Shaman King Fan Fiction ❯ A Gift of Love ❯ Clipped Wings ( Chapter 30 )

Pin-Mei really isn't all that strong. She has a 1000 Furyoku level at most. However, the Fan family will be changing that a few chapters from now…

 

I hate the words “Hyoi Gattai”. People spell it so many different ways, that someone's bound to tell me I'm wrong. Rice-Box fansubs spell it “Hyoui”, while wikipedia spells it “Hyoi”. Well, I think “Hyoi” looks better. So that's what I'm gonna use.

 

On a random note, have you guys heard the new ending theme to Nana? “Starless Night” by Olivia? It's such an awesome song. It also kinda fits because of how Ren talks about the stars and stuff. They also say in plain English “endless love”. I use it as an “ending theme” for this chapter. Yes, I DO do that opening-ending theme that I spoke of in the chapter 26 notes for most chapters. Helps me think. This is the “we're still separated, but we still love each other zomgangst” theme. Haha. I love my mind.

 

No, you can't borrow it. Get your own.

 

Notes: Pin-Mei's horse's name is Rurikka. It's my poor attempt at making a name. It means “Red Snow.”

 

If Hua were still alive, she would presently be 28 (her birthday is June 10). Kai is about 25. If you're confused about Pin-Mei's family tree, this chapter should clear it up.

 

Kai's wind and fire wheels are the exact same thing as Axel's weapons from Kingdom Hearts. Yes, they ARE actual weapons. That is the real name. “Wind and Fire Wheels”.

 

“Niisan” is a step down from “Niisama”. Pin-Mei acknowledges that Kai is her older brother, but obviously doesn't respect him as much as she does Ren.

 

“Imouto” is “younger sister”.

 

“Neesama” means… you guessed it: “older sister.”

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

A Gift of Love - Chapter Thirty: Clipped Wings

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

“You're going back tonight.”

 

Her eyes shot open. She looked up at him. “Going back? You mean…”

 

He nodded. “I'm sending you back to Ren. You've been here long enough. I think it's time for you to go back where you belong.”

 

“Father…” She wiped away a few tears.

 

He patted her. “Come now. This isn't a time to be crying. Hurry and get dressed. You need to leave before Suo comes back.”

 

She nodded and he left as she got dressed. When she emerged, she was wearing a dark purple tunic with cloth straps on her wrists and matching pants. Her handmaids met her as she exited her room.

 

“You ready?” Rong asked, a small smirk on her face.

 

Pin-Mei nodded. “More than. Come on, Ma Ying.”

 

Ma Ying appeared next to her. “Yes, Mistress.”

 

Zhang approached them. “Then hurry to the gates. There isn't much time.”

 

They ran until they had exited the house and were at the stables. Pin-Mei went up to a red mare and patted its face. “This is going to be a long journey. I hope you're as ready as father thinks you are.” The horse nuzzled its nose against her cheek. She giggled. “I guess I'll have to take your word for it. Thank you, Rurikka.”

 

As she made her way back to the gates, she saw her large bird cage. It contained small white birds that she had taken care of since she was little. They apparently were her mother's at one time. She looked at it, then put her hands on the door.

 

“I'm flying away, so you all should do the same.” She pulled the cord and the door opened. They wasted no time flapping their wings and escaping. Pin-Mei smiled as they vanished from sight.

 

She guided her steed to the edge of the gate and looked past the long stone bridge toward the mountains. They were dark and foggy. She looked behind her to see her three companions on their own horses, her father choosing to remain on the ground.

 

“Father! Aren't you coming with us?”

 

He shook his head. “No. I will remain here.”

 

His daughter ran to him. “Why! I need you to be there! How am I supposed to get back without you there with me?” She thrust her arms around him, refusing to let go. He gently pushed her away.

 

“Someone needs to distract Suo when she returns. That job is mine.”

 

“But--,”

 

“This is how your mother would have wanted it.”

