For Kurama to get up early on a weekend wasn't something unusual to those who knew him. But for that particular day, it was different. He heaved a sigh upon recalling the dream he had which caused him to worry. He couldn't tell if it was a sort of premonition or something else. But it still had something to do with Riya.
Or to be clear, her mission as the deity's reincarnation.
"Shuichi, I know you're awake. Breakfast is ready. You better eat so you won't be late preparing for your date."
He couldn't help but to smile at Shiori's words. "I'll be right down, Mother." As soon as he said that, he got up from his bed and did his morning routine.
It didn't take long before Kurama finished doing what he had to do. After that, he went to the dining room where, to his surprise, his whole family had gathered. Kazuya, Shiori, and Suuichi were there preparing breakfast. They were doing it as if they weren't that bothered despite already knowing his true identity.
That's right. A week after that declaration from Riya that she had forgotten about him, he failed to hide his pain and sadness from Shiori and the rest of his family. It was torturing him as days passed by. At that point, Shiori probably couldn't let him continue like that. He was left with no choice but to tell Shiori the truth.
And that means revealing hs identity, as well. He was able to do so with the help of Ritsuko and Haruna. Those two women knew exactly what happened despite not being in the scene of event themselves. All that time, he thought that it would be all over and that Shiori would hate him for keeping sucha secret. But he received nothing like that.
Much to his surprise, his mother embraced him lovingly and full of understanding as if it didn't matter to her at all. He lost himself to tears that day, especially when his mother said that none of what he confessed mattered. He was still Shiori's son and nothing would change that.
"Riya-san still can't remember you yet?" Suuichi inquired sadly.
Kurama nodded the same way. Well, he knew it would be a long way to make her remember everything. Even if there was a way to recover those memories, he was still putting everything he had in a gamble that he wasn't sure if he was going to win.
"Don't pressure yourself too much about it. Time will come and it will happen. At least, I believe that her love for you would be one of the factors for that to happen," Kazuya said that only made Kurama smile.
It was about time Kurama finished his breakfast when he heard his phone rang. When he checked on who would call him that early, his heart jumped at the sight of Riya's name on the screen. In any case, he still decided to answer it.
"Hello? Riya?"
"Good morning, Shuichi-kun. Did I wake you up?" came an energetic reply from Riya on the other line that only made him smile.
"No. I've been awake for some time now. What made you call me?"
But at the time, he heard the doorbell rang that made him frown. Since he was near the front door, he decided to open it. Only to be surprised to see who actually pressed the door bell. He could only look at the sight in astonishment. But Riya only grinned, her phone still placed on her ears.
"Surprised?" the girl asked. "Seriously, I don't know what has gotten into me when I decided to come here. But it doesn't matter now." Then she closed her phone and put it in her pocket. "You look good on your PJ's, by the way."
That was when Kurama scanned himself. He was wearing a white shirt and black sweat pants.
"I just changed my clothes after taking a shower, so I believe I'm not wearing my PJ's."
Riya chuckled at that and then Shiori came out from the dining room.
"Why don't you let your guest enter, Shuichi? Come in, Riya-chan," Shiori said and Riya complied.
Upon entering, Riya gave Shiori the cake box that she had on her hand. "I just thought you might want to try it out."
"Thank you, Riya-chan. Have you eaten breakfast?"
Riya nodded. "Yes, I did before I came here." And then she looked at Kurama. "We still need to practice, remember?"
Kurama sighed and scratched the back of his head before he excused himself to have a change of clothes. With that, he had given Riya a chance to get along with his family. It took him several minutes to get ready before he was satisfied with his looks. When he was done, he went back to the living room where he left Riya and he saw her having a good conversation with the couple. Once in a while, Suuichi would join in but he was busy eating Riya's homemade cake.
He couldn't help but to smile sadly at that sight.
If only she could really remember me...along with the real memories of how she met my family... Kurama thought but he shrugged it off of his mind soon after.
