Disclaimer: I know you already know this but here I am again… I do not own Shaman King… sorry bout that but I just own the plot… really, believe me!

Sorry for the typographical errors… sorry, sorry, sorry

Now let's go back to the story…

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Chapter 8

Tamao continued to run, just run away from it all… from Yoh from Anna, even from Hao. She felt like she's going to blow up with all these hatred, jealousy and sadness in her heart. She just wanted to escape… escape and be free.

Until her feet lead her to a meadow there she stopped to regain her energy and rest.

She sat in a rock a slowly took the Diamant out of her pockets.

She looked at it disgustingly and suddenly threw it away landing in a few meters away from her.

"No amount of magic can really help me. I'm hopeless." Tamao muttered as the tears overflow in her eyes and slowly dropped, "No one loves me… no matter what I do no matter what I am… inside of me I'm still that weakling that everybody looks down on. I'm still…I'm still…"

"Tamao Tamamura… the pink-haired girl that studies in the Asakura family. The most obedient student they will ever have these days. If you ask me, that is." A masculine voice suddenly interrupted, and when Tamao lifted her gaze she saw the blue-haired Ainu she knew.

Tamao gestured as if she would run again but Horohoro suddenly made her stop.

"Please don't go. I'll not hurt you. I'm here to help."

Tamao, though still has that threatened and fierce look in her eyes, still calmed herself and sat on the rock she was sitting on a while ago.

"So what do you want? The Diamant? You can pick it up over there… it's yours I don't need it anymore." Tamao muttered still not bearing to look in his eyes.

"I don't want it."

"But why are you here then?" Tamao asked.

"Because I'm here for you."

Tamao instantly stood up, grabbing a dagger from behind her and charging Horohoro at once, who just stood there motionless as all of these things happen.

As soon as Tamao charged the quicker she was to stop, the dagger was only a few centimeters away from Horo's neck.

"I don't want to hurt you." Horohoro said, "I'm here to help.

"What did the Diamant do to you?" Tamao asked looking at Horohoro from head to toe.

She knew she had hit him. She was certain that there must be something different now.

"Nothing. Kororo stood in its way before it hits me. She became a human and because of that I don't have a power spirit with me at this moment. I'm defenseless." Horohoro said sincerely.

"Then why did you chase me? You can easily take the Diamant and bring your friends back rather than talk to me. I know that you don't need me. I'm useless and once everyone's back to normal you'll hunt me down and punish me."

"That's what you believe but I won't let that happen." Horohoro said, while his eyes are still closed, as the dagger is just a few spaces away to spelling death.

"Why?" Tamao asked.

"The same reason why you can't hurt me even if I know you're secret and I stand in your way from the beginning." Horohoro said as his eyes are still closed.

Tamao thought for a while… all he did stated was the truth, she can't really kill him even if she wanted to… now that the topic was brought up… she thought about it… realizing that the answer was unattainable for her.

As she slowly realizes this she suddenly noticed that her feet were walking backwards and she had just dropped her dagger.

She then looked back at Horohoro and saw that he was looking back at her.

"Those eyes… they're not anger, nor sadness… nor pity… what is are you thinking?" Tamao asked as she realizes that she was sitting and shaking on the rock.

"I want to help you." Horohoro started.

"Why? Why me?" Tamao shouted.

"I don't know… maybe because… " Horohoro then paused.

He breathed heavily. He clenched his fist.

"I think… no… I know… I like you." Horohoro said, blushing a bit.

Tamao just stared at him.

"No wait! That doesn't seem right." Horohoro said.

Tamao looked sad again. She knew it. He was only joking.

Horohoro then inhaled.

"I love you!" Horohoro then shouted.

His voice echoed in the meadows, through the fields, from corner to corner of every tree, and across the mountains… but more importantly it echoed in Tamao's heart.

"I know you can't forget Yoh but I'll help you, I promise. And even if you don't love me back… I'll still love you even more until you felt the same way for me. I will tolerate any amount of pain and suffering until you know that I'm the one for you. I'll protect you like my life depended on it." Horohoro said with all his heart.

Tamao were looking at his eyes all the time, seeing the sincerity form it, he was telling the truth.

She then suddenly heard a voice in her head,

"Miss Anna's very lucky to have Master Yoh… he accepts her every flaws and insecurities and loves her no matter what happens. When I grow up I would have a husband who is just like him… just like my master Yoh."

"It's a distant memory." Tamao muttered, "From when I was a child."

"What?" Horohoro asked hearing what Tamao just said.

"It's true… I like Master Yoh but not because he was strong nor of his good looks… but because of the kindness of his heart. The same kindness I saw in you Horohoro." Tamao said, her eyes turning soft again.

"Tamao you're back!" Horohoro shouted hugging the girl.

"I am? How can you tell?" Tamao asked as she just sat there with Horohoro embracing her.

"I just know. I can feel it." He whispered.

Tamao then started to move her arms hugging Horo back and resting her head on his shoulders. When she rolled her eyes a bit she saw the Diamant from afar with her reflection clearly seen in it.

'Maybe this is not the right time to show my strong side. Besides I think I already found my strength… in Horohoro.' She thought as she smiled.

The Diamant slowly turned crimson… then pink… meaning a spell was broken…

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Meanwhile back in the onsen Yoh and Anna went out probably looking for the rest of their friends leaving Pirika and puppy Ren guarding the house.

Pirika was in the kitchen cooking some snack just in case they come home hungry.

While she was slicing some radish she heard Ren's loud and continuous bark that was somehow starting to worry her.

"Ren… what's wrong?" Pirika finally asked but when she turned around she just saw Hao's smiling face.

"No wonder he was barking like that. He saw you." Pirika said, with the knife still on her hand.

"Pirika, I just want to ask you something." Hao started.

