a/n: There is the seventh chapter at last! Sorry to make all those who're still reading this story wait! Our classes are starting! T,T Gotta study, I suppose but I'm too lazy… I still need to finish this before the idea leaves my head. It's harder to write – err, type? – the ideas one has into words now, more than ever! Sorry if this confuses you more!
You can tell me the things that confuse you so I can explain them in the coming chapters. It's not long before the end now, I think.
Thanks for the previous reviews, by the way!
oOo Kyou Kara Maou oOo
Chapter 7 – Final Resolve: "I'll leave him to you…"
He sat on his bed and sighed.
Things have gone from bad to worse after twenty years…
He closed his eyes as he lay in his bed. He hadn't even bothered to turn on the lights when he got in – not that he cared that much or more like at all. The moon's light was more than enough to light the whole area. He opened his eyes and looked at the blank ceiling. No, he was looking at the ceiling but it wasn't what he was seeing all the same.
"Xyrion! What are you doing!?" he shouted desperately as the older man held familiar golden knobs. He turned and smirked at him, "What does it look like? I will hypnotize EVERYONE and rule Zephrion!" What was he talking about!? It was impossible to hypnotize the whole country! Was he that much of a self-centered idiot?! "That won't help you hypnotize everyone! Stop it! You'll be their ruler when father steps down! Can't you wait!?" he shouted in desperation as he began to run towards the man… but 'yes' was the other man's apparent answer when the door had opened…
…the seal had been broken…
"XYRION!!"
The dark aura that has been sealed, for obvious reasons, were once again free to wreak havoc. He muttered an incantation in a hurry as he took something that looked like a blue petal from his pocket. It passed through him without affecting him. "So you found out a way of defending against it, eh? Well, as to be expected from you…" He narrowed his eyes in hatred at the other man's stupidity and unbelievable selfishness. There was no way he could hypnotize the whole country! All he has accomplished is create more people like him! He turned his back from the man: there was no use in talking to him. He had to look for people who weren't affected and set up a barrier around the area. With that thought in mind, he ran – ran as fast as his feet could carry him…
"Hey…" a weak voice called to him. He stopped abruptly and turned to see a guy with familiar red eyes. His heart pounded in relief as ran up to him, "You haven't been affected yet? Thank goodness! I'll set up a barrier now an–" a hand silenced him. Red eyes met blue ones, "I have been affected, but I'd like to keep conscious while I still can… Listen… carefully… don't waste your time with me… s – set up a barrier… at the places that are yet to be affected…" he said, panting as he held tightly onto his sleeves. "Protect… what you can… and hurry…" he finished as he released him from his death grip, handing him a locket – the one given to every hypnotists. A hypnotist's locket had a bond with its owner, giving him a special ability. Entrusting it to someone else means entrusting everything to that person. He looked at his master, hesitating to accept it. "You're the only one who can stop me!" he groaned impatiently as he thrust the locket onto his hands. He nodded uncertainly as he accepted it. He looked at the man with an unspoken promise to return to him. He stood up to leave but stopped when the red-eyed man called his name. He turned around to see him struggling to keep himself conscious.
"Please… take care of him on our return… don't let me… do anything to… hurt him… This is the last favor and order I shall give you…" he said weakly, almost pleading, "Stop me. Whatever happens, find a way to do it…" he finished firmly. The younger man could do nothing but nod, "I will…" he replied as he clutched onto the locket given to him and his own. He noted that this was the first time his master had implied to hating the fact that he was the best hypnotist around. His friend, master nodded as well and smiled as his true self for the last time…
"I'll leave him to you…"
He smirked contemptuously, "I promised you, and yet I failed to keep it… he still got hurt, though not physically…" he muttered to himself in anger and disappointment. He held on to the locket on his chest – the one given to him. He failed then but now was another story. He was given another chance to protect what was entrusted to him. It was sad though, that he never got the chance to explain everything; to say what had caused him to be like that; to let them know how a man's simple act of greed triggered the war twenty years ago. "Well, if all turns out fine, I can explain then." he muttered again as he looked at the golden locket given to him that night. "You gave an opening for others to be saved, knowing you couldn't save yourself till the very end, you selfless jerk." He grunted in a fondly serious voice. He stood up from the bed and walked to the door…
'…Take care of him…'
'…I'll leave him to you…'
Those were his final words and orders to him as a master before he was devoured by the dark aura. He was going to carry out those final commands. He wasn't going to break his promise… not this time…
"…I will protect what you entrusted…"
"…because that is the proof of what you truly were…"
"…Rio…"
oOo Kyou Kara Maou oOo
Yuuri sighed in relief. Wolfram seemed to have calmed down a bit. His grip on him had loosened – but he wasn't letting go. Perhaps, this would be a good time to ask what had happened?
