THIS CHAPTER ALONG WITH CHAPTER 1 WAS RE-WRITTEN ON THE 28.08.16, PLEASE READ AGAIN IF READ BEFORE THIS DATE. Thank you =)
Summary: A deadly sickness has struck the kingdom and the only known cure lies at the hands of a foreign family. But what will be their bargaining price? Yuri must become the King that he was always meant to be, and Wolfram; a stranger to all. Difficult decisions and grave sacrifices must be made if the Demon Kingdom is to survive.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kyo Kara Moah or any of it's characters. I am not doing this for money, nor am I making any.
A/N 1: + future warnings: light cursing, very angsty, highlights of humour, mild horror and goriness (nothing too scary), depression, unhealthy coping meachanisms, friendship, hurt and family love.
A/N 2: Mainly Wolfram-centric. OOC and angsty Wolfram.
A/N 2: Yuri is 20 at the moment
A/N 3: Greta is 14 at the moment, about to turn 15. I don't know when Greta's birthday is so I just made one up: March 18th.
A/N 4: Slightly poetic sometimes, sorry I couldn't help myself =D
A/N 5: A few years have passed since the anime, Wolfram has matured slightly but is still a brat sometimes, at the beginning at least. This will definitely change later on.
A/N 6: Important, or you'll likely get confused: Characters thoughts are in italics
A/N 7: Just before I begin, I would like to thank kkmbigfan1, BatShitCrazy21, rini, Guest and bobbyneko for being my first reviewers! I appreciate you all taking the time to comment and all those that Followed and Favourited this story. Thank you guys!
Chapter 2: The struggle to move on
Dinner time that evening could be described as a chatty affair, from the second the starter was served to the moment desert was bought out, Lady Cäcilie had been talking about all the 'interesting people' she'd met during her recent travels. Lady Anissina commented occasionally, Gwendal had a frown fixed to his face from the moment he walked through the doors, Günter had tried several times to change the topic of conversation but was unsuccessful and now simply listened to Lady Cäcilie's antics with a look of mild distaste. Conrad ate with a polite yet tight smile, he carried on smiling even when he was chewing his food; a look people only close to him could interpret as discomfort. Lady Cäcilie, though not oblivious to the atmosphere around her, the King's nervous laughs, Greta's awe and Wolfram's lack of outburst carried on as though she'd caught a case of verbal diarrhoea.
Greta waited patiently, she waited for an appropriate moment to put out a question or rather a statement. When Lady Cäcilie stopped talking for a few seconds to savour a piece of vanilla cream tart in her mouth; another one of Effe's delicious inventions, Greta took her chance. "So Wolfram."
She waited for her other father to look up at her. "I thought you were going to join us for tea...but you didn't come, we had your favourite; yellow strawberries and lavender essence curd."
The brown haired girl smiled lightly at her father to make her statement seem not so confrontational.
"Oh yes Wolfie, you should have come. We missed you dear."
Wolfram looked at his mother and fought hard to keep a hurt look off his face. I doubt that mother, if you really wanted me to be there you could have sent someone to look for me. And, if you had missed me so much you could have tried talking to me now instead of running your mouth about every man you screwed with over the last few months.
"Wolfram, I asked you a question." This time it was Yuuri that had spoken.
"What?" I don't recall him even speaking.
"I said, how come you didn't have tea with Greta and Lady Cäcilie?"
Looking back at Greta, Wolfram spoke. "I'm sorry Greta, I had a headache." He smiled at her amicably, "I promise I'll make it up to you later."
The brown haired princess didn't look convinced. "Are you mad that we went to town without you?"
Not you as well. Wolfram wanted to sigh in exasperation but didn't seeing as how all eyes around were on him now. What do they all want me to say? Gwendal grit his teeth and Wolfram couldn't help but mentally leer at the gesture. He's expecting a tantrum, well screw that.
"No Greta, I'm not mad." He smiled at the girl who still looked uncertain. "I'll tell you what, if Lady Anissina excuses you from your studies tomorrow, why don't we have a picnic?"
"Really? You mean it?!" The girl beamed him, and Wolfram felt his heart warm up again, she may be getting older, but at times like this; she's just his adorable little girl.
