Disclaimer: Hiroyuki Takei made Shaman King.
-2-
Ren opened his eyes. Right, he thought. I fell asleep right after...? He sat up immediately after a moment's thought and rushed to where he had left Horo Horo last night.
He grabbed the door and opened it. Silence. "Where...the heck did he go!" He slammed the door and rushed downstairs.
"Good morning, Ren." Horo Horo looked up as Ren came into the kitchen.
"What the fuck are you doing?"
"I'm cooking breakfast. Would you like some?"
"When did you learn to cook?" Ren snarled, narrowing his eyes.
He held up a booklet. "Your sister's recipe. Judging by your tone, it's a no go?"
Ren heard his stomach growl. Red with embarassment, he shook his head and muttered, "I'm hungry."
"How is it?" Horo Horo asked as Ren swallowed some porridge.
Ren wiped his mouth. "It tastes terrible. Disgusting." An obvious lie.
"Really?" Horo Horo's shoulders sagged. "Looks like I need to work on it."
Ren suddenly felt tense. "...Who are you?" He asked slowly.
"What are you saying?" The other boy replied, giving him an incredulous look. "Don't you recognize me?"
"You're not the bastard I know," Ren said through gritted teeth. Horo Horo wasn't his usual self. What happened last night?
"What? Cooking and washing the dishes?" Horo Horo chuckled. "I'm doing what an average person would do when they're alone."
Amazingly, Ren felt a slight sympathy for the currently homeless boy and nodded.
"Oniichan!" As soon as Horo Horo opened the door, his sister leaped on him. "You look fine! That's wonderful!"
"Of course I'm fine. I've always been fine, Pilika." He said with a wide grin.
Pilika and Ren exchanged glances.
"I owe you one, Ren. Is there anything I can do for you?"
He pointed to Horo Horo. "Get. Him. Out. Of. My. House."
"I don't think that's possible." Horo Horo said. "Where do we stay then?"
Ren crossed his arms impatiently. "That's your business. None of mine. Now GO!"
"But...but..."
"OUT!"
Pilika grabbed her brother by arm and dragged him out. At that point, Ren regretted his decision almost immediately. What have I done, he thought to himself as he shook his head.
"Pilika..."
"Yes, oniichan?"
Horo Horo looked around. "Where are we going?"
"To the train station. We're going back home."
"Home?"
"Where Mom and Dad lives of course."
He wore a blank expression. "Mom? Dad? Where'd you get these weird ideas from?"
Pilika stopped in midstep, staring at her brother. "What are you saying? Y'know, Mom and Dad?"
Horo Horo laughed bitterly. "That's not really funny, you know. What Mom and Dad? We're orphans, right? Remember how struggled, climbing forever over those mountains in Hokkaido during the winter? Oh man, those were hard times..." He gave a shiver.
Not taking her eyes off him, Pilika took a deep breath before replying, "Where'd you get that idea from?"
"Not an idea, it's my history," Horo Horo pointed to his head. "Inside my brain. Actually, more like OUR history."
His sister paused for a bit and then shook her head. "Change of destination. The hospital, it is."
"Hospital? What for?"
"Brain examination, my dear oniichan. Must've been the shock from yesterday."
"Shock? Did stay at Ren's house for a sleepover? I mean, he was kind enough to receive us for one night," He sighed, exasperated with their current situation. "but I guess he's not gonna provide us with free food and shelter forever..."
Pilika ignored him and led him to the nearby hospital.
The doctor regained his composure before looking into Horo Horo's protruberent eyes. "Hello, young man. What is ailing you?"
Pilika introduced herself and her brother. "He needs a brain examination."
The doctor nodded. "And why is that?"
"He suffered a shock last night. It might be memory loss."
"I'm doing just fine." Horo Horo persisted.
"That is possible. I'll take him in. Wait here with my assistant." The doctor said.
"Please help my brother." She added.
"I'll do my best. Let's go now, Horo Horo." He led the perplexed Horo Horo into another room.
Pilika looked pleadingly at the assistant. "Will he be alright?"
The woman gently laid a hand on Pilika's shoulders. "He should be fine. What really happened?"
And so, Pilika poured out the details about her parents abandoning them for the Christmas.
The woman bent her head. "I see. This is difficult to explain. I suppose the shock really gave your brother memory loss."
"Is it temporary?"
"We're not sure yet. Most likely."
The physician returned with her brother. "He's fine," He concluded as he sat down at his desk. "Temporary loss of memory, he's got amnesia. He'll remember sooner or later. I also recommend showing him scenes or items reminding him of recent events."
Pilika smiled. "That's great!" She hugged him. "Onii-chan! You're gonna be all right!"
Horo Horo, with a bewildered look, insisted that he'd been perfectly fine ever since he was born.
2 - done.
Note: Ch.3 is the last chapter. This chapter was actually finished 2 years ago, but of course, I suffered writer's block (went through this "no inspiration" period), and almost gave up on writing fanfiction. I've decided to finish this fic before moving on to something else, though. So loyal reviewers/readers, thank you for your patience (if you still remember this fic?).
Second note: It's been TWO years since I wrote a fic. Obviously, my style will have changed quite a bit. I edited this chapter a little, but it still reeks of my "childish" writing style. Hopefully chapter 3 will show my true colors. Till then.