"I can't believe I let you talk me into this!" Yuuri groaned.
Murata looked at him and grinned. The bastard.
"Well, you did promise we could go anywhere I wanted on my birthday," he reminded Yuuri. "Come on, it'll be fun!"
"I didn't think this would be on the top of your list," Yuuri grumbled. "What is this place anyway? If you wanted to stand in line for hours, we could at least have gone to an amusement park or something."
They were in the capital of the New Demon Kingdom, currently standing in a long line, which lead to a small tent at the end of the street. They were both wearing wigs and contacts, so that they wouldn't draw attention to themselves.
Murata waved a pamflet in Yuuri's face until he snatched it.
"Seek help from Madam Zoyka," Yuuri read, "she, who has THE EYE! Find a solution to any problem imaginable! Come on, this has got to be the lamest add I've ever seen!"
"For your information Yuuri, Madam Zoyka is greatly appreciated in her field," Murata told him airily. "Even Ulrike sometimes calls her to the Temple."
Yuuri stared at his friend.
"Really? Ulrike sees a hypnotist?"
"She has trouble sleeping sometimes," Murata explained. "Being High Priestess is very stressful, you know."
Yuuri could easily believe that, considering what a pain both the Shinou and Murata were most of the time.
"Well, this woman still can't be worth hours of waiting for," Yuuri complained. "I promised Greta we'd be back for dinner."
Murata sighed.
"If you didn't want to wait, you should've just said so," he said and reached out to pull Yuuri's wig off.
"Hey! What are you-"
"Make way for the Demon King and The Great Sage!" Murata bellowed, removing his own wig as well.
The people in line turned to look at them and then promptly all bowed as low as they could and moved out of their way.
Yuuri glared at Murata who smiled charmingly at the people as they moved in front of the line.
"You're horrible Murata! You can't just cut in line like that!" Yuuri fumed when they arrived at the doorway of the tent.
"Of course we can, you're the Demon King and I'm the Great Sage, after all. People expect us to take liberties like this," Murata said, the stupid smile still plastered on his face.
"That's not the kind of king I want to be!" Yuuri protested.
"Oh, be quiet, Shibuya. This way we'll be back for that dinner, so stop whining," Murata said and before Yuuri had time to retort, a solemn-looking man came out of the tent.
"You can go in now," he said gesturing at the entrance. "Payment up front, if you please."
"Of course," Murata said and looked expectantly at Yuuri. "It's my birthday, remember?"
Yuuri glared at his friend, but dug into his pockets and produced two gold coins, which he handed to the man. The man nodded his approval and stepped aside.
Murata lifted the tents canvas and he and Yuuri stepped inside. The tent was dark, except for dozens of candles burning all around. There were pillows scattered all over the floor and on one of them in the middle of the tent sat a woman wearing colourful robes and a turban, with a gleaming blue gem in the middle of it. She was hunched over her crossed legs, as in deep meditation. A veil covered half of her face, showing only her eyes which were closed.
"Welcome," she said in a strange sing-song voice, that send shivers down Yuuri's spine. "Please, be seated."
Yuuri quickly sat down on one of the pillows and Murata did the same.
"What can I do for you?" Madam Zoyka continued, her eyes still closed.
"Er..." Yuuri said eloquently.
"We came here out of curiosity," Murata said cheerfully. "What is it that you normally do during these sessions?"
"I help people find solutions to their problems, no matter what they are," Madam Zoyka explained. "Try to think about some aspect in your life that needs... fixing. Something, you are not satisfied with, perhaps. My customers often come to the realization, that the root of their problem and the solution for it can be found within themselves."
Yuuri rolled his eyes in the dark. This was just the sort of lame self-help crap he'd expected. He couldn't believe Murata would fall for it.
"Is there any way I could become more attractive in the eyes of women?" Murata asked, grinning.
Madam Zoyka considered it, still keeping her eyes closed.
"That might prove to be impossible," she said finally and Yuuri thought she sounded vaguely amused. "As it would imply, that there was something left to improve."
Murata's grin widened.
"I like you, Madam," he said.
"Thank your, Your Eminence."
Yuuri sighed. This woman was obviously a fake and Murata was totally fooled by her flattery.
