Please give C&Cs directed to <wsiewlee@tm.net.my> as I'm not subscribed to
the ML. This will be the finalized version and I'm going to post this up
soon. Please give comments.
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~~~The Past, The Present And The Future~~~
~~~The Past - Memories (Part 2)~~~
Part 2 - An Untold Story, A Secret Tale
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Yamaro. That name was very familiar to him, if not to the extent of
repeating itself like a voice in his head. Yamaro is his destiny, his
life and everything worthy he had in his life. Yamaro was a S-class demon;
a very powerful type, especially with his ability to manipulate human
minds. He, himself had met Yamaro long time ago, long before his
confinement in this dark and miserable place.
An alliance formed between both of them. An invincible alliance. Nobody
could get through their defence.
*Why did I get confined to this place?* asked Murashi silently to
himself. Eons ago, he and Yamaro were one of the most powerful around.
That time, Raizen, Mukuro and Yomi haven't risen to power yet. Murashi's
mouth turned up to form a smirk. *They are only weak warriors.*
In every corner of Makai, his and Yamaro's names were sacred. Feared in
every aspect of power, financial wealth and minds. He sensed the fright in
souls everywhere he went. Fright and dark emotions are so good to play with.
Murashi laughed out aloud. Those were the days...
Ningenkai and Reikai tasted sweet. Sweet as honey. Portals were opened
in every single part of Makai for easy access to the two worlds, enabling
youkais and any other breathing objects to get through. Yamaro had a secret
dream. A dream that linked three worlds together as one, the light, the dark
and humanity.
Together, they formed a plan as the ultimate battle between the light
and the dark. Attacks were made on Reikai and Ningenkai. He could remember
how Yamaro used to celebrate victory after victory. Terror in everybody's
faces was like wine in his throat. *Why terror?* thought Murashi until now.
This question had intrigued him all along. Shouldn't it be fine if there
were portals everywhere?
Murashi didn't sense the danger it posed. At least not to him. Ningens don't
know anything about it, only Reikai. Reikai. Never say that word in front of
Yamaro. A banned word. A taboo in his presence.
Reikai had never been so interrogative about their plans. *Those in Reikai
are just only a bunch of weaklings.*
It was one fateful day. Enma-Daiou had finally showed some true powers
for them to see. A tear dropped from Murashi's eyes with how painful defeat
was to him. The feeling itself was terrible, like someone had torn out
his heart and ripped it into pieces. Murashi softly fingered a deep scar
on his chest where Enma's Reiki sword had wounded him seriously. His scars
were nothing compared to Yamaro's. He didn't only suffered physical
scars, but also emotional scars. Scars that were impossible to heal,
even after a millennium.
Defeat was bitter. Murashi only knew it himself. One could never feel the
humiliation without been defeated. Defeat was the contrast of victory. He
had turned to Yamaro on the brink of defeat. It just wasn't fair. They
don't deserved to be defeated just like that.
He could still remember the nights which they had spent together in each
other's arms and warmth. Yamaro was a handsome man with a picture prefect
body like those of a god. He could also feel the soft lips kissing
him in a way that he felt was heavenly.
*Luckily I still have him.*
A voice came shouting across the hallway, sending him straight out of
his sweet and painful dreams. "Murashi! Lord Yamaro wants to see you now!"
Murashi yelled back a rude answer and slipped into his clothes.
Slowly and shakily, he stood on his feet and fingered his own face. He
had the delicate skin of a woman and an ivory complexion. Sometimes, he
wished that he was a woman not a man. He turned walked towards Yamaro's
place. The hallway was dark and god knew that what type of Makai insect
lived here.
He stopped in front of a pair of large wooden doors. On the sides of
each door, sat a fierce looking stone lion. Sitting there, waiting to
swallow anyone. Lions of evil and darkness.
Murashi knocked on the door and he heard a smooth voice beckoning him to
go in. Yamaro's voice. Murashi walked in slowly and saw Yamaro staring at
a huge crystal ball.
"What is your command, my dear?" asked Murashi as he looked around for
any presence of a third party. Seeing on one, he walked over to Yamaro
and sat down daintily.
