Shaman King Fan Fiction ❯ A Gift of Love ❯ Plan P ( Chapter 14 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

I've been asked what this “soft-eyed smile” of Ren's looks like. Well, if you watch episode 20 (I've stated before that it's one of my favourite episodes), after the night of fun the boys have, Ren's sitting on the windowsill and has a flashback. After the whole “No one can help it” line, he says “No, there may be someone who can help it.” He looks over at the boys, and smiles. THAT'S the smile I'm talking about. So, whenever Ren smiles, that's the smile he's smiling. You could also say the smile he gives Yoh about twenty seconds later is the same thing. Get it?

Don't you love how Pin-Mei keeps going on about how the only thing she can do for Ren is cook, when she hasn't cooked a blessed thing since they got to Japan?

Notes: I just want to make sure this is 110% crystal clear: Ren and Pin-Mei did NOT “do anything” in between the last chapter and this one. That includes making love. Thank you for your time.

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A Gift of Love - Chapter Fourteen: Plan P

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The next morning, Ren opened his eyes to see Pin-Mei's sleeping face next to him. He was momentarily alarmed, but then remembered what had happened the night before.

She had shown up after telling him she couldn't go home with him. She said that she wasn't good enough for him. As punishment, he kissed her. Then he gave her a watered down version of “the talk”. She had asked to sleep in his bed with him, and he had finally admitted it to himself.

He was in love.

Ren touched his lips gently with his fingertips. Her lips had been so soft, yet her body so cold. Even when he held her against him as they fell asleep. He looked at her again. Some pieces of hair were covering her face, and he gently pushed it away. She moaned and turned over.

Two more days he thought. I only have two days to do it before we have to go back home. He looked at the small box on the bureau. Please don't fail me.

After staring out the window while trying to come up for a game plan for that day, he went and knelt over on her side of the bed.

“Pin-Mei, time to wake up,” he said, rubbing her shoulder. She moaned again and hid under her pillow.

“Brat,” he mumbled. He stood up and took hold of the sheets. With one strong pull, she was without covers. She shivered and reached in vain for them.

“I said, `Time to get up'.”

She grumbled something that sounded similar to “I AM up” and “get out so I can get dressed.”

He sighed. “Fine, have it your way. I'm making breakfast.”

He walked out of the room and threw a pan on the stove. When he went into the refrigerator to get eggs, he saw the bottles of milk on the shelf and smiled. Probably the oddest present he had ever received, besides her. Maybe quaint was a better word; strange, yet pleasing.

As he flipped the sizzling eggs, he heard a small cry from their room. He looked from the eggs to the room and back again. Finally, he put the pan on a cool burner and ran into the room.

“Pin-Mei, what's wrong?”

He stopped dead in his tracks. Pin-Mei was standing at the bureau holding the box—the OPEN box. It was the pink rose ring that she had been looking at in the Cospa store.

She looked up and saw him, suddenly looking guilty.

“I'm sorry,” she said. “I knew I shouldn't have….but….my curiosity got the best of me. I'm sorry, Ren.”

He didn't want her to feel bad about something he was going to give her anyway, so he forced a smile.

“I did that on purpose.”

She looked up at him. “You did?”

“Oh yes. Because I know you well enough to know you'll get into anything and everything, even when you're not supposed to.”

This was a total lie. It just sounded good at the time. But it worked.

“Wow! I'd never expect you to do that!” She gave him the box. “Put it on me?” She stuck out her tongue and winked.

He smiled and put it on her finger. She glomped him.

“It's so pretty! Thank you so much! I love it!” she cried.

Ren tried to look happy, but couldn't help feeling down about her finding it.

Well, there goes that plan.

He sighed again. Suddenly she was gone. He looked out to the kitchen and saw her. There she was, taking over his cooking.

“Hey! That's mine!”

She looked back at him. “But I want to!”

“You can't just go around stealing people's cooking!”

“I'm not stealing, I'm helping it along.”

“I only left it because you found the ring!”

“Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease?”

“Fine. But don't burn it.”

