Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King, nor any of the characters from the original manga. Hiroyuki Takei-sama owns Shaman King. I own myself and all of my characters. That including Sofia and Hana Horutari. I own the rights to this fanfic.
Author's Note: Okay, I've got a positive confirmation on how Sofia and Ren can meet up now! This takes place the first night of when the group find the town full of shaman. Remember, 'Fluch' means 'Damn'
"I will conquer the tournament. I will show everyone. I will be Shaman King."
"Of course, Master Ren."
Ren ranted these things to the spirit flame beside his head while walking around the village. Cafes, gift shops, department stores lined the sidewalks with people passing in and out of them. Ren strolled with his ever loyal Bason down the street.
They'd been in the Pache village for almost a month now. But despite all the attractions of his surroundings, Ren kept himself disciplined. He trained, he worked out and he meditated by himself. He still had his head on the tournament and would make no mistake of screwing up his chances of winning.
'With Bason on my side, there's no way I can lose.'
Though, Ren had ulterior motives for the increased training. Similar to when he'd been trying to stop thinking about Sofia after battling with his father, ever since the plane ride Ren had been trying to all around forget her.
To be perfectly honest, the free falling incident between him and the blonde had... hurt. He'd been rejected by her. Something he'd been trying to save himself from for so long.
She had picked certain DEATH to be with her father, instead of ensured safety with him. The prospect of death had interested her more then Ren. He spent the first few days after the plane ride just wondering if Sofia was okay.
The rest of the time he spent trying to forget she had ever existed.
If she didn't want him, fine. Let her be with her lunatic father. If he wasn't enough for her then... what was the point? He'd become so fond of her surprisingly. He didn't want to admit it, and now he HATED admitting it. The fact that he liked her so much, yet she'd barely given him a second look.
If he was nothing to her, then she would have to be nothing to him.
Ren was just about to cross the street, when something caught his eye. Someone to be precise. Someone... blonde
'No way...'
A young girl dressed in black with a top hat on sat at one of the patio tables of a restaurant, umbrella shading her from the sun. Blonde hair poked out from the hat and she wore sunglasses over her eyes. A dog laid at her feet and a walking stick leant against her legs.
His eye's widened in surprise. Then squinted lightly at the figure. The restaurant was across the street, the girl well out of ear shot from him. And if Ren was right, she wouldn't be able to see him either.
"What is it Master?" Bason blinked lightly, confused by the sudden lack of movement from the Tao. He glanced up before looking back across the street. Bason looked over as well, trying to figure out what could have grabbed his master's attention. "... Oh."
Ren glared. "Well I don't care! She can laze about by herself if she wants!" He snapped, turning to leave. Unfortunately, his legs refused to respond to his stubborn attitude. His fists clenched and his eyes glanced back across the street.
Bason blinked before hovering to his shoulder. "I won't tell anyone if you go." He assured. Ren closed his eyes, before letting a deep, irritable sigh.
"You aren't to tell a SINGLE person about this."
"Of course master."
At that, he sprinted across the street in a burst of speed. Cursing the pedestrian shamans around him for slowing him down, he wormed his way through the crowds. Bason followed behind as always, still a little rattled by his master's behavior.
"Sofia!"
The blonde looked over to the voice. Ren came to a halt at the hip-high, metal, bar gates surrounding the patio. She had a book in her lap and a hand over the page. The rottweiler underneath the table rose his head towards him, giving a mildly interested look.
"Hallo?" She greeted curiously. Ren froze in place, staring.
She was covered in bandaging and band-aids. Her left eye was hidden with gauze that stretched down from what the top had covered. A band-aid on her cheek and her left arm held with a sling. Along the part of her shoulder that was revealed by the shirt that collared around it(slightly tattered and patched in places to match her skirt) was sewn with stitches. She was even thinner and paler than before and her hair a good deal shorter.
"Master...?" Bason nudged Ren's head cautiously. The teenager blinked a few times with his amber, cat-like eyes before coming out of his trance. The blonde sat there in surprised wonder.
"S-Sofia?"
Her eyebrows (or at least the one that he could see) raised high above her sunglasses. She stood up and smiled.
"Ren!" She picked up her walking stick with her right hand and traced the edge to the gates, the only thing keeping her from mauling the poor Tao. He hopped over and, with the help of her cane, she quickly found him engulfed him in a one-armed hug. "Ooh, I missed you so much!" She cooed. The dog had now risen up and was sniffing among the two to greet the new stranger. Ren's cheeks tinged with red before he pulled her away from him.
"What the hell happened to you?"
Sofia paused for a second before dawning in realization. " Oh! You mean these!" She gestured to her arm and head.
"The fatal looking wounds? Yes that would be it." She laughed.
"Oh please, fatal." She waved her hand dismissively. "Nonsense, these are just from the landing." She tugged on his arm for him to sit at her table. He did so, but not of course without the dog rubbing his nose along his legs.
