Liebestraum
Chapter 26: Solo (Or, a section of music played by a single performer)

Asuka awoke the next morning in the arms of Kurama. She was pulled taught against his body, surrounded by him as he spooned her. His glorious raspberry hair fell over her face.

Was this real? Was she dead? Or perhaps she was still laying on the floor in front of Enma's weapon, ready to die and hallucinating. That seemed far more likely than waking up in the arms of the man she loved.

He stretched behind her and she turned around to find emerald eyes and a contented smile.

"Morning," he whispered.

"Morning."

"How do you feel?"

"Weird," she said honestly. "My ki feels off, and so does my body."

Kurama reached for her and threaded his hand through hers. He exhaled a shaky breath while anger flashed across his features.

"What is it?"

He grit his teeth. "I found you strapped to a table with some kind of electric device channeling energy to the center of your body. They were trying to force your ki to reconvert to Seikoki, Asuka."

Her eyes widened.

"You may not feel up to confirming this right now," Kurama said, "But the attempted… procedure might've made you lose your Foresight, and that's why you stopped having visions."

She could hear the bile in his voice and the effort he was putting in to remain calm.

Asuka closed her eyes in an attempt to stave off tears. Though it was an accident, Enma, in his greediness, had most likely stripped her of her powers. It explained everything.

"I...I never could've guessed this would happen. And in the other alternate timelines this scenario never came up. We never talked about it, not once."

I could've inflicted so much less pain if I'd known.

"Don't feel guilty, Asuka. Please."

She opened her eyes to find the man she loved brimming over with worry.

"Based on everything you've said, what happened was the only way to save everyone. I didn't think you were dead for very long, and in the end, it no longer matters. What matters is us here, right now."

He brought her hand to his chest. She felt his heart beat against her palm, and it anchored her to the present, and to him.

"If you did lose your Foresight, how would that make you feel?"

She gave a choked laugh. "Not being strong anymore would be disappointing, and I'd feel bad about not being able to see the future, but… I'd be free, Kurama."

He nodded. "No one should have to shoulder a burden like the future."

His emerald eyes stared deep into her soul, and it made her heart jump. She threaded her fingers through his hair, stunned. After everything she'd been through, was she really here with him?

"Kurama?" she trembled. "Is this real? Am I alive?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?" she whispered.

"Let me prove it to you."

Kurama gently brought her to his mouth. His human lips were plumper, and his tongue smoother than his Yoko form. Asuka whimpered, and he swallowed it.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer as they lay side by side kissing.

I love you, she thought as she swirled her tongue around his.

Kurama gripped her harder and she heard him stifle a groan. He placed a hand on her cheek and she widened her mouth to give him more access.

She felt a hardness press to her thigh, which Kurama didn't try to hide. The more they kissed the more Asuka wanted that hardness deep within her. She could hardly contain the ecstasy of feeling his body against her like this. He wanted all of her, and he reciprocated her love. He was hers, even as she was his. It was so blissful. Asuka began to feel dizzy.

Just before they reached a boiling point Kurama broke the kiss. He breathed deeply and placed his forehead against hers. Asuka closed her eyes, relishing their closeness.

After a minute he said, "Did you...enjoy my human body just now?"

Asuka blinked, stupefied. Was he trying to get a rise out of her? Too late for that. "Yes?"

"More than my Yoko form?"

Oh.

She thought carefully for a moment, as he wanted an honest answer. On one hand, she loved his plump human lips. There was more of him to feel while they kissed, and the smoothness of his tongue made sliding across it easier. She also loved feeling his human body because that's the body she was used to seeing.

On the other, she could never forget the scrape of his canines, the feel of his Yoko ears, and how he growled into her mouth when she touched them. She wanted to touch his tail, and feel his long nails scrape against her back...

"I like both your bodies for different reasons." And Asuka told him why.

Kurama smiled a wide smile, rolled onto his back and laughed. He closed his eyes and sighed, with a grin still on his face.

Asuka's heart fluttered. In the entire time she'd known Kurama, she'd never seen him this happy. And it was because of her. She made him feel this way, and no one else.

Now she was curious about what his experience was like.

"Which body did you like to kiss me in?"

He rolled back over to look at her. She could see love and lust mixed in his gleaming eyes.

