A/N: Let me be the first to tell you that I suck in History, so don't expect an accurate account of it here. It's enough to make my head spin. And you know what, I'm going to maintain the magic and their customs, just not the terms demons and humans. I'll make it seem like their belief or some sort.
Chapter 1
Yuri jerks awake as the bus pulls to a stop in front of their destination. Letting out a yawn, he rubs his eyes sleepily as he looks up at the building in front of him. It was magnificent, to say the least; columns of plaster, carved into the Grecian style, held the roof, the building itself painted a creamy beige with large tall windows decorating the lower and upper floors. Posters of artifacts from different nations scattered across the front entrance, showing visitors what little piece of history they may get to see inside.
He watches the double cherry wood doors amidst the chattering and bustling of his fellow classmates when he was suddenly pushed from behind. Stumbling forward, he manages to regain his balance, barely avoided colliding into his classmate up front. He heard snickers behind his back and sighs. He doesn't need to turn around to know that it's those three bullies again.
It all started on the day he started his first freshman year in high school. He was on his way to school when he spotted those thugs harassing a student, seeming to come from a different school – a prestigious one at that, judging from his uniform. And like the nice person he is, he stopped and intervened before it got out of hand. All he got for his troubles was jeering of his name, a dunk in the ladies toilet bowl and a lifetime ticket of being their target.
Well, at least he gained a friend. A somewhat evil, perverted-minded friend...
His thoughts were interrupted when two resounding claps was heard over the noise. "Okay everyone, please gather around! We're about to head into the museum in a few minutes. Listen to your guide, take down some notes –" Groans erupted from the group which he ignores. "I'll be asking about them next week – and then you are free to wander around on your own."
Shinou peers out through his rimless glasses sternly, giving out a suppressive aura that scared his students shitless. "I'll be handing you lot over to Miss Shizugawa now. I do not want to hear a peep of anyone causing trouble in this establishment, or else. Do I make myself clear?"
"H-Hai, Shinou-sensei."
Satisfied, he nods towards the female guide, a charming smile now stretch across his handsome face, blue eyes twinkling mischievously down at her. "They're all yours, Miss Shizugawa."
Blushing beet red at the attention, the guide clears her throat and starts. "Konnichiwa and welcome to..."
"...and here you will see a salvaged painting of one of the noble lords of Germany from the Middle Ages, during the reign of Frederick I, who is also known as Barbarossa."
Yuri was trying to follow what the guide is saying when something jabs him none-too-gently in the ribs and an arm slung itself across his shoulder when he doubled-over in pain. "Well, well, well, if it ain't little 'urine'." came a familiar but unwelcome nasally voice from over his head, followed by a round of low guffaws.
Yuri suppresses another sigh. Couldn't they leave him alone for even one day? He removes the arm and turns around. "What do you want?" he said, carefully neutral. After dealing with them on a daily occurrence, he had long since ceased to be scared. Well, maybe just a little. But he had found ways to avoid them and escape from getting dunked, tied up, whichever catches their fancy.
"Oh, looks like little 'urine' got some spunk." The bully fists his hand into his collar, choking him as he lifts Yuri a few feet off the ground. "We can't have that now, right boys?" he added, exchanging grins with his lackeys. Yuri's blood turns cold at the implications.
"What is going on here?" Yuri nearly cried out his relief as his saviour, in the form of Shinou-sensei stood behind them. "What do you think you're doing with Shibuya, Yamamoto?"
Yamamoto, the one holding him up, puts him down quickly and turns to face his impending aura of doom that is Shinou-sensei. "Uh...Sensei...I was...we were just..."
"Enough." Shinou cuts off, glaring down at the bullies with hard blue eyes. "I'll let all of you off with a warning for now but make no mistake that should I see you making a nuisance of yourselves again, and I'll have you all barred from my subject and will be gracing your parents with a one-on-one session. Now, move it!"
After watching the bullies scamper away, Shinou turns to Yuri who was finding the floor tiles very interesting. "Shibuya, you alright there?"
"Ah, hai Sensei! Thank you very much for asking!" Yuri said quickly, giving a small bow. Shinou waves it off, brushing back his golden locks with a smirk. Uh, oh, whenever Shinou-sensei smirks, that means something is going to happen to that person it's being directed to, and there is no way of telling if it's good or bad. He hopes it is the former. Yuri stiffens up, awaiting his judgement.
"Well then, what are you standing here for? All your classmates have already moved on to the next exhibit." His smirk grew wider as he said this. Yuri flushes in embarrassment, bowed once more and then hurries away to catch up.
"Oh, and Shibuya?"
Yuri halts in his tracks, glancing over his shoulder curiously. Shinou gives him a wink, a languid grin now replacing his smirk though it didn't ease Yuri's paranoia one bit. In fact, his next words just triggered his internal warning bells. "Fate has a strange way of dealing things, especially when it comes to bonds." he said mysteriously. "It doesn't matter how or why it came to be, just that when it is strong, nothing is impossible – even known to transcend time and space. Remember that will you, Yuri?"
