A/N:

This is my fist KKM fic!

If it sucks, gomen! This is a work in progress. :P

I am practicing my YuuRam dynamics so that I can be a better beta. :P LOL!

Anyway, comments and suggestions are more than welcome!

Many thanks! :D

Now And For Always

It all started with that hateful letter. He had never imagined it would come to this, he always believed that he would be by his love's side forever.

He had taken it for granted.

But now, he was stuck in the middle of nowhere with nothing but cold regret to keep him company.

He roughly poked at the fire with a thin but surprisingly solid stick. Tiny sparks flew upward and whirled around in angry protest at being so rudely disturbed. Wolfram ignored the dancing lights and continued to jab at the blazing logs.

A heavy sigh escaped him as he thought of his black-eyed and black-haired fiancé.

No, scratch that— his ex-fiancé. Wolfram's lips quivered slightly as a sob threatened to burst forth from his throat.

Much as it pained him, he knew this was for the best. Several years had already passed and Yuuri's feelings had not changed— he still could not, and would not accept a male partner. While it was true that the Maou felt a deep affection for him, Yuuri merely treated him like a friend and brother.

And each time he did so, Wolfram died a little more.

Unwilling to endure the castle gossip, terrified of the knowing smirks and pitying glances that were sure to come his way once the news broke out, he had opted to scurry away and lick his wounds in private. Choosing the solace of a lonely road over the sympathetic and obscenely empty gestures the court officials would throw his way.

Wolfram viciously stabbed at the glowing embers, actions mimicking the state of his thoughts.

The sound of leaves being crunched under a heavy heel brought him to attention. Wolfram shot up in alarm and unsheathed his rapier in one swift, fluid motion.

"Halt! Who goes there," he shouted in challenge—blade held aloft menacingly.

The disembodied footsteps drew closer.

"I repeat," Wolfram growled threateningly, "state your name and show yourself! If you refuse to do so, I won't hesitate to use lethal force."

The steps remained calm and unhurried. Wolfram could sense the energy that the shadowed stranger emitted. It felt disconcertingly alien and familiar. Wolfram planted his feet firmly on the ground and assumed a defensive stance. Whoever or whatever it was that was coming his way would have a real fight on his hands.

Wolfram was feeling pretty low and maybe a fierce battle would help block out the growing despondency within him.

Icy tendrils of maryoku erupted from the dense line of trees before him. They dissipated slowly and blanketed the forest floor around him.

The cold mist wrapped itself around Wolfram's legs and teasingly ran upward. He glanced about in confusion. Blue maryoku? But that was…

"Wolfram," a voice stated coolly. "I finally found you."

He paled at the sound. Wolfram would know those smooth even tones anywhere. He swung his gaze around sharply, flashing green eyes probing the darkness. There was no sign of him anywhere, but he knew this presence, and he was almost certain he had heard him speak…

"You aren't hearing things. I am here," the Maou intoned deeply.

Wolfram swallowed visibly. He had heard it again, clear as day. And yet, there was no trace of him anywhere. That could only mean that…

"Well done Lord von Bielefelt," he drawled in amusement. "I commend your powers of observation."

"Heika," Wolfram murmured quietly, the silence broken only by the crackling of burning firewood.

"What are you doing here, it's late. The others will surely worry if they find you missing," he stated politely.

Wolfram was unsettled. Why had Yuuri followed him? He would have thought that the double black would be pleased by his disappearance. Why the pretense? It wasn't as if he intended to stay away forever… he just needed time to heal.

Oh god, he thought in horror, the color draining from his face. If the Maou was in his head, did that mean he could hear his thoughts as well?

"Yes Wolfram," he answered quietly. "And I can't believe that you would think I'd be happy to find you gone," the Maou chided reprovingly.

Wolfram blinked twice, was that… hurt he heard? It couldn't be— only those you loved had that power. Which in this case was tantamount to saying it was impossible.

He sheathed his sword almost clumsily and sank gracefully to the ground in defeat. The cold touch of maryoku all over his body told him that the Maou had yet to depart. Wolfram leaned back against a large tree and stared somberly into the fire, then finally addressed his king's question.

"I apologize, Heika— I meant no disrespect," Wolfram stated wearily. "Of course I didn't think that you'd be glad I'd left."

He paused and considered his next words carefully. "It's just that I thought you'd be, well, relieved by my decision."

Wolfram shrugged offhandedly, "After all, isn't this what you've wanted from the start? I merely granted your request," he ended distantly.

Each word Wolfram forced out of his mouth carried him farther and farther away from the one person he loved beyond life itself. Which was for the best, he reminded himself once more. In time, the pain would fade. Eventually, he would forget and put this all behind him, and be able to smile at Yuuri again without feeling a piercing ache in his heart.

The Maou had not responded, which was fine. Wolfram closed his eyes and released the tension that had slowly seeped into his body. It had been a long day and he was bone-tired and drained from his encounter with the Maou. It seemed, that hosting the demon king within his body proved too much of a strain.

He fought the sluggish daze that was creeping over him half-heartedly. Wolfram tried to resist but the siren's call proved stronger than his flagging will.

Wolfram managed to let out a sleep-drugged rumble before he succumbed to the velvet embrace. "Go… home… Yuuri… " He murmured, "good… night," before falling into a fitful and dreamless slumber.

The 27th Maou of Shin Makoku gazed quietly upon the form of the sleeping blonde. He took in the fine porcelain skin that was almost translucent in the flickering light. Golden hair lay in glorious disarray against the backdrop of darkness, which made Wolfram seem even more ethereal than usual. Yuuri's face softened further as he looked at those absurdly long lashes that framed fiery emerald eyes.

He knew without a shadow of a doubt that those glowing orbs would haunt him for the rest of his life, and Yuuri's mouth turned down in regret. He had brought this upon himself. Blinded by prejudice, he had driven away the one person who was vital to his existence as the air he breathed.

He knelt beside Wolfram and stared into the face that over time; had managed to become so dear to him. He smiled remembering the first few years they had been together. Yuuri lifted a hand and stroked it gently over a pale cheek. Wolfram mumbled something unintelligible and flinched against his touch.

"No more Yuuri, please. It hurts…" Wolfram whispered, jerking away from his fingers. He tossed and turned for a few seconds before finally quieting down.

Yuuri stilled the motion of his hand, a wounded look stealing into his eyes. Wolfram had… turned… away… from… him... Which was a first (and surprisingly quite painful), since from the very beginning, the Mazoku prince had always taken great delight in forcing them into physical contact.

He fell backwards with a thud and stared at Wolfram uncomprehendingly. Anyone looking at him now would find it hard to believe that this ashen-faced man was actually the demon king.

What should he do? Part of him wanted to shake the blonde awake and demand an answer, an explanation for this wall he'd put up between them. And another part of him, the part that was Shibuya Yuuri just wanted to curl up into a pathetic ball and weep.

The Maou ran a trembling hand through his raven hair in frustration. The air sizzled with his dormant power. Yuuri was at a loss, (which was quite normal for him) and he typically would just let things run their natural course like he usually did. It had always worked out for the best in his past experiences.

But this was different. He couldn't take chances.

Wolfram was leaving. No, Wolfram had actually broken their engagement and already left him.

Yuuri couldn't just sit by idly and twiddle his thumbs.

There was too much at stake and Wolfram… was much too precious for him to do nothing.

He sighed wearily. There were a lot of things that still needed to be addressed, and Yuuri acknowledged the fact that they both had issues to work out.

But that could be done later. He was freezing his ass off and at the moment, all he really wanted was to go home.

And he was taking his fiancée with him.