Chapter 05 Concerto (Or, a musical composition for a solo instrument accompanied by an orchestra)
Asuka always thought a perk of her profession was the number of fancy dresses she got to wear. For tonight's performance, Asuka slipped on a long, deep red strapless dress with a slit up the side. To accentuate her neck, Asuka wore a high-set necklace with a single ruby near the hollow of her throat.
Kurama stood over Asuka and knotted his tie while she applied makeup. His black suit contrasted with his ruby hair and made his features dazzle. Asuka observed him for a moment. When he noticed her stare, he leaned down and whispered, "You're so beautiful."
"Thank you! Do you like my dress?"
"I always like what you wear…and when you wear nothing."
Asuka playfully rolled her eyes.
"It's true."
"I know," she laughed.
Kurama adjusted his tie and then put on his cuff links.
They were utilizing one of Orchard Hall's dressing rooms, located just off the main backstage area. Principals and guests always had access to the dressing rooms, which Asuka liked. Getting ready at the hall meant her appearance would look fresher on stage.
"I have to be here so early," Asuka said as she applied mascara. "You didn't have to come with me."
"I'd much rather come with you," said Kurama. "Will you need to stay for the entire performance tonight?"
"Originally I had wanted to because Akira was going to be here and I wanted to say hello. He got sick though." Asuka looked down at her lipstick choices. She decided on a deep red to match her dress, and pulled off the cap."
"That's unfortunate," Kurama said.
"Yeah. At least Kenji didn't catch it. Anyway, since he won't be here, I can meet you out front after intermission is over."
Kurama kissed her bare shoulder. "I was thinking—since we're all dressed up, would you like to get drinks at one of the cocktail lounges before we go home?"
"I'd love that."
"It's a date, then."
Asuka stood and turned around so she could see all of herself in the mirror. Then she looked at the side of her body that would face the audience.
"You look sexy in red," Kurama said quietly.
She smiled. "It's not a color I normally wear, but I was feeling it tonight. This color reminded me of your hair."
"Mmmm." A flash of lust went through Kurama's eyes as his gaze roamed.
"I should've kissed you before I put lipstick on," Asuka said.
The corner of Kurama's mouth pulled upward. He gently reached for her hand and then brought it to his lips for a kiss. "Until later."
"Until later."
He squeezed her hand. "I know you like to have quiet before you play big concerts. I'll leave you now."
"Thank you."
"I love you."
"And I love you."
Kurama left Asuka in the dressing room and quietly shut the door behind him. Asuka sat back at the dressing room table and lightly drummed her fingers on its white shiny surface as if it were the keys on a piano.
-* ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ *-
The concert producer knocked on her door sometime later and let her know it was time to start. In the classical music world, it was customary for the guest musician to come out last. Asuka waited just out of view and watched the orchestra get seated. After them, the director came out and bowed to the audience. When they quieted, Mr. Senju signaled to Asuka and she walked out to enthusiastic applause. All eyes were on her as she made her way across the stage. First, Asuka stopped to shake Kenji's hand, and then she stopped again to shake the principal violinist's hand, as was customary.
Asuka had pinned the shortest strands of her hair back so it wouldn't fall on her face as she played, but most of her long hair flowed freely down her body. She picked it up, sat down, and then released her hair.
The orchestra hall was silent.
Asuka watched Mr. Senju pick up his hands. The orchestra picked up their instruments. He looked back at Asuka, who then placed her hands on the piano and nodded.
The music started with a bang. It was a single loud note from the orchestra.Asuka's hands flew up the piano, going from low to high. She trilled, then went down the piano, back up, and then trilled again before the orchestra came in with another strong single note. Again, her hands flew up and down the keys before a third single strong banging note emitted from the orchestra. Then, it was just Asuka. She played a series of quick ascending and descending notes. Her body moved with her fingers in delight.
They were playing Beethoven's Piano Concerto Number Five, better known as the Emperor Concerto. The first movement was grandiose and even puckish. It was long with sections of loud piano trill that would abruptly cease so the orchestra could play their own bravos melody. In the first movement, there were sections of quiet music before extreme fanfare from both orchestra and piano.
It was a joy to play. Beethoven always wrote his feelings, and Asuka wondered what happiness he must've been experiencing to compose such a light-hearted and fun romp.
Asuka grinned as her fingers flew up and down the piano, trilling on the high notes before she cut the piano's sound off so the orchestra could sing.
After performing with just Kenji for almost two months, this was a welcome change. She and the orchestra were feeding off each other in a loop of wholesome goodness. She could sense the audience's enthusiasm for the piece and the music which filled the hall.
For twenty minutes, Asuka and the orchestra looped through the fanfare, calling and responding to each other as they built toward a triumphant and boisterous conclusion. Her joy and delight increased upward until the epic conclusion of the first movement.
There was a silent pause. Both orchestra and pianist let the music rest in total silence, save for a loud cough that emitted from the audience. Then, Mr. Senju signaled to begin the second movement.