"Am I invited as well?" Yuuri asked pleasantly, looking directly at Wolfram.
"Yes." Wolfram offered a small re-conciliatory smile. "You are the King and Greta's father." He said as a matter of fact.
"Of course, we wouldn't dream of going without you!" Greta called out in Yuuri's direction.
Wolfram couldn't help but feel a little hurt at her words. Yet you're willing to leave me behind, just as you did this morning. When Greta looked at him with a small shy smile, Wolfram instantly regretted his reproachful musings and sighed inwardly. I'm sorry Greta, I know you meant nothing by that.
"Wolfram! Where should we have our picnic?" Again with the Wolfram, and not papa.
"I don't know, where would you like to have it?"
"May I suggest a spot?" Conrad spoke for the first time since entering the room. "There are a couple of hills outside the capital, when you look down from them you can see a special species of flower, the place is also surrounded by thousands of butterflies that rest up in the trees at the base of the hills, it's quite a sight."
"You mean the Butterfly Chase?" Cäcilie asked.
Wolfram already knew the answer to his mother's question. I remember that place, I remember going there with Conrad and mother, when I looked down from the hill top at the flowers below; they were shiny and they sparkled under the sun like stars, and there were so many butterflies especially on the trees. I wanted to hold them in my hands and stroke their wings but little big broth- Conrad said if I did that I might break their wings, so instead he sat me on his shoulders and let me get as close as possible to the trees till I was completely surrounded by butterflies.
"Yes that's the place mother." Conrad replied. "The flowers below have yet to bloom." The brown haired man looked at the youngest member. "These particular flowers found at the Butterfly Chase only bloom once every four years. What makes the young buds of the flowers so special is that they have a thin transparent gelatinous substance on the surface."
"Gelatinous substance? You mean like a slimy goo?" Yuuri asked.
"Well that's one way to put it." Conrad laughed lightly when Yuuri pulled a slightly disgusted face. "The gel like substance is completely transparent and coats the surface of the bud, it keeps the inside hydrated and prevents insects from spoiling the bud before it has had a chance to bloom, when the sun's rays hit buds, the whole field below lights up."
"The field just lights up?" Greta inquired.
"Yes, you see the gel like substance; the mucilage covering reflects light off in all different directions." Anissinna explained. "They sort resemble lots of small diamonds under a bright light source." Anisinna eye's suddenly beamed with excitement. "It would the perfect place to test out my latest invention; Mr-Brighter-Than-A-Thousand-Suns-kun" She glanced over at who Gwendal attempted to make himself look busy by hurriedly stuffing pudding into his mouth, doing everything he could to avoid the woman's penetrating gaze.
"Oh I get." Greta smiled. "Wow I'd love to see that."
Anissina nodded. "There are hundreds of these flowers there, the flower itself if called Sun's Envy; the field below turns into a light work display with the beams of light scattering in every direction."
"Oh, that place is beautiful! I used to take Connie and Wolfie there when they were little." Cäcilie added with a dreamy look on her face. "I also took a gentlemen there once-"
"Yes, thank you mother." Gwendal finally spoke cutting his mother off before she could say anymore, she pouted at him and was promptly ignored. "When Your Majesty returns tomorrow we shall have a meeting in my office after dinner." Suddenly the pudding he was enjoying felt too thick and heavy in his mouth. I am not looking forward it.
"A meeting?"
"Yes, there are several things that we must discuss."
Before Yuuri could enquire any further, Günter interjected. "But Your Majesty! What about your studies?!"
"I'm sure His Majesty could easily catch up on a day's work." Anissina spoke. "The Sun's Envy flowers only bloom once every four years and anyway a King should visit a protected site to reassure his people that he has not forgotten about the treasured areas in The Great Demon Kingdom."
"A protected site?" Yuuri asked.
"I agree, after all the King does pay for it to stay protected." Gwendal added, hoping to fend of the headache he knew he would inevitably have after tomorrow's meeting. It will give me more time to prepare, I must also speak with His Eminence who seems to have all to conveniently disappeared again.
"I do?"
