Epilogue
Koenma answered the soft knock at his office door with impatience, though he couldn’t keep a fleeting smile from forming as he feigned concentrating on the stacks of documents on his desk. “Nanda.”
A soft clearing of the visitor’s throat and a musical voice broke the monotonous rhythm of the Reikai Seal hitting paper. “Koenma-sama, I’ve brought you lunch.” There was an undercurrent of laughter and love in the words, and it warmed Koenma’s heart. “It’s very good,” the voice cajoled.
Koenma looked up into beloved rose eyes and smiled, his eyes crinkling at the edges. “In a few minutes. I’ll just finish this stack of papers.”
“Koenma-sama, do you want to eat this or wear it?”
The prince pretended to consider the question, though his eyes glinted teasingly. “I’ll need company,” he said lightly.
Botan widened her eyes. “Will I do?” she offered in mock innocence.
Koenma looked at her thoughtfully. “I don’t know,” he mused, “You’re very disrespectful. Scrawny too.” He sighed over Botan’s squawk of indignation. “I suppose I’ll have to eat with you just to make sure that you don’t starve to death.” He grinned at the choking noises Botan was making.
“I am *not* scrawny!” Botan said insultedly, marching around the prince’s desk with the light of battle in her eyes. She looked at the man she loved. “Am I?” she asked, suddenly vulnerable; Koenma’s opinion had always mattered to her; more so now.
Koenma looked up at Botan. A quick burst of power and the prince was nearly at eye level with her. Taking her hands, he pulled her to sit on his desk facing him, ignoring for once the piles of work. “No,” he said seriously, letting his bronze eyes meet her rose, “I don’t think you’re scrawny.”
“Do you think I’m disrespectful?” Botan asked softly. “I – I don’t mean to be…”
“Iie,” Koenma hesitated, “I think you’re perfect.”
Color streaked across Botan’s cheekbones as she stared down at their entwined hands. “Honto?” she asked shyly. “I – I’m just a ferrygirl –“
“You aren’t *just* anything Botan,” Koenma told the kimono-clad woman firmly. “You’re beautiful, loyal, kind, brave, and…perfect.”
“Demo…I’m not – I could never compete with the kind of woman you…” Botan trailed off forlornly, but Koenma heard what she didn’t say. /The kind of woman you ought to be with./
/I must be getting better at this people thing./ Koenma disentangled one of his hands to lift Botan’s chin, trying to meet the eyes of the woman who was determined to look anywhere but at him. “Botan, look at me.”
Slowly, almost painfully so, Botan raised her eyes. Her heart jumped in her throat as she met Koenma’s bronze, reading the love that had been there for a long time. A happy smile curved her lips even as the trembled with the force of her emotions.
“I know it’s not going to be easy with our work and all, but I’m willing to give it a try,” Koenma said frankly. “And though you might not think so, *I* think you’re the right one.” A teasing light entered his eyes. “And I’m the prince, so I get the final say in the matter.”
Botan laughed delightedly. “If you say so Koenma-sama,” she said demurely, peeking at him from behind her lashes.
“I say so,” Koenma said firmly.
Botan’s eyes were soft as she looked at Koenma. “We’ll make this work, ne?”
Koenma tightened his hands around hers. “Aa.”
George stepped away from where he had his ear pressed up against Koenma’s door and grinned in satisfaction. It was a wonderful day in the Reikai.
~Owari
Author’s Notes >_<
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It’s done! After 4 – or was it 5? revisions it’s done!! ::mad scientist laugh:: Hoo boy…it only took 5 months to fix. Gah. Oh yes, if some references aren’t understandable, it’s because Brown Penny is part of my timeline. Was the ending too unbelievable? The plot too fast? C & C’s are always welcomed and appreciated!