When You Fall

by ElisiansBane

Out on the battlefield, Yuuri saves the one person he wanted to see again, but never thought he would. Especially after he broke his best friend's heart. Wolfyuu. Three-Part Story. Complete.

1. You and Your Emotion

Hello! Here is an angst/drama one shot that takes a new spin on the "Yuuri ends the engagement" trope so common in KKM fan fiction.

This chapter clocks in at 12,589 words. I advise you take a pee break and bring a snack.

Inspired by the song "Suddenly" by BT, one of my favorite electronic/techno artists.

Warning: Angst out the wahoo. Not beta'd.

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When You Fall Chapter 1 - You and Your Emotion

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Yuuri was sixteen when he ended his engagement and broke his best friend's heart.

He knew good and well what it meant. What the social and political ramifications would be. He knew what it could do to the reputation and standing of Wolfram if he, the one who proposed and claimed his hand via a duel, rejected him. But this was for the best and Wolfram's sake. Hopefully, he could communicate that sufficiently.

It was because of the circumstances of their engagement that Yuuri had strongly pushed for and ultimately succeeded in implementing laws that stated an engagement had to be mutually agreed upon and an individual could end an engagement at any time. An individual could not claim a person's hand in marriage by winning a duel. People weren't property.

It was to avoid situations like this. He wouldn't wish this on his worst enemy.

He would never understand why someone like Wolfram would want so badly to marry someone like him. They had started out hating each other. All they did was fight and piss each other off for the first few months they knew each other. But what he'd written off as a spoiled, angry, racist, arrogant pretty boy somehow, over the course of a year, became the one person he could call his best friend.

Maybe it was the time Wolfram died when his heart was stolen by the cursed boxes. Maybe it was that moment when they all thought that he, after defeating Soushou, would choose to stay in his homeland. When he heard the broken tone of Wolfram calling out his name as he stepped into the portal for what he thought would be the last time, Yuuri swore for a second that he almost turned around. Maybe, just maybe, it was that moment when Wolfram willingly risked his life to ensure Yuuri's right to the throne.

He didn't know when it started, when this accidental engagement gave him his only real best friend. But he knew it couldn't go on. It wasn't right.

Oh, he had long gotten over his initial apprehension at men being allowed to marry each other. In his short time as a king, he found the same-sex marriages he had seen to be as ordinary and loving as any other. When a man introduced his husband or a woman her wife to the king, he didn't blink. His unusually progressive parents also helped. It wasn't homophobia or even xenophobia. No, it was much more complex than that.

It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair for a fifteen year old kid to force Wolfram into an engagement. He had thought about it for weeks. Wolfram was sixty-seven years his senior. Wolfram had so many accomplishments and better marriage prospects than him. There was even a moment during dinner that the conversation turned to teasing Wolfram about the number of love letters and marriage proposals that only stopped when Yuuri slapped him the first time they met. After that, it was letters declaring Yuuri's incompetence as a fiance. He had read a few himself. Wolfram's admirers were occasionally bold enough to directly address the king, but not enough to sign their names to their letters.

'You're a filthy foreigner! A half-breed! The pure Lord Bielefeld doesn't deserve to be tainted by your hands!"

'Your declarations of disinterest and constant rejection of his Lordship make you a horrid match for him!'

'You claim to be compassionate towards your subjects and wish only for their well-being, and yet you keep Lord Bielefeld imprisoned in a loveless engagement while you give your affections to everyone else. You're nothing but a fraud!'

'You're nothing but an immature, stupid little half-breed child. How dare you claim Lord Bielefeld for your own? It's bad enough we must suffer your reign and watch you favor the human scourge over your own people! Now we must watch our esteemed, noble Bielefeld suffer a half-breed when I could offer him much better! You punish him for his loyalty and honor!'

The letters that he had read grew in anger and accusations, but he couldn't help but wonder if they held any truth. Ultimately, it wasn't fair to lead Wolfram on and act like his declarations of loyalty and love weren't serious. Yuuri had long known that Wolfram was serious.

Wolfram had been alive longer then Yuuri's own grandparents. Yuuri was a child compared to him. Yuuri wouldn't reach legal adulthood until his eighteenth birthday, according to the Japanese government. Thought he had reached the legal age of consent at thirteen, according to that same government, under the Tokyo Youth Protection Law, no adult could engage in sexual activity with him until he reached his majority.

His mind recalled the few times Wolfram had tried to move their relationship into something more physical. The last thing he wanted was for Wolfram to be accused of statutory rape of a minor. Japan, and many other countries on Earth, would have no problem labeling him a sex offender.

Even then, it wasn't just age. Yuuri had no concept of the seriousness of marriage or what it took to make a mature, adult relationship work. He had his parents for reference, but they had married in their mid-twenties after dating for two years. And both had received their college degrees. Yuuri hadn't finished high school and had yet to go on a first date.

Wolfram had been on many dates, and had been courted several times with two of those instances growing into something much more serious. He didn't know why those relationships had ended as those around him remained tight-lipped, but it still showed that Wolfram was far more advanced when it came to romance and marriage than Yuuri. He seriously doubted Wolfram was a virgin like him. Not after watching how Wolfram spoke or acted when it came to discussing relationships. It was to be expected, being eighty-three years old and as beautiful as Wolfram was. He wouldn't expect anything different. Though it did leave him feeling a little jealous.

Wolfram deserved better. He deserved to find someone who was more his equal in maturity and confident in what they wanted. Yuuri had nothing to offer Wolfram that wasn't strictly friendship. Wolfram should have the chance to find love instead of waiting around for Yuuri to grow into adulthood and decide whether or not he preferred the company of men.

That was how Yuuri found himself in his office, pacing to and fro while he waited for Wolfram to arrive. He watched the clock while each second ticked by so slowly that Yuuri felt it took hours instead of just minutes. He muttered to himself to stay strong, that this was for the best, this was to protect Wolfram and let him find happiness.

Yuuri had relied on online news articles and blogs discussing the dynamics and psychology of relationships and surviving breakups. He didn't dare tell anyone else for he felt it was only right that Wolfram hear it first. He sure as hell wasn't going to tell Gwendal or Conrad that he planned to betray their baby brother. That thought alone almost made him decide against the entire idea.

Let them down gently. Talk to them alone and in private. Stay calm. Be sympathetic to their words. Avoid 'it's not you, it's me.' Be honest but compassionate. Let them have their say.

That is what all the dating experts said in one way or another. Yuuri chanted their advice in his head in between rehearsing his breakup speech so he did not fall into incoherent babbling as he tended to do when his anxiety got the best of him. He was wearing a bald spot into the carpet as he continued to pace and resist the urge to run away as fast as he could.

Yuuri swallowed the lump growing in his throat. No, he would take it like a man and be an adult. This had to be done and only he could do it. This was for the best. This was for Wolfram.

The door opened and Yuuri's mind went blank. Wolfram was the only one who didn't knock when entering Yuuri's quarters. Sure enough, he entered the room, watching Yuuri with curiosity and mild apprehension.

"What is going on, Yuuri?" Wolfram asked in his usual curt tone. He came to stand before Yuuri with his arms crossed and expectant.

It took a minute for him to string together a sentence. The beautifully rehearsed speech abandoned him when it finally struck him that this was happening.

"I...wanted to talk to you," Yuuri wanted to smack himself when his voice came out squeaky. He reached for the glass of water sitting on the desk behind him to help swallow the ever-growing lump.

"About what?" Wolfram prompted when Yuuri failed to explain further.

Yuuri looked everywhere but at Wolfram. He could feel the suspicious gaze drilling into him. Jumping out of the window sounded so much better right now. He took another gulp of water.

