LOVE DEFIES ALL ODDS
By Seiyo
Chapter
14
The
man opened the door to the room. His eyes focused on the woman lying on the bed,
peacefully asleep. It has been a good eight months now, yet Botan still hasn’t
moved a single budge.
Koenma
walked in and settled on the side of the bed, his hand brushed a few stray hairs
from Botan’s face then grasped her hand. He just arrived from Ningenkai taking
care of business for his father, the great Enma Daiou, then dropping off to see
Yusuke and the others, informing them of Botan’s condition. It has been like
that for a long time. Whenever he arrived from his trips or after he had
finished all his work, he would drop by her room, staying there until it’s
time to sleep, sometimes even spending the whole night there, hoping to see some
progress in her condition. Akuma’s case had been closed for sometime now.
He
remembered the day when they came back. George came out to meet them and seeing
Botan, gasped and panicked. Everyone was shocked by what had happened, even his
father. Since then, Botan had laid motionless in this room. Nevertheless, they
took care of her.
Time
passed steadily. Koenma gazed at Botan. She
looks so calm and serene in her sleep. Stroking her cheek, he sighed. He
sorely missed Botan’s smiles and cheerful laughter.
“Botan…
I don’t know if you can hear me. I just want to say that I believe that
someday, you’ll wake up and come back to me, and I’ll be here waiting for
that day to come, even if it might mean a lifetime. I will always love you…”
Koenma whispered softly to her ear. For months, he hadn’t spoken of what he
felt. He had only stared at her sleeping figure silently. Now, being able to
talk to her freely even if she doesn’t respond is like a release from all pain
and burden inside his heart.
He
bent down to kiss her and was ready to leave when he felt a gentle press on his
hand. Surprised, he looked down. He was still holding Botan’s hand in his.
Wide eyed, he moved his gaze to her face. His eyes lit up as he saw Botan’s
eyes flutter and open.
“Botan…”
he uttered her name.
“Koenma?”
Botan was looking at him, staring at his hazel eyes.
Overcome
with joy, Koenma quickly hugged her, “Botan… you’re awake…”
Botan’s
eyes softened at Koenma’s reaction and hugged him back, tears coming to her
eyes, “I’m back… and I’ll never leave your side again…”
Koenma
pulled away, gazed into the depths of her eyes then took her face between his
hands, “I will never let anyone take you away from me. I love you…”
“I
love you too…” Botan answered back.