Disc: I own nothing :( Except my computer, thank gods! Well and the story... But Yuuri, and Wolf and Conrad and all of kkm aren't mine.
Rule N°1: ! !
Review if you want to :) I'll like it, if you do, and won't mind if it's to criticize (as long as it's polite :p)
I already made some needed changes (spelling, rating for later and stuff) so while I'm here...
DuuuuuuDee : I'll try to.
SwordFeather : Yuuram/Wolfyuu is about who's seme and who's uke. So we're not there yet (and who knows if they'll get to this point ^^ muhuhuhahaha!*cough*) "It's great to see Yuuri at least has the brains " careful :) the more people talk about brains in reviews, the more zombies will come out to feed.
Petula Petunia : Huhu I know but I won't tell :D And yup, Murata is great... But oh well, I like all of them. And about Wolf and Yuuri: That's why I said in the summary they were more based on the novels, in case someone would find them OOC (though it's still possible) event though the plot takes place with the story as it happens in the anime (I didn't find all the novels in english :()
Narudi18 : Hmm I had the same problem with Bielfeld/Bielefeld/Bielefield/t In the French translation, it's Valtrana Sorry. I'll change that :)
Please tell me if you notice other mistakes :)
And to all of you, thanks :)
I'll also make changes about the genres, I guess it's more adventure/romance than humor/adventure (though I try to be funny :p)
With a quiet sigh, he opened his eyes and turned his head to watch his bedmate.
Another sleepless night. He was so tired, so very tired. But he didn't know what to do.
He pondered about everything in his life, thanks to his lack of sleep, alone but with someone in bed.
Two people shouldn't share a bed if both hadn't agreed that they wanted to share a bed, right? Even if they did nothing apart from sleeping. Or not sleeping, in his case.
His bedmate was truly handsome. And cute as well. And oh so complicated. In his sleep, he said stuff sometimes. Funny stuff, or things that made him a little angry. Whenever he heard him talk in his sleep, tough, his bedmate always seemed to be dreaming about him. But he said "wimp" a lot more than "Yuuri".
That was funny, for a time. Then it was a little bothersome. Now, he was just so tired.
Yuuri smiled a little. He wondered how he could break the engagement without damaging Wolfram's reputation. That was all he needed to do. For both of them, it would be better. He had considered asking for Murata's, his other best friend, help, but Murata would probably have laughed at him, and Yuuri did not think there was anything to laugh about.
Fortunately, there were always important matters, a lot of papers to sign, many many things to do, when one was king, so he thought he was doing a good job at hiding how tired, and frustrated, and sad he was.
He had considered talking to Conrad as well, but his "godfather" being Wolfram's brother, he didn't want to jeopardize what little progress they had made by implicating him in his mess.
Their mess, he corrected himself.
Because Wolfram didn't help, really. He was so damn stubborn!
He had changed, however. They both had. But not enough, he guessed.
He ran a trembling hand in his black hair with another sigh. No point in brooding on things he couldn't change just now. He wasn't going to have any sleep, and he had to stop thinking.
His head hurt a little, his heart ached. He had to get the hell away from the blond ex-prince, because if he didn't, he'd think again and again, and eventually, he would reach the same conclusion as he always did. And he hated it. Because he trusted Wolfram. He really did.
After a few minutes, he was out of his... their room, on his way to the kitchen. Some guards were surprised to see him. After all, it was the middle of the night, and they wondered why their king was up and clothed. He offered a tired smile to most of them as he headed to the kitchen, grabbed some scones, made tea and went to his office. He hated paperworks, before. Now he found there wasn't enough of it, and he had to find other matters to attend to when he was finished. Some time ago, he didn't even read it, trusting Gwendal to give him only things he would approve of.
Gradually, still approving some stuff, putting some other aside to be advised by Gwendal or Gunther, he saw the light of day coming trough the window. Gwendal would arrive soon. He would not say a word, but question him with his eyes for a few seconds, and then he would start working. Because Yuuri was not going to talk about the stuff that bothered him with the stern man. He wouldn't be interested anyway.