"What?" Pirika asked, confused a bit.

"Do you like me?"

"WHAT!" Pirika shouted.

"Why? Don't you?"

Pirika rolled her eyes aside and started to think. She just cannot like Hao… she loved someone else.

Hao saw how she was thinking about Ren… and because of that he hated the little mutt more. He was not in a good mood.

"I knew it." Hao muttered as Pirika's eyes went back to him again.

"I was defeated by Yoh once now Ren defeated me too. Will I always be the loser… especially when it comes to love?" Hao said starting to sound melodramatic.

"Hao… I'm sorry but…"

"I know… however this time I know that I'll win." Hao suddenly said as his eyes gave a threatening look at Pirika.

"Wha-?" Pirika said but before she could complete the word Hao placed his lips on Pirika's soft ones… and since they were partly open it gave his tongue easier access in.

The knife on Pirika's hand slowly slipped and dropped on the kitchen floor. A moment later Hao finally let her go and stared in her frightened eyes.

"Now…would I have a chance in winning?" Hao asked.

Pirika's eyes suddenly filled with anger and in one quick blow… she slapped Hao with her right hand.

"You know Anna also slapped me when we first met. That's the reason why I liked her more." Hao said.

"Hao! Don't you understand? Only Ren can fill my heart." Something then struck her mind as she started to look for the puppy.

She saw the puppy lying almost lifeless in the corner of the room making her angrier.

"Why did you hurt him?" Pirika asked angrily.

"He'll surely interfere… and you know how I hate interference." Hao said looking intensely at Pirika.

"Interference to what?" Pirika asked, wishing she never asked in the first place.

"NO!" Pirika's voice echoed in the onsen.

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Ren was still out, but in his sub-consciousness all he could see was Pirika.

"I'm sorry… I can't protect you. I'm just too weak." Ren muttered to himself.

"Stop saying that. You're the best! Well after oniichan that is… but still you're the greatest or should I say greater…now I'm confused." Pirika's voice said.

A smile curved in Ren's lips.

"You're really funny. Even funnier than Chocolove. I wish I could see you happy all the time." Ren wished.

"But… How can I be happy if you're not beside me? You're the only one I need."

"Pirika, I'm useless… see I can't help you."

"How can you say that? Don't you love me too? Do you want me to end up like this? Wake up Ren! Only you can save me now… wake up!"

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The puppy's eyes opened wide seeing Hao kissing Pirika madly. She was pinned on the wall with Hao holding her tightly. Ren stopped himself from barking so as not to make Hao notice him. He slowly crept around the room trying to not be tormented with Pirika's screams and cries. He then finally made it to the knife on the floor which he took with his mouth.

"Surrender now Pirika or should I finish our little game?" Hao asked.

"You worked hard to be trusted again Hao. Don't waste it on this… think Hao… please." Pirika begged.

'Yeah think again asshole!' Hao finally heard from behind him.

He then felt something stabbing him from behind, when he looked at it he saw Ren's mouth still gripping the knife and plunging it further on Hao's back.

"Ah!" Hao shouted in pain… finally walking away from Pirika.

Hao grabbed Ren and threw him on the wall, the dog hit the wall hard but as soon as his feet were on the ground he charged Hao again pulling him out of the room.

Pirika was just sitting near the sink still can't believe her eyes from what just happened to her.

"Ren…" Pirika muttered.

She then heard some screams, barks, bangs and clangs… until finally… everything went quiet.

"Ren…" Pirika whispered hoping that Ren was all right.

Some footsteps then was heard from the door, Pirika got scared thinking that it was Hao… but when it finally reached the door… it was not even a human but a dog.

"Ren!" Pirika said as she rushed to the dog embracing him tightly.

"Thank you, thank you! You saved me." Pirika said as she began to cry.

The dog slowly licked Pirika's ears as if saying…

'Don't cry. It's over.'

"Ren… Thank you… I love you very, very much…"

'But Hao's right. I'm just a dog.' Ren thought as Pirika notices that sad look in the puppy's face.

"Ren… I'll wait even if it takes forever… I'll wait until you become a human again…" Pirika whispers again making Ren look at her at once.

'Did she hear me? No it can't be… she knows.' Ren said making that cute puppy noise.

From outside the room Hao was listening, he was still injured physically but the injuries in his heart are even worse than what you can see outside.

"I'm sorry Pirika. I hope you could have it in your heart to forgive me… I didn't mean to hurt you… gomen nasai." Hao muttered and with that he started to chant something under his breath.

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"Look Horo-kun." Tamao said noticing the Diamant turning crimson then pink…

"What about it?" Horohoro asked.

"Another spell was broken." Tamao answered.

"Really how cute."

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Meanwhile Pirika can't believe what she was seeing, Ren… the human… in the flesh was in front of him.

"Pirika… the curse?" Ren muttered quite shocked too.

"Ren!" Pirika screamed suddenly embracing Ren.

"I love you" Ren whispered on her hair as he hugs her too.

"Me too. I love you." Pirika answered as they slowly moved apart.

That's when they realized how each other looked like…

Ren turned back into a human from being a dog… meaning he's butt naked!

While Pirika just realized that her struggle with Hao had caused her blouse to be torn and pulled…

Ren instantly turned around blushing a lot, so as Pirika.

"You mean… it's alright even if I… accidentally… you know…" Ren said recalling the times he spent back when he was a dog.

"No. I forgive you. It's not your fault. It was my ignorance. Besides that's only normal once I've become your wife."

"Really?" Ren asked. He was still facing the other side.

"Do you like that?"

"I love that… a lot."

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What will happen now? I think I can see the silver lining in this dark cloud please watch out for the YohxAnna after this… and after that the ending…

Thank you for reading

Please review…

Thank you.