The next morning, I nervously went down to join Ren and his sister in the breakfast table.

"Good morning," I mumbled, looking at Jun briefly, then at him.

"Good morning," beamed Jun. "You two still have today to practice."

"H-Hai," I stammered. I could feel the intent gaze of Ren on me. Finally, he spoke up.

"Your ring," he said.

"Oh!" I forgot that I took it off awhile ago while I was washing my hands last night. "I'll go get it."

"Do it later," he instructed. "Eat your breakfast first. You didn't get your dinner last night."

"Y-Yes." I was about to reach for the seat beside Jun when he suddenly stood up and pulled out the seat beside him.

"Here," he said, eyes on the chair.

"A-Arigatou…" I sat down the chair he was offering and allowed him to place the napkin on my lap.

Jun sighed. "Ren, if you guys act like that, you won't be able to convince even a toddler that you have something special between you two."

"Am I not doing it right?" he asked sourly. "You told me to be a gentleman."

"Yes, and not a waiter." She turned to me. "And you, Pirika, are shaking like a leaf. I know it is scary to see my brother act chivalrously, but try to contain your shock. You're supposed to like what he is doing."

"H-Hai."

Jun got up and smiled at us. "You have to perfect your couple act, you guys. Hmm…why don't you two go out on a date?"

"D-Date?!" Ren and I exclaimed at the same time.

She blinked. "Yes, well, that's what couples do, right?"

Ren groaned. "Nee-san, haven't I explained the situation clearly yet to you? This is all an act."

"A realistic acting, I must remind you," she said.

"Fine, but dating is out of the question."

"Pailong told me you bought her a jewelry set," said Jun. "I don't see why taking her out on a date would bother you so much. It's more inexpensive."

"We need the jewelry for the engagement," he said through gritted teeth. "We're not talking about the price here."

"Alright, but I'll lock you two up in a room," said Jun.

"Nani?!!"

"It is either you take her out on a date or I'll lock you two up in your room until you two start to get familiar with each other," said Jun, crossing her legs elegantly.

"Is that a blackmail?" he asked, as my heart sank. Why was Jun forcing the issue so much? I was feeling more and more pathetic every passing minute. It was very obvious that he didn't want to be with me.

"Call it whatever you want," said his sister calmly.

Ren groaned, then turned to me. "Get dressed."

I was determined to save my pride. "No, I think I would rather stay here."

"You heard me once, Pirika. Get dressed or I'll dress you myself," he ordered.

I clenched my fists and turned my back on him. I knew that it was perhaps an exaggerated threat, but still, the threat came from Ren Tao, and I was afraid that he might just do as he warned.

Jun got up and followed me. "Pirika, I'll lend you my clothes."

I managed a weak smile. "Thank you."

Soon, Pailong was driving us in the limo already. I rubbed my hands together nervously. Ren Tao was seated beside me, quiet. But he was just like a dormant volcano waiting to erupt any moment. It was frightening, indeed, but still, I couldn't help but be fascinated by how he could be so fiercely handsome when mad.

I looked down at my lap, not knowing how to start a conversation. Should we talk about the weather? Should we review those personal facts sheet we studied yesterday?

My thoughts were interrupted when the car halted abruptly. I was caught by surprise, and had nearly been thrown forward had not for his arms that were quick to hold me back.

I slowly looked up at him to say my thanks, but he was busy glaring at our driver. "Pailong, be more careful!"

"My apologies, Master Ren!" came Pailong's voice.

He looked down at me, and for a fleeting second, his eyes softened.

"S-Sorry," I stammered, my cheeks burning.

"OK," he said softly, but he didn't let go of me. He hugged me close to him, gently laying my head on his shoulders. He placed his chin on my hair and sighed audibly. "I was really intending to take you out on a date," he began. "I was going to invite you out, but I didn't want my sister to interfere. I don't want her to blackmail me into doing something either."

I nodded, understanding him. Ren Tao was used to doing things because he wanted to do it, not because others wanted him to.

I suddenly prayed that this moment would freeze; that it wouldn't end anymore. This was the first moment that I had felt his gentleness, and it was almost enough to make me cry. I wouldn't have known that a fiercely courageous and powerful tiger like him had tenderness like this sleeping within him.

"I didn't mean to shout at you," he said finally, murmuring it against my hair. "I never really meant to hurt you…but I end up always doing so."

I froze. I had this feeling that he was not referring anymore to the incident over the breakfast table awhile ago.

