Sorry for the late update! Gomen~ but this past few days were HECTIC! Overtime, medicals, damn! I'm up to my ears in paperwork!!! But here, I hope I pulled this together.

Standard disclaimers apply.

Chapter IX: Conversation

"How can you be so sure?" Pirika gave a deep sigh, thoroughly unconvinced, gently retracting her hand. He had left her once, what will keep him from leaving again? Her? He already proved that not even she can stop him.

"I don't know anyone else in the world quite like you." Golden eyes looked at her, trying to catch her eyes. But she kept her eyes on the floor, clutching her hand to her chest.

"Have you met everyone in this world?" she asked sarcastically, moving away. She felt that if she stayed that close to him, she might as well just melt. After two years, he still had the same effect on her. She still loves him.

"No." came Ren's reply, his tone a bit on edge. All he wanted to do right now was to take her in his arms and sweep her off her feet. But he had to give her the chance to decide for herself. This was not up to him. "But I doubt that there is another Usui Pirika."

"Someone out there might be better than me." She said, laying a hand on the marble railing of the gazebo.

"Why are you trying to make me lose interest in you?" Ren's eyes narrowed. He didn't like this at all. He hated not being sure of how she feels towards him.

"As you've said, you don't want to stop me from achieving my dreams." Pirika said; her voice barely above a whisper. Her hand was shaking, a sure sign that she was upset or almost at the verge of crying.

"But that doesn't mean I won't wait for you." Ren inched closer to her, his hand closed on her shoulder. He felt her stiffen at his touch, but relaxed right after.

"That might be a long time, Ren." She told him, refusing still to look. "I'm only seventeen."

"As I have said, `I'll wait for you." He said with conviction, pulling her in his arms. She didn't resist him but he felt her shake. She was crying.

"What if I don't want it?" she choked, her left hand fumbling with the bracelet's lock.

"Then I'll be alone." He said decisively, his right hand enclosing on both of hers. That was one of the reasons she felt safe with him. He was much bigger than her, so when he embraces her it's like he's a shield that keeps any negative force from touching her.

"We both know you can't do that," she struggled to say. It hurt her too much that everything at that moment feels so right. The way he held her as he always did was the one thing she wished when he had left. "You need an heir, remember?"

"I can renounce my birthright, Pirika," he didn't like the way she was refusing him. He wanted no one else. He doesn't NEED anybody else. She was everything to him. If she'll give him a chance to prove it he will.

"I don't want you to be alone." Pirika wiggled out of his hold, trying to find another way that would make him decide for her. To either demand that she come with him or if she should leave. When he let her go, she faced him. He saw her eyes then, they were red and her cheeks were flushed.

"Then you see my point." He let her move away from him. He didn't want her to feel trapped. Not ever.

"No."

"Pirika," he sighed, a bit annoyed. "I don't want anyone else."

"I can't do this, Ren." She cried still. That wasn't the answer she wanted. Why can't he just tell her she had no choice? She was so confused; she didn't know what to do. She wanted both. But this is reality; you can't have everything you wish for. "This is all too much for me."

"I'm not asking you to decide right at this moment," he explained, stepping close to her again. But when she backed up, he stopped. If she doesn't want to be touched now then he won't. "I'm simply saying that whatever you decide, I will always choose you."

"No pressure, huh?" she gave a snort, sniffing back her tears. They can't seem to stop.

"I've already decided on what I want, Pirika," this time he didn't let her brush him off. He held her shoulders and urged her to look at him. She did. "Just choose whatever you think is right for you. Don't let other people decide for you. And I certainly don't want to impose."

"I wish it were easy, Ren." She forcibly wiped her eyes with her hands, hating herself that she can't stop crying. She wanted to scream at him; that he should just tell her that she'll be going to China with him whether she wanted to or not. She should've just got out of that car earlier that day, she wouldn't be in this stressful predicament now.

"I really do. But there's so much at stake." Then she looked up at him, eyes full of despair. "You really hurt me."

"I know." He wanted to kill himself right now. Seeing her broken because of him made him loathe himself. "Which is why I'm here now. I need you to know that it won't happen again."

"I don't know…"

"Don't dwell on it too much for now." He kissed her forehead, knowing she'll grant him that much. "You have the Nationals on your shoulders next week."

"Right," she breathed in deeply, calming herself.

"Go, rest." He gave her one last hug and started to lead her inside the house. "I'll take you to your practice tomorrow."

The walk back to their rooms was silent. He had already made it clear to her that no matter what; she'll be the only person for him. It warmed her to know that, but she still wasn't sure. He had promised her the last time as well, what makes now any different? She knows he didn't hurt her purposely but what if his responsibilities weighed more than her? She had no right to demand from him, he already had a lot on his shoulders.

"Good night," his voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "Rest now. I'll have Fei wake you tomorrow."

"Ren?" she called just before she entered her room.

"Yes?"

"Thank you." She smiled. She really did appreciate every effort he had made to prove to her that she is important to him.

"I just want you to know… I love you." There, he said it. He told her he loves her. "Nothing will ever change that."

So there! Chapter IX. I'm about 4-5 chapters away from the end of this fic. I'll try to update twice a week. Wish me luck!

Thanks for all the great reviews and to all that made this a fave story or put me on alert! Hehehe…

Lotsa love,

Vylette xoxox