-little talk-

yaaa! sorry if I'm sounding too dramatic today. recently I saw Shaman King... Horo Horo actually does look cute. I haven't seen Shaman King for such a long time. I can see him, and Tamao together...(.) I don't know. haha, I just to laugh ((um...evilly actually...)) about how Horo Horo is choosing his timing in this chapter. ((which this you may never understand))

answering ((chapter 9)) reviews: review lord, Helena-Jeanne-Chibi: many thanks...and eventually I will see the Japanese originals... Akisukie Hashimoto: I'll read your story (though it'll take me a few weeks at the rate I'm going...but I'll read it!!) Thanks for reviewing...a ppl, aaaa322, review lord, Cindy Asakura

answering reviews is...taking a while.

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KEY

Italics are Tamao's thoughts

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Moving In

Chapter 10

15th of May, Friday. Eight more days...

Early this morning, Horo Horo knocked on our door, he was soaking wet. I was awake from the heavy rain that kept pounding on the roof, and windows. I guess Anna was awake, too, because she later asked what was going on.

I heard that pounding on the door.. that sound trying to conquer over the rain. Opening the door, I saw him.

"T-Tamao! Good Morning!" Horo Horo shouted out happily, though he looked surprised to see me.

"Is...that why you came here?" I felt a little dumb asking that.

"...No!" he said it a bit forcefully.

"Well...," I was unsure of what to do, "come in."

"No, no, I'll be fine. Just dropping by. Anyway, I came to ask if you heard the news yet."

"What?"

"No school today! Can't you see this storm? Seeee? I was just thinking of having a little party here since you do have the biggest house, and all...."

"That's fine with me. But...I don't think Anna would like it if you came here making everything wet there from the rain outside."

"Don't worry. No school today!" he was getting off topic... "Thanks, Tamao."

And well...he took a few steps but turned back at me before he entered back into the rain. I could see the...emptiness in his eyes.

"Tamao,...you do know that I care about you, don't you?"

"You've told me," I tried to answer calmly. Those words struck me.

"If possible, I would like my answer now."

I wonder...if Horo Horo is a mawkish guy...

I've always thought what I'd do if this day were to come...though I was actually hoping for Yoh. I've thought of it a lot especially when I talked to hao that day, washing dishes. After Pirika left us in the kitchen that night, Hao gave me some advice.

"Your heart is always right." he said, "That's something that I learned the hard way. Sometimes when you listen to your mind, it can be too calculating, and you'll turn into another Tao Ren. You're supposed to make decisions with your mind, but sometimes it needs a heart. So you can be happy, so you won't regret."

"You don't seem like a calculating person," he continued, " but I think...you'll turn Horo Horo down, even if you like him, just because you're too considerate of others."

And if he is right? then I don't want to regret. At the beginning I didn't understand what Hao meant of 'heart' and 'mind' but now...as I speak with Horo Horo...I think I understand what he meant, this feeling.

"Well, of course, I like you, Horo Horo...but not in the same way you do." I felt extremely rude, "We can still be friends, right?" he's going to say 'no'. or just avoid me. or something.

I saw his face soften, which really placed an impact on me. Horo Horo always expresses his feelings so artistically that I admired him so much for that.

"Yeah, I still want to." He had a smile on his face, when he said that. The same, funny smile that he always had...and still does. "See you later, Tamao!" He waves, and laughs off, dancing in the rain.

And now, we: Jun, Ren, Pirika, Yoh, Anna, and myself sit here at the table. Trying to figure out what to do.

"How about...a game, Big Liar!" Jun began the conversation, "it's the perfect time!"

"Just get on with it," Ren interupted.

"Ha! Onii-chan, you're going down! You're not a very good liar." Pirika smiled.

"Rules?" Yoh asked.

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Rules to 'Big Liar'

-- some person starts off telling two stories: one real, one fake.

-- The people listening to the story vote on which is real.

-- The persons who chose the wrong story has to take a glass of rice wine

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"Do we have any sake?" Yoh cut in. Tamao got a bottle out of a cabinet.

" Okay!," Jun smiles, "I'll start off first. My first story was when I was at the airport in Canada. The flight took about ten hours, or so. Coming off the plane, I was suffering from jet lag. Also that weird feeling, like you're still on the swaying of the plane, or boat.

"I went to one of those restaurants that you can find in airports. If you've ever been to somewhere like Toronto, what you notice most is all those Asian guys. Well, I met one, and he happened to know Cantonese. He took me out to dinner, and then when I asked for his surname, I found out that he was possibly a distant relative."

"You, and your disgusting stories," Ren muttered.

"Second story," Jun ignored him, "was when Ren, and I were really little. I had to go pick up Ren from his academy so we could walk home together. I didn't see Ren waiting for me where he would usually be, so I went looking for him. It turns out, I found him else where else talking to a girl! Not that there's anything wrong with that, but...well, you know, something Ren would like anti-like. So, who thinks the first story is true?"

Everyone raised their hand, except Ren, and Anna.

"Whaat?! The second story was true?" Horo nearly yelled.

"That girl was talking to me! NOT the other way around!" Ren protested.

"Ren, why don't you start on the stories next, while the rest of you can finish a glass, " Jun indicated Yoh, Horo, Tamao, and Pirika.

"OKAY," Ren began thinking of a quick story before his sister could get him, "Once upon a time...Not to long ago...The End."

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-- yes, abrupt ending, but I can't just type this because they're not that relevant to the story! And yes, sorry this is verrry short chapter. Only 2 pages. 1094 words.

-- the game 'big liar' I got it from a book...Memoirs of a Geisha (by Arthur Golden) a friend recommended to me, yes, good book. But...the game was meant to be somewhat dirty, I think. Can't remember, but them being geishas, and all....