Pirika sat alone in her new apartment with her brother, she couldn't believe that now, she would be living in the same city with that b*st*rd. I want to forget him but he just can't leave my mind. He still is the handsome Ren but he did something awful. I don't know why but I can't find myself to hate him, even after all that he did... is this... what they call true love? If so... Why did I fall for a man like that?
Planning to just cry herself to sleep, Pirika was about to go to his room when an extremely worried Horo Horo entered the apartment...
"Pirika! Why didn't you tell me you wanted to go home earlier?" Horo said cheerfully, his face expression dramatically changed when Pirika turned around, revealing her in tears.
"Konbanwa... onii-chan…" Pirika greeted as Horo rushed to her side.
"What happened to you Pirika? Why are you crying?" Horo said wanting to comfort his crying sister "Is it something your overly cute brother did?" Horo said unable to keep his mouth shut of compliments of himself for just a few moments.
"Iie onii-chan, don't worry, I can handle it myself... I must do this on my own." Pirika said smiling weakly.
"If anything worse than you thought you happen... remember I'm always here..." Horo Horo said patting his sister on the head knowing his sister was not taking no for an answer, Ainu people were stubborn that way.
Pirika nodded, Anyway... I don't know how it can get worse that this.
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Festival
Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King
Dedicated to: silver moonlight
Note: The third installment is here... so have no fear!
Summary: A festival leads Ren to be closer to a certain Ainu because of a certain festival and a tale told to him by his dead grandfather once...
MUST READ: Italic means one's thought when he or she is talking don't get confused... ^___^
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"You have to be kidding me!" exclaimed Tao Ren as he inched away from his giggling sister. I am not doing that… ever.
"Come on Ren, it's a sure way to get her forgiveness..." smiled Jun Tao going near him.
"NEVER I RATHER NOT GET HER FORGIVENESS!" Ren shouted as he found himself already on the wall.
"Come on, Ren... you want her forgiveness, right?" Jun told him said right in front of him.
"Yes... No, when it comes to what you're asking me to do!" he told his sister scrambling away to the bed.
"Come one how can you ask for her forgiveness, if you don't apologize?" Jun asked her brother as she followed him.
"That is not apologizing! That is-" He paused to think for a moment, "being nice and mushy! And Ren Tao is NOT NICE OR MUSHY."
"But, he can be, right?" Jun smiled.
"NO" Ren said pouting. I CAN NEVER BE NICE OR MUSHY.
"Oh come on Ren, if you want her to..." Jun was cut short when Ren had an outburst.
"I told you already! SHE IS NOT THAT MUCH TO ME!" Ren shouted emphasizing every word.
Jun gave him her all-knowing grin then said, "Then why did Ren Tao ask for help from his big sister like a vulnerable little Ren-kun?"
Ren blushed, "I see what a mistake that was..." he muttered.
"If you say so Ren..." Jun said with defeated sigh as she exited the room but still stayed outside to watch her brother for a while, Ren will still do something I know it... Maybe I'm just hoping but I hope he will...
"Hn..." Ren then found himself staring at the book Jun showed him... Maybe I should I mean, I could just change some things... or something like that... he thought as he reached for the book and began to read it... scanning through the pages he paused for a while to think, Oji-san's a hopeless romantic, he is... a baka. He then, with a small amused smile continued to flip the pages and speed read.
From outside the room Jun Tao smiled, This girl is really special... I would want to meet her someday, someday soon...
"Jun Tao-san... what are you doing?" a voice asked and I saw the inquisitive look on Pailong's face.
She put her finger in front of the kyonshi and smiled, "Quiet Pailong... We wouldn't want to be Ren's victims, wouldn't we?"
Pailong then realized what Jun was doing and nodded.
"Let's go... ne? It might be our deaths after oji-san's..." Jun smiled weakly as she sneaked down the stairways of the Tao mansion followed by the ever-loyal Pailong.
*******
Pirika sighed half sadly, half irritated... Of course, the thought of what Ren Tao (that maniac) did to her still lingers quite deeply in her mind but the special attention she was getting from her Onii-chan and Tamao was getting irritating. They never treated her like a porcelain doll before... why should they now? She was quite contented with the way they treated her before too. She doesn't like being in the hot seat... her life was far too private for that.
I know Onii-chan and Tamao-chan are doing this for me - because the care for me... dakedo...
Dakedo... I don't like being treated this way...
