Author's notes: Thank you heartluv for continuing reading and reviewing my fic, you do not know how much I appreciated that. In addition, it is good to know that I had given you some trivia that you don't know about Botan and Koenma's name. Maraming salamat po ^ _^
To Anon: I really appreciated your suggestion to me to get a Beta reader, but I do not know how and don't know to get one. And please tell me how did you say so that they are out of character and why did you say that my story is hard to read. Who knows, you can help me improve.
Disclaimers: YuYu Hakusho and its characters are not mine and will never be mine. It was from the imagination and creativity of its original author and illustrator Mr. Yoshihiro Togashi.
To Whom We are Really Belong chapters 4: Spellbound Seal ( december 14, 2013: Chapters 5 and 6 have been ready since the first wk of the last month but our laptop has broken so I can't able to type it:( and I'm currently working on chapters 6-7 I hope I can able to upload it before the end of this month, by the way Merry Christmas:)
Two maidservants of the palace are traveling confidently through the hallways heading Koenma's office. They both have tray in their hands containing luxurious food and beverages that are Koenma's favorite to eat for breakfast. The door automatically swung open for both of them. It is a quite bemusing day for the two maidservants who routinely bring Koenma's breakfast. The swivel chair behind the table, that clattered with unfinished lofty stacks of paper works, is noticeably vacant. No thuds of stamp sealing paper, no ear torturing whine, no sounds of bossy command, no ranting, no floundering and most remarkably is no toddler looking ruler ,who always seen sucking a pacifier impatiently with oversize hat. Their steps paused and looked at each other wondering.
"Koenma-sama hasn't got up yet? The one asked the other."
"But… it can't be, he should already awoke this time resuming his overload work. He frequently wakes up 2 hours earlier than his assigned start of duty, especially when there are so many backlogs in waiting, the other countered."
"Hmm… you've got a point. I remember one incident, when we tried to bring him food shortly after he woke up earlier than usual he just ousted us for disturbing him and pointing out that it wasn't the suppose time of his breakfast."
Their brows both furrowed in mystification.
"If that's the case, where he might be? They asked one another in chorus."
They carefully placed the tray they were holding in the table. They talked each other mentally and both nodded in agreement. They walked across towards Koenma's chamber. They have to take long steps to reach the stupendous height of the double door. They both gasped at the sight of the one door slightly left hanged open. They gulped, both consumed with immeasurable curiosity of "What could have he'd been doing?"
They poked their head together. Their eyes popped out of their head looking very perplexed on what they have just seen. They quickly covered each other's mouth while a forefinger gesturing"silence" on their nose. They both stumbled upon exiting the office as hands were clutching on their chest, while their expressions became daze, as if had witnessed a terrifying scene. A whistling lavender headed ferry girl was holding an envelope making her way towards her master's office, when she noticed the two maidservants outside standing still in front of the doorway. Her brows knitted in curiosity.
"Do Koenma-sama's rantings really that traumatizing to make them looked as if being chased by zillions of zombies? She cackled inwardly."
"Hey! The two of you what happened?!
They suddenly shifted their gaze from nothingness to hers. They also started mumbling things in a rather hasty, confuse, and ill-defined manner.
"Koenma (gesturing sleep)….—mono…-ink...-ther…s-s-same...—ed…. –uddle…blue haired…ferr-….-ight…pacifier…prince…-ogther?!
Her brows almost tangled literally.
"What?! Can you please make it distinct! I don't understand any word! She demanded."
"B-rid-?!"
"-erry?!"
"err—ation-ip?!"
"-leep…-ther?!...-ame…bed?!
But, they just continued to spluttered words. Curiosity could kill a ferry girl and she doesn't want to die yet. She filled her chest with air.
"Okay, I should have done this earlier, she tittered."
"WHAT… THE… HELL… ARE… YOU… REALLY… TRYING… TO… SAY?!" She nearly sends them off the wall. The chaotic pattern of words suddenly ceased. She smirked at the sight of it.
