Hao: Ashuri does not own shaman king. How long do I have to do this?

Ashuri: till the fanfic is finished. Alright because babysitting is boring, at least when the children are sleeping and there's nothing on Tele, chapter eight comes sooner then planned. Big thankies to all reviews! I love ya'll! And the Chinese thing, I just picked random words. And about Ren giving in, it was the ALCOHOL! Anyway here we go.

Chapter Eight: Psychotic, solitary, confinement.

"Ren."

"..."

"Its time to get up, Ren."

"Go away!"

"But lunch is ready!"

"I said go away!"

"But Ren-"

SMACK! "I'm trying to sleep baka! Get lost!"

Horo tumbled backwards off Ren's bed and onto the floor. Maybe waking up the amber eyed, purple haired shaman was a bad idea, especially when all Ren had to say was get out and Horo couldn't argue.

Ren sat up sending death glares in Horo's direction and rubbing his temples. "Can't you ever leave me in peace?!"

"Yeah, but-" Horo started, rubbing his face.

"But what?!"

"Its almost noon."

"What?!"

"Its almost noon." Horo repeated and got off the floor ro turn the clock, which for some reason was facing the wall, so Ren could see its luminous numbers. 11:30 am. Ren gapped. How did it get so late in the morning?

One minute he had climbed into bed around midnight and now...a sharp pain ran through his temples and he clapped his hand to the side of his face. "Shit!"

"What?"

"My head bloody hurts!" said Ren.

Horo blinked. "Maybe you drank too much at Yoh's."

"What! No I...I did not! I drank a lot less then you!"

Horo nodded. "Hmm."

"Stupid alcohol," mumbled Ren.

"Don't blame the alcohol Ren. It didn't force you to drink it."

Ren rolled his eyes. "Right." He flopped down onto the bed. "Anyway, go away. I'm sleepy."

Horo climbed onto the bed. "But what about lunch?"

"Does it look like I want lunch?" Ren's stomach growled.

"Yeah," replied Horo smiling.

Ren sighed. "No."

"Why not?"

"I do not bow to orders from my stomach." His stomach growled louder.

"Come on Ren. It want's you to feed it!" said Horo laughing.

"It can suffer!"

"Why don't you eat and then go back to sleep?"

Ren whined. "No."

"Come on Ren, I know you want to," Horo said.

"Don't do that!"

"Why not?"

"Rabbit. Evil. Talk. Kill," Ren snarled.

Horo laughed and patted his hand. "Sorry. It's just funny."

"No it's not! It's annoying!" Ren said with a final glare and turned to look out the window. He heard Horo sigh and the patting of his hand stopped.

Horo was a little too persistent. He was clearly trying to do to much, and the one at the top of the list was the one thing Ren tried not to think about but ended up doing so when he had nightmares or at random times when he wasn't thinking of anything. His stomach growled interrupting his thoughts. He sighed, agitated. Fine you win.

He turned to look at the door and was slightly surprised to see Horo still sitting there. "Um, Horo, what are you doing?"

"Oh, I was thinking of some way to get you to go and eat," he replied.

"Ahuh. I see," Ren sighed.

"Well this annoying thing," he pointed to his stomach. "Won the battle. Lets go get."

"Hurra!" Horo said and wrapped his hand around Ren's, who couldn't believe he hadn't noticed that Horo's hand had never left his, and pulled him from the bed, out of the room, down the stairs and into the kitchen, which smelt like Christmas dinner leftovers.

"Did you go and get from Yoh's or something?" Ren asked.

"Actually, since we left our stuff there, they brought it over along with leftovers."

Ren stared at him. "What's wrong with the food in the fridge?"

"But the dinner was so good though!" said Horo. "Besides, after I leave, if the foods all there, you won't have to go shopping."

"You're leaving?" asked Ren.

Horo turned and look at him, still holding his hand. "Yeah. You said that after I got better I had to leave. So, because I'm such a burden, you'll be rid of me shortly."

