Errmm...a shounen-ai fic. It's supposed to be sweet and cute...so...enjoy?
Warning: HoroxRen shounen-ai fic.
Disclaimer: Hiroyuki Takei never made his manga very Horo x Ren. He owns it and leaves it pure.
Tears -- 1
Asakura Yoh stretched his hands wide. "Wuehehe, there's nothing like a good Christmas break."
His comrad, Tao Ren, glared at him. "I don't think there's any difference."
Horo Horo chuckled as he sat comfortably at the dining table.
"Mmm, I guess you're right Ren, 'coz I've still got Anna."
"Did anyone mention my name?" Anna called from the living room.
Silence.
"Anyway..." Yoh changed the subject, "What are you all doing for Christmas?"
"Exercising and working out. Much more harder."
Horo Horo stared at Ren. "Y'know, you're putting too much pressure on yourself Ren, unlike me, I'm heading for home to spend time with Mom and Dad. Oh, and Pilika of course. Yoh?"
"Well, evidently, I'm gonna have to do more housework than before, and training. You know Anna." Said Yoh.
"I heard my name again."
Silence.
***
Anna Kyouyama pointed at the bathroom. "That one needs cleaning. I'll give you this task at the minimum limit of 10 minutes to finish," She checked her watch. "Starting...NOW."
With an apron, Yoh hurried to the bathroom with a toilet brush, and the detergent bottle. First, he squeezed some detergent onto the brush and started brushing the toilet seat slowly, then he flushed the toilet before repeating the same process for two more times. Then he quickly washed his hands and ran to the awaiting Anna, whose eyes were still on the watch.
"Nine minutes and fifty seconds. You were close to the limit. Literally, I'd prefer you do the pushups even if you had passed. This time, you're lucky. Now it's the windows, so grab your bucket and sponge and get to work immediately!"
Yoh groaned and Anna snapped back.
***
"Ren, please rest. You're putting too much pressure on yourself. Here, have some orange juice."
Ren ignored his sister's offering but replied, "You're sounding just like that idiot. And don't you remember that I will only drink milk, and ONLY milk?"
Jun frowned. This was the same old Ren, but was he in such a pathetic mood? And who was he referring to as he mentioned "the idiot"? "Milk's all gone. You finished it up yesterday, remember? The shops today are mostly closed and I'm not going to journey miles away just to fetch some bottles of milk. So I'll put the the juice here in case you become thirsty. Otherwise, you can have water." And she left in a huff.
Ren continued his workout silently before he realized that he was kind of thirsty. But no, didn't he promise himself not to drink anything else? But, it does look tasty--the rich orange color--and tempting too. Before Ren noticed it, his arms reacted individually, reaching out for the bottle--and practically tore off the cap before swallowing mouthfuls.
Tao Ren wiped his lips, unable to contain his slight smile of satisfaction, and made a sudden discovery at that moment: orange juice isn't so bad after all. But milk was still his favorite. Maybe three bottles of milk and an occasional drink of orange juice wouldn't hurt his daily routine.
***
"Pilika-chan! Hurry up! Time to head back to Hokkaido!"
"Alright alright. I'm ready. Let's go!" The excited Pilika exclaimed as she tugged her burden to the main door.
*RING RING* Horo Horo stretched his hand and was barely an inch away from the phone, but his sister received it more hastily.
"Moshi moshi? Aah, mother! Oniichan and I were just gonna leave. Hmm? Planning a trip? That's great! When? Eh? Only you and father? What about oniichan and I?!" Pilika's face altered fairly quickly from joy to horror as she listened intently. "But it's Christmas, mother. Why not let us join you and father? That's not reasonable! I can't believe you're gonna leave us out, at Tokyo, all by ourselves! You know that we're out of money! YOU TWO ARE SO SELFISH! I HATE YOU TWO! FINE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO STAY BY OURSELVES!!"
Horo Horo watched Pilika as her face fumed and turned towards him. "What's wrong?"
His sister burst into tears when she saw Horo Horo's hopeful and curious expression. "Oniichan, we're gonna have to spend Christmas by ourselves!"
Horo Horo didn't say a word. What had Pilika said? No Christmas with Mom and Dad? That...that's impossible!
"They said they're planning a trip to England instead and are gonna leave us here..."
