Chapter two of You're Not Here.

Disclaimer: I still don't own it. Would I be here if I did?

* * * * * * * * * * * YNH * * * * * * * * * *

For the first time in three years, Wolfram felt a sense of control and peace over his own existence. For a moment, he had regained some of his old tenacity and taken charge of his own person, reclaimed his self from the influence of the court and his brothers. He seized that moment of boldness and in the end he came out a new man, with a new direction, and a new command of his life.

Wolfram smiled as he gently rode his white stallion, flanked by three of his trusted men. Wolfram sent out a silent blessing to the soldiers, who had been dragged from the barracks while on break and made to ride on some wild whim of their captain. Perhaps it was the determined fire in Wolfram's green eyes that swayed them, maybe it was the spark of life that had been absent for so long in their captain that led the men to indulge him on this "ride" as he had called it. Wolfram didn't know why, nor did he really care, they had come and they had stood as witnesses as Ulrike reluctantly performed the ceremony that accompanied Wolfram's sacred vows.

Wolfram lovingly fingered the pendant that dangled above his chest and glistened in the waning sunlight. Sunset in the summer fell around eight o'clock in Shin Makoku and darkness fell across the land by eight forty-five. Wolfram was pleased that the ceremony had only taken about fifteen minutes, after the twenty minutes it took for him to persuade Ulrike to conduct the ritual.

Wolfram touched the center of his chest, where Ulrike had tattooed the symbol of the vows across his pale skin. It was small and simple; an arcane set within a circle - a symbol of protection and absolute devotion to a single being.

It had taken so long to convince Ulrike to conduct the ritual that for an instant Wolfram was almost certain she would turn him away and then alert his brothers. But eventually, Wolfram was able to incite her pity and she relented. She had been stern - the ritual could not be undone and he could never take another lover again. To do so would be the greatest act of blasphemy against both Shinou, before whom he swore his vows, and to the memory of Yuuri. The punishment would be severe and unforgiving.

Wolfram's fingers traveled to the little blue pendant that dangled about his neck, when he touched it, he felt that he was touching Yuuri across some transcendent space and time. He wondered if Yuuri could feel him holding his necklace in his hand, this physical symbol of their bond.

"Your Excellency?" His subordinate's timid query roused his attention.

"Yes?"

The soldier hesitated for a second. "Your Excellency." He began again. "Are you sure this was the right decision? I mean… you didn't talk to Lord Voltaire at all."

Wolfram's eyes narrowed dangerously. He did not like to be questioned, especially by one of his own men, and on such a personal matter.

"I have decided that this was the best choice given the situation. It is my life and therefore my choice what I do. I'm doing this to honor my fiancé's memory and for myself. Nothing more. And no one can say anything about it!" Wolfram said curtly.

The soldier went quiet and looked worriedly at the other soldiers who wore the same concerned look as he did. They were well aware of the fact that their captain was not the type to think things through before acting on his impulses. They were still confused as to what exactly their captain had just done and made them be witnesses to. They were only given finite details before they were ordered to saddle their horses and follow him to Shinou's Temple. They had stood in bewildered silence as Lord Bielefeld argued with the Shrine Priestess and then go through the odd ceremony that gave him a weird tattoo, and left their captain happier than he had been for years. It was a little unnerving.

"But, your Excellency." The soldier continued. "Why go so far? There must have been another way."

The dark look his captain gave him forced the soldier to stifle a yelp. "Because." Wolfram answered as if explaining to a very slow child. "If I had tried to reason with the Aristocrats, they would have never let me do such a thing. They would have called me silly and overly dramatic. They would have pushed me to marry anyway even if it went against the laws. Just because they want to control me, like they wanted to control Yuuri years ago. But I won't let them." He spoke the last word with cold vehemence.

"But your Excellency-"

"Let me put it this way." Wolfram said tersely. "It's nothing that concerns a simple soldier and it is my business. You have done what I told you. If you are worried that you will be reprimanded for assisting me then I will take responsibility, alright?"

