Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King, nor any of the characters from the original manga. I own myself and all of my characters. That including Sofia Faust and Hana Horutari. Hiroyuki Takei-sama owns Shaman King. I own the plot and rights to this fanfic. Tuh da.

Author's Note: This scene was kind of taken from something a read in a book called 'Sik Sika' from like... 5 years ago almost.

"Ren, could I...?" The words died on her lips, trailing off. She was hesitant about what she would say next. Her walking stick's handle was looped loosely around her wrist with both hands placed on his bare chest.

It was the starting to a guilty romance novel.

Ren gave Sofia a funny look. Since when did Sofia hesitate with her words? She always seemed like a chatty music box, ready to sound off at the touch of a button. ESPECIALLY around him. Always egging him on for a conversation.

Yet here she was; quiet as a lamb. Her movements had ceased but she continued to chew incessantly on her lower lip. Her face, instead of facing up for him to look at her, was looking down.

"Yes?" He turned his hand in a circular motion for her to continue out of habit. She couldn't see the gesture but could feel the irritation from Ren. He hated it when people didn't finish their sentences. And it took few a few moments before finally replying.

"Ren... would you-- would you stand still for me for a second?" The question seemed rushed. Ren gave her a funny look. That was all? That was what had gotten Sofia all nervous? For him to stand still?

"What for?" was his reply. Sofia creased her eyebrows up with a pleading expression.

"Just-- please?" Ren didn't get what was such a big deal about it, nor did he know what she could've been planning. But he also wasn't in a mood for arguing with her again.

He sighed in annoyance and rolled his eyes. Sofia smiled, taking it as a yes.

She stepped closer to him, and the hands that had once been safely planted on his chest began to slip upwards. Passing over his thin collar bone and sweeping up his small neck. She kept the skin contact so she could guide herself up. All the way up to cup his cheeks in her hands.

A lump formed in his throat and his muscles stiffened quite a bit. He was positive she could feel the blood pooling into his cheeks to make his face beat red.

"What are y--" He started the blurt, but Sofia cut him off with a gentle,

"Shh."

Either she hadn't noticed the heat of his skin or didn't care, because she continued on.

Sofia's palms rubbed against Ren's cheeks, going over the old dents and scars of battles. They weren't very visible to the eyes but were almost obvious to touch. The pads of her thumbs slid up the bridge of his nose and her other fingers brushed over his eyebrows. She smiled.

"You have a small nose." Ren remained silent. His voice had left him for the moment.

When Sofia's fingers drew too close to his eyes, he closed them completely. He took in the feeling of her caressing his face. Exploring his skin with her touch. He couldn't see his surroundings, the village street quiet with the night air. All had was the sound of Sofia's soft breath against his neck, the feeling of her walking stick leaning against his front as it dangled from her wrist, and the hands that stroked his face.

There was a giggle after she was done with his eyes. Ren's hand clenched over his kwan dao. Was he ridiculous to her? She must've noted his embarrassment.

"Oh no, no. I'm not laugh at you… well." He opened one eye to see her struggling through her works. "Vatti always told me the Asian have such tiny eyes. I just noticed that he wasn't that far off."

Ren sweat dropped and closed his eyes again. Now he REALLY felt ridiculous. When would she be stopping this?

Soon enough, the bangs of his hair tickled across her knuckles. He felt her come nearer to him and her hands stretch up into his hair. There was another realization. Sofia was a lot closer to Ren than he was used to. And she stood there a lot longer than what Ren was used to. Her front was practically right up against him and he was sure he could feel the toe of her shoe graze against his.

Ren wondered if he should dare open his eyes to see just HOW close she was to him.

Her fingers combed through his rugged hair, not taking long to meet the infamous Tao Ren cowlick. She giggled as she tried to find the tip.

"So this is why everyone calls you shark head." Ren sweat dropped and, purely by accident, opened his eyes when opening his mouth to retort. First his eyes, now his hair! But the words never actually made it out.

Sofia couldn't have been more than a few good inches from his face. Her arms around his neck to reach the back of his head. She really was RIGHT up against him. No wonder she had seemed so awkward about asking him to do this.

She caught his nervous reaction and her hands slid from his hair and back to his shoulders. Sofia smiled lightly, cheeks reddened.

"Ren... I think you're handsome."

Ren swallowed down hard, his eyes widening quite a bit. He blinked a few times and furrowed his eyebrows.

"What?"

"I think you're handsome Ren." Sofia repeated. That's when it hit him.

She really had been exploring Ren through her touch. She had made a map of his face and generated an image of him for herself. And apparently, to her, he was...

