Disclaimer-Not mine.

Alright guys! As an apology for the long awaited update I will write (and dedicate) one-shots for the first two reviewers-well, the first two that follow the next set of rules. In order to first off, qualify, for this the first two reviewers must put this kind of smiley face :D at the very beginning of their review. I will PM the first two that do this and inform them if they got it and then they get to pick the pairings/prompts etc. After that it's just the basic standers. I look forward to this. If no one does it then I will come up with my own one shot. :) That's all I really have to say. Now time for just the basics.

Summary: Yuuri agrees to let Wolfram go, to let Wolfram marry another noble and disappear. A month later Yuuri wants Wolfram back and is willing to send Shin Makoku to war if that's what it takes to get back Wolfram. Crazy, obsessive with no intent to let up unless Wolfram is found, everyone scrambles to find the fire wielder. But even if Wolfram is found, will things ever be the same?

Note: Nothing really. Just bad writing. And a lotta commas...lots and lots of commas. Joy...erm EN-joy.


Chapter 7. Sing Canary, Sing

Fredrick was the first to kick the door open while Gwendal terrorized the first batch of guards just a bit outside of the premises. With great relief the door did cave, however with much anticipated dread, several more guards swarmed to the exposed wall. The red head let out a frustrated sigh and pulled out his sword. He wasn't much of a fighter, always preferring peace talking than to violence, but he was left with no other choice. Fredrick poised his blade and lunged in for a well aimed strike. Of the four guards that flocked to the door, he knew two of them wouldn't pose much of a threat. One had a slight limp to him and the other cowered in place. Green orbs narrowed towards the one cowering guard and found he wasn't cowering, simply trembling with exhaustion. Either way, the man was ready to fight. Fredrick ran and engaged his blade with another, pulling his scabbard out of his belt loop to help block incoming attacks. Quickly positioning the metal scabbard behind his back he heard two metallic ticks against the sheath. Swiftly the two behind disengaged, surrounding him. Fredrick managed to unlock his sword, stiffening his muscles for the long awaiting battle. They charged with a valiant scream and the mazoku awaited with a readying attack. He crouched a bit, waiting for the man upfront to get within striking range. Fredrick slightly raised his sword arm, blade maneuvering into perfect attack position while his scabbard was ready to defend himself. A few more seconds, he was counting down. A few more moments before he would launch his body, spring his coiled muscles into action. Three…two…on- A large chunk of rock flung at the charger, sending him flying to the prison cells with a loud thump. The three others paused and found themselves being introduced to earth magic in the same fashion as their fallen comrade. Fredrick froze, blinking in absolute disbelief. O-one… His muscles relaxed a bit and his drawn blade was sheathed, though the scabbard never left his hand as he turned to face the man who had just saved his butt. So this is Wolf's brother in action. The thought scared him more than anything.

"T-Thanks Lord Voltaire." Fredrick chuckled awkwardly. The man said nothing, shrugging back with a light pant. "Hey, you okay?" The red head stepped forward towards the earth user. Gwendal nodded and beckoned with his chin to the stones in the prison cells.

"Houseki stones." He said once he regained his breath. Fredrick looked around and found the glimmering bits of houseki. They glowed ominously in the darkened cells, giving artificial light to the cell mates.

"Lot of em. Man, how did they smuggle all of this in the country?" Fredrick let out an impressed whistle at the end of his observation.

"How come this isn't affecting you?" Gwendal glared and reluctantly stepped in closer. Fredrick let out a proud grin.

"Because the Quinn family have very little maryoku! We're pacifists who specialize trade!" Through the corner of his eye, Gwendal let out a snort and gestured with his hands to the blade that Fredrick held. "Oh that? Well….okay so we're not pacifists, but we do have little maryoku."

"I still can't believe Wolfram married you." The elder huffed and proceeded to step to the prison cells to search for his baby brother. Fredrick pouted a bit, crossing his arms over his chest like a child.

"I resent that." He said to no one in particular before following his supposed brother-in-law.

There were so many prison cells that looked like large cages. The black bars were thick and cold and the ceiling as well as wall were decorated with small stones. There were five in the first row, all lined up with roughly three feet of space between one and the other. Behind them was another row that only held four and was the last row. Inside there were three doors, one being the entrance, another leading to the back part of the compound and the final one-Gwendal and Fredrick found out-lead to the housing portion of the building. There were halls upon halls of rooms. They crept quietly, partially worried that more guards were hiding behind the closed doors.

"Does this look abandoned to you?" Fredrick finally broke the tense silence with a small whisper. The earth user nodded, frowning more so and adding to his array of wrinkles on his forehead.

"I was wondering why there were so few guards and even less prisoners."

The red head suppressed a groan. "You think they jumped ship and took Wolfram?"

"Maybe."

Fredrick was beginning to hate that word.


