I decided to swap the places of Promises 0 and Promises 2, because I thought Horo and Tamao's story would be easier narrated if it was a prologue to Promises (the Hao/Anna one). So to clarify things, this story would be now known as "Promises 2: Maybe" and the Horo/Tamao one will be "Promises 0: What is Forever?" There!
Gomen for the mix-up! ^^;;
-- rattled syaowee due to cramming for project deadlines .
I arrived home grumpily. I thought I was going to find the solution to my dilemma when I go to Izumo. My mother, obsessed with the idea of finding a fiancée for me, would surely lose it once she learns that I wasn't able to convince the itako to go back to China with me.
Damn that Hao Asakura. I had this feeling that the whole time I was trying to coax Anna Kyouyama, he was staying there in the living room deliberately.
I remembered how he suddenly carried Anna off…something about a bath. I frowned even more- was something going on between him and the itako? The possibility was a scary thought, although I had to admit that maybe Hao would do Anna some good. I saw how her vacant eyes suddenly flashed in anger and came to life when Hao announced that he was going to give her a bath. Maybe, he could give back her vitality that she lost when Yoh died.
But it still brought me to square one: I need a fiancée.
One who would understand my situation, one whom my family especially my mother and sister would approve of.
"Welcome back, young master," greeted Li Pailong, who was standing by the front door, waiting for him.
"Where is my sister?" he asked, frowning.
"She went to see your parents off. They are going on an indefinite vacation-"
I sighed in relief. I won't be having issues with the fiancée thing after all. My mother wouldn't be here to pester me after all.
"But your sister left some instructions to me when you arrive…with your fiancée?" There was an unmistakable question in his voice.
"She's not here," I said curtly. "I wasn't able to convince her to come with me. Stupid Hao Asakura's fault."
"I see." Pailong gestured to the hallway. "Then it's best you rest, Master. You had quite a long journey."
"Japan is not so far from China." But I did walk into the hallway, heading for my room. I wanted to hit the showers; I'm feeling sticky from the trip.
I blinked when I saw the door of my room open, then I dismissed it. Perhaps it was just a maid cleaning my room. Or Pirika picking up my dirty clothes to launder.
Which reminded me of my problem once more. Apparently, my sister was expecting me to bring home a fiancée already. What will I do now, go for a mail-order bride?
I could hear the faint shower sounds, and I thought that maybe my shower was leaking.
I went straight to the bathroom, not noticing the pile of clothes by its door. I hurriedly took off my shirt and pushed open the door. It swung open freely.
I froze when I saw that someone had already occupied my bathtub. The first thing I noticed was the glorious spray of blue hair, with smooth ivory shoulders partially peeking from the long, damp mane. Her hand was scooping some soapy water to her raised leg, glistening with water and even bubbles. A soft hum was bouncing on the four tiled walls of my bathroom, somehow tickling my senses.
The only rational thing to do was to flee, but my feet were already starting to move. And the next thing I knew, I heard myself call her name.
She stiffened, and slowly, she turned to me, face pale.
"Aaaaaiiiii!!!!" And I was met by thrown bucket of hot water on my face.
"Well why did you do that anyway?" asked Bason scoldingly as he watched me rub myself dry.
"I don't know," I said, irritated. "And what is she doing there also in the first place? That was my private bathroom!"
"Still, you should have just waited until she finished her bath when you confronted her," he reprimanded, and I noticed that he was suspiciously starting to sound like my sister.
"Well I can't turn back time." I finished rubbing my face.
We both stopped when we heard someone knock on the door.
"Come in," I said wearily. Must be Pailong, asking if I would eat dinner tonight.
But to my surprise, it was the Ainu girl. She was dressed in a fresh set of clothes, and even from this distance, I could smell the fragrant botanic shampoo she used. I immediately guessed it was from my sister- she's good at those, and she seemed to be fond of Pirika so she gives the girl lots of attention and small gifts.
"Ren…" Her face turned pink once again, and I wonder if the attitude of the pink-haired girl was starting to rub onto her.
"What now?" I asked jadedly. "You forgot your soap in there?"