"Oh. Right. Great. Wonderful."

"Ren."

"Hmm?"

"You're acting kinda odd."

Ren gritted his teeth together. Why every time he tried to be nice, did everyone say he was acting odd?! It was really beginning to piss him off. He threw Horo's hand off to the side, grabbed his plate of food and went to eat in the living room.

"You said we're not supposed to eat in the living room!"

"Yeah well its my house and I do as I please!" said Ren sharply.

Eating his food he heard Horo sit down in the kitchen. That's right. I don't need him making a mess in here. Even though he was the one who cleaned it. He bit into a piece of turkey. The house was clean, the fridge was full, Horo was leaving. What could be better. He didn't know what he had been thinking, standing there holding Horo's hand, god knows why, thinking maybe Horo could stay longer and then BOOM reality checked in.

The rabbit. It all came back to the rabbit. It was clouding his judgement and trying to force him to do something he didn't want to do by giving him nightmares. And Horo imitating the stupid thing was not helping.

But the real reality, as he was forcing himself to believe, was that he wanted Horo gone and he wanted to be left alone. Taking another bite a voice said, but what about the other reality? The supposed futures based on his nightmares. The ones where Horo was still with him. He but his fork down. Was it really that bad? He shook his head. Yes, yes it was bad. He couldn't think of a reason why. It was...it was just bad. But...

Ren heard Horo sigh and saw him look up at the ceiling. Horo smiled. "What are you smiling about?" Ren inquired.

Horo pointed. "Mistletoe."

Ren looked up and tired to edge away.

"Come on Ren."

"N-no!"

Horo grabbed him around the middle. "It's Christmas though. And when your under the mistletoe you have to kiss the person."

"N-no! You can't make me!"

And they argued. This is what it sounded like from the sitting room.

"Kiss me!"

"You'll have to drug me first!"

"I know you want me too!"

"In your dreams!"

"Maybe one day this dream will come true-" "

Stop saying that!"

"Ren!"

"No!"

"Just one little kiss!"

"N-no!"

"Please!"

"No! Stop it!"

"I know you love me Ren!"

"Ahhhh! The rabbits controlling you!"

"Hahaha that's right!"

"Ahhh!"

"Now kiss me!"

"NOOO!"

"..."

"Don't pout!"

"..."

"Neh."

"..."

"Ah god dammit. Fine."

"Really!?"

"Then leave me alone."

"No problem."

Horo leaned forward and pressed his lips against Ren's. Ren went into his ridged, I am not going to kiss you form. However, after a few seconds found himself kissing back. He tired to pull away, but his body wasn't cooperating. When Horo pulled away, the tingling sensation from the morning was on his lips again.

It had been different from other kisses. Many had been forceful and pressurized, manly because Ren was fighting him, but given consent, it was pleasant. But pleasant enough for him to kiss back? Truth be told he blamed it on the alcohol. Horo countered this by saying it wasn't the alcohol, but what else could it be? Certainly Ren didn't have feelings for Horo...did he?

He almost laughed. It was preposterous. Of course he didn't. Horo was just a friend, a good friend who happened to be a good kisser. Stop it. He thought. He didn't have feelings of that sort at all. It was just an empty emotion to him.

He looked at his plate. Most of the food was gone, but he didn't feel remotely hungry anymore. Ren got up and took the plate into the kitchen. Horo was picking at his food eating random pieces.

"Do you notice how we always have the same boring arguments?" he said after a minute.

"Yes. And?" replied Ren.

"Do you know why?"

"Obviously not. Cause if I did chances are we wouldn't be having this conversation."

Horo sighed and went to dump his and Ren's remaining food in a large container and placed it in the fridge.

"Because you get angry over trivial things."

Turning Ren could only stare. "Oh this my fault!"

"Partially."

