Shaman King Fan Fiction ❯ A Gift of Love ❯ Reactions ( Chapter 17 )

You thought it was over. You thought they were just going to go back to China, get married, have sex, and have children. Happily ever after, right?

 

That would be all too easy.

 

After they go back to China, we get to the part of the story that was originally going to happen after Ren taught Pin-Mei to swim. This story would have been much shorter. Hell, it'd already be over. The trip to Tokyo wasn't in my original plans. That's right. I've been making this up as I went along O.o;;

 

Ren and Pin-Mei weren't even supposed to kiss at this point in the story, never mind telling each other they love each other and proposing formally. Yeah, I realized that I didn't have enough chemistry going. When someone said “Is he going to propose? That'd be so sweet!” I was like “Hm… not a bad idea…”

 

So no, we do still have a ways to go. If you're crying now, I guarantee that you'll be crying in the end.

 

I'm not even kidding.

 

Do any of you notice the cheap shots I take at the dub? There's been at least one so far: the name of the syndicate, Fork-Ids, and the fact that they participate in human trafficking, which could be compared to their licensing of SK and dubbing it.

 

See if you can find Shot #2… consider it a challenge.

 

Notes: I am going to be using a racial slur in this chapter, having to do with the Chinese. I want to make this clear that I am using this merely for effect, and that I do not harbor any bad feelings for any race, gender, sexual orientation, intelligence, etc. I apologize if anyone is offended; that was not my intention.

 

“Lo Faan” basically means “barbarian” in Chinese.

 

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A Gift of Love - Chapter Seventeen: Reactions

 

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“Was last night a dream?”

 

“No… It wasn't.”

 

“Are you sure?”

 

They were lying in bed together as the early morning sun tried to peek through the curtains. With no plans for the day, seeing as they were leaving that night, they were in no rush to get up.

 

“Look at your hand.” He held it so she could see it clearly. She looked at it, and her eyes welled up again.

 

“I'm so glad.”

 

“Hey, stop crying…you'll make me feel bad…”

 

“Sorry…”

 

He held her close and stroked her hair. “Don't apologize. There's no need to. I'm just glad that I made you happy.” He kissed her.

 

“I just never thought that you would propose. I didn't think it was necessary…”

 

He kissed her hand which bore the ring. “I want to make sure you know that this isn't something that's forced. To me, it's not arranged anymore. I'm going to marry you not because I have to, but because I want to. I meant what I said last night. I want to make you mine.”

 

“Ren…”

 

He closed his eyes for a few moments, taking in the sound of her voice, then opened them.

 

“I love hearing you say my name.”

 

She smiled at him. “I love saying it.”

 

“Well, I love you.”

 

He kissed her lips, and all around her face. He moved up to her ears and then down her neck, stopping just below her collarbone. Any lower, and he would be breaking the promise he had made to her. Instead, he put his hand under her nightgown and gently stroked her back. She shivered at his touch.

 

“Your hands are softer than I thought they'd be,” she whispered. “It feels nice.” She closed her eyes.

 

“Hey, don't go back to sleep.”

 

“But even if I do, you'll stay here beside me, next to me, right?”

 

He smiled. “Of course I will.”

 

“Good.” She put her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him, wanting to be as close as possible.

 

Ren blushed furiously. The feeling of her body against his, being able to feel the warmth and every detail of her body... He blushed even more at the thought of her feeling all the same things from his. She felt so soft against his chest…it was driving him crazy.”

 

He finally put his hand behind her head, his other reaching around her to rest on her hip.

 

“Ren…”

 

“What?”

 

“Can we…stay a little longer?”

 

“Why?”

 

“I want to be with you more—alone.”

 

Alone… she wanted to be alone with him…just the two of them in one bed, together just like this. All he wanted was to wake up this way for the rest of his life—with her.

 

He stiffened as he felt her hands slowly running down his back. Their feathery touch beginning to awaken a near-dormant feeling inside of him.

 

“Pin-Mei…” he gasped.

 

This was too much for him. He was getting too excited. He could feel the hand on her hip start to slip as she kissed his chest. He had to stop.

 

“I'll go make breakfast,” he said as he hastily pushed her away and left the room.

 

Once in the kitchen, he leaned over a counter, breathing heavily. He wiped his forehead, then looked at his hand.

 

Sweat? He looked towards their room. What's wrong with me? When did she make me react like this? She's too innocent… I can't think about her like this... especially after what those bastards tried to do to her.

 

It was then that the impact of their difference in age hit him. He was a sixteen year old boy, almost a man, with raging hormones and sudden urges abound. She was just fourteen, barely developed at all and oblivious to the internal battle he was fighting. She hadn't even known what sex was. To even have fleeting thoughts about her like that…it nearly disgusted him. But then, he wasn't some old pervert. He was thinking these things because he loved her, and he wanted to share that experience with her.

 

I want her. I want her so I can be good to her.

 

“Ren? Is something wrong?”

 

He jumped, slipped, and fell to the floor, bashing his head on the counter on his way down. Pin-Mei hurriedly knelt down in front of him. He was holding his head.

 

“Ren! Are you okay?”

 

“Ow.”

 

“I'm sorry, I shouldn't have come up behind you. I was just worried that I upset you or something. Here, I'll make it better.”

 

She stood on her knees and kissed his forehead. She lowered herself again and smiled. After looking at her closed-eyed smile, he couldn't help but smile himself.

 

“Alright, I'll take you someplace else.”

 

“Really? Where?”

 

“London.”

 

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“All this stuff is so big!”

