A/N: Well, I've officially decided this is going to be written entirely from Rens POV. It's just easier and flows more smoothly than having it bounce back and forth.

This Disclaimer is Itchy: I don't own Shaman King. Surprise surprise.

A Question of Honour

Small bare feet padded soundlessly across the paved surface, his chubby hands reaching out to delicately brush the milky soft, moonlit petals as he breezed past. The lingering cool from the brief contact made his fingers tingle, but the child paid it no mind as he continued to roam silently closer and closer toward the faint, melodious gurgling of the familiar outdoor fountain.

Tip toe

Tip toe

He was safe here

The dead didn't speak

He would be safe here

Emperor Ren the Strong, and all the pigs and peasants would bow as it all faded to crimson nothing.

Lord Ren the Wicked, waltzing across a golden hall of corpses, the freedom of decay, and it would all be red red the sweetest red.

He couldn't suppress the relieved smile as he rounded the final corner, the marble fountain trickling liquid silver, as it seemed to almost glow in the ethereal light of the waning moon.

Tip toe

Tip toe

The fallen lay silent, forever silent

And he would be safe

Because King Ren the Merciful dreamed everyone was dead.

-0-

Slanted gold eyes weakly fluttered open, then snapped forcefully shut again, the petite Chinese boy rolling wearily on his side and softly cursing the sudden glaringly bright light of the midday sun. He was instantly jerked from his half-asleep stupor by the sound of thick, barking laughter. The Tao snapped up, whirling around to face the unknown fool that would dare try sneaking up on him while he slept, his hand sweeping behind him to grab the dagger concealed in his belt- Only to discover he no longer had a belt, or anything else for that matter, beyond the dirty rag of a coat thrown over him in a sad attempt at a blanket.

It was at this point he was (quite unpleasantly) reminded of the rather severe burns he'd received the previous night. Another colourful stream of curses tore its way from his scratchy throat as his other hand lashed out to tightly clutch the offending wound. The obscene oaths slipped into an angry hiss, words (for once) failing him as he jerked his hand away from the bandaged injury. That certainly hadn't been the brightest move… He swore the pain was intense enough he could feel it in his fingernails… He sucked sharp breaths through his gritted teeth as he willed the agony to fade (well, at least enough to be able to still manage a degree of dignity in the eyes of whoever had disturbed him). Okay… No more prodding the burns… His eyes slowly squinted open, slits of pure murderous venom, as he glared darkly at the figure sitting across from him, silently daring the stranger to just try attacking him- so what if he was injured, unarmed, and as nude as the day he was born? He was still a far cry from defenceless… The strange boy blinked stupidly, his mouth hanging open in a silent pink 'o', body tensed uncertainly.

"Uh… you okay?" he finally choked out. Ren somehow resisted the urge to spit in the other boys face for the unbelievably stupid question. He'd nearly died the previous night; did the blue-haired moron think he was 'okay'? His bloody arm was extra fucking crispy for crying out loud! The Chinese boy didn't dignify the others question with a (vocal) answer, instead settled on sneering darkly at the strange boy as he silently checked over him, critically assessing the stranger.

The other boy had a fairly sturdy build, the Tao allowed himself to assume the strange boy could probably hold his own in a fight, if the hints of muscle rippling against his otherwise loose peasant clothing with his fidgeting was any indication. However, that's all the boy had going for him in the Chinese assassins eyes. A revoltingly stupid headband shadowed wide, revoltingly stupid dark puppy-dog eyes, framed in a young, pale, blaringly naive and easily readable, revoltingly stupid face. The crown of revoltingly stupid, shockingly blue hair poking out of the headband finished the picture wonderfully. Especially since apparently his roots were black. Ren rolled his eyes. Oh it looked like he was stuck with a real winner all right. He sighed as he used his good arm to haul himself to his feet, totally unabashed by his nakedness, absently evaluating the severity of the other various aches, cuts, and minor burns scattered across his slight body. He frowned- apparently he'd been banged up a bit more than he had originally assumed during the failed mission…

Oh… that's right…

He'd failed… the young Tao wilted internally. How the hell was he supposed to face his old man now? Anger, humiliation, and shame bubbled up inside as he felt his scowl deepen, twisting his almost effeminate features as he glared menacingly at the peasant, the need to vent the ugly emotions churning within his chest at something gnawing at his insides.

