Demon-filled Valentine's Candy by Shukumei

Disclaimer: Kyou Kara Maou and all its characters belong to Tomo Takabayashi. You know the drill.

Warnings/Spoilers: Same as usual. Male/male relationships.

Rating: M for Mature. Rated as such for mild language and sexual themes (but not actual sex, just implied).

Summary: YuuramxMaou. After hearing from his own daughter on Valentine's Day that he wouldn't know what love was if it hit him in the face, Yuri has to battle against his feelings and himself before he loses the fight for Wolfram's heart.

Author yapping: Yay! People like the story. I'm glad you guys seem to like the whole Murata/Shinou/Evelyn thing. It randomly came to me, and I found it so amusing. I suppose as I've been working out the kinks in this story, that I've been adding a character each chapter, 'cause now it's Gisela. I might just have interactions with more characters than I anticipated. I already have some plans for Wolfram and Cheri, Wolfram and Shinou/Evelyn, and Yuuri and Gwendal. Hmm... I'll have to at least give Conrart a spot somewhere.

And notice that I'm trying to use the more "true" spellings of some of the characters unlike my "But I Don't Like Boys?" story. I was new then, not fully aware of the difference in names, but we all get it anyway. I'm not going to change Yuri to Yuuri in BIDLB though, just so it stays consistent.

-o-o-

Part 4: "Medicinal Candy"

Yuuri knew better than to get in the maids' way while they were busy running around and preparing for the party. He even knew better than to get in Wolfram's way, but he wanted to see the blond prince. He found Wolfram barking orders to the soldiers standing in front of him, telling them to move the table, stand guard at the door, all in preparation for the Valentine's Day celebration.

Yuuri stood back to watch Wolfram going over minute details with one of the maids, pointing out things on a large roll of paper. Wolfram had changed out of his casual blue uniform after the bath, wearing midnight blue pants tucked into calf-high black boots and a long sleeve white blouse with the same frilly collar as before. Yuuri waved when Wolfram looked up from the paper at him, ducking out of a soldier's path that was carrying a rather large golden vase. Wolfram smiled and quickly gave the maid a few instructions before coming to join Yuuri.

"Just the man I wanted to see," Wolfram said as he pulled Yuuri down a hallway and out of the bustling courtyard. "You have your speech all set up?"

Yuuri slapped his forehead and moaned. "Can I use the same one as last year?"

Wolfram nodded. "Your speeches haven't varied much each year, so I don't see the need to start a whole new one. You should be able to get away with it." He flattened out a slight crease in Yuuri's black coat and frowned. "You're not going to wear this to the party, are you?"

"I don't see you wearing your formal attire," Yuuri quickly retorted.

"I haven't put it all on yet. I don't need to run around in my dress coat while we're working. Shinou knows how many wrinkles I'll get in it." Wolfram straightened his collar, his blond hair slightly curling around it.

Yuuri reached out and adjusted Wolfram's hair around the collar. "You should get your hair trimmed again." He ran one of his hands through the blond hair just behind Wolfram's ear to manage the curl he had accidentally created. "Or you could try growing it out."

"Would you like me to grow it out, Yuuri?" Wolfram looked up at Yuuri through his long lashes, a sight that always gave the king an odd feeling.

"I mean, whatever you want to do." Yuuri looked away from Wolfram, but his hand didn't leave Wolfram's hair. "It might look pretty if it's long."

Wolfram watched Yuuri's cheeks redden and stepped closer to him. Yuuri noticed the movement, dropping his hand to Wolfram's shoulder. Wolfram reached past Yuuri's burning cheeks and pulled on the small ribbon holding his hair back. He kept his arms around Yuuri's neck as thin black strands of hair fell forward around Yuuri's face.

Wolfram brought one of his arms back to move his fingers along a strand near Yuuri's lips. "I like your hair like this."

"Really?" Yuuri asked as his hand on Wolfram's shoulder crept up to tangle with the ends of the blond's hair again. The other hand slightly twitched at his side, clearly wanting part of the action. This close, Yuuri noticed the fragrant strawberries, and he leaned into Wolfram a little to smell it better.

"Yeah." Wolfram's fingers danced over Yuuri's cheeks, still playing with the black hair. "I think it's sexy," he whispered against Yuuri's jaw. Wolfram leaned his head back to look up at Yuuri and smiled. "It matches the Maou's now."

Yuuri's eyes hardened over the comparison he obviously didn't like. He eased Wolfram's arms down to his sides and stepped back. "You should get back to preparing the party. I need to go get ready myself."

