Ch. 5 Friction

Authoress Long Note: I'm very sorry that I took so long to update my fic. The mid year examinations took up my time. Plus, I'm having serious writer's block here. No inspirations at all! Now, is the school vacation, so I'll have plenty of time to type. X) PLUS! I still have Sleepy Idiot as my plan B.

I think that this fan fic will have 10+ chapters. Because I failed to include the friction and quarrels between Aki and Tao Ren into my ideas. Fluff between my OC and Tao Ren… I need some help. Can somebody help me in this area?

About the Tao Ren's OOC-ness in chapter 4… Actually, I am trying to create a weak side of Tao Ren. Love changes him to a better person (only in front of Pirika). But, I guessed I failed terribly in constructing that image. Because, everybody's impression of him is egotistic.

Disclaimer: If I own Shaman King, I will not be here writing fan fictions


Previously from chapter 4,

(Kyoshi's P.O.V)

'Who is this Chinese male anyway? Who gives him the authority to give approving looks at Aki? How can he openly ogle at Aki when I'm around! It is as if he is peeling the clothing from Aki with his eyes.


'thinking'

"talking"

(Aki's P.O.V)

'Aki, quit standing over there like a blockhead. What am I doing anyway! I'm a lady. I can't openly stare at guy! Even though he is handsome… Mom is sooo going to kill me if she knows it. I ought to approach him and shake his hand. By the look on his face, he must have thought that I'm a spoilt brat with no manners and improper upbringing. I'll prove him wrong by creating a perfect first impression. I sure hope that he'll not be a major turn off with an attitude towards girls.'

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

Aki approaches Tao Ren and extend her right hand forward for Tao Ren to shake.

"I presume you are Tao Ren. I'm Aki. Pleasure meeting you." She greeted him politely gave one of her sweetest smile.

Tao Ren took Aki's small hand graciously and shook it, "Hi. Nice to meet you, Aki. The young man behind you must be Kyoshi." He said in monotone.

(Kyoshi's P.O.V)

'So, he is Tao Ren. I can't believe Feng Quan engage Aki to him. I've always known Feng Quan as a man with taste and high expectations. Boy, am I wrong. This Chinese guy is not suitable for Aki. What's with the spike on top of his head? Is that the current trend? It looks like a lightning rod to me! He'll be very useful when there's lightning storm. His eyes are rather similar to a cat' eyes. Look at Aki; she's smitten by the handsome looks of Tao Ren. I've lived with her for seventeen years and I don't see her getting smitten by any handsome guys on the streets. What's so special about him anyway? When I walk on the streets of Tokyo, I get girls flocking to me, asking for my number. I rejected every one of them because I'm dead, no longer a human and I'm not interested in those superficial girls.'

(End Of Kyoshi's P.O.V)

Kyoshi stepped forward and shook Tao Ren's extended hand, giving a few meaningful squeezes. Tao Ren smirked. Kyoshi's violet eyes narrowed and Aki senses battle aura emerging from the two males.

Aki cleared her throat in order to gain their attention and said " Ummm… Tao Ren. What do you normally do when you are at home?"

Kyoshi released Tao Ren's hand and stood beside Aki with his arms crossed before him.

Before Tao Ren could answer Aki's question, he was interrupted by a masculine voice coming from the other end of the living room, "Ahh, I see you two are getting along rather well. What a relief. Don't you agree with me?"

"I couldn't agree with you more, anata," replied a feminine voice.

Everybody's attention turned towards the duo that just entered the living room a moment ago.

"Hi, Auntie Tao and Uncle Tao, what a pleasure to see you two again. " Said Aki as her long lashes lowered over her eyes.

Tao Yuan gave Aki a few pats on her head and said, "Aki, my dear! Welcome, welcome! It's been so long since I last seen you. Hmmm… Let me see. You were 5 years old when I last seen you, right? And by the way, you shouldn't call me Uncle Tao; you should change that kind of addressing by now! How absurd! You shall call me Father and my wife as Mother from this moment on. Remember that, Aki."

