A Very Good Liar
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Disclaimer: As much as I wish it so, Shaman King will never be mine. God knows the havoc I'd unleash. This fic revolves around RenPirika, though there are hints of YohAnna and HorohoroTamao.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Chapter Five
The Black Rose Rivalry
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Kotaro laughed as he released Pirika from his embrace, "Horohoro sent me to fetch you and the 'insolent Tao'. He was muttering something about 'uncaring sisters' and 'shaman no hentai'. Now, you wouldn't happen to know where they went, would you?"

Ren coldly glared at him, saying with more than a hint of malice, "I wouldn't dwell too long on that thought if I were you. It might lead you to harm." Kotaro only grinned at the Chinese shaman, but Pirika sternly gazed at him until he turned to face the wall.

Then she turned to Kotaro and was rainbows and sunshine (AN: When isn't she?) as she asked, "If you're here, then who did you come with?" The steel-eyed shaman grimaced slightly, and then brightened, "Yuna. I would think that you should remember her."

Then he chuckled lowly, "She bullied me into taking her. Her threats have been more graphic of late; I think all of those times spent with Ren have finally taken their toll... And I seem to be the one paying the price."

Pirika looked pensive for a moment, her lips pursed together in a thin line and her eyebrows furrowed, causing both of her friends to raise an eyebrow at her. Soon, though, she seemed to find a happy place, because she flashed a bright smile at Kotaro, saying, "It's nice of you to let Akira-san come with you to the resort. Don't you think so, Ren?" The said boy merely shrugged nonchalantly and turned to Kotaro, missing Pirika's sigh of relief, and asked, "So, Yuna' s here? Why does that not surprise me?"

Kotaro nodded and replied, "Yeah, she seemed really excited about coming here. I thought she was just glad I took her, but she usually ignores me when we're in the same room." Pirika frowned when she heard this, but not because Yuna was breaking Kotaro's heart so much as that she had probably only come to see Ren.

Pirika was reminded of several negative memories that she harbored about Akira Yuna. The chocolate-eyed girl had long, silky, raven hair, and a rebellious attitude. What's more is that she seemed partial to dark colors, and had kept a close eye on both Ren and Pirika since she met the Ainu girl.

Yuna had met Kotaro and Pirika a year after Ren and Pirika had entered their engagement. After that, life became an occasional Hell for Pirika. Yuna was constantly quarrelling with the sky-haired girl over anything and everything, but most times it was about Ren.

Yuna was the only other girl, besides Pirika and Jun that Ren had ever acknowledged. Yuna always argued that Pirika was too young for Ren, also that Ren should wed someone who was of his nationality. 'I guess it doesn't help that she's Chinese like Ren...Always challenging me and treating me to verbal abuse whenever Ren wasn't around...I wish that Jun-san, Ran-san, and En-san had been there when she was...'
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Flashback, Ren - Seven years old, Pirika - Six years old, Yuna - Seven years old, Horohoro - Seven years old
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Pirika hugged Tao En around the leg, being too small to reach any higher, and looked up sadly at his surprised face. "Please don't go, Otou-san (father). You, Jun-san, and Okaa-san (mother) can stay with So-bo, Ren-kun, and I forever!" Ran smiled at the small girl, "We have to go home, Pirika-chan, but we will return for visits. There are other affairs we need to attend to in China."

The usually gruff Tao En let a small, gentle smile appear on his face for Pirika as he carefully, and easily, lifted her to his eye level. His voice was strangely soft and soothing as he hugged her to his chest, whispering in her ear, "My chibi tenshi (small angel), we will come back one day to take both you and Ren home to our mansion in Hong Kong, So-bo will be traveling with us as well...But for now, I need you to keep an eye on Ren, and to help him choose wrong from right...He'll need some help with that...Aishiteru (I love you), chibi tenshi..."

