Fandom: YYH - Riven (K/B) - Chapter 1, Part 2b
Well, it's about time to do Riven, isn't it? Riven being that YYH Koenma + Botan fanfic I never wrote. I remember conceptualizing it in 2001. It's 2004. Um. Maybe I should start writing it down, yes?
After posting the beginning of the 2nd part of the first chapter, this is the rest of it. Just wrote this draft yesterday afternoon:
Riven Chapter One, Part 2b
In the Garden
Reikai was rarely touched by darkness. It was always full of the crystal clear light that poured endlessly from an invisible sun or equally bright moon. That was the world of spirits. A world of light. It was only during times of great internal turmoil when the shadows did fall and the clouds of rain gathered in Reikai.
So why was there no sign of a storm?
“Lord Koenma!”
The prince was startled to see the blue-haired ferry girl coming up from behind him. Her oar was just dissipating from her hand, melting away with an almost inaudible whoosh.
“Botan? Why have you come?”
She bowed respectfully upon reaching him before she made a reply. “George said you were here and I had to remind you about the gathering at Keiko’s house.”
Koenma didn’t conceal his confusion. “Gathering?”
Botan looked as if she couldn’t quite believe him. “You couldn’t have forgotten.”
He shrugged.
“I informed you about it last week! Yuusuke even stopped by your office to invite you.”
“I’m afraid I’ve been concerned with more important things, Botan. But do send my regards for me.” Feeling he had done all that was necessary and wanting to retreat back into reflection, Koenma turned back to return to his office. That is, he tried to before Botan grabbed his collar. Clearly, she was exasperated.
“You promised, Lord Koenma, to Yuusuke himself! We must to go, even for just a few minutes, to give our congratulations on Keiko’s pregnancy.”
Koenma stared at her and Botan stared fearlessly back, unmindful of the fact she was still holding him in a rather disrespectful manner and that she could be imprisoned for it.
Of course, Koenma could never do that to her. Botan knew that. And Botan could so be irritatingly persistent, which was effective in wearing down even stubbornness such as his. Koenma knew that.
So he sighed in resignation and said, “All right. Then we shall go. But just for a few minutes.”
Botan beamed at him, swinging him around in delight. “Excellent, Lord Koenma! Oh, but did I say a few minutes? I meant we would have to stay for supper. It would be impolite to leave any sooner...“ She paused momentarily, seeming to absorb his mood. “Are you all right? If you’re sick, then that’s another matter, of course-“
Koenma cut in before she had a chance to get worked up in her concern. “No, I’m not sick.”
Botan blinked at him, but when he didn’t go on, she simply smiled and said, “That’s excellent. So we can still go and you can take your mind off whatever is bothering you.”
“I’m sorry, Botan. It’s just too personal a matter for me to tell anyone about.”
Her expression was unwavering. “It’s perfectly fine, Lord Koenma. I understand.”
Do you? Koenma felt lighter just looking at her undemanding smile. Maybe if he told her...
“I can’t tell you.”
Botan nodded ever so patiently. “I know.”
They stopped by one of the fountains. It was a small, simple structure, its white pillar coming up to the chest, and water cascading down it into a little basin where one would customarily dip a cup. Koenma dipped his hands instead and let the water pool into them. It was clear and highly reflective. He could see the sky in it. Maybe it would taste like air if he drank it.
"It doesn't taste like anything." Botan told him. "I remember."
"How would you remember that, if it makes you forget?" Koenma replied logically, then splashed his face. The water was neither warm nor cold, but something like liquid wind.
She laughed. "That's true."
For some reason, he almost told Botan then. She had an unconscious way of making him feel that way, as if anything he told her would be magically lifted from him, dusted, polished and made all better. And often he gave into it, talking sometimes with her for hours into the night. But he couldn't now. Not about something as sensitive as this.
At one time in his life, Koenma would have told her. He could have told her anything then. But that was ages ago, before Yusuke, before Sensui, before even the Reikai Tantei. It was a time when he still believed in noble things like justice, like love.
Then he had grown up, contrary to the child-form he wore at the moment. What could Botan do, really? Listen? Tell him everything would turn out all right? Share his burden in the knowledge? No. Koenma needed no such shallow comforting. He was strong enough to face it all himself.