"Ne, Wolfram…" he started. Wolfram nodded, "I'm fine…" he replied to Yuuri's unspoken question. Yuuri sighed as he looked at the blonde that turned into an aggressive, yet beautiful fiery color due to the sunset. "Alright. Then, can you tell me what happened?" he muttered to his fiancé. He felt Wolfram sigh in his chest. He promised to be loyal and true, and that was what he was going to do… Wolfram pulled away from the maou's embrace and looked at him in the eye. Yuuri's hands never left Wolfram, and the same went for Wolfram's hands.
Wolfram lowered his head, hesitating a bit, "Have you told geika about what Hyerre said?"
Yuuri shook his head, "No, not yet. But we'll get the chance later, after dinner." He said as he put a hand on Wolfram's shoulder, "Are you well enough to join us for dinner?" he continued with concern. Surprisingly, the blonde shook his head. Yuuri frowned at the uncharacteristic behavior Wolfram was showing. He surveyed the blonde for a while then sighed for the nth time that day. "Alright then, I'll bring you dinner then you can tell me everything. Okay?" he said. This way, Wolfram had time to think things through and to organize his thoughts.
Wolfram smiled; and that made Yuuri smile too. "Yuuri…" he murmured as he hugged his fiancé once more. "I can tell you now if you want." He said, calmer than he'd ever been today. Yuuri shook his head, not that Wolfram could actually see it. "Think of what you want to tell me first because I'm not forcing you to, alright?" he said in a soothing voice as he caressed his beloved fiancé's hair. He felt Wolfram's grip on him tighten for the second time that day. His smile widen – with a little flutter of his heart – when Wolfram muttered something that almost didn't reach his ears…
…almost…
"…I'm so glad you're here…"
oOo Kyou Kara Maou oOo
Yuuri's POV
I don't really know what to feel seeing Wolfram like this. It was wrong but I can't do anything about it but comfort him. I hope that it's only for now, though. I don't really like the idea of Wolfram being hypnotized. That would be too much trouble. Of course, I have faith that he won't be affected easily. He is Wolfram after all.
Now, I realized that my hug tightened considerably, but he wasn't complaining and neither was I, so I guess it was fine. It was quiet for a while, and we were content with our lives for that moment until…
BAM! BAM! BAM!
"Wolfram, my dear!! I've come to pick you up!!"
I felt irritation rise within me once more. "Doesn't he remember that I'm also here?" I muttered as I made my way towards the door. I opened it and found perfectly jolly king who – what the hell!? He glomped me while exclaiming, "Wolfram!!" Like hell I was going to let Wolfram get the door when he was the one behind it! "Argh! Get off me!!" I shouted and in the background, I could literally feel Wolfram's heated gaze. Oh no…
"You cheating wimp!!" he shouted as he made his way towards us. He still wasn't letting go!! Was he an idiot or something!? Well, yeah, of course he was! "Get off!!" my fiancé and I chorused. He seemed to have come into his senses because he raised his head and saw a, most probably, not-Wolfram's-face and gave out an aghast expression as he moved away – conveniently outside the door, I noted. "What the hell are you doing?!" he demanded. My eyebrow rose for the nth time since we've gotten here. He had the nerve to ask that when he was the one who glomped me!? I'm the victim here!! He looked beside me and saw Wolfram and before he could even think of glomping MY fiancé, I closed the door in his face. Rude, yes, but what other choice did I have?! No, wait, I'll answer that – NONE!
