Entangled Pasts
by Reiko
Chapter 9
Yuki
blinked once, twice, till she felt her eyes finally focusing. Instantly the
bright light of the sun almost blinded her, the cheerful humming of the birds,
sweet to her ears. Gingerly she sat up and rubbed her eyes.
"Asa. Morning." She thought as she shoved the heavy blankets aside.
It surprised her to find herself dressed in her outdoor yukata instead of her
sleeping yukata. But nevertheless, she stood up and stretched herself, feeling
good and refreshed. She then walked towards the door and stepped outside.
Strangely she didn't feel hungry, she felt like going out.
Humming cheerfully, her feet dragged her past the market to the outskirts of
Kyoto. There she found herself making her way towards her secret place. Heaving
a contented sigh, she leaned against the huge trunk of the tree and listened to
the cheerful sounds of the birds chirping their early morning songs.
"Sumimasen." A cool voice beside her suddenly said. "But do I
know you?"
Yuki turned towards the voice only to see a handsome young man smiling down on
her. He has dark brown hair, his eyes deep shining violet orbs, his nose
perfectly shaped, and his lips, the most sensual ones she had ever seen. All in
all, his features are not too soft but also not too arrogant. He has the
gentlest and sweetest face she has ever seen
"N-no." She answered blinking twice. Then something strange went
through her when she stared at his face again.
"B-but you seem familiar though." She slowly said, searching her
memory. Then she smiled. "That's right! You look like my husband!" she
exclaimed as she joined her hands together.
The young man smiled and settled himself beside her comfortably. Yuki would
normally look at him strangely then walk away but there was this strange filial
feeling that's keeping her from staying away from him. She found herself not
leaving his side as they both watched the clear sky above them.
"So I look like your husband." He began amusement in his voice.
"Hai." She answered. "Same hair, same nose and lips but-"
she stopped and turned to him.
"But different eyes." She continued admiring the deep violet hue of
his eyes staring at her, actually one of the most unusual eyes she has ever
seen.
"Oh… so your husband, where is he?" he asked. "Working?"
Yuki's face fell as she remembered what happened yesterday. She looked away as
the memory of their misunderstanding brought fresh waves of pain in her chest.
She took a deep breath as she felt the pain constricting her heart.
"Iie." She answered softly, shaking her head. "I don't even have
an idea where he spent the night." she added.
"Having trouble with your marriage?" He asked casually.
"Iie." She quickly answered. Although he seems familiar, it is not his
business anyway. "What made you ask that?"
"Your eyes tell all." He answered. "Care to tell me?"
"Iie." She answered this time sharply. The young man then nodded his
head and stared back at the clouds. Suddenly Yuki let out a sigh.
"Do you even feel like you want to turn everything around, you know, like
turn back time… to repair the irreparable, not to make the same mistake
again?" She asked.
The young man turned to her. He tilted his head and pursed his lips, thinking.
Then he smiled.
"Well, that depends." He answered. "Depends on what mistake
you're referring to." He added.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"Well, if that so-called mistake made me happy and fulfilled… then I
wouldn't call it a mistake." He replied. "If I got hurt, then I could
call it a risk but not a mistake." He added.
"Then yes, it was a mistake. My mistake…"
The young man, this time, focused his attentions to her. He captured her eyes
with his that Yuki couldn't tear herself away from the gaze, so intense and so
heavy with emotions.
<How could you say that it was a mistake? > Something inside her argued.
"Because I didn't even know him. He was a stranger, someone I haven't seen
before…"
The young man sighed and finally turned away. He then focused his attentions
back to the clouds, a silly smile on his face. His hands flew to his head and
brushed several strands of his shiny brown hair away from his eyes. Yuki had to
stop momentarily as she noticed the sudden movement… so much like Koenma.
"He took away my father, my mother the only family I've ever known. He made
me an orphan…"
<But with him you were never alone… >
"But nevertheless…"
<You know very well that it was their time. You are actually thankful that
death ended their sufferings… >
The young man suddenly turned to her and smiled sweetly. Yuki's eyes widened
with wonder as memories wheezed inside her head, memories of how Koenma smiled
at her, his face grinning boyishly, how his eyes sparkled when amused…
"Daijoubu?" he asked upon noting her thoughtful expression. "Doushita
no? What's wrong?"
"N-nandemonai. Nothing." She answered shaking her head. Then she fell
thoughtful again. The young man just shrugged and turned his attention back at
the clear blue heavens.
