===== Chapter 6 =====
Old Stomping Grounds
The constant turmoil of the rain finally caused Yuri to stir from her slumber. She rubbed her eyes with a petite yawn then rolled over on her side of the bed, hoping to see her loving girlfriend soundly asleep beside her. To her dismay, she found herself alone with the bed all to herself. With a disappointed sigh, Yuri sprawled out all over the bed as she listened to the rain continue to pound the roof above her. She wondered where Koko could be but guessed she wasn't far.
It had been a couple days since Yuri and Koko found themselves in the Kingdom of Gilderland, their new home. Construction had begun on their estate, and they were still living in the Grand Marquis Hotel in the meantime. Yuri and Koko had met with Arin's advisor, and together, they managed to come up with a finalized blueprint for their estate. They picked out certain pieces of furniture and floor materials for the estate as well as suggested room layouts and amenities. While they waited for construction to be completed, Yuri and Koko decided to enjoy themselves and get more familiarized with the kingdom better. Most of the initial time there was spent conducting business and coordinating with the construction crew, but now that all of that had been taken care of, Yuri and Koko were able to finally relax.
Wishing she could've snuggled in bed with her lover, Yuri instead reluctantly sat up in bed and glanced around the bedroom while still half asleep. She then spotted Koko sitting on one of the benches in the adjacent alcove, leaning back against the wall by the balcony window. She was staring out the window and into the distance, seemingly lost in her thoughts. The sound of the rain masked Yuri's approach as she groggily meandered over to Koko, dragging her feet before taking a seat on the bench next to her.
"How long have you been up?" asked Yuri as she leaned over and rested her head on Koko's shoulder, closing her eyes as she focused on the raindrops and Koko beside her.
Koko almost didn't notice Yuri come up beside her as she broke her attention away from the rain. She then smiled as she felt Yuri's head softly placed next to hers. Koko took her arm and wrapped it around Yuri, holding her close as she caressed her arm. "Not very long," she said, looking down to Yuri.
Yuri just sat there, content and completely relaxed in her partner's presence. "Did the rain wake you up too?" she asked, her eyes still closed with a smile on her face.
"Nah. I just woke up normally as usual," said Koko as she turned her gaze back to the window.
There was a brief moment of silence, or rather, just the sound of the rain between them as they sat together on the bench, nothing but their steady breathing emanating from their bodies. Eventually, Yuri spoke up after what seemed like an eternity had passed her by.
"Soooo… what brings you out here so early in the morning? Especially when you could be back in bed, snuggling with me underneath our warm sheets away from the rain," said Yuri as she cuddled up close to Koko, her arms reaching around Koko's firm, yet inviting body.
Koko turned away yet again from out yonder and gazed down at Yuri. "Nothing in particular. It's just that whenever it rained like this, I used to sit out on the porch back home and watch the rain. Except back then, there were rolling waves of blue along with the rain instead of the rolling hills of gold and green like here," she said, her manner somewhat solemn towards the end.
Yuri's smile and restful demeanor began to wane as she picked up on Koko's tone, detecting what almost felt like discontent or reluctance in her voice. "What's the matter, Hon? Are you… unhappy here?" she asked as she opened her eyes, trying to meet Koko's gaze.
Sensing Yuri's uneasiness, Koko quickly cheered up so she didn't give off any more negative vibes that might've been causing her to worry. "Hey now, enough of that. I am not, nor have I ever been, unhappy while being with you here," she said as she caressed Yuri's face with her other hand, gently raising her chin so their gazes met. Looking into her eyes, Koko gave Yuri a reassuring smile while stroking her hair. "I'm just still getting used to the new surroundings is all," she said. "I like it here, and I'm sure I'll like it even more once I've gotten a better look around."
As Yuri's smile returned, she cuddled up closer against Koko. "Well, want to explore the city with me? I know we've been pretty busy since getting here, but now that all of that's out of the way, we've got all the time in the world," she said.
"But it's raining," said Koko as she looked back outside.
"So? It's just a little rain, and it seems to be dying down already. It'll probably be done by the time we're ready to leave," said Yuri as she looked out the window as well.
Koko looked to Yuri then back outside. "If that's the case, then sure," she said with an optimistic smile.
