Last time on The Courtship
Botan and Koenma tried out some new positions and new techniques. Koenma's turning into a potty mouth. Yusuke tries to pry info from Koenma. The day of the council meeting has arrived!
In the conference room sat the five members of the spiritual council, Koenma, King Enma, and Lord Takahiro. In the waiting room sat the spirit detective team, Botan, Akemi and Shizuru.
"So," the leader of the council said. "Let's get started. We are here because Lord Takahiro states that he and king Enma had an agreement for his daughter, Akemi and Prince Koenma to marry. King Enma contests this claim, and says that both parties agreed to dissolve the agreement."
"That is not true," said Takahiro. "I never agreed to such a thing."
"Oh, but you did," Enma spoke up. "It was a mutual decision."
"So you say," Takahiro sneered. "You have no proof. We all know the reason why we're here. Your son fancies that blue-haired ferry girl."
"That's Prince Koenma to you," Enma snapped. "And whom he chooses to marry is of no concern of yours."
"Yes, it-"
"Enough," the head councilor cut them off. "Lord King, do you have evidence that you severed the agreement?"
"Yes," he replied, producing a scroll from his jacket. "This is a copy of the agreement I sent him."
Takahiro snatched the scroll and scanned the document. "I never received any such documentation," he stated.
"Lord King," another councilor said. "Unless you can prove that Lord Takahiro actually received the document then this will not be sufficient evidence."
"Of course he received it! I sent it by royal messenger!"
"So you say," Takahiro said coyly.
"Listen you," King Enma said through clenched teeth. "I tried to be diplomatic and reasonable with you, but if you will not be reasonable-"
"Reasonable?" Is that what you call sending Koenma's goons to threaten me?" Takahiro demanded.
The senior councilor fixed both Koenma and Enma with a stern look. "Your highness, I hope you did not attempt coercion. It would be a serious breach of protocol."
"I did no such thing," Koenma lied smoothly.
"That boy is lying!" Takahiro exclaimed. "That spirit detective and his friends of his came to my house last week and threatened me. Ask my daughter!"
"You will address me as Prince Koenma or Lord Koenma if you please," Koenma corrected coolly. "And I did not send my team to your house. You may call Akemi if you wish to verify the claim."
"Call in the team first," the head councilor instructed.
"Which of you is the leader?" a councilor asked the team as they entered.
"That would be me," Yusuke answered.
"Thank you. Yusuke, is it? Lord Takahiro states that you and your team paid him a visit last week. Can you confirm?"
"No I cannot," Yusuke replied.
"What?" Takahiro exclaimed.
"Sorry dude. Can't confirm what didn't happen."
"Liar!" Takahiro exclaimed, leaping from his chair. "The mazoku is lying!"
"Mazoku?" A councilor asked. "As in Raizen the mazoku?"
"Yeah that's my old man…well kind of."
"So you're-"
"Never mind that!" Takahiro interrupted. "He's lying!"
"Is he lying?" the councilor asked, eyeing Kuwabara. The team trembled inwardly. Of the four, Kuwabara and his 'honor code' was the most likely to blow their cover.
"No. Urameshi's telling the truth," Kuwabara replied.
"What about you two?" the councilor asked Hiei and Kurama.
"Yusuke is speaking the truth," Kurama replied.
"Never been there," Hiei added.
"Lies! Bring Akemi in here, NOW!"
Akemi walked into the conference room and curtsied to the council.
"Good day Lady Akemi," the head councilor greeted. "Do you recognize these gentlemen?"
"Yes," she answered. "They were in the waiting room with me."
"To the best of your knowledge, have they ever visited your house?"
"No. I don't remember them visiting the house."
"What? What's the matter with you, idiot?" Takahiro demanded of his daughter. "They were just there the other day!"
"Lord Takahiro you will compose yourself," the council warned. "She said that she doesn't remember them."
"That damned fox probably erased her memory!" Takahiro exclaimed. "Or him," he said, indicating Hiei.
"Memory erasing? Oh come now Takahiro, is that the best you can do?" Enma taunted him.
"Yes, it appears that Koenma and his clowns are just as underhanded and unscrupulous as you," Takahiro accused.
"How dare you!" Enma thundered.
