Sorry for the long update… I think I was busy with my family's Christmas celebration.
But this is the end. Hope you like it…
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Chapter 12: The end
"Ren!" Horohoro shouted making Ren snap back to reality but as soon as he woke up he saw Horo's fist closing down on him.
X.x
Ren then slid on the floor while Horohoro's chest was rising and falling, he seems to have trouble in breathing.
"I didn't mean to do it." Jeanne cried in a corner while Lyserg comforts the Iron Maiden. She really thinks that it was her fault since she was the one who married the two.
Faust was looking at Pirika but his only answer was his head shaking. Chocolove was awfully quiet… he can't think of any joke for now because almost all of them are very serious. Manta on the other hand, was looking for any cure whatsoever for the curse but he can't find any.
"I don't know… I didn't mean to." Ren was sounding like a child guilty for taking money from her mother's pockets.
"I don't really blame you… it's just that. I'm her brother and yet I didn't do anything right for her. It's all my fault if I didn't became strict with her then she would not think of getting me and Tamao get closer to each other, then you and Pirika wouldn't get to know each other very well then she would not fall in love with you then… then… she… she wouldn't have turned into ice." Horohoro said with all honesty. He seemed so close to crying, but he was just trying to take back the tears.
"Don't blame yourself. It's me… and my ancestors." Ren muttered while still sitting on the floor. He was trying to alleviate what he was feeling, even a little.
"But what shall we do now?" Horohoro asked not only to Ren but also to everyone there.
Ren was about to answer when he noticed that Hao was touching Pirika's icy face. Ren then stood up and slapped Hao's hands away from her.
"I thought that you could make her happy but all you could do to her is this. I was wrong to trust you." Hao said looking very worried and all that.
"Trust my ass!" Ren shouted and with that he was about to charge the onmyouji good thing Horohoro stopped his fist.
"Do you think Pirika would like to see you or even me like this?" he asked.
Ren finally stopped.
Both looked away.
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The girl's then knew about what happened and they all went to the cathedral, which was very near to the hotel they were staying at for now. Like what the boy's initial reaction was they were all grieved and depressed as well. When Tamao stood before Horohoro she can't help but cry. He knew that his husband couldn't cry in front of Pirika so she would gladly do the task for him. Jun was also there to comfort her brother. She would love Pirika to be her sister-in-law but now it seems that it was just impossible.
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"Are you even planning to sleep?" Tamao asked, it was 9:30 already and Horohoro was still making sure that the whole church would stay close to below 0° Celsius.
"I can't sleep… if I don't do this she would melt. I don't want that to happen." Horohoro answered smiling at her.
"Don't tire yourself. I don't want to lose a husband too." Tamao whispered, hugging him.
"Just cook something up for me and I'll surely be alive for another hundred years!" He said jokingly. Tamao then smiled and nod.
As soon as Tamao left Ren came in. Horohoro then made the temperature decrease once more.
"My turn now." Ren started but the Ainu just sneered.
"As if you could make ice! Don't be such a fool. You can't even stand minus five Celsius."
"I can try! No… I will do it! I will learn to do it! Pirika's my wife now and if she would be like that forever I'll stay beside her forever freezing things up."
Horohoro can't help but smile some more. He then put his hands on Ren's shoulder.
"I'm getting hungry anyway so it's your turn. Don't worry you'll not going to do anything Kororo and Gasuka are doing their best to keep her solid."
"Thanks. But I'm really going to learn to use ice furyoku!" Ren shouted as Horohoro walks out of the cathedral.
"Yeah, yeah. Ren… you're really a dope. But you're the same dope that my sister loved. Even though I want to blame all of this to you… I can't, in honor of my sister." He whispered as he walks in the grassy field outside the cathedral. He was going to the hotel when he felt something wet slipping down his cheeks. When he touched and wiped it he realized that he was crying.
"I knew you couldn't handle it. It must be hard to lose a sister." Tamao suddenly said as she walked out of the trees.
Horohoro then hugged the girl and continued to sob. She was not surprise though for she knew that crying would not make you less of a man. She admires his husband for being strong in front of them all, but he is still a human, a human that can laugh and cry. Anyways she'll always be there to comfort him, whenever he needs her through the rest of their lives.
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Hao on the other hand knew that it was not good for him and everyone else there if he stays around Pirika even for a minute. But he couldn't help it, whenever he closes his eyes all he could think about was her cheerful face, and those lips that he would give anything to taste again. He opened his eyes once more and seemed like having a magnificent idea! Without any more hindrances he put that idea to work at once.
