Author's disclaimer : I do not own KKM in any sort of way, this story is just my mere fantasizing of KKM.
Chapter 1: Conrad…
Yuuri's name was called several times and with a few nudge on the end of his shoulder. The tone that calls to him belongs to a worried fiancé. He didn't want his fiancé to suffer any longer, so he was able to manage a little croak.
"Yuuri!" he shouted, relieved.
Slowly opening his eyes, he saw a small figure right in front of him. That moment, he knew straight away that it is Wolfram who is before him.
"Wol-fram…"
He held Yuuri's back and chest, trying to sit Yuuri up. Along with the process, Yuuri pushed himself up, so that he could sit. But failed. The strain on his neck was just too great for him to bear. So, he slumped back down immediately and yelped in agony.
"Shhhhh! Keep it down, you wimp!" Wolfram hushed.
"Urgh… Don't call me a wimp."
Yuuri try getting up again, even slower this time. He grits his teeth to bear with it for just another second 'til he has sat up.
"Where's Conrart?"
The response towards that question wasn't pleasant to Yuuri. So, he repeated. Again, Wolfram didn't respond. Yuuri bit his lip to the pain and lift his hand up, to pull on Wolfram's uniform collar. It was weak, but Wolfram leans forward towards Yuuri, Wolf's eyes met Yuuri eyes and so is Yuuri's to Wolf's. Wolf's eyes are full of guilt.
"Wolf…?"
He looked away when he answered, "He went to the villager chief's resident. His men were pursuing us earlier and the next thing we know, we are already down here… A village that I've never seen."
"So, you just let him? Alone?" Wolfram nodded glumly.
"We must go for him!"
"Yuuri. I'm under direct orders not to do so! Do not make me disobey his orders!"
"So, I'll order you this time. Let's find Conrart."
Wolfram opened his mouth to argue, but gives up when he realize there's no use to this. Once the King has made his decision, none has succeeded in changing his mind. Furthermore, he can never defy a king's order, not even as a fiancé.
Both of them creeps through the shadows, like thieves. Slow and steady, hoping that no one (not even a villager) will spot them. Despite that, both of them almost get caught several times –no- actually, it was due to Yuuri's carelessness that almost got them caught. Thankfully, Wolfram's years of experience kicked in and is always there to pull his ever so clumsy King back in, in time. Everytime Wolf pulls him in, he would just graciously smile at Wolf, and that made Wolf soft before he could scold the clumsy King. It works everytime.
The stench of this dark alley is almost unbearable. They are surrounded by rat, cats, rubbish and etc (it's best not to know). The feeling of being in this alley is darn creepy. It feels almost like there's something would suddenly jump out to scare the shit out of your gut and attack you. The thought of it gave them the goosebumps that they've never felt in a long time.
Suddenly, an alarming screech sent Yuuri's heart out of his mouth. It was Wolfram's. Yuuri had never heard Wolfram shouted like that before. Something must be wrong.
"What is it, Wolf? Yuuri turn to look at Wolf and he found what seems the cause of it. Yuuri blinked. He saw a rat snuffling away within the rubbish mountain, scouring for food. He switches his view to Wolfram, and he could swear he saw Wolfram BLUSHed!
"Ne, Wolf…" Yuuri called.
"I-I wasn't scared of that rat, okay?! Something bit me!" Wolfram demanded. Yuuri blinked again.
"Wha? No. Wolfram, that's not what I had in mind."
"T-Then, what is it, wimp?"
"Don't go calling me a wimp, when you just shouted like one back there." Yuuri grinned. "There, it's that the house that we're heading?" Yuuri asked, pointing towards the house on the hill that seems like the possible place for a village chief to stay. Walking towards Yuuri steadily, "Where is it?" After looking towards the direction he was pointing at, Wolf quickly pulled back. "Yeah. That should likely be it." Wolfram said, crossing his hands. Suddenly releasing his hands, he held Yuuri on both of he's shoulders, "Yuuri, I want you to stay here. Let me go there alone and save Conrad. Get it?" Yuuri's eyes sprung wide with dissatisfaction.
"Listen here Wolfram, I don't get you. Let's go save him together, both of us!" Slapping one of Wolf's hands aside.
"Yuuri, this is not a choice!"
"No way, Wolf. I'm coming along whether you like it or not. And that's final!"
Wolfram could just sigh. How his King stubbornness can get to people. But this is his merits too. He does what he think is right, a straightforward personality. This is why people follow him. This is why people are loyal to him. This is also WHY Wolfram is loyal to him.
