Shaman King Fan Fiction ❯ A Gift of Love ❯ Zhang's Plea ( Chapter 20 )

I'll clear things up here: Bason and Ma Ying remained in China during Ren and Pin-Mei's trip to Japan and London. Remember this. It's important in the future. -wink-

 

My friend who takes Chinese told me that Qiao (as in Tao Yi's wife from the last chapter) isn't a word. Well, I found it on a site for Chinese surnames and it's in Dynasty Warriors (an awesome video game where you run around ancient China kicking absolute butt), so by default, I'm right…. YEAH!!

 

If you haven't noticed, when Pin-Mei gets excited about explaining something, her explanation is one HUGE run-on sentence. I do that on purpose, since she's so full of energy. The cute little fourteen year old, awwwww -pats-

 

I was listening to “Jiri” a lot while writing this for some reason. That song kicks so much butt.

 

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A Gift of Love - Chapter Twenty: Zhang's Plea

 

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After she had stacked the books chronologically by dynasty, she set them off to the side and looked around for a shelf to put them on. As she looked along the shelves, she squinted and saw a spine reading “photos”. She smiled and took it out, sitting back on the couch.

 

There were pictures of Ren's parents meeting, their engagement celebration, and their wedding. Pictures of Jun's birth and younger years soon followed until finally, Ren appeared.

 

Even as a baby, his expression was serious. Not a single photo had his smile in it. As she turned the page, she saw pictures from her visit ten years ago. She found it a little disappointing that in every shot he was looking away, as if to rebel, whereas she was smiling brightly. She frowned at the dark blue outfit her younger self wore, then at the one she was wearing now.

 

I hate this color

 

She turned the page. There was a picture of Ren bending down to wrap her in a towel. She looked like she had been crying. Pin-Mei cocked her head at it.

 

I don't think I remember this…

 

Beside the photo there was a blank space.

 

Hehe. This is the picture Ran-Samma let me have. It looks so weird having an empty spot there, though…Hey! I know!!

 

She excitedly took the club photo sticker sheet from a pocket inside her blouse and removed one of them. She carefully placed it in the center of the space and patted it.

 

There! All set! Hey, I think this is the first picture in the whole album that he's smiling in. Plus, he's actually looking at the camera. She gave herself a thumbs-up. Good job, Pin-Mei! Mission Accomplished! She thought better of it. Well, I wasn't aiming for it, but at least it looks nice. She smiled at the sticker again before closing the album and placing it on the most recent stack.

 

She looked over at Ren, who was still sleeping. She stood and dusted herself off, getting ready to go help with dinner. After a moment of hesitation, she removed the robe she had been wearing and went to drape it over his shoulders. She indulged herself and poked the top of his tongari with her finger as she left. He moaned slightly and turned over.

 

A few minutes later, she reappeared with a camera and quickly took a picture of him, then left again, promising to come back to add it to the album the next chance she got.

 

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“Look who finally decided to wake up!”

 

The two families turned to see Ren walk into the room just in time for dinner. He was stretching and cracking his arms. As they sat down, Xu Zhang looked across the table at his daughter.

 

“So, Pin-Mei, how did you like Japan?”

 

She took a moment to swallow her food and think. Ren looked over at her nervously.

 

PLEASE don't mention getting abducted and almost raped and sold. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.

 

“Well…”

 

He kept his eyes on her.

 

“There was all this snow, and stuff called cocoa, and watches people buy that have things carved on the inside, and vending machines for all sorts of things- I got a weird dvd from one when Ren wasn't looking, but he made me throw it out, said it was dirty- and places where you can buy animals made of porcelain, and you can have your picture taken in a weird outfit, or in a box, and a trafficking company--,”

 

“Trafficking company?”

 

“Yeah there were these guys and they- ow!” Ren kicked her under the table.

 

“She means that they showed her how they direct cars and stuff like that. You know those Japanese and their weird drivers.”

 

Zhang seemed unconvinced. “I see…anything else?”

