Till Death Do Us Part
Rating: T
Warning: Yaoi, language, violence, and self-destruction
Summary: Love has finally taken its toll on Wolfram. Five years after his wedding and Yuri still doesn't love him. However will Yuri start to care when his husband starts acting a bit…strange.
Disclaimer: Don't own…want to though.
A/n: Thank you very much for your reviews. I am terribly sorry for the delay. I kept re-writing his chapter especially because I never like how the story line ends up. I am hoping to redo Chapter I just to fix grammatical and spelling mistakes. I would like to apologize again for taking so long.
"Marriage is a matter of give and take, but so far I haven't been able to find anybody who'll take what I have to give." Cass Daley
Chapter II: SensationTwo maids clamored about Wolfram's room, trying to see what clothes he should wear to the dinner. There were no foreign ambassadors or any other people of great importance for the betterment of the kingdom. It was a family affair for those who lived in the castle. Former Demon Queen Cecilie had arrived a week prior to King Yuri and Princess Greta's return. Even Lady Anissina von Karbelnikoff came home after her new suffrage campaign for women in the east. This banquet was held to welcome back those whom were missed most.
"Your majesty, might I suggest that you wear this green tunic instead of your normal blue one?" suggested one of the newer maids. "It would look most fetching on you. The tailor himself made it specifically for you months ago and you have yet to wear it. It matches with your eyes so beautifully. I dare say that you could even challenge your mother in beauty."
"Don't mind her your majesty," soothed another maid. "She's young and she doesn't know what she's saying."
Wolfram brushed the comment off and took out his blue tunic. The new maid blushed in her ignorance and bowed her head down. Wolfram walked toward a screen and signaled for the maids to leave. He finished dressing and sat down at his vanity to start on his hair. It had grown longer over the years that he had to brush it to keep it from tangling. Elizabeth visited him once and observation that his beauty almost surpassed hers with his almost feminine charm. Of course, Wolfram than didn't converse with her from quite the time and even refused a visit from her.
He finished fixing himself when he heard a knock on the door accompanied by a voice asking for him. The door was opened by one of the guards outside to reveal Gisela with a green glass bottle in her hand. She was also invited to the dinner, as she was the king's head advisor's daughter. Wolfram looked on her and saw how different she looked in a long, white gown and her hair styled with feathers. She almost looked attractive to the young prince.
"Do you know what rumors would form by you entering my private quarters Gisela?" Wolfram smirked as he let her into his room. She placed the bottle on the vanity and poured a glass of water from the pitcher next to it.
"No rumors that hadn't already formed from your frequent visits to my office these past months, my prince consort," she responded lightly. Gisela handed Wolfram two grey pills-like caplets, which she took from the bottles.
"What are these?"
"Medicines from the east. Anissina brought them to me. She said they help with coughs. It might help prevent you from confessing your secret to your husband."
"…Thank you." Wolfram gave the girl a sincere smile and took the pills wholeheartedly. The pair exited the room and made their way to the dinning room. It would be a long night ahead for the royal family and friends.
"So Yuri, how is school in your world?" asked Gunter mid-entrée. The feast had been going on for a while now seeing as they just finished two courses. Yuri himself was looking rather stuffed, but continued to eat out of politeness. The table was full of conversation from Lady Cheri's tall-tales of prefect romances gone awry to Lady Anissina's adventures with savage village of all men and even Greta's tales of Japan with their new fashion crazes.
"School is fine. I never expected it to be so expensive though. I really appreciate letting me use the kingdom's money for college. I'm just sorry it used so much."
Wolfram snickered while taking a bite of his dinner. "Use up all the money you want. I would rather have a poor kingdom and a smart ruler, than a dumb ruler and rich country. Wealth only lasts as long a the king can maintain it."
"Let's not talk about money manners!" exclaimed Lady Cecilie. "How about some music and dancing? Did you know I've learned this most fascinating dance from wonderful man I met while I went to port? Oh he looked so much like Conrad's father! So handsome and masculine! He had the most gorgeous smile and the largest-!"
"Mother!" called out Wolfram. "Your suggestion to dance was most excellent, wouldn't you say Yuri?"
"Um...sure. Why not? Can we get some music please?" Yuri asked a nearby guard to call for the musicians. A small band of three players set up in one corner of the room and the dinner table was cleared away. Cheri-sama stood and took her second son's hand to dance. Gisela asked her father to the floor, so he obliged. Even Gwendal, under threat of experimentation, graced the floor with Lady Anissina. Wolfram stood close to the wall and watched as his husband and daughter dance. He was alone.
Then he felt it. He felt a cough coming from his body about to come out. Even with the music, everyone could see him. He turned toward the wall and tried to softly let out the cough. Turning back, he faced turned pink from effort as he walked to the nearest guard.
"I'm tired. Please tell his majesty I shall retire to my quarters."
"Of course your highness. Do you need an escort? You seem rather flushed," the solider stated out of pure concern for his king's spouse. However, the look from Wolfram cut daggers through the poor solider.
"Are you insisting that I am fragile and in need of help?"
"No! No, sir! Just…you looked pale and…"
"A second ago you said I looked flushed, now pale? Just relay the message to his majesty and let me go to my bed."
"Yes, your majesty."
Wolfram walked as fast as he could to get far from earshot to the dinning hall. He let out a vicious cough and held the wall for assistance. He calmed himself with deep breaths, cursing Gisela for giving him medication that didn't work and Anissina for bringing said medication.
