Chapter 7:

"Pirika is so lucky! Ren Tao is a certified Hottie!"

Anna was still steaming because of Yoh and Hao's spying. She heard some of Pirika's cheerleading friends talking after Gym class was over and the girls' were taking their showers in the locker room.

"That brat gets the best everything. She even snagged the last remaining eligible member of the Shaman group."

Anna snorted. As if they had a chance in the world to snag a Shaman, they're dreaming.

"Well there's always…Hao Asakura…"

It was another girl's turn to snort. She was the one who told Ren she'd go with him. "I heard he was still hooked on that Blonde weirdo, Anna.''

Anna fisted her hands tight, trying very hard not to pummel the girl to the ground.

"And get this…she happens to be his brother's fiancée."

The cheerleader laughed like it was the funniest thing in the world.

"Lyserg Deithyl? He's cute."

"Already tried. He likes only Beethoven, Mozart and Tchaikovsky."

"He's gay!"

"NO! He's just hooked on music."

Silence…

"What are we going to do about the blue-haired freak?"

One girl grinned. I have a plan…"

The girls talked while an angry and very wily Anna listened behind their lockers.

''Ren Tao let me go! I can walk, you know?"

"Yes, I know and you can run too…"

''Let me go!"

''Not until you behave yourself."

She stopped struggling.

"Thank you…" he said before placing her back gently on the ground.

She was not finished yet. She kicked his shins and tried to run away but she should have known he was stronger than that.

"Where do you think you are going?" he said as he grabbed her arm.

"Away from you…you…Ahhh!" she screamed. She had tripped on the first step.

Ren caught her waist and brought her towards him. But then he lost his balance and fell to the marbled floor of the Tao mansion.

"Are you all right?"

She nodded still a bit shaken.

He smiled, devilishly. "I knew you'd fall for me sooner or later…"

It was at that moment Pirika noticed the very embarrassing position they were in. They were lying on the floor and SHE was on top of Ren. She heard a small cough behind her. It was Jun Tao, Ren's sister.

"Great! Just great! Someone to witness this very humiliating moment" she thought as she got up.

Pirika didn't even look back as she entered the mansion but Ren saw his sister give him a very knowing look.

"I'll speak to you later…" she said, before leaving.

Ren led Pirika to the library. Everything seemed the same except for an old looking guy on one of the library's antique sofas.

"Hello, ma'am," The old man greeted.

''You dragged me from my cheerleading practice for this?"

"Don't you like it?"

Ren Tao had actually hired a professional coach for drama to teach them.

"Don't refer to him like a thing and you shouldn't have. I've decided not to join, if I had to be partners with you!"

He shrugged. "You can't do that now…"

"And why not?"

" I told you it was already too late. I Already signed us up…we're playing the leads actually…"

"What! How did that happen?"

He shrugged. "Caught me by surprise too."

"What do you mean by…that? We didn't even audition yet."

"For some strange reason…Prof. Yoshi thought we'd be perfect for the part…"

"What! Where's the script? I want to see it!"

"I don't have it yet…Prof. said he'd have it by tomorrow though."

"Did you bribe him or something? Did you pay him to choose us to torture me?"

"No…I wouldn't waste my breath."

"If we're not here to practice. Since there's no script, what am I doing here? Why did you kidnap me kicking and screaming for?"

"So, you'd get used to coming here everyday after school."

"I can't! I have cheerleading!"

"Then they'll have to survive without you for a while. You need to commit yourself."

"But what about your training?"

He smiled wickedly. ''I have my own private training room here."

"But that's not fair!"

"Are you going to let your school down, Pirika?''

"No…"

"Then commit!"

"(Sigh) Okay…I'll do it. But what are we going to do now?"

He shrugged. "I don't know."

"Oh…"

Silence…

"Want to go see a movie?" he asked.

''My brother won't like it."

"Your brother is not here…while he's in the finals I'm told to watch Tamao and you ever so closely. I already hired a bodyguard for Tamao, so won't have to be in two places at the same time. So do you want to see one or not?"

"Sure…"

"Great…there's a Lee Pai Long flick in the cinema. If we hurry we just might make it"

"Ren…is this a date?"

Ren stopped and though a moment. ''Hmm…yeah…I guess it is…come on"

He grabbed her arm and dragged her out the door. Pirika tried to look away to hide her blush but Ren could see she had a very big smile on her face.

"Lee Pailong is amazing!" Pirika squealed.

It was now 7:30 and they had just finished one of Pailong's international blockbusters, "The Revenge of the Dragon".

Usually when Ren goes on movie dates, his date's hands would be all over him pretending to be scared or frightened for an excuse to touch him. It was different with Pirika. She got scared and frightened all right but he could sense her reactions were genuine and not fake. He liked it.

"I'm glad you liked it. Pailong will be pleased," he said. Her hands were still clasped with his but he wasn't about to say anything about it.

"Who would believe that he did his own stunts?"

They took the scenic route through the park. Pirika never stopped talking but he didn't mind. She wasn't talking about herself or make-up or how much her outfit costs. She was talking about people they knew and topics he could relate to. They arrived to their destination a little too soon.

"I had a great time tonight," she said, smiling broadly.

"Surprisingly, I did too," he admitted.

"Well, goodnight."

"Wait!"

"Huh?"

Before she could ask, he pulled her towards him and kissed her. It was as if the world had gone still and they were the only two people in the world. Seconds had passed before she pulled away and realized what they were doing.

"Oh, my goodness! What have I done? I kissed on a first date!"

