Author's note: Yay another chapter! This one is a little longer than the others so there's that. Once again please review if you have any complaints. This chapter has Sara in it, for any Sara fans out there! :) Personally I didn't like him that much because he took Yuuri's attention away from Wolfram in season three.. but that's just my opinion!
Warning: Slightly implied yaoi relationship. Though I think that's what we want to read..
"Oh come on, Conrad. You can do better than that!" Yuuri playfully scolded.
It was a perfect day in the Great Demon Kingdom, the sun was shining and a light breeze flowed through the courtyard where the demon king was playing catch with his long time friend and protector. Conrad let out a self-deprecating laugh as Yuuri was forced once again to jog after a wayward ball.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty." Conrad called out to the back of Yuuri's head as the double black leaned down to pluck the ball from the bushes.
Yuuri immediately yelled back, "How many times do I have to tell you to call me Yuuri?" I swear he calls me that on purpose.
He spun around, ball in hand and threw it back to Conrad as hard as he could. He walked back to his original place in the grass and the two resumed passing the ball back and forth.
Yuuri wondered if now would be the time to ask Conrad about the black crystals. It had taken him forever to dodge Sara after stepping out of Wolfram's room when the blonde had finally fallen asleep, and he hadn't gotten any time alone with Conrad to discuss what went wrong with Wolfram's patrol. He glanced around the clearing and studied the guards in place at every corner, trying their best to imitate statues. Boneys crouched like gargoyle's on the castle rooftops and their black sockets seemed to bore holes into the king's soul.
"Something wrong, Yuuri?" Conrad asked gently. Yuuri was drawn out of the creepy stare down and realized that he had been holding the baseball frozen in his glove. Yuuri tried to smile to cover up his unease.
"Oh it's nothing. It's just there's a lot of eyes watching, huh?" He lobbed the ball back at Conrad. "I understand the heightened security around Wolfram's room, but I don't see why I have to have so many guards. I think I'm pretty safe in the middle of my own castle! And besides you're here!" Yuuri's voice became a whine halfway through his speech.
Conrad gave an enigmatic smile and tossed the ball. "Yuuri, there was definitely a reason Wolfram was targeted. We aren't completely sure why at this point, but it's easy to assume that somebody wanted to hurt him to send a message to you. It would not be the first time in our history that the Royal Consort was targeted as a power play against the demon king."
Just let them try, the inner demon king growled at the thought.
Conrad's eyes widened in alarm as a blue sheen of power skirted along the surface of Yuuri's skin. He watched in awe as black eyes flashed and narrowed into snake pupils. The air around them started to crackle with suppressed energy and the hair on Conrad's arms began to stand on end. Then as quickly as the transformation started, it ended as Yuuri shook his head in a daze and gained control of his inner self once again.
"Yuuri?" Conrad's voice drifted to him in concern as Yuuri once again stifled the rush of demonic power and rage. Yuuri smiled wearily at Conrad and sighed at the level of worry in the caring brown eyes.
"The Demon King is absolutely murderous about the attack on Wolf." Yuuri stared down into his gloved hand. "He loves him as much as I do, you know?" A comforting hand came down on the double black's shoulder and he tore his away to gaze into the warm eyes of his godfather.
"Of course, the Demon King is you, Yuuri. I'm sorry I was so blunt about what happened, I was out of line. Forgive me?"
Yuuri's eyes widened in distress and quickly exclaimed, "Oh no Conrad, you should know that you can say anything to me! It's definitely not your fault for being honest and that my other half wants to seek out and murder the monster who would do this to Wolfram." Yuuri gave a nervous chuckle when he realized he said too much. However, a glance a Conrad's expression showed that the half demon wasn't afraid of him and even looked understanding of the dark thoughts in Yuuri's mind.
Yuuri gave a quick scan of the placement of the guards again. Was it just his imagination or did some of them look like they've neared close enough to listen in?
Taking a step closer to Conrad, Yuuri asked in a low voice. "Listen Conrad, I need you to tell me what happened to Wolfram's patrol. I don't want to bother Wolfram because he needs his sleep but I have to know."
The brown haired man nodded. "Very well. I first heard Wolfram's patrol had been attacked after a messenger bird had been sent. The message had specifically been addressed to me, which I found to be slightly odd but I didn't hesitate to immediately ride out with five of my men to assist Wolfram. Upon arriving, Wolfram was holding his chest in pain but he was still conscious and ordering his men to attack the intruders."