 

She looked at the ground. He bent down to kiss her forehead.

 

“You'll be fine. Be strong. Think about your goal: reaching the House of Tao. That should be the only thought in your mind.”

 

“You're wrong! I'm not strong! Not like you, or mother, or Ren!”

 

“Ah, now I see why…” He pulled a DaDao from his robe sleeve and held it out to her. Pin-Mei looked up at it with wide eyes.

 

“Minbouken…” she whispered.

 

Zhang nodded. “Yes. Hua's…your mother's precious sword. Minbouken- the Blade of the People's Hopes. Let it give you strength as it gave her.” He released it into her hands.

 

She kept staring at it, then looked up at him. “I promise to honor my mother's memory!” she declared. She ran and mounted Rurikka, then turned the horse to give her final farewell to her father.

 

“I'll be waiting for you, Father!” she cried. Then she turned the horse and started down the bridge, Rong, Ling, and Shu following her. Ma Ying trailed behind.

 

Zhang smiled weakly. “Things are going just as you said, my dear Hua.”

 

“Zhang, in about fifteen years, our families will be no more. The Xu and Fan families will have died out. I'll die soon. You'll die. Mother will die, as will my brother.”

 

“Hua…what about Pin-Mei?”

 

Hua gently caressed her bulging stomach, a sad look in her eyes.

 

“I suppose it is time I join you, my love.”

 

A sword impaled him from behind. Still smiling, he fell to the ground, blood spilling everywhere.

 

“I'll be with you soon…Hua…”

 

Suo stepped next to his body. She looked down at him in disgust. “Silence him.” A nearby guard brought a sword straight down. She breathed a sigh of relief. “Ah, much better.”

 

An army of men appeared behind her. She laughed behind a fan. “It's time to put the bird back in its cage.”

 

“Right you are, mother.” Kai appeared beside her. “I hope you don't mind that I would like to hunt down my “sister” myself.”

 

She laughed again. “Not at all. Go right ahead. Have fun, son.”

 

He smiled, baring his teeth maliciously. “You're too kind.”

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

“Lady Pin-Mei! At the rate we're going, we should reach the House of Tao in about a day!” Shu called up.

 

“'Kay!” she nodded. She turned to Ma Ying, who was floating beside her. “I wish Suo hadn't put that spirit barrier up around the mansion. Then I could have at least sent you there so you could have spoken to Ren.”

 

“I apologize. If I could have made it past our gates, I would have.”

 

“Don't worry about it. Everything's going to be as it should soon.” She smiled. Ma Ying looked at her sadly. Pin-Mei didn't notice. She just continued to smile as she thought about being able to be with the one she loved most once again.

 

Then, she was reluctantly snapped back to reality.

 

“Lady Pin-Mei! We have trouble!” Ling called.

 

Trouble?

 

She looked back and gasped. An army of Kyonshii soldiers was quickly gaining on them. She looked forward again, trying to decide what to do.

 

But…only Ren's family has Kyonshii…Don't tell me…Suo used the time she spent at the party to steal the charms used to bind them…then make a massive army…She was never away from the start!

 

She directed a death glare back at her pursuers.

 

First you hurt Ren…now you're using his family just to get to me…that's something I just can't forgive…

 

She stopped Rurikka and turned around. Rong, Ling, and Shu mimicked her, but only out of disbelief.

 

“Lady Pin-Mei! What are you doing!” Rong yelled.

 

Pin dismounted and brandished Minbouken. “I'm not going to tolerate things like this anymore! Excuse my French, but I'm sick of this crap!”

 

They stared at her. “That's not French.”

 

“Yeah, for it to be French, you'd have to say shi-,”

 

Rong and Shu covered Ling's mouth.

 

Pin-Mei's eyes narrowed. “Doesn't matter. Assemble and get ready for offence!”

 

“You got it!”

 

Ling went to Pin-Mei's right, Shu to her left, and Rong behind her. Ma Ying appeared above her.