When Riya turned around, Kurama smiled and so did the girl.
"Let's go," Riya said as she stood up and then she faced the couple. "I guess we better get going. Thank you for having me here even though I came here out of the blue."
The couple laughed at that. "Don't mind that. You can come here anytime you want."
"But don't forget to bring cake the next time you come here, Riya-san," Suuichi said with a grin that made the girl laugh.
"I won't, Sui-kun."
Suuichi, even Kazuya and Shiori, were surprised to hear that nickname from Riya. But they tried not to show it. After all, they knew Riya's situation. After all, the couple escorted Kurama and Riya to the front door. When the pair finally left, Shiori spoke.
"You know, it would be best if Riya could someday remember Shuichi. I can't bear looking at my son's sad face like that."
"That only proves how devastated he was for Riya to decide something like that for Shuichi's sake. It's also a proof how much Shuichi loves her," Kazuya said sadly. "I guess we'll just have to wait in how the events will unfold."
"You're right," Shiori said.
Meanwhile, Kurama and Riya rode the bike as she let him take her wherever they would be heading to.
"Shuichi-kun, where are we going? I thought we were supposed to practice for the performance tomorrow," Riya inquired as Kurama continued to drive in front of her, her arns wrapped around his waist securely.
"We are. But I just want to show you something first."
"Show me something? What could that be?"
"You'll see," Kurama plainly answered while smirking. Riya just shrugged it off and let him do what he wanted to do.
But much to her curiosity and surprise, they reached the staircase going to Genkai's temple.
"What are we doing here?" Riya asked.
"Didn't I tell you? I'm going to show you something," Kurama answered before he helped her get off the motorbike. "Come on, it's almost time."
"Time for what?" But Riya never got an answer because Kurama grabbed her hand and pulled her to the staircase. She didn't mind how long they were going to have to walk in order to reach the top, especially when she saw Kurama's excited expression.
But she couldn't deny that another sense of familiarity struck her, especially when Kurama didn't let go of her hand as they finally reached the top. It would appear that both Yukina and Genkai knew they were coming but Riya chose not to say anything about it since this was Kurama's idea after all. When they reached the backyard, she didn't know what had gotten into her but she looked at the maple tree.
At the instant Riya laid her eyes on the said tree, blurry visions started appearing in her mind. Silver moon, gently blowing wind, papers hanging on the tree and scent of roses. But the vision that was clear to her was the one with her in it. She was...crying as she looked at the full moon.
"Are you alright, Riya?
Riya was startled when she heard that. When she looked at Kurama, he had this worried and concerned look on his face and so she smiled to tell him not to worry about her.
"I'm fine. I just...thought about something. But don't mind me. So where are we going?"
To her confusion, Kurama took out a handkerchief from his pocket and covered her eyes with it after folding it lengthwise.
"What is this?" Riya asked while chuckling.
"This is a surprise, so I have to close your eyes until we reach the place," Kurama said as he tied the handkerchief behind her head. Soon after, he placed his hands on her shoulders and both of them began to walk.
She had no idea where Kurama would take her, but she wasn't feeling scared about it because he was with her. She was sure that he would never do anything to hurt her. She trusted him, after all.
The two of them walked together for several minutes, with Kurama guiding Riya from behind. Kurama smiled as they reached the surprise spot that he wanted Riya to see.
"So we're finally here, huh?" Riya commented.
"Now you can remove the handkerchief," Kurama gently instructed. Riya did what was said and so she removed the handkerchief that was covering her eyes.
What greeted her sight was a splendid one. It was a garden full of different flowers, though she could only discern forget-me-nots, tulips, and roses among those flowers planted there. In her opinion, it was even bigger than the garden back in the Miyuzaki estate in Hokkaido.
"Wow!" Riya exclaimed as she looked at the garden in awe before facing Kurama. "You did this?"
The said red head nodded with a proud smile. "Master Genkai gave me this area to grow different kinds of flowers. I know that even though you're having a crisis when it comes to Biology, you still adore the flowers. That's why I brought you here."
