Liebestraum
Chapter 30: Coda (Or, a section of music which indicates the end of the piece is approaching)

"Kurama, what's got you so excited?" Asuka asked as they strolled down the street, hands clasped.

He smiled tenderly. "So you noticed. Well, my stepfather asked me to view a property that the company is going to keep for out-of-town executives to stay in while they visit. I thought it would be a fun way to spend the afternoon."

"Sounds like a lot of fun. I'm in."

Asuka didn't think it was possible to be happier than she was. Her body was still betraying her, but it seemed like the dizzy and weak spells were happening less frequently than before. Kurama came to spend time with her as often as he could, and she hoped going back to school would be in her near future.

"This neighborhood is lovely," Asuka said once they exited the subway station and began walking down the street. "It reminds me a bit of where I lived before everything happened. It feels quiet, but not remote. I like the vibe."

He squeezed her hand. "It does give off that feeling. I even saw a curry restaurant back there."

"Mmmm," Asuka said. "Curry."

Kurama laughed. Asuka loved the sound of his laugher. It was almost like a flower in bloom.

"We can get some after the tour, if you like."

"Will there be a landlord meeting us?"

"Not this time. My Stepfather already got the key for the viewing and gave it to me this morning."

Asuka looked around and enjoyed the sound of birds chirping. "I think this whole block is lined with Sakura trees. They should be blooming soon, right?"

"Yes, in just a couple of weeks."

She sighed wistfully.

Kurama stopped at a plain, white-washed concrete building. "I believe this is it. Shall we?"

"Lets."

The lobby was simple, but Asuka liked that. There was a little room to the side which contained the mail slots and a bench near the door. Toward the back of the lobby was the elevator.

When they stepped inside the lift Kurama pushed the button for the sixth floor, which was the top. He gently cupped her cheek, then kissed her. She melted into him as she felt his hand hook around her back.

The elevator dinged and they pulled apart. Asuka stared into his green eyes for a moment before she turned around and stepped into the hallway.

"Oh, look at this," Asuka said, "only two doors."

"This is ours," he said going to the left.

Kurama reached into his pocket and took out the key. His movements felt extra precise to her as he inserted it into the door and twisted the knob. He pushed it open, and revealed the inside.

"Oh wow!" Asuka exclaimed. "Kurama, this place is beautiful."

The floors were a wide-planked blonde wood that complimented the tall, open room. At the opposite end of the doors were three floor-to-ceiling windows that let in soft sunlight.

The main living area was shaped like a square so there was plenty of room for tables and couches and a TV. It was all empty now, but Asuka could easily see where everything would go.

They ventured further in and Asuka gasped. There was a steep staircase that lead upward to a little landing.

"Does this place have rooftop access?"

"I believe so," he said gently.

"Amazing! I bet the neighborhood would look so beautiful from up there. Maybe we can go see after we've viewed the rest of the place."

"Sounds good."

To the right was a hallway, and Asuka flitted down the corridor. There was a galley kitchen and beyond that, a bathroom and two bedrooms.

"I think this place is perfect," Asuka said after she had peaked into every room and closet. "It's large enough to feel spacious, but not big enough to where you've lost yourself in it. Too bad it would be wasted on out-of-town guests."

Kurama chuckled. "Do you want to go upstairs?"

Asuka was already ahead of him. She was so excited that she nearly took two steps at a time. When she reached the top she realized the space was much wider than it appeared from the main floor.

Hmmm...an office space, maybe?

The double-doors to the outside had curtains which were drawn, so she pushed down on the handle to see what was on the other side.

Asuka stopped.

The rooftop wasn't bare like she thought it would be. Instead, it had already been transformed into a garden.

A rose garden.

Her hands started shaking. Behind her Kurama whispered, "keep going."

The roses closest to the door were a bright yellow, then they shifted to orange, then red the further she got in. The path followed the rectangle shape of the rooftop which maximized its flow. Then path then turned inward like a maze and in it's center were roses that had a deep purple hue. They surrounded a single grey outdoor couch.

"This…." Asuka's voice trailed. This looked almost exactly like the rose garden where she met Kurama's soul.

"Sit please, Asuka," he murmured.

She did as he asked, overwhelmed. When she looked up at Kurama, she saw his emotions begin to overflow. His wide, emerald eyes misted over as he stared at her, and her heart fluttered. He took a seed out of his hair, closed his eyes, and brought it to life.

It was the same rose as the ones that directly surrounded them. He gave it to her.

