So in the previous chapter Pirika woke up and screamed on top of her lungs… this chapter will start a few minutes before that incident.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 9: That night

The night was dark and the moon was bright. The ocean breeze was whispering outside the ship. Hao couldn't sleep though; Pirika's constant moaning kept him awake. Though it's somehow irritating, he finds it rather attractive and a bit inviting.

Hao smiled. He then rose up from his bed. He walked towards the girl and sat beside her.

He touched her sweating temples and wipes the sweat away. He caressed her hair with all tenderness, touching every strand of his blue locks. The moonlight can't even diminish its beauty and the tiny lamplight gives it more radiance than the usual. Though she was asleep she was as dazzling as she can be. He touched her cheeks delicately, as he wiped the tear that runs down it. Everywhere his fingers went something new surprises him. He hasn't known it until now but the girl was a wonder to behold.

"I wonder what she's dreaming of?" he thought as Prika continued to move around the bed.

"No!" Pirika muttered in her sleep.

"Maybe it's more of a nightmare." Hao assumed.

Then with that Pirika finally woke up. As soon as her eyes open wide the first one she saw there was Hao.

She was shouting very loudly while pounding Hao. It was deafening to Hao's ears. Hao then held her hands to stop her from hitting her. She was still shouting though.

"Pirika, Pirika stop now. It's okay. Stop." Hao said calmly as he embraced the unstable girl.

"Hao?" Pirika whispered, looking at him with tear-filled eyes. She finally calmed down. Hao had tamed the wild animal.

"Yes… Pirika I'm here. Don't worry you're all right now. I'll never let anyone hurt you. Now calm down." Hao said consolingly, enveloping the girl in his arms even more.

"What did you dream of? What made you cry this much?" Hao muttered in her hair as the girl just cuddled in him.

"The most frightening thing on earth... the curse transferring to the man I love… Ren. Maybe it's more righteous if I were the one turned into an ice sculpture but Ren… I can't bear the thought." She sobbed as her head leans on his chest. Her tears were making his mantle wet; however he doesn't care anymore.

"No one will be turned into ice anymore… just don't marry each other. That's the only solution."

"I know!" Pirika answered, trying to speak, "but… I love him with all my heart! I love him!"

"But your world doesn't revolve around him. Find another man. Perhaps that man is already in front of you."

"Hao?" Pirika asked, as her eyes were looking so innocently wonderful.

Hao was resisting something inside of him, a passion that burns like hell… he really wanted to kiss her mouth but he mustn't. He shook his head, 'why am I losing focus because of this woman? I've never been like this before.'

"It's late. You better go to sleep now." Hao said, as Pirika nodded.

"I-I can't sleep. I'm afraid to."

"Want me to tell you a story or something?"

"No. I'm too old for that, a poem may do."

"A poem?" Hao blinked, in his whole existence he never heard of someone falling asleep because of a poem and not a story or even a lullaby. He may not be a poet but if he would say no to her… she may think that he's not the great. His reputation here was at stake!

"Um… okay. I'm not a poet you know? But I'll try." Hao agreed. With that Pirika moved herself to a more comfortable position. She was leaning on the board of the bed while Hao was noticeably close to her.

"I could always remember,

Every time we're together.

Those rosy cheeks that melts my heart,

Her figure that is like a work of art."

Pirika was quite amused to his poem. But was it her he was referring to? Or are his eyes piercing her with his gaze?

"Those strands of hair that's like a clear sky,

I want to touch them, forever 'till I die." he said brushing Pirika's hair delicately.

"Her face is like a gentle angel I set eyes on,

I'll surely miss them when I'll be gone."

He then tipped her chin lightly with his finger. Pirika gasped, making Hao's adrenalin burn even more.

Now he just couldn't control himself even more. Slowly his face started to move closer to her. Pirika on the other hand, didn't repel… 'maybe this way I can forget about him.' She thought.

"And finally those lips colored like a cherry so sweet.

