Disclaimer: I don't own Kyou Kara Maoh!

No money made from this fanfiction. Only for free entertainment.

Thank you, as usual, reviewers! Very interesting comments and questions asked! I thank you for your attention :)

WARNING: you may find, for some of you, that Shinou is a little bit OOC. However, seeing how he's acting in the anime, I think that him giving a harsh "reality-check" to Wolfram not very out of place (or strange). In any case, I'll let you judge by yourselves.

7. To Fly Away

The Act of Persuading

"What are you going to do, now?"

Yuuri shook his head, face in hands. Sitting on one of the Sage's armchairs, he hadn't touched his tea. It was getting cold.

He was too nervous to speak. It felt like he was constantly standing near a cliff. And that there was an earthquake. And stones rolling down the hill behind him. Murata sighed, rolling his eyes.

"I should have known. Nothing."

"I can't believe...Wolfram.."

"You do know, I hope, that things are not going to be the same for you, from now on."

"Of course, I do."

"And as far as your engagement is concerned...you know there are going to be some repercussions."

Yuuri bit his lip when the truth was to painful to admit. He opened his mouth, but then said nothing.

Murata had long observed his friend's relationship, in silence and with discretion. He was a third party; with a status of an outsider, he felt able to give some sort of logical and impartial hindsight to Yuuri in a calm way impossible for the king to replicate, since fear and anguish blurred his own mind.

"You've both misunderstood each other," Murata added. "On one hand, you struggle to understand Wolfram's feelings and on the other hand, he doesn't quite grasp the reality of our world. I wish you had brought Wolfram to Earth, only the two of you, so that he could witness what two men together can live in a conservative society. Maybe would it have opened his eyes. This would have been a way for you to lift the pressure off your shoulders."

Yuuri said nothing. He mulled over his friend's words, gaze somewhere on the carpeted ground of Murata's bedroom, at Shinou's temple.

"But you never thought of that. Not a single time. Don't be angry at me, I do understand the way you've been reacted to the situation that this accidental engagement has put you through. I'm not saying everything is your fault. You've lacked some serious advising on the subject. But, at the same time," Murata also showed he was no longer the fifteen-year old highschool boy he once had been, "you did know that this engagement has taken proportions that went beyond the joking aspect you first wanted it to stay in. The people that you lead has grown to see both of you as their two future married leaders. Five year after you slapped Wolfram von Bielefeld's cheek, your engagement has grown more and more serious. And against your better judgement, you decided not to consider it and try to put it to an end, on proper terms. How did you think the situation would evolve?"

Yuuri had fallen quiet, eyes downcast.

"Most importantly...Wolfram has fallen in love with you. You kept rejecting him, which is understandable. You remained blind to everything he was doing for you. Once, I told you I hoped you'd realize how much he counted for you, how much worth he is. Why did you take the kingdom, your role as a monarch so seriously but not Wolfram and the specific bound that tied you together?"

Murata's eyebrows shaped into a slight 'V'. He scratched his nose, staring pensively at the dead-feeling king: "Have you ever...liked Wolfram?...At least, once?" There was a genuine tone in his voice because while Murata was rather a clear-sighted man, the topic of his friend's relationship with the petulant blond had started to leave him kind of puzzled. There were signs from which the Sage assumed the king was actually feeling something for Wolfram. Yet at the same time, the shadow of Yuuri's native planet's bigotry still lurked inside those big dark eyes of his.

Yuuri's chest swelled with each nervous breath he took. Hands still hiding his face, he remained a closed book.

"I guess you must be happy," Murata said as he headed towards the buffet. There was a heater upon which water was kept warm in a teapot. He grabbed it and poured some again for Yuuri in a new cup. "At least, now, both of you had a good reason to cancel the engagement. Do you know what people are telling?"

"...What?...Telling about what?"

The Sage was choosing a tea with a calming and soothing effect in a box: "About why you shouldn't marry von Bielefeld."

Yuuri shook his head. Murata said:

"Many people think your relationship with lord von Bielefeld is absolutely one-sided. Nothing serious here, since people are accustomed to arranged marriages among royals and nobles. However, as they know you come from another world, with foreign principles, they have also been aware that you abhor this type of marriage. And so, in spite of you initiating the engagement, they think you want to eject Wolfram from his current position as your fiancé.

People have actually murmured a lot about your attitude: your attention drifts more and more to women, instead of lord von Bielefeld. They also say that you have already found a replacement, a woman, in fact. Some have been quite persuaded that you do have a woman on the side, already. That she's going to take the place as your fiancé, and why not, as your future queen. Moreover with Wolfram von Bielefeld's temper, you were about to send him back to his uncle's state to protect your future wife from the blond.

And then, logically...with a wife, you can have sons and daughters of your own blood.

Yes indeed, a woman has this advantage. She could also be a warrior: the kingdom doesn't lack strong women trained to battles and wars. A wife has decidedly more than what Wolfram von Bielefeld could bring to the king.