She smelled it and was hit by a fragrance of sunshine and rain. Of happiness and delight. The pedals were a spiral pattern and were a rich, royal purple.

"Kurama," she whispered, "this flower is from my dreams. I've...always wished it could exist. This is definitely my favorite flower."

"I've been cultivating it for you," he said kneeling in front of her.

She burst into tears.

"Asuka, once I showed you a representation of my fused soul on a piece of paper. This garden represents the deepest part of me, but with one crucial addition." His jaw trembled as he looked directly into her eyes. "I love you, and that love has fundamentally changed me. If someone were to examine my soul, I'm sure that at its very center, they would find you. I feel as though you've become an integral part of me."

The implications of what Kurama said were almost unfathomable. When she met him in that rose garden, his soul had shown his deep, unwavering love for her which had existed even then.

He had subconsciously brought her to his most sacred place because that part of him had already decided she belonged there. The thought was almost more than she could handle.

Asuka's heart beat violently which made her feel dizzy. She exhaled, and tried to calm herself.

He closed his eyes for a brief moment. "When I first met you, I was content and naïve in my assessment of myself. I thought I would never feel this way about anyone. Truthfully, I didn't want to. But now that you're here Asuka, I know how wrong I was. Loving you, and being loved by you is something I need. You are by far the best thing that's ever happened to me. You know me, and because of that, I find I know myself so much better.

"I want to spend forever with you," He said, his voice thick with emotion. "I want to help bear whatever burdens you have, and I want spend every day making sure you know how deeply I cherish you. I want you to be my wife, Asuka. Will you?"

Asuka sobbed as she watched Kurama take out a box from his pocket. When he opened the case she inhaled sharply. What Kurama held in front of her was no ordinary ring.

The band was some type of metal that gave off a hint of rose color in the light. It had been fashioned to represent twisting vines with small leaves coming off. Around the setting was the same metal, hammered into the shape of rose petals that were in full bloom. At the very center was a round stone Asuka had never seen before.

It looked alive. The gem was clear with iridescent flecks of gold that moved in different patterns. It was like a snow globe that perpetually swirled without being shook. Those glittering bursts sent off a subtle texture of color that shone in the sun.

Asuka wiped her tears, but it was a fruitless endeavor. The happy streams continued to run down her face as she stared at the man who knelt before her.

"I love you," she said through her tears. "I…I had no idea you…I mean I figured at some point but…."

"There's no reason for us to be apart, love."

"What about your parents? Are they okay with this?"

"Yes. I explained everything to them the night you first came for dinner. My mother in particular, can't wait for you to be an official part of our family."

He was still holding the ring out for her.

"I want to spend forever with you," she said, still crying. "I want to give all of myself to you and I never want to leave you. Yes."

Both of their hands were trembling and it took more than one attempt to get the ring on Asuka's finger. Asuka laughed, even as she cried more tears of happiness. It was a perfect fit. The ring was elegant, but not so large that it would overwhelm her dainty finger.

"Kurama," she said staring down at the ring. "This ring is...I'm astounded by it. And this is the most beautiful stone I've ever seen. Where did you get it?"

He grinned mischievously. "That may be the real reason I traveled to the Makai last month."

She gaped, then shook her head. "You're clever. I really had no idea what you were up to."

"There's more, Asuka," Kurama said gently. "This place is ours, if you want it to be. But if you don't like it, that's okay. We can find somewhere else. I haven't closed on it yet."

Kurama was still on his knee before her. He looked up at her with adoration as he waited for her answer.

"Of course I want it to be ours. I can't think of a more perfect place to live with you."

He nodded, and Asuka pulled Kurama up to herself. In one swift move she forced him to switch places with her so he'd be sitting on the couch. Without hesitation she climbed onto his lap, wrapped her entire body around him, and kissed him fervently. His hands wandered around her back as their mouths moved. Asuka whimpered, and in response, she felt Kurama tighten his hands on her. She ached for more.

"Asuka," he groaned.

She felt powerful sitting on his lap like this. It was the most intimate position they'd ever been in. She knew her body wasn't quite ready for more, but she intended to push it to the very limits of its stamina. All that mattered was the promise they just made to each other and the feel of her body on his.

He'd been working so hard to secure their future, and she desperately desired to convey just how much she loved him. Words didn't seem adequate.

Asuka put her hands on his face as she kissed him. She opened her eyes briefly and found his features contorted with passion. In response, she moved her hips which made her brush over his hardness.

He groaned again.

