DarkTaoAngel: I am already running out of things to say! As of ten chapters ago I quite saying a disclaimer, so all I can really say is please review! I hope you like this chapter, and the other ones, too!
It was now or never for Ren. He had to try and talk Pirika out of what she was doing, or more innocent lives could be destroyed in the process. He would have to wait until Hao had his back turned, then he would talk to Pirika. He could barely wait, anxiety was overwhelming him, and it had been so long. He was not sure exactly what would happen on this night, but he would see her and talk to her once more, and for that he was sure that he could help her, he had to. She did not know it now, but she was counting on him, and he was needed by her now more than ever he had been needed.
Ren had always been misunderstood by most, but Pirika was different from all of the others. She was the only one who had ever given him a warm embrace, a friendly smile. She was the only one who had ever made him feel loved, as though he was needed in this world for something other than hate, she made him feel as though he meant something to her. She made him feel, for the first time in his life, as though he was truly happy. And she was the one who had made him see that, people are not all bad, there is a world beyond the one he was always taught to obey.
She made him smile, for the first time in years, and for that he could not seem to get her out of his mind. He needed to protect her, at any cost, because she was the only one he had loved, and always will love, even in death. There was a special bond between them, but none of them really knew it yet, especially Pirika, who still could not control what she thought anymore, due to Hao's dark trickery.
Pirika was utterly shocked by what Hao had said, and she was feeling even worse about her decision because she had to decide between the one she loved as her brother, and the one she had loved perhaps even more.
Just as she thought this though, a sharp pain stabbed at her head, causing her hold her hands to her face, as she silently screamed in her mind, not wanting Hao to see her break down in tears and admit defeat. Her thoughts clouded, leaving her mind completely blank for a small moment of time, before her thoughts suddenly changed, from loving Ren, to hating him.
She knew this was not what she wanted, so she tried desperately to block it all out, but to no avail. A new kind of evil consumed her, making all traces of love for Ren disappear. She screamed, out loud this time, and let out all of her confusion. Nothing helped, as Hao sat next to her, watching her, as though she was nothing more than a very interesting television program.
Ren knew it was time to act. Seeing Pirika in such distress was unbearable to him, so he rushed to her side. He did not care if Hao saw him; all he cared about now was Pirika.
He tried to reach out to her, but he just went right through her. She must have felt it though, because she looked over in his direction, and suddenly stopped crying.
Hao looked over too, as anger spread all over his face, his perfect plans disrupted. His anger quickly turned into laughter; however, as he saw that, being little more than a singular transparent ghost, Ren could do nothing at this point, so he ignored him.
Pirika was still staring at Ren, trying to figure out exactly what she felt about him, as her memory was still fuzzy. She blinked several times at him and, upon realizing who he was, she told him that she wanted nothing to do with him, and to get lost.
Ren was unsure if it was Hao's doing or not, but he thought that the best bet was that it was caused by Hao, as he was smiling at the time, finding this all rather amusing, and watching her destroy herself and his heart at the same time was about as sweet of comedy as it got in his opinion.
Ren had only one thing that he had wanted to do, and now was the best time to do it. He took a deep breath, and said the only three words that could save them both from a cruel and horrible fate that awaited them.
"I love you." After these three simple words escaped his lips the entire atmosphere in the room changed. Hao stopped smirking, and went on to looking as though he wanted nothing more than to kill Ren again if he could. He recovered quickly yet again, however, and went back to looking as though both were doomed under his heavy gaze.
Pirika, on the other hand, began to sob uncontrollably. She leaned her head on the bed, tears soiling the sheets, leaving her eyes cloudy. She did not know what to make of the situation. She was confused, terrified, and angry, all at the same unbearable time.
She glanced at both Hao and Ren in turn, contemplating over and over in her mind which was most trustworthy. Normally it would be Ren, but Hao had her brother, and her mind still had not recovered from what he had done to her memory, so she was still unsure of some things.
He certainly looked like a good person, but she could never be sure. After all, she still thought that Hao was a good person, too.
DarkTaoAngel: I hope this chapter was better than the last, and especially because I wrote them both in the same day! I want to make each and every chapter of this story at least one thousand words long! Please review!