Disclaimer: I don not own Shaman King but only the plot. I'm also sorry for the typographical errors within this fic… but I assure you that I try my best to avoid them.

So now back to the story…

Chapter 2

Horohoro continued his search and even before he slept that night he tried to review his friend's alibis once more…

Tamao and Horohoro were on the kitchen. Tamao was helping Horohoro out on this one. She knew that the Ainu was having a hard time and everything was just too much for a brother like him… that was why she would always be there by his side.

"So who do you think did this?" Tamao asked as she pours Horohoro some tea.

"Hmm… I still don't know yet. Everyone has a perfect excuse." Horohoro said as he took his cup and drank like it was just water.

(Horo's list: )

Yoh: can't be… because Anna guards him very securely.

"If Miss Anna knows about that she'll surely be angry." Tamao said.

"Tell me about it." Horohoro said as he continues to scroll down on his list.

Manta: He never sleeps in the onsen anymore.

"Well I still can't imagine Manta you know…" Tamao said as Horohoro kept on laughing just thinking about it.

"It's not funny Horo-kun Manta is still a man."

"Yeah but actually he's half-man half-smurf…" Horohoro said as he continues to laugh but was instantly hushed when Kororo suddenly put her master on ice.

"Oh sorry Kororo, I forgot that you like him."

The koropokkuru blushed with that statement.

Chocolove: Disgusting!

"Even if he's he real father I won't even consider him marrying my beautiful sister." Horohoro commented on it.

Ryu: O.o Well he barely gets near my sister and he treats her like a baby.

"But it's still possible." Tamao said.

"Nah… can't be besides I still won't allow that to happen. It's just like Chocolove's case."

Ren: Obnoxious, stubborn, hard-headed, pig-headed and he rarely talks to my sister.

"Well we know that he cares for her." Tamao said at once seeing how badly Ren was treated in the list.

"I know but can't be… my sister doesn't even like him. She will not go out with him… ever!"

Lyserg: A gentleman?

"But I wish Lyserg is the one." Horohoro suddenly said.

"Why?" Tamao asked.

"Hey we know he's rich, not to mention he came from a good family and he has good looks." Horo explained.

"Horo-kun. We have to consider how Pirika feels about her husband-to-be I know you're her brother but still she has the right to choose."

"You're right… maybe I'm rather harsh on her… that's why she walked out this morning. But I just wanted to protect her. She's my only sister…"

"I know Horohoro and I know that she's very happy to have you as her brother."

"Thank You." Horohoro said smiling at the pink-haired girl.

xxxx

Pirika was having a hard time sleeping. She was twisting and turning on her futon trying her best to find a comfortable sleeping position. It was no use though. She just cannot sleep with these things in mind.

It was frightening. The burden she carries was frightening her. It was shameful… her parents have loved her and brought her up to be a brave, intelligent girl… and now she would get pregnant without even knowing who the father was.

Stupid.

She finally decided to get up and take a stroll outside. She just wanted some fresh air… maybe a short walk would help her get to sleep.

She was walking in the halls of the onsen looking at the shining moon outside. It was a chilly night. The night breeze was making her shiver a little.

"Why are you still up? You should take care of yourself especially now that you are having a baby." A voice from the darkness whispered as Pirika tried to see who it was.

The man who spoke finally stepped forwards revealing himself under the warm glow of the moon making now Pirika can clearly see who it was. Ren Tao.

Pirika looked away at once averting his somehow accusing stare.

"I swear on my mother's grave that I don't know anything…" Pirika muttered at once, "I don't know when it happened and I'm saying the truth. I'm unaware that this was happening to me so please believe me…"

Pirika's eyes began to twinkle and started to cry. She really thought she had cried herself dry that it was a surprise to see her eyes crying once more.

She really was so young to be in such a situation. She was really weak like a fragile paper boat in the middle of a raging stream.

Ren smirked a bit… for him Pirika was the epitome of innocence, she was really a little girl and he pitied her.

Pirika continued crying but stopped and gasped a bit when she felt something in her head.

