Chapter Twelve – In the Name of Love

Ch'ing Shin-li Says?

It has been a week now since Yugi and I wet here in Taiwan – in this place there is nobody but he and myself – just Yugi and Shantall. Kuya Kent-li helped us to board a private flight to Taipei. He also paid a hotel suite for the two of us, good for as long as we want to stay.

These past few days, it has really been so stressful and painful. I read in the China Daily about Gio and his father's suicide. There are also news in the television about Papa being hospitalized and Kuya Kent-li's accident and tragic death. Huh! These were all too much.

Lately this day, Mama Xiao Fan pleads guilty on the Prime Minister's assassination and she was sentenced to death by means of lethal injection. How I wish Papa to get better, because without him, I have nothing left. In spite of my love for my father, however, I still have no guts to set my feet on our palace again. Only for what? To force me on another arrange marriage again? I am already contented with Yugi on my side . . .

"Are you crying again?" he said as he leans close and kiss me on my shoulder. I am currently watching the window from our hotel room.

I just only shakes my head.

"Not really," I answered.

"It is still too early. You should sleep," he said again as he kiss me on my cheeks.

"I love you," I whisper.

"I love you more," he answered then kiss my hand.

~

The next morning, we went to Taipei's little village behind the river and the beach there is so peaceful.

Yugi and I get our own cameras and we take pictures and make memories together. The ambiance is so sweet and romantic. Huh!

"Babe," he calls out.

I looks at him and he is taking pictures of me. I made a heart shape out of my two hands.

"Lovely," he said.

I only smiles at him.

We also take fishing and we played in the water. He is the only one who can make me feel happy and complete.

At lunchtime, we had picnic on by the beach and then we lay there together.

"I love you," I whisper by the time that I notice that he is already sleeping.

Then after that, I go to the seashore and watch the waves while writing his name on the sand.

Yugi. Then I will erase it again. Seto Dom Yó-gi. Then I will erase it again. That continues until I notice that he already take a seat beside me on the sandy ground.

"Are you happy?" he suddenly ask out of the blue.

I just only manage to give him a nod.

"Uh-huh."

Silence.

"I tried to write your name on the sand," I said, "but the waves wash it away."

Saying that, I reaches for his hand as I gently squeeze it and then I looks at him straight in the eye.

"I tried to write your name in the air, but as the wind keeps on blowing, I realize that it will only be swayed and will be takes away from me. I tried to write your name on a piece of paper, but I then lost it."

Then I give him a bright smile.

"So, I write your name in my heart, and then, it will stay forever."

By that, I kiss him on the lips.

~

After our time spent on sightseeing Taipei's view, we ends up on stargazing on the window of our hotel room.

"You see that star?" I said to him as I points out to the direction of the brightest star that night. With me is Yugi and he is embracing me from my back. "Before, I used to believe that it was Mama Anne and she is still watching for me," then I smiles at him. "Now I realized that it is the planet Venus, the evening or morning star."

To my surprise, he kiss me on my cheeks then he shows me a necklace with a pendant of a moon that is embracing a star.

"This is a specialized one," he said. "Its name is Moonlight Dreamer. You are the star and I am the moon. Before you came into my life, I used to stare in the moonlight dreaming for a star that will shine on my darkest corners, and then there was you. I found you in spite of myself drowned in darkness and vain. Now, the moon will never, ever let his star to be parted from him that is why the moon is embracing his star so tight. Just like us at this moment."

In spite of my tears, I still manage to smile.

"Thank you."

He only nods as he place the necklace on my neck.

"If ever I lost you, that necklace will help me to find you again fir I already placed my heart in it, so do not lose my heart, okay?"

I just smile at him.

"Because I love you so much, I will never let you go," I said.

He kisses my forehead as he whisper, "Marry me, tomorrow?"

Tears fall from my eyes as I nod.

~

That morning, I wake up early just to enjoy the view of the beach.

I get my video camera.

"Up to this very moment, I want to make memories," I said with a smile then I clears my throat. "Everyday little things with him and with this place is all that matters. What is the real happiness for me? That is being with someone special and making the most out of our time together. Yugi, just stay with me okay?"

"How sweet."

I turns my gaze beside me and see a lady smiling widely at my direction. I just give back the smile.

"I am Xia Mei. Sorry for interrupting you but I find it so cute."

"Shin-li," I said then I extend my hand.

"Is that record for your boyfriend?"

"Fiancé," I answered shyly.

She just nod. "How wonderful! Anyway, I saw you alone and we are conducting a life group just right at the cottage there," she points out. "Would you like to join? It is just a Bible study among young women."

"I-I am a not a Christian."

"Oh?" she said.

"But, if it will not be inconvenient," I said again.

"Of course," she said happily, as she clings to my elbow and drags me to the group of women. "Certainly not."

