Entangled Pasts
by Reiko-chan
Chapter 2
"Want
to go for sweet rice cakes before heading home, Yuki-san?"
Yuki looked behind her and smiled cheerfully.
"Hai, Mineko-san." she replied bounding up excitedly beside her
friend. Mineko let out a little laugh.
"I just don't know how you do it, Yuki-san." she said as they reached
the crowded market. Yuki looked at her with confusion. Her friend rolled her
eyes.
"I just don't understand. You seem so cheerful after the scolding and
beating you got from sensei for being late again today."
With that, Yuki stopped, her purplish eyes turning thoughtful.
"Well perhaps I'm used to it." she replied. "After all, I was
always late these past few weeks." she added.
"Say what you want Yuki-chan but those rice cakes are a-waiting!"
Mineko replied as she made way towards the stall. Yuki finally decided to end
such thoughts to follow her. But before she could take a step, she saw her
friend helplessly on the ground, a horse trampling over her.
==========
Koenma looked at the scene before him with dismay. Although not liking it one
bit, he couldn't do anything about it. The girl was destined to die by being
trampled on by that horse and it made him feel sorry to see a pretty and lively
girl, so full of youth and life die in the the most unpretty way.
He let out another curse as he saw the spirit of the girl rise from its mortal
body. It walked aimlessly, looking at her body with obvious confusion. Damn his
father anyway! Comforting souls is not his job. Now, how is he supposed to
comfort and tell her that she is already dead? Just looking at how confused she
is made him think that it is comforting she needs rather than the actual truth.
"Mineko-san!"
"That voice." he thought. Amidst the crowd of people and the swarms of
frantic shouting, he heard the most familiar voice. Then he saw her, her blue
hair quite visible among the crowd.
She is bloodied and pale, her yukata stained with the dark red blood as she
cradled the lifeless body of her friend on her lap, crying.
"Please! Somebody, anybody, help us!" she called out shouting and
crying. Instantly two men came out and carried the girl's body.
The girl with the blue hair followed them, no doubt on their way towards the
doctor's house. With that, the crowd began to disperse leaving nothing but the
unseen presence looking after the three with confusion. Sighing, he started for
the girl.
"Are you ready to go?" He asked in the most comforting voice he could
muster. The girl turned to his with confusion.
"Go where?"
"To Rei Kai with me." Koenma replied. The girl frowned.
"I-I don't understand." she began. "Why is my friend crying? Who
is that girl she is crying for anyway?"
Koenma tried his best to sound polite and gentle. "She was crying for
you." he replied.
"But why? I'm right here." the girl stubbornly replied.
No Mineko-san it is your body out there with your friend." Koenma said
shortly. With that, the girl turned to him horrified.
"M-my body?" she croaked.
"I am afraid so." he replied nodding his head. "You are a spirit
now, you were trampled by a horse."
With those words, the girl started backing away from him fearfully.
"N-no!" she said, her voice a hushed whisper. "I-it can't be! It
can't be!"
"I'm sorry." Koenma said walking towards her. "Let us go, Mineko."
he added offering his hand.
"I don't- I don't want to die! I don't want to die!" the girl cried
out turning away from him.
"If you walk away from me right now, have you thought about where you would
go?"
That did it. The girl stopped and turned to him. "I will go home." she
replied.
"And then what?" Koenma said. "Scare your parents to death? You
are a spirit now, a ghost! Nobody would be able to see you or touch you."
Koenma sighed as he once again offered his hand. The girl looked at his
outstretched hand, considering the thought.
"Let us go." he said this time softly. The girl frowned at him, this
time wonderingly.
"Are you death?" she asked taking his hand. "You sure look young
and cute. I have pictured something more dark and evil." she added as they
started walking towards the light.
With that, Koenma smiled softly. He shook his head. "No." he replied.
"You have met death a little while ago."
"Oh! Who are you then?"
"You will find out later." He replied mysteriously. "Just wait
and see." he added as they reached the portal.
After seeing the girl stepping into the portal did Koenma made a mental check.
He would double up whatever benefits his ferry girls recieve from him. Being one
for a day sure made him realize how difficult their work is.
=======
"Mother, I'm going."
"Yuki-chan, are you sure you are feeling all right?" her mother asked
as she noted the lameness of her daughter's voice. "You can always skip
school, you know."
Yuki smiled weakly at her mother's concerned expression. With that, she slumped
herself back on the kneeling mats, too stricken with grief.
"To tell you the truth mother, no I'm not." she replied.
"Although is has been a week and everything..."
"Oh Yuki-chan." her mother began taking her by her arms. "It was
just- it was her time already. Nobody, not even you could do anything about
it."
"B-but Mineko- she was laughing and talking! It was just- so sudden!"
"And so we must always be ready." Her mother replied kissing her hair.
"Now you understand how precious life can be."
With that, Yuki slowly nodded her head. She then stood up and put her zoris on.
"I need to clear my head, mother." she said stepping out.
"Oh all right. But do be careful, ne? Please?"
Yuki nodded her head and smiled. Then sighing, she made her way towards the
market place.
=======
"Are you sure you want to get off here, Koenma-sama?"
Koenma nodded his head as he slowly took off his pacifier and shoved it inside
his pocket. Ayame, his ferry girl, frowned at him with the gesture.
"Thank you, Ayame." he said hopping off from her oar. "I'll be on
my way."