“Okay.” She looked mischievous. “Go put on a shirt, barbarian. I don't serve half-naked men.”

He looked down and realized that he was, indeed, still shirtless. He blushed. “Fine I will!” he yelled. “Watch out for poison in your food next time I cook.”

“Nyah nyah poison Tao family nyah nyah,” Pin-Mei teased in an immature voice.

“Probably better than what your family does,”

“Yeah…we just decapitate people with portable guillotines.”

“WHAT?”

“Just kidding.”

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After they ate and got ready, they went out to Shibuya so Pin-Mei could get a couple things for herself.

Ren grabbed her hand and held onto it tightly.

“From now on, you have to hold my hand,” he said. “I don't want us to get separated again.” Pin-Mei blushed and nodded. “Alright, let's go.” He started walking and she followed.

From time to time, she would just stop in front of a window without telling him, causing him to be jerked back. After a few times, he started to scold her about it.

“If you want to go into a store, you can just ask; I'm not going to bite you.”

“Yeah…” It was a dreamy tone, and she had the face to go with it. He looked into the window.

It was a jewelry store. She was looking at the rings on display.

Another chance. He was being given another chance. This time, he wasn't going to leave it out in the open. Time was of the essence, and before long, she'd start to become suspicious with all these rings showing up. This time, his plan would be carried out flawlessly. And she'll cry; mission accomplished. But for now, he'd be his regular cynical self.

“Come on, let's go.” He sighed and led her into the store. She looked around, stupefied and just staring at all the rings.

A salesperson approached them. “Good day, sir, madam. What can I help you with today?”

Ren looked over at Pin-Mei. He could talk freely about what he wanted since she wouldn't be able to understand him anyway. Such a blessing.

“Engagement rings,” he said looking back to the salesman.

“Ah! I see! Well then I suppose she's the lucky lady.” He looked over at Pin-Mei, who was looking at some animals made of crystal.

Ren internally rolled his eyes. “Flattery isn't going to make me consider the most expensive one.”

Right on the head. “W-why sir! I don't know what you're talking about!” It was obvious he was lying.

Ren ignored him and called Pin-Mei over. “Don't bother trying to talk to her; she doesn't know Japanese.”

The clerk chuckled. “What is she, then? Chinese?”

Ren narrowed his eyes. “As a matter of fact, yes. Does that pose a problem?”

“No, of course not!”

“Could you please just show her some rings?”

“Yes, of course sir!”

They were in there for at least a half hour. Finally, Pin-Mei had found one that she liked.

“This one!” She stuck it in his face. It was platinum with three stones in it. The middle was square, the side stones in the shape of tears.

“I can see it, Pin-Mei, I'm not blind.”

“I know. I just wanted to make sure you see it.” She put it down and look at it with a sad smile. “I wish I could have one like this.”

Ren looked around. He had to distract her with something. His eyes fell on the case of crystal she had been looking at earlier.

“Well, tell you what. Since I can't get you the ring, go pick out one of the figurines and I'll get it for you.”

“Really??”

He gave her a cocky smile. “Would I lie to you?” Then he thought about “the talk”. “Don't answer that. But yes, I will.”

She smiled and skittered over to the case to begin the deliberation process. He made sure she was occupied before turning back to the sales clerk.

“Okay, how much is that ring?”

“¥430,354.” [A/N: About $3560]

Tch. She could have picked something a little more expensive.

He paid for it quickly and slipped it into his jacket just as Pin-Mei skipped over.

“I like these,” she said. She held out her hands. A small porcelain turtle dove was in each. He paid for them and gave her the bag.

“I bought them, so you carry them,” he said.

“Yes, sir!” She saluted him.

Ren smiled at her patted her head. “Good girl.”

“What am I? A dog?”

“Don't even go there.”

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They got home in the late afternoon to a phone call from Yoh.

“Yo!”

“What is it, Yoh?”

“We thought since you guys are going back to China in a couple days, we should have a huge dinner tonight!”

“Sounds good.”

“Oh, by the way, could you bring your clothes from the Shaman Fight if you have them there?”

“I have them…but why?”

“Hehe…you'll see.”