Reunited
by Varon
This fic can also be found at http://www.oocities.org/varon_22/reunited.html.
This is what I conceived to be the epilogue to the "Alternate History" series. I hope Whitecat-san doesn't mind, because I didn't exactly pay attention to her details. After Yusuke was killed with the warp-metal blade, he was changed into pure energy and was not supposed to have any residue of his former identity anymore. But I guess I just couldn't put a period on Yusuke dying; for me, it had to end with a tearful reunion.
Enjoy, hopefully. Comments? E-mail at animaniac.forever@mailcity.com or varon22@gurlmail.com.
I never knew how vast this place really was.
I could go on and on, hopping on every boulder of every mountain I could find, and still be convinced that Rei Kai is a realm that extends beyond what my understanding of universe can suffice. Which was huge. Considering I had died twice in my teenage life, I should have had a pretty good idea of the expanse of this place, where all souls reside.
Then again, I never stayed long enough.
Koenma's piercing of my youkai heart brought me at last to my "final resting place", but I know I couldn't rest until I found her. No matter how wide the Spirit World is, I have to look into its every nook and corner... to look for her.
Even if takes me centuries to do just that, I would never stop searching for her anguished soul.
I owe it to her, after all the pain I caused her, after the time I've... hurt her... in the most morbid and gory nature imaginable. I winced at the memory -- as if there's anything memorable in that incident -- disgusted at myself for the cruel way I've treated her. To put it mildly. I owe her an apology for letting myself be used by an insane, heartless witch -- and for being helpless enough not to sense the danger that was to come. I owe her three words... three words I never got to utter after my (horrible) transformation.
I had to tell her... I never, ever stopped loving her.
I had to find her as soon as possible. I had to learn... if she ever will forgive me.
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I had no sense of time anymore; I'm nothing but a powerless spirit, after all. I jumped from cloud to cloud, from every river and valley that comprise the Rei Kai's environment. I stop at every few land forms that offer some sort of shelter, watching who-knows-how-may sunsets and sunrises. However, despite my futile attempts, I still haven't found her. But I kept on; a soul had no concept of weariness whatsoever, anyway.
My feet came in contact with grassy land -- I believed this to be one of this World's prairies I had visited. But taking in the atmosphere of this small paradise, I sense something that made it different from the others. The breeze here was crisper; I inhaled the freshness of the air. The blooms swayed rhythmically to the seemingly melodic hum the wind created. The trees were sturdy, yes, as in all the other Rei Kai plants, but of all the places I landed upon, this piece of land brought me a feeling of serenity. Its seemed that there was a caretaker of this prairie, as if every element present carried this gardener's appeasing touch. The wind seemed to be transferring their gratitude and good vibes to me, and thus a wholesome, peaceful state welled up in my innate being.
Somehow, this prairie reminded me of her. Her gentleness, her patience, her kindness was always there to caress my troubled senses, calming me down. Her touch alone made shivers go down my spine -- although of course Urameshi Yusuke would not dare show it. But her kiss, her hair, her breath, her body movement as we made mad passionate love, brought me back to the time I vowed I would never leave her.
That I would never, in my whole life, hurt her.
But guess what? Because of my own stupidity (which I will forever curse) I did just those things.
Some lover I turned out to be.
The place was deserted, part of the reason why my mind suddenly drifted off. It reminded me of the neighborhood park we used to go to when we were a lot younger. We would stay there, and talk. No malicious teasing, just plain talking. It was gratifying to pour your heart out to someone who would willingly listen and share her views with you. Indeed, she was one heck of a friend, the best one I could ever ask for.
Before I fantasize any more, I prepared to leave. I knew she wasn't here anyway; why waste time thinking about the past when I could spend it searching for her?
I couldn't be more wrong. She was here.
I felt some other presence behind me. Turning around, I found myself staring straight into Yukimura Keiko's huge brown eyes brimming with an emotion I couldn't identify.
I didn't find her. She found me.