The young man power-walked to his room and stripped himself of his dinner clothes. He searched for his nightgown, but was only able to put on one of the shoulder straps. They fall off anyway his shoulders anyway. Wolfram wrapped himself in one of the blankets and let out another bout of coughs. He also felt like it was too cold and barked to the guards outside to get more blankets for him. For the reminder of the night, the young prince slept miserably.
The next morning Wolfram looked extremely dazed and fatigued. He entered the breakfast nook of the castle and sat down at the chair furthest from the window. Yuri, Gunter, and his brothers were already seated and eating. Yuri had finally learned to wake early due to his classes, a habit that Wolfram is grateful for.
Conrad looked up from his paper to see his younger brother and asked, "Are you all right, Wolfram?"
"I am fine brother. I just had a rough night."
"Where were you, Wolf?" inquired the great king. "You weren't in our room last night."
"I sent someone to tell you I was staying in my private quarters. I felt tired from the planning and paperwork I did earlier that day."
"You left a bit early. Greta wanted a dance with you, didn't you know?"
But you didn't want to, so there is no use is there?, thought Wolfram.
"I told you I was tired. I wouldn't have been able to make a good dance partner anyway. Now if you will excuse me. I have work to do."
"You didn't eat. Sit and have something."
"I'll send for some toast and jam to be brought to my office."
"But–!"
"Please Yuri," Wolfram whispered. "I am truly very drained and I would like to begin working now." Yuri looked at his husband and let him leave the room. Wolfram could still hear Yuri leaning over to ask his brothers what was wrong.
Wolfram enjoyed sitting his is office. It was a present given to him by Yuri for their third wedding anniversary. Yuri was secretly building it in the east wing of the castle for six months and unveiled it to Wolfram when they woke up. That was probably the most romantic gesture that Yuri had ever made (and will ever make) toward his husband.
Wolfram stood from his desk to shut the window. It was getting awfully cold inside the rather large office. The prince consort rubbed his hands and started a fire in the tiled fireplace. It was still too chilly. One would think that because he controlled fire he would be a lot warmer than he felt. He placed another log into the fireplace and lit it on fire. His magic was fine. What could possibly be the problem?
He sat back at his desk and signed some documents. He was again planning for Greta's birthday party. He vaguely wondered if she had any friends on earth that she would want to invite. The prince would have to ask his king later.
"I can't take this anymore," the firebrand whispered to himself. "It's much too cold. I'll do this in the library."
He took the documents with him, not noticing that he left a glass of water and toast on his desk from his husband.
Hours passed and Wolfram decided to call it a day. He went back to his office to quickly drop off the documents and locked the door as he left.
Perhaps I'll join my husband tonight, he thought.
He walked across the castle to his room and opened the door to find his husband changing. Wolfram didn't bother to turn his head or blush seeing that he had seen his husband's naked form before. Yuri however, even after five years, could never get rid of his slight bashfulness in front of others and hurriedly put his clothes on.
"Sorry I didn't knock," said Wolfram, trying not to laugh at his husband's embarrassment. Yuri weakly smiled and hid under the covers.
"N-no, I-it's okay," replied the young king. "I was just getting ready for bed. I thought that maybe you wanted to sleep in your room…not that I don't want you here, it's just I thought you might want to be alone again." Yuri saw the obvious frown on his husband's face and tried to amend the situation.
"Do you need help changing?" Wolfram smiled at this question and paused to think.
"You won't be scarred for life to see and touch another man's naked flesh, wimp?"
"Well, I sleep next to said naked flesh and wash the back of said naked flesh. I think I can handle it."
"Just don't get jealous my skin is better than yours." Wolfram smirked and turned around to take off his clothes.
"Wouldn't dream of it." Yuri giggled and went to the dresser. He took Wolfram's favorite nightdress out and bunched it to put over Wolfram's head. Wolfram undressed and turned to Yuri. He frowned again when he saw the gown.
"Can you get the warmer one out? It's a little nippy in here?" Now it was Yuri's turn to frown.
"Your sure you're okay? It's really hot in here. I was going to take off my shirt before going to sleep." Wolfram huffed and took the nightgown from Yuri. He stomped to the dresser and slipped into a warm nightgown. Yuri smiled slightly thinking if Wolfram had enough energy to still get angry with him he wasn't that ill.
Wolfram lied on his side of the bed and pulled the covers over himself. Yuri sat down on the bed and saw Wolfram curl tighter away from him. The Maoh smiled, took off his shirt to lie down and pulled what little of the covers he had over himself. He moved closer to Wolfram and wrapped an arm around his waist. He kissed Wolfram's cold shoulder and closed his eyes to sleep. Wolfram secretly grinned and placed his hand over Yuri's and used his free hand to put some of the covers over his king. Wolfram felt warm for the first time that day.
"And how long have you been feeling cold?" asked Gisela while checking Wolfram's throat. Yuri was out doing some delegation with some far off country and Wolfram decided to pay a visit to the infirmary.
"Just two days ago." Wolfram answered while he was being evaluated.
"Have you stopped coughing?" Wolfram was silent and dug into his pocket. He revealed a bloody handkerchief with his initials embroidered on the side. Gisela gasped at the sight and took the handkerchief from the prince. She looked closely at the cloth the looked like it was washed many times previously. The medic brought her head up to look at the prince and saw him crying. He was trying to stop himself from coughing.
"It's getting worse…"