He liked Gwendal. Things were simple with him. He just had to do his part, signing stuff, and the man would be ok. He just wasn't the type who'd ask about private matters. He respected privacy, a thing Yuuri loved, since that was very rare in this castle.
The maids had bets going about every relationships they could see or imagine. The guards snickered when Wolfram accused him of being a cheater. Greta wanted her fathers to get along but wanted a mother as well. Yozak, Murata, and even Shinou, though the two latter weren't -thankfully- in the castle, most of the time, seemed to find funny every little thing that made him look clueless, or a fool, or... whatever they thought was good to laugh at him.
Gunter seemed jealous of Wolfram, and Wolfram seemed jealous of every single being, as long as Yuuri did so much as... look, talk, smile, or anything. Yuuri sometimes thought Wolfram was even jealous of the small knitted animals Gwendal had given him. After all, he did pat and hug them, surely, it was cheating...
Conrad had this smile. He loved Conrad's smile. It made him feel safe, loved, sheltered, even. But Conrad smiled nearly every freaking second. He was smiling just seconds after some soldier had chopped off his arm.
Yuuri shuddered.
He put his face in his palms and rubbed his eyes.
He was tired, alright.
He loved every one in the castle. Well that was, he thought, if he knew every one. He wasn't sure about that, there were so many people looking after him here, it was scary. He didn't ask for it, but he'd felt responsible for everyone's well being since the beginning, when he first arrived in this place, and that had not changed, even though he had.
He wanted them to be happy.
He wanted to be a good king, because they deserved a good king.
He still made a lot of mistakes, he knew it, though. He tried, he made the best he could, but he felt it was not enough. He had to be better. They had avoided war, till now, but it had been sheer luck.
Massaging his temples, he heaved a long sigh.
What was it they loved so much about war anyway? He was seen as a fool most of the time just because he didn't want to even consider the possibility of his people going to war. So, he always tried to find another way, how could that be stupid? Even if it was dangerous for him, sometimes, wasn't that what he was here for? He had to spare his people, that's what a good king should do, of that, he was convinced.
Even if Wolfram didn't agree.
And the others didn't.
He felt lonely. He was followed, obeyed, well looked-after, but he felt he didn't give a choice to his people. Even though his fiancé was the one called selfish by most people, he felt he was selfish as well, for when it really mattered, he didn't listen to anyone, did he?
He trusted Wolfram just as he trusted the rest of his people. No this wasn't true. He trusted Wolfram more.
The only person he didn't really trust was himself.
He had dozed off, at some point, because when he opened his eyes, Gwendal was writing something not far from him, and near the door, Conrad concerned face was smiling at him.
"Good morning Your M-" Yuuri shot him a tired glance, brows furrowed.
"Would you remind me who gave me my name?" Conrad smiled.
"I did, Yuuri."
"Good morning", replied the Maou, with a smile.
Gwendal nodded.
"I came here early", he said. He sent his king a suspicious glare, glanced at his brother, shrugged and resumed working.
Yuuri shrugged as well and smiled. On his desk, new paperwork had appeared. Hurray!
"Maybe you should take a breakfast break, You... Yuuri."
"I took one, earlier, thanks." smiled the Maou. And he started working.
Some time later, he ignored Gunter (mostly, as in he smiled, said hello, and let the man hug him), and said hello to Wolfram, who since he entered the room had been staring at him, then at Conrad, and then again at him, frowning, but visibly concerned.
Yuuri had just sighed.
He felt better, way better than he did earlier, and even though he still had some things to figure out, he was glad to be with people he loved. For he loved the three brothers, not all in the same way, though, and he loved Gunter as well (though he would never say it because he feared what the lilac-haired man would do).
"Hungry...", he said, eventually.
"Of course, you are, it's past noon, wimp. Let's go", said his fiancé. He opened the door, and let his brothers and Gunter go first, stopping Yuuri by grabbing his forearm. Yuuri watched him with a confused look, which turned to puzzled when Wolfram closed the door, keeping them inside.
"Wolf?"
The blond boy watched him through narrowed eyes for a few seconds.
"I don't care if you choose to talk about... whatever it is with Conrad. But you have to talk about it, obviously. Do it." He was answered with a warm smile, and he reddened, before following his brothers, still waiting for Yuuri.