"Right, thank you. We'll just be going now," he said, meaning to get up.
"Isn't there anything I can do for Your Majesty?" Madam Zoyka asked.
"No, that's- Wait, how did you know who I was?" Yuuri asked suspiciously. "And, come to think of it, Murata didn't give you his name either!"
The womanstill hadn't opened her eyes once!
"I felt your aura's when you came in," Madam Zoyka explained. "They are quite unmistakeable."
"Our what?" Yuuri asked.
"Don't mind Shibuya's ignorance, Madam," Murata said quickly. "But he does have a personal problem, that you could help with."
"Murata!" Yuuri protested, but his friend shushed him. The nerve of that guy!
"What kind of problem?" Madam Zoyka asked patiently.
"It's a matter of... the heart," Murata said, sounding serious.
"What?! I have no such-"
"It's okay, Shibuya. If it's too painful for you to tell, I'll do it for you," Murata said, covering Yuuri's mouth and cutting him off. "You see, he has been engaged for four years now, but the relationship just isn't getting anywhere."
"That's none of your business!" Yuuri cried, managing to break Murata's hold.
"The thing is, that his fiancé is terribly in love with him, but Shibuya just ignores the poor guy!"
"Are you kidding me? I do not ignore him! He wontlet me ignore him!" Yuuri protested.
"I see," Madam Zoyka said calmly. "And what about His Majesty's feelings?"
"Why are you asking him, instead of me?!"
"Currently, he seems to be in denial," Murata continued, ignoring Yuuri. "I think he just need a little shove in the right direction to sort out his feelings."
"Is anybody listening to me?!" Yuuri yelled. "I don't need a shove!"
"I understand," Madam Zoyka said quietly.
"That's it! I'm leaving!" Yuuri bellowed and scrambled to get of the floor.
Suddenly the tent was pitch dark.
"What the-" Yuuri started, but tripped on one of the pillows and landed on his back on the ground.
He opened his eyes and saw a single small flame floating in front of his face. His eyes were drawn to the light and he found that he couldn't look away from it. Then, suddenly, he saw a pair of bright blue eyes staring at him from behind the flame.
A voice was telling him to relax and for some reason, Yuuri felt himself beginning to do just that. He was lost in the sound of that strange but reassuring voice and the blue of those eyes and slowly Yuuri felt his consciousness start to slip.
The voice was telling him something. Something about a word. When he heard that word, he would want to do something. He wouldn't be able to resist it. When he heard that word, he would do it.
snap
Yuuri's eyes snapped open and he found he was looking straight at a worried looking Murata. He was propped up against a wall outside, next to Madam Zoyka's tent.
"You okay, Shibuya? You just fainted in there. You must have gotten up too quickly."
"Uh...oh? Is that what happened?" Yuuri asked, feeling a little dazed. "So the Madam didn't..."
Murata shook his head and smiled.
"Nah, you were right. It was totally lame," he said, helping Yuuri up. "Well, I guess we should go back. We don't want to be late for dinner, do we?"
Yuuri nodded, feeling relieved and the two of them started walking back towards the castle.
"Hey, Murata?" Yuuri asked, after a while."Did Madam Zoyka have blue eyes?"
Murata looked at him strangely.
"I don't know. She never opened them," he replied.
"Oh, I must have dreamed it then," Yuuri said, with a nervous little laugh.
That was a weird and very vivid dream.
"Yuuri!"
Wolfram's ear-piercing voice greeted the two double-blacks as the arrived at the courtyard of Covenant Castle. Yuuri resisted a very strong urge to hide behind Murata's back and instead turned bravely to face the angry demon boy he was engaged to.
"Hello, Wolfram," he said, trying to smile and not to wince.
"Where the hell have you been?" the blonde asked, striding closer, his green eyes blazing. "I've been looking for you for hours! I was just about to send a search party in town!"
"Well, it's Murata's birthday and-" Yuuri began, but Wolfram cut him off mid sentence.
"That's no excuse for you to sneak out without telling anyone! Do you have any idea how worried I was?"
"I did tell Conrad," Yuuri tried weakly.
"If you toldhim, you should have told me as well, you wimp!" Wolfram yelled.