"Now, tell me what you really guys wanted to say. It's about Koenma-sama, right? What happened to him? What did you see?
The two exchanged persuading looks before returning to her. She saw them stuffed their lungs.
While inside Koenma's room….
Koenma's eyes are slowly flapping. His vision is twirling around. His morning greeted with a sudden rush of torturing pain in his temples. He lazily rubbed it while forcing himself to remember what had happened yesterday.
It was a usual lofty paper works occupied day for the toddler looking prince.
"Here's all you need, Sir!"
His head had extended automatically when the exuberant of somewhat familiar voice reached his ears. He was infallible to think that it wasn't the blue haired and loud mouthed ferry girl. Exactly, it wasn't because it was Ayame, the woman of his dreams. The only one that corresponds to his entire criterion he has set for centuries for the girl he wished to be his female half. The first time he saw her he knew exactly she is the one. The attraction he felt for her was intense and never had he experienced it to anyone before her. His heartbeat accelerated beyond normal remembering the plan he has set with his blue haired ferry girl, but his outward countenance stayed indifferently.
"Oh, what have you eaten? You look very happy and excited today. May I know what is it for?"
He asked in monotonous while reading the files she had given to him. He pretends consumed in delving the pages, but deep inside he was celebrating because at last he asked her a non-work related question. Ayame can't help but chortled while showing her left finger particularly her index with a flashing stone.
"He'd finally proposed!"
His breath froze while forcing a fake smile. He felt something had dislodged his throat.
" R-r-really? Wow, congratulations! by the way."
Ayame left smiling with a pasted smile on her lips oblivious to the multifarious infliction she'd given to her master. Then, he had decided to do something…to forget…to escape and his last resort was to intoxicate himself. He remembered asking his ferry girl to accompany him, he exuded his angst, he cried then he hugged her, asked her questions about love, offered her a drink and… and… he felt dizzy until he can't able to dive in his memory. His eyes suddenly bulged.
"Wait?! If this is my room who could had brought me in here? He asked himself mentally although he knew there's only one possible person accountable for it.
His head turned to his side and he saw threads of blue that strewn freely across his arms.
"Botan… he whispered."
Her one arm is bracing his waist and her body left no space to him. He listened to her conciliatory respiration, and then he blushed.
"Geez! What others will ever say if they ever found out this, he thought."
He's more than 700 years old in existence, but never he experienced to sleep with a woman, especially in a very "intimate" way.
"Hey, Koenma intimate isn't a precise description! Yes, you had slept with her and that's it! Nothing exceeded more than that, but still it's a new and strangely pleasant feeling for me." He tucked some loose strands of her hair behind her ears to give himself a good view of her face.
"Why? Botan. How could you ever sustain yourself working with a very demanding and selfish lord?"
He wanted to wake her up, but a part of his mind had firmly objected.
"I don't want yet to free you in my arms, Botan."
He shook his head as he realized what he had said. His eyes absent-mindedly transferred to his wall clock, and upon looking what time it was, impetuously got himself up leaving her head joggled in bed. He was about to jump out of his bed when he heard a harmonious yawning. He paused in mid-movement and turned his head back. He watches her mouth opened really wide while stretching her limbs irregularly. It was laughable for him, yet it peculiarly tickles his heart. Unconsciously, he smiled. Botan's eyes unfolded and her sight can only see blurred images of brown and blue. She rubbed her eyes to clear her vision and the first thing she saw was the face of the most handsome man in Reikai and the most enchanting figure she had ever seen in her entire life. Her eyes dazzled to his gleaming smile. It was an additional bonus to her morning and it had already satisfied her appetite.
"These are indeed a BINGO! She giggled inwardly"
She beamed warmer back at him while heaving herself up to sit beside him.
