Hellow, minna-san. This is chapter 9 of 'The Past, The Present and The
Future'. C&Cs are really appreciated and please mail them directly to me at
'wsiewlee@tm.net.my'. Thanks. 

P/S All previous chapters could be found at http://members.xoom.com/hiei/ 

Siew Lee 

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		~~~The Past, The Present And The Future~~~

		       ~~~The Past - Memories~~~ 

		     Chapter 9 - Invisible Barriers

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	"George! George!"

	No answer.

	"George! George!" 

	Still no answer.

	"George! If you don't open the door now, I'll fire you right 
this second!" yelled an apparently-on-the-verge-of-blowing-up Koenma 
outside the Reikai Imperial Palace. In front of him loomed a pair of 
huge wooden doors. Meanwhile, behind him his group of friends waited 
patiently, occasionally chatting and teasing each other. As usual, 
Hiei strayed away from the group. He preferred being alone. Weird 
behavior.

	A very sleepy voice answered the door. 

	"Who is it there?" asked the voice, which sounded like about to 
doze off anytime. 

	"What?!!! George! Don't tell me that you don't recognize my 
voice," yelled back a furious Koenma. "Do you expect me to wait here 
all my life? Huh?" Waiting at the door *was* tiring.

	A click and the huge wooden doors opened a crack. A blue oni 
peeped out sleepily. His eyes widened in shock as he saw Koenma 
standing there, ready to sock him in the eye. 

	"Oh... sorry... sorry, Koenma-sama. I didn't know you would be 
back this soon," stammered the poor oni. Most probably Koenma had 
frightened all the drowsiness out of him, as the oni's eyes widened.

	"Do you see me now? I'm standing right in front of you!" said 
Koenma impatiently, his foot tapping angrily on the stone floor.

	Koenma left the poor oni standing at the door while he himself 
turned to face Misuko and introduced George to her. "This is George, 
my good-for-nothing helper. I wonder why Otousama ever assigned 
him to me," complained Koenma, always unsatisfied with George's 
attitude. 

	Misuko greeted George with a smile. George looked at her 
quizzically; then a flash of recognition shone in his eyes. George's 
mouth gaped and then, he began talking excitedly.

	"Aren't you Misuko? I thought you died of some type of illness 
over a century ago?" asked George, unaware that he had touched a very 
sensitive matter for Koenma. 

	Misuko looked at him with oblivious expression. Koenma felt a 
stab of pain in his heart and he saw her facial expression. Quickly, 
he snapped out of it and scolded George. 

	"Keep quiet, will you?" snapped Koenma towards George.

	Koenma ducked past George and rest followed him. George 
followed timidly behind. Through the seemingly endless hallways, they 
walked past door after door. George suddenly remembered something 
very important. Quickly, he hurried to Koenma's side.

	"Koenma-sama, I have something to tell you," began George 
timidly.

	"Look, George. I'm very tired now and I need a rest. If there's 
anything, tell me tomorrow," sighed Koenma, as he pushed George aside 
with a wave.

	"B... but..."

	Koenma just ignored him, as did the rest of the Reikai 
Investigator team.

	When Yusuke passed by George, Yusuke felt a pang of sudden pity 
for the oni. After all, he was just trying to please his master... 
Koenma could be very hot tempered at times and poor George suffered 
the most. Once Koenma was out of earshot, he spoke into George's ear.

	"George, Koenma's mood hasn't been very good these past few 
days, so try not to irritate him," advised Yusuke.

	"Why? I just said something about Misuko and he blew up," 
whispered George back, looking at Koenma's back. George never quite 
comprehended Koenma's moods and feelings, or why Koenma could simply 
blow up on him. Poor George... He couldn't make the head or tail of 
it. 

	"Don't worry about that so much. Just make sure you don't 
irritate him anymore," said Yusuke, as he began to stride to catch up 
with his friends.

	True enough, George stayed behind, debating whether to continue 
telling Koenma the thing in his mind or leaving. Once again, he 
thought of Yusuke's advice. At last, George walked away with a shrug. 