Even under the frightening glare of his captain, the soldier still made to protest, but a passing glance to his right had him screaming. "Your Excellency, look out!"

Wolfram barely had time to register what the man had said before an arrow whizzed past his ear, lopping off a lock of gold hair. Eyes wide, Wolfram whipped his head towards the trees alongside the road only to duck when another arrow tried to pierce his neck.

He struggled to calm his horse down and draw his sword at the same time as the sounds of his men shouting and drawing their own weapons echoed around him. He quickly wrapped the reigns around his wrist and sat up on his mount ready to strike at the thieves that rushed out from behind the trees.

Wolfram squinted as the light of the setting sun glinted off the crude broadsword of the thief as it swung forward to lop off his head. He expertly deflected the blow, nearly knocking his opponent of his own steed. But the man was quick to right himself and he tightened his grip and readied his next move.

Wolfram quickly scanned the environment. The attackers were using the trees as cover, trapping him and his men in the open road, prime targets for a hidden archer. He looked for his men and found that they were struggling against the other thieves and it became painfully apparent that they were surrounded. There must have been at least a dozen of them, heavily armed and with the upper hand. Even if Wolfram and his soldiers were more skilled, they were still outnumbered.

The blonde king contemplated using his magic, but hesitated, knowing that he would risk hitting his own men and in the dry summer heat, cause a forest fire.

A yell alerted Wolfram to his right. One of his men had gone down, knocked off his mount and was currently being stabbed by the thieves and trampled by their horses.

Wolfram's eyes widened in horror at the carnage, it was the same soldier that had been talking to him before the attack. Rage fueling him, Wolfram brought up his hand and began to summon his flames.

A sudden wave of nausea tore through his abdomen and Wolfram swore to the high heavens when he recognized the feeling, saw the glinting stone dangling around the attacker's necks and his toothy grin.

Esoteric stones.

God damn it!

He struggled to brace himself when the thief he had been fighting reared up for another heavy blow. Wolfram barely had time to bring up his own sword in defense, still in shock over the death of his comrade. He did block the blow, but the thief suddenly changed tactics and leapt from his own horse onto Wolfram's and used his weight to drag Wolfram off his saddle.

Wolfram grunted when he hit the hard ground and was crushed by the large man. With all his strength, he shoved the thief off, but he winced when he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder and cursed when he couldn't move his right arm well.

'It's probably dislocated,' He thought. He looked around desperately for his sword, but it was lost among the feet of men and horses and dust and bodies.

Hissing his frustration, Wolfram reached into his boot and pulled out a dagger. He positioned it in his good hand and pushed himself to his feet.

No sooner had Wolfram stood up than two men came at him from opposite sides. Wolfram landed a quick punch to the first man and slashed at the second, momentarily disabling both. He looked for his own men and was horrified to see that he and only one other soldier were still standing, the first soldier's body lay in a bloody heap and the second was no where to be found.

"Your Excellency!" The soldier shouted as he shoved his sword through a man's eye. "There's too many! We have to get out of here!"

Wolfram was very well aware of that. But the problem was how? He knew he hadn't killed any of his attackers and he could only assume how many his men had taken down before meeting their own ends. If only they could call for help. If only he had brought more soldiers. But who would dare attack on demon lands and so close to the castle?

"Bielefeld! Behind you!" the soldier suddenly screamed, rushing towards his captain.

An inhuman yell was all Wolfram heard before cold metal was driven through his left shoulder and he was yanked to the ground. Blood stained his uniform as he clutched at the gushing wound.

This was it. This was the end. His life brought to a close by some freak attack from common thieves. He never thought he would meet such a pitiful end, never thought his life would be over so soon. What of Greta? What of Gwendal? What of the kingdom? Who would take his place?