"What's wrong, wimp?" Wolfram sounded annoyed. "I have paperwork to do before bed."

"It's..." Yuuri had to breathe a second. "It's about our engagement. It's been a year and I think we have to discuss it." There, the first part of his speech was done.

The room went cold. Wolfram's annoyed expression went from surprised to blank. Yuuri expected shouts and protests, but Wolfram remained silent. Somehow, it felt worse.

Yuuri glanced down at his glass. The water quivered from his shaking hands and he took two deep breaths before forcing himself to continue. "I...think we should end it. It was an accident and because of all the crap going on at the time, we never really sat down and talked about it."

Wolfram's continued silence unnerved Yuuri so badly that he just spewed out every practiced line without taking a single breath.

"I..I don't want to you think this is your fault. It's not. You're-you're my best friend and I just don't think it's fair to keep you in this engagement when-when I'm not ready for marriage. I-I mean...you know how much older you are, right? You don't want to marry a kid, do you? I don't know anything about being engaged or married or whatever. I just...it would be better if we ended it and you had the chance to find someone else and-"

"Is that it?" Wolfram's low growl shut Yuuri up. "After everything. That's it? You're going to reject me, after it was you who proposed and bound me to you after defeating me."

"That doesn't count anymore!" Yuuri said hurriedly. "I changed the law! You-you can always say no and it doesn't matter who won the stupid fight or not!"

"That is now," Wolfram said slowly. "We were engaged then. The old customs still apply."

Yuuri could feel the anger growing in the deceptively calm man before him. "Seriously...why does it matter? Everyone knows we didn't mean it and honestly, most people would probably understand."

"It meant something to me!" Wolfram finally snapped. "My honor, my pride, and my reputation were bound to your proposal and losing the duel! Has the last year meant nothing to you? I gave up so much for you and this is how you thank me?"

Yuuri backed away with his hands raised when Wolfram took a step towards him. He fully expected Wolfram to become angry, but it was still intimidating. "No! No! That's not it at all! You're my best friend! I care about you! I'm doing this to help you!"

"How is this helping me?" Wolfram hissed. "You're rejecting me after forcing me to give my hand to you! Do you realize how insulting that is? I must really mean nothing to you!"

"I know this doesn't look good," Yuuri admitted. "I don't mean to insult you at all. You don't want this! You don't want to be married to me!"

Wolfram looked at him aghast. "Have you really not been paying attention all this time? At what point did I make that statement?"

"You didn't!" Yuuri was fighting the growing anxiety in his gut. "You didn't need to say anything. I'm telling you that you shouldn't want to marry me! I'm just a kid who can barely run a country."

"Who is it?"

Yuuri blinked. "What?"

Wolfram's eyes narrowed. "Who is it, you cheater?" Yuuri's back hit the edge of his desk when Wolfram advanced.

For a second, Yuuri didn't know what to say. Amidst his anxiety, frustration mixed in. "Goddamn it, Wolfram! I am not cheating on you! I never cheated on you! Even if I didn't want to marry you, I respect you too much to do something like that!"

"I see you flirting with other women and men!" Wolfram accused, eyes flashing dangerously. "You've always done that. You even tried to have an affair with my cousin behind my back! You tried to betray me with my own flesh and blood!"

"I-I didn't know it was serious at the time!" Yuuri tried to reason and fighting the panic. "I didn't know you took the engagement that seriously! I wanted-"

"What else was I supposed to do?!" Wolfram's shout pierced the tension. What little remained of his composure was gone. "And after that, I was mocked for being stuck with a man who was into my cousin!"

Behind the anger, Yuuri could see the hurt. It was a source of guilt from Yuuri when he realized what Elizabeth's misfortunate visit caused in the political circles. While he and his friends laughed it off, it provided fuel to the rumors and proved detrimental to the Bielefeld name.

But Wolfram was speaking again. "But you wouldn't know that would you? You're far too dense and caught up in your ideals to realize anything that has to do with me! You constantly humiliated and insulted me by denying you had any responsibility with the engagement! I was stuck chasing you around the continent like some lovesick puppy because my own fiance couldn't be bothered to tell me when he was leaving the country! I had to listen to you talk about women and that I couldn't marry you because I was male!"

"Wolfram, I'm sorry. I didn't think-"

"That's the problem! You don't think!" Wolfram interrupted heatedly. "You don't think about my feelings. You have all the time in the world to care about others, but you don't give one damn about me! When I'm the one who has suffered the most for you!"

"Wolf, that's what I'm trying to do now!" Yuuri cried in frustration. This was not how he wanted things to go. He tried to fight the hyperventilating. He felt like such a horrid person as he could see the tears Wolfram was trying to hide behind his anger. "I know I haven't been taking your feelings seriously! What could you possibly want from me? I'm not even an adult yet! You deserve better!"

"But I'm not good enough to deserve you?" Wolfram growled, looming over him. Yuuri tried to become one with the desk, his only source of support.

Yuuri was just confused. Where the hell did Wolfram get that? Yuuri didn't say that at all. It was the total opposite!

"Get over your paranoia and listen!" Yuuri nearly shrieked, his panic and frustration reached the limit and decided to manifest themselves as enmity. "You call me thick-headed? Listen to yourself right now! I'm trying to give you a chance to find someone better!"

"How can I find someone better when my reputation is in shatters?" Wolfram matched his volume.

"Is your stupid reputation all you think about?" Yuuri gripped at the air between them, every muscle in his body was tensed and he resisted the urge to punch the blonde demon to knock some sense in him. "Who. Gives. A. Fuck? Why do you care so much about what other people think? You worry so much about other people and it shouldn't matter!"

"You worry when people think you want to marry a man!" Wolfram jabbed a finger into Yuuri's face. "You don't want to people to even consider that you might be attracted to me!"

"That's why I'm talking to you now!" Yuuri's voice quivered in growing anger. "I don't know anything about sex or romance or attraction or gay people or anything like that! You shouldn't have to deal with that! That's why I'm ending our engagement! It's for you!"

Wolfram was in Yuuri's personal space now. Yuuri could feel the hot breath on him when Wolfram hissed. "You stupid, useless, dense, selfish little twat!" Wolfram's anger got the best of him and he grabbed Yuuri's shoulders painfully.

"Let go of me!" Yuuri yelled, trying to shrink away, but Wolfram continued to slam him against the desk.

"Disgusting little cur! You've ruined everything and have the gall to reject me! I love-"

"That's enough, Wolfram!" Conrad's raised voice cut through the fight like a hot knife.

They both froze. Wolfram let go of Yuuri and stepped back, but glared at his brother instead. Yuuri remained leaning against the desk's edge, his arms up to protect himself. The only sound was their rapid breathing.

Conrad stepped forward to face his younger brother with a stern expression, hand on the hilt of his sword. "You shame the Bielefeld name with your insolence."

"How dare you…" Wolfram started, but Conrad cut him off.

"Yuuri is your king and master before he is anything else to you," Conrad's tone was unforgiving. "To speak to him in such disrespect and impudence is beneath a lord of your stature. To lay your hands on him is punishable by death. You may take your leave of him now, before you are apprehended."

Wolfram looked between Yuuri and Conrad, who didn't move an inch. He seemed to come to some sort of conclusion when he looked to Yuuri with renewed animosity. "It's him, isn't it?"

"No! Never!" Yuuri pleaded. Conrad was his godfather and surrogate older brother. What Wolfram inferred sounded like incest.

"Lord Wolfram von Bielefeld, leave now before you are condemned!" Conrad ordered and stood before Wolfram to pin him with a fierce glare. To show he was serious, Conrad tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword and just slightly drew it.

Wolfram deflated. His hands were gripped at his sides and he looked down at the floor before storming out of the room. He shoved past Conrad with a spiteful curse and yanked open the door. But before he left, he made one last statement.

