Nick: I'm bored. So I've decided to write another one shot and it shall appear in three parts!. This time it's a Shaman King one shot and the main hero will be Tao Len! Yayz!

Part Three: Confessions; The Ultimate Choice; Finale!

2 Months Later:

Silence filled the inn as Horohoro and Ryo went to sleep as did Yoh. Aniko tried to fall asleep but found the task almost impossible as Ren stared out of his window in thought. Aniko sighed in frustration as she climbed out of bed and walked to her window. She sighed again this time wistfully before she walked out of her room and down the hall, her feet making soft pats as they hit the hardwood floors. She could hear her brother's snores as she walked past his room and Horohoro and Ryo's when she walked past theirs but Ren's room was silent. She took another step past it before she froze just as she heard his door slide open.

Ren froze when he saw her clad in a only a tank top and a pair of shorts, her long hair tied in a ponytail behind her. Her amethyst eyes were brightly shining in the pale moonlight that filter into the inn through it's many windows and she smiled at him.

"I'm sorry if I woke you." Her voice was soft in consideration of the other patrons around them. He shook his head.

"I was not asleep." He answered a little louder than her, his voice rough with edginess.

"I couldn't sleep either." She replied before giggling softly. Ren stared at her with interest. She was everything he wasn't. Soft, fragile, kind, and caring. He could see why Horohoro made such a fuss about her or why Yoh was so protective of her. What he couldn't see was why she hid behind this happy facade. She was miserable on the inside and he knew it. That was why she couldn't sleep and he knew before it was why he couldn't sleep.

*Tell her.* Ren's mind burned at him but he quickly pushed that thought aside when she turned away from him to continue to walk down the hallway. He watched her, his breath catching in his throat when she turned to him with a smile.

"Do you want to walk with me?" Her question was innocent enough. The thought of spending unsupervised and uninterrupted time with her caused Ren to secretly beg for a reprieve from his body. He simply nodded and she smiled again as he walked beside her, just enjoying the proximity of their bodies.

*Tell her now.* Again Ren had to quiet his mind when they reached the gardens and Aniko sat down upon on eof the benches, sighing in contentment. She looked at Ren and he blushed before turning away. She giggled softly before heat rushed to her cheeks as well.

*Invite him to sit with you.*

*Sit next to her* Ren groaned before sitting next to Aniko on the bench.

"I uhh...have a question to ask you, China man." Aniko's blush deepened as Ren turned to her in surprise.

"That night you came to my room, why did you come?" She asked as Ren looked down, his own blush deepening.

"I..."

"Mistress!" Ayame squealed as Aniko looked up in surprise. Ren sighed in relief at the distraction until he saw Bason's large form trying to hide behind a nearby tree.

"Ayame, where've you been?" Aniko asked, frustrated they had been interrupted.

"Why, I've been with Lord Amidamaru..."

"Of course." Aniko mumbled before Ayame could finish.

"And Lord Bason, Mistress!" Ayame finished with a smile and Bason came out of hiding when he caught his master's glare.

"Bason..." The threatening tone in Ren's voice caused Aniko to giggle. He turned to her in surprise again and she smiled at him.

"Relax, China man! I told you they were talking behind our backs. Besides getting mad at him won't stop him." She spoke softly and Ayame beamed at her mistress. Ren sighed before nodding to agree with her.

"Mistress is always right!" Ayame exclaimed and Aniko shook her head in frustration as Ren chuckled at her. She looked up at him with a smile before sliding closer to him.

"Laughter? From you?" Ren blushed when he noticed how much closer Aniko had gotten in his carelessness and she smiled at his embarassment.

"So tell me why you came to my room that night?" She asked again as she leaned closer to him and Ren stared at her, his mouth agape.

"What?" He asked in confusion, his mind unable to concentrate with her this close. Aniko giggled softly before leaning in and pressing her lips to his cheek. She climbed to her feet with a smile.

"Good night, Ren." Ren stared at her as she walked away, her hips swinging at this movement.

"Master Ren! Close your mouth or the drool with leak out!" Ayame chastised as she giggled before following after her mistress and Bason appeared beside his shaman ally.

"Master..."

"God, I hate her." Ren muttered as he turned to the ghost with a frown.

"She knew what her getting that close to me would do! She knew, damn it!"

"Knew what?" Ren jumped when he turned and saw Aniko standing in the garden again, a smile playing on her lips.

"You...were..."

