Ren: Gah! Okinata, wha-what the hell happened to you!?!
Okinata: What do you mean "what"? And stop staring at me! (I'm blushing!)
Ren: You hair!
Okinata: Ah, that's what you mean… I cut them. -blushes even more, stroking her head-
Ren: I can see THAT! But… why? -almost cries- Such beautiful, long hair…
Okinata: -a bit hurt and teasing at the same time- You don't like it?
Ren: -blushes- No, t-that's not what I meant… they look really good, but… it's just such a shame…
Okinata: Well, they should grow back to their previous length in about two years…
Ren: So long…?
Okinata: -sighs- Just forget it. Let's get down to the story!
Roku. The beginning of a new life...
The birds were still singing and chirping cheerfully, but Ren somehow felt it being wrong. It just didn't match with the storm inside him. He still wasn't sure what he actually felt or how he should react to this completely new to him situation. He was utterly lost and was afraid that this pressure would finally crush him. And he couldn't allow that. Sure, he did think of different possibilities of killing himself – almost every teenager does, after all. But he had too much pride for suicide. He was a warrior; a place to die for him was a battlefield. Well, he could actually use this line as an excuse like: 'I died in a battle with myself, with my own solitude', or something among those lines, but he simply decided that it sounded way too lame for the great Tao Ren. And so he made the choice of living until Death itself finds him in a fierce final battle. Or at least if it would be to come, because as for now the times were awfully calm and peaceful.
Ren sighed to himself and looked at his sister, cumulating all of his remaining physical and psychical force while walking alongside with the happy Jun on his left and a satisfied Nichrome on his right.
"Oi, nee-san, why did you actually agreed on that all?" He asked, trying to make his voice demanding, tough the outcome sounded kind of a bit moany.
She looked at him with surprise as if she didn't actually get what he was talking about in the beginning. "Oh, you mean Nichrome-kun living together with us?" Her brother simply nodded in reply. "Well, it was like that: the day before yesterday he came to my office to talk." She made a pause to peer over Ren's head (which, by the way, wasn't all that easy with his hairstyle) at the brunette, who seemed not to listen to the conversation… or at least successfully acted to look like that. "He told me that he'd like to live in our home, and I agreed!" She ended with a wide smile.
"What!? Just like that!?"
"Well, you know how he can smile… I just couldn't resist." Jun explained, slightly tilting her head and with a light blush spreading across her cheeks.
Ren shrugged. For a moment he was silent, thinking of what his sister just said. What a stupid reasoning… He thought to himself. But then he suddenly realised that he felt a bit hot on his face and that the reason to that was probably an unconscious image of Nichrome smiling warm at him. "Well, never mind. Let's go home and have something cold to drink" The younger Tao said, sighing with resignation. "It's getting too hot here as for me." He added in case if any of his companions saw his blush.
Actually, Jun did, but decided not to say a word, just smiling with satisfaction. "Oh, good idea! I just bought a really good champagne!" She almost singed, speeding up.
Her brother looked at her back, surprised. "What has that to do with the whole situation?"
Nichrome on his right giggled with amusement.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
"KAMBAI!" For the beginning of a new life!!" Jun and Nichrome cheered, Ren just muttered after them.
The three of them were sitting in the living room and having a toast the elder Tao sibling proposed. Ren wasn't happy about it even a tiny bit, or at least the bigger part of him thought so. But somewhere deep inside him he was really glad with this sudden break in boredom and solitude.
It's just like back at Yoh's place, when we were all together… but a bit more twisted. Said something inside him. I'm really glad that I live, after all. If Death would cause me to miss it, I would kill it! The same inside voice giggled, smiling broadly.
Ren: -watching over Okinata's arm to see the screen of her mobile- Another message…?
Okinata: -blushing insanely- What's the matter with you lately? You never start the conversation nor stick your nose into other people's business!
Ren: Calm down, calm down! I just… well, maybe it's stupid, but… I kind of miss your irritating attitude…
Okinata: -writing a message on her mobile-
Ren: -mad as he notices what Okinata is doing at the moment- Oi, kisama! I'm telling you something important and you just ignore me!?
Okinata: What the Hell, can't you let me write it in calm!?
Ren: No! You could at least listen to me when I'm talking to you! Give me that bloody… -takes her mobile- -rises a brow suspiciously- …who's SasUUUke?
Okinata: NOTYOURBUISNESS! Now give it back to me!
Ren: -stares in disbelief- What the… are you having an affair or something?
Okinata: You're simply jealous, that…. NO! By the gods, why is everyone implying it! I'm NOT having an affair!
Ren: Maybe because you two write to each other things like…
Okinata: -not letting him finish- JUST GIVE IT BACK! -takes out a katana and starts chasing Ren all over the room-