Author's Note: Sorry for the delay on this chapter ^^:: my sister came down to visit me and it limits the time I can work on my stories. I should hopefully have the next chapter up by the end of tomorrow or the day after. Sorry! Life does seem to intrude on writing XD even during the holidays.
Disclaimer: Own nothing!
Covenant Castle, The Great Demon Kingdom
Yuuri let out a shriek of laughter as the pillow thumped him hard across the back, his body twisting amongst the tumbled sheets to snatch up his own and started returning fire, managing to get several good blows in. Feathers exploded everywhere with each impact, covering both men with down, which looked quite adorable as it settled in Yuuri's dark locks. Another undignified squeal of laughter escaped Yuuri when he was pinned on his back, fingers tickling up along his sides, Conrart dropping a teasing kiss against his belly button, tongue flicking into the depression.
Fingers managing to snag the corner of his pillow, he thumped it over his lover's head, stunning Conrart enough to squirm out from under him and end up thumping to the floor, scrambling away, pillow clutched in hand as he sprinted for the door. Conrart was right behind him, the man's cinnamon eyes dancing with delight and amusement.
"You cannot escape me!" The warrior shouted.
Yuuri practically tumbled out the doorway, bare feet sliding on the newly washed stone and wood. He let out a chuckle when he glanced over his shoulder to see his husband come sliding out the doorway after him, pillow in hand. The moment he realised his lover was intending on throwing the soft projectile, he ducked, the white object went flying over his head and thumped into something quite solid with an explosion of white feathers and down that fell like snow over the corridor stones.
"CONRART!"
The King covered his mouth with one hand at the sound of that particular bellow of his beloved's name, his head lifting to gaze at a down covered Lord Gwendal Von Voltaire, the man's scowl being reduced in its overall fierceness by the fact that the man's hair and clothes were coated in a fine layer of white. A laugh desperately wanted to escape him as he stared in utter fascination as Gwendal's face went from its usual tawny gold towards a rather disturbing shade of red.
Gwendal was just about to explode, that much was clear.
All Yuuri could do to protect his husband was to grip the pillow in both hands and fling it at the man, hitting him squarely in the chest with it, white erupting from it again and he ran. Hand catching Conrart's, he pulled him along after him as Gwendal roared their names as they made an escape.
Yuuri leaned against Conrart's bare chest, feeling the strong arms rest against his waist and back, hands curled together at the small of his back and held him close. One hand pressed over where he could feel that strong heart pounding underneath his fingertips. Dipping his head, the King lightly pressed a kiss there, a smile coming to his lips at what they had both just done. "He's going to be furious with us."
"I must admit... it was worth it to see the look on his face." Conrart chuckled softly, propping himself up against the corridor wall and brushing both palms up along Yuuri's spine. Beginning to pick feathers out of the dark raven hair, he allowed his fingers to caress the man's scalp slowly, gaining himself a sexy purr from Yuuri. "Little Dragon." A fingertip lightly touched Yuuri's cheek, caressing tenderly.
"I admit... I like that nickname."
Conrart's head dipped and their mouths met in a tantalisingly sweet kiss, their tongues brushing as Yuuri pressed himself closer, opening to the invasion.
"Your Highness." A soft feminine voice greeted Yuuri, making both men start a little. "Lord Weller."
Head twisting, Yuuri's smile became full blown, obsidian eyes lighting up like a sunrise. "Nicola!" The greeting was one of honest delight at seeing the heavily pregnant woman again.
Her cheeks were a rosy pink, brandy brown eyes not quite meeting Yuuri's or Conrart's as she flushed even hotter when the King approached her. "It's been a long time, I hope you've both been doing well."
"What brings you to Covenant Castle today? Though I assure you, Nicola, you are always, always welcome in our home." His scarred hands rested lightly on her shoulders, squeezing lightly and looking over here face, not quite able to figure out why she was blushing so hotly.
"I'm here to see Gisela, she's giving me a check-up to see how the baby's doing."
Yuuri nodded slightly, looking her over before glancing back over his shoulder at Conrart, suddenly realising exactly why she wasn't meeting either of their gazes. Conrart was only wearing his trousers, which were riding low on trim hips, the man standing there looking absolutely gorgeous and looking delicious when he gave Yuuri a smile as he noticed his perusal. Yuuri was similarly dressed in just pants as well, his bare feet chilled by the stone floor, toes curling slightly in response. They had both just returned from a bath after their morning exercises and had ended up playing when Yuuri had thrown a pillow at Conrart for a rather interesting remark he had made about Yuuri's rear.
"My apologies for our state of... undress. We..." His hand reached out to pluck a feather from Conrart's hair and blew it away from between his fingertips so it sailed down the corridor. "...We ended up getting quite distracted while dressing and well... you know how a pillow fight is."
