Disclaimer: Micelle doesn't own … the characters, the series even the settings. She only owns the plot. She also does not plan to make profit out of this fic… she wants to entertain people… that's all.

So now that's clear… here's the 7th chappie…

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Chapter 7

"You dug a bigger hole for you Hao Asakura." Pirika said as the two waited for their ferry to move.

"I know, but I'm used to people hating me." Hao said unworriedly.

"B-but… this is my fault! I should be the one to blame."

"No!" he finally shouted shutting the girl. Pirika looked petrified a bit.

Hao noticed it at once so Hao smiled again for her relief.

"This is all Heisha's fault… not mine and not yours." Hao huskily said, as he caressed her cheeks with the back of his palm.

Those light and feathery touches sent some electricity up and down Pirika's spine… though it felt utterly breathtaking she did not succumbed to it. Why? She loves Ren… only Ren!

Pirika pulled herself back, but Hao abruptly pulled the delicate figure. Her head rested on his shoulders for a while as she felt him breathe.

"Why do you keep on tormenting yourself? You must let go of him… and find another man for your heart. You can't love someone that you should not be with in the first place. Marry him or die? That's your only option… now I think even the Shaman Fight has lighter rules." He said as he smoothened the blue locks covering her face.

"I can't," she finally answered, "Though I want to I just can't. I can't teach my heart to not love him, when I saw him yesterday… my soul almost escaped my body! Hao… you don't know how agonizing it is to tell the man you hold dearest that you cannot marry him!"

Treacherous tears finally dropped down her cheeks. Upon seeing them Hao slowly wiped it, his gentle touch brought back that electricity again to Pirika's spines!

Hao on the other hand, was very much overwhelmed when Pirika mentioned his name. Maybe it was only a three-letter word… but when she spoke it, it was like music to his ears being sung by a million angels. 'How can I make her say my name again?'

"Then find another man," he answered not before long, "I'm always available." He smiled.

Pirika stepped back placing a distance between them, a space that she mustn't dare fill.

"A-are y-you serious?" she asked, usually he's joking.

"That's for me to know and you to find out." He said chuckling as he turned his back to her. He then started to walk away.

Pirika on the other hand followed him. "Hao Asakura!" she called but Hao didn't respond.

'I want my name alone.' He said to himself as they walked in the corridors of the ship. The people are slowly coming inside filling the ship with cheerful laughter and more noises. It seemed that they are going to depart soon.

"Asakura! Hao Asakura! HAO!" She finally shouted stomping her feet.

When the onmyouji heard his name alone… he had to stop. He slowly looked back and saw the maiden grimaced. He chuckled, as much as he loves seeing her smile, he also adores her face whenever they are angry.

"From now on I want to be called by my name. No more Asakura… just Hao." Hao settled as she walks beside him.

"By Hao alone… why?"

"You make it sound great. That's why. Besides I can't think of a nickname to it so that would suffice it."

"I think you just want Pirika to say your name." Gasuka interrupted suddenly appearing beside Pirika.

"Maybe yes, maybe no." Hao said intriguingly.

"You know what Pirika… if you can't find any other man to replace the Tao then why not settle for Hao. He's a nice kid."

"Gasuka!" Pirika complained at once.

"What? He's not that bad… and he's cute. Aren't you Hao?"

"Gasuka, you almost forgot that I'm the same Hao during the time you were alive." He reminded.

"I know, but people change… people learn to love, to let go and to move on."

"Are you really serious that you're not referring to me?" Pirika noticed.

"I'm speaking in volumes. But if you're hurt then you're guilty." Gasuka said, winking at the onmyouji.

'They seem to get along… maybe they should be the ones to get married.' She sighed as her eyes went to her ghost and to Hao.

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Ren finally woke up; he had a long sleep last night. His dream was not that good but it was not his usual nightmares though… he's used to nightmares before. This time his nightmare was not about his father.

Ren looked at his right where his clock was… the time is… 7:30!

"The ship was going to sail at 6:00!" he shouted and with that he left his bed at once.

"Bason!" Ren shouted.

"See if everyone is still around here. Tell the maid to cook! Summon the kyonshins to carry my things." He ordered gruffly as soon as the spirit appeared.

Bason left at once doing what Ren ordered him. Bason returned after a minute, now Ren was all dressed up and ready to leave.

"SO? Anybody left inside the house?" Ren asked the loyal Chinese spirit.

"No one my master. No one is left in the house anymore."

"Shit!" Ren can't help to shout out.

In just five minutes Ren ate breakfast, stuffed his things in the car and drove to the nearest pier.

"What shall you do now?" Bason asked as the two were seated at the back of the car.

"I don't know. I still have cash here so I'll buy some tickets for the next sailing ferryboat or something." Ren answered. He was not in a good mood today. His voice was wild… like that of a pissed off animal.

"I can't believe they left without me! Me of all the people on Earth!" Ren shouted still outraged.

"Maybe they just forgot!"

"Forget! How dare they forget! They have no right whatsoever to forget about me!" he shouted inside the car.

He finally arrived at the pier… finally! As soon as he stepped out of his car he saw Yoh at once.

"What are you doing here?" he can't help to ask. He knew that his friend was a little bit dumb but Anna will never let him out of her sight. He would never be left behind.

"I'm not the only one… Horohoro, Manta, Chocolove, Ryu, Faust and Lyserg are also here. Like old times." He said in his usual laid-back manner.

Ren snorted. He knew it. Yoh had stayed behind in purpose.

"We're not that old. It's not a hundred years since we were 14!" Ren shouted, still fuming until now.

"Easy now, easy now." Yoh tried to calm him down.

"Don't tell me you deliberately made the ship go without me?" Ren asked raising an eyebrow.

"No, we didn't do that on purpose. We just volunteered to be left when we noticed that you didn't come." Yoh answered.

Ren was touched a bit but he didn't want to tell it to him.

"Thanks." He just murmured as everyone started to run towards them.

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Everyone finally boarded the ship; they decided to stay in the upper portion of the ship since Ren and Manta were the ones who paid for their room. However little did he know it was the same ship where Pirika and Hao were. Hao had not chosen the earlier boat since he knew that his brother and his friends would get on that trip but since Ren got late they had no other choice but to go on the next boat…

Strange fate...

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Will they see each other? Perhaps. Will Pirika fall for Hao? Perhaps. Will they ever knew the real reason behind all of these? Perhaps.

Now you know why I entitled this one 'Perhaps'… hope you like it… thanks for reading and continue reviewing!