The maiden looked around the area and her smile widened upon noticing something.
"This place is even near the beach. I can't believe I would see something like this in my life. It's so beautiful," Riya said with so much admiration and a genuine smile. Kurama couldn't help but to smile, as well. "But why did you bring me here? Besides the fact that you wanted to show me this place, of course."
"I thought it would be best if we'll practice here. You know, to have inspiration," Kurama answered and grabbed her hand.
With smiles on their faces, both of them trailed the path of the garden and headed straight to the center of it. Upon reaching it, Riya was amazed by its sheer beauty.
"Seriously, you have a lot of surprises on your sleeves. I thought what I've seen a while back was already beautiful. It turns out I was wrong," Riya stated before she sat on the grass beneath the sakura tree.
"I told you, I wouldn't mind showing you a lot of wonderful surprises if that would always make you smile."
"And I guess you haven't failed yet."
Kurama just laughed at that comment of hers before he sat on the grass a few feet away from Riya. She then brought out her laptop and her guitar that she had brought. Both of them began doing some research for the songs and occasionally they play the songs. They started researching for duet songs first and there was two that caught their interests.
"Maybe we should try this one out first," Riya suggested. When Kurama had a look at the title of the song, he nodded.
And after a few seconds or so, they began playing the chosen song. Kurama started singing first.
[NP: "I Want To Spend My Lifetime Loving You" by Mark Anthony and Tina Arena]
(KURAMA)
Moon so bright, night so fine
Keep your heart here with mine
Life's a dream
We are dreaming
Riya sang her part after that.
(RIYA)
Raise the moon, catch the wind
Ride the night to the end
Seize the day
Stand up for the night
(BOTH)
I want to spend my lifetime loving you
If that is all in life I'd ever do
Both of them smiled that they heard their voices blended in such a perfect harmony. After that, they continued singing as the flowers seemingly sparkled because of glee for the pair.
(KURAMA)
Heroes rise, heroes fall
Rise again, win it all
(RIYA)
In you heart, can you feel the glory?
Through our joy, through our pain
(BOTH)
We can move worlds again
Take my heart
Dance with me
I want to spend my lifetime loving you
If that is all in life I'd ever do
I will want nothing else to see me through
If I can spend my lifetime loving you
Unknown to Riya and Kurama, there was a certain pair who were watching them as they sang the song with emotions and lovingly. That pair consisted of Hiei and Yumi who had just arrived from the Demon World because of the journey.
Though they were not saying anything, they knew that both of them agreed on the fact that Riya and Kurama were having progress with regards to their relationship. It would be a matter of time before Riya could finally be able to remember Kurama. But until then, all they could do was to watch them.
(KURAMA)
Though we know, we will never come again
When there is love
(BOTH)
Life begins over and over again
Seize the night, seize the day
Save the love come what may
Love is worth everything we pay
I want to spend my lifetime loving you
If that is all in life I'd ever do
If will want nothing else to see me through
If I can spend my lifetime loving you
When the song was done, Riya closed the music player before facing Kurama.
"I never realized you could sing that good," she commented with a smile. Kurama only smiled sheepishly.
"I must admit I'm not a good singer. I guess I just got inspired. But you're a natural born singer, I must say," Kurama said.
Riya just shook her head. "Honestly, I only sing whenever I feel like it. Once in a while, I perform in family celebrations or cultural festivals but that's just it. All of those performances, I sang alone. So this will be the first time I will sing with a partner."
"I guess you experienced most of your 'firsts' with me," he muttered subconsciously that Riya barely heard but she decided not to say anything about it.
"In any case, have you chosen a song to sing for your solo performance tomorrow?" she asked.
"Well, I have three choices here but I have to think about it real hard so that I won't mess up with my performance tomorrow. What about you? I believe you have chosen a song that's perfect for you."
"Just like you, I have choices, as well. But instead of three, I only have two choices. You want to hear one of them?"
