Oops, im sorry i took so long, but a lot has been going on in here. My dog vito escaped for about a week and we couldnt find him anywhere, it was horrible. We put signs everywhere and eventually some guys found it and returned it. The poor thing was depressed for days before going back to normal

So, enough of my sad story and on with the fic

enjoyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!

Chapter 11: Can I ask you a huge favour?

REN´S POV

"Congratulations on your victory!" Yoh says cheerfully as Mariana, Chocolove, Horohoro and I enter their house. Each group has been given a separate place to live. Ours is right next door.

"Hehe, thanks" Chocolove answers with a modest smile and takes a seat on the dining room table next to Manta. Jun, sitting on Manta´s other side, waves at me cheerfully. Why, oh, why did they have to come?!!!

"Well, I didn't get to do anything but thanks anyway" Horohoro grins carelessly as he drops himself at Chocolove´s side.

"Yeah, oh man, I wanted to be there fighting so badly" Mariana says fervently "I am so gonna fight the next match!" I move to sit at Yoh´s left, but, strangely enough, I notice Mariana speeding up almost desperately right behind me, as though she´s resolute about sitting at my side. What´s up with her? Shrugging it off, I pull out a chair and offer it to her. She smiles and takes it. I take the chair between hers and Yoh´s.

"Yeah, I´d have liked to see you. I´ve never seen you fight in a match" Yoh grins to her in a sloppy way "I only saw you when we went to China, but briefly and I didn't pay much attention. Are you any good?"

"Er….yeah, I think" Mariana looks at me "You should ask Ren. He´s seen me a couple of times"

The whole table turns to look at me, waiting for my answer "She´s not bad, I guess" I shrug indifferently.

"Coming from you, that´s a really big compliment" She laughs.

"Hey, Ren, you did brilliantly today. You´ve become amazingly strong" Yoh smiles that goofy smile that makes him look very stupid. Why am I friends with him again?

Looking away from the painful sight, I reply "Hmph! Or rather the Bozz has remained amazingly weak. But of course I´ve improved. What kind of idiot wouldn't have in five months?" At this, Yoh chuckles lightly and Mariana laughs out loud. God, I´m surrounded by retards.

"Yoh´s right, you and Chocolove were incredible!" Jun cries excitedly, looking stupid as well. Is she really related to me?

"Hey, Manta!" Mariana calls across the table "Would you lend me your laptop for ten minutes, please? I would like to check up my mails" Damn her, does she always need to be so loud?

"Sure thing. Just be careful with it" Manta hands it over.

"Oki-doki!"

"You get a lot of mail?" Ryu asks her curiously as they all go to see what she´s doing. Ok, this is turning so boring. I move my chair next to the window to look outside. It´s afternoon on a cloudy day. Looks like it´s gonna rain.

"Yeah, well, since I know people from England, Canada, China and Japan. I´m bound to have some mail at least" I half hear Mariana respond and her typing on the pc.

"That´s so cool!" I distantly hear Chocolove say excitedly "Let me pass you my mail, too" The light rain starts and the sky gets darker.

"Oh, yeah, I want all of your mails guys, just wait a sec" More distant typing "Heh! There you go. 52 new messages. Not bad, huh? Obviously, some of it is junk mail. I always get th-" I hear a gasp and turn my head slowly around. Mariana has this uncharacteristically apprehensive look, nearly afraid like. "What´s this?" She whispers, staring shocked at the screen.

"What is it?" Horohoro questions impatiently.

"Fuck" She closes the laptop and puts her palms in her eyes.

"What?!" I demand loudly, getting up from my chair. A thunder can be heard already.

"It´s Richard" She looks at me with wide, sad eyes "He´s dead" Uh-oh, this is not good.

"Richard? Who´s Richard?" Chocolove asks confusedly.

"He´s my…….erm……grandfather" Mariana answers awkwardly, her voice shaking a bit "God, this is bad" We all stare silently as she gets up and leaves the room. The rain starts falling heavily. What should I do? What should I do?! A whole minute passes by before I decide to follow her. Thankfully, no one else comes.

She obviously went to our house, so I rush outside, getting instantly soaked. I run next door and enter hurriedly, dripping water all over the place. I climb the stairs and go into her room without knocking. I find Mariana stuffing a backpack with some clothes. She doesn't move when I enter, just carries on, ignoring me.

I approach her slowly, until I´m right behind her "What are you doing?" I ask confusedly.