His last sentence was said more quietly than the rest, and the young girl he was holding could see salty tears welling in his golden eyes. Pirika wiped them away, along with her own. Giving the large man a kiss on the cheek, she whispered, "Aishiteru yo (I love you too), Otou-san...I'll help Ren-kun, I promise..." En set her down on the tiled floor of the airport, kneeling so he could kiss her forehead.

When her husband stood, Ran too hugged Pirika, also kissing her forehead. Much to Ren's surprise, his Okaa-san embraced him tightly. After awhile, Ren quit struggling and lightly wrapped his arms around her.

Jun sobbingly hugged Pirika, and glanced sternly at Ren, "If he's ever mean to you, call me. I'll sort him out. In fact, call me anytime, it'd be great to have a conversation with my immouto (little sister) every once in a while." Then she embraced Ren, who fought in vain, for his older sister clutched him tightly. "I'll be back soon, Otouto (younger brother). Be nice to your betrothed."

Ren's cheeks glowed pink, but he nodded silently, returning her embrace slightly before letting go. Jun grinned at her Otouto, then turned to Pirika again, only to be hugged around her waist by the younger girl. Jun's eyes became misty as she hugged Pirika back, letting go after awhile. Seiko stood nearby, and was embraced by the now crying, emerald-haired girl.

Ran and En smiled at each other and looked toward Pirika and their son. Ran reached out and hugged the both of them. En merely nodded at Ren, but when Pirika grabbed his large hand, he patted her head fondly and smiled down at her.

After their tearful goodbyes, the Taos, exempt of Ren, headed outside to their large, expensive, silver, private jet that would fly them back to the Tao mansion in Hong Kong, China. Horohoro suddenly came running up to Ren, Pirika, and Seiko, looking quite out of breath. He panted a few times and then asked, "Oh man, did they leave already? Damn! Er...I mean, darn!" he added hastily when Seiko reached out to grab his ear so she might drag him away.

"First the long line in the bathroom, and now an ear-pulling from So-bo! What next? Let go, So-bo! That hurts! My ear's about to fall off!" Horohoro's yells caused many heads to turn in their direction, but Ren's golden stare caused them to mind their own business.

Just as Ren pushed open the door to the entrance/exit of the airport, a blur of a figure barreled into him, knocking the fierce-eyed boy to the floor. Ren pushed the raven-haired nuisance off of his legs, and got up with a grunt, offering a hand to the girl who had knocked him over.

"Are you late for your flight or something?" he asked, trying to get a good look at the now frowning girl. His eyes widened and he froze when she looked up at him, her chocolate eyes flashing dangerously as she stood up, blatantly refusing the Chinese boy's hand.

"Tao Ren, I should have known you'd forget about me if I left you by yourself!"

"But-"

"Don't you 'but' me! You left me in China on purpose! Jun-san had to tell me that you already left, and that your flight wasn't delayed!" As the black-clad girl berated him, the purple-haired boy slowly backed away toward the exit.

"My flight was delayed, just not as long as I thought!" Ren exclaimed, raising his hands in his defense, "I guessed how long I'd be waiting! I tried to call you, but your cell-phone was off!"

"You great fibber! My phone was on the entire time you 'tried to call me'! Jun-san said-"

"Wait a second!" shouted Pirika, interrupting the argumentative pair. The raven-haired girl was cheerful as she turned to Pirika, bowing to her in traditional Chinese form, then holding her hand out as greeting, "Ohayo (good morning), I'm Akira Yuna! Who are you?"

Pirika glanced warily at Yuna's outstretched hand, only to have her own enveloped by it in a firm handshake as Yuna laughed, "I've been visiting America and trying to learn their customs, this is how Americans greet each other."

Pirika smiled when Yuna released her hand, "I'm Pirika of the Ainu. This is my Onii-chan (older brother) and a future Ainu warrior, Horohoro, and our So-bo, Seiko, an elder of our culture. It looks like you've already met Ren. Can I ask where?"

Yuna grinned and turned to look at the shorter boy (AN: Yes, Ren was shorter than both girls when he was younger. Luckily, in this fic anyway, he hits a growth spurt later on!), who was trying to sneak out of the airport doors. She grabbed Ren in a headlock and proceeded to vigorously ruffle his dark-purple hair, much to his dismay.