His world was spinning. His breath was short, and shallow. He sank to the bloodstained dirt, as his life force trickled under his shirt, adding its own shade of red to the growing pool beneath him. His eyes faded in and out of darkness, his torso swayed weakly as he struggled to stay conscious.

At least….At least, he would be joining Yuuri soon. At least he wouldn't be alone in the afterlife.

Someone hit him hard with the hilt of his sword and Wolfram's vision darkened as he fell forward amid the chaos, almost getting trampled by the wild horses.

He stared up from the ground at the looming figure above him, sword held high for that final killing strike.

'I'll be there soon, Yuuri. Just wait a little longer.'

As Wolfram slipped into darkness, he didn't hear the terrifying battle cry or the sounds of more fighting. He didn't feel his body being lifted and carried away into the forest.

* * * * * * * * * * * * YNH * * * * * * * * * * * *

The blonde king awoke to the worst headache he had ever experienced in his entire life. He forced his eyelids to slide open and reveal his surroundings.

The afterlife sure looked a lot like a forest at night.

Groaning, he slowly rolled onto his side and propped himself up on his good elbow. He startled when he saw that someone had put his dislocated shoulder in a sling.

"You shouldn't be moving yet," said a gruff voice.

He knew that voice.

Wolfram peered across a blazing fire to the other side were a huge man with brutish features sat on a log, poking at the kindling with a stick and watching him.

"Adelbert?" he drawled incredulously. "How did-"

The big demon smiled ruefully. "I was in the area and I happened to hear a commotion, and lo-and-behold, it was you in a scuffle." He sat up straight, his hand propped on his knee. "You came pretty close to your end, you know? If I and my boys hadn't shown up, you wouldn't have made it."

"More than likely." Wolfram grunted as he sat up in his cot.

"Hey, I said don't move! You took quite a hit to the head."

"I'm fine." Wolfram said impatiently, to which Adelbert mumbled something rather rude.

The blonde examined his environment. It appeared to be just him and Grantz in a small campsite with only a fire and some rotting logs arranged as seats around the blaze, and his cot. There were some supplies piled against a tree trunk and he could barely see the outline of three horse tied up in the bushes, their dark coats making them nearly invisible in the night.

"Where's my horse?" he asked.

Adelbert just shrugged. "Don't know. Probably ran off somewhere."

"And my men?" He asked though he feared the answer.

Adelbert shook his head. "I'm sorry. You're the only survivor."

Wolfram slumped back in his seat. They were all dead. And it was his fault, his stupid little endeavor got three of his best fire wielders killed. They had been members of his squadron for years, before then even, when they were all still students at the academy.

Weighed by his guilt, Wolfram placed his head in his hands and continued to mentally berate himself for his selfishness. Once again his impulses had caused trouble. Yuuri would be so ashamed.

"This is my fault… I wasn't paying attention at all… No one would dare attack so close to the capital." He whispered brokenly.

"People are driven to do strange things when they are desperate." Adelbert said grimly.

But that did nothing to assuage Wolfram's guilt. He was too busy reeling over the deaths of his comrades and the terrible consequences that would occur when he was forced to inform their families. Wolfram knew all too well the pain of losing a loved one, and in his own grief he had caused others suffering. He groaned in his hands and slumped over his lap, feeling the physical weight of the burden he now bore.

"It's not your fault you know. That's military life." Adelbert said in a poor attempt at sympathy.

"It is!" Wolfram groaned. "I'm their captain, and their king! They're sworn to protect me and I needlessly forced them to give up their own lives for my selfish reasons! How can I face everyone when I get back?"

"Just do." Adelbert shrugged. "They knew the vows they made when the swore themselves to the crown like fools and they knew that sooner or later they would be asked to die for their king. That's just how a life in the military goes. Everyone knows that."

Wolfram didn't respond, he just stared into the flames, watching little burning embers float on the gentle breeze and into the night. He felt ashamed and sad that he had lost not just his best soldiers, but also the people that had come closest to being his friends.

