I had never liked talking to my father. He was a monster to my sister and me, one who lived ruthlessly. One who considered life as means to an end, death.

I hated him before, and knew would always do. He was not like me, who had the privilege to meet people like Yoh Asakura…

And Pirika, that young Ainu girl who defeated my every purpose as an emotionless warrior I once believed I was without so much as saying my name, in a way only she could do. Endearing and frighteningly affectionate.

My thoughts were interrupted when a spear nearly missed me by inches. I looked up and saw En Tao standing in front of me, face in its usual menacing smirk.

"Just as I thought," he said insultingly as he let himself in the living room. "You are still a spineless weakling who carried nothing great but his clan name."

I ignored it. "You weren't in the airport," I said, sitting down. He need not the pleasantries; he didn't deserve anything, in my opinion.

"Do you expect me to be wheeled in your shiny toy car and be impressed, boy?" he boomed. "You may have handled our wealth with your sister sensibly, but you are still a failure as a warrior."

"Your opinion does not bother me." I had long learned to play dumb when we have talks such as this. Although sometimes, I envy Yoh Asakura for having a more caring father in the person of Mikihisa, I wouldn't trade my sister and my mother for anyone else in the world. I treated my father as a nuisance; an extra baggage to my otherwise wonderful family.

"And now you are marrying a woman that we did not choose for you." En laughed humorlessly. "A foolish, weak, and pig-headed son…I couldn't ask for anything more in my life."

I glared at him. "If I could disown myself as your son for you, I surely would. But I am now the clan head, and I know my obligations. Anyway, you do not have the authority anymore to pull my strings like a marionette."

He laughed cruelly. "You can never run away from your submission to me. I am your father, and will always be. I can disown you anytime, but you can never disown me. My blood courses through your veins."

"Unfortunately." I reminded myself that I had nothing to fear. I was in power; he wasn't. All he could do now is to intimidate me. It was up to me if he would succeed with his last card.

"I want you to break your engagement off," he said casually. "I have another woman in mind for you."

I gaped at him in disbelief. Seconds later, I recovered my composure. "You are insane," I said through gritted teeth. "Do you really believe that I will do as you wish?"

"Yes, I have my ways." He stated this as a fact, a fact that deep within me I secretly believed on with all my faith. Damn it, he still had that power over me. That miserable bastard…

I clenched my fists. I wouldn't be frightened that easily.

It took me so many years to find my own identity, I as Ren Tao of the shaman fight, and not just a "boy from the clan of Tao". It had been a journey for me to heal my past wounds…to rediscover life beyond the confines of the Tao household.

And I would never give up Pirika too. No, over my dead body!

She was my first real joy, my motivation to look at humans differently and to free myself from my haunting past, as well as my most cherished person outside my family.

I would not lose her like I did before, especially not because of En Tao. I would shatter heaven and hell if he as much as lays a finger on her.

"The woman you will meet in a short while will be my wife whether you agree or not," I said firmly, not taking my eyes off my father's face.

"Is she a means for your stupid rebellion against me?" he asked mockingly. "I understand that you have been longing to do this since you were acquainted with those other shaman friends of yours."

"Rebellion for you, assertion of my freedom for me," I said through gritted teeth. "Anyway, I think we have talked enough. It is Mother who wants to meet my fiancée-"

"You will not marry anyone but the girl I have in mind," said En confidently. "I will have your woman killed."

"I'll kill you first!" I hissed, all the hatred and fury I had been attempting to rein in, exploded.

For a while, none of us talked, only gazed at each other measuringly.

"Ren-kun?"

Familiar warmth rushed into me when I heard the soft voice of the Ainu girl. I looked away from my father and nodded at her. "Come here, Pirika. Meet my…my father."

She nodded nervously, and I rushed forward to assist her to her seat. I could see how nervous she was; in fact, her hands, pale and cold, trembled beneath my own hands. She couldn't even lift her gaze to look at my father.

Shit. I hated my father even more.

"That…woman is your fiancée," said En slowly, gazing at her critically.

I placed my arm around her shoulders possessively. "Yes, and I will marry her, even without your blessing."

I blinked when I heard her gasp. Her head shot up and stared at my father in wonder. To my astonishment, even my father's face looked funny too.

"Ren…kun?" She looked up at me, laughing uneasily. "A-Actually…we…"

"We've met," said En. He shrugged. "She's the noisy woman who harassed me on my way here."

"H-Harassed?" I echoed, wondering what kind of cosmic joke the universe was playing on me.

Pirika licked her lips nervously. "Um…actually…yeah. He's the guy I told you that I helped that's why I came home late."

En smirked, but the smile bore no trace of the malevolence he saw awhile ago. It was as if the Ainu girl warrants a special kind of treatment from En Tao. "I told you I'd make you my son's wife. I was right, wasn't I?"  

Her cheeks flushed. "A-Ah…"

I tried to digest the facts. The two had met already, and Pirika was able to return home unscathed when she just walked with the most feared assassin of China in his time!

It was too… preposterous! I knew my temper was that of my father's – the legendary Tao temper – something Pirika easily makes me lose. I wonder how my father controlled his own temper with her.

I then realized that my father and I share the same heart of the Tao men. The reason why my mother loved all of him, and loved him even more for his imperfections. He might have treated her differently…in a way, other people do not know.

Just like me…who cherished the Ainu girl from afar. Who counted on that one promise of hers that she would be my bride.

It came on a full circle.

My father was anything but ideal, but he would always be my flesh and blood. He gave me this heart that beats within me, something I failed to notice for all I wallowed on was his evilness.

This same heart, in turn, I would give to the one who had owned it even as long as six years ago.

En Tao got up. "I knew things would end my way." He gave Pirika a triumphant smile. "Now I am rest assured of a good masseuse for life. If my son dares to hurt you, tell me, and I'll kill him. I swear I will."

I blinked. How did the tables turn over so fast? Just minutes ago, he was threatening to kill my fiancée!

"Y-Yes, En Tao-sama," she said shyly.

"Father," he corrected. "And you are now my daughter."

How about that? All my life, I had strived to become his son while Pirika had suddenly become his daughter without so much an effort!

But I felt good. Now I do not have anything to worry anymore. That would be the last time that my father would meddle with my life. In a way, Pirika really was my freedom.

I squeezed her hands warmly, and she smiled at me. Somehow though, the smile didn't reach her eyes.

Although I wondered, I didn't ask anymore. Maybe later, I would. I was too afraid of breaking what seemed like a newfound fragile joy within me.

I was free.

And madly in love too.

Final chapter out soon ^^

Notes: En Tao here is…um…weird. I had to do that because I wanted to differentiate En Tao here from the En Tao of another Ren/Piri ficcie by my good grandma, Apple-chan. And besides, I can't write a seriously good account of En Tao…syao-chan specializes on fluff and lightheartedness. ^^

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