"Oh ok then, who pray tell who is also at fault?" Ren leaned against the counter. "Or better yet, what other reason could there possibly be for other trivial arguments."

Horo appeared to ponder this and Ren believed that he hadn't thought of an early plan of action. "Well I haven't quite figured that part out yet," Horo said.

"Then maybe you should have all the facts before you go about making unfounded accusations!" Ren said.

"But you do get angry over trivial things."

"Yeah well guess what, that's not about to change." He turned to leave the kitchen but Horo grabbed a hold of his arm and swung him into a hug. "Now what are you doing?"

"Well since I'm leaving, you won't see my pretty face anymore."

Ren snorted and looked up into Horo's dark eyes, alive again with warmth and laughter, yet lined still with sadness. His pointy blue hair spilled over his forehead, the usual band absent. Ren blinked repeatedly. Damn. When did Horo become so good looking?!

He mentally slapped himself as Horo continued speaking. "Therefor, I, would like a hug."

"Um." Ren tried, but was still staring at Horo, lost for words.

"Well?"

"..."

"Ren are you feeling alright?"

"..."

"Ren."

No matter what he just couldn't stop staring. It was like Horo had gone to bed ugly and woken up attractive looking.

"Hey, yeah I know I'm gorgeous and all, but you can't stare at me all day," Horo said smiling.

Ren shook his head trying to clear his mind. "Are you turning narcissistic on me?"

"No. Just trying to get you to pay attention."

"Oh. What was it that you wanted again?"

"A hug," Horo said.

"Oh."

Ren casually, slowly, gave Horo a hug. There was nothing like a hug between friends right? When the hug was over Horo released him. "Well, thanks for everything. Bye." He walked to the door and Ren turned around in circles and followed.

"Um bye?"

Horo waved and closed the door. Ren's hand was on the door handle, and he was about to tell Horo to come back when he realized Horo hadn't tried to pull anything one him after the hug. He just left. Not that Ren was complaining much mind you. But it was just odd. Maybe Horo had finally given up on trying to win Ren's affection. But knowing Horo, he had something up his sleeve.

He released the door handle and stood there. The house was quiet again. The quietness made him restless. He needed to do something, so he wandered around looking for anything that was out place and needed to be moved or something that needed to be cleaned. No such luck. The place was spotless. He wandered into his bedroom, which was free now that Horo was gone, and came face to face with the thing that haunted him in his sleep. The rabbit.

He froze and pointed. "What are you doing here rabbit!?" It just gazed back at him. It's tiny blueish eyes watching him. Ren gave it an evil look. Maybe he could annihilate the thing. Oh but wait, it belonged to Horo and Prika gave it to him...but he wasn't there.

The rabbit sat there as if to say, "You can't harm me, Ren. You love me."

"No," Ren whined and inched his way over to the closet, and closed the door, concealing himself inside.

He was going crazy. He had really lost his mind. All because of a stupid stuffed animal! How could the great Tao Ren sink so low?! It was saddening. How could he have this happen to himself?! How could he- the phone was ringing.

"God dammit bastard phone! I'm going to chuck you across the room!" he yelled and opened the closet doors, got tangled in his clothes, knocked the rabbit to the floor and answered the phone. "State your name and business."

"Oh, why so harsh Ototo?"

"Nee-san?"

"Well yeah. Who else calls you Ototo, Ototo?"

"No one Nee-san," Ren said trying to kick the rabbit but it didn't work very well as he almost pulled the phone cord out of the wall.

"What's going on? Did you and Horo have another fight?"

"No...well not exactly."

"What's that supposed to mean, not exactly?" Jun questioned.

"He's gone."

"Yeah well you drove him away."

"Shut up!" Ren said, though this was true. He did drive Horo away.

"Anything else?"

"I'm going crazy!"

"Oh how so?" asked Jun.

"Its watching me. Right there on the floor," Ren said darkly eyeing the rabbit who stared innocently at the ceiling.

