At your service
A.N.: Thanks for the reviews! There were so many! I also thank the people who went through all the trouble of reviewing multiple chapters as they just discovered the story! I was so surprised, it took me a moment to understand I had to first look at the chapter's number and title.
By the way, I'm surprised Yuuram fans are reading this XD, he definitely doesn't get much love in there! Personally, I don't go for Yuuram fics, not because I don't like Wolfram, but mostly because I prefer stories which depict less canon couples. I don't know… it's just the way I work :). I rarely go for the popular things!
Disclaimer: do not own a thing, except my stupidly over working imagination, which lead to this fic…
Chapter 21: To be home again
When Yuuri woke again, he could feel the mattress underneath him shake. He wasn't scarred of falling off, however. For he was quite tightly held by two pairs of strong arms, and while he was near suffocating from how the two very male bodies squeezed him; he felt a strange sense of calm at the same time.
Yet, when the one at his right decided to squeeze him, with strength enough to nearly burst his inside out and be considered an attempt at his life, the double black decided it was time he fought to get out of the vice grip. It took quite an effort to get himself in a sitting position when he was still a bit groggy with whatever strange potion Gisela had given him, but he still managed.
He realized that we was in some sort of carriage, except the seats had been taken out to be replaced with a few comfy mattresses put one over the other. Or at least he guessed, because he was high up enough to nearly knock his head on the wooden ceiling, and the mattress felt very lax.
The Maoh threw a very ineffective death glare at Conrad who settled for squeezing his hip bones: less painful than his middle, but still annoying. He nearly punched the sleeping soldier, when he suddenly realized that, this was his Conrad.
He sighed with a relief that shook his whole body.
He was back. Finally!
And yet… For some reason he also felt a bit empty… After all, everything was different here…
He felt something tumble into his lap. It was a small misshapen black animal made of soft wool. He smiled sadly as he saw the little plushy. It was black, so it was probably for him. He'd have to ask the General what type of animal that was though… It kind of reminded him of the thing the other Gwendal had given him, just black in color, instead of mostly orange.
He glanced at his other side, then. Gwendal was securing him there, growling sleepily as Conrad's action slightly disturbed his own grip. The General was still rumpled, with dark bags under his eyes and long stubble marred his cheeks still. Conrad on the other hand seemed much better than when he had last seen him, as he slept blissfully unaware at his side.
With what he had lived in the other dimension, the scene seemed so normal, that he completely forgot how strange it was for it to happen here. So he lazily stroked his General's stubbly cheek, as he tried to put some order into his thoughts.
He was back. Back in Shin Makoku, where he was a king, with responsibilities, with the capacity to keep war at bay, who worked so that tragedies, like the one he had recently been part of, never happened again. There was something else. He was sure that he was forgetting some important matter… something that had bothered him back in the other dimension. Something aside Geigen Huber…
"Yo!" Yosak's voice surprised Yuuri out of his trance. He was looking amusedly at the king from the right side window. Apparently, he had his horse follow the carriage's speed so he could speak with his king as if he was right at his side.
"Yosak! Didn't see you there… I guess you're more skilled than the other one…" he whispered the last part, unconsciously switching from playing with Gwendal's stubble to petting the short soft hair of his faithful knight.
Yosak took some time to stare intently at his monarch, seemingly bothered with something that escaped Yuuri completely.
"You look much better now. Those two were a real hassle while you were gone though. Just look at them: not a care in the world, apart for you! Although, this should probably stay in between us. Unless, you want your fiancé to burn every inflammable material within the castle, and some more." The spy smirked mischievously, making exaggerate gestures to prove his point. The way the double black was so innocently (to his eyes) petting his captain, was just too great an occasion to pass up on teasing his young master.
However, the sentence had Yuuri freeze on the spot.
Wolfram.
He knew he had forgotten something!
Wolfram was his fiancé here… And he had made right on his infidelity claims in another world… With his two brothers doppelgangers, no less!
'Oh, God! Shinou! Any sort of supernatural powers! Help. Me!' the double black internally panicked as thousands of scenarios involving Wolfram finding out played in his brain.
"I'm dead, am I not?" he pitifully whimpered, making the carrot headed spy back pedal a bit.
"Oh, come on! I'm joking! He wasn't even there for most of the time… Plus, those two were so worried it would have been way too cruel to get them off of you! And it's not like you did something really bad in that other world, right? Everyone knows you wouldn't cheat on the little lord even if you were forced into it! All except von Biefield, that is! And those two really just guarded you, not like you slept with them or any…thing…?" the spy went on, each word making Yuuri hunch over a little more, until he had retracted into a little ball, his ears suspiciously red.
