Disclaimer: Shaman King does not belong to me.

The Beauty of Silence — Chapter 20

"It's finally time for presents!"

Chocolove all but dove towards the base of the perfectly decorated (under strict orders and supervision by Anna) Christmas tree, bumping heads with Ryu, who chose to reach for his presents at the same time. Ignoring the dramatic groans and moans of pain, Horohoro poked around the numerous wrapped gift boxes, gathering those addressed to him into his arms. As usual, there were those from his sister and the rest of the gang, sans Anna (he wasn't expecting a gift from her anyway) and of course, a certain Chinese shaman. Well, I didn't put my present for him under the tree either…

Said Chinese shaman was pacing in his room agitatedly amidst wails from Bason who was (as the spirit had insisted) deeply wounded by the fact that his beloved master had not bothered to buy a gift for him. Bason, we don't even celebrate Christmas. Since he had met Yoh and his other friends, that excuse is no longer valid, for doesn't he buy gifts for them as well? Sitting down on a hardback chair with a measured calmness he didn't know he possessed, Ren tried to think of ways he can corner the Ainu to give him his gift. Horohoro is always with one of the gang, or his sister, how can I catch him when he's alone? While discarding ideas almost immediately after thinking of them, Ren wondered just how much he had changed and softened in the past few years. If it were several years ago, he would never have believed it possible for him to be agitated over something as trivial and silly as thinking of ways to go about gift giving. His peace and quiet was disrupted when someone started knocking on the door…

"Here you go, Merry Christmas," Horohoro tried his best to keep his voice energetic, and well, as normal as possible.

As it was impossible for him to tell what his voice had really sounded like, Horohoro merely held out the little box that was rather haphazardly wrapped. I don't want to seem like some excited fan girl giving her idol a souvenir or something. I mean; we're both guys… I shouldn't even have wrapped it! Before he could continue his mental conversation with himself, Horohoro saw Ren disappearing into his room for a brief moment again before re-emerging with an impeccably wrapped box. I knew it, Ren does try to do everything perfectly, even if it's just… gift-wrapping. Glancing down at the post-it that was probably scribbled on in a hurry before it was being stuck onto the gift, Horohoro said a thank you and went back to his room. The note had requested (or more like commanded) him to return to his room, where he can use his brain (or as quoted from the note: what he has in that thick skull of his) to figure out the meaning behind his gift. Well, Ren has always been more thoughtful than me… But what does he mean by what I have in that thick skull of mine? I do have brains!

Pausing in his chore of untying, or more accurately, untangling the bits of string Horohoro had used to make a bow with, Ren wondered why he wasn't surprised that the gift-giving had gone so smoothly. Well, more smoothly than he had expected. From whatever dramas he had actually watched, most of the time coerced into joining Jun by her, the main characters would always blush and stutter whenever a similar situation arose. Is it because we're both guys? Not to mention headstrong ones at that… Finally succeeding in discarding the wrapping paper, he glanced down at the A4 sized wooden box. The box was obviously handmade, and Ren realised that Horohoro must have done it as he traced his fingers along the rough and uneven edges of it. Attempts at woodcarving could be seen, as could bits of splinters, and the Chinese shaman had to smile at that. However, no matter how much he liked his Ainu teammate, Ren couldn't refrain from snorting in what he supposed was mild disgust at what he saw in the box after he had prised it open…

The gift that Ren had chosen to give him was oddly heavy, and Horohoro fervently hoped that it wasn't new training equipment. Pilica had given me enough throughout the many years… Trying painstakingly to remove the wrapping paper without tearing it in vain, Horohoro sort of just gave up, choosing to rip off the paper almost savagely instead. He was oddly excited at the prospect of opening Ren's present, though he could not think of a logical reason as to why that was the case. His sister was still downstairs, excitedly opening presents with Tamao, whom she had gotten to be very close with. I'm thankful for that. His eyes grew wider as the cover on the box was revealed. Damn that Ren, why does he think that I would require new dumbbells? While pondering over the note (after all, I know even without thinking that this simply implies more training) Horohoro opened the box and shook out everything in it. A small white envelope fell out of the box, together with the detested set of training equipment and some manual regarding the use of them. A Christmas card? A broad grin lit up the Ainu shaman's face upon looking at the contents in the envelope. Not much thinking was required after all; Ren should give my intelligence more credit…

What in the world could this be? Poking warily at the red and green mass that reminded Ren all too sharply of Christmas, the Chinese could see the sharp edges of a couple of bottles sticking out. Reaching for one of them, Ren couldn't help but be amazed. For a blundering idiot (though Ren meant it in an affectionate way), he is surprisingly sharp at times. Sitting innocuously in his palm was a bottle of hair gel; and of the only brand that Ren uses no less. I didn't think he would notice such stuff… Allowing himself to smile a little, his lips quirking ever so slightly, Ren unwound the woollen item wrapped around the twin bottles of gel and inspected it. A scarf? It was barely passable as a scarf; the knitting was coarse and unpractised, and in Ren's critical eye, something horrible. There was a feeling of fuzziness and warmth that couldn't quite be explained by logic the moment he laid his eyes on it though, and Ren didn't doubt for a second that Horohoro had made it. Well, maybe it is kind of nice after all, given that this is probably his first try in knitting… but why does it have to be red and green of all colours?

