Dear Readers,
This is one of my favorite chapters so far so please enjoy reading it and tell me how you like it!
Love,
Wolf Princess Aya
Lasting Memories
When dusk finally came, Kurama sat on his bed, ready, wearing his peasant robes. Playing with the hem of the red robes (familiar to Kurama's school clothes?), he watched the last of the light disappear on the horizon, and felt his form change as it did. After a few silent moments of waiting in the dark, he heard a soft knocking on the door.
"Kurama!" Botan's whispers came, "you ready to go?"
"Go?" Kurama whispered to himself as he let Botan in. The maid stepped inside, wearing an old, light pink kimono.
"Well? Let's-" But she stopped short when she noticed his changed form; he didn't have his necklace but was in his human form. Silently, Botan raised a hand and ran her fingers through the prince's red mane, and stared into his now shining emerald eyes. Even his ears were gone.
"What happened?" she whispered.
". . . The new moon." Botan nodded, slowly understanding.
"So when the sun rises . . . ?"
"I will return to my sealed forms." The maid processed this information quickly. Then she beamed.
"This is great! Now no one will recognize you!"
"What?" The prince answered, exasperated and confused, as the girl began to tug him out of his room. "What are you talking about! And where are you taking me!"
"You'll see!" Botan giggled, dragging him expertly through the dark passages of the castle. "You'll love it!" Kurama said nothing as they left the palace and together climbed over the wall- careful to make sure no one saw them.
"What we're doing?" he asked as they fell to the opposite side of the wall, beginning to walk towards the village.
"Having fun!" Botan beamed at him, taking his hand and leading him towards the town. "There's a festival going on tonight! We're going to party!"
The prince stared blankly at the excited girl. ". . . What! Why!"
Botan looked up at him with wide eyes. "You're worrying me," she replied, brushing his bangs gently out of his face. "You're working too hard, and pushing yourself to the edge. Besides, did you not say this morning that we were going to take the whole day off? Well, we came back before lunch! I'd hardly call that a day!"
She winked at him. "And," she added, "I haven't been to any festivals in a long time! I miss the excitement!"
". . . I've never been at all. . ." Kurama admitted, as they neared the bright lights of the town.
Botan gasped. "Never!"
"No," Kurama sighed, looking up at the bright, starry sky. "I was either too busy, or too young. And, as a prince, this sort of thing was supposedly below me."
The maid glanced back at Kurama. ". . . Let's play One Question quickly."
"Okay. . ."
". . . Did you have a lonely childhood?" Botan asked quietly.
Kurama looked down. "I guess. I had Riku- for a while- and Yusuke as friends but. . . I never really got to be a child. . ."
"Well then, that changes tonight!" Botan ginned. "Tonight, we totally let loose! We have fun- in public!"
"We have fun. . ." Kurama repeated slowly as they walked into the bright lights of the town. "I like the sound of that."
The little town had been totally transformed. The dirt streets were lined with bright, cheerful, color paper lamps, and streamers were thrown everywhere. The fragrant smell of candy and warm bakery items mixed with the sweet sent of the summer night filled the air. People, dressed in their best, bustled past- going from bright booth to bright booth, viewing the goods. From somewhere unseen, music was playing.
Kurama jumped back as some towns children raced past him, chasing a ball and screaming in delight. Botan laughed at the prince's amazed expression. "Wonderful, isn't it?"
"It's . . . amazing. . ." the boy whispered, taking everything in.
The girl giggled. "Come on! Let's go look around!"
"Do you even have any money?" Kurama asked Botan a little while later, as the two of them walked along table after table of goods and jewelry.
"A little," Botan shrugged. "I'm really just looking, that's all." She grinned, before her eyes fell on a necklace. "Oh!" she cried, picking it up.
It was a rosary of sorts, matching his old necklace. Made of blue, marble- sized beads with the occasional yellow claw-like addition, Botan held it to the prince's chest. "It's totally you!" she smiled.
"You cannot be serious," Kurama cried, taking the necklace from her and holding it up. "I care to disagree!"
"No, it would look great on you!"
"I don't wear necklaces. Necklaces are for girls."
"But it has claws on it. That's a guy thing. And you already wear a necklace, baka."