Panicking a little at the young man's reaction, Yosak had his horse and the carriage stop for a bit. He made a little gesture in Yuuri's direction, silently asking him to join him. It attracted the attention of the rest of the escort, but when they saw Yuuri work himself out of his double embrace and out on the road, it had Gisela immediately come to their side.
"Is everything alright, your majesty?" she quickly enquired.
"He's fine, just needs a bit of fresh air. Isn't that right, bocchan?" the redhead said calmly, his smile not betraying the slightest hint of his internal turmoil.
"Right. I'm alright Gisela, sorry for worrying you. I just feel like I've been in bed for way too long!" the Maoh smiled, making the half-breed spy's chest swell in pride at how good the young master had become in hiding his own feelings. All thanks to his training (he did need some, as he tended to always escape the castle)!
'Ahh~! They grow up so fast!' Yosak thought, a small tear almost making it to his eye.
"Very well… Do you want to ride Ao?" the green haired medic asked, knowing that the king's horse was probably the safest for him to ride. The beast was intelligent, and just as diligent in trying to keep his charge safe as most of their guards were!
"Of course." Was the king's simple answer, and almost immediately the horse was trotting their way, as if he had heard his master's call.
"So… You didn't do anything,… right?" the redhead asked once they were on the move again. He kept his own horse close to Ao, so that they could speak without everyone hearing them.
"I wouldn't say I did nothing but- Where are we going anyway?" Yuuri immediately avoided the matter with another question which now had him bothered.
"Back to Blood Pledge castle. We sent a message about what happened yesterday to the castle, just so they didn't get too surprised when we show up! And don't go thinkin' that you can keep me in the dark!" the spy quickly complained, not allowing the double black to outplay him.
"What about that "hell's Gate", or Tartar-sauce, or whatever? It's not closed yet, right?" Yuuri answered, still avoiding the spy's question. He inwardly shuddered at the prospect of facing the thing and all the pain it had caused him.
"Seeing how well it ended the last time, his Grace is supposedly searching for a better way to seal that thing's powers. Whatever they are. Last we heard of him, he told us you were trapped in some sort of alternate dimension, again, whatever that is, and that was why we couldn't bring your body back to the castle earlier. I suppose that's where something happened, right?" Yosak insisted, intent on having his answers, no matter how long it could take.
Yuuri sighed; feeling defeated, as he realized he was not yet fit to have a battle of words against an information gathering professional.
"Yeah, the Shinou of that other world did say something similar…" Yuuri started, leaving the spy to process this first bit.
"Was the other world alike this one?" Yosak then asked.
"It was more like the time when I was sent to the past. Except… well, I guess it wasn't really the past. And no one knew me." He started, and seeing the listening look Yosak was sporting, he guessed that he would have to say more than just this.
So Yuuri talked. He told his spy friend how he realized he had been in deep shit when the castle guards didn't recognize him. How Conrad first gave him the cold shoulder. How he became a servant. He told the spy vaguely that he had had a few "misfortunes" involving a very out of character Huber and Gwendal. He carefully avoided the whole "being accidentally proposed to", and the "having two fiancés that just so happened to be very alike Gwendal and Conrad of the past", then the "I've slep- HAD SEX with two very manly men, AT THE SAME TIME".
Nope.
Not a word of such was delivered to the spy. Instead, he directly forwarded to him getting the shit beaten out of Huber, and then joining his squad, in hopes of stopping the man from doing what he had done in this dimension.
"And let me guess: you didn't manage to stop him and foolishly threw yourself in harm's way." The spy stated, a very annoyed tinge tainting his usual playful tone.
"Hmm…" Yuuri acquiesced timidly, blushing and lowering his face in shame.
"I swear! Even if it ended up making you come back here. Somehow. Did you truly need to get yourself nearly killed! I can't even imagine what would have become of this place if you had truly died! The Captain would have committed suicide! I hope you realize that!" the redhead fiercely scolded, completely forgetting to ask about the gapping plot hole, right in the middle of his monarch's story.
The rest of the day was spent with the spy commenting on the story he had been told. Sometimes getting angry at Yuuri's impossibly rash actions, and sometimes crackling as he imagined his demon king in a maid uniform, and Yuuri blushing while he vehemently defended the shattered remains of his dignity, pointing out how terrible Yosak's doppelganger had been with his stealth techniques. They also had many a laugh at Conrad's expanse.
