Disclaimer: I'm not going to be able to own Shaman King in this lifetime.
MeeLee: lolx… thank you thank you 'bows'
Lady girl: I'm so glad that you think that way. As long as one person in the world appreciated it, it's worth the effort.
Freefaller: hahaxx… yupz… I did find out that lip-reading is essential for them, so it's included in chap 8…
Elemental-Zero: hmm… I can't say I fully understand the extent of your difficulties, and I probably never will… But I'll continue to work harder and seek to understand as much as possible… Ya know, I always wanted to work in the social sector in future…
FallenTruth: Don't haunt me! 'cowers in fear'. Actually, I should be the one running after you, when are you going to post chapter 3 of 'Sacrifice'? I'm hereby officially asking (or rather, begging) for it a second time. You did mention that you'd update if someone asks for it. 'evil grin'
The Beauty of Silence — Chapter 8
It had been nearly a week since Horohoro started his new classes, and he was glad they weren't as hard as he'd first thought. He was surprised at first when the teacher-in-charge spoke repeatedly to him, very slowly, and it was after at least 15 attempts before he realized he was supposed to lip-read and yet another 10 tries before he got the sentence right. I kind of feel bad, making the poor teacher repeat her greeting so many times. He didn't know that lip-reading was the most important to deaf and deafened people, he had generally assumed that sign language was all they need, without considering the fact, not that he blamed them, that almost none of the others actually bothered to learn it.
Going to school had now become part of his daily routine, and it wasn't long, given his chatty nature, before he made friends. Communication was still a problem at times, but he knew they'd get around it before long. Some of the other students were much younger than him, and he knew that he really was much luckier compared to them, and to those born deaf, though it's rather hard to envision yourself as lucky when you can't hear. I still want to be able to hear one day though. I wonder if that's too much to ask for…
Ren looked at the note that was thrust under his door with mild surprise. It was actually a apology letter, well, kind of, written by Pilica. She must have gotten sick of the arguments. Hmm… Come to think of it, she hasn't been throwing out my milk since the day her brother came back. He could tell that Pilica had put in a lot of effort to complete this note, and though she was hesitant in her words, he could tell that she wanted, or needed his help to do something.
Geez, I do wish that the school wasn't so far from the inn. Why must the inn be in such a secluded spot? There must be a problem with this bus's engine; the bus's going way too slowly. Horohoro turned around when he felt someone tapping his arm lightly. A middle-aged woman, saying something rapidly that he could not grasp. Maybe she's asking for directions? Turning towards to woman, he asked, as politely as he could, whether she could repeat herself a second time, and as slowly as possible so he can try to lip-read. The look the woman returned him was one of surprise, and she seemed offended, as if he was playing a prank on her or something. When he repeated his sentence again, as earnestly as possible while trying to hide his exasperation, the woman's eyes trailed over to the textbook he was holding. This seemed to convinced her.
Instead of repeating her question again, she merely gave a small shake of her head, giving Horohoro a look that, to him, consists of pity and a little wariness. She probably thinks I'm made of porcelain and can collapse or something if she probes further. Yawn… I can't imagine why I've need for compassion though. Besides that hearing part, I'm every bit as normal as her. Guess I couldn't blame her. Before all this, I was just like her. The day's lessons passed quickly, and Horohoro was very surprised, though not unhappy, to see Tao Ren waiting for him outside the school's gate, carrying a rather large handheld carrier.
Tao Ren rolled his eyes impatiently at the Ainu before him. He certainly hadn't taken the trouble to come such a long way just to see that idiot gape at him. Not that I wanted to come anyway, it's on Pilica's request. Deep down he knew that he was lying to himself, but he couldn't care for now. Taking out the placard that he had made on the way here, he tossed it at Horohoro before continuing his way towards a spot he had in mind.
Follow me. And don't argue. That's hardly a feasible reason to get you to go somewhere, isn't it? Horohoro opened his mouth to argue, but decided against it. The method that they relied on to argue now may prove to be a little too comical for the passersby, and Ren would get fed up within minutes, thus there would be no winners. No point in even starting an argument then. But Horohoro was curious to find out just where this special place was.