Yuuri felt like he'd just been electrocuted. The image of bright blue eyes flashed in his mind and a voice told him to...
Yuuri clapped both hands in front of his mouth and stared at his fiancé with huge eyes.
"Yuuri? What have you got to say for yourself?" Wolfram continued impatiently.
"I'm afraid it's all my fault," Murata cut in. "I was so excited about our day, that I ushered Shibuya out as soon as I could. My apologies, for not informing you."
Wolfram eyed them both suspiciously, but then sighed and turned on his heels.
"Make sure it doesn't happen again," he called over his shoulder. "Now, come on. Dinner is served."
Yuuri stared at Wolfram's retreating back for a while and then slowly lowered his slightly shaking hands.
"You okay, Shibuya?" Murata asked.
Yuuri nodded. The memory of the eyes and voice faded fast. It had probably been just some weird deja vú.
"I'm fine," he replied, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Lets go to dinner."
As they ascended the stairs Yuuri didn't notice a small ghost of a smile playing on Murata's lips.
The others were already seated at the round dinnertable, when Yuuri and Murata made their entrance in the dining-room. Lady Celi had returned from her cruise the day before and was animatedly telling the party about her latest conquests. She sat between Günther and Gwendal, who stood up along with Conrad, when Yuuri and Murata appeared. Wolfram remained stubbornly seated between Greta and Gwendal and only glanced at Yuuri coldly. Yuuri greeted them all politely and sat himself on the other side of Greta and gave her a small kiss on the cheek. Murata sat down on Yuuri's left side, next to Conrad. Lady Celi continued on the narrative of her trip, while the servants brought in their dinner. Yuuri had just asked for a second portion of Doria's excellent stew, when the conversation turned to the topic of his and Murata's afternoon.
"Have you enjoyed your birthday, Your Eminence?" Günther asked Murata.
"Very much, thank you," Murata replied, buttering a piece of bread. "Shibuya was kind enough to provide the entertainment."
"Thankfully your birthday is only once a year," Yuuri replied dryly. "You have some weird ideas about how to have a good time. We even went to see a hypnotist today."
"Really? Which one?" Günther asked, sounding interested.
"Oh some woman, Madam... something. I forgot her name already. Zinka? No, Zonka?"
"Madam Zoyka," Murata corrected.
Conrad raised an eyebrow.
"Ah! I've heard of her!" Lady Celi exclaimed. "Did you have a good session?"
Yuuri snorted.
"Not really. It was a complete waste of time and money."
Wolfram let out an irritated huff.
"If you'd taken me along, we'd have figured out something better to do, than go visiting some crazy old woman," he said and then paused, his green eyes narrowing dangerously. "She was old, right?"
"Oh, yes!" Yuuri assured him hastily. "And not attractive at all! A real hag, I'd say."
"Hmph," Wolfram huffed again and turned his head arrogantly.
Yuuri turned his attention from the irate blonde to his daughter.
"What did you do today, Greta?" he asked her.
"Wolfram showed me how to paint a picture!" the little girl told his father excitedly. "We went outside, so the paint wouldn't smell so bad. It was lovely! Wolfram says, I'm gonna become a great artist someday!"
Yuuri smiled warmly at his daughter.
"I'm sure you will. Is Wolfram a good teacher?"
"He's the best teacher ever!" Greta exclaimed, beaming.
A blush started spreading on Wolfram's face and his posture became more relaxed.
"Well, if I am it's because I have such a talented student," Wolfram said modestly and looked at his daughter fondly.
"May I see the painting?" Yuuri asked.
"No, it's not finished yet," Greta explained seriously.
"Oh, but it really like to see it! Can't you show it to your Daddy?" Yuuri pressed.
"Yuuri!" Wolfram cried, sounding indignant. "How can you ask her that? Don't you know, that an artist can never show an artwork that's not finished? You know nothing about painting, you wimp."
Yuuri paled suddenly and reached out to grab a piece of bread and stuffed it in his mouth.
"Don't worry, Daddy. I'm sure I'll finish it tomorrow. Then you can see it," Greta said cheerfully.
Yuuri nodded at his daughter and tried to smile, but his eyes had gone a bit wild. He focused on chewing the bread.
