A New Beginning

The church father looked at Miriam Ellis and asked, "My child , do you take Kei (pronounced as Kaai) Kurayami as your lawfully wedded husband, to live together in matrimony, to love, comfort, honor and follow him in sickness and in health, in sorrow and joy, to have and to hold from this day forward, as long as you both shall live?"

"Yes I do "Miriam replied while smiling and looking towards the six feet tall, red haired ,clean shaven athletic built handsome man wearing a black tuxedo. Kei smiled back. The church father then looked at Kei and asked "Do you Kei Kurayami, take Miriam Ellis as your lawfully wedded wife….

As the father kept speaking, Kei looked at Miriam and thought how luck has favored him with such a caring and loving partner with whom he would spend the rest of his life with. "Life".. thinking about the term, memories of blood and violence and of poverty, misery and hunger flashed in his mind.

Kei was in his early teens, when he caught the eye of Kuragiri Yami syndicate , the largest and most powerful Yakuza syndicate of Japan. Kei had beaten up one of their members, who was forcefully extorting money from the aged owner of the orphan house, where Kei lived. Considering Kei's age and that the guy whom he had beaten, was acting on his own, the Yakuza showed tolerance in this matter.

Instead of acting against Kei, the local boss of the Yami syndicate invited Kei to join the syndicate. Seeing it as the option to leave the poverty and misfortune that he was bestowed with from his birth, Kei accepted.

Sakura Yami, the lady kumichō (syndicate head) incorporated Kei in the Yami syndicate through the oyabun-kobun ceremony. It was Kei's first-time tasting's sake during the initiation ceremony, and he had almost thrown up but gulped it down despite the bitter taste. Sakura, seeing Kei's face, laughed and all the other members joined in the laughter, the loudest laughter came from Ganzuo, the man whom Kei had beaten up.

" Omoshiroi Shōnen" (funny boy) Sakura had whispered in Kei's ears that day while she laughed , Kei reminisced.

"….as long as you both shall live ? the church father asked looking towards Kei. "Young man ?"

Kei broke from his trance hearing the father's voice and said, " Yes I do, I accept Miriam as my wife and lifelong friend and promise to strive every day in keeping our love and mutual trust strong until death do us apart." Kei smiled ,after saying these words, facing Miriam ,whose eyes gleamed hearing Kei say these words.

"Good reply, young man, I was thinking that you were getting cold feet" the church-father joked .

" Ok, if none present here has any objection then let's start the ring exchange ceremony " the father said.

Kei looked at the people gathered in the church , only twenty or so people were present . All were part of Miriam's family , her parents , brothers, cousins, and other relatives. The ring exchange ceremony began .

" I object !!" shouted Sakura Yami , Kei reminisced, when Kei had told her about his decision to leave the Yakuza . Since the day he joined, Kei had shown great potential in his dealings in the syndicate jobs through his shrewd fearless decisive tactics and ruthless responsive violence . He had soon garnered and won the respect and submission of his peers and juniors and Sakura promoted Kei to wakagashira (the second in command) . He had a meteoric rise in the syndicate .

He would have continued on this violent and bloody path if it weren't for "that day".

He vowed to leave the syndicate and start a new life . Sakura ,who was offended by Kei's decision, was not ready to let him go but was forced to submit to Kei's will when he chopped his left hand off as yubitsume (ritual to atone for offences) and offered it to Sakura in exchange for his freedom amidst all other syndicate members.

Kei had then left Japan and moved to Texas and started life in a ranch, three years later he met Miriam. Despite his prosthetic hand, seemingly considered a taboo by Miriam's family , Miriam who had a shy timid personality was unaffected by this, and they soon became close . Kei told Miriam all about his past when he realized that he had fallen in love with her . Miriam, although shocked at first, soon had calmed down and accepted Kei and his past with open arms . Kei had felt blessed that day and he proposed to which Miriam had readily agreed.

" Now, by the power vested in me by God almighty , in presence of friends and family it is my great privilege to announce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride ! "

The church father spoke aloud as Kei and Miriam completed exchanging rings .

Miriam jumped in Kei's arms and embraced him while engaging in a long passionate lip kiss amidst the cheering and clapping of the people in the church.

As the kiss ended , Miriam looked into Kei's eyes. Kei mesmerized by the kiss ,licked the lipstick off his lips and looked back into Miriam's dreamy eyes ." I had fallen for you since the day I met you , I would have eventually confessed to you, but you….you broke my heart by leaving me… it felt like a slap to my love and pride ..I could not forgive you… .. now you will feel as I felt…Omoshiroi Shōnen.." Miriam/Sakura said as the church clock stuck twelve in the midnight.

Kei's throat suddenly had a burning sensation which rapidly spread to his chest, and he fell down dead with his eyes showing the tremendous traumatic shock he had received . "Hell, hath no fury like a woman scorned " the church father remarked looking at Kei's lifeless body as he made a sign of the cross .