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 20
"Jun-nee asked me to give this to you," Ren handed the gift, purposely shoving it to Yoh's face to block his reaction.
Yoh took it, but the annoying expression Ren expected wasn't there. He was dead serious – and he was looking directly at him! – so Ren let his head turn to look back at him.
"Ren, she already left," he said, almost sadly.
"I wasn't asking," he answered immediately, how did he know? he asked himself, but this was answered by Yoh's concerned smile, "alright, fine. Just like that, huh?" He looked forward again, thinking deeply.
"You know how she is," Yoh patted his shoulder in sympathy, "are you going to follow her?"
"Yeah… no, I'll be leaving for China tonight, Yoh," he answered, not bothering to cover up his hesitation, as he straightened his body, preparing for his departure.
With a sigh, Yoh let his hand fall from Ren's shoulder, "then, take care, Ren."
He was still thinking about Rue as he travelled back to his apartment.
Wasn't she the one who chose to live?
Then why did she come back, what for?
He decided, it didn't really concern him – her reason for coming back – but he was really, really frustrated about it. What else is new? It was Rue, after all.
What were you expecting?
I just wanted to see her.
He was surprised by that; at least he could be honest with himself.
He came home to see his sister already packed.
"Ren, are you really leaving tonight?" His sister was especially persistent that night. Perhaps she was feeling something off about him, and decided to corner him on the way, "Why don't you go with me on the train this time?"
But he won't let her. "You know I don't like those."
"Are you upset, Ren?"
Time to go.
"See you at home, Jun-nee," he dismissed her, not really wanting to talk anymore.
It wasn't like being alone to think to himself was any good. It was just better than voicing them out; it would just make him uneasy.
"Ren, didn't I tell you to go with your sister. She'd arrived hours ago," his mother was already nagging at him as soon as he came back.
"I don't like trains, Mom," was his absent-minded response.
"I guess it's because of us that you're still this stubborn. You've even made your visitor wait."
"Visitor?" He stopped and turned back around.
"You've kept me waiting," a voice came from behind his mother. His mouth hang open at the familiarity, while the visitor revealed herself with a smirk on her face, "what's your excuse, brat?"
.
.
.
Meanwhile…
"Do you think Ren realized?" Yoh asked Anna as they were having dinner – the one Ren had delivered earlier.
"Impossible. That guy's head is as hard as a block," Anna said, shrugging.
"She's the impossible one. She even got me to work with her," Yoh said with a chuckle.
"Yoh, are you sure he's going to be fine?" Manta jumped in the conversation.
"Not in the slightest, Manta," Yoh looked amusedly at Manta, "but that's exactly what's best for him, her."
At last, you'll finally be happy, Rue. He continued eating with a content smile on his face.
.
.
.
And you've reached the end of the story! ^.^
Finally! I almost lost hope that I could complete this one - all because I'm avoiding that last fight scene. And thanks to the powers of procrastination, this went longer than expected.
But hey, if you're reading this part, this means, you've read all of it. I'm very - very, very - grateful for your time! I hope you enjoyed it. Until next time!
n_n