The two of them relaxed together by the window a while longer before they decided to get ready for the day. They got washed up and dressed in their normal attire. By then, the rain had died down a little but not completely, so Yuri and Koko brought along their hooded cloaks before leaving.
It had been a while since Yuri had been in her homeland, and she was yet just a child when she first left with Monika. Even the last time she was there, which was for Arin's coronation, she didn't get to explore the city that much. It seemed like every time she visited Gilderland, it was always so very different yet still somewhat recognizable. She spent most of her childhood in the castle and upper district of the city, but she still got to see the city in almost its entirety from her bedroom balcony window. Now that she was back, she was eager to finally immerse herself in the kingdom that was once hers to reign over.
In recent years since Arin was made king of Gilderland, the kingdom had experienced a peaceful period of growth and prosperity thanks to his leadership. Several developments had been made to include renovations of damaged infrastructure caused by neglect during the previous war, restoration of the older part of the city which was left to decay during Duro's rule, and the expansion of newer districts to accommodate the growing population. Several amenities were added to the city that Yuri had grown accustomed to while living elsewhere in other larger cities.
Before leaving the inn, Yuri and Koko had a light breakfast and took it easy to give the rain a bit more time to lighten up. When they were finally ready to explore around the city, the rain had turned into a slight drizzle. The two put their hoods up and left the inn, making their way down the road with no particular destination in mind. They just wanted to see what was around and get more familiar with their surroundings.
While they were walking around, Koko constantly noticed people setting up stalls and putting up decorations. The decorations were all wheat and fox themed which piqued her interest. "Hey, do you know what everyone is preparing for with all the decorations and stuff?" she asked as she looked to Yuri.
Yuri looked to Koko then glanced at a man nearby who was putting up some decorations on his storefront. "Oh, that? It's for the Harvest Festival in a couple days," she said.
"Harvest Festival?" asked Koko.
"It's a big celebration to mark the end of the harvest season and pay homage to our patron deity, Lady Holo of the Wheat and Tail, which is just our local name for the Goddess Chauntea. She watches over the wheat fields and ensures we have a bountiful harvest, well… most of the time. Sometimes we get less than ideal yields, but that's because she wants to give the land time to rest and recover. At least, that's all according to the legends," said Yuri.
"I see. That's a nice tradition. It reminds me of Bonfire Night back home," said Koko.
"Is that a festival dedicated to your patron deity?" asked Yuri as she looked to Koko.
Koko gave Yuri an odd look, but then she remembered that Yuri hadn't been a member of the OSF long enough to experience it for herself. "That's right. You haven't experienced Bonfire Night before. It's a celebration dedicated to Tempus. You know, the OSF's patron deity," she said with a chuckle. "Well, I'll tell ya. You missed out. It was always one of my most favorite times of the year."
"Is that so? Why's that?" asked Yuri.
"Oh, nothing in particular. It was just that everyone came back home just for the event. Well, mostly everyone. Just those who could afford to and weren't currently involved in a mission or something like that. I was fortunate enough to have never missed one and always got to attend," said Koko with a smile.
"Well aren't you the fortunate one," said Yuri with a little smirk.
"Yeah. But like I was saying, the event was always something I looked forward to. There was a big feast full of all sorts of spicy dishes and smoked meats. There was also entertainment like fire twirlers, magical demonstrations –involving fire, of course-, and a bunch of other stuff," said Koko.
"That sounds delightful. Maybe one day we can return to the island and catch one of these Bonfire Nights," said Yuri with a warm smile.
Koko winced and glanced away. "Yeah… well, most of the good stuff happens on the greater isle where all the military personnel hang out during the night. The civilians aren't allowed there, but they have their own celebration on the lesser isle," she said.
Yuri looked sort of dejected at that and retreated back into her hood. "Oh? I guess I missed out, huh?" she said rather gloomily.
Hearing Yuri's tone, Koko nudged her arm and tried to lighten the mood. "Hey, but we got to catch this festival, right? I'm sure this one is just as good or even better than Bonfire Night," she said.
Yuri managed a slight smile and held Koko's hand. "We'll see," she said.
While the two were walking around the busy streets, they happened to pass by a curious establishment in the newer part of town. It was a massage parlor, and it was run by elves. Excited to have one in her hometown, Yuri was eager to give it a try to see if it was any good.