Pirika got up from her seat in which Tamao seemed to be nailing her to these past few moments. Feeding her with sweets to be exact "Sweets will make you get your mind of things.…" She would say and Onii-chan would reply, "Are you sure those aren't drugs?" and then they would flirt with each other and Pirika... would remain nailed in the seat staring wide-eyed at the display of sweets she was supposed to finish according to Tamao. Thankfully, Tamao and Horo Horo went out to buy stuff for groceries - since they think I won't be able to do it and of course onii-chan can't do it. Also Onii-chan did it to spend some time with Tamao.
Forgetting what may be the consequences of Tamao going to the grocery to buy food - to fatten her up most likely. Pirika gone out of the apartment to go to the park for at least some quality time with herself without having to worry about Tamao chasing her with sweets. The sweets were supposed to make her feel happy, not sick but as they say too much of anything is bad. She smiled softly as she put her hands on her pockets admiring the scenery of nature the park had.
It was beautiful; who would have ever thought that in a city in which she thought destroyed (and did actually) nature could have such a paradise? It is such an irony. Life is an irony too... that's why we live it.
She watched in amusement as a little boy who was being chased by a young girl ran like a beheaded chicken fleeing from the young girl. She found it adorable, and reminded her so much about Anna-sama and Yoh-sama.
She then found herself sitting down on a park bench smiling raising her finger to feel the cool breeze still watching the two children with a smile on her face. She then sighed as she remembered Ren from the scene… How? She had no clue either. It's just that Ren Tao's annoyingly smug face can't get out of her mind… She sighed audibly and the boy who she referred to as Yoh-when-young approached her.
"Is there something wrong onee-san?" the boy nudged her softly when she saw her troubled face.
Pirika shook her head; "It's nothing…" she smiled.
The boy who acted so much like Yoh smiled as well, "That's nice to know… I like everyone being happy and relaxed…" the boy said as he yawned – oblivious to the fact that the girl was approaching as well.
Pirika made a mental note to tell this to Yoh when onii-chan sees him. She then watched in amazement – amusement rather as the little girl grabbed the boy by the ear.
"ITAI!" the boy shouted as he struggled to break free from the girl's iron grip.
The girl glared at him then said, "Baka… you still have your daily exercises to finish!"
"BUT I DON'T WANNA I'M TOO LAZY TO!" the boy whined and soon wailed.
The girl glared at him then shouted, "URUSEI! YOU KNOW AUNTIE AND UNCLE WANTS YOU TO BE A STRONG YOUNG MAN!"
The boy looked thoughtful for a moment, "Well… you're basically family, so… oh… alright…" the boy sighed as he gave up and just allowed himself to be dragged by the girl.
Pirika smiled weakly when the two left...Yes, exactly like Anna-san and Asakura-san…
She sat there quietly after the children left; watching the fallen leaves move thanks to the slow breeze. She then remembered the times when she was in the mountains with Onii-chan when they would admire the fallen leaves. Those were the times where her brother was still very worried about the Shaman Fight… It's weird that after all her brother went through (she means those brutal trainings) He still lost the Shaman Fight to Yoh Asakura…
Oh well, what's the use of thinking about the past? Yoh practically gave them the coltsfoot/butterbur anyway.
Dakedo… Onii-san thought he didn't earn it… until someone came along that is…Pirika smiled at the memory of how Tamao, the ever so shy and timid Tamao entered the life of the proud, happy and overly noisy Horo Horo. As she continued to think about things, she disregarded the sound of footsteps approaching her way thinking it was just a visitor to then ever-so-frequently-visited-park.
She looked up at the sky and asked the sky when did she become so reflecting and quiet? But no answer came along… She did expect that though. She sighed for the umpteenth time that day and planned to stand up for thinking like this didn't suit a person like her. She found herself rooted to the seat though, or rather pushed down into the seat by a strong yet gentle hand.
She turned around and gaped at what she saw. She then immediately brushed the hand away and 'planned' to storm off right away finding out that the hand managed its way back to her shoulder.
"M-Matte ne…" the owner of the hand said in uncertainty, "Listen, we have to talk…"
"Why would I listen to you for?" Pirika said flushed with anger, "If you must know Tao-san, my onii-chan might be looking for me already!" she shouted as she flicked the hand away again.
"I don't give a damn about you brother!" he shouted as he once again grabbed her by the shoulder but more gentle this time but still sure she wasn't going to escape.
Pirika found herself back sitting on the bench glaring at Ren, "Do it quick Tao-san… Onii-chan and Tamao might be worried about me already…" she said coldly.
Ren looked quite taken aback by her cool attitude to him then managed to sit down beside her.
