Wish

By Mikamilk

Disclaimer I do not own Kyo Kara Maou.

NOTE: Hello! Sorry I took longer to update this chapter! It's a bit angsty, hmmm… And as always, thank you so much for your lovely reviews!

Chapter Eleven

There was a chorus of dull groans as the airplane shuddered unsteadily to the ground. There was, in actual fact, an admirable improvement on Yozak's part compared to his first landing attempt back on the island. He was presumably more cautious this time, keeping in mind his injured passengers on board.

Yuuri was the first to be let out of the door. He stepped off the airplane into the open air and was immediately met by a mass of long locks.

"Heika!" Gunter wailed. "Oh, I cannot be any happier to have you safely return home. We must get you dried and changed into fresh clothes! Oh Heika!"

"Gunter," Yuuri smiled, gently freeing himself from Gunter's tight embrace. "Thanks Gunter. But before worrying about me we need to get everyone to the healers right away!"

Gunter snapped out of his Maou dreamland state and turned to observe the havoc taking place behind him.

Yozak was exchanging a few words with Gwendal. Gwendal promptly instructed his troops to take Saralegui, Berius, Freder Clarkton and the two cloaked guards to be put in confinement and guarded heavily. Mazoku were being carried out, one after the other from the aircraft and Gizela yelled out orders for the injured to be taken to the infirmary. Among the injured was Wolfram, his golden curls that had been so glossy and what used to glisten had now lost its shine from the coat of blood covering it. His exposed skin was a ghastly white and much of it was also splattered with blood. He could easily be mistaken for a corpse.

"Sir Wolfram!" Elsa who had been standing nearby bolted toward her Officer with Alex at her side. Her voice was a mixture of relief and horror.

"Lord Weller, allow us," Alex said as he reached out his arm to Wolfram's limp form.

Conrad entrusted his brother in the care of Elsa and Alex as they lifted Wolfram out of his arms to be placed on a stretcher. The two soldiers then rushed Wolfram away, toward the infirmary. Gizela also sprinted off after a hasty bow to acknowledge Yuuri's return.

"Now Heika," Gunter said, facing Yuuri again. "Please come inside before you catch a cold."

When Yuuri didn't respond, Conrad pressed his hand down on the young King's shoulder supportively. "Heika, Gunter's right. Gwendal will take charge for the meantime."

"But I…Wolfram…" Yuuri stammered, his eyes pointed in the direction of the infirmary.

"You can see him once you're cleaned up," Conrad assured in a gentle yet firm tone. "Please don't forget how much Maryoku you used earlier."

"But-"

"Heika, Wolfram will never forgive me if anything happened to your health," Conrad said with more force this time. "At least take a bath and have something to eat and drink."

Yuuri nodded grudgingly. "Fine…Then will you let me see him?"

"Of course."

"Heika this way," Gunter said, ushering Yuuri inside with Conrad closely behind them.

OoOoOo

It wasn't until after bathing and taking a light meal that Yuuri realized how much he had needed it. His head felt clearer and he found he was acting less frantic. Of course he was still worried sick about Wolfram, but at least now he could go to see him without bursting into the infirmary in an emotional mess.

Regardless of the fact that it was still in the early hours of the morning, maids and healers were running up and down the candle-lit hallways as Yuuri and Conrad approached the infirmary. They could hear Gizela's muffled voice from where they stood outside the door. She was speaking quickly and the urgency in her voice unnerved Yuuri.

Conrad raised his hand to knock on the door but it flung open before he could do so, someone leaping out from inside the dimmed room.

"Aaah, Sir!" Dakaskos exclaimed. The bald man stopped himself just before he collided into Conrad.

"Dakaskos, is it alright if we come in?" Conrad asked smoothly.

"O-Of course!" Dakaskos replied, stepping aside to let them through. He bowed quickly before speeding down the hallway, probably on an errand for Gizela.

Yuuri was slightly taken aback at what met his eyes. He had come to the infirmary on several occasions but never had it been like what it was now. He remembered the infirmary to be a quiet, almost tranquil place with Gizela who always had an affable smile. However, now the room filled with the clatter of medical equipment and shouts of pain and discomfort. Yuuri couldn't even catch a word of what was being spoken between the healers as they rushed around the room from patient to patient.

Yuuri's eyes darted over the rows of beds until he spotted his fiancé. He made his way to the bed, doing his best to not get in anyone's way.

Yuuri found Gizela bent over Wolfram's body, her hands pouring healing energy into a deep cut on the blonde's shoulder. Fresh tears rose to Yuuri's eyes when he was close enough to see the damage that had been done to Wolfram. Gizela had cleaned a lot of the wounds already, but to Yuuri, that only seemed to accentuate the severity of the injuries. Almost anywhere Yuuri put his eyes, there would be nasty evidence of the abuse inflicted upon Wolfram.

"Gizela, how is he?" Conrad said, keeping his voice low.

"Lord Weller…" Gizela lifted her gaze toward Yuuri and Conrad, shaking her bangs out of her eyes. "I'm afraid out of all the injured brought in, Lord Von Bielfield's condition is the most severe. He is in a critical state."

Conrad nodded then urged Gizela to elaborate. Gizela began explaining Wolfram's situation while she lowered her head to peer more closely into the wound she was working on.

"He suffers various fractures, burns and internal bleeding; a consequence of a combination of Hojyutsu, exposure to esoteric stones and physical assault. He has also been poisoned which has affected some of his internal organs. It will take a few days for his system to completely get rid of the toxins…also-" Gizela trailed off, unsure of how to continue. She knew all too well how unprofessional it was of her to show such hesitation. She pursed her lips and glanced up again at Yuuri and Conrad. "He has also been sexually abused. I suspect he was assaulted repeatedly and without mercy…"

Yuuri froze. His throat felt like something was suddenly clogging it, restricting him from being able to speak. Not knowing what to do, he turned shakily to face Conrad for help.