 

“I am ready mistress.”

 

“Excellent.” She watched the approaching soldiers. “Everyone, oversoul.”

 

They nodded and did as she commanded; Rong with a whip, Ling with a chakram, and Shu with meteor hammers.

 

Pin-Mei raised her hand palm-up to the sky. “Ma Ying! Hyoi Gattai! In Minbouken!”

 

The sword glowed a purple shade and seemed to have small wings at the hilt as she stood firm and waited for the opportune moment to attack. As they drew closer, she charged. Her bodyguards followed her lead.

 

She found it surprisingly easy to cut through the Kyonshii. It didn't bother her of course. She just shrugged it off as them being imperfect copies. When all of them had been defeated, she knelt on the ground, panting.

 

“We…did it,” she said. The other girls nodded through their own panting.

 

As the dust settled, Pin-Mei looked up and saw something moving within the clouds. Her eyes widened as Kai emerged and stood about ten feet in front of her. She slowly stood up.

 

“Nii…Niisan…” she whispered.

 

Kai chuckled. “Niisan? Is that all that I get? You're making your older brother sad, Imouto.”

 

“You…came back…”

 

He smiled sweetly. “That I have, Imouto. However…” His pair of wind and fire wheels appeared in each of his hands. “Unfortunately, your brother is going to have to punish you.”

 

She tensed. “For what…?”

 

He assumed a throwing position, his eyes wild. “FOR KILLING MY NEESAMA!!!”

 

He thrust the wheels at her. She was paralyzed as they shot towards her.

 

“Mistress! We must move!” Ma Ying cried.

 

At the last moment, Ling and Shu stepped in the way and took the full force of the blows. They fell to either side of her in a bloody mess. Pin-Mei could only look down at them.

 

“Ling…Shu…” She looked at Kai. “Why, Niisan? Why?”

 

He laughed. “You still don't understand, do you?” He caught the wheels as they came back to him. After admiring their bloody coating, he licked one, his eyes still on her. “No matter…I suppose you don't need to understand anyway. Now, Imouto, let's go back home. Suo says she won't punish you as harshly if you just come back now.”

 

Pin-Mei looked terrified. “Suo…she…she's back?”

 

He nodded happily. “Oh yes. And you made sure to say goodbye to Father, right?”

 

“What…?”

 

He only laughed.

 

“What's wrong with Father? TELL ME!!”

 

Rong stepped in front of her, barring her from charging. “Lady Pin-Mei, get back on Rurikka and continue on to the House of Tao. I will deal with Kai.”

 

“But…”

 

“Pin-Mei…he isn't your brother at all. He may only call himself that because you look like Hua-Sama, but he is Hua-Sama's younger brother. You were made to believe otherwise so he could hide and work on their fourteen-year-old plan. He didn't run away at all. He's been in the deepest part of the mansion devising that plan.”

 

“…Plan?”

 

Rong turned to her. “Yes, what they want is-,”

 

The wheels sliced through her and she fell to the ground. Pin-Mei knelt by her side.

 

“Rong! Rong! Please say something!”

 

Rong turned her head and smiled weakly. “Run…” she whispered. “Go so you can be with Ren…That's what will make you happy, right?”

 

“Rong…” Tears fell down her cheeks. “Why?”

 

“We were chosen to protect you, Pin-Mei. We all came to love you. We want to see you happy. You hardly smiled after you came home. We just want you to be with the one who makes you happy…”

 

“But that's no reason to kill yourselves!”

 

Rong ignored her. “Pin-Mei…may I see your smile…one last time?”

 

Through her tears, Pin-Mei tried to think of something happy and smiled as best she could. Rong smiled again.

 

“That's it…that's the smile…the three of us…loved so much…Make sure…you smile…for Ren…I'll bet…he…loves…it…too…”

 

Her eyes closed, the smile still on her face. Pin-Mei was at all loss. All she could do was stare. She had never been so close to death. It scared her. She wanted to get out. She wanted to go home…

 

She stood. If I want to go home, I have to defeat Kai. I won't rest until I'm in the place I belong…with Him.

