of his classes! I'm the sister oft hat idiot in the back!" She barked, jabbing a thumb in Horohoro's direction, causing the boy to jump in his seat.

"Hah!" the teacher laughed triumphantly. "I knew you looked familiar!" Pirika just continued to stare at the teacher, features drooping in response to the stupidity.

"Umn…whatever," she replied, drained of energy. "Why don't we get back to class then?" The teacher nodded drowsily as the girl led Ren towards the tables, where the students sat in groups. Looking around, she waved at her friends. "I'm going to sit with my friends, Ren. Why don't you go sit with my brother?" She motioned towards Horohoro. "He's the stupid-looking one with blue and black hair." Her brother groaned, giving her the bird when she turned around.

He watched Tao Ren closely as the maroon-haired boy started to walk over to his table. The blue-haired boy usually sat alone, so no one could see that he never did his work. Watching the shorter boy sit down, he returned his gaze to his notebook, working on one idea that had come to him late the previous night. A few seconds later, he'd tuned out the rest of the world.

A half an hour later, he had all the plans set for the song, and he looked to see what the class was working on. Big surprise- the teacher had put in yet another video and was again fast asleep in his chair. Sighing, he looked across the table at Ren. The boy's golden eyes were completely focused on the notebook in front of him, his hand moving the pencil across the paper with clean, precise strokes. Leaning over the small table, he watched as the other boy drew. The picture soon took the form of a dragon, it's long tongue hanging out of it's mouth and curled in front of its nose, it's claws almost seeming to reach out at him from the paper. All of the detail was so perfect, Horo found himself completely absorbed in the art.

"Excuse me? Is there something you need?" Horo looked up and found himself face to face with Ren, the other's piercing eyes staring right into his. Their faces were uncomfortably close. Laughing nervously, he sat back down in his seat.

"Heh, sorry," he said quietly. Ren continued to stare at him, studying Horohoro closely, making the other boy sweat slightly. "Umn," he finally said. "I really like your drawing- you're really good!"

The other shrugged, looking back at the rest of the class- most of them slept at their desks, and the group of girls that Pirika had joined was chatting endlessly. "This class is completely pointless."

"What'd you expect? This school ain't no Shinanome!" Horo laughed. Ren glared at him, his eyes narrowing.

"No shit, Sherlock."

The blue and black haired boy flinched slightly, but laughed it off. "So, why'd you leave Shinanome to come here? I hear that school is the best of the best. You're probably smarter than most of the upperclassmen here."

"I don't think that's any of your business," the golden-eyed boy replied, closing his notebook.

The kid's attitude was really starting to bug Horo at that point. "Well sorry for trying to be nice!"

"I honestly don't give a shit if you're nice to me or not. You think I really care if an imbecile like you likes me or not?" Ren smirked at him, eyes shining with amusement.

"No, but I'd hate to see such a pretty face get messed up by, oh, let's say me, on his first day at his new school," he retorted, smirking back.

"You think someone like you could be me?!" The spike-haired boy said, a little louder this time.

"With no problem, pretty boy."

Ren suddenly jumped to his feet. "Bring it on, you idiot!"

"With pleasure, you spoiled-ass brat!" He yelled back, doing the same.

"Horohoro! Ren! Get back in your seats of I'll send you both to the principle's office!" The teacher had woken up, hearing them yelling. Both boys glanced at the teacher, then glared at each other, and sat back down.

Horohoro and Ren glared at each other throughout the rest of class, neither looking away from the other. It was going to be an interesting year.

Saroya's Note: Well, you were right! The new kid is Ren! And yes, this is a HoroRen fic! It's my favorite SK pairing! Well, for now, that was a typical Horohoro-Ren scene. Oh, and I got a few reviews about how I left out some characters. Don't worry, I'm hoping to have all of the main ones in here! Next chap, Hao's showing up. I know for a fact that Chocolove (pardon if my spelling is wrong) and Faust are going to end up in here!

Saroya's Preview: Horo whines to his friends about Ren. Pirika invites Ren to one of Oversoul's practices. Let the fighting begin!