I ignored the muffled sounds from the king and turned to Wolfram. He was smiling. My heart tugged, but in a pleasant way.
…I guess there is a good side to that king's antics after all…
oOo Kyou Kara Maou oOo
"Are you sure you'll be fine here alone? I could ask Michael to accompany you." I asked him and yes, I'm willing to let Michael guard him if he wouldn't be fine with being here, all by himself. He shook his head and looked in my eyes. I brushed a few of his locks away from his face, "Or I could stay here?" I tried but he still shook his head. "You wimp, you'll starve to death if you don't eat." He said with that arrogance that seemed to have disappeared from him this morning.
I pouted at his comment, "I'm not that wimpy." I mumbled. Well, at least he seems to have a part of his personality back. "I'll be fine. I'll stay here and wait for you, alright?" he said. I sighed in defeat, "Alright then, I'll bring something for you; just rest while waiting for me." I said before I kissed him gently. He nodded, "It's not like I have that many choices in what to do, do I?" he stated as he made his way towards the bed. I smiled, yeah. He didn't really have much to do here but rest. This is a bedroom after all.
"I'll be back in a while…" I called before closing the door. I could've sworn that I heard Wolfram mutter "wimp" before I closed it entirely. Actually, judging by Wolfram's attitude, maybe I should swear that I heard him say that. Anyways, I turned and was surprised to see that Zyxurio was gone. You know, I actually thought that he was going to wait like this morning – not that I wanted him to anyways…
…I just hope I wouldn't get lost like this morning too…
…maybe it would've been better if he had waited…
…that was a better option than to have Hyerre pick me up, right?
oOo Kyou Kara Maou oOo
After a long walk from our room, I finally reached the dining room. I opened the door, thankful that the king didn't find it necessary to send out Hyerre and that everybody was there. I saw Gwendal sigh in what I assumed was relief. I had the urge to laugh nervously but stopped myself. I saw the king smiling at me, "Hey, it's good to see that you didn't get lost, Yuuri-heika." He said with an arrogant grin on his face. I scowled a bit but didn't find the need to argue.
"Hm?" he let out. I looked at his direction and noticed that he was looking for someone, whom I assume to be Wolfram. "Wolfram said he'd like to rest for the night. I sha–"
"Oh! Then I shall deliver his food myself!!" he exclaimed, overpowering my own declaration. I raised an eyebrow at him, "I will be the one to deliver it to him. He's in our room and my fiancé after all." I stated clearly and firmly. He gave me an expression that suspiciously shouted 'stingy!' but I just shrugged it off. Stingy or not, I won't let him near Wolfram without any logical reason. He wanting to give Wolfram food was not a logical reason. After all, I can do that myself just fine.
"Ahem…"
I looked at the direction it came from and saw Hyerre. I noted his bandaged hand, wondering where he could've injured himself in the span of the so-called 'tour' and dinner. "Shall we start the meal, heika?" he directed the question at Zyxurio and the said king just smiled at him and nodded. The food was served quietly and the meal went on just as quiet. Gwendal then brought up a question that I guess was in all of our heads by this point.
"When shall we sign the peace treaty?" It was a straight-forward question and he said it in an unbelievably calm voice, just what you would expect from him. Zyxurio looked at Gwendal and glanced a bit at Hyerre – I noted his expression changed a bit when he did – then returned it Gwendal. He bowed his head in contemplation, "Let's see tomorrow if Lord von Bielefeld is feeling well enough to join us. Let's hope nothing interferes, then we can sign the treaty." He said with a serious expression, but as soon as it came, it was replaced by his usually jolly expression, "Then we can have a ball!!" he practically squealed in excitement. I raised my eyebrow once again… I know where this is going…
"Then I'll dance with my dear Wolfram all night!" he ranted.
