The Trials of Reikai
by ARaZhi

Prologue
The garden looks beautiful. The air is filled with the sweet scent of all sorts of flowers. Botan looks ahead as the sounds signaling the start of the wedding began to play.

Keiko walked down the aisle, more beautiful than any of them had probably ever seen her before.

Yusuke looked more handsome than ever.

Botan bit her lip as the ceremony began.

~~~

It was a touching scene. A wedding that some thought would never come true, especially when the groom died, not just once but twice.

As Yusuke and Keiko exchange their vows, Atsuko could be heard sniffing. Keiko's father is grinning and her mother is brushing tears of happiness from her eyes.

Botan blinked back her tears. Happy, yet sad at the same time. Deep inside she felt empty. She looked at Yusuke as he gaze at Keiko with love and adoration in his eyes. <Will anyone ever love me that much?>

She liked Yusuke from the moment she met him. He was just so *full* of life. And though a lot of other people thinks the worst of him, deep inside him is one of the kindest hearts she'd ever met.

A part of her had wished that he'd decide to stay in Reikai. At least she'd have someone to hang out with. Someone who isn't a ferrygirl. Someone who isn't an oni. And someone who isn't such a stubborn and bossy baby...err prince. But another part of her knew that he had to go back. Back to Ningenkai. The place where he belongs, with his friends and family. He still has so much more to offer. Taking his life away would be selfish. Too selfish.

She decided then that she'd do her best to get him back to Ningenkai. Maybe...maybe someday, at the right time, they'll get the chance to be together. She knew that Koenma suspects that she has a more personal interest in Yusuke. She is a ferrygirl, but she's still a girl and a girl can't help but have a crush at least once in a lifetime, right?

That crush was crushed when she saw Keiko. She could feel, the moment she saw Yusuke looking at Keiko, that Yusuke's heart belongs to her. Even though he doesn't admit. Even though he probably did not even know it.

She tried to forget. She really did. But that's not easy, especially when they spend a lot of time together. Before she knew it, she was falling in love. She kept on falling and falling...but no one is down there to catch her.

She closed her eyes as Yusuke and Keiko kiss.

She could feel a sharp pain in her chest. <Is this what a heartbreak feels like?>

Beside her, Koenma placed a hand on her shoulder. Botan opened her eyes and looked at him. He gave her a smile with a hint of understanding. She smiled back but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

Yusuke grinned at her as he passed by. She smiled back. She's happy, for both of them. For both of them...

 

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