As fun of a caper as the first movement was, the second movement was slow and whimsical. It reminded Asuka of the Pastoral Symphony, which Beethoven had written just one year before the Emperor Concerto. The second movement, or the Adagio section was delicate, and she closed her eyes as she reveled in its sweet, slow sounds.
So hopeful. So tender. It was bright and gentle. Beethoven only used the good notes for the Adagio and it pulled on her heartstrings. There was nothing technical about this section, and she lost herself in streams of pure delight.
About halfway through the Adagio, Asuka sensed something blooming—far above her and to the right.
Is that…ki?
Asuka loosened her's a little and pushed it outward with the music's flow. And yes, now that she wasn't suppressing her ki as much, she could sense a different ki vibrating from the box seats a few floors up in the hall. Its hum was distinctly raeki.
That doesn't feel like anyone I know. Who is it?
If Asuka was sensing ki, she knew Kurama was too. She couldn't see him in the audience because of the stage lights, but she could feel his closeness—a burning light of yoki. Her strength and comfort was front and center.
Raeki could mean a human, or it could mean someone from the Raekai was here. Honestly, at this point, feeling yoki would be less worrisome.
Asuka couldn't do much from the stage as she was still in the middle of her performance. She was there to play for the audience and she couldn't let the ki distract her. Kurama was near, and that was all that mattered. He'd keep her safe. Asuka pulled her ki back and doubled down on the music. Soon, all she could sense and feel were the blissful notes of Beethoven's composition.
-* ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ *-
A smug pride always overtook Kurama at Asuka's concerts. Tonight, someone seated behind him had audibly gasped when she came out on stage. His wife's loveliness and grace often shell-shocked people—as it should. She was divine, after all.
Kurama had missed watching Asuka play. No matter how many concerts he'd seen, he'd never tire of watching her get lost in the music and watching everyone else be in awe of her talent. She had smiled through the entire first movement and it had made his heart sing.
He was glad she was playing such an upbeat piece. The strain of the doctor's visit hadn't abated, which worried him. At this moment, however, she wasn't thinking about fertility. She was thinking about music.
The second movement was written with "only the good notes" as Asuka told him last weekend. She played delicately, and her countenance had changed to one of contemplation and unification with beauty.
Kurama smiled to himself. I love you, Asuka.
All at once, alarm bells went off in Kurama's mind as his senses automatically pricked to the sensation of someone else's ki. Dread shrouded him.
Raeki.
Raeki could mean a human, or it could mean someone from the Raekai. Either option worried him, though the latter was worse. Someone was watching his wife from the box seats. That meant they were rich, or powerful. Or both.
Kurama suppressed a growl.
Just then, he felt Asuka's ki spark. She must be sensing the Raeki as well. Her face didn't betray her investigation, but Kurama worried because they were both trapped. If he got up from the front row now, that would distract the entire audience from Asuka's performance and he couldn't do her such a disservice.
Kurama breathed outward and steadied himself. It was fine. As long as whoever had the ki stayed in their seat, it didn't matter that Kurama couldn't get up. As soon as intermission started, he could leave and find whoever was emitting that ki. If someone was after his wife, they'd made a terrible mistake coming here. He'd rip them to shreds.
Asuka's ki pulled back, and she leaned closer to the piano. He nodded. As long as she wasn't in active danger, she needed to maintain professionalism and concentrate on her music. She knows I'm here. She knows I won't let anything happen to her.
His senses were in overdrive now as he focused all of his energy on trying to pinpoint the person. The ki wasn't strong enough to derive intent from its hum. Kurama bit back another growl.
The concerto's second movement ended, and without pause, Asuka went into the third movement. The ki that Kurama had been seeking dimmed to a faint whisper.
Had the person noticed he'd been watching? Damn it. He subtly shifted his eyes upward, but the hall was too dark to see faces. Asuka, I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you. No one will harm you. Ever.
He clenched his jaw through the third and upbeat movement of the concerto. His concern grew with each passing moment.
The concerto ended with thunderous applause. Asuka stood, smiled, and bowed. She gestured to the orchestra and conductor. Everyone stood and clapped.
"She is so lovely," someone said behind him. "It's almost like she's not human."
Kurama jerked his head toward the box seats. Now that he had sensed the ki, he could hold on to its faint signature, which moved further away. Whoever held that ki was leaving. The crowd was still clapping for Asuka, but he could slip out now. If the person with the ki was leaving, it left little doubt in Kurama's mind they were here to see Asuka.
His wife was in danger.
Kurama hurried up the aisle. The ki got fainter and fainter, then disappeared.
Had he lost them?
Kurama adopted a casual gate to offset how quickly he moved. He didn't want his demeanor to be off-putting or raise any subconscious alarms.
"Asuka is a national treasure," a man said as Kurama passed by. "I met her once."
She's my treasure, Kurama thought possessively. He scolded himself and then continued to hurry up the aisle. That comment wouldn't normally upset him. He might've smiled under different circumstances.
Kurama expanded his ki further and felt the ki holder outside the building. Once he reached the lobby, Kurama broke into a jog and exited Orchard Hall just in time to see a driver close the door of a black town car. Kurama raced down the steps, but it was too late. The car pulled away before he got to the curb.
