Shaman King Fan Fiction ❯ A Gift of Love ❯ Tension Rising ( Chapter 37 )

Okay, for anyone who's still a little confused about why Suo wanted to show Ren Hua's past, this message is for you. By showing Ren all the times when Hua was happy, helping others, basically living what seemed to be the perfect life, she wanted him to “fall in love” with her. Thus, sympathizing with her and mourning her death as if he had known her personally when she died. Suo knows that Pin-Mei isn't at fault for the death of Hua, but she wants to make Ren believe it. She knows that he can easily kill her (Pin-Mei) if he doesn't hold back, so if she can set him loose on her, it's basically checkmate.

 

By now you're probably like “Hua is SUCH a Mary-Sue!” Well, yeah. That was my intention. At least, that's what Ren saw. He didn't see her life from beginning to end, so of course things were left out - at Suo's discretion. Of course her life wasn't perfect. Will Ren find that out, or will he fall victim to Suo's control freak complex? Nobody knows… -gets shot-

 

I kinda like how Ren treats Pin-Mei when they're little. I wish I had made them meet sometime immediately before or after the series, just so she could get a dose of the before and after. And see his short shorts. -nods-

 

Here's something that pissed me off. Some person took their fanfiction character and PUT HER INTO REN'S WIKIPEDIA ENTRY as if it actually happened in the series. The character's name? Pen Mai. That just made me even more pissed. People will confuse it with Pin-Mei and come after me. Plus, it makes it look like I copied someone. GRRR. Effin' Mary Sues and stupid writers. -steams-

 

Notes: Last flashback chapter. Promise. -gets doubly shot-

 

If you think the appearance of porcelain eggs is random, it's because I had two given to me when I was younger by a woman who later dealt me a huge blow to my self-esteem, so I later smashed them. Hey, she needed to smash something.

 

Just to reiterate, Ren and Pin-Mei are a year and a half apart. I usually have her be two years younger because we're assuming her birthday hasn't arrived yet, leaving her two years behind.

 

“Tension Rising” from the Kingdom Hearts II soundtrack totally makes the final scene in this chapter.

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

A Gift of Love - Chapter Thirty-Seven: Tension Rising

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

Ren raised his fist, his eyes still lowered.

 

“Hua shouldn't have died…” he said again, his voice low and dark.

 

Suo stroked his cheek, gradually bringing it under his chin. “That's right. It's all HER fault. Hua could have helped you repent for your sins, bring back the innocent that you killed.”

 

His breathing quickened. “Repent for my sins…”

 

“Yes, child…Kai and I are going to bring her back, but we need your help...”

 

“My help…?”

 

“I need you to get rid of Pin-Mei. We just need one last bit of furyoku to bring Hua back - hers. Once we have that, Hua will return. Then you can begin your penance…”

 

“I can repent…”

 

“Yes…yes, that's right.” Her hands were creeping up his cheeks. “Will you help us with your power, Tao Ren?” Her fingers began to cover his eyes.

 

“I…”

 

“Well?”

 

“I…w-,”

 

“Ren stop!”

 

He felt Suo's cold and clammy hands being slapped away, and replaced with smaller, warmer ones from the front.

 

“Don't give in, Ren!” the voice cried. It was younger, like a woman in her twenties. It sounded familiar to him.

 

“Who are you?”

 

“I can't tell you right now, I'm sorry. But Pin-Mei needs you. You must go to her!”

 

His face stiffened in anger. “But she killed Hua!” he yelled.

 

He could see again for a split second, then was met with the intense burning of a slap. Then his eyes were covered again.

 

“SNAP OUT OF IT REN!!” the voice said again. “Think about it; how can a baby who can't even defend itself kill someone? Even if she did, would Hua have wanted revenge? Did she seem like that kind of person to you?”

 

His face twitched. “She told Pin-Mei that she loved her, that she wasn't mad at her...”

 

“What else did she say?” the voice coaxed.

 

“She said…that…that it wasn't Pin-Mei's fault!”

 

“That's right.”

 

The hands lifted and Ren looked around. He was back in the town where Zhang had lived. A school was beside him. A bell rang and kids ran out. A small group of preschoolers formed off to the side.