"He lied to me…"
<Face it, after explaining everything you now believe him. You know from the
very start that he is strange in everything but still you accepted him… >
"He broke his promise. He promised to take care of me and love me…"
<He did keep his promise. He didn't promise forever, ne? >
With those realizations, Yuki's eyes brimmed with tears. It was all her fault!
Entirely all her fault! She hurriedly turned away as the young man looked at her
with concern.
"What is it?" he asked. Yuki just shook her head as her hand flew to
her face and swiped the tears away.
"Then w-why is it? Was it my fault? Was it a mistake… my mistake…"
<Iie. You love him… how could you call it a mistake… it was a risk…
baka! >
"Talk to him." a voice suddenly said, interrupting her conflicting
emotions. "That is the only way to straighten things out."
Yuki turned to him, her tear-streaked face meeting his gentle ones. He smiled
tenderly, his eyes full of warmth and understanding.
"He loves you so much. I just know it." He replied.
"You don't even know him." She replied sniffling. "*I* don't even
know him." she continued bitterly.
"Well I may not know him but in some part I understand him." he
answered. Then his gaze softened. "I couldn't blame him for loving a
beautiful and a kind woman such as you."
With that Yuki blushed. She cast her eyes down. Strangely she found herself
believing him, trusting him. She looked at the sky, now turning brighter than
ever.
<You love him. You know very well that you do. You know very well that you
want to settle things with him. Stop fooling yourself, Hidaka Yuki and do
yourself a favor… >
"H-how can you be sure?" she asked. The man turned to her. Then to her
surprise, no words came out his lips. He just stared at her, his eyes seeping at
her very soul that she felt her knees weakened.
"D-do I know you from somewhere?" She asked. But instead of replying,
the young man purposely pulled her to him. Yuki gave a loud surprised gasp as
she felt his strong arms around her.
"I know that you will do the right thing." He whispered as Yuki
blinked with surprise. "I just know that you will do the right thing."
With that, she felt his arms tightened even more, a comforting hug. She closed
her eyes as her arms strangely went up about him, feeling his warmth.
"What is your name?" She asked.
"What do you want to call me?"
"How about Kiyoshi?" she whispered back. "After my father."
The young man smiled. "Kiyoshi? That is a wonderful name." Then he let
go of her.
" Okasan." He replied softly.
"O-okasan?" she asked her eyes widening.
The young man nodded his head. "Now my mission's finished. I could finally
sleep peacefully now." Then he smiled."Please, Otousan loves you so
much." He said. "You will settle everything with him won't you
Okasan?" He asked as he felt himself slowly disappearing from her sight.
"M-matte!" Yuki called out. So that explains the strange filial
feeling! She was dreaming after all!
"I love you mother." He said. "Always remember that I will always
love both of you."
"Matte Kiyoshi-chan!" she cried as she desperately clung to his
vanishing figure. "Won't you at least let me kiss you? Put my arms around
you once again?" She added her tears falling faster.
"Don't cry for me, mother." He replied. "We will see each other
again, that's a promise. I will always be there beside you." Then with one
final smile, he completely disappeared from her sight.
Yuki fell to the ground, her hands feeling nothing but air. Then suddenly a
bright light appeared before her, blinding her. Without thinking, she stood up
and walked towards it, its brilliance attracting her just like a bee to a
flower. Then she closed her eyes as she felt herself being carried in a peaceful
current, swayed by the gentle morning breeze.
Strangely, she is not feeling afraid. She felt serene, calm, and almost tranquil
but it was not the peace that death brings, it was the peace of living, an
assurance that she is alive, alive to fulfill her promise to Kiyoshi. Then she
gasped as she felt a prick on her right arm.
"It's good to see you again, Yuki-san."
She blinked, her eyes trying hard to visualize. Then she saw a face peering on
her. She took a deep breath.
"Where am I?" she asked groggily. The doctor smiled.
"You are all right now." He replied his voice filled with relief.
"You gave us a mighty scare, young lady."
"W-where's my husband?" She asked starting to get up. "I must- I
must talk to him."
"Now, now, you must get some rest." The doctor said as he gently
pushed her down the futon. "Don't worry, Koenma-san will be back in a short
while."
With that Yuki nodded her head. She couldn't argue with the doctor anymore since
she is feeling weak and dizzy. She just decided to close her eyes and sleep,
sure that tomorrow would definitely come knocking on her door.