"No you won't!" I snapped before I could stop myself.
oOo Kyou Kara Maou oOo
Gwendal's POV
I am unnaturally relieved that Wolfram chose to stay behind, but I'm also a bit worried about leaving him alone. I know he can take care of himself just fine, him being a soldier and all, but the history of this country isn't actually that good especially for him. We need to sign the treaty as soon as possible. I understand why Zyxurio-heika doesn't want to sign it without Wolfram, after all, it was his father that was killed and that started the whole war with them.
"Then I'll dance with my dear Wolfram all night!" Zyxurio-heika exclaimed, only too happily which our very own heika retorted with the very intelligent, "No you won't!" I meant it with full sarcasm, of course. Really, both of them don't act like a king should. But this Zyxurio seemed a lot more knowledgeable than he gives away. He's proven this by telling us all those things a while ago. But he knowing Rio, that bastard, and being the brother of their previous king makes it hard for us to trust him, as well as Hyerre.
I glanced at Yuuri-heika – he was busy fighting with Zephrion's king, his guard was down. It would seem like Wolfram has yet to tell him what happened. It wasn't really like Yuuri-heika to force something out of someone – he usually uses methods that included the conscience, although it doesn't work at most times – maybe it would be better if he'd do it just this once. He needs to know, at least, by tomorrow. I sighed inwardly and narrowed my eyes at the fact that however I'd like to think otherwise, the way things were going…
…tomorrow might already be too late…
oOo Kyou Kara Maou oOo
Dinner went peacefully, save for a few small quarrels between the two kings regarding Wolfram's dinner arrangement. Gwendal and Günter excused themselves as they exited the room, leaving Yuuri to Conrad's care. Yuuri stared at his plate and stood up to collect Wolfram's supposed meal but Zyxurio stopped him. He scowled, "I will give it to him." He said with emphasis on the 'I'. Zyxurio sighed, "Yeah, yeah. I know, alright? But you can't give my dear Wolfram something cold to it, can you?" He said as he headed to the door, "I'll ask the maids to make something for him so stay there. And Hyerre, you can return to your room now." He practically ordered. Hyerre nodded and stood to follow his king out of the room.
Yuuri blinked at his supposed rival as the door closed behind his general. "Was it just me, or did he give up way too easily?" he asked to the people in the room. Yozak shook his head, "You've been fighting over that since the beginning of dinner, heika." He said as he walked over to his king and Conrad chuckled good-naturedly. Yuuri shrugged and slumped onto his chair. Murata nodded to Yozak and the blue-eyed man walked to the door and stood beside it. Murata did the same for Michael and he did the same, only, he positioned himself beside the window. Conrad, on the other hand, stayed beside his king. Yuuri noted the 'secret code' and asked, "What was that all about?"
"Nothing, I just wanted to make sure that no one's listening." The sage said as he, too, slumped onto his chair. The maou cocked his head in confusion, "Why?" Murata leaned towards the table and placed his elbows on it. Yuuri gulped at his friend's unusual seriousness.
"I wanted to ask you something."
oOo Kyou Kara Maou oOo
The night was peaceful. The moon lit up the supposedly dark night and hid the stars from the vigilant gazes of the people with its own brightness.
Click…
A door opened and closed with barely any sound. Footsteps resonated through the room with no one to hear them but its source. He stepped one foot in front of the other again and again until he reached a bed. He stood by it and surveyed the beautiful profile of the person on it. His eyes softened and he fought back the urge to brush a few of those locks away from the man's closed eyes. Long lashes touched the soft – as he presumed – cheeks, and so did his fine blonde hair. He stood and watched the slumbering man's even intakes of air.
"You were always a heavy sleeper, or so he told me." He muttered to the air.
"Beautiful and peaceful were what would come next." He continued as he let a hand dip into the soft mattress when he leaned towards the sleeping figure. He smiled serenely, "As usual, his observations were dead on." He retrieved himself as he brushed his own hair away from his face. He walked towards the window and stared at the moon, "The moon was just like this that night, big and bright…" he carried on with his monologue with a hint of regret in this particular part. He turned back to the blonde and smiled sadly, "I can't really have you see or hear me but I want to say this…" though it wouldn't be heard…
He walked towards the bed once more and took out something from his clothing. He placed it on the prince's partly opened hand and leaned on.