 

“So what do you guys want to do?

 

“Go to the park!”

 

“Yeah and play kickball!”

 

“Can I come?”

 

The tallest boy looked behind him and rolled his eyes. “Great, it's Pin-Mei.” He turned around. “Oh hey.”

 

She smiled with hopeful eyes. “So can I come too?”

 

He put on a thinking face. “No way.”

 

Her smile fell. “Why not?”

 

“You cheat.”

 

“Wha? No I don't!”

 

“Yeah, you get your little ghost friends to help you!”

 

“No I don't!”

 

The girls in the group hid behind the boy. “Watch out Gen! She might put a curse on you!”

 

“She's so creepy!”

 

“Don't shamans worship the devil or something?”

 

“I don't want to play someone who'll put me in Hell!'

 

Gen stared down at her, arms folded. “You heard `em. You can't come.”

 

“But why?”

 

“CAUSE YOU'RE A FREAK!” the group cried in unison.

 

Pin-Mei looked intensely pained. She started crying and ran down the street, her small ponytails trailing from under her hair.

 

Suddenly, he was in Xu/Fan castle. Pin-Mei, still crying, ran down the halls toward her father's room. Loud sounds came from it as she approached. She pounded on the door.

 

“Daddy! Daddy!” When no one came to the door, she called a few more times, then left to go to her room.

 

Ren watched as she opened the door and walked into a large room lined with dolls and stuffed animals. She took a large panda and hugged it, then curled up against another one that was at least five times bigger than her.

 

“Gang,” she said looking at her smaller panda. “I wish Mommy was here, then Daddy wouldn't be so sad.” She clutched it and buried her face in it. “Maybe Mommy would play with me. I just wish someone would.” She started crying again.

 

Ren looked at her sadly. This is why she's so used to crying.

 

Pin-Mei suddenly stood up and stomped over to her dresser. She snatched a porcelain egg from the top of it and smashed it on the floor. She did the same with two others, screaming at the top of her lungs. Panting, she collapsed to the floor and curled up into a little ball of misery.

 

“I don't want this…” she said, hiccupping tears. “I don't want to be a shaman! I don't want to be a freak! I want to be normal! I hate shamans! I hate them! I wish they never existed!”

 

Ren knelt on the floor next to her. He didn't take her words to heart. He didn't remember ever feeling like that, that he didn't want to be a shaman. But he knew it was because of the way his father had buried him in the idea of Tao family pride from such a young age. It was all he ever knew. He didn't have the chance to regret being a shaman. He had always thought he was above humans. Being alone at school had never bothered him. In his mind, they were all too stupid and simpleminded to have an intelligent conversation with.

 

The door burst open and a young Rong ran in. “Lady Pin-Mei! Welcome home!” She skidded to a halt when she saw the smashed porcelain on the floor. “What happened?”

 

Pin-Mei turned over so her back faced her. “Fell,” she said, not even bothering to give her a full sentence.

 

Rong, at nine years old, had learned to deal with Pin-Mei's moodiness. It was brought on by the realization that she had no friends except for a stuffed panda, and that her father spent all his time with women in order to forget the wife he had lost. She knew that Pin-Mei was just lonely, and with no one to turn to, she took her frustration out on the people who dared to talk to her. Overall, she was the textbook definition of a bratty heir.

 

Rong calmly left and brought back a dust pan and a broom. She swept the broken remains into the pan and threw them away. When she had put the pan and broom back, she came back and stroked the tiny girl's hair.

 

“They made fun of you again, huh?”

 

“What do you think?”

 

She bowed her head. “I guess it was a dumb question. Sorry.” She lifted it again and scooted over so she could look at her. “But I have some news that might cheer you up.”

 

“What,” her master said in a sharp, snappy voice.

 

Rong smiled. “You and Lord Zhang are going on a trip!”

 

“Oh. Awesome. How many women is he taking with him?”

 

“None.”

 

Pin-Mei sat up. “None?”

 

Rong smiled and nodded. “None.”

 

Pin-Mei's mouth turned up slightly, then fell again. “Wait, where are we going?”