Kurama smiled before nodding. After that, Riya took her guitar and began playing the tune of the song of her choice. But even though it was just a simple song, the emotions that was in it seemed to pierce through the heart.
The girl took a deep breath before she started singing with all her heart, using her lovely, almost nightingale-like voice.
[NP: "Tell Me Where It Hurts" by MYMP]
I don't know why
But when I look in your eyes
I felt something that seems so right
You've got yours, I've got mine
I think I'm losing my mind
'Cause I shouldn't feel this way
Riya didn't want Kurama to know that this song was, in a way, meant for her feelings for him. Of course, she knew that it was only a few days since she and Kurama became close. But somehow, she knew in her heart that he had been close to her much longer than that. She just couldn't figure out how long.
Catch me, I'm falling for you
And I don't know what to do
How can something so wrong
Feel so right all along?
Catch me, I'm falling for you
How can time be so wrong
For love to come along
Catch me, I'm falling for you
Was she really falling for him? For only a few days? That was impossible. It couldn't be. It was so fast. There was no way someone could fall in love that fast in a matter of days.
Love at first sight? Probably.
No, not probably.
She was sure of it. She was in love with him. But how did that happen?
How can love let go
When it has no place to go?
And I can't go along pretending
That love is in here to stay
Catch me, I'm falling for you
There was no way she could pretend any longer. It was so hard doing that. But there so many things preventing her from completely acknowledging it to herself.
If I could just walk away
Without you from day to day
I would die just thinking of you
I think that we'll never be
More than friends, you and me
But why do I feel this way?
Catch me, I'm falling for you
And I don't know what to do
As she sang the song, there were worries rushing inside of her. Keeping such emotion inside of her was driving her crazy, especially when Kurama treated her special like...
...like he was in love with her.
But that was impossible, right? He couldn't be in love with her. There was no way he could. She had caused pain to him when she declared that she couldn't remember him. Until now, the pain she saw through Kurama's eyes at that time was still etched in her memory and she couldn't bear it.
She had caused that pain to him.
How can something so wrong
Feel so right all along?
Catch me, I'm falling for you
How can time be so wrong
For love to come along?
Catch me, I'm falling for you
Maybe someday I'll see
Why love did this to me
'Cause I can't go along pretending
That love is in here today
Catch me, I'm falling for you
But now that she was sure as hell that she was in love with him, how would she convey those feelings to Kurama? And how would she fight the voice inside of her that said it was wrong for her to love Kurama now?
Catch me, I'm falling for you
And is it wrong for me to feel this way?
'Cause I don't know what to do without you
I'm falling for you
How can something so wrong
Feel so right all along?
Catch me, I'm falling for you
Right now, all she had to do was to follow her heart and allow it to lead her wherever her feelings would take her. Whether it was right or wrong, it didn't matter.
After the song, Riya looked at Kurama and smiled before she placed her guitar on the ground.
"So how was it?" she ventured, breaking the silence that surrounded them after she was done singing.
But the answer she got from Kurama was an applause. Riya chuckled at that and gave a small bow.
"I guess I should take that as good," she said after the applause.
"I should say it meant excellent. I know I can't sing as good as you."
"That's nonsense." After that, Riya laid down on the grass. "What about you? You should be singing your song of choice, as well. It would be unfair if I was the only one who sang."
"Is that the song you're going to sing?"
"Hmm... I don't know. I'm still thinking about it. Anyway, I have until tomorrow to decide. So why don't you sing your song of choice?" Riya continued to urge him. Kurama laughed at that before he laid down beside her and faced her.
The maiden shifted position to face Kurama. So now they were facing each other, locked in their gazes. Riya could feel herself being drawn into those beautiful emerald eyes of his. But no matter how beautiful they were, Kurama's eyes still had glints of sadness and longing in them.
Somewhere in her heart, Riya could feel that she was partly the reason why Kurama had those emotions evident in those green eyes. She couldn't help but to feel guilty about it..