"Gentlemen please," the councilor interrupted their exchange. "This is getting us nowhere. Lord Takahiro, there is no way to prove that they were or were not there since your daughter does not recall them. And King Enma, there is no way to prove that there was a mutual dissolution of the agreement."
"What!" Enma exclaimed, leaping from his chair. "You doubt my word?"
"We didn't say that," another councilor hastened to soothe his growing temper. "But we need irrefutable evidence. And since you have none than you must present some other reason why the marriage should not go ahead as arranged."
"If you insist," Koenma said.
Takahiro narrowed his eyes at the deity. "What do you mean?" he asked him.
"Well," Koenma said, standing up. "Akemi you will forgive me for what I'm about to do. It's nothing personal." She responded with a nod.
"It has come to my attention that there was a courtship and a possible betrothal between Lady Akemi and Lord Isamu," Koenma said, staring straight into the eyes of Takahiro. His mouth dropped open. Isamu was the son of a minor lord in his district.
"There was no such betrothal," Lord Takahiro said, a little too quickly. "I ended that little affair-" he gasped, putting his hand over his mouth, realizing he had revealed more than he meant to. Akemi blushed and ducked her head.
"So Isamu was courting your daughter," the head councilor confirmed.
"He came to call on her a few times," Takahiro admitted, reluctantly. "But I put a stop to it because Akemi was already betrothed to the prince," he reiterated.
"A secret betrothal does not sit well with the council," one member stated, annoyed. "However, Takahiro is correct. It does not matter if she was courted by Isamu or not. If he and King Enma had an agreement, any arrangements or promises after that date do not matter. You have not provided us with a reason why we should rule against you, so the arrangement must remain intact." Takahiro's triumphant gleam didn't move Koenma.
"Now that's where we run into a problem," Koenma said smoothly. "I'm afraid I cannot marry Akemi…because I'm already married."
The room was dead silent for a few moments, seemingly an eternity. King Enma found his voice first.
"Son," he said as calmly as he could. "Could you elaborate?"
"Yes father. Botan and I were married last Friday in the Kami Rei temple," he replied, looking his father dead in the eye, something he rarely did.
"Kami Rei…MY TEMPLE!" Enma exploded. "You went and married her behind my back? After I told you to wait until I had this matter resolved?"
"I did," Koenma confirmed.
"HOLY SHIT! THE TODDLER'S GOT SOME BALLS AFTER ALL!"
"Language Yusuke," Kurama admonished gently.
"Interesting," the lead councilor said. "Do you have any proof of this event?"
"As a matter of fact I do," Koenma replied smoothly, he said pulling a scroll from his robe. "Here is the decree of marriage."
Takahiro snatched the document and read it. "This is a forgery. Tetsuo would never perform a ceremony without permission from Enma, who would certainly not grant it."
"I assure you that Tetsuo did perform the ceremony," Koenma replied. "And my two witnesses are here. Kuwabara? Would you ask your sister and Botan to join us please?"
"Yeah, sure." He walked out of the room to retrieve Shizuru and Botan.
When they entered, the council asked Kurama and Shizuru to step forward.
"Is this your signature?" One of the members asked them.
"It is," Kurama answered.
"Yes," said Shizuru.
"So you witnessed these two wed?" the head councilor asked them.
"Yes we did," Kurama spoke for the pair.
"Oh, like they can be trusted," Takahiro snorted. "One member of his team and the sister of another one of his clowns? And that one is a thief!" he said, pointing at Kurama. "You can't honestly mean to take his word, can you?"
"Actually no," the head councilor said. "But I do intend to question Tetsuo about this."
"I have taken the liberty of summoning him for you," Koenma said, while walking over to his wife and placing his arm around her. He gave her a nod and they both took their rings out of their pockets and placed them on their fingers.
"Whatever ceremony you claim to have had with her is of no consequence," Takahiro said. "I, for one, do not believe you."
"Oh, but I assure you that we are indeed married," Koenma said smoothly. "And," he paused for emphasis "it has been consummated."
Yusuke burst out laughing. "Well, I'll be damned. That's why you're in such a good mood lately."
"Is this true young lady?" one councilor asked Botan. "Are you indeed united with Prince Koenma? Both matrimonially and…carnally?" he finished, barely able to get the words out.
"Yes it is true," Botan replied.
