Shaman King Fan Fiction ❯ A Gift of Love ❯ The Real Ren ( Chapter 24 )

Here and now. The chocolate chips are hitting the fan. And no, I don't mean Suo. I mean “A lot of crap is about to go down.”

 

My song of choice for this chapter, as well as for the rest of the story was “GAME” by Ayumi Hamasaki, both the original and the classical mix. I'm surprised I'm not sick of these songs I play them so much…

 

Notes: Suo mentions Pin-Mei “dressing in red” for Ren. Many traditional Chinese weddings have the bride wear a red dress, symbolizing/hoping for luck in marriage.

 

“Zhouyu” basically means “curse”.

 

This is the last fluffy chapter between Ren and Pin-Mei until the end of the story. Enjoy it.

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

A Gift of Love - Chapter Twenty-Four: The Real Ren

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

Suo glared at him, then used her free hand to slap him in the same manner she had with Pin-Mei.

 

“How dare you threaten me!” she yelled. “Pin-Mei isn't even supposed to be engaged to you in the first place! I'll make sure she never dresses in red for you—NEVER.”

 

Ren scoffed at her. “Well, that's a shame. I had already given her some of my old clothes to wear, which includes a red shirt. So, you see, I've already seen her wear red.”

 

She back handed his other cheek. “Don't talk back to me!” Suddenly, her hand was restrained. She looked down to see that Pin-Mei had wrapped herself around it.

 

“Grandmother, please stop!” she cried, tears cascading down her cheeks. “Please don't hurt him anymore! Please!”

 

Ren looked over at her, concerned. “Pin-Mei…”

 

Suo violently shook her off. She fell into a pillar and onto the floor. Ren tried to go help her, but Suo folded her fan and hit him to the ground. Pin-Mei looked at him, more fearful than ever. Her grandmother stood over her.

 

“This is all your fault, you know,” she said in a dark voice. “If you hadn't attached yourself to him, he wouldn't be on the floor right now. Oh yes, you cause so much trouble for the Tao family. They go through the effort of organizing such a grand party for you two children, and you waste your time disobeying me.

 

“He never wanted you to begin with, did he? He hated you when you came here the first time, and I don't see how that would have changed in the course of a couple weeks.”

 

“You're-You're wrong!” Pin-Mei cried, trying to keep herself together. “He does love me! He does! I know he does! He…He came and saved me when I was kidnapped! He took care of me when I was sick! He bought me things when he knew he didn't have to! He told me he was sad when I wasn't there! He…He kissed me on his own accord, because he wanted to! He proposed when he knew it wasn't necessary! He DOES love me!”

 

Suo chuckled. “Do you know what the word `jurisdiction' means?”

 

She tensed. “No…”

 

“It means `control'. Did he not say `She will be under my jurisdiction'? I believe he really meant `She will be under my control'.”

 

Pin-Mei's eyes widened.

 

“You see now, don't you? He doesn't love you. He just wants something to control, and you happen to be here and in his grasp. I came here to save you, my dear child. If you don't come home with me now, you'll end up like those women your father used to spend all of his time with…”

 

Pin-Mei couldn't think straight. She couldn't even decide if what the evil woman in front of her had said was true or not. Ren supported himself on his arms and looked at her, only one eye open. She just stared back at him, tears still rolling down her cheeks. She suddenly got up and ran away.

 

“Pin-Mei…” He pushed himself up so he could finally stand, then moved to go after her.

 

“It doesn't matter if you catch her,” Suo said, stopping him in his tracks. “In the end, she's coming home with me. I'll take her from you.”

 

He glared at her. “Even if you do, I'll get her back.” He ran through the crowd and down the hall.

 

The sound of her running echoed throughout, and he was able to follow her using that as a compass. They lead him to the porch, where the sounds stopped. As he left the house, he dropped his robes at the door, then headed wherever the bushes were rustling. The leaves attacked his face, chest, and limbs and he rushed through them. He came to the beach, the one where he had taught her how to swim.

