Navy and Azure
by Apple-chan
Disclaimer: insert witty disclaimer remark here

RenxPilica. Contains lots of waff, fluff, angst...and a really, infuriatingly annoying Tao En. Set approximately 11 years after the Anime. Their love knows no boundaries. Their love is limitless, timeless...endless. He completed her, and she completed him...in the most ultimate sense. Yet...love does not always automatically lead to a happy ending.

Warnings: PG-13 for adult situations and mild swearing.

Chapter 3 - Darkness and Light


Ren stepped into the dark, immense hall of his father's study, eyeing the ostentatious walls and maroon furniture impassively. He walked towards the man, slight trepidation lurking over inside his heart. Every single time he and his father had these little "talks," he almost always ended up leaving in infuriated haste due to the man's patronizing and manipulative ways. En enjoyed controlling people--and the worst thing was, he doesn't even try to hide that fact. With his father, what you see is usually what you get--with a certain number of additions here and there. You'll know what he feels immediately on the outside...but the hard, horrible truth is--that's not all there is to it...for there was more. Lots, lots more.

And much, much worse.

En raised a critical eyebrow as his son paused about several feet from his high table and stood in between the chairs in front of him like a hard, proud statue. "You're late."

Shrugging, Ren leaned against the back of one of the chairs and ignored his father's comment.

"Sit down."

"No, thank you." There was a defiant air in the young man's tone. "I'd rather stand. I don't intend to stay here any longer than necessary."

"...You're being rude, Son."

Ren sighed, crossing his arms over his chest, unable to hide his impatience. "Let's get on with it, Father." He stated pointedly. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

En picked up a small figurine of a horse from his desk and started examining it, while gazing at his son at the corner of his eye. "How are the Asakuras doing?" He asked in a mild tone.

"They're fine." A frown. "Stop beating around the bush, Father."

"...And your sister?" Ren's father set down the horse figurine on the table and regarded him curiously. "Why didn't she come home with you?"

The frown on his face deepened. "She wanted to stay at the Inn a bit longer."

En's eyes darkened with suspicion. "You should have told her to go home."

"...It's not my place to order her around."

"Still--"

"For GOD'S sake, Father," Ren interrupted, his voice rising, "she's nearing thirty. She's old enough to decide for herself what she wants to do and where she wants to go."

"Maybe so. But you have EVERY right, as the Clan Head, to impose rules upon her--"

"I will do NO such thing," He stated firmly. "I have never patronized Neesan and I'm not about to start now."

"You are not living up to your duties." En said, disappointment lacing his voice. "You will need to be a LOT more responsible than that before I can completely give up the Clan Head's post to you."

A bitter laugh. "I don't CARE if you never give it up. I DON'T want it."

His father sighed helplessly. "Ah, Ren..." he shook his head regretfully.

"...You can't tell me what to do," Ren said pointedly. "I've stopped listening to you a long time ago."

En stood up from the table and examined the marble horse statue at the right-hand corner of the room. Then, he turned around. "You are STILL my SON." He said in a loud, firm tone.

"NOT by choice!" Ren shot back scathingly. "Truth be told, Father...I'd rather NOT be!"

A deafening bang sounded as En slapped his hand on the table forcefully. "As long as you are LIVING under the roof of this place, you are obligated to RESPECT me." He growled.

"That doesn't necessary mean that I WILL, though, does it?" Ren retorted sarcastically.

"You UNGRATEFUL--"

"FATHER," He interrupted with a warning raise of his hand, "This discussion is becoming a little bit pointless. I think I've wasted enough time with you." He straightened out from his position and turned to leave. "I'll be going now."

"REN." He ignored his father's loud voice as he reached the door. "I wasn't done talking to you yet."

"Well, I AM!" He called over his shoulder as he stalked off.

"...That woman of yours, Ren." He paused at his father's statement, and his hand froze on the doorknob. "Ainu...is she?"

"Her name is PILICA, Father," Ren stated in between clenched teeth as he whirled around.

A haughty sniff. "That's irrelevant."

"It's her NAME!" He emphasized angrily. "You would do well to keep THAT in mind, Father. You've been treating her like dirt ever since we came here."

"Well...isn't that what she IS?" En sneered.

