Assassination: "Do I love you?"
Chapter 2 – Realization: "I will protect you until I can no longer do so…"
When Wolfram made his announcement, he was met with startled gazes and all he could say was, "What?"
"Wolfram, are you serious?" Gwendal asked his brother. He knew perfectly well that Wolfram loved their king much more than his own life and pride. So why was he giving up on him?
Wolfram nodded and smiled, his eyes hidden by his golden locks, "He never wanted it from the start, I can't do anything about that anymore…" he trailed away.
"I've thought about it last night, and this is the conclusion I was faced with." He continued, "Aniue, can we discuss the treaty now?"
Gwendal nodded, "Very well"
oOo Kyou Kara Maou oOo
Murata's POV
So it has come to this. Wolfram's been pushed too far from the edge and has now given up on Shibuya.
"I've thought about it last night, and this is the conclusion I was faced with." He said.
I pushed my glasses from my nose bridge. So that was what he was thinking about last night… No wonder he 'lost track of time' while he was under the rain.
"We will be leaving for Zephrion tomorrow." Gwendal explained. I looked at Shibuya. I smirked when I saw that he wasn't at all happy about what happened. Oh how I wonder why? Who am I kidding? Of course I know my long time friend's in denial of his not-really-obvious-feelings. But nonetheless, his feelings are true.
I just hope it's not at all too late when he realizes it…
oOo Kyou Kara Maou oOo
"Master Xyrion, a letter from the Demon King has arrived."
A man, seemingly royalty, faced his servant and smirked, "So did they accept?"
"Yes sir" the servant replied.
"Good, prepare the troops" he ordered as he faced the window with a smile of pure evil and satisfaction.
"Time for the fall of the Demon Tribe"
oOo Kyou Kara Maou oOo
"Are you all ready?" Gwendal called out to the others behind him.
"Not that I'm complaining or anything but why are we all going? Aren't we just going to sign a peace treaty then come back?" Yuuri asked as he observed that Günter, Gwendal, Conrad and Wolfram were present, as well as representatives from each of their troops.
"You see, your highness," Günter replied, "Zephrion is a country that was at war with our kingdom before you were appointed as our new maou. They lost many soldiers in that war and so, we cannot erase the probability that this is all just a trap to assassinate you"
"Eh!?"
"Don't worry wimp, that's why we're all here, to protect you until the end" Wolfram said as he looked at Yuuri, sincerity in his eyes.
"Don't call me that! And I don't think its right to doubt our allies" Yuuri said.
"Don't be such a wimp. It's just for safety precaution!" Wolfram reasoned.
Yuuri felt a smile form on his lips. He was really glad that Wolfram hadn't changed at all, apart from the lack of cheater in his sentences. But the feeling of disappointment was still there. Yuuri has no idea how to get rid of it! It was very disturbing and disconcerting.
"I'm glad that nothing has really changed in their relationship" Conrad said to Murata.
"I don't know about that. Shibuya has to hurry up before Lord von Bielefeld completely let goes." Murata said as he advanced his horse.
"What does he mean?" Conrad asked himself.
oOo Kyou Kara Maou oOo
"Are we nearly there now?" Yuuri asked for the umpteenth time from when they departed from the castle.
"Not quite but we're nearing our camp for the night." Conrad answered patiently.
"But you said we were near the camp an hour ago!" Yuuri whined.
"Don't be such a wimp Yuuri! The camp's already right there!" Wolfram said as he pointed ahead of them, which indeed, was the camp.
"At last!" Yuuri exclaimed as he willed Ao to go faster, "I'll race you there, Wolfram!!!"
"Wimp" Wolfram muttered as he smiled and willed his horse to go faster.
"AAAAHHH!!! AO! STOP!! STOP!!!" Yuuri shouted as Ao kept on going.
"Idiot!" Wolfram said in exasperation as he hurried to Yuuri's aid. He caught up with Yuuri's raging horse and pulled its reigns.
