Chapter 3 begins! Thank you all for sticking with me so far. I cannot express how much I love Gunter. He is such a sweetie! Anyway, enough of that. What will Gunter do?
The week dragged on. Each day, Gunter spent time with a sleeping Yuri, wrapped up all the loose ends around the castle, and showed the assistant librarian how to do the job by himself. There was never a lost moment. Each second was accounted for so that Gunter could feel comfortable leaving the king on his own. By the end of the day, Gunter would collapse onto his bed, sometimes not even undressing, and on his way to sleep thinking that he forgot to eat. His final thought of each day was just how much he was going to miss that black haired young man.
Gunter was so wrapped up in his own suffering that he never noticed the worried glances of his friends and subordinates around him. Rumors were flying around the castle that Gunter had caught ill, as pale and frail as he started looking. After four days, Gwendal took it upon himself to pull his friend aside and figure out what was going on. He finally found him in the library, polishing one of the bookshelves.
"Gunter," Gwendal called out. The adjutant didn't seem to hear him. "Hey, Gunter." This time he tapped his friend on the arm.
"Great Shino! Oh Gwendal, it's you. Did you need something?"
"Actually, yes. Conrad and Yozak should be back today and I was wanting to make sure you were in my office so we could discuss whatever they find."
"Ah, okay Gwendal. Uh, should I come now?"
"That would be fine. Could you set up a tray for tea?"
"Tea. Yes. I-I can do that."
Gwendal dismissed himself then with the hopes that Gunter would actually remember to come to his office. It was true that the two younger men should be back today, but that was definitely not the only reason he needed his long time friend to show up. He rubbed a weary hand over his face and noticed that his eyebrow was twitching. Gunter was not the only one worried about Yuri. The whole castle was on its toes waiting for their king to wake up.
o.O.o
Gunter made his way to Gwendal's office less than an hour later with a tea cart in tow. He hadn't eaten a thing in four days and he knew that somehow Gwendal knew it, which is why the General requested the tea. Gunter swallowed back the nausea that pushed up his throat. The food would never stay down, but he prayed to Shino that the tea wouldn't come back up if he could force himself to drink it.
He reached the office door and raised a hand to knock. Gwendal must have heard the tray coming, because he opened the door as the adjutant's hand swung forward. He motioned Gunter inside and to a chair without saying a word. Slowly he made each of them a cup of tea, not even offering to fix Gunter a plate of food. That just confirmed that Gwendal knew he hadn't been eating. Gunter tried to take a sip from the cup he had been offered, but the smell wafted past his nose made his stomach clench in protest.
"Gunter, I'm worried about you. We've talked about this. You cannot leave Heika alone."
Gunter choked down a sip of tea. "We have talked about it, and I can leave. Besides, Yuri is not alone."
Gwendal raised an eyebrow, unnoticed by his long time friend. "Since when have you started calling him by his given name?"
"W-what do you mean?" Gunter was afraid of what the other man could be talking about.
"Gunter, you love him, and if my guess is right, he loves you too."
"I do love him," Gunter almost whispered. "But he has always avoided me and treated me with less respect than everyone else. Even Anissina gets more attention from him than I do. I just think I should leave."
"Gunter, my old friend, we've seen far too many battles to be having this argument. It would be better if we all stick together. You have always tried to outcast yourself. Don't worry so much. We'll figure this out."
"Ah, yes. I know. It's just in my nature to worry overly much about everything." The chuckle that Gunter let out sounded fake even to his own ears.
Before Gwendal could reply, Conrad and Yozak burst into the room. Both looked like they hadn't slept in weeks, and both looked grim. Gwendal motioned for them to sit on the couch near his desk and made the two younger men cups of tea. Yozak dragged the cart of food closer and attacked it like a man starved.
"So what have you learned? Did you find anything in the other villages?"
"Well, one village knew nothing of what had been happening here," Yozak mumbled around a mouthful of cake. "They hadn't been touched at all."
Conrad was a little more reserved about his eating. "The other four villages we visited had been attacked, but no one had any black marks on them. It looked like whoever attacked them was looking for something." Once he had finished his comment, he then took a gentlemanly bite of cake.
"Did anyone know what they were looking for?" Gunter asked.
Both men shook their heads. Conrad spoke up again so Yozak could eat. "Each house in those villages were ransacked. None of the attackers asked about anything or even said a word. Every one of them was dressed head to toe in black, and all that could be seen was their eyes."