Laughter twinkled in those brandy orbs when they did lift back to his face, sharing in the amusement of the thought of the King of the Great Demon Kingdom having a pillow fight with his husband.
"I must admit, I fear we went a little overboard with it... Gwendal ended up... feathered." Though it did seem Gwendal had the worst timing of anyone in the entire castle, finding himself face to face with Yuuri and Conrart's intense physical devotion to one another more often than not.
Nicola laughed softly at that, her hand covering her mouth and attempted to swallow back the sounds that wanted to escape her at the mental image the King had rendered in her mind.
"How are things going for you with Gwendal's family?"
"It has all been really terrific." However, her smile was beginning to fade as something flashed through her expression so quick he almost missed it. "Hube's parents have treated me very well and are excited about their grandchild." Her hands dropped to cover her rounded belly, as if attempting to protect the child inside from the world. "I think I'll be happy here with my child." But the conviction in her words that had been there moments before was absent.
"Nicola." His tone was so gentle. A hand reaching out to lightly touch her cheek, a fingertip slipping beneath her chin and lifted her face upwards, gazing into her eyes for one long moment, capturing them with the intensity of his obsidian orbs. "I am doing everything I can to find Lord Geigen Huber." The King's dark eyes held an understanding of what pain she must be feeling without the man she loved by her side, though she had her child coming, it could not replace the warmth of that loved one in her life.
"Majesty... I... I do not mean to sound..."
"Nicola." Both hands grasped her face gently, turning her head upwards and making sure she could not look away from him. "I promise to bring him home to you. I have the best men in my service searching for him, I will soon be in contact with someone who might be able to confirm certain rumours that have come to me in recent days from human lands."
"You..." Hope flared deep in her brandy gaze, lips parting about to say something when Yuuri silenced her with a finger against her lips.
"They are as I said, rumours. However, I do have hope, Nicola. It may take time... but he will come home to you, I promise you that."
Smoothing down his jacket, he was brushing back the wild fall of raven locks that drifted into his eyes, he was startled when a pair of hands reached over and carefully drew the wild length away from his cheeks and looped something around the shoulder length mass at the nape of his neck. Long wavy strands still brushed against his cheeks, but he couldn't help but smile back at Conrart as he finished clasping the silver band around the restrained raven mane.
"Your hair is getting quite long now." Conrart lightly smoothed back an errant strand from where it had fallen against Yuuri's cheek, tucking it behind his ear. "It's so soft..." The man practically buried his nose against it, inhaling the sweet slightly floral scents that clung to the still damp strands.
"Just going with the fashion trend around here." Yuuri grinned, though his eyes half closed in silent pleasure.
There was a solid knock on the door of their chambers as Dacauscas stood there in the opening, arms straight down at his sides. "An announcement, Sir!"
"Yes, what is it?" Conrart lifted his head reluctantly from where he had been nuzzling Yuuri's neck to regard the soldier in the doorway with a steady look.
"Sir! It concerns his Royal Majesty..." Dacauscas almost looked like he would faint from the strain that was showing on his face, his eyes staring at the black haired King with worry.
"You have no need to be so formal or secretive about whatever it is." Yuuri hadn't hidden any of his plans from Conrart, no matter how some might trouble the man, he understood the reason Yuuri had sent so many out to find Geigen Huber. It was the kind of man that Yuuri was, one who was unable to stand the sadness of others when he found himself so fortunate to have Conrart. "Please, just tell me the message."
"Sir... actually, there is a person at the castle gates who wishes to be seen by your Majesty."
"Hold it!" Gunter appeared from the corridor, several books and sheaths of papers clutched in his hands. "That is not following procedure. Affairs of that nature must first go through me."
The soldier looked extremely uncomfortable, his pallid face beginning to turn an odd shade of pink, the man actually clearing his throat roughly. "Yes, you see... however... Sir... This affair is of an extremely personal nature... so if I could just tell his Majesty in private..."
"Dacauscas, please, just say whatever it is."
"Very well, there is a young person who has just arrived at the castle claiming to be the ill-begotten offspring of his Majesty."
"What?" Yuuri's eyebrows immediately shot upwards in surprise at that.
"A young person has arrived claiming to be the child of his Highness."
Immediately Yuuri turned around to face his husband, both raven brows raised in complete befuddlement. "You do know that is quite impossible." He blinked once at Conrart. "Don't you? It's impossible for me to have..." The King actually flushed with embarrassment, his fingers rubbing over his face and glancing back towards Gunter and Dacauscas. "You all know I couldn't have... women..."
"Yes?" Conrart's fingertips lightly brushed against his cheek, feeling the heat burning across his skin.
"I've never done it with a woman... ever. I can't physically do it." Closing his eyes, he shook his head slightly, relaxing when he felt a soft kiss being pressed ever so lightly to his temple. "I can't get..." His entire face had gone red. "I can't get it up even if I wanted to." Shaking his head, he buried his face against Conrart's chest for a moment, hearing Conrart's reassuring murmur against his ear, an arm hugging him closer to that solid warmth.