"You idiot! Why'd you ride that fast when you knew you couldn't control him yet!?" Wolfram hollered.
"Ahahaha… Sorry" Yuuri said as he smiled stupidly.
"Idiot!" Wolfram sighed as he dragged Yuuri with his horse towards the camp.
Wolfram stopped in his tracks. "What's wrong?" Yuuri asked.
Wolfram held the hilt of his sword and unsheathed it. "Eh?" Yuuri let out in confusion.
"I'll protect you, Yuuri, no matter what the cost is! I'll protect you until I can no longer do so!!!" Wolfram exclaimed as he dismounted from his horse and started to attack unseen figures.
"What's going on!?" Yuuri asked his busy ex-fiancé.
"Look in front of you! We told you this was a trap!" Wolfram said as he fought two black figures simultaneously.
Yuuri looked in front of him and saw that the others were also busy fighting other black figures. Yuuri was thrown out of his reverie when Wolfram snarled at him, "Don't just stand there! Help me!"
Yuuri took Morgif and unsheathed him. "Geh, I don't even know how to handle him!"
Morgif groaned as his master complained.
Someone attacked Yuuri but Yuuri successfully blocked it.
"YUURI!!!" Wolfram shouted.
Yuuri was distracted and all he saw was a swipe of a blade and a body pushing him to the ground.
"Aw! That hurt!" Yuuri whined.
"Hey…" the blonde on top of Yuuri panted, "Are you alright? Hurt… anywhere?"
Yuuri shook his head. "Thanks for that."
"Good. There's no need to thank me" Wolfram continued between pants. "It's my sworn duty to protect you" Wolfram hale his side and stood up, back facing Yuuri. Yuuri's eyes widen in horror.
"W-Wolf- Wolfram!" Yuuri protested as he saw Wolfram continue to fight despite the deep slash he had on his back.
'Wolfram! He didn't get hurt from fighting but from protecting me!' Yuuri thought horrified, "Wolfram! Stop it! Don't fight anymore! You're hurt! You shouldn't!"
But Wolfram continued to fight, protecting his king, his love.
"Wolfram! I ORDER YOU TO STOP!!!" Yuuri bellowed desperately as he saw Wolfram hack blood but nonetheless, continued fighting.
"I-I'm s-so-rry… Your majesty… but…" He looked at Yuuri in the eye, "That's an order… I cannot oblige to…" he stated as he stood up once more.
"Your majesty!!!" Yuuri heard Günter cry. Wolfram looked around to see that someone was about to stab Yuuri.
"YUURI!!!"
oOo Kyou Kara Maou oOo
Yuuri waited for the sharp pain of being stabbed but it never came. He opened his eyes to see an angry Wolfram staring at him, "You… idiot!!! Why… didn't you dodge that!!!?" he screamed within sharp intakes of breath.
"W-Wolfram! Why!?" Yuuri said as his eyes began to water as he saw Wolfram fall onto his arms, covered in blood…
Wolfram opened his eyes and looked at Yuuri, "Because, it is my duty to protect you…" he said weakly. Tears were flowing from Yuuri's eyes as he hugged Wolfram, using his healing powers, and whispered, "I'll be the one to protect you now! I won't let them hurt you any longer!"
"You idiot…" Wolfram stated weakly as he pushed Yuuri and he hugged Yuuri. Wolfram gasped.
"W-Wolfram!!! Stop it!!! I told you that I'll be the one to protect you this time!" Yuuri ordered desperately.
"Idiot, there's no need to protect me because, the one they're after is you… Which is why, we must… I must protect you!"
"Well I don't care! Stop it! Just stop!" Yuuri pleaded as he cried.
Günter and the others were now with them, fighting those who tried to kill Yuuri. Wolfram opened his eyes, "Yu- uri…" he murmured as he forced himself to seat up, despite Yuuri forcing him back down. Wolfram raised his hands and summoned his maryoku, 'I will do everything in my power to protect you!', and emitted it towards the guy who's releasing arrows towards Yuuri.