"Packing"

"Oh" What the fuck is she doing?!!! "Er, and where are you going?"

"Canada" Still giving me her back.

"You´re leaving the Tournament?" I question perplexed.

"No, just for a day" She whispers "To the funeral"

"Oh, ok" I sit on her bed, watching her as she continues packing. I have no idea what to say in situations like this, so I stay silent. I can see she´s not taking much, as she´s going away for one day.

Finally, she finishes and turns to me "Ren"

"What?"

She comes up to me and takes my hand "Can I ask you a huge favour?" Her eyes go wide and pleading. I raise an eyebrow questioningly.

"Could you, please, please, please come with me?" Her voice shakes again and now she grips my hand "I don't want to be alone, please. I swear it´s only for one day, we´d be back in no time" She sounds as though she´s about to cry. I feel a knot growing in my stomach at her desperate voice and look away. More thunders noises come from outside.

But I really shouldn't go. This is the Shaman Fight we´re talking about. I´ve been waiting for this my whole life, I don't want to miss a thing, I must stay here to observe the other matches. I look back at her, waiting for an answer. She´s trembling slightly, earnest and sad eyes staring at me.

On the other hand, we´re supposed to be friends. I guess I can´t leave her alone now. And she said it was only for one day. I´m not going to miss much in one day, right? I look once more into her eyes and sigh heavily "Ok"

"Ren" She suddenly throws her arms around me and I tense up immediately. What is she doing?! I stay there uncomfortably as she hugs me tightly "Thank you so so so so much!"

"Yeah, let me go to pack" I disentangle myself from her and flee the room, my heart hammering in my chest. Shit! What am I doing?! Why am I going to Canada?!!! I should stay here! I shove my clothes in a bag anyway. With a frustrated sigh, I finish and walk to Mariana´s room yet again.

"Hey, how are we going to Canada? Please tell me you have that figured out" She´s sitting on her bed with a gloomy look on her. It´s so weird to see her like this.

"Yeah, helicopter. I begged Karim for one and he finally relented" She speaks softly as she gets up, leaves the room and leads the way downstairs "We´re leaving in ten minutes"

"Excellent. Let´s get this done" I open the door for her and we´re about to leave the house, when-

"Hey, guys!" Horohoro and Chocolove enter the house, even more drenched than I was before. Great, the idiots are going to delay us. Wonderful.

"Mariana, are you ok?" Horohoro asks softly.

"Yeah, girl, is there anything we can do?" Chocolove offers.

"That´s ok, I´ll be fine, don't worry" She looks down uncomfortably.

"Er…. are you going anywhere?" Horohoro spots the luggage. Oh, beautiful, now the questions and explanations. This´ll be the longest trip ever, and it hasn't even started.

"Yeah, we´re going to Canada for the burial, just for a day" Mariana whispers, I can tell she wants to leave almost as badly as I do.

"Oh, ok" Horohoro frowns "Wait, we?" He looks at me perplexed "You are going?" He points at me with a stupid face.

I roll my eyes and sigh exaggeratedly for what feels like the hundredth time on the day "Yes, I am!" I snap impatiently "Any objection? Now, if you don't mind, we´re leaving. You´ve already made us late enough!" I grab Mariana´s hand and drag her out and away from the morons.

"Hey! Do you want us to go to?" I hear Chocolove call. God, when do they shut up?!

"No, it´s ok!" Mariana shouts, trying to keep up with me. It´s night already and now the rain is even heavier and the thunders are continuous. This is just great! We´re going to fly in a storm. Why did this have to happen when the day started so well? It seems like ages ago when we won the fight.

I look at Mariana who has her eyes closed and looks very depressed. What am I complaining about? She´s the one that is going to a friend´s funeral. And she has no relatives. I wonder if this Richard guy has any and where´s she going to live now that he´s dead. Of course, I can´t ask her now, but then, I really have no idea when I should ask. This is so not my thing. I´ve seen death and corpses my whole life, but I haven't got a clue what is to have someone close to you die. With all this thoughts in my head, in total awareness I squeeze Mariana´s hand, that it´s still in mine, for comfort.

We finally get to the helicopter and hastily make our way in. I´m about to head for the window seat, but stop before making three steps. I hesitate a few seconds before taking Mariana´s hand but this time gently and lead her to the window seat. She smiles slightly as she sits down, evidently understanding the gesture. I am so glad to see that smile again.

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