"So where is this so called ill-begotten offspring?" Conrart asked, not doubting Yuuri's words for a moment considering the fact that his lover had been around countless beautiful women because of his duties and not one had ever produced in that gorgeous body what he could with just a single touch of his fingers. Evidence and his own trust in Yuuri had him questioning the veracity of Dacauscas's statement.
"Actually just inside the front door. The child brought an emblem of the Great Demon Kingdom that they say could only have been inherited by generations of Demon Kings and their kin." He looked nervous then, his glance flickering sideways towards the doorway behind him. "So I could not deny the child entry."
"That is most peculiar, his Majesty's emblem has not yet been designed." Gunter's lavender eyes stared down into the guard's and narrowed. "Given that his Majesty is to be married within the month... it was to be completed after the wedding ceremony." So that it would officially belong to both the Demon King and his consort, rather than just one. "So without a doubt this child does not belong to his Majesty."
"I would certainly hope not." Yuuri wanted to roll his eyes at Gunter's need for reasoning about such a matter. "However, that begs the question of whose emblem it is." Sighing, Yuuri rubbed lightly at one of his still pink cheeks, feeling a little silly right at that moment. "Gentlemen, shall we go find an answer to this mystery?"
With that they filled out into the hallway, Yuuri smiling at the sight of both Gwendal and Adalbert who had come to see what all the commotion was about, though Gwendal shot Yuuri back a dark look that just made Yuuri's smile brighten. He wasn't about to tell Gwendal that there was still a feather caught up in his charcoal grey hair... who was he to spoil the fun?
Yuuri stepped out into the hallway, gazing down its length towards the two guards who stood on either side of a young human girl, one lightly supporting her with a hand against her back. She looked lost, almost frightened, yet there was something about the way her eyes widened at the sight of Yuuri Shibuya standing there in the corridor, his raven black hair framing his slightly flushed face.
"PAPA!"
It was the shout of that one word that made Yuuri freeze as he gazed at the little girl who was running towards him, large chestnut eyes shimmering with something close to tears. The sight of her pain clenched at his heart and he didn't realise her hands were moving.
That word echoed down the corridor as she shouted it again, running towards him.
Her hand slipped behind her back, reaching for something as she approached him, the fear disappearing in a blaze of emotion and hatred. He didn't see the knife that suddenly appeared in her hands, only staring into her eyes, seeing the pain still simmering behind that rage that should never have been on the face of a child.
Suddenly Adalbert was letting out a sound of rage as he suddenly thrust himself between the child and the King, vivid blue eyes blazing with rage as a hand slammed down hard against her hand and wrist, knocking the blade from it. The force of the Adalbert's strike and girl's own momentum had her tumbling forwards down to the stone floor of the corridor.
Yuuri almost lost his balance too, but he let out a squeak when he found himself spun, his entire body being turned away from the scene, Conrart's broad back being placed to it as Yuuri was cradled protectively against it. He could only stand there in the warm arms of his beloved and stare sightlessly at the black and silver fabric an inch from the tip of his nose as his mind refused to accept what he had just seen.
Yuuri blinked slightly at the warm tingle that ran up along his arm, awareness returning to him with a powerful jolt, his head jerking upwards from where it had been resting against Conrart's broad shoulder. His fingers jerked slightly in the soft hand that curled around one of his larger ones, the tickle of magic flickering up still along his arm and into him, soothing away whatever it was that had knocked him practically senseless for several minutes.
"Easy, Love." Conrart breathed against his hair, pressing a soft kiss against his temple, soothing him. "You're alright... everyone is fine."
"What...?"
"You blacked out, Sire." Gisela's face appeared in Yuuri's range of vision, her expression concerned, her fingers curling a little more protectively around the King's. "How do you feel? Any dizziness, blurred vision?"
"No..." He responded, but felt himself sag back into Conrart's hold. His eyes closed for a long minute, while he rested his cheek against the side of the man's throat, hearing his heartbeat racing just beneath his ear. The steady though fast rhythm easing his distress a little, his mind attempting to put itself back together. "I'm tired... that's all. What happened? The last thing I remembered was the little girl running towards me..."
"She attempted to stab you." Adalbert rumbled from where he stood near the bed, resting against the wall, powerful arms crossed over his chest and scowling as he stared out the window. The other people in the room could almost hear his teeth grinding together as anger ran across his features, etched deeply in the lines of his face. "The child should never have been allowed so far into the castle in the first place without being checked. The guards responsible for this blunder will answer for their ineptitude, Sire."
"Don't be too harsh on them, Adalbert." Yuuri sighed softly, his free hand lifting up to lightly touch his face, rubbing at his eyes and feeling his heart ache at the thought of that child attempting to kill him. "She is a child."