"Um Ren, are you feeling ok?"

"Its watching me," Ren repeated.

"Um who?"

"The rabbit," he whispered. "The stupid white rabbit with blue eyes, who's voice sounds like Horo."

"Um Ren, rabbits don't speak human languages."

"This one does. In my head. He tells me I love him, but I don't."

"..."

"Its driving me crazy!"

"Ok, back to Horo leaving-"

"I can't deal with this! He's gone and can't save me anymore and its just keeps following and watching me!" Ren shouted poking the rabbit with his kawn do.

"Ren, you've lost it."

"Tell me something I don't know!"

"You need to see a shrink."

"No!" Ren said half sobbing half laughing psychotically. "I'm not crazy! I'm not crazy!"

"Um yeah you are," Jun said. "Your going to see one tomorrow."

"No!"

And so the next day Jun took Ren too see the shrink. She peered at him through her glasses. He stare making him feel nervous and wanting to kill her at the same time, however, Jun hadn't let him bring his kawn do with him. The shrink, Ms. Oken, pushed her glasses up her nose and sat back in her chair. She then preformed a serious of tests recommended by Jun. The procedure went all morning. By noon Ren wanted to kill everyone in the damn building.

"Well is he crazy?" Jun asked.

"I prefer the term, mentally disturbed," said Ms. Oken.

"Oh Shit," Ren muttered.

"What are we going to do!? If Ren's mentally unstable we're all going to die!" Jun said losing her head.

"Now, now, its not that bad. He can be cured."

Jun stopped yelling DOOM, and looked at her. "Really?"

"Yes. All he needs to do is face the things that's causing him mental distress and except it," The shrink said.

"No!" Ren said in horror.

"There ya go Ren. You need to be with your lover to get over this," Jun said smiling.

Ren gave her a look clearly saying that Horo wouldn't want to stay in the same room with him after learning that he was mentally unstable.

The shrink saw the look. "If your present lover doesn't stay with you, of course you'll find another girlfriend one day. Most women find manically depressed paranoid, psychopaths with suicidal and homicidal tendencies highly attractive."

"I am not paranoid and suicidal," Ren said.

"But clearly everything else," she said.

Ren gave her a half smile and stood up. "That's it I'm leaving."

"Your free to do so of course,"

When they had left it took Ren a while to shake Jun off, but he managed it and went home. When he got there, he chucked the rabbit into the hall way and climbed into his bed. It smelled good. It smelled like Horo. He tried to mentally slap himself but couldn't.

It wasn't fair. That damn rabbit drove him insane and now he had to have Horo in the house to make him sane. He whined no repeatedly and looked up at his calender. It was three days till New Years, and his birthday. He really didn't want to go out and find Horo, besides he didn't want to rely on someone else to help him deal with his problem. Besides it was only three days, and no matter what he told everyone on his birthday about being left alone, Horo would show up anyway. It was all good. He could survive till then.

Ren snuggled deeper into his blankets. It smelt really good and he felt sorry for throwing the rabbit into the hallway. The shrink had said he needed to face it. He rolled out of bed and went to get it. Staring at it, he concluded that it was really ugly. Lifting it up to get a better look at it, though he still wanted to throw it across the room, he noticed it smelt good as well. Ren smiled. Horo had lied. He did sleep with the rabbit. It was kinda childish. But it was Horo. And he was cute enough to get away with it.

He amused himself for a little while picturing Horo, in pajama's holding the rabbit. Before trying to find something wrong with what he was thinking, which was all of it. He made to chuck it across the room but didn't. He placed in on the end of the bed and laid down. He deal with the dumb rabbit later. It wasn't worth his effort right now, but the thing would die eventually. And he also decided to deal with Horo thinking later.

Maybe being a manically depressed paranoid psychopath with suicidal and homicidal tendencies wasn't that bad.

Ashuri: another weird chapter. Ren's cracking more. And thinking of Horo more.

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