Disclaimers can be found in the former part of this story…
Without further ado this is chapter 6… entitled… Two days before sailing.
Hope you like it!
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Chapter 6
Saturday:
Yesterday Hao already thought Pirika the technique that she wanted to achieve. There she would need to make a mirror out of her furyoku… where she could do two things:
'First, you can hide from everyone else by turning it into a wall. Next you can also use it as a… well… a mirror from where you can see anyone you desire to see.'
Those words of Hao marked in Pirika's mind, the easier task there was the first… but what she really wanted was the second.
She was training very hard since yesterday until now but she still can't do it.
"A Shaman is useless without a power spirit… you really need one." Hao suggested once more.
"I don't!"
"Stubborn as ever." Hao can only shake his head as he watched the lady.
The two have been very close friends since they were together… Pirika regards Hao like her oniichan while Hao still treats Pirika the way he always does.
"Come on Pirika… that's enough." Hao called, as he noticed that the sun was very high… 'Hey it's lunchtime!' He thought.
"I'm just going to finish this!" Pirika said as she tried to get up again. Hao on the other hand was very amused at her determination.
'Though I really stand to what I protested… she needs a power spirit.'
"If you don't want to eat then gather your own lunch. Bye little Piri." The onmyouji shouted as he started to turn his back on the girl.
"Wait!" Pirika called. Hao stopped at once and looked at her ingenuously.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm just going to get some tickets for us… I can't transport both of us back to Japan in my state you know? Don't worry I'll be back before dark."
"You must!" Pirika said in a threat.
Hao could only chuckle quietly. Pirika wanted him to come back… what kind of hostage would want his hostage-taker to come back before dark?
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Hao did what he promised; he got them two tickets in a ferry going to Japan. He also came back before dark. Pirika on the other hand was very thankful the moment Hao came back, she was scared to death being alone in a hostile environment like the forest they were in.
The night then fell and the two started to cook some animal that Hao slaughtered. The two were quiet, as they usually are but unlike before they were no strangers to each other.
"So we are ready leaving this Monday." Pirika assumed her voice was barely audible yet Hao heard it.
"Yup. I tried to get your things back in the mansion but as I suspected it was such a Herculean task. Everyone was guarding it very thoroughly... if I didn't know better I'd say that your things seem to be of greater importance than the Great Spirits themselves." Hao said, followed by a chuckle.
Pirika was blushing hotly, the memories of her oniichan and Ren crossed her mind once again.
"So I just wasted my time there… what's more important is that I got you a power spirit."
"What?" Pirika suddenly gasped while looking sharply at the onmyouji in front of her, "didn't I told you before-"
"Yeah, yeah that the only power spirit you deserve is Kororo… but what if the power spirit I invited came from your tribe. Wouldn't you like it?"
Pirika silenced, and then thought for a while, 'who the hell is he referring to?'
"Okay, you may come out now!" Hao called even before Pirika could make a firm decision.
Pirika then looked at the direction Hao's eyes were pointing. There from behind the dark trees came out a spirit barely older than she is. She has gentle blue eyes and hair so alluringly zure that even the dark cannot mask it.
"Gasuka…" Pirika whispered being acquainted with her ancestor.
"So you're the youngest of my lineage… hello Pirika."
Pirika then shot a look at Hao.
"WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU THINKING!" she shouted at Hao.
"The best for you little Piri. You see Gasuka knows very well the technique you desire. She can be very helpful, aye?"
"Nay!" she shouted, stomping her feet.
She then turned to Gasuka, erasing the expression of hatred that only Hao deserves.
"My great ancestor, why have you come? Tell me did that bastard forced you or something?" she said glancing a look at Hao when she spoke of the word 'bastard'.
"No Pirika, he did not. He just pleaded and I listened. Besides I want to help you… I want this curse to end. I want to see you happy even with a man that we are forbidden to be with." Gasuka said softly, her voice was like that of an angel.
Pirika can't help but to give in.
"Okay, you can be my power spirit." Pirika finally agreed.
With that sweet moment Hao cannot help but smile.
Sunday:
Ren was preparing his things, even if he wasn't leaving until tomorrow its better to be prepared.
Ren finally walked out of his room, for the first time since the kidnapped bride incident. Everyone was obviously shocked.