Aki laughed out loud and added, "I will, father."

Tao Yuan turned his attention to Kyoshi and said, "Welcome you too. You must have a hard time tolerating Aki's singing of camp songs. Although she does have a beautiful voice, but those camp songs' lyrics simply don't make any sense, isn't it?"

Kyoshi burst out laughing; he wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and said "Indeed. Indeed. I hated it when she sings those ridiculous camp songs. But, I've got no choice but to listen, being her guardian… " He added a resigned sigh purposely.

"I heard your comment, Kyo." Came Aki's cold reply.

Kyoshi sweat dropped and said "Whoops? Didn't mean to insult you and your singing of the ridiculous camp songs." He stressed on the word, "ridiculous" knowing that it will offend Aki. Aki glared at Kyoshi hard, as though Kyoshi would shrink so she can stomp on him with one foot.

Tao Yuan gave a few coughs after he heard Kyoshi's comment. The smirk on Kyoshi's face and Aki's angry aura vanished into thin air when they heard Tao Yuan's coughs.

Tao Yuan straightened and said, "Quit standing around, come and have a seat. You people must have had a tiring road journey. Aki, do you need some sour prunes to cure that car sick of yours?"

"Sure, Father." She agreed weakly. Tao Yuan asked a young maid dressed in a light purple cotton qi pao to bring Aki some sour prunes immediately. The obedient maid bowed and scurried off to the Kitchen. Yuan and his wife looked at Aki as she admired the furnishings of the Tao Mansion that she is going to stay for the next couple of months. Yuan put an arm around his wife and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze; Tao Ran looked at her husband and smiled before turning her attention back to Aki.

The maid came back to the Living Room but without the prunes in her hands. She told Yuan something which apparently, too soft to make out what she said from where Aki was. Aki looked at them questionably, wondering what they were talking about and why the young maid had to lower her voice to talk to father. Yuan nodded and the maid returned to her original place with her hands clasped in front, waiting for further instructions.

"Aki, your sour prunes are in your room. You may go up first and your luggage will be brought up to your room in a while. Aki, please." Aki stood up and turned back. A maid came to her view from the back.

"Miss Aki, please follow me." the maid said with a gentle tone, she bowed and walked towards the East Wing. Aki took her lead and, before climbing up the stairs, waved goodbye at the people in the Living Room. She looked at Kyoshi and motioned him to follow her to her room. Kyoshi straightened up and gave a nod at Tao Yuan before following Aki. Ran flipped her fan open and giggled. Yuan smiled and Ren turned his head away.

(Scene changed to the foreign Art and Design school in San Francisco)

"Hey, Pirika!" a blonde haired girl with a ponytail tied to one side in yellow boat neck T-shirt and denim mini skirt walked towards Pirika while she tidied her locker.

"Oh. Hi, Lumiere," The above-mentioned girl dressed in a pink peasant dress and white knee length boots greeted her with the same enthusiasm. Lumiere was her roommate and the one who took great care of her when she first entered the Fashion Design course. Lumiere even took care of the bullies who crowded around her on the first day of school. She was thankful to Kami Sama for blessing her with a friend such as Lumiere.

"Did you bring your designs? I couldn't draw one decent design. Ooh boy, Miss Freaky is going to use her ooh-so-good English to lecture me. By the way, did you draw out the models?" Lumiere asked her as she opened her locker that was just beside her.

(Flashack…)

"Did you bring the your algebra worksheet? You'll lend it to me, wouldn't you?" a dark purple haired boy with a spike on his head asked Pirika rather rudely as he leaned against her locker.

"Hello? Pirika? Earth to Pirika…" Lumiere waved her hand profusely in front of Pirika's face.

"I'm talking to you… Can't you hear me? Geezus, You're just the same as your brother..." Ren's voice trailed away as Pirika returns to reality.