"…Conrad?" The tall brunette beside him had his fists clenched and his shoulders quivered visibly. "Wolfram was…r-raped?" Yuuri whispered.

Conrad cursed under his breath. He had his head bowed, hiding his face from Yuuri's view. Conrad's actions were more than enough to answer Yuuri's question. The truth hit Yuuri in the face and he stifled a gasp of horror. In mere seconds, disbelief had melted into a darker emotion. Anger? No, Yuuri wasn't angry, he was furious.

Gizela moved her gloved hands from Wolfram's shoulder to his ribcage which was swollen and bruised. A wan glow from Gizela's hand illuminated the area. Sweat was beading on her forehead but the medic carried on, oblivious to her fatigue.

In normal circumstances, Gizela would have preferred at least two other healers to assist her for such a big task. Unfortunately, they were short of healers and help from nearby districts would only arrive midday at the earliest. Gizela recalled how she would easily become panicky and doubtful of her own abilities when she was still a novice healer. Back in the days she worked with Suzanna Julia, decades ago. Julia would always give her strength whenever she lost confidence. Julia had said that a confident healer can work miracles. Even though Julia was no longer at her side, Gizela always felt her presence cheering her on.

Suddenly remembering her visitors, Gizela shot a glance up at the two outraged men standing opposite the bed. Gizela shook her head disapprovingly at the sight before her..

"Heika. Lord Weller," Gizela said in a warning voice, achieving a nervous 'yes!' from the two she addressed. "Pardon my bluntness. But whether you are aware or not, both of you are radiating extreme hatred which can negatively affect my patients' recovery."

""Oh.""

Yuuri and Conrad slumped their shoulders in shame. They were also inwardly horrorfied of the sharp glare they received from Gunter's daughter. Her abrupt change in demeanor never ceased to take Yuuri by surprise, even Conrad admitted he couldn't stand up against the girl when she showed her darker side.

"Although the battles back on Doloia Island may be over, Lord Von Bielfield is still fighting," Gizela stated. "I empathize with the both of you. But, anger will do nothing to help Lord Von Bielfield. Right now, he needs all the support he can get."

Conrad loosened his clenched fists. He raised his hand to his forehead, letting out a defeated sigh. Yuuri also allowed the tension in his muscles relax slightly. He reached out and gingerly linked his fingers with Wolfram's pale ones. They still felt icily cold, despite the warmth of the well heated room.

"Wolf, everything's gonna be okay," Yuuri slowly murmured. "Wolfram, I know you can get through this…"

OoOoOo

It took Wolfram almost two days before he came around. His head felt fuzzy and when he opened his eyes he could only make out blurry shadows moving above his head. Some parts of him were screaming with pain and the rest of him felt numb. He was threatening to fall back into unconsciousness when he became aware of something pressing against his mouth. Liquid! Wolfram parted his cracked lips ever so slightly and a small amount of water slid down his throat. That was the last thing he remembered before his eyes fell shut.

Wolfram spent another three days slipping in and out of consciousness. Whenever he woke, he would be delirious from a high fever and could hardly comprehend anything clearly. But gradually, he showed tiny signs improvement.

Wolfram found that when he opened his eyes he no longer saw blurred shadows but could make out the figures hovering over him. Most of the time it was Gizela, sometimes his brothers, his mother or Greta and also Yuuri. Wolfram also began to understand the soothing words spoken to him. He could feel their fingers when they gently stroking his hair or squeezed his hand.

As Wolfram's health began restoring, he also began remembering what had happened before he lost consciousness. The cloaked men, the island, the torture…

The events replayed endlessly in his mind. They would plague his every thought when he woke up so he would force himself back to sleep, only to have the same images in his dreams.

Somewhere inside, Wolfram knew he had to snap out of this cycle. He needed to wake up properly and assure everyone he was okay. But every time he tried, the memories would overwhelm him. He couldn't move, couldn't speak a word. All he could do was return to his nightmares again.

Wolfram stared into the images inside his mind. The cell, the way he was held down…He wanted to just wake up and end his misery, put it all behind him. But was it even possible to face Yuuri with such a dirty body? He would be disgusted. He had shown Yuuri so much weakness, it was shameful. Yuuri didn't want Wolfram as his fiancé and now he wouldn't want him as a soldier.

That train of thought triggered Wolfram to remember something else. Something even more devastating. He remembered what had happened before he was captured. He remembered the decision he had made—to free Yuuri from their engagement.

Wolfram plummeted into a deeper depression. Even if he did overcome the trauma he would only be faced with an even worse nightmare, a life without Yuuri…

OoOoOo

"Heika," Gizela's voice was saturated in worry. Never had Yuuri seen Gizela so distressed.

They were both standing beside Wolfram's bed, watching over him as he continued to wake only to sleep again without a word.

"Heika, I have done everything in my ability to help Lord Von Bielfield," Gizela said. "I am afraid there is a limit to what my Maryoku can do. If Lord Von Bielfield doesn't begin encouraging his own body to recover he will…" A tear finally slid down Gizela's pale cheek. "Heika, I am so sorry!"

Yuuri swallowed hard. Everyone had done anything they could possibly think of to coax Wolfram out of his 'state'. Nothing had worked. They were running out of time.

"If Lord Von Bielfield doesn't show any signs of progress by morning…"