Ashuri: alrighty. Chapter fifteen. And yes holie bean, I like to ruin people's fun. Though only Sora and Ren, and they all don't like doorbells. But Ren's the first that I've made hate phones. Sorry for the late update. I've been busy.

Hao: she doesn't own shaman king.

Chapter fifteen. Festival fun.

About a week or so into May, nasty Bugger's became the alterative term for their annoying siblings, as they had yet to leave them alone, and didn't understand that they wanted to be left alone. Ren had thought that maybe Jun, would be the smart one and would obviously know to stay away, however his thoughts were wasted.

So he and Horo were stuck under the evil torture of their siblings, and the rare chance that they were alone, they were normally sleeping, not doing much, or plotting ways of getting rid of their sisters, Ren suggested poison. Even though Horo laughed, he clearly stated that it wasn't that kind of get rid of. Ren had been severely disappointed but didn't make a big fuss over it. After a while of thinking, they were back at square one, and had no plan of action, and so they had to endure another few days doing whatever the girls wanted.

Ren was on the verge of cracking again and in an effort to save whatever sanity he had regained he faked being sick, which bought him a few days by himself, and one or two with Horo, so he could look after him.

On one such day, Ren happened to be in the shower, and clearly enjoying the relaxational massaging shower spay thing. Basically on the verge of falling asleep in that shower, he just gazed lazily ahead, until the water suddenly turned extremely hot and he jumped backward in surprise.

Apart from wondering if there was something wrong with the hot water tank, he also suspected foul play, so he whipped open the shower doors and glare at the person standing by the toilet bearing a sheepish grin.

"What the hell are you doing?!" he asked Horo angrily, not having used that tone with him in awhile.

Horo's smiled widened. "Just having fun."

"Fun?"

"Yeah."

"This to me, is not fun. You almost burned me!" Ren said.

"Aw, I'm sorry. It was just so tempting," Horo said.

"I'll go back to locking the door."

"No."

"Then don't do that again."

"Aw fine," Horo said pouting slightly, then his eyes left Ren's face and snaked down his body.

"What are you staring at?" Ren asked, completely unaware that he was standing there naked, regardless of the fact that he was in the shower and dripping wet.

Horo tried to answer but what came out was some really weird noise, and Ren realized what he was staring at. He pulled the shower door almost closed and stared at Horo threw the crack.

"Don't you get any ideas."

Horo had apparently lost the ability to speak and looked upset at the loss of the sight he had been staring at.

"Now out."

Horo pouted.

"Out. Now." And Ren closed the shower door. He head movement toward the door and then back toward the toilet. "Don't!" he said loudly and Horo issued a loud groan, but did it anyway and ran away with Ren yelling, "Horo you jerk!"

About ten, fifteen minutes later, Ren emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, and drying his hair with another. When he entered his room, or rather his and Horo's room, he spotted Horo sitting on the bed.

"I suppose you thought that was really funny didn't you?" Ren asked.

"Very." Horo said smiling. "And very rewarding."

Ren sighed and grabbed his pants, or rather Horo's pants, as he didn't remotely like his clothes at the moment and disappeared back into the bathroom. When he came back into the room he whipped the towel he had used to dry his hair at Horo and said, "Do that again and you'll find your head on the floor next to your body!"

Horo chuckled. "Very well."

Ren had started to walk past the bed, when Horo wrapped his arms around Ren's waist and pulled him closer. "Are you mad at me?" Horo asked kissing his neck.

"No...not really," Ren said. "Just don't do it again."

"Mm Kay," replied Horo.

Ren gazed down at him. "Your very bad."

"I am." and he pulled Ren down into a kiss. Ren ran his fingers through Horo's hair enjoying the contact.

When they broke apart they shared a very small quick kiss and then Ren went to put a shirt on, and then of course the phone had to ring, Horo had made him reconnect the thing. Ren groaned and Horo answered it. Not wanting to hear who was on the phone or what they wanted, Ren left the room, and went downstairs to prepare breakfast. Horo followed shortly after.

"There's a festival tonight at one of the shrines," he said. "We've been asked to attend."

"By whom?" Ren asked, though he probably already knew the answer.