"Ohayou Gozaimasu! Koenma-sama!" she chirped energetically not realizing that it is very unnatural for a ferry girl to sleep with the Reikai Prince in the same bed?! Koenma bent his legs and rested his arms on top of it, and then he smirked.
"Good morning too, Botan-chan! So… how was your sleep?"
"Oohh… it was serene, sound, peaceful, reposing and soo comfy because your bed was-, she paused in mid-sentence finally gain some awareness on where she is.
"so… fluffy."
Her eyes frantically roamed around the absurdly huge room and then back to Koenma. She heedlessly braced herself as she hastily heaved backwards. She kept moving not looking behind her, until she saw shock had drawn all over his face.
"Botan! Watch out!"
Before she realized that she was at the edge of the bed and ready to fall somersaulted, Koenma had impulsively hauled her arms towards him. He felt his back was lying flat on the bed and his lips magnetized to a balmy, fiery, so tender and dulcet tasted thing. It stupefied him, but he let himself wallowed in its venomous ecstasy. It was hallucinating, sends him to fathomless inebriety, igniting every dimension of his body, deteriorating his mind with sensual bliss. However, it was suddenly disrupted. He exposed his eyes, and visioned a pellucid globular pink. Pink compacted to amber as they both withholding their breath. The insane beating of her heart have surpassed her auditory. Why it wouldn't? Because here she is superimposed upon Koenma, the prince of Reikai, her master, her friend and the only one that drives her heat lunatic. Good thing, her senses flicked back swiftly. If not, she would probably abide herself there for perpetuity. She baffled. She propped up her hands on his chest only to subvert once again on his lips. But, it was again disturbed by a clamorous thump that echoed throughout the chamber.
"Ouch! Rabenda rubbed her swollen forehead.
Her face had plumped down straight on the marble floor. She strangled to lift herself up.
"Dull-witted floor! She mumbled as she smoothened her slightly ruffled kimono.
She was having a good time spying on them as nasty thoughts twirling her mind. She was giggling and warping her legs behind the shadows, until she stumbled herself.
Hereupon, Koenma and Botan immediately parted their lips and followed the intruder's direction. They saw Rabenda who was now holding a handkerchief.
"So, the prince has finally chosen someone to marry, she followed it with spurious whimpering. And it will certainly smash every maiden's heart here in Reikai, she buried her face in her palm and sobs loudly. And…and…my friend Botan might forget about me and all her ferry duties (sniff) well… I can never blame you because…marrying the prince is TRULY! DELIRIOUS! Her pout quickly transformed to a menace grin.
" At last! She exclaimed, the long waiting of mighty Enma-sama has finally over! And I'm sure the whole palace can't wait to hear the good news!" And with that she hurriedly scurried away before Botan could get up and give her a jab on the head.
She left Botan and Koenma gaping, then they returned their head and lock a gaze. Botan befuddled realizing she has not yet removed herself on Koenma. She rolled down herself to the side. They both lift themselves to sit up. They turned their back against each other. Koenma ran his fingers on his hair. He touched his lips that have just divirginized and marveled in his thought.
"What are these eccentric sensations? And why do I have to feel these of all people to Botan?"
He tried to take a peek to Botan who was varnished in red.
"Uhm…Botan I…well I shouldn't had pul-
"Don't bother yourself, Koenma-sama. It's nothing to me! she said while waving a hand infront of her face.
"But…it has a significance to you. I know you had long reserved your first kiss to… someone…to someone whose gonna be your…your…future husband. An unexplainable feelings glide in him with his last words.
He looked at her in disbelief. She looked as if nothing had happened.
"Oh, that thing? That is nonsense! I had only said that because I was fond of reading ningen classic fairytales and had dreamt to be one of the princesses having their first and last kiss with the one they genuinely love, but then I am not a princess and will never ever be to assume and fantasize such kind of thing."
He felt a sort of… disappointment? He did not know but he wanted to get annoy with her saying that was only nothing but a mere trash. However, the pride of egotistical prince would never allow it to become plausible.