"I'm sorry…"
He stood up and walked to the door with one final request for someone who never did hear a word he was saying, "Now, I have something else to do so, please, do keep it with you this time around." He muttered as he opened and closed the door, just as quietly as he entered. He left the room, left the scene with no evidence of him having been there…
...nothing at all…
…but a sweet-scented rose…
oOo Kyou Kara Maou oOo
Yuuri's POV
Murata asked me what Hyerre told us and I told him.
"You know," I started as I stared at my hands, "What he said adds up but, I don't trust him. I don't know why, nor do I have a basis for this, but that's that. I don't trust him." I looked at Murata and he had his contemplative façade on. I didn't bother pointing out the bandages, surely they've noticed it themselves. "Isn't it just because he likes you, heika?" Yozak chimed and I pouted, "Of course not!" I snapped in my defense. Michael nodded, "Besides Yozak, it isn't heika that he likes." I turned to him and he looked at Murata.
"What do you mean?" Murata asked him. That's what I want to know too! It's not that I liked being liked; it's just that the fact that he had to pretend means that he's definitely up to something. And it would involve the one he really likes. Oh Shinou, I pray it isn't Wolfram, please…
Michael leaned against the wall beside the window and sighed, "I just noticed it." He started as he looked in our direction, "His expression changes every time he looks at each one of us." He pointed at Yozak, "Hey! It's not polite to point at people like that!" Yozak complained playfully. "Shut up." Michael countered with a snap, "He looks at Yozak and me with a cautious expression." He turned and pointed to Murata, "He looks at geika with a wary one, like he wants to avoid you." He said as he put his finger down, "If he isn't to be trusted, it explains why he has that expression since you're the great sage and you'd be a great hindrance to whatever he's planning."
He turned to me next, "You, on the other hand heika, act like you usually do. Meaning, you act like an ignorant idiot most of the times. But he looks at you with an expression that is not incredulity nor is it bewilderment, like I would expect." I pouted a bit. Do I really act like that? He's really straight to the point, much like Wolfram. I shrugged my offended thought aside and listened to what he had to say. "He looks at you with jealousy, and looks at you with it a lot." How does he even know all these things, huh?
My eyes widen and I gasped, "Wait, what!?" I let out in confusion. "What do you mean jealousy?! I don't have anything in me that he'd be jealous about! At least, I don't think so…" My heart was pounding hard and my head was throbbing. No way…
"You have Wolfram, heika."
I stood up, "He –" I stopped and gulped, "He's after Wolfram then…" I continued uncertainly. Why? Why was it always Wolfram!? I cursed inwardly, "And what about Zyxurio?" I asked looking at them. He likes Wolfram too, and it better be not anything more than like. Michael shrugged and Yozak looked at Murata. I did too and Murata sighed, "The king wasn't, and isn't as bad as we all thought him to be." He started as he leaned on his chair, "Having said that, there is someone here that's as bad, or maybe even worse than we imagined."
"Hyerre?" I asked and Murata just hummed in contemplation. Well, if it wasn't Zyxurio, then it should be Hyerre, right? Who else could it be? My friend, the so-called Great Sage, turned to Michael, "Shibuya, you haven't asked Lord von Bielefeld what happened twenty years ago, have you?" he asked me, but it sounded more like he already knew that I didn't know anything except that it had something to do with Wolfram and someone called Rio. And the war, of course – can't forget that. But that doesn't have anything to do whether or not Hyerre was the one plotting something.
"No, I haven't. But what does that have to do with Hyerre being the bad guy?" I asked with a rise in my tone. "Everything." He answered slowly, "When you go back to your room, ask him and come to my room, along with everyone else." He practically ordered. I just nodded. What else could I do when his voice was so serious? Of course, I trust Murata. I sighed, "Alright then."