Wolfram walked slowly, avoiding to look at his fiancé. He hated this. He didn't want Yuuri to talk to Conrad. Wasn't his fiancé aware that he could, should talk about everything with him?
But Yuuri had been... off... since days, now, and Wolfram simply couldn't take it anymore. Yuuri was a wimp, alright, but if things bothered him enough for him to actually look for more paperwork, it wasn't good. He had tried to ask, but Yuuri had always said he was fine, when they both knew that wasn't the truth. It pained him. He just wanted to help his fiancé. Even after he'd called him a wimp, thrown some tantrums, in hope that Yuuri would let out what he had in mind on him, Yuuri said he was fine: he had failed.
He hated failure. But he was a man enough to admit it, and even if it really, really pissed him of, he could understand that it would be easier for Yuuri to talk with Conrad. Yuuri or anyone, for that matter. He admitted he wasn't exactly the patient type. Still. He hated it.
Absent-mindedly, he hoped his men would be in great shape. They'd need it.
Yuuri nibbled slowly, offering smiles to everyone around the table.
He enjoyed the meals they all took together. It felt like family, when he was homesick. He'd miss his mother's antics, but Cecilie reminded him of her. And Conrad, being as a godfather to him, acted sometimes like his father, and sometimes like a good-days-Shouri. He didn't miss Shouri that much, most of the time, though.
But Wolfram was right, he needed to talk. It always surprised him, the way Wolfram seemed to read him easily, even when he tried to hide things. Then again, he could read through Wolfram just as easily, most of the time. At other times, he just didn't understand him at all. Wolfram was his friend. His best friend. You can't spend most of your time with someone without becoming friends, at least. But Yuuri couldn't follow him most of the time. His blond friend's mind had to be linked to his element, for Wolf was unpredictable but could be focused, dangerous but warm, a light that could show the way just as it could destroy.
And he was beautiful.
So very beautiful.
So the black-haired boy couldn't understand what someone like him would see in someone as plain, common as he was.
Then again, what was common for a Japanese teen was special here, in Shin Makoku. Unique. Which bothered him. He'd always been sort of as every one, blending in, just as was expected from a Japanese teen. He'd thought he'd find a boring job, marry a woman not really pretty, but not really ugly, and they'd have two kids.
And he was now a king.
A Maou, unique, with specials powers he didn't understand himself.
He'd never seen himself in what some people called "his Maou self". Wolfram said he was a lot less wimpy, when he changed that way. He felt it, inside him, a power that was his, yet a power he had no control over. That made him feel useless, which he had to admit, he was, most of the time. The thought had been nagging him for some time now, that maybe, Wolfram loved his Maou self, and that he just stayed with his normal self waiting for the real Maou to come out. But that power was his. So it was kinda the same.
Or not. After all, Wolfram hated weaknesses. Weak people he despised. Well, not exactly despised, but still... Why would he love a wimp? Why would anyone?
Or he loved feeling useful. In a way, Yuuri felt Conrad loved that. Maybe that was the same for Wolfram. He loved loving a wimp, and in fact, it wasn't loving him really.
Or he just pretended, out of duty and pride.
Or maybe he had talked too much with Shouri and some of the things he'd said made him think just a little too much for his liking. And Shouri, with all his experience with dating sims just knew a lot of the questions a girl would ask herself. He wondered if now he asked himself the same questions a girl would. He frowned.
He thought about a conversation they had had some days ago.
Hypocrite. His brother had said he was one. And maybe he was right. Shouri had spend very little time in Shin Makoku, but he was smart, Yuuri had to admit it. And he was observant.
And since all his family had met the three sons of the 26th Maou, and that Shin Makoku was now the world where Yuuri spent most of his time, the king spoke about it a lot, and Shouri was always eager to learn stuff, probably in hope that Yuuri would need help... And their mother had almost adopted Wolfram...
So they spoke about him as well.
A lot.
So Shouri had observed that Wolfram had changed. His relationship with Conrad was better, he was glad about that, because what had caused his mean behaviour towards his half-brother was that Conrad was half-human.
So, Shouri had said, are you, Yuuri.
