Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King nor the characters here…though I have to admit that Taki, the perverted classmate, was mine though I'm very shamed about it. Sorry for the typographical errors my spellchecker was on vacation and so I'm dangerously not immune to wrong spellings now.

Wait!

Oniichan… according to Silver was oni-chan… but I'm still going to use oniichan… my fingers are more used to it. But if I accidentally turn it to oni-chan now you know that they're just the same. Thanks… really love you all!

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Chapter 7

And so Horohoro, Ren and Pirika all left the hotel and went to the bar nearby. All the way there Pirika was clutching Horo's shirt tightly, an act that made Horo very glad and made Ren burning in ire.

"Why can't she trust me? Ren don't get jealous… remember she's her brother." Ren said through gritted teeth.

They entered a bar where the met Yoh and the others. Manta, Lyserg, Chocolove, Ryu, and Faust are also there. They were all around a huge table and were just having fun.

"Hey everyone!" Horohoro called to them.

"Hey Horohoro! Ren!" Yoh waved back.

"Hey Pirika!" Chocolove suddenly shouted as everyone turned their head to him at once.

"You know my name…" Pirika suddenly muttered, blinking at him.

Horo suddenly caught Chocolove's mouth and kept it from opening again.

"What he meant to say is that he knew you because he…" Horo was saying finding a reason in his head.

"He also watched the play." Ren said pulling a seat and gesturing for Pirika to take her seat.

"Oh… thanks Ren." Pirika said while sitting down.

Ren also sat down just beside her when he noticed that everyone became silent. Ren looked at his friends just to see that they're just looking at him… staring as if he did something unusual.

"What!" he growled, blushing a bit.

"Nothing… it was just…" Ryu started to say.

"Since when did you become a gentleman?" Faust can't help but ask.

"Oh but your friend here has always been so nice to me and so is Horohoro." Pirika said, smiling.

"I can understand Horohoro but Ren… that's something you don't see everyday." Chocolove, whose mouth has been freed because Horo has already sat down at Pirika's left, muttered to Lyserg. (Micelle: Don't get confused)

"Well… better introduce everyone to you." Horo alleged.

"Let's start off with that boy with the headphones that's Yoh and the midget is Manta. Then next to him is Ryu and next is Faust, he's a doctor. Then there's Lyserg, that's a nice boy… the afro joker is Chocolove… I know he's corny sometimes but I think he's nice." Horohoro said introducing everyone.

"Hello everyone." Pirika said bowing a little and smiling a lot

"Everyone… this is Pirika Honda." Horohoro continued.

"Hello Pirika!" They waved.

"Welcome to our family Pirika." Yoh said smiling sheepishly.

"Don't worry not all of us are harmful." Lyserg smiled.

"Well to kick things off how about a welcome joke!" Chocolove said suddenly standing up.

"No!" all of the boys shouted.

"You're so rude… maybe this is good. I want to hear." Pirika insisted.

"This is for your good Pirika. Don't listen to his jokes or else…"

"Pipe down Horohoro… okay what did one volcano said to the other volcano?"

"What?" Pirika asked enthusiastically.

"I lava you, do you lava me?" Chocolove said… and all became quiet.

Pirika went on blinking at him for a while when she suddenly got it…

And so she laughed… laughed and laughed.

"I really love that girl." Chocolove muttered feeling in heaven.

"I guess even amnesia can't erase a weird sense of humor." Lyserg whispered to Faust, who just nodded.

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The fun went on… they kept on drinking, singing and dancing.

"Are you still okay Pirika?" Horohoro checked looking at her with gentle worried eyes.

Pirika smiled thankfully and just nod. Somehow she really loves it when Horohoro checks on her every ten minutes… it makes her feel special. Meanwhile Ren wasn't even talking to her… it was somehow troubling Pirika but because of Horohoro it slowly made her forget about that.

"Do you want to dance?" Horohoro asked taking her hand.

"It's my pleasure." Pirika answered taking his hand.

Horohoro pulled Pirika to the dance floor and after a while the music of 'Cheeky girls' suddenly played and so the two dance wildly.

"Look at those two… they look very weird." Lyserg noticed.

"But at the same time very happy." Yoh added.

'I didn't know when the last time I was this happy.' Pirika thought as they danced.

After that the two went back to their chairs laughing loudly.

"What kind of dance step was that?" Horohoro jokingly said as soon as they sat down.

"How about you? You looked like a decapitated worm back there!" Pirika answered as they both laughed again.

"Are they going nuts or what?" Chocolove asked Faust.

"I think they're having a mental dysfunction caused by too much longing in their emotional stature…"

"Um… translation please."

"What Faust meant to say was that they just missed each other. That is the reason why they're acting like this." Manta clarified.

"Though Pirika doesn't really know that she missed Horohoro her sub consciousness felt that he had filled a piece that was missing in her." Faust furthered explained.

Ren was the one suffering the most, first is that he can't show what he feel for Pirika in front of his friends, second is that he's getting more jealous of Horohoro and finally because he was hearing all these explanations that's pissing him more.

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The party finally ended when Yoh said that Anna will be back home by this time and when they noticed that Ryu was very drunk now… so drunk that he can't even see straight. Pirika then decided to go home while Horohoro offered to escort her home… when she looked for Ren she noticed that he was already gone.