 

There she was, standing at the edge, throwing rocks into the water. He slowly went to stand beside her. She glanced at him out of surprise, but then went right back to her throwing.

 

“Hey,” he said quietly.

 

“Hey.” Her voice was already quivering.

 

“Can I have one?” He motioned to the rocks she held in her hand.

 

“Sure.” She handed him a flat one.

 

He threw it, and they watched it skip across the water before finally sinking. She sighed.

 

“You're good at everything.”

 

“No, I'm not.”

 

“Well, I think so.”

 

Silence.

 

“Do you believe what she told you?”

 

“No…not really…It's hard. The way she says things, it's almost impossible to deny her…” She trailed off. She didn't make a sound, but he knew she was crying. He watched her cross to stand in front of him.

 

“Ren…do you love me?”

 

A pang of hurt appeared in his eyes. He hugged her close to him.

 

“Please don't ever say that to me again.” He put his forehead on hers. “Please don't ever say that again…” he whispered.

 

She pulled away from him so she could look at his face. What she saw could have killed her.

 

The look of hurt was still there. And a single tear was rolling down his cheek. She felt herself lose her composure just by looking at him.

 

“I almost never cry,” he said as he touched the tear and looked at the moisture on his finger. “But you've made me do it twice, both over my feelings for you. Don't you think that means something?”

 

She lost it. “I'm sorry, Ren…I'm so sorry…” She clutched him and cried into his chest. He held her again, tighter than ever.

 

“It's okay…I forgive you.”

 

“It's just…the things she said…Suo seems so intent on taking me home…I'm so scared that it's going to happen somehow…”

 

He released her and looked into her eyes. “Even if she does, I'll get you back.”

 

Her eyes quivered. “Ren…”

 

He gently wiped some of her tears away, then stroked her hair. “No matter how far away she takes you, no matter where she hides you, no matter how many times she tries to tear us apart, I'll always come find you. I'll willingly take anything she throws at us. No matter what, you'll always come back to me. I'll make sure that happens. That's something I can promise.”

 

“Ren…”

 

He silenced her by covering her lips with his. She closed her eyes as she returned it, remembering the first time they had done this. It was so clear to her then how foolish it had been to doubt him. Though he was cynical and sometimes cold to her, on the inside, there was nothing but love. He'd shown that again and again. She was hoping that someday, she'd be able to do the same thing for him.

 

They broke apart. “I love you,” she whispered. “I love you so much…”

 

“I know…I love you too,” he whispered back.

 

“I know…I know you do…” She smiled though her eyes were still wet.

 

After staring at her, then smiling, he captured her with another passionate kiss. She couldn't help but giggle as he trailed the kisses down her neck.

 

“You really like my neck, don't you?”

 

He stopped long enough to whisper in her ear. “No, I like every part of you.”

 

“You always have to say things like that, don't you?”

 

“Only because I mean them.” He continued kissing her neck, eventually moving down to stop at her collarbone, as always. He pulled away. “I'm going to go have Suo thrown out. I won't have her torment you anymore.”

 

“Ren…”

 

He cupped her cheek and gave her one last kiss, allowing his tongue to slip into her mouth. When he was done, he still kept his face close to hers. “I'll be just a minute. Go wait for me in the hallway to our rooms.”

 

She nodded, and he smiled. They walked to the porch, where they parted ways. He kissed her hand.

 

“I love you- never forget that.”

 

She smiled. “I won't.” She watched him run down the hall.

 

She suddenly felt a sinking feeling in her heart. It felt as if there was a large void. As if that was the last time she would share a moment like that with him. She tried to ignore it as she made her way upstairs.

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

Ren felt an adrenaline as he ran down the darkened hallways. He was going to put an end to this torture that Pin-Mei had to suffer at the hands of her grandmother. He was going to do it tonight.

 

A tall figure standing in the middle of the hall came into view. He was a tall man with green eyes and dark crimson hair. The figure donned a simple black dress suit with a blue rose in the front pocket. He had a malicious look about him, but he held no visible weapon. Ren stopped in front of him.