This is what lord von Bielefeld has been hearing on a daily basis for around a year now, as your relationship started to get quite rocky until it exploded into this argument that even people outside the castle could hear...and made you leave for a whole month."

Yuuri closed his eyes once again, as he let the words sink into his mind. The gravity they carried couldn't attenuate the ever growing stress and guiltiness he had been wearing like a second skin.

"How do you think Lord Von Bielelfeld has been feeling since? I conjecture that he loves you so much that he wouldn't have left life without having seen you, at least a last time. That might be a reason why he's hold on so well, beside being originally strong himself. But finally, it is only for him to realise, he's not even a fiancé, not even family...not even a friend to you."

Yuuri's heart hadn't hardened, in spite of all these reigning years. However, crying was something he had taught himself to keep for himself. Now, just as the truth was presented to him, he couldn't shed tears.

XXX

"Why do you have paper sheets and a quill, just there?"

Wolfram felt his guiltiness rise up as though he had been caught red-handed. His fingers fidgeted around a small piece of paper. It was all wrinkled from all the over-reading he had made.

Shinou stood, crossed arms at the entrance of his doors. His piercing blue eyes stared at the emaciated silhouette that the bed curtains were half hiding. Shinou's eyes drifted towards the small piece of paper.

"You wanted to answer him?"

As Wolfram was unable to answer, Shinou sighed and, silently, made a few steps forward.

"Did I use my own magic for nothing?"

"I'm...sorry...I'm..."

"Don't. I want you to use your brain. Why do you want to write to him? I thought you made it clear you want to cut contact with him."

Shinou saw Wolfram tense up, his shoulders narrowing.

"What did he write?" the dead king asked. "Oh I guess."

Dear Wolfram,

I'm so sorry. You must feel so weak at the moment, and I have not words enough to tell you how I regret everything. I've been told you don't want to talk to me and wish to be alone. I'll respect your wish. I just hope we'll have some time to speak and try to fix things, even if it sounds like lies to you. But I'm not lying. You need to rest and to recover properly, so I have to step away. Still, if you want to open up to me and have a talk with me, I'll gladly run to you.

Whether or not you believe me, you mean a lot to me. I'm sorry for giving

you reason to think otherwise for not coming sooner here.

"After all he did against you, after all you have seen from Conrad's memories, which he doesn't mention AT ALL in that letter; " Shinou went on, "you still want to give in your indulgence? How many times do you have to be nice to him, Wolfram? Don't you want him to learn his lesson?"

"I am angry at him..but he has every right to be, too, after everything I said...I disrespected him and his family once again...This time, he ran away. Is it not the saner reaction?"

Shinou remained silent because he pondered over this.

"True...If the Great Sage had dared say those things to me back in my time, mh, I wonder how I'd have reacted...And he and I were only brothers, so I can imagine that is worse for two people engaged together," Shinou drawled the last word with slyness; but then, looking up the ceiling, arms crossed, hand holding his chin, he added: "however, you on the other hand you and Yuuri are not in love, and aren't even friends. Oh, sorry, I mean Yuuri does not love you, you do, of course...So I wonder why he took things so seriously. Maybe he really wanted to get rid of you..."

Shinou watched as Wolfram sank deeper into sadness, shoulders drooping. He hoped his descendant would open his eyes at how much energy he was wasting on Yuuri, and the waste repeated again today with Wolfram's intention to reply to Yuuri.

He watched as Wolfram's hand quivered around the quill, small ink stains dirtying the paper sheets laying on his portable desk. All Shinou could decipher from Wolfram's writing was a bent 'Y'.

"How can you forgive someone who knew you were so sick that your own brother had to betray you and your wishes, and who took advantage of that to get closer to someone else? Yuuri was with that woman. You'd be completely stupidly blind to deny what he must have done with her... And she belongs to his world. Do you think Yuuri hasn't taken that into account? He wants someone who understands him, and you're probably not on the list right now.

"He wanted you dead, Wolfram. Not only he made it clear he doesn't see you as someone worth his time, but he doesn't want you as his fiancé, he doesn't want you as a friend either. He probably slept with that woman while you were agonising in the temple. He doesn't love you. Let me remind you of something: you are not a woman. You'll never get to the level of a woman, body-wise, ever in his eyes.

Remember."

Shinou flew towards the end of the bed. From his new place, he spotted drops falling on Wolfram's blanket but the blond didn't make any noise.

"So what were you going to do with this paper?"

I was about to give him a chance.

A chance to explain himself, and to forgive me. A chance for us, if ever we had to part our ways, to leave without personal issues behind us.

I wanted both of us to come out clean of this mess.

Why did I become such a weak man?

XXX

The darkness of the night was no enemy to the king as he sauntered through corridors, with cautious steps. He seemed to merge easily with shadows and the moon herself seemed to smile at his boldness, encouraging him to walk on, as he met no guard.

