Notes: Sorry this is so late in coming out, but at least it's coming out... ;;
Weak Day 3: Yuuri vs the Protector
Yuuri hated his hair. Of course, on the day that he wanted it to look nice (date with Conrad!), it looked very much like he had wet it down and then slept on one side all night. Smoothing it with water did nothing, and he found he had to wash his hair very quickly before joining the brown haired man in what he now thought of as the "dating room." So it was a rather wet and harried Yuuri that showed up five minutes after the appointed meeting time, breathing heavily after running all the way from the Maou's bath.
Conrad, apparently, had put his extra time to good use and was currently browsing a novel. He looked up expectantly at Yuuri's arrival, and smiled broadly. "Yuuri..."
Yuuri smiled widely. He could see the tell-tale bulge in Conrad's pocket that meant a baseball. "We're going to toss around a ball?" Yuuri asked, already knowing the answer.
The taller man nodded. "I thought you might appreciate that. After putting up-- I mean, being so considerate to my mother yesterday, I thought it might be nice to relax before I took you into town. I have something to show you, but it can wait until after we play around." He reached over and lifted two baseball gloves from a nearby chair. "The new baseball field is mostly finished." Conrad held out his arm, grinning. "Care to join me?"
Yuuri took his arm with enthusiasm. It was a little weird to be walking around holding another man's arm, but it was certainly his choice of men. If he was to be anyone's "date" for the day, he much preferred Conrad to Gwendal or Cherrie. He wondered a little belatedly what it would be like with Wolfram. At least then, he wouldn't have to be the girl.
On the field, Yuuri felt he could almost breathe easier than in the castle. It didn't make sense- dust clouds the lungs, but he felt more alive there. Moving his body felt good. Traditional positions, that familiar thunk in his glove, the feeling of packed dirt beneath his feet... he loved it.
"How is your mother?" Conrad asked, throwing underhand to warm up.
"Fine, last I saw her," Yuuri replied, easily catching and returning the throw. "She has developed this interest in youkai and went to visit some exorcists. Said she wanted them to take her to see some."
Conrad chuckled and speeded up his pitch. "I doubt she'll be able to see them."
"How come?"
"I expect they'd be shy if she ran up squealing."
Yuuri laughed and threw the ball back to his companion. "Or if she tried to dress them up like she used to do with me."
Conrad grinned and caught the ball without any trouble. "Speaking of dresses... when are you going to tell her of your engagement to Wolfram?"
Yuuri made a face. "I had planned on finding some way to get out of it. I guess I'm out of it now." He squinted. "But what does that have to do with dresses?"
"Oh, I assumed you'd be the one wearing the wedding gown."
Yuuri choked and somehow missed catching the ball.
It was early afternoon when they entered the town. Conrad bought them both some Maou-buns, and they ate as they walked. Earlier, Yuuri had been told that they were going to have a light lunch and then an early dinner at a restaurant not only famous for the quality of the food, but for the quantity as well. Clearly, Conrad knew what it was like to be a teenage boy. Though technically, he might have been in his nineties when he was going through "teen" years. Yuuri licked his fingers as he contemplated Mazoku age. Considering that Wolfram was eighty-something, how old was he mentally when Yuuri was born? Could Wolfram have already been sword fighting when he was still in diapers? The idea scared him a little.
"Here we are," Conrad said, interrupting Yuuri's thought process.
"Here" was a narrow grey building near the heart of town. It had blue and black tracery around the windows. The door itself was painted a sort of shimmering black. Despite the vague creepiness of a black door, Yuuri could sense that it was a place of some wealth. Over the door hung a sign in the Mazoku tongue that Yuuri couldn't decipher. "What does it say?"
"Central Orphanage," Conrad said, moving over to the door and rapping loudly with his knuckles.
An orphanage? Strange date indeed. Yuuri chewed his lip thoughtfully. Well, he did trust Conrad, so of course he would follow the man to wherever. But it was a little odd.
