Chapter 31 Cadence (Or, a melodic or harmonic configuration that creates a sense of resolution)
Kurama strode up to his mother's house, thankful his stepfather was out working for the day. He knew he should've had this conversation a long time ago, but he always had an excuse at the ready for why he should not.
He and Asuka had been gone a long time without explanation, and that would have consequences. He wasn't sure what would happen with his job, either. His position would've been filled, but if he was lucky, he could go back to consulting. If not…he could get a different type of business job.
One thing at a time.
Kurama brought his knuckles to the door and hesitated. What would his mother say? Would she be angry? Would she accept him as he was? Or would she be heartbroken that her unborn child had been infested with…a demon.
He hesitated again.
No matter what, he had to tell her. The only words that fit between them now were words of truth. He had to tell her the truth. It's what she deserved.
He knocked.
The door opened.
"Hello, Mother."
Shihori gasped and pulled Kurama to herself. He wrapped his arms around his mother and hugged her tight against his chest.
"My son," she cried. "I've missed you so much. Where have you been? I've been so worried about you and Asuka. Why didn't you call?"
"I'm so sorry." He planted a kiss in her hair. "I'm so sorry I made you worry."
Shihori let go and wiped her eye. "Come in. Let's have some tea."
Kurama followed her inside and shut the door.
"Sit in the living room," she said, wiping her eyes again. "I'll be right there."
"If you're sure. I don't mind helping."
"I know you don't. Go ahead, Shuichi. Sit."
Kurama went into the living room and sat in his favorite chair. The other furniture had changed, but his mother always kept his chair in the same spot. He smiled softly as the cushion sank more than it had in the past. He scooted backward, crossed one leg, and tapped the chair lightly with his index finger.
A few minutes later, his mother came in with tea. She set his cup on the wooden table next to him and sat adjacent. She looked at him expectedly, which made him even more nervous.
Kurama wrung his hands. "Mother…I—"
"I always knew you were special."
He stopped. "Don't all mothers believe their sons to be special?"
"They do, but I knew. You can't have eyes like yours and be normal."
"Because they're green?" He had to make sure she meant what he thought.
"Because they're old. I knew when you were a small child that you were special."
Kurama exhaled and smiled to himself. She'd always been like this—keenly aware of his moods and feelings, but always respecting his privacy. He leaned forward and clasped his hands. "I'm sorry I never told you. I almost did…once." He stopped. "Twice. But…such matters are normally kept a secret, for the good of everyone. Still…I apologize for keeping you in the dark, and for leaving abruptly. It was an emergency."
His mother nodded. "Tell me, son. Whatever you say, I'll believe you."
Kurama thought a moment and then began. First, he gave an overview of the existence planes. Then, he explained who he was in a previous life and his escape to the Ningenkai. He told his mother of his initial plan to leave Shuichi's body and his change of heart after she stopped the bookshelf from falling onto him. He explained his relationship with Yusuke and told her about Asuka.
During his entire exposition, she was silent and still. He worried but kept on. He told her about Asuka's visions and how she saved the world. And then, finally, he was finished.
Their tea remained undrunk. The silence between them pregnant as Kurama painfully waited for her reaction.
"Sorry…" his mother shook her head. "That…was a lot."
"I know. Are you angry?"
"Angry?" she looked confused. "I'm a little overwhelmed, but of course I'm not angry. Why would I be?"
"Well," Kurama hesitated, "I am a being from another dimensional plane who fused with your son. You have every right to be furious."
Shihori leaned over the table and placed her hand on his cheek. "It doesn't matter what you are or where you came from. You are the most wonderful, attentive son a mother could ask for. You saved my life. And…you're the only son I have ever known. You say you can't pull yourself apart. Well, that's how I see you. From the outside, I can't see where one begins and one ends. And just as well. I love you just as you are."
Kurama's eyes fluttered.
"Can I still call you Shuichi? Or should I use your real name?"
"Shuichi is as much my name as Kurama. I am your son, Shuichi Minamino, and I am Yoko Kurama—Kurama for short. What I deem important is not the name you call me. What's important is that you know both of my names."