"This time, we'll be able to free ourselves and our men from the
everlasting bond of Justice. We have been locked here for such a long
time and that even the feel of sunlight has long abandoned me. Now, I can
sense the smell of freedom and before long, we will be in Ningenkai,
ruling out kingdom together," answered Yamaro, in an unusually good mood.
"Really? That will be fine for we have been together through thick or thin.
We have been locked up here for more than a thousand years and I could
use some freedom. But... who is going to free us? I thought only the one
of great Divinity has the power to do so..." said Murashi.
"Yes, it's true. After years and years of searching and investigating,
I had found that person." With a flick of his wrist, the huge crystal's
swirling lights consolidated to form an image. It showed a picture
of a beautiful teenage schoolgirl with a strange hairdo. She had such
delicate feminine features that she was breathtaking, her ivory
complexion was flawless. She was in a background of a coffee-shop,
talking and laughing with her friends.
"Does she really have the power to free us? She looks really young and
weak..." said Murashi, expressing his lack of confidence of the girl.
"No, she has a no real power within herself, but she has some very
important connections with Reikai. I had uncovered this secret in an
attempt to hack into Reikai's internal computer system. It seems that
this girl had a close relationship with the Enma Junior. Here, I have
already downloaded all the files and we must study it to see ways to
blackmail Enma-Daiou into letting us go..."
"Okay, it will be fine as you wish, we will deal with this girl later
on... For now, let's enjoy out free time first, since we will be very
busy after this." Murashi reached a finger at the lamp and the lights
went off.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Koenma was tired of waiting for Yusuke and his friends. Keiko
herself had came to serve him, but he didn't order anything.
Enma-Daiou had been pretty strict about his allowances nowadays. "I
should have reported to the child-abuse hotline about this asking a
teenager to do a lot of work while giving meager salaries," a random
thought from Koenma who was currently dying of boredom.
The song 'Love Sensation' was blaring out loud in Keiko's shop. Koenma
had gotten tired of hearing it again and again. When he sat down to
think, he had a bad habit of sucking his pacifier. He knew he looked odd
with the pacifier but he couldn't live without it. The pacifier had
practically grow up with him and it did served a purpose too. A wry
smile lit up when he recalled how Yusuke had asked him how good the
pacifier felt in his mouth.
Some girls walked past him and made a comment about his pacifier. Koenma
took off his pacifier and threw them a suave yet charming smile. The
schoolgirls threw him flying kisses and giggled loudly. Koenma just
looked away as a cold bead of sweat ran down his forehead. Girls...
Koenma was losing his patience by now. Perhaps he should go back to
Reikai to contact Botan. Time was gold and everything too. When he
thought of office documents piling higher and higher every second, he let
out a groan. Maybe he would have to miss his sleep tonight or even worse,
for three days consecutively. He walked towards the counter to tell Keiko
that he was leaving. Suddenly, a voice caught his ear. It was a female
voice, high, lilting and beautiful. Koenma froze. That sounded familiar.
Koenma closed his eyes for a while, letting that voice float around the
air around him. That voice drove straight into Koenma's head and dug out
his memories... sweet old memories...
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It had happened a long time ago, deep within the hidden nooks and
crannies of the Imperial Reikai palace. A place where all matters were
executed in sub rosa, kept a secret from prying eyes and ears. A place
of conspiracies and collaborations.
150 years ago...
In an ancient world, warring countries and feudalism were common.
Chauvinistic behavior was considered a normal action. When a
disagreement occurred, two feuding nations always launch a war leaving
the people to suffer the most. Two common ones were the state of Shu and
Kin. Both were powerful nations, each determined to gain control of the
entire Asian continent. Other than these two nations, there were some
small states too, victims of bloodshed.
In the midst of this confused state, not all the warlords were that power
crazy. Far across the oceans lying in the far south, there was once a
small country, ruled by a kind and caring warlord. That was the state
of Wei. The warlord was a kind person, he refused to see his people
suffer in silence. In the midst of a magnificent palace, he lived there
with his most prized possession --- his daughter, a princess, the lily
of the state.