"Damn you...Damn you both to hell!" It was low and hateful and emphasized with a violent slam of the door.

When he was sure Wolfram wouldn't return, Conrad turned to Yuuri with a concerned expression. "Your Majesty - Yuuri, are you alright? What happened? A maid came running and claimed that Wolfram was threatening you."

Yuuri felt light headed. The adrenaline died down and his heart rate struggled to calm itself. Anger and panic were quickly replaced by exhaustion and anguish. Choking out a sob, he threw himself into Conrad's surprised arms and sobbed into his jacket. He didn't care if he was being a total baby.

"I didn't mean to!" he said into Conrad's chest. "I wasn't trying to hurt him! It went so wrong! I was trying to do the right thing! I ended our engagement because I wanted him to find someone else! It's not fair to keep leading him on! I didn't mean to make him so upset! I just wanted to be fair!"

"I understand, Yuuri," Conrad shushed, stroking Yuuri's back to calm the teen. "Just take a moment to breathe."

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Yuuri weeped, squeezing Conrad tighter. "He's my best friend. I was trying to do right by him. I really was, Conrad! I screwed it up. I'm always so stupid!"

"You did what you thought was best, Yuuri," Conrad assured him. "You are right that it's unfair to give someone false hope. You were trying to consider his feelings."

"Will he hate me now?" Yuuri looked up with a worried, tear-stained face.

Conrad shook his head. "I'm not sure. It's his ego that is hurting the most right now." Conrad sighed. "Wolfram...has his own faults he needs to come to terms with."

"I'm sorry I hurt him. I never meant to do that," Yuuri whimpered, rubbing the remaining tears from his face.

Conrad pulled Yuuri back into a comforting hug. "I know you never meant to cause anyone pain. But you can't control how others will feel and react. You can only control yourself."

"I'm sorry," Yuuri said one last time.

Conrad could only nod solemnly. "It's late. Why don't you bathe and go to bed? I'll have the maids bring you some tea and a sedative to help you sleep. Will that help?" Conrad offered Yuuri a comforting smile. "I know this was exhausting."

Yuuri was exhausted. Every part of his body felt like it weighed a ton. He felt woozy and mentally drained. A hot bath, tea, and drug-induced sleep was too much to resist. "Yes...I would like that."

"Alright," Conrad smiled and gently led Yuuri to his quarters. "Just try to relax. Everything will be alright, I promise."

After bathing, drinking his favorite spiced tea, and taking the mild sedative, Yuuri slept through most of the following day thanks to Conrad ensuring no one disturbed him. When he finally awoke before dinner, he was met with a distraught Greta and informed by a rigid Gwendal that Wolfram had left early that morning and left a terse note stating that he was moving back to his family lands for the foreseeable future.

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Jason Kaulitz - stable, on pain medicine, stitches healing, complains of pain from wounds and trouble sleeping, will prescribe sedative to help with sleep, send word to his family.

Alexander von Holtz - Still unconscious, leg will need to be amputated, on heavy pain and sedative medicines, Surgery scheduled for tomorrow and to be performed by on-duty surgeon, prepare for honorable discharge.

Alphonse Weber - Broken ribs on the right side of torso have been treated and bound, recovering from concussion as expected, punctured liver is healing, on medicine to prevent infection, no other broken bones.

Yuuri skimmed the notes left by one of his assistants from last night. He was pleased to find that the soldiers in the recovery tents were all stable and on their way to full recoveries. The triage tents were resupplied and prepared for the next wave of injured fighters. Those still in intensive care and under constant supervision were all stable. He could finally allow himself some semblance of relaxation.

Though he could say that he felt more useful as a military healer than a king, Yuuri still struggled with the sleep deprivation and stress as a constant stream of injured soldiers were brought in from the battlefield when there was a major attack. He and his assistants were overwhelmed with screaming and bloodied soldiers.

His retainers had been completely against him being so close to the battlefronts during this stupid war. But it was the only way Yuuri felt he could see his efforts make a real difference. He used his magic and new knowledge to heal the men who were injured because of his failure.

"How are you today, Alphonse?" Yuuri smiled. He stopped at the foot of Alphonse's cot to check is injuries for any signs of infection and change his bandages. Alphonse was a lieutenant from Bielefeld, who suffered his injuries when Dia Cimarron unleashed a barrage of cannon fire into their ranks just days ago. Alphonse had been a bloody mess and was thought to be unsavable, but Yuuri stayed up all night using his healing magic and skills to save his life. He was even more resolved to save the man's life when he found the locket containing portraits of his wife and baby.

"Better, your Majesty," Alphonse said weakly. "You saved my life."

"It's the least I can do," Yuuri said amicably, moving to check the soldier's vitals. "You are fighting for your people and country. It's my way of thanking you."

"I never thought I'd be treated by the Demon King himself," Alphonse gave a small chuckle. "It is an unexpected honor."

"The honor is mine," Yuuri smiled warmly at his subject. Yes, his insistence on being one of the lead healers and managers of a healing grounds was met with shock from those who found themselves under his care. Such dirty and exhausting work should be beneath the sovereign king. But to Yuuri, it was how he could help his people.

Yuuri had found his calling in medicine and healing. Water was the symbol of renewal, life, and rejuvenation so as a water wielder, he had a natural talent for healing magic. He began his formal training at the age of seventeen under Gisela, who proved to be a firm and demanding teacher. Though it was because of her that he was able to hone his skills so that he could heal people in ways others couldn't.

He had even worked with Gisela to create new programs and clinics for the poor and for those who were injured in service of the king. The one moment in his reign where he felt he truly lived up to the title of Demon King was when he established the Veteran's Care & Health Law that guaranteed healthcare for military servicemen and their families before, during, and after military service. It was through this law that he introduced the concept of mental health and counseling for those traumatized by war. It was during the enactment of the law and the resulting wealth of free services for soldiers and their families that he was given the title The People's King.

When the common folk gave him that name, Yuuri only became more determined to earn such an honor.

Yuuri stepped back to assess his work. He was happy to see that Alphonse's wound showed no signs of infection. After applying a salve to keep the wound clean and alleviate the pain and fresh bandages, Alphonse looked pristine and better than before.

"All done," Yuuri said. "I'll have the assistant bring you some stew and bread. Later, I'll bring you a medicine tea to help you sleep."

"Thank you," Alphonse said in relief. "Honestly, your Majesty, thank you. I don't know another king or nobleman who would do so much for his servants."

"It is only right," Yuuri said matter-of-factly. "You are here because of me. If I can ease your suffering and pain, I will without hesitation."

Alphonse looked at him in utmost admiration. "You are a saint, your Majesty."

Yuuri nodded, blushing slightly at the praise. "I can only do right by my fellow man. Now, rest and I will see you later," Yuuri gave Alphonse a comforting pat on the knee and excused himself to see to his other patients.

"Thank you, your Majesty," Alphonse repeated as he settled back into his bed.

"You're very welcome," Yuuri said as he moved away. He made a note on Alphonse's chart to have the man temporarily discharged from the war to fully recover in the company of his wife and child.

Yuuri stepped outside to get some air. Finally, he was done with his rounds. They currently had twenty soldiers in the recovery tent, thirty-five in the intensive care tent, and the triage tent was empty - after they had rushed to save the lives of yet another wave of badly injured soldiers, among them Alphonse, that left Yuuri and his assistant healers without food or sleep for two days.

Yuuri could hear the sounds of battle in the far distance. It was dusk now and the fighting would go into the night. They were on the worst of the fronts. They were just a mile from the border of Dai Cimarron in a decisive battle that would determine the outcome of the war. They already had Dai Cimarron against the wall, they just needed to break them for good.

