Heya~ I'm inching towards chapter 10 and I'm thinking of ending it there and starting my next story that's a sequel to this one. In our story, a few weeks have passed and they're done with rehearsals. Horohoro's been thinking and Ren's a little more adjusted to the Romeo and Juliet thing. Oh, and if you haven't notice (which you probably have) I've made Tao En a lot nicer in this story, if you want him to be more violent in the next story, please tell me. You guys reviewed so fast. ^_^ I'm happy~ So here's chapter 8. I'm hoping to end this with about 10 chapters, but there will be a sequel~

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"Where're ya going Rennie?" Horohoro said teasingly.

Ren was sitting at the front of the inn, his gaze intent on the moon.

"I'm not 'going' anywhere Ainu-baka." the violet haired shaman said. "Why do you insist on bothering me at this time of night?"

"Mmm...I don't know.." he replied.

The Ainu sat on the opposite pole supporting the inn, glancing sidewards at his friend. For a moment, Ren looked back at him and their gazes locked.

But are we just friends? Horohoro though silently.

"The moon is beautiful tonight." the younger said, turning away. Horohoro didn't miss him shiver slightly at the breeze that gusted by. "You should be sleeping. Our recital is tomorrow."

Ignoring that comment, Horohoro turned his full attention to Ren. "I know it's been a couple weeks, but is your leg feeling better?"

The Chinese teen didn't answer, but his hand unconsciously shifted on the healing injury and his face was dusted with pink. Intentional or not, when Tao En inflicts a wound, most likely it won't heal too quickly... Either way, it was something that caused quite an embarressing memory.

B-bmp...

"We should both go to sleep." Horohoro said, a smile gracing his features.

"Why should I? It's calm outside." Ren asked. "At least without you being here."

The blue haired snowboarder pouted, but it melted into a smile.

"I think it's pretty cool outside, good weather." he mentioned. "But what about Mr. Arrogant who didn't grow up in the snow?"

The younger made a face and carefully stood up.

"Good night." he said.

Horohoro followed him grinning.

"I can't wait for tomorrow!" he cheered.

"Shut it Ainu-baka." Ren hissed. "I'm not going to be the one that will be punished by Anna."

"Tcht." the blue haired teen spat. "Just because she doesn't beat you to a pulp."

"She is one of the intelligent life forms here. Unlike you."

The Ainu rolled his eyes and carefully opened the door to their room. He yawned and tossed himself on his futon.

"Night Rennie." Horohoro whispered.

Ren was about to tell him to shut up, but realized that the elder wouldn't hear it as he slept soundly already. He sat on his own resting spot and a strange smile found its way onto his features.

"Pleasant dreams...Horokeu."

--The next morning--

"Ren. Ren. Wake up."

"Let me go unless you want to bite the dust." the Chinese shaman said groggily.

"But your oracle bell is ringing!" Horohoro whined. "Wake up."

Ren sat up with his eyes closed and he rubbed his eyelids before opening them to glare at the Ainu.

"Give it." he said, holding out his hand.

Horohoro complied and put it in his outstretched palm, on his face an expression that confused the younger.

"You're against..."

"Yoh." the shorter teen sighed. "Great. Right after the play too."

"Let's go eat breakfast." the snowboarder said. "I bet they're waiting for us."

They both got dressed and went downstairs to see Yoh and Anna sitting at the table, Lyserg and Chocolove had left earlier to take care of pre-play things.

"Hey." Horohoro muttered.

The Ainu looked perturbed and the Chinese looked bored.

"No worries guys." Yoh said. "Let the best man win and whatever happens happens."

"Mm." Anna hummed, eyes still on the television. "You two should eat breakfast and get to school. You're the main characters. Thespian wanted main characters to meet him in the morning."

The two nodded, Yoh's smile lightening the mood. The bade their goodbyes after grabbing their things and Ren and Horohoro were walking to school in the chilly autumn wind.

"You know... We're actually doing this live in front of everybody you know." Horohoro said. "Do you think Thespian will silhouette us again?"

"His death will be more torturous if not." Ren replied. "Why do you ask?"

"Cause if not..."

"Yeah?"