Pirika inched away from him, soon finding herself at the edge of the bench when Ren turned to look at her.
"Here…" He blushed slightly as he handed a package to her, seemingly not being able to take the silent treatment Pirika was giving him. God only knows why though…
Pirika looked at him for a while as if making sure this was Ren Tao since after all Ren Tao doesn't do this… normally anyway.
"Get it." Ren said looking away with a faint blush on his cheeks. Kami-sama… why do I have to act like such a… a… a… person…?
Pirika was speechless, she knew this was Ren… who else could have such hair? Who else could own those piercing eyes, wonderful lips and fair skin like… like… milk…? Pirika mentally laughed at her metaphor then managed to take the package from Ren.
Ren looked at her intently and she gulped wondering if this was some time bomb that he set to kill her.
"What are you waiting for? Open it up already!" he demanded, "It's not a murder item!" Kami-sama, get this over quickly already!
Pirika gulped… did he read her mind? He continued to gaze at her like that and finally she gave in and opened the package slowly.
Afterwards, it revealed a really old looking book.
"You wanted to know right…?" Ren said as he looked away in a small pout.
Pirika looked at him for a while and rummaged her brain for what he was talking about but couldn't find anything… so she remained silent.
"It's a book of Chinese Legends, even Chinese Valentines… My grandfather took record of them. I didn't know which you'd want to know so… there." He shrugged.
Pirika then finally remembered…
"What's the occasion of this festival? Festivals should have occasions, right?" Pirika asked curiously.
"How would I know?" Ren glared at her.
"One… because you live here. Two… because they say it's something about Chinese and three… you're Chinese." Pirika said in a know-it-all tone.
"Just because I'm Chinese doesn't mean I know what the hell this festival is about!" he glared at her once more.
"Don't you know any err… holiday or something in the Chinese today?" Pirika looked at him.
"As a matter of fact I do…" Ren said tapping his chin.
"What is it then?" Pirika asked him.
"Why are you so interested in finding out anyway?" Ren asked her.
"I don't know… it sounds like it's going to be interesting." Pirika shrugged.
"It's the Chinese's Valentines Day today…"
Pirika then smiled; all thoughts of what Ren did before going away.
Ren blushed lightly, "I'm sorry… for what happened… I don't know if it was really wrong but I know you thought it was. I'm sorry." Ren said quickly.
Pirika nodded, "It's okay, you're forgiven…" she said smiling softly. Even in his cold façade, there's still a heart to this man.
He smiled softly and it only could've been seen if you were really keen, "Well I better go now… Horo Horo's sister." He said as he turned around with just waving his hand for goodbye.
Pirika smiled then shouted, "If you say so REN-KUN!"
Ren fought a deep blush from forming on his cheeks then walked away.
Pirika watched Ren's silhouette walk away gleefully.
Things with Ren were going to get much better from now on… I wonder… if I can get another shot with a kiss with him… Pirika grinned also not believing the fact on how fast she had forgiven Ren a while ago.
*Year After*
Ren bowed down in respect as he once again found himself staring at the picture of his grandfather. He smirked at the funny face of his grandfather in the picture then put the incense back to the pot.
Maybe your farfetched stories aren't that worthless after all…
Maybe…
He then exited the altar then closed the gates to be right away welcomed by a familiar genki smile.
He smiled weakly in return.
"REN-KUN!" She smiled happily as she leaped towards him.
Ren caught her in his arms then let her down gently; he put his elbow on her shoulder and smirked, "Where are we off to today?"
Pirika smiled, "I don't know…"
"Oh well…" Ren said, "Aishiteru yo Pirika-chan…"
"Aishiteru yo Ren-kun…" she replied with a matching blush.
Ren looked up at the sky oblivious of Jun spying on the two of them with a smile of approval accompanied by Pailong.
Pirika then called on him, "Ren-kun, let's go, ne?"
Ren nodded then gave her something only one could ever see Ren Tao do in their nightmares…
He gave her a big, wide and warm smile.
~Owari~
Takari-san: *stretches* Finally done! Actually this was supposed to be 4 chapters long but guess what? I'm too lazy! I wanted to finish it quickly so I can focus on my Yona, Horo/Tamao and other pairings of Shaman King. I hope they weren't too OOC… I hope you liked the series ^^ Ashly, don't kill me with a gun and Nic, don't plan on making me sit on that electric chair of yours…
Arigato to everyone who reviewed this fic and waited for me to post this last chapter ^^ R/R!