I was planning on waiting for this. I was sort of stuck with what to do, and I was waiting for a friend to catch up so I could weasel out advice. And then suddenly, through the haze of a fever and drowsiness, I thought of this ending instead. Your request for a Sequel has been acknowledged.
I'll be trying to plan that out soon. I have to make it at least story length, since the premise of the sequel could be done in one chapter of this story. Ha. But I kind of want to write more for all of this, so that's why I relented.
Important notice: I sent out some PMs yesterday to inform people that I MADE A MISTAKE IN CHAPTER 22. Half of the chapter was missing, because I used the unfinished file. So please, GO BACK AND READ IT. It was really confusing, but now it doesn't have that jump between 22 and 23.
Tryst
An Epilogue of Sorts
"That's certainly an interesting story."
"You were there for parts of it, don't act like its news."
"I know. Thank you for reading it to me. Why did you write it down?"
There was a lull in the conversation then, as the small female in front of him shifted her position, probably tilting her head slightly. He wasn't going to press her for an answer. Yomi had learned patience over the years.
Rika's arrival had surprised him, to say the least. It seemed to surprise her, actually. Her first words had been: "I have no idea why I'm here."
It had been a quite few years since Youko's disappearance from the Makai, and only about a year or two since the word spread of his reappearance in the Ningenkai. Yomi had been expecting the conversation to center on that matter.
Instead, the female had told him that she just wanted him to listen, and they eventually migrated to one of the rooms he used when meeting with the demons under him.
The room was empty save the two of them now, and for awhile, the only sound had been her voice, reading her memoir of sorts. He had been amused by some of the story, but had been surprised to hear about the extent of her struggle.
He hadn't been as observant as he was now.
"I'm not sure why I wrote it. It was just an impulse. I was tired of thinking about it, so I wrote it down."
Yomi nodded, accepting the answer. "And the collar never came off."
"No."
"That would explain why the story didn't seem to have an ending."
"No, it didn't."
Yomi leaned forward slightly, his face turned towards hers. He didn't sense the nervousness that used to hover around her. It seemed everyone had done their growing up.
"Do you know why?"
"It's because Youko didn't die, isn't it?"
The murmured question was twined with and odd mix of emotions, hope and annoyance. Yomi nodded again.
"I believe so. Collars like this one," he said, his fingers ghosting along the subject at hand. "Are directly connected to the energy of the dominant demon. It stays on as long as the energy is holding it there and therefore can not be removed or used otherwise. It must have been why Youko had to kill Yoshiro."
He felt the breath from her sigh brush along his hand, before he withdrew it. "I think I can assume you haven't been worried about staying up to date with events in the Makai."
"It hasn't been much of my concern. I heard of the tournament, but felt no desire to go."
"Understandable. I'm sure you heard that Kurama was here."
Yomi waited, feeling her reaction. Anxiety, excitement and disappointment rolled into one. All he received as an answer was an even stranger mix of a gasp and a sigh.
"He's returned to the Ningenkai now, but I know where he is. You can find him, and he can remove the collar. You'd be free."
"But isn't… isn't it difficult, getting into human world?"
The hesitation was almost attractive. Almost. He tilted his head slightly. "It wouldn't be. You have my assistance, remember. And I expect nothing in return."
"That's unusual," she said flatly.
"There's nothing I desire at the moment. So, what's your decision?"
"I think you know."
Yomi smiled slightly. "Yes. I think I do," he murmured.
I'm getting major YomixRika vibes. Anyone else? Haha.