And Wolfram hated that when they first met, which had caused the mess. But he had grown. He had changed, and Shouri said that it wasn't all that different from Yuuri's situation. Marriages between full mazoku and human were taboo in most parts of this world, just as homosexual relationships were taboo in Japan. So if Wolfram had learned to go past his prejudices, what about Yuuri? Especially since he'd repeated how he found it stupid that people wouldn't be able to love one another just because of race. Was that this much different when one spoke about gender?
So Yuuri had just munched on his lower lip for some time, before asking his brother what he would feel if out of the blue, he found himself engaged to a man, no matter how beautiful, that he'd met a few hours earlier.
Shouri being his annoying self just answered that now, they knew each other well.
How he hated it, when his brother was right.
But still. He had nothing against men dating other men. Or women dating women, for that matter. The latter his brother loved especially, he knew, and in Yuuri's mind, that was more homophobic than what he felt. He liked Wolfram alright, and if Wolfram liked men, then he was okay with it, really. But he couldn't be expected to turn gay just because of a mistake, could he?
Shouri had said he didn't know what Yuuri was, since he had not tried anything. So that meant he had to try right? But if he didn't try girls, how would he know for sure he didn't like them? He sure found some cute. And he liked breasts. He reddened. And he couldn't picture himself doing anything that involved 2 penises.
He turned redder.
He had had to admit to his brother that he didn't really picture himself really with a girl either. He had felt ashamed, about that. Really. It was weird. Or that was just because he had not really thought about it, since for most of his time, he'd been obsessed with baseball and never really had taken time to think about it.
Shouri had shrugged and said perhaps he wouldn't have thought about it at all if he'd never left Japan, because that was something most people there found disgusting, and because it was easier, to appear normal, many people just let themselves be miserable, lead a "normal" life with a wife and 2 children, since that was what Japanese teens were expected to want. When Yuuri thought about it, he found this as stupid as the problem between humans and mazoku, really.
So. Maybe he would just have to think about it, and he would discover that he was gay (which he wasn't anyway, since he liked girls), one day, and everything would still be complicated because that wasn't the only thing that bothered him in the whole situation.
But one matter at a time, he'd thought.
He admitted he thought Wolfram was really beautiful, as an angel, breathtakingly beautiful. Most Mazoku were beautiful, in fact. Gunther had been a model, Wolfram's squadron was composed of several great looking boys, really, even the American football guy, Adalbert was beautiful, he thought. Every mazoku women he'd met were as well.
So that was that. Not really helpful. So he'd had to download some stuff to watch, and really, he had not been this aroused, really, either with hetero or gay stuff. And then he'd tried to picture him doing these things, with Wolfram, and it had felt weird, but not gross really. And he had found he couldn't picture himself doing stuff with any woman he knew, except Elisabeth. Who happened to look like Wolfram a lot. So maybe he was gay after all.
Or maybe he should try again with Elisabeth, since she didn't love Wolf anymore. But event if he never had a girlfriend himself, there was a rule, between guys. And she was kind of Wolfram's ex-girlfriend, sort of, and Wolf was his friend, so he would never try anything with her!
During his time in Shin Makoku, he'd seen guys kissing in streets and balls, so it didn't bother him all that much anymore. Though he wouldn't like to do stuff in front of people, with a girl or a guy, he felt that was private stuff.
So that was it, he could be gay. He wasn't, really, but he could be. So let's say he was, even if it wasn't really true.
Now, did he love Wolfram had been another matter. But his real problem was Wolfram's feelings. Because you couldn't just ask a guy what he feels, really about you, now, could you?
And Wolfram was so misleading! Sometimes, he thought the blond boy hated him. Sometimes, he felt loved. He knew they were real friends, but he was also his king. Wolfram, since he'd admitted that Yuuri was the real Maou, just after their duel, had started acting as his fiancé.
Which felt weird.
Either it was love at first sight, and clearly, it was not, or he wouldn't have tried to kill him after the proposal, or you learned to know someone and then you fell in love. As he had, he thought. Maybe.
Because he had needed some time to grow used to the Wolfram, really, and what he had found annoying in his behaviour had become endearing, really, and he just had to be a little masochist, because he found it cute, sometimes, when Wolf called him a wimp.