"Both the same, just as you. In my Yoko form my senses are sharpened to an extreme degree. I loved feeling you and smelling you with that body.

"But this body," he placed a hand on his chest, "is important to me. It's how I prefer to be most of the time. And the way it responds to you is different. I like that very much."

His words ignited a fire deep in her gut. She licked her lips.

His eyes flickered down to her mouth and he stared, hungry.

"I want you Asuka," he said. "And I want to give you all of me. But I also want you to heal. That's more important to me than anything else. You went through a lot and it's not wise for us to do anything beyond what we've been doing."

She knew he was right and sighed.

"We'll get there. We have lots of time, love," he said gently.

Time. It reminded her of all the questions Kurama must still have, and how he wasn't pressing her for any of them.

"I should tell you everything that happened."

"Only if you feel up to it," he said seriously. "you don't need to if you're still tired. It'll keep."

"But I won't," Asuka said with tears in her eyes.

He nodded.

"Will you hold me, while I tell you?"

Kurama laid back down on the futon and held up the blanket. She snuggled in just far enough away to see his face, but close enough so the rest of them could be entwined.

He kissed her chastely on the forehead before looking into her eyes.

"Take your time."

-* ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ *-

Asuka stared out at the ocean and the setting sun. It had been seven months since she said goodbye to Kurama, and her time to return to the Raekai was neigh. Enma's Special Defense Force would be coming for her any moment now, and once they did, her life would end soon after.

She'd lived for so long. She was so old, so very tired, and so very alone.

The SDF had been searching the globe for her the entire time she'd been living in Tokyo with amnesia, but they'd been searching for her Seikoki, and for her holy body. When she had that ki storm, for a brief moment her original ki showed itself alongside her new Yoski. That was all the SDF needed to eventually find her, even with all her suppression tactics.

They were the biggest reason she had to send Kurama away. In every timeline she looked through they always found her before Yusuke met with Yomi.

The Makai will collapse on itself if you aren't at that meeting, Kurama.

Without the SDF, Asuka would've already met with Koenma. Without them, she wouldn't have forced herself to convert her Seikoki, without them...

Asuka sighed. She really shouldn't dwell on what if's. She made the choice she made because it was the only one she saw that could change the future.

She had packed up her life shortly after Kurama left her by the school and moved to a town in the middle of nowhere. It made the most sense to leave Tokyo completely, and go somewhere her friends and Kurama wouldn't think to look for her.

Kurama.

Her heart ached. She had sensed him at her last concert. She felt him staring at her down the hall even as her tears fell after they finished performing. All it would take was a single glance. If she locked eyes with him, she wouldn't have had the strength to leave him again.

At least together we will save the Makai, even if he doesn't know it yet. Soon my love you will understand, and hopefully, you can move on.

Tears fell unbidden from her eyes again. Asuka felt like that's all she'd been doing since she'd separated herself from him and their friends. Playing her part would be a welcome change, if she were honest. It was better than just waiting.

The timing has to be perfect. We've only got one chance to get this right.

Asuka unsuppressed her ki and allowed it spread outward. They were close now, so she might as well give them some help.

After ten minutes or so she heard shuffling behind her. They were here.

"Maeko," a voice said behind her. Asuka steeled herself, then turned around to find the captain and his squad with their guns pointed at her.

"I've been waiting for you," she said. "Take me back to the Raekai, please."

The Captain lowered his gun for a moment, surprised. "You've been running from us for over a year, and now you say you want us to take you back?"

Asuka nodded and held out her hands. "I lost my memories and my Foresight, and only recently gained them back. I need to speak with Enma."

The Captain stepped closer to her and slapped the cuffs he was holding onto her wrists. "These will help convert your body to a spiritual state, but it may be unpleasant for a time."

"I'm aware. Let's go."

The Captain was right. The reconversion was painful, but it wasn't as bad as when she traveled with Botan on her oar. The SDF had different Raekai technology since they often transported people between realms. Botan was never meant to do that.

Sweet Botan. I'll miss you. All of you.

They traveled upward and onward, and landed not at the main gates of the Raekai, but a different entrance closer to Enma's domain. No one would see her back here. The Raekai was full of light, and the hum of near immortalness brought back eons of doing the same tasks over and over to Asuka.