Damnit! Wolfram mentally berated himself. "Yuuri, wait." He grabbed the king's upper arm before he could turn away. Wolfram watched the different emotions flitting across Yuuri's face, the disappointed look in his eyes. "I-"

"Don't worry about it, Wolfram." Yuuri sighed and gave Wolfram a small smile. "I'll see you later." He kissed Wolfram's forehead, a friendly gesture they both had become accustomed to, and walked away.

Wolfram leaned his back heavily against the wall in the empty hallway, fisting a hand in his bangs. He slammed his other fist into the wall, careful not to use too much force and injure his hand or the wall; that's all he'd need – more things to fix.

"In bad spirits, Your Majesty?" A feminine voice touched Wolfram's ears.

Wolfram dropped his hand, pushing himself away from the wall. "It's nothing, Gisela."

The dark green-haired lady smiled. "Ah."

Wolfram snorted at her, turning to leave the hallway. "Don't 'Ah' me."

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty." Gisela followed behind Wolfram. "I think I've been around you long enough to know when you're in a bad mood. But I won't make you divulge your personal life unless I think it will affect your health." She cleared her throat and widened her step to walk almost in front of Wolfram. "I just wanted to inform you that the medical tent is all set up for any mishaps that may arise during the party."

"Oh, thank you, Gisela." Wolfram stopped to shout at a soldier flirting with a girl. The soldier saluted, and then ran off to finish his job. "I swear, Valentine's Day gets to all of their heads."

Gisela stood beside Wolfram and looked out into the courtyard. "Are you disappointed that His Majesty's mother introduced us to this holiday?"

"No." Wolfram leaned forward onto the railing in the walkway surrounding the courtyard. "It's a good holiday to celebrate love in all its different forms, but…"

"But you're not getting the kind of love you want," Gisela finished for him, leaning on the railing next to him. "It can be a lonely holiday for those of us without a significant other."

"I'm sorry, Gisela. I didn't mean it like that." Wolfram bit at his bottom lip, turning to give Gisela a sympathetic look.

Gisela smiled and patted his shoulder. "It's all right. I'm glad to share Valentine's Day with my father and friends here at the castle."

"So there really isn't anything going on with Adalbert?" Wolfram smirked as Gisela gently blushed.

"I'm not so sure." The green-haired woman sighed and turned to sit on the railing. "It's been so long since he's come to visit, and even then, he probably just thinks of Julia when he sees me."

Wolfram watched Gisela's small smile with amusement. "It has been a few years, hasn't it? Think you're in love?"

"Love is a little strong right now, Your Majesty." Gisela frowned and stared at a button on Wolfram's shirt. "I think given more time, there'd be an attraction between us."

"So you don't know then?"

Gisela shook her head.

Wolfram snorted a laugh. "Then I don't want you giving Yuuri any relationship advice until you figure out your own feelings."

"Ah, His Majesty is confused enough," she said with a nod. Gisela ran her hand along the thick red ribbon draped along the railing below them. "You did a lovely job decorating as usual, Your Majesty."

"You mean they did a lovely job decorating." Wolfram pointed at the two maids putting a few last minute touches on the banquet tables. The courtyard had been decked out in the silly colors that Yuuri and his mother said represented Valentine's Day. Reds, pinks, purples, whites. The girly colors seemed to mass together in all the ribbons and flowers that adorned the tables, walls, and anything that could possibly be decorated. Not that it looked bad; Wolfram had made sure to continue having the colors complement the event nicely unlike the first few years they had started the celebration.

"But you've been doing a lot of planning for this, Your Majesty." Gisela jumped off of the railing and stood behind Wolfram. "Your feelings always show in the things you do. Yuuri will figure that out one day."

"I hope so."

-o-o-

End Part 4.

A little short, I'm sorry. Yes, I know there's still no info about why they're married. I have to bring it up in natural conversation. That'll probably be with the Yuuri and Gwendal part. So, ask questions, make suggestions; I'm pretty open on this story that's sort of my writer's block cruncher.

And yes, I didn't hint at the fact that Yuuri's hair is longer now, I didn't really know it was long until this chapter's first scene came up. Once I looked back at the other chapters, I saw that I didn't say one way or another. But it looks like the Maou's in the anime now. But remember that he still has Yuuri eyes.

I also went with the AdalbertxGisela couple since I totally can see it. With the second OVA episode, it was hinted at even more. But who knows if Adalbert is even going to be there. As for the GwendalxAnissina, that lady just creeps me out. They're childhood friends and all, but she's such a feminist and stuff; I'm not sure I'd really want to pair her up with anyone.