Yami's koi: woot, woot. Another chapter here, people. And what a chapter this shall be!

Nefertiri: this chapter has had a lot of effort and other stuff poured into it, so can any flamers please just not bother? Thanks.

Yami's koi: anyways. I would like to offer my sympathy for those related to anyone who was murdered/injured in the London bombing. I live about five hours away from there, you see, and I care enough to dedicate this chapter to you gies, the Londoners and Mizu. At the bottom… see ya.

Disclaimer: I do not own the song that Yoh is about to sing, kk? Thanks. So don't sue me already!

"Deep inside your soul, there's a hole you don't wanna see…"

The song was referring to what he was feeling, Yoh thought as he sat outside on the steps leading up to his house, listening to music by himself. Even though he had never sung to anyone before, Yoh had got a great singing voice, and he could convey how he felt better by singing them rather than just voicing them normally.

"Cover it up like a cut with the likes of me…"

Yoh was, inside, quite upset. He had secretly always wanted to be Amidamaru's first kiss, and now that he knew he would never be that (if by some fluke they got together, that is), what was to say that he wouldn't be Amidamaru's first… time? Yoh himself, as he had so angrily admitted, was a virgin, but was the samurai also one? Had the one who had stolen away his first kiss… taken away that something else as well?

"Even though I try, I can't get my head around you…"

Yoh stared at the water feature before him, watching the liquid splash slightly over the sides of the well, causing the grass around it to become slippy and muddy. That was a potential death trap to the bridesmaids he knew, but the thought barely registered. A crystalline tear fell from the corner of his eye, and he scolded himself.

There was no point in beating himself up. Amidamaru had been 24 when he had died; it would have made sense that he would have done a few things. Hell, Yoh was surprised that none of the women in that period had taken a liking to him, and even gone to the point of bearing him a child…

"Somewhere in the night there's a light, in front of me…"

That thought only made Yoh's tears fall quicker. And so he lost himself in the song, gradually getting louder as the song progressed, pouring out exactly how he felt into every single word he sang.

"ALL YOUR FAKING… GET UP, GET UP, GET UP, GET UP – SHOWS YOU'RE ACHING… GET UP, GET UP, GET UP, GET UP…"

Yoh was surprised that no one had heard him, and that his vocal range was that vast. Emotions and song go better when hand in hand. Still he sang, getting more pissed off and lonely every minute. He didn't know why he was reacting like this, but it was the only way he could vent before making a big scene at the wedding. And Yoh had no right whatsoever to destroy Horo and Ren's big day.

"I CAN'T GET MY HEAD AROUND YOU…." Yoh finished at last, leaning his head against the wooden pole beside him. He closed his eyes, a crystalline tear falling down his tortured features, before rising to his feet and dusting himself off. He turned around, ready to go back in and face everyone.

The only problem was, two spirits were there.

"Oh, hey there." Yoh said weakly, grinning widely as he rubbed his eyes, feigning tiredness. "What's goin' on in there? They still being crazy?"

Mosuke said nothing. It was Amidamaru's place to see through Yoh's VERY false happiness, and he wasn't going to interfere with something like that. He did, however, need to tell Yoh something. And, being the intelligent man he was, Mosuke knew that Yoh would want to learn a few things from him, too.

"Well yes, but that's beyond the point. Are you all right?" Amidamaru asked, feeling incredibly stupid. Mosuke, the one who he knew for sure did love him, was hearing this, and probably wishing he could kiss him… and the samurai knew it sounded so lame, but he wasn't one to dwell on things that have been spoken.

Yoh nodded, using his trademark smile to hide any more evidence.

"Sure I am! I just got a bit hot in there, I couldn't breathe. I just wanted a bit of fresh air before I have to have everyone crying over the fairytale couple in there." Yoh laughed. "Hey, has Ren come down yet?"

"No." Mosuke said firmly, before Amidamaru could answer. "Amidamaru, may you excuse us for a moment? I have something I wish to tell Yoh… alone."

The warrior's eyes widened, fearing that the blacksmith would tell Yoh what had just happened between them, up on the roof. Yoh, however, seemed okay with the question. In fact, he looked eager.

"I'm sorry, Amidamaru… it's nothing personal, but I need to ask Mosuke a few questions about… well, you." Yoh confessed, not able to look either ghost in the eye. "I'll see you in a min, 'Midi… Don't take this the wrong way…"

Amidamaru managed a smile. "I won't."

