Title: Strands of Connected Fate
Summary: Ten years after his broken engagement, Yuuri finds himself falling in love with a mazoku in Big Shimaron. Little does he know that William is Wolfram disguised and that this man is the leader of a rebellion that Yuuri has to stop before it's too late. Yuuram.
It was only a matter of time before Yuuri realized he truly loved him. Wolfram remembered telling himself this a long time ago. He also remembered when he stopped believing it.
Stop acting so whiny, Wolfram internally scolded himself. He might not be the maou's fiancé any more, but he still had his pride to uphold.
Something painful clenched at his heart and the prince flinched outwardly. What had happened merely an hour ago was still ringing through his head. He doubted he could ever forget it.
"You knew she was just joking," Yuuri's voice was low and calm, and he had his hand over his forehead as if he could make his headache disappear just by willing it. "You just had to ruin everything."
"Ruin what!? You two were flirting and you expected me to let that pass?" Wolfram couldn't keep his voice from rising to a shout and he internally scolded himself. He knew he wasn't helping things as he was now – that he should disappear for awhile and think things over before approaching Yuuri – but he couldn't walk away.
"We were not flirting and you know it, Wolfram," Yuuri's voice sounded exasperated. "I remember explaining to you before that we needed this politically. That if I didn't consider a marriage arrangement from –"
Wolfram flushed with outrage, "But I didn't expect her to try and kiss you! Do you know how unfair that is to me, Yuuri? Do you know how hard it was these past weeks when we were even slightly considering this marriage arrangement and the," he took a deep breath and he felt tears at the corner of his eyes, "fact that she,"
Yuuri cut in, his voice harsh and cutting, "might be a rational person? That she might actually be someone I could possibly like?"
Wolfram took in an agonizing breath. "It's because she was a female, you wimp!" he choked and looked away from Yuuri before continuing, "you like girls don't you?"
His words hit home and Yuuri immediately started regretting his latest words. But Wolfram shook his head, "Maybe it's time to end this. This…farce."
Yuuri blinked in confusion, obviously not getting it. "Are you talking about our engagement?"
Wolfram nodded, albeit the bitter feeling residing in his heart, "You'll be able to marry her and live happily ever after."
"But," Yuuri gulped and then looked determinedly into the blonde's eyes, "I don't want to end this engagement yet."
"Yuuri, I," the words choked in the prince's throat and he had to cough. He inwardly scolded himself. After all this time of preparing himself, mentally and physically, and he still choked.
Yuuri took the cough as an opportunity to cut in. "I don't get it, Wolfram. After all this, why would you want to break off the engagement?" Yuuri's voice broke halfway and he shot a disbelieving look at the prince as if Wolfram was just joking and would laugh it off soon.
"Because you're not happy. Because if you married me, you'll never be happy. And because I know that you'll never fall in love with me."
And he had walked out after that. He knew that if he had stayed any longer, his resolve would have been broken down and he would have never had the guts to take the opportunity that was offered to him. And he knew he hadn't planned to blame Yuuri. He never blamed Yuuri for not loving him, because how could he? Yuuri never broke off the engagement and Yuuri never intentionally made him feel bad. Yet he knew in his heart he still blamed Yuuri, because it was easier than blaming himself.
Because in truth, it was his fault. If only he was a little more like Conrad. Or a little more like Gwendal. No, if only he was a girl.
But he would put the past behind him now. He might be now the ex-fiance of Yuuri but he was also a proud captain and he would stay one. He would take on a new identity.
His name will be William and he would be a fugitive mazoku in Big Shimaron. He would dye his hair an orange-ish brown so if anyone from Shin Makoku would ever go there, they would not recognize him.
He turned to look back one last time at the place he had called home for so long and he let a grim smile spread across his face.
Farewell, Yuuri.
Ten Years Later~
"Heika," Gwendel hands him some documents, "Sign these and then you should take a break. You've been working since sunup."
Yuuri looks up from where he was signing and flashes a tired smile at his adviser, "No, it's okay. We have to finish these by tomorrow right?" He gestures to illustrate his point. Piles of documents liter the study table.
Gwendel looks like he wants to argue but a thought seems to flash through his mind and instead the adviser frowns that familiar expression and leaves Yuuri to his documents.
Yuuri grimly laughs at himself, leaning back into his now broken-in chair. He must have shocked Gwendel throughout the past years. Ever since Wolfram had left…
He had not been himself.
Rather, without Wolfram, he could not be himself.
There was always something missing.