"Wanna get a massage with me?" asked Yuri as she looked to Koko.
Koko looked over to the storefront they were in front of then looked to Yuri. "A massage?" she asked, a bit apprehensive.
"Yeah. We can get a couple's massage where we're right next to each other on separate tables. I've seen it available at other places I've been to, and I'm sure this place can accommodate us as well if it's any good," said Yuri.
Koko grumbled a tiny bit and shuffled around a bit, unsure about the idea. "I don't know. Massages kinda aren't my thing. I mean I had one before, or at least, the other Koko did, but I'm not sure how I feel about strangers feeling up my body and stuff," she said, placing her hands in her pants pockets.
Yuri moved around in front of Koko and gave her a disappointed look. "Oh, c'mon, Hon. Please?" she said with an almost childish tone. "You'll be with me after all, and if you feel like it's too much, we can just stop and leave. You won't regret it."
Seeing Yuri's adorable face, there was no way Koko was able decline her the opportunity. She let out a sigh and motioned for Yuri to take the lead. "At least we can get out of the rain for a while," she said.
Yuri nearly jumped for joy as she took Koko by the hand and eagerly led her inside the massage parlor. The interior was clean and well kept, which was a good sign. Looking around, Yuri spotted a few female elves inside. One of them was behind the front counter while the other two were sitting off to the side, conversing with one another. Seeing Yuri and Koko enter, the woman behind the front counter greeted them.
"Hello and good day. How may I be of service to you two today?" asked the elf woman with a welcoming smile and slight bow.
Having been to several massage parlors before, Yuri took the lead and did all the talking. "Good day to you too," she said with a smile of her own. "We were just wondering if you have any openings for a couple of massages. It's kind of a spur of the moment thing, and we don't have any reservations, so we can understand if there isn't anything available."
The woman briefly glanced down to a scheduling book behind the counter then looked to the other two women who were chatting by themselves. "We do actually. Will you both be getting a massage today?" she asked as she looked to Yuri and Koko.
"Yup. Now is there any way we can get them at the same time? Like, together in the same room?" asked Yuri.
"We can arrange that. We do offer a couple's package if that is more to your liking," said the woman behind the front desk.
"That'd be perfect. What does it come with?" asked Yuri.
"Our couple's package includes an hour-long, full-body massage which comes with calming incense, heated stone treatment, and our special rejuvenating magical touch. We can also leave out certain things if you so desire, but the price will still be the same, unfortunately," said the woman.
Yuri looked to Koko and she gave her an approving nod. "That works for us," said Yuri.
"Splendid. Esmae and Nadie here will take care of you," said the woman as she gestured to the other two elf women. She got her fellow coworkers' attention and told them they had customers. Esmae and Nadie promptly got up and introduced themselves to Yuri and Koko.
"Good day, ladies. I'm Esmae and this is Nadie. We'll be your masseuses," said Esmae with a slight bow.
"So, you've opted to go with our couple's package? Good choice," said Nadie with a smile. "If you'd please- follow us and we can get started right away."
Yuri gave Koko an excited smile and followed after the two elves. "This is going to be great," she said under her breath.
Koko tried to remain cheerful and followed closely behind her. "I sure hope so," she said.
Wanting to strike up a little conversation as they walked, Yuri looked to the two elves in front of her. "I'm surprised we were able to get in so easily. Usually, I'd have to wait around before an opening became available," she said to Esmae and Nadie.
"Well, normally that'd be the case, but everyone is busy preparing for the festival, so things have been a bit slow," said Esmae.
"Fortunate for us, huh?" said Yuri as she nudged Koko's arm with her elbow.
"Yeah, I guess so," said Koko as she smiled back at her.
Esmae and Nadie led Yuri and Koko into a vacant room which was larger than the others. In the center, there were two massage tables all prepped and ready to go. They were each covered by clean sheets and had a towel neatly folded on them. Along the walls were cabinets and shelves full of things like incense, oils, and other items used during massages.
"What kind of incense would you like for your session?" asked Esmae as she went over to a cabinet. "We have several scents that offer a calming atmosphere, rejuvenating one, or whatever you might desire."
Yuri thought it over and looked to Esmae. "A calming one would be nice. It's my friend's first massage, so she's a bit tense," she said.