 

“Who are you?”

 

The man smiled. “My name is Xu Kai. I am known as Xu Pin-Mei's elder brother.”

 

Ren's eyes widened. Kai…Master Kai…was this the person that was so intent on abducting Pin-Mei and returning her to China? He struck a fighting stance.

 

“Sorry, but I don't remember you being on the guest list. I think you should leave before I get really pissed.”

 

“Oh, boy, why are you getting so angry?” Kai reasoned, holding out his arms. “I have merely come to offer you and my sister my blessing.”

 

Ren just glared at him. “Somehow, I doubt this.”

 

“Well…there is one problem.”

 

“What would that be?”

 

“You want something from my sister, but she isn't willing to give it to you.”

 

He looked at Kai quizzically. “What are you talking about?”

 

Kai sighed. “Come now, you know what I'm talking about. You're an intelligent youth. I don't think I need to spell it out for you. You've done so much for her, which I am eternally grateful for, but it seems that she is not. She hasn't given you a thing in return.”

 

“I don't need that from her! And she has done things for me. From the inside. That's enough for me.”

 

He raised an eyebrow. “Is it now? Why do I get the feeling that when you were with my dear sister on the beach that you wanted to place her down on the sand and have your reward?”

 

Ren tried his best to keep his anger inside of him. “How DARE you call that a reward! I would never think of taking that from her. Never. She's worth waiting for. I love her, and I would never hurt her like that!”

 

“You may deny it, but the fact of the matter is that you are still a teenaged boy, and you all have the same thoughts.” He chuckled. “Don't worry, I'll let you go have your reward right now.”

 

“Wha-!”

 

Before he could do anything, Kai was in front of him. In one quick movement, he placed a talisman against Ren's forehead, his index and middle finger holding it in place.

 

“ZHOUYU!”

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

Pin-Mei leaned against the wall, trying her best not to fidget. It had only been five minutes, but she was worried. It had never occurred to her how exactly he would make Suo leave. Would it really be as simple as telling the guards he didn't want her there? As she contemplated this, the sound of footsteps reached her ears. She looked and saw Ren walking down the hall towards her. She smiled as he came closer and stood away from the wall.

 

“Oh good, you're back, I was getting worried.”

 

Her smiled faded a little bit when he passed by her without a kind smile or embrace. He was heading for the door to his room.

 

“We're going to wait in my room until she leaves. Come on.” He said. His voice was low and monotone. She looked a little hurt, but did as she was told. He came in behind her, quietly locking the door behind him.

 

Pin-Mei looked around. It had been ten years since she had last been in his room.

 

“Don't touch anything,” he snapped at her.

 

She retracted her arms and kept them close to her body. “Um…Ren?”

 

“What?” Again, snapping.

 

“Did something happen? You seem--,”

 

“Seem what? Huh? Pissed? Is that what you were going to say? I think it's time that you just shut your mouth. Maybe then I wouldn't be so pissed off.”

 

Pin-Mei couldn't believe what she was hearing. He hadn't even said things like this when she first came here…what was going on…?

 

“I love you, never forget that”

 

He had just said that a little while ago…so why…

 

Ren deliberately walked in front of her and, with his back to her, took off his shirt. Her heart stopped.

 

Where his emblem used to be was a large curse brand with a bird in the center surrounded by incantations in the shape of a cage; her family's notorious symbol.

 

She shook her head several times, covering her face and backing up. Her foot hit something. She looked down to see her DaDao on the floor. Her eyes trailed from her weapon to the center of the curse brand. She slowly picked it up, and pointed it at his back, tears streaming down her face. Her hand shook. She started to move closer to him, and raised the blade. As she was about to bring it down, she stopped and threw it across the room. She couldn't do it.

 

Ren turned to her. “You'll regret not killing me.”

 

“I could never regret that,” she said quietly. “Because I love you, and I would never want to hurt you.”

 

“Oh, how very nice of you,” he said in a mocking tone.

