Shaman King Fan Fiction ❯ A Gift of Love ❯ The Many Wrongs of Rong ( Chapter 39 )

This chapter provides some insight on Rong's relationship withPin-Mei. Yes, some more flashbacks, but not for the whole thing. This is just to get the group to the scene so they can deal with the upcoming events. Yes, Jun came. I don't know if she brought Pailong yet. I just needed her there for a later scene. It would be impossible without her there. No, she isn't my 2nd fave character (that spot belongs to Hao), but she deserves more respect than she gets. So yeah, Jun's here.

 

When I came up with the Ren vs. Pin-Mei fight about a month and a half ago, it was oh so different. Originally, Pin-Mei didn't say anything, only attacked. The “Aywer's Redemption” attack didn't exist. At that time, the curse seal didn't exist, so no cutting shirts open. Yoh and co. didn't arrive until the VERY END. Jun wasn't there. And a later scene with Pin-Mei didn't exist. So yeah, a LOT of changes.

 

Notes: It is a really really bad thing to give someone a clock as a gift in China. The word for clock in Chinese sounds similar to “death”, so it is to be avoided. Giving scissors or anything sharp symbolizes severing the ties of a relationship. Also, don't wrap gifts in white, blue or black paper, or write in red ink. All have connotations to funerals and/or death. Finally, don't give gifts in single or odd numbers, and don't give it in fours either. Odd numbers signify loneliness or separation. The number four also sounds like the word “death.”

 

In China, it's customary for someone to decline a gift at least two or three times before accepting it. The giver is expected to insist until the receiver accepts the gift. The gift is not opened in the presence of the giver unless they are instructed to (this rule isn't followed in this chapter, just to show how bratty Pin-Mei is).

 

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A Gift of Love - Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Many Wrongs of Rong

 

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“Rong, today you will begin tending to Lady Pin-Mei. It is your duty to protect her with your life. Do not dishonor the Wei family name.”

 

A seven year-old Rong nodded. “I understand.”

 

She walked into her master's room and found her sitting with a tiger plushie. She was in a navy blue jacket and pants, and her long black hair draped over her shoulders. Her black eyes were narrowed in anger, as if permanently. Despite the army of cute and cuddly stuffed animals that surrounded her, she had the potential to look evil.

 

“What do you want?” she snapped at her.

 

Rong blinked at her curt attitude, but knew she could do nothing against it. After all, she was just the maid servant. Instead she bowed.

 

“Lady Pin-Mei, I am Wei Rong. From this day forward, I am your maid servant. I will do anything you desire and protect you with my life.”

 

The two year-old stared at her. “Whatever. I don't care.” She turned over and away from her.

 

Rong, not knowing what else to do, sat on the ground and waited for Pin-Mei to need her.

 

She soon learned why a girl so young was already so cold and heartless. Suo had told her from a young age that she killed her mother, and that it was her fault her father was sad and always kept away from her. The servants in the house ostracized her as well. They moved out of the way when she walked by them. Not out of respect, but almost out of fear. She was cursed. A half-breed. It was unlucky to be around her.

 

“I feel so sorry for you, Rong,” one servant said to her. “You have to follow her everywhere she goes. Her bad luck will rub off on you.”

 

“She's not so bad. She just doesn't know how to show her emotions,” she had replied.

 

When Suo's birthday came around, Rong found herself wrapping a clock in white paper - Pin-Mei's present to her. She knew it was wrong, but Pin-Mei threw a tantrum until she got her way. When she was done, Pin-Mei took a red marker and wrote the number four on the package.

 

Pin-Mei gave it to Suo that night. The crowd gasped, but the toddler just smiled sweetly.

 

“The child probably doesn't know any better,” her grandmother said while a smile.

 

But after the guests had left, Suo took out one of her fans and began beating her.

 

“How dare you give such an awful present to your grandmother!” she yelled. “You should honor me for allowing you to stay in this house! You COULD just go live a poor life back in town, but your mother would haunt me if I did. You're only here because of your mother, but your mother isn't here because of YOU!”

