I don't have much to say. I have a migraine and I'm going to bed before my skull splits open. Hope you like the chapter!

Notes: "Chu" is the Japanese sound effect for kissing.

A Gift of Love – Chapter Eighty: The Taming of the Ainu

"And then he said that he was going to make you his girlfriend, Neesan."

Xue turned her nose up as they approached their family's apartment. "People want what they can't have, Seta. It's just the way the world works. Mom taught us from a young age that we don't need to be with someone in order to be happy. That said, I don't need this Tsukishi person in order to feel good about myself." Her eyes lowered. "I have too many things on my mind as it is."

"Um...Neesan...His name is Tadashi. Meihou Tadashi," Seta timidly corrected her. "A-And he...he said he'd help me so Lien will fall in love with me! He's really a good guy, Neesan!"

She scoffed at him and began walking up the stairs. "We'll see. Don't forget the people he hangs around with. You can tell a lot about someone by seeing the types of friends they keep." She froze as she grasped the door knob to their home.

Her brother bumped into her, grabbing the railing so he wouldn't fall. He looked up at her. "Neesan? What's wrong?"

She seemed to bow her head, then swiftly turned and smiled at him. "Hey, Seta, do me a favor, will you?"

He blinked at her. "Okay...what is it?"

Xue reached into her book bag and gave him a thousand yen bill. "I forgot to stop and get some of those cookies Dad likes. Would you mind running to the store and getting them for me?"

He took it cautiously. "But I thought he just got some last--"

"You know Dad! He's such a glutton he ate them all!" She physically turned him and gently pushed him down a couple stairs. "Now go on, shoo, shoo. Go buy Daddy's happy-fun-time cookies! I even gave you enough so you can get something for yourself, too!"

He looked at her nervously. "But Neesan, I--"

She shoved him. "Tata! See you in a few minutes!"

After one more nervous glance, Seta went back down the stairs toward the nearest drug store. Xue took a deep breath, then eyed her front door as if it were a formidable enemy. Slowly, she opened it and stepped inside. As she took her shoes off, she could hear yelling from the kitchen.

"Why can't you get a real job? You know, one that makes money?"

"Says the one who stays home all day folding clothes! I'd like to see you get a job and help out the situation. Oh, wait, I'm the only one here with a degree in anything."

"And what would it be in, hm? Asshattery? So you can go on to be a professional asshat? Sounds about right to me."

"Oh, Rong, you're so damn funny."

"And don't you dare play that card with me, Usui Horokeu! When Xue was born, we agreed that you'd be the bread-winner for the family, as much as I didn't want to rely on you. So where's the bread 'Aokun', hm? I'd like to see it!"

"I'd like to see you try to run your own business! It'd be wonderful to wipe that goddamn smirk off your face for once."

"Then give up on that shit whole and use your degree to work for some big company! Xue's applying to Tokyo University! You know how much ONE SEMESTER there costs, hm? SIX. HUNDRED. THOUSAND YEN!! That money isn't going to fall out of the sky, Horokeu! Unless there's some magic Ainu money dance I don't know about!"

"You've get some hell of a nerve you haughty b--"

"I GOT MY TEST BACK!" Xue cried as she bolted into the room and pounced on her father, stopping him from doing anything undesirable.

HoroHoro hit the ground, obviously surprised by her entrance. He blinked as she backed off of him. "You mean that one you had me help you study for?"

She smiled and nodded. "Yup!" She stood up and reached into her bag. "Okay, you two stand together, and close your eyes and hold out your hands." Hesitantly, her parents obeyed, making her slightly relieved. At least they weren't yet at the point where they didn't want to be close to each other. Xue placed the test in their hands. "Okay, open!"

Her parents opened their eyes. HoroHoro was the first to let go of the paper and hug his little girl. "ANOTHER one hundred, Xue? I'm so proud of you!"

Rong smiled as she went over and patted her head. "I am, too. You're such a hard worker."

Xue beamed. "Hehe, thanks!"

Rong looked at the test again. "Well, up on the fridge it goes." She walked over to it and looked for a free magnet.