"Well, good thing! It was too a folly for me. I just felt a bit anxiety thinking you might get infuriated but now I felt somewhat relieved.
"So…it was resolved, let us back to work! she exclaimed blithefully, and then turned serious.
"Just tell me Koenma-sama whenever you need me. I know you are still hurt, and remember that I am always here ready to leave no matter what I was doing, whether if I am sleeping, eating, brushing my teeth, just to lend my shoulders to you."
He watched her bowing deeply before him before heading to exit. He sighed heavily when she had gone to his sight. Awkwardly, he slightly stuck his tongue to taste his lips. And, much to his surprise he felt a longing feelings.
Late evening…
He is reading a report about Makai, or it's right to say he is just staring it pointless. He angrily slumped it down.
"Damn it! Why it has to be keep rewinding over and over again in my memories?! Don't you heard what she had said? It's nothing but a GREAT TRIVIAL! so did you, he muttered annoyingly to himself while sucking his pacifier really hard."
He heard a knocked.
"Come in! he shouted in irritation."
He picked up the folder and started to flip it up pretending consumed. He heard rustle footsteps coming towards him and saw someone bowed in his periphery.
"A pleasant evening, your Majesty. I know you have yet numerous tasks to accomplish, but the mighty Enma-sama had arduously commanded me to bring you to him immediately. He said it's all about an important matter concerning you."
He rose up his head after hearing the name "Enma-sama". His brows knitted in perplexity.
"What could be the important matter he was referring?"
He folded the files and stood up. He walked after him in tacit. His mind is now diverged on his accidental kiss with Botan and the "important matter" that had caused his father to summon him. He transformed himself to his adult form to be able to achieve long steps. He gulped nervously as he listened to the the shriek of the slowly revealing double door. Two servants greeted him and gave him a courteous bow. The servant that had brought him there threw himself face downward infront of the throne.
"Your majesty, I had already executed your order."
Enma-sama nodded in reply as he gestured his hand to him. The servant leaved together with the two, probably as Enma had instructed. He rigorously stood his legs on the ground because any time he knows it would start to shivered.
"I'm confident you'd already knew why I'd summoned you, Koenma, he started."
"P-pardon me, my father but I don't have any notion."
Nerves on Enma's head have twitched. The gigantic King of Reikai slowly turned around to show his fury.
"KO-EN-MA!"
That's fair enough to make every minute of his flesh fidgeted.
"You haven't introduced any woman, yet an information had reached me that you had slept with one last night! AND, the thing that really amazed me is that it's no other than your ferry girl BOTAN!
His mighty roar is shaking the ground a little.
"How can you explain that, huh?! Koenma! And don't you ever dare to deny it, his growl is reverbating through every corners of the chamber."
He flinched abruptly and his chin had shuddered in fear.
"I-i-i-i…admit. I had slept with her, but that's it! Nothing line ha- , he was cut off by Enma."
"So, you really had slept with a woman, huh? I'd always thought your immaculate, my son." His tone evolved from vex to impishness.
"I-i-ts… I-i-ts… I-i-ts not what you think! Red hue has painted all over his face.
Enma took little steps to his left to hide the frolic smile that is sketching his lips and then turning back again with impassive feauture.
"Well, you having a romantic relationship with Botan are not really surprising. I had witnessed how you two get along since your childhood days. And when the right time comes for the two of you to assume your entailed duty, it never hinders your friendship and now…"
"F-a-fa-father, whatever…whatever it implies to you is wrong REALLY WRONG! were together all through the night Yes! But we only slumbered, he exasperated defensively."
Enma is turning enrage again.
"Then, tell me why did she sleep in your room?! Did she do it on purpose?! Did you force her?! Does it already part of her job as your assistant?! Does it because you're still afraid of the dark?! And most remarkably is… WHY ARE YOU TWO KISSING?!