"Hai." she said. Then with one final bow, she flew away from him. All
alone, he then started on his way.
Crazy as it may seem, he found himself wishing he could see the girl with the
blue. Other than checking Ningenkai for the third time, he also wished to see
her once again, just to see her. Then the question struck him. WHY? He does not
know for sure but all he knew was he couldn't get her off his mind these past
week.
Then as if an answered prayer, he caught sight of a blue hair before stumbling
backwards.
"Oh, it's you again." Yuki mumbled her voice sober. "I'm
sorry."
"We seem to keep bumping into each other." he said. Yuki looked up and
smiled weakly.
"I'm sorry. I am just not myself lately." she replied.
"I'm sorry about your friend." he whispered. Yuki looked surprised.
"H-how did you know?"
"Um, I-I saw the whole thing." Koenma stammered falling in step beside
her. "You were crying so a I assumed she was you friend."
"Yes she was my best friend." she replied. "I have never really
expected that. I wish I could have told her how much she means to me."
"Well, I'm sure she knows it." he said. "After all you seem like
a nice person. And please don't frown like that, it is not just you. It doesn't
make you."
With that, Yuki stopped. She turned to him and for the first time noticed how
handsome he is. His face is well chiseled and his eyes like sparkling topazes.
His hair fell onto his eyes gently, gleaming under the afternoon sun. Instantly
she blushed.
"I- I'm afraid that I should be on my way, sir." she hastily replied.
Koenma frowned at the sudden change of her voice. Moments ago she was friendly
chatting with him as if she knew him forever then the next, cool and afraid.
Taking a deep breath, he started towards her.
"Are you afraid of me?" he asked softly, his brown eyes meeting her
dark lavender ones. Yuki tried her best to relax.
"Why no sir." she replied in the coolest voice she could make.
"It is just you're a stranger and all…"
"Oh so my being a stranger bothers you?" he replied.
Yuki didn't answer, she was too fascinated by how his eyes sparkle when amused.
He smiled softly.
"If that is so." he began taking a step backward. He bowed before her,
an exaggerated bow that Yuki couldn't help but give out a soft giggle.
"I am Koenma, completely at you service Madam." he said his voice rich
with gallantry. It pleased him to hear her soft laugh,so melodious and utterly
feminine.
"Koenma?
Is that it?" she asked wonderingly.
He frowned as he straightened himself up. How idiotic! He hadn't thought of a
last name to go with it!
"Oh, um my name is uh H-Hidaka." he stammered out. "Hidala Koenma."
"Well my name is Tominaga Yuki."she answered bowing gracefully before
him. "It is so nice meeting you, Koenma-san." she added smiling.
"No the pleasure is all mine." he mumbled absent-mindedly as he was,
for a moment, caught in a rapture upon seeing her smile.
"S-so where are you from?" she asked as she started walking. Koenma
fell on step beside her.
"Oh, I'm- from around here."
"Where exactly *from around here*?" she asked looking at him. Koenma
frowned.
"Uh I- I live just from outside-- Kyoto." he replied. "Yes just
from there." he added pointing nowhere but nevertheless sounding sure.
"How about you?" he quickly asked before Yuki pry him more about it.
"I live just past the market." she answered. Finally they reached the
wooden bridge. She stopped and gazed down on the sparkling stream.
"Do you go to a school house as well?" Koenma's eyebrows shot upwards.
Then he smiled.
"I did. Just finished it months ago." he replied trying to sound
convincing. Yuki's eyes widened.
"Oh but you look so young!" she exclaimed "How old are you,
sir?"
<Oh about four or five hundred years or so.> he thought as he looked at
her with amusement. "Im uh eighteen." he replied.
<Eighteen! Too young to finish school!>
"I take it you must be very smart." she replied. "Finishing
school at a very young age-- do go to work?"
"I work for my father." he replied. "I see to the paperworks and
I take care of the deliveries." he added. Well it was the truth anyway,
though most of it.
Yuki opened her mouth to say something. But then she realized she had been
asking too much. She then refrained herself from asking and turned away from him
quite shyly.
"What's the matter, Yuki-dono?" Koenma asked surprised at the sudden
movement. "Did you suddenly remember your friend?"
"Mineko." she thought. She had forgotten about her and her grieving!
Somehow this charming young man was able to make her forget Mineko's death!
"I-it was just..." she began stammering. Then she looked at the
setting sun. "Oh look, it is near to sundown. I must head home." she
hastily said. Koenma tried his best to hide his disappointment.
"Oh, well then, yes you should." he said smiling at her. Yuki smiled
brightly, her eyes sparkling.
"It was nice meeting you again, Koenma-san." she said cheerfully.
"Same here Yuki-dono." he said as he felt his heart skip a beat.
Yuki, with one last look, turned around and started walking away from him. Just
then, something inside Koenma snapped. "
Yuki-dono!" he called out.
Yuki stopped a few meters away from him. She turned to him and smiled with
questioning eyes.
"May I- may I see you tomorrow?" he asked hopefully. Yuki stared at
him for a moment.
"I'm afraid I would be awfully busy for school tomorrow." Koenma's
face fell. Yuki smiled. "But I believe I would be free after it." she
continued.
Koenma's face instantly lit up. "Arigato, Yuki-dono." he replied.
"I will see you tomorrow then."
"Hai!" she said cheerfully. Koenma smiled with genuine pleasure as he
looked after her vanishing figure.