Entangled Pasts
by Reiko-chan
Chapter 5
Koenma, now in his teenage form, shuffled
his feet dejectedly on the ground. He couldn't believe it! He just couldn't
believe it! The next on his list was none other than Sazami Tominaga, Yuki's own
mother!
He stopped as he felt cold bits of sweat trickling down his forehead. No, he
could not do it. He just can't! He just can't take away the most important
person in Yuki's life. He just wouldn't be able to bear seeing her cry. But then
what could he do?
"Damn it!" he cursed out. "Damn the Fates anyway!" he added.
He was angry with the Fates, those three creepy, old geezers who spin the thread
of life and cut it as well. What's more, he is angrier with himself-- for being
helpless.
"Is something wrong, Koenma?"
He turned around only to find the worried and concerned face of his Yuki looking
at him. He tried his best to smile.
"No it's nothing." He replied taking her books from her. He then
stared at her for a moment.
"D- do you want tell me something?" she asked. "Is something
amiss, Koenma-san?"
He looked at her, hoping that she would be able to read everything in his eyes.
He hoped that she would be able to see the truth, know who he really was. He
wished that she would understand and accept him just as well.
"H-how's Sazami-san?" he asked instead. With that, Yuki turned soberly
at him.
"She is getting worse everyday." She answered as she tried hard not to
cry. "Her coughing won't stop and the muscles pains--"
"May I see her, Yuki?" he asked.
Yuki nodded her head as they made their way towards their humble cottage. Once
inside, Yuki led Koenma towards her mother's tiny room. Koenma saw the little
lady, lying on her futon, weak and pale.
"You're looking better, Tominaga-san." He greeted his voice with
forced cheerfulness.
The lady's eyes opened slowly. She looked at the young man with fondness as
Koenma sat beside her futon.
"Liar." She replied, then she gave out convulsions of coughing that
Yuki decided to step out the room, unable to contain her tears.
"Yuki hates it when I cough." she said, her voice rasping. "I
hate it too since it makes her upset."
Koenma frowned and looked at her softly. He smiled.
"What do you wish, Tominaga-san?" he asked.
"Peaceful sleep." She replied smiling weakly. "At first I was
reluctant to die, afraid of leaving my Yuki-chan alone." She added. Then
she grasped his hand firmly that it surprised Koenma.
"You would take care of her now, ne Koenma-san?"
Koenma looked at her after a moment. Then he replied.
"Yes, with all my heart."
With that, the woman smiled.
"Now I can embrace death surely and with no worries." She replied.
He smiled and lightly brought his hands on top of her forehead.
"Then sleep well, Sazami-san." He replied softly. "And when you
wake up, I promise you everything will be all right."
Surprisingly, she felt peaceful upon feeling his hand against her skin. She then
drifted off to sleep, a peaceful smile on her face. That dawn, she woke up
feeling good and so refreshed. She stood up and was surprised to find Koenma
standing by the doorway, hands outstretched. Smiling she walked towards him,
took his hand and disappeared into the light.
=========
"Koenma-sama, your father is calling for you."
Koenma looked up from his work only to find Ayame staring at him warily. He
frowned with annoyance. He is not up to seeing his father right now, not after
witnessing how Yuki's tears flowed freely from her eyes after her mother had
passed away. It has been two weeks but she seemed inconsolable and he hadn't
felt helpless and wretched before knowing he is one of the causes of her
unhappiness.
"All right, Ayame. Tell him I'll be right there." He said at last,
standing up from his leather chair.
Ayame stood there momentarily as she watched her handsome boss turn into the
bratty toddler everybody knows. But then it was really surprising. Before,
Koenma rarely changes into his teenage form but now he is always in this form,
reverting to the toddler one only when being summoned by his father.
"And he is too cheerful." She thought. Now she is beginning to agree
with George, there is something definitely going on with their boss and the
nagging feeling even became stronger upon remembering the time he took off his
pacifier.
"Is there anything else, Ayame?"
Ayame blinked as she looked down only to find Koenma frowning up at her. She
shook her head.
"Oh, t-that's all" She replied giving him a bow signaling for her
exit. Then without another word, she hurriedly went out of his office.
Koenma heaved a sigh as he dragged his feet towards his father's office. What is
the old man up to now? Moments later, he reached his father's room. He knocked
softly before entering.
"You want to see me, father?" he asked once inside.