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Ren was alone in the cathedral wearing his yellow scarf and dark thick clothes to keep him warm. The place was like a freezer, no… more than a freezer! It was very, very cold. But he didn't mind that for a while because all he could think about was Pirika. Her face was icy cold and solid and her eyes are just clear. If he didn't know better this was a mere work of art. Who would've thought that this beautiful ice sculpture was a real live woman?
"But I have to face reality. She's real and now I lost her. I wish I were the one who was cursed. Then she would've not experienced all of this. I don't know if this was painful or not… but I think I can handle that kind of pain, unlike now it's too excruciating to lose her." He said trying to not think about the temperature slowly decreasing even more. He then touched her face caressing them like the way he used to when they were still warm flesh.
"Pirika… if you would never turn into a woman again. I would do anything to be right beside you until I die. I would master how to make the temperature decrease, I would endure any frostbite for you and I would stay beside you till I die. You know why? Because I love you and I can't leave my heart." He said while kneeling wretchedly in front of the girl. After his speech he can't hold himself anymore… he then started to sob miserably.
Little did they know that Hao and Heisha are seated in one of the chairs on the cathedral? They have heard and seen Ren. They felt his agony, the pain that torments him during Pirika's disappearance that still continues now that she was gone.
"Could you bear it?" Hao asked to the spirit beside him.
"He's my great grandchild… of course I can't even though the woman that's frozen beside him is Gasuka's descendant." Heisha answered in a hoarse high-pitched voice.
"I think it's time to forgive the Ainus. Aye? Heisha?" Hao asked smiling nonchalantly.
"I agree with Hao Asakura." Bason interrupted. He also knows this woman since he met her personally.
"Please, learn to forgive Heisha… you have gained victory over me already. Don't let them experience what we experienced in the past. Have mercy on them… on Pirika, on Ren." Gasuka added, kneeling in front of her former adversary. Kororo was the only one left inside the ikapasui, and the only one making sure that everything will be freezing.
Heisha, though a witch have a heart too. She had made her point with Gasuka already and it is painful to see her great grandson to weep so much. She also knew how it was to lose a love one and the pain was unbearable. 'Maybe it is time for me to forgive their tribe… okay.' Heisha finally thought.
"Hao, " she said turning to Hao, "use me as an oversoul to free the children from their pain."
"Thank you Heisha!" Gasuka said embracing her. Heisha then pushed her away.
"I'm doing this because of Ren and Bason not because of you." she said setting the record straight.
"Okay."
'I-I can't believe it… can love really melt even the bitterest heart. Ren's love for Pirika convinced this wicked witch to change… is that what love can do?'Hao thought, while agape and looking at the cheering spirits.
"Perhaps." He then muttered while Heisha prepares to undo the spell.
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"Hey TAO!" Hao then called, as Ren stood up and faced him.
"Get out of the way!" he ordered but Ren was stubborn.
"Have you caused enough damaged already?"
"Shut up! All I try to do is help. Besides unlike you I can think of a way to reverse the curse and not sob all day."
"I am not crying! What do you want to do anyway?"
Hao didn't answer anymore instead he just took out a furyoku charged canon where Heisha was oversouled at.
"Hao-baka! Are you going to kill her?"
"Uh no! I'm doing this because I too… love her. I'm really jealous of you because all she speaks and thinks of is you and you. It's too irritating! But now I see that only you can hold her fragile heart. It's hard to admit but that's reality. Now if you really love her you'd let me do this!" Hao insisted.
"I'm really pissed off with you Hao! First you became so acquainted with her when you helped her with her problem, then I saw you in her room before and when we went to China. Then you followed us and told her that you're interested with her. Then you kidnapped her, and then you didn't tell me that her family has a curse! Now you want to shoot her!" he shouted at the top of his raging lungs.
"Are you finished yet? Don't forget that I kissed her twice when I took her from you and when we were at the ship. The second one was longer… since no one was looking."
"WHAT! Why you-" He was about to drown him in curses when Bason stopped him.
"Don't tell me you're siding with that devil!"
"Sorry master but this is for your own good!"
"I'm not going to be defeated by that power spirit-less shaman!"
"Oh now you're pissing me off." Hao suddenly said and with that he marched at the Chinese and punched him right at the face.
"Listen, this is my last chance to show her that I love her. I don't want anyone to blow it, especially not you! Now if you don't want to cooperate then don't." Hao said and with that he finally shot Heisha towards Pirika.
"No!" Ren shouted as it made a direct hit at her. As soon as that hit her Ren stood up and give Hao what he deserves.
X.x Ouch!
"I thought you'd do that for her! Now what have you done? You destroyed her!" Ren kept on shouting. But a gentle tap on his shoulder halted him and made him turn for a moment.
Pirika was there smiling at Ren.
"Wait a minute Pirika." He said then turned to Hao again.
His eyes widened. He finally realized who he saw.