Wolfram steps out to peek, looking left and right, making sure there are no one around. He held one hand onto Yuuri's chest as a sign of halting Yuuri. Then he creeps to the other side of the alley and signaling Yuuri to do as he did. Yuuri peeks as Wolfram did, making sure it is safe, and then he steps out and creeps towards Wolf. This event lasted until they finally reach the main street.
The street is buzzing with villagers. Stalls selling goods left and right, buyers bargaining for the best prices they can get and sellers shouting out promoting their best products. Wolfram insisted Yuuri to stay put for a moment while he went to a random stall - snuggling in a pair of robe. Then, he walk among the villagers as if one of them, and finally got to where Yuuri is.
"Put this on," Wolfram said, throwing the robe he obtained.
"What about you?"
"Idiot. Can't you see how this place resembles of us Mazoku?
But if they found out that a King is walking among them, guess what they'll do… Now, put it on." Yuuri looks around and realized that what Wolfram said was true. The people here resemble that of a Mazoku. This can be proven by their eyes and hair colours – they vary except both black. Yuuri will not deny this fact, so he did as told.
After putting the robe on and slipping the hood over Yuuri's head, they come out from the dark-stenched alley and walk among the villagers. The pass without a problem at all and Yuuri is having a fun time looking at the goods sold by the sellers. Whenever Yuuri stops to ask the price for the item, Wolf will always be there to remind him of their purpose. Thank goodness or else who knows what could happen.
"I know this is what you want and all, but do you know what we'll do when we get there?" Wolfram whispered.
"Wha? Well, saving Conrart, of course!"
"It's not that simple, Yuuri!"
"Are you telling me you can't do it?"
"If you say that again, wimp!" Wolfram raised his voice, jabbing Yuuri by the ribs. "There will be obstacles we have to go through, that's for sure."
"Listen, Wolf, I don't care what the obstacles would be, I know there will be risks. If anything happens to Conrart, I wouldn't be able to…" Yuuri said as he looks down slightly. This moment, Wolf can see the true King Yuuri is - A King that cares for his people. That risks for his people, and cares nothing about what lies beyond. Wolfram smiles and knew straight what he wants to do now. However, doubt will not ever escape Wolfram's thought. Expression that is shown on Wolfram would be the prove. Thoughts such as 'they're target is definitely Yuuri' and 'Conrad is just to lure them out' . But… for some reason, why is Yuuri so determine to save Conrad? Isn't Conrad the best soldier Shin Makoku ever had? Conrad should be able to take care of himself.
"I've a bad feeling that he will be in danger." Yuuri said to himself. That is why Yuuri is so determined to get his god-father out of that house. Yuuri becomes all gloomy all over again and stops suddenly. This caused Wolfram to bump into him.
"At least tell me you're stopping!"
"Wolf, I know I'm useless when it comes to combat, and I'm such a klutz when it comes to sword. Thanks for going along with my selfish needs."
Wolfram who is standing slightly behind of Yuuri, smacks Yuuri on his head and pulls his robe and walks ahead of Yuuri.
"You're my fiancé."
As mentioned above, whenever Yuuri smiles at Wolfram, it'll definitely make Wolfram's heart go soft. Likewise, whenever Wolfram utter those three words, (not 'I love you' but 'you're my fiancé'), it'll have the same effect. Calmed Yuuri everytime he said those simple words.
"Yuuri, DOWN!"
With a sudden cry like that, Yuuri did not hesitate. As soon as he ducks, a red-headed arrow flew past Yuuri's head, nicely missing a few centimeters.
"WHAT THE… What's THAT?"
"What does it look like, you wimp! We've been discovered!" Wolfram managed to pull Yuuri aside, where arrows can't and won't reach them. Again, running through alleys (not dark and smelly this time).
"Where are we going?" Yuuri shouted.
"I don't know! Shut up and run!"
Both of them ran as fast as their legs could carry them, and at the same time, hoping that they will find a way out of this alley.
Too much running is proven to be unbearable to Yuuri. Slowing down his pace, and then finally stop. He gasps for air and needs rest. Wolfram realizes that Yuuri is not following him anymore, so he stopped. He saw Yuuri having a hard time breathing for air and sweating like a soaked chicken.
"Come on, Yuuri. Let's get going."
"I-I can't…" Yuuri cried.
"You can't give up now! Who decided to come along when I told him to stay?"