Enma Daiou looked up from his reading. He gave a nod, acknowledging the bow his
son gave him.
"Yes." He replied. Then he stood up. "I think it is time for you
to produce an heir, son."
Koenma felt his body stiffened as he looked at his father with total surprise.
"B- but father--"
"I am not getting any younger now, Koenma." Enma Daiou began. "In
time, you will assume my position and I think that it is appropriate that you
find yourself a wife before that."
"You have been saying that for the past five centuries, father --"
Koenma began. <And always forcing me to marry a woman I don't even like, I
haven't even met! >
"I know, I know. But now this is different. I can really feel my time's
running out, Koenma." He said. Then he smiled. "Now, you are to choose
among the maidens I specifically have in mind, all of noble birth of course and
--"
"No, father I won't." He interrupted, surprised at the determination
in his voice.
"What did you say?" boomed his father getting furious by the second.
Normally, he would shrank away from him and concede but this time, he stood firm
in his ground.
"I said no father I won't." he repeated calmly but firmly. Enma Daiou,
his rage complete, walked towards him.
"You will marry if I say so and choose among the maidens I have already
considered. I will not tolerate disobedience in my realm especially from
you!" his father shouted.
Koenma shook his head as he slowly backed away from him.
"No, father I won't." he reiterated. Then without a word, he turned
around and ran away from him. Enma shouted at him with anger.
"Don't you dare turn and walk away from me Koenma!" he yelled, his
big, booming voice rocking the whole Rei Kai. "Come back here at
once!"
With that, Koenma only ran faster, ignoring the curious stares the deities and
the onis gave him. He hurriedly changed into his teenage form before stepping
into the portal. Blinded by angry tears, he desperately ran away from home,
longing for Yuki.
=======
"Thought I would find you here."
Yuki turned around only to see Koenma, a sad smile etched on his face. With
tears in her eyes, she ran to him and threw her arms around him. Koenma
immediately gathered her up in his arms and kissed her hair.
"Don't you think it's a little too late for you to be here in your secret
place?" he asked looking at the stars twinkling in the sky.
"Our secret place." Yuki corrected as she lifted her tear-streaked
face to him. "It sure feels different to come home to an empty house."
She added sorrowfully that he felt the blow of her words.
"I love you." Koenma replied instead, his eyes penetrating hers that
she felt herself shiver.
"W-what's the matter, Koenma?" she asked noting the sadness in his
voice. She gently brushed the strands of his hair away from his eyes. "Tell
me."
"You are to finish school soon, ne?" he asked
"Y-yes but--"
"I ran away from my home." He continued. Yuki frowned at him.
"Where would you stay then? Where will you go? How can you do something as
drastic as-- "
"My father is forcing me to get married." He cut in softly. Yuki
instantly felt her insides get numb, an unexpected pain slicing through her
heart. Her face fell as she stepped back away from him.
"O-oh, I see." She managed to mumble out as her lower lip trembled.
But instead of stopping her with explanations, his hand dug into his pocket and
fished out a set of rings that gleamed beautifully under the moonlight. The
rings, not of ordinary ones, are made of the most expensive stone that could
only be found in the deepest depth of the River Lethe, the river of
forgetfulness, back in the Rei Kai and the most extraordinary metal only to be
found in the Makai.
"Will you marry me, Yuki?" he asked his eyes not leaving hers.
Yuki's eyes widened with surprise at the question. She couldn't believe what she
just heard! He is actually proposing marriage to her! What is she to do now?
What should she say? Should she accept? With that she remembered her dear
mother.
"I am all alone now." she thought looking at his face searchingly.
"I don't want to be alone anymore."
Then she smiled; her mind finally made up.
"Yes but there is no one to marry us at this time." she replied.
Koenma smiled happily as he reached for her hand.
"Then with the gods of the sky and the stars as my sole witnesses, I
therefore submit myself to be your husband. I will love you and cherish you,
this I promise to keep." He said clearly.
"With the gods of the sky and the stars as my sole witnesses, I therefore
myself to you as your faithful wife. I will love you and cherish you, this I
promise to keep." She said.
Koenma smiled as he slid the ring in her left ring finger. Yuki then did the
same. Then they stared at each other, happiness clearly in their hearts.
"I love you, Yuki." He whispered as he drew her near him.
"I love you too." She replied
Then without further ado, the two sealed their love with a kiss, completing the
marriage rite under the protection of the stars twinkling above them.