"It's nothing." the snowboarder finished, gazing elsewhere.

The younger rolled his golden eyes and walked along silently, pulling his coat tighter on himself.

So what about it? he thought. I wouldn't matter seeing as what happened last time...

B-bmp...

Ren tossed open the door to the auditorium and looked around. Lyserg was on the camera, Chocolove was talking with the stages, and Dr. Thespian was supervising the stage set up and readying the stage transitions. He turned, seeing the two enter together.

"Romeo! Paris! Mercutio has yet to arrive though. I'm glad that you came." he said. "Seeing as what was the last fiasco, I've decided that when the kissing scene arrives, the curtains will close unexpectedly, saving you from any misfortunes."

"Good." Ren muttered, then suddenly sinister. "By the way... what happened to my signal stage? The one who caused the accident?"

Accident? Horohoro thought. That's right... It was an accident.

"He's been demoted to a hidden stage. He's by exit left." the director said.

"Right." the Chinese said.

The shaman inconspicuously pulled out his kwan dao as he disappeared behind a set of curtains. He came out moments later with a victorious smirk on his face, splatters of blood on his cheeks, and a satisfactory glint in his eyes.

"Now, Dr. Thespian. What were we called out early in the morning for?" he asked.

The Drama teacher was zoning out but came back down to earth as he suddenly remembered.

"Ah," he said. "Here are passes to for your six period class. I need you out early so we can do last minute rehearsing. We don't have a lot of time to do that this morning since my crew is focusing on getting the stage and camera ready. I'm sure now that Lyserg can operate the camera now. It's written on the back of your pass exactly which changing room you'll use. It should have all of your clothes and a student make-up artist will come to take care of your make-up soon after you're dressed. Run along before the bell rings."

The bell rang signalling passing to first class for all students.

"There you go. Get to class." the director said. "And wipe that makeup off of your face."

Dr. Thespian threw a towel at Ren and ushered them out.

Horohoro, who was only thinking halfway until now was now aware of his surroundings as he raced next to Ren.

"You didn't really... did you?" he said in between breaths. "I mean..."

"No." Ren said. "I didn't kill him. I'm not cruel enough to kill a defenseless little child."

"But you'd exact revenge on a director?"

"The director of the most humiliation I have ever suffered."

"Riiight."

The younger tossed the bloodied towel into his friend's face.

"Umm... Ren?" Horohoro asked. "This is real blood right?"

"Yes. The director is very blind as to have missed that." the Chinese shaman said.

"Eww..." he said, tossing on the ground.

The bell rang as first period started.

---hours later---

"Where are my main actors?" Dr. Thespian exclaimed in panic. "We have thirty minutes until showtime!"

"Here..." Horohoro said in between breaths. "And I got Ren too."

He had dragged the younger teenage shaman with him slung over his shoulder, it seemed that the Chinese grew tired of fighting his friend and gave up after reason took over.

"I'd have to do this anyways. Let's get on with it." Ren said, impatience in his eyes.

"Great!" the director said.

He tossed them their costumes and saluted them before running off to organize the rest of the team.

"Please get dressed!" he called to them.

Then he disappeared behind the curtains to help the hidden stages. Horohoro let Ren off of his shoulder and set him down, holding up his hands, prepared to defend himself.

"Stop being so idiotic and hurry." he said.

"Eh?" the Ainu said. "You're not going to hit me?"

His friend said nothing as he lead the way to the changing rooms that they had been assigned. They dressed quickly and stepped out for a student to apply light make-up before they got in their beginning positions on the stage.

"Ready?" Horohoro asked.

Ren merely shrugged, not actually wanting to act on the stage. Horohoro went inside the entrance of the castle, and Chocolove alongside Yoh came from the other changing rooms to join them in front of the castle. There was a split down the middle where it was to part and reveal the ball going on inside. A stage who could see the director on the side was also visable by the trio on center. What felt like eternity passed before there was noise behind the curtains, whispers and shuffling. Clicks and wheels turning could be heard as the curtains opened up.

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That's the end of this chapter! Thank you all very much. If you want me to show you the play itself, please tell me and it will be the next chapter. Two reviews please, three would be loved.