Murata lifted a napkin in front of his mouth.
"I heard Yozak was back," Conrad said, looking at his eldest brother.
"Yes, he should be coming here tomorrow to give his report," Gwendal replied.
"Where was he?" Yuuri asked, having finally swallowed the bread.
"In Rocherfort, near the eastern border. There were some rumours of suspicious activity near one of the villages there."
Gwendal didn't seem to want to dwell on the subject, so Yuuri decided not to push the issue.
"Okay, well I'm sure you'll let me know if it's anything we need to worry about," he said to Gwendal.
"What a wimpy thing to say!" Wolfram cried, apparently still rather touchy. "Don't you care about what happens in your own kingdom? Yuuri! Are you listening to me?"
Yuuri had grabbed his goblet and was gulping down it's contents like his life depended on it.
Murata had a fit of suspiciously-laughter-like-coughing behind his napkin.
"I will bring this matter to His Majesty's attention, if it's necessary, Wolfram," Gwendal said sternly, and Wolfram fell silent.
Yuuri finished his drink and placed the goblet back on the table. His hands were shaking a little. He quickly waved a servant to fill the goblet again.
Lady Celi was telling them all where she was planning to travel next, when the servants brought in a big chocolate cake for dessert in Murata's honour.
Yuuri took a large piece, but found half-way through it, that he couldn't finish it.
"I can't possibly eat another bite," he told Greta with a smile and wiped his mouth with a napkin.
Wolfram sighed a rolled his eyes.
"Honestly, you are such a wimp! Give it here," he said and reached for Yuuri's plate.
Yuuri dropped his tea-spoon and promptly dived under the table to retrieve it. He emerged a few moments later with the spoon in hand and found everyone staring at him.
"Uh, I hope I didn't accidentally declare a war or something, did I?" he asked sheepishly.
Wolfram sighed.
"Of course you didn't, you clumsy wimp!"
Yuuri scrambled up hastily and slammed the spoon on the table with unnecessary force.
"Murata," he said through clenched teeth. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"
Murata rose and Yuuri grabbed his hand and almost ran out of the room with his friend in tow. When they got to the hallway, Yuuri turned around and seized Murata by the shoulders.
"We have got to get back to that hypnotist!" Yuuri whispered urgently.
A wide smirk spread across Murata's face and Yuuri took a horrified step back.
"Oh my god, you planned this, didn't you?!" Yuuri accused his friend. "Do you realize what you've done?!"
Murata looked at him, his glasses glinting ominously.
"Relax, Shibuya. It's just a bit of fun," he said carelessly.
Yuuri grabbed his shoulder's again and shook them slightly.
"It's notfunny, Murata!" he said hoarsely. "That woman hypnotized me, didn't she? Now everytime I hear a... certain word..."
"W-imp?" Murata suggested.
"Yes! Whenever I hear it I get this terrible urge to..."
"Kiss someone?" Murata suggested, again, serenely.
Yuuri stared at his friend in utter horror and disbelief.
"You complete bastard!" he said and shoved Murata against the wall.
Murata laughed.
"I thought it would provide a good entertainment for the night, and boy was I right!" he told Yuuri cheerfully. "I must say, that you're resisting the urge pretty well."
"Murata, we've got to get this thing fixed before we go to sleep tonight!" Yuuri said desperately. "Do you realize that Wolfram sometimes uses that word in his sleep?!"
Murata let out another laugh.
"It'll be an interesting night then!" he said gleefully.
"Murata!" Yuuri yelled in his face.
"Look, Shibuya, it can't be helped," Murata said, finally containing his mirth for a while. "I can't take you back to Madam Zoyka now, she doesn't see customers at night. And no one knows her real name, so no one knows where she lives. So, I'm afraid you're on your own for tonight."
Yuuri let go of his friend and buried his face in his hands.
"I'm so screwed," he said dejectedly. "You are a terrible friend, Murata!"
Murata patted him on the back.
"Wanting to kiss people is not so terrible is it?"
Yuuri snorted bitterly.
"Easy for you to say. Dropping a spoon might not start a war, but kissing the wrong person sure as hell will!"
"Then you'll just have to make sure to kiss the right person," Murata said cheerfully and started walking back towards the dining-room.