"Says who?""Me. Try it on NOW, please!"The prince sighed at her large, pleading eyes. "Then will you leave me alone about it?"
"Okay." Pulling the necklace over his head, Kurama was astonished to see that it really did look okay on him.
"See? I told you. It looks great!" Botan beamed and handed the merchant a coin. "We'll take it."
"What! Botan, no- don't waste your money on-"
"Hush," Botan rolled her eyes, linking her arm with Kurama's jokingly. "It wants you to have it, and I know you won't buy it." She winked and continued to ogle the items. While she was observing a pretty silver broach for Keiko, Kurama noticed a necklace over on one of the far table.
A delicate silver chain with a gold star locket at the end with a diamond sphere in the middle, the gem perfectly matched Botan's outfit.
"Wow," he whispered, picking up the necklace. It was very pretty. When he opened the locket, the diamond spun around, playing a sweet melody.
"Ah!" said an old man from behind the counter. "The Shikon no Tama caught your eye, eh?"
"What?" the prince looked at the old man. He looked like a priest of sorts, his silver hair tied back and his long mustache hanging low since his back was bent. "Who are-?"
"My name is Komyouji. That jewel you hold there is called the Jewel of Four souls. Ah, its legend is a-"
"Never mind about its legend, just tell me how much it costs," Kurama politely interrupted. The man looked slightly disappointed, but perked up.
"For you, 1 silver piece." Prince Kurama glared. "Err- make that 1 copper piece."
"That's better," Kurama replied, handing the man the coin and walking off, back to Botan.
"Kurama!" Botan waved as he walked back over, "there you are!" The prince smiled at Botan, holding the necklace behind his back as they reached each other in the brimming crowed. "Where have you been?" Botan asked, slightly annoyed, "I was worried that you had gotten-"
"I got a surprise for you," Kurama smirked at her, making her quiet.
"A surprise?" Botan asked, curious. "What?"
"Close your eyes," he instructed mysteriously.
"Why? What are you going to do to me?"
"Please close your eyes?" he pouted.
Botan sighed and smiled. "Only because you said please." Closing her eyes gently, Kurama took a moment to stare at her gentle face. Her soft, pale skin, her silky baby blue hair, her full pink lips. . .
"Well?" Botan asked, waking Kurama out of his thoughts, "What is it?"
"This!" Kurama said proudly, gently clipping the necklace around Botan's neck, making her open her eyes.
"Oh. . ." she whispered, watching the gem sparkle in the light of the stars and lamps, listening silently to the melody "Kurama. . . it's. . . it's beautiful!" she cried, throwing her arms around him. "Thank you!"
Kurama hugged her back, red in the face but happy. "I'm glad you like it. . ."
"You're much too nice to me," Botan grinned up at him, tears in her eyes.
"Hm? No I'm not. You deserve this and more. . ." Kurama replied, wiping her tears away gently. "I hope you find someone who can give you that."
'But I don't want someone. . .' Botan thought wistfully as she looking into Kurama's face as the music echoed, as if from far away, 'I want you!'
Sotto mezameru
hakanai omoi zutto
donna toki demo negau yo
anata ni todoku you ni to...
"ato sukoshi" to yuu kyori ga fumidasenakute
itsumo me no mae wa tozasarete-ita no
aitai aenai hibi wo kasaneru tabi ni
tsuyoi tokimeki wa setsunasa ni naru yo
The two stood there and stared into each others eyes for a moment. 'Oh, Kurama.' Botan thought sadly, 'can't you see?'
'She looks so sad. . .' Kurama though frowning. 'I need to cheer her up. . . I know . . .!' "Hey! I know!"
"What do you know, Kurama?" Botan grinned weakly.
"Let's sing along!"
". . . What! I can't even understand what they're singing!" Botan cried, exasperated.
"Stupid, that's what makes it fun!" Kurama laughed at her expression and at his own stupidity. "La la la la la-" he sang along with the music, making Botan laugh.
"You sound so dumb; I don't even know where to start!" Botan giggled, trying to catch her breath has Kurama 'la'ed to the music.
"Try it!" the prince urged, "it's fun!"
"No way!"
"Come on! La la la la la la!"