"So it seems they've finally come for you." The human laughed, using the same exact dagger that had taken dozens of innocent men's lives within the last few days, to tilt his chin upwards. Wolfram tiredly obeyed from his sprawled form on the floor. His flames were extinguished and even then he didn't think he'd have the will to conjure up his fire. He was tired-both physically and mentally. Nightmares plagued his only haven before reality slammed into him as day by day, more and more men-young and old-died by his stubbornness. "I was beginning to think you had lied to me when you said you were an important associate to the Maoh." The man stilled, frowning at the dazed look his prisoner gave him. "Bored?" Another twisted smirk that crept down the blonde's spine. It spoke of torture and of blood. "Good," he patted Wolfram's cheek before standing. "I thought of a new game to play. You see, my spies purposely lured his Majesty's guards here and we have confirmed witnesses that two men have infiltrated my domain." He was grinning madly and Wolfram felt fear freeze his heart. "A man by the name of Gwendal von Voltaire and another man by the name of Fredrick von Quinn." Wolfram's eyes widened. His big brother and Fredrick had infiltrated a fortress where the enemy lurked behind every corner. "Now Wolfram, you have three options." Three fingers were held up in his face and the human behind them was cackling and he stated the options. "You could just give me the information I desired from the beginning." One finger curled downwards, leaving only two up in the air. "Second, you could duel all your precious cell mates in the backroom and kill them all by your hand." Another curled away. "Or, the third option, you could refuse the two before and I give the signal for all my men to ambush the two pests."

Wolfram had to remember to breathe. The man before him was mad, a true sadist that every human thought mazoku to be. "S-Second." He gasped. At least if he were fighting, he could buy time. Time for Gwendal and Fredrick to come to his aid. The commander smiled a Cheshire like smile.

"Good boy. There are far too many men to take back with me to Dai Shimeron. You disposing them for me would be most kind." Dai Shimeron? The noble weakly looked up, his eyes cringing with unmasked pain. They had been feeding him food mixed with houseki and by the time he realized it the damage had been done. Since then his body was racked with constant pain of hunger and the dust of the stones churning within. What does Dai Shimeron want? "Oh, by the way," two guards picked Wolfram off the ground by his arm and slapped the dagger in his cuffed arms. "If you think stalling will work, you were wrong. You have five minuets to kill one person. If you do not in that span I'll give the signal and those two will die. If you die, then the two pests die."

They dragged him to the back door, right next to where the supposed bed was. Inside the room there were several prisoners, roughly six or so, was chained in a similar fashion to Wolfram and held swords. They were so young and so clueless as to what his presence meant. "Wolfram von Bielefeld?" His emerald gaze tracked the source of the noise before dread overcame him. One of his men was there. A fresh newbie to the Quinn family force who barely had even a twelfth of the training he had. He was barely a man, having about the maturity of a boy. However everyday he was on the force he always thanked Wolfram and tried to con him into dinner. Dark blue hair and wide sky eyes looked over with a mixture of fear and relief.

"Brandt…you can't be here! I thought…." Wolfram looked behind him with a glare. "You lied! You said no men would be taken in exchange that I hand myself over!" The human grinned.

"I only remember promising to let the men leave in exchange that you hand yourself over. You never said anything about pursing them later. Most either died or escaped, but we were able to capture this one." The man pushed Wolfram inside. "Remember Wolfram, five minuets or else the pests die. As for the prisoners…if you are able to kill this man," he pointed to the blonde. "Then you'll have your freedom." The door was slammed shut and locked on the other side. Fear and dread couldn't describe the rock that seemed to have dropped into his gut. His blade shook as he raised it with extreme difficulties. Everyone in the room followed his lead and the first to make a step started the war.


Fredrick jumped at the sound of the floor boards creaking. His paranoia was catching up to him. The living quarters despite being so vast was supremely empty. There was not another soul among them. Rounding another hall, Gwendal led him to the farthest hall in the back. Both were tense and ready for a rapid draw in case of an ambush. Geez I'm so jumpy. The red head mentally sighed and pressed on. He kept his eyes out for anything blonde and golden, but the closest thing he found to that was the sun outside the windows. Damn it Wolfram…please tell me you're here. He begged. The elder paused, his nose twitching a bit. Fredrick was about to ask what Gwendal was doing before he too caught the scent. It was the smell of blood and lots of it.


"Over there!" Gwendal pointed behind him before taking off. Fredrick didn't hesitate either. He drew out his sword and growled. If they drew blood from Wolfram, then he was going to do the same. Rounding the corner and running up a flight of stairs, the two ran at their fastest in the direction of the scent that stirred panic in their minds.

