190 v. A Gift on Christmas

It was Christmas eve, the snow was falling softly to the ground as the yakuza household waited for their leaders to emerge.

Everyone has tears in their eyes as they recalled all the times their leader has been there for each of them.

The leader has been a great example of wisdom, strength, bravery, and perseverance. An image which they will carry in their hearts with pride for centuries to come.

They rose as their old leader and their newly appointed leader walked into the yakuza house, each of them bowing their heads as a sign of respect and reverence to their bosses.

The master of the ceremony announced that the ceremony is about to start. They raised their heads and watched their oyabun take the stage for the last time.

The oyabun’s hair is the color of the sun and his eyes were the shade of molten gold. He was wearing a robe embroidered with the yakuza house’s symbols, and despite his old age he carried it with such dignity that they felt like they were staring at a divine master.

His wrinkled face smiled as the new leader bowed before him. The master of the ceremony poured wine over their glasses and they were handed to each of them.

Their new oyabun has a similar shade of golden hair and blue eyes that were as bright as their old master’s wife.

They have long asked themselves what possible relationship their oyabun has to the man who joined the yakuza house during its troubled period. But they have far too much respect for the oyabun to even indicate in public whatever inquiry they would have wanted to ask.

.....

Moreover, the newly elected oyabun has not only become a great help to maintain stability during the house’s internal conflicts, but has saved their oyabun’s life in more ways than one.

Because of said reasons, he has earned his place amongst the yakuza and has become the uncontested successor of the current oyabun.

The masters made a toast, the oyabun drank his fill while the young master sipped on his glass. They exchanged their glasses and drank from each other’s cups.

The ceremony concluded afterward, with the old master leaving the yakuza and the new oyabun taking charge.

As much as everyone wanted the old master to stay, they have been emphatic about his request to retire. His wife has gotten ill more recently, and he wanted to personally take care of her.

The old master left the yakuza house and entered the limousine waiting for him outside. He smiled peacefully at seeing his wife who seemed to have fallen asleep while waiting for him.

Her auburn hair still frames her face perfectly, her small mouth curving into a smile as she sniffs his scent comfortably.

Her eyelids fluttered open and when her blue orbs met with his, he sighed in amazement. After all these years, she is still the most beautiful woman he has ever seen.

“Is everything settled then?” she asked as the car started to move.

“Yes, my queen. Everything has been taken cared of,” he said, taking her frail hands and bringing them to his lips.

“Thank you,” she whispered as a blush spread across her pale cheeks.

He smiled and shook his head, “I should be the one to thank you.”

“For what?” she chuckled, not understanding completely when he was the one who needed to give up a big part of his life for her.

“For being patient with me all these years,” he pressed a gentle kiss on her cheek.

She closed her eyes as his lips spread warmth all over her skin from their contact. Somehow it has been a quality that seemed to never have vanished. How he can easily warm her heart from the most simple things.

“Thank you for being patient with me, my love. I would like to spend the rest of our lives together the way you have always dreamed it to be, free from every and all constraints,” he said with sincerity, distancing a bit to be able to gaze at her timeless beauty.

She let out a hearty chuckle and kissed his cheek in return, “Waiting for you has always been worth it. I love you with all my heart, Dominus. I will wait for you even until the next life.”

He laughed at how clueless she can be, “Surely you mean every word of that, love?”

She nodded and whispered a secret she had not let him on for fifty years, “I remember. Every single love story we shared. I remember every single meeting. Every single chance at falling in love.”

He closed his eyes to stop himself from tearing up, “You finally remembered. This time around, you did remember who I am.”

“Look at me love. Don’t be afraid. This is something happening for real,” she continued.

“Why did you only tell me now after all these years?” he asked her.

“Because I didn’t want some demons or deities to hear what I have to say. Every single moment I hold you close to me comes the same gut-wrenching fear that the gods will make a way somehow to separate us once again,” she told him, cupping his cheeks in her hands.

“I was afraid the happiness I feel will once be taken away again. That all I can do is be silent and keep my happiness in my heart a secret through all these years,” she explained.

“Why have you decided to say it now then?” he felt comforted by her reasoning, and his lips started to curve into an all-knowing smile.

“Because I am not scared anymore. I have lived a most comfortable and peaceful life with you. Even if the gods should play a joke and take either or both of our lives now, I can say I have never been more happy,” she smiled dearly at him.

“Don’t say that yet, love. I am not scared as well and I agree with all the things you have said. But I want to spend more years with you by my side. I still owe you a lot of vacations,” he laughed, his eyes filled with mischief as if for a moment his youth has returned.

“Then, let’s enjoy this time here a bit more,” she agreed and handed him her present.

He opened the small box and found a brooch formed into a simple flower, it was encrusted in a gem most significant to them both.

He looked at his wife as he said the words, “The padparadscha.”

“Merry Christmas, love,” she whispered before he would lose his control and claim her lips.

She was wrong about the gods playing tricks on them. Perhaps it was their gift on that Christmas Eve but they would spend five more happy years together before the gods finally took their lives away.

And he was right about one thing, of course, they will meet each other again.