	*Besides, it is Koenma who will get into trouble if he refuses 
to listen me,* thought George as he stepped into the elevator, 
watching the small group walking further and further into the 
building.

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	"Koenma, I didn't know your quarters were this lavish," 
commented Yusuke in awe. The beautifully furnished room was displayed 
before their eyes.

	"Koenma-sama, I thought you were never this extravagant 
before," laughed Botan as she talked to Misuko and Yukina about cute 
guys.

	Koenma just smiled and walked on. He had reasons. Good reasons.

	"Why don't you guys stay here for a holiday. Not a holiday 
actually, since I think that I would like to ask you guys to help me 
out on some Reikai cases that I have singled out. Besides that, I 
won't have to make videotapes that often just to send you guys on a 
mission. Right, Botan?" said Koenma to Botan for support on his 
theory.

	Everyone nodded happily as it was a chance of a life time to 
stay at a palace --- the Reikai Imperial Palace; except Misuko. 
Shyly, she tugged at Koenma's sleeve and whispered something into his 
ear. 

	Koenma laughed and answered, "Don't worry about your parents. 
You could phone them from here."

	"Phone them? I thought I'm not in Ningenkai now," answered 
Misuko, still with a tinge of doubt in her voice.

	"We have inter-world telephone lines here," assured Koenma, 
patting her on her shoulder.

	Misuko looked around and walked on, believing in Koenma's 
words. Besides, he didn't seem to be a bad person after all. Little 
by little, Misuko was beginning to believe the film that the crystal 
showed her. Perhaps that was really her past; sometimes Misuko was 
quite skeptical herself. Almost a little too skeptical.

	"This is the Reikai library and no ningen nor youkai have ever 
set foot into this place," explained Koenma as he opened the doors 
leading to a huge old archive full of books and papers. "Alright, 
except for me and the Reikai guards. 

	"What is inside there?" asked Kuwabara as he held his nose when 
a musty smell drifted by.

	Botan and Yukina also wrinkled their noses as that unpleasant 
smell reached their noses.

	"I'm not sure myself, but according to otousama, there are 
quite a number of valuable Reiki and Youki attack methods, passed 
down from eons ago. Personally, I don't really like fighting a lot so 
I didn't bother to check it out," answered Koenma.

	"Oh..." acknowledged everybody silently. Obviously Koenma 
wasn't exactly the type that could defeat someone like Hercules... 

	"If you guys want to have a look or make any reference, you're 
welcome to do so. Not counting that there are plenty of powerful 
stances and attacks reference material there," said Koenma 
pleasingly, as he saw the happy faces of his friends.

	The group walked around the palace until they were tired out.

	"Koenma, do you have some place for us to rest? I mean just a 
chair will do..." asked Kurama in his usual polite and dashing 
conduct.

	"Yeah, of course." 

	"By the way, where's Hiei?" asked Koenma, counting them and 
noting that Hiei was missing.

	"Um... he could be wandering in Makai already," answered 
Yusuke. Botan nodded in response.

	"I wonder if he will be staying here..." wondered Koenma aloud.

	"I think he will be coming back. Why not reserve a room for 
him?" suggested Yusuke.

	"That's a good idea. Let it be this one," said Koenma, pointing 
towards a room opposite them.

	One by one, he showed them their sleeping quarters. At last, he 
reached the second last room at the end of the corridor.

	"Misuko, this is your room," said Koenma.

	"Oh... thanks," said Misuko graciously.

	"If you have any problems, just call me next door. My sleeping 
quarters are just a few steps away," offered Koenma.

	"Thanks again!" grinning Misuko happily. Two weeks ago, she was 
living like an ordinary schoolgirl, but she was now living in one of 
the grandest place she had ever seen in her life! 

	Koenma smiled at her and Misuko could feel the helpful and 
friendly character he possessed. Alright, maybe towards her only, 
but still... He glanced around to make sure nobody was around. Then, 
he bent down and whispered into Misuko's ear.

	"Are you free tonight? I have something to show you."

	Misuko nodded and turned the door knob. Before closing the 
door, she flashed her most brilliant smile at him and saw his face 
growing red. Misuko smiled secretively. Her smile had cracked many 
others... "See you in half an hour."