Koenma had not wanted anything in that moment, but to shrink and disappear, to run cowardly outside the chamber, to melted like an ice and be evaporated in the air. His face can now mistaken as a red tomato. His tongue had wrung inwardly in mixed of fear, confusion, and embarrassment.
Enma seemed find it an amusing spectacle.
His feet traveled to his majestic window to view the hazy ambiance of the Spirit World. He spoke again, but now in calm manner.
"You're 718 years old, Koenma. And you know the matrimonial rule here in Reikai for a crown ruler that you should have got married before your 720th year had arrived. I had introduced many gorgeous and polished aristocrats to you years ago, but you did not show even a slightest amount of interest. Therefore, I have decided to let you on your own, since you are the one who will get marry and not me. But, apparently I was wrong because until now you haven't yet introduced any lady, you feel to choose as your lifetime partner and the one who's willing to share the daunting obligations of the future highest in rank ruler of Reikai. Thus, when the information had reached me; I thought why Koenma would keep it a secret? Son, if you think I might impede if you would ever choose a commoner, then you are wrong indeed. I don't care whoever you love as long as she loved you back and will marry you not because of your bureaucratic status, but because of whom you are as a whole."
He slightly tilted his head down to Koenma.
"Your 718 years old. And it only denotes that 718 years have already passed since I had first nursed a baby, when this palace had filled with wayward cackles, when my ears had first distressed with childish tantrums, when a certain part of this palace had painted and decorated for a child. And those make me feel so… so… nostalgic, his eyes slightly turned mellow."
Koenma gulped uneasily. His father rarely show his soft side to him. He is usually in his spitting behavior of his son. However, it does not ease his shudders.
He spun to fully face him again.
"But, when your marrying age has nearly arrived I saw some kind of hope that will mend my vague feelings and yearning. I know what I am saying to you right now has startled you, but I mean what I had all said."
Koenma's complexion turned in lurid red. He comprehended what his father was trying to insinuate.
"Do you want to say something, Koenma?! He asked in a rather imperative manner."
He looked up to his father's seizing gaze. He opened his compressed lips a little, but no words exited.
"If you'll going to just stand there and will just stare at me all night, then you may leave. But!... he desisted and slightly pace to his right and then turning to him again.
"The Annual Reikai Ball will be held next week. And on that day you MUST! Introduced the girl whom you wish to marry, whom you wish to be the mother of your future brats and my grandkids, whom will accept open arms the taxing responsibilities and tedious obligations as the ruler consort, and most importantly is… the one who is your true love.
Koenma's eyes revolted.
"He stammered, B-b-b-but…t-that's almost a…an…o-ordeal, father. You can't expect me to find a woman in a very concise time!
Enma shrugged him off.
"Concise time?! You don't have to find your true love because she is already with you for eons bloomed out of your thresholds."
Koenma thought for a moment.
"Did he know my feelings for Ayame? But she's already with somebody else and I don't want to force myself to someone who doesn't revert the same feelings, he lamented to himself."
"And I'm pretty positive the moment you'll come up with the realizations, this year won't end of you marrying her, Enma in a very volatile moment crowed."
Koenma stared upon as if caught an enigmatic pomp. He couldn't exactly remember how many ages have passed since the last time he saw his father laugh heartily.
"B-b-but, if you're referring to the head researcher Aya- , his sentence disrupted by his father's motioning hand for him to leave."
Enma is gazing through his window hiding his lips that has drawn trans-lucidly.
"Go back to work, son. And then just meditate it before going to bed."
He wanted to say more, but Enma would not listen and he would not allow by any chance his mood to reverse hideously again.
He is striding briskly towards the double door to exit, but stopped when he had heard his father spoke.
"Just open your eyes and look around. And when you saw it, grab it and be optimistic."
The sky is pure in Ningenkai…..
A silhouette is gasping a breath in astonishment. Admiring the boundless lustrous diamonds that is scattered throughout the infinite night sky. The effeminate blew of the wind is gently wresting her kimono and freely cascading her hair through the air. She has counted the stars rigorously. She had repeatedly failed until she managed to count steadfast.