With a quiet swirl of wind, the samurai was gone, probably emerging upstairs to pester Ren. Yoh sat down again.

"Who was Amidamaru's first kiss!" He asked almost fiercely, before Mosuke could say anything, "Who was she!"

The sword smith laughed.

"Firstly, why would it concern you like this? Secondly, why are you so hooked up on the thought that the man you love is straight? Anything can happen."

"Well, if he was gay, even when you were both…" Yoh faltered then, not meaning to be disrespectful, "…You know… alive… then why didn't you and him love each other! Surely living in a house together, with you both being gies, would have made for the perfect relationship?"

Mosuke slowly grinned at Yoh, and the shaman frowned. Was he right? Or was the blacksmith just trying to be awkward yet again?

"You didn't deny that you love him, Yoh, and again… why would Amidamaru's sexuality bother you this much?" Mosuke asked slowly, drawing out the torture. He didn't mean to be sadistic, but this was just fun to watch. Yoh's frown turned into a face of desperate panic.

"WAIT! I NEVER SAID THAT! AND I HAVE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS ON MY MIND THAN DENYING THINGS, AND ADMITTING TO THEM, BECAUSE I NEED TO KNOW THIS FIRST!" Yoh yelled, "WHO WAS HIS FIRST KISS!"

Mosuke smirked. "And you also want to know if he's still a virgin, don't you?"

"No," Yoh lied, "It's his cock, he can do what he wants with it."

"But in saying that, from what I hear in there, he wants to use it to fuck you with." Mosuke said, grinning. Yoh scowled.

"Are you going to tell me or not? Amidamaru won't let me alone with you for too long, if this is how you're--" Yoh's hand was halfway between reaching for Harusame and the spirit's stone tablet before a transparent hand stopped him.

"Don't. I'm not sure if he wants you to know everything I tell you here today, but what does it matter? You need to know." Mosuke said simply, gesturing for Yoh to stay his hand. The Shaman slowly did so, but still bore the same hard, cold look.

"Right. I'll tell you what Amidamaru had narrowed his preferences down to, if it makes you feel better." Mosuke sighed, shaking his head. At least they were finally getting somewhere.

"Amidamaru's sexual preference is…" He glanced at Yoh. His face was serious, and his eyes shining with tears. Mosuke didn't know how to comfort him, and hoped that this would be enough. "… Men."

Yoh snorted. "Now you're just screwing with my head," He muttered quietly, cracking his knuckles. He stared at a small water feature nearby. For a few moments, there was nothing but an awkward silence. "But is he… a virgin?"

Mosuke blanched. "Oh, but wouldn't me telling you that be screwing with your head?"

Yoh glared at the ghost. "I don't believe you about him being gay. He have to… I dunno… demonstrate to me or something first!"

Mosuke grinned. So many insults… and he could only choose one. However, he decided to simply stick with a more practical approach

"So the only way you'd know was if he was put into a room, with a male and a female, both naked, and he was only allowed to look at one of them? And, of course, he had been given something to make him tell nothing but the truth?"

Yoh thought about it for a moment, hesitating. Mosuke's eyes narrowed in both suspicion and sympathy.

"Or would you be afraid of finding out what preference he is?"

Yoh sighed. "How ever I decide to answer this… I'm going to look gay, aren't I?"

Mosuke shrugged, rising to a stand. "It's your choice." He 'rested' a hand on the confused Shaman's shoulder, smiling in pity down at the boy. "Come and see me if you're bold enough. I can wait a long time…" Then he sighed, glancing up at the clear blue sky for a moment. "But Amidamaru won't."

Yoh froze.

"Are you saying he's--"

"COME BACK TO ME, YOH!" Mosuke said in a raised voice, over Yoh's own. Yoh scowled slightly, furious with himself. If he carried on, he'd never find out anything. Mosuke would be Yoh's best bet for information, since it was the samurai's closest friend. And, after all, who could blame Amidamaru for wanting a great friend like Mosuke, and be willing to wait six hundred years for him? Mosuke, when not being awkward for the sake of it, could be funny, clever, and an all around good gie to hang out with. All of these qualities were good enough for Amidamaru, so why---?