"The nasty Bugger's. Annoying siblings of doom. And the thing is we have to go."

"Why?"

"Cause they're making us." Horo said. Ren sighed and dished out breakfast.

"It might be fun. All we have to do is ditch them," suggested Horo.

"I don't have a yukata though," Ren said.

"Don't worry. That can be fixed," said Horo smiling.

Ren eyed him, not liking the look in his eyes, but didn't say anything, and so many hours later, when it was time to go to the festival he wished he had.

"I am not wearing a female yukata in public!" he said loudly.

"By saying that you mean you would wear it in the house only seen by me?" Horo asked.

"No!"

"Come on Ren. It looks good on you."

"Meaning you want me to look like a girl! If your still interested in girls go out with one!"

"Oh Ren, you know I don't want to. Besides your pretty feminine without the yukata in the first place."

"Oh thanks, my pride level has gone way up due to that comment," Ren said sarcastically.

"Your still sexy no matter what though."

"Horo, your not scoring any brownie points."

"Damn."

"I'm not going."

"Come on Ren. You know you want to," said Horo suppressing a smile.

"Don't do that," Ren said quickly.

"But you know you want to."

"I'm not listening," Ren said covering his ears, blocking out all sound.

He felt arms go around his waist and his hand was pulled away from his ear. "You know you love me, Ren," Horo whispered sending shivers down his spine.

Ren froze. Aw damn. "Fine. I'll go. Just stop doing that."

"Ok," Horo said and kissed his cheek.

They left the house and on the way there, Ren said, "People are going to think I'm a cross dresser or something."

"No. The only thing feminine about you is your curves. You don't have breasts or anything," replied Horo linking hands with him.

"I should think I know more about my body's anatomy and what not then you do," Ren muttered.

"And it's not like you wear fake breasts and stuff."

"But still..."

"But still nothing. You look mighty fine to me."

"Horo, your still not scorning brownie points."

"Aw crud."

When they arrived at the shrine area, it was packed with people, talking loudly, laughing, playing games, and basically too wrapped up in their own lives to stare at Ren because his outfit was a dash feminine. Jun and Prika were no where to be found, so they wandered around, watching people win and lose at the games.

Horo got bullied into playing one because Ren, teasingly, had said that Horo would lose, seemingly as he couldn't even beat up at a mentally unstable person. With two shots to his ego, and his pride on the line, he stepped up and won the ring toss game, and Ren was given a teddy bear.

"Thank you, Horo," Ren said smiling.

"Ahmm." Horo smiled as well.

They wandered around a bit more and came to a very quiet area with no one around, and a really large fountain with multicolored lights inside, which gave it a cool glow. It was quite spectacular. They had been walking side by side, not holding hands or touching, to avoid drawing attention to themselves, and when Ren stopped walking Horo had continued walking, but stopped when he noticed Ren had.

"What's up?" Horo asked.

"Horo, I've been meaning to ask you," Ren said quietly.

"Ask me what?"

"You say you love me, but do you even know what love is?" Ren asked even more quietly.

Horo smiled at him, a warm smile. "Love is a lot of different things Ren. It never has one meaning," he said. "For example, there's a dictionary meaning. A person who is the object of deep or intense affection or attraction," he recited. "Which in this case is exactly what you are. But if you want to hear my views on the matter."

He paused and moved closer, closing the distance between them. "I care for you so much. I need you. I want you." Horo placed his hand on Ren's cheek. "I always want to be with you. When I'm not, it's agony. I can't stop thinking about you. When I do I am filled with such emotion that everything else stops mattering. Your always on my mind, tormenting me, letting me get so close and then pushing me away. I would do anything and everything for you, Ren."

Ren looked up at him. It was amazing. How could one person feel all that? Did he feel that? Well something along the lines of that. But then why couldn't he say the words Horo wanted to hear?

Horo pulled him into his arms and hugged him, then kissed him. "Does that answer your question?"

"Yes," Ren said softly.

"Good. Now, this is a festival we're supposed to be having fun. We can talk about this later, if you wish."

Ren nodded and pulled out of the hug. "Thanks, Horo."

"No problem."