"M-Mom! I'm not a little kid anymore!"

She smiled and turned after attaching the test to the cool surface. "Maybe, but I'm still going to show off how smart you are." She looked at the clock. "I should start thinking about supper, I guess."

HoroHoro nodded. "Let me help."

Xue watched them as they went through the fridge and took out pans, smiling faintly.

At least they'll be together for a little longer.

The next morning, she rummaged through her locker in search of her lunch money as her friends looked on. She had given the last of her money to Seta the day before in order to keep him from knowing about their parents' quarreling. Now, she would have to go without food until another money-making opportunity arose.

"I know I have a couple yen bills in here somewhere..." Papers and knick-knacks headed for the floor.

"Xue, you really should clean that thing out," Chuuko said hesitantly.

"What are you talking about? It's fine! It's in here, I've just hidden it very well!"

"In other words, you've lost it."

"I HAVE NOT!" She frantically started tossing things out of the storage area. "WHERE THE FUCK IS IT?!"

"Here."

She looked over to see Tadashi smiling at her with a thousand yen bill in his hand. Almost as if she were insulted, she snapped her head back in a snotty fashion. "I don't accept charity - especially not from someone who hangs out with pigs. I can't stand the stink."

He leaned against the locker. "You can always pay me back, Zooay-Chan."

She glared at him. "What did you just call me?"

"I'm sorry, Zooay-hime is more appropriate, ne?"

Xue stared at him, then went back to her locker. "Shut up and leave me alone. I'm looking for my money."

He chuckled. "That's what I'm saying, I can lend you the money, but you know, you never have to pay me back. It's the Pretty Girl Privilege, reserved for only the most beautiful goddesses in the school." He shook the bill a little to urge her to take it. "Go on, Zooay-hime, you can take it."

"Umm...Tadashi..." Chuuko whispered. "That isn't how you say her name..."

"She's right, it's not!" Xue barked at him, whipping the locker door back so it smacked his hand. Tadashi flinched and rubbed it as she glared at him. "My name is Chinese, so it's pronounced SHU-AY. Get it? It's not a 'zoo' sound! SHU!!" She puckered her lips as she made the sound for him.

He blinked at her, then grinned. He leaned down and kissed her. "Chu," he said with a smile.

Passersby gasped as her three friends huddled together in fear, taking a few steps back. Xue looked surprised, then clenched her fist for a moment. She grabbed the money. "Thank you, apparently I'm running a kissing booth."

"It wouldn't be a bad idea," Tadashi replied as he leaned against the lockers. "I'd be your number one customer."

She gave him a fake smile as she pulled her arm back. "Go to hell."

He blinked. "What?"

She punched his cheek as hard as she could, sending him flying down the hall. He hit the ground near his friends, who bent down to help pick him up.

"Tadashi, dude," Gyuu said and he pulled him up, "I think you should give up on this one. I mean, I don't think it's going to be easy like all the other girls you've gotten to go out with you. And you won't attract anyone else with bruises on your face."

"It's fine..." Tadashi said in a daze. "I love strong women..."

"Dude," Zegan said. "There's a difference between strong and homicidal. That girl just might kill you if you don't stop!"

Tadashi suddenly jumped up, revived. "I've never given up on getting the girl I want, and I'm sure as hell not starting now." He looked up to see that Xue and her friends had already gone to the cafeteria. "Every girl has a weakness, something that'll turn them to mush no matter who's involved. Once I find that girl's Achille's heel, the rest will be child's play."

His friends looked at each other.

"Is it really worth it when you're only going to be together for a couple weeks?"

"OF COURSE IT'S WORTH IT!"

Zegan sighed. "Fine. Just don't come crying to us when she puts you in a coma."

"Oh my gosh! Did Neesan smack you?!"

They turned to see Seta behind them.

"Hey, Kid From Yesterday! How goes it?"

The boy looked worried as he slowly pointed at the victim's cheek. "There's a big red mark on your face, Senpai. And your mouth is kinda bleeding."

Tadashi casually touched the sore corner of his mouth to find drops of blood on his finger. He reached into his blazer's pocket and whipped out a handkerchief, using it to rub the crimson liquid away.

