Chapter Fifteen
Night seemed to come slowly. Kurama stayed in the Hall of Instrumentation with Yuzuki, occasionally hearing her hum. He was also texting Tamara. And Hiei, sort of. Hiei still preferred not to use Ningenkai technology, but his mate and wife said it was because he didn't want to learn how to do so.
He says get your head out of that "foolish woman's ass."
He would say that. But she should be fine after being crowned. Then I can come home.
Good. The girls miss you.
I miss them as well.
"Kurama," Yuzuki called, "I am ready to return to the plaza. They should be gathering soon."
Sighing, the fox flipped his phone shut. He wondered how this was going to go. He knew the tune of the song, but not the words. It seemed slow and serene, in the very least. He wondered how well the Mari people would take it.
Her two brothers were waiting just outside the large building. Yuzuki walked straight past them, composition in her hand. Kurama handed them copies she'd made, eyes on the woman before him.
"She changed her mind," the redhead mumbled. "I imagine she'll want to rehearse."
Aki's eyes widened. "She is really going to perform with us?"
Kurama nodded, noticing Nobuyuki smirk from the corner of his eye. "But she seems quite tense about the whole ordeal. You may want to try to ease her nerves."
After further discussion about the performance, the three separated. Kurama had to find Ruka again, so that he wouldn't get lost in this vast forest.
(A/N: Yuzuki, Aki, Nobuyuki Yuzuki and Nobuyuki, Aki and Nobuyuki, and Yuzuki and Aki. Also I do not own this song. I just think it's classic for the theme of this chapter.)
All was silent in the large circle again. All of the Mari clan had red puffy eyes, despite age or gender. The pyre was somehow still burning. The three children of the royal family stood around it, holding instruments and shrouded in black robes. Yuzuki held a small drum and sat upon some sort of stool, ears visibly drooping despite the hood over her head. It was when she inhaled to speak that everyone stopped their weeping and turned their attention to the three.
"Today is a sad day, for all of us," she began. "Honestly, I am not sure how to put my feelings into words." Her eyes then scanned the crowd, meeting many shades of gold. "For five hundred years I was banished by the man I called 'Father.' I hated myself for what he did, even though I did nothing against the laws. I was punished because I felt I loved a human being. I lost my title as heir to the Mar because of that man, and the leader of this world."
She paused and closed her eyes. "My father," she said, speaking louder, "was a wonderful leader, however. And an amazing father. No matter what he has done, I have him close to my heart. Just the way I always have, even over my five hundred year banishment. I know tonight his spirit is smiling down upon us." A single tear fell, and her pale golden eyes opened widely. "Our father loved you all. And to show him our appreciation, I shall sing for the first time in nearly five hundred years."
Kurama could hear joyful whispers and more quiet sobs. The moon shone brightly. It all made him more and more curious about how compelling her singing voice really was.
After all, her just saying his name made his spine tingle. But that was wrong in itself.
You'll feel like you're floating, the yoko whispered in the back of his mind. I heard her once before, when she was very young. She's exceptional.
Shut the fuck up and listen.
Kurama was seriously getting tired of the temptations his other side was throwing at him. Yuzuki was hot sure, but he couldn't be attracted to her. It wasn't part of his job description.
(A/N: Here is a link to the song! ::: watch?v=qE5etlRDYcs)
The sound of two string instruments interrupted the redhead's thought processes. It almost sounded like an acoustic guitar. How interesting.
He looked back up when Yuzuki joined in on her drum. The three worked quite well together, really. Nothing was wrong with the rhythm, and the instruments were played beautifully.
"There's no one in town I know"
Oh, Kami.
"You gave us someplace to go
"I never said 'thank you' for that
"Thought I might get one more chance"
"So what would you think of me now?
"So lucky, so strong, so proud?
"I never said 'thank you' for that"
She quickly removed the black hood over her head.
"Now I'll never have a chance"
"May angels lead you in
"Hear you me, my friends
"On sleepless roads, the sleepless go
"May angels lead you in"
Kurama couldn't take his eyes off of her. She was stunning. His entire body was tingling, shivering. That voice… he'd never heard anything like it before in his life. He knew his mouth was gaped at least a little. It was just seeing her small, petite body, and knowing that something so powerful laid within it…
"So what would you think of me now?
"So lucky, so strong, so proud?
"I never said 'thank you' for that
"Now I'll never have a chance"
"May angels lead you in
"Hear you me, my friends
"On sleepless roads, the sleepless go
"May angels lead you in"
She stood.
"May angels lead you in"
"May angels lead you in"
"May angels lead you in"
"May angels lead you in"
The fox turned around to observe the other demons. They were all having similar reactions. Many of them were crying. But all of them were watching.
Watching this beautiful yoko tap slowly on her strange pair of drums, watching her silvery blue hair glisten in the light of the torches lighting the circle she and her brothers stood in.
Yuzuki looked up to the starry sky above, golden eyes glistening.
"And if you were with me tonight
"I'd sing to you just one more time
"A song for a heart… so big
She paused only briefly.
"God wouldn't let it live"
"May angels lead you in
"Hear you me, my friends
"On sleepless roads, the sleepless go
"May angels lead you in"
"May angels lead you in!"
"Hear you me, my friends!"
"On sleepless roads, the sleepless go"
"May angels lead you in"
"On sleepless roads, the sleepless go"
"May angels lead you in"
Cheers. Cries of joy. Tears. Kurama could only stand there, more than impressed. He was astonished. The things that had been said about her were true. Her voice was powerful. There had been no youki in it at all, and yet somehow he could feel the power. Her voice went so well with the music, and every note was sung so perfectly that he was beside himself. How could she have ever stopped to begin with? He would enjoy listening to himself…
You know she has some talent, his dark voice said. In the Living World, usually the man gets his woman flowers after a theater performance.
It would help if she was my woman. But she isn't. Not to mention that this is her father's funeral.
That may be so, but still. Maybe she would feel better.
I doubt it. What was with this crazy demon?
It doesn't matter. Soon enough you might have to take a weekend off.
What the hell? Why?
Because if you don't, you'll do that one thing you want to do but are afraid of doing.
I'm not afraid of anything.
Oh, I'm sorry, you're too "honorable."