Chapter 4 –Head over Heels, Over A Bet

Note "word" means talking 'word' means thinking. Just to make sure you'll understand it.

Ren looked up at the stars as he walked home. 'The stars are shining bright tonight…'he thought. Then they started forming a picture, a picture of her. Ren rubbed his eyes and looked again only to see the normal stars again.

'Why do I feel like this? What is this strange feeling?' he thought, for he had no emotions of this kind to any of his friends.

'She's just a friend. A really pretty one, but still just a friend.'

"Master, are you alright?" asked his Shaman, Baston.

"Oh. Baston, I didn't see you there. Yes, I'm fine."

"She really looks pretty you know, you can't deny that."

"Yes, I know. But what is this feeling? I feel strange around her. It's like, when you're freezing, but when you're around her, you start to melt. I feel as though time stops when we are together."

"I see, and is this feeling a good one?"

"I don't know. I feel shy, yet brave; happy, yet confused. I don't know what to think! When she smiles it's like…wow…and you have this at home feeling that you can tell her everything."

"I think she likes you."

"What? How can you say that?"

"Well, I caught her a few times, glancing at you. And she blushes when you look at her. And she has been staring at her hand ever since you touched it."

"I see, well I think I'd better ask advice from a girl. Thank you, Baston"

"No problem."

Ren entered the Tao Mansion. It was quiet, for her sister is at boarding school for the week, and his uncle was dead. He got up to the third floor, brushed his teeth and went to bed. He couldn't sleep much, because his head was filled with pictures of her. Though eventually, he slept.

In his dream…

It was a snowy morning that day. Ren got up from lying on the snow. He saw his friends waving to him, so he went to join them. He ran, and then stopped. He saw a figure skating away on the cold ice. It was Nisky. The girl was wearing a light white dress, layered with flowing satin clothing, with her hair in a bun. She waved at him, and he waved back. She stopped her ballet on ice, and went to talk to Ren.

"It's time to wake up." She said.

"Huh? What Nisky?"

"WAKE UP!" screamed Nisky.

End dream

Ren awoke only to see Horo, shaking him back and forth yelling "WAKE UP! WAKE UP!"

"Huh? Oh! I'm up! I'm up!" said Ren and he brushed off Horo's hands and scratched his eyes.

"Hey, you were talking in your sleep, were you dreaming of Nisky?"

"Mind your own business! And what do you care if I was dreaming of her!"

"Hey man, sorry." Horo said then he stared into space.

"It's ok. No problem, but why are you in my house?"

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot! Your sister told me to tell you to bring her, her seal cards. She needs some extra ones now."

"Ugh. Sisters. Well, no point in wasting time. Care to join me? I don't want to be the only guy at an all girl boarding school."

"The ONLY guy? Wow! Lucky! Sure! I'll come with you! Wait…no wait I can't Pirika told me to go grocery shopping for her. Sorry, looks like you're on your own."

"What about Yoh? Manta? Ryu? Lyserg? Anybody?"

"Ryu is busy hanging with his gang. Manta is finishing his latest project for school. Lyserg is I dunno, and Yoh is planning his wedding with Anna."

"Oh I see. Well, looks like I'm the only one."

"Dude, how can you see that as a bad thing? The only guy at an ALL GIRL boarding school!"

"I'm shy around girls who I don't know. I don't want to be admired. They just swoon over my English accent, and I'm really bothered by this!"

"Oh really now? Well then, I dare you to get a girl friend!"

"Why would I participate in such a humiliating task?"

"Loser will be the winner's personal slave for the entire month!"

"No way."

"Come on! Unless you're chicken! Bawk buwk bukbukbukbuk bawk!"

"Tao Ren is no chicken! You're on!" Ren got mad at the chicken comment, making him mad makes him do c-r-a-z-y things!