Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN KYOU KARA MAOU!
It belongs to its respective owners and creators.
WARNING: . OOC. YUURAM or... And Graphic Morbid details.
Sum-up:
After another argument between Yuuri and Wolfram, Yuuri found Wolfram cheating on him. Devastated, Yuuri has broken off the engagement. Wolfram is trying to take Yuuri back, though the King refuses now any kind of involvement with him, except the King/Soldier relationship. With that, a mysterious woman is after Yuuri's life and tries to kill him. He and Wolfram met her after a big fire, she escapes and the two boys find a necklace belonging to her. Just by looking at this jewel, Wolfram's behaviour changes oddly, as if he had no memory about his betrayal. Apparently, the woman erased his memory, letting all of them in confusion. They're now in search for her.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The next morning.
" From what we know, we should go to Itarocville. Where Romy is said to be hidden." Gwendal announced, unfolding the paper atlas with his hands.
" Do you think we can really trust that Heinstagel?" asked Murata who was holding his cup of tea, with a funny snobbish fashion, his smaller finger lifted. " He truly appeared to love his ex-wife."
" Everything he has said is the only clue we have, right now." Yuuri answered, searching for something inside his brown bag. " Otherwise, how can we find Romy?"
Conrad frowned slightly: seeing Yuuri so agitated in the morning worried him a bit.
" Is there something wrong your Highness?"
" Yes, before we left, Greta gave me a handkerchief she made herself. And I think I lost it. Where did I leave it?"
" Perhaps you left it in Heinstagel's store, no?" Wolfram suggested, buttoning his last shirt buttons.
" You're awake?"
" Of course, I've been awake for around one hour, you fool! Did you think you were going to go away without me?"
" It wasn't my attention."
" mph! Where did you sleep that night? It's weird, you know, it was like I could barely feel you." The golden eyebrows' frown marred the pretty face. " Should I even watch out for you when you sleep?"
" What are you claiming? That I slept with someone else?"
" If you dare do such a thing..."
" I spent all night on a couch, for your information, the bed was too small and narrow for the two of us!"
"...Wimp!" By the tone of his voice, they could note Wolfram was not believing Yuuri. " Even in a small bed, you should be with your fiancé!"
" I really don't understand why!" Yuuri replied with a grimace, throwing his bag over his left shoulder. He looked under the bed to find his handkerchief.
" Why? Because it's a new law from now on!"
They glared at each one, their tension rising. They even didn't notice that the three others had been watching them for a while. Murata was amused, he didn't deny it. A smirk was adorning his cheerful face.
" Lovers' quarrel should be stopped right now!"
As always, it was what made the two blush like children. They at last saw the three pairs of eyes on them.
" We should go now." Gwendal eventually said, his voice barely concealing his stiffness.
" We first go to Heinstagel's store." Conrad made him remember. " His highness has forgotten something important there."
" Fine."
On the way, Wolfram and Yuuri avoided to talk to each other. When they arrived at the craftsman's shop, they entered. They didn't hide their surprise as silence was welcoming them.
" Walter?" Yuuri called softly. He wasn't there, apparently. He lowered his gaze to the floor, only to see a piece of fabric with flowers drawn on it.
" Oh, I found it!" He picked it up swiftly, smiling tenderly at the inscription his daughter had sewed with love. For my father, you daughter forever.
" All her affection is written on it." Wolfram softly said, his eyes smiling at it.
" For sure, I think she's making another one solely for you too."
Gwendal tilted his head as he noticed the small room's door, behind the counter, slightly open. Instinctively, his hand reached for his sword on his hip. Something was...strange.
" Gwendal?" Conrad imitated his brother. The latter put a finger on his lips:
" Shh..."
He approached the door, and with a fast movement, flung it open. What they could see made their biles up into their throats, threatening them to make them throw up everything they had eaten in the morning. Their cheeks were emptied of their bloods.
" Is it...Walter?" Yuuri asked shakily, his eyes wide, a hand on the door frame to steady himself.