 

Pin-Mei was bleeding on the ground. Her body ached so much that she couldn't move. She could feel the bruises forming as she looked up at the evil woman before her. The fan was raised again and she shut her eyes.

 

Suddenly, she felt a body cover hers, taking the blows for her. She looked up and saw Rong's face twisted in pain. She was shielding her from the pain.

 

“Why?” Pin-Mei asked.

 

“Because a baby like you doesn't need to be in so much pain.”

 

After that day, Pin-Mei began to treat Rong a little better than everyone else around the Xu/Fan castle. Not much better, but better still.

 

On her third birthday, Rong noticed that Pin-Mei's hair now had long pigtails hidden under her hair in the back. She found it odd, as she had always loved her long hair and never let Rong do anything with it but brush it. Now it had been cut so only the back was longer than her cheeks.

 

“Why the sudden change?”

 

“Grandmother's orders.” She snapped her head away from her. “Where's my present?”

 

Rong left and came back with a bag. “Here it is.”

 

“I don't want it.”

 

“Won't you please take it?”

 

“No.”

 

“I promise you'll like it.”

 

The heir snatched the bag from her and opened to it. She lifted a large stuffed panda from the tissue paper. Rong held her breath as she looked it over.

 

“I like it, it's soft,” she said finally. Her mouth turned up slightly. “Thank you.”

 

Her servant blinked at her, astonished at the sudden use of manners. “I'm honored that you like it.”

 

Pin-Mei walked over to her giant panda and set her new one on its leg. “This is good. Now he has a friend.” She turned to the other stuffed animals and pointed to her new one. “Everyone, this is Gang. Be nice to him, okay?”

 

Rong watched her lower the arm slowly, and then wipe her eyes.

 

“Go away. I want to be alone.”

 

Rong stood in her place. “Mistress, why are you crying?”

 

“Leave.”

 

“Why are you crying?”

 

She turned to her furiously. “Why do you care?”

 

“Because I live for you.”

 

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More than a year later, Rong arrived at Tao Castle to do her duty by watching over Pin-Mei. After hearing she had almost drowned, spent a night in the rain, and was attacked by a dog, she cursed herself for having to deal with the family obligations that had kept her at home.

 

She sprinted outside to see her sitting with a boy who seemed almost two years older than her. A small basket of milk bottles was between them.

 

“Niisama, can I have one?”

 

“No. These are mine.”

 

“But I want one too!”

 

He took a sip. “Well, that's just too bad. I brought these out here. Go inside and get your own.” The bottle was now empty, and he took another one from the basket.

 

A hard blow came to his head. As he grabbed it in pain, the bottle was taken from his hand. He looked up to see Rong looking pissed, milk bottle in hand.

 

“A host should treat his guests with a lot more kindness. He shouldn't be selfish and not give her what she wants.” She walked over to hand the bottle to Pin-Mei. “Here La-,”

 

“Niisama!” She stood up and ran over to him. Not knowing what else to do, she started rubbing his head. “Are you hurt? I'm sorry, Niisama! I didn't think she'd do something like that!” She glared at Rong. “How could you? Niisama is really important to me, Rong! Don't do that stuff to him!” She turned back to Ren. “Niisama, are you okay?”

 

He pushed her away. “Yeah, yeah, just stop it. You're messing up my hair.” He hadn't even given a slight reaction to his future fiancée's words, as if he already knew that, or that it was old news.

 

“Hehe, okay.” She smiled.

 

Rong just stared at them. Pin-Mei almost never smiled for her. Now she was smiling for this…this STRANGER. This person seemed to barely care about her existence, and she was infatuated with him. She'd shown Pin-Mei kindness for over two years, and she had never gotten that reaction. She clenched her fist.

 

“FINE, I'LL JUST GO BACK HOME!!”

 

She threw the bottle at the ground. It shattered and glass flew everywhere. A large piece flew by Pin-Mei's cheek and cut it, drawing blood. She whimpered and put her hand over it. Rong's eyes widened as she realized what she had done.

 

“Ow…,” Pin-Mei whined still clutching her cheek.

 

“Milady, I--.” But the boy cut her off.