Yoh stopped those thoughts in their tracks. What if… if Amidamaru was gay… and Mosuke had made a move on his friend? It surely would explain the unlimited loyalty and companionship they shared… but could things have gone further than that? Yoh didn't know the answers, and, for a moment, he felt like crying.

"Yoh! Come on, quick, the limo's here!" Jun cried, opening the door behind the confused, slightly hurt Shaman. Yoh rose to his feet, not seeing Ren anywhere. He must be waiting to surprise everyone… make an entry at the church, the sneaky bastard…

And, in the bustle of Shaman and ghost alike, Yoh only just caught a glimpse of two figures conversing very quietly at the back. One expression was full of worry: the other, complete emptiness.

Yoh brushed something from his eye that was never there, and got inside the elongated car. He bustle around him didn't matter, and he paid little attention to everyone around him… until…

"Lord Yoh, you look awfully pale… are you feeling well?"

Concern. Deep tones. Warm voice. Alluring and masculine, but all in one? It could hardly seem possible. But it was. Yoh turned his head, and put on a smile.

"Sure! I'm just thinking."

Amidamaru smiled, shifting closer to his Master. "About what?"

Yoh invented something wildly. "Well… two things, actually. The first: the night we met. The second: Dobie Village."

Amidamaru tilted his head slightly, interested. "What about the night we met?"

Yoh shuffled, pretending to reminisce.

"Mainly… about how I learned about what really happened to you… all by integrating. When we did that, for the first time… I can remember seeing you making your first kill, making friends with Mosuke, crying as you realised what Harusame was an offspring of, and then…" Again, a slight pause, "…Your last day."

Amidamaru leaned his head back. "Yes, I remember it so clearly, even if it was long ago. It's something that I'll never forget, purely because of how angry I was… at everything. I'd been betrayed for the last time, but…" The samurai shrugged, silvery hair swished back, "… It seemed there was room for one more betrayal… but of my guard. I should never have allowed my guard to slip like that… maybe I would have defeated the Shogun's entire army, had I not just wounded that warrior."

Yoh was uncomfortable with that. "Well, Midi, there's no point in thinking about things you can't change. Still, I can talk… I can't erase what I've done, but I can't get it out of my mind lately. It sucks."

The warrior nodded, understandingly. "Yes. It can, at times… that's why I had to endure the death I did." A slight pause.

"But there was one thing that bothered me…" Yoh said, getting a sly idea planted into his mind, "When I saw your life… when we integrated… I didn't see any woman. Didn't you ever get married?"

Amidamaru showed Yoh his left hand. "No. I had little time for things like that."

Yoh grinned, concealing how he felt inside: very fucked up. "But you had time for a first kiss?"

"Yoh, that was something more recent than you think, and I wouldn't exactly call it a kiss, purely because I didn't feel anything. Or respond." Amidamaru said quickly, with a slight blush on his face.

Yoh was finally getting somewhere. "So who was she? Or he…" Amidamaru quirked an eyebrow. "Sorry. It's just that everyone seems to have made a decision about their sexuality, so I have to ask both whenever I say something like this."

"What you really want to know was who Jun's first kiss was," Horo said quietly, trembling. He was so nervous, he doubted that it wouldn't be long until he started stuttering. "I mean… how many men could she have had?"

"Or girls," Mosuke pointed out, suddenly dropping in on the entire situation. With a pang, Yoh remembered that Mosuke was a potential Amidamaru-first-kiss-stealer-suspect, and so fell oddly quiet.

"Just because you'd like that, Mosuke," Amidamaru said quickly, still not comfortable with his friends' presence quite yet, "Doesn't mean that Jun has narrowed down her preference. Unlike some."

Mosuke snorted. If Amidamaru spoke to him like that, especially after all they had been through, just because of a stupid kiss… Then he deserved whatever Yoh didn't have planned for him. "Like you can talk." He said simply, before vanishing.

Jun cried out then, obviously scandalised by the fact that Mosuke had assumed she was, at least, a bi.

"Well, I'll tell you who my first kiss was!" She exclaimed, taking in a deep breath, "It was Bailong. It was shortly after we arrived at Dobie Village. Ren's victory in his Team ensured the fifth meal of the week to be Chinese Food, when, all of a sudden-"

"THANK YOU, JUN TAO!" Silva said loudly, over her voice. "WE DON'T WANT TO KNOW THE DETAILS!"