"Her age is no excuse." Cobalt blue eyes blazed for just a moment, but when they turned on Yuuri, they immediately softened at the sight of his distress. "However, she is being kept in one of the rooms in the castle." Huffing out softly, the man shifted forwards so that he stood beside Gisela, one large calloused hand lightly stroking along the length of the woman's braid, his thumb caressing the sensitive skin just behind her ear. "I knew you would not take kindly to other suggestions of her being placed in the dungeon."
"Thank you." The King was surprised by Adalbert's actions, even though he knew the dungeon was more than likely the place everyone wanted the young girl to be over the attempt, he still could not see a child be placed in such darkness and cold. A smile came to his lips as he gazed down at Gisela and felt a warmth settle in his heart at the gentleness of her touch. "Thank you too, Gisela."
However, he gently withdrew his hand from hers, cutting off the flow of healing magic and settled back closer to Conrart, entwining their fingers and needing to clear his slightly fogging brain that had filled with too much healing magic for him to think quite straight.
There was a knock on his chamber door, before Conrart called for those on the other side to come.
Wolfram and Gwendal stood there, the older of the two looking positively grim.
"How are you feeling, Brother?" Wolfram asked, green eyes showing the deeply rooted concern there as he studied the slightly pale features of their King.
"It's nothing serious..." His gaze dropped to Gisela's as she rose to her feet, Adalbert still hovering just by her shoulder, clearly loath to be away from her.
"His Majesty is still recovering from his encounter with the dragons in the Drache Hills. I suggest, Sire, that you take some time to relax and heal from your experiences... You have been overworking yourself..." Her gaze flickered to the faces of both Gwendal and Gunter in that moment, a slight frown touching her lips. "Your dedication is unparalleled, Sire, but like any other, you must know you have your limits."
"I am sorry, I am unable to do that." Yuuri was finding his feet, feeling Conrart moving with him, strong hands steadying him even though he didn't require the assistance. "I have prior commitments, Gisela, ones that cannot be postponed or given to another to attend to." His lips pressed together, knowing that as much as he did wish to rest, he couldn't, not when he was finally getting closer to finding Lord Griesela Geigen Huber and also the birth of the man and Nicola's first child.
"Don't be stubborn, Sire." Wolfram's green eyes narrowed on Yuuri.
"This matter is not up for discussion." His expression was stony, his jaw set and showing that he would not take people arguing over that matter with him. "I will promise to do what I can to stay off my feet and rest as you suggested." Obsidian eyes levelled on Gwendal, jaw clenching to keep down the bile that wanted to rise into his throat at the thought that a child... a human child had wanted to assassinate him. "Were you able to gather any information from the child?"
"No, she hasn't said a word." Gwendal's expression grew even more grim, navy eyes taking in his brother-in-law's features and knowing that Yuuri would not let this keep him back for any length of time.
"What are your plans for her, Gwendal?" Even though the final decision ultimately rested in Yuuri's hands, he knew just how protective a lot of the people around him were.
"Remember that child attempted to assassinate you." His eyes narrowed slightly, both fists clenching by his sides to think that the King himself had almost been injured on their watch. "One cannot get off lightly with that sort of crime."
"She is just a child." His voice was rough with emotion, fingers sliding back through his hair which had almost completely pulled loose from its clasp. "There has to be a reason for this... I cannot believe a child that young would wish to... harm me in such a fashion."
"A crime is a crime." Gwendal gritted out. "No matter how young the perpetrator."
Yuuri hands curled into fists, body trembling with the pent up emotions within him, ones that he carried from his encounters with the dragons. "If you punish that child... Lord Von Voltaire." The scars that cut across his palms, feeling the simmering anguish scoring across his heart. "Your services will no longer be required in this castle." He regretted the words the moment they left his mouth, his frustration clear to everyone in the room. "No more children will be hurt because of me. I am uninjured. It was a failed attempt."
"Little Dragon." Conrart's fingers curled around the back of Yuuri's neck, stilling the man before he could start his restless pacing. "I promise I will see to her care, nothing will happen to her. She's safe... she'll be treated well."
The King trembled in Conrart's grasp, but didn't pull away, just letting his fingers slowly stroke against the twitching muscles just beneath his hand.
Cinnamon eyes met navy blue and saw the deep concern in them.
"I'm sorry." Yuuri murmured out softly, obsidian eyes closing while he desperately attempted to pull himself together, still shaken over the incident of only a few days before. "I just..." A ragged breath slipped out from between his lips, shaking his head, he hadn't meant to buckle under the pressure of his own emotions. "I still feel the dragons within me... I can still hear them... Feel their anguish... their anger..." His dark eyes gazed at Gwendal, his expression showing his guilt and regret for ever saying such a thing to his older brother-in-law. "I am so sorry, Brother..."
Gwendal nodded in understanding, his features warm and understanding.
