I am honestly surprised by the warm reception and many reads this story has received! So, thanks to all you wonderful readers out there, here's the next chapter. However, what do I have to do make the rest of you guys come out of hiding and comment/review more? I really like writing this story, but honestly, the experience would be even better to hear from everyone who reads. :)
Anyway, I hope you all enjoy the newest chapter as much I did typing it!
My eyes flew open in a dash, the first thought being, I'm back, but this was not home… Where was I?
I found myself staring at an unfamiliar, and very high light-brown ceiling of a bedroom. I knew for a fact that this wasn't the ceiling of my apartment, it was purely white. And it wasn't the ceiling back my parent's house, either, it was made of plaster.
I sighed. Thinking of home saddened me, knowing that I won't be able to see it anymore considering that I was dead and all…I won't be able to see my friends, finish school, or revisit the home where I grew up. All I have now are the cherished memories of my past that were laid to be forgotten. I really miss everyone, especially Sayaka and Youko. Hell, I even missed that nosy Fukaroi.
I realized now that I was already crying. Tears were already flowing down to my cheeks. I stayed like that for a minute or two, deciding that this will be the last time I will shed my tears for this matter. It should be that way. I will not waste my afterlife sulking around. I had to move forward somehow.
I swallowed the pain and wiped the tears from my red puffy eyes. Sitting up, I looked around the room. It was still dark, being only lit up by a red bedside lamp. I looked sideways to the bedside table where an alarm clock stood. It was only five o'clock in the morning.
5 A.M…that explained the air. I was shivering under the blanket, and rubbed my hands, desperate for heat. I sunk deeper to the blanket, letting the heat of being wrapped enter me.
Weariness was wearing me down again. Then I felt sudden sleepiness again. I sighed. I've always been a real sleepyhead and being dead was not an exception. My eyelids felt heavy, wanting to be shut, so I gave into the temptation of closing them. And before I knew it, I was already unconscious again.
I woke up with a start hours later. The room was a bit lighter than before. So, I checked the clock again and it's already past noon, 12:23 to be exact. The air was warmer than before but it was still cold. Even so, you couldn't even hear any single sound—complete silence.
Almost immediate to my awakening, there was a knock at the door. I jumped in fright at the sudden noise.
"C-come in," I said, nearly whispered, and in walks a young woman with sky blue hair and a pink kimono.
As I sat up straight to get a better look, an odd sensation washed over me. Something was wrong…why did I not feel right? I lifted one arm up and then the other. I lifted the bed covers and looked at my legs, which were paler than usual. My hands immediately moved to my face. This wasn't right…this wasn't my body…
"Are you feeling any different?"
I shot an angry and questioning look at the unfamiliar girl. Was she responsible for this? She'd better start explaining before I lose my temper.
She sighed and then looked straight into my eyes. "Su Rosalind…you are now Asameya Minhee."
Fell From My World
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Chapter One: A Famous Conclusion.
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"Excuse me?!" I yelled. "I'm who?"
I got up from the bed and walked to the mirror across the room. As I examined this new body in the mirror she began started talking.
"Well, long story short, when you pressed the return button your soul entered a recently vacated body." She said with a small laugh.
"I don't want a damn story! Tell me why the hell I'm in this other person's body!" I yelled. "Now talk!"
"Well as it says here Miss Asameya was recently involved in a stress related death," She began looking at the report in her hands. "Just shortly before you oh so kindly pressed the return button Peko took her last breath while she slept. At the time that you pressed the button she was the most recently vacated body so that's where your soul went…"
"But," she continued. "Your soul isn't quite fused with this body. You still have a few hours before the transition is complete." To back up her word, she held out her hand to touch mine. While her hand remained solid, mine slipped through becoming transparent on contact.
"You'll remain in this ghost-like state for only twelve more hours. Until then I need for you to come to Spirit World with me to take care of some much needed business,"
I pulled my hand away quickly, feeling thoroughly confused and frustrated. I wanted to be anywhere but here with this strange girl.