All of them also knew that Ren already knew that Hao would take Pirika back to their homeland. Everyone was also busy preparing their things for their trip back to Japan. Although some of them have their own appointments they didn't bother to stay a little longer to help out two of their best friends.
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Ren was walking down the hallway when he suddenly felt something or someone following him.
"Bason" he muttered calling for his loyal power spirit.
"Yes Master Ren?"
"Be ready for anything someone's looking at us."
"Okay."
Ren then looked around as he took cautious steps. Then something just shivered down his spine… he looked at that direction only to see –Hao!
Ren immediately took out his family's sword and placed an oversoul in it to make it a spear then just stood there anticipating for an attack.
"Why have you come here? Don't tell me that you want to see your brother." Ren said, though his words were not that frightening his voice almost made it sound like a threat.
"I just came to get Pirika some clothes…I don't have any fit for her size."
"Where is she?" Ren shouted as he attacked Hao.
Good thing Hao dodged him and the only damage the Tao did was to tear his mantle.
"Where is she? She's in her room right now getting her clothes."
"Liar!" Ren barked though what Hao was saying was the truth.
"See for yourself." Hao said gesturing the direction towards Pirika's room.
Ren's brain was now thinking: stay and kill Hao or run and see Pirika that is of course if Hao was telling the truth. Though he lacked of time he chose the second option… besides he promised Yoh on the day Hao came back that he would not kill him as long as he has a second option.
Ren ran as fast as he could… he pushed open the doors at once. As soon as it swung open he saw nothing!
"Damn that Hao Asakura!" he shouted gripping his spear tightly. Now maybe he can break what he had promised to Yoh.
"What?" Hao voice sounded behind him.
Before Ren could notice him the onmyouji slipped passed him and entered the room. Looking around a smile curved on his lips.
"She mastered it already. I never thought she'd be this good with a power spirit." Hao said complementing the Ainu wherever she was.
"What are you saying? What did you done to her?"
"Ren, Pirika is also a Shaman… then she must know a technique or two. I just helped her master one powerful technique that she is using right now."
"Why you! You brainwashed her! Now you're trying to make her your follower!" Ren shouted.
"Yeah… I'm still trying."
And with that he can't control himself even more.
He was about to attack when he felt somebody was stopping him.
"Yoh! Everyone! Don't stop me! I'm going to kill that… that… pest!" he shouted as he saw the people stopping him. He was suppressing his rage and it was evident on his face.
"Little brother… how nice of you to come? I was just telling Ren here that I passed by to collect Piri's clothes."
"Tell me, did you hurt her?" Horohoro asked at once, though he's angry he can still restrain the ire burning inside his chest.
Hao shook his head sincerely.
"Good. Please tell us what you want. Just bring her back." Horohoro sighed.
"And don't force her to be your adherent." Lyserg added, giving him a very homicidal look.
"I promise… I'll never gather Shamans again to form a group against the revered Shaman King. Besides I know better now to do it myself." He said, raising his right hand. He then looked at Horohoro, his worries were obvious almost written all over his face.
"If you want me to surrender her to you. Promise me one thing."
"What's that?" Faust asked, curious about his intentions.
"Don't let Ren marry her. Or else she'll die." There he said it, though he didn't mention Pirika's real reason for running away.
"OVER MY DEAD BODY!" Ren shouted and with just a struggle he wiggled his way out of Yoh's clutches.
Upon freeing himself he started to attack Hao.
"Ren stop!" A voice of a woman echoed in the room.
Ren halted his next step upon hearing the very familiar voice that teased his eardrums.
"Pirika!" Horohoro recognized at once.
Slowly, a woman with hair colored like the sky appeared in front of Ren. Something between them was slowly melting away… like ice. But Ren didn't care, all he knew is he was seeing Pirika in front of him –crying!
"Please Ren stop." She whispered, voice breaking down into tears.
"Why are you siding with him again? Don't believe him Pirika, whatever promise he assures you… don't believe him." He said roughly.
"Ren I love you… but I… I …" she tried to say it but the words cannot escape her throat 'why is it very hard to say? Why does it hurt? I don't deserve you Ren… I'm too selfish.'
