Hold me one last time before I die

Author's Note: This fic is about to make me cry. Here's chapter 4. Read & Review!

Disclaimer: Shaman King © Hiroyuki Takei

Chapter 4: Item 1 of 3

Ren yawned and sat up in bed. They hadn't done much for a long time and somehow to him time was passing fater then it should. He went to his desk and looked at the to do list. He had been busy for the past two weeks working at the list but time was short now. He wasn't all that worried though. There were only three items left on the list: Go to Hokkaido. Go to China. Tell Horo the truth.

/I have to accomplish that last one no matter what./ he thought.

He headed downstairs and into the kitchen where everyone else was. They all looked at him but didn't say a word. Everyone knew not to mention what would happen soon. Ren bite his lip sadly before clearing his throat to show that he had something to say. Everyone looked at him, paying loose attention. Horo on the other hand had all his attention focused on Ren from the moment the chinese shaman walked into the kitchen.

"As everyone has noticed I'm sure, time is flying very quickly. As much as I wish I could slow down or even stop time, I know that I can't. We've been doing random activities for the past two weeks, all that were on my final to do list. Well we're down to the last three items. The first two are trips that we can spend about four days at each place. The last is personal." he said.

"So then where are we going?" asked Hao curiously.

"Our first trip is to Hokkaido." he said as Horo brightened up. "I refuse to die without learning how to snowboard. We'll leave in a few hours so pack up." he finished before leaving the room.

Horo followed Ren with a bounce in his step and caught up to him gloomy friend. "And here I was thinking you had forgotten about promising to go snowboarding."

"No I did not forget you idiot!" he barked. "I was... saving it." he mumbled.

Horo couldn't help but grin at that. "So I'll be teaching you. I even bought you a snowboard a long time ago. Remember?"

Ren nodded. "Yes... I remember." he said quietly.

Horo's grin widened. "Good! Then let's gear up and go!" he cheered before running off to get ready.

Ren watched Horo leave and smiled. /At least I can make Horo happy while I'm still alive./ he thought.

A few hours later in Hokkaido...

Ren shivered. This was such a bad idea, he couldn't believe he came up with it. It was a chilly -30ºC and here he was out on a ski slope. He didn't remember ever being somewhere colder than this. Was it always this cold here? If yes, he pitied Horo and admired him for being able to wear shorts in this weather. Ren was wearing at least three layers of clothing.

"I really don't like the cold." he said as he watched his breath rises before him.

"But isn't this place great?" said Horo happily with a large grin as he spread his arms wide to emphasize the scenery.

It was true. It was a beautiful place to be, Hokkaido. Everywhere Ren looked there was only white. All the mountains, hills and roads in the region were covered in snow. Most places were barely touched, leaving the snow pure. All the trees had a light amount of snow on them making the region perfect for anyone who loved winter. Ren smiled a little. Yes, it was quite beautiful. But that didn't stop it from being cold.

"Don't worry Ren." Horo said with a reassuring smile. "You'll warm up once we get started. Do you remember everything I taught you?"

Ren nodded as he stood awkwardly on his snowboard and looked down. "Yeah..."

Horo griined. "Good!" he said before lightly pushing Ren down the hill and following him.

"HORO YOU IDIOT!" he yelled on his way down.

Ren wasn't doing half bad. He stopped easily enough when he reached the bottom. Of course that was by falling flat on his ass, but he stopped none the less. Horo couldn't help but laugh his head off at poor Ren. It looked so funny to think that the snowboard was too heavy for Ren's small figure. Ren huffed.

Four days later, back at home...

Ren checked off another item from his list and sighed happily. He was in a serious amount of pain, but at least he had gone to Hokkaido.

/That was for you Horo./ he thought.

A/N: Isn't Ren such a sweetie to think of Horo like that? I liked this chapter. Didn't you? Let me know. Read & Review!