A rustle in the bushes alerted the two men o the presence of two of Adelbert's followers. When they stepped into the light of the fire, Wolfram was able to make out their faces and assign their names - Keenan and Angelica, Adelbert's most trusted companions. Gwendal had called them cronies, among other less polite terms.

"Ah, he wakes!" said Angelica with mock joy, flipping her bright red hair behind one shoulder.

"Did you find where those scoundrels came from?" Adelbert asked.

"None." Keenan grunted, dropping his knapsack to the ground. "They just disappeared."

"Very well then." Adelbert said dismissively and returned to poking at the fire.

Wolfram just blinked. "That's it?'

"What's it?"

"You're not going to track them down?" Wolfram asked indignantly. "They attacked the demon king! They killed three of my best men! And you're just going to say that's it? They've committed a grave crime, and they should be punished!"

"In case you forgot, your Majesty. I renounced my citizenship years ago and as such it's not my problem what happened to you. I just happened to be in the area and felt enough pity for your plight to rescue you and that's all there is to it." Adelbert sniffed.

"Why you!-" He made to stand up, but a sharp pain in his shoulder sat him back down roughly against the blankets. Wolfram looked down indignantly at his wound. He had forgotten it was even there in his guilt, and shame.

"Take it easy." The larger blonde ordered. "I just bandaged that, and I don't want you bleeding all over my bandages."

"Douchebag." The blonde mumbled, a rather useful word he had learned from Yuuri after a difficult negotiation with Dai Shimaron. It encompassed everything he felt about certain people.

"Whatever."

The group went about in silence for some time. Keenan and Angelica ignored the silent stand-off between the two blondes and went about their business in the camp, meddling with their things or feeding the horses, and generally staying out of the way of the two most hard-headed people in Shin Makoku.

"Where'd you get that tattoo?"

Wolfram hid the fact that Adelbert's voice had startled him out of another self-induced guilt trip. "What?"

"That tattoo." Adelbert pointed to the spot on Wolfram's chest. "Where, and when did you get it?"

It took a moment for Wolfram to realize what the prodigal demon was referring to, he immediately looked down at his chest, hand drifting over the tattoo, now exposed through his open shirt.

"I-I went to the Shinou Temple today." Wolfram explained. "That's why I was out in the first place."

"What's it for?"

Wolfram hesitated, not sure if he wanted to share such personal information with someone he had only met a few times and didn't always get along with. "A ceremony." He said slowly. "I swore a vow of chastity, and this is the symbol of that vow."

Ice blue eyes went wide. "Chastity?" he repeated in disbelief. "I thought the Aristocrats were trying to match you up with some pretty lady so they'd have a back-up ruler if you died. Though I can see why. If things like this are a regular occurence." Adelbert finished with a wry smirk.

"You're not funny." The demon prince muttered hotly.

"I wasn't trying to be."

"They just want a puppet they can control who has as much power as I do." Wolfram growled. "They realized quickly they couldn't control me, so they're going to find someone they can and get them to marry me."

Adelbert rolled his eyes. "Typical." He picked up a canteen and took a long swig, he offered the bottle to Wolfram who took it and also drank but ended up coughing harshly.

"This isn't water!"

Adelbert let out a bark of a laugh. "It's pure distilled Gsuffa from the North. Not only does it serve as an antidote for most arrow poisons, Svelerans use it to clean the axels on their carriages. It'll clean your innards is what it'll do!"

Wolfram struggled to blink back tears. His throat was on fire! "It's awful!" He choked.

"But it'll bring you back from the dead, for certain." Adelbert laughed again.

Wolfram mumbled 'douchebag' again as he gradually regained his composure.

"Hey, Lord Brat." Adelbert said after Wolfram finally collected himself.

"What?" Wolfram wheezed.

Adelbert was suddenly very serious. "Why'd you do it really? If you didn't want to marry, you could have just told the fat cats to leave you alone. Why take a whole vow?"