"Wait a minute," I said thoughtfully. "If I'm her…why do I still remember everything about Rosalind?"
"See, that's the thing. Your memories stayed with your soul. Those will always be with you. You still know and remember everyone in your past life. But this brings me to rule number one." Her gaze hardened. "You can't tell anyone about this! No one can know what happened to you and your real identity. It could mess a lot of things up not to mention put us both in a lot of trouble."
"But I can't keep this from Sayaka!" I whined.
The girl frowned. "I'm sorry, but no means no! Now let's get going. Koenma wants to see you in his office, and if you haven't figured it out, it's pretty serious business."
She pulled a cell phone from her kimono sleeve and held it to her ear. "It's Botan, Jorge, and I've found Miss Su. We'll arrive back at the castle shortly."
"You don't realize how happy I am to hear that…" Came Jorge's tired voice from the other side. "I'll be sure to tell Koenma immediately."
"See you then," With a simple click of a button, the call between the two was ended.
Reaching into her sleeve again, Botan pulled out a paper seal of some sort, sitting it neatly onto the cold marble flooring. The seal began to glow and in seconds transformed into a swirling green vortex leading to Spirit World.
She smiled warmly as if gesturing for me to walk through the portal first. "Right this way-" However, before she could finish I was out of the room. I could not stay here. I knew just where I needed to go, so, I ran.
I could hear Botan shouting and calling my name, but kept going. The nearest elevator I could find was down the hall and past the nurse's desk, but that would only slow me down. I took the stairs instead, my feet pounding against the cold floor as I headed towards the 1st floor. I ran past many of the other patients and nurses. As I sped by them all I could see where blurs of white hospital gowns and pink nursing uniforms. Though, I supposed I looked I like a white blur to them too since I was still a ghost.
Another half minute, and I had finally reached the 1st floor. As I headed towards the revolving doors of the entrance, I heard Botan's voice again.
"Rosalind!" she shouted sprinting from the elevator, and positioning herself firmly in front of the entrance, arms spread wide as if creating a barricade. "You don't have to do this…" she said softly, holding a hand out to me. "Please, you have to come back with me to the Spirit World before anything else happens. I promise that we'll work something out and make things as easy as we can for your new life."
I honestly wanted to believe her, but the fact that I was no longer my former self made my lip curl and blood boil in rage. I pushed past the blue-haired girl and continued to run, despite the lack of proper clothing and shoes.
I easily found my way back home with the use of landmarks and familiar streets. I walked up to the apartment and grabbed the spare key I and Sayaka kept under the mat. I could still smell the party food that Sayaka ordered and all of a sudden it hit me. Sayaka doesn't know who I am—she thought I was dead. With that my legs gave out and I slid down the door collapsing on the ground. A single tear escaped my eye. None of my friends knew that I was right here. How did Botan expect me to keep that from the people I called family?
I stood up slowly and made my way to the bedroom. The bed was unmade and Sayaka's old beat up plush bunny at the foot. I picked up the toy and hugged it tightly to my chest. Before long, I heard the click of the door. Sayaka was home. Wait, Sayaka was home, and I wasn't Rosalind! She didn't know who I was. I had to get out of there. In a rush I grabbed the plush toy off the bed and ran into the bathroom. I ran straight through the bathroom and out the back door that was in the corner of the room. As soon as I stepped out the door someone caught my arm. It was Botan.
"Come on, you've got somewhere else to be." she said with a frown.
I yanked my arm back and turned to face her.
"Please," I begged. "I just need to see my best friend. Just once…"
She nodded, crossing her arms over her chest. "I understand, but… keep in mind that time passes a lot slower for spirits and transcending spirits alike. An hour, even a minute in this state can end up being days, even months in the mortal world." She said and I nodded. As if being dead wasn't enough, but watching as everyone I loved moved on without me would unbearable...so, I had to make this quick.
