But I Don't Like Boys? by Shukumei

Disclaimer: Kyou Kara Maou and all its characters belong to Tomo Takabayashi, Temari Matsumoto, Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co, etc. You know the drill.

Warnings/Spoilers: Same as all the other chapters.

Author yapping: Oh geez. Almost half a year. I'm such a terrible person. Nothing too exciting in this chapter, but it's an update and a transition into something more exciting. So tally-ho!

-o-o-

Chapter 20: "Don't Sleep Through It"

Greta rushed down the front castle stairs, a last minute book clutched in her hands. She quickly handed the small book to a guard that was putting her traveling case in the carriage's storage compartment. She watched Yuri trying to put his own small suitcase into the compartment when the same guard flustered and insisted he do that for him. Yuri handed it off with a laugh. Wolfram was rolling his eyes.

"Yuri, Yuri!" Greta grabbed her father's hand and grinned up at him. "We're good to go, right?"

Yuri looked down and smiled. "Almost. We're waiting on the translators from Anissina."

As if on queue, the red-headed scientist joined them with Gisela beside her. Standing next to one another, Yuri was remembering what an opposing force they could be. Anissina squatted down in front of Greta. "You have the Get-Away-From-Me-kun packed, right?"

Greta nodded, giving her a thumbs up.

"Get-Away-From-Me-kun?" Yuri asked with a wary glance.

"Yeah!" Greta put her fist out as if holding something and used her other hand to press a finger on the top of her fist. "You point it at a stranger that won't leave you alone, push the button on the top, and it sprays them in the face with something that stings."

"You gave her pepper spray?!" Yuri yelled. "You can't just give a little girl something like that!"

Anissina stood up and loomed over the king. "She's a young woman going into a strange new place. It's better to have some protection than none, Your Majesty. And it's Get-Away-From-Me-kun, not pepper spray. That wouldn't be as effective."

"Ah," Yuri started but stopped when everyone looked at him quizzically. "Never mind. Just show it to me when we get to my house, Greta. I don't want it accidentally blinding some unfortunate victim."

Anissina held up a finger and smiled widely. "But that's one of the best features for it! Push it two times and it will release a sleeping gas, too."

Yeah, Yuri was going to have to get that away from Greta as soon as possible.

-o-o-

Everyone gave their quick goodbyes, Yuri okay'ing that Gwendal and Gunter would be in charge as usual while he was gone. Gunter's goodbye was rather clingy and tearful as Yuri had come to expect while the man babbled about purity and Wolfram hid himself away in the carriage with a red face.

Yuri and Wolfram didn't speak to one another on the way to Shinou's temple, but Greta gabbed enough for the both of them. She excitedly watched the scenery go by, constantly asking if anything like it was on Earth. When Wolfram told her not to be scared by the box with the moving pictures, Yuri thought her eyes were going to pop out of her head. He jumped in to try to explain about cameras capturing the moment and then a bunch of tiny lights turned it into something you could watch on the television, but Greta's eyes only seemed to get bigger. Yuri was afraid what she would do when she discovered cars.

-o-o-

"What are you doing here, Murata?" Yuri asked his friend as he, Wolfram, and Greta piled out of the carriage in front of the temple's fountain.

"I'm here to see you off, of course," Murata replied with an impish smile. "Love to join you, but I've got some things to go over with Ulrike. Don't have too much fun without me."

Yuri nodded. "I wanted to try this water teleporting thing without your help, so I'm glad you found something to do while I'm gone."

"You don't think you should do this by yourself once?" Murata frowned, sighing. "You're taking quite the load with you, so don't be surprised if you pass out when you get there."

"You think I will?" Yuri worried on his lower lip and turned to watch Wolfram and Greta helping a guard unload the carriage of their few bags. "I've been practicing a lot on my own, and I seem to be okay."

"But you weren't traversing worlds in the process. The trip from the bathroom to the kitchen doesn't compare to the distance you have to go now." Murata placed a hand on Yuri's shoulder. "Just be safe, my friend. I sure wouldn't want to be the one to sleep through my date."

Yuri scoffed, but offered Murata a smile. "I'll be careful."

"Oh," Murata said suddenly, pulling an envelope in a plastic bag out of his pocket. "Your mom asked for this, be sure she gets it."

"What is it?" Yuri asked, wanting to open it but instead making sure the bag was sealed to avoid water getting in.