"Pointing her forefinger to the sky, 715…716…717…718…719…72- she stopped counting."
Smile quickly faded away in her lips. Her oar is floating still above Tokyo Tower. Its blinding floodlights has slightly casted her. Good thing, she is a non-corporeal body so she is not visible to a naked human eye, if not humans down there would definitely horrify to see a woman riding in a floating oar.
" And 720… she muttered."
"Two more years, it sounded rather like a deep sigh, And Koenma-sama would have married."
She regretted how her inert feelings for him have surfaced.
"I shouldn't have known it. I should not have felt it. I shouldn't…I shouldn't…I shouldn't have loved him."
She knew Koenma not and would never love her the way she does. And she wonders how would she ever worked with him normally and how would she ever concealed her feelings within, the moment he finally tied a knot with somebody. Yes, he has no girlfriend, yet, right now because the girl he had long targeted has hooked by someone else she truly loves. But, time can heal everything and besides he has a long queue of stunningly beautiful damsel with noble blood. And whether he likes it or not he should pick one among of them to be his princess, and eventually queen.
"He's my first kiss but definitely not my last. And probably I will choose not to have a last if it wouldn't be from him."
Her heart pounded laboriously remembering the kiss. Its taste has reposed in her memory.n It was sapid, relishing and savory. She made it sure that those jiffy but considerably memorable moment would treasured within her heart. Her cheeks glistened as two tears had glided. It mixed with the cold evening breeze. She returned her gaze to the sky. Twinkles reflected on her pink eyes, but her eyes sparkled even more than the countless stars spread throughout the universe when her eyes had caught a certain patterns of stars from the above.
"Koenma-sama…."
Back to Reikai….
Koenma has impatiently waited Botan.
"Why she hasn't returned yet?! Oh, she must stop there to jaunt somewhere again."
He groggily yawned and leaned his back flat.
"Ogre! He yelled to call his blue ogre assistant."
A second will not last and the ogre appeared standing erect infront of his working table.
"Hai! Koenma-sama, he replied chest outed.
"Get me a milk, now!"
" Ha-hai! He rushed attentively to the pantry to make milk for his temperamental boss."
Soon after, he returned.
"Here's your milk, Sir!"
Koenma quickly stirred the milk in the glass. It is evident in his expression that he is pondering something.
"Uhm… anything you need, Sir?" But no replied.
Jorged stared intently at his boss.
"Koenma-sama? He asked wondering what had happened to him."
He started to make silly dances infront of him, grotesque faces, clapping his hands on his face, but all of these have no effect. He chuckled evilly when his eyes had lowered to his mouth.
"What if… he slowly advanced his hand to his mouth, but stopped when he had noticed his eyes glaring at him. He quickly hid his hand at the back of his head while laughing nervously and sheepishly.
"Ah…hehe… If you don't need anything, Sir, I shall go now."
He turned his back to his master and started to head outside.
"Jorge!"
At the speed of light, there he is standing upright like a soldier.
"I want you to go tomorrow in Ningenkai and find the best florist in town!"
"Me?, Jorge asked foolishly pointing himself."
Koenma's head boiled.
"AND WHO ELSE DO YOU THINK?!"
Jorge flinched horribly.
"B-b-but…why woul you w-
Koenma did not let him finish.
"Just do what I say! He shouted annoyingly".
"H-h-ha-hai! Koenma-sama, as he saluting him like a soldier."
Jorge stood still waiting for more orders. He gave him an irritated look.
"What are standing for?! Quickly evaporate!
Jorge rapidly runs outside before his grouchy boss emitted a fire blast for him. Outside, he continued wondering.
"Why would he want me to find the best florist in Ningenkai?"
He cupped his chin, and then his eyes suddenly widened.
"Oh, see how years go by, he thought teary eyed."