Writer's note: Third and hopefully the LAST part of this fic! I don't know if I will write one more sequel after this one… what do you think?
Pairings: Rei x female!Takao / Mao (Mariah) + Rei / hints of Rai (Lee) + Mao
Rating: T
Category: AU, short multi-parted fic, drama, romance, WaFF
Fiction note: This is TOTALLY an AU fic; no Beyblading, no Beybladers. Only its characters are in it. A sequel to "Beautiful Stranger"-fic. Rei and Takao are on their way to Rei's hometown in China. But as they are there, it seems that more troubles are on its way for them…
Warning: Dear Mao-fans. Let me remind you that I like Mao as well, but for the sake of this fic, our beloved pink-haired lady nekojin will be "slightly" OOC. Nasty even… So, no killing this unworthy lady-author.
"Chinese Attractions"
Part III
Written by M.K. a.k.a. Fall Angel © 2005
Takao clenched her teeth together, frowning at the glaring Chinese woman before her. A slut? Slut! Her! "What did you just call me--!"
"Mao--! What're you---?" Rei tried to collect his thoughts from what was happening around him. But his mother came between.
"Aiyaaah! Mao! What're you saying!" Mrs. Kon cut in, asking the question Rei was about to ask.
"I'm telling that, that little slut away from my Rei!" Mao hissed like an angered cat at Takao "I've known Rei since childhood and I've loved him ever since we were kids!"
"Your Rei? Mao! Rei's not a thing to own!" Rai stepped in, not believing what Mao was saying.
"Back off, Rai! This doesn't concern you!"
"Oh, yes it does, Mao! When it comes to Rei, it concerns me as well!"
Takao was starting to get annoyed – really annoyed. "I may not understand all the things what you're saying, but I do understand the tone of your voice! And I don't like it!"
"Takao…" Rei stepped forward Takao, but Mao stopped him by taking a hold of his arm.
"Oh, really? It's because I don't like you at all! I don't like it how you've wrapped your little fingers around my husband-to-be!" Mao screamed at Takao's face, only making Takao madder at the pink-haired nekojin.
"Your husband-to-be!" Takao screamed back at her.
"Mao! You stop this right now!" Rei finally found his voice and freed himself from Mao.
Mao gaped at him. "Rei…?"
"Stop it! Rai's right; I'm not a thing to own and Takao hasn't stole me away from you! I wasn't yours in the first place! I don't know what gave you that idea. But know this Mao, I do love you as a friend, but I'm not in love with you." Rei calmly explained to Mao who was now crying from the rejection and the humiliation. "I'm sorry, I really am."
Rei turned to look at Takao with soft eyes. "Takao, I don't know when it happened, but I've always felt this connection between us. It's like… your mere presence calms me down and makes me want to protect you from harm… Just like when we met for the first time." Rei placed his hands over Takao's bare shoulders, which made the midnight-blue haired woman shiver from his touch. "If only I had told you this sooner… so we wouldn't be in this mess. Believe me, Takao, when I say this," Rei leaned closer to Takao's ear. "Wo ai ni…"
Wo ai ni.
Takao knew very well what those words meant: "I love you".
At first, she didn't believe them, but when Rei looked deeply into her blue eyes, she knew he meant what he said. He loves her, and she also knew what Rei meant by the "connection" – they talked about it back in Japan, while staying at her brother's place.
"Rei," Takao placed both her hands to either side of Rei's face, "I feel the same." She smiled. "Aishiteru…"
A loud sob was heard from Mao as she shook her head negatively. Denying what she was hearing right now. "No… no…"
Both new lovers turned to look at her with the eyes of pity and sadness for the pink-haired nekojin. So did Rai who was reaching for her to comfort her. "Mao…"
"No!" Mao slapped on Rai's hand and ran away from them, pushing the people out of her way.
"Mao!"
"Let her go, Rei." The elder woman told him. "She wants to be alone for now."
"But mother, I hurt her feelings! I didn't mean to--!"
"I know son. But if you hadn't told her the truth about your feelings, Mao would've been even more hurt. Truth sometimes hurt, but it had to be told. If you keep it as a secret too long, it will haunt you."
Rei looked helplessly at his mother and then at Takao, who was as clueless as he was. Next to them, Rai snarled and bit his lower lip, he warned Mao severally times but the stubborn woman didn't want to listen to him. If only she had listened to him, she could've been spared from the heartbreak.
'Mao…' Rai exhaled, still staring at the direction where Mao had ran off to.
"Um, Rei? I feel like I've ruined our festival mood…" Takao tapped her fingers together.
"Takao, don't worry. We'll find it again." Rei joked to lighten up the mood. It seemed to work since Takao was softly laughing at his joke. "Besides, Rai can take care of Mao." The said man flinched when his name was mentioned, and Rei glanced at his friend from the corner of his eyes. "Right, Rai?"
The two friends stared into each other's eyes for while until Rai smiled knowingly at him and then ran after Mao. Takao was more clueless than before, but then it hit her; Rai liked Mao. How could've Mao been so clueless of another man's affections for her after all this time? The midnight-blue haired woman shook her head; love does the strangest things to people.
