Title: Try Try Again
Author: kawaiichisaikitsune (piratekiari)
Rating: T
Pairings: (Implied) HoroRen
Summary: " 'Horo, I... I don't really know this feeling, but... I think... I think I like it...' " HoroRen slash. Three-shot fic.

Disclaimer - I don't own Shaman King or any of the characters staring in it.

Try Try Again

Chapter Two: Twice Unsuccessful

The next morning there was no bickering. That afternoon there was no arguements. That evening was as quiet as a mouse. All other occupants of the Funbari Inn were starting to worry. Horohoro had acted as normal as he could, though avoiding every subject involving Ren in any way. Ren, on the other hand, was a lot more quiet than usual and when Horo even looked at him absently he shied away, as if the blue-haired Ainu had a disease.

Tao Jun was wracked with worry for her brother, where as Usui Pirika was simply annoyed.

"You know we must do something, Pirika," the chinese woman said in a rather forced voice, "I fear for the worst."

"What could be wrong? We're finally getting our well deserved peace and quiet from them," she admonished.

"Perhaps," the other agreed hesitantly, "But this was not how I envisioned our peace to come."

The smaller took a minute of thinking to herself. "You're right," she concluded at last with a light sigh, "I suppose we should go talk to them."

"Indeed. Separately, of course. Thank you, Pirika," Jun smiled slightly.

"It's no problem," she returned, standing from her seat.

The room was dark and untouched. Thick and thin blankets alike were splayed about the room unceremoniously, preventing a simple path inside. The corner window was drawn open, admitting a chilling little breeze as well as the heavy silver glow of the moon and stars. And in the center of the unkept haven was a body, lumped upon its stomach and curled into itself.

"Onii-san," Pirika scolded lightly, making her way into the room and turning on the hanging light. Her brother cringed at the sudden yellow glow and quickly buried himself beneath a heavy blanket. The girl's brows furrowed and, with years of practiced grace, tore the cover from her older sibling in one quick, fluent movement.

"Pirika!" Horo cried, scurrying to the next closest blanket, "Leave me alone!"

"Not until you tell me what is going on between you and Ren," she demanded, taking away the next shelter cover, "You two haven't said two words to each other all day. It's not right! What's going on?"

"Nothing! He just... hates me," the shaman sat upon his knees, watching his hands clench and unclench on his thighs.

"I highly doubt that," she said, deadpan.

"What do you know?"

"More than you, that's for sure," Pirika softened, "Onii-san, I'm sure he doesn't hate you. No one can truly hate you. You've got that natural gift to make anyone like you automatically, trust me. Besides, if he hated you, he would've looked angry. But... he looked scared..."

"Scared?"

"Scared. Now, I haven't the faintest idea why, but if you were to tell me what happened, I could figure out a thing or two."

So Horo told her. He was slow and hesitant, but managed to tell his story completely. And Pirika, being the caring younger sister she was, took sympathy upon him.

----

Horohoro sucked in a large breath, eyeing the thick paper door before him. There was no light beyond the door, but faint shadows splashed upon the walls. He was in there.

Ren.

The ice shaman chewed at his bottom lip. He was hesitant to knock upon the door. Would he even be let in? The chinese probably didn't want to see him, let alone talk to him. Why did he bother?

"Oh! Horokeu," Jun's almost startled voice brought him back from his thoughts; "Did you need something?"

"Can I talk to Ren?" he asked slowly, forcing one of his grins.

She shook her head, "I don't know if Ren would like that right now."

"I just need to say one little thing," he replied quickly, giving her a pleading look.

"Well... Alright," she answered hesitantly, "Just don't hurt him, please."

The blue-haired Ainu was about to ask her just what she'd meant by that, but she'd already turned away and was halfway down the hall. He let it go and, with another deep breath, knocked upon the wooden framing before slowly sliding the door open for himself. "Renny... Ren?" he called softly, peeking his head in first before fully entering and closing the door behind him.

A small figure was silhouetted against the large hanging moon, outlined in a faint silver that gleamed just as bright as the shocking gold. "Ainu-baka," was the reply, soft and weak, yet defiant. There was a pause between the two, and for a second, Horo thought he saw a flicker of something in those round, royal eyes.

"Can we... uhm... talk?" he was nervous, twisting the hem of his shirt between his sweating palms and refusing to meet eye to eye. Hesitantly he took a step or two closer, watching the feet which seemed to move on their own accord. His heart leapt into his throat again and he found it harder and harder to breathe. "We... We need to."

There was no reply, but a flicker of an eye. So he continued, "I really just want to say I'm sorry. I guess I sort of--" He made hand movements, as though trying to explain through motion. "--took advantage of you. I hadn't meant to. It just... It was... I'm sorry."

Ren looked at the blue-haired shaman who's head hung in shame. He bit at his bottom lip, a debate going on in his head. When he came to his decision, however, he just sat there, watching the other through absent tears. And somehow, before he knew it, Horo was at his side.

"Renny... Are you... crying?" he looked baffled, but ultimately worried as well. He drew up his hand, cupping the other's cheek and brushing away the streaming tears with his thumb. "Don't cry, Renny. Don't cry."

Before either of them seemed to realize, the Ainu drew them close, pressing their lips together for a third time. The chinese hesitated and almost returned, before catching himself and jerking away. In a storm of blushing fury, he stood and pointed to the door. "Leave," he choked out forcefully.

"But..." he didn't get a chance to finish as he was ushered out of the room and into the hallway, door slammed in his face; "Sorry..."

TBC

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