Ren's blood boiled furiously as he stalked towards his father and crashed his fist against the high table, rattling everything on top of it--including the small horse figurine. It teetered slowly on the edge...and then, it fell to the floor and smashed into pieces. "Stop INSULTING her, DAMMIT!" He snarled.

"I wasn't," En countered mildly. "I was merely stating fact, Son." He sat back down on his throne. "You don't suit each other." He folded his hands casually on top of the table. "Reluctant or no, refusal notwithstanding, YOU are still the sworn leader of our clan. And a woman of that background...a woman like HER...will not bring us any honor. DISGRACE is what she will bring."

"Her NAME," Ren stated hotly, "is Pilica."

En waved his hand dismissively. "That matters very little to me. And to you, as well." He gave his son a meaningful look. "She won't be here much longer."

"Oh, YEAH?" Ren's voice again rose several decibels higher. "Says WHO?"

"Says ME," En emphasized pointedly, his voice as loud as his son's. "I don't care how you do it. I don't care if you have to deceive her, or if you have to drag her along by the hair. Take what you will from her, do what you wish, it doesn't matter--but I want her out of here as soon as possible." He added firmly. "Is that CLEAR?"

"You want me to...get rid of her?" Ren said with incredulity.

"To put it bluntly...yes."

"And do you really think I'll LISTEN to YOU?" Ren demanded furiously. "I invited her here. I WANT her here. What RIGHT do you have to DICTATE what I should do?"

"I'm your FATHER," En answered emphatically. "Even if you turn the world upside down, and even if YOU'RE Clan Head, that will always remain an undeniable fact."

"Well, it wasn't my CHOICE!"

"She DOESN'T belong here," En continued, pointedly ignoring his son. "Her presence here...disconcerts me. It's distasteful." He added reproachfully.

"Do you HONESTLY think THAT matters to ME?" Ren stated with absolute ire. "Your opinion does NOT have any value to me whatsoever, Father. It never has, and it NEVER will."

"Be that as it may," En countered. "...She doesn't suit you at ALL. She is out of place in our family. Just look at the way she carries herself." An arrogant sniff. "And her clothes...Ren, the only women I know who wear things like...THOSE--are whores. PROSTITUTES, son." He added with emphasis.

"Her clothes are DECENT!" Ren retorted on Pilica's behalf. "She doesn't care much for style, or fashion. She uses those clothes for gardening. She's a very practical person--"

"There's nothing you can say that will change my mind about her." En interrupted. "I KNOW who she is. I know WHAT she is," he added pointedly. "...And I DON'T like it." He paused contemptuously. "Her kind...DISGUSTS me."

Ren's hands clenched at his sides. His face was all red with anger, he knew. If he doesn't get out of this place now, goodness knows what he might just do to his father. He wondered how much more he can take of this. The man was trampling all over the dignity of the only woman he had ever loved right in front of him, and he was practically powerless to stop it. "Her KIND?" His voice sounded extremely enraged. "Father, she has more dignity and honor than any other person in our family...particularly YOU."

"Your insults will not faze me," En sat back and folded his arms across his chest. "My decision is final, Ren. You will take the woman out of here immediately."

"She will STAY here for as long as she wants." Ren retorted firmly.

"There's NO point in arguing about this."

"Damn RIGHT there isn't!" Ren shouted, losing it. "Whatever I say GOES, Father...or do I have to remind you that I'M the Clan Head, and NOT you?" He paused to glare at the man. "She will stay HERE, and you have absolutely NO RIGHT to object."

"No RIGHT?" En gazed at him incredulously. "Son, you may be the Clan Head, but as I have pointed out quite a number of times, I AM STILL YOUR FATHER." He gave his son a similar glare. "...And I forbid you to get involved with her ANY longer."

"I'm ALREADY involved!" Ren retorted hotly. "I love her, Father. I. LOVE. HER. And I'm going to marry her. HER, and NOT some cheapskate B**CH that you've picked up from another well-to-do Chinese clan whose sole interest is OUR land, OUR money, and OUR power." He gave a dark, irrepressible glare. "And you can't stop me." He turned on his heel sharply.

"I CAN'T?" En laughed sardonically. "Don't be too sure about that, Son."