Hao looked at Pirika and seemingly she was ready to tell it all. Hao on the other hand won't allow it. Something inside of him, though he doesn't know what exactly it was, was telling him that he mustn't let Pirika tell it… it's much better if he was the one who looked like the bad guy rather than to let them know the harsh reality.
"Okay that's enough!" Hao suddenly said pulling her arms to him.
"If you want Pirika back… that's the only thing I want in return. But if you can't promise me that… try and catch me back in Japan. Bye." Hao said smiling nonchalantly, and with one wave of his mantle the two disappeared.
"PIRIKA!"
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"Okay… so I really think that Pirika was brainwashed by Hao… as in washed!" Chocolove commented when everyone held another meeting.
"Don't worry if she was brainwashed… we can take care of that. Our problem at hand is how can we get Pirika?" Anna said in a voice full of authority.
"We shall go back first to Japan. Let them rest for a while then we can get them besides, Japan is a lot smaller than China." Yoh suggested, smiling sheepishly as he threw his hands at his back.
"Master Yoh is right. But aren't you wondering why Hao demanded for Ren to not marry Pirika?" Ryu said, bearing that question for quite a time now.
"Maybe he was the one who wants to marry her." Chocolove answered
Everyone then laughed. Even Anna giggled a bit.
"Hey I'm not joking." Chocolove shouted through all the laughing. Though he really wanted to be laughed at he still didn't want their laughter for the moment… he's serious for crying out loud!
"Sorry we can't help to laugh. I mean Hao Asakura-" Horohoro said trying to suppress his laughter but he failed because he laughed some more.
Ren on the other hand was thinking… could it be? Then with that deep thought Ren reminisce a recent memory.
--------(Flashback)---------------
"Like I said, again and again. You're my responsibility. And I still know that Hao Asakura is just around the place waiting for you to be alone. What is it that he wants from you?" I asked being irritated by the thought of Hao lingering around the girl I swore to protect.
"I don't know really. He once said that he's… um… interested with me-"
I can't help to choke. Hao interested with her! That's more loathsome than his plan to take over the world!
"Ren!" She immediately called out while handing me a glass of milk.
I drank it dry. Panting I looked at Pirika seriously… hey I must know the truth.
"Did he mean that?" I asked while seeking the truth in her eyes.
"I don't think so. He said it was just a joke," she answered but I still continued to stare at her strongly.
"Good." I muttered with relief.
"Were you saying anything?" Pirika asked. Her ears are really sensitive for anything.
"Nothing. I'm just thinking… what… I mean how about you? What do think about… him?" I asked almost forgetting to eat anymore. My hunger was of no importance now for my heart's longing is what I must satisfy first. All I want to know is if that she likes him back… even a bit.
I can see in her eyes that she's thinking of a good answer… I just hope that she answer truthfully. Only then will I be contented.
"Me? Well, Hao Asakura is really scary. I remember one time in my dream; he melted the ice I used to protect myself… then burned me into crisp. It was my dream back in the ship while I was stargazing. I can say that I like him as a friend because he treats me well during those times before that dream… he might be annoying though but he's so charming in a frightening kind of way. But I guess that's it, I just respect him because he can be so powerful even if half or almost all of his furyoku was lost during that Shaman Fight." Pirika explained while I enjoy looking at those mesmerizing blue eyes… they seem to tell the truth.
"Why do you ask? I don't think Hao Asakura can really harm me… well maybe in my dreams but in a weird way I kind of trust him." Pirika continued licking her cherry lips.
"Just asking. Nothing more." That's all I want to know anyway…
-------------(End of flashback)-------------
"But what if Hao was not kidding?" He murmured, a voice that only he can hear, "he once said though
Don't miss this chance kiddo or else… I'll take her away from you. I already lost Anna I won't make that mistake again. As you can see I'm not like you… I learn from my mistakes.
I will not yield to his demands… I love Pirika and if must die for her I will."
Ren closed his eyes; 'I just hope she doesn't like that bastard more than me.'
"Ren?" Manta's voice suddenly echoed in his head.
Ren opened his eyes just to see the midget.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing." Ren said avoiding the issue.
"Nothing…"
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Did you think it's quite long? Sorry I just don't want to make this a long fic… please review this one too. Thank you for waiting for the updates! I hope there are many patient people like you.