	Misuko closed the door behind her and locked it. It was time to 
have a nice shower and a good rest. Cautiously, she stepped into the 
lavishly furnished bathroom. She took off her dust filled kimono and 
stepped into the shower. A bath was always so relaxing. Even the 
bathroom was quite nicely furnished. The cute little china soap dish 
on top of the water facet was so dainty that Misuko touched it every 
now and then just to feel the smooth texture.

	The pitter-pattering of water droplets echoed throughout the 
whole bathroom. Somehow, Misuko felt very unnatural, as if an 
invisible force had pushed her into assuming as role that she wasn't 
comfortable with. It had all happened too fast; almost too swift to 
let her breathe. Slowly, Misuko sat down on the cool bathroom tiles. 
The fine sprinkle of the water drenched her from head to toe, but she 
hardly paid any attention to the water; she was too busy thinking... 
Thinking about her future. 

	It was so salient about Koenma's love for her, but she didn't 
feel that she deserved it. A few days ago, she was just a typical 
Japanese schoolgirl, never worrying about her own life. In fact, she 
led a normal life, going to school, hanging out with friends... but 
all this had changed in such a short time, without any prior notice. 
Misuko sighed melancholically, what should she do? The answer wasn't 
always there... Maybe it was a precept for her to accept the reality; 
it was her past. She ought to start a new life now. 

	Her own life in Ningenkai wasn't a dream come true. Yes, she 
had looks, but she didn't always succeed in everything. For example, 
she didn't excel in her studies... Her grades were pretty normal and 
Misuko had always hated schoolwork. She tried hard enough... but she 
simply didn't have the talent to score. Another question intrigued 
her, were Murashi and Yamaro's words true? She heard it with her own 
ears, but it was more of a dream than the reality. Sometimes, she 
felt as if she was going insane; but only to be pulled back in 
time... 

	Destiny played jokes on her. Who would have thought she was 
actually Death in her past life? No, she wasn't acquiescent enough to 
accept all these as reality. She wasn't ready to accept Koenma's love 
for her. What did destiny wanted from her? But she wanted something, 
she wanted admonition. Little slivery strands of water flowed down 
the tip of her nose. Time lapsed by; experiencing anguish wasn't the 
way to go on. Slowly, she got up and let the water purify her spirit, 
soul and mind, hoping that time would heal wounds. 

	At last, refreshed, Misuko threw all her dirty clothes into the 
laundry chute and closed off the opening as she heard the clothes 
tumble down to the main washing place below. She wrapped a towel 
around herself and walked out to the bedroom.

	"Oh no! I forgot about a change of clothes!" thought Misuko in 
shock as she stared at the white clean bed sheet and the fluffed 
pillows. The agenda in the bathroom seemed so faraway now... Maybe 
her mind was just on another of its prevalent moody periods. 

	"How am I going to go for a date this way? Wait, I'm sure Botan 
would have some extra clothes for me, but she once told me that she's 
living at the other side of the Reikai palace. As for Yukina, I think 
she lives a few doors away but I'm not sure which door. What if I 
knocked on the wrong door? It wouldn't be very sweet to be standing 
out there in the cold wrapped only in a towel. Worst of the worst, I 
still could go over to Koenma's..." Misuko thought to herself. She 
debated whether to go to Yukina's or Koenma's. She had decided on 
Yukina first but the very thought of a giant oni answering the door 
made her change her mind at once.

	Quietly, she opened the door and stuck her head out to check.

	"Okay, coast's clear." 

	Misuko crept out of her room and closed the door silently. 
Slowly, she tip-toed to the room next to hers and knocked anxiously, 
keeping her fingers crossed that Koenma would come out quickly. For a 
long time, there was no answer.

	Misuko began to panic and calling outside the door.

	"Koenma, Koenma! Are you in?" yelled Misuko as softly as the 
word 'yelling' permitted. After a while, she could hear a muffled 
sound. Was it a groan or was it something else? She waited and 
considered going back to her room. Just as she was about to walk off, 
a gust of hot wind met her face. 