"She's obviously just playing hard to get," he said with a nonchalant shrug. "I've met her type before, and they cave eventually."

"But didn't you say you wanted Neesan to be your date for the bonfire festival? That's only about a month away..."

He patted the younger boy as if he were a wide-eyed innocent. "I've got this all under control. I've been doing this since primary school, so I know what I'm doing."

"If you say so..."

After school, Tadashi pulled Seta aside.

"You wanted me to teach you how to get that girl, right?"

Seta's eyes lit up. "Yeah!"

"Alright! First rule: Never give up unless she flat out says that she's not going to go out with you. Even then, give it a couple more tries. Girls can change their minds VERY quickly. All it takes are a few good deeds to put you in a good standing. So, think of something nice you can do for this girl."

His pupil nodded eagerly. "Okay!"

"Next..." He looked at Seta's hair. "Girls usually don't go for the dyed look. They'll think you're some sort of yanki or something."

Seta lightly pulled on a piece of hair dangling near his eye. "But...But this is my real hair..."

"You've been dying it so long that you think it's your natural color? Geez, kid. Your parents be a couple of punks or something..."

"Oh, so now you're even going after my brother?"

"Eh?"

Tadashi turned as Xue grabbed his hair and used it to yank his head back enough so she could glare down at him. When he finally lost his balance, she let go, allowing him to fall to the ground on his back. He lay there, as if waiting for something, before finally speaking.

"Aren't you going to sit on me?"

Xue tossed her head. "I'm not going to give you the pleasure, you womanizer."

Seta cautiously touched his sister's arm. "N-Neesan, he wasn't doing anything bad, honest! He was just giving me some advice!"

"Don't try to cover up for him. I heard what he said about your hair."

Her victim blinked up at them. "'N-Neesan'? You mean..."

Xue sighed and folded her arms. "Slow, aren't we? That's right. He's my little brother, which is why I can't let his mind be corrupted by your perverted ideas."

Tadashi sat up. "You never told me she was your sister!"

"I tried to!" the boy called back.

His sister kicked her prey to the ground again. "Now, you listen, and you listen well, Tsukishi."

"...It's Tadashi, Neesan."

She waved him off. "Right, whatever. Either way, my brother doesn't dye his hair. It's naturally that color, courtesy of our loving mother."

"You mean, because she's the Chinese one?"

Another annoyed sigh. "That's right, we're all at least half Chinese except for our father. But that doesn't matter. Ethnicity means nothing when it comes to things like this."

Tadashi smirked. "Are you sure you just don't think I'm too good for you, and you're hiding your feelings because you feel badly about being Chinese?"

She smiled. "Oh, you're so cute." She grabbed his collar and tossed him into a nearby bin of basketballs. "I hope you suffocate, Tsukishi, YOU HEAR ME?"

"...yes ma'am..."

She sighed and touched her forehead. "Obviously, I'm doing something wrong if I'm attracting scum like him." Seta's worried eyes caught her attention and she turned to him. "He's not going to die if someone finds him in time, so stop worrying." Her watch beeped and she looked at it. "Right. I have a ballet meeting right now, so you'll be okay going home alone, right?"

He nodded. "Yeah."

"Alright, then. Call me if anything happens, okay? I'll be home around six."

"Okay..."

He started slowly trudging down the street toward their home, looking back at her like a shooed puppy. Xue stared after him empathetically. She knew he hated walking home alone. It was a long walk in the first place, but having no one to talk to made it even longer. When he was out of sight, she made her way to the dance room.

Xue hadn't been recruited as a prima ballerina, but as a stand-in for a male counterpart, since no boys had joined the group. The members had pounced on her because of her height and build, begging her to lend them a hand so they could perform a favored production. It wasn't her favorite thing in the world, but she enjoyed it enough to keep going. It was one thing that had made her known and well liked among the girls.

She dropped her bags just outside of it and whipped out her cellphone, quickly dialing her home number.

I have to make sure they're not fighting when Seta gets in.

