Floating in blackness devoid of light and warmth. That's the only way Yuuri could describe how he was feeling. Lost and alone in a place where love is replaced by hate and everything is a thin wavering reflection of what it should be. A place that exists in moonlight instead of the glorious radiance of the sun.

His outer self was vaguely aware of someone shaking him but he barely perceived the blond shouting in his ear or the worried looks coming from his vassals. He wanted to be alone right now, he wanted to contemplate this solemn void he found himself in in peace. He wanted to be loved. The hate that existed there, like so many chilling hands, tearing at his very being, destroying him. They kept slowly pulling him apart piece by piece, leaving him frightened and exposed. Then a warm golden light enveloped him and the darkness was not so hard to bear. Yuuri fought for awareness and glanced a tan uniform before collapsing into strong arms and relinquishing his restless mind to a deep sleep.

Sunlight wormed it's way across the room and under Yuuri's eyelids causing him to stir. Groggily willing his eyes to open he quickly shut them again thinking his mind must still be dreaming. After several moments Yuuri once again ventured to raise his heavy eyelids. Panic rushed over him as he realized that this was not his room. He had no memory of moving to a different chamber and there were several items on the desk hinting that this room was in use. Surely he couldn't have been kidnapped, it still appeared to be Shin Makoku.

Cautiously, Yuuri got up from the large bed and tiptoed across to the window. It looked down upon the courtyard and he could see the soldiers milling about in the golden light of afternoon.

"Your Majesty?"

"Conrad!" Yuuri nearly jumped a foot in the air not even realizing that the soldiers had entered the room.

"Are you alright, Your Majesty?"

"It's Yuuri! And yes I'm fine, but where am I?"

"Of course, Yuuri. For your comfort it was decided you shouldn't be left to sleep with Wolfram so we moved you to my room since it can be easily guarded."

"Y-Your room?!" a small blush slowly made it's way across Yuuri's cheeks. "B-But then that means...I slept in your bed?!"

"Yes, I hope it was to your liking."

Yuuri's blush spread a little farther and transitioned to a deeper shade of red. He had always imagined what Conrad's room would look like but never thought a chance would come for him to actually see it. Now curious he glanced around a bit more at the sparse decorations. Something was nagging at the back of his mind as Yuuri's eyes traveled from corner to corner, but it kept eluding him every time he grabbed at it. When he had thoroughly scoured the entire room, including the view of the courtyard, the question presented itself clearly.

"Why did I have to be moved Conrad?"

After a few seconds in which Conrad stared at him as if evaluating him, Yuuri attempted to implore his protector to speak the only way he knew how, with his eyes.

"Do you remember what happened last night?"

Puzzled for a moment Yuuri tried to focus on his memory but nothing startling came to mind.

"No, should I?"

This response was obviously wrong when it was returned with a worried look fro Conrad.

"Your Majesty-"

"It's Yuuri!"

"Yuuri, last night you woke up screaming and wouldn't respond to anyone. Eventually you went back to sleep and we decided it would be best not to wake you until you were ready."

Yuuri was sure he must look like an idiot right now with the way he envisioned his dumbfounded expression. He didn't remember waking up at all last night, let alone waking up and screaming. He couldn't even remember if he had any dreams. After several minutes of silence Yuuri felt Conrad's gaze on him and turned with a smile.

"I'm sure it was probably just a nightmare, I must have blocked it out or something," he said cheerfully while heading towards the door, "Hey Conrad, are you coming?"

Reluctantly, he followed Yuuri towards the dining hall, not at all convinced.