(End of Flashback…)

"Oh! I'm so sorry, Lumiere. I spaced out jus now. What did you asked me again just now?" she answered her friend, politely.

"I said, did you bring your file? If not, Miss Freaky will drench you in sarcasm."

"Yes, I did..." Pirika replied lightly before spacing out again. Lumiere shook her head and walked into the class with Pirika tailing behind just as the school bell rang.

(End of scene in Art and Design School in Sans Francisco)

(Scene changed to the Tao's mansion)

The skies outside the Tao mansion changed from light blue to many shades of yellow, orange and pink. Anyone with a sense of time management would know that it is now getting late and also the time to go home for dinner.

The maid in light green qi pao gave three gentle knocks on the wooden door of Aki's room and said "Miss Aki? Master Tao would like to invite you down for dinner. They are waiting for you in the Dining Room."

"Okay. I'm coming," said Aki harshly. She was alone in her room, strumming her precious guitar while a tune began to form in her head. The three knocks on her room door snapped her out of her music mood. She looked around in her huge room, hoping to catch a glimpse of her spirit's violet eyes in the dark corners of the room.

"Kyo?" she said. No response. She tried again, raising her voice to higher decibels. "KYO?"

"Yeah?" came his lazy reply out of the blue.

"Where have you been?" asked Aki after she slammed her hairbrush on the dressing table.

"Wandering 'round the mansion? Man, they have their own onsen here! Woot… Can't wait to dive in and have some time off." Replied Kyoshi with child-like enthusiasm.

Aki gives a sigh. "I'm off to dinner. Will you be okay staying here? Or do you want to continue your wandering?"

"I'll be fine. Besides, I think I saw a beautiful rose garden on my way back here."

"Hn. Whatever you need, just ask the maid for assistance, okay?" Said Aki while her hand is placed against the door.

There was no reply from Kyoshi. Aki scowled while thinking 'He sure can disappear fast enough without even bothering to reply me. Never seen him gotten so excited because of exploring around the mansion.'

Aki closed her room door behind her and followed the maid towards the Dining Room where the Tao family was waiting for her in order to start dinner.

(At the Dining Room…)

"She's late." Growled Tao Ren.

Tao Jun shot Tao Ren a cold look, as a warning to remind him not to be rude to his fiancée. Tao Ren looked away to avoid looking at his elder sister.

Two pairs of soft footsteps echoed through the empty hallways. The maid, Li effortlessly pushed open the two heavy doors for Aki to enter. Aki stepped into the Dining Room and said, "I'm sorry that I'm late. I couldn't find Kyo in my room."

Tao Ren sneered and said "Is he that important to you? Are you aware that we're waiting for you to start dinner?"

Anger flashed brightly in Aki's hazel brown eyes. "Yes, he's very important to me. I believe that I should be more responsible and tell him where am I going in order to avoid the trouble he's going to cause just to look for me."

Pregnant silence hung in the room. Tao Yuan cleared his throat awkwardly. "That's enough! Ren, you shouldn't make such a comment about Aki. Besides, she had apologized politely about being late for dinner. Aki, do not take his comments to heart. That is how he is."


End of Chapter 5, Friction. So, how does minna san find this chapter? Please review and tell me so. Lotsa love and gratitude from this end of the computer. (:


Random Ranting…

KaiL-s (beta): kakakaka! HEAR! HEAR! R&R! Yeah! More! MOREEE!

Brok3nragd0ll: … I apologize for my beta's interruption. It seems that she couldn't type in full sentences and hadta speak in fragments. –Mutters-. What kind of beta is she…

KaiL-s: HEY! I can type proper sentences so! RAWR! Ok people. Be nice. Read. N REVIEW! Nyahahaha!

Brok3nragd0ll: Oh dear… " I thought you said that you can type in pro- arggg! Nevermind. You're outta here! No more scaring away de readers! OUT! -kicks KaiL-s out-

Ja! Minna san.