"I… will… protect you!" Wolfram shouted as he burned the guy but unfortunately, he had already released the arrows with esoteric stones as their point.
Wolfram once again, blocked the attack by hugging Yuuri.
"Wolfram!!!" several people shouted.
"I told you… despite everything you've done… I forgive you… and despite every rejection you gave me… I will always protect you… until I can no longer… do so…" Wolfram said weakly.
"Wolfram…" Yuuri cried as he saw Wolfram's pained expression. He desperately summoned all his maryoku and tried to heal Wolfram. He took out the arrows that were buried onto the blonde's back
Wolfram held Yuuri's hand and said, "Esoteric stones were used for that arrow… Don't waste your maryoku on me…"
"What are you saying!? This is not a waste of maryoku, you idiot!" Yuuri said ignoring Wolfram's protest for being called an idiot.
More attacks came at them and Yuuri was prepared to take them all on but flame rose from the ground and covered them both, acting as a barrier.
"Wolfram, don't! Don't use your maryoku! I can protect myself!!! Please stop protecting me with you damned life!" Yuuri pleaded as he sent more of his maryoku to heal the stubborn mazoku.
"Yuuri… I finally get it now… Yuuri, I understand now that you cannot love me as I do… Yuuri, you're free now… I have broken the engagement… I really didn't want to at first but…" he stopped then continued, "Just promise me that you'll remember that I always loved you despite all your rejections and wimpiness… And always…be happy because that's how I want you to be…" Wolfram said weakly, between pants... smiling at his king. "How can you smile in the condition you're in!?' Yuuri asked in his head.
"What are you talking about!? I won't let you die here!" Yuuri cried, 'not when I just realized…'
"I'm glad I was able to protect you…" He raised his hands to touch Yuuri's face and caressed it, wiping away his tears.
"Don't… Stop crying you wimp… This is what you've always wanted, right?" Wolfram continued as his eyes began to water as well.
"Yuuri, just this once…" Wolfram said as he pulled Yuuri's face closer to his, "Please don't push me away…" and his lips met the maou's.
Yuuri was dumbfounded. His tears kept on flowing like there's no tomorrow, which is not entirely possible for the person now lying on his arms…
The person who had given everything to protect him…
The person who loved him despite everything he's done to hurt him…
The person he now realized…
…was the most important person to him…
Yuuri closed his eyes as he savored the prince's kiss, still trying to heal. "I love you" the blonde whispered as he smiled… "Goodbye… Yuuri…" as he let go…
He opened his eyes when he felt the mazoku's hand go limp and slowly fell to the ground along with the dissipating of the flames that protected them both… "Wolfram…"
oOo Kyou Kara Maou oOo
The flame dissipated to reveal the sovereign maou. His aura emitted a strong negative energy. He was still holding the blonde in his arms, desperately trying to heal his fatal injuries.
The maou looked at the people around him; the battle was still going on with the leader of Zephrion standing right in front of him with his men in front of him.
Conrad and the others were supposed to attack them, "Don't, Conrad… Leave them to me" he stated.
Conrad was about to protest but he saw the tears that flowed from the maou's eyes and the anger that shone in them, he didn't dare say it.
"You dare show yourself in front of me after all that you've done!?" the maou boomed.
The leader of Zephrion seemed to be a little bit taken aback by the maou's commanding voice but regained his composure, "You think you're so tough just because you're the demon king? I don't think so! You're just like us all! You're nothing special! So why do we need to bow down to you!? And what can you possibly do!? You're completely out numbered! Attack!"
Arrows rained towards the maou but before they could even reach him and his beloved, the arrows turned to ashes in a second.
"You dare compare me with you? You insolent fool! You are completely blinded by your power and sought more of it by killing innocent people!" He caressed Wolfram's face, his tears continued to flow, his eyes narrowed dangerously as he glared at the leader, his aura was getting even stronger.
