A/N: Gee, long time, no update. Here's a freakishly long chapter to make up for it.
Important Note: Well, in case you haven't noticed, Ren and HoroHoro are speaking the same language (namely Chinese)- this actually isn't a plot-hole, I planned to explain the reasoning behind this in later chapters… I was going to conveniently forget mentioning it until then, but after reading this thing over on ffn, I realized it looks like the two are from some magical world where the Ainu culture actually speaks mandarin…
Go! Go! Disclaimer! I don't own Shaman King. Never have, never will. Le sigh.
A Question of Honour
Golden eyes widened, the Chinese boy sucking a quick, pained gasp of air that was shortly followed by the heavy thunk of flesh connecting with flesh.
"OWWW!" the blue haired boy rubbed his (rapidly darkening) eye, face set in an enraged scowl. "What'd you hit me for! Ungrateful Bastard!" Ren casually shook the slight stinging from his (good) fist, lip curling in disgust at the almost overwhelming stench of herbal salve and his unlikely companions blaring stupidity. Those calculating cat eyes cracked open once more, coolly meeting smouldering obsidian in a silent clashing of wills.
"That stung." He quipped coldly, his good hand tenderly brushing against the enflamed, tortured skin of his other arm- Ouch. Even that hurt. His eyes narrowed in irritation at the clueless wonder sitting across from him (looking quite like he was about to burst something vital). It was his and his stupid kamikaze caravan's fault he was stuck in this position. As long as he firmly told himself that, it was easy to ignore his irritation at himself for being so weak… His blue haired companion grated his teeth.
"I TOLD You It Would Sting!"
"You were doing it on Purpose."
"I WAS NOT!"
"Were to."
"WHY would I WANT to do That?"
"How should I know- I can't even Begin to Comprehend what's going on in that Stupid Brain."
"You Know, You're Cocky Attitude REALLYPisses Me Off!"
"And your Revolting Presence really pisses me off!"
"I Didn't Have to Save Your SORRY ASS, You Pointy-Haired FREAK!"
"I Didn't Want You To, You Repulsive PIG!"
The bristling boys glared darkly, both too stubborn to back down from the intense battle raging between the two- slanted gold and inky black- fire and ice churning in silent rage. However, it bothered him. Rens brows furrowed, taking in all that was the boy sitting before him- jaw set, face dipped, shoulders hunched and body tense as his dark eyes glittered furiously. For some reason it somewhat reminded the Chinese boy of a bull before charging… But the blue haired stranger was right about one thing… He certainly hadn't had to save the Tao… He had no reason to save an enemy, and surely he must have known Ren wasn't one of his men at the time, yet still… And it bothered him- it nagged at him constantly since he'd regained consciousness: Why? Didn't he realize what a disadvantage he willing brought upon himself? Wasn't he afraid Ren would turn on him- wasn't he aware just what a gamble he'd taken to save the assassin after showing his hand- his weapon- to the Chinese boy? Why had he saved him? He had tried to kill the blue-haired boy! So why…? Why Why Why? He must have something planned… But what? Smouldering gold broke away, eyes sliding shut in exasperation as the Chinese boy turned away from the other, stiffly raising his burned and bloodied arm for the blue-haired boy to finish with.
"I could dress my own wounds you know." The Tao sniffed curtly, refusing to look at the blue-haired boy, who reluctantly shuffled over to gently- ever so gently- clutch the arm once more.
"If you hit me again, I'll break your arm." Ren scoffed, staring down at him through the corner of his eye cynically.
"I'd like to see you try." The boy didn't respond, his attention intent on the Chinese boys wound as he reached for the ointment he'd pulled from his singed pack earlier. Ren quickly jerked his gaze away once more, biting down firmly on his lip as he forced himself to not flinch when those gentle fingers delicately rubbed the cool salve across the damaged flesh.
Why did he save him…?
Why did he help him…?
The Chinese boy absently watched the light of their small campfire flicker bizarrely across the darkened trees beyond- light and shadow flickering and intermixing, swirling, entwining, one overlapping as the other receded in a strange dance. Rens eyes narrowed. He hated not knowing what others were thinking… He hated the uncertainty…
The uncertainty made him fear… that maybe he wasn't in control…
-0-
"But I want to know… do you think about it…?" he squinted down at his feet, the pins and needles of ice pricking into exposed skin turning his nails blue, his vision misty as his eyes welled dangerously. But no, now was not the time… Father was near… He had to be strong, daddy was watching, he had to be as cold as the marble below his bare feet. He couldn't help but wonder… if father ever turned those burning, mocking, disgusted eyes away… After an awkward pause that the child only assumed he was supposed to reply in, the other continued in a soft, far-away whisper.