When she looked at it she saw Ren's hand patting her head.

"You're such a cry-baby." Ren teased.

"Gomen nasai." Pirika muttered, her eyes stopped crying now.

"If you want…" Ren started as Pirika looks at him, he was somehow blushing a bit but it could just be the darkness, "until its real father won't reveal himself… then I'd be his or her father… that is if you want to?"

Pirika was shock. She stared at him with mouth agape.

"Really… why?" she asked thinking that this indeed was very unbelievable.

"Because I really pity you." Ren answered looking away and blushing again.

But that just made Pirika angry. She knew she was weak but that doesn't mean that people could just underestimate her… or worse pity her!

"I don't need your sympathy! I thought you were different but you're just like all of them! Do you really think that I can't handle on my own? Well Mister Tao in fact I could and I would!" Pirika shouted showing that she's very strong indeed.

Ren on the other hand also hates it when he's being shouted at…He had enough of her denseness. She was so like her brother.

"What are you! Do you really want me to shout to the whole world the fact that I do love you! Are you slow or just stupid?" Ren barked back.

Ren finally realized what he just it. It was a confession… and it was not meant to be this way. He had not practiced it like this.

However, the cat is out of the bag. No matter how he regretted it, he can do nothing now.

"Really!" Pirika said in a shock, "I didn't know that you liked me back?" she said as she can't stop herself from blushing.

Since it was like this… Ren Tao had decided to just face it.

"Now you know." Ren said stiffly.

"I never knew that you liked me the way I like you… I'm so happy." Pirika whispered.

Ren Tao finally breathed freely. He was glad to have that out of his system. And he was happy that he was not rejected at all.

But as soon as the wave of happiness flooded his heart he suddenly felt a sense of remorse. If Pirika didn't have a problem in the first place… everything from here would be easy.

"I will never forgive the man that dishonored you. He will pay that with his life I assure you that. But as long as we don't find him… treat me like I'm the child's real father."

That was the matter at hand. Ren was willing to be there for Pirika and even if he would be the stand-in father he doesn't care. It was not the child's fault… it was not Pirika's fault. The one at fault here will be the one who would die in Ren's hand.

Pirika felt warm in the midst of the chill in the air. She instantly hugged Ren Tao. She was just so happy.

Ren Tao was now red. He sighed and decided to give his feelings a chance. He embraced her too.

"That won't be as hard as you can think." Pirika whispered as her head lie on his chest. "Thinking of you as this child's father… it isn't hard."

"Why? Do you really like me to?"

Pirika let go and stepped back a bit.

"Isn't that obvious? Are you slow or just an idiot?" Pirika said pouting a bit.

"Hey!" Ren snapped.

"Now were even." Pirika smiled as Ren sends out somewhat a chuckle.

"But Ren… don't you think that if we tell them this the whole Tao clan might disown you or Oniichan would kill you?" Pirika asked worrying that the Tao's reputation is at stake on this one.

"The clan can't disown the clan head and Boroboro can't do that to me… besides stop worrying about them. They don't care a damn thing here." Ren said angrily.

"But I'm just worried about your safety." Pirika said.

"Don't worry about me… I can take care of myself." Ren said assuring her with his ever-strong attitude in his voice.

"Thank you for everything." Pirika said as she hugged him again, now even tighter.

xxxx

"Are you sure?" Hao asked again on his spy when he sent him the news about the things happening inside the Funbari onsen.

"Yes Master Hao. Everyone was occupied by it… all of them are searching for the father of the said child." The Shaman slave said as he bowed down before his master.

"Really…" Hao said with a smile, "If they want the father of the child… I'll give it to them." Hao supposed as the slave was somehow confused.

What is Hao up to? Is he the man they are looking for? Will Ren and Pirika end up together? Find out soon…

As you can see I'm not a fan of Hao… sorry for that… but I do love him as my master.

Hope you like this one too… please review

Thank you very much!

Edited: September 11, 2009. Wow… I think my writing style improved… or maybe it was just my imagination. Hahaha. Thank you for reading this!