Navy and Azure
by Apple-chan

Disclaimer: If it were mine, would I be writing this?

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 7 - Azure Yearns


The sun was shining brightly up in the sky as two female figures walked across the wide pathway at the center of a massive ranch. It was early in the morning, and Pilica had just finished breakfast with Tao Jing's whole family. Right after helping out with all the chores inside the house, Jing's daughter Chii had offered to take her around the ranch in some sort of a tour so that she could get used to the structures, surroundings, and everything that constituted the whole place. It was the one and only thing that Jing had allowed her to do for the meantime; in the next succeeding days, she will be allowed to participate in whatever task she may want to help with.

It is extremely essential that she help out in at least one or more of the activities in the ranch. As Jing explained to her, it had nothing to do with En this time anymore--it was just that it had long been a practice by their whole family for each and every member to do his or her share of work to benefit the whole place. And since she would be living in the ranch for...it had yet to be determined how long, it was understood that she would have her share of work, too.

From what Pilica had seen so far, Jing's family didn't have a lot of staff tending to all the work around the ranch; it was evident that he and his three children did most of the work by themselves--from the household chores, to the tending of all the animals, the plants and the farm; to the running of errands around the place. She wonders how they are able to do it with only the four of them, being that the whole ranch was about three times the size of the Tao's main estate, meaning--it was fairly big.

Now that she thought about it, though, maybe it wasn't quite so impossible. After all, she and her brother maintain quite a large field of plants themselves, and theirs was more or less about the size of the ranch. Just like Jing's family, they have a couple of people whom they hired to help them out, but it was mostly she and Horo-horo who did the work. It wasn't because they didn't have the money, but mainly...she and her brother much rather preferred doing everything on their own, hands-on. Aside from the fact that they are able to give their plants a slightly personal touch, it assures them that everything is in perfect order. More specifically, her brother--because he loved the plants so much.

True, she loved their plants, too...but Horo-horo--the extent of his love for them was something she could not quite comprehend. It bordered quite a bit on...obsessive. Sometimes, she even wondered if her brother actually still had any love left for her, or for any other person...or had he given all of it to their plants?

Anyway, needless to say, Pilica somehow understood the way life in the ranch worked. Jing and his children liked doing most everything on their own, because they wanted to be personal. They wanted to make sure themselves that everything was well-maintained, and perfectly kept. At the very least, that was something about this whole place that she was familiar to.

And the fields, the plants and flowers...that particular thought lightened her mood even just a little bit. She could easily get absorbed and pass her time when she had plants all around her--pretty much what happens each and every time she works in their own fields. The plants and flowers would certainly make her feel better, offer her a small comfort...and, surely, distract her from bouts of sadness and longing that are bound to come to her every couple of minutes or so. Flashes of sadness as she is reminded of everything she had been forced to leave behind...and pangs of longing for the one and the only person who could ever make her happy now. The one person whose presence she has been constantly haunted with ever since late last night...until now.

Ren.

Almost everything in the ranch reminded her of him...and it hurts to remember.

Yet at the same time, she hopes.

He -will- come soon. He will. I know he will.

...But when?

If he doesn't...Pilica shook her head vigorously as she followed Chii towards the back. They were now reaching...where? She didn't know. Her feet were moving out of their own accord, but she paid no heed. The young woman was talking to her, describing the place all around...but she wouldn't listen. She couldn't listen, not even if she wanted to...because her whole mind was too preoccupied.

She had been here for hardly a whole day, and she still couldn't stop thinking about him. He was the only one she could think about.

She didn't know if she could ever stop thinking about him...and although it pained her so, she knew she never wanted to stop.

And Fei's final words to her only served to heighten her thoughts of him even more.

Just before the sun had risen earlier this morning, the middle-aged maidservant had visited her bedroom to say goodbye.