 

She pointed Minbouken at her uncle. “I can't forgive you…” she whispered.

 

He placed his hand near his ear. “I'm sorry, I didn't catch that.”

 

Her oversoul grew as she hid her eyes.

 

“They were the only friends I had…For killing them…I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!”

 

She charged at him. He brandished a simple sword and challenged her. Their blades pressed against each other, Kai pushing down on her and she pushed up. The difference in their height was easily seen, and visibly left her at a disadvantage. She gritted her teeth as she tried to overpower him. Kai smiled.

 

“Look at you, Pin-Mei. Running around in my sister's clothes, using her most cherished weapon. Why, you must think you ARE my sister, after all.”

 

Pin-Mei pushed against him harder. “No. That position is too shameful for me to take.”

 

He frowned. “Pity.”

 

He easily overpowered her and kicked her away. She hit the ground and continued rolling away. When she stood, he noticed blood covering the left side of her face.

 

“Whoopsies, my mistake. Mother made me promise I wouldn't damage your face any more than it is already. I'm going to be in so much trouble…”

 

She panted a few times, the gritted her teeth again. “Don't make fun of me!”

 

“I'm only stating the truth. Your beauty pales in comparison to Hers.”

 

His words stung her. She looked at the ground. “He…He never said I was ugly…He never said I was beautiful, but it wasn't like him to say things like that anyways. But His opinion is the only one that counts! Not yours!”

 

She charged and leaped up into the air. He met her as she attempted to bash him into the ground.

 

“You love that Tao boy too much,” he commented.

 

She smirked. “Don't get jealous just because I have someone who cares about me.”

 

His face surged with anger. A blast of Furyoku came from the sword and Pin-Mei was blasted up into the air, then hit the ground with a sickening thud. Her oversoul shattered, and Ma Ying floated above her motionless body.

 

“Mistress!”

 

Kai walked toward her and picked her up by her hair, bringing her to his level. She winced in pain. Tears fell down her face, though she was too pained to open her eyes or react to anything he was about to do.

 

She found enough strength to whisper, “Ren…”

 

Kai sneered. “If you love him that much, then I suppose it's only right…” He removed a talisman from the inside of his jacket. “…that I give you both the same treatment.”

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

“You're staying in Japan for a while?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“…Where's Pin-Mei?”

 

“Do I smell food?”

 

Ren walked into the dining room. Plates of food were sitting on the table, and Anna, Manta, and HoroHoro were sitting around it.

 

Yoh came in behind him. “I don't know what's going on, but you're welcome to eat with us.”

 

“Thanks…” He made his way to his seat across from HoroHoro, careful to not sit in the place Pin-Mei had occupied the last time he was there.

 

Horo looked at him. “Hey, what's going on?”

 

Ren twitched.

 

“Time to eat!” Yoh cried.

 

Ren looked relieved and took a roll and some stew onto his plate. “You have any milk?”

 

“Yeah, in the kitchen. Help yourself.”

 

“Thanks.”

 

He got up and walked over to the refrigerator and took a bottle and opened it. For a moment, he was reminded of when Pin-Mei had come home from Yoh's house with three bottles for him, but tried to push it from his mind. He put the bottle to his lips and began to take a sip.

 

Suddenly, a dark, disturbing feeling shot through his body.

 

Yoh and the others were still eating when they heard the sound of glass shattering on the floor. They ran in to see Ren standing in the kitchen. Glass and milk covered the floor around him. He looked as if he was still drinking, but his eyes were wide in horror, as he had just been stabbed.

 

Yoh tried to approach him. “Ren, are you okay? What's going on?” He didn't get a reply. Then he thought he heard a hoarse whisper. He tilted his head toward his friend. He heard it.

 

“Pin…Mei…”