Quite ironic, isn't it? The hunter was hunted.
But this hunter couldn't have felt more relieved.
We stared at each other for quite a while. I looked earnestly into her sepia-colored eyes, and she gazed back at me searchingly. The wind blew around us, fluttering our hair, though I didn't feel the cold. I just looked at her, indulging myself in the pleasure of seeing her once more. But I knew I just couldn't just stand here and watch her. I did something loathesome, a deed totally unforgivable...
I know... I know that I... I killed her. Though unwillingly, my own hands bludgeoned her.
Fuck that Miyomi.
But blame has to be assigned somewhere. And I certainly had no one to blame but myself, for my own doing.
She used to be my best friend, my fiancée, the love of my life. But no doubt, that familiarity it took many years to build was erased by that incident. I didn't know anymore how to act towards her, what the hell I should say to express my apology.
Shit, I never knew how difficult this had been.
But I resolved to know if I earned her forgiveness.
Before I could say a word, she broke the unbearable silence.
"Yusuke," she said simply.
I was surprised by the gentleness in her voice. But it was enough to make tears spring to my eyes and roll down my cheeks. Enough to make me want to run over and grab her in a fierce embrace.
Enough to let me know that I was still loved.
She doesn't hate me, I realized in bewilderment. She still feels something for me.
The warmth in her eyes was all-too familiar, and I wanted to succumb to the kindness she enveloped me with. I took slow, measured steps towards her, keeping the look on my face beseeching. I didn't want to abuse her graciousness. What if she was just being nice?
"Keiko," I began, my voice hoarse. "I -- I don't expect you to believe me, but just hear me out." I paused. "Please?"
She nodded mutely.
I took a deep breath (I must had taken a lot of those since I saw her again). "I just want you to know that I -- I never wanted to hurt you. Ever. Much less... uh, you know..." I reddened, balling my hands into fists, and looked down on the ground. I went on, "I want to -- to apologize for what I did, many years ago. I didn't have control over my own body, my own self, when I should have."
I gathered courage to look up once again, and she was closer to me now. I didn't notice her come nearer. "I know no amount of words could describe what I did to you. Nothing could say how wretched the real me felt when you... when you left. That reprehensible, condemnable act does not deserve an ounce of your forgiveness.
"I do want to let you know how sorry I am. And that I... I didn't stop loving you."
It was like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. I would totally understand if she didn't return my feelings. All that mattered was I told her my honest-to-goodness sentiments. Although I wished she would forgive me...
My breath caught as her long index finger delicately grazed my tear-stained cheek. Then her own eyes started filling in with unshed tears as well. "You're back."
I held her hand tightly, and nodded.
"Urameshi Yusuke is back." Keiko was sobbing, but she managed a smile. She threw her arms around my neck and hugged me. That was all the encouragement I needed to hold her.
"Yes, he is," I murmured. "And he's all yours."
We swayed slightly to the beat of the wind. When she pulled away, she told me exactly what I needed to hear. "You know I forgive you, Yusuke. I was hurt, of course, but I forgive you. We both know it wasn't of your own doing. I know it wasn't your will, but somebody else's."
"But --"
She cut me off. "I think, for you to accept that fact, you have to forgive yourself first."
I was slightly taken aback by how well she knew me.
She smiled again. "And I'm positive you know how deep my feelings run for you. I didn't stop caring for you, either." It was her turn now to take a deep breath. "Aishiteru. And I'm so glad you came back..."
Aishiteru.
She told me she truly loves me.
I couldn't be more grateful.
Running my fingers through her hair, I gingerly lowered my lips to hers. The taste of her lips brought back the tingling sensation that I knew too well. I felt her respond passionately, releasing the sorrow, hurt, and love we both felt after being ruined by a despicable fate. But we were joined once more -- the perfect ending to the saga of two souls separated by an unwanted destiny.
Finally, we can take that rest we've both been meaning to have -- together.
The end. (?)