Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN KYOU KARA MAOU

It is not my property, no profit made.

Greta could read disapproval in Wolfram's eyes, which made her have difficulty eating her cakes that morning. What was worse was Yuuri looking at her this way,too. It gave her shudders. They were trying to discover a secret, she couldn't doubt it.

" Instead of staring at me as if I was going to disappear, can you tell me what you want?" she finally let out, with a hint of coldness. Wolfram's eyebrow writhed.

" To begin, miss, you're going to take another tone when you're talking to your fathers. And secondly, yes, you may disappear, too. So that's why I'm watching you."

Greta kept chewing her small cake, looking at Wolfram. Than at Yuuri. Than back at Wolfram.

" All right. What's wrong?"

" I'm not going to rummage in your belongings," the blond answered. " But you're going to show me your mask and your cape."

Greta lost her countenance, dropping her spoon:

" Why? My mask and my cape? But I don't have any masks and...and I have lots of capes! I don't even understand what you're talking about!"

" Greta, I'm serious. You better do what I'm telling you to."

She thought she would find some support from Yuuri but her Japanese father was as serious and severe as Wolfram. So, it was Wolfram he chose to side. Greta felt something churn in her stomach.

" Okay; but I still don't know what you're talking about." Shrugging her eyebrows, she expressed her annoyance but the young woman couldn't totally hide her concern. She was afraid of what her parents could discover about her...because she wasn't sure of what was happening to her, either. Her spoon fell from her trembling hand a second time.

Back in Shin Makoku, the preparations for the marriage day had much progressed, thanks to Celi's motivation. To her great joy, Yuuri's mother had been brought to Yuuri's kingdom, and the two mothers, getting along quite a lot, were now actively lending hands to their sons. Reigned a convivial and familial atmosphere in Blood pledge Castle, and with the Spring time coming, people felt happier.

One, though, wasn't that content that day. Riding to Shinou's shrine, without any companions, Yuuri was heading for the main room with determined steps that, usually, warned people about the king's bad mood and scared them. The king was welcomed silently by the guards and he strolled through the cold corridors until he found the big room where the forbidden boxes had been put. There was no one. Even Murata had deserted the shrine, today. The glowing fountain behind the boxes didn't catch Yuuri's eyes for long and he soon looked around. As nothing answered his inward request, he therefore said, with a quite strong voice:

" Shinou, I think we have much to talk about, you and me. I hope you can hear me, now. And I know you can. So show your ass , now."

His prayer seemed to have reached the Original king's ears. A soft silhouette emerged upon the second box, and Yuuri approached with two steps only the spirit.

" I knew you would come to see me, Yuuri," Shinou stated calmly, a gentle smile drawing his lips up. " Though, I'd like you to explain me why I can feel this wrath emanating from you."

" You're taking me for a fool, and this is something I'm starting to dislike," Yuuri answered, as coolly as the blond, but his coldness was there. Shinou noticed it with no difficulty. He shrugged.

" It's not in my tastes to piss you off, Yuuri. But I do like having fun, I admit it, and you would understand me if you've been buried for four thousand years as I have been, without the least possibility to move your little finger."

" I don't care." Yuuri stared at the dead king. " I don't care if you are bored or if your life is over. It doesn't give you the right to play with my daughter. She's no toy for anyone."

A half amused half dark expression veiled Shinou's face. His smile became a smirk.

" So...it is for that you came here. Mmh...I see." He shifted upon the box. " Well...you'll get to know why I and Greta have been doing that for all this time."

" So, tell. I'm willing to listen to you, I have time to waste." Yuuri crossed his arms to indicate he was pricking his ears up to know what Shinou had to say. The tension between the one who used to be the most powerful king of the world and the new one was flaring up.

" Fine," Shinou let out eventually, raking a pale hand through his golden locks. " Greta was worried . About you and Wolfram. So she came to ask me for some help."

Yuuri's surprise didn't go unnoticed.

" So...she's worried and it's you she wants to see in first place? Why would she be worried?"

" Because, my dear Yuuri, it's been almost seven years since you and Wolfram got engaged and nothing was decided between you and him. She was wondering if there would be a marriage or something-like to seal your betrothal. But you were deciding nothing, in the end, it only fed people's gossips. Most of them were saying your engagement was going to be concealed because the king wasn't ready to take Wolfram as his spouse. It pained Greta, you know. Even if she sees ,everyday, that you love Wolfram and that he does you, she started thinking there was some truth behind what they were saying. So, just before the new year party, your daughter came here and asked me some advice. We made a pact. "

Yuuri was startled by what he was hearing. The cold expression of his face was melting away. Shinou watched as his arms were unfolding slightly and his mouth was opening. His smirk grew larger as he appreciated to see how his words reached Yuuri's heart.

" As you can see, everything came from Greta's own concern for her parents. Who were...too absorbed by their own passion and youth and...carelessness...to see how their daughter was really feeling. It isn't enough to be all mushy in front of people, mostly, if most of them are used to the old etiquette of the court. Seven years and the king still hasn't pronounced a word about his engagement to one of the most respected and wealthy heirs. See. I'm not the one in fault. It all came from you. But of course, you couldn't realize that: I guess you're still an immature child no matter what you've accomplished."

No doubt that Shinou's sarcasm was unnerving Yuuri, who with all the stress of the marriage, didn't need a burden of guilt on his shoulders in addition. But the Original king was right and despite the irritating ironic tone he had taken to speak to him, Yuuri found himself unable to deny the truth. Filled with a certain shame, the double black just nodded.