Yuuri cursed inwardly and then turned to follow him.
For the rest of the evening, which thankfully was not long, Yuuri tried his best not to aggravate Wolfram. It was rather hard, since pretty much everything Yuuri did was considered wimpy by his moody fiancé. Fortunately for Yuuri, Greta was the person sitting closest to him, and suddenly showering her with small kisses every few minutes was generally considered only as very affectionate paternal behaviour.
Finally the dinner was over and Yuuri told Wolfram to go ahead to their bedroom while he tucked Greta in her bed. For once Wolfram didn't argue and Yuuri breathed a sigh of relief when the blonde was out of sight.
"I'll never survive the night," he predicted to Murata, when Greta was safely in her bed. Murata was staying the night at the castle and Yuuri was walking him to his guest bedroom, which was along the same corridor as Yuuri's own.
"Oh, I don't know. Wolfram has always struck me as the kind of guy who prefers straightforward actions," Murata teased.
Yuuri glared at him.
"Not. Funny."
"Okay, well then if you're so afraid of something happening, I suggest you tell Wolfram about the hypnosis."
Yuuri let out a whimper.
"But it's so embarrassing!" he whined as they reached Murata's door.
Murata shrugged and opened his door.
"Then don't tell him. Good night, Shibuya!"
"There's no chance I could... sleep in your room tonight, is there?" Yuuri asked miserably.
Murata gave him a look.
"I'm pretty sure Wolfram won't appreciate that either," he reminded Yuuri.
Yuuri had to admit that Murata had a point there and gloomily said good night to his friend.
Wolfram was already changed into his pink nightgown, when Yuuri came in and was sitting cross-legged on their bed.
"What took you so long?" Wolfram asked, still sounding a bit testy.
"I wanted to tuck Greta in properly," Yuuri replied hastily and made his way to the wardrobe.
He felt Wolfram's eyes on him as he started to change into his pyjamas. Then the blonde rose from the bed, came over and put a hand on Yuuri's shoulder.
Yuuri turned and found that Wolfram was looking at him with a much softer expression than before.
"Look, Yuuri, I think I know what's going on," he said gently.
Yuuri gaped at his fiancé.
"Y-You do?" he managed to ask, holding his pyjama-shirt in front of him like a shield.
"Yes, and I understand how you feel," Wolfram continued looking at Yuuri sympathetically.
"I-I'm not sure how... you can," Yuuri replied, feeling confused.
Wolfram let out an angry huff.
"Yes I can! I care about her as much as you do, you know!" Wolfram cried, sounding a little hurt.
Yuuri stared at his fiancé, trying to figure out what the hell he was talking about.
"You mean... Greta?" he asked slowly. "What about her?"
Wolfram looked at Yuuri like he was a complete idiot and let out a frustrated sigh.
"Yuuri, you've been acting weird the whole evening," he explained slowly. "It's because of Greta, isn't it?"
Yuuri still didn't get what Wolfram was getting at. He continued to stare at Wolfram with a confused look.
"Oh, for Shinou's sake! Yuuri, you've got to resign yourself to the fact that she wont be a little girl much longer!" Wolfram snapped. "I know it scares you, that she's growing up so fast, hell, I'm terrified about it myself! But you can't keep treating her like she's still ten!"
Wolfram paused and then continued in a much softer tone.
"We have to let her grow up, Yuuri."
Finally Yuuri understood and he took a step back, causing Wolfram's hand to drop from his shoulder.
"Wolf, you've got it all wrong," he said, smiling a little and pulling the pyjama-shirt over his head. "That's not... That is to say, I am worried about Greta growing up so fast, of course I am, but that's not why..."
Wolfram's eyes narrowed.
"Then what the hell is it?" he asked, hands on his hips.
Yuuri stood there for a moment, trying to find the right words. Was there any way to finish this conversation successfully?
Unfortunately, Wolfram's patience had reached it's limit.
"Out with it, wimp!" he commanded, very loudly and clearly.
For half-a-second Yuuri was frozen as his brain effectively shut down. Then he found himself lunging forward towards the pale, pink mouth that had just uttered the fatal word from far too short a distance.