This war began just four years ago. A series of misfortune, paranoia, and finally an assassination attempt on Yuuri's life snowballed into full-on war. Dai Cimarron didn't like how so many human countries were swearing loyalty to Shin Makoku, when Dai Cimarron had been the most powerful of the human kingdoms. Thus, they decided to rid themselves of the root cause - the Demon King.

Yuuri tried so hard to prevent this. Both the human and demon peoples were so tired of war and petty battles driven by ego and xenophobia. It was the commoners that suffered the most when the aristocracy were too up their own asses to make any real progress. It was because of this that Yuuri fought so hard for diplomacy and peaceful negotiations. It got him labeled a naive coward in some instances, but he didn't care if it saved one more life. War was just a glorified and violent dick-measuring contest after all. That's what Yuuri called it and believed it to be without question.

So when he signed the official declaration of war against Dai Cimarron and made the speech to the court and the military, he felt he had failed his people.

Conrad, Gwendal, Murata, and Gunter had told him on several occasions that this wasn't his fault. Dai Cimarron had forced their hand. But without them there to repeat it while Yuuri watched another soldier's body be cremated, the hateful voice in his head kept telling him he was.

Conrad was somewhere out in the battlefield now, leading several units of warriors to hit the Dai Cimarron forces from the center. Gwendal was overseeing the elemental wielders in landing large, destructive attacks on Dai Cimarron from the east and west fronts. Gunter was in the meeting tent reviewing strategies. Murata was...somewhere. Maybe with Gunter.

If they won this, the war would be over. Yuuri could only pray that would happen.

Now if he could just find somewhere to sit down for a minute...

"Your Majesty!" Yuuri turned around to find his assistant rushing to him. "The fire wielders have been hit! The fetchers are bringing them in now!"

Yuuri gave a heavy sigh but trained himself back into healer mode. "What happened?"

"There was an attack by Dai Cimarron esoteric users!" The assistant, Vince, explained as he followed Yuuri to the triage tent. "They were weakened significantly, but Lord Bielefeld rallied them and they attacked with swords instead! They were able to push the enemy back, while Lord Voltaire came in to save them!"

Yuuri slowed his pace. "Lord Bielefeld? Wolfram von Bielefeld?"

Vince nodded. "Yes, he rallied the men and led them into the worst of the fight. They drove back the enemy."

Yuuri gave a side-smile. "That sounds like him…"

They entered the triage tent into total chaos. The other healers and assistants were rushing to stabilize the dozen or so soldiers that bore sword, arrow, and fire wounds.

Yuuri immediately felt the aura-like residue of the esoteric stones. It was a deadly and favored technique used by the esoteric mages of Dai Cimarron to negate the spiritual magic relied upon to summon the elements. What made them dangerous was that the spiritual bond between element and demon was forged in the soul, so exposure to particularly strong esoteric stones could render a magic wielder unconscious. And if the wielder forced their magic, it could prove deadly.

These young men had forced their fire magic despite the exposure. Fire was the most demanding of the elements and could easily tire its master without the help of esoteric exposure. The soldiers bore the symptoms of overexposure: all were pallid, some were vomiting, many were seizing violently on their stretchers, the rest were out cold, and the remaining few were clearly beyond saving.

"King Yuuri!" A pair of fetchers, what they called the people who ran into the battles to rescue soldiers, brought in a very critically injured soldier on a bloodied stretcher. "This one! He has an arrow in his lung!"

Yuuri ran over to where they plopped the critical soldier onto a nearby cot. Yuuri froze when he recognized the face.

It was Wolfram. He hadn't seen the demon lord since the war was declared. He never would have expected to see him in this condition, gasping for breath between moans of pain. He was so sure he would never see the other man again.

The fetchers backed away so Yuuri could check him. Shaking away the surprise, he steeled himself to treat the noble. There was no time for emotion.

If he hadn't known better, he would have written Wolfram off for dead. The lord had two arrows embedded in his body, one clearly piercing his right lung and the other was in his left thigh. His skin was ghost-white from blood-loss. He also bore several cuts and bruises from being in the midst of the fight. It was only his ragged breathing that indicated he was barely alive.

"What the hell happened?" Yuuri demanded frantically as he tried to stabilize Wolfram.

"The human mages tried to subdue them with black esoteric stones," One fetcher explained. "They attacked the mages directly and then were met with a volley of arrows. Lord Bielefeld kept fighting in the worst of it. He and the fire demons forced themselves to summon their fire and drive the enemy back."

"Of course, he'd be in the middle of it," Yuuri couldn't help but growl. Wolfram was always the one to run headfirst into danger. That never changed. His hands were already stained with Wolfram's blood. The arrows would need to be removed in case they were poisoned.

"Bring my surgical kit!" he yelled at a nearby assistant who obeyed immediately.

He looked back at Wolfram's face. His expression was pinched and his eyes were squeezed shut as he struggled. A thin sheet of sweat covered his face as he gasped for air. A trail of blood appeared on his chin when he coughed violently. Yuuri quickly felt his pulse. It was rapid and frantic.

Using a knife, Yuuri tore away at the uniform and undershirt, ripping the cloth apart and away from his wounds to better assess the damage. He would care for the arrow in Wolfram's chest before paying attention to the one in his leg. With the clothes torn away, he could see the arrowhead was buried in the lung. If he didn't remove it carefully, Wolfram could drown in his own blood or suffer a collapsed lung.

"Where's the medizin?" Yuuri demanded. Wolfram was clearly overexposed and started to convulse right there on the bed.

Medizin was a compound that acted as a conductor of magic. It proved to be the only known non-magic treatment for exposure to esoteric stones. Yuuri funded several scholars to develop the compound to help exposed soldiers and prevent healers from overextending their magic to save them. Without it, healers put themselves in danger if they overused their magic to restore the life force of the victim.

It proved a blessing on the battlefronts, especially in human lands where summoning any kind of magic was difficult.

A bottle of the medizin was produced and a fresh syringe. It would need to be injected into the jugular. Yuuri drew the maximum amount into the syringe and ordered his assistant to hold Wolfram's head still so he could administer the shot.

The results happened within seconds. Wolfram's heart rate steadied and his convulsions stopped almost instantly. Yuuri surmised he would likely need another dose, but now he was stable enough for him to remove the arrow.

"Sedative cloth," Yuuri ordered. His assistant produced a cloth steeped in ether to keep Wolfram sedated.

The arrowhead was retrievable, thankfully. But it had landed between the sixth and seventh rib. It was a common arrow used by the general archers of the Dia Cimarron army. The simple metal head had punctured the lower lobe and looked to have missed the major arteries. Yuuri took a bottle of wodka, a high-proof liquor, to cleanse the wound.

"Mini-saw," Yuuri ordered without looking up, he outstretched his hand and a tiny saw was placed in his hand. Yuuri meticulously sawed the shaft, leaving only an inch. He dropped the shaft, not caring for protocol.

"Forceps." The tool appeared in his hand instantly.

Using utmost precision and care, Yuuri worked to remove the arrowhead. He gently twisted the remaining shaft to create space to remove the arrowhead. He avoided damaging any tissue, he needed to avoid worse damage to the lung.

Yuuri kept his breathing steady as he worked, pushing away the anxiety and shock of seeing the ex-prince again and in such horrid condition. He had only heard stories and rumors from the battlefield and tidbits from his generals about the blonde's actions on and off the battlefield . They told stories of Wolfram's growth into a strong commander and strategist who had found solutions to impossible problems and utilized the skill of the fire wielders he led in ways that showed incredible innovation. Yuuri wouldn't have known Wolfram the Brave Commander to be the same temperamental prince he had known so many years ago.