Yuri stood there gaping at his Sensei's retreating back. Shaking himself from his bewilderment, he returns to his group, all the while thinking about freaky philosophical teachers.
"Be back here in the foyer by 5p.m! Don't think I will hesitate in leaving your sorry ass behind, understood?"
"Hai~"
The students scattered, mumbling and laughing excitedly at something or another. Yuri nodded his head in polite acknowledgement as some greeted him, heading towards an alcove he saw earlier. There he would be able to strategise some new training drills for his baseball team in peace. That went down the drain, however, when a hand suddenly shot out and grips his arm tightly, steering him towards another, more secluded destination.
"Eh, wha –?" was what he managed to get out before he was shoved into a room. He trips over his own feet and fell down on his bottom with a grunt. Not wanting to be put in a disadvantage, he quickly stood up and faces his assailant.
"Wolfram!?" he blurts out, shocked. "What – what are you doing here??"
Said blond flicks his hair out of his face haughtily, pinning him with a fiery glare. If he hasn't confirmed that Shinou-sensei had no siblings to speak of, Yuri would have said that they were related; apart from their difference in age and eye colour that is.
"Do I need a reason to be here with my boyfriend?" Wolfram drawled casually, a deceptive contrast to his flashing jade emeralds. "Which brings up another matter as to why you didn't tell me in the first place?"
Yuri closes his eyes and concentrated on counting to ten, maybe twenty. "Wolfram, I didn't tell you because it was a school excursion so it wasn't necessary. And one more thing, I'm not –"
"To hell it wasn't necessary! I'm your boyfriend so I have the right to know!"
"That's just it, you're not –"
"Unless...this school activity is a farce and you just came here to flirt! That's it, isn't it? You came here to cheat on me, you dirty cheater! This is low, even for a wimp like you. I don't know why I put up with you. You're just a lousy, wimpy, ungrateful baseball geek who's unworthy of someone like me."
SLAP! Wolfram's head snapped to the side at the force of impact. Stunned, he cradles his bruised red cheek, pure disbelief written all over his face.
"Let me clear something up for you, Bielefeld," Yuri said his voice dangerously low. "First of all, it was you who chased after me since we were freshmen, even though I made it perfectly clear that I wasn't interested. It was you who decided right then and there that I am your boyfriend, no discussion or questions asked. Every time I talk with my classmates, you accused me of being a flirt or a cheater even when it's just asking for a pen! The best part is that you stalked me everywhere; to my house, to my baseball training field and even to the public bathhouses! You even got my freaking phone number and e-mail after I changed it! So correct me if I'm wrong when I say that it doesn't matter whether you break it off or not, for you are the only one here who believes there is a relationship between us from the beginning."
Yuri breathed heavily, his body light from the outburst. Silence settled in the air like thick molasses, wrapping around them like how sweat sticks to skin. Once he got his breathing under control, he could feel the first tendrils of guilt entering his heart. Why does all the drama happen to him?
"Look, I –"
"I understand."
"Huh, you do?" Yuri watched as Wolfram lowers his head, his bangs shadowing his eyes from view whereas his lips are set in a tight line.
"Yeah, I'll leave you alone now." was all the blond said before he made for the door. Yuri let out his third sigh for the day. He checks his watch and noticed that it was almost close to closing time. Did they really take that long? He reached down for his bag only to grab empty air. Puzzled, he looks around until a dreadful realisation hits him, just as the door closes with an ominous click.
He threw himself onto the door, jiggling the knob only to confirm that, yes, it's locked. He then bangs the door with his fists. "Wolfram, what the heck are you doing? Open this door and give me back my bag!"
"Hmm...How about no? This will teach you not to get smart with me. You deserve it." Yuri does not need to see to know how smug the other is right now. "A night in the museum is sure to cool your head off. See you tomorrow, Yuri."
He panic and bangs on the door, shouting in vain, for the other's footsteps has already faded into the distance. Not wanting to face the fact that he will indeed be spending the night here penniless with only the clothes on his back, Yuri continued banging on the door until his hands ache; hoping fervently that someone will hear it and get him out.
Soon, he heard another set of footsteps heading his way. Encouraged, he banged on the door, yelling "Is anyone out there? Help, I'm locked in! Please get me out!"
"Now, if that doesn't sound like that baseball shrimp. How did ya get yourself in there, eh 'urine'? Looking for some fun only for the chick to dump you 'cause you can't get it up?" Raucous laughter seeps through the wood and into his ears.
Yuri mentally groaned. Lady Luck, he decided, is a sadistic bitch. "Look, could you just find one of the staff and get me out of here? I don't want to miss the bus home."