But Wolfram had behaved like his fiancé since the moment he had been beaten. By the Maou's power. And the thing Yuuri really didn't like about Wolfram's way of being a fiancé was his jealousy. It was fun, sometimes, but just a little would be enough. He thought Wolfram trusted the Maou as his king. Maybe he even trusted his "wimpy self", about that. But as far as a relationship, private, was concerned, Wolfram didn't trust him at all. So it couldn't be love, right? It was strange, how everything he did seemed to piss off his friend, really.
He sighed, plopping a piece of chicken in his mouth. It was cold, and looking around the table, he found he was alone with Conrad.
"Huh? Where's every one?
"You've been lost in thoughts for some time, now", his Godfather smiled.
"Oh." Yuuri arched a brow. Wolfram had left without throwing a tantrum about how he was a bad fiancé ignoring him like that. Strange.
"It's cold", Yuuri said, with a sheepish smile." I'm not hungry anymore, anyway... Baseball?"
Conrad just smiled and got up, waiting for him.
They were silent for some time, and started throwing the ball.
"So?"
"Yeah?"
"If you feel like talking, I'll be listening. And if you don't feel like talking for long, you can make a digest while you digest!" Conrad said, with a large smile. Yuuri chuckled. Lame.
"Dunno. I'm not really sure what it's all about."
"So... It's not about what?"
"Hmm... Paperworks."
"Yes, you seem to never get enough of it, these days, Your... Yuuri. What else is going well?"
"Hmm well. It's linked to paperworks, but... I feel Gwendal trusts me a little more about it, am I right?" Conrad nodded and caught the ball. He paused, asking his next question before throwing it again.
"I'm assuming it isn't about being a king at all, then?"
"Sort of... I guess. I don't really know."
"You've been... sleeping less. And even less in your room," Stated the taller man.
Yuuri shrugged.
"I think maybe... I just think too much."
"Happens a lot to people in love."said the older man with a knowing smile.
Yuuri missed the ball. He cocked his head at his Godfather, who found this cute.
"You think I am?"
"You don't?"
"Dunno... sort of... I guess I...I have no idea,"finished the king. He opened his mouth, then closed it. Twice. Conrad just smiled, waiting patiently, while Yuuri went to look for the ball.
"I mean... I'm too young to get married, right?"
"You don't have to do it now. And you don't have to do it at all, if it isn't your wish."
"But it's been so long..."
"I'd say that was not entirely your fault. Besides, you live as a demon now, and it's not even been two years. It's not this much. But how is this "sort of linked" to being the king?"
"Well... It's like... We don't have a choice. Both of us."
"Still, you're sort of in love as well?"
"As?" Yuuri stopped altogether. "Sort of " as well? Or " In love"? " as well?
He had no idea what Conrad was asking about. He had no clear answer for any of these questions anyway.
He chose to think about himself, for once. "I'm not... I think. How would I know? You thought I was, right? I mean... am."
"Well... As much as I like helping you, I'm not sure I should influence on... But one knows when he is generally speaking... Though it's easier when... well...errr" He insisted to make it sound like his name, which Yuuri ignored altogether.
"With acts, I suppose, Your Majesty. Not that I'm advising you to do anything of the sort... Gwendal would kill me. " He said, eventually, after the ball had been thrown a few times.
"I don't think I... " Yuuri shook his head , staring at the ball for a few seconds before throwing it. "Would someone say no to the king?" And it's Yuuri..., he thought.
"Hmm he did, didn't he?"
"But then, he didn't believe a wimp as I could really be the Maou."
"True enough. "shrugged the soldier.
"So. Would someone say no?"
"I would." Conrad smiled, and Yuuri snickered.
"Really? Weren't you willing to take me away from here and to carry me and all?"
"Still willing. Though as long as you smile, I don't mind where we are, and I like it here, most of the time", replied his Godfather with a larger smile, eyeing their surroundings. It felt good, and Yuuri almost called him brother again, which really happened more often with Conrad than with Shouri.
"So. If that was someone who wouldn't have met me before I was born?"
"I don't think many would, honestly. But some would say yes because of genuine feelings."
