Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King… and I'm sorry for the typographical errors. Please enjoy.
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Chapter 3
A few weeks passed and the gang carried on with their lives. Though Pirika is already gone Horohoro tried to put his attention on something or rather someone else (like Tamao as such) so that his longing would diminish even a little. The gang already accepted with all their hearts that Pirika is gone… and that she is happier wherever she is.
The only trouble now is the feud between Ren and Horohoro. Though they don't know exactly why Ren still hates Horohoro very much they still can't manage to fix that quarrel.
Ren on the other hand was still irritated because of what Horohoro did but he can't do anything about it since he's not her brother... he's just a friend… nothing more nothing less.
One morning while everyone was just hanging around at the onsen Horohoro suddenly came shouting from the corridor.
"Hey everyone I have good news!" Horohoro shouted.
"Why? Does the mental hospital called to pick you up already?" Anna said smirking a bit.
"Ha, ha not funny!" Horo snapped.
"Well what do you have there Horo-kun?" Tamao asked.
"Actually I have tickets here." Horo said showing a bunch of tickets on this hand.
"For what?" Ryu came to ask.
"For a school play and Pirika's going to star in it." Upon hearing what the Ainu said Ren's eyes started to widen in a shock as his fist closed tightly.
Horo then started to narrate the synopsis of the play as he gave out the tickets to all of his friends. With that Ren started to walk away but was halted when a strong hand gripped his arm.
"Here's your ticket. I know you would want to see her too." Horohoro said giving the ticket to Ren.
For a moment as Ren looked in Horo's eyes he remembered the woman he loved… but suddenly something snapped in his head and so he started to see Horohoro again.
Ren pulled his arm away firmly and looked angrily at Horohoro.
"If you think that I would come to a dumb school play just because you're sister in it… think again." He said firmly.
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That's what his mouth said but his heart screamed a different statement. And so with the help of Ryu for carrying Ren and Yoh's persuasion Ren came with them in the end.
The play started as soon as the audience has settled down. Horohoro was very proud to see his sister act the main role in the play. He also told them for about the 9th time already that Pirika was in charge of the props and costumes in the play. It was clearly seen in his actions and words that he's very happy to what Pirika had accomplished and though she doesn't have the Usui name anymore Horohoro knows that the blood of an Ainu still runs in her veins.
The story was very romantic… it was about a poor girl that fell in love with a rich boy that was now going to leave and go abroad. Pirika was the girl and so Horohoro was very happy. Tamao and Ryu were just taken away by each scene. Anna also liked it a lot even more than the soap operas she watches on TV. Yoh enjoyed it too though he would rather watch an action movie than a romantic play and Ren… let's just say that Bason was trying all his best to stop his master Ren from walking up the stage and punching the leading man to smithereens or chopping him to a million pieces.
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"Will I see you again?" Pirika asked looking deeply at the leading man's eyes.
"Maybe yes… maybe no." the leading man whispered as Pirika's eyes twinkled in tears.
"But why? Why do you have to leave me? When you said that you love me?" Pirika said again as the audience wait for the leading man's answer.
"I love you and that's all you need to know." The leading man said as Pirika started to hug the leading man. That made Ren's pointed hair stands on its tips and was looking like it's ready to attack.
"Thank you for the memory you gave me." Pirika said as they broke off.
Pirika knew that it was the leading man's cue to run off and leave however… the next thing she knew her classmate's lips were on her already.
'What? This wasn't on the script?' Pirika thought as she just froze in the center with a million eyes looking at them.
Pirika's friend who was in charge of the curtain saw that Pirika was waving her hand at her, knowing that signal she closed the curtains at once to save Pirika.
The curtains slowly came down. Pirika felt like it was ages before the two of them were completely out of the audience's view.
As soon as the curtains closed Pirika broke off from the leading man with all her strength.
"Taki! That was not part of the play." Pirika hissed, as she was blushing furiously.
"I knew you liked it." Taki, the leading man, answered… his face mocking.
"I hate you. I don't want to talk to you again!"
"Yes, but there is still the curtain call…"
"You're despicable!"
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After the curtains were closed everyone was just shocked.
"Tell me was that a stage kiss…" Tamao then glanced at Ren for a while, "or a real kiss?"
"I'm sure they practiced it. It looks definitely fake." Horohoro said confidently.
"It seems so natural." Anna muttered knowing that Horohoro himself doubted his own words.
"Maybe Horo was right." Yoh said siding with Horo this time. Anna looked fiercely at him as he began to shake.
No Ren had it. He stood up at once and walked out again.
"Ren's going away again." Ryu noticed.
"Let him. I've had it with his arrogant ways." Horohoro said crossing his arms and slouching on his seat.
The curtain rose up again as the announcer introduces the characters.
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Ren walked out of the school theatre to get some fresh air but aside from that he also started to punch the thick pillar that was standing quietly in the hall.
"If I see that guy I'm going to make him feel guilty about the day he was born." Ren said while punching the pillar. The pillar then started to break making Bason worry.
"Master Ren. I'm afraid that you would destroy this building if you continue what you are doing." Bason said.
"I don't care!" Ren barked.
Bason then looked around trying to find something that would divert his master's attention. Then he saw a girl selling flowers in a distance.
"Master Ren. I suggest that you look over there."
It worked… Ren has stopped and looked at where the spirit pointed. There he also saw the same girl selling flowers.