 

He rushed at her and grabbed her by the neck and slammed her against the wall. She coughed up some blood, gagging. It was then that she realized how faded his eyes were. No light in them at all. She knew that her Ren wasn't there, but still she had to try.

 

“Everything you think you know about me is a lie,” he said, a smirk on his face. “I don't love you; never have, never will. You've been deluding yourself this whole time. It'd be best if you just went back home now before I have to get `physical' with you.”

 

As he spoke, Pin-Mei saw the porcelain turtledove on his nightstand. She reached for it and finally grabbed it, then showed it to him.

 

“Ren, don't you remember this?” she asked earnestly. “I gave this to you yesterday. You bought them for me. For us. They symbolize a strong bond between two people. That's why I gave one to you…”

 

Ren stared at the small dove, then slowly took it out of her hand, still studying it. “Turtledoves…A strong bond…”

 

Pin-Mei smiled. “That's right. It's because you and I--,”

 

CRACK

 

Her eyes were wide again. Ren had closed his fist around the bird and shattered it. He opened his hand to allow her watch the shattered porcelain fall to the ground.

 

“As if I'd get all mushy over a buzzard. Idiot.”

 

“I promise to take good care of it.”

 

“No…”

 

He scowled at her. “I've had enough of you. Let's just get down to business so I can get you out of here as quickly as possible.”

 

He grabbed her and forcefully threw onto the bed. She landed on her back, allowing him to jump on top of her.

 

“You want a kiss, sweetheart?” he teased. “Alright, I'll give you that…and so much more.”

 

Her eyes shot wide open in alarm and she pressed her legs together as tightly as she could. With almost no effort at all, he pried them apart. He forced his lips onto hers and savagely cupped her chest. His thumb brushed over left nipple and it hardened. He grinned and pinched both of them between his thumbs and forefingers. She tried to scream, but he wouldn't her.

 

“Just keep quiet. It'll be over before you know it…and don't worry about getting pregnant; you'll be dead before you can even think about that.”

 

“HELP SOMEBODY!!!” she screamed at the top of her lungs while his mouth was away from hers.

 

He slapped her. “I said SHUT UP.”

 

“Don't worry. I'll never let anyone take that from you until you're ready to give it yourself.”

 

She knew there was nothing she could do to stop this. No matter how much it was going to hurt, she would do what she had to…even if it killed her.

 

“I forgive you,” she whispered. “And I still love you…I know this isn't what you wanted.”

 

Ren was busy taking apart her robes and didn't hear her. He smirked. “Ready?”

 

She inhaled sharply as he removed the cloth covering her breasts and placed his hands on them. He ran his hands over them roughly and she shut her eyes tightly and turned her head away.

 

Please…just make this go away…

 

Her eyes shot open as she felt his mouth cover her left breast. She bit into her wrist to keep any noises from escaping her when she felt his tongue flick over the sensitive bud in its center. It bled as he moved on to the other one. He finally raised his head.

 

For a moment, his eyes looked sad when he looked into hers, and the tears falling from them. But he quickly regained his cold and calculating eyes.

 

As he stared down at her menacingly, a drop of water fell onto her cheek, causing her to quickly close her right eye to shield it. She opened it again, only to have another drop fall on her. Then another. And another. Pin-Mei stared at him.

 

“You're crying.”

 

“What? Like hell I am! This is my reward and I'm finally taking it! I'm finally getting what I rightfully deserve! And soon, all that pleasure I gave you, I'll be receiving back tenfold!”

 

But the real you is crying…

 

She reached a hand up to gently touch his cheek and brush away a few tears. “I forgive you,” she said again.

 

He looked phased, but then grabbed her wrist and threw it down. “I'm getting this over with, whether you're ready or not!”

 

Another tear fell on her face. Ren…

 

The door suddenly blasted open. In the doorway was Pailong, with Jun behind him. She stepped forward and looked at the scene in front of her.

 

“Ren…Why…I never thought you would…”

 

Ren just stared at her. A few more tears falling.

 

Pin-Mei covered her face and wailed.

 

 

She knew it was all over.