Yoh still remained quiet, and pale. He took to staring out of the windows again and, sure enough, through the windows of the limo, he saw a purple haired figure getting into the extra limo behind them.

"Hey, Horo! I've just seen your lover-boy!" Yoh taunted, laughing as Horo climbed over him to see… but it was too late. The blue-haired Ainu slumped back in his seat, disappointed.

"Man, the suspense is killing me! In a way, I really wanna get to the church… but on the other hand…" Horo blushed, wiggling his eyebrows at Yoh, as if to say, 'You know what I mean, right buddy?' Yoh feigned innocence.

"Go on. Say it: you're nervous, Horo, and everyone can see. I have no idea what it's like to be in your position, but if this is so right for you, then why be? Ren would never laugh at you, or think you're an idiot, because he's not that much of a blockhead anymore." Yoh reasoned, clapping his shaking friend on the shoulder. "And plus, your bridesmaids seem more nervous than you… look at Jun! She's actually being civilised!"

Horo managed a faint smile. "Yeah, you're probably right… Oh mighty one," He added, with mock admiration for the King.

"I was nervous at my wedding, too, Horo," Faust suddenly said, his quiet and soft voice calming the Ainu snowboarder more than what Yoh's could. "Trust me, nothing will go wrong with your day. You deserve to have an amazing ceremony, so why would the Great Spirit screw with that? The only place you've actually been bad in has been the bedroom, from what I can tell from some of the stories Yoh's been telling me."

Horo spluttered at that, blushing. "Nani!"

Yoh grinned, winking at Faust. "Ah, dude, you don't even know the half of it. Last week, he stayed at my place, and when Ren came over… well, I thought that there was a gang bang in his room at the time, what with the amount of noise they were making. Or, rather, Horo just moaning, 'Oh Ren… oh, please, REN!" Yoh made fake pleasured noises, arching his back up off of his seat. Faust returned the evil smile.

"And I bet you didn't get a wink of sleep, what with his noise? You're so inconsiderate, Horo!" Faust berated, before Horo could deny anything.

"That night you're thinking of, Yoh, we didn't even do anything! We only--"

"Oh, don't listen to him anyone!" Pirika interjected, taking her brother into a tight headlock. "We all heard him for the last few nights of Dobie Village, right? It was just like Yoh did it!"

"Yeah, I've heard them so many times, I can get it perfect now." Yoh said, joining in on making his best friend blush.

"Aww, I bet that kind of a face is one that Ren LOVES to see," Amidamaru said, winking at Yoh. "The kind that shows you're satisfied with what he's been trying to do."

At that, Horo's attention swiftly came back down to Earth.

"I'll have you know that Ren is a very able lover!" He said indignantly, "He an give the best blow job for miles around!"

Amidamaru blinked, slowly shaking hair from his eyes. "Horrible mental image there, THANKS HORO!"

Horo grinned at the samurai. "Those mental images are really distracting, aren't they?"

Amidamaru groaned and rolled his eyes, leaning back in his seat. "Yeah, sure. I think about you and Ren doing it every moment. No wonder I wake up with wet sheets every morning… even if I do jack off the night before, it always happens! Oh, what will I do!" He asked sarcastically, blushing. Just saying it… made him horny. He hadn't done anything remotely like that, actually, since last week… it was now a Saturday, he had last… done that… on Tuesday…

Well, who would last that long?

Meanwhile, Faust and Yoh were deeply immersed in a conversation.

"So, you saw Silva a week ago? Pissed, was he?" Yoh asked casually, the Doctor Shaman grimacing at the curse.

"Yoh! That's no way for a Shaman King to talk! What would happen if you said that to your children once?" Keiko asked, causing her son to blush. Yoh hadn't actually told anyone he was gay… and therefore, would not produce heirs… oops. He was the last hope for the Asakura clan to continue, unless Hao was still out there, and straight… and Yoh was gay. Just his family's luck, it seemed.

Well, Keiko could fool herself, thinking that she would be a Grandmother, and Yoh didn't want to ruin that for her.

But did she honestly want to ruin Yoh's life by forcing him to be straight, when he loved Amidamaru?

And so, Yoh said nothing, falling into a fantasy. Where everything… was perfect.