 

“Let me see,” Ren said in a commanding voice, not one hint of a caring attitude. She obediently removed her hand. When she saw the blood, she screamed and began shaking. “Stop it or I can't see, brat.” She couldn't stop shaking, but cooperated enough to let him look at it. “It's just a scratch. You're so high maintenance.” He stood up and took her wrist. “Come on. Let's put something on it so you'll stop freaking out.”

 

She smiled again. “Thank you Niisama.”

 

“Just come on.” He pulled her inside.

 

Rong could have sworn he glared at her before going in the house.

 

That night, Rong slipped into Pin-Mei's room, only to find that she wasn't there. She panicked and started searching all the rooms on the floor. Finally, she turned to Ren's room. She had been told not to go in there, but she felt that she had a justifiable reason to disobey that order. Slowly and carefully, so she wouldn't make a lot of noise, she turned the doorknob and looked inside the room. She covered her mouth in order to muffle a gasp.

 

Pin-Mei was in Ren's bed, snuggled close to him, his arm around her, and a content look on her face.

 

“Niisama…” she murmured in her sleep. He stirred at this, clenching his fist and squeezing his eyes shut. His arm curled, as if he were stretching or flexing, and inadvertently pulled her closer to him.

 

Again, she was finding comfort in this boy she had just met. She was being tossed aside, like she wasn't needed.

 

`Lady Pin-Mei…what is so special about this boy? He hates you.'

 

Rong shut the door and went back to her room.

 

After breakfast the next morning, Rong cornered Ren while Pin-Mei was being bathed.

 

“Stay away from Lady Pin-Mei,” she said in a low voice. Her intention had been to scare him into leaving her alone, but he just stared at her with his sharp yellow eyes.

 

“I do, but she comes and finds me. Nothing I can do about it. I'd be thankful if she just left me alone. What makes you think I want her around anyway? She's a crybaby. She's always smiling and giggling, and the sound is so goddamn annoying. She follows me everywhere I go. She even waits outside of the bathroom for me. I'd be oh so grateful if you'd take her off my hands.”

 

Rong stared at him. He was so ungrateful for her master's company. She wanted that attention so much, and it was being wasted on this pigheaded jerk. Unable to contain her anger, she slapped him.

 

“You little bastard!” she cried. “How can you be so ungrateful for Lady Pin-Mei's company? Even worse, she's happy around you, but you hate her. You have no idea how lucky you are. You know who you remind me of? You remind me of her, except so much worse. You're so coldhearted it makes me sick!”

 

He turned to her apathetically. “When did I say I hated her?”

 

She knew that he hadn't. “You act like it! She crawls into your bed at night just to be closer to you, and you don't even care!”

 

He gave her another hard stare. “Think what you want, you little bitch,” he said, returning the favor of being called a bastard.

 

She gritted her teeth and slammed her fist into the wall. “I'm not giving her to you!” She towered over him, almost eight inches taller. After a moment, she smirked. “I'll concede when you're taller than me - like that'll ever happen.” She laughed, and then patted his head. “Aww, Renny's so cute.”

 

Ren's eye twitched and he clenched his fist. He was a little short for his age, but luckily, so was his little shadow, so it hadn't bothered him since he had someone smaller than him around. Now this…towering monster was picking on him. Was he going to take it? Hell no.

 

He punched her in the stomach as hard as he could. She fell on her hands and knees, the wind having been knocked out of her. He scoffed at her and walked away, his arms folded across his chest. She looked up at him.

 

“I'll get you, I swear…”

 

He stopped and turned around.

 

“Don't be all pissy with me because Pin-Mei seems to like being around me. I probably understand her a lot more than you do.”

 

Rong's eyes were wide as he kept walking away.

 

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“Rong, is it December yet?” Pin-Mei asked.

 

“Look at the calendar. What month is it?”

 

“…September.”

 

“Is that December?”

 

“…No.”

 

“There's your answer.”

 

Pin-Mei sulked and looked at the floor. Ling came up behind her and touched her shoulders.