"Geika…" Yozak whispered and Murata nodded. Yozak and Michael walked towards the table and as if on cue, the door opened. I was expecting it to be Zyxurio but it was a maid. "Where's your king?" I asked before I could stop myself. She laid the tray in front of me, "Heika only told us to prepare something and deliver it to you, maou-heika. He left right away." She answered politely before she bowed and left the room. I looked at Murata and he nodded, "Don't worry, I know where he is. You better take that to Lord von Bielefeld, Shibuya." He motioned his hand to the tray and I picked it up. "Take Michael with you. Lord Weller, I want you to take your sword from your room, seeing that you left it there, and follow Shibuya." He added, motioning my godfather's unarmed form. Conrad's room was near Gwendal's and Günter's rooms. It wasn't that far from our room, actually. Conrad excused himself from the room before Michael and I decided to leave as well.
I walked towards the door and Michael opened it for me. I noticed that Conrad didn't say anything though out the conversation. Does that mean he knew everything they told me already? And Murata wanted him to get his sword, for what? Was something about to happen? We walked down the corridors in silence, my mind filling with questions, my heart with fear – lots of it. I sighed, "You don't think it's too late yet, do you?" I asked out of the blue. Michael turned to me, in what was probably surprise, and shook his head, "Not yet, I think. Wolfram is acting strangely out of doubt." I smiled a bit, "You know Wolfram well." I said guiltily.
"It's nothing to be guilty about, heika. I'm just more observant is all." He said. If it wasn't me he was talking to, whoever he said that to would probably have been insulted or something at the implication of being called 'ignorant'. Well, I'm sort of used to it, with Wolfram constantly calling me a stupid wimp and all. I sighed while I chuckled mentally. "How long have you and Wolfram been friends?" I asked again. Conversations seemed to have lightened up the mood and made the seemingly long walk bearable. "About twenty-three years, at most." I was surprised, although I ought to not to be. They've been friends for more years than I've lived! But then again, they have a longer life span, right?
"That was before the war, right?" I said and he nodded. I frowned in disgust at the thought of the war, "What caused it anyways?" I said, maybe a bit too abruptly. He looked at me in alarm, the first time I saw that expression on him. "It was caused by this country, am I right?" I continued. He let his eyes go back to where he was going before he nodded at my question. "It was caused by that Rio." He said all too bitterly. "What did he do?" I asked again. I had a lot more questions but this was the most logical one to ask at the moment. It wouldn't hurt to have a little bit of knowledge as to what I was going to ask Wolfram later right?
He hesitated a bit before he looked at me. "He killed Wolfram's father."
I stopped abruptly, nearly knocking the glass off the tray I was holding. I was holding one, right? Never mind that I forgot everything about holding the tray, he killed Wolfram's father!? "Why!?" I asked before thinking. He looked back at me and shook his head, "I actually don't know." He admitted. There was a tone of hesitation in his voice. I sighed and calmed my nerves. I never did ask Wolfram about his father. I didn't think something like that happened to him…
"Something you must know, heika, is that Rio and Wolfram were friends…"
I closed my eyes, trying to calm my nerves as I willed myself to resume our walk, "That's why he ceased to trust humans completely?" I know that Wolfram didn't hate Conrad but tried to stay away because he'll go and leave him long before he can follow. This one, Wolfram gave him his trust and he threw it away just like that! I had the urge to punch the man's nose, whoever he was. Michael nodded, "He was different, Rio I mean. On their first visit, he was pleasant as any human who sided with our country. Back then, Shin Makoku wasn't closed off from humans. There were still some alliances to them. It included this country, heika. Anyways, since Rio was the Supreme hypnotist that time, he came with the king, along with his sons."
We continued walking and Michael continued talking, "He was affable and he made friends around the castle easily, that included Wolfram and me." He paused and sighed, "He, like many others, came to like Wolfram but like those many others, Wolfram rejected him."
"So did he kill Wolfram's father because of that?" I asked in incredulity. Is that even a reason? But before I can answer my own question, Michael shook his head, "No, he took it quite pleasantly actually. He didn't mind and continued to be friends with Wolfram. I admit that I respected him for that. He didn't move away, unlike others did." He stopped again. He looked like he was pondering on what else to say. "What changed?" I asked instead. This way, it'll be easier for him to tell the tale, right?