Wolfram looked like a war-torn general. Even now, Yuuri noticed from the corner of his vision the long scar that trailed horizontally across Wolfram's left pectoral. It looked like a wayward sword strike that showed signs of improper treatment. His now-torn uniform looked like it hadn't been changed in days, speaking to the constant waves of battle. He knew that Wolfram and his fire demons had often been in the worst of the battles across the allied countries and were among the first to enter into the enemy territory. It shouldn't surprise him to find the prince is such a state. It would have happened eventually. But that didn't make it any easier.

"You always find a way back to me," Yuuri muttered.

Yuuri splashed more of the wodka to wash away the blood. Now he could see the arrowhead. Taking the forceps, he very slowly extracted the arrowhead, watching for any excessive bleeding and trying his damndest not to collapse the lung.

"Don't you dare die!" Yuuri grumbled under his breath. "Greta is expecting you at her wedding!"

The arrowhead was removed and Yuuri could breathe again. The bloodied point was put aside and Yuuri immediately went to work closing the wound. This was a case that required healing magic. Once the bleeding was slowed, Yuuri positioned his hands and channeled his magic into the wound and forced the flesh to renew and re-weave itself.

He couldn't magically heal the wound like he wanted. Any use of magic on human lands was exhausting and the days of constant strain made it even harder. He had to use his energy wisely as more soldiers were being brought in as he continued to work. They would need his attention as well.

The flesh repaired itself under Yuuri's magic. He pulled away when the strain-induced headache warned him not to push it further. He glanced at Vince, who had the chance to remove the other arrow in his leg, but a more critically wounded soldier took away his attention. However, Vince took time to leave it where Yuuri could pick up where he left off.

He assessed the wound after cleaning it again with the wodka. The biggest threat was infection and exposure to the esoteric stones. A later dose of medizin and ether would help. Yuuri quickly saw to the leg wound. It would need stitches.

But that would have to come later as another wave of bloodied soldiers were brought in. The fetchers called for any available healers. Yuuri bandaged the thigh wound with wodka soaked cloth and finished up his work quickly. Now that the most critical part was done, Yuuri prepared himself for the rest that needed his aid.

Hours and hours later, they had saved those they could and laid to rest those they could not. The number of recovering patients overflowed into the triage tent, which was supposed to be kept free for those who needed emergency care. The intensive care and recovery tents were completely full.

Yuuri watched the assistants take the bodies to the morgue tent. Of the eighty or so men, they saved forty-five. It wasn't a number Yuuri was proud of. He and the other lead healers had to make the difficult decision to leave those who were beyond saving and focus on those who had at least half a chance of survival. Unfortunately, it was the majority that could not be spared. Yuuri didn't want to think of how many men he had to euthanize himself. He knew it was at least ten.

The king collapsed into the closest chair and leaned his head back, eyes shut. He could feel his body failing him. He had neglected his own well-being for too long, but he couldn't help it. As long as he breathed, he would try to save his men.

"Vince!" He called out dully. "Someone!"

Vince appeared before him within seconds. "Yes, your Majesty?"

"What the status on our supplies?" Yuuri asked tiredly.

"I haven't had a chance to thoroughly assess," Vince said after thinking for a bit. "But when I was in the store room, I saw that we might have a little under half of our total supplies."

"Do we have the means to make more ether and medizin?"

"I believe so," Vince said hesitantly. "At least, we can make more ether…"

Yuuri nodded wearily. "Have the novices prepare more ether, and if possible, medizin. And find more wodka," Yuuri ordered without opening his eyes. His lids were too heavy.

"Yes, your Majesty." Yuuri listened to Vince's steps fade away to carry out his orders.

After resting his eyes for a precious five minutes, Yuuri finally straightened and scanned the tent. If he kept his eyes closed for too long, he feared he would pass out entirely. He watched the sleeping patients for any sign of distress before landing on the one laid closest to him.

"How the hell did you end up here?" Yuuri asked the unconscious Wolfram rhetorically.

Wolfram was stable, his wounds were treated and bandaged. If he survived the next forty-eight hours, he would be home free. Another administration of the ether left him sedated and expected to remain in a drug-induced sleep for the next day at least.

Yuuri sank into the chair. He crossed his arm in an attempt to self-comfort. Forcing his body into relaxation, he finally procured a few minutes of precious sleep.

* * * * * * * * * * * * WYF * * * * * * * * * *

Yuuri didn't see Wolfram again after their engagement ended until he turned eighteen.

It was two years of tense silence between them. Yuuri went against his first instinct to pursue Wolfram and attempt to repair what was left of their friendship. It would only make it worse for the two of them, he was told by Conrad and Murata. It would be selfish and pointless, said Gwendal. Let him be to wallow in his shame, Gunter advised. All, including his own logic, said to stay away and only engage when absolutely necessary. So that is what he did. What few times he spoke to Wolfram was through letters strictly focused on business.

When word was sent that Waltorana would retire from being the leader of the Bielefeld household to allow Wolfram his birthright, Yuuri was surprised. He had never had an opportunity to truly study the lineages of the Great Families, so he only recently learned that Waltorana was the younger brother of Wolfram's father and was only the leader of the Bielefeld family until Wolfram matured. Having now reached that maturity, Waltorana announced he was stepping down and would give the title of Lord and Sovereign of the Bielefeld Family to Wolfram.

Yuuri sat on the throne surrounded by courtiers, nobles, and the heads of the Great Families. Before him stood Lord Waltorana speaking on behalf of his nephew and his many accomplishments. He spoke of why Wolfram was worthy of being sovereign of the Bielefeld name. Wolfram had shown great bravery and service to the crown, Waltorana stated. It was his birthright given unto him by Lord Wolfgang von Bielefeld. Yuuri had only a vague understanding of the ceremonial speech and how it actually related to Wolfram's competence, but he remained stoic, upright, and with hands folded on his lap as he listened.

"And it is with great pride that I present to thee, my nephew and the rightful heir to Bielefeld, Lord Wolfram Michael Benjamin von Bielefeld," Waltorana announced with grandeur and stepped aside to allow Wolfram to stand and kneel before the king.

Wolfram stood before him with all the poise and pride Yuuri expected of him. He looked like a perfect fusion of his uncle and Shinou the Great. He was taller now and broader shouldered. The dark sapphire blue of his uniform contrasted with his ivory skin and honey-blonde hair that was tied at the nape with a matching ribbon. He looked like the pictures of fairytale princes. But his expression was icy and showed no feeling whatsoever at seeing his ex-fiance for the first time in person after two years.

They only stared at each other for a second before Wolfram kneeled at Yuuri's feet.

"Your Majesty King Yuuri Shibuya of the Great Demon Kingdom, I come before thee to swear my sword, my fire, and my life to your name and rule. I come before thee a humble servant of the Bielefeld Family ready to pledge my blood and soul to your divine reign," Wolfram's voice resonated in the Old Tongue, steady and confident. "I swear to bring glory and respect to the Crown as Lord and Sovereign of Bielefeld by serving thee until my death. I pray thou wilt accept my pledge."

Yuuri breathed deeply and rose from his seat. His boots clicked on the marble as he came to meet Wolfram, who remained kneeled. Yuuri placed his hands on Wolfram's shoulders, standing tall and speaking with authority and successfully ignoring the swell of emotion at seeing his once-best friend. He met Wolfram's eyes with unwavering determination that hid his nerves.

"I accept thy pledge of service and loyalty," Yuuri spoke confidently, his accent barely noticeable in the Old Tongue. "I grant thee thine birthright and recognize thee as Lord and Sovereign of Bielefeld. I accept thee as a leader of the Great Families with my blessing."

Yuuri offered a smile and stepped back. "Now rise as the rightful Lord of Bielefeld."

