OMG. I am SO sorry! I don't know how the hell it happened but a chap from Omokage got mixed up with a chap from Rose's Love and GAH! To anyone who read the wrong chap, I am crazy sorry.Here's the right one.
Two days after the attack, things slowed down to an excruciatingly sluggish pace. Time itself seemed to have ground to a complete stop. It was almost spooky, as if whatever was attacking them was trying to lull them into a false sense of security and doing a very poor job of it.
But, even an eerie respite was better than constant, battering attacks, so the everyone decided to take advantage of it. Yusuke had taken this opportunity to drag Kurama and Kuwabara to a ramen stall for some spontaneous counseling. He was supposed to be celebrating his and Keiko's one year anniversary, but he'd chickened out at the last minute.
He slid into the most discreet booth he could find, right next to the bathrooms, with the air of an FBI agent, all exaggerated stealth. Kurama followed him with a slightly indulgent grin, while Kuwabara sat across from them, muttering to himself.
"So what's the deal?" Kuwabara grumbled.
"How the heck am I gonna ask Keiko to marry me?" Yusuke groaned. He buried his head in his hands and mumbled: "Maybe I should just move to another country."
"Just tell her how you feel! She won't care how you do it as long as you're sincere." Kurama replied, patting Yusuke on the head. "Not to mention that marriage is probably out of the question, considering how you stood her up today."
"You think you've got a problem!" Kuwabara growled. "Try Hiei giving you the evil eye every time you get within three feet of the girl you love with all your heart and soul."
Yusuke and Kurama winced, half amused, while picturing Kuwabara cowering in front of a massive Hiei.
Kurama turned back to Yusuke and said, "First you have to apologize to Keiko for standing her up today. What does Keiko like?" He put on a contemplative face. "If she likes flowers, roses, big white lilies, and sakura work well. If she likes candy, chocolate could show how sweet you think she is. Jewelry is always good. Go for white gold, and save yellow gold for the wedding. Or stuffed animals. . .but if you really want to show her you care get her a teddy bear wearing a necklace holding a box of chocolates and a flower."
Yusuke started whacking his head on the table again. "Where am I gonna get enough cash for all that! Ahh. . ."
Kurama laughed a little and patted Yusuke's back. "I don't see why you're worried! I mean, you're only 17, not even old enough to get a marriage license!"
"But it's been one year and I can't even imagine going out with anyone else! So if I feel like that, how do you think she feels! Before you know it she'll be dropping hints and everything!" he replied thickly, his response muffled.
Kurama shook his head, torn between wanting to laugh and exasperation at Yusuke's insecurity.
"What about you, Kurama? How are things with Mirakuru going?" Kuwabara asked innocently, as if Yusuke having an episode was part of his everyday routine. "You must be worried out of your mind for her."
"I am," Kurama replied, taken momentarily off guard. "But only as her friend!" he amended quickly.
"You liar. You're just don't realize your true feelings yet. Tell me, how do you truly feel about her?" Kuwabara pressed.
Kurama sighed. It was clear that Kuwabara wasn't going to let the matter drop. And knowing Kuwabara's mule-like tenacity, he'd be pestering Kurama forever. "Alright, ok. To be truthful, I'm not sure what I feel for her. It's different than what I feel for you and the rest of the Reikai Tantei, and similar to what I feel for my mother, but still very different."
Kuwabara nodded sagely. "Well, it's like this. There are three kinds of love. The love between friends, like what I feel for Yusuke, you, and maybe even Hiei. Well, ok, maybe not Hiei. Then there is familial love, like what Hiei feels for Yukina, and what I feel for Shizuru. Finally, the strongest of the three, intimate love. Like what Yusuke and Keiko share." Kuwabara paused for a moment.
During this pause Kurama began to wonder if he'd misjudged Kuwabara all these years. Could there really be the makings of a philosopher beneath that coarse exterior?
"Or what Yukina and I share. Oh, Yukina. . ." Kuwabara sighed, a dreamy expression on his face.
Kurama grinned at Kuwabara, who was currently all starry-eyed and in another world altogether. He shook his head, a bemused expression on his face. I guess once a Kuwabara, always a Kuwabara.
But what of him and Mirakuru? He hadn't called since the night of the dance. He'd even gone out of his way to take another route home, for fear of coming across her at the park that seemed to be her favorite haunt. After that night when I kissed her I decided never to see her again. It was for her own well being, I told myself. But this new angle of the mission gives me an excuse to see her again. So why do I feel so reluctant? Kurama wondered.
Later that evening, just as Kurama was returning home, the phone rang. At first he ignored it, slightly apprehensive. He wasn't sure what he'd tell Mirakuru if she asked to see him. He was scared, terrified, actually, of what would happen if he allowed himself to be with her again. If one night had led to . . . that . . . then just how far would his feelings escalate the next time?
He hesitated as he walked past the phone. His hand hovered above it, and his fingers closed around it just as it stopped ringing. But if he hurried . . . he might catch her before she hung up. He gritted his teeth. Get a GRIP! He didn't pick up the phone up. That was it then.
He turned and began to leave. Then, the phone started to ring again. He simply stood there for several moments, listening to the insistent ringing of the phone. After the fifth ring, it stopped again. Ok. If she leaves a message, I'll pick up.