"I remembered I couldn't sleep so going to bed would do me no good." She answered with a giggle and Ren groaned. Aniko tilted her head to the side as Ayame ushered Bason out of the garden, leaving the two shamans alone once again.

"Are you attracted to me, China man?" Aniko asked with a giggle as Ren glared at her.

"Why is that so funny?" He asked.

"So you are?" Aniko asked with a smile and Ren frowned. She had tricked him. She giggled again before sitting next to him.

"You remember when we first met?" She asked as she looked upwards toward the sky, smiling at the stars.

"Yeah. You got on my nerves."

"You laughed." She mentioned and he smirked.

"You fell."

"You let me go!" She argued and he chuckled again.

"You said to let you go!" He replied and she pouted.

"Then you actually did!" She bit back and he continued to chuckle as she smiled.

"Why don't you laugh more often? You look much more approachable when you smile." Aniko asked and Ren turned to her in surprise.

"I seem unapproachable?" He questioned and she nodded, a smile still on her lips.

"Yeah. Scary even." She answered easily as she leaned back on her hands. Ren stared at her with an unknown emotion flashing across his face as she smiled.

"But when you laugh...you seem happy. Of course you are, you're laughing, but I mean...truly happy." She corrected herself as she looked from the sky to the ground.

"Just like when you sing." Ren mentioned when he remembered the look of pure bliss that crossed her face whenever she sang, which she didn't do near as often as he would like. Aniko giggled.

"Yeah, like when I...hey! How'd you..."

"You're miserable." Ren simply stated before he climbed to his feet, turning away from her shocked face.

"I am not!" She rejected the thought and Ren turned to her, all the joking and teasing nature gone from his features.

"Don't lie to me or yourself." Ren said coldly and Aniko glared at him.

"I'm not lying." She muttered angrily as she climbed to her feet as well.

"I'm going to bed!"

"Why?! To avoid the truth?!" Ren asked, his temper flaring at the thought of her unhappiness. Aniko's glare darkened before she turned to face himi again.

"No, because I'm tired...of you!" She bit back.

"Well I'm tired your lies and of you pretending to be something that you're not!" Ren yelled at her turned back and Aniko froze. Tears welled in her eyes as Ren sighed in frustration.

"I mean..." He began but he was cut off when he heard an almost silent sob escape Aniko's form.

"Aniko..." He took four strides and turned her around.

"It's just...I need you to be happy..." He admitted softly as she stared at him. Tears sparkled down her cheeks and he brushed them away with his thumb.

"I need you to be happy, so I can be happy." She stared at him with wide eyes.

"Why?" She asked, her voice soft and vulnerable, revealing her shattered heart.

"Because I...I think I may have fallen for you." By the time Ren had finished, his voice was barely above a whisper and he looked like a lost child as he let out his tattered heart for someone to take and do what they wanted with it. Aniko's tears continued to flow down her cheeks as she stared at him in shock.

"What?" Her voice was a whisper as she asked this and Ren looked down. He grasped each side of her face before looking up, his grip soft.

"I love you, Aniko Asakura." He said before he pulled her lips onto his and pulled her body close. They pulled away, a blush tinting each of their cheeks and Aniko smiled just as Ren did.

"You're happy." He said softly as she pressed her forehead against his.

"Yes, very." She answered.

"Why?" He asked, a smile still playing on his lips.

"Because I think I'm in love with you too."

"Wow, Ani, you look so...happy!" Manta commented as he sat beside her at breakfast. Aniko smiled at him and giggled.

"Don't I always?" She asked as she took a sip of her tea.

"Not in the morning, no! What's gotten into you?" Manta was curious as to his friend's sister's current blissful state. Aniko looked up with a twinkle in a her eye when Ren walked in, a smile playing at the corners of his own lips.

"Good morning, Ren!" Aniko chirped happily as Manta's brain finally clicked. Ren and Aniko were never happy in the morning, especially not with each other. He stood up quickly and pointed his finger at the two chuckling shamans.

"Something's up! You two hate each other." He yelled as Horohoro and Ryo entered the room, yawning and rubbing their eyes.

"Hate is such a strong word, Manta." Aniko answered playfully.

"Ryo?" Manta turned to the man and pointed at Aniko and Ren.

"Yeah?" Ryo questioned as he finally opened his eyes fully.

"What is up with Aniko and Ren?!" Ryo looked at the smiling couple and Horo's eyes widened.

"No fair!" Horohoro whined as he sat down roughly on the cushion next to Ren.