Wolfram smoothly stood, never letting his eyes stray from Yuuri's. Underneath the pride, Yuuri saw the storminess behind green irses.

"Lords and Ladies! To the heads of the Great Houses! I present to thee, with the divine blessing of Shinou the Great, his Lordship Wolfram von Bielefeld, rightful Sovereign to the Bielefeld Family. Join me in giving him his due praise!" Yuuri's voice echoed off the marble walls of the royal hall.

The court erupted into enthusiastic applause and shouts of encouragement. Wolfram met his audience with a satisfied smile while Yuuri looked on in genuine pride for the new lord.

Later in the night, Yuuri watched Wolfram be congratulated by the guests from the far side of the ballroom. Wolfram was surrounded by a small crowd of attractive lords and ladies all vying for the chance to win the newly appointed Lord of Bielefeld's affection. The opportunity bore the reward of wealth, status, and political clout. It was something worth competing for.

Yuuri couldn't help but find it amusing. He could clearly see that Wolfram felt awkward as his admirers tried to butter him up while throwing shade at their rivals. Yuuri chuckled into his wine glass when one lord, a young nobleman named Zachary, boldly pulled Wolfram away and asked him for a dance, much to the chagrin of the other social climbers.

"You're not going to give it a chance, Shibuya?" Murata did his usual schtick of seemingly appearing out of nowhere. Good thing Yuuri was used to it, so he only casually regarded his friend before continuing to watch this new contender romance Wolfram with an elegant waltz.

"It's best to let him have his moment," Yuuri answered noncommittally. "I know he's wanted this for years."

"That's not what I meant," Murata said, watching Wolfram amusedly as well. "Are you going to try your hand at winning his affection like every last available man and woman is doing?"

Yuuri just shrugged. "He has more than enough options. He doesn't need me."

"You underestimate your value," Murata said, now watching Yuuri watch Wolfram. "Surely, Lord Bielefeld would forgo all others for a chance with the Demon King?"

Yuuri snorted. "Sure as hell not when it's me. I'm giving him his space."

"You haven't noticed his glances towards you?" Murata asked.

"What do you want, Murata?" Yuuri let his impatience show. He really didn't have time for Murata's mind games and prodding. He didn't want to give Murata the satisfaction that Yuuri had indeed noticed Wolfram's glances towards him in between staving off his other admirers. There were even a couple of times their eyes met, only for Wolfram to break the stare with a tight frown. But just a few minutes later, Yuuri would feel his intense gaze on him again.

"Nothing," Murata was unfazed by Yuuri's sudden annoyance. "I'm pointing out that many have noticed the pointed stares and are making their own theories as to why the king and his ex-fiance are so distracted by one another."

Yuuri had noticed that. Gossip was the main pastime of the court and his tumultuous relationship with the prince gave the talkers so much material to work with. The fact that they both had yet to find adequate replacements for themselves added more fuel to flame as the hopeless romantics wished for a dramatic reconciliation.

"Not my problem," Yuuri muttered as he took another sip. "They'll find something more interesting soon enough."

"True," Murata acceded, and then became serious. "Lord Voltaire and I wish to speak with you at your earliest convenience."

"Dai Cimarron?"

Murata nodded with an eye roll.

Yuuri sneered into his glass. "Dai Cimarron is the North Korea of this world. They just want attention."

"That, among other things," Murata chuckled in agreement.

Dai Cimarron had begun making threats and generally acting out more than usual in the past few months. Yuuri would never understand why this country felt like it had to pick fights with Shin Makoku and its allies. It was almost a ritual at this point. How were all their rulers that insecure?

Yuuri really didn't want to think about this right now. "I'm getting another drink."

"Pace yourself," Murata warned when Yuuri made to look for one of the wine servers. "Conrad is worried."

"He's always worried," Yuuri said without looking back.

It took way longer than he wanted to finally locate a wine server. Every time he got one in sight, he was distracted by yet another noble wanting to flirt and get his attention. Yuuri politely brushed them off, he didn't have enough alcohol in his system to summon the patience for political schmoozing.

"Red," Yuuri requested and the server silently filled a glass of wine and handed it to him with a slight bow. "Thank you."

"A red as well, please."

Yuuri nearly startled when Wolfram appeared at his side and was handed a matching glass of the wine.

"H-hey Wolfram!" Yuuri greeted nervously, trying to hide his surprise.

Now that he could see him this close, Yuuri took in the full view of Wolfram. The blonde was nearly his height, which meant they had both grown due to Yuuri now being Conrad's height. Loose tendrils of hair framed Wolfram's face that no longer bore the cherubic features he was so well known for. His eyes remained green and clear and impassioned as always. His shoulders were broader and his suit hid the toned muscles underneath. He had matured from pretty to handsome. Yuuri immediately banished the image of Wolfram shirtless from his traitorous imagination.

"Good evening, your Majesty," Wolfram greeted back stonily. Now that he could listen to the demon lord's normal speaking voice, he noticed how it had deepened into a smoky tenor that added a tempting sensuality to his being.

Yuuri told his imagination to shut up.

"Enjoying the reception?" Yuuri tried to make small talk. His first instinct was to tell Wolfram to call him by his given name, but avoided it. "I'm surprised you were able to break away from your fangirls over there."

Wolfram gave a small smile. "It's to be expected. I'm prime real estate when it comes to marriage prospects."

"That indeed," Yuuri replied casually. "I thought you'd be used to it by now."

"They lack sincerity," Wolfram glanced back over where his fans watched them irritably. Yuuri suspected they feared a reunion. "They're shallow and want my wealth. Nothing else."

"Surely one of them will be genuine?" Yuuri tried to be positive to counter Wolfram's cynicism. "Even without the money and power, you're still a great catch. Anyone would be lucky to have you."

Wolfram gave him an odd look. Yuuri suddenly felt uneasy under his stare. "Do you really believe that?" Wolfram said quietly.

"Of course!" Yuuri dissipated the tension by speaking as if it were obvious. "I know you. You're smart, passionate, loyal, and a bunch of other things. I can see you being very kind and caring for anyone who is married to you."

Wolfram softened. "Thank you."

Yuuri sipped from his wine to hide his blush. He decided to change the subject. "How does it feel being the new leader of the Bielefelds?"

Wolfram thought for a moment before answering. "It was always my birthright. I always knew I would inherit lordship of the Bielefeld name once I had proven my worth."

"So I've heard." In the two years they were separated, Yuuri heard much about Wolfram's accomplishments. The prince revamped his training of the fire wielders, turning his own personal guard into a full on militia in the service of the king. In addition, Wolfram came under the mentorship of his uncle and developed uncanny political savvy. He had even served as a representative at foreign diplomatic visits and was a consultant at the Military Academy. In two years he transformed himself from an ill-tempered brat to a capable and confident young lord.

"I'm very happy for you, Wolfram," Yuuri said in utmost sincerity. "I look forward to having you on the Council."

Yuuri's comment seemed to catch Wolfram off-guard as the other man pursed his lips for a moment to think of a reply. "Your Majesty honors me with your confidence."

"Call me Yuuri," Yuuri said without thinking. He just didn't like the formality that existed between them. "We've been through too much for you to be so formal."

Wolfram just nodded and took a sip of his wine. "Yes...we have…"

Yuuri took a moment to glance around them. Sure enough, there were several eyes on them trying to assess and analyze every move and word. Yuuri really wanted to ask them to bug off, but that would just prove their speculation that something was going on between them.

"May I talk to you outside, Wolfram? Just for a few minutes?" Yuuri asked when he remembered that he wanted to speak of their daughter. He figured now would be the best moment and he just needed an excuse to get away from the stuffy ballroom.