"Saa, shall we go? The festival has only begun and there's lot to see." Rei gently took a hold of Takao's hand. "Kiki, Gao? Are you guys coming?"
"Err, no, I don't think so Rei. Me and Gao will be on our way to the other direction. We'll see you later, before the fireworks." Kiki declined Rei's offer, sensing that the two new lovebirds needed to be alone for now.
"Oh. How about you, mother?"
"Who, me? I'm afraid that I, also, must decline your offer, son. I need to look for your father and the rest of the family. You two have fun!" Mrs. Kon waved at them, her other hand covering her mouth.
Rei sweatdropped; for the moment, he thought he saw fox-ears appear on the top of his mother's head. He shook his head; that can't be right.
"Oh well, let's get going then." Rei led the way through the mass of people, showing Takao many things such as games, tiny stores and various different plays. Takao loved the every second of being in the festival; it really did remind her of the Japanese festivals she once took Rei to see.
Rei stopped by the game booth where there was a cute looking stuff toy tiger and a dragon as a price.
"Aah! Kawaii!" Takao exclaimed, staring at the stuff toys. Rei laughed; even though she was all grown up (as she claimed to be one), Takao confessed that she still had a weakness for cute stuff toys – such as those she saw for a price.
"Ah, Rei. Good to see you!" The man who was responsible of the game booth said.
"Mr. Liu, it's good to see you too." "Who's your lady-friend there? Is she the reason, why you didn't return home after long time?" The elder man winked at the long-haired man. Rei blushed – people really should stop doing that to him!
"Err… in a way, yes. Anyway, this is Takao. She's from Japan."
"So I understood from the way she spoke. She's a real beauty, though. You should keep her." Mr. Liu laughed at Rei's deep red face. Takao, also, blushed since she understood what Mr. Liu was talking about. '"Should keep me?" What am I, a dog?' Annoyed Takao thought.
Apparently, Rei thought the same as her. "Mr. Liu! That's my girlfriend you're talking about! Please, show some manners!"
Takao's previous blush increased and her face was almost as red as a tomato. Yes, she understood what Rei just said as well. Girlfriend? Now that she thought about it, she actually liked the sound of it – when it came from Rei's lips.
The elder man laughed. "Sorry, sorry! I didn't mean to be rude or anything. Now then, care to try your luck in this game?" Mr. Liu handed a tiny ball for Rei to hit on the target, to drop down the young boy sitting on a bench above the water.
Rei smirked. "Sure, why not?" He turned to wink at Takao and then back at the target board, looking determined and sure of himself. First try: missed. Second try: close but still missed. Third and final try, was a hit, dropping the young boy into the water tank.
"Yatta!" Takao clapped cheerfully.
"Hoo! Well done, my boy!" Mr. Liu congratulated Rei. "Now then, what will it be? This one?" He showed the blue dragon stuff toy first. "Or this one?" Then he showed the white tiger stuff toy.
"Hmm, tough choice," Takao mumbled, biting on her finger thoughtfully. "I will take this one." She took the white tiger and hugged it closer to her. "For some reason, it reminds me of Rei!"
The said Chinese man's face turned red, again. My, my, it seemed like he have been blushing all day long today, which was true. (His mother did once say that he blushes easily whenever he feels embarrassed or when someone says something nice about him.)
"Err, let's get going, eh?" Rei wrapped his arm around Takao's shoulders and bid quick goodbye to chuckling Mr. Liu.
Takao knew why Rei made a quick runaway from the game booth, and laughed. "Aw, Rei, you shouldn't feel embarrassed. But when I think about it, it's kinda cute that you get all flustered and red all the sudden."
Wha? Was she teasing him? Well, two can play that game as well. "I think about the same thing about you, when you gain that beautiful hue of red over your beautiful face." 'That should do the trick!'
It did, and the said "beautiful hue of red" appeared over Takao's face and she tried to hide it from Rei's watchful eyes behind her new tiger stuff toy.
After the awkward moment of silence, the new lovers laughed at each other and went their way through the festival, enjoying the every moment of it. Eating and drinking, and most of all, having fun.
By the time for the fireworks, they were at the hills to see them better, along with Rei's family and friends. But they were a bit far from them, sitting close to each other, under the tree. The sky looked beautiful, filled with different colors and shapes of fireworks. Rei recognized his father's work and pointed them out every time they showed up for Takao to know them.
"Wow, your otousan did great job with the fireworks!"
"Yeah. He had done this sort of job since he was about 16-year-old, under my grandfather's guidance."
"Are planning to follow your otousan's footsteps?" Takao titled her head as she looked at Rei.
"Nah, fireworks doesn't interest me in that way. But my cousin, Fei, is going to continue with that tradition. He's already good in making fireworks."
"Sou ka?"
"Hm-mm." Rei nodded before resting his left cheek on the top of Takao's head – being careful not to ruin her hairdo. She looked so beautiful tonight – he had said that over and over, but Rei can't help it.