Nearly two hours later, as her classmates waved goodbye, Xue put her toe shoes in her locker and ran her head under the shower before putting her blue and white uniform back on. She glanced at her cellphone in the mirror's reflection, wondering if she should call home again to make sure her parents weren't fighting.

Nah, they wouldn't do it with Seta home.

She was just about to jump the gate when she heard a grunt from behind her. She turned to see a hand flapping at her from within the wiry confines of the basketball cage. Xue frowned and walked over to it. It flapped a little more, and she sighed, then kicked the cage forcefully, sending it to the ground. Tadashi spilled onto the concrete along with the basketballs.

"You aren't dead yet?" she asked, seemingly disappointed. She walked over and bent down, picking up one of the balls and returning it to the large, garbage can-like container.

"Of course not. If I was weak enough to be defeated by the likes of these, I could never be a protector to the woman I love." He smiled up at her.

She bounced another ball dangerously close to his head. "What are you babbling about now?" She shot it, making it bounce off the wall and into the bin. "I knew you were stupid, but you're really starting to make me wonder just how low your IQ is."

When he didn't reply, she glanced down to see him tilting his head. It didn't take her more than a few seconds to figure out what he was trying to accomplish. She stood on his throat.

"Can you see up my skirt better now, you pervert?"

"Gragh...G...Get...off..Brea...uhh..."

Xue finally stepped off of him with a haughty, "Hmph." Tadashi sat up, clutching his neck. After some panting and coughing, he looked up to see that she was offering him her hand. He accepted it, and she pulled him up.

"Hehe, like I thought. You're not so cold after a--"

"Don't get me wrong. I just hate picking on people who can't fight back, like those imbeciles on Futou High's rugby team." She sighed as she remembered how she had easily overpowered the team's captain after he wouldn't stop bothering the female students watching the game on the bleachers. "Either way, just please, stop bothering me. I don't want to have to humiliate you any more than I already have. Gather up what little pride you have left and go home, Tadashi." She turned on her heel started for the gate again.

"Wait up!"

When the pitter-patter of his movements met her ears, she tensed, instantly turning and thrusting his hand away when it rested on her shoulder. She glared at him.

"I said for you to leave me alone. Are you deaf or something? Or are you some sort of masochist that gets off on having girls beat you up?"

He tried to not seem intimidated. "Why do you hate me so much?"

Xue stared at him blankly, the question coming at her from left field. After it had finally registered in her mind, she clenched her fists, bending her arms inwards as she bowed her head, bearing her teeth.

Tadashi tilted his head. "Huh? What's got you so riled up? Hey..." He went to touch her, but she exploded in an angry outburst, flinging her arms out and dropping her school bag.

"Why do I hate you? Are you seriously asking me that?!" Without waiting for an answer, she shoved him backwards, causing him to back up as she advanced toward him.

"Are you stupid?! Are you some sort of clueless idiot?! Why should I even give a loser like you the time of day, HUH?!"

Tadashi looked over his shoulder in an effort to watch where he was backing up. He hadn't anticipated the wave of rage he was receiving at the moment.

"You know what the problem is with assholes like you? You think you know what girls want in a boyfriend, and you woo them wearing a mask on your face, pretending to be the prince they've always wanted!"

"Your father...when I found out I was pregnant with you, he was just as happy and excited as I was. He wanted to be with us...to be in your life."

"Then you lead them on, complimenting them making them trust you, allowing them to believe that you'll be there for them forever, when that couldn't be further from the truth! Their bodies are just your play toys!"

"Don't worry, Xue. Your mom's stuck with me, no matter what happens."

"GIRLS NEED COMMITMENT! WE NEED TO BE SURE SOMEONE'S GOING TO BE THERE WHEN WE FALL APART!!"

"Daddy, what are the flowers for?"

He smiled. "Mom doesn't feel well, so I bought them for her. Think they'll make her feel better?"

"Yeah!"

She couldn't stop the tears from coming. "This may be some game to you, but it's not to us! We're serious! Chuuko wanted to be loved so badly that she settled for that scumbag friend of yours, and Sashi wanted to know that someone found her attractive..."