"About all the words stuck in the back of my throat," and he was sure that if he gazed up now, he would be met with those glazed, delusional eyes, beautifully broken and laughing sickly, glittering with love and fear. He was sure, so terrifyingly sure, that if he looked up now, he would be swallowed by the soulless orbs, disdain and hate burning like hellfire, papa wasn't happy… Father wasn't happy at all… But the voice continued, despite his silent, internal pleading to fall silent. Die in peace Die in peace Die in peace…
"Because I think about it…" quivering, afraid, so beautifully- so horribly… human… asphyxiating on the words… Die in peace Die in peace…
Just let the child die in peace…
-0-
"Do we have to…?" the mysterious boys shoulders slumped as he gave the wounded assassin his best puppy dog eyes. Ren rolled his eyes for the umpteenth dozen time that night, his own shoulders slumping in exasperation at the blue-haired menace already spreading out his oversized rag of a coat for a make-shift bed.
"Yes, we do have to set up a watch. Unless of course you want to have your throat slit in your sleep." Glittering onyx narrowed in agitation, glaring brazenly into Rens own sharp tiger-eyes as the other boy bristled. However, instead of meeting the challenge (for the umpteenth dozen time that night), he bowed his head, sighing in weary irritation as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He really didn't have the energy to deal with the peasants immature antics at the moment… "Look," he snapped darkly before the annoyance could spit out some more useless drabble to give him a bigger headache. "I'll take the first watch. You can sleep to your pathetic little hearts content…" He somehow resisted the urge to roll his eyes once more, the other boys face split in a grin as he scampered under the rag, his head popping out the other end shortly followed by a finger to prod the singed pack he was using for a pillow. "Until it's your turn for watch." The Tao couldn't help but smirk as that stupid grin instantly fell from the blue-haired boys face. "If you doze off then, I'll cut out your tongue." With that, he turned his back to the fire and the peasant laying at the other side, and he couldn't help but feel smugly satisfied at the annoyed frown now gracing his unlikely savoirs face…
Though once again, it unsettled him… that the boy would be willing to sleep- let down all his guards and willingly lie absolutely defenceless in the hands of his enemy… Either the stranger was stunningly strong, or stunningly stupid… Not to mention the disturbing amount of trust the blue-haired boy thrust onto him so soon after meeting him- To so keenly agree to let him take watch… It confused him. The strange boy was too naïve… too naïve…
Ren knew he wouldn't be sleeping during the other boys watch… he cast a dark glare over his shoulder at the figure cocooned in his makeshift blanket, only those shockingly blue spikes of hair poking out from the top of the bundle to suggest the youth was wrapped up within. He felt his jaw set as his brows furrowed in silent frustration. In confusion.
The other boy was so… honest…
So pure…
He had never seen anyone like the other boy before- so willing to wear his emotions upon his sleeve for all to see, so willing to hand his trust and loyalties to anyone… So soft as to save the life of his murderer…
So soft as to save one beyond saving…
His eyes narrowed as he tore his gaze away, teeth grinding in agitation. 'Weakling.' He snorted internally in disgust…
Because next to one so honest and untainted, he was so… tip toeing through the shadows, dreams and motivations buried so deeply within himself, a perfect smiling mask to slip into for any situation- pale hands tugging the strings even as the dripping dripping red stained his ambitions, blurred them beyond coherency…
Next to one so honest and untainted, what was he…?
"Oi," The assassin blinked stupidly, caught off guard by the thick, half-asleep drawl plucking him from the depths of his sinister thoughts. The blanket rustled as a dull obsidian eye poked out from the bundle to gaze at him sleepily. "You said your name was…?" the Chinese boy quirked an eyebrow- of all the stupid…
"I didn't." he huffed as he turned away again, arms crossing over his chest. Lord, the other was annoying even when he was sleeping!
"Oh." He didn't see the absent smile play upon the blue haired boys lips as he turned away again, an obnoxious yawn sending a shudder up the assassin's spine. "Well, my name's HoroHoro…" The soft slur was almost lost under the crackling of the fire, but the Tao heir… his eyes widened as the thoughts kick-started in his mind, a large cat eye glimpsing over his shoulder at the dozing boy once more.
HoroHoro… Horokeu… dangerously similar… but no, the ambassador died in the fire…
Didn't he?
"… You can call me Ren..." There was no response as the assassin eyed the lump, the way his shoulders rose and fell with his deep breaths. Feints within feints within feints… Here was something to ponder through his watch…
He couldn't help but smirk humourlessly as he turned away from the figure once more, idly wondering just who that disgust swelling within was really for.