"I love you." Conrart whispered softly, drawing the smaller man into his arms, cradling him close and allowing him to lean against him and find his strength through their shared embrace.
Private Vessel, Cerulean Crest, International Waters
"Was he certain?" Yuuri's head tipped to the side slightly as a cool sea breeze washed over his face as it came up off the roaring ocean that battered at the bow. The large metal medallion rested against his palm, his thumb brushing over its surface tracing the raised design. His fingers spread, when he offered it out to Conrart, carefully setting it into his husband's palm.
"Very certain." The half-breed leaned against the railing of the ship, his long hair whipping against his cheeks lightly. "It is Geigen Huber's, there is no doubt in Adalbert's mind."
"How could she have come by it?" Lips pressing together into a line, he shifted a little closer to Conrart, their elbows touching lightly together. "There are so many questions she might just be able to answer... yet I know she's frightened and pushing her now to answer... might just mean we never learn what happened to Geigen Huber." Twisting around, his back pressed against the railing, his head tipping back and staring up at the wide blue expanse of sky overhead. "We are so close to finding him, I can feel it. Yet... he still seems so far away, just out of reach."
"We will find him."
"What's going to happen when we do?" His eyes swept over the tense lines of his beloved's face, knowing that the thought of that man returning to the Great Demon Kingdom disturbed him, yet here Conrart was supporting his efforts without a word of protest. "Conrart... I... I'm being selfish about this again..." Shifting in closer, his hand reached out to stroke along the side of his lover's throat and against his nape, feeling the tight knot of muscles just beneath his fingertips.
"No." The man offered Yuuri a tight smile, easing in so that their bodies touched along their sides and thighs. "You are not being selfish, Yuuri. You are not doing this for yourself, you're doing this for Nicola and in a way... for Gwendal as well." The fingers of one hand lightly tapped against the wood of the railing, clearly searching for the words that seemed to elude him.
"However... he one of the reasons Julia is dead." Swallowing down a lump that formed at the thought of his own tangled feelings over that particular matter. "I don't know whether I hate him... or I should thank him." A shaky laugh escaped Yuuri, his cheek resting against Conrart's shoulder lightly. "Hate him for the deaths he caused, for almost getting you killed with his bigotry... or thank him for giving me a chance to live."
"Do you think he truly has changed, Yuuri?" Conrart's cinnamon eyes reflected his uncertainty. "Do you think it truly is possible for a man like Griesela Geigen Huber to truly change his mind about racial purity? I mean... there is Nicola... but still I can't... I can't see him changing. I can still see his smile as he watched us leave... hear his accusations ringing in my head."
"Love." He turned his head enough to drop a little against Conrart's shoulder, wanting to allow Conrart the chance to speak his mind as he so often did knowing they wouldn't be judging each other on what they said.
"I always... hated that man. I was always less in his eyes, like I was in Wolfram's." The man shifted so that he could sit down on a nearby crate, his arms resting against his knees, staring down at the wooden decking. "I've always felt... I had to prove I loved the Great Demon Kingdom as much as they did. I thought... I thought my life only had meaning if I could force them to see I was worthy... that we... that we were just as loyal."
Yuuri moved towards Conrart, dropping to his knees in between Conrart's legs, his hands brushing against either side of Conrart's face, lifting it just enough so that their eyes could meet.
"I wanted so much... to see pride in Gwendal's eyes instead of disappointment. Only Julia made me feel for a little while... that I had worth to someone. I guess... I clung to that... seeing something in her words that wasn't truly there. We were friends but... it was never intended to be more than that."
"You... were the first person not to flinch away at my touch." Conrart gazed deeply into the obsidian eyes that were filled with a soul deep love and concern that made him feel like he was worth it. "You wanted my touch... you wanted me. Just me. A half-breed with no powers and nothing to truly offer you other than my sword and loyalty."
"You offered me your life and your heart and they are the most precious gifts I have ever received." His lips tenderly touched against Conrart's, the softest of kisses that spoke of the true love that ran between them, of the connection that was soul deep. "My Prince. My beloved Lion."
"Do you know what you truly mean to me, Yuuri Shibuya Weller? What this means?" His larger hand closed over the back of one of Yuuri's scarred ones, holding it there and turning his head just enough to brush his lips along the straight lines that added to the perfection of the pale skin. "You gave me a reason to live."
"And you gave me a reason to smile."
"I have seen your power... the way you change all of those around you... I never thought I could stand beside Adalbert Von Grantz and be able to call him friend. I never thought my brothers would tell me... they love me, that they were proud of who I was... and what I was." A single tear slipped down Conrart's cheek and slid onto Yuuri's fingers. "You made me proud to be what I am... to be a half blooded Tribesman. People in the streets... no longer sneer... they don't turn their heads away when they see me approach."
"I haven't... I doubt I have done that much..." Yuuri shook his head slightly, offering Conrart a soft smile and feeling his heart swell with love and warmth to know that he had been able to bring happiness back to his beloved.
