Disclaimer: Me? Pft. You must be kidding me!

Set in Horo's POV

"Red"

Chapter six: Human

Pirika slapped me. She heard about Shikon. So what if I killed him? He deserved it. Spreading my secret to Yoh and all. And guess what? Every shaman in this damn place knows. The villagers are scared. 'Return of the demon' crap. I wish the people would just leave. But no! They had to be all interested with me… not that they know it's me. Still! They now made this competition on who'll defeat/capture/kill the demon! And the elders begged for this village to be saved from despair and suffering! There they go again. Letting other people do the dirty work for them. Weaklings.

I shifted uncomfortably on my bed.

They don't care. They don't care at all about what I feel. They think my heart is all black, or even I don't have a heart at all! They're wrong. They have always been wrong about me since I stepped foot on this ground. I have feelings, too. I know how to hate, to love, to feel anger, to be sad… to cry.

Shit. I'm crying. I'm not supposed to cry. Even if I like it or not I'm NOT going to cry again. But now I can't stop. It's because of them. They don't understand. They all discriminated me just because I have this seal. This person in me. They can't realize. They really can't realize it at all!

I'm human too…

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"Is it me or does Horo look unusually… different?" Lyserg whispered to Yoh. The headphone boy just shrugged. They're talking about me while I'm in front of them?

"How should I know?" the brunette said.

Ryu decided to join in the little conversation, "He had a minor fight with Pirika. He must be sad because of the 'Return of the demon' thing or something like that… this is his home village."

Yoh stayed silent for a while. "Who is this 'demon'?"

I couldn't help but give a small laugh at that. If only they knew…

"What's so funny?" the eldest stared at me.

"If only you knew… If only." I smirked at them. "Are you guys planning to join the rest in the hunt to kill him?"

Our leader sighed. "Yes. I don't have any choice. They said the one who defeats him will be a step closer in being Shaman King. And Anna will blow if I skip this. "

So they're going to join the game, huh? Well, like they say, the more the merrier. "So do you have any clue who this is?", stupid question to ask.

"Nope. The elders won't tell us anything. Not even his name… wait… ESPECIALLY his name." a golden eyed boy entered the room. "Hey, Horo, you're one of them. Do you know who it is?"

"Hn… Maybe…" I simply said. The others turned their undivided attention to me. Pft. Like they'll get their information out from me.

Pirika slowly opened the door, "Onii-chan…".

"What do you want, Pirika?" I asked in a bitter tone, glaring at her. She slightly shook but still replied.

"The… The elders want to see you…"

My eyes narrowed. What do they want? Me to cooperate? To get myself killed? Anyways, I won't find out if I just sit here, right? So I stood up and exited the room.

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These people are cowards. Everyone backing away. Holding tight to their children. Not daring to touch me. Not to mention giving away clues on who really is the demon.

"What do you want?" I asked the same question I interrogated Pirika.

"We want you to turn yourself over to these shamans gathered around." One of them replied, steadily but still with a hint of fear.

I laughed. That's the stupidest request I've ever heard. Do they really think I'll do that! Me? After surviving this far? Oh, you must be kidding me.

"Dear elder, why should I, a demon, turn myself over to these pathetic shamans, when I could kill ten guards with a flick of a finger?" I raised my hand and snapped my fingers. Just then, as I said, ten guards were killed instantly and bloodily. Red eyes(1) scanned the leaders, "Oh please humor me."

The five elders flinched. They nervously glanced at each other.

"You guys are pitiable." I shook my head. "Do me a favor and stay out of my way. I have plans. Or, would you guys prefer the gift of death courtesy of me?"

They tensed up even more.

"I thought so."

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Familiar figures(2). Hn. What fun…

"Yo." I casually greeted.

"Usui Horo Horo…" four guys got ready with their fighting stance. I gave them a fake smile.

"Is that the way you should greet your leader's younger brother?" I acted.

Two of them charged, who are they again? Oh, the twins. Kirou and Kanou… how interesting. Both use swords. Both taught by my brother and Shun. Both pathetic.

Even if they're trying to get me distracted by those two, I saw one of the remaining pair getting all set to shoot me with his bow and arrow. Ryuki? This must be a joke. Mr. Archer who can't score a moving target?