They returned to the crowded area and Horo purchased some ice cream for Ren, as he was suddenly very hungry. As they were walking, some person rushed passed them and Ren, who had his ice cream near his mouth, got a face full of chocolate ice cream.

"Inconsiderate jerk!" Ren yelled, wishing he could chuck his ice cream at the dude's retreating head.

He attempted to wipe off the ice cream with his hand, he didn't have a napkin, and only succeeded in making his hand sticky, which, after he believed he had gotten it all off, he found a water fountain, and removed the stickiness from his hand.

"Ren."

"Yeah?"

"You still have ice cream on your mouth," Horo said.

"Oh." Ren moved to wipe it off, but suddenly Horo was kissing him and it was impossible for him to clean. He then felt Horo's tongue slid over his lips, cleaning off the rest of the ice cream. When they had broken apart, Ren stared at him and said. "Well that's one way of getting it off." Horo laughed and they continued walking.

After awhile they ran into Anna and Yoh, who had also been forced into coming. They were engaged in a conversation when they heard someone say. "There you are." They turned to see Prika and Jun, in their yukata's coming toward them. Ren and Horo groaned. And it had been such a nice evening.

Prika latched on to Ren's arm. "I thought we would never find you!"

"We were wishing you wouldn't," Horo muttered.

Ren tried to shake Prika off, but she wouldn't let go. "Release me," Ren ordered.

"Oh don't be so harsh, Ren," Prika said holding on tighter.

"Quit touching me!" Ren whined.

"Nahuh."

"Prika, let go of him. If you make him angry I'm not going to stop him from killing you," Horo said failing to keep the anger and slight jealousy out of his voice.

Prika released him and pouted. Ren seriously believed she looked nothing like her brother.

"Don't pout. You look like a dog," Horo said.

"Why are you being so mean to me?"

"Why are you being so annoying?"

"I'm not!"

"Yes you are. Just go back home."

"No. I wanna be with Ren!"

"He doesn't want you here!"

"He can speak for himself. He doesn't need you too do it!"

"I know what he's going to say, so does it really matter?!"

"Yes. Why are you acting like this?"

"Like what?"

"Like a jealous crazed maniac!"

"So, why are you wearing a female yukata?" Jun whispered to Ren.

"Cause Horo made me."

"You do everything he says now?"

Ren glared at her. "No. He was imitating it."

"Oh I see. I thought you were over that?" Jun asked.

"It still bugs me."

"Ok."

Ren turned back to the fighting siblings, which weren't, thankfully, attracting attention. This argument was beginning to bore him.

"He doesn't want to go out with you. Now leave him alone!"

"No he will go out with me! Stop being protective of him. He may be your friend, but you don't control his life!"

"If she had said that so many months ago, I would have agreed," Ren muttered.

"Point is he's not going out with you. He's already involved."

"Oh really? With who?"

"None of your business."

"There is no one!"

"Yes there is!"

Ren sighed. This would go on all night. He looked around noticing that Yoh and Anna had disappeared, and they still weren't attracting attention. Sighing again, he marched over to Horo, turned his face toward his and kissed him in front of everyone. He heard a gasp from Prika, but as Horo's arms went around him, he got lost in the moment and didn't care.

When they broke apart, Horo turned to Prika and said, "See? I told you he was involved."

"That's just gross," Prika said disgusted.

"Oh don't be so close minded."

"I'm not, just...never would I have believed that Ren would like you enough to...date you."

Ren looked at Horo. "Me either."

Horo smiled. "I have awesome powers of persuasion."

"Oh yeah. Those are some great powers," Jun said. "Making him-"

"Jun." Ren said with a warning.

"Yeah, never mind."

"Why did you keep this from me?" Prika asked, obviously still trying to digest the fact that her brother and the guy she liked were homosexuals.

"I would have thought it was obvious," Horo said.

"Why?"

"Because if I told you, you would act like this, and this is annoying."

"Erg," Prika started and turned her head slightly as to avoid looking at Horo's arm around Ren's waist. "Ren, why are you wearing a female yukata?"

"Cause this oaf made me," Ren said prodding him in the chest.

"Horo, your so mean to him. You don't deserve him," Prika shot at Horo, glaring at her brother.