Already having forgotten his earlier complaint, Günter decided to enlighten his beloved King. "You see Your Majesty, the goo that you mentioned earlier has pleasant smell which attracts butterflies, there is a species of butterfly called Shinou's Lesser Red Cape that lay eggs on top of the buds." Günter stopped speaking for a moment to make sure he had the King's attention, noticing Yuuri looking at him with interest he let out a small squeal of joy. "When the eggs hatch, the gelatinous nectar which is rich in polysaccharides and can easily be broken down into glucose provide the emerging caterpillar with a ready source food."
"Ah huh." Was all Yuuri said.
"For centuries demons have also used the sticky coating on the buds in perfume making by dissolving it in odourless alcohol." Cäcilie added, "Why, one of my favourite perfumes is made from the jelly of the Sun's Envy buds." She smiled in Conrad's direction. "A gift from your father."
"Sounds, interesting." Yuuri gulped, remembering his encounter with the former Queen in the bathing suit. Note to self, never buy Sun's Envy perfume, Shinou knows what it will do to you. Is it even meant for men?
"It's also used for various other practical purposes; if heated to extremely high temperatures, allowed to cool slowly and a highly concentrated solution of rock salt added to draw out the water out from the gel by osmosis; you get a very resilient adhesive which with further treatment by- "
Before Günter could say anymore Gwendal cut him off, wishing to leave the dining room as soon as possible. "What Lord Von Christ is saying is; the extracts from the Sun's Envy are highly valuable, this led to over exploitation of the flower."
Günter sulked, pushing the pieces of crumb on his desert plate around with a small spoon, he was upset at being cut off and having Yuuri's attention taken away from him.
Gwendal ignored him not bothering to so much as spare the man a second glance before he carried on. "On top of that, many of the flowers were cut down on a massive scale during the war to make adhesives and bonding pastes for joining sheets of metal. The flower is now an endangered species, and given that they only bloom once every few years; the rate of it's proliferation is slow, the area had to be closed off to the common people to prevent further damage." Gwendal carried on heavily, seemingly distracted by something. "It has been kept this way for over six years now, enforced under an Act of Royal Protection."
"Signed by yours truly, the flowers were such pretty little things I couldn't stand to let them die out." Cäcilie said softly. "Now that I think about it, signing that Act of Royal Protection was probably one of the last Acts, if the not the last one I signed as Queen."
"Oh, so are you going to join us at the picnic tomorrow?" Greta asked directing her question at Lady Cäcilie.
"I would love to, but no my dear, you children go have fun." She winked. "I'll be sure to visit them later though."
"So it's settled! We're having a picnic!" Yuuri said excitedly sounding much like a young boy again while Greta laughed.
Gwendal stood up, "I'll go draft a Pardon."
"A Pardon?"
"It so we can enter the protected area." Conrad supplied.
"But I'm the King and it's under my protection right, can't I just go in?"Yuuri asked innocently, Gwendal's eyed twitched. Geez what's bothering him?
"I'm just saying is all." He added more weakly.
"It just a formality Yuuri." Conrad said, using the King's given name made Yuuri smile instantly.
"Oh, okay, in that case please do so, and thank you Gwendal." Yuuri said to the grey haired man who bowed politely.
"Be sure to be back before sundown, remember we will be having a meeting in my office after dinner." He then narrowed his eyes at the red haired woman at the table, remembering her mentioning the monstrosity that she had named Mr-Brighter-Than-A-Thousand-Suns-kun. "The Pardon will not include a permit to test out any of your ridiculous inventions."
"What?!" Anisinna exclaimed, "Ridiculous inventions? I'll have you know-"
"Excuse me." With that Gwendal took long strides leaving the dining room with the inventor hot on his heels. The others started filing out the room one by one in a similar manner. Greta stayed behind to inform the Sangria who just walked in to clear the dishes of what she wanted to take to the picnic tomorrow.
"What a great meal." Yuuri smiled contentedly and Conrad nodded fondly at him.
Wolfram observed Yuuri out the corner of his eyes as Yuuri walked beside him. Day by day he seems to be getting better at being King. He's still a dork though. At least sometimes.