"Oh, oniichan, we'll be alright," Pilika added as she embraced her brother. "*sniff* Just that I feel so lonely now."
Still, the silent Horo Horo kept his thoughts to himself. So, his selfish parents weren't welcoming them back home for Christmas? Hah, they aren't really caring parents, aren't they?
Finally, he spoke. "Se-selfish..parents. No..Christmas together. Lonely, by ourselves," Horo Horo remarked absently as if he was talking to himself. "No financial support. Spent it all up since we were going back home."
Pilika stared at her brother. "Oniichan..are...you alright?"
No answer. Horo Horo's expression remained blank as he began to mutter to himself quietly.
Shocked, Pilika shook him violently. "Oniichan! Come back! I don't want to lose you now!!"
No change. She picked up a few words he had muttered. "No hope--starve. Parents don't love us anymore. Alone. What should I do? I know--suicide. Yeah.."
Pilika was horrified at the phrases and she shouted in his ear. "ONIICHAN, WE STILL HAVE HOPE. THERE'S STILL THE OTHERS!!"
"The others? Hah. Like they care. Anna would kick us out. Ryu and Faust would ignore us completely. Chocolove can't support us. Lyserg? Too busy with X-Laws. Besides, that glasses man would kill us instead."
"LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE! THERE'S STILL REN!"
"Ren? Tao Ren? He'd probably kick us out too..."
Gradually, Pilika could no longer tolerate her brother's pessimistic talk and dragged him to the Asakura house.
***
Pilika cried as she watched helplessly her brother lay there. "Yoh-kun, please, please help oniichan. He's...like dying...*sniff*"
Yoh watched Horo Horo sternly and came to a conclusion. "I'm sorry. i don't think I can help him. Perhaps Ren can. If not, try the others. There's always someone out there who will find the solution for us. And this time, it's just not me."
Anna nodded in approval, so Pilika accepted Yoh's suggestion.
***
"What?" Ren snarled as he saw Pilika and Horo Horo standing out in the freezing cold of the night.
"Ren, please help. Oniichan's dying."
"Whaddya mean he's dying? He's so healthy! Look, his eyes are wide open, and he's standing properly! Get outta my house, I've got better stuff to do."
"Please...look more closer."
Taken aback by Pilika's plead, Ren peered at Horo Horo. He had the same pale blue eyes...and he hasn't grown any gray hair or anything...but wait a minute. He's not speaking. And his usual sparkle's gone. Ren---who almost panicked at the realization--hurriedly ushered the two in.
***
"No Ren, oniichan doesn't NEED a damp cloth on his head. He's emotionally ill!"
"I know," The Chinese boy replied, irritated with Pilika's presence. "The cloth is just in case he is both emotionally AND phyiscally ill. By the way, what happened?"
Pilika took a deep breath and started spilling out the story. She later even emphasized how her parents' tone weren't sorrowful at all. Ren wasn't surprised. His very own father was more cruel.
"Talk to him, Ren."
"Fine." He turned to the idle Ainu boy beside him. "You *()%^)P@%^%)!! What are ya tryin--"
"Hush, Ren!! You're gonna frighten him!"
"He's probably pretending. Hmmph."
Pilika's tears began to drip down her face again, and she ran to the bathroom before Ren had the chance to react.
"Mmm..." Ren felt Horo Horo's hand for a pulse. Yes, it was there alright. Beating faintly, but can still be heard. 'Oi, Horo Horo, talk to me."
Sluggishly, Horo Horo turned to face Ren. "You're...Ren, right? What, am I..doing here?"
"From what I heard from your sister, she says that your parents kicked you two out."
"Mmm, that's right..no one in the world loves us anymore. No one. We're...all alone."
"You bastard! Where's your usual idiotic spirit?!"
"You like my usual spirit, don't you? What if I don't want to act like that anymore? You don't like me anymore do you?"
"I never said I liked you!"
"Then leave me alone."
"I can't leave you alone!" Ren yelled.
"Why not?"
"Because," Ren tried to think up a reason to cover his previous statement. "You're a human. I've still got to treat you like you're alive."
"Does that mean Yoh and the others think of me as a mutant?"
"He never said that." Ren reasoned, although he wondered why Yoh refused to help.
"Use your instinct. Leave me alone, I want to sleep."