"You have, my Love." Conrart swallowed hard around the lump in his throat, his head dipping so that their foreheads could touch lightly, noses brushing. "Maybe... maybe it's time I let go of my hate... let go of that anger within me..."
Yuuri's mouth turned upwards at the corners. "You're right." He breathed softly, his lips ghosting over Conrart's, feeling his heart ease as large calloused hands cradled the back of his neck, holding him close. "For the sake of Nicola and her child." Obsidian eyes drifting closed, he let out a contented little sound, eyes closing slowly. Conrart kissed him, a long slow kiss that drew him away from that dark place that had settled in his heart.
"Twenty years is punishment enough." The half-breed released a long slow breath and a thousand emotions with it. "He has found the Demon Flute... and its time he came home."
Yuuri felt an odd shifting in his chest, the weight of something slowly lifting from his heart. The choking heaviness that had been resting there for so long dropped away and he felt like he could almost breath again. "Thank you."
"For what, my Little Dragon?"
"For being you." Both his arms reached out to curl around the man's shoulders, drawing him in close for another heart stopping kiss, rejoicing in the warmth of his lover's arms sliding around him.
Conrart lay curled on a nearby couch, his large body covering its entire length, one cinnamon eye drifting open as he watched Yuuri with the young girl. Though it seemed she now had no intention of attempting to threaten Yuuri's life again, Conrart's sword was propped up close by just in case, however he was loath to even consider using it.
Yuuri's pale fingers curled around the human girl's, thumb stroking softly over the back of it, the slow gentle flow of magic sliding into her small body and easing the raging heat of her fever, which had started soon after they had come aboard the ship. A soft shimmering flutter of magic danced over her wrist and arm, like tiny butterflies settling against her skin. He felt her stir slowly, her hand trembling in his grip and so he carefully settled her hand back down onto the bedding as she awakened.
Chestnut brown eyes drifted open, blinking slowly to stare at the ceiling overhead.
"Easy now, Little One." His smile was warm and friendly, his body leaning forwards on the chair he was seated in beside her bed. "How are you feeling? Can you tell me where you are from so that I can arrange for you to be taken home?"
Her gaze flickered to his face, eyes widening ever so slightly as she realised who was tending to her before her head turned away from him. And for the first time since she had called to him two days before, she spoke. "I can't." It was barely above a whisper, the sorrow in that tone cutting Yuuri right down to the bone. "I can't go home."
"Why?" He questioned gently. "I am quite certain your parents must be extremely worried about you."
She remained silent.
Yuuri's eyes however dropped down to one of her shoulders, having seen the vivid blue letters that ran down across the top of her shoulder and arm before it disappeared beneath the blanket. His eyebrows lifted as he read it to himself. "Izula. Is that your name?"
She jerked at that, her body tensing beneath the sheets at the sound of his question, abruptly she was jerking upwards into a sitting position and glared at him angrily. "No, it's not! It's my mother's name! Okay?"
The King had been so startled by her abrupt response that he had actually unbalanced himself in the chair he had been sitting in and almost fell out of it sideways. His hand against the edge of the bed the only thing that prevented him from ending up thumping to the floor in an undignified heap. "You startled me, not many people have been able to do that." He offered her a small smile. "What is your name if not that?"
There was a long pause, before she did manage an answer. "Its Greta."
"I'm Yuuri Shibuya Weller." He offered his own name, before smiling as he glanced towards his husband, who looked quite contented sprawled on the couch, his head resting on a snagged cushion from a nearby chair. "And the man over there is my husband, Conrart."
"Hello, Greta." Conrart offered with his own smile when the girl's eyes glanced towards him.
"Greta." Yuuri's voice was gentle and his lifted his hand upwards and gave her a gentle look. "You still have a fever. Would it be alright if I continued to treat you?" A single finger lightly touched the back of the hand he had been holding earlier.
She flinched away at the touch, but her gaze lifted to Yuuri's face, staring into the soulful obsidian eyes that watched her with a tender concern. "I..."
"If you want me to stop at any time, just tell me. I won't be angry and I'm certain we can find some medicine if you would prefer that."
Slowly, her let her hand slide back towards Yuuri's, unable to look away from the dark gaze of the Demon King and the concern for her that glittered in the depths of them. Her fingers brushed against his palm, before he carefully closed his much larger hand around her smaller one. The warm shimmer of healing magic began to brush around her fingers again, tickling softly against her skin, but immediately easing the pain she was feeling.
Chestnut brown eyes widened at the magic she was witnessing, but didn't pull away, actually entranced by it.
"We won't hurt you, Sweetheart. I only want to see you well again."
