Title: Bitter Cold
Author: kawaiichiisaikitsune (pirate-kiari)
Rating: K+
Pairing(s): HoroRen-ish (if ya squint)
Summary: Ice. Bitter and cold. It has nothing to do with him. Yet, it does. (One-shot Collection)

Imagine them 16 or 17 and mellowed out a little. :D By the way, go to our user profile and check out my deviantart account or livejournal account because recently I participated in the fanart100 lj community with our little horo-kun as the focus. Think you guys might like. XP Anyways, enjoy!

Disclaimer- I don't own Shaman King or any of the characters.

A Rainy Matinée

Tao Ren was not a patient person. He had no tolerance for waiting, especially a long wait. If he was asked to sit in the waiting room, he left without turning back. When he went to restaurants, he was expected to be immediately admitted and if he wasn't he'd find a better place. He went to the movies at the exact time they started playing, he arrived at any kind of party at the exact time they began, he even showed up a little late to meetings just so that he knew he wouldn't be forced to wait for others to show up. When he was asked to meet someone at a specific time, he was there right on the dot and expected the other to be there too.

So why, after all this avoidance of waiting, was he still sitting on the bench just across from the theater half an hour after the appointed time?

Folding his arms across his chest grumpily, he narrowed his bright golden eyes at the ticket vendor in a vehement glare. It didn't make him feel any better, though, as he whipped his head to the side angrily, crossing one leg over the other and giving a grunt of disapproval.

It was 9:04 at night, according to his watch, and the sun had set hours ago. Midnight blue engulfed the sky, shimmering white stars dotting the vast heavens with a low hanging moon peeking behind thick gray clouds. The theater was bustling with people of all shapes and sizes, alone, in couples, or in groups of three or more. People surrounded him on all sides, talking loudly with each other so that all conversations blurred into one giant noise grating on his ears. Yet, beyond all reason, he remained seated on that bench waiting (though he hated it) for one person who was already half an hour late.

Tapping one foot impatiently upon the cold, hard cement beneath him, Ren arrogantly watched the numerous people around him chat idly with each other as they entered and exited the bright theater. How trivial it seemed; going out to movies. They really weren't as entertaining as the claimed they were, but still the building was almost always packed with various people. He didn't even know why he accepted the invitation to go, especially since his companion was this late. So why couldn't he bring himself to just leave?

He growled at himself, closing his brilliant gold eyes and tightening his crossed arms angrily.

Dark clouds swarmed the indigo-colored skies, casting the city in black only lighted by the various lit windows and the occasional lamppost. A cold swept through the streets, howling forlornly as it passed by oblivious beings woefully. The scent of fresh mud tickled the senses as sudden humidity touched the previously dry skin uncomfortably. Soon large droplets of icy water fell slowly from the sullen heavens quickly turning into a full-fledged down-pour. The rain fell in buckets, soaking any and all caught in the storm.

Ren looked up toward the sky in vague surprise when he'd felt one of the first raindrops upon his nose. He'd wiped the wetness from his nose only to be pelted with a couple more. Tucking his winter coat tighter around himself and adjusting his woolen scarf, he figured he could wait through the sprinkle until it rapidly turned into a great storm. When the rain started coming down faster, he stood from the bench and gazed upward, but made no other notion of leaving. Quickly enough, he was soaked from head to toe.

Giving a sudden shudder, the Chinese finally rushed under the awning of the ticket vendor. Puddles formed around his feet as he wrung out what clothing he could and his shoes felt full of water as he shifted from one foot to the other. Wet purple hair was plastered to his face flushed with cold as he huddled into himself as much as possible. He was very much fed up with waiting by now and wanted more than anything to stalk home unhappily, but the current weather now made him hesitant. With a sigh, he was forced to wait for the rain to let up a little.

Faintly disappointed eyes drifted idly about the area around him, watching the occasional person pass by in a rush. No one wanted to be stuck in the rain much like himself and sadly he couldn't blame them. Bored, he watched the rain fall until a recognizable figure entered his vision.

The figure was tall and decidably lanky, donned in vaguely tight jeans and a warm-looking coat. His unnaturally blue hair stood up in multiple spikes bordered by a thick headband settled upon his forehead with flaps hanging over his ears to keep them warm. In his hand was an opened umbrella protecting him from the onslaught of rain and on his childish face was his usual grin which only widened upon noticing the other.

When he reached the shorter shaman, he folded his umbrella closed and tapped it against the dry ground to shake off the water that clung to the material. He didn't say a word, but merely smiled as he did this.

"You're forty-three minutes late," the other grumbled, giving him a glare.

"Yeah, sorry," he shrugged casually, unzipping his coat, "I was distracted."

"With what?"

Horohoro paused, leaning his umbrella against a column and glancing upwards, and then shrugged again. "I don't remember," he replied, removing the other's scarf and tossing it to the ground where it landed with a slop. Upon trying to unbutton the wet coat he was slapped away.

"What in hell do you think you're doing?" Ren growled. The Ainu grinned.

"You'll catch a cold if you stay in those wet clothes," was his answer as he went to remove the coat again. Being successful, he pulled it off the smaller and tossed it with the scarf. Then he removed his own coat and wrapped it around the Chinese's shoulders with that ever-present grin. "Put that on. It should warm you up."

Tao Ren was hesitant with the offer, but eventually slipped his arms through the sleeves and zipped up the coat thankfully. Warmth spread throughout his cold, damp body and the scent of his companion engulfed his senses. And he couldn't say he didn't like it.

"Thank you," he mumbled quietly, "But you're not off the hook."

"Whatever," the other waved him off, picking the soaked clothes from the ground and grinning, "Now let's go see that movie!" And with that he turned to the ticket vendor with a faintly smirking Chinese behind him.

Usui Horokeu was the only one he was willing to wait for, even in the rain.

Hee hee hee. Hope y'all liked. I think it's pretty cute, ne? XD

Flames are ignored, constructive criticism is highly appreciated, and praise is great for my ego.