Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King.

A/N: You must have finished the manga before continuing. May contain spoilers. You've been warned =p

Chapter 5

"Man, where are those idiots?" Rue said as she walked around the Patch Tribe town looking for her friends.

"Master Ren! You need to take a rest!" A loud voice echoed from behind an old store.

Rue, intrigued, peeked behind the building and saw Ren and Bason having an argument.

"Shut up, Bason I still had furyoku left. Let's continue," he retorted, while obviously staggering.

"Hey, it was pointy head, after all." Rue said as she interrupted the two.

"Tch. We were training, can't you –" Ren didn't even finish his sentence when he collapsed.

"Master Ren!" Bason shouted.

"Ha-ha! I didn't imagine Ren would collapse like that." Rue, tipping her face on one side, said as she poked Ren's face.

Ren, obviously pissed, opened his eyes, and said, "Gah! Stop poking me! I'm still not unconscious."

"By the looks of it, you're not far from it." She smiled meaningfully before she continued, "why don't you let me help you?"

"W-wait! What do you mean?"

Rue reached inside her pouch, behind her. She took out five rings and put one in each of her left finger. "Irkosu." She called out, "You remember him don't you?" She asked Ren.

"Wait, what? Bason, why don't you stop her?"

"Don't worry Master, Lady Rue will help you get better." Bason tried to comfort his master.

"BASTA-AARRRGH!" Ren winced, not able to continue talking since Rue had already started her healing.

"Let's keep this moving, shall we? I'd like to eat soon." Rue said, a wicked smile on her face.

After a few minutes…

"Man, that was conceited!" Rue said, laughing.

"What'd you say!?"

"You really did say your power was enough to win this? Ha-ha! I can't believe it!" Rue said as Ren described how the teams were decided.

"Shut up already!" Ren shouted as he stood up.

"Heh, sorry, sorry, but it was hilarious, really."

Ren flashed her a pissed off look.

"But, Ren," Rue became serious this time, "are you sure you can trust that new guy?"

"Chocolove? He doesn't look like he plans on doing anything bad."

"Hmm – maybe I'd go see for myself." She muttered.

"If you weren't gonna listen to me, why did you ask in the first place?" Rue was surprised and looked at Ren, unable to answer.

Ren continued eating his food, "Besides, he's not in Yoh's team, so you shouldn't worry too much."

"Ah, right." Rue said softly as she stopped staring at Ren. "I should go now."

Ren did not respond as he looked at her walking away.

The next day, Rue followed Anna and Yoh's team on their way to training. When they reached a clearing, Anna faced her and said, "Hey, you can get out of here, now."

"What did you say?!"

"Ah! Anna, Rue, please stop fighting." Wrong move.

Yoh was punched away by the two bickering girls.

"I said you're not needed here." Anna repeated.

"Who are you to say that? How do you know you won't need me?" Rue slowly getting pissed off.

"Faust is a doctor; he can heal the others if it gets too serious." Anna answered flatly.

Rue was obviously dumbfounded. She looked at Yoh trying to ask for help.

"Sorry, Rue. But it's Anna's decision. Maybe we can take you along next time." He said, still not standing from the grass he was sitting on.

Rue was shocked at Yoh's response; it would be the first that Yoh actually took Anna's side against her – no, that's just the way it should be, right? I really need to get used to it by now.

Rue turned her back on them, breathing heavily, "Don't bother. I get it," she said finally between clenched teeth. With that, she ran back as fast as she could.

"Are you sure about this?" Anna quietly asked.

"He-he. Yeah." Yoh said, a sad smile on his face as both of them watched Rue's retreating form.

When she got tired of running, Rue started to wander around the town. Unconsciously, she walked by the place where she met Ren in her first day. With nothing to do, Rue decided to pay Ren a visit; unsurprisingly Ren was there, already training.

"What brings you here?" Ren asked without breaking from his routine.

"Nothing to do." Rue answered gloomily. She sat down one of the ruins and slumped her head on her hands.

Ren stopped, it would be the first time she heard Rue so glum. He continued training, dismissing that thought.

Rue silently watched Ren, but in her mind, she was not paying attention. She was still hung up on why they would not allow her to go with them. She didn't notice Ren falling on the ground, face first.

"Master!" Bason shouted.

This startled Rue which brought her out of her deep thinking. She hurried to Ren's side asking Bason what happened.

"Master Ren has not eaten since this morning. We forgot to prepare a meal for lunch, but he does not want to go back since it would waste our time." The spirit explained.

"Idiot." Rue chuckled lowly. She walked back to her place and lifted her bag. When she came back by Ren's side, she was holding two sets of bento. She sat on the ground and carefully prepared the food she brought. "What are you waiting for, brat? C,mon, let's eat." She motioned for Ren to sit up and eat with her. Ren would not refuse the offer.