Koenma straightened, taking a good look at the fountain. The shape was of a weeping woman. A fountain to forget sorrow. Ahead there were more fountains, each differing in shape according to its purpose. None, of course, would suit Koenma. After all, the very essence of his nature was his sense of justice. To forget that would be to destroy who he was.
He felt something soft on his face. It was Botan, wiping his cheek of stray droplets with a pink handkerchief. Such gentleness she was capable of, when all she ever was with him lately was rough.
Botan saw him looking at her, smiled, then promptly took hold of his red sash and began to march away, pulling the floating Koenma after her in the most careless of ways.
“I think you should prepare now.” Botan suggested, glancing back at him. "It's almost time."
“No,” Koenma pulled out of her grasp. “I don’t want to go through the Palace."
"But that's the shortcut."
"I want to take the long way back.”
"Lord Koenma, honestly, we will be late if we do that. Unless there's a reason...?"
Koenma pressed the pacifier between his lips just so, and in a flash he was in his ningen form, clothes already neatly pressed, and the sash now around his forehead rather than his waist. "See? I'm ready. Plenty more time for me to put someone in charge while we're away. Come, let's walk." He offered his arm to her when she hesitated. "Please?"
She took his arm after moments more of deliberation, and then beamed, obviously delighted by the quaintness of the action. "As you wish, my lord."
They walked back to the Gates together.
Ruin this story or not, but I have to get it out before it completely disappears into the past. I reread my notes and ramblings about Riven, and it was pleasant to see it all again. I may not write it quite as well as I envision it, but that's something I have to face. All I can do is try.
Thanks to those who replied to my last post about Filipino-Americans. I'll answer your comments soon. I'm glad for the input. Finally got a "bright" POV! We're all generally negative about countries we weren't born in or didn't grow up in.
Now I need to read some short stories to get an idea of how to go about it. My friend lent me "Catch me a firefly" by Freda Jayme, which is a collection of short stories. I have to note that it's different from how I write. Much shorter, a lot more condensed. Gah, that'll be my problem I think: condensing it to something bite-size.
At the moment, my epic Riven first while I let ideas stew for the short story.
After posting the beginning of the 2nd part of the first chapter, this is the rest of it. Just wrote this draft yesterday afternoon:
Riven Chapter One, Part 2b
In the Garden
Reikai was rarely touched by darkness. It was always full of the crystal clear light that poured endlessly from an invisible sun or equally bright moon. That was the world of spirits. A world of light. It was only during times of great internal turmoil when the shadows did fall and the clouds of rain gathered in Reikai.
So why was there no sign of a storm?
“Lord Koenma!”
The prince was startled to see the blue-haired ferry girl coming up from behind him. Her oar was just dissipating from her hand, melting away with an almost inaudible whoosh.
“Botan? Why have you come?”
She bowed respectfully upon reaching him before she made a reply. “George said you were here and I had to remind you about the gathering at Keiko’s house.”
Koenma didn’t conceal his confusion. “Gathering?”
Botan looked as if she couldn’t quite believe him. “You couldn’t have forgotten.”
He shrugged.
“I informed you about it last week! Yuusuke even stopped by your office to invite you.”
“I’m afraid I’ve been concerned with more important things, Botan. But do send my regards for me.” Feeling he had done all that was necessary and wanting to retreat back into reflection, Koenma turned back to return to his office. That is, he tried to before Botan grabbed his collar. Clearly, she was exasperated.
“You promised, Lord Koenma, to Yuusuke himself! We must to go, even for just a few minutes, to give our congratulations on Keiko’s pregnancy.”
Koenma stared at her and Botan stared fearlessly back, unmindful of the fact she was still holding him in a rather disrespectful manner and that she could be imprisoned for it.
Of course, Koenma could never do that to her. Botan knew that. And Botan could so be irritatingly persistent, which was effective in wearing down even stubbornness such as his. Koenma knew that.
So he sighed in resignation and said, “All right. Then we shall go. But just for a few minutes.”