"Kurama? Hello? You there? Haven't seen you around much lately. Just checking up on you, wondering why you've disappeared off the face of the earth. Uh, yeah. OK. I'll be going then."
Suddenly, almost without his consent, Kurama's arm shot out and grabbed the phone. He pressed the receiver to his ear and all but yelled, "Hello?"
"Oh! Hey. What's up? Why didn't you pick up the first time I called? Did you just get home or something?"
Kurama noticed that she didn't bother identifying herself. Did she feel that comfortable with him? Not that she needed to, however. He'd recognize her voice anywhere. "Uh, yeah. I just got home."
"Oh, cool. Er, sorry, I know you just got home, but I wanna ask you something."
"Ask away," Kurama replied as nonchalantly as was currently possible.
"Not what I meant. I want to ask you face to face. Can we meet at the park? Under the maple tree, you know, the one we had lunch underneath, that one day when you were stalking me." She said the last few words teasingly, as if to allay some sort of tension.
"Uh. Ok. Sure. I'll be there in fifteen minutes," Kurama answered haltingly, wondering if he'd regret this decision later on.
Mirakuru wove in and out of the grove of maple trees, wondering why she'd been so stupid as to tell Kurama to meet her under a specific tree that she herself might not be able to find. All the trees looked more or less identical. She leaned against one, deciding just to take a wild guess. She stared up into its canopy of sunset orange leaves, listening to the other people talking and laughing. She wondered briefly if she'd ever be like them. Free. She shook her head, as if to clear it of the depressing thoughts.
The sun was just disappearing over the horizon. The birds had stopped singing, she realized. Bored, she ran her hand over the tree's coarse bark, listening to the fountain. Unexpectedly, she felt her soul lift with an inexplicable and inextinguishable hope. This was the right tree.
Kurama arrived at the tree several minutes after Mirakuru. He, too, had gotten lost, but tracked Mirakuru using her reiki. It was the same, unmistakable jewel blue as the ocean. He found her staring off into the distance, leaning against the tree. The wind was blowing stray wisps of hair around her face, and Kurama was overwhelmed by a sudden wave of nostalgia. His heart clenched up, and sank into his stomach. How long had it been since he'd seen his own Mirakuru wait for him, posed exactly as she was?
He drew in a quivering breath and strode up to meet her.
When Mirakuru saw him, she smiled wordlessly and took his hand.
The stars had just risen, and twinkled innocently above their heads, just as they had eons ago. It was the night of the new moon.
"I love the new moon," Mirakuru said, as she gazed up into the sky. "It symbolizes hope, a chance for a new beginning."
Again Kurama was assaulted by memories of the real Mirakuru. She, too, had wanted a chance to relive her life, to repair all the mistakes she'd made, comfort those she'd hurt, and take those opportunities she'd let slip by. She had told him she wouldn't care if she wasn't a princess anymore, if it meant she could relive her life without restrictions, in peace. The two were so alike, Kurama didn't know how much longer he could convince himself that his Mirakuru was still dead.
Kurama gave a pained smile, pulled a rose from his hair and presented it to Mirakuru.
She smiled back and blushed shyly. "I never get tired of that magic trick. But Kurama, do you love me?"
"Why do you ask?" Kurama replied. He wanted to avoid answering the question, and at the same time he wanted to scream out: 'Yes! Yes!'
"I want to know," Mirakuru faltered. She took a deep breath and continued. "I want to know if that kiss meant anything. Did it?"
Avoiding the question, Kurama hastily changed the subject. "Did you know that in ancient times, there was a law that stated if a young couple kissed, they must be married?"
"Answer me. Kurama, do you love me, or not?" Repeated Mirakuru relentlessly. "I'm sorry. I should have told you this from the beginning. I'm in an arranged marriage. If I don't find someone who loves me by the next full moon, the marriage contract is permanent. I . . . I don't want to marry someone I do not love!" she said, shaking her head emphatically. "I've dated many others in the past, and however many times I thought I was in love, it never worked out. But with you, I thought for sure I'd find a happy ending. So tell me the truth, do you love me or not?"
By now Kurama was sure that this was his Mirakuru. She wasn't the same person he knew centuries ago, but then again, hadn't he changed as well? His feelings had revealed the truth that his mind refused to believe. This wasn't a new love. He wasn't able to love anyone other than Mirakuru, not in the same way, with the same intensity.
Mirakuru, I wish I could tell you how I feel. But I can't. Not now, not ever. I'm sorry. "N-no. I don't." Saying those simple words was the hardest thing he had ever done. He clenched his fists, praying he was doing the right thing.
"So this is how it ends. Just like every other romance I've had a part in. For a moment, I thought we really had a chance. But I was wrong." Mirakuru said, her eyes brimming with tears. Her voice shook.
She could have slapped him. He might've felt better if she did. But she didn't. She simply looked at him, her eyes full of tears that didn't fall, giving him a few moments to take back his words. When he didn't, she turned on her heel and walked away, without even saying goodbye. Only when he couldn't see her expression anymore did the tears overflow.
"I was wrong." Kurama murmured as he watched Mirakuru leave. In his eyes welled the regret that his stoic expression hid. "You've been through more than I can ever imagine. And yet you can still find the courage to trust and love again. Oh, Mirakuru, I'm sorry."
With that, Kurama turned and walked back up the path, alone.