Esmae gave Yuri a nod and went about choosing the appropriate candle, picking out a nice lavender-scented one. She set it on a table and lit it using fire from a nearby regular candle on a wall sconce. "We'll leave you two alone now to disrobe and get comfy on the tables. We'll be back in a bit," she said before she and Nadie exited the room, closing the door behind them.
Finding themselves alone in the room together, Koko looked to Yuri, unsure of what to do. "Sooooo… we just get naked then?" she asked.
Yuri already had her cloak and jacket off, both of which were folded on a nearby table. She then looked to Koko and began taking off everything else. "Yeah. You can place all your clothes on the table beside my stuff. Then just lie on the table," she said.
Koko let out a quiet grunt of discontent as she was still a bit uncomfortable having her bare body touched by strangers. She didn't dawdle and got stripped down into the nude, neatly placing all her clothes beside Yuri's on the table. As she was undressing, she couldn't help but look over to Yuri from time to time. Yuri caught on to her and rolled her eyes, smiling at her girlfriend's shameless peeking. Once Koko was ready, she got onto the table and laid down face first, resting her head on a pillow while facing Yuri beside her.
"So, I just lay like this and that's it?" asked Koko.
Yuri looked over and chuckled, seeing that Koko didn't have the towel covering her waist. "Koko, you need to put the towel over you bum, like this," she said, pointing to the towel that was draped over her waist and covering her rear.
Koko gasped and looked to the towel that was still folded on the table she was on. She quickly retrieved the towel and covered herself before the masseuses came back. Just as she returned to her previous position after covering herself, there was a knock on the door.
"Are you two ready?" asked Nadie from behind the closed door.
"Yes, you may come in," said Yuri as she turned her head towards the door. She then looked back to Koko and gave her a reassuring smile.
Koko prepared herself and tried to relax as much as possible. Just then, the door opened and Esmae and Nadie returned, walking over to the two massage tables. Esmae stood beside Yuri while Nadie went over to Koko.
"Okay. Now that everything is ready, just relax and enjoy," said Esmae.
"Indeed. And if you're uncomfortable with anything, just let me know and I'll stop," said Nadie to Koko, remembering that it was her first time getting a massage.
Koko gave a nod and did her best to remain at ease as Nadie prepared to massage her body. The massage session started off easily enough and the rest went without any trouble either. Nadie felt the tenseness in Koko's body, but shortly after she began working her hands over her body, she began to relax. Midway through the hour-long session, Esmae and Nadie used some hot stones to further work out the tension in Yuri's and Koko's bodies. They used the stones to loosen up their muscles and make working out the tension easier. The two masseuses then ended the session by using some magic to rejuvenate Yuri's and Koko's bodies.
By the end of the session, Koko was feeling purely at ease, finally having been able to enjoy the experience. Yuri was also feeling pleasantly rested after her massage. After the session was over, Esmae and Nadie left the room once more so Yuri and Koko could get dressed at their leisure, telling them to meet them out front when they were ready. The two laid on the tables for a few moments more, letting their bodies rest before getting up.
"So, did you enjoy yourself? You look like you did," said Yuri as she looked to Koko.
Koko was just lying there with her eyes closed and a smile on her face. She let out a sigh and opened her eyes, looking to Yuri with a certain level of satisfaction. "I could get used to this," she said.
"I told you you'd enjoy it. This place is pretty good, so I'm glad about that. Definitely be coming back," said Yuri.
"Yeah, and maybe I'll join you too," said Koko.
Not wanting to overstay their welcome, the two finally got up and put their clothes back on. After getting off the table and back on her feet, Koko stood up straight and stretched her arms into the air. She was feeling great and hadn't felt that good in a long time. Once they were dressed, they left the room and returned to the front of the establishment. They paid for their session and thanked the masseuses for their services.
Feeling rejuvenated and fully relaxed from their massages, Yuri and Koko left the massage parlor and headed back to the hotel. They had a meeting with Arin later on, and they had to change into something more appropriate for visiting the castle. Even though they had special access to the premises, they still had to look the part of special acquaintances of the royal family.
On the way back to the Grand Marquis, they happened to pass by a bookstore that caught Yuri's eye. Since they still had some time to spare, they decided to check it out and see if there was anything that interested them. Upon entering, Yuri immediately went to the romance section in search of something new to read. Koko was interested as well, but she had something else in mind. She wandered away from Yuri and went over to another section of the shop, looking for something specific.
