Ashuri: alright now I need a disclaimer because I forgot on the first chapter. Hmm Hao, you can be my disclaimer!

Hao: no way!

Ashuri's other bishies: you dare refuse the all powerful goddess of story writing, who can ruin your life fasting then you can blink?!

Hidca from non-fiction story: no kidding.

Hao: meep! (–ooc) alright Ashuri does not own shaman king. If she did she would murder Anna and save Yoh from a terrible fate.

Ashuri: heh heh. Anyway thanks to all who read and reviewed and yes Ren is fun to torture Now with out further ado, the second chapter of Object of Affection.

Chapter Two: everyone knew.

Barricaded in his room, Ren refused to come out, no matter how many times Horo pounded on the door and apologized through it. He clearly stated, at the top of his lungs, that the apology was worth nothing and if he didn't leave him alone, he would flay him to within an inch of his life. Horo finally got the hint and left him alone.

Considering he was beside himself with anger, really beside himself with anger, Ren couldn't help but feel a little, just a little, but curious about Horo's affection toward him. Didn't he say, like always, before the most disturbing words Ren had heard in his life, that he, Ren, was egocentric and arrogant? And certainly one did not fall in love with someone as cold hearted and selfish as him.

He pounded on his head with his hands. Why me? Why me? He though over and over again. Why couldn't it be...Yoh or someone. Why did it have to be him!? With thoughts like this flowing throughout his brain, Ren did not leave his room, until shortly after lunch time, when he began to feel hungry.

However in there lied a dilemma. Leaving his room, meant coming face to face with Horo again. Leaving his room meant facing the problem he wanted so much to forget. He pondered this. Was food really worth it? Yes his stomach growled and sighing he went down to the kitchen. Horo was not there.

Releasing a sigh of relief he started to make lunch. But before getting very far, Horo did appear in the kitchen. Ren, was to occupied to notice, however, all Horo did was stare at him, but being as he's not really that dense, Ren felt someone watching him and whirled around. Staring into Horo's eyes, lined with sadness and longing, Ren fought to find an insult to throw at him, but no new ones came to mind at the moment, so he settled on glaring and returning to his food.

Horo took a cautious step forward. "Ren," he said quietly.

"What?" Ren answered in a would be calm tone.

"I'm really, really sorry about this morning." He really did sound sorry, but Ren was in to far a foul mood to really care, so all he did was roll his eyes and say, "Whatever."

"I know my actions certainly surprised you but, all I'm asking, at this moment, is to take them into consideration," Horo said from behind him.

Ren put the knife he was holding down, just in case he lunged at Horo, he didn't feel killing him would justify anything at this point. "Into consideration eh?" he said and turned around. "How bout you take this into consideration you lazy bastard!" He wrapped his hands around Horo's neck and preceded to choke the living daylights out of him.

"What made you even think I could think of you in that way! Especially you! I despise your living essence and if you touch me like that again you-" Ren's words were surprisingly cut off by the doorbell.

Ren released Horo and muttering dark things, like killing Horo, destroying doorbells, killing Horo, eating, and killing Horo, he walked to the door and opened it, wishing he was back in the kitchen choking Horo cause, his sister Tao Jun, was there on the doorstep, and the second the door had open, she had thrown her arms around him and pulled him into a choking hug.

"One-san!" was all he managed to choke out.

"Hi Ototo!" Jun replied hugging him tighter still.

Ren, really couldn't breathe, and was beginning to feel sorry for choking Horo, regardless if he had a good reason or not. He struggled to push Jun away but it didn't work very well, so he had to stay there running out of air.

Horo had heard Jun's reply from the kitchen and entered the living room. Ren heard him laugh. What's so damn funny!? I'm being hugged to death! He thought angrily, but Horo came over and released him from Jun's grip none the same. While Horo held on to one arm to keep him steady Ren placed his other hand on his knee and panted for breath. When he was better, he noticed Horo holding his arm and yanked it away.

Jun looked at Horo. "Didn't work did it?" she said and Horo shook his head sadly.

Ren's eyes flew wide open. Did Jun somehow know about Horo's affections. "W-what?" he said.

Jun smiled at Horo, ignoring Ren. "Don't worry. It'll work out sooner or later." She looked at Ren. "So Ren, how do you feel about Horo?"

The question was like a slap in the face, it came so randomly that Ren just stared at Jun like she just dared to ask the most disturbing thing ever. "Well?"

Ren shook his head. "I despise his lazy ass," Ren muttered looking at the wall, hoping to fine something interesting.

Jun sighed. "Well I guess stage one of the operation failed. I better go tell the others." Ren blinked.

"Others?"

"Yeah. Come on everyone knew how Horo felt. You can't tell us you didn't know?"

Ren glared at her. "Does it look like I knew!?" he thundered.

"No," Horo said.