Finally, Ren quietened down. Let him sleep, he thought crossly, and I'll kick him out tomorrow.
***
"I'd better be going. I might go visit Tamao-chan and stay with her. You take good care of oniichan, okay? Or you'll regret it."
Ren sighed. Why was Pilika acting like that arrogant itako? He wasn't used to Pilika ordering him around, like Anna. "Yeah, whatever."
"Good. Then I'll be gone then."
Ren slammed the door shut as soon as she slipped out. "Why, must I take care of this idiot? Even Jun left me lying that she was gonna visit some auntie whom I doubt ever existed."
He strolled back to where Horo Horo sat and eyed him. He was the same. But maybe a tiny better.
"Ren, how would you feel if no one loved you anymore?"
Great. Now Horo Horo was starting another one of those complex questions of life. "I'm used to that. What do you think the tattoo on my back is for?"
Horo Horo managed a smile. "Your father did that because he cared for your future."
"A tattoo burned on my back because of love? Don't kid me around," Ren laughed dryly. "That's impossible."
Both were speechless for moments before Horo Horo spoke again. "Ren, do you care for Pilika and I?"
"Me? I--uh..." How much Ren desired to lie at that moment, was indescribable.
"I want the truth."
"Mm, the truth. 'kay, uhh, I guess I do. I don't understand myself yet."
"That's reassuring. If that's the truth, I want you to stay with me this Christmas."
"Mmm." Ren cursed mentally as soon as he confirmed Horo Horo's request.
"Thanks." He let his hand slip into Ren's and squeezed it.
Ren flushed. What the heck is he saying, he thought angrily, I should NEVER had let Pilika and this idiot in, then all this wouldn't happen all on me. Why am I becoming so sympathetic? Gahh, Yoh influenced me, and now I'm showing compassion to this fool.
His mind snapped back to reality when he heard a smooth snore from the person beside him. Ren couldn't help smiling at Horo Horo's face and quietly went out.
***
1 - end.
Note: I hate myself! I'm starting new fics for no reason, and never continuing unfinished ones. At least I finished rushing one Mankin one. -_- Please review to make me feel better about all this. So I will not regret taking time to type this one up.
Warning: HoroxRen shounen-ai fic.
Disclaimer: Hiroyuki Takei never made his manga very Horo x Ren. He owns it and leaves it pure.
Tears -- 1
Asakura Yoh stretched his hands wide. "Wuehehe, there's nothing like a good Christmas break."
His comrad, Tao Ren, glared at him. "I don't think there's any difference."
Horo Horo chuckled as he sat comfortably at the dining table.
"Mmm, I guess you're right Ren, 'coz I've still got Anna."
"Did anyone mention my name?" Anna called from the living room.
Silence.
"Anyway..." Yoh changed the subject, "What are you all doing for Christmas?"
"Exercising and working out. Much more harder."
Horo Horo stared at Ren. "Y'know, you're putting too much pressure on yourself Ren, unlike me, I'm heading for home to spend time with Mom and Dad. Oh, and Pilika of course. Yoh?"
"Well, evidently, I'm gonna have to do more housework than before, and training. You know Anna." Said Yoh.
"I heard my name again."
Silence.
***
Anna Kyouyama pointed at the bathroom. "That one needs cleaning. I'll give you this task at the minimum limit of 10 minutes to finish," She checked her watch. "Starting...NOW."
With an apron, Yoh hurried to the bathroom with a toilet brush, and the detergent bottle. First, he squeezed some detergent onto the brush and started brushing the toilet seat slowly, then he flushed the toilet before repeating the same process for two more times. Then he quickly washed his hands and ran to the awaiting Anna, whose eyes were still on the watch.
"Nine minutes and fifty seconds. You were close to the limit. Literally, I'd prefer you do the pushups even if you had passed. This time, you're lucky. Now it's the windows, so grab your bucket and sponge and get to work immediately!"
Yoh groaned and Anna snapped back.
***
"Ren, please rest. You're putting too much pressure on yourself. Here, have some orange juice."
Ren ignored his sister's offering but replied, "You're sounding just like that idiot. And don't you remember that I will only drink milk, and ONLY milk?"
