Chapter Text
Your suicide caused him much suffering.
The wound engraved deep within his soul.
It is difficult to say you are free from blame in this matter.
“Is this a sick joke?” Ryeon entered her private chambers without even announcing herself.
“What? Do you think I would make this easy for you? So many souls are trying to get in… and I would let you? And even grant you your most private wish? Your punishment will continue here in Jumadeung” the Director said, without even looking at her, continuing to check on her plants.
“Besides, it is only half punishment, right? At least you can see his pretty face” she laughed a bit at her own joke.
Ryeon didn’t laugh.
“What about him? Do you think this would help him?” She needed an answer, a reason to all this.
“Help him? Why would I want to help him? He chose to be a grim reaper, and I am glad he did, he is excellent. He could be better though…” the Director stopped checking the plants and looked at nothing in particular, as she was deep in thought “so, I just hope that one day he will get better.”
“Hope?”
“Yes, I hope. Hope is the only thing I can do, without interfering.” Director looked at Ryeon.
“Can you interfere?” Ryeon asked, softly.
“Of course I can, but I won’t.” Director returned the tone, almost apologetic.
“Why?” Ryeon sounded a bit defeated.
“It’s not my place. And you might not believe it, I actually know my place. You also should know yours.” Her tone was back to being cold.
“And what is my place?”
“Be the best reaper, for him.” It sounded like an order.
And so she did.
She was ruthless. As he is.
Vicious. As he is.
One of the best since this all started, as he is.
So similar to him, but his change of heart about her happened when she wasn’t.
If you give me a chance.
I will do anything.
She didn’t have a chance, she took it anyway.
When no one could see, not even him. She would offer comfort in the little gestures to the ones in need.
A woman in pain, a desolated child, a crying infant.
“Sir, do you think I can meet the other lady?” A little soul Jung-gil was escorting asked.
“Which lady?” The child was caught in a bandit’s assault on his village.
“The one with the pretty eyes, she had red on her eyelids! So fun!” The child said cheerfully.
“When did you meet her?” He remembered Ryeon was sent to escort the bandits that died in the raid.
“She hugged me when I was crying after…” and the child went on about how she helped him cope with what occurred.
This happened again over and over the years.
“She held my hand while…”
“She stayed with me until you guys arrived”
“She was quiet and distant, but then she smiled and shield me from seeing my parents”
“She said she would stay with me until…”
All of these feel familiar to him. Like a long lost memory, that changed his core, maybe in a past life? He didn’t notice, but he was also doing similar deeds, in his own ways. Even after she left his team.
“Souls of Joseon, follow me”
“I want to pay my respects to the courage you had for your country”
“Why did you help with Choi Jun-woong’s choice?”
“It is a shame to let someone like you die so easily.”
In all two hundred years they worked together, she always would hear something about him caring, his kindness and protectiveness. Just like he heard of hers.
The Director smiles at the thought. She hoped for this.