"You hear that? Now he's asking for our help to get back home to his mama!" Another round of muffled laughter was heard. "Well too bad for you, 'urine', we don't feel like 'helping'. I still haven't forgotten the stunt you pulled earlier."
"I didn't pull anything! Now let me out of here! Hey!" Yuri banged on the door in frustration. "Do you hear me? Hey!"
"Bye bye, 'urine'. Enjoy your stay." More laughter and jokes were exchange until Yuri could hear them no more. He slumps down onto the floor, his hands stinging a reminder of all his futile efforts. Then, his watch began beeping. It was 5p.m. As if on cue, rain started pouring from the cloudy heavens above, hard droplets hitting against the singular square window in the room.
"Great, what else could go wrong?" Suddenly, a crash of thunder shook the room, making Yuri jump two feet into the air. The lights flickered on and off and next thing he knew, the room was shrouded in darkness.
"...You've got to be kidding me."
Yuri must have fallen asleep for he found himself waking up with a stiff neck. Looking around him, with a little help from the occasional flashes of thunder, he concluded that he's in the museum's storage room, and was currently leaning against a giant stone slab.
"What a day," Yuri whispered out into the dark. Now that his bag was gone, Yuri has no means of contacting anyone. Even if he did, nobody would be able to get him now. His parents are away for the night, something about reliving their first date, while Shori is on a business trip in Switzerland with his mentor, Bob. He does not doubt though, that Shori would try anyway, being the overprotective brother that he is.
With nothing to occupy his mind, he could not help but think back, not only to what happened today, but also events that have recurred in his life. The bullies constant picking on him, Wolfram's obsession, the stress of starting his own little league baseball...he remembers Shori's immediate disagreement of his plans in getting a place of his own, saying that then he wouldn't be able to protect him. When he complained, Shori brought up his tendency to land himself into trouble, starting with 'Do you remember that you...' to end with 'You're just too kind, and people will take advantage of people like you. Now just let big brother take care of you, alright?'
"Damn it, I can take care of myself!" With a cry, he whirls around and punches the stone slab, tears coming unbidden to his eyes. He didn't doubt Shori's good intentions, but he didn't want to depend on his brother all the time. He wanted to be able to stand on his own two feet. But with all the things that have been happening lately, it just seems to strengthen his brother's priority more and more. He was suddenly thankful that he doesn't have his phone. His latest predicament would just add to Shori's list of 'Why Yuri should let me protect him'.
Sniffling, Yuri looks at the innocent slab he just punched. He took a moment to marvel at it; made out of an impressive mix of marble and onyx, it was littered with runes carved and painted in, strangely enough, silver, except for the life-size figure carved into the centre in gold. At closer inspection, Yuri thought that the figure looks decidedly handsome; messy shoulder-length hair framing his sharp angular face which is connected to broad shoulders and chest, wearing a uniform with a sword strapped to his side, and all this gives off an impression of precise elegance.
Like a knight in shining armour, Yuri thought. What he wouldn't give to have one right now. "Ha, listen to me, I sound like a girl." he laughs mirthlessly. He tried to stop the flow of his tears but they just kept on coming. Giving up, he pulls his knees to his chest and let it all go, releasing his troubles, frustration and worries like a broken dam.
It wasn't obvious at first, for it was absurd in the first place so he ignored it – accounting it to his imagination, but he felt a presence in the room. It wasn't sudden either, it's just...there. Not daring to look up, Yuri breathes through his nose, trying to regulate his breathing so as to not attract unwanted attention. Thoughts and stories of spirits and ghouls played through his mind, making him feel on edge with each passing second. Thanks Mom, for feeding me ghost stories, Yuri thought with fake cheer.
He stiffens as footsteps echoed across the lacquered floor, bringing the person closer to where he is crouching. Not able to stand the suspense, he lifts his head, and the first thing that came to mind is that he must have fallen asleep again. What else could explain the man, who oddly looked like the one he saw a few minutes ago – yup, same tousled hair, though now he could give a colour which is brown, same structure of face with brown eyes speckled with silver set sternly into it, and is that a 1914 German Infantry uniform? He couldn't tell in the dark – could have come into the room that is locked from the outside.
He definitely looks way hotter in real life than on a marble slab – ack! Yuri mentally slaps away that traitorous train of thought with a hot blush and quickly buries his face onto his knees. Maybe when he opens his eyes again the man will go away? Somehow that thought didn't bring much comfort as it should.
His musings were cut off, however, when he felt cold steel, too disturbingly real to be fake if the sharpness is anything to go by, being pressed against his neck. Yuri held his breath. Then the man opens his mouth, and a string of smooth tenor with a bite of chill reaches his ears. What he said next though, had Yuri's mind boggled.
"State your purpose, sorcerer, for bringing me into your domain. But be warn," The man's voice now rises to a rumbling growl. "Should the reason be nothing but a fool's errand, I will be justified to run this sword through your heart."
Okay, that's a wrap. I hope you enjoy that. Review yeah?