Five down. Wolfram panted and looked to his final target. Brandt looked with wide eyes at his superior. The blonde was his hero, his everything and he had seen him kill innocent men without an ounce of hesitation. Emerald eyes tiredly looked over, limping his way towards the cowering youth. Wolfram was nicked in his leg once more. It was a rather deep gash that would pose problems later if not treated soon. His torso had a thin wound where a lucky blade managed to scratch and draw a thin line from his right shoulder down to the left part of his waist. There were several other small cuts that had already begun to clot but the most alarming one was the small scratch on the base of his neck that hadn't stopped bleeding. "Lord Bielefeld…please don't. Please!" Brandt cried, raising his blade to parry the incoming blow.

"I have to Brandt! If not then they will kill Gwendal and Fredrick! I don't know what else to do!" He cried. His assault continued, his perfect form rapidly went sloppy. I only have two minuet left…two more minuets before he signals the ambush on Gwendal-nii and Fredrick. His arm froze and his grip loosened. The sword fell to the floor along with Wolfram who's body could no longer be supported by his own legs. He crashed ungracefully onto the bodies and blood of the others he'd killed, gasping for precious air.

"Lord-"

"Attack me as if you're trying to kill me Brandt!" Wolfram yelled from his collapsed position. He reached for the closest weapon: a bloodied sword from one of the prisoners he'd killed earlier. Prying it from the dead grip and using it to help himself up, Wolfram stood panting with his body trying to cave once again. "I trained you to attack the enemy efficiently and mercilessly!"

"But-" Brandt stepped forward to try and reason with his superior only to pause mid step at the hateful glare.

"Look around you!" Wolfram beckoned to the lifeless corpses that fell mid scream. "I am the enemy right now! Attack to kill me!"

Brandt nodded, complying and charging. The assault was sloppy and had it been another day in training Wolfram would have commented so. However it was a battle for life and for death. With an easy feint to the right, Wolfram turned around and ran the sword through Brandt's middle. The blade jutted out on the other side and finally the boy-dreaming-soldier fell heavily onto the blade. Tears streamed down the blonde's face and his body felt disconnected from reality. He couldn't believe what he had done.

"Less men to drag back to Dai Shimeron." The leader feigned a heartbroken sigh as he stepped through the metal door. Wolfram stood dazed in disbelief at what he had done. One of his own subordinates. He had just killed one of his own subordinates. He killed a fellow comrade-wore his blood on his blade and his sleeve. The blonde fell to his knees, his body shaking with uncontrollable sobs. The blade fell to the floor along with Brandt's corpse. He gasped out choked sobs with tears falling down the sides of his cheek. "Such a shame we didn't get any information out of him. It's either utter loyalty or vile betrayal for him to keep so silent." The human stepped forward, beckoning to his men to follow. "I take it no matter what we do the canary won't sing. So let's leave Shin Makoku a message." Wolfram looked up with one torn expression; emerald eyes dripped their sorrow as their light dimmed. He was unarmed. The enemy won. Wolfram closed his eyes and willed the inevitable to happen. He just hoped the screams of the men he had killed wouldn't follow him to hell.


Fredrick and Gwendal ran to the very last room. There were several guards-easily destroyed by Gwendal. The room looked more homely and lively, containing actual people along with obvious signs of someone living within the confines of the spacious room. Both strained their hearing. Voices? "So let's leave Shin Makoku a message." They darted and found the missing blonde.

"Wolfram!" Fredrick screamed. Gwendal launched a spike of earth, pulling it up to the top floor they were at. The enemy surrounding the blonde noble leapt away and were fortunately knocked unconscious by a livid Fredrick.

"Wolfram, are you alright?" Gwendal finally addressed his brother after the small battle. Two sets of eyes looked worriedly on the broken youth. He couldn't look at the two in the eye nor did he try. His body shook and tears painted his face. It pained not only Gwendal, but Fredrick as well, to see the once-upon-a-time strong soldier reduced to such a pitiful state. The eldest took the blonde in his arms, pressing him to his chest in a comforting embrace. "It's okay Wolfram. You're safe. Sh…you're safe." Gwendal whispered. His fingers ran through the grimy locks upon his brother's head.

Fredrick in the background cleared his throat to get the earth user's attention. Cold blue orbs cast a backwards glare and the red head frantically flailed his arms around to try and convey a signal. In the end the lesser noble knew it was no good. "We should probably leave. Who knows what's going to happen now." Gwendal nodded in agreement and picked up his baby brother in his arms.

"Grab that one," he beckoned the to brown haired superior of the humans. "We're taking him in for questioning." The Quinn noble did as told and stripped the enemy of all possible weapons before picking him up on his back. After that they left for Blood Pledge Castle.

And the entire time they paraded back into Blood Pledge Castle with the missing boy in his arms, Yuuri watched from his window. Serpent eyes narrowing with recognition of the familiar blonde. A frown fell on his lips-on Yuuri Shibuya's lips.

"Now all that's left is to clip his wings so he won't fly away."