She wished she could live in the Ningenkai with Kurama and grow old with him. That sounded so blissful. She imagined more than once having babies with the man she loved. What would their children even be like?

They'd be perfect.

The SDF flanked her on all sides and they marched in quiet steps through the halls to the throne room. The double doors opened, and up perched on his throne sat the great and mighty Enma.

Asuka hated him. She'd spent the span of multiple lifetimes hating him. But right now, she couldn't outwardly show her distaste. The fate of the Makai depended on how this interaction went.

"Ah, Maeko," he said shifting in his massive throne. Enma leaned forward and clasped his giant hands. He peered down and examined her. "You've finally returned to me." He frowned when he realized she was not the same. "What did you do?"

Asuka bowed, as was proper. She stood up straight and looked him in the eyes. "I saw what you were up to and I ran because I wanted to stop it. In my desperation, my ki converted. Now I have Yoski."

He growled. "I told you never to look at the fate of the Makai. If you had obeyed, then this never would've happened."

"The fate of the Makai became linked to that of the Ningenkai. You can blame that on Yusuke, not on my divinations."

Enma's sheer size meant he was intimidating no matter what. He adjusted his glasses and tugged on his glossy black beard. "What changed, then?"

Asuka continued to stare up at Enma. She felt confident because she knew what she needed to do.

I'm going to change the future.

"Well?"

"I lost my memories when my ki converted, King Enma, but I recently regained them. My window to change the Makai's fate has closed. There's nothing I can do."

He grinned. "So you've seen the Makai's destruction?"

"I have seen destruction."

His grin turned into a laugh. "So, you're resigned to your fate then, Maeko?"

She hung her head in mock servitude. "I am."

"As it should be. You and your talents belong to me. SDF, take her back to her chamber. You're on house arrest Maeko. I will summon you when I need you."

Asuka hated him. "Very well, Great King."

The guards surrounded her and marched her out of Enma's chamber.

Kurama, you were so worried and felt so guilty over your possessive feelings for me. But what you didn't realize was that you wanted to give all of yourself to me in the same way. And you always put my agency first. You didn't want to control me. You just wanted to be with me.

But here, I have no agency. I have no control. I am just a servant of a king who thinks he actually owns me. Nothing more, nothing less.

I miss you.

The guards marched her down several winding hallways until they stopped at a familiar place. The guard put his hand up, and the double doors swung open. They pushed Asuka in, and re-shut the doors without another word.

It was her living chamber.

Asuka looked up and around. It had been riffled through. Her books and the rest of her things lay in careless heaps on the floor. Her mattress was also toppled over and on the ground.

They'd found her secret hiding place and took her original message to Koenma, plus all of the evidence she'd gathered.

That's why she was here. She needed to get copies of her original message and documents to Koenma, and she was the only one who could do it.

Right before I ran, I didn't have time to divine whether or not Enma would find the evidence.

Last time, everything had happened so quickly. Asuka was on her way to see Koenma when the SDF had blocked her path and were clearly intending to arrest her. She recalled the fear at seeing the soldiers marching when she peered around the corner.

She had backtracked, and using Insight, wound her way to the Raekai's exit. As a direct servant of Enma, her holy body had the capability of going down to the Ningenkai without assistance. She ran, deciding that the best chance she had was to meet up with Koenma when he went to the Dark Tournament. He would be leaving the Raekai soon in any case.

She picked an obscure jungle since going to the island too soon would give her intentions away. She was constantly on the move and didn't stop to rest. Her holy body became exhausted and it didn't take all that long for the SDF to find her on Earth. Her Seikoki, even suppressed, overflowed with power.

When they did find her, Asuka knew she was running out of options. Koenma was going to be at the Dark tournament very soon. She had to meet up with him no matter what. And that's when Asuka had decided to take drastic measures. She returned to the Raekai just long enough to use it as a means of quickly routing herself to the island. As she descended, even with the energy blast in her back, she forced her body and her ki to convert. She crashed on the island and woke up with no memories, in a fairy body, with Yoski.

I'm sorry, Kurama. I'm so, so, sorry. A thousand apologies aren't enough for the hell I put you through.

Another tear rolled down Asuka's cheek. She closed her eyes, and forced herself to be calm. Their suffering wouldn't be in vein. This time would be different. This time, she would complete her mission.