"Landing?" Ren pushed away the snout of the rottweiler while asking. Sofia nodded while placing down her walking stick and book.
"Yes, from the Pache Plane." Of course, the whole reason he'd hesitated to cross the street just to TALK to her. How could he have forgotten it so easily? Sofia's current state was the most distracting thing, and obviously the result.
"I knew you should've joined our group." He said gruffly, leaning his chin into his palm on the arm rest. Sofia smiled lightly with a shake of her head.
"Oh please." She repeated. "This is nothing compared to my father."
"It's your father's fault your like that!"
"Always such a worrier." Sofia teased. "I'll be out of this sling in a week. And these bandages are actually coming off pretty soon." She strung a hand through her hair casually, the dog plopping down at her feet again underneath the table.
"I'm sure it was ten times worse when you finally woke up, idiot. I should've have grabbed you in the air when I had the chance." Ren chewed on the inside of his cheek. He had wondered if she'd landed safely with her father during the trip. This was his answer?
"You're such a sweet heart." Sofia took off her sunglasses. The bandages did indeed cover all of her left eye. But the right one gazed at Ren fondly.
A waitress sauntered over to their table, notebook poised in her hand. "Are you ready to order yet miss?"
The German girl suddenly grew tense, her back straightening up. She swallowed down and said, "Oh, uh no. Not yet, sorry." Ren tilted back in his chair with a roll of his eyes.
"Two glasses of milk." The waitress drew her head back in mild surprise, but scribbled down the order. Ren folded his arms in his lap, looking at Sofia inquisitively. She herself seemed uncomfortable.
"Ren, you didn't have to."
"When was the last time you ate?"
Sofia managed a deadpan look with her one eye. "Last night."
"And what did you eat?"
"... A sandwich."
"Oh really? What kind of sandwich?" She let out an audible sigh.
"Chicken."
"The hell you did."
"Ren!" Ren remained with his calm and cool position in his chair.
"It's obvious you haven't had an actual MEAL in quite a while. I don't have to be an empath to know when someone's lying." Sofia chewed on her lower lip with a playful grin.
" Well it doesn't matter. I eat enough."
"You look anorexic."
"You're one to talk. Your hips are as small as mine." Ren narrowed his eyes on her, for a moment wondering how she even knew that. But before he could reply Bason's spirit hovered over.
"Do not insult my master! He shows nothing but concern and fondness and you reward with him with snide comments!" He defended, only a foot or so away from Sofia's face. She blinked lightly.
"Is that Bason?"
"It is! And you should show some respect to m---"
"Bason that's enough." Ren cut through the second part of the spirit's rant. Sofia placed her cheek into her hand, leaning forward on the table.
That was when the waitress arrived back with their drinks. Ren took a sip from his glass and wiped the milk from his lip before starting back to the conversation.
"Considering your tatty clothes and the fact that your father DID lose his job as a doctor, I suppose he hasn't really taken you out on the town lately. Has he?"
Sofia traced a finger around the rim of her glass, smirking. "Well Sherlock, you solved the case. But that doesn't mean you get the girl."
"I just don't see why you're still with him. It's obviously not good for you!" He snapped. "He should be more worried about keeping you alive then bringing his wife back to life." Sofia narrowed her eye at the table.
"That wife happens to be my mother. And it is all MY choice to stay with him Ren." She took a large gulp of the drink and let out a breath. "Don't make it sound like he's forcing me to stay with him or like he doesn't think I'm better off without him."
Ren paused, sipping from his glass. "What do you mean?" Sofia bit down on her lower lip again, now purely out of habit. The black lipstick accentuated by her pale features.
"Every chance my Vati got, he tried to send me back to Germany and put me into a foster family. But I wouldn't have it. He tried leaving me with family but I always made my way back. I already knew necromancy and could summon skeletons to take me home." She stared down at her glass, still running the pad of her finger along the rim. "When they said that only contestants were allowed on the Pache Plane, my father tried to convince them to fly me back to Germany on one of the other planes. But I made the officiants let me on."
Her glassy, blue eye suddenly hardened into a glare. "I don't care what happens to me, I want to be there when my father brings my mother back to life."
Ren sighed irritably, finishing off the last of his cup. "Stubborn as always." He quipped. Her expression softened and once more, her lips stretched into a smile.
"It's my quality."
"Some would call it a fault."
"Some would say you have an attitude problem."
The two chatted on, during which Ren ordered a full lunch for the both of them. They talked about the journey to the village, about the book she was reading, also about the odd Chocolove Ren had just met. She had him talk in German for a little while just so Ren could polish his accent.
It was the first time the two had actually just sat down and had a proper conversation. No worries of what would happen next or anxiousness of the tournament. Ren forgot any care of someone spotting him with Sofia and she relaxed enough to let him pay for the meal. Ren had Bason apologize for yelling at her. The rottweiler underneath the table took quick sniffs up Ren's leg and he realized that it was actually the dog Frankensteiny in full over soul.