"Oh, all right. La la la la la la la!" The two of them received very odd glances from the passers by, and both broke down into complete hysterics, laughing so hard they cried- only able to get out the occasional 'la'. 'Oh, Kurama,' Botan thought, smiling but still hurting on the inside. 'What will I do without you?'
moshimo eien to yuu mono ga aru nara
toomawari shite demo shinjite mitai
"bukiyou dakara KIZUtsuku koto mo aru" to
wakatte mo tomaranai mou dare ni mo makenai
anata no koto wo omou
sore dake de namida ga
ima afuredashite kuru yo
hakanai omoi zutto
donna toki demo negau yo
anata ni todoku you ni to...
"La la la la la. . ." Botan sang quietly to herself as they walked through the crowed, getting closer and closer to the source of the music.
"This really is a pretty song," Kurama commented, after a few moments, listening closely.
"La," Botan grinned back.
He was silent for a moment and then: "Mitsukai, would you like to dance?" Before she could answer, he grabbed her hand and twirled her expertly, ending with an extravagant dip. Botan looked up at Kurama, still in the middle of being dipped, with wide eyes. 'I don't think I can dance anymore, Kurama. . . the memories are too painful. . .' "I- um- I-"
"Please?" the prince smiled. She looked into his eyes. The ball would never happen again, and what happened there had happened.
She couldn't change it.
But she could shape her future. And right now, there was nothing she wanted more then to be with Kurama, dancing in the streets.
"I'd love to," she beamed back.
Tsuyogaru koto dake shiri-sugite-ita watashi
dakedo ano toki kara mayoi wa kieta yo
misetai to omou mono ga kitto atte
kikasetai kotoba mo takusan aru
egao nakigao mo zenbu mite hoshikute
matte-iru watashi wa yamete
"CHANSU" wo tsukamu yo
Kurama grinned devilishly at Botan, causing her to laugh. Sweeping her up in his arms, he spun and twirled her, as the two of them waltzed exuberantly around all the other townspeople.
"La la la la la la la," Botan sang as they danced, laughing.
"La la la la la la la LA," Kurama tried to out sing her, grinning.
Botan smirked and allowed him to dip her again. "I hate you."
"I would have it no other way," he winked back. She blushed slightly, and rolled her eyes.
anata no koto wo omou
sore dake de kokoro ga
tsuyoku nareru ki ga suru yo
hakanai omoi zutto
donna toki demo negau yo
anata ni todoku you ni to...
"Kurama?"
"Yes, Mitsukai?" They continued to waltz, a bit slower now, as the music played around them, both feeling as if they were the only people in the world.
"If you hope enough, will enough- can dreams come true?" Kurama looked thoughtfully at her, her arms wrapped around his neck, and his arms around her waist. "Yes."
'Then, Kurama, I hope, I will that you realize the truth. I love you.' She smiled up at him. "I'm glad. I do too."
Anata no koto wo omou
sore dake de namida ga
ima afuredashite kuru yo
tookute koe ga todokanai dakedo itsuka wa
kaMaya todoku you ni
shinjite la la la la la la...
Kurama exclaimed. "They're singing like us!"
"At last, a part we can sing along with!" Botan laughed.
Kurama grinned at her, and the two 'la'ed along at the top of their lungs.
shinjite la la la la la la...
"I'm pooped!" Botan exclaimed as the two of them walked out of the crowed and towards the food. "That 'la'ing takes it out of you!"
Kurama chuckled. "But we were the best 'la'ers there."
"Of course," Botan agreed promptly. "But let's get something to eat."
"Do we still have money?"
"Enough to buy an elephant ear," Botan replied, fishing through her purse, walking up to a bakery stand and handing the coin to the baker.
"An elephant ear?" Botan laughed at Kurama's blank expression.
"Not a literal elephant ear, silly! It's a pastry!" The baker smiled at the two of them as he handed Botan a large, wrapped pastry. Botan thanked him and dragged Kurama over to the benches, where they watched as a dance contest was being prepared.
"So what is an 'elephant ear'?" the prince asked as Botan unwrapped the bun.
"This," Botan replied, breaking the warm, sticky pastry in two and handing half to Kurama. "It's like a cinnamon roll." The prince took a tentative bite. Chewing, he looked at her in surprise.