"I wish I could stay with you longer, but I am needed at the main estate," the raven-haired woman had told Pilica in a slightly tearful voice. "Don't wear yourself out too much. Don't cry anymore. Things -will- work itself out," Fei had assured her. "Once Ren-sama comes back, I shall immediately tell him everything that had transpired over the past couple of days." She vowed, "...And he will -definitely- come for you. He will," she added confidently. "For the meantime, Pilica-sama...please do take care of yourself. Ren-sama will want to see you happy and well, else he'll work himself out over. He's very good at punishing himself," she added with a sigh of resignation. "I know it will be hard, but please do try to get used to living here for a while. Jing-sama and his children are wonderful people...they would never be unkind to you. Not him, nor his children."

"Ren-sama -will- come for you. I promise that." Fei had assured her once more before she completely left Pilica's room that morning.

Fei's assurances had left her in deep contemplation of its certainty--of whether Ren was really going to come for her, or...was the woman just trying to make her feel better? Was she just keeping Pilica's hopes up to something that was inevitably futile?

She didn't want to think about that. It was wrong of her to doubt Fei, after everything the woman has done for her. If she had had a choice, Fei would have stayed with her in the ranch, she knew. Although she obeyed En's orders to the dot, Fei was scarcely loyal to the man...her faith and loyalties lie with Ren, and none other. She had taken care of Ren from the time he was born until he grew up to be a man. Needless to say, she had treated him like a son, and damn her to hell if she turned traitor on him. Unfortunately, Fei only had so much power as a maidservant...and without Ren around, she was forced to follow his father's orders without complaint--even though she highly disapproved of them.

Much like I disapprove of all of this, Fei had told Pilica once, during their long journey.

Yet still--she didn't have a choice. Being a servant, Fei hadn't been left with much of a choice...except to blindly follow, no questions asked.

Just like me, Pilica thought. Just like me.

"Pilica-san?" Chii's soft voice broke through her reverie.

Pilica glanced up, realizing that she had been looking at the ground the whole time that she was thinking...and finally noticing that they had actually managed to reach the far end of the ranch. The stables.

Horses.

"I'm sorry, what is it you were saying?" She asked with a slightly embarrassed smile.

Chii shook her head. "It's nothing." She took Pilica's hand and led her inside the stables. "I was just saying that, if you want, you can help Ken-niisan out with all the animals starting tomorrow," she paused to stroke the golden mane of the beautiful white horse at the center partition of the stables. There were twelve partitions all in all, and except for two, all of them have horses in them. Some were sleeping, while the others were eating. "Ken-niisan's very good with all the animals...especially the horses," she added with a smile, inclining her head at the animal.

Pilica studied the white horse with a slight frown on her face. The horse was...strangely familiar, for some reason...

"This is Hakuoh. He belongs to Ren-sama." Chii informed her, as if reading her mind.

The realization hit her like a blow.

Of course.

Ren-kun's horse...-that's- why he looks so familiar...I've seen him before. Long ago. Eleven years, that time right after his battle with Yoh-san...just before he went back here...to China.

His horse. She continued to gaze at the animal, an odd sort of feeling washing over her as she approached it. For some reason, her feet were moving on their own, bringing her closer to Hakuoh...and as soon as she did, the animal went to her, sniffed her hair. Hesitantly, she raised her hand up to stroke the horse's mane...and to her surprise, he nuzzled her hand and neighed softly. She gazed at his soft brown eyes, feeling another wave of sadness tumbling down over her, smashing her heart into pieces, once again.

It's just not enough, isn't it? As if her navy blue bedroom wasn't enough, now comes something else. Hakuoh. His horse. One of his prized possessions.

Just another thing to remind me of him.

She leaned against the post and closed her eyes, inhaling deeply as she fought the urge to slump down on the ground. Her dam of emotions were threatening to burst once again, and she couldn't even shed tears to release it all out. She couldn't even cry.

I can't even cry.

