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Chapter Two: Letting Her Go:

-Kozue-

I lived a happy life with my husband. We met back in college. I had always loved literature. My papa used to read me classic stories when I was a little girl. I would say my husband and I bonded over stories of old.

I remember the day we met. The rainy season had just ended yesterday. I wanted to read outside to enjoy the sun. I walked over to my favorite spot on campus, the big willow tree near the pond.

However, my spot was taken that day.

This guy was sound asleep under my tree.

At first, I wanted to scream. Why here? Why did he have to sleep in my spot? It didn't take long for me to get angry. I marched over and kicked the boy in the head.

"Ow!" he mumbled as he woke up. I stood over him with my hands on my hips.

"You're in my spot!" I snapped.

"So?" he asked.

"Get up, please? I want to read my book."

"Why?" Something about his brown eyes made me forget my words.

"Uh…" Did he have to be so cute? I started pulling my hair. "Argh! You're confusing me!" It didn't help that he laughed at me.

"Shut up!" I shouted.

"Look," this boy said. "You can read while I sleep. I'm just that tired. My roommates love to party. I just want to sleep. Please?" I couldn't describe this boy. I just wanted some me time. I could've said no and walked away. But…

"Fine," I grumbled, dropping my shoulders. I walked over and took a seat. That strange, beautiful boy went back to sleep. I tried to read but found it hard to focus. My mind went back to that beautiful boy sleeping next to me.

-Present Day-

Kozue lay in bed hooked up to machines and strapped down. Tsuzuki and Hisoka sat at the foot of her bed. Kozue's eyes stayed on them.

Please… Take me!

"It's not easy," Tsuzuki admitted.

Why not? Did my husband bribe you or something?

"No," Hisoka said. "Have there been any strange deaths around this hospital lately?"

Lately?

"Like accidents, healthy patients suddenly dying, things like that."

Well… Now that I think about it, yes. Some of the children were getting better, but then they suddenly died. A couple of nurses died in accidents on their way home.

Kozue paused with fear in her eyes.

Wait. You don't think it's because of…

Tsuzuki held up his hand. "Not exactly. We think a high-risk soul attached itself to yours."

What? How?

"Your husband," Hisoka said.

No…

"I'm so sorry," he said.

"Where is your husband now?" Tsuzuki asked.

The church, I think. What are you going to do with him?

Tsuzuki gave her a gentle smile. "Nothing serious. We're just going to talk to him."

He won't be easy to persuade.

"We won't back down so easily," the older shinigami said. He gave her a wink. Hisoka rolled his eyes.

-Kozue-

Yuya wasn't always like this.

We both loved books and poems. He treated me like a princess. I became his whole world. I didn't mind it at the time. Yuya didn't have a family. His father left when he was a baby. His mother died when he was only four. Yuya ended up passed from relative to relative.

I feel sorry for him because of it. I guess that's why he latched onto my family and me so easily. Yuya always stayed by my side.

When I got sick, he couldn't handle it.

-Outside-

Yuya sat alone in the hospital's church. It didn't make sense to him. Why would she try to disconnect the machine from her body? How could she? He closed his eyes and sighed.

"Are you okay?" someone asked. Yuya opened his eyes and whipped around. Tsuzuki sat next to him.

"Hello," he said. The man jumped back, screaming.

"Whoa!" he yelled. "When did you get here?!"

"A couple of minutes ago," Tsuzuki said. "So did he."

"Huh?" Yuya asked, turning his head. Hisoka sat on the other side of him.

"Gah!" the human man said.

"We apologize," Hisoka said. "We didn't mean to startle you like that." Yuya looked back and forth for a minute.

"Who are you people?!" he shouted. "What do you want from me?" The shinigami shushed him.

"Calm down, we just want to talk," Tsuzuki said. Yuya blinked at first.

"About what?" he asked.

"How is your wife?" Hisoka asked. The man narrowed his eyes.

"Why?" he asked. Tsuzuki patted him on the shoulder.

"Why are you forcing her to stay alive?" he asked. "She's in pain and wants to die." Yuya shot him a cold glare.

"Did that doctor send you?" he asked.

"No," Hisoka said. The man clenched his fists in his lap.

"I won't give up on her!" he shouted. "The doctors told me they could save her. They have to. They have to!"

"What's wrong with her?" Hisoka asked. Yuya sighed.

"It's such genetic illness she came down with three years ago," he explained. "It killed her mother. We didn't catch in time. The doctors promised to do an experimental treatment on her. She was doing great at first. But now…"

"It's not working, is it?" Tsuzuki asked. Yuya shook his head.

"It can't be!" he shouted. "She was getting better. She was getting better!"

"It's not the treatment," Hisoka said. Yuya's eyes widened.

"What?" he asked.

"A demon's attached itself to her soul and is forcing her to live," Tsuzuki said as calmly as he could. The man gritted his teeth.

"That's bullshit!" he snapped. "You're making this up!"

"We aren't," Hisoka argued. "The longer she stays alive, the more innocent people in the hospital will die."

"Lies!" Yuya shouted. "Kozue-chan will get better, I just know it!" Tsuzuki gave him a sympathetic smile.

"You can't let go, can you?" he asked. Yuya whipped around, stunned.

"What?" he asked.

"I understand you love her," the older shinigami said. "But how do think she feels?"

"How she feels?"

"Would she want to live like this?"

Yuya's eyes began to well up. "I… I don't want to be alone." He broke down crying. Tsuzuki rubbed his back.

"Let it all out," he whispered. "There you are. Let it all out." Yuya sat alone in the hospital church, bawling.

-Kozue-

I love my husband dearly, but he has to move on. It will be tough, but I believe in him. I am happy that I can rest now. I'm sorry, Yuya-kun, and I love you.

Urameshi Kozue's time of death: 11:30 a.m. Yuya walked out of the hospital, numb and alone.

Fourteen more souls left.