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 15

The hardheaded one first, she thought to herself.

She went outside to be welcomed with the wind blowing towards her. She immediately saw him. She stared at his back for a while; her mind going back to that time when she revealed her memories. How did he take that? Her mind wondered, I still haven't asked. It was something she couldn't read off of him – she usually can sense his moods. Like today, if the situation were different, she would've laughed at him. She knew why he was outside – not thinking, like he wants them to assume, but waiting. He was that worried for Yoh. She would've, if this were a few days ago. But he seemed more guarded when it comes to her. It's going to be alright, she recited her mantra multiple times in her head, and then she remembered Ren in Hell, he wasn't too distant that time, maybe… her mind had already started creating scenarios, dammit, just stop thinking already! She shook her head in frustration.

She noticed him standing up, bringing her back to that moment, so she called, "hey," she started, but her eyes widened, as he wordlessly walked past her. It was probably instinct that pushed her hand to stop him – clutching at his wrist – and say, "wait."

"I know you're worried about him, too. So you can't tell me that's it's going to be al-oomph!"

He finally turned, but as he did, he was met with a firey punch – literally.

She was breathing heavily, still trying to calm herself down. Ren, though still conscious, didn't move from the ground he fell on to.

"Ugh! The nerve!" She took in one deep breath, before crouching beside him. She was irritated, but she didn't really intended to hurt him that bad, so she healed him. But he stubbornly kept silent, while she refused to look at him – she might get more irritated, after all. When she finished, she just put down her hands, "I was worried about you, you ungrateful jerk! And this is what I get from – Worrying. Over. Some. Insensitive. Idiot!" Unable to contain herself again, she smacked his midsection, repeatedly – putting more force as she emphasized each word – before running to the house, still seething in anger.

Ren, who still didn't stand from the grass, just watched her run into the building. When she disappeared, he covered his face with his arms, "seriously, what's wrong with you?" he asked himself.

She got back inside – angrily – catching everyone's attention.

Another argument, they collectively thought.

She went straight to the table and grabbed the nearest food she could find and began biting angrily on it.

Annoying! Jerk-face! Rude! Ungrateful! Braaaat!

She grabbed the nearest thing her hand could reach – which happened to be Manta's plate – and posed to throw it towards the door.

"A-a…" Manta wanted to stop her, but was afraid at the same time. Fear won him over, so he silently endured watching his food about to fly to the door.

"GRAAAHHH!" Rue shouted, but abruptly stopped, shocking her audience, "not even worth wasting food for," she angrily muttered before placing the plate back down the table.

Thank you! Manta cheered as he grabbed his food plate and distanced himself from Rue's hands.

He stiffened in fear as Rue snapped her head to look at his retreating form, a wicked grin on her face, "if I threw this table to him, would he cry in pain?"

"Stop it, Rue!" To Manta's surprise – and relief – Horohoro butt in. He and Chocolove just got in the room, but he sighed at the tense atmosphere in it.

"He'll get over it, don't worry," he said as he grinned at her.

"We'll beat him for you if he doesn't," Chocolove added, sticking his thumb up.

Her face flushed of embarrassment, since when was I that easy to read? she asked herself. She remembered when Yoh was the only one who could understand her perfectly. We've found some great friends, Yoh.

Only a few minutes later passed when a pissed off Ren hurriedly entered the building, walking straight to his room. At the same time, Horohoro disappeared – out of the house, she supposes, he's back, after all.

"Ren…" Chocolove was about to run after his friend, when another person walked in.

"I'm back," Yoh said, in his usually carefree tone. He acted stupidly untroubled; he didn't even flinch when all heads snapped to him as he entered the house.

"Master Yoh!" "Yoh!" "Ah! Y-"

But Yoh's attention was caught by the foot-stomping heading towards him. He smiled, irritating the girl even more.

"Anna, hey.." whatever he was about to say, it was lost with Anna's arm landing on his neck and pulling him away from the room. The others were left gaping at the couple's backs.

The others went back to their own business; the tension going back down. Yoh was unharmed. She sighed – she felt relieved after that. With her worry and irritation over Ren, she was surprised that she didn't even bother reprimanding Yoh for worrying her. He won't listen to her, anyway. He was safe; that was enough. Besides, she was sure Anna would take care of him.