"Pilica-san? Are you...are you alright?" Chii's very worried voice broke through her thoughts for the second time that morning. Pilica opened her eyes to find the beautiful girl gazing at her anxiously. "Since earlier today, you've been quiet, and I was wondering..." she paused, as if suffering from some inner struggle, "is there anything I can do to help?"

Pilica took another deep breath, and then, reluctantly leveled her eyes with Chii's. "It's nothing," she assured the younger woman quietly, with a brief headshake. "It's just that I--" she glanced at the horse again, and strangely enough, she found herself choking out her next words. "This..this is Ren-kun's horse?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Chii nodded, a slight note of bewilderment in her eyes. "The black one over at the corner is En-jisama's, and this one...Hakuoh, is Ren-sama's." Her brows furrowed as she examined the other woman's face thoughtfully. Perceptiveness was one of the qualities that Chii had inherited from her mother...and this was one of things that made her so endearing to a lot of people. She had a certain, foolproof cure for those who were overburdened with problems regarding matters of the heart. And, studying the young woman who was with her, this was undoubtedly the problem. "Pilica-san...you can tell me what's bothering you," she offered with a sincere smile. "I won't tell anyone, I promise. It'll be between you and me," she added.

Silence. Except for the horses' breathing, and the noise of their teeth as they chewed on the fodder, not a single sound can be heard.

A long, helpless sigh. And then, Pilica spoke. "Chii-san...did your father tell you exactly why I was sent here?" She asked quietly.

Chii shook her head. "He only spoke to Pan-niisan about it," she answered softly. "But from what Ken-niisan and I have heard from their conversation...En-jisama requested for it," she gave the other woman a questioning look. "Is that right?"

Pilica nodded. She leaned against the post holding up the partition of Hakuoh's stable weakly. "...So he didn't tell him everything."

"En-jisama never tells us everything," Chii answered matter-of-factly. "Father said that's the way it has always been, since En-jisama's the head of the clan...and even now that he's not." A sigh. "We just obey him. We don't have the power to ask, or protest." She frowned. "It's quite unfair, but...En-jisama, Ren-sama, and everyone else at the main estate...they keep us alive out here. This is the only way we can show our gratitude...or so Father says." She shook her head. "I honestly don't approve of it. None of us do. But we really don't have any choice in the matter."

Yes you do, Pilica thought to herself silently. And so do I.

...We just don't have the power to fight back.

"Father grew up with En-jisama," Chii informed her with a shrug. "You'd think they would be close, but..." she shook her head. "En-jisama's always been pretty detached from the rest of the clan...some sort of tradition for the main family, I guess." She tossed her hair, then patted Hakuoh's head fondly. "Although...Father told me that it wouldn't have done En-jisama any good to be near them. He wasn't much into socializing. He was...something of a loner." A soft, fond smile grazed her lips. "Just like Ren-sama. But unlike him...Ren-sama sometimes made an effort to talk to people." She sighed. "At least, right before he was subjected to training. Right after that happened, he stopped talking and...drew away from people entirely." She leaned against the other post of Hakuoh's stable, opposite Pilica's. "The only ones he ever talked to after that were the spirits...but even then, I couldn't even consider it talking. He was just giving them orders."

Pilica stared at her with surprise. "You've known Ren-kun for a long while?"

A nod. "Whenever he does his training outdoors, he did it in our side of the woods," Chii replied. "It's mainly because his horse was kept here, and he used to train with Hakuoh a lot...most especially, eleven years ago," she smiled wistfully. "Right after he came back from the...first round of the Shaman fight, I saw the change in him right away. He became a little more social again. He started talking to people more often...particularly, to us." She sighed. "The only explanation I can give for his sudden change is that...he must have met a couple of good friends during the battles."

Pilica couldn't help but smile at that. "Yes. Yes, he did," she answered softly.

Chii gazed at her thoughtfully. "Pilica-san...are you friends with Ren-sama?"

Her heart stopped at that. Me...friends with...Ren-kun?