"Exactly! I received a kiss from someone, who happens to be male, someone who drives me crazy, and-" Ren's ranting was abruptly stopped when Horo placed his arm around Ren's shoulders and said, "Wouldn't be little old me, now would it?"

Ren's face turned a nasty shade of red, which no one could tell if it was from embarrassment or anger, and he raised his fist as though threatening to punch Horo, but didn't. "Yes, Ainu-baka, it is you."

"Thought so," Horo said smiling.

He is so dense. Ren thought leering at him.

"So that means you don't love him then?" Jun asked.

"No. I mean how could anyone love a lazy, good for nothing, clumsy jerk!"

Horo slipped, somehow while standing, Ren supposed the water from Jun's boots, it was raining outside, had leaked over to where they were standing when she had hugged him, and fell onto the floor hard.

"See what I mean," Ren said laughing.

Horo got up and brushed himself off. "I'm ok," he announced and returned his arm to Ren's shoulders.

"Well," Jun said turning toward the door. "I just stopped by to see if everything had worked out, but now I must run to the store. See you later!" And she left.

Ren's eye twitched. What a nosy annoying sibling he had. Maybe there was a store somewhere in Tokyo where he could exchange her for money.

Horo's arm had yet to leave Ren's shoulders.

"Release me Horo," he said quietly.

"You didn't say please."

"I shouldn't have to say please! It's my house! My shoulder's! Now release me!"

Smirking Horo replied, "No I don't think I will." Ren opened his mouth to retort but Horo placed his finger against his lips. "You need to learn some manners Ren."

It all happened so fast. One minute Horo was gazing lovingly into Ren's amber eyes and the next he had jumped away, yelping in pain, clutching his finger. "I have manners but why waste them on you," he said wiping his mouth.

"You cold heartless bastard! Have some sympathy for the poor and helpless!" Horo whined.

"If I didn't have sympathy for you, you wouldn't been here. You'd been stuck in that hotel, running out of money and just waiting to be kicked out onto the street, like an animal," answered Ren turning away.

"You are too cruel."

"Ahmm. Get used to it." Returning to the kitchen, Ren had thoughts about trying to finished his late lunch, however Horo had other ideas.

"So now that we are alone," he started running his finger under the water. "Are you going to tell me whether or not you'll consider my words?"

Why couldn't he be left in peace? He leaned against the counter. "No. I will not consider your words."

Horo gazed at him and pouted.

It took all of Ren's will power to not look at Horo. When he pouted and made the puppy dog face, no one could win against him. Even the all powerful Ren, had fallen to it once or twice in the past.

"Is it that bad or are you purposely not looking at me?" Horo asked.

"Both," replied Ren.

Horo cupped his cheek and turning Ren's face toward his he said, "You know, if you consider them and try it out, you might find its not as bad as you think."

Again Ren found himself in a nearly inescapable situation as Horo captured his lips in a kiss. Horo had obviously learned a few tricks since that morning, as he had pinned him against the counter. He had leaned a leg against Ren's to stop him from kicking him and held his hands firmly in his own.

Why is he forcing himself on me!? Can't he take a hint!? Ren tired to fight him off, but to no avail. This continued for sometime with them occasionally coming up for air, and Ren having furious fights with himself as he started to enjoy it.

After a while Ren stopped fighting him off, but never returned Horo's kisses. Horo obviously believed that Ren was going to allow him to kiss him or whatever, now that he had stopped struggling, and released one of Ren's hands to trace invisible circles on his back, after lifting his shirt up slightly. Ren was getting annoyed. The big lug seriously didn't get it.

Allow me to knock some sense into him. And he hit him really hard in the head.

Horo fell to the floor. "Ow! Shit!"

"I told you not to touch me Horo," said Ren pleasantly.

Horo looked up at him rubbing his head. "True. But how else am I going to kiss you?"

"That's just it you don't."

"Oh come on you know you were enjoying it."

"Well I'm not going to pretend it wasn't at times but-what are you smiling at?" Ren inquired.

"You just said it was enjoyable."

Ren stared at him. "Oh fuck! I did didn't I?!"

"Yep." Said Horo standing.

"Oh fuck! Oh fuck! Oh fuck!" Ren repeated over and over again jumping up and down, hands in front of his face.

Horo laughed and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "Don't worry Ren. I'll make you love me yet."

"Oh fuck no!" Ren said in horror.

"Heh heh. Don't worry."

"Fuck you Horo!"

Ashuri: hurrah! Chapter two is finished. And yes it is longer then the first one, slightly. Heh heh. Poor Ren.

Ren: that's right! It better be poor Ren!

Ashuri: its not that big of a biggie Ren.

Ren: oh yes it is!

Ashuri: sigh. Anyway please read and review. Tell me what you think. Then I'll write more.

Ren: its not fair!

Ashuri: shut up!

Ren: meep!