"Goodnight, Father." He slammed the door as he got out.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Ren stalked furiously towards his room, his anger for his father still boiling uncontrollably deep within his veins, practically consuming him. He didn't want to hate his father anymore. The detestation he'd felt for the man ever since he was a young boy had disappeared long ago, when he was released from the curse of hatred that was branded into him. Damn it all to HELL if history would choose this time to repeat itself and make him recollect all the repulsion he had carried within him for so long.

He really didn't want to feel all that hatred anymore. It was a waste of his time, his energy...a waste of his emotions...and of himself.

He gave an exasperated sigh. His father wasn't about to make it easy for anyone...and especially not on his son. Hating him was so much easier than just simply gritting your teeth and bearing with who he is...and accepting the man for the absolutely infuriating menace that he was. There was a lot to be hated about him--and very little, as far as Ren knew, that he can ever come close to loving or even respecting.

A soft, barely audible sound echoed in the hallway. Ren stopped in his tracks, straining his ears to find out where it was coming from. It sounded like the clear, heartbreaking voice of a crying person.

Someone--in one of the rooms in this floor--was crying. Sobbing. Hurting.

He looked around him, realizing that he was in the floor of his sleeping quarters now, and the crying sound seemed to be coming from the room across the hall from his.

Pilica's room.

*~*~*~*~*~*

The azure-haired young woman hastily wiped the tears that continued to fall down her cheeks as she slumped helplessly on top of the bed. She inhaled several times, hoping to make the tears stop...but nothing could seem to ease her sobbing. She couldn't stop crying, although she really wanted to...and she didn't even know why. She didn't understand why.

So Ren's father hated her...he was disgusted with her. That doesn't matter to her. It shouldn't matter to her. He was only Ren's father...he wasn't Ren. She shouldn't even care about it.

So why couldn't she stop crying?

"P...Pilica-chama..." The warrior spirit approached her hesitantly, quite clueless as to how he could ease the young woman's grief. He was, after all, a warrior who knew absolutely nothing about dealing with emotions...much less--a woman's. "A...are you...alright?" He figured he should at least ask that, if only to serve as a modicum of comfort.

Pilica looked up from the pillow she was leaning on. "I'm fine." She forced a weak smile. She sat up and gracefully wiped away her newly-accumulated tears with a small handkerchief. "I don't even know why I'm still crying. I mean, it wasn't like he said it to my face..."

"Still..." Bason chose his words carefully. "I know you were hurt. En-sama could be unavoidably harsh sometimes." He added regretfully. "I am sure that he had only said those words out of anger--"

A helpless sigh. "You don't have to defend him to me," she dabbed her eyes as yet another gush of tears escaped from them. "I know he doesn't like me. I've already proven that several times."

"...I am not defending him." Bason interjected quietly. "I am trying to...comfort you," he shifted uneasily. "However, it seems as though I am not succeeding." He heaved a sigh. "Ren-bocchama asked me to take care of you...but I'm not doing a very good job," he added mournfully. "I think I might only be hurting you more..."

"Iie." Pilica took several long, deep breaths, finally managing a genuine smile amidst her tears. "You've been nothing but wonderful to me, Bason-san."

Bason shook his head. "If Ren-bocchama were here, I'm sure he would be able to do a better job," he said ruefully. "He can make you happy the way only he can...and I will never be able to do that."

"I don't expect you to." Pilica responded quietly.

There was a short moment of silence. For several minutes, the only sounds that can be heard in the room were the peaceful ticking of the wall clock, the chirping of the crickets in the garden outside, and the azure-haired young woman's occasional sniffling. Even with the comfort the spirit had offered, still...her tears continued to fall, like they never wanted to stop. "Bason-san..."

"Hai, Pilica-chama?" The spirit inquired attentively.

A deep breath. "...Please don't tell Ren-kun about this," she gave him a pleading look. "If he knows I've been crying, he'll worry...and I don't want that. I don't want to add to his problems," she added softly. "His father...is enough for him to think about."

"I understand." Bason gave a brief nod, although he was quite sure that, whether he told his master about it or not, Ren would probably realize that something was wrong with her...one gaze at her was all he would need. Nevertheless...

"Thank you." Pilica smiled gratefully.

"But...Pilica-chama..." There was one other matter that bothered the power spirit about the young woman. Her distress was still washing over him in large waves, and they hadn't subsided...they didn't want to subside, it seems...

"Hai?" She gave him a questioning look.