"I...love...you," she said between the movement of their mouths.

Asuka began to feel lightheaded and she knew she had to stop. She pulled away from his mouth reluctantly, instantly missing the connection to his body.

"I want you Kurama," she panted. "I can't right now, but...I want you so badly."

He gripped her hips with his strong hands.

"Asuka," he huffed. "Love. I..." he swallowed.

She found his eyes wild and hazed over. His mouth slacked as he stared up at her. She remembered their dance from so long ago and how the burn of his desires nearly drove him mad.

Maybe she had pushed him a little too far.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. Her hands gently rested on his jaw and some of his neck.

He blinked and the haze began to lift from his eyes.

"It's been getting more difficult to keep control of myself," he admitted. "But you needn't apologize."

She wrapped her arms around his neck and said into his ear, "I can satisfy you, if you like."

Kurama gently pushed her back so he could look up at her. He tucked a strand of her long hair behind her ear before his hand slowly went down her neck and settled on her collar bone. Asuka waited with baited breath for it to drift lower.

"It's okay," she affirmed. "I'm yours, love. Whatever you need I'm more than happy to give."

He closed his eyes.

Her heart fluttered and she felt a little dizzy. She'd have to be careful not to raise her heartrate too much, but she could manage. The last thing she ever wanted was to frustrate him. He'd been waiting so long.

Kurama looked up at her again with that gaze of pure love and devotion. It made her mouth go dry.

"No," he said gently. "I may want you, but what I want even more is to give myself back to you. That's...very important to me."

"You will," she whispered. "Just a little later. And I'll enjoy touching you too."

He brought her mouth down to his. His kiss was slow.

"I love you," he said quietly after he pulled away from her. "I will wait for you, however long it takes."

"If you're sure, Kurama."

"I'm sure," he said, and gently removed her from his lap. "You just...you're good at stirring desire in me. It doesn't take much."

He chuckled.

"What's so funny?"

"Until you came along I had perfect discipline in that area."

"Guess I should be careful how I use my powers."

He gave her a dangerous smile. "That might be wise."

Asuka grinned, then snuggled into him. "This morning I didn't think I could be happier, but I was wrong. I love you, and I can't wait to be your wife."

He kissed her hair. "People might make fun of you for going to school and having a husband."

"They won't when they see you."

He laughed. "We're going to have a good life, you and I."

"The best."

Kurama then told Asuka the details surrounding his financial decisions, and that he would be starting work at his father's company after graduation.

"I'm glad you're going to work, Kurama. I know that school has always been...annoying. I think you'll be much happier this way."

"I believe I will be. And I can better support you as you pursue your music."

Asuka gazed out over the rose garden. "How soon can I move here?"

"Very soon. Less than two weeks."

"That's good. While I'm grateful to the Kuwabaras and Shizuru in particular, the only person I want in my bed is you."

Kurama chuckled then said, "Soon I won't have to leave you at night anymore."

"That'll be a good day."

"Since you came back to me, every day has been better than the last," he said kissing her again. "And I plan to keep it that way."

She sighed and placed her hand over his heart. She felt his strength and drew from it. "Let's get married as soon as we can. I don't want a fancy wedding, and I'm guessing you don't either. We can do something simple where we can celebrate with the people we care about without much fuss."

He tightened his hold on her. "I feel the same, love."

Asuka smiled.

Author's Note:

sigh*. These two. Am I right?

So I went browsing engagement rings to see if the idea I had was actually available, and lo and behold, I found one that was basically right out of my brain! If you're curious, you can search "Camellia Jewelry rose gold solitaire diamond leaf engagement ring". It is SO beautiful. For real.

We're nearly done! We've got two chapters left. I'll be bumping this fic up to an M rating for the next one (get ready lol), and then we'll have the final chapter, which is short. I'll have some things to say to you all at the end of the story :-)

ISY: Ahhh thank you! I'm glad this fic keeps on giving. I definitely wanted to write something along those lines, so thank you. It means a lot to hear other people feel that way.

Rosentic: Glad I surprised you and you enjoyed the chapter! It was fun to write something for the squad completely outside the canon.

Tashio: The timeline is so weird in the official show! I don't blame you for forgetting.

I don't think anyone at Kurama's high school would try to dissuade him. He doesn't talk to any of them beyond what's necessary so no one would know. It's more like he'll show up one day with a ring on his finger and everyone will be like, "Wait. What?!" lol. It would be pretty funny to see those people's reactions to that, and to Asuka herself though XD