Again, Wolfram wasn't sure how much he should give away. "Um…" He sighed. May as well. "I didn't want anyone to replace Yuuri. He's the only one I could be with."

Adelbert looked at him for a bit and then smiled. "Aw, how sweet." He cooed. "Eternal love."

"Don't mock me!" Wolfram snapped. "It's serious! I'm complying with a law that state that the fiancé of the late demon king must pledge a vow of chastity because they were touched by the divine through the demon king. It's against the will of Shinou to force a dead king's fiancé or spouse to wed another!"

"Really now?" Wolfram wanted to smack the smug look off of Adelbert's face. "From what I heard that law only applies to the king's fiancé when they have been intimate."

The blonde blushed and looked away, grumbling.

Wolfram missed the unusual glint in Adelbert's eye when he asked the next question. "Were you and the boy king intimate?"

Wolfram's blush deepened. "That's none of your business!" He spat.

Adelbert threw up his hands. "Hey, no need to get antsy." He said, but the mischievous smirk stayed in place. "It's just between us men. That's what we do when we're alone. Talk about past conquests."

"I am not inclined to share such personal information with you!" Wolfram huffed.

"Okay, okay, relax." Adelbert conceded. He looked at the fire for moment and then looked up. "Was he good in bed?"

"Shut up!" The canteen flew past his ear as the big man continued grinning at the now irate, and embarrassed blonde.

"Sorry! Sorry!" He grunted. Adelbert couldn't help but smile at the younger man's antics. The brat was now red-faced and panting with anger, hair askew and green eyes bright and flashing. It was nice to see some life return to the somber being he had been moments before.

He just couldn't resist.

"Was he your first?"

"I said shut up!" Wolfram stomped his foot, now that he had nothing to throw.

The big man smiled triumphantly. "I'll take that as a yes to both."

Then, Adelbert's face softened. "I don't blame you." He said gently. "It was obvious when I saw you how much you loved him, and he you. Everyone did."

Wolfram immediately deflated at the older demon's soft-spoken words. He relaxed back into his seat and looked down sadly. "He was everything to me." Acting out an old habit, his fingers sought out the blue pendant, his one connection to his Yuuri.

Adelbert's eyes fell to where Wolfram's fingers twiddled the gem. "Yes." He murmured. "He was a kind boy. The makings of a real king. Gentle, yet brave, just like Julia."

A snapping twig alerted them to the return of Adelbert's companions. Keenan and Angelica had disappeared into the woods at the beginning of their exchange, they walked into the firelight with daggers drawn, an odd menacing expression colored their faces that made the hair on Wolfram's neck stand at attention.

"Boss," Keenan said. "Angelica says there's a full moon tonight."

Adelbert's eyes glinted in the light. "I see…"

Wolfram looked from Adelbert to Keenan and back, he tensed. "What about the full moon?"

The big demon slowly stood up from his seat and sauntered over to stand directly before the blonde prince, his massive form back lighted by the fire. "Well, my friends and I have been working on a little project and now we're in the final stages of its completion." His gaze was predatory. "We just need one more thing."

His hand went instinctively for his sword, but Wolfram paled when he realized that he was completely unarmed, he wasn't even sure if he still had his dagger.

When Wolfram tried to stand, he was immediately pushed back down by Adelbert's calloused hand. "Now, relax." Adelbert drawled. "There's nothing to be afraid of!"

"What are you doing?" Wolfram demanded as struggled to get up, but he was stopped when Adelbert clamped down harder onto his shoulders.

"You won't get far with that injury." Adelbert hissed. "I suggest you come along quiet-"

Of all the things Adelbert was expecting the lord brat to do, it was not head-butting. He reeled back with a yelp as Wolfram squirmed out of his grasp and tried to run for the trees.

"Get him!" He barked to Keenan and Angelica.

The red-haired woman was the first to react. She leapt across the camp, her bow staff extended and managed to clip Wolfram's ankle, effectively tripping him.