Now that she thought about it, had she ever been friends with him? Sure, he was her brother's rival, and his friend...but did he, at any point, ever become...her friend?

"Pilica-san?" Chii continued to gaze at her intently.

...We were never friends, were we?

Awareness notwithstanding, there had always been something much more than friendship between us. "We're not...really...just...friends..."

"You're not?" Chii echoed. "You're not friends with him?"

"N...no. I mean, not exactly." Pilica averted her eyes. "He and my brother are friends, but Ren-kun and I, we're..." More than that. We're more than just friends.

"But Pilica san..." The younger woman began, "if Ren-sama and your brother are friends, then...doesn't that automatically make you two friends, as well?" She asked. "Or maybe--" She broke up abruptly as the realization came over her like thunder. "Pilica-san, are you and Ren-sama--"

"Hey!" A cheerful male voice called out to them. Some couple of seconds later, Tao Ken's form emerged in their view, riding a chestnut-colored horse. The clickety-clack of the animal's hooves stopped once the young man held the reins. Then, he stepped down carefully and stood in front of them with a wide, beaming smile. "Ohayo, dear sister...Pilica-san," he greeted. "What are you two doing, standing out here?"

Chii gave Pilica one last curious look, her statement unfinished, her question remaining unanswered...but somewhere deep inside of her, a small conclusion has formed: Pilica was no ordinary young woman; no ordinary guest. Somehow or other, she was involved with Ren, but exactly how much, Chii had yet to determine.

Deciding that it would be best to leave the matter closed for now, she turned to answer her brother. "I was taking Pilica-san on a tour around the ranch," she explained.

"Oh?" Ken glanced over at Pilica, who was gazing at Hakuoh intently, like she was in deep thought. Then, he turned to his sister and spoke in a low tone. "How did it go?"

"Well--"

"Ken-san," Pilica spoke up suddenly. "Do you think I can ride on one of the horses?"

"S...sure," Ken frowned slightly, gazing around the stables for the most suitable horse for her. "I think it will be fine. Do you know how to ride, Pilica-san?"

She continued to gaze at Hakuoh. "I can learn," she responded simply.

"Um..." The pointy indigo-haired young man exchanged a concerned look with his sister. She gave him a shrug. He sighed with resignation. "Hai," he answered with slight hesitation, a glimmer of worry in his amber eyes. "I think you should ride Liu," he decided, patting his horse's back. "He's the tamest of all the horses here, and--"

"Iie." Pilica shook her head instantly.

"N..no?" Ken scratched his head, flashing his sister a puzzled look. Chii inclined her head at a particular direction, but he was still puzzled, so he decided to ask. "Then which one would you like to--"

"I want to ride him." She inclined her head at Hakuoh and patted him for emphasis. Then, she smiled faintly at the siblings. "May I?"

The young man's eyes widened in alarm. "Uh--"

"Iie, you can't." A deep voice interrupted before he can utter another word. Pilica and the two siblings looked up as aqua-eyed and indigo-haired Pan, eldest of Jing's children, riding a dark brown horse, regarded them with a haughty air. "Only Ren-sama," the sarcasm was evident in his voice as he spoke the name, "is allowed to ride him. More correctly," he added, an eyebrow slightly raised, "he doesn't let anyone else ride him, save for Ren-sama." He flashed Pilica a pointed look. "As beautiful as you are, dear guest...I doubt if you will be able to ride him, especially since you're still a beginner." Then, he smiled meaningfully. "However, I'll be happy to teach you." He continued to gaze at her critically from head to toe, examining her the way a scientist would examine his test subjects--with unhidden, unbridled interest.

Ken and Chii simultaneously sighed with exasperation. "Niisan, get off that horse," Ken instructed his older brother. "Show a little bit of respect for Pilica-san...she's our guest, if you remember."