"Aokun always had this way of making me feel beautiful, no matter what the situation." She chuckled. "Even when I was dating a porcelain dish due to morning sickness."

"You didn't know her like that! That other bastard didn't even care about his "girlfriend" or her feelings! People like you are the worst! You just take, and take, AND TAKE! What do you think you're going to get from me, huh?! I don't have boobs as big as the other girls, I'm nearly your height, and I have more pride in my heritage than you could even comprehend! I'm not someone who's interested in your stupid games!!"

"Dammit, I'm never going to get these Ainu markings right. It's hard weaving it like this!"

"Rong, Xue's not going to know the difference, and you're doing fine."

"Pirika should be the one doing this...I don't even know what this pattern means."

He smiled at her. "They don't really mean anything. The only thing the elders want us to get out of this is the experience of the two of us working together, like partners should."

Xue shoved him again, causing his back to hit their school's brick wall.

"When will you be satisfied?! When you've taken the virginity of every girl in the school?! SORRY but I'm not going to be part of your plot, you SLUT! WHORE! DEGENERATE!"

"Xue, if anyone says anything bad about how you were born, just know that we always wanted you."

"Yeah. The stork was making his rounds, and dropped you on our doorstep."

Her parents looked at each other and smiled. "It was like getting the best present ever," they said.

She grabbed his collar, ruffing him up, but trying to hide her face at the same time. "Leave me alone..." she whispered. "Just leave me alone..."

"Why--"

"IF YOU EVEN HAVE ANY OF THESE STUPID FEELINGS FOR ME THAT YOU SAY YOU DO, THEN YOU'LL LISTEN TO ME." She glanced up at him, her eyes puffy and red. "DON'T YOU THINK I HAVE ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH?!"

He just blinked down at her. Why was she suddenly flipping out like this and crying?

Well, this might be a good time to score some brownie points...

He wrapped his arms around her, but she shoved him again, her eyes burning with rage. Silent, she slapped him across the face as hard as she could. When he looked up, he saw that she was slowly walking away, stopping only to pick up her book bag, then continue on. He watched her jump the gate, then went into the school to find his belongings.

The next day, Tadashi had seemed to get the message. He, for the most part, kept his distance, coming before her only to hold a door for her or pick up something she had dropped. Each time, Xue had turned her nose up, either walking quickly through the held door, or snatching the item from his hand.

Her friends could tell that something had happened, but because of Xue's attitude that day, no one dared to ask her for details. That, and they could tell she wasn't feeling well. Her cheeks were red, and she was constantly grabbing a handkerchief from her pocket, or turning away and covering her nose and mouth with her sleeve.

Xue was glad when three o'clock rolled around. She was skipping her ballet meet and going home. Seta was staying over a friend's house for the night, and she would be able to go right to bed, in the hopes of feeling better sooner.

To her surprise, no yelling could be heard as she opened the door. It was silent. Dead silent. She took off her shoes and put her school bag on the rack.

"I'm home," she called weakly. She walked into the kitchen to see her parents standing at their dining room table. Thinking nothing of it, she got a glass of orange juice from the refrigerator.

"Oh, hi, honey," Rong said in a distant voice.

For once, HoroHoro was silent.

The air was dead. Cold. Suffocating.

Xue nervously walked over to them. "So, how were your days?"

"Fine..." her mother said softly.

She put down the glass and draped herself over her father. "What's wrong, Daddy? You tired?" She giggled, but he stayed the same.

"Horokeu, can't you even say 'hello' to her?" Rong snapped at him.

"Hi," he finally said in a dead voice.

"It's okay, Daddy. Maybe you've just caught my cold. I was just going to go in for a nap, so you come too, okay?" Looking over his shoulder, she could see a packet of papers on the table. "Hm? What's this?"

Her eyes scanned the page, widening as they were filled with the words she feared most.

"KYOGI RIKON"

Frantic, she grabbed the packet and looked at it. Rong's name was already one it. She flipped through, complaints riddling the pages.

"W-Why...? Why are you guys doing this all of a sudden? I thought things were going to get better soon..."