Hao Asakura threw the note he was holding into the air, whereby a little blaze of inferno reduced the paper into ashes as it swirled gently in the breeze before landing on the ground. Was all I felt jealousy? Nothing good had come out of this, and I just feel as lonely as before whenever I see those imbeciles hanging out together. Is it possible to be happy the whole time, like Yoh? Is it all an act to deceive me? There's no way I could be envious of people as weak as them, simply impossible. Yet, I just can't help having a sense of longing, a secret want to be accepted…
"The beach?" Horohoro asked, his tone skeptical and incredulous. Maybe he's been watching a little too much TV, but the beach, according to those serial dramas, was where couples spend an afternoon of fun in the sun or have a romantic outing. It was ironic, not to say creepy, to connect the name Tao Ren to the word romance. In fact, it made Horohoro shiver. (Not out of fear, but just very uncomfortable, whereby you don't know if you should just laugh or head off or be worried for him. XD)
Ren ignored whatever Horohoro had said. Deciding on an outcrop of rock jutting out from the sea cliff, he sat down at the edge; letting his legs dangle over the overhang. It was true that he preferred stargazing, but it was daytime now, and there are other majestic great views to see, without the hassle of climbing a mountain, and that was the boundless and mysterious sea. After waiting for more than five minutes, Ren looked towards Horohoro. That dim-witted Shaman was still looking as though he couldn't quite believe his eyes, and Ren contemplated the situation for a moment. It isn't that shocking when your team leader, who's supposed to be an unfeeling and arrogant brat, suddenly brings you, someone he'd always liked to argue with and insult, to the beach without anyone else, is it?
Horohoro snapped back towards reality when he saw Ren making an impatient gesture at him. Just like before in the hospital, Ren did not bother to make any conversation of any kind, simply sitting next to him. The ice shaman relished every single fragment of time they spend in the company of each other when they weren't arguing, as they were special, not to mention rare, moments. The ocean is a nice place. Horohoro couldn't hear the wash of the waves, or the cries of the seagulls that floated overhead, but he could still feel the call of the ocean in a unique way. If he thought about it carefully, the ocean were part of Nature too, a vast ecosystem that supports millions of life forms, from the microscopic plankton to the largest mammal on Earth, the whale. I wonder why Ren brought me here. The ocean was calm and peaceful at the moment, which was the exact opposite of what he'd been feeling these past few days. He had been extremely restless, doing his chores forcefully and energetically so he would be dead tired when he went to bed, thus relieving him from the anguish of dwelling on less-than-pleasant thoughts. Looking at the great stretch of cool sea green water with its gentle waves, it's hard not to relax a little. But Horohoro knew that belying this façade of calmness is a frenzy of chase and run, where small fishes have to try their very best to escape the fate of being eaten alive by other fishes. Survival of the fittest.
Ren loved the coasts, not because the golden sand looks attractive amid the luxurious palm trees, but because of the unpredictability that mirrors life. The coastline changes everyday, be the difference be big or small. The ground he's sitting upon right now may be gone tomorrow if the overhang decides to collapse today, or the sand dunes scattered around the wide expense of beach may be washed away by fierce waves should a storm occur later. Homo sapiens, including him, do not enjoy drastic changes, but growing up in the Tao family thought him something, whatever that will come will arrive, and they would have to face it when they did. He was trained to adapt to many situations, all of them involving him turning the tables in his favour. I can do this. After all, as Yoh always say, everything will work out fine.
Ren hated to break the amiable silence between them, but lazing around was not his main goal. Standing up and brushing the sand off him, he moved over to a part of the beach that was devoid of people, knowing that Horohoro would follow him.
Horohoro had been partly annoyed when he had to get moving; yet he knew that there had to be a reason behind it. He was caught unawares when Ren flung something at him, and he only managed to catch them out of reflexes honed from a lifetime of training. My snowboard? Attached to it was his Ikupasui. He looked towards his Koropokkur guardian for answers, but Koloro only shook her head, as clueless as he was. The Ainu was even more astounded when Ren used a hand sign that he recognized, one that said: I challenge you to a fight.
Ren was infuriated with himself when he realized that he had accidentally used a hand sign. Damn. Too much studying of those must have muddled up my brain somewhat. I hope that baka can't remember it later. I just have to trash him up good. Having decided on his course of actions, Tao Ren smirked in his usual confident way before preparing to Oversoul.
Author's note: There, just as I promised, a longer chapter 8. I don't know if such a hand sign actually existed, and I'm ashamed (kind of) to admit that I didn't really check it out. School had officially started, so updating will have to take a longer time from now on. In the meantime, don't forget to review.