After Greta's thirteenth birthday, Greta had taken to sleeping in a separate room, one close to Anissina's sleeping quarters, Wolfram continued to sleep in the same bed as Yuuri minus the pink nightie, which he had grabbed and burned in a moment of rage and never bothered to replace.
He still owned his peach coloured night dress though, but after several nights of wearing regular pajamas and many questioning looks from Yuuri at the sudden change, Wolfram abandoned the wearing of dresses and hadn't worn one in months.
The fair haired boy remained on his side of the bed, he was reading a book about how and why certain traditions had fallen out of practice in the Great Demon Kingdom over the past thousand years. Why do I even own such a book?
"I'm excited for tomorrow, are you?" Yuuri said as he walked towards the bed in a blue long sleeve top and pants he'd bought back from Earth. The weather was beginning to get warmer now that it was spring, but winter wasn't ready to let go of it's hold just yet.
"I guess." Wolfram said, he down the book on in his hands, conscious of the fact that it would be rude of him to continue reading when his King was talking to him. Funny, how I'm aware of such things now. The blonde boy mused.
"Oh, wait! That's right, Lady Cäcilie said you visited before." The raven haired boy sat on the edge of the bed and rolled up his pajama bottoms to his knees before he started to do some stretches.
"Yeah, maybe once." Wolfram said distractedly noting enviously how much longer and more muscular Yuuri's legs were compared to his own now.
But he had something much more pressing on his mind. This is the moment.
Every minute since he had finished with the tailoress was building up to this point. or perhaps every second since Yuuri had slapped him was counting down to this hour. What does it matter, it was inevitable.
"How old-"
"Yuuri!" Wolfram said suddenly.
The said boy whipped his head around to face Wolfram, alarmed at the sudden exclamation.
"We need to talk." Wolfram said more slowly.
"Okay...about what?"
"Us."
"Us? What about us?" Yuuri said causally as he turned back to stretch his other leg, this annoyed Wolfram.
"Will you turn around! This is important."
"Alright." A short while later, Yuuri tucked himself into bed and faced the young man opposite him. Wolfram had taken the given moment to order his thoughts which suddenly seemed to be racing.
"What's up Wolf?"
"It's about our engagement." Wolfram said firmly. No use in beating around the bush.
"Wolf." The boy whined in a way very unbecoming of a King Wolfram thought. "We've been through this."
"Yuuri-"
"It was an accident, I didn't know that -"
"Yuuri!" Just be calm, don't lose it now or this whole conversation is going to end in an argument and that will take us nowhere. "You don't even know what I'm going to say." Seeing he had the black haired man's attention he carried on, "It's an embarrassment."
"It's an embarrassment?"
"Yes, for me-"
"For you?!" Yuuri's eyes widened comically. "You're the one who publicly screams at me for flirting when I have done no such thing, you-"
"Yuuri! Listen to me and stop cutting me off, I'm trying to say something here." He let out a puff of breath in effort to keep his temper at bay. "Please just listen, we've been engaged for five years now and...people are talking."People have always been talking, not that you'd ever notice.
Seeing Yuuri was about to open his mouth again, he spoke quickly. "I'm not a child anymore, I may not have changed physically as much as you, but I have changed. What's more, it seriously pisses me off when you all treat me like an oblivious fool!"
"Wolfram what's going on?" He looked genuinely confused, his countenance bordering on concern. "What are you talking about I never-"
"You're not a child anymore either, and whether you realise it or not, you do look at other people. You look at women. I've seen the way they giggle when you do." Wolfram tried to keep his voice steady noting it was taking on a dangerously shaky edge. Why must I be so weak?
"You're bring unreasonable, that's not the same as flirting Wolfram, you know that." Yuuri defended himself.
"Fine. But can you honestly tell me that you have never looked at someone outside this farce of an engagement and haven't fantasied about them!" Wolfram could feel his face turning red, he never thought he'd ever say things like this out loud, now that he had, he felt like a volcano on the verge of erupting.
Yuuri didn't say anything but simply looked at him with wide eyes. "Wolf…Wolfram, where is this coming from?"
"This conversation is long overdue Your Majesty." He said viciously. "I know...I know you don't like me."
Yuuri looked momentarily confused. "Wolfram I don't know what you want me to say."
What do I want him to say?