"Wait. Pirika?" he muttered then turning once more behind him.
And there in front of him, those wide cerulean eyes, that hair colored as the bright sky, those cherry lips, and that wide Ainu smile, she was real! "Pirika."
"Pirika!" he shouted enveloping the girl in his arms and showering her with kisses. Hao the stood up and winked at Heisha as she disappears. He then turned to watch the couple rejoice.
"It's really you! You're warm!" Ren shouted in disbelief.
"Yeah it is me… and why is this place so cold?"
"They thought that you would never go back to being real again. So they decided to freeze the place just for you. Ren would even stay here for the rest of his life just for you." Hao answered. Ren the stopped rejoicing and looked at Hao seriously.
"You'd really do that for me?" Pirika asked. Ren then nod, "Thanks. But what happened to the curse?"
"Now that's Hao's bidding. I guess I owe you an apology."
"Apology accepted. Besides it was my pleasure to help you, little Piri. You see, I begged Anna to call Heisha for a while and once she saw how miserable Ren was without you she can't bear the pain. So she oversouled into my gloves that turned into a canon and when I shot you the ice that devoured you broke… calming itself once more."
"Thank you Hao!" Pirika shouted hugging the onmyouji then feeling Ren's hands pulling her at once.
They have barely touched each other when Ren pulled her to him, though Hao showed to all of them already that he changed the Chinese Shaman still have doubts. Besides Hao just confessed that he had kissed Pirika twice already.
"You really do make my name sounds good. But I think that I can never have you now."
"You betcha!" Ren interrupted tying his possessive arms around the Ainu.
"Don't worry Hao, you'll find someone new and I'm sure that she'll love you in return too. You'll find a girl that would love you even more than you do for me. And you'll be happy with her! Like me." Pirika said, in her ever-cheerful way.
"Thanks… now go on and tell the whole gang about the news. I know that your brother would be very happy." Hao said.
With that the two followed by Bason, Kororo, and Gasuka left. Leaving Hao alone, but in a weird sense he was smiling, from the heart.
As soon as Horohoro learned that his sister was real again and curse-free he throws a big party for her and their wedding. Everyone was just happy that it finally ended. Soon the hotel that they were staying at for now was filled with laughter and joyful music. After that Pirika and Ren were married once more in Pirika's tribe, though the head of the tribe was surprised to see a child of Gasuka marrying a Tao the wedding continued. Then the two went back to China, where they wed again and lived there permanently.
"Now you're really mine and no curse or Asakura can separate us." Ren whispered hugging Pirika lovingly.
"I agree… thanks Ren for being my guardian… you're the best."
"Now you really look like that man I drank with in the ship." Ren said while Pirika was giggling.
"Why are you laughing?" he asked letting Pirika go.
"Nothing." Pirika said and with that she kissed Ren once more.
'I wonder where's Hao now?' She thought but that was dissolved by Ren's kiss. She must admit that Hao was a better kisser but she liked Ren's lips more.
I thought love was
Only true in fairy tales
Meant for someone else
But not for me
Love was out to get to me
That's the way it seems
Disappointment haunted
All my dreams
And then I saw her face
Now I'm a believer
Not a trace
Of doubt in my mind
I'm in love
I'm a believer
I couldn't leave her
If I tried
I thought love was
More or less a given thing
The more I gave the less
I got, oh yeah
What's the use in trying all you get is pain
When I wanted sunshine
I got rain
And then I saw her face
Now I'm a believer
Not a trace
Of doubt in my mind
I'm in love
I'm a believer
I couldn't leave her
If I tried
What's the use in trying
All you get is pain
When I wanted sunshine
I got rain
And then I saw her face
Now I'm a believer
Not a trace
Of doubt in my mind
I'm in love
I'm a believer
I couldn't leave her
If I tried
Then I saw her face
Now I'm a believer
Not a trace
Of doubt in my mind
Now I'm a believer
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I'm a believer
Then I saw her face
I'm a believer
Not a trace
Of doubt in my mind
I'm a believer
"I think that song is made for me." Hao said while looking down on the happy couple.
"But she's right. I shouldn't lose hope besides any woman can fall for me. With my charming smile and honey-sweet lips I'm a chick magnet. I should really find some other girl I can annoy… I mean love…but true love? Hmmm… oh Micelle!" he called.
Shut up! I don't like you!
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I believe (I'm a believer)
I believe (I'm a believer)
I believe (I'm a believer)…
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So how do you find it?
Thanks for all the reviewers and the READERS! A MILLION THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!
By the way the song was in the soundtrack of Shrek 1 by Smash Mouth I just inserted that in the tradition of the story Accidentally in Love the predecessor of this fic.
Thanks again for reading! And please review.