"You," He sneered, bitter contempt dripping off the word as though it sickened him to utter it "Where is my clothes?" It wasn't a question; it was a demand, a threat. The blue-haired boy blinked up at him.

"You shouldn't be up yet-" Ren cut off the others reply with a harsh scowl.

"Where. Is. My. Clothes?" he spat darkly, silently challenging the other boy to tell him to lie down again. The blue haired boys eyebrows furrowed in agitation under his headband as he evenly met the Chinese boys venomous glare.

"They're drying." He sniffed pointedly.

"They're what?" Ren growled dangerously.

"They were dirty, so I washed them, and now they're drying. Is it that difficult to figure out?" the other growled back. The purple-haired boy felt his teeth grind as his hands clenched. That wretched little low-life dare speak to him in such a condescending manner? (The fact that technically the lean Chinese boy started it was conveniently forgotten.)

"Low-born filth." He hissed darkly.

"I Saved Your Life, and THIS is the Thanks I Get, Assho-urk!" the blue-haired stranger choked gracelessly as he suddenly found it rather hard to breath. Then again, most people would find breathing a tad difficult with a pale-knuckled, bony little fist wrapped tightly around ones throat…

"And just what makes you think I wanted to be saved by a dirty-blooded bastard like you?" slanted gold glinted dangerously under dark bangs, his good hand tightening slightly as he glared intensely into the wide, shocked obsidian eyes of his enemy. He should have known… it was far too convenient to think he'd simply been found by the (revoltingly stupid) stranger- no, he had to have been involved in the conflict as well. And the blue-haired moron definitely wasn't a Tao… Which meant he had been part of the caravan… The Chinese assassins lip curled in disgust. "I'd have rather died than owe anything to disgusting swine like you!" his voice rose in pitch as he shoved the other boy away roughly, leaving him to stumble and fall as the Tao turned away, his good hand sweeping up to pinch the bridge of his nose. "And now… you ask for gratitude…?" he scoffed, shaking his head slowly before turning back to the stunned boy sprawled on the ground. "But a Tao repays his debts…" the blue haired boy blinked up at him in dumbfounded shock. Ren turned away again, muttering more to himself now than his savoir, eyes glazed in thought as he gazed across the calm surface of the lake to the blackened remains on the other side. "A Tao repays his debts…"

A life for a life.

What the hell was he going to tell his father now…?

-0-

"Ren."

The child moaned softly, the sweet embrace of unconsciousness fading slowly, leaving a stiff discomfort from the position he'd fallen asleep in, and the chill of early morning biting through his silk nightshirt.

"Ren."

He blinked the sleep from his eyes as he lazily gazed toward the deep booming voice, his tiny body still curled up at the base of the fountain. The rising sun framed his father and his chosen company, turning the ominous figures into freestanding shadows, silhouettes looming into the clearing of the Tao estate's central garden. The black forms seemed twisted, warped grotesquely in the early morning light, their shadows stretching into the small garden clearing, reaching for him with gnarled, misshapen claws. His father motioned, his tone stern, heavy with the stern undertones of pain and punishment.

"Ren. Come,"

The rising sun stained the sky red.

"It's time."

The rising sun stained the earth red, and the little boy couldn't help but tremble at the terrible knowledge, the terrible, terrible knowledge…

-0-

Ending Rant

Well, there you have it- the next four pages of the fic. I think I like keeping it at this length…

Miss-K: Um… this story is supposed to be continued… Heh, thank you for your review.

MeeLee: Poetic? Moi…? Wow, I've never had anyone say that to me before… Aww, I think I'm bwushing :D Thank you so much for the review.