Schildkraut, Wienne
Yuuri stood there stunned for just a moment, eyes widening as his gaze swept along the vast tracks of street that were illuminated like those in Tokyo, the colours so bright that it almost dazzled him. Voices and music filled the brightly lit space, rowdy laughter and raucous comments filtering out from between a number of stalls and various establishments that ran along the length of this district in Schildkraut. It was clear as the sun came down, the other half of the city's population had come out to enjoy the entertainments and distractions that this city was becoming famous for besides its hot springs.
His lips turned upwards into a small smile when he felt a slight tug on the edge of his jacket, eyes flicking down and realising that Greta was close to his side, fingers fisted in his long blue jacket. Greta's face was lit up like a Christmas tree, eyes wide in her small face, observing everything that was going on around them.
"This is a colossal waste of esoteric stones. All this flim-flam wasn't here before." Conrart's expression was a touch disgusted, but there was a slight paleness to the man's features even in the harsh glare of the city 'lights'.
"I would have to agree." Yuuri sighed, glancing towards Wolfram who was hovering behind them, the four plain clothed guards that Adalbert had arranged to accompany them moved slightly closer when someone approached their small party.
"Hey, Mister." A blonde woman sidled up to Conrart, her revealing black dress barely hiding anything as she gazed up at the powerful warrior who stood beside Yuuri. However, her smile brightened a little as she glanced towards Yuuri, brown eyes gleaming with interest at the fact that Yuuri's clothes were finely tailored and embroidery ran the length of the azure blue fabric. It had been a gift from Cecilie, something Yuuri quite adored and Conrart seemed to like it quite a bit too.
Another woman, who's air was tied back into two twists at the back of her head, offered them a weak smile too as she stood beside the 'perkier' blonde. However, her pallor beneath the layer of makeup was quite obvious in the brilliant glare of the esoteric stones.
"Hey, do you guys what to come with us and have a real good time?" The blonde beamed up at Conrart, flashing white teeth in a seductive little grin. "We work in the place over there, nice and close." Her hand had reached out to lightly brush over the front of his white shirt, tracing the line of buttons in a slow caress. "Your friend there is more than welcome to..."
Yuuri's hand had suddenly closed around her wrist ever so lightly, stilling it in its downward trek and drawing it away from Conrart's navel. "Please refrain from touching my husband so familiarly." His jaw clenched slightly, carefully uncurling his fingers and shifting in to stand before his beloved, placing himself between the women and Conrart. Jealousy burned in Yuuri's expression, but even then, he had not hurt the woman at all or raised his voice to her.
"My Little Dragon." Conrart was startled, but deeply touched by Yuuri's show of possessiveness. He rewarded his lover by wrapping both arms around the slender waist and kissed his temple, nuzzling the fine dark strains that had managed to peak out from under the edge of his leather cap. "Forgive us, Ladies." The half-breed offered them a charming smile. "My Love here is quite possessive of me."
"I..." Yuuri flushed hotly, leaning back into the warm arms curled around him. "I apologise... I'm..." He was lightly brushing his hand against Conrart's arm, feeling it give him an affectionate squeeze in response.
"I am sorry, but we are not interested in an amusement centre, none of my party gamble. Besides, we wish to go settle into our accommodations before it gets any later."
The girls just smiled at the men, the blonde clearly not offended by the fact that she had been grabbed, because unlike most, Yuuri had tempered his strength and truly not meant any harm at all to them.
"What's that!"
Suddenly all eyes were turning towards one of the entrances into the large gambling hall when an angry shout escaped one of the patrons being directed at a large rotund man who appeared to be the owner of the establishment.
"You swindled me out of my money, you lousy crook! Give it back!"
The loud murmur of interested voices covered the response of the owner, however as their party turned they saw the flash of a knife being drawn from the patron's shirt. Yet the moment it became visible, the masked bodyguard was launching himself into action, one fist knocking the patron so hard that he stumbled backwards and to the ground, hat flying off his head. The blade spun high into the air and landed with a clatter on the smooth worn flagstones of the street.
The owner and bodyguard were already moving away from the downed man when the blade stopped rotating, leaving him behind in the dust.
The pair had only gone a couple of steps when the bodyguard whirled in their direction, one single teal blue eye staring at them from beneath the mask, looking over Yuuri's head and that gaze narrowed momentarily on Conrart. There was a flash of recognition from the masked warrior, a stiffening of broad shoulders and the slight straightening of his back.
"Customers often misplace their anger after gambling everything away." The blonde said, her eyes dimming at the sight of the man still sitting in the dust, his face reflecting the new circumstances he found himself in. "They take it out on us."
"Well anyway it's their problem." Wolfram murmured from where he had been standing silently beside Yuuri and Conrart, his green eyes narrowing slightly on the stranger. "It's none of our business, so stay out of it, Brother."
Yuuri sighed, his eyes closing and knowing that Wolfram was right, this was not a situation he could afford to get involved in, yet it still deeply troubled him.
"It's time for us to be on our way."
