SailorStar9: Okay, I know I should be working on my 'Second Chance' fic, but I'm waiting for the next episode of Detective Conan to come out; and after a series of PMs to and fro with Pavel1234, I came up with this new fic.

Plot summary: Tao Ren meets his fiancée for the first time when he was five when Tao En forms a marriage contract with a family of long-standing officials from the Imperial Medical Bureau whose family is rumored to have contracted one of the Eight Immortals of the Taoist pantheon; He Xiangu. Right from the beginning, Tao En holds the golden lotus that was the conduit of He Xiangu's healing powers as collateral to force the Huo family to agree to the engagement and to make sure Yang Hui Ling behaves. At first, Hui Ling complies to Tao En's demands due to family obligations, but eventually, she does end up falling in love with Tao Ren.

Pairings: Tao Ren/Fem!OC, later Yoh/Anna

Disclaimers: I own absolutely nothing, except this plot and pairing.

Prologue

"What are we doing here, Old Man?" five-year-old Tao Ren looked at his father, both he and Tao Jun were standing in front of the Huo household.

"Finalizing a deal." Tao En led his two children through the main gates. "Yang Huang." he greeted the Huo patriarch. "Have you come to a decision?" he asked after the two men shut the door to the study room, leaving Tao Jun and Tao Ren in the waiting hall.

Tao Jun was admiring the handwritten scrolls on the walls when a faint fragrance of lotus seeds whiffed into her nose. The older girl turned to see a girl put a pair of porcelain cups of freshly brewed lotus tea on the guest table. "Thank you." the elder girl returned to her seat.

The serving girl just smiled and hurried off.

"Betrothing my only daughter to your son?" behind closed doors, Yang Huang exclaimed in shock when Tao En laid down his final condition. "I refuse!"

"Are you really sure?" Tao En smirked and brought out a glided lotus. "I know your family's secret and I think it would be beneficial for both of our families to be related via marriage."

"I..." Yang Huang gritted his teeth. "Understand; I will inform Hui Ling."

"I'm glad you see it my way." Tao En smiled maliciously. "Do not worry, young Hui Ling will be deftly welcome in the Tao household."

Later that night in the Tao Household...

"Married?" Tao Jun echoed incredulously after Tao En informed the siblings of Tao Ren's new fiancée.

"It is for the best," Tao En declared. "Her powers will prove beneficial to us in the future. You and Tao Ren have already seen her; the tea server girl."

Meanwhile in the Huo Household...

"I'm so sorry, Hui Ling." Yang Huang hugged his daughter after he told her of her betrothal.

SailorStar9: Any OOC-ness is regretted. *Sighs* Don't you just hate plot bunnies sometimes? Read and review.