One day, a diplomat sent by the ruler of Shu came to pay a 'small' visit.
The king sat on the throne, waiting for the diplomat. A few minutes
passed, still no sight of the diplomat. After a few minutes, a lithely
built man walked up the red carpet, giving a little bow as a mere sign
of respect. King Wei nodded slightly, acknowledging the respect.
"Your highness, the Shu had pledged harmony between both countries.
Here is the agreement," said the diplomat. His two followers stood there,
with their head bowed.
"Really unconditional?" asked King Wei, after glancing cursorily through
the formal agreement.
"Our lord has something to be advised to your highness personally. May they
be excused?" requested the diplomat politely.
"Yes," said King Wei, beckoning for the servants beside him to retire
first. He began to feel suspicious. Something was not very correct. The
king merely shoved it aside, eager to hear what the diplomat had to say.
The diplomat took a quick glance around for another third party, also
beckoning his followers to leave as well. "Since it's customary to
represent a small gift as your sincerity, I suggest that your highness
should think of something that will please my lord," whispered the
diplomat softly, yet loud enough for the king on the throne to hear.
"Do you have any ideas?" asked King Wei cautiously, half afraid to listen
on.
"What about a wife for our eldest prince?" suggested the diplomat.
"A wife for the crowned prince," repeated King Wei thoughtfully.
"Yes." said the diplomat, still in that soft tone. "I'm sure your
highness have some ideas for the choice of bride."
"I'll consider it. Please stay in the imperial guest room and I'll give
you an answer in a week's time," replied King Wei, his heart already
aching slightly. The diplomat meant his daughter, Misuko-chan...
The diplomat smiled graciously and gave a little bow. Slowly, he backed
off to the entrance, leaving King Wei to ponder by himself.
*Psychology wins.* The diplomat decided as he walked along the corridors
of the magnificent palace, knowing that the king will make his choice soon.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Princess Misuko! Princess Misuko!" a servant ran along the garden path
leading to an open pavilion. A girl was sitting there, sewing a peony
on a piece of satin. The girl's eyebrows were knitted together,
concentrating on her work.
A closer look showed the girl. She was apparently in her mid-teens. She was
petite, her frame still considered as small. She had long arched eyebrows
and creamy white skin. Her fair complexion complimented her lips, her eyes
and of course, her facial features.
The female servant rushed into the pavilion, alerting the girl. The
needle she was holding pricked into her index finger. Blood oozed out
and stained the pure white satin. The girl gasped slightly and looked
up at the huffing and panting person before her.
"Your highness, there's a diplomat here just now!" said the servant,
her hair flaring wildly in the wind.
"Huh? Diplomat?" asked Misuko unbelievably. Peace missions were rare
in these days.
"Yes, a diplomat. He and the king are discussing something in the
throne room. He had asked everybody out, including his personal servants."
"We'll see," answered Misuko happily, at last glad that there was a sign
of peace, eventhough it was faint. But she had a strange feeling. The
blood, her own blood staining the white satin frightened her. Maybe it
was not a good omen.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
King Wei sat glumly in the study room. The diplomat's words had repeated
itself over and over again in his mind. *A wife for the crowned prince...
A wife for the crowned prince...*
*Is he hinting that I should give dear Misuko-chan to the barbarians?*
asked King Wei to himself sadly. Misuko was of marrying age. What should
he do? Give Misuko-chan?
*No! Never!* King Wei was feeling broken over the two options. Two
important options. Two pictures formed in his mind at once. One was of
his war-ravaged country in years to come. Another was of his daughter.
Undeniably, he couldn't bear to part with his daughter, but he also
couldn't bear to see his people suffer. Unconsciously, a tear rolled
down his left cheek. A daughter lost...
His Queen has been dead for a decade. Every now and then, his subjects
always advised him to take a second queen, but he refused. He had
remained loyal and would always be.
*How am I going to break this news to Misuko-chan?* asked the king
miserably. He sat there undecided. He looked backwards and towards the
future.