 

“Um…” Pin-Mei looked at Ren, who looked back at her with a tired expression on his face due to having to think that quickly. Despite his less than romantic gaze, she blushed and looked at her food.

 

“Um…Did I mention that I bought this really cute bunny? !” She held it up over her head, allowing her ring to reflect light across the room. Ren gave her a weird look.

 

“Were you carrying that around this whole time?”

 

“Yeah, why?”

 

“Beca-,”

 

He was interrupted again.

 

“Oh, Ren! I didn't expect this from you!” his mother cried.

 

“Wha?”

 

“You proposed, didn't you? What else would such a brilliant ring be for?”

 

Ren just looked around the table, trying to find a way out. He was hoping his face wasn't betraying him. Too late. Pin-Mei's face wasn't helping, either. He folded his arms and looked away.

 

“O-Of course I did,” he said in a faux-confident voice. “It's what I'm supposed to do, isn't it? It doesn't mean anything.”

 

“Either way,” En chimed in, “there will be an engagement party two nights from now, in order to announce your betrothal.”

 

“WHAT??” the couple cried.

 

Ren had stood up, obviously displeased. Pin-Mei had remained sitting, but looked very worried.

 

“Stop springing all these things on us! I mean me!”

 

“Ren, it's part of the tradition. Your mother and I did it, as did Hua and Zhang. It's just something that has to be done.”

 

His hand was clenched in a fist. “I'm done. Thanks, Pin-Mei.” He left the room.

 

As the rest of the family left, Pin-Mei followed her father down the hall.

 

“Father?”

 

He turned around. “Yes, Pin-Mei?”

 

She looked at the ground, her left hand clasped over her elbow, her right arm straight.

 

“Suo…Grandmother isn't coming, is she?”

 

He smiled and put his hand on her head. “I made sure she was not invited, so have no fear. I want you to enjoy this; it only happens once. Your mother would have wanted it that way.”

 

She smiled. “Okay.”

 

He touched one of her braids. “You look so much like her.”

 

She bowed her head slightly. “So I'm told…”

 

He straightened up. “And even if Suo does, by some chance, show up, I won't allow her to control you or how you dress or how you act. That night will be dedicated to you and Ren, and the bond that you two share.”

 

He bent over to whisper in her ear. She smiled.

 

“Now, go tend to Ren.” He patted her again.

 

“Okay!” She skipped away.

 

He turned around. “Come, Ren, there's something we need to talk about.”

 

Ren came out of his hiding place around the corner and followed him to Zhang's room.

 

“What is it?”

 

“I want to know what this `trafficking company' was. You're a quick thinker, but your explanations need some work. I know that it is not as harmless as you made it seem.” He gave him a hard stare. “And don't lie to me, boy. I'll know.”

 

Ren looked at him, knowing what he had to reveal, and wondering how his future father-in-law would react. He finally sighed and began.

 

“On one of the days that I took Pin-Mei out into the city, I left her alone for a minute at most to get a drink from a vending machine.” His eyes fell to the ground. “When I came back, she was gone. I was finally able to find out where she was. Some syndicate had abducted her and was planning to sell her to God knows who.

 

He crinkled his brow, remembering what happened next. “I was careless in rescuing her, and was captured myself. They threatened to kill me, and told Pin-Mei that they would let me live if she… allowed them to have her body. She agreed, and I got so angry that I ended up freeing myself and killing all of them, aside from the boss, who was supposedly arrested.

 

“But when I took her to London, she was almost abducted again. The men mentioned someone named Kai, but I don't even have one clue as to who that guy is or what he wants with her.”

 

He bowed his head.

 

“I'm sorry I let that happen to her. I should have been more careful. I'm sorry.”

 

Zhang stared down at him. “And what of this ring?”

 

“What?”

 

“That ring my daughter wears and protects when she's cooking, and is distracted by its sparkle, that she seems to cherish more than any other possession. Did you give it to her?”

 

His wording threw him off. “Yes, I did,” he said finally.

 

“Why? For what purpose?”

 

Ren took a deep breath. Zhang wanted the truth, and he had to give it to him.