A little girl with braided hair answered the door. She looked up at Conrad and then squealed, throwing herself against his legs. "Uncle Con-con!"
Yuuri could feel one eyebrow raising.
"Hey, Gaerta..." Conrad swung the child up to his face and smothered her cheeks with kisses, much to her delight. "I brought you and the others a new friend."
"Another uncle?" Her eyes lit up.
"Uncle Yuuri."
"Yu-chan!" she chirruped.
Yuuri smiled at her. It was impossible not to enjoy the fresh young face and burbling laughter of this little girl. And then, suddenly, she seemed to multiply.
Three other little girls and two little boys of varying ages showed up at the door, clambering for Conrad's attention. Some of them called him Weller-kyo, while others called him "Nunkie Conwad." He seemed to enjoy it immensely. Each child got attention- a pat on the head, kisses on the cheeks, a warm hug.
Yuuri felt intensely sappy looking at the scene.
"This is your new Uncle Yuuri," Conrad said by way of introducing the Maou. "He is the ruler of this land, too."
The youngest of the crowd was clutching an over-sized teddy bear. Her eyes were round and brilliantly blue. "Wew's Wuffie?" she asked Yuuri. "Wuffie pway wiv Bewwa," she added solemnly.
"Uuhhh..." Yuuri wasn't quite sure what she had said.
Seeing his distress, Conrad translated. "Bella wants to know where Wolfram is. He often comes to play with her."
"Wolfram!" Yuuri looked stunned.
"Of course," Conrad picked Bella up and slung her over his shoulder, much to her enjoyment. "You didn't think he was naturally good with your Greta did you?"
Yuuri nodded his head mutely.
"He funds this orphanage completely out of his own pocket. After his father died, he left a great deal of money to Wolfram. My brother then put it to good use by founding and continuing to support this establishment. He always comes to play with the children, and actively seeks out homes for them."
Yuuri was silent.
"He may be a brat sometimes, but he loves children."
"He can't change a diaper, though," Gaerta said officiously. "Uncle Wolfie doesn't know what to do with babies."
"Babies are stupid!" one of the little boys cried out before grabbing Yuuri's hand. "Horses are cool! Come see mine!"
Yuuri found himself being dragged inside, his head whirling. The other boy had never spoken of this orphanage. How ... how could he be so different? One moment officious and arrogant, the next playing with Bella and her teddy bear... Yuuri could hardly understand what was going on.
Over dinner that evening, Yuuri was very quiet.
Conrad let him be so for a while, and then broke into his thoughts carefully. "What's bothering you?"
"I don't get it!" the dark haired boy burst out. "Why does Wolfram act so ... rudely around me and then take care of children like that? All of the kids there seemed to love him. Little Irene had a doll of him for heaven's sake!"
Conrad nodded sagely and then smiled. "I wanted you to see a side of my brother that perhaps you didn't get to see before."
"Why? Isn't this a date with you and me?"
"In a way," the older man said, avoiding the question.
"I don't understand."
"I can't... tell you, Heika," Conrad said firmly. "But you need to get over your squeamishness when it comes to Wolfram. You need to see him as someone both valuable and kind. I helped to raise him. He's my little brother. I love him, and I want you to love him as much as I do."
"But he is always so mean to you!"
"That is not his true nature," Conrad chided. "Yuuri, you know not to judge something by its appearance... or even some actions! If you did, Morgif would not be your sword. You would have banished me. You'd think Gwendal was a bad person!"
Yuuri grumbled a little and poked at a piece of meat on his plate.
Conrad sighed and smiled a little. "Listen, just give him another chance to prove he's not such a little brat."
It was just a little movement, but there was no mistaking Yuuri's nod.
When they returned to the castle, it was already dark. Conrad bid the Maou good night and then caught his arm as the boy turned away. "I meant to tell you... tomorrow your date is Yozak."
"YOZAK!"
To be continued...