"Of course I do," Pan huffed airily as he reluctantly jumped off the horse with a flourish. "I have a very fine memory for detail, and for beauty. I apologize," turning to Pilica, he grabbed her right hand and smiled at her sincerely, catching the young woman off-guard. "Tao Pan, eldest of the ranch siblings at your service." He gently brought her hand to his lips and kissed it reverently, his aqua eyes holding her dark blue ones in an intense gaze. "It's a pleasure to meet you," he murmured against her skin.

Pilica froze. She immediately snatched her hand away, her face forming an expression of utter shock and bewilderment as she stared at the young man in front of her. He just gave her a smug smile as he straightened out, still continuously leering at her.

Visibly disturbed, she turned away and focused her attention once more on Ren's horse, all the while trying very hard to ignore Pan's obvious staring.

Chii, on the other hand, had an extremely incredulous expression on her face. "Niisan, what did you do THAT for?" She demanded.

"What?" Pan asked innocently as he continued to gaze at Pilica, an amused smile playing at his lips. Mind having this young lady around? En had asked him that through a missive. Someone this beautiful? No, he definitely didn't mind having her around...

Chii rolled her eyes to the ceiling. Insufferable, incredibly arrogant...and perfectly smooth. She wondered if she would ever get used to her eldest brother's ways with women. "You know what I'm talking about, Niisan," she answered pointedly.

"Oh. That," Pan waved a hand dismissively. "You told me to pay my respects, didn't you? So I did," he directed this statement to Ken. "As for that little gesture...I was just greeting her the way I thought a beautiful girl should be treated." He smiled innocently again. "Is that WRONG?"

"Well...no," Ken admitted grudgingly. "But still, you didn't have to--"

"Now, now," Pan interrupted. "Should I believe what I'm hearing in the tone of your voice? Are you actually JEALOUS, little brother?"

"I am NOT!" Ken protested hotly, throwing a furtive glance at Pilica. To his relief, she was still gazing at the horse thoughtfully and had not seemed to have heard their whole exchange. "I'm not about to do what you just did. Father never said anything about--"

"Whoever SAID we have to follow everything he SAYS?" Pan reasoned. "I did what I did because I WANTED to, and not because of whatever Father had said."

"STILL--"

"Pan-niisan, Ken-niisan, could you please stop it?" Chii interrupted impatiently. "You two have nothing to argue about. Stop wasting your time with all this nonsense. Honestly, you do this everyday," she added with slight annoyance. "Pan-niisan, why weren't you at breakfast this morning?" She wanted to know.

Pan raised an eyebrow at his brother, then he shrugged. "Father sent me on an early errand," he answered matter-of-factly. "I just got back. What are you all doing here, anyway?"

Ken glared at him. "Chii was showing Pilica-san around." He muttered.

"Really." Pan's eyebrow raised another notch. "...And how did it suddenly go from her touring the ranch to her riding Hakuoh, pray tell?" He narrowed his eyes at the white horse. "Not that it matters to me, of course," he added dryly. "Hakuoh's an old horse. Besides, he never responds to anyone but the fearless head of our clan," he said with scorn. "...and anyway, who cares?"

"Pilica-san does," Chii answered quietly, her eyes shifting towards the azure-haired young woman, who was still gazing at the white Hakuoh, and stroking his mane with an exceptional fondness and affection that she probably had for his owner.

Pan snorted. "I figured as much," he commented with slight sarcasm. En-jisama told me as much...but I intend to change all that. And I -will- succeed.

Ken rolled his eyes to the ceiling and sighed with resignation. "Niisan...you're getting on for twenty-five. You should know by now that what you did wasn't a proper greeting at all."

"Then WHAT do you CALL it? IMPROPER?" Pan shook his head with disbelief. His younger brother was a rigid prude, very much like his father. "Do tell me...what should I have done? Should I have given her a welcoming KISS?" He suggested mock-challengingly. "Because I can do that, you know." Taking several steps forward, he stood beside Pilica, grabbed her shoulders, and whirled her around to face him. "What do you think?" He asked his siblings. "Should I do it?"