"Yeah. Some would, and others wouldn't. Got it." Yuuri launched the ball with more strength, though he still smiled.
"You're not that helpful."
"Sorry, your Majesty Yuuri."
"Right."
Conrad chuckled. The king was definitely cute. And he seemed to grow cuter with time. Which was exactly the contrary with his smaller brother. Though he would always see Wolfram as the cute child he had been, long ago. It was even easier since Wolf still behaved as a child from time to time. Maybe that was what confused Yuuri. It couldn't be helped. They both were still young, and if he'd been more bold, he may have broken something which was just beginning as that was.
After some time, Yuuri went back working, but since he'd done so much in the night and the morning, there just wasn't enough to last till diner. He grabbed a book in the library, careful not to disturb Greta too long, since she was in the middle of a lesson with Gunther (who was too glad to see him again to his taste), and went outside, near the place where Wolfram trained with his troops. Out of habit, really, since he didn't feel like talking anymore, and thinking even less.
He was reading some stuff, pretty interesting actually, about dragons, when Yozak found him.
He put the book aside and followed him, not missing the spy making a sign to his fiancé.
Soon he was in Gwendal's office, with the spy, Wolfram, Conrad, Gunther, Gwendal and a guy he'd never met.
The demon seemed older than Gwendal, though Yuuri still wasn't able to give them an age. Tall and slim, and dirty, he was. So something happened, not far enough for the use of bird, but still far enough for this man to be dirty. Now he was interested: Anything, as long as he didn't have to think.
"So what's up?" said the king, nodding to the man.
"Your majesty, Erard brings a message from Von Bielefeld."
"Uh? Uncle? What about?"
"Your Excellency, it's..." The man stopped. Wolfram, hands on his hips, had patience for more than 2 seconds. Yuuri smiled. It was a record.
"So spit it already!"
"It's about... Lord Waltorana would like you to visit... some... matter concerning your father, my Lord."
Wolfram frowned.
"What do you mean?" he asked, coldly. Gwendal massaged the bridge of his nose. Yuuri frowned as well. Wolfram never told him anything about his father. No one ever did, in fact.
"As it appears... His grave... the vault was robbed, Your Excellency." Wolfram crossed his arms, the way he did when he was uneasy, Yuuri observed. He couldn't blame him. This was vile. Gwendal watched the messenger stammer for a few seconds before sending him to rest.
No one uttered a word till the man had closed the door behind him, and Wolfram turned his glare to his older brother.
"What?" He tried to prepare himself to take things well, because judging by the thin line made by his brother's lips, there was more.
"His remains. That's what disappeared."
"Gods" said Yuuri, bringing his hand on Wolframs shoulder, feeling his shudder as he did. Wolfram clutched his fists, forging small crescents in his palms, before he shrugged Yuuri's hand away to go near the wall. He slammed his right fist hard on the wall twice, and as Yuuri was about to say something, he felt his godfathers hand on his forearm. The man shook his head, with a grim expression. Wolfram composed himself a little better thanks to the pain in his fist, and turned to his brother.
"He said it was about my father. The others?"
"It seems others tombs were opened, but yes. His only. "
"Why would someone do such a thing!"finally asked Yuuri, hugging himself with one arm.
Wolfram's scowl met his innocent gaze, and not a second later, Wolfram was informing his brother he was going. His tone made it clear that he wasn't asking and that he wasn't delaying either.
"I'm coming with you", said his oldest brother.
"Of course, you are. We're all coming", said Yuuri, and before Wolfram was able to say no, he was out of the room to get ready. "Gunther, you're in charge" yelled Yuuri on his way. The lilac-haired man, for once, said nothing, even though he'd thought about wailing about how he wasn't included in them. The room emptied slowly, till he was alone with the youngest of the three brothers.
Wolfram seldom thought about his father, and he hated being reminded of him in such a hideous way. He wanted Yuuri to stay here. He wasn't sure, if he found the scum who did this, that he'd be able not to fry him. No, really, that was more... he was sure he would fry him.
He could only hope Yuuri wouldn't be there.
Gunther had been trying to find something to say, but the selfish loafer was gone before he found something which would not seem stupid. What could someone say about such a thing?