Dawn arisen, a few sparrows chirped cheerfully. The king had made his
decision. Misuko shall have to be sacrificed. An owl crooned sadly
against the rising sun. A prediction made, full of tragedy.
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"Misuko-chan, Misuko-chan. Are you there?" A voice was calling and
knocking softly outside her room.
Misuko stood up and ran to get the door. She peeked outside and saw
her father there.
"Otousama, haven't seen you for a long time. Why are you here?" asked
Misuko as her father walked into the room and sat down on a chair. The
king just kept quiet. He took a long gaze at his daughter.
"Otousama, is anything wrong?" asked Misuko.
"I just want to take a good look at you," uttered the king simply,
at a lost for words. His thinking was confused, then. He did not know how
to break the news to his daughter.
*It will break her heart,* said the king plaintively to himself.
"What's the matter? You look so unhappy," asked Misuko more boldly
this time.
"Are you willing to do anything for the peace of this country?" asked
the king curiously, eager to know how his daughter will react.
"Yes, of course. I would do anything to see a sign of harmony in this
war-ravaged world," answered Misuko, surprised that her father would
ask something of this sort suddenly.
The king took a deep breath. "I will send you as a bride to the crowned
prince of Shu as a symbol of sincerity to make peace," he blurted out.
Misuko's eye widened and she let out a small gasp. "No... no... not
this fast," murmured Misuko to herself.
"I'm afraid so." King Wei looked sadly at her. A tear formed at the
corner of her eye and dropped down to the carpeted floor beneath her.
"But otousama, I'm only fifteen..." protested Misuko weakly.
"Yes. You are fifteen, but you must know that it is the perfect age to
find a husband for you. That is the common rule of feudalism. You must
understand this point," said King Wei.
"No... that's not fair!" screamed Misuko, her tears flowing freely now.
The very thought of marrying a barbarian scared her. She would be leaving
her beloved father and country forever. No! She must not go! But...
"Nothing's fair in this world," trailed the king slowly, trying to calm
his daughter down. Misuko broke down into sobs and wept openly. The
king stood up and looked down at her.
"You must make your own decisions," said the king, walking out of the
room leaving Misuko to think over.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The clock in the belfry struck twelve midnight. A hunched form sat on
the bed, a blanket wrapped around it closely. Thunder rolled in the
dark sky with flashes of lightning. Massive black clouds filled the
sky, reflecting the emotions the hunched figure was suffering.
Misuko pulled the blanket even more closely around her. An internal
debate was going on inside her.
*No! You must never marry that barbarian!* One side told her, but
Misuko shook her head slowly.
*My country. I must never let otousama down. I must give in.* Misuko
told herself to accept the reality. She could never escape from that,
at least without creating chaos. At that thought, she broke down into
more sobs. A thunder crashed and the rain started pouring down with
brute force.
Gradually, the storm passed. Misuko dried her tears and washed her face.
She combed her hair into her maiden style and put on her favorite blue
gown. Melancholy, she reached behind to tie her sash into a knot. She
took one last look of herself in the mirror.
"I'm ready. Ready to serve my people and country." shouted Misuko aloud.
She had already made up her mind. Her fate and destiny decided.
Then, she walked out of the door quickly.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Otousama, I'm ready," announced Misuko clearly in the main throne room,
kneeling down before her father in front of his subjects. King Wei's
expression changed a little, obviously confused that she would change
her mind that quick.
"Well, if you are ready, I'll call the diplomat in," said King Wei,
beckoning to one of his servants to call the diplomat in.
Minutes later, a well groomed man walked into the throne room. He put
his hand in front of him and gave a little bow. "Yes, your highness."
"You can go back and tell your king that I shall present my daughter,
Princess of Tai Ping as a gift of sincerity," said King Wei, his voice
carrying a tinge of sorrow.
"Thank you, your highness. I'm set to go back to the state of Shu today
anyway. May I accompany Princess of Tai Ping?" asked the diplomat, smiling
at the poor girl.
"Yes, you may," agreed King Wei, his gaze adverted to Misuko herself.
He noticed that Misuko was trembling slightly.