	Misuko looked. Koenma was there standing in place of the door. 
He was wrapped in a terry towel around the waist and his hair was 
dripping with water. His face was buried in a another piece of towel. 
As he was busy rubbing his face dry, he grumbled and scolded.

	"George? I'll chop off your head for this. I have told you 
again and again not to call me in front of my room, especially when I 
was bathing! You could just simply give me a call. Don't you know I 
have a telephone now in my room?" scolded Koenma. He finished 
scrubbing his face and looked up straight into Misuko's brown eyes.

	He immediately shifted his voice into a softer tone. He looked 
at her from head to toe and saw she was also wrapped in a towel. 
"What are you doing here?" asked Koenma, curious to know.

	Misuko shifted uncomfortably, she wasn't exactly used standing 
in front of a guy wrapped only in a towel, although she knew he had 
seen it all before. Koenma immediately sensed her discomfort and 
dragged her into his room as fast as lightning. Koenma closed the 
door behind.

	"Sorry, I thought that was George, he always knocked at the 
door that way. Anyway, is there anything I can help you?" asked 
Koenma in his usual behavior, the perfectly formal way. 

	Misuko looked around awkwardly, avoiding Koenma's gaze. Then, 
she asked shyly. "Er... Koenma, I wonder if you have any extra 
clothes for me. I didn't bring any clothes with me this trip and I 
walked straight into the shower." After saying that, Misuko bent down 
her head and sneaked a peek at Koenma.

	*He had a nice built, exactly the way I liked it,* she thought 
to herself. Koenma walked over to his closet and pulled out some 
clothes. Gathering the clothes items, he shoved them into Misuko's 
arms.

	"These are men's clothes, but I'll try to get some clothes made 
for you by tomorrow," said Koenma, smiling at the thought of walking 
into the shower without a change of clothes.

	"Thanks." 

	"Remember, half an hour." Koenma leaned down and gave her 
a peck on her cheek. Misuko pecked him back and just then, the room 
door burst open. The couple broke apart and turned their heads to see 
Enma-Daiou standing outside at the doorway.

	"O... Otousama. I thought you were on a holiday," said Koenma 
weakly. This time really spelt solid trouble. Why didn't George 
warn him? George would really get it this time... Koenma gritted 
his teeth angrily. 

	Misuko blushed fierily. She gathered all the clothes on the 
floor and greeted Enma-Daiou before rushing out of the room. Enma-
Daiou looked at the fleeing figure curiously.

	"Em.. Otousama, is there anything?" asked Koenma, diverting 
Enma's attention from Misuko.

	Enma-Daiou looked at Koenma. "I'm back because I heard some 
rumors on your decision concerning Reikai, Makai and Ningenkai. I 
believe you have some explaining work to do. See me in my study room 
at 11.00 tonight." After saying that, Enma-Daiou walked out of 
Koenma's room and strolled down the hallway. Koenma stood there, 
speechless and jarred mouth.

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	Misuko rushed back to her own room and shut the door behind 
her. The situation just now was simply embarrassing. She hadn't 
thought of what would happen if someone rammed their way into the 
room. What would others think if they saw them wrapped only in towels 
and kissing? Misuko's face was still red.

	She abandoned that thought and went through the pile of 
clothes. All of Koenma's clothes were quite stylish and classical. 
*He has good taste in clothes, not like some nerds. Okay, maybe he 
acts like one...* She selected some clothing items and got dressed 
quickly, besides she didn't want Koenma to see her wrapped only in a 
towel again, not if she could avoid it. At last, she found what she 
wanted --- a pair of white slacks with a matching shirt with a vest 
jacket. She was glad that Koenma was about the same size as she was, 
but he was slightly taller; say about 3 inches. Lastly, she had to 
manage the crowning glory of her head. She went to the mirror dresser 
and combed her hair. Carefully, she braided her jet black hair into a 
neat plait.

	Just as she was about to tie the end of the plait, came a soft 
knock on her door.