"Oh, Renny-kun and I go way back! When we were infants, our mother's lived in the same mansion, so we were around each other since before we could walk! You would've met me sooner if Ren hadn't left me in Hong Kong!"

Pirika stared at the seemingly innocent girl that clutched Ren tightly, never faltering in her grip, even when the boy struggled to escape her grasp. "Ren's never mentioned you before." Pirika stated bluntly, causing Ren to go wide-eyed and start gesturing his hands furiously for Pirika to keep quiet.

"Oh, he hasn't, has he?" Yuna enquired, glaring down at her prisoner, who, in turn, was glaring at Pirika for revealing this information in the first place.

In a sudden burst of desperation, Ren pushed himself out of Yuna's headlock, and took of for the exit with Horohoro right behind him. "Oh dear," said Seiko, "I suppose I had better catch them. Who knows what sort of ruckus they could cause unsupervised." Seiko went outside, calling out to Horohoro and Ren pleadingly, leaving Pirika alone with her new acquaintance.

Pirika grimaced as she watched Seiko exit the airport, but smiled as she turned back to Yuna, "I apologize for Ren and Onii-chan, they can be quite rude at times, but they're usually very nice." The Ainu girl ceased smiling when she saw Yuna's frown, "Is anything wrong, Yuna-san?"

The chocolate-eyed girl glared coldly at Pirika, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "How old are you?" she asked, starting to circle the younger girl. "What?" Pirika asked, pulling her arm from Yuna, who had been poking it critically in various places.

"Just answer the question." Yuna said, moving on to the other arm. "I'm six years old...Would you please stop analyzing me?" Pirika replied, becoming startled when the elder girl stopped in front of her and laughed. "It's bad enough that you're not Chinese, or obscenely wealthy, but the head of the Tao Clan has betrothed his heir to a young weakling who has no guardian spirit. You're only six, maybe if you were older you would be more worthy of his presence. Where'd you learn such a complicated word as 'analyzing', anyway?"

"I want to be a psychologist when I'm older (AN: I bet you were wondering when I'd go further into that...), I have to study early if I want to do something with that dream...What do you mean 'worthy of his presence'? And I'm not weak!"

"Quit trying to grow up so fast, and find a boyfriend who's your age...Ren needs a fiancé who is his age, someone who has shamanic blood and a guardian spirit." Yuna replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. She began to walk toward the exit with her nose held high in the air, but turned around and added, "What's the matter? Are you going to cry like the weakling you are? You 'gonna run off and tell Tao En how mean I was to you?"

Yuna smirked as she looked at Pirika, who had tears welling in her eyes. "Huh...Tao En came to Patch Village to buy the land off of the village elder, in other words, your So-bo...Instead of a deed, he brings back word of his newly betrothed son...What a baka..." With that said and done, Yuna walked out of the airport, leaving a tearful Pirika in her wake.

Ren passed by Yuna on his way back in to find Pirika...Quite technically she passed by him, for he had hidden behind one of the fake, decorative plants that the airport staff had set up. He saw Pirika holding back tears right were he'd left her, and his eyes softened.

"Are you okay, Pirika-chan? Who do I need to beat up to make you smile again?" Ren asked, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder, his piercing eyes looking into her own, searching for the source of her pain. 'Should I tell Ren about Yuna?' Pirika pondered, but then she remembered what the Chinese girl had said, 'I am not weak! I'll show Akira Yuna how strong the Ainus of Patch Village can be, and I'll start by fighting my own battles!'

Pirika smiled brightly at Ren, "I just miss Okaa-san, Otou-san, and Jun-san...I'll call them later, I suppose, just to say 'hi'." Ren glanced speculatively at her as they walked out of the airport doors, but, after awhile, accepted her tale. When they joined Horohoro, Seiko, and Yuna outside, both girls smiled at each other, undetectably fake smiles that reassured Ren about Yuna's arrival...
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Present Time
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

"Hey, You guys wouldn't know where Jun's office is, would you? It's been ages since I last saw her." Kotaro asked, walking back into the elevator, "Hurry up or Horohoro might have to come up and find our poor, lost group!"

