A/N: Ahhh! It took me quite some time to finish this chapter, eih? I'm sorry… My college really took most of my free time. Since college days are over, I can now focus on the next chapter! Yaaaaaaay! *getting excited*
Chapter 2: Backfired!
"Julia san?" Yuuri called to himself, softly.
Don't go any further, Yuuri…
Suddenly…
Yuuri felt that he is being drawn away from his body. He choked on suffocation. He couldn't breathe. He needs air. Just when he almost passed out, he could breathe again. He inhales the air harshly, filling his lungs with it. When he finally came to his senses, he then realized that he is in a place that he does not know. Still gasping for air, he stands up slowly. The surrounding is in a sky-blue atmosphere. The air here is fresh and clean, and makes you feel alive and powerful just by breathing it. Yuuri stood still, stunned when he saw what's beneath him. He saw Wolfram running and together running by Wolf, is in fact himself. "An illusion?" Yuuri said to himself, disbelieving. So, he rubs his eyes. Thought that his eyes are lying to him. Still, seeing himself running alongside Wolfram, Yuuri is now confused. He doesn't know what to think, he looks around for a way to escape the sky-blue haven. Then, at that very moment, he thought he saw Julia standing in front of him. He blinked. "Julia san?" Yuuri called. However, came no reply from this lady whose name is Julia.
"Ju…" Yuuri was cut off when Julia said something which shocked Yuuri.
"What did you just say?" Yuuri said.
"Yuuri, you heard me." Julia replied, ever so calmly.
"You know I can't do that!"
"I know you can't, I know I can't. But you must!" Julia paused. "Remember here, Yuuri. You're a King, people need you, alive!" Julia continued.
"How could you say that?" Yuuri sobbed. "You're asking me to abandon Conrart, my god-father?"
"They are not like anyone you've faced before. Consider this situation and change your mind. Just this once!"
"I will not abandon Conrart and you know that." Yuuri said confidently.
"At least stay at a safe house until Conrad returns…" Julia pleaded this time.
"This talk is going nowhere, Julia san."
"Very well. Take good care of yourself. Keep this in mind. Conrad will never forgive himself if any should happen to you." Julia said finally.
With her last sentence, the sky-blue haven starts to fade, and Yuuri begins to feel the same suffocation he felt earlier on. Yuuri chokes for air, desperate for it.
Wolfram heard something unfamiliar that seems like a heavy gasping. He turns towards Yuuri, and saw him sweating. Wolfram slows down his pace and held onto Yuuri's shoulders, to check on him.
"Yuuri! What's wrong?" Worried Wolfram shouted desperately to his choking fiancé. Yuuri didn't respond. "Yuuri!"
"I-I'm fine…" Yuuri coughed. "Just needed some air." He continued, giggling at the same time.
"You wimp! You had me worried back there!"
"I'm sorry, Wolf." Yuuri apologized innocently. And of course, Wolfram blushed.
"L-Let's just keep going. We're almost there." And Yuuri nods rapidly.
"Julia san, I will never abandon Conrart. No matter what!" Yuuri said to himself, or rather, to Julia san.
Wolfram halts when he saw a cavern. Yuuri came in after Wolfram. Wolf held up an arm to block Yuuri from going in further. "This should be it." Wolfram said silently. "Let's get inside. Follow my lead." Wolfram steps forward, without hesitating, he grabs his fiancé by the wrist. They both creep gently. When they are by the window, Wolfram tries peeking into the house, however no luck. The curtain draw shuts every single view from outside. Being the experienced soldier he's been trained for, he looks around with full concentration.
"Stay here for awhile. Let me look for an entrance into the house." Yuuri just nod. And straight after that, he swiftly walks to the back of the house and that's the last sight of Wolfram.
Dupp Dupp, dupp dupp
Yuuri's heart is pumping heavily
Dupp Dupp, dupp dupp
Yuuri is feeling very anxious.
Dupp Dupp, dupp dupp
Yuuri is scared of what might happen
Dupp Dupp, dupp dupp
Yuuri is worried of Wolfram and Conrart
Then he saw a figure running towards him, excited. It was Wolfram. He hurriedly returned to where Yuuri was left and by not wasting another second, he pulls Yuuri by his sleeve and leads the way to the back door. "This should be the safest way in." Wolfram said. He pushes down the knob whilst pushing the door simultaneously, the door creeks to it. Wolfram enters the room and Yuuri follows him closely. The door creeks again and shuts by itself, from the wind, which made Yuuri jump from the sudden door shut. Once again, they creep and creep. It's somehow becoming a habit for them to creep wherever they go. No matter how careful they creep, they will always be someone more experienced who can creep up to them.