A few seconds later, Yuuri's brain finally regained control of his body and he managed to pull back. But the damage had already been done. Before him stood a very flushed and very surprised looking Wolfram, who stared at Yuuri with his eyes open wider than the doors to Lady Celi's bedroom.
"Yuuri..." Wolfram said, his voice filled with wonder as he raised his fingers to his freshly-kissed lips.
The lips Yuuri had just kissed. He hadkissed Wolfram. He had kissed a boy!
The realization hit Yuuri like a tidal wave and his brain made one last feeble attempt to get in control of the already disasterous situation.
"I didn't mean to do that! Murata had me hypnotized!"
Murata had barely got himself into bed, when a loud banging on his door forced him to toss his blanket aside and get back up again. He stifled a yawn as he walked to his door and opened it. Yuuri stood outside in the hallway, looking miserable.
Murata sighed and opened the door wider so Yuuri could get inside.
"How did it go?" he asked lightly, as Yuuri brushed past him.
"I'm sleeping here tonight," Yuuri replied and made his way straight to the bed and sat on it, burying his face in his hands.
"That bad, huh?" Murata sighed and closed the door. "Okay, what happened?"
Yuuri took his hands from his face and stared blankly ahead.
"I told Wolfram about the hypnosis," he said slowly.
"And? What did he say?" Murata pressed, walking over to his friend and sitting down next to him on the bed.
Yuuri avoided his eyes.
"The thing is I... I told himafter I'd... Okay, we were talking and I was about to tell him, but he... he got angry and used that word so I... I kissed him," Yuuri finished miserably.
"Ah," Murata commented.
"He was standing so close and when I heard it, my body just reacted on it's own and I couldn't stop myself!" Yuuri wailed, looking mortified.
"Well, how was it?" Murata asked.
Yuuri stared at him, like he'd suddenly grown an extra head.
"Murata, didn't you hear what I said? I kissed him! I kissed a boy! I kissed Wolfram!"
"Yes, I heard you. And I asked, how did you like it?" Murata said patiently.
Yuuri pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.
"I don't know! I was so freaked out, that I didn't really pay attention... Why do you care, anyway?"
"Oh, I'm just curious. How did Wolfram take it? Or is that why he kicked you out? Were you that bad?" Murata asked mischievously.
"What? No! Well, I don't think so anyway..." Yuuri replied and thought hard for a moment. "He didn't say anything, but I got the impression that he might have liked it."
Murata nodded.
"So, why are you here then?"
Yuuri sighed and looked uncomfortable.
"I told him, that I didn't mean it and that you had had me hypnotized," he muttered.
Murata shook his head.
"Shibuya, you are a complete idiot."
"I know, okay? I panicked!" Yuuri cried and then turned to glare at his friend. "This is all your fault! Wolf will never speak to me again, I barely got out of the room alive! I was forced to kiss him because of your stupid prank and now our friendship is ruined forever!"
"Forced, you say?" Murata said his glasses gleaming and leaned closer until his face was an inch apart from Yuuri's. "Are you sure about that, wimp?"
"Hey, don't you call me a..." Yuuri started and then stopped and stared at Murata his mouth hanging open.
"What? A wimp? Possibly the wimpiest of wimps from wimpland?" Murata continued with an amused smile.
Yuuri's eyes looked like they were about to bulge out of their sockets.
"What?" he croaked. "How...?"
"Look, Shibuya, if you had any sort of basic knowledge about how hypnosis works, you would know that a hypnotist cannot make you do anything against your will. All they do, is give you an impulse, but if it's an impulse to do something you don't want to do, you don't do it. Which is why you didn't kiss me, just now," Murata explained, still smiling.
"But I... but why did I kiss Wolf then?" Yuuri asked, sounding lost.
"Well, has it occurred to you that maybe because you actually wanted to kiss him?" Murata suggested. "That maybe you've been wanting to kiss him for a long while now, but didn't because the mere thought freaked you out?"
Yuuri shook his head vigorously.
"No. Noo-no-no. No, that can't... that can't be! Because I would know if I wanted to kiss boys and I don't! And Wolfram is a boy!" Yuuri tried to argue, but there was a note of uncertainty in his voice.