That's why he had thrown himself into work; becoming the best Maou that Shin Makoku had ever seen. It was working and Yuuri was able to bask in the satisfaction of productive days at night and sometimes that was enough to keep the longing of Wolfram away.
But sometimes, he couldn't help but reminiscence of the blond.
He turned to look out of the window, the last rays of sun bathing the Maou's tired expression.
Where are you now, Wolfram?
---
Wolfram can't help but to growl at the new trainee. He had worked hard to climb up the ranks and become a captain, and then he gets stuck with training new recruits just because he's a mazoku.
But it isn't as if he resents being a mazoku but being in human territory as he is, it's a trait that he rather not have.
"How hard it is to hold a sword? I learned how to sword fight when I was five! The basics aren't that hard to learn."
The man flushes with damaged pride and then looks away to curse under his breath.
"What was that?" spits out Wolfram. "Do you have something that you want to say to me?"
The man shakes his head and then spits at Wolfram's feet, "Just because you're a dirty Mazoku with,"
"Say that again and I'll burn you alive."
The man winces, "You wouldn't dare."
Wolfram glares at him, emerald eyes cold and blazing with unrestrained anger, "Try me."
The man meets his eyes for a second and then his resolve is broken down and he runs away. "I won't forget this!" he shouts over his shoulder and Wolfram rolls his eyes at the comment.
Stupid humans.
"We're going to Big Shimaron?"
It's dinner, steak with broccoli on the side, and Yuuri has decided that he needed a break.
Gunter nods in response, "There's rumors of a rebellion happening. Apparently the king had levied some new taxes that the peasants do not like."
"But why do we have to go?" murmurs Yuuri. The question's more out of a habit than anything else. These past ten years, Yuuri had learned how to think instead of waiting for answers.
"Rebellion's never a good thing," Gwendel answers this time. "It's better if the current king stays enthroned. Most likely, the leader of the rebellion is going to be crowned king and thus a peasant would be put on the throne. It's not smart to have an uneducated person running a nation. Plus, blood would be shed and we might be forced to intervene anyways for Big Shimaron. Stopping it first would be the smartest choice."
Thought so.
Yuuri has had to deal with these problems before. They are never easy to solve.
"So we find the leader, decapitate him, and return home. Sounds easy enough."
His only daughter lets out a light chuckle at Yuuri's optimistic tone. "I'll miss you, Daddy. Me and Bert are going out on our honeymoon tomorrow too though, so we'll be leaving at the same time."
Yuuri blinks in surprise, he had forgotten all about that. "Opps. I keep on forgetting that my little girl is all grown up now."
Greta laughs and then her expression sours, "If only Wolfram was here to see it."
Wolfram…
Gunter coughs, "Greta…"
Greta lightens up and grabs her only dad's hand. "Its okay daddy. He'll come back."
"I hope so," he murmurs. He had been hoping so since Wolfram had left.
But sometimes it seems like his hope isn't enough.
---
"Lord William, are you sure it is smart to go this route?"
Wolfram rubs his temple, his eyes drooping in his tired state. "I've been to the castle," he murmurs, "it's the least guarded route."
The other man nods and then places his hands onto Wolfram's shoulders. "You need sleep, my lord."
Wolfram nods sleepily but fights to stay awake. "We need to finish preparations, I still have my speech to give, Joshua."
Joshua snorts above him, "Beg my pardon, my lord, but any speech you prepare now will not turn out well."
Wolfram can't help but to pout, "Are you trying to challenge me Joshua?"
The other man laughs and then pulls Wolfram up, "Lord William, go on home. I'll finish preparations."
"Fine, fine, you convinced me, Josh. Come get me if anything happens."
He could hear Joshua's laugh, "Lucky we live next door, huh? Night, Will."
Wolfram smiles as he makes his way downstairs. Preparations were proceeding smoothly besides the lack of time and soon, he would be able to rescue the peasants from the tyrant king.
It isn't as if Wolfram wants to be king of Big Shimaron.
Hell, he would hate it and although all his supporters claim otherwise, they would hate it if a mazoku became king.
Plus, becoming king might mean he would come in contact with the very person he wanted to avoid.
Yuuri…
The feeling of cold air stings his skin and any thoughts of Yuuri are swept away. He tugs his coat closer together and then runs straight into a brown-haired boy.
Both fall to the ground and Wolfram is the first to scramble back up to his feet. He's about to snarl at the other boy when his breath catches.
There, in front of him, is his king.
:D Cliffhanger. Sort of. xD
Thanks for reading and please review! (: