Chapter 10:

HELLO, AGAIN

Yuuri's POV

"Adalbert", Yuuri yelled, in shock. Although he had entirely expected Conrad to be the one to save him, it was Adalbert who ended up doing so. "How...why..."

"Save your questions for later, demon king. We should get going. Stay where you are if you want to die but, if not", he voiced. He drew his sword high above the king's head and sliced it down quickly, making Yuuri think he was going to be chopped in half. The boy closed his eyes and screamed out in fear. A thump startled him and he waited for the pain but felt nothing. Opening his eyes, he looked down at the shackles the man had seperated with his sword. "Then get up; we're leaving now", Adalbert finished, turning on his heel and walking.

"We?" Yuuri stood up and looked around while he followed the taller man but found no one but them and several dead guards. Guards he would mourn later and scold Adalbert for killing. Though, what control does he have over the enemy... (I)Adalbert is the enemy, isn't he?(I)

"I've got a lot of comrades standing just outside these gates", he responded, pointing at the exit gates to the arena. "We'll join them and head for our camp. Good for you, boy, you get to dwell with the common folk." Adalbert turned towards him and smirked.

"I-I don't mind that", Yuuri stuttered.

The entire walk to the camp was silent and, after reaching it, Adalbert offered the king a cup of water. The cup looked like it was handmade and made of stone, but he drank anyway. The first step to "dwelling with the common folk" would certainly be drinking from a rock, wouldn't it?

"So, what is your royal highness doing alone in a neighboring country", Adalbert asked. "I haven't seen any other demons, nearby. Not even Yozak."

"I-I was taken."

"From the castle? What great security you have, your highness."

His sarcasm was really starting to get on Yuuri's nerves, but the king decided to breathe and let it go. "I'm sure there's a perfectly good reason for it. What about you guys, though? Why are you here?"

"We were planning to execute Belal ourselves, actually."

"Oh..."

Yuuri put his head down and clenched his fists before suddenly feeling Adalbert's eyes fall on him. He heard the older man breathe in, as though he were going to say something, but was cut off by the sound of horses and Conrad calling out to his king. After dismounting and reaching the boy's side, Conrad knelt in front of him and held one of his hands between his own. "Are you alright, your highness", he asked, short of breath.

The boy laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, I'm fine. Adalbert got there just in the nick of time, so there's no need to worry."

Conrad turned to Adalbert and glared as though he were ready to tear him to pieces. After several seconds had passed, Conrad stood up and held a hand out to Yuuri. "We should head back, your majesty."

"Stop calling me that. It's Yuuri", he responded, before grabbing the soldier's hand and being lifted up. Conrad turned and began walking to the horses but Yuuri stood where he was, staring at Adalbert and contemplating whether he should say what he was thinking, or not.

The blonde looked up at the boy and Conrad called out, "Your highness?"

"Um", Yuuri began, blushing furiously at the thought of being nice to his possible enemy. The man did save him, though... "We should hang out some time... or something."

The older man looked up and studied his shorter frienemy closely before smirking. "Hm. Why would you, the demon king, ask something like that?"

"It's just... I guess I kind of like... being around you..."

Adalbert stared at him for several seconds before finally allowing his eyes to leave the king's. "I don't have time to be hanging around with demons."

Yuuri frowned, followed Conrad and mounted his horse. Before leaving, he turned back to Adalbert and asked, "We will meet again, won't we?"

"It's inevitable, kid. We always see each other, somehow, don't we? You're like a curse that's been placed on my entire life." The blonde went to drink from his cup but stopped with his lip barely grazing the edge of it and spoke in a near whisper, "Not that that's such a bad thing..."

Yuuri smiled, though he couldn't help but feel slightly sad that he may never have this kind of luck, again. The man might be his enemy, but he's also a friend. A good friend who he always enjoys the company of. The older man sipped his cup before looking up at the black-haired teen and smiling. "What is it that you want to do?"

"Anything, really. We could hang around the demon kingdom or go somewhere else, if you don't want to be there."

"I don't much like the demon kingdom or demons, in general. However, if you'd be willing to meet me here", he sighed, pulling out a map and pointing to a location (because I don't wanna be specific T u T). "I guess we could do something tomorrow when the sun is highest in the sky. How does that sound?"

Yuuri perked up, then, and smiled wide. "Yes!"

"Your highness", Conrad said, a little sternly. The boy looked up at his soldier and was stunned to find an angry-looking face. Is he mad at me or Adalbert? And why? "We should get going."

"O-okay..."

(I'm soooo sorry that I didn't upload, last week! I've had a lot on my plate for the last week and haven't had literally any time. When I finally did get the time to sit down and do it, I wasn't in the mood for it. ; o ;)