Conrad paused and narrowed his eyes. "There were at least eight attackers with extremely powerful magic skills. That shouldn't have mattered, Wolfram magic far exceeds anyone in the kingdom apart from you, Sire. But for some reason, the demons were able to severely wound him and tear apart Wolfram's elite guard."
Yuuri thought this over for a minute. "That doesn't make any sense! Why would demons attack their own Royal Consort? There's no reason to! Just when the world is finally at peace, too!" Yuuri took a deep breath to stabilize his emotions.
"Is there anything else I should know about the demons? Anything that could help us figure out what's going on?"
Conrad made a deliberating noise in the back of his throat. "Well there was one thing. When I arrived the attackers just turned around and fled. However, one of the demons got between me Wolfram and pulled a jeweled, red and black knife on Wolfram. He turned and hissed at me, 'Praise the Phoenix' before leaving Wolf collapsed on the ground."
Yuuri's hands tightened into fist at the thought of Wolfram almost fighting to the death.
How close I was to losing him.
"Conrad, I need you to research everything you can about this phoenix guy. Send Yozak after them, but tell him to be extremely careful." Conrad gave a slight bow to his king. "As you wish."
"Well, well what's going on here?" Yuuri stiffened as the deceptively soft voice drifted from behind him. Conrad straightened and gave his unreadable smile at the intruder. "Hello, Your Majesty. How are you today?"
Yuuri spun around and stared at King Saralegui in surprise. How much did he hear? It seems like even Conrad didn't notice him approaching.
Sara tilted his head at Yuuri before nodding to Conrad. "Very well, thank you. Although I am slightly upset that I haven't gotten to be able to spend time with you, Yuuri. Have you been avoiding me?"
Yuuri laughed uncomfortably and scratched the back of his head. "Oh no, Sara! It's just a lot of things have been going on… and speaking of that I really need to see if Wolf is awake!"
Sara blinked his eyes in hurt and stepped closer to the double black. "Yuuri, I thought you said you wanted us to be friends. I also thought that diplomacy was your number one priority in your agenda as king. After all," Sara paused delicately before smiling, "it would be a shame if peace was unable to be kept between our nation, wouldn't it?"
Yuuri sensed Conrad stiffen behind him and a couple of seconds later Yuuri caught on. "Sara...are you threatening me?" He felt a wave of hurt at the thought that after everything they've been through, the foreign king still had his own devious motives to being his friend.
Sara let out a chilling laugh that raised the hairs along Yuuri's arms. "Of course not, my dear Yuuri. I would never dream of threatening you. I'm merely pointing out to one monarch to another that it's not wise to barricade yourself in with your Consort- no matter how cute he may be."
Yuuri flinched at the mention of Wolfram and the slight jealousy that simmered behind the blue glasses. He was starting to wonder if maybe Wolfram's jealous rants about Sara having interest in him were not unfounded after all.
Sara simpered and waved his hand. "Ah well. It's only understandable to care for an injured spouse."
Conrad stepped forward until he was partly in front of the double black. "If you don't mind my asking, King Sara, how did you know that Wolfram was injured? That information was strictly confidential." Conrad's eyes were hard and his hand rested on his sword belt.
Belias melted from the shadows and stalked up to stand directly behind the Small Shimeron King.
Sara pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose until they glinted in the sun. "Was it? I had no idea. I sincerely apologize if I have over stepped myself, Yuuri. I was only expressing my condolences." He gave a graceful half-bow to Yuuri.
Yuuri's jaw tightened and he stared hard at the other king. "A couple of years ago, Sara, I was naive and didn't understand that people could lie about wanting to be friends and secretly be plotting against me. I saw the best in everyone and that's something that I want to always try to do."
The Demon King took a few steps forward until the two monarchs were nose to nose. "However, I just had to hold my husband's hand yesterday and watch as he struggled to breath through the pain. I had to hear that I was so incredibly close to losing him while he screamed as his wounds were sealed up." Yuuri allowed his power to wrap around him and narrowed his eyes with slitted pupils.
"I am not in the best of moods, Sara. I have no time for pettiness. My priority is Wolfram, and giving justice to the enemies that dared lay a hand on him. So if that's you, you better run right back to Small Shimeron, gather your troops, and hope to whatever god you believe in that I don't find you." Yuuri allowed the demon king magic to leave him and was slightly mortified by his vengeful spirit, but not enough to take back his words.