When the diplomat turned to walk towards the door, Misuko got up and
followed him. She took one last look at the familiar architecture, her
eyes full of emotions. She gave her father and the building a yearning
look. Gently, she mouthed the words:
*Goodbye.*
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The journey to the capital of Shu is a long one. Long winding and bumpy
roads stretched from city to city. Misuko had never been out of the
state of Wei. Exotic and lush wild shrubs and forests intrigued her.
She had never known that was such beauty outside the walls of the
palace, her home.
One evening, in a hotel midway. Misuko was eating lunch with the
diplomat. The diplomat was a gentlemen, he was very kind and caring
towards her. At least it helped that Misuko didn't feel that bad about
leaving home so suddenly.
Strangely enough, the diplomat suddenly spoke.
"Princess, you must be careful when you meet the crowned prince."
"Why?" asked Misuko curiously, as the diplomat rarely spoken to her
all day.
"He is not transparent. He is a complicated person, his temper
especially," said the diplomat. Misuko began asking more questions, but
the diplomat refused to say anything else.
The journey lasted for 10 days. By the time them reached their
destination, it was about evening. The capital of Shu was a grand one.
The diplomat's words still echoed in her mind. *What kind of person is
that prince?* Misuko used to wonder many times over.
"Princess, we will go in the palace to meet my lord and the crowned
prince," said the diplomat, stopping. Then, he continued, "Meanwhile,
we will stop by a hotel to get us presentable."
Misuko nodded and her sedan stopped in front of a magnificently
decorated hotel. She got down from her transport and walked into the
hotel. The female servant accompanying her trailed closely behind. The
servant disappeared for a while. She reemerged, carrying a bundle of
clothes. Carefully, she handed the clothes to Misuko and politely
asked her to get changed.
Misuko walked into her room and locked the door behind. Slowly, she
poured some water from the kettle into the basin and washed her face.
She undressed and stuffed her old clothes back into her luggage. She
took a observatory glance at the new outfit and got into it gingerly.
She straightened her clothes and produced a comb from her sleeves. She
combed her long hair neatly and did it up with some hair accessories.
*I look a lot nicer now,* said Misuko to herself as she walked out of
the room and ran down the stairs. The diplomat, also dressed nicely
was waiting for her. Both of them walked outside and got into their
sedans respectively.
The way to the palace was quite short, about 10 minutes. Misuko
climbed out of her sedan, careful not to crinkle her impressive gown.
Misuko and the diplomat walked up straight to the magnificent palace.
Misuko's eyes shone with amazement and wonder as she was led through
the vast hallways and carpeted floor.
At last, she and the diplomat sat on a bench outside the main throne room,
waiting for the King's summons. An elderly voice drifted through the
room and out. Misuko and the diplomat stood up and walked into the
room. Misuko looked with awe at the jewel and golden decorations on
the wall. Lastly, she took a glance at the king. A man in his sixties
was sitting beside a yellow clothed table. Another young man in his
twenties sat beside him. He was naturally quite handsome, in a dashing way.
"Your majesty, this is Princess of Tai Ping, Misuko," introduced the
diplomat.
The king nodded slightly. Misuko kept her face down to the ground.
"Lift up your head," the young man commanded.
Misuko looked up, straight into the young man's eyes. The diplomat
quickly introduced the young man as the crowned prince. They exchanged
glances. The crowned prince leaned over to his elderly father's left
ear and whispered something. The elderly king smiled and nodded.
The young man walked down along the aisle beside the throne and stood
next to the diplomat. Over there, he whispered into the diplomat's ears.
The diplomat smiled and nodded excitedly. Misuko just stood there silently,
wondering away what they were talking about.
Suddenly, the diplomat took her by hand and walked out of the throne
room. Seeing everybody was out of earshot, he told Misuko.
"Congratulations, Princess. Our Crowned Prince liked you at first
sight. You will be one of his main concubines in the palace," said the
diplomat happily, glad that his mission had turned out perfectly, but
Misuko was in another state of emotions.
"Concubine... I'm a Princess and I'm supposed to be that fellow's
concubine?" repeated Misuko angrily.