Three days later, the gates of Blood Pledge Castle once more parted for the Maoh. Yuuri was positively beaming at the sight of his welcoming citizen and smiling guards. He happily greeted anyone coming near, even as he was, once more, faithfully guarded.
Conrad and Gwendal flanked his sides on their own horses, vainly trying to keep their eyes from staying on their charge or each other for too long, as they had suffered the great shame of waking up hugging each other, without their monarch in the middle. When they had realized that they had been caught red-handed by Yuuri, they had been sure a great sense of awkwardness would befall them.
Yet, only the two older males seemed self-conscious. Yuuri was completely oblivious to their plight, not even once commenting on the position he had found himself in that morning, only saying that they must both have been very tired, as they slept in for quite some time. The situation had Gisela and Annissina seethe for some reason, as they glared daggers at the king's back, as if they resented his complete lack of reaction. Eyes were also on Yosak, who seemed to be on the Maoh's good side during the recent days.
"Yuuri!" Wolfram called from the Castle entrance once his fiancé had dismounted. Greta was by his side, looking both very nervous and extremely excited.
The moment Yuuri made a sign to show that he had heard him (and by definition: would come right over), his daughter made a bee line for him at inhuman speed, literally jumping the last two meters distance between them to throw herself into his arms.
"YUURI! I was so worried! Papa Wolf couldn't even explain what had happened correctly!" she desperately cried into his chest as the king had easily caught her flying form (he was getting used to this mostly because of Günter).
"I'm fine Greta! And a princess shouldn't throw herself at people like that you know!" the double black teased, making Greta look up to him with a pout and a dubious brow.
"She completely totaled the baseball court during your time away too! She was so angry she broke five bats just by hitting the balls too hard, too many times…" Wolfram added, although he was strangely calm as he approached the two.
"That's IT! That's my daughter!" Yuuri cried happily as he then proceeded in giving the princess a manly one armed hug, his other hand punching the air victoriously, the young adolescent princess imitating the pose with a wide smile.
He had long abandoned the idea of making his daughter into a little princess, like those in the fairy tales. It's not that he wouldn't have wanted her to be, because that's definitely how he had first imagined and wanted her to grow! However, it was not Greta's wish, and so he never pushed the issue, only remembering too well how annoyed he had come to be of his mother's way of trying to dress him up as a girl. Even if he loved her, her addiction to fantasies and frilly dresses had Yuuri run away from his dear mother many a times, and he certainly didn't want Greta to give him the same treatment!
"You look well…" Wolfram spoke once more.
It was then that Yuuri started to get really worried: Wolfram was too calm! He didn't throw a fit, didn't try to strangle him, he didn't even call him a cheater!
Sensing that something was amiss, he quickly took his fiancé's hand into his and lowered himself a bit to be at his height.
"Wolf? Is something the matter?" He asked worriedly, but his tone only seemed to worsen the blond male's mood.
"Don't get worried about me, you wimp!" he suddenly yelled, slapping the double black's hand off f his own. "You nearly died! And it was my fault…" he whispered, while facing the ground.
"It wasn-!" Yuuri immediately tried to refute the words, but Wolfram cut him off, his hand shutting the Maoh's usually rambling mouth.
"It's fine. I'm not a child you need to hide away from his mistakes! Anyway, ou should all get back inside." The blond listlessly commented.
"Wolf…" the king whispered after the departing blue clad back.
"He was really worried, you know. Papa Wolf's been spending his days trying to help Muramura in his researches. But I think he mostly needed to think about stuff…" Greta explained, her features also becoming sad at the poor display.
Gwendal, Conrad, Yosak and Gisela joined them, also worried by the lack of ear piercing accusations coming from the bratty lord's mouth. The others who had accompanied the Maoh being otherwise occupied with dismantling Annissina's creations, under her strict directives.
"Is everything alright? The little brat didn't seem like his usual self…" the orange haired spy commented as they followed after said lord brat.
"Hmmm…. Maybe he'll talk about it when we're alone. But I suppose I worried him too…" Yuuri answered without looking at the spy.
Many soldiers and maids warmly greeted their monarch as the group went through the courtyard. The three usual maids looking especially relieved. And Yuuri smiled back with more warmth than ever, the kind of show that usually had Wolfram go into a fit. Yet, the blond didn't react, just looked at the scene blankly, further worrying his two brothers.
"Your majesty. It's a pleasure to see you returned to us, the whole country was worried." A voice calmly commented, tearing Yuuri away from his greeting spree.
