Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Nurarihyon no Mago. I own only my character "Akagane".

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Yamabuki Otome: Last Moments

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I was told that a long, long time ago I used to be human.

I didn't remember much about myself but I was told that back when I was alive I was a daughter of a samurai household. I was well loved by my parents who let me learn all that I wished to learn – music, literature, culture. They didn't object when I told them that I wanted to become a teacher for the children in our village, despite the fact that that was a very unusual thing for a woman to do at that time.

I wondered if my weak body was the reason that made them agree to anything that I asked of them. Perhaps they didn't believe that I would live long enough to do so. Even Akagane said so.

Akagane.

How long had it been already since then? Fifty years at least? Back then we were always together, weren't we? Back then there were only us and our yokai friends and families living in this old place. Back then... I was only your 'Ojou-sama' and I could still love the yamabuki flowers with all my heart, making them bloom all year round in this backyard.

Akagane, Akagane… now that I would fade away soon, I missed you and everyone and those days that we had together so much. When I died the first time had I felt this lonely?

Akagane, you were there when I woke up as a spirit who couldn't depart because of the regrets I couldn't remember. You were there saying that you were waiting for me, that you had been waiting for me for all this time.

'Who are you?'

'I'm called Akagane. I was saved by you once when I was alive, Ojou-sama. After that, I swore to myself that I would give my life to you, that I would protect you with my life. However, when I was allowed to serve you and your family finally, you…didn't have much time left.'

'…I can't remember. I can't remember anything. I'm sorry.'

'It doesn't matter. I'm only very glad that you finally woke up. I thought you had long departed but when I died and found you still here and sleeping… I should never be forgiven for feeling this way but I was happy that I was given a chance to serve you.'

'How long… how long have I been sleeping?'

'About thirty years. My lord and my lady moved to the capital not long after your death. They couldn't bear staying and remembering.'

'Then why are you here? Didn't you go with them?'

How could I forget your smile that you gave me that time? It was such a sincere smile that even these many years passed I still hadn't seen any that came as close as half of yours.

'How could I leave you here all by yourself, Ojou-sama? I never had the chance to fulfill my vow, so the least I could do was to stay and keep you company. I wasn't able to serve you but now…. Until the day you could depart this world without worries came, I beg you to let me stay by your side and protect you till then.'

The years that followed we spent together in quiet peace. During these times we met both good and bad yokais. Some chose to stay with us and more were driven away. I taught the little ones as I never had the chance to when I was human. And you, you guarded us and trained others to become stronger in order to protect our home. Every day was filled with stories, laughter and adventures. Every day was such happiness that I forgot I should find out what regrets they were that kept me here. I didn't even think of learning about the name that I had lost. As long as days would continue like this, I didn't want anything anymore.

But like all things, this kind of life would come to an end some day. And that day brought Rihan-sama into my life.

Rihan-sama…

I hope… I hope that you will always be happy and smiling. I hope you will find someone who can make you smile from your heart and give you the happiness that I can never give you. Rihan-sama, don't ever lose your smile….

Even though things had turned out this way, I didn't regret it. I didn't regret meeting him on that rainy day. I didn't regret leaving and spent these past years with him. I didn't regret, Akagane, that I left him to die here, alone, without you, without anyone, and without the flowers that used to cover this place bright gold.

Akagane, now I remembered the regrets that I had when I, as a human, had when I was about to die. No wonder you never told me what they were, and no wonder you had cried so much that day when I met Rihan-sama. You knew all along, didn't you? You knew that I would realize eventually, so you had been fearing, worrying if, suppose, things didn't end well for me.

'I wish… I wish I could know love before I have to die….'

The human that I was had wanted to love and be loved like how my mother loved and was loved by my father. I wished…I wished and I tried to live through. But, in the end, I couldn't go against fate and died with such regrets.

Now that I knew love, now that I had loved and had been loved back, those regrets were no more. Akagane, I was fading away and I wasn't going to expect seeing you waiting for me as you had done back then. However, if we ever met again I would like to tell you that I had had fortunate lives. I had loving parents and I met you when I was human. I had you caring for me and I fell in love with Rihan-sama after I became an ayakashi. I had had happy lives. But for both times, truly, I wished that I could live a little longer…

One for the love that I had yet to know.

And another for the promise that couldn't be fulfilled.

If… If I should find myself be reborn and remember these memories one day, then let me live to see that person's smile once more, let me live to know that he has loved and is loved back, and let me live long enough, even for a moment, to meet his child…whom I could never had for him.

Akagane, how nice it would be if I could see you and tell you my stories. Akagane, would you play that melody for us one more time? It seemed the little ones were growing sleepy and so was I. Akagane, with your lullaby…

...give us a good dream.

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Afterthought

This chapter may get me to write a full stand-alond story later. I can't quite imagine how Yamabuki Otome would fade away but after reading about her past, I just thought that it would be nice for her to go home. Everything started there and it seemed she had had quite a peaceful life before Rihan came, so...

I didn't think I would put my own character in here till I started and felt that it would be too lonely if she couldn't think of anyone else beside Rihan during this time. She should at least have some family and friends. So, inspired by the character from Midorikawa Yuki's Natsume Yuujinchou, I borrowed the name for my character, whom I decided to be her sort-of attendant. I hope I can develop his character further if I actually write about Yamabuki Otome's story later.