Read Online Insignia by Kelly Matsuura - Free Book Online

seems so pointless,” I offered.
    “Everything that happens here is
significant, but there is a lack of the sorts of pointless,
everyday things in real life that shows you clearly what is truly
important.” Xun tried to explain. “Time is no longer real, so there
is no need to feel that you have to fill it. You can simply…wait.
For the next significant moment.” He smiled then, like it was a joy
to experience this nothingness. It still made no sense to me, but I
smiled back.
    “I’ll try to relax then. But I can’t help
but wonder what happens when our parents marry us off to other
ghosts. You know I never believed any of this existed, so it’s hard
to swallow just now.”
    “Don’t worry. It’s a good thing if they do
marry us, something significant will happen and we can both move on
to the next place.”
    “Do you know what happens next?” I
asked.
    “No, but surely it is good? We may be reborn
on earth straight away, or perhaps we’ll be needed for a quest of
some sort.”
    This sounded ludicrous, and more like the
brother I had grown up with. The truth was, he was lazy, an
under-achiever who thought the world owed him for everything, yet
he never lifted a finger for anyone else. The idea of the gods
needing him for an important mission almost made me burst with
laughter.
     
     
    Xun kept me occupied during the time of my
funeral. The season changed from autumn to winter in the real
world, but the plane we now resided on did not change at all. I
grew accustomed to my weightlessness, and learned such tricks as
passing through objects and moving like the wind. The idea of
existing for no purpose began to settle with me.
    Then, something did change. The significant
event Xun had insisted we wait for. As we took our regular stroll
through the enormous parkland one day, two spirits appeared in the
distance, from nowhere.
    “Are they ghosts, like us?” I whispered
unnecessarily to Xun.
    “Most certainly.” Xun beamed from ear to
ear.
    “Who are they?” I asked. It was my first
encounter with other spirits since I had arrived here. My curiosity
was high to say the least.
    “I believe I know, but let’s make sure and
ask,” he told me.
    “Very well.” I walked by Xun’s side towards
the strangers.
    The four of us met in the middle of the
square and there was silence as we all appraised each other. The
strangers were a man and woman; the man, tall and distinguished,
perhaps in his mid-thirties. The woman was tiny, but with a
delicate beauty. Her eyes suggested she was not as meek as the rest
of her appearance implied.
    The man gave my brother only the slightest
inspection before turning to me and smiling warmly.
    “I am Ma Sheng Li. Are you Ho Ming Yue?”
    “Yes,” I replied, surprised he knew my name.
“This is my brother, Xun. How do you know me?”
    “I hope it is joyous news, Ming Yue, that
our parents have wed us this day.” Sheng Li bowed to me, but I
caught the slight blush to his cheeks.
    “I..I..excuse me?” I didn’t know how to
respond.
    Xun spoke on my behalf.
    “Of course, my sister is filled with
happiness at this news. As her brother, I welcome you to take her
as your bride in Heaven.” Xun bowed to his new brother-in-law. “And
you, beautiful flower? Are you to be my wife?” He asked the woman.
The hope in Xun’s voice was clear to all.
    “Yes. My name is Li Xiao Hong.” She bowed to
Xun and then looked to me. “Big sister, it is my pleasure to serve
you.”
    “Ah, thank you. But such formalities are
surely not necessary here?” I asked, looking at all three
faces.
    “Certainly not,” Xun agreed. “Now that we
have been properly partnered, I hope we’ll be leaving this plane
imminently.”
    “Perhaps, then, we could take our new brides
for a walk, Xun? To get acquainted.”
    “Excellent idea.” Xun held his arm out to
Xiao Hong. “Please, let us walk the square together as a
couple.”
    I’d never seen Xun so gracious with a woman,
but he had been alone for