Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King.
Author's note: hmm… I just want to clarify some things. I did a research and found out that there's a difference between deaf and deafened people. Deaf people are those whose hearing loss has prevented them from mastering oral language in the usual way. Since Horohoro can speak, he belongs to the deafened category. There's another type known as hard of hearing people and they can hear with the help of a hearing aid. I'm quite sorry about this mistake, for in my research, I found out that they do lead a very hard life, as many people are not aware of just how much challenges they face, including me. The first article I found was quite a shock to me, and I've realized that it's true how little understanding we have of them and how little attention and emphasis many governments place on them. Their problems are not limited to not being able to hear. For them, trying to receive the same education rights is a struggle even if they have the same abilities or potential, and in a university 'sorry, but I'm not sure which one', only six deaf students were accepted out of 35, 000. In addition to this, even if they do enter a normal school, some are picked on as their peers took delight in verbal insults as they assumed that they can't hear and so will not be hurt emotionally. But we all know that it's not true. Well, this kind of made me think, so I've decided to place this rather long note so that more people can be aware. Anyways, thank you to all those who took time off to read this.
rentaosgurl: lolx…maybe you're right, I'm losing my evil streak. But hey, don't you agree that the title 'evil genius' is more appealing than 'angelic girl' or something?
Elemental-Zero aka mimi: yupz, it's a renhoro fict, though it's not that obvious now…
Naru Asakura: heehee, here's the update…
MeeLee: hmm… I guess you're right… but I never knew that there were so many other problems too…
DragonStorm85: lolx… I guess it's sweet…in a way… hehexx
Lady girl: oops, sorry for that. I guess my storyline might get a little confusing, due to the fact I'm not an organized person…
DoomOfHope: arigatou, update your story too…
The Beauty of Silence — Chapter 7
Koloro frantic hammerings at Horohoro woke him up. Following the little guardian, he stumbled across what he assumed was a heated exchange between Ren and his sister. The moment he appeared in their line of vision, Ren stopped what he was just about to say before attempting to move past Horohoro. What followed was more arguing, with Pilica making matters worse. Horohoro wasn't sure what his sister had just said, but Ren managed to look angry and guilty at the same time. As usual, there was hardly a change in Ren's facial features, but his eyes betrayed him this time. Pilica seemed oblivious to it though, and the strange argument between all three of them continued before Horohoro managed to force them to make up with each other, or so he thought. Koloro could only shake her head as she watched on.
Pilica ran back into her room and started crying. Her brother had assumed everything was fine now, yet that was not the case. The temporary niceness they showed to each other in front of Horohoro was for his benefit only, and if he knew what they actually said to one another, he'd probably have flipped.
'flashback'
"Thank you for causing so much trouble for us, Tao Ren," Pilica had said in a voice dripping with acid and unmistakable sarcasm.
"Hmm… And I'll like to express my heartfelt gratitude towards the insults you have given me," Ren hissed back in a voice not unlike her own. After which, both of them had forced a smile, or in Pilica's case, she smiled at Ren. For Ren, he just managed his usual impassive facade. Horohoro had been satisfied at that and left, and that was when she had fled back into her room.
'end flashback'
Pilica knew that blaming everything on Ren was mean on her part, but she wasn't about to back down. I suppose I'm just denying facts. I can't accept the fact that onii-chan can never listen to the beautiful sounds of Nature that he used to enjoy anymore. Blaming Ren won't improve things, but I don't know what else I can do. Only through these arguments can I pretend that someone else was at fault, so I don't have to think of how to break the news to our parents. I know onii-chan hadn't, and it scares me that he has changed so much and tried so hard not to show it. He may look the same on the surface, but I know otherwise. I've seen him looking so lost at nights, so helplessly staring at the starry night skies or the snowboard and Ikupasui that he usually use as his mediums for his oversoul. Just last night, he chucked them right under his bed, unable to bear looking at them any longer. It pains me to see him like this, and somehow, I feel like I'm to be blamed, for I could do nothing to help. Shifting the blame, and crying are what I'm good at. Onii-chan's unwilling to cry, for he's a guy and there's this male pride thing that preventing him from crying. Is there such thing as helping him cry? Because it seems as if this is the only thing I can do for him.
Horohoro left the inn right after he finished his chores. He was secretly grateful to Anna for designing a duty rooster that was pined up in the kitchen wall. In this way, he'll be able to figure out what to do without actually having to listen to Anna. He knew Pilica would be worried if he just go off without informing her, but he didn't want to stay there any longer seeing Yoh train in the backyard. Truth was, he was jealous and kind of dejected. Training held no more meaning if he had decided not to participate in a Shaman Fight anymore. Finding a pleasant spot on a bridge across a nearby river, he flipped open his new textbook, Beginner's Guide to Sign Language, he started reading the first chapter, and found the introduction a tad confusing. School tomorrow's just not going to be a walk in the park for him.
Argh, this is pretty hard, though I refuse to let it daunt me, Tao Ren thought as he tried to study the signs symbolizing the alphabet. In addition to that, he found out that just like our spoken language, sign language differs in various countries as well. These were just the basics. Seriously, no one would be using only the alphabets to converse, for you'll probably need about five minutes just to finish a short sentence. I didn't know that there'd be so many unforeseen problems. I just thought Horohoro wouldn't be able to hear. Guess I'm wrong. For once.
"Young Master, why are you learning all this?" Bason inquired, though he knew a gist of the answer.
"Bason, don't be so busybody. Didn't I tell you to keep watch and make sure no one's headed my way?" Ren replied in an annoyed tone, yet the question kind of stumped him too. Indeed, why was he learning all this? Surely, it was none of his business. Yeah, as if.
Authore's note: sorry that this is shorter than the rest. Perhaps this is what's called a writer's block? Okay, I gotta admit, this is certainly not my best, I'll try and make it up in the next chapter… Seriously, fluff's not my cup-o-tea. Anyway, just wanna say thank you once again for taking time to read the author's note above and chapter 7…