He looked at the ground with a contemplative expression. "He suddenly became… selfish."
oOo Kyou Kara Maou oOo
Murata's POV
Things are complicated but at least they aren't irreversible. Shibuya asked if it was Hyerre that was planning something bad. I can't answer that because it's Hyerre but it might not be him after all. He needs to know what happened twenty years ago. "Geika, what are we going to do now?" Yozak asked as Shibuya and Michael left the room. I sighed as I stood up. "We go to the king and check that door's condition." I said as I walked towards the door.
"Why didn't you tell the kid that it isn't Wolfram he's after?" he asked again and I sighed again. Indeed, why?
"Yozak, for all I know, I could be wrong." I can sense that Yozak raised an eyebrow before he sneered, "You?" with a skeptic tone. Everyone does when they're skeptic in this world, it seems. Shibuya and I took the habit as well, after all. "It won't do us any good if we were to focus on one thing and leave the others unattended. Your confidence in me isn't worth Lord von Bielefeld's life, Yozak." I said. We aren't sure on what state of mind Hyerre is, nor are we with Rio's. I don't know if he's planning to kill Lord von Bielefeld, us, or in the worst case scenario, all of us. It's just not likely for him to kill Lord von Bielefeld but there is a chance if he's in the state of mind where he'd want Wolfram to come to his original soul. Who knows? Anything goes, as for the moment we decided to accept the treaty.
I shook my head, there are too many possibilities but none of them involves a 'him-not-killing-anyone' part – not that we're going to let him do it, mind you. This is a situation that doesn't have negotiations as an option. Our enemy doesn't have a control over himself; considering that fact, his mind, feelings and desires are out of the question. I guess the thing inside those doors are dangerous, probably more so than the miasma. No wonder Zyxurio hates his brother, huh?
"Something doesn't make sense, geika." Yozak muttered beside me. I nodded, "Why would he reveal those things to Shibuya?" I confirmed. "Even if it looked like he was back-stabbing his own king, he said things that would reveal things about him and let us take action. Why the carelessness?" he added and I sighed once more. I sensed some kind of power being used nearby, probably the king's. "Why, I wonder…" I muttered, already having an answer to it. "Probably because he wants us to find his weakness?"
"Zyxurio-heika." I called before Yozak could ask anything more. We stopped as few feet away from the king. His back was facing us and he was chanting something under his breath. He's still sealing the door? It must be a long process then. "Let's wait until he finishes." I muttered as I sat beside the wall. We watched him draw characters in the air and hold out his locket in front of the door. The characters seemed to have engraved itself onto the door and its knobs. So that was the seal?
"Geika, how are we going to stop him?" Yozak asked, eyes glinting with the light from the 'ritual' as I labeled it as. I sighed and leaned to the wall more as let my eyes observe Zyxurio's form. How, he says? Well, I'm no hypnotism expert so why ask me?
Right, because I'm the sage…
"I don't know. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to remove something like that, nor do I have the skill." We continued to watch the king's movements. He opened his eyes and he walked forward to touch the knobs. "So we'll have to depend on him for that one, huh?" Yozak asked as the knobs shone with newly engraved inscriptions and with that, the blue-eyed man sighed and stretched to relieve himself of the strain from standing on that spot for probably a couple of hours or so.
I sighed and stood up.
"Ah, I'm sorry to say that there's nothing else we can do but that."
I started to walk towards Zyxurio when I heard frantic footsteps heading our way. I turned around and Zyxurio, despite reasonable exhaustion, ran past me in record time. Yozak caught the limp form of Lord von Christ and I could only assume what had happened. Zyxurio cursed as he sighed away some of the fatigue, "He's started moving already…" he hissed as he examined Lord von Christ's features. He bit his thumb, just enough to draw out blood, and wrote three characters on the flaxen man's forehead. He muttered something under his breath and drew his thumb across the inscriptions and they disappeared as Lord von Christ collapsed on Yozak's arms.