Kurama slightly lifted his hand and touched Riya's face that made the maiden's eyes widen a little but only for a short while. Unconsciously, she held that hand and gripped it slightly tight.
"Why don't you sleep for a while?" Kurama suggested.
Riya frowned. "Sleep? But it's only 11 in the morning. You're no fair. I thought you're going to sing me the song."
"And I will."
"Then sing it. Why are you hesitating? Besides, you're not that bad when it comes to singing."
The red head only laughed a little before sighing and held Riya's hand tighter. She smiled in response to that. A few seconds later, the wind blew softly as the sea breeze followed. The mixed scents of flowers and the sea breeze both made Riya breathe calmer, her eyes slightly drooped. Kurama smiled at the sight and that was when he began singing one of the songs of his choice.
A song which most likely reflected his feelings if ever he failed to pass the second trial.
[NP: "In Another Lifetime" by Gary Valenciano]
I could hold on for a hundred years
When all else is gone, I would still be here
In a memory of things yet unseen
I'd remember all that we've never been
And I can not wait to see
What life has in store for me
He had been thinking about it ever since he learned that there could be a way to retrieve Riya's lost memories, which turned out to be his secobd trial. He knew it would be hard but he was really determined to do whatever it takes for Riya to remember him.
He couldn't afford to let her forget about him forever. And in a way, he knew in his heart that he would never allow himself to forget her in return even though he was bound to if he didn't pass the trial.
He won't forget her no matter how many times he would be reborn. After all, Riya was the only woman he was bound to love forever.
In another lifetime
It would be forever
In another world
Where you and I could be together
In another set of chances
I'd take the ones I've missed
And make you mine
If only for a time
My life would matter
In another life
So even if he had to travel through countless lives just to be with her eternally, he won't mind if that would be the only way for him to stay with the person that he loved more than his life. He vowed to make her his forever.
Riya smiled as she heard him sing. It was like he was serenading him in a way but a part of her heart told her that the song was actually meant for her, which was weird.
But she chose to shrug it off and continued to listen to Kurama singing.
I'd stay as strong and I'd stay as true
And you'd have forever now
To think it through
Because I believe that wasn't meant to be
Wasn't meant for now
And someday you'll see
In a place and time we never know
I'd be standing there waiting for you
Kurama smiled mentally at the thought of loving only one woman in his lifetime. Like the song, he would only stay true and strong for Riya no matter what. So even if he did die again in the second and final battle just to protect her, he won't mind as long as long as he would meet her and love her again in his next life. He would always love her, only her.
In another lifetime
It would be forever
In another world
Where you and I could be together
In another set of chances
I'd take the ones I've missed
And make you mine
If only for a time
My life would matter
In another life
You would be mine
But until that time is now
I'd be holding on somehow
Looking at Riya's sleeping face, Kurama couldn't help but to show s smile. He gently caressed the maiden's face. He didn't know what had gotten into him but he motioned closer to her face and planted a soft kiss on her lips.
Those lips had the same warmth as he remembered them, especially when he and Riya would kiss before. It has a loving warmth that he would eternally remember and cherish. With a sad smile on his face, he continued singing.
In another lifetime
In another world
Where you and I could be together
In another set of chances
I'd take the ones I've missed
And make you mine
If only for a time
My life would matter
But further analyzing the situation, would he really allow himself to wait for another lifetime for his love story to have a happy ending? Definitely not. That was why he would do everything he could for his own love story to end happily after the final battle. And this time, he would never forfeit his life.
He would come back alive and well...no matter what happens.
But until that time
I'd be holding on to forever
Until another life
With that resolve sealed in his heart, he sighed heavily before allowing his consciousness to be drifted away as he slept beside Riya to the sound of her steady and calm breathing.
After a few minutes, Riya unconsciously curled around Kurama and buried her face between his neck and his shoulder. She then sighed heavily in her sleep, followed by a small smile that carved her face as she relished the warmth of the man beside her.
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