Her face turned hotter. She licked her lips nervously, and I was betting that her oral fluids had gone arid.
"Gomen nasai…for using your tub. I-It's just that….well, the shower in my room won't work, and I was already half-drenched, a-and I thought that you won't even know that I used your bath because I didn't know you were coming home so soon," she ranted all in one breath.
I looked at her intently, trying to gauge the truth in her face. Not satisfied, I got up and grabbed her hand, dragging her behind me.
"R-Ren' nii-san, w-where are we going?" she stammered.
I exhaled sharply. One thing that I didn't like about her was she would make it a point to call me onii-san. I was just a year older than her, for pete's sake!
I pushed open the door of her bedroom, then went straight to the bathroom.
"W-What are you going to do in there?" she asked, eyes wide.
I cranked the shower up and waited for the fall of water. Nothing came. It looks like the Ainu was telling the truth after all.
Grumpily, I took a stool and stood on it, then tiptoed – I need not elaborate on my height anymore – to knock on the showerhead.
She was behind me, looking up at fascination. "W-Well, can you fix it?"
I felt the uncontrollable urge to brag. "Piece of cake." I then knocked on it more, inspecting it as if it was some kind of an electron microscope.
Just then, water sprung out of the shower. It drenched my face, and I tumbled backwards. I fell down rear first on the tiled floor, coughing out water.
"Ren' nii-san!" she cried. She knelt down beside me, great concern written all over her face. "Are you alright?" Her hand ran through my face, my hair, wiping the water away from them hastily.
"Fine…fine…" I said absent-mindedly. I was losing myself to the pleasant sensation of her soft hand running on my skin. It was the first time that she touched me without reservation, and amidst the chilling shower of water, I felt warm all over, courtesy of the lovely warmth radiating from her touch.
"M-Matte," she said as she prepared to get up. "I'm just going to turn the shower off." She walked towards the shower gracefully and cranked the shower knob down. The bathroom became tensely silent, save for the random drips of water reminiscent of the shower blast awhile ago.
"C-Can you stand up?" she asked, walking back to my side.
I felt my eyes wistfully go to her hands, which were folded primly on her lap now- I wanted them to touch me again, just like awhile ago.
I froze. What the hell was I thinking? And on Horo Horo's sister even?
"Yeah." I got up shakily, ignoring the pain on my backside. Her hands were quick to assist me as she helped me out carefully.
"It's not just your lucky day, Ren' nii-san," she said, smiling tentatively. "The water sign hates you today. First, I threw hot water on you, then you got blasted on by icy water."
Her smile faltered when she got no response from me. The truth is, I didn't want to talk anymore. I didn't like this feeling that we're starting to get comfortable with each other. More than annoying, it was a little frightening. I didn't care to put my finger on the reason anymore- I didn't want to find out.
"I-Is Anna-okami here?" she asked quietly as we made our way back to my room.
"No. Hao Asakura was a pest," I said.
"Y-You need not hurry in finding a bride, Ren' nii-san," she said slowly. "I-I mean, take your time. Your mother won't return anytime soon."
I detected relief in her voice, but I decided not to ask. I was too busy mulling over what to tell my sister, who was excited to meet the future woman member of our clan.
"Hontou?" she asked, eyes wide.
I blinked.
"You need to show a bride to your sister because she wants to train her already for her job as your wife?" she said.
Did I say that out loud? I nodded.
"Then I'll be your wife!" she burst out.
I stopped walking. I could only gape at the girl, who was blushing, but there was evident fierce determination on her face, telling me that what she said wasn't just an outburst, and that she knew what she was doing.
We locked gazes for what seemed like eternity, then I smirked. "I'm looking for a wife, not a baby. You're too young." I turned my back on her, but not quick enough to see her crestfallen face, and a tear that she quickly wiped away.
I made her cry.
Damn.
Why was the thought of that triggering something in me? Something forcing me to go back and face her again?
I hastened my pace into the bedroom, but not before hearing something that almost made me halt.
"I-I'll grow up too," she said softly, sadly. "Wait for me then, ok?"
I clenched my fists, then went into my room, slamming the door behind me.
tsuzuku