I walked around the side of the house slowly. I could see Sayaka through patio leading into the den. There she was still in her part dress and sitting on the sofa, pillow hugged tightly to her chest. On her lap sat the photo of the two of us a few summers ago.
We had spent a week at on the coast. That was the best week of my life. I thought back to that time. It was full of adventures, laughs, and first times. I could see the tears falling freely down Sayaka's face. A sob escaped my lips before I realized that I was crying too. At that time Botan came up to me and pulled me around so they were facing each other.
"She'll live, Rosalind. Believe me. Now come on, we've still got some more to find out about Minhee, since you'll be living her life from now own." She looked into my emotionless eyes with her lively ones, intent of getting through to me.
I didn't respond. The entire situation I was in left me feeling hollow and numb from the inside and out. At this point, I was sure I'd use all my strength just to move my feet again, but I was able to run losing Botan after making several turns and short cuts through alleyways.
I ran past familiar buildings and ones I didn't recognize. I turned and saw a sign I've never noticed before. It was white painted with red letters. Deliveries, it said. And then, underneath, Last Chance Only.
I wasn't sure how much time had passed, but when I finally saw my mother, she as alone in my room, staring down at a picture in her lap. It was of me and her, taken over the summer when we had gone to visit relatives in the farming district of Kishi. We were smiling broadly, hugging each other close. She was crying, tracing my face with her fingers.
My heart was torn as I took in the sight. I bit my lip, willing myself not to cry, "I'm right here mom!" I wanted to shout, "I'm right here, I'm okay!" But I couldn't. She couldn't see the real me, her daughter, and she didn't know I was okay; the only thought in her mind was that I was dead.
I saw my father next; he sat alone in the bedroom with all the lights turned off, the curtains pulled closed. He had his head in his hands, his elbows resting against his knees. My father was big man with a reputation of being powerful. I had never seen him cry before, but when he looked up, his eyes were red and filled with tears.
"Daddy," I sighed, looking at him sadly. I hadn't called him daddy since I was small. "I'm sorry. I don't want to be dead; I miss you." I said, which only made me choke on a sob.
"I love you," I whispered, but my father just stood up and walked towards the window, peeling back the curtain and looking out at the world beyond.
Next came my little brother. He was alone in his room, staring at the wall. Seeing him made the tears shed. I wished I had said something different to him before I died, I wished I could take back calling him an idiot as I punched him on the arm when we were small. He was so smart, but just couldn't see it. I wished I could have told him, but it was too late.
I went to my sister's room next; she was blaring my favorite song while staring at the pictures covering her vanity; pictures of the two of us as we grew up. The picture was of us when I was only three, she was four at our first day of school. The most recent picture was taken a few weeks ago, I had won an award for being on the dean's list. I was holding the certificate in my hand, my sister's hand around my shoulders. It was too much for me to see, I knew I couldn't be near them anymore, I had to get out of there.
Time came and time went in the mortal world. The next time I had seen my family, it was at my funeral. They were all dressed in black, standing near my casket, as people came and went, saying their condolences. All of my classmates were here, sniffling, and leaning against each other for comfort. Sayaka was with my parents, smiling through her tears as she told my mom and dad something, which only made my mom cry harder, and my dad rub my mom's back.
I walked up to my casket, seeing my dead, pale white body lie against the white colored fabric. My hair brushed back, underneath my head, my fingernails, which I had painted black a few days ago, clasped around a set of rosaries and the chain that was given to me by Youko. I wore a cream colored dress, my eyes closed. Next to my casket had been pictures of me, most of them I recognized from my apartment wall; pictures of me growing up, pictures of me writing, pictures of me sleeping, pictures of me with my family and so on.
I had stayed in the back of the church as the service continued. The priest talked about life and death and I watched as they closed up my casket, about to end the ceremony, before Sayaka went up to the altar. She took her time walking up to the podium and I knew what was going to happen next, but I wasn't sure I could watch it.