Then the last one was circling around us prepared if I decide to escape. Defense guy, right? Ibiki from one of our famous shaman families. Sir Celebrity.

You've gotta be kidding me.

Well now, I have to play with them for a while…

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I'm gonna take a while in this bathroom. These stains will take ages to remove and the smell of blood on me will cling like a bug! Arg. I hate them… I am so glad that they've been taken care of.

They're underestimating me again. No matter how many times I teach them a lesson they just won't learn. And Ren say's I'm an idiot.

I stare at myself in the mirror. I stare at my seal. Recently it's gotten darker. Deeper into my soul. I trace it carefully with my fingertips. And my eyes. They've turned blood red. Of course this happens before, but only when I'm mad. And I mean really mad. But now it looks like it won't turn black any sooner. My skin's paler, too. Man, I look like a ghost. I'm going to blow my cover sooner or later at this rate.

"Horo Horo, get yourself down here!" I heard Pirika scream from the living room.

I sighed. News travel fast especially if it's about the demon, doesn't it?

I put my clothes on and placed my head band. Once I checked everything was set, more importantly my mask, I headed to Pirika.

She was crying. She was looking at me angrily but was crying. No time to put my mask on. I stood there, emotionless.

"What?" the word escaped me with no feeling.

"You merciless bastard!" she shouted. "You heartless monster! How could you!"

I glanced at the other occupants of the room. Yoh, Ren, Lyserg, Ryu, and oddly Faust and Chocolove were here.

Well no matter how the other two got here. I know why Pirika is crying. It's all because of Ryuki. Yeah, she loved him(3). She loved him very much.

"He was weak."

"I don't care! He was kind and gentle! Even if I chased you during the tournament he still welcomed me with open arms! He had a heart!" Strike one.

"I didn't like him."

"He was one of our older brother's best friends! He was different from the group! But he felt no meaning to it! He was loyal! He was like another son to our parents! He was welcomed by our family!" Strike two.

"What family?"

"This family!" she pulled out a photograph from her jacket. "Hiroshi-nii-chan! Otou-san! Okaa-san! Our family that's gone because of you!" Strike three.

"I had no family."

"You heartless DEMON!"

My fists were dangerously clenched and my teeth were shut tight. Red eyes burned with anger and blood boiled with killing intent.

"What kind of family rejects you just because of some stupid thing!" I raised my voice. "What kind of family locks you up in a room day and night! What kind of family treats you like some dangerous animal! What kind of family replaces you with someone not blood related! What kind of family wants to kill you!"

The audience stared at me with disbelief. Speechless. Even Tao Ren has nothing to say.

"Let me tell you Pirika. My 'family' rejected me because of fear. My 'family' locked me up in a room with a dim light, a shut window, and a mirror to remind myself endlessly on who I am! My 'family' doesn't want to touch me, they leave only a handful of food for me to consume, caged like an animal! My 'family' replaced me for my brother's friend, grandson of the great elder, and the person you love! And my 'family' tries to kill me everyday; poison, drugs, and by their own hands!" I was catching my breath. "I'm not like you Pirika… Nobody took care of me. Nobody treated me as their own. Nobody hugged me. Nobody said gentle words to me. Nobody loved me."

Subconsciously I summoned my ice sword. I pointed at her with the tip.

"Do you know why!" She winced, shaking her head.

I changed my sword to a dagger. And with it I cut my headband in half. The seal appeared, darker than ever. "Because they all see me as a demon."

"… No way." Yoh was able to regain his voice. "Horo… You're… the demon!"

"A demon without a heart…" Hot tears were escaping from my blood red eyes.

"Onii-chan…" she whispered with sympathy.

"But they don't know…" She was slowly reaching to touch me.

"I'm human too…"

x-x-x—x-x-x—x-x-x

A/N

And this concludes chapter 6!

Notes:

1-His eyes have gone from black, to red! Let's say it's the eyes of the 'demon'.

2-You know, chapter 4? Familiar shamans? The group Horo gave a bloodthirsty smirk to and shrank two sizes? Remember now? Good.

3-Another one of those add ons. So Pirika doesn't really love anyone named Ryushi in the manga or series. :P

Okay guys, it's kind of vague but as you can see the person in Horo has already taken over most of Horo. Most. That means a little part still remains. So there's hope for everyone! …I think.

Questions and Suggestions are welcome!

Review!