 

“To visit some friends of your parents. Well, actually, they were closer to your mother than your father. I can't go with you right away, but I'll be joining you later on.”

 

“My mother?” She looked over at a framed photo of Hua, who was smiling away without a care in the world. She smiled. “Maybe this won't be so bad…”

 

Ren stood as things went black again. I only have one guess as to where they're going.

 

Sure enough, he found himself in his front hall.

 

“She's grown so big!” Ran exclaimed. She bent down and smiled at the little girl. “Hello there, Pin-Mei. I'm Ran. I was a friend of your mother's.”

 

Pin-Mei looked at her skeptically, but then smiled a little and raised her hand at her. “Hello Miss Ran!”

 

She laughed and patted her head. “Just like her mother,” she said standing up. Pin-Mei looked up at her and blinked.

 

“Just like Mom…” she whispered.

 

Ran looked to either side of her. “Where is he?” She turned around. “Ren! Come over here and welcome our guests!”

 

Ren held his breath and waited for his younger self to appear. I'm never going to get used to this.

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

Again, present Ren will be in italics

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

“I'm coming! God…”

 

Pin-Mei squinted as she looked into the shadows. She tilted her head as she saw the six year old boy emerge from the darkness, his eyes cold, his arms crossed in annoyance.

 

Ran waved him over, putting her hand behind him as he approached. “Pin-Mei, this is my son Ren. Ren, this is Pin-Mei, the daughter Xu Hua. Remember her?”

 

“No,” he replied bluntly.

 

Pin-Mei looked up at him. He stared down at her in disgust.

 

She raised her hand in greeting. “Hi Ren!”

 

“…Hi.” He turned his head away from her.

 

She kept staring at him in awe. “He's…so cool…” she whispered.

 

Ran looked at her and smiled. Then she looked at Zhang. “How have you been?”

 

“…Fine,” he replied in an airy voice.

 

At twenty-four, Zhang was a shell of a man. He had isolated himself from Pin-Mei and everyone else in the house. But especially her. He didn't want to look at her. It reminded him too much of what he had lost. Now, as he stood in front of Tao Ran, he looked years older, almost withering away.

 

“Zhang, we're going to have dinner now, and I want you to join us. It'll do you some good to spend time with your daughter.”

 

Pin-Mei looked up at him. He looked down at her for a moment, then looked away. “I suppose.”

 

“I'm going.” Ren turned and began walking away. Pin-Mei stared after him.

 

Ran turned to watch her son leave. “Honestly…”

 

After another moment of staring, Pin-Mei ran past her and started walking behind him. He looked back at her.

 

“What do you want?” She just stared at him with her big black eyes. “What?” When she still didn't answer, he walked faster so he could get away from her. She walked faster also. He broke out into a run, and she followed. “GRAH!! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!!”

 

Ren smiled a little bit. She really had been following him around since they first met. He shook his head, still smiling. “Brat.”

 

A new scene. This time in Ren's room. It was during the night and the young scion was sleeping soundly in his bed. The door opened, and Pin-Mei peeked her head in. She entered and closed the door quietly behind her.

 

He looked closely at her. She was obviously upset. Scared maybe.

 

Sure enough, she was hiccupping, biting on her lip to try and muffle her whimpers. She walked over to where he lay, reaching her hand out to touch his wrist or shoulder, but hesitating. She looked back at the door, considering leaving, but turned back to the bed.

 

“N-Niisama…” she said in a loud whisper, shaking his wrist. He moaned and turned over. She started to lose it. “Niisama,” she said a little louder. She shook his shoulder.

 

He groaned and flipped back over, groggily opening his eyes. He rolled onto his stomach and reached for the clock on his nightstand. After looking at it, he slammed it down and wiped his hand down the front of his face.

 

“Niisama, I-,”

 

“Do. You. Have. ANY. Idea. What. Time. It. Is?”

 

“Um…”

 

He grabbed his clock and stuck it in her face. She blinked at it.

 

“I can't tell time, Niisama.”

 

He growled and slammed it back onto the nightstand. “IT'S 2:47!!!”

 

“I'm sorry! I just…”

 

“This better be a helluva good reason.” He cracked his knuckles subconsciously.