The monarch's immediate reaction was to tense at the sound, which surprised his two guardians, but not Yosak who smiled apologetically at the newcomer, trying to reassure the man who was obviously confused.
"Huber!" the Maoh cried in surprise, taking a moment to rearrange his thoughts as he was faced with a completely different facet of the man he had clashed against, back in the alternate dimension.
Nicolas watched worriedly as the king seemed a bit disapproving of her dear husband. She had Eru pressed to her breast while the whole courtyard fell into silence while the two men stared at each other. The moment just had every one freeze because of its strangeness.
Huber was obviously worried and confused by the insistent glare, same went for most of the other witnesses to this moment. Except for Yosak, who looked like he was desperately trying to keep himself from laughing, and Yuuri who looked at Huber as if he couldn't quite believe what he was seeing.
It was then that the Great Sage made his appearance, coming from inside the castle to greet the king who took way too long to get to him.
He went nearly completely ignored however, as at the same moment, their monarch seemed to come to a decision, which had Huber look somewhat expectant.
It took naught but an instant.
It was all the more surprising as it was the most unexpected, unbelievable thing that had ever been done by their king! That in itself was quite a feat!
One moment Yuuri was having a staring match with his confused and very unwilling victim. The next….
The next Huber found himself with an armful of his king, as the double black pulled him down and passionately kissed the grey haired soldier! The action had every single person present have their jaws hit the floor, although Yosak did so while also choking on his laugh, which in turn looked like he was drowning with his own spit.
"I'm so glad you're as you are now!" Yuuri happily declared, while crying a little, once his mouth had disengaged from the poor, innocent man. "Eh?" he then exclaimed as Huber fainted to the ground the second the double black withdrew his hands from his victim.
Nicolas looked at his king as if he had grown a second head at first, before she started to look… excited? She also grew a little red in the face as unknown thoughts suddenly seemed to circle in her mind, while completely ignoring the very unconscious state her husband was in.
Conrad and Gwendal were gapping fishes out of the water, as hell started to break lose on the castle grounds. Gisela and Murata were playing terrible scenarios about their monarch's receiving some sort of strange brain damage from being subjected to Tartarus. Yosak still laughed as he made his way to his king. Greta was looking at her father in shock, her hand in front of her mouth, her eyes wide and… sparkly? Yuuri looked suddenly ashamed as he realized what he had just done. And the rest of the castle went into a turmoil.
"D-didn't think you'd really go that far!" Yosak managed to let out between to shakes of his frame, as he couldn't seem to stop laughing.
"Hmm…" Yuuri started, he licked his lips pensively as he worked hard to make the heat in his face recede. "Ah! Tastes a bit like licorice…" he commented with some surprise, which had Yosak try to make a dubious expression.
"You didn't put your tongue in… right?" the spy asked, a bit shocked at his monarch's new found boldness.
"What? No, I didn't!" he cried, but he was suddenly torn away from Yosak's teasing as a low growl emanated from behind.
Yuuri turned around, finding Wolfram's form shaking, but the green eyes still facing the ground, efficiently hiding his expression.
"Y-You…" the blond prince started, making Yuuri back off slightly. "Y-YOU CHEATER!" he suddenly yelled at the top of his lungs.
Wolfram immediately started charging a fireball into his hand as his fiancé realized that he had to run, NOW! And for the hour that followed the Maoh ran around the courtyard, avoiding fireballs, but not daring getting inside the castle from fear of Wolfram burning everything to the ground.
But far from being angry of terrified, Yuuri was happy. He smiled while he ran, encouraged by soldiers and maids who cheered the two on their mad race. He laughed as Conrad saved him in-extremis from an incoming fire lion, carrying him princess style. He was ecstatic as Gwendal rubbed his temples while using his maryoku to keep Wolfram from hitting the excited spectators.
Everything was back to normal, if just for this one instant, it was all Yuuri needed to feel at home once more, even if he knew that things would have to change.
He had decided so during the three days it took to reach Blood Pledge Castle. Because it was only fair. Because it was time that he took things in hand.
But for now, it was good to be back home!
A.N.: Aaaaaand, another chapter! At first I didn't really know how to finish this one. That's when I remembered something I had written in the previous chapters regarding Yuuri's thoughts on Huber (Although I didn't check to be sure it was indeed here). Also, so far, I've managed to keep my chapters around eight pages long, so I was put off when I saw how short it looked before the Huber incident XD.
I hope you enjoyed my attempt at making a funny ending for this chapter, after all the angst that was in the previous ones!
Comment!