Wolfram silently nodded and stiffly followed Yuuri out to the main gardens. Yuuri waved away some guests and servants so that they were completely alone amidst ornamental trees and flowers.

"What do you wish to speak about?" Wolfram asked stiffly. Yuuri could sense the apprehension in his tone. He had to push away how much he missed Wolfram in the past two years. His other relationships weren't the same as his former friendship with the blonde. But he made his bed so he would sleep in it.

"I understand you've been sending letters and gifts to Greta," Yuuri began, just deciding to get to the point and ignore how Wolfram's matured beauty looked in the torchlight.

Wolfram's eyes widened before he replied. "Yes, I have...I thought that was appropriate?"

"No, of course it is," Yuuri was quick to assure him. "I...I just wanted to talk to you about maybe having her visit you. She's asked non-stop about it so I thought I'd breach the subject with you. Would you like that?"

"Yes, I would," Wolfram said slowly, watching Yuuri for any signs of insincerity. "But she is your daughter. I have no right to demand that she visit me. It was generous enough that you allowed me to maintain correspondence with her."

"Well, I didn't find it necessary to end your relationship," Yuuri said. He honestly didn't understand why the nobility found it weird that he allowed his daughter to maintain contact with his "shamed" ex-fiance. "She considers you her other father. It would be cruel to stop the two of you from at least writing each other. That's why, after some thinking, I would like for her to visit in the summer or maybe for a weekend or two every month in between her studies. Bielefeld isn't far so it's feasible."

Wolfram looked at him with a tentative expression, eyes only slightly widened at his proposal. "That is...very kind of you."

"It's the right thing," Yuuri smiled warmly. "On Earth, we have things called 'shared custody' and 'visitation rights' for parents who split up. I want to do something similar for you. I'm in the process of developing a policy for this with Murata and Anissina to apply to everyone." Anissina had insisted on being involved as family rights was one of her passions. And he needed a "woman's perspective."

"Why?" Wolfram said after a long pause.

Yuuri continued to smile, trying to dissipate the continuing awkwardness as much as he could. "No matter what happened between us, Greta doesn't deserve to suffer. I know you love her and she loves you. I would never rob her of being with you. You cared for her when I was gone - she even talks about how she wants to you be her swordfighting teacher again. I think it would be the healthy choice for her well-being." Yuuri paused and waited for Wolfram's response.

For the first time, Wolfram's initial coldness seemed to melt away and was replaced by vulnerability tinged with sadness and conflict. He looked around, but not at Yuuri, contemplating this proposition and what it meant. Yuuri watched Wolfram's always expressive eyes reveal his uncertainty. Visitation would definitely make them see each other on a more frequent basis. Perhaps, Wolfram wasn't ready for that.

"That's...incredibly kind…" Wolfram said hesitantly after a moment's thought. "I would definitely like that very much."

"Great!" Yuuri grinned. "I'll let you think on it for a bit and we can meet tomorrow to discuss the details. Greta wants to visit you when you come back from that meeting with Karbelnikoff."

Finally, Wolfram gave a small, but very happy smile. "I will make that possible."

"Awesome!" Yuuri grinned. He glanced back towards the ballroom. He didn't know how long they had been absent but surely people were starting to notice by now. "Hey, why don't we start to head back? I'm pretty sure they've noticed we're gone and lord knows the gossip that'll pop up."

"That's wise," Wolfram agreed and stepped back to let Yuuri walk ahead of him as etiquette dictated.

But before he went back, Yuuri had one more thing he had to say. "Wolfram?"

Wolfram paused and waited.

Yuuri breathed to gather his wits and bravery. "I...just want to tell you I'm sorry. I'm sorry about what happened last time. I know I...hurt you, but please know that I never meant to hurt you." Yuuri paused to prevent himself from babbling. "That doesn't mean anything, I know. But I would hope that since your brothers work for me and Greta is your daughter that...we could at least be friendly with each other. For their sake."

Wolfram just looked at the ground, not really giving any indication as to what he thought.

So Yuuri kept going. "I don't expect you to forgive me completely. You don't have to. I just want us to be cordial and I would want nothing more than to have you at the palace more. Greta would love that and everyone has missed you. Even me."

"Yuuri," Wolfram finally spoke in a strained voice and looked away to where the party continued. "Your guests are waiting."

Yuuri felt the rejection at Wolfram's dismissal. But what should he expect? They hadn't parted on the best terms. "Very well. Let's go, then." He said dejectedly.

Wolfram followed Yuuri back into the ballroom. They were immediately overwhelmed with guests vying for their attention and favor. Wolfram disappeared into the crowds of guests when that nobleman from before, Zachary, led him to the dance floor, yet again, with a charming smile.

Yuuri couldn't stop watching them. He didn't like that Wolfram treated this random nobleman with more warmth than him. Even if it made sense as to why, that didn't mean he couldn't hate it or feel jealous.

'Stop that!' the rational voice inside him admonished. 'You have no right to feel jealous! This is for the best. You had your chance and blew it."

'You're right,' Yuuri thought sadly, going to find another drink. 'He doesn't need to know.'

* * * * * * * * * * * * WYF * * * * * * * * * *

Yuuri's neck hurt. That was the first thing he registered when his impromptu nap was interrupted by incoherent mumbling.

His vision cleared and he found himself back in the tent, sitting next to Wolfram's cot. Wolfram was lying on his back, face scrunched in pain and sweaty from the fever. He was muttering broken sentences, clearly still under the influence of the ether that Yuuri realized must be wearing off by now.

Shaking off the weariness, Yuuri stood to find some of the ether and maybe administer some healing magic to ease Wolfram back to sleep. He luckily found a half bottle of ether and retrieved a clean cloth.

Yuuri quickly assessed Wolfram's state. The young general was covered in sweat, his face was pale and drawn, and his half-open eyes stared blankly at the roof of the tent. Wolfram was talking again, this time Yuuri could make out what was being said.

"Where am I?" his voice was gravelly.

"Shhh, be still," Yuuri whispered gently, placing his hand on Wolfram's shoulder to stop him from trying to sit up. "You're in a healing tent just a mile from the Dai Cimarron border. The fetchers rescued you."

"Where are my men?" Wolfram asked, eyes still fixed at the roof, glassy and unseeing.

"They are being treated," Yuuri explained, carefully watching Wolfram. "You and your men fought bravely." He didn't think it wise to tell him how many had died.

"I told them to fight," Wolfram muttered in a daze. "For King and Country. And those they loved."

"It worked," Yuuri smiled gently. "You made the enemy retreat." Yuuri began to prepare the sedative cloth.

"Where is the king?" Wolfram asked suddenly.

Yuuri paused. He wasn't sure how to answer that. Wolfram was clearly heavily drugged and didn't recognize him. He was wearing a spare white healer's uniform and not his usual black one. They hadn't seen each other in months, so maybe Wolfram didn't think he would be healing soldiers on the most dangerous battlefronts.

"The king is safe...exhausted but safe," Yuuri said finally, thinking it best to not try to correct Wolfram. "He is honored to have such brave men fight for their country."

"Don't let him see me like this," Wolfram demanded weakly, shifting slightly to regard him, but Yuuri doubted Wolfram's dull eyes could really see him.

"Why not?" Yuuri asked in genuine confusion.

"He would try to save me and he shouldn't," Wolfram said firmly.

Yuuri gripped the ether bottle and cloth. "Why shouldn't he?"

"I was told he was on the battlefield caring for injured soldiers," Wolfram slurred. "He's put himself in danger to save the men who swore to protect him."

"What is he to do?" Yuuri was genuinely curious. "It's my-his way of thanking those who sacrificed themselves for his ideologies. It's his duty as the king."