She cleared her throat, placing her paper on the podium, adjusting the mic before speaking, "We all dream of living forever; pushing away the thought of dying in pain, focusing on the happy moments in life," Sayaka began the eulogy, "But," she forced a smile, taking a deep, shaky breath, "That's not reality. I know that now. I know that life is unfair, the good people are always taken first, and the young always are the first to die. It's just how it's supposed to be. Life is cruel and unkind and unfair, but I still love it. Rosa loved life too, she soaked it up. She made the best with what she had, and although, sometimes she was dealt unfair cards, she continued to play the game. I remember when we were little kids, in middle school. Some kid was picking on me, pulling my hair and pushing me down. Rosa walked right up to the boy and said, "Hey, you mess with my best friend, you mess with me! And then punched the guy in the face," The crowd laughed, "Yeah, she spent two full weeks in detention for that one. But that's just how she was; she could pick and pick and pick on me, but the second somebody else did, she was the first one to defend me."
"If you ever saw Rosa, you knew that she was different. I liked to pretend that it had been that streak in her hair, which if you ask me, was pretty bad ass," she chuckled slight, along with the crowd, "But, I knew it was really her personality. She was always so caring, so giving, smart, and creative; she never tried to fit in, she knew she had been born to stand out. I had admired her for that; Rosa had known who she was at an early age and if you didn't like her, you could leave, end of story. It's hard to believe but during our days of grade school, I was the awkward one, the one unsure how to act, the one who wanted to be liked, and I looked at Rosa and wished I could be more like her, funny, confident, beautiful, intelligent, a great friend, and amazing person in general," Tears rolled down her cheeks; she wiped at them absently, continuing to speak, "Rosa was a true role model to me, I wish I could grow up to be half the woman she had been."
"I was looking at pictures the other day, of me and Rosa. And one picture stuck out to me in particular, it was the most recent picture put on my mirror, it was of the two of us, taken after a ceremony honoring her for winning an award for her good grades. Anyway, the picture stuck out to me, because, in the picture, Rosa was doing what she loved to do, learning." Sayaka stopped for a moment, tears streaming down her face, as she sniffled, before taking a few deep breaths and continuing, "I should have been a better friend to her…"
"I had so many memories with Rosa, most of them good, happy and funny, others not so much; but each moment I shared with her are memories I cherish. I was gifted for what seem like my entire life with the best friend in the world, although I wish she were still here. I hate how she was the one who had to go, as much as I don't want to look at the past, because it'll only show me what I'll be missing in the future, I know I have to remember the past in order to move forward. But I'm taking Rosa and my memories of her with me, in my mind, in my heart, and in spirit." Sayaka finished, before wiping her eyes again, and stepping down from the podium.
Now, I stared out at the city below me, the people briskly walking down the sidewalks, hailing cabs, and going on about their daily lives. I passed vendors, men and women in suits, mothers with their children, girlfriends holding their boyfriend's hands; all of them so alive, so grateful that they were able to wake up this morning and actually breathe. I used to be one of them, but that was before everything happened.
I looked at the fruit stand in front of me, the shiny apples, oranges, and bananas, my hands aching to throw them. I picked up an orange, knowing that once I threw it, everyone would be questioning why there was flying fruit, but I didn't care. I took the orange and aimed it at a suited man talking loudly into his blue tooth.
However, before I could release it, my hand was caught. It was Botan and this time she looked more serious. "Alright, Rosalind, fun's over. You've spent quite enough time here." She took the orange away from me and tossed it back into the stand quickly, sure I would run off again.
She turned to face me. "Hurry, take my arm."
"Why?" I asked cautiously, though I started to edge my fingers close to the blue-haired girl.
"We're going back to Spirit World and I've got to take you," she explained. "I'm out of portals, so we have to travel the old fashion way."
I grabbed the inside of her elbow and closed my eyes cautiously. She put her hand on mine, and said, "Hold your breath…"
There was a moment in which I felt weightless. It felt like the world had gone out from under me and expanded above. The only grounding thing was Botan's hand on my own, holding me securely.