Wolfram landed with a grunt and kicked at Keenan as the skinny man tried to grab his legs. Pushing past the pain, Wolfram twisted around onto his back and landed a solid kick to Keenan's chin, knocking the man backwards.

With an outraged cry, the man leapt forward, and tackled Wolfram to the ground as he lurched towards the trees. The weight sent Wolfram crashing into the hard ground, he immediately began to kick and punch anything that came near him. The only indication of his blows causing damage was the curses and yelps of his assailants.

There was movement in the corner of his vision, Wolfram saw Adelbert come near him with a cloth and he knew instantly and renewed his efforts.

He shouted in frustration when in the mayhem, Keenan and Angelica got hold of his arms and legs. He cursed and struggled but they just tightened their grips painfully on his limbs as Adelbert approached him with the cloth dipped in sleeping potion.

Grabbing his hair by the roots, Adelbert shoved the cloth into Wolfram's face and the blonde tried in vain to jerk his head away. Gradually, his movements began to slow and he went limp in their hands, and they coldly let him fall to the ground.

Adelbert lifted the cloth to reveal drugged, glazed eyes and he threw it haphazardly to the side. The brat wouldn't cause anymore trouble.

"Get him on a horse." He barked. "We only have three days to get this done, and time is precious."

A dual "Yes, sir!" was the last thing Wolfram heard as he fell into a deep sleep.

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Adelbert cursed the sun for daring to shine so brightly on this somber of days.

It was a beautiful spring day; the birds chirped their mocking songs as they flittered about above the mourners. The dark clothes of the guests were a sharp contrast to the bright pastels and greens of the courtyard.

Adelbert continued to glare at the beautiful gardens. He could no longer find it in himself to watch the immediate family of the demon king stand around the casket, stumbling through their speeches as they choked on their tears. They were still on Lord von Christ, the second after Voltaire, as usual his speech had been going on for almost fifteen minutes now, and the blonde demon wished someone would just put him out of his misery.

It was all von Grantz could do to not rush onto that podium, and beat the snot out of those who supposedly had sworn to protect the boy king. He had barely been able to hide his outrage when he heard that the King's untimely death had been brought upon by a common childhood illness, and those pompous fools – too used to their lives of privilege, easy living and luxury - had botched any opportunity to heal him.

Those incompetent bastards.

Had Adelbert been there, he would have scourged the entire continent for the best medicines, and healers, and anything that could heal Yuuri's illness. Not stand around wringing his hands, sobbing like a half-wit like these idiots.

It was too much. It was too much like what had happened with his beloved Julia. She had worked herself ragged, healing the soldiers in that bloodbath they called a war only to be rewarded by forcing her into sacrificing her life for some dead king who thought himself a god. And they – like now - just stood around as if it were out of their hands, callously let it run its course, and an innocent life was needlessly lost.

Just like now.

Adelbert didn't think - he knew it was their fault, their uselessness, their lack of free will, their dependency on some false deity that governed their lives with all the care, and concern of a spoiled child, toying with people's lives like a cat toys with a half-dead mouse. Useless! Cruel! Lazy!

Adelbert looked up when von Christ – thank the mercies! - had finally finished his useless dribble, and the podium was ascended by the king's former fiancé, the Bielefeld brat.

A tiny, weak twinge of sympathy rose within him as he watched the young man slowly give his speech. Adelbert was surprised when the boy didn't falter or choke like the others. His voice was steady, eerily absent of any emotion. His eyes stared straight ahead, above the heads of the guests, and into the trees behind them.

Adelbert shook his head. The poor fool. Little more than a puppet controlled by his brothers. He bet a bushel of gold that his declarations of love were part of a well-rehearsed, and superbly acted role his brothers and uncle had meticulously created just for him, their direct link to the throne.

Adelbert was done with this drivel. Melting back into the crowd, he stealthily left the funeral, escaped through one of the servants' entrances and into the stables where his horse was kept with the other steeds.