Church

Ren was already standing at the altar… and Yoh's eyes immediately widened. He had never seen his stand-offish, Chinese friend as attractive before… but he looked quite handsome. He wore a white shirt, and over that, a black jacket. Or, that's what the dominant colour seemed to be. When he turned, the light seemed to give off the illusion that certain parts had purple in them. He wore completely black trousers, and… the part of him that was most unusual… a wide, sincere smile. Ren's eyes hardly ever reflected how he felt, as a fundamental rule, but they actually seemed to show that he was nervous. And, unless it was another trick of the light (which Yoh doubted), Ren was also blushing… very faintly.

Yoh gave him an encouraging grin, and Ren nodded in acknowledgement. Bason stood beside him, content with being a Best Man for the time being. The Tao family ghost had expressed his surprise when he had been asked, and had exclaimed that he thought someone like Yoh would be his Best Man. Ren had merely changed the subject after that had been said… it seemed he still had problems with expressing his feelings.

"Good luck," Yoh wished him, slipping back into what was thought to be his usual self. Again, Ren gave him a nod, and Yoh figured that he didn't dare to speak, in case his voice gave slightly.

"Hey," Silva whispered to Yoh, sitting beside him, "Budge over."

'Front row seats,' Ren thought to himself dryly, 'Great.' The Chinese Shaman didn't say anything, thought, purely because he was certain they would detect a hint of nervousness in his voice… and that wasn't what Ren wanted. Although it was pretty damn obvious, he didn't want anyone to know that Horo was the one who could change that tough exterior into a loving, kind one.

As a request from the groom and… groom… ghosts had to sit in the other side of the church, and so, for the moment, Amidamaru and Yoh were separated. The samurai looked down at his lord.

"See you after the ceremony," He muttered, brushing bangs back from Yoh's eyes with a transparent hand. Yoh stared after him as he left.

What did make Yoh's stomach flip was, however, the fact that Mosuke sat right beside Amidamaru… and the warrior, for a moment, looked uncomfortable. Yoh sighed, watching Silva release his Spirit Familiars, telling them where to go.

He was happy for Horo and Ren… and couldn't wait to see what Horo's face would be like when he saw his future husband.

Amidamaru

"Will you stop looking at me like that?" Amidamaru asked irritably, "It's uncomfortable enough knowing things like that, but please…"

Mosuke interrupted him. "Look, I'm sorry that I love you, all right! I know I'm not Yoh, but this is a ceremony of marriage… I can't help but feel happy. Besides, whatever Ren does wrong, you'll know not to do it at your wedding. And if you're really not easy with me feeling this way, then you wouldn't be speaking to me. And, to top that, I wouldn't call you much of a friend."

Amidamaru blinked, never realising that was how Mosuke understood things to be now between them.

"I don't mean that," He said quietly, sounding sincerely sorry, "But I… It's gotten difficult now, because you think, like everyone else, that me and Yoh are--"

"Oh, I know you are," Mosuke interjected again happily. He'd cheered up already.

Amidamaru sighed. "My point is proven. Anyway, like I was saying, it's difficult because that's what you think, and then… you love me yourself, and yet you're not hating Yoh's guts."

Mosuke shook his head, and laid a hand on his friend's broad shoulder.

"I can tell that you haven't felt much love."

"Oh, like you have?" Bailong asked, turning around and joining into the conversation. He hadn't been eavesdropping, but it was fun to tease the two spirit friends. "You don't exactly look like the type of person to fall in love that easily."

Mosuke grinned, shrugging. "It's the stubble. It makes me look more defensive and manly than many of the people in this church today."

Bailong rolled his eyes, sighing. "Whatever. If that makes you a man, then what about the women who have facial hair?"

"They're just she-males," Amidamaru cut in smoothly, voicing what was going through Mosuke's mind, "But why're we talking about that? Shouldn't we be slagging off the groom… s… or something?"

Mosuke's eyes lit up. He never once missed an opportunity to cause trouble… and refused to let this one pass.

Yami's koi: okay, apologies for the crappiness… next chap will be the wedding. Obviously.

Nefertiri: don't insult the readers.

Yami's koi: what's left of them, anyway. Well, please R&R… (Pokes tattoo)

Nefertiri: you are so proud of your tattoo, aren't you?

Yami's koi: who wouldn't be? (Traces it with finger) See ya…