	*I can't believe I'm going for my first date at 15 years old.* 

	"It must be Koenma..." she thought happily as she answered the 
door and Koenma was standing there with his hands stuffed in his 
pockets. He was dressed neatly in a long sleeved shirt and gray 
slacks. Misuko invited him in but her plait fell apart as she forget 
to tie the end. Koenma shut the door behind him and sat down the 
sofa. His eyes followed Misuko as she sat down again in front of the 
dresser mirror and began combing her hair.

	Koenma loved watching her combing her hair, since a long time 
ago. A wry smile formed on his lips as he thought of times when he 
used to comb her hair. Her jet black hair was always soft and nice to 
touch. On an impulse, Koenma got up and stood up behind Misuko. 
Gently, he took the comb from Misuko's hand.

	"Let me," he whispered into Misuko's ear. Misuko just smiled. 
She wanted to see how good a male's hand would be at hair dressing.

	Koenma began combing her waist length hair. For once, he took 
off his pacifier and put it in his pocket. Deftly, he braided her 
head and tied it with a ribbon. Softly, he kissed her neck.

	"How do you know how to plait hair?" asked Misuko curiously, as 
she admired the skill involved in tying such a neat way. Even she 
couldn't tie in so perfectly.

	Koenma smiled dreamily and answered, "I used to do it for 
you..."

	Misuko turned her head and looked at Koenma. "Koenma, can you 
tell me more about my past, those parts that Yamaro didn't show me."

	Koenma nodded. Slowly, he walked over to the bed and sat down. 
"Well, where do you want me to start?"

	"I think it might be best if you start from the day we first 
met," answered Misuko, this might be the best chance to know whether 
Yamaro had escalated the actual incident or not.

	"Actually, it's like this..." began Koenma, telling a story, a 
real life story.

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	Koenma finished with a sad and bitter smile. Misuko herself was 
close to tears. 

	"Is it all true?" asked Misuko with a catch in her voice.

	"Yes," answered Koenma simply. Misuko walked over to sit on the 
bed. She tilted up her own chin and waited her Koenma's reaction. 

	Koenma stopped short. Well, she was still the Misuko of 
Ningenkai, not Reikai anymore. Koenma gave her a tiny hug and smiled 
at her. Misuko smiled back at him, he could be a gentleman... 

	Koenma's face suddenly lit up and he dragged Misuko by hand. "I 
have someplace to show you." 

	He led Misuko through the long corridors and hallways and at 
last, out to the imperial garden.

	Misuko looked around at the serenity and the beauty of the 
garden, occasionally picking a flower or two to smell its fragrance. 
They wandered around the garden for quite a while until they reached 
the far end of the garden. Misuko sat down on a spot which looked 
vaguely familiar. She just liked that spot without a reason... 
without *any* reason.

	Koenma sat down beside her. He closed his eyes and listened to 
the random night sounds at the spot.

	"I had never come back to this place ever since I lost you 
simply because it hurt whenever I thought of you. This is also the 
very place where our feelings for each other deepened," recalled 
Koenma with a wry smile.

	Misuko raised a quizzical eyebrow. 

	"Actually, you used to come here every night when you were in 
Reikai. I just caught you sitting here one night and we became 
fast friends," said Koenma, opening his eyes now.

	Misuko blushed and looked at him, this time without any sign 
of not understanding. Koenma undid a gold chain from his neck and 
gave this to her.

	"This bloodstone pendant once belonged to you; given by me as a 
symbol of me. Now, I'm giving you back what was yours once... again. 
Not many people get to accept the same gift twice."

	Misuko accepted it and kissed it gently. Koenma reached behind 
her and clasped the chain around her neck. She felt the pleasantly 
cool gem on her neck and touched it softly with her fingers. 
Together, they sat there until late at night, listening to the 
shallow breathing of each other, was like an eternity.

	But... an invisible barrier still existed in between them, 
unknown to either of them. 

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Copyright reserved 1998 W. Siew Lee 

All standard Yu Yu Hakusho disclaimers apply to this fanfic. 

E-mail: Siew Lee [wsiewlee@tm.net.my] 
URL: http://come.to/wsiewlee 
UIN: #14025577 

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