Bason hesitated. "Are you...are you sure you're...fine?" He gazed at her worriedly. "You're still crying," he added with concern. And I can still feel your anguish, plain as day.

"I'm...not...I'm not crying..." Pilica desperately tried to prevent anymore of her tears from falling--to no avail. "It's just that...I'm just..." She sighed with frustration. "Why does he HATE me so much?" She asked brokenly. "I haven't done...anything wrong...have I?"

"No, of course not!" The spirit declared with conviction. "Pilica-chama, it doesn't matter what En-sama thinks of you. Ren-bocchama loves you--that is what matters."

"...I know that," she whispered, the sadness still evident in her face as the tears coursed down of their own will. "I know it shouldn't matter to me what he thinks, but...it does. It bothers me. I don't know why...it just does." Biting her lip, she looked up to the ceiling and sighed with hopelessness. "I'm letting him get to me...but I can't help it..."

"Pilica-chama..."

"Bason-san," Pilica mustered a small, sincere smile. "Thank you for your efforts in comforting me. I appreciate it very much, but--" she paused abruptly, shaking her head as she gave an indrawn breath, "--I wish Ren-kun was here," she choked out, her voice barely above a whisper. If I can just see him, hold him, feel his arms around me...for sure, everything will be alright... "I wish he'd get here already," she could hardly hear her own voice. "I wish..."

"...Pilica?" A shower of happiness washed over her as Ren's voice sounded from behind the door...just like an answered prayer. "Can I come in?" He knocked softly.

"Ren-kun!" Hastily drying her tears, she rose up from the bed, inhaling a couple of times as she plastered the brightest smile that she could muster on her face before opening the door.

The first thing that she noticed as soon as she laid eyes on him was the inconceivable frown that he had on his face. His arms were folded across his chest, but as soon as he saw her, he relaxed and took hold of her shoulders gently, his golden eyes surveying her face critically, his expression unchanging. "Have you been crying?"

Pilica's eyes widened, cursing herself mentally. Of course, he had to have noticed the redness in her eyes. Regardless if anyone hadn't told him that she'd been crying for the past hour, it was still quite evident on her face. She pulled away from him and turned around, walking towards the four-poster bed. She shook her head slowly, unable to bring herself to look at him. "It's...nothing..." Why was she pulling away? She didn't get it. She'd wanted so much for him to come to her already...and now that he was here...she didn't want to face him. Why?

He sighed. "It's not just nothing if it made you cry," he murmured, pulling her by the shoulders and whipping her about so that they were gazing at each other. "What's wrong? Tell me." He tipped her chin up, forcing her eyes to level with his. "Pilica..."

She shook off his hold gently and averted her eyes. "Nothing's wrong..." she muttered quietly. Except for the fact that your father hates me, everything's just perfect. She shook away that thought hastily.

Ren sighed with resignation, signaling to Bason, who nodded immediately and vanished to give them some privacy. Satisfied, he slid his hands at the nape of her neck, coaxing her with gentle touches to meet his eyes with hers. "Pilica, please..." his voice was warm, pleading. "Tell me."

With a sigh of surrender, she gazed up at him...and when their eyes met, the tears just suddenly broke free. "...Your father hates me," she finally said what had been plaguing her mind in a choked voice, "...doesn't he?"

He suppressed the low growl that threatened to come out of his throat. "My father hates everyone," he stated tonelessly, his heart breaking at the sight of her hurting so much. He had never seen her cry like this before. He never wanted to see her cry...especially not over something that had to do with him, or his family. He cursed his father silently for causing her pain. Closing his eyes, he held her tightly against him, hoping and praying that he would at least be enough to alleviate some of her pain. "I think he even hates me."

Drawing in a shaky breath, she buried her face against his shoulder, her tears soaking the front of his dark blue shirt. "He said that I...disgust him," she managed in a small whisper. "...Why?" The tears continued to fall down her cheeks. "Did I do anything wrong?"

"No!" Ren stated in between clenched teeth, unable to prevent his temper from rising. It was bad enough that his father criticized him, degraded him to the point that he had no dignity left...but to do it to her and worse, make sure that she hears it...that was way beyond unforgivable. If it wasn't for his mother, he would really kill his father right now. He muttered a curse under his breath before he spoke again. "You haven't done anything wrong. It's the old man who has a problem," he told her dryly. Taking a deep breath, he asked, "...you heard us talking, didn't you?"