"Hey!" A figure behind them called, caused Wolfram and Yuuri's heart to leap out from their mouth. Both of them turn towards the voice abruptly, and saw the figure walks closer towards them. Both of them take a long look at the figure with an alarming stance. Their eyes took longer than they thought to adjust to the poor lighting, as if dazed. When their eyes finally adapted to the ill-lighted hallway, their eyes set on the huge body figure standing directly right in front of them.
"What do you think you're doing here?" the figure said again. And this buff bodily figured man is someone they know of very well.
"Josak!" Yuuri beamed.
"Hi, bo-chan. and Lord Wolfram." He smiled. "You do realize that this is a dangerous place. You shouldn't be here."
"We know! But I wanted to save Conrart… I know he's in danger." Yuuri said.
"I'm just protecting this wimp here." Wolfram said sarcastically, pointing to Yuuri.
"I'm on my way to save him anyways, since Heika wants it so much, then there's no helping it." Josak said, happily. Smiling and at the same time, being aware of his surroundings. "Let's go then, captain's this way." Josak continued.
Three of them walks through the hallway slowly; creeping in the corridor where there is no light is lit. Josak is leading the other two through the worn out hallway, Yuuri could swear that he just shivered at the cold and eerie feeling that he just felt. Goosebumps began appearing on Yuuri's arms and neck. The end of the hallway that they're currently walking in and the room on the left is where Conrad is held capture – according to Josak. Josak stops by the frame of the door and pushes the door slightly, peeking through it, he saw Conrad. He nodded to the other two.
Just as before Yuuri could touch the door and enter the room, he overheard a voice from the room opposite from where they stood.
"WHAT? What do you mean you've lost them? They're just KIDS!"
After listening to the argument that their enemy just had, three of them didn't hesitate to enter the room, thinking it was a good chance. Yuuri pushes the door slowly, careful not to produce any creeks to it. He steps in, followed by Wolfram and then Josak. Conrad is fast asleep when they entered. Through Yuuri's eyes, Conrad seems at ease. This made Yuuri relieve. But then, Conrad will never sleep or rest on such situation. Three of them realize of it at the same time. They then made forward to where Conrad is.
Sir, do you think they heard our fake argument?
Are you kidding me? Have my plans failed before? Of course they heard it for sure.
"Conrart!" Yuuri was shocked when he saw the condition of his god-father.
"How dare them!" Wolfram roared when he saw his brother's bad condition. Conrad is badly beaten. How bad was he beaten, would be another story to tell. Yuuri and Wolfram couldn't bear accepting the fact that Conrad was defeated by these bastards.
"Worry later, we should leave here now." Josak said, breaking the silence. "I'll carry captain."
Yuuri didn't budge. For once, he feels pure rage. He wants to beat the hell out of the bastard who had beaten his god-father. Rage and furious slowly consumes Yuuri's pure heart, thanks to Wolfram, he snapped out from his deep thoughts of revenge.
"Let's go, Yuuri." Wolfram whispered.
"Carry him carefully." Yuuri said under his breath.
"As you wish, Heika." Josak answered cheerfully. Josak bend slightly next to Conrad. Pulls Conrad's arm over his neck then he stands slowly. Conrad's lifeless body rests over Josak's shoulder. For further support, Josak holds onto his captain's legs, so that doesn't clumsily drop his captain. Just a little more adjustments by making sure Conrad is comfortable, they're then good to go.
"Let's go kiddos." Josak said, turning towards Yuuri and Wolfram.
Should we do it now?
Shh~ Shh~ Patients there, my men.
Wolfram's swiftly moves to the door, presses on the door knob and pull slightly and peeks out to the hallway. For some time, he is finally confident that there're no enemies around, he nods. Josak was alert, and steps out the door after Wolfram did. Yuuri follows their step.
Ah… There they are. A little while more, my men.
Wolfram leads them through the cold slightly-lit hallway, they follow Wolfram's lead and by no time at all, they made it out without any problems at all.
"Wolf… Isn't this too easy?" Yuuri said, suspiciously. Wolfram was a little surprise when Yuuri asked. He thought the same too, but never realize Yuuri would ask about it.
"I agree with young master. I smell danger." Josak said afterwards.
"Wolf?" Yuuri called. But Wolf was silent. So, Yuuri called again. No reply. Annoyed, Yuuri turn to face Wolf then realizes the disturbing expression shown on Wolf's face. Yuuri was flustered, so he looked at Josak, and saw the same expression on Josak's as well. "What are they looking at?" Yuuri thought. Yuuri turns towards the direction where Wolf and Josak are looking. At the same time, Wolfram grabs for his sword and stands in an alert stances. Josak couldn't do anything much in the condition that he is in. He does what he does best. Remain calm and making sure his captain is comfortable. What Yuuri saw made him stutter.