She smiled; she would usually follow them to piss off Anna or help her punish Yoh. But lately, she's had lots of fun tormenting her other friends. She laughed loudly at the thought, confusing the others in the room. Chocolove, Horohoro, and… Ren. She shook her head, trying to clear it from unnecessary thoughts. It's going to be alright, right Yoh? Recovering from her laughter, she excused herself and looked outside for Horohoro.

The Ren vs. Funbari Onsen

Rue is currently watching the battle, but she is worried about Ren and Horohoro's states. She felt something off about them. It all started yesterday when Yoh came back from talking with Hao.

FLASHBACK

She found Horohoro sitting at the edge of a cliff.

"You seem to like high places," she said as she sat beside him.

"It's the wind – the breeze, the cold. I feel calmer because of it."

Just then, a sea breeze passed them. She let herself soak in the cold air, "I think I know what you mean."

And then, they were silent.

"I don't understand, Rue." He broke the silence, "that time when you took off on your own, you don't even know how worried we were. And then we find out you carelessly looked for Hao. Now even Yoh thinks he can do the same and not come out unharmed."

She admits; she was offended by his words. Surely, he wasn't suggesting that it was her fault, "but he is unharmed…"

"Yes, for now!" He gritted his teeth in frustration. "Why would do he do this?"

She sighed, "I had my reasons, Horohoro. Yoh definitely has his own, too." The wind was still blowing, but it did nothing to calm her heart.

"Is that enough to hide it from your friends, too?"

Sting. She clutched her chest unconsciously.

"I don't have the answer to that, Horohoro," with that she walked away.

He couldn't mean her, right? He acted normally with her just earlier. It was all about Yoh that upsets him. But whatever Yoh's reason was, she would not doubt him.

FLASHBACK END

"Because he has no friends," he easily stated. It was a full minute before anyone could give any reaction – even she was stunned with his words.

The cheers started to build up again. She slowly turned her head towards Manta. As their eyes met, she immediately bust out laughing – Manta, only resorted to awkward chuckles.

"Oh boy, that sure is Yoh for you," she commented as she recovered.

"He-he. That was definitely something Yoh would say. *sigh*"

"Man, I wish I could have seen Hao's face – if he had any reactions, that is."

"Rue, there's something wrong with the fight."

She sighed again, and forced herself to look at the fighting morons, he labeled in her mind.

"They can't win like this," she commented, "I'm going first." She stood up and walked away, not minding Manta shouting her name. I wouldn't stand here and watch them be stupid.

When the battle ended, team the Ren is getting patched up when they noticed someone missing.

"Where's Rue?" Chocolove asked.

I got too focused on Yoh, I didn't notice if she were here at all. Ren thought.

"Maybe she decided not to watch?" Horohoro said.

"No, she was with us when the match started." Manta interrupted, "but she walked out in the middle."

"But…" everybody turned to look at Chocolove, "this is our first match that she didn't finish."

"Wait, Hao wasn't in the arena, too!" Horohoro exclaimed.

"Let's go." Ren said, and with that, they hurried out of the building.

"Are you guys looking for someone?" They jumped at hearing Hao's voice as soon as they got out the arena.

"Where is she!?" Ren demanded.

"Well, I haven't got her." Hao answered casually.

"If we find out you did something to her again…" Horohoro trailed off not sure what to say in threat.

"I'd love to know what you would say after that." Hao said mockingly, "well, I do know where she is."

"What?!" the trio said in chorus.

"The river, just north of here. I think she's waiting for you." Hao said giving them a meaningful smile.

The three started to run off towards north.

"I'll be careful if I were you," Hao tells them.

But they dismissed his warning, thinking he was just threatening them.

"Is this place enough?" they heard her ask, even before they could get near.

"Hey, Rue…" Chocolove was about to call out, but she turned to face them. They stopped in their tracks when they saw her serious face.

Shit! She looks really pissed. Horohoro thought.

"I said… is this space enough for you?" Rue repeated, emphasizing every word.

"F-For what?" Chocolove asked.