 

“Because I love her. I would not have given it to her unless I felt that way. I don't do things unless I mean them.”

 

“Well, then, I suppose that is along the lines of what I wanted to hear.” He laughed a little and turned his head to the side. “If you had decided that you hated her, there is no chance that I would have let the engagement continue, contrary to what your parents may have told you.

 

“Hua and I, we were never arranged to be married. We each had our own fiancées, but we were willing to break tradition to be together. I was a great deal older than her, eight years, but I was still unable to release her from the chains that the Fan family had encased her in.

 

“They wanted her pregnant as soon as possible, hoping for a boy to continue the family. At Pin-Mei's age, she was already about to give birth to her first and only child. The strain on her body was too much for her. She couldn't handle it, and that's how she died. She made sure that she named her daughter and made me promise to take care of her, so here I am.

 

“If you do marry my daughter, all I ask is that you allow her to be released from the Fan family's grasp. I don't want her to suffer the same fate as her mother. Suo is a woman who controls those around her. Even I have been made to listen to her at times. She controls my daughter so much that I barely know who she is.

 

“All I am saying is, if you marry her, protect her and keep her away from Suo, or else you'll end up like me: alone and empty.” He turned his back. “You are dismissed.”

 

Ren backed away and finally turned to walk out of the room. He met Pin-Mei outside the door, almost colliding with her. She looked at him skeptically.

 

“What did my father want from you?”

 

“Nothing. Just wanted to have a talk.”

 

“I see…”

 

He started walking down the hall. She followed obediently. They ended up in the backyard, where Ren practiced with his Kwan Dao while she watched at her usual rock. As she watched, she noticed new movements, mainly with his hands.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

“I'm developing a new shamanic technique.”

 

“Oh really? What's it like?” She sat on the edge of the rock, looking excited.

 

He stopped, as if trying to decide how to explain it to her. “Well, many years ago, shamans were known for healing powers and the ability to control the weather. Because of the foolishness of man, these powers were lost to all but the few who can pass the numerous trials to attain them. I believe that if I can channel the spirit of an ancestor into my body, I can attain that power as long as they are with me.”

 

She blinked at him. “How is this different from normal integration?”

 

“Because…well…”

 

“It isn't, is it?”

 

“YES IT IS!! I just haven't perfected it yet. I won't even need massive amounts of furyoku to do this. So it's much different.”

 

“So you're saying you don't need Bason anymore?”

 

“What?”

 

The spirit appeared next to him, almost in tears. “Bocchama!”

 

“I didn't say that!”

 

She giggled. “Well, show me when it's done.”

 

He looked at her, not smiling, then turned away. “Yeah, sure.”

 

If you knew what I was replacing the furyoku with, you'd never allow me to finish it.

 

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About an hour later, Ren walked Pin-Mei up to her room. She paused at the door.

 

“I can't sleep with you?” she asked, her eyes large and innocent-looking

 

“You could…it's just that we don't want them thinking unnecessary things.”

 

“Oh…I see…”

 

Silence.

 

“So I can go with you?”

 

“Goddammit, Pin-Mei! I said no!”

 

“No you didn't! You said I could!” They stared each other down.

 

He groaned and smacked his forehead with his palm.

 

“Fine, fine, FINE! JUST COME ON!”

 

She beamed and followed him to his room.

 

As they got into bed, Ren stared at the ceiling. She lay on her side, facing him, her eyes already heavy. He looked over at her quickly, then back at the ceiling.

 

“Pin-Mei?”

 

She opened her eyes a little. “What is it?”

 

“Do you really hate your grandmother that much?”

 

She seemed surprised at his question. “Well, it's not that I really hate her. I mean, I can't; she's my mother's mother. I guess I just wish she wouldn't try to make me be someone else.”

 

“Hm?”

 

“I don't know. Sometimes, I just feel like she's controlling everything I'm doing. Like I'm being molded.”

 

“I see…I'm done now. You can go to sleep.”

 

He kissed her forehead. She smiled and closed her eyes. He didn't right away. Instead, he looked at the ceiling again, taking in her words.

 

Molded, huh?