"Do you always have this much food wherever you go?" Ren inquired.

"No."

"Did you bring this for Master Ren?" Bason interrupted, "I am so happy."

"No."

"Tch. Let me guess, you prepared this for Yoh, but got kicked out by Anna, huh?"

Rue stared blankly at Ren, and smiled sadly, "No." It was Yoh.

Ren raised an eyebrow at her, but decided to keep quiet for now.

After eating, Ren continued in his training. He barely noticed Rue leaving.

Rue left when she decided she was tired enough of watching and she needed to train herself. She left Ren her medicine kit for his use after his training.

She found herself a good spot near the inn. She was practicing with her swords, when a voice cut in, "Got bored?"

"No," she answered as she stopped, her back on him, "watching you made me wanna do it myself."

Ren noticed that she was still in a sullen mood, so he started to walk away.

"Ren…" she started, Ren stopped walking to listen, curious with her serious tone, "tomorrow, is it okay if I join you?"

Ren's smirked and, though shocked from the politeness he rarely – or never – sees from the girl, said, "As long as you prepare me food and milk."

"Call."

With that, Ren walked away, while Rue continued her training.

The next day…

"You brat! You're just avoiding my attacks!" Rue angrily shouted as she threw fire towards Ren.

"Shut up! It's because I'm not that used to Hou Rai Ken, yet."

"Tch! So I'm you're practice doll?"

"Argh! Just shut up and continue!"

Lunch passed by and the two were silently eating.

"Ren," Rue started, "maybe it would be better if we change our method. If you're still not used to your weapon, you should train to use it a bit more. Clearly, having a sparring partner is holding your growth. You're still not able to control it properly, can you? Are you afraid that it might hurt me if it got out of control?"

"Hmm."

"Ehh! What kind of answer is that?!"

"You're right. Okay. I'll go first."

Ren started training with his sword as Rue watched. She was busy thinking of ways to help Ren train to better control his sword, when he spoke.

"Why are you tagging along with me, and not Yoh and his team?" Ren said, not looking at her, instead he continued his training.

Rue stood motionless on her spot. She didn't expect him to ask this too seriously – she was starting to forget about that, too. The brat just had to bring it up.

"None of your business." She quietly answered.

"What?! Of course it is! I'm the one you're bothering, just because they won't allow you to come with them!"

"Well, sorry for being a bother, you ungrateful brat!" Rue shouted before walking away leaving her things behind.

"Master…" his spirit was about to speak, but was interrupted.

"Don't think about it too much, Bason."

"Hai."

That night, Ren came by Rue's room, "You left these," he said, Rue did not move, pretending to be asleep.

"See you tomorrow." Ren finally said as he left.

"Brat." Rue murmured, before letting herself fall asleep.

The next morning…

"Master, it's about lunch time, Lady Rue still hasn't come."

"Bason, we can't get distracted. Continue."

They continued training until the sun was high up in the sky. "Let's rest for now, Bason."

"Finally." A voice came from the roof.

Ren sat up in an instant.

"Ah! You came after all, Lady Rue!" Bason shouted merrily.

"I didn't think you'd be that happy to see me."

"What are you talking about? I'm just hungry." Ren turned around to look at her, seeing her and Bason grinning at each other.

Rue answered, "I was talking about Bason," as she pointed to the spirit.

Ren got embarrassed and answered with a scoff.

"Ha-ha Ren! So that's how you look when you're embarrassed." Rue teased, not moving from where she was.

While eating their lunch, Horohoro and Chocolove came by.

"Hey, hey! So this was where you two were." Horohoro started, both his hands behind his head.

"Uh, Horohoro, are we interrupting them?"

"W-what!" Ren shouted.

"Isn't this like, your date?" Chocolove teased, in which Ren pierced his nose.

"Pfft. Ren, this is so cheap." With that, Horohoro was slammed on the wall.

Rue silently ate, having a good mood, "Hey, Bason, the weather looks good today, doesn't it?" she said, ignoring the fight in front of them.

"Uh, Hai, Lady Rue." Bason uncertainly answered.

Moments later, Horohoro and Chocolove were eating with Ren and Rue.

"We went here to ask if we could train with you." Chocolove said, as Horohoro kept stuffing food into his mouth.

"Tch! It took you so long to take up the initiative! What the hell did you do these past few days?"

"We were training as well, Ren. But we wanted to train together as a team." Horohoro answered defensively.

"They have a point, Ren. It would seem the goal of the second rounds would be team work." Rue interrupted.

"Whatever. Make sure you won't get in my way."

