Chapter Twenty Four

Kurama stayed with Yuzuki throughout most of her recovery, only leaving to handle wedding preparations or his friends. He fed her and helped her bathe for the first two days of this. She seemed to be too weak to do everything by herself.

She didn't need the third day, however. On the third morning Yuzuki emerged from her chamber with a new look in her eyes, one that Kurama had never seen before. Her robes were the same silver ones from that day. And all of the Mari cheered for her before dispersing.

"Now," the General told her, "it is time that you use your new energy and see what you can do."

"Uncle, are you sure that it is small enough?"

"Do not be ridiculous, child. Your father moved this mountain a whole half-inch when he became the ruler."

"Now that's impressive," Hiei chimed.

Yuzuki's family and Kurama's friends had come to watch. The redhead was quite skeptical about this situation. She was expected to move a mountain with her power? Not even Yusuke, a Mazokou, could do that. And it had also been two thousand years since her father had done such a thing. And not to mention it had only been a half of an inch, no matter how much of a feat it had been.

But he could feel something different about Yuzuki's youki. It almost felt foreign to him, like his mate was someone entirely different. Although she looked the same, it wasn't her inside. Her voice was the same, but it wasn't hers. There was love in her eyes, love Kurama had never seen before. This couldn't be Yuzuki.

And she could sense his doubts. But she worried not. She felt like pure electricity was running through her veins to her skin to every hair follicle. She was stronger, now. Stronger than almost all of the people here, human or demon. So she did not doubt herself; a mountain could be moved by her father, so why couldn't she do so as well?

And so she closed her eyes and concentrated. They would have to understand something particular about her, especially her brothers and uncle.

She hadn't used her demon energy to do anything besides summon her rose whip for over five hundred years. Her voice had not been used once.

However, it was strange that she felt so... different. All of her youki had not yet merged and consumed all of the foreign. It was as if she could feel the very soul of the past Mari rulers swimming in her veins, trying to escape from her.

Maybe she should have taken that third day to recover, so she would at least have it all under control.

But it is mine now, she thought. There is no longer any choice for this.

And all of that youki, including what had been held back for centuries, flew into her throat. Her vocal chords felt warmer than it ever had before. Such power... why were they given this?

"To protect the Mari," she said quietly, reminding herself of lessons from her childhood, all the training she'd sustained for this part of her life.

Everything she'd learned, everything she knew was for ruling this country. To rule with only one by her side—and that would be Kurama. What a strange life this would lead for her.

But now wasn't the time for this. Yuzuki sucked in a deep breath, inhaling all of the nearby scents. She smelled the mountain, the trees, the earth beneath her. She felt the energies of all those around her. What a beautiful feeling.

"You can do it, daughter."

When she opened her eyes, her father stared back at her, smiling that loving smile. And that somehow gave her faith.

She sung the highest note she could, as loud as she could muster. Her youki was almost visible in the sound waves, like the legendary siren's song.

But the last time she had used this note, even though it destroyed everyone in an entire room, it had not been this strong. No, it was much stronger now.

"Holy crap, Kurama, are you marrying an opera singer!?" Kuwabara shouted, covering his ears. "I've never heard someone so loud!"

They all, with the exception of Hie, had astounded looks on their faces. Tamara's silver eyes followed the sound waves as they collided with the mountain before her. Kurama kept his eyes on his petite mate, her fangs bared as she kept the sound going strong.

He remembered that night at her previous lover's mansion. He remembered that high-pitched note, the one he'd confused for a scream. The note that slaughtered over two dozen beings, apparitions and humans alike. The blood staining his white shoes and clothing. Her sobs tearing through the silence.

But she didn't look broken. No, she hid it well. Now she looked strong.

She sang until all of the air had left her lungs, and it took everything she had to keep from falling to her knees. Somehow, though, she felt as if she still had plenty of youki, like she'd barely used any at all.

But the mountain had not budged, not even a millimeter.

Aki sighed. "Maybe you should have recovered for today, after all," he said. "Go rest and then we can try again tomorrow."

"No," the General interrupted.

Yuzuki's two older brothers looked to their uncle in confusion. "But nothing happened," Aki continued. "Even though she may feel better, she hasn't recovered and completely absorbed all of the demon energy yet. This task is meant for the fourth day, not-"

"Look to the mountain, fools."

Kurama wasn't surprised by the blatant disrespect of his best friend. And when he looked to the monument again, his eyes widened.

Pebbles were steadily falling like a stream down the side of the rock. A crater was forming slowly, like magic. It continued to grow as more smaller rocks fell faster and in greater numbers. It became deeper as well, so much that it was a feat within itself.

"The Destruction note," Yuzuki panted. "Now, can we please go back? I might have needed the extra day, after all."

She ate with everyone that night, socializing with Kurama's friends like she actually enjoyed their company. Her brothers and uncles joined in the feast as well, and all the while they would bring up questions about the upcoming wedding with Kurama and herself. Occasionally Yuzuki would give her opinion on it, but for the most part she talked about how everyone else was doing, and asked for updates on the goings in Ningenkai.

Kurama only stared at her every chance he could get. She had never been this social before. He had never cared about what his friends were up to. She had never shown any interest in them, really, unless it was to satisfy her curiosity. What was going on with her?

"Kurama?"

He turned to look at her from his room across the hall. For the first time in three days her golden eyes looked familiar to him. "Yes?" he asked.

"Will you..." She seemed to blush. "Will you stay with me tonight?"

He hesitated, but something about her words made his heart nearly leap from his chest. He smiled at her genuinely. "Of course I will, Yuzuki."

He waited until after the door was closed to ask his question: "Why are you acting so strange, Yuzuki?"

She looked at him almost curiously. "What are you talking about, Kurama?"

"You've been acting strange, and it isn't like you."

The yoko sighed, her eyes falling to the floor. "I know I have," she said. "I am not sure what it is, really, but before I came home, I felt so... weak. And afraid." Her eyes looked to him once more with a familiar sadness. "While meditating over these past few days, I feel as though my pain is past me, and I would truly like to recover."

The redhead supposed he could understand that. She had been a bit of a brooder before. Perhaps the meditation did help her with her mental state, at least enough to the point where she wanted to get better.

"Do you..." But why was it when she was asking him a question, she would hesitate, like she was shy or something? "Do you think of me less, Kurama? Would you still be able to... to love me if my mind were repaired?"

For some reason his heart sank. Had that really been what she'd been worried about? She'd been worried that he would love her less if she got better?

And soon he found himself embracing her small body, feeling her warmth against him and making him whole. "I would never stop loving you," he told her. "The only thing I want for you is for you to recover, Yuzuki, and I will stop at nothing to make sure you get that way. I promise I'll always be here to help you in any way that I can."

He leaned down and kissed her for the first time since the Mating Moon. He grabbed both sides of her face, feeling her tears on her cheeks and the happiness in her heart. Feeling her happiness made his body overflow with joy. This is what it was to satisfy your mate. This is what it felt like to be happy because someone else was happy.

He only pulled away far enough to speak clearly. "Let me take you to bed again," he breathed. "I've been longing for you since the last time."

She silently nodded as his lips collided with hers again, and she allowed him to pull her up and wrap her legs around his waist as they made their way to the bed. She allowed him to let them collapse from there, feeling his strength around her as she tried to lift her body to touch his even more. She had to feel him. She wanted to.

"I love you," she sighed, opening her eyes to look up at him.

He could have groaned, and instead leaned down to lick her throat. "I know," he whispered against her skin. "Now let me get these robes off of you."