Security came back to me and I felt ground beneath my feet. I opened my eyes slowly.
"You didn't need to close them, you know," Botan said with small laugh, pulling away from me and straightening her kimono; it had become scrunched in the travel. "All you really see is black."
"I'd rather not see." I mumbled looking around the field of clouds as the two of us walked towards the castle. Dead or alive, heights freaked me out.
Once inside the castle, I stood with my feet together, hands clasped behind my back. I rubbed my fingers nervously against my sweating palms. I looked around a few times before realizing that I was surrounded by other people; some of them looked sad, but most looked as confused and frustrated as I was.
The land around me looked like any generic, empty field. The only exception being that it was white and unplowed. A light mist covered the ground and clouded the view of my feet.
I looked down at the white dress I was wearing. Its hem flowed to just below my knees, and the neckline was just covering my chest. Strange…I don't remember putting it on. What happened to the patient gown from before?
"Su Rosalind!" someone shouted. I jerked my head to the side to see a beast-like creature wearing a loin cloth leaning against what looked like a receptionist's desk, which looked very out of place in the serene expanse, and talking into a headpiece. He repeated, "Su Rosalind!" His voice reverberated through the air and pounded in my ears.
I didn't responded, so he sighed and muttered to himself, "Another one…" He reached into a desk drawer and pulled out a touch screen tablet, tapping it a few times. "Su Rosalind!" he tried one more time.
Once again, I made no attempt to response, so he heaved himself from the desk chair. Standing on his toes, he looked out at everyone in the expanse. His gaze fell on me and his eyes widened. "Ah!" He shuffled over and stuck out his hand. "My name is Jorge. Welcome to the Afterlife."
"Why…why is this even happening?" I asked firmly.
"Yes…" He seemed to come back to reality from his rant. Running fingers through his thinning hair, he said, "I've seen this exact sort of situation before…however, my superior will everything explain it to you better than I. Follow me, please."
He led me over to an office that was separated from the crowds by a long hall way. I was gestured toward a silver chair and told to sit. Once inside, a wave of nostalgia washed over me as I eyed the ceiling-high towers of papers and stylish office chair.
I began to fidget with my dress again. After the little stunt I pulled, I was sure the toddler wouldn't be happy to see me again…
Botan placed a hand on my shoulder, a bubbly smile plastered on her face. "No need to be nervous," she whispered. "Koenma a big softie once you get to know him."
I had no choice but to nod and show that I had some faith in her words. Koenma himself was busy with paper work, scribbling a fast paced version of his initials onto each individual paper before scooting it aside.
"What's wrong with the dead now days?!" He muttered angrily to himself. He seemed completely unaware that Jorge, Botan, and I were in his office. "They have absolutely no respect for anyone whatsoever!"
Easy for him to say, I thought with a frown. He didn't have the burden of going through death and then wondering what was to come afterwards.
Jorge cleared his throat. "Excuse me, sir; we have Miss Su with us."
Koenma tossed another stack of signed papers aside. "Yeah, yeah, let's get this over with." His voice was bored and rushed as he pulled a file folder from his desk drawer.
He then pulls out a piece of paper from the folder and a pen pushing it towards me. "We just have some paper work and then we'll discuss the terms…" He suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
"You look different from before…" Koenma's eyes were narrowed as he said this, not knowing how right he was. He leaned closer pointing a chubby finger at me. "You…! You're Asameya Minhee!"
I frowned. Wasn't that the name Botan called me earlier?
Koenma began pushing papers around into piles, making his desk top visible. "You'll have to forgive me, Miss Asameya. I didn't have the time to clean up and Jorge here has been slacking on his duties."
Hearing this, Jorge gave a tired sigh. "Sir, shouldn't Miss Su…er Miss Asameya fill out the paper work now?"