"First Pirika, and now my sister..." Ren growled under his breath, which earned him an elbow in his ribs from a slightly blushing Pirika as she passed him to get in the elevator as well. Ren grumbled, but followed Pirika, pushing the button for the ground floor.

The ride down was filled with an awkward silence, which Ren had been grateful for, as he didn't want to talk with Kotaro very much. The elevator doors opened to reveal to the trio a certain raven-haired beauty called Akira Yuna. Ren looked emotionlessly at her, and Kotaro smiled with all of the warmth he possessed (AN: Which is more than a lot.), but Pirika just looked glaringly at the wall. Yuna looked over the ocean-eyed girl critically, but smiled as her gaze fell upon Kotaro and Ren.

"I see that Kotaro has found you," she turned to the said boy, "I was beginning to worry that you had gotten lost, Kotaro. What took you so long?" she asked with a small laugh. She laughed again when Kotaro blushed.

"We were just reacquainting ourselves. It's been four years since Pirika and Horohoro headed to Tokyo for the Shaman Tournament, and it's been even longer since I've seen Ren-san." Kotaro said hastily, putting a hand behind his neck sheepishly.

Yuna looked at Ren, who was trying to sneak out of the elevator, sharply. The Tao stopped dead in his tracks and stood in her line of vision, very much like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. Soon, however, he was moving frantically, struggling to escape from her embrace as she hugged him tightly.

"Looks like you finally grew up, Ren-san! See, you're finally taller than Yuna-chan!" Kotaro said between laughs, receiving a glare from an angry Chinese shaman over the chocolate-eyed girl's shoulder. Then Ren's gaze beheld a mild wonderment as he looked at Pirika, who was glaring in his and Yuna's direction.

'Is she jealous?' Ren asked himself silently, 'No, she's just angry because Yuna hasn't greeted her yet. They always seemed to get along...' Ren thought as he pried Yuna's arms off of his body and cleared his throat, "Ahem...Yuna, you seem to have missed Pirika with your...Erm, elaborate salutations. You haven't forgotten about her, have you?"

Yuna smiled falsely at the younger girl, "How could I forget? It's great to see you again, Pirika-chan." she said as she bowed and exchanged a handshake with Pirika, who, also, smiled falsely. "It's great to see you, too, Yuna-chan. It's been a long time." she said, all the while thinking, 'Too bad it couldn't have been longer...Domo arigatou, Ren, this is just what I needed, kind words from my romantic rival...I can't blame him though. After all he wasn't around Akira-san and I when we fought. When we weren't alone we acted like the best of friends...'

Pirika walked out of the elevator with her painted smile still firmly in place upon her lips, calling to the trio behind her, "Let's go and prove to Onii-chan that there's no hanky-panky going on!" Kotaro and Yuna stared, gob smacked, at Pirika, who was getting farther away each second. Then they glanced at Ren, who had started after her with a scowl on his face.

Yuna nodded at Kotaro and moved up beside Pirika, while Kotaro strayed until he fell in pace with Ren. "Well?" the steel-eyed Ainu asked, looking at Ren expectantly.

"Well what?"

"What was Pirika talking about?" Ren growled loudly at the question, "That's none of your business, Yukihiro..."

"Ren-san, must you refer to me by surname only? We have known each other for years!"

"Unfortunately..." Ren groaned as he continued to ignore his talkative rival. 'Yukihiro will never change...' he thought, ferociously trying to banish his new headache, 'He'll always be a competitive baka with an eye for Pirika...An eye that I loathe with a fiery passion...'
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Flashback, Ren - Seven years old, Pirika - Six years old, Yuna - Seven years old, Horohoro - Seven years old, Kotaro - Seven years old
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Ren walked up the stairs to Pirika's room slowly, carefully holding her birthday present in his right hand. He stopped at the door when he heard voices, Ren crouched silently, and watched the scene play out through the crack in the doorway.