~

That afternoon, we also go to a small shrine and we made vows in front of the altar. I forgot to mention, Yugi's family were Catholics, well except for auntie Ericka who is devoted to Christian faith. She sent me and Yugi a letter that her husband and herself will join Doctors without Borders as Missionaries. It is their way to move on and face whatever God had in stored for both of them. I wonder sometimes who is God? My Papa is also Catholic, given his background as Duke and close kin of English Royals. My Grandpa is actually a son of a princess that is not align on the throne.

As I walks down the aisle, it seems like I am on a fairytale, with him waiting for my hands.

"Will you be mine forever, in sickness and in health? In richer and in poorer? No matter how the world is against us? Until death sets us apart? And swear to love me even after life?" he ask as he reaches for my hand.

With a teary eye I answered, "I do."

I also repeat his vows and he replied, "I do." After that, he kisses me on the lips.

"Thank God," he said again. "We may not have a priest today or a physical witness but God is enough. May you Lord sanctify our vows together. When these were all over, I promised to register this marriage for men's law, but for now, God's law is enough and far better."

~

"It is a good day to shop, especially for starting couples. Are you newlyweds?" The sales clerk smiles as she ask me that question.

I guess, my face turns red at the time.

"Actually, we just make our vows, but the formality, we are still looking forward for it," I answered as I throw an admiring stare to him.

We are currently here on a department store and I am looking for sundresses, fancy hats and beach slippers.

"You really looks good together," she commented with a smile.

"Thank you," I answered as I hands her the payment.

Then I turns to him. "Let us go?"

He just smile as he place his hand on the small of my back.

At the parking lot, we spotted Dylan waiting for us.

"Lady Shin-li," he said by the time he see us. "Let us have a talk."

I turn to Yugi and he just nods at me. Therefore, Dylan and I go to a nearby coffee shop while Yugi waits for us outside.

"Young Lady," he said again that endearment, which makes me, feel like a small kid being reprimand by adults.

"What is this all about?" I ask.

"Are you okay with him?"

"Yes, now tell me, what is it?"

"It is about your father. He needs you. His health is getting worst."

"I am not going."

"Lady Shin-li, no matter what, whosoever he is to you on the past, he is still your father. What he had done is just and fair for the people that he loves and cares for. It is not just only for you, but for Master Dione, Lady Shin-di, and for the others."

"Just and fair?! I cannot believe you!"

"You do not know the whole story."

"Dylan, this is nonsense. Let us end this talk," I said as I attempts to leave.

"He is dying," he said again.

I feels like a dagger was being struck on my heart. "I do not care," I utter with a heavy heart. "He does not care for me. He always bargain me. He always betrays me so I do not care with him either."

A tear starts to fall from my eyes.

"It feels like it is not you anymore young lady," he said. "Do not force me to hurt you. If it takes for me to even drag you there, I will do it. It is the right thing."

By that, I left him there then I runs to Yugi.

"What happened?" he ask.

"Let's go," I said as I drags him and rush inside the car.

"What about this?" he ask again.

"Come on, let's go. They are after me!"

By that, we head off but Dylan and my bodyguards are still after us.

"Yugi," I said as I reach for his hand. "Do not give me to them." I am already crying this time.

"Are you sure that it is not just a misunderstanding?" he ask in a weary tone. "Dylan really cares for you."

I shakes my head.

He just not and increases the speed of his car.

Mix frustration on our situation and my worries for Dad's condition, and fear that they will sets me apart from Yugi again are all spinning on my head.

I do not know what to do anymore.

Then I saw his gun. I throws him a stare and he is busy on driving, so I get his gun and puts it to Dylan's direction.

"What are you doing?!" Yugi ask in horror and shock but I only ignores him.

"In the name of love," I said.

"Shin-li!" Yugi exclaimed but I just closes my eyes.

"I do not care what the consequences will be . . . I am sorry Dylan," I said then I shot Dylan only to realize that I shot him on his arm and his car hits an electric post.

"Dylan!" I exclaimed while crying. "Yugi, stop the car!" I screams as I tried to get the control of the wheels from him. "Dylan is wounded!"

"Shin-li!"

"No!"

"Shin-li! Stop it, we might get an accident!"

"No!"

"Stop it!"

Beep . . . beep . . . beep . . .

We both looks on our front, only to realized that we are about to hit a car on the intersection point.

"Oh, hell!" Yugi exclaimed in horror.

He turned right but it is too late. We already hit an eight wheeler, and everything that I can remember is we are being thrown upside down then there's a big blast and black out.

~

What happened?

I tried to open my eyes. In spite of blurry vision, I turned to him and he is so helpless and unconscious. I tried to open the door of his car, get outside, and in spite of I being so helpless and wounded like him, I tried to look for help.

"Young Lady!"

I tried to stands up and looks at him. "Dylan . . ."

"Young lady!"

"He is inside the car . . . go get him. He is inside the car . . . "

"Young lady!" I still heard Dylan exclaimed but I am too weak and I can no longer opened my eyes. That is the last time I can ever remember before I succumb into darkness.

But only love can say,

Try again or walk away

But I believe in you and me

That sun will shine one day

So I just play my part

Praying you'll have a change of heart

But I can't make you see it through

That something only love can do . . .