"What happened to him?" was Yozak's immediate question.
"He was injured hand hypnotized by blood." The king said. "This kind of technique can be broken by the use of another's blood and a chant." He continued as he felt Lord von Christ's forehead and narrowed his eyes, "This was casted by an amateur. Whoever did it was most probably under a spell as well."
I pursed my lips as I knelt down and lifted Lord von Christ's arm. It had a long gash, but not too deep. He was probably quick enough to evade. "Why?" Yozak asked again.
"He was sent here as a warning." Zyxurio said as he wiped the remaining blood on his pants, "This is a simple spell to nullify and if he wanted to make Lord von Christ kill us, he'd have used a more complex one. Even without my help, Lord von Christ could've broken it on his own will, only it would've taken a great deal of effort and time on his part." He continued with a grave expression on his face after seeing the long gash. I sighed as I nudged Lord von Christ's cloak off of him and onto the long, bloody gash. His healing maryoku should be able to heal it fast enough.
"But why?" Yozak asked as he felt the maudlin advisor's forehead as well. I lowered my head and I heard the king sigh lightly, "Because he's resisting…" he muttered under his breath.
"What?" Yozak asked with a bewildered expression, positively having failed to hear Zyxurio's answer. Before he could pry more onto the almost unheard answer, Lord von Christ shifted and sat up holding his forehead on his hand. He absorbed his surroundings, just like others who've lost their consciousness and woken up. "Geika!" he exclaimed in a panicked voice, not even noticing that I had taken off his cloak and used it as an alternative bandage. I think I know what he's going to say and it's a bad omen for tonight. We'd better find them before he does. It's no use coming to my room now that this has happened. Günter looked me in the eye as he panted.
"Gwendal…"
oOo Kyou Kara Maou oOo
A smile crept up his face, "Will you make it?" he asked with a malevolent aura around his voice. His smile disappeared and he looked at his hand, "I guess it was my fault that he even get this chance to do anything. I never thought I'd make such a mistake, even in this body." He muttered hoarsely as he fisted his hand walked towards the window. The moon was overshadowed by a swarm of dark clouds, letting darkness take over for the most part.
He held the locket in his chest, "Where is my locket anyways? This one's ability is completely useless to me. I need mine." He whined dangerously as he snatched it from his neck, breaking the chain that let it hang onto his neck. He didn't throw it away, like he first intended to. Something in him didn't want to throw it away just like that. Instead of throwing it, he held it in his hand. "Right, this does help me." He muttered fondly, like he just realized something so obvious. 'To preserve' was this locket's skill, if he remembered correctly.
He moved away from the window and continued to hold onto his locket; his left eye taking the color of his right one finally after intermittent changes. Clouds gave way for the moon's rays to shine onto the man, making his eyes glint with their newly acquired color, as did the malicious spark in them. A vicious smirk placed itself rightfully on his lips. He's lost his sense of reason long before and it felt great… His body was gone, but his desire never did, and so he gave this body a piece of his mind just so he could live on. Just for the sole purpose of getting him all to himself. He would let the other one handle that group, even if another one was coming to their aid. He can deal with them just fine. He had to deal with this one personally, considering it included two of the biggest threats to his plans. Others were just a minor problem compared to them. He walked towards the group with a flick of his hair, revealing both his blood-red eyes. He didn't know what stopped him from killing everyone before was, but he won't let it stop him this time… whatever it was…
"This time, I will not leave anyone out...
…because you're all in the way of what I want…"
oOo Kyou Kara Maou oOo
a/n: So, confused yet? I am… ,
Anyways, you can tell me what you think, what confuses you, your complaints, and etcetera by reviewing! And conveniently enough, there's a button below this and all you got to do is click, type, and click!
Anyways, this thing with the hypnotism is a lot – a million times – harder than I thought… Sorry for the confusion, delay, and the stupid revelations! T,T
I forgot to say sorry for any typos, but I am always sorry for it… O,o!!