"Where does he live?" Pirika asked as they were walking back home, Pirika insisted in it so that they could talk more.

"In a hotel… he actually lives in China… but sometimes he sleeps in the onsen where I'm staying now." Horohoro answered.

Since they were walking Horohoro gave his jacket to Pirika so that she wouldn't get cold, even in a shirt Horo can stand the night breeze… hey he lives in the mountains of Hokkaido… he's used to freezing temperatures.

"So where's the onsen? If I'm free I could visit all of you."

"Um… I think you should not."

"Why?" Pirika asked, almost shocked.

"It's because… your mom might get angry and…"

"And?"

"And there's an evil ice witch living there named Anna. She's very nasty. She's very cruel… you will not like her." Horohoro said trying to sound very scary.

"Stop that… it's not nice… besides maybe she's just like that because she doesn't want you to think that she's weak. But are those the only reasons why you don't want me there… because if you really don't want to see me... just tell me… that's okay rather than use other people as reasons."

"No! I want to se you… really… but I think going there might just upset your mother."

"She wouldn't mind. Actually she encourages me to have friends. I always love to be alone… that's why I joined the drama club."

"Okay if your mother and father won't get angry you could come but don't tell me that didn't warn you about Anna."

"Okay. Now where is this onsen? I would love to take a hot bath there someday too."

After that Horohoro gave the exact location of the onsen including the shortcuts that she could take from her house upon going there if she travels by foot. Pirika was just enjoying every second she is with Horohoro, he just makes her happier every second. He's fun-to-be-with, nice, and caring.

After Horo had told her the way to Yoh's house the two became quiet again due to lack of good topic to talk about.

"Um… Horohoro." Pirika called trying to break the silence.

"What?" he asked as they continued to walk getting nearer and nearer.

"Do you already have a girlfriend?" she asked.

Horohoro suddenly gave a chuckle… something that made Pirika worry.

"No… she still haven't told me her feelings yet." He said, thinking of Tamao, that pink-haired girl that he adores so much.

"Oh…" Pirika could only say smiling because she knew she still have a chance.

'I hope he's talking about me. I would love to tell my feelings for him… but what if he thinks that I'm rushing on things. I mean we've just met and… what if he asks me about my childhood… what will I answer… I can't remember my past because of that stupid car accident… speaking of stupid cars accidents what about if he knew what I really am… a freak that can see spirits! What will he say?' Pirika thought in the midst of silence.

She then began to realize that because of thinking about too many things her escort was also becoming too quiet contemplating on things himself.

"Pirika?" Horo suddenly called, as Pirika looked at him.

"What?"

"Can you see that?" he suddenly stopped pointing at the tree in a distance.

Pirika looked at the tree but there was nothing special there. It was just a tree and so she looked harder… slowly an image formed in the trees… surrounding the tree were spirits… a girl, a smiling headless samurai, and some small fairies dancing merrily around the tree.

"Um… what do I suppose to see?" Pirika asked just to be sure.

"What I can see too… can you see a girl in white?"

"You mean… you're a freak too."

A large tear drop behind Horo's head… because of what she said.

"You know… not because people can see those things mean that they are freak. You can see them and yet you're not a freak…"

"But I'm different."

"No you're not. Many people may not understand you but think like this instead… think that somewhere out there, there are people who are just like you... that thinks that he or she is a freak…"

"Like who?" Pirika asked.

"Like me… and when you think that way you'll never feel alone anymore. If you think that you're alone in this world again. Think about me and you'll never be lonely. I won't let you be lonely… I promise."

"Thank you Horohoro."

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A few minutes of further walking they finally reached Pirika's house where only the maids are waiting. Pirika's parents are still not there.

"Thanks for everything Horohoro." Pirika said smiling sweetly.

Horohoro looked deeply in Pirika's eyes… though she may be quite different he still can see the same old Pirika that he used to take care of… the sister he loved ever since birth.

"It was my pleasure. Goodbye." Horohoro smiled.

The two then turned back at each other and slowly walked away. After a few steps though Pirika noticed that she was still wearing Horohoro's jacket. She instantly turned back and run to the gate… but she was too late…

Horohoro has gone home.

Pirika took off the jacket and cuddled it… at once the smell of fresh mountain air tickled her nose… the smell was comfortable and was very familiar.

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Pirika went back inside the house and went to her room. While getting ready for bed she recalled all the things that happened to her tonight. She met a lot of friends, and had lots of fun… but the most important thing of al was that she found out that she wasn't alone.

Pirika hugged Horo's jacket once more with a smile painted on her face… she felt much secured and protected each time she's with Horohoro and even if what she was just holding a jacket she can still feel that it was like Horohoro himself.

"I think… I do love him…" Pirika muttered while lying on her bed, inside her mind though she formed a plan…tomorrow she'll visit the onsen and tell Horohoro what she felt…besides she needs to get the jacket back.

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UH-OH! Our girl is pretty much confusing brotherly affection to love… what if she knew the truth… that Horohoro treats her like a sister only…poor Pirika… if she just sticks with Ren then this wouldn't happen… What would happen next? Find out… as the impending end is getting nearer.

Hope you like this chappie… I intended to include the part where Pirika went to the Funbari onsen in this chapter but I decided to emphasize on the 'walking home' part which my stuff doll thinks was cute. Well this is finished. Thanks for reading, sorry for the errors again and… please review!