"It sounds like the man who attacked me last week." Gunter said in surprise.
"Gunter, do you have any idea who could be behind this? The two times that they've made a move on the castle, they keep targeting you specifically, so there must be some reason they are trying to take you out." Gwendal had gone into General mode.
Gunter shook his head. "I've been trying for several days now to figure out who I wronged in the past, but I can think of nothing and no one, which is why I'm leaving tonight."
His last comment was met by gasps from the other three men in the room. Yozak even started choking on his cake. Conrad pounded on his back while shooting a shocked look at the silver haired man in the chair. Gwendal had jumped up from his chair in surprise They thought they'd have at least a few more days to come up with a plan.
"Why?! What do you think you can accomplish by leaving now? Especially if you leave before Heika wakes up!"
"I know it may seem stupid to some, but this is the way I can show how much I truly care about our Heika. I cannot keep placing him in danger, and if I keep being attacked, he may yet again get caught in the crossfire."
Gunter stood up, causing the pair on the couch to leap to their feet. The tone of Gunter's voice struck everybody and they all knew he didn't expect to live once he left the castle. Conrad moved lightning quick to block Gunter's way to the door. He had never seen his mentor look so defeated. Indeed, he never thought anything could take Gunter down so low.
"What is Yuri going to think? You were upset that he may forget the kiss you two shared, but how upset will he be to find that his closest adviser has left him? Do you know what he will do?" Conrad shouted at the sorcerer. "He will go after you! He's my godson! I don't know what I'll do if he loses his life."
"You can't let him! Please, Conrad." Gunter looked at the men behind him. "Yozak, Gwen, I need to do this. I need to protect him in my way. It'll be better for everyone if I just go."
"That is a load of crap, Gunter Von Christ, and you know it."
The occupants of the room yelped simultaneously. The Maoh had somehow made his way into the room without being noticed. After recovering from their shock, they realized that the Maoh was there in Yuri's body. Gunter was the first to speak up.
"H-heika! How are you out of bed?"
"Is he awake?" asked Gwendal.
"No, he is still recovering in here," the demon king tapped the side of his head. "I was able to conjure up enough maryoku to get him here. It felt like something was going really wrong, and I was right. I don't have much time, but please listen to me. He may not remember that you kissed him, but I do. He loves you, Gunter, more than you could ever dream of, even if he hasn't realized it yet. If you leave before he wakes up and is able to talk to you, you will ruin him."
"I can't stay. My presence puts him in danger."
"Your leaving will crush him and put him in even more danger. He needs to rest, even after he wakes up, and chasing you across the country is no way for him to rest. Conrad is right in saying that Yuri would go after you." The Maoh raised his hand and ran his fingers gently through Gunter's hair. The adjutant couldn't stop the tears that spilled down his cheeks. "Please," the demon king whispered, "please promise me that you will stay and take care of him. He needs you now more than ever." Gunter could do nothing but nod his agreement. The pain in the demon king's voice froze Gunter in place. "Besides, dear one, I have ways to entice you to stay. You have no idea what I am capable of." The demon king smirked and softly laid a hand on Gunter's left cheek. Gunter yelped as images flashed through his head.
First was of Yuri, wearing only a bathrobe, walking toward him. It was Gunter's favorite silk robe: Yuri had brought it from earth saying that it made him think of Gunter with the delicate pattern of lilac flowers all over it. Just as the robe started to fall open, and Gunter thought he would get a nosebleed, the image changed.
Yuri lay, panting and naked, underneath him. No, wait, Yuri wore pants. Gunter was naked. The king squirmed, rubbing deliciously against Gunter's exposed parts. Gunter let out a low moan that made Yuri squirm even more. The imaged changed again before things could get interesting.
Yuri was being held by Conrad. The younger man was sobbing. Gunter reached a hand out to Yuri, but it was only a dream. Or maybe a vision of what could be. Conrad looked distraught as well and kept rubbing Yuri's back. From what Gunter could make out, the soldier kept saying "he thought he was protecting you." Yuri shook his head every time the phrase was repeated and raised an almost lifeless, bloodied hand to push Conrad away. A jagged tear could be seen across the young king's ribs. Gunter turned and ran down the corridor before he saw any more. The horror of that scene washed away all of the excitement of the previous ones. There was no way he wanted to let Yuri get hurt, even if that meant staying by his side. Gunter gasped and started shaking.