"You go ahead… I'll catch up." Wolfram will not go ahead. He heard so many times of those sentences. When they say they will catch up, they will not. Pulling Yuuri up to his feet, Wolfram said "How can you save Conrad if you're here panting like a baby?" Yuuri nudged when he heard those words. Yuuri gather all his strength that he never thought he had, and starts running. Wolfram smirks and follows Yuuri. Yuuri have never ran so fast in his life, not even during baseball training. He felt so determined and energized. The thought of 'Conrart needs them' keeps his heart pumping like a horse.
In the mean time, Conrad somehow got into the chief's house without any harm at all. However, he's being watched for his every moves.
"Sir Weller Conrad, Lion of Lütenberg, how very nice to see you drop by my humble home. What have you come here for?" said by an unknown voice behind him. Conrad turns to look but wasn't able to see the figure's face due to the poor lighting, but he is able to see a figure, broad and big sized men, sitting on the couch with one of his arm resting on the arm rest and the other resting beneath his chin.
"You're the villager's chief, I presume?" Conrad paused, waiting for a reply. He saw the figure nodded slightly. Despite the dark, Conrad thought he saw the figure grinned at him. "Then, I am here to offer a proposal."
The chief leans forward, interested. "A proposal, you say? What could that be?"
"Let us free, show us the way out, and on behalf the Maou, we'll offer a truce."
"Truce?!" The chief barked. "Why would I need your filthy Mazoku's truce, when I, the villager's chief have been safe under civilization's radar for these years? I don't believe that is all you can offer, Sir Weller?"
"No. It is however wise to accept that proposition if you do not wish to be harm."
"What confidence you have there." the chief said as he slams on the arm rest. "Arrest him! I've heard enough of his crap."
Without any second waste, and without Conrad's realization, the chief's men knocked him on his neck and made him fall to the ground, half conscious.
"You're in no position to be proposing, Lion. Do not speak to us as if we're low life humans. In case you haven't notice, we're just like you. You chose to be with the Mazoku and we chose otherwise." The chief said as he looks down at Conrad with those pair of nasty eyes. "We're different than those losers who you've defeated before. We're stronger." The chief continued. Conrad passed out after realizing that he was defeated. Even to Conrad, they are no match for him. "Let's wait for the master to fetch his pet lion." The chief grinned.
A sudden stop made Wolfram bump into Yuuri again.
"How many times… have I told you to warn… before STOPPING!" Wolfram shouted as both of them rubs their aching body at where they bumped into each other.
"I'm sorry… I just suddenly felt something different –no- uneasy…" Yuuri said, holding onto the blue pendant Conrad gave him. "Please be alright, Conrart." Yuuri thought.
"You know he's going to be fine. He's the best soldier I've ever known, so…" Worried pairs of emerald green eyes staring into the confused pairs of pitch black eyes.
"Wolf…" Yuuri paused. "You're right. Thanks!"
"I-I'm just saying that c-cause he's supposed to be protecting you. T-That's all!" Wolfram said, blushing. "Now, let's get going!" Wolfram hurriedly grabs Yuuri by his wrist and both of them continue running towards the lair of evil.
While both of them are running towards the chief's residence, the chief is however talking to the half awake prisoner. The chief who was standing, squatted to his knees to face Conrad, who is tied onto a chair.
"Are you hungry? Should I feed you, Lion? Conrad did not say anything, being as silent as a hostage should be. "Being held captive is definitely not your style eh? Or, perhaps this is you first time being defeated? Did it hurt your ego?" Conrad looks away, still, did not say anything. "Suit yourself. Being nice to you is a waste of my time anyways. Bored to death as you may." The chief stands up and left the room without further words, abandoning Conrad in a cold worn-out wooden room. Conrad rests his eyes at the same time, hoped, "Yuuri, this is dangerous. Do not come for me. Please" Slightly after that, he fell asleep.
Yuuri…
Yuuri…
"Did you call me, Wolf?"
"No, I didn't. Just run."
Yuuri…
"Julia san?" Yuuri called to himself.
Don't go any further, Yuuri…
Tips :
1. Conrad/Conrart :
- They're both the same actually. Just that Conrad is more to an English pronunciation instead of Conrart which is more Japanese-like.
2. Mazoku :
- Demon race
3. Maou :
- Demon King
A/N : Thanks you guys for reading this story! How was it? Review or PM to let me know.
I don't welcome flares but if you feel like throwing one, I really wouldn't mind.
-Hara Emi-