Shaman King Fan Fiction ❯ A Gift of Love ❯ Another Fear ( Chapter 19 )

I apologize if some of you find the story to be slow moving or filler-like at this point. I advise you to enjoy the few humor spots I put in here, because once we spend a couple chapters back in China, the chocolate chips are gonna hit the fan. Ah well, I'm only a writer. Can't please everyone.

 

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A Gift of Love - Chapter Nineteen: Another Fear

 

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“Do we really have to go home so soon? You promised we could stay a few more days!”

 

“Well, almost getting shot in the head wasn't part of my original plan. We're going home—NOW.”

 

After the unexpected attack the day before, Ren had decided it was time to pack up and leave. Pin-Mei, of course, hated the idea, whining that she had wanted to go to Buckingham Palace, but he stood firm and ended up carrying her out.

 

“I'm not speaking to you,” she informed him as they entered his house.

 

“Oh, sorry for being worried about you getting ABDUCTED or KILLED!!”

 

“You broke your promise!”

 

“Is that really more important to you than your life?”

 

“I'd DIE before I broke a promise to anyone!”

 

“Oh? So what happened to `I promise to be here when you get back'?”

 

“Shut up! That wasn't my fault!”

 

“Still a broken promise!”

 

“Ahem, Mistress?”

 

“Bocchama?”

 

“SHUT UP!” they both cried in unison.

 

By this time, the quarreling couple had wandered through the house and into the back yard.

 

“This does not look good, Bason…” Ma Ying said in a nervous tone. “What will we do if they begin to get physical?”

 

Just as she finished her sentence, she saw Pin-Mei brandish her Dadao and pointed it at Ren.

 

“Let's settle this with a duel,” she said.

 

Ren smirked at her. “You're really more foolish than you look. Do you honestly think you have half a chance?”

 

She only flipped the sword around multiple times in her hands before assuming a fighting stance. “We'll find out, now won't we?”

 

He took his Kwan Dao from the rack. “Oh yes.” He pointed it at her. “I'll give you one last chance to apologize, and save yourself some bruises.”

 

“Like I'd do that now.”

 

“Suit yourself. Just bear in mind that I'm not going to go easy on you.”

 

“I wouldn't want it any other way.”

 

She charged him. He scoffed at her.

 

“Impatience leads to mistakes,” he said. He easily dodged and went behind her. She gasped and flipped away to face him.

 

“Don't act all high and mighty. You haven't won yet!”

 

“Yet,” he repeated. “Just saying that word shows that you already doubt yourself. How can you expect to beat me with that attitude?”

 

“Grr… You're already pissing me off!”

 

“Only because you're letting me get under your skin. If you kept your head clear and concentrated more then maybe you'd be doing better.”

 

“My mind is not clouded!”

 

“I never said it was. Now you're just stating the obvious. Another reason the odds are against you is your weapon in close-range. Since you have to get close to attack me, I can easily slap you away with my long-range weapon.”

 

“Shut up! I'm so sick of hearing you talk!”

 

She charged him again. Just as she was about to thrust at him, he jumped and flipped over her, putting his hand on her head for leverage. He put his blade under her chin.

 

“Twice I've been able to get behind you. This is getting a little boring.”

 

Pin-Mei could only stare in front of her with wide eyes, her body slightly shaking.

 

I can't believe this… How is he able to dodge so easily? Sure, he's fast, but I'm a girl- I'm supposed to be faster! Calm down, Pin-Mei. Try to remember something!!

 

“I'm going to give you one more chance. If I get behind you one more time, you lose.” He removed the blade and jumped a few meters away from her. “I'll be nice and wait for you to attack first.”

 

Come on, Pin-Mei, there must be at least ONE fighting form you remember. She shut her eyes tight so she could think. A form that is fast, but strong… Her eyes shot open. That's the one!

 

“Actually, Ren, I'm having trouble deciding what to do. Can you go first?

 

He looked at her skeptically. “Have it your way.”

 

He jumped high into the air, using the sun as a shield. Pin-Mei instinctively looked up and was blinded. She regained her vision just in time to roll out of the way.

 

Now he'll probably charge…

 

He did just as she predicted, and she followed suit. As he raised the Kwan Dao to strike her down, she hit the ground and slid through his legs. She stood and pointed the DaDao at his neck.

 

“Checkmate,” she said triumphantly.

 

“Nicely done, except…”

 

He spun and slapped her weapon from her hand.

 

“You need to actually trap me in order to win.”

 

She looked frantically at her sword a few meters away and at him. He shrugged.

 

“Go on. Go get it.”

 

She ran over and was about to grab it when the Kwan Dao blade was once again under her chin. She looked up to see Ren grinning down at her.

 

“I win,” he said.

 

She sighed and let her hand hit the ground. “Fine, fine. I lose.”

 

He was about to open his mouth to tease her a little more when he was interrupted.

 

“Pin-Mei-Samma! What are you doing on the ground?”

 

Pin-Mei looked scared. “Uh-oh.”

 

He looked at her, confused. “Uh-oh?”

 

“Chu Feng… my DaDao instructor.”

 

A man in his twenties ran up to them. He had black hair tied in a long thin ponytail, and wore a brown training outfit.

 

“Pin-Mei-Samma, it's time for your lesson. Pick your DaDao up off the ground and get serious.”

 

She sighed and did as she was told. “I can't believe father made you come out here when I'm relaxing.”

 

“Actually no,” Feng said in a matter-of-fact tone. “Fan Suo asked me to come.”

 

A momentary look of horror came over her face, but she quickly hid it. Ren saw it before she did, though.

 

“Who?”

 

“My grandmother, my mother's mother.” She quickly turned to follow Feng. “I'll see you later.”

 

“Yeah…later…”

 

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“Jun? Have you see Ren anywhere?”

 

“I think he went into the library last I saw him.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

She ran down the halls to the wing where the library was, and opened the door.

 

“Hey, Ren! I'm d-.” She quickly put a hand over her mouth.

 

At the large desk near the windows of the library, Ren was sleeping, surrounded by books. She giggled as she walked toward him.

 

How cute. I guess I never thought of him as the bookworm type.

 

When she arrived at the desk, she looked at some of the books scattered about its surface. They seemed to be records of Tao ancestors. She wondered why he'd be reading something like this. Even more curious, all the records that he had opened to were of shamanic warriors between the ages of fifteen and seventeen. She picked one up and read it to herself.

 

“Tao Yi. A young shaman known for his quick thinking, fighting prowess, and speed. Married at the age of fifteen to Qiao Da-Xia. Died two years later while avenging his wife's death at the hands of traitorous family members.”

 

Mildly disturbed, she put the book down and read some of the other records. They all had basically the same story: Great warriors who died young protecting loved ones. When she was done, she looked down at Ren's sleeping face.

 

“Ren… why would you be reading something like this?”