#☯ you were my first friend [ren & yoh]

[chukazanmai]

Yoh Asakura | Ren Tao | Horohoro THE ORIGINAL TRIO

"Because of you, I laugh a little harder, cry a little less, and smile a lot more."

[chukazanmai]

Continued from here

@spiritofsword (Yoh)

Ren wanted to groan and face palm at how casual Yoh sounded in response. He did wonder if this space out attitude of his was, sometimes, true or just something he did on purpose.

Well no matter. He sighed instead.

“Nonsense. Whether you feel the need to cover up or not, it doesn’t mean your body doesn’t need that warmth.” the Tao grumbled while untying the golden scarf from around his own neck. He approached the brown haired boy before throwing the warm piece of cloth around Yoh’s neck, pulling its edges forward before making it take another turn. 

An icy puff came from his mouth when his own golden eyes came in contact with those of the Asakura. Ren was completely -trying to- ignore the fact he had just struggled with reaching Yoh’s neck considering the latter was taller than Ren and such had forced him to do the previous action nearly on tiptoes.

“If you were to catch a cold, you would make me feel bad for letting that happen.” he justified what he just did “That is the only reason I’m doing this.” 

“Don’t get used to it.”

[chukazanmai]

Continued from here

@spiritofsword​​

He wasn’t supposed to have learned about this. Not yet anyway. But push came to shove and when Hao really came for Yoh this time, Ren had been there and, of course with his short temper, he couldn’t leave the fight just to the latter. Especially after he got himself injured like that.

At the end they were both rescued by a man with a mask covering his face, that Ren eventually learned was none other than Mikihisa Asakura, Yoh’s father. Ren didn’t even know if he could call that a rescue, Hao had merely retreated, all that Mikihisa did was stand in between them.  Perhaps what had bothered Ren the most was how the man hadn’t even checked on his son despite seeing he was injured. Just a simple question about if he was alright.

Ren had carried Yoh back to one of the Patch houses so that he could receive treatment. The Tao heir had merely suffered minor injuries, nothing that a couple of bandages for a few days wouldn’t do. It was then the rest of the Asakura family, as well as Anna and Tamao, appeared in the room and Ren was pretty much shunned out of it. Yet stubborn as he was, he remained in the halls, listening to the conversation and occasionally glaring at Mikihisa who hadn’t bothered going inside and just in case he even so attempted to stop him from listening.

Yoh was Hao’s brother. Twin brother. It shouldn’t have been such a surprise to him...the similarities between the two didn’t go amiss. His family had just dropped that bomb on him, not only that but aside from the relationship between the two, Yoh had always been destined to fight and kill Hao one day. There had been no emotion, no moral support, nothing and that alone made Ren’s blood boil. 

Why were both their families so messed up?

While it had no possible comparison with the way things were, Ren didn’t want to imagine how he would feel if he was suddenly told he had to kill Jun... That’s why as soon as Yoh stepped out of that room, Ren decided to lead him out of there, away from that place, away from the Asakuras...and if he could do it he would take him away from reality.

The forest of the Patch village seemed, at the moment, the best place.

“Cut the crap with me, Yoh.” he frowned at the (clearly) fake smile he was pulling, he knew him better than this...or so he hoped he did “It’s just you and me here, I am not going to judge you.”

[chukazanmai]

Random Asks (Always Open)

@spiritofsword​ asked: (2001 Anime) You were the first one to arrive. Manta and two Patch officials were already in the scene, but you can't bring yourself to care about them. Because the first thing you see is Yoh pended by his hair upon Hao's feet; Yoh's soul painfully ripped from his body into Hao's grinning mouth. He is gone. Yoh is gone. Yoh is dead.

Ren had warned the others that he didn’t like Yoh was (most likely) fighting Hao all by himself and that alone had made his legs run faster and faster, leaving the others behind him. He was tired from the previous battles yes, his throat was dry from all the quick inhales and exhales that Ren forced upon his lungs to keep himself going. His heart was beat harder against his ribcage and Ren had the feeling it wasn’t just from the adrenaline. Something was wrong, something was happening and that’s why he needed to go ahead.

The painful scream he heard right from where he was headed to sent a shiver down his spine.

Yoh was in danger...!

And then his legs came to a sudden halt when he came across the horrifying scene. Yoh on his knees...Hao holding him tightly by his hair...Hao’s hand was...pulling something out of Yoh’s body and-

“YOH!!” the Tao didn’t wait to process what was happening, he charged full force towards the other two, Bao Lei sword in hand turning into his Bushin O.S as he swung it at them. Yet Hao was faster, grinning like a mad man, he casually threw Yoh at him like he was nothing.