Pirika stood by the windowsill, looking down at the garden where Seiko was, and where Ren had been, until a minute ago. "Ren-kun and So-bo have been in the garden almost all day, and Ren told me that I couldn't come downstairs until he came up to get me, because he was getting my birthday present ready." she said, "Kotaro-kun, what do you have in your hand?"

The spiky-haired (AN: Aren't they all spiky-haired!) boy smiled and held out a flawless, thorn less, white rose. "Happy Birthday, Pirika-chan!" he said, handing her the rose. Pirika gleefully accepted her gift, placing it in a clear vase filled with water, and other flowers, on her nightstand.

"Where did you find it, Kotaro-kun? It's so beautiful!" Kotaro laughed at his friend, "It was growing in the mori (forest) outside my home. I remembered that Ren and I both promised to get you the prettiest thing in Patch Village, and I saw that and I knew that it should belong to the prettiest girl in Patch-" Kotaro was cut off by a hug from Pirika, so he merely laughed and hugged her back.

This was when Ren chose to enter the room, his hands behind his back, hiding her present. He glared at Kotaro and cleared his throat, "Umm...Pirika-chan, I brought your present..." he trailed off as he showed her the gift, wincing when she gasped. "Ren-kun, what is it?" Pirika asked as she moved closer to accept her gift, she asked quietly, as if she were afraid that her words could break a thing so delicate.

"It's a black rose...So-bo and I have been working on it for a few months in the garden. She told me that black roses were the rarest and most beautiful flower that there is, so she taught me how to grow them," Ren replied, cautiously handing her the rose, "Careful though, it has thorns...So-bo told me that the thorns just make the rose more perfect, because you need imperfections to compliment even the most beautiful qualities...I couldn't find anything perfect to give you, because I couldn't give you yourself... So I guess that Kotaro won our contest..."

Pirika embraced Ren in a gentle hug, which he gladly returned. She placed Ren's rose next to Kotaro's in the vase, and said, to both boys, "I can't choose which present is prettiest, and you two should be ashamed of your competition! Arigatou...I love both of your gifts! Come on, let's go find Onii-chan and Yuna-chan to show them how wonderful you two are!"

Kotaro and Pirika darted out of the room, but Ren hesitated, looking sadly at Kotaro's rose. White meant purity, whereas black symbolized evil, a warm persona next to a cold exterior, a hard-hearted creation for a gentle-hearted girl. His thorn-studded rose, he thought, was almost an insult to his fiancé, 'A rarity that couldn't compare with her...' he decided silently.

Kotaro stuck his head in through the door (AN: Well, not actually through the door...), "Hey, Pirika-chan wants your help to find Horohoro-san!" Ren turned to smirk at the navy-haired boy, "Tell her I'll be right down."

"And, Kotaro?" he added as the said boy began to leave, "I bet I can find him first!"

"Not before I do, Ren-san!" Kotaro said, dashing out of the room and down the stairs, Ren hot on his tail.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Present Time
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

'No...Yukihiro will never grow up...' Ren thought, trying to ignore the boy next to him. Instead he focused on the sky-haired girl ahead of them, who was chatting idly with Yuna. Ren nonchalantly shrugged, and sped up to join them. Or he would have, had he not been tackled by a very obsessive Onii-chan of Pirika's.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

And so ends another chapter of 'A Very Good Liar'...What did you think? Good? Bad? Do you abhor reading this fic! Tell me in a review, which, by the way, I'm shooting for a staggering amount of 41 before I update.

Not only does Ren have a rival, which I thank DayDrEaMiNg-child for, Pirika now has one! And what do my viewers think of Akira Yuna? She will be one of several bizarre, and humorous, twists throughout the story. And what about Yukihiro Kotaro?

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, which took me forever to type because my computer hates me, read, review, question my intentions...