Ch. 3 Reluctance

Disclaimer: If Brok3n Ragd0ll owns Shaman King, you will see pigs flying past your windows. But, you didn't see any.

Previously from chapter 2,

"Feng Quan sprawls on the dark carpet floors with fear. His daughter may be a tomboy but he trusts that she will not kill her father with her precious guitar. Today's scenario is totally unexpected."

'thinking'

"talking"

Feng Quan looks up at her daughter, Aki helplessly. Soon, the killer aura fills the entire room. It disappears quickly when three soft knocks on the wooden door were heard. Hanako entered the room with silent grace but she was taken by surprise when she sees Aki welding her electric guitar dangerously high above her husband's head, while her husband was sprawled out on the dark purple carpet floors.

Hanako shook her head when she saw that Aki was practically trying to kill her father with her electric guitar. Aki went to the balcony and sat on the one of the garden chairs at the balcony after she laid her guitar on the big, white cushion silently. Feng Quan stood up and dusted his blue vintage jeans and walked out of his daughter's room in order to let Hanako speak to Aki in peace.

(Aki's P.O.V)

Mom is approaching me and my heart is beating wildly in my chest. I couldn't look her in the eye, her piercing but beautiful gray eyes. She stood in front of me, almost expecting me to look up at her. I turned my head away to look at our beautiful rose garden, which is directly below my room. She tilted my head up and my hazel brown eyes meet her warm gray eyes. Her thumb started to stroke my left cheek with utmost tenderness and caring love, then I leaned in to her feather soft touch.

Tears started to well up in my eyes, threatening to spill any moment. "Mom… I'm scared," I confessed.

Since young, I can tell Mom everything, the topics ranging from psychologically issues, body issues and of course, the most sensitive topic, sex.

Mom smiled and said " Aki chan, don't worry so much. Marriage is not a frightening thing. When I was about the same age as you, the same thing happened to me too, but I did not put up a fight with my father. Luckily, Feng Quan treats me very good and on the other hand, I felt sad for my older sister, Hanabi. Her husband would beat her up whenever he is in a drunken state. She suffered silently for many years, in the end… she died of internal injuries. Nobody was even aware of it until her diary was given to me by our nanny."

Awkwardness and sadness mingled together in the atmosphere. I hugged Mom as I take in the familiar green tea perfume in her clothes. Mom was taken back by surprise when I suddenly hugged her but in the end; she slowly wrapped her arms around me. Mom gave me one of her motherly smile when both of us withdrew from the hug we shared just now.

"Mom, thanks for giving me the courage I lacked" I said while pulling out a huge black luggage case which was filled with cheeky slogans stickers pasted all over from under my bed.

Mom opened the closet doors. "Come, let Mom help you too."

We packed my luggage silently to indulge in each other's companion while we could.

(End of Aki's P.O.V)

A pair of violet eyes appeared in one of the dark corner in Aki's room. 'So, it has begun huh? ' Wondered Kyoshi.

Feng Quan hugged her daughter awkwardly and asked " Aki chan, have you brought what you needed? Did you forget anything to bring?"

Aki nodded her head and pulled away from her father's hug. "Dad, I'm sorry about just now. Anger got the better of me."

Feng Quan shrugged his shoulders as Hanako gave a peck on her daughter's smooth cheeks.

"Take care on your way there and if Tao Ren bullies you, call us. Alright?" whispered Hanako in Aki's right ear.

Aki blushes while she covers her right ear. "Mom, don't do that! You know that your breath always tickles my ear when you whisper into my ear, and you know I'm very sensitive to that!" said Aki in fake anger.

Hanako smiles at her daughter's comment.

"Kyo, let's go." Aki picked up her guitar case and her heavy luggage case but Kyoshi took the luggage from her right hand and smirked, " Aye, aye, captain!"

Aki's parents stood outside their spacious manor while watching Kyoshi and Aki bickering over where her guitar should be placed, in the car boot or beside the driver seat. Aki stomped on Kyoshi's left shoe hard; they laughed as they watched Kyoshi clutch his left shoe while jumping around in pain and mumbling some curses under his breath at the same time.