A small pause. And then, "...Just a little bit." Her tone was slightly muffled. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to listen; it's just that I was--"

"Pilica," He interrupted, "what he was saying out there--it was all meant for me. It may have been about you, but I honestly don't believe that he'd even have the nerve to tell that to you straight to your face." He lifted her head up, wiping away her tears with a gentleness that he never knew he possessed. "He just wanted to infuriate me. He does that all the time."

"But he meant it." It was a statement, not a question.

He shook his head forcefully. "It doesn't matter--"

"Ren-kun." Her tone was firm, her eyes unflinching as she gazed at him squarely. "He thinks I'm some kind of...prostitute. And I DISGUST him," she added with emphasis. "And he meant every single word of what he said...didn't he?" She flashed him a look that gave no room for argument. She wasn't angry, and she wasn't crying anymore--this time, her face was slack and serious.

Ren sighed with resignation. "...Yes." He answered reluctantly.

A sigh. "I thought so."

"Pilica..." He held on to her even tighter and refused to let go. "It doesn't matter what he thinks. I don't CARE what he thinks," he said with passion. "What's important is that...I love you." He added.

Pilica managed a small, heartfelt smile. "That's what Bason-san said..." She murmured.

"It's the truth," he confirmed quietly. "As long as you are here with me...nothing, and no one else matters...especially not him." He bent his head and brushed a soft kiss to her lips. "Remember that," he whispered as he kissed her again, much, much longer this time.

She could feel the warmth spreading all over her to the tips of her toes as she melted and surrendered herself into the kiss, her arms weaving around his neck. She closed her eyes and poured all of her heart and soul into him and he took it all, giving his entire self up to her in return. All the dark, ugly feelings that were hovering inside her heart were suddenly swept away by a seemingly endless light, and it was because of him. Him, and his love for her.

She had no reason to cry anymore. She didn't need to have his father's approval. She didn't need anyone else's. Ren was the only one that mattered. He was the only thing she needed.

"I'll always love you," Ren promised in a soft murmur as he claimed her mouth again for another kiss. "Just as long as we have each other, no one and nothing can stop us."

"Ren-kun...I love you too," Pilica declared in a soft whisper as she kissed him back. "I love you, and I'll never let anything or anyone come between us." Not even your father, she thought at the back of her mind. I don't care about him anymore. He can't stop me from loving you. I intend to fight for this love...even if it costs me my life.

The old-fashioned wall clock struck twelve. The two of them pulled away from each other, both a little bit flushed and slightly breathless.

"I'd better go," Ren decided, a slight note of disappointment lacing his voice. "I still have to wake up early tomorrow morning. There are tons of things that need my attention." He sighed, rolling his eyes at the thought of the amount of work he had to do.

Pilica nodded, smiling at him as she straightened out her hair. "Ren-kun...thank you." She wrapped her arms around him once more and gave him a soft, sweet kiss.

He looked startled, but he embraced her tightly in return. "What for?"

"The comfort." She stated simply. "...And the love," she added, her cheeks turning slightly pink.

Ren chuckled. "You're welcome." He enfolded her even tighter in his arms and gave her one last, thorough kiss. She had to cling to him for support. "I'll see you in the morning." He murmured against her lips before he pulled away with extreme reluctance. "Goodnight."

"...Goodnight." She said softly.

He smiled at her one last time as he bid his leave.

Pilica stared at the door as he left, her eyes still completely dazed, her mind completely forgetting all the events of that day, and only remembered one thing: Ren, and how much he loved her. How much she loved him. Shaking her head, she hastily prepared herself for bed. She lay down on the soft cushion of the four-poster with a contented sigh.

Just as long as we have each other, no one and nothing can stop us.

That was the last thought she held on to as she fell asleep that night.

TSUZUKU.

End notes:

No, they're not married yet.^^ Just...short of. As I've said in the first chapter, the timeline of this is after Chapter 10 and right before the Epilogue of Celebrations.

Up next: Chapter 4 - Scarlet Fantasies. What happened during Yoh and Anna's wedding that change the course of Ren and Pilica's lives and made them aware of something that had been there all along.

Feedback is most appreciated!