 

“Everything's big to you- you're small.”

 

“Meanie!”

 

It hadn't taken very long for them to arrive at Ren's English flat. Pin-Mei was quick to notice how different it looked from his condo in Japan.

 

“Hehe. There's just one big bed. Now we won't be pressed for space.”

 

“Honestly, is sleeping all you ever think about?”

 

She turned to look at him, her hands behind her back and a small blush on her face. “Nope.” She twirled behind him. “I think about you all the time.”

 

“Maybe it's because you're always with me.”

 

“Doesn't mean that I have to think about you.”

 

“Hmph.”

 

“You've been so serious lately. Lighten up! Come on, can we go somewhere?”

 

He thought for a moment. “We need to get you a jacket. It's too cold here for you.”

 

She looked nervous. “Are you sure we'll be able to find something that fits me?”

 

“If we can't, I'll have one custom tailored. I don't want you to get sick.”

 

“Ren…”

 

“Partially because I don't know how to deal with sick people.”

 

“Ren!”

 

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They walked the streets in search of a store to buy a coat from. Finally, Pin-Mei pointed to a store called Browns (Ren was pleased that she actually used her words instead of just suddenly stopping). She instantly attached herself to a cream colored cashmere and wool coat with fur around the collar. To her surprise, she had no trouble fitting into it.

 

“Oh. My. Gosh. IT FITS!!”

 

“Shh!! This is a public place!”

 

“Oh...sorry.”

 

“Let me just pay for the bloody coat so we can leave.”

 

She stared at him.

 

“What?”

 

“Oh, nothing.” She handed him the coat.

 

As he went to pay for it, she hid herself so she could watch him.

 

“So, how much is this?”

 

“The coat is £1850, sir.” (A/N: About $3514)

 

“Choosing the cheap stuff again… Alright, here you are.”

 

“Thank you, sir.”

 

Ren took the coat and turned to bump into Pin-Mei.

 

“What the devil do you think you're doing, coming up behind me again like that.” She just grinned at him. “What?”

 

“You started using a British accent!”

 

“I most certainly did not!”

 

“You're still using it now.”

 

“I still don't believe you.”

 

“Either way, it makes me like your voice even more.”

 

“There you go again, saying mushy things like that.”

 

She frowned, but then put on her new coat. She twirled, showing it to him. Smiling, she ran and hugged him. “Thank you!”

 

“Yes, yes, you're welcome.” He patted her, then turned her around and moved her towards the door. She went ahead outside, as he reflected on what she had just said.

 

“It makes me like your voice even more.”

 

Even more? he thought. Does that mean that she likes my voice anyway?

 

He shrugged it off as best he could, and headed out of the store. Pin-Mei turned around and smiled at him.

 

Suddenly, someone dressed in black grabbed her.

 

“Fuck, not again.” He ran after him, taking out his Kwan Dao in the process. It didn't take long for Ren to catch to the man, and he quickly knocked him down. When he had Pin-Mei safely behind him, her arms around his waist as per his command so he would know instantly if someone else tried to take her, he pointed his weapon at the would-be kidnapper. The man was on his back, and the blade was a mere five inches from his face.

 

“I'm going to ask you a few questions. You are going to answer them quickly and completely. Refuse, and I kill you right here and now.

 

“Question one: What do you want with Pin-Mei?”

 

“Kiss my ass, Ping-Pong!” the man sneered.

 

Ren pushed the blade a little closer. “You know, your head would look nice over my fire place…Lo Faan.”

 

The man looked a little nervous. He was starting to sweat. “We was told to get that girl from some guy who was paying my boss a lot of money for her. That guy who hired the boss was all secretive-like. He never let anyone see him. The guy never said why he wanted the broad in the first place!”

 

“You have less than two second to take back the “broad” comment.” He let the blade cut the man's face a little. The man got flailed.

 

“I'm sorry, man! Just don't kill me! Please!”

 

“Alright, then. Question Two: Who's this “boss” of yours?”

 

“He was in charge of a syndicate in Japan, but some bastard went in and killed everyone, so the boss had to come here instead.”

 

Ren smirked. “Interesting. Question Three: Where'd this client of yours come from?”

 

“I can't tell you that! The boss'd have my head!”

 

“Would you rather I have your head instead?”

 

“China! He came from China!”

 

Ren and Pin-Mei froze, their eyes wide. Someone from their own country was following them in an effort to abduct her. Who could it be? Did they have a traitor in their midst?

 

Ren could feel her hold on him tighten. He couldn't blame her for being scared. Someone obviously wanted her, and was using gangs to get what they wanted. He patted her interlocked hands on his stomach as if to comfort her.

 

“Okay, Last Question: Who sent you?”

 

BANG!

 

Ren blinked. When he went to look at the man, he found that he would not get his answer.

 

His head had exploded; shot from a far off rooftop.

 

“Ren…” Pin-Mei whimpered, clutching him tighter.

 

“Don't look.” He covered her eyes, then turned her around toward their way home.

 

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When they got into bed that night, Pin-Mei was visibly shaking.

 

“Don't worry,” Ren said in a gentle voice, stroking her cheek. “I won't let them take you. Not now, not ever. I want you with me always, and I won't let anyone get in the way of that.”

 

“Ren…”

 

“You can sleep peacefully. I'll protect you until the world is gone.”

 

“Thank you…” She held him tight like she had done that morning. “I love you.”

 

He kissed her lips, then on her neck. “I love you too.”

 

Pin-Mei wasn't shaking anymore.