"They haven't gotten better fast enough," Rong explained, folding her arms.

Xue stared at the complaints again. "Loss of affection." She looked up. "I-I know! How about you and Daddy go away somewhere for a week? Then you guys and can bond and stuff! Everything would be okay then, ri--"

"XUE! We don't have the money for that!! This is the decision we've made. It's what's best for us and for you and Seta. Do you really want us to argue all the time?"

"YES! YES I DO!!" she screamed. "I'd rather listen to it day and night than have you two get divorced! I know you two still love each other so--"

"Xue," HoroHoro finally said quietly. "Rong's right...It's for the best." He turned slightly. "Don't worry. No matter what happens, just remember that we both love you, okay?"

She stared at him. What kind of reassurance was that? That didn't matter to her. She was more concerned about them loving each other.

Why...Why...Why couldn't I do anything? Why couldn't I have thought of something to stop this? Why can't they be like Hana's parents...Or Ren and Lien's...? WHY MINE?!

She took the packet, held it horizontally, and tore it in half.

"XUE!" Rong cried. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

"NO! What do you think YOU'RE doing?!" she screamed back. Her parents blinked at her, surprised by her outburst, but she wasn't done yet. "I hate you! I hate you both!! You can't even try to work this out! You never even asked for help! YOU'RE TAKING THE EASY WAY OUT AND I HATE YOU FOR IT!!"

She stared at them, panting for a moment, then took the ripped halves, clutching them to her chest, and dashed out of the room and toward the door.

"Xue! Get back here!"

She ignored them. She quickly stepped into her shoes, then flung the door open and ran outside and down the stairs. She jumped the last ramp, landing on her feet and bolting into the crowds that were walking the streets. It was sprinkling, but she wasn't about to let some mist stop her. She had to get away from that house. Not for herself, but for them. It'd take them weeks to get new divorce papers. Maybe, by then, she would have thought of a way to fix things.

As she ran down the street, she bumped shoulders with a boy her age. Without saying anything, she stepped to the side and went around him. Her mind was blank. She could hardly remember which way she had come. But getting back home wasn't a concern right now.

A foot stuck out and she hit the ground. The sole of a boot was crushing her left hand, the one holding the divorce papers.

"Isn't this that Xue girl?"

"The one who beat the rugby captain up earlier this year?"

"Yeah that's the one."

One of the boys, wearing a Futou High uniform, pulled her up. "What's the matter, doll-face? Why're you cryin', huh?"

She hid her face, seething. Without saying a word, she raked his face with her nails, then punched him in the stomach, and kicked him to the ground. She gazed at his group from over her shoulder. They cringed, and she ran off.

Suddenly, there were no people around. She was alone in the slitted sunlight. In a fit of anger, she yelled out to the sky,

"It's okay! You can start pouring rain on me now!! You know, set the mood a little!!"

The sprinkling became heavier. Within minutes, there was a downpour. Xue spit some water out of her mouth, then went over to a stone bench nearby. But instead of sitting on it, she knelt on the ground, folding her arms on the hard surface and hiding her face in them. With no one to bother her, she let herself cry as hard as she could. She whispered to herself in a raspy voice.

"I was the one that brought Mom and Dad together...b-but I couldn't do anything to keep them together...Why does Mom think this is the best thing? We can't survive if she doesn't get a job. I love Daddy...I need him...I need them both...Together...Both Seta and I need them...to be together..."

Happy Days! Happy Days! A night of stars...Happy Days! Happy Days! At the rendezvous point...

Xue slowly took out her cell phone.

"HOME :D"

She opened it. "Hello..."

"Xue! Where the hell are you?! Come home right this instant!!" Rong cried on the other end.

There was a struggle, and suddenly HoroHoro was on the phone. "Xue, we're really worried about you! Just come home and we can talk about this, okay?"

He kept calling for her until she coughed and dropped the phone. Her face was burning up.

I guess I should have taken my nap first...

Her eyes closed and she slumped against the bench as she passed out. She couldn't hear the squishing sound of someone coming up behind her.

He smirked. "And what do we have here?"