Ren called off the Over Soul right before the body of his friend hit against him. He was sent flying from the impact but his arms tightly held onto the Asakura. Ren fell on his back and even slid across the floor. That was going to leave a big bruise, but the purple haired shaman didn’t care about it right now. He quickly sat up to check on the brown haired boy. Yoh was unconscious but Ren needed him awake, just to be sure he was alright.

“Yoh.” he called while shaking him. There was no response and Ren frowned, this was no time to sleep...! He grabbed him by his shoulders...and he wasn’t even given the chance to call for Yoh again...his head fell backwards so quickly that Ren had to reach to support it. What was happening...?

He said his friend’s name again but this time more careful...his throat went dry again. Surely it couldn’t be... The heir of the Tao family readjusted Yoh in his arms and carefully reached with one hand towards Yoh’s nose and mouth. 

No air...

The realization dawned on him like he had just taken a punch in the stomach. 

“That body you are holding won’t move anymore.” Hao’s sneer reached his ears like poison and Ren forced himself to look towards Yoh’s twin. Eyes widened...first in shock and then...anger...hate...hate towards that...

“You bastard...you son of a-” Hao scolded him for using such a foul language in a sanctuary but Ren could still see the amused look on his face...he was going to kill him. He began shaking, he heard the footsteps of the others arriving but he made no mode to acknowledge them...

Yoh was...dead...

It all came rushing to him. The memories of their first meeting, of their battles, their travels...when Ren was allowed to just smile and relax around him...all that...he would have no more...

Ren gritted his teeth angrily...that monster was going to pay...he had taken his friend away from him....he had...no one no one took things from Tao Ren and walked away from it without a punishment! He raised his head, fueled by anger and determination to take down Hao. Ready to take that sickly smile off his face! 

Ren placed Yoh’s body back on the ground and then raised back up, sword in hand.

“You are going down today...HAO!” 

[chukazanmai]

@spiritofsword​ sent: Blood dripped from his hands, adding freckles of crimson to the piece of art by his feet. His heart pumped pride and filled the dark void within him, finally scratching his inherited itch. The body lay in delicious stillness, broken headphones perfecting the composition. Well done, echoed the voices of ancestors, the voice of his father, the voice of his next victims. His nape ripped open in great pain, an all-seeing eye being born, and black wings pushed through the skin of his back. Well done.

Eyes snapped open, mouth took shallow, rasping breaths, chest moved quickly up and down, heart beat against the ribcage at an insane speed. Calm down. His hair was wet from the sweat mating his skin; it was a cool night, weather was already making its transiction from winter to early spring and anyone that looked at Ren would think he had just returned from a very hot place. Calm down.

The Tao sat up on his futon, the blankets rolling with his movement. Deep breaths Ren...deep breaths. Loud snores filled the room. No one seemed to have noticed his sudden awaken, everything around him was as it always had been for the past months.

Ren looked down on his hands, frowning at how they were shaking and certainly it wasn’t from the cold of the night. Of course it had been from this damned dream...or should he call it a nightmare? Yes, certainly it was a nightmare...damn these emotions...why did they have to get to him like this? It had all been the same back in the Shaman Fight...he had tried to close his heart, cut off his emotions towards him...and still had hesitated...in...killing him.

Yoh. He had always considered the Asakura his closest friend, despite that circumstances and different views on matters had recently led to a big disagreement between the two of them...but he would be lying if he didn’t say the fight from earlier that day hadn’t affected him. Clearly it had or he wouldn’t be in this current state right now... Why did his heart have to skip beats, hesitate, made him think twice whenever it came to him?

Ren rubbed his face in frustration and finally threw aside the blankets, knowing he wasn’t going to be able to go back to sleep. With steady but also silent steps, Ren left the room he was at and took just a few more to reach the next one. His hand stopped midway as it was about to reach for the sliding door.

Idiot what are you thinking? What do you think you will accomplish by paying him a midnight visit?

Ren sighed, shaking his head. Arm dropped, giving up on what he had previously decided to go do. Yet he couldn’t go back to sleep either...this inn wasn’t very big and so it didn’t take long for Ren to reach a third room where a large table was set in the center. He pulled aside one of the pillows and sat down after having filled a cup with water. His forehead rested against the cool wood. It was alright, he was alone, no one was here to inquiry or judge the way he was acting right now, it allowed him to close his eyes for a moment.