The way to Gwendal's office shortened until he caught sight of the elegant design of the doors. He opened them. They barely cracked.

He scanned the room, spotted the desk and marched on to take back the annulment document. The parchment was rolled into a neat tube, wrapped closed by a blue ribbon. Yuuri unwrapped it, considered it a few seconds, his fingers lingering over his own and still fresh signature. Then, he slowly tore it in two and threw the two pieces of paper back at their place.

As though nothing had happened, he put down his own document on Gwendal's desk.

Now, glancing a last time at the evidence of his earth-shattering act, Yuuri walked back to the doors and gasped as he heard footsteps. His perceptions had all improved over time. Gwendal had left his own bedroom. Did he never sleep?

Shit.

Yuuri gathered his determination and quickly dashed off to Wolfram's bedroom. Fortunately it was only a short path to borrow before he reach the blond's bedroom.

The complete darkness and the fact that he wasn't familiar with Wolfram's own chamber made him halt in his steps, and hesitate. When his eyes grew accustomed to the dark, he recognized the shape of the bed, smaller than his own. His nostrils perceived the strong fragrances from medicines.

"Wolf," his voice quivered as he sat down on the bed, his heart pounding so fast that he feared it might wake every person sleeping in the castle, if it had not already raised Gwendal's suspicions.

XXX

Wolfram moaned as he turned on his back, crushed by irresistible exhaustion. His falling asleep had been quite arduous. Even in dreams, the end of his engagement had been pursuing him.

He blinked several times as a voice stirred him awake, but in such a gentle way that he felt more dazed and curious than bothered. And in this presence, he didn't feel threatened...Only this presence could bring him some sense of immediate security. Then it meant...Wolfram sniffed the air and right away, his brain detected the familiarity of this scent.

"Yuu...Yuuri...?"

"Wolf, please, wake up."

He felt a mellow hand tugging at his golden locks and pulling them behind his ear with what Wolfram was afraid to mistake as tenderness. When Yuuri's skin came into contact with his, he let the pleasant warmth overwhelm him. He frowned then asked, his voice dry and hoarse from his slumber:

"Yuuri, what are you doing here-"

"Wolfram, please, come with me."

Wolfram's befuddled mind had a hard time to connect all the dots together. What did it mean? Was he still dreaming?

"...What?"

"Let's go to my world, now," Yuuri said, in a tone that betrayed his anxiety and stress. He seemed in a hurry and was glancing at the door several times. Wolfram frowned, feeling Yuuri's anguish contaminating him.

"What are you doing here?"

Yuuri sighed, closed his eyes.

"I tore the annulment document... I was just thinking..I just want to have some time with you...There are so many things we need to talk about, together, without a third party trying to interfere." Sweating, Yuuri chafed his neck and his face again. "So please, will you go with me?"

Wolfram's eyes widened and he would have refused, and with violence, as the memory of his recent confab with Shinou was way too fresh in his mind. He still hurt at the words-the truth- that the first king had spoken with crude honesty. Worst, Gwendal's announcement of the end of the engagement didn't improve Wolf's resentment.

This tiny part of him, that he despised so much, this tiny part that maintained his hope though started to flicker and to rekindle. Deep inside, he felt again the urge to have some sort of explanation with Yuuri, and to understand him and his world...and to be alone with him again.

Shaking like a leaf, from head to toe, Wolfram nodded. First weakly then with more assertion. Was he dreaming? I can't believe my brain is tricking me so hard in making me think Yuuri would destroy the ratification of the cancellation.I should just...push him away and say 'no'.

Without a word, Yuuri slid his hands beneath Wolfram's back and knees and, as delicately as possible, the king lifted him up from his bed. He startled at how hot Wolfram's body felt. He was in no way completely recovered, and his fever was still maintaining a leash around him.

We're leaving...Really leaving? Wolfram kept wondering, his head resting against Yuuri's. He felt both of them moving towards his personal bathroom, the door creaking softly.

Yuuri stepped closer to the bathtub. He summoned his power and instantly, water sprang from the golden tap, filling the recipient. He stepped into the bathtub, his arms holding Wolfram tighter and closer.

When it started to whirl around them, Wolfram was certain to have heard his bedroom's door opening again and Gwendal calling him. But then, water engulfed the couple in a swift move and a formidable energy rushed them through a liquid way.

Wolfram's body met the tepid water, but strong arms were protecting him, cuddling him against a warm chest.

All he could hear, as water sent them to Earth, was the strong beating of a heart that was not his yet.

I, the king of Shin Makoku, Shibuya Yuuri, declares on this day 26th September that I transmit some of my power to the first adviser, former Chief of the State, lord Gwendal von Voltaire, son of former Queen Celi. It means that in my absence, lord von Voltaire will act as your king by royal permission, and as such, the people and all his advisers are under his rule and must consider and respect him as their own true sovereign.

TBC.

A/N: This is only a short part of Yuuri's document. I may give the full version of it in another chapter.