"This is actually quite good. . ."
Botan grinned and took a bite of her half. "I told you."
"How come Riku never cooks stuff like this for dinner?" he complained, popping the rest of it in his mouth and swallowing.
"Because it's a desert," Botan rolled her eyes and took another bite of hers.
". . . I'm still hungry," Kurama announced.
"Then go buy yourself something! I'll wait here." Kurama nodded and walked off, looking at the rows of food. Botan watched with mild interest as he picked up a box of what looked like noodles and looked at it, poking it.
Since he poked it, he had to pay for it. Coming back, slightly annoyed, he sat next to Botan again.
"Can you believe it!" he complained, "I touched it and I had to buy it!"
"Well, it could still be good," Botan grinned, trying not to laugh.
"Ha! All it is noodles!" He took a bite as if wanting to prove his point- - -
But he loved it.
"This is good!" he cried, slurping up the noodles. "What is this?"
"Looks like Ramen," Botan nodded, looking at the label on the packet.
"Ramen." Kurama said slowly between mouthfuls of noodles, "I'll have to remember that." Botan giggled and watched as the dance contest began.
"Hey!" one of the girls' cried. "We need another girl on our team!"
One of the other girls' pointed at Botan. "What about her?"
"What!" Botan exclaimed, "I'm not-!"
"Go on!" Kurama smirked encouragingly, pushing her out into the contest.
"Come on!" the girl giggled, handing Botan a pink and white kimono "put this on and let's dance!"
"But I-!" Botan objected while putting on the kimono. But the music began and she could object no longer. Kurama watched with interest, throwing away his food, while Botan bumped and jerked along with the other girls. Slowly, the beat made its way into her heart as well, and her movements became more graceful, and her dance more beautiful, until she was the most wonderful dancer there.
The prince watched, transfixed, as Botan spun and twisted, twirled and swayed with the rhythm, her kimono swirling around her and framing her graceful body.
'She looks beautiful. . .' Kurama thought, pink in the face, before he realized what he was thinking and snapping out of it. As the music ended, all the girls went up and complemented the rosy cheeked Botan, who simply smiled in response, then, waving at Kurama, she ran over to him, giggling.
"That was a blast!" she smiled as she reached him.
"You- err- you did great. . ." Kurama grinned politely, hiding his flushed face.
"Thanks," Botan grinned back, the summer wind blowing her hair.
"Oh my!" Botan exclaimed, looking up at the sky, which was turning slowly gray and pink. "Sunrise will be soon."
The prince looked up in surprise. "You're right . . . we should head back before. . ."
"Yeah," Botan replied, disappointed. The two looked at each other, almost shyly.
"Well," Botan cleared her throat, "let's go."
"Yeah. . ." Kurama whispered back, grabbing her hand instinctively. "Let's go." Botan smiled, slightly pink from dancing and embarrassment as the two made their way down the crowded path and back towards the castle, leaving the festival and gentle music behind. And as they left, the music echoed softly:
shinjite la la la la la la...
Did you like it? I sure did!
I know some of you don't know Japanese so here are the lyrics for the song, My Will.
Quietly awakening...
I always, always wish
that these fleeting thoughts
would reach you...
Unable to move forward across "just a little more" distance
The way I see before me is always blocked
Every time the days I want to see you but can't pile up,
My strong heartbeat turns into heartbreak.
If there is such a thing as "eternity,"
I want to believe, even if I have to take the long way.
Although I know that I've been hurt before because I'm clumsy
I won't stop; I won't give in to anyone.
I think of you
and that alone is enough
to make the tears start to flow now
I always, always wish
that these fleeting thoughts
would reach you...
I've known all too well about pretending to be strong.
But since then, my doubts have vanished.
There's definitely things I want to show you
And so many words I want to hear
I want to see all sides of you, when you laugh and cry
So I'll stop waiting
and seize my "chance."
I think of you,
and I feel like that alone is enough
to make my heart grow stronger.
I always, always wish
that these fleeting thoughts
would reach you...
I think of you
and that alone is enough
to make the tears start to flow now
My distant voice can't reach you now, but so that someday
it definitely will...
Believe. la la la la la la...
Believe. la la la la la la...
Believe. la la la la la la...
Aya-chan