"Yuuri I want you-" Wolfram started unsure of how to proceed.
"You want me? Wolf listen I-"
"No! I don't mean I want you." Wolfram felt hot air passing between his teeth. "Wait, that's not what I'm trying to say at all...I, I know that you don't want me." He curled and uncurled his toes under the bed sheets, they suddenly seemed a lot more interesting than the man next to him. Dammit, why can't I just say break of the engagement? The irony, I've gone around for years calling this man a wimp, when in reality I am also one apparently. He thought to himself with a sick kind of amusement.
"So…?"
"We don't have a future together, do we?"
"Of course we do, you'll always be my trusted-"
"Yuuri! Please just stop, you know what I mean. " Wolfram's throat constricted painfully when he looked at the other's face, he had to swallow a couple times before he could speak again. "Just a say you don't want to marry me."
"I've already said it countless times, you becoming my fiancé was a cultural misunderstanding!" Yuuri's voice had taken on a desperate edge.
"Please Yuuri, just look me in the eyes and just say it." This is the best way, it has to be. Wolfram stared at the man in front of him intently. Yuuri, you need to make your intentions clear and make a decision now while you can think about it rationally and whilst you are not angry with me. His eyes were beginning to itch from the dry stale air circulating in the room, but Wolfram refused to close his lids, because if he blinked, he knew his eyes would moisten. It's the only way either of us can get closure and it saves you calling it off in the heat of the moment and humiliating me further. Fuck, I'm so selfish.
The young King sighed heavily suddenly looking a lot older. Wolfram, I never seem to know what you're thinking, why are you doing this now? " Okay Wolf." He started. "I don't want to marry you, I don't feel anything for you other than friendship." Yuuri gave a sideways glance before looking back at Wolfram straight in his bright green eyes that seemed to suspiciously shine in the candle light. "I'm sorry Wolf." God, I hope you're not going to start crying, what would I do then? Why did you have to bring this up now? Yuuri briefly looked beyond him at the candle on the bed stand, the bright light was hurting his eyes making him see irregular iridescent glowing shapes when he looked to the darkness of the room. I never meant to hurt you.
Wolfram wanted to speak, to say that he had always known but his throat tightened painfully, and that cold jagged icy rock he felt all day seemed to dig in deeper. He could feel his heart beating, the vibrations echoing inside his ears. Why the fuck are you being like this? You knew what he was going to say, so why are you acting so shocked? Dammit why won't my body respond differently? Why are you so weak? You really are a wimp.
Yuuri noticed Wolfram moving his mouth but no words came out.
"Wolfram?...Are you alright?" Yuuri tried to reach out and touch the other male but stopped when Wolfram moved away. "Come on Wolf." Yuuri pleaded, almost whining.
When the green eyed boy finally decided to finally speak after a very tense minute or two, he simply said; "Okay."
"Okay?" Yuuri looked confused. "Okay what?"
"We'll do something about this engagement." There you said it, that wasn't so hard. Wolfram said to himself internally, swallowing a couple times, hoping that would somehow dissipate the choking sensation in his throat.
"What are you going to do?"
Call it off you idiot! What else is there to do?! "We'll figure something out later."
With that Wolfram rolled over and blew out the bedside candle. "Goodnight." He said curtly then he laid down with his back to his King.
"Wait Wolfram, you can't just fall asleep now, we have to talk." The black haired man insisted.
"We can talk more tomorrow." What's there to talk about anyway? It's clear your mind is already made up. He couldn't help but think bitterly. "It's late so just sleep already, we will have to leave very early tomorrow if we want to make it out of town before the midday rush."
Yuuri stared at the outlines of the bed canopy in the darkness for several minutes, the lack of snoring from the young man beside him indicated that he had yet to fall asleep. "Are you mad?"
"No."
"Are you upset then?"
Wolfram said nothing for a few seconds. Why must you drag this on. Just leave it for now. Please Yuuri. He begged mentally. "I'm fine, you should really try and get some sleep."
"You are mad."
Wolfram turned around to face his King, knowing there was only one sure way to shut him up, he offered his King a small sly smile, though in the darkness the other man probably didn't see it. "If you don't fall asleep soon and people see that you're tired tomorrow; they'll get the wrong idea."