This was not the end. He would not stand, and babble like the others. The boy, his Julia, was wrongly taken away, again! And again they had stood by, and let him perish! His Julia! His Yuuri!

His love!

He would not allow this! He would seek other powers, not that madman Shinou! He would find a way to right these wrongs, he would be able to have his beloved back with him and him only, out of the way of those puppets and their master! He would do what he should have done decades ago!

He would bring Julia back from the dead.

* * * * * * * * * * YNH * * * * * * * * * *

Wolfram awoke to a splitting headache. He opened his eyes only to find himself in a pitch-black room, unable to see anything except for what little light escaped through the cracks in the wooden walls.

He groaned and rolled over onto his hands and knees to weakly push himself into a standing position. He wobbled for a bit, the effects of the sleeping drug were just beginning to wear off. He groggily looked left and right, struggling to make out his surroundings in the dark room.

Was he in a cell or a cave? How did he get here?

The events from that day came crashing into his vision as his mind frantically replayed the past couple of days.

That's right, he was recued by von Grantz from thieves. Then Grantz turned on him and drugged him. But where was he now?

"Hello?" He called and was struck by how scratchy his voice was. He cleared his throat, and called out again but there was no answer.

"Adelbert!" He shouted spinning around to vainly face his kidnapper. "I know you're there! What have you done to me!"

A shuffle, and then a crash from behind startled Wolfram. He spun around to look into the depths of his holding place.

A feeling of dread crept up his spine as the crash was followed by a soft creaking noise, like something heavy swinging from a rope.

"Who's there?" He shouted into the dark. "Show yourself!"

Overcoming his growing fear, the blonde slowly walked towards the noise. As he went he extended his hands to feel his way, touched various square objects and sticks. He sniffed the air, and was greeted with the scent of musty vegetables, and wood.

Wolfram's brow furrowed. Not a cell, but someone's cellar! It smelled just like the one's on Blood Pledge's kitchens. He could feel the boxes and crates that no doubt held different possessions and preserved foods all thrown together helter-skelter, but still stacked neatly in pillars and shoved against the walls, and piled in the middle of the room.

The swinging noise grew more distinct when Wolfram's fingertips discovered the back wall. Feeling along the sides, he walked, tripping occasionally over a loose object or such until his fingers felt a frame and the air. A second room.

"Who's there?" He called again. A hacking noise answered him. The blonde knelt down, and picked up the object he had tripped over, a metal pipe.

"I have a weapon! You had better show yourself!"

Back positioned against the wall beside the door, Wolfram pushed it open, the creaking noise cut through the quiet, sending little dust clouds into the air.

He wasn't sure how much protection a rusty old pipe would give him, but Wolfram held it aloft like a sword nonetheless, and entered the room, eyes alert and straining against the darkness, utilizing the pale moonlight that shone through the cracks.

What he saw next stopped him dead in his tracks.

* * * * * * * * * * YNH * * * * * * * * * *

There you have it! Chapter two. I hope you all enjoyed it.

Not to sound whiny or greedy or anything, but I noticed that no one bothered to review the first chapter. That worries me, are you all really liking this story? If not then I want to know. I don't want to waste your time or mine by writing a less than good story. I want you all to enjoy this, but the only way I can gauge how it's being received is only through reviews. Even if you don't like it, I want to know so I can be a better writer. I'm not going to be one of those obnoxious authors who wants a certain amount of reviews, that's rude, but I do want to know what you guys are thinking, even if it's negative.

Thank you all for reading this, I wish you all the best and if you haven't donated t the Japan relief effort then do so now! They need our help! Every little bit counts!

Note on terminology: During drinking contests, Gsuffa is a word that Germans shout before they take a huge swig of beer. I think it means something like 'Drink!' or "Chug!" I thought it would make a nice name for a type of beer in Shin Makoku, since the world is based of medieval Germany anyway.

What's in the backroom? Guess we'll find out in chapter three!

Love-EB