Okay so a day late…better than the updates I've done. I'm sorry. Sigh, why must I always make my stories overly depressing? Oh well, the mystery will start to be revealed in the next chapter! I hope you enjoy. ENCOURAGE THE POOR STARVIN COLLEGE STUDENT! R&R! Please and thank you!

Conrad paced nervously up and down the length of his room. What had brought that on? He was quite sure he had never let his mask slip, at least not around Yuuri. Yuuri thought of him as his guardian and protector, didn't he? Conrad stopped a moment and brought a hand up to brush his lips. Yuuri had taken a hit to the head and had been disoriented…after twelve hours. His reasoning sounded pathetic even to his own ears, but there had to be some explanation. But what if he returned the feelings Conrad had for him? Conrad physically and mentally shook himself. No, Yuuri was his king. There was no way to describe how inappropriate this situation was. As Conrad began pacing again he didn't notice someone slip into the room.

"You know if you keep that up you'll wear a rut in the carpet."

Without turning to face the intruder Conrad continued pacing.

"What do you want, Yozak?"

"Well if that's your attitude then maybe I won't tell you the message I have form king Yuuri."

That stopped Conrad's pacing. He turned to find Yozak, leaning lazily against the door frame with amusement dancing across his features.

"Message?"

"More like an order really. He wants you to come to his room later."

Conrad froze and leveled Yozak with a look that plainly stated 'Are you serious?'

"Oooooh! What happened?" Yozak asked excitedly while waltzing further into the room.

Conrad seemed to shake himself loose of his paralysis and glared at Yozak.

"That, my friend, is none of your concern."

"Something did happen! I knew it! Did he confess? I bet he did. Oh Captain, you're one lucky man!"

Conrad took a step back with a puzzled expression and tried to remind himself that Yuuri had been disoriented due to injury.

Yozak stopped his tirade.

"He didn't confess?"

Conrad shook his head.

"But something did happen?"

Conrad nodded.

"What then?"

Conrad swallowed and took a breathed deeply.

"He kissed me."

"HE kissed YOU?" Yozak said while gesturing from the direction of Yuuri's room back to Conrad.

Conrad nodded once again.

"Ooooh! I never thought he would be so forward. He was so shy when he talked about you. So when's the wedding?"

"You know hat can never happen." Conrad stated firmly looking everywhere but his friend's face.

"And why not?" Yozak questioned as his usually grinning face took on an expression serious enough to match his captain's.

"I'm just a soldier, nothing more. Inappropriate doesn't begin to describe—"

"But you love each other."

Conrad and Yozak stared each other down for a minute before Yozak sighed and turned to leave.

As he walked out Yozak called over his shoulder, "Remember to go to King Yuri's room tonight."

Conrad stood staring at the closed door for quite some time before slouching into a chair.

What was he going to do?

When'sTheWedding_When'sTheWedding_When'sTheWedding_When'sTheWedding

Conrad took a deep breath and raised his hand to knock before sighing and letting it fall to his side once again. There was no way that he could reject Yuuri, but he couldn't be with him either. Conrad sighed again and looked imploringly at his feet, as if willing them to take him anywhere but where he was. Suddenly there was someone next to him and the door before him was open.

"Yo, Bocchan, the Captain is here!" Yozak yelled as he pushed Conrad into the room, causing him stumble.

Conrad recovered quickly and turned around to yell at the spy's back as he ran down the hall, "Yozak!"

Yozak merely waved over his shoulder as he turned the corner. Recomposing himself, Conrad turned around to find Yuuri attempting not to laugh, and failing. Conrad had to chuckle at this too. He closed the door and proceeded to stand at the Maoh's bed side.

"How are your injuries, Your Majesty?"

"They might get better faster if you remembered my name."

"Of course, Yuuri."

Yuuri beamed at him and gingerly fingered the white bandage peeking in between the strands of black hair.

"Nothing's too serious. The worst thing is the bump on my head, but otherwise I'm fine. I wish Gisela would let me get out of bed though. Even doing paperwork is more entertaining than this."

"Would you like some books to pass the time?"

Yuuri's face brightened at the thought of a distraction. Conrad simply smiled.

"I'll see what I can find."

Conrad turned to leave but heard the rustling of linen behind him. Before he could look back, Conrad felt slim arms slide around his midsection and a head rested on his back.

"Don't go Conrad. I…I called you here because…I…I love you Conrad!" Yuuri's grip on the soldier tightened as he whispered, "I want you to always be by my side."

Conrad's heart tightened at the mere thought of hurting Yuuri like he was about to. Conrad loosened Yuuri's grasp and turned to face him, still in the embrace. Big mistake. The obsidian eyes shining brightly with hope that were trained on his features made the next statement all the more difficult for Conrad to say.

"Yuuri, I love you too." Yuuri's features brightened. "That's exactly why we can't be together." And immediately fell.

"But…why not?!"

"My status, my age, your engagement, and the list could go on. A relationship with me would only cause you pain and trouble."

"I don't care about that! All I care about is having you by my side!"

Yuuri's eyes were brimming with tears as he laid his head against Conrad's strong chest. Conrad sighed and rested his hand atop Yuuri's head, gently stroking the midnight strands.

"I will always be beside you, just not in that way. Yuuri, I will never leave you."

Conrad slowly extracted himself from Yuuri's now limp arms and guided him to the bed.

"You should rest now, Your Majesty."

That seemed to wake Yuuri from his state of shock as he made one more attempt to keep his guiding light next to him.

"Conrad! Please…please, for just this once ignore the rules and tell me what you want!"

The only response he got was a soft apology as Conrad slipped from the room.

In the darkness of his room that night, Yuuri once again heard laughter as he cried crystal tears trying to purge his broken heart of some of the pain.

Whew. That one was tough to write. Originally, I had Conrad and Yuuri end up together in this chapter and that was where the story would end but I decided there were WAY too many loose ends. ARGH! Once again I can't seem to break away from making my stories incredibly depressing. I hope you like it though. Next chapter should be up in the next few days. ENCOURAGE THE POOR STARVING COLLEGE STUDENT! R&R! Please and thank you.