Wanting to learn more about her new home, Koko searched for a book about Gilderlandi history and another on local customs and traditions. She asked the shopkeep for some help, and they happily obliged, guiding her over to a section for newcomers and travelers. She found exactly what she was looking for and paid for the two books. Yuri found something to read as well, and after paying for it, the two continued on their way to the hotel.
When Yuri and Koko got back, they hurried on up to their room and freshened up before changing into more formal attire. They had recently bought new outfits prior to that day just for the occasion. It was a special day, and Yuri had to look her best. She was finally going to visit her parents' grave, which was something she regrettably hadn't done yet. She had always been too hurt and saddened to do it on her own, so every time she was back in Gilderland, she put off visiting them. Now that she had returned home for good and had Koko with her, she figured she was strong enough to finally go through with it.
Once they were ready, they left the hotel and began making their way to the castle. It was late in the afternoon just before sunset, so the sky was a nice shade of orange. Koko knew about Yuri's parents and their tragic end. She too was apprehensive about "meeting" them and wondered what they would've been like had they still been alive. The two of them passed through the castle's main gate using their special access badges and continued into the castle proper. There, they met with Karen who was already waiting for them.
"Well, aren't you two looking special," said Karen as she looked to Yuri and Koko approaching.
"Yeah, yeah. You know why we're here, so can we not today?" asked Yuri as she glared at Karen, not wanting to deal with her usual banter.
Karen scoffed at her but gave a slight nod, agreeing to a truce for now. "Follow me. Arin is this way," she said as she began walking off.
Yuri and Koko followed after her as they headed further into the castle. They walked through a few corridors and went down a couple of stairs before arriving at the royal crypt. Waiting for them there was Arin who was accompanied by two of Karen's subordinates, Fionna and Hilde. He always had two of her knights with him to act as his personal security detail.
"There you go," said Karen as she motioned to Arin with a nod of her head. "Listen. I'm… sorry about what happen to your parents. They didn't deserve that."
"Thank you, Karen," said Yuri, giving her a sincere look.
Not wanting to lose face and risk getting emotional in front of everyone, Karen just nodded again and looked to Arin before taking her leave. Yuri and Koko looked to Arin and approached him, giving him a customary bow while rendering the proper greeting.
"Your Grace," said Yuri and Koko together as they bowed.
Arin raised his hand, allowing them to stand back up straight. "There's no need for that, dear cousin. It's just us down here," he said with a slight chuckle.
"You never know. Better safe than sorry, I suppose," said Yuri.
"Yes, well. Shall we?" asked Arin as she motioned to the crypt's entrance with his hand.
Seeing the crypt, Yuri became mellower and gave a nod without uttering a single word. Koko noticed her change in demeanor and held her hand, giving her a reassuring smile. Arin led the way followed by Yuri, Koko, and the royal guards. The crypt was lit by sconces on the walls, filled with fire that was magically enchanted to always be burning.
After Yuri's parents were executed under Duro's command, their bodies were unceremoniously buried in the royal plot on the castle grounds. That was considered improper practice as kings and queens were supposed to be taken to the royal crypt instead. Duro didn't care and Yuri's parents remained in the royal plot until Arin took the throne. He then had Yuri's parents removed from the royal plot and properly taken care of in the royal crypt.
As they walked through the crypt, Koko looked all around in amazement, seeing all the previous rulers of the kingdom- well, almost all of them. Duro was not afforded the distinguished honor of being laid to rest there as he'd taken the throne wrongly. Instead, he was buried in the royal plot, which was still a lenient decision considering his status.
While Koko was in awe at the history of the place, Yuri, on the other hand, remained focused and was only concerned about her parents. She'd already been there once or twice before to visit her grandparents, the previous rulers before her father took the throne. Everything was still the same, so there was nothing there to surprise her, at least, until she arrived at her parents' alcove.
Arin entered a wing of the crypt towards the back and went down it until stopping in front of one of the recesses there. Seeing him standing still, Yuri hesitated and halted, knowing full well why he'd stopped. Koko kept holding on to Yuri's hand, urging her to continue on. Feeling her lover's touch, Yuri regained her strength and began walking again, joining Arin by the alcove.