On the other side of her chamber sat her piano. Asuka was grateful Enma didn't take it away. She'd begged him on all fours for that piano, and the only reason he agreed to it was because she told him it helped her divine better.

On her wooden desk sat a divination book where Asuka had kept records of anything she'd seen. The last page spoke of the Dark Tournament. She saw Kurama's name in her handwriting and she brushed over it. She flipped through the pages.

Asuka always had to make careful note where time junctions were and the possible ways to change the future. So much of changing the future required picking between the lesser of two evils. Very rarely could wars or pain be completely avoided. As powerful as she was, her powers weren't even close to being omnipotent. She couldn't see all events preemptively nor could she look through infinite timelines. She could only do so much, and it was exhausting, painful work. Even now, Asuka could feel the weight of history on her shoulders. She often felt regret for the lives she could not save.

One small consolation from dying is that I won't be responsible for the future anymore. I'm so, so tired.

Asuka then began the arduous task of picking up all of her belongings and putting them back in their proper places. Even if her life was ending she was still going to be in the Raekai for awhile. She couldn't stand to live in a place so messy.

As she cleaned up the piano pages that had scattered all over the floor, she remembered that she'd been practicing La Campanella before she ran. La Campanella was one of the most difficult piano pieces ever written. Lizst had often been accused of selling his soul to the devil to obtain his musical prowess. With this piece, it was no wonder.

I'm going to learn one last piano piece before I die.

Asuka set to work. She played until her fingers ached from stretching, working on the same difficult sections over and over, playing them faster and faster until they were at the speed Liszt intended them to be.

Eventually she stopped, and felt gnawing hunger at her gut. She didn't know how long she'd been sitting at her piano, but she was starving. She stood up and stretched before walking to the door.

"Hey, I could really use something to eat. Can you please have someone bring me food? I actually need to eat in this body."

No response.

"Can you hear me? Please find me some food."

Still nothing.

Asuka sighed then went to her mattress.

Those in holy bodies could eat if they wanted, but it wasn't necessary for their survival. Her fairy body, however, was only half-mortal. She could starve if she didn't eat anything, and that would happen a lot faster than a yokai who went without food.

Sleep was difficult on an empty stomach, and Asuka found she was too stressed. Eventually she got up, and sat back down at her piano.

How did I manage to live like this for so long?

Asuka fell into a spell binding routine. She would play the piano until her fingers ached, ask the guard at the door to bring her food, then attempt to sleep. She felt herself become weaker as time stretched on.

Eventually someone did start bringing her food, but it wasn't often enough nor was it a sufficient amount to eat.

I hate you, Enma. You think that keeping me weak like this will make me more submissive. You could not be more wrong. I'm going to expose you and all your horrible plans. I'm going to stop you from killing so many innocent yokai. They aren't all what you think. It's you who is the monster.

Time in the Raekai moved in such a weird way since there was no day or night, but Asuka sensed the time for action was neigh. She got up off the mattress and sat at her piano.

Thank you, Lizst, for the gift you gave me. I play this in honor of you.

Asuka played La Campanella with all of the skill and love she had acquired. She was weak, but since this was the last time she was ever going to touch a piano, she gave it the energy it required.

The piece mostly stuck to the high notes on the piano, and her fingers jumped around with precision and grace. It was in C sharp minor which also reflected her mood. She bore all of her frustration, sadness, and anger into that piece. No sooner than she had played the final notes she heard a knock on the door.

Before she could even answer it swung open and revealed the captain of the SDF.

"Maeko. You're needed. Come."

She stood up and glided over to the group of soldiers. Her moment was coming. She breathed in and walked steadily with them as they wound deeper into Enma's sanctity, below several levels. They weren't taking her to see Enma, Asuka knew.

The guard pushed her into a random room with bright lights and a table before closing the door. It was like a doctor's office. Asuka swallowed.

A few moments later a different man came into the room wearing a white lab coat. He had video recording equipment and a few different devices Asuka recognized. The man didn't even acknowledge her. He just looked at his chart while he walked toward her. Asuka waited, patient.

"Enma wants me to—"

Asuka struck. Quick as a flash she placed her hand on his abdomen and transferred a healthy dose of her Yoski. Blood dripped from his nose. His eyes widened, and he collapsed.

Idiot.