The diplomat just shrugged and walked off with her again, this time
showing her a room. A tastefully furnished room with satiny coverings
on the tablecloth, curtains and bedclothes. Misuko looked sadly at the
room. *I'm going to be just a concubine in this place,* thought Misuko
plaintively.
"Get changed and we'll bring dinner for you," said the diplomat before
closing the wooden doors behind him. Misuko sat down on the bed, her
mind only lingering on one problem. "Will my country be safe?"
Misuko wiped her face with her handkerchief. Her mind changed subjects
to the Crowned Prince's behavior. Why did that diplomat tell her that...
The sun began to sink towards the horizon. Misuko fidgeted with her
handkerchief, taking a glance at the sky. *It's getting dark*, Misuko
told herself. The food that her personal servant sent was cold, lying
on the table. Misuko simply didn't have the appetite to eat.
Misuko sighed and walked to the dresser. She began letting down her hair
from the jewelry that elaborately adorned her hair. In fact, she
enjoyed letting her hair down freely. She undressed and stripped down to
her thin outer clothing. She looked at herself in the full length mirror,
seeing body shape is perfect. As she started to take off her last outer
garments, a person suddenly opened the door and walked in. Misuko turned
around in shock and held her clothes close to her chest.
The person looked up at her. It was the Crowned Prince.
"What are you trying to do?" said Misuko calmly, quickly getting into
her clothes.
"I'm your husband, don't you know that?" said the prince, smiling
wickedly at her.
"Don't you dare come any nearer." threatened Misuko.
"What would you do if I come any nearer?" asked the prince evilly,
stepping forward towards Misuko.
"No, don't..." said Misuko, trying vainly to escape.
"You will be mine sooner or later," continued the prince.
Misuko just looked at him. "You have a very nice body," said prince,
inching closer towards Misuko every second. Suddenly, he lunged at her.
Misuko landed on the ground next to the dresser as the prince got on
top of her.
"Help! Help!" Misuko yelled desperately as the prince hugged her tightly.
"Sheesh... Nobody would hear you here. Besides I really wanted to see
how the 'lily of Wei' is really like, so we devised a plan to trick
your father into giving you," said the prince, clamping a hand over her
mouth to keep her silent.
"Mmmmm!!!!" tried Misuko in vain as the prince began ripping off her
clothes. He began taking off his own clothes too. Misuko stared in shock
as he planted kisses on her neck and face. Blindly, she reached out to
grope around for a weapon.
Instinctively, she dragged open a drawer and felt about inside. The
prince was already biting her neck and other sensitive places. Misuko
winced as he bit into her earlobe when suddenly her hand closed around an
object. She gripped it like a viper and raised it.
"Go to hell!" she plunged down with her weapon on his exposed back.
The body on top of her stiffened and rolled to the side slowly. The prince
looked up at her as a trickle of blood flowed down from his mouth. Slowly,
his eyes closed.
*I have killed somebody.* Misuko thought in shock as she removed and
dropped the blood-stained pair of scissors. The prince's body was lying
there, lifeless.
Guilt overwhelmed her.
*I'll never get out of this,* thought Misuko, still dazed. A tear rolled
down her eyes. Slowly, she picked up the pair of scissors up again.
"I'm sorry, otousama. Sorry for not being able to bring peace you had
always wanted..." whispered Misuko as she closed her eyes and stabbed the
pair of scissors into her own stomach. Her last feeling was of a sudden
pain and nothing after that.
And another soul went to the realms of judgement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Version one : December 1997
Version two : March 1998
Copyright reserved by Siew Lee
All standard Yu Yu Hakusho disclaimers apply to this fanfic.
E-mail: Siew Lee <wsiewlee@tm.net.my>
URL: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Pagoda/3638/fanfic.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------------
=======================================
You got my bodyshakin'
Sends a shiver to my soul
I didn't get no warning
You got me shaking to the bone
I got my secret weapon
I'm gonna get you all alone
So let your body lose control
Excerpt from 'Bodyshakin'' by 911
Siew Lee --- 911 rulez!
YYH fanfics --- http://members.xoom.com/hiei/yyh.htm
=======================================