 

She stiffened. “I-I-I-I-I had a bad dream.”

 

He stopped. “THAT'S IT???”

 

She started full-on crying. “I had a dream that a bad person with long hair killed Mommy and you and me. I'm scared! I don't want to be alone!”

 

“So what the hell am I supposed to do about it?”

 

“Can I sleep with you?”

 

He face-palmed. “You can't be serious.” He put his hand down and went back under the covers. “Go sleep with your dad.”

 

“I can't. He locked his door. He doesn't like being around me…because I look like mommy.”

 

Ren, who'd had his eyes closed, opened them and stared at the wall with an expression even his older self couldn't fully understand. He sat up.

 

“Come on. Get up here, brat.”

 

He watched her face light up as he scooted over to let her jump up onto the massive bed. She blushed when he lifted his arm and she crawled under it.

 

“Thank you Niisama,” she said as she clung to him, her eyes closing.

 

“Yeah, yeah. Just don't get used to this.” But his face wasn't as harsh as his tone. Still, he wasn't smiling, more like reminiscing events of the past.

 

The two children faded.

 

“What's next?” Ren asked, hoping the voice would answer him.

 

“What you're about to see may hurt you, but you have to see it. I wouldn't show it to you if I didn't feel the need to.”

 

A questioning look was on his face as he saw his bedroom door open. Pin-Mei walked in, followed by Ren. He didn't look any different from the one watching the scene.

 

“Wait…when was this?”

 

He noticed the formal robes that he was clad in.

 

“No…don't tell me…”

 

He watched himself yell at her, then take his shirt off, revealing the curse seal. Pin-Mei sadly and reluctantly raised her DaDao against him, only to throw it away. He smirked at her then slammed her into the wall by her neck.

 

“What am I doing…?”

 

He threw her onto the bed.

 

“What are you doing? She hates that!”

 

She was kissed forcefully, the privacy of her body beginning to be invaded.

 

“Don't touch her like that!”

 

Her robes were opened.

 

He shut his eyes. “I can't watch this…” The hands forced them open.

 

“Ren, you HAVE TO watch this. I know it hurts, but this is what happened. You need to know what you did. And you need to remember what that curse seal looks like.”

 

He tried to squint, but his eyes wouldn't close. “DAMMIT!!”

 

His hands touched her hips, then slid down her legs.

 

“Pin-Mei! Why aren't you struggling?! Why don't you run?!” he screamed at her.

 

“Because she knew she had no chance of escaping from you. You're faster and stronger than her. You could have easily caught her, and then you would have just been rougher with her.”

 

“So she just gave up??!!”

 

“No. She accepted that it was going to happen, that she was powerless to stop it. She decided to just close her eyes and hope it would end quickly.”

 

Ren saw Pin-Mei raise her hand to touch the face of his cursed self.

 

“Pin-Mei...”

 

“She believed in you, that you didn't want it to be this way.”

 

He pinned her wrists to the mattress.

 

“No…”

 

Jun burst in. Their parents followed. Ren was restrained, and Pin-Mei stood in front of him to touch his face once more.

 

“Why don't you hate me…?”

 

The scene ended. He fell to his knees, shaking his head. “I can't believe this…” He covered his face. “What have I done…She'll never be able to trust me again…I saved her from people who were going to do that exact same thing to her, then I go and do it! I still don't understand why she wanted to save me from being tortured.”

 

Arms draped over him from behind. “Did you see what else you did to her?”

 

He looked up? “You mean there's MORE?”

 

There was a giggle. “You already saw it. You saw how lonely and bitter she was at home. When she met you, do you remember any moment when you two were young that she was like that with you? Forget the weight-throwing thing.”

 

He thought for a moment. “No. No, I don't.”

 

“You did that to her. You made her forget those feelings. You made her genuinely smile when all she used to do was cry. You let her know she wasn't alone, that someone else felt her pain. That was all you.”

 

“Me?”

 

“Yes. In her eyes, you saved her. She began to admire you, she wanted to be like you.”

 

“Pfft. That's a laugh.”