The normally carefully blank face of the blonde was now covered in shock. Sara's mouth gaped and he took a step back, fear breaking through his mask for a few seconds before he squelched it. "But of course Yuuri, I would never dare to harm Wolfram!" Sara gave a forced laugh. "What kind of man do you take me for?"
Yuuri allowed himself to relax and gave a small smile. "I'm glad, Sara. Please be patient with me? I have a lot on my plate right now but you're right, peace is extremely important to me."
Sara nodded quickly and smiled back, relieved that whatever force had taken over Yuuri was gone. He gestured to Belias and bade a quick farewell before walking away.
He waited until he and Belias were a good distance away from the demon king and any surrounding guards before murmuring, "Belias, I want you to find out what's going on in this castle."
"Someone is plotting something. I find it incredibly rude that they didn't invite me." The Small Shimeron king's glasses shone in the midday sun.
"Wolf, are you sure you don't want to lie in bed? That doesn't look very comfortable." Yuuri complained worriedly, as he held himself back from fussing over the demon.
"Yuuri, I've been cooped up for three days in that damn bed. I'm sick of it! I'm a soldier and one of the most powerful magic users in the world! I can go where I please. Besides, Gisela said it was okay as long as I was resting." Wolfram declared from his relaxed position on his back.
Yuuri was once again in his office, slumped at his desk buried under mountains of paper work that had accumulated while Yuuri stayed by Wolfram's side constantly. He sighed as he shook out another cramp in his hand. He would've liked to think that somebody would take pity on their king and take care of his duties while he dealt with his injured and highly cranky consort.
Wolfram was lounging on a couch that was pushed against the wall to Yuuri's left. The blonde had insisted that he went wherever Yuuri went, stating that it wasn't safe and that the wimpy king needed his protection. Yuuri had kindly pointed out that there wasn't much that Wolfram could do besides bleed to death. The conversation had rapidly escalated into another infamous royal argument that the rest of the staff in the castle ignored as usual.
"Hey wimp, you've been staring at the page for a while."
"Don't call me a wimp!"
Wolfram turned his head into the pillow to hide his smile. Yuuri was just too fun to tease. He loved it when Yuuri's eyes would flash in annoyance and his cheeks blushed a deep red whenever Wolfram could rile him up. Which considering the double black's well known gentle temperament- was quite often.
Wolfram studied the young man as he signed his signature before picking up another paper. He felt a pang in his chest at the obvious tension in Yuuri's shoulders and the stress lines in his face. Wolfram knew it was inadvertently his fault that his normally cheerful spouse was this somber and he hated it.
It was his job to make Yuuri's life easier, to love him no matter what, and to encourage (okay push) Yuuri to be a better king, not to make his life harder.
He absently rubbed his shoulder that continued to throb.
"Does it hurt, Wolf? Maybe we should call for Gisela.." Yuuri called out worriedly. He locked gazes with the worried double black and fought a huff of annoyance.
"No way. It just stings a little that's all. Besides if you get Gisela she might make me go back into that stuffy room, and I'd much rather be in here with you." He saw how Yuuri's eyes lit up with relief and it made him forget the wound in his chest.
"Wolfram?"
"What is it?"
"Nothing. I'm just glad you're here." Yuuri gave a wide grin, enjoying the blush that spread across Wolfram's face.
"How many times are you going to say that?" Wolfram snapped, pretending to be irritated. Yuuri merely ignored him and scrunched up his forehead in concentration.
Wolfram found himself wishing that he wasn't forced to lay down at all times, it would be so much more enjoyable to kiss the frustration off his beautiful wimp.
"You know Wolf, in my world there's this thing called a wheelchair, it's for people who are injured. I think I can go see my family and pick one up for you." Yuuri stared at the blonde speculatively. "That way we can move you around easier. I know how much you hate being carried."
"It's fine. A simple cane would do well enough to assist me." Wolfram muttered.
"If I get the wheelchair then you're going to use it. Don't make me make that an order." Yuuri warned.
Wolfram rolled his eyes dramatically before letting himself stare at the ceiling. "I'm going to be moving back into the royal chambers tonight."
"Really? That's great news!" Yuuri shifted in excitement. This meant Wolf was getting better! He hated it even more than Wolfram that the energetic blonde was forcibly incapacitated.
Wolfram gave an answering grin, his excitement for returning to their room was much less innocent than Yuuri's. After all, he was sure that as long as he stayed in bed as ordered, he didn't necessarily need to be resting.
"You almost done with your paperwork, wimp?"
"DON'T CALL ME A WIMP!"