He shrugged. "What's wrong with that?"

"I don't want big brother to kill you."

He gave a look of amusement. "Concerned for my welfare? How sweet of you."

She blushed. "Concerned for you? Of course not, I just wouldn't want big brother to go to jail for murder that's all. "

She was so angry, she felt like storming in to the house but Ren stopped her.

"What do you want now?"

"Will you come to dinner with me tomorrow, Pirika?"

"Ren, I really don't know…"

"Please don't think about that brother of yours and think of what you want to do…"

She fiddled with her hair and nodded. He smiled and turned away. "I'll see you tomorrow, my dear."

The next day, Pirika was extra careful with what she was planning to wear that day. She woke up at 5:00am, while her classes start at 9:00am. It gave her at least four hours to get ready. Her bed was already loaded with discarded outfits. At 8:30, she finally made up her mind.

"This is it!" she thought, twirling in front of the mirror. "The perfect ensemble…"

She had on her favorite embroidered jean skirt, sleeveless white blouse, boots and a pink headband.

"Ren is going to be pleased."

Ren wasn't pleased. He loved the way she looked but unfortunately so did everyone else, mostly the male population.

"Hey, Pirika. I love the skirt…"one guy commented.

"Thank you…" she said, smiling broadly. She was glad somebody appreciated the trouble she went choosing an outfit. Ren hadn't noticed her since he picked her up that morning. He was too busy with his day planner and celphone. He was organizing his next few fights and training schedules.

The other guy's comment had certainly got Ren's attention. Ren didn't like where the guy' s eyes were going. He made a mental note to crush him later. The girl beside him looked positively beautiful and he knew he shouldn't fault her. He just couldn't help it.

"Why did you have to wear such a outfit anyway?"

"Why what's wrong with it?"

"It's too…revealing…"

"Revealing? The skirt isn't even that short!"

"I don't care! Never dress like that again."

"Who are you to tell me what to wear!"

"Now you listen here----"

KKKRRRIIINNNGGG…

"I'll talk to you again later," they chorused and disappeared to their designated classrooms.

Ren had walked away in a huff but felt a little guilty afterwards. He knew there was nothing wrong with her outfit. He just wasn't used to feeling jealous. He made another mental note to apologize later…after his previous engagement…it wouldn't take long probably just long enough to break that other guy's nose. Ren didn't like the idea and he had never done it before but he will apologize. He just hated hurting her.

Pirika was still angry by dismissal time that afternoon. After all that preparing, it went unappreciated to the person she wanted to impress.

"That guy makes me so angry, I could SCREAM!"

"Pirika?"

"Huh? Oh, hi guys. What's up?"

Her team mates had their arms crossed and they didn't look too happy.

"Where have you been?"

"Me? Oh, I've been…"

"Slacking around most probably…"

"I've not! It's just that I got the lead and Ren wanted us to start working together…"

"Ren is your co-star!" they squealed. "How did you manage that?"

"I don't exactly know myself…"

"Well, rehearsals don't start until tomorrow. Come on let's practice…"

"I'm afraid she can't do that…"

"Ren?"

Ren as usual had his arms crossed and was glaring and scaring her team mates. She frowned at him.

It was either he didn't notice or that he ignored her frown. He approached her and proceeded to drag her away.

"Ren! What are you doing? Where are you taking me?"

"Did you forget? You promised to have dinner with me," he had said it loud enough for the other girls' to hear. Just as he had expected the other girls' squealed and screamed.

Pirika's frown grew deeper. "You really think you're something, Ren?"

He shrugged. "But of course…"

Ren took her to dinner in the most expensive place in town and that wasn't all. He rented the whole place for the night, so they were alone. It was the perfect setting. A candlelight dinner, a bouquet of two dozen roses and an orchestra playing sweet music.

Pirika sighed. "Ren this is wonderful."

"A Tao gives nothing but the best, so always expect the best from me, My dear."

She blushed. Pirika didn't know what to expect with her date with Ren but she certainly hadn't been expecting this.

Ren was quiet. He was busy thinking. Even he didn't know why he went to so much trouble for her. Was it only because his family gives only the best? He never did this with his other girlfriends…and there had been a lot of them…Or was it because he felt she was a refreshing change from the other girls he usually dated? Was it because he cared for her?

He shook his head at that possibility. What is it about the brat he would love? That is absurd. Maybe it was just because she was different. But is that really reason enough?

"Ren, is there something wrong?" he heard her whisper.

He smiled faintly and shook his head. "It's nothing really. I was just thinking…"

"Can you share it with me?"

"There is no need to bother you with my thoughts."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

She didn't look convinced.

"Pirika, it is of no importance."

"If it is troubling you, it is of importance to me."

Ren didn't know how to reply.

"Here we are," Ren mumbled as he walked Pirika to her front porch.

"I had a great time tonight, Ren. A blast."

"I'm glad to hear that…"

Ren didn't know what possessed him but something had drawn him to kiss Pirika again. He knew how weird it would be to date a friend's sister.

Pirika was the one who pulled away. "Why?"

"I…I don't know…"

"Ren?"

"Hmm?"

She bit her lip and blushed," Ren, I know this is kind of forward but…I…I…I think…that is…I think I love you…"

Pirika had no idea why she said that. Why would she love him? He was stubborn, overbearing, arrogant and rude. Why? Good grief! It's only been three days!

Ren didn't reply what was he supposed to say in a situation like that? But he smiled one of his very rare and model-worthy smiles. "I guess it wouldn't be too stupid to ask you to go steady with me, huh?