"Why are you so obsessed about gender? Usually, people want to kiss people they love, regardless of their gender or race or social status. Isn't that what you want for your own people here?" Murata asked, beginning to feel exasperated.
"Well, yes, but..."
"Then why can't you get it through your thick head, that while you may not want to kiss boys in general you might still want to kiss the one you love."
That silenced Yuuri for a while and Murata could almost see the gears turning in his friends head.
"So... so what you're saying is that I'm... in love with Wolfram?" Yuuri asked tentatively.
"You tell me," Murata shrugged. "Did you like the kiss?"
Yuuri thought hard about it, his brow creased in concentration.
"I did," he said at length sounding surprised and immediately blushed. "I liked how Wolf looked after it too. I completely surprised him and he looked kind of dazed. And... and beautiful. He's always beautiful of course, but it was a different kind of beauty, becauseI had caused him to look like that..." Yuuri trailed away and his eyes widened. "I really am in love with him, aren't I?"
Murata smiled and patted Yuuri's back.
"Took you long enough. Now that you've got your feelings sorted out, why don't you go and share the news with your intended and let me get some sleep?"
Yuuri paled.
"I can't go back there! He was so angry I was sure he'd set the bed on fire! He'll fry me the minute he sees me!"
Murata yawned.
"Well, that's a risk you'll have to take. Isn't his fiery temper one of the things you love about him?"
"I might not get to tell him that, if he kills me first," Yuuri said desperately, wringing his hands.
"Oh, I'm sure it'll be fine. You can always call the watersnakes if he starts throwing fireballs at you," Murata suggested cheerfully. "Now go, I'm tired."
Yuuri gave him a dejected look and rose from the bed.
"It was nice to know you, Murata," he said gloomily and walked to the door.
"You too, Shibuya," Murata replied closing the door after Yuuri and locked it.
They could burn down the whole castle if they wished, but they were not going to wake him up again.
Yuuri poked his head inside the bedroom and when there where no fireballs hurling towards him, he gingerly stepped inside.
"Why are you here?" a hostile voice asked from the bed and Yuuri flinched, but to his surprise was still not hit by any fireballs.
Wolfram was sitting on the bed and stared at Yuuri, his green eyes still blazing with anger. Yuuri swallowed, but bravely stepped closer to the bed.
"Still hypnotized?" Wolfram continued, his voice dripping with venom.
"Wolf, listen. I talked with Murata, and..."
"Ah, yes, the Sage. He's the one who got you hypnotized, right?" Wolfram cut in. "Did you tell him how his little experiment turned out, hmm? You both probably got a good laugh out of it."
"No, Wolf. He told me something," Yuuri said carefully, watching Wolfram intently for any signs of fire summoning.
"That I'm a gullible fool and you're an insensitive w- no, sorry. I can't use that word anymore, can I?" Wolfram continued bitterly. "Hearing it might make you do something that's disgusting to you."
"I did not think it was disgusting," Yuuri tried, but didn't get any further when Wolfram shifted to his knees and glared at him furiously.
"No? I'll tell you what it was, Yuuri! It was cruel! I hadn't thought you'd be capable of doing anything so... so ruthless!" Wolfram's eyes were glimmering, like he was about to burst into tears. "Giving me hope and then... then shattering it completely!"
"Wolfram, I'm really sorry! I didn't mean to..."
"I know you didn't mean to! That's the point!" Wolfram yelled, his face turning red. "Because it's so horrible for you to kiss me, that you have to be hypnotized to do it!"
"Wolf, please listen to me!" Yuuri pleaded, starting to panic again.
"Listen to what? That you don't want me? I get it already, you w-"
"Don't say it!" Yuuri yelled, before Wolfram could utter the fatal word.
Wolfram let out a bitter laugh.
"See? You're scared that if you'll hear it, you'll have to kiss me again," Wolfram said and the hurt in his voice made Yuuri's heart ache. "Just... just go, okay? I can't even look at you right-mmh!"
Wolfram didn't get to finish that sentence, because Yuuri had flung himself on the bed and by quickly grabbing Wolfram's head between his hands, brought their lips together.
Wolfram jerked back almost immediately.
"What the hell are you doing!" he asked angrily, trying to escape Yuuri's grasp.