"Greta." Yuuri called softly, drawing the child's attention to him and offered out a hand to her. "Come along."
A soft contented little moan escaped him as he dropped his head to rest against Conrart's shoulder, his body shuddering with the after affects of his climax. Conrart's hand curled ever so gently around the nape of his neck and drew his head back enough to kiss him soundly, lips and tongue exploring every inch of his mouth, leaving him breathless when he pulled away. Rocking back slightly, he felt that softening length slip a little more deeply into him, something he honestly enjoyed the sensation of.
"I love you." He breathed against Conrart's lips, the tips of their noses brushing as he pulled back slightly and settled himself more comfortably across his lover's lap, legs tucked on either side of Conrart's hips. Amusement glimmered in his eyes as he realised quite a bit of water from their shared bath was all over the floor, because of their exertions.
"As I you, Yuuri." Conrart settled against the back of the tub, his knees lifting to help cradle Yuuri's body and shuddered slightly when he slipped in an extra inch. Cinnamon eyes drifted closed, his head resting back slowly, touching against the wood panelled wall that ran behind the bath.
"Are you feeling well?" A fingertip brushed across Conrart's cheek, caressing the flushed skin, but Yuuri had already noted the slight pallor of his beloved's complexion.
"I will admit I am a little sick to my stomach... but I only think it was something I ate on the ship." Conrart's hands lifted from where they had curled themselves into the King's hair and brushed down his lover's sides and then upwards, thumbs teasing sensitive nipples lightly, feeling Yuuri squirm in response. "I should feel better by morning."
"You should tell me if you feel ill." Yuuri's tongue licked across the small scar that ran across Conrart's eyebrow, rubbing their cheeks together and nibbling his way to his ear, tugging at the lobe playfully. His hands however rested against the small of Conrart's back, palms spread across the warm skin, allowing healing magic to surge upwards into Conrart's body, flooding the man's systems with heat and warmth.
Conrart practically sagged on the spot, his eyes closing as he let out a relieved breath as the weakness that had struck him when they had entered the city faded. "That... feels so good."
"Better, Conrart?"
"Yes." Lips turning upwards, he opened one eye to gaze into Yuuri's face with affection. "Thank you, Beloved."
"You're welcome." Shifting forwards, he snuggled up against the man's chest as he allowed his palms to remain where they were and his thumbs caressed over the top of his lover's tight rear. "Are you going to go see Ryan?"
"Yes. After this... when Wolfram and Greta get back from the hot springs."
"I shouldn't be out much longer than you." He answered, mouth running up along Conrart's neck and delighting in the way that he arched his head to the side allowing him greater access to curve of it. "The meeting is in the main street at a small food vender's called Angola's. I will take two of the guards with me." However, Yuuri was quite capable of protecting himself if something happened. "Hopefully Tomas will have good news for us about Geigen Huber."
"You will be careful, won't you?"
"Extremely." Yuuri smiled at him reassuringly. "I will be armed and alert."
"I trust you, Little Dragon." Conrart whispered, cradling his lover's head in both hands, foreheads touching. "I know you are capable of looking after yourself. Sometimes I just..."
"I understand. I like it when you're protective of me." He smiled, but felt warmth spread through him that Conrart trusted him to protect himself.
Yuuri carefully shut the door to the room he shared with Conrart and tugged the leather cap further down over his hair, grateful that he didn't have to dye it. He stopped however when he realised that Greta was standing by the door that led out to the hall, her fingers jerking back from the knob as she turned to face him.
"Greta?"
"I have to go find someone." Her voice was soft, her wide chestnut brown eyes staring at him almost hopefully, clearly noting that he was dressed to head outside. "I saw him earlier."
Here was an opportunity to learn more about Greta and also maybe find someone she knew who could tell them where the little girl had come from so that they could return her home. "Greta. If you wanted to look for someone, you could have asked Conrart or I to take you out to look for him. This city is not safe to be in alone."
"Can... can we look?"
"Of course we can." Yuuri offered out a hand towards her, fingers spread and she was slowly coming to his side, one hand curling around his and clinging to it as if to a lifeline. "I have someone I need to see first, but after that I don't see why we can't look for this friend of yours."
As they stepped out the door, Yuuri spoke to the three men who appeared instantly by the doorway when its hinges creaked to announce their departure from the rooms where Wolfram still slept. The younger man had been out like a light and Yuuri had not wanted to disturb his sleep over a meeting that should take no more than an hour to finish and return from. Explaining their intentions to the guard who would be left behind to watch over Wolfram and asking that he passed on the message that they would be looking for Greta's 'friend' and their hopes that Conrart would join them.
Smiling softly, he offered the man remaining a good night, before he was guiding Greta away as the two guards followed close behind him, clearly not about to leave their King unattended.
I hope you enjoyed that. There will be a few twists added in to this plot, let's just say things might just turn out rather interesting for our King and his Consort.