Covered in rain
CHAPTER THREE

She was called Botan Nisei then, and was happily married to a guy named Lenma Aoki.

Happily married? Apparently.

There marriage was already foretold when they were still the darlings of their small neighborhood. Both were dubbed as the 'dream couple.' Which meant that there union was something everybody fantasized, even those that admired them and wanted them for themselves. She was perfect; beautiful, smart in her own right (although a little bubble headed), charming, alluring and sweet. He, on the other hand, was also handsome, smart, athletic, and possessed a charm that wanted to make girls love him. Botan had admired him way back, though she only admitted it when they reached their adolescent years. So naturally, they were absolutely perfect.

He proposed marriage to her when the moment they had reached an acceptable marrying age, for he was now the title-holder of one of the most prestigious families in Japan and was eligible to marry. She thought this was quite fast; she was only sixteen that time. But everything else faded when her heart spoke.

She accepted, and her life was filled with instant joy. The wedding was small yet really classy, as was expected that a man from an affluent family. There has never been anything quite magical like this to her before and she wanted to devote her life to his service. She was the perfect submissive wife.

Maybe, she was a little too submissive.

"I'm off to work dear," Lenma said as he straightened his necktie. She smiled and walked over to him; aiding him into finishing what he couldn't do. "Whatever would I do without you," he said affectionately, as he watched her smooth out the creases in his tie. She merely smiled. "I'm sure you'd be happier. You'd go places, and have a beautiful woman by your side"
He scoffed. "None would amount to you." He hugged her tightly planting a kiss on her cheek; she affectionately returned it, albeit she kissed him on the lips. "Come home early?" she begged, toying with his necktie. "I will. I have plans"
"Plans?" she repeated, her eyes lighting up in amusement. "Tell me"
"It's a secret, you'd find out later"
She smacked him playfully on the arm. "I'd better. Ja"
"Ja."

He went down the stairs, occasionally looking up to catch a glimpse of her. She waved back at him. It took him moments before he got outside; he was a little bit distracted.

He took out a letter, once he was safely inside the car. It read:

Will see you in your quarters,

Yumi

He sighed. He couldn't wait.

"George!"

His boss' scream echoed through the cavernous hall. He cringed. "What is it you highness?" he asked, careful not to trip Koenma's mood. He was tasked to handle everything in Rei kai, ever since his father became demented. He was too young; his age was only 574 centuries old. But who was to take care of Rei kai? He was the only one pitted for the position and the only one the people wanted. It was only natural that he was put into action.

"George who's tasked to check on the souls that was supposed to be ferried here a week ago"
"Everybody's too busy, your highness"
He sighed audibly. He already knew what was his protocol—be the one to do all the left behind responsibilities, even if you are royalty. "George," the blue oni turned towards the sound of Koenma's voice. He seemed much burdened, but after all, why wouldn't he be? Nobody wanted to be placed in a job that practically handled everything—except people's minds. "Yes, Koenma-sama"
"Please inform the council that I'd be in Ningen kai. I wouldn't want them to get shirty"
"Hai."

The oni bowed in respect to him, and he acknowledged it with a bow of his head. He sprinted towards the door and was out of it in a second. He immediately changed to his real form, although he still hasn't removed his pacifier from where it was stuck-in his mouth. Note to self: remove pacifier later. He reminded himself, before dropping to Ningen Kai.

The streets were fairly busy; rightfully so since it was the period in which small children and teenage students are pouring in from different schools. Koenma was well aware of this fact—most children souls that occupied Rei Kai were because they were hit by a road accident. It was a shame for them, but Koenma hated them right now to feel any pity for them. He resented the fact that they have a happier life than the one he was leading. Wasn't he supposed to be privileged? But look, this is what his privileges had brought him.

He walked a block further, trying to drown the sound of the children laughing, running around and playing. He preoccupied himself with kicking pebbles and casting them a mile away. He was doing this for a long time until---

"I suppose you are troubled," said a friendly voice.

Koenma looked up and he saw a pretty girl, roughly about the age of seventeen, judging by her already sculpted womanly body. He tugged at his pacifier, racking his brains for something to say, when it hit him: He was wearing the pacifier. He immediately popped it off his mouth and said, "That was a freebie from a candy"
A crease appeared in between the girl's brows. Koenma hoped that she would bite his excuse. But it seems highly likely that she did. "They seem rampant nowadays"
"What?" Koenma was shocked. She actually believed what I said?
"Those candy bars are rampant these days"
He scratched his nape. "I didn't realize"
"It's a small thing," she said flashing him a dazzling smile. Who is this girl? Koenma wondered. She continued. "I wonder how people tend to overlook those silly little things and I don't. Must be due to my eccentricity I guess"
"You think"
"Oh, I know. I've lived with being labeled like that during my younger years"
"How come?" it was quiet hard to believe that she was eccentric. He has met girls like her before; her beauty was a competition that the princess he has met before had to beat and they were not eccentric, so how come she is?
"It's just the way I am," she replied cheerfully. "And I like being this way," "What brings you here"
"The children"
His eyes narrowed. "What about them?"

