A/N: Starring Yusuke as Satyavan, Keiko as Savitri, Koenma as Yama the god of Death, and Raizen as Yusuke's father and Keiko's father-in-law.

Keiko and Yusuke

This story from India
Is found in the Mahabharata
A 3,000-year-old epic poem
That contains much of the
Sacred literature of the
Hindu religion. The
Mahabharata was originally
Written in Sanskrit, the
Language of ancient India.

There was once a young prince named Yusuke, whose father went blind and lost his wealth and kingdom. Yusuke went to live in the forest as a humble woodcutter. There he met a princess named Keiko, and the two fell in love and decided to marry.

An old wise man warned the princess not to marry Yusuke. "If you do," he said, "You will be a widow within a year." But Keiko declared, "He is my beloved, and I will have no other."

On their first anniversary, Keiko and Yusuke were walking in the forest when Yusuke suddenly fell to the ground. Keiko saw a dark-robed figure approaching, and she knew that it was Koenma, the god of death.

Koenma put a rope around the young man's neck, and took him away. Keiko ran after them, over come with grief, begging Koenma to take her too.

"I will come for you when it is time," Koenma told her.

But Keiko kept following. "You are very persistent," Koenma said. "To ease your grief, I will grant you one wish. You may have anything---except your husband's life."

Keiko wished for her father-in-law (Raizen) to have his sight back, and Koenma agreed.

But Keiko would not leave. "Very well," said Koenma. "You may have another wish." Keiko wished for her father-in-law's kingdom to be restored.

"It is granted," said Koenma. But Keiko still pursued him.

"One last wish, then—and no more!" Shouted Koenma.

"I wish," said Keiko, "To be the mother of many children."

"Granted!" said Koenma. "Now go and trouble me no more!"

But Keiko did not leave. "If I am to have many children," she said to Koenma, "Who will be their father? You know that Hindu widows are forbidden to remarry."

Koenma was dumbstruck. Then he smiled. "Your love for your husband has out-witted death," he said, "You deserve to have him back." And he removed the rope and released Yusuke.

Keiko and her husband were reunited and lived a long and happy life together. And they did indeed have many children.

A/N: Review please…