Jun frowned. This was the same old Ren, but was he in such a pathetic mood? And who was he referring to as he mentioned "the idiot"? "Milk's all gone. You finished it up yesterday, remember? The shops today are mostly closed and I'm not going to journey miles away just to fetch some bottles of milk. So I'll put the the juice here in case you become thirsty. Otherwise, you can have water." And she left in a huff.
Ren continued his workout silently before he realized that he was kind of thirsty. But no, didn't he promise himself not to drink anything else? But, it does look tasty--the rich orange color--and tempting too. Before Ren noticed it, his arms reacted individually, reaching out for the bottle--and practically tore off the cap before swallowing mouthfuls.
Tao Ren wiped his lips, unable to contain his slight smile of satisfaction, and made a sudden discovery at that moment: orange juice isn't so bad after all. But milk was still his favorite. Maybe three bottles of milk and an occasional drink of orange juice wouldn't hurt his daily routine.
***
"Pilika-chan! Hurry up! Time to head back to Hokkaido!"
"Alright alright. I'm ready. Let's go!" The excited Pilika exclaimed as she tugged her burden to the main door.
*RING RING* Horo Horo stretched his hand and was barely an inch away from the phone, but his sister received it more hastily.
"Moshi moshi? Aah, mother! Oniichan and I were just gonna leave. Hmm? Planning a trip? That's great! When? Eh? Only you and father? What about oniichan and I?!" Pilika's face altered fairly quickly from joy to horror as she listened intently. "But it's Christmas, mother. Why not let us join you and father? That's not reasonable! I can't believe you're gonna leave us out, at Tokyo, all by ourselves! You know that we're out of money! YOU TWO ARE SO SELFISH! I HATE YOU TWO! FINE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO STAY BY OURSELVES!!"
Horo Horo watched Pilika as her face fumed and turned towards him. "What's wrong?"
His sister burst into tears when she saw Horo Horo's hopeful and curious expression. "Oniichan, we're gonna have to spend Christmas by ourselves!"
Horo Horo didn't say a word. What had Pilika said? No Christmas with Mom and Dad? That...that's impossible!
"They said they're planning a trip to England instead and are gonna leave us here..."
"Oh, oniichan, we'll be alright," Pilika added as she embraced her brother. "*sniff* Just that I feel so lonely now."
Still, the silent Horo Horo kept his thoughts to himself. So, his selfish parents weren't welcoming them back home for Christmas? Hah, they aren't really caring parents, aren't they?
Finally, he spoke. "Se-selfish..parents. No..Christmas together. Lonely, by ourselves," Horo Horo remarked absently as if he was talking to himself. "No financial support. Spent it all up since we were going back home."
Pilika stared at her brother. "Oniichan..are...you alright?"
No answer. Horo Horo's expression remained blank as he began to mutter to himself quietly.
Shocked, Pilika shook him violently. "Oniichan! Come back! I don't want to lose you now!!"
No change. She picked up a few words he had muttered. "No hope--starve. Parents don't love us anymore. Alone. What should I do? I know--suicide. Yeah.."
Pilika was horrified at the phrases and she shouted in his ear. "ONIICHAN, WE STILL HAVE HOPE. THERE'S STILL THE OTHERS!!"
"The others? Hah. Like they care. Anna would kick us out. Ryu and Faust would ignore us completely. Chocolove can't support us. Lyserg? Too busy with X-Laws. Besides, that glasses man would kill us instead."
"LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE! THERE'S STILL REN!"
"Ren? Tao Ren? He'd probably kick us out too..."
Gradually, Pilika could no longer tolerate her brother's pessimistic talk and dragged him to the Asakura house.
***
Pilika cried as she watched helplessly her brother lay there. "Yoh-kun, please, please help oniichan. He's...like dying...*sniff*"
Yoh watched Horo Horo sternly and came to a conclusion. "I'm sorry. i don't think I can help him. Perhaps Ren can. If not, try the others. There's always someone out there who will find the solution for us. And this time, it's just not me."
Anna nodded in approval, so Pilika accepted Yoh's suggestion.
***
"What?" Ren snarled as he saw Pilika and Horo Horo standing out in the freezing cold of the night.
"Ren, please help. Oniichan's dying."
"Whaddya mean he's dying? He's so healthy! Look, his eyes are wide open, and he's standing properly! Get outta my house, I've got better stuff to do."