"What? Those are just flowers. What do I care about flowers? I want something that could break that man's neck."
"Well I suggest master Ren that you should give the young lady Pirika some flowers to congratulate her for the success of the play." Bason suggested.
Ren stopped to think for a while then realized that Bason had a good idea there.
Without another word Ren walked towards the girl and bought some flowers… roses in particular.
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The show has ended and the crowd just loved it almost everyone greeted Pirika 'congratulations' as well as the other actors and actresses.
Ren also went backstage secretly carrying the bouquet or roses in his hand. He thought at first that everyone was in the main hall enjoying the party but as soon as he pushed the door to open he was wrong…
"That was great Pirika." The girl with the dark hair said.
"Thank You." Pirika answered.
"But why aren't you in the party?"
"I… I just don't want to see that… that Taki." Pirika said suddenly turning to them angrily.
"Why? Is it because of that-"
"Stop your mouth Amanda. Don't say bad words." Pirika snapped making the girl halt.
The black-haired girl then looked mockingly at Pirika.
"I think you enjoyed it. Tell me Piri is there something going on between you two?"
Pirika then stood up, her fist clenched. She seems to have so many things to say but also looks like she doesn't know where to start.
"To tell you the honest truth Amanda… Taki is the most idiotic person I've ever met. I don't like him at all. He's so rude, arrogant and a total lunatic. I don't even now why I let him kiss me but I swear that'll never happen again."
Upon hearing that Ren can't help to smile in victory. All of a sudden he almost forgot about being angry. He then turned and started to go when the leading man and he crossed paths.
Taki, the leading man, seems to be going to the room where Pirika and her friend were. Curiosity strikes Ren once again and so when Taki entered the room Ren followed close by and started to listen while stil hiding from them.
"Taki, why are you here?" Amanda asked.
"To tell something to Pirika." Taki said seriously turning to Pirika.
"What? I told you already that I don't want to go to the party."
"But I love you Pirika and I would give the world to you." Taki said kneeling down on one knee.
"Sorry Taki but I think that I don't have any feelings for you aside from being a friend." Pirika answered looking sorry for him.
Taki then stood up, looking angrily. He then grabbed Pirika by the wrist and pulled her to him.
"No girl turns me down. No one ever dumps me before and you're not going to be the first." Taki shouted angrily as Amanda and Pirika screamed for help.
With that Ren immediately entered the scene, coming out from his hiding place.
"Let her go!" Ren commanded.
"Who are you? And what do you care?" Taki shouted then he turned to Pirika and started to kiss her by force as Pirika tried to escape from him.
"Stop that." Ren finally shouted and with his right and he punched Taki. He did succeed to get Taki away from Pirika. Amanda and Pirika thought that Taki would stay down but they underestimated him and soon enough Taki got up and looked furiously at Ren.
"Hold this." Ren ordered to Pirika handing her the bouquet.
Pirika took it without another word. As soon as that was out of Ren's hands he walked closer to the leading man.
'Now this is my chance to get back at him. You're dead.' Ren thought.
"How dare you punch my handsome face! You're gonna pay!" the leading man shouted as he run towards Ren.
He then punched him but Ren dodged at once… the leading man hit nothing but the air. Ren then used his knee and hit Taki on his stomach. Once he clenched in pain Ren used his elbow and hit it on Taki's back. The leading man was knocked on the ground.
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While the two continued their fight Pirika was just speechless. She doesn't know this man… what's his name? Where he did he come from and all that… though once thing is for sure… she's very thankful that he came. Hugging the bouquet of roses, Pirika continued to watch them carefully. Though there are many movements she was able to take short glances on the mystery man's face.
"He looks so handsome and so familiar… who is he?" she thought starting to give that high-school-girl-in-love look.
Her mind continued to wander off but a short tap from Amanda made her wake up to her senses.
"You got to stop them." Amanda said.
"Oh… yeah but should I?" Pirika asked.
"No need. I got him settled." Ren interrupted the two.
The girls then saw Ren, the one she called his mystery man, holding the kneeling Taki as if he's a puppy dog begging for scrap.
"Say sorry." Ren ordered. Taki looked stiff but with a quick shake from Ren he lowered down his once proud eyes.
Taki then bended down very low, his face almost touching the floor.
"I'm sorry Pirika… I swear I'll never do that again. You'll have my respect from now on." Taki said.
"Good and stay that way!" Ren said.
Taki ran off suddenly because of the embarrassment he got leaving the two girls bewildered.
"Thanks." Pirika started.
"Don't mention it." Ren said and with one final glance at Pirika he ran off again.
"Who is he?" Amanda asked looking at the door where Ren came out.
Pirika then looked at the flowers she was holding and sniffed it. She then smiled and looked at the window hoping that the mystery man would come back.
"An admirer… my hero."
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After a while Ren saw himself walking back to the onsen with his friends who were in a bliss talking about the play.
"What's with the smile Ren?" Horohoro noticed.
"I think Ren bought a new brand of toothpaste." Chocolove said trying to make them laugh.
"Be thankful Chocolove that I'm in a good mood or else you'll suffer the same fate as that leading man." Ren said smirking.
"What leading man?" Chocolove asked, confused and being left out by the group.
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What will happen next? Will the leading man plot revenge on Ren? Will Pirika soon learn about her hero's identity? Find out soon…
Hope you like it!
Thank you for reading this and please review!