"Always a brat." Rue stated.

"What?!"

"More importantly, only one person can become the shaman king. If this would be a team game only one of you will get that title. I think you should decide now who it is you would support to be the king." Rue said, more seriously.

"Of course, it would be me!" All three answered at the same time.

Each one's statement caused the three to look at each other and started a staring battle among them.

"Of course it would be Yoh, right Bason?" Rue cheerfully asked, the latter choosing not to answer.

"WHAAAT?!" the three chorused.

"Yosh! Putting that aside," she said as she clasped her hands and stood up, "let's get started." She smiled creepily at them. The three felt strange vibes from Rue that they felt chills run down their spine.

It had been a week since they have started enduring Rue's hellish training.

"I will not be beaten down by Anna!" she always shouts.

One day, Ren and Chocolove were eating breakfast in their room when Horohoro came in. He was called by his sister earlier.

"Ah, Ren, Chocolove, I won't be able to come with you in training today. Pirika will be going away for some days; I'll be sending her off later."

"What! You just want to escape from Rue, don't you?" Chocolove accused.

"Morons. If you get scared just with that level, you would be just a burden to me." Ren said calmly.

"I don't care what you think, Ren!" Chocolove said as he ran out of the room.

Later that day, Ren went to their training place alone.

"Huh? Where's the other two?"

"Don't ask me, I don't own them, they have their own lives. If they want to slack off, let them. They will never get stronger that way."

"The hell is that answer, Ren!" Rue shouted suddenly, that Ren jumped from shock. "That's just bothersome! You're supposed to be teammates, and yet you're not acting as one! How is that supposed to work?! Even if you are strong individually, you're weak if you are faced with opponents who have better compatibilities and teamwork."

"…" Ren does not answer.

"Argh! This is frustrating. You're such a troublesome bunch."

"Then why are you still hanging around with us? Why don't you run off to Yoh? Let's see if he accepts you!"

Rue was shocked with Ren's retort. It was kind of true, she did say they were troublesome, yet she still stays with them. He was also right, with Yoh, he'll most likely not take her with him. She turned around, feeling tears welling in her eyes. I really can't take rejection well, can I? Stupid Yoh.

"Ah, Lady Rue…" Bason said worriedly. With this, Ren turned to look at her, and immediately regretted what he said.

"I-I didn't mean to…" he started.

"Nah, you're right." she interrupted.

Ren does not answer, but Rue continued. She sat down by a broken down wall as she told Ren what happened between her, Yoh, and Anna on their first day of training.

"I'm a bother to them." She said as she smiled sadly, "You're right, they probably won't take me with them."

Ren kept silent.

"I'm becoming a bother to you, too, aren't I?"

With that, Ren turned around, a tic on his forehead, and cursed under his breath. "Shit!" Bason hesitantly followed.

He walks away from Rue. Rue thought that Ren got tired of listening to her and left. She refused to move after Ren left, tears were starting to form in her eyes; but to her surprise, he came back, with Horohoro and Chocolove in tow.

He tosses them to Rue and said, "Apologize, you idiots!"

"We're really sorry." The two shouted as they bowed their heads down.

Rue smiles at them, wipes her tears, and says, "It's okay." She stands up and turns her back on them. "Ah! I wasn't feeling very well, so I'll go back to the inn first. See you guys tomorrow!" With that she ran back to the direction of the inn, even before the three saw her flustered expression.

The three were left staring at her back as she ran away. Ren gets pissed and forces the other two to start training with him. Rue, surprised, embarrassed and a bit delighted at the same time, couldn't face the three, so she escaped.

That night, before the three came back to the inn, she prepared them dinner and left a note by their beds. It says, "Eat up. You'll have hell tomorrow."

When almost everyone was sleeping, Ren took a bath in the men's bathroom outside their room. When he finished, Rue was waiting for him. She shoved a bottle of milk to his face, and when he took it, she, without looking at him, murmured a 'Thank you' and turned around.

"See you tomorrow." And with that she walked away.

Ren, with a smirk, opened the bottle, and finished it in one go.

I feel so inspired :D

Okay, here's the last one for today. \('v')/

I'm not sure, is it fast-paced? I really wanted to focus on the main idea, which is Rue's story. I'm afraid, if I put other scenes, I might get sidetracked or something. (' 3 ')

Just a little bit of explanation, in case you think that there are parts missing, this story would follow the scenes in the manga. It's just that, this is focused on Rue, so yeah, I think I need to reread the manga to make sure the stories are synced. =P

Yeah, so I only own scenes containing or pertaining to Rue; for the others, they all belong to Hiroyuki Takei's work. That's why I don't include much of it here =P

Thank you for reading. Enjoy! :D