"What would-"
"Another kind of sleeping in bed." Wolfram offered dramatically, and realization quickly rushed to the other man.
"Oh." Yuuri humphed, feeling his face heat up. He gave a nervous laugh.
Yeah, I thought that would shut you up. "Yes, exactly, with mother around the implications of baggy eyes can easily get blown out of proportion." Wolfram willed Yuuri to fall asleep, anything so he wouldn't have to hear his voice right now.
"I suppose you're right." He gave out an airy chuckle. "You know, this whole engagement thing has been crazy."
"Nothing has changed yet, save the reminiscing for later."
"I never wanted to hurt you Wolf." Yuuri said suddenly while scratching the light stubble at the side of his cheek. "Well, when I slapped you, I really did want to hurt you, but in the long run-"
"I know what you're trying to say, spare me. I could see this day approaching a mile away." He said as evenly as he could.
Yuuri looked at the silhouette of the man beside him in awe. "You know, you've really matured. A year or two ago, you probably would have bit my head off-"
"You're right, I probably would have but just stop. Stop talking down at me like you're my parent."
"I'm not trying to talk down at you, it was a compliment."
"I've heard worse."
"Sometimes, I just don't get you Wolf."
"I know you don't." For goodness sake Yuuri, just be quiet and let me grieve and cherish my last night beside you in peace and quiet. He let out an uncharacteristic chuckle, though there was nothing funny in all this. You're such an inconsiderate wimp as always when it comes to my heart.
"What's so funny?"
"Absolutely nothing."
No one spoke again for a few minutes but neither of two were asleep. Wolfram although desperate to end the tedious conversation with Yuuri felt the need to say something so the man beside him would not think that he was sulking.
"Before we leave tomorrow, make sure you shave."
"Huh?"
"A king shouldn't say 'huh?'"
"Alright then Mr prim and proper." Yuuri said lightheartedly, also trying to loosen up the tight atmosphere.
"I noticed at dinner today that you've got a patch of prickly looking stubble. We will have to ride through town tomorrow and it's not fitting for a King to look so unshaven and shaggy." Wolfram looked thoughtful for a moment, with no trace of amusement he started, "Unless you intend to grow out a beard but that will require regular maintenance or you run the risk of looking-"
Yuuri laughed genuinely this time. "Wolfram I'm not growing a beard!" Yuuri puffed out. "I'll shave in the morning." With that Yuuri rolled over to his side of the bed with his back to Wolfram.
Once again no one said anything for a moment, the only sound that could be heard was heavy breathing until Yuuri spoke again. "Goodnight Wolfram, and try not to kick me tonight, you don't kick nearly as much as you used to, but just tone it down, yeah?"
Wolfram didn't reply. Maybe soon you won't have to worry about me kicking you, this may be our last night. The thought made his heart ache, he'd slept in this room for years, the familiarity, the comfort and the warmth of sleeping with a another body close by him may soon become a thing of the past.
"Goodnight Yuuri."
Wolfram knew he wouldn't get much sleep tonight.
A/N: Another chapter done! Although I had this chapter finished when I published chapter 1, I just needed to edit which I haven't had a lot of time to do unfortunately.
PLEASE excuse any bad grammatical, punctuation errors, missing words etc. My work has not been read by a secondary source.
This chapter is shorter than Chapter 1 because in Chapter 1 there was a lot of information I had to get out there to set the story.
Not much happening yet I know, the action comes later, please be patient and carry on reading.
Sun's Envy, Butterfly Chase, sometimes I wonder where I pull this stuff out of lol. The idea for Sun's Envy was based off Sundews, but they are not at all the same, for one sundew is a carnivorous plant with tentacles that are covered in mucilage. The Sun's Envy flowers that I made up are a bit like a cross between bell flowers and unopened lilies with the whole area over surface covered in the sticky substance but not where the carpels and stamen are.
And "yellow strawberries and lavender essence curd." Eurrgh! The thought of that palate makes my stomach turn, I have no idea why I put that in. It's fair to say Wolfram, you and I have very different taste at least in my stories.
Please review if you like, I wish you all a happy day. =)