His mother nodded. "Okay. I think I'll keep calling you Shuichi, then. But if you change your mind, I'll do my best to switch."
Kurama smiled.
"Can…" she stopped and looked away.
"What is it?"
"You said you can switch now. Can…I see the other you?"
"If you wish."
"I wish."
Kurama stood in front of her and closed his eyes. He breathed life into the seed deep within him and changed. His heart thumped, raw from vulnerability as he stood before his mother.
His mother gaped. "That's…really you?"
"It is me."
She stood and reached her hand to his face, but then pulled it back at the last moment. Kurama took her hand and placed it on his cheek.
"Amazing," she whispered. "So amazing."
Kurama was much taller than Shihori in his yoko form, so when he enfolded her in his arms, she seemed dainty. But he knew better than that. His mother was one of the strongest people he knew.
"I'll always love you…Shuichi."
I am truly fortunate. What mother is as gracious as she? "I'll always love you, Mother."
They let go and Kurama changed back into his human body.
Shihori wiped her eyes. "Asuka too. I love her so much. I'm so glad you found her."
"As am I."
Shihori thought for a moment. "I love your stepfather, but I think it best that we not tell him about this."
"I agree, though I will need to think of a way to explain my absence at work."
"Yes, they did fill your position. I couldn't stop him. I'm sorry, I tried."
"I thought that might be the case."
Shihori sat and picked up her teacup. She drank a long sip, prompting Kurama to do the same. The tea helped him to regulate the overwhelm of exposing his secrets.
"Your replacement's name is Shino," Shihori said. "He's an older man and not as good as you. Kazuya complains constantly about him. But he signed a contract that won't be easily broken."
That was disappointing to hear, but it could not be helped. "No matter, getting any job at the company would be satisfactory."
"Hmmm… I think I might have an idea."
"Oh?"
Shihori drank another sip of tea. "Is there a way we can convince Kazuya that you were tasked with a highly sensitive government job that required you to leave the country immediately and Asuka had to hide away?"
Kurama chuckled. "Perhaps. I do know some people in some high places. I bet I could get him to make it believable."
"Good. I will help."
"Thank you, Mother."
"Anything for you."
Kurama reached over and squeezed her hand. Shihori smiled widely at him and squeezed his hand back. "So, is there anything else going on in your life I should know about? Or is that everything?"
"Well, actually…"
-* ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ *-
Asuka wrung her hands together while waiting in her and Kurama's apartment. Everything in inside was spotless. Their friends had seen to the window repairs and stopped by to clean, water the rose garden and tend to their other stuff. It made Asuka want to weep because their friends never lost hope. They always believed she and Kurama would return.
No one has friends as good as ours.
There was a knock on the door.
Asuka straightened her shoulders and then moved to open it. Her fingers hesitated for just a brief moment on the doorknob before she pulled it forcefully.
"Asuka!" Kenji said just before he threw himself into an embrace.
"Hi. I'm here. I'm alive," she whispered as they squeezed each other. "I'm so sorry…"
"You disappeared again." He choked on a sob. "And this time, Shuichi was gone, too. I looked everywhere for you. I asked your friends, but they wouldn't give me any answers. Asuka, what happened!?"
"That's why I wanted you to come over," Asuka said as she pushed Kenji back to see his face. She gripped his forearms. "It's time I told you everything."
Kenji exhaled and nodded. "Where's Shuichi?"
"Out spending some time with his mother. He knows you're here. Sit down?" Kenji did so.
Asuka stood in front of him and fidgeted for a moment. "Sorry. I've been rehearsing what I'm going to say, but now that we're here…it's difficult."
"I'm listening," Kenji said gently.
Asuka inhaled. "I guess…the first thing I should do is show you this." Asuka reached up to her head and with one smooth motion, pulled the wig she'd gotten off. It dropped to the ground and revealed her glowing bronze hair.
Kenji gaped. His eyes followed the movement of the glow as it went from the roots of her hair to the tips. His eyes went back up again.
Next, Asuka took off her tinted glasses which hid the color of her iris'. Finally, she rubbed off the makeup that covered the Kanji for "time" on her forehead. "Kenji?" her voice trembled. "I'm not human."
