Crown of Flowers

Chapter Three

By Dejiko Mew Mew

Yuuri dangled in the clutches of Anissina's latest invention, a very intense Wolfram coming ever closer to him. Wolfram stopped about a foot away from Yuuri. He looked up at him and narrowed his eyebrows.

"Y-Yo, Wolfram...!" Yuuri greeted nervously, waving a slightly trembling hand. Wolfram didn't reply. "Ahh...!! He's pissed!!"

Wolfram clenched his teeth and raised a hand, as if preparing to strike. Yuuri cringed in anticipation, but after a moment or so, he realized he was unscathed. He looked back at Wolfram, who had lowered his arm as well as his head.

"Why...?" he asked. Yuuri swallowed hard. He wished now that Wolfram had hit him. He deserved it, anyway, but it would have been easier to take than this. "Why have you been ignoring me?"

"I-Ignoring?? Who, me?" Yuuri lied. "I haven't been—"

"Don't lie!!" Wolfram scolded, silencing Yuuri immediately. "Did I do something that terrible? Was it that awful to you?"

Yuuri's mouth opened, but no words left. He wanted to calm Wolfram down. He wanted this to be over and for things to be like they were, but he had no words to make it happen. He lowered his head and slowly turned away.

"And now look who's turning away and being silent!" Wolfram pointed out. "Yuuri! I don't know what you want from me...!!"

"Neither do I!!" Yuuri finally spoke, meeting Wolfram eye to eye. They both watched each other for a moment then, eyes wide. Yuuri was beginning to realize the problem. He didn't dislike Wolfram, but he wasn't quite sure how he felt of him. Perhaps instead of running from this situation for the past few days, he should have been thinking more deeply on it. He reprimanded himself for that at this point. "I really... don't know..."

This left Wolfram struggling for words. He sighed deeply. Was this good enough for him, for the moment? That was the question running through his mind.

"Can you... Can you give me a bit more time...?" Yuuri asked then. Wolfram blushed.

"I... I suppo—"

"HEEEIKA!!!" a familiar voice screeched. Thunderous footsteps were heard coming ever closer and seemed to be traveling with a large cloud of dust.

"Gün—!!" Wolfram started, but was cut off as the mountain of dust plowed into him and knocked him down the hall. Günter now stood between the two of them, arms outstretched as to blockade Yuuri from Wolfram. "Günter!!" Wolfram shouted as he rose to his feet, brushing the dust off of his clothes.

"What are you doing to Heika!?" Günter demanded to know.

"It's none of your business!!" Wolfram assured him. "Get away from my fiancé!!"

"Ah... Now, now..." Yuuri attempted to calm the two of them down, but of course it was in vain.

"Fear not, Heika! I will protect you!!" Günter swore, as he turned and embraced Yuuri tightly around the waist, the sight of which set Wolfram off.

"Yuuri, you cheater!!" he cried. "You wanted more time so that you could go about gallivanting with others, didn't you!?"

"No way...!!" Yuuri gasped in disbelief. Why was Wolfram always like this? He wasn't even the one doing anything!

"What a way to speak to his Majesty...!" Günter sighed painfully as he drew his sword. "I won't forgive it!!"

"You intend to fight me, then?" Wolfram laughed haughtily. He drew his own. "Fine then!"

"NO!!" Yuuri protested. "No fighting!!"

Wolfram and Günter looked at one another, eyes burning, and reluctantly sheathed their weapons. Yuuri breathed a sigh of relief. Things just always had to get this complicated.

"Forgive my rashness, Heika," Günter bowed. "Allow me to make it up to you. Would you like to sleep in my quarters once again tonight?"

Yuuri just about died. Wolfram's eyes shot open and all breath left his body.

"A-Again...!?" Wolfram sputtered.

"Ahh... Wolfram, it's not what—" Yuuri tried to explain.

"Shut up, you cheater!!!" Wolfram retorted furiously. He shook his head in disbelief and ran away.

"W—Wolfram...!!" Yuuri beckoned, but he was already gone. "And it was just getting back to normal..."

Yuuri, finally free of Anissina's contraption, sat with Günter, working on his studies. He found it even more difficult to concentrate than usual.

"Heika... My apologies if I have wounded your spirit," Günter spoke suddenly. "However, do not trouble your mind with Wolfram. He's just being his usual self."

"I—I know that... Thanks for your help, Günter... It's not your fault... It's mine," Yuuri replied.

"But it pains me to see his Majesty in such a state," Günter whined, leaning forward on the desk and grabbing Yuuri's hands. "Is there... anything... I can do to help?"

"Th—Thank you, Günter..." Yuuri laughed nervously. "I think I'll be all right..."

Yuuri paused as Günter stared into his eyes intently, his warm hands still wrapped around his own. He felt his face redden a bit.

"G... Günter...?"

At this, Günter finally snapped out of it and pulled away. He danced about the room, shrieking with embarrassment.

"F—Forgive me, Heika!! I was in my own world for a moment...!!" he apologized. Yuuri blushed and decided he wouldn't ask what Günter had envisioned then.

However, it had become apparent that, while dealing with Wolfram could be trying, dealing with Günter was not much better.

"Günter... I'm gonna head for now," Yuuri smiled politely, standing to his feet and bowing. He attempted to flee quickly, but of course, Günter would never stand idle should that happen.

"Heika! Wait!" he called, grabbing Yuuri's wrist. Yuuri quickly turned to face him, but his rear leg caught his left and he lost his balance, falling to the ground. Günter quickly dived to the floor beneath him and took the impact of the fall as he embraced Yuuri tightly.

Yuuri slowly sat upright and found himself atop Günter in a straddle. It wasn't long before he realized his position and jumped to his feet, screaming in fright.

"Heika, are you wounded?" Günter asked, slowly rising to his feet.

"N—Not at all!" Yuuri bowed. "Thanks, Günter!"

He was about to continue his exit when the door opened itself. Both he and Günter stood, surprised, as an hourglass figure appeared in the doorway.

"Cheri-sama...?" Günter announced. As the background light blended, her face was clearly visible, sending shock to both of the boys. She was crying.

"Heika!" she sobbed, falling forward and crying into his hair, leaving his face buried in her chest.

"Ch-Cheri-sama...?" Yuuri mumbled through her skin. He made sure to get a nice deep breath of air when she finally released him. "... What happened?"

"That's...!" she wailed. "It's... It's Wolf!"

"What happened to Wolfram!?" Yuuri gasped. Günter seemed to lose interest.

"I went into his room, and... All I found was..." she trailed, handing Yuuri a piece of paper. Yuuri read through it carefully. His eyes widened and he looked back at Cheri with fright.

"He's... He's been kidnapped...!?"

TO BE CONTINUED!!