"I had the statues commissioned once I was king. Unfortunately, the sculptor didn't have many references to work off of. Just a few paintings and small busts. It had been several years since they'd died, so it may not look exactly like them," said Arin as he looked into the alcove. "I'll… give you some time alone. Fionna here will remain behind to act as your escort. She'll take you to Klaus' grave once you're ready."
Yuri looked to Arin and gave him a nod. "Thank you, Arin. For everything," she said from the bottom of her heart, nearly on the verge of tears.
Arin outstretched his arms and gave Yuri a hug. "It's the least I can do for you. The kingdom is in your debt, as callous as that may sound," he said. Yuri wrapped her arms around Arin as well, welcoming the embrace from her cherished cousin. Arin let the hug linger a while longer then broke away. "Is there anything else you need?"
Yuri shook her head and gave him a smile with teary eyes. "I think we'll be fine. Thank you again," she said.
Having other kingly issues to attend to, he gave Yuri and Koko a nod then took his leave. As Hilde left with the king, Fionna told Yuri she'd be waiting just outside the crypt. After they had all left, Yuri wiped away the tears forming in her eyes and turned to Koko, not yet looking into the alcove.
"So, uh. Ready to meet my parents?" asked Yuri, trying her best to keep her composure.
Koko smiled warmly. "Right behind you, Darling," she said.
Yuri gave her a nod and finally looked to the alcove. As soon as she did, she froze as the tears continued to form. "Mama… Papa…," she said, completely stunned by her mother's and father's image in stone. She let go of Koko's hand and slowly stepped forward towards the statues, instantly recognizing her parents' faces. The statues were life-size, and they were an accurate representation of what they might've been like when they were living. Behind the statues were the tombs which contained the remains of the bodies. Even though Yuri was much taller than when she last saw them, it didn't change her memory of them. The longer she took in their faces, more memories of her childhood came to the forefront of her mind. All the emotions from her memories overwhelmed her, and she finally broke down in tears, falling to her knees in front of the statues.
Seeing Yuri like that, Koko hurried to her side and knelt down beside her, placing her arms around her and holding her close. "Darling, it's okay. Just let out. I'm here for you," she said while rubbing her back.
"I miss them so much!" said Yuri through her tears and sobs, burying her face in Koko's chest.
Hearing Yuri crying out about missing her parents, Koko began thinking of her own mother and father. "I know how you feel, Darling. I miss mine too," she said, having already come to terms about her parents being gone. She continued to console Yuri the best she could, letting her cry as much as she wanted while they sat there on the ground.
It took Yuri a few minutes, but she eventually got a hold of herself. She let Koko know she was fine and got back on her feet. Koko stood up also and dusted off her pants, doing the same for Yuri as well. Once Yuri had regained her composure, she properly introduced Koko to her parents, looking to the statues then back to Koko.
"Koko, I'd like you to meet my mama and papa, King Liam and Queen Elizabeth Dagurichev," said Yuri as she gestured to the statues while looking at Koko. She then looked to the statues and held on to Koko's hand. "Mama, Papa, this is my girlfriend, Koko Stormare."
Koko looked anxiously from the statues, to Yuri, then back to the statutes. "It's- It's a pleasure to meet you… Your Grace?" she said, unsure of how to address them.
Yuri chuckled quietly then became somber again, holding on to Koko's arm while continuing to talk to the statues. "I'm sorry it took so long to see you again. I- I just couldn't bear seeing you again by myself. Every time I thought about you being gone, it hurt. It always reminded me that I was alone," she said as she clutched Koko's arm closer to her. "But now that I have my love, Koko, I don't have to be alone anymore."
Standing there, Koko just remained silent as she let Yuri reconnect with her deceased parents. To be honest, she didn't know what to say. All she could do was be there for her and support her with her presence. After Yuri had finally said all she wanted to, she and Koko said a prayer for her parents then left the crypt.
Hearing footsteps approaching, Fionna perked up and stood up straight, adjusting the large crossbow slung over her shoulder and resting on her back. She also had a shortsword sheathed on her belt as a back-up weapon for close engagements. "Is everything all right, my Lady?" she asked to Yuri as she saw her and Koko exited the crypt.