He was speechless.
Asuka told Kenji how she literally crashed to Earth with no memories and the events that followed. She told him about Kurama—his name, where he came from, and how they became friends because of extraordinary circumstances.
"I have this ability to…read people. I call it Insight, and that day at school you were going to…I sensed it. I didn't mean to do that, but back then I didn't have control over my ability. And that's why I found you."
Kenji sniffed before a smile crept over his face. "I always wondered how you knew."
"But," Asuka emphasized, "What I sensed from you, about your music and this feeling you could be my friend, was all true. Kenji, I was so lonely. I had Kurama, but he was in a different class and even though I didn't have any memories, I just felt so…old and out of place at school. Alienated from everyone. I felt like I had nothing in common with our classmates. But I knew we could be friends. I just…I want you to know I didn't become your friend because I didn't want you to…you know. It was so much more than that."
"I know," Kenji said. "After that day you found me at the café, I had this feeling like…" he thought for a moment, "Like I could trust you. Even if I was scared to."
"I'm so happy you became my friend."
"Me too."
Asuka kept going. She explained her Foresight powers and how they had been progressively getting stronger, and how they awoke on the night of the school festival. She told Kenji how she left to protect Kurama and her friends, and how she saved an entire species from becoming extinct. "I know it's a lot to take in," Asuka said. "And it sounds completely ridiculous."
Kenji rubbed his eyes. "Well, yes. It does sound absurd. It is absurd. But your hair is glowing."
Asuka blinked, then burst into laughter. Kenji grinned.
"But even your hair wasn't glowing…you'd never lie about something like this," he said after their laughter died down.
Asuka felt grateful. Encouraged, she kept explaining the rest of what happened, and how she followed her senses back to the dragons, and her new form.
"So…are you…like this now? Forever?"
"Not exactly. Kurama and our other friend can change between their human body and other forms, so I should be able to as well."
Kenji furrowed his eyebrows. "So…why the wig?"
"Oh. Well," Asuka smiled. "I have to stay like this for a while because I'm pregnant."
Kenji flew to his feet and hugged Asuka again. "I'm so happy. Congratulations."
"Thank you. I'm so excited and nervous."
"What about Himari?" Kenji asked. "Will you tell her?"
"I have to."
"Yeah…" Kenji gave her shoulder a squeeze. "How will that go?"
"Where the hell have you been?! I've been worried sick!" Himari flicked Asuka's head. "You let your career drop! Your recording contracts! Your concert! I slaved to get you that deal! No, don't try to explain. I am so mad at you! Do you know how worried I've been!? I…why is your hair glowing. Asuka. Your hair…WHY is it glowing!?"
Asuka winced.
"That bad?"
"It'll be okay. She'll just take it…less calmly than you."
Kenji laughed. "If you need help, let me know."
"I just might. Can you stay for a bit, or do you need to go?"
"I'd love to stay."
"Good, because I've missed you."
"I've missed you too."
Asuka hugged Kenji once more before they sat back down and talked. They talked as if no time had passed, happy to be in one another's company once again.
My life is filled with good people, Asuka thought. Because of them, I can move forward with whatever life throws my way.
Author's Note:
Hello! I have been SO BUSY. Right now I'm trying to get this uploaded while my daughter plays with some Legos. She pretty much dropped her afternoon nap which is appropriate for the age she's at, but geez does it make my life more complicated. I have way less time to write when there's no school.
I did manage to submit my novel to the Watty's this week so yay for that. I'll also be prepping another submission for some other work I did after I finish Consolation, so send some good vibes my way if you please!
Anyway. We are so close to the end of this story I can almost taste it. Only one more chapter and an afterward are left. Both are pretty short and I have some time on Thursday evening to edit while my husband is at his D&D group. I'm getting Lego's shoved in my face which is my queue to wrap this author's note up.
See you soon!
-Arielle
SilenaMB: I breathed a sigh of relief too! It would've been too depressing to end Asuka and Kurama's story so sad. The end is coming soon and I so appreciate all of your reviews and comments!
love or pain: you won't have long to find out!