:: Gomen for the shortness of this chapter update; I still have to watch the Halloween special on tv tonight so I had no time to type a decent chapter. I will make it up on the next chapter ::

Onee-san, Pirika and I were seated on the dining table as my sister instructed the Ainu about what to do and not to do when talking with my parents.

"Most likely, it will be my mother who would want to know the things about the woman my brother will marry," said my green-haired sibling, giving me a quick glance. She placed her eyes back on the nervous girl beside me. "Just try to give as many honest answers about yourself. When you are honest, you don't have to remember much."

"H-How does it go again?" asked Pirika timidly, cheeks red. "H-How did Ren-kun and I meet before?"

My sister smiled. "My brother fell in love with you even just when the shaman fight was still going on. He loved you secretly, and if not for your brother's accident that brought you close to him, he would have ignored his feelings. He was constantly with you, so it wasn't hard for your brotherly affection for him to develop into something more intimate. And before you left with your brother, he asked you if you want to be his bride and be the mistress of the Tao clan. You tried to object, saying you were too young, but he said that you would grow up someday. Years later, he fetched you, and by then, you were old enough to know that you love him too."

"You should have made a living in writing novels, Onee-san," I said, rolling my eyes. "What you said is too fictitious. Do you think our parents will believe that?"

Pirika blushed some more. Ironically, it was like our own story, only narrated vice versa. But my sister didn't have to know that.

"Our father wouldn't care, and our mother, I'm sure, would be simply too relieved to know that you will not live your life alone like she fears before," said my sister reassuringly. "Just act convincingly. Internalize your romance."

"Internalize?" My brow shot up quizzically. That sounded something actors were instructed to do.

"Live and breathe your role. Try to act like a real couple," she explained. "You have the whole night to try to get used to each other's presence, for when our parents arrive, they would expect that you guys are really in love."

I could see from the corner of my eyes that Pirika's face was getting more crimson in every passing minute, if that could be possible. "Enough," I said, frowning. I turned to Pirika. "Let's start rehearsing our act."

"H-Hai," she said, quickly following me.

We ended up in the balcony, where I remembered I had first kissed an angelic child with passion meant for a sensuous woman.

I felt her stiffen, and I knew that she had not forgotten that fateful night too. I turned to her, the trademark confident Tao smirk on my lips. It was the only defense possible to protect myself from her wide, bewitching deep blue eyes.

"I figured that this place might inspire us with our internalization," I said, gesturing to the place.

"H-Hai." She nodded and sat down quickly, eyes on the ground.

I sat in front of her and brought out a piece of paper containing the facts Pirika and I had to memorize about each other. "Now from the top, let's see if you memorize the things about me." I asked for my birthday, my Chinese zodiac sign, my first weapon, who gave me Bason, and what is the brand of my favorite milk drink, among other things. She was able to answer each and every question correctly, and my confidence was starting to grow.

"My favorite person is?"

"Your sister?" she guessed.

I smiled. "Yes, and you."

Her eyes widened.

"I oblige you to make me your favorite person too when my mother asks us," I said, averting my gaze. I couldn't stand seeing a girl blush so much. For some reason, it was tugging something in my heart.

"I-I'll remember that."

I looked down at the piece of paper, then shrugged. "That was the last question. It's your turn now to ask me about yourself."

For the first few questions, I got her facts right, although I missed some questions. Perhaps it proves that she knows more about me than I know about her. I decided to review tonight so I won't embarrass her in front of my parents.

"My favorite person?" she asked.

"Me," I replied simply.

"And Onii-chan," she said sort of defiantly.

"Right, right. What is it about me that you like?" I heard myself asking.

She too, looked surprised with the question. I was done with my turn of asking.

"Just answer it!" I said through gritted teeth.

"I like you because you are like my brother in so many ways," she began softly. "You are both strong and determined, and can be vain and cocky in delightful ways. You both excel in fighting, although your styles are different. Y-You are both good-looking too…"

"Then you love me as a brother only!" I exclaimed even before I could stop myself. My heart sank at the thought as I remembered that what I heard by the river was just a…

She paused, blushing. "Iie…in some ways, you are different from Onii-chan too. My brother is vocal about his feelings, and you are as mysterious as the night, and to understand you, a person must be very close to you already."

"You like that?" I asked in disbelief.

"I like everything about you, Ren-kun," she burst out.

Silence.

I tried to piece together pieces of coherent words to say afterwards, but my speech ability was rendered useless by what she said.

She licked her lips nervously. "D-Did what I say displeased you, Ren-kun? I-I'm sorry then. I didn't mean it."

I didn't know whether that brought me relief or what. "I don't care if you mean it or not. If you act like that, it means you're starting to internalize what we're doing. I don't mind if you say that again in front of my mother and father."

She nodded. "Um, if it's ok with you, maybe I can go in already?"

My eyes narrowed at her. "Am I that horrendous-looking that I end up just scaring you every time?"

"I don't like being alone with you," she admitted.

"Why?" I asked, slightly wincing at her frankness. She must be really that desperate to get away from me.

"Because I don't know what I should do next," she said softly. "You're a stranger in every way, and whenever I think of the coming day that I would go and pretend to your parents that we're not unfamiliar with each other…"

I sighed. "Then why ever did you offer yourself to be my bride years ago?"

"I was just a child then. I didn't know the consequences and things I had to go through," she explained softly. "If I only knew back then that this awkwardness between us will happen, then I wouldn't have opened my big mouth."

"Then I should have seized my chance back then," I said quietly. "Back when you were still a child. I wish you didn't have to grow up, I wished I didn't wait anymore."

"What are you talking about?" she asked, astounded.

"Nothing!" I said sarcastically. "I'm spouting out nonsense! Don't listen to me!"

"Ren-kun?"

I stood up, glaring at her. "Don't be difficult, Pirika. You will be my fiancée in two days so whether you like it or not, you have no choice but to know this stranger in front of you."

And with that, I left, my own mind in turmoil.

tsuzuku