A/N: First off, let me start by thanking all of you that have reviewed, alerted, and/or favorited this story. Second, I would like to apologize for the late update. See, even though I work at an environment with a bunch of computers, it's quite noisy, therefore I cannot write as much as I'd like. Finally, I hope you enjoy this chapter, as well as the others that will follow it in the future. I am currently writing and planning the fourth chapter so please bear with me. You'll also notice a pattern as this story progresses: present-past-present-past-present-past-present-past. Eventually, that pattern will break but you'll be able to tell, so the only advice I can give you when that happens is just to be aware of the characters and events in the chapters, current and past.

Noblesse Oblige

III. Under the Oak Tree

The Daioh family – for generations they have ruled the entire Spirit World. First, Hidemaru, who presided over the land for over seven thousand years, followed by his eldest daughter, Asahana, who ruled for a little over six thousand years until her death (contrary to popular Human World belief, beings of the Spirit World do, in fact, pass away. This process is what they like to call reincarnation, in which a being of the Spirit World lives again in either one of the two co-existing worlds). Since she ruled without a husband by her side and thus produced no heir (although rumor has it that Asahana did fall in-love with a man—the commander from her army—but they chose not to pursue a relationship because the man was married with children, and she certainly did not want to be accused of being a home-wrecker. Such a label was not fit for a queen, and would be most appalling!), the throne was left to her brother Akihiro's son, Enma. Unlike Enma's predecessors, on the contrary, his term only lasted two centuries-and-a half due to his corrupt ways. Instead of being succeeded by his first son, the original
Crown Prince, Nobuhiro, he was replaced by the young man's younger twin, Koenma, the one who had put a stop to his crimes thus resulting in his impeachment.

Up until his father and his older brother, Koenma Daioh had been succeeded by someone who had kept not only the Spirit World, but also the Human and Demon Worlds, in good hands. Each one of maintained amongst them; protected them. But his father and his brother…

His father was a sham! How dare he punish demons just for the sake of vanity. He may have sealed away the Netherworld, but that was still nothing compared to what demons had to suffer in the hands of humans. It was no surprise why demons hated them then. And Nobuhiro…Oh, if only he hadn't abandoned his position he would have made such a great leader, such a great king indeed! Then again, it was his heart that had made that decision; who was he to try and stop it?

Koenma sighed and leaned against the trunk of a lone oak tree. His oak tree…

"You've been coming here quite often."

Or rather, their oak tree…

"Care to tell me what's on your mind?" she asked, leaning against the tree too, as she stood next to him.

He turned his head to face her, and with an amused smile asked, "would you believe me if I said I wanted to see you?"

The blue-haired ferry-woman laughed.

"Nice try, but no—although, that would have worked two-hundred years ago," she kidded, which made him lighten up a little, thankfully.

"You know," he said, "I really hate how you know me too well sometimes."

"I know, I know. I love me too," she replied, which made him roll his eyes at her.

Not bothering to compose a witty reply, he began, "Botan, do you think I'm…" he paused, trying to think of better words to say, "do you think I'm—I'm worthy of my position? O-or rather, what I'm about to become? Being king of the Spirit World, I mean."

Ah, so that's what's bothering him.

"Why wouldn't you be?" she queried. "If anything, I strongly believe either Nobuhiro or you would make a much better king than your father."

He turned his head to face her once again, curiosity blatant on his visage.

"Forgive my frankness, but unlike your coward, facetious father, you two have attributes he certainly lacks have—loyalty, bravery, determination, and wits. Sure, you may have others to fight battles for you more often than not, but you're willing to risk your life just for the sake of others. Unlike him, you're not afraid to take the blame for your own faults; sometimes it's even you that suffers because of others' mistakes, yet you make no complaint. You're willing to go to extreme lengths just to achieve what you need, stopping at nothing to pursue it; in your brother's case, he was willing to give up his position just to be with Namie," she explained. "I'm aware that even now your brother still isn't in very friendly terms with me, considering what he knew the day he saw me, but if it wasn't for the both of you I'll probably be rotting in the Vortex of Oblivion right about now—that, or trying to hide from my captors." The blue-haired ferry-woman paused and looked up at him, making sure his eyes were directly into hers. With a soft expression, and a small smile, she asked him, "now, Koenma-sama, do you still think you're unworthy to become our king?"

Silence…

"You're not just saying that just because I'm the one paying you, are you?" he asked (jokingly, of course), his expression appearing genuinely curious (just to mess with her).

And as he expected, it worked…

"GAAAAAAAHHHHH! KOENMA!"

Quite marvelously, in fact—at the expense of several bruises and a headache afterwards.

Several minutes later, she finally ceased hitting him and he was left to tend to his own wounds as she sat next to him, polishing her oar.

"You know, if I wanted to lie to you I'd tell you I'd rather try and to become Kurama's concubine—" she said, with which he commented, "good luck with that!" and got hit once more.

"As I was saying," she continued, "if I were lying to you, I'd tell you I'd much prefer other men's company than yours, and that you look rather dashing with that pacifier and beg for you to get it back!"

"I'd prefer not to have it, but if you insist I'll probably consider it..." he mused, cupping his chin.

"Ugh," she said, placing a palm on her forehead in aggravation, "my knight in shining armor is a child!"

"A handsome child at that," he added proudly, earning himself a glare from his companion.

"Don't push it," she hissed through gritted teeth.

Ah, this is what he loved about her. She could not only have the ability to make him smile, but he could also mess with her successfully. The only con, of course, was getting hit with her oar repeatedly, but it was all worth catching her off-guard.