" We think so..."
Walter...or what remained of him was sitting on a chair, red liquid all over the floor.
" Someone attacked him ..." Murata couldn't help but say what everyone had already understood. He tried to keep his composure, having never seen this close a corpse.
" It's horrible...How...that man..." Wolfram hissed with a terrible anger that was making his hand quivering.
" Who could do that?" Yuuri wanted to know from the bottom of his heart. After an inspection; nothing had been stolen. And as Gwendal examined Walter closer, he noted the slight burnt skin. He slanted his eyes as it reminded him of something.
" He was partially burnt. Romy can set fire off. Do you remember? That confirms my doubt, she may have taken his life."
" Oh yes, fire seems to be her element...would she have done that because we asked pieces of information to Walter?" Murata asked, thinking about the fire she had provoked some days before. " That would mean she was somewhere here, close to us."
" So...is it my fault?" Yuuri's voice was like a whisper, tears starting to trickle down.
Wolfram gripped his shoulders, turning him so that they could face each other.
" No, Yuuri! Nothing happens because of you! It's not your fault at all!"
" But..."
Before he could say anything else, Yuuri was pressed against Wolfram's chest.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
After the village discovered the corpse of their lovely craftsman, the little crew left for Itarocville, a village next to Kirchsburg, a sad weight on their hearts.
They had a plan of the city and everyone had examined it.
Wolfram had insisted to be riding his horse with Yuuri. He wanted to show him his support. Yuuri was undergoing too much stress. Stress was changing his beloved fiancé, making him say incomprehensible things...a long sigh found a way out of Wolfram's mouth.
He accused me of certain things...He was quite angry...And he's more aggressive with me...Except all the trouble Romy is creating, what could explain his behaviour?...
Wolfram looked over his shoulder, Yuuri sitting upright behind him, though, slightly leaning forward against Wolfram. The latter tenderly stroked his arm which was surrounding his waist. The blond, with a soft voice as not to scare him, asked:
" Are you feeling okay, Yuuri?"
The dark-haired boy nodded slowly:
" Yes...Thank you."
It was feeling eerie...This physical contact with Wolfram, his back, his hand, his hair tickling his nose...There was nothing lewd about it, Yuuri could only sense Wolfram's desire to comfort him. Mainly after the horror they'd found some hours earlier.
Am I beginning to forgive Wolfram? It's just that...I'm feeling something for him. I was just afraid to be too close to him this night. And I barely slept, I was too occupied with thinking about the two of us...
Yuuri even was feeling good against Wolfram. The slow pace of the horse drove him drowsy, his head slightly swinging. The blond noticed it and allowed Yuuri's head to rest against his shoulder.
" You can sleep...You seem tired..."
" Thank you but I should stay awake. It's not time to sleep while you're all working."
Wolfram feebly smiled:
" Well, you look as if you haven't slept much. You're no good right now. Rest a little, I'm there anyway."
Yuuri caught a glimpse of the mazoku's smile and he did the same. He let himself relax a bit against his ex-fiancé (?), already sleepy. Wolfram held Yuuri's hands which were in front of his waist.
Conrad softly smiled, glad to see hope left for the two. Their hearts were too good to hold grudge for too long. But then, he wondered if it was now necessary to tell Wolfram the truth.
" Here is Itarocville..." Gwendal announced a few moments later.
Yuuri was woken up from his light slumber,by Wolfram's whispers as his eyes discovered the pretty town before them. Even Murata, usually so composed and less animated than Yuuri, expressed his admiration. Even though the atmosphere was oddly hotter and dryer, to Yuuri's and Murata's mind, it looked like a mix of Orient and some occidental cities on Earth.
" I really wish to be home soon to tell Greta everything!" Yuuri gigglingly uttered.
" Fine!" Murata said afterwards. " I suggest one thing. As we still don't know where Romy is...And if she is spying on us...The best is to separate."