"We've been discovered." Josak said the obvious.
At the same door that they used to escape, they're looking at figures standing. Looking back at them are the chief's men, which clearly outnumber the four trapped Mazoku.
Wolfram instinctively makes a big step in front of Yuuri, Josak and his lifeless brother. In his battle stance, he yelled out to the enemy. "What do want from us, old man?"
"Oih oih, I'm not that old, y'know? I might even be younger than you Mazoku. Anyways, it's your demon king and the Lion. Surrender them over." Glaring at Wolfram, the chief said seriously, "And why I want them is none of your concern."
Yelling out "DAMN HUMANS!", the young prince simply charge towards the chief. "Wolfram!" Josak called immediately but clearly, the Wolfram we know wouldn't (or couldn't) listen to cries like this. He is a hot-tempered young man. Once he loses it, temper controls over his mind and body, mentally and physically that easily.
Confusion struck when in an instance Wolfram was charging confidently towards the enemies, he suddenly got blown off back to where he was earlier. Wolfram gave an unpleasant cry of pain. Shock as Yuuri is feeling, he feels very confused as well. Josak and Wolfram feels the same way too. This leaves them in a stunned. They stood there, not moving any slight muscle, stoned. Wolfram took the time to stand, and as he stood, he gives a hard rough breath. Not too sure what the reason is. Anxiety? Rage? Excitement? Or agony? Finally, Wolfram got back on to his two feet, slowly straightening his body upright and stabilizing his body.
"Are you okay, Wolf?"
"This is nothing!"
"Young prince, be grateful that you managed to dodge my men's attack well. That attack was meant to end your life there and then. I'm impressed that you could even react that fast despite your temper." The chief is grinning childishly, giving Wolfram applause as he said. "Lemme say this again, al'right? Hand over your king and Sir Weller. I'll spare your lives if you do so."
"Never! We won't hand Yuuri over to you low lives!" Wolfram replied right after the chief completed his sentence.
"Let's just talk this over. This doesn't have to end in bloodshed." The chief persuaded.
"Same here." Followed by Josak, calmly. "We'll never hand them over to you." It pleases Yuuri everytime when his companion that he trusts most, shows their loyalty to him.
"You are making the worse mistake of your life." The chief narrows his eyes to an evil glare. "You will regret this."
Right after the chief finished his sentence, Josak heard a slight groan. He turned to Conrad.
"Hehe! Had a good nap, captain?" Josak said teasingly. Yuuri and Wolfram quickly turn to Conrad. Yuuri, as usual, is the happiest lot when he saw Conrad is awake.
"Well, well, if it isn't the Lion. No point anyways, you've failed to convince your companions as to why we're here today." The chief said, looking seriously at Conrad. As for Conrad, his face grew from tired and pain to shock and regret. "Because of you, they will suffer. Suffer which is so unthinkable that they wish for me to kill them!"
Josak puts his captain down and helping him up by hanging Conrad's arm his shoulder. "Allow me to talk it over with them! Yuu- His majesty will surely help you out!" The usual calm-kind Conrad seemingly agitated. "You don't have to do this…"
"I can, and I will! You slept too long. You are too late to convince them, Sir Weller Conrad. I have made my decision." With a flick of the chief's index finger pointing towards Yuuri and the rest, men around the chief charges, yelling happily.
Conrad who is still weak, got his will power from out of nowhere, and gave a final cry.
"No! We can still talk about this! Stop!"
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. Dupp Dupp :
- Supposedly a heart's beating.
3. Bo-chan :
- Young master or the person younger but with higher ranking. Used only on males.
4. Heika :
- Your Majesty.
5. Mazoku.
- Demon race.
A/N : Do not ever ever think reviewing is insignificant! It might be insignificant to some of you but, to writers, it's like… It's like a cigarette for a smoker, drugs for drug addict, coffee for staying awake, or a slap across the face in order to be fresh.
Yes, that is how much we need review. It's what makes us WANT to write. Not because we're forced by our friends or just to feel out our free-time. But if you still think it is insignificant, I won't blame.
Anyways, do please review on this or even review to compare which is better between this and the first version of this story The Cursed Ruby. I appreciate it so much if you guys would go a little extra for me! Oh! It doesn't matter how you want to review. It'll hurt though, but I will accept any flares as a step to improve my story. BE HONEST! xD