 

“Rong, don't snap at Lady Pin-Mei! She's just excited! She hasn't seen Lord Ren in ten years! Don't get cranky just because you don't like him.”

 

Pin-Mei stopped and looked up at her with a hurt expression. “Rong…you don't like Ren?”

 

Rong looked at her face and instantly felt sorry for her actions. She was almost nineteen, she should be able to put on a smile and wish her luck, even if she'd rather push her fiancée off a cliff.

 

“Yeah, because his name begins with R. It bugs me. Only one R person can be in your life.”

 

Pin-Mei looked at the floor again. Rong rushed over and patted her head.

 

“Jeez, I'm kidding. Don't be so serious, Milady. I'm happy for you.”

 

She smiled. “Thank you, Rong.” Then she looked as if she had realized something. “I need to buy him a present!”

 

Rong frowned. “You have plenty of time for that. You don't need to buy him one now.”

 

Pin-Mei shook her head furiously. “I have to do it now or else I'll forget.” Her face twisted in thought. “Ooooh!” She turned to Ling and Shu. “What should I get him?”

 

The three girls thought for a moment. Rong tapped her foot on the ground, not wishing to take part in the brainstorming session.

 

“A cow!” Ling said excitedly.

 

“Um…a book?” Shu suggested quietly.

 

“A clock with some scissors…” Rong muttered.

 

Pin-Mei looked at the ceiling. “…A new dinnerware set?” They looked at her. Her face burned red. “I don't know!! I don't remember him ever saying things he liked or didn't like.” She thought a little more. “Oh I know what he didn't like!”

 

“What?”

 

“He didn't like...” she slowed down as she said it. “Annoying little brats like me…” She sulked in the corner.

 

Rong cracked her knuckles. “Hopefully he's grown a pair and is at least a little more mature.”

 

“Ooh! Rong's mad!”

 

“Um…I'm worried she'll get violent with Lord Ren again.”

 

Ling and Shu hadn't been in Pin-Mei's service at the time, but when Zhang had revealed Ren and Pin-Mei's engagement, Rong had wasted no time ranting on and on about him to them. They might as well have been there they knew so much.

 

Pin-Mei's sulking grew. Rong went over to her.

 

“Come on, Milady. We'll go and get something. Just don't sulk anymore, alright?”

 

Pin-Mei sprang up, a bright smile on her face.

 

“YAY!”

 

She grabbed a small pouch of money from her dresser, which housed a picture of her and Ren as children. He had his head turned away from the camera, his arms crossed, and looking very annoyed. Pin-Mei was hugging him around the waist, a blush and a smile on her face. Rong watched her as she admired it, her eyes shining.

 

“Come on. The stores will close soon.”

 

“Yeah okay.” Pin-Mei turned to go, but then went over to her telephone.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

She dialed a number and turned to them.

 

“I'm calling Ran. I want to get Ren's measurements and stuff in case I end up getting him clothes.” She was silent for a moment. “Hehe. It's ringing.”

 

“Hello?”

 

She took a breath to speak but stopped.

 

“Hello?”

 

It was a boy's voice. A teenaged boy's voice. There weren't many of those at Tao Castle the last time she was there. That left only one possibility.

 

Ling looked at her with a tilted head. “Are they not home?”

 

Pin-Mei turned around to face them. Her face was beet red.

 

“What is it, Lady Pin-Mei?”

 

She didn't answer, but only shifted her eyes toward the receiver as the voice came again.

 

“Damn crank calls. GOODBYE.”

 

The dial tone sounded. Pin-Mei took the phone away from her ear and stared at it. She turned her head to the three maid servants.

 

“I think Ren answered the phone.”

 

Ling and Shu's eyes widened. They shrieked and ran over to her, each grabbing a hand.

 

“What did he sound like?” they cried.

 

“He was deep, but not too deep. Not too high, either. The tone of his voice was exactly the same, though!” She laughed.

 

“Wow! Love at first listen!”

 

“Um…I guess you'll find out if it really was him when you go visit him for his birthday.”

 

They shrieked again and jumped up and down. Then Pin-Mei suddenly stopped.