"Yuuri" Conrad whispered.
"No one can stop him now… He will pass out judgment as he sees fit… And I think, we won't be signing any peace treaty today" Murata said.
Conrad nodded, "Günter, can you send Gisela here right away, all of us need to be healed… especially Wolfram"
"You dare level me with you!? For you filthy pest! You killed precious people for your own selfishness… You've killed…" Yuuri shed more tears… "Although it is not in my nature to shed blood," You killed Wolfram! He looked at the Zephrions in the eye "Your actions are unforgivable!"
All four elements gathered before the maou and attacked all of the Zephrion army together with its leader.
"JUSTICE BE DONE!!!" echoed all throughout the land, accompanied by the silent sobs of the sovereign, holding the person he loved the most in his arms.
"I shall give no mercy to those who does not deserve it!" the maou said gravely as he looked at the soldiers who have perished within the battle and to Wolfram.
The elements have left alive all and the leader was fatally injured and scarred permanently. The army was just injured albeit gravely..
"You" the maou stated to one of Zephrion's soldiers, "tell you people that you are to elect a leader that is not a selfish fool like him"
"Yes sir!" The soldier replied in dread.
oOo Kyou Kara Maou oOo
All has calmed… The elements have settled and the sovereign returned to being Yuuri Shibuya.
"Wolfram…" Yuuri cried as he hugged Wolfram whilst healing the boy's wounds, "Hey…" he said while poking the prince's face. "Wake up? Please? Hey, you still need to reprimand me for being a cheater right? You still have to protect me and stop me from getting into trouble! Wolf…" Yuuri's tears overflowed once more and it continued to fall on his beloved's features.
"Why won't you wake up?" he murmured weakly, desperately trying to reach the blonde's mind. He kept sending his maryoku to heal him, "Please, just wake up… or at least tell me that you're alright and that things would go back to how they were…"
"I'll slap you a million times, I'll marry you whenever you want to, you can sleep in my room forever, you can beat me up for being a wimp, I'll take care of you… I'll love you… I'd give anything! I'd do anything! Just please…"
Yuuri hugged Wolfram even tighter. "Give me one last chance…"
A hand touched the king's shoulder, "Conrad… I- I…" Yuuri then unwillingly surrendered to the fatigue that overcame his body after using his powers.
But never did he let go of Wolfram for a second after giving into the darkness…
oOo Kyou Kara Maou oOo
Yuuri's POV
"Yuuri…"
Someone was calling me…
"You cheater!"
I know that voice…
"Yuuri, you wimp!"
I felt relieved hearing his voice again… The voice of the man who never failed me…
"I don't think that's a good idea…"
The person who was always honest… full of pride…
"You idiot!!!"
The person who stood by me through every decision I made…
"Let go! You'll fall too!" I heard my voice shout.
"Then I'll fall with you…" his gentle voice replied.
His smile… The smile that was flashed just for me and me alone…
"I'm breaking the engagement" my heart froze…
Something's not right…
"I'll protect you until I can no longer do so…"
His words kept on playing in my head…
"That's an order I cannot oblige to…"
"Idiot, there's no need to protect me because, the one they're after is you… Which is why, we must… I must protect you!"
"Despite everything you've done, I forgive you and despite every rejection you gave me… I will always protect you… until I can no longer… do so…"
"I love you…"
"Please don't push me away…"
'I won't… I'll never push you away again! Don't…' I thought as I see him smiling at me…
"Always be happy because that's how I want you to be…"
How can I be!? How can I if you're…
"Yuuri…"
"Good–" Don't…
"–bye"
I wanted to scream out… to stop him…to pull him back… but my body betrayed me… I couldn't move… all I could do was watch him drift further and further away from me… to let my tears flow uncontrollably… I wanted to scream out to him the feelings that I never got to tell… the feelings that would've remained unheard by the person I cherish deep within my heart…
"I love you…"
oOo Kyou Kara Maou oOo
Gwendal's POV
'Our king's really intricate' was the first thought that came to my mind when I saw him distressed over my youngest brother's fatal injuries. I'm not saying I'm not worried. Of course I am! He is my brother! But his majesty, Yuuri, was just friends with him so why was he so worked up about it? Well, he was always well-known for being compassionate to everyone. I guess my brother's no different.