That captures me and makes my heart skip a beat.

I would give anything to be permitted for a kiss.

My wish before this ends, oh what a bliss…"

His face is visibly very near her, and their lips are nearly close to touching each other.

"May I?" he asked, but before Pirika could give out an answer his lips captured hers at once.

Hao penetrated her honey-sweet lips with no problem, and found him slowly losing the battle of wits in her warm sweetness. Unlike Ren, Hao was more passionate and wasn't hesitant. It was persistent; his tongue was seeking every part of her mouth. Pirika shivered as he continues… she then shuddered as he deepened his kiss even more. His lips become hard, then softened again. It could ignite any woman's passion… Hao then persuaded her mouth to open and Pirika followed, allowing Hao to enter it without any more hindrance…

'I never thought that… this feeling… but there's something missing. I don't know what… maybe because… I don't love him? Right! I don't love him… it's Ren I want! Only him! This must end now.' Pirika thought.

"Ren…" she muttered in his lips when it parted slowly.

Hao on the contrary heard what Pirika said, and his initial reaction was to pull back.

"What? Why do you speak of his name?" He asked, panting.

"This is wrong!" she answered at once, though out of breath she still tried to answer him.

"Don't tell me you still… Pirika." He whispered in the end as he saw tears streaking down her cheeks. She's crying again.

"Sorry but I can't forget about him that easily." Pirika said and with that she leaped out of her bed. She started to walk out of the room grabbing a jacket and a cap on the way.

"I should've not done that." Hao said for the first time regretting something.

"No one's blaming you. It's not your fault that you fell in love." Gasuka said consolingly.

"How long have you been there?" he asked.

"Long enough to see how you desire my master." She answered smiling.

"But she loves the Tao more than me."

---------------

Pirika was running across the ship, she was in her pajamas wearing the jacket and the cap she grabbed upon going out. She doesn't know where to stay now. All she knows is that she's crying while looking at the sea.

She wiped her tears abruptly, and stared at the sea once more.

"Why can't I hate you?" Pirika shouted at the top of her lungs.

She doesn't like what Hao had done but she knew he can't hate him. It was her fault as well. She brought Hao into this predicament… and now she hated herself for pushing him away… when he was just helping. She wanted to hate Hao. She wanted to blame someone… but she can't… because she knows the truth. It was her selfishness that made everything go wrong.

She then paused once more letting the cool breeze brush her hair. She then tucked it in her cap making her look like a boy from afar.

"In this same ocean… during this moment. The ship was struck by a terrible storm. Ren helped me. I owe him my life. He vowed that he'd protect me even more than my oniichan would." She said as the memories of the swimming Ren and the ocean rushing in her ears came back again.

She wanted to see her brother from the mirror of her furyoku but Gasuka was nowhere to be found.

"I think there's a bar in this ship. My oniichan once said that if you have a problem drink it all away!" Pirika said cheerfully.

-----

(This happened a few minutes before Pirika left her room… the same time when she just woke up from her sleep)

Everyone was already asleep in Yoh's gang… well all except Ren.

"Tomorrow… we're in Japan once more." He smirked, "Next time I see that Hao Asakura I'll never let him leave in one piece."

"You know what Ren, you're just tensed." Tokagero suddenly appeared beside him. Unlike all the power spirits he was the only one awake.

"What do you suggest?"

"Drinking… there's a bar somewhere in this ship. Maybe that could help you."

"I don't think so."

"Come on! Don't tell me you're a sissy."

Upon hearing that ridicule Ren can't stop his ego once more. He stood up and agreed.

"If anyone asks you where I am, tell them that I'm in the bar."

With that he left. Tokagero just smiled at him impishly.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That was shocking… Hao on Pirika! To be honest the kissing scene part was brought you by my friend because that isn't exactly my cup of tea. But aside from that everything is mine, the main plot and the other parts here. But of course the series and all its characters aren't mine…

What do you think about this twisted turn up of events?

Hope you liked it… please review!