"Why do you get to get with the girl?" Horohoro asked begrudgely as Aniko and Ren turned to him in surprise.

"How'd you..." Aniko began before she was cut off but Ryo's laughter and Manta's shocked gasp. Yoh entered the room from behind Ryo, scratching the back of his head and he smiled at everyone.

"Good morning!" He yawned as he spoke and he sat on the empty cushion next to his sister.

"I'm starving, what's for breakfast?" Everyone turned to look at him in exasperation before Manta jumped up and down.

"Your sister and Ren..."

"I know." Yoh interrupted Manta with a smile as he elbowed his sister softly.

"I saw you two last night in the garden." He laughed as he said it and a blush appeared on both Aniko's and Ren's face.

"You saw us?" Aniko asked, her voice trembling.

"Yeah. I'm not your brother for nothing, little sister. It's ok, besides Ayame and Bason are the ones who told me, after they told Amidamaru who woke me up." Yoh admitted as Ayame appeared in the room, just as chipper as her shaman counterpart.

"My mistress is happy! She has a suitor just like me!" Aniko looked up in surprise at her guardian ghost as she smiled.

"Suitor? Who?" Aniko asked.

"Why, Lord Amidamaru, of course, Mistress." Ayame answered with a blush now tinting her cheeks.

"Of course. How did I know that?" Aniko asked herself as Ren chuckled from beside her.

"It could be worse." He mentioned softly in a whisper and Aniko nodded.

"I know. You could be her suitor."

In the Adobe desert:

"You are the vision, sister." Aniko froze when she saw Hao in front of her with a smirk playing on his lips. She could hear Yoh and Ren shouting but couldn't quite grasp what they were saying.

"Sister?" She asked.

"You don't know? Our parents didn't tell you?" Hao asked, mockingly.

"Tell me what?"

"Yoh and I are twins, baby sister." Hao spoke coldly as Aniko stared at him with wide eyes. She let her swords fall to the ground with a clang and Hao chuckled darkly.

"And now, baby sister, you shall feel the wrath of the Fire Spirit."

"Aniko! NO!"

"SISTER!"

"Mistress!" Yoh and Ren watched in horror as Aniko slumped to the ground, motionless and Ayame had tears pouring down her face.

"Mistress..." She sobbed as Hao chuckled before disappearing. Yoh and Ren ran to the figure of the one person they loved and found her body to be cold and her eyes wide and dull.

"No..." Yoh mumbled, tears building in his eyes as Ren shook his head, unwilling to believe her death.

"Faust can save her!" He yelled and Yoh shook his head.

"No he can't..."

"Yes he can!"

"Ren, don't..." Yoh whispered as tears flooded down his cheeks and Ren stared at him. Tears welled in his eyes as well before they were joined by their groups. Manta gasped as did the others and Anna bent next to Yoh in support.

"It wasn't your fault..." She whispered as Yoh continued to cry.

"I didn't try to save her..." Ren whispered.

"Baby sister..." Yoh hung his head, his tears hitting the ground repetatively.

"Come on, Ren." Horohoro began but his own sobs choked him and Faust bowed his head.

"Do you wish for me to try?" He asked as Ren nodded but Yoh shook his head.

"Mistress!" Ayame wailed as Amidamaru and Bason and Tokegeroh surrounded her.

"Lady Ayame...please..."

"Save her! Someone help her!"

"Ayame." Ayame looked up as Yoh climbed to his feet, determined rage etching his usually aloof features.

"Watch her body." Ayame could only nod as Faust bent down next to the motionless body and began working.

Horohoro and Ryo dragged Ren away as Ayame did as Yoh commanded. She stood guard over her mistress's body. Yoh stood with Anna and Manta a few feet away as Joco did whatever he was told by Horohoro.

Few Hours Later:

"Her breathing is shallow and her heartbeat is weak, but I think she will make it." Faust concluded as everyone stared at him. Ren sat beside her weak form as Ayame and Bason floated above them. Yoh smiled worry still etching his features. He relaxed at but at the news and Manta smiled through his tears.

"Thank you, Faust." Yoh said, the gratitude oozing from his voice as he approached Ren's quiet figure.

"Take care of her. I'll deal with Hao." He spoke softly, afraid to awaken his frail sister.

"She'll want to go after you." Ren said, imagining what his love would say to this idea.

"Keep her from doing that. She needs to stay safe. I can't risk losing her and neither can you. We both love her too much to lose her again." Yoh said harshly and Ren nodded. What his friend said was true. He could not risk her again. He loved her too much.