Aki got into the driver seat and waved enthusiastically to her parents through the wounded down car window after she placed her guitar case in the driver seat. Kyoshi got into the seat beside hers, sulking and arms crossed against his chest. Feng Quan and Hanako smiled and waved good-bye while they watch their daughter's car disappear into the distance.

(Scene changed to the Tao's Home in the mountain areas)

Tao Ren looks at the jiang si irritably when it told him that his father, Tao Yuan wanted him to go to his Study Room immediately.

' Father should be aware that at this time, I would be in the Training Room training. Why would he ask me to go to his Study Room out of the blue? I wonder why…' wondered Tao Ren while walking to his destination, the Study Room.

He gave the huge wooden door three knocks before entering the room. When he entered the room, he noticed his father's broad back sitting on a big cushion in front of the roaring fireplace so he walked to his father's side.

"Have a seat, Ren." Said Tao Yuan without turning around to look at his son.

Tao Ren crossed his arms before him when he sat on the luxurious sofa. Nothing could be heard in the room except the occasional crackling of the logs in the fireplace.

Tao Yuan stood up and looked at his son in the eye. He began, "Ren, you're eighteen this year."

Tao Ren nodded his head solemnly.

"You don't have any girlfriends after Pirika had left you. Therefore, I have arranged a marriage for you, and your bride is Aki who is my good friend's daughter. She is coming over today and I hope you can treat her well. She is a pretty nice girl, so don't let her down, and I also don't wish to hear any complaints coming from Aki or Aki's parents."

Tao Ren tried to open his mouth to protest. But to his dismay, he couldn't find anything to say.

Tao Yuan continues, "Your wife-to-be is seventeen this year and she is part of a rock band called Lost Ones. Although she behaves like a tomboy, but deep down she is a sweet and innocent girl. Her spirit guardian name is Kyoshi and he control shadows. He is very protective over Aki, so you better treat her good or I won't know what might happen to your shadow!" Yuan laughed at his last comment as he looked at Ren for his reply.

Tao Ren's indigo eyes widen. He couldn't stand it anymore. "What do you mean by this! I don't need another failure marriage to haunt me again! I'm pretty fine being alone. I would prefer you to call this girl to go back to where she came from, I seriously don't need another girl in my life." He yelled at his father.

He slams the wooden door loudly when he left the room in a huff.

Tao Yuan closed his eyes and said, "My son, I did this because I couldn't bear to see you get haunted by the memories you had with Pirika."

Tao Ren entered his Training Room as Bason appeared beside him, wondering what's wrong with his master.

" Bok Chamma, what's wrong?" asked Bason.

"Nothing." He replied gruffly.

Bason didn't wish to ask his young master any further nor did he want to get a reprimanding from Ren, so he disappeared into thin air.

Tao Ren stood in front of the dummy silently. He shuts his indigo eyes painfully, while his mind replayed the words his father had said to him a moment ago.

Ren started give the dummy a few vicious kicks and punches and he continues to repeat the pattern over and over again.

Tao Jun watched her younger brother train from the door as her heart ached, because whenever she sees him trying to shut everything out through his vicious training her heart aches. 'At least he is not attempting suicide, I hope Aki chan can heal his emotional wounds created from his previous relationship with Pirika."

(Scene changed to dormitories in United States, San Francisco)

"Pirika chan! Do you want to come with us for dinner in Marisa's house?" said by a feminine voice.

The above-mentioned girl tied her long, straight blue hair into a messy ponytail, a few stray strands of blue hair fell out of her scrunchie, and her fringe is slightly parted at the left hand side. She wore beige colored, long sleeves cotton shirt with a khakis colored, drawstring long pants.

Pirika turned around to look at her classmate, Lumiere. " Nah, no, thanks. You guys go ahead and enjoy yourselves"

" Do you want any of the Chinese food you love so much? " questioned Lumiere.

Pirika shook her head. With that, Lumiere left the room.

She sat at the window ledge, observing the people walking in and out of the school dormitories she is staying in.

"Home is so far away from here. I wonder how is brother, father…. and Ren." Thought Pirika while supporting her head with one hand.

A/N: hoho… a cliffy! Come come, review review! Next chapter will be… Pirika's flashback and of course, the meeting of Aki and Ren. (: Ooh ya! Happy Lunar New Year to the Chinese out there! -