Botan beamed at him, swinging him around in delight. “Excellent, Lord Koenma! Oh, but did I say a few minutes? I meant we would have to stay for supper. It would be impolite to leave any sooner...“ She paused momentarily, seeming to absorb his mood. “Are you all right? If you’re sick, then that’s another matter, of course-“
Koenma cut in before she had a chance to get worked up in her concern. “No, I’m not sick.”
Botan blinked at him, but when he didn’t go on, she simply smiled and said, “That’s excellent. So we can still go and you can take your mind off whatever is bothering you.”
“I’m sorry, Botan. It’s just too personal a matter for me to tell anyone about.”
Her expression was unwavering. “It’s perfectly fine, Lord Koenma. I understand.”
Do you? Koenma felt lighter just looking at her undemanding smile. Maybe if he told her...
“I can’t tell you.”
Botan nodded ever so patiently. “I know.”
They stopped by one of the fountains. It was a small, simple structure, its white pillar coming up to the chest, and water cascading down it into a little basin where one would customarily dip a cup. Koenma dipped his hands instead and let the water pool into them. It was clear and highly reflective. He could see the sky in it. Maybe it would taste like air if he drank it.
"It doesn't taste like anything." Botan told him. "I remember."
"How would you remember that, if it makes you forget?" Koenma replied logically, then splashed his face. The water was neither warm nor cold, but something like liquid wind.
She laughed. "That's true."
For some reason, he almost told Botan then. She had an unconscious way of making him feel that way, as if anything he told her would be magically lifted from him, dusted, polished and made all better. And often he gave into it, talking sometimes with her for hours into the night. But he couldn't now. Not about something as sensitive as this.
At one time in his life, Koenma would have told her. He could have told her anything then. But that was ages ago, before Yusuke, before Sensui, before even the Reikai Tantei. It was a time when he still believed in noble things like justice, like love.
Then he had grown up, contrary to the child-form he wore at the moment. What could Botan do, really? Listen? Tell him everything would turn out all right? Share his burden in the knowledge? No. Koenma needed no such shallow comforting. He was strong enough to face it all himself.
Koenma straightened, taking a good look at the fountain. The shape was of a weeping woman. A fountain to forget sorrow. Ahead there were more fountains, each differing in shape according to its purpose. None, of course, would suit Koenma. After all, the very essence of his nature was his sense of justice. To forget that would be to destroy who he was.
He felt something soft on his face. It was Botan, wiping his cheek of stray droplets with a pink handkerchief. Such gentleness she was capable of, when all she ever was with him lately was rough.
Botan saw him looking at her, smiled, then promptly took hold of his red sash and began to march away, pulling the floating Koenma after her in the most careless of ways.
“I think you should prepare now.” Botan suggested, glancing back at him. "It's almost time."
“No,” Koenma pulled out of her grasp. “I don’t want to go through the Palace."
"But that's the shortcut."
"I want to take the long way back.”
"Lord Koenma, honestly, we will be late if we do that. Unless there's a reason...?"
Koenma pressed the pacifier between his lips just so, and in a flash he was in his ningen form, clothes already neatly pressed, and the sash now around his forehead rather than his waist. "See? I'm ready. Plenty more time for me to put someone in charge while we're away. Come, let's walk." He offered his arm to her when she hesitated. "Please?"
She took his arm after moments more of deliberation, and then beamed, obviously delighted by the quaintness of the action. "As you wish, my lord."
They walked back to the Gates together.
Ruin this story or not, but I have to get it out before it completely disappears into the past. I reread my notes and ramblings about Riven, and it was pleasant to see it all again. I may not write it quite as well as I envision it, but that's something I have to face. All I can do is try.
Thanks to those who replied to my last post about Filipino-Americans. I'll answer your comments soon. I'm glad for the input. Finally got a "bright" POV! We're all generally negative about countries we weren't born in or didn't grow up in.
Now I need to read some short stories to get an idea of how to go about it. My friend lent me "Catch me a firefly" by Freda Jayme, which is a collection of short stories. I have to note that it's different from how I write. Much shorter, a lot more condensed. Gah, that'll be my problem I think: condensing it to something bite-size.
At the moment, my epic Riven first while I let ideas stew for the short story.