Note: There are two stories, one from Yusuke's POV and one from Keiko's POV. It doesn't matter which one you read first, since they're both the same story.
Note2: I know that the characters on YYH don't believe in God or Jesus, but let's just say they do for this fanfic since there's a church and a choir. Also, Yusuke and Keiko are both 20 in this story.
What a beautiful night it was. The sky was a dark blue color and there were so many stars in the sky. In fact, the stars seemed to be shining brighter than ever on this magical night.
I was sitting on a bench, in front of the church, waiting for her. Keiko Yukimura. The girl I had fallen in love with so many years ago.
I asked her to meet me here, so I could give her my Christmas present. But my present wasn't something you could buy in a store... well, maybe part of it was, but the other came from the heart.
I've wanted to ask her this for the longest time, the longest time, but I kept putting it off. I don't know why though. Maybe I was scared? Ha! That's a good one. Yusuke Urameshi, Spirit Detective, a man who had looked death in the face too many times to count was scared of something like THIS?
Yes. I was scared. I was never sure how to put it, what I should say, what I should do. I always felt that I was never prepared, never ready to ask her...
But now, as I put my hand in my pocket and feel the velvet box inside it, I know I am ready. I can finally tell her how I feel, and I'll do it the best way I can.
"Yusuke?"
I turned my head to the side and there she was. Keiko. She was so beautiful. She was standing in the light that was coming out of the doorway of the church. That caused her to glow like an angel, my angel. Her brown hair was tossed lightly in the soft wind that passed by and her large sepia eyes were shining, right on me. She had a smile on her lips as she walked toward me.
"Hey, Keiko," I said as I slid over to make room for her. She sat down and looked at me, her eyes still shining. I had to ask her. I had to ask her then and now.
"Keiko I-"
Before I got to say anything, I felt a soft finger on my lips.
"Shh, don't speak," she whispered. I felt her hands around my arm as she pulled me closer to her. I felt her head rest on my shoulder and she closed her eyes.
"I love this song."
At first I wondered what she was talking about. Then I heard it. The children's choir in the church were singing O Holy Night, one of Keiko's favorite Christmas songs. They were halfway through the song already. Guess I was so deep in my thoughts that I didn't hear them start.
Well, I didn't have to ask Keiko then. There was plenty of time. I let her enjoy the song.
Then I felt her head nuzzle against my shoulder and she softly hummed the song. I looked at her and smiled. Then I took my arm and put it around her shoulders. We stayed in this position until the song was over.
When it did end, Keiko opened her eyes and slowly lifted her head off my shoulder. The smile she wore never disappeared from her face.
"Well, Yusuke? What do you want to give me?" she asked in that beautiful voice of hers.
"Well I-" but before another word came out of my mouth, I felt a soft drop of water on my hand. I looked up to find that a silent snow was falling from the wondrous night sky.
"It's snowing," Keiko said as her smile got wider. "It's snowing on Christmas Eve. Isn't it romantic, Yusuke?"
I mirrored her smile and said, "Yeah. Yeah it sure is." then I lowered my head.
I paused for a second to touch the velvet box in my pocket again. I don't know why, but touching it gave me an extra boost of confidence.
"Keiko?" I asked as I lifted my head up again.
"Yes, Yusuke?" she said patiently.
"I-" that was when I stopped. I looked into Keiko's gentle eyes once again. Then for some reason, all these memories began to come back to me, memories of Keiko and I. Some were good, others were not.
I began to remember all the pain I caused her. The times I left her behind to go on cases, all the times I used to make fun of her, all the times I made her cry... And yet, she was so good to me, she never stopped caring about me. I had put her through so much, too much, yet she loved me anyway. I think she loved me more than my own mother. No. No, I couldn't go through with this.
"I don't deserve you," I said flat out.
Keiko looked at me questioningly, cocked her head to the side and asked, "What are you talking about, Yusuke?"
I took a deep breath as I took Keiko's hand in mine.
"Keiko, we've known each other, for what, about sixteen years, right?"
Keiko simply nodded. I could tell she was confused.
"And over these sixteen years, I've been horrible to you. Sure, we had some good moments but I've really caused you a lot of grief, pain, I even broke your heart a couple of times." I paused to look at Keiko, her confused expression now turned into a concerned one.
"Keiko, how can you even like a guy like me? Why do you waste your feelings on someone as cruel as me?" I asked as I hung my head down in shame.
It was then that I felt Keiko peck me on the cheek. I looked up and saw that the smile returned to her face.
"I like you because you are my friend," she told me. Then I felt her head against my shoulder again. "And I care about you. I've always cared about you. And I've always known that you cared about me too and that you will forever. That's why, Yusuke."
Her words. She spoke so beautifully. I looked in her eyes again. They were so thoughtful, so understanding, so kind. Then I knew... I was making the right choice. This is what I wanted to do... I only hoped that Keiko would want it to be this way too.
"Now I'm sure."
"Sure of what, Yusuke?" Keiko asked.
I jumped slightly when I heard her, because I wasn't aware that I said that line out loud. It was time then. I knew I had to do this.
I stood up quietly and kneeled in front of Keiko. I took her hand in mine and took out the velvet box. Keiko's large eyes became three inches wider when I opened the box.
In it there was an engagement ring. The diamond on it wasn't very big, but it was the best one I could afford.
"Keiko, you are the most important person in my life, and if you allow me to be your husband, I promise to protect you and love you for as long as we both shall live," I took a deep breath and continued, "So what do you say? Will you marry me?"
Keiko, I could tell, was in shock, complete and utter shock. Her eyes began to fill with tears. Soon enough, there was so much water in her eyes that two drops streamed down her face. When I felt one of them fall on my hand, I felt Keiko's hands clutch my arms. I felt myself being hoisted up so that I saw her eye to eye. She was still smiling through her tears. Then everything happened so fast.
Keiko pulled me closer to her with such force that I would have fallen over, had she not been holding on to me. Then, without warning, I felt her soft, tender lips on mine. I closed the box for that moment as I put my arms around her.
That was when we heard the bells ringing. They rang twelve times and we held each other through them all.
As the twelfth chime faded, we detached ourselves from the other. I looked at Keiko, her eyes still filled with tears. I opened the box again and widened my eyes gently. Keiko nodded and wiped her eyes with the back of her palm. I took her right hand and put the ring on her ring finger. Then I put my arms around her again and held her tightly.
"Merry Christmas, Yusuke," Keiko said, her voice sounding a little cracked but blissful.
I smiled and said, "Merry Christmas, Keiko Urameshi."
Disclaimer: Yu Yu Hakusho does not belong to me.