"NO!" Ken and Chii shouted at the same time. "Niisan, let go of her," Ken growled.

"Why should I?" Pan smirked with satisfaction at his siblings. Then, he turned to the young woman in his grasp. "What do YOU think, Pilica-chan...should I do it?" He gave her a saucy grin.

"Let go of me." Her tone was quiet, but it had an air of defiance. She gave him a warning look, her eyes as cold as ice, hard as steel, and unflinching as a rock as she gazed at him squarely, without any shred of fear. Kissing her hand was one thing, staring at her was one thing...but grabbing her, and now, threatening her with a kiss...this was something she simply could not tolerate any longer. "Let. Go. Of. Me."

Pan raised an eyebrow, but he didn't move. "Feisty, aren't we?" He commented mockingly. "...And you're even more beautiful up close than from afar," he murmured, his eyes still roving her over from head to toe. Clearly, he was enjoying her obvious discomfort very much. "I can see why...REN-SAMA fancies you so much."

Pilica's hands clenched tightly at her sides at the mention of the name. She could feel a slight constriction forming inside her chest, once again. She swallowed, trying her best to keep her emotions in check. "Please let go of me," her voice came out, slightly above a whisper.

Despite her plea, the young man still wouldn't let go of her. Instead, he raised one of his hands...and started touching her face. "You know," he murmured, "If I were Ren-sama, I wouldn't leave you alone even in a heartbeat."

She fought off the blush that threatened to stain her cheeks. He certainly knew how to talk. She flinched away as his fingers touched her skin. "It's not his fault that he isn't here. Ren-kun works very hard." She tried to break away from his hold, but his grasp was too tight. "Let go of me."

Pan raised an eyebrow. "So you call him Ren-kun," he remarked sarcastically. "...While us mere mortals are mandated to address him as Ren-sama. Hm...you two must know each other very intimately." He smiled knowingly. "And may I ask, what does he call you?"

"M...my name." She slapped his hands away forcefully.

He snorted. "Just that? Well then, Pilica-chan," he said with emphasis. "Is it alright if I call you that?"

She gave him a glare. "You can call me whatever you want to call me, I don't care," she told him scathingly. "I don't know you, so it doesn't matter." She shook him off once more. "Let me GO."

"Niisan!" Unable to stand it any longer, Ken and Chii finally approached them. "STOP harassing her this instant," Ken ordered him.

"If you don't let go of her, Father will hear about this, I swear," Chii threatened, flashing her brother a very dark glare that they rarely ever saw in her face.

Pan looked back and forth from his sister to his brother, then to Pilica, and then, reluctantly released her. "Hmph." He snorted. "Go ahead and tell him. See if I care." He turned around, but not before flashing the azure-haired young woman a self-satisfied smirk. "I'll see you again," he told her. "Ken, take care of my horse, will you?" He called out over his shoulder as he left.

The three of them stared at Pan's retreating back, relief washing over them for different reasons. Ken and Chii exchanged a knowing look, both of them taking turns glancing at Pilica, who was staring in the direction Pan disappeared to, a look of disbelief in her face as she brushed off the residue of his touches on her shoulders and her face. If she could only eliminate the residue of his leers on her as well, she probably would have.

"Pilica-san?" Chii spoke tentatively.

Pilica turned and gave her a small smile. "Hai, Chii-san?"

"Gomen ne," She said quietly, in behalf of her brother. "Pan-niisan's like that to every woman he meets," she explained with a sigh of resignation.

"He thinks every woman worships the ground he walks on," Ken added dryly, with an eye-roll. "Anyway, we apologize for the way he behaved towards you. It was quite improper and rude."

Pilica shook her head. "It's fine." She told them reassuringly.

"Really?" Chii asked doubtfully.

"Yes, really." Pilica smiled with confirmation.

Chii heaved a sigh of relief. "Good." She turned to her brother. "Niisan?"