"I don't know what I would do with you…you're too precious…too fragile…" He stopped talking, but his embrace tightened. I quietly snuggled closer to him.

He inhaled deeply, as if he was preparing to say something. "Pirika, listen. About what happened six years ago…"

I stiffened.

"Master Ren, we're in the restaurant already!" announced Pailong cheerfully.

Ren looked like he snapped out of his trance. He looked outside and saw the sign. He smiled. "So we are." He turned to me. "Let's go in, Pirika."

My eyes widened at the elegant exterior of the Chinese restaurant. "I-I'm not dressed!"

"You are," he said, eyes taking in appreciatively my emerald mandarin-collared dress accented with silk ribbons. His eyes then went on my lap. "But I wish Nee-san gave you one with no slit," he said, almost sounding possessive.

I chided myself silently. Ren wouldn't be possessive; I'm not his in the truest sense. Maybe he was just concerned…no, couldn't be. Annoyed, yes, that must be it. His fiancée baring her skin with the slit…that must be it.

"Let's go," he said.

I blinked. He was already outside, holding the car door open for me, offering his arm. I smiled and took his arm.

"Did you enjoy the meal?" he asked when we returned from the restaurant.

I laughed. "Yes, but only because you knew what to order." When I looked at the menu awhile ago, I was immediately dizzy from the names. Some of them were quite tricky to spell and pronounce, and I couldn't imagine myself eating anything that I couldn't even say!

I was starting to relax; perhaps, because he bought me a glass of something like wine. When I asked him what it was, he said it was a "spirited drink" that the restaurant always reserves for him and his family.

"Let's go to the park," he suddenly suggested.

I blinked. "But what we are wearing…" My eyes went on the formal outfits both of us were wearing.

"Parks don't have a dress code, and anyway, what do they care?" he asked.

I nodded. Right, what do they care anyway?

Later, I was watching Ren fly a kite. I couldn't help but admire how nature worshipped his beautiful form; from he wind blowing on both his kite and his hair gently to the grass that willingly bowed to the mighty steps of the Tao, his graceful movement was timed in poetic beauty.

I wish I had a camera. I would have appreciated a souvenir of him when I return home after I meet his parents.

Ren turned to me. "Come here, I'll teach you how to fly a kite."

I pointed to myself, and he laughed.

"You're the only one here aside from myself." He ran towards me and helped me up. "It's more fun to do the actual thing than just to watch from the sidelines."

His hands guided mine on how to handle the string of the kite. I was aware of his arms around mine, and I was surprised to feel that I was starting to be familiar of his presence, of his intimate closeness. It felt like the most natural thing in the world.

"Don't hold the strings too tightly, or the kite might not fly," he told me. "But don't loosen your hold too much, or the wind will take it away."

"How's this?" I asked, showing him my grip.

"Fine," he said, nodding approvingly. "You hold kites better than I do."

"Hontou?" I asked, cheeks flushed.

He nodded. "When I was a young boy, I've always wanted to fly a kite just like other boys my age did. I didn't really want to train, but my father said I was a different boy because I was a shaman." He looked up at the sky, a nostalgic look on his face. "But I was rebellious by nature. One day, I escaped from my training and built myself a kite. It was pretty shabby, but I was very proud of it. It was red and blue, I remember."

"So there I was, trying to make my kite fly. Nee-san found me, and told me that the trick of flying it just doesn't rely on running fast, but also on how you hold the string. He told me not too hold it tightly so it could fly. I didn't want to, because I was particularly proud of that kite. However, I tried loosening my grip a little, and it did fly higher than it used to. However, I abruptly loosened my hold on the string, and the wind blew it away. I could never forget that moment. It was my most important treasure, and because of my recklessness, I lost it."

I nodded, not wishing to interrupt him.

"When I was thirteen, I had another chance to find a kite. But the kite was so small, and I was afraid that if I already fly it, it would just get beaten up by the wind. I also know that I do not want to hurt it by severing my hold on its tender string, so I decided to set it aside, but the kite disappeared. All that was left was its strings, but I never stopped hoping that I'll find it, if I only follow its trail of string. Six years later, I found the kite again. This time around, I promise that I'll never part with my kite again. I love my kite even more than I loved the first kite I built when I was a child," he finished.

I looked at him. "May I see that kite?"

He smiled mysteriously, then turned his attention again to the kite that we were flying. I shrugged, then looked back again at the kite.

"Wow! It's soaring!" I gushed when our kite finally took off. I beamed at him, and he smiled back.

We spent the rest of the afternoon with the kite.

tsuzuku