" Okay. What kind of pact did you make with her? Was using a cape and a mask to hide her face and possess her a part of your plan?"

" Mmh...it was. During the ball where everyone learned what was happening between you and Wolfram, she allowed me to possess her to spy you and spread the good news. Guess it worked, you're going to get married. In exchange, she had to let me possess her for one more week because I had an errand to run...or rather a simple goal that each dead king desires to achieve."

" Oh...So my daughter made a pact with the devil itself? I think I'm going to sermon her about that. But from what I can hear, you could possess her for one week only and you didn't respect the deal: you're still using her four months after Wolfram and I decided to be married. I would like to understand why she can't trust you finally?" the last words were said with a predator groan. " What was that goal?"

A silence followed the question. Only the weird buzzing sound of the light fountain behind Shinou was filling the room. Yuuri's eyes darkened, biding the dead king to speak up to explain his deeds which appeared quite criminal to him.

"...To flee from reality."

"...What?"

" To flee from reality, I possessed Greta more than I had the right to. Do you know how it feels to come back to this world, and see how everything changed? Not for the worst, I admit it, but that everyone you knew died and the only one you deeply trusted no longer recognizes you as your king and even kind of despises you and seeks happiness elsewhere are things you probably don't understand, Yuuri."

" Maybe no," the double black acknowledged with honesty. " But being depressed because your sage no longer needs and wants you...I think you're taking it too seriously."

" Perhaps would you figure out better if you try to be me and see Wolfram as the sage. So...How would you feel if Wolfram started turning his back to you? Would you appreciate it?"

It was Yuuri's time to remain quiet as if he was able to grasp a bit of Shinou's pain.

"... It's not the same. You can't make any comparisons between your case and mine. Your love for the sage was burning and unbearable but you knew you couldn't do anything with him...while with Wolfram...I don't have this pain because I have the chance to consume this love. You couldn't. So even if Wolfram was turning his back to me...you know what? I'd certainly feel heart broken but I'd be happy, too, because I would have already tasted life with him. I'd feel lucky. And this is how you should feel. Be happy that at least, you still count in Murata's life."

Shinou didn't respond but his gaze was veiled with something dark, yet undecipherable. Yuuri didn't know if he hurt him, but for sure, he had to make him understand even if he sounded a bit condescending.

" Stop using my daughter. It's all I'm asking for."

" I will, Yuuri. I promise."

A smile graced the current king of Shin Makoku's face. At least, they had eventually come to a compromise. But Shinou, out of provocation or of genuine concern, added:

" Just...next time, if you don't want such thing to occur again, I advise you to listen to your daughter a bit more than you do. Otherwise, I'll be delighted to start all over again."

Yuuri's jaws were firmly pressed one against the other as his fist shook with rage. Shinou though didn't pay attention to it:

" I'm selfish, sometimes. I know. I just want to thank Greta for letting me feel alive and human again. Grow up, Yuuri, it's all I'm asking for,too."

Yuuri just stared at him, maybe glared at him, then, wheeled around to get out. But as he felt Shinou's satisfied and mocking smile grazing his back, he couldn't help but turn to look at him again, cold and biting like the wind in winter.

" Just one thing. If you go across the limits as far as my family is concerned..." he took in a slight breath " I won't hesitate to erase you from the world forever. If you forgot that fact, let me remind you that I'm now much more powerful than you, Shinou. I have my own powers but also yours. You definitely aren't an equal to me. The ashes remain...but you won't."

Leaving a silent, yet slightly frightened Shinou, Yuuri made his way out.

Wolfram folded his uniform and put it down back in the wardrobe. As he closed the door, he startled at the sight of Yuuri standing all near him. He finally breathed with relief.

" Yuuri...Don't scare me like this, it's not amusing." Then, he noticed the mortification upon his face.

" Sorry...but my talk with Shinou didn't go very well."

" What did he do again?" Wolfram enquired as he raised a hand to touch his fiancé's face. His cheek was hot. " did he do something to you?"

" It's not that. But...do you know how it feels to threaten someone you used to respect very much? I'm still shivering from what I said to him." Wolfram, taking a hold of his hand, felt the shuddering running all his body. " But I know I did well. Because it was for Greta."

" Of course, I don't doubt it, Yuuri."

As his betrothed was still trembling, Wolfram locked his arms around his shoulders, pulling him into a hug that he wanted warm. When he felt Yuuri calming down a little, the blond asked the question that was quivering on his lips:

" So...What happened? What did you talk about?"

" I'll talk about this later, I'm first going to take a shower. I'll be back."

They exchanged a quick kiss then Yuuri headed to the bathroom.

Wolfram pulled his pyjamas on, then, walked towards the small table where a wide mirror was standing, leaning against the wall. He picked up his comb and began disentangling his long golden curls.

" Beautiful like me."

Wolfram shouted out as the mirror talked to him. He fell off his chair and hastily stood up to stare at the mirror. Eyes large and face pale, he observed as a shape appeared upon the glass, and he soon distinguished Shinou's facial features. He was smiling, entertained.

" Sorry, I've been wandering a little. Just telling you goodnight."

Wolfram's heart, racing violently, started to take a more peaceful pace. Though, the prince continued to stare at the face with some mistrust, despite all the respect he had for his ancestor.

" All right. Thank you."

" You're welcome...Oh, and before I leave, nice hickeys."

Wolfram reached up his hands to hide his neck but Shinou's image was fading, and an amused laugh filled the air before dying.

TBC