Wolfram gave a frail, yet amused, smirk. "...So like him. His Majesty hates to see others in pain - even when it can't be helped. He'd rather have himself suffer."

"That's true," Yuuri admitted. He returned to prepping the sedative. The strong herbal scent of the potion was a nice distraction.

"He's become a great ruler. He cares so much for everyone," Wolfram muttered. "Don't let him see me like this."

Yuuri let a few drops of ether onto the cloth. "Why shouldn't he?" he asked again.

"He's tried so hard to spare me - just to fail," Wolfram said bitterly. "Despite his best efforts."

Again, this made Yuuri pause. "What do you mean?"

Wolfram groaned. "I hated him once...for years. He broke my heart after everything I had done to make myself worthy of him. I hated him so much."

Yuuri shifted uncomfortably. He really should administer the ether now, but having Wolfram suddenly be so transparent made him morbidly curious. "I...don't blame you," he mumbled sadly. It was exactly as he had feared.

Wolfram was speaking. "But no matter how much I hated him. How many people I fucked to forget him. I knew something wasn't right."

Yuuri was well aware that Wolfram didn't have shortage of male - and female - lovers. There was a running joke between Yozak and Gunter that they could tell what time of day it was based on who Wolfram was courting. Yuuri tried to brush off the joke and even laugh, but it still made him cringe.

"It bothered me so much," Wolfram continued, eyes returning to the roof. "I made his Grace tell me more. He told me of the king's homeland where men are harassed and killed for loving other men. They're called fags."

Yuuri nodded, twisting the bottle in his hand uneasily. "Yes, that is true."

Yuuri was shocked that Wolfram would even think to ask Murata such a thing. He thought of when this could have happened and couldn't think of a time when opportunity would arise for Wolfram to ask Murata what homophobia was. Or why Murata would even answer him. While he had accepted same-sex marriages in Shin Makoku, it was the stigma and threat of ostracization from his Earthen peers that stopped his teen self from exploring his developing feelings. It was the main reason he thought it best for Wolfram to pursue others until he could come to terms with what his sexuality was and what he wanted to do about it.

"I...realized that Yuuri broke my heart because he didn't want me to suffer because of his fear." Wolfram's voice was heavy and Yuuri knew it was the drugs allowing him to be this vulnerable with what he thought was a stranger. "I suspected he had feelings for me. But he was too afraid of what his world would do to him...but he didn't want me to suffer. I didn't realize it until it was too late."

Wolfram slowly turned his head to face Yuuri. "Why didn't he tell me? I would've listened."

Yuuri took a deep breath, those painful memories churned up inside him after being ignored for years and he fought to keep them buried. "Because it wasn't something you could help him with. He knew he had to help himself. It wasn't right for him to depend on you. It wasn't right for him to expect you to wait until he either did or didn't accept himself."

"Who told him all this was right?" Wolfram let out what could only be described as a pained sob. "He said that, but it made no sense! He should've told me! I could've helped him! He didn't need to send me away!"

The knot in Yuuri's throat was sharply painful. The tears that welled up thanks to the lord's words were blinked back. "He was too much of a wimp to know what else to do," Yuuri cracked. "He had feelings for you, but struggled to accept it. So he sent you away because you deserved better than him."

"But why?" Wolfram was so pained. His eyes were glassier now from his own tears. "He should've told me! He had so many chances to tell me!"

Yuuri stroked Wolfram's forehead, trying to calm the other man down. He could feel the fever burning through pale skin. He would need to fetch a cold cloth to bring it down. He glanced at the bandaged wounds. Those would need to be changed soon but after he sedated Wolfram.

"Shhh," Yuuri hushed. "Be still. It's going to be okay."

For the first time, Wolfram made eye contact with Yuuri and the king felt Wolfram actually saw him. But it remained unclear if he recognized him.

"He realized he loved you years later," Yuuri finally confessed dolefully. "He really, badly, wanted you back. But he knew it was too late. He knew he had no right to ask you back. It wasn't fair. He wanted you to find happiness - even if it wasn't with him and it meant you hated him for the rest of his life. Because he knew he'd hurt you. He didn't deserve you."

Wolfram was crying silently. Yuuri wiped away the tears with the sleeve of his shirt.

Wolfram leaned into Yuuri's touch. He found comfort in the way Yuuri's hand cupped his cheek. "I'm cursed...cursed like my mother. I've taken so many lovers in a vain attempt to find love - only to fail. The one person who was my one true love...rejected me because of some twisted self-sacrifice." He nuzzled Yuuri's hand.

"He didn't know." Yuuri really didn't. He tried so hard to respect Wolfram's need for space after their breakup. He convinced himself that the yearning glances the blonde threw his way in the rare times they were in the same room were projections of his own feelings. He pushed his feelings aside and only reconciled enough with the demon to converse amicably for the sake of their families. His fantasies of a romantic reunion and passionate embraces remained just that - fantasies.

Wolfram breathed morosely. "...Will always love him." He whispered. "I forgive him. I just wish I could see him again."

Okay, he really needed to administer that ether. It was still waiting in his free hand. Yuuri felt he shouldn't be hearing this or wasn't sure he wanted to hear this. To know Wolfram would have forgiven him and maybe even taken him back if he just had the balls to be honest was imperceivable. However, he chose instead to focus on the fact that Wolfram had a fever and was probably in a lot of physical pain from his injuries. Yuuri needed to set his feelings aside, again, and be a competent healer.

"Hold still," Yuuri whispered, bringing the cloth to Wolfram's waiting face. "You're in a lot of pain and this will help you sleep.

"I love him…" Wolfram mumbled right before Yuuri placed the cloth over his nose and mouth. Yuuri was grateful that the lord was too weak and drugged to notice.

"Like I said, he doesn't deserve you," Yuuri sighed, tenderly stroking Wolfram's hair and face as the demon lord drifted back to sleep. He watched Wolfram's eyes flutter shut and felt his body go limp as sleep overcame him.

When he was sure Wolfram was unconscious. Yuuri went about checking his wounds and changing his bandages, all the while fighting the regret and dejection at what he heard. Once finished, he left the tent to find his royal quarters to rest and try to make sense of everything that had happened.

He didn't know. He just didn't know and that was the problem. He didn't know how to protect Wolfram from his own fears and insecurities. He didn't know how to protect Wolfram's love from suffering because of his late-developing feelings. Wolfram suffered because he wanted to do the right thing and failed. Just failed.

When Yuuri tried to stand, he just fell.

* * * * * * * * * * * * WYF * * * * * * * * * *

Chapter one of a two part story!

This chapter clocks in at 12,589 words and 30 pages! I hope ya'll took a pee break.

This is my twist on the "Yuuri ends the engagement and then changes his mind" trope. I wrote it to answer the question; What would happen if Yuuri realized he loved Wolfram but decided not to go after him?

Fun facts:

Medizin - German word for medicine

Wodka - German word for vodka. Vodka makes for a good antibiotic when needed.

I always find it more sensible to simply use words from other languages rather than make up words. It creates more realism, is easier, and makes sense as Shin Makoku is based off medieval Germany anyway.

Yuuri's removal of the arrowhead was inspired by the story of 15th century English prince, Prince Henry V (Hal), who received an bodkin arrowhead into his face and miraculously survived thanks to John Bradmore who made an extractor to remove the arrowhead after the shaft broke.

Announcement:

Over the next month or so, I will start migrating my KKM works to Archive of Our Own after they've been revised as I find that AOO gives more freedom to authors, especially when one wants to utilize lyrics or songs in their stories. I won't delete my FF account, but will have the stories posted on FF and AOO simultaneously.

Your reviews are important to me and always a joy to read, please leave your comments!

Happy Holidays!

EB