"Bah! The paper can wait!" Koenma said waving Jorge off and dusting off the over sized bookcase behind him. "We have to do everything in our power to make Miss Asameya as comfortable as possible!" then to me he said, "Would like some tea, Miss Asameya?"
"Uh…no thank you…" I blinked at the toddler's sudden attitude change. Looking to Jorge and Botan for answers, I asked, "Will someone please tell me what's going on?"
Jorge simply let out another sigh, looking at his wrist watch. "Well, it's about time for my break…" He looked at Botan. "You don't mind do you?"
The blue-haired reaper shook her head. "Not at all," As Jorge left, Botan pulled a tablet from her kimono sleeve. After tapping the screen a few times, she handed it to me. "Here's everything you need to know about Minhee."
The page Botan pulled up was sort of similar to Facebook, but held records of Asameya Minhee's life instead, from the moment of her birth to her death. It even included a profile picture.
I was staring at a young woman no more than fifteen, with sleek pink hair that fell down just an inch from her waist and round chocolate brown eyes. The sophisticated side-braided hair of hers was pinned with a sparkling pink butterfly barrette. Her full lips were naturally a light shade of a coral color. Her long naturally curly lashes were thick and pitch black too. Her naturally rosy cheeks were even made rosier with light blush-on. Her light lustrous skin was smooth and shiny and her body was already growing from its small skinny shell to a slender feminine figure. Her long legs were flawless and smooth. She simply looked exquisite.
I was stunned.
This is who I am now?
Even with the tablet in my lap, Botan scrolled the screen down, reading more of Minhee's biography. After a few seconds of reading, she let out a small chuckle. "No wonder Koenma was acting so strange. It says here that Miss Asameya is a Pop icon known worldwide for hit singles, "Again" (1) and "Life" (2)…"
I shrugged. "Okay, so she's famous."
Botan's lips suddenly pursed. "It also says that she was supposed to be doing an interview at noon, today!" She peered at the set of world clocks above Koenma's desk. The one colored mint green read 11:50.
Gasping, Botan grabbed my arm, "Quick! We need to get Minhee back to her world before anyone finds out that she's gone!"
"Right now?" I asked securing the tablet before it could hit the marble flooring.
"Yes!" Botan answered a little too quickly. "Your spirit has already completed the transcendence into its new body, so we have to hurry!" She sprinted towards the office doors, opening them.
"You're leaving, already?" By that time, Koenma had returned, carrying a platter of tea and macaroons. I also noticed that he was wearing an auto graphed t-shirt with Minhee's…er, my face on it winking.
"Duty calls!" Botan shouted back over her shoulder, pulling me along with her.
We rushed down the opposite end of the hallway and past the group of people in the lobby, their expressions still as confused as ever. Eventually, we made it to the gates and the ever so "welcome to purgatory" welcoming sign.
With a smile, Botan held out her arm and I grabbed hold. In mere moments I knew I would head into to a world much different from my own as Asameya Minhee. I took a deep breath, closing my eyes.
If I was literally famous I probably wouldn't be able to talk to every single fan I had, I would most likely go off the deep end and have a mental break down. I'm not good under pressure and just the idea of walking out of a building to thousands of screaming fans was terrifying. I didn't know that life style and if I was thrust into it I'd most likely flip my shit and die instantly…
But then again, life must go on.
You know that saying "time heals all wounds"? Maybe that applied to me, and maybe it doesn't. I didn't have much choice in the the matter, but this was my chance to prove...no, make that little saying a reality-my reality.
Chapter Terminology
(1) And (2) are both songs by Yui Horie, one my favorite J-Pop singers. "Again" was used an opening theme to Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood, the second opening I believe. "Life" was used as an ending to Bleach, but I'm not sure which one.
And that's a wrap! Who knew Koenma liked J-Pop? We'll get see more the Yu Yu Hakusho cast next chapter, including a very pissed Genkai, but for now, I hope to keep things at a slow steady pace, with the sudden name change and all.
Until next time, review, follow, favorite, and as always stay awesome everyone! - Rain