 

“PRESENT!!” she cried and ran out of the room. The three remaining girls stared after.

 

“But she didn't get the measurements!”

 

“Um…how will she know what size he needs?”

 

Rong unfolded her arms and heaved a heavy sigh. “I'll try on the shirts. If he's grown at all, my size shouldn't be too far off from his. Come on.”

 

She dragged them out. She just wanted to get this over with.

 

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Rong ran through Xu/Fan Castle's massive front door. The others followed her.

 

“Lord Ren must have already been here,” she said aloud so they could hear her. “Let's just hope that nothing bad has happened yet. There's no telling how low Suo and Kai will stoop in order to get what they want.”

 

Jun looked worried. “Do you think he's alright?”

 

“I can't say for certain. Although I had full knowledge of the plan, I have no idea how they're going to use those two.” She eyed Manta. “It would be best if you looked out for shorty over there. He's an easy target.” He pouted.

 

“Don't worry about him,” Yoh said. “I'll look out for him.” He smiled.

 

“Yoh-kun…”

 

“Okay, I hate to break up this tender moment, but if we don't get there fast, those two may be dead by the time we arrive.”

 

“Oi lady, you don't need to be so pessimistic,” HoroHoro said with narrowed eyes.

 

Rong turned away from him. “I'm not pessimistic; I just know Suo's ways. She'll kill one or both of them as she sees fit. I've had to watch Lady Pin-Mei suffer under her tyranny for twelve years - far too long. I've waited for this day, when I can get my hands on Fan Suo and Fan Kai…”

 

Her head drooped slightly.

 

“But Anna made me realize that revenge on her behalf isn't my responsibility. It's Ren's now. And it seems as though he's accepted that responsibility. As much as I hate to admit it, he's a lot stronger than I am.”

 

“Derr,” HoroHoro said. Anna punched him, and he crippled to the ground.

 

Rong's head drooped a little more. “Maybe I thought it was my job to be her mother. That's why I felt so threatened by him. All the same, she sent for the three of us to help her when she could have just used the servants there.” She raised her head. “I know now that it was stupid and cruel of me to hold such a grudge against him, one that I don't think he even knew existed. He was just being himself, and caring about her like she wanted. How can I deny her that? Even though I was supposed to protect her, I was hurting her. That goes against the law of the Wei family. Look at my back.”

 

They did and saw “Xu Pin-Mei” written in large characters in a circle in the center of her back. “Wei Rong” was written over and over around the circumference of it.

 

“What does it mean?” Manta asked.

 

“This seal was carved into me the moment Lady Pin-Mei was born. What it means is that my world revolves around her. And it does. Everything I've done up until now has some sort of tie to her. This might be the last time I have to defend her. If I die, as long as she's safe, I'll have no regrets.”

 

“Wow, the psycho has a soft side.”

 

“Shut up blue boy or I'll kill you.” She turned to them. “The basement is most likely where they're keeping Lady Pin-Mei. Lord Ren is probably there also. It's this way. Come on!”

 

She began running down the steep staircase, occasionally just jumping and skipping many steps in order to keep from tripping. Her mind raced as she saw the light of the room in the distance.

 

“There are a couple things you need to watch out for,” she called back to the group. “One is Suo's ability to curse using tags. She can control, she can kill, and she can disease the healthy, among other things. She also uses illusions. Her specialty in that area is dream manipulation. She can take any past event the victim has lived through and alter it to fit her needs. There's almost no doubt in my mind that she has taken advantage of the attempted rape that tore the Lord and Lady apart. That's going to make things ugly.

 

“Her son Kai is unfortunately a lost cause. Suo even manipulated her flesh and blood to carry out her plans. She convinced him that it was Lady Pin-Mei's fault that Lady Hua died, and he's been in a rage ever since. She was his world. He looked up to her. Losing her killed him inside, and that's where his madness began.”

 

The light was getting closer. They were almost there.

 

“Everyone, get ready.” She skidded into the room.

 

Rong froze. Her eyes widened. She echoed Ren's scream.

 

“LADY PIN-MEI!!!!!”