"Please...look more closer."
Taken aback by Pilika's plead, Ren peered at Horo Horo. He had the same pale blue eyes...and he hasn't grown any gray hair or anything...but wait a minute. He's not speaking. And his usual sparkle's gone. Ren---who almost panicked at the realization--hurriedly ushered the two in.
***
"No Ren, oniichan doesn't NEED a damp cloth on his head. He's emotionally ill!"
"I know," The Chinese boy replied, irritated with Pilika's presence. "The cloth is just in case he is both emotionally AND phyiscally ill. By the way, what happened?"
Pilika took a deep breath and started spilling out the story. She later even emphasized how her parents' tone weren't sorrowful at all. Ren wasn't surprised. His very own father was more cruel.
"Talk to him, Ren."
"Fine." He turned to the idle Ainu boy beside him. "You *()%^)P@%^%)!! What are ya tryin--"
"Hush, Ren!! You're gonna frighten him!"
"He's probably pretending. Hmmph."
Pilika's tears began to drip down her face again, and she ran to the bathroom before Ren had the chance to react.
"Mmm..." Ren felt Horo Horo's hand for a pulse. Yes, it was there alright. Beating faintly, but can still be heard. 'Oi, Horo Horo, talk to me."
Sluggishly, Horo Horo turned to face Ren. "You're...Ren, right? What, am I..doing here?"
"From what I heard from your sister, she says that your parents kicked you two out."
"Mmm, that's right..no one in the world loves us anymore. No one. We're...all alone."
"You bastard! Where's your usual idiotic spirit?!"
"You like my usual spirit, don't you? What if I don't want to act like that anymore? You don't like me anymore do you?"
"I never said I liked you!"
"Then leave me alone."
"I can't leave you alone!" Ren yelled.
"Why not?"
"Because," Ren tried to think up a reason to cover his previous statement. "You're a human. I've still got to treat you like you're alive."
"Does that mean Yoh and the others think of me as a mutant?"
"He never said that." Ren reasoned, although he wondered why Yoh refused to help.
"Use your instinct. Leave me alone, I want to sleep."
Finally, Ren quietened down. Let him sleep, he thought crossly, and I'll kick him out tomorrow.
***
"I'd better be going. I might go visit Tamao-chan and stay with her. You take good care of oniichan, okay? Or you'll regret it."
Ren sighed. Why was Pilika acting like that arrogant itako? He wasn't used to Pilika ordering him around, like Anna. "Yeah, whatever."
"Good. Then I'll be gone then."
Ren slammed the door shut as soon as she slipped out. "Why, must I take care of this idiot? Even Jun left me lying that she was gonna visit some auntie whom I doubt ever existed."
He strolled back to where Horo Horo sat and eyed him. He was the same. But maybe a tiny better.
"Ren, how would you feel if no one loved you anymore?"
Great. Now Horo Horo was starting another one of those complex questions of life. "I'm used to that. What do you think the tattoo on my back is for?"
Horo Horo managed a smile. "Your father did that because he cared for your future."
"A tattoo burned on my back because of love? Don't kid me around," Ren laughed dryly. "That's impossible."
Both were speechless for moments before Horo Horo spoke again. "Ren, do you care for Pilika and I?"
"Me? I--uh..." How much Ren desired to lie at that moment, was indescribable.
"I want the truth."
"Mm, the truth. 'kay, uhh, I guess I do. I don't understand myself yet."
"That's reassuring. If that's the truth, I want you to stay with me this Christmas."
"Mmm." Ren cursed mentally as soon as he confirmed Horo Horo's request.
"Thanks." He let his hand slip into Ren's and squeezed it.
Ren flushed. What the heck is he saying, he thought angrily, I should NEVER had let Pilika and this idiot in, then all this wouldn't happen all on me. Why am I becoming so sympathetic? Gahh, Yoh influenced me, and now I'm showing compassion to this fool.
His mind snapped back to reality when he heard a smooth snore from the person beside him. Ren couldn't help smiling at Horo Horo's face and quietly went out.
***
1 - end.
Note: I hate myself! I'm starting new fics for no reason, and never continuing unfinished ones. At least I finished rushing one Mankin one. -_- Please review to make me feel better about all this. So I will not regret taking time to type this one up.