Horohoro had wondered what his team leader would think of him after seeing his gift, feeling all jittery and almost regretting making the decision to send Ren homemade gifts. The gel was given as a compensation for the poor handicraft, but it wasn't his fault that he was not born aesthetically inclined, right? He had written Ren a simple note, telling him not to laugh at his efforts, or he would incur the wrath of a certain ice shaman, together with a reminder that his powers would be without a doubt, stronger in winter. Of course he tried to explain his choice of colours too, green and red are associated with Christmas isn't it? And this is a Christmas gift. The effect came out a little clashing, but Horohoro didn't mind loud, bold combinations. Ditching that train of thought and starting a new one, Horohoro felt that it was probably possible to pull a little prank on his ill-tempered partner, and picking up the hand phone lying next to him, started to type…

Beep beep

Looking at his hand phone in annoyance, Ren picked it up rather brusquely, frowning at the flashing screen. Who could be messaging me? An irritating inner voice taunted him that the slight animosity that he showed towards his phone was probably a front to cover up how flustered he had felt when he read the note Horohoro had given him. The Ainu had written his excuses for the horribly contrasting colours that had been chosen to make the "monster scarf", but he had also mentioned that he had noticed Ren wearing scarves sometimes, and had supposed that the Chinese liked them. He can even recall trivial things about me like that? Such feelings were new to Ren, and he didn't want to deal them at the moment. Since when had what Horohoro thought and noticed mattered? The message that he had received was simple, yet slightly disappointing. Naturally, it was from Horohoro, thanking him yet again for the present, and that he would be contented to use the vouchers with his sister. That baka, he really didn't catch my intentions, did he?

"The previous message was meant as a prank; I can't believe how stupid you are to fall for it. Of course I will go with you. Didn't know that you're missing me so much. Name the date and time." Pressing the 'send' key, Horohoro leaned back against the headboard of his bed. Ren had given him the address to an abandoned ski lodge that had been turned into a café, together with twin tickets that allows people to order food and drinks unlimitedly, just like in an all-you-can-eat buffet. On one hand, the Ainu loved food; and the fact that the café is located in a cold, icy place came as an added bonus. It was pretty thoughtful of Ren to think of this… Of course Horohoro wasn't a hundred percent sure that the younger shaman had meant this as an invitation for a second date, but it was the only reason that Horohoro could come up with given the hint in Ren's note. He's probably too shy to ask me out… Strangely, the imagery of Ren struggling with his emotions regarding the asking of the Ainu out brought some form of sadistic glee to Horohoro, and he couldn't help but start to laugh.

His reply had been a simple "now". While waiting for Horohoro to change into suitable outdoor clothes, Ren had informed Tamao not to cook their meals for the day. His new scarf had been stuffed into his bag, and he was considering if he should put it on for the sake of humouring the ice shaman. But damn be it for anyone I know to see it. Chocolove would probably laugh his head off right in front of him, and he didn't feel like dealing with a dead team member today. After all, it's Christmas…

It was turning to be one of the best Christmas days he had ever had. A year ago he would never have dreamt of this; even the barest idea would have appeared preposterous. Sipping hot chocolate while watching snow drift down from the heavens through the window, with his newfound liking for Ren and having said shaman sitting opposite of him experiencing the whole thing together was the best present that Horohoro could have ever received. Ren had even been decent enough to put on the scarf once they had been out of their friends' side, though he didn't stop grumbling about the poor workmanship. It all seemed like an almost normal date between an ordinary couple, and Horohoro could, for a short while, cast aside all his troubles and uncertainties about their evolving relationship. The Ainu had always been a blunt person, and unlike Ren, had never been good at keeping his emotions from showing on his face. I suppose I am grinning like an idiot right now.

Watching Horohoro with slight amusement, Ren nibbled at the edge of a chicken pie. The ice shaman currently had an almost thoughtful look on his face, and seemed to be lost in his own thoughts. The trip towards their destination had been blessedly uneventful; no one in the inn had tried to poke their noses where they don't belong, and had let the two shamans leave the place without any questions. Maybe they are too engrossed in experimenting with the new stuff they have received as presents. Horohoro had always been more at ease in familiar terrains, and a snow-covered slope seemed like an ideal place to go to for a quiet day out. The little eatery he had entered that day in the shopping district had prompted him into finding a café at a desired location, where the two of them could go to spend their Christmas day. He hadn't really expected Horohoro to get his ill-concealed hints, and his pride had refused to allow him to ask Horohoro out straight away. Of course, the Chinese shaman had forgotten the fact that his slightly brainless teammate could be uncannily sharp at times. Listening to the soft strains of Christmas melodies coming from a record player in the corner of the shop, Ren could almost feel the joyous Christmas mood that people are always promoting. For once, he was actually glad for the holiday; it gave him an excuse to be out here with his special friend.

I suppose Christmas isn't that bad after all…

Author's note:

Well, that's it for now. I know I actually said before Christmas, but felt later on that this chapter might be more appropriately posted on the special day itself. Please don't blame me too much if the characters come out a little OOC, all right? As compensation for the last chapter that was relatively short, this chapter is slightly longer. Hopefully, you guys all enjoy it. I did try to make it fluffier. Here's wishing everyone a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May all your endeavours in year 2007 be successful!

On a lighter note, reviews will probably be the best Christmas present for me. xD