Yuri gave her a slight smile and shook her head. "I'm fine. Thank you though," she said while holding Koko's hand for comfort. "We're ready to head to the royal plot now."
"As you wish," said Fionna with a dutiful bow of her head. She then turned on her heel and began leading the way back up through the castle, heading for the royal graveyard within the castle grounds.
The last stop on Yuri's and Koko's trip to the castle was to visit the grave of Yuri's faithful butler and savior, Klaus. When Yuri attended Arin's coronation and conversed with him in his private chambers, she told him about how Klaus saved her during their uncle's coup. After Yuri had left the kingdom to head back home, Arin made sure to give Klaus a proper burial as a sign of gratitude for his dedicated service. Unfortunately, Klaus' body had been lost and missing since the day he died, so Arin just arranged a gravestone to be erected in the royal plot as a symbolic gesture to the man.
When the three of them finally arrived at the royal graveyard, Fionna continued leading the way until they arrived in front of a gravestone. "It's right over there, my Ladies," she said as she glanced over her shoulder at Yuri and Koko.
Upon reaching the grave, Yuri looked to the headstone then to Fionna. "Hey, Fionna, I don't mean to sound rude or anything like that, but could you give me and Koko some time alone, please?" she asked.
"Of course, my Lady. I'll just be over there if you need me," said Fionna with a slight bow. She then walked off and stood a distance away so that she was out of earshot but still within view of the two.
After Fionna left, Yuri let out a sigh and turned to Koko. "I just didn't want her to be around if I started to get emotional, which I probably might," she said.
"Well if you do, I'm here for you," said Koko.
Yuri gave her a nod then sighed again, turning her attention towards the gravestone. Engraved on it was Klaus' name and a brief line of gratitude. She clutched her hand to her chest, trying to remember Klaus' face. She closed her eyes, and after concentrating, the memories began to come back to her. Once she had his face in mind, she opened her eyes again and gave a weak smile.
"Thank you… Klaus," said Yuri as she bowed her head and clasped her hands together. Unable to say anything else, she began to say a prayer in her head. Seeing that Yuri beside her had suddenly grown silent, Koko looked over and bowed her head as well as a sign of respect.
After Yuri was done paying her respects, she and Koko returned to Fionna, and then they were escorted out of the castle back into the city. It was getting into the early evening, and it was time for dinner. They decided to eat at a restaurant on the way back to the hotel. Even though the hotel had a restaurant, and all their expenses while at the hotel were compensated by the crown, Yuri wanted to limit those costs as much as she could.
Dinner at the restaurant was somber as the two spent the beginning portion of their meal in silence. Yuri was still feeling a bit down after having visited the graves of her parents and loyal butler. Sitting across the table from her, Koko noticed and tried to cheer her up.
"How are you feeling, Darling?" asked Koko as she set her utensils down.
Yuri broke out of her daze and looked to Koko. "I've been better. Still a bit dismayed after seeing my parent's and Klaus' graves. But I am a bit relieved that I finally got to do it, so there's that as least," she said.
Koko reached over across the table and placed her hand on top of Yuri's. "Want to head back to the hotel and get a couple of drinks at the bar after this? A little alcohol before bed will make you feel better," she said.
Thinking it over, Yuri smiled, figuring a drink or two would do her some good to loosen up. "Sure. That's sounds like a good idea," she said.
Once they left the restaurant after finishing dinner, Yuri and Koko made their way back to the hotel. They casually walked through the streets and were in no particular rush to get back. As they walked, Yuri remained close to Koko, resting her head on her shoulder as they held hands. She was feeling a bit drained and just wanted to go to bed. Perhaps it was her full stomach that was also making her feel drowsy.
When they got back to the hotel, they made their way over to the bar on the ground floor. It wasn't busy at all and no one was sitting at the counter, so they had it all to themselves. Yuri took a seat at one of the barstools there while Koko sat on another beside her. They ordered a couple of drinks and chatted for a bit, talking about nothing in particular. Koko tried to keep the topics light to distract Yuri from any negative thoughts or feelings she may have had. After downing a couple drinks, Yuri was feeling better than before, but she was definitely ready for bed. All the food and alcohol in her system was making her very sleepy. Koko finished up her one drink and escorted Yuri back up to the room, helping her change and get ready for bed.