"Oh and you do?" Horo said returning the glare.

"Yes."

"And how did you arrive at that conclusion?"

"It's written in the stars."

"The only thing that's written in the stars is Prika's a dumbass!"

They were finally attracting attention, and rather then become the center of attention, due to his outfit and Horo's arm around his waist, he tugged on Horo's arm and said, "Come on Horo. This argument's futile." He began pulling him away. Horo continued to glare at his younger sibling.

"That's right you run away!" Prika called after them.

"Shut up," Ren said. Prika looked slightly put out but fell silent.

Ren pulled Horo all the way back to the area with the glowing fountain. It was still very quiet there. They sat down on a bench in front of the fountain. Horo looked very annoyed. Ren sighed and tapped him on the head with the teddy bear.

Horo looked at it and Ren waved one of its arms. Horo smiled. "Aren't you a little old to be playing with teddy bears?"

"I'm not playing. I'm trying to make you feel better," Ren said pulling the bear away.

"I feel fine."

"Your annoyed."

"Well she annoyed me with her close mindedness and stupidity."

Ren looked at him. "I'll, just keep my mouth shut."

Horo appeared to not have heard this and propped his arms up on his knees and rested his head on his hands.

"She had to ruin the evening."

"Not necessarily," Ren said.

Horo looked at him. "How so?"

"I heard the fireworks are going to start soon."

Horo smiled at him. "Tao Ren, you amaze me everyday."

Ren smiled too. "I'm trying not to be so manically evilly and have the need to kill everyone. But it's hard."

"Change is hard," Horo admitted sitting up and pulling Ren to him. "Is that why you didn't threaten Prika to her face?"

"Sure," Ren said placing his head on Horo's shoulder. Then he added, "Though her death would bring me great joy."

Horo chuckled. "Me too."

They sat quietly for awhile and then the sky was suddenly alive with blue, green, white and red, as the different types of fireworks exploded. Horo turned to Ren, cupped his face and kissed him.

"Your ignoring the fireworks," Ren said when the broke apart for air.

"Yeah I know. But you're much more interesting then the fireworks," Horo said.

"Still not scoring brownie points," Ren said kissing his lips.

"Aw man. Scoring brownie points is hard."

"Ahmm. You have to work for them."

Horo pouted. "You mean I can't pout and get my way?"

"Nope," Ren said tapping him with the bear again.

"Aw crud."

Ren laughed. "You can get me more ice cream though."

"Do I look like your waitress?"

"Yes. Now all you need is the uniform and it'll be perfect."

Horo gawked at him. "Now who wants to dress who up in feminine clothing?!"

"I was kidding. I still want more ice cream though," said Ren still laughing.

"Oh fine." Horo stood up and took a hold of Ren's hand, pulling him upward and in the direction of an ice cream stall. When Ren had his ice cream, they both decided that they didn't want to stay anymore, and began the trek home, where Ren was finally able to remove the yukata, and that made him very happy.

"What's wrong with your own clothes?" Horo asked, getting ready to take a shower, as Ren pulled on Horo's clothes again.

"Nothing. I just don't want to wear them right now," Ren said.

"Or is it because you've gotten used to the comfort of loose fitting cloths?"

"Oh well that too."

"But I like you in your clothes. Don't be ashamed of your gorgeous body!" Horo said.

Ren blushed slightly. "I'm not ashamed. I just don't want to wear my clothes."

"Oh ok." and Horo disappeared into the bathroom.

Ren took the yukata's down to the laundry room and went back upstairs. The bathroom door was open a jar, and Ren had a sudden idea. Pay back. He slowly inched toward the door and pushed it open quietly. His eyes flew back and fourth, searching. He spotted the shower, and Horo's silhouette inside, humming. Ren rolled his eyes, slightly smiling. Such an oaf.

Horo was extremely busy with his humming and supposedly playing with the shampoo, as Ren could smell it and it got accidently squirted all over the shower door, and then wiped off. He could be a real slob sometimes. He inched toward the toilet, Horo didn't seem to be expecting anything, either that or he was going to let Ren get away with it.

He had reached the toilet and now was the moment for better judgement to kick in, but it didn't and Ren slammed the toilet handle down.