Ren was enjoying himself here. Sofia never took his snippy or rude remarks the wrong way. She laughed them off and continued talking animatedly. Ren, like with his friends, could relax with Sofia. He'd always figured girls to throw fits for the way he talked to them. But he could say whatever he felt like, because Sofia knew just how he felt.
Usually, such an ability made him feel vulnerable. Like he was naked to her. He couldn't hide anything, nor could he lie. But then again, he never really felt the need to lie to her. She seemed so happy with just him.
They remained at the restaurant for another two hours. The sun was setting with pink fingers stretching across the sky. The sky itself was now a hazy orange. Frankensteiny nudged and nuzzled at Sofia's legs, causing her to pout.
"Fluch... I've got to be getting back." Ren stretched out his back before standing up.
"What is he, your alarm clock?"
"Henh, somewhat. I'm supposed to be in by sunset."
"I suppose I should go too." He brushed himself off with Bason near his shoulder, ready to leave with him. Sofia grabbed her book and walking stick before rising to her feet. The dog at her knees hopped and trotted excitedly, glad to be moving again.
Ren blinked when he felt Sofia take hold of his arm. Her left hand held her book and walking stick, while her right was holding on his elbow. He soon realized that she was only doing so to be led out of the maze of patio tables. Ren chewed on the inside of his cheek and started weaving her through the pathway to the sidewalk.
'Why am I still so nervous?' He thought angrily. Wasn't he over this yet? Contact with Sofia was normal. They were 'together' now... weren't they? The blonde seemed so calm and natural about being with him. Couldn't she still be a little awkward about this too?
Sofia spoke, but he was so annoyed with himself he barely noticed. Ren snapped from his thoughts to the question.
"Pardon?"
Sofia smiled hopefully. "Can you walk me to the hotel? I'm still having trouble finding my way around here and Frankensteiny has no sense of direction." Ren shrugged, though his ears were starting to redden.
"Fine. It's on my way anyway." Sofia turned her head back to the street in front of her.
"Thanks. Lord knows how many times I've gotten lost already." She was shifting her left arm a little to get a better grasp over her book and walking stick, when Ren snatched the book away.
"Idiot, you shouldn't be using that arm." Sofia laughed and switched her walking stick into her right hand.
"Sorry."
Frankensteiny trotted along with them, sometimes skipping ahead and waiting for them to catch up. He barked and howled out of no where, most likely at all the different spirits that passed through. Ren rolled his eyes at the playful animal while Sofia just giggled.
Somewhere during the walk, Ren had wrapped an arm around Sofia's waist. It actually took him a moment to realize just how much closer he'd brought her to him. One moment he'd been so nervous and suddenly it was the most natural thing. She'd leant her head onto his shoulder and the fingers from her left hand just grazing his from the sling. Woofs and the faint tapping of her walking stick in the background.
He grumbled something and removed her top hat. The rim had been digging into his collar bone and he'd finally had enough of it. Sofia game him a funny look.
"That's mine."
"It's annoying." She laughed.
"Give it back."
"It was bothering me."
She shook her head with another laugh and rested her head back down. He followed suit and leaned his head against hers. This was nice. Peaceful and comfortable.
"I had a good time with you, Re--"
"Whooo! Ren you DOG!"
The teenage Tao grew several stress veins at the sudden interruption to the 'peaceful and comfortable' moment. Now that it was lost, he looked over his shoulder and spotted HoroHoro, Chocolove and Yoh walking behind them.
"Heeey Ren. Heey Sofia." Yoh greeted with a wave and a simple giggle. HoroHoro grinned slyly at the couple while Chocolove seemed confused.
"How does a guy THAT uptight get a girlfriend?"
"What--!" Ren was just about to lunge at the jokester, but was held back by Yoh.
"He's just being silly." Yoh motioned for the Tao to calm down. HoroHoro laughed before glancing at Sofia.
"Hey Sofia, what happened to you?" He threw a pretend suspicious look at Ren. "Has Ren been beating you?" She smiled and shook her head.
"No, no. This was awhile ago. No biggy."
Chocolove quickly came up to her with pencil and notebook in hand. "So you're Faust's daughter, Sofia?" She drew her head back in confusion.
"Oh-- uh yes." He looked her up and down and stroked his chin.
"So... you're blind?" Yet again, Ren made another lunge at the American.
"What're you doing, asking something like that!" And once more, HoroHoro and Yoh held the purplenette back. Chocolove rolled his eyes.
"Ch', I'm just getting information!"
Sofia stood there, dumbfounded and clueless to what went on around her. Frankensteiny however was running through their legs to inhale the scents around him. Ren broke away from Yoh and brushed himself off.
"What were you doing following us anyway?"
"Well we come bearing good news." Yoh said, patting Frankensteiny on the head. "Faust eighth is joining up with us."
"What!"