"I will keep her safe." Ren promised as Yoh smiled at him.

"You know, I think you'd make a great brother-in-law." Yoh admitted before walking away as Ren smiled when he looked down at the sleeping Aniko.

"I think I'd like a brother!" He yelled at Yoh's back and Yoh chuckled.

"Brothers are stupid." Ren and Yoh froze along with everyone else as they heard a soft voice groan. Ren looked down and his eyes widened when Aniko's eyes began to flutter open, a smile tugging on her lips.

"Aniko..." Ren whispered as Yoh turned to look at his awakened sister.

"Sister..."

"Like I said, brothers are stupid. One tried to kill..." She stopped talking as she painfully sat up.

"One tried to kill me, and the other wants get himself killed, killing the other." She finished as she smiled at Yoh.

"I love you too much for that too, brother." Yoh ran to and hugged her and she winced in pain but hugged him back.

"Please...don't go, Yoh." She begged in a whisper and Yoh shook his head.

"He went too far, Ani."

"Yoh, please."

"Stay here with Ren and Horohoro and Faust." Yoh said as he broke away from Aniko and she shook her head.

"No! If you're going then so am I!" She climbed to her feet as Ren began to object.

"You can barely stand! You're not going anywhere!" He said harshly as Aniko glared at him.

"Then you can go too! Yoh, you can't do this alone!" She turned to her frowning brother with a glare.

"Take us with you!"

"Aniko! You can't fight in your condition! Haven't we all suffered enough today?!" Ren asked as Aniko turned to him in surprise.

"Suffered?" She asked, confused he had used such a word. Ren turned from her and clenched his fists at his sides.

"I lost you...because you were too stubborn to listen to us! I won't lose you again for the same damn thing!" He yelled as he turned to her in hurt rage. She stared at him with wide eyes.

"Ren..." She began before he cut her off.

"No! If you want to go get yourself killed again, go! But go do it without me!" He stomped away from her and tears welled in her eyes.

"Ren!" She shouted as he continued to walk away and she turned to Yoh.

"Yoh please."

"You don't have to choose, Ani. Ren will keep you safe." Yoh smiled reassuringly at her but she shook her head.

"No! Your my brother and I refuse to let you fight alone!"

"Are you willing to lose Ren? You love him..." Yoh started and he saw his sister's pained expression at the thought of losing either one of them.

"Sister, no matter who you choose, we will still love you. Whether Ren will admit it or not."

"I can't..." She fell to her knees and Yoh bent down beside her, tears in his eyes matching hers.

"I love you sister. You must understand that. But I have to do this. It's our dream remember?" Yoh smiled at the memory and Aniko shook her head, her tears spilling onto the ground.

"I need you, brother." She whispered and Yoh smiled.

"I know you do, you always have but you need Ren too, and Ayame, and they need you too." Yoh said softly as Amidamaru and Ayame appeared on either side of him.

"Mistress...stay with Master Ren. Master Yoh will defeat Hao and then come home!" Ayame spoke softly, her own emotions threatening to get the better of her. Amidamaru nodded.

"Yes, Lord Yoh and I will defeat this evil villain and kill him for what he's done to you, Lady Aniko." Amidamaru's voice was fury filled and Yoh smiled.

"See? No need to worry. I'll come back and then we'll eat ramen and relax at the shrine, like we used to do. I promise, little sister. " Aniko looked up at her brother and knew what he was promising was a lie but accepted it nonetheless. She nodded and Yoh smiled as he hugged her tightly.

"You need to stay safe, ok?" Aniko nodded as sobs wracked her body and Amidamaru smiled.

"I will inform Lord Ren of your decision." He vanished as tears trickled down Ayame's face before she disappeared as well.

"Yoh..." Yoh looked at his sister with a smile and kissed her forehead lovingly.

"I need you too, sister." He answered her unasked question and she threw herself upon him again, ignoring the pain her body protested with. When she pulled away, Ren was standing behind Yoh, his face stoic but his eyes were soft and sympathetic. He bent down next to her and pulled her into a hug, kissing her head.

"I know it hurts, but this is the right thing to do." He whispered as she cried into his shoulder. Yoh climbed to his feet and put his hand on Ren's unoccupied shoulder.

"I will hold you against your word to protect her."

"With my life." Ren answered solemnly as Yoh smiled.

"You are my brother."

"And you are mine."

THE END! YAYZ! I MADE IT!! Tell me what you think!