I saw him desperately clinging to Wolfram saying incoherent things. I'm also worried about Wolfram. I'm half blaming myself for not being able to protect him. When he was shot by the esoteric arrows, I was going to go to him, I think we all were trying to but he cast his maryoku to prevent anyone and everything from coming near them.
I was so pissed at my brother's behavior. He was being too careless! Yes, he was successfully protecting the king by doing this but he's going to die if he continues this recklessness!
"Wolfram! Stop this!" I call out to him, not really expecting him to hear me or obey but I still had to try. I was about to meet the flames when an opponent blocked me. I used my maryoku then and literally dug the grave of those who came near my brother's barrier. Conrad, Günter and the other soldiers kept on fighting and protecting his Eminence.
When the fire dissipated, there was the maou. He, in my great disbelief, nearly killed the king of Zephrion. He was in great distress and as I saw the image of what he was holding possessively, I realized why. He was crying. This was the first time this has happened.
After passing out his judgment, he returned to being Yuuri and he goes on muttering incoherent things. I wanted to go near him and look at my brother's condition…
But by feet won't move and I realized, that for the first time in my life…
I was actually scared…
oOo Kyou Kara Maou oOo
"Goodbye…"
"Wolfram!" Yuuri awoke, instantly sitting up. Is face was covered in cold sweat. And as he remembered what happened earlier, his face became somber and his eyes watered.
"Yuuri"
Yuuri's head shot up as a solitary tear fell from his dark orbs.
"Conrad!" Yuuri gulped before asking the question whose answer he desperately needed, "W- where's Wolfram? I- Is he alright?"
Conrad's face smiled a sad smile…
"No… Please… Don't tell me h- he's–!" Yuuri stammered as he buried his face into his hands.
Conrad smiled gently and went to his nephew's side and caressed his back.
Yuuri sobbed, "Conrad, it's my fault! I couldn't protect myself! I couldn't protect him! If… If I could've just–"
"Yuuri, Wolfram's alright…" Conrad confessed with a hint of amusement in your voice.
Yuuri's head shot up in disbelief, tears kept flowing despite his godfather's earlier news, "What? B- But you said–"
"I didn't say anything." Conrad corrected. Yuuri looked away and wiped his tears while muttering, "Jerk"
Conrad smiled and put his hand on Yuuri's shoulder as the king continued to cry. "Would you have preferred it otherwise?"
Yuuri shook his head vigorously, "No! Of course not! I wouldn't even wish for THAT to happen! Ever!" he muttered firmly.
"Conrad, where is Wolfram?" Yuuri asked the brown-haired soldier.
Conrad held out his hand to Yuuri, "Do you wish to visit him?" he asked with a comforting smile.
Yuuri accepted his hand and nodded his head. "I do"
oOo Kyou Kara Maou oOo
"You know Yuuri, after you passed out, we had a hard time releasing Wolfram from you embrace. You had such a death grip that we just had to give up trying to pry him off you. You were with him for 3 days" Conrad shared.
Yuuri blushed, "So how'd you get him off me then?"
Conrad chuckled, "We didn't. You did. When I was in your room, you started muttering in your sleep and you just released him."
"What did I say?" Yuuri asked whilst cocking his head to the side.
Conrad looked at him and smiled, "You said…"
"I said…?"
"That you loved my brother…"
oOo Kyou Kara Maou oOo
a/n: the quote "Always be happy because that's how I want you to be" came from my older sister. She shared it with me while telling me about her friend that was depressed. It was part of quote she told him.
I don't think of it as great, really… Hmm… Aww… I'm depressed TT
Reviews please!
-Unknownymous.Cyclone05