Chapter Four, Part II

Yuuri and Conrad are standing in the backyard of the Shibuya residence, waiting to hear the signal. Once the car can be heard driving away from the curb and it is guaranteed his nieces can no longer see their departure, Yuuri steps to the rim of fountain and begins thawing the thin layer of ice with his maryoku. Beside him, Conrad is carrying an expression that manages to show amusement and surprise.

"It was very kind of you to invite your mother and father to Shin Makoku. I thought you would never do it."

Yuuri glares back at him. "That was the plan. And now my mother and your mother are going to meet. The world is doomed." He sighs heavily, the impending headache from all the women in his life being in one world to conspire together already stressing him. But a compromise was in order to make up for his leaving early, and he knew this would make his mother happy. Really, he wasn't sure why he hadn't allowed her to visit sooner.

The mental image of Cheri and his mother laughing delightfully together appears, and he is reminded. It really will be the end of the world.

Bringing himself back to the present, he steps into the fountain with bare feet, shivering at the remaining chill. Conrad follows his example, stepping beside him without a sign of complaint about the cold. Yuuri studies him: the calm face, the lack of expression that gives anything but a false complacency. It frustrates him. He knows Conrad feels, yet he is always so intent on hiding everything.

His hand, still warmed from the flow of power, grasps Conrad's and intertwines them from palms to fingertips. As the water begins to swirl at their feet to prepare them for their departure, Yuuri presses his lips to Conrad's-one for the road, or however that saying goes.

"I'm sorry," he says as he pulls away. He feels as though it is all he keeps saying, and all he will say for what seems like an endless eternity. He watches as Conrad does not smile as he usually does-instead, he brings Yuuri's knuckles to his lips and stares back at him with calm eyes.

"I love you."

And then they are traveling back, and Yuuri takes a mouthful of water in his surprise. He comes up sputtering in the temple fountain and looks over at Conrad just as he pulls his hand out of Yuuri's grasp.

"Yozak just returned awhile ago. You can get the full report from him, but the suggestion is that you go speak with Dai Shimaron directly."

Yuuri's head snaps up to find Wolfram standing in front of them, already in his travel clothes. He offers his hand in assistance, and Yuuri stares at him dumbly.

"Well, are you going to come out of there or not?" the blond lightly chides him, now offering the outstretched hand to his brother. Conrad takes it gratefully, stepping out of the fountain and taking the towel offered to him.

Yuuri stands up, feeling light-headed at the movement and this time grasping both hands that are offered to him in assistance. He shakes his head, clearing the excess water and shock and the noise of his inner monologue screaming about broken rules. Without thought, he glances at Conrad again, searching for any remnants of what had occurred moments before. But that person was left on the other side, and this Conrad has his complacent smile back in place as he steps back to walk behind Yuuri and Wolfram while they make their way toward the castle.

They part ways near the Great Hall, Conrad and Wolfram going to complete the travel arrangements to Dai Shimaron and Yuuri setting off to speak with Yozak. Yuuri hurries through a quick change of clothes, opting to put on one of his more comfortable traveling sets: He will have to change once they enter Shimaron waters into something more formal. He enters his work study to find Yozak already there waiting patiently and standing at attention.

"Please sit, Yozak, you don't have to be so formal."

The spy complies, sliding into the chair facing the Maou. The easy smile that also slides into place allows Yuuri to believe that the situation within Dai Shimaron is not as dire as he initially believed.

"I assume you've already reported to Gwendal?"

"Of course, Your Majesty. Dai Shimaron seems to be willingly circulating the rumor that they will not be renewing the peace treaty with Shin Makoku. This naturally is putting Shou Shimaron on edge, since they will be pressured to follow Dai Shimaron's lead or risk an embargo on their exports."

Yuuri nods. "That makes sense. What does Dai Shimaron want?"

"That was a little harder to confirm. It seems the king is looking for an increase in importation of Shin Makoku's silver, but he may be looking for some territory as well. Either way, my suggestion based on the circumstances was that you meet in person with him. He's seems arrogant about the matter, and a representative might be a little off-putting, if you know what I mean."

Yuuri's smirk matches Yozak's. The last of the report interprets easily to the king: Gwendal, as the representative of Shin Makoku, was not going to be handing over a pebble to Dai Shimaron, diplomacy be damned. Yuuri going in person would appease the king's pride while also serving as a warning that the Maou was not going to allow the peace treaty to fall on the wayside so easily.

"Thank you. I will take your suggestion and go in person."

"Anytime, Your Majesty. I'm sorry your vacation had to be cut short because of it though."

Yuuri glances down at his desk quickly and then curses himself for doing so. When he looks up again, Yozak is smirking knowingly. Damn.

"Were you not able to have a good time while you were there?" The man's tone is teasing, and Yuuri scowls. He hates Yozak sometimes.

"It was fine."

"Short-lived?"

"Very," he admits, defeated. Yozak is somehow made from the same mold as Murata; there is no need to hide from them, because it would be fruitless fight. "But it doesn't matter now."

"No, I suppose not. I'm sure you know that there would be more than a few people who would be angry with both of you."

"I'm sure you would be among them," Yuuri bites back, and instantly regrets it. There is no need, in his mind, to mock those that understand the want of someone else. Especially of the same someone else.

"Oh no, I folded awhile ago in this game," Yozak replies as he braces his arms against the back of his head. "You three can have fun doing circles around each other for as long as you want, I'll watch from back here."

"It's not fun," Yuuri whispers harshly.

"No, I suppose not. Keeping things as they are will keep the peace and the Captain will stand aside without hesitation. You already know that though. Everyone knows that."

He does know. The image of Conrad smiling at the fountain flashes in his mind, and he feels the weight of the pendent on his chest. Yes, of course he knows it. He can carry on, and Conrad can step aside, and Wolfram can keep pretending and they can dance around each other for eternity for the sake of keeping peace. But what were they really trying to salvage if everyone was miserable anyway?

Yozak stands and stretches, a sign that he is dismissing himself. "There's always a price for peace," he remarks, supposedly bringing the conversation back to Dai Shimaron. "And everyone has their share in it."

"I'd rather be the only one paying it," The Maou admits, flushing as though he as revealed a secret.

"Everyone knows." Yozak concludes and he walks away with a wave. "But it's not just your price to pay."

The door shuts and Yuuri stares at it, a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach as the conversation settles over him. The innocent words whisper through him like a thin sheet of ice, circling around his core has they repeat again their intended meaning.

Everyone knows.