Perhaps he'd become more like his father than he'd thought…
-0-
He watched. Though he didn't want to- he'd rather have gouged his own eyes from their sockets than watch, yet still, he couldn't tear his eyes away- his wide terrified eyes. He felt himself tremble inside, felt himself scream, yet nothing escaped to twist his pale, pale face. It was all locked away, locked tightly away… He felt like he was going to throw up… He swallowed thickly, quietly choking on the lump in his throat as his stomach churned, his knuckles white clasped around the railing- clenching so tightly… so tightly so his father couldn't see how they trembled… and inside he screamed- he wailed and cried out for something unknown, something unnamed, something so terrifying and alluring and horribly, wonderfully beyond his reach.
Something so beautiful it hurt deep inside.
But in the end, it was all nothing. In the end… the blade fell… and there was nothing… He felt his father dip down, one hand loosely wrapping around the numb, the nothing, the child, the monstrous mans lips moving, words dripping like silken poison as the crooked smile tugged sickly at the corners of his grossly fat lips- a terrible gash oozing blood and rot.
"Honour before kin, child. Honour before love."
Goddamn the noise…
And then the hand drew away; the beast drew away, leaving the small, trembling child to clutch the railing, to watch the limp figure sway like a cheap rag doll from the gallows. Leaving the child to decay.
-0-
Ren shuddered, jerking himself awake, gold eyes batting wildly as he quickly surveyed his surroundings. It took a moment to forcefully reign in his disoriented thoughts, after which he visibly relaxed, shoulders slumping gracelessly and head bowing to rest on the hand propped upon his crossed legs- yet his good hand never strayed from the hilt of the concealed blade wrapped in his belt, the alert glint swimming within amber depths betraying his seemingly calm appearance. He couldn't hold back the sigh as he absently scratched the back of his head. It had been a long time… since he'd remembered… His back arched sensuously as he stretched the stiffness from his sore body after being stuck in his cross-legged position for so long. Somehow, he had slept… On his watch to-boot… Not that the blue-haired annoyance would have noticed anyway… The young Tao cast a disgusted glance at the slumbering boy sprawled shamelessly, his 'blanket' kicked away and forgotten as he snored obnoxiously. Ren twitched in irritation- any enemy within a ten-foot radius would be drawn by the disturbingly loud noise… Why couldn't the mysterious boy shut up? Ever? The pig made so much noise… He shook his head, turning away to stir the smouldering embers of the dying campfire, purposefully ignoring the pins and needles pricking under the skin as he began to regain feeling in his legs. Then again, for how much the annoyance babbled, he still knew next to nothing about him- well, besides a few unconfirmed suspicions floating about his head. Ren couldn't help but scowl. And it irked him beyond all reason that the bumbling moron probably thought he was actually outwitting the assassin, yet he could do nothing to the boy in whom he owed his life… A Tao repays his debts, a Tao repays his debts…
And it enraged him.
He stood stiffly, forcing his numb knees to support his weight as he turned and stormed over to where the boy slept. He allowed himself to gaze down at the slumbering face for a moment.
Lord, the boy had a huge mouth…
Seriously though, where the thought of a member of the Shu clan saving the life of a Tao was unlikely, the thought of a Japanese ambassador on a secret mission saving his life was sheer insanity. No, this 'HoroHoro' must be simply toying with him… Besides, no leader with half a brain would send this sorry excuse of a human as a diplomat to represent their nation.
However… If he was the ambassador… Rens eyes traced over the bulging pack the blue haired boy used as a crude pillow. If he was the ambassador, then maybe the document he was supposed to retrieve had been spared as well… A dark smirk tugged at the corners of his lips as the gears churned within his mind- a plan. Perhaps his mission wasn't a total failure after all…
"Wake up, dork, I want to sleep now."
"Hurk! A dur!" was all poor HoroHoro had to say in response to the swift kick in the ribs. Ren irritably reached down and ripped the coat off the drowsy boy, and then stormed away, leaving his companion to writhe where he'd left him.
"Get up now and start your watch. Don't fall asleep or I'll castrate you. And I will know." He wrapped the dirty rag around him, absently noting how warm it was from the other boy as he continued. "We have quite the way to go tomorrow…"
-0-
Ending RantWhoo! Three chapters to just get them to exchange names! …This is going to take forever… On another note, I've decided I won't be posting four-page chapters anymore, really though, wouldn't you all rather longer chapters? I know they're easier for me to work with…
Kudos to all my lovely reviewers, I'm writing this crap for you guys!
MeeLee: Once again, thank you for the compliments- I feel so lurved:D On a separate note, I really like your fic 'Rescue Me'… Yet for some reason, my computer is a life-sucking parasite that won't let me review it for some reason… le sigh…
18: Sorry for not updating all that 'soon'… I have the rather notorious habit of leaving things hanging for some pretty long stretches… Uh, yeah, thank you so much for the review!
DragonStorm85: I tried to poke some humor in here where ever I could- and what's better humor than bickering Ren and Horo? Heh, it's like a lovers tiff or something XD As for Nekkid!Ren, well, that's a given in any fic worth reading ;) Thanks for the review!