Handsome?

He snapped from his reaction, looking back down at her. She looked to be waiting for some kind of reply. But seemed just as happy without it. Sofia knew how he felt. He needn't say a thing to her and she would be happy.

She was happy with him.

Ren's free hand, the one that wasn't hanging on to his kwan dao for dear life, raised itself from his side. It hung in the air for a moment in indecision. The witty Tao Ren had nothing to say, nothing to remark with. The brave and strong Tao Ren had nothing to lash at, his defenses broken down one by one.

Ren had let Sofia see him, and Sofia had liked what she saw.

"Ren...?" Came her voice. Something he loved to hear. He didn't care if it screamed or yelled, laughed or accused him. He loved hearing it. Just saying his name made him feel... right.

Sofia accepted him.

Sofia liked him.

Sofia made Ren feel wanted. Not something he got often but something he liked.

Something he loved.

Sofia made him feel like he belonged.

The indecisive hand found a place to be. It took a spot at Sofia's hip. She blinked a few times with her vague blue eyes. Eyes that saw everything in him and liked what they found.

"Ren?"

Despite the fact she saw everything in Ren, Sofia hadn't expected what happened next. Ren dipped his head down to catch her lips in his. His golden, amber eyes remained open as he saw Sofia's reaction.

Finally he could see her. He could see how she felt because now he had taken down her defense.

The eyes he had been so fond of grew a good two inches in diameter. Her whole body stiffened and the hands that had so gingerly taken in his features were now holding his shoulders tightly. As if to keep her from falling.

But then her mascara eyelashes fluttered and closed over her irises. Sofia gave in. She let go.

Though most romantic novels and movies depicted first kisses as a time that froze and where everything stops except the couple. Trees rustled in the back ground. Frankenstein nudged Sofia's leg a few times. In the corner of Ren's view he could still make out Bason's specter of a shape by the wall.

But their attention gave way to such things.

They did not hear the trees, nor did Sofia even notice her pet wanting attention.

The outside world kept moving, but it was lost to Ren and Sofia.

The kiss was not full of languid movements or curious tongues. Nor were their heads moving together to deepen it.

It was a simple, innocent, and first kiss for the both of them. Merely lips upon lips.

There was no lust.

Only true intimacy. This was very intimate.

Perhaps that was why Ren suddenly took the plunge. With him, one would always have to make the first move. What would make him take such a risk and show such an affectionate side?

Perhaps it was to know true intimacy. To know and feel what it was like to be wanted. And to show Sofia that same feeling. But then again, maybe it was just a spontaneous action.

Ren lifted his head from Sofia's and took in a deep, silent breath. She stood before him; her eyes still faintly shut. She paused. Not even bothering to open her eyes. He licked his lips, thankful to not taste any of her lipstick on them.

The grip on his shoulders slackened and the comforting breath against his neck returned. Sofia blinked a few times before grinning sheepishly.

"What was that for?" Her voice came out quieter than before, not wanting to disturb the moment they had just shared. Ren took a while to find his voice on his own. Though refused to give her the idea he was out of breath.

"You talk too much." Was his reply. She giggled, leaning her head against him. The hand on her hip reached up to her back to pull her closer. Sofia sighed into him.

If only the moment could have lasted a little longer.

Frankenstein gave a few tugs on his leash and walked in between the two teens. Sofia sweat dropped lightly and kneeled down, whilst Ren threw quite the dirty look down at the animal zombie. She shhhed Frankenstein and rubbed the top of his skull soothingly.

"I should be... going back." Said Sofia, quite slowly. She didn't like saying it just as much as Ren didn't like hearing it. He furrowed his eyebrows down at her.

"What the hell for? Just because the dog needs to doesn't mean you do." Sofia sighed and stood back up, tightening the leash around her wrist.

"I DO need to because my parents are eventually going to notice I've left the room for quite a while." Ren gave her a funny look.

"Why would they be noticing JUST now?" Sofia's cheeks seemed to redden and she sweat dropped again.

"Well... my parents have become quite... intimate since my mother's spirit came back." Ren arched his eyebrows quite a bit. There was a pause between them before his forehead turned blue and closed his eyes.

"Oh God." He began to rub his temples, wincing at the sudden images coming to mind with Faust and Eliza. All whilst Sofia giggled.

"You asked."

"Honestly Sofia. That one piece if information and image I REALLY didn't need in my head." She laughed right out at that. He looked up with a sigh, running his hand through his hair. "I suppose I should be walking you there."

"You don't have to."

"You want me to though." She paused, then smiled.

"I do. I really do."