"Silly girl," Takahiro sneered. "You understand nothing. You think because Koenma had you that makes you his wife?"
Koenma's face darkened. "You," he said, stepping forward and fixing Takahiro with such a glare that even Yusuke was taken aback. "Will not speak to my wife with such disrespect."
"I'll speak to your little ferry girl as I please. Is that why you promoted her? For services rendered-"
He was cut off by Koenma's fist connecting with his jaw.
"Koenma!" Enma yelled, his jaw dropped in shock. "Did you just-"
"He insulted my wife," Koenma said, wringing his aching hand. "I will not tolerate it. "
Botan's and Kuwabara's mouth were hanging open, Hiei and Shizuru were smirking and Kurama was watching the whole debacle with a neutral expression. And Yusuke was rolling on the floor, laughing hysterically.
"That's what I'm talking about pacifier breath!" he managed in between breaths. "Don't take that shit!"
The council was stunned as well.
"Prince Koenma," the lead councilor said when he finally found his voice, "you are behaving most undignified."
Botan burst into giggles.
"What's so funny Blue?" Shizuru asked. Botan leaned and whispered something in her ear.
"Holy crap!" Shizuru burst into a most unladylike laugh as well.
"You're just going to let him get away with that?" Takahiro exclaimed, rubbing his sore jaw.
"I'm sure Lord Koenma wishes to apologize," one of the counselors urged.
"I do not," Koenma corrected him. "As I stated, I'll tolerate no disrespect to my wife. I warned him, but he did not heed my advice."
"You're just as bad as those thugs you sent to my house," Takahiro spat. "They attacked me as well."
"Thought we already established that didn't happen," Kuwabara said.
"Listen, ugly. You keep out of-"
Hiei had his Katana out in a flash at Takahiro's throat. "What was that?"
"Gentlemen! Compose yourselves! This is a council meeting, not a street brawl!" the head counselor shouted.
"What's all the commotion?" a soft voice asked.
They all turned to see the old priest standing there. "Ah, Tetsuo just the priest I wanted to see. Prince Koenma tells me you performed a wedding ceremony for he and Botan with these two as witnesses," the head councilor indicated Kurama and Shizuru. "Can you confirm?"
"Yes I can," the priest answered, producing and identical document to the one Koenma had presented.
"What!" Takahiro shrieked. "How could you do something like that? You knew Enma and I had an agreement!"
"Because," he shrugged, "they came to me and asked me to do the ceremony. I communed with the kami and was given the blessing, hence the sacred rings. A spiritual marriage holds more value than your supposed verbal agreement with King Enma."
"Why you little-"
"Watch it Takahiro," Enma warned. "That's my personal priest to whom you're speaking."
"What are you going to do? Sock me, like your son? I see the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
"You are correct," Koenma replied.
Enma glowed with pride and regarded his son in a new light. "Well my son is his own man now," Enma said, sighing. "This is out of my hands. Good day, gentlemen." Enma rose to leave.
"Sir! We're not done here!" One councilor exclaimed, indignant.
"Yes, we are," the head councilor said. "There's nothing else to say. The priest has verified the marriage, and is has been blessed by the kami and consummated. This issue is officially closed."
"The nobility will never accept this decision!" Takahiro exclaimed.
"You'll forgive me if I don't give a damn," Koenma countered. "My wife and I thank you for your decision," he said, regarding the council.
"I will have this appealed!" Takahiro vowed.
"Father, I have something to tell you." Akemi spoke up. Everyone froze.
"What is it?" Takahiro snapped, irritated.
"I am married as well," she said softly. "Tetsuo performed a private ceremony for Isamu and me last week."
Everyone looked at the old priest expectantly.
"It's true," he said.
Takahiro's face was almost purple, and he was about to burst a vessel at any second. "HOW DARE YOU DEFY ME! I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE THAT SILLY BOY ALONE! YOU ARE NO DAUGHTER OF MINE!"
"I'm sure she can live with that," Koenma commented.
Well, damn! I guess that does it! But how will Yusuke and Keiko take being left out of the loop? And what kind of wedding presents will they receive? Find out of the final chapter of The Courtship!
I've got one more chapter to go. I appreciate all the reviews and support, but don't quit now! And fear not, I already have something cooking in addition to my current project!