" Yes, this is a good idea." Gwendal approved, his eyes darting the space spreading. " All of us together would create suspicions, and alert her. Wolfram and his Highness will inspect on the left, Conrad you'll go straight and His Eminence and I will take care of the right side."
" Everyone has the plan of the city, try to find information about this woman. I'm sure we'll find soon or late her shelter. Then, at one o'clock, we will all gather at Red Roses Place. Alright?"
They all nodded, as their horses slowly started to take their way.
" Stay close to the king and your brother..." Murata muttered to Conrad.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Everyone headed towards where they had been told. They tried to behave casually, naturally so that they wouldn't get any suspicions. Though they behaved like simple tourists or visitors; the five men kept being in alert.
" It's hot, here." Yuuri muttered, impatiently wiping his sweat away with his sleeve.
" Yes, drink a bit."
" Thank you." He took the bottle Wolfram was handing to him. Water immediately brought him the comfort he needed, the wetness calming the dry of his throat. Astonishment took him when Wolfram kissed the corner of his mouth where a last drop of water had remained.
" W-Wolf!"
" I...I wanted to do it."
Pink dust spread on their cheeks and they didn't dare say anything. They mixed themselves to the crowd. Fortunately for them, they were not the only ones on horses. They almost completely went unseen to people.
Wolfram's body was tensed. Something was wrong. He could feel...an invisible strength haunting the town. The more they were visiting it, the more he could feel it. Even Yuuri was in alert, his body straightened on the horse.
A flash struck their view and they momentarily shut their eyes, Wolfram's grip on Yuuri's hand tightening. When they opened a few seconds later, everything was perfectly fine, as if nothing happened.
" There's something evil for sure." The blond soldier affirmed, his eyes narrowing.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
" Dam n it!" Conrad's eyes snapped open when he realized something. The town was controlled, and without being aware of it, they had fallen in a trap.
He urged his horse the way back as he decided to find Yuuri and Wolfram before it was too late. He glanced at his plan once again: Five points. Like the five extremities of a star. And according to the plan, Wolfram and Yuuri were just in the middle of it. The very thought of them lost made his hairs stand on his skin.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
" We've been here for almost one hour and there's nothing."
" Yuuri...it's natural...Do you really think she is going to attack us when there are so many people around?"
" She could. I begin to understand how she acts and behaves. To surprise or scare us, she would be ready to attack when there's a crowd."
" Mh...You're not wrong."
A loud sound of horse's gallops reached their ears, making them look at the origins of this. Their surprise was great when it was Conrad on his horse, the expression of his face alerted and frightened. He was quickly heading into their directions, not caring much about the people around who made a way to this wild rider.
" Conrad..."
" Yuuri! Wolfram! Get away! Hurry up!"
" What?"
" Hurry up! Get out of here!"
Before Wolfram could react, tugging on the reins, the two younger men shouted, Yuuri hugging Wolfram's waist tightly as Wolfram's arms desperately held tight on the horse's neck. The groans of the animal could be heard, while the ground underneath them started to shake.
" Yuuri! Wolfram!!" Conrad yelled out, trying to reach them. The earth under them opened in a noisy crack, sending the two boys into a black hole, their voices shrieking to death as if there was no ending, sending bad shivers to Conrad's spine. Who, helplessly had seen his king and his brother disappear.
" YUURI! WOLFRAM!!" What's more, the black gap closed, letting to Conrad no time to catch them. It left him completely bewildered and taken aback. They had fallen in Romy's trap. The truth slowly made its way into Conrad's brain. Hazel eyes expressed all their despair and disbelief to such a terrible event. An icy drop of sweat fell from his temple.
" No...no..."
He looked around him: people were perfectly calm, except the fact they were now staring at Conrad with fear and curiosity. Was the guy insane or...?
" Why is he crying?" " Who are Yuuri and Wolfram?" " Have you seen how scared he seems?"
" He's crazy, for sure! He's crazy!" " He may be sick! He's going to bring a new disease!"
Conrad couldn't believe it. Had he been the only one to see the King and his Soldier swallowed by the earth?
TBC
Eirina.