He didn't have to wait for her answer though, for after a while a group of kindergarten children came running towards them. He tried hard not to scoff; it seemed like a rude thing to do, especially in front of this nice girl. "Konnichiwa, Botan-san!" they chorused in a giggly way. Botan smiled at them. "Konnichiwa! What have you done in school today"
One child spoke up. "We learned how to draw butterflies today, Botan-san"
"That's good!" she squealed.
"Ne, Botan-san, is that your husband"
"No, he's my friend"
"Introduce him! Introduce us!" they chanted.

She turned towards him. "Well, here's Kyoichii-kun," she motioned to the squishy round boy. "This is Sakura-chan," the girl with a half-pigtail. "And this one's Tsubame-chan." The quiet one; only gave a small smile. "This one's Taka-kun." the future pretty boy. "And this is Ayumi-chan." She placed a hand on the back of the little girl who hugged her. She was a potential heart breaker; she had doe eyes and a pleasant disposition. "Oh, and last but not the least, Hidetoshi-kun." He was the spunky kid who delivered a wet kiss on her cheek. It made her giggle. Koenma believes him to be the future class clown. "Well it's your turn now."

Koenma looked at her. She was nodding her head towards the kids who were grinning in anticipation. Somehow, this sight didn't seem to irritate him, not even irk him at the very least. He proceeded to introduce himself. "My name's Koenma," this drew an ooh and ahh from the group. "I am just here on a visit." "Are you visiting a girl?" Ayumi asked her eyes shinning with excitement.
Koenma shook his head and laughed. "No, it's a business trip"
"A business trip?" the boys asked. The girls were somehow disheartened that he wasn't a knight in shinning armor here to save the princess in distress. "Yes," Koenma answered. "A business trip." "Does it involve Robots with rocket boosters?" Hidetoshi asked. "No"
"Is it a plantation for frogs"
He was controlling his laughter. "Nope"
"I know, I know!" Kyoichii said bobbing up and down. "You are an astronaut! Phissshh. Phisshhh." He finished, with an added special effect. The others laughed.
"No, but if I tell you would you promise not to tell?" he said seriously.
"We promise! We promise"
"I work for Santa." He said proudly.
"Ooh," they said eyes widening in awe.

He turned to Botan, whose mouth was hanging open and had a look on her face as if to say what-made-you-say-that? "But wait a minute, isn't Santa's helpers elves"
Koenma grinned. "Yes, but I'm his personal assistant. But don't tell Mommy and Daddy okay, it would be our little secret"
"Kay!" they all chorused.

A big, kind face man suddenly appeared calling for the attention of all the children in the vicinity. Some of them scrambled excitedly towards the bus and others stayed behind like Hidetoshi. "You kids better go home soon, Otosan and Okasan will be waiting." She said, giving them each a peck on the cheek. "We'll see you tomorrow, Botan-san. Please promise to bring Koenma-san with you too." "Hai. Take care, all of you. Ja mata"
"Ja mata!"

They disappeared in the distance, but occasionally craned their heads back to the playground. They wanted to see Koenma and Botan standing alone there together. "They seem perfect to me," Tsubame said, sighing. The girls nodded in agreement. "If only he wasn't a personal secretary of Santa," Kyoichii said, shaking his head.

"I have to go home too," Botan said turning to look at Koenma. He was really handsome and charming, but even his good looks couldn't keep her from wanting to go home to her husband. "I guess I'll see you"
"Aa"
"Ja"
"Ja"
"Would you tell Santa I was a good girl, ne?" she said with a wink. Koenma only smiled. "I will."

She entered their splendid house, radiating a cheerful smile around her. Her smile was the only thing in this house that wasn't cold and lifeless, for even her husband was like the ornamental pieces that adorned every nook and cranny of their house. He was bitter in his core, but Botan refused to see this, for her love surpassed all his flaws. "Lenma," she called out in a sing-songy voice. "I'm home." There was no answer forthcoming anywhere. She ascended the staircase. "Lenma?"

She heard the sound of a female voice but she wasn't sure. Her heart rate quickened, and she gulped to pacify it. "Lenma?" this time her call was panicky, almost shrill in pitch. She was doubting him, and she didn't want to, but who was to say? Did she really believe she could be the only woman in his life?

"Lenma?"

The door of their bedroom door instantly swung open. "LOOK, THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE COMPLICATING THE SITUATION—" He stopped cold when he saw Botan standing there with a pained expression. He instantly covered the mouthpiece. "What's wrong dear"
"I should ask you that." He detached the phone from his ear and walked over to her. Botan sucked in a breath and asked, "Who is she"
"Who?" Lenma calmly inquired, a crease appearing in between his eyebrows. "Is there something wrong?"

He walked over to her, and he gently thumbed her pale cheeks. She closed her eyes, trying to impede the tears that were pushing themselves to fall. "You'd think me stupid if I told you." "No, no," he said in a gentle manner "why would I do that?"
She took interest in the tweeting bird perched on their windowsill. It's because I'm not perfect enough…

Lenma replaced the receiver. "I love you, Botan."

Is that enough?

Botan sunk in her husband's arms, never wanting to miss a skip of his heartbeat, the warm blow of his breath as he whispered sheer poetry in her ears, or just him holding her this way, defying the passing eternities between them.

I love him. And I couldn't give him the world…