The Maoh removed his hand from Gunter's cheek and caught the adjutant before he could collapse to the floor with wracking sobs. He nodded to Gwendal to take Gunter. His strength was fading fast. The General jumped over to hold his long time friend. Whatever the Maoh showed him must not have been good. Conrad and Yozak stood nearby, ready to help in an instant if needed.
The demon king bent to kiss Gunter on the forehead, then spoke up so the occupants of the room could hear. "This problem will only be solved by everyone working together. Don't let anyone one person get left behind, and yes, Gwendal, that means the lovely red-haired inventor too."
The blue glow started to flicker, and the Maoh started to wobble. Conrad grabbed his arm to keep him upright. "I can't hold on any longer. Just promise me you will protect him. He has such a wonderful, beautiful heart. He's taught me a lot."
His legs finally gave out as the blue glow disappeared. Before anyone could catch him, Yuri's body hit the floor with a thud. Gunter pushed out of Gwendal's arms, dropped to his knees beside the younger man, and gathered him to his chest sobbing. Gisela burst into the room at that point, freaked out that her should-be-immobile patient had somehow left the infirmary. She gasped and squatted next to the pair on the floor.
"Papa, I need to get him back to the infirmary. Can you help me?"
Gunter seemed to not hear her. Conrad walked over, picked up Yuri, and followed Gisela back out the door. Gwendal was surprised that Gunter didn't fight to keep Yuri, until his friend collapsed on his side. Four days of terrible sleep, stress, and no food had finally caught up to him. Gwendal motioned for Yozak to help him, and they half carried, half dragged Gunter to the infirmary.
o.O.o
Gunter woke up in a place other than his own room. He panicked for a moment, before memories of what happened washed over him. The Maoh had thought it important enough that Gunter stay that he found some way to take over Yuri's body to tell him. Gunter bit back a sob. Why? Why couldn't they just let him leave peacefully? Gisela bustled into the room, interrupting his thoughts.
"Oh good, Papa. You're awake. You've been asleep for two days. Do you feel up to eating? I need you to sit with Yuri-Heika for a little bit while I run to the temple. One of the priestesses fell and broke her leg."
Gunter nodded and followed his daughter to Yuri's room. The king lay still, as was expected. Gisela pulled up a chair next to the bed and set a tray on the nightstand. Gunter sat down woodenly, never taking his eyes off of the face he had fallen in love with. Gisela pushed a piece of bread into her father's hand and hurried out of the room.
"I don't know what to say," Gunter started, tears slipping down his cheeks. "The Maoh part of you says that you love me, but do you really? He told me I can't leave. I... don't know what to do if I stay. I fear that my presence puts you in danger. I-"
Gunter was interrupted by Yuri shuffling restlessly on the bed. "Gunter, don't leave me! Don't... go..."
The older man grabbed for his hand and placed a kiss on his fingers. "It's okay, love, I am not going anywhere. I made a promise."
Yuri sat straight up in the bed, nearly knocking Gunter off of his chair. "Noooooo! Gunter, don't go!"
"Great Shino, you're awake!"
"Oh, Gunter. I dreamed that you left me. You can't! I haven't told you that-" Yuri seemed to come back to himself and realize what he had been about to say. He switched tracks. "You can't leave me, please promise me."
Gunter pulled Yuri's trembling body into an embrace. The younger man clutched at the arms that held him. "It's okay, don't worry. I made someone a promise, I'm not going to leave you."
His words and the gentle way in which he ran his fingers up and down Yuri's back seemed to relax him. The fingers gripping his arms loosened a fraction. Yuri leaned back, an almost embarrassed look on his face.
"I'm sorry, Gunter. I didn't mean to throw myself at you like that. I just don't want to lose you. You mean a lot to me, more than you probably know." Yuri stifled a yawn. "Shino, I'm tired! I've been out for how long?"
Gunter swallowed the lump in his throat. "Almost seven days."
"Why am I so tired? Geez, Gunter, I don't think I'll be awake... much... longer..."