"Holy shit!" Horo yelled and Ren fled the scene. "Ren!"

Ren doubled over in laughter in the bedroom. He hadn't figured that it would be that funny. His pay back attempt was perfect.

When his laughter subsided, which took a surprising amount of time, he heard the water being shut off and a lot of cursing, which announced Horo's entrance into the room. He looked grumpy. He had obviously believed that Ren wouldn't do something like that as it wasn't really his style. His face made Ren double over in laughter again.

"I would have given anything to see your face! It must have been priceless!"

"That wasn't nice, Ren," Horo said.

"Sure it was. You did it to me after all."

"But I did it in fun."

"No you didn't. You did it to see me naked," Ren said still laughing.

"Hmph."

"Aw come on, Horo. I did it in fun," Ren said ceasing his laughter but still smiling.

"It wasn't pay back?" he asked.

Ren shook his head. "Nope."

"Oh ok."

Horo sighed, still standing there in his towel, hair dripping wet. Ren stopped smiling and stared, thinking it would have been worth it to stay in the bathroom to see if Horo would've thrown the door open. Ren mentally slapped himself. Stop thinking perverted things.

Horo noticed he was staring and smiled. He wandered over to the Ren. "Whatcha doing Ren?" "Nothin," Ren said, mind completely elsewhere.

Horo pulled Ren too him and Ren's hands landed on Horo's bare chest. Smooth, was all Ren could think. "I think your doing something."

"Nahuh," Ren said completely stuck in the fascination of Horo's attractiveness.

"Ahmm." Horo closed the distance between them in a fiery kiss. Ren's hands snacked up Horo's torso and wrapped around his neck. Horo's hands were on Ren's hips, but they slowly slipped under his shirt. One hand traced circles on his back, while the other fiddled with the rim of his pants.

Something snapped in Ren's brain and his eyes flew open. "Stop," he said and pulled away.

Horo stared at him in utter most confusion. "Ren what-"

He tried moving closer, but Ren backed up. "Don't-don't touch me," Ren said.

Horo was very confused. He had no idea what was going on. "Ren, what's wrong with you-" "Nothing."

"-Your acting very odd."

Horo somehow managed to get close enough to touch Ren's shoulder. Ren slapped his hand away. "I said don't touch me."

"What's the matter?" Horo asked again. By his tone of voice, Ren could tell he was losing patience with him.

"I said nothing."

"Your doing a very poor job of convincing me." Ren didn't answer and started to walk away. Horo grabbed on to his arm. "Your not leaving until you tell me what's wrong."

Ren made an indignant noise. "Excuse me! If you think you can order me around in my own house, then you are sadly mistaken." Ren tried to yank his arm away, but Horo wouldn't release him.

"Just tell me what's wrong. I can help."

"You can't help. Now release me," Ren ordered. As he yanked his arm, Horo released him and he fell backwards.

"I'm sorry," Horo said and reached to help him up, but Ren smacked his hand away, stood up and left the room.

He went downstairs and out the front door. He slammed it shut and felt like kicking it. He was half in mind to do two things. One, run away, and two, possibly brutally murder a whole bunch of people, including himself.

"Shit!" he whirled around and looked at the sky as dark clouds rolled in and it started to rain. He slid down the door, abandoning the two things he had thought of doing, wrapped his arms around his legs, not caring that he was getting wet.

He was such a jerk. He needn't have freaked out like that. He could have just explained it calmly. Horo would have understood, but then he had to go and make a mess of their evening, like always. Why was he such an idiot? Why was it effecting him so many months later? God he was pathetic. He hit himself on the head a couple of times.

"Baka. Baka."

Now what he was going to do? He had made Horo mad at him again, and he would probably leave again and he wouldn't be able to explain himself and apologize. Ren shivered. It had gotten cold with the rain but he didn't go inside, he didn't want too. He placed his head on his arms.

Ren, your such an idiot.

Ashuri: hopefully this will be their last argument...though its more important then any previous argument...I suppose. Anyway..I've been dared, by my friend, to do a sequel when this is over. But I don't know what to do it on. Hm. It needs some thinking.

Please read and review and enjoy.