Murata waved an accusing finger at him. "She'll know what it is, so don't bother opening it."

"Duly noted." Yuri nodded and slipped into his pant's pocket, taking a moment to feel something solid in it, like a button. He gave Murata a quick pat on the back and joined Wolfram and Greta in grabbing the final bag out of the carriage and then check that everything was properly sealed like he had with the small bag Murata had given him.

In all, there were only four bags since Yuri had provisions at home already and Wolfram could borrow his clothes. So, really, two of the bags were supplies and clothing for Greta (although Yuri suspected his mother would add at least another bag's worth before they left back to Shin Makoku full of girly dresses and the like. One bag was a few clothes for Wolfram and Yuri, a few of which Yuri was bringing home to get a proper wash in the clothes washer. As much as he hated to abuse his mother's love, he knew she'd still feel needed by washing some of his clothes. She was a strange woman that thrived on things like that. The final bag was gifts and souvenir randomness that people around the castle had put together for Yuri's family. Yuri wasn't entirely sure of the full contents of the bag, but he didn't see the harm in humoring his friends.

Yuri turned to Wolfram and picked up a bag, dropping it in the fountain. "You ready?"

Wolfram smiled and dropped another bag in the water.

Greta grabbed the smallest bag and tossed it with the others. "I'm ready!" She stood in the water up to her ankles, barefoot and looking up at Yuri expectantly.

Wolfram handed his boots to Yuri whom was stuffing Greta's slippers into yet another bag. Clothing was easily washed and dried, but shoes were a bit harder to dry, so he untied his sneakers and added them to the bag. "Then let's get going."

Yuri had stressed the importance of them staying together while they were being transported to Earth before this day had arrived. Wolfram gathered up two of the bags around Yuri's feet while he took another bag and the shoe bag in his right hand and grabbed hold of Yuri's hand with his left. Greta too took a bag with her left hand and Yuri's hand with her right so that Yuri was holding both of their hands between them. If he was going to drop anything on the way, it was going to be one of the bags; he tightened his grip and closed his eyes.

The preparation for water transport was becoming a bit more naturally for Yuri as he thought of his smiling mom demanding that he call her Momma. Greta giggled as the water sloshed around their feet, and Yuri wrinkled his eyebrows in concentration. Already he felt a little light-headed as he pictured the water-filled bathtub back at home on Earth, and the black-haired boy gritted his teeth. Yuri never knew what physically happened when he was teleporting since he was too focused on feelings to pay attention. He felt Wolfram give his hand a reassuring squeeze, and he added in the thought of his father and then his brother. Feelings of a strange, yet warm family. His mother would get to see her granddaughter for the first time, and that thought seemed to be the key that made it click as the water rushed over them.

The trip through the water was a lot longer than it seemed, Yuri frantically holding onto the love of his Earth family and the hands of his Shin Makoku family. The three of them broke the surface of water, gasping for breath as the water in the tub spilled over the top from the extra masses suddenly added to it. Yuri looked down at the bathroom floor covered in towels with a small laugh; his mother had thought ahead.

Greta was the first out of the tub, admiring the porcelain and tiles and then opening all of the cabinets she could find, a strange awe at the hidden compartment behind the side mirror overcoming her. Yuri watched her quietly, musing over her quick exploration that didn't leave him chance to explain much of anything.

"Yuri, is that you?" The three of them heard Jennifer calling up from downstairs. Greta went still, staring at the door.

"Don't be nervous, Greta," Wolfram said to her, pointing at the door. "She'll be thrilled when she sees you."

Yuri reassured her with a big smiled and started to step out of the tub. Perhaps he misjudged his footing since Yuri was suddenly falling. But his vision was blurring and the worried voices of Greta and Wolfram calling his name were fuzzy. He was aware that Wolfram had grabbed him before he face-planted into the ground and that he was being dragged out of the tub. "I'm sorry," he whispered to Wolfram whom was trying to sit him up against the side of the tub. I didn't mean to sleep through our date. Because Yuri knew that's exactly what was happening when the world went black.