 

“No it isn't. She admired your strength. Your bravery. Your kindness. She saw those qualities in you and wanted them to be hers. And by experiencing those qualities through you, she felt at ease. That's when she began falling in love with you. You're the only person she's ever openly hugged. She trusts you. She won't let one incident ruin that perfect picture of you that she has in her mind.”

 

He didn't reply, just seemed lost in thought. A blindfold was wrapped around his head, covering his eyes once more.

 

“It'll just be easier this way.”

 

Ren just nodded.

 

“You know what you have to do?”

 

“I have to save her. I owe it to her. I have to tell her I'm sorry. I have to bring her home. I have to make up for this. I need to repent.”

 

His hand was brought up to a face, and he could feel it as it shook from side to side a few times.

 

“Penance is a stupid idea. What's done is done. No matter what you do, Ren, it won't undo what happened. Now, just concentrate on getting her back and letting her know how much you love her, so she'll know that she was right to believe in you.”

 

He slowly nodded again.

 

“Promise to save her?”

 

“Yes, I promise.”

 

There was a giggle. “Good boy.”

 

A cookie was stuck in his mouth. He blinked under the blindfold. A hand touched his cheek and turned it. The other one was kissed.

 

“Good luck, cutie.”

 

“Wait…”

 

He blinked. He was back in Xu/Fan Castle. Suo was behind him.

 

“So, Tao Ren, are you going to lend us your power or not? Will you help me bring my beautiful daughter back to life?”

 

Ren stared at the ceiling, his eyes closed.

 

Thank you.

 

He opened them. “You're right, Hua was pretty.” He turned to face her, a smile on his face.

 

“But not as beautiful as my Pin-Mei.”

 

She scowled at him. “You wretched boy! How could you resist her?”

 

“It's unfortunate that she died, but I don't think she wants to come back. It was because of her that I was able to resist her.”

 

“Impossible! Hua said she didn't want to die!”

 

Ren looked at the ceiling again. “I'm not sure what made her change her mind, but I'm not going to help bring her back--,” He brandished Houraiken. “—especially if it means killing Pin-Mei.” He narrowed his eyes and pointed the blade at her. “For the last time, MOVE!!”

 

Suo looked phased for a moment, then hid behind her fan. “Alright, Tao Ren. I'll allow you to go see your dear Pin-Mei. I hope you two have a lovely reunion.” She cackled and vanished.

 

Ren looked around. “Bason!” he called.

 

“Here, Bocchama!” The spirit appeared behind him.

 

His master put on a confident grin. “Perfect. Let's go.”

 

He raced down the stairs, Bason not far behind him. Suddenly, he realized they were short one spirit.

 

“Bason, where's Ma Ying?”

 

“She disappeared without my knowledge. I apologize, Bocchama.”

 

“Tch. Don't worry about it. She's probably gone to Pin-Mei.”

 

When they reached the bottom, Ren skidded to a stop and looked at the large door in front of him. It was iron, and a double door set. The Fan family seal was in the center.

 

This is it. Don't worry, Pin-Mei. I'm coming for you.

 

He pushed the doors open. The room behind them was larger than a ballroom. Thick pillars were on either side of the room, with a small, slightly elevated stage in the back. He could make out Suo and Kai's forms. Carefully, he began walking across the room.

 

“So nice of you to come, Renny,” Kai called.

 

“Thanks for inviting me,” Ren replied. “And don't call me Renny. I have enough reason to kill you as it is. I don't need one more.”

 

“Hmph. I don't think my sister would like you threatening to kill me.”

 

“Threats and promises are two totally different things.”

 

“That they are…Still, Hua never tolerated anyone harassing me…”

 

“So?”

 

Suddenly, a blade was under his chin. Ren lowered his eyes, not believing what he saw.

 

A girl in a black orient halter and skirt with black pants stood in front of him. A clip on the top of her held her black bangs from her eyes, and black braids could be seen behind her. Nothing seemed to bounce as she moved closer to him, Minbouken still at his throat, until her face was in front of his. Faded blue eyes glared at him.

 

Ren's eyes were wide in disbelief. “Hua?”

 

Her eyes narrowed even more.

 

“Tao Ren, for your sins, I will kill you.”