The adjutant eased his king back onto the bed and covered him up. As he tried to leave, Yuri's arm shot out and caught his robes. Amid snores, Yuri muttered something like "please stay." There was a part of Gunter that warmed at the fact that the younger man wanted him around, even in his sleep. He called to one of the nurses and told her to go get Conrad and let him know the king had finally, officially woken up. She ran off with a nod. Gunter finally realized that he still had a chunk of bread in his hands. Now that Yuri-Heika had woke up, he did feel a bit like eating.
o.O.o
Conrad strode purposefully into the room. Gunter had sent the nurse with a message that canceled the meeting he was in, making him run here. The sight that greeted him was enough to make even a battle hardened soldier tear up. Gunter sat in a chair next to the bed, with his head laying on Yuri's chest. They seemed to be holding hands. Yuri's free arm held Gunter in an embrace, fingers tangled in the long silvery hair. Both of them were fast asleep. He didn't know if he should wake them up.
As it was, Yuri woke up first. He untangled his hand from Gunter's hair and raised a finger to his lips, hoping to keep Conrad quiet, and then waved him over. Conrad moved to the other side of the bed and pulled up his own chair. Yuri turned to him with a contented smile.
"I never thought I'd get to hold him," Yuri whispered. "I am so happy to have him next to me. Don't get me wrong, I know when we leave this room that there is something terrible out there waiting for us, but for now, I can enjoy having him by my side." Yuri took a deep breath. "Conrad, I think I love him."
Conrad sat silent, pondering the admission. "Well, I think he loves you too."
"No, you don't understand. I think I'm in love with him." Yuri blushed, but knew that he needed to talk to someone about it. "For weeks, no months, now I have thought about him night and day. Lately, I want to touch him, hold him, kiss him." He cleared his throat, knowing his godfather didn't really want to hear more. "While I was out, I had one nightmare after another about him leaving. He told me he promised someone that he wouldn't leave, but Conrad, I don't know what I'll do if he leaves me. I can't let him go!"
Conrad gently rubbed Yuri's hair, soothing the young man's panic. "It's okay, Yuri, I'm pretty sure he was convinced to stick around. Besides, if he does try to leave, just confess to him, slap him, and then he'll stay."
"I don't think that's how it works. He doesn't love me the way that I want him to. He's been so distant lately... Anyway, enough about that, what have you found out?"
Conrad briefed Yuri about what had been happening in the villages. During that, Gunter woke up and made up a piece of bread and butter for Yuri. The young man thanked him, taking the bread, and trying to hide the tremble in his hand when their fingers brushed. Gunter shot him a concerned look, thinking the shaking was from the days of being ill. Conrad paused in his speech to swallow a lump in his throat. Those two looked like they belonged together. After Conrad had finished catching Yuri up on the last few days, Gunter ushered him out of the room, then sat back down in his chair.
"Heika, please do try to eat something before you go back to sleep. Oh, and here. Would you like some water or some tea?"
"Water," Yuri said around a mouthful of bread. "Thank you, Gunter. You don't have to stay any longer if you don't want to."
"Oh, Heika, you know how I am." Gunter smiled at the king, then broke out in true Gunter fashion, "I just can't stand to be apart from you! Heika, please don't make me leave your side!"
Yuri blushed. "You can stay if you want to. I'm not kicking you out."
Both men ate in companionable silence, just enjoying the simple fact that they were near each other. Soon, though, Yuri had eaten as much as he could handle, and his eyes started drooping. He placed the last bit of uneaten bread back on the tray before laying back on the bed. Gunter smoothed his hair back and pulled up the blankets. Yuri shot a nervous look at Gunter. Something had been weighing on his mind, something that his other half hinted at from deep within his mind. Yuri wanted to get everything out in the open, even if it meant uncomfortable silences with the man he loved.
"Gunter," Yuri said, hiding his nerves behind a yawn. "I had a crazy dream while I was out."
"Oh really, Heika."
"Yeah, I dreamed that you kissed me."
"What?!" Gunter almost screeched.
When Gunter looked in shock at Yuri's face, he saw that the young man had already fallen asleep. What a thing to spring on somebody when you knew you wouldn't be able to talk about it. Gunter ran a shaky hand through his hair. Did the king know what he was talking about, or did he think it really was just a dream?
What Gunter would never know was that Gisela heard the last of the conversation. She smiled just outside of the door, turned on her heel, and made off to find Conrad. The soldier would be interested to know what had just been said.
Well, once again we've made it to the end of another chapter! Let me know what you think. Reviews are greatly appreciated. I can't help messing with Gunter at least a little bit. He takes himself too seriously sometimes.