"You idiots, of course, a fight…"

"C'mon Rue! We just finished a fight with Yoh; that was already tiring enough." Horohoro whined.

"Take your stance." She was equipping rings on her left hand.

"Rue, can't we rest for a bit?"

"I said…" she didn't even finish her sentence when she jumped onto Horohoro, "take your stance."

Chocolove was immediately beside them, to stop Rue.

"Rue, what's the matter?"

"I won't go easy on you just because you're unwilling to fight."

She jumped back, only to draw one of her swords. She turned to attack Ren, but he was able to shield himself using Hou Rai Ken.

"Am I the only one who will attack? You'll never win like this."

She ran towards Horohoro again, this time, Ren cut her off using Bason in oversoul.

"I'm disappointed," she said, almost emotionlessly. It was different, the three felt – she was different. She had never been this cold in their trainings.

She managed to throw Ren to the side, but the latter was able to land on his feet perfectly. Horohoro, seeming to wake up from his stupor, called out his O.S, too and countered. Rue easily dodged, turned around, and landed a hit on Chocolove.

"Hey, this is getting out of hand. Seriously, Rue," Horohoro tried to talk her out of it.

"I am serious. You, on the other hand…" she answered effortlessly as she continued her attacks on Ren.

"What's with your craziness?" It was Ren's turn to shout.

"Hey, Rue, why don't you talk to us?" Chocolove asked as he recovered.

"Won't you understand it better this way?" she asked, feigning innocence.

She continued with her barrage of attacks. Losing his patience, Ren decided to take on the offensive.

"See, you can do it after all."

"Ren!" Horohoro shouted. They shouldn't be encouraging her; if they attack, someone will surely get hurt.

Rue, feeling energy leave out her body, called forth her spirit and healed herself.

"Rue…" Horohoro whined.

"Now, let's get even more serious."

"What's this really about?"

"Sorting things out, of course."

"You don't have to go to these lengths just to make a point!" Chocolove shouted. But as he finished, realization kicked in. "Rue… is this about that…?"

Rue smirked at him. In an instant, she was in front of him. As if she were dancing, she turned her body getting enough force to swing her foot around onto Chocolove's midsection. The latter flew to a tree knocking him out of consciousness.

"Chocolove!"

"Horohoro! She's serious about this. It's about time, we too.."

"Shut up, Ren!"

"Oy," Rue said lowly, as she, seemingly appearing in midair, attacked Horohoro. This shocked Horohoro that he could only lift his weapon up to dodge her feet.

Rue released her attack and kicked on Horohoro's weapon. He was slightly pushed back from the impact.

Seeing his chance, Ren dashed to Rue even before she could land, but she disappeared from his eyes, at the same moment, she appeared a few inches above him, holding already both her swords.

"Fire," she muttered.

"Tch!" Ren barely dodged the sea of fire directed to where he was. "Damn."

He ran back to Rue again, frustration now overcoming his mind. He called forth thunder and formed his O.S.

"Ren!" but Horohoro's shout fell to deaf ears as Ren continued running towards Rue.

"Ah, now you're serious. Are you too proud to give up your point?"

I get it now, Ren thought.

"Even using your most powerful O.S., I see," she mocked Ren further.

"Rue, watch out!" Horohoro was shouting. When Ren started to turn it into a real fight, he got confused and stopped. The idiot's taking it too seriously. He looked at Rue who looked focused on Ren. It's not her normal teasing antics, too, he thought.

Rue was dodging Ren's attack, damn it, I couldn't get close enough to land an attack. In panic, she dodged to a corner, where Ren – who was one step ahead – was already waiting. He launched a close range attack, but Rue was able to shield herself using her fire, reducing the impact. But this did not stop her from being flown backwards.

I need to stop her movements, Ren thought. He planned on cornering her again. He launched lightning leaving only one way out. When she dodges, I can catch her and finally stop this.

But Rue realized his plan. She double-checked, no other way out.

"Damn," was all Ren heard from Rue as she stood still, and waited for his attack to hit.

No way… Ren thought as he pushed himself towards Rue, I can't make it!

He could only shout as his lightning finally hit its target.

"RUE!"