-o-o-

Yuri awoke in his bed, moaning as he tried to sit up. He turned to the clock beside his bed, knowing the light outside at least meant it was day. 9:00am. Yuri wasn't sure when they had arrived, but he mentally crossed his fingers that it wasn't Sunday yet. Out of force of habit, Yuri un-tucked himself from his blanket and dropped his feet to the ground. Someone had changed him into his pajamas, and Yuri flushed at the thought. Whether his mother or Wolfram had, neither really comforted him. He mentally crossed his fingers again that it was his father that had changed him. Yuri stood up, wobbly at first but more sure-footed as he got closer to his dresser.

It wasn't too early in the morning, but just late enough that he thought he should probably get dressed. With a sudden dread he realized he might be dressing for his date with Wolfram. He had no idea what he was supposed to wear. Yuri ridded himself of his pajama top and dug around in one of his drawers for socks and underwear. He threw some usual white crew cut socks and a pair of white briefs on his bed while he continued to scrounge around in his closest for the rest of his clothes.

Would he need something dressy or comfortable? Could he wear jeans? As cliche as it was, Yuri actually started trying things on at random with no mirror to take a good look at himself. Once he had strewn at least five outfits and a few other mix-match shirts and pants on his bed and floor, he finally noticed the folded clothes laying on his desk. Standing in front of his desk wearing only his briefs and socks, Yuri picked up a black shirt he thought would be too small for him.

He heard the door to his room suddenly opening, and he spun around, attempting to cover his nipples and waist from the intruder with the shirt as he squealed "Knock?!"

Wolfram halted halfway through opening the door and averted his eyes with a playful snort. He shut the door while staying in the hallway and knocked. "Hurry up and get dressed, you wimp."

Yuri tugged the t-shirt over his head and pulled it over his chest, noticing that it did fit but it was a bit more snug than he would have liked. He hurriedly grabbed the khaki cargo pants on the desk and put those on, tucking the shirt in the best he could and zipping up the fly. "You can come in now," he called as he weaved a dark brown cloth belt through a few belt loops in the pants.

Wolfram opened the door again and smiled. "So you're finally up."

"How long was I out?" Yuri buckled the belt together and let the extra length hang down instead of tucking it into a belt loop.

Wolfram eyed the scattered clothing with a raised eyebrow but said nothing about them. "About a day." He clarified when Yuri blinked wide. "We got here early Friday morning. You missed Mother taking Greta shopping and Greta's discovery of TV, but I'm sure she'll fill you in anyway."

Yuri sighed in relief. "I didn't sleep through it."

"Sleep through what?" Wolfram picked up a red shirt from the ground and put it on Yuri's bed.

Yuri shook his head and clipped the chain that was with the pile of folded clothes onto a belt loop and then onto his wallet which he put into his pocket. He supposed he could deal with the outfit that was left to him, but it wasn't quite his style. He knew the pants were fine, but he gave the snug black shirt a tug in hopes of stretching it out a bit. "Nothin'."

"Oh," Wolfram scooped up another shirt and placed on the growing pile. "Yes, I'm glad you didn't sleep through one of the main reasons we came here; although, it wouldn't have been a total waste of a trip since Greta got to meet her grandmother."

Yuri scratched at the back of his neck. "I was afraid Murata had jinxed me when I passed out."

"Well, the shoe bag didn't make it."

"We lost one of the bags?"

Wolfram shrugged. "We made it here just fine otherwise." The blond joined Yuri by the desk and picked up a leather-banded watch. "Mother said to wear this, too, and that there's a jacket for you downstairs when we leave."

"I don't have to wear just this shirt?"

"No, that jacket's like an over-shirt for it." Wolfram handed Yuri the watch before heading back to the door. "Breakfast is ready if you're up for it. I was sent to check on you, and the girls are eager to see you."

"I'll be down in a minute." Yuri watched Wolfram turn to leave and then turn back to him for a moment as he put on the watch. The blond looked like he wanted to say something, but smiled and left down the hallway.

Yuri swallowed, knowing that his day had just begun. It was Saturday, he was awake, he had clothes laid out for him... This is really going to happen, he thought. He quickly tidied up the clothes by at least folding them all back up into a pile on his bed before he left the room and closed the door behind him.

-o-o-

End chapter 20.

OMG! I can't begin to make enough excuses for you guys, but the long-awaited date is coming up!

Also note: As I was dressing Yuri, I realized I was putting him in an outfit much too similar to another anime/manga character that I know. Embarrassing as it is, I figured to keep it; although, it does look a little different since it has a round neck opening and doesn't show his stomach.