"I'm trying to show you, that I do want to kiss you and it's got nothing to do with being hypnotized," Yuuri explained breathing heavily and looking earnestly in Wolfram's astonished eyes.
Wolfram closed his eyes and took a deep breath and then opened his eyes again.
"Are you being serious, Yuuri? Because if this is a joke-"
"It's not," Yuuri assured him hurriedly. "May I?" he asked, and after a little nod from his fiancé, leaned in to kiss Wolfram again.
This third kiss was immensely more satisfying than the previous two had been and both boys were gasping for air when it ended.
"Wow," Yuuri said, his face the color of beetroot. "That was... nice."
"It was," Wolfram agreed, sounding like he couldn't quite believe it had even happened. "Uh, what were you trying to say earlier?"
Yuuri recounted his conversation with Murata and the realization he'd come by it.
"I'm sorry for being so blind and narrow-minded for so long," Yuuri said hanging his head sheepishly. "You really deserve someone way better than me."
Wolfram reached out his hand and lifted Yuuri's chin.
"It's too bad, that I only want you," he whispered gently, gazing into Yuuri's eyes. "So I'm afraid you're stuck with me."
Yuuri grinned.
"I'm okay with that," he said, wound his arms around the blonde and pulled him close.
Wolfram smiled, put his arms around Yuuri's neck and pulled them both down on the bed.
"Say, are you still hypnotized?" Wolfram asked innocently.
"Uh, I guess so. Why?" Yuuri asked.
Wolfram grinned.
"Oh, this is going to be fun, wimp!"
It was well after midnight, when Conrart finished his nightly rounds and finally retired to the comfort of his room. He didn't even blink an eye, when he found someone already occupying his bed.
"I heard you were back," he said, taking off his boots and swordbelt.. "Everything all right at the border?"
The man on Conrart's bed yawned and stretched himself, before turning his blue eyes to look at Conrart.
"Captain, really, is that the way to greet your lover after weeks of absence? I'll give my report about the border to Gwendal first thing in the morning. Tonight, however, I came to see you."
"Right, because you missed me so much?" Conrart teased, removing his uniform jacket and hanging it on a nail on the wall.
His lover gave him a look, that was obviously meant as beguiling.
"Of course I did. All those long nights and no one there to warm them. Now, come here and warm me."
Conrart didn't move, only stood by the bed and looked down on his lover with a small scowl on his face.
"What? I haven't done anything to upset you, have I?" the man continued in mock-innocense.
Conrart's eyes narrowed.
"I guess that would depend on your defination of the word, but in my book hypnotizing your king is considered as "something"," Conrart said glaring at his lover.
"Ah, you found out about that," the man replied, not sounding particularly sorry.
"Yes, His Majesty told us himself, that he had been to see the famous Madam Zoyka. I take it, it was the Sage's idea?"
Yozak smiled bewitchingly.
"Of course it was, though he might have gotten the idea from Shinou. Those two..."
Conrart sighed.
"And you happily went along with it?"
"Aw, come on Conrart! You know I have a soft spot for His Eminence. Besides, I thought it would do the kiddo good to sort out his love life."
"Yozak, Wolfram could have killed him!" Conrart hissed.
Yozak gave him a look.
"You don't really think that. Anyway, it worked out fine. It was about time something happened between those two. Come on, you know I'm right," Yozak said and gestured Conrart to join him on the bed.
Conrart stared at his friend and lover for a moment and then sighed in defeat.
"You are impossible, but I guess you are right. It will be nice to see Wolfram happy for a change," he admitted taking Yozak's hand and climbing into bed.
Yozak smiled and pulled his captain down for a kiss.
"I knew you'd understand," he murmured triumphantly, settling against the pillows.
Conrart came on top of him, stradling his hips and pinned Yozak's hands over his head.
"But, I am warning you," Conrart said with a low and dangerous voice. "If you try anything like this to Yuuri or anyone else for that matter again, I'll have you sleep in the stables."
Yozak grinned and raised an eyebrow.
"Why, Conrart! I had no idea, you had that kind of fantasies!"
Conrart groaned.
"What am I going to do with you?" he asked, exasperatedly.
"I have a few ideas," Yozak replied with a grin.