Kurama's mouth twisted in frustration.
"Kurama?"
He turned around and found Asuka standing at the top of the steps. "I didn't see who it was," he said.
She nodded and trotted down the stairs. When she came to his side, she slipped her hand into his and flared her ki.
After a moment he asked, "Getting anything?"
Asuka shook her head. "Insight is so…finicky with people I don't know. I got some pictures, but I couldn't make sense of them."
"What do you mean?"
"I saw black monsters and bright colors."
Kurama turned toward her. "Black monsters and bright colors?"
Asuka bit her lip. "Yeah. And they weren't like anything that I've seen before. They were blubberous and moved almost like ink."
Kurama growled. "They were observing you."
"I know."
"That worries me."
"I know," Asuka said. "And ki is so rare. I don't think I've ever come across someone with ki outside our friend group. The last human you encountered with raeki was probably Sensui, and that was over ten years ago."
"Do you think this person was human?"
Asuka stared at the street for a moment. "I guess it's hard to know for certain. They got into a car, but anyone from the Raekai could've done that to keep appearances. Boton does things like that when she's in her mortal form."
"I was thinking the same," said Kurama.
"They could've been here to confirm I still have yoski," Asuka said after another pause.
"That's what I was wondering."
Asuka sighed. "What do we do?"
"Besides me not letting you out of my sight?" Kurama pulled Asuka closer. "I will speak with Koenma, and we should tell our friends when we see them this weekend."
"Good idea. Do…you want me to come with you to the Raekai?"
"There's no need," Kurama said. "I can relay what you told me."
"Thank you."
Kurama gently turned Asuka to face him. He placed his hands on her cheeks and looked deep into her violet eyes. "I won't let anything happen to you."
Asuka's eyes shimmered.
"I mean it." Kurama swallowed his emotions and then said, "I'll never forget what it was like…" his voice faltered and he cleared his throat, "what it was like when you were gone. When I heard you'd been taken. I will never let that happen to you again."
Asuka nodded. Her eyes were still bright with tears. "I love you."
"And I love you," he said before he kissed her.
After they broke apart, Kurama looked around again. "I'm sorry, Love, but drinks tonight is no longer a good idea."
"I understand. Maybe you could make some drinks for us at home?"
Kurama nodded. "I will drop you off at home and then I will get some supplies for us."
Kurama got out his phone and called a cab. When it arrived, Kurama opened the door and inspected the car and driver, just to be certain. When he deemed it safe, he and Asuka got in at the same time.
-* ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ *-
Later that evening, after Asuka turned in for the night, Kurama paid a visit to the Raekai. Kurama strode into Koenma's office and frowned at the tall otherworldly man, who sat amidst piles of papers. Koenma looked tired and stressed.
"You're frowning. What happened?" Koenma asked.
"Someone came to Asuka's concert to observe her. They had raeki. You didn't send anyone down to monitor her, did you?"
It was Koenma's turn to frown. "I don't do things like that. Not anymore, at least. Are you sure you aren't being paranoid and the ki holder was there to observe Asuka?"
"Yes," Kurama said. "They left as soon as she was done playing. They were seated in the box seats up on the second floor, so they had connections. Asuka used Insight and got a few pictures. She saw black blubberous monsters that moved like ink."
Koenma tented his fingers and drummed the tips against each other. "I'm sorry, Kurama. I don't know of any happenings here in the Raekai that have to do with Asuka, nor have I heard of yokai taking on the shape she described. But I will check and let you know if anything turns up."
"Do it quickly. If someone even attempts to take my wife from me, there will be hell to pay." Kurama turned and left Koenma's office without another word. Behind him, Koenma sighed, which irritated Kurama further. It didn't matter that Asuka could no longer tell the future. If someone thought she still could, she was vulnerable.
Who was at the concert? Kurama wondered for the hundredth time. And what do they want with Asuka after all this time?
Author's Note:
The Emperor Concerto is one of my favorite pieces of music and I'm so happy it's the first classical piece to be featured in Consolation! If you're looking for a definitive version of Beethoven's music, then always start with Leonard Bernstein. Bernstein is known for his work on some of Broadway's most famous musicals, like West Side Story, but he was also a conductor, and his versions of Beethoven's music are considered the golden standard. If it's Beethoven and there's an orchestra, Bernstein.
I've updated the Spotify playlist with the second movement of the Concerto only because the entire Concerto is 40 minutes, which would be a lot to add to the playlist. Movement two is 9 minutes long and seriously, it's so beautiful. You can find the playlist by searching for "Asuka Minamino's Playlist" or, you can go to Spotify's website and add /playlist/5cVDZjlukJw1QrXJZbYLHj to the web address. I'm sorry I can't give you a link, but this website is a mess. You know how it is.
Anyway! Yes, we've got a new mystery on our hands. Someone came to the concert to watch Asuka and they had ki. Hmm...
I'm particularly excited about next week's chapter. Can't wait for you to read it. See you then!
-Arielle