"You two should go back to the house. I'll just put the horses back in their stables." Ken told them.

"Wait a minute, Ken-san." Pilica's voice stopped Ken in his tracks. "You still haven't told me if I can ride Hakuoh or not."

"Well..." He looked around nervously. "You heard Pan-niisan...Hakuoh only allows Ren-sama to ride him, and no one else."

"Hm." Pilica looked thoughtful for a minute. And then, she spoke. "If he allows me to ride him, will you let me?"

"O...of course I will!" He answered quickly. "But--"

"Then it's settled." Pilica smiled with satisfaction. "If he throws me off, you can ban me from riding for the rest of my stay here. If he doesn't...then I can ride him." She looked at Ken brightly. "Ne?"

Ken examined the young woman's face for about half a minute, visibly torn between anxiety, worry, and admiration for her. Then, he sighed with resignation. "...Alright," he relented. "We can start tomorrow."

"Great!" Pilica mustered a bright smile. "Thank you." And then, she turned around to head back towards the house. "Chii-san, shall we go?"

"Hai." Chii gave her brother an amused smile before she walked back towards the house as well.

*~*~*~*~*~*

After that grand tour, Pilica had decided for herself that she was going to help out with the duties in the ranch as much as she could, if only to distract herself for a long while until the time comes when someone finally comes for her. When he finally comes for her. At the same time, she was also preparing herself for the unthinkable: if in case he does not come for her, then at least she would try to get herself used to the life which she would probably be living for a long while.

And so, for the next couple of days, Pilica woke up early to help Jing and Chii prepare breakfast for everyone. After breakfast, she helped Ken out in taking care of all the animals--not just the horses, but the cattle, the sheep, the chickens, and the pigs as well. She was able to observe well how good Jing's second son was in taking care of the animals. Having been raised in a tribe where virtually everything in nature was cherished and taken care of most reverently, Pilica quite enjoyed feeding and grooming all the animals, and in a short span of time, they had grown to love her as much as they probably loved the person who had taken care of them ever since the time that they were born. As for Ken, he was just happy that he had someone who was as enthusiastic about the animals as he was to help him out.

Right after Pilica helped Ken out with all the animals, she moved on to helping Chii out with the fields and the plants. Among all the activities in the ranch, this was what she loved most of all, for it brought her so close to home. Plants, and flowers were so close to her heart--to her family...to her brother, and no matter where they might be, she is oddly comforted whenever plants surround her, and whenever she took care of them. Since she knew a lot about nurturing virtually all kinds of plants and flowers more than most people (except for her brother), in as little as a few days, with Chii's help, she was able to make the ranch's massive garden and fields an incredible paradise that, if given, say, a couple of more years in her care, could probably rival hers and Horo-horo's own fields in Japan.

After feeding and grooming all the animals, and then taking care of the fields, Pilica starts her riding lessons on Hakuoh, with Ken's help. She didn't know what had come over her, but for some reason, the second she had laid eyes on Ren's horse that day, she just...knew from the onset that she wanted to ride him, and somehow, she...felt that Hakuoh would never throw her off of him; that he would allow her to ride him, the way he does with Ren.

And sure enough, much to everyone's surprise (Pan's, most especially), on that first day when Ken agreed to allow her to ride the white horse, as soon as the young man had assisted her up on Hakuoh's back, he hadn't throw her off at all. The second she was relaxed on his back, he had neighed softly and allowed her to stroke his golden mane. And after that, everything had been easy. Every single time she and Ken rode deep into the woods in the mountains and across the valley, each and every day, Hakuoh never threw her off even just once. It was as if the horse somehow knew who she was, and her situation...and the only way he could show his sympathy was to allow her to ride his back and serve as a small modicum of comfort. And Pilica appreciated this offer of comfort--from a horse, no less--very much.