Among the items he possessed was a ki box, and Asuka fetched it before doing anything else. She closed her eyes and thought about the Foresight she wanted Kurama to see and transferred it. She didn't know if he would open the box, but she wanted him to have the option.

Next, she recorded another video for Koenma and afterward said goodbye to Kurama in a video just for him.

Now to get out of here.

Asuka gingerly opened the door to the room she was being held in and saw the guard. Before he could react she gave him some of her ki, and he collapsed.

As powerful as Asuka was, there was a limited number of times that trick was going to work. She could already feel the effects.

She pulled the second body into the room and shut the door. Asuka allowed her ki to permeate so Insight could tell her how to move through the Raekai without running into anyone else.

Asuka ran up several flights of stairs and wound her way to Enma's record hall. The guard outside the door would need to be immobilized. She closed her eyes, waited, and then leapt out of the corner.

The guard yelped in surprise but since she could divine his actions, he was too late. She forced her ki into his body and he collapsed. Asuka dragged his body in and shut the door.

Enma's record room was impossibly large and even though Asuka knew where she was going, it still took some time for her to wind her way through the isles of books and boxes. She had to be careful not to run into any of Enma's curators while she was in here, all while finding the box that contained her original video message to Koenma and the paperwork she'd stolen.

He needs this message from my divine self and the documents. Otherwise, no one in the Raekai will believe my claims.

Asuka grabbed the box and hurried to the nearest copy center. If she stole the tapes and papers, then Enma would tear apart the Raekai looking for where she'd hidden the information. But if she copied them and put the originals back, he would believe himself safe.

Her fingers shook with adrenaline and how much ki she'd already used up with her powers. It didn't help that her fairy body was already weak.

Hurry! Hurry!

It was agonizing to wait. The moment the copiers stopped, Asuka whipped back through the shelves of information and placed the box back in its exact position.

Asuka darted back through the archives and ran across the Raekai into Koenma's domain. She was so tired, but she pushed herself. In this moment nothing else mattered except her task.

There! Koenma's library!

Some ogres were busy curating. Asuka bit her lip to stifle a groan. She had no choice but to wait until they were finished. If they caught her they would take her to Enma, not knowing the damage they'd cause.

Koenma was not in the Raekai at present. He and Botan were in the Makai, watching the succession tournament take place.

This is why Enma's guard is down and the reason there's less security. This is why we can change the future today.

The ogre closest to her left, and that's when Asuka made her move. She slipped in and went toward the back of Koenma's archives. She placed the papers and three tapes in the oversized hollowed-out book that he kept on the shelf back there.

Everyone has secrets they sometimes wish to keep. Including Koenma.

She was so close. She just had to make it back to Enma's archive room. This was the last part of the ruse.

Body, don't fail me. We're almost done. Just a little longer, and you can rest. It's going to be over soon.

Her legs were shaking.

When Asuka made it back to the archive room, the guard she'd subdued was still out. She threaded her way through the endless shelves and books, careful to avoid the curators until she came upon a door all the way in the back.

Asuka opened it. There, towering above her, was the device Enma built to destroy the Makai, and Asuka was going to destroy it.

This would help her in two ways.

First, it would prevent Enma from using the device in a panic or in the immediate future. He'd be arrested before he could rebuild the weapon. Second, Enma would believe this was her main goal. He'd find his records still on the shelf and believe he would still be able to enact his plans despite the setback.

You can have your short moment to gloat. But it's the end of your leadership, Enma.

Asuka placed her hand on the device. Something built to be powered by Seikoki would react poorly to her Yoski. She looked around briefly, then closed her eyes. She thought about all of her friends and then, keeping an image of Kurama in the forefront of her mind, she poured the rest of her Yoski into the device. It vibrated violently. Asuka managed to take four steps away from the machine before she collapsed. The last thing she heard was the device's explosion. The last thing she thought of was the man she loved.

Author's Note:

Hello! I'm so relieved I was able to get this out on time. I've been sick the past few days (not COVID just a normal bug) so I wasn't sure I'd get to finishing my edits. But I felt better today so yay!

Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Guest: Ahhh thank you so much for stopping by! There shall be more fluff to come. After everything these two have been through, they deserve to be happy together (and frankly all of you deserve to read them being happy together)

Rosentic: :-D