What am I doing... 

[chukazanmai]

The sun brightens up his life...

...the moon shines on his darkest hour

chukazanmai (Tao Ren) & spiritofsword (Asakura Yoh), from Shaman King

penned by El & Hunt

[chukazanmai]

spiritofsword​:

Another twitch, like static but stronger, awoke Yoh in the middle of the night. It had been happening for a couple of days now, and never at a predictable pattern.

Nothing seemed amiss; Ryu and Faust slept peacefully, Manta was making a face as usual due to being under one of Ryu’s legs, and Yoh was glad to wake up without Hao breathing down his neck, like he had a few nights ago. Just thinking about it sent shivers down his spine, and back the twitch came to his neck. He whined in silence and rubbed at his nape; though the healing had gone fine, his body still had to complete the rest of the process as naturally as possible. So, other than leaving new scar tissue to settle, he was having to deal with a little bit of literal aftershock from the battle against Horohoro and Ren. 

Yoh sighed. Boy, those two had really put their all into the fight. He was proud of them.

He settled down into the blankets and waited to drift back to sleep — until he truly heard something out of place. A gasp that scratched at the silence of the night like nails on a chalkboard. Immediately, Yoh pushed himself up, awareness coursing through him until the last hair standing on end. He flung the covers aside and jumped to his feet, ready for anything, as by the time he got there, the sound was no more. He stood as still as he could, to be able to truly listen the next time around.

It took a while before he heard something else. The titter-patter of feet, walking and then stopping at the door to his room. Yoh picked up his sword and called Amidamaru with a whisper. His guardian revealed himself to be ready as his master.

But… the steps kept going. Relieved, but not yet relaxed, Yoh decided to investigate with the spirit on his tail. He slid the door and walked on the tip of his toes — yet another sound stopped him. Running water. A cabinet door. A chair’s ends meeting the floor. And a sigh.

He recognized that sigh.

Albeit not the least bit stealthy anymore, Yoh dropped his defense and barged into the kitchen, finding Ren sitting by the table with a glass of water. “Ahh, Ren! You scared me! What are you doing up so late?” Yoh said in a not-quiet voice, resting harusame by the door and making his way to sit beside his friend, while Amidamaru stayed behind to keep watch.

How did he even think lowering his guard, even if it was in the middle of the night, was a good idea? Ren didn’t know but oh boy was he regretting it...

...a lot.

The sudden voice, full of exclamations, that entered in the kitchen not only had Ren jump from his seat back on his feet but also made him crush the glass of water in his hand. He was so damn tense and he knew it; so much that he even raised the largest part of the now broken glass towards the person.

Yoh.

Shit. Oh shit. It was him.

It only took Ren seconds to react back. Seconds that had been enough for Yoh to come and sit by his side. Well not next to him anymore considering the Tao was back on his feet.

“Are you fucking crazy or something!?!” his voice was not so quiet either but when Ren raised his voice, almost immediately slapped his free hand over his mouth though his eyebrows remained in a big frown, glaring with golden eyes at the Asakura “What’s your idea sneaking up on me like that?!” his voice was now lower but still very angry.

Ren grabbed him by his collar but not with enough strength to lift him off the chair. He wanted to punch him so badly for the scare! But then...

Eyes deviated from Yoh’s face the moment he spotted something strange. There was a stain, not too big but not too small either, forming around the collar of Yoh’s yukata. A dark stain. Ren slowly let go, eyes widening. Blood...it was blood...!

His hands trembled again. The images of his nightmare returning full force to his mind, his breath caught in his throat. Ren’s golden eyes then looked at his hands. One of them had several threads of blood running down his palm, dropping slowly to the floor.

No...the blood wasn’t Yoh’s...it was his.

Ren snapped out of his erratic mind, shaking his head, when he finally realized he was the source of the problem and not the Asakura. His hand had several cuts from the broken glass. 

“Shit.” he mumbled, ignoring Yoh’s presence and turning his back on him. The droplets of blood continued to fall, forming a path towards the sink. His other hand turned on the tap and water began running; Ren put the injured hand beneath the water and the blood mixed with the crystalline liquid dying it red.

He was able to see the pieces of glass that were still stabbing his pale skin. Annoyed, Ren pulled one by one out and the bleeding only increased. 

Ren cursed under his breath and he heard Bason vaguely telling him to cease doing it so carelessly. When had his spirit guardian gotten here anyway? No matter. 

Both the glass and the blood were annoying him.