All throughout this time, Jing's eldest son Pan, like some sort of menace to her life, wouldn't give up trying to make advances on her...and she didn't even know why. Even though it wasn't right for her to think it, she suspected that En might be putting him up to this, but Ken and Chii assured her that Pan treated all women like a couple of conquests--and since Pilica was here, she was no exception. As strong and as defiant and cold as she was, Pan was too forward, too forceful, and too adamant with his advances that she was afraid he might just succeed in whatever he wanted to do with her one of these days. Although he wasn't around for most of the morning and afternoon (as he was usually sent on long errands around the valley), he was around during the evening, and during these times, he would often go so far as to corner her wherever she may be, whether it be the kitchen, the back of the house, the living room, the patio, or worst of all--her bedroom.

Her only consolation about all this was that, at least, either Ken or Chii were usually around every time Pan followed her. Over the course of the several days she had stayed at the ranch, Pilica had become very fond of the two younger siblings, because they never made her feel unwanted or unwelcome in any way. Rather, they treated her like she was a part of the family, and she appreciated that very much. Once or twice, she would catch the two of them exchanging glances and knowing looks every time they thought she wasn't looking. Somehow, she felt that they perceived something about her...which leads her to remember Chii's previous question, days ago, which, until now, still remained unanswered. She constantly wondered how much exactly about her and Ren the two of them had managed to figure out...and if that had somehow influenced the way they treated her over the past couple of days.

Still, though, all throughout the few days she had stayed in the ranch, one person always remained constantly in her mind...and her heart: Ren. Each and every single day, from early sunrise until way past twilight, thoughts of him constantly tortured her. Every single thing around her, no matter how small, reminded her of him--and, ironically enough, as much as it pained her, it cheered her up, as well.

She will never stop hoping. No matter how long time passes, she will wait for him...and he will come for her. Surely he will come for her.

Surely.

*~*~*~*~*~*

It was around a week after she was sent to the ranch that Pilica received an unexpected visit from one of the members of Ren's family. It was around late in the afternoon that time, and she and Ken had just finished their daily horseback ride around the valley. Though it was only seven days after she had started riding Hakuoh, she was already pretty much somewhere along the lines of an expert, mostly due to Ken's guidance and the fact that Ren's horse regarded her distinctively like the way he regarded his master.

She and Ken were on the way back to the stables when Chii's familiar form suddenly appeared and rushed towards them, a slight look of apprehension on her face. Upon spotting Pilica, she immediately approached the azure-haired young woman and pulled her hand.

"Chii-san, what is it?" Pilica asked anxiously. "Is something wrong?"

Chii shook her head vigorously. "No...but you need to come with me right now. It's very important." A pause. "Someone's here to see you."

"S...someone? Who?" Pilica wondered as she walked alongside the younger woman.

"You'll know when we get to the house. Ken-niisan, please take charge of the horses!" She called out to her brother.

Upon reaching the front patio of the house, the two women spotted the figure of Pilica's mystery visitor. Pilica noticed something very familiar about the guest...and the second she figured out who it was, she froze in midtracks.

"Pilica-chan?" Although she hadn't heard it for three weeks, she recognized that voice. It was from someone she knew--and someone Ren knew and loved.

One of the most important people in his life.

"R...Ran-Hahaue?" She managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.

TSUZUKU.

End notes:

I had *originally* intended to finish this fic sometime by Ren's 18th birthday next year (January 1, sort of a tribute fic for him), but from the pace I'm going (and because of my selective block ;_;), it doesn't seem like I'll be able to._ I hate myself. But this will get finished before January ends, you can all count on that.

Hakuoh exists. Yes, he does. I saw him in the Anime. I kinda forgot if he's in the Manga. But anyways, he doesn't belong to me, so...um. And uh...if you're wondering why I'm dwelling on Hakuoh the horse so much here, it's because...he has a role in the fic, and you'll know about that pretty soon.^^

(Yes, I know. That totally sucked. I really, really, really hate myself._)

Comments/criticisms/suggestions/reactions/any type of feedback will be very much appreciated.