Before he knew it, Rei had his hand over Takao's cheek, bring her face closer to his and capturing her lips into a chaste kiss, which soon became a passionate kiss. Takao answered to his kiss with equal passion, wrapping her arms around his neck.
At that same moment, far from them, Mrs. Kon turned to take a look at them and let out a soft gasp. The elder woman's eyes softened at the beautiful moment, feeling happy for both of them. Mrs. Kon smiled as she turned her attention to her husband's fireworks, and moved closer to him to feel his body warmth. Her husband didn't say anything; he just wrapped his arm around her into a loving embrace.
"It's a shame you can't stay any longer here, son." Mr. Kon said, a bit sad to see his son and his new girlfriend to leave.
"Yeah, well. I told Takao that we would stay here only for a week." Rei once again remind his father as he packed his things into his backpack.
"I understand. But, do consider visiting us more often, eh?"
Rei smiled. "I will, father."
"Maybe before the wedding?" Mr. Kon hinted out and elbowed at Rei's ribs.
"Wedding! What wedding? There's no wedding!" Rei asked in startled with his face all red (again).
Only answer he heard from his father was his laughter as the elder man walked out of Rei's room. Little did Rei know that his mother said the same thing to Takao as well, and earning the same reaction from her as well.
Shortly, Rei and Takao were standing at the exit of the village, saying their final farewells to Rei's family and friends.
"Rei, it was nice to see you after long time. You should come here more often," Rai shook his hand with Rei. "You too, Takao. It was nice to meet Rei's girlfriend, even though the big dummy here didn't realize his own feelings for you in the first place."
The new lovebirds blushed at the same time, causing Rai to laugh at their reaction. "Anyway, Takao, take care of Rei for me, okay?"
Takao agreed to Rai's request. "I will."
Rei looked over the crowd as if looking for someone, when he didn't he turned to Rai instead. "Where's Mao? I haven't seen her since…"
"I don't know. I found her after the 'incident' at the festival and stayed with her a moment, but then she ran away again. She's probably at her home to recover from the heartbreak."
Rei sighed. "That's shame. I wanted to say goodbye to her too…"
Rai shook his head. "Bad idea, my friend. It's wise to leave her alone."
"Yeah, I guess so."
"I feel ashamed as well…" After that said, Takao became quiet.
"Hey, it's okay, Takao-chan." Rei comforted her. "Would you like to lead on someone into false hope?"
"No. It would've been wrong for the person…" Takao mumbled out loud.
Rei nodded agreeing with her and then looked at his wristwatch. "Ah! We better get going now. Rai, take care of yourself… and of Mao. She will need all the comfort she can get now. And tell her that… we're sorry for making her feel humiliated and well, tell her our goodbyes for us."
"No problem, my friend." Rai smiled, understandingly.
Rei and Takao held hands while the ones that were free, waved back at the others. "Goodbye mother! Goodbye father! I'll send you a letter or phone you as soon as we get back to Japan!"
"Goodbye Rei! Goodbye Takao! Come visit us someday!" Mrs. Kon called out, sniffling a bit.
"We will!" Takao answered instead of Rei, who was gaping at her. "What? You knew that I did studied Chinese back at college. But I'm not so good at it…"
"I knew, I knew! But… it sounded so natural from your lips." Rei grinned at her.
"Mou! Rei!"
Rei laughed at the cute sight his girlfriend made as he led the way up to the hills to wait for their ride. Just then, something came up into Takao's mind.
"Um, Rei? Are we going to make the same trip back to Japan as we did to here?"
"Yeah. What about it?"
Takao stared at him in annoyance. "Rei? I'm going to sit on your lap the whole trip, until we'll reach to the airport!"
Again, Rei laughed, harder than before. "Sure. Fine by me, koibito."
Translations:
1. nekojin cat-people.
2. wo ai ni I love you. (Chinese) (AN: I think, whoever had read or seen Fushigi Yuugi, knows what this means, eh?)
3. aishiteru I love you.
4. saa oh well.
5. kawaii cute.
6. yatta! you did it!
7. otousan father.
8. sou ka? really?
9. –chan a suffix meaning cute or little, a common endearment; used to address children, (close) younger friends and relatives, mainly females.
10. koibito beloved, darling, love.
11. owari the end.
First draft: July 26 – August 01, 2005
Re-checked: August 02, 2005
After talk: I'm sorry that it took THIS long for me to write this WHOLE fic:looks at the dates: A MONTH! O.o It seems like… :gasps: No, no, no! Not the writer's block! Back, back, I say:whips at the writer's block: Actually, I blame on my laziness and the WONDERFUL, sunny weathers that kept on coming! Even I need to be out sometimes!
Anyway, I have less than a week to re-write/write more fics before I go on a family trip. But I don't think that I can manage to post any more fics at the short notice, since the writing of THIS